Top prospects: Who's still up? Who got cut?

Top prospects: Who's still up? Who got cut?

March 25th, 2018

With Opening Day nearing, some of MLB Pipeline's finest could be breaking camp with their respective big league clubs.

For many, this spring was their first in Major League camp. Many have shined, some have struggled, but all gave their clubs an opportunity to see them compete against Major League competition. With that in mind, here's a breakdown of every one of MLB Pipeline's Top 100 prospects who got a shot in big league camp, and whether they're still there or have been sent down.

STILL COMPETING FOR ROSTER SPOT

1. , Angels, RHP/DH
One of the offseason's biggest stories, Ohtani has struggled at the plate (.083/.214/.083) and on the mound (nine earned runs in 2 2/3 innings of official Spring Training action, plus a rough outing in a "B" game vs. the Tijuana Toros), though he's shown flashes of plate discipline and off-the-charts stuff off the bump. Still, given Ohtani's acclaim, it would be a shock if he wasn't in the Angels' rotation come Opening Day.

27. , Marlins CF
Brinson has been raking this spring and will crack the Opening Day roster as a result. The centerpiece in the trade, Brinson hit .106 in 47 at-bats last year, but will likely get a more extended look in 2018.

35. , Phillies 2B
Spring Training couldn't have gone much better for Kingery. The highly-touted infielder is hitting .392 through Friday, made the Opening Day roster and signed a six-year contract.

37. , Phillies SS
Crawford is one of the sure locks on this list that will not only make his club's Opening Day roster, but also start. Ranked as the No. 7 shortstop prospect, per MLB Pipeline, Crawford is hitting .232 this spring.

41. , Rockies 1B
After the Rockies re-signed to play right field, McMahon's chances of making everyday contributions took a skid. He could very well break camp with the club, but Gonzalez's presence will move to left and to first base, depending on how Colorado wants to utilize Desmond's defensive versatility. McMahon has been strong, though, with a .333/.367/.509 slash line.

82. , Reds RF
Winker is hitting .400, and likely a candidate for the Reds' fourth outfielder role. He broke into the Majors for two months last year, during which he hit .298 over 47 games, and manager Bryan Price will be looking to get him big league at-bats as part of a unit that will also include , and .

84. , Reds RHP
Mahle is likely on the outside looking in among the contenders for Cincinnati's rotation, though Anthony DeSclafani's oblique injury could open the door further. His body of work throughout the Minors makes a compelling case, as does the .146 average he'd permitted to opponents over five appearances through Saturday.

96. , Brewers RHP
Woodruff is aiming for the back end of Milwaukee's rotation, and the right-hander improved his case with four innings of one-run ball in the Crew's 12-6 victory over the Rangers on Tuesday. It was a much-needed boost for Woodruff, whose spring ERA still sat at 7.04.

STILL IN CAMP

17. , Cardinals, RHP
Reyes' high-velocity stuff could prove integral to the success of St. Louis' bullpen this summer, but he'll begin the season with a few rehab outings as he puts the finishing touches on his Tommy John rehab. The Cardinals are targeting May 1 as his return date.

29. Juan Soto, Nationals RF
Along with Robles, Soto gives the Nationals a tandem that looks quite formidable for the long-term future. Even though he's just 1-for-4 this spring, Soto is just 19 years old, and scouts believe he has batting title type potential. Ranked the club's No. 2 prospect, Soto is probably a few years away from being Major League-ready.

33. , Dodgers LF
Verdugo has been vying for the Dodgers' left field job, and has done so with an impressive .367/.400/.700 slash line through Saturday. However, that job is currently occupied by a combination of Matt Kemp and , which may mean Verdugo spends more time in the Minors in 2018. Disciplined and defensively savvy, Verdugo hit .314 for Triple-A Oklahoma City last year, with just 50 strikeouts in 400 at-bats.

34. Leody Taveras, Rangers CF
Taveras is just 1-for-2 this spring, and the speedy, switch-hitting center fielder likely won't crack the Majors in 2018 unless the Rangers weather injury attrition. His limited at-bats in camp thus far indicate as much.

47. , Blue Jays OF
Alford's stellar spring came to an abrupt end Friday when the Blue Jays announced he would miss three to six weeks with a Grade 2 hamstring strain. Injuries have unfortunately been a consistent hindrance for Alford, whose talent was on full display as he hit .323 and compiled a .958 OPS over 31 Grapefruit League at-bats before this setback. Alford still has a shot at cracking Toronto's big league roster later this summer if he can fully recover and produce similar numbers in the Minors again.

49. Luiz Gohara, Braves LHP
Gohara has been hurt twice this spring, the most recent injury being a sprained ankle he sustained while participating in pitchers' fielding practice drills last Friday. The 21-year-old left-hander was a candidate for Atlanta's starting rotation, and had a 4.91 ERA with 31 strikeouts in 29 1/3 innings for the Braves following a September callup last season.

57. , Rays LF
Sanchez, who signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2014, now has three years of Minor League experience under his belt, with a respectable slash line of .318/.358/.499 over 1,006 plate appearances. In his brief stint in the Grapefruit League, the 20-year-old is 3-for-7 with a double, triple and run scored. Scouts believe that as he continues to develop, both physically and mentally, he could offer middle-of-the-order potential, with an expected debut in 2019.

66. , A's 2B/SS
Barreto's red-hot spring continued on Saturday when he went 2-for-4 with a walk, bringing his average up to .325 in 40 at-bats. He's long been expected to take over second base after leaves, which could manifest before the 2018 season wraps, should the club make a trade. Over 25 MLB games last year, primarily as a September callup, Barreto hit .197 with 33 strikeouts in 71 at-bats.

71. , Marlins CF
The Marlins may have dissolved what was among the game's best outfields this winter, but there's a lot to like about what they got in return -- Harrison being one of the key pieces in the Yelich trade, along with Brinson. Harrison has struggled to a .133/.133/.267 line in 15 plate appearances this spring, though both of his hits were doubles.

90. Carter Kieboom, Nationals SS
Kieboom has had just four at-bats, registering one hit. The 2016 first-round pick isn't likely to arrive in the big leagues until 2020, and 24-year-old is firmly holding the Nationals' shortstop gig in the meantime.

92. Dane Dunning, White Sox RHP
Dunning nearly coughed up a 6-0 lead for Chicago by allowing five runs to the D-backs on March 11, but the sinkerballer had fared well prior to that appearance. Acquired from Washington in the Adam Eaton trade, Dunning appears ready to begin the year with Double-A Birmingham.

REASSIGNED TO MINORS

2. , Braves, OF
The Braves reassigned Acuna to Minors camp on Monday. All he did was hit in the Grapefruit League, compiling a .432/.519/.727 slash line in 16 games -- each of which ranked in the top three in baseball. He proved he can compete in the Majors right now, but Atlanta will have its talented outfielder start the season in Triple-A to avoid starting his service-time clock.

4. **, White Sox OF **
Jimenez is confident in his ability, and why not? The outfielder homered in his return from knee tendinitis on March 10, then followed up with a home run and a triple the next day. Jimenez was optioned on Wednesday and won't be in Chicago's lineup Opening Day, but he could very well join the big league club later this summer.

5. , Yankees 2B/SS
Torres' bid for the Yankees' second base spot on Opening Day grew slimmer Monday when the Yankees signed veteran Neil Walker, and the club sent him down Tuesday to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre. Torres' own performance didn't help his case, as he collected just four hits in 25 at-bats in Grapefruit League action. The infielder will get more seasoning as he grows more comfortable following Tommy John surgery.

6. , Nationals, OF
Robles' raw skills impressed in camp, but they only translated to a .188 average and .216 OBP. There was no real clear path for Robles to make the Nationals' Opening Day roster; the club's outfield is filled with quality players in , and Michael A. Taylor, and is penciled in as the club's fourth outfielder.

7. Nick Senzel, Reds, 3B
Though his natural position is third base, the Reds are giving Senzel ample time at shortstop so that can get reps at third. Senzel held his own in his first taste of big league camp, hitting .286 before he was reassigned.

8. , Padres SS
Forget Tatis' youth at age 19, as the shortstop looked every bit the part in Padres camp while hitting .281 and compiling an .812 OPS. Tatis was sent down to the Minors on Tuesday, but his future remains bright.

10. , White Sox, RHP
Kopech's swing-and-miss stuff is still electric, as he punched out seven hitters in seven innings of Cactus League action, but he allowed 13 runs (9 earned) on 11 hits and seven walks over four Spring Training outings. The flamethrower suffered a tough outing against the A's on Sunday, but has the arsenal to probably rank among the White Sox top five starters right now. Nonetheless, the 21-year old will likely begin 2018 in Triple-A Charlotte.

11. , Indians C
Mejia hit wonderfully in spring action (.421/.450/.842 with two home runs and seven RBIs), though his bat has never been in question. Cleveland had Mejia play third base in the Arizona Fall League and will get him some experience in the outfield during Minor League camp and early in the season with Triple-A Columbus in case they need that bat at some point this summer.

12. , Dodgers RHP
Buehler has been sensational in his two Cactus League appearances. Last Saturday against the Cubs, the hard-throwing righty registered five strikeouts -- including three in a row -- over two clean innings. On Friday against Arizona, he tossed two hitless innings against the D-backs. Manager Dave Roberts hinted that Buehler's total workload will increase this year, possibly up to 140-150 innings, and the Dodgers are trying to save some of his bullets with the big league club for the stretch run (and possibly the postseason)..

14. , Rockies, SS
Rodgers held his own in Cactus League play, belting three home runs while compiling a .286/.352/.490 slash line in 23 games. But manager Bud Black mentioned that Rodgers needs to tighten up his plate discipline, and the Rockies are set in the middle infield with DJ LeMahieu and .

16. , Astros OF
Headlining Sunday's roster cuts was Tucker, who was reassigned to Minor League camp. Tucker put forth a terrific effort in Grapefruit League action, batting .410 (16-for-39) and slugging .795 with four home runs and 17 RBIs (a total that led MLB through Saturday's action) over 39 at-bats. Tucker figures to push his way on to the Astros' Major League roster soon enough, though the club will likely hold off for now in an effort to avoid beginning his service-time clock. The outfielder hit .274 and compiled an .874 OPS in 120 games across the Class A Advanced and Double-A levels in 2017.

22. , Rays 2B/SS
Adames performed ably at the plate this spring, batting .364 with a 1.127 OPS, but Tampa Bay would like to see him become more consistent in the field.

23. , Orioles, OF 
Baltimore's top prospect got off to a slow start at the plate and ultimately hit .243, but was optioned to the Minors late in Spring.

28. Luis Robert, White Sox OF
Robert's most recent Cactus League appearance last week was bittersweet; he sprained his left thumb but also stayed in the game long enough to hit a grand slam for the White Sox. The athletic outfielder is expected to miss at least 10 weeks now as Chicago gives his Grade 2 sprain some time to heal. He'll likely start his season in Class A Advanced action.

30. Kyle Wright, Braves RHP
Last year's No. 5 overall selection in the Draft, Wright left a strong first impression at Braves camp before being reassigned to Minor League camp. The 22-year-old right-hander posted a 2.65 ERA in nine starts (17 innings) between two levels last season. He could very well be headed for the Braves' Opening Day rotation in 2019.

31. Mike Soroka, Braves RHP
Soroka appeared in three Spring Training games for Atlanta before being reassigned, and pitched well, posting a 1.80 ERA with five strikeouts in five innings. The 20-year-old right-hander, who is listed at 6-foot-5, 225 pounds, could make his big league debut during the upcoming season.

32. A.J. Puk, Athletics LHP
The A's reassigned their top prospect Puk, who is baseball's No. 2 left-handed pitching prospect, per MLB Pipeline, to Minor League camp after an impressive showing against big league hitters. Puk was arguably the A's best starter in Cactus League action, having allowed four earned runs over 10 2/3 innings and holding opponents to a .184 average. The southpaw showcased plus deception and is developing potentially three above-average pitches in his fastball, breaking ball and changeup. Puk recorded a 4.03 ERA and a stellar 13.2 strikeout-per-nine-inning ratio across 27 appearances in Class A Advanced and Double-A ball last season.

36. , Padres SS
Along with Fernando Tatis Jr., Urias forms one of the most promising infield tandems in the Minors. Both were considered long shots to make the big league roster, and this spring was more about getting them acclimated with Major League talent. Urias, who hit .286 in 28 at-bats, was reassigned to the Minors on Tuesday, but he could very well make his big league debut this season.

38. , Cardinals RHP
Flaherty attacked hitters well in his four Grapefruit League starts, pairing 20 strikeouts with just five walks, but ultimately fell short in his quest to make St. Louis' Opening Week rotation. A right-hander whose slider has already drawn comparisons to some of the best in the Majors, Flaherty will begin the year in Triple-A and figures to contribute to the Cardinals' efforts soon enough.

40. Cal Quantrill, Padres RHP
Quantrill rebounded nicely from a forgettable Cactus League debut (four earned runs over a single inning) with a pair of perfect innings against the Royals last week before his reassignment. The Padres remain high on the right-hander, who is the son of longtime big league reliever Paul Quantrill.

44. , Yankees OF
Florial, the club's No. 2 prospect, was reassigned to the Yankees' Minor League camp after batting .231 and slugging .462 with three triples over 18 spring games. Among the most athletic prospects across all of baseball, the 20-year-old Florial was held out of trade discussions when the Yankees acquired pitcher Sonny Gray in a Trade Deadline deal with the A's last summer

45. , Pirates CF
Meadows still isn't Major League-ready, the Pirates believe, as the club optioned him to Minor League camp. Meadows, who has dealt with a multitude of injuries in recent years, went 7-for-19, and if he stays healthy, he has a chance to debut in 2018, particularly with now gone.

46. , Cardinals C
MLB Pipeline's No. 2-ranked catcher had a rough spring, going just 3-for-30 (.100) to go with a .171 average over 82 big league at-bats from 2016-17. Widely praised for his defense, Kelly was projected by many to back up Yadier Molina on St. Louis' big league roster, but he'll begin the year in Triple-A instead to get more reps at the plate.

48. Justus Sheffield, Yankees LHP
Sheffield headlined the Yankees' first round of cuts after he struggled to an 11.81 ERA over three Grapefruit League appearances. But the organization remains high on the southpaw, with manager Aaron Boone telling reporters that Sheffield surpassed his expectations. Sheffield will start 2018 in either Double- or Triple-A ball.

52. Keibert Ruiz, Dodgers C
The 19-year-old Ruiz was a non-roster invitee and though he went 6-for-9 in his brief Cactus League stint, he was never expected to compete for a big league roster spot. With the Dodgers slated to break camp with and at catcher -- and vying for an outside shot at the Opening Day roster -- the club appears set for 2018. That leaves Ruiz, its No. 3 prospect, likely to begin the year at High-A Rancho Cucamonga or Double-A Tulsa, with an expected MLB debut perhaps in 2019 or '20.

53. , Rangers OF
Calhoun's bid to make the Rangers' Opening Day roster ended on Tuesday, as the 23-year-old prospect was optioned to the Triple-A Round Rock. Converted from second base after being acquired from the Dodgers in the trade, Calhoun needs more reps in the outfield before he is ready to take the reins, manager Jeff Bannister said. Calhoun hit .243 with a homer and five RBIs in 37 at-bats in the Cactus League.

54. Alec Hansen, White Sox RHP
Hansen's lively mid-90s fastball turned heads in camp, but the White Sox reassigned him last week after he felt soreness in his pitching forearm. An MRI revealed no damage to Hansen's arm, and the righty will look to build on a dynamic 2017 season in which he led the Minors with 191 strikeouts. He's expected to begin 2018 with Double-A Birmingham.

56. , Brewers 2B
The 2017 first-round pick and current Brewers No. 1 prospect has proven to be one of the more advanced hitters in the Minors. He led all NCAA Division I hitters with a .442 average as a junior at Cal-Irvine, after all. MLB Pipeline estimates the athletic infielder will make his debut at some point in 2019, when he could compete for the full-time second base job. For the time being, Hiura is likely going to break camp with Class A Advanced Carolina.

58. Kolby Allard, Braves LHP
Allard is another hurler in the Braves organization that could make his Major League debut during the upcoming season. The 20-year-old southpaw, one of two first-round selections by Atlanta in the 2015 Draft, tossed three scoreless innings during Grapefruit League action before being reassigned to Minor League camp. He posted a 3.18 ERA over 27 starts for Double-A Mississippi at age 19 last season.

61. Dylan Cease, White Sox RHP
Cease stayed consistently ahead of hitters over his three outings, allowing just three hits while striking out nine batters over 6 1/3 scoreless innings. The righty will likely start the year at Class A Advanced Winston-Salem, but it wouldn't be a shock to see him rise to at least Double-A by season's end.

64. , Rays OF/1B
The Rays' No. 5 prospect was reassigned last Sunday following a 25 at-bat Spring Training stint in which he slashed .240/.400/.296 with a towering solo homer that impressed teammates and coaches. Just prior to belting the blast, Rays ace Chris Archer reportedly said, "Show me something," as Bauers entered the batter's box, to which the former seventh-round pick replied: "I got you." It was a follow-up to an impressive power display he showed last spring, though the 22-year-old could still benefit from more at-bats at Triple-A.

65. Miguel Andujar, Yankees 3B
New York optioned third baseman Andujar to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Sunday after an eye-popping spring. Andujar, MLB Pipeline's No. 3 third base prospect, smacked four homers at a blistering pace early in camp and finished with a .643 slugging percentage in Grapefruit League action. The powerful third baseman also struck out 10 times in 42 at-bats, signaling that contact is still an area with need for improvement for Andujar going forward. Andujar was in the running for the Yankees' starting third base job, but New York's acquisitions of veteran infielders Brandon Drury and Neil Walker in recent weeks lessened the youngster's chances for a roster spot.

**68. Fernando Romero, Twins RHP **
Romero was about as dominant as he could be in four Grapefruit League appearances, striking out eight batters and walking just one over eight hitless and scoreless innings. On Tuesday, the Twins sent Romero back to Double-A Chattanooga where he thrived last year (3.53 ERA), but his rising stock will likely carry him to Triple-A -- and possibly the Majors -- by season's end.

**69. Corbin Burnes, Brewers RHP **
Milwaukee's top arm allowed just one run over three appearances in Arizona, pairing three strikeouts with a walk. Burnes is coming off a breakout year in which he went 8-3 with a 1.67 ERA and 140 strikeouts across Class A Advanced and Double-A action.

72. , A's SS
Mateo, who, along with Franklin Barreto, ranks among the game's top shortstop prospects, went out in style on Tuesday, belting a pair of home runs prior to being optioned to Triple-A Nashville. Overall, he went 3-for-12 with a pair of stolen bases. After coming over in the trade last year, the Dominican-born 22-year-old hit .292 with 20 RBIs and 13 steals over 30 games with Double-A Midland.

74. Albert Abreu, Yankees RHP
Abreu was sent to Class A Advanced Tampa last week. He did not make an appearance for the Yankees after needing to undergo an appendectomy just before camp opened.

75. Chance Adams, Yankees RHP
Adams has focused on developing his changeup this spring to complement his fastball-slider combination. The righty will start 2018 in the Minors after being sent down, but he might be the closest of the Yankees' talented arms to reaching the big leagues. Adams had allowed a run on two hits through three innings of Grapefruit League action before getting knocked around (1 1/3 IP, 5 ER, 7 H) on Wednesday.

78. Stephen Gonsalves, Twins LHP
Gonsalves was sent down to Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday after allowing one earned run over 3 2/3 innings in Florida. He struggled in his 22-inning taste of Triple-A ball last season but excelled with Double-A Chattanooga, striking out 27.3 percent of the batters he faced while walking just 6.5 percent of them. If he can bring that command to Rochester, there's a chance he could push for the Twins' roster by late summer.

80. , Twins SS
The Twins' first-round pick in 2014 went 9-for-22 this spring before Minnesota reassigned him to Minor League camp Sunday. The brother of speedster Dee Gordon is touted to have as versatile of a skill-set as his All-Star elder. He battled a minor wrist injury recently, but returned quickly and is expected to make his big league debut this season, according to MLB Pipeline.

81. Christian Arroyo, Rays INF
The key return in the Evan Longoria trade, who was expected to potentially make the Opening Day roster, was sent down last weekend. Though Arroyo played in 34 games for the Giants last year, the Rays believe he could benefit from more reps and at-bats before joining the big league club.

83. Max Fried, Braves LHP
Fried tossed three scoreless innings over his first two Major League appearances last August, but struggled the rest of the way in 2017. Prior to being reassigned, he posted a 6.75 ERA in four Grapefruit League appearances (6 2/3 innings). The 24-year-old left-hander missed most of 2014 and all of 2015 recovering from Tommy John surgery. He posted a 5.54 ERA in 21 starts between Double-A Mississippi and Triple-A Gwinnett (two starts) last season.

93. , Angels CF
Once a dual-sport athlete who excelled as a wide receiver -- and with a father and brother with NFL experience -- Jones excelled in the Minors last year. However, he went just 2-for-17 in the Cactus League this spring, his first with the big league club, before he was reassigned. Jones will likely begin the season with High-A Inland Empire but look for him to reach Double-A Mobile at some point in 2018.

94. , Cardinals RF
It was a tough spring for O'Neill, who battled two injuries and was eventually sent down after recording just 12 at-bats in Grapefruit League action. O'Neill, who came over from the Mariners last summer, was "on the edge" of making the team, manager Mike Matheny said. As a key cog in Triple-A Memphis' national title game appearance, O'Neill has shown significant pop in his bat, when healthy, and has been compared to former Cardinal for his athleticism.

97. , Braves 3B
The 2015 first-round pick didn't exactly have the spring he'd probably hoped for -- a .208/.367/.908 slash line in 24 at-bats -- but the Braves have high hopes for the 20-year-old. The club had been linked to potentially signing free agent Mike Moustakas, but it's believed that they steered from doing so in part because they believe Riley to be their long-term third baseman of the future.

98. , Orioles 3B/SS
Mountcastle's bat looked strong in his first big league camp -- he slashed .292/.320/.668 with three doubles, two homers and five RBIs in 13 games -- but his transition from shortstop to third base has been a challenge. He still needs to show patience at the plate, but with Manny Machado's looming free agency, Mountcastle might work his way to the Majors sooner than later.