Patreon Content: Individual Top 30 Lists: James Fox

It’s rankings week at FutureSox and the schedule of events is below! We started with the Just Missed list to kick off the week.

• Monday: The Just Missed article (this one), individual lists for Patreon subscribers!
• Tuesday: Prospects ranked 16-30, with capsules, full list for Patreon subscribers!
• Wednesday: The full list, with 1-15 capsules, individual lists for Patreon subscribers!
• Thursday: Writers’ roundtable discussion of the rankings (High/Low), individual lists for Patreon subscribers!
• Friday: Mailbag Questions, individual lists for Patreon subscribers!

In addition to our regular content, our writers who participated in ranking the prospects (James Fox, Mike Rankin, Dan Santaromita, Brian Bilek, Rob Young, Sean Williams and Jasper Roos) will each release their individual top 30 lists to Patrons throughout the week! This is the first edition.

James Fox

1.Luis Robert OF

2. Michael Kopech RHP

3. Andrew Vaughn 1B

4. Nick Madrigal 2B

5. Dane Dunning RHP

The first five names on this list will be pretty universal throughout the week. Luis Robert is one of the very best prospects in the sport and occupies a top 5 spot for nearly every publication. Michael Kopech, Andrew Vaughn and Nick Madrigal are consensus top 40 prospects as well but their ranking varies depending on publication. Kopech has top-of-the-rotation upside, Vaughn is seen as the top first base prospect in the industry and Madrigal projects as a first division regular at second base. Dunning is still rehabbing from Tommy John Surgery but would likely be on top 100 lists and raring for his big league debut had he not been hurt.

6. Jonathan Stiever RHP

7. Zack Collins C

8. Andrew Dalquist RHP

9. Matthew Thompson RHP

10. Luis Alexander Basabe OF

Jonathan Stiever could get some love on top 100 lists at mid-season if he goes to the Southern League and performs but this is a big jump for the former 5th rounder. Collins has shown that he can get on base and hit right handers successfully and his proximity to the majors factors in here as well. Dalquist and Thompson are both high upside young arms and fall in the top ten due to ceiling and projection. Of the remaining outfielders with questions, Basabe ranks the highest due to his ability to handle all three outfield spots and his above average power projection as a switch hitter.

11. Micker Adolfo OF

12. Luis Gonzalez OF

13. Gavin Sheets 1B

14. Blake Rutherford OF

15. Yolbert Sanchez SS

Adolfo possesses premium raw power and needs to stay healthy to tap into it. Gonzalez rebounded after a tough start in Double-A. His ability to play CF and hit from the left side keeps him firmly above fellow outfielder Blake Rutherford though in my opinion. Sheets has elevated on this list after finally showing some in game power with the Barons in 2019. It’s a big year for Gavin Sheets in the International League. Sanchez will likely report to Low-A Kannapolis. He was given a $2.5 million bonus to sign out of Cuba and is a high level defender with offensive questions.

16. Konnor Pilkington LHP

17. Zack Burdi RHP

18. Jimmy Lambert RHP

19. Tyler Johnson RHP

20. Lenyn Sosa SS

Pilkington profiles as a back end starter but I slotted him in front of Jimmy Lambert due to being left handed and younger. Lambert should return from Tommy John rehab this year and could factor into the big league mix next season. Burdi is completely healthy and should compete for a big league bullpen job. Burdi and Johnson both have high leverage upside so they’re included as relievers. Lenyn Sosa struggled with the bat in Kannapolis but is a sound defender and still young for the level.

21. Bryce Bush OF

22. James Beard OF

23. Bernardo Flores LHP

24. Ian Hamilton RHP

25. Codi Heuer RHP

There’s a solid chance that Bush will rank higher on that list at mid-season but he spent much of 2019 battling injuries. He’s a full time outfielder now but I believe in the bat and his youth. James Beard is an 80-grade runner and Flores is a back end lefty who is close to the majors. Hamilton and Heuer are both relievers but they each boast high leverage upside and have earned spots on the top 30 projection.

26. Jose Rodriguez SS

27. Benyamin Bailey OF

28. DJ Gladney 3B

29. Bryan Ramos 3B

30. Jake Burger 3B

The back end of my list is consumed with some really, young intriguing talent. A few of these names could definitely move up the list in our mid-season ranking and a few could take huge jumps by this time next year. Rodriguez, Bailey and Ramos are all low dollar international signings that have made a solid impact so far. Gladney puts up huge exit velocity numbers and is a local kid. Burger is hanging on by a thread but reports of him finally running and fielding ground balls are positive.

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