Imaginary Brick Wall

I don’t know about you, but my favorite lists usually take about 3 weeks to finish 🙂 Without further delay, here is the 2017 Mid-Season Top 100 Dynasty/Fantasy Baseball Prospect Rankings: 71-100:

Click here for 1-15
Click here for 16-41
Click here for 42-70

71) Jahmai Jones LAA, OF – A poor start to the season dragged his overall stat line down, but in his last 59 games he is slashing .311/.385/.472 with 5 homers, 13 steals, and a 38/26 K/BB. I’m targeting Jones everywhere in upcoming trade deadline deals. Prime Projection: 89/15/71/.283/.341/.437/21 ETA: 2020

72) Adrian Morejon SD, LHP – 18-year-old who loves to attack the strike zone with 3 pitches that all flash plus (fastball, changeup, curveball). Prime Projection: 3.43/1.17/180 in 185 IP ETA: 2020

73) Keston Hiura MIL, 2B – I ranked Hiura 9^th in my 2017 Top 36 MLB Draft Fantasy/Dynasty Baseball Prospect Rankings. Prime Projection: 93/17/81/.288/.372/.464/9 ETA: 2019

74) Yordan Alvarez HOU, 1B – It’s a good sign when two of the best player scouting and development organizations in baseball target you. Los Angeles signed Alvarez for $2 million last season and then Houston basically immediately traded for him. Standing 6’5’’, 225 pounds he has obvious raw power, good plate discipline, and strikeouts are not a major issue (23% K%). Prime Projection: 80/29/90/.260/.360/.496/3 ETA: 2019

75) Shed Long CIN, 2B – Shed has struggled since being promoted to Double-A, slashing .162/.269/.324 in 68 at-bats, but his underlying numbers are still strong and his power/speed combo isn’t going anywhere. Prime Projection: 83/19/76/.262/.325/.448/17 ETA: 2019

76) Luiz Gohara ATL, LHP – 6’3’’, 210-pound lefty with an electric fastball/slider combo. Had off-the-field concerns in the past and some injury red flags too. Prime Projection: 3.48/1.20/176 in 174 IP ETA: 2018

77) Michel Baez SD, RHP – 6’8’’, 225-pound $3 million international signing who is cruising through the low minors with a 1.17 ERA and 31/4 K/BB in 23 IP. Chris Kusiolek seems to have been the first guy on Baez, and his twitter account is a must follow if you are trying to get the early scoop on Rookie ball breakouts. Prime Projection: 3.71/1.21/188 in 183 IP ETA: 2019

78) Cal Quantrill SD, RHP – Still shaking off some rust coming off Tommy John surgery, but he has remained healthy and his stuff has come all the way back. Prime Projection: 3.65/1.20/176 in 181 IP ETA: 2018

79) Franklin Perez HOU, RHP – Watch out Anthony Davis, Perez is coming for your best unibrow in pro sports crown. Prime Projection: 3.58/1.22/183 in 195 IP ETA: 2019

80) Lucas Giolito CHW, RHP – There have been a lot of excuses for Giolito since his fall from prospect grace, but his stuff is still good enough that you have to stay patient. Although, he is starting to feel like the type that breaks out when he is 27 years old, long after you already dropped him. Prime Projection: 3.81/1.27/187 in 196 IP ETA: 2017

81) Josh Naylor SD, 1B – Dom Smith 2.0. Prime Projection: 83/24/91/.283/.347/.472/6 ETA: 2019

82) Ryan Mountcastle BAL, SS/OF – Great feel to hit and added more power this year, but 3.7% walk rate needs improvement and is likely to move off SS. Prime Projection: 78/22/85/.277/.318/.468/9 ETA: 2019

83) Blake Rutherford CHW, OF – I always thought Rutherford was a little overrated, so I’m happy the Yanks were able to cash him in for a hell of a lotta win now and win later production. While Cashman’s free agent signings could use some work, nobody fucks with him when it comes to trades. Prime Projection: 86/18/82/.280/.333/.453/13 ETA: 2020

84) Nick Neidert SEA, RHP – Guys who rely on their plus changeups consistently get underrated in the minors (cough, Jacob Faria, cough), and I’m sure Neidert will follow that same path. Along with the changeup, he also has plus control and command with a measly 1.3 BB/9. Prime Projection: 3.49/1.18/180 in 195 IP ETA: 2019

85) Dylan Cease CHW, RHP – The White Sox are collecting quite the crew of hard throwing righties, with Kopech, Giolito, Alec Hansen, and now Cease joining the mix. These guys might not be able to find the plate, but hitters have an equally hard time of finding the ball. Prime Projection: 3.57/.1.26/196 in 182 IP ETA: 2019

86) Yadier Alvarez LAD, RHP – Alvarez’s Futures game performance mirrored his season to date, showing great stuff and elite athleticism, but ultimately getting hit and giving up runs. He was tagged with the loss for the World team. Prime Projection: 3.63/1.30/188 in 180 IP ETA: 2019

87) Luis Urias SD, 2B – Maintained his elite contact, no power profile as a 20-year-old at Double-A. DJ LeMahieu without needing Coors Field is the upside. Prime Projection: 93/10/59/.294/.363/.402/10 ETA: 2018

88) Cristian Pache ATL, OF – I’m doubling down on upside this year, and while Pache doesn’t have eye popping numbers (0 homers and a .698 OPS), he has been holding his own as an 18-year-old in full season ball. At prospect value peak, you are hoping for a Victor Robles type. Prime Projection: 100/14/75/.285/.363/.445/25 ETA: 2020

89) J.P. Crawford PHI, SS – Just when people were ready to pour dirt on Crawford he’s caught fire in his last 26 games, slashing .289/.384/.598 with 6 homers and a 18/14 K/BB. He is still a special talent, and as a 22-year-old at Triple-A, you have to remain patient … well, kinda patient, since I dropped him about 70 spots from my off-season ranking. Prime Projection: 85/14/66/.271/.352/.420/11 ETA: 2018

90) Miguel Andujar NYY, 3B – Homerun power has ticked up while maintaining his excellent contact percentage. Prime Projection: 78/21/90/.284/.329/.462/4 ETA: 2018

91) Jordan Luplow PIT, OF – Power exploded with 20 homers in 86 games (4 in his last 14 games at Triple-A) while maintaining his advanced plate approach (55/37 K/BB). Prime Projection: 79/25/89/.277/.340/.474/7 ETA: 2018

92) Austin Hays BAL, OF – All Hays has done is rake and get underrated since being drafted. I might be guilty of it too, because his 10.7% K% and .247 ISO at Double-A is nothing short of elite. Prime Projection: 76/23/84/.280/.327/.468/6 ETA: 2018

93) Isan Diaz MIL, 2B/SS – Sometimes in the minors it can hard to tell if a player is having a true breakout or just a “career year,” and vice versa with unlucky or down seasons. Diaz’s overall profile has remained the same, so I’m inclined to think the average and power will both tick up down the stretch. Prime Projections: 82/20/79/.258/.327/.460/10 ETA: 2019

94) Erick Fedde WASH, RHP – After a short, mostly unsuccessful stint as a reliever, Fedde is being stretched back out into a starter. Apparently, this was Washington’s plan all along. Considering the mess Giolito turned into under their watch, and now the cockamamie handling of Fedde, Washington looks like it has a long way to go in the player development department. Prime Projection: 3.58/1.21/175 in 189 IP ETA: 2017 bullpen

95) Carter Kieboom WASH, SS – A hamstring injury back in May seems to have people completely forgetting about the torrid start Kieboom got off to as a 19-year-old at Single-A. He slashed .333/.398/.586 with 6 homers and 2 steals in 29 games. There isn’t huge power or speed here, but he was a 1^st round pick last year who profiles as a solid all around player. Prime Projection: 85/22/85/.275/.330/.470/7 ETA: 2020

96) Jorge Mateo NYY, INF/OF – Mateo has unexpectedly come to life at Double-A, hitting .354 with 3 homers and 9 steals in 19 games. Maybe the Yanks should have listened to him when he threw a fit over not being called up to Double-A last year. Prime Projection: 87/13/62/.258/.317/.409/33 ETA: 2019

97) Austin Beck OAK, OF – I ranked Beck 3^rd in my 2017 Top 36 MLB Draft Fantasy/Dynasty Baseball Prospect Rankings. Prime Projection: 81/24/77/.255/.311/.461/20 ETA: 2021

98) Zack Collins CHW, C – Word out of Chicago is that Collins has been fully focused on defense this season and they aren’t concerned about his low average. Great news for real life, not so much for fantasy. Prime Projection: 70/21/80/.253/.348/.465/2 ETA: 2019

99) Stephen Gonsalves MIN, LHP – Continues to dominate the minors with less than traditionally dominate stuff, thriving by focusing on spin rates over velocity. Prime Projection: 3.65/1.25/178 in 184 IP ETA: 2018

100) Colton Welker COL, 3B – Welker has been out since June 15^th with an undisclosed injury. It seems like it is basically a free for all when it comes to disclosing injuries with minor league players. Before the mysterious injury, he was displaying a plus contact/power profile, and if he sticks with Colorado, that is one dangerous combination at Coors. Prime Projection: 82/24/90/.278/.334/.466/5 ETA: 2020

101) Bubba Thompson TEX, OF – I ranked Thompson 10^th in my 2017 Top 36 MLB Draft Fantasy/Dynasty Baseball Prospect Rankings. Prime Projection: 86/16/76/.270/.330/.435/24 ETA: 2021

*) Dustin Fowler NYY, OF – If it wasn’t for the knee injury, Fowler would have ranked much higher after outplaying Clint Frazier at Triple-A and beating him to the big leagues too. The injury was very serious, though, and it is hard to guess if his plus athleticism will completely return.

By Michael Halpern (@MichaelCHalpern)
Email: michaelhalpern@imaginarybrickwall.com
Twitter: Imaginary Brick Wall (@ImaginaryBrickW)

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: 42-70:

Click here for 1-15
Click here for 16-41

42) Triston McKenzie CLE, RHP – With added weight, an uptick in velocity, and continued development of his changeup, McKenzie will be a no doubt top 20 prospect. As is, he already has a great feel to pitch, and the fastball plays up due to his elite release point (he releases the ball super close to the plate). Prime Projection: 3.40/1.17/192 in 188 IP ETA: 2019

43) Estevan Florial NYY, OF – If Florial would have moved to Cuba and changed his name to Luis Robert he would be a lot richer right now. And far more hyped too. He has an elite power/speed combo with legitimate contact issues (30.4% K%), and considering he already has full season ball success, there is a case to be made that he should be ranked higher than Robert. Prime Projection: 84/25/90/.248/.334/.466/25 ETA: 2020

44) Michael Kopech CHW, RHP – It’s a battle of the 100+ MPH fastball vs. the 6.1 walks per nine. This is a bet on pure talent, because the numbers have been underwhelming this year. Prime Projection: 3.48/1.26/210 in 190 ETA: 2018

45) Mitch Keller PIT, RHP – The type of starter who relies heavily on locating his big sinking fastball and is consistently at the mercy of the BABIP gods and infield defense. Keller has a chance to be among the best of those types … that is if he can stay on the field. Prime Projection: 3.42/1.11/174 in 186 IP ETA: 2018

46) Ryan McMahon COL, 1B/3B/UTIL – Turns out that playing zero home games and not having a home ballpark might actually have a negative impact on a player’s season. Dunkin’ Donuts Park was ready to go for this season, though, and McMahon took full advantage by dramatically cutting his K% from 30% to under 20% and OPS’ing .998.  It wouldn’t be the first time slow Dunkin Donuts service caused someone to arrive late. Prime Projection: 83/24/92/.278/.337/.475/8 ETA: 2018

47) AJ Puk OAK, LHP – Puk has pitched as advertised with an elite strikeout fastball/slider combo to go along with control and command issues. Prime Projection: 3.53/1.24/207 in 184 IP ETA: 2018

48) Jay Groome BOS, LHP – Still just 18 years old with consistent mid 90’s heat and a true 12-6 curve. Wayne Cavadi at Minor League Ball had an awesome breakdown of his latest dominant start. Prime Projection: 3.36/1.15/195 in 195 IP ETA: 2020

49) Taylor Trammell CIN, OF – Trammell already cracked my top 100 this off-season because of his elite speed/power combo and solid Rookie ball debut. Single-A hasn’t slowed him down at all either, as he has added homerun power while maintaining a 22.8% strikeout rate and 11.8% walk rate. Prime Projection: 90/17/72/.268/.340/.455/ 28 ETA: 2020

50) Jordon Adell LAA, OF – I ranked Adell 4^th in my 2017 Top 36 MLB Draft Fantasy/Dynasty Baseball Prospect Rankings. I had Austin Beck ranked ahead of him on my pre-draft list, but my rankings got razor thin after Royce Lewis, and Beck’s ugly 1 hit, 12 K and 0 BB in 21 at-bat debut has him slipping just a bit.  Prime Projection: 94/25/89/.274/.347/.473/20 ETA: 2021

51) MacKenzie Gore SD, LHP – I ranked Gore 5^th in my 2017 MLB Draft Fantasy/Dynasty Baseball Prospect Rankings. Prime Projection:
3.30/1.10/200 in 200 IP ETA: 2021

52) Sixto Sanchez PHI, RHP – If Sixto wasn’t a small righty, he very well might be the runaway best pitching prospect in baseball with an elite fastball and multiple secondary offerings. Baseball Prospectus doesn’t seem all too worried about the height, though, as they just set the market on him in your Dynasty League by ranking him 18^th overall on their mid-season update. Prime Projection: 3.33/1.07/182 in 187 IP ETA: 2020

53) Harrison Bader STL, OF – Batting line in last 30 games basically says it all, slashing .344/.385/.659 with 9 homers and a 32/4 K/BB. The high strikeout, low walk thing isn’t the best profile, but Bader makes some of the hardest contact in the minors. It will be fun when everyone acts like he came out of nowhere, meanwhile, it was easy to see this coming for like 2 years now. Prime Projection: 84/23/85/.272/.320/.471/9 ETA: 2017

54) Tyler O’Neill SEA, OF – A man with this kind of bat speed, exit velocity, and neck width can only be held down for so long, as O’Neill has launched 8 homers in his last 14 games. Strikeouts will always be an issue, but hitting the shit outta the ball is one thing you can 100% count on translating to any level. Prime Projection: 76/28/88/.253/.332/.482/9 ETA: 2018

55) Christin Stewart DET, OF – A homerun and on base machine with reasonable strikeout rates throughout his young career. His powerful lefthanded swing is a thing of destructive beauty. Prime Projection: 81/29/93/.268/.360/.490/3 ETA: 2018

56) Jack Flaherty STL, RHP – The major uptick in velocity has yet to come, which would vault Flaherty into ace territory, but his advanced pitchability already has him on the doorstep of the Majors. Prime Projection: 3.55/1.20/178 in 190 IP ETA: 2018

57) Josh Hader MIL, LHP – Stuff is still unhittable but control took a step back this season. Bullpen risk looms larger than ever, but if you own him in a Dynasty League (like I do), you have no choice but to hold. Prime Projection: 3.47/1.29/190 in 180 IP ETA:2017

58) Luke Weaver STL, RHP – On the latest prospect podcast, I assumed Weaver was somehow related to Jered/Jeff Weaver because of how much they looked like each other on the mound (and obviously because of the last name). He isn’t related at all, but it turns out that I’m not crazy, as I dug up this quote from Luke Weaver shortly after he was drafted in 2014: “I model my baseball game after Jered Weaver. No relation, but we could be bro’s one day, but that’s his decision.” Prime Projection: 3.64/1.24/189 in 184 IP ETA: 2017

59) Michael Chavis BOS, 3B – The mediocre 7.4% BB% keeps me from completely diving in head first, but the power, bat speed, and exit velocity are undeniable and the reason Chavis was drafted 26^th overall in 2014. Prime Projection: 77/27/89/.265/.322/.485/2 ETA: 2019

60) Bobby Bradley CLE, 1B – The 21-year-old Bradley is quietly having an excellent season in Double-A, slashing .266/.355/.506 with 15 homers and a 69/35 K/BB in 76 games. He cut his strikeout rate from 29.7% last year to 22.5% this year and has a sweet lefty uppercut that is sure to deliver power. Prime Projection: 80/30/95/.252/.350/.489/3 ETA: 2019

61) Nick Gordon MIN, SS –  The poor man’s Amed Rosario in that he should chip in a little bit in every category. His value will probably be tied heavily into where he is hitting in the order and if Minnesota’s power hitters can drive him in. Prime Projection: 88/11/61/.276/.334/.415/17 ETA: 2018

62) Mickey Moniak PHI, OF – Having a boringly decent season at Single-A (101 wRC+), which is what I fear will be the story of his career. Considering his plus CF defense, that won’t be a bad outcome for him in real life, but not so much for fantasy. Prime Projection: 91/15/68/.286/.349/.445/19 ETA: 2020

63) Adam Haseley PHI, OF – I ranked Haseley 6^th in my 2017 Top 36 MLB Draft Fantasy/Dynasty Baseball Prospect Rankings. Prime Projection: 86/18/79/.280/.340/.455/15 ETA:2019

64) Brendan McKay TB, 1B/LHP – I ranked McKay 8^th in my 2017 Top 36 MLB Draft Fantasy/Dynasty Baseball Prospect Rankings. Prime Projection: 83/22/87/.283/.350/.470/4 ETA: 2019

65) Ian Anderson ATL, RHP – John Calvagno of Notes from the Sally wrote a great breakdown of an Ian Anderson start that sums up Anderson perfectly. I loved his changeup coming out of the draft, and I think mastering that pitch can have him rise above his probable mid-rotation destiny. Prime Projection: 3.58/1.23/181 in 181 IP ETA: 2020

66) Forrest Whitley HOU, RHP – Whitley is a physical beast who carved through Single-A before dropping a no hitter in 5 IP with 9 strikeouts in his High-A debut. I should never doubt a Houston draft pick. … now let me get back to underrating JB Bukauskas. Prime Projection: 3.67/1.25/193 in 200 IP ETA: 2020

67) Mike Soroka ATL, RHP – Just another 19-year-old Braves prospect who is ripping up Double-A. Soroka is putting up a pitching line of 2.55/1.11/73/21 in 91.2 IP, and while he currently doesn’t have the huge strikeout upside, if he is this good already, I’m not going to doubt that he may learn a new trick or two as he gains experience. Prime Projection: 3.51/1.22/173 in 187 IP ETA: 2018

68) Kyle Wright ATL, RHP – I ranked Wright 7^th in my 2017 Top 36 MLB Draft Fantasy/Dynasty Baseball Prospect Rankings. Prime Projection: 3.67/1.24/183 in 189 IP ETA: 2019

69) Chance Adams NYY, RHP – Adams has dominated since being converted into a starter just last season, but I am a little cautious of a right handed mid-rotation starter at Yankee Stadium. He is ranked here more for proximity than upside. Prime Projection: 3.77/1.28/ 173 in 176 IP ETA: 2017

70) Corey Ray MIL, OF – When hit tool concerns materialize, it looks a little something like what Ray is doing this year at High-A. He has a minor league career batting average of .238 with 158 strikeouts in 124 games. He is only 22 years old and the speed/power combo is still there, but he has a lot of work to do. Prime Projection: 80/16/70/.242/.318/.432/20 ETA: 2019

Click here for 71-100

By Michael Halpern (@MichaelCHalpern)
Email: michaelhalpern@imaginarybrickwall.com
Twitter: Imaginary Brick Wall (@ImaginaryBrickW)