MLB Top Prospects: Top 10 OF prospects for 2018

After exploring both the team top 10 lists, overall top 150, and system rankings in our MLB Top Prospects series, we finish with a look at positional rankings. Today, we look at the top 10 outfield prospects for 2018.

Our MLB Top Prospect series at Call to the Pen is spearheaded by Benjamin Chase. Today, he gives us the top ten outfield prospects for 2018.

We will explore each position with a top 10 list, and then after we get to #1, don’t leave as we will also highlight one player who is “on the rise” and could factor into the positional rankings after the 2018 season if they hold their current trajectory.

Each of these MLB Top Prospect rankings have come through the hundreds of games each summer Ben watches as well as speaking with multiple people throughout the game and gauging their opinions as well on players he has not had a good look at. This is a personal opinion, and a ranking position higher or lower than industry standard does not indicate “liking” or “hating” a certain player more or less – by just showing up on this list, there is a degree of appreciation of the talent a player brings!

We will start each position list with an overall look at the position itself within the game and the strength of the position.

Position overview

Last year’s list

Easily the deepest non-pitching position in talent simply because there are three positions feeding into this one look, I do take all outfielders in one swath, in spite of those three different positions coming into play primarily due to the fact that the outfield spot a player is playing currently in the minor leagues has about as much stock in his future position as which shoe he ties first.

The position is deep enough to have top 50 players not make the top 10 list, which says a ton about the current depth of outfielders among MLB top prospects. There are impressive players far off of the top 100 as well as far as raw talent goes, but rather than putting together a top 30 or top 50 list, which would certainly be still filled with viable, legit prospects, we’ll stick with 10. Your eyes will thank you, trust me.

Let’s take a look at the outfielders….

Next: #9 and #10

10. Juan Soto, Washington Nationals

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 10/25/1998 (19)
2018 level: low-A Hagerstown Suns

Info: Signed out of the Dominican in 2015, Soto has quickly established himself as one of the best young players in baseball. If he would not have been injured and missed most of the 2017 season, Soto very well could be in the top 5 of this list, and very well may top the list by the end of the 2018.

Soto very well could be in the top 5 of this list, and very well may top the list by the end of the 2018

Soto went through a plethora of injuries thus far, working through a fractured ankle, broken hamate bone, and a hamstring injury. In spite of all of those injuries, Soto made an incredible impression with his advanced feel at the plate and his ability to consistent barrel balls.

Not blessed with an incredible physique or a level of incredible raw power or speed, Soto has maximized his bat due to that advanced feel. He has fringe-plus raw power, but he has a plus to plus-plus contact ability. He’s working to access that power in games still, which means he’s hitting plenty of doubles rather than home runs, and he may not have upside of 30 home runs, but with the modern ball in the game, he could certainly have some seasons at that level while his real show of power will likely be 40 and more doubles.

As I look at Soto’s offensive profile, there’s a lot of similarity to a young Vernon Wells, and people do often forget just how good Wells was his first seven seasons, putting up a .283/.332/.484 line with 35 doubles and 25 home runs along with a low strikeout number, with under a 13% strikeout rate.

Soto is an average runner, and defensively, he’s an average defender due to his below- to fringe-average arm, so his bat will be his calling card. He’s opened at low-A, but should quickly hop up to high-A, and it is very feasible that he could jump to AA by the end of the season.

9. Anthony Alford, Toronto Blue Jays

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 7/20/1994 (23)
2018 level: high-A Dunedin Blue Jays

Info: An incredible athlete who played college football for his first few seasons and would then play for the Blue Jays, Alford didn’t get the typical coaching/training that most players would in their first few seasons in the minor leagues. In 2015, Alford was in his fourth season as a pro after being drafted in 2012, but it was his first full season in the minors.

Now that he’s dedicated full time to baseball, Alford has struggled heavily with injury, but when he’s on the field, he shows some of the most impressive athleticism of any player in the game. He’s got more polish than his lack of on-field experience would indicate, as shown by his 11% walk rate and 17% strikeout rate in the upper minors yesterday.

Defensively, Alford uses his athleticism and a high level of natural instinct to play a plus to double-plus center field, though he does have a fringe-average at best arm. His speed is double-plus, but he does have more base running instinct at this poitn than base stealing ability.

Alford has the ability to show plus power in the cage, but he’s struggled to tap into it in game, and if he could do that along with his elite defense, he’d easily be one of the best prospects in the entire game immediately. His age belies his true experience level, but he’s coming up to a point where he’s going to have that age matter if he isn’t able to break through to the major leagues soon, preferably this season.

Next: #7 and #8

8. Austin Meadows, Pittsburgh Pirates

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 5/3/1995 (22)
2018 level: AAA Indianapolis Indians

Info: The 9th overall selection in the 2013 draft out of high school in Georgia, Meadows was considered one of the elite talents of the draft that season, and had an in-state rivalry with fellow Georgia prepster Clint Frazier for who would be the first high school outfielder selected that season. He showed very well in his draft season, but has struggled with injuries ever since, only eclipsing 90 games played one time in his four full seasons.

Rated as high as #6 in Baseball America’s countdown of MLB top prospects over his minor league career primarily because, even when he was injured, he was productive. The 2017 season was his first time struggling to produce quality numbers through injuries.

He has a very quick, direct swing with an ability to impact the ball when he’s going well, with many believing he has future fringe-plus power once he gets to the major leagues (and can play every day). He’s also a plus runner, though his base stealing instincts are not the best.

Meadows is a plus defender, in spite of an average arm, and he can handle all three outfield spots well defensively. The Pirates have been waiting patiently for Meadows to arrive, and after trading Andrew McCutchen, they could open up another outfield spot via trade to get Meadows major league time if he shows he’s ready.

7. Willie Calhoun, Texas Rangers

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 11/4/1994 (23)
2018 level: AAA Round Rock Express

Info: A 2015 4th round pick by the Dodgers out of JuCo in Arizona, Calhoun has never had ideal size, but his bat has always played up, from a three-level jump in his draft season to 58 home runs over the next two seasons.

Calhoun is listed at 5’8″, and that could be generous

Calhoun is listed at 5’8″, and that could be generous. Yet, he swings with such force that every contact has a legit chance of getting out. He focuses on contact as well, rarely striking out or walking, making quality contact at a .284 rate over his minor league career.

With legit plus to double-plus raw power, the challenge has always been how to get his bat into the lineup with defensive positioning. Calhoun came up as a second baseman, but the Rangers have moved him to the outfield. His final position may end up being DH, as his best position is always with a bat in hand.

Next: #5 and #6

6. Estevan Florial, New York Yankees

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 11/25/1997 (20)
2018 level: high-A Tampa Tarpons

Info: A guy on the rise last year who was ready to break out, Florial did so in a big way in his first year of full-season ball, hitting 23 doubles, 7 triples, 13 home runs, and stealing 23 bases between two A-ball levels. He then was one of the biggest performers in the Arizona Fall League, placing plenty of expectation on his very talented 20 year-old shoulders.

Signed for just $200K out of Haiti one year after he would have initially been eligible if not for an issue with his identity, which led MLB to suspend him for one season. He flashed tools in rookie ball and short-season levels in 2015-2016, but nothing like the breakout he had in 2017.

Florial has the range, instincts, and arm to handle center field long-term. His plus-plus speed serves him well on the base paths, though he can get a bit greedy and push the envelope a bit. In the box, Florial can fall in love with his pull swing, leading to plenty of swing and miss, but when he makes contact and uses a more all-fields approach, he has raw plus power.

Many thought Florial would open 2018 in Trenton after finishing the 2017 season there, but instead, the Yankees chose to start him back at high-A. He could certainly jump levels in a hurry, and the Yankees will be very happy with what they get if he can stick on the development path he’s currently on.

5. Lewis Brinson, Miami Marlins

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 5/8/1994 (23)
2018 level: MLB Miami Marlins

Info: Incredibly toolsy, Brinson was the 29th overall selection of the 2012 draft out of high school in Florida. He showed all of the raw tools, but also the raw issues with striking out at an incredible rate early on.

Brinson has made significant progress in reducing his strikeout rate

Brinson has made significant progress in reducing his strikeout rate, though he’s still not a guy who walks a ton. He uses his excellent bat speed to put together plus contact and see excellent batting average along with lower strikeout rates.

Brinson still has double-plus speed and uses it very well in center field. He is considered by most a plus to double-plus center fielder. He uses that speed well on the base paths, but more for taking extra bases than in base stealing.

Brinson is still developing his ability to access his above-average raw power. He’ll get to develop that at the major leagues in a fairly spacious ballpark in Miami.

Next: #3 and #4

4. Kyle Tucker, Houston Astros

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 1/17/1997 (21)
2018 level: AAA Fresno Grizzlies

Info: With a brother who was already considered an excellent prospect, Tucker was definitely on the radar of scouts as the 2015 draft. While considered a top prospect, he was not considered a #5 overall selection, but with the Astros 3 picks in the top 40 (#2, #5, #37), they used those bonuses to spread across those picks and get three players who were all considered top 10 talents.

A swing adjustment in 2017 did add a few strikeouts but provided Tucker with a lot more thump

Tucker since his selection has more than showed himself worthy of his high draft pick status. Long and lean when drafted, Tucker has added lower half strength that has allowed him to access his raw above-average power more easily in game. A swing adjustment in 2017 did add a few strikeouts but provided Tucker with a lot more thump.

Tucker is not a guy who has a lot of swing and miss in his game, but he also does not walk a lot either, focusing on impacting the ball, something he did well in 2017, hitting 33 doubles, 5 triples, and 25 home runs, and using his above-average speed underway to steal 20 bases.

While he can handle center field, he is best suited for a corner, where he would have above-average range. He does well maximizing his positioning to put his arm in best position, but it is average in strength, so accuracy and positioning are key for him.

Tucker showed out during spring training and should be ready for a quick look in AAA, though the Astros seem to have a glut of guys who would work in the corners at the big league level, so he may be 2019 before he gets a true shot at a major league job.

3. Victor Robles, Washington Nationals

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 5/19/1997 (20)
2018 level: AAA Syracuse Chiefs

Info: Robles made quick work of the low minors, spending just 64 games in low-A, and spending two partial seasons in high-A along with a 37 game run in AA by the end of 2017 at age 20.

Established as an MLB top prospect before the 2017 season (#13 Baseball America, #6 MLB Pipeline, #7 Baseball Reference), Robles showed out even more in the 2017 season between high-A and AA, earning a late season call up to the major leagues as he hit .300/.382/.493 in 114 minor league games combined, with 37 doubles, 8 triples, 10 home runs, and 27 stolen bases.

As impressive as his offensive ability can be, Robles will always be keyed by his elite defense in center field. He’s a definite plus center fielder, and arguably a plus-plus center fielder with a plus arm that he’s really worked to improve his throw setup and accuracy in the last year. His profile will likely fit more into a center fielder/leadoff man role, but he has the raw power to fill into more of a middle-order hitter as he ages.

Next: #1 and #2

2. Eloy Jimenez, Chicago White Sox

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 11/27/1996 (21)
2018 level: Disabled List

Info: Jimenez was likely on a quick path to the major leagues in 2018 before a spring injury pushed back the start to his 2018 season, just getting underway over the weekend.

Jimenez was one half of a big Cubs Latin signing spree as they signed two of the three biggest names in the Latin market in 2013 in Eloy and Gleyber Torres, seeing both now develop into MLB top prospects. Interestingly, both have now also been utilized in trades to fortify playoff runs for the Cubs.

Jimenez very feasibly will end up the best player the White Sox have acquired in their significant list of players acquired in their rebuild. While Yoan Moncada may lay claim to that title at present, Jimenez’s floor is incredibly high and could allow him to be a future franchise cornerstone on the South Side.

While he isn’t a negative defender, Jimenez will not be winning any Gold Gloves based on his defensive work in the outfield as a major leaguer. His bat, however, is special.

The comparisons to Manny Ramirez have been out there for quite some time, though I truly think the better comparison is to Juan Gonzalez, who at his best was incredible at generating power to all fields and keeping a high contact rate, but didn’t take a ton of walks, in spite of good control of the zone (Gonzalez posted a career 17.8% strikeout rate, Jimenez has posted a 19.2% rate in the minors thus far).

If the injury doesn’t set him back too much, Jimenez should make a push for Chicago by the end of 2018 and be a factor in the starting lineup in 2019.

1. Ronald Acuna, Jr., Atlanta Braves

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 12/18/1997 (20)
2018 level: AAA Gwinnett Stripers

Info: Signed out of Venezuela due to a positive relationship with his father, Acuna has blossomed into the absolute peak of MLB top prospects before even turning 20 years old. After what he accomplished in 2017, it’s incredible to think that he could still get better!

After what (Acuna) accomplished in 2017, it’s incredible to think that he could still get better!

Acuna opened as a pro in 2015, and his work across two rookie levels (.269/.380/.438 with 14 doubles, 4 triples, 5 home runs, and 16 stolen bases in just 55 games) caught the attention of many among Braves minor league followers, but on a national level, he was still fairly unknown. He was set to change all that in 2016 with Rome before injuring his wrist early on in the season and missing most of the year.

The Braves sent Acuna to the Australian winter league, and that’s where this whirlwind to the top of tankings of MLB top prospects began. Acuna hit .375/.446/.556 in 20 games in the ABL, with a pair of home runs and 13 stolen bases, playing an incredible center field. He was then the talk of spring training in 2016 before the Braves sent him to high-A Florida.

After initially struggling out o the gate, Acuna picked it up at Florida, earning a promotion first to AA Mississippi, and then to AAA Gwinnett. After playing nearly non-stop from fall instructs of 2016 to the end of the 2017 minor league season, the Braves chose to let Acuna rest before heading to an assignment with the Arizona Fall League. The rest paid off, as Acuna was the MVP of a league filled with MLB top prospects, hitting .325/.414/.539, and leading the league with 7 home runs.

After an impressive spring training, Acuna appears to be right at the door of the major leagues, and likely will find his way to Atlanta after initially opening the season with some struggles with pitch recognition that he’s seen improve significantly over the last week.

Next: On the rise