2015 Fantasy Baseball Rankings: Prospects
In our final rankings series of the year, we’ll look at prospects and their dynasty/keeper value:
2015 Fantasy Baseball Rankings Legalese, etc.
Each of these rankings will follow the same format. We’ll review the top performers at the position in 2014 and 2013, then reveal rankings based on a tier system. We’ll discuss the position in general and the trends of the position. Lastly, I’ll discuss where the Braves player at the position would rank. To qualify at a position, a player must have 15 games played at the position in 2014. I’ll mention any other positions a player will qualify for as well. Prospects are viewed with an emphasis on being close to the majors.
2015 Prospects: Tier One
Kris Bryant, 3B, Chicago Cubs – Arguably the most power in all of minor league baseball, and could challenge Giancarlo Stanton for the major league’s most power. Should start right away in 2015.
Jorge Soler, OF, Chicago Cubs – Big splash last year and should have a guaranteed corner outfield spots.
Joc Pederson, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers – Will be starting for the Dodgers in center field, and he might have the best combination of power and speed of any player on this list.
2015 Prospects: Tier Two
Rusney Castillo, OF, Boston – While I ranked Pederson below Castillo in my outfield rankings, it’s more on what I see as a high floor for Castillo in 2015. He should give good speed and be on base.
Byron Buxton, OF, Minnesota – Injuries kept him from showing up in 2014 in the majors. Still very young. Probably someone like Starling Marte in the majors now, but he has raw power that could push him more toward a 30/30 possible upside.
Carlos Correa, SS, Houston – May move off shortstop before he hits the majors, but before his injury in 2014, he was looking at a September call-up. Depending on how things work out in Houston, he could be up midseason.
Addison Russell, SS, Chicago Cubs – Ready for the majors, but the Cubs are loaded up the middle currently, so not really a place to play opening day, but a trade could open up a spot.
Miguel Sano, 3B, Minnesota – Had Tommy John surgery last season or he’d have been up to the majors then. Possible midseason call up for the Twins.
Aaron Sanchez, P, Toronto – Debuted in the bullpen last year and showed his electric stuff. He’s the top pitcher on this list, but he’d be even higher if he had a sure spot in the rotation.
2015 Prospects: Tier Three
Daniel Norris, SP, Toronto – May still be a year away, but could force the issue this season. Very strong-armed lefty with great stuff.
Lucas Giolito, SP, Washington – Probably not a 2015 appearance outside of a September call up, but his presence is why the Nationals are okay with losing Doug Fister and/or Jordan Zimmermann to free agency or trade in the next year.
Blake Swihart, C, Boston – Christian Vazquez is young and a defensive savant with good power for a catcher, but Swihart has moved up to one of the best defensive catchers in the minor leagues, and he’s an incredible hitter for a backstop.
Jose Peraza, 2B, Atlanta – If he doesn’t start the season in the majors, he’ll likely be up in June. Certainly will be fun to watch alongside Andrelton Simmons up the middle in Atlanta.
Dalton Pompey, OF, Toronto – High-contact hitter will have a starting position in Toronto in 2015, but may not offer much more than batting average.
Jon Gray, SP, Colorado – Was pushing for the major leagues before shoulder fatigue ended his season. Could be a June call up with a monster fastball and good secondary offerings.
2015 Prospects: Tier Four
Yasmani Tomas, 3B/OF, Arizona – Really could be top of tier two or lower. Hard to know right now, but he’s been rumored to have plenty of power.
Domingo Santana, OF, Houston – Moving Dexter Fowler would seem to have opened up a spot for Santana to break camp with the club, but we’ll have to see. Offers a great offensive skill set once he is in the majors.
Steven Souza, OF, Tampa Bay – Many are saying that he will give the Rays what they got from Wil Myers last season, though his upside is nowhere near that of Myers. I do agree he’ll produce, though.
Noah Syndergaard, SP, New York Mets – Excellent arm and stuff, but the Mets rotation is full currently, so there’s no rush to bring him to the majors.
Carlos Rodon, SP, Chicago White Sox – Did quite well in a bullpen role last season. May break camp in the rotation or start the season in the minors in order to get more starts before taking over the 5th starter role.
Maikel Franco, 3B/1B, Philadelphia – If the Phillies could find anyone to take Ryan Howard, Franco could likely do just as well offensively. For now, he’s not good enough defensively to push Cody Asche at 3B.
Alex Meyer, SP, Minnesota – Arm soreness and fatigue issues worry many that he’ll end up in the bullpen, but he goes into spring with a shot at the rotation.
2015 Prospects: Tier Five
Cory Seager, SS, Los Angeles Dodgers – Farther away than Correa, but similar story in that he may move off the position before the majors and offers a lot of offense once he’s there.
Marco Gonzales, SP, St. Louis – High-floor, low-upside type that has a chance to have a back end spot in the rotation.
Randal Grichuk, OF, St. Louis – With Oscar Tavares’ untimely passing, Grichuk could push for playing time in CF over Jon Jay and Peter Bourjos.
Jake Lamb, 3B, Arizona – Late bloomer who is already 24, but he has very good offensive instincts. If Tomas ends up in the outfield, Lamb could break camp as the starting man at the hot corner.
Micah Johnson, 2B, Chicago White Sox – Ton of speed, but not sure of his contact ability. The recent signing of Emilio Bonifacio makes his 2015 role uncertain.
Andrew Heaney, SP, Los Angeles Angels – I may wish I had him higher when the season’s over, but he’s just a guy who doesn’t blow me away with his stuff. Think a Jason Hammel type from the left side.
Brandon Finnegan, P, Kansas City – Likely headed back to the bullpen, or he’d be much higher. Great stuff from the left side.
Andrew Susac, C, San Francisco – Good bat, solid defense behind the plate. Just the problem of that MVP-caliber guy in front of him in the majors.
Henry Owens, SP, Boston – I would honestly trot him out over about 3/5 of the current Boston rotation, but they have a method to their madness, I suppose. He’s likely getting the first call if (more likely when) one of their bottom three in the rotation struggles.
Jung-Ho Kang, IF, Pittsburgh – Korean signee was the top bat in Korea and can play up the middle defensively. His role is uncertain in Pittsburgh, or he’d possibly rank higher.
Dylan Bundy, SP, Baltimore – His control needs work, but that’s often the last thing to come back after Tommy John surgery. Former #2 prospect in all of baseball, so the pedigree is definitely there.
Michael Taylor, OF, Washington – Jayson Werth injury to start the season could open the door for Taylor to show his skills at the major league level.
2015 Prospects: Braves Fantasy Review
Many of the Braves’ acquisitions this offseason are a few years away, so this list does not include a lot of those players because of the focus on 2015. Players like Jason Hursh, Mike Foltynewicz, Manuel Banuelos, Christian Bethancourt, Jace Peterson, Dian Toscano, and Todd Cunningham could have an impact on the 2015 Braves, but they’re likely not going to be as productive as those mentioned on this list.
2015 Prospects: Review
Overall prospect lists can be a good guide for keeper and dynasty players, but they’re typically reviewing guys for their overall baseball value. In reality, one of the best prospects in all of baseball is Cleveland’s Francisco Lindor, but he projects to be a lower-level offensive player, so for fantasy, he wouldn’t be someone to pursue. That said, sometimes guys like that surprise. Yadier Molina and his brother Jose Molina were reportedly similar offensive players, yet while both are reputed for their defense, Yadier has become one of the best-hitting catchers in the current game. You’ll also note that I have much fewer pitchers on my list and certainly not many who are a long way away. I’m personally an incredible fan of Julio Urias, but he’s a few years away from coming to the majors (save for a huge surprising leap up the minors), so he’s not on this list.