The 2015 Best Farm Systems in Baseball: Part II

Aug 7, 2014; Frisco, TX, USA; Frisco Rough Riders designated hitter Jorge Alfaro (8) bats during the game against the Springfield Cardinals at Dr Pepper Ballpark. Springfield beat Frisco 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

It’s so close! Baseball season is right around the corner. Pitchers and catchers are reporting in a few short days and top minor league prospects are getting invites to spring training to show just how elite they are… or aren’t.

Which teams have the deepest and best farm systems with the best prospects to offer? We already looked at the bottom third of Keith Law’s top farm systems in Part I, and we now take a look at the middle of the pack, teams No. 20 through 11. Part I contained teams with a few decent prospects, but lacked the depth of the clubs featured below. Many of the teams on this list were in the top 10 last year, but promotions to the big leagues, and tragedy in the Cardinals’ case, led to them dropping in the rankings.

I’ll be looking at some of the key players in each team’s farm. It won’t be possible to review all players that make up the depth of the systems, but I’ll choose the players who have the most potential and can make the quickest impact to their big league club.

Oct. 14, 2014; Mesa, AZ, USA; New York Yankees outfielder

Aaron Judge

plays for the Scottsdale Scorpions against the Mesa Solar Sox during an Arizona Fall League game at Cubs Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

20. New York Yankees

The Yankees aren’t often known for their farm system, due to regularly picking near the bottom of the draft in the 2000s and into the next decade. They have done very well for themselves on the International front, and a quality 2013 draft helps them rank above the last third of teams.

The team’s top prospect is a toss up between their top pitcher, Luis Severino, and their top bat, Aaron Judge who played in the Arizona Fall League this year.

Severino has dominated wherever he has played in pro baseball since signing with the Yankees in 2012. Last season, he advanced through Full-A and Advanced-A, ending the season in Double-A. He displayed excellant control, striking out over a batter per inning while limiting his free passes. The 20-year old has an electric fastball that reaches up to 98 MPH, and sits in the mid-90’s with sinking action. He generates high velocity despite being just six feet tall, combining it with a hard slider and changeup that have the potential to be plus pitches. After continuing to carve up hitters in Double-A, Severino may be on the fast track to the big leagues. Another solid start to the year could give him a promotion to New York if he is needed.

Judge was the team’s first round selection in 2013 out of Fresno State. The 22-year old’s size sticks out, measuring out at 6 foot 7 and 230 pounds. He put up gaudy numbers split between Full-A and Advanced-A, showing that his skills were too advanced for those leagues. He has incredible power potential, given his size, but his short swing keeps his contact rate up. Plate discipline is also a part of his game, taking a lot of walks last season. He projects as a right fielder, with a plus arm and the ability to move well in the outfield for a big man. Keith Law had Judge ranked as his 23rd overall prospect, while he came in at 68th on MLB.com’s rankings. Clearly the scouting community isn’t in complete agreement on the outfielder, and 2015 should be interesting to track his progress. He’ll likely start the season in Double-A.

Gary Sanchez has been a top catching prospect for the Yankees for years now, and may not be as advanced as the team initially thought. He has a solid bat, with the ability to hit home runs, but his defense behind the plate leaves something to be desired. Another solid bat is second base prospect Rob Refsnyder, who’s solid contact rate has helped him advance quickly through the minors. He’s close to major league ready, and should expect the call sometime around midseason.

Mar 28, 2013; Kissimmee, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers second baseman

Devon Travis

(3) leaps for a ground ball during the eighth inning against the Houston Astros at Osceola County Stadium. Houston defeated Detroit 11-4. Mandatory Credit: Douglas Jones-USA TODAY Sports

19. Toronto Blue Jays

Although they rank just 19th on this list, the Jays’ top three prospects may be the most Major League ready out of any team’s. Daniel Norris, Aaron Sanchez, and Dalton Pompey all spent some time in the big leagues last season, and are all expected to contribute in big ways in 2015. Since the aforementioned prospects are known commodities at this point, I’ll focus on some other payers who aren’t quite Major League ready.

The Jays spent their first of two first round picks last year on East Carolina righthander Jeff Hoffman. Expected to be a top five pick before undergoing Tommy John surgery in may, Hoffman sat out all of the 2014 season and will make his minor league debut in 2015. He has a blazing fastball that can reach up to 98, and sits in the mid 90’s. His curveball gives him another plus pitch, while his changeup is an average offering at this point. He still has room to grow into his 6 foot 4 frame, as he’s only 185 pounds. Theres always a chance he can rise through the system quickly, but we probably won’t see him above advanced-A ball in 2015.

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Acquired from the Tigers in the Anthony Gose trade, Devon Travis has a chance to break camp as the club’s staring second basemen aided by the lack of depth at the position. The 23-year old is an offensive minded second basemen who should hit double-digits homers in the big leagues. He doesn’t strike out very much and has good plate discipline as well, which has led to some high OBP’s in the Minors. His speed is utilized on the base paths, stealing 16 bags and legging out 7 triples last season. Travis’ fielding isn’t spectacular, but will be adequate enough to stay at second base.

After selecting Hoffman, the Jays selected Max Pentecost with the 11th overall pick in last years’ draft. The athletic catcher is a very intriguing prospect, with the chance to contribute in a number of ways in the big leagues. His swing is short, producing a high contact rate but also limiting his home run power. He needs to work on his discipline at the plate, as he only walked twice in 105 at bats. He has a strong arm, but sometimes has trouble with throwing accuracy. The Kennesaw State product’s athleticism makes him very mobile behind the plate, which should allow him to stay there.

Nov 2, 2013; Surprise, AZ, USA; San Diego Padres catcher

Austin Hedges

against the East during the Fall Stars Game at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

18. San Diego

Despite a busy off-season that saw them acquire Justin Upton, Matt Kemp and Wil Myers, the Padres somehow managed not to trade their top two prospects. However, they were formerly a top ten farm system, and their lack of depth is now evident.

2013 top prospect Austin Hedges had a disappointing offensive year. His defense behind the plate is his calling card, as his plus arm and receivability make him perhaps the best defensive catcher in the Minors. He’s fully expected to develop into a solid hitter as well, but had a rough full season at Double-A San Antonio. His low batting average looks even worse when combined with his low walk rate, making for a poor .268 OBP. He doesn’t have much power, so he is definitely going to have to be able to draw more walks going into next season. The 22-year old’s defense will carry him to the big leagues, but he needs to improve his offensive game if he wants to be a full-time starter.

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Hunter Renfroe had a fantastic start to 2014, hitting 16 homers in just 69 games in Advanced-A ball. He struggled when promoted to Double-A, hitting just 5 homers in 60 games. The 2013 first rounder shows raw power, speed in the outfield and on the bases, and solid walk rate. The main question mark is his ability to make solid contact. He projects as a .250 type hitter that will strike out a lot, but one that hits 20-25 homers a year. His quality defense and ability to swipe double digit bags should make him a solid Major Leaguer by 2016.

The team’s top pitching prospect, Matt Wisler, had a solid season in which he was promoted to Triple-A El Paso. He has pitched well at every spot leading up to his debut in El Paso, which is a park that tends to be tough on pitchers. The 22-year old uses his plus fastball and changeup to strike out close to a batter per inning while limiting his walks. He also mixes in a curveball, but it isn’t as developed as the changeup at this point. He’ll probably start the year in Triple-A but should be up in San Diego before long.

Jul 13, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; USA outfielder

Jesse Winker

(left) and pitcher

Robert Stephenson

(right) stand on the field before the All Star Futures Game at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

17. Cincinnati Reds

The Reds have a couple of top-50 prospects and many younger guys who have a lot of potential. Even after their top guys graduate to the big leagues, this should be a top 15 farm system.

Robert Stephenson‘s plus fastball and curveball produce fantastic strikeout numbers. Batters have a hard time making solid contact off of him even when they do time him well. He had his first real struggles in 2015, walking a ton of batters (74 walks in 136 innings) due to some flaws in his delivery. The prospect community is still high on the righthander, and he should be able to bounce back in 2016 after getting his delivery back to where it was in 2013.

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21-year old outfielder Jesse Winker has the chance to develop into a slugger in the big leagues. He hit 15 homers in 76 games last year, showing a solid contact rate while drawing a decent amount of walks as well. Speed isn’t a huge part of his game, and he probably won’t ever become any more than a solid defender in left field. A full season in Double-A is probably in the cards for Winker in 2015, with his debut likely to come in 2016.

2014 first rounder Nick Howard was a relief pitcher in college, but the Reds selected him thinking they could switch him back to a starter. He pitched the first half of his outings in Advanced-A out of the bullpen, and then was switched to starting games. Although it was a sample size (11 total appearances) the 21-year old was more effective as a reliever, where he pumped his fastball in the mid to upper 90’s as opposed to low 90’s as a starter. If the Reds want to push him as a starter, he’s probably a few seasons away. As a reliever, he’d be good to go for the 2016 season.

Jun 18, 2013; San Jose, CA, USA; Carolina Mudcats short stop

Francisco Lindor

(12) during the fourth inning of the California League vs Carolina League All Star Game at San Jose Municipal Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

16. Cleveland Indians

The Indians have a top five prospect, as well as players selected from a very solid 2014 draft class. If they can get some improvement from some of their younger prospects, they showed be able to rank higher on this list next season.

Francisco Lindor has been the clubs top prospect since they drafted him 8th overall in 2011. He draws rave reviews for his elite defense, as some believe he is the best defensive player in the minor leagues. He does offer some offensive upside as well, or he would be such a highly regarded prospect. He split 2014 between Double-A and Triple-A, despite being just 21 years old. He managed to hit 11 homers, showing more power than many have given him credit for. He displays a solid contact rate and decent walk totals, which should make him a solid lead-off hitter in the big leagues. He’ll probably start 2015 in Triple-A, with his big league debut likely to happen around mid-season.

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The Indians selected Clint Frazier with the 5th overall pick in the 2013 draft, and the 20-year old had a decent, yet unspectacular, first full season in 2014. Scouts expected him to hit more than 13 homers, but there is still room to grow. His contact rate was a bit of a concern, striking out a whopping 161 times in just 120 games. He does have a good eye at the plate, which gives his OBP a boost. If he can hit 20+ homers a year, the Indians can live with his strikeouts. He is still very young, and won’t see the majors until at least 2017.

2014 first rounder Bradley Zimmer, brother of Royals prospect Kyle, enjoyed a very solid debut in Short-A ball, slashing .302/.400/.492. The lefty has a smooth swing, and should only add more power as he fills out his 6 foot 4, 185 pound frame. He has a plus arm that should make him a solid right fielder, although he has the speed to play center. Given his size, he’s probably more of a fit for right. The 22-year old could ride through the Minors quickly, with an eye at a potential 2016 debut.

Oct 24, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher

Brandon Finnegan

(27) delivers a pitch during the seventh inning in game three of the 2014 World Series against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

15. Kansas City Royals

The Royals have a very good top ten, with several appearing on top 100 lists. Although they’re top prospect is a hitter, their next four are pitchers that have a lot of potential. You could make a good case for them in the top 10 of this list. They can certainly be a lot higher on this list next year if these prospects continue to progress.

Switch-hitting shortstop Raul Mondesi Jr (son of former big leaguer) struggled a bit in 2014, but he remains ahead of the curve as the youngest regular in High-A. The 19-year old has useful tools across the board, often using his speed to leg out bunts and stretch doubles into triples (he had 12 in 2014). His contact rates weren’t very good at all, which is to be expected out of a player playing against older players. He hit 8 homers last year, and is expected to hit double digit homers once his body fills out. The 6 foot 1, 165 pounder’s defense is solid and should be able to stay at shortstop.

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The Royals selected Kyle Zimmer 5th overall in 2012, and has flashed ace stuff when he’s been able to stay on the mound. The righthander combines his mid-to upper 90’s fastball with two solid offspeed offerings, a curveball and changeup. He has a slider as well which is an average pitch for him. He was sidelined for most of 2014 with a shoulder ailment that required surgery. The Royals hope he can make a full recovery and get back on the fast track to the big league rotation.

Sean Manaea had a successful debut season in 2014, after injuries prevented him from pitching after being drafted out of Indiana State in 2013. The 6 foot 5, 225 pounder has the makings of a power lefthander, mixing a solid fastball with movement with a quality slurve. He struck out 146 batters in 121 innings in Advanced-A, and should start the 2015 season in Double-A. If he stays healthy, a debut in Kansas City could be in the cards.

Brandon Finnegan was drafted 17th overall in 2014, and ended up making his major league debut by September. He will probably be more useful as a reliever, where the lefthander gets the most out of his 5 foot 11″ frame, throwing in the upper 90’s. He’s closer to the lower to mid 90’s as a starter. The 21-year old has a plus slider that causes a lot of swing and misses; and a changeup that he could afford to get rid of if he’s coming out of the bullpen.

Miguel Almonte is another solid pitcher from the D.R. who mixes a mid 90’s heater with a plus change and average curveball. He struggled a little bit in Advanced-A ball, and will probably start 2015 there before being promoted to Double-A.

Feb 7, 2014; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher

Archie Bradley

(2) throws in the bullpen during the first day of camp at Salt River Fields. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

14. Arizona Diamondbacks

The D’Backs have perhaps the best quartet of pitching prospects in the game. Beyond that, they don’t have much in the way of hitting depth, after trading two of their better ones to Tampa Bay in the Jeremy Hellickson trade this winter.

Aaron Blair mixes his mid 90’s fastball with a quality curve and changeup that make him very tough on righties and lefties alike. The 22-year old may be the most Major League ready out of all their pitching prospects, and definitely performed the best in 2014. At 6 foot 5 and 230 pounds, Blair looks like a power righthander who should produce high strikeout totals as an innings eater in the big leagues.

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Braden Shipley was the team’s first round selection in 2013, and he’s definitely lived up the the hype so far. He combines a mid-90’s fastball with a solid changeup and developing curveball. He struck out a batter per inning in 2014 across three levels, finishing the year with Double-A Mobile. The 22-year old has the profile of a number 2 or 3 starter, and should be able to help in Arizona by the end of 2015.

Archie Bradley‘s 2013 made him a top ten overall prospect, and was expected to be in the big leagues in 2014. However, early injury issues led to struggles in Double-A and Triple-A that prevented the power righthander from reaching Arizona. The 6 foot 4, 235 pounder’s fastball sits in the mid 90s, with his curveball in the low 80’s. After his injury, he didn’t have the same movement on his curveball, which led to a lot of him struggling. An off-season of rest should help get Bradley back to form and into Arizona’s rotation by mid-season.

Touki Toussaint was the team’s first round pick last season, combining a plus mid-90’s fastball with a solid curve. He also has a changeup that will need to continue to develop to become a solid starter. Toussaint had trouble with repeating his delivery in his pro debut, but at 18, he has much room for improvement.

Jake Lamb is the clubs top hitting prospect, with nobody else coming close to his ability. He’s shown the ability to hit 15 homers a season in the Minors, with the potential for more. His contact tool has been really impressive, last season hitting .321 through Double-A and Triple-A. The 24-year old’s ability to take a walk gives him a very solid OBP, and led to his promotion to Arizona in September. The third basemen’s defense is stellar at the hot corner, and should have no problem staying there. This could be one of the more underrated hitting prospects in the Minors, and could surprise in a full season in the Majors.

Oct 15, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher

Marco Gonzales

(56) pitches during the sixth inning against the San Francisco Giants in game four of the 2014 NLCS playoff baseball game at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

13. St Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals take a hit in this years rankings due to the tragic death of super-prospect Oscar Tavares. The team still has a lot of depth in the system, although it lacks star power.

Stephen Piscotty is probably the clubs top hitting prospect, and most ready for the Majors. The 24-year old draws rave reviews for his contact rate, possessing a career .292 batting average. He spent the entire 2014 season in Triple-A, maintaining his batting average and showing good plate discipline. Scouts think he has 20-25 homer a year power, but he hasen’t quite showed it in his Minor League career. The 6 foot 3, 210 pounder looks like a jack of all trades, master of none type of hitter, kind of like Hunter Pence. His strong arm profiles well for right field, as he used to pitch at Stanford. Piscotty doesn’t have a whole lot else to prove in the Minors, but with Jason Heyward and Matt Holliday in the corners, it will be hard for him to earn a starting spot.

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Marco Gonzales saw steady improvement in 2014, starting the year at Advanced-A ball and ending it in St Louis. Drafted 19th overall in 2013, the lefthander drew rave reviews for his changeup and overall command. His fastball isn’t overpowering in the low-90’s, but his ability to spot it well with his changeup, curveball, and slider has yielded great results. Even though he isn’t overpowering, the 22-year old still managed to strike out a batter per inning at all of his stops in 2014. One strange thing about his season was that he walked just 27 batters in 122 innings in the Minors, yet proceeded to walk 21 in just 34 innings in the Majors. This could have been due to pressure of pitching in the big leagues, but he is fully expected to be a pitcher who relies on his great control moving forward.

The Cardinals were able to snag Rob Kaminsky late in the 2013 first round to questions about his size, but the club has been happy with what he has given them so far. The 5 foot 11 lefthander has the potential for three solid pitches; a low 90’s fastball, a devastating curveball, and a changeup. His curveball is by far is best pitch, and he can sometimes rely on it too much. He was one of the best pitchers in A-Ball last year, posting a 1.88 and 1.01 WHIP in 18 starts. The 20-year old will probably never be a big strikeout pitcher, but his ability to locate his pitches well and generate ground balls should make him an effective starter.

Mar 10, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Chicago White Sox second baseman

Micah Johnson

(83) makes a catch on a line drive against the Milwaukee Brewers in the third inning at Maryvale Baseball Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

12. Chicago White Sox

The White Sox rank higher than they have in recent years due to a high selection in last years draft to go along with some top notch middle infield prospects. Trading for Jeff Samardzija took away a little bit of depth from the system, but the top guys remain intact.

Drafted with the 3rd pick in last year’s draft out of NC State, Carlos Rodon brings superstar potential to the White Sox farm. The lefthander combines his mid-to-upper 90s fastball with his devastating swing and miss slider to project as a true strikeout pitcher. His chanegup is clearly his third pitch, but can be effective due to the big change in speed from the fastball and high 80s slider. He should always be a guy that produces high strikeout numbers, like he did in his short 2014 debut (38 strikeouts in 24 innings). As one of the more polished college pitchers to come out in the past few years, Rodon should be ready for the big leagues before long. He will probably start 2015 at Triple-A, and could be called up by mid-season. A top of the rotation consisting of Sale-Samardzija-Rodon could be a deadly for the White Sox.

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2013 first rounder Tim Anderson was pushed hard by the Sox in his first full season, starting the year in Rookie Ball and ending it in Double-A. He has a high contact rate, hitting above .300, although he does not walk a whole lot. He could develop into a guy that hits around 10 homers a year, but his power isn’t anything special. The main question for Anderson will be if he can cut down on his errors (34 in 81 games) and stay at shortstop, or if he will have to move to second base or even center field. Despite his solid speed, he isn’t a fantastic base stealer, but should be a guy who at least steals 15 bags a year. The 21-year old will probably spend the majority of the year in Double-A, where his success will go a long way towards how soon we can expect to see him in the Majors.

Micah Johnson has been highly regarded since his 2013 campaign where he slashed .312/.373/.451, with a whopping 84 steals. His 2014 season split between Double-A and Triple-A yielded less spectacular results, although he still held his own. A hamstring injury limited him to just 22 steals, being caught 13 times. As he starts 2015 fully healthy, he is expected to return to the gaudy stolen base numbers of 2013. The 24-year old doesn’t have a whole lot left to prove in the Minors, and should be the favourite for the White Sox second base job. He looks like an ideal 9-hole hitter, at least to start his career.

Acquired from the Red Sox in 2013, Francellis Montas has performed very well since joining the White Sox organization. Despite missing two months to injury in 2014, he had a spectacular season across three levels, with a 1.44 ERA, 0.91 WHIp and 80 strikeouts in 81 innings. The 21-year old mixes throws his fastball in the mid-to upper 90’s as a starter, and could reach 100 if asked to pitch out of the bullpen. His slider has the chance to be a swing and miss pitch as well, throwing it in the mid-to-upper 80’s. The Dominican righthander will probably start 2015 in Double-A, and with another solid season, could be a top 50 prospect next year.

Aug 7, 2014; Frisco, TX, USA; Frisco Rough Riders right fielder

Nomar Mazara

(9), third baseman

Joey Gallo

(24) and designated hitter

Jorge Alfaro

(8) on the field before the game against the Springfield Cardinals at Dr Pepper Ballpark. Springfield beat Frisco 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

11. Texas Rangers

The Rangers were wise not to trade any of their top prospects this off-season, as they have one of the better 6-7 prospects in all of baseball. They have a solid mix of bats and arms, some of which should be able to help the club in 2015.

Joey Gallo is the clubs top prospect, thanks to his outstanding power (42 homers last year). Like most power hitters, he draws a lot of walks as well, leading to high OBP numbers. Also to be expected, the 21-year old strikes out a lot, with 179 whiffs in 2014. He’ll need to bring this number down moving forward if he want to be a true superstar. The 6 foot 5 third basemen has a cannon for an arm, which should help him stay at third as opposed to first. He will probably start 2015 in Double-A, with a chance at a mid-season promotion.

Jorge Alfaro has been a top prospect for the club since signing with the club in 2011. He has outstanding power for a catcher, smashing 17 homers with 48 total extra base hits in 2014. He h as an outstanding arm behind the plate that is one of the best in the Minor Leagues. Alfaro can be inconsistent at the plate, as well as a little too aggressive at times. He doesn’t walk a whole lot, but as his power develops, pitchers should start pitching around him more. The Colombian can really help the Rangers out in 2015, and should be called up by mid-season.

2013 first rounder Alex Gonzalez had a very solid 2014 season split between advanced-A and Double-A. He mixes his low 90’s fastball with a solid slider, also working on a curveball and changeup. Although he doesn’t strike out a ton of batters, the 22-year old pitches to contact well, and displays solid control. A full season at Double-A should put him on the fast track to the big leagues in 2016.

Acquired from the Tigers in the trade for Joakim Soria, Jake Thompson had a very effective season in 2014. He has the potential of a #2 starter, mixing a low 90’s fastball with a fantastic slider. He also throws a curveball and changeup, which show the potential to become average or better offerings in the future. The 20-year old strikes out a batter per inning while keeping his walks down. He his advanced quite well for his age, with the potential to earn a Major League call-up in 2015. It’s amazing that the Tigers gave up on Thompson for an aging reliever, and the Rangers should reap the benefits in the upcoming years,

The Rangers signed Nomar Mazara to a record deal in 2011, and he has lived up the hype ever since. He hit well enough in high-A ball that he received a promotion to Double-A as a 19 year old. The 6 foot 4, 195 pounder displays raw power, with the chance to hit 25 homers a year in the big leagues. His discipline at the plate is also very impressive for a player his age, walking 66 times in 130 games. He does strike out a fair bit, but his contact rate will improve with age. His strong arm also projects him to be an above average defender in right field. Although he might struggle in a full season at Double-A ball in 2015, Mazara is one of the most intriguing outfield prospects in all of baseball and should be fun to watch.

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