With spring training now just a little more than a month away, it’s time for my annual top 50 prospects list. The players listed here are ranked based on a combination of opinions from general managers, front-office executives, scouts, minor-league managers, coaches, evaluators, analytics departments and players and my personal scouting. I also factored in actual performance based on their production, information, statistics, metrics, trends and other important factors such as medicals, off-field behavior and makeup and character. I have included direct quotes given to me from presidents, vice presidents, GMs and other key front-office executives from all 30 teams on the majority of these top prospects. These rankings will serve as an appetizer to prepare you for my colleague Keith Law’s top 100 prospects list, which is expected to be published in February.



Here is my Scouting Grades Key:



• ARM: Throwing arm; FLD: Fielding; PWR: Power; HIT: Hitting;...