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. Cade Cavalli, RHP - 60 OFP
Age: 22 Highest Level: AAA
Pre-Season Rank: 2 Pre-Season OFP: 55
| Fastball | Curveball | Slider | Changeup | Command | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70 | 60 | 45 | 55 | 55 | Moderate |
| 94-96 mph | 82-86 mph | 87-89 mph | 86-88 mph |
PHYSICAL XL frame with overall body strength. Thick in his lower body and waist. Rounded shoulders. Minimal room for physical projectability given current strength and age.
STRENGTHS Quality four-pitch mix. Relies heavily on a plus fastball/curveball combination. FB sits at 96-98 mph. High spin four-seam fastball with late carry at the top of the zone pairs nicely with a high spin 12-6 curveball which has great depth in the 84-88 mph range as his put away pitch. The changeup is used primarily to left-handed hitters and with late fade.
WEAKNESSES Improvement upon sequencing of pitches. Able to get away with overpowering hitters in the lower levels with fastball but relied too much on it in AAA. Look to mix more secondary offerings, especially his plus curveball the first time through the order. Slider developing breaking ball and has two plane movement with late sweep to the glove side. Will lose control for quick spurts as he tends to lengthen out his arm action on the backside of his delivery before foot strike which leads to strike-throwing inability.
SUMMARY Future front of the rotation major league starter with the chance to develop into a true ace. Cavalli possesses a quality four-pitch mix with three above-average to plus offerings which should allow for success at the major league level. Given his quick ascension through the minor league ranks, Cavalli will most likely be ticketed to return back to Rochester to start his 2022 season before likely receiving a promotion to Washington later in the season.
EVALUATOR Brandon Smith
2. Keibert Ruiz, C - 55 OFP
Age: 22 | Highest Level: MLB
Pre-Season Rank: 9 (LAD) | Pre-Season OFP: 50
| Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | 45 | 45 | 55 | 30 | Low |
PHYSICAL Athletic body for a catcher, strong well built, strong upper body and lower half.
STRENGTHS Works from an open stance on both sides of the plate and demonstrates excellent feel for the strike zone from both sides. Above-average bat-to-ball skills help limit strikeouts and spoil just about anything thrown his way. Power profile projects to hit more doubles than home runs, but still a great offensive profile for a backstop. Strong arm behind the plate.
WEAKNESSES Needs to work on overall blocking and receiving. Improve upon overall walk rate; can be attributed to his aggressive approach at the plate so this is more of a give or take. Below average athlete in general.
SUMMARY Ruiz was a beneficiary of being the centerpiece in the Max Scherzer trade as he was finally freed from the log jam of Dodgers catchers and prospects. Given his small sample size in the majors, Ruiz has flourished with his opportunity. Great offensive profile for a catcher. Given his athleticism, Ruiz will stick as a catcher long term and has the potential to be an all-star at the position.
EVALUATOR Brandon Smith
3. Brady House, SS - 55 OFP
Age: 19 Highest Level: CPX
2021 MLB Draft Rank: 6
| Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 55 | 45 | 55 | 40 | High |
PHYSICAL Tall, large frame with room for continued physical projectability. Athletic body. Power output will continue to increase as he adds strength through his core and upper body. Big bodied shortstop which may lead to moving off of the position as he matures.
STRENGTHS Plus raw power that translates in-game to all fields. Consistently hits the ball hard from gap to gap. In the box, he has a low handset with a slightly open stance. Quiet load allows for his timing and barrel to get on plane and do damage. Has also done a good job of punishing pitches in the heart of the plate. He possesses an above-average throwing arm which will allow him to stick on the left side of the diamond long term.
WEAKNESSES During GCL play, had a high 52 GB% on his batted balls. His swing tends to lengthen which could be cause for his higher strikeout rate. Will also expand his zone with two strikes which leads to chasing pitches out of the zone. Not a lock to stick at shortstop long term given his size. May see a potential move to third base.
SUMMARY One of the younger high school prospects from the 2021 draft, there is plenty to like about Brady House's offensive skill set as he continues to mature as he has found early offensive success in complex league games. Long term his defensive position will remain a question as to whether or not he is a SS or 3B. In the major leagues, he profiles as a middle-of-the-order bat who will hit for power. Projects to hit more doubles than home runs. As he continues to develop throughout the off-season, it is logical to assume that House, given his age, will start the 2022 season in Low-A Fredericksburg.
EVALUATOR Brandon Smith
4. Cristian Vaquero, OF - 50 OFP
Age: 17 Highest Level: IFA
Pre-Season Rank: Unranked
| Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | 60 | 50 | 60 | 70 | Extreme |
SUMMARY Just like last season when the Nationals signed infielder Armando Cruz, they have committed almost their entire bonus pool to one player. Vaquero has mouth-watering tools, showing plus raw power and double-plus speed. He oozes physical projection with his wiry 6’3” frame and checks all the boxes. Despite the massive frame, he may have a chance to stick in center because of the speed, but he also has a plus throwing arm and could transition to right field with ease. Vaquero makes good swing decisions and has a chance at plus offensive tools across the board. The top teenage IFA in this class by a good margin, and the Nationals also have quite the track record internationally of late. This is the type of player we could see stateside early in 2022.
EVALUATOR Matt Thompson
5. Cole Henry, RHP - 50 OFP
Age: 22 Highest Level: A+
Pre-Season Rank: 4 Pre-Season OFP: 45
| Fastball | Curveball | Changeup | Command | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | 55 | 45 | 50 | Moderate |
| 93-97 mph | 76-82 mph | 82-86 mph |
PHYSICAL Tall pitcher’s body, lean frame, long arm and legs, minimal physical maturity remains. Long loose arm action, 3/4 arm slot, works from the windup, repeatable maximum effort delivery.
STRENGTHS Plus FB, 93-97 with elite spin, ride with little run, commands well. Fills the zone with strikes. Likes to elevate with two strikes. Works north and south with a 12-6 curve; big break with above average depth and spin. Able to land for strikes. Induces soft contact and keeps the ball on the ground. Maintained velocity through starts, encouraging as he works back from injury.
WEAKNESSES Need to develop a third pitch, changeup developing. Needs sequencing improvement as he relies heavily on FB. Look to throw more curves early in count, plus offering to look to use more frequently. Arm injuries have been an issue upon entering pro ball and have slowed his development.
SUMMARY Late season return from midseason elbow soreness, Henry was stretched out as a starter. The development of the changeup will ultimately determine if he stays as a starter long term. The fastball/curveball combination has the potential to play up out of the bullpen and be an above-average two-pitch mix. If he is able to improve on mixing his three-pitch mix and command both a breaking ball and offspeed pitch he has the chance to be a back-of-the-rotation starter.
EVALUATOR Brandon Smith
6. Jackson Rutledge, RHP - 50 OFP
Age: 23 Highest Level: A+
Pre-Season Rank: 1 Pre-Season OFP: 55
7. Armando Cruz, SS - 50 OFP
Age: 24 Highest Level: DSL
Pre-Season Rank: 9 Pre-Season OFP: 45
8. Andry Lara, RHP - 45 OFP
Age: 18 Highest Level: A
Pre-Season Rank: 14 Pre-Season OFP: 40
9. Joan Adon, RHP - 45 OFP
Age: 23 Highest Level: MLB
Pre-Season Rank: 5 Pre-Season OFP: 45
10. Gerardo Carrillo, RHP - 45 OFP
Age: 23 Highest Level: AA
Pre-Season Rank: 18 (LAD) Pre-Season OFP: 45