Myworld always begins our top ten country list with the European prospects. We don’t get a lot of major league hits with this list, but not a lot of pure Europeans make it into the major leagues. The list was made more difficult this year by the lack of players from Curacao. The top two players from the list last year, Xander Boegarts and Jonathan Schoop made the major leagues and are no longer eligible for this list. Donald Lutz also saw some major league action, but he did not play enough to lose his rookie status so he is eligible to repeat on this list.

With the World Baseball Classic and the under 21 tournament in Taiwan myworld has gotten a chance to see many of these players perform. So myworld is a little biased by those players who we have seen play.

1. Ozhaino Albies SS (Curacao/Netherlands) - With two players from Curacao/Aruba departing the list from last year Ozhaino comes out of nowhere to replace them to put himself on top of the 2015 list. He was signed by the Braves in 2013 and made his professional debut last year hitting .364 in rookie ball, with 28 walks and 23 whiffs. Those are the kind of numbers myworld can get excited about. He also had the speed to steal 22 bases in 27 attempts. On defense he committed 13 errors in 53 games, the kind of numbers you might expect from a 17 year old making his professional debut. Most kids that age would still be playing for their high school baseball team. He should start the season next year in full season ball. With Andrelton Simmons on the major league club Albies is still far enough away the Braves can make a decision on whether they let Simmons leaves as a free agent to allow Albies to move to short, or whether they find another position for Albies.

2. Martin Gasparini SS (Italy) - Martin signed with the Royals in 2013 for $1.3 million, the largest bonus payment paid out to a European player from the continent. The previous high bonus was paid to Max Kepler. Martin is also 17 with a lot of growing up to do, five months younger than Albies. He also played in rookie ball but did not put up the same kind of numbers as Albies, hitting just .228 with a more expected 4/34 walk to whiff ratio for a younger player. A total OPS of .581 shows he has a lot of work to do with the bat. On defense he also was not quite as sharp with 15 errors in 22 games, but he does carry all the tools to play shortstop. The Royals will probably have him repeat rookie ball where he will play with players equal his age in 2015.

3. Chris Reed LHP (Great Britain) - Chris was born in London but played baseball in high school in California. He also pitched for the Stanford Cardinal, drawing the attention of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who made him their first round pick in 2011. While he was a closer for the Stanford Cardinal the Dodgers have moved him to the starting rotation. He is a lefty who throws his fastball in the low 90s with a slider and changeup. Because he doesn’t throw hard he relies more on poor barrel of the bat contact rather than strikeouts, last year limiting AA hitters to a .226 average. He did get raked in the hitter friendly Pacific Coast League, putting up a ghastly 10.97 ERA with an opposition average of .378. The Dodgers will have him repeat AAA and hope for some success before they turn his blood to Dodger blue.

4. Aaron Altherr OF (Germany) - His father was a German soccer player but Aaron chose the sport of baseball after moving to the United States. At 6′5″ he has a large strike zone that has created his share of whiffs. Last year at AA he only hit .236 with 110 strikeouts, but he showed enough potential that he made his Phillies debut with 5 at bats but no hits. If he can consistently get his arms extended Aaron can hit for some impressive power but pitchers pound him inside to get weak contact or swings and misses. His arm is made for right field but he needs to improve with the bat to be given the opportunity to make it as a right fielder. The Phillies will start him again in AA to give him more opportunity to succeed.

5. Donald Lutz 1B (Germany) - Lutz was born in New York but moved to Germany as a child, learning and playing baseball in the German youth leagues. When he was promoted to the major leagues in 2013 he became the first player from Germany to play major league baseball who grew up playing all his baseball in Germany. At 6′3″ and 235 Lutz is a big guy who lacks the fluidity to play defense at first base. When Joey Votto got injured the Reds preferred to play Brayan Pena at first rather than give Lutz extended playing time. It makes one wonder what the long term prospects the Reds have for Lutz. Lutz can also play left field but his speed makes his defense there below average as well. About the only tool he has is power. He regressed a bit in a 51 major league at bat in 2014, hitting just .176 with a .523 OPS and a 4/33 walk to whiff ratio. The Reds will have him play in AAA to work on his defense and improve his ability to make contact. He has the potential to hit 20 plus homeruns, but his batting average will be less than .250.

6. Max Kepler OF/1B (Germany) - Max is still hanging onto his prospect status, but it is dipping each year. The Twins signed him in 2009 for $800,000, which at the time was the highest bonus for a European player until Gasparini. He went to a high school in Fort Myers before making his professional debut in 2012. Imagine the high school baseball coach knowing one of his best ballplayers was not eligible to play for him because he had signed a professional contract. Originally it was thought Kepler could play centerfield, but his speed is a better fit at one of the corners. As he has bulked up the Twins have tried him at first base. At best he could end up in a left field/first base mix like Donald Lutz. The increased bulk has not led to increased power, with his slugging average dipping in each of his three subsequent years (.539, 424, .393). Next year will be a critical year for him. The Mariners will move him to AA and it will be critical for him to show them he can be a power source typical for players who occupy first base or left field.

7. Spencer Kieboom C (Netherlands) - His father was born in the Netherlands but moved to the United States when he was 17. Spencer was originally named as the catcher for the 2013 WBC team but had to be removed after Tommy John surgery forced him to miss most of the 2013 season. The Nationals drafted him in the fifth round of the 2012 draft out of Clemson. His defense and leadership ability give him the chance to be a major leaguer even if his bat comes up short. Last year in his full season debut he was able to hit .309 at Hagerstown with nine homeruns and a .852 OPS. Next year he should see time in High A Potomac.

8. Jonatan Isenia RHP (Curacao/Netherlands) - Isenia was talented enough to make the Netherlands roster for the 2013 WBC. He ended up with a UCL strain and limited to 13 relief appearances in 2013 rookie ball. Last year the Orioles moved him to the starting rotation where he performed well, limiting the opposition to a .178 average and striking out 9.68 batters per nine innings. He is not overpowering with a fastball in the low 90s. This could relegate him to a bullpen role once he becomes major league ready. The Orioles will have him make his full season debut for the 2015 season.

9. Lars Huijer RHP (Netherlands) - The Mariners signed him in 2011 for $170,000. This year he was traded to the Cubs for recently designated player Mike Kickham. He stands 6′4″, good height for a pitcher. This could add velocity to his high 80s to low 90s fastball. He also throws a change and curve. The Mariners threw him out to Low A where he handled himself well. It would have been a pretty good year if he could have gotten lefthanded hitters out (.301) which usually means his changeup is not good enough to fool the lefties. He also had a poor 34/44 walk to whiff ratio, walking over five hitters per nine innings. On the bright side he did limit righthanded hitters to a .183 average. If he can improve his effort against lefthanders and walk less hitters he might eventually fit in the back end of a rotation.

10. Martin Cervenka C (Czech Republic) - The Indians signed Cervenka to a contract in 2009. He made his professional debut in 2011. In those four years he has a .191 career minor league average, hitting only .181 last year in rookie ball. Myworld thinks the 2015 season will be a breakout year for him. He shined for the Czech team in the 21 and under tournament in Taiwan last year, getting a number of clutch hits to give his team a fifth place finish. Depending on how his spring training goes he could see some time in the full season league.

To review the top ten list from last year go to the link below

2014 top Prospects from Europe