2021: Ranking The Prospects Traded at the Deadline
Image credit: Keibert Ruiz (Photo by John Williamson)
One of the wilder trade deadlines in recent memory is now in the rearview.
In total, 63 prospects were traded, including three Top 100 Prospects in Keibert Ruiz, Austin Martin and Josiah Gray, as well as three others (Joe Ryan, Simeon Woods Richardson and Pete Crow-Armstrong) who have spent time in our Top 100.
Below, find our ranking of every prospect that has switched organizations. You can also find detailed scouting reports for many of the names further down, and we’ll continue to add to it with more information as we obtain it.
| Rank | Player | Pos | Old Team | New Team |
| 1 | Keibert Ruiz | C | Dodgers | Nationals |
| 2 | Austin Martin | SS/OF | Blue Jays | Twins |
| 3 | Josiah Gray | RHP | Dodgers | Nationals |
| 4 | Joe Ryan | RHP | Rays | Twins |
| 5 | Simeon Woods Richardson | RHP | Blue Jays | Twins |
| 6 | Pete Crow Armstrong | OF | Mets | Cubs |
| 7 | Ezequiel Duran | SS | Yankees | Rangers |
| 8 | Josh Smith | SS | Yankees | Rangers |
| 9 | Tucupita Marcano | IF | Padres | Pirates |
| 10 | Drew Strotman | RHP | Rays | Twins |
| 11 | Hans Crouse | RHP | Rangers | Phillies |
| 12 | Austin Shenton | 3B | Mariners | Rays |
| 13 | Greg Deichmann | OF | Athletics | Cubs |
| 14 | Carter Bins | C | Mariners | Pirates |
| 15 | Alexander Canario | OF | Giants | Cubs |
| 16 | Gerardo Carrillo | RHP | Dodgers | Nationals |
| 17 | Alexander Vizcaino | RHP | Yankees | Cubs |
| 18 | Kevin Alcantara | OF | Yankees | Cubs |
| 19 | Glenn Otto | RHP | Yankees | Rangers |
| 20 | Caleb Kilian | RHP | Giants | Cubs |
| 21 | Noah Davis | RHP | Reds | Rockies |
| 22 | Mason Thompson | RHP | Padres | Nationals |
| 23 | Reese Olson | RHP | Brewers | Tigers |
| 24 | Jack Suwinski | OF | Padres | Pirates |
| 25 | Trevor Hauver | 2B/OF | Yankees | Rangers |
| 26 | Donovan Casey | OF | Dodgers | Nationals |
| 27 | Peyton Battenfield | RHP | Rays | Indians |
| 28 | Daniel Palencia | RHP | Athletics | Cubs |
| 29 | Aldo Ramirez | RHP | Red Sox | Nationals |
| 30 | Riley Adams | C | Blue Jays | Nationals |
| 31 | Ricky DeVito | RHP | Braves | Pirates |
| 32 | Payton Henry | C | Brewers | Marlins |
| 33 | Drew Millas | C | A’s | Nationals |
| 34 | Alberto Ciprian | 3B | Brewers | D-Backs |
| 35 | Diego Castillo | 2B/SS | Yankees | Pirates |
| 36 | Calvin Faucher | RHP | Twins | Rays |
| 37 | Konnor Pilkington | LHP | White Sox | Indians |
| 38 | Janson Junk | RHP | Yankees | Angels |
| 39 | Bailey Horn | LHP | White Sox | Cubs |
| 40 | Elvis Peguero | RHP | Yankees | Angels |
| 41 | Bryan De La Cruz | OF | Astros | Marlins |
| 42 | Jose Marte | RHP | Giants | Angels |
| 43 | Anderson Espinoza | RHP | Padres | Cubs |
| 44 | Richard Guasch | RHP | A’s | Nationals |
| 45 | Bryce Ball | 1B | Braves | Cubs |
| 46 | Abrahan Gutierrez | C | Phillies | Pirates |
| 47 | Alex Jackson | C | Braves | Marlins |
| 48 | Kasey Kalich | RHP | Braves | Royals |
| 49 | Yainier Diaz | C | Indians | Astros |
| 50 | Evan Sisk | LHP | Cardinals | Twins |
| 51 | Braeden Ogle | LHP | Pirates | Phillies |
| 52 | Alex Scherff | RHP | Red Sox | Twins |
| 53 | Hoy Park | SS | Yankees | Pirates |
| 54 | Kevin Gowdy | RHP | Phillies | Rangers |
| 55 | Michell Miliano | RHP | Padres | Pirates |
| 56 | Joaquin Tejada | RHP | Mariners | Pirates |
| 57 | Ivan Armstrong | RHP | Giants | Angels |
| 58 | Cooper Hummel | OF/C | Brewers | D-Backs |
| 59 | Seth Shuman | RHP | A’s | Nationals |
| 60 | Case Williams | RHP | Reds | Rockies |
| 61 | Josh Gessner | RHP | Phillies | Rangers |
| 62 | Jordy Barley | OF | Padres | Nationals |
| 63 | Matthew Dyer | C | Mets | Rays |
1. Keibert Ruiz, C (Nationals)
Trade analysis: Dodgers, Nationals swing blockbuster Scherzer-Turner deal
Ruiz is the third-best catching prospect in baseball and the No. 16 prospect overall. The switch-hitter has elite strike-zone discipline, almost never swings and misses and has excellent plate coverage. Even when he’s fooled, he has special hand-eye coordination that allows him to put almost any ball in play. He is a consensus plus hitter and should has all the skills to hit .300 in his best years. Ruiz previously struggled to tap into power, but he got stronger and improved his pitch selection this year to pick out better pitches to drive. He’s hit career-high 17 home runs in only 58 games this year, doing most of his damage in one of Triple-A West’s few pitcher-friendly parks in Oklahoma City. Ruiz’s lefthanded swing is much more impactful than his righthanded swing, but he is able to make contact from both sides. Ruiz’s defense has steadily improved to make him an all-around contributor. He is an above-average receiver, has a feel for timing on blocks and has improved his game-calling, which was previously a weak point. Ruiz’s arm strength is fringy to average and plays down due to occasional footwork and transfer issues. Opponents run on him freely and stole 27 bases in 33 attempts against him this year. Ruiz has the potential to be one of the best-hitting catchers in baseball. His defense still needs polish, but he has the skills to remain behind the plate and is nearly ready for an everyday job in the majors.
2. Austin Martin, SS/OF Twins
Trade analysis: Jays land Berrios in exchange for Martin, Woods-Richardson
Martin was considered a possibility for the No. 1 overall pick in last year’s draft but instead fell to No. 5. He jumped immediately to Double-A New Hampshire to start his pro career this season and hit .281/.424/.383 with two home runs and 16 RBIs in 55 games while splitting his time almost evenly between shortstop (27 games and center field (26 games). Martin has a very good approach at the plate. He works counts, doesn’t expand the strike zone and has solid bat speed through the zone. More pure hitter than masher, Martin doesn’t make much impact when he connects and projects for average power at best. He is a divisive player among scouts: some see a good athlete who controls the strike zone and has handled an aggressive jump fairly well, while others see a light hitter who will have to add significant defensive value to be an above-average everyday player. Martin was drafted as a shortstop, but his actions and below-average, erratic arm don’t fit at the position. He has a good first step and instincts in center field and has shown the ability to pick up the position quickly. His arm strength and lack of accuracy precludes him from playing the left side of the diamond or right field, so he’ll have to find a way to stick in center field or bounce around between center, left and second base.
3. Josiah Gray, RHP (Nationals)
Trade analysis: Dodgers, Nationals swing blockbuster Scherzer-Turner deal
Gray is the No. 68 prospect in baseball and is ready to step into the Nationals rotation from day one. He is a strong, athletic righthander who was previously a shortstop and has a fresh, powerful arm. Gray’s fastball is a dominant pitch that ranges from 93-97 mph and plays up with late running life. Other pitchers throw harder, but Gray misses more bats because he commands his fastball and holds its velocity and life deep into outings. His sharp slider is an above-average, swing-and-miss pitch he commands well to give him a go-to secondary offering. Gray’s changeup remains a work in progress. He has worked to add tail and drop to it and it flashes average at its best, but too often he throws it too hard in the upper-80s and it stays straight over the plate, where batters unload on it. Gray has a noted competitive streak and rises to his best in big matchups. He attacks the strike zone aggressively with above-average control and stays composed in high-profile settings. Gray has all the ingredients to be a mid-rotation starter if he can improve his changeup just a tick more. Otherwise, the quality of his fastball and slider are good enough to get him through a lineup two times and make him a solid back of the rotation starter. Gray did miss the season’s first two months with shoulder inflammation, but he has otherwise stayed healthy and showed he was durable with 130.1 innings in his first full professional season in 2019.
4. Joe Ryan, RHP (Twins)
Trade analysis: Twins send Nelson Cruz to Tampa Bay for two pitching prospects
Ryan gives the Twins a nearly MLB-ready pitcher with a chance to start. He was slated to rank seventh among the Rays Top 30 at the midseason update. Ryan has been able to dominate minor league lineups with a very fastball-heavy approach and plus control. Ryan’s fastball doesn’t have overwhelming velocity (it sits 90-93 mph and tops out at 94-96) and it doesn’t have the massive spin rates/movement profile that generally indicates massive carry at the top of the zone. But Ryan hides the ball well and has consistently gotten swings and misses with his fastball. This year, Triple-A hitters have swung and missed at 20 percent of his fastballs in the strike zone. His low-80s, fringe-average slider does get some chases out of the zone and he’s gotten better at spotting it on the outer third and down-and-away out of the zone to righthanded hitters. But it’s not a weapon, and neither is his slow, early-count get-over curveball. He throws an average changeup, mainly to lefties. Ryan’s fastball-heavy approach raises some concerns about how well it will work turning over a lineup multiple times as a major league starter, but he’s had success with his approach at all levels of the minors and there are evaluators who believe his fastball will continue to be successful against MLB hitters. At worst, he should be a useful reliever, but his durability and plus control should give him a shot at starting.
5. Simeon Woods Richardson, RHP (Twins)
Trade analysis: Jays land Berrios in exchange for Martin, Woods-Richardson
Originally acquired from the Mets in the Marcus Stroman trade, Woods Richardson began the season as a Top 100 prospect but struggled to a 2-4, 5.76 mark at Double-A New Hampshire, albeit as one of the youngest pitchers in the league. He has a strong, physical build and a well-rounded three-pitch mix. His fastball ranges from 90-93 mph, his 76-79 mph curveball is a potential plus pitch with great depth and his 79-81 mph changeup flashes average. Woods Richardson has a stiff, mechanical delivery that affects his control and he doesn’t much deception, allowing hitters to see the ball well. Some feel adjustments to his lower half will help him unlock his athleticism and improve his stuff and command. Woods Richardson has the potential to be a back-of-the-rotation starter in the eyes of those most bullish on him, but others are skeptical his stuff will play multiple times through an order against major league hitters and think he’ll end up a 2-3 inning reliever who doesn’t face the same hitter twice.
6. Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF (Cubs)
Trade analysis: Mets make a splash by acquiring Javier Baez
The 19th overall pick in last year’s draft, Crow-Armstrong got off to a 10-for-24 start this season at Low-A St. Lucie before suffering a torn labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder that required season-ending surgery. He ranked as the Mets No. 6 prospect in their midseason update. Crow-Armstrong is an elite defensive center fielder for his age. He is a graceful athlete with plus speed who glides to the ball and makes the position look easy. He has elite instincts, plays fast and has a plus arm, giving him all the tools to be a perennial Gold Glove defender in the future. At the plate Crow-Armstrong takes controlled, mature at-bats, doesn’t have many holes in his swing and uses the whole field, but he doesn’t hit the ball very hard and has a lot of strength gains he needs to make. He has room to get more physical and add power, but it will be a long process. Crow-Armstrong’s speed, defense and instincts are carrying assets that should help him rise to the majors. Even if he just hits .250 with 10-15 home runs, he’ll be an everyday regular in center field.
7. Ezequiel Duran, 2B (Rangers)
Trade analysis: Yankees acquire Gallo in blockbuster deal
Duran hit .290/.374/.533 with 12 home runs, 48 RBIs and 12 stolen bases for High-A Hudson Valley this year. He is a short but strong righthanded hitter with a balanced swing, plenty of bat speed and sneaky power. He is an aggressive hitter in the strike zone but has improved his pitch recognition to lay off more pitches out of the strike zone. Duran is driven by his bat. He is an adequate defensive second baseman with good hands, but he sits back on balls too much and doesn’t put himself in good positions to make plays. He shows enough flashes of potential to stay at the position for now.
8. Josh Smith, SS (Rangers)
Trade analysis: Yankees acquire Gallo in blockbuster deal
A second-round pick out of Louisiana State in 2019, Smith hit .324/.448/.641 with nine home runs, 39 RBIs and 17 stolen bases in 39 games between the two Class A levels and was one of the biggest risers in the Yankees system. He has a long history of making contact and rarely swings and misses, and he’s added the strength to hit balls harder and shed the “light-hitting shortstop” label he previously had. Smith primarily hits line drives, but he’s added a bit more launch angle to his swing and has started to hit more balls over the fence. Defensively, Smith is an average shortstop with solid hands and excellent instincts, although some scouts believe he’ll move to second base because he’s not particularly twitchy. Smith has a history of injuries, including a stress reaction in his back in college, but he’s performed when healthy and has a long track record of hitting for average while playing solid defense in the middle infield.
9. Tucupita Marcano, IF (Pirates)
Trade analysis: Breaking down the Padres-Pirates Adam Frazier deal
Marcano was set to rank as San Diego’s No. 7 prospect in our midseason update. And while the Padres’ system has thinned a bit, Marcano quickly hit his way into a brief bench role this season in San Diego, where he batted .182 in 25 games. Marcano has otherwise spent all year at Triple-A El Paso, hitting .272/.367/.444 in his first extended action in the upper minors. Marcano’s simple, direct stroke and an advanced approach allows him to pile up hits in bunches. Power will never be a leading part of his game, but Marcano has added a bit of strength this year and his six homers at Triple-A represent a career high, even if it’s in a hitter-friendly environment. Marcano is a plug-and-play type who has bounced around defensively, capable at multiple infield spots, and even began seeing action in corner outfield positions.
10. Drew Strotman, RHP (Twins)
Trade analysis: Twins send Nelson Cruz to Tampa Bay for two pitching prospects
Strotman has bounced back from Tommy John surgery in 2019 and was slated to rank No. 23 in the Rays midseason prospects update. His stuff is every bit what it was before the surgery, but his control has not been as sharp since his return. Strotman mixes a 92-95 mph fastball with a hard, high-80s slider that sometimes has depth. He’s added a high-80s/low-90s cutter that is equally effective. Strotman commands his slider and cutter better than his fastball, and at times he will use them to get back to even in counts. He also throws a slower mid-70s curveball that he doesn’t command all that well, but it can be used as a surprise early-count strike. His changeup has improved to the point that it gives him a third average offering. It has solid deception and some late arm-side fade. It’s proven to be a swing-and-miss pitch for him in Triple-A. Strotman has a varied assortment, solid stuff and upper-level success. For a Twins team that needs pitching for 2022 and beyond, he’s a useful addition who could start. Improving his fringy control is the remaining item on his to-do list.
11. Hans Crouse, RHP (Phillies)
Trade analysis: Phillies bolster rotation, bullpen in deal with Rangers
Crouse, who ranked 11th on the Rangers’ midseason Top 30 Prospects list, doesn’t throw as hard as he did in high school, but he has a much better sense of where the pitch is going when he releases it and a better idea of how to trick a hitter. He had bone chips removed from his elbow in 2019. His fastball can still touch 95 mph, but he’s now relying on keeping hitters guessing with a slider and changeup as well.
12. Austin Shenton, 3B (Rays)
Trade analysis: Mariners land Diego Castillo as potential new closer
A fifth-round pick out of Florida International in 2019, Shenton ranked among the minor league leaders in OPS this season and was the Mariners No. 12 prospect in their Midseason Update. He hit .300/.414/.566 with 12 home runs and 41 RBIs in 67 games and was recently promoted to Double-A. Shenton has all the tools to hit with above-average bat speed, impressive contact skills and the ability to drive the ball the other way from the left side. He is a well below-average defender at third base and faces questions about his future position, but there is a lot of confidence he will hit enough to have at least a semi-regular role and possibly even be a regular.
13. Greg Deichmann, OF (Cubs)
Trade analysis: Andrew Chafin From Cubs In Exchange For A Pair Of Prospects”>Cubs ship Chafin to A’s for two top-20 prospects
Deichmann, who was set to rank No. 7 on the A’s midseason Top 30 Prospects list, has been a bit of a confounding prospect in Oakland. Injuries dating back to his final year at Louisiana State in 2017 delayed his development, explaining why he’s just now getting regular Triple-A reps at 26 years old. When healthy, he’s shown easy plus raw power from the left side, highlighted by a memorable 2019 Arizona Fall League showing in which he ambushed pitchers for nine homers in 23 games. But Deichmann didn’t get to that power in games as much as one might expect, hampered by a strikeout rate that hovered around 30% in 2018 and 2019. Deichmann took steps to alleviate the swing-and-miss concerns this year, shortening his swing and tightening his approach at Triple-A Las Vegas. The result was a surging walk rate (19.1%) and a much more palatable strikeout rate (23%). Now the question is how frequently he’ll get to that power. He’s been productive, hitting .300/.432/.449, but not as powerful as you’d expect, hitting just four homers. Deichmann has a strong arm and adequate speed, and can capably handle right field.
14. Carter Bins, C (Pirates)
Trade analysis: Mariners acquire Tyler Anderson from Pirates in exchange for Bins, Tejada
Bins was arguably the most improved player in the Mariners system before they traded him to the Pirates. An 11th-round pick from Fresno State in 2019, he capably handled a high-octane staff at High-A Everett and projected to be an above-average defensive catcher with his improvements to his range, blocking and receiving. Offensively, he got a lot stronger to impact the ball more and is recognizing balls and strikes better than in previous years. He hit .284/.422/.493 at High-A Everett before receiving a promotion to Double-A Arkansas earlier this month. He projects to be a strong defensive catcher with good on-base skills at the plate.
15. Alexander Canario, OF (Cubs)
Canario had surgery last fall to clean up a torn labrum in his left shoulder. He played through injury during the 2019 season, but a dislocation suffered while playing the outfield at instructional league necessitated the surgery. At his best, Canario was one of the brightest prospects in the Giants’ system, boasting raw power that rivals any of his talented teammates at Low-A San Jose. He worked hard to clean up his plate discipline and cut down on his swing and miss in order to unlock more of that power under the lights. He still has room to go and hit just .235/.325/.433 with nine home runs this year. He mostly needs to clean up some mechanical issues at the plate, including his hips flying open early and leaking to his pull side. Defensively, he has a chance to play center field but will most likely settle into a corner spot, where his power and plus arm will profile.
16. Gerardo Carrillo, RHP (Nationals)
Trade analysis: Dodgers, Nationals swing blockbuster Scherzer-Turner deal
Carrillo was the Dodgers No. 22 prospect in their midseason rankings. He is an undersized rigthander with a huge arm but very little control. He went 3-2, 4.25 in 15 appearances (14 starts) with Double-A Tulsa this year. He had 70 strikeouts in 59.1 innings, but also 29 walks and 16 hit batters. Carrillo generates huge run and sink on his 94-97 mph fastball and can reach 99. His short, 89-91 mph slider is another swing-and-miss pitch that moves in the opposite direction and he’ll flash an average changeup. Carrillo generates his velocity with remarkable ease for his size, but often has no idea where the ball is going from one pitch to the next. He’s completed five innings only three times in 14 starts this year and has a habit of looking great for one inning and falling apart the next. Carrillo doesn’t have the control to start, but his power stuff should play even better in one-inning stints. If he shows he can throw strikes more consistently in one-inning bursts, he has a chance to be a high-leverage reliever.
17. Alexander Vizcaino, RHP (Cubs)
Trade analysis: Cubs ship Rizzo to Yankees for 2 prospects
Vizcaino dealt with a shoulder impingement to start the season, but when healthy can run his fastball up to 99 mph and back it with a slider scouts have graded as high as a 70 on the 20-80 scale. He’s had trouble finding consistency with his slider, and the Yankees tweaked the pitch’s grip this season to try to find more consistency. The Yankees were high enough on Vizcaino’s potential that they brought him to their alternate training site in 2020 despite the fact that he had not pitched above High-A. At the ATS, the team’s pitching instructors also added hip turn to his delivery in an effort to keep him on-line toward home plate.
18. Kevin Alcantara, OF (Cubs)
Trade analysis: Cubs ship Rizzo to Yankees for 2 prospects
Alcantara was part of a treasure trove of players the Yankees signed in 2018, and boasted one of the highest ceilings in the group. His body reminds some evaluators of Marlins outfielder Lewis Brinson. He makes hard contact when he connects, but the Yankees were working with him to help him become more selective when he chooses to swing. He’s a long strider in the outfield and has plenty of speed to chase balls in center field. Alcantara has a high ceiling and will also require a lot more polish—the lost 2020 season was especially damaging to the development of younger, more untested players like him—but if it all comes together the Cubs could have a very intriguing player on their hands.
19. Glenn Otto, RHP (Rangers)
Trade analysis: Joey Gallo From Rangers In Blockbuster Eight-Player Trade”>Yankees acquire Gallo in blockbuster deal
A fifth-round pick out of Rice in 2017, Otto took a jump this year after reworking his delivery and adding a slider to his arsenal. Otto’s fastball sits at 92-93 mph and touches 95-96. Though he sat at the same velocity in previous years, he improved the timing and extension in his delivery to give his fastball more riding life and get more swings and misses this year. He can pitch up the zone with his fastball or locate it to both sides of the plate with occasional armside run. Otto’s slider has rapidly developed into a pitch he can land for strikes or get swings and misses with. It’s effective against both lefties and righties and has already become his go-to secondary offering Otto also has a potentially average curveball that is effective against righthanders and his mid-80s changeup has a chance to be an above-average pitch. His control has improved with his delivery fixes to give him a viable chance to start. Otto’s fastball straightens out at times and he still has some things to clean up in his delivery, but everything is trending up. He was recently promoted to Triple-A and is not far from his major league debut.
20. Caleb Kilian, RHP (Cubs)
One of the Giants’ biggest success stories this year, Kilian carved up his competition with 96 strikeouts and just nine walks in 84.2 innings across the High-A and Double-A levels. He gets his outs with a variety of four-seam, two-seam and cut fastballs which he commands and controls to all sectors of the strike zone. He can run all of his fastballs into the mid 90s. He has improved his curveball and changeup as well, but none of his pitches ranks as a true standout. Instead, he succeeds moving the ball around the strike zone, changing eye levels and getting hitters to swing and miss over and over again with his variety of pitch movements.
21. Noah Davis, RHP (Rockies)
Trade analysis: Mychal Givens From Rockies”>Reds bolster bullpen with Givens acquisition
Davis ranked as the Reds No. 15 prospect entering the year and posted a 3.60 ERA in 13 starts for High-A Dayton. He is an athletic 6-foot-2 righthander who had Tommy John surgery in college but returned with his stuff intact. His fastball sits 93-95 mph with solid carry and his sharp slider flashes plus with exceptional movement, although his command of the slider can be inconsistent and he is prone to hitting lefthanded batters in the foot with it. Davis’ fastball and slider give him promise, but his changeup needs to improve for him to remain a starter. It’s a fairly straight pitch at 85-88 mph that doesn’t have a ton of deception or separation from his fastball. His control has also been below-average. Davis has only 107.1 career innings under his belt due to his Tommy John surgery and the canceled 2020 minor league season, so he’s less polished than most pitchers his age and still has room to improve. In addition to his Tommy John surgery, he battled shoulder soreness at instructional league last year and has had blister issues this season, so his health is a concern. Davis has a chance to be a back-of-the-rotation starter if his changeup and control improve and he is able to stay healthy. Otherwise, his fastball and slider combination should play in relief.
22. Mason Thompson, RHP (Nationals)
Trade analysis: Nationals continue selloff by sending Daniel Hudson to San Diego
Thompson was the Padres No. 15 prospect and made his major league debut this season. The 6-foot-7 righthander was a starter in the lower levels, but frequent injuries and poor control caused the Padres to move him to relief in instructional league last year. Thompson’s fastball sits at 94-96 and touches 98 mph out of the bullpen and his 88-90 mph slider is an above-average weapon against righthanders. Lefties see Thompson well and he doesn’t have an effective pitch against them. He held righthanded batters to a .685 OPS at Triple-A El Paso this season but surrendered an .892 OPS against lefties. Thompson’s two-pitch mix, lack of a pitch for lefties and long injury history – he had Tommy John surgery in high school and has had separate injured list stints for biceps, triceps, shoulder and elbow injuries as a pro – will keep him in the bullpen moving forward, likely as a matchup specialist against righties. He should join the Nationals bullpen at some point during the season, if not immediately following the trade.
23. Reese Olson, RHP (Tigers)
24. Jack Suwinski, OF (Pirates)
Trade analysis: Adam Frazier From Pirates In Exchange For Tucupita Marcano, 2 Others”>Breaking down the Padres-Pirates Adam Frazier deal
Suwinski is a bit of a riser this year and was set to rank No. 23 on the Padres’ midseason list after never previously ranking among the system’s Top 30 prospects. San Diego initially popped Suwinski as a cold-weather 15th-round pick in 2016 out of an Illinois high school, then signed him for $550,000. Scouts have always liked his lefthanded bat, and he showed a more compact swing this year. In turn, Suwinski appears to have unlocked his above-average raw power more consistently, posting a 154 wRC+ and a career-best 15 homers through 66 games. Suwinski is an average runner and defender. It’s plausible he could get a shot at center field reps, but left field seems to be the more likely long-term defensive fit. Suwinski has struggled to consistently hit lefthanded pitching (.232 average this year) and projects as a potential platoon option in the big leagues.
25. Trevor Hauver, 2B/OF (Rangers)
Trade analysis: Joey Gallo From Rangers In Blockbuster Eight-Player Trade”>Yankees acquire Gallo in blockbuster deal
The Yankees drafted Hauver in the fourth round out of Arizona State last year. He hit .288/.445/.498 with nine home runs and 49 RBIs in 66 games for Low-A Tampa this year in his pro debut. Hauver has an uphill bat path geared toward loft and hits the ball extremely hard. His average exit velocity this year is 92 mph and over half of the balls he’s hit have been over 95 mph. He hit six home runs in the first five games of the season and hasn’t gotten many pitches to hit since, although he’s still making hard contact when he does get a pitch to drive. Hauver has primarily played second base this season and has seen time at third base and the outfield in his career. He’s a below-average defender at every spot who lacks range and struggles with accuracy on his throws. He’s a below-average runner who may be able to survive at second base with defensive shifts, although he’ll likely always be a liability. Hauver’s bat is good enough to make him a potential starter on a second-division team or an oft-used reserve on a first-division team. He should make the move to High-A sometime this season.
26. Donovan Casey, OF (Nationals)
Trade analysis: Dodgers, Nationals swing blockbuster Scherzer-Turner deal
Casey did not rank on the Dodgers midseason Top 30 prospects, but he would have ranked in other, less-deep systems. Casey’s game is simple: he has big power, a big arm and swings and misses a ton. He has a 31% strikeout rate in Double-A this year, which is actually a slight improvement from his strikeout rate in 2019. Casey makes loud contact when he connects though. He has plenty of bat speed, has above-average power and is a good athlete with enough speed to be an effective basestealer. Casey’s best tool is his right arm. It’s a plus-plus cannon that is strong and accurate and allows him to make jaw-dropping throws to nail runners at third base and at the plate. He had 15 outfield assists in 2019 and only has three this year because opponents have stopped trying to run on him. His power, speed and defense give him a chance to rise as an extra outfielder and automatically make him a Top 30 prospect in the Nationals system.
27. Peyton Battenfield, RHP (Indians)
28. Daniel Palencia, RHP (Cubs)
Trade analysis: Andrew Chafin From Cubs In Exchange For A Pair Of Prospects”>Cubs ship Chafin to A’s for two top-20 prospects
Palencia emerged from unknown to one of Oakland’s most intriguing pitching prospects this year and was set to rank No. 19 on their midseason Top 30. Already 21, the A’s signed Palencia out of Venezuela last February but didn’t see him in action until this spring because of the 2020 shutdown. Palencia arrived throwing gas, touching triple-digits in extended spring training before quickly getting promoted to Low-A Stockton, where he was used as a starting pitcher in two- and three-inning increments. He’s sturdily built at 5-foot-10 with a strong lower half that allows him to unleash a fastball that sits 97-99 and has impressive late life. So far, Palencia has been a fastball-heavy pitcher, but he does show feel for a curveball, throwing it with inconsistent depth and command. He also has an 89-91 fading changing but uses it sparingly. Because of the raw secondaries and a longer arm action, some expect Palencia to one day become a reliever, but the A’s believed the ingredients were there to remain a starting pitcher and even potentially had plans to introduce a cutter in the near future. Palencia is clearly quite raw, but the fastball and arm strength cannot be ignored.
29. Aldo Ramirez, RHP (Nationals)
Trade analysis: Nats ship Schwarber to Boston
Ramirez was signed by the Red Sox in 2018 as a 17-year-old and impressed the following year in the college-heavy New York-Penn League, where he ranked as the circuit’s No. 19 prospect. After a year away because of the pandemic, Ramirez has returned with a more fiery fastball. The pitch is sitting around 95 mph this season, a sizable jump from his time in the NYPL. He pairs the fastball with a high-70s curveball and high-80s changeup. Each offspeed pitch projects to average. If he puts all his pieces together he could fit in the back of a rotation. He was set to rank as Boston’s No. 13 prospect in our midseason update.
30. Riley Adams, C (Nationals)
Trade: Nationals send reliever Brad Hand to Toronto for Riley Adams
A third-round pick out of San Diego in 2017, Adams has long been lauded for his power and arm strength and made his major league debut with the Blue Jays this season. A big, physical masher at 6-foot-4, 246 pounds, Adams has plus-plus raw power and just enough feel to hit to get to it in games. He is prone to swinging and missing, but he stays in the strike zone enough to draw enough walks to post solid on-base percentages. He also has a knack for getting hit by pitches. Adams has plenty of arm strength but also issues with his release that cause his arm to play down. He still threw out 36% of attempted basestealers in his minor league career.
31. Ricky DeVito, RHP (Pirates)
Before going on the injured list with a sore elbow, DeVito impressed, dominating High-A hitters with a mid-90s power sinker and a potentially plus split-change. He has a shot to be a useful piece of the Pirates bullpen a few years from now.
32. Payton Henry, C (Marlins)
33. Drew Millas, C (Nationals)
Millas has long been touted for his catch-and-throw defensive ability dating back to before Oakland drafted him in the seventh round of the 2019 draft out of Missouri State. But a right elbow injury and blood clot issues delayed his debut, and the A’s got their first extended look at Millas last fall in instructional league. The defensive tools remained evident: Millas has an above-average arm even after the elbow injury and is an agile defender, giving him the floor of a big league backup. Millas is a switch-hitter, although he looks more comfortable from the left side, and he has a very mature approach and average hitting ability. Millas’ below-average in-game power is limiting, and he’ll have to prove he can withstand the rigors of catching a full season, but he has second-division regular potential.
34. Alberto Ciprian, 3B (D-backs)
Trade analysis: Eduardo Escobar From D-Backs For Stretch Run”>Brewers acquire Eduardo Escobar for two prospects
Ciprian signed with the Brewers for $500,000 during the 2019-20 international signing period on the strength of his above-average raw power and explosive hand speed. His power is ahead of his hitting ability and he’s a bit of a lottery ticket with very little pro experience. His projectable body and power give him some upside and he has a chance to stick at third base with his improving footwork and above-average arm.
35. Diego Castillo, 2B/SS (Pirates)
Trade analysis: Clay Holmes From Pirates”>Pirates send RHP Clay Holmes to Yankees for two infielders
Signed by the Yankees out of Venezuela in 2014, Castillo’s climb through the minors has been methodical. He always had plenty in the way of bat-to-ball skills, but had shown little in the way of power … until this season. Evaluators as early as minor league spring training noted the added authority with which Castillo was striking the ball, and the results have continued at Double-A. Through 58 games with Somerset, Castillo had 29 extra-base hits (18 doubles, 11 home runs). His previous high-water mark for extra-base hits in a season was 24, achieved in 2018 (in 120 games) and 2019 (114 games). Defensively, some of the added strength has sapped his range on the infield, and scouts noted his footwork had become clunkier as well. Castillo has played shortstop, third base and second base this year, and scouts believe second is his best position. He was set to rank No. 24 on the Yankees’ updated midseason Top 30.
36. Calvin Faucher, RHP (Rays)
Trade analysis: Nelson Cruz Trade Analysis: Scouting Reports For Every Twins, Rays Player Involved”>Twins send Nelson Cruz to Tampa Bay for two pitching prospects
In Faucher, the Rays get a pitcher whose fastball this season has averaged 95 mph and touched 100. The numbers are not pretty, (1-1, 7.06) but he has whiffed 42 in 30.2 innings. The fastball plays fairly true, however, and gets hit. He backs it with an extremely high-spin curveball thrown in the mid 80s as well as a cutter he uses roughly one-third of the time. He alternates which side of the rubber he throws from and has a short-stride delivery. He was taken out of UC Irvine in the 10th round of the 2017 draft.
37. Konnor Pilkington, LHP (Indians)
Trade: Indians ship Cesar Hernandez to division rival White Sox
A third-round pick out of Mississippi State in 2018, Pilkington rose to Double-A this season and went 4-4, 3.48 in 14 starts. He had 71 strikeouts and 21 walks in 62 innings. Pilkington’s fastball has ticked up from 89-92 mph in college to 90-94 mph this season. His changeup is his best secondary offering as an above-average pitch and his slider and curveball have each improved to give him a solid four-pitch mix. While nothing he throws is plus, he has a good feel for using all four pitches and throws plenty of strikes. He has a chance to rise as a back-of-the-rotation starter or swingman.
38. Janson Junk, RHP (Angels)
Selected out of Seattle University in the 22nd round of the 2017 draft, Junk has been one of the bright spots of the Yankees’ farm system in 2021. He’s spent all year at Double-A Somerset, where his fastball velocity has jumped into the 93-94 mph range. His signature offspeed pitch is a snappy slider with bat-missing break beneath the zone. He worked hard remotely over the shutdown to refine the pitch’s shape to make it more effective. He also uses a deep-breaking, downer curveball to change both speeds and shapes from his slider. His changeup is a clear fourth pitch. He has a chance as a starter but otherwise fits in the middle of a bullpen.
39. Bailey Horn, LHP (Cubs)
Trade analysis: Cubs, White Sox sync up for rare trade
A fifth-round pick out of Auburn last year, Horn quickly emerged as one of the most promising pitchers in the White Sox’s system and ranked No. 25 on their midseason Top 30 Prospects update. He’s pitched to a 5.63 ERA this year between the two Class A levels as a starter, but his stuff makes him intriguing if he moves to the bullpen. Horn’s fastball sits at 95 mph and touches 98 from the left side, and he backs it up with a curveball and a slider that both show average to above-average potential. He gets too much of the plate at times and his fastball command needs to improve, as does his general ability to locate his pitches. Horn has completed five innings only once in 14 appearances this year and has bounced between the rotation and the bullpen. His future is in relief, but he has a chance to be a middle or high-leverage reliever.
40. Elvis Peguero, RHP (Yankees)
Peguero is relatively new to baseball, having only started seriously playing as a 16-year-old. He’s a massive man with a big two-seam fastball and a four-seam fastball which is a more recent addition to his arsenal. His two-seamer is very heavy and hard for hitters to lift. He pairs it with a sweeper slider that plays well because of the conviction with which he sells it and the way it looks like a fastball out of his hand. His fastball sits in the mid 90s and has touched up to 99. He’s a relief-only prospect.
41. Bryan De La Cruz, OF (Marlins)
Trade analysis: Yimi Garcia From Marlins”>Astros add another potential closer in Yimi Garcia
De La Cruz put up big numbers this year for Triple-A Sugar Land, hitting .324/.362/.518 with 12 home runs and 50 RBIs in 62 games. Sugar Land is a rare pitchers’ park in the Triple-A West, formerly known as the Pacific Coast League, but De La Cruz did most of his damage on the road in extremely hitter-friendly conditions. He hit .358 with 10 home runs and a 1.015 OPS on the road compared to .271 with two home runs and a .672 OPS at home. De La Cruz is a good fastball hitter and has gotten better at driving the ball in the air as he’s matured and gotten stronger. He’s a corner outfielder who can play center field in a pinch, so he needs to show he can consistently tap into that power when he’s not playing in launching pads like Albuquerque and El Paso. De La Cruz has gone unprotected and unpicked in the past two Rule 5 drafts. His stark home/road splits lead most to project him as a depth outfielder, but his improved strength and ability to elevate the ball have him trending in the right direction. The Marlins will have to decide whether to add him to the 40-man roster after the season.
42. Jose Marte, RHP (Angels)
43. Anderson Espinoza, RHP (Cubs)
44. Richard Guasch, RHP (Nationals)
Catch Guasch on the right night and he can look filthy. He works with a four-pitch mix headlined by a mid-90s heater with some late cutting action and a dastardly slider that projects as plus. He also throws a changeup that has late fade away from righties, and can mix in an average curveball as well. The result is plenty of swings and misses (26.8% strikeout rate). But there are other times where Guasch’s command wavers, especially with his fastball, and he struggles to find the strike zone with any consistency. Guasch has a chance to be a back-of-the-rotation starter if he can tighten his strike throwing. Otherwise, he could be utilized in a multi-inning tandem role, which he worked from at times in High-A Lansing this year alongside RHP Shohei Tomioka.
45. Bryce Ball, 1B (Cubs)
Trade analysis: Bryce Ball From Braves In Joc Pederson Deal”>Braves acquire Joc Pederson from Cubs in exchange for Bryce Ball
In return for Pederson, the Cubs have landed a first base prospect with power potential but also some significant concerns. Ball had an excellent debut season in 2019. He hit .329/.395/.628 between Rookie-level Danville and Low-A Rome. The 24th-round pick out of Dallas Baptist showed plus-plus raw power and an ability to turn that into productive power. Ball, who ranked 18th on the Braves Top 30 coming into this season, was part of the Braves’ alternate training site group in 2020. His jump to High-A Rome in 2021 has not gone nearly as well. He has hit .206/.350/.394 in the first half of the season with just six home runs. Ball knows how to take a walk, but his long levers make him susceptible to strikeouts. Defensively, he’s worked hard to improve at first base, but scouts generally see him as at best a below-average defender. Ball is already 23 years old and has yet to show that he has mastered High-A.
46. Abrahan Gutierrez, C (Pirates)
47. Alex Jackson, C (Marlins)
48. Kasey Kalich, RHP (Royals)
49. Yainer Diaz, C (Astros)
50. Evan Sisk, LHP (Cardinals)
51. Braeden Ogle, LHP (Phillies)
52. Alex Scherff, RHP (Twins)
53. Hoy Park, SS (Pirates)
Trade analysis: Clay Holmes From Pirates”>Pirates send RHP Clay Holmes to Yankees for two infielders
Park was signed by the Yankees in 2014 out of South Korea and moved slowly through the minor leagues. Like Castillo, Park had shown an uptick in power in 2021. Through 58 games at the upper levels, he’d swatted 11 homers, which bested his previous career high by four and represented 32.4% of his career total. He came to spring training in 2020 more physical, but virtually nobody saw his new physique because of the shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. He kept the strength through the shutdown and into the 2021 season, while also utilizing a more power-oriented approach. Essentially, the Yankees asked him to utilize the bat-to-ball skills and knowledge of the strike zone he’d always shown and focus on hitting the ball harder when he made contact. He’s played all over the diamond with Triple-A this year, and his versatility should help him increase his big league value. Scouts from other organizations believe Park fits best in the outfield, and he played right field in his one big league game. Park’s value is somewhat modest, as evidenced by the fact that he was outrighted right before this trade.
54. Kevin Gowdy, RHP (Rangers)
Gowdy, a 2016 second-rounder from Santa Barbara (Calif.) High, peaked at No. 11 on the Phillies Top 30 Prospects list in 2017, before dealing with various injuries during the 2017 season including having Tommy John surgery in August 2017 that sidelined him for the entirety of the 2018 season. He returned in 2019 and struggled mightily at Low-A Lakewood, posting an 0-6, 4.68 mark with almost as many walks (51) as strikeouts (53). Gowdy was further set back by the canceled 2020 minor league season and was not present at the alternate training site or instructional league. In 2021 he’s massively reduced his walk rate, walking 15 over 61 innings while striking out 63 with a 4-5, 4.43 mark at High-A Jersey Shore. The 6-foot-4, 170-pound righthander relies on a mid-90s fastball with late movement as well as a hard-breaking slider, but he fails to command either pitch well and neither projects as better than average. After having Tommy John surgery he also ditched his changeup in favor of a splitter as his third pitch. Once praised for his feel for pitching, Gowdy has struggled to put it all together due to injuries and inconsistency. Gowdy did not rank among the Phillies Top 30 Prospects at the midseason.
55. Michell Miliano, RHP (Pirates)
Trade analysis: Adam Frazier From Pirates In Exchange For Tucupita Marcano, 2 Others”>Breaking down the Padres-Pirates Adam Frazier deal
After spending parts of three seasons in rookie ball prior to baseball’s shutdown a year ago, Miliano began 2021 at Low-A and had sustained success for the first time in his career as a member of Lake Elsinore’s bullpen. The 6-foot-3 righty used his funky delivery and plus stuff to strike out 52 batters in 25.2 innings before earning a promotion to High-A. Miliano’s fastball is 91-95 mph with the potential to touch even a tick or two higher, and he pairs it with a 12-6 curveball that flashes plus. He also occasionally mixes in a fringe-average changeup. Miliano has struggled to consistently throw strikes and this year is no exception: He’s walking 7.8 batters per nine innings across two levels. Even so, the stuff is good enough to where he could potentially become an impact reliever if he can continue to harness his strike-throwing.
56. Joaquin Tejada, RHP (Pirates)
Trade analysis: Tyler Anderson From Pirates After Deal With Phillies Falls Through”>Mariners acquire Tyler Anderson from Pirates in exchange for Bins, Tejada
Tejada is an athletic righthander with a 90-91 mph fastball and big spin and movement on his curveball and slider. He’s progressively gained velocity over the last year and is sgrowing into his body. He’s now closer to 175 pounds than his listed 160. Tejada draws rave reviews for his makeup and leadership skills. He’s only 5-foot-11, but he’s a plus athlete and is trending upward.
57. Ivan Armstrong, RHP (Angels)
58. Cooper Hummel, OF/C (D-backs)
Trade analysis: Eduardo Escobar From D-Backs For Stretch Run”>Brewers acquire Eduardo Escobar for two prospects
The Brewers drafted Hummel as a catcher in the 18th round out of Portland in 2016. He spent the early part of his career behind the plate, but since 2018 he’s primarily been a left fielder who occasionally catches. Hummel is a versatile athlete who can play both corner outfield positions, has a chance to play some third base and first base and can catch a bit as well. He has a good approach at the plate and crushes lefties. Both traditional scouts and data-driven organizations think he has a chance to be a lefty-killer who can bounce around and play multiple positions in the majors. He draws rave reviews for his makeup.
59. Seth Shuman, RHP (Nationals)
Shuman isn’t overpowering, working with a low-90s heater, a vertical breaking ball and a changeup, but he knows how to spot all three pitches, walking just 15 batters in 56 innings this year while emerging as High-A Lansing’s most reliable pitcher. The A’s liked Shuman’s pitchability and makeup and his fastball has decent spin rates. But his arsenal figures to be tested against upper-minors hitting and he doesn’t have much room for error.
60. Case Williams, RHP (Rockies)
Trade analysis: Mychal Givens From Rockies”>Reds bolster bullpen with Givens acquisition
The trade represents a homecoming of sorts for Williams. The Colorado high school product was drafted by the Rockies in the fourth round last year and traded to the Reds after the season in the deal for Robert Stephenson and Jameson Hannah. Now, eight months later, the Reds traded him back to Colorado. Williams struggled to a 5.55 ERA in 12 appearances (11 starts) at Low-A Dayton this year and generally underwhelmed. His fastball sits 90-91 mph, touches 93, and is very hittable. His slider is fringy and his changeup is almost non-existent. He had nearly as many walks (33) as strikeouts (34) in 47 innings, and he has a large frame that will require close monitoring to make sure he doesn’t get too big. The Rockies were higher on Williams than most teams in the draft, so they will try to unlock the potential they saw now that he’s back in their system.
61. Josh Gessner, RHP (Rangers)
Gessner, signed in June 2019 from Australia for $850,000 to forego a commitment to Tulane, previously pitched for the Sydney Blue Sox in 2017 in the Australian Baseball League. He appeared in six games in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League for the Phillies in 2019, posting a 1-0, 2.84 mark with 17 strikeouts and seven walks in 12.2 innings. Like many minor leaguers, Gessner’s growth was stunted by the cancellation of the 2020 season, and he did not appear at the team’s alternate training site or instructional league. Gessner has yet to appear in full-season ball and made three appearances this season in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound righthander relies on a 91-94 mph fastball and a solid slider that he frequently throws against righthanded hitters, although there are questions regarding whether the pitch will inflict much damage at the higher levels. Gessner did not rank among the Phillies Top 30 Prospects at the midseason.
62. Jordy Barley, OF (Nationals)
Barley is a bouncy, twitchy athlete whose baseball skills are extremely raw and did not rank among the Padres midseason Top 30 Prospects. He hit .240/.333/.388 with a 29% strikeout rate at Low-A Lake Elsinore this season and made 30 errors in 54 games in the field. Barley has borderline plus-plus speed and is a stolen base threat because of it. He stole 33 bases in 39 attempts at Lake Elsinore and has the athleticism to play both middle infield spots. Barley has extremely poor instincts, however, and makes a lot of careless mental mistakes in the field. He lacks instincts in the batter’s box as well and projects to be a well below-average hitter at best. He does have some strength and the fringe-average power to project for 8-12 home runs, but it’s unlikely he’ll make enough contact to reach that. The Padres unsuccessfully tried to translate Barley’s raw athleticism into baseball skills for five years since they signed him. The Nationals took a flier on him and will try to see if they can have better success.
63. Matthew Dyer, C (Rays)
Trade: Acquired in the Mets-Rays Rich Hill trade
Dyer can catch as well as play first and the corner outfield spots and he’s played second and third base in college, giving him versatility to go with average power. He has a strong arm, but his catching remains a work in progress. He hasn’t hit for average yet, but the hope is he hits enough to become a useful backup thanks to his ability to play a little of everywhere.
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