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MLB Top Ten Outfield Prospects for 2017

By Benjamin Chase

Mar 11, 2017; Fort Myers, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox designated hitter Andrew Benintendi (16) doubles in the first inning of a spring training game against theMinnesota Twins at CenturyLink Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 11, 2017; Fort Myers, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox designated hitter Andrew Benintendi (16) doubles in the first inning of a spring training game against theMinnesota Twins at CenturyLink Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports /
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8. Bradley Zimmer, Cleveland Indians

Zimmer is a true five-tool talent, with all five tools rated as a 50 or better, with plus speed and plus defense his two best attributes.

While in the shadow of fellow Indians prospect Frazier for much of his career, Zimmer took a step forward in 2016 that moved him past Frazier in the eyes of many.

Zimmer’s elite defense and balanced profile will likely produce a statistical profile reminiscent of Mike Cameron with similar defensive skills and power/speed combination and also similar strikeout risk.

Zimmer does have very good bat speed that generates his power, but he also has a long swing that leads to plenty of strikeouts. He does have a very good walk rate as well.

Zimmer’s biggest attribute, however, is not one of the typical five tools on the scouting sheet. Zimmer comes from an athletic family, with his father playing college baseball and his mother running track. His brother, Kyle Zimmer, is a pitching prospect in the Kansas City Royals organization.

That athletic background has led to incredible natural instincts for the game from Zimmer, as he’s displayed with a very high steal rate, in spite of speed that would likely rate as fringe-plus. He also has elite defensive play without that elite speed, but he utilizes tremendous instincts in the field and excellent routes on balls to play up his natural skills even further.

Zimmer could be roaming center field in Cleveland as soon as 2017, though his fellow prospect, Greg Allen, is really more of a pure center fielder, and Zimmer’s arm would allow him to play a corner better than Allen’s. With both on the cusp of the majors, it’s feasible that Zimmer ends up in a corner as Allen slots in next to him.

Zimmer could push for the center field job early in 2017, but he’ll likely open the season in AAA.

7. Lewis Brinson, Milwaukee Brewers

Drafted out of high school in Florida by the Texas Rangers in 2012, Brinson was always viewed as a raw athlete that would need development as a baseball player.

He showed this in his first two seasons as he showed plenty of power and speed, hitting 28 combined home runs and stealing 38 bases over 176 games his first two seasons. However, he also struck out over 1/3 of his at bats, at 34.51 percent.

Brinson has drastically reduced his strikeout rate at every step ever since, to just a hair over 20 percent in 2016.

Brinson has struggled some with injuries in his minor league career due to his aggressive approach in the field. However, that aggressive approach allows him to cover incredible ground and truly be a plus-plus defender in center field.

Brinson was moved from Texas to Milwaukee in mid-season 2016 as part of the deal that sent Jonathan Lucroy to Texas, and he excelled with Milwaukee’s AAA team after the deal, posting a 1.005 OPS in 23 games.

Brinson will likely open 2017 in AAA as well, but he is still 22 until early May, so he is certainly on track to be “age appropriate” in his time to arrive in the major leagues in spite of his extra development time to work on his contact issues.

Next: #6, #5

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