Patreon: Dan Santaromita’s 2021 Preseason Top 30 Prospects

It’s rankings week at FutureSox! Our full top 30 is out as well as scouting reports and info on 25 more players in the Just Missed group.

In addition to our regular content, some of our writers who participated in ranking the prospects are releasing their individual top 30 lists to Patreon subscribers throughout the week.

• 1. Andrew Vaughn, 1B
• 2. Michael Kopech, RHP
• 3. Garrett Crochet, LHP
• 4. Nick Madrigal, 2B
• 5. Jared Kelley, RHP

The Vaughn vs. Kopech argument has seemingly become a consensus easy pick for Vaughn. I think it’s closer than that. I could see Kopech reaching his ace potential and Vaughn still hasn’t shown much as a pro. Of course, Vaughn hasn’t had a chance to show much, but I think there’s an argument to be made for Kopech at No. 1.

I like Crochet over Madrigal for Crochet’s upside. If Crochet reaches anywhere near his upside (similar to Kopech), he’s more valuable than Madrigal. Madrigal is likely already what he’s going to be. He will be a solid everyday major leaguer and proved that in 2020. The fact that the White Sox have three prospects arguably more valuable than him shows how top-heavy the system is.

There’s a lot of uncertainty in this group. Stiever made his MLB debut in 2020 and showed he has work to do, but I don’t think it was a disastrous showing. Not facing regular competition in 2020 and then getting thrown into the majors with no experience above A-ball is an incredibly tough task. He simply wasn’t ready. Hopefully he learned something and is better for it.

After that, there are four players with virtually no pro experience. The mix of pedigree and a lack of minor league playing time has grouped Thompson, Dalquist, Cespedes and Vera together. We’ll know a lot more about them in a few months.

• 11. Gavin Sheets, 1B/OF
• 12. Micker Adolfo OF
• 13. Luis Gonzalez OF
• 14. Blake Rutherford, OF
• 15. Jimmy Lambert RHP

Sheets’ efforts to play outfield is a big boost for his stock. Jose Abreu and Andrew Vaughn will soak up a lot of the first base/DH plate appearances in the near future. Right field remains a question mark. I believe in his bat far more than the three guys below him.

I still think Adolfo has a chance just because of his upside. Now, whether or not he can stay healthy is another story. I am starting to think he may end up as a late bloomer like Jose Martinez and Rangel Ravelo, who both made the MLB debuts at older ages. Adolfo is 24, which isn’t old if he has a big 2021, but he only played 105 games from 2018-2020.

Gonzalez and Rutherford are similar for me. I don’t think either has the power to be a standout corner outfielder. Gonzalez can at least play all three outfield spots well, which should give him an MLB career of some sort. I don’t know if either will hit enough to be regulars.

I like Lambert’s stuff if he can stay healthy. A healthy Lambert is arguably a top 10 prospect in this system.

• 16. Zack Burdi, RHP
• 17. Bryce Bush, OF
• 18. Bryan Ramos, 3B
• 19. Jake Burger, 3B
• 20. Benyamin Bailey, OF

I can’t believe I’m one of the highest on Burdi among our writers. I have serious questions about how much control he has, but there are still far fewer questions about him than those just below him.

Bush has a lot of bat speed, power potential and athleticism. He had a rough 2019, but that wasn’t a surprise given how young he was for Low-A.

Ramos and Bailey are similar in that they had big years in short season leagues in 2019. Ramos did it at the Arizona League while Bailey dominated the DSL as a 17-year-old. Both should be interesting to track in 2021.

I’m a bit lower on Burger than most. I’m taking a wait and see approach after those injuries.

• 21. Jose Rodriguez, SS
• 22. Yolbert Sanchez, SS
• 23. Bernardo Flores, LHP
• 24. Tyler Johnson, RHP
• 25. James Beard, OF

You could jumble this group in any order and I wouldn’t find anything wrong with that. I like Flores as a lefty reliever, which is why I have him above Johnson, a righty. Rodriguez and Beard are raw, but Rodriguez’s power from middle infield and Beard’s speed are valuable tools.

• 26. DJ Gladney, 3B/1B
• 27. Kade McClure, RHP
• 28. Jefferson Mendoza, C
• 29. Caleb Freeman, RHP
• 30. Chase Krogman, OF

There are a lot of guys who could slide into the back few spots here. Gladney’s power potential is worth valuing despite red flags about his contact rate.

McClure is a good breakout candidate in 2021 after receiving positive reports from fall instructs. Some of our contributors who have seen him in person have been raving about him for years.

Freeman is a good candidate to race through the system if he can control his nasty stuff. Mendoza and Krogman are fliers for young players with upside. There’s a handful of others in the system like that.