As minor league opening day (ok, we had four Eastern League games yesterday, but this is the real one) has arrived, here’s a handy-dandy guide as to where the Top 100 Prospects are starting the year.
1. Matt Wieters, C, Orioles — AAA Norfolk (INT)
2. David Price, LHP, Rays — AAA Durham (INT)
3. Madison Bumgarner, LHP, Giants — Hi-A San Jose (CAL)
4. Pedro Alvarez, 3B, Pirates — Hi-A Lynchburg (CAR)
5. Travis Snider, OF, Blue Jays — MLB
6. Neftali Feliz, RHP, Rangers — AAA Oklahoma City (PCL)
7. Rick Porcello, RHP, Tigers — MLB
8. Colby Rasmus, OF, Cardinals — MLB
9. Buster Posey, C, Giants — Hi-A San Jose (CAL)
10. Jason Heyward, OF, Braves — Hi-A Myrtle Beach (CAR)
11. Cameron Maybin, OF, Marlins — MLB
12. Dexter Fowler, OF, Rockies — MLB
13. Tommy Hanson, RHP, Braves — Triple-A Gwinnett (INT)
14. Mike Stanton, OF, Marlins — Hi-A Jupiter (FSL)
15. Tim Beckham, SS, Rays — Low-A Bowling Green (SAL)
16. Chris Tillman, RHP, Orioles — AAA Norfolk (INT)
17. Lars Anderson, 1B, Red Sox — AA Portland (EAS)
18. Eric Hosmer, 1B, Royals — Low-A Burlington (MDW)
19. Brian Matusz, LHP, Orioles — Hi-A Frederick (BAL)
20. Michael Ynoa, RHP, Athletics — Extended Spring
21. Mike Moustakas, 3B, Royals — Hi-A Wilmington (CAR)
22. Justin Smoak, 1B, Rangers — AA Frisco (TEX)
23. Trevor Cahill, RHP, Athletics — MLB
24. Brett Anderson, LHP, Athletics — MLB
25. Andrew McCutchen, OF, Pirates — AAA Indianapolis (INT)
26. Matt Dominguez, 3B, Marlins — Hi-A Jupiter (FSL)
27. Jhoulys Chacin, RHP, Rockies — AA Tulsa (TEX)
28. Gordon Beckham, SS, White Sox — AA Birmingham (STH)
29. Wade Davis, RHP, Rays — AAA Durham (INT)
30. Matt LaPorta, 1B, Indians — AAA Columbus (INT)
31. Michael Bowden, RHP, Red Sox — AAA Pawtucket (INT)
32. Jarrod Parker, RHP, Diamondbacks — Hi-A Visalia (CAL)
33. Carlos Santana, C, Indians — AA Akron (EAS)
34. Josh Vitters, 3B, Cubs — Low-A Peoria (MDW)
35. Yonder Alonso, 1B, Reds — Hi-A Sarasota (FSL)
36. Ben Revere, OF, Twins — Hi-A Fort Myers (FSL)
37. Brett Wallace, 3B, Cardinals — AA Springfield (TEX)
38. Jesus Montero, C, Yankees — Hi-A Tampa (FSL)
39. Aaron Hicks, OF, Twins — Extended Spring, to Lo-A Beloit (MDW) in early May
40. Derek Holland, LHP, Rangers — AAA Oklahoma City (PCL)
41. J.P. Arencibia, C, Blue Jays — AAA Las Vegas (PCL)
42. Greg Halman, OF, Mariners — AA West Tenn (STH)
43. Carlos Carrasco, RHP, Phillies — AAA Lehigh Valley (INT)
44. Fernando Martinez, OF, Mets — AAA Buffalo (INT)
45. Wilin Rosario, C, Rockies — Hi-A Modesto (CAL)
46. Austin Jackson, CF, Yankees — AAA Scranton/WB (INT)
47. Angel Villalona, 1B, Giants — Hi-A San Jose (CAL)
48. Chris Carter, 1B, Athletics — AA Midland (TEX)
49. Desmond Jennings, OF, Rays — AA Montgomery (STH)
50. Jordan Schafer, OF, Braves — MLB
51. Alcides Escobar, SS, Brewers — AAA Nashville (PCL)
52. Jake Arrieta, RHP, Orioles — AA Bowie (EAS)
53. Logan Morrison, 1B, Marlins — AA Jacksonville (STH)
54. Wilmer Flores, SS, Mets — Low-A Savannah (SAL)
55. Michael Taylor, OF, Phillies — AA Reading (EAS)
56. Jordan Zimmerman, RHP, Nationals — AAA Syracuse; To MLB later in month
57. Brett Lawrie, C, Brewers — Low-A Wisconsin (MDW)
58. Mat Gamel, 3B, Brewers — AAA Nashville (PCL)
59. Ethan Martin, RHP, Dodgers — Low-A Great Lakes (MDW)
60. Tim Alderson, RHP, Giants — Hi-A San Jose (CAL)
61. Phillippe Aumont, RHP, Mariners — Hi-A High Desert (CAL)
62. Reid Brignac, SS, Rays — AAA Durham (INT)
63. Jordan Walden, RHP, Angels — AA Arkansas (TEX)
64. James McDonald, RHP, Dodgers — MLB
65. Michael Burgess, OF, Nationals — Hi-A Potomac (CAR)
66. Michael Main, RHP, Rangers — Hi-A Bakersfield (CAL)
67. Chris Perez, RHP, Cardinals — AAA Memphis (PCL)
68. Engel Beltre, OF, Rangers — Hi-A Bakersfield (CAL)
69. Mat Latos, RHP, Padres — Extended Spring (ankle); To Hi-A Lake Elsinore (CAL) when ready
70. Scott Elbert, LHP, Dodgers — AA Chattanooga (STH)
71. Nick Adenhart, RHP, Angels — MLB
72. Jeremy Jeffress, RHP, Brewers — AA Huntsville (STH)
73. Elvis Andrus, SS, Rangers — MLB
74. Aaron Poreda, LHP, White Sox — AA Birmingham (STH)
75. Michael Saunders, OF, Mariners — Extended Spring; To AAA Tacoma (PCL) when ready
76. Jason Castro, C, Astros — Hi-A Lancaster (CAL)
77. Andrew Lambo, OF, Dodgers — AA Chattanooga (STH)
78. Gorkys Hernandez, OF, Braves — AA Mississippi (STH)
79. Angel Salome, C, Brewers — AAA Nashville (PCL)
80. Freddie Freeman, 1B, Braves — Hi-A Myrtle Beach (CAR)
81. Ross Detwiler, LHP, Nationals — AA Harrisburg (EAS)
82. Kyle Skipworth, C, Marlins — Low-A Greensboro (SAL)
83. Nick Weglarz, OF, Indians — AA Akron (EAS)
84. Kellen Kulbacki, OF, Padres — Extended Spring (shoulder); To AA San Antonio (TEX) when ready
85. Jeff Samardzija, RHP, Cubs — AAA Iowa (PCL)
86. Todd Frazier, SS, Reds — AA Carolina (STH)
87. Josh Reddick, OF, Red Sox — AA Portland (EAS)
88. David Cooper, 1B, Blue Jays — AA New Hampshire (EAS)
89. Daniel Schlereth, LHP, Diamondbacks — AA Mobile (STH)
90. Brett Cecil, LHP, Blue Jays — AAA Las Vegas (PCL)
91. Jose Tabata, OF, Pirates — AA Altoona (EAS)
92. Kyle Drabek, RHP, Phillies — Hi-A Clearwater (FSL)
93. Adrian Cardenas, SS, Athletics — AA Midland (TEX)
94. Jefry Marte, 3B, Mets — Low-A Savannah (SAL)
95. Ivan DeJesus Jr., SS, Dodgers — Broken left tibia; could be ready second half
96. Drew Stubbs, OF, Reds — AAA Louisville (INT)
97. Daniel Bard, RHP, Red Sox — AAA Pawtucket (INT)
98. Brandon Erbe, RHP, Orioles — AA Bowie (EAS)
99. Brandon Allen, 1B, White Sox — AA Birmingham (STH)
100. Adys Portillo, RHP, Padres — Extended Spring
Before anyone really gets worked up here . . . Nick Adenhart is on the list. I'm aware of that. When I put this together this afternoon and I got to No. 71, I really didn't know what to do. Leave it blank? Just put a RIP there? Everything just felt totally wonky, so I just put MLB down, because that's where he was on Opening Day, and after watching him pitch last night, that's what I'll remember him as.
looking at this, seems like AAA is back in for top prospects. (was it ever out? seemed like it was, but can't say i've been watching *that* closely...)
Interesting observation. I wonder if it's related to the trend of parking MLB-ready prospects in AAA for a month in order to delay free agency by a year. Or perhaps the whole idea that AAA was no longer home to the best prospects was a myth in the first place.
The Midwest League looks a little shallow at the start, besides Hosmer. I'm sure a few guys were percolate, but it's a little difficult figuring out which teams to look out for.
Yeah, looking over all the rosters, it's not gonna be a great year for prospects here in corn country. Looking forward to seeing Eric Hosmer next week though.
For the sake of my on-going education in prospect development, have the Twins given a reason for starting Hicks in Extended Spring? Just curious what drove that choice if it's not related to an injury that got him off to a late start this spring.
Could also be a weather thing or additional instruction decision. Remember, they did the exact same thing last year with Ben Revere, and that turned out pretty good.
Its not that hard. if you scour the internet, you'll probably find transactions for each team which will tell you when guys are moving up or down, and then you can make a spreadsheet and follow it yourself.
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Before anyone really gets worked up here . . . Nick Adenhart is on the list. I'm aware of that. When I put this together this afternoon and I got to No. 71, I really didn't know what to do. Leave it blank? Just put a RIP there? Everything just felt totally wonky, so I just put MLB down, because that's where he was on Opening Day, and after watching him pitch last night, that's what I'll remember him as.
Thanks for the note, I think you made the right call.
second that...
Second that