2021 Top 100 Prospects, Brought To You By Rapsodo
With the start of the 2021 MLB season on our doorstep, Baseball America has updated the Top 100 for the first time this year.
Two players -- Nate Pearson and Royce Lewis -- move down due to injury and another, Astros RHP Forrest Whitley, falls off the list entirely.
You can find the full rankings, as well as Whitley's replacement, below.
Find All Of Our Top 100 Coverage Here:
- Top 100 Prospects Chat
- Prospects Who Just Missed The Top 100
- Roundtable: Was Wander Franco a slam dunk No. 1?
- Digging Into The Top 100 Demographics
- The Toolsiest Prospects In The Top 100
- Top 100 By The Numbers
- Wander Franco Joins Illustrious Company
- Team-by-Team Top 10 Prospects
- Top 100 Oral History
- All-Time BA No. 1 Prospects
- Prospects We Hope Have A Healthy 2021
The Top 100 is brought to you by Rapsodo, the industry standard in player performance data. Coaches use Rapsodo data as a measuring stick for player development and evaluation The Rapsodo National Player Database is a free service that allows you to see how you stack up against your peers and provides a pathway to get discovered by scouts.
- 1
Wander Franco
Rays SSNotes:Final 2020 Ranking: 1
Tools: Hit: 80 | Power: 60 | Run: 50 | Fielding: 50 | Arm: 50
Skinny: The precocious switch-hitter has potential batting titles in his future and a chance to reach the majors by 20 years old.Less - 2
Adley Rutschman
Orioles CNotes:Final 2020 Ranking: 3
Skinny: The face of the Orioles rebuild is primed to be the rare catcher who is an offensive force while providing Gold Glove-caliber defense.
Tools: Hit: 70 | Power: 70 | Run: 40 | Fielding: 60 | Arm: 70Less - 3
Julio Rodriguez
Mariners OFNotes:Final 2020 Ranking: 6
Tools: Hit: 60 | Power: 70 | Run: 45 | Fielding: 55 | Arm: 70
Skinny: The “man-child” has the physical traits of a middle-of-the-order masher and the effervescent personality to be the face of the Mariners franchise.Less - 4
Jarred Kelenic
Mariners OFNotes:Final 2020 Ranking: 9
Tools: Hit: 70 | Power: 60 | Run: 55 | Fielding: 50 | Arm: 60
Skinny: With a sweet swing, growing power and a ceaseless drive to win, Kelenic should join Rodriguez as a star in the Mariners outfield for years to come.Less - 5Notes:
Final 2020 Ranking: 8
Tools: Hit: 60 | Power: 80 | Run: 45 | Fielding: 55 | Arm: 50
Skinny: The No. 1 overall pick in 2020 draws comparisons to Paul Konerko and Paul Goldschmidt as a potential franchise icon who anchors the middle of the lineup.Less - 6
Sixto Sanchez
Marlins RHPNotes:Final 2020 Ranking: 14
Tools: Fastball: 80 | Changeup: 70 | Slider: 55 | Curveball: 55 | Control: 60
Skinny: With elite fastball velocity, a devastating changeup and rare control for a power pitcher, Sanchez is primed to build on his excellent MLB debut.Less - 7
Cristian Pache
Braves OFNotes:Final 2020 Ranking: 10
Tools: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 70 | Fielding: 80 | Arm: 70
Skinny: Arguably the best defensive center fielder to come along since Andruw Jones, Pache also has growing power that bodes well for his offensive future.Less - 8
Ian Anderson
Braves RHPNotes:Final 2020 Ranking: 39
Skinny: With his mix of stuff, command and rare poise for his age, Anderson is in position to show his spectacular 2020 debut was no fluke.
Tools: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 60
2019 Average Fastball Velo: 93Less - 9Last: 10
MacKenzie Gore
Padres LHPNotes:Final 2020 Ranking: 4
Tools: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 60
Skinny: Gore battled his delivery at the alternate training site, but at his best he’s a rare talent with four swing-and-miss pitches and immaculate control.Less - 10Last: 11
CJ Abrams
Padres SSNotes:Final 2020 Ranking: 19
Tools: Hit: 70 | Power: 50 | Run: 80 | Fielding: 60 | Arm: 50
Skinny: A dynamic athlete who hit .401 in the AZL in his pro debut, Abrams has the makings of a future star on both sides of the ball.Less - 11Last: 12
Marco Luciano
Giants SSNotes:Final 2020 Ranking: 17
Tools: Hit: 60 | Power: 70 | Run: 40 | Fielding: 50 | Arm: 60
Skinny: Whether Luciano sticks at shortstop or moves to third base is up for debate, but his bat should make him a standout regardless of his position.Less - 12Last: 13
Jo Adell
Angels OFNotes:Final 2020 Ranking: 2
Tools: Hit: 50 | Power: 70 | Run: 70 | Fielding: 50 | Arm: 60
Skinny: Adell’s MLB debut was rough, but his physical talents, ability to adjust and elite makeup have him primed to rebound in a big way.Less - 13Last: 14
Ke'Bryan Hayes
Pirates 3BNotes:Final 2020 Ranking: 52
Tools: Hit: 60 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Fielding: 70 | Arm: 60 >
Skinny: Hayes won’t hit .376 or slug .682 over a full season, but his debut nonetheless showed he can be an impact hitter as well as an elite defender at third base.Less - 14Last: 15
Bobby Witt Jr.
Royals SSNotes:Final 2020 Ranking: 21
Tools: Hit: 60 | Power: 60 | Run: 60 | Fielding: 60 | Arm: 60
Skinny: The athletic, well-rounded shortstop drew raves for his work at the alternate training site. If he shows he can make consistent contact in actual games, he’ll be a star.Less - 15Last: 16
Alex Kirilloff
Twins OFNotes:Final 2020 Ranking: 27
Tools: Hit: 70 | Power: 60 | Run: 40 | Fielding: 50 | Arm: 50
Skinny: The sweet swinger became the first player to make his MLB debut by starting a playoff game. No matter his position, he should be an impact hitter.Less - 16Last: 17
Austin Martin
Blue Jays SS/OFNotes:Final 2020 Ranking: 13
Tools: Hit: 70 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Fielding: 50 | Arm: 50
Skinny: The fifth overall pick in 2020 is an impressive young hitter, although his future position is up in the air.Less - 17Last: 18
Nate Pearson
Blue Jays RHPNotes:Final 2020 Ranking: 5
Tools: Fastball: 80 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 70 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 55
Skinny: Pearson has arguably the best pure stuff of any pitching prospect. Staying healthy and improving his control are his next steps to fulfilling his frontline potential. Pearson re-aggravated a strain of his right groin during spring training and may start the season on the injured list.Less - 18Last: 19
Tarik Skubal
Tigers LHPNotes:Final 2020 Ranking: 30
Tools: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 55
Skinny: The hard-throwing young lefty struggled a bit in his MLB debut, but it’s rare to find his quality of stuff from the left side.Less - 19Last: 20
Andrew Vaughn
White Sox 1BNotes:Final 2020 Ranking: 26
Tools: Hit: 60 | Power: 60 | Run: 30 | Fielding: 50 | Arm: 50
Skinny: An advanced hitter who projects to hit for average and power, Vaughn is set to be the next impact youngster in the White Sox’s lineup.Less - 20Last: 21
Grayson Rodriguez
Orioles RHPNotes:Final 2020 Ranking: 31
Tools: Fastball: 70 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 60
Skinny: With premium size, stuff and advanced command, Rodriguez is one of the few pitching prospects with true No. 1 starter potential.Less - 21Last: 22
Luis Patino
Rays RHPNotes:Final 2020 Ranking: 16
Tools: Fastball: 70 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50
Skinny: Few players have arms as electric as Patino. His potential is enormous if he can harness his command and maintain a good pace on the mound.Less - 22Last: 23
Michael Kopech
White Sox RHPNotes:Final 2020 Ranking: 29
Tools: Fastball: 80 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50
Skinny: Kopech is a bit of a question mark after two years away, but he has the talent to make an impact in the White Sox’s rotation if his stuff remains intact.Less - 23Last: 24
Daniel Lynch
Royals LHPNotes:Final 2020 Ranking: 36
Tools: Fastball: 70 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 55
Skinny: Lynch has loud stuff with a mid-90s fastball and two swing-and-miss secondaries from the left side. He’s potentially the best of the Royals bevy of young pitchers.Less - 24Last: 25
Triston McKenzie
Indians RHPNotes:Final 2020 Ranking: 93
Tools: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 60
Skinny: The lanky righthander impressed in his MLB debut in 2020. If he holds up physically, he has the talent to be the Indians next great homegrown pitcher.Less - 25Last: 26
Spencer Howard
Phillies RHPNotes:Final 2020 Ranking: 24
Tools: Fastball: 65 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 55
Skinny: Howard’s stuff dropped during a difficult MLB debut, but at his best he has the power arm to slot into the middle of the Phillies rotation.Less
