Rankings Professor

Which prospects are on the verge of making an impact in the Major Leagues?  This weekly column will rank the ten who are closest (as well as other names that are being closely considered).  Keep in mind that while talent is factored in opportunity plays a major role, so there may be some “lesser” prospects who rank fairly highly on the list (ITC = In the Conversation; NR = Not Ranked):

1) Christian Yelich – Miami Marlins – Outfielder (3)
2013 Statistics – .316, 5 HR, 21 RBI, 20 R, 2 SB over 95 AB
Why He’s Here – Rebuilding franchise in need of talent

The season is already lost for the Marlins, there is no timeframe for Giancarlo Stanton to return and they have already summoned two players directly from Double-A (Marcell Ozuna & Derek Doetrich). Yelich has erupted in May (after missing a lot of April) to hit .370 with 5 HR, 13 RBI and 14 R (he went 3-6 with a double and 2 HR yesterday). Even more impressive may be his strikeout to walk ratio of 8 to 9. All that stands in his way of playing time is Juan Pierre, but is that something that should really stop them? They might as well go with a full blown youth movement, and you would think it’s only a matter of time before they do.

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Six weeks into the season we are starting to get a good idea of who the good teams are and whose hot start was more of an illusion.  That said, things are wide open from #2 through about #10, and I would expect continued fluctuation as the team’s batter for elite status.

Who is performing well at this point?  Who deserve recognition?  Let’s take a look at how things currently fall:

Which prospects are on the verge of making an impact in the Major Leagues?  This weekly column will rank the ten who are closest (as well as other names that are being closely considered).  Keep in mind that while talent is factored in opportunity plays a major role, so there may be some “lesser” prospects who rank fairly highly on the list (ITC = In the Conversation; NR = Not Ranked):

1) Wil Myers – Tamp Bay Rays – Outfielder (1)
2013 Statistics – .276, 3 HR, 17 RBI, 17 R, 2 SB over 116 AB
Why He’s Here – Premier prospect/Rays need for RFer

Tampa Bay right fielders are hitting .239 with 3 HR and 1 SB. In other words, they have gotten virtually no production from the position. How long do you really let one of the premier hitting prospects in the game sit at Triple-A while you have an obvious need? The answer should be not much longer.

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With each passing week we are getting a better and better idea of who the top teams in the league are and who are the pretenders.  There’s still going to be some variation, but five weeks into the season things are taking shape.  Where does your favorite team stand?  Let’s take a look: