Grading on the Curve: Grading Each MLB Team’s Top Prospect

Mar 8, 2016; Lakeland, FL, USA; An overall view of the game between the Detroit Tigers and theTampa Bay Rays during the sixth inning at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports

Before the 2016 MLB season is underway, we at Grading on the Curve wanted to provide grades for each MLB team’s top prospect.

With Spring Training underway, baseball’s top prospects are getting a taste of Big League camp. From the Arizona Diamondbacks to the Washington Nationals, each and every team hopes to get the most out of their top-rated prospect, with some teams hoping for production at the MLB level in 2016.

With baseball’s growing demand for strong farm systems, prospects carry incredible value, and in turn, MLB clubs are trying to harvest their talent, rather than acquire talent via free agency. Baseball is a tough game to predict, but let us take a look at each MLB team’s top prospect.

The discrepancy between elite and depleted farm systems is staggering, so take a look at which prospects received some of the highest and lowest grades.

Next: Arizona Diamondbacks

Apr 11, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Archie Bradley (25) pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chase Field. The Diamondbacks won 6-0. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Arizona Diamondbacks: B-

Next: Atlanta Braves

Mar 3, 2016; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Sean Newcomb (78) throws a pitch during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the Detroit Tigers at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Atlanta Braves: A-

Next: Baltimore Orioles

Baltimore Orioles: B-/C+

Next: Boston Red Sox

Boston Red Sox: A

Next: Chicago Cubs

Chicago Cubs: B+

Last season, Gleyber Torres headlined the Chicago Cubs farm system, after Kris Bryant, Addison Russell, and Kyle Schwarber’s call-up. However, due to Torres’ so-so 2015 season and Willson Contreras’ dominant season, Willson Contreras moved up to the top spot in the Chicago Cubs’ farm system. Willson Contreras offers an MLB-ready glove with an impressive bat.

In 2015, Willson Contreras spent the year at Double-A Tennessee, where he owned an impressive .333/.413/.478 slash line. Moreover, Contreras flashed plus power, hitting eight home runs and driving in 75 RBI. Due to his impressive 2015 campaign, many experts believe his is the last piece to the Chicago Cubs’ World Series puzzle.

Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon believes that Willson Contreras can make an impact at the MLB level sooner rather than later. Contreras’ glove seems more advanced than Schwarber’s, so Contreras’ presence on the Big League roster should keep Schwarber in the outfield. Willson Contreras figures to be the catcher of the future for the Chicago Cubs. Let us hope he pans out better than Giovany Soto.

" >

Willson Contreras

Catcher, Carabobo, Venezuela