We here at FanSided are joining the MLB prospect rankings wagon as we are issuing our first ever FanSided 15.
In the world of baseball, there's a plethora of MLB prospect lists available online, providing fans and experts with valuable insight into the up-and-coming talent set to make an impact on the big stage. These lists, including those published by reputable sources such as Baseball America and MLB Pipeline, offer comprehensive rankings and evaluations of prospects, often sparking lively debates and discussions among fans and analysts alike.
Crafting our Top 15 MLB prospects list was a bit like assembling a dream team from Baseball America's and MLB Pipeline's respective Top 15 rankings. We stepped up to the plate and took a swing at combining these two heavy hitters, calculating an average that laid the groundwork for our All-Star list.
MLB Prospect Rankings: How does the composite work?
Our team of baseball fanatics threw some curveballs of their own, diving into each prospect's recent home run-worthy performances, potential for growth, and overall impact on their respective teams. The result? A Top 15 list that takes what these two lists are thinking is among the top prospects in baseball and adding what we have been able to see so far in 2023.
With all the baseball clichés out of the way, let's start the countdown of our Top 15. Both Baseball America and MLB Pipeline have had recent updates to their list, so we felt it was the right time. For the rest of the season, you will see an update to our list every two weeks.
15: OF Druw Jones Arizona Diamondbacks
Baseball America: 31 | MLB Pipeline: 13
This is the first year in pro ball for Druw Jones, who doesn't turn 20 until November. The second-overall pick in 2022 grades out well with tremendous upside with his glove and 70 grade run tool, according to MLB Pipeline. That combo of speed and power and having the genes of his father, Andruw Jones, helps. Once he gets going in Single-A, he will shoot up the various lists again.
14:3B/OF Brett Baty Mets
Baseball America: 16 | MLB Pipeline: 19
The work Baty did with Collin Hetzler from Driveline has been working for Baty, who has put up a slash line of .286/ .344/ .446 with a wRC+ of 123 since his call-up to New York in mid-April. After averaging a groundball rate of over 50% in Triple-A and with the Mets in 2022, he worked on hitting the ball more in the air. So far, so good for Baty, who will graduate from prospect status sometime soon.
13: Catcher Diego Cartaya LA Dodgers
Baseball America: 16 | MLB Pipeline: 12
The 21-year-old is still adjusting to his first season in Double-A, hitting .179 with two home runs, so far. The comp on him per MLB Pipeline is Salvador Perez but with a better hit tool. He won Dodgers Minor League Player of the year in 2022, hitting 22 home runs between Single-A and High-A.
Cartaya may bring back power-hitting catchers that you may have seen, like Mike Piazza and Iván Rodríguez.
12: OF James Wood, Nationals
Baseball America:10 | MLB Pipeline: 15
For his 6-7, 240 size, Wood moves extremely well, looking like a gazelle with his large strides. At just 20 years old, he was the centerpiece in the Juan Soto deal to San Diego. This is first year in High-A and so far, so good. He has a slashline of .270/.349/.506, playing center field, which is rare to see a player of his size, but besides a strong run tool, he grades out well with an above-average arm. He is living up to his number one prospect status in Washington
11: SS Jordan Lawlar, Diamondbacks
Baseball America:12 | MLB Pipeline: 9
The 2021 MLB Draft class has provided an excellent crop of shortstop prospects. Lawlar, who went number six to Arizona, has struggled in his return trip to Double-A Amarillo. Known for his advanced ability to recognize pitches, he is currently striking out around a 30% clip. However, Lawlar is just 20 years old and after playing in three levels in his first full-season last year, Lawlar's hit tool is hard to ignore as he hitting with power, hitting a home run on Tuesday 471 feet.
10: SS Jackson Holliday, Orioles
Baseball America: 7 | MLB Pipeline: 10
After destroying A ball pitching, Holliday continues to do the same at High-A. The 19-year-old shortstop looks wiser beyond his years. I wouldn't be surprised if he is in the top 5 before the end of July.
9: RHP Eury Perez, Marlins
Baseball America: 6 | MLB Pipeline: 11
The Marlins are one of the deepest teams when it comes to pitching prospects, and it continues with Perez. He has held hitters this season to just a .148 average this season, striking out 42 in 31 innings of work.
08: SS Marcelo Mayer, Red Sox
Baseball America: 9 | MLB Pipeline: 7
Mayer is another shortstop from the 2021 draft class and if you are a Tigers fan reading this, you may want to look away. So far at High-A, he is hitting .337/.414/.582 with a healthy walk rate of 11.7. He was considered the best bat and defender in that draft and you can see why. He plays a smooth infield with a good, compact stroke. He has three home runs in his first five games. Would not surprise me if he was in Double-A Portland by mid-June at this clip.
07: RHP Andrew Painter, Phillies
Baseball America:9 |MLB Pipeline:4
Painter is currently rehabbing a sprained UCL. Back in spring training, he turned some heads as he had a legit shot on making the starting rotation, throwing 98-99, having no issues against major league regulars.
06: RHP Grayson Rodriguez, Orioles
Baseball America:7 | MLB Pipeline: 5
Rodriguez made his major league debut on April 5, making a solid debut against the Rangers. He carved up the Tigers in back-to-back starts, striking out six in his first then nine in his second, allowing just a pair of hits. His second major league win was huge, as he beat the Rays on Tuesday, pitching into the sixth for the first time. He has the makeup to be a frontline starter for Baltimore.
05: SS Elly De La Cruz Reds
Baseball America: 3 | MLB Pipeline: 8
Similar to Oneil Cruz, De La Cruz just hits balls really hard. The switch-hitting shortstop hit a line drive for an out at 113.8 MPH today. Nice, right? But hang on, per JJ Cooper of Baseball America, six MLB teams have not yet hit a ball 113+ this year. Three MLB teams never hit a ball 113+ last year. Oh, and it's De La Cruz's fourth-hardest hit ball in the past 24 hours.
The Reds have him down in Triple-A to keep perhaps the Louisville Bats competitive, but you would like to see the strikeout number down a bit (32.1%). He may join two of the other names in our Top 4 left in the majors soon enough.
04: C Francisco Alvarez, Mets
Baseball America: 8 | MLB Pipeline: 1
After a slow start, Alvarez, over his last 10 games with the Mets, has put up a slash line of .333/.400/.778 with two home runs on Tuesday against the Reds. He, like Rodriguez, will be off this list shortly. Alvarez is among the Top 10 in the category, Catcher Framing Runs at 2. So far, he has lived up to the billing as a 21-year-old who can hit at the major league level.
03: SS Anthony Volpe, Yankees
Baseball America: 4 | MLB Pipeline: 3
Volpe made history on Wednesday, becoming the youngest Yankee to hit a grand slam at Yankee Stadium. That was his first of his career and happen to do it before the Captain, Derek Jeter, his idle growing up in New Jersey. Nothing like the Oakland A's pitching staff to help your groove back. He just turned 22 years old and there is nothing but upside on his bat and defense.
02: OF Jackson Chourio, Brewers
Baseball America: 1 | MLB Pipeline: 13
Chourio made the Futures All-Star Game last season, with having the distinction of being the only player who was born in 2004 to do so. There's a lot to like here in Chourio, who has speed, power and can hit. For his age to be already impactful, he will be a name that could go to number one in no time. So far, he is off to a slow start in his first full season but he certainly does not look lost at the plate.
1. OF Jordan Walker, Cardinals
Baseball America: 2 | MLB Pipeline: 2
The Cardinals are a mess at this point. Walker, who was hitting .273, was sent back down, and now they have Wilson Contreras in the outfield. Huh? He started the season with a 12-game hitting streak, which tied a major league record for the longest hitting streak to begin a player age 20 or younger. That record was set in 1912 by Eddie Murphy of the Philadelphia A's. To be fair, he was striking out a bit but still, the upside on Walker is tremendous. He skipped Triple-A until his demotion, but hopefully Cardinal fans can see him back up to St. Louis. He moved from 3rd to the outfield and has made the adjustment quite smoothly.
So there you have it, our first Top 15 prospect list. Expect some more detailed progress reports as we continue the series.
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