Guerrero Jr, Bichette and Alford Make MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospects List
For the first time in a long time, the Toronto Blue Jays farm system is rich with prospects again. You don’t have to look far to notice many of the club’s top prospects listed on several “best of” countdowns. Add one more to that list.
Last night, MLB Pipeline counted down their Top 100 Prospects entering the 2018 season and there were three representatives from the Toronto Blue Jays: Vladimir Guerrero Jr, Bo Bichette and Anthony Alford. Link to the full MLB Pipeline show here.
While the Blue Jays have boasted impressive Top 10 prospect lists in the past, they haven’t had this many high-ceiling prospects at once since 2012; just prior to the Miami Marlins and R.A. Dickey trades.
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MLB Pipeline Top 100 Prospects
| Player |
|---|
| 1.) Shohei Ohtani |
| 2.) Ronald Acuna |
| 3.) Vladimir Guerrero Jr. |
| 14.) Bo Bichette |
| 47.) Anthony Alford |
All three aforementioned Blue Jays cracked the Top 50 with Guerrero at number three, Bichette and number 14 and Alford at number 47. Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline – who has long been an advocate for Guerrero Jr – said he would’ve rated the 18-year-old at number one.
My vote for @MLBPipeline #Top100Prospects was a little different than how it turned out: Vlad Jr. (best bat) 1, Acuna (best all-around tools) 2, Ohtani (crazy two-way talent) 3.
— Jim Callis (@jimcallisMLB) January 28, 2018
In forecasting what kind of damage Guerrero Jr could do at the Major League level, Callis had even more praise to heap on Vlad Jr.
I think it’s Miguel Cabrera all over again. I think this guy’s going to be hitting .320 with 35-40 home runs in the big leagues. There’s no way this guy is not going to hit and hit big in the big leagues.
I realize Ohtani hasn’t yet played in the Major Leagues, but does he really qualify as a prospect? In my mind, he doesn’t, which essentially makes Guerrero the number two prospect in baseball right now.
In comparison to Baseball America’s Top 100 Prospect list, MLB Pipeline wasn’t quite as high on Bichette (who ranked eight on BA’s list), but they bumped Alford all the way up to 47 (where BA had him ranked 60th overall).
The Blue Jays’ farm system isn’t as robust as the Braves, Padres or White Sox, but with a pair of top-heavy prospects in Guerrero Jr and Bichette, Toronto finally has a Top 10-worthy Minor League system once again.
