2016 Eastern League Top 20 Prospects

LEAGUE SUPERLATIVES

Yoan Moncada

Championship Series
Akron (Indians) 3, Trenton (Yankees) 0

Best Record
Reading (Phillies), 89-52 (.631)

Most Valuable Player
Dylan Cozens, of, Reading (Phillies)

Pitcher OF The Year
German Marquez, rhp, Hartford (Rockies)

Did Not Qualify
Erick Fedde, rhp, Harrisburg (Nationals)

See Also: 2016 League Top 20 Index

As was the case last season, the Double-A Eastern League was a wellspring of talent. Ten first-round picks populate this list, which is topped by Portland second baseman Yoan Moncada, who won the Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year award and made his big league debut with the Red Sox in September. Seven others also made their major league debuts.

Reading outfielder Dylan Cozens, the league MVP, socked 40 home runs and drove in 125 runs to lead the minors in both categories. He helped guide Reading to the EL’s best record, but the Fightin Phils lost to Trenton in the first round of the playoffs. The Thunder team boasted outfielder Dustin Fowler, shortstop Tyler Wade and an imposing bullpen.

Even after losing 12 straight games at one point and losing some of its best players to promotions and trades, Akron rebounded in the second half to knock out Altoona in the first round and sweep Trenton. The Akron franchise earned its fifth championship and second against Trenton in the last five seasons.

1. Yoan Moncada, 2b/3b, Portland (Red Sox)

Age: 21. B-T: B-R. HT.: 6-2. WT.: 205. Signed: Cuba, 2015.

The Minor League Player of the Year, Moncada joined Portland on June 21 and skipped Triple-A on his way to a September callup with the Red Sox.

At Portland, he impressed evaluators with his array of tools. He has size, strength, athleticism and the ability and aptitude to hit for both average and power. Portland hitting coach Jon Nunnally worked with him to achieve fuller extension on his swing, rather than cutting it off early and sapping the power that flowed from his strength and bat speed. The result was 11 home runs in 177 at-bats, one fewer than he hit at low Class A and high Class A in his 534 previous at-bats.

Moncada has 70-grade speed on the 20-80 scouting scale and used it to swipe 94 bases in 109 attempts in the minors. He has begun the transition to third base, where evaluators believe he’ll have the athleticism and arm strength to handle the position.

AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
177	37	49	6	3	11	28	27	64	9	4	.277	.379	.531

2. Andrew Benintendi, of, Portland (Red Sox)

Age: 22. B-T: L-L. HT.: 5-10. WT.: 170. Drafted: Arkansas, 2015 (1).

The College Player of the Year in 2015, Benintendi rocketed through the minors in his first full pro season.

Presently locked out of center field in Boston by Jackie Bradley, Benintendi possesses the speed and smarts to handle left field—or center, if it opens. Armed with a smooth, balanced lefthanded swing, he keeps the barrel in the hitting zone a long time, sprays line drives to all sectors and has surprising power for someone of his 5-foot-10 stature.

Benintendi has above-average speed that serves him well, though he needs to improve his technique and efficiency after being caught nearly half the time at Portland. He sprained his knee late in the season with Boston but returned in mid-September and looks like a long-term everyday contributor.

AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
237	40	70	18	5	8	44	24	30	8	7	.295	.357	.515

3. Austin Meadows, of, Altoona (Pirates)

Age: 21. B-T: L-L. HT.: 6-3. WT.: 200. Drafted: HS—Loganville, Ga., 2013. (1).

Meadows made his mark on the EL in a short period of time, getting a late start because of an orbital fracture in his right eye. He also lost time late in the year with an oblique strain.
Meadows showed excellent routes and jumps in playing a strong center field, while his above-average arm could allow him to play right field in the majors if needed. At the plate, he showed a simple lefthanded swing with little wasted effort.

He also has an above-average idea of the strike zone with strong walk and strikeout rates in the EL. An above-average runner, Meadows projects as an everyday outfielder at the highest level with a chance to be an all-star.

AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
167	33	52	16	8	6	23	16	32	9	3	.311	.365	.611

4. David Dahl, of, Hartford (Rockies) |

Age: 22. B-T: L-R. HT.: 6-2. WT.: 195. Drafted: HS—Birmingham, 2012 (1).

Dahl showed the same all-around skill set that the Rockies coveted when they selected him 10th overall in 2012. When he reached the majors in late July, he tied a rookie record by collecting a hit in his first 17 games.

Dahl made small adjustments this year that produced big results. He worked to improve his balance in the batter’s box and to make the barrel of his bat flatter through the hitting zone. He has plus speed that plays both on the basepaths and in center field. He can stick in center field thanks to his acceleration and instincts but also has a strong, accurate arm that could serve him well in a corner. .

AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
288	53	80	21	2	13	45	39	85	16	5	.278	.367	.500

5. Lucas Giolito, rhp, Harrisburg (Nationals) |

Age: 22. B-T: R-R. HT.: 6-6. WT.: 255. Drafted: HS—Los Angeles, 2012 (1).

Desipte an enviable arsenal, Giolito needs to find the strike zone more often in order to reach his ceiling as a frontline starter.

Giolito’s fastball, which features above-average life, sits in the mid-90s and tops out in the high 90s. His curveball, a well above-average offering, features sharp, violent life with down action. His changeup has improved as well, to the point where it flashes above-average.

Giolito showed below-average control in his return to Harrisburg, with a walk rate of 4.3 per nine innings before a promotion to Triple-A Syracuse. Scouts who saw him this year say he struggled to land his curveball consistently and thus tended to pitch behind in counts. He also displayed a little bit of a lack of focus with runners on base, and opponents hit .281 against him in those situations across all levels.

W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	AVG
5	3	3.17	14	14	0	71	67	37	25	2	34	72	.247

6. J.P. Crawford, ss, Reading (Phillies) |

Age: 21. B-T: L-R. HT.: 6-2. WT.: 180. Drafted: HS—Lakewood, Calif., 2013 (1).

Crawford didn’t spend much time in his return engagement with Reading, but he continued to show the tools that helped make him the No. 3 prospect in baseball at midseason.

Crawford projects to be a major league shortstop because he’s a rangy, athletic defender with enough arm to stick at the position. He continued to show a disciplined hitting approach, with more walks than strikeouts at Double-A. However, he hit just .265 at Reading and then .244 after a promotion to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, and scouts noticed mechanical adjustments he needs to make.

In particular, Crawford has a tendency to open his hips early, step in the bucket and pull off the ball. If he can make the necessary fixes, he can be an above-average hitter with near-average power and average speed.

AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
136	23	36	8	0	3	13	30	21	5	3	.265	.398	.390

7. Amed Rosario, ss, Binghamton (Mets) |

Age: 20. B-T: R-R. HT.: 6-2. WT.: 190. Signed: Dominican Republic, 2012.

The Mets signed Rosario for $1.75 million in 2012, establishing a franchise bonus record for an international amateur. He had earned acclaim for his defensive prowess in pro ball, but he had not hit much—that is until a breakthrough 2016 season in which he hit .324/.374/.459 in 120 games at two levels.

Rosario is a lean, rangy, athletic shortstop whose hands and arm improved this season with more reps. He opened the year at high Class A St. Lucie, where the Mets tasked him with improving his plate discipline and laying off tough pitches out of the zone. He did that and earned a second-half promotion to Binghamton, where his walk rate held steady but his strikeout rate climbed.

Rosario’s above-average bat speed and potential for strength gains as he matures lead evaluators to believe he will develop at least modest power. For now, he projects as an above-average defensive shortstop with plus speed and the ability to make authoritative contact.

AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
214	38	73	14	5	2	31	19	51	6	2	.341	.392	.481

8. Clint Frazier, of, Akron (Indians) |

Age: 22. B-T: R-R. HT.: 6-1. WT.: 190. Drafted: HS—Loganville, Ga., 2013 (1).

The Indians traded Frazier, the fifth overall pick in the 2013 draft, to the Yankees in July as the key prospect for Andrew Miller. Frazier draws raves for his combination of plus power and above-average speed. His swing is short, compact and features some of the best bat speed in the minors, thanks to exceptionally strong forearms, hands and wrists. He’s also a baseball rat who zealously studies opposing hitters and pitchers.

Frazier’s speed allows him to play center field, but he saw most of his time at Akron and Scranton on an outfield corner. He has improved his reads and jumps this year. His well above-average arm positions him as a profile right fielder.

AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
341	56	94	25	1	13	48	41	86	13	4	.276	.356	.459

9. German Marquez, rhp, Hartford (Rockies)

Age: 21. B-T: R-R. HT.: 6-1. WT.: 185. Signed: Venezuela, 2011 (Rays).

Traded by the Rays to the Rockies for Corey Dickerson, Marquez had one of the biggest breakouts this year among pitchers.

Marquez comes armed with an electric fastball that sits in the mid-90s and can touch the high 90s. He couples the pitch with a hard-biting, downer plus curveball and a changeup that improved as the year progressed. His balanced delivery and clean arm action allowed him to show fastball command and impressive feel to pitch for a 21-year-old. He ranked third in the EL with 126 strikeouts.

W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	AVG
9	6	3.05	21	21	0	136	125	53	46	9	33	126	.245

10. Reynaldo Lopez, rhp, Harrisburg (Nationals) |

Age: 22. B-T: R-R. HT.: 6-0. WT.: 185. Signed: Dominican Republic, 2012.

Lopez has a whip-quick arm that generates fastballs that sit in the high 90s and can touch triple digits. He couples his fastball with a swing-and-miss changeup in the high 80s and a breaking ball in the high 70s that can be above-average but isn’t always consistent.

Lopez sometimes rushes his delivery and loses the strike zone. EL managers noticed that happened particularly when he pitched from the stretch. For that reason, some believe Lopez might be best suited as a reliever. He has shown flashes of brilliance as a starter, however, so the Nationals will continue to develop him in that role.

W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	AVG
3	5	3.18	14	14	0	76	69	35	27	7	25	100	.235

11. Raimel Tapia, of, Hartford (Rockies)

Age: 22. B-T: L-L. HT.: 6-2. WT.: 160. Signed: Dominican Republic, 2010.

One of the most confident and unorthodox prospects in the minor leagues, Tapia kept producing from Double-A onward this year and earned his first big league callup on Sept. 2. He has a flat barrel path that promotes plenty of contact, and he redoubles his efforts with two strikes by getting into a deep crouch that minimizes most of his usable strike zone.

Tapia won’t be a big-time power threat, but he has just enough pop to be dangerous. That’s especially true for a player who will play half his games at Coors Field.

Tapia improved this year as a defender in center field, particularly when it comes to his throwing accuracy. He also improved his jumps and breaks on balls. He projects a leadoff-type batter who can be a pest at the plate and on the bases.

AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
424	79	137	20	5	8	34	25	49	17	14	.323	.363	.450

12. Jorge Alfaro, c, Reading (Phillies) |

Age: 23. B-T: R-R. HT.: 6-2. WT.: 225. Signed: Colombia, 2010 (Rangers).

Part of the package that the Rangers used to pry Cole Hamels from the Phillies in July 2015, Alfaro is in the upper echelon of minor league catchers. His athleticism allows him to be faster than the average catcher and more flexible than most when blocking balls in the dirt.

Alfaro still has work to do behind the plate, especially when it comes to receiving and framing pitches, but his arm is among the game’s best. He posted pop times on throws to second base in the range of 1.8 seconds this year with Reading and cut down 44 percent of basestealers.

Alfaro shows some swing-and-miss at the plate, but he also has a powerful, high-effort stroke that produces doubles and homers to all sectors. The Phillies jumped him over Triple-A when they called him up, and he projects as the long-term heir to Carlos Ruiz.

AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
404	68	115	21	2	15	67	22	105	3	2	.285	.325	.458

13. Dylan Cozens, of, Reading (Phillies)

Age: 22. B-T: L-L. HT.: 6-6. WT.: 235. Drafted: HS—Scottsdale, Ariz., 2012 (2).

Cozens, the league MVP, led the minors with 40 home runs and 125 RBIs. He also amassed 186 punchouts, which ranked second in the minors only to Adam Brett Walker. Cozens has plenty of juice, and EL managers nearly unanimously awarded him best power in Best Tools balloting.

The question is: How much of Cozens’ power is real, and how much was fueled the cozy dimensions at Reading’s FirstEnergy Stadium? His lost more than 300 points of slugging percentage on the road.

Because of his power and his massive frame, Cozens’ speed can be overlooked. He swiped 21 bases in 22 tries this season and showed a tick above-average speed. His defense in right field is just average, and he’s worked to improve accuracy on his throws.

AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
526	106	144	38	3	40	125	61	186	21	1	.276	.350	.591

14. Bradley Zimmer, of, Akron (Indians) |

Age: 23. B-T: L-R. HT.: 6-4. WT.: 185. Drafted: San Francisco, 2014 (1).

As has always been the case, Zimmer’s calling card as a prospect revolves around his combination of power and speed and his strong defense in center field. He showed many of those same traits this year in a return to Akron, which won the EL championship, but he also showed a few warts.

A lanky player with long arms, Zimmer has a few holes he needs to close. Indians coaches worked with him to keep his bat in the zone through impact and also to adjust his bat path to allow him better access to inside pitches. Zimmer also has a severe platoon split and hit just .176 against southpaws at Double-A.

Zimmer always has been a strong defender and still projects to stay in center field, but he worked this year to improve his reads and jumps, especially on balls hit directly at him.

AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
340	58	86	20	6	14	53	56	115	33	13	.253	.371	.471

15. Dominic Smith, 1b, Binghamton (Mets) |

Age: 21. B-T: L-L. HT.: 6-0. WT.: 250. Drafted: HS—Gardena, Calif., 2013 (1).

Smith provided plenty of value on both sides of the ball as a 21-year-old in his first taste of Double-A. He’s got a smooth, powerful swing from the left side, and he closed a big hole as the year progressed.

Early on, Smith could be beat with inside pitches because his front side would open early and his swing would become loopy. He worked with Mets coaches to close that hole and keep his hands down and through the zone.

While Smith checks in at a listed weight of 250 pounds, he provides strong defensive value. EL managers saw a nimble defender with good hands and range at first base. Some noted that while his feet weren’t the quickest, he made up the ground with quick jumps. Some managers also noted that Smith was pulled from games for lack of hustle, and also noted that the errors he did make were due to lack of concentration.

AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
484	64	146	29	2	14	91	50	74	1	1	.302	.367	.457

16. Chance Sisco, c, Bowie (Orioles) |

Age: 21. B-T: L-R. HT.: 6-2. WT.: 195. Drafted: HS—Corona, Calif., 2013 (2).

Sisco is unquestionably on of the purest hitters in the EL, even if his offense came without much over-the-fence power. He does have some sock in his bat, as shown by a home run to center field at Petco Park during the Futures Game, but his approach shows he’s more content to patiently spray line drives around the park.

Sisco paced the EL with a .406 on-base percentage. He keeps his barrel flat through the zone and knows how to go with a pitch. He is, however, vulnerable to lefthanders and hit just .207 against them this year.

Sisco still has work to do behind the plate, particularly as far as controlling the running game is concerned. He has improved his blocking ability but still has work to go there and needs to improve his transfer on throws to second base. With some refinement, Sisco is in line to eventually replace Matt Wieters in Baltimore.

AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
407	51	130	28	1	4	44	58	82	2	2	.319	.405	.423

17. Tyler Beede, rhp, Richmond (Giants) |

Age: 23. B-T: R-R. HT.: 6-3. WT.: 210. Drafted: Vanderbilt, 2014 (1).

Beede dominated in his return to Richmond. He ranked second in the EL with 135 strikeouts as he abandoned his more contact-oriented approach from last season.

Beede held his mid- to high-90s velocity deep into starts, including a few fastballs that peaked at 97 mph. In his penultimate start of the season, he threw a two-hit shutout against Hartford on just 94 pitches. He struck out 11 that day, which tied a career high. He was particularly dominant in August, when he struck out 43 over 33.2 innings.

Beede also throws a two-seamer and changeup that grade as plus, and a breaking ball that has sharpened over the course of the season. With renewed ability to get swings and misses, he could have a future in the middle of a rotation.

W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	AVG
8	7	2.81	24	24	0	147	136	58	46	9	53	135	.248

18. Chance Adams, rhp, Trenton (Yankees) |

Age: 22. B-T: R-R. HT.: 6-0. WT.: 215. Drafted: Dallas Baptist, 2015 (5).

Before the season, Adams had made just 10 starts since high school. Those 10 came during his sophomore year at Yavapai (Ariz.) JC, before he transferred to Dallas Baptist for his junior year. He was used exclusively out the bullpen in his first pro test, too, but the Yankees wanted to try Adams as a starter. It worked. He was one of the most dominant pitchers in the Eastern League this year after an early promotion from high Class A Tampa.

Adams has a compact build, and he works over hitters with a heavy, mid-90s fastball, then finishes them off with a sharp-diving slider in the mid-80s and a changeup with fade in the high 80s that he developed over the course of the season with Trenton pitching coach Jose Rosado.

Adams also is working on a curveball, but it’s in the developmental stages at this point. The Yankees shut him down before Trenton reached the postseason due to an innings limit—he threw 127—but Adams passed his first full test as a starter with gusto and has a mid-rotation ceiling.

W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	AVG
8	1	2.07	13	12	0	70	35	20	16	5	24	71	.145

19. Kevin Newman, ss, Altoona (Pirates) |

Age: 23. B-T: R-R. HT.: 6-1. WT.: 180. Drafted: Arizona, 2015 (1).

Newman hit the ground running this season during his first test in full-season ball. After scorching the competition at high Class A Bradenton, he advanced to Altoona and continued to produce steadily.

With the Curve, Newman showed a controlled approached with contact ability to all fields and a touch of power to his pull side. Scouts also wanted to see a little more aggression to his offensive game. He has a chance to stick at shortstop, but some managers weren’t entirely convinced.

Newman’s detractors see a lack of lateral range and a bit of rigidity in his midsection that prevented him from getting down on balls hit in the hole toward third base. Even so, he’s a steady defender with a good internal clock. He might not be a superstar, but Newman has the skills to put together a solid, lengthy big league career.

AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
233	41	67	11	2	2	28	26	24	6	3	.288	.361	.378

20. Dustin Fowler, of, Trenton (Yankees)

Age: 21. B-T: L-L. HT.: 6-0. WT.: 195. Drafted: HS—Dexter, Ga., 2013 (18).

One of the EL’s best-kept secrets, Fowler earned raves as one of the league’s best defenders in center field and an posed an all-around threat to opposing pitchers.

Fowler led the EL with 15 triples—the most in the league since 1993—and also reached double digits with 31 doubles, 12 home runs and 25 stolen bases. He has the speed to bunt for hits if necessary.

Fowler is s a slam-dunk center fielder with range both side to side and front to back. He has an above-average, accurate arm. One manager noted Fowler had a vulnerability on the inside part of the plate, and he hardly ever walks. With improved selectivity, he has the ingredients to be a leadoff-type batter who can save runs on defense.