Keith Law’s Top 100: Cubs? White Sox? Hmm…?

Major League Baseball organizations in the 2020’s (or over the past 10 years) have been going after one of two titles – World Series Champions or top minor league system. Over the past 10 years, only a small handful of organizations can lay claim to having won both of those titles – the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs.

There isn’t a clear line between the two, unfortunately. So rebuilding for rebuilding’s sake isn’t a proven path to anything at all. Many teams have attempted rebuilds – essentially every team in the business – and we have yet to see all teams win or have real competitive MLB rosters.

Regardless, having a Top MiLB system or a Top 100 prospect is a badge of honor to wear. And as such, there is a lot of weight put into things like Keith Law’s Top 100, as well as all other publications that will soon follow suit. So, without further ado, here are the Top 10 MLB Prospects, per Keith Law:

1. Wander Franco, SS, Tampa Bay Rays
2. MacKenzie Gore, LHP, San Diego Padres
3. Cristian Pache, CF, Atlanta Braves
4. Jarred Kelenic, OF, Seattle Mariners
5. Nate Pearson, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays
6. Adley Rutschman, C, Baltimore Orioles
7. Alex Kirilloff, OF, Minnesota Twins
8. CJ Abrams, SS, San Diego Padres
9. Dylan Carlson, OF, St. Louis Cardinals
10. Andrew Vaughn, 1B, Chicago White Sox

So, the White Sox still have a prospect in the top 10. He might not be knocking at the door anytime soon, and it isn’t likely that he remains at that first. He has made a swap to third base, but that wasn’t a permanent move. That was hopefully to help him become more agile. He could have a DH role in his future, but now we start to clog that role at the big league level. Eloy Jimenez likely projects more as a DH than an LF, and, of course, there is also Jose Abreu, who just happened to win the MVP.

The White Sox have only one other player to make the Top 100 list:

• 53. Michael Kopech, RHP: Kopech opted out of the 2020 season. This has hurt his reputation through the eyes of some fans (you don’t want to be that type of fan) and the year off can certainly hurt his growth as well. As it was, he sat out 2019 due to Tommy John Surgery, and a comeback isn’t certain for those under that circumstance.

Here are the Chicago Cubs entries to the Top 100 Prospect list:

• 51. Brennen Davis, OF: Davis has been moving up the Cubs top prospect list, and is currently ranked as their #2 prospect. This could change as the official “MLB Top” hasn’t been released as of yet, and so there is certainly some changes that will occur in the Cubs top 30. It is expected that Davis stays in CF and he has developed a nice power tool. He should be a 2000’s high OBP/Power type and is projecting well as a future MLB player.
• 72. Brailyn Marquez, LHP: Marquez made his MLB debut against the White Sox in the final series of the season. He didn’t fair too well, but let me tell you, his future is extremely bright. It isn’t common to have these tall lefties that dial it up over 100-MPH. While some believe he might progress as a reliever, I would expect him to remain a starter and I expect him to get between five-and-15 starts at the big league level in 2021.

Remember, this is Law’s list. There are still a few that will come out over the next several weeks. The list I put more weight into is the MLB Top 100, however, look out for the Baseball Prospectus list as well. The MLB Top 100 is usually where most gauges are based on and I would expect the Cubs to have two additional entries that were left off this list. I would also expect the White Sox to pick up another Top 100 when those lists come out.

Cubs additional entries:

• Miguel Amaya, C
• Ed Howard/Reginald Preciado, SS

White Sox additional entry:

• Garrett Crochet, LHP

There are a few others that could jump up each team’s lists, guys that likely fall in the Top 125 (between 101 and 125). Pitchers like Adbert Alzolay and Kohl Franklin (Cubs), and Jonathan Stiever (White Sox). A long shot at the top 125 is Burl Carraway (Cubs) as another fireballer that was impressive in the Cubs alternate site in South Bend.

Someone like Alzolay may have already exhausted his opportunity to land on these lists. He’s had some opps at the big league level and there is an expectation that he will be in the Cubs rotation. Where Cubs fans should be excited with him is, many believe that adding a slider and a two-seamer has increased his ceiling. Many saw him as a backend starter and now he has a ceiling as a legit number two starter. He might not have “ace” stuff, but every team in baseball can use a number two.

Crochet is an impressive reliever for the White Sox. He throws a completely effortless 100+ MPH fastball. There isn’t much unnecessary movement, and when it doesn’t seem like he’s throwing hard, that can fool a hitter so much more than someone that looks like he’s giving max effort. He’s going to be a beast and I suspect one of the best lefty-relievers in the game over the next five-to-10 years.