MLB's Top 15 Prospects Closest to Making Big League Splash
The best thing about prospects is the untapped potential—all that promise, all that hope.
Still, at a certain point, the rubber needs to meet the MLB road. Every prospect, no matter how highly touted, must prove his worth in the Show.
Here, then, is a look at the top 15 blue-chip minor leaguers closest to making an MLB splash. Some could be called up at any moment; others may have to wait until later in the season.
All, however, have the skills and opportunity to ply their trade at the highest level in 2017 and prove they belong among the game's elite.
One quick note: In compiling this list, I used MLB.com's prospect rankings as a guide but skipped over players whose age or developmental status push their ETA into 2018 or beyond.
No. 15: Tyler O'Neill, LF/CF/RF, Seattle Mariners
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Tyler O'Neill hit .293 with 24 home runs at Double-A in 2016 and won the Southern League MVP, then posted an .881 OPS in the Arizona Fall League.
The 21-year-old opened the season at Triple-A Tacoma but could get a call sooner rather than later, especially if he rakes in the hitter-happy Pacific Coast League and the Seattle Mariners' glove-first outfield fails to produce offensively.
"We are day-to-day," Seattle general manager Jerry Dipoto said in the spring of O'Neill, per Todd Milles of the News Tribune. "Once you get in Tyler's position, and you've had an MVP season in Double-A and made the progression to Triple-A, any day is your day [to get promoted]."
No. 14: Ian Happ, 2B/OF, Chicago Cubs
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After slashing .383/.441/.750 with 21 RBI in the Cactus League, Ian Happ has hit three home runs in five games for Triple-A Iowa.
The 22-year-old has logged MiLB innings at second base and all three outfield spots, giving him the versatility Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon covets.
Still, he's blocked at every position by multiple players on the Cubbies' ridiculously robust depth chart.
Happ could be used as trade fodder this summer if Chicago identifies an area of need. Or an injury could open a spot for him with the defending champs.
Either way, if he keeps hitting like he has been, he'll be on a 25-man roster soon.
"He definitely has the skill set to impact the game," said Cubs director of player development Jaron Madison, per Tommy Birch of the Des Moines Register. "Now, it's just about opportunity for him and being ready—making sure he puts his work in and is ready when the opportunity does come."
No. 13: Clint Frazier, CF/LF/RF, New York Yankees
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Clint Frazier hit .273 with two doubles, a triple and a home run this spring but also whiffed 13 times in 44 at-bats.
He opened the season with Triple-A Scranton and doesn't have a clear path to regular at-bats with the New York Yankees as long as Aaron Judge, Jacoby Ellsbury and Brett Gardner populate the outfield from right to left.
The 22-year-old possesses the tools and bat speed to be an MLB star, however, and he should get a chance at some point this season as the Yanks continue their youth movement.
As Frazier put it during spring training, per Randy Miller of NJ Advance Media: "I don't know where I'm going to start [the season], but I know where I want to finish."
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No. 12: Bradley Zimmer, CF/RF, Cleveland Indians
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Bradley Zimmer didn't make it easy for the Cleveland Indians to send him back to the minors.
The Tribe's top pick in the 2014 amateur draft, Zimmer slashed .358/.424/.660 with three homers this spring and looked every bit an MLB-ready hitter.
"We tell the young guys in our first meeting of spring training that the best thing you can do is make a good impression," said manager Terry Francona, per Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com. "Zimmer flew past that about a month ago. He did everything in camp—he ran the bases, he improved in the outfield, he swung the bat, he made adjustments at the plate. It was a very exciting camp for him."
The Indians have outfield depth, particularly with the return of Michael Brantley, but Zimmer should be among the first to get a promotion if a spot becomes available.
"We just told him to go enjoy being 24 years old and getting better," said Francona, per Hoynes. "We told him to knock the door down and make us call you up."
No. 11: Francis Martes, RHP, Houston Astros
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Francis Martes teased big league readiness in seven spring innings, striking out six and holding opposing hitters to a .217 average. That came after a strong 2016 showing at Double-A, in which the 21-year-old right-hander fanned 131 in 125.1 innings with a 3.30 ERA.
Martes twirled five shutout innings in his debut at Triple-A Fresno and drew high praise from pitching coach Dyar Miller.
"His potential is off the charts," said Miller, per Bryant-Jon Anteola of the Fresno Bee. "He throws in the high 90s, so he has a high ceiling for starters. He has a plus breaking ball and a decent change. And he's been durable. That goes unnoticed to some people sometimes."
Martes certainly isn't going unnoticed and could contribute to the Houston Astros' playoff push at some point this season.
No. 10: Lewis Brinson, CF, Milwaukee Brewers
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Acquired from the Texas Rangers in the Jonathan Lucroy trade, Lewis Brinson hit two home runs and posted a .973 OPS for the Milwaukee Brewers this spring.
He began the season at Triple-A and was recently sidelined with a dislocated finger, though the injury doesn't appear serious, per Adam McCalvy of MLB.com.
Assuming the 22-year-old gets healthy and back on track, he should get an extended audition with the rebuilding Brew Crew.
"It's actually easier, knowing I'm one call away," said Brinson of his slot with Colorado Springs, per Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "All I have to do is go down there and play hard. Results are going to take care of themselves."
No. 9: Michael Kopech, RHP, Chicago White Sox
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By now, you've heard the legend of Michael Kopech and his triple-digit heater. If not, Bleacher Report's Scott Miller did a nice job spelling it out.
Now, the question is when Kopech's power arm will join the Chicago White Sox.
After an uneven spring, Kopech opened the season at Double-A and made an immediate impression, striking out 10 in a dominant 4.1-inning debut.
Kopech is still just 20, so there's no reason for the White Sox to rush his development. At the same time, Chicago has committed to a rebuild, so if Kopech keeps missing bats, his South Side debut could come soon.
When it does, you can bet the radar guns will be cocked.
No. 8: Cody Bellinger, 1B/OF, Los Angeles Dodgers
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Cody Bellinger scuffled in the Cactus League, hitting .207 in 30 games. Since opening the season at Triple-A, however, the Los Angeles Dodgers top prospect has been on fire.
Through 22 plate appearances with Oklahoma City, Bellinger is hitting .476 with three doubles and a home run. The 21-year-old hit .271 with 26 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A last season, so he's got little to prove in the minor leagues.
He also doesn't have an obvious spot with the Dodgers, who employ veteran Adrian Gonzalez at first base and have a tangled depth chart in the outfield.
A September call-up may be Bellinger's likeliest path to the big leagues this season, but he could force the issue by continuing to set the Pacific Coast League ablaze.
No. 7: Lucas Giolito, RHP, Chicago White Sox
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Lucas Giolito is further along in his development than Kopech, having made his big league debut last season with the Washington Nationals.
He's coughed up four earned runs in his first 4.1 innings at Triple-A, so the White Sox may not rush to call up the 22-year-old.
At some point, though, Chicago will surely want a look at its top pitching prospect.
"It's obviously not good to struggle or not be successful," Giolito said of his wobbly 2016 debut with the Nats, per Pat James of the Charlotte Observer. "But at the same time, I learned a lot from going up to the big leagues and getting hit around a lot, learning what it takes to be an elite starting pitcher at that level and be able to stay there."
No. 6: Ozzie Albies, INF, Atlanta Braves
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Atlanta Braves fans dreaming about the possibilities of a Dansby Swanson-Ozzie Albies double-play duo won't have to wait long.
Swanson is already on the big club and a favorite to win NL Rookie of the Year honors. Second baseman Albies began the season at Triple-A but should get a call shortly after hitting .375 in 11 spring games and displaying no ill effects from the fractured elbow he suffered in September 2016.
"Ozzie is a very special talent and person," said Braves general manager John Coppolella, per David O'Brien of the Albany Herald. "We are excited for him to finish off his development at Triple-A. We expect him to be here soon and for a very long time."
No. 5: Austin Meadows, CF/LF/RF, Pittsburgh Pirates
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With the Pittsburgh Pirates' entire starting outfield playing in the World Baseball Classic, Austin Meadows saw extended action this spring.
The 21-year-old made the most of it, hitting .333 with a .423 on-base percentage in 45 at-bats.
He's beginning the season at Triple-A, where he finished in 2016, and he won't get called up just to sit on the bench behind the veteran trio of Gregory Polanco, Starling Marte and Andrew McCutchen.
An injury could open a spot, however, and a September call-up seems all but assured.
Meadows, meanwhile, is taking the humble approach to his high prospect ranking and imminent MLB debut.
"It's obviously an honor to be in those categories and be the next guy up," Meadows said, per CBS Pittsburgh. "But I just try to stick to my game and let everything control itself."
No. 4: J.P. Crawford, SS, Philadelphia Phillies
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J.P. Crawford debuted with Triple-A last season and hit a speed bump, batting just .244 in 87 games.
He's headed back to Lehigh Valley but could soon join the Philadelphia Phillies. As Matt Breen of Philly.com speculated: "A fast start and Crawford, who turned 22 in January, could push his way to the majors by May."
That sounds about right for the organization's top prospect, though Crawford has opened the season 2-for-19.
"I'm not really thinking about that," Crawford said of his anticipated debut, per Breen. "I just have to go out there every day and get better. If they call me up, they call me up."
No. 3: Amed Rosario, SS, New York Mets
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Amed Rosario went a respectable 8-for-30 this spring with the New York Mets. It wasn't enough to force his way on to the roster, but it impressed his skipper.
"He's shown me everything that needs to be seen," manager Terry Collins said, per Mike Puma of the New York Post. "He hasn't hit for power in camp, but you know he's got it. He's got great hands, he's got great poise on the field and he loves to play, got great energy. He's going to be a good player."
Rosario turned 21 in November and is getting his first taste of Triple-A action. He's hit .400 in five games with Las Vegas.
If he keeps it up, the Mets will find a place for him somewhere on the infield. Heck, he might even make good on my Bleacher Report colleague Joel Reuter's bold Rookie of the Year prediction.
No. 2: Gleyber Torres, SS, New York Yankees
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After becoming the youngest player to win Arizona Fall League MVP honors, aged 19 in 2016, Gleyber Torres hit .448 with a 1.400 OPS in the Grapefruit League.
Even with an injury to shortstop Didi Gregorius, however, the Yanks opted to send Torres down.
He's started out hot, going 5-for-14 with a pair of doubles at Double-A Trenton. How long will New York wait?
General manager Brian Cashman said Torres could debut in pinstripes this season, per Brendan Kuty of NJ Advance Media, though a promotion to Triple-A may come first.
Some players appear destined for superstardom and can be held back only so long. At the risk of swooning over small(ish) samples, Torres looks like one of those players.
No. 1: Yoan Moncada, INF, Chicago White Sox
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This spring, Yoan Moncada flashed all the raw tools that make him one of the most exciting position-player prospects to come along in a while.
Eight of Moncada's 13 exhibition hits went for extra bases, including three home runs. He also struck out 14 times in 41 at-bats, though he cut down on his whiffs as the spring wore on.
The 21-year-old Cuban is off to a strong start with Triple-A Charlotte, where he's hitting .391 with a couple of homers in 23 at-bats.
White Sox director of player development Chris Getz spoke to Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times about the team's plans for Moncada:
"The development of his game isn't going to stop when he gets to the major leagues. But we want to put him in the best position right out of the gate to be able to perform in all aspects to the best of his ability. Whether it's the defensive side, hitting left-handed, right-handed or baserunning. He can do all those things, but we want him to be in the best position to succeed when he gets there.
"
A call-up will come at some point, possibly soon.
All statistics current as of Tuesday and courtesy of MLB.com and Baseball Reference.
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