The annual presentation of MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospects list is usually a sign that spring, or at least spring training, is just around the corner. And while this was true in 2020, no one could have predicted what would or would not happen next season.
The annual presentation of MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospects list is usually a sign that spring, or at least spring training, is just around the corner. And while this was true in 2020, no one could have predicted what would or would not happen next season.
Despite the pandemic shortened Major League campaign and the absence of any minor league season, a lot of the Top 100 players in 2020 have risen to the highest level and contributed to baseball, from basement dwellers to World Series champions.
Once again, we are all hopeful of waiting for something close to a normal season. And once again, many of our new top 2021 Top 100 leads will create excitement in major leagues throughout the year.
Not surprisingly, the list is once again at the forefront of the Rays shortstop phenomenon Wander Franco, for the fourth consecutive edition (2019 mid-season-2021 pre-season). The Top 10 also features a pair of Mariners outfielders and two potential Padres customers.
Those on the list must be eligible for beginners. To qualify for rookie status, a player must not exceed 130 bats or 50 innings thrown in major leagues or have accumulated more than 45 days on the active roster of a Major League club (s). during the 25 players – the deadline, excluding time from the list of wounded or in military service. The rankings continue to follow the guidelines set by the Collective Bargaining Agreement as to who is covered by international fund rules. Players who are at least 25 years old and have played in leagues considered professional (Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Cuba) are not eligible.
The Top 100 is made up of me, Jim Callis and Mike Rosenbaum, with contributions from industry sources, including scouts and front-office executives. It is based on the analysis of the advantages of the players, the tools and the potential impact of the Major League.
MLB Network will broadcast the Top 100 Prospects show on February 13 at 17:00 ET.
Top 10
1. Wander Franco, SS, Rays
2. Adley Rutschman, C, Orioles
3. Spencer Torkelson, 3B / 1B, Tigers
4. Jarred Kelenic, OF, Mariners
5. Julio Rodriguez, OF, Mariners
6. MacKenzie Gore, LHP, Padres
7. Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Royals
8. CJ Abrams, SS, Fathers
9. Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B, Pirates
10. Nate Pearson, RHP, Blue Jays
Complete list »
The newcomers
Players in the 2020 draft are not included in this section because they were not on the list a year ago. There aren’t that many new names this time around due to the unusual nature of the 2020 season, but there are a few interesting players who will jump on the list this year.
It’s a group that starts with Rays outfield Randy Arozarena, who took the Major League Baseball assault by hitting seven homers in just 64 bats in the regular season, then hitting another 10 in an absolutely ridiculous race in the postseason, which included an American League MVP. . That’s why he debuts to 34th place in this year’s Top 100.
No other newcomers are in the top 50, but a pair of right-handed pitchers have approached. Indians Triston McKenzie, who was on the roster in previous years but fell in 2019, has made his way to the major leagues, and Cleveland’s postseason roster ranks 51st, while the Pirates’ first round from 2019, Quinn Priester, debuts on the 52nd place.
The highest ascendants
Not only newcomers are making a leap in 2021. Several players who were in the Top 100 last year have a big up arrow next to their name. There are six players who have improved their ranking by more than 25 places from one year to the next, led by the secondary defender Corbin Carroll. The first tournament of 2019 flew from number 89 to number 47. The first member of the Red Sox team, Triston Casas, jumped from number 77 to number 44, while the third member of the Pirates, Ke’Bryan Hayes, catapulted into the top 10, coming in 9th place after ranking 41st before the 2020 season. Daniel Lynch, the royal left, made a similar jump of 32 points (No. 61 to No. 29), Blue Jays Jordan Groshans passed from number 75 to number 46, and the Angels Brandon Marsh outfield improved by 26 places (from number 79 to No. 53).
The farthest falls
There are six people who were in the Top 100 pre-season last year, who fell off the list in 2021, all falling into the 80-100 range. Marlins outfielder Jesús Sánchez is the top-ranked player to fall (No. 80), followed by Phillies Bryston Stott (No. 87), right Rays Brent Honeywell (No. 91), Yankees RHP Deivi Garcia (No. 92) ), national shortstops Luis Garcia (no. 97) and Giants lefty Seth Corry (no. 99).
Graduates
Even with the shortened year, a good number of potentials got enough time in the big league to get off the prospects. This group of 17 is led by Gavin Lux, Dodgers’ infielder, who was No. 2 prospect a year ago. He was joined by two other top 10 potentials, outfielders Luis Robert of the White Sox (No. 3) and Jo Adell of the Angels (No. 6). Jesús Luzardo’s left (No. 12) and Dodgers’ right, Dustin May (No. 23), were the top players to get off the list.
Positional breakdown
This is one of the strongest Top 100s I’ve had in a while. There are 39 ulcers in total, 27 right-handed and 12 left-handed, far from the 47 arms we have had in the last two years. We only had 39 pitchers back in 2016, after we had 42 in 2017.
There are still more total players than any other position, with the 25 players being the closest. The shortstops are next, with 14 making the Top 100, followed by nine catchers, seven third base, four second and a pair of first.
Feeling the project
When we re-rank the Top 100 in the summer, it gives us the opportunity to add members to the latest Draft class. In 2020, apart from graduations, this was the only change in the list. Due to the pandemic, the order of the existing players on the list remained static, out of place for the 14 members of the class of ’20 who were added. This culture is led, of course, by the number 1 general, Spencer Torkelson, our perspective no. 3. Another five elections in the first round rank in the top 50 in general: Nr. 22 Austin Martin, OF (Blue Jays), Nr. 28 Max Meyer, RHP (Marlins), no. 30 Asa Lacy, LHP (Royals), no. 31 Emerson Hancock, RHP (Mariners) and no. 43 Nick Gonzales, 2B (Pirates). Overall, there are 81 former recruits in the Top 100.
International aroma
This leaves 19 international signatories on the list (Reminder: Players from Canada and Puerto Rico are recruited). Not surprisingly, the Dominican Republic leads this group with a dozen representatives. The Bahamas and Venezuela have two players in the Top 100, while Colombia, Cuba and Panama have one representative each.
Jonathan Mayo is a reporter for MLBPipeline.com. Follow him on Twitter @JonathanMayo and Facebook and listen to it on the weekly MLB Pipeline Podcast.