2015 Prospect Profiles

by FanGraphs

February 9, 2015

Takashi Toritani

Profile: A slick-fielding shortstop with a good eye at the plate, Toritani is the type of player who could find a modicum of success where more athletic players like Kazuo Matsui or Tsuyoshi Nishiokadidn’t. Toritani is coming off a productive year for the Hanshin Tigers, having produced a .313/.406/.415 line, eight home runs, 73 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. He was also second in the Central League with 87 walks, a finish that ended his three-year reign as the CL leader in that category. Toritani is a smart, selective hitter who can grind out at-bats until he gets a pitch he thinks he can handle. His power numbers in Japan — 120 career home runs — are similar to what Norichika Aoki put up in NPB, but Koshien Stadium, where the Tigers play, favors pitchers more than Aoki’s old stomping ground, hitter-friendly Jingu Stadium. Still, Toritani has reached double-digit home runs only once in the past four seasons, and it might be asking a lot to expect to see any kind of surge if he were to move to the majors. Defensively Toritani is one of the best in Japan at shortstop, owing more to pure fielding prowess than the athleticism Nishioka or Munenori Kawasaki displayed. His arm would be greatly tested were he to play shortstop everyday in the majors and he’s probably better suited to second base. He’s also proven to be supremely durable, the flip side of that meaning there’s already a lot of mileage on the tires. Unfortunately for American fans, Toritani took a multi-year deal to return to the Tigers and, now 33, probably won’t ever play in Major League Baseball. (Jason Coskrey)

Quick Opinion: Takashi Toritani reportedly considered coming to America as a free agent in 2012, but remained in Japan after a down year. Now 33, Toritani gave it another shot and ended up returning home. That might be all she wrote for his Major League Baseball chances.

Yoshihisa Hirano

Profile: Hirano is overpowering in Nippon Proffessional Baseball and since moving into the bullpen full-time in 2010, he has had just one season with a strikeout rate below ten per nine (9.04 in 2012) and only one with a strikeout-to-walk ratio under five (3.61 in 2010). Hirano isn’t has good as the early 2000’s version of Kyuji Fujikawa but is cut from similar cloth and better than the remnant of Fujikawa that landed in Chicago in 2013. As powerful as his stuff plays in NPB, he can also be erratic. When his command falters, he sometimes overcompensates with hittable pitches over the plate. His splitter is a weapon already and better control of it, and his other secondary pitches, would make him a very good prospect to find success in some role in an MLB bullpen should he make the jump, which could be soon. (Jason Coskrey)

Quick Opinion: Hirano, 30, is a right-handed closer with a pretty good fastball that he can ramp up to the low to mid 90s, a pair of quality secondary pitches in his slider and splitter, and a decent curveball. He could be an international free agent next season.

Kentaro Nishimura

Profile: When Nishimura is on he’ll generate ground balls, and his mostly three-pitch mix seems to work better in the bullpen, where he posted 32 saves in 2012 and led the Central League with 42 saves in 2013. He could still be a swing man, but if he moves to America, it’ll probably be for that work in the pen. The up-and-down right-hander looked like he’d finally gotten everything together from 2011-13 before taking a step back in 2014. There are some kinks to work out, but a good year in 2015 could help land him a job somewhere as a international free agent after the season. (Jason Coskrey)

Quick Opinion: Nishimura, 29, is a right-handed starter-turned-reliever who has seen his velocity dip into the 89-93 region over the past few years but still commands a quality slider and fork ball. He could help a bullpen in 2016.

Nobuhiro Matsuda

Profile: Matsuda isn’t an otherworldly talent, but could elicit at least some interest because of the multitude of things he does well. He can hit for average, hit to all fields fairly well, and get on base at a somewhat decent rate. He has moderate power and will steal the occasional base — at least 12 every year since 2010. He also fields his position, third base, well, winning Golden Gloves in 2011, 2013, and 2014. Matsuda’s career line is .276/.320/.469. His production would likely take a step back if he moved to MLB, but he’s a solid, fundamentally sound player who could be of use to the right team in the right situation. And he will be an international free agent after the season. (Jason Coskrey)

Quick Opinion: Matsuda, 31, is a ball of energy not unlike his former Softbank teammate, Munenori Kawasaki (though not nearly the character Kawasaki is).

Takayuki Kishi

Profile: This right-hander is 31-years old with a 89-52 record (with a save) with a 3.11 ERA and 1.12 WHIP (his WHIP from 2012-2014 was 1.00 over 527 1/3 innings) over an eight-year career, all with the Seibu Lions. Kishi’s fastball velocity won’t elicit any fear, but his off-speed pitches, namely his curveball and slider, have proven to be more than adequate weapons. His numbers aren’t as good as Chihiro Kaneko’s (Kaneko is better) but their styles are somewhat similar, with Kishi perhaps the more consistent of the two right-handers. Perhaps a major league team in America would like to see if his fastball plays up better out of the pen in 2016. (Jason Coskrey)

Quick Opinion: Kishi has a no-hitter (in 2014) and Japan Series MVP (2008) to his name but his otherwise solid career has been mostly overshadowed by Japan’s more high-profile pitchers.

Kenta Maeda

Profile: Maeda’s arsenal consists mostly of a fastball, a very good slider, a change-up, shuuto and curveball. He throws all with superb command. Maeda doesn’t bring a lot of velocity to the table so his command will be the key factor if he ever makes the move. “Maeken” wasn’t as dominant in 2014 as he’s been past years but still finished 11-9 with a 2.60 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 161 strikeouts in 187 innings. Maeda also had a good showing during the MLB-Japan All-Star Series in November, throwing five scoreless innings for Samurai Japan in a 2-0 Game 1 win. “I liked him,” Texas Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux said before Game 2 in Japan, “four-pitch mix; had two swing-and-miss pitches and liked the slider. He can run wide, and he can bury that split change-up below the zone and he showed command an aggressive attitude on the mound. He came at the hitters very well. I liked what I saw. I definitely think he could pitch in the major leagues.” (Jason Coskrey)

Quick Opinion: Kenta Maeda will continue to be one of the most-watched players in Japan until he’s made available to MLB teams, which could be as early as 2015.

Chihiro Kaneko

Profile: Kaneko is usually mentioned after Kenta Maeda in discussions about Japanese pitchers who might move to Major League Baseball. He even had the better 2014 statistically. Kaneko, a right-hander, followed a 15-win, 2.01 ERA 2013 season by finishing 16-5 with a 1.98 ERA and 2.22 FIP in 191 innings this year, winning both the both the Sawamura and Pacific League MVP awards. He struck out 199 and opposing batters managed just a .228 average against him. Kaneko throws more pitches than Maeda, operating mainly with his fastball, change-up, cutter, slider and splitter, but also mixing in a curve, shuuto and sinker. Kaneko’s biggest problem is, and has been, simply being consistent. He pitched himself out of trouble on many occasions but created a lot of fires for himself at times. Kaneko’s command also betrayed him on occasion, especially early in games, and when he missed he left pitches in places where, say, a number eight hitter in MLB might do more more damage than a bottom of the lineup player in Japan. Something to watch with Kaneko in 2015 is how he pitches after the minor elbow surgery he had over the winter. Kaneko is expected to be ready for spring training and has said he feels no problems. (Jason Croskey)

Quick Opinion: The 31-year-old Kaneko decided to re-up with Orix for four years, and so may never pitch in Major League Baseball.

Shun Yamaguchi

Profile: The raw talent is there with Yamaguchi. He’s big and strong and has a good power pitcher makeup. Yamaguchi can touch the mid 90s, and this year did a decent job getting swings and misses on his forkball. The righty was a decent option out of the bullpen for Yokohama and had a mostly painless transition into the rotation during the middle of the 2014 season. Yamaguchi isn’t as polished as most of the other pitchers to come out of Japan recently. He tends to throw a lot of hittable pitches which might not play quite as well when he’s not able to overpower quite as many hitters. Yamaguchi also tends to put a lot of runners on base, sometimes pitching his way out of trouble and many times succumbing to it. (Jason Coskrey)

Quick Opinion: Yamaguchi has had an up and down career, and pitching for a bad team in a cozy hitter’s park hasn’t helped matters much. He pitched well in 2014 and could win himself a few suitors with more of the same next season. He’s a good pitcher, but he could find MLB waters a little choppy unless he improves more.

Yoshio Itoi

Profile: A lack of home run power has usually been one of the knocks on Itoi’s game, but he had a surge, this season with a career -high 19 after hitting 17 in 2013. Even when he’s not hitting a lot of homers, Itoi is an adept doubles hitter with a good approach at the plate. He might have more trouble hitting for power if he moves to one of Major League Baseball’s bigger ballparks, but would probably produce extra-base hits at a decent clip. He’s not the best at hitting to all fields, which opposing teams could exploit with a little strategy. Itoi might be losing a step, but he’s still got good speed and remains a player with the tools to succeed on some level in MLB. (Jason Croskey)

Quick Opinion: Itoi can just about do it all. He was a Gold Glove winner in right field in 2014 and solid at the plate, slashing .331/.424/.524 with 81 RBIs and 31 stolen bases. His career numbers are .306/.395/.468, 91 HR, 387 RBI, and a .865 OPS.

Takahiro Norimoto

Profile: Norimoto spent his rookie season behind a 24-0 Masahiro Tanaka in the Rakuten rotation. While he doesn’t have Ma-Kun’s stuff, he’s incorporated his predecessor’s bulldog mentality into his game and he’s durable. Norimoto can and will take the fight to hitters and has the skills to hold his own against anyone. He showed this throughout the season and again during the MLB-Japan All-Star Series, leading the charge with four perfect innings in Japan’s game three no-hitter. Norimoto, who posted a 3.02 ERA, and 1.10 WHIP in 2014, increased upon his 2013 workload by 30 2/3 innings this year while throwing more strikeouts (from 174 last season to 204), and walking fewer batters (51-39). Norimoto, mostly a fastball, slider, splitter pitcher, is a second year player, but he went to college before turning pro, so his game is a little more mature than that of some of his draft peers. He still makes some of the mistakes of inexperience, but he’s been through the wars already he’s made two Opening Day starts and was the Game 1 starter in the 2013 Japan Series and figures to only get better. (Jason Coskrey)

Quick Opinion: Norimoto, 24, began his second season by stepping into ace role for the Eagles and won 14 games, the second-most in the Pacific League. He also led Japan with nine complete games and struck out a PL-best 204 batters. File his name away for the future.

Kodai Senga

Profile: “He was aggressive,” one MLB scout said of Senga. “He wasn’t afraid of going in on an American guy. He knew how to locate and he was just fast.” Senga was dynamic in 2013, striking out 85 batters in 56 1/3 innings on the strength of a strong fastball, a slider and a forkball that was tough for batters to deal with. He was a Ryota Igarashi throwback in some ways and was simply able to overpower some of the batters he came up against. He was taken off the roster in June, after 19 appearances (with 28 strikeouts in 22 2/3 innings), with his shoulder ailment and never returned, so the verdict is still out on the young flamethrower at this point. (Jason Coskrey)

Quick Opinion: Senga had an electric arm before being beset by a right shoulder ailment this past season. If he returns to health, he may have the stuff to translate to the American game.

Willy Adames

Profile: Adames wasn’t a high profile July 2nd signing and was barely on the scouting radar entering the year in a shallow Detroit system. He emerged in a big way this year at age 18, playing the whole season at Low-A and putting up a .271/.353/.429 line while being the top prospect traded in the David Price deal. There aren’t any huge tools here, but enough to profile up the middle with lots of feel for the game. He has solid average bat speed with advanced bat control, a good approach, and a well-balanced swing.There should be more raw power coming with physical maturity. Adames is just an average runner, but his instincts help him make the most of this on the base paths and defensively. He has plenty of arm, good hands, solid range due to good footwork, a good first step, and the internal clock to always be in the right place at the right time. Given his speed and size at age 18/19, it’s still possible Adames ends up moving to third base later in his career, but in that case, the power should be enough to profile as an everyday player. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Adames’ maturity and charisma help scouts (and me) round up on projections when the raw tools don’t quite equal elite prospect. If he was an American and draft-eligible this year as a high school player, it’s likely he wouldn’t have made it to the Rays pick at #20. He’s still quite young, but solid progress in the minors should equal a 2016 debut for him.

Spencer Adams

Profile: Adams is a premium six-foot-four athlete with a dual-sport background and a good delivery that should create at least average command, and he flashes four above average pitches. There’s some concern about his narrow frame, though Adams has hit 97 mph as a pro. His velocity did dip as at the year went on, but he tossed a lot of innings, and was likely tired. Adams should head out to Low-A for his full season debut in 2015 and he could rocket up prospect lists if he can put all these elements together against hitters a few years older than him. His eventual upside is a number four starter. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Adams is a big-time athlete who can hit 97 mph on the mound. He doesn’t have any plus breaking pitches yet, but could develop those in time.

Ozhaino Albies

Profile: This is the most aggressive ranking you’ll see on Albies. Not much was known about him when he signed, other than he was small, from Curacao and had a lot of energy and speed. Curaco has a great recentgroup of quick-twitch infielders, withAndrelton Simmons,Jonathan Schoop,andJurickson Profar, while nearby Aruba has recently producedXander Bogaerts. Some scouts compared Albies to a smallerFrancisco Lindoror orRafael Furcalwith less arm strength.Some are also already throwing 60s on Albies’ hit tool after a huge pro debut. He hit .364/.446/.444 in 239 plate appearances over two Rookie ball levels and more walks than strikeouts. He continued to impress in instructional league and every scout who has seen him told me they can’t argue with this ranking.Power isn’t a big part of his game, but he does everything else so well at such a young age that no one cares. He has excellent feel for the strike zone and the bat head, plenty of bat speed, knowledge of when to use his gap power and when to keep the ball on the ground, along with easy plus speed and plus everything on the defensive side. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Albies will head to Low-A Sally League next year in one of the most anticipated full-season debuts, with matchups between him and Yankees shortstopJorge Mateoon the bill. He’s a smaller guy that will reach his peak sooner than most prospects and will be moved accordingly and likely quickly.

Jorge Alfaro

Profile: Alfaro is another guy like Joey Gallo in that he has big flashy tools that most fans normally associate with big league stars, but problems making contact that could hold it all back. While Gallo has taken a big step forward this year, Alfaro is making more steady progress, slowly tightening up his zone and finding the right amount of aggression at the plate. His plus raw power may never fully play at the big league level, but since he can stick behind the plate, it won’t have to. Since the catching and hitting both still need some work, the Rangers should be cautious in promoting Alfaro, but the tools are here for an above average regular with the flashy tools fans love. His eventual upside is a .260/.355/.460 slash line. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Alfaro is still a work in progress, and probably won’t be promoted too aggressively. If it all comes together, he could develop into an above-average regular.

Albert Almora

Profile: Almora is still developing, but has shown some signs of progress. The game power is coming along slowly and the strikeout rate is very low while the defense has continued to show potential to get to the Gold Glove level. He’s actually improved a tick as runner with physical maturity and his plus bat control and feel for the zone has led to lots of contact at every level. Almora is such a gifted hitter that’s never really needed much of a plan at the plate and, as he keeps going to higher levels, this becomes more clear via his walk rate: 3.1% and 1.4% in stops at High-A and Doulbe-A last year. Almora’s challenge going forward is to find a balance between allowing his enormous skills to play at the plate while adjusting his approach to lay off enough pitches in order to get more hittable pitches. The Cubs saw some progress in selecting better pitches to drive late in the season and Almora had a mostly healthy year. This year could be the right confluence of factors for a Soler-type breakout in the upper levels for the center fielder of the future. He’ll likely spend the year in the minors. Almora’s eventual upside is a .290/.340/.450 slash line. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Injuries slowed Almora’s development, but he’s starting to turn into a more complete hitter. While he makes plenty of contact, he’ll be asked to work on his patience in order to see better pitches.

Tim Anderson

Profile: Anderson has plus bat speed, above average bat control and surprising pop, flashing average raw power. Anderson’s feel to hit can sometimes get in his way. He isn’t as patient at the plate as he should be, with his ability to square up most pitches holding him back. That said, he’s still hasn’t played much high level baseball. He’s already in Double-A at age 21, and he has above average tools across the board. Working on some plate discipline/contact issues and finer points of defensive consistency is a shockingly short list of problems at this stage. Anderson should head to Double-A Birmingham next year, and if he can make the necessary adjustments, should be on track for a big league debut in 2016. His eventual upside is a .280/.330/.450 slash line. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Anderson has strong bat control, and solid pop. He’ll head into Double-A ahead of schedule, and will need to work on his plate discipline.

Mark Appel

Profile: Appel’s 2014 was a bit of an adventure: early in the season he had a couple outings where, instead of sitting 93-96 as usual, he sat around 90 mph before being shut down so the Astros could figure out what was wrong with him. Appel had an appendectomy in spring training and it’s common for pitchers to have a period where their velo drops when they’re adjusting to a new throwing schedule. There was never a clear answer for why Appel’s velocity dipped, but it came back later in the year. Scouts outside the organization still think that Appel is soft, and it appeared the early season velocity dip affected him longer mentally than it would’ve affected many other pitchers. Appel needs a big year in Double-A and/or Triple-A next year to get back those number two starter projections. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Appel experienced a drop in velocity, and experienced adversity for the first time in his career. The velocity returned, and could help push Appel back to his former glory.

Jose Berrios

Profile: Berrios may not be big at six-foot-nothing and 190 pounds, but scouts rave about his athleticism, makeup and work ethic. His velocity has slowly improved since high school in Puerto Rico (where they don’t play many games) and now sits at 93-96, hitting 98 mph. There isn’t a ton of plane or life to the pitch, but his clean arm action and deceptively easy delivery helps the heater sneak up on hitters. The stuff and command are both there but scouts and Twins execs are gravitating to the off-the-field attributes that have allowed Berrios to improve so quickly. He could get a big league taste next season but more likely gets up and sticks in 2016. His eventual upside is a number three starter. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Berrios is young, but gets high marks for his off-the-field attributes. That could force him to move through the system quickly depending on how hard the Twins push him. He should spend most of the year in the minors in 2015.

Greg Bird

Profile: Bird has been an under-the-radar prospect in a high profile system, but had a breakout year in 2014 after getting on the radar with a strong full-season debut in 2013. He was banged up and just alright after signing and in short-season leagues/instructs in 2012, then hit way more than expected in Low-A in 2013: .228/.428/.511 with 20 homers as a 20-year-old. Bird still has a good arm from his catching days that was enough for the Yankees to consider letting him catch after he signed, until a back injury nixed that idea. Bird has an advanced feel for the strike zone and is more of a hitter who has power than a slugger that swings from his heels. I’ve seen him hit homers in games to all parts of the ballpark and seen him carry the center field wall by 30 feet. It’s plus power and it might be a 65, I just haven’t seen it in batting practice to confirm. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Bird will head to the upper levels for 2015 and, like Judge, if he keeps mashing may be a big league option by the end of 2015. More conservatively, there will be some challenges and things to work on and the ETA is likely sometime in 2016.

Aaron Blair

Profile: Blair sits 90-94 and has been up to 96 mph this year, with scouts noting the arm speed got a notch better this season, helping all of his stuff play up. He’s a control over command guy that throws a lot of strikes and the heavy life on his fastball helps induce weak contact rather than an excessive amount of strikeouts. Blair’s curveball was the concern as an amateur and early in his pro career, but now consistently shows average with some grading it as high as plus at times. His changeup has been his go-to off-speed pitch for years at is also consistently above average. He should start the year in Double-A, and could reach the majors as early as this season. His upside is a number three starter. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Blair isn’t as flashy as the prospects ahead of him, but there’s a sense among some that he might be the D-Backs best prospect right now. He may have the chance to show that this year, as a strong performance could put him in the majors earlier than expected.

Alex Blandino

Profile: Blandino threw off the shackles of the constraining Stanford Swing in his draft year, swinging with authority that he only showed in his standout summers with a wood bat on the Cape. His raw power is above average to plus, but his line drive approach means it’ll play down a notch. Some scouts think he might be a 60 bat, so there’s obviously more ceiling here than just a boring college guy. Blandino could move quickly and put himself on the fast track to the big leagues with a strong first full season, likely starting in High-A. His eventual upside is a .280/.345/.460 slash line on the infield. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Blandino’s approach may cause him to move quickly, but he remains a few years away. He’ll likely open the season in High-A.

Archie Bradley

Profile: Bradley may have tried to do too much during spring training, and found himself back in the minors to open the year. By late April, he was dealing with an elbow strain. At his best, Bradley would come out early in starts and sit 95-98 mph with a curveball that was often a 70 on the 20-80 scale, which was probably the best two-pitch combination in the minor leagues. After the injury this year, Bradley would sit 92-95, hitting 96 or 97 at times, but rarely hitting the regular 98s of the past. The curveball would flash 70 every now and then, but often would be a 50 or 55 pitch that minor league umpires still hesitated to call a strike due to its size and sharpness. Bradley had number two upside prior to the injury, but scouts are hesitant to project that for him now. The bullpen also remains a possibility if he cannot adjust his delivery and command for a starting role. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Bradley had massive upside before injuries derailed his 2014. His upside remains high, but there’s more uncertainty that he reaches his ceiling now.

Lewis Brinson

Profile: Brinson is a lanky, super-athletic center fielder than has surprising raw power. He’s an easy plus runner and fielder with some scouts hanging a 70 on both tools and some putting a 60 on his arm as well. When four of the five raw tools are 60 or higher, the upside is enormous, but unfortunately Brinson’s long limbs and high/deep hand load cause real problems making contact. Brinson’s swing was choppy in high school and the Rangers have smoothed it out to let his athleticism shine through. He also appears to be intentionally working on lowering his hand load in batting practice, but it still creeps up in games. Brinson’s plate discipline has slowly increased and it’s workable now, but he’s still getting by on raw ability at this point. The makeup is there, but Brinson looks like more of a year-per-level, slower mover. His eventual upside is a .260/.325/.440 slash line. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Brinson has immense potential, but struggles to make contact. He still has a long way to go, and will likely move through the system slowly.

Kris Bryant

Profile: After being selected by the Cubs with the second overall pick in the 2013 draft, Bryant has steamrolled through the minor leagues since signing. His raw power is anywhere from a 70 to 80 for scouts and he creates it with strength, bat speed, long levers and a high finish without having to create length to his bat path like many other sluggers. Strikeouts continue to be a bit of a concern, but there isn’t much doubt that he’ll get to most of his raw power in games. He should spend most of the season in the big leagues, though hitters of this type often struggle in their first few big league seasons, so manage expectations in the short-term — but everything is here for a star. Bryant’s eventual upside is a .275/.360/.540 slash line. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Bryant is one of the best prospects in the game. While there are concerns about his strikeouts and defensive position, he’s not getting much out of facing minor-league pitching anymore.

Byron Buxton

Profile: Buxton was seen as the consensus top prospect in the 2012 draft and it was easy to see with literally-off-the-charts speed, an easy plus arm, advanced feel to defend and a projectable frame to go with ridiculous athleticism, looseness and bat speed. His inconsistent hitting mechanics have slowly been corrected, and his hitting performance has been better than the Twins have expected. Buxton suffered through an injury-riddled year in 2014. He was concussed shortly after being promoted to Double-A, but has been in instructs and will go to the Arizona Fall League for extra at bats to make up for lost time. Buxton battled nagging injuries this season and seemed like his timing was off, with most scouts and Twins execs calling it a lost year that he’ll look to bounce back from with a clean bill of health in 2015. Buxton could reach the majors in 2015, but it will depend on how well he performs early in year. His eventual upside is a .290/.355/.470 slash line. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Buxton dealt with a number of injuries in 2014, but remains one of the best prospects in the game. He could work his way to the majors in 2015, but that depends on how soon he can show a return to form.

Mark Canha

Profile: Canha has the swing and the minor league numbers to back an expectation of a solid year, given enough opportunity. A .270-.280 average with 15 homers isn’t out of the question, which is a solid get for a Rule 5 pick, even if only out of a first baseman. There may be more power in the tank, with two 20 homer seasons in his minor league profile. (Dan Farnsworth)

Rusney Castillo

Profile: Since signing and playing for Red Sox affiliates for the last month or so, Castillo has been showing a more controlled batting practice with opposite field pop and has been surprisingly solid at the plate. The expectations are something around average hit/power tools, but this is a volatile enough situation that both tools could be below average or above average in the short term. Castillo’s game swing is more line-drive and all fields oriented than the swing he uses to showcase his plus raw power, so it remains to be seen if he can find the best of both swings. There are some concerns about Castillo’s defense, but he projects as at least average for next season. The Red Sox are planning to open the season with Castillo as their center fielder this year. His eventual upside is a .280/.340/.460 slash line. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Castillo has shown plenty of growth since signing with Boston. There are still some uncertainties in his game, but the Red Sox are willing to see what happens as soon as this year.

Michael Conforto

Profile: Conforto was a well-known as an elite hitting prospect early in his career at Oregon State but kicked it into another gear in his draft year. His plus raw power and bat speed from the left side to go with a patient and power-focused approach appealed to a lot of scouts, with the Mets taking Conforto off the board at 10th overall. It’s easy to appreciate Conforto’s bat, and scouts all seem to agree he’s elite in this regard, but even the Mets admitted they had some digging to do pre-draft to figure out his defensive fit. Coaches in Brooklyn raved about Conforto’s defense after he signed. The tools are good enough to even play him in right field, but he’s just getting settled in left field, which is where he’ll stay for the time being. Conforto has a middle of the order bat and could move quickly through the system, likely starting 2015 in A-Ball, but not lasting long there. His eventual upside is a .275/.350/.460 slash line. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Conforto was one of the more talented bats in the 2014 draft. While his defensive position is a bit of a question mark, his bat could carry him quickly.

Carlos Correa

Profile: Correa raked in 2014 until he broke his fibula in June, ending his season. He was able to do sprints in the winter and could have played, but decided to take time off and show up at spring training at 100%. Offensively, Correa is excitingly talented with plus hitting tools across the board and projection to dream for more. It all plays in games, though the game power is still coming along, as it’s usually the last tool to mature. There’s still some concern that his short path to the ball and gap-to-gap approach won’t let him get to all of his raw power, but he’s shown the ability to make the necessary adjustments. Correa should go to Double-A at some point next year and, if he feels no ill effects of the leg injury and keeps hitting like he has been, he could be knocking on the door of the majors next year. His eventual upside is a .290/.360/.470 slash line. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Correa looked like a standout until a broken fibula ended his season. He’s one of the best prospects in the minors, and could work his way into the majors with a strong performance.

J.P. Crawford

Profile: J.P. Crawford (Carl Crawford’s cousin) is a plus runner with smooth hands, good range and an above-average arm, giving him a good chance to stick at shortstop long-term. Some scouts suggest he could be above-average defensively and the Phillies pointed out a few areas (backhand, not circling every ball) where he’s improved since signing.Crawford has some pop and will add more muscle (he’s already added about 10 pounds since turning pro), so scouts knew he would be a player with the ability to hit 15-18 home runs per year if he fills out. Crawford’s contact rate was the biggest question. In high school, he loaded his hands high and deep and, combined with his longer limbs, it created length to his swing. He had a power hitter’s swing approach and shouldn’t be that sort of player, so a hand position adjustment was necessary. Crawford has shifted his load lower, but still keeps his hands deep. He has plus bat speed and the feel for his swing to stay inside the ball, rather than hooking and creating length by trying to pull the ball. He’s now focused on his timing and trying to keep his longer limbs in sync consistently. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Scouts are pleasantly surprised by how well Crawford has hit since turning pro and he’s now on the fast track. He turns 20 soon and will get a taste of Double-A next year, possibly to start the year, with a 2016 big league cup of coffee in range.

David Dahl

Profile: I was a huge Dahl fan out of high school, but his stock dipped in 2012 and 2013 with some maturity issues that caused the Rockies to issue a suspension and limit his exposure to full-season ball until this season. This year, Dahl shot through Low-A at age 21 to the High-A Cal League, where he’s still getting acclimated. Scouts never really doubted Dahl’s ability to hit and one said he almost put a seven on the bat after seeing him this year and that same scout put a five on the power despite a line drive approach. It may take a few years, but advanced, talented hitters with natural opposite field strokes will often will outhit their raw power at maturity (even with a line drive approach) due to how much hard contact they make. The offensive upside combined with plus speed and a center field profile give Dahl the upside to be a star, but scouts would like to see more than one year in full-season leagues before they go all-in. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: I’m betting Dahl ends up in my top 50 prospects this offseason and he’s a candidate to move much higher after next season with a likely return engagement to the Cal League in 2015, and a possible look in the majors sometime around 2017.

Tyler Danish

Profile: Danish throws from a strange arm slot, but that didn’t stop the White Sox from taking the plunge in the second round of the 2013 draft. Danish’s velocity will vary depending on the day, but he’s mostly 88-92 mph and will hit a tick higher at times with plus-plus life created from his low slot and extension. He’s very aggressive and spots the pitch very well along with his above average two-plane slider, which will flash plus every now and then and may play up in short stints. Danish has developed a changeup since signing that’s above average at times, again due to the life he can put on the ball from his low slot. If the White Sox want to rush him, Danish could be a big league bullpen piece late in 2015, but he’ll likely spend most of the year as a starter in Double-A. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Danish’s mechanics may be wonky, but he has a bulldog mentality on the mound. He could see time in the bullpen this season, or continue to develop as a starter in the minors.

Travis Demeritte

Profile: Demeritte has above average bat speed and feel to hit, but has focused more in pro ball on tapping into that raw power, evidenced by his .222 average, 24 homers and 35.3% strikeout rate. Scouts with history to his amateur days think there’s a balance to be struck and that both tools can be average or better, which would still fit nicely at the keystone. It will be interesting to see how Demeritte adjusts next year after his 2014 season came straight out of the Dave Kingman handbook. He should head to High-A and will need to work more contact into his game. His eventual upside is a .270/.340/.440 slash line. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Demeritte showed that he can hit for power last season, but will need to make better contact as he moves up the ladder. He remains years away, and could see time in Double-A next season.

Rafael Devers

Profile: There’s some aggressiveness to Devers’ approach as he’s still one of those very gifted hitters that can hit almost any pitch he’s currently facing, though that will be changing in the coming years, so he’ll need to adjust. His bat path can also get a little uphill and/or long at times, but Devers is one of the rare hitters that’s hitting bombs to the opposite field in games, so you don’t want to pick him apart or change his swing unless he starts failing. The only real question raised about Devers other than competition level is if he will work hard enough to reach his upside; his body is higher maintenance and some similar body types before him have gone south quickly. If Devers can stay on the straight and narrow, he could be at the top of the Red Sox list as soon as next year. He should begin the year in the low minors. His eventual upside is a .285/.370/.470 slash line. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Devers has yet to play a full season, but has shown some promising signs. There’s a lot of upside here, but it comes with a fair amount of risk.

Brandon Drury

Profile: While he only has solid-average bat speed, Drury has looseness to his swing and feel for the barrel, with some scouts putting a 60 on his hit tool. It’s a line-drive type approach, so Drury doesn’t get to all of his raw power in games and he also isn’t much of a runner. He could be an above average everyday player if everything comes together and especially if he can play a passable second base. The big leagues are littered with everyday players that are average tools/big playability types that weren’t high draft picks or hyped prospects. Drury will be in the upper levels next year with a chance for a late-season call-up. His eventual upside is a .275/.335/.450 slash line. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Drury isn’t a flashy prospect, but he has enough ability to fit in at the major-league level. He could find himself in the majors as soon as this season depending on how well he performs.

C.J. Edwards

Profile: Edwards is still a rail-thin righty that some think will never add the necessary bulk to throw 200 innings in the big leagues, but the stuff and command projects for the middle of the rotation. Edwards sits 91-95 with some life on the fastball, and has a curveball that could be more consistent but pretty regularly flashes plus potential, and a changeup he needs to throw more that’s average. He’s super athletic with average command to match and fields his position well. Edwards should start next year in Double-A and how quickly he can make adjustments and improve his consistency will dictate how fast he gets to the big leagues. He projects as a third or fourth starter moving forward, but should remain in the minors for the majority of this season. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: In a hitter-heavy system, Edwards is one of the team’s true impact pitchers. There are some concerns about his ability to develop into a high-volume starter, and his ability to develop his breaking pitches.

Phillip Ervin

Profile: Ervin had a pretty terrible full-season debut this year; his peripherals and counting numbers weren’t bad but he just didn’t make enough hard contact. Coming off of offseason wrist injury, Ervin got into some bad habits at the plate early in 2014, getting too pull conscious, and was forced to deal with the first failure of his career. Reds officials say he continued to work hard but didn’t handle the adversity well, taking most of the season to learn some lessons and make adjustments. They still like his makeup and expect a bounce back season, but pro scouts seeing him in 2014 for the first time are wondering when they’ll see some production. Ervin will head back to A-Ball in 2015, hope to build on some late-season adjustments and deliver on his substantial promise. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Ervin suffered through a tough season in 2014, but there’s still potential for a bounce-back. He’ll repeat High-A, and will hopefully make up for his poor 2014.

Kyle Freeland

Profile: Freeland is a tough evaluation: his fastball and slider were both flashing plus by the end of the year, but injury concerns will follow him for years. He had elbow surgery in 2007 as a high school freshman and some clubs were still concerned about the medicals, with a couple teams late in the first round telling me they probably wouldn’t take him if he slipped to them due to concerns about his less-than-smooth mechanics contributing to a future injury. Teams were more concerned about Chris Sale‘s mechanics when he was drafted, so it could end up being nothing and Freeland has been healthy for seven years; the Rockies told me they aren’t concerned. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Freeland shows an advanced ability to command his above average stuff even with some effort to the delivery, so it’s hard to bet against him and he could shoot through the system in some scenarios, reaching his number three starter upside in short order. Look for him in the bigs in 2018.

Max Fried

Profile: The 6’4/185 lefty was half of what may have been the best one-two punch in high school baseball history, with Nationals top prospect RHPLucas Giolitoat Harvard Westlake High School in 2012. Like Giolito before him, Fried had soreness that led to Tommy John surgery in August.The Braves acquired him from San Diego this winter as the headliner in theJustin Uptondeal.Fried was shut down early in 2014 as a precaution, his subsequent MRI was clean, he went on a long rehab program and when he got back on the mound, his elbow popped a few starts into his return. He’s due back on the mound sometime around fall instructional league in 2015. Even in those few starts before his elbow popped in 2014, Fried’s stuff was still pretty close to his peak stuff: 90-93, hitting 96 mph with a plus curveball and improving above-average changeup.His stuff will vary start to start and his changeup flashes 60 for some scouts, but not often and never at the same time as his curveball. Fried’s clean mechanics aren’t a concern and he has lots of projection to his frame. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: The upside is huge, with shades ofCole Hamelsat his best, but Fried has lost two years of development with 2014 and 2015 both essentially a wash. The Braves are hoping the roughly 85% success rate on Tommy John surgeries applies to Fried; he wouldn’t have been on the table in the Upton deal if he wasn’t healthy.

Joey Gallo

Profile: Gallo’s long limbs and selectively aggressive approach lead to big strikeout numbers, but he draws his share of walks. Scouts think he’ll be able to make enough contact to be a big league regular due to his ability to make adjustments and his coachability. Gallo has cleaned up his approach a bit this season and is continuing to hit for power in games in Double-A at age 20. Everything depends on how much contact he can make, as that is the key to the power showing up in games, because the speed/defense is never going to be helpful. Eighty power guys almost always carve out some sort of role in the big leagues, particularly with good stats at the upper levels at a young age, but odds are it’s going to more of a solid everyday type than a star. His eventual upside is a .260/.350/.500 slash line. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Gallo should carve out some type of role in the majors due to his prodigious power. With Adrian Beltre manning third, Gallo may have to shift to the outfield temporarily.

Lucas Giolito

Profile: Giolito will work 93-96 and hit 98 mph regularly and his knockout curveball, which gets 65 or 70 grades from scouts is his signature off-speed pitch, giving him among the best two-pitch combos in the minors. His changeup is rapidly improving and flashes 60 for some scouts, but he doesn’t throw it much given his competition and his other two pitches. Giolito can throw his curveball for strikes or use it as a chase pitch, showing a surprising amount of feel for a young power pitcher coming off off Tommy John surgery, when it normally takes a couple years for command to come all the way back. He’s broadly built with some remaining projection and the delivery for at least average command. Giolito will start in High-A this year and the reigns will be loosened, with higher innings/pitch limits and if he keeps performing the same way, there’s an expectation that he’ll get promoted to Double-A in 2015. He has number two starter upside. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Giolito rebounded from Tommy John surgery, and has shown a surprising amount of feel for a young pitcher. He has massive upside, and could reach Double-A this season.

Alex Gonzalez

Profile: Gonzalez sits 92-95, hitting 97 mph often, and can spot and manipulate the pitch to sink, run or cut at 94 mph deep into starts. His plus mid-80’s slider is still the primary weapon and his changeup and fourth option curveball both flash average to slightly above at times. His command isn’t bad and should become average, giving Gonzalez number three starter upside. Scouts complain that with his firm changeup, almost every pitch he throws is over 85 mph. If Gonzalez can learn to mix up his approach a bit to include more chase pitches and curveballs, he could be ready for the big leagues as early as late 2015. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Gonzalez has three big-league caliber pitches, and has the ability to put all of them in the strike zone. If he can vary his approach, Gonzalez could reach the majors at some point in 2015.

Nick Gordon

Profile: Nick is the son of Tom Gordon and the brother of Dee Gordon, so the bloodlines are good. He has above average foot speed and bat speed to go with good size for a shortstop, but it’s his polish at a young age that helps him stand out. He has good feel for the bat head and the ability to hit ball with power to the opposite field, potentially hitting 15-18 homers per year at maturity. Gordon’s 2014 ended prematurely with a broken finger but he will be fine for 2015 and will go to Low-A. He could move quickly if he hits the ground running offensively. His eventual upside is a .280/.350/.440 slash line. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Gordon was drafted in 2014, so he remains a few seasons away from reaching the majors. He projects as a strong hitter at shortstop, and should remain at the position as he climbs the ladder.

Jon Gray

Profile: Gray created tons of buzz midway through the 2013 spring coming from out of nowhere to hit 100 mph often, with a plus slider. It was new velocity we hadn’t seen before and we didn’t know if his body could handle (it has so far). Since signing, Gray’s velocity has been down some, mostly sitting 91-94 and hitting 95 mph but Rockies sources say this is intentional and he’s working on some things (they already smoothed out his delivery), which scouts assumed after Gray hit 98 mph in a short All-Star Game appearance. I think he’ll settle at 92-94 with more movement and command, the slider is still plus and the changeup has its moments. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Scouts are a little concerned that Gray is a below average athlete and the command still isn’t quite there yet. Since the stuff is so good, that lesser command would just make him a number three or four starter rather than a two or three. Look for him making an appearance or two in 2015.

Hunter Harvey

Profile: At his best early in 2014, Harvey would sit 95-96 mph early in starts, but that tailed off a bit to 92-95. The curveball flashed 60 as an amateur and is a 65 for some, with improving consistency. Harvey was frustrated that he was being forced to use his changeup in 2014 as he clearly didn’t need it, but it’s obviously best to develop for his long-term potential. It flashed above average at times but is still coming along. Baltimore lengthened Harvey’s stride some and, while he’s skinny, he should still add some weight, so that premium velocity may come back. Harvey had elbow issues in July and was shut down by the club. It may be midseason before we have a fair chance to know if the stuff is fully back to where it was early in 2015 and that’s Harvey is healthy enough to sustain it for a full season. If he is, he could shoot through the system, as he has feel and frontline type stuff. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Harvey has performed well since being drafted, but a July elbow issue derailed his 2014. He has front of the line stuff if he can get back to where he was pre-injury.

Austin Hedges

Profile: Hedges is a polarizing prospect. Some of the comments on his bat have not been kind. “It could be really light…I started to get nervous about the bat and wondered if he was even a big league backup” and “He’s more like Drew Butera than people want to admit” are not good places to start. Scouts don’t think Hedges will hit much and point to his awkward and changing swing, with a leg kick and load that are sometimes slight and sometimes don’t exist. Hedges is one of the best defensive catchers to come through the minors in years, with easy plus defense and a plus plus arm, so scouts see him as an elite defensive catcher. If he ends up being a framing dynamo as some expect, he will be compared to Yadier Molina. Like Molina, Hedges focused on defense more than hitting because it is his ticket to the majors. If you look at Molina’s minor league stats, he never struggled at the plate as Hedges has, so the comp is ridiculous if taken literally.Those in and out of the organization expect his offense to improve, but the bat speed isn’t great and he wore down last year. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: It’s hard to bet on a guy “learning” how to hit in the big leagues, but the ceiling is enormous if Hedges can get hit hit tool to creep into the 40-50 range. Even if he never comes close to that, Hedges is likely one of the top 30 catchers in the big leagues at some point in the next couple years without much improvement.

Nick Howard

Profile: As a starter, Howard’s stuff isn’t quite as crisp, sitting mostly 91-95 and hitting 96 mph, though in short Arizona Fall League outing he did show his relief stuff at times. His slider plays as more of a 55 at this lower velocity and there’s an inconsistent changeup that flashes average. The question will be if Howard can make adjustments with his delivery and command to make all of this work over longer stints and a few times through the lineup, but there’s some mid-rotation upside here. Howard should head to High-A next season and by the second half we should have some evidence if he’s taking to starting as quickly as expected. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Howard’s stuff ticked up during his draft year, making him an intriguing asset as a starter. He’ll need to make adjustments, but the Reds will give him the opportunity to do so.

Raisel Iglesias

Profile: Iglesias sat 91-95 and hit 97 mph in these outings, with his stuff varying a bit in each outing. He is about to turn 25 and there’s some east/west, inconsistency and effort to his delivery, but scouts see the elements of average command in the tank. Iglesias has a four pitch mix and his slider will flash plus every now and then, so there’s mid-rotation upside. Iglesias will either go to Triple-A and join a deep staff or break with the big league club in the bullpen. It sounds right now like the big league bullpen is his likely starting point but, like with Aroldis Chapman, the rotation will be tried once the innings get built up. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Iglesias enters the year in a similar situation to Aroldis Chapman years ago. He has the potential to start, but could settle in immediately as a solid bullpen piece.

Luke Jackson

Profile: Jackson is easy to like, as he can run it up to 98 mph, stays healthy and has made steady progress with his delivery and command to where most scouts think he has at least a 50% chance to be a starter in the big leagues. Unfortunately, Jackson hasn’t developed that plus secondary pitch. This causes him to throw his fastball a lot, and there’s still enough command issues that a late setup role still looks like it could be where he ends up. Jackson’s delivery has improved this season and he has some of the starter traits you look for, but he still likely needs to spend all of 2015 in the minors. Next year Jackson should get a last development opportunity to see if he deserves a big league rotation spot in 2016 or if he should shift that 98 mph heater to the bullpen. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Jackson has a blazing fastball, and that’s about it. There’s still some potential he develops into a starter, but he also could emerge as a useful bullpen piece.

Pierce Johnson

Profile: Johnson’s command still isn’t rotation-ready and his finish can be a little stiff, he’s still on track to be a solid rotation piece in a few years. He’ll sit 91-95 and his curveball gets 60 to 65 grades from scouts with a changeup that’s a 55 at times. Since there’s still some command/reliever risk and number three starter upside, he’s just behind C.J. Edwards and Duane Underwood. Johnson should head back to Double-A to start next year, but he’s another case of a player in the upper levels with the skills to be a big part of the Cubs future that will set his own timetable with his performance. If things don’t work in the rotation, he has the stuff to potentially be a closer. His eventual upside is a fourth starter. He should spend 2015 moving through the minors. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Command is Johnson’s biggest issue right now. If he can get things under control, Johnson should settle in as a solid rotation piece. If not, he might be able to breakthrough as a late-inning reliever.

Brian Johnson

Profile: Johnson isn’t a real exciting prospect, but he’s also near big league ready with lots of average or better tools and a good sense of how to make the most of them. Johnson was a two-way prospect in college as a lefty-hitting first baseman with above average raw power. He isn’t especially loose or athletic in his delivery, but he makes it work and some scouts have put 60 command grades on him. Johnson sits 90-91 and hits 94 mph with plus life and command; he works off of this fastball with an average to above curveball and changeup, with the changeup drawing plus grades from some scouts. Johnson will start the year in Triple-A and could come up during the season, but will be behind a few arms behind what will likely be a deep Red Sox pitching staff. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Johnson is close to a finished product, but doesn’t have a spot on the major-league roster. He’ll likely spend most of 2015 in Triple-A, but could break into the majors based on injuries.

Aaron Judge

Profile: Judge is 6’7/250, is a solid average runner underway with a plus arm and plus-plus raw power. Scouts were resorting to comparing Judge to basketball players (LeBron James and Blake Griffin were common ones) to find someone other than Giancarlo Stanton even remotely similar. After signing late and sustaining a quad injury that kept him from playing in the regular season, 2014 was Judge’s first pro experience and he has smashed mine and everyone else’s expectations. Some scouts wondered how quickly or if Judge would get out of A-Ball and, this year, he smoked Low-A and High-A for a combined .308/.419/.486 with 17 homers and 89 walks in 543 PA, then raked in the Arizona Fall League: .278/.377/.467 over 106 PA. I put his hit/game power grades at five and six, but if Judge can continue this performance at the upper levels, both grades may be a notch light. He’s making adjustments and Yankees’ personnel are all praising his work ethic, makeup and ability to know what’s necessary for him to succeed. The phrase “we just stay out of his way” was thrown around by a couple sources and it seems to be working so far. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Judge will head to Double-A next year at age 23 and should be challenged, but likely will also get a taste of Triple-A, where he’ll be age appropriate for a top prospect after taking a little while to get going at the plate. If he keeps hitting, he should be in line for an extended big league look in 2016, with a chance for a 2015 September look.

Tyler Kolek

Profile: After going second overall in the 2013 draft, Kolek was just okay in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, sitting 91-94 mph and having the command/secondary/consistency issues you might expect given the weak competition he faced during the spring. The Marlins prefer Kolek’s curveball to his slider, given the action, consistency to the break, and his slot on the pitch. He’ll shelve the slider for now and focus on integrating the changeup more often in games. I’m concerned that given the relative rawness and absurd arm speed, Kolek will take longer to develop than many are expecting There’s obvious allure to a Texas-bred offensive tackle that lives on a farm, bales hay and throws 100 mph, but there’s some real concerns he needs to address in the next couple years. If he starts throwing for the radar gun and losing his mechanics, this could turn into a problem, but the athleticism and broad indicators in the delivery are there to stay healthy and throw strikes if the mental approach is correct. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Kolek’s 2015 assignment will be a wait-and-see situation based on how he looks in Spring Training, but the expectation is that he’ll head to Low-A. If he plows through the minors, he could only be a year or two out, but 2018 is a more likely arrival season.

Jacob Lindgren

Profile: After converting from a starter to reliever, Lindgren’s numbers were completely stupid in relief for Mississippi State in 2014: 55.1 innings, 23 hits, 25 walks, 100 strikeouts. He was sitting 91-94 and hitting 95 mph with a 65 slider, a usable but rarely used changeup and average command. After signing, the Yankees sent him from Rookie ball to Low-A to High-A to Double-A, and Lindgren’s combined line continued being stupid: 25 innings, 12 hits, 13 walks, 48 strikeouts. In the span of a year, he went from generic pitchability lefty in the SEC to completely untouchable in Double-A and arguably the best relief prospect in the game. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Lindgren projects as a late-inning reliever or possibly even a closer down the road given his track record and minimal injury risk. He could find himself in the bigs at the end of the 2015 season, depending on many factors, but expect to see him regularly in 2016.

Reynaldo Lopez

Profile: Lopez sits 93-97 and is capable of hitting 100 mph on many occasions. He adds and subtracts from his fastball, showing surprising feel for a young power arm and his changeup and command both flash average to slightly above potential because of his advanced body control and feel for his delivery. The player development staff helped Lopez tweak his delivery for 2014, making him more direct to the plate and more downhill to leverage the ball better and cut out the east/west movement in his delivery. The result was more arm speed from the same slot, more plane, more life to his fastball, more grounders — and all of that added up to make weak contact swings and misses. There’s a lack of projection to his frame but he’s athletic and strong with very good feel for his delivery, so it’s almost a plus that he isn’t still growing into his frame and he may move quickly. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Lopez’s signing went under the radar back in 2012, but he’s developed into an interesting prospect. The Nationals still need to refine some aspects of his game, and he’ll likely start in the lower levels of the minors this year.

Michael Lorenzen

Profile: After stretching him out post-draft in the Arizona Fall League, where he was predictably hammered by advanced hitters, Lorenzen shocked scouts by starting his first full-season in Double-A and showing way more feel to pitch than expected. Lorenzen sits 92-94 with plus life and hits 96 mph as a starter, flashing a plus slider and average changeup, along with occasionally flashing an average curveball. Scouts didn’t expect to see Lorenzen show such feel to mix pitches and use his sinker to pitch to contact and get out advanced hitters early in the count, at least not this early. The Reds know they have a potential closer but were pleasantly surprised to learn they might have a number three starter as well. Scouts are enthusiastic about Lorenzen, suggesting there may be even more in the tank due to his lack of experience and the makeup/intelligence that helps him pick things up quickly. His upside is a number three starter or a dominant reliever. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Lorenzen surprised scouts last season, showing a stronger feel from pitching than expected. While he has potential as a dominant closer, the Reds will give him every opportunity to work his way into their future rotation.

Manuel Margot

Profile: Margot was another recent, premium July 2nd signee for the Red Sox that has gone swimmingly so far. Margot has game-changing easy plus speed and defense to go with surprising raw power for his size and an advanced bat. Margot has above average bat speed and bat control to go with a simple, line-drive, gap-to-gap approach that takes advantage of his speed with lots of doubles and triples. He probably won’t tap into all of his raw power in games, but should still get 12-15 homers annually at maturity. Margot wore down a bit down the stretch this year and his raw power and arm strength were a tick lower for some scouts. He’s expected to open the year in the low minors, and remains far away from the majors right now. His eventual upside is a .285/.350/.440 slash line. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Margot had a strong full-season debut with the club, and looks like he could be a useful asset moving forward. He’s not a power hitter, and will likely rely on speed and excellent defense once he gets to the majors.

Steven Matz

Profile: Matz works 91-95 and hits 96 mph with an above average to plus changeup and a curveball that’s improved dramatically to now flash average to slightly above. He’s an excellent athlete that commands his fastball well and his maturity and ability to improve have impressed the Mets. There’s a number three starter in here if it all comes together, but the curveball and command of his off-speed stuff in general is still inconsistent, not to mention his age and injury history give scouts some pause. Matz will pitch at Double-A and Triple-A in 2015 and could be in line for some big league time depending on his development and how the pitching depth chart shakes out. If all goes to plan, he should be a factor in the 2016 rotation. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Matz lost a few years of development to Tommy John surgery, but he took a big step forward last season. He could see time in the majors in 2015, but is probably more of a threat in 2016 if he can stay healthy.

Nomar Mazara

Profile: Mazara made big-time adjustments at the plate last year, getting his foot down faster, which unlocked his bat speed and strength. The change also gave Mazara more time to make a decision on a pitch. Mazara has plus raw power, which scouts now think he’ll get to in games. The Rangers showed confidence in his growth, skipping him over High-A late in the year. The Rangers signed Mazara when he was 15 years old, and are now being rewarded with a fast-track power bat that may meet, or even beat, the big expectations brought on by his huge bonus. His hit tool could still improve with a strong 2015. His eventual upside is a .270/.350/.490 slash line. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Mazara made big strides in 2014, but remains years away from the majors. He’s still incredibly young, and there’s still some potential for improvement with his bat.

Lance Mccullers

Profile: McCullers sits 92-95 and hits 97 mph most times out while his curveball flashes 70 potential at times when he throws it at max effort. McCullers has great feel for manipulating the pitch, varying the velocity and tilt to where it looks like a slider and curveball, but is really the same pitch. He can sometimes do this too often and get around the pitch, making it closer to average, flat and hittable. McCullers’ changeup has flashed 55 before, but is a 45 pitch right now and will always be a third pitch, likely settling at fringy to average. He had some predictable troubles in the Cal League last year, but will be 21 in a more neutral Double-A environment next year. One scout said he thinks McCullers turns into a number three starter. The backup plan is that McCullers turns into a dominant closer. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: As long as McCullers stays healthy, the Astros should get a solid contributor. He’ll open the year in Double-A, and will likely remain in the minors all season.

Ryan Mcmahon

Profile: Some teams were skeptical before the draft of McMahon’s ability to corral his long limbs to make enough contact long-term, but the scouts I talked to were all-in after an impressive full-season debut. One scout argued McMahon could be the Rockies number one prospect right now and with Gray/Butler possibly graduating next year and McMahon heading to the Cal League in 2015, that may happen. He strikes out more than you’d like to see, but McMahon is just 19 and was also a star quarterback in high school (another example of a Rockies draft pick with that on his resume), so there’s still a need for reps. McMahon projects for plus raw power that scouts now think he can get to in games and, while he isn’t there right now, most believe with some work he will be able to stick at third base long-term. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: McMahon may well bump his future value up or down a notch with a trip to the hitter-friendly Cal League in 2015. Given his age and experience, 2018 looks to be the target year for a big-league debut.

Alex Meyer

Profile: Meyer surprised some scouts by lasting the whole season in the rotation at Triple-A this year, throwing 130.1 innings with lesser but still elite stuff, sitting 93-98 with plus life and the knockout slider. Meyer’s changeup has improved and flashes solid-average while his huge frame and long limbs give him trouble commanding his pitches and repeating his delivery. Most scouts think he ends up as a shutdown closer, but the Twins are trying to make him a starter and there’s still a chance Meyer gets there. If he can tone everything down to where it’s repeatable, the upside is probably a number three starter but this seems destined for the bullpen at some point. Meyer should get a real chance to stick in spring training, but likely goes back to Triple-A to try to improve his command until there are some injuries that make room for him on the big club. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Meyer will have a shot to open the season in the Twins’ rotation, but there are still some concerns about his ability to stick as a starter. If he can’t, he should at least turn into an effective reliever.

Frankie Montas

Profile: Montas will go out next year in Double-A as a starter, but Chicago knows this may not work out and everyone knows there’s easy closer upside here. Montas sits 93-97 and hit 99 mph as a starter, working more 95-99 mph as a reliever. With an average changeup and 60-65 slider that’s 89-91 mph and a little funk/deception in his delivery, he could be a dominating reliever in short order, but has mid-rotation upside if all goes to plan. Montas still has a shot to start and isn’t just a max-effort guy that throws hard and spins it just enough to strike out minor league hitters. He’s a legitimate asset that could be an impact big league option as early as late 2015. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: The White Sox will give Montas every opportunity to prove himself as a starter. If that doesn’t go well, there’s a chance he turns into a dominant reliever.

Colin Moran

Profile: Moran’s low-energy demeanor and inconsistent approach to the game led to the Marlins cutting bait on the youngster early. The Astros jumped at the chance to buy low on a distressed asset. Moran still has inconsistency in his approach at the plate, at times being content to slap the ball to the opposite field and other times tapping into his raw power and leverage. He has a smooth swing and advanced feel for the strike zone and could grow into above average raw power, but its unclear if that ever will show up consistently in games. People inside and outside of the Astros organization agree that Moran needs to decide what kind of hitter he wants to be. Moran will be in Triple-A next year and could be a long-term big league option by 2016. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: The former first round pick has received a lot of criticism, but there’s still potential for Moran to become an impact player. Figuring out what type of player he wants to be, and showing more effort, would help immensely.

Brandon Nimmo

Profile: Nimmo’s raw power is fringy now with some projection to slightly above average, but his approach is more of an all fields line drive type now, with the game power expected to come later. Some scouts point to his low homer totals, but the offensive environments in Low-A and High-A were understandable hinderances, especially given his age. He’s improved versus lefties, an expected weakness given his lack of at bats versus elite southpaws early in his career. Nimmo has a patient approach and grinds out at bats. Some scouts see this as a problem, suggesting Nimmo is being too passive. Any concerns about a passive approach will disappear if Nimmo rakes at Double-A this season. His eventual upside is a .280/.375/.460 slash line. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Nimmo hasn’t put it all together just yet, but his offensive environments may have held him back. He has a chance to take a big step forward this season at Double-A.

Aaron Nola

Profile: Nola was a smaller righty who threw 85-88 mph from a low slot with some feel in high school, then exploded onto the scene at LSU. He threw 91-94 mph as a sophomore and hit 96 mph pretty often in his draft year. Nola creates above-average life on his fastball and changeup with the spin he puts on the ball from the low slot; normally this means he would have trouble throwing a breaking ball, but Nola’s three-quarter tilt curve flashes plus just like his fastball and changeup. The other concern the low three-quarters slot creates is injuries and left-handed hitters seeing the ball too clearly. Nola’s plus changeup does the heavy lifting here and his above-average command and aggressive approach helps him keep hitters off balance. He’s never been hurt and while his stuff was a tick worse after signing, that’s expected with pitchers throwing the longest year of their young careers. Nola fits in my freak theory that I’ve discussed in other places: he’s double-jointed, has never been hurt, has an amazing feel to pitch and is smaller than every other successful big league starter that throws from that slot. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: All three of Nola’s pitches were more 50-55 after signing, but showed flashes of 60 on the right night, so there isn’t much reason for concern. If he comes out performing in 2015 like he did at LSU, he could be in the big leagues before September, I had Nola fifth on my 2014 draft board, one spot ahead of number two overall pick Tyler Kolek, so I’m already higher on him than most.

Justin O’Conner

Profile: The Rays took O’Conner at the end of the first round in 2010, and he was basically a disaster at the plate his first three years, with 2013′s below-average work at age 21 in Low-A representing progress. Everything changed this year as O’Conner raked through High-A and the Arizona Fall League with a late-season Double-A promotion at age 22. Defensively, he’s always had a plus-plus arm that plays up to 80 with an incredibly quick release from multiple angles that regularly pops in the 1.7s and 1.8s. O’Conner also ha sthe physical tools to catch everyday, so the bat doesn’t need to stand out, merely just be enough to keep him on the field. O’Conner has simplified his swing and really cut down on his strikeouts in the AFL, which could set the stage for another step forward offensively in 2015. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: His at bats are more mature and focused now and there’s a 50 bat in here somewhere. He’ll always be an aggressive, power-oriented guy that strikes out: he just needs to make enough contact to get to his above average power. His bat needs the most work, but a 2016 debut isn’t out of the question.

Luis Ortiz

Profile: Ortiz shed 30 pounds over his junior year in high school, then was the most consistent prep arm on the showcase circuit last summer, hitting 95 mph and flashing a plus slider with advanced feel at nearly every event. Things went a little sideways during the spring when he went on the shelf with forearm tightness, often a precursor to elbow problems. When Ortiz came back to the mound, he pitched three times in relief in four days and scouts were worried this was headed in the wrong direction. Ortiz’s stuff came back to summer levels just before the draft, causing the Rangers to pounce. Ortiz has no physical projection left and his polished stuff/command could survive at higher levels, so a challenging 2015 assignment may be what he needs. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Ortiz showed some promising potential before forearm issues derailed his season. While he should be challenged by his assignment, he remains a few years away from the bigs.

Henry Owens

Profile: Owens is still a long, lanky type arm that sometimes has trouble corralling his limbs to repeat his delivery and should also throw a tick or two harder. Bigger pitchers take longer to completely grow into their bodies and deliveries, and the fact that Owens can pitch now with advanced feel is a great indicator. He sits 90-92 with good deception, extension, command and movement, hitting as high as 95 mph at times. His curveball is solid-average and his plus changeup also draws grades as high as 70 from some scouts. Owens will start the year in Triple-A and will come up when there’s an opening in the rotation, which could take a while. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Owens still has some projection left in his frame, but he’s fairly close to reaching the majors. He could break into the majors this season, but that depends on whether there’s an opening in the rotation.

Jose Peraza

Profile: Peraza is a smaller middle infielder with contact skills and lots of speed. He looks like the type of player who reaches his peak early. He has shot through the system, passing through High-A and Double-A at age 20 and he’s unlikely to return to Double-A next year. Peraza is a plus-plus runner with game-changing speed and he knows how to use it on the bases, stealing 60 and 64 bases in the last two seasons. He started as a shortstop, was converted to second base full-time in 2014 and handled it well; his average arm isn’t enough for that throw in the hole from shortstop, but he’s good enough to play it in a pinch. Peraza doesn’t have much power, as he’ll likely hit 5-12 homers depending on how he matures. He doesn’t see many pitches and aggressively attacks the first hittable pitch he sees. He uses his speed well by keeping the ball on the ground, which leads to low walk and strikeout rates. This works for some players with speed and exceptional bat control, but can cause strikeouts to skyrocket for less talented players. Most think he’ll be able to make it work. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Peraza likely starts the year in Triple-A after only 44 games in Double-A and 66 in High-A. There’s some chatter he could open the year on the big league club, but that looks unlikely right now.

Brett Phillips

Profile: Since turning pro, Phillips has added strength and adjusted his mechanics a bit to unlock more power and he now has the reps to where the physical skills are adding up to performance at the plate. It still isn’t a slam dunk that he’ll be a 50 bat, as Philips still needs to make a little more contact, and it’s more 12-15 homer upside, but there’s a potential 20-20 season here. Some of Phillips’ 2014 breakout was in the hitter-friendly Cal League, so an age-21 season with a stop in Double-A will be a real test to see if he can stay on the fast track. He’ll be playing alongside Teoscar Hernandez, who is his main competition to be the Astros center fielder of the future. His eventual upside is a .280/.350/.430 slash line. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Phillips had a nice breakout in the Cal League, and will now attempt to show he can do it again. He’s ticketed for Double-A this season, and remains a couple years away from the majors.

Kevin Plawecki

Profile: Plawecki is an offensive catcher, with hit over power due to his contact leaning approach with a short load, direct path and simple plan. Scouts hang 55 or 60 grades on his bat, and he shot through the system in part because he doesn’t strike out and does a good job making adjustments level-to-level. His raw power is fringy to average but it plays down in games, with most expecting Plawecki to grow into a 10-15 homer type with lots of doubles in the middle of the field. He should spend most of 2015 in Triple-A and doesn’t have a clear path to the big leagues with d’Arnaud ahead of him, but Plawecki should be contributing in the big leagues by 2016. His eventual upside is a .280/.345/.420 slash line. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Plawecki gets high marks for his offensive ability, and leadership behind the plate. He close to the majors, but could be blocked by Travis d’Arnaud.

Hunter Renfroe

Profile: Renfroe demolished the SouthEastern Conference (.345/.416/.620, 16 homers in 66 games) as a junior en route to going in the middle of the first round in 2013. His first name appears to be apt, with one scout calling his hitting approach “hunt and hammer.” He has easy plus raw power that has changed from pull-only as an amateur to more of an all-field approach as a pro. One Padres official compared his quick-twitch, late-blooming plus bat speed, plus power profile to Nelson Cruz. Renfroe will turn in plus run times to first base on close plays, to go with his plus arm in right field. He could play center field in an emergency if needed.Some scouts are skeptical because he has been a pro for just two years. He has made adjustments at each level, with a half season in Double-A late in 2014 his only pro failure, followed by a great Arizona Fall League. Renfroe can look bad against advanced pitching, with higher effort swings causing his mechanics to break down at times. The Padres are confident from seeing his at bats and knowing his athleticism and makeup that he will continue to make adjustments at the plate. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: With some looseness to his approach and a short track record of success, Renfroe has some risk but also lots of upside. The Padres are all-in on him and suggested that if he keeps hitting like he did in the AFL, he could be an everyday option late in 2015. With Justin Upton leaving after 2015, Renfroe appears to be the preferred choice to take his spot in 2016.

Carlos Rodon

Profile: Rodon had some struggles during his draft year, but those issues went away once the White Sox got a hold of him. Rodon had the premium stuff back in every pro start after signing: 92-96, hitting 97 mph with at least a 70 slider that he didn’t throw much, and the above average changeup that he finally had some time to work on. Rodon still needs to clean up the delivery a bit and work on his fastball command, but the changeup flashed 55 to 60 potential after signing, so that above grade may be light. The slider is an 80 at times when the fastball is in the mid-90′s, so that grade could be light as well. Rodon will likely open the season in the minors, but could work his way into the rotation with a strong early showing. His eventual upside is a number two starter. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Rodon had some struggles during his draft year, but those issues seemed to go away after he was drafted. He still needs to clean up some aspects of his game, but he’s already pretty close to the majors.

Eduardo Rodriguez

Profile: Rodriguez was a projection lefty with inconsistent, but above average, stuff his whole career. He sat 90-93 and would hit 95 mph on the fastball while owning a slider and changeup that would both flash above average at times. A couple months into the season, the projectable lefty’s velocity spiked, sitting 93-96 mph on the fastball, with his slider and changeup both flashing plus. The slider and changeup never flashed plus in the same game, but the changeup got higher peak grades, so both of those pitch grades could be conservative. The velocity jump was a nice bonus, and it will be interesting to see if the lefty can retain the gain this year. Rodriguez should open the year in Triple-A, and could find his way up to the majors with a strong performance. His eventual upside is a number three starter. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Rodriguez saw a jump in his performance after experiencing a velocity spike. With three possible plus pitches, Rodriguez could make his way to the majors this year.

Amed Rosario

Profile: Scouts have called Rosario special and the most athletic player in the Mets system. He has the live body, quick hands, instincts, and ability to adjust to challenges along with the broad shoulders to project more strength to come. Rosario skipped the Dominican Summer League and adjusted as older competition came at him. He’s the high ceiling guy with feel for the game that you can dream on. Rosario has feel to stay inside the ball and works the middle of the field in games, with a surprising amount of homers to right-center field already. He has plus bat speed that gives him margin for error in his timing, and should create above average raw power in time. Rosario is expected to begin next season in Low-A, and his full-season debut will tell us more about the kind of player he’s becoming. His eventual upside is a .280/.330/.460 slash line. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Rosario has loads of talent, but remains far away from the majors. He could top the Mets prospect list as early as next year.

Rio Ruiz

Profile: Ruiz’s calling card is his bat, and it took a step forward statistically in 2014. Some scouts would like to see him do it outside of the Cal League before throwing a 60 on his hit tool, however. Between his deep hand load, the power not showing up completely in games yet and the lack of plus bat speed, scouts still have offensive questions. Ruiz has good power to the opposite field in games already, which is often a harbinger of home run numbers spiking down the road. Ruiz could answer many of these questions in Double-A in 2015. His eventual upside is a .280/.360/.460 slash line. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Ruiz took a step forward in 2014, but there are still some questions about his bat. He should spend most of the year in the minors, and probably won’t see a major-league promotion this season.

Rio Ruiz

Profile: Ruiz signed with the Astros for an over slot $1.85 million as a fourth-round pick in 2012. He was a standout quarterback in high school, which shows with his above-average arm strength. The 6’2/215 lefty hitter isn’t a great athlete.Ruiz is a 40-grade runner with fringy range that limits his defensive upside, though it looks like he’ll stay at third base. He has above-average raw power. The carrying tool is the bat, and Ruiz took a step forward statistically in 2014. Scouts would like to see him do it outside of the California League before throwing a 60 on his hit tool. Between his power not showing up completely yet and the lack of plus bat speed, scouts still have offensive questions.Ruiz’s swing is loose with good power to the opposite field in games. That’s often a harbinger of home run numbers spiking. Ruiz is a hard worker who spends more time on defense than most bat-first prospects. Much of his defensive troubles come not on range-type plays but flubbing routine plays — sailing easy throws or staying back too long and letting the ball play him. If he can’t stay at third, the best fit is likely first. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Ruiz could answer many of these questions in Double-A in 2015 at age 21. I also adjusted Ruiz up a grade, as a result of seeing where players were landing after doing multiple lists, but also getting a positive first look at him in the Arizona Fall League.

Addison Russell

Profile: Russell has settled in with above average tools across the board, and talent that flashes some 60′s on the right day. He’s got big bat speed, a solid approach, great plate coverage and the raw power to punish mistakes. There’s some concern about Russell’s arm action on defense, and the Cubs have the luxury of allowing Russell to work out the issue in the minors this season. While most scouts see him staying at short for at least the next 5-7 years, he could also shift to third if Kris Bryant’s defense doesn’t work out. Russell should spend most/all of 2015 in Triple-A while the Cubs get a full season to work on shortening his arm action, cleaning up the few remaining weak points in his game and evaluating how their many offensive pieces fit together. His eventual upside is a .285/.350/.470 slash line. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Russell has above-average tools across the board, but there’s no need for the Cubs to push him just yet. He’ll spend most of 2015 in the minors, working on strengthening the weak points of his game.

Ricardo Sanchez

Profile: Sanchez was a rare higher dollar international signing by the Angels in 2013, as they saw a physically limited pitcher with plenty of stuff and feel for his craft. He was excellent in his pro debut in the Arizona Rookie League, racking up grounders and strikeouts against older competition, thanks to his plus curveball and feel for pitching. Some scouts were surprised to hear Sanchez was available to the Braves this offseason for a trade headlined by 3B Kyle Kubitza. Sanchez has only pitched in Rookie ball so far, but he could be a quick mover as he’s likely going to reach his ceiling earlier than most pitchers, common for smaller pitchers who don’t have much physical projection. Sanchez has a clean delivery and arm action and he can repeat them both. His plus curveball is the headliner here, but his oft-used changeup is also above average at times and his fastball velocity varied in Arizona but he sat 88-92 and has hit 95 mph in the past year. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: I’m projecting aggressively with Sanchez for a quick move through the minors on a short journey to becoming a fourth starter. If his velocity ends up being more often in the low-90s, touching 95 mph and he continues to sharpen his changeup and command, you could see him become a number three starter.

Miguel Sano

Profile: Sano missed all of 2014 with Tommy John surgery. He participated in all phases of instructs, but was held out of games in order to avoid any additional injuries. There are also some concerns about Sano’s hitting ability; not that he’s can’t hit in the traditional sense, but that his size, power type and at times aggressive approach could lead to a .250 or .260 average and his walk rates may regress when big league pitchers can exploit his weaknesses. None of this has happened yet, as Sano is still more talented than everyone that he’s faced so far. He should go straight to the upper levels of the minors for 2015 and may get a big league look depending on how well he performs, with 2016 a reasonable time to look for an extended big league audition. It will be interesting to see what kind of shape he’s in for spring training following over a year of rehab. His eventual upside is a .275/.360/.525 slash line. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: After a year lost to injury, Sano will look to get back on track. He’s always been able to dominate his levels, and will need to show he can adjust once he finally gets exploited.

Kyle Schwarber

Profile: Schwarber signed, played mostly left field and raked like crazy; the Cubs intentionally didn’t let him catch in pro ball after a full load in college as a way to save his legs. Instructs just wrapped up in Arizona and the Cubs sent him out there with all their catching instructors specifically to see if they thought he was good enough defensively to send him out next year as a catcher and try to derive some value that way. The reviews were very positive, with an average arm, some 1.9 pop times. This season, Schwarber will be used primarily as a catcher, playing there 4-5 times a week and DHing or playing left field on others days to get more at-bats. It’s still too early to know how well this will go and if it will affect his bat, but it’s a potential game-changer if it works. There simply aren’t advanced bats with 70 raw power that play catcher. Schwarber should spend the entire season in the minors, but could work his way up to Triple-A by the end of the year. His eventual upside is a .280/.360/.480 slash line. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Schwarber gets rave reviews as a hitter, and now the Cubs will see if he has the defensive chops to stick behind the plate. If he does, the bat could be really special. If not, he should still be an effective power hitter elsewhere in the field.

Luis Severino

Profile: Severino was mostly 91-95 mph in 2013 and early in 2014, then got stronger as the year went on, flashing 94-97 mph heat at times later in the year and sustaining it for innings. Severino took quickly to using a changeup regularly after arriving in America, developing it as a plus pitch in about a year of using it, though it can sometimes play to 55 on certain days, as he’s still developing consistent control of his off-speed offerings. Severino should spend 2015 in the upper levels of the minors and be ready for a big league audition either late in 2015 or at some point in 2016; that’ll likely depend on his performance and the needs of the big club. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: There are still some markers here that make some scouts say reliever and that may be how he breaks into the big leagues, but the Yankees see starter all the way. Severino’s ability to make adjustments to his delivery and repertoire along with the good health indicators of his delivery suggest he’ll figure out a way to stay in the rotation.

Braden Shipley

Profile: Shipley sits 92-95 and touches 98 mph, though his fastball has average at best movement and tends to straighten out late in starts when he’s fatigued. His curveball flashes plus and his changeup is a 65 pitch for some scouts. Shipley’s command still comes and goes, but he’s such a good athlete that scouts assume that will come around to average. He’s still working to get his arm conditioned to last late into games and his stuff would, at times, play down a notch or two this season from the peak stuff noted in the future pitch grades above. Some scouts didn’t see any potential plus pitches from Shipley later this season, but that didn’t happen enough times to become a legitimate worry. Shipley likely needs all of next year in the minors to work out the remaining kinks, but it wouldn’t surprise anyone if he gets a taste of the big leagues in 2015. There’s number two starter upside with the athleticism you want to bet on, but still with enough risk you’d like to see a little more before you’re all in. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Shipley still has a lot to iron out, but he’s such a good athlete that it’s assumed he can make the right changes. There’s still plenty of risk here, but he could get a taste of the majors with a strong 2015.

Lucas Sims

Profile: Sims was a big name prep pitcher for the 2012 draft and played in the deep Atlanta-area prep high school ranks. He faced such prospects as A’s first baseman Matt Olson, who was a 2012 sandwich round pick and Orioles center field prospect Josh Hart, who went in the sandwich round in 2013. Sims has gotten more physical since the video and has drawn Matt Cain comparisons from scouts who have bought all the way in. Sims sits 91-94 and hits 96 mph with his fastball and his curveball was inconsistent this year, sometimes around average and other times flashing above average to plus like they did in high school. Sims has developed a better changeup in pro ball, flashing average to above in most outings. His strikeout rate backed up this year, due to inconsistency in his delivery, but he was back to striking out roughly a batter an inning and walking one every three innings in the second half. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: The Braves see a high upside arm that things are starting to click for, and are expecting a breakout season in 2015. Sims may head back to High-A next year, but likely opens in Double-A and has a chance to take a huge step forward.

Chance Sisco

Profile: Sisco’s carrying tool here is the bat, and scouts grade it anywhere from 55 to 70 despite his highest pro experience coming at Low-A. He’s got a handsy, loose left-handed swing and advanced feel for the strike zone. His power is fringy now and should eventually be average, but that’ll likely play down a notch in games at maturity due to his level plane in games. One scout said Sisco’s approach and offensive tools are similar to former Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis. The Orioles think Sisco is their third best prospect and is their catcher of the future. He’ll head to High-A next year and with some defensive progress, Sisco could find himself on the fast track. His eventual upside is a .285/.350/.440 slash line. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Sisco has some work to do behind the plate, but his bat will carry him up the ladder. He’s expected to start out in High-A, and could move fast depending on how quickly the bat develops.

Robert Stephenson

Profile: Stephenson is still very young and very talented: he sits 93-96 mph and regularly hits 98-100 mph with a plus curveball and a changeup that flashes at least average, with some scouts hanging high future grades on it. If you assume a smart kid will learn from his tough 2014 season and the stuff will play, then you’re looking at a potential number two or three starter that will be 22 next year sitting in the upper level, waiting for a chance. Stephenson’s command isn’t really the issue, so much as it is usage of his pitches, getting into good counts and challenging hitters in the right way, not always with a flat upper-90′s fastball up in the zone. He’ll likely spend most of the year in Triple-A, but could find his way into the majors late in the year. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Stephenson ran into some trouble in 2014, but still has a ton of talent. If he can hone his pitch selection, he should be in good shape.

Kohl Stewart

Profile: Stewart sits 91-94 and hits 95 mph often with a fluid, simple delivery and a short stride, though some scouts think he’ll settle with a 55 fastball at maturity. Stewart’s velocity dipped some late in the year when he was tired, sitting 88-91 mph in his last instructs start, but he hit 97 mph in high school, so most scouts expect the zip to return to his fastball next year. The curveball and changeup both made strides this year after Stewart threw a slider as his primary out-pitch in high school. On the pessimistic side, some scouts don’t give Stewart a future 60 pitch and, while he’s a good athlete, don’t think he’ll have better than average command. The upside here is a number two or three starter, but it’s still early to assume that will be what happens. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Stewart dealt with some shoulder inflammation, and posted a lower-than-average strikeout rate, but there’s still a lot to like from the youngster. He’ll spend the year in the minors, where he’ll work on his command and breaking pitches.

Blake Swihart

Profile: Swihart was seen as an amateur as an offense-first catcher that probably would have to move to a corner position once he got to the upper levels of the minors. He’s stayed behind the plate thus far, even getting average defensive ratings from scouts now. Swihart has added five to seven pounds of muscle each year since singing and he now projects for 15-20 homers at maturity, with a high average and medium OBP. He takes a little time at each level to adjust, being that he has to maintain a swing from both sides of the plate and continue to refine his catching. The Red Sox expect him to spend most of the year in Triple-A this year. His eventual upside is a .280/.340/.440 slash line. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Swihart has improved enough behind that plate, that he may stick at the position. The team will start him out in Triple-A, but he could find his way to the majors this year.

Noah Syndergaard

Profile: Syndergaard sits 93-97 with heavy life and hits 98 mph with a curveball that’s progressed the past few years from flashing solid average to consistently flashing plus. The tough pitcher’s environment in Las Vegas introduced some statistical noise to his 2014 line, but the strikeout to walk ratio was still solid, indicating that he didn’t let the extreme conditions affect his overall approach to pitching. Syndergaard’s biggest strengths, along with his size and arm speed, are his aptitude and surprising body control, which helps with his command. Syndergaard projects as a potential frontline arm and will get tossed into the competition for the major league rotation in spring training, but the Mets expect him to be the fifth or sixth starter this year, given the current roster. This means he’ll go back to Triple-A at least until the fifth starter is needed. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Syndergaard’s stats took a hit in a tough pitcher’s park in 2015, but his overall numbers were still encouraging. Syndergaard has frontline potential, and could work his way into the Mets rotation this season.

Raimel Tapia

Profile: Tapia gets wide-ranging reviews from scouts, with some crushing him for an unusual swing and skinny frame, while others point to his elite bat control and performance (.342/.392/.503 in over 700 plate appearances in domestic leagues). One scout said Tapia’s defensive reads were questionable and that his power wouldn’t profile in right field. Another scout gave a low-end comparison of Jon Jay as a non-traditional outfielder that can play all three positions, doesn’t have much power but hits enough that you find a spot for him. The consensus is that this kid can hit despite sometimes funky mechanics and he has enough tools to be useful in some kind of everyday role. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: With a trip to the hitter-friendly Cal League coming next year, a 50 Future Value will likely go up or down a notch depending on how he responds to big expectations. He’s still a ways from the majors, with 2018 looking like the most likely target right now.

Jake Thompson

Profile: Thompson was dealt to the Rangers mid-season in the Joakim Soria trade and scouts that saw him in the Texas League have been reporting he’s 92-96 with a 60 slider that is sometimes a 70 in short stints. There’s an average change in there, and therefore impact stuff as a starter, but there’s also some effort to the delivery, so the fit may be in the bullpen. Given that Thompson appears to be the rare example where the stuff ticks up a lot in relief, he may be best suited as a closer, but Texas would be foolish to not see if Thompson can be a 200 inning mid-rotation workhorse. He’s on the fast track as a starter and if Texas gets back into the pennant race next season, it would be hard to not work him into the big leagues in short stints in 2015 before trying as a starter in 2016. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Thompson started showing enhanced stuff after coming over to the Rangers. While the team will give him a shot as a starter, he could wind up being a very useful reliever.

Touki Toussaint

Profile: Toussaint will flash an easy plus fastball and a plus-plus curveball with a changeup that’s really progressed, but he’ll likely have to gear down the effort and arm speed a notch or two so he can command everything enough to start. Toussaint showed this ability for the first time this spring, when he’d sit 91-94 with life, 96 mph in his back pocket and enough command that you could see him being a starter one day. His curveball was more often a 60 when he was commanding it well and staying within himself in his delivery, while his changeup went from a non-factor to a pitch that some scouts thought could one day be plus in the span of a few months. All those positives out of the way, Toussaint has a long way to go. He’ll likely start the year in the low minors, and will need time to adjust to full-season ball. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Toussaint has plenty of ability, but will need to refine aspects of his game in order to make an impact. He’ll have every opportunity to do that at the lower levels of the minors this season.

Nick Travieso

Profile: Travieso worked 90-95 mph and hit as high at 97 mph, holding his velocity deep into games. He threw a slider and curveball in high school, which served to undermine both pitches, and he’s dropped the curveball now, helping his slider to flash the above average to plus potential it showed at times in the past. Travieso has a husky build he’ll need to monitor, and his changeup and command are both fringy with flashes of average. He’s a bulldog who really competes. He’s dropped 15-20 pounds since signing and he’s improved his starter traits, showing better pitch efficiency in 2014. Travieso has the mid-rotation look, but still has some work to do to earn that projection. His upside is a number four starter. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Travieso had an average debut, but still has mid-rotation upside. He has a strong mentality on the mound, and has already worked to drop weight since being drafted.

Trea Turner

Profile: Turner struggled during his draft year, but had shown plenty of potential up to that point. He had a couple minor leg injuries and then spread his feet too far apart, probably to generate more power, which caused his base to be weak and collapse at contact, undermining his natural bat control. He made the adjustment weeks before the draft and everything seemed in order in pro ball. Turner taps into his raw power in games when he’s making hard contact and he could be an 8-12 homer guy at maturity, but that isn’t really a big part of his game, more of a perk when he’s making lots of contact. With a solid performance in 2015, Turner’s hit grade would probably jump at least one notch. His eventual upside is a .280/.350/.420 slash line. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Turner had a poor draft year, but was able to clean up some of those issues after he was drafted. He could see improvement with a solid 2015, and should begin the season in the low levels of the minors.

Duane Underwood

Profile: Underwood showed up in great shape and everything took off. He was working 93-97 mph, he was throwing his curveball harder and with more conviction in the mid-to-upper-70′s and his changeup was good as usual. The off-speed stuff still varies from start to start and may settle more at 55, but it’s still early to call it. Scouts are being cautious as they’ve been hard on his mental makeup in the past. He can still get around his curveball and have trouble commanding his pitches, but there’s frontline stuff here if he can make strides to polish the package. Underwood has a big opportunity this off-season to get in even better shape and if he takes another step forward next year, he could be near the top of this list. His eventual upside is a third or fourth starter. He should spent all of 2015 in the minors. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Underwood came into the year motivated, and it showed. There are some concerns about his makeup, but he remains a high-upside prospect if he can continue to put it all together.

Vincent Velasquez

Profile: Velasquez has moved slowly since being drafted but appears ready to be unleashed at age-22. He sits 91-95 with a plus changeup and an improving curveball that flashes average to slightly above, to go with some feel to pitch that draw solid-average command grades. He’s also an excellent athlete that looks on the mound like he could grab a stick and play in the field if he wanted to. There’s mid-rotation potential if Velasquez’s arm can handle the workload, but a couple small, short-term dings came up this season, leading to some scouts calling him fragile. A full healthy season in Double-A in 2015 could set him up for a big league look in 2016. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Injuries limited Velasquez early in his career, but he’s always been a standout talent when healthy. If he can stay healthy, he could find his way to the majors in 2016.

Nick Williams

Profile: Williams has really good bat control and can square up almost anything, but he has such an undisciplined approach that he’s striking out nearly 30% of the time with walks rates below 5%. When you’re more talented that everyone else and pitchers are still making mistakes, you can get by with this approach, but past examples show us it’s hard to change a bad approach this late in development. Williams swing is geared for line drives, which prevents his power from showing up in games. Still, Williams still projects as a league average bat with the upside to become more. The only way he’s going to break out of his bad habits is if the Rangers challenge him. His eventual upside is a .270/.330/.440 slash line. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Williams has shown the ability to put up strong numbers despite a less than stellar approach. He’ll need to show the ability to make adjustments moving forward, but still projects as a league-average bat.

Jesse Winker

Profile: Winker’s feel to hit is very advanced as is his feel for the strike zone. While the power isn’t huge, he should be able to produce 20 bombs at maturity. Except for a .259 batting average on balls in play that fueled 92 poor plate appearances in a late-season Double-A tryout, Winker has never really failed before; it’s also hard to say that hitting near league average at age 20 in Double-A even with bad BABIP luck is failing. Some scout suggest first base will be his eventual home, but also mention names like Paul O’Neill, John Olerud and Tino Martinez as potential comps. The tool grades may not blow you away, but the on-base percentage should be great and the risk isn’t very high. Winker raked his face off in the Arizona Fall League and looks primed to assault the upper levels of the minors next year, with a 2016 MLB debut the expected path. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: Winker is an advanced hitter with a fairly low floor. While the power is a bit of a question, he should be able to produce even if he has to move to first base.

Matt Wisler

Profile: To pitch at the Padres pre-draft workout in San Diego, Wisler flew to the West Coast from Ohio and pitched the day after he threw in a playoff game, hitting 91 mph at PETCO Park. Teams were scared by his signability, but the Padres inked him for $500,000 just before the season ended. Wisler works 91-94, touching 95 mph with sink and commands the pitch to both sides of the plate. His two-plane slider is plus, his changeup is above-average at times and he also works in a fringy curveball. Scouts rave about his makeup and strike-throwing abilities, though his command isn’t big league ready. Some scouts think his build is too slight that he won’t be able to hold up for 200 innings. The consensus is that he should be able to handle 180 innings as a third or fourth starter. He hasn’t hit bumps in his development, but he did sulk for a few weeks after not breaking with the big league team in 2014. The Padres think his mental maturity progressed after having to deal with the Pacific Coast League for a season, and he has a chance to grab a major league rotation spot to open 2015. (Kiley McDaniel)

Quick Opinion: The recently traded Jesse Hahn was the team’s fourth starter, so now there are two open spots to claim between Despaigne, Erlin, Luebke, Wisler and Kelly, with Luebke and Kelly getting their first action after Tommy John surgery. This could give Wisler a real chance to break with the club, but he’s expected to head back to Triple-A at least initially.

BAL	CHW	LAA
BOS	CLE	OAK
NYY	DET	SEA
TBR	KCR	TEX
TOR	MIN	HOU

ATL	CHC*	ARI
MIA	CIN	COL
WSN	MIL	LAD
NYM*	PIT	SDP*
PHI	STL	SFG