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Midseason MLB Top 50 Prospects: 1-10

By Benjamin Chase

KISSIMMEE, FL - JANUARY 28: Baseball gloves and a baseball lie in the dirt during the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring on January 28, 2011 at the Houston Astros Spring Training Complex in Kissimmee, Florida. Jim Evans was a Major League Umpire for 28 years that included umpiring four World Series. Many of his students have gone on to work on all levels of baseball including the Major Leagues. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
KISSIMMEE, FL - JANUARY 28: Baseball gloves and a baseball lie in the dirt during the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring on January 28, 2011 at the Houston Astros Spring Training Complex in Kissimmee, Florida. Jim Evans was a Major League Umpire for 28 years that included umpiring four World Series. Many of his students have gone on to work on all levels of baseball including the Major Leagues. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /
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10. Brendan Rodgers, SS, Colorado Rockies

In the 2015 draft, there were a number of college shortstops of interest at the top of the draft, and one high school shortstop. The Rockies chose to go with the high school option at #3 overall. They’ve certainly not been disappointed with the results, even if the guys taken ahead of him have already established themselves in the major leagues while Rodgers is just getting his feet wet at AA.

Rodgers has been blessed with heavy hitting home environments thus far, but, to his credit, he’s take advantage of them so far. In 2016, he was at hitter haven Asheville in the South Atlantic League, and he hit .281/.342/.480 overall with 31 doubles, 19 home runs, and 6 stolen bases. However, if you look at the splits, you see that Rodgers hit .319/.378/.600 in his home environment with 20 of the doubles and 13 of the home runs. On the road, he hit .247/.310/.372.

Coming into 2017, he opened in another hitter-friendly home environment with Lancaster in the Cal League. While he hit .400/.419/.700 in his time in high-A before being promoted with 21 doubles and 12 home runs, it was notable that he hit .495/.522/.883 at home with 14 doubles and 8 home runs. However, his road stats were still good in this case, as he hit .308/.312/.523.

Rodgers has struggled with the bump up to AA, hitting .227/.313/.375 thus far, though he’s flashed his home run power with 4 home runs in less than 100 plate appearances.

Rodgers has shown the ability to handle short if that’s the future for him in Colorado, and his power will be elite at the position. He has work to do in his strike zone recognition, as evidenced by his walk rate being under 4%, though he also is keeping his strikeout rate low. One of the elite young bats, his early struggles in AA should not dissuade away from the elite talent package that Rodgers brings to the table.

9. Ozzie Albies, 2B/SS, Atlanta Braves

A modestly-priced signing out of Curacao in 2013, Albies opened his minor league career with a bang, announcing his presence, as he hit .364/.446/.444 combined between the Braves’ Gulf Coast League and Appalachian League affiliates at just 17 years old.

He moved to low-A Rome and hit .310/.368/.404 in the South Atlantic League as an 18 year old in 2015 before really exploding on the scene in 2016, when he combined to hit .292/.358/.420 between AA and AAA as a 19 year old with 49 extra bases and 30 stolen bases.

Sadly, Albies’ season ended when he fractured his elbow in a freak injury on a swing during the playoffs for AA Mississippi. Standing 5’9″ tall and weighing in at 165-175 pounds, scouts often mistake Albies for a slap-hitting player with minimal ability to generate power. Instead, Albies is able to generate tremendous power with his swing from both sides of the plate, though he focuses on line drive power that generates tons of extra base hits and even home runs in his explosive swing.

As he’s gained health in the elbow this season, Albies’ left-hand swing has really come around. He struggled early as the elbow gained strength after the injury last season. Albies is currently hitting .289/.335/.446 on the season, but since June 1st, Albies has really shown to be healthy, hitting .319/.367/.528 with 6 doubles, 5 triples, 6 home runs, and 7 stolen bases.

Albies’ defense is excellent at shortstop, and he’s shown to be an elite defender at second base, a position he moved to in order to defer to Dansby Swanson, who was at the major league level. He should get a major league trial this year at just 20 years old. Albies has yet to face a pitcher younger than him in his entire professional career.

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