MLB: Eastern, Southern, Texas Leagues Top Prospects
MLB’s major league season is now ended, and the offseason reviews have begun. Today, we will review the top prospects that played in the AA leagues this season, the Eastern League, the Southern League, and the Texas League.
This is the sixth in a series of posts on the top ten prospects in each league. This series is not entirely indicative of where a player may end up in a top 100 MLB prospect list as a player may not have played long enough to be considered. There aren’t hard and fast rules here, just a general “was this guy here long enough to be considered” feel. On a short-season league, that’s probably about 40-50 plate appearances or a handful of starts. For a full-season league, it’d probably be about double that, but once again, that can be waived in general if a guy made such an impact on the league that it’s hard to ignore his impact on being part of that league.
Call to the Pen will be having a top 100 list released in the early winter, so be looking for that as well, but for now, this should whet your prospecting appetite outside of scouting reports to come on some of the top prospects in the game!
Eastern League
1. Yoan Moncada, IF, Portland (Red Sox) – The top prospect in the game currently, Moncada began making his transition to third base while with Portland. He also did some work with his swing that led to some impressive power, but he also added swing and miss as part of it as well. As seen in his major league call up, that swing and miss bit him hard when he faced big league pitching. He was able to produce 11 home runs in just 177 at bats in Portland. If you have a chance, take a look at Moncada in the Arizona Fall League to get an idea of the player he could be. Various games have been available via mlb.com and will be throughout the AFL season.
2. Andrew Benintendi, OF, Portland (Red Sox) Benintendi would likely have a statement as the top prospect in any system other than Boston, where he’s got Moncada in front of him. Benintendi would be a center fielder with any other organization, and he has the power and the speed to be a potential 20/20 guy with exceptional bat path to be a high-average hitter as well.
3. David Dahl, OF, Hartford (Rockies) – In one of the most loaded league lists, Dahl’s one of six or seven players on this Eastern League list that have a legit shot to be top 10 prospects in the entire league. Dahl made his way to the major league level this season, and he has the ridiculous offensive skill set that should play in Colorado to allow Dahl to put up ideo game numbers. His bat-to-ball skills are underrated by many, but Dahl certainly has the look of a guy who could be a routine .300 hitter, especially in Colorado. Dahl gets the nod barely over Meadows with his excellent blend of power and speed that is major league ready right now, as evidenced by his play while in Colorado.
4. Austin Meadows, OF, Altoona (Pirates) – Meadows had a fracture in the bone surrounding his eye that delayed the start of his season, but when he was on the field, Meadows was ridiculously good. He had a slash line of .311/.365/.611 with 8 triples, 6 home runs, and 9 stolen bases in 167 at bats. He has a very good feel for center field, but he also has enough arm to move to right field if the Pirates loaded outfield requires it. His injury history and strikeout rate are the only things holding me back from having him a notch or even two higher.
5. Lucas Giolito, RHP, Harrisburg (Nationals) – Arguably the top pitcher in the entire 2012 draft before Tommy John surgery his senior year of high school, Giolito has been handled very carefully by the Nationals in his progression through the minor leagues. He has an incredible blend of pitches that would show him as an elite prospect, but his control in 2016 took a step back, and he was hit hard at the major league level. Still, it’s hard to deny the arsenal Giolito possesses with a fastball that can flirt with triple digits, a plus curve, and a change that receives a scattering of plus grades.
6. Amed Rosario, SS, Binghamton (Mets) – Having Rosario over Crawford will surprise many, but watching him play showed exactly what you want to see from a shortstop with his skill set. He showed incredibly elite defense at both high-A and with Binghamton. However, as he was being promoted, he made a notable effort to let pitches out of the zone, especially outside and out of the zone, go during at bats, as he frequently was swinging through them. This improved his walk rate significantly, and that rate maintained at AA, though his strikeout rate did go up as Rosario got a little pull-happy and swung through pitches trying to launch them. Even with that, he still hit .341/.392/.481 in 214 AA at bats as a 20 year old, so there’s a lot to like and a very bright future here.
7. J.P. Crawford, SS, Reading (Phillies) – Crawford was highly rated by many sources, but frankly, I’m not entirely sold on the bat skills. He has definite defensive ability, and his time in the Eastern League showed an excellent on base, but he seemed extremely passive in games I saw of him. He also had a bat habit of “shooting his hips” early in his swing, which meant that when he made contact, he only had his wrists to generate power, and with his frame, he should be able to generate more power than he’s shown. All that said, he’s still a high-end defender, but he’s taken a step back for me as the bat simply hasn’t progressed as he’s moved up and matured.
8. Clint Frazier, OF, Akron (Indians) – Frazier was tearing up the Eastern League before he was traded to the Yankees. He played right field as Zimmer handled center for Akron, but he could handle center quite well. His plus arm does profile Frazier in right field going forward. Frazier has easy plus power, which I heard a few grades of plus-plus on from scouts that saw him with Akron this year, and above-average speed. He’ll be a guy who provides a blend of power and speed early in his career before likely settling in as a right-handed power bat from a corner outfield spot.
9. Reynaldo Lopez, RHP, Harrisburg (Nationals) – Some that saw both this season stated that Lopez was more impressive than Giolito with Harrisburg, and it’s not surprising when you look at the stats. Lopez had 100 strikeouts in 76 innings and a .235 average against. His fling motion in his arm generates a ton of velocity, peaking at triple digits, but he also brings a very effective change. Lopez is still developing feel on his breaking pitch, and he showed above-average results in the pitch at times. If Lopez can hold himself back in his speed through his delivery, he’ll be able to be elite. He’s got elite reliever downside if he can’t make it as a starter.
10. Bradley Zimmer, OF, Akron (Indians) – While the attention was rightfully on Frazier’s raw skills, Zimmer was the one putting up counting stats, as he had 14 home runs and 33 stolen bases in just 340 at bats before he moved up to AAA. Zimmer does struggle with lefty pitchers to some degree, but Zimmer’s an elite defender with an ability to completely dominate against right-handed pitching, so as he works out his issues with lefties, he should provide plenty enough value to play on a daily basis.
Next: Southern League