This off-season we set off to write our first book. Changes and challenges arose, so we've pivoted to releasing our top prospect lists & reports through the site and our Patreon. We're excited to finally show you the hard work of our evaluating team the last few months.
Below you'll find the top 10 players in the system with full reports of the top 5. The full rankings and reports on all top 30 prospects per team will be available on our Patreon at the 55-tier ($5 level) as we publish them. If you're into fantasy baseball, this tier also gets you the dynasty show, the FYPD list and the MiLB Daily Sheet in season. We plan to add all the reports to player pages on the site shortly after the season begins.
Top 10 Team Rank at First 5 Reports for Free Below
1. Daniel Espino, RHP - 55 OFP
Age: 21 Highest Level: A+
Pre-Season Rank: 6 Pre-Season OFP: 50
| Fastball | Curveball | Slider | Changeup | Command | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70 | 50 | 60 | 50 | 40 | High |
| 95-101 mph | 72-77 mph | 85-91 mph | 86-91 mph |
PHYSICAL Physically maxed out, which was the thought when he was drafted, but one of the most well built pitchers in his frame. Muscular, flexible and a top-grade athlete. Gets high marks for self-awareness in his body and mechanics and relentless work ethic.
STRENGTHS An explosive fastball is the number one tool for Espino that regularly touches the upper 90s and 100-101. It has good spin and induced vertical break. It’s his go-to pitch. He pairs that with a plus slider that has tight horizontal break and he throws it hard off of the fastball. It’s an easy putaway pitch and his second most used offering. His curveball is big and vertical and he’s done well to separate the shape of the two pitches in 2021. His changeup has impressive vertical break in almost split-like fashion.
WEAKNESSES Espino’s fastball command sometimes causes even a double-plus pitch to be hittable. It doesn’t miss as many bats as it should for its velocity, spin and vertical movement. Overall command and control are inconsistent for Espino with all of his offerings His curveball is a little too loopy at times. The changeup has good movement but is firm and can lack velo separation from the fastball.
SUMMARY Many were scared off by his maxed physique and arm action. However, Cleveland has worked to help maintain his elite use of his lower half and hip mobility while bringing up his posture and speed of his arm swing. It hasn’t cost him any velocity and he’s holding into his starts and all season. If the command and control never progress, he ends up in the bullpen or a pitcher with ace gifts and frustrating results at times, almost like Ubaldo Jimenez. Still, 2021 was his first full season and he should hit Double-A in 2022 with a chance to build off a dominant season. If the command and control do take steps forward, this is a conservative projection.
EVALUATOR Justin Lada
2. George Valera, OF - 55 OFP
Age: 21 Highest Level: A+
Pre-Season Rank: 2 Pre-Season OFP: 50
| Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 55 | 50 | 55 | 50 | Moderate |
PHYSICAL Athletic, lean body. Has really filled out his frame the last year or so. Longer legs for his height. Strong core and lower half. Well defined arms. His frame is pretty much filled out at this point. Has a history of some fluky muscular injuries including his legs and core.
STRENGTHS Easy smooth swing from an open stance. Rhythmic and balanced with plenty of bat speed. Active hands and a bat waggle in his stance that allows him to time his swing well and work the barrel around. The swing has balance and loft that helps him get the ball in the air. Swing decisions have improved since 2019 and he now has a really strong eye at the plate to accompany above average power that comes naturally thanks to the loft in his swing. Defensively, he improved throughout the season and showed good range and an above average arm. Speed is around average and works well in all three outfield spots and on the bases.
WEAKNESSES While Valera has shown much better swing decisions after an IL stint in 2021, he will go after high fastballs and sometimes he gets too passive with two strikes. Has power and can hit the ball to all fields but he can get pull heavy at times. Defense improved in 2021 but his routes are choppy at times. He may have pulled back his running at times on the bases to stay on the field.
SUMMARY One of the biggest issues with Valera coming into 2021 was his health. He hadn’t been on the field enough to showcase his talent and get the necessary reps to begin to move up the ladder. After an oblique injury from a throw in the outfield early in the year, his bat took off. Started hitting homers by the bunch in High-A and pitchers started walking him. Held his own as a 20 year old in Double-A after a promotion. All the tools across the board are average or above average with potential to improve as 2021 was his first full season on the field. Valera has just begun his ascent and should move quickly through the system.
EVALUATOR Justin Lada
3. Brayan Rocchio, SS - 50 OFP
Age: 21 Highest Level: AA
Pre-Season Rank: 7 Pre-Season OFP: 50
| Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | 45 | 55 | 55 | 60 | Moderate |
PHYSICAL Short, slender frame and smaller build. Shows wiry strength of size but could still add strength to grow into his frame. Quick twitch type athlete. Passionate player, sometimes bordering demonstrative.
STRENGTHS Best tools and skills are aided by a high level of natural instincts and baseball IQ. Rhythmic, quick swing from both sides, showing balance and good bat speed. Started to show more pop in 2021 without sacrificing any contact ability. If he adds additional strength to his frame, he could grow into average power at his peak. Rocchio isn’t flashy in the field, but has a good clock, is smooth with effortless range, above average throwing arm and plus speed.
WEAKNESSES Despite a good eye at the plate, he occasionally shows an overaggressive approach. Can get out front on breaking balls and speed up in the zone. Aggressive as a base runner. Needs to get better jumps and reads. Projected for fringe average power, which puts pressure on his ability to make contact and get the most out of his hit tool, defense and speed.
SUMMARY Cleveland has prioritized middle infielders with above average hit tools that can stay up the middle. Rocchio has developed into a more toolsy version in this prototype and a lot of this is aided by a strong baseball IQ and natural instincts. He’s going to stay up the middle and has showed he can play any infield position. Easy to envision a 15-20 homer and 15-20 steal above-average defensive shortstop. For a player at this position and age, Rocchio is a safe bet to be at least an average regular with upside for more.
EVALUATOR Justin Lada
4. Steven Kwan, OF - 50 OFP
Age: 24 Highest Level: AAA
Pre-Season Rank: 46 Pre-Season OFP: 35
| Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70 | 40 | 55 | 50 | 55 | Low |
PHYSICAL Small and compact frame, medium build and well defined upper body. Thicker lower half. There’s not much room for projection in his frame but could add 10 more lbs.
STRENGTHS Strong, quick hands, creates a bit more lift than he did in previous years. Elite eye at the plate, walking more than he struck out, which high contact rates all over the strike zone. Made contact at over a 92% rate and led the minor leagues in swinging strike rate. Above average runner with great instincts in the outfield, getting good jumps and solid routes. Adequate arm for center and left field.
WEAKNESSES Increased his power output in 2021, dropping 12 bombs up from three in 2019 in 300 less plate appearances. But his exit velocities still play out at someone with below average power, at best. A better defender in the outfield thanks to his instincts more than his speed. He doesn’t use speed well on the bases yet, getting caught stealing too often to justify how much he ran. Had a hamstring injury in 2021.
SUMMARY Change in stance and approach in 2021 led to a higher power output for Kwan. Makes contact at an elite level in the zone. Should have no problem hitting for a good average. Projects as a league average outfielder and should get the opportunity to show his double-plus hit tool in the Guardians lineup early in 2022.
EVALUATOR Justin Lada
5. Tyler Freeman, INF - 50 OFP
Age: 23 Highest Level: AA
Pre-Season Rank: 5 Pre-Season OFP: 50
| Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | 40 | 50 | 50 | 55 | Moderate |
PHYSICAL Moderate, classic middle infield type build; strong, compact and athletic. Moves well. High energy player. Has worked to add strength to his upper body and arms over the last 20 months. Has had shoulder surgery for a torn labrum in 2018 and another surgery on the same shoulder in 2021. High character, high energy type player. Shows joy playing the game, plus work ethic and overall makeup.
STRENGTHS Hand-eye coordination is the top skill Freeman possesses. He has a real, natural knack for getting his bat on any type of pitch in many locations, and has some feel for the barrel in an unorthodox way sometimes. He has a line drive approach and can drive the ball into the gaps and can pull it down the line as well as spray it down the right field line. He’s an above average runner and is better underway and has a good IQ on the bases. Freeman has worked to improve his throwing arm, and it plays average at short and better at second. Instincts, hustle and overall baseball IQ make up for mostly average range at shortstop.
WEAKNESSES Could grow into the low double digit homer totals, but his power is mostly to the gaps. Profiles best defensively at second base than shortstop due to range and throwing arm. There’s no doubt he can hit, but he’s never drawn many walks, which could hamper his ability to produce as he would be BABIP dependent.
SUMMARY Freeman is a hitting machine. Can handle short but may be mostly an average hitter there, and would be a much better defender at second base with his range and arm. With his plus makeup, Freeman is a player that may perform better as a sum of all parts type player than any one flashy tool. It’s just a matter if he’ll be BABIP dependent because of his approach or if any power develops, but the hit tool, baseball IQ, defense at second, speed and makeup should make him an average everyday player up the middle.
EVALUATOR Justin Lada
6. Gavin Williams, RHP - 50 OFP
Age: 22 Highest Level: CPX
2021 MLB Draft Rank: 14
7. Logan T. Allen, LHP - 50 OFP
Age: 23 Highest Level: AA
Pre-Season Rank: 13 Pre-Season OFP: 45
8. Tobias Myers, RHP - 50 OFP
Age: 23 Highest Level: AAA
Pre-Season Rank: 27 (TB) Pre-Season OFP: 40
9. Gabriel Arias, SS - 45 OFP
Age: 22 Highest Level: AAA
Pre-Season Rank: 21 Pre-Season OFP: 45
10. Nolan Jones, 3B - 45 OFP
Age: 24 Highest Level: AAA
Pre-Season Rank: 1 Pre-Season OFP: 50