Photo Courtesy: Keith Allison
The top 100 MLB prospect list reveals that three teams—the Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees, and Atlanta Braves—dominate with 20 players combined in the rankings.
The White Sox prospect Yoan Moncada is second on the list of 100. At only 19-years-old, Moncada received a $31.5 million signing bonus to play for the Boston Red Sox after playing two years in the Cuban National Series.
In 2016, Moncada had 405 at bats for the Salem Red Sox and Portland Sea Dogs. His prowess for stealing bases, as noted by scouts, is exemplified by his 45 stolen bases in 2016. Moncada also made 18 appearances for the Boston Red Sox, finishing with a .211 batting average and .250 on base percentage.
In addition to Moncada, The White Sox have four right handed pitchers on the list—Lucas Giolito, Michael Kopech, Reynaldo Lopez, and Carson Fulmer.
Their top pitcher, Giolito, is 12th on the list coming off a 25-15 record in the minor leagues. Giolito recorded a 2.73 ERA through 75 games and made one appearance on the mound for the Nationals.
Number 16 on the list, Kopech earned a spot largely because of a .800 win percentage in 2016 for the Salem Red Sox. Kopech started 11 games and finished with a 2.25 ERA through 52 innings.
The last-ranked prospect for the White Sox on the list is catcher and University of Miami graduate Zack Collins. He is the fourth-ranked catcher in the top 10 catchers list. In a single season in the minors, Collins started all 21 games and playing 170 innings, while registering 134 putouts.
The New York Yankees top individual prospect is shortstop Gleyber Torres—the youngest player to earn MVP and batting champion honors in the history of the Arizona League.
In three seasons with six teams, Torres amassed a .945 fielding percentage. He also progressively lowered his errors. During the 2014 season in 415 innings in the field, Torres committed 38 errors.
The following season Torres more than doubled his innings played but only recorded 54 errors. In the 2016 season, his error percentage dropped even more; Torres committed 46 errors in 987 innings.
In addition to Torres and pitchers James Kaprielian and Justus Sheffield, the rest of the top Yankees prospects are outfielders. Their highest ranking outfielder is Clint Frazier—24th overall on the list.
The scouting reports touts his power at bat, but aptitude for striking out. In 2016, Frazier struck out 122 times in 463 at bats. However, Frazier’s slugging percentage averaged .448 during his time in the minors.
Three of the six Braves players on the prospect list are shortstops, including the first pick in the 2015 draft, Dansby Swanson.
Swanson, a National Champion from Vanderbilt University, made his MLB debut for his hometown team on Aug. 17, 2016 after only 137 games in the minors. During the 2016 season, Swanson played 38 games for the Braves and had a .302 batting average, higher than his averages in the minors.
The other two shortstops that add Atlanta’s depth are Ozzie Albies and Kevin Maitan. Albies came in at number 11 and Maitan at number 32.
Following the trend of the Yankees and White Sox, the Braves also made the list with RHP Mike Soroka and LHP Sean Newcomb, who rounded out the list at number 78 and number 80, respectively.
The highest ranked Braves pitcher is left-handed Kolby Allard. Allard is fourth on the list of left-handed pitching prospects. Scouting reports say he has a nice fastball and curveball.
The dominance of White Sox, Yankees, and Braves could mean these teams have bright futures.
The most notable player that does not belong to one of these teams is the first ranked prospect for the Boston Red Sox—Andrew Benintendi. The 22-year-old outfielder should have a huge role in the majors with Boston this season.