Hailed by Michael Salfino of the Wall Street Journal and Yahoo! Sports for its “insightful and often contrarian viewpoint to prospect rankings,” the Prospect Digest Handbook is a perennial favorite among baseball enthusiasts, minor league fans, and fantasy general managers. Now back for its fifth season, the Prospect Digest Handbook is the definitive guide to the minor leagues.

1. Heliot Ramos, CF

Background: Armed with the 19th pick in the draft last June, San Francisco opted for Leadership Christian Academy center fielder Heliot Ramos. A sturdy, explosive prospect, Ramos simply overpowered the Arizona Summer League pitching during his debut: in 35 games, the 6-foot-2, 185-pound outfielder slugged an eye-popping .348/.404/.645 with 11 doubles, six triples, and six homeruns. He also managed to swipe 10 bags in 12 total attempts. According to Weighted Runs Created Plus, Ramos’ overall production topped the league average mark by a videogame-esque 75% – tied for the best mark in the rookie league among all hitters with at least 150 plate appearances. One more interesting little tidbit: thanks to a late birthday, Ramos was only 17-years-old in baseball speak. The next second highest wRC+ mark by a 17-year-old in the Arizona Summer League last season was the White Sox’s Laz Rivera, who finished with a more pedestrian 127 wRC+.

Projection: Stud. That’s all. In fact, let’s just jump right into it. Consider the following:

Since 2006, only 19 hitters have posted a wRC+ of at least 170 in the Arizona Summer League (min. 150 PA). Seven of those players were still teenagers. One of them, Mr. Ramos, was under the age of 18.

Between 2006 and 2012, there were a total of seven players 18 years or younger to post a 150 or better wRC+ in the Arizona Summer League (min. 150 PA): Joey Gallo, Mike Trout, Matthew Sweeney, Cedric Hunter, Jaff Decker, Royce Consigli, and Dorssys Paulino. Four of those players – Gallo, Trout, Hunter, and Decker – have made it to the big leagues before the end of 2017.

Trout’s an all-time great. Gallo, despite his low batting averages and huge strikeout numbers, topped the league average mark by 23% in 2017. And both Hunter and Dacker has received a couple cups of big league coffee. With respect to Ramos, he swung and missed frequently during his debut – 31.8% to be exact. But there’s tremendous power potential with above-average speed. He looks combustible, but has a huge ceiling.

Ceiling: Too Soon to Tell

Risk: N/A

MLB ETA: N/A

2. Andrew Suarez, LHP

Background: How’s that old saying go? Third time’s a charm. That’s certainly the case for the San Francisco Giants and Andrew Suarez. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound southpaw bypassed the opportunity to enter professional ball as a ninth round pick coming out of high school in 2011. He then rebuffed the Nationals as a second round pick following his junior season at the University of Miami. San Francisco grabbed the now-thrice-drafted southpaw with the 61st overall pick three years ago. Suarez finished his collegiate career with 284 total innings, an 18-11 record, and an impressive 223-to-57 strikeout-to-walk ratio. As for his professional career, the lanky lefty made it up to High Class A before the end of his debut, split time between High Class A and Class AA during his follow up campaign, and made 15 appearances in the PCL before the end of last season. Overall, Suarez made 26 appearances between Richmond and Sacramento in 2017, 24 of them coming via the start, throwing 155.2 innings with 135 strikeouts and just 42 walks en route to tallying a 3.30 ERA.

Projection: Per the usual, here’s what I wrote prior to Suarez’s selection in the second round of the 2014 draft:

“Suarez has been one of the biggest risers this spring. He’s still not missing a whole lot of bats yet – just 6.82 K/9 this season. The control is a reliable, above-average skill, but he’s also been quite hittable too – 11 doubles, four triples, and three homeruns, the most extra-base hits surrendered by any of Miami’s top three starters. Solid backend rotation-type arm, peaking as a fringe #3 but should settle in as a solid #4/#5.”

And here’s what I wrote prior to the 2015 draft:

“Well, nearly 12 months removed and there’s virtually no new data to analyze. When he’s healthy – which hasn’t been the case very often – Suarez does well in limiting walks, will miss a handful of bats, but tends to be a bit too hittable. I’m still sticking to the original ceiling as a solid #4/#5 caliber arm – if injuries aren’t a concern. It will be interesting to see where a team grabs him, especially considering that he once again has an option to return to school for his [redshirt] senior season.”

So let’s update that a bit, shall we? With respect to his work in Class AAA last season, consider the following:

It’s an interesting collection of names. Heaney, Humber, Vargas, and LeBlanc have been solid backend starting pitchers at various points in their big league career. And the remaining duo – Raley and Spruill – were most non-descript relievers. I’m still sticking by the backend analysis after all these years.

Ceiling: 2.5-win player

Risk: Low to Moderate

MLB ETA: 2018

Background: Tell me if you’ve heard this one before: the defensive jack-of-all-trades missed significant time due to injury in 2017, a running theme in the organization. Slater, an eighth round pick in 2014 out of Stanford University, split last season between the Sacramento River Cats and the Giants. In 50 games with the club’s Class AAA affiliate, Slater slugged .321/.377/.467 with 12 doubles and five homeruns. And he adjusted well to big league pitching, hitting .282/.339/.402 with three doubles, one triple, and three homeruns in 34 games. Slater owns a career .308/.370/.443 triple-slash line, slugging 64 doubles, four triples, and 28 homeruns with 24 stolen bases in 304 games.

Projection: Let’s just jump right into the numbers. Consider the following with respect to Slater’s work in the Pacific Coast League last season:

Interesting collection, no? Slater’s debut showing with the big league club – he batted .282/.339/.402 with a 100 wRC+ – is likely his peak offensive ceiling. Throw in some decent-ish defensive contributions and you have the making of a solid, slightly better-than-average regular.

Ceiling: 2.0- to 2.5-win player

Risk: Moderate

MLB ETA: Debuted in 2017

Background: Fun Fact Part I: Since Boston College’s first ever selection in the MLB draft all the way back in 1958, the school has graduated 71 ballplayers to the minor leagues. Fun Fact Part II: Despite an impressive number of draft selections, only seven former Eagles have made it to the big leagues – Tony Sanchez, Mike Belfiore, Pat Dean, Eric Campbell, Brian Looney, Joe Martinez, and Chris Lambert. Fun Fact Part III: Only two of those players – Sanchez and Campbell – appeared in more than 50 big league games. Anyway, the Giants snagged Shaw near the end of the first round in 2015 after a stellar junior campaign (.319/.411/.611). The lefty-swinging first baseman/corner outfielder ripped through short-season ball during his debut and torched High Class A at the start of 2016. His numbers declined a bit during a second half promotion to Class AA that year. But it proved to be nothing more than a little speed bump.

Last season, in a return to the Eastern League, Shaw found his stroke with the Richmond Flying Squirrels, slugging .301/.390/.511 with 10 doubles and a half dozen dingers in 37 games. San Francisco bumped him up to the PCL in late May and he went on to produce 16% above the league average mark. Overall, the 6-foot-4, 235-pound slugger posted an aggregate .292/.346/.525 triple-slash line with 35 doubles, one triple, and 24 homeruns in 125 games.

Projection: Per the usual, here’s what I wrote about Shaw prior to the 2015 draft:

“He has a surprisingly strong knack for making contact, especially for a potential middle-of-the-order bat. [He owns] above-average to plus-power potential with the ability to slug 20- to 25-homeruns in a full professional season. It’s also important to point out that the Eagles’ home park, Eddie Pellagini Diamond at John Shea Field, is incredibly pitcher-friendly. Good, though far from great, eye at the plate.Shaw looks like a solid, better-than-average first baseman who, once he’s further removed from the hamate injury [suffered in 2012], should surprise people with his minor league production.”

Well, more than two years later and the analysis still looks spot on, or at least relatively close – above-average power, decent eye at the plate, and no discernible platoon splits. With Brandon Belt locked into a long term deal until the end of 2021, the player development bosses pushed Shaw into left field, where he looked like a player that should be playing first base.

Ceiling: 1.5- to 2.0-win player

Risk: Low

MLB ETA: 2018

5. Tyler Beede, RHP

Background: The epitome of San Francisco’s 2017 season: Beede saw a dramatic decline in his production as he moved into the Pacific Coast League last year. Beede, who was twice drafted in the first round, ripped through the Eastern League two years ago, throwing a career high 147.1 innings with an impressive – especially for a pitcher with a history of control issues – 135-to-53 strikeout-to-walk ratio while finishing with a 2.81 ERA, 3.48 FIP, 3.58 xFIP, and a 3.05 DRA. Last season, though, Beede’s control remained solid-average, but his strikeout rate tumbled down to a worrisome 6.9 K/9 across 109.0 innings of work. A groin injury limited the former Vanderbilt ace to just 19 starts, the last one coming in the middle of July. For his professional career, Beede owns a 322-to-143 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 396.0 innings of work.

Projection: Once again, here’s what I wrote prior to the 2014 draft:

“One of the best collegiate arms available in this year’s class, particularly coming from the rotation, Beede has the makings of a #2-type pitcher, though that depends upon how he [commands] the strike zone at the next level. His control has wavered in the earlier parts of his career, and he’ll need to continue to show that this season’s strong showing is more than just an aberration. Outside of N.C. State’s Carlos Rodon, Beede has [ceiling as] high as any collegiate hurler. That, of course, comes with a little more risk.”

Well, that #2-type ceiling looks like a distant dream at this point. Beede just hasn’t been s dominant as his power arsenal in college would have suggested. He’s now entering his age-25 season and in two of his three previous years he’s averaged fewer than seven strikeouts per nine innings. And I hate to say it, but he looks like a backend starter with some upside as a reliever. One more thought:

If that’s not damning, I don’t know what is. Maybe the big league staff can coax something more out of Beede.

Ceiling: 1.5- to 2.0-win player

Risk: Low to Moderate

MLB ETA: 2018

Background: Just another player in the San Francisco organization that missed a good portion of time in 2017. Duggar, a sixth round pick out of Clemson in 2015, missed roughly the first two months of the year recovering from hip surgery. Once healthy, though, he picked up right where he left off in 2016. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound outfielder hit .270/.361/.470 with 11 doubles and four homeruns in 29 games in the California League. And he put together a .261/.370/.413 triple-slash line in a brief tour through the Pacific Coast League at the end of the year. For his career, the three-year minor league veteran owns a .292/.384/.427 triple-slash line, slugging 52 doubles, nine triples, and 17 homeruns in 232 games.

Projection: The former Clemson Tiger has hit at every stop of his minor league career. He continually puts up double-digit walk rates, solid contact numbers, and 15- to 18-homer potential. He’s a decent little defender, particularly in right field. Duggar needs a little more seasoning in Class AAA, but he should be among the first wave of call ups in 2018. Since his production in 2017 was rather limited, let’s reexamine his work in Class AA two years ago. Consider the following:

Between 2006 and 2015, there were four 22-year-old hitters to post a 125-135 wRC+, a walk rate of at least 8%, and an ISO below .135 in the Eastern League (min. 250 PA): Josh Bell, Josh Thole, Max Moroff, and Reegie Corona.

Outside of Bell, it’s an underwhelming group. But San Francisco has had a lot of success developing guys like this solid big leaguers.

Ceiling: 1.5- to 2.0-win player

Risk: Moderate

MLB ETA: 2018

7. Garrett Williams, LHP

Background: Chalk this one up as one of the few things that went better than expected for the Giants in 2017. Williams, a little used reliever during his three years at Oklahoma State, blossomed into a viable starting pitching prospect. The former seventh round pick made 18 appearances between Augusta and San Jose, 16 of which were starts, throwing a combined 97.0 innings while fanning 96 and walking just 35 en route to tallying an impressive 2.32 ERA and a 3.29 FIP. For what it’s worth, those 97.0 innings Williams tossed last season is more than 23 innings than he threw his entire collegiate career.

Projection: Very intriguing prospect, not only because he virtually came out of nowhere but also because he overcame extreme control issues that plagued him in college. During his three-year tour with Cowboys, the 6-foot-1, 205-pound southpaw walked 61 – against 95 strikeouts – in just 73.1 innings. Last season, though, the Giants’ minor league instructors worked their magic and he averaged just 3.2 walks per nine innings. Williams could be one of the bigger breakouts in 2018. He has some potential as a mid-rotation arm, but there’s obvious risk involved.

Ceiling: 1.5- to 2.0-win player

Risk: Moderate to High

MLB ETA: 2019

8. Jacob Gonzalez, 3B

Background: Fun Fact Part I: Chaparral High School in Scottsdale, Arizona, has been a hot bed of professional baseball talent, calling 34 eventual prospects among its alumnus. Fun Fact Part II: Among the past players to walk through the school’s hallowed halls includes Paul Konerko and Ike Davis. Fun Fact Part III: Gonzalez, the 58th overall selection, is the second highest draft selection from the school (Konerko, the 13th overall pick in 2014, being the earliest). A 6-foot-3, 190-pound third baseman, Gonzalez turned in an impressive debut in the Arizona Summer League, slugging .339/.418/.458 with 15 doubles, one triple, and one homerun en route to topping the league average mark by 43%.

Projection: One helluva way to start a professional career, Gonzalez showed no major red flags during his debut: average walk rate, strong contact skills, and decent power. Consider the following little tidbit:

Since 2006, only six 19-year-old players have posted at least a 140 wRC+ in the Arizona Summer League (min. 175 PA): Gonzalez, Jorge Martinez, Tyler Roberts, D’Andre Toney, Gabriel Mejia, and Ariel Sandoval.

While it’s not an extensive group, it should be noted that there’s not a lot of potential big league talent in the bunch. As with all incoming prep players, we will have a more definitive ceiling for him following his 2018 season.

Ceiling: Too Soon to Tell

Risk: N/A

MLB ETA: N/A

9. Shaun Anderson, RHP

Background: Part of the vaunted Florida Gators pitching staff in 2016, which included A.J. Puk, Logan Shore, Alex Faedo, Dane Dunning, and Scott Moss – not to mention hitters like Dalton Guthrie, Buddy Reed, J.J. Schwarz, Mike River, and Peter Alonso. The Red Sox grabbed the 6-foot-4, 225-pound right-hander in the third round two years ago after an absurdly dominant run in the Gators’ bullpen. Anderson, the eventual 88th overall pick that year, was nearly unhittable, posting a eye-catching 60-to-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 46.1 innings with a 0.97 ERA. Boston, intrigued by Anderson’s power arsenal and poise, immediately converted him into a fulltime starting pitcher. Last season, Anderson made stops in the Sally and California League before being swapped – along with Gregory Santos – for Eduardo Nunez in late July. San Francisco sent him to their High Class A affiliate, the San Jose Giants, following the deal. Overall, the hard-throwing righty tossed an aggregate 123.0 innings, averaging 7.8 strikeouts and just 33 walks per nine innings. He finished the year with a 3.44 ERA and a 3.71 FIP.

Projection: It’s a bit surprising that Anderson tallied 123 IP last season considering the fact that he threw 86.0 combined innings during his entire three-year career (not including any summer league action). Personally, I love when teams convert dominant collegiate relievers into starting pitchers. The risk, if any, is certainly outweighed the potential reward/gain. Anderson, despite making only 17 combined appearances in High Class A last season, is ready for the minors’ toughest challenge: Class AA. At best, he looks like a potential #5 arm who can easily slide back into a late-inning role. It was a very savvy draft selection and conversion by the Red Sox and an equally savvy move by acquiring him by the Giants.

Ceiling: 1.5-win player

Risk: Moderate

MLB ETA: N/A

10. Reyes Moronta, RHP

Background: After taking more than his good ole sweet time getting through the lower levels of the minor leagues – he spent a year in the DSL, parts of two seasons in the Arizona Summer League, another campaign in short-season action, and one year in the Sally – Moronta sure-as-hell has made up for lost time since 2016. The fire-bolt-slinging Dominican blew away the competition with the San Jose Giants two years ago in High Class A, averaging a stout 14.2 strikeouts and just 3.1 walks per nine innings. Last season, Moronta opened the year up with the Richmond Squirrels and finished it with a dominant run in the San Francisco bullpen. Overall, the 6-foot, generously listed 175-pound right-hander threw 37.0 innings in Class AA and Class AAA, fanning 47 and walking 20. He finished his big league debut with 11 punch outs and just three base-on-balls in 6.2 innings.

Projection: Here’s what I wrote about Moronta and his blazing heater in last year’s book:

“Moronta’s strikeout-to-walk percentage last season, 30.0%, was tops for any High Class A league [pitcher]. The 6-foot, 175-pound reliever has always had a knack for missing bats: he posted 28.3% strikeout percentage in the Sally League two years ago. But the control really took a noticeable step forward last season – almost in direct proportion to his propensity to give up too many long balls. Moronta looks like a solid seventh- or eighth-inning relief specialist.”

A late-inning relief specialist looks spot-on a season later. Moronta could, as they said in the movie 42, throw a pork chop past a hungry wolf. His heater averaged a touch under 96 mph, complementing it with a 84 mph slider. He’s big league ready and should be an integral part of the Giants’ bullpen for the foreseeable future.

Ceiling: 1.0- to 1.5-win player

Risk: Low to Moderate

MLB ETA: Debuted in 2017

Author’s Note: All statistics mentioned were gathered from Baseball Reference, FanGraphs, ClayDavenport.com, or Baseball Prospectus.