Kuzul

The goal of every Major League Baseball team is to draft and develop All-Stars. These players are the very best talents and will be the faces of the sport for a long time to come. 

Despite having All-Star goals for every prospect drafted or, in the case of international players, signed, it’s not as simple as saying that a player who has All-Star potential will reach that ceiling. 

In fact, if you look throughout the minors right now, the ratio of players with that kind of upside to those even close to reaching is wider than the Grand Canyon. It takes a special kind of athlete and person to go from raw talent to on-field performance. 

Mike Trout didn’t get to be who he is out of happenstance. Most teams weren’t sold on his ability coming out of high school because he played in New Jersey, which isn’t exactly a hotbed for baseball talent. He wasn’t even the Angels’ first pick in the 2009 draft. 

As we look through 2014 prospect lists in anticipation for the 2014 season, here are the seven players who have legitimate shots to become All-Stars in the next three years (2016).

This is not a ranking of the seven best prospects in baseball, because age and development curves have to be taken into consideration.

A player with incredible tools who has a lot of in-game adjustments to make, like the Chicago Cubs’ No. 1 prospect Javier Baez, might not be ready for the Midsummer Classic by the time 2016 rolls around. That doesn’t mean he won’t get there, but too many questions remain to put him on the main list right now. 

Just to save any questions or comments, I don’t think prospects like Nick Castellanos or Taijuan Walker will be All-Stars in the next three years. That doesn’t mean I don’t like them, or doubt their ability, I just have lower grades on them than others might. It’s just a personal preference. 

With that said, here are the prospects we anticipate seeing in baseball’s midseason showcase sooner than later. 

Note: All stats courtesy of MiLB.com unless otherwise noted. Scouting reports are based on my own personal evaluations.

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If you’re a fan of young, high-ceiling pitching prospects, then it doesn’t get much better than the Toronto Blue Jays’ system.

Right-hander Marcus Stroman is poised to make an impact in the major leagues next season, and he may have opened the year in the starting rotation if not for a 50-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs in early 2013. Regardless, the 22-year-old’s aggressive approach and command of three plus pitches will make him a fixture in the starting rotation for years to come.

Not far behind Stroman is 21-year-old Aaron Sanchez, who flashes tantalizing, major league-caliber stuff but lacks the command to push forward developmentally. After that, the Blue Jays’ prospect pool is essentially a collection of high-ceiling, high-risk prospects, both on the mound and at up-the-middle positions, with numerous players poised for a breakout performance in the coming season.  

Here’s a look at the Toronto Blue Jays’ top 10 prospects for 2014.

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While the Phillies system is thin on projectable talent and ranks in the bottom tier among all organizations, things are starting to look up thanks to the emergence of slugger Maikel Franco and shortstop J.P. Crawford.

Franco announced his presence as one of the top power hitters in the minor leagues last season, as the 21-year-old third baseman combined to club 36 doubles and 31 home runs in 581 plate appearances between High-A Clearwater and Double-A Reading. With a knack for making consistent contact and generating backspin carry, Franco’s power projects favorably at the major league level and could even play up at Citizens Bank Park.

Meanwhile, Crawford, the team’s first-round pick in 2013, flashed huge upside last summer by winning the batting title in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League with a .345 average in 168 plate appearances. And for the record, speedster Roman Quinn would have ranked in the top five had he not suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in the fall.

In terms of pitching, left-hander Jesse Biddle once again gets the nod as the team’s top young arm after a solid but inconsistent showing at Double-A Reading as a 21-year-old. Although he ranked third in the Eastern League with 154 strikeouts in 138.1 innings, the southpaw struggled with his control and command to the tune of a career-worst 5.33 walks per nine innings.

Beyond those players, the Phillies’ prospect pool features its usual mix of high-risk, high-reward position players, such as outfielders Aaron Altherr and Dylan Cozens as well as third baseman Zach Green. And similar to previous years, the organization also houses its share useful major league arms including right-handed starter Ethan Martin, who debuted in late 2013, and flamethrowing reliever Ken Giles.

Here’s a look at the Philadelphia Phillies’ top 10 prospects for the 2014 season.

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The Chicago Cubs‘ collection of top prospects is among the best in baseball, with four players who will rank in next week’s top 50 prospects update and a few more who would land in the top 100.

Leading the pack is shortstop Javier Baez, who is arguably the most exciting offensive prospect in the game. Last season, the now-21-year-old posted a .920 OPS with 37 home runs and 20 stolen bases in 537 plate appearances between High-A Daytona and Double-A Tennessee.

Alongside Baez on the Cubs’ future infield is third baseman Kris Bryant, the No. 2 overall draft pick in 2013, who possesses the type of obscene raw power needed to hit 35-plus home runs at the highest level.

The organization also houses a pair of potential All-Star outfielders in Albert Almora and Jorge Soler. Though they collectively lack a game of experience at the Double-A level, both players have the tools to move quickly through the minor leagues and should do so in the upcoming season.

With the Cubs offense potentially stacked for the years to come, team president Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer now will likely focus on adding impactful arms to all levels of the system.

That being said, the organization has added several potential back-end starters since the beginning of the 2012 season, as they acquired right-handers Kyle Hendricks and Neil Ramirez via trades with the Texas Rangers, and also added Paul Blackburn and Pierce Johnson through the draft.

The only high-ceiling arm in the Cubs’ system is C.J. Edwards—acquired from Texas in the Matt Garza trade last summer—and he’s still considered a risky prospect and likely two years away from reaching the major leagues.

With a wave of prospects nearing the major leagues, the Cubs now desperately need their trio of core players to push forward in their respective developments.

First baseman Anthony Rizzo spent the entire season hitting in the heart of the order, but he produced a disappointing .233/.323/.419 batting line in 690 plate appearances. Similarly, shortstop Starlin Castro, an All-Star in 2012, also endured a significant offensive regression, as he batted only .245/.284/.347 in 705 plate appearances and finished the season with a minus-0.1 fWAR, via FanGraphs.

Though staff ace Jeff Samardzija posted a 4.34 ERA and allowed 25 home runs last season, the then-27-year-old’s 3.45 xFIP suggests he was better than that, and he also logged over 200 innings (213.2) for the first time in his career. However, as the source of so many trade rumors this offseason, there’s a chance Samardzija doesn’t open the 2014 season as a Cub.

Here’s a look at the Chicago Cubs’ top 10 prospects for the 2014 season.

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In 2012, Boston’s dismal season and last-place finish in the American League East obscured the enormous progress made by their top prospects down on the farm.

Last season, though, everything clicked for the organization from top to bottom.

After acquiring John Farrell to replace Bobby Valentine as the team’s manager and adding a few key players to complement their already strong core of veterans, the Red Sox opened the season on a tear and never looked back. The club went on to win the AL East with 97 wins before ultimately defeating the St. Louis Cardinals to claim its third World Series title in the last decade.

Many of the prospects that took a step forward in 2012 played a role in the team’s overwhelming success last season, as the Red Sox received contributions from top-ranked prospects such as infielder Xander Bogaerts, outfielder Jackie Bradley and right-handers Allen Webster and Brandon Workman. Amazingly, all four players have rookie eligibility for the 2014 season.

In addition to housing high-ceiling players such as Bogaerts and left-hander Henry Owens, Boston has projectable depth—guys that will be major leaguers—at most positions. All of their top position prospects possess a unique feel for hitting and an advanced approach, and they should continue to move up the ladder quickly as a result. The organization also has a cast of power arms waiting patiently in the high minors for crack at the major leagues.

Their overall depth ultimately allowed the organization to gamble on upside last June in the First-Year Player Draft, when it selected prep prospect Trey Ball, a 6’6” left-handed pitcher, in the first round. They also signed highly touted Dominican third baseman Rafael Devers during the international signing period.

Here’s a look at the Boston Red Sox’s top-10 prospects for the 2014 season.

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While it was a down year for San Francisco Giants pitchers, the same can’t be said for the organization’s promising young arms in the minor leagues.

Two of their top pitching prospects, right-handers Kyle Crick and Clayton Blackburn, headlined one of the best rotations in the minors at High-A San Jose—a rotation that also included up-and-coming left-handers Adalberto Mejia and Ty Blach. Meanwhile, another left-hander, Edwin Escobar, jumped on the fast track to the major leagues last year with a dominant performance between San Jose and Double-A Richmond.

In terms of hitters, well, the Giants’ system lacks an impact bat. Mac Williamson stands out among the team’s collection of talent for his robust raw power, but there’s legitimate concern as to whether the hit tool will hold up at higher levels.

However, the organization did add a pair of intriguing prospects through the draft this past June, selecting bat-first infielders Christian Arroyo and Ryder Jones within the first three rounds.

Here’s a look at the San Francisco Giants’ top 10 prospects for the 2014 season.

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With four World Series appearances in the last decade, the St. Louis Cardinals are baseball’s closest thing to a dynasty. 

However, rather than procuring talent during the offseason like most large-market franchises, the Cardinals continue to produce winning teams the old-fashioned way: by developing players.

That being said, a strong case can be made that the Cardinals would not have reached the postseason—let alone the World Series—if not for their impressive young arms.

Using 12 rookie pitchers during the regular season, the Cardinals led the major leagues (among rookies) with 308 games pitched, 36 wins, 541 strikeouts, a 3.25 FIP and, most importantly, a 6.7 fWAR (via FanGraphs).

Even after the graduation of top prospects Shelby Miller, Trevor Rosenthal and Michael Wacha to the major leagues last season, the team’s prospect pool is still loaded with an ideal mixture of high-ceiling and high-floor talent.

Three of the team’s top-ranked prospects from last year, Oscar Taveras, Carlos Martinez and Kolten Wong, are still in the mix for 2014. Martinez and Wong both saw time in the major leagues after the All-Star break and ultimately secured spots on the team’s postseason roster. But because neither exceeded 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched, both players’ rookie seasons carry over into 2014.

Taveras, on the other hand, was limited to only 46 Triple-A games last year due to an ankle injury sustained in May that led to season-ending surgery in mid-August. Even though there’s a realistic chance he will open the 2014 season back at Triple-A, expect the 21-year-old to make up for the lost time with an eye-opening rookie campaign.

As for pitchers, the organization doesn’t boast as many flame-throwing studs as it did a year ago, but that’s not to say it’s thin on arms.

Beyond the aforementioned Martinez, the Cardinals house one of the more exciting pitching prospects below A-ball in right-hander Alex Reyes. Like so many of the great arms to rise through their system in recent years, the 19-year-old possesses a special combination of athleticism, arm strength and pitchability. However, given the state of the team’s big league rotation, don’t expect it to rush him up the ladder without reason.

The Cardinals’ prospect pool also has a deep collection of left-handed pitchers, including both of its 2013 first-round draft picks Marco Gonzalez and Rob Kaminsky.

And for those of you hoping to identify the next Cardinals prospect to overachieve and carve out an everyday role in the major leagues, then look no farther than outfielder Stephen Piscotty. After his strong showing last season between High-A Palm Beach and Double-A Springfield, followed by an equally impressive performance in the Arizona Fall League, the 22-year-old may not be long for the minors in 2014.

Here’s a look at the St. Louis Cardinals’ top 10 prospects for the 2014 season.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers system took a hit last season with the graduation of top prospect Yasiel Puig to the major leagues. However, the organization had a slew of other promising young players step up in his place.

Left-handed hitters Corey Seager and Joc Pederson both had strong seasons at their respective levels and continue to move at an accelerated pace through the minor leagues. But with the organization’s aggressive spending on free agents (both international and domestic), it’s not even guaranteed that there’ll be a spot for either player in the everyday lineup once they are deemed major-league ready.

And then, of course, there was the emergence of 17-year-old Julio Urias—technically, it was his age-16 season—who thrived as the youngest player at a full-season level. In what would have been his sophomore year of high school, the left-hander carved up considerably older hitters in the Low-A Midwest League.

Meanwhile, right-hander Zach Lee, the team’s first-round bonus baby from the 2010 draft—he accepted a $5.25 million signing bonus to pass on a football scholarship to Louisiana State—turned in the best season of his professional career at Double-A Chattanooga.

2012 fifth-rounder Ross Stripling spent most of the year pitching alongside Lee in the Double-A rotation, and he continued to quietly post impressive numbers against advanced hitters in the Texas League. Expect both right-handers to receive their first tastes of the major leagues in 2014.

The Dodgers also added a pair of advanced college arms in Chris Anderson and Tom Windle through the first-year player draft in June, and both pitchers impressed in their respective professional debuts. While neither player is expected to contribute in the major leagues next season, there’s a realistic chance they both finish the year in the Double-A rotation.

Here’s a look at the Los Angeles Dodgers’ top 10 prospects for the 2014 season.

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The New York Yankees were decimated by injuries this year, though it did allow them to set a new franchise record by using 56 different players.

Things went just as poorly for the Yankees’ top prospects down on the farm. Two of the organization’s more promising young arms, Manny Banuelos and Ty Hensley, didn’t throw a pitch and missed the entire year with respective injuries.

However, they did receive breakthrough performances from right-hander Jose Ramirez, who boasts the best pure stuff in the system but has struggled to stay healthy, and catcher J.R. Murphy, who ultimately reached the major leagues as a September call-up.

As for well-known position prospects Tyler Austin, Slade Heathcott, Gary Sanchez and Mason Williams, well, they were reunited at Double-A Trenton during the second half of the regular season, though none of them fared particularly well at the more advanced level.

In fact, if anything, they regressed, both individually and collectively. To make matters worse, Heathcott and Austin both spent significant time on the disabled list. 

Thankfully, the Yankees received a nice haul in the 2013 draft, thanks to three first-round picks, as they selected third baseman Eric Jagielo, outfielder Aaron Judge and left-hander Ian Clarkin. However, the organization still has a ways to go in terms of boasting a top-ranked farm system.

Here’s a look at the New York Yankees’ top 10 prospects for the 2014 season.

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While there haven’t been many trades this offseason that involved high-profile prospects, teams have been quietly filling holes on their respective 25- and 40-man rosters with under-the-radar deals for displaced prospects.

For example, the Oakland A’s acquired minor league outfielder Billy Burns from the Washington Nationals in exchange for left-hander Jerry Blevins during the winter meetings.

This past season, Burns, a switch-hitter, was named the Nationals’ Minor League Player of the Year after batting .315/.425/.383 with 96 runs scored, nine triples, 74 stolen bases in 81 attempts and a stellar 54-72 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 540 plate appearances between High-A Potomac and Double-A Harrisburg.

Another example can be seen in the San Diego Padres‘ recent acquisition of infielder Ryan Jackson from the Houston Astros.

Jackson, 25, came up through the St. Louis Cardinals system and actually saw time in the majors, albeit briefly, during the 2012 and 2013 seasons. But he struggled to demonstrate value as reserve infielder, batting a combined .083 with five strikeouts in 25 plate appearances between both years.

Still, Jackson batted .275/.343/.371 with 42 doubles, 13 home runs and a 166-95 strikeout-to-walk ratio over the last two season at Triple-A Memphis. He also showed the ability to play three infield positions during that span, even logging seven games in left field last season. So it’s not a surprise that the Padres, a team that needs more infield depth, took a flier on the 25-year-old.

Here’s a look at two more under-the-radar prospects who could impact the trade market this winter.

Jordan Lennerton, 1B, Detroit Tigers

Although it took Jordan Lennerton four seasons to graduate from A-ball, the 27-year-old may find himself in the major leagues at some point next year.

This past season, the left-handed-hitting first baseman batted .278/.382/.430 with 17 home runs and a 133-84 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 607 plate appearances at Triple-A Toledo. In 2012, he hit a career-high 21 home runs with Double-A Erie. In July, Lennerton was selected to play for the World Team in the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game.

Lennerton has average power potential with enough bat speed to handle good velocity, but he struggles against quality secondary pitches. However, his knack for mashing right-handed pitching suggests he has value in a platoon role. This past season, he batted .286/.381/.438 with 14 home runs and a 107-62 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 406 at-bats against righties.

With Miguel Cabrera moving across the infield from third to first base next season, Lennerton’s best chance at reaching the majors with Detroit will come as a reserve. At the same time, he could be an attractive platoon option for an American League team that has a right-handed-hitting first baseman or designated hitter.

Jesus Aguilar, 1B, Cleveland Indians

Like Lennerton, Jesus Aguilar is first base-only prospect whose future in the major leagues is entirely dependent on the utility of his power.

The 23-year-old held his own at Double-A Akron over parts of the 2012 and 2013 season, combining to bat .277/.356/.436 with 19 home runs, 118 RBI and a 131-69 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 654 plate appearances (150 games).

The Indians decided not to add Aguilar to their 40-man roster following the 2012 season, and he luckily went unselected in the Rule 5 draft. The organization wasn’t willing to take the same risk this year, adding him to the 40-man roster next month.

Aguilar has posted monster numbers this offseason playing in the Venezuelan Winter League, and it’s hard to imagine he hasn’t caught the attention of other teams, with a .996 OPS and 17 home runs through 54 games.

Surprisingly, Aguilar fares better against same-sided pitching than he does left-handers, as he batted .285/.354/.461 with 22 doubles and 13 home runs against righties in 2013. So don’t go labeling him as a platoon-only player just yet.

With Nick Swisher likely to open the 2014 season as the Indians’ first baseman, the displaced Aguilar could be an interesting trade target for a team needing right-hander pop at first base or DH.

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