Where MLB’s Top Prospects Will Open the 2017 Season
With the MLB season just around the corner, where will the top prospects begin the year?
An Introduction
Our MLB top 125 prospect list was coordinated by Benjamin Chase, and he released the entire listing in January.
With the regular season just around the corner, there have been some very interesting decisions by teams to keep up prospects, send down other prospects, and other interesting promotions within the minor leagues to track.
This is a grouping of educated guesses on the destination for each MLB prospect, but as the Atlanta Braves showed with their recent announcement that teenage starters Kolby Allard and Mike Soroka will open the season with their AA Mississippi club, an educated guess doesn’t necessarily mean it will end up correct!
We will explore the top 25 MLB prospects from that January list with their projected destinations, 5 per slide, up to #1. This can also serve as a review of the top 25 prospect list!
Ben has also been doing scouting reports this spring on the top 20 prospects from this list, so those will be linked on the top 20 prospects (Vladimir Guerrero, Jr.’s video was not available, but look early in the season for Vlad’s scouting report once he hits somewhere where video is available to put eyes on him).
Enjoy!
Next: #21-25
25. Lewis Brinson, OF, Milwaukee Brewers, Brewers #1
The Brewers optioned Brinson to AAA Colorado Springs March 17th, and that makes sense as a starting destination for him, as he had just 23 games there in 2016, his first experience at AAA. Milwaukee does have a full outfield, but they have certainly not been afraid to trade away pieces, so they could certainly trade someone like Ryan Braun, Keon Broxton, or Domingo Santana for a ridiculous return and bring up Brinson midseason, otherwise, he’ll likely be in AAA until September call ups.
24. Manuel Margot, OF, San Diego Padres, Padres #2
The Padres came into camp intent on handing over their center field job to Margot, and he’s certainly not done anything to let them know they should change direction. Margot’s an elite runner and defender, so those skills will translate immediately.
I’d personally put weight on Margot as a legit National League Rookie of the Year candidate on the season, as he’s a guy who could end up with double digit home runs and 20+ stolen bases in a lineup where he’ll be able to play every day.
23. Jose De Leon, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays, Dodgers #3
De Leon was in the rumor mill seemingly all winter long, as the Dodgers attempted to use his solid right arm to garner the second baseman that they desired. In the end, the guy he was traded for was Logan Forsythe of the Tampa Bay Rays.
Tampa Bay sent De Leon to AAA on March 15th, and they’ll start him there with their rotation already full, but if Tampa does fall out of the race, they have some very attractive arms that could be used in trade, opening a spot for De Leon to compete for with fellow prospect Brent Honeywell.
22. Michael Kopech, RHP, Chicago White Sox, White Sox #4
After an injury to his pitching hand from a fight with a teammate last spring, Kopech only made 11 starts at high-A, but it likely will be enough to convince the White Sox that he’s ready for AA, and GM Rick Hahn said as much in a recent conference call, even indicating that Kopech was making an argument to put him at AAA.
21. Cody Bellinger, 1B, Los Angeles Dodgers, Dodgers #2
Bellinger played just 3 regular season games with AAA in 2016, so it would make sense that he would open the season there if not in the big leagues, and unless Adrian Gonzalez suddenly comes up lame in the last days of camp, it’s quite certain that Bellinger will not make the big league team.
His elite power in the Pacific Coast League this season should be impressive to watch.
Next: #16-20
20. Brendan Rodgers, SS, Colorado Rockies, Rockies #1, Scouting Report
The Rockies have not been known for crazy promotions in their past, so with Rodgers playing all of 2016 in low-A, it would make sense that he would play all of his 2017 in high-A with their affiliate in the California League at Lancaster.
After a favorable home park in Asheville, it should be interesting to see the numbers that Rodgers can put up in the Cal League.
19. Kyle Tucker, OF, Houston Astros, Astros #1, Scouting Report
Tucker did play 16 games at high-A in 2016, and he absolutely crushed, hitting .339/.435/.661 in that small sample size. Whether that sort of success will be enough to encourage the Astros to promote Tucker up to AA or not will be interesting to see. As of this writing, he’s not been officially assigned, and the best wager would be that he starts in high-A with an eye toward a quick move to AA if he continues producing at a high level.
18. Willy Adames, SS, Tampa Bay Rays, Rays #1, Scouting Report
With an opportunity to take over second base for the departed Forsythe, Adames entered spring training with the opportunity of not leaving, but in the end, he was assigned to AAA Durham on March 15th.
Adames will continue to play shortstop, and he’s shown enough to stay there for the time being, but he has good skills to move to either 2B or 3B if needed down the line as well.
17. Austin Meadows, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates, Pirates #2, Scouting Report
The moment a job opens up in Pittsburgh in the outfield, you can bet that Meadows will be the guy getting the call, but for now, he’s going to be in AAA waiting on his shot after a solid, albeit injury-abbreviated 2016.
With just 37 AAA games under his belt, it’s likely a solid spot for Meadows to be for the time being.
16. Anderson Espinoza, RHP, San Diego Padres, Padres #1, Scouting Report
Espinoza spent his entire 2016 in low-A with the Padres and Red Sox organizations. While he could be aggressively promoted past the California League, it’s most likely that the Padres open Espinoza in the Cal League, and if you are in a dynasty league, it may be the perfect time to pounce on his ridiculous talent when he has a 4-something ERA in the Cal League this summer and his owner is worried.
Next: #11-15
15. Rafael Devers, 3B, Boston Red Sox, Red Sox #2, Scouting Report
The logical progression for Devers would be to move up to AA in 2017 after spending all of 2016 in high-A and finishing on an absolute tear. At this point, he’s not been officially assigned, but that will be the likely destination.
14. Tyler Glasnow, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates, Pirates #1, Scouting Report
Glasnow was a long shot coming into the spring to leave with a rotation spot, assuming that one of the number of pitchers who were “ahead” of him would take the role.
Instead, it’s the final weekend, and Glasnow is still in strong consideration. I’m going to go ahead and make the call that Glasnow gets the call for the big league club, allowing Pittsburgh’s big league pitch coaching staff to work every day with him.
13. Ozzie Albies, 2B/SS, Atlanta Braves, Braves #2, Scouting Report
Albies is recovering from a fractured elbow suffered in the AA playoffs last season. While Albies was promoted up to AAA in April of last year before heading back down in mid-summer to AA to work alongside future middle infield mate Swanson, AAA will be his opening destination in 2017.
The good question is for how long will Albies be in AAA. With Brandon Phillips on board, the Braves have no need to push Albies to the big leagues, so his bat and glove can do that for him.
12. Lucas Giolito, RHP, Chicago White Sox, White Sox #3, Scouting Report
Giolito has been working with well-known Chicago White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper to un-do some of the mechanical changes the Nationals did to Giolito.
That sort of work doesn’t happen overnight, and Giolito will likely not only start in AAA, but he’ll likely spend extended time there getting himself back on track.
11. Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., 3B, Toronto Blue Jays, Blue Jays #1
The Blue Jays were aggressive with Guerrero, sending him all the way to advanced rookie league ball, and he certainly showed himself able to handle the challenge.
Having just turned 18 on March 16th, Guerrero should be assigned to full-season ball, and that is an impressive assignment for his age, but I’m really expecting him to succeed at the level.
Next: #6-10
10. Reynaldo Lopez, RHP, Chicago White Sox, White Sox #2, Scouting Report
Lopez has shown himself much more prepared for the big league rotation than Giolito upon arrival in Chicago’s camp this spring.
Based on the conversation with Hahn, I’d estimate that Lopez opens the season in AAA, but he will be on the quick-dial for the White Sox for any injuries or if they make the call to trade any of their current starting 5.
9. Amed Rosario, SS, New York Mets, Mets #1, Scouting Report
A defensive wizard, Rosario’s bat caught up last season to the impressive raw skills he’d always shown in the cage. After producing well in AA last season, it appears the Mets will have Rosario open 2017 at the same level, having optioned him to AA on March 14th.
However, I wouldn’t be surprised in the least if he would end up in AAA and even the majors by the end of 2017!
8. Yadier Alvarez, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers, Dodgers #1, Scouting Report
Alvarez came over from Cuba with an innings limit but a ton of talent. He threw for low-A in 2016, but hitters at that level were no match for his stuff, and he’s diversified his arsenal even further in the offseason.
It’d make sense for Alvarez to open at high-A, but the Dodgers could be aggressive with him and move him to AA as he’s already 21.
7. Victor Robles, OF, Washington Nationals, Nationals #1, Scouting Report
While Robles wasn’t anywhere near as elite in high-A as he was in low-A, he’ll likely spend all of 2017 at one level after jumping through 4 levels in the last two seasons.
As of this writing, he’s just been assigned to minor league camp, but the assumption is that Robles will open the season at AA at just 19 years old until May.
6. Eloy Jimenez, OF, Chicago Cubs, Cubs #1, Scouting Report
Jimenez likely got his preview for his 2017 opening destination with a playoff appearance in 2016 for the high-A Myrtle Beach in the Carolina League.
After his monster 2016 season, he will be facing a fairly pitcher-friendly league in the Carolina League.
Next: #Top 5
5. Gleyber Torres, SS, New York Yankees, Yankees #1, Scouting Report
Torres has been rumored plenty to be opening the season with the Yankees, but the Yankees have stated multiple times that he will be going to the minor leagues to open the season.
With playing at high-A for all of 2016, AA would make the most sense, but the Yankees could be aggressive and put Torres at AAA if they were expecting to see him in New York in 2017.
4. Dansby Swanson, SS, Atlanta Braves, Braves #1, Scouting Report
Swanson will open the season as Atlanta’s starting shortstop. After a positive finish to 2016 in Atlanta, Swanson is looked to be a team fixture for the foreseeable future in Atlanta.
3. Alex Reyes, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals, Cardinals #1, Scouting Report
MLB truly lost one of its elite ones when Reyes went down with an arm injury requiring Tommy John surgery early this spring. This will keep him out all of 2017, sadly.
2. Andrew Benintendi, OF, Boston Red Sox, Red Sox #1, Scouting Report
Benintendi will be manning the grass in front of the Green Monster in Fenway Park this season for Boston. Boston sees Benintendi like Atlanta sees Swanson, one of their franchise cornerstones for the future of the franchise.
1. Yoan Moncada, IF, Chicago White Sox, White Sox #1, Scouting Report
Moncada is an interesting case. In a conference call with White Sox GM Rick Hahn, he mentioned Moncada benefiting from time in AA to work on his skills at second base and gather himself after a whirlwind end to 2016 for Moncada.
The day after I was part of that call, Moncada was optioned to the minor leagues – to AAA! So much for using the time at AA!
Moncada has the tremendous athleticism and arm to handle 2B, 3B, or an outfield position well, but it sounds from that interview that the White Sox are in no hurry to get Moncada to Chicago, though there is every expectation that he’ll force his way to the White Sox before September.
Next: Top 10 Left Handed Prospects
Now, we get to see how good I am at prognosticating!