Now that the 2022 MLB trade deadline has passed as has the 2022 MLB Draft, it’s time for a new Top-300 MLB prospects list. Over the last couple of months since the last update, there have been a ton of prospects to graduate such as Riley Greene, Shane Baz, Adley Rutschman, CJ Abrams, MacKenzie Gore, Nolan Gorman, and Oneil Cruz all inside the top-16 previously. There were clearly a ton of prospects moved at the trade deadline, but what we’ll focus on this week are the biggest risers and fallers in the new rankings. With all of the new changes that also means we have completely new top-five prospects with Corbin Carroll being number one overall followed by Gunnar Henderson, Jordan Walker, Anthony Volpe, and Eury Perez.

 

 

Biggest Rising Fantasy Baseball Prospects

First things first, the 2022 MLB Draft prospects who are now in the top 100, of which there are several, won’t count in this section.

Emmanuel Rodriguez, Minnesota Twins OF, 

Up: 123 spots

Not only did the Twins make good moves at the deadline, but they’re also getting good news in the prospect ranks too. Rodriguez is an outfielder that is starting to climb the ranks of the Twins’ system with impressive raw power. It’s probably the best raw power of any prospect in the system at this point and is his calling card right now. The hit tool is still developing with work being down on the left-handed swing to flatten the plane of it out. Overall he projects as a corner outfielder with an average hit tool, plus power, and enough speed to steal 15-20 bags a year. 2022 stats: Class-A, 47 games, .272/.492/.551 with 9 HR, 35 R, 25 RBI, 11 SB

 

Warming Bernabel, Colorado Rockies 3B 

Up: 122 spots

Bernabel’s first name is an apt descriptor of his minor league standing — Warming. He’s up 122 spots this time to inside the top 120 overall. The righty third baseman possesses an average hit tool and average power right now but the power should improve as he gets more selective in his approach at the plate. At just 20 years old, there is still time to add some weight to his 180-pound frame which should also improve his power. He’s been learning third base since coming stateside but profiles as an average defender there with an above-average arm. Offensively, the ceiling is a .260-.270, 25-homer third baseman. 2022 stats: 2-levels Class-A, 85 games, .326/.384/.520 with 14 HR, 70 RBI, 67 R, 23 SB

 

Gavin Stone, Los Angeles Dodgers RHP

Up: 121 spots

Drafted in the fifth round of the odd 2020 draft, Stone has been improving his craft rather quickly and has already made to Double-A Tulsa. The righty features a three-pitch mix with two plus pitches, a fastball and changeup, and an above-average slider to pound the strike zone. There’s no doubt that the stuff is good on its own, but his above-average control certainly makes the stuff play up. Stone is 89.1 innings into his 2022 campaign — 64.1 at Double-A — and has posted a 1.41 ERA and a 117:32 K: BB ratio. With his repeatable delivery, three above-average or better pitches, and a building inning-base, Stone could feature in the middle of the Dodger rotation at some point next year or at worst be a multi-inning reliever in an Andrew-Miller-type-role.

 

Adael Amador, Colorado Rockies SS

Up: 107 spots

It’s easy to look past Amador with Ezequiel Tovar ahead of him in the same system but that would be doing Amador a disservice. He’s a 19-year-old switch-hitting middle infielder who is likely destined for second base, but that may help his fantasy value. Second base is thinner than shortstop by a long way. Overall, he possesses an above-average hit tool that plays up due to a great approach at the plate. The power is lacking, something different for Colorado, as it’s pretty far below-average, however, the speed is above-average as is his fielding skills. Adding some strength might improve the power grade slightly, though not much. In the majors, we’re looking at a .280 hitter with 25-plus steals, 10 or so homers, who hits either in the two-hole or perhaps in the bottom third. 2022 stats: Class-A, 75 games, .307/.422/.472 with 12 HR, 75 R, 43 RBI, 21 SB.

 

Junior Caminero, Tampa Bay Rays 3B

Up: 92 spots

Here we go again with a Tampa prospect being a sleeper and rising quickly. Caminero was traded from Cleveland to Tampa in November of 2021 mainly based on intriguing traits the Rays liked. Yep, what else is new? He’s got a ton of power with more on the way. The question is can the rest of his game advance as he does through the Tampa system? Well, the early returns from the 19-year-old third baseman are good. He’s just in Rookie ball right now but reports are that he’s been putting in the work to improve his hit tool and add strength to his 5’11”, 157-pound frame. If the hit tool keeps improving, we’re talking about a middle-of-the-order bat that will fly up the ranks in Tampa and overall. 2022 stats: Rookie ball, 34 games, .315/.393/.452 with 4 HR, 25 RBI, 17 R, 7 SB.

 

Fastest Falling Fantasy Baseball Prospects

Reginald Preciado, Chicago Cubs SS

Down: 126 spots

It’s hard to ding a 19-year-old just 71 games into their pro career this much, but given the influx of talent into the minors and his poor showing, that’s where we’re at. Preciado has some promising offensive tools, though the defense might carry him for a bit. He just hasn’t shown them yet. In 37 games at Class-A Myrtle Beach, he’s hitting just .212 with no power, no speed, and has struck out 59 times in 137 ABs. He earned the promotion to Class-A with a very good 34-game stint at Rookie ball last year, but that hasn’t carried through to A-ball just yet. 

 

Heliot Ramos, San Fransico Giants OF

Down: 90 spots

Ramos has been exposed some this year. That’s the reason for the drop. He still profiles as a guy with at least five average to above-average tools who is still just 22 years old. However, at Triple-A for all of this year, aside from two cups of coffee in the majors, he’s hitting just .220 with seven homers, four steals, and 29 RBI in 77 games. The walk rate has improved which is nice but the power has dropped as has the solid contact. He’ll need to find the approach he was using prior to this year to start climbing the ranks again and make his way to San Fran long-term.

 

Kahlil Watson, Miami Marlins SS

Down: 70 spots

The tools are still there for him to be the steal of the 2021 draft for the Marlins. However, and this is big, however, he needs to stop striking out. He simply is a free-out right now for opposing pitchers. Just how bad is the issue? Watson has played 62 games in Class-A Jupiter this year and struck out 103 times. Nearly twice a game. Put it another way — 240 ABs, 103 Ks. That’s the only concern with Watson is that he’s not letting his tools play and trying to force things to happen. If he comes down, he can be moving the right way again.

 

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