Our main current project is an updated Top 100 list for the end of the 2016 season.
The first step in the process is reviewing the pre-season Top 175 list.
Earlier we did spots one through 25.
Obviously we don't know how things will look three years from now, but we can at least come up with some preliminary assessments.
THIS IS THE 2016 PRE-SEASON LIST. It is the research starting point for the 2017 list.
101) Sam Travis, 1B, Boston Red Sox, Grade B: Hit .272/.332/.435 through 47 games in Triple-A until going down with a torn left ACL and missing the rest of the season.
102) Jake Bauers, 1B-OF, Tampa Bay Rays, Grade B: Hit .274/.370/.420 in Double-A with 14 homers and 73 walks at age 20; continues to show impressive strike zone judgment with moderate power at a young age. I think he holds with a strong B.
103) Triston McKenzie, RHP, Cleveland Indians, Grade B: Excellent performance at age 19, 1.62 ERA in 83 innings between New York-Penn and Midwest Leagues, 104/22 K/BB, just 58 hits, an elite prospect in my view on the B+/A- cusp.
104) Trey Mancini, 1B, Baltimore Orioles, Grade B: Solid year in high minors, hit .282/.357/.458 with 20 homers, 58 walks, 140 strikeouts in 546 at-bats; similar skill set to Christian Walker but a year younger at age 24, not sure how they will fit in Baltimore.
105) Raimel Tapia, OF, Colorado Rockies, Grade B: Hit .328/.362/.458 in the high minors demonstrating his line drive hitting ability; I wanted to see him outside the Cal League before going with a higher grade but his skills seem steady, would rate him a B+ now.
106) Cody Bellinger, 1B, Los Angeles Dodgers, Grade B: Hit .271/.365/.507 with 26 homers, 60 walks in high minors; as with Tapia I wanted to see him outside the Cal League but he continued to perform well; B+ at this point. Both Tapia and Bellinger should have ranked ahead of Mancini.
107) Forrest Wall, 2B, Colorado Rockies, Grade B: Hit .264/.329/.355 in the Cal League with six homers, 41 walks, 22 steals; glove remains erratic; still young at age 20 but this was a stagnant season. Depending on scouting reports, may drop down to a B-.
108) Frankie Montas, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers, Grade B: Traded to Athletics in Josh Reddick/Rich Hill deal; missed most of season with rib injury; posted 22/3 K/BB in 16 innings between Double-A and Triple-A before final shutdown; health reports this winter will be crucial but a healthy Montas is likely a B+.
109) Brandon Drury, 3B, Arizona Diamondbacks, Grade B: Very good major league rookie season, hitting .281/.331/.457 with 15 homers and very hot recently, graduated and grade looks verified.
110) Andrew Knapp, C, Philadelphia Phillies, Grade B: Hit .266/.330/.390 in Triple-A with okay defense; I felt he was capable of better with the bat; at age 24 he needs to step forward in '17. Heading for a downgrade.
111) Alex Blandino, INF, Cincinnati Reds, Grade B: Disappointing, hit .233/.333/.337 in Double-A; reliable and versatile glove but has to show more with the bat; ranked too high.
112) Ian Happ, OF-2B, Chicago Cubs, Grade B: Hit .279/.365/.445 with 15 homers, 68 walks, 16 steals between High-A and Double-A; decent glove at second base; holding with a Grade B.
113) Ruddy Giron, SS, San Diego Padres, Grade B: Hit .243/.302/.344 between Low-A and High-A at age 19, still shows all the tools but needs polish on both offense and defense. High ceiling, high risk type.
114) Billy McKinney, OF, Chicago Cubs, Grade B: Traded to Yankees in Aroldis Chapman deal; hit .246/.342/.338 in Double-A; good plate discipline but lack of power a clear issue; was very hot late in the year. Stock down a bit but still somewhere in the B-range.
115) Hunter Renfroe, OF, San Diego Padres, Grade B: Mashed in Triple-A, .306/.336/.557 with 30 homers, 22 walks, 115 strikeouts; El Paso park helped a lot, posted 1.049 OPS at home but just .737 on the road; I remain worried about his average and OBP in the majors but the power is real.
116) Daniel Robertson, SS, Tampa Bay Rays, Grade B: Hit .259/.358/.356 in Triple-A at age 22, still lacks power but gets on base, steady with the glove at shortstop and very good at second and third; I still think this bat can blossom down the line.
117) Dominic Smith, 1B, New York Mets, Grade B: Hit .302/.367/.457 with 14 homers, 50/74 BB/K in Double-A at age 20/21; power is gradually coming around although defense has slipped. Somewhere on B/B+ cusp.
118) Isan Diaz, 2B, Milwaukee Brewers, Grade B: Hit .264/.358/.469 with 20 homers, 72 walks at age 20 in the difficult-for-hitters Midwest League; range is limited at shortstop but should be okay at second base; bat looks very promising. Grade up to B+.
119) Austin Riley, 3B, Atlanta Braves, Grade B: Hit .271/.324/.479 with 39 doubles, 20 homers, 39 walks, 147 strikeouts in Low-A; still rough with the glove and needs better strike zone management but power is undeniable.
120) Cornelius Randolph, OF; Philadelphia Phillies, Grade B: Missed half of season with shoulder injury, hit .274/.355/.357 in 241 at-bats in Low-A, weaker than what he did in 2015 rookie ball but he was making a big jump at age 19 and got hurt; still has high upside.
121) Kyle Tucker, OF, Houston Astros, Grade B: Hit .285/.360/.438 between Low-A and High-A, nine homers, 50 walks, 32 steals at age 19; more power should come in 2017; the grade was too cautious and he's a certain high-level B+ now, maybe more.
122) Lucas Sims, RHP, Atlanta Braves, Grade B: Strong in Double-A (2.67 in 91 innings) but weak in Triple-A (7.56 in 50 innings) due to command failure (37 walks), has the stuff to be very impressive but still looking for consistency, still has time at 22.
123) Kyle Zimmer, RHP, Kansas City Royals, Grade B: Pitched just five innings due to thoracic outlet syndrome, requiring surgery in July.
124) Tyler Jay, LHP, Minnesota Twins, Grade B: Pitched 84 innings between High-A and Double-A, 3.33 ERA with 77/26 K/BB; credible season cut short by strained neck in early August. Likely will hold with a B.
125) Erick Fedde, RHP, Washington Nationals, Grade B: Successful campaign in High-A and Double-A, 3.12 ERA with 122/29 K/BB in 121 innings; should be ready for a trial next year. Can make a good case for B+.
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