Most Athletic Ability Prospects: LA

Our prospect rosters are filled with physically gifted players with tremendous power, speed and arm. But who stands out?

Below, we’ve identified the top athlete from each of the American League farms.

Blue Jays: Dasan Brown, OF (No. 19)

His 80-rated speed makes him one of the fastest in the minors, which is one of the reasons the Blue Jays selected him in the third round in 2019. Along with his athleticism and speed, the Another of Brown’s attributes is “raw,” so he’s trying to prove he has the bat to make it to the majors. He hit .212 with a 32.7% strikeout rate in 51 games at Class-A Lower last year, but stole 22 bases in 28 attempts.

Orioles: Gunnar Henderson, SS/3B (No. 4, No. 74 in MLB)

He’s lanky, strong and physical, but he also knows how to move at shortstop and can steal bases. His athletic ability has helped him move to third base when needed. He can also defend a solid center field.

Rays: Vidal Bruján, OF/2B (No. 2, No. 21 in MLB)

Tampa Bay is known for developing versatile players. In 2012, the Dominican became a clear example of this. Vidal, 24, defended all three outfield positions, adding to his defensive repertoire, which already included second base, third base and shortstop, at Triple-A Durham. He has 70 degree speed with a solid arm. On top of that, his 147 stolen bases are the most in the minors since 2018; his first full year.

Red Sox: Jarren Duran, OF (No. 3, No. 25 in MLB)

The Red Sox knew Duran had well-above-average speed when they selected him in the 2018 Amateur Draft, but now he has above-average power after working hard on his lefty swing. He made his Major League debut last year, displaying a sprint speed of 29.3 feet per second; ranking in the 96th percentile.

Yankees: Jasson Dominguez, OF (No. 2, No. 17 in MLB)

When you’re compared to Bo Jackson, Mickey Mantle and Mike Trout, it means you’re an elite athlete. That’s the case with the Dominican, who signed for $5.1 million in 2019 as one of the most anticipated international prospects in history. Either way, he’s still only 19 years old, but he has a physique with which he could easily have all five above-average tools.

Guardians: Daniel Espino, RHP (No. 5, MLB No. 92)

The Panamanian is the only pitcher on the list. Espino uses his athleticism and quick arm to generate one of the best repertoires in the minors without significant effort. He hits 101 mph on the fastball, which he follows with a deadly slider that hits the top 80 mph.

Royals. Bobby Witt Jr., SS (No. 1, No. 3 in MLB)

Looking at his individual tools, Witt’s scouting report might look like the best of all prospects. He is an above average runner, occasionally earning a 70th grade from scouting. He has shown legitimate power in games and a standout shortstop. His arm will be important to the Royals if they need to move him to third base in the summer.

Tigers: Dillon Dingler, C (No. 4)

Athletic ability is on the lips of everyone who evaluates Dingler. He was moved from center field to the plate before being selected by the Tigers in the 2020 Amateur Draft. He continues to have above-average speed and moves well behind the plate.

Twins: Royce Lewis, SS (No. 1, No. 35 in MLB)

We’ll have to see if he retains his elite speed when he returns from his ACL injury. He hasn’t played a competitive game since the 2019 Arizona Fall League, so there are a lot of question marks. But before the injury, he showed not only that he can defend shortstop, but that he can be moved all over the field, including a solid center field.

White Sox: Colson Montgomery, SS (No. 1)

He was named Indiana High School Athlete of the Year in 2020-2021, setting basketball scoring records. He could have chosen that sport, if he had chosen the university. Instead, he signed with the White Sox in last year’s amateur draft. He is a shortstop who has been compared to Corey Seager at times.

Athletics: Buddy Reed, OF

Reed played three sports in high school (hockey and football being the others) and has shown his athletic ability since leaving the University of Florida in 2016. His bat hasn’t produced as consistently as expected, but he has elite defense in the center field and lots of power, when he’s healthy.

Angels: Werner Blakely, SS

There are plenty of athletes on the Angels’ farms, but we’re going with Blakely because of his projection. He’s long, lean and strong, and should continue to add muscle while maintaining an above-average speed profile.

Astros: Jordan Brewer, OF (No. 21)

Brewer received interest from the University of Michigan football program before dislocating his shoulder in high school, ending his football career. He went to the same college to play baseball and ended up being selected in the 2019 Amateur Draft. He has raw power and well-above-average speed, with the potential to be a 25-25 center fielder.

Sailors. Harry Ford, C (No. 5, No. 98 in MLB)

It’s rare to see a receiver with 60-degree velocity, on the 20-80 scale, but Ford, who was selected by the Mariners in last year’s Amateur Draft, is an above-average running back who can defend daily catcher and has a solid arm. He can also play solid second and could be moved to center field, which has led many to compare him to Craig Biggio.

Rangers: Bubba Thompson, OF (No. 26)

Several football programs were after Thompson as a quarterback, but he opted for baseball and was selected in the 2017 Amateur Draft. He is coming off his best season as a professional (.808 OPS, 16 home runs, 25 steals in Double-A). He is a central patrolman with above average speed and raw power.