MLB Top 125 Prospects: 50-26
50. Nick Senzel, 3B, Cincinnati Reds, Reds #1
Senzel was considered the best all-around college bat in this year’s draft coming out of Tennessee. The biggest question was where he’d fit on the diamond after playing both second base and third base in college. Senzel came on strong defensively toward the end of the college season for Tennessee at the hot corner and solidified his future defensive role. He is likely maxed out at “good” weight on his frame, but that’s okay for sure as he showed excellent ability to drive the ball, even if primarily as gap power. Senzel does have a lot of similarity to me to Alex Gordon, who received similar acclaim coming out of college and was seen as a certain level of a disappointment when he became a solid regular rather than a superstar. Senzel has the ability to move quickly to the major leagues with a mature approach at the plate and solid defense, but he may not be an elite-level superstar in the end.
49. Kevin Newman, SS, Pittsburgh Pirates, Pirates #4
Before reading Keith Law, I thought I was the high guy on Newman coming into the 2015 draft, liking him as a top 10 guy. Then I saw where Law considered Newman on par with the guys at the very top of the draft, namely Dansby Swanson and Alex Bregman, and I realized that perhaps I was in good company here! Newman is just a guy who has an uncanny ability to put the bat on the ball, and he’s rocketed up the Pirates system to AA in his first full season with the team. While he’s not got the natural range or arm for shortstop, his solid hands, instincts, and very good baseball smarts allow him to handle the position well right now. With defensive wiz Jordy Mercer in Pittsburgh for at least another two years, it’s likely that Newman will reach the majors before the shortstop position is vacated, and second base is probably the most likely position. While he won’t likely be a guy to hit 30 homers or steal 30 bases, he could definitely be a guy who competes for a batting title or two in his career.
48. Kevin Maitan, SS, Atlanta Braves, Braves #6
The first prospect to make a top 100 list born in the 2000s, which doesn’t make me feel old at all. Nope, nope, nope. Maitan was a guy that the baseball community was talking about as long as three years ago with his tremendous raw ability as a switch-hitter that some said could be the best international prospect since Miguel Cabrera. Maitan should have the ability offensively for sure, and those who saw him in instructs were absolutely blown away at his size, as he showed up roughly 6’4 and 200-215 pounds – at 16 years old. He handled the bat well against the pitching he saw and showed excellent instincts at shortstop that led many to believe he’ll at least start his pro career at the position, but if he’s going to grow any more, he may be forced to a different position. His excellent instincts and above-average arm would allow him to handle third base well. After signing a number of shortstops in their 2016 international free agent splurge, it will be interesting to see where the Braves start Maitan out as there are rumors he could go to extended spring and then head straight to low-A Rome, which would be an incredible starting spot for a player who will play all of 2017 at 17 years old.
47. Francis Martes, RHP, Houston Astros, Astros #2
Seen initially as a “throw-in” in the deal with the Marlins for Jarred Cosart in 2014, Martes has become a feather in the cap of the Astros scouting department as he’s established himself as one of the best arms in the minor league baseball. He has a fastball that can touch triple digits and routinely sits 93-95 with excellent late movement low in the zone. Martes has an elite power curve as well. I personally thought his change took a step back in 2016, and there are many who feel Martes is a future reliever, but he is still young and has shown the hard work to get himself on track before, so it would not surprise if we’re looking back at reliever worries in a year as simply silly. However, if he was moved to the bullpen, he’d become an elite reliever.
46. James Kaprielian, RHP, New York Yankees, Yankees #3
Kaprielian struggled with his health in 2016, but outside of that, everything seen in 2016 was immensely positive for the young arm out of UCLA. The Yankees have seen a number of guys tick up in velocity and movement on their breaking stuff through instruction, and Kaprielian was certainly a beneficiary of that instruction, as he ticked up to a guy holding mid-90s and touching 99 deep into ball games. Even without the velocity spike, Kaprielian got elite level sink on his fastball along with excellent late movement low in the zone on his secondary pitches. While his innings will likely be managed some by the Yankees in 2017, his arm is absolutely elite.
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