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. Bobby Witt Jr., SS - 70 OFP
Age: 22 Highest Level: AAA
Pre-Season Rank: 1 Pre-Season OFP: 60
| Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | 60 | 55 | 60 | 60 | Moderate |
PHYSICAL Above-average height with an ideal, athletic frame. He is lean throughout with room to add strength as he matures. Twitchy athleticism. Confident player who will generate much fanfare once he debuts.
STRENGTHS Witt Jr. has incredibly fast hands, is short to the ball, and generates some of the loudest contact in the minor leagues. The ball jumps off the bat when he connects, and the swing creates substantial, natural loft. He has a powerful right-handed swing that produces easy plus power to all fields, and he consistently gets to it during games. He will be an extra-base machine, in part to his natural power but also his plus speed. He hits an extra gear rounding first and is capable of turning balls in the gap into an extra base; a proven threat on the basepaths as well. He has the look of an above-average or better defender on the left side of the dirt; fluid and twitchy and can reach some difficult balls to his left and right. He has taken reps at both shortstop and third base, and his plus arm plays at either position.
WEAKNESSES Witt Jr. can be overly confident and aggressive at the plate. He will at times struggle with overswinging, which produces too many strikeouts for how good his bat-to-ball skills are. He also had momentary mental lapses on the defensive side of the ball during the 2021 season.
SUMMARY Witt Jr. is a true five-tool talent and is as good as any prospect in the game. He has an unquestioned All-Star level ceiling and should debut early in the 2022 season. He will be the face of Kansas City baseball upon arrival, something he will relish and thrive on.
EVALUATOR Jake Kerns
2. MJ Melendez, C - 55 OFP
Age: 23 Highest Level: AAA
Pre-Season Rank: 14 Pre-Season OFP: 45
| Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | 55 | 55 | 60 | 40 | High |
PHYSICAL Above-average height and lean for the position. He has present strength with room to fill out and add muscle. Athletic for a catcher and has taken reps at third.
STRENGTHS Melendez has a surprisingly patient approach at the plate, and he uses his natural strength and above-average bat speed to generate hard contact. His swing is designed to elevate and drive the ball to all parts of the field and Melendez substantially improved his pitch selection and timing in 2021. That allows him to nearly maximize his plus raw power, and he was the minor league home run leader in 2021. He has the tools necessary to stay behind the dish, including good pitch framing and plus arm strength.
WEAKNESSES Melendez’s breakout was unexpected after he hit .163/.260/.311 with below-average power in 2019. Although the underlying skill improvements suggest the breakout is real, there is understandably some skepticism regarding his true upside. He’s not quite as refined behind the plate as some other high-end catching prospects, but he also has uncommon athleticism and aptitude, and he’ll have an opportunity to train with an All-Star catcher once he reaches the big leagues. He will be a below-average runner at maturity.
SUMMARY Melendez experienced one of the largest breakouts in the entire minor leagues during the 2021 season, and he is now firmly entrenched as a piece of the Royals’ future. The Royals have a five-time Gold Glove winner signed long term, but Melendez figures to break into the 2022 lineup as a part-time catcher and designated hitter. He has an All-Star ceiling.
EVALUATOR Jake Kerns
3. Nick Pratto, 1B - 55 OFP
Age: 23 Highest Level: AAA
Pre-Season Rank: 16 Pre-Season OFP: 40
| Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | 55 | 60 | 55 | 40 | Moderate |
PHYSICAL Well-built with a strong upper body and thick lower half. Has some remaining projection in the upper half.
STRENGTHS Pratto retooled his swing prior to 2021 and increased the projection in his hit tool. He shows average bat-to-ball skills with massive pull-side power. He has a good eye at the plate, but the hit tool plays fringe-average due to his aggressiveness. Could get to average with a refined approach. He lifts the ball regularly and crushes mistakes. He has plus raw power but it plays down to above-average in games against quality pitching. He has soft hands and can make difficult plays with his glove in either direction. He is an easy plus defender at first base, but he has also taken reps in right field. His arm is above-average and plays in either position. His future should lie at first where he is a potential Gold Glove winner.
WEAKNESSES Pratto struggled so badly in 2019 that there will always be questions about the hit tool. He showed marked improvements in 2021, but still struggled with strikeouts. Those will always be a part of the profile due to his aggressiveness. Pratto has shown an ability to steal bases, but he is not a burner and likely settles in as a below-average runner at full maturity.
SUMMARY Pratto joined teammate MJ Melendez in elevating his stock nearly as much as anyone in the minors last season, and he now has the look of a legitimate starting first baseman with an All-Star ceiling. There are some three-true outcome concerns in his profile, but he has the ability to hit for power and play superior defense. The package is reminiscent of former Royal, Eric Hosmer. .
EVALUATOR Jake Kerns
4. Asa Lacy, LHP - 50 OFP
Age: 23 Highest Level: A+
Pre-Season Rank: 2 Pre-Season OFP: 55
| Fastball | Curveball | Slider | Changeup | Command | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | 45 | 60 | 55 | 40 | High |
| 94-98 mph | 77-80 mph | 85-88 mph | 84-87 mph |
PHYSICAL Physically imposing frame on the hill. Evident strength throughout his body. Strong upper body and core. Barrel chested with large, strong arms. Broad shoulders. Thick, strong lower half. Lower drop-and-dive delivery.
STRENGTHS Swing-and-miss stuff from the left side with a pair of plus pitches. Runs the fastball up to 98 mph; simply explodes out of the hand from a unique arm slot. Overpowering in the zone. Distinct off-speeds pair together and force whiffs. Slider grades as plus with late, hard tilt and bite. Manipulates its movement in either direction for whiffs. Changeup also flashes plus on occasion with good shape, falls off the table when commanded well. Upside and present ability to miss bats. Enticing physical profile with the athleticism that translates. Has the stuff to headline a major league rotation.
WEAKNESSES Needs to develop and harness his off-speed a bit more. Curveball has 12-6 shape and break, but lacks reliability; a bit fringy in the zone. Command and consistency hold him back at times. Relies heavily on his swing-and-miss stuff, doesn’t manipulate the edges/halves of the zone. Ability to command and harness his arsenal will be a big test.
SUMMARY It’s hard to deny the upside Lacy possesses on the mound. His ability to miss bats with three-plus or above-average offerings speaks volumes to the type of upside he presents. He’s a big, nasty left-hander that simply attacks hitters with his stuff. More refinement and command of his entire arsenal will ultimately decide if he can live up to his billing as a mid-rotation or frontline starter.
EVALUATOR Isaiah Burrows
5. Alec Marsh, RHP - 50 OFP
Age: 24 Highest Level: AA
Pre-Season Rank: 4 Pre-Season OFP: 50
| Fastball | Curveball | Slider | Changeup | Command | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | 45 | 60 | 50 | 45 | Moderate |
| 93-97 mph | 84-86 mph | 84-86 mph | 83-86 mph |
PHYSICAL Average height, with thick boxy frame; broad shoulders, strength throughout.
STRENGTHS Repeats his delivery well. Fastball sits in the mid to upper-90s and has been up to as high as 100 mph in the past. Throws a four-seamer and a sinker. Has a plethora of secondaries that have above-average velocity. Slider is his best secondary and he has strong command of the pitch with a near 70% whiff rate. Good at selling his changeup with his arm speed.
WEAKNESSES Even though he has shown command of the zone, he has struggled to throw strikes at times and execute his pitches in the zone consistently. Fastball command needs the most work as it can often catch too much of the plate. Curveball is used less often and not as much of a factor anymore.
SUMMARY Marsh made his way back from an undisclosed injury and pitched in the Arizona Fall League. When healthy, Marsh has an advanced mix of pitches that could be considered top-100 stuff. If he can stay healthy and find ways to improve his walk rate, Marsh could work his way up to be the best pitching prospect in the Royals system. His bevy of secondaries will help him maintain a starter's profile. If walks remain an issue, he could excel as a reliever.
EVALUATOR Jared Perkins
6. Vinnie Pasquantino, 1B - 45 OFP
Age: 24 Highest Level: AA
Pre-Season Rank: Unranked
7. Frank Mozzicato, LHP - 45 OFP
Age: 19 Highest Level: HS
2021 MLB Draft Rank: 49
8. Kyle Isbel, OF - 45 OFP
Age: 25 Highest Level: MLB
Pre-Season Rank: 7 Pre-Season OFP: 45
9. Jonathan Bowlan, RHP - 45 OFP
Age: 25 Highest Level: AA
Pre-Season Rank: 18 Pre-Season OFP: 40
10. Nick Loftin, SS - 45 OFP
Age: 23 Highest Level: A+
Pre-Season Rank: 9 Pre-Season OFP: 45