JTW Mock is proud to announce that the site will be expanding with a baseball section along with football. Today, we will unveil Justin Worsley's MLB Farm System Rank, and in the future, Justin will also feature a MLB Mock Draft.
To understand the rankings, Justin takes three factors into consideration, based off of MLB.com's top 20 prospects for each organization: How many players are ranked in the top 100, what level of the farm system they are in and their expected call up date, so the closer the players are to the big leagues, the higher value they will have in the farm system.
1. Houston Astros
Top 100 Prospects: 7 Minor League Level Rank: 2 Expected Call Up Date Rank: 8
Top Prospect: Carlos Correa (SS, no. 8 MLB Top 100)
Houston's farm system is loaded due to a combination of holding two (soon to be three) consecutive first overall draft picks, and trades with Philadelphia (Jonathan Singleton, Domingo Santana, Jonathan Villar), Baltimore (Josh Hader), Toronto (Asher Wojciechowski), Kansas City (Kyle Smith), Detroit (Danry Vasquez) and Oakland (Max Stassi).Seven of their eight top prospects, however, were originally drafted by Houston, the lone exception being Singleton, a first baseman acquired in the Hunter Pence deal.
2. San Diego Padres
Top 100 Prospects: 4 Minor League Level Rank: 3 Expected Call Up Date Rank: 9
Three of the Padres top 20 prospects are currently in the MLB, but their farm system was also bolstered through trades with Boston (Adrian Gonzalez) and Texas (Mike Adams). The team is strong in pitchers and outfielders, but they have no top 20 prospects at the corner infield positions.
3. Chicago Cubs
Top 100 Prospects: 5 Minor League Level Rank: 9 Expected Call Up Date Rank: 6
Top Prospect: Javier Baez (SS, no. 9)
Baez could be ready for the majors in 2014, which could force the Cubs into a difficult decision on the talented by error-prone Starlin Castro. Five of their top prospects came from trading away Ryan Dempster, Matt Garza and Paul Maholm, including third baseman Mike Olt.
4. St. Louis Cardinals
Top 100 Prospects: 3 Minor League Level Rank: 4 Expected Call Up Date Rank: 5
Top Prospect: Oscar Taveras (OF, no. 2)
The scariest part of the Cardinals farm system: their top five prospects are MLB ready and some have already seen time. The perennial contender, none of the Cardinals top 20 prospects were acquired via trade.
5. New York Mets
Top 100 Prospects: 3 Minor League Level Rank: 5 Expected Call Up Date Rank: 3
Top Prospect: Noah Syndergaard (RHP, no. 12)
Sandy Alderson has helped turn the farm system around with a series of smart trades, including plucking the no. 12 and 21 overall prospects (Syndergaard and catcher Travis d'Arnaud) from Toronto for R.A. Dickey. The farm system takes a hit with top pitcher Zach Wheeler graduating to the majors, but even without him they are a top 5 system.
6. Washington Nationals
Top 100 Prospects: 3 Minor League Level Rank: 6 Expected Call Up Date Rank: 1
Top Prospect: Brian Goodwin (OF, no. 67)
Washington has graduated a lot of players over the past few seasons with Stephen Strasburg, Bryce Harper and Anthony Rendon moving to the big leagues, but the team ranks sixth overall by virtue of having the most MLB-ready farm system. The offseason trade of Michael Morse to Seattle also brought pitcher A.J. Cole (no. 82) to the club.
7. Kansas City Royals
Top 100 Prospects: 5 Minor League Level Rank: 13 Expected Call Up Date Rank: 12
Top Prospect: Kyle Zimmer (RHP, no. 31)
With a blend of drafting and international signings, the Royals again have a deep farm system. Sean Manea, the team's top draft pick this year, still needs to be signed.
8. Chicago White Sox
Top 100 Prospects: 1 Minor League Level Rank: 1 Expected Call Up Date Rank: 4
Top Prospect: Courtney Hawkins (OF, no. 65)
Chicago only has one prospect in the top 100, but they have five players in Triple A and another pair in the majors, giving them the league's best roster in terms of players in high levels of the farm system.
9. Miami Marlins
Top 100 Prospects: 4 Minor League Level Rank: 10 Expected Call Up Date Rank: 13
Top Prospect: Jake Marisnick (OF, no. 46)
Miami's farm system has been bolstered through trades with Toronto, Detroit, St. Louis and the Dodgers. The farm system, however, did take a hit when their top minor leaguers, Marcell Ozuna and Jose Fernandez, made it to the big leagues.With the projected outfield of Marisnick-Ozuna-Giancarlo Stanton, Miami has the potential for one of the league's most dangerous offenses.
10. Boston Red Sox
Top 100 Prospects: 8 Minor League Level Rank: 11 Expected Call Up Date Rank: 22
Top Prospect: Xander Bogaerts (SS, no. 6)
Boston has a deep farm system, with eight prospects ranked in the top 100, the most in the majors. Despite the massive trade they made with Los Angeles last year, only one prospect, no. 47 Allen Webster, has cracked the Red Sox's top 20 list.
11. Detroit Tigers
Top 100 Prospects: 1 Minor League Level Rank: 7 Expected Call Up Date Rank: 2
Top Prospect: Nick Castellanos (OF, no. 11)
Castellanos received his major league call-up earlier this week and could see some playing time in left field. None of their top prospects play the corner infield positions, but with Prince Fielder and Miguel Cabrera manning those spots in the majors, they would have been jammed up.
12. Arizona Diamondbacks
Top 100 Prospects: 3 Minor League Level Rank: 18 Expected Call Up Date Rank: 7
Top Prospect: Archie Bradley (RHP, no. 7)
Trading Justin Upton and Ian Kennedy helped replenish the farm system and two of their three top prospects are currently in Triple A. There are, however, no outfield prospects in their top 20.
13. Baltimore Orioles
Top 100 Prospects: 3 Minor League Level Rank: 16 Expected Call Up Date Rank: 11
Top Prospect: Kevin Gausman (RHP, no. 14)
Gausman may be their no. 1 prospect, but 1A is pitcher Dylan Bundy, who is the no. 15 overall prospect. Their overall farm system has taken a hit due to recent trading and 14 of their top 20 prospects are pitchers.
14. Tampa Bay Rays
Top 100 Prospects: 4 Minor League Level Rank: 22 Expected Call Up Date Rank: 15
Top Prospect: Taylor Guerrieri (RHP, no. 30)
Despite Wil Myers graduating to the majors, the Rays farm system is still bolstered by prospects received in deals for James Shields and Matt Garza. Pitcher Alex Colome (no. 83) has made some spot starts this season. The bottom end of their top 20, however, is overloaded in shortstops with four of their final six prospects in the top 20 playing the position.
15. Colorado Rockies
Top 100 Prospects: 3 Minor League Level Rank: 14 Expected Call Up Date Rank: 16
Top Prospect: Jonathan Gray (RHP, no. 34)
Gray, their top pick in this year's draft, anchors their minor league system, but only one of their seven top prospects plays in a league above Single A. Three prospects, however, are in the majors.
16. Cleveland Indians
Top 100 Prospects: 4 Minor League Level Rank: 21 Expected Call Up Date Rank: 21
Top Prospect: Francisco Lindor (SS, no. 5)
Lindor is the team's top prospect, but he is blocked by Asdrubal Cabrera and Jason Kipnis in the middle infield positions, so he may have to convert to third base in order to make it up to the majors.Trevor Bauer (no. 39) is projected to be a top starter, but aside from him the team is thin in pitching.
17. New York Yankees
Top 100 Prospects: 4 Minor League Level Rank: 20 Expected Call Up Date Rank: 18
Top Prospect: Gary Sanchez (C, no. 28)
Only three players in their top 20 are in Triple A or higher and only two have an expected call up date for this season, but the team has a balance or positional talent throughout their minor league system.
18. Pittsburgh Pirates
Top 100 Prospects: 6 Minor League Level Rank: 24 Expected Call Up Date Rank: 24
Top Prospect: Jameson Taillon (RHP, no. 10)
The Pirates may have six prospects in the top 100, but only one is currently in Triple A. Overall, 12 of their top 20 prospects are currently in Single A or lower. Taillon could be in the starting rotation at the beginning of next season.
19. Los Angeles Dodgers
Top 100 Prospects: 4 Minor League Level Rank: 25 Expected Call Up Date Rank: 19
Top Prospect: Joc Pederson (OF, no. 45)
While the Dodgers are overloaded in the majors with talent in the outfield, luckily they will not need to worry about giving Pederson his call up until 2015. Their minor league system is stacked in pitching prospects, with 12 pitching prospects ranked in their top 20. The team does not have any catchers, first baseman or second baseman who are ranked, however, and only one third baseman.
20. Atlanta Braves
Top 100 Prospects: 1 Minor League Level Rank: 8 Expected Call Up Date Rank: 20
Top Prospect: Lucas Sims (RHP, no. 94)
Atlanta only has one prospect ranked in the top 100 and that Sims at no. 94, but it is due much in part to a lot of their top minor leaguers receiving their call up. The team does, however, has an overall balance of positional players in their farm system.
21. San Francisco Giants
Top 100 Prospects: 2 Minor League Level Rank: 23 Expected Call Up Date Rank: 10
Top Prospect: Kyle Crick (RHP, no. 44)
The Giants are top and bottom-heavy in pitching prospects, including Crick and his teammate in Single A, Clayton Blackburn (no. 95). The farm system has taken their lumps over the past few seasons, however, due to trading players such as Zach Wheeler and Tommy Joseph over the past few seasons.
22. Minnesota Twins
Top 100 Prospects: 6 Minor League Level Rank: 29 Expected Call Up Date Rank: 29
Top Prospect: Byron Buxton (OF, no. 1)
Minnesota has a large amount of players ranked in the top 100, including Buxton, the top prospect in the minors and no. 3 Miguel Sano, but the team's overall farm system is ranked so low due to the fact that most of their players are in the lower end of the farm system and are nowhere near ready for their call up.
23. Oakland Athletics
Top 100 Prospects: 2 Minor League Level Rank: 12 Expected Call Up Date Rank: 26
Top Prospect: Addison Russell (SS, no. 19)
Two of their top prospects are already in the majors, but it may be a while before anyone else gets their call up. Russell is in Triple A, but he is expected to be promoted until 2015. Eleven of Oakland's top 20 prospects are currently in Single A or lower.
24. Seattle Mariners
Top 100 Prospects: 2 Minor League Level Rank: 17 Expected Call Up Date Rank: 25
Top Prospect: Taijuan Walker (RHP, no. 4)
Walker recently received his promotion to the big leagues and Danny Hultzen (no. 25) could follow soon, giving the Mariners the potential to have the best starting rotation in the majors. Recently acquire outfielder Xavier Avery, their no. 17 overall prospect who was acquired in the Michael Morse trade, could receive his call up soon as well.
25. Cincinnati Reds
Top 100 Prospects: 2 Minor League Level Rank: 17 Expected Call Up Date Rank: 25
Top Prospect: Billy Hamilton (OF, no. 17)
Another team with a 1 and 1A as their top minor leaguers, pitcher Robert Stephenson is the no. 18 overall prospect. The speedy Hamilton is known for his base stealing ability, but there is a good chance that he could become Cincinnati's leadoff hitter in 2014, especially if the team is unable to retain Shin-Soo Choo.
26. Philadelphia Phillies
Top 100 Prospects: 2 Minor League Level Rank: 15 Expected Call Up Date Rank: 27
Top Prospect: Jesse Biddle (LHP, no. 43)
Philadelphia's farm system has been depleted due to constant deadline deals. Four of the Phillies former top prospects are currently in another team's minor league system. Jesse Biddle, however, looks like he has the potential to be a team's no. 2 starter and third baseman Maikel Franco's stock has skyrocketed following a strong season.
27. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Top 100 Prospects: 2 Minor League Level Rank: 26 Expected Call Up Date Rank: 14
Top Prospect: Kaleb Cowart (3B, no. 79)
With the promotions of Mike Trout and Mark Trumbo along with the Angels being buyers during recent deadlines has devastated their farm system. Ten of the Angels top 20 prospects are currently in Single A or lower.
28. Milwaukee Brewers
Top 100 Prospects: 1 Minor League Level Rank: 27 Expected Call Up Date Rank: 17
Top Prospect: Jimmy Nelson (RHP, no. 88)
Milwaukee maxed out their credit card bill when they traded for Zack Greinke and now they are left with a weak minor league system. Additionally, Jean Segura's promotion to the majors and Nelson's potential call up could also further cripple it.
29. Texas Rangers
Top 100 Prospects: 3 Minor League Level Rank: 28 Expected Call Up Date Rank: 28
Top Prospect: Jorge Alfaro (C, no. 57)
Despite having three prospects in the top 100, the Rangers prospects are nowhere near ready for their call up and are mostly in the lower levels of the minor league system. The farm system is further crippled with shortstop Jurkison Profar's promotion as well as third baseman Mike Olt's trade to Chicago.
30. Toronto Blue Jays
Top 100 Prospects: 3 Minor League Level Rank: 30 Expected Call Up Date Rank: 30
Top Prospect: Aaron Sanchez (RHP, no. 22)
Toronto completely depleted their farm system when they made two massive trades last offseason to the NL East. Now, the team is in last place in the AL East and their farmhands are nowhere near ready for the majors. Fifteen of the Blue Jays top prospects are in Single A or lower.
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