Fantasy Baseball: Top Fantasy Outfielder Prospects for 2011

Hello everyone. Let me apologize for not writing lately (before Saturday), but with the holidays and wanting to finish my 2011 position rankings over at Fake Teams, coupled with John posting his team prospect lists at a feverish pace, I decided to hold off on my 2011 prospect fantasy rankings by position.

I will pick up with the Top Fantasy Outfielder Prospect rankings for 2011 and then move on to pitchers in the next week. The outfielder rankings are headed by 3 A-rated prospects who I think will see plenty of time at the major league level in 2011, and I included Brandon Belt as we are not sure where the Giants will play him this year. His best position is first base, but he could see some outfield time this year.

The top fantasy outfielder rankings for 2011 are as follows:

1. Domonic Brown, PHI-Brown dominated in AA/AAA in 2010 hitting .327-.391-.589 with 20 HRs, 68 RBIs, 17 SBs in 24 attempts and a 74-37 K/BB rate. I don't like the way the Phillies handled Brown in 2010 as they should have sent him back to AAA after Shane Victorino returned from the DL in August. Brown did not play much in Philadelphia and could have used more at bats in AAA to close out the season. There is talk that he will start the season in AAA, and I am on the fence whether that will happen or not, but if it does, I don't see it lasting much past early May. Brown is another must add in keeper leagues and a late round pick in mixed leagues in 2011.

2. Desmond Jennings, TB-Jennings had a bit of a disappointing season in 2010, as he hit .278-.362-.393 with 3 HRs , 36 RBIs, 37 SBs in 41 attempts and a solid 67-47 K/BB rate. Jennings should replace departed free agent Carl Crawford in left field in 2011, and I expect him to hit for a good BA and steal 30+ bases in a full-time role. Jennings is a must add in keeper leagues and a late round pickup in mixed leagues in 2011.

3. Brandon Belt, SFG-Belt's prospect status rose in a big way in 2010 as he hit .352-.455-.620 with 23 HRs, 112 RBIs, 22 SBs in 30 attempts, and a 99-93 K/BB rate at 3 levels. Belt probably won't steal many bases in the big leagues, but he should be a solid BA and average power. He appears to have an advanced approach at the plate, and many felt the Giants should give him a shot at winning the first base job in 2011, and after watching him in the AFL All-Star game, I agree. He is a must add in keeper leagues, and is draftable in deep mixed leagues.

More rankings after the jump:

4. Brandon Allen, ARI-Allen seems to have done all he can in the minors, and is ready for a full-time role in my opinion. In 2010, he hit .261-.405-.528 with 25 HRs, 86 RBIs, 14 SBs in 18 attempts, and an excellent 95-83 K/BB rate. Looking at the Diamondbacks 40-man roster at this point, he has competition from Juan Miranda at first base, but think Allen will get the majority of playing time there in 2010. He is draftable in both keeper and mixed leagues in 2011.

5. Ben Revere, MIN-Revere hit .305-.371-.363 with a HR, 23 RBIs, 36 SBs in 49 attempts and a solid 41-32 K/BB rate at AA in 2010.  He is not guaranteed a roster spot in Minnesota out of spring training so he should start the season in AAA. Revere is a leadoff hitter who won't hit for power, but will provide a solid BA/OBP and 30+ SBs in a full-time role in the big leagues. He is only draftable in keeper leagues in 2011.

6. Nick Weglarz, CLE-Weglarz has had trouble staying healthy, but when healthy, he is a solid hitter who can hit for power and get on base. He hit .285-.390-.503 with 13 HRs, 47 RBIs and a good 69-50 K/BB rate in AA and AAA in 2010. With the Indians in a rebuilding mode, Weglarz could see some time in Cleveland in 2011, and Project Prospect's Adam Foster listed him as one of his Top 10 Sleeper hitters this year.

7. Trayvon Robinson, LAD-Trayvon showed solid growth at the plate in 2010 at AA Chatanooga hitting .300-.404-.438 with 9 HRs, 57 RBIs, 38 SBs in 53 attempts and a 125-73 K/BB rate. The K's are concerning as he profiles as a leadoff hitter with pop, but his improved plate discipline can't go unnoticed. The Dodgers have yet to sign a left fielder with alot of major league experience to this point, which tells me the Dodgers may be willing to give Robinson or Jerry Sands a shot at a big league starting job in 2012. Actually, both could land starting jobs with continued improvement at AAA in 2011. Robinson is draftable in keeper leagues only at this point.

8. Jerry Sands, LAD-Sands started the season as a 22 year old in the Low A Midwest League, but ended the season atop the Dodgers Top 20 prospect list. Sands dominated Low A hitting .333-.432-.646 with 18 HRs, 46 RBIs, 14 SBs and a 61-40 K/BB rate earning himself a promotion to AA Chatanooga, where he continued to hit for power. He hit .270-.360-.529 with 17 HRs, 47 RBIs, 4 SBs and a 62-33 K/BB rate. Sands will start 2011 in AAA Albuquerque and has a chance for a call-up should he continue to hit for power. He could land himself a spot either in the Dodgers outfield or at first base in 2012.

9. Scott Cousins, FLA-at the Winter Meetings back in December, Marlins GM Larry Beinfest was interviewed by the guys at the MLB Network. He made me laugh when he said that he is very comfortable with Chris Coghlan playing centerfield in 2011. Coghlan is coming off knee surgery and the Marlins may have a hole at third base out of spring training should prospect Matt Dominguez prove to be not ready. I think Cousins could get some playing time in 2011 in centerfield for the Marlins. He has played a total of 138 games in centerfield the last two years in the minors.

10. Michael Taylor, OAK-I wrote about Taylor here. It is safe to say that Taylor needs to have a better 2011 season in AAA before he sees time in Oakland, and hit for power. If he doesn't regain the power stroke, he may end up being a AAAA player. It appears at this point that Phillies GM Ruben Amaro made a smart move dealing him in the package for Roy Halladay.

11. Fernando Martinez, NYM-I wrote about FMart here. Similar to Michael Taylor, Martinez needs to regain his prospect status by staying healthy and hitting for more power in AAA in 2011. 

Honorable Mention: Andrew Lambo, PIT, Josh Reddick, BOS, Todd Frazier, CIN, Corey Wimberly, PIT, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, NYM, Thomas Neal, SFG, Eric Thames, TOR, Brett Jackson, CHC, Mike Trout, LAA

Keeper Leagues

1. Bryce Harper, WAS

2. Mike Trout, LAA

3. Domonic Brown, PHI

4. Desmond Jennings, TB

5. Brandon Belt, SFG

6. Brett Jackson, CHC

7. Aaron Hicks, MIN

8. Trayvon Robinson, LAD

9. Jerry Sands, LAD

10. Brandon Allen, ARI

11. Jaff Decker, SD

12. Josh Sale, TB

13. Nick Weglarz, CLE

14. Jared Mitchell, CHW