Top 500 Prospects for 2018 Fantasy Baseball

1. Amazing work, thank you!

   • @NoOneIsHome: Thanks man!

2. Wow! That is quite a comprehensive list! Thanks for your time! Interesting how far Edwin Rios has fallen from your previous lists – he can still seem to hit despite his injury to start the year. He always was a DH bat first type – but hitting wasn’t a concern….
   I asked the same about Peter Alonso before, who you dropped precipitously- and you said something about professional scouts with more insight didn’t like his swing despite his good numbers, he wasn’t a great fielder, and he benefited with his age; and now look where he is! Any specific reason why Rios is down so far for fantasy? I don’t see an obvious change…

   • @Goldirocks: Alonso can take a walk. Rios is struggling this season when you look at that k rate, the fact he doesn’t take any walks, and is repeating the level. Maybe I’m wrong, it’s hard to research and rank, and at the same time avoiding contridiction from previous lists.

     • @Ralph Lifshitz: Glad I read the comments first, I was going to ask about Rios’s fall as well! Thanks for giving the insight as to why you had a change in thought/feel on him!

3. great work as usual

   i am in washington DC for all the activities—if you send me your mailing address, i will send you a futures game program if you like

   • @jack florida: Thanks my buddy Scott is down there and grabbing me one!

4. How can you put Kennedy over Avila?!?! Come on man, Avila will have Petco while Kennedy will be…..I’m kidding. This is in response to the lunacy you say you see from people making obscure corrections after months of work. Thanks!

   I’m currently in 5th but far from out of it. Our keeper league is literally stars and scrubs where the top 5 are in it and the remaining 6 are out of it. I have a lot of $1 graduates from the rookie list, like Acuna, Rhys, Benintendi, plus some future $1 prospects like Vlad, Tatis and Rodgers. Prospects are getting snagged up everywhere. Should I add Hiura or keep my extra spot for guys that can help me now by filling in for resting starters and hot schmatos?

   Also, any standout ETA 2019 prospects who you think will make the opening day roster? I plan on asking you this question in September too btw.

   Thanks again.

   • @Dave Funnell: Hiura is worth an add, but don’t be scared to cut bait in order to win.

     Can I say Alex Reyes or is that cheating? Lol

5. Awesome work Ralph,

   you must really, REALLY like Graterol to have him that high with all the risk he has. Would you draft him ahead of, say, Dane Dunning or another pitcher with a 2019 ETA that could net you next year a draft pick to replace his spot?

   • @ichirosan: I would much prefer Graterol. He’s only a level below Dunning, and Dunning is nursing an elbow injury. I’m telling you man, these pitchers are a crap-shoot.

6. Bubba Thompson didn’t make the list? I would think he would be inside the top 150. Maybe just an oversight, I thought you were really stoked on Thompson at one time.

   • @clayton Bain: It was a mistake 192, got cut and never re-pasted. Sorry.

7. Why so low on Tristan McKenzie?

   • @Greg Memmelaar: read my last two intros.

     Not really low on him as much as I discount pitching.

8. Where’s Bubba? I thought Thompson would be in the top 150 or so. Weren’t you stoked on him at one time?

   • @clayton Bain: Mistake once again, he was cut while re-ranking and accidentally not re-pasted, he’s 192.

     I f’ed up sorry.

9. This is really incredible Ralph. Well done!

   • @Jean Genie: Thanks!

10. Awesome work Raplh!

    You’ve kept me ahead of my league mates over the years and really appreciate your analysis and rankings. Jo Adell is the only prospect in the top 10 that hasn’t been scooped up in my league. I’m in a 10 team 10 player keeper league. I see he is now above Eloy which is huge. How good can he be if he continues on this trajectory and when’s the right time to stash? I’m in first so it’s tough to drop a player contributing now.

    Thanks!
    LG

    • @LG Baseball: He’s likely not up until late 2019 the earliest. So when is really dictated by your knowledge of the leagues tendencies. Adell can be a monster, across the board tools. Legit first round re-draft projection.

      • @Ralph Lifshitz: great thanks!

11. Max Fried!

    • @Jash: 3 1/3 innings I chose to ignore him. Same with Jake Bauers. I assume they pass their limits within a game or two. Fried is obviously DL’d.

      • @Ralph Lifshitz:

        Where do you think Bauers would have been if not graduated?

        • @Dean Kongslie:

12. Jason Martin Pitt should be top 100.

    • @Coach: He’s having a great year, certainly deserving. Caught him a little with Altoona earlier this season.

13. No Bubba Thompson? I figured he was a player with Power/Speed potential that you would love. Any particular reasons or concerns with him? I think he could be the next Trammell or Alford. Thanks

    • @Richard Davis: crap, I knew someone would get missed. A victim of cut and paste, I’ll get him in there.

      • @Ralph Lifshitz: Lol. All good. I figured he was just missed. A lot of work doing 500. Keep up the good work buddy!

      • @Ralph Lifshitz: I’ll get him in at 192 Overall. It’s funny Beck was missing and I caught him. I must have been up late chopping and never pasted him back. Good catch!

        • @Ralph Lifshitz: No worries. Sounds about right. I know Bubba is all projection right now, but he has the tools and potential to make a Trammell like jump in the next few years, IMO. Thanks again for your hard work

14. Been messing around with the list. This is amazing! Quick org ranks! You want positional ranks? You got it quickly! Want to compare a couple of players? Easily done! You and Razzball have gone to another level!

    Where is Yamomoto? Based on your Twitter I thought you liked him.

    Nicki Lopez of the Royals. You see him as just contact and no help in power or speed?

    • @Sport: Not much power, but contact and speed. Can play both MI spots which should get him to the show.

      • @Ralph Lifshitz:
        Is Yamamato not a top 500 arm?

        • @Sport: Nah, I think he’s just outside the top 150 pitchers listed here. Let’s not forget there are 9 levels of the minors. There’s good players off this list. He was a late cut hes in the 500’s

15. Awesome list Ralph!!! Thanks for all of your hard work.

    • @Jason: thanks Jason!

16. Hello Ralph! In a dynasty league where I desperately need pitching would you trade away Brendan Rodgers for Luzardo and Paddack? Thanks!

    • @mihai: If you’re rebuilding at the hitting is deep enough on your roster.

17. Hate picking apart your list buddy, because I know how hard you worked on it, but your thoughts on Lewin Diaz? He may be a legit omission, as he is not looking good this season, however, he was always regarded as a Top 10 1B prospect in fantasy and real life. Is it time to give up on him? Thanks

    • @Richard Davis: I’ve moved on, just a bunch of guys I like more. He could be back.

18. Great list Ralph! Would love your thoughts on two keeper trades I’m mulling over… Keep 7 forever, 12 teams. I’m in 2nd/3rd but about 10 points from first, and would need bounce backs from Harper Bellinger Ray to make a push, plus sustained excellence from jdm muncy tim Anderson Morton.

    I have two interesting trade for my $13 JDM keeper. Love him a ton, but figure I can’t sell higher than this, right?

    Would you trade JDM in either or both of these? Which package do you like the best?

    1. I get $6 Trea Turner (plus guys I won’t keep, Domingo German, Pillar, and a closer handcuff). I give $13 JDM (keeper) plus nonkeepers Morton, Trienen, Peraza. He’d do the same trade for his $15 arenado instead of $6 turner, but I feel like turner is the right choice. This is offered from the first place team, and is basically his offer to buy me out of contention, which I could get behind if we still love Trea this much.

    2. $12 Bryant + $0 Buehler for $13 JDM + either $1 Muncy, $0 Jose Martinez, or $10 Morton. This would be somewhat of a 2019 minded trade, but with contention still in mind.

    FYI my 7 keepers currently would be: $13 JDM $3 Bellinger $18 Harper $26 Blackmon, plus three of $1 Tim Anderson $1 Muncy $0 Jose Martinez $18 Rhys $23 acuna $11 Devers $0 Mikolas $8 clevinger.

    Thanks!

    • @Duda Want to Build a Snowman?: You can’t hold and chase it?

      • @Ralph Lifshitz: that’s definitely an option, but no guarantees of course. The 2nd-4th spots are all in the 83-84 points range, 1st place is 93.5, so lots of action at the top.

        • @Duda Want to Build a Snowman?: Don’t sell and go get that bastard!

          • @Ralph Lifshitz: haha I like it. He won two years ago too…screw thay guy!

            Maybe I’ll get lucky and Tim Anderson will continue to grow into a tasty keeper in the vein of Trea….

19. Great list. Appreciate all the work you put in to make this.

    Quick question, dynasty league 7×7 (xbh, obp are extra categories for hitting, qs and baa for pitching) – receive eugenio suarez, give buxton and reyes?

    Obviously for this year would be a win, just wanted your thoughts on if you think suarez is actually a 300 hitter, how much the injuries change reyes upside and if you think buxton will ever be more than a really streaky hitter

    • @Lucien: I would do that for sure. I don’t know if he’s .300, but I think he can hit above .270 consistently. He keeps getting better.

20. Where would you slot Victor Victor Mesa in this list when he is declared a free agent?

    • @What’s My Vector Victor Victor: Had him in between Kelenic and Gorman last week. https://razzball.com/2018-first-year-player-draft-rankings-edition-one/

21. Ralph – is Ronny Mauricio a top 50 prospect end of season, if he keeps this pace up?

    He seems like the primary guy in short season ball, alongside maybe Eric Pardinho, who could be set for a major helium bump this offseason, and maybe into the elite prospect range by midseason next year.

    • @S: I think Franco is above both right now, but they’re certainly pushing and making a case. There’s a of guys with them Wenceel Perez being one. Good crop of talent. I really Iike Antonio Cabello.

      • @Ralph Lifshitz:

        Franco has been hot – especially in the last week or so. Valera’s already been snapped up most places too. But this stretch of the season is the best time to stockpile value onto your team, as the short season guys start turning into major risers. I think Whitley was just starting to creep into the top 75-100 at this stage last year…

        It would be interesting to look at the rankings progression on J2 guy’s who’ve developed into top 15/elite tier prospects in the last 5+ years. Some sort of evaluation of preseason, midseason, end of season rankings, along with how they’ve progressed MiLB levels – maybe taking a look more closely at the R–>AA ball progression, since that’s around the point service time games start impacting promotions.

        I wonder if something like that could translate to defining more concrete/data driven “buy” windows for these more volatile J2 guys by league size.

        • @S: That sounds like a job for Lance.

22. too soon to put Marco Luciano in the top 500?

    • @Zeus: I removed the J2 guys as there are still some that haven’t signed. If you go back to last week’s post you can figure out where they rank.

23. Great lost, thanks Ralph. Please rank these 3 for dynasty: Buehler, Pivetta, T. McKenzie. Thanks

    • @The David: Buehler, McKenzie, Pivetta

24. Top stuff Ralph.

    Again, need time to mull over. Am in anumber of dynasty leagues,now, so need to think about what it all means.

    Best wishes,

    Anther Dan

    • @Another Dan: I think I’ve overwhelmed you Dan!

25. Can i just say your commitment to the work you and other RazzBall writers do is truly inspiring. I appreciate all the hard work you put in to put out truly entertaining and intelligent content day after day.

    • @Caught Looking: Thanks!

26. Great job. I completed my 1st Dynasty draft this winter and used your ranks as a resource so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that I have a bunch of your top 100 prospects. After seeing your approach to pitching I do have one question. If I have close to an equal number of hitting & pitching prospects on my roster would you recommend dropping a few of the pitchers even if it meant grabbing a hitter you had ranked 10 or so spots below? I’m not talking top 100 guys, but guys between 100-250.

27. Awesome stuff Ralph, thanks yet again for this! Quick question – are there any unsigned Japanese or other international prospects that you would slot anywhere into your top 30 or so with confidence?

28. Is Cavan Biggio a cup of coffe eta 2019, or he could make real contributions and land a job sometimes in 2019?

29. Happy All star Break!
    Any idea what happened to Frances Martes? Is he cooked?I remember way back when he was Houston’s #1 prospect! Do you think Fried has a chance to improve based on what you have seen so far?

    Thanks for the time!

30. Great stuff. Who are the half-dozen or so guys you think will make the biggest jumps next year? Also, all my non-pitchers made your list except Zavala, Friedl, Richie Martin and Luplow. Any of these guys worth holding onto? Thanks

31. Good list! Was comparing it to the guys I’ve rostered in the minor league portion of my dynasty league and was pleased to have three top 100 guys. Was really surprised to see Khalil Lee to be ranked so highly (but I’ll take it!). I was a little surprised to not see Greg Deichmann on the list, he’s struggling at high A but I figured his ceiling would be enough to merit consideration. Any thoughts on him?

32. Ralph- I hope you’ve slept! Thank you for all your work, it helps me immensely in my dynasty leagues.
    Another question on a guy who you’ve soured on, Marcus Wilson. I believe he was inside your top 100 heading into the season and CTRL+F didn’t find him. What has you concerned the most with him?
    Thanks!

33. No Luis Garcia SS for Nationals? What are your thoughts on him?

    • @shutts: He’s ranked 128

34. Any Luck Tatis comes up this year before September? I’m looking for an upgrade over seimen to help down the stretch in my deep h2h cat league. Thanks Ralph.

    Love the Pod and especially all the Hanley Jokes

35. LOVE the list!! What an exhausting endeavor. ONE request. For us NL/AL only leaguers can you give us sorting capabilities by league? Thanks!

36. Great stuff. Who are the half-dozen or so guys you think will make the biggest jumps next year? Also, all my non-pitchers made your list except Zavala, Friedl, Richie Martin and Luplow. Any of these guys worth holding onto? Thanks

37. Hey Ralph

    Great stuff

    Keeper league trade: got offered Vladdy Kopech and Meadows for my Arenado and Newcomb also some pick upgrades coming my way…what ya think ?

38. A bit late…but how is C Noah Naylor (CLE) ETA 2019? Ar you saying he will be in the majors next year at some point?

    • @Mark: Typo, his age is wrong too. Sorry, It’s hard to be perfect. Rudy is fixing tonight.

39. Hey Ralph, can you compare/contrast the tools of Adell and Jordyn Adams? Does Adams have a chance to follow a similar path? Ultimately who do you think has a higher ceiling?

40. Max Marusak. I saw fangraphs mention he has the 2nd highest fantasy potention in the draft. Any info on him. MLB ranked him 187 but he was not selected in the draft.

    What typically happens to a guy like Max and why was he not drafted?

41. Awesome stuff Ralph! So we do a 3-player prospect draft mid-season (tonight). I know you tend to fade pitchers to some degree, but approximately where would you rank Yusei Kikuchi in your list if you were including international unsigned players?

42. Hay Ralph amazing stuff.
    Is there some content coming (from you or other writers) which is debating what to do in dynastys with young Major League Players (not prospects)?
    Some Buy Low/ Sell High stuff would be amazing or a ranking would be even better :)

43. Hey ralph would you trade Mazara for Tatis Jr in a h2h keeper?

    • @Vash: I would. Tatis is going to be Correa with more pop.

44. LOVE this list. Great job. Pretty fair all around.

45. After your top 25 who would be the one guy you would love to stash for a dynasty league?

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