2021 Top 100 breakdown of the list of prospects

The annual presentation of MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospects list is usually a sign that spring, or at least spring training, is just around the corner. And while that was true in 2020, no one would have been able to predict what would have transpired, or not, in the following season.

The annual presentation of MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospects list is usually a sign that spring, or at least spring training, is just around the corner. And while that was true in 2020, no one would have been able to predict what would have transpired, or not, in the following season.

Despite the major league campaign shortened by the pandemic and the lack of any minor league season, many of the 2020 Top 100 players rose to the top level and contributed to all baseball teams, from wineries to world series champions.

Again, we are all full of hope in anticipation of something close to a normal season. And, once again, many of our new list of possible top 100 2021 will generate excitement in the big leagues throughout the year.

Not in vain, the list is again topped by the phenomenon of Rays short-stop Wander Franco, for a fourth consecutive edition (pre-season of mid-2021 2019). The top 10 also has a couple of Mariners outside players and two potential Padres players.

Those on the list must be eligible for beginners. To qualify as a rookie, a player must not have exceeded 130 bats or 50 innings thrown in the Major Leagues, nor have accumulated more than 45 days on the active roster of a Major League club during the 25 players. deadline, excluding time from the wounded list or military service. The classifications continue to follow the guidelines established by the Collective Bargaining Agreement as to who corresponds to the international rules of money in funds. Players who are at least 25 years old and have played in leagues considered professional (Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Cuba) are not eligible.

The Top 100 is made up of me, Jim Callis and Mike Rosenbaum, with input from industry sources, including front-office explorers and executives. It is based on the analysis of the advantages, tools and potential impact of Major League Players.

MLB Network will air its Top 100 Prospects program on Feb. 13 at 5 p.m. ET.

The Top 10
1. Wander Franco, SS, Rays
2. Adley Rutschman, C, Orioles
3. Spencer Torkelson, 3B / 1B, Tigers
4. Jarred Kelenic, OF, Mariners
5. Julio Rodríguez, OF, Mariners
6. MacKenzie Gore, LHP, Padres
7. Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Royals
8. CJ Abrams, SS, Fathers
9. Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B, Pirates
10. Nate Pearson, RHP, Blue Jays
Complete list »

The newcomers

Players in the 2020 draft are not included in this section, as they were not on the list a year ago. This time there aren’t so many new names due to the unusual nature of the 2020 season, but there are some intriguing players coming out on the list this year.

It’s a group that starts with Rays camper Randy Arozarena, who took Major League Baseball by storm by hitting seven homers in just 64 bats in the regular season and then hit 10 more on an absolutely ridiculous postseason trip that included an MVP of the American League of the Series of Championships. . That’s why it’s debuting at number 34 in this year’s Top 100.

There are no other newcomers in the top 50, but a couple of right-handed pitchers approached. Indians Triston McKenzie, who has been on the roster in previous years but fell in 2019, headed to the big leagues and Cleveland’s postseason roster reaches number 51, while the Pirates ’first 2019 round, Quinn Priester, makes her debut at number 52.

The highest

Not only newcomers make a leap in 2021. Several players who were in last year’s Top 100 have an up arrow next to their names. There are six players who have improved their ranking in more than 25 places from one year to the next, led by defense player D, Corbin Carroll. The first round of 2019 flew from No. 89 to No. 47. Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas went from No. 77 to No. 44, while Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes has catapulted into the top ten, reaching number 9 after ranking at number 41 before the 2020 season. Reality left-back Daniel Lynch made a similar jump of 32 points (number 61 to number 29), the Blue Jays Jordan Groshans went from No. 75 to No. 46 and Angels camper Brandon Marsh also improved by 26 points (from No. 79 to No. 79). Num. 53).

Farther falls

There are six potential participants in last year’s preseason Top 100 who have dropped off the list in 2021, all reaching the 80-100 range. Marlins camper Jesus Sanchez is the top-ranked who has fallen (No. 80), followed by Phillies Bryston Stott (No. 87), Rays right-hander Brent Honeywell (No. 91), Yankees RHP Deivi García (no. 92), the national position Luis Garcia (no. 97) and the left Giants Seth Corry (no. 99).

The graduates

Even with the shortened year, a good number of potential customers had enough league time to get off the potential customer lists. This group of 17 people is led by Dodgers coach Gavin Lux, who was No. 2 in prospecting a year ago. He was joined by two of the top 10 possible, the outsiders Luis Robert de las Medias Blancas (No. 3) and Jo Adell dels Àngels (No. 6). Left-hander Jesus Luzardo (No. 12) and Dodgers right-back Dustin May (No. 23) were the top-rated pitchers to come off the roster.

Positional breakdown

This is one of the heaviest Top 100 we’ve had in a while. There are 39 pitchers in total, 27 from the right and 12 from the left, a far cry from the 47 arms we had the previous two years. In 2016 we only had 39 pitchers, after having 42 in 2017.

There are still more pitchers in total than any other position, with the 25 players closest. The short places are as follows, with 14 ranked in the Top 100, followed by nine catchers, seven third base, four second seconds and a couple of first bases.

Hearing the draft

When we re-rank the Top 100 in the summer, it gives us a chance to add members to the latest Draft class. In 2020, outside of graduations, this was the only change on the list. Due to the pandemic, the order of the existing players on the roster remained static, leaving room for the 14 members of the 20 class who were added. This harvest is led, of course, by general election No. 1 Spencer Torkelson, our No. 3 prospect. Five other first-round picks are in the top 50: No. 22 Austin Martin, OF (Blue Jays), No. 28 Max Meyer, RHP (Marlins), No. 30 Asa Lacy, LHP (Royals), No. 31 Emerson Hancock, RHP (Mariners) and No. 43 Nick Gonzales, 2B (Pirates). Overall, there are 81 former killers in the Top 100.

International flavor

This leaves 19 international signatories on the list (Reminder: Players from Canada and Puerto Rico are playing). Not in vain, the Dominican Republic leads this group with a dozen representatives. The Bahamas and Venezuela have two players in the Top 100, while Colombia, Cuba and Panama have one representative.