Group 6 - The Crown Jewels
Ankeny ACL’s
What a stable of talent Ankeny has amassed. They are led by outfielder Victor Robles and shortstop Gleyber Torres, both consensus top ten prospects and potential All-Star level performers at high end positions. Willie Calhoun and Willy Adames add quality depth. On the pitching side, Michael Kopech is arguably the top arm in the minors, and Mike Siroka, Jon Duplantier, and Brent Honeywell could all be quality rotation pieces. The ACL’s also boast two of the fastest climbers in outfielder Juan Soto and catcher Keibert Ruiz. Both could end up inside the top ten rankings by years end. The depth and quality of talent in this system is truly astounding. It is conceivable that within the next couple seasons the ACL’s could field a completely homegrown team with these current prospects joining the likes of Mookie Betts, Francisco Lindor, Miguel Sano, Willson Contreras, Javier Baez, and Michael Conforto, who have all been promoted just the past couple seasons, on the field and Kopech, Siroka, Duplantier, and Honeywell anchoring the rotation along with recently promoted Julio Urias and James Paxton. For all of you in the Harwell Eastern . . . I feel for you.
Top Prospects: 1. Victor Robles (OF), 2. Gleyber Torres (2B), 3. Michael Kopech (SP), 4. Willie Calhoun (OF), 5. Mike Siroka (SP), 6. Willy Adames (SS), 7. Juan Soto (OF), 8. Jon Duplantier (SP), 9. Brent Honeywell (SP), 10. Keibert Ruiz (C), 11. Austin Meadows (OF), 12. Ryan Mountcastle (SS), 13. Superman (Bench)
AZ Koi
Shrewd drafting of a number of previously unheralded fast climbers have set the Koi squarely in the discussion for top farm systems. The likes of Bo Bichette, Forrest Whitley, Mitch Keller, Sixto Sanchez have all shot up the prospect rankings over the past year. Bichette has had the most helium in the system (maybe in baseball overall), showing not only the ability to stick at shortstop but a hitting ability that may be second to none in the minor leagues. Bichette carries a career .364 batting average since he was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2016 draft, and he’s not just a punchless singles hitter. His .423/.569/.991 slash line proves that. And just for good measure, he’s stolen 31 bases over the year and a half as well. The system is dominated however by quality arms. Maybe more than any system in the league. Whitley and Keller head the list, but A.J. Puk, Sanchez, Triston McKenzie, and Cal Quantrill all have quality arms as well and any one of the bunch could end up the best of the lot. The loss of Whitley to a 50 game drug related suspension hurts in the short term, but the depth of the arms will probably alleviate any real issues concerning pitching in the system.
Top Prospects: 1. Bo Bichette (SS), 2. Forrest Whitley (SP), 3. Mitch Keller (SP), 4. Sixto Sanchez (SP), 5. A.J. Puk (SP), 6. Triston McKenzie (SP), 7. Franklin Barreto (SS), 8. Cal Quantrill (SP), 9. Michael Chavis (3B), 10. Dan Vogelbach (1B)
Windy City Rattlers
The Rattlers have a mix of high end talent and depth that is enviable. At the top is outfielder Vladimir Guerrero, and when your father is a Hall of Famer and some say you are a better prospect than he was at the same stage, that’s a little more than just high praise. Vlad Jr. could be a very special player on both sides of the ball. Windy City also has the top catching prospect in the minors, Francisco Mejia. Mejia is more than just his 50 game hitting streak in 2016, he is a very talented receiver behind the plate and may own the strongest catchers arm in the minors. Second baseman Scott Kingery has shot up the charts over the past couple seasons and should make an impact in Windy City as early as next season. Hunter Greene leads a talented list of rotation arms that includes Alec Hansen, Justus Sheffield, Adonis Medina, Brandon Woodruff, and Yadier Alvarez. Alvarez is a polarizing arm due to his electric stuff (100+ FB, plus slider) but a complete lack of command. With all of that talent at the top of the system, the most athletically gifted player the Rattlers have might just be 2017 draftee Jeren Kendall.
Top Prospects: 1. Vladimir Guerrero Jr.(3B), 2. Francisco Mejia (C), 3. Hunter Greene (SP), 4. Scott Kingery (2B), 5. Alec Hansen (SP), 6. Justus Sheffield (SP), 7. Adonis Medina (SP), 8. Brandon Woodruff (SP), 9. Yadier Alvarez (SP), 10. Jeren Kendall (OF)