RHD's Latest Top 150 (+ 6) Roto Prospects ("Belated Opening Day" Edition)

[rhd]

Finally the list returns! I planned to post this before opening day but I wanted to get the list in a little better shape first. Also, the wait enabled me to see how some of the roster spots, starting positions and roles shook out. There are 6 players (Carlson, Mountcastle, Madrigal, Gimenez, Taveras, Peterson) who actually are no longer eligible because they exceeded either 130 MLB ABs or 50 MLB IP, but I decided to keep them on the list anyway since they were eligible on opening day. I also added an additional 6 players at the end because these players would be on the list if I took out the ineligible players. I didnt bother listing the player's rank on the last list (from 8/27/18!), nor the players that lost eligibility nor the eligibles that dropped off nor new players on the list. I'll do that again in the next update.

The spiel again: I generally follow BA's prospect eligibility requirements, which are <=130 MLB AB or <=50 MLB IP. Unlike BA tho, amateurs, unsigned draftees and foreign players are eligible. Also, while BA has a different IP limit for relievers (30 IP?), relievers are eligible as long as they dont have >50 IP. As usual, this is for roto, not 'real' baseball, so pitchers are downgraded some, catchers downgraded somewhat (unless they're elite prospects and their bat will play at any position), and actual closers are upgraded a lot, SB guys who project to get playing time get upgraded some, and guys who either currently are or project to soon be regulars can get upgraded quite a bit. Position listed is their current primary one to the best of my knowledge (correct me if I'm wrong), not the one they're likely to end up at.

Rank Name Pos Org
1 Wander Franco SS TB
2 Jarred Kelenic OF Sea
3 Ke'Bryan Hayes 3B Pit
4 Randy Arozarena SS TB
5 Dylan Carlson OF StL
6 Andrew Vaughn 1B CHW
7 Alex Kirilloff OF Min
8 Julio Rodriguez OF Sea
9 C.J. Abrams SS SD
10 Bobby Witt, Jr. SS KC
11 Marcos Luciano SS SF
12 Spencer Torkelson 1B Det
13 Ryan Mountcastle 1B Bal
14 Jo (Jordon) Adell OF LAA
15 Austin Martin SS Tor
16 Ian Anderson SP Atl
17 Adley Rutschman C Bal
18 MacKenzie Gore SP SD
19 Casey Mize SP Det
20 Sixto Sanchez SP Mia
21 Nate Pearson SP Tor
22 Luis Patino SP TB
23 Taylor Trammell OF Sea
24 Brandon Marsh OF LAA
25 Corbin Carroll OF Ari
26 Riley Greene OF Det
27 Jasson Dominguez OF NYY
28 Nick Madrigal 2B CHW
29 Jazz (Jasrado) Chisholm SS Mia
30 Cristian Pache OF Atl
31 Vidal Brujan 2B TB
32 Royce Lewis SS Min
33 Tarik Skubal SP Det
34 Triston McKenzie SP Cle
35 Michael Kopech SP CHW
36 Spencer Howard SP Phi
37 Jordan Groshans SS Tor
38 Nolan Gorman 3B StL
39 Drew Waters OF Atl
40 J.J. Bleday OF Mia
41 Matt Manning SP Det
42 Logan Gilbert SP Sea
43 Nolan Jones 3B Cle
44 Kristian Robinson OF Ari
45 Grayson Rodriguez SP Bal
46 Kumar Rocker SP College
47 Jack Leiter SP College
48 Emerson Hancock SP Sea
49 Bobby Dalbec 1B Bos
50 Andres Gimenez SS Cle
51 Jeter Downs 2B Bos
52 Xavier Edwards 2B TB
53 Heliot Ramos OF SF
54 Josiah Gray SP LAD
55 Deivi Garcia SP NYY
56 Edward Cabrera SP Mia
57 Brennen Davis OF CHC
58 Alek Thomas OF Ari
59 Triston Casas 1B Bos
60 Trevor Larnach OF Min
61 Josh Jung 3B Tex
62 Ronny Mauricio SS NYM
63 Geraldo Perdomo SS Ari
64 Zac Veen OF Col
65 Nick Gonzales 2B Pit
66 Heston Kjerstad OF Bal
67 Roberto Hassell OF SD
68 Leodys Taveras OF Tex
69 Ha-Seong Kim SS SD
70 Bryse Wilson SP Atl
71 Brendan Rodgers SS Col
72 Asa Lacy SP KC
73 Daniel Lynch SP KC
74 Matthew Liberatore SP StL
75 D.L. Hall SP Bal
76 Max Meyer SP Mia
77 Jose Israel Garcia SS Cin
78 Tyler Freeman SS Cle
79 Garrett Mitchell OF Mil
80 Jordyn Adams OF LAA
81 Josh Lowe 3B TB
82 Jonathan India 2B Cin
83 Isaac Paredes 3B Det
84 Oneil Cruz SS Pit
85 George Valera OF Cle
86 Jarren Duran OF Bos
87 Michael Busch 2B LAD
88 Brice Turang SS Mil
89 Noelvi Marte SS Sea
90 Luis Matos OF SF
91 Orelvis Martinez SS Tor
92 Brailyn Marquez SP CHC
93 Emmanuel Clase RP Cle
94 Julian Merryweather RP Tor
95 Trevor Rogers SP Mia
96 Jeremy Pena SS Hou
97 Garrett Crochet SP CHW
98 Dane Dunning SP Tex
99 George Kirby SP Sea
100 Quinn Priester SP Pit
101 Brendan McKay SP TB
102 Shane McClanahan SP TB
103 Jordan Balazovic SP Min
104 Jhoan Duran SP Min
105 A.J. Puk SP Oak
106 Jackson Kowar SP KC
107 Hunter Greene SP Cin
108 Shane Baz SP TB
109 Simeon Woods-Richardson SP Tor
110 Matt Allan SP NYM
111 Mick Abel SP Phi
112 Nick Lodolo SP Cin
113 Austin Hendrick OF Cin
114 Gabrial Arias SS Cle
115 Akil Baddoo OF Det
116 Pavin Smith 1B Ari
117 Adbert Alzolay SP CHC
118 Daulton Jefferies SP Oak
119 Luis Garcia SP Hou
120 Ryan Weathers SP SD
121 Taylor Walls SS TB
122 Brayan Rocchio SS Cle
123 Liover Peguero SS Pit
124 Brett Baty 3B NYM
125 Hunter Bishop OF SF
126 Pete Crow-Armstrong OF NYM
127 Erick Pena OF KC
128 Aaron Bracho 2B Cle
129 David Peterson SP NYM
130 Kwang-Hyun (Gwang-Hyun) Kim SP StL
131 Clarke Schmidt SP NYY
132 Adrian Morejon SP SD
133 Jordan Walker 3B StL
134 Travis Swaggerty OF Pit
135 Reid Detmers SP LAA
136 Cade Cavalli SP Was
137 Ryan Jeffers C Min
138 Daulton Varsho C Ari
139 Joey Bart C SF
140 Luis Campusano C SD
141 Francisco Alvarez C NYM
142 Keibert Ruiz C LAD
143 Jordan Lawlar SS HS
144 Sal Frelick 2B College
145 Matt McLain SS College
146 Roberto Puason SS Oak
147 Hedbert Perez OF Mil
148 Yuki Yanagita OF Japan
149 Seiya Suzuki OF Japan
150 Jung-Hoo Lee OF Korea
151 Gilberto Jimenez OF Bos
152 Greg Jones SS TB
153 Mark Vientos 3B NYM
154 Ed Howard SS CHC
155 Oswald Peraza SS NYY
156 Miguel Vargas 3B LAD

As always, comments are not only welcome but encouraged. Enjoy!

[joncarlos]

Whoa, awesome! Welcome back!

[Judge Jude]

I pick 1, 7, and 12 tomorrow so likely will take 3 of these (well, Luciano and 2 others)

11 Marcos Luciano SS SF
18 MacKenzie Gore SP SD
25 Corbin Carroll OF Ari
56 Edward Cabrera SP Mia
57 Brennen Davis OF CHC
58 Alek Thomas OF Ari
65 Nick Gonzales 2B Pit
67 Roberto Hassell OF SD
70 Bryse Wilson SP Atl
74 Matthew Liberatore SP StL
76 Max Meyer SP Mia
77 Jose Israel Garcia SS Cin
79 Garrett Mitchell OF Mil
87 Michael Busch 2B LAD
88 Brice Turang SS Mil
90 Luis Matos OF SF
92 Brailyn Marquez SP CHC
100 Quinn Priester SP Pit

mlb.com top 11 available would be, in order:
Gore, Luciano, Bart, Meyer, Howard, Liberatore, Gonzales, Carroll, Veen, Marquez, Davis

HQ top 11:
Luciano, Gore, Bart, Howard, Meyer, Carroll, Gonzales, Veen, Davis, AThomas, Liberatore

composite top 11 available from another thread on HQ (does not factor in HQ rankings):

Luciano, Gore, Carroll, Meyer, NGonzales, BDavis, SHoward, Veen, AThomas, Bart, ECabrera

chief disagreement is Bart No. 139 on rhd's list
I am confident he will go in the top 6 in my draft
also, Meyer is "low" on this list at 76

[Sour Masher]

Thanks for posting this, RHD!

I know the bit about discounting pitchers, and it is been awhile, so my memory may be off and this was par for the old course, but I am surprised to see the 1st pitcher at spot 16, and to see some of the arms as low as they are. Having Edward Cabrera and especially Bryse Wilson ahead of the KC kids--Lacy and Lynch--is bold.

[Pauly]

Looks at the pitchers in the 90-105 range. I think you could make a pretty darn good rotation just in that range.

[Sour Masher]

Looks at the pitchers in the 90-105 range. I think you could make a pretty darn good rotation just in that range.

No doubt. Trevor Rogers and Dane Dunning are already higher on my list of current MLB pitchers than their ranking here . And Quinn Priester has TOR upside.

[harmon]

IMHO, I think many prognosticators will regret not including Michael Harris in their lists.

[cleo]

Great to see your list again RHD. Surprised to not see Yoelqui Cespedes with CWS..... Any reason as to why he is not included.

[Teenwolf]

Great to see your list again RHD. Surprised to not see Yoelqui Cespedes with CWS..... Any reason as to why he is not included.

Yoelqui Cespedes is overrated based on money paid to him and bloodlines. I've heard pretty negative scouting reports on him regarding his swing and miss and approach problems, and he's pretty old so he needs to figure things out quickly. I'm out at the cost of acquisition.

[rhd]

IMHO, I think many prognosticators will regret not including Michael Harris in their lists.

He's on my radar. Somewhat farther down rt now, tho.

[Teenwolf]

Rhd, any consideration for Heriberto Hernandez? This dude is going to blow up once minor league play opens. Fangraphs has him as a 60/60. In Dynasty I own a bunch of listed guys (X. Edwards, Puason, E. Pena, Jeffers, Varsho, H. Perez, Dunning) but I'd deal any of them over Heriberto. He's my one untouchable.

Thanks for making the list again. Good job!

[Judge Jude]

will try and remember to post my league's first 12 picks, anyway, tomorrow
(I'm 1, 7, and 12)

NOON ET THURSDAY

1. (me) Marco Luciano, Giants SS
2.

Gore, Howard, and Bart are the biggest locks also to be chosen before pick 7 in this league
Mets-loving league may come into play
and with limited opportunity to dump bad active players, those seen as at the cusp of promotion tend to appeal to contenders

[rhd]

Yoelqui Cespedes is overrated based on money paid to him and bloodlines. I've heard pretty negative scouting reports on him regarding his swing and miss and approach problems, and he's pretty old so he needs to figure things out quickly. I'm out at the cost of acquisition.

I dont really know much about him but rt now he's pretty far down my list. BA's scouting report says "Because he is 23 years old and hasn’t been evaluated in person recently, it’s hard to know what to expect from Cespedes once he debuts." Also, "... he was never truly a standout in Cuba and his aggressive approach and swing path could lead to plenty of swing and miss". But they acknowledge that he has strong potential.

[rhd]

Rhd, any consideration for Heriberto Hernandez? This dude is going to blow up once minor league play opens. Fangraphs has him as a 60/60. In Dynasty I own a bunch of listed guys (X. Edwards, Puason, E. Pena, Jeffers, Varsho, H. Perez, Dunning) but I'd deal any of them over Heriberto. He's my one untouchable.

Thanks for making the list again. Good job!

He's not far off the list (#178). Will get closer once the ineligibles drop off and might get on later in the year.

[cleo]

thanks for your reply!!!