Updated Top-10 Prospect Lists: AL West

Below are the updated summer top-10 prospect lists for the orgs in the American League West. I have notes beneath the top 10s explaining why some of these prospects have moved up or down. For detailed scouting information on individual players, check out the player’s profile page which may include tool grades and/or links to Daily Prospect Notes posts in which they’ve appeared this season. For detailed info on players drafted or signed this year, check out our sortable boards.

Houston Astros (Preseason List)

1. Kyle Tucker, OF
2. Forrest Whitley, RHP
3. Franklin Perez, RHP
4. Yordan Alvarez, 1B
5. Derek Fisher, OF
6. J.B. Bukauskas, RHP
7. Gilberto Celestino
8. Daz Cameron
9. Cionel Perez, LHP
10. Colin Moran, 3B

Tucker has struggled to reach base in 50 games at Double-A, but the fact that he hit his way there at age 20 is impressive. He has one of the best hit/power combinations in the minors. Whitley has monster stuff and an advanced idea of how to use it. Perez has similar strike-throwing ability but his stuff isn’t quite as explosive. Alvarez has easy, comfortable power to all fields and looks like he’s going to hit. The small-sample stat line Fisher has posted in his short big-league stint is emblematic of what to expect from him long-term. He had a bad start but Daz Cameron is hitting .354 since July began. Moran is hitting the ball in the air more often this season.

Los Angeles Angels (Preseason List)

1. Jordon Adell, OF
2. Jahmai Jones, CF
3. Brandon Marsh, CF
4. Chris Rodriguez, RHP
5. Jaime Barria, RHP
6. Matt Thaiss, 1B
7. Griffin Canning, RHP
8. Jacob Pearson, OF
9. David Fletcher, SS
10. Jose Soriano, RHP

Jones has struggled with breaking balls this season but made some adjustments in Low-A, started hitting, and has continued to do so since promotion to High-A. Marsh has dealt with injuries but has the speed to play center and plus raw power projection. Chris Rodriguez was flashing three plus pitches in extended spring training. His results have been mixed since he was assigned to an affiliate. Barria could be a mid-rotation starter based largely on his command. Thaiss doesn’t have prototypical power for first base but might hit enough to be a low-end regular there. Fletcher projects as a utility man. Soriano is physically projectable and touching 96 here in Arizona after sitting 87-92 this spring.

Oakland Athletics (Preseason List)

1. Franklin Barreto, SS/CF
2. A.J. Puk, LHP
3. James Kaprielian, RHP
4. Dustin Fowler, CF
5. Jorge Mateo, SS/CF
6. Jesus Luzardo, LHP
7. Austin Beck, OF
8. Nick Allen, SS
9. Lazaro Armenteros, OF
10. Heath Fillmyer, RHP

While he frustrates scouts at times, Barreto is likely to hit, play somewhere in the middle of the diamond, and add some value on the bases. He’s already made his big-league debut at age 21. Armenteros has solved AZL pitching and is hitting missiles to both gaps. There’s lots of pressure on his bat because he’s likely a left-field prospect.

Seattle Mariners (Preseason List)

1. Kyle Lewis, OF
2. Nick Neidert, RHP
3. Sam Carlson, RHP
4. Evan White, CF/1B
5. Andrew Moore, RHP
6. Braden Bishop, CF
7. Max Povse, RHP
8. Julio Rodriguez, OF
9. Thyago Vieira, RHP
10. Ian Miller, CF

Scout think Lewis’s bat looks fine but are somewhat concerned about how gingerly he’s moving around and think he may have come back from his various knee injuries too soon. Neidert has fringe velocity but plus command projection. His ability to locate lets his changeup and breaking ball, which are both above-average pitches, to play up. Bishop might play such good defense in center field that he qualifies as a regular even if he bat lacks thump. Vieira is still kind of raw but has elite arm strength. Miller, an elite runner, is likely a bench outfielder.

Texas Rangers (Preseason List)

1. Leody Taveras, CF
2. Willie Calhoun, DH
3. Ronald Guzman, 1B
4. Cole Ragans, LHP
5. Yohander Mendez, LHP
6. Bubba Thompson, CF
7. Ariel Jurado, RHP
8. Hans Crouse, RHP
9. Joe Palumbo, LHP
10. Jose Trevino, C

Jurado and Trevino are trending down as both endure tough seasons in Double-A. Ragans moves ahead of Mendez, having impressed scouts in the Northwest League with his combination of a future plus changeup and a fastball that plays up in the zone despite modest velocity. Palumbo looked like a pop-up top-100 guy before requiring Tommy John.





Eric Longenhagen is from Catasauqua, PA and currently lives in Tempe, AZ. He spent four years working for the Phillies Triple-A affiliate, two with Baseball Info Solutions and two contributing to prospect coverage at ESPN.com. Previous work can also be found at Sports On Earth, CrashburnAlley and Prospect Insider.

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AstrosFuture
6 years ago

Is Paulino outside of the top 10 or no longer considered a prospect?

Also, what have you seen/heard about Celestino this season that warrants #7 overall? Not doubting the rank, just wondering why his stock has gone up so much.

Joe Joemember
6 years ago
Reply to  AstrosFuture

Pretty sure he had Celestino about where he is now in relation to other Astros prospects before the season. It seems like his rise is just based on guys getting promoted.