At some point in the process of curating these Top Prospects lists, I went to talk to Hampson.

I was allowed to see him but learned he’s fresh out of prospect eligibility and busy showrunning for a Winter pilot on CBS called “Everybody Hates Hampson.”

I suggested he tweak the name to “Everybody Loves Garrett . . . Except His Boss.” 

We’re in talks about a Sam Hilliard, Jorge Mateo spin-off/mash-up.

In the meantime, keep your TV Guides at the ready and enjoy these next few tiers of talent!

Review the top 25 here and the top 50 here.

 

51. Nick Madrigal | 2B | White Sox
52. Connor Wong | C | Dodgers
53. Spencer Howard | RHP | Phillies
54. Joey Bart | C | Giants 
55. Alec Bohm | 3B | Phillies 

Madrigal has been something of a blind spot for me and should probably be higher on the list. His 2019 was amazing, he’ll probably take a lot of MLB at bats in 2020, and his carrying tools (hit, run) are what plays best in fantasy today.

Wong was the hottest man on the planet after being promoted to AA then even hotter in the AA playoffs. Something has again clicked in Dodgerland. Plus he’s not just a catcher. They play him all over the diamond. Might wind up with the dream scenario here of a near-everyday player who retains catcher eligibility while infrequently donning the tools of ignorance.

What a phrase, right?

What are the tools of ignorance these days? Nobody uses it on catchers anymore, so I’d say it’s fair game.

Howard is cruising through the Arizona Fall League and setting himself up for MLB starts early in 2020.

I’ve written a novella about my Bart ranking in the comments of the top 50. He’ll get grouped with Rutschman during list season, but he’s not as good with the hit tool, and his path to playing time is murky.

Bohm has all but silenced the critics lined up around his block on draft night. Love to see it.

 

56. Erick Peña | OF | Royals 
57. Robert Puasson | SS | Athletics 
58. Jordyn Adams | OF | Angels 
59. Heliot Ramos | OF | Giants 
60. J.J. Bleday | OF | Marlins 
61. Alek Thomas | OF | Diamondbacks 
62. Jordan Groshans | 3B | Blue Jays 

Peña has the fastest hands I’ve seen since Wander. Catch him while you can. I won’t be at all surprised if he’s the best bat from the 2019 international class, especially notable given the expectations for Dominguez and Puasson, whose value is a little more tied to defense.

Adams has no ceiling. He’s just a dream of an athlete coming into his own on the diamond.

I kinda love this group.

Heliot has perhaps the game’s coolest name and just had a great season as a 19-year-old in High A, even ended with a month at AA and could reach AAA at age 20.

J.J. Bleday sounds like a Dr. Seuss character (shoutout to Harley Earl) and just lit the SEC on fire (.347/.465.701) with 27 HR in 71 games. Miami jumped him straight to A+ after picking him 4th overall in June.

Thomas was a draft-year favorite of Prospect Jesus and has more than lived up to the billing.

His hands might be Grosh, but Jordan can swing the stick! Will be interesting to see where Toronto sends him in 2020 after something of a lost season. He was great at 19 in the Midwest League, but it was only 23 games.

 

63. Jose Urquidy | RHP | Astros
64. DL Hall | LHP | Orioles 
65. Jake Fraley | OF | Mariners
66. Aaron Bracho | SS | Cleveland 
67. Sixto Sanchez | RHP | Marlins 
68. Brent Honeywell | RHP | Rays 
69. Michael Kopech | RHP | White Sox

Urquidy had a 1.10 WHIP in 41 MLB innings. If this surprises you, it’s likely because he had 0.72 WHIP in September, and while a few outings against the eliminated Angels and Mariners are not predictive, he also threw five dominant innings against the Athletics (10 K, 1 H). These are the teams he’ll face most in 2020. Might be a buy-window open now, but that’s in danger of slamming shut if Urquidy shows well in October.

DL Hall is IL Hall with a lat strain but impressed when healthy this year. Baltimore pitchers could soon be profit centers with that Houston brain trust in place.

Fraley is an ideal piece in these steal-starved times. He’s a plus defender with a decent hit tool and a path to playing time on a team that runs.

There’s a few Julia Roberts jokes in Aaron Bracho’s future. A few water/lawyer jokes too. Get ready, Cleveland! Someone’s coming to save the Cuyahoga River!!

I grew up near a place colloquially known as Six-Toe Valley. It was an inbreeding joke before inbreeding was cool. (Thanks, Game of Thrones!!) Anywho, Sixto Sanchez is on his way to a great pitchers’ park in an organization on a roll developing arms.

The Honeywell Kopech contingent will be off the lists next year, I hope. Both could hit the ground running (er, throwing) if their rehab goes well.

 

70. Jose Garcia | SS | Reds
71. Mauricio Dubon | 2B | Giants 
72. Nolan Gorman | 3B | Cardinals 
73. Josiah Gray | RHP | Dodgers 
74. Grayson Rodriguez | RHP | Orioles 
75. Jorge Mateo | SS | Athletics 

Garcia is helium play as an elite athlete at a premium position who ended the season hot and has every tool in the hardware store.

Kind of an underrated/overrated duo next. Dubon has long been hurt or blocked, which I think kept his stock lower than the talent. Gorman hit the scene with a loud, young-for-level smash in his draft year and will ride that wave for a long time even as his hit tool stays on the slow road toward in-game functionality.

Gray shows shades of being a Fantasy Master Lothario. Cuddle up with him in dynasty for his ability to suppress home runs and pile up strikeouts, but keep him away from your women.

Rodriguez is a rare arm who might not really be challenged until he’s fingering the juicy balls.

Mateo needs to be owned in every size dynasty league. He’s lower today than he was for me two years ago, but that feels odd coming off a .289/.330/.504 triple slash with 19 home runs and 24 steals.

That’s an outstanding fantasy season, right!?

Trouble is it was only good for a 96 wRC+ in AAA, slightly below league-average production but much better than the 62 wRC+ he’d posted in 131 AAA games the year prior.

And 24 steals in 35 attempts is not awesome after going 25 for 35 last year. He was still 2.3 years younger than the average player, so maybe his efficiency will improve with time. It better. Teams don’t run anymore in part because dingers are everywhere, and they especially hate losing a base runner when he’s already in dong-scoring position from first base.

Thanks for reading! Hope to see you in the comments!

41 Comments
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tommyb
tommyb
3 years ago

i would have taken abrams #1

thanks for the feedback, keep up the good work

tommyb
tommyb
3 years ago

i drafted cj abrams over rutschman in our rookie draft , your thoughts ?

whitt and vaughn went #1 and #2 , i took abrams at 3 in 2 seconds

DJ
DJ
3 years ago

What are your thoughts on Hunter Greene? Any idea of ETA assuming no setbacks, and once he settles in are we looking at a top 20 SP? Better/worse? Thanks

Skip Mcgillicuddy
Skip Mcgillicuddy
3 years ago

Thoughts on evan white? Started hitting for power this year, scouts say hes got good athleticism for a 1b. What do you think a peak stat line for white is?

Also, whos got the most k upside in your opinion?
Seth Corry
Tarik Skubal
Spencer Howard

Thanks man

Skip Mcgillicuddy
Skip Mcgillicuddy
Reply to  The Itch
3 years ago

Thanks Dude, really good stuff here. Love the articles!

Dong Show
Dong Show
3 years ago

Since we don’t have a Hampson post (and I’m real excited for one now); thoughts on this trade I made based on this squad: Luciano for Hampson.

Luciano is realistically 3 years away (probably) and I’m playing for next year with the squad I have and love what Hampson could be. He gets added to Gleyber, Villar, Javy for me next year (I’m all about offensive depth, multi position eligibility and covering for injury’s)

Squad next year right now is now

Grandal
Alonso/Bell
Gleyber/Hampson
JRam/Donaldson
Javy/Villar
Acuna/Blackmon/Soler/Puig/Robert/Tucker

Paddack, Thor, Bauer, Darvish, Sonny, Robbie Ray, Wheeler, Brusdar, and then one of either Lynn or Folty (not sure who to keep, have to offer one back for our Rule5 draft)

With a Minors of Brujan and Bart

You think this was a good trade to make, despite the possible ceiling on Luciano?

Thanks Itch! I love these early reports, helps me do early prep for next year and get names on paper I may want (Pena now looks like my new target after reading about him further)

Dong Show
Dong Show
Reply to  The Itch
3 years ago

Thanks Itch! I really appreciate that, I have put a lot of time into building this squad so it can be competitive for the next 5 plus years hopefully. It feels weird to say I am moving closer to being fully satisfied and really dont want to make many more trades lol

Minors will actually consist of 7 guys, but I know those two will for sure be in it with prob a few of those OF I listed and some guys from our FA Draft (I own a ton of picks so I can restock my prospect cookie jar) I have Noelvi as possible draft day replacement for Luciano if I want to go that route, but I’m probably leaning Grayson with my 1st rd pick.

Hampson just seems like a great buy based on his skill set with a possible Merrifield or poor mans Trea like comp (not to mention he was like the 14th ranked prospect two years ago). Biggest concern is obviously playing time, but I hope he gets it after his September. If that isan idea of what he can deliver over a full year, sign me up.

Interesting on Brusdar. I think I lean him over one of the other two because of his age and upside and the FA market ALWAYS seems to have a few surprise guys every year who are legit. But I will consider it. I not sure if I am supposed to believe Lynn can do this again or if I should be buying back into Folty’s strong second half.

Thanks for the in-depth reply Itch, you’re gonna make a lot of friends around here really quick with this content and thoughtful replies.

Harley Earl
Harley Earl
3 years ago

Hey Itch,

Great stuff here! Glad to see Groshans and Jose Garcia on this list. Will you be going to 100 with your rankings or do they stop here?

Harley Earl
Harley Earl
Reply to  The Itch
3 years ago

Looking forward to them all! Keep up the good work!

Harley Earl
Harley Earl
3 years ago

Is currently scouting J.J. Bleday for a future addition to our team, for obvious reasons!

Coolwhip
3 years ago

My dude… Good lists and digging the insight. You are going to be a big help for me with my 24-team hella-deep dynasty league! The championship keeps evading me having gotten into finals 3 times in the last 6 years. Most recent was a game 7 error that cost me the whole enchilada… Ugh! Anywho… I got Sean Murphy, Cal Quantril, Nate Lowe, Yordong, and Yusei Kikuchi (meh) all graduating to my 40-man roster.

I need to fill 5 spots likely with at least 2 P since that’s a bit of hole on roster after next year.
Oneil Cruz
Dylan Carlson
Jasson Dominguez
George Valera
Bobby Witt Jr.
Jeter Downs
Luis Matos
Gilberto Jimenez
Brailyn Marquez
Jose Urquidy
JJ Bleday
Jordyn Adams
Josiah Gray
Grayson Rodriguez
DJ Hall
Spencer Howard

These are the top guys (i feel) that will be available, what 2 SP 3 bats you think can be top 10 guys next year? or possibly leap to MLB playing time and be above average within next 2 seasons?

Coolwhip
Reply to  The Itch
3 years ago

Thanks! Thinking through the scenarios now, hmmmm…
Okay, lets process this out then, Heres my probable 25man* for 2020:
C Grandal/Murphy
1B Rizzo/Lowe
2B Lowe (yes i have both Lowes, lol, confusing)
SS Bogarts
3B Franco (probably grab FA this spring, he’s disappointed big time)
LF Oneill/Happ/Profar
CF SMarte/Robles
RF Robles/Castellanos/Polanco/Soler
DH Yordan/Soler
UT Profar/Happ

SP Carrasco (sigh), Odorizzi, Quintana, Lucchesi, Fried, VV, Quantril, (Skaggs no longer, sadface)

I’ll prob need to shop one of my RF for LF, since Oneill/Happ prob won’t be starters.

So Cruz feels like the top here… do you think he stays at SS with his size or shifts to 3B? cus that would be the ideal scenario for me!

I saw Carlson playing whole OF this year, what do you think is his landing pos LF? CF? seems he might profile there best.

Sounds like you think Marquez has the highest ceiling among Ps, yeah? i might make a play for all 3, cus FA pitchers in next couple years could end up really expensive and push me over the cap, i’m going to grab one for 2020 but likely won’t keep him or another of my vets into the next year.

thanks again!

Coolwhip
Reply to  Coolwhip
3 years ago

ooo actually Cast played LF on Cubs, so im good there!

Codie B
Codie B
3 years ago

I love reading about your rankings every year. Thanks for compiling them. I do have a few questions, and some prospects I would like to pick your mind on.

I know he had a down year, but no Taylor Trammell in the top 75?

How close was Evan White to making the list?

Your thoughts on 4 of my dark horse prospects – Mark Vientos, Sherten Apostel, Austin Cabello, and Noelvi Marte?

Codie B
Codie B
Reply to  The Itch
3 years ago

Thanks for your thoughts.

knucks
knucks
3 years ago

I didn’t expect to see Jose Garcia for a while. That makes me happy!

Anyways, JP Crawford…

Trying to decide what his value is to me. I don’t feel that I have to move him. I wasn’t exactly shopping him. And maybe because I have been playing redraft only, I’m not optimistic on him, regardless of the pedigree, and prob won’t be optimistic until he shows us some more in Seattle. But is there something I’ve been ignoring. And what kind of odds would you give a potential breakout in the next year or two?

I was thinking about trying to acquire Urquidy and I have a feeling that Crawford is one of my players that will be asked for in return. I’m learning that its not very easy to move older players or guys in the majors that don’t have gigantic upside during the offseason. Was told recently by a few league mates that the players I’m offering will net a lot more in May/June of 2020. C/P my team from that long a$$ post the other day.

7×7 Roto
Hits / Runs / HR / RBI / SBs / AVG / OPS
QS / Ws / Ks / Saves / Holds / ERA / WHIP

30 Majors roster slots, 25 Minors slots

C- T d’Arnaud
1B- Paul Goldy
2B- Caesar Hernandez, L Arraez, J Peraza
3B- Sano
SS- G Hampson, JP Crawford, D Fletcher
OF- Eloy, Y Alvarez, Piscotty, H Bader, Inciarte, L Brinson

SPs- Glasnow, ZGallen, Pablo Lopez, Trevor Richards, Dylan Bundy, K Freeland, K Gibson, Jeff Samardzija, Aaron Sanchez

RPs- A Bradley, M Givens, K Crick, Gausmann, Melancon, H Strickland, Jairo Diaz

Minors Bats
Contreras, William (ATL)
Lowe, Nate (TB)
Santana, Luis (HOU)
Bohm, Alec (PHL)
Nunez, Malcom (STL)
Lewis, Royce (MIN)
Garcia, Jose (CIN)
Rocchio, Brayan (CLE)
Rodriguez, Julio (SEA)
Lewis, Kyle (SEA)
Torres, Jhon (STL)
Conine, Griffen (TOR)
Robinson, Kristian (AZ)
Kelenic, Jarred (SEA)
Davis, Brennen (CHC)
Davis, Jaylin (SF)

Minors Arms
Canning, Griffin (LAA)
Rodriguez, Grayson (BAL)
Hall, DL (BAL)
Patino, Luis (SD)
Gilbert, Logan (SEA)
Singer, Brady (KC)
García, Deivi (NYY)
King, Michael (NYY)
Bukauskas, J.B. (AZ)

knucks
knucks
Reply to  knucks
3 years ago

We talked already about how waivers are open all offseason to add anyone that isnt eligible to be taken in the FYPD in January.

Blaze Alexander sitting on the wire. What’s your take on him. And would you be comfortable adding him over Luis Santana (HOU)?

I had c/p from that post I had on your Top 25, but I should have updated it as I’ve already dropped Strickland and Jaylin Davis a few days ago… Added Roman Quinn and Jose Martinez to the squad over them.

knucks
knucks
Reply to  The Itch
3 years ago

Good stuff, always appreciated.

We have a requirement that you have to be in a Groupme chat, so I have a direct line to everyone and have already begun introducing myself and taking notes about what other owner’s mindsets/wants/needs are.

Gonna see if there is anyone getting aggressive with JP Crawford. Glad to hear you feel similarly about him.

I’ll see about adding Jaylin Davis back to the squad once our offseason free for all on adding players open back up on Sunday. Will leave Blaze out there. And hang on to Santana and be more patient with his development until maybe someone comes a callin and wants to buy.

knucks
knucks
Reply to  The Itch
3 years ago

And don’t think I didn’t catch that reference on Cesar. Hah!

Also, I didn’t really answer your one question directly. Everyone updates their Trade Block in this league like I would have always hoped occurs across all my leagues… but it never does. So that’s refreshing and I am aware from that what people want to acquire/sell.

Getting a lot of unsolicited hits on Glasnow. Wasn’t planning to move him and will stay firm about wanting to get a ton back for him. I view him as someone to build around that can help me in 2021 when I make a real push… kinda feels like these owners are just trying to gauge if I’m a chump or not. With that said, I made it clear I’d listen on anything. No one really coming up with an actual package to offer yet.

Grey
Admin
3 years ago

Damn, this is a great list! Well done, Itch!

Donkey Teeth
Admin
Reply to  Grey
3 years ago

I came for the Hampson intro. I always wanna talk to him but they never let me!

Grey
Admin
Reply to  The Itch
3 years ago

Wow, Donkey said so much about himself without even knowing… That’s like reading his teeth leaves

Donkey Teeth
Admin
Reply to  The Itch
3 years ago

Grey has seen my eggplant, it speaks for itself

TualatinTwoStep
TualatinTwoStep
3 years ago

Hey Itch,

Great stuff so far, been pleased to see some of the guys on my MiLB roster on your lists. Wanted to get your thoughts on my dynasty minor league roster and see if there are any guys who are obvious punts. It’s a 12 team league, we have 15 man minor league rosters.

1. Jered Kelenic OF SEA
2. Luis Rodriguez OF LAD
3. Michael Toglia 1B COL
4. Jhon Torres OF STL
5. Andrew Vaughn, 1B CWS
6. Tyler Ivey, P HOU
7. Andres Jimenez, SS NYM
8. Juan Pablo Martinez OF TEX
9. Jordyn Adams OF LAA
10. Shea Langeliers C ATL
11 Bayoran Lora, OF TEX
12. Lazaro Armenteros, OF OAK
13. Florencio Serrano SP TEX
14. ONeil Cruz SS PIT
15. Empty slot (promoted Kyle Lewis after final MiLB adds for the year)

Torres, Serrano and JPM are probably the 3 I am the least high on currently. Took over a rebuild in this league a couple years ago, so to make room for this years picks and J2 signings, I promoted Mateo and Robert to my main roster, also have the aforementioned Kyle Lewis, Kyle Tucker, and Austin Hays.

TualatinTwoStep
TualatinTwoStep
Reply to  The Itch
3 years ago

Right on, thanks man! Yeah I got Gimenez as a throw in on a deal where the main target was Luis Robert, figured he was worth a shot.

FYI the reason I have Langeliers is because it’s a 2 catcher league, and I’ve got nothing beyond Mejia as far as young catchers go. Unless the M’s free Tom Murphy! Shea seems like he could end up developing into a Molina type to me, his glove will get him to the majors unless the bat is just terrible, and I think it is at least average.

And yeah totally agree on Toglia, but I don’t think I’ll be able to move him due to the poor showing in the NW League.

Dugan
Dugan
3 years ago

How close was Edward Cabrera?