The top-400 prospect rankings are for dynasty leagues. This resource is for owners who play in single-season leagues, or in keeper leagues where prospects are rarely kept. These tiers serve as a way to rank prospects based on their fantasy potential for 2021. The rankings are not perfect — there are players I would take over a player or two in the tier(s) above them — but the tiered system is a nice way to get a feel for the type of prospect in whom you are investing.
Sorry for the delay on Vol. 2.0, I had to finish the divisional prospect articles first. Since Vol. 1.0, there has been a lot happening, and the spring action we're seeing is the first time we've gotten looks at many of these players in game action in a year.
TIER ONE - Semi-Established Five-Category Hitters
1. Randy Arozarena, OF, Rays
2. Ke'Bryan Hayes, 3B, Pirates
In Vol. 1.0, I had Sixto Sanchez and Ian Anderson alone in the top tier, but considering I have zero interest in either of those pitchers at their ADP but like the price on Arozarena and Hayes, I'm switching things up. We know Hayes will play every day and have a nice spot in the lineup, and we know Arozarena could go 20/20 if he stays in the lineup against most same-handed pitchers. Andres Gimenez would be in this tier if he were still a prospect. I have these guys much closer than
The top-400 prospect rankings are for dynasty leagues. This resource is for owners who play in single-season leagues, or in keeper leagues where prospects are rarely kept. These tiers serve as a way to rank prospects based on their fantasy potential for 2021. The rankings are not perfect — there are players I would take over a player or two in the tier(s) above them — but the tiered system is a nice way to get a feel for the type of prospect in whom you are investing.
Sorry for the delay on Vol. 2.0, I had to finish the divisional prospect articles first. Since Vol. 1.0, there has been a lot happening, and the spring action we're seeing is the first time we've gotten looks at many of these players in game action in a year.
TIER ONE - Semi-Established Five-Category Hitters
1. Randy Arozarena, OF, Rays
2. Ke'Bryan Hayes, 3B, Pirates
In Vol. 1.0, I had Sixto Sanchez and Ian Anderson alone in the top tier, but considering I have zero interest in either of those pitchers at their ADP but like the price on Arozarena and Hayes, I'm switching things up. We know Hayes will play every day and have a nice spot in the lineup, and we know Arozarena could go 20/20 if he stays in the lineup against most same-handed pitchers. Andres Gimenez would be in this tier if he were still a prospect. I have these guys much closer than ADP. Over the last 10 days in NFBC Draft Champions leagues, Arozarena's ADP is 56 while Hayes' is 135. They're both top-100 guys on my board.
TIER TWO - Top-40 Starting Pitchers
3. Sixto Sanchez, RHP, Marlins
4. Ian Anderson, RHP, Atlanta
Nothing has changed here. Anderson has looked good this spring and the Marlins are easing Sanchez into things. Both pitchers will have their workload managed this season, but Sanchez has better pure stuff. That said, I don't have any shares of either pitcher in a redraft league this year and think they're both being overdrafted to some degree based on the fact that I don't expect either guy to eclipse 150 innings.
TIER THREE - Hitters With Impact Potential
5. Dylan Carlson, OF, Cardinals
6. Andrew Vaughn, 1B/DH, White Sox
7. Alex Kirilloff, OF, Twins
8. Ryan Mountcastle, 1B/OF/DH, Orioles
9. Jarred Kelenic, OF, Mariners
10. Bobby Witt, SS/3B/2B, Royals
I've been ending up with Carlson, Vaughn, Kirilloff and Witt in some leagues. The first four guys have pretty stable skill sets, and with the exception of Carlson, they won't help with stolen bases. Kelenic and Witt are top-four overall prospects who are talented enough to swing leagues if they reach their short-term ceilings, but they could also very reasonably struggle to hit for a high average in their first taste of the majors. Jo Adell would be in this tier if he were eligible.
TIER FOUR - Mixed-League Pitchers
11. Trevor Rogers, LHP, Marlins
12. Triston McKenzie, RHP, Cleveland
13. Tarik Skubal, LHP, Tigers
14. Logan Gilbert, RHP, Mariners
Here's the recent ADP: Rogers (357), McKenzie (214), Skubal (310) and Gilbert (408). I'd jump Rogers several rounds ahead of ADP, but I'm more interested in Skubal and Gilbert at ADP. McKenzie should be fine, but I don't think he'll throw enough innings to justify the current cost.
TIER FIVE - Flawed Mixed-League Hitters
15. Bobby Dalbec, 1B, Red Sox
16. Nick Madrigal, 2B, White Sox
17. Leody Taveras, OF, Rangers
Dalbec is starting to look like Miguel Sano 2.0, which is a productive player, albeit one that I rarely attempt to build around due to the batting average risk. Madrigal is only interesting to me if he's leading off, otherwise he's a two-category (AVG, SB) guy. Taveras looks to be ticketed for the bottom of a bad Rangers lineup, but he'll steal 20-plus bases with double-digit home runs if he can hold an everyday job all season.
TIER SIX - Mixed-League Catchers
18. Alejandro Kirk, C, Blue Jays
19. Ryan Jeffers, C, Twins
20. Tyler Stephenson, C, Reds
21. Jonah Heim, C, Rangers
It's no guarantee that Kirk makes the Opening Day roster, but he'd be a top-15 catcher for me if he is playing 3-4 days per week. The other three have potential — Jeffers and Stephenson have 15-plus homer upside and Heim could hit for a solid average, but they're all pretty risky.
TIER SEVEN - Relievers
22. Emmanuel Clase, RHP, Cleveland
23. Garrett Crochet, LHP, White Sox
24. Michael Kopech, RHP, White Sox
I'm not not going out of my way to roster any of these relievers, but Clase has an avenue to saves and Crochet and Kopech are talented enough to be valuable even if they're not getting saves.
TIER EIGHT - Pitchers For Watch Lists/SP Streamers
25. Deivi Garcia, RHP, Yankees
26. Daulton Jefferies, RHP, Athletics
27. MacKenzie Gore, LHP, Padres
28. Dane Dunning, RHP, Rangers
29. A.J. Puk, LHP, Athletics
30. Nate Pearson, RHP, Blue Jays
31. Spencer Howard, RHP, Phillies
32. Casey Mize, RHP, Tigers
33. Ryan Weathers, LHP, Padres
34. Matt Manning, RHP, Tigers
35. Shane McClanahan, LHP, Rays
36. Luis Patino, RHP, Rays
37. Jackson Kowar, RHP, Royals
38. Alek Manoah, RHP, Blue Jays
39. Simeon Woods Richardson, RHP, Blue Jays
40. Chris Rodriguez, RHP, Angels
41. Clarke Schmidt, RHP, Yankees
42. Tanner Houck, RHP, Red Sox
43. Luis Garcia, RHP, Astros
44. Adbert Alzolay, RHP, Cubs
45. Keegan Akin, RHP, Orioles
46. Dean Kremer, RHP, Orioles
47. Josh Fleming, LHP, Rays
48. Jose De Leon, RHP, Reds
Some of these guys will get drafted in mixed leagues, but I'm not very interested in drafting any of them. The ones who go undrafted are guys worth monitoring, whether they're in the majors, the minors or on the injured list. The guys with the lower ceilings like Dunning, Akin, Kremer and Fleming are basically just streaming options for me.
TIER NINE - Hitters For Watch Lists
49. Bobby Bradley, DH/1B, Cleveland
50. Jeter Downs, 2B/SS, Red Sox
51. Heliot Ramos, OF, Giants
52. Pavin Smith, 1B/OF, Diamondbacks
53. Taylor Trammell, OF, Mariners
54. Jazz Chisholm, 2B/SS, Marlins
55. Jonathan India, 3B/2B, Reds
56. Kyle Isbel, OF, Royals
57. Josh Jung, 3B, Rangers
58. JJ Bleday, OF, Marlins
59. Adley Rutschman, C, Orioles
60. Wander Franco, 2B/SS/3B, Rays
61. Jarren Duran, OF, Red Sox
62. Zach McKinstry, 2B/OF/DH, Dodgers
63. Brandon Marsh, OF, Angels
64. Trevor Larnach, OF/DH, Twins
65. Josh Lowe, OF, Rays
66. Joey Bart, C, Giants
67. Nolan Jones, OF/3B/1B, Cleveland
68. Vidal Brujan, 2B/OF, Rays
69. Drew Waters, OF, Atlanta
70. Taylor Walls, SS/2B/3B, Rays
71. Tyler Freeman, 2B/SS, Cleveland
72. Julio Rodriguez, OF, Mariners
Some of these guys could open the year in the majors, and they could be worth adding in April if they're playing and performing. Most of the players in this tier will open the year at extended spring training and will head to Triple-A in May, where they will be worth monitoring in case a promotion appears to be on tap.
TIER TEN - Hitters For Deep Leagues
73. Jared Oliva, OF, Pirates
74. Akil Baddoo, OF, Tigers
75. Anderson Tejeda, 2B/SS, Rangers
76. Cristian Pache, OF, Atlanta
77. Monte Harrison, OF, Marlins
78. Yonathan Daza, OF, Rockies
79. Isaac Paredes, 3B, Tigers
80. Colton Welker, 1B/DH, Rockies
81. Luis Campusano, DH/C, Padres
82. William Contreras, C, Atlanta
83. Ka'ai Tom, OF, Athletics
84. Daniel Johnson, OF, Cleveland
85. Sam Huff, C, Rangers
86. Kevin Padlo, 3B/1B, Rays
87. Keibert Ruiz, C, Dodgers
88. Jake Fraley, OF, Mariners
89. Brent Rooker, OF, Twins
90. Luis Barrera, OF, Athletics
91. Ryan Vilade, SS/3B/OF, Rockies
92. Owen Miller, 2B/3B, Cleveland
93. Sheldon Neuse, 3B/2B/DH, Dodgers
94. Taylor Jones, 1B, Astros
95. Cal Raleigh, C, Mariners
96. Daz Cameron, OF, Tigers
97. Sherten Apostel, 1B/3B, Rangers
98. Andy Young, 2B, Diamondbacks
99. Jaylin Davis, OF, Giants
100. Yusniel Diaz, OF, Orioles
101. Khalil Lee, OF, Mets
102. Chas McCormick, OF, Astros
Most of these guys are borderline rosterable in 50-round draft and holds, but there's a chance a few of them could become useful in deeper leagues at some point this summer.
TIER ELEVEN - Pitchers For Watch Lists Pt. 2
103. Josiah Gray, RHP, Dodgers
104. Julian Merryweather, RHP, Blue Jays
105. Daniel Lynch, LHP, Royals
106. Reid Detmers, LHP, Angels
107. Corbin Martin, RHP, Diamondbacks
108. Cory Abbott, RHP, Cubs
109. George Kirby, RHP, Mariners
110. Brendan McKay, LHP, Rays
111. Braxton Garrett, LHP, Marlins
112. Edward Cabrera, RHP, Marlins
113. J.B. Bukauskas, RHP, Diamondbacks
Some of these guys are injured, some have no clear path to a rotation spot, some are relievers, and some may not even be ready to debut this year.
