The return of minor league baseball in 2021 was a glorious thing. Some prospects were more fired up than ever when they returned to the field. Others were revelations and exceeded expectations in exciting ways. Those are the performances we celebrate in this edition of the Prospects Team of the Year.
Prospects were selected based solely on their performance in the minor leagues in 2021. To be eligible for the Prospects Team of the Year, a player must have spent at least half a season in the minor leagues and have appeared in the Top 30 rankings of your team at some point.
C: MJ Meléndez (MLB # 4, MLB # 68)
AA / AAA: .284 / .384 / .627, 119 J, 41 HR, 97 CI, 89 C, 73 BB, 3 BR
Two years ago, Melendez hit .163 with nine home runs in 110 games for Class-A Alta Wilmington. Let’s say in 2021, he was a very different hitter. With his 41 home runs this season, the catcher not only topped the minor leagues, but also hit the most homers in a season since Kris Bryant spliced 43 in 2014. Melendez is third among league players. full-season junior with a .627 slugging and fifth with a 1.011 OPS.
** 1B: Nick Pratto (KC No. 2, MLB No. 66) ** AA / AAA: .263 / .380 / .594, 120 J, 34 HR, 92 CI, 91 C, 78 BB, 11 BR
Like Melendez, the Royals’ hitting program has settled Pratto in the past two years. His 34 home runs in 2021 represent the most among minor league first basemen and were a notable increase after 2019 ended with 25 homers. Pratto is one of only three minor league players with an on-base percentage above .380 this season, slugging .590 or higher and at least 400 plate appearances. Mélendez and Anthony Volpe are the other two.
** 2B: Nick Yorke (BOS # 4, MLB # 98) ** A / A +: .325 / .412 / .516, 97 J, 14 HR, 62 CI, 76 C, 52 BB, 13 BR
A promising year isn’t enough, but Boston’s decision to pick Yorke in the first round of the amateur draft last year looks much better now. Yorke’s .325 average was seventh best in the minor leagues among players with a minimum of 400 plate appearances. Additionally, in 21 games after being promoted to Class A Alta Greenville, he hit .333 / .406 / .571.
** 3B: José Miranda (No. 8 of MIN) ** AA / AAA: .342 / .400 / .568, 122 J, 29 HR, 92 CI, 93 C, 41 BB, 4 BR
There is no denying that Miranda was a hitting machine in 2021. His 176 hits top the minor leagues. His .342 average places him fourth among minor league full-season qualified players. The Puerto Rican is also tied for 11th in the minors with 29 homers and is one of just 12 players with at least 25 home runs and 25 doubles this year.
** SS: Anthony Volpe (NYY No. 1 NYY, No. 15 MLB) ** A / A +: .294 / .423 / .604, 109 G, 27 HR, 86 CI, 113 C, 78 BB, 33 BR
In a year of fun surprises, Volpe may be the biggest revelation among minor league prospects. The 20-year-old shortstop led all full-season qualified players with an OPS of 1.027 and a wRC + of 170. He was one of just three players with at least 25 home runs and 25 rip-offs, and for Class-A Alta Hudson Valley had an a-line. .286 / .391 / .587. His position as the best prospect on the Yankees’ estate is secure.
** OF: Julio Rodríguez (SEA No. 1, MLB No. 2) ** A + / AA: .347 / .441 / .560, 74 G, 13 HR, 47 CI, 64 C, 43 BB, 21 BR
It was a busy summer for the 20-year-old gunner, who helped the Dominican team qualify for the Olympics and later win the bronze medal in Japan. And in the minor leagues, the Dominican did not slacken in his stays with Class-A Alta Everett and Double-A Arkansas. His .347 average was the second-highest among full-season qualified hitters, while his 1.001 OPS placed him seventh in that regard.
OF: Joey Wiemer (MIL # 23)
A / A +: .295 / .403 / .556, 109 J, 27 HR, 77 CI, 86 C, 63 BB, 30 BR
The ranger, selected in the fourth round of the 2020 Draft, brought his fiery swing, good speed and a 70-rated arm to the Minor Leagues for the first time this season. Wiemer joined Volpe and Bobby Witt Jr. in the exclusive 25-25 club and his ability to hit the ball improved over the course of the season.
OF: Alek Thomas (ARI No. 3, MLB No. 41)
AA / AAA: .314 / .396 / .564, 105 J, 18 HR, 59 CI, 86 C, 52 BB, 13 BR
The outfielder was already a solid prospect this season as a left-handed hitter, with above-average speed and a good glove. His abilities demonstrated another advance, especially when it came to power, at the high levels at 21 years old. He hasn’t hit below .300 in a minor league season.
BD: Bobby Witt Jr. (KC No. 1, MLB No. 3)
AA / AAA: .295 / .365 / .588, 120 J, 33 HR, 95 CI, 97 C, 49 BB, 29 BR
The slugger came to Wednesday’s game on a scam of becoming the only 30-30 player in the minor leagues this year and the ninth since 2000. He is also the minor league leader with 72 extra-base hits and is second in total bases reached. (285), fourth in home runs and fourth in hits (143). He’ll probably be with the Royals big team in early 2022.
LZ: Logan Allen (CLE # 10)
A + / AA: 9-0, 2.26 ERA, 111 1/3 EL, 143 K, 26 BB, .193 PRO, 0.93 WHIP
After being chosen in the second round in 2020, the left-hander was quick to distinguish himself from the other Logan Allen in the organization. The 23-year-old pitcher posted the third-best minor league ERA with at least 100 innings released this season. Additionally, he was in the top 15 in strikeout rate (33.2%), FIP (3.30), strikeout rate for each passport awarded (5.5) and WHIP.
RHP: Grayson Rodríguez (BAL No. 2, MLB No. 8)
A + / AA: 9-1, 2.36 ERA, 103 EL, 161 K, 27 BB, .159 PRO, 0.83 WHIP
Midway through the season, the right-hander became the top pitching prospect on the MLB Pipeline roster. His ERA was one of the top four among those who pitched at least 100 innings. The law is a great piece of the future of Baltimore.
Reliever: Indigo Díaz (ATL No. 21)
A + / AA: 6-2, 1.20 ERA, 45 EL, 83 K, 16 BB, .135 PRO, 0.82 WHIP
The right-hander performed well in his first experience of a full season this year, which he divided between Class-A Alta Rome and Double-A Mississippi. He did not concede any deserved runs in 27 of his 32 regular-season appearances at both levels. His mix of a fastball over 90 miles per hour and a breaking pitch with potential raises hopes that he will be able to repeat those numbers at the highest levels.
C: Venezuelan Francisco Álvarez (NYM No. 1, MLB No. 10)
A / A +: .272 / .388 / .554, 99 J, 24 HR, 70 CI, 67 C, 55 BB, 8 BR
1B: Spencer Torkelson (DET No. 1, MLB No. 4)
A + / AA / AAA: .267 / .380 / .554, 116 J, 29 HR, 89 CI, 85 C, 72 BB, 4 BR
2B: Nick Gonzales (PIT # 4, MLB # 63)
A +: .302 / .385 / .565, 80 J, 18 HR, 54 CI, 53 C, 40 BB, 7 BR
3B: Jordan Walker (SL No. 3, MLB No. 58)
A / A +: .317 / .388 / .548, 82 J, 14 HR, 48 CI, 63 C, 33 BB, 14 BR
SS: Dominican Eddys Leonard (LA No. 18)
A / A +: .296 / .390 / .539, 107 J, 22 HR, 81 CI, 89 C, 51 BB, 9 BR
OF: Cuban Andy Pages (No. 5 of LA)
A +: .265 / .394 / .539, 120 J, 31 HR, 88 CI, 96 C, 77 BB, 6 BR
OF: Khalil Lee (NYM No. 8)
AAA .271 / .449 / .496, 98 J, 13 HR, 36 CI, 65 C, 69 BB, 8 BR
OF: Matt Fraizer (PIT # 23)
AA: .306 / .388 / .552, 112 J, 23 HR, 68 CI, 84 C, 56 BB, 15 BR
BD: Vinnie Pasquantino (KC # 18)
A + / AA: .300 / .394 / .563, 116 J, 24 HR, 84 CI, 79 C, 64 BB, 6 BR
LZ: Jake Eder (MIA # 7)
AA: 3-5, 1.77 ERA, 71 1/3 EL, 99 K, 27 BB, .169 PRO, 0.98 WHIP
RHP: Taj Bradley (TB # 6)
A / A +: 12-3, 1.83 ERA, 103 1/3 EL, 123 K, 31 BB, .181 PRO, 0.93 WHIP
Reliever: Puerto Rican Jovani Moran (MIN 26)
AA / AAA: 4-2, ERA of 2.41, 3 Saved, 67 1/3 EL, 109 K, 32 BB, PRO of
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