Here is a list of players to help you with your offseason prospect draft. This is not a list of every top players at each position; instead this list consists of players I think should come to light in the next year or two.
Prospect Draft Cheat Sheet: Infield
Catcher
Willson Contreras, Chicago Cubs, Age 23, .333/.413/.478 in Double-A
Contreras is the best option the Cubs will have at catcher in the future. Everyone will tell you to take Kyle Schwarber, but I don’t see him playing catcher down the road. Willson has a pretty good bat for a catcher with a high OBP in Double-A. In a line-up as good as the one the Cubs have, that is all you are going to need for counting stats.
First Base
Josh Naylor, Miami Marlins, Age 18, .327/.352/.418 in Rookie Ball
The Marlins ended up taking Josh Naylor in the first round in this year’s draft. Naylor was the top power bat out of the high school ranks this year. He has held up very well so far in his debut in the rookie league. The Marlins have nobody blocking Naylor at first base, and he should make it to the show by the time he is 20-21 years old.
Second Base
Tony Kemp, Houston Astros, Age 23, .308/.388/.386 in Triple-A and Double-A
Kemp is small in stature, standing just 5’6 like his counterpart already playing in Houston at second base. He also has a very similar skill set, with tons of speed backed up by a nice OBP. There is a chance the Astros might be moving Tony to the outfield soon to get him to the show faster; however, if he sticks at second base and anything happens to Jose Altuve, Kemp will be right there to step in and be Jose Altuve-light.
Third Base
Ke’Bryan Hayes, Pittsburgh Pirates, Age 18, .308/.408/.346 in Rookie Ball and Class-A Short Season
Third base is stacked with a ton of power bats who have a lot of risk with the swing and miss potential. Ke’Bryan Hayes gives you less risk with his high OBP and his speed. Ke’Bryan is the son of Charlie Hayes, who had a fourteen-year MLB career. He should be a solid all-around baseball player for the Pirates in a few years.
Short Stop
Franklin Barreto, Oakland A’s, Age 19, .302/.333/.500 in Class-A Advanced
You may remember Barreto as part of what might go down as one of the most one sided trades in the past decade. When Oakland shipped Josh Donaldson to Toronto, Barreto was the icing on the cake that got the deal done. Billy Bean sees something in this kid, and he is not wrong too often. I could see the nineteen-year old getting to the show in the next three years or so. He looks like a solid all-around shortstop that should provide a little bit of everything.
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