On any given Wednesday or Sunday I’m peppered with comments inquiring as to when so and so will be up? Who’s the best stash of players X, Y, and Z? Should I grab so and so? Are you really as handsome and charismatic as the legend says? Did we really walk on the moon? Today I will bring answers to all these questions. Even the moon one! Why pray tell do I have all the answers? Well, because I am a fantasy baseball writer, it’s in our very nature to know everything even if it’s 100% opinion, and more than likely completely false. My job is to make a compelling argument as to why I am most righteous and you are most wrongous. Will I do any of that today? No, absolutely not. Today I will begin my first in a monthly series of updating you on the latest and greatest in minor league news and prospects developments, as well as the update of my Top 25 prospects. This time with 100% less major leaguers.
Top 25 Prospects April 2016: Let’s begin at the beginning and explain all the details for those of you that actually read this. The following list is dynasty focused; meaning this is in order of players I feel will have the greatest overall value in fantasy, meaning ETA is not important. The first person to ask if this list is “ETA focused” will earn the distinct pleasure of being sat on by my Aunt Franny. Not so bad right? Wrong! Franny weighs a metric ton and lives on Doritos Locos tacos.
| Rank | Player | Team | Organization | ETA |
| 1 | Lucas Giolito, RHP | Harrisburg (AA) | Washington | 2016 |
| 2 | Yoan Moncada, 2B | Salem (A+) | Boston | 2017 |
| 3 | Julio Urias, LHP | Oklahoma City (AAA) | Los Angeles | 2016 |
| 4 | A.J. Reed, 1B | Fresno (AAA) | Houston | 2016 |
| 5 | Trea Turner, SS | Syracuse (AAA) | Washington | 2016 |
| 6 | Rafael Devers, 3B | Salem (A+) | Boston | 2018 |
| 7 | Bradley Zimmer, OF | Akron (AA) | Cleveland | 2016 |
| 8 | Orlando Arcia, SS | Colorado Springs (AAA) | Milwaukee | 2016 |
| 9 | Lewis Brinson, OF | Frisco (AA) | Texas | 2016 |
| 10 | Andrew Benintendi, OF | Salem (A+) | Boston | 2017 |
| 11 | J.P. Crawford, SS | Reading (AA) | Philadelphia | 2016 |
| 12 | Jesse Winker, OF | Louisville (AAA) | Cinncinnati | 2016 |
| 13 | Anderson Espinoza, RHP | Greenville (A) | Boston | 2018 |
| 14 | Brendan Rodgers, SS | Asheville (A) | Colorado | 2018 |
| 15 | Franklin Barreto, SS | Midland (AA) | Oakland | 2017 |
| 16 | David Dahl, OF | New Britain (AA) | Colorado | 2017 |
| 17 | Tyler Glasnow, LHP | Indianapolis (AAA) | Pittsburgh | 2016 |
| 18 | Joey Gallo, 3B/OF | Round Rock (AAA) | Texas | 2016 |
| 19 | Nick Williams, OF | Lehigh Valley (AAA) | Philadelphia | 2016 |
| 20 | Alex Reyes, RHP | Springfield (AA) | St. Louis | 2017 |
| 21 | Dansby Swanson, SS | Carolina (A+) | Atlanta | 2017 |
| 22 | Francis Martes, RHP | Corpus Christi (AA) | Houston | 2017 |
| 23 | Raimel Tapia, OF | New Britain (AA) | Colorado | 2017 |
| 24 | Clint Frazier, OF | Akron (AA) | Cleveland | 2018 |
| 25 | Jose Berrios, RHP | Rochester (AAA) | Minnesota | 2016 |
| 25 1/4 | Jorge Mateo, SS | Tampa (A+) | New York (AL) | 2018 |
| 25 1/2 | Jose De Leon, RHP | Oklahoma City (AAA) | Los Angeles | 2016 |
| 25 2/3 | Aaron Judge, OF | Scranton/Wilkes (AAA) | New York (AL) | 2016 |
| 25 3/4 | Cody Reed, LHP | Louisville (AAA) | Cinncinnati | 2016 |
| 25 7/8 | Austin Meadows, OF | Altoona (AA) | Pittsburgh | 2017 |
- Okay so I went a bit overboard and did 30, sue me! I’m not great at being decisive, and let’s be honest 25 or 30, it makes no difference. So many of these guys are close it’s silly to have a fixed number. I bounced around about a dozen iterations of this list, and consulted with all of my trusted prospect hounds.
- So as I mentioned in the intro I ignored ETA…..for the most part. A lower minors prospect that I’ve never seen play outside of showcase videos on YouTube, **cough, cough** Eddy Martinez, will for the most part be ignored. On the other hand a player with a obviously higher ceiling (Moncada) will be higher than a player with a higher floor, but less ceiling (Swanson). Capiche?
- Yeah so I think Giolito is an ace caliber arm. The more I watch him the more I’m convinced he’s going to fit right in with the set of aces the Nationals already own. The stuff, command, approach, and makeup are all off the charts. He should be up by my proximation round’ June time frame. This is all barring injury of course. A rotation of Max, Strasburg, Giolito, Ross, and Gio Gonzalez is a very real possibility in the foreseeable future. Tanner Roark be damned!
- While we’re on the topic of Nats being promoted in the very near…….. Trea Turner has started the AAA season en fuego (pffftt hitting .458), while Danny Espinoza has been a bag of feces in a major league uniform. Harsh? Perhaps, but I have a general dislike of Dannys following the Danny Santana accident of the 2015 pre-season. I said earlier this week and I’ll say it again, Trea Turner will be promoted before the end of next week. So a week from today I’m either going to be like “what’s up I’m so smart, look at me I’m the man, I’m so bad I should be in detention I’m the man”. Or…”ahhhh sorry he’ll be up next week! Yeah that’s the ticket!”
- I’m of the belief that Jameson Taillon, not included above, will be up to the majors and in the Pirates rotation before (#17) Tyler Glasnow. He looked very solid going 6 strong, while allowing 1 run on 5 hits and no walks, with 6 strikeouts earlier this week. He’s had a long and bumpy road on his trip through the minors, and it seems he might be ready. When comparing him to Glasnow, Taillon’s got the better control of the two at this point. Glasnow can get into trouble and walk batters. This probably means Taillon is up first. One last thing, Glasnow and Taillon in the Indianapolis rotation….DAMN!
- Speaking of super spec squads. Say that three times fast, #alliterationFTW. Check out the Salem Red Sox roster. Actually don’t, I’ll tell you, Moncada, Benintendi, and Devers. That’s the middle of Salem’s order. Not too shabby.
- With Tyler White destroying the major leagues still, it looks like it could be awhile before we see A.J. Reed surface. The clearest path is obviously an injury to either White or Evan Gattis.
- Old friend, and seemingly forgotten one, Aaron Judge hit his first home run of the season on friday night. Hopefully this is a good sign for the Yankees top slugging prospect fulfilling his potential, and ascending to the big league club.
- Though not featured here, one of my personal favorites Sam Travis has two homers and 7 RBIs through 9 games with Pawtucket. He’s also hitting just .235….sad trombone.
- Some other notable hot starts David Dahl has 5 homers and 2 steals through 9 games with AA New Britain, Alex Bregman has 4 through 8 games with a .344 average to match, Raul Mondesi is also hitting .344 with 3 homers in 8 games, maybe the bats coming around.
Everybody thanks for reading and have a wonderful Sunday.
