Top MLB Prospects Tearing It Up in the 2015 Winter Leagues

While the attention of the baseball world remains fixated on the never-ending news machine that is the MLB offseason, some well-known prospects are making cases for 2016 roster spots in winter leagues across the Caribbean. 

Over the next few slides, we'll move away from the rumor mill and look at a handful of prospects making waves in various offseason leagues. 

Some prospects choose not to play when the season ends. For many, it's just more games in which they can lower their stock or become injured.

But for others, the winter presents a wonderful opportunity to stay hot coming off their minor league seasons or rekindle some of the fire they may have lost while suffering through rough campaigns. 

Tyler White of the Houston Astros and Joey Rickard of the Baltimore Orioles are hoping that fine minor league seasons and solid stretches of at-bats in the winter leagues will lead to success this spring. If so, don't be shocked to see either player on a big league roster when camp breaks for Opening Day. 

For the Detroit Tigers' Steven Moya, winter competition has given him an opportunity to regain some of the shine he lost over the last season. Texas Rangers' Hanser Alberto is hoping to accomplish the same feat, as he struggled mightily in his first taste of the majors last year. 

We get it: It's hard to get hyped for winter league stats. But stick with us. The following players won't show up in many headlines over the coming months, but their play this winter could lead to banner moments in 2016. 

Hanser Alberto, Texas Rangers

Hanser Alberto played well enough in Triple-A last season to earn 41 second-half games with the Texas Rangers. The infielder was even pressed into playing time in the ALDS after an injury to Rangers star Adrian Beltre. 

Alberto only slashed .222/.238/.263 in his big league at-bats, but he's used that experience to fuel a productive winter campaign. The 23-year-old has posted a slash line of .364/.401/.449 in a competitive Dominican League. Alberto leads all hitters in batting average and ranks third in hits and fourth in on-base percentage. 

Adding to his winter accolades, Alberto earned MVP honors in the Dominican League's All-Star Game. He came up with the only run-scoring hit, a two-run single in the sixth inning, to lead his team to victory. 

He is on Texas' 40-man roster and figures to push for a spot on the big league squad out of spring training. If his performance this winter is any indication, Alberto will enter camp playing his best ball.  

Steven Moya, Detroit Tigers

Steven Moya still has his entire career ahead of him, but the Detroit Tigers slugger has seen a fall from grace over the last year.

At the end of the 2014 season, Moya was one of the hottest prospects in the game. He mashed 35 homers and drove in 105 RBI in Double-A, leading Tigers fans to believe he was nearing completion at the developmental levels. 

Yet Moya's 20-homer campaign in 2015 was considered a disappointment. That's because the 24-year-old's flaws were exploited. Triple-A pitchers struck out Moya over 30 percent of the time, leading to a poor batting average and a sub-.300 on-base percentage. 

Moya fell out of MLB.com's top 100 prospects altogether, but he remains as Detroit's No. 2 overall talent. Instead of moping, Moya has made improvements in the Dominican League. He's slashing .290/.341/.444 with 55 total bases in 33 games. 

“Very encouraging,” Tigers general manager Al Avila told the Detroit News regarding Moya's winter production. “Winter ball is a hard place to put up big numbers.

“You put up big numbers in winter ball and that’s pretty special, in my opinion," he added.

At just 24, time is on Moya's side. If he can build off a strong winter campaign, don't be surprised to see the 6'6" slugger finally make an impact in Detroit next season. 

Joey Rickard, Baltimore Orioles

Joey Rickard is coming off a standout season in which he slashed .321/.427/.447. The 24-year-old actually played better as he progressed up the organizational ladder, hitting .322 in Double-A and .360 in Triple-A.

That was enough for the Baltimore Orioles to spend a Rule 5 draft selection on the former Tampa Bay outfielder. Rickard has played well in the Dominican League this winter, solidifying his case for an Opening Day roster spot. 

Rickard is slashing .280/.350/.456 in 47 games this winter. He leads the league in RBI and total bases while ranking second in homers and runs scored.

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette said Rickard fits nicely in Baltimore's 2016 plans. He told Joshua Sadlock of Baseball Essential: 

"

He has good on-base capabilities, good skills, he’s got good speed. He’s an excellent contact hitter, he can steal a base and he’s a good defensive player. He can play center field and left field. … It just looks like he’s learned how to play. He looks like a good solid overall ballplayer. Good discipline of the strike zone, and we’re looking forward to taking a look at him in the spring.

"

Baltimore's outfield situation figures to change before spring training, but Rickard has an opportunity to stick around as the roster stands now. Adam Jones has center field locked down, but Junior Lake, Nolan Reimold and Ryan Flaherty are players Rickard can surely beat out for a fourth outfielder spot if he carries his winter production into the spring. 

Tyler White, Houston Astros

Although relatively unknown outside of Houston, Tyler White is rapidly approaching a big league debut. 

The corner infielder is currently ranked as the Astros 28th-best prospect, according to MLB.com. Houston may have more talented options on paper, but White has proven to be one of the most productive. 

Last season, 25-year-old Tyler White slashed .325/.442/.496 while hitting 14 homers and driving in 99 runs between Double-A and Triple-A. That production came on the heels of a 15-homer season in 2014 between Single-A and High-A. 

White chose to continue to play this winter, and he could reap the benefits of that decision next spring. No player has enjoyed more offensive success in the Dominican League than White. He leads all hitters in on-base percentage and homers and ranks second in RBI, total bases and slugging percentage. 

It's hard to ignore the numbers White has put up against elite competition over the last few seasons. Because of that, Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle believes White is in a prime position to earn a roster spot out of spring training:

"

Tyler White has yet to reach the majors but has excelled at every level of the minors despite a less-than-ideal physique and height. He can field well at first base, but his range is limited. Still, if he hits, he'll probably earn a spot. White could end up as a complementary right-handed piece to Jon Singleton, a left-handed batter who mashed right-handed pitching at Class AAA but really struggled against southpaws.

"

White may not have the ideal profile for a corner infielder, but he's excelled on the diamond. For what he lacks in size, he makes up for in plate discipline, which is a trait the strikeout-prone Astros could use in 2016. 

Stats courtesy of MLB.com unless otherwise noted.