Top 50 Hitting Prospects for 2015 (early version)

Here is the current draft of Top 50 hitting prospects for 2015. The Top 50 pitchers will follow in a separate article, then next week we will have a list of the Top 175 that integrates both hitters and pitchers.

This is not entirely finalized and does not include any player notations or explanations. That will wait for the ultimate article but lots of people are asking for a look even at the earlier version. So here it is.

This is based entirely on my own analysis and thinking as will be laid out in the 2015 Baseball Prospect Book. The PDFs for the book should go out this weekend.

It is best to think of this with a tiered approach and not get overly hung up on arguments about number 20 vs. number 21, etc. No prospect list is ever final. Players are a moving target.

Top 50 Hitting Prospects for 2015

1) Kris Bryant, 3B, Chicago Cubs, Grade A
2) Carlos Correa, SS, Houston Astros, Grade A
3) Addison Russell, SS, Chicago Cubs, Grade A
4) Byron Buxton, OF, Minnesota Twins, Grade A
5) Jorge Soler, OF, Chicago Cubs, Grade A
6) Corey Seager, SS, Los Angeles Dodgers, Grade A
7) Francisco Lindor, SS, Cleveland Indians, Grade A
8) Rusney Castillo, OF, Boston Red Sox, Grade A-
9) Yoan Moncada, INF, Boston Red Sox, Grade A-
10) Joc Pederson, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers, Grade A-
11) Kyle Schwarber, C-OF, Chicago Cubs, Grade A-
12) Blake Swihart, C, Boston Red Sox, Grade A-
13) Miguel Sano, 3B, Minnesota Twins, Grade A-
14) Joey Gallo, 3B, Texas Rangers, Grade A-
15) J.P. Crawford, SS, Philadelphia Phillies, Grade A-
16) Jesse Winker, OF, Cincinnati Reds, Grade A-
17) Nomar Mazara, OF, Texas Rangers, Grade B+
18) Maikel Franco, 3B, Philadelphia Phillies, Grade B+
19) Franklin Barreto, SS, Oakland Athletics, Grade B+
20) Alex Jackson, OF, Seattle Mariners, Grade B+
21) Austin Meadows, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates, Grade B+
22) Dilson Herrera, 2B, New York Mets, Grade B+
23) Andrew Susac, C, San Francisco Giants, Grade B+
24) Jose Peraza, INF, Atlanta Braves, Grade B+
25) Steven Souza, OF, Tampa Bay Rays, Grade B+
26) Aaron Judge, OF, New York Yankees, Grade B+
27) Matt Olson, 1B, Oakland Athletics, Grade B+
28) Josh Bell, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates, Grade B+
29) D.J. Peterson, 1B-3B, Seattle Mariners, Grade B+
30) Daniel Robertson, INF, Tampa Bay Rays, Grade B+
31) David Dahl, OF, Colorado Rockies, Grade B+
32) Willy Adames, SS, Tampa Bay Rays, Grade B+
33) Greg Bird, 1B, New York Yankees, Grade B+
34) Bradley Zimmer, OF, Cleveland Indians, Grade B+
35) Michael Taylor, OF, Washington Nationals, Grade B+
36) Rafael Devers, 3B, Boston Red Sox, Grade B+
37) Brandon Drury, 3B, Arizona Diamondbacks, Grade B+
38) Clint Frazier, OF, Cleveland Indians, Grade B+
39) Ryan McMahon, 3B, Colorado Rockies, Grade B+
40) Yasmany Tomas, 3B-OF, Arizona Diamondbacks, Grade B
41) Dalton Pompey, OF, Toronto Blue Jays, Grade B
42) Michael Conforto, OF, New York Mets, Grade B
43) Jorge Alfaro, C, Texas Rangers, Grade B
44) Brandon Nimmo, OF, New York Mets, Grade B
45) Alen Hanson, INF, Pittsburgh Pirates, Grade B
46) Nick Gordon, SS, Minnesota Twins, Grade B
47) Trea Turner, SS, Padres/Nationals, Grade B
48) Kevin Plawecki, C, New York Mets, Grade B
49) Hunter Renfroe, OF, San Diego Padres, Grade B
50) Alex Verdugo, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers, Grade B