MLB Ready Prospects: Top 30 Power Rankings for Fantasy (Week Two)

April 21, 2015

Edward Sutelan analyzes his top 30 MLB prospects rankings for Week 2. These MLB rookies & call-ups should make fantasy impacts in 2015, and are fantasy baseball sleepers.

What have we here? It's a ranking of the top 30 MLB ready prospects. Some are in the majors and others are working their way to the top level.

With the start of the season, there will be two additions to the power rankings. I've added an estimated time of arrival. I will also add the prospect’s stats from the season. The stats will not include RBI and R for hitters or W-L for pitchers because those numbers are team dependent. For hitters, I will provide plate appearances, a slash line, home runs, stolen bases, walk rates, and strikeout rates. For pitchers, I will list ERA, FIP, IP, K/9, BB/9, HR/9, and WHIP. Here are your top 30 MLB prospects for 2015 fantasy baseball as of April 21st, 2015.

Prospects who recently left the list:
• Kris Bryant – called up
• Yasmany Tomas – called up
• J.T. Realmuto – called up
• Carlos Rodon - called up
• Andrew Susac - called up
• Addison Russell - called up

Major League Ready Prospect Power Rankings

To be clear, this list is not the top 30 prospects in baseball. This is a list of the top 30 prospects who are likely going to rise to the major leagues and provide fantasy baseball value this season. The qualifications are simple: a player must not be on an active roster, they must have a clear path to the majors, and while they may have played in seasons prior to 2015, they must still have rookie eligibility. If a player is moved to the active roster of their team, they will be removed from this power rankings list and replaced.

1. Francisco Lindor (SS, CLE, AAA) – LW: 4

Stats: 30 PA, .154/.241/.231, 0 HR, 2 SB, 10% BB rate, 13.3% K rate
ETA: Mid May
The season is still early, but Jose Ramirez is confirming the suspicions of many that his great defensive ability will not be able to make up for his lack of offensive output. The Indians are in a spot to compete and could use the solid offensive bat of Lindor to add some extra explosiveness to that lineup.

2. Noah Syndergaard (SP, NYM, AAA) – LW: 3
Stats: 4 IP, 4.50 ERA, 3.81 FIP, 4.50 K/9, 2.25 BB/9, 0 HR/9, 2.00 WHIP
ETA: Late May
The Mets have been off to a great start this season in large part to pitching contributions from Matt Harvey and Bartolo Colon. But starters Dillon Gee and Jonathan Niese have been on the trade block since last year’s trade deadline and the Mets have a history of calling up starting pitchers in the middle of the season leaving many to believe that Syndergaard will be brought up very soon.

3. Alex Meyer (SP, MIN, AAA) – LW: 8
Stats: 8.2 IP, 8.31 ERA, 6.26 FIP, 9.35 K/9, 11.42 BB/9, 1.04 HR/9, 2.54 WHIP
ETA: Late July
The Twins could improve their pitching upside if they call up Meyer. Ricky Nolasco is now on the DL and Mike Pelfrey has not looked too sharp early on. The front of the rotation is locked in with Tommy Milone, Phil Hughes, Trevor May, and Kyle Gibson likely staying as starters for the rest of the season. Meyer could make this rotation one of the better ones in baseball if he is called up in Ervin Santana’s absence.

4. Blake Swihart (C, BOS, AAA) – LW: 10
Stats: 23 PA, .304/.304/.348, 0 HR, 0 SB, 0% BB rate, 13.0% K rate
ETA: Early June
The Red Sox currently play in the weakest division in baseball and could easily be contenders this season. The Red Sox current catchers, Ryan Hanigan and Sandy Leone, have started off with little to no offensive production to speak of. Swihart will likely get the starting nod to give the Sox a shot in the arm at the position of catcher.

5. Rusney Castillo (OF, BOS, AAA) – LW: NR
Stats: 13 PA, .417/.462/.500, 0 HR, 1 SB, 7.7% BB rate, 7.7% K rate
ETA: Mid May
The Cuban outfielder for the Red Sox has all of the tools to be a great player for Boston. As of right now, his only hope of starting is if Shane Victorino struggles or if any of the outfielders are injured because Castillo won’t be pulling the starting role away from Mookie Betts or Hanley Ramirez.

6. Christian Walker (1B, BAL, AAA) – LW: 12
Stats: 37 PA, .188/.297/.281, 0 HR, 0 SB, 13.5% BB rate, 29.7% K rate
ETA: Late May
The season is young, but the Orioles look like a team that is poised to make a run at the postseason or division crown. If they have any hope of making the postseason, they will likely have to look for a change at 1B/DH as both Chris Davis and Steve Pearce are struggling. And though Christian Walker hasn’t exactly been tearing up AAA so far, Walker provides power from the right side which is something that Pearce has yet to provide this season.

7. Steve Matz – (SP, NYM, AAA) – LW: 9
Stats: 10.1 IP, 3.48 ERA, 4.64 FIP, 10.1 K/9, 6.96 BB/9, 0 HR/9, 1.55 WHIP
ETA: Late July
So far, Matz is outperforming the other highly touted Mets’ pitching prospect, Syndergaard. It is a known fact that the Mets AAA Las Vegas is known for ballooning their pitcher’s ERA, but that hasn’t stopped Matz from pitching very well. And while it still is unlikely that he will leapfrog Syndergaard as the next to be called up, he is increasing the chance that he will be called up along with the right-hander.

8. Maikel Franco (3B, PHI, AAA) – LW: 14
Stats: 35 PA, .323/.400/.645, 1 HR, 0 SB, 11.4% BB rate, 17.1% K rate
ETA: Mid June
While Cody Asche has started off the season playing very well, the same cannot be said for Ryan Howard. The subject of many circulating trade rumors, Howard could soon be dealt and the first base job given to Franco if Asche continues to hit well.

9. Andrew Heaney (SP, LAA, AAA) – LW: 7
Stats: 7.2 IP, 4.70 ERA, 2.11 FIP, 10.57 K/9, 1.17 BB/9, 0 HR/9, 1.17 WHIP
ETA: Mid May
After Heaney’s first start in the minors of 2015, a great outing with seven innings allowing two hits and striking out eight. His second start saw him last .2 innings facing 10 batters and giving up seven runs (four earned) with one strikeout and one walk. It still is likely that he will be called up sooner rather than later, but if he doesn’t right the ship soon, he might have more negative value than positive value for fantasy owners. With that said, he has the potential to be a one or two starter in the majors with his lethal repertoire and great command.

10. Jose Peraza (2B, ATL, AAA) – LW: 15
Stats: 40 PA, .242/.306/.333, 0 HR, 1 SB, 7.5% BB rate, 0% K rate
ETA: Mid June
Alberto Callaspo and Jace Peterson are currently battling for the starting second base role. Callaspo is not the answer for the long term and many think that Peterson will not bring the dynamic offensive ability to the lineup that Peraza will. But Peraza’s name has come up in trade rumors (particularly to the Yankees) and if he is dealt, expect him to start instantly.

11. Marco Gonzales (SP, STL, AAA) – LW: 11
Stats: 10 IP, 5.40 ERA, 4.86 FIP, 6.3 K/9, 2.7 BB/9, .9 HR/9, 1.70 WHIP
ETA: Late May
Marco Gonzales looked ready to make the jump into the Cardinals rotation following the departure of Shelby Miller. And while he still is a more likely candidate to be a starter for the majority of the season than Martinez, he is currently losing that battle. Martinez pitched very well in his first start and could keep the spot for a while. Gonzales has a profile more fitting of a starting role than Martinez because of his ability to throw multiple innings, but for now he will just have to wait.

12. Jon Gray (SP, COL, AAA) – LW: 13
Stats: 9.0 IP, 9.00 ERA, 5.40 FIP, 8.0 K/9, 5.0 BB/9, 1.0 HR/9, 1.89 WHIP
ETA: Early June
Jon Gray has been roughed up a bit in AAA, but the Rockies see him as the first ever ace for them in their hitter-friendly ballpark. He will likely find himself on the fast track to the majors as long as he doesn’t get hurt.

13. Brandon Finnegan (SP, KCR, AA) – LW: 18
Stats: 3.0 IP, 9.00 ERA, 7.53 FIP, 9.0 K/9, 6.0 BB/9, 3.0 HR/9, 2.33 WHIP
ETA: Early June
Finnegan is still the most ready prospect of anyone from the 2014 draft, but he struggled in his first outing. The Royals will have to wait and see how Finnegan looks like in April before making any decisions on whether he should be moved up to AAA or MLB.

14. Miguel Sano (3B, MIN, AA) – LW: 16
Stats: 27 PA, .143/.333/.286, 1 HR, 1 SB, 18.5% BB rate, 29.6% K rate
ETA: Early June
Miguel Sano is arguably the second-most highly anticipated third base prospect to potentially make their debut this season. Sano has game changing power and a sharp enough glove to make him an exciting player to want to watch. Sano could see MLB action as early as July, but due to his high power/high strikeout numbers, he profiles as a Javier Baez type player who could be very hit or miss in the majors.

15. Mark Appel (SP, HOU, AA) – LW: 19
Stats: 10 IP, .90 ERA, 3.49 FIP, 7.2 K/9, 1.8 BB/9, .9 HR/9, .60 WHIP
ETA: Late May
The Astros have a bevy of young, talented players including a rotation filled with young pitching like Dallas Keuchel and Collin McHugh. The other spots in the rotation are made up of pitchers older than 26-years-old with a low ceiling which leaves many to believe that this will be the season Mark Appel gets promoted. Appel has looked very sharp in two starts so far in AA and could be in the rotation before the end of July, especially if the Astros trade off one of their other starters.

16. Michael Lorenzen (SP, CIN, AAA) – LW: 20
Stats: 13.0 IP, .69 ERA, 3.95 FIP, 3.46 K/9, 2.08 BB/9, .69 HR/9, 1.20 WHIP
ETA: Mid May
Plain and simple, the Reds are lacking in pitching at the moment. Homer Bailey will be back with the team on April 18, but one of their rotation spots is filled with Jason Marquis and one of their bullpen options is Kevin Gregg. Lorenzen has dazzled thus far in AAA and could find himself in the majors very quickly. If called up, he will likely start in the bullpen but is making a case to be next in line to join the rotation.

17. Aaron Nola (SP, PHI, AA) – LW: 24
Stats: 4.2 IP, 7.71 ERA, 7.41 FIP, 3.86 K/9, 1.93 BB/9, 1.93 HR/9, 1.29 WHIP
ETA: Early August
Nola may still be very young and relatively inexperienced, but the Phillies rotation is quite possibly one of the worst all time and will only get worse when they deal Hamels. He will likely be called up sooner rather than later and would be expected to join the rotation right away.

18. Byron Buxton (OF, MIN, AA) – LW: 17
Stats: 30 PA, .276/.300/.483, 1 HR, 1 SB, 3.3% BB rate, 30% K rate
ETA: Mid August
Byron Buxton has started off the season with rather pedestrian numbers, but based on how the Twins outfield has done to this point, he could very possibly be an improvement. With that said, it is still a long shot that he gets called up before September.

19. Domingo Santana (OF, HOU, AAA) – LW: 22
Stats: 24 PA, .238/.333/.381, 1 HR, 1 SB, 12.5% BB rate, 41.7% K rate
ETA: Early May
The Astros have had one of the worst outfields in the Majors this season. Jake Marisnick has played very well, but George Springer has struck out an unheralded rate this season and Colby Rasmus has also started off the season quite slow. The Astros could use that extra bat come up and Santana could be just the player to help.

20. Kyle Crick (SP, SFG, AA) – LW: 23
Stats: 4 IP, 2.25 ERA, 4.66 FIP, 9.0 K/9, 9.0 BB/9, 0 HR/9, 1.50 WHIP
ETA: Late May
Coming into the season, the San Francisco Giants knew that they would be losing Pablo Sandoval, but there were more questions surrounding their pitching depth than their offensive ability. Madison Bumgarner aside, the Giants rotation has two aging veterans in Jake Peavy and Tim Hudson and a former Cy Young winner who is anything but that Cy Young winner he once was in Tim Lincecum. The Giants could be contenders this season and if they hope to be, they will need the pitching depth and Kyle Crick could get the call and give them some solid innings.

21. Austin Hedges (C, SDP, AAA) – LW: 26
Stats: 21 PA, .450/.476/.700, 1 HR, 0 SB, 4.8% BB rate, 0% K rate
ETA: Late May

22. Jameson Taillon (SP, PIT, - ) – LW: 27
Stats: NA
ETA: Mid August

23. Matt Wisler (SP, ATL, AAA) – LW: 30
Stats: 5 IP, 0 ERA, 2.83 FIP, 9.0 K/9, 3.60 BB/9, 0 HR/9, 1.20 WHIP
ETA: Early June

24. Steven Moya (OF, DET, A+) – LW: 29
Stats: 4 PA, 0/0/0, 0 HR, 0 SB, 0% BB rate, 0% K rate
ETA: Late June

25. Dylan Bundy (SP, BAL, AA) – LW: 28
Stats: 3 IP, 0 ERA, 2.25 FIP, 3.0 K/9, 0.0 BB/9, 0 HR/9, 0 WHIP
ETA: Late June

26. Buck Farmer (SP/RP, DET, AAA) – LW: NR
Stats: 10 IP, .90 ERA, .83 FIP, 12.6 K/9, 1.8 BB/9, 0 HR/9, .80 WHIP
ETA: Mid June

27. Michael Foltynewicz (SP, ATL, AAA) – LW: NR
Stats: 8.2 IP, 2.08 ERA, 3.84 FIP, 12.46 K/9, 6.23 BB/9, 1.04 HR/9, 1.62 WHIP
ETA: Early May

28. Raisel Iglesias (SP/RP, CIN, AAA) - LW: NR *
Stats: 10 IP, 3.60 ERA, 2.54 FIP, 6.3 K/9, 2.7 BB/9, 0 HR/9, 1.1 WHIP
ETA: Early May

29. Henry Owens (SP, BOS, AAA) - LW: NR
Stats: 11.0 IP, 4.09 ERA, 5.54 FIP, 6.55 K/9, 8.18 BB/9, .82 HR/9, 1.27 WHIP
ETA: Mid August

30. Brian Johnson (SP, BOS, AAA) LW: NR
Stats: 9.0 IP, 1.00 ERA, 1.20 FIP, 13.0 K/9, 3.0 BB/9, 0 HR/9, 1.22 WHIP
ETA: Late July

* Iglesias was on the Reds roster earlier this season, but threw only five innings and is currently in AAA