Mid-Season Top 100 prospect list season is just heating up, and Imaginary Brick Wall will be ranking at least the top 100 dynasty/fantasy baseball prospects over the next week. Here are the 2017 Mid-Season Top 100 Dynasty/Fantasy Baseball Prospect Rankings: 16-41:
16) Ozzie Albies ATL, SS/2B – 21 for 23 on the base paths and has already surpassed his career high in homeruns with 7. If it seems like a lot of minor league players have seen an uptick in power, that is because a lot of minor league players have seen an uptick in power. Every single league (other than the Cal League which changed ballparks) has seen a legitimate spike in homeruns per game, with the Midwest League leading the pack at a 50% increase (as of June 29). Prime Projection: 103/13/67/.288/.379/.432/32 ETA: 2018
*Upon further contemplation, Albies with rise to #11 overall
17) Willie Calhoun LAD, 2B/OF – I’ve been preaching to buy Willie’s elite contact/power profile since the 2015 off-season, way back when he was a lowly 4th round pick out of Yavapai Junior College. Well, he’s all growns up now, completely destroying the PCL with a .296 AVG, 18 homers, and a career high .269 ISO. The PCL has seen about a 19% increase in HR/game, so his wRC+ is almost identical to what it was last year at Double-A. Prime Projection: 81/30/97/.286/.329/.498/2 ETA: 2017
18) Francisco Mejia CLE, C – What do you know? Mejia has a career high ISO of .220 while maintaining his elite average and contact profile. When the homerun spike was affecting only Major Leaguers, it was fair to expect called up prospects to experience an immediate jump in homerun power, which is what happened with guys like Trea Turner. Now that things seem to be evening out for whatever reason (maybe they wound the minor league balls tighter too this year?), we can’t make that same assumption. Prime Projection: 86/18/91/.305/.356/.470/3 ETA: 2018
19) Walker Buehler LAD, RHP – A groundball machine with elite strikeout upside and good control. Alex Reyes is a man amongst boys, but Buehler is already fully recovered from his August 2015 Tommy John surgery, and has everything you look for in a top pitching prospect. Prime Projection: 3.28/1.12/203 in 189 IP ETA: 2017 bullpen piece
20) Alex Reyes STL, RHP – At full health, Reyes would have ranked as high as 8th on this list, but he was not a finished product at the time of the injury, and even though many Tommy John survivors come back to full health, there is still some inherent risk. Prime Projection: 3.36/1.22/212 in 187 IP ETA: 2018
21) Kevin Maitan ATL, SS – With every offensive player breaking out on the Major League level (literally all of them), it has me leaning upside more and more with prospects. There is still very little to go on with Maitan (currently 2 for 5 in Rookie ball), but if he were draft eligible, I would have ranked him #1 overall. Prime Projection: 90/29/100/.285/.360/.505/7 ETA: 2021
22) Hunter Greene CIN, RHP – I ranked Greene #1 overall on my 2017 Top 36 MLB Draft Fantasy/Dynasty Baseball Prospect Rankings. Prime Projection: 3.18/1.09/220 in 200 IP ETA: 2020
23) Royce Lewis MIN, SS/OF – Slashing .310/.394/.552 with 1 homer, 2 steals, and a 2/3 K/BB in his first 7 games in Rookie Ball. I ranked Lewis #2 overall on my 2017 Top 36 MLB Draft Fantasy/Dynasty Baseball Prospect Rankings. Prime Projection: 104/17/71/.285/.348/.467/28 ETA: 2020
24) Kyle Lewis SEA, OF – Like Reyes, Lewis is another player who would have ranked much higher if not for a debilitating injury. He is back to playing rehab games in Rookie ball (he homered on July 2nd), so we should have a much better idea of who he is by the end of the season. Prime Projection: 87/27/96/.273/.354/.488/10 ETA: 2018
25) Anderson Espinoza SD, RHP – It wouldn’t be all that surprising if Espinoza needed Tommy John surgery at some point before breaking into the big leagues considering how young he is and hard he throws, and it just so happens that those are the two traits that get people so excited about him. It is quite the conundrum for young pitchers (and really all pitchers). He is also a plus athlete with a curveball and changeup that are advanced beyond his years. Prime Projection: 3.34/1.13/192 in 185 IP ETA: 2019
26) Scott Kingery PHI, 2B – The top pop up prospect of 2017, Kingery saw a massive spike in power, which is corroborated by a legitimate approach change, and is now being doubly validated by keeping it up outside of Reading in Triple-A. He is also very fast with an elite SB%. Prime Projection: 91/20/74/.270/.332/.452/30 ETA: 2018
27) Anthony Alford TOR, OF – In the midst of his best, most complete season until fracturing his left hamate (which required wrist surgery) 4 games into his MLB debut. Hand/wrist injuries are notorious for lingering for up to a couple of years, so it is something to monitor when he returns. Prime Projection: 88/18/84/.277/.355/.469/20 ETA: 2018
28) Brent Honeywell TB, RHP – Hasn’t been all that great at Triple-A with a 4.54 ERA, but the strikeout to walk numbers are still elite and nobody doubts his advanced pitchability. Honeywell would rank higher if not for the AL East. Prime Projection: 3.47/1.16/196 in 193 IP ETA: 2018
29) Francis Martes HOU, RHP – Houston is going through more starters than the rotund Martes does before his main course, so they were forced to call him up whether he was ready or not. He has gotten by on pure stuff alone so far, as he is walking 5.1 per nine after walking 7.8 per nine at Triple-A. Prime Projection: 3.45/1.20/204 in 196 IP ETA: 2017
30) Fernando Tatis Jr. SD, SS – The 18-year-old Tatis Jr. might have as much upside as anybody in the minors, and he is standing out at Single-A with a .274/.360/.466 triple-slash, to go along with 12 homers, 15 steals and a not unreasonable 26.2% K rate. Now may be the very last chance to buy at anything resembling a reasonable price. Prime Projection: 89/25/87/.280/.360/.479/12 ETA:2020
31) Leody Taveras TEX, OF – Speaking of upside, Taveras has a 14.8% K% as an 18-year-old in full season ball while also flashing some power (5 homers) and speed (12 steals). This is a potential #1 overall fantasy prospect in just a couple of years. Prime Projection: 98/16/76/.290/.353/.452/27 ETA: 2020
32) Alex Verdugo LAD, OF – Might have the best pure hit tool of anybody in the minors with a ridiculous 9.6% K% and .350 AVG as a 21-year-old at Triple-A. The tape backs up the numbers, as Verdugo has some of the best bat speed in the minors too. Prime Projection: 102/18/80/.310/.378/.449/14 ETA: 2018
33) Willy Adames TB, SS – My second favorite Willy, Adames has come on like gangbusters of late, bringing his season line up to a respectable .280/.371/.432 with 6 homers and 6 steals. Like Verdugo, he is around the same age as this year’s incoming college draft class, so the power has time to come around. Prime Projection: 87/17/81/.283/.355/.446/12 ETA: 2018
34) Franklin Barreto OAK, SS – Strikeout rate exploded to around 30% out of nowhere, but he is still hitting the ball hard and has above average speed. He is currently in the Majors, but might be sent down when Semien is activated from the disabled list tomorrow. Prime Projection: 83/22/85/.267/.328/.458/17 ETA: 2017
35) Juan Soto WASH, OF – 0 for 5 since returning from an ankle injury, but Soto was on track to be ranked even higher than this with a 8.3% K%, 10.4 BB%, and .163 ISO as an 18-year-old in full season ball. Prime Projection: 84/22/95/.296/.364/.471/6 ETA: 2020
36) Bo Bichette TOR, 2B – Talking about all of these 18-year-olds at Single-A makes Bichette look a grizzled vet as a 19-year-old, but he has been obliterating the league, slashing .388/.448/.633 with 10 homers and 12 steals in 69 games. Prime Projection: 85/26/97/.270/.338/.483/8 ETA: 2020
37) Rhys Hoskins PHI, 1B – Leads the International League by a wide margin with a .977 OPS (next highest is .917) and is clearly showing he is no Reading mirage. The only knocks on him are that he is already 24 years old and a right handed first baseman. Prime Projection: 82/29/93/.277/.348/.491/2 ETA: 2017
38) Dominic Smith NYM, 1B – You can flip a coin between Hoskins and Smith to decide who the best first base prospect is in the minors right now. Smith is two years younger and can match Hoskins’ strikeout to walk numbers, but he hasn’t come close to matching his power. Prime Projection: 80/22/91/.292/.366/.487/2 ETA: 2017
39) Luis Robert CHW, OF – This type of elite power/speed combo is rare to find, and while the hit tool is still a question, Robert has managed to put up a pretty impressive debut in the Dominican Summer League, slashing .255/.479/.392, with 1 homer, 8 steals, and a 14/17 K/BB in 17 games. Prime Projection: 88/21/83/.255/.342/.469/23 ETA: 2020
40) Kolby Allard ATL, LHP – Strikeout numbers have been underwhelming at 7.7 K/9 and home ballpark went from a positive to a negative, but Allard is more than handling himself as a 19-year-old at Double-A, and his curveball is an MLB ready pitch. Prime Projection: 3.39/1.14/185 in 193 IP ETA: 2018
41) Jesus Sanchez TB, OF – A 6’3’’, 210 pound 19-year-old who has a 15.8% K rate and .193 ISO in Single-A. Sanchez has top 10 fantasy prospect potential by this time next year. Prime Projection: 89/25/97/.280/.340/.490/10 ETA: 2020
By Michael Halpern (@MichaelCHalpern)
Email: michaelhalpern@imaginarybrickwall.com
Twitter: Imaginary Brick Wall (@ImaginaryBrickW)
Great Work
Put it up side by side with Ralph’s enjoy seeing the slight differences
Thanks for what you do love the podcast also.
Awesome, thanks! And yea, of course. We will be doing the same on the podcast this Saturday too.
Great writeup, looking forward to seeing the rest of the list.
What’s the value on David Paulino like with the PED suspension? That and the slow MLB start is making him a drop candidate for me in my 16 team dynasty with 40 man rosters.
Sixto Sanchez and Florial are out there…
Thanks. I still wouldn’t give up on Paulino, but I do think both of those guys have passed him at this point. I lean Florial, but if you prefer pitching, go Sanchez.
Baseball America came out this morning and slotted Sixto at 18 in their top 50 – ahead of some pretty tasty arms impressively.
Obviously a real life list, not a fantasy list – but that sort of valuation is pretty insane.
Baseball Prospectus, rather.
Yea, they are obviously all in on him. Tough to deny the numbers and pure stuff
What are your thoughts on dropping Allard for Bueller in a 18 team keeper league with 3 minor league slots. Their are about 45 prospect owned in this league which is 4×4 W, ERA, SV and K/BB. http://www.cblbaseball.net/ this our league website if interested.
Yea, that makes sense to me. Both should probably be owned in your league, but I lean Buehler.
I have Kopech and Robles in my other slots.
Yea, there are tough decisions with some really good prospects. I think it makes sense to go with the pure upside in Kopech and Buehler.
In 10th year of a dynasty – no yrs no $. Have a good core but am interested in another young OF. Fisher is there but kind of interested in Soto. Thoughts? Does Houston have too much for a log jam? Thanks for your time! Cheers~
Love both, but have Fisher higher because of his proximity, even though like you say he is blocked now and in the future (with Tucker). I lean towards letting those things work themselves out (trades etc …) as something usually has to give. Soto is a great choice too though, and they are about equal value in my book.
Grabbed Fisher for Soler. Thinking of Soto for Ellsbury but he has been on my squad since day 1 and hard to just let go. Like that old T you can’t fit anymore but never know. Haha. I can wait on a guy too – Judge has worked out so far! Thanks again! Keep up the good work!
hahah … I know what you mean. I think those are good moves, and Soto for Ellsbury would be a steal! But I get you still thinking there is something left in there, and it seems like it isn’t that difficult to grad good prospects in your league, so you can wait. And thanks!
I hear you… and there is not a lot of OF available. Most non-grinders in the league grab the typical names any site shows as top guys… Fisher was dropped so that was luck! Cheers again!