Top 175 MLB Prospects for 2016



Here is my current list of Top 175 MLB prospects for 2016. This revises and expands the Top 50/50 List published in the 2016 Baseball Prospect Book.. Grades here supersede previously published lists and rankings.

The rankings are based on a combination of sabermetrics; scouting reports (including publicly available reports and private reports from friends or contacts), video, in-person views when possible, and some measure of intuition. My lists weigh closeness to the majors and risk as well as pure upside. A list based on pure upside with less regard for risk would look quite different. I try to find a balance between the two factors.



Every list has quirks, of course, reflecting the filters and biases of the analyst. Ultimately these are my opinions and I take sole responsibility for them. Many of my rankings are in line with industry consensus, but some are not.



Thinking and analysis change constantly, so look at this as a snapshot of how things stand in late March. Such lists can be tinkered with forever but at some point you have to press the "publish" button. I will be around in the comments thread today to answer questions.



Once you get past the Top 100 especially, you should take a "neighborhood" tier approach rather than "this guy at 129 is clearly better than the guy at 130."





1) Corey Seager, SS, Los Angeles Dodgers, Grade A

2) Tyler Glasnow, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates, Grade A

3) Lucas Giolito, RHP, Washington Nationals, Grade A

4) Julio Urias, LHP, Los Angeles Dodgers, Grade A

5) Dansby Swanson, SS, Atlanta Braves, Grade A



6) Yoan Moncada, 2B, Boston Red Sox, Grade A

7) Byron Buxton, OF, Minnesota Twins, Grade A

8) Alex Reyes, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals, Grade A

9) Jose Berrios, RHP, Minnesota Twins, Grade A-

10) Steven Matz, LHP, New York Mets, Grade A-



11) Orlando Arcia, SS, Milwaukee Brewers, Grade A-

12) Joey Gallo, 3B-OF, Texas Rangers, Grade A-

13) Blake Snell, LHP, Tampa Bay Rays, Grade A-

14) Jose De Leon, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers, Grade A-

15) Sean Manaea, LHP, Oakland Athletics, Grade A-



16) Rafael Devers, 3B, Boston Red Sox, Grade A-

17) Alex Bregman, SS, Houston Astros, Grade A-

18) Andrew Benintendi, OF, Boston Red Sox, Grade A-

19) A.J. Reed, 1B, Houston Astros, Grade A-

20) Trea Turner, SS, Washington Nationals, Grade A-



21) J.P. Crawford, SS, Philadelphia Phillies, Grade A-

22) Nomar Mazara, OF, Texas Rangers, Grade A-

23) Franklin Barreto, SS, Oakland Athletics, Grade A-

24) Jon Gray, RHP, Colorado Rockies, Grade A-

25) Robert Stephenson, RHP, Cincinnati Reds, Grade A-



26) Bradley Zimmer, OF, Cleveland Indians, Grade B+

27) Carson Fulmer, RHP, Chicago White Sox, Grade B+

28) Mike Clevinger, RHP, Cleveland Indians, Grade B+

29) Clint Frazier, OF, Cleveland Indians, Grade B+

30) Austin Meadows, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates, Grade B+



31) Lewis Brinson, OF, Texas Rangers, Grade B+

32) Nick Williams, OF, Philadelphia Phillies, Grade B+

33) Francis Martes, RHP, Houston Astros, Grade B+

34) Anderson Espinosa, RHP, Boston Red Sox, Grade B+

35) Jorge Lopez, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers, Grade B+



36) Joe Musgrove, RHP, Houston Astros, Grade B+

37) Taylor Guerrieri, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays, Grade B+

38) Brendan Rodgers, SS, Colorado Rockies, Grade B+

39) Max Kepler, OF, Minnesota Twins, Grade B+

40) Tim Anderson,SS, Chicago White Sox, Grade B+



41) Sean Newcomb, LHP, Atlanta Braves, Grade B+

42) Cody Reed, LHP, Cincinnati Reds, LHP, Grade B+

43) Aaron Blair, RHP, Atlanta Braves, Grade B+

44) Dillon Tate, RHP, Texas Rangers, Grade B+

45) Gleyber Torres, SS, Chicago Cubs, Grade B+



46) Hector Olivera, OF, Atlanta Braves, Grade B+

47) Kenta Maeda, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers, Grade B+

48) Brett Phillips, OF, Milwaukee Brewers, Grade B+

49) Jesse Winker, OF, Cincinnati Reds, Grade B+

50) Ozzie Albies, SS, Atlanta Braves, Grade B+



51) Michael Feliz, RHP, Houston Astros, Grade B+

52) Amir Garrett, LHP, Cincinnati Reds, Grade B+

53) Phil Bickford, RHP, San Francisco Giants, Grade B+

54) Brent Honeywell, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays, Grade B+

55) Christian Arroyo, SS-2B, San Francisco Giants, Grade B+



56) Ryan McMahon, 3B, Colorado Rockies, Grade B+

57) Bobby Bradley, 1B, Cleveland Indians, Grade B+

58) Rob Kaminsky, LHP, Cleveland Indians, Grade B+

59) Kolby Allard, RHP, Atlanta Braves, Grade B+

60) Trevor Story, SS, Colorado Rockies, Grade B+



61) Nick Gordon, SS, Minnesota Twins, Grade B+

62) Jose Peraza, INF, Cincinnati Reds, Grade B+

63) Jacob Nottingham, C, Milwaukee Brewers, Grade B+

64) Jeff Hoffman, RHP, Colorado Rockies, Grade B+

65) Gary Sanchez, C, New York Yankees, Grade B+



66) James Kaprielian, RHP, New York Yankees, Grade B+

67) Raul Mondesi, SS, Kansas City Royals, Grade B+

68) Jorge Mateo, SS, New York Yankees, Grade B+

69) David Dahl, OF, Colorado Rockies, Grade B+

70) Josh Bell, 1B-OF, Pittsburgh Pirates, Grade B+



71) Josh Hader, LHP, Milwaukee Brewers, Grade B+

72) Alex Verdugo, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers, Grade B+

73) Matt Olson, 1B, Oakland Athletics, Grade B+

74) Willy Adames, SS, Tampa Bay Rays, Grade B+

75) Renato Nunez, OF, Oakland Athletics, Grade B+



76) Justus Sheffield, LHP, Cleveland Indians, Grade B+

77) Clayton Blackburn, RHP, San Francisco Giants, Grade B+

78) Manuel Margot, OF, San Diego Padres, Grade B

79) Anthony Alford, OF, Toronto Blue Jays, Grade B

80) Javier Guerra, SS, San Diego Padres, Grade B



81) Byung Ho Park, 1B-OF, Minnesota Twins, Grade B

81-A) Aaron Judge, OF, New York Yankees, Grade B (inadvertently left off list at first due to spreadsheet error)

82) Victor Robles, OF, Washington Nationals, Grade B

83) Michael Fulmer, RHP, Detroit Tigers, Grade B

84) Luis Ortiz, RHP, Texas Rangers, Grade B

85) Luke Weaver, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals, Grade B



86) Jameson Taillon, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates, Grade B

87) Edwin Diaz, RHP, Seattle Mariners, RHP, Grade B

88) Domingo Acevedo, RHP, New York Yankees, Grade B

89) Yusniel Diaz, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers, Grade B

90) Dom Nunez, C, Colorado Rockies, Grade B



91) Antonio Senzatela, RHP, Colorado Rockies, Grade B

92) Ariel Jurado, RHP, Texas Rangers, RHP, Grade B

93) Jacob Faria, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays, Grade B

94) Archie Bradley, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks, Grade B

95) Jack Flaherty, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals, Grade B



96) Grant Holmes, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers, Grade B

97) Reynaldo Lopez, RHP, Washington Nationals, Grade B

98) Braden Shipley, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks, Grade B

99) A.J. Cole, RHP, Washington Nationals, Grade B

100) Dylan Bundy, RHP, Baltimore Orioles, Grade B



101) Sam Travis, 1B, Boston Red Sox, Grade B

102) Jake Bauers, 1B-OF, Tampa Bay Rays, Grade B

103) Triston McKenzie, RHP, Cleveland Indians, Grade B

104) Trey Mancini, 1B, Baltimore Orioles, Grade B

105) Raimel Tapia, OF, Colorado Rockies, Grade B



106) Cody Bellinger, 1B, Los Angeles Dodgers, Grade B

107) Forrest Wall, 2B, Colorado Rockies, Grade B

108) Frankie Montas, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers, Grade B

109) Brandon Drury, 3B, Arizona Diamondbacks, Grade B

110) Andrew Knapp, C, Philadelphia Phillies, Grade B



111) Alex Blandino, INF, Cincinnati Reds, Grade B

112) Ian Happ, OF-2B, Chicago Cubs, Grade B

113) Ruddy Giron, SS, San Diego Padres, Grade B

114) Billy McKinney, OF, Chicago Cubs, Grade B

115) Hunter Renfroe, OF, San Diego Padres, Grade B



116) Daniel Robertson, SS, Tampa Bay Rays, Grade B

117) Dominic Smith, 1B, New York Mets, Grade B

118) Isan Diaz, 2B, Milwaukee Brewers, Grade B

119) Austin Riley, 3B, Atlanta Braves, Grade B

120) Cornelius Randolph, Philadelphia Phillies, Grade B



121) Kyle Tucker, OF, Houston Astros, Grade B

122) Lucas Sims, RHP, Atlanta Braves, Grade B

123) Kyle Zimmer, RHP, Kansas City Royals, Grade B

124) Tyler Jay, LHP, Minnesota Twins, Grade B

125) Erick Fedde, RHP, Washington Nationals, Grade B



126) Beau Burrows, RHP, Detroit Tigers, Grade B

127) Mike Soroka, RHP, Atlanta Braves, Grade B

128) Daz Cameron, OF, Houston Astros, Grade B

129) Mallex Smith, OF, Atlanta Braves, Grade B

130) Christin Stewart, OF, Detroit Tigers, Grade B

131) Colin Moran, 3B, Houston Astros, Grade B

132) Tom Murphy, C, Colorado Rockies, Grade B

133) Jake Thompson, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies, Grade B

134) Pierce Johnson, RHP, Chicago Cubs, Grade B

135) Keury Mella, RHP, Cincinnati Reds, Grade B



136) Trent Clark, OF, Milwaukee Brewers, Grade B

137) Spencer Adams, RHP, Chicago White Sox, Grade B

138) Derek Fisher, OF, Houston Astros, Grade B

139) Chance Sisco, C, Baltimore Orioles, Grade B

140) Roman Quinn, OF, Philadelphia Phillies, Grade B



141) Amed Rosario, SS, New York Mets, Grade B

142) Tyler Stephenson, C, Cincinnati Reds, Grade B

143) Clint Coulter, OF, Milwaukee Brewers, Grade B

144) Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B, Pittsburgh Pirates, Grade B

145) Rowdy Tellez, 1B, Toronto Blue Jays, Grade B



146) Tyler Naquin, OF, Cleveland Indians, Grade B-

147) Socrates Brito, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks, Grade B-

148) Michael Kopech, RHP, Boston Red Sox, Grade B-

149) Matt Chapman, 3B, Oakland Athletics, Grade B-

150) Juan Hillman, LHP, Cleveland Indians, Grade B-



151) Hunter Harvey, RHP, Baltimore Orioles, Grade B-

152) Willson Contreras, C, Chicago Cubs, Grade B-

153) Mark Appel, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies, Grade B-

154) Jorge Polanco, INF, Minnesota Twins, Grade B-

155) Tim Cooney, LHP, St. Louis Cardinals, Grade B-



156) Austin Barnes, C-2B, Los Angeles Dodgers, Grade B-

157) Rob Refsnyder, 2B, New York Yankees, Grade B-

158) Colin Rea, RHP, San Diego Padres, Grade B-

159) Nick Burdi, RHP, Minnesota Twins, Grade B-

160) Harrison Bader, OF, St. Louis Cardinals, Grade B-



161) Jomar Reyes, 3B, Baltimore Orioles, Grade B-

162) Oscar De La Cruz, RHP, Chicago Cubs, Grade B-

163) Brady Aiken, LHP, Cleveland Indians, Grade B-

164) Logan Allen, LHP, San Diego Padres, Grade B-

165) Jorge Alfaro, C, Philadelphia Phillies, Grade B-



166) Aledmys Diaz, INF, St. Louis Cardinals, Grade B-

167) Mikie Mahtook, OF, Tampa Bay Rays, Grade B-

168) Richie Shaffer, 3B-1B, Tampa Bay Rays, Grade B-

169) David Paulino, RHP, Houston Astros, Grade B-

170) Jeimer Candelario, INF, Chicago Cubs, Grade B-



171) Yadier Alvarez, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers, Grade B-

172) Drew Jackson, SS, Seattle Mariners, Grade B-

173) Paul DeJong, 3B, St. Louis Cardinals, Grade B-

174) Tyler White, 1B, Houston Astros, Grade B-

175) Willie Calhoun, 2B-OF, Los Angeles Dodgers, Grade B-





OTHERS IN THE PICTURE: These are players who were examined and considered for the list. All of them can make a valid case for the 140-175 range.

Ronald Acuna, OF; Braves; Miguel Almonte, RHP, Royals; Albert Almora, OF, Cubs; Luis Alexander Basabe, OF, Red Sox; Wuilmer Becerra, OF, Mets; Tyler Beede, RHP, Giants; Jairo Beras, RHP, Rangers; Zachary Bird, RHP, Braves; Silvino Bracho, RHP, Diamondbacks; Steven Brault, LHP, Pirates; Parker Bridwell, RHP, Orioles; Walker Buehler, RHP, Dodgers;



Ryan Castellani, RHP, Rockies; Miguel Castro, RHP, Rockies; Dylan Cease, RHP, Cubs; Gavin Cecchini, SS, Mets; Michael Chavis, 3B; Red Sox; Taylor Clarke, RHP, Diamondbacks; Ian Clarkin, LHP, Yankees; Sam Coonrod, RHP, Giants; Jharel Cotton, RHP, Dodgers;



Braxton Davidson, 1B, Braves; Zach Davies, RHP, Brewers; J.D. Davis, 3B, Astros; Rookie Davis, RHP, Reds; Marcos Diplan, RHP, Brewers; Wilmer Difo, INF, Nationals; Carl Edwards Jr, RHP, Cubs; Zach Eflin, RHP, Phillies; Adam Engel, OF, White Sox; Thomas Eshelman, RHP, Phillies; Junior Fernandez, RHP, Cardinals; Kendry Flores, RHP, Marlins; Lucius Fox, SS, Giants; Anderson Franco, 3B, Nationals; Kyle Freeland, LHP, Rockies; Max Fried, LHP, Braves;



Aramis Garcia, C, Giants; Jarlin Garcia, LHP, Marlins; Wilkerman Garcia, SS, Yankees; Yeudy Garcia, RHP, Pirates; Stone Garrett, OF, Marlins; Michael Gettys, OF, Padres; Casey Gillaspie, 1B, Rays; Mychal Givens, RHP, Orioles; Austin Gomber, LHP, Cardinals; Marco Gonzales, LHP, Cardinals; Stephen Gonsalves, LHP, Twins; Conner Greene, RHP, Blue Jays; Foster Griffin, LHP, Royals; Jordan Guerrero, LHP, White Sox; Vlad Guerrero Jr, OF, Blue Jays;

Alen Hanson, INF, Pirates; Jon Harris, RHP, Blue Jays; Monte Harrison, OF, Brewers; Kyle Holder, SS, Yankees; Rhys Hoskins, 1B, Phillies; Adrian Houser, RHP, Brewers; Wei-Chieh Huang, RHP, Diamondbacks; Andy Ibanez, 2B, Rangers; Alex Jackson, OF, Mariners; Eric Jagielo, 3B, Reds; Eric Jenkins, OF, Rangers; Tyrell Jenkins, RHP, Braves; Eloy Jimenez, OF, Cubs; Joe Jimenez, RHP, Tigers; Brian Johnson, LHP, Red Sox; JaCoby Jones, SS, Tigers;



Tony Kemp, 2B, Astros; Franklyn Kilome, RHP, Phillies; Nick Kingham, RHP, Pirates; Tyler Kolek, RHP, Marlins; Kevin Kramer, SS, Pirates; Peter Lambert, RHP, Rockies; Gilbert Lara, SS, Brewers; Brett Lilek, LHP, Marlins; Ben Lively, RHP, Phillies;



Justin Maese, RHP, Blue Jays; Tyler Mahle, RHP, Reds; German Marquez, RHP, Rockies; Richie Martin, SS, Athletics; Eddy Julio Martinez, OF, Cubs; Michael Matuella, RHP, Rangers; Reese McGuire, C, Pirates; Kodi Medeiros, LHP, Brewers; Casey Meisner, RHP, Athletics; Francisco Mejia, C, Indians; Yohander Mendez, LHP; Rangers; Alex Meyer, RHP, Twins; Marcos Molina, RHP, Mets; Josh Morgan, INF, Rangers; Ryan Mountcastle, SS, Orioles; Yairo Munoz, SS, Athletics;

Josh Naylor, 1B, Marlins; Nick Neidert, RHP, Mariners; Kevin Newman, SS, Pirates; Tyler Nevin, 3B, Rockies; Brandon Nimmo, OF, Mets; Jacob Nix, RHP, Padres



Tyler O’Neill, OF, Mariners; Demi Orimoloye, OF, Brewers; Kevin Padlo, 3B, Rays; Jermaine Palacios, SS, Twins; Franklin Perez, RHP, Astros; Chad Pinder, INF, Athletics; Adam Plutko, RHP, Indians; Nick Plummer, OF, Cardinals; Cody Ponce, RHP, Brewers; Harold Ramirez, OF, Pirates; Cody Reed, LHP, Diamondbacks; Sean Reid-Foley, RHP, Blue Jays; Wendell Rijo, 2B, Red Sox; Ashe Russell, RHP, Royals;



Chris Shaw, 1B, Giants; Magneuris Sierra, OF, Cardinals; Edmundo Sosa, SS, Cardinals; Bubba Starling, OF, Royals; Josh Staumont, RHP, Royals; D.J. Stewart, OF, Orioles; Kohl Stewart, RHP, Twins; Darnell Sweeney, INF-OF, Phillies; Andrew Suarez, LHP, Giants;

Stephen Tarpley, LHP, Pirates; Touki Toussaint, RHP, Braves; Trayce Thompson, OF, Dodgers; Nick Travieso, RHP, Reds; Sam Tuivailala, RHP, Cardinals; Cole Tucker, SS, Pirates; Spencer Turnbull, RHP, Tigers; Duane Underwood, RHP, Cubs; Richard Urena, SS, Blue Jays; Dan Vogelbach, 1B, Cubs; Austin Voth, RHP, Nationals;

Tyler Wagner, RHP, Diamondbacks; Adam Brett Walker, 1B, Twins; Christian Walker, 1B, Orioles; Taylor Ward, C, Angels; Nolan Watson, RHP, Royals; Garrett Whitley, OF, Rays; Justin Williams, OF, Rays; Jake Woodford, RHP, Cardinals; Alex Young, LHP, Diamondbacks; Kevin Ziomek, LHP, Tigers.