John's A, A-, and B+ Prospects

by Blacksox2010 on Jan 6, 2026 10:21 PM EST

Here's a simple list of all Grade A, A-, and B+ prospects from John. These are in no order other than grouped by grades. Enjoy.

(A Prospects Pitchers)

Aroldis Chapman (Cin) (A)

Jeremy Hellickson (TB) (A)

Matt Moore (TB) (A)

Julio Teheran (Atl) (A)

Michael Pineda (Sea) (A)

Chris Sale (ChWS) (A)

(A- Prospects)

Mike Minor (Atl) (A-)

Kyle Drabek (Tor) (A-)

Zach Britton (Bal) (A-)

Danny Duffy (KC) (A-)

Shelby Miller (StL) (A-)

Jacob Turner (Det) (A-)

(B+ Prospects)

Jameson Taillon (Pit) (B+)

Jake McGee (TB) (B+)

John Lamb (KC) (B+)

Mike Montgomery (KC) (B+)

Kyle Gibson (Min) (B+)

Jordan Lyles (Hou) (B+)

Randall Delgado (Atl) (B+)

Alex Wimmers (Min) (B+)

Martin Perez (Tex) (B+)

Robbie Erlin (Tex) (B+)

Alex White (Cle) (B+)

Drew Pomeranz (Cle) (B+)

Trey McNutt (ChC) (B+)

Chris Archer (ChC) (B+)

Tyler Matzek (Col) (B+)

Casey Kelly (SD) (B+)

Simon Castro (SD) (B+)

Brody Colvin (Phi) (B+)

Jeremy Jeffress (KC) (B+)

Jake Odorizzi (Tor) (B+)

(A ProspectsHitters)

Mike Moustakas (KC) (3B) (A)

Eric Hosmer (KC) (1B) (A)

Wil Myers (KC) (C) (A)

Bryce Harper (Wash) (OF) (A)

Jesus Montero (NYY) (C) (A)

Mike Trout (LAA) (OF) (A)

Dominic Brown (Phi) (OF) (A)

(A- Prospects)

Brandon Belt (SF) (1B/OF) (A-)

Freddie Freeman (Atl) (1B) (A-)

Manny Machado (Bal) (SS) (A-)

Dustin Ackley (Sea) (2B) (A-)

(B+ Prospects)

Desmond Jennings (TB) (OF) (B+)

Aaron Hicks (Min) (OF) (B+)

Jaff Decker (SD) (OF) (B+)

Wilmer Flores (NYM) (SS) (B+)

Jurickson Profar (Tex (SS) (B+)

Derek Norris (Was) (C) (B+)

Gary Sanchez (NYY) (C) (B+)

Jason Kipnis (Cle) (2B) (B+)

Lonnie Chisenhall (Cle) (3B) (B+)

Brett Jackson (ChC) (OF) (B+)

Nolan Arenado (Col) (3B) (B+)

Devin Mesoraco (Cin) (C) (B+)

Yonder Alonso (Cin) (1B) (B+)

Billy Hamilton (Cin) (2B-SS) (B+)

Yasmani Grandal (Cin) (C) (B+)

Jonathon Singleton (Phi) (1B) ((B+)

Brett Lawrie (Tor) (2B) (B+)

Tweet Comment 20 comments | Add comment | 4 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Was just about to do same thing!

You beat me to it but I was planning on doing the list by position.

Catcher (6)
Montero A
Myers A
Mesoraco B+
Norris B+
Sanchez B+
Grandal B+
****I think Rosario belongs in this group****

1B (5)
Hosmer A
Belt A-
Freeman A-
Alonso B+
Singleton B+

2B (5)
Ackley A-
Lawrie B+
Kipnis B+
Espinosa B+
Hamilton B+
****Does Segura belong in this group?****

SS (2)
Machado A-
Profar B+
****Nick Franklin belongs in this group****

3B (4)
Moustakas A
Chisenhall B+
Flores B+
Arenado B+

OF (7)
Harper A
Trout A
Brown A
Jennings B+
Hicks B+
Decker B+
Jackson B+
****I don’t think I would include Decker in this group****

SP (34)
Chapman A
Hellickson A
Moore A
Teheran A
Pineda A
Sale A
Miller A-
Minor A-
Turner A-
Duffy A-
Drabek A-
Taillon B+
Montgomery B+
Lamb B+
Perez B+
Britton B+
Kelly B+
Delgado B+
Gibson B+
McGuire B+
Stewart B+
Wimmers B+
Pomeranz B+
Castro B+
White B+
Lyles B+
Betances B+
Odorizzi B+
McGee B+
Archer B+
McNutt B+
Matzek B+
Colvin B+
Erlin B+
****My biggest disagreements would include Colvin, Erlin, & Matzek too high whereas J Parker should probably be included in this list.****

TOTAL: 29 hitters / 34 pitchers

The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. It reminds us of all that once was good, and that could be again.

by Savoy on Jan 6, 2026 10:49 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

I like this one

by jackyz on Jan 6, 2026 11:40 PM EST up reply actions

thanks Savoy

love the list by position

Ray Guilfoyle
www.faketeams.com
www.sbnation.com
www.minorleagueball.com

by Ray Guilfoyle on Jan 7, 2026 12:23 AM EST up reply actions

Nice

And to the OP, too.

Thanks for 50 Great Years Bobby Cocks - (celebration cake from the US Senate)

by siddfynch on Jan 7, 2026 2:10 AM EST up reply actions

Thanks...

for showing me up!!! I was going to do this post later too, just wanted to be the first to post the overall grades. Nice work sir.

*Pete Rose is my BFF

by Blacksox2010 on Jan 7, 2026 7:02 AM EST up reply actions

Sorry

The credit should go to you for the original post. Job well done by you.

The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. It reminds us of all that once was good, and that could be again.

by Savoy on Jan 7, 2026 8:45 AM EST up reply actions

+1

Pretty much agree with everything stated. This is a great way for John to take a final look at his top grades. The idea is to organize by tiers, and my first thoughts were “gee, why is Segura missing from the 2B list and Franklin from the SS list?”

by guru4u on Jan 7, 2026 4:25 PM EST up reply actions

Grade Changes

John just posted a few grade changes - only two are impacted in the A, A-, & B+ list:

Danny Duffy A- lowered to B+.
Casey Kelly B+ lowered to B

by Leather Larceny on Jan 6, 2026 10:51 PM EST reply actions

Thanks

You too savoy - that is also useful

by slurve on Jan 6, 2026 11:16 PM EST reply actions

Don't understand how Manny Banuelos isn't a B+ or A-

Keith Law, Kevin Goldstein, Frank Piliere all view him as a potential frontline starter. His stuff is excellent (plus fastball, plus changeup, above avg curveball), great command, and good performance at such a young age. The only knock on him is his size, which I think is getting overblown. In my opinion, he’s better than the guys listed below (with their grades).

McGuire B+
Stewart B+
Wimmers B+
Pomeranz B+
Castro B+
White B+
Lyles B+
Betances B+
Odorizzi B+
McGee B+
Archer B+
McNutt B+
Matzek B+
Colvin B+
Erlin B+

I’m disappointed.

Dewey and KBR are just.......too........sweeeeeeeeeeeeeet!!!!!!

The Wolfpac is looking for new soldiers! Change your logo to the black and red!!!

by Dewey Finn on Jan 6, 2026 11:29 PM EST reply actions

I posted this on Dec. 18, 2010

Recent Keith Law chat…

Marc (Lancaster, PA)

What does Banuelos need to work on to solidify himself as a top of the rotation pitcher?

Klaw (12:37 PM)

I don’t see much left for him to do. Tighten the breaking ball? He’s got command. He’s got present velocity. He’s not projectable. The change is plus. He’s pretty damn good right now.

From Frank Pillere in August…

Look around the big leagues and find the left-handed starting pitchers that average 93 mph or better with their fastball. It’s a very short list. Throw in the fact that Banuelos is a consistent strike-throwing machine with two above-average secondary pitches and you have a very rare commodity. If you’re looking for any negatives with Banuelos, it’s his lack of size. But given the ease of his delivery, plus stuff and greatly advanced pitching aptitude, this is a particular talent that goes against the stereotype. If he can remain healthy and keep his shorter frame in check, he is a true front-of-the-rotation type pitcher.

From Kevin Goldstein in September…

Consistently one of the busiest teams in the Latin American market, the Yankees had several international arms move into the spotlight, but none has a brighter future than left-hander Manny Banuelos. He’s 19, and, at Double-A this year, he had a 2.51 ERA and struck out 85 in 64.2 IP. Every pitch in Banuelos’ already-impressive arsenal improved this summer, as his velocity went from the low 90s to consistently sitting at 92-95 mph, although his curveball became a more consistent offering with sharp break — and his changeup remained the plus pitch it always was. Among undersize lefties with power stuff, some scouts think Banuelos is now every bit as good as, if not better than, coveted Texas Rangers prospect Martin Perez.

Dewey and KBR are just.......too........sweeeeeeeeeeeeeet!!!!!!

The Wolfpac is looking for new soldiers! Change your logo to the black and red!!!

by Dewey Finn on Jan 6, 2026 11:37 PM EST up reply actions

+1

me too, but honestly who cares? let him continue to get better and actually become an ace, rather then just project as one.

by schmosterballs92 on Jan 7, 2026 8:45 AM EST up reply actions

+1

Although I do like the results/stuff that Betances showed in 2010, so I put those 2 neck and neck.

Not a Yankee fan either

Fat man is no more,
Bursting on through Heaven's Door
Come on in, says Bill

by Wilbur Wood on Jan 7, 2026 10:37 AM EST up reply actions

too many straight As?

I count 13 As and 9 A-s (I already removed Duffy).

From 2003-2009 the average was 7 A (range: 4-9) and 16 A- (range of 9-21).

So combined there were 23 A/A- and so far this year there are 22. That looks right as expected.

But the distribution is way off. Where it used to be 2 times more A- than A, this year there are 50% more A.

Just in terms of the numbers I don’t think that makes sense. You’d expect a pyramid shape with the highest grade containing the fewest players.

But it also doesn’t make sense with the general idea that so much elite talent graduated last year that the minors this year are a little low. Instead John has given out the most ever straight A grades by a large margin - 13 this year vs 9 in 2006.

I think a half dozen As should be dropped.

by philly on Jan 7, 2026 9:58 AM EST reply actions

The grade reflects the talent though

it’s not graded on a bell curve to maintain continuity from year to year. . .

by SoCalSoxFan on Jan 7, 2026 12:32 PM EST up reply actions

and i

just read that from John below. . :)

by SoCalSoxFan on Jan 7, 2026 12:32 PM EST up reply actions

SSS

I agree with most of the A grades - it’s just a decent year for upper end prospects. A lot high floors this year it seems.

by slurve on Jan 7, 2026 11:23 AM EST reply actions

curve

I don’t grade an a curve. If there are more As this year than A-, that is just the way it went.

by John Sickels on Jan 7, 2026 12:13 PM EST reply actions

fair enough

And I did realize there was no curve, but I think the context of previous lists is at least a useful guide. You certainly haven’t deviated this much from that A/A- ratio.

I think it also plays into some reactions of surprise that some of this year’s As received. Pineda and Sale in particular seemed like stretches for as straight As for someone who calls himself a tough grader.

Not a big deal, just a difference of opinion.

by philly on Jan 7, 2026 8:50 PM EST up reply actions

I don't really

think its fair to look at this in a vacuum such as you are doing. It’s not the biggest of sample sizes to begin with. If he thinks he’s grading this years crop fairly in comparison to previous years there just happens to be a bit of outlier / spike this year in upper end prospects. By saying it’s a 50% jump is one way to look at the data. Another is to say that there 6 additional A’s out of 1000’s of minor league players which equates to less than a one half of one percent difference which is certainly not something that should reach out and grab you as a significant deviation.

Another thing to look at is his track record with A prospects - it’s quite good. He’s been doing this for a long time and from what I can tell he has certainly continued to learn making it also possible he’s better tuned in to which players deserve the A grade. Just to cut 6 players to get it to fall in line with past years totals is crazy to me.

by slurve on Jan 8, 2026 11:31 AM EST up reply actions