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

2016 Outfield Prospects and Dynasty Rankings - NL Central Edition

Our division-by-division run down of outfield prospects continues. We've already hit the NL EastAL East, and AL Central (also catchersfirst base, second base, shortstop, and third base). The NL Central is loaded with outfield prospects - 38 by my count. If you're looking to load up on future talent, this is a good place to start.

To see more of the same, be sure to also check out our awesome fantasy baseball rankings dashboard. We have tiered rankings and analysis across all positions, more of my MLB prospect rankings, dynasty/keeper league rankings and more.

The statistics reported are for the listed level only.

 

NL Central Outfield Dynasty Rankings

1. Austin Meadows (OF, PIT, A+)
Stats: 556 PA, .307/.357/.407  HR, 20 SB, 14.2% K rate, 7.4% BB rate
Age 20

Meadows received a brief call up to Double-A at the end of the 2015 season and held his own. A stint in the AFL was decidedly less successful. Overall, it was an encouraging first full season of game action for Meadows. He's a center fielder for now with a future in left field.

He's a potential five category fantasy contributor, although there are facets of his game that could use improvement. It was nice to see him using his speed on the base paths as there was some uncertainty about his ability to swipe bases. He now looks like a reasonable bet for 15 steals annually.

The development of his power, plate discipline, and contact skills will determine if he's a solid regular or a star in the making. Thus far, he has kept his walk and strikeout rates under control, but it may be at the expense of his in-game power. He has the tools to pop 20 or more home runs at his peak. He's still a couple months from turning 21, making him one of the younger players headed to Double-A.

2. Jesse Winker (OF, CIN, AA)
Stats: 526 PA, .282/.390/.433 13 HR, 8 SB, 15.8% K rate, 14.1% BB rate
Age 22

Winker was tantalizingly good in 2015. The patient approach, low strikeout rate, and flashes of power suggest he could be a top of the order threat. He'll head to Triple-A to start 2016 and may be big league ready by midseason. Don't be surprised if the club opts to evaluate other options with an eye towards an early 2017 debut for Winker. That way, they'll get an extra season of club control.

Great American Ball Park certainly aids Winker's future fantasy value. The homer friendly park should help his power play up. He doesn't profile to be a top home run hitter with maybe 20 park assisted big flies per season as an expected ceiling. Suspect defense may force him to move to first base sometime in the future, but he should hold up in an outfield corner for the near term. Don't be fooled by the eight stolen bases, he won't chip in with more than a handful.

3. Brett Phillips (OF, MIL, AA)
Stats: 98 PA, .250/.361/413 0 HR, 2 SB, 30.6% K rate, 14.3% BB rate (with Brewers)
Age 21

The stat line above is misleading. Phillips was dealt to Milwaukee at the trade deadline as part of the Carlos Gomez deal. To that point, he had 16 home runs, 15 stolen base, a robust triple slash, and a sub-20 percent strikeout rate. The transition away from his old organization seems to have hurt his production. An injury didn't help either.

Phillips could prove to be a better fantasy prospect than Winker, but there's a little more risk to his profile. His walk rates tend to jump around, hinting at an inconsistent approach at the plate. That's not automatically a bad thing, and it's encouraging to see his 2014 breakout gained steam right up until he was traded. The fantasy ceiling is a top of the order bat with about 20 home runs, 15 stolen bases, good run production, and a BABIP-fueled average.

He'll likely return to Double-A since he had mixed results at the level. A quick start could put him on track for a late season call-up. Keep in mind, the Brewers have every reason to hold him in the minors until late-April 2017 or later - including ludicrous outfield depth. That way, they gain an extra season of club control. If the contending Cubs could do it with Kris Bryant last year, the Brewers can certainly find the necessary excuses to tinker with Phillips' service time.

4. Harold Ramirez (OF, PIT, A+)
Stats: 344 PA, .337/.399/.458 4 HR, 22 SB, 14% K rate, 7.3% BB rate
Age 21

Ramirez draws praise for pure hitting ability. Despite good speed, he may be destined for left field duties due to an iffy arm. There are worries his bat won't quite carry him in an outfield corner. The Pirates added him to the 40-man roster last fall to protect him in the Rule 5 draft. As such, he could see a short call up this year.

High contact rates and above average speed offer the potential for solid fantasy production. He hasn't hit for much power as a professional. Scouts think he could eventually top out around 10 to 15 home runs a year.

Like Meadows, he'll open the year in Double-A. It'll be a good test of his hitting ability. A spike in strikeout rate will be an early sign to sell high.

5. Billy McKinney (OF, CHC, AA)
Stats: 308 PA, .285/.346/.420 3 HR, 0 SB, 15.3% K rate, 8.8% BB rate
Age 21

Surely the Cubs don't have more top prospects, right? McKinney's hit tool and plate discipline have carried him in his first three minor league campaigns. He doesn't have much power or speed giving him a fantasy ceiling similar to Joe Panik. To get there, he'll need to maintain his high contact rates. You'll be reliant on a top of the order role to create valuable run production.

McKinney doesn't really fit with his current organization - at least not as a starter. Some scouts wonder if he might not be a future fourth outfielder. If he hangs around Chicago, that's almost certainly his destiny. He's an obvious trade candidate.

6. Eddy Julio Martinez (OF, CHC, DNP)
Stats: Did Not Play
Age 21

A top international prospect from Cuba, Martinez is expected to be a fast mover despite a lack of professional experience. The 21-year-old is a five tool athlete with early comparisons to Andruw Jones. He's a high risk, high reward target for fantasy owners.

The available scouting reports are glowing, but he signed for only $3MM with the Cubs. That's comparable to the bonuses for the top Dominican and Venezuelan prospects, but they're often just 16 years old with very uncertain futures. Top Cubans typically earn much more despite international spending penalties. To me, that makes it sound like we're only reading the most glowing scouting reports. Keep an eye on his debut.

7. Eloy Jimenez (OF, CHC, A-)
Stats: 250 PA, .284/.328/.418 7 HR, 3 SB, 17.2% K rate, 6.0% BB rate
Age 19

A former top international prospect, Jimenez is still a long way from the majors. As such, he's still mostly projection. His contact oriented approach will play well throughout the lower minors, but he does need to start showing some in-game power.

Jimenez could be a future top prospect or a something a little more ordinary like McKinney. Since he's so far from the majors, he's only a top target for true dynasty formats - i.e. 20 teams and 40+ man rosters.

 

Other Prospect Names To Watch

Ian Happ (OF, CHC, A)

Happ, the ninth overall pick last June, had a strong debut. Across two levels, he hit nine home runs and stole 10 bases in 295 plate appearances. The switch-hitter is better from the left side of the plate and may have trouble with contact at higher levels. He should move faster than Jimenez, and many scouts prefer him to McKinney.

Mark Zagunis (OF, CHC, A+)

Zagunis could be the next Winker in the NL Central. Well, except he's old than Winker. Scouts have some trouble evaluating Zagunis because his superior plate discipline is coupled with roughly average power, speed, and contact skills. Everything could come together for him with a massive ceiling - think a low power Joey Votto - or he could settle into a fourth outfielder type role.

Phillip Ervin (OF, CIN, AA)

A former first round pick out of college, Ervin's career was derailed by a wrist injury. Now back on track, he features 15 home run power, 30 steal speed, and a patient approach at the plate. He's one of my favorite outfield sleepers.

Rymer Liriano (OF, MIL, AAA)

The former Padres farm hand had a 121 plate appearance trial in the majors during the 2014 season. He spent all of last season at Triple-A. Liriano looks like a high BABIP hitter with 15 home run power and some base stealing ability. Scouts question if he can make consistent contact. He may start for the Brewers with Khris Davis out of town.

Monte Harrison (OF, MIL, A)

The 20-year-old was solid in his second professional campaign. Split between two levels in the low minors, Harrison hit five home runs and stole 20 bases in 303 plate appearances. He was a little overexposed in Single-A where he posted a 41.8 percent strikeout rate in 184 plate appearances.

Magnueris Sierra (OF, STL, A)

The soon-to-be 20-year-old has performed well in three separate stints at Rookie ball. His first try at the Single-A level left him overmatched. The scouting reports read much more glowingly than his statistics. There's talk of five average or better tools with growth potential.

Albert Almora (OF, CHC, AA)

Back when the Cubs system was a little iffy, Almora was one of their top prospects. He's still in the minors, having spent most of his past two seasons at Double-A. He won't turn 22 for a couple months. His carrying tool is superior contact skills. Power and plate discipline have yet to fully develop.

Clint Coulter (OF, MIL, A+)

A first round pick back in 2012, Coulter has progressed step by step through the Brewers system. Once promising raw tools have coalesced into average power and contact ability. He's a breakout candidate at Double-A this year after surviving what's described as one of the toughest hitting environments in the minors.

Nick Plummer (OF, STL, R)

The 23rd overall pick of the 2015 draft, Plummer's supposed to hit for a solid average with a patient approach and decent speed. The selectivity is unusual in a high school draftee. He could be a top of the order threat, but he's half a decade from the majors.

Harrison Bader (OF, STL, A)

Bader, a 2015 third round pick, sprinted to a strong pro debut. He hit nine home runs, stole 15 bases, and batted a luck neutral .301/.364/.505 in 228 Single-A plate appearances. Look for him to move to High-A for the 2016 season.

Trent Clark (OF, MIL, R)

Clark was the 15th pick in the 2015 draft. His debut included 25 stolen bases in 252 plate appearances with a 15.5 percent walk and a 17.5 percent strikeout rate. The only thing missing was power. The 19-year-old could be challenged this year with an aggressive assignment.

Victor Roache (OF, MIL, AA)

Roache has 20 home run power and a few too many strikeouts for comfort. The former first round pick could be a future corner outfielder or a Quad-A type. He may reach the majors this season or next.

Tyrone Taylor (OF, MIL, AA)

There are two dimensions to Taylor as a prospect. Can he stick in center field, and can he hit for enough power to play anywhere else? He's a high contact rate guy with some upside for 10 home run power and 15 stolen base speed.

Jeffrey Baez (OF, CHC, A+)

Like many of the Cubs' outfield prospects, Baez is a slow moving former international prospect. Anyone viewing his line in Single-A would note the nine home runs and 34 stolen bases. Speed guy with a bit of pop, right? The scouting report I have says he's a plus raw power guy with fringy speed. At 22, he's on the old side of age appropriate for High-A

Demi Orimoloye (OF, MIL, R)

Orimoloye, 19, rose to the challenge of rookie ball. He hit six home runs and stole 19 bases in just 144 plate appearances. If it wasn't for scary plate discipline (2.1% BB%, 27.1% K%), he'd be much higher on this list. Huge breakout potential if he can learn to control the strike zone.

Keon Broxton (OF, MIL, AAA)

Broxton, 26, is a burner with enough power to be useful in Miller Park. He'll likely compete with Liriano for a starting job this year, but it'll be an indirect competition. Broxton may push Domingo Santana to an outfield corner. Broxton's downfall is huge contact issues - those are never good in a speed first guy.

Michael Reed (OF, MIL, AAA)

Reed is a guy who thrived in the lower minors. A feel for base running allowed him to outperform his average speed in the steals department. That often doesn't translate well to the majors. His power is described as fringy so he may only be a contact hitter. He's in the Brewers' battle for outfield reps.

Ramon Flores (OF, MIL, AAA)

Flores is also in the mix for major league reps, but he looks like a fourth outfielder. He doesn't have the speed or power of a fantasy asset, but he does offer plenty of contact.

Donnie Dewees (OF, CHC, A-)

Dewees, 21, was an early selection in the second round of the 2015 draft. He's a college guy with plus speed. He could surge up the list with a strong season. Scouts worry about his arm which may be limited to left field.

Charlie Tilson (OF, STL, AA)

Most would dismiss Tilson as a fourth outfielder, but there's always the chance this type of player gets a chance at a full time gig. He stole 46 bases last year with a high contact rate. A trip to the AFL went poorly. He has a spot on the 40-man roster.

Yorman Rodriguez (OF, CIN, AAA)

Rodriguez, 23, had a brief stint in 2014. Now the club is evaluating him for a regular role in 2016. He has the raw power to breakout in Cincinnati, but I don't expect rapid growth. Instead, buy low after he flops early in the season then plan to hang onto him for a couple years.

Aristides Aquino (OF, CIN, A)

Aquino, 21, has been in the Red system since 2011. He had a huge 2014 season against college pitchers. He didn't make any huge strides in 2015, but he didn't go backwards either. Despite developing slowly, scouts like his ceiling which could include power, steals, and a passable average.

Brandon Diaz (OF, MIL, A)

Diaz is a 70 grade runner with some feel for hitting. He's walked plenty in the low minors, but he'll need to prove he can continue to reach base against better pitching.

C.J. McElroy (OF, STL, A+)

McElroy is described as a raw 80 grade runner. Even if that ticks down to 70 grade future speed, he could force his way into a lineup for defensive purposes. He has very little power and doesn't make quite enough contact for a speed guy.

Scott Schebler (OF, CIN, AAA)

A former Dodgers farmhand, Schebler should get a shot at winning an outfield job this spring. His fantasy skill set may be better than his real world contributions. He can hit for power and run a bit, making him an excellent fit in Cincinnati.

Anthony Garcia (OF, STL, AA)

In a brief stint at AAA, Garcia held his own. He spent most of the year at AA where he was impressively patient, made plenty of contact, and flashed 15 home run power. He receives very little attention from scouts despite a spot on the 40-man roster.

Jose Osuna (OF, PIT, AA)

Osuna has the look of a good fourth outfielder. He can hit for a decent average with adequate power numbers. Sometimes, this profile can grow to be more than just a major league bench piece.

Willy Garcia (OF, PIT, AAA)

Scouts like Garcia's physical tools, but his plate discipline drags down his potential. If the light clicks and he starts to work the count better, he could be worth a look in deeper dynasties.

Adam Frazier (OF, PIT, AA)

Frazier doesn't drive the ladies (i.e. the scouts) crazy, but he does have plus contact skills. Although he can run a little, he'll never be confused with a rabbit. Often, this profile will turn into an org soldier, but sometimes they get a chance to stick around the majors for a time.

Barrett Barnes (OF, PIT, AA)

A former college pick who has moved slowly through the system, Barnes is a decent player with a mix of contact, plate discipline, and average speed. He's coming off his best season at the plate, but he's hardly worth following.

Danny Ortiz (OF, PIT, AAA)

A former Twins prospect, Ortiz could be a fifth outfielder as soon as this season. He's 26, so it's now or never. He has 15 home run power, but that's the extent of his fantasy potential.

 

MLB & Fantasy Baseball Chat Room

[iflychat_embed id="c-12" hide_user_list="yes" hide_popup_chat="no" height="400px"]

 




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

Scottie Scheffler

The Untouchable Favorite At CJ Cup
Tom Kim

A Popular Name To Avoid At TPC Craig Ranch
Austin Eckroat

Looking To Find Success Again At TPC Craig Ranch
Ben Kohles

Finishes Tied For 59 At Corales Puntacana Championship
Joel Dahmen

Finishes Tied For Second At Corales Puntacana Championship
Beau Hossler

Finishes Tied For 60 At Valero Texas Open
Doug Ghim

Finishes Tied For 18 At the Valero Texas Open
Jordan Spieth

Finishes Tied For 18 At RBC Heritage
Kurt Kitayama

Misses The Cut At Valero Texas Open
Si Woo Kim

Finishes Tied For Eighth At RBC Heritage
George Kirby

"Feeling Great", Could Throw Again On Sunday
Tyler Fitzgerald

Returning To Starting Nine
Josh Lowe

Progressing Well, Could Play In Rehab Games On Saturday
Shane McClanahan

Begins "Throwing-Like" Activities
Patrik Laine

Remains Day-To-Day
Gabriel Vilardi

On Track To Return Wednesday
Brandon Hagel

Ruled Out For Game 5
Marcus Johansson

Returns To Action Tuesday
Cole Ragans

Won't Start On Wednesday
Dylan Moore

Placed On 10-Day Injured List With Hip Inflammation
Jonas Siegenthaler

Considered A Game-Time Decision Tuesday
Brett Pesce

A Game-Time Call Tuesday
Yordan Alvarez

Back In Tuesday's Lineup
Frederik Andersen

Unavailable Tuesday
Aaron Nesmith

Upgraded To Available
Las Vegas Raiders

Jack Bech A Strong Candidate To Be An Immediate Starter
Las Vegas Raiders

Zamir White Competing For Depth Role
New York Jets

Mason Taylor To Immediately Be Atop Jets Tight End Depth Chart
Bennedict Mathurin

Cleared For Game 5
Buffalo Bills

Dalton Kincaid Setting Up As Post-Hype Sleeper In 2025?
Denver Broncos

Dre Greenlaw Expected To Be Ready For Training Camp
Seattle Seahawks

Sam Darnold To Take Over 90% Of The Snaps
Tennessee Titans

Titans In No Rush To Trade Will Levis
Daulton Varsho

Reinstated From Injured List And Starting On Tuesday
Minnesota Vikings

J.J. McCarthy Says He Knows He's Ready To Start For Vikings
Cincinnati Bengals

Bengals Picking Up Fifth-Year Option On Dax Hill
Los Angeles Chargers

Chargers Apply Unrestricted Free-Agent Tender To J.K. Dobbins
Seattle Seahawks

Jaren Hall Cut Loose By Seahawks
Kansas City Chiefs

Chiefs Compare Josh Simmons To Christian Darrisaw, Rashawn Slater
Denver Broncos

Pat Bryant Compared To Michael Thomas
Denver Broncos

RJ Harvey Could Do It All For Broncos
Carolina Panthers

Tetairoa McMillan Likely To Man The X Spot For Panthers
Green Bay Packers

Packers, Jaire Alexander Continue To Discuss Potential Reunion
Dallas Cowboys

Cowboys Discussed George Pickens With Steelers
Kansas City Chiefs

Chiefs To Pick Up Fifth-Year Option On Trent McDuffie, George Karlaftis
Washington Commanders

Matt Gays Signs One-Year Deal With Commanders
San Francisco 49ers

George Kittle Signs Four-Year Extension With 49ers
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Records Third Consecutive Double-Double
Brandin Podziemski

Hits Six Treys During 26-Point Performance
Jimmy Butler III

Leads Warriors In Scoring Monday Night
Jarrett Allen

Has Double-Double, Six Steals In Blowout Win
Brandon Boston Jr.

Recovering From Ankle Surgery
Kelly Olynyk

Undergoes Heel Procedure
Aaron Nesmith

Probable For Tuesday's Action
Nathan MacKinnon

Has Two Points In Losing Effort
Martin Necas

Records Two Assists In Game 5 Loss
Mikko Rantanen

Tallies Three Points In Monday's Win
Wyatt Johnston

Leads Stars To Game 5 Victory
Sergei Bobrovsky

Returns To Winning Ways
Anton Lundell

Earns Two Points Monday
Ryan Gerard

Going For A Texas Trifecta Of Sorts
Brandon Hagel

Departs Loss Early
Joe Highsmith

Hoping To Make More Putts In Texas
Eric Cole

Expecting Big Things In Texas
Brian Campbell

May Go Under The Radar At CJ Cup
Riley Greene

Homers Twice On Monday
Yordan Alvarez

Exits Monday's Win Early
Los Angeles Chargers

Tre Harris Expected To Fill X Role For Chargers
Jimmy Butler III

Officially Active For Game 4
Isaiah Stewart

Uncertain For Game 5
Michael Porter Jr.

Expected To Play In Game 5
Brandon Nimmo

Has Career Game
Russell Westbrook

Questionable For Tuesday Night
Tyler Glasnow

Going On The Injured List
Jaylen Brown

Back On The Injury Report
Jrue Holiday

Out Again On Tuesday Night
Bennedict Mathurin

Questionable For Game 5
Damian Lillard

May Not Play Next Season
Luis Arraez

Expected To Return On Tuesday
Johnathan Kovacevic

To Remain Out Tuesday
Brenden Dillon

Unavailable Tuesday
Luke Hughes

Not Ready To Return For Game 5
Darius Garland

Remains Out On Monday
Ross Colton

Remains Out On Monday
Oskar Bäck

Oskar Back Returns To Stars Lineup Monday
Miro Heiskanen

To Miss Game 5
Jordan Westburg

Placed On Injured List
Anthony Cirelli

Good To Go For Game 4
William Byron

Ends With A Strong Top-Five Finish At Talladega
Ryan Blaney

Bad Luck Continues With Talladega Crash
Kyle Larson

Has A Career-Best Performance At Talladega
Ian Machado Garry

Gets Back On Track With UFC Kansas City Win
Brad Keselowski

Talladega Run Ends Early After Crashing
Carlos Prates

Suffers His First UFC Loss
Zhang Mingyang

Still Undefeated In The UFC
Anthony Smith

Retires After UFC Kansas City Loss
Giga Chikadze

Takes Unanimous Decision Loss
Giga Chikadze

Takes Unanimous-Decision Loss
David Onama

Extends Win Streak At UFC Kansas City
Michel Pereira

Drops Decision At UFC Kansas City
Abus Magomedov

Extends His Win Streak
Nicolas Dalby

Gets Finished For The First Time
Randy Brown

Gets Back In The Win Column
Ikram Aliskerov

Gets First-Round TKO Finish At UFC Kansas City
Andre Muniz

Gets TKO'd At UFC Kansas City
Chase Elliott

Recovers from Speeding Penalty to Finish Fifth
Joey Logano

Finishes Last at Talladega After Disqualification for Missing Spoiler Brace
Ryan Preece

Loses Talladega Race First in Photo Finish Then in Post-Race Inspection
NASCAR

Poor Toyota Strategy Arguably Cost Bubba Wallace Winning Chances at Talladega
Christopher Bell

Unhurt After Hard Contact with Inside Retaining Wall
Joe Ryan

Posts Stellar Outing
Jaylen Brown

Available For Game 4
Nick Lodolo

Throws Seven Scoreless Innings
Tyler Glasnow

Removed Early On Sunday
Darius Garland

Questionable For Game 4
Jaden Ivey

Making Progress
Tarik Skubal

Racks Up 11 Strikeouts
Luke Weaver

In Line To Get The Bulk Of Save Opportunities Moving Forward
Devin Williams

Removed From Closer Role
Chase Elliott

Is One OF The Top Overall DFS Picks Of The Week
Joey Logano

Could Joey Logano Finish A Race With A Top Finish At Talladega?
NASCAR

DFS Players Should Like Bubba Wallace For Talladega This Week
Christopher Bell

Should DFS Players Roster Christopher Bell At Talladega?
Austin Cindric

Is Austin Cindric Worth Rostering For Talladega DFS Lineups?
Shane Van Gisbergen

Is A Solid, Safe, DFS Choice For Talladega Lineups
Austin Dillon

Is Austin Dillon A Viable DFS Play At Talladega This Week?
Josh Berry

Qualifies Too High At Talladega To Be Worth Rostering In DFS
Michael McDowell

Should DFS Players Take A Shot On Michael McDowell At Talladega?
Noah Gragson

Could Be A Sneaky DFS Play For Talladega
Denny Hamlin

Probably Qualified Too Well for DFS Consideration
Kyle Larson

Increasingly Undervalued Due to His Crashing, but Still a Great DFS Option
Austin Hays

Smacks Two Homers On Saturday
Carlos Prates

Looks To Remain Undefeated In The UFC
Ian Machado Garry

Set For UFC Kansas City Main Event
Zhang Mingyang

Scheduled For Co-Main Event
Anthony Smith

Set For His Final UFC Bout
David Onama

Set For Featherweight Bout
Giga Chikadze

Looks To Bounce Back
Abus Magomedov

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
Michel Pereira

Returns To Action At UFC Kansas City
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF