myworldofbaseball

Not a lot needs to be said about them. These are the top ten prospects for 2021.

10. Casey Mize RHP (Tigers) - The more we watch the two pitch the more myworld tends to lean with his teammate Tarik Skubal as the better prospect, but we put this list together a month ago and we’ll go with it. When you are the first pick in the 2018 draft it is hard to argue against you. His frame is nice at 6′3″ with a solid 220 pounds, the fastball comes at the hitters in the mid-90s and the splitter is his signature pitch that gets lots of swings and misses. His slider is also a plus pitch that can get hitters out. What he lacks is a soft pitch that can keep hitters off balance. He made his major league debut last year and seemed pretty hittable. A 6.99 ERA with 7 homeruns in 28 innings with a .252 opponent average. That is a bit disappointing. Even the best pitchers who eventually win multiple Cy Youngs have their struggles in their first and second years. Mize should win a starting spot in the Tigers rotation in 2021. With better command of his pitches he should do better his second time around. There are some that have concerns about his delivery that will make him susceptible to injury. He has not tapered those concerns, missing some time to injuries during the season.

9. Austen Marten SS (Blue Jays) - The second highest ranked pick of the 2020 draft. Myworld saw him in the College World Series, but we came away more impressed with J.J Bleday. Austen played multiple positions with Vanderbilt. That could be to his advantage with the Blue Jays. They have a number of players on their team who play multiple positions and they can mix and match until they get the best result. His best fit appears to be second base. His arm was always an issue with Vanderbilt as far as strength and accuracy. His bat will get him in the lineup, hitting just three points shy of .400. The Jays were surprised to see him available when their turn came up with the fifth pick in the draft. His power may not be enough to fit at third or a corner outfield, and his speed is a bit short to cover centerfield. Expect him to rise quickly, perhaps finishing at AA in 2021 and fitting himself in the Blue Jays lineup in 2022 as a super utility player or second baseman.

8. Marco Luciano SS (Giants) - Marco is still an untested commodity that comes with a lot of hype. The Giants spent $2.6 million to sign him in 2018. He made his minor league debut in 2019 and hit .322 with 10 homeruns and a .616 slugging percentage. The bat certainly came as advertised with a lot of pop. The challenge for Marco is sticking at shortstop. He lacks speed to have the range required of a shortstop and as he matures and gets bigger that speed should decrease. He has the power and the arm to move to third. Marco won’t turn 20 until September so A ball will be good for him to start the 2021 season. His first appearance with the Giants may not be until late 2023.

7. C.J. Abrams SS (Padres) - The sixth pick in the 2019 draft has some burner speed. Some think that centerfield would be the best position for him. The tools are there to stick at shortstop. Normally a player with his speed lacks pop, but C.J. had enough pop to slug .647 in A ball in 2019. Part of that was his speed as he turned gap hits into triples (8 in 34 games). C.J. makes good contact with a 11/14 walk to whiff ratio resulting in a .393 average. The numbers for his first year were pretty impressive. The potential is there for him to exceed 40 stolen bases and hit in the teens in homeruns, with the speed to turn singles into doubles and doubles into triples. C.J. will start the 2021 season in A ball. With Fernando Tatis filling the Padres shortstop position there is no need to rush Abrams to the major league club. But centerfield is always a possibility if Tatis is still at short when Abrams is ready in 2022.

6. Julio Rodriguez OF (Mariners) - The Dominican prospect who signed with the Mariners in 2017 for $1.75 million is a multi tooled athlete that can play centerfield. Speed may be his least raved about tool and as he gets bigger right field could be a better fit. Especially with Kelenic keeping pace with him as they climb up the minor league ladder. The 2019 season was his first in the States and he hit .326 with a .540 slugging percentage. Most of his damage was done in a 17 game performance in the California League (.462/.738). The power is there for him to reach 40 plus homeruns and still hit in the .300 neighborhood. After his massacre of California League pitchers last year he could begin 2021 in AA which could result in a promotion late in 2021, if service time does not become an issue.

5. Andrew Vaughn 1B (White Sox) - The third player selected in the 2019 draft is hitting so well in spring that many see him making the team as a first baseman and leaving Jose Abreu free to hit in the designated hitter slot. While he has a right handed bat and only stands 6′0″, a frame that most scouts don’t like in a major league first base prospect, hit bat produces a lot of hits with power. The two tools he lacks are speed and the ability to play a quality first base with the glove. The patience is there for him to draw a number of walks. When all is said and done he could reach the major leagues hitting 30 homeruns, hitting over .300 with 100 plus walks for a OBA over .400. The White Sox will be a playoff contender in 2021. If they feel the bat of Vaughn will help them get into the playoffs he will be on their roster in 2021.

4. Spencer Torkelson 1B (Tigers) - The highest ranked pick in the 2020 draft. The Tigers have the belief that he can play third, but myworld does not have a lot of confidence in that. He stands 6′1 and weighs 220 pounds. Spencer has a lot of traits similar to Vaughn, a right handed bat who is not big in stature but with a bat that is projected to hit over .300 with 30 plus homeruns. One bright spot on his resume is that he hit 25 homeruns in his freshman year at Arizona State, besting alumni Barry Bonds in that department when Bonds was a freshman. Like Vaughn he has the patience to draw a lot of walks. As a college pick he could be moved quickly but the Tigers will probably not use up his service time in 2021 and save him for a late 2022 callup.

3. Adley Rutschman C (Orioles) - Adley has a lot of similarities to another catcher that was drafted highly, Matt Wieters. And while Adley was the first player selected in the 2019 draft and Wieters was the fifth pick, they still have much in common. The most prevalent is the tools to turn a franchise around. Wieters hit .355 with 27 homeruns in his first full minor league season, but it was all down hill after that. Rutschman hopes for more consistency in his seasons. In 2019 he led Oregon State to a College World Series championship. The bat contains the power to hit 20 plus homeruns per year, and despite his 6′2′ height he moves deftly behind the plate. Myworld would not be surprised to see Adley make his major league debut in 2021, but service time obligations may leave him down in the minor leagues until 2022.

2. Jarred Kelenic OF (Mariners) - The teammate of Julio Rodriguez, Jarred was the sixth player taken in the 2018 draft by the Mets. The Mets traded him to the Mariners for Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz. The Mariners may learn to hate that deal in 2024, when the Mariners appear in the playoffs and the Mets are still scrambling to find a playoff spot. Kelenic has the speed to play centerfield. His arm is solid, but may be best suited for left field. The power is not as great as Rodriguez, but he was able to slug 23 homeruns in 2019, rising all the way to AA. Expect him to start the season at AA with a late season promotion in 2021.

1. Wander Franco SS (Rays) - Not a lot needs to be said about Wander. This is the second year in a row he has rated at the top of myworld’s list. The only concern about him is whether he can stick at shortstop. The Rays currently have Willy Adames at that position. Adames does not have the bat of Franco, but he has a better glove. So this spring the Rays have been putting Franco at other positions. They may continue this experiment in 2021, after he is sent down to the minor leagues, playing him at multiple positions to groom him for a starting spot with the Rays for a playoff run in 2021. Franco has the potential of a player to win batting titles while hitting over 40 homeruns per year. His walk to whiff ratio in two minor league seasons is 83/54. He also stole 18 bases in 2019. Franco can do anything, including playing shortstop if an opening exists.

The prospect countdown continues. Three Tigers and two Twins form half of this group.

20. Nick Gonzalez SS/2b (Pirates) - Pretty high ranking for a player who has yet to play a minor league season. He was the seventh player taken in the 2020 draft. He is also tearing it up this spring and if it was not the Pirates concern for service time he could earn the second base job in 2021. In college Gonzalez played at New Mexico State where balls can fly. It was not until he hit .351 with a .630 slugging percentage in the Cape Cod League that scouts took notice. His power may be limited more to the gaps rather than over the fence, but he could compete for batting titles once he is called up, the National League version of Nick Madrigal, with better offense and less defense. On defense he lacks the arm or range to play short, though he runs well. As a college drafted player he could rise quickly if service time issues are not followed. The 2022 season should see him in a Pirates uniform.

19. Joey Bart C (Giants) - Buster Posey opted out of the 2020 season. With no minor leagues the Giants rushed the second pick in the 2018 draft to the majors. It did not go well. Bart only hit .233 with a .288 OBA. Lesson learned. His minor league numbers indicate a player who will hit for a decent average (.270) with some pop (20 plus homeruns and .532 slugging). He also has a good arm with solid defensive tools behind the plate. With Posey back for the 2021 season Bart will be allowed to marinate some more in the minor leagues. He could get a late season callup in 2021, but should be the Giants starting catcher by 2023. It all depends on the Giants decision on moving Posey to first base to accommodate Bart.

18. Royce Lewis SS (Twins) - Royce has been on the prospect list for a long time. An injured knee will force him to miss the 2021 season. If this had happened prior to myworld putting this list together Royce would have dropped significantly. It is not that myworld has doubts about Royce recovering from this injury. It is just that many other shortstops have now surpassed him. He should take a look at Chipper Jones and his struggles with injuries that delayed his major league arrival. Royce has the hit tools and the speed to be an impact player. The Twins were actually moving him around to different positions (centerfield) to make him more attractive once a major league job opens up. The 2019 season was a rough year for him when hit just .236 with a .290 OBA. That left a sour taste in his mouth. With no minor leagues in 2020 and missing the 2021 season it will be a lot longer before Royce can lose that sour taste. Look for him to make the Twins sometime late in the 2022 season.

17. Riley Greene OF (Tigers) - For this Tiger first round pick in the 2019 draft it is all about the bat. His first year in the minor leagues he hit .271 with a .403 slugging percentage. At 6′3″ that power should increase as he gets stronger and becomes more confident in using wood bats. The speed is there to play center, but he fits better at a corner with a power bat and a strong arm. In 2019 the bat was good enough to reach Low A. He should be ready for High A in 2021 and reach the Tigers by the 2022 season.

16. Alex Kirilloff 1B/OF (Twins) - The 2016 first round pick is almost a carbon copy of Trevor Larnach, who is a bit lower down on the prospect ranking. They both have power bats, but lack the defensive tools for them to be good outfielders. With practice and repetition Alex can be an adequate outfielder. Ultimately he may have to move to first base, where the power in his bat needs to accompany him. In his first full season in 2018 he hit .348 with 20 homeruns and a .578 slugging percentage. He was not able to replicate that in 2019 (.283/.413). A wrist injury may have limited his swing in 2019. Knee surgery forced him to miss the 2017 season, so injuries have been a concern. The Twins released Eddie Rosario, their starting left fielder in 2020. With a good spring the left field position should go to Alex for the 2021 season.

15. Tarik Skubal LHP (Tigers) - Many have felt that Tarik came out of nowhere. He was a ninth round pick in 2018. That was not for lack of talent, but because of Tommy John surgery that limited his college career. The Tigers may have drafted him late but they paid above slot to sign him ($350,000). His first season he dominated with a 0.40 ERA and a .192 opponent average. His walk to whiff ratio was a pleasant 4/33. He continued to make waves in the 2019 season (2.42 ERA, .196 opponent average). Tarik has not had a poor minor league season. In 2020 he made his major league debut and while his ERA (5.63) was high his other numbers still impressed. Giving up nine homeruns in 32 innings hurt him. It may be sometime in May before the Tigers put him in the 2021 rotation, but with a mid 90s fastball and two quality secondary offerings his stuff will force the Tigers to bring him up early in the 2021 season.

14. Jasson Dominguez OF (Yankees) - When talking about Jasson it is difficult not to think about Mickey Mantle. Jasson is only 18 and has yet to make his stateside debut. The Yankees spent $5.1 million to sign him in 2019. The super star tools are there. He runs well, hits well and for power, and plays a mean centerfield. There is very little not to like when you watch this potential phenom play the game. Don’t be surprised after one minor league season in 2021 he will be number one on this list for 2022. Jasson will start 2021 in A ball and could see the Yankees by his 20th birthday. If Juan Soto can do it, so can Jasson Dominguez.

13. Matt Manning RHP (Tigers) - A third Tiger on this list and the second to fill the rotation. The 2016 first round pick stands an imposing 6′6″ with a fastball that strikes the lower edges of the mid-90s. That velocity could increase as he matures. The curveball could be his best pitch, with a high spin rate and a large drop that is ripe for swings and misses. Manning was a high school pick so it has taken him some time to climb up the minor league ladder. He had his best year in 2019 pitching at AA (2.56 ERA), limiting the opposition to a .192 average. With Casey Mize and Skubal just ahead of him Matt will take later in the 2021 season before he is promoted to the Tigers. That would make a talented trifecta for the Tigers rotation.

12. Luis Patino RHP (Rays) - Patino was traded by the Padres to the Rays after the 2020 season to acquire Blake Snell. The Padres found Luis while scouting in Colombia and signed him for just $130,000. At 6′1″ he is not a big presence like Manning, but he whips that fastball across the plate into the mid to high 90s. His slider is also a very good swing and miss pitch. Luis made his Padres debut last year, appearing in 11 games with one start. His command was shaky with the big club, walking 14 in just 17 innings for a poor 5.19 ERA. Prior to that he had only pitched two games in AA. The Rays can be patient with Patino and could start him in AA to begin the 2021 season. A promotion to the big club should happen sometime before the end of the year.

11. Bobby Witt Jr SS (Royals) - Myworld first saw Bobby hit when he won the homerun contest at the Futures Games in 2019, beating out Rece Hinds. The Royals must have liked what they saw because they made him the second player selected in the 2019 draft. His father was a major league pitcher for a number of years so the gene pool is there. The Junior plans on doing most of his damage with the bat. The defensive tools are there for him to stick at short. With his power bat that would make him an offensive shortstop in the mold of an Alex Rodriguez. He did get a brief 2019 minor league season, hitting .262 with a .354 slugging. He showed his speed by collecting five triples in just 37 games. The Royals are saving the shortstop job for Witt, meaning they may not sign Adalberto Mondesi to an extension. Witt could be the Royals shortstop in 2022, but that would require him to reach AA by 2021.

The major league draft has been a drain for youths who wish to play baseball in Puerto Rico. Prior to being included in the draft major league teams followed international rules and signed Puerto Rican players once they reached 16 years of age. Once Puerto Rico was included in the draft major league teams could not sign players until after they completed high school.

The challenge with that is many high schools in Puerto Rico do not play baseball. So if a youth beyond 16 wants to continue his baseball career he has to go to one of the academies. If the family does not have money that can be a drain on the pocketbook, though myworld is certain scholarships are offered to talented prospects with pay back coming once the youth signs a contract.

Last year, in the 2020 shortened five round draft no Puerto Rican was selected by major league baseball. The draft will now be chopped to twenty rounds from the traditional forty rounds. That will make it even tougher for Puerto Rican youngsters to be drafted. That is a loss for baseball, as youths now turn to soccer or basketball for their sport of choice. If not for the academies, baseball would probably be dead in Puerto Rico.

Below are the top ten prospects to watch from Puerto Rico. I could have missed someone because many Puerto Ricans now travel stateside to continue their baseball careers. Willi Castro is the only player to graduate from last year’s list. He was the third rated prospect. Edwin Rios saw some major league time.

1. Heliot Ramos OF (Giants) - I believe he may have been the last Puerto Rican drafted in the first round, selected by the Giants in 2017. Ramos has above average grades in all the tools categories, but power and a strong right field arm may be his best tools. While he has the speed to play center, it is not in the burner category, so right field could be his best fit. Much of the speed he had when drafted has been lost as he has matured and gotten bigger. The power should equate to 25-30 homeruns per year, though hitting homeruns in the Giants stadium is not easy. He did recover from a poor 2018 season when he slugged just .396. In 2019 he raised his average 45 points (.290) and his slugging average almost 100 points (.496). Expect him to make his major league debut sometime late in 2021, especially if he has a good spring.

2. Mario Feliciano C (Brewers) - Mario was the 75th player selected in the 2016 draft, a second round supplemental pick. Puerto Rico has been known for developing catchers with the Molina brothers, Sandy Alomar Jr., Ivan Rodriguez, Jorge Posada and Benito Santiago, just to name a few. Mario hopes to add his name to that list. His arm is top notch, but his bat could be even better. In 2019 his bat broke out for 19 homeruns with a .270 average. There is still too much swing and miss in his game (143 whiffs in 119 games) and he needs to improve in the other defensive areas of the game, such as pitch framing and calling a game. He played three games in AA in 2019. That may be where he starts the 2021 season with a callup possible this year. Catchers can sometimes take longer to develop so don’t expect a larger role for him until 2023.

3. Edwin Rios 3B/1B (Dodgers) - The Dodgers resigned Justin Turner, but for baseball he is at that age where he will need soe down time to rejuvenate. Expect Edwin to be that replacement. The sixth round 2015 pick saw a lot of power in 2020, with eight homeruns in just 32 games. While his slugging average reached .645 his OBA was only .301. In a brief appearance with the Dodgers in 2019 he slugged .617 with a .393 OBA. That year he also hit a career high 31 homeruns in AAA. So the power in his bat is a real threat. His defense at third can be a little awkward as might be expected from someone who is 6′3″ so his best position could be first base. If the DH arrives in the National League next year he could see a more permanent presence in the Dodgers lineup. Expect him to be with the Dodgers in 2021 playing a bench role to cover the corner infield positions.

4. Matthew Lugo SS (Red Sox) - The second round 2019 second round pick has some pretty impressive blood lines. He is the nephew of Carlos Beltran. If he can harness just half of Beltran’s production the Red Sox would consider him a success. The power genes have so far not appeared with Matthew as they did for Carlos. In his first and only minor league season in 2019 he only hit one homerun and slugged .326. The Red Sox hope the power will come as he matures. His defensive actions at short may rely more on his quickness than his speed. Matthew carries above average speed to stick at short and his arm is strong, but it will never measure up to the elite shortstops on defense. The Red Sox have Jeter Downs rated ahead of him for a middle infield spot, but with a good 2021 season Matthew could put himself on the spot light. Expect him to start the 2021 season in A ball, with a Red Sox arrival time delayed until 2023.

5. Jose DeLeon RHP (Reds) - Jose has been on this list for a number of years. It took until the 24th round for the Dodgers to draft him in 2013. That would not make him a drafted player in 2021. He was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays prior to the 2017 season but arm injuries limited his first year with the Rays and Tommy John surgery prevented him from playing in 2018. The Rays traded him to the Reds after the 2019 season. Now that he is finally healthy he could be a back end rotation piece or fill a bullpen role for the Reds in 2021. His fastball has increased a couple ticks, getting to the low end of the mid-90s spectrum. His change has been his best pitch, but with the increased velocity on his fastball there is clearer separation. A slider gives him a third pitch to be a starter. The Reds gave him five opportunities to pitch in the bullpen in 2020 but he gave up 12 runs in those six innings, walking 11 and striking out 10. At 29 years of age he needs to make the Reds pitching mix for the 2021 season or be released to the free agent market. Whether he makes the team will be dependent on his spring performance.

6. Erik Rivera LHP/OF (Angels) - The Angels love their duality. After signing Shohei Ohtani from Japan as a pitcher/hitter they have made a practice of drafting players who have the ability to pitch and hit. Erik was a fourth round pick in 2019 for his ability to both hit and pitch. With a fastball that sits in the low 90s, a big bender curveball and change his best rout to the majors may be his arm. There is power in his bat, but that comes with a lot of difficulty making contact. In 2019 he struck out 31 times in 21 games. Erik should start the 2021 season in A ball, with a more games behind the mound than at the plate.

7. Yan Contreras SS (Reds) - Yan did not get drafted until the 12th round of the 2019 draft. Right now defense is his game and the tools are there for him to stick at shortstop. The big question is whether his bat will hit enough to see the major leagues. Currently, he lacks any kind of power, but the hope is that at 6′2″ that power can be developed. In his 20 game minor league debut in 2019 he hit only .145. He did show the ability to walk with 14 and his two triples and four stolen bases in five attempts does show some game like speed. It will be a stretch for him to be a major leaguer, but 2021 will see his journey start in A ball.

8. Jivani Moran LHP (Twins) - A seventh round 2015 draft pick. His first year with the Twins they put him in the rotation, but after that most of his time has been spent in the bullpen. The strikeout numbers are very impressive, but that is not because of the velocity of his fastball. His career totals are 224 whiffs in just 158 innings. Those swings and misses can be attributed to his change that is unhittable at the minor league level. Those strikeout numbers increased at AA (13.1 per 9 innings) but his ERA sky rocketed (4.98). The big challenge will be whether his change can fool major league hitters. That test may come sometime in 2021.

9. Edwin Diaz utility (Athletics) - The 2013 15th round pick has been shuttling around the game a bit. The 2019 season could see him make his debut as a utility player for the Athletics. In 2019 he played a lot of third and short. Edwin lacks the range to play short on a consistent basis and his bat lacks the power to be a starter at third, but if you need a fill in he could be a valuable commodity to play both. His minor league career high for homeruns is 15 in 2018, but he hit 14 in 2019. His batting average can be a bit problematic, sitting in the low .200s the last couple years. The Athletics have a shortage at the middle infield position so the 2021 season will be an opportunity for Diaz to fill a role. At 25 years of age, his time is now.

10. Delvin Perez (Cardinals) - To be honest myworld could not find anyone else. Delvin was a first round pick of the Cardinals in 2016. Perez dominated in the Puerto Rican leagues, but his bat has fallen short in the minor leagues. The defensive tools are there but the bat is awfully silent. The lack of a 2020 season gave him no opportunity to improve on his paltry .325 slugging percentage in 2019. His career slugging percentage in the minor leagues since being drafted is .317. Defensively, he made 24 errors in 2019 at short and that will also need to improve. His best hope is some power develops, he gains some defensive consistency and he rises up the minor league ladder after a successful 2021 season in High A.

The interesting fact about the next top ten players is they were all drafted. Only one international bonus signing is part of this ten group.

80. Ryan Mountcastle OF (Orioles) - The 2015 first round pick lacks a position. He started at shortstop, then moved to third, but his arm was not strong enough to play there. First base is a possibility but the Orioles are loaded at the position. So his current position is left field, with a lot of designated hitter time as well. The foot speed is lacking for him to be a strong defensive player in the outfield, but his bat is what will get him in the lineup. Last year he made his major league debut, played in 35 games and hit .333 with 5 homeruns and a .492 slugging percentage. The bat displays some impressive power but can also live in the gaps. Despite his lack of defensive prowess, the bat will get him in the Orioles lineup in 2021, mostly as a DH.

79. Josiah Gray RHP (Dodgers) - The Dodgers have a way of developing good pitchers. Gray was an acquisition from the Reds and all they had to do was trade the troublesome Yasiel Puig to acquire him. He was a second round supplemental pick by the Reds in 2018. While the fastball that strikes the mid-90s is his best pitch, he also throws two breaking pitches (slider and curve) and a change that are all quality pitches. He also commands the pitches well. In 2019 he threw for three teams, striking out 147 hitters in just 130 innings. Opponents have hit him at a .192 clip. He finished the 2019 season pitching for the AA team. The 2021 season could see him slip into the Dodgers starting rotation, though they already have a couple young pitchers in their rotation. Josiah will start the season in AA. How far he advances will be determined by his success.

78. George Valera OF (Indians) - Valera carries all five tools, though none of them to an explosive degree. The Indians signed him for $1.3 million out of the Dominican Republic. The speed tool probably lacks the quickness to play centerfield full time, and his arm tool lacks the vibrant strength to throw cannons out in right field. That is not to say those tools are weak, but they are limiting. The bat should be strong enough to play whatever position he wants. The 2019 season was a lost season for George, hitting .087 in Low A after struggling with a .236 average in Rookie ball. The power potential is there to hit double digit numbers in homeruns and the speed is enough to get him double digits in stolen bases. George is still a couple years away from seeing the Indians outfield, but when he makes his appearance he should be impactful.

77. Xavier Edwards SS (Rays) - When you first watch Xavier play you may not be impressed. The first round supplemental pick of the Padres in 2018 will not be hitting a lot of deep balls over the outfield fences in batting practice. The foot speed is what will set him apart. That allows him to cover a lot of ground at short and steal bases when he gets on base. In his two minor league seasons he has combined for 56 stolen bases. His bat can also sting line drives that have allowed him to hit .328 in those two years. There will not be a lot of swings and misses in his at bats, which could make him a solid number two hitter in a lineup geared for speed. Other than his lack of power, an average arm and Wander Franco could force a move to second base. The 2021 season should see him open the season in AA with a possible major league appearance some time in 2022.

76. Luis Campusano C (Padres) - Luis is one of the minor league players the Padres have not traded. They drafted him in the second round in 2017. Despite only playing A ball in 2019, the Padres provided Luis with his major league debut last year. He played in one game, getting three at bats, two strikeouts and a homerun. Luis won co-MVP honors when he played in the California League in 2019, hitting .325 with 15 homeruns. Defensively, he has a strong arm, but he still needs to work on the more subtle tools of catching such as calling and framing pitches. He should open 2021 in AA with the possibility of making his second appearance in the major leagues. The Padres will be gunning for a playoff spot in 2021 so relying on a rookie catcher to lead a veteran pitching staff would not be their ideal scenario.

75. Garrett Mitchell OF (Brewers) - The Brewers made Garrett their first round pick in the 2020 draft. His most eye catching tool would be his speed, allowing him to cover a lot of ground in center. The arm is also strong enough to play right. His batting practice appearances have been impressive, showing an ability to hit for power. Whether that will translate when he plays in games is open to question. Garrett does have Type 1 diabetes, which may be a cause for him dropping to the 20th pick in the draft. His tools suggest that he should have gone a bit higher. Garrett will start the season in Low A but could rise quickly if his batting practice results translate in real game situations. If that happens expect him to see the Brewers outfield in 2023.

74. Shane Baz RHP (Rays) - The righthanded pitcher was drafted by the Pirates in the first round in 2017. The Rays stole him from the Pirates in the Chris Archer trade, also acquiring Austin Meadows and Tyler Glasnow. Shane has an electric fastball that can hit triple digits on the radar readings. His slider is also a swing and miss pitch. He lacks command and an effective third pitch, though his change could work with more development. If he fails to find a third pitch his slider/fastball combination are good enough to make him a closer option. The 2019 season was his most dominating performance, limiting the opposition to a .213 average, which brought his ERA down to 2.99. That put him on the prospect map and had Pirate fans tearing the hair from their scalp wondering what the Pirate front office was thinking when they traded three potential impact players for a pitcher that faltered. The 2021 season will be key, determining whether the success Baz achieved in 2019 was real. He will probably begin in AA and could see the major league rotation or the bullpen late in the 2021 season.

73. Tristan McKenzie RHP (Indians) - Tristan disappeared from the prospect discussion when back problems had him miss the 2019 season. The 2015 supplemental first round pick was a surprise call up to the starting rotation for the Indians in 2020. Standing 6′5″ and weighing just 160 pounds, he looks like a praying mantis on the mound, with all arms and skinny stick like legs. The fastball sits in the low 90s, but if he puts some meat on his bones that velocity could see a significant uptick. His command was superb and he showed four quality major league pitches, resulting in a 3.24 ERA in 8 appearances and six starts. With a 9/42 walk to whiff ratio, major league hitters could only attack him for a .179 average. Health could be a concern. The Indians will cross their fingers and hope that health stays secure as he starts the 2021 season in the Indians rotation.

72. Heliot Ramos OF (Giants) - The Puerto Rican was drafted in the first round of the 2017 draft. Like Valera he is a five tool outfielder that has no real explosive tools, but enough to make an impact. His arm may be his best tool, which will fit perfectly in right field. He is probably the best outfielder in a crop of quality outfielders coming up through the Giants minor league system. He avenged a poor 2018 season by hitting .290 in 2019 with 16 homeruns and a .481 slugging percentage playing at two levels. Most of his damage was in the California League, as he struggled a bit in 25 AA games (.242). The 2021 season should see him repeat AA and be ready to suit up for the Giants outfield sometime in the latter parts of the 2022 season.

71. Taylor Trammell OF (Mariners) - Another outfielder with a lot of tools who has already been traded twice. He was drafted by the Reds in 2016 as a supplemental first rounder. The Padres acquired him in a trade and then sent him to the Mariners to help them in a playoff race. Myworld witnessed his tools in the Future Games feature of the All Star game in 2018. His legs have enough speed to fill in at center, but his arm will limit him to left field. The bat carries 20 homerun pop if he can improve his ability to make contact. This could make him a 20/20 player. The Mariners outfield could get a little crowded with Julio Rodriguez, Kyle Lewis and Jarred Kelenic, so if he wants a major league opportunity that may not come until he gets traded a third time. The tools are there for him to make his major league debut in 2021, starting the season in AAA.

Our next ten in the top prospect list. This group is filled with 2019 international signings and 2020 first round draft picks. Not a lot of players here with minor league history.

90. Erick Pena OF (Royals) - The Royals signed the Dominican for $3.9 million. The lefthanded power bat is only 17 and stands 6′3″. Power will be his best tool. He lacks the speed to be an impact player in centerfield so the corner appears to be his future position. The arm is not right field quality but if he gets stronger he could fit well there. He really has no stats to indicate what kind of player he could be but the Royals spent a lot of coin to sign him. He could start next year in extended spring and start the season in Low A. The Royals will have to wait until 2023 before he joins their outfield.

89. Robert Puason SS (Athletics) - Another 2019 signing who the Athletics signed for $5.1 million. The only player who got a higher bonus was Jasson Dominguez, who appears later on this list. Unlike Pena, power is probably the weakest part of his game. Robert is a wiry 6′3″ who has a strong arm and fast legs. He should have the defensive tools to stick at short. Like Pena he has yet to accumulate any stats to magnify his tools. He may also start the season in extended spring before starting his career in Low A. The Athletics should not expect him until 2023.

88. Orelvis Martinez SS (Blue Jays) - Another Dominican who signed for a big bonus ($3.5 million) but signing in 2018. The potential five tool prospect may get too big to stay at shortstop, but the power in his bat is suited for third base. He got to play some rookie ball in 2019 and showed good patience at the plate with 14 walks in 40 games for a .352 OBA. Also more than 50 percent of his hits went for extra bases for a .549 slugging percentage. Like Pena and Puason he is still a long way from making his major league debut. He will start the 2021 season in Low A with a major league debut in 2023. The longer he plays the more he will dictate what position is in his future.

87. Brendan McKay LHP (Rays) - Brenadan was the fourth pick in the 2017 draft. At that time his bat was his best tool while the Rays were intrigued by his arm while pitching out of the bullpen in college. They thought they had found a two way player who could hit and pitch like Shohei Ohtani. The surprise was that when he focused on pitching the arm advanced far more than his bat. The lefthanded arm throws a low 90s fastball that can hit the mid 90s. A cutter and his ability to throw strikes may be his best tools. After dominating the minors in 2019 (1.10 ERA) the Rays promoted him to make his major league debut. Major league hitters seemed to feast on his strike throwing ability hitting him at a .268 clip that resulted in a 5.14 ERA. Last year shoulder issues that required surgery in August prevented him from pitching. Despite the surgery he should be able to pitch in 2021 but it may require some time in AAA. The bat may still be used in the majors, but it will be secondary to the arm.

86. Robert Hassell OF (Padres) - Another player who has not been able to show off his tools. The Padres made him the eighth pick in the 2020 draft. He shined for the United States 18 and under national team, selected to the All World team for his .514 average and his .886 slugging average. He hit two homeruns and drove in 14 runs. His performance made him the first high school selection in the draft. A pitcher in high school, his arm is strong enough for right field, but his legs may not be fast enough to play center. This could create some pressure on him to hit for power. His bat will dictate how fast Hassell rises but don’t expect him to be in the Padres outfield until sometime late in 2023.

85. Deivi Garcia RHP (Yankees) - The Yankees are not normally a team to rely on rookie pitchers for their rotation. They normally trade them for veteran prospects. The Yankees signed the Dominican for $200,000 in 2015. With no minor leagues Garcia made his major league debut in 2020. His 4.98 ERA was impacted by the six homeruns he gave up in 34 innings. He stands only 5′9″ so there is some concern about his durability. Despite the height he can still dial up his fastball in the mid-90s. His breaking pitches are top quality making his fastball a better pitch. He did have issues with his command in his 2019 minor league season, but that lack of command did not seem to be a problem with the Yankees. Garcia will be competing for the fifth spot in the rotation in 2021. If he does not make the starting rotation he could still be used out of the bullpen.

84. Luis Matos OF (Giants) - One of the many young outfielders climbing up through the Giants system. Marco Luciano was the big international signing for the Giants in 2018, but Matos was a nice second choice, signing for $725,000. Matos has borderline five tools. In 2019 he showed a sharp bat with a .367 average in the Dominican Summer League. This got him five games in the Rookie League where he hit .438. His bat is more gap oriented now but an increase in power could develop. That maturation could slow him down creating a future for the corner rather than centerfield. Currently his speed resulted in 21 stolen bases, but number should lesson as he matures. Matos should be able to start the 2021 season in Low A, but he is still a couple years away from joining the Giants outfield.

83. Garrett Crochet LHP (White Sox) - Garrett was a first round pick of the White Sox in 2020. The talented arm was too strong to hold him back and he made his major league debut in September. He did not give up a run in his six innings of work. He also had one post season appearance, striking out both hitters he faced. Pitching out of the bullpen Crochet consistently hit triple digits with his fastball. The lefthander also has a decent slider and change to be used in the rotation. He was a starting pitcher for Tennessee in college. At 6′6″ he pitches downhill. He could probably fit in the White Sox bullpen in 2021 but they may start him in AAA to see how he might fit as a starter. It all depends on the White Sox greatest need in the playoff run.

82. Brendan Rodgers (SS) Rockies - The Rockies have traded Nolan Arenado. Next on their list may be Trevor Story. That will create an opening for Rodgers, who was destined for second base until then. Rodgers was a first round pick of the Rockies in 2015. Injuries have prevented him from an extended major league career. In 2019 a shoulder injury limited him to 25 games. Injuries limited him to just seven games in 2020. His major league average hangs at a low .196, but the Rockies have seen double digit power in the minor leagues. In 2019 he hit .350 with 9 homeruns in just 37 minor league games. That led to his abbreviated major league promotion. The tools are there for him to be a solid major league shortstop with 20 plus homerun power. He may have to start the 2021 season as the Rockies second baseman, until Story is traded.

81. George Kirby RHP (Mariners) - Kirby was the Mariners first round pick in 2019. At 6′4″ he has the frame to be a dominant starting pitcher. The fastball sits in the mid-90s but can creep higher. He has two breaking pitches and a change. All his pitches are thrown for excellent command. In his 2019 minor league debut he showed his command with a 0/25 walk to whiff ratio in 23 innings. Having the ball consistently cross the plate could be a weakness, allowing hitters to whack him around for a .270 average. If he can change his command to hitting the corners and throwing his pitches out of the strike zone to get hitters chasing he could lower that average. This could increase his path to the Mariners rotation. If he can reach AA in 2021 the Mariners could have him in their rotation by 2022.

It is kind of a funky list. We used Baseball America, MLB.com, Razball, Rotoball and Prospects 365. Razball and Prospects 365 seemed to be on the same page in ignoring top pitching prospects like Mackenzie Gore, Nate Pearson, Spencer Howard, Max Meyer, Matthew Liberatore, Clark Schmidt and Michael Kopech, creating a little lower rating for these players than is probably expected.

100. Gilberto Jimenez OF (Red Sox) - The Red Sox signed Gilberto for just $10,000 in 2017. His speed in centerfield is his top carrying tool, creating a stellar defensive centerfielder who can cause havoc on the basepaths once he arrives in the major leagues. He lacks power, but won the batting title in the New York Penn League with a .359 average his first season stateside. Gilberto is a slap hitter who likes to go the opposite way. Only 20 percent of his hits went for extra bases. As he matures he could get stronger, but expecting double digit homerun totals from him is asking a lot. It will still be about three years before Red Sox fans see him patrolling center field, but if he can remind fans of Johnny Damon he will be well worth the wait.

99. Jordan Balazovic RHP (Twins) - Jordan slipped to the fifth round of the 2015 draft. The Canadian righthander had the intent to play for Auburn. At 6′5″ 215 pounds he can be very intimidating on the mound, especially after he throws his mid 95-97 mile per hour fastball past the plate. The path through the minors has been slow so far. He only reached High A in 2019 and last year did not pitch in any regular games. The starters repertoire is there with his slider and change as decent second and third pitches. In 2019 he created a lot of swings and misses with his slider, recording a 129 to 93 walk to innings pitched ratio. Jordan could start the 2021 season in AA putting him on the spot light to the Twins rotation around 2023.

98. Lewin Diaz 1B (Marlins) - At one point Lewin was a Twin. They traded him to the Marlins for relief help (Sergio Romo). The Twins signed him out of the Dominican Republic in 2013 for $1.4 million. At 6′4″ he packs a lot of power. The 2019 season was his breakout year when he hit 27 homeruns. His lack of speed will restrict him to first base. Normally a decent contact hitter for someone carrying his kind of power he struggled in a Marlins call up in 2020, hitting just .154 with a .205 slugging percentage. He struck out 12 times in 39 at bats. His career minor league average is .268 so that could be an aberration. He will get another opportunity to show he belongs in the major leagues, though it may have to wait until the return of the designated hitter to the National League in 2022.

97. Jordyn Adams OF (Angels) - The Angels outfield is crowded with Mike Trout and prospects Jo Adell and Brandon Marsh set to surround him at the corners. Jordyn was a first round pick of the Angels in 2017 and is only 21 years old so they can wait for him. He has terrific speed, the kind of athlete who could have played college football for North Carolina after graduating from high school. At 6′2″ he has some power to go with that speed. In 2019 he slugged 8 homeruns while stealing 16 bases. When he is ready to be called up to the outfield for the Angels Mike Trout may have to shift to a corner outfield position. Don’t expect that to happen until 2024.

96. Aaron Bracho 2B (Indians) - Aaron was a $1.5 million bonus baby signing by the Indians in 2017 out of Venezuela. Signed as a shortstop he lacks the tools to stay there in a full time role. The Indians hope he turns into an offensive oriented second sacker. He makes good contact with a 28/29 walk to whiff ratio. The ability to hit the gaps for power is there as well, with a .570 slugging percentage in short season ball in 2019. There are no tools that stand out but he also has no glaring weaknesses. Aaron could fit in a utility role if a starting job is not available. That won’t happen until sometime in 2023.

95. Keibert Ruiz C (Dodgers) - Keibert is currently blocked by Will Smith in the major leagues, but many consider Ruiz the better defensive catcher. Smith arrived first in the major leagues and showed the ability to hit. Keibert was signed for $140,000 out of Venezuela in 2014. He may be a better defensive catcher but he needs to show effectiveness with the bat. His power falls far short of Smith but he did homer in his first major league at bat. His major league showing was only for two games, where he hit .250 in eight at bats. Injuries have slowed Ruiz ascent to the major leagues, limiting him to just 85 games in 2019. The Dodgers will start him in AAA in 2021 to give him his at bats. At some point the Dodgers will have to choose between Ruiz or Smith as their starting catcher and trade the other.

94. Hunter Bishop OF (Giants) - The Giants are starting to stock up on outfielders, with Heliot Ramos, Bishop and Alexander Canario a good threesome to work from. Hunter was the Giants first round pick in 2019. At 6′5″ he has the typical look of a major league right fielder but the speed is there to patrol center. He shows a lot of patience at the plate, but perhaps too much with a 38/39 walk to whiff ratio in 32 games for the 2019 season. A wide receiver in high school he has the athleticism to make an impact with his speed in centerfield and his bat for power. The Giants do not expect him to patrol their outfield until 2023.

93. Randy Arozarena OF (Rays) - There are a number of rookies who put on quite a power display in the major leagues, but are never heard from again after their rookie season. We don’t expect that to happen to Randy, but we also don’t expect the homerun barrage he put on in the playoffs and his .641 slugging percentage in 2020 with the Rays. Myworld always wondered why the Cardinals did not give Arozarena an opportunity to play in their outfield, but they traded him for Matthew Liberatore, who may have a greater long term impact. Randy was singed for $1.25 million out of Cuba in 2016. The biggest change in his game was elevating his swing, turning ground balls into fly balls. If that power continues he could become the coveted five tool superstar who patrols centerfield for the Rays until they can no longer afford him. They will at least have him for the 2021 season.

92 Heston Kjerstad OF (Orioles) - Heston was an early second pick in the 2020 draft by the Orioles. A couple players were projected to go with that pick, but the Orioles are not complaining. He was considered to have the best lefthanded power in the draft, so he should be bouncing balls off the scoreboard in right field at Camden Yards in a couple years. His lack of speed will limit him to a corner outfield. He also proved himself on the International scene becoming one of the best hitters on the United States college national team. Since there was no 2020 minor league season Heston may start in extended spring training before being given a chance to perform in High A. As a college player he could rise quickly, with an arrival in the Orioles lineup as early as late 2022.

91. A. J. Puk LHP (Athletics) - If not for the injuries this 6′7 lefthander would already be an established major league starter. He has had two seasons where he was expected to pitch in the Athletics starting rotation, but injuries limited his participation. The 2016 first round pick has a piercing fastball that can hit triple digits as it crosses the plate, consistently hitting the high 90s. A lack of command has also created some difficulty for him, making some think that his best fit may be in the bullpen. His fastball and slider are a deadly combination and his change is decent enough to make it work in the rotation. The Athletics will hope the third time in the starting rotation is the charm in 2021. If injuries continue to slay him perhaps it is time to move him to the bullpen where he could fit in the closer role.

Myworld will go around the world to identify the top prospects from various areas of the world playing in the minor leagues. In order to do this effectively we have to find enough prospects who have a chance to appear in the major leagues. The Dominican Republic is one of the best places to find prospects so we have broken them out into American and National League. Below are the top Dominican prospects in the National League.

1. Marco Luciano SS (Giants) - You have to like a shortstop that has the potential to hit for power. At the rookie level in 2019 Marco slugged .564 with 10 homeruns and 13 doubles in just 47 games. He also showed some patience at the plate with 32 walks. At 6′2″ he has some length and his speed is not his greatest asset, so he could move to third base. This would slightly tarnish his prospect ranking, but finding a player to hit .300 with 30 plus homeruns at any position is still a skill any team would want. He has yet to play full season ball so how he adapts as he faces better pitching will soon be discovered. Next year will be his first season in full season ball.

2. Christian Pache OF (Braves) - He has gold glove potential as a centerfielder. His speed allows him to track down fly balls but it seems to be deficient when it comes to stealing bases. He did steal 32 in 2017 but the last two years he only combined for 15. The power is there for him to hit in double digits for homeruns, but he will not be a power source. The Braves would like to see him be more patient at the plate so he could draw more walks to better fit at the top of the lineup. In 2018 his OBA was only .307 but in 2019 he drew more walks to elevate it to .340. Last year he made a brief major league debut, appearing in just two games and getting four at bats. If he can show the bat and the patience to get on base consistently he could be the Braves starting centerfielder in 2021. The glove is ready, the bat is still a work in progress.

3. Sixto Sanchez RHP (Marlins) - By the end of the 2020 season Sixto had entrenched himself as one of the top three pitchers in the Marlins rotation. His fastball hits the upper ranges of the 90s and reaches triple digits. He complements that pitch with a changeup that dives into the dirt. He doesn’t get the swings and misses you would expect from a pitcher with his stuff, but he should fit in the middle of the rotation next year for the Marlins. If he can harness a quality third pitch those strikeout numbers could climb. The one concern myworld has is his 6′0 body carrying 234 pounds. That could have an impact on his health if he doesn’t improve his conditioning.

4. Brailyn Marquez LHP (Cubs) - Scouts drool when they see a lefthander consistently hit triple digits with his fastball. At 6′4″ Brailyn also carries an ideal pitcher’s frame. While the fastball is special his secondary offerings (slider and change) line the average spectrum and his command can be spotty. To be effective in the major leagues he needs to enhance those pitches. Last year he made one appearance in the major leagues and retired two hitters, giving up two hits and walking three for a 67.50 ERA. The Cubs will give Brailyn some time in AAA to enhance his secondary pitches and fine tune his control. Once he finds improvements there he could be the ace of the Cubs rotation. If those struggles continue he could always fill the closer role.

5. Ronny Mauricio SS (Mets) - Don’t know if the Mets trade of Amed Rosario and Andres Gimenez is a call of faith for the future of the shortstop capabilities of Mauricio. Ronny has not shown the power of Luciano and his speed could be described as below average, so staying at shortstop does not appear to be in the cards. But at 6′3″ the Mets are expecting the power to arrive, enough so that a move to third base is practical. His career slugging percentage in the minor leagues is .374, which falls short of what teams look for at the hot corner. However, gaining strength and learning how to elevate the ball could result in more power production. He still is a couple years away from the Mets, giving Francisco Lindor the reign at short for that time period.

6. Oneil Cruz SS (Pirates) - Hard to imagine a 6′7″ shortstop in the major leagues. That is Cruz at the moment in the minor leagues. He doesn’t seem burdened by the height. If the Pirates consider moving him the speed and the arm are good enough for him to patrol right field. There are few players that can match Cruz for power once his arms are extended. Despite all that power he has yet to slug .500 at any level in the minor leagues. With that height comes a larger strike zone and holes in his swing that pitchers can exploit. Cruz was involved in a traffic accident in the Dominican in which a couple people were killed. He appears to have avoided any major consequences for that event and is playing shortstop in the Dominican winter league. If there are no delays in getting a visa he could see some time with the rebuilding Pirates in 2021.

7. Geraldo Perdomo SS (Diamondbacks) - The fourth and last shortstop in this list, but unlike the other three players above him Geraldo has a greater possibility of sticking at the position. He has good speed, a strong arm and all the other attributes to make a solid defensive shortstop. His hitting tools are not as strong as those others mentioned above. At 6′2″ the power could develop. In 2019 he had an impressive 70/67 walk to whiff ratio. This put his OBA at .397 and with his speed on the bases allowed him 67 steals. That would be enough to stick at the top of an order. He still is a couple years away from making his major league debut, but perhaps by the end of the 2022 season Geraldo could make an appearance.

8. Edward Cabrera RHP (Marlins) - Cabrera is another rotation candidate who could hit triple digits with his fastball. At 6′5″ that delivery would be more intimidating than Sixto. Early in his career Edward had challenges commanding his pitches. Hitters raked him at a .280 clip and his ERA was above 4. Last year the command improved, the slider had more break and hitters struggled with a .190 average, resulting in a breakout 2.23 ERA. With all the injuries in the Marlins rotation last year while they surprisingly fought for a playoff appearance, their was some talk of sliding Cabrera into the rotation. That did not happen. It could though as the 2021 season develops.

9. Jesus Sanchez OF (Marlins) - Sanchez was first a Devil Ray. At that time he had the speed to be considered a centerfielder. The Marlins sent the Rays some pitching help to acquire Sanchez. His speed depleted as his body matured so now he is probably better suited for the corners. It is hoped his bat can start generating power to justify the move. His last three years those power numbers have dropped from a .478 slugging percentage to .433, to finally .398 last year. In 2019 he also hit a career low .260. Last year he did make his major league debut, but he was able to piece together just one hit in 25 at bats. For the 2021 season he will try to show some improvement in his offense to justify putting him at a corner outfield position, where a modicum of power is expected.

10. Lewin Diaz 1B (Marlins) - The fourth Marlin on this list, but the third that was acquired via trade. Diaz was originally a Twin but the Marlins acquired him for Sergio Romo. Lewin had a nice breakout season last year from a power perspective hitting 27 homeruns and 33 doubles for a .530 slugging percentage. He was called up last year, appearing in 14 games while hitting just .154 with a .205 slugging. The Marlins will give him another opportunity before they spin the wheel again in search of a first baseman. His speed is below average but his defense can get him on the field. It will not win any gold gloves so the bat must come alive if he hopes to secure a permanent spot in the lineup. The Marlins will give him another chance in 2021, provided he hits in AAA.

Lefthanded pitchers are a bit different than righthanders. They tend to throw with less velocity but have more movement on their pitches. They also have to face a batting order that traditionally has more right handed hitters than left handed. But lefthanded pitchers are more valued because there are less of them, and those few are needed to retire some of the more powerful lefthanded bats. Below are the top left handed pitching prospects, some of whom will ultimately end up as relievers. Lefthanders may be one of the more valuable commodities in baseball.

1. MacKenzie Gore (Padres) - The third pick in the 2017 draft may be considered the top pitching prospect in baseball. Others who have laid that claim but with little success include Archie Bradley and Mark Prior. The Padres hope Gore will have a better fate. He has four quality pitches, which is something that can not be said about most people on this list. A fastball, curveball, slider and change. The fastball slices through the plate with readings between the low to mid 90s, but it carries a lot of dart and dash. The slider is probably his best strikeout pitch. There are no issues with command of his four pitches. In 2018 when he experienced blister problems his ERA stood ugly at 4.45. When healthy in 2017 and 2019 his ERAs were an impeccable 1.27 and 1.69. Opponents have hit less than .200 in both years in which he was healthy. Myworld would not be surprised if with a good spring he is with the Padres in 2021, though mid season would be the best bet.

2. A.J. Puk (Athletics) - Injuries have prevented him from making a major league impact. The 2016 first round pick got some major league time in relief in 2019, putting together an impressive 3.18 ERA. He was ticketed for the starting rotation in 2020 but shoulder issues ended his season. Puk had Tommy John surgery that prevented him from pitching in 2018, so injuries have been an issue. At 6′7″ he does not have the same reach as Randy Johnson, but his fastball travels as fast, hitting the high 90s and clipping three digits pretty consistently. He also has more command than Randy, but the Athletics would like to see a little improvement in that area. His slider is an above average pitch but his change is average. It may be best that he abandon his curve. He is supposed to be healthy to start the 2021 season and is slotted to fit in a rotation spot. Whether he can stay healthy is another issue.

3. Brailyn Marquez (Cubs) - The 6′4 inch Dominican lefthander signed for only $600,000 in 2015. That was still the highest international signing for a pitcher that year. At 16 years of age he was already hitting the low 90s with his fastball. Now he probably has the highest readings of any minor league lefthander in baseball, hitting triple digits consistently. He made one appearance in 2020 with the Cubs and only retired two batters, walking three and giving up two hits resulting in a 67.50 ERA. He should get another opportunity at major league hitters to lower that ERA. His other pitches do not have the quality as his fastball, with his slider and change at just average. Command has also been an issue, with a little less than one walk every two innings pitched in 2019. If he can enhance his slider and change he could become a number one starter in the major leagues. If not, there is an opportunity to fill a closer role. The 2021 season should see the Cubs give him opportunities to fill their major league rotation.

4. Tarik Skubal (Tigers) - The Tigers scooped up Tarik in the ninth round of the 2018 draft. He was a promising pitcher out of Seattle University who had missed a season because of Tommy John surgery. He has been dominant in his two minor league seasons, finishing with a 0.40 ERA his first year and 2.42 ERA his second year in 2019. Opponents hit him at a .195 clip and he struck out 212 hitters in just 145 innings. The Tigers called him up mid season in 2020 and he struggled with a 5.63 ERA, giving up 9 homeruns in just 32 innings. His other numbers were good with a .235 opponent batting average and 37 whiffs in 32 innings. The fastball hits the mid 90s and when combined with a quality slider result in a lot of swings and misses. He still needs to improve his changeup and perhaps abandon his curve to have success in the major leagues. Tarik could start the 2021 season in AAA and then get another mid-season callup. A lot of that will depend on how successful his spring is.

5. Garrett Crochet (White Sox) - The 2020 first round pick of the White Sox was still able to pitch in five major league games, despite not having a minor league season. In those five relief appearances he did not allow a run in six innings and struck out eight, without allowing a walk. He also showed a fastball that hit the high 90s and climbed into the triple digit category. The fastball is his premier pitch, but it will probably hover closer to the mid-90s range if the White Sox use him in a starter capacity. At 6′6″ his long arms can get out of synch at times, leading to struggles with command. While his slider is a quality pitch the change and curve need some work. The White Sox will probably have him start the season as a starter in AA and could call him up before the season expires if he is doing well. Last year was their first playoff appearance in a number of years. They don’t need to wait for Garrett to percolate in the minors accruing service time. If he can help them with their rotation, or even in the bullpen in 2021, they will call him up for the playoff run.

6. Daniel Lynch (Royals) - Daniel was one of three first round pitchers for the Royals in 2018. Brady Singer made the rotation last year. Jackson Kowar could make it in 2021. Lynch needs to eat up more innings before he is ready. Minor injuries limited him to just 96 innings in 2019. The signature pitch for Lynch is his slider. His fastball is in the mid-90s but when he wants to get a strikeout the slider is his go to pitch. The change also has potential to be a quality pitch. Standing at 6′6″ Lynch has an intimidating presence on the mound. The Royals will give him time in AA and after the 2021 season he will join Singer and Kowar in the rotation in 2022.

7. Matthew Liberatore (Cardinals) - Matthew was a first round pick of the Rays in 2016. They used his talented left arm to entice the Cardinals to trade them Jose Martinez and Randy Arozarena. The more heralded Martinez turned into a bust but Arozarena became a homerun machine for the Rays during the playoffs. The Cardinals hope the Rays short term gain will be the Cardinals long term success. The 6′5 lefthander relies more on his breaking pitches to retire hitters. His fastball sits in the low 90s, but can climb to 95, but his curveball drops off the table, resulting in lots of ground outs. Liberatore has only seen two balls leave the park in his 111 innings of minor league work. His change is also a promising pitch, while his slider is still in the work in progress stage and may not surpass his curve. The lost 2020 season will probably delay his major league debut until sometime in 2022. He’ll start 2021 in AA and hope that success will carry him to the major leagues.

8. Asa Lacey (Royals) - The first round pick of the Royals in 2020 stands an impressive 6′4″ and carries 215 pounds. His fastball has climbed to the low and mid 90s and when used against a quality slider leave hitters guessing. He also throws a quality change that keeps hitters off balance. The area he needs to work on is the command of his pitches. Not having a 2020 season did not help with that development. After having three years of pitching success with Texas A&M, it won’t take long for him to reach the major leagues. The Royals may start him at AA and he could join Lynch in the rotation sometime by the middle of the 2022 season.

9. Shane McClanahan (Rays) - The 2018 first round supplemental pick lacks the height of the other players rated ahead of him, standing just 6′1″. Despite lacking the long levers of the taller pitchers, Shane can still sling his fastball across the plate in triple digits. He used that fastball to get himself on the Rays playoff roster, without pitching in a regular major league game. He was used in relief in the playoffs and that may be his ultimate role in the major leagues. He got 22 starts in the minor leagues in 2019, but a lack of control results in a high number of walks. The slider is a quality pitch but the change needs some work to give him the requisite three pitches to make it in the starting rotation. The Rays will send him down to the minors in 2021, perhaps placing him in AA where he struggled to a 8.35 ERA in four starts there last year. To save on innings they may then call up him up for the playoff run to use him out of the bullpen again.

10. Brendan McKay (Rays) - Myworld is not a real fan of this multi disciplined pitcher use at the DH or a position role. It has not really worked for Shohei Ohtani at the major league level and McKay has also struggled with it as well. McKay seemed very hittable in his major league debut in 2019 after dominating in the minors. Opponents hit him at a .268 clip in the majors after being limited to a .178 average in his three years in the minors. While he was mainly a hitter in college who pitched in relief, his hitting of major league pitching has become a challenge. He did not pitch the 2020 season because of shoulder issues that ultimately required surgery. He relies more on the command of his pitches to retire hitters, pinpointing his mid 90s fastball while mixing in a quality cutter. His curve ball and change still need some work to be quality major league pitches. Brendan will probably spend the 2021 season pitching in AAA, rehabbing his shoulder. Rays fans may see him late in the 2021 season, depending on how his rehab process goes.

11. Nick Lodolo (Reds) - Lodolo was a first round pick of the Reds in 2019. He pitched briefly that year, striking out 30 in his 18 innings while not allowing one hitter to reach base via a walk. A towering 6′6″, his fastball stays in the low 90s but can hit the mid 90s. Despite his tall frame, he relies on the command of his pitches to retire hitters. It is possible he relies too much in the strike zone as hitters slapped him around for a .247 average. Further development of his slider and change should allow him to remain in the starting rotation, especially with his capability to move the ball to the corners of the plate. Having pitched in college it should not take him long to be fitted into the Reds rotation. Expect him to start the season in High A and move up quickly as he achieves success, making his major league debut in 2022.

12. D.L. Hall (Orioles) - The 2017 first round pick is one of many quality arms the Orioles are collecting in the minor leagues. The 6′2 lefty packs mid-90s heat to his fastball, but his biggest challenge is finding the plate enough to get called strikes. In 2019 he walked 54 hitters in 81 innings. The wildness may help because when the hitters want to hit they have been limited to .203 and .189 averages the last two years. Hall throws a change and a curve, but those pitches still need some work to become quality offerings. If he fails to develop a third pitch and continues to struggle finding the strike zone he could be moved to the bullpen. Next year Hall will start the season in AA. They may first use him out of the bullpen when they call him up to the major leagues, but they probably will not do that until 2022.

13. Seth Corry (Giants) - Corry drooped to the third round of the 2017 draft for the Giants. He was just a vanilla pitcher until his curveball developed into a plus pitch in 2019, resulting in a breakout year. In 26 starts in 2019 he limited the opposition to a .171 average, resulting in an impressive ERA of 1.76. He saw no game action in 2020. The 2021 season will determine whether he can continue the mastery of the curveball. The fastball sits in the low 90s and can have occasional mid-90s readings. His change has improved enough to be an above average offering. The 2021 season will see him start in AA with a major league debut in 2022.

14. Reid Detmers (Angels) - The Angels have always been hurting for pitching. They drafted Reid in the first round of the 2020 draft to address that need. Detmers got a lot of whiffs pitching for Louisville in college. He relies more on his curve to retire hitters since his fastball travels across the plate at a pedestrian low 90s. Whether that repertoire will work in striking out major league hitters is open to question. While the Angels need help in pitching now, it may take Detmers a couple years to toe the rubber with the Angels. The Angels may leapfrog him to AA to see how he handles the competition.

15. Jay Groome (Red Sox) - The 2016 first round pick has a pretty impressive fastball. Injuries have prevented his rise up the minor league ladder. He missed the entire 2018 season because of Tommy John surgery. He came back to make three rehab starts in shortseason ball in 2019. Besides injuries, finding the plate was also a problem. At 6′6″ with a fastball ticking in the high 90s can be intimidating, especially if it is flying all over the place. His curveball was also rated as the best in the 2016 draft. Enhancing his change would give him the three requisite pitches to make it in the starting rotation. Injuries and struggles with command may leave him in a bullpen role. Expect him to start the 2021 season in AA at best. He has had the entire 2020 season to use as rehab. The Red Sox bullpen was a shambles last year, so using him in the bullpen in 2022 is a possibility before a starting role opens up for him.

These are the shortstops in the grass. They are expected to cover a lot of ground and should have decent throwing arms. If they have average to weak throwing arms they should have a quick release. If they lack exceptional speed they move to a corner. Because these are the most athletic of the outfield prospects, my world will rate 15 top centerfield prospects.

1. Jarred Kelenic (Mariners) - The Mets made a good choice by drafting Kelenic in the first round of the 2018 draft. They made a poor choice by trading him and a couple other prospects for Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz. Jarred has all the tools you want in a centerfielder. Speed to patrol the outfield and an arm baserunners have to respect. He also has above average hitting tools that should make him a 20-20 player when he reaches the major leagues. His stolen base production may decrease if he moves to the third slot in the lineup. He was a 20-20 player in 2019 in the minor leagues, slugging 23 homeruns and stealing 20 bases. A reduction in strikeouts (111) could make his average slide above the .300 neighborhood. Expect him to be with the Mariners some time in 2021.

2. Cristian Pache (Braves) - The Braves signed Cristian in 2015 for $1.4 million out of the Dominican Republic. Shortly after that the Braves were penalized severely for violating international signing limits, losing a number of international players signed in 2015 and 2016. Fortunately for the Braves, Pache was not one of the 12 players lost. He is a better defensive centerfielder than Kelenic, with a stronger arm and greater speed. Once he arrives with the Braves he will appear every year on Gold Glove lists. His bat is not as strong and his tremendous speed does not result in a lot of stolen bases. He made his major league debut with the Braves in 2020 but only got four at bats. In 2019 in the minor leagues he hit .277 with 12 homeruns and 8 stolen bases. His strikeout numbers increased dramatically, but this didn’t seem to impact his overall numbers. Cristian should start the 2021 season as the Braves starting centerfielder.

3. Drew Waters (Braves) - A luxury of riches for the Braves. Obviously both can not play centerfield. The Braves could use the second round 2017 pick as trade bait, or move him to a corner outfield. They could also keep him in centerfield and move Pache to right field, though Pache is the better defensive player. Currently Waters is a player who can drive the ball from gap to gap hitting from both sides of the plate. His Achilles heel is his inability to make consistent contact, with a 39/164 walk to whiff ratio in 2019. More contact and a better read of pitchers could lead to more power and a higher average. He should also arrive with the Braves sometime late in 2021. With both Pache and Waters patrolling the outfield they should have one of the better defensive outfields in the major leagues.

4. Jasson Dominguez (Yankees) - Jasson signed with the Yankees out of the Dominican Republic in 2019 for $5.1 million. As a Yankee signing he comes with a lot of accolades. Since he has yet to swing a bat in the minor leagues a lot is unknown about what kind of numbers he will put up. The tools are impressive. He could bulk up, lose some speed and he would still probably be swift enough to cover centerfield. Combine his bat and his speed he should hit in the neighborhood of .300 consistently while creating 30-30 homerun/stolen base numbers. Since there was no 2020 season the 2021 season will do a lot to define this pending superstar. The Yankees will start him somewhere in A ball where he can exhibit his plus five tools. Yankee fans should not expect to see him until 2023.

5. Garrett Mitchell (Brewers) - The 2020 first round pick can run with the wind and has a power arm. The big question mark is whether he can hit minor league pitching. An injury prevented him from putting up any decent numbers in his last college season prior to the draft. His draft prospects dropped and the Brewers could not be happier. Major plusses for Garrett are his 6′3″ frame with a left handed bat that should develop power. The power is already evident in his batting practice swings. A concern is how he will keep his health and maintain his Type 1 diabetes. Since Garrett lacked a minor league season he will probably start 2021 in A ball and will not be seen by Brewer fans until late 2022 at the earliest. As a college drafted player he should move a lot quicker.

6. Hunter Bishop (Giants) - The 2019 first round pick of the Giants is one reason the Giant outfield of the future looks so promising. Heliot Ramos and Alexander Canario are two more reasons. Hunter may have the more complete tools, with the speed to play center and an arm that is strong, but a little light to compete with Ramos for right. Prior to being drafted he showed power with his 22 homeruns in college. That power continued in the minor leagues with five more homeruns in 32 games. A propensity to swing and miss kept his batting average low (.229) but a 38/39 walk to whiff ratio had his OBA rise to .438. Perhaps a little more aggressiveness at the plate could improve his numbers. At 6′5″ he is a pretty intimidating presence at the plate, but he also carries a large strike zone. A good athlete, Bishop thought of playing football as a wide receiver, but chose to focus on baseball. He will rise quickly in the minor leagues, seeing the Giants outfield sometime in 2022.

7. Corbin Carroll (Diamondbacks) - The 2019 first round pick of the Diamondbacks is another player who covers a lot of grass when he chases flyballs in the outfield. The big question with Corbin is his ability to hit for power. He slugged .487 in his minor league debut in 2019, but those numbers were inflated by his speed to hit 7 triples and 9 doubles. His speed should consistently result in 30 plus stolen bases per year. The patience is there to take walks (.409 OBA) but he needs to improve his ability to make more consistent contact to take advantage of his speed. While his arm is strong enough for right field, he could lack the power expected from a corner outfielder. Next year he should start at A ball with a 2023 major league debut sometime late in the season.

8. Leody Taveras (Rangers) - Like Corbin, the 2015 Dominican signing has a lot of speed to cover the middle of the outfield. The questions remain about his ability to hit. He has spent a lot of years in the minors, stitching together a career .260 batting average with a .358 slugging. Those numbers fall short of being welcome in a corner outfield, but could be acceptable with gold glove defense in centerfield. The glove is exceptional and the speed will result in 20 plus stolen bases per year. Leody made his major league debut last year. The bat was a little light (.227) but he slugged four homeruns for a .395 slugging percentage in 33 games. The batting average was a career low but the slugging was a career high. Spring training will dictate where he plays in 2021. Myworld suspects he will start in AAA and be promoted mid season if he improves his bat.

9. Khalil Lee (Royals) - Myworld has a soft spot for the 2016 third round pick. We coached his sister for a little bit ( a couple clinics) in volleyball. He played high school at Flint Hill where he earned Gatorade player of the year for Virginia. The arm is suited for right field but his speed is enough to patrol center. His bat showed some trouble making contact in 2019 with 154 strikeouts, limiting his average to .264. He did have an impressive 53 steals in 2019. With improved barrel of bat on ball contact his power should rise as his ability to get on base improves. The Royals did not see enough in him to call him up in 2020 so expect him to spend the year in AAA in 2021, with a callup late in the year.

10. Daz Cameron (Tigers) - The son of Mike and the Astros supplemental first round pick in 2015 has the above average tools to be a five tool player light. The Tigers acquired him in the Justin Verlander trade. It has been awhile since the Tigers had a true centerfielder. Daz could fit that role. The one major question mark is his ability to hit. In 2019 he could only muster a .214 average with 152 whiffs. The Tigers gave him an opportunity to roam their outfield last year, but in 17 games his bat was only good for a .193 average. He has shown patience at the plate, taking enough walks to keep his OBA above .330. With that he would be on base enough to steal 30 plus bases per year. With a good spring, showing an improved bat he could start out the 2021 season as the Tigers centerfielder. Myworld suspects AAA will be his most likely start.

11. Estevan Florial (Yankees) - As he bulks up myworld suspects right field will be his ultimate destination, but he missed out on making the top ten there. The Yankees outfield is a little crowded and Estevan did not help himself any by putting up a .237 average in 2019. He has also been limited to less than 100 games his last two years because of injuries. The power is there but he has not slugged over .500 since his first year in the minors in 2015. Haitian born, based on his birth certificate, he spent most of his youth going to school in the Dominican Republic. Last year Estevan appeared in one major league game, striking out in two of his three at bats, but getting a single in his other. He will start 2021 in AAA but with the always fragile Yankee outfield, it would not be a surprise to see him in the Yankee outfield at many points during the season.

12. Pete Crow-Armstrong (Mets) - Like Hassell on the right field prospect list, Armstrong also made the All World team at the 18 and under World Cup. It was enough for the Mets to make him a first round pick in 2020. He lacks the tools of a Jarred Kelenic, especially in the power department. There is the ability to make good contact to hit for a decent average. He did hit .364 with three triples and three stolen bases at the 18 and under world cup. Since he has not seen any professional time, Pete will probably begin the season in A ball. Mets fans should not expect to see him until 2023, right after Kelenic wins the American League rookie of the Year award.

13. Josh Lowe (Rays) - The 2016 first round pick has a big time power bat that is expected from a 6′4″ frame. He also carries a strong arm and glides with deer like speed in the outfield. In 2019 he had a breakout season, slugging 18 homeruns with a career high .442 slugging. His 132 whiffs in 121 games was too much for his batting average, keeping it at .252. Last year he stole a career high 30 bases. Since he will be hitting in a power spot in the lineup, this should not be expected to last. The position he may be best suited for is right field but he needs to develop more power in the games, rather than leave it at batting practice. Next year he should be patrolling the Rays AAA outfield with a good chance of promotion in 2021 to take advantage of his power bat and cheap salary.

14. Gilberto Jimenez (Red Sox) - Jimenez signed for the paltry amount of $10,000 in 2017. The tools have been in evidence, especially his blazing speed. The power is negligible. He did hit his first three homeruns last year. His career .444 slugging percentage is attributed to his speed, turning singles into double and doubles into triples. He has stolen 30 bases in his two minor league seasons. In 2019 he won the batting title in the New York Penn League with a .359 average. Gilberto has yet to play full season ball and with short season absent for 2021 he should start next year somewhere in A ball with a major league appearance expected for 2023.

15. Luis Barrera (Athletics) - The 2012 Dominican signing has risen past Lazaro Armenteros, Austin Beck and Skye Bolt for outfield relevance in the Athletics minor league system. His speed is top shelf but his power is invisible. His highest homerun total in his snailish pace up the minor league ladder was seven in 2017. His ability to hit triples keeps his slugging average at a respectable .412. Despite his blazing speed his stolen base numbers are tame, but that could be the result of the Athletics deemphasis on the stolen base. His 2019 season was shortened to 54 games, but not before he hit .321, with a .513 slugging, both of which would have been career highs if he maintained that pace. The 2021 season should be spent in AAA, but Luis deserves a shot in the Athletics outfield at some point during the season.

These are the players with the strong arms that are not fleet afoot. They also have power bats. In a previous post we did the top left field prospects, whose arms are usually suspect. The throw from right field to third base is the longest in baseball, requiring a strong arm. Next myworld will list our top centerfield prospects. Some players left off the centerfield prospect list could probably make the right field or left field prospect list because the centerfielders tend to be the more athletic of the three positions.

1. Julio Rodriguez (Mariners) - Only 19 years old, the Dominican signed for $1.75 million in 2017. Most five tool players are planted in centerfield. For Julio, he has all five tools, but speed may be his shortcoming. As he matures and gets bigger that speed may drop to average. A strong arm and a power bat makes him a cinch for right field. His bat was only allowed to show itself for one minor league season in the United States, where he hit .326 with 12 homeruns and a .540 slugging percentage. The bulk of those numbers were accrued in the California League where in 17 games he hit .468 with a .738 slugging percentage. He has the potential to be one of the most potent bats in the major leagues in the next couple years. Expect him to play a full season in AA in 2021 with a possible late season major league promotion in 2022. Or he could pull a Juan Soto and hit so impressively in AA that he gets a mid-season promotion.

2. J.J. Bleday (Marlins) - The Marlins 2019 first round pick has a big time power bat. His speed is a tick below average but his arm is strong. Myworld saw him play in the College World Series in 2019, so we could be a bit biased in this ranking. He was the NCAA Division homerun leader in 2019 with 27. He had part of a season in the Florida State League and slugged three more dingers, with a .257 batting average and a disappointing .379 slugging percentage. College players who have played into the World Series come into the minor league season with their energy a bit sapped. His 6′3″ frame is built for power with a lefthanded swing that makes consistent contact. He should rise quickly in Miami, perhaps making his major league debut as early as 2021.

3. Dylan Carlson (Cardinals) - The 2016 first round pick made his major league debut last season. Major league pitching proved to be a bit elusive for him, with a .200 batting average in 35 games and a poor 8/35 walk to whiff ratio. He had a breakout season in 2019 with 26 homeruns and a .542 slugging percentage. Prior to his 2019 season his batting average hovered around the .250 range, but the 2019 season saw it climb to .292, despite his poorer walk to whiff rate. The speed exists to play center, but it is not burner speed and the arm is above average, but it would not rank at the level of Rodriguez. Dylan should be the starting rightfielder for the Cardinals in 2021.

4. Kristian Robinson (Diamondbacks) - The toolsy outfielder from the Bahamas signed for a sweet $2.5 million in 2017. Like Rodriguez, he has all the tools to play center, but his speed lacks the burner quality of most of the top prospects who play that position. His arm has plenty of zip for right. As a 17 year old he was already playing in the United States rookie leagues and hitting .279, showing some pop with his seven homeruns and a .428 slugging percentage. His youth made him a bit overmatched against the top pitchers, which could explain his high 144 whiffs in 126 minor league games. The expectation is that his contact rate will improve as he sees more pitches. Expect to see him reach the major league some time late in the 2022 season.

5. Brandon Marsh (Angels) - This 2016 second round pick has all the quality tools to play centerfield. The Angels appear to have a more talented player at that position in Mike Trout. Perhaps Marsh will force Trout to slide over to right field. So far, Marsh has not shown the power his 6′4″ frame would seem to carry. He did slug .548 in his first season of minor league ball in 2017, but the next two seasons his slugging average dropped to .408. His ability to make contact seemed to improve in 2019. The Angels outfield is crowded, but Marsh should have the ability to squeeze in a role sometime in 2021.

6. Heliot Ramos (Giants) - The 2017 first round pick out of Puerto Rico took a little back step in 2018, struggling with a .245 average with 136 strikeouts in 124 games. He improved on those numbers in 2019, polishing up his prospect luster with a .290 average and raising his slugging average from .396 to .481. Speed will be his weakest tool, but it is more than capable for playing centerfield if the Giants choose to use him there. As he puts on more weight to his 6′0″ frame that speed may decrease. Over the years the Giants outfield has been traditionally weak, ever since the departure of Barry Bonds. Over the last couple years it has strengthened the farm system with Hunter Bishop and Alexander Canario also being considered top level prospects. Ramos should see his tools test major league pitching sometime in 2021.

7. Jesus Sanchez (Marlins) - The 2014 signing out of the Dominican Republic was a bargain for Tampa Bay at $400,000. They eventually traded him to the Marlins for a couple pitchers (Nick Anderson and Trevor Richards). Early in his career he carried the speed to play centerfield. He has added a bit to his 6′3″ frame and now carries about 220 pounds, making right field a better fit for him. With Bleday in right he may have to move to left field. His bat does not carry the explosive power of Bleday and could be a little short for left field. His minor league slugging percentage sits at .459, but that has been inflated by his earlier years when his numbers were much higher. Jesus made his major league debut last year and could only muster one hit, a double in 25 at bats. The 2021 season should see him start the season in AAA with another promotion from the Marlins if his minor league numbers warrant it.

8. Robert Hassell (Padres) - Not a lot is known about the 2020 first round pick. He played for the United States 18 and under team and was selected to the All World team after hitting .514 with a .886 slugging percentage created from 5 doubles and two homeruns. He also drove in 14 runs. That motivated the Padres to make him the first high school player selected in the 2020 draft. His arm is not a cannon and his speed is a tick above average. His best tool could be his ability to hit for average. It will be a couple years before the Padres see him patrolling their outfield grass.

9. Brennen Davis (Cubs) - The 2018 second round pick has the speed to cover centerfield. As his 6′4″ frame fills out his speed should reduce, making him more adaptable for right field. His power is beginning to develop. In his first year of minor league ball he failed to send a ball over the fence in 57 at bats, slugging a weak .333. The next year eight balls left the yard and his slugging average elevated to .525. He was limited to 50 games that year because of injuries. Despite his above average speed it has not translated to stolen bases. It will still be a couple more years before he sees the Cubs outfield. The 2019 injury only allowed him to play 50 games in A ball. He will probably start the 2021 season in A ball with a quick promotion if the season warrants it.

10. Austin Hendrick (Reds) - Austin was the 12th pick in the 2020 draft. The lefthanded bat carries impressive power with speed just above average that would allow him to survive in center. There is a question on his ability to make contact, but since there was no 2020 minor league season it is unclear how he will adapt to professional pitching. He struggled a bit with Team USA when facing quality pitching. Reds fans will probably have to wait until 2024 before they see him roam their outfield.