On Saturday we brought you LOD’s top 10 pitching prospects. Now that the Futures Game is over, here is a look at my picks for the top 10 position player prospects.
10. Brendan Rodgers – INF Colorado Rockies
I love offensive production and an advanced feel for hitting from a middle infielder, especially at a young age. That is Brendan Rodgers in a nutshell. The Florida native can hit for both contact and power and he will flourish in Coors when he inevitably makes it to the bigs. Defensively, his arm is stronger than his glove, but scouts believe he has the ability to stay at short.
9. Kyle Tucker – OF Houston Astros
The Astros top prospect has a great approach at the plate. He has struck out just 70 times this season to 36 walks, something that has been commonplace in his pro career. Beyond the approach, Tucker does have some power as well coupled with good speed. He is a legitimiate 20/20 candidate in the majors.
8. Jo Adell – OF Los Angeles Angels
Adell is slugging .601 over two levels this season… that pretty much sums him up offensively. Seriously, the kid can mash and when he hits one into the gap he can move around the bases with above average speed. He has a great arm and his good speed and footwork make him an ideal center field candidate, but there is that Mike Trout guy out there too.
7. Nick Senzel – 3B Cincinnati Reds
Unfortunately, the Reds top prospect is sidelined with an injury for the rest of the season. However, when Senzel has been on the field, he has proven that his bat is major league ready in my opinion. Senzel has flown through the system and performed well at all levels. His contact is his best tool and his plate discipline is great. He doesn’t posses eye popping power, but I believe he will be a 20 homer guy in the majors. He has solid gap power and has enough speed to take the extra base. Senzel is also a solid defender at the hot corner as well.
6. Keston Hiura – 2B Milwaukee Brewers
The UC-Irvine product is a guy I’m higher on than most. Hiura is an all around player that posses arguably the best bat control on this list. We mentioned Senzel’s hit tool above, but I think Hiura has a leg up on him. There is an injury history there, but after a dominant D1 college career, Hiura hasn’t missed a beat in pro ball. His advanced tools earned him a promotion to Double-A in his first full season before he had even played in 100 pro games.
5. Bo Bichette – SS Toronto Blue Jays
The first player on this list that I wouldn’t consider the top prospect in his organization, Bichette really made a name for himself in 2017. He stands 6’0 and weighs in at 200 pounds and while that isn’t a small frame by any means, I think Bichette projects to be more of a power hitter than you’d expect. He has the ability to make consistent contact, but I believe that power, both in the form of homers and gaps, will be his game. He isn’t the fastest guy on the field, but his defensive footwork is strong and he should stay at short.
4. Eloy Jimenez – OF Chicago White Sox
Injuries may be the only thing that have kept Jimenez from cracking the major league roster. In my opinion, the White Sox number one prospect posses the best power bat on this list and he has DH written all over him. A potential 40 homer a season guy, Jimenez is still getting his shot in the outfield. You obviously don’t want to give up on a 21 year old’s defensive development. I think the Dominican Republic product will be a one trick pony, but that one trick will be enough to make him a huge contributor.
3. Fernando Tatis Jr. – SS San Diego Padres
The first of the two Jrs. to round out our top three, the Padres number one prospect brings a different set of skills than a lot of the guys on this list, at least in my opinion. The bat is certainly strong for Tatis, but I think his glove and range up the middle is his best tool. With that being said, I do think the bat will grow into above average tools both in terms of contact and power. He has the potential to be a 25/25 guy while playing outstanding defense at short.
2. Victor Robles – OF Washington Nationals
Robles has been somewhat overshadowed this season by his organizational mate, Juan Soto, and his success in the big leagues. The fact that Robles has been hurt virtually all year doesn’t help either. After the dust settles around Soto’s debut, Nationals fans have another superstar waiting in the wings. A true five tool talent, the overall athleticism that Robles possesses can’t be rivaled by many in the game today. An outstanding contact tool coupled with perhaps the best speed in the minors makes him a threat every time he comes to the plate. Oh, the 21 year old already posses above average power as well. For as good as he is offensively, he is just as good defensively. He is an exceptional center fielder with a great arm to go with it.
1. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – 3B Toronto Blue Jays
Like you were expecting something different. I know you’ve read extensively about Vlad Jr. and chances are I’m not going to say anything you haven’t heard. He makes it look easy at the plate as he can drive the ball even on the rare occasion he doesn’t barrel it up. Combine in superior plate discipline, and Vlad has future All-Star written all over him.
