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Baseball’s 50 Top Prospects: 20-11

By Benjamin Chase

Mar 23, 2016; Melbourne, FL, USA; Washington Nationals shortstop Trea Turner (7) hits the ball in the sixth inning against the New York Yankees at Space Coast Stadium. The Washington Nationals won 13-0. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 23, 2016; Melbourne, FL, USA; Washington Nationals shortstop Trea Turner (7) hits the ball in the sixth inning against the New York Yankees at Space Coast Stadium. The Washington Nationals won 13-0. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 7, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Cleveland Indians outfielder Clint Frazier during the Arizona Fall League Fall Stars game at Salt River Fields. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Cleveland Indians outfielder Clint Frazier during the Arizona Fall League Fall Stars game at Salt River Fields. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

20. Clint Frazier, OF, Cleveland Indians

Frazier was the #5 overall selection by the Indians in 2013. He’s been working his way up step by step in the system ever since, making his way to AA Akron this year as a 21 year-old. He has worked the last few years alongside Bradley Zimmer, and it’s been a positive for him as the two seem to play off of each other well.

Frazier has been a guy who has dropped his strikeout rate and increased his walk rate every single season. He’s also shown his ability to hit for both power and utilize his speed, hitting 13 home runs and stealing 12 bases in 2014 in low-A, 16 home runs and stealing 15 bases in 2015 in high-A, and having 9 home runs and steals thus far in 2016.

Frazier has moved to the corner as he is playing next to Zimmer, who’s an elite defensive center fielder, and he’s shown to be a guy who could be an elite corner defensive outfielder. He’ll be a guy mentioned a ton in trade talks this summer, but he could be up as soon as September this season, and his power potential is tremendous in his swing.

19. Jameson Taillon, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates

Jameson Taillon was drafted 2nd overall in 2010 – between Bryce Harper and Manny Machado. He had Tommy John surgery in 2014, and he’s taken his time to come back (along with other minor injuries), ensuring his health and readiness to perform. It has shown to be well-played.

Taillon was dominating AAA this year before being promoted to Pittsburgh, where he’s continued his success. For AAA Indianapolis, Taillon had a 2.04 ERA and a 0.81 ERA with a 6/61 BB/K ratio over 61 2/3 innings. With the Pirates, he’s thrown to a 3.86 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in his first 5 starts, with a 5/21 BB/K ratio over 28 innings.

Taillon mixes a high-90s fastball, hammer curve that breaks from 12 to 6, and a change up that has gone from a work in progress to very good this season. I don’t imagine Taillon will be down again as he is pitching great for the Pirates, but he’s really a great example of taking that extra time from a TJS helping out.

Next: #18 & #17

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