The annual release of the MLB Pipeline’s list of the 100 best prospects is usually a sign that spring, or at least spring training, is coming. And while that was true in 2020, no one could have predicted what would have happened, or not, the following season.
The annual release of the MLB Pipeline’s list of the 100 best prospects is usually a sign that spring, or at least spring training, is coming. And while that was true in 2020, no one could have predicted what would have happened, or not, the following season.
Despite the Major League campaign shortened by the pandemic and the lack of a Secondary League season, many players in the 2020 Top 100 reached the highest level and made contributions in baseball, from cellar dwellers to World Series champions.
Once again, we are all full of hope in anticipation of something close to a normal season. And, again, many on our list of the 20 best prospects of 2021 will create excitement in the major leagues throughout the year.
Not surprisingly, the list is once again led by the Rays Wander Franco shortstop phenomenon, for the fourth consecutive edition (pre-season mid-2019 – 2021). The top 10 also features a pair of Mariners outfielders and two potential Fathers.
Those on the list must have newbie eligibility. To qualify for rookie status, a player must not have exceeded 130 on the bat or 50 entries in the major leagues, or have accumulated more than 45 days on the active list of a major league club (s) during the 25 player period. time limit, excluding time on the injured list or in the military. The ratings continue to follow the guidelines established by the Collective Bargaining Agreement in terms of who fits the money rules of the international pool. Players who are at least 25 years old and have played in leagues considered to be professionals (Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Cuba) are not eligible.
The Top 100 is organized by me, Jim Callis and Mike Rosenbaum, with contributions from industry sources, including scouts and front-office executives. It is based on the analysis of the Major League players’ tools, tools and potential impact.
The MLB Network will air its Top 100 Prospects program on February 13 at 5 pm ET.
Top 10
1. Wander Franco, SS, Rays
2. Adley Rutschman, C, Orioles
3. Spencer Torkelson, 3B / 1B, Tigers
4. Jarred Kelenic, OF, Sailors
5. Julio Rodriguez, OF, Marinheiros
6. MacKenzie Gore, LHP, Fathers
7. Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Royals
8. CJ Abrams, SS, Fathers
9. Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B, Pirates
10. Nate Pearson, RHP, Blue Jays
Full list “
Newcomers
Draft 2020 players are not included in this section as they have not been on the list for a year. There aren’t that many new names this time around because of the unusual nature of the 2020 season, but there are some intriguing players on the list this year.
It’s a group that starts with Rays outback Randy Arozarena, who won Major League Baseball by hitting seven home runs in just 64 hits in the regular season and hitting 10 more in an absolutely ridiculous post-season run that included a American League Championship Series. That’s why he is debuting 34th in this year’s Top 100.
No other rookie is in the top 50, but a pair of right-handed pitchers came close. Triston McKenzie of the Indians, who was on the list in previous years but fell in 2019, made his way into the big leagues, and the Cleveland postseason list comes in at 51st place, while Pirates 2019 chooses the first round, Quinn Priester, debut in position 52.
Higher risers
It is not just newcomers who are making a leap in 2021. Several players who were in last year’s Top 100 have a big up arrow next to their names. There are six players who have improved their ranking by more than 25 spots from one year to the next, led by outfielder D-backs Corbin Carroll. The first round of 2019 flew from 89th to 47th. Red Sox’s first baseman, Triston Casas, jumped from 77th to 44th, while Pirates’ third baseman, Ke’Bryan Hayes, was catapulted into the top 10, reaching 9th after position 41 before the season. 2020 Royals southpaw Daniel Lynch made a similar jump of 32 positions (No. 61 to No. 29), Blue Jays Jordan Groshans went from No. 75 to No. 46 and Angels outfielder Brandon Marsh also improved 26 positions (from No. 79 to No. 53).
More distant falls
There are six candidates who were in the Top 100 from last year’s pre-season that fell off the list in 2021, all in the 80-100 range. Marlins’ external defender, Jesús Sánchez, is the candidate to fall (No. 80), followed by Phillies Bryston Stott’s shortstop (No. 87), Rays Brent Honeywell’s right-footer (No. 91), the Yankees RHP Deivi García (No. 92) ), the national shortstop Luis Garcia (No. 97) and southpaw Seth Corry of the Giants (No. 99).
Graduates
Even with the year shortened, a good number of potential clients had enough time to get off the candidate list. This group of 17 is led by the Dodgers’ infielder, Gavin Lux, who was the second potential candidate a year ago. He was joined by two other 10 best candidates, outfielders Luis Robert of the White Sox (No. 3) and Jo Adell of the Angels (No. 6). Leftist Jesús Luzardo (No. 12) from A and right-handed Dodgers Dustin May (No. 23) were the highest rated pitchers to leave the list.
Positional discrimination
This is one of the Top 100 with the most hits we’ve had in recent times. There are 39 pitchers in total, 27 right-handed and 12 left-handed, a far cry from the 47 arms we had in the previous two years. We had only 39 pitchers in 2016, after 42 in 2017.
There are still more pitchers in total than in any other position, with 25 outfielders being the closest. Shortstops are next, with 14 in the Top 100, followed by nine receivers, seven third base, four second bases and a first base pair.
Feeling the Project
When we reclassify the Top 100 in the summer, we have the opportunity to add members of the most recent Draft class. In 2020, outside of graduation, that was the only change on the list. Because of the pandemic, the order of the players on the list remained static, leaving no room for the 14 members of the Class of 20 who were added. This crop is led, of course, by general choice # 1, Spencer Torkelson, our third potential customer. Five other choices from the first round are in the overall top 50: No. 22 Austin Martin, OF (Blue Jays), No. 28 Max Meyer, RHP (Marlins), No. 30 Asa Lacy, LHP (Royals), No. 31 Emerson Hancock, RHP (Navegantes) and No. 43 Nick Gonzales, 2B (Pirates). Overall, there are 81 ex-recruits in the Top 100.
International flavor
This leaves 19 international signatories on the list (reminder: players from Canada and Puerto Rico are called up). Not surprisingly, the Dominican Republic leads this group with a dozen representatives. The Bahamas and Venezuela each have two players in the Top 100, while Colombia, Cuba and Panama each have a representative.
Jonathan Mayo is a reporter for MLBPipeline.com. Follow him on Twitter @JonathanMayo and Facebook, and listen to it on the weekly MLB Pipeline podcast.