Top 100 Prospects Position Rankings: Righthanders

Now that we’ve wrapped up the Top 10 Prospects lists and The Top 100, we turn our attention to how the best of the best stack up against each other with our position rankings.

Quality Of The Class: Talent around the minors is down thanks to the impressive rookie classes of 2014 and 2015 but the depth of righthanders in the minors is still outstanding. There’s top end talent (Lucas Giolito, Alex Reyes and Tyler Glasnow) and a whole lot of depth. The 50th prospect on this list is a better prospect than the 20th best lefty or catcher.

Highest Ceiling: Lucas Giolito, Nationals. Giolito’s combination of a potentially 80 fastball with a potentially 80 curveball makes you expect to see a no-hitter when he’s locked in. He only flashes those 80-grade pitches, but if you’re talking ceiling you are projecting those flashes become more consistent. If you took a pitching machine and dialed it up to the max and watched what it produced, it would come pretty close to Giolito at his best.

Lowest Risk: Jose Berrios, Twins. Starting pitchers are risky by their very nature, but Berrios has demonstrated excellent durability, above-average control and very solid stuff in his four years in the minors. He’s athletic and has a compact delivery. No pitcher is ever a safe bet, but Berrios is safer than most.

Bursting On The Scene (Someone who could leap up this list in 2016): Albert Abreu, Astros. If you’re looking for who could be the next Francis Martes or David Paulino, Abreu is a pretty good candidate. The 6-foot-2, 20-year-old has a mid-90s fastball and above-average changeup already. If he can refine his breaking balls he could turn into another Astros’ front-line starter prospect.

Righthanders
1. Lucas Giolito, Nationals	51. Keury Mella, Reds
2. Alex Reyes, Cardinals	52. Edwin Diaz, Mariners
3. Tyler Glasnow, Pirates	53. Ashe Russell, Royals
4. Anderson Espinoza, Red Sox	54. Antonio Senzatela, Rockies
5. Francis Martes, Astros	55. Domingo Acevedo, Yankees
6. Jose De Leon, Dodgers	56. Sean Reid-Foley, Blue Jays
7. Jose Berrios, Twins	57. Nolan Watson, Royals
8. Robert Stephenson, Reds	58. Jon Harris, Blue Jays
9. Jon Gray, Rockies	59. Sam Coonrod, Giants
10. Michael Fulmer, Tigers	60. Yaisel Sierra, Dodgers
11. Kenta Maeda, Dodgers	61. Lucas Sims, Braves
12. Jorge Lopez, Brewers	62. Jharel Cotton, Dodgers
13. Aaron Blair, Braves	63. Junior Fernandez, Cardinals
14. Dillon Tate, Rangers	64. Jacob Faria, Rays
15. Brent Honeywell, Rays	65. Oscar de la Cruz, Cubs
16. Carson Fulmer, White Sox	66. A.J. Cole, Nationals
17. Jeff Hoffman, Rockies	67. Jake Woodford, Cardinals
18. Jake Thompson, Phillies	68. Sandy Alcantara, Cardinals
19. Luis Ortiz, Rangers	69. Marcos Molina, Mets
20. Grant Holmes, Dodgers	70. Ray Black, Giants
21. Braden Shipley, D-backs	71. Kohl Stewart, Twins
22. Erick Fedde, Nationals	72. Joe Jimenez, Tigers
23. Joe Musgrove, Astros	73. Yoan Lopez, Diamondbacks
24. Kyle Zimmer, Royals	74. Rookie Davis, Reds
25. Michael Kopech, Red Sox	75. Albert Abreu, Astros
26. Touki Toussaint, Braves	76. Michael Matuella, Rangers
27. David Paulino, Astros	77. Cody Ponce, Brewers
28. Archie Bradley, D-backs	78. Mike Soroka, Braves
29. Reynaldo Lopez, Nationals	79. Sam Tuivailala, Cardinals
30. Jameson Taillon, Pirates	80. Mychal Givens, Orioles
31. Dylan Bundy, Orioles	81. Scott Blewett, Royals
32. Hunter Harvey, Orioles	82. Tyler Mahle, Reds
33. Phil Bickford, Giants	83. Kendry Flores, Marlins
34. Frankie Montas, Dodgers	84. Justin Maese, Blue Jays
35. James Kaprielian, Yankees	85. Victor Alcantara, Angels
36. Spencer Adams, White Sox	86. Nick Burdi, Twins
37. Duane Underwood, Cubs	87. Alex Meyer, Twins
38. Tyler Kolek, Marlins	88. Sal Romano, Reds
39. Mark Appel, Phillies	89. Zach Lee, Dodgers
40. Tyler Beede, Giants	90. Gabriel Ynoa, Mets
41. Conner Greene, Blue Jays	91. Chase Johnson, Giants
42. Dylan Cease, Cubs	92. Mike Nikorak, Rockies
43. Jack Flaherty, Cardinals	93. Ricardo Pinto, Phillies
44. Beau Burrows, Tigers	94. Nick Neidert, Mariners
45. Michael Feliz, Astros	95. Joan Baez, Nationals
46. Miguel Almonte, Royals	96. Travis Lakins, Red Sox
47. Taylor Guerrieri, Rays	97. Jake Jewell, Angels
48. Nick Travieso, Reds	98. Josh Staumont, Royals
49. Luke Weaver, Cardinals	99. Jordan Johnson, Giants
50. Franklyn Kilome, Phillies	100. Jandel Gustave, Astros