The rankings are broken into two parts: the top 10 prospects in order and the next 10 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. Zach Burdi, Chicago White Sox
2017 Stats: 29 G, 33.1 IP, 4.05 ERA, 30 H, 0 HR, 17 BB, 51 K, 7 SV
It really looked like Burdi was on his way to pitching in high-leverage situations for the White Sox this year. Unfortunately, he will instead miss the rest of the season, and is likely to have Tommy John Surgery soon. Like his brother Nick (more on him in a little bit), Burdi can touch triple-digits, and he complements that heater with a wipeout slider. What makes him a potentially special reliever, however, is the fact that he also has an above-average changeup. The control needs work, but if it can even be average, he has a chance to be a dominant closer for a long time. We’ll have to see how he recovers, however.
Impact stats: ERA, K, SV
2. Joe Jimenez, Detroit Tigers
2017 Stats: 22 G, 20.2 IP, 1.74 ERA, 15 H, 1 HR, 10 BB, 31 K, 4 SV
He struggled in his time in the big leagues and he’s currently on the seven-day disabled list, but Jimenez was one of the most dominant relievers in minor-league baseball last year, and -- most importantly -- he showed stuff that suggested it was sustainable at the big-league level. He doesn’t have the same kind of fastball as Burdi, but he’ll get up to 98, and he commands the pitch to both sides of the plate very well for a reliever. His slider flashes plus-plus, and when everything is clicking, he’ll locate it for strikes. Detroit is now out of playoff contention, and Jimenez should get to finish the year helping the Tigers.
Impact stats: ERA, K, SV
3. Jimmy Sherfy, Arizona Diamondbacks
2017 Stats: 30 G, 1.62 ERA, 33.1, 23 H, 5 HR, 3 BB, 43 K, 12 SV
Sherfy has been sensational in 2017, and he looks like he’s ready to help the Arizona bullpen right now. They could use the help. He sits in the mid-90s and occasionally touches 98 miles per hour, and he also has a plus slider. He pounds the strike zone, but he will give up the occasional homer as the command is behind the control. It’s not crippling, however, and Sherfy absolutely has the stuff to be a traditional closer.
Impact stats: ERA, K, SV
4. Tanner Houck, Boston Red Sox
2017 Stats: 1 G, 18.00 ERA, 1 IP, 2 H,0 HR, 1 BB, 0 K, 0 SV
Houck was the Red Sox’ first pick in this year’s draft, and he has a real chance to be the first player to make his debut next season. He has a fastball that will touch the high 90s, and there’s good movement on the offering. He also shows an above-average change, and a competent slider at times. He throws strikes with all three pitches, and the command isn’t far behind the control. The Red Sox could give him a chance to start, but he profiles best as a high-leverage reliever.
Impact stats: ERA, SV, K
5. Dovydas Neverauskas, Pittsburgh Pirates
2017 Stats: 32 G, 38 IP, 3.32 ERA, 37 H, 1 HR, 14 BB, 36 K, 9 SV
This April, Neverauskas became the first ever Lithuanian born player to reach the big leagues. Neat. When he’s pitching in relief, he’ll get his fastball up to 99 miles per hour, and there’s big life in the pitch. He throws two different sliders; a cut-like pitch that bears into the hands of left-handed hitters, and a “slower” pitch that acts more like a true breaking-ball with depth and tilt. He’s not immune to throwing a walk or two, but he’s generally around the plate, and he has made progress there as well. There’s still some work to be done, but there’s big upside in his right arm, and he could be closing in PNC Park before the end of 2018.
6. J.T. Chargois, Minnesota Twins
2016 Stats: 39 G, 46.2 IP, 35 H, 2 HR, 13 BB, 55 K, 16 SV
Chargois only pitched in two games at Triple-A this year, so giving you his stats tells you basically nothing. His 2016 numbers tell a pretty good story of how talented he is. He has a true 80 fastball, hitting 100 miles per hour on a routine basis with good life. His curveball and change are inconsistent, but both pitches flash above-average, and keep hitters honest. He struggled to throw strikes with the Twins, but it shouldn’t keep him from being a high-leverage reliever.
Impact stats: K, SV
7. Riley Ferrell, Houston Astros
2017 Stats: 25 G, 36 IP, 4.25 ERA, 42 H, 1 HR, 11 BB, 31 K, 2 SV
Ferrell is coming back from an aneurysm in his throwing shoulder, and while the results have been mixed, it’s just nice to see one of the most talented bullpen arms I’ve covered in the draft healthy. When he’s firing on all cylinders, he shows a mid-90s fastball that touches the high 90s, and the late life makes it almost impossible to square up. He also shows a plus slider, but he’s going to need to do a better job of throwing it near the strike zone if it’s going to be successful at the higher levels. Shoulder issues are scary, but if he can recover and show the same stuff, he absolutely has a chance to be a closer for Houston at some point.
Impact stats: ERA, K, SV
8. Nick Burdi, Minnesota Twins
2017 Stats: 14 G, 17 IP, 0.53 ERA, 9 H, 1 HR, 4 BB,20 K, 1 SV
Hey, it’s another injured reliever. Burdi underwent Tommy John Surgery this spring, and it’s disappointing because he was having his best professional season. Even still, there’s good reason for optimism. The brother of the aforementioned Zach, this Burdi can get his fastball into the triple digits as well, and he has one of the best sliders of any pitcher -- reliever or not -- in minor-league baseball. He’s really struggled to locate pitches, and because of his effort in the delivery it’s not going to get much better. Still, when you have two pitches like this, you have a chance to be a closer. He just has to stay healthy and throw strikes.
Impact stats: K, SV
9. Nate Pearson, Toronto Blue Jays
2017 stats: Has not pitched
Pearson was the second 2017 draft pick on this list, and he might just have more upside than Houck. His fastball has gotten up to 101 miles per hour, and he gets downhill well with his 6-foot-6 frame. Neither of his secondary pitches are close to the level of his fastball, but he does have an average slider and a fringe-average change. He needs to work on repeating his delivery, but if he can have even close to average control, he can save games.
10. Zach Jackson, Toronto Blue Jays
2017 Stats: 28 G, 32.2IP, 3.03 ERA, 23 H, 19 BB, 38 K, 3 SV
Jackson was a third-round pick out of Arkansas this June, and he’s done nothing but impress scouts and the Blue Jays since that time. There are two pitches that can miss bats; a 93-95 mile per hour fastball that touches 97, and a plus curveball that he can locate for strikes. He also has a fringe-average change, but it’s really just for keeping hitters honest. He’s old for the league, but those numbers are quality, and he should move quickly through the Toronto system.
Impact stats: K, SV, ERA
Next 10 (alphabetical order):
Jake Cosart, Boston Red Sox
Giovanny Gallegos, New York Yankees
Jimmy Herget, Cincinnati Reds
Tyler Johnson, Chicago White Sox
Reyes Moronta, San Francisco Giants
Jake Reed, Minnesota Twins
Ryne Stanek, Tampa Bay Rays
Drew Steckenrider, Miami Marlins
Thyago Vieira, Seattle Mariners
Kyle Zimmer, Kansas City Royals
