Baseball Prospectus has released their annual Top 101 Prospects list that features players like Xander Bogaerts, Taijuan Walker, and several other players that will enter the spotlight in the near future.
Byron Buxton tops Baseball Prospectus’ Top 101 list
The list features eight Twins’ prospects and seven each from the Cubs, Rangers, Pirates, and Royals.
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Twins centerfield prospect Byron Buxton kicks things off pretty spectacularly. BP prospect expert Jason Parks grades Buxton's overall skill set as elite, giving him a rare grade 8 potential. Parks mentions one scout who claimed Buxton's floor is Torii Hunter, and that his ceiling is basically unlimited.
Fellow Twins prospect Miguel Sano checks in 14. Several scouts believe his power will translate exceptionally well to the majors. BP calls him the "best all-around power threat in the minors," and that his fantasy value could enter into "Giancarlo Stanton territory" in terms of power potential.
Javier Baez (no. 4 overall) leads the Cubs' impressive showing that also includes Kris Bryant, Albert Almora, and Jorge Soler. The high praise for the Cubs' system is capped off when Parks says Chicago "may have a generational talent in Baez."
Surprisingly, the Athletics managed only one player on the list, but they made it count. Twenty-year-old shortstop Addison Russell is ranked 7th overall, and the team at BP proposes that he could reach the majors late next season with a strong showing in Double-A to start the year.
The Yankees, Giants, and Tigers also placed just one player in the top 101 -- most teams feature two or three players on the list. The whole of the rankings are currently viewable for free at BaseballProspectus.com.
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