MLB's Top Prospects Ready to Make Waves in 2016 Winter Ball
The MLB regular season is long over and the Arizona Fall League recently wrapped up, but there's still baseball being played in the Caribbean as a number of prospects and fringe veterans are working hard in the various winter leagues.
The Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Puerto Rico and Mexico all play host to competitive winter leagues, with the winners from those four leagues and the Cuban national team converging for the annual Caribbean Series at the beginning of February.
These winter leagues have been going strong since late October, so let's check in on how some of the league's top prospects are faring in 2016 winter ball.
We've broken things down by position, highlighting the top two or three guys based not only on production in winter ball but on their current prospect standings.
Note: All prospect rankings courtesy of MLB.com's Prospect Watch.
Catchers
1 of 5
Top Prospects
Jorge Alfaro (No. 4 PHI prospect, No. 58 MLB prospect)
| 69 | .261/.311/.493 | 18 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 12 | 2 | 2/18 |
Alfaro has seen part-time duty behind the plate for the Tiburones de La Guaira in the Venezuelan winter league, as he continues to refine his receiving skills in hopes of making a run at the Philadelphia Phillies' starting catching job at some point in 2017.
The 23-year-old missed time early in the 2016 season with an oblique injury, but he still managed to post a .783 OPS with 21 doubles and 15 home runs over 435 plate appearances before earning his first cup of coffee in the majors.
Francisco Mejia (No. 4 CLE prospect, No. 84 MLB prospect)
| 22 | .227/.217/.227 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0/7 |
One of the breakout prospects of 2016, Mejia has played sparingly for the Estrellas de Oriente in the Dominican winter league.
The 21-year-old rattled off a 50-game hitting streak during the 2016 season while splitting his time between Single-A and High-A, so he's not quite as far along in his development as Alfaro. While his receiving skills are still a bit raw, he has an absolute rocket for an arm and tossed out 43 percent of base stealers this past season.
Other Notable Prospects
Elias Diaz (PIT-Venezuela), Andrew Knapp (PHI-Dominican), Pedro Severino (WAS-Dominican)
Corner Infielders
2 of 5
Top Prospects
3B Rafael Devers (No. 3 BOS prospect, No. 16 MLB prospect)
| 68 | .250/.282/.309 | 17 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 3/12 |
Devers just turned 20 in October, so the fact that he's seen as much playing time as he has for the Leones del Escogido of the Dominican league speaks to how advanced his offensive game is for such a young age.
The young slugger spent a full season at the High-A level in 2016, posting a .779 OPS with 32 doubles, 11 home runs and 71 RBI. His ETA in Boston still looks to be 2018 at the earliest, but his experience this winter could certainly help push that timetable forward a bit.
3B Renato Nunez (No. 5 OAK prospect)
| 87 | .345/.426/.690 | 30 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 22 | 17 | 0 | 11/19 |
Nunez has been the best hitter on the Tigres de Aragua of the Venezuelan league, and he's tied for the league lead in home runs despite not currently qualifying for the league batting title.
The 22-year-old struggled a bit in the upper levels of the minors this past season with a .690 OPS, though he did manage 20 doubles and 23 home runs. His current path to the big leagues is unclear following the emergence of Ryon Healy, but a move across the diamond to first base could be in short order.
1B Rowdy Tellez (No. 9 TOR prospect)
| 42 | .238/.360/.405 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 8/11 |
Playing on the same Estrellas de Oriente team in the Dominican Republic as fellow top prospect Francisco Mejia (CLE), Willy Garcia (PIT) and Jairo Beras (TEX), Tellez has been the most productive of the bunch so far.
After putting together a .297/.387/.530 line that included 29 doubles, 23 home runs and 81 RBI in a full season at the Double-A level, the 21-year-old could be ready to make an impact in Toronto at some point during the upcoming season.
Other Notable Prospects
3B Yandy Diaz (CLE-Venezuela), 3B Hunter Dozier (KC-Dominican), 1B Ronald Guzman (TEX-Dominican), 1B Rhys Hoskins (PHI-Dominican), 1B Nellie Rodriguez (CLE-Dominican)
Middle Infielders
3 of 5
Top Prospects
SS Willy Adames (No. 1 TB prospect, No. 19 MLB prospect)
| 30 | .167/.229/.167 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 3/9 |
Adames has been pushed aggressively since coming to the Tampa Bay Rays in the deal that sent David Price to the Detroit Tigers, though the 21-year-old has seen limited action for the Tigres del Licey of the Dominican league.
Adames has five-tool potential with no question he'll stick at shortstop long term. He spent all of the 2016 season in Double-A, hitting .274/.372/.430 with 31 doubles and 11 home runs.
SS Jorge Mateo (No. 3 NYY prospect, No. 18 MLB prospect)
| 42 | .167/.239/.238 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 5 | 3/10 |
Even though he's not making a huge impact at the plate for the Toros del Este of the Dominican league, Mateo has made an impact with his speed, scoring eight runs and swiping five bases in 20 games.
The 21-year-old has fallen a step behind fellow Yankees shortstop prospect Gleyber Torres after his stellar showing in the Arizona Fall League. However, Torres remains a big piece of the team's future plans and those two should form a dynamic middle infield once they arrive in the Bronx.
SS Richard Urena (No. 1 TOR prospect, No. 74 MLB prospect)
| 66 | .167/.167/.227 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0/12 |
Part of the reason the Toronto Blue Jays felt comfortable shipping out top prospect Franklin Barreto in the Josh Donaldson trade—aside from the fact that they were acquiring a future MVP—was the presence of Urena in the system.
He may not have quite as high a ceiling as Barreto, but Urena should have no problem sticking at shortstop and there's still a ton of room for offensive growth. The 20-year-old reached Double-A for the first time last year, and he'll be one to watch in 2017 as he gains further experience with the Gigantes del Cibao of the Dominican league.
Other Notable Prospects
2B Carlos Asuaje (SD-Dominican), SS Luis Curbelo (CWS-Puerto Rico), 2B Alen Hanson (PIT-Dominican), SS Jose Rondon (SD-Venezuela), SS Miguelangel Sierra (HOU-Venezuela), 2B Joey Wendle (OAK-Mexico)
Outfielders
4 of 5
Top Prospects
Dylan Cozens (No. 6 PHI prospect)
| 85 | .165/.268/.353 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 10 | 2 | 12/32 |
Cozens exploded onto the prospect scene in 2016 with a monster season for Double-A Reading, posting a .941 OPS with 38 doubles, 40 home runs and 125 RBI.
There's still a ton of swing-and-miss to the 22-year-old's game as he struck out at a troubling 31.7 percent clip during the regular season. That trend has continued during his time with the Aguilas Cibaenas of the Dominican league.
That power is tough to ignore, though.
Manuel Margot (No. 2 SD prospect, No. 26 MLB prospect)
| 114 | .263/.303/.368 | 30 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 7/12 |
Margot appears to have a clear path to the starting center field job for the San Diego Padres, as the team gets ready to welcome him and fellow top prospect Hunter Renfroe into the everyday lineup in what figures to be a rebuilding season.
The 22-year-old has the offensive tools to be an impact table-setter out of the leadoff spot and the glove to be a standout defensively in center field. Seeing significant action with the Toros del Este of the Dominican league should only further prepare him for a big season to come.
Raimel Tapia (No. 4 COL prospect, No. 71 MLB prospect)
| 46 | .174/.224/.196 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 3/6 |
Now that David Dahl has graduated to the majors, Tapia ranks as the top outfield prospect in a deep Colorado Rockies farm system.
A career .317/.363/.446 hitter over six minor league seasons, the 22-year-old should be able to continue hitting for a high average at the highest level and his power is still developing. He's off to a slow start with the Estrellas del Oriente of the Dominican league, but he could still play big into the Rockies' plans for the upcoming season.
Other Notable Prospects
Aristides Aquino (CIN-Dominican), Jairo Beras (TEX-Dominican), Jorge Bonifacio (KC-Dominican), Ryan Cordell (MIL-Dominican), Willy Garcia (PIT-Dominican), Jacob Hannemann (CHC-Puerto Rico), Teoscar Hernandez (HOU-Dominican), Tito Polo (NYY-Mexico), Magneuris Sierra (STL-Dominican), Carlos Tocci (PHI-Venezuela)
Pitchers
5 of 5
Top Prospects
LHP Jarlin Garcia (No. 3 MIA prospect)
| 11/0 | 0-1 | 4.40 | 1.19 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 14.1 |
One of the few high-ceiling prospects in a thin Miami Marlins system, Garcia worked just 50.2 innings during the regular season while battling arm issues so he's making up for lost time in the Dominican league.
A Futures Game participant in 2015, the left-hander features a good four-pitch mix and improving command that should allow him to reach his ceiling as a middle-of-the-rotation starter. Expect the 23-year-old to get an extended look from the big club at some point in 2017.
RHP Ariel Jurado (No. 6 TEX prospect)
| 5/5 | 0-1 | 3.00 | 1.44 | 21 | 6 | 5 | 12 | 18.0 |
An emerging prospect in the Texas Rangers' system, Jurado, 20, surprisingly reached Double-A this past season as he went 8-6 with a 3.66 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 106 strikeouts in 123 innings over two levels.
"Jurado has the best command and one of the highest floors among Texas' pitching prospects. He's better and moving quicker than expected, on course to make it to the big leagues at age 22 and eventually settle in as a No. 4 starter," per MLB.com's Prospect Watch.
The right-hander has been starting for the Navegantes del Magallanes of the Venezuelan league, though it remains to be seen how many more innings the Rangers will want to tack onto his season total.
RHP Francisco Rios (No. 16 TOR prospect)
| 15/0 | 1-0 | 3.38 | 1.50 | 16 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 13.1 |
Unranked among the Toronto Blue Jays' top 30 prospects at the start of the season after struggling over his first three pro seasons, Rios was one of the biggest surprises of the 2016 season.
The right-hander went 7-6 with a 2.91 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 108 strikeouts in 120.2 innings between Single-A and High-A, earning a spot in the Futures Game in the process. With middling stuff he doesn't have the highest ceiling, but he's shown a good feel for pitching and should be able to exceed expectations.
The 21-year-old is pitching for the Tomateros de Culiacan of the Mexican league.
Other Notable Prospects
RHP Miguel Almonte (KC-Dominican), RHP Yimmi Brasoban (SD-Dominican), RHP Joan Gregorio (SF-Dominican), LHP Reymin Guduan (HOU-Dominican), LHP Jairo Labourt (DET-Dominican), LHP Raudel Lazo (MIA-Venezuela), RHP Jose Leclerc (TEX-Dominican), RHP Jorge Lopez (MIL-Puerto Rico), RHP Ricardo Pinto (PHI-Venezuela), RHP Alberto Tirado (PHI-Dominican)
All stats courtesy of MLB.com and FanGraphs unless otherwise noted.
