The annual unveiling of ESPN Insider colleague and former Baseball Today podcast partner Keith Law’s top-100 prospect rankings are one of my highlights of February, and I do appreciate their release days before my most important dynasty league draft! As great as Law’s rankings are, however, there’s a large difference in comparing the value of young, generally unproven baseball players for real life and those for immediate fantasy aid.
As a result, it’s time for my annual look at the top 10 prospects for fantasy purposes this season. After all, most prospects aren’t expected to contribute for a big league team right away, and Law’s rankings reflect the long-term proposition as well as proper risk and reward, but also take into account factors that aren’t so critical for us, such as defense. In fantasy, unless it’s a dynasty/keeper format, you’re looking for numbers during the next few months, the most immediate of rewards really, and while some rookie-eligible players will surely provide them, most will not.