I can tell you who I think the top 100 prospects are, but that's just one man's opinion, removed from the strategic considerations of a draft. It's also one-size-fits-all, not taking into account all the various scoring formats.
So how about an alternate form of rankings, one that takes into account other opinions, gauges perception to maximize value, and is tailored to one particular scoring format? What if, in other words, I gathered up 11 other people and we drafted nothing but prospects? How about that?
That's what we did here, with traditional 5x5 Rotisserie scoring in mind. Here's who all took part:
1) Rhys White, Prospects Live (@RhysBWhite)
2) Jesse Severe, Dynasty Sports Life podcast (@jessesevere)
3) Jake Wiener, Prospects1500 (@GatorSosa)
4) Frank Stampfl, CBS Sports (@Roto_Frank)
5) Scott Wampler, The Can-Am Super Show (@CanAmSuperShow)
6) R.J. White, CBS Sports (@rjwhite1)
7) Tim Kanak, Fantasy Aceball (@fantasyaceball)
8) Drew Wheeler, Prospects Live (@drewisokay)
9) Scott White, CBS Sports (@CBSScottWhite)
10) Anthony Kates, SportsEthos (@akfantasybb)
11) Darren "Doc" Eisenhauer, Scout the Statline (@DocHollidayDyna)
12) Phil Ponebshek, Patton & Company
You'll notice right from the start how opinions can differ, with Wyatt Langford being drafted first overall, but those differences can help to establish tiers within the prospect rankings. The top four here are the same as in my own rankings, just in a different order. Of course, to me, it's really more like a top five, and I was disappointed to see Yoshinobu Yamamoto slide to Pick 8 here.
The two teenagers drafted in the top five last year, Walker Jenkins and Max Clark, get more love here than they do in my own rankings. So do catchers Samuel Basallo and Ethan Salas, which exposes my bias against catchers for Dynasty purposes. Proximity seemed to carry more weight with this crowd, judging by the Colton Cowser (13th overall), Shota Imanaga (17th), Pete Crow-Armstrong (32nd), Kyle Harrison (36th) and Masyn Winn (37th) picks.
- Prospects-only mock for H2H points leagues
It being a 5x5-scoring league, only 31 pitchers were drafted overall. I tried to take advantage by waiting on my No. 16 prospect, Andrew Painter, but I ultimately waited too long, seeing him go two picks before mine in Round 4.
Round 6 began a run of players who I didn't even include in my top 100, with Gabriel Gonzalez, Josue De Paula, Samuel Zavala, Bryan Ramos and Bubba Chandler all going in the span of six picks. By Round 8, more picks than not weren't a part of my rankings, but seeing as 120 players were drafted in all, that wasn't entirely expected.
Note that Padres shortstop Leodalis De Vries and Braves shortstop Jose Perdomo, the two biggest names from the latest international signing class, were both drafted outside the top 100. Guess we don't put the same faith in 17-year-olds that we used to.
| Round 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 1 | Daniel Labude | R. Sasaki SP LAD |
| 2 | Michael Polidoro | R. Anthony CF BOS |
| 3 | Matt Morris | M. Shaw 3B CHC |
| 4 | Jeffrey Paternostro | K. Campbell 2B BOS |
| 5 | Matt Heckman | J. Jobe RP DET |
| 6 | Zac Morain | D. Crews RF WAS |
| 7 | Doc Eisenhauer | A. Painter SP PHI |
| 8 | Chris Towers | W. Jenkins CF MIN |
| 9 | Jeremy Heist | J. Dominguez LF NYY |
| 10 | Lucas Staggs | E. Rodriguez CF MIN |
| 11 | Tim Kanak | S. Walcott SS TEX |
| 12 | Scott White | J. Lawlar SS ARI |
| Round 2 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 13 | Scott White | C. Mayo 3B BAL |
| 14 | Tim Kanak | S. Basallo C BAL |
| 15 | Lucas Staggs | J. De Paula RF LAD |
| 16 | Jeremy Heist | T. Bazzana 2B CLE |
| 17 | Chris Towers | Leodalis De Vries SS SD |
| 18 | Doc Eisenhauer | M. Clark CF DET |
| 19 | Zac Morain | R. Lowder SP CIN |
| 20 | Matt Heckman | C. Williams SS TB |
| 21 | Jeffrey Paternostro | Z. Hope LF LAD |
| 22 | Matt Morris | B. Chandler SP PIT |
| 23 | Michael Polidoro | N. Schultz SP CHW |
| 24 | Daniel Labude | J. Caglianone 1B KC |
| Round 3 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 25 | Daniel Labude | R. Tiedemann SP TOR |
| 26 | Michael Polidoro | J. Made SS MIL |
| 27 | Matt Morris | B. Eldridge 1B SF |
| 28 | Jeffrey Paternostro | K. McGonigle SS DET |
| 29 | Matt Heckman | J. Wetherholt SS STL |
| 30 | Zac Morain | C. Emerson SS SEA |
| 31 | Doc Eisenhauer | Q. Mathews SP STL |
| 32 | Chris Towers | M. Mayer SS BOS |
| 33 | Jeremy Heist | C. DeLauter RF CLE |
| 34 | Lucas Staggs | N. Kurtz 1B ATH |
| 35 | Tim Kanak | C. Burns SP CIN |
| 36 | Scott White | C. Condon LF COL |
| Round 4 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 37 | Scott White | L. Montes RF SEA |
| 38 | Tim Kanak | L. Keaschall 2B MIN |
| 39 | Lucas Staggs | K. Rocker SP TEX |
| 40 | Jeremy Heist | A. Miller SS PHI |
| 41 | Chris Towers | C. Smith 3B HOU |
| 42 | Doc Eisenhauer | D. Rushing C LAD |
| 43 | Zac Morain | E. Salas C SD |
| 44 | Matt Heckman | K. Griffin SS PIT |
| 45 | Jeffrey Paternostro | T. Liranzo C DET |
| 46 | Matt Morris | T. Sykora SP WAS |
| 47 | Michael Polidoro | T. White SP MIA |
| 48 | Daniel Labude | F. Celesten SS SEA |
| Round 5 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 49 | Daniel Labude | B. Sproat SP NYM |
| 50 | Michael Polidoro | H. Smith SP CHW |
| 51 | Matt Morris | E. Bitonti 3B MIL |
| 52 | Jeffrey Paternostro | R. Calaz RF COL |
| 53 | Matt Heckman | C. Dollander SP COL |
| 54 | Zac Morain | B. Montgomery RF CHW |
| 55 | Doc Eisenhauer | A. Ramirez C MIA |
| 56 | Chris Towers | O. Caissie RF CHC |
| 57 | Jeremy Heist | K. Teel C CHW |
| 58 | Lucas Staggs | J. Farmelo CF SEA |
| 59 | Tim Kanak | J. Chourio CF CLE |
| 60 | Scott White | J. Williams SS NYM |
| Round 6 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 61 | Scott White | A. Amador 2B COL |
| 62 | Tim Kanak | A. Rosario SP TEX |
| 63 | Lucas Staggs | A. Smith CF TB |
| 64 | Jeremy Heist | M. Arroyo 2B SEA |
| 65 | Chris Towers | X. Isaac 1B TB |
| 66 | Doc Eisenhauer | C. Durbin 2B MIL |
| 67 | Zac Morain | T. Johnson 2B PIT |
| 68 | Matt Heckman | K. Alcantara RF CHC |
| 69 | Jeffrey Paternostro | J. Susana SP WAS |
| 70 | Matt Morris | F. Arias SS BOS |
| 71 | Michael Polidoro | A. Genao SS CLE |
| 72 | Daniel Labude | E. Morales SS LAD |
| Round 7 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 73 | Daniel Labude | O. Martinez 2B TOR |
| 74 | Michael Polidoro | J. Wilson SS ATH |
| 75 | Matt Morris | M. Ballesteros C CHC |
| 76 | Jeffrey Paternostro | B. Rainer SS DET |
| 77 | Matt Heckman | C. Young SS SEA |
| 78 | Zac Morain | J. Cijntje SP SEA |
| 79 | Doc Eisenhauer | C. Horton SP CHC |
| 80 | Chris Towers | C. Moore 2B LAA |
| 81 | Jeremy Heist | T. Hence SP STL |
| 82 | Lucas Staggs | A. Nimmala SS TOR |
| 83 | Tim Kanak | C. Carrigg CF COL |
| 84 | Scott White | A. Freeland SS LAD |
| Round 8 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 85 | Scott White | C. Montgomery SS CHW |
| 86 | Tim Kanak | C. Pratt SS MIL |
| 87 | Lucas Staggs | R. Ryan SP LAD |
| 88 | Jeremy Heist | J. Vargas SS LAD |
| 89 | Chris Towers | D. De Los Santos 1B MIA |
| 90 | Doc Eisenhauer | B. Wilken 3B MIL |
| 91 | Zac Morain | H. Kim 2B LAD |
| 92 | Matt Heckman | N. Yorke 2B PIT |
| 93 | Jeffrey Paternostro | J. Ferris SP LAD |
| 94 | Matt Morris | J. Crawford CF PHI |
| 95 | Michael Polidoro | J. Quero C MIL |
| 96 | Daniel Labude | E. Tait C PHI |
| Round 9 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 97 | Daniel Labude | C. Caminiti SP ATL |
| 98 | Michael Polidoro | J. Misiorowski SP MIL |
| 99 | Matt Morris | N. Meyer SP MIA |
| 100 | Jeffrey Paternostro | J. Briceno C DET |
| 101 | Matt Heckman | C. Ledbetter RF TB |
| 102 | Zac Morain | S. Caldwell CF ARI |
| 103 | Doc Eisenhauer | J. Baumeister SP TB |
| 104 | Chris Towers | S. Jones CF NYY |
| 105 | Jeremy Heist | J. Triantos 2B CHC |
| 106 | Lucas Staggs | M. Chace SP PHI |
| 107 | Tim Kanak | B. Taylor 3B TB |
| 108 | Scott White | J. Jung 3B DET |
| Round 10 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 109 | Scott White | D. Baldwin C ATL |
| 110 | Tim Kanak | C. Thomas LF ATH |
| 111 | Lucas Staggs | G. Taylor SP CHW |
| 112 | Jeremy Heist | S. Stewart 2B CIN |
| 113 | Chris Towers | B. Casparius RP LAD |
| 114 | Doc Eisenhauer | B. Ashcraft SP PIT |
| 115 | Zac Morain | H. Ford C SEA |
| 116 | Matt Heckman | G. Groover 3B ARI |
| 117 | Jeffrey Paternostro | C. Benge CF NYM |
| 118 | Matt Morris | Pablo Guerrero 1B TEX |
| 119 | Michael Polidoro | G. Lombard SS NYY |
| 120 | Daniel Labude | G. Hill SP TB |
| Daniel Labude | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 1 | R. Sasaki SP LAD |
| 2 | 24 | J. Caglianone 1B KC |
| 3 | 25 | R. Tiedemann SP TOR |
| 4 | 48 | F. Celesten SS SEA |
| 5 | 49 | B. Sproat SP NYM |
| 6 | 72 | E. Morales SS LAD |
| 7 | 73 | O. Martinez 2B TOR |
| 8 | 96 | E. Tait C PHI |
| 9 | 97 | C. Caminiti SP ATL |
| 10 | 120 | G. Hill SP TB |
| Michael Polidoro | ||
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 2 | R. Anthony CF BOS |
| 2 | 23 | N. Schultz SP CHW |
| 3 | 26 | J. Made SS MIL |
| 4 | 47 | T. White SP MIA |
| 5 | 50 | H. Smith SP CHW |
| 6 | 71 | A. Genao SS CLE |
| 7 | 74 | J. Wilson SS ATH |
| 8 | 95 | J. Quero C MIL |
| 9 | 98 | J. Misiorowski SP MIL |
| 10 | 119 | G. Lombard SS NYY |
| Matt Morris | ||
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 3 | M. Shaw 3B CHC |
| 2 | 22 | B. Chandler SP PIT |
| 3 | 27 | B. Eldridge 1B SF |
| 4 | 46 | T. Sykora SP WAS |
| 5 | 51 | E. Bitonti 3B MIL |
| 6 | 70 | F. Arias SS BOS |
| 7 | 75 | M. Ballesteros C CHC |
| 8 | 94 | J. Crawford CF PHI |
| 9 | 99 | N. Meyer SP MIA |
| 10 | 118 | Pablo Guerrero 1B TEX |
| Jeffrey Paternostro | ||
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 4 | K. Campbell 2B BOS |
| 2 | 21 | Z. Hope LF LAD |
| 3 | 28 | K. McGonigle SS DET |
| 4 | 45 | T. Liranzo C DET |
| 5 | 52 | R. Calaz RF COL |
| 6 | 69 | J. Susana SP WAS |
| 7 | 76 | B. Rainer SS DET |
| 8 | 93 | J. Ferris SP LAD |
| 9 | 100 | J. Briceno C DET |
| 10 | 117 | C. Benge CF NYM |
| Matt Heckman | ||
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 5 | J. Jobe RP DET |
| 2 | 20 | C. Williams SS TB |
| 3 | 29 | J. Wetherholt SS STL |
| 4 | 44 | K. Griffin SS PIT |
| 5 | 53 | C. Dollander SP COL |
| 6 | 68 | K. Alcantara RF CHC |
| 7 | 77 | C. Young SS SEA |
| 8 | 92 | N. Yorke 2B PIT |
| 9 | 101 | C. Ledbetter RF TB |
| 10 | 116 | G. Groover 3B ARI |
| Zac Morain | ||
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 6 | D. Crews RF WAS |
| 2 | 19 | R. Lowder SP CIN |
| 3 | 30 | C. Emerson SS SEA |
| 4 | 43 | E. Salas C SD |
| 5 | 54 | B. Montgomery RF CHW |
| 6 | 67 | T. Johnson 2B PIT |
| 7 | 78 | J. Cijntje SP SEA |
| 8 | 91 | H. Kim 2B LAD |
| 9 | 102 | S. Caldwell CF ARI |
| 10 | 115 | H. Ford C SEA |
| Doc Eisenhauer | ||
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 7 | A. Painter SP PHI |
| 2 | 18 | M. Clark CF DET |
| 3 | 31 | Q. Mathews SP STL |
| 4 | 42 | D. Rushing C LAD |
| 5 | 55 | A. Ramirez C MIA |
| 6 | 66 | C. Durbin 2B MIL |
| 7 | 79 | C. Horton SP CHC |
| 8 | 90 | B. Wilken 3B MIL |
| 9 | 103 | J. Baumeister SP TB |
| 10 | 114 | B. Ashcraft SP PIT |
| Chris Towers | ||
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 8 | W. Jenkins CF MIN |
| 2 | 17 | Leodalis De Vries SS SD |
| 3 | 32 | M. Mayer SS BOS |
| 4 | 41 | C. Smith 3B HOU |
| 5 | 56 | O. Caissie RF CHC |
| 6 | 65 | X. Isaac 1B TB |
| 7 | 80 | C. Moore 2B LAA |
| 8 | 89 | D. De Los Santos 1B MIA |
| 9 | 104 | S. Jones CF NYY |
| 10 | 113 | B. Casparius RP LAD |
| Jeremy Heist | ||
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 9 | J. Dominguez LF NYY |
| 2 | 16 | T. Bazzana 2B CLE |
| 3 | 33 | C. DeLauter RF CLE |
| 4 | 40 | A. Miller SS PHI |
| 5 | 57 | K. Teel C CHW |
| 6 | 64 | M. Arroyo 2B SEA |
| 7 | 81 | T. Hence SP STL |
| 8 | 88 | J. Vargas SS LAD |
| 9 | 105 | J. Triantos 2B CHC |
| 10 | 112 | S. Stewart 2B CIN |
| Lucas Staggs | ||
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 10 | E. Rodriguez CF MIN |
| 2 | 15 | J. De Paula RF LAD |
| 3 | 34 | N. Kurtz 1B ATH |
| 4 | 39 | K. Rocker SP TEX |
| 5 | 58 | J. Farmelo CF SEA |
| 6 | 63 | A. Smith CF TB |
| 7 | 82 | A. Nimmala SS TOR |
| 8 | 87 | R. Ryan SP LAD |
| 9 | 106 | M. Chace SP PHI |
| 10 | 111 | G. Taylor SP CHW |
| Tim Kanak | ||
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 11 | S. Walcott SS TEX |
| 2 | 14 | S. Basallo C BAL |
| 3 | 35 | C. Burns SP CIN |
| 4 | 38 | L. Keaschall 2B MIN |
| 5 | 59 | J. Chourio CF CLE |
| 6 | 62 | A. Rosario SP TEX |
| 7 | 83 | C. Carrigg CF COL |
| 8 | 86 | C. Pratt SS MIL |
| 9 | 107 | B. Taylor 3B TB |
| 10 | 110 | C. Thomas LF ATH |
| Scott White | ||
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 12 | J. Lawlar SS ARI |
| 2 | 13 | C. Mayo 3B BAL |
| 3 | 36 | C. Condon LF COL |
| 4 | 37 | L. Montes RF SEA |
| 5 | 60 | J. Williams SS NYM |
| 6 | 61 | A. Amador 2B COL |
| 7 | 84 | A. Freeland SS LAD |
| 8 | 85 | C. Montgomery SS CHW |
| 9 | 108 | J. Jung 3B DET |
| 10 | 109 | D. Baldwin C ATL |
