Stock Up, Stock Down on MLB's Top 10 Prospects After Week 7
With June right around the corner, let's take a look at some of MLB's brightest young stars and how they are performing in the minor leagues.
Over the next few slides, we'll update you on baseball's top 10 prospects according to MLB.com. Names like Kris Bryant, Addison Russell and Noah Syndergaard won't be on this slideshow due to currently playing in the majors.
Despite those exclusions, we'll still check in on a recently debuting Yoan Moancada, a scorching-hot Carlos Correa and No. 1 overall prospect Byron Buxton, among other top prospects. Based off of their recent results and their production this season, we'll decide if we're buying or selling stock in the game's next superstars.
Tyler Glasnow
1 of 10
2015 Stats
2-2, 29.1 IP, 2.76 ERA, 2.81 FIP, 8.90 K/9, 3.07 BB/9
Last Week
Glasnow is on the seven-day disabled list due to an ankle injury.
The Skinny
Tyler Glasnow is currently ranked as the No. 13 overall prospect in the minor leagues, but the 21-year-old could finish the year inside the top 10 if he continues his good work.
Although he's struggled in his last two outings, Glasnow's ERA is still sitting below 3.00. His strikeouts are down from last season in High-A, but he's walking under 10 percent of the batters he's facing for the first time in his career.
The Verdict: Stock Up
Before the season, Kiley McDaniel at FanGraphs referred to Glasnow as having No. 2 starter potential with "less risk each day."
The right-hander has done nothing but reinforce that point so far in 2015. While he likely won't sniff the big leagues until 2016, Glasnow could potentially be used as a late-inning weapon if the Pittsburgh Pirates are still in the mix.
Miguel Sano
2 of 10
2015 Stats
.248/.348/.503, 9 HR, 29 RBI
Last Week
Sano had three multihit games last week and drove in nine runs.
The Skinny
Miguel Sano was one of the best position player prospects in baseball heading into the 2014 season. Unfortunately for the slugging third baseman, he missed all of last year due to Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.
Sano is still one of the top talents in the minor leagues, but that injury made 2015 a crucial season for the 22-year-old. So far, Sano has slugged his way right back into the conversation of best young power hitter.
Sano has been an extra-base-hit machine at Double-A, as half of his hits have gone for extra bases. He's still swinging and missing in bunches, but his relatively high walk rate has helped offset that weakness.
The Verdict: Stock Up
Sano is proving he's got the chops to develop into a premier offensive force.
As for the glove, Minnesota Twins general manager Terry Ryan told Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press that Sano has the ability to be a solid defensive player but needs to improve his concentration on every play.
Joey Gallo
3 of 10
2015 Stats
.337/.441/.673, 7 HR, 23 RBI
Last Week
Gallo enjoyed four multihit games last week, including a two-homer game on May 19.
The Skinny
Joey Gallo is your prototypical feast-or-famine slugger.
Gallo has struck out over 30 percent of the time at each of his minor league stops, but he's also slugged his share of homers and extra-base hits. Gallo has launched 40-plus homers in each of the last two seasons.
B/R's own Jason Catania notes that Gallo has been able to make the necessary adjustments throughout his career.
"Back at Double-A where he finished 2014, Gallo has shown a knack for adjusting after an initial stretch in which he struggles at a new level. To wit, he hit just .232 with a 39.5 percent strikeout rate at Frisco last year, compared to .341 with a 33.3 percent mark that will still have to come down as he pushes through the minors on his way to Texas, perhaps at some point in the second half.
"
The Verdict: Stock Up
Gallo has begun spending some of his playing time in the outfield. Texas Rangers general manager Jon Daniels told Gerry Fraley of the Dallas Morning News that rotating Gallo into the outfield is about "increasing his versatility as much as anything."
That decision shows the Rangers are preparing for Gallo's impending arrival. A promotion to Triple-A is on the horizon, and a trip to The Show could come as early as the end of 2015.
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Yoan Moncada
4 of 10
2015 Stats (Five Games)
.333/.400/.444, 4 R
Last Week
Moncada debuted May 18 and has reached base safely in every game he's played this season.
The Skinny
The wait is over for baseball fans, as Yoan Moncada made his anticipated debut this week.
Moncada tallied six hits and two walks in his first week of action. However, he did strike out six times and left Saturday's game with a hamstring injury.
Moncada was the most coveted international free agent of the offseason, eventually signing with the Boston Red Sox for a record $31.5 million bonus. The 19-year-old is considered an elite offensive talent capable of playing multiple defensive positions.
The Verdict: To Be Determined
Obviously, an injury directly off the bat isn't ideal, but there are indications that it may not be too serious.
Judging by the bidding war this offseason, Moncada is expected to make an impact at the major league level. How he develops in his first season will go a long way into deciding how soon he'll make his debut at Fenway Park.
Julio Urias
5 of 10
2015 Stats
1-2, 36 IP, 3.00 ERA, 2.61 FIP, 11.50 K/9, 2.25 BB/9
Last Week
Urias will miss a month due to cosmetic eye surgery, according to Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times.
The Skinny
No minor league pitcher has looked as dominant as Julio Urias in 2015.
The Los Angeles Dodgers southpaw has fanned over 32 percent of the batters he's faced this season, all while walking less than 7 percent. Urias has reached double-digits in strikeouts twice and has given up one run or less in four of his six outings.
But it's not all good news for Urias, as the 18-year-old is expected to miss a month of action due to eye surgery. He has had three operations on that same eye already.
The Verdict: Stock Up
Missing a month is going to slow down Urias' rapid ascent to the majors, but not for too long. The left-hander is way ahead of schedule for his age and should be in L.A. full time by 2016.
Corey Seager
6 of 10
2015 Stats
.305/.343/.476, 5 HR, 20 RBI
Last Week
Seager managed just three hits last week.
The Skinny
Corey Seager is on the cusp of being promoted to the Los Angeles Dodgers, but he's going to need to produce at Triple-A in order to achieve that.
Seager is hitting just .238 with an on-base percentage under .300 since his promotion earlier this season. The shortstop hit .375 with five homers and 15 RBI at Double-A and has put the pressure on the Dodgers to make a decision on him, especially with the struggles of Jimmy Rollins.
The Verdict: Stock Up
B/R's own Zachary Rymer summed up Seager's situation nicely in a recent article.
"Seager is a classic case of an elite prospect who's running out of things to prove, and it may not be long before the Dodgers need his bat more than they need Rollins' glove," he said.
It'll be interesting to see how the Dodgers handle this conundrum, but Seager's offensive capabilities make him one of the game's dynamic young talents.
Lucas Giolito
7 of 10
2015 Stats
1-2, 17.1 IP, 4.67 ERA, 0.92 FIP, 12.98 K/9, 1.56 BB/9
Last Week
Giolito struck out nine and allowed three earned runs in seven innings in his first win of the season on May 20.
The Skinny
With a vaunted pitching staff already in the big leagues, the Washington Nationals are wisely taking their time with top pitching prospect Lucas Giolito. The right-hander only made his debut earlier this month after spending most of April in extended spring training.
Giolito has electric stuff, which has been on full display in his first three outings. The 20-year-old has struck out 20 batters over his last two starts, walking only three batters all season.
The Verdict: Stock Up
Giolito was fantastic at Single-A last season and is off to a flying start at High-A in 2015.
His fastball and curve already grade out as major league-level pitches, while his changeup continues to improve. Giolito has great command for such a hard thrower and should see action at Double-A at some point this season.
Francisco Lindor
8 of 10
2015 Stats
.253/.324/.358, 1 HR, 18 RBI
Last Week
Lindor went hitless in four games last week.
The Skinny
Francisco Lindor's lack of production in 2015 has delayed his inevitable promotion to the Cleveland Indians.
After reaching Triple-A in his age-20 season, Lindor is hitting just .253 so far in 2015. Lindor did put together a 10-game hitting streak earlier this month, but he has since suffered through a 1-for-19 slump.
For the Indians to finally pull the trigger on Lindor, consistency will be key.
"Offensively he has been a little hot and cold (this season) but during the hitting streak his approach remained consistent," Columbus Clippers manager Chris Tremie told Joe Reedy of Fox Sports Ohio. "Earlier in the season there was a time when there wasn't as much consistency, but now it is starting to show more at-bat to at-bat and game to game."
The Verdict: Stock Down
Cleveland's current shortstop, Jose Ramirez, is hitting under .200 and has botched eight plays in the field.
Lindor does represent a significant upgrade over Ramirez, but he hasn't capitalized on his opportunity and taken that chance. He hasn't proven he can handle Triple-A pitching yet, which is worrisome for a Cleveland organization in serious need of a spark.
Carlos Correa
9 of 10
2015 Stats
.355/.430/.651, 9 HR, 39 RBI, 18 SB
Last Week
Correa continued his brilliant 2015 with three multihit games last week.
The Skinny
The clock is ticking on a potential Carlos Correa promotion for the first-place Houston Astros.
The former No. 1 overall pick has already been called up to Triple-A in 2015 due to monster numbers at Double-A. Correa hit seven homers and drove in 32 runs to go with a .385 batting average.
Correa hasn't seen a dip in production at Triple-A, posting nearly a .367 on-base percentage. Still, Correa must remain patient for a call that's surely right around the corner.
“I’ve just got to be patient,” Correa told Bryant-Jon Anteola of the Fresno Bee. “The only thing I can control is to play baseball to the best of my abilities. Go out there and put up some numbers. The Astros and the front office are going to be making the decisions. And when they do, I will be really happy to get that call and help the Astros keep winning.”
The Verdict: Stock Up
With the exception of Kris Bryant, no prospect has done more to help his cause than Correa has in 2015.
The 20-year-old has yet to face a challenge he can't handle in the minor leagues. He can hit for average and power and steal bases. It's only a matter of time before the Astros give him an opportunity at the big league level.
Byron Buxton
10 of 10
2015 Stats
.267/.323/.506, 5 HR, 33 RBI, 13 SB
Last Week
Buxton tallied 12 hits last week, including two three-hit performances.
The Skinny
After struggling with injuries and inconsistencies in 2014, Byron Buxton is reminding everyone why he's the No. 1 overall prospect in the minors.
Buxton is back to wreaking havoc on opposing pitchers both at the dish and on the bases. He's already driven in 33 runs this season and is 13-for-14 in stolen base attempts.
The outfielder is coming off a scorching week. Buxton had four multihit games this week, including two three-hit nights.
The Verdict: Stock Up
It's nice to see such a talented player return to form after struggling last season. Twins general manager Terry Ryan has been pleased with Buxton's bounce-back campaign, according to Tyler Mason of Fox Sports North:
"With the skills he possesses, you're used to succeeding. He's never really had too much failure. Last year he had a lot of injuries, but he's not failed too much. Now he's back to doing what we think is normal, his normal approach and normal results. ... He can run, throw, field, range, steal a bag. He's got surprising strength in his bat. He'll hit for average just because he can run so well.
"
Continued production in 2015 should set Buxton on track to debut sometime next season.
Advanced stats courtesy of FanGraphs. Stats accurate through May 23.
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