We continue with our second installment in Dynasty Sports Empire’s Top 50 MLB prospects for 2014. This list has been compiled for fantasy baseball purposes only, taking into consideration the most popular 5×5 categories used across most dynasty leagues. DSE’s Lead Prospect Analyst Zach Mongillo (DSE_Mongillo) and MiLB Insider Scott Greene (@Scotty_Ballgame) each compiled their our own Top 50 lists and this ranking list is the result of our continuing collaboration.
*To clarify, an NR rating by either Mongillo or Greene means the player was not ranked in their Top 50.
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Recapping #50 through #41 (full article with player projections):
50 Max Fried, SD, RHP
49 Allen Webster, BOS, RHP
48 Kyle Crick, SF, RHP
47 Joey Gallo, TEX, 3B
46 Josmil Pinto, C, MIN
45 Matthew Wisler, SD, RHP
44 Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, PHI, RHP
43 Henry Owens, BOS, LHP
42 Jackie Bradley, Jr., BOS, OF
41 Rafael Montero, NYM, RHP
File Photo: Matt Burton/MiLB.com
40. Colin Moran: MIA, 3B (Mongillo NR, Greene 35): The Marlins third baseman of the future was chosen 6th overall in last season’s MLB 1st Year Player Draft. He very likely could be on the fast track to the majors with no big obstacle holding down the hot corner in south Florida. Moran, Miami’s top hitting prospect, is a big left-handed hitter (6’ 4”, 190 lb) who should develop more power over the next few years. He went .299/.354/.442 in his first 42 professional games last season in Low A ball, with 4 HRs and 23 RBI. Expect Moran to get a look in Spring Training and then spend a good part of the season in Class A, with the potential to hit AA ball later in 2014. It’s not out of the realm of possibility to see this 1st round pick at the hot corner in Miami soon. ETA: Late 2015.
File Photo: Cliff Welch/MiLB.com
39. Jorge Soler: CHC, OF (Mongillo 23, Greene 44): Cuban defector Soler had a rough 2013 but is back on track to show his huge potential as a future Wrigley Field outfielder and middle-of-the-order bat. Throw aside brief suspension and benching issues at Class A Daytona last season, Soler played in 55 games and hit .281 with 8 HRs/35 RBI in 210 at bats before missing the rest of the season with a stress fracture in his left foot last June. Being back on the field this past fall in Arizona gave him some needed live game experience and should hopefully spend a good portion of 2014 in AA, barring any health issues. If Soler proves he’s fully healed and keeps his mind and best effort on the field, there’s no reason double-digit HRs, 50 RBI with a .375 OBP and SLG close to .500 is out of the question. Look for at least 1 ½ to 2 more years in the Minors for Soler, but he projects to be 25-30 HR guy, with a little bit of speed, 10-12 SB per year. ETA: 2016.
File Photo: Paul R. Gierhart/MiLB.com
38. Austin Hedges: SD, C (Mongillo NR, Greene 32): Hedges is one of the most major league ready catching prospects in the game. The Padres are hoping Hedges gets to San Diego sometime in 2014 to call games for their promising rotation in pitcher friendly Petco Park. By most accounts his defensive skills are already there but the Padres want more than a .240 hitter. His remaining time in the Minors will undoubtedly be to improve on his bat skills. Over 600 at bats in 2013 Hedges hit a serviceable .260, but only .224 in his limited at bats at AA San Antonio. His first half performance and obvious high ceiling were good enough to garner him a roster spot in last year’s Futures Game. What needs to improve in order for Hedges to truly be a fantasy commodity are his OBP and SLG. The numbers he put up over 66 games at High A Lake Elsinore (.270/.343/.425) are ones that he should be able to build on as he surges closer to the majors. ETA: Second half 2014.
File Photo: Tom Priddy/Four Seam Images
37. Gregory Polanco: PIT, OF (Mongillo 27, Greene 37): Polanco is widely considered the stud offensive prospect in the Pittsburgh system. From A+ ball to AAA in 2013, one more full season at AAA Indianapolis should be expected as Polanco is groomed to roam the Bucs outfield with MVP McCutchen for many years to come. The 6’4”, 170 lb. 22-year-old from the Dominican Republic posted a decent .285/.356/.434 line overall in 2013, including 12 HR, 71 RBI and 38 SBs. He only played 2 games in AAA, so barring an unexpected spot on the Pirates Opening Day roster, Polanco will go to Indianapolis for 2014. This is the kind of player who can be a very nice target in any dynasty league as he projects out to be a potential 30-30 guy in a few years. ETA: 2015.
File Photo: Ken Inness/MiLB.com
36. Joc Pederson: LAD, OF (Mongillo 29, Greene 33): We’ll tell you right off the bat that this kid is special. He’s not Yasiel Puig “take the Majors by storm” special, but by all accounts his is a very solid bat. Arguably the Dodgers’ top hitting prospect (some may go with Corey Seager, we go with Pederson), his name has been linked to several trade rumors, but the 21-year-old from Palo Alto, CA is still a jewel in the Los Angeles farm. Does he have a spot in the immediate future Dodgers outfield. No, not with Crawford, Kemp and Puig, so there’s clearly no rush to get Pederson to Chavez Ravine. His looks like a traditional path, having spent the entire 2012 season in High A, all of 2013 in AA, and 2014 could very likely be some AA but mostly AAA. Joc shows some power, having 18 and 22 home run totals over the last 2 years, and his base running opens plenty of eyes as well, swiping 26 and 31 bags respectively in that same time frame. Pederson, a 2013 Futures Game participant, should be on any radar if you can stash prospects in your fantasy league for a year or two. ETA: Mid 2015.
File Photo: Mark LoMoglio/MiLB.com
35. Jonathan Singleton: HOU, 1B (Mongillo 35, Greene 27): This is the same guy the Phillies were grooming just a couple of years ago to eventually be Ryan Howard’s replacement. The Astros considered him valuable enough to trade Hunter Pence for him in 2011. 2014 could be the year that Singleton finally brings his big bat to the bigs. Houston sure is ready for him. Coming off a very solid 2012 at AA Corpus Christi in the Houston system (.284/.396/.497, 21 HR, 79 RBI, 7 SB in 131 games), Singleton landed a 50 game suspension for violating minor league baseball’s drug policy for the first part of 2013. He did get 73 games at AAA Oklahoma City in the second half of 2013, and while his overall numbers there show only a .220 AVG with 6 HRs, he was certainly coming on over the last month of the season. While Brett Wallace keeps first base occupied in Houston, look for Singleton to continue to hone his skills in AAA this season, with a chance to put up 20-25 HR, 70-80 RBI and a .270 AVG annually once he arrives. ETA: 2015.
File Photo: Emily Jones/MiLB.com
34. Aaron Sanchez: TOR, RHP (Mongillo 30, Greene 31): The Jays have several very good pitching prospects including Marcus Stroman, Roberto Osuna, Sean Nolin (who was actually rocked in his MLB debut in 2013), but Sanchez is their potential #1 and hopefully sooner-than-later ace of the rotation. Another big frame (same size as Moran – 6’4”, 190 lbs), on the mound Sanchez can be that dominating presence the Jays have needed since Doc Halladay left. Only 21-years-old heading into 2014, Sanchez spent all of last year in High A Dunedin. The numbers aren’t dominating (3.34 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 7.8 K/9) but they’re good. His control is improving and he only walked 40 in 86.1 IP last season, a nice little improvement from 50 BB in 90.1 IP in 2012. Sanchez is the Toronto pitcher to shoot for in any dynasty league, but expect the aforementioned Jays prospects to likely beat him to the majors. ETA: 2016.
File Photo: John Owen MiLB.com
33. Yordano Ventura: KC, RHP (Mongillo 33, Greene 28): Ventura enjoyed a cup of coffee last September amidst the Royals stretch run, and they had no problem trusting him to go out and start a couple of key games in their hopes to make the playoffs. This kid throws heat. Still rookie eligible for 2014, Ventura only tossed 15.1 innings (3 starts) and K’d 11. A respectable 3.52 ERA was promising but he needs to harness his control from what we saw in Kansas City over those few games (1.24 WHIP – not bad, not spectacular). Where you see some of the superstar potential is looking at what the 22-year-old Dominican did in AA Northwest Arkansas and AAA Omaha earlier in 2013. How about 155 K in 134.2 IP? Ventura could be a lights out setup man, possibly even the closer of the future for the Royals. As Crow, Hochevar and Holland are fairly entrenched in those roles currently, look for them to give Ventura some more grooming time in AAA in 2014 to be a #2/#3 starter. ETA: 2014.
File Photo: Tony Dejak/AP
32. Clint Frazier: CLE, OF (Mongillo NR, Greene 30): Frazier, the second 2013 first round draft pick in this set of 10, reminds me of a young, up-and-coming Grady Sizemore at least in regards to potential 5-tool players from recent Cleveland memory. Drafted out of Loganville High School in Georgia along with fellow Loganville, GA draftee Austin Meadows, this 19-year-old got in 44 games and 172 AB (plus 17 BB) last year in Rookie League ball. His initial performance in the pros sure looks promising as Frazier went .297/.362/.506 with 5 HRs and 28 RBI. One can expect a full season in 2014, possibly more, in Single A ball. Another top Indians OF prospect and recent Arizona Fall League participant Tyler Naquin might climb through the system a bit quicker, but Frazier is the outfielder with the higher upside. I don’t see him putting up Bryce Harper-like numbers once he makes it, but I can envision a comparison to what we saw several years ago in a healthy Sizemore. ETA: 2017.
File Photo: Ken Inness/MiLB.com
31. Maikel Franco: PHI, 3B (Mongillo 39, Greene 19): Franco possesses what is most likely the most improved and powerful bat in the Phillies farm system. He made great strides last year, splitting the season between High A Clearwater and AA Reading. Combine his 2013 output at both levels and you’re looking at 31 bombs and 103 RBI; an overall .320 AVG and .569 SLG. That’s a lethal middle-of-the-order bat and one that will keep Cody Asche looking over his shoulder at 3B in Philadelphia. Franco is the clear #1 hitting prospect in the Phillies system, and very likely won’t need much time in AAA before taking over the hot corner at The Bank. Having seen Franco hit in person when Reading visited New Britain, CT last season, I can attest to the confidence he portrays and the serious plate presence he possesses, similar to one Twin’s prospect Miguel Sano from that same Rock Cats game last August. As his promotion should be imminent, Franco will love hitting at Citizen’s Bank Park for half of his games and could post some close-to-monster numbers, even as a rookie. 32 HR, 95-100 RBI and .290 AVG is not unlikely once he arrives for good. ETA: Mid 2014.
Look for our next installment with #30 – #21 later this week!