Ray Butler’s 2017 PRESEASON Top 200 MLB Prospects

Written by: Ray Butler

An immediate disclaimer in case you didn’t carefully read the title: These are old rankings. I published them on an old blog of mine (sidelinesandheadlines.com) on March 13th of this year. In other words, these came out around a month prior to Opening Day 2017. That’s why you still see names like Andrew Benintendi, Dansby Swanson, etc.

The following list reflects how I ranked the top 200 prospects PRIOR to the start of the 2017 regular season. Many of the names you’ll see below have since graduated from the list, and there’s been nearly an infinite amount of shuffling around since then. I’ll readily admit that my biggest regret in these rankings is the absence of Sixto Sanchez. But, as you know, I will be releasing my new, updated top 100 prospect rankings very soon.

Until then, here’s how I viewed the top 200 MLB prospects before Opening Day 2017:

Follow along on Twitter: @Prospects365

1. OF Andrew Benintendi, BOS

The floor is sky-high for Benintendi. I don’t know if the speed will play as well as some evaluators think (some see Benintendi as a 20/20 guy, I think it’s more 20/15, which is still fantastic), but the Red Sox left fielder should be a player who can tally a .280 AVG with 15-20 HR and 15 SB on a yearly basis without breaking a sweat. Yeah, that’s useful. Not to mention the glove may be just as good as the bat.

2. 2B/3B Yoan Moncada, CHW

For as high of a floor as Benintendi has, I think Moncada has an equally high ceiling, relatively speaking. There’s still some refinement to be had, but Moncada has the make up and potential to be a bonafide MLB superstar.

3. SS Dansby Swanson, ATL

Swanson may never lead the league in any offensive stat category, but he’ll do plenty to be a well-above-average shortstop with the bat. The calling card for Swanson will be the glove at shortstop, where the Braves will welcome his elite presence in the middle of the infield for years to come.

4. OF Austin Meadows, PIT

For awhile, it really looked like Meadows was destined to have a legitimate chance of cracking the Pirates Opening Day roster. The Bucs ended up holding on to Andrew McCutchen, though, so Meadows will likely be headed to AAA to polish his skills before making his way to the big leagues. The injury history is a little worrisome, but Meadows is a five-tool contributor who should someday be a fantastic MLB outfielder.

5. SS/2B Brendan Rodgers, COL

Rodgers played all of 2016 in Low-A Asheville. I would imagine the Rockies will be a little more aggressive with the middle infielder in 2017, and it wouldn’t be surprising at all if Rodgers made his way to AA Hartford before year’s end. Where he ends up defensively is something I’ll put quite a bit of stock in as a dynasty player, but the 20 year old’s offensive skills should play just fine whether he ends up at shortstop or at second base.

6. OF Victor Robles, WAS

A quick ascension up prospect ranking lists, Robles is easily one of the most exciting players at any level in the minor leagues. It’s a common comp, but I see a lot of Starling Marte in Robles: A guy who will never hit for a ton of power (around double digit HRs on a yearly basis with an outlier or two) but will get on base a lot and swipe a ton of bases. Marte is not a horrible player to be compared to.

7. SS J.P. Crawford, PHI

Crawford had a fairly disappointing 2016 season, but the Phillies (and most evaluators in the industry) remain confident that Crawford is still the shortstop who will play a huge role in leading the Phillies back to relevancy. It’s worth noting, though, that Crawford’s skillset could easily lead him to being a better real-life player than fantasy contributor.

8. P Lucas Giolito, CHW

Much like Crawford, Giolito also had a relatively disappointing 2016 season. Splitting time between the Nationals and the minor leagues, the big right-hander posted a 6.75 ERA in his first 21.1 big league innings. Now a member of the White Sox organization, Giolito will have the chance to hit the reset button and positively contribute to the White Sox pitching staff before the end of the 2017 season.

9. P Tyler Glasnow, PIT

Command will always be the “thing” with Glasnow. If he can finally put it all together, he has the potential to be a top 20 MLB starting pitcher. If he remains wild and continues to struggle holding runners at bay once on base, he’ll likely be a back-end of the rotation guy at best.

10. OF Eloy Jimenez, CHC

Perhaps the MVP of the 2016 All-Hype Team, Jimenez burst onto the scene last season thanks in large part to a jaw-dropping performance at the Futures game. A big corner outfielder with 30 HR potential, it’ll be interesting to see how Jimenez fares against better competition in 2017.

11. 3B Rafael Devers, BOS

12. SS Gleyber Torres, NYY

Gleyber good. The centerpiece of the Yankees’ return from the Cubs in the Aroldis Chapman deal last summer, Torres has the tools to one day be just as popular in the Bronx as another 21st century Yankees shortstop. I’m not talking about Didi Gregorious.

13. 1B/OF Cody Bellinger, LAD

Knocking on the door of an MLB debut, Bellinger is an offseason removed from hitting 26 home runs and finishing with a .365 OBP in 2016 between stops at AA and AAA. The Dodgers will wisely be cautious in starting his service clock, but the powerful lefty should be a major league player sometime in 2017.

14. P Alex Reyes, STL

Reyes was #3 on my list prior to the announcement that he would need Tommy John surgery. He probably won’t pitch in the majors again until the middle of 2018 at the earliest, but he’s a fantastic buy super-low option for dynasty players in fantasy baseball.

15. OF Lewis Brinson, MIL

16. SS Amed Rosario, NYM

17. OF Clint Frazier, NYY

Noted “distractor”, Frazier should make his big league debut sometime in 2017. I mainly wrote that to say this: It’s an absolute joke that the Yankees’ front office considers Frazier’s hair a distraction during spring training when Tim Tebow gets a standing ovation for not striking out whenever he plays for NYY’s Subway Series rival. Make Baseball Fun Again.

18. 3B Nick Senzel, CIN

19. OF Manuel Margot, SD

20. 1B/OF Josh Bell, PIT

21. SS/2B Ozzie Albies, ATL

Albies and Kevin Newman (who also made this list) may have the best hit tools in the minor leagues. The Braves acquisition of Brandon Phillips will simply allow Albies to see more minor league at-bats, which is not always a bad thing. Albies and Dansby Swanson will form one of the most formidable middle infields in all of baseball sooner rather than later.

22. OF Kyle Tucker, HOU

23. P Michael Kopech, CHW

There’s some red flags here (a 50 game amphetamine suspension in 2015 and a broken hand from a fight with a roommate last season), but there’s a lot to like about what Kopech brings to the table. Now a member of the White Sox, his fastball will likely sit somewhere around 100 when he opens the season in High A ball. If he can remain out of trouble and his arm doesn’t fall off, Kopech might be a top 5 prospect this time next season.

24. P Anderson Espinoza, SD

Espinoza certainly didn’t put up the pristine stats in 2016 that evaluators were hoping would affirm their high-ranking of the teenager. This is partly because the youngster was traded midway through the season to San Diego for Drew Pomeranz. Now 19 years young and destined to start the year in High A, the Padres are hoping that Espinoza eventually becomes the undoubted ace they had in mind when they traded for him.

25. C Francisco Mejia, CLE

26. P Francis Martes, HOU

27. 3B Vladimir Guerrero Jr., TOR

I’m very bullish on VGJ. I know he’s only 18 (as of March 16th), I know we don’t have a large enough sample size, I know he may profile better as a first baseman than a third baseman. At the end of the day, I think his bat plays regardless of where he sticks defensively. I’m incredibly excited to see what a full-season looks like for Guerrero Jr.

28. P Brent Honeywell, TB

29. P Mitch Keller, PIT

Keller introduced himself to the baseball world in 2016 when he stuck out 131 and only walked 18 (!) in 124.1 innings pitched. Keller needs to prove himself against better competition, but it certainly seems as though he has similar potential to fellow Pirates Jameson Taillon and Tyler Glasnow.

30. OF Corey Ray, MIL

31. OF Kyle Lewis, SEA

32. P Josh Hader, MIL

I’m convinced that Colorado Springs can humble even the best of pitchers. Hader struggled there after being promoted from AA, but a debut for the Brewers should be on the horizon.

33. P Jose De Leon, TB

34. P Jason Groome, BOS

I think Groome will do a lot to put the character/makeup issues to bed in this first full season of pro ball. Jon Lester has become the de facto comparison for big left-handed pitching prospects, but I really do see a lot of Lester in Groome. If he can hold it all together, I think he can truly be a star.

35. OF Mickey Moniak, PHI

36. OF Blake Rutherford, NYY

37. P Kolby Allard, ATL

In a farm system chalked full of pitching talent, Allard is currently the crowning jewel. There are some questions as to the long-term durability of his back, but, if he can stay healthy, Allard should be ready to perform at the MLB level just as the Braves’ contention window reopens.

38. 2B/OF Ian Happ, CHC

39. SS Willy Adames, TB

He’ll play most of this season as a 21 year old, and Adames has a real shot of spending more than half of the regular season in the big leagues. In AA ball last season, Adames hit 11 home runs, he had 13 stolen bases, and finished with a .372 on base percentage. He’s not really below average in any category offensively (21% K-rate in 2016), and he should be a staple in Tampa Bay for years to come.

40. SS/2B Franklin Barreto, OAK

41. P Yadier Alvarez, LAD

I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that Alvarez has the highest ceiling of any pitcher on this list. He’s still incredibly raw, though, and needs to prove that he can continuously repeat his delivery before he finds himself near the top of lists like this.

42. OF Ronald Acuna, ATL

Acuna Matata! One of the best kept secrets in the minor leagues, 2017 should be Acuna’s official welcoming party. A thumb injury cost him a lot of playing time last season, but Acuna has all the tools to be a five-tool contributor when he’s healthy. Only 19, Acuna could see time at AA Mississippi before the end of the 2017 season.

43. OF Bradley Zimmer, CLE

44. OF Raimel Tapia, COL

45. OF Alex Verdugo, LAD

He doesn’t receive nearly the amount of hype as his fellow farmhands Cody Bellinger and Yadier Alvarez, but Verdugo has all the tools to be a well-above-average MLB outfielder. He belted 13 home runs and only struck out 67 times in 477 official at-bats last season, and I think he has more power potential than what he’s shown so far in his professional career. The soon-to-be 21 year old should knock on the door of an MLB debut before the end of the 2017 season.

46. OF Tyler O’Neill, SEA

47. C Jorge Alfaro, PHI

It seems like we’ve been waiting forever for Alfaro to be the Phillies every day starting catcher. I think 2017 could finally be the season. Alfaro’s arm ranks among the strongest in the big leagues, so there’s no fear that he won’t be able to stick at catcher in the MLB. He strikes out quite a bit, but Alfaro should post a relatively-high batting average and above average power on a yearly basis once he officially breaks into the league.

48. OF Hunter Renfroe, SD

49. 1B Dominic Smith, NYM

Smith dropped a ton of weight this offseason (which he credits to his abandonment of wet burritos). A plus-defender who has a plus hit tool, Smith should be the Mets’ everyday first baseman as early as Opening Day 2018.

50. SS/2B Isan Diaz, MIL

51. OF Aaron Judge, NYY

He’ll be 25 in April, but Judge should finally be an MLB player once-and-for all in 2017. The 6’7 mammoth struck out in a jaw-dropping 44% of his MLB at-bats in 2016 (95 PA), and he’ll need to find a way to put the ball in play more for his power tool to ever make him an elite MLB outfielder.

52. P David Paulino, HOU

53. P A.J. Puk, OAK

Puk is a gigantic lefty who was taken with the 6th overall pick in the 2016 draft by the Oakland A’s. A lot of people think he’ll be a quick riser, and I certainly think he has a chance to make the Athletics’ starting rotation in 2018. He’ll need to improve his offspeed offerings and his overall command in order to reach his potential of a top-of-the-rotation arm, though.

54. 2B/SS Jorge Mateo, NYY

55. P Sean Newcomb, ATL

Don’t stop, believin’. Hold on to that feeeeeeeeeeeeliiin’. Don’t give up on Newcomb. The Braves did some things to tweak his delivery in the middle of last season, and the big lefty was nearly unhittable during the last month of the season. Like Tyler Glasnow, command will always be Newcomb’s issue. Even if he has league-average command at his ceiling, though, Newcomb is a middle of the rotation MLB starter. I think 2017 is going to be his year.

56. P Triston McKenzie, CLE

There’s real concern that McKenzie never fills out physically. If he doesn’t, it’s likely that he’ll be relegated to a bullpen role (see: Carl Edwards Jr.). I’m choosing to believe that he does fill out, and that he also continues striking batters out at an impressive rate.

57. SS Kevin Maitan, ATL

“The best international baseball prospect in at least the past decade” are words that I’ve read describing Kevin Maitan. Really. He’ll eventually move to third base and I want to see what he looks like for a full season, but there’s a chance we’ve got a future superstar here.

58. P Max Fried, ATL

Another guy I’m really bullish on, Fried has the chance to skyrocket through the minors this season. He’s now well-removed from Tommy John surgery and has held his own against MLB-level competition this spring. I really think there’s an outside chance he makes it all the way to Atlanta before the end of the 2017 season.

59. 2B Nick Gordon, MIN

Note that I’m listing Gordon as a second baseman in these rankings. Like his brother Dee, Nick is extremely athletic and should have a bright future ahead of him. I simply don’t think he currently has the arm to play shortstop, though.

60. C Zack Collins, CHW

Collins has a stupid amount of power, especially for a player who’s currently a catcher. But can he play catcher at the MLB level? That’s a huge question that will be the difference between Collins being a super high-value fantasy player and an average fantasy player.

61. P Luke Weaver, STL

62. P Erick Fedde, WAS

Fedde Wap may not be as heralded as his former farmhands Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez (who are now on the White Sox), but he may end up being just as good. It’ll likely take an injury for him to crack the Nationals’ rotation in 2017, but Fedde should be a solid mid-rotation sooner rather than later.

63. SS Kevin Newman, PIT

64. P James Kaprielian, NYY

I don’t like him as much as I like Fried, but Kaprielian is another arm that should rapidly ascend through the minor leagues this season. The Yankees are extremely excited about this guy, and cracking the rotation at some point in 2017 is not out of the question for Kaprielian.

65. OF Leody Taveras, TEX

Incredibly green, Tavares has the raw skills of a future MLB star. With top-shelf speed and a plus hit tool from both sides of the plate, Taveras is as intriguing heading into the 2017 season as anyone on this list.

66. P Yohander Mendez, TEX

67. P Riley Pint, COL

68. 1B/OF Jake Bauers, TB

Despite hitting 14 home runs, tallying a .370 OBP and striking out only 89 times last season, Bauers (who has been raking this spring) is still managing to fly under the radar. I really think he’ll end up being an above-average MLB first baseman, and the Rays don’t have a guy who will block him once he’s ready.

69. P Braxton Garrett, MIA

70. P Amir Garrett, CIN

If you follow prospects closely, you already know that Garrett is a former basketball player who is still incredibly raw and still learning about the art of pitching. The Reds are incredibly high on the big southpaw, though, and he should be called up to Cincinnati sometime in 2017.

71. P Jeff Hoffman, COL

72. P Robert Gsellman, NYM

A near lock to begin the year as the Mets’ #5 starter, Gsellman will benefit by being part of one of the best rotations in all of baseball. It also doesn’t hurt that he nearly averaged a strikeout per inning and posted a 2.42 ERA in the 44.2 big league innings he pitched last season.

73. OF Anthony Alford, TOR

74. P Sean Reid-Foley, TOR

Reid-Foley excelled in both Low-A and High-A last season, combining for over a strikeout an inning and an ERA well under 3. I imagine he’ll start the year in AA, and if he puts up similar numbers, I A) expect him to be very highly ranked this time next year, and B) would imagine he’d be awfully close to getting the big league call. Keep your eye on him this year.

75. P Thomas Szapucki, NYM

76. P Reynaldo Lopez, CHW

77. OF Juan Soto, WAS

Soto is the third piece in the dream hypothetical Nationals outfield of the future that includes he, Bryce Harper, and Victor Robles. Soto is a corner outfielder with a high ceiling, and a lot of smart industry folks think he is going to develop some major power in the next season or two. He’s still raw, but he’s got a chance to break out in a big way in 2017.

78. OF Jesse Winker, CIN

79. 2B Willie Calhoun, LAD

Pros: THAT BAT THO! Cons: THAT GLOVE THO! The man can flat-out rake, but lots of people are worried that his defensive ability will hinder him from ever reaching his MLB potential. If he somehow finds a way to stick at his current home at second base, he’ll be an absolute force.

80. OF Derek Fisher, HOU

81. C Chance Sisco, BAL

82. 1B Bobby Bradley, CLE

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Bobby Bradley hit 29 home runs last season, Bobby Bradley struck out 170 times last season. He’ll turn 21 in late May and the Indians are in no rush to get him to Cleveland, so there’s still plenty of time for Bradley to develop his hit tool. Even if his ceiling is a batting average of .260, the power should certainly play at the big league level.

83. P Matt Manning, DET

84. SS Lourdes Gurriel Jr., TOR

I don’t really understand why LGJ is so underhyped heading into the 2017 season. He’s 23, freakishly athletic, can play multiple positions, and has lots of professional experience already (albeit not at the MLB level). I personally think he will eventually stick at shortstop in Toronto, but Gurriel Jr. should excel regardless of what position he plays.

85. P Luis Ortiz, MIL

86. P Cal Quantrill, SD

87. C Carson Kelly, STL

You know what’s interesting about Kelly? Not only is he the heir apparent to Yadier Molina’s catching throne, but his offensive game is pretty similar to Molina’s as well. He’s going to get on base at a high rate and won’t strike out much, but he’ll never be a perennial 20 HR guy. I even doubt that he’ll ever reach Molina’s career high 22 HR mark (hit in 2012), but he should be a solid fantasy catcher nevertheless.

88. P Tyler Jay, MIN

89. P Dylan Cease, CHC

Cease currently flies under the radar in the prospect world largely due to the hype surrounding Eloy Jimenez and Ian Happ. Research what Cubs’ front office folks are saying, though. A lot of smart people think that it’s Cease that deserves the helium and the title of “Next Great Cubs Prospect.” Cease should at least double his workload in 2017 (44.2 IP in ’16), so this season will be an important one for the right hander.

90. P Ian Anderson, ATL

91. 1B Rowdy Tellez, TOR

92. P Stephen Gonsalves, MIN

93. OF Luis Alexander Basabe, CHW

The “unheralded” player of the Chris Sale trade, LAB has a lot of tools to be excited about. It’s also real easy to get behind a guy who hit double digit HRs (12) and had more than double the amount of stolen bases (25) than he had bombs. As a 19 year old. The White Sox have said they want to refine some of the finer details of Basabe’s approach at the plate and his mindset as a defender who plays center field. If he continues on his current trajectory, Basabe will be a really, really good major leaguer.

94. C Tom Murphy, COL

95. P Jharel Cotton, OAK

Somewhat of a late bloomer, Cotton should be locked in to a rotation spot in Oakland this season. He has one of the best change-ups in the galaxy, and there’s a lot to like about his peripherals from his time in the MLB last season.

96. P Justus Sheffield, NYY

97. P Mike Soroka, ATL

98. 3B Lucas Erceg, MIL

An up-and-comer in Milwaukee’s system, Erceg has knocked the cover off the ball this spring against MLB-quality pitching. His path to the show is a little blurry at the moment, but if he keeps hitting, he’ll force his way sooner rather than later.

99. OF Harrison Bader, STL

100. P Tyler Beede, SF

101. OF Nick Williams, PHI

Williams has slid down prospect lists compared to where he stood prior to last season. An OBP of .287 with with 136 K’s in 497 official at-bats in 2016, Williams has reportedly been working with new Phillies hitting coach Matt Stairs this offseason to quiet his swing mechanics. He’s obviously got some work to do, but the high-ceiling is certainly still there.

102. P Franklin Perez, HOU

103. P Walker Buehler, LAD

104. SS Delvin Perez, STL

105. P Sandy Alcantara, STL

The Cardinals’ front office folks have a major crush on Alcantara, and it’s easy to see why. The raw right-hander struck out 153 in 122.2 innings last season, and he’s looked adequate during his first big league spring training. There’s some refinement that needs to happen, but GM John Mozeliak didn’t rule out Alcantara making an appearance or two for the Cardinals before the 2017 season is over.

106. OF Taylor Trammell, CIN

107. OF Christin Stewart, DET

108. 3B Matt Chapman, OAK

109. OF Brett Phillips, MIL

Phillips lost a little bit of glamour in 2016 when he struck out 154 times in 441 official at-bats. It could simply be a bump in the road, though, as the former top 50 prospect will look to get back on track in 2017.

110. 1B Sam Travis, BOS

It feels like Travis’ future as the first baseman in Boston is at a stage of “when” and not “if”. Travis tore his ACL last season, but he seems back to full-health and has taken advantage of his opportunities with the big club this spring. Travis may never hit for tons of power, but he should make his big league debut sometime this summer.

111. OF Ramon Laureano, HOU

112. 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes, PIT

113. 2B Travis Demeritte, ATL

114. P Adrian Morejon, SD

The Padres liked Morejon so much that they signed him to an $11 million contract in July of last year. Only 18 years young, Morejon will get an opportunity at full-season ball out of the gate in 2017. If you’re in a keeper league and looking to add an underrated arm that’s outside of the top 100 prospects, Morejon is probably your guy.

115. P Robert Stephenson, CIN

116. 2B/SS Mauricio Dubon, MIL

117. P Forrest Whitley, HOU

118. OF Alex Kirilloff, MIN

It was recently announced that Kirilloff needed Tommy John surgery, so the Twins’ 2016 first round pick will have to wait another season before making his full-season debut. He’s certainly a strong buy-low option in dynasty leagues.

119. OF Jahmai Jones, LAA

120. P Ariel Jurado, TEX

121. 2B/SS Luis Urias, SD

Like Morejon, there’s quite a bit of hype surrounding Urias heading into the regular season. The 19 year old was invited to play shortstop for Mexico during the 2017 World Baseball Classic, and folks within the Padres organization are hoping that Urias will stick at the position.

122. SS Richard Urena, TOR

123. P Fernando Romero, MIN

124. 3B Will Craig, PIT

125. P Carson Fulmer, CHW

For as much as we know about the 2015 first round pick, there’s still seems to be a lot of unknown surrounding Fulmer. He wasn’t overly impressive in the minor leagues last season, but he was rushed to the big leagues nonetheless. Once he was promoted to the White Sox, Fulmer posted an 8.49 ERA and walked 7 batters in 11.2 big league innings pitched. The White Sox will give him every chance to succeed as a starting pitcher, but I see a late-inning reliever when I watch Fulmer pitch. A darn good one, too.

126. SS Fernando Tatis Jr., SD

127. OF Trent Clark, MIL

128. 3B Jeimer Candelario, CHC

129. 1B Dan Vogelbach, SEA

Vogelbach has tons of power and is not at all afraid to take a walk. He’ll likely platoon at first base with Danny Valencia for the Mariners this season, but I think there’s a chance that Vogelbach eventually attains the lion’s share of the work if he can continue hitting to all fields like he has this spring.

130. OF Heath Quinn, SF

131. P Luis Castillo, CIN

132. P Phil Bickford, MIL

Bickford will serve a 50 game suspension to begin the 2017 season for a second positive test for a drug of abuse. Traded to Milwaukee at the deadline last season, Bickford is certainly a guy who can eventually make his way into a big league rotation if he can stay clean.

133. OF Bryan Reynolds, SF

134. 1B/C Matt Thaiss, LAA

135. OF Desmond Lindsay, NYM

136. P German Marquez, COL

The Rockies have some holes in their starting rotation, and Marquez should be given every opportunity to crack the opening day 25-man roster. He’s only 22, but Marquez is more of a high-floor guy whose ceiling is probably that of a strong #4 starting pitcher. Still, he could be of some use in deep mixed-leagues this season and should certainly be owned in deep keeper leagues as well.

137. 3B Bobby Dalbec, BOS

138. 1B Casey Gillaspie, TB

139. P Justin Dunn, NYM

The Mets’ 2016 first round pick has a real chance to move through the minors quickly. He struck out 35 and finished with a 1.50 ERA in 30 innings pitched in Short Season A ball, and I expect the Mets to challenge Dunn in 2017. NYM is currently stocked full of high-quality arms, so Dunn will have to really set himself apart from other minor league arms to get a big-league shot anytime soon.

140. P Luiz Gohara, ATL

141. P Brandon Woodruff, MIL

The Mississippi State product struck out 163 in 158 innings and posted an ERA under 3.00 last season between High A and AA, and the righty is one more stellar season away from cracking the Brewers’ rotation.

142. UTIL Christian Arroyo, SF

143. OF Yusniel Diaz, LAD

144. 3B/1B Renato Nunez, OAK

145. P Brady Aiken, CLE

Aiken was the first overall pick in 2014 but didn’t sign. Cleveland ended up drafting him 17th in 2015 after the southpaw underwent Tommy John surgery. The Indians brought him along slowly last season, but we should get an idea of what Aiken’s got in 2017.

146. P Anthony Banda, ARZ

147. 3B Austin Riley, ATL

I don’t know when or how, but I think Riley eventually plays first base for the Braves. He has a ton of power (30+ HR potential), and could play a large role in Atlanta when their current farm system is ready to win games at the big league level.

148. SS Yu-Cheng Chang, CLE

149. C Chase Vallot, KC

150. OF Michael Gettys, SD

151. P Grant Holmes, OAK

Ranked lower on lists this year compared to 2016, Holmes was traded from the Dodgers to the Athletics in a deal centered around Rich Hill and Josh Reddick towards the end of last season. Holmes struggled at High A Cucamonga and High A Stockton, combining for a 4.63 ERA. Only time will tell if he’ll ever live up to the hype of being a first round MLB draft pick.

152. 3B Miguel Andujar, NYY

153. P Franklyn Kilome, PHI

Kilome has as good of a shot to make his way into the top 100 in 2018 as anyone ranked outside of my top 150 this season. A 6’6 righty who is still filling out, Kilome is an unrefined guy with a basement-low floor and a sky-high ceiling who’s certainly worth a flier in deep keeper leagues with prospect slots. I’m certainly a believer, and I think he eventually makes an impact in the Phillies’ rotation.

154. P Matt Strahm, KC

155. OF Hunter Dozier, KC

156. 1B/3B Ryan McMahon, COL

McMahon was a staple on top 100 prospect lists this time last season. He has since changed positions (he’s transitioned from the hot corner to first base), and his offensive production took somewhat of a nosedive in 2016. Perhaps now that he’s settled into his new position, McMahon will cement himself as the Rockies’ first baseman of the future this season.

157. P Jack Flaherty, STL

158. 2B Max Schrock, OAK

159. 3B/SS Dawel Lugo, ARZ

In his age 21 season, Lugo hit 17 home runs and finished with a .311 batting average between stops at High A and AA. He was a full-time shortstop before transitioning to third base in 2016, but his quickest path to the majors might be at his native home in the middle infield. If he’s an MLB shortstop, I think he’ll be a must-own in most fantasy formats.

160. P Brock Stewart, LAD

161. OF Roman Quinn, PHI

Quinn is certainly an intriguing guy who has blazing speed and is still developing power. The Phillies’ offseason outfield acquisitions of Michael Saunders and Howie Kendrick likely means that Quinn starts the year in AAA, but it would be rather shocking if he didn’t play a big-league role for the Phillies by the end of 2017.

162. P Kohl Stewart, MIN

163. OF Johan Mieses, LAD

He simply needs to figure out how to get on base more (easier said than done) if he ever wants to be an MLB player, but Mieses certainly has the power tool to noteworthy if he reaches his ceiling. For now, the 147 Ks in 461 official at-bats and the .314 OBP in 2016 keep him a ways away from top 100 lists.

164. OF Albert Almora, CHC

165. SS Daniel Robertson, TB

166. P Domingo Acevedo, NYY

167. 1B Rhys Hoskins, PHI

Hoskins is one Tommy Joseph-not-panning-out away from being a major factor at first base in every fantasy league format known to man. He hit 38 dingers last year and didn’t strike out enough (125 K’s in 589 plate appearances) to diminish his performance. The 24 year old will start the year in AAA, but keep a close eye on him moving forward.

168. P Chance Adams, NYY

169. C Raudy Read, WAS

170. 3B Nolan Jones, CLE

A super athletic 18 year old (he’ll turn 19 in May), Jones projects as a third baseman who has the bat speed to develop above-average power. He’s all projection at this point, but he’ll need to cut down on the 49 Ks in 109 official at-bats he had during his short stint in rookie ball last season.

171. P Alec Mills, KC

172. P Tyler Mahle, CIN

173. P Alec Hansen, CHW

Hansen stands 6’7 and got his professional career started on the right foot after being taken in the second round by the White Sox during the 2016 draft. The White Sox promote pitching prospects like no other, so Hansen has a shot of advancing through the system quickly if he gets off to a solid start in 2017.

174. OF Cornelius Randolph, PHI

175. OF Dylan Cozens, PHI

Another Philly farmhand with upper-echelon power, Cozens hit 40 (!) home runs in 2016 and finished with a .350 OBP, but the 32% K-rate suggests he still has some work to do before reaching the majors. Standing at 6’6 and weighing 235 pounds, Cozens is an imposing presence regardless of level. Even if his ceiling means striking out once every four at-bats, if he ever gets there, Cozens should be an impact player at the MLB level.

176. SS Domingo Leyba, ARZ

177. 1B Trey Mancini, BAL

178. P Albert Abreu, NYY

Abreu was the centerpiece sent from Houston to the Yankees in last fall’s Brian McCann trade (granted, it was more of a “we have Gary Sanchez now” trade by New York than a value grab). Abreu has the potential to be a middle-of-the-rotation MLB starting pitcher, and I think the Yankees will challenge him and start him at AA Trenton to begin the 2017 season.

179. P Frankie Montas, OAK

180. C Victor Caratini, CHC

181. 1B Ronald Guzman, TEX

Guzman doesn’t get the hype of Dominic Smith or Rowdy Tellez, but there’s a chance he beats both to the major leagues. He hit 16 HR and tallied a .333 OBP last season, and his ceiling is that of a top 15 fantasy first baseman, especially if he continues to develop power (his HR totals have increased the past four seasons).

182. 2B Eliezer Alvarez, STL

183. OF Jason Martin, HOU

184. P Chad Green, NYY

185. 2B Shedric Long, CIN

Long hit 15 home runs, had 21 stolen bases, and finished with a .371 OBP last season between Low A and High A. Standing at only 5’8, there are questions as to whether Long can duplicate that power on a yearly basis, but he’s certainly a middle infielder with sleeper ability that’s worth keeping an eye on this season.

186. OF Dustin Fowler, NYY

187. P Conner Greene, TOR

He’ll never be a guy to strikeout a batter an inning, but Greene posted a 3.51 ERA last season between High A and AA, and the 21 year old (22 in April) should get a shot in the big leagues sometime in 2017 or 2018. There are certainly higher-ceiling players on this list, but Greene is still developing and could be a solid back-end starting pitcher before it’s all said and done.

188. OF Daz Cameron, HOU

189. OF Jorge Ona, SD

190. 2B Forrest Wall, COL

Wall’s popularity as a prospect has dipped in the past year (he struck out too much and missed a month due to injury last season), but there’s still plenty to like about the middle infielder. In a gigantic log-jam in the middle infield of the Rockies and their farm system, don’t be surprised if Wall gets brought up in trade discussions close to the deadline this season (I say this because I think the Rockies will be playoff contenders in 2017).

191. P Marcos Diplan, MIL

192. OF Will Benson, CLE

193. SS Drew Jackson, SEA

194. SS Jasrado Chisholm, ARZ

He’ll play the entire 2017 season as 19 year old, and Chisholm hit 9 HR and stole 13 bases in only 249 plate appearances in Rookie League ball last year. He’ll be in full season ball this season, and Chisholm could skyrocket up prospect lists if he progresses like his age and numbers last season suggest he will.

195. P Cole Ragans, TEX

196. P Eric Lauer, SD

197. P Dakota Hudson, STL

A first round pick in 2016, evaluators are split on whether Hudson has MLB starter potential or if he’ll be an above-average reliever. Regardless, Hudson has a chance to ascend through the Cardinals system rather quickly beginning this season.

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Ray Butler’s 2017 PRESEASON Top 200 MLB Prospects

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Ray Butler’s 2017 PRESEASON Top 200 MLB Prospects

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