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If case you haven’t been paying attention, the San Diego Padres and first-time general manager A.J. Preller have been busy this offseason.

Since the beginning of December, the Padres have added some of baseball’s premier right-handed power hitters through trades in outfielders Justin Upton, Matt Kemp and Wil Myers, as well as catcher Derek Norris.

Amazingly, Preller was able to acquire the aforementioned players without giving up the organization’s three best prospects. However, that’s not to say the club didn’t part with a vast collection of promising young players: SS Trea Turner (will officially be traded in mid-June), LHP Max Fried, RHP Zach Eflin, RHP Joe Ross, RHP Joe Wieland, RHP Burch Smith, CF Mallex Smith, INF Jace Peterson, RHP R.J. Alvarez, 1B Jake Bauers and 3B Dustin Peterson.

Austin Hedges is still one of the better catching prospect in baseball thanks to his elite defensive chops, but his bat dragged behind the rest of his game this past season at Double-A San Antonio.

Outfielder Rymer Liriano returned from Tommy John surgery to light up Double-A and Triple-A, but struggled in his first taste of the major leagues. 2013 first-rounder Hunter Renfroe also enjoyed a strong first full pro season, and then continued to showcase his prodigious power in the Arizona Fall League. Meanwhile, the Padres improved their middle-infield depth at last year’s trade deadline with the acquisitions of second baseman Taylor Lindsey and shortstop Jose Rondon from the Angels in the Huston Street trade.

There were questions about Turner’s bat when he was drafted (No. 13 overall pick in 2014), but the speedy shortstop certainly didn’t have any issues hitting Midwest League pitching last summer. However, he’ll join the Nationals in June as the “player to be named later” in the Myers trade. The Padres also landed a high-upside player in the second round in outfielder Michael Gettys, who’s loaded with tools and top-flight athleticism but is very, very raw and will need considerable time to develop in the minor leagues.

And while the team’s crop of young arms was depleted this offseason through trades, they still have Matt Wisler and Casey Kelly to look forward to in 2015.

Here are the San Diego Padres’ top 10 prospects for the 2015 season.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates system took a hit last year with Jameson Taillon’s Tommy John surgery, but fellow right-handers Tyler Glasnow and Nick Kingham picked up the slack in his absence, with the former posting video-game numbers in the Florida State League.

Meanwhile, switch-hitter Josh Bell’s season was very encouraging, to say the least. Bell was a bonus baby as a second-round pick in 2011 but then struggled out of the gate with injuries the following year and was surpassed by other players in the system. Thankfully, the 22-year-old was fully healthy in 2014 and finished the season in Double-A, where he showcased the pure hitting ability that made him so highly sought-after a few years back.

Outfielder Austin Meadows’ season was delayed by a hamstring injury, but the 19-year-old made an immediate impact following his return to action, joining fellow 2013 first-round pick Reese McGuire at Low-A West Virginia in the South Atlantic League.

Beyond that, shortstop Cole Tucker and right-hander Mitch Keller, the Pirates’ first- and second-round picks from 2014, both received positive reviews for their performances in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, and they both will be players to follow closely next season.

Here are the Pittsburgh Pirates’ top 10 prospects for the 2015 season.

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The once-stocked Cardinals system isn’t as strong as previous years, though that was to be expected after the team graduated Kolten Wong and Carlos Martinez to the major leagues last season and tragically lost a future star in Oscar Taveras.

Outfielder Stephen Piscotty didn’t come into the system with a lot of hype but has really turned into an excellent player; dude can flat-out hit, and he’s likely to get his first crack at the major leagues in 2015. 2012 second-round pick Carson Kelly made significant strides in his ongoing transition from third baseman to catcher, while outfielder Charlie Tilson staked his claim one of the team’s top position prospects.

As usual, the Cardinals’ system is also loaded with high-ceiling arms in the lower levels of the minors. 

Alex Reyes, a 20-year-old right-hander, has the best arm in the group behind a projectable 6’3″, 185-pound frame, but he’s still learning how to harness his outstanding stuff and throw strikes. 2014 first-round pick Jack Flaherty opened eyes in his professional debut after signing, making it clear why the Cardinals seemed designed their draft strategy around landing the prep right-hander.

Southpaw Marco Gonzales, the team’s first-round pick in 2013, excelled toward the end of the regular season and well into October, and it’s hard to see him not receiving strong consideration for a rotation spot next spring. Meanwhile, Rob Kaminsky, another undersized left-hander, has polish and a hammer breaking ball to complement an above-average fastball, both of which served him well last summer in his full-season debut at Peoria. 

Here are the St. Louis Cardinals’ top 10 prospects for 2015.

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The Cincinnati Reds’ top prospects can be broken down into two groups: outfielders and pitchers.

As you might have guessed, the Reds don’t have a particularly balanced system due to a lack of infield prospects. However, that shouldn’t detract from the fact that they have several players with bright futures in the major leagues.

Outfielder Jesse Winker is the best hitter in the system, boasting a sweet left-handed swing with an excellent approach and above-average raw power, while Yorman Rodriguez got his feet wet with the Reds last September. Meanwhile, shortstop Alex Blandino, the only non-outfield position player on this list, made a strong impression in his professional debut, finishing the season at a full-season level. 

The team’s top draft pick from last year, right-hander Nick Howard (No. 19 overall), will be a project as he transitions from college closer to full-time starter, although that’s also what everyone was saying at this time last year about right-hander Michael Lorenzen.

Lorenzen was a pleasant surprise this year, as the former two-way player at Cal State Fullerton spent his first full professional season in Double-A Pensacola’s starting rotation, pitching alongside top prospect Robert Stephenson. Meanwhile, some of the Reds’ younger arms also took steps forward last season, as Nick Travieso and left-hander Amir Garrett excelled as starters in the Midwest League.

Here are the Cincinnati Reds’ top 10 prospects for the 2015 season.

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The final week of 2014 saw Prospect Pipeline begin to roll out our annual team-specific top-10 prospect lists for the upcoming season, starting with the American League East.

Each list provides an in-depth look at one team’s farm system, complete with player rankings, comprehensive scouting reports and projections, and a list of other notable prospects to follow closely next season.

Our ranking process is rooted in scouting, as we evaluate each player’s present tools and skills in order to project his overall future potential (commonly referred to “OFP”) in the major leagues. From there, we come up with a single OFP grade for each prospect—based on the 20 to 80 scouting scale, where 50 is average—and also assign him a specific risk level (low, medium, high, extreme) based on the likelihood of him achieving maximum potential. So, basically, the rankings aren’t based strictly on pure upside. For more information on our evaluation and projection processes, be sure to check out the “How They’re Ranked” slide at the front of each team’s list.

Previously, an index of completed teams was included at the end of each list. However, to make sure fans aren’t missing out on their favorite teams, we’ve decided to put together an organized directory to highlight each team’s prospect rankings for the 2015 season. Please note: All upcoming rankings will be linked to their corresponding teams in the index as soon as they’re available.

American League Top 10 Lists

National League Top 10 Lists

Want to talk prospects? Hit me up on Twitter: @GoldenSombrero

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The Detroit Tigers have spent the last few years putting all their resources into the MLB club and ignoring the farm system. Therefore, while they’re winning at the highest level, the organization’s lack of impact talent and depth on the farm puts a lot of pressure on its big league roster to stay healthy. 

It certainly didn’t help the state of Detroit’s system that it traded arguably its top three prospects before the July non-waiver deadline, with right-handers Jake Thompson and Corey Knebel going to Texas in the Joakim Soria deal, and highly touted 19-year-old shortstop Willy Adames going to Tampa Bay as part of the three-team trade for David Price.

The Tigers have continued to ship off prospects in trades this offseason, trading second baseman Devon Travis to the Blue Jays, Robbie Ray and Domingo Leyba to the Diamondbacks, and finally, right-hander Jonathan Crawford (and Eugenio Suarez) to the Reds.

However, pitching prospects Kevin Ziomek and Austin Kubitza, the team’s respective second- and fourth-round picks in 2013, are still in the picture, with both coming off equally successful seasons as part of Low-A West Michigan’s starting rotation.

Center fielder Derek Hill, the team’s top draft pick (No. 23 overall) in 2014, gives the Tigers system some much-needed upside at an up-the-middle position, while right-hander Spencer Turnbull (second round) is another power arm who’ll be given a chance to stick as a starter.

Lastly, left-handed slugger Steven Moya enjoyed a monster year in the Eastern League, clubbing a career-high 35 home runs while pacing the league in most offensive categories. However, the 6’6” left-handed hitter’s swing-and-miss issues continue to fuel questions about whether he’ll make enough contact in the major leagues to utilize his robust power.

Here are the Detroit Tigers’ top 10 prospects for 2015.

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Heading into the 2014 season, it was almost a forgone conclusion that several of the Minnesota Twins’ top prospects would reach the major leagues. But that never happened.

Center fielder Byron Buxton, widely considered the sport’s top prospect, lost most of his highly anticipated campaign with a wrist injury and a concussion, while slugging third baseman Miguel Sano ultimately missed the entire season following Tommy John surgery.

The Twins’ first-round draft pick last year, Nick Gordon (Dee Gordon’s brother and Flash Gordon’s son), has a high ceiling as a true shortstop with a natural feel for hitting and the underrated strength to put the ball in gaps. The club also added several potential late-inning power arms in the draft in Nick Burdi, Michael Cederoth, Sam Clay and Jake Reed.

Beyond that, the Twins have an intriguing mix of high ceilings and depth on the mound, highlighted by hard-throwing right-handers Alex Meyer and Jose Berrios, both of whom are likely to reach the major leagues in 2015. Beyond that, the organization’s lower-level arms like Kohl Stewart, Lewis Thorpe and Stephen Gonsalves seem poised for breakout campaigns in 2015 and could end up being three of the more talked-about pitching prospects in the game by season’s end.

Here are the Minnesota Twins’ top 10 prospects for 2015.

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The Chicago White Sox may not have many big names on the farm beyond Carlos Rodon and Tim Anderson, the team’s first-round draft picks from the last two years, respectively, but they’ve quietly developed a deep system featuring a combination of high-probability and high-ceiling prospects.

Right-hander Tyler Danish, 20, likely projects better as a reliever due to a sidearm delivery, but the uniqueness of his delivery and stuff allowed him to dominate older hitters this season between Low- and High-A. Right-hander Francellis Montas missed part of the season with a knee injury, but he sits in the upper 90s with his fastball and is incredibly difficult to barrel.

Outfielder Courtney Hawkins, the No. 13 overall pick in 2012, rebounded well from an overaggressive assignment to High-A last year with a more consistent performance in his second tour of the Carolina League. That being said, strikeouts are still an issue and probably always will be.

Third baseman Trey Michalczewski flew under the radar with a solid full-season debut, and the 19-year-old switch-hitting third baseman is a candidate for a breakout performance in 2014.

The success and development of the team’s middle infielders this season was a bright spot, as shortstop Tim Anderson blew past expectations at High-A Winston-Salem and received a taste of Double-A, while second baseman Micah Johnson would have been a September call-up if not for a season-ending hamstring injury.

The White Sox landed NC State left-hander Carlos Rodon—the top talent and projected No. 1 overall pick when the season started—with the No. 3 overall pick in the draft, and the organization wasted no time putting the 21-year-old on the fast track to the major leagues. Following a similar developmental time line as ace Chris Sale, Rodon made stops in rookie ball and High-A before finishing his pro debut at Triple-A Charlotte. Meanwhile, the South Siders also found a potential steal in right-hander Spencer Adams in the second round (No. 44 overall pick), as the first-round talent flashed his huge upside in his pro debut.

Here are the Chicago White Sox’s top 10 prospects for 2015.

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The best way to describe Cleveland’s farm system after the 2014 season is sneaky good. Though it’s thin on pitching prospects (less so after this year’s draft), the Tribe have assembled a promising collection of young hitters, including several who are either switch-hitters or swing from the left side of the plate exclusively and project to remain at an up-the-middle position long term. 

Shortstop Francisco Lindor is an absolute wizard with the glove, and after the Tribe moved Asdrubal Cabrera at the trade deadline, the stage is now set for the 21-year-old to take over as the team’s everyday shortstop in 2015. Outfielder Tyler Naquin, the No. 15 overall pick in 2013, continued to silence his skeptics this season with a strong offensive campaign in the Eastern League. The 23-year-old also made strides with his defense in center field, easing some of the concern about his ability to handle the position at higher levels.   

The Tribe’s top draft pick from 2013, Clint Frazier (No. 5 overall), had an up-and-down full-season debut at Low-A Lake County, but the 20-year-old red-headed outfielder showed improvement during the second half and finished with respectable numbers.

As for this year’s draft class, the Indians added one of the top college bats in outfielder Bradley Zimmer (No. 21 overall), a high-probability left-hander in Justus Sheffield (No. 31), a polished (left-handed) college hitter in Mike Papi (No. 38) and a projectable right-hander in Grant Hockin (No. 61). 

They also landed one of the best all-around bats from the high school ranks in the third round in first baseman Bobby Bradley, and suffice it to say, the slugger made a strong impression by leading the rookie-level Arizona League in most offensive categories.

Meanwhile, the Indians have received breakout performances from 18-year-old catcher Francisco Mejia, who has some serious raw power and a patient approach, and 23-year-old shortstop Erik Gonzalez, who moved up the ladder one level behind Lindor.

Unfortunately, the Indians’ crop of pitching prospects isn’t nearly as impressive or projectable as their young hitters. Overall, the Tribe’s top arms are back-end types like Cody Anderson or guys who lack the command/control profile to stick in a rotation such as Dylan Baker, Dace Kime or Adam Plutko.

Here are the Cleveland Indians‘ top 10 prospects for the 2015 season.

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The San Francisco Giants may have won the 2014 World Series, but the season belonged to the American League Champion Kansas City Royals.

General manager Dayton Moore’s vision of building a winning organization based on strong scouting and player development finally was validated, as the Royals introduced a collection of homegrown talents to a national audience last October.

More importantly, the Royals already have another wave of talent within striking distance of the major leagues.

Kyle Zimmer, should he ever stay healthy for more than a half-season, has No. 1-No. 2 starter upside with athleticism, command and a near-double-plus fastball-curveball combination. Left-hander Sean Manaea took some time to adjust to professional baseball last season, making his professional debut at the High-A level, but the left-hander eventually found his groove en route to posting gaudy strikeout numbers.

Meanwhile, 22-year-old right-hander Christian Binford, whose plus command helped him climb to from High- to Triple-A last year, is already knocking on the big league door headed into 2015. 

2014 first-round pick Brandon Finnegan (No. 17 overall) made baseball history last fall by becoming the first pitcher to pitch in both the College World Series and World Series, but he’s likely to resume development as a starter next season after working out of the bullpen in his professional debut.

As for Kansas City’s other notable 2014 draft picks, left-hander Foster Griffin could receive a full-season assignment next year based on the merits of his strike-throwing ability and feel for mixing pitches, while catcher Chase Vallot already possesses arguably the best raw power in the system.

As for hitters, outfielder Jorge Bonifacio had a nightmare season in Double-A Northwest Arkansas, though, amazingly, he was still young for the level at 21. The team’s top prospect, 19-year-old shortstop Raul Mondesi, also had a forgettable year at the dish but still impressed by battling through a learning year in the Carolina League.

Here are the Kansas City Royals’ top 10 prospects for the 2015 season.

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