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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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8. Ronald Acuna, OF, Atlanta Braves

The Braves picked up Acuna for a meager $100K signing bonus in 2014 out of Venezuela. Acuna opened his professional career splitting time between the two Braves rookie league affiliates, hitting .269/.380/.438 and drawing rave reviews immediately for his raw power among rookie league scouts along with his tremendous defense.

Acuna’s breakout season was supposed to be 2016, but an injury early in the year limited him to 40 games with Rome in the South Atlantic League, though even then, his .312/.387/.432 performance and batting practice displays left scouts drooling. He then went to the Australian winter league to get more reps, and he had a monster performance in that league, hitting .375/.446/.556.

After a spring training where the 19 year old hung around in major league camp for a long time, performing quite well the entire time, Acuna opened the season in high-A. He struggled out of the gate, something he’s attributed to essentially playing non-stop from the time he returned from his injury at the end of the 2016 season, including the winter league, but he rebounded well, earning a promotion to AA Mississippi, where he tore the league apart, hitting .326/.374/.520 as the youngest player in the Southern League. He was promoted recently again to AAA Gwinnett, and he’s continued to flash power. On the season, Acuna has hit .305/.360/.507 with 20 doubles, 6 triples, 14 home runs, and 33 stolen bases.

He is easily the highest riser in the rankings at the midseason mark, and it would not surprise if he ends up pushing into the top 5 by the end of the season. This is a special, special talent.

7. Eloy Jimenez, OF, Chicago White Sox

Jimenez’s name has been in the news as he was the centerpiece return the White Sox received for Jose Quintana. He is certainly a legit power prospect, and at 20 years old, he’s shown tremendous ability to drive the ball already.

Jimenez’s legend began to grow last season when he blasted a monster home run in batting practice (among many long home runs) before the Futures Game in San Diego. He then made an acrobatic catch during the Futures Game and hit another long ball in the 9th inning of the game.

While that display was impressive, Jimenez’s performance at South Bend was less explosive. He hit .329/.369/.532, but his power was exhibited in his 40 doubles on the season, putting just 14 balls out of the park.

This season has been more of a home run show, as Jimenez has hit .288/.370/.514 with 9 doubles, 2 triples, and 9 home runs over 48 games after opening the season on the disabled list. He also put on another power show during the Carolina/Cal League All-Star game.

There’s no denying Jimenez’s power, and it is impressive the work he’s done to trim his strikeout rate to under 20%. However, he is limited to a likely future as a DH because, in spite of his excellent play in the Futures Game, he’s a below average defender. The bat is so good to still rank this highly, but I’m not sure I could justify any higher on the list.

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