The delayed start to the 2020 season will obviously have a wide range of massive effects on Major League Baseball. Among them: a totally different promotional timeline for some of the game’s most exciting young players. We will never know how things would’ve unfolded. And we don’t yet even know what the parameters are for an altered season. But there’s no doubting the impact.
Typically, opportunities open as rosters evolve over the course of a grueling, 162-game season. Some top prospects force their way up to the majors; others are called upon because a need arises. In a shorter campaign, there’ll be less attrition … though we may also see relaxed roster rules and changes to allocation of service time that could create opportunities.
Still, with more time to examine rosters and think about the state of the game, there’s an opportunity to stop and appreciate the young talent on the cusp of the majors. We’ll run through the most interesting prospects pressing for near-term MLB action. Having already looked at the American League West, let’s head to the AL Central:
Indians
Third baseman Nolan Jones won’t be tasked with a big league job out of the gates, but could be an option if there’s a need and/or he develops as hoped. Soon to turn 22, Jones has done nothing but produce in the minors. He’s due for a bit more seasoning at Triple-A but is close to ready.
Otherwise, most of the best-regarded Cleveland farmhands are further off. But there are some other prospects of note who are immediate factors. Relievers Emmanuel Clase and James Karinchak could hold key bullpen roles, though the former will first need to get to full health. Southpaw Logan Allen is a swingman option. First baseman Bobby Bradley and outfielder Daniel Johnson are both on the 40-man roster and ready for MLB chances after strong seasons in the upper minors. (Bradley also made a brief 2019 debut but struggled in the bigs.)
Royals
The rebuilding Royals need not be in any rush, but top pitching prospects Brady Singer and Jackson Kowar could force the organization’s hand. The former sprinted to Double-A in his first professional season; the latter in his second. They both looked plenty comfortable at the penultimate level of the minors and will likely dictate their own timelines.
Otherwise, there are only a few players with significant “prospect” billing who seem likely to be near-term options. Outfielder Nick Heath and third baseman Kelvin Gutierrez are both on the 40-man roster, so could be called upon to fill any injury gaps. Outfielder Khalil Lee is considered a higher-upside young player, though he’ll need to polish some things up if he’s to force his way onto the MLB roster in 2020. The pitching staff could call upon inexperienced arms including Scott Blewett, Chance Adams, and Richard Lovelady.
Twins
The Minnesota organization just keeps getting more intriguing. Depending upon the development of some top prospects and needs at the MLB level, it could be another year for interesting graduations … or one to watch and wait.
Top prospects Royce Lewis and Alex Kirilloff both have the ability and the positioning to press for the majors in the near term. But will they force the issue … or will there be an opening? The Twins aren’t in need of help at shortstop or in the outfield, at least on paper, but both have star-level upside and will get their chance when the time is right.
Outfielder/first baseman Brent Rooker doesn’t have a clear path to the bigs just yet but could get a look if a need arises. Though he is no longer considered an elite prospect, infielder Nick Gordon is also a near-term option. His situation is helped by the fact he already has a 40-man roster spot. Likewise, having already debuted, lefty Lewis Thorpe is perhaps the best-regarded Minnesota pitching prospect who’s an immediate possibility for the majors, though we’ll surely see fellow lefty Devin Smeltzer and right-hander Randy Dobnak in 2020 as well. Both impressed in their 2019 debuts. Flamethrowing righty Jorge Alcala allowed two runs in 20 innings between Double-A, Triple-A and the Majors after moving to the ’pen in late July.
Tigers
The Detroit organization is banking on its pitching factory. We’ll begin to see the results in the immediate future. Top starting prospects Matt Manning, Casey Mize, Beau Burrows, and Alex Faedo are all nearing readiness. And the team also has some promising relievers on tap, including Bryan Garcia, Anthony Castro, and perhaps Rule 5 choice Rony Garcia. Precisely when and how these arms will be slotted into the MLB staff remains to be seen. In the starting staff, especially, the organization has others in line first. But mid-season movement is highly possible (depending, in no small part, upon what shape the 2020 season takes).
Though the position-player side of the farm isn’t as loaded, there are quite a few near-term candidates for MLB roles. Infielders Isaac Paredes, Willi Castro, and Sergio Alcantara all have 40-man spots and can be called upon as soon as there’s a need or desire to do so. Ditto outfielder Daz Cameron, a player who has had ups and downs in the minors but still possesses a fairly lofty ceiling. Catcher Jake Rogers had an abysmal debut with the bat but hit well in the upper minors last year and is considered a quality defender.
White Sox
Last but certainly not least … the South Siders are stacked with young players who’ll be given MLB trials in the near term. Recently extended center fielder Luis Robert leads the charge as one of the game’s most touted prospects. But there are other blue-chippers as well. Given the delay in the season, high-upside righty Michael Kopech will have a chance to finish rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. And recent first-rounder Nick Madrigal has little left to show in the upper minors. He could take over at second base and push Leury Garcia into a utility role.
Those are the big names, but there are others as well. Infielder Danny Mendick had a nice cup of coffee last year and could also be a platoon option at second base or take on a utility job. With a 26th roster spot to work with, bat-first catchers Zack Collins and Seby Zavala could play interesting roles. Righties Zack Burdi and Ian Hamilton will have to overcome health troubles but could end up playing significant roles in the bullpen if they’re able.
Tigers fan here. To call Jake Rogers a quality defender is not accurate, many consider him the best defensive catcher in the minor leagues. To completely not mention top 50 overall prospect Tarik Skubal is a strange omission. Makes me wonder if the info you provided on the other four teams can be trusted. 🙁
“I can’t believe you called noodle bat Jake Rogers only a quality defender and omitted someone that isn’t projected to get called up this year in an article discussing potential 2020 call ups. Makes me wonder if the info you provided on the other four teams can be trusted :(“
Best defensive catcher in the minor leagues = quality defender.
“To completely not mention top 50 overall prospect Tarik Skubal is a strange omission”
This, like the other articles of it’s type, isn’t highlighting quality prospects! It’s highlighting players who are likely to enter their MLB Rookie seasons this year. Skubal just got to AA. Not an omission, Not applicable.
There’s been talk of Skubal possibly making the opening day roster. And if not he would likely be the first starting pitcher up in the majors
From mlb.com, March 9th
“Skubal, who is not yet on the 40-man roster, is projected to begin the season at Triple-A Toledo”
yeah, the omission of Skubal caught my attention too, particularly since he seems to be ranked ahead of Faedo and Burrows on a lot of lists.
Not to mention, none of those position players are all that well-regarded, but Riley Greene is and may be a factor before (or instead of) the others. Willi Castro will get playing time, not sure anyone else will.
So Riley Greene, a 19 year old who will start the year in A ball, will have an impact before the 6 players who will start the season in AAA and 2 of them have already had a cup of coffee?
This is about players who will be rookies in 2020. If you aren’t going to be a rookie, you aren’t on this list. This is not a hard concept to grasp.
I’m just shocked MLBTR’s could name all the teams in the AL Central… a little off on alphabetical order… but still.
I think a guy like Yu Chang of the Indians might get a chance at third. Not a ROY candidate, but he could get some decent playing time. I was surprised by Skubal not being on there too. He’s older than Mize and Manning and the big leagues love them some power throwing lefties. Madrigal of the White Sox should be up this year. The guy has huge potential to be a OBP type 2B.
I’m a Tiger fan too.
This is not a “Top Prospects of the AL Central” post though. It’s more of a primer for the prospects we’re likely to see the soonest.
Skubal is highly-regarded and for good reason but there’s a glut of starting pitchers in the Tigers system that would be promoted before him.
Jake Rodgers’s defense is not worth quibbling about until his bat is anything more than a black hole. Calling him a quality defender is sufficient.
How does Jake Rogers lack of hitting effect the description of his defense? Was Ozzie Smith a quality defender?
Yes Skubal is supposed to start at Triple A, but so are Manning and Mize. That’s why it’s a weird omission. Any or all of the 3 aforementioned SP could make their MLB debut this season.
White Sox r loaded with young talent. That division is in trouble the next 10 years. Only way I c anyone stopping them is if the Tigers arms r seriously elite 1-4
Maybe, but after they graduate Robert, Kopech, and Madrigal, their farm will have Vaughn and that’s about it. Meanwhile the Dodgers have a strong farm and better roster. The Rays have an even stronger farm and are competing for a WC this year. The White Sox do have a lot of talent, but I think they need to sign a star or two to really complete the rebuild.
Madrigal career will be similar to Ronald Torreyes. And Zack Collins a likely 27 th man.
You’re like Donald and Bernie on Twitter. You keep cutting and pasting the same freaking comment regarding Nick Madrigal virtually every time his name is brought up in an article. Why don’t you lose MLBTR and subscribe to ‘The Athletic” and be best friends with Keith Law. lol
What bearing do the Dodgers and Rays have on the AL Central in the coming decade which was the crux of the dust44 comment?
There’s till a lot of talent in the White Sox syste, beyond Vaughn. Micker Adolfo and Luis Baesebe in the OF, Dane Dunning and Zach Burdi as P and so on.
Sopx system is deep in talent at this time.
Prospect rating lists are typically upgraded at least twice a year. They are fluid and not static. Many prospects graduate to the big leagues. Others are replaced by young talent who perform well. Many more are added following the domestic June draft and during the annual international signing period.
As for the White Sox, they have graduated many top-100 prospects during the past few seasons which is always the ideal scenario. That will continue in 2020 with Luis Robert, Nick Madrigal and Michael Kopech all expected to lose their prospect status. Andrew Vaughn won’t necessarily be the only White Sox top-100 prospect left come the listing upgrades done during the offseason. The White Sox will still have the #11 pick in the upcoming domestic draft and are also rumored to be top contenders for a couple of the best young international talents when the next signing period commences in July. Other White Sox prospects currently outside the top-100 could also post excellent 2020 seasons and move into the next list.
I’ll believe the White Sox hype that when my shiz turns purple and smells like rainbow sherbet.
Great! Looking forward to you eating your words and then your Candyland shiz in the next few years.
Kirilloff is underrated at #30 of 100. Twins and Whitesox are going to punish the Indians, Royals and Tigers.
Agree. He played hurt last year and his numbers went down. When he was healthy in August, his numbers were back to what it was in 2018. He’ll mash AAA pitching and if anything happens in the OF/1B/DH situation in Minnesota, he’ll be up.
Buxton is sure to get hurt at some point no matter how long the season ends up being. His only hope of making it through the whole year without landing on the DL is for there to be no season at all.
Blewett is absolutely terrible
Just wait. In a couple years, Blewett will be the Royals’ closer, and he’ll lead the league in blown saves.
someone shoulf absolutely trade for Rooker. the guy is a beast. he was great in the Premier12 last year.
A little surprised Larnach was not mentioned at all. He doesn’t have quite the upside as Kiriloff, but I hear that he is a possible second half callup.
If a third “bat-first” catcher nabs the 26th roster spot on the White Sox sometime in 2020 it is more likely to be Yermin Mercedes than Zack Collins or Seby Zavala. Mercedes has less defensive upside than those other two but can absolutely rake at the plate and could become the White Sox primary DH if anything happens to 37-year old Edwin Encarnacion in 2020. He would also provide a right-handed power bat off of the bench if the ‘Parrot’ remains healthy all season.
Of the three catching ‘prospects’, the White Sox view Collins as their best option to become Yasmani Grandal’s mate behind the plate after the 2020 season when current backup James McCann is eligible for free agency this offseason. As a result, the organization would prefer that Collins gets regular playing time at AAA Charlotte this season in order to improve his defense at catcher and 1B while also accumulating regular PA’s in the hopes that he can maintain his high OPS numbers while cutting down on his SO’s. Collins most likely path to the White Sox active roster in 2020 would be an injury to either veteran catcher or a McCann trade during the season.
Mercedes and Collins already sent to AAA. They won’t be the 26th man.
More likely Madrigal/Mendick.
Those were procedural options of two players on the White Sox 40-man roster done on the same day the COVID-19 lockdown was announced. I also stated in my first sentence that Yermin Mercedes was the most likely of the three bat-first catching prospects to nab “the 26th roster spot on the White Sox SOMETIME in 2020”, not necessarily on opening day whenever that
may come. Had the season not been delayed, the opening day 26th man spot would likely have been a battle between non-rostered utility INF/OF Cheslor Cuthbert and lefty hitting corner OF Nicky Delmonico.
Richard Lovelady is one heck of an awesome name. Straight out of an Austin Powers film.
I’m an Indians fan — and I love Nolan Jones — but to say he needs a little more seasoning in AAA is an understatement.
He’s barely played in AA, and he hasn’t appeared in AAA at all. He wouldn’t have gotten a roster spot either way, but I think he would have probably been a September call up at best. He just needs a little more time.
Michael Kopech is fully recovered from his September 2018 TJ surgery and is good to go. He was already pitching to hitters in spring training and actually appeared in a regular game before the lockdown. The White Sox wanted to take it slow with Kopech and limit his innings in 2020 after not having pitched a competitive one since September 5th of 2018. With a 2020 schedule that will surely be curtailed at both the major and minor league level any inning restrictions are now likely to be moot anyway.
Yes, Kopech faced and retried 3 batters with multiple pitches > 100 mph! Yay!
I would say the 2020 Sox prospects that were not mentioned, but should have been, (assuming we ever have a season) are:
Yermin Mercedes— a 27 year old catcher in AAA who bats righty and is really more of a DH than anything else. We got him in the MiLB minor league draft. With that profile and age you must be thinking he needs to have a bat as good as like Edwin Encarnacion to ever have a major league job right? Well… he might. His bat just keeps getting better and better and better. Expect to see Mercedes as the first guy up as the 26th man or as the 1B/ DH / catcher at some point when McCann / EE / Abreu / or Grandal goes on the injured list. And expect him to stay up if he keeps hitting the way he has been.
Cody Heuer & Tyler Johnson — both are reliever prospects considered at the level of Ian Hamilton and Burdi who were mentioned in the piece. Both were having excellent spring trainings. They have both shown themselves well at AA, and sit in the 99-101 range on their fastballs with a strong secondary pitch.
Obviously the Sox probably aren’t going to carry 5 different power righties in their pen (Cordero / Burdi / Hamilton / Johnson / Heuer) but I wouldn’t be surprised to see 3 of them as fixtures by the end of the year.
Finally Jonathan Stiever will be moving up to AA to start the year. Depending on how well he forces the issue, he could be up by the fall as a reliever or even starter. This has become much less likely b/c of the likely shortened season.. But Stiever’s rapid rise in 2019 was potentially repeatable and his curveball and fastball were already big league ready coming into the year. He is the best pitching prospect in the organization not named Kopech— and of the Sox are right in the middle of the playoff hunt they may decide it’s worth it to bring him up to help.
Do all of us agree that Emmanuel clase throws absolute gas