Hello and welcome. It feels like forever since we did our first ever Top 100 list this winter. We’ll be updating our lists throughout the year to include new prospects, but we’ll vote on a new top 100 twice a year. One mid-season, one in the offseason. In case you missed our last top 100 segment, here is a link to every write up we did this winter. 

This season, our top 100 we’ll consist of an aggregate of four of our writers’ individual lists. We average the lists out to give you a consensus top 100. Without further ado, let’s get things rolling with 100-91.

100. Gabe Cramer, RHP

DOB: 11/1/1994
B/T: R/R
Ht/Wt: 6’2″/205 lbs.
Levels Played, 2018: N/A
Acquired: Undrafted free agent
ETA: 2020
2017 Stats (A+): 6 G, 13.2 IP, 1.98 ERA, 0.84 FIP, 43.5% GB%, 17.78 K/9, 1.32 BB/9

After going undrafted out of Stanford, Cramer signed with the Royals and had relatively mediocre seasons in 2015 and 2016. He’s always struck out a lot of hitters, but he looked to be particularly good before having a season ending injury least April. If he can get healthy, he offers something as a reliever with wild K-rates.

99. Rubendy Jaquez, 2B

DOB: 2/13/1999
B/T: S/R
Ht/Wt: 5’11″/174 lbs.
Levels Played, 2018: AZL
Acquired: International free agent
ETA: 2023
2017 Stats (DSL): 62 G, 210 AB, .267/.362/.338/.700, 1 HR, 19 SB, 13% BB%, 16.7% K%, 112 wRC+

It’s silly to have too high of expectations from 19 year olds coming over seas for the first time. Jaquez is still a kid but he looks to be a bit of an average sized second baseman with good speed and a good hit tool. If he keeps hitting, he’ll keep climbing the rankings. Otherwise he could fall out of relevance very quickly. He’ll be fun to keep an eye on.

98. Carter Hope, RHP

DOB: 2/5/1995
B/T: R/R
Ht/Wt: 6’3″/195 lbs.
Levels Played, 2018: A-, A+
Acquired: 2013 MLB Draft
ETA: 2020
2018 Stats (A+): 11 G, 27.1 IP, 3.95 ERA, 3.95 FIP, 35.9% GB%, 5.27 K/9, 1.98 BB/9

Hope rolled through Low-A Lexington this spring after rejoining the Royals organization after some time off. He’s since slowed down a bit with High-A Wilmington but looks the part of a potential reliever if he continues to develop.

97. Gabe Speier, LHP

DOB: 4/12/1995
B/T: L/L
Ht/Wt: 6’0″/175 lbs.
Levels Played, 2018: AA
Acquired: Traded for Jon Jay
ETA: 2019
2018 Stats with Arizona (AA): 20 G, 29 IP, 3.03 ERA, 3.26 FIP, 60.5% GB%, 7.89 K/9, 3.03 BB/9

Gabe Speier came to Kansas City in the trade that sent OF Jon Jay to the Diamondbacks. He has made 5 appearances with the AA Northwest Arkansas Naturals since the trade but hasn’t had much of a sample size to speak of. Speier isn’t a huge guy, but he works his fastball into the low-90’s pretty regularly. He actually had some interesting reverse splits in his time with the D-Backs this season, holding RHH to a .203 BAA while LHH hit .342 off of the southpaw. He has some intrigue as a potential big league reliever.

He also can swing it.

96. Domingo Pena, RHP

DOB: 4/7/1998
B/T: R/R
Ht/Wt: 6’2″/171 lbs.
Levels Played, 2018: ROK
Acquired: Trade with Texas
ETA: 2022
2017 Stats with TX (AZL): 6 G, 16 IP, 5.06 ERA, 6.27 FIP, 57.1% GB%, 11.25 K/9, 3.88 BB/9

After not allowing a run in 14 innings in the DSL last season, Pena was promoted to the AZL where he struggled a bit, but showed off an explosive arm and the ability to strike people out. He is currently on the Idaho Falls Chukars roster and figures to get a fair amount of innings this season in the Pioneer League. If he starts, he could be a top 50 guy next year.

95. Frank Schwindel, 1B

DOB: 6/29/1992
B/T: R/R
Ht/Wt: 6’1″/205 lbs.
Levels Played, 2018: AAA
Acquired: 2013 MLB Draft
ETA: 2018
2018 Stats (AAA): 65 G, 239 AB, .293/.338/.523/.861, 12 HR, 17 2B, 6.5% BB%, 12.9% K%, 118 wRC+

Hello, Frank Schwindel Fan Club. Meet the not Frank Schiwndel Fan Club. Look, Frank the Tank is an outstanding kid. He is absolutely destroying AAA pitching. The Royals front office knows this. Unfortunately, Frank offers little-to-no value defensively and his peripheral numbers do not translate well the the major leagues. He is walking more, and striking out less, but he swings A LOT and major league pitchers figure to have a hay day with him. Read here for more. With that being said, in a season as lost as this, I’m all for bringing him up eventually and letting him have at it.

94. Angel Medina, 3B

DOB: 11/2/1998
B/T: R/R
Ht/Wt: 6’1″/180 lbs.
Levels Played, 2018: ROK
Acquired: International free agent
ETA: 2022
2017 Stats (AZL): 43 G, 157 AB, .255/.280/.395, 2 HR, 7 3B, 3% BB%, 30.5% K%, 81 wRC+

Coming off of a hot season in the DSL in 2016, Medina struggled mightily in 2017 in the AZL. He still hits for some pop, but he strikes out a ton for a guy who doesn’t walk much. He’s an athletic kid with time to develop, but he’ll need to hit more to continue climbing the rankings.

93. David Hollie, OF

DOB:
B/T: R/R
Ht/Wt: 6’3″/210 lbs.
Levels Played, 2018: HS
Acquired: 2018 MLB Draft
ETA: 2023
2018 Stats (HS): .533 BA, 5 HR, 8 2B, 16 SB

David Hollie was dubbed The Augusta Chronicle’s Georgia Baseball Player of the Year in 2018 for his all around performance. A potential 5-tool professional player, Hollie is a big kid that swings a big stick. Hollie signed for $125K after being selected in the 37th round by the Royals and is on the roster for the AZL Royals. He could be a quick riser through the system if he hits, given his mature frame and skill set.

92. Hunter Wolfe, SS

DOB:
B/T: R/R
Ht/Wt: 6’0″/185 lbs.
Levels Played, 2018: College
Acquired: 2018 MLB Draft
ETA: 2022
2018 Stats (College): .419 BA, 9 HR, 12 2B, 41 SB

Hunter Wolfe is a community college pick by the Royals (19th round) that fits the Royals profile. He’s fast, he plays good defense, and he makes good contact. The starting SS for the JUCO runner-up Walters State CC, Wolfe is committed to TCU and it’ll be interesting to see if he signs. If he does, he could be a quick riser through the system.

91. Dillon Drabble, RHP

DOB: 7/12/1996
B/T: R/R
Ht/Wt: 6’2″/190 lbs.
Levels Played, 2018: A-
Acquired: 2016 MLB Draft
ETA: 2021
2018 Stats (ROK): 7 G, 36 IP, 5.25 ERA, 5.10 FIP, 48.3% GB%, 8.25 K/9, 4 BB/9

Dillon Drabble is an interesting prospect. The Royals front office is fond of him. He had a good year in 2017. He’s electric. Yet, he threw the single worst inning I’ve ever seen from a professional baseball player earlier this year with Lexington. He entered the game, threw 1 inning, walked 2, hit 3 batters, gave up 2 hits, got 3 outs (mercifully) and was demoted immediately. I don’t know if he developed the yips, if he was injured, or what, but he didn’t get much of anything close to home plate. If he can fix what ever was wrong, he’s a fine relief prospect. But as of now he’s got some work to do.

Photo Credits: Minda Haas Kuhlmann