10 MLB Prospects Excelling Against Older Competition In 2021

Julio Rodriguez, OF, Mariners
Opening Day Assignment: High-A Everett
Opening Day Age: 20.34

Rodriguez has been outstanding from the first day of the season forward. He sandwiched a pair of stints with the Dominican Republic’s Olympic team in between stints terrorizing pitchers in the High-A West before moving to Double-A. After the promotion, Rodriguez hasn’t skipped a beat. He’s become the centerpiece of Arkansas’ lineup and is showing the hallmarks of a precocious, potential five-tool player.

Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Royals
Opening Day Assignment: Double-A Northwest Arkansas
Opening Day Age: 20.89

Under any circumstance, Witt’s season would be outstanding. Given the pandemic and the fact that Witt never played a game at a level higher than Rookie ball, his year is remarkable. Entering the season, Witt was billed as having the potential for five plus tools across the board. All season long, he’s proved those evaluations accurate. In a system bubbling with upper-level pitching, Witt’s offensive emergence (along with the mammoth rebounds from Nick Pratto and MJ Melendez) should help buttress Kansas City’s lineup for years to come.

Riley Greene, OF, Tigers
Opening Day Assignment: Double-A Erie
Opening Day Age: 20.6

Greene showed enough during the shutdown season to warrant a leap over High-A directly to his first upper-level test. So far, he’s passed with flying colors. He finished his turn in the Double-A Northeast ranked in the top five in all three triple-slash categories, including the second-place spot in batting average and third place in both slugging percentage and OPS. He hasn’t missed a beat since moving to Triple-A Toledo, where he’s slammed four home runs in his first 21 games.

Hunter Greene, RHP, Reds
Opening Day Assignment: Double-A Chattanooga
Opening Day Age: 21.74

After injury and underperformance marred the first years of his pro career, Greene came back with a vengeance in 2021. The righthander has paired his signature triple-digit fastball with a vicious slider and burgeoning changeup to strike out 136 hitters through his first 102.1 innings at the upper levels. He still has polish left to apply, but his rebound season—after two years between official games—has been a success.

Shane Baz, RHP, Rays
Opening Day Assignment: Double-A Montgomery
Opening Day Age: 21.88

With his work during 2020, Baz has elevated his ceiling. In the 2019 Arizona Fall League, he looked like a likely reliever who could blow hitters away at the end of a game. Now, thanks to improvements to his changeup, command and delivery, he looks the part of a valuable rotation piece. He’s walked just 12 hitters all season—with a stint with the Olympic team in the middle—while holding mid-90s fastball velocity into the middle innings of games.

George Valera, OF, Indians
Opening Day Assignment: High-A Lake County
Opening Day Age: 20.47

Valera’s first years as a pro were beset by injuries. This year, he’s made up for lost time in a big way. The 20-year-old has shown patience—his 61 walks entering Thursday were tied with fellow Top 100 Prospects Zac Veen (Rockies) and Robert Hassell III (Padres) for the sixth most in the minors among players 20 years old or younger—and power this season. His on-base percentage is fourth among his age group with 300 or more plate appearances.

Zac Veen, OF, Rockies
Opening Day Assignment:Low-A Fresno
Opening Day Age: 19.39

Veen, the Rockies’ first-rounder in the 2020 draft, has performed splendidly in his first taste of pro ball. The Florida high school product is one of three players with 400 or more plate appearances this season who have posted a slash line of .300/.400/.500. He’s paired those numbers with 36 stolen bases (though the rules changes at Low-A put those numbers in a different context), making for a smashing professional debut.

Eury Perez, RHP, Marlins
Opening Day Assignment: Low-A Jupiter
Opening Day Age: 18.05

Perez was the youngest player in all the minors on Opening Day, just days past his 18th birthday. Despite the inexperience, Perez made relatively easy work of the Low-A Southeast. Perhaps the most impressive part about Perez is the way he controls his massive body. He stands 6-foot-8 and as yet has not shown the control or command problems that usually come with someone that tall, especially considering his youth. He needs to sharpen his breaking ball, but his fastball and changeup each look like weapons already.

Nick Yorke, 2B, Red Sox
Opening Day Assignment:Low-A Salem
Opening Day Age: 19.09

Yorke’s selection was one of the biggest surprises of the 2020 draft. So far, the gamble has paid off handsomely for the Red Sox. Yorke is one of three minor leaguers with more than 400 plate appearances who are slashing .300/.400/.500 for the season and has looked like the consummate professional hitter. In particular, evaluators have noted his uncanny knack for making hard contact on fastballs and staying back on breaking balls.

Alek Thomas, OF, D-backs
Opening Day Assignment: Double-A Amarillo
Opening Day Age: 21.02

Thomas has long had a reputation as one of the best pure center field defenders in the minor leagues. This year, his offense has risen to another level. Among players 21 or younger at the upper levels with 350 or more plate appearances, Thomas’ .890 OPS places third, behind just Bobby Witt Jr. and Riley Greene, both of whom rank among the top five of BA’s Top 100 Prospects. There is an element of inflation because his home parks this season (Amarillo, Reno) are both extremely hitter-friendly, but Thomas’ blend of offense and defense makes for a very promising future.

League	Player	Position	Organization	Age	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Low-A East	OF	TEX	18.68	32	106	22	25	8	1	2	12	34	28	12	4	.236	.438	.387	.825
Low-A East	OF	CHC	18.99	97	376	54	104	19	2	4	32	29	67	8	2	.277	.330	.370	.700
Low-A East	2B	BOS	19.09	88	341	69	114	18	4	12	54	48	60	12	9	.334	.423	.516	.939
Low-A East	3B	CWS	19.15	105	393	53	92	21	2	12	53	45	107	12	2	.234	.337	.389	.726
Low-A East	Luisangel Acuña	SS	TEX	19.15	101	377	70	102	15	3	10	68	44	101	42	11	.271	.347	.406	.752
Low-A East	SS	CLE	19.2	87	335	39	79	15	1	2	31	20	104	2	3	.236	.281	.304	.586
Low-A East	Ed Howard	SS	CHC	19.26	70	267	28	58	8	2	4	28	17	87	6	1	.217	.273	.307	.580
Low-A East	SS	CLE	19.27	89	347	55	87	20	6	6	43	37	77	12	6	.251	.323	.395	.718
Low-A East	C	KC	19.4	65	231	21	40	9	2	3	19	14	64	3	0	.173	.225	.268	.493
Low-A Southeast	3B	PIT	18.75	80	263	36	56	10	0	7	40	40	79	1	0	.213	.329	.331	.660
Low-A Southeast	OF	DET	18.84	83	301	35	61	12	2	5	25	27	132	13	8	.203	.290	.306	.596
Low-A Southeast	SS	PIT	18.92	79	284	57	68	10	1	7	36	53	106	21	4	.239	.367	.356	.723
Low-A Southeast	3B	STL	18.95	73	289	55	93	23	3	10	39	31	72	12	2	.322	.394	.526	.920
Low-A Southeast	OF	PIT	19.1	78	242	45	49	7	7	1	26	37	95	19	4	.202	.318	.302	.620
Low-A Southeast	OF	NYM	19.11	6	24	6	10	2	0	0	4	7	6	2	3	.417	.563	.500	1.063
Low-A Southeast	SS	STL	19.12	91	359	72	85	17	5	5	44	46	93	30	5	.237	.325	.354	.679
Low-A West	SS	OAK	18.64	85	282	42	59	12	1	3	26	22	132	3	1	.209	.277	.291	.567
Low-A West	CF	OAK	18.9	79	313	50	71	10	4	13	43	33	83	14	7	.227	.312	.409	.721
Low-A West	2B	SD	18.98	93	389	74	133	24	6	4	60	34	66	18	6	.342	.397	.465	.862
Low-A West	SS	LAA	19.09	58	203	24	42	8	0	3	23	11	72	5	0	.207	.260	.291	.551
Low-A West	2B	LAD	19.12	91	330	66	90	24	1	12	71	65	121	1	0	.273	.390	.461	.851
Low-A West	OF	SF	19.26	100	419	68	125	30	1	12	75	19	60	21	4	.298	.333	.461	.793
Low-A West	OF	COL	19.39	101	379	79	115	25	4	15	74	61	118	36	16	.303	.402	.509	.911
Low-A West	C	OAK	19.44	57	222	39	68	20	1	12	49	27	61	2	1	.306	.390	.568	.957
Low-A West	SS	LAA	19.48	42	151	36	40	6	6	4	24	30	53	21	4	.265	.400	.464	.864
Low-A West	SS	SEA	19.55	100	417	87	114	24	2	17	71	58	107	23	7	.273	.369	.463	.832
High-A Central	1B	CLE	19.98	98	337	38	77	12	1	6	48	40	101	6	1	.228	.318	.323	.641
High-A Central	SS	CLE	20.03	65	226	26	41	9	0	7	26	29	80	1	2	.181	.272	.314	.586
High-A Central	SS	CLE	20.12	96	368	54	105	22	2	15	56	26	103	10	5	.285	.339	.478	.817
High-A Central	3B	STL	20.15	80	310	40	77	15	2	9	37	28	62	6	3	.248	.319	.397	.716
High-A Central	SS	CLE	20.3	97	392	71	106	22	4	15	58	32	94	18	9	.270	.344	.462	.806
High-A Central	RF	LAD	20.4	109	402	88	107	24	1	26	79	71	117	6	3	.266	.394	.525	.918
High-A Central	OF	MIL	20.41	85	306	39	83	16	4	1	36	34	70	14	6	.271	.344	.359	.704
High-A Central	CF	CLE	20.47	75	245	47	62	3	4	17	54	61	76	10	5	.253	.411	.506	.918
High-A East	SS	NYM	20.08	98	385	54	94	14	5	19	63	23	97	9	7	.244	.291	.455	.746
High-A East	OF	ATL	20.16	93	342	49	102	21	3	7	59	31	71	24	3	.298	.363	.439	.802
High-A East	SS	TB	20.26	85	338	49	72	12	3	6	39	30	118	20	17	.213	.285	.320	.604
High-A East	SS	PIT	20.34	81	334	63	91	17	2	14	43	29	95	23	6	.272	.333	.461	.794
High-A East	OF	HOU	20.41	16	42	10	9	1	0	3	7	9	22	1	1	.214	.365	.452	.818
High-A East	SS	NYY	20.88	97	396	65	117	25	2	14	49	31	96	34	6	.295	.356	.475	.831
High-A West	RF	SEA	20.34	63	245	51	84	15	2	10	38	39	60	16	3	.343	.445	.543	.988
High-A West	CF	ARI	20.7	7	23	9	10	1	2	2	5	6	7	3	1	.435	.552	.913	1.465
High-A West	SS	LAA	20.87	98	383	50	80	14	8	7	38	42	107	14	5	.209	.287	.342	.629
High-A West	2B	ARI	20.97	75	222	23	49	5	1	0	21	28	71	24	3	.221	.318	.252	.570
High-A West	SS	COL	21.22	96	384	75	102	14	4	1	33	33	82	57	14	.266	.343	.331	.673
High-A West	LF	LAA	21.31	26	73	9	13	2	0	1	4	5	31	2	1	.178	.259	.247	.506
High-A West	CF	LAA	21.54	66	258	35	58	7	2	5	27	26	102	16	3	.225	.295	.326	.620
Double-A Central	C.J. Abrams	SS	SD	20.58	42	162	26	48	14	0	2	23	15	36	13	2	.296	.363	.420	.782
Double-A Central	SS	KC	20.89	105	425	85	127	31	4	28	87	41	113	23	10	.299	.364	.588	.952
Double-A Central	C	STL	20.92	91	329	43	71	11	0	15	56	59	87	2	2	.216	.342	.386	.728
Double-A Central	3B	STL	20.98	101	411	65	118	17	1	22	67	33	101	7	0	.287	.341	.494	.835
Double-A Central	CF	ARI	21.02	88	355	65	103	22	9	13	51	44	81	12	5	.290	.377	.513	.890
Double-A Central	SS	ARI	21.53	72	245	43	53	7	4	4	26	44	72	5	4	.216	.347	.327	.673
Double-A Central	2B	SD	21.69	103	381	61	109	29	3	10	55	42	97	28	13	.286	.362	.457	.818
Double-A Central	3B	TEX	22.15	68	238	36	56	13	0	10	34	27	89	0	0	.235	.321	.416	.737
Double-A NE	OF	DET	20.6	104	406	75	120	19	7	21	74	51	128	14	1	.296	.380	.532	.912
Double-A NE	C	CLE	21.2	78	279	37	50	11	1	10	43	35	100	6	0	.179	.277	.333	.610
Double-A NE	C	TOR	21.22	32	126	29	47	9	1	8	45	14	22	1	2	.373	.441	.651	1.092
Double-A NE	3B	BOS	21.3	69	247	49	70	9	2	12	48	40	55	6	2	.283	.387	.482	.869
Double-A NE	3B	NYM	21.4	72	274	43	77	16	0	22	59	26	87	0	1	.281	.346	.580	.927
Double-A South	C	MIL	18.91	12	30	2	5	2	0	0	3	2	12	0	0	.167	.219	.233	.452
Double-A South	SS	MIL	20.27	43	114	18	24	3	1	1	18	16	43	9	0	.211	.321	.281	.602
Double-A South	SS	MIL	21.45	102	385	52	101	20	3	6	50	43	71	15	8	.262	.336	.377	.712
Double-A South	3B	CHC	21.86	92	337	54	72	15	4	16	58	36	112	15	2	.214	.289	.424	.714
Triple-A East	SS	TB	20.18	39	162	30	51	11	6	7	35	12	21	5	4	.315	.367	.586	.954
Triple-A East	SS	WAS	20.97	37	142	26	43	3	0	13	25	15	26	1	1	.303	.371	.599	.970
Triple-A East	SS	CLE	21.18	100	377	53	104	23	2	11	44	36	98	4	1	.276	.343	.435	.778
Triple-A East	C	PHI	22.19	58	204	25	39	5	0	0	15	20	40	1	0	.191	.272	.216	.488
Triple-A East	3B	DET	22.21	69	241	35	62	9	2	9	37	52	43	0	0	.257	.388	.423	.811
Triple-A East	CF	ATL	22.34	85	329	59	76	18	1	8	31	43	124	24	7	.231	.330	.365	.695
Triple-A East	C	MIL	22.45	32	107	15	25	5	1	2	18	4	26	0	0	.234	.282	.355	.637
Triple-A East	SS	BOS	22.75	58	195	25	45	4	1	6	28	27	41	2	0	.231	.319	.354	.672
Triple-A West	C	ARI	20.59	56	194	24	44	13	1	9	34	20	92	1	1	.227	.309	.443	.752
Triple-A West	CF	LAD	21.4	26	86	17	20	8	0	4	17	8	31	2	0	.233	.337	.465	.802
Triple-A West	2B	SD	21.63	77	294	53	74	9	3	7	32	47	46	9	5	.252	.352	.374	.726
Triple-A West	CF	SEA	21.8	30	125	29	40	9	1	9	28	15	22	6	1	.320	.392	.624	1.016
Triple-A West	CF	LAA	22.07	73	311	57	90	17	4	23	69	22	99	8	2	.289	.342	.592	.934
Triple-A West	SS	COL	22.21	99	400	71	115	24	5	6	39	31	78	12	3	.288	.336	.418	.754
Triple-A West	C	SD	22.6	81	292	47	86	21	3	15	45	27	66	1	0	.295	.365	.541	.906
Triple-A West	CF	TEX	22.65	87	322	57	79	19	2	17	55	49	95	13	5	.245	.343	.475	.818

 

League	Player	Position	Organization	Age	W	L	ERA	G	GS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	AVG	WHIP
Low-A East	RHP	ATL	19.57	3	6	2.91	20	20	99	66	39	32	7	29	127	.184	0.96
Low-A Southeast	RHP	MIA	18.05	2	4	1.70	18	18	69	38	20	13	5	24	100	.157	0.90
Low-A Southeast	RHP	TOR	18.57	2	3	4.96	14	6	32.2	24	24	18	2	26	45	.200	1.53
Low-A Southeast	RHP	PHI	19.19	0	2	4.35	6	3	20.2	17	10	10	1	10	20	.218	1.31
Triple-A East	LHP	STL	21.49	6	9	4.49	18	16	104.1	109	61	52	19	25	101	.267	1.28
High-A Central	RHP	SD	20.18	0	1	7.36	3	3	7.1	12	6	6	1	6	6	.353	2.45
High-A Central	LHP	STL	20.65	1	3	5.66	27	4	49.1	42	35	31	1	53	62	.231	1.93
High-A East	RHP	NYM	20.05	1	0	2.61	6	5	10.1	10	3	3	0	5	14	.250	1.45
High-A East	RHP	PIT	20.63	7	3	2.67	18	18	91	72	33	27	8	33	93	.216	1.15
High-A East	RHP	PHI	20.81	7	3	2.44	20	11	77.1	69	25	21	8	15	76	.234	1.09
High-A East	RHP	TEX	20.87	5	7	4.54	19	14	83.1	67	46	42	13	25	93	.214	1.10
High-A West	RHP	TOR	20.69	7	6	6.03	21	21	91	84	65	61	9	58	97	.239	1.56
High-A West	LHP	COL	20.74	4	9	6.32	20	19	89.2	86	68	63	10	62	102	.261	1.65
High-A West	RHP	SEA	21.24	2	3	6.55	12	12	45.1	53	34	33	9	18	49	.288	1.57
Double-A Central	RHP	TEX	21.44	3	3	2.50	17	17	72	34	21	20	6	26	89	.140	0.83
Double-A Central	RHP	KC	21.61	2	2	5.78	24	10	62.1	69	42	40	11	31	72	.280	1.60
Double-A NE	RHP	TOR	20.6	2	4	5.59	12	12	46.2	42	33	29	5	29	69	.240	1.52
Double-A NE	RHP	TOR	21.22	0	1	3.16	12	12	37	35	16	13	4	18	34	.254	1.43
Double-A NE	LHP	CLE	21.38	0	0	2.25	4	1	8	6	2	2	0	5	11	.207	1.38
Double-A NE	RHP	PIT	21.49	3	1	2.29	11	11	51	34	18	13	4	11	72	.183	0.88
Double-A NE	RHP	PHI	21.52	3	13	7.38	21	19	78	75	72	64	11	59	101	.250	1.72
Double-A South	RHP	ATL	21.57	1	4	5.35	11	11	33.2	32	20	20	5	22	41	.252	1.60
Double-A South	RHP	CIN	21.74	10	7	3.34	20	20	102.1	82	41	38	12	38	136	.218	1.17
Double-A South	LHP	LAA	21.82	3	4	3.15	13	13	60	48	24	21	10	18	106	.215	1.10
Double-A South	RHP	TB	21.88	4	4	2.11	16	16	72.2	47	18	17	8	12	103	.184	0.81
Double-A South	RHP	MIA	22.15	6	1	2.30	18	18	90	72	27	23	7	38	99	.222	1.22
Double-A South	LHP	TB	22.15	2	2	3.21	16	6	47.2	38	19	17	4	14	32	.216	1.09
Triple-A East	RHP	NYY	21.96	2	7	7.09	21	20	80	87	67	63	19	63	89	.277	1.88
Triple-A West	RHP	LAD	22.03	6	4	5.22	22	15	89.2	118	70	52	9	25	62	.311	1.59
Triple-A West	LHP	SD	22.19	1	3	4.14	10	10	41.1	40	23	19	3	20	45	.252	1.45