Starting spots for Top 100 prospects

May 4th, 2021

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 (No. 11) and (No. 12) of the White Sox. The others in the big leagues are Giants catcher Joey Bart (No. 19), Twins outfielder (No. 21), Royals lefty (No. 24), White Sox right-hander (No. 33), Dodgers catcher Keibert Ruiz (No. 48), Rays lefty (No. 74), Mariners outfielder Taylor Trammell (No. 87), Padres lefty (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 , 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 , who pitched for the White Sox last year) are all just getting going, starting with No. 3 overall prospect (and No. 1 overall pick) . Blue Jays shortstop (No. 18), Marlins right-hander Max Meyer (No. 23), Royals lefty (No. 25), Mariners right-hander (No. 26), Pirates second baseman Nick Gonzales (No. 35), Rockies outfielder (No. 45), Padres outfielder Robert Hassell III (No. 53), Brewers outfielder (No. 56), Orioles outfielder (No. 59), Angels lefty (No. 64), Phillies right-hander (No. 66), Reds outfielder (No. 76), Nationals right-hander (No. 86), and A’s catcher (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. 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 , 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 (No. 13) is on the shelf with a shoulder issue while Twins shortstop (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 (No. 54); Marlins righty (No. 58); Rangers catcher (No. 67); Astros right-hander (No. 72), out for the year following Tommy John surgery; Rays second baseman (No. 75); Yankees right-hander (No. 78) and Twins righty (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)