2021 Top 100 prospects list breakdown

The annual disclosure of MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospects list is typically a sign that spring, or at least Spring Training, is around the corner. And while that was true in 2020, no one could have predicted what would or would not have happened in the upcoming season.

The annual disclosure of MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospects list is typically a sign that spring, or at least Spring Training, is around the corner. And while that was true in 2020, no one could have predicted what would or would not have happened in the upcoming season.

Despite the pandemic-shortened Major League campaign and the lack of a Minor League season, many players in the 2020 Top 100 have risen to the highest tier and made contributions in baseball, from basement dwellers to World Series champions.

Again, we are all hopeful in anticipation of something nearing normal season. And again, many on our brand new 2021 Top 100 Potential List will be creating excitement in the major leagues all year round.

Not surprisingly, the list is again topped by Ray’s shortstop phenomenon Wander Franco, for a fourth consecutive edition (2019 mid-season-2021 pre-season). The top 10 also includes a few Mariners outfielders and two Padres prospects.

Those on the list must be eligible to be rookie. To qualify for rookie status, a player must have thrown no more than 130 at bats or 50 innings in the Major Leagues, or accumulated more than 45 days on the active roster of a Major League club (s ) during the 25-player limit period, excluding time on the casualty or military list. The rankings continue to follow the guidelines established by the collective bargaining agreement regarding who is covered by the international pool money rules. Players who are at least 25 years old and have played in competitions considered professional (Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Cuba) are not eligible.

The Top 100 is compiled by myself, Jim Callis and Mike Rosenbaum, with input from industry sources including scouts and front office executives. It is based on an analysis of players’ benefits, tools and possible Major League impact.

MLB Network will air its Top 100 Prospects show on February 13 at 5:00 p.m. ET.

The Top 10
Walk through Franco, SS, Rays
2. Adley Rutschman, C, Orioles
3. Spencer Torkelson, 3B / 1B, Tigers
4. Jarred Kelenic, OR, Mariners
5. Julio Rodriguez, OR, Mariners
6. MacKenzie Gore, LHP, Padres
7. Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Royals
8. CJ Abrams, SS, Padres
9. Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B, Pirates
10. Nate Pearson, RHP, Blue Jays
Complete list “

The newcomers

Players from the 2020 Draft are not included in this section, as they weren’t there to be on the list a year ago. There aren’t that many new names this time around due to the unusual nature of the 2020 season, but there are some intriguing players hitting the list this year.

It’s a group that starts with Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena, who took Major League Baseball by storm by hitting seven home runs in just 64 at-bats in the regular season, then hit 10 more in an absolutely ridiculous postseason drive with an American League Championship Series MVP. . That is why he makes his debut all the way at number 34 in this year’s Top 100.

There are no other newcomers in the top 50, but a few righthanded pitchers came close. The Indians ‘Triston McKenzie, who was on the list in previous years but dropped out in 2019, made his way into the major leagues, and Cleveland’s postseason roster comes in at No. 51, while the Pirates’ first round pick of 2019 , Quinn Priester, debuts at No. 52.

Highest risers

It’s not just the newcomers who are making a leap in 2021. Several players who were in the Top 100 last year have a big up arrow next to their names. Six players have improved their rankings by more than 25 places from one year to the next, led by D-backs outfielder Corbin Carroll. The 2019 first-rounder flew from No. 89 all the way to No. 47. Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas jumped from No. 77 to No. 44 while Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes has catapulted to the top 10 to number 9 after ranking No. 41 for the 2020 season. Royals lefty Daniel Lynch made a similar jump with 32 places (No. 61 to No. 29), Blue Jays Jordan Groshans went from No. 75 to No. 46 and Angels outfielder Brandon Marsh also improved by 26 places (from No. 79 to No. 53).

Farthest falls

There are six potential customers who were in the Top 100 of last year’s preseason and dropped off the list in 2021, all in the 80-100 range. Marlin’s outfielder Jesús Sánchez is the highest-ranking prospect to fall (No. 80), followed by Phillies shortstop Bryston Stott (No. 87), Ray’s right-handed Brent Honeywell (No. 91), Yankees RHP Deivi García (No. 92), Nationals shortstop Luis Garcia (No. 97) and Giants lefty Seth Corry (No. 99).

The graduates

Even with the shortened year, quite a few prospects got enough time in the big league to graduate from the prospect lists. This group of 17 is led by Dodgers infielder Gavin Lux, who was the number 2 prospect a year ago. He was joined by two other top 10 potential clients, outfielders Luis Robert of the White Sox (No. 3) and Jo Adell of the Angels (No. 6). A’s left-wing Jesús Luzardo (No. 12) and Dodger’s right-handed Dustin May (No. 23) were the top rated pitchers to come off the list.

Positional breakdown

This is one of the heavier Top 100’s we’ve had in a while. There are 39 pitchers in total, 27 right-handed and 12 left-handers, far from the 47 arms we’ve had for the past two years. We only had 39 pitchers in 2016, after 42 in 2017.

There are still more total pitchers than any other position, with the 25 outfielders closest. Shortstops are next with 14 making the Top 100, followed by nine catchers, seven third basemen, four second basemen and a pair of first basemen.

Feel the draft

When we re-rank the Top 100 in the summer, it gives us the option to add members from the most recent Draft class. In 2020 that was the only change to the list, apart from graduation. Due to the pandemic, the order of the existing players on the list remained static, apart from making room for the 14 members of the Class of ’20 that were added. That pick is, of course, led by # 1 overall pick Spencer Torkelson, our # 3 prospect. Five other first-round picks are in the top 50 overall: No. 22 Austin Martin, OF (Blue Jays), No. 28 Max Meyer, RHP (Marlins), No. 30 Asa Lacy, LHP (Royals), No. 31 Emerson Hancock, RHP (Mariners) and No. 43 Nick Gonzales, 2B (Pirates). In total there are 81 former conscripts in the Top 100.

International taste

That means there are 19 international signers on the list (Reminder: players from Canada and Puerto Rico are lined up.). Not surprisingly, the Dominican Republic leads this group with a dozen representatives. The Bahamas and Venezuela each have two players in the Top 100, while Colombia, Cuba and Panama each have one representative.