Top 150 Prospects for 2014

Top 150 Baseball Prospects for 2014

Here is an updated list of Top 150 Baseball Prospects for 2014. This list expands the Top 50/50 List in the 2014 Baseball Prospect Book. Here are some points to keep in mind when you look at this list:

***The lateness of the book and the prospect lists this year enables some incorporation of early-season 2014 data. However, sample sizes (both sabermetric data and scouting reports) at this point of the season are still small, especially for pitchers, and can be misleading if over-emphasized.

***Pre-season analysis is still heavily-weighted here. That said, there are a few players whose outlook has already improved substantially. Hot starters like Mookie Betts, Joey Gallo, and Brandon Nimmo will rank much higher on the next version of this list in July if they maintain their current momentum.

***The pre-season grades are listed. For the most part they line up well, but there are some pre-season grades that don't quite line up with these May 1st rankings. By listing the pre-season grade you can get a feel for who has seen their stock rise in the first month.

***I do NOT want to open the can of worms of changing pre-season grades yet. That way lies madness.

***Formal grade changes will wait until the next version of this list in July.

***All rankings are moving targets of course. Once you get past the Top 50 especially, you should take a "neighborhood" approach rather than "this guy at 97 is clearly better than the guy at 100."

***I will be around to answer questions in the comment thread today. 

1) Masahiro Tanaka, RHP, New York Yankees, Grade A
2) Byron Buxton, OF, Minnesota Twins, Grade A
3) Xander Bogaerts, 3B, Boston Red Sox, Grade A
4) Oscar Taveras, OF, St. Louis Cardinals, Grade A
5) Addison Russell, SS, Oakland Athletics, Grade A

6) Gregory Polanco, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates, Grade A
7) Archie Bradley, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks, Grade A
8) Robert Stephenson, RHP, Cincinnati Reds, Grade A
9) Jon Gray, RHP, Colorado Rockies, Grade A
10) Javier Baez, SS, Chicago Cubs, Grade A

11) Francisco Lindor, SS, Cleveland Indians, Grade A
12) Kris Bryant, 3B, Chicago Cubs, Grade A
13) Carlos Correa, SS, Houston Astros, Grade A
14) Kevin Gausman, RHP, Baltimore Orioles, Grade A
15) George Springer, OF, Houston Astros, Grade A-

16) Jose Abreu, 1B, Chicago White Sox, Grade A-
17) Carlos Martinez, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals, Grade A-
18) Noah Syndergaard, RHP, New York Mets, Grade A-
19) Eddie Butler, RHP, Colorado Rockies, Grade A-
20) Andrew Heaney, LHP, Miami Marlins, Grade A-

21) Miguel Sano, 3B, Minnesota Twins, Grade A-
22) Yordano Ventura, RHP, Kansas City Royals, Grade A-
23) Taijuan Walker, RHP, Seattle Mariners, Grade A-
24) James Paxton, LHP, Seattle Mariners, Grade A-
25) Lucas Giolito, RHP, Washington Nationals, Grade A-

26) Trevor Bauer, RHP, Cleveland Indians, Grade B+
27) Alex Meyer, RHP, Minnesota Twins, Grade B+
28) Jonathan Singleton, 1B, Houston Astros, Grade B+
29) Aaron Sanchez, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays, Grade A-
30) Kyle Zimmer, RHP, Kansas City Royals, Grade A-

31) Dylan Bundy, RHP, Baltimore Orioles, Grade A-
32) Albert Almora, Of, Chicago Cubs, Grade A-
33) Henry Owens, LHP, Boston Red Sox, Grade B+
34) Nick Castellanos, 3B, Detroit Tigers, Grade B+
35) Maikel Franco, 3B, Philadelphia Phillies, Grade B+

36) Kyle Crick, RHP, San Francisco Giants, Grade A-
37) Roughned Odor, 2B, Texas Rangers, Grade B+
38) Gary Sanchez, C, New York Yankees, Grade B+
39) Corey Seager, SS, Los Angeles Dodgers, Grade B+
40) Joc Pederson, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers, Grade B+

41) Julio Urias, LHP, Los Angeles Dodgers, Grade B+
42) C.J. Edwards, RHP, Chicago Cubs, Grade B+
43) Jesse Winker, OF, Cincinnati Reds, Grade B+
44) Sean Manaea, LHP, Kansas City Royals, Grade B+
45) Marcus Stroman, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays, Grade B+

46) Rafael Montero, RHP, New York Mets, Grade B+
47) Matt Wisler, RHP, San Diego Padres, Grade B+
48) Lance McCullers, Jr, RHP, Houston Astros, Grade B+
49) Clint Frazier, OF, Cleveland Indians, Grade B+
50) Austin Meadows, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates, Grade B+

51) Mark Appel, RHP, Houston Astros, Grade B+
52) Jackie Bradley Jr, OF, Boston Red Sox, Grade B+
53) Miguel Almonte, RHP, Kansas City Royals, Grade B+
54) Tyler Glasnow, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates, Grade B+
55) Braden Shipley, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks, Grade B+

56) Austin Hedges, C, San Diego Padres, Grade B+
57) Kolten Wong, 2B, St. Louis Cardinals, Grade B+
58) Mike Foltynewicz, RHP, Houston Astros, Grade B+
59) A.J. Cole, RHP, Washington Nationals, Grade B+
60) J.P. Crawford, SS, Philadelphia Phillies, Grade B+

61) Raul Mondesi, SS, Kansas City Royals, Grade B+
62) Jorge Soler, OF, Chicago Cubs, Grade B+
63) Travis d’Arnaud, C, New York Mets, Grade B+
64) Kohl Stewart, RHP, Minnesota Twins, Grade B+
65) Max Fried, LHP, San Diego Padres, Grade B+

66) David Dahl, OF, Colorado Rockies, Grade B+
67) Colin Moran, 3B, Miami Marlins, Grade B+
68) Ryan McMahon, 3B, Colorado Rockies, Grade B+
69) Garin Cecchini, 3B, Boston Red Sox, Grade B+
70) Stephen Piscotty, OF, St. Louis Cardinals, Grade B+

71) Erik Johnson, RHP, Chicago White Sox, Grade B+
72) Jake Odorizzi, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays, Grade B+
73) Billy Hamilton, OF, Cincinnati Reds, Grade B+
74) Mookie Betts, 2B, Boston Red Sox, Grade B
75) D.J. Peterson, 3B, Seattle Mariners, Grade B+

76) Joey Gallo, 3B, Texas Rangers, Grade B
77) Lucas Sims, RHP, Atlanta Braves, Grade B+
78) Jesse Biddle, LHP, Philadelphia Phillies, Grade B+
79) Edwin Escobar, LHP, San Francisco Giants, Grade B+
80) Phillip Ervin, OF, Cincinnati Reds, Grade B+

81) Blake Swihart, C, Boston Red Sox, Grade B
82) Hunter Harvey, RHP, Baltimore Orioles, Grade B
83) Andrew Susac, C, San Francisco Giants, Grade B
84) Jorge Alfaro, C, Texas Rangers, Grade B
85) Hunter Dozier, 3B, Kansas City Royals, Grade B

86) Chris Owings, SS, Arizona Diamondbacks, Grade B
87) Arismendy Alcantara, INF, Chicago Cubs, Grade B
88) Alex Reyes, St. Louis Cardinals, Grade B
89) Jimmy Nelson, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers, Grade B
90) Vince Velasquez, RHP, Houston Astros, Grade B

91) Reese McGuire, C, Pittsburgh Pirates, Grade B
92) Mitch Nay, 3B, Toronto Blue Jays, Grade B
93) Marcus Semien, INF, Chicago White Sox, Grade B
94) Tom Murphy, C, Colorado Rockies, Grade B
95) Aaron Blair, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks, Grade B

96) Zach Lee, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers, Grade B
97) Clayton Blackburn, RHP, San Francisco Giants, Grade B
98) Daniel Norris, LHP, Toronto Blue Jays, Grade B
99) Jameson Taillon, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates, Grade B
100) Nick Kingham, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates, Grade B

101) Kyle Parker, 1B-OF, Colorado Rockies, Grade B
102) Delino DeShields, OF, Houston Astros, Grade B
103) Hak-Ju Lee, SS, Tampa Bay Rays, Grade B
104) Anthony Ranaudo, RHP, Boston Red Sox, Grade B
105) Rio Ruiz, 3B, Houston Astros, Grade B

106) Billy McKinney, OF, Oakland Athletics, Grade B
107) Josh Bell, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates, Grade B
108) Alexander Guerrero, 2B, Los Angeles Dodgers, Grade B-
109) Brandon Nimmo, OF, New York Mets, Grade B-
110) Randal Grichuk, OF, St. Louis Cardinals, Grade B-

111) Josmil Pinto, C, Minnesota Twins, Grade B-
112) Chris Withrow, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers, Grade B-
113) Brandon Workman, RHP, Boston Red Sox, Grade B-
114) Pierce Johnson, RHP, Chicago Cubs, Grade B
115) Chris Stratton, RHP, San Francisco Giants, Grade B

116) Marco Gonzales, LHP, St. Louis Cardinals, Grade B
117) Alen Hanson, SS, Pittsburgh Pirates, Grade B
118) Matt Davidson, 3B, Chicago White Sox, Grade B
119) Eddie Rosario, 2B, Minnesota Twins, Grade B
120) Michael Choice, OF, Texas Rangers, Grade B

121) Brian Goodwin, OF, Washington Nationals, Grade B
122) Eric Jagielo, 3B, New York Yankees, Grade B
123) Edwin Diaz, RHP, Seattle Mariners, Grade B
124) Jose Berrios, RHP, Minnesota Twins, Grade B
125) Enny Romero, LHP, Tampa Bay Rays, Grade B

126) Adalberto Mejia, LHP, San Francisco Giants, Grade B
127) Sean Nolin, LHP, Toronto Blue Jays, Grade B
128) Robbie Ray, LHP, Detroit Tigers, Grade B-
129) Taylor Guerrieri, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays, Grade B
130) Luis Heredia, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates, Grade B

131) Matt Barnes, RHP, Boston Red Sox, Grade B-
132) Trevor Story, SS, Colorado Rockies, Grade B-
133) Trey Ball, LHP, Boston Red Sox, Grade B-
134) Ben Lively, RHP, Cincinnati Reds, Grade B-
135) Micah Johnson, 2B, Chicago White Sox, Grade B-

136) Corey Knebel, RHP, Detroit Tigers, Grade B-
137) David Hale, RHP, Atlanta Braves, Grade B-
138) Jorge Polanco, INF, Minnesota Twins, Grade B-
139) Tim Cooney, LHP, St. Louis Cardinals, Grade B-
140) Jace Peterson, INF, San Diego Padres, Grade B-

141) Jonathan Schoop, INF, Baltimore Orioles, Grade B-
142) Tommy La Stella, 2B, Atlanta Braves, Grade B-
143) Chris Anderson, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers, Grade B-
144) Adam Conley, LHP, Miami Marlins, Grade B-
145) Aaron Judge, OF, New York Yankees, Grade B-

146) Hunter Renfroe, OF, San Diego Padres, Grade B-
147) Franmil Reyes, OF, San Diego Padres, Grade C+
148) Clint Coulter, C, Milwaukee Brewers, Grade B-
149) Luke Jackson, RHP, Texas Rangers, Grade B-
150) Justin Nicolino, LHP, Miami Marlins, Grade B-

IN THE PICTURE: Tyler Austin, OF, Yankees; Greg Bird, 1B, Yankees; Jorge Bonifacio, OF, Royals; Tyler Danish, RHP; White Sox; Michael Feliz, RHP, Astros; Wilmer Flores, INF, Mets; Ronald Guzman, 1B, Rangers; Rosel Herrera, SS, Rockies; Carson Kelly, C, Cardinals; Taylor Lindsey, 2B, Angels; Steve Matz, LHP, Mets; Dustin Peterson, 3B, Padres; Kevin Plawecki, C, Mets; Daniel Robertson, SS, Athletics; Eduardo Rodriguez, LHP, Orioles; Victor Sanchez, RHP, Mariners; Dominic Smith, 1B, Mets; Raimel Tapia, OF; Rockies; Chris Taylor, SS, Mariners; Stryker Trahan, OF, Diamondbacks; Henry Urrutia, OF, Orioles; Austin Wilson, OF, Mariners; Drew Ward, 3B, Nationals.

There were another 70 guys I looked at. Feel free to ask about anyone. I will be here most of the day to answer questions in the comment thread.