Starting spots for Top 100 prospects
We’ve all waited a long time for this, haven’t we? On Tuesday, there will be Minor League Baseball for the first time in over a year and a half!
That means we can check to see exactly where all of MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 prospects are, rather than cling to the handful in the big leagues or sporadic reports from alternate sites, the information we subsisted on in 2020.
There are eleven Top 100 prospects currently on active Major League rosters, led by Braves outfielder Cristian Pache (No. 11) and Andrew Vaughn (No. 12) of the White Sox. The others in the big leagues are Giants catcher Joey Bart (No. 19), Twins outfielder Alex Kirilloff (No. 21), Royals lefty Daniel Lynch (No. 24), White Sox right-hander Michael Kopech (No. 33), Dodgers catcher Keibert Ruiz (No. 48), Rays lefty Shane McClanahan (No. 74), Mariners outfielder Taylor Trammell (No. 87), Padres lefty Ryan Weathers (No. 88) and Reds second baseman Jonathan India (No. 95).
A number of prospects who were on the Top 100 have already graduated from the list a month into the big league season, headlined by Cardinals outfielder Dylan Carlson, who was the No. 13 prospect at the start of the year. Right-handers Ian Anderson and Luis Patiño, of the Braves and Rays, were also top 20 prospects who graduated from rankings.
Of the remaining 89 Top 100 prospects, 72 can be found on Minor League rosters: 19 in Triple-A, 28 in Double-A, 17 in High-A and eight in Low-A. Eleven prospects at various levels are injured, five more in extended spring training and one who is restricted.
TOP 30 STARTING SPOTS:
ALE: BAL | BOS | NYY | TB | TOR
ALC: CLE | CWS | DET | KC | MIN
ALW: HOU | LAA | OAK | SEA | TEX
NLE: ATL | MIA | NYM | PHI | WSH
NLC: CHC | CIN | MIL | PIT | STL
NLW: ARI | COL | LAD | SD | SF
New faces
Because there was no Minor League season in 2020, there’s a larger than usual group of players making their official debuts for organizations this week. The first-rounders from last year’s Draft (with the exception of lefty Garrett Crochet, who pitched for the White Sox last year) are all just getting going, starting with No. 3 overall prospect (and No. 1 overall pick) Spencer Torkelson. Blue Jays shortstop Austin Martin (No. 18), Marlins right-hander Max Meyer (No. 23), Royals lefty Asa Lacy (No. 25), Mariners right-hander Emerson Hancock (No. 26), Pirates second baseman Nick Gonzales (No. 35), Rockies outfielder Zac Veen (No. 45), Padres outfielder Robert Hassell III (No. 53), Brewers outfielder Garrett Mitchell (No. 56), Orioles outfielder Heston Kjerstad (No. 59), Angels lefty Reid Detmers (No. 64), Phillies right-hander Mick Abel (No. 66), Reds outfielder Austin Hendrick (No. 76), Nationals right-hander Cade Cavalli (No. 86), and A’s catcher Tyler Soderstrom (No. 93) are the 2020 draftees currently on the Top 100. All but Kjerstad will start the year on an active roster.
Patiño was traded during the offseason and made his debut with his new team, the Rays, to graduate off the list. That leaves Trammell, who debuted for his new team, the Mariners, in the big leagues this season -- the only player currently on the Top 100 who switched teams this offseason. Matthew Liberatore was traded to the Cardinals what seems like ages ago, but since it was January 2020, he's only had Spring Training and the alternate site with his new organization until now.
On the shelf
Pirates third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes, ranked No. 9 overall, began the year on Pittsburgh’s Opening Day roster, but has been out with a bad left wrist after playing just two games. Marlins right-hander Sixto Sánchez (No. 13) is on the shelf with a shoulder issue while Twins shortstop Royce Lewis (No. 15) is out for the year after tearing his ACL this spring. That's three of the 11 Top 100 prospects currently sidelined by injury. The others: Crochet (No. 47); Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (No. 54); Marlins righty Edward Cabrera (No. 58); Rangers catcher Sam Huff (No. 67); Astros right-hander Forrest Whitley (No. 72), out for the year following Tommy John surgery; Rays second baseman Xavier Edwards (No. 75); Yankees right-hander Clarke Schmidt (No. 78) and Twins righty Jordan Balazovic (No. 84).
The complete list
1) Wander Franco, SS, TB -- Durham (Triple-A)
2) Adley Rutschman, C, BAL -- Bowie (Double-A)
3) Spencer Torkelson, 3B, DET -- West Michigan (High-A)
4) Jarred Kelenic, OF, SEA -- Tacoma (Triple-A)
5) Julio Rodríguez, OF, SEA -- Everett (High-A)
6) MacKenzie Gore, LHP, SD -- El Paso (Triple-A)
7) Bobby Witt Jr., SS, KC -- Northwest Arkansas (Double-A)
8) CJ Abrams, SS, SD -- San Antonio (Double-A)
9) Ke'Bryan Hayes, 3B, PIT – Injured (wrist)
10) Nate Pearson, RHP, TOR -- Buffalo (Triple-A)
11) Cristian Pache, OF, ATL -- Atlanta (MLB)
12) Andrew Vaughn, 1B, CWS -- Chicago (MLB)
13) Sixto Sánchez, RHP, MIA -- Injured (shoulder)
14) Marco Luciano, SS, SF -- San Jose (Low-A)
15) Royce Lewis, SS, MIN – Injured (knee)
16) JJ Bleday, OF, MIA -- Pensacola (Double-A)
17) Riley Greene, OF, DET -- Erie (Double-A)
18) Austin Martin, SS, TOR -- New Hampshire (Double-A)
19) Joey Bart, C, SF -- San Francisco (MLB)
20) Matt Manning, RHP, DET -- Toledo (Triple-A)
21) Alex Kirilloff, OF, MIN -- Minnesota (MLB)
22) Grayson Rodriguez, RHP, BAL -- Aberdeen (High-A)
23) Max Meyer, RHP, MIA -- Pensacola (Double-A)
24) Daniel Lynch, LHP, KC -- Kansas City (MLB)
25) Asa Lacy, LHP, KC -- Quad Cities (High-A)
26) Emerson Hancock, RHP, SEA -- Everett (High-A)
27) Jasson Dominguez, OF, NYY -- Extended spring training
28) Logan Gilbert, RHP, SEA -- Tacoma (Triple-A)
29) Drew Waters, OF, ATL -- Gwinnett (Triple-A)
30) Nolan Jones, 3B, CLE -- Columbus (Triple-A)
31) Matthew Liberatore, LHP, STL -- Memphis (Triple-A)
32) Nolan Gorman, 3B, STL -- Springfield (Double-A)
33) Michael Kopech, RHP, CWS -- Chicago (MLB)
34) Spencer Howard, RHP, PHI – Lehigh Valley (Triple-A)
35) Nick Gonzales, 2B, PIT -- Greensboro (High-A)
36) Triston Casas, 1B, BOS -- Portland (Double-A)
37) Luis Campusano, C, SD -- El Paso (Triple-A)
38) Jordan Groshans, SS, TOR -- New Hampshire (Double-A)
39) Corbin Carroll, OF, ARI -- Hillsboro (High-A)
40) Francisco Alvarez, C, NYM -- St. Lucie (Low-A)
41) Jeter Downs, SS/2B, BOS -- Worcester (Triple-A)
42) Vidal Brujan, 2B, TB -- Durham (Triple-A)
43) Quinn Priester, RHP, PIT -- Greensboro (High-A)
44) Brandon Marsh, OF, LAA -- Extended spring training
45) Zac Veen, OF, COL -- Fresno (Low-A)
46) Kristian Robinson, OF, ARI – Restricted list
47) Garrett Crochet, LHP, CWS -- Chicago (MLB)/Injured List (back)
48) Keibert Ruiz, C, LAD -- Los Angeles (MLB)
49) Josiah Gray, RHP, LAD -- Oklahoma City (Triple-A)
50) Nick Lodolo, LHP, CIN -- Chattanooga (Double-A)
51) Brailyn Márquez, LHP, CHC -- Extended spring training
52) Brennen Davis, OF, CHC -- Extended spring training
53) Robert Hassell III, OF, SD -- Lake Elsinore (Low-A)
54) Josh Jung, 3B, TEX -- Injured (left foot)
55) Oneil Cruz, SS, PIT -- Altoona (Double-A)
56) Garrett Mitchell, OF, MIL -- Wisconsin (High-A)
57) Ronny Mauricio, SS, NYM -- Brooklyn (High-A)
58) Edward Cabrera, RHP, MIA -- Injured (biceps)
59) Heston Kjerstad, OF, BAL -- Extended spring training
60) DL Hall, LHP, BAL -- Bowie (Double-A)
61) Hunter Greene, RHP, CIN -- Chattanooga (Double-A)
62) Brendan McKay, LHP, TB -- Durham (Triple-A)
63) Shea Langeliers, C, ATL -- Mississippi (Double-A)
64) Reid Detmers, LHP, LAA -- Rocket City (Double-A)
65) Matt Allan, RHP, NYM -- Brooklyn (High-A)
66) Mick Abel, RHP, PHI -- Clearwater (Low-A)
67) Sam Huff, C, TEX -- Texas (MLB)/Injured List (right knee)
68) Geraldo Perdomo, SS, ARI -- Amarillo (Double-A)
69) Trevor Larnach, OF, MIN -- St. Paul (Triple-A)
70) Alek Thomas, OF, ARI -- Amarillo (Double-A)
71) Heliot Ramos, OF, SF -- Richmond (Double-A)
72) Forrest Whitley, RHP, HOU -- Injured (Tommy John surgery)
73) Hunter Bishop, OF, SF -- Eugene (High-A)
74) Shane McClanahan, LHP, TB -- Tampa Bay (MLB)
75) Xavier Edwards, 2B, TB -- Injured list/Montgomery (Double-A)
76) Austin Hendrick, OF, CIN -- Daytona (Low-A)
77) Simeon Woods Richardson, RHP, TOR -- New Hampshire (Double-A)
78) Clarke Schmidt, RHP, NYY -- Injured (elbow)
79) Miguel Amaya, C, CHC -- Tennessee (Double-A)
80) Shane Baz, RHP, TB -- Montgomery (Double-A)
81) George Kirby, RHP, SEA -- Everett (High-A)
82) Brett Baty, 3B, NYM -- Brooklyn (High-A)
83) Brice Turang, SS, MIL -- Biloxi (Double-A)
84) Jordan Balazovic, RHP, MIN – Injured (back)
85) Tyler Freeman, SS, CLE -- Akron (Double-A)
86) Cade Cavalli, RHP, WSH -- Wilmington (High-A)
87) Taylor Trammell, OF, SEA -- Seattle (MLB)
88) Ryan Weathers, LHP, SD -- San Diego (MLB)
89) Deivi García, RHP, NYY -- Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Triple-A)
90) Jhoan Duran, RHP, MIN -- St. Paul (Triple-A)
91) Ivan Herrera, C, STL -- Springfield (Double-A)
92) Michael Busch, 2B, LAD -- Tulsa (Double-A)
93) Tyler Soderstrom, C, OAK -- Stockton (Low-A)
94) Noelvi Marte, SS, SEA -- Modesto (Low-A)
95) Jonathan India, 2B, CIN -- Cincinnati (MLB)
96) Seth Corry, LHP, SF -- Eugene (High-A)
97) Jose Israel Garcia, SS, CIN -- Chattanooga (Double-A)
98) Jarren Duran, OF, BOS -- Worcester (Triple-A)
99) Bo Naylor, C, CLE -- Akron (Double-A)
100) George Valera, OF, CLE -- Lake County (High-A)