Each season, trusted baseball publications make their way though their lists of baseball's top prospects and determine the list of the best Minor Leaguers who have maintained their Rookie Status according to Major League Baseball guidelines. The only issue with how these various rankings are consumed in the Roger Dorn Baseball League is that it leaves out those prospects who have exhausted their Rookie Eligibility but maintain Minor League Status within our league. We solved that issue in 2016 with the release of the 2016 Top 75 and subsequent Top 100's in 2017, 2018, and 2019.
Compiled over hours of work and weeks of insight, the Top 100 is comprised of what we view as the top value players who maintain prospect status in the RDBL. Taking into account prospect upside, current level, risk, floor and a number of other factors, the following list of players was determined. Activation Date was frequently used as a deciding factor in moving a player up or down the list with those closer to the big leagues getting the nod.
This is not a ranking of pure upside like many of the publications and more of an assessment of current "stock price" of each player and their value in the Roger Dorn Baseball League.
Enjoy the 2020 Roger Dorn Baseball League Top 100 Prospects and look forward to your feedback.
1. OF Yordan Alvarez, Goutfish Upside Comparison: David Ortiz Draft: 2018 3rd Round Pick, 31st Overall by Lake Merced Goutfish Acquired: 2018 Reserve Draft Estimated Activation: Opening Day 2020 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: 48th Alvarez joins 2018 top overall RDBL prospect Cody Bellinger as the most accomplished players set for activation in league history. Alvarez took home the American League Rookie of the Year Award and RDBL Hitting Prospect of the Year Award in 2019 after hitting .313/.412/.655 with 27 home runs and 26 doubles in 87 big league games. This was on top of the 23 home runs and 16 doubles he crushed in Triple-A. Alvarez will step right into the Goutfish lineup as one the RDBL's best assets. 2. 3B Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., Stacks Upside Comparison: Miguel Cabrera Draft: 2016 4th Round Pick, 56th Overall by Maltese Falcons Acquired: 2017 Trade with South Bay Fightin' Fish for Jose Quintana, Danny Duffy, Carlos Gonzalez Estimated Activation: Activated for 2019 Playoffs 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: 4th Lauded as one of the best hitting prospects in recent memory, Guerrero, Jr. pushed his way to the big leagues at 20 years old and found his stride in the second half, slashing .293/.349/.452 from late July to late August. Despite not meeting the sky-high expectations placed on him his rookie season, Guerrero, Jr. looks set to take his production to another level in 2020 as he joins the Short Stacks active roster. 3. SS Fernando Tatis, Jr., Goutfish Upside Comparison: Manny Machado Draft: 2018 1st Round Pick, 1st Overall by Maltese Falcons Acquired: 2019 Trade with Maltese Falcons for Tommy Pham, Adalberto Mondesi, Luis Severino Activation Date: Opening Day 2020 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: 7thWhile contention started as the focus for the Lake Merced Goutfish in 2019, falling out of the race might have been a blessing in disguise. Their mid-season swap of Tommy Pham, Adalberto Mondesi and Luis Severino landed them Fernando Tatis, Jr. who will serve as one of the core members of what could be a special run for GM Ryan Atkinson's organization. After a surprising Opening Day starting spot, Tatis, Jr. flashed his enormous upside around a pair of stints on the injured list and looks primed for a monstrous 3-year run in Lake Merced. 4. SS Wander Franco, Devils Upside Comparison: Francisco Lindor Draft: 2018 2nd Round Pick, 30th Overall by Mt. Diablo Devils Acquired: 2018 Reserve Draft Estimated Activation: Opening Day 2021 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: 19th As we wrote in 2018, Franco had the ability to hold down the top spot in these rankings in future seasons which he will do following the Opening Day activation of the only three players in front of him. As FanGraphs put it recently, "Franco is really close to a perfect prospect, as he’s plus at almost everything he tries, and had one of the best pro debuts I’ve ever seen." Franco has played 175 career games, all at levels well above what is typical for a player his age (he doesn’t turn 19 until March). During those games, he’s hit .336/.405/.523 with 71 extra-base hits, 20 steals, and more walks than strikeouts. He's likely to start 2020 at Double-A and could make a push for the big leagues as soon as mid-season in 2020. 5. 2B Gavin Lux, Aristocrats Upside Comparison: Pre-Injury Corey Seager Draft: 2019 1st Round Pick, 12th Overall by Danville Aristocrats Acquired: 2019 Reserve Draft Estimated Activation: Opening Day 2020 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: N/A After taking a wrecking ball to the Pacific Coast League with a .392 batting average, 13 homers and 1.197 OPS in 49 games, Lux pushed the Dodgers into creating a spot for him as the everyday second baseman down the stretch and in the Playoffs. His sparkling minor-league track record is supported by an advanced approach and lightning-quick bat with more than enough power and an exceptional floor to make him the 5th player on the Top 100 and the highest ranked prospect in Aristocrats Franchise History. 6. 2B Keston Hiura, Grapes Upside Comparison: Jeff Kent Draft: 2018 1st Round Pick, 7th Overall by Asti Grape Stompers Acquired: 2018 Reserve Draft Activation Date: Opening Day 2020 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: 17th Triple-A pitchers provided little challenge with Hiura earning his first trip to the majors in mid-May of 2019 thanks to a Travis Shaw injury. Hiura showed the hitting skills that made him a Top-10 prospect in baseball, but the Brewers still sent him back down when Shaw returned. Shaw struggled mightily, and Hiura became a regular in the big-league lineup in late June. All he did after that was impress at the plate, posting a .956 OPS the rest of the way. While he struck out at a 30.7 percent clip, Hiura possesses the bat speed and discipline to decrease that number and looks like a safe bet for a trio of .300+ average/30+ home runs seasons through 2022. 7. C Adley Rutschman, Clovers Upside Comparison: Buster Posey Draft: 2019 1st Round Pick, 3rd Overall by Cloverdale Clovers Acquired: 2019 Reserve Draft Activation Date: Playoffs 2020 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: N/A Rutschman is the total package, a physical monster who also has superlative baseball acumen and leadership qualities that will allow him to fly through the Orioles system. From his sophomore season onward (and arguably starting in the fall before that) Rutschman went wire-to-wire as the top draft prospect in his class, a complete player and the best draft prospect in half a decade. His entire profile is ideal. It’s rare for ambidextrous swingers to have polished swings from both sides of the plate, even more so to have two nearly identical, rhythmic swings that produce power. Health is the only thing standing in his way of emerging as a top five player at his position as soon as 2021 with the potential to help the Clovers in the Playoffs this season. 8. OF Luis Robert, Hops Upside Comparison: Starling Marte Draft: 2017 1st Round Pick, 3rd Overall by Asti Grape Stompers Acquired: 2019 Trade with Asti Grape Stompers for Aaron Judge, Aaron Nola Activation Date: Opening Day 2020 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: 57th At first glance, Robert certainly could look low on the list following his absolute demolition of Minor League pitching in 2019, becoming the first player since 1961 to post a 30 home run, 30 steal, 300+ total base season. Robert made substantial changes to his swing entering last season which resulted in greatly decreased his groundball rate and unlocked his terrifying power that plays in a game setting. There are concerns with his approach as his chase rate on breaking balls, something he will see plenty of in the big leagues, rang some alarm bells for scouts on how he will translate with the jump to Chicago this season. Squashing that concern is the only thing between him and a top three spot on the rankings. 9. LHP MacKenzie Gore, Stacks Upside Comparison: Clayton Kershaw (90%) Draft: 2018 10th Round Pick, 5th Overall by Mt. Diablo Devils Acquired: 2018 Reserve Draft Estimated Activation: Opening Day 2021 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: 38th After a season highlighted by a 1.02 ERA in the hitter-friendly California League, Gore has become most evaluators' preferred pitching prospect in all of baseball and the top hurler on this list. Delivering four plus pitches, including two wipeout breaking balls, with big reach and a high leg kick, he projects to have a similar early impact like Walker Buehler with all the deceptiveness of a funky left-hander. A big Spring could push Gore into the conversation for an early to mid-season promotion to San Diego placing him right in line for a 2021 Opening Day activation. 10. SS Bo Bichette, Devils Upside Comparison: Dustin Pedroia Draft: 2018 1st Round Pick, 3rd Overall by Alamo Short Stacks Acquired: 2018 Trade from Stacks for Manny Machado, Zack Greinke, Giancarlo Stanton Estimated Activation: Opening Day 2020 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: 20th Bichette raked across every level of the Minor Leagues so it was no surprise that he continued to show his elite bat off after a July promotion to Toronto. The Blue Jays stud shortshop slashed .311/.358/.571 with 29 extra base hits in just 196 at-bats and already holds a 400+ point projection for 2020 by CBS. Still just 21 years old, Bichette looks like the start of the Devils next core group of players to build around joining Wander Franco who ranked 4th overall on the list. 11. LHP Jesus Luzardo, Clovers Upside Comparison: Francisco Liriano Draft: 2018 5th Round Pick, 70th Overall by Honolulu Wave Riders Acquired: 2018 Trade with Waves for Michael Brantley, Asdrubal Cabrera, Feddy Peralta, 4th Rd. Pick Activation Date: Opening Day 2020 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: 11th Luzardo seemed on track to make the Opening Day rotation before a rotator cuff strain and a subsequent Grade 2 lat strain wiped out much of his 2019 season. Including the playoffs, Luzardo logged 63.2 innings, so the top concern with him for 2020 is workload but his work out of the bullpen to finish the season showed just how special his arm is. He sits 93-36 with his fastball, topping out at 99 to pair with two other plus pitches and plus command. A checkered injury history is the only thing holding him back from being the top arm on the list and he should get his chance to prove that point as soon as Opening Day of 2020 when he is expected to be activated by the Clovers. 12. OF Jo Adell, Grapes Upside Comparison: Justin Upton Draft: 2018 2nd Round Pick, 20th Overall by South Bay Fightin' Fish Acquired: 2018 Trade with Fightin' Fish for Marcell Ozuna, Gregory Polanco Activation Date: Playoffs 2020 2018 RDBL Top 100 Rank: 16th The Grapes parted ways with most of their Farm System in 2019 as they pushed for a league championship, but GM Terry Shelley made Adell the one untouchable prospect -- and for good reason. He might prove to be low on the list but an activation that will likely be pushed back to 2021 due to service time manipulation by the Angels cost him a couple of spots on the rankings. At his peak, Adell has a chance to be a .300 hitter with 30 home runs and 30 steals which will be quite the addition next to Mike Trout in Anaheim. 13. 1B Andrew Vaughn, Meinert Hops Upside Comparison: Paul Konerko Draft: 2019 1st Round Pick, 5th Overall by Asti Grape Stompers Acquired: 2019 Trade with Grapes for Aaron Nola, Aaron Judge Estimated Activation: Opening Day 2021 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: N/A Vaughn won't see his name this high on many prospect lists, but with his position and defense thrown out the window, few prospects possess a more dependable tool than his bat. The White Sox were drawn to Cal product because of a simple, powerful swing that allowed his barrel to stay in the zone for a long time. Combined with excellent strength and bat speed, Vaughn projects as a classic masher who could produce average and power in the middle of an order which aligns perfectly with the RDBL scoring format. While he's likely to start 2020 in the low minors, Vaughn's bat should allow him to move quickly through the White Sox organization with the likelihood of pushing the club for an Opening Day role in 2021. 14. OF Jarred Kelenic, Alamo Short Stacks Upside Comparison: Grady Sizemore (Healthy Version) Draft: 2019 2nd Round Pick, 26th Overall by Mt. Diablo Devils Acquired: 2020 Trade with Waves for Jacob deGrom Estimated Activation: Opening Day 2021 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: N/A Kelenic was the key piece of the Stacks off-season deal of Jacob deGrom after the outfielder was so productive in 2019 that he finished the year in Double A at age 19. The Wisconsin high school product is a true five-tool player, with feel to hit, above-average power already, plus speed, a rifle of an arm, and the range to play anywhere in the outfield. He’s already well put together for his age, so there might not be a huge power spike in the future, but he has the power to get to 30 bombs already and the speed to steal 20-plus bases and likely stay in center. With an approach more advanced than expected he could easily finish 2020 in the majors and be positioned for a 2021 activation. 15. SS/3B Carter Kieboom, Danville Aristocrats Upside Comparison: Michael Young Draft: 2018 2nd Round Pick, 25th Overall by Maltese Falcons Acquired: 2019 Trade with Grapes for Anthony Rendon Estimated Activation: Opening Day 2020 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: 36 Much like his player comp of Michael Young, Carter Kieboom is a bat-first prospect who doesn't necessarily have a plus position defensively, but appears well-positioned to man third base as soon as Opening Day of this season but faces some internal depth chart issues on the 'Crats roster that might hold him back from being activated. Kieboom opened the season at Triple-A Fresno after performing well at high Class A and Double-A the previous season. He made his big league debut in April, but struggled to the tune of a .128/.209/.282 clip before being optioned back to Triple-A on May 7. Kieboom makes loud contact and his plus power should make him a weapon at the top or in the middle of Washington’s lineup quickly. 16. RHP Nate Pearson, Idaho Taters Upside Comparison: Aroldis Chapman Draft: 2018 3rd Round Pick, 32nd Overall by Lake Merced Goutfish Acquired: 2018 Trade for Carlos Rodon and Stephen Souza Estimated Activation: Playoffs 2020/Opening Day 2021 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: 79th Pearson’s workload was managed by alternating five- and two-inning starts before July 24, when the restrictions were lifted and he started going deeper into games. He tossed at least five frames in each start after that date to close out the season. Armed with a fastball that touches triple digits, Pearson works with a plus slider and a changeup that has trended positively and projects as plus as well. Pearson has the body and stuff to sit at the front of Toronto’s rotation in the near future with a backup plan as a premiere closer. 17. RHP Casey Mize, Spokane Fightin' Fish Upside Comparison: Masahiro Tanaka Draft: 2018 3rd Round Pick, 37th Overall by Asti Grape Stompers Acquired: 2020 Trade with Stacks for SS Francisco Lindor Estimated Activation: Playoffs 2020 / Opening Day 2021 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: 22nd Mize continued his domination of the minors in 2019, reaching Double-A Erie with relative ease thanks to his plus stuff and command. He tossed a no-hitter against Double-A Altoona in his first stint in the upper minors. Mize was removed from his start on June 13 due to shoulder soreness which in turn caused him to miss a month on the injured list and wasn’t nearly as effective upon his return before being shut down in late August. If Mize proves a clean bill of health, his profile remains as a frontline arm who can impact the club in late 2020 and will make this ranking look quite low while making the Grapes, Waves and Stacks all look foolish for dealing him three times in a span of seven months. 18. LHP Max Fried, Danville Aristocrats Upside Comparison: Late Career Cole Hamels Draft: 2018 2nd Round Pick, 19th Overall by Danville Aristocrats Acquired: 2018 Reserve Draft Estimated Activation: Opening Day 2020 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: N/A Fried marks one of the first rankings where activation date plays a major part in his ranking which isn't a dent at all on his value. A strong spring coupled with injuries to Atlanta's rotation allowed Fried to break camp as the team's fifth starter in 2019 and the lefty never looked back. He wound up making 30 starts and three relief appearances, finishing with 17 wins -- good for second most in the NL -- and 173 strikeouts across a career-high 165.2 innings. Much of Fried's success can be attributed to his improved control (2.6 BB/9) and updated repertoire; he ditched his changeup in favor of a slider that held opponents to a .240 wOBA, which he paired with his solid fastball and a curve which is one of the best in baseball. While his 4.02 ERA was unremarkable, the underlying numbers suggest Fried deserved better (3.72 FIP, 3.42 xFIP), as his batted-ball profile (53.6 GB% and 4.4 Barrel%) did not support his high home-run rate (1.1 HR/9). He doesn't have ace upside, but should settle in as a strong #3 starter with #2 upside in peak years. 19. C Joey Bart, Burlingame Blue Ducks Upside Comparison: Mike Zunino Draft: 2019 1st Round Pick, 1st Overall by Burlingame Blue Ducks Acquired: 2019 Reserve Draft Estimated Activation: Opening Day 2021 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: N/A The high floor and positional value place the 2019 top overall RDBL draft pick at 20th on the Top 100. Bart suffered a fractured hand when he was hit by a pitch early last season, then suffered another one when he got hit on the hand in the Arizona Fall League. In between injuries, Bart showed the easy power and promising defense that made him the No. 2 overall pick in 2018 and finished at Double-A Richmond despite all the missed time. If he can stay healthy, he’ll take over as the Giants everyday catcher soon. There are questions over the hit tool but the power is undeniable, giving him the upside of a top 3 player at the position but a nice floor that will make him incredibly valuable over his first three contract years. 20. OF Kyle Tucker, San Mateo Short Stacks Upside Comparison: Shawn Green Draft: 2016 5th Round Pick, 72nd Overall by San Mateo Short Stacks Acquired: 2016 Reserve Draft Estimated Activation: Opening Day 2020 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: 14th Tucker brings a similar feel that Austin Meadows gave off last season -- an outfielder who has suffered from prospect fatigue but pairs it with excellent numbers throughout their Minor League careers. Tucker posted a 30-30 season, leading the PCL in stolen bases while mashing 62 home runs combined at Triple-A over the last two seasons. The Astros stuck by Josh Reddick throughout the 2019 season but will give Tucker every opportunity to earn the starting job in Spring Training. If he can, Tucker should finally see his contract activated by the Stacks for Opening Day with a backup plan of a potential playoff activation. 21. LHP AJ Puk, Meinert Hops Upside Comparison: Andrew Miller Draft: 2016 1st Round Pick, 13th Overall by St. Joseph Jokers Acquired: 2016 Trade with Stacks for Steven Matz Estimated Activation: Opening Day 2020 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: 47th Puk was threatening to make the A’s out of spring training in 2018 when his elbow snapped, knocking him out for the entire season and the first two-plus months of 2019. When he returned, the A’s chose to rehab him as a reliever so that he might be ready to help the major-league team in September — which he did, with 11 innings that saw him average 97 mph on his fastball and just short of 90 on his slider. The A’s helped Puk rework his delivery in 2017 to turn him into a legit front-end starter prospect, getting him more consistency and better extension out front. He’s a three-pitch guy whose changeup was better in his return than his slider, although his breaking stuff may just be slower in returning after surgery, and he does have a traditional curveball that’s clearly his fourth-best pitch. He may never have the command to be an ace, but he looks like he’ll miss enough bats with the three primary weapons to be a good No. 2. 22. RHP Matt Manning, Idaho Taters Upside Comparison: Jameson Taillon Draft: 2018 7th Round Pick, 101st Overall by Adler's Man Crush Acquired: 2018 Reserve Draft Estimated Activation: Opening Day 2021 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: 71st Manning has continued to cement his position as one of the game's elite pitching prospects. The Eastern League pitcher of the year fanned 148 batters thanks in part to a step forward with his changeup, which now projects as plus. He held opponents to just 93 hits in 133 2/3 innings at Double-A, leaving him likely to open 2020 in Triple-A only a call away from a long-term spot towards the top of the Detroit Tigers rotation. 23. Brendan McKay, LHP, Mission Viejo Maulers Upside Comparison: Mark Buehrle Draft: 2017 10th Round Pick, 149th Overall by Alamo Short Stacks Acquired: 2018 Trade with Fish for Justin Verlander, Kyle Hendricks, Charlie Morton, Carlos Santana, Wade Davis Estimated Activation: 2020 Opening Day 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: 45th McKay thoroughly eviscerated Double-A and Triple-A hitters in 2019, posting a 1.10 ERA, striking out 102 and walking just 18 in 73 2/3 innings. Hitters swung and missed a lot, and when they didn’t, they had a hard time squaring him up. Then he reached the majors, and stopped throwing his changeup almost completely — it was just 3.6 percent of his pitches thrown in the big leagues — and suddenly right-handed hitters were all over him, hitting all eight homers he gave up and posting a .284/.344/.527 line overall. That’s not who McKay is; he’s a four-pitch guy with plus command and, yes, an above-average changeup that should help him get righties out. He’s also continued to hit occasionally, but his performance at the plate really fell off when he reached Triple A, and he’s probably better off pitching full-time and just hitting when the team needs a pinch-hitter. He’s got at least three 55s in his arsenal with plus command, enough to give him a mid-rotation floor and solid No. 2 kind of ceiling with the ability to step right into the Maulers rotation to start 2020. 24. RHP Michael Kopech, Cloverdale Clovers Upside Comparison: AJ Burnett Draft: 2017 2nd Round Pick, 2nd Overall by Mission Viejo Maulers Acquired: 2017 Trade from Mission Viejo Maulers for A. Beltre, C. Dickerson, D. Gordon, C. Morton Estimated Activation: Mid-2020 / 2020 Playoffs 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: 31st Kopech blew out his elbow shortly after his major league debut, missing 2019 while he rehabbed, but should be ready re-join the White Sox rotation by May or June. When healthy, Kopech had one of the biggest fastballs in the game, working 95-100 mph while showing consistent improvement with his slider, changeup, and especially his control. He finished 2018 on a tear, just as he’d finished 2017 on one, having worked on staying online to the plate and not spinning off his front heel, and seemed poised to rocket to the top of the White Sox’s rotation when his elbow snapped. He was back throwing in the upper 90s again in instructs, and while the command may take longer to come back, he should be ready to contribute to Chicago this season and still has that No. 1 starter upside if he stays healthy. 25. 1B Spencer Torkelson, Idaho Taters Upside Comparison: Kris Bryant Draft: 2019 4th Round Pick, 58th Overall by Adler's Man Crush Acquired: 2019 Reserve Draft Estimated Activation: Opening Day 2022 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: N/A Torkelson hit 48 home runs during his freshman and sophomore seasons at ASU — 10 more than Barry Bonds, who had the earlier ASU record for freshman-sophomore power. That display earned him a 2019 selection in the RDBL Reserve Draft by Adler's Man Crush, something new GM Mike Friedrich is certainly happy he did. Off to a hot start yet again in 2020, Torkelson is the odds on favorite to the be the top overall pick in June's MLB Draft with many referring to his bat as a generational type tool. He figures to follow a similar path to Andrew Vaughn and should be ready for activation by Opening Day of 2022. 26. OF Victor Robles, Mission Viejo Maulers Upside Comparison: Late Career Andrew McCutchen Draft: 2015 11th Round, 165th Overall by Cloverdale Clovers Acquired: 2018 Trade with Fish for Justin Verlander, Kyle Hendricks, Charlie Morton, Carlos Santana, Wade Davis Estimated Activation: Opening Day 2020 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: 13th Robles has seen quite the dip in his overall upside as exit velocity concerns entering 2019 were confirmed as the outfielder slugged just .419 over 546 at-bats. Despite the lack of hard contact, Robles uses his legs to add a ton of value to his game as he produced 18 infield hits and 28 steals last season. Still just 23 years old, Robles figures to see some improvement in his approach that should continue to add critical points to his OBP. While he might not be the annual 400-450 point producer many once thought was a lock, steady playing time atop the Nationals lineup still provides plenty of value for an outfielder who is ready to join the Maulers active roster for Opening Day. 27. IF/OF Cavan Biggio, Danville Aristocrats Upside Comparison: Rougned Odor (With More OBP) Draft: 2019 12th Round Pick, 178th Overall Acquired: 2019 Reserve Draft Estimated Activation: Opening Day 2020 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: N/A Biggio entered last season as a name to monitor for many RDBL owners after producing an .887 OPS, 26 home runs, and 20 stolen bases at Double-A in 2018 with the Maltese Falcons seeing enough to pop him in the 12th Round. He looked even better at Triple-A, slashing .312/.448/.514 and earning a promotion to the majors in late May that peaked the interest of the Aristocrats who acquired Biggio in July for Joe Musgrove and Yasiel Puig. The 24-year-old quickly moved from the bottom of the lineup into more valuable real estate, spending some time in the cleanup spot before parking himself in the #2 spot of the Blue Jays' batting order for good at the end of July. That slot made a lot of sense, as only three other players (minimum 400 plate appearances) boasted a higher walk rate than Biggio's 16.5% and no batter swung at fewer pitches outside of the strike zone. Passivity came at a price, however, as he struck out in 28.6% of his trips to the plate despite an above-average 8.7% swinging-strike rate. That ying and yang will be interesting to monitor as many see his 2019 average (.234) as a low bar but will a more aggressive approach drop his valuable walk rate. Regardless, Biggio fills up the stat sheet and his OBP skills align perfectly with the RDBL format making him a premium activation for the 'Crats to start 2020. 28. OF Alex Kirilloff, Honolulu Hammerheads Upside Comparison: Andrew Benintendi Draft: 2019 2nd Round, 2nd Overall by Honolulu Hammerheads Acquired: 2019 Reserve Draft Estimated Activation: Opening Day 2021 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: N/A Kirilloff missed all of 2017 after Tommy John surgery, and then mashed his way through both levels of A ball in 2018 leading to being the 2nd overall selection in the 2019 Reserve Draft. However, he suffered a minor wrist injury in late March and ended up missing all of April and struggling a bit in May when he finally reached Double-A Pensacola. His power was a bit down all year, but he hit .299/.346/.439 from June 1 on as a 21-year-old — in line with where you’d expect his average and OBP to be, just without the power he showed in 2018 when he hit 20 homers in 130 games. A left-handed-hitting corner outfielder who also pitched in high school, Kirilloff has one of the sweetest swings in the minors and makes a lot of contact, with raw power that should come back this year now that the wrist has had an offseason of rest. He’s average in right, with a solid-average arm, but as a high-average hitter with the potential for 25-30 homers and a very high probability to hit, he’s emerged as the most valuable prospect in the RDBL, despite some publications pushing a dip in his stock this off-season. 29. RHP Luis Patino, Mt. Diablo Devils Upside Comparison: Carlos Martinez Draft: 2019 2nd Round Pick, 24th Overall by Mt. Diablo Devils Acquired: 2019 Reserve Draft Estimated Activation: Opening Day 2021 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: N/A Patino was selected to the Futures Game and worked his way from high Class A Lake Elsinore to Double-A Amarillo where he finished out the season. Patino has a special kind of fastball that not only offers premium velocity but also late movement, and once he began throwing strikes consistently with it, he took off, compiling a 2.31 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 11.6 K/9 over his final 17 starts. Advancing to Double-A as a teenager is itself a testament to his upside and he will look to build upon his workload as he looks to exceed the 100 inning mark for a season for the first time in 2020. 30. RHP Forrest Whitley, Meinert Hops Upside Comparison: Lucas Giolito Draft: 2013 13th Round Pick, 147th Overall by Alamo Short Stacks Acquired: 2017 Trade with Devils for Kenley Jansen, Christian Yelich, Hanley Ramirez, Matt Wisler Estimated Activation: Mid-Season/Playoffs 2020 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: 8th Whitley's 2019 was an outright disaster, as he posted a 7.99 ERA amid shoulder issues and tweaks to his mechanics. No pitching prospect is a sure thing, but Whitley looks especially precarious since emerging as arguably the top pitching prospect in the game in 2017. However, he was dominant in the Arizona Fall League and is still just 22 years old, potentially making him well worth the wait. He's ticketed for Triple-A to start 2020 and could push for a rotation spot by mid-season if he can string the consistency that he hasn't been able to find over the last two seasons. 31. C Sean Ryan Murphy, Idaho Taters Upside Comparison: Salvador Perez Draft: 2018 has 7th Round Pick, 98th Overall by Adler's Man Crush Acquired: 2018 Reserve Draft Estimated Activation: 2020 Opening Day 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: 63rdMurphy is one of the best all-around catching prospects in baseball, and the Athletics front office has made it clear he is the club’s long-term solution at the position while set to help the Taters beginning on Opening Day. His calling card starts with his above-average defense and foot quickness behind the plate to pair with an 80 grade arm which should allow him to secure the primary catching spot even as a Rookie. Offensively, he continues to develop at a rapid pace and could end up slugging 15-20 home runs while getting on base at a 35 percent clip. He’ll be a Rookie of the Year candidate this year along with his teammate Jesus Luzardo if he can stay healthy which has proven to be a difficult thing for him throughout his young career. 32. OF Alex Verdugo, Cloverdale Clovers Upside Comparison: Nick Markakis Draft: 2017 2nd Round Pick, 17th Overall by Mission Viejo Maulers Acquired: 2017 Trade with Maulers for Adrian Beltre, Corey Dickerson, Charlie Morton, Dee Gordon Estimated Activation: Opening Day 2020 (With Health) 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: 46th Verdugo impressed in his first extended big-league opportunity in 2019, demonstrating hitting acumen that belies his youth. Among hitters with at least 300 plate appearances, the 23-year-old's 13.0 K% was 21st-best in the league while his 85.2% contact rate ranked 30th. Verdugo doesn't take many walks -- his 6.9 BB% last season was below league average -- but his 6.6% swinging-strike rate is indicative of a keen eye at the plate. While the lefty has thus far demonstrated only average power, his hard-hit rate portends greater long-ball potential with an increase in the 8.8-degree launch angle he posted last season. Verdugo missed most of August and September with related oblique and back injuries, and it was reported in mid-December that Verdugo had yet to resume baseball activities. With his outstanding batting profile, and now with the Red Sox after headlining the return for Mookie Betts, it's not hard to imagine Verdugo blossoming into a .300-plus hitter in the near future. 33. OF Julio Rodriguez, Spokane Fightin' Fish Upside Comparison: Juan Gonzalez Draft: 2019 12th Round Pick, 179th Overall by Fightin' Fish Acquired: 2019 Reserve Draft Estimated Activation: Opening Day 2022 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: N/A Few prospects saw their stock rise as much as Rodriguez over the last 12 months after the Fightin' Fish made him the 5th to last pick in the 2019 Reserve Draft in the 12th Round. An aggressive full season assignment turned out to be a game changing move as Rodriguez’s 70-grade hit tool and power were on display all season. After collecting 31 extra-base hits in 67 games for low Class A West Virginia, the 18-year old went on to hit .462/.514/.738 against California League pitching in 72 plate appearances. The future right field masher topped that off with a successful 15-game stint in the Arizona Fall League to close out his year and has gone from a high upside lottery ticket to what some publications already rank as a Top-10 prospect in baseball. 34. SS Marco Luciano, Alamo Short Stacks Upside Comparison: Alfonso Soriano Draft: 2019 2nd Round Pick, 25th Overall to Alamo Short Stacks Acquired: 2019 Reserve Draft Estimated Activation: Opening Day 2023 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: N/A If Julio Rodriguez took the biggest leap in value in 2019, Marco Luciano wasn't far behind. Luciano received $2.6 million from the Giants in July of 2018, then debuted last summer in the Arizona Rookie League at age 17, where he finished third in the league in OBP at .438 and fifth in slugging at .616. He’s 6′2″ and lanky, with loose hands and a lot of room to fill out. As FanGraphs put it, "When Marco Luciano connects, you feel it to your core. He is not normal. To find bat speed comps you need to look toward Javier Baez, Eric Davis, whatever the top of your mental catalog might be." If he continues to perform, especially if the Giants send him right to Augusta and he hits his way to San Jose, then this time next year we’ll be talking about Marco Luciano as one of the best prospects in baseball, and if he does so while improving his infield defense, perhaps the best. 35. 3B Alec Bohm, Mt. Diablo Devils Upside Comparison: Nick Castellanos / Hunter Dozier Draft: 2019 1st Round Pick, 9th Overall by Mt. Diablo Devils Acquired: 2019 Reserve Draft Estimated Activation: Opening Day 2021 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: N/A Bohm can hit, really hit, and while he might not do it at third base for the long term, he’s going to hit enough to profile somewhere as a regular. Bohm was the third overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft and started 2019 in Low A, where he didn’t belong as a 21-year-old product of a major college program, but he bashed his way out of there and then did the same in High-A Clearwater before finishing in Double-A Reading, where he took advantage of the Eastern League’s best hitters’ park but struggled on the road. He should probably start 2020 there, but likely won't last long. Bohm is incredibly strong, with power to all fields, excellent zone control, and a great work ethic that extends to his pregame planning against pitchers. He holds an ideal skillset for the RDBL with .300 and 25-plus homers as a peak, along with plenty of walks and should be ready to help the Devils by the start of 2021. 36. LHP Julio Urias, Alamo Short Stacks Upside Comparison: Jon Lester Draft: 2018 5th Round Pick, 67th Overall by Asti Grape Stompers Acquired: 2019 Trade with Waves for Jacob deGrom Estimated Activation: Opening Day 2020 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: 59th The shine of Urias' prospect status has faded, both due to injury and his domestic battery situation that led to a suspension last season. But with a starting spot locked in entering 2020 for the Dodgers and building off a career-high in innings, Urias' value could jolt which is the plan for the Alamo Short Stacks who acquired the left-hander this off-season. Still just 23, he has the repertoire to be a quality starting pitcher, but he needs to start building up his innings this year to shed the durability question marks. In 123 career MLB innings as a starter, he has a 3.66 ERA and 125:49 K:BB and will look to build on his 2.48 ERA and 1.08 WHIP from last season. 37. SS Bobby Witt, Jr., Asti Grape Stompers Upside Comparison: Carlos Correa Draft: 2018 2nd Round Pick, 22nd Overall by Asti Grape Stompers Acquired: 2018 Reserve Draft Estimated Activation: Opening Day 2022 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: 66th The MLB draft’s second overall pick in 2019 delivered a middling stat line in his pro debut last year, but his 93 mph average exit velocity and immense athleticism gave glimpses of his star potential. He has all of the tools you look for in a big league shortstop with only his hit tool lagging behind. A big 2020 season is expected for Witt which should vault him up this list substantially at this time next season. 38. 2B Nick Madrigal, Maltese Falcons Upside Comparison: David Eckstein Draft: 2018 3rd Round Pick, 39th Overall by St. Joseph Jokers Acquired: 2019 Trade with Jokers for Cesar Hernandez, Anthony Rizzo Estimated Activation: Mid-Season/Playoffs 2020 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: 52nd While his overall ceiling might be limited, Madrigal possesses one of the safest floors in all of the Minor Leagues thanks in large part to excellent bat to ball skills that should make him a fixture in the White Sox roster in short order. Madrigal had the lowest swinging strike rate in the minors last year at a minuscule 2.2% — only Luis Arraez (2.8%) came close to that in the big leagues in 2019. Short players have short swings and Madrigal is no exception. While the David Eckstein comp might draw ire, a look back at his peak years would be a great result for the Falcons and Madrigal. 39. IF/OF Nick Senzel, St. Joseph Jokers Upside Comparison: Craig Biggio Draft: 2016 1st Round Pick, 8th Overall by Meinert Hops Acquired: Estimated Activation: Opening Day 2020 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: 12th The 2016 second overall MLB Draft pick was sent down before Opening Day and subsequently injured his ankle in spring training, delaying his major-league debut until May. Upon his arrival, Senzel didn't exactly dominate, turning in a .256/.315/.427 season with a 24.7 K% and 14 stolen bases. That's not a bad season for an average rookie, but with lofty expectations given his draft status, some wanted more. His season was cut short by shoulder surgery which could delay his activation and 2020 start to the season, but despite a now crowded Reds depth chart, the future remains bright for Senzel. 40. RHP Sixto Sanchez, Lake Merced Goutfish Upside Comparison: Pedro Martinez-Lite Draft: 2017 11th Round Pick, 163rd Overall Acquired: 2017 Trade with Jokers for Gerrit Cole, Sal PerezEstimated Activation: 2020 Playoffs / 2021 Opening Day 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: 39th Sanchez was the top-ranked pitching prospect in the Southern League, posting a 2.53 ERA with 97 strikeouts alongside 19 walks in 103 frames. He has three plus pitches and advanced control, which should help him debut for Miami in 2020. Sanchez has an electric arm and will remind you of a young Pedro Martinez at the same age. His fastball comes in at 98-100 mph with above-average life thanks to heavy sink. He flashes an above-average power curveball, which is a wipeout pitch when it’s on. His changeup made significant strides last year and gives him that important third above-average pitch. His 6-foot small frame gives some a level of pause, especially given the fact he just crossed the 100 inning mark for the first time in 2019. If he can shake that concern, this ranking will look far too low. 41. 2B Brendan Rodgers, Idaho Taters Upside Comparison: Brian Dozier Draft: 2014 5th Round Pick, 70th Overall by Idaho Taters Acquired: 2014 Reserve Draft Estimated Activation: Opening Day 2020 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: 26th Rodgers bounced back from a so-so 2018 season to hit an altitude-boosted .350/.413/.622 in Triple-A Albuquerque, one of the best hitters’ parks in the minors, all but forcing the Rockies to call him up in May. That big league debut was cut short by a torn labrum that might cost him the early part of 2020, putting an Opening Day activation in question. His ceiling has declined since he was selected in the 2014 Reserve Draft, but Rodgers still looks the part of a doubles machine that should settle in the 15-20 homer range boosted by Coors Field. 42. RHP Spencer Howard, Cloverdale Clovers Upside Comparison: Matt Cain Draft: 2019 5th Round Pick, 63rd Overall by Cloverdale Clovers Acquired: 2019 Reserve Draft Estimated Activation: 2020 Playoffs / 2021 Opening Day 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: N/A Only two months lost to shoulder “fatigue” kept Howard from ending 2019 in the majors, as he dominated High A and Double A with a combination of superb control and a true four-pitch arsenal. His fastball is special, up to 99 mph this past season and he can spot it and use it up in the zone to get swings and misses. He left a trail of dead right-handed batters in his wake in 2019, limiting them to a .137/.184/.197 line and walking just 2 of 125. While he was held to just 70.2 innings last season, the Phillies are already working to allocate his innings with a late season promotion in mind making Howard already stand out as one of the top draft picks of the 2019 Reserve round. 43. RHP Sandy Alcantara, Lunatic Fringe Upside Comparison: Jeff Samardzija Draft: 2017 3rd Round Pick, 39th Overall by Lunatic Fringe Acquired: 2017 Reserve Draft Estimated Activation: Opening Day 2020 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: 68th Alcantara might rank among the top five in most accomplishments in the big league level on this list following a breakout season in 2019 that has him primed to slot right into the Fringe rotation. He was a workhorse last season for the Marlins, logging 197 1/3 innings with a 3.88 ERA while doubling his K:BB ratio in the second half which could be a positive sign that there's a bit more in the tank. He looks the part of a solid 3rd or 4th fantasy starter which will provide exceptional value for GM Tony Guglielmi starting in 2020. 44. C Carson Kelly, Idaho Taters Upside Comparison: Russell Martin Draft: 2017 1st Round Pick, 8th Overall by Adler's Man Crush Acquired: 2017 Reserve Draft Estimated Activation: Opening Day 2020 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: 76th Being shipped to Arizona in the trade for Paul Goldschmidt was a major blessing for Kelly, as he blossomed when finally out of Yadier Molina's shadow in St. Louis in to a primary receive that is ready to be activated. Kelly received his first extended playing time in his age-25 season and delivered 18 home runs in 365 plate appearances (85 starts). He was solid defensively and his framing graded out exceptionally well. Manager Torey Lovullo utilized a heavy rotation behind the plate for a good chunk of the season (which he is likely to do again with the addition of Stephen Vogt), but Kelly was clearly the top choice at the end of the day and finished with some of the best offensive rate stats among catchers (his 108 wRC+ was identical to J.T. Realmuto's mark).
45. RHP Ian Anderson, Honolulu Hammerheads Upside Comparison: Chad Billingsley Draft: 2017 4th Round Pick, 51st Overall by Alamo Short Stacks Acquired: 2018 Trade from Stacks for Chris Sale, Eddie Rosario, Jean Segura Estimated Activation: 2020 Opening Day 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: 32nd Anderson posted a 2.68 ERA in Double A with a 32 percent strikeout rate despite being just 21 years old, earning a late-season promotion to Triple A where his control issues finally threw up a roadblock to his progress. Anderson looks the part of a high-end starter, with a durable build and clean delivery that gets him extended way out over his front side so all of his pitches play up. He can sit in the mid-90s with a plus changeup; his curveball doesn’t have a huge spin rate, but hitters still swing and miss at it. He has the weapons to miss bats, but needs more consistency to the delivery — and just to flat-out throw more strikes, because when he gets ahead of batters they have a hard time hitting him. His range of outcomes is still wide, but he has real No. 2 starter upside thanks to the extension and that filthy changeup leaving him as a candidate to rise considerably on this list next season. 46. SS Willy Adames, Lake Merced Goutfish Upside Comparison: Jonathan Villar Draft: 2015 8th Round Pick, 116th Overall by Maltese Falcons Acquired: 2018 Trade with Maltese Falcons for Max Scherzer Estimated Activation: 2020 Opening Day 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: 28th Adames is another RDBL prospect who ranks among the most accomplished at the big league level of players on this list. With over 800 big league at-bats under his belt, Adames built on a solid rookie season but slugging a career-high 20 home runs in 2019 though he saw substantial dips to both his average and on-base percentage. A slick fielder, Adames is one of the rare Tampa Bay Rays who hold down a daily role in the lineup, making him a steady force for the Goutfish starting in 2020. While he won't necessarily have monster upside, Adames could play out in a similar fashion as his comp Jonathan Villar with peak years that rank among the position's best thanks to that emerging power. 47. SS Royce Lewis, Cloverdale Clovers Upside Comparison: Trea Turner Draft: 2018 1st Round Pick, 13th Overall by Burlingame Blue Ducks Acquired: 2018 Trade from Ducks for Carlos Carrasco, Andrew Miller, AJ Pollock, Maikel Franco Estimated Activation: 2022 Opening Day 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: 21st No one has ever questioned Lewis’ athleticism, but longstanding concerns about his hitting ability came to the forefront in 2019 for the former MLB Draft top selection. He showed what he is capable of when his swing is mechanically sound with an MVP turn in the Arizona Fall League, and now it’s a matter of keeping it up. The Twins moved him to center in the AFL, partly due to a roster squeeze at shortstop, though many view the outfield as Lewis' ultimately destination. 2020 will be a critical year for Lewis as his stock either increases towards the career path of a Trea Turner or continues down the current road towards Billy Hamilton. 48. RHP Dylan Cease, Lake Merced Goutfish Upside Comparison: Jake Odorizzi Draft: 2016 2nd Round Pick, 28th Overall by Lake Merced Goutfish Acquired: 2017 Trade from Stacks for Buster Posey Estimated Activation: Opening Day 2020 / Mid-Season 2020 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: 42nd The question on Dylan Cease has never been in relation to his stuff, which certainly showed when he earned his long awaited promotion to the big leagues in 2019 and punched out 81 in 73.0 innings. The issue continues to be command as the right-hander walked 35 in that span and has yet to produce a walk rate under 10% at any pro stop. There's a wide variance on how his career plays out, but with three potential plus pitches and a starting spot in Chicago to open 2020, Cease certainly earns his spot in the first half of the Top 100. 49. 3B Nolan Jones, Burlingame Blue Ducks Upside Comparison: Eric Hosmer Draft: 2019 5th Round Pick, 61st Overall by Burlingame Blue Ducks Acquired: 2019 Reserve Draft Estimated Activation: Opening Day 2021 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: N/A Jones led the minors in walks last year with 96, and had the highest walk rate of any player with at least 400 PA, although it came with a strikeout rate of 27.7 percent (above the median, but not even in the top 100 in the minors). That’s a decent picture of who Jones is as a hitter, working deep counts, not afraid to strike out, and not really cutting down on his swing at all with two strikes — probably because it might also cut into his power. There’s a gap between Jones’ raw power and game power so far, and he might be a 20-25 homer guy at his peak even though he shows more power than that in BP but if that becomes more consistent, he has a chance to be a star.
50. LHP Daniel Lynch, Cloverdale Clovers Upside Comparison: Eduardo Rodriguez Draft: 2019 2nd Round Pick, 18th Overall by Cloverdale Clovers Acquired: 2019 Reserve Draft Estimated Activation: Opening Day 2021 2019 RDBL Top 100 Rank: N/A If it wasn’t for MacKenzie Gore, Lynch might have the best pure stuff of any lefty prospect in the minors. Lynch hit 99 mph in the Fall Stars game in the AFL, and regularly worked from 94-97 during the season with a plus slider and an above-average changeup, mixing in a two-seamer and curveball as well. He missed part of the summer with a sore shoulder; the Royals shut him down for precautionary reasons, and he finished the year healthy and with the same velocity he’d had before the injury. He’s really not far away and has the highest ceiling of any of the Royals’ stable of real starting pitching prospects and could make a push for Kansas City late this summer. Rest of the Best (51-100) 51. OF Drew Waters, Goutfish
52. OF Christian Pache, Hammerheads 53. RHP Kyle Wright, Jokers 54. RHP Mitch Keller, Hops 55. RHP Griffin Canning, Maulers 56. 3B Nolan Gorman, Maulers 57. RHP Hunter Greene, Grapes 58. LHP Matt Liberatore, Fightin' Fish 59. OF Brandon Marsh, Fightin' Fish 60. OF Heliot Ramos, Falcons 61. OF Trevor Larnach, Falcons 62. RHP Emerson Hancock, Stacks 63. SS Nico Hoerner, Falcons 64. OF Jasson Dominguez, Stacks 65. IF Michael Chavis, Fringe 66. OF Kristian Robinson, Falcons 67. LHP DL Hall, Jokers 68. C Keibert Ruiz, Goutfish 69. OF Trent Grisham, Stacks 70. C Francisco Mejia, Clovers 71. SS Oneil Cruz, Clovers 72. OF Austin Hays, Fightin' Fish 73. OF Tyler O'Neill, Fightin' Fish 74. 3B Austin Riley, Hammerheads 75. 2B Vidal Brujan, Grapes
76. RHP Brady Singer, Jokers
77. 3B Ke'Bryan Hayes, Taters 78. RHP Deivi Garcia, Devils 79. OF Taylor Trammell, Maulers 80. LHP Adrian Morejon, Maulers 81. IF Ryan Mountcastle, Fringe 82. LHP Nick Lodolo, Aristocrats 83. SS Jazz Chisholm, Hammerheads 84. OF Jesus Sanchez, Devils 85. OF George Valera, Fightin' Fish 86. OF Leody Taveras, Devils 87. C William Conteras, Hammerheads 88. LHP Shane McClanahan, Hops 89. 3B Jonathan India, Fightin' Fish 90. RHP Alex Faedo, Jokers 91. RHP Brusdar Graterol, Goutfish 92. LHP Ryan Rolison, Ducks 93. C Shea Langeliers, Aristocrats 94. OF Clint Frazier, Fightin' Fish 95. OF Travis Swaggerty, Ducks 96. SS Luis Garcia, Ducks 97. RHP Brent Honeywell, Falcons 98. C Diego Cartaya, Devils 99. RHP Jonathan Loaisiga, Maulers 100. RHP Cole Winn, Falcons
Haha. Sorry Ryan.
Mike Zunino. That hurts, Greg. Hurts deep.