X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

2017 Outfielders: Top MLB Prospects for Fantasy Baseball

Welcome back, RotoBallers. I've already looked at the top 10 prospects for each MLB team, and now I'll be breaking down impact prospects by position. Today I'm bringing you my top 15 outfielders - MLB prospect rankings for the 2017 fantasy baseball season.

The position of outfield is always a deep one, but this season it especially appears to be strong for rookies. Top prospect in baseball Andrew Benintendi will open the season with the Red Sox while the Padres figure to start a pair of talented outfielders. There’s also some other guys with tantalizing power/speed combinations like Derek Fisher, Bradley Zimmer and Austin Meadows who could have value later in the year.

Though outfielders often need to hit a ton to be considered valuable in redraft leagues due to the sheer number of talented outfielders, this year’s rookie class is arguably one of the strongest the position has seen in years. There is a ton of value to be had here and fantasy owners should be ready to jump on these star bats as soon as they get the call up to the big leagues.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and resources:

 

Top 15 Outfield Prospects for 2017 Fantasy Baseball

1. Andrew Benintendi (BOS, MLB)
Stats: 118 PA, .295/.359/.475, 2 HR, 1 SB, 8.5% BB rate, 21.2% K rate
ETA: Opening Day
Benintendi is not just the most valuable outfield prospect for 2017, he is the most valuable overall prospect for 2017 (*spoiler alert*). The Red Sox left fielder is guaranteed a spot out in a very potent Red Sox lineup right out of Spring Training and will be batting either second or third in their lineup this season. He is an absolutely elite prospect to own as he is guaranteed to hit for a high average while possibly posting a 20/20 season. And in the middle of Boston’s lineup, he may also drive in and score 100 runs.

2. Hunter Renfroe (SD, MLB)
Stats: (from AAA) 563 PA, .306/.336/.557, 30 HR, 5 SB, 3.9% BB rate, 20.4% K rate
ETA: Opening Day
With a number of injuries currently plaguing the Padres’ outfield, Renfroe is now a 100 percent lock to break camp with the club this season. He probably would have regardless, but the injuries help his case. The slugging outfielder is unlikely to replicate that .300 average in the majors as he is a bit too aggressive and may strike out a bit, but he will hit a ton of dingers even in pitcher-friendly Petco Park. Owners can expect him to bat cleanup behind Wil Myers and hit 25+ home runs with a .250+ average and 80+ RBI.

3. Manuel Margot (SD, MLB)
Stats: (from AAA) 566 PA, .304/.351/.428, 6 HR, 30 SB, 6.4% BB rate, 11.3% K rate
ETA: Opening Day(?)
If it wasn’t for a lingering knee injury that has cost Margot some Spring Training time, he would be No. 2 on this list. But as of right now, his starting status is in question. If he is healthy, he figures to start in center field for the Padres to open up the season and will likely lead off for the team. His speed and consistency in reaching base should help him stand out as an incredibly valuable fantasy product for the 2017 season.

4. Aaron Judge (NYY, MLB)
Stats: (from AAA) 410 PA, .270/.366/.489, 19 HR, 5 SB, 11.5% BB rate, 23.9% K rate
ETA: Opening Day
As we stand today, Judge will open up the season as the Yankees’ right fielder. And for fantasy owners looking for a consistent source of home run production, this comes as a welcome sight indeed. Judge is absolutely massive, standing at 6-foot-7, 225 pounds and draws comparisons to Giancarlo Staton for the size and raw power potential. In years past, he had tried to wait pitchers and just make contact, but lately, he has made a more concerted effort to try and hit the ball out of the ball park. As a result, he may not hit for a high average, but 30 home runs is a surefire possibility for the slugger in 2017.

5. Mitch Haniger (SEA, MLB)
Stats: 123 PA, .229/.309/.404, 5 HR, 0 SB, 9.8% BB rate, 22.0% K rate
ETA: Opening Day
Don’t recognize the name? Don’t feel too bad, he has not been commonly heralded as a top prospect. Haniger had for years labored in the minors, but finally in 2016 made some adjustments to his swing and scouts loved what they saw. A guy who once was a future bench bat will now start in right field for Seattle and stands out as yet another sleeper source of home run production. Scouts see him as a potential 25+ home run threat now who could get plenty of RBI opportunities now batting in a particularly stout lineup.

6. Bradley Zimmer (CLE, AAA)
Stats: 150 PA, .242/.349/.305, 1 HR,
ETA: Early May
There are few prospects on this lineup with more potential than this guy. Zimmer is big, standing at 6-foot-5, 205 pounds, athletic and possesses one of the best power/speed combinations in the minors. Now sure, he struggled through much of last season, even towards the end, but scouts noticed that part of his struggles may have been because of a change in his swing as he is working to improve on his strikeouts. Scouts loved the change he made and he wound crushing both the Arizona Fall League, but has also mashed in Spring Training so far. Those who watch him play liken the change to batters like Josh Donaldson who also struggled to make consistent contact and think it will have the same effect on Zimmer. If this is true and he makes it to the big leagues, his upside is just too valuable to pass up on.

7. Derek Fisher (HOU, AAA)
Stats: 118 PA, .290/.347/.505, 5 HR, 5 SB, 7.6% BB rate, 22.0% K rate
ETA: Late July
Fisher has posted 20/20 seasons in back-to-back seasons now while also taking a ton of walks and usually posting a solid batting average. George Springer, Josh Reddick, Nori Aoki and Preston Tucker figure to get the lion’s share of starts in the outfield this season for Houston, but Aoki and Tucker could easily struggle and Fisher could force his way up to the big league roster. Fisher will not hit for a high average, but few guys can match that combination of power and speed and he should prove to be very productive for fantasy owners.

8. Austin Meadows (PIT, AAA)
Stats: 145 PA, .214/.297/.460, 6 HR, 8 SB, 10.3% BB rate, 23.4% K rate
ETA: Mid-July
There was a time this offseason when it appeared Meadows was bound for the No. 2 spot on this list. Andrew McCutchen was on the trade list and it really looked like Meadows would break camp with the team. But McCutchen is still with the club, so Meadows will have to wait until a trade or injury happens. Should Meadows receive the call up, he would immediately become fantasy relevant in all leagues as he stands out as one of the most talented prospects in all of baseball. He could be a darkhorse NL ROY contender if he is promoted early enough.

9. Tyler O’Neill (SEA, AA)
Stats: 575 PA, .293/.374/.508, 24 HR, 12 SB, 10.8% BB rate, 26.1% K rate
ETA: Late July
Boy those stats from O’Neill really jump out on the page don’t they. The Mariners’ top prospect has an incredibly powerful bat and has been rising up prospect rankings for a long while now. The big issue for him is that the Mariners have a ton of outfielders and DH options right now, so he has some people to leap frog before he is going to be contributing to fantasy owners. But should an injury or poor performances slow an outfielder or two down, O’Neill could immediately become extremely fantasy relevant for his power upside.

10. Clint Frazier (NYY, AAA)
Stats: 108 PA, .228/.278/.396, 3 HR, 0 SB, 6.5% BB rate, 27.8% K rate
ETA: Mid-July
Frazier has several potential paths to playing time. An injury to anyone in the outfield or Matt Holliday would likely prompt a promotion to the big leagues, as would a poor season by Aaron Judge. But first Frazier will have to hit himself. He struggled in 2016 at the Triple-A level after posting some outstanding numbers at Double-A. He has an intriguing power/speed combination that makes him relevant in fantasy leagues, so he would absolutely be worth owning in fantasy leagues if he is given a chance to snag a full-time role with the ball club.

11. Lewis Brinson (MIL, AAA)
Stats: 93 PA, .382/.387/.618, 4 HR, 4 SB, 2.2% BB rate, 22.6% K rate
ETA: Early August
Yes, Brinson absolutely mashed Triple-A last season. No, that does not mean he is going to start with the team right out of Spring Training. The team is likely going to run with an outfield of Ryan Braun, Keon Broxton and Domingo Santana and only an injury, trade or poor performance could change that. Brinson is a talented enough prospect though that he might be able to force some changes if he dazzles at Triple-A again and shows improvements in his plate discipline. If he does get a chance to start in Milwaukee, he would be worth owning in all leagues.

12. Albert Almora (CHC, MLB)
Stats: 117 PA, .277/.308/.455, 3 HR, 0 SB, 4.3% BB rate, 17.1% K rate
ETA: Opening Day
Almora is probably the least exciting prospect on this list, but he has value nonetheless. While he likely will not provide much of anything in any category beyond batting average, Almora is going to start as the platoon outfielder for the Cubs in center with Jon Jay taking the strong-side of the platoon. In some leagues, all it takes is hits on a semi-consistent basis to have value and that’s where Almora is right now.

13. Jake Bauers (TB, AA)
Stats: 581 PA, .274/.370/.420, 14 HR, 10 SB, 12.6% BB rate, 15.3% K rate
ETA: Early June
Bauers finally started to show that his power potential was more than just potential in 2016 as he managed to set a career-high with 14 home runs. The Rays’ 21-year-old outfielder has an advanced approach to the plate and should have no trouble maintaining a high average in the majors. Power may still not be a plus-plus part of his game, and he won’t break camp with the team which will limit his value, but Bauers should hit enough to warrant ownership in some leagues.

14. Raimel Tapia (COL, MLB)
Stats: (from AAA) 110 PA, .345/.355/.490, 0 HR, 6 SB, 1.6% K rate, 10.9% BB rate
ETA: Early August
The Rockies are absolutely loaded in the outfield, which is why you have to go this far down to find Tapia. If he had a starting role with the club out of Spring Training, he would probably be in the top three of this list. But as is, he will have to wait for a trade or injury to open up a spot for him on the team. Coors Field really helps boosts the speedsters draft stock, but he has no value until a job opens up.

15. Jesse Winker (CIN, AAA)
Stats: 448 PA, .303/.397/.384, 3 HR, 0 SB, 13.2% BB rate, 13.2% K rate
ETA: Late July
That may not look like an overly disappointing season for Winker, but it certainly was. Not only did his power completely disappear, but he also lost a lot of time due to a wrist injury. Winker’s advanced plate discipline ensures he will have a high floor and should be at least able to hit for a high average if he reaches the majors, but until he starts flashing power again, his value will be limited to deep redraft leagues and dynasty leagues.

 

More Top MLB Prospects & Rookies




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Will Warren

Strikes Out 10, Earns Win Tuesday
Jacob Wilson

Exits Early Tuesday With Left-Forearm Contusion
Jesús Luzardo

Jesus Luzardo Fans 10 in Tuesday's Win
Matt Goncalves

Expected to Start at Right Guard
Cole Strange

Might be Favorite for Left-Guard Job
Christian Gonzalez

Healthy and Looking Good
Drake Maye

Struggles in First OTA Practice
Colton Dowell

Taking Part in OTAs
Tyjae Spears

Takes Part in OTAs
Will Levis

Cam Ward, Will Levis Splitting Offseason Reps
Walker Buehler

Reinstated and Starting on Tuesday
Matthew Knies

Wants to Stay in Toronto
Auston Matthews

Aims to Be "100 Percent" Next Season
Nick Jensen

Recovering From Lower-Body Procedure
Mark Jankowski

Still Out Tuesday
Jordan Martinook

Ready for Game 1 Against Panthers
Jalen Chatfield

a Game-Time Call Tuesday
MLB

Guardians-Twins Rained Out on Tuesday
Robert MacIntyre

is a Flyer Pick With Upside at Charles Schwab Challenge
Nate McCollum

Seahawks Sign UDFA Nate McCollum
Tony Pollard

 Recovery from Ankle Sprain has "Gone Great"
Travis Bazzana

to Miss 8-10 Weeks with Oblique Injury
Micah Parsons

 Reports to Voluntary OTAs Despite Contract Situation
Dak Prescott

 Fully Recovered from Hamstring Tear
NFL

NFL Players Expected to be Allowed to Take Part in Flag Football in Olympics
Shemar Stewart

Away From Team Amid Contract Dispute
George Pickens

Cowboys Impressed With George Pickens
Tennessee Titans

Titans Eyeing Three-Headed Approach to Backfield?
Geno Smith

Says Raiders Looking to be "Explosive and Efficient"
Joe Thuney

Bears Give Joe Thuney a Two-Year Contract Extension
Si Woo Kim

Looks to Continue Hot Streak at Charles Schwab Challenge
Harris English

Hopes to Continue Strong 2025 Season at Colonial
Ian Happ

to be Activated on Tuesday
Cam Davis

Looks to Keep Building Momentum in Fort Worth
Miguel Amaya

Drives in Five Against the Fish
Julio Rodríguez

Julio Rodriguez Smashes Huge Grand Slam Against the White Sox
Mookie Betts

Bashes Two Taters on Monday Night
Andrew Wiggins

' Future Uncertain in Miami
Jrue Holiday

Wants to Remain in Boston
Ty Jerome

Cavaliers Want to Keep Ty Jerome
Zion Williamson

Pelicans Want to "Make Things Work" with Zion Williamson
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Bucks "Hopeful" Giannis Antetokounmpo Won't Request Trade
Sonny Gray

Dominates Detroit To Secure Fifth Win
Kyle Schwarber

Hits Career Homer No. 300 Monday
Porter Hodge

to Land on Injured List With Oblique Injury
New Orleans Saints

Saints Planning to Give Their Quarterbacks Plenty of Opportunities
Travis Hunter

Already Showing Improvement
Dyami Brown

Stands Out at First OTA Practice
Deshaun Watson

Ditches Walking Boot
Paul George

Potentially On The Move?
Yordan Alvarez

Still Feels Pain When Swinging
Hunter Greene

Scheduled to Return on Friday
Teoscar Hernández

Teoscar Hernandez Activated and Starting on Monday
Shota Imanaga

Return Will be "Well Into June"
Ian Happ

Expected to Join Cubs During Series in Miami
Hunter Greene

Reds Expecting Hunter Greene to Return This Weekend
Gilbert Burns

Loses Fourth Fight in a Row
Michael Morales

Gets TKO Win At UFC Vegas 106
Sodiq Yusuff

Loses Third Consecutive Fight
Mairon Santos

Remains Undefeated In The UFC
Dustin Stoltzfus

Suffers Seventh Career Loss At UFC Vegas 106
Nursulton Ruziboev

Wins Back-To-Back Fights
Julian Erosa

Drops Decision At UFC Vegas 106
Jared Jones

Likely to Need Tommy John Surgery
Melquizael Costa

Extends His Win Streak
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Could Return by This Weekend
Max Domi

Scores Only Maple Leafs Goal in Game 7
Sergei Bobrovsky

Collects Eighth Postseason Victory Sunday
Aleksander Barkov

Dishes Out Two Assists in Game 7 Win
Seth Jones

Ends Offensive Slump with Two-Point Effort
Eetu Luostarinen

Enjoys Three-Point Night in Game 7
Brad Marchand

Bags Three Points In Game 7 Victory
Aaron Gordon

Finishes With Eight Points In Game 7
Jamal Murray

Has A Rough Afternoon On Sunday
Reilly Smith

Hopes to Stick with Golden Knights
Chet Holmgren

Finishes With Another Double-Double On Sunday
Lars Eller

Plans to Continue Playing
Jalen Williams

Shows Up In Game 7
Nikola Jokić

Nikola Jokic Can't Lift Denver To A Win On Sunday
Anthony Stolarz

Suits Up as Backup Sunday
Sergei Bobrovsky

Aims to Maintain Perfect Game 7 Record Sunday
Anthony Stolarz

Unavailable for Game 7 Against Panthers
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Leads OKC To The Western Conference Finals
Matthew Knies

Good to Go Sunday
Evan Rodrigues

Returns to Panthers Lineup for Game 7
Kyle Larson

Skipping All-Star Heat Race Should Be Good for DFS Place Differential Points
William Byron

Lack of Winning Speed and Good Starting Position Make Him a Poor DFS Option
Chase Briscoe

Joe Gibbs Racing Speed Should Carry Chase Briscoe in All-Star Race
Alex Bowman

Consistent Loss of Positions Makes Him a Poor DFS Choice
Ross Chastain

Despite Mediocre Short Track Record, Ross Chastain Surprisingly Finished Second in Heat Race
Austin Cindric

Consistent Lack of Short Track Speed Means He'll Likely Struggle in All-Star Race
Daniel Suarez

Unexpected Trackhouse Speed May Make Daniel Suarez a Valid Option
Harrison Burton

For Harrison Burton, Making the All-Star Likely As Good As It Gets
Ryan Blaney

Is Worth Rostering For All-Star Tournament Lineups At North Wilkesboro
Joey Logano

What Should Fantasy Players Do With Joey Logano For The All-Star Race?
Tyler Reddick

Should Fantasy Players Roster Tyler Reddick For The All-Star Race?
Brad Keselowski

May Dominate The All-Star Race At North Wilkesboro
Chris Buescher

Could Pay Off For All-Star Race Tournament Lineups
Josh Berry

Is Josh Berry A Sneaky DFS Option For The All-Star Race?
Austin Dillon

Is An Intriguing DFS Option For The All-Star Race
Ricky Stenhouse Jr

Could Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Be A Top DFS Bargain Value For The All-Star Race?
Kyle Connor

Records an Assist in Season-Ending Defeat
Mark Scheifele

Nets Lone Jets Goal During Emotional Night
Jaylen Brown

May Need Surgery
Hunter Tyson

May Miss Another Game Sunday
Russell Westbrook

Listed as Probable for Sunday
Jamal Murray

Probable for Sunday's Game 7
Aaron Gordon

Officially Listed as Questionable for Game 7
Josh Hart

Has A Triple-Double On Friday Night
Karl-Anthony Towns

Picks Up A Double-Double In Game 6
Jalen Brunson

Leads New York To A Win On Friday Night
Michael Morales

Set For His First UFC Main Event
Gilbert Burns

In Dire Need Of Victory
Precious Achiuwa

Uncertain For Game 6
Rodolfo Bellato

Set For UFC Vegas 106 Co-Main Event
Paul Craig

Returns To Light Heavyweight
Mairon Santos

Looks To Remain Undefeated In The UFC
Sodiq Yusuff

Set For Lightweight Bout
Nursulton Ruziboev

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Dustin Stoltzfus

An Underdog At UFC Vegas 106
Melquizael Costa

A Favorite At UFC Vegas 106
Julian Erosa

Set To Open Up UFC Vegas 106 Main Card
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF