2015 MLB Prospects

2015 MLB Prospects Who Will Make an Impact in the Major Leagues

The 2015 Major League Baseball season is upon us and we all want to know which top prospects will finally make an impact at the major league level. There are plenty of them, so grab a seat and hold on.

When I analyze hitting prospects, I use a variety of tools, such a sabermetric analysis and league analysis to determine a hitter's future. I look at their tools for potential and their numbers to validate that potential.

When I analyze pitching prospects, I like to see good groundball ratios, K:BB ratios, and K/9 IP ratios. I also like to see pitchers who have pitched well in hitter's leagues like the PCL and the CAL, and I am leery of pitchers who struggle in pitcher's leagues like the FSL.

With that said, here is our list of prospects who are likely to become household names during the 2015 MLB season.

Kris Bryant (Cubs, 3B)

Chicago may riot if Kris Bryant does not make the Opening Day Chicago Cubs roster. This kid has demolished literally every level he has been a player in, including this year's MLB Spring Training. Bryant was the second overall pick in 2013. Last year, he hit .325/.438/.661 in 594 PA split between AA and AAA with 43 homers, 110 RBIs and 15 stolen bases. Bryant was promoted to AAA only about 12 months removed from the University of San Diego, and still managed a .295/.418/.619 slash line with 21 homeruns in only 297 PA. The kid has a plus bat with plus power, and will make an immediate impact whenever the Cubs decide to put him on the major league field.

Joc Pederson (Dodgers, OF)

A scout once said of Joc, "The ball just sounds different off his bat." It sounded so different that the Dodger are all in on him, after proclaiming he is off-limits in a trade, and also trading Matt Kemp to make room immediately for Joc in their outfield. Pederson is a five tool player who can do it all at the plate: hit for average (.302 career average in the minors), hit for power (33 HR in 445 AB last year), and steal a base (113 SB in four full minor league seasons). Pederson is a frontrunner to take home this year's National League Rookie of the Year.

Jorge Soler (Cubs, OF)

Soler still qualifies as a rookie despite 89 AB last year for the Cubs in which he held his own with 5 HR and a .292 average. We can expect some better power numbers than Soler has exhibited in his short stint in the minors (due to a suspension and injuries), as one PCL manager rated Soler's power a 70 on the 20-80 scouting scale. He is athletic for his large frame of 6'4" 215 lbs and despite the short time in the minors, has shown at the MLB level that his learning curve may not be so steep after all.

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Andrew Heaney (Angels, SP)

In a 3 team deal, the Angels acquired former first round pick (9th overall) Heaney, a pitcher whose slinging delivery reminds scouts of Madison Bumgarner. In his first full minor league season, Heaney posted a combined 1.60 ERA and rose to AA. By the end of the second year, he had made it all the way to the majors. Heaney struggled last year with over a 5.00 ERA at the MLB level, but growing pains are expected and he should be ready to go in the Angels rotation this year.

Aaron Sanchez (Blue Jays, SP)

Sanchez worked out of the bullpen last year, posting an insane 1.09 ERA and 0.697 WHIP over 33 innings of work. He is the #1 Blue Jays prospect for a reason. He still qualifies as a rookie and when he takes over a spot in the Jays rotation we will see why he is a highly touted prospect. And there is good reason to believe there is a spot for Sanchez since Marcus Stroman is out for the year with a torn ACL.

Rusney Castillo (Red Sox, CF)

The Red Sox gave this Cuban defector a record 7-year $72.5 million deal last year and in his short time in the majors, he did not disappoint when he went 12-36 with 2 HR down the stretch. Castillo, listed at only 5'8" showed he could hit when he was named to the 2011 Baseball World Cup after leading the World Cup in batting average (.512) and slugging (.854) while ranking fourth in on-base percentage (.524). Overall, he went 21-for-41 with four doubles, two triples and two HR in 10 games.

Francisco Lindor (Indians, SS)

Lindor, the top Indians prospect rates highly on the scouting scale in hitting and fielding, and has a plus arm at SS. Lindor projects to provide All-Star caliber defense to go with a .300 average one day, and the polished player could start off at that level as soon as the Indians throw him out there.

Yasmany Tomas (Diamondbacks, OF)

Tomas signed as a free agent out of Cuba to a $68.5 million contract this past offseason with the Dbacks. He is a Gold Glove-caliber fielder at third base, but rumors have him playing the outfield. On the field, Tomas played 5 seasons for the Havana Industriales in the Serie Nacional in Cuba. Overall, he hit 30 HR with 104 RBIs in 205 regular season games for the Industriales, starting in 2008. However, he never played more than 69 games during the 90-game regular season and did not play during the 2010-11 season. He projects to be a slugger and Arizona is a great place for sluggers to call home.

Be sure to check out our monthly Down on the Farm Report to keep track of all of your favorite prospects!

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