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Here’s a link to the Top 25.

Link to the Top 50.

Link to the Top 75.

 

Format = Team Position Player | Age on 4/1/23 | Highest level played | ETA

76. Pirates 2B Termarr Johnson | 18 | A | 2025

A double-plus hit tool leads the way for Termarr Johnson, a 5’7” 175 lb left-handed hitter who calls Jose Ramirez to mind on a quick visual evaluation. The organization will be thrilled if Johnson follows a similar path, grinding his way up the chain before growing into power at the highest level. He’s off to a great start, slashing .275/.396/.450 with one home run and four stolen bases in 14 Low-A games. He also walked 18.9 percent of the time. Scouts have hung a lot of superlatives on Termarr. Some called him the best high school hitter they’ve ever seen. It’s a high bar, but I’m not going to bet against him.

 

77. Rockies OF Zac Veen | 21 | AA | 2024

Is he the cure for what ails the Rockies? The 6’4” 190 lb Veen reached Double-A as a 20-year-old, but the promotion did not go well. He slashed .177/.262/.234 with one home run and five stolen bases in 34 games. He also got caught stealing five times. He’ll be writing a memoir about the experience titled Six Weeks to Forget. Which is exactly what we should try to do, right? I’m not so sure. He remains a high-end prospect with huge upside, but his approach angle (uppercut) and approach in general give me pause.

 

78. Cubs OF Kevin Alcantara | 20 | A | 2024

Alcantara is a rare athlete at 6’6” and about 200 lbs. He was steadily productive in Low-A throughout the season but went out on a high note, slashing .333/.398/.487 with three home runs and three stolen bases over his final month (20 games). He graduated the level with an exclamation mark and could force his way to Double-A before he turns 21 on July 12.

 

79. Guardians OF George Valera | 22 | AAA | 2023

Patience-driven profile. Good power, especially for his age, Enough speed. I have no idea where anyone got the sense that he was some kind of superstar in the making, but hey I’m not around these kids trying to pick winners and losers among 14-year-olds, so I can’t really speak with any authority on the matter. What I can tell you is that he’s always been a sell for me. I’m not sure if he still is because I don’t think he trades for all that much today. I’d probably hold him if I had him. Any player with talent can make a leap, he’s in one of the game’s best organizations, he’s always been young for his level, and he bats left-handed in one of the best left-handed power parks. A few takeaways from the mini rant: part of the reason I don’t love patience-driven profiles is that most hitters add patience across time. Age is like that. Makes you smarter in some ways. Most players also add power across time. Another age thing. So if what you bring best in your teens is patience and power, I’m happy to see it, but there’s gotta be more.

 

80. Red Sox OF Miguel Bleis | 19 | CPX | 2025

Bleis improved in a hurry during his 40-game stretch in the complex league. His final-eight-game line is better than his final-20-game line is better than his 40-game line. Guys like Bleis are why I’m incessantly slicing and dicing game logs to help decipher the stories of seasons. At 6’3” 170 lbs, Bleis features plus speed and power and anything a young outfield prospect could want.

 

81. Guardians OF Will Brennan | 25 | MLB | 2022

The only thing between Will Brennan and fantasy relevance is the organization itself, particularly its commitment to Myles Straw and its perception of Brennan or Steven Kwan as corner outfielders On offense, it’s pretty clear that the team’s best lineup does not include Myles Straw, but he’s such a good defender that he’s probably locked in (not to mention the contract), which leaves Brennan on the outside looking in for the foreseeable future, just as he was during the club’s playoff run. On the field, he’s a bit like Steven Kwan with some power, and he made a similar splash in his first few looks at major league pitching, slashing .357/.400/.500 with four strikeouts and two walks in his first 11 games (42 plate appearances). The plate skills might settle in around where they landed in Triple-A, where he posted a 12.2 percent strikeout rate, a 7.6 percent walk rate, hit nine home runs and stole 15 bases in 93 games. For what it’s worth, I don’t think a good organization should let an empty bat like Myles Straw keep them from finding out what Will Brennan can be in the majors, but Cleveland certainly likes Straw more than me and loves how many runs he saves their pitchers, who seem to be their primary focus in most things, which has clearly worked for them. I just don’t think the math supports surrendering three-plus outs a game on offense on the chance that you save enough runs on defense.

 

82. Athletics RHP Shintaro Fujinami | 28 | NPB | 2023

After having his best season in 2022, Fujinami was posted by the Hanshin Tigers and signed with Oakland for $3.25 million. His contract includes another million in incentives for starts made, but Fujinami was often a reliever and often injured in Japan and could quickly find himself in the bullpen. From the sounds of it, he’s going to open the season in the rotation, and I’m eager to see how it goes. I’m not likely to draft Kodai Senga anywhere but suspect I’ll have some Fujinami in 2023. 

 

83. Giants 3B Casey Schmitt | 24 | AAA | 2023

Mighty Casey strikes out in the end, yet he’s the only name that lives on from the poem. I mean what the fuck. Not even the writer. If I started talking about Ernest Thayer right now, you’d think he was a relief prospect the Giants are going full pitch-lab on. Jimmy Blake tears the cover off the ball in that game, by the by. He’s the only reason Casey even gets to the plate. Anywho, Schmitt is fine. Not like capital PH PHINE but, ya know, he aight. Corner bat. Plate skills and power. Might have enough of both at 6’2” 215 lbs. But now I’m thinking about Frankenstein and Shelley and what cultures remember and pass down and quickly becoming disillusioned. Onto the next player. 

 

84. Dodgers OF James Outman | 25 | MLB | 2022

Don’t be surprised if Outman is part of the everyday lineup early next season. He hit 32 home runs and stole 13 bases in 129 games across three levels. Going back to 2018, Outman has been significantly better than league average at every level. The Dodgers have brought him up themselves after selecting him in the 7th round of the 2018 draft. You will not see him ranked this high on their prospect list anywhere else. He’s one of the reasons I exist in this form on the internet. Maybe this will be wrong. Too high for a player everyone scouts as a tweener in the public facing arena. He’s a 40 FV on Fangraphs. But the Dodgers like him. Have liked him for half a decade and he’s never disappointed them. And the Dodgers are good at this. Plus, Outman just looks good on the field. Kind of a Seth Brown-ish feel to me in the sense that I wrote very similar things about him. Much better athlete than the public-facing scouting reports indicate. I think Outman is quite a bit better than Brown, who has been four percent and 14 percent better than a league average hitter in his two full seasons playing in an empty lineup in a pitching-heavy division.

 

85. Dodgers RHP Bobby Miller | 23 | AAA | 2023

Early in his pro career, Miller looked like a reliever to the eye test, which makes sense considering he did that in college, but he looks different now than he did on draft night. He bounced back and forth a bit at Louisville and retained remnants of a max-effort, off-balance delivery throughout much of his minor league career. It’s pretty smooth and steady now, so I can’t really quibble with anyone who’s drooling over fastball-slider dynamite Miller brings to the mound.

 

86. Tigers 3B Colt Keith | 21 | A+ | 2024

A fifth-round pick out of high school in the 2020 draft, Keith signed for $500,000 rather than head to college as most teams had expected. With the exception of a 18-game stretch at High-A to close out the 2021 season, Keith has done nothing but rake for the Tigers. I don’t want to drop a Robert Redford comp on anybody, but Keith looks natural in all his baseball actions. Plate skills aren’t usually so well refined for 20-year-olds, but Keith embodies selective aggression. His 10.2 percent walk rate and 19.4 percent strikeout rate aren’t elite, but they’re extremely good at his age for somebody with his power. In 48 games, he hit nine home runs and slashed .301/.370/.544 with four stolen bases. Might be a buying window in your leagues. Might even be available in a lot of first-year-player drafts this winter. He’s out there in two of mine with fairly shallow minor league rosters and probably shouldn’t be.

 

87. Guardians C Bo Naylor | 23 | MLB | 2022

Unique skill set here. Tailor made for our game thanks to above average speed and a good idea of how to use it. Hardest part will be carving out the actual playing time. Cleveland doesn’t suffer mediocrity behind the plate on defense. Francona seems truly delighted to have landed Mike Zunino, and while that’s just a one year deal. Naylor will have to demonstrate above average framing skills to earn the majority-share of this gig. Even in a part-time role, ten homers and ten steals would be nothing to sneeze at for a second catcher.

 

88. Cubs OF Alexander Canario | 22 | AAA | 2024

Canario might be higher on this list if not for a broken ankle with a side of shoulder injury suffered in the Dominican Winter League. The timing is a little demoralizing because Canario broke out in 2022, slugging 37 home runs in 125 games across three levels. Like Mervis, he improved his plate skills every step of the way, reducing his strikeout rate from 35 percent in High-A to 25 percent in Triple-A and bumping his walk rate from 10 percent to 15.5 percent in the process. The outfield in Chicago is a bit crowded, but the organization should prioritize finding at bats for a healthy Canario whenever he makes it back.

 

89. Athletics RHP Gunnar Hoglund | 23 | A | 2024

I don’t buy in on many pitching prospects, but when I do, they’ve got plus command of multiple off-speed pitches in a pitcher-friendly setting. The primary return for Matt Chapman, Hoglund might’ve been a 1.1 pick if not for an elbow injury. He still went 19th overall and pulled an elite major league third baseman in trade then threw eight shutout innings across three starts when he returned to the field. 

 

90. Rockies OF Benny Montgomery | 20 | A | 2025

Benny the jet could probably pinch run in a big league game right now. Might even be able to steal home with that 70-grade speed. He and org-mate Zac Veen make for an interesting pair because while Veen swings for the fences, Montgomery’s swing is as level as you’ll see. The 6’4” 200 lb centerfielder generates power anyway from plus bat speed and extreme athleticism. I considered putting him over Veen.

 

91. Dodgers C Dalton Rushing | 22 | A | 2025

Nobody hit better than Dalton Rushing last year. The club’s first pick in 2022 at 40th overall, Rushing had been blocked by Henry Davis at Louisville and didn’t play full time until his Junior season, when he popped 23 home runs and slugged .686 in 64 games. His professional debut was even better. In 30 games at Low-A, Rushing slashed .424/.539/.778 with 21 strikeouts and 21 walks. Scary stuff. A thick 6’1” 220 lbs, Rushing bats left-handed and feels like a safe bet to smash his way quickly through the minors. Might have to switch positions to move up the levels as his bat demands it.

 

92. Tigers RHP Wilmer Flores | 22 | AA | 2023

A strong righty at 6’4” 225 lbs with good balance throughout his delivery, Flores enjoyed a breakout season in 2022, graduating High-A after six dominant outings before pitching well in Double-A for four months, where his numbers would look even better (3.01 ERA, 1.05 WHIP) if not for a seven-run game in his second-to-last start. If this team were contending, he’d be in the running to claim a rotation spot this spring. I’m not totally ruling that out, but it’s more likely they let him play out much of the season in Triple-A unless they start the season with a bunch of wins.

 

93. Reds SS Edwin Arroyo | 19 | A | 2025

A 6 ‘0” 175 lb switch-hitter, Arroyo started the season hot in his full-season debut, boosting his prospect stock so much he became a crucial piece in the Mariners’ trade for Luis Castillo. I’m pumping the brakes here ever so slightly because Seattle is an excellent hype man for its minor leaguers. Arroyo’s plus hit tool could help everything else play up, but the rag ball and dissolution of the shift obscure Arroyo’s future value a bit in my opinion.

 

94. Rangers OF Anthony Gutierrez | 18 | CPX | 2026

A fantasy drool factory (don’t Google it) at 6’3” 180 lbs with easy twitch (don’t Google it), plus power and speed, Gutierrez didn’t adapt instantly as a 17-year-old on the complex league, but he’s one of the only players in his class to get the stateside call in his first pro season, and he’s an easy buy in just about any dynasty scenario, given the price in comparison to the possible outcomes. Right there with Miguel Bleis and Josue De Paula among the likeliest list leapers in 2023.

 

95. Tigers RHP Jackson Jobe | 20 | A+ | 2024

Jobe was tested early in his first pro season after cruising mostly untouched through his high school career. After a six-run shellacking on May 7, he posted a 3.60 ERA and 1.21 WHIP and struck out more than a batter per inning. His 0.96 WHIP in three starts (15.2 IP) at High-A to close out the season probably headed off any buy-low winter narratives at the pass. Detroit has been aggressive with his timeline, so it’s anyone’s guess where he’ll spend his 21st birthday on July 31st. Smart money’s probably on Double-A, but Jobe’s pitches have major league spin rates already, so there’s an outside chance the No. 3 overall pick in 2021 is knocking on Detroit’s door by then. He’ll probably make some noise and start the conversation this spring.

 

96. Rockies SS Adael Amador | 19 | A | 2026

In 115 games at Low-A, Amador drew 87 walks (15.7%) and struck out just 67 times (12.1%), slashing .292/.415/.445 with 15 home runs and 26 stolen bases. Debut seasons don’t get much better than that, although they typically involve a promotion. He’s listed at 6’0” 160 lbs but weighs more than that today. He’s a switch hitter who’s effective enough from both sides of the plate that he shouldn’t have to baby one side or the other. 

 

97. Rockies 1B OF Michael Toglia | 24 | MLB | 2022

Toglia appears to have an opportunity in 2023, and I prioritize near-term upside over slow-burn lottery tickets in my dynasty speculations.Can Toglia hit big league pitching? Well, maybe in Coors, but it’s a complicated answer for our game. He doesn’t have to be Todd Helton to make himself worth having on a roster in most leagues. The playing time is the thing, and his OF eligibility makes all the difference in the world for 2023. At least, it does in leagues that start 75 outfielders on a daily or weekly basis.

 

98. Rangers RHP Owen White | 23 | AA | 2023

When he’s on his game commanding four above average pitches, White looks like a no-doubt major league innings eater. He rolled through the Arizona Fall League in 2021 doing exactly that. 2022 in High-A wasn’t as smooth for White, but he still struck out a third of his opponents and graduated to Double-A in just ten starts. He won three of his four Double-A starts, posting a 1.06 WHIP in 21.2 innings. The Rangers brought a lot of rotation depth this winter, but none of it is particularly durable. Decent chance we see White in the majors before the All-Star break.

 

99. Mets C Kevin Parada | 21 | A | 2024

Set the Georgia Tech record with 26 home runs this year and even kicked in 11 stolen bases. He’ll turn 21 next month and felt like a real win for the Mets at the 11 spot after the club botched its Kumar Rocker maneuver last season. Jury’s out on whether he can catch or not, and frankly I wouldn’t bother, at least not in an everyday capacity. I’d maybe have him catch once or twice a week then play outfield and first base in between in case his bat looks ready enough to let him race to the majors. In 60 games this season, Parada struck out 32 times and drew 30 walks. His success continued for ten games in Low-A, where he posted a .464 On Base Percentage with one home run. He’ll likely open 2023 in High-A and has a chance to debut in the majors late next season. 

 

100. Royals OF Gavin Cross | 22 | A | 2024

The club’s first pick this summer at 9th overall, Cross features plus power and an above average hit tool at 6’3” 210 lbs from the left side. He got to work right away as a professional, slashing .293/.423/.596 with seven home runs in 26 games at Low-A. Great match between player and org given his advanced approach and near-term opportunities in the lineup. 

Thanks for reading!