The 2016 outfielder rankings are broken into two parts: the top 10 prospects in order and the next 15 prospects in alphabetical order. As always, these rankings are done from a scouting perspective but with fantasy baseball in mind, generally focusing on standard 5x5 league categories – though other statistics (e.g., OBP) are considered – and long-term, dynasty-league value.
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The Top 10:
1. Bradley Zimmer, Cleveland Indians (Double-A Akron RubberDucks)
2016 Stats: 47 G, .238/.376/.506, 31 R, 9 2B, 5 3B, 9 HR, 35 RBI, 19 SB, 32 BB, 63 K
Zimmer, whom the Indians selected with the No. 21 overall pick in the 2014 draft, saw his prospect stock explode in 2015 with an outstanding first half at High-A Lynchburg before moving to Double-A, where his production was impacted by a foot injury. The 23-year-old outfielder has fared better this season in his return to the Eastern League and is once again showing a high-end blend of power and speed with on-base skills. Although a high strikeout rate may ultimately limit his ability to hit for average, Zimmer has the makings of an impact player in the major leagues, with the potential for 20 home runs and 20 steals in his prime.
Impact Categories: AVG, R, HR, SB
2. David Dahl, Colorado Rockies (Double-A Hartford Yard Goats)
2016 Stats: 50 G, .288/.369/.565, 37 R, 16 2B, 2 3B, 11 HR, 35 RBI, 13 SB, 24 BB, 55 K
Dahl suffered a lacerated spleen during an ugly outfield collision in late May and was expected to miss the remainder of the 2015 season after undergoing emergency surgery. He opted to undergo a splenectomy a few days later, and, amazingly, returned to action in mid-July and finished the season on a positive note. Fully healthy for 2016, Dahl has reestablished himself as one of the top outfield prospects in the game with his performance so far at Double-A Hartford. While he’s long showed the ability to hit for average and steal bases, the 22-year-old center fielder finally has started to turn on the ball and is tapping into his raw power.
Impact Categories: AVG, HR, SB
3. Lewis Brinson, Texas Rangers (Double-A Frisco RoughRiders)
2016 Stats: 46 G, .221/.274/.395, 25 R, 9 2B, 3 3B, 5 HR, 23 RBI, 7 SB, 11 BB, 31 K
Brinson raced through the Minor leagues in 2015, beginning the year at High-A High Desert before moving up to Double-A Frisco and ultimately, Triple-A Round Rock. Between the three levels, he batted a robust .332/.403/.601 and set career highs in home runs (20), doubles (31), RBI (69) and runs scored (74). What makes Brinson so special is his ability to impact a game in so many different ways; he’s a gifted athlete and true five-tool talent who is just scraping the surface of his potential. He’s gotten off to a slow start this season in his return to Frisco, but the potential is there for Brinson to force his way to the Major Leagues sooner rather than later.
Impact Categories: AVG, R, HR, SB
4. Andrew Benintendi, Boston Red Sox (Double-A Portland Sea Dogs)
2016 Stats: 48 G, .304/.367/.476, 36 R, 14 2B, 8 3B, 1 HR, 39 RBI, 11 SB, 18 BB, 20 K
Benintendi rocketed up draft boards last spring as a draft-eligible sophomore as he hit .376/.488/.717 with an NCAA Division I-leading 20 home runs to win the prestigious Golden Spikes Award. The Red Sox then drafted Benintendi with the No. 7 overall pick, and he went on to hit .313/.416/.556 with 11 home runs and 10 steals in 54 games in his pro debut. A left-handed hitter, Benintendi has the potential for an above-average bat and 20 homers annually, while his terrific approach and plate discipline should translate to high on-base percentages as a top-of-the-order hitter. He’s already received a promotion to Double-A after posting a .976 OPS with 21 extra-base hits and more walks (15) than strikeouts (9) in the Carolina League, and he could be one of the first hitters from the 2015 draft class to reach the Major Leagues.
Impact Categories: AVG, R, RBI, SB
5. Clint Frazier, Cleveland Indians (Double-A Akron RubberDucks)
2016 Stats: 43 G, .314/.400/.533, 40 R, 17 2B, 1 3B, 6 HR, 22 RBI, 6 SB, 24 BB, 39 K
Frazier struggled during the first half of his first two full seasons only to rebound after the All-Star break and, as a whole, put up promising numbers. But the 21-year-old has hit the ground running this season in his first Double-A campaign, as he’s hitting for average and power while demonstrating a more consistent approach, one that results in fewer strikeouts. Frazier’s bat speed and raw power are among the best in the minor leagues and suggest the ceiling of an All-Star.
Impact Categories: R, HR, RBI
6. Aaron Judge, New York Yankees (Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders)
2016 Stats: 50 G, .221/.285/.372, 20 R, 9 2B, 7 HR, 25 RBI, 16 BB, 58 K
Judge made a smooth transition to Double-A in 2015 as he hit for both average and power in the Eastern League to earn a mid-season promotion to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. But the 6-foot-8 outfielder scuffled for the first time as a professional upon reaching the minors’ highest level as pitchers used advanced sequencing to expose some of the holes in his swing and approach. Unfortunately, those struggles have carried over into 2016 for Judge, who continues to show power but at the expense of his average and on-base rate. That being said, Judge has shown the capacity to make swift adjustments in the past and should learn to make more contact, and he’s likely to hit the 20-homer mark even in a poor offensive year.
Impact Categories: HR, RBI
6. Austin Meadows, Pittsburgh Pirates (Double-A Altoona Curve)
2016 Stats: 32 G, .289/.358/.474, 20 R, 8 2B, 5 3B, 1 HR, 13 RBI, 8 SB, 14 BB, 25 K
Meadows played in only 38 games in 2014 due to a hamstring injury, but a clean bill of health last season allowed the 2013 first-rounder to showcase his promising blend of hitting ability, on-base skills and gap power. Specifically, the then-20-year-old paced the pitcher-friendly Florida State League in hits (156) and total bases (207) while ranking third with a .306 average. He finished the year with a six-game stint at Double-A Altoona, where he collected nine hits in 25 at-bats (.360). After beginning the 2016 season on the shelf as he recovered from an orbital fracture, Meadows is, unsurprisingly, swinging a hot bat back in the Eastern League. He will never offer much over-the-fence power, with some scouts forecasting 12-15 home runs in his prime, but he’s going to hit for average and get on base consistently, all the while providing considerable value in center field.
Impact Categories: AVG, R, SB
7. http://www.nbcsports.com/edge/player/MLB/7028/Nick-WilliamsNick Williams, Philadelphia Phillies (Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs)
2016 Stats: 46 G, .274/.316/.423, 27 R, 7 2B, 3 2B, 5 HR, 23 RBI, 4 SB, 11 BB, 49 K
Williams took an enormous step forward last season with his approach and plate discipline as he posted a 7.0 percent walk rate and 18.8 percent strikeout rate, both of which were vast improvements over his career averages of 5.5% and 24.7%, respectively. More importantly, Williams’ newfound selectivity didn’t detract from his production, as he matched his career-high with 17 home runs and recorded his highest average (.303) and on-base percentage (.354) at a full-season level. His approach has regressed a bit this season in Triple-A, though he’s still making lots of hard contact and driving the ball out of the park. Given the state of the current Phillies outfield, Williams could get his first taste of the Major Leagues later this year so long as he stays healthy.
Impact Categories: AVG, HR, RBI
8. Manny Margot, San Diego Padres (Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas)
2016 Stats: 51 G, .299/.362/.422, 41 R, 8 2B, 4 3B, 3 HR, 23 RBI, 16 SB, 18 BB, 23 K
Margot got off to a hot start in 2015 back at High-A Salem but saw his production taper off during the second half as result of a shoulder injury in mid-June and a promotion to Double-A Portland later in the month. Though he was one of the youngest everyday players in the Eastern League, Margot was anything but overmatched against the advanced competition, hitting .271 with a .745 OPS, 28 extra-base hits and 21 steals in 64 games. Acquired by San Diego during the offseason in the Craig Kimbrel deal, Margot is quietly off to a great start in his introduction to the Triple-A level. With his outstanding contact skills, wiry power and top-of-the-scale speed, the 21-year-old center fielder could be on the Padres’ big-league radar in late 2016.
Impact Categories: AVG, R, SB
9. Victor Robles, Washington Nationals (Low-A Hagerstown Suns)
2016 Stats: 46 G, .315/.411/.475, 36 R, 5 2B, 3 3B, 5 HR, 23 RBI, 14 SB, 11 BB, 25 K
Robles has done nothing but impress since signing with the Nationals for $225,000 back in 2013. In his 2015 stateside debut last season, he tore up the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League to force a promotion to Short Season Auburn, where he was the youngest everyday player in the New York-Penn League. In 61 games between both stops, he batted a robust .352/.445/.507 with 20 extra-base hits and 24 stolen bases. Meanwhile, he’s continued that torrid pace this year in his full-season debut by filling out the stat sheet on an almost nightly basis for Low-A Hagerstown. Robles, 19, has the makings of a special talent, as he’ll showcase all five skills – with his hit talent, speed and defense already grading out as plus or better – on top of his elite athleticism.
Impact Categories: AVG, R, SB
10. Max Kepler, Minnesota Twins (MLB)
2016 Stats (Minors): 30 G, .282/.367/.455, 16 R, 4 2B, 6 3B, 1 HR, 19 RBI, 1 SB, 16 BB, 14 K
It can be argued that no hitter improved his stock as much as Kepler did in 2015. Viewed as more of a fourth or fifth outfielder than everyday player heading into the season, the German-born outfielder was named Southern League MVP after pacing the circuit in on-base percentage (.416) and slugging (.531) and finishing second in the batting race (.322). His season concluded with a brief taste of the majors, during which he went 1-for-7 while appearing in three games, and he’s already earned a pair of call-ups with the Twins in 2016, the latest coming just this week. From a fantasy perspective, Kepler stands out most for his ability to contribute in the average, runs-scored and stolen-base departments, but he’s also still growing into his frame and adding strength, meaning he could very well surpass his projection for average power.
Impact Categories: AVG, R, RBI, SB
The Next 15 (Alphabetical Order):
Anthony Alford, Toronto Blue Jays (High-A Dunedin Blue Jays)
Albert Almora, Chicago Cubs (Triple-A Iowa Cubs)
Trent Clark, Milwaukee Brewers (Low-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers)
Yusniel Diaz, Los Angeles Dodgers (High-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes)
Derek Fisher, Houston Astros (Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks)
Alex Jackson, Seattle Mariners (Low-A Clinton LumberKings)
Brett Phillips, Milwaukee Brewers (Double-A Biloxi Shuckers)
Harold Ramirez, Pittsburgh Pirates (Double-A Altoona Curve)
Cornelius Randoph, Philadelphia Phillies (Low-A Lakewood BlueClaws)
Billy McKinney, Chicago Cubs (Double-A Tennessee Smokies)
Roman Quinn, Philadelphia Phillies (Double-A Reading Fightin Phils)
Hunter Renfroe, San Diego Padres (Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas)
Kyle Tucker, Houston Astros (Low-A Quad City River Bandits)
Alex Verdugo, Los Angeles Dodgers (Double-A Tulsa Drillers)
Jesse Winker, Cincinnati Reds (Triple-A Louisville Bats)
