Ranking the Top Prospect for All 30 MLB Teams Entering 2016
As we get ready for the start of spring training in less than a month, now is the time that top prospect lists are unveiled around the baseball world.
Prospects are generally ranked on a team-by-team basis to show how each farm system stacks up and then on a league-wide basis to give an idea of how the top young players in the minor leagues compare as they make their way toward the majors.
However, we're going to do something a little different here.
We've taken the No. 1 prospect for each MLB team and ranked them 1-30, as we compare the cream of the crop from each farm system around the league.
Note: All prospect rankings referenced in the following article are in reference to the 2015 Baseball America Prospect Handbook, unless otherwise indicated.
30. Los Angeles Angels: RHP Victor Alcantara
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Stats
| 2014 | A | 27/20 | 7-6 | 3.81 | 1.261 | 60 | 117 | 125.1 |
| 2015 | A+ | 27/27 | 7-12 | 5.62 | 1.544 | 58 | 125 | 136.0 |
Player Overview
After trading Sean Newcomb and Chris Ellis to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for shortstop Andrelton Simmons, there's a good chance the Los Angeles Angels will be the only team in baseball without a representative on league-wide top-100 prospect lists.
Catcher Taylor Ward and outfielder Jahmai Jones were the team's top picks last June, and they could soon find themselves atop the organizational totem pole, but for now it's right-hander Victor Alcantara who earns top prospect honors.
The Dominican native was a Futures Game participant in 2014, but he struggled making the jump to High-A this past season.
He has the stuff to be an impact starter. He sits in the mid-90s with his fastball, has a slider that already profiles as a plus pitch and adds an improving changeup as his third pitch.
Command issues (4.4 BB/9 career) and a high-effort delivery could eventually necessitate a move to the bullpen, but for now the Angels will give him every chance to prove he can start.
29. Miami Marlins: RHP Tyler Kolek
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| 2014 | ROK | 9/8 | 0-3 | 4.50 | 1.591 | 13 | 18 | 22.0 |
| 2015 | A | 25/25 | 4-10 | 4.56 | 1.555 | 61 | 81 | 108.2 |
Player Overview
The No. 2 pick in the 2014 draft and the top pick to sign after Brady Aiken failed to come to terms with the Houston Astros, Tyler Kolek is the prototypical burly, hard-throwing Texas high schooler.
With a fastball that can touch triple digits and the makings of a plus curveball, Kolek dominated high school hitters during his senior year, posting a 0.36 ERA with 126 strikeouts in 60.1 innings of work, per MLB.com.
Command has been a serious issue in the early stages of his pro career, though, as he's walked 74 batters in 130.2 innings for a rate of 5.1 walks per nine innings.
Kolek is still a work in progress, but MLB.com's Prospect Watch helps put things into perspective:
"There's more to Kolek than pure velocity. He gets heavy sinking life on his fastball, creating lots of groundball outs. He's refined his breaking ball since being drafted, giving it 12-to-6 break. He still needs to work on his secondary offerings, as he's largely been able to rely on his fastball to this point.
As is the case with most young power pitchers, command remains a work in progress for Kolek. He'll need to improve it to reach his ceiling, but his size, stuff and arm strength give him top-of-the-rotation potential.
"
Kolek will need to show some signs of improvement in 2016—that much is for sure.
28. Baltimore Orioles: RHP Hunter Harvey
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Stats
| 2014 | A | 17/17 | 7-5 | 3.18 | 1.129 | 33 | 106 | 87.2 |
| 2015 | INJ | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Player Overview
The Baltimore Orioles farm system has been headlined the past few seasons by a pair of high-ceiling pitchers in Hunter Harvey and Dylan Bundy.
The trouble is, those two haven't seen much of the field.
It's make-or-break time for the 23-year-old Bundy, who is out of minor league options and will either break camp with the big league club or risk being lost on waivers.
However, there is still plenty of time for the 21-year-old Harvey to get his development back on track.
The son of former All-Star closer Bryan Harvey, he made his full-season debut for Single-A Delmarva in 2014 and finished 7-5 with a 3.18 ERA, 1.129 WHIP and 106 strikeouts in 87.2 innings while earning a spot on the Team USA roster for the Futures Game.
However, his breakout season ended in July when he suffered a strained flexor mass in his throwing elbow. That was followed by a fractured fibula and then a recurrence of that same flexor mass issue, which kept him sidelined for the entire 2015 campaign.
Expected to be back at 100 percent to begin the 2016 season, he'll look to quickly return to his pre-injury form.
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27. San Francisco Giants: RHP Tyler Beede
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Stats
| 2014 | ROK/A- | 6/6 | 0-1 | 3.00 | 1.533 | 7 | 18 | 15.0 |
| 2015 | A+/AA | 22/22 | 5-10 | 3.97 | 1.259 | 44 | 86 | 124.2 |
Player Overview
Since drafting and developing the trio of Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain and Madison Bumgarner, the San Francisco Giants have had some trouble turning their early-round pitching selections into big league contributors.
However, there's a good chance Tyler Beede helps them finally buck that trend.
Drafted in the first round out of high school by the Toronto Blue Jays, Beede instead honored his commitment to Vanderbilt and wound up going No. 14 overall to the Giants in 2014.
He dominated High-A hitters to begin the 2015 season, pitching to a 2.24 ERA and 1.146 WHIP over nine starts, but he struggled to make the jump to Double-A, where he showed some command problems with a 4.4 BB/9 mark.
Despite that bump in the road, Beede still has all the makings of a solid middle-of-the-rotation starter, with potential for more if his feel for the curveball improves and he refines his control a bit.
26. Seattle Mariners: RF Alex Jackson
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Stats
| 2014 | ROK | 24 | 82 | .280/.344/.476 | 23 | 6 | 2 | 16 | 11 | 0 |
| 2015 | A-/A | 76 | 271 | .207/.318/.365 | 56 | 17 | 8 | 38 | 41 | 3 |
Player Overview
Viewed by most as the top high school bat in the 2014 draft, Alex Jackson was taken No. 6 overall by the Seattle Mariners, who quickly moved him from behind the plate to a corner outfield spot where his offensive game should still play.
He was good enough in a 24-game stint in the Arizona rookie league after signing that the team sent to him to Single-A Clinton last year to kick off his first full season in the organization.
Suffice to say, he wasn't ready for that big of a leap.
The 20-year-old hit a dismal .157/.240/.213 and struck out 35 times in 108 at-bats, before being demoted to Low-A Everett in June.
He hit just .239 over 163 at-bats following the step down, but he did post an .832 OPS with 11 doubles and eight home runs.
Strikeouts were the big issue all season, as he whiffed at a 30.2 percent rate between the two levels.
The Mariners would be wise to ease off the gas a bit in terms of his progression through the minor league ranks, but the tools are all still there for him to be a future middle-of-the-order force.
25. Detroit Tigers: RHP Michael Fulmer
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| 2014 | A+/AA | 20/20 | 6-11 | 4.39 | 1.546 | 34 | 87 | 98.1 |
| 2015 | A+/AA | 22/22 | 10-3 | 2.24 | 1.075 | 30 | 125 | 124.2 |
Player Overview
The Detroit Tigers added some much-needed prospect talent to the farm system at the deadline last year when they shipped out David Price, Yoenis Cespedes and Joakim Soria.
Daniel Norris was the headlining acquisition, but with his rookie eligibility exhausted, it's right-hander Michael Fulmer who takes over as the team's top prospect.
Fulmer was the key piece acquired from the New York Mets in the Cespedes deal, after his stock climbed considerably from his preseason spot as the No. 13 prospect in the Mets system.
The 22-year-old brings power stuff from his burly 6'3" and 200-pound frame, as he clocks in the mid-90s with his fastball. His slider is his best secondary offering, but he also throws a curveball and changeup that should be able to develop into at least average pitches.
Norris appears to be the front-runner to break camp with the final spot in the Detroit rotation, but Fulmer will get a long look this spring. There's a good chance he'll make his debut at some point in 2016.
24. Arizona Diamondbacks: RHP Archie Bradley
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Stats
| 2014 | AA/AAA | 18/18 | 3-7 | 4.45 | 1.506 | 49 | 75 | 83.0 |
| 2015 | A+/AAA | 6/6 | 1-0 | 2.76 | 1.398 | 10 | 32 | 29.1 |
| 2015 | MLB | 8/8 | 2-3 | 5.80 | 1.626 | 22 | 23 | 35.2 |
Player Overview
The No. 7 pick in the 2011 draft and the No. 9 prospect in all of baseball heading into the 2014 season, Archie Bradley has seen his rapid ascent to the majors get derailed by injury in recent years.
Expected to make a serious impact at the big league level in 2014, he was instead limited to just 83 innings in the minors while dealing with elbow issues.
Despite that setback he still managed to break camp with a rotation spot last year, but a line drive to the face landed him on the disabled list on April 28.
He returned on May 16 and made four more starts, before right shoulder tendinitis sidelined him again. He didn't pitch in the majors again in 2015.
Still just 23 years old, Bradley has all the ingredients to be a front-line starter with a solid 6'4", 230 pound frame and a solid four-pitch repertoire.
It's simply a matter of proving he can stay healthy, because he has legitimate ace potential and could give the Arizona Diamondbacks another front-line arm alongside Zack Greinke and Shelby Miller in the near future.
23. Toronto Blue Jays: CF Anthony Alford
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Stats
| 2014 | ROK/A | 14 | 54 | .259/.333/.389 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 5 |
| 2015 | A/A+ | 107 | 413 | .298/.398/.421 | 123 | 25 | 4 | 35 | 91 | 27 |
Player Overview
The Toronto Blue Jays have flipped a good deal of prospect talent in recent years: Noah Syndergaard, Travis d'Arnaud, Adeiny Hechavarria, Jake Marisnick, Daniel Norris, Justin Nicolino, Sean Nolin, Kendall Graveman, Franklin Barreto, Jeff Hoffman, Miguel Castro and Alberto Tirado, to name a few.
However, they may still have a homegrown superstar on the horizon in outfielder Anthony Alford.
An elite athlete who played football at Southern Mississippi, Alford only began focusing all of his attention on baseball in 2014, and he's already made significant strides.
The potential is there for him to be a true five-tool talent, as MLB.com's Prospect Watch explains:
"Alford is an exceptional athlete, and his tools haven't been nearly as unrefined as feared. Though he'll need to cut down on his strikeouts, he has made a lot of hard contact and has considerable raw power he has yet to tap into.
His plus-plus speed is a weapon on the bases and gives him a chance to remain in center field, while his strong arm makes right field a viable fallback position.
"
His 13.8 percent walk rate is indicative of an advanced approach at the plate, and he's a prospect who is capable of taking off if everything clicks at once.
Don't be surprised if he's much higher on this list by season's end.
22. Cincinnati Reds: LF Jesse Winker
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Stats
| 2014 | A+/AA | 74 | 282 | .287/.399/.518 | 81 | 20 | 15 | 57 | 57 | 5 |
| 2015 | AA | 123 | 443 | .282/.390/.433 | 125 | 24 | 13 | 55 | 69 | 8 |
Player Overview
The Cincinnati Reds have added a ton of prospect talent in recent years by trading away the likes of Todd Frazier, Aroldis Chapman, Johnny Cueto, Mike Leake, Marlon Byrd and Alfredo Simon.
However, it's still homegrown outfielder Jesse Winker who gets the nod as their top prospect.
The No. 49 pick in the 2012 draft, Winker has put together a .292/.397/.471 line over parts of four minor league seasons, and after spending all of 2015 at the Double-A level he's closing in on his arrival in the big leagues.
The 22-year-old is one of the best pure hitters in the minors with his smooth stroke from the left side, and he's also demonstrated terrific plate discipline with a 14.2 percent career walk rate.
Winker will probably never hit more than 20 home runs in a season, but he has a chance to be a perennial .300 hitter and a big piece of the puzzle for the rebuilding Reds.
With the left field position currently open at the big league level, the job is all his as soon as he proves he's ready.
21. Chicago Cubs: SS Gleyber Torres
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| 2014 | ROK/A- | 50 | 182 | .297/.386/.440 | 54 | 8 | 2 | 33 | 37 | 10 |
| 2015 | A/A+ | 126 | 487 | .287/.346/.376 | 140 | 24 | 3 | 64 | 54 | 22 |
Player Overview
With Kris Bryant, Addison Russell, Kyle Schwarber and Jorge Soler graduating to the majors, top prospect honors in the Chicago Cubs organization now go to shortstop Gleyber Torres.
Signed to a $1.7 million bonus out of Venezuela, Torres opened the 2015 season with Single-A South Bend and played the entire year at the age of 18.
He hit .293/.353/.386 with 32 extra-base hits and 22 stolen bases in 119 games before a late-season promotion to High-A, and that is likely where he will open the 2016 campaign.
Defensively, he may be better suited for second base over the long term, but his offensive game is already so advanced for his age that it's his bat that will keep him climbing the top prospect ranks.
Keep an eye on catcher Willson Contreras, as he could take over this spot if he backs up his breakout offensive performance with another strong season.
20. Kansas City Royals: SS Raul A. Mondesi
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Stats
| 2014 | A+ | 110 | 435 | .211/.256/.354 | 92 | 14 | 8 | 33 | 54 | 17 |
| 2015 | AA | 81 | 304 | .243/.279/.372 | 74 | 11 | 6 | 33 | 36 | 19 |
Player Overview
The Kansas City Royals' prospect pool was thinned by deadline trades for Johnny Cueto and Ben Zobrist, but they managed to hang onto shortstop Raul A. Mondesi, who remains the headliner of the system.
The 20-year-old has been aggressively promoted through the minor league ranks so far, and that continued last season when he spent the entire year in Double-A before earning a surprise call-up to the World Series roster.
He's still a work in progress offensively, as he boasts a .246/.293/.365 career line over four minor league seasons, but a lot of that has to do with being among the youngest players at every minor league stop.
Mondesi is already a Gold Glove-caliber defender, and his plus speed should be a useful tool on both sides of the ball.
Alcides Escobar is ticketed for free agency after the 2017 season, assuming his option year is exercised, and all signs point to Mondesi supplanting him as the everyday shortstop.
19. Houston Astros: SS Alex Bregman
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Stats
| 2015 | NCAA | 66 | 260 | .323/.412/.535 | 84 | 22 | 9 | 49 | 59 | 38 |
| 2015 | A/A+ | 66 | 272 | .294/.366/.415 | 80 | 13 | 4 | 34 | 37 | 13 |
Player Overview
The No. 2 pick in last June's draft and one of three shortstops taken with the first three selections, Alex Bregman does not quite have the ceiling of Brendan Rodgers or the overall polish of Dansby Swanson, but he's a terrific prospect in his own right.
In his three seasons at LSU, he hit .337/.409/.514 with 56 doubles, 10 triples, 21 home runs and 66 stolen bases while posting an impressive ratio of 87 walks to 68 strikeouts.
His hit tool grades out as his best right now, but he does everything well and should be able to stick at shortstop defensively.
After reaching Single-A for 37 games after signing, Bregman is already on the fast track to the majors, and it will be interesting to see how the Houston Astros decide to use him defensively with Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa locked into the middle infield spots.
Eventually moving the 6'4" Correa to third base seems like the most likely solution at this point, but regardless it's a good problem to have.
18. San Diego Padres: CF Manuel Margot
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Stats
| 2014 | A/A+ | 115 | 420 | .293/.356/.462 | 123 | 25 | 12 | 59 | 65 | 42 |
| 2015 | A+/AA | 110 | 439 | .276/.324/.419 | 121 | 27 | 6 | 50 | 73 | 39 |
Player Overview
The San Diego Padres drained what was a relatively deep farm system last offseason when new general manager A.J. Preller set to work trying to put an immediate winner on the field.
A staggeringly long list of legitimate prospects were shipped out in a five-month span: SS Trea Turner, SP Joe Ross, SP Matt Wisler, SP Max Fried, OF Mallex Smith, SP Jesse Hahn, 2B Jace Peterson, SP Burch Smith, SP Joe Wieland, OF Dustin Peterson, SP Zach Eflin, RP R.J. Alvarez, 1B Jake Bauers and SP Keyvius Sampson.
Add to that catcher Austin Hedges and infielder Cory Spangenberg exhausting their rookie eligibility, and there is no question this is a significantly different-looking Padres farm system.
After a disappointing 2015 performance, the team set to work rebuilding the minor league ranks this offseason, starting with a trade that shipped All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel to the Boston Red Sox for a package of four prospects.
Manuel Margot was the headliner in that deal, and he takes over as the top prospect for the Padres.
Plus speed is the biggest weapon for the 21-year-old, but he also has the tools to hit for a decent average and be a solid defensive center fielder.
17. Chicago White Sox: SS Tim Anderson
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Stats
| 2014 | ROK/A+/AA | 84 | 347 | .303/.328/.481 | 105 | 21 | 9 | 40 | 57 | 10 |
| 2015 | AA | 125 | 513 | .312/.350/.429 | 160 | 21 | 5 | 46 | 79 | 49 |
Player Overview
Tim Anderson still has work to do defensively if he's going to stick at shortstop, but he's done nothing but hit since being taken with the No. 17 pick in the 2013 draft.
The 22-year-old has hit .301/.343/.429 in three minor league seasons, and he showed some added pop this past season with 38 extra-base hits to go along with 49 stolen bases.
That has helped overshadow the 59 errors he's committed the past two seasons, and he'll need to answer those defensive questions before earning the call-up to Chicago.
"Though Anderson has the athleticism, actions and arm strength needed at shortstop, it's not a given that he'll remain at the position. He lacks soft hands and still is figuring out his footwork after making 34 errors in 81 games last season," wrote MLB.com.
However, MLB.com goes on to say that if he "can't cut it as an infielder" he has the skill set to make the move to center field, should that need arise.
Either way, his all-around offensive game is enough to earn him the top prospect distinction over pitchers Carson Fulmer and Spencer Adams.
16. Cleveland Indians: CF Bradley Zimmer
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Stats
| 2014 | A-/A | 48 | 179 | .302/.400/.492 | 54 | 12 | 6 | 32 | 36 | 12 |
| 2015 | A+/AA | 127 | 473 | .273/.368/.446 | 129 | 26 | 16 | 63 | 84 | 44 |
Player Overview
The Cleveland Indians are in serious need of an offensive spark at the major league level, and it may not be long before they get one thanks to what has quietly become one of the deepest minor league systems in all of baseball.
Outfielders Bradley Zimmer and Clint Frazier are the headliners, and a case can be made for either of them being the team's top prospect.
Frazier has tremendous raw power and as a result probably has the higher ceiling, but Zimmer has a higher floor and is closer to reaching the majors at this point, so he gets the nod for the No. 1 spot heading into 2016.
The No. 21 pick in the 2014 draft and the brother of Kansas City Royals pitching prospect Kyle Zimmer, Bradley hit .308/.403/.493 with 30 extra-base hits and 32 stolen bases in 78 games at the High-A level last season before being promoted.
He struggled with the jump to Double-A, hitting .219/.313/.374 over 187 at-bats, and he'll no doubt return there to start the 2016 campaign.
As his 6'4", 185 pound frame continues to fill out, he should be able to generate more power, and while he doesn't have elite athleticism, his instincts and overall polish have helped him become an asset both in center field and on the basepaths.
15. Tampa Bay Rays: LHP Blake Snell
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Stats
| 2014 | A/A+ | 24/24 | 8-8 | 3.20 | 1.309 | 56 | 119 | 115.1 |
| 2015 | A+/AA/AAA | 25/23 | 15-4 | 1.41 | 1.022 | 53 | 163 | 134.0 |
Player Overview
It's not as though Blake Snell was an unknown prospect heading into the 2015 season, as he had been a supplemental round selection in the 2011 draft when the Tampa Bay Rays took him with the No. 52 overall pick.
However, he was by no means the focal point of their farm system, checking in as their No. 9 overall prospect at the start of the season.
Beginning the season at High-A Charlotte, Snell rattled off a 49-inning scoreless streak to open the year, and he moved seamlessly over three levels to close out the year with a 1.83 ERA over nine starts at the Triple-A level.
The left-hander won Minor League Player of the Year honors for his sheer dominance last season, as he pitched to a 1.41 ERA over 134 innings and held batters to a .182 batting average against him.
Snell has steadily improved his command during his time in the minors, and he has a solid three-pitch mix that has played up as his projectable 6'4" frame, which has continued to fill out.
In terms of pure stuff, Snell does not have the upside of the top tier of pitching prospects around the league, but his floor is increasingly higher. There's a good chance he'll be the next homegrown rotation piece for the Rays.
14. Colorado Rockies: SS Brendan Rodgers
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Stats
| 2015 | HS | 25 | 75 | .360/.457/.786 | 27 | 8 | 8 | 23 | 19 | 3 |
| 2015 | ROK | 37 | 143 | .273/.340/.420 | 39 | 8 | 3 | 20 | 22 | 4 |
Player Overview
Ranked as the top overall player in the 2015 draft class by both MLB.com's Prospect Watch and Baseball America, shortstop Brendan Rodgers ended up going No. 3 overall to the Colorado Rockies.
His selection in June was followed shortly thereafter by the team's decision to finally pull the trigger on dealing franchise shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, who was under contract through the 2020 season.
It will take a few years for Rodgers to reach the majors, even as he is one of the more polished high school players to come along in recent years, but all signs point to his joining Nolan Arenado on the left side of the Rockies infield for years to come.
He generates good power with his plus bat speed without sacrificing his hit tool, and he has the glove to not only stick at shortstop but also be a plus defender.
Don't expect to see the 19-year-old in Coors Field anytime soon, but he's a franchise-caliber player in the making for the Rockies.
13. New York Yankees: RF Aaron Judge
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Stats
| 2014 | A/A+ | 131 | 467 | .308/.419/.486 | 144 | 24 | 17 | 78 | 80 | 1 |
| 2015 | AA/AAA | 124 | 478 | .255/.330/.448 | 122 | 26 | 20 | 72 | 63 | 7 |
Player Overview
The New York Yankees' newfound commitment to developing their in-house talent has already yielded a potential ace in Luis Severino.
He will soon be joined be a potential middle-of-the-order force in outfielder Aaron Judge.
An imposing figure in the batter's box at 6'7" and 275 pounds, Judge is still working on translating his tremendous raw power into in-game production.
MLB.com's Prospect Watch explained:
"Few players can match the strength and leverage Judge creates with his 6-foot-7, 275-pound frame. He has huge raw power, though he's content for now to use a shorter stroke and the entire field, working counts and producing line drives.
A more advanced hitter than expected, he currently projects to bat .275 with 20-25 homers per season but could produce more power (and hit for less average) if he becomes more aggressive and turns on more pitches.
"
Veteran Carlos Beltran is set to hit free agency next offseason, and all signs point to Judge as his replacement in right field. Injuries could open the door to his arrival in the big leagues a bit sooner, though.
12. Atlanta Braves: SS Dansby Swanson
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Stats
| 2015 | NCAA | 71 | 281 | .335/.423/.623 | 94 | 24 | 15 | 64 | 76 | 16 |
| 2015 | A- | 22 | 83 | .289/.394/.482 | 24 | 7 | 1 | 11 | 19 | 0 |
Player Overview
It's not often that the No. 1 overall pick in June finds himself with another organization before the end of that same calendar year, but it's also not often that a young, controllable pitcher like Shelby Miller becomes available on the trade market.
The Atlanta Braves have added a tremendous amount of talent to their farm system over the past two years, and Swanson is the prize of that group thanks to an advanced all-around skill set and a great feel for the game.
He began his pro career at Low-A Hillsboro after landing a $6.5 million bonus, and he figures to jump straight into full-season ball in his first full season.
A middle infield of Ozhaino Albies and Swanson appears to be the long-term plan for the Braves at this point, and with both of those players seemingly on the fast track, that duo could arrive sooner than expected.
With a polished hit tool, solid gap power and off-the-charts makeup, Swanson has been compared to Derek Jeter, and the Braves would love nothing more than for him to emerge as that type of franchise anchor in their rebuilding process.
11. Oakland Athletics: SS Franklin Barreto
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| 2014 | A- | 73 | 289 | .311/.384/.481 | 90 | 23 | 6 | 61 | 65 | 29 |
| 2015 | A+ | 90 | 338 | .302/.333/.500 | 102 | 22 | 13 | 47 | 50 | 8 |
Player Overview
The decision to trade Josh Donaldson looked like a mistake from the get-go last offseason, and a year later it's looks even worse after he captured AL MVP honors. In addition, a key piece in the return package, Brett Lawrie, was traded to the Chicago White Sox for a pair of low-level minor leaguers.
However, it's shortstop prospect Franklin Barreto who was the key player heading from Toronto to Oakland in that trade, and he has a chance to even things out a bit if he continues on his current trajectory.
Barreto will turn 20 next month, and after a terrific all-around season with High-A Stockton, all signs point to him opening the 2016 campaign at the Double-A level.
Despite his 5'9" frame, he generates great power thanks to his impressive bat speed, as MLB.com explained in his updated profile: "Barreto stands out for his combination of hitting ability and raw power. He's undersized at 5-foot-9, but he possesses a lightning-quick bat and explosive swing, and his feel for using the whole field at a young age suggests he'll hit for a high average."
His defense still needs work, as evidenced by his 34 errors last season, but he has the raw tools to stick at shortstop. If not, he has the bat to move to third base, or he could be an elite offensive producer at second base.
10. St. Louis Cardinals: RHP Alex Reyes
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| 2014 | A | 21/21 | 7-7 | 3.63 | 1.312 | 61 | 137 | 109.0 |
| 2015 | A+/AA | 22/22 | 5-7 | 2.49 | 1.174 | 49 | 151 | 101.1 |
Player Overview
A second positive test for marijuana will cost Alex Reyes the first 50 games of the 2016 season, and it's fair to say that minor league hitters won't miss him while he's gone.
The No. 2 prospect in the St. Louis Cardinals organization and No. 51 prospect in baseball heading into the 2015 season, Reyes firmly established himself as one of the game's elite starting pitching options while reaching the Double-A level.
His 151 strikeouts in just 101.1 innings of work speak to how overpowering his three-pitch repertoire can be, and despite the fact that he's still relatively raw, he looks to have all the makings of a future front-line starter.
Reyes took an interesting path to the pros, as he grew up in New Jersey but moved back to the Dominican Republic prior to his senior season in high school to be part of the international free-agent class when his draft stock was slow to develop.
He wound up landing a $950,000 bonus after his velocity ticked up following the move, and that has a chance to be an absolute steal for the St. Louis Cardinals if he approaches his ceiling.
9. Milwaukee Brewers: SS Orlando Arcia
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Stats
| 2014 | A+ | 127 | 498 | .289/.346/.392 | 144 | 29 | 4 | 50 | 65 | 31 |
| 2015 | AA | 129 | 512 | .307/.347/.453 | 157 | 37 | 8 | 69 | 74 | 25 |
Player Overview
The Milwaukee Brewers have one of the most improved farm systems in all of baseball after trading the likes of Carlos Gomez, Mike Fiers, Adam Lind and Francisco Rodriguez since the trade deadline last year.
Center fielder Brett Phillips has a chance to be a star in his own right, but there is little question that shortstop Orlando Arcia is the team's top prospect.
After hitting .251/.314/.333 in his full-season debut in 2013, he has seen his OPS steadily improve from .647 to .738 to .800 over the past three years.
The progression of his offensive game has been a pleasant surprise, as his glove has always been his best tool and the one expected to carry him to the big leagues. MLB.com had the following to say about his defensive prowess:
"Arcia is a gifted defender, to put it simply. His soft hands, excellent range and strong arm could make him a Gold Glove-caliber shortstop early in his career, and there aren't enough good things that can be said about his instincts and overall feel for the position.
"
Jean Segura is currently occupying the shortstop position at the big league level, but he'll be traded or moved to another position as soon as Arcia proves he's ready to make the jump.
8. Texas Rangers: RF Nomar Mazara
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Stats
| 2014 | A/AA | 130 | 483 | .271/.362/.478 | 131 | 28 | 22 | 89 | 78 | 4 |
| 2015 | AA/AAA | 131 | 490 | .296/.366/.443 | 145 | 26 | 14 | 69 | 68 | 2 |
Player Overview
The Texas Rangers saw enough in Nomar Mazara coming out of the Dominican Republic that they gave him a then-record $4.95 million bonus as part of the 2011 international free--agent class.
After a relatively slow start to his pro career, he took off in 2014.
Mazara posted a .271/.362/.478 line that included 28 doubles and 22 home runs that year as a 19-year-old, and he showed enough in Single-A to make the jump straight to Double-A to close out the year.
His quick progression through the minors continued when he reached Triple-A last year, and it won't be long before he's in the majors and manning right field, where his cannon arm is a serious weapon.
It's his bat that has scouts excited, though, as he generates tremendous power with his long arms and strong 6'4" frame. He couples that with a good understanding of the strike zone.
He's overtaken Joey Gallo as the headliner of the farm system, with 2015 breakout star Lewis Brinson close behind. The Rangers farm system remains solid despite the high cost to acquire Cole Hamels at the deadline last year.
7. New York Mets: LHP Steven Matz
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Stats
| 2014 | A+/AA | 24/24 | 10-9 | 2.25 | 1.193 | 35 | 131 | 140.0 |
| 2015 | A+/AA/AAA | 19/18 | 8-4 | 2.05 | 1.063 | 34 | 107 | 105.1 |
| 2015 | MLB | 6/6 | 4-0 | 2.27 | 1.234 | 10 | 34 | 35.2 |
Player Overview
With only 35.2 innings pitched in the regular season, Steven Matz is technically still a prospect as his rookie eligibility is still intact heading into the 2016 season.
However, he added another 14.2 innings to that during the New York Mets postseason run to the World Series, including a no-decision in Game 4 of the World Series when he allowed seven hits and two earned runs in five innings of work.
Matz is penciled into the No. 4 starter spot behind Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard heading into spring training, and there's a good chance he'll wind up being the best No. 4 starter in baseball.
A second-round pick in the 2009 draft, Matz didn't begin his pro career until 2012 after Tommy John surgery and subsequent arm issues kept him sidelined.
However, he broke out in his full-season debut in 2013, and his stock has taken off since.
Once Matz exhausts his rookie eligibility shortly after the start of the season, first baseman Dominic Smith and shortstop Amed Rosario will be the leading candidates to take over as the team's top prospect.
6. Boston Red Sox: 2B Yoan Moncada
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Stats
| 2015 | A | 81 | 306 | .278/.380/.438 | 85 | 19 | 8 | 38 | 61 | 49 |
Player Overview
Between his signing bonus and the bonus-pool penalty, it wound up costing the Boston Red Sox a whopping $63 million just to sign Yoan Moncada when he finally became eligible for free agency last March.
After spending time at second base, shortstop and in center field during his time in Cuba, Moncada played second base exclusively in his pro debut last year, and that's seen as his best long-term fit.
MLB.com provided the following scouting report on his immense offensive potential:
"Few middle infielders can match Moncada's huge offensive ceiling, which earns him comparisons to Robinson Cano with more speed. He's a switch-hitter with outstanding bat speed who makes consistent hard contact from both sides of the plate. Moncada doesn't have much loft in his swing, which could cap his home run production at 15 annually, though he has the potential for 20-25 per season if he alters his approach.
Moncada's best pure tool is his well-above-average speed, which he put to good use by stealing 49 bases in 52 attempts last season.
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After a slow start last season, he settled in with a .305/.414/.503 line after July 1, and he could take off as he becomes more comfortable with life stateside.
5. Philadelphia Phillies: SS J.P. Crawford
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Stats
| 2014 | A/A+ | 123 | 463 | .285/.375/.406 | 132 | 23 | 11 | 48 | 69 | 24 |
| 2015 | A+/AA | 107 | 430 | .288/.380/.414 | 124 | 22 | 6 | 42 | 68 | 12 |
Player Overview
The Philadelphia Phillies already appear to have two solid homegrown pieces in third baseman Maikel Franco and right-hander Aaron Nola, and they will soon be joined by shortstop J.P. Crawford.
Taken with the No. 16 pick in the 2013 draft, Crawford hit .308/.405/.400 in 53 games after signing while earning a promotion to Single-A at the age of 18.
He's moved quickly through the system ever since, reaching Double-A early last season after crushing High-A pitching, and he could arrive in Philadelphia by the All-Star break in 2016.
Crawford is still developing offensively, but he already has a fantastic approach at the plate that allowed him to tally more walks (63) than strikeouts (54) last season.
He's also a lock to stick at shortstop, as he has great range, a strong arm and good natural instincts at the premium position.
4. Minnesota Twins: CF Byron Buxton
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Stats
| 2014 | A+/AA | 31 | 124 | .234/.307/.395 | 29 | 4 | 4 | 16 | 19 | 6 |
| 2015 | AA/AAA | 72 | 292 | .305/.367/.500 | 89 | 10 | 7 | 45 | 55 | 22 |
| 2015 | MLB | 46 | 129 | .209/.250/.326 | 27 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 16 | 2 |
Player Overview
Injuries once again derailed Byron Buxton last year, but there's a reason he was the No. 2 prospect in all of baseball behind Kris Bryant heading into the 2015 season.
The term "five-tool player" gets thrown around a lot, but Buxton is one of the few prospects with legitimate five-tool talent. All the ingredients are there for him to emerge as a superstar for the Minnesota Twins.
A .334/.424/.520 line with 19 doubles, 18 triples, 12 home runs and 55 stolen bases in 2013 earned him the No. 1 prospect ranking to begin the 2014 season, but a wrist injury and a concussion cost him most of the 2014 season.
A strong start last season earned him the big league call on June 14, but a sprained thumb landed him on the disabled list once again. As a result, his first taste of MLB action was largely disappointing.
Despite those struggles to stay healthy, Buxton appears to be the leading candidate to break camp as the Twins' everyday center fielder and leadoff hitter.
So long as he can stay on the field, he'll be one of the favorites for AL Rookie of the Year honors, and fans may finally get to see what all the fuss is about.
3. Pittsburgh Pirates: RHP Tyler Glasnow
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Stats
| 2014 | A+ | 23/23 | 12-5 | 1.74 | 1.054 | 57 | 157 | 124.1 |
| 2015 | A-/AA/AAA | 22/22 | 7-5 | 2.39 | 1.098 | 43 | 136 | 109.1 |
Player Overview
To put it simply, Tyler Glasnow is downright filthy.
With a fastball that sits in the upper 90s, a biting curveball and a solid changeup, he has a terrific three-pitch repertoire, and his stuff plays up thanks to his towering 6'8" frame that has filled out since he was taken in the fifth round of the 2011 draft.
He has smooth, repeatable mechanics despite his size, and if not for an ankle injury in May he may have been among the Pirates' call-ups when the roster expanded last season.
Glasnow has been dominant every step of the way so far as a pro, going 28-16 with a 2.07 ERA, 1.059 WHIP and 501 strikeouts in 383.1 innings.
His command has also improved in each of the past three seasons as he's gone from 4.9 to 4.1 to a more manageable 3.5 BB/9 in 2015.
Glasnow will start the year in the minors, but he figures to join Gerrit Cole and Francisco Liriano atop the big league rotation at some point during the 2016 season. He should be able to make an immediate impact.
2. Washington Nationals: RHP Lucas Giolito
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Stats
| 2014 | A | 20/20 | 10-2 | 2.20 | 1.000 | 28 | 110 | 98.0 |
| 2015 | A+/AA | 21/19 | 7-7 | 3.15 | 1.282 | 37 | 131 | 117.0 |
Player Overview
Lucas Giolito was squarely in the running to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 draft; however, he slid to the Washington Nationals at No. 16 overall when he suffered a sprained UCL during his senior season.
The injury eventually required Tommy John surgery, and the Nationals have brought him along slowly as a result, but they may not be able to hold him back for much longer.
After going 10-2 with a 2.20 ERA, 1.000 WHIP and 10.1 K/9 in 98 innings of work at the Single-A level in 2014, he continued to impress last season while splitting his time between High-A and Double-A.
As it stands, Joe Ross and Tanner Roark are set to replace Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister in the big league rotation, but Giolito could arrive for good and seize one of those spots at some point in the second half.
He has electric stuff and legitimate No. 1 starter potential, making him the top pitching prospect in baseball and a big part of the Nationals' future.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers: SS Corey Seager
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Stats
| 2014 | A+/AA | 118 | 475 | .349/.402/.602 | 166 | 50 | 20 | 97 | 89 | 6 |
| 2015 | AA/AAA | 125 | 501 | .293/.344/.487 | 147 | 37 | 18 | 76 | 81 | 4 |
| 2015 | MLB | 27 | 98 | .337/.425/.561 | 33 | 8 | 4 | 17 | 17 | 2 |
Player Overview
Since the inception of the Rookie of the Year award in 1947, a player in the Dodgers organization has won the award an impressive 16 different times.
Shortstop Corey Seager will look to make that 17.
Despite big minor league numbers the past two seasons, the Dodgers resisted the urge to promote Seager, even when veteran Jimmy Rollins was struggling last season.
However, a finger injury to Rollins opened the door for Seager, who finally made his debut on Sept. 3.
It didn't take him long to seize the everyday job while Rollins continued to nurse the injury, and by the time the playoffs rolled around, there was little question who deserved the bulk of the playing time at the position.
Despite his impact down the stretch, Seager maintains his rookie eligibility after tallying just 98 at-bats, and that makes him the top prospect in all of baseball entering the 2016 season.
Once he uses up his rookie eligibility, left-hander Julio Urias will take over as the Dodgers' top prospect, and he's a top-10 prospect in the league in his own right.
All MiLB and MLB stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com, while college stats come via Baseball Cube.
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