Ranking the Top 5-Tool MLB Prospects in 2016 Spring Training Camp

It's no accident Byron Buxton is one of the premier farmhands in the game.

Simply put, the Minnesota Twins center fielder is the top five-tool MLB prospect, and it isn't even close.

To figure out which rising stars should join Buxton on this exclusive list, we studied up on the toolsiest prospects of all. The guys who cracked these rankings don't just check the box in one or two categories on the tools list, but in every department.

Before we begin, here's a quick rundown of what the toolkit looks like:

• Hit
• Power
• Run
• Arm
• Field

Courtesy of MLB.com, we've included the grades for each prospect in each of the five categories. On the scale, 80 is the highest mark, 50 is average, and 20 is at the bottom.

For this exercise, it's important to remember we're ranking the best five-tool guys—not the best five guys overall. That means one underwhelming tool sinks the chances for some of the most talented players in the minors.

The competition for spots was downright fierce, but that didn't stop two future Boston Red Sox players from making the cut.

Honorable Mentions

Lenny Ignelzi/Associated Press

Corey Seager's lack of foot speed left him on the outside looking in on this list.

After poring through the minor leagues, there were a ton of prospects who were under consideration for the five-tool club but who ultimately missed out on making the grade.

Based on the criteria we just laid out, here are the prospects who came the closest to joining the list:

• Corey Seager, SS, Los Angeles Dodgers
• J.P. Crawford, SS, Philadelphia Phillies
• Brendan Rodgers, SS, Colorado Rockies
• Bradley Zimmer, OF, Cleveland Indians
• Dansby Swanson, SS, Atlanta Braves
• Clint Frazier, OF, Cleveland Indians
• Nomar Mazara, OF, Texas Rangers
• Brett Phillips, OF, Milwaukee Brewers
• Alex Bregman, SS, Houston Astros

5. CF Andrew Benintendi, Boston Red Sox

The Scouting Report Card

• Hit: 60
• Power: 55
• Run: 60
• Arm: 50
• Field: 60

The Breakdown

Technically, Andrew Benintendi won't be at JetBlue Park—the hub of the Boston Red Sox's major league spring training camp.

Manager John Farrell explained the logic behind sending Benintendi to the minor league setup, per Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal:

"It's important to go through the progression of going through the draft, going through minor league camp, and then ultimately coming to big league camp. Once a player comes to the big league environment, he might be more appreciative of the path traveled."

While spending the spring with the rank-and-file minor leaguers, the 2015 first-round pick will be preparing to build off his tremendous debut.

During his time with the short-season Lowell Spinners and the Low-A Greenville Drive, the center fielder put all his tools on display. The lefty hitter batted .313, posted a .972 OPS and smashed 11 home runs while stealing 10 bases in just 54 games.

The only reason Benintendi doesn't rise even higher in these rankings is that his arm grades out at 50. Even with average arm strength, the prized prospect has the potential to soon become a five-tool threat for Boston.

4. SS Orlando Arcia, Milwaukee Brewers

Michael Spooneybarger/Associated Press

Orlando Arcia will soon by picking it at Milller Park.

The Scouting Report Card

• Hit: 60
• Power: 45
• Run: 60
• Arm: 60
• Field: 65

The Breakdown

For the rebuilding Milwaukee Brewers, Orlando Arcia promises to be a franchise cornerstone.

Per MLB.com, the 21-year-old Venezuelan has the defensive skill set to become a "Gold Glove-caliber shortstop." Arcia also causes a ruckus on the bases—25 steals in 2015—and does damage at the plate. Last season, Arcia hit .307 with an .800 OPS for the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers.

The one area of the report card where Arcia is suspect is the power department, where his 45 grade is actually slightly below average. Based on his on-field production in 2015, that mark will soon be on the rise. In 129 games for the Shuckers, the right-handed hitter piled up 37 doubles, seven triples and eight dingers.

Even though the Brew Crew shipped former shortstop Jean Segura to the Arizona Diamondbacks, the brass is planning to have Arcia begin 2016 in the Pacific Coast League.

"Ultimately, as he continues to grow and mature as a player, his production and his continued development will dictate his timeline to the major leagues rather than a move like this, " general manager David Stearns told Adam McCalvy of MLB.com.

That timeline will be awfully brief if Arcia's 2016 begins in the same fashion as his 2015 played out.

3. 2B Yoan Moncada, Boston Red Sox

Brynn Anderson/Associated Press/Associated Press

Yoan Moncada aced the test in his debut season statside.

The Scouting Report Card

• Hit: 60
• Power: 55
• Run: 65
• Arm: 60
• Field: 50

The Breakdown

Plucked out of Cuba by the Boston Red Sox for $31.5 million last March, Yoan Moncada is already proving to be a shrewd buy for the American League East squad.

As his report card indicates, Moncada grades out at above average or better at four of the five categories. The stats back up the scouting report, as the right-handed hitter posted an .817 OPS and stole 49 bases in 52 attempts while playing for the Low-A Grenville Drive.

The one area of his game where the second baseman is lagging is in the field, where he scores as average. Just 20 years old, there's plenty of reason to believe that the super athletic Moncada will improve with the glove.

"He looked overmatched [after he joined Greenville in mid-May]," one evaluator told Alex Speier of the Boston Globe. "Five weeks later, he was the best player on the field. I haven't seen a player make those types of strides and improvements in such a short period of time."

That remarkable gift for improving paired with his unreal tool set not only land him the third spot on this list but also guarantee he has one bright future at Fenway Park.

2. CF Lewis Brinson, Texas Rangers

The Scouting Report Card

• Hit: 60
• Power: 60
• Run: 60
• Arm: 55
• Field: 60

The Breakdown

The Texas Rangers' first-round pick back in 2012, Lewis Brinson put it all together last season.

The center fielder began the year in the High-A California League, where he absolutely battered the hitter-friendly circuit, posting a .337 average with 13 steals and 42 extra-base hits in 64 games for the High Desert Mavericks.

That showing earned Brinson a promotion to Double-A, where he hit .291 with six homers in 28 games before closing out the campaign with an eight-game stint in Triple-A (.428 average).

With 2016 looming, Brinson has already put his banner season in the rearview mirror.

"You never stop getting better," Brinson explained when asked by Alex Kraft of MiLB.com in what ways he hopes to improve. "My defense, my offense, my arm throwing guys out, pitch recognition and being patient at the plate, and continuing to build off what I had last year."

With his penchant to hit for power and average as well as his ability to fly on the bases and in the field, Brinson will be soon be making his mark at Globe Life Park. If Josh Hamilton's left knee keeps acting up, that call to the bigs could come as soon as this summer.

1. CF Byron Buxton, Minnesota Twins

Bruce Kluckhohn/Associated Press

Byron Buxton, who swiped 55 bags and racked up 18 triples in his first full season as a pro, can flat-out fly.

The Scouting Report Card

• Hit: 65
• Power: 55
• Run: 80
• Arm: 70
• Field: 70

The Breakdown

Byron Buxton introduced himself to the baseball world as a five-tool phenom back in 2013—his first full go-around as a professional.

While splitting the campaign with the Minnesota Twins' Single-A affiliates, the 2012 No. 2 overall selection went out of his mind, hitting .334 with 19 doubles, 18 triples, 12 home runs and 55 steals.

Even though an onslaught of injuries has derailed his ascension through the minors over the past two seasons, Buxton managed to make it to Target Field last June.

Unfortunately for Buxton, his 46-game cameo didn't go to script, as he logged a .209 average and tallied just two steals in four tries. As he prepares for his second crack at the highest level, Buxton is intent on learning from his experience.

"You don't see pitching like that down in the minor leagues," Buxton told the Associated Press, via FoxSports.com. "You've just got to get up here and get adjusted to it and just be you."

Considering that Buxton will be 22 for all of 2016, the center fielder still has plenty of time to be himself. And that's going to be a problem for the rest of the big leagues.

Note: All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com, MLB.com and MiLB.com. All scouting grades courtesy of MLB.com. All videos courtesy of MiLB.com.

If you want to talk baseball, find me on Twitter @KarlBuscheck.