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Top 25 MLB prospects for 2016

The top 25 prospects who started the season in minor league baseball.

 
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1. Julio Urias, SP, Dodgers

Julio Urias, SP, Dodgers
Christian Peterson / Getty Images

L.A.'s prized lefty is off to a great start at Triple-A Oklahoma City, allowing five earned runs in 18 innings with 23 punch-outs. He doesn't turn 20 until August and could see Hollywood before then with a career minor league ERA below 3.00.

 
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2. Tyler Glasnow, SP, Pirates

Tyler Glasnow, SP, Pirates
Joe Robbins / Getty Images

The Glasnow watch could be down to days instead of weeks. He's been terrific in five starts at Triple-A Indianapolis this season, with a 2.08 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 26 innings. The 22-year-old right-hander matches up well alongside current Pirates ace Gerrit Cole and has a career 2.07 ERA in the minors.

 
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3. Blake Snell, SP, Rays

Blake Snell, SP, Rays
Jim McIsaac / Getty Images

Snell already made a spot start for the Rays this season and dominated the Yankees. The 23-year-old lefty is ready now, clearly. He had a 1.41 ERA between three levels last season and has a 3.66 ERA at Triple-A Durham this season. His high-90s velocity from the left side is difficult to hit.

 
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4. Lucas Giolito, SP, Nationals

Lucas Giolito, SP, Nationals
Mark Cunningham / Getty Images

Giolito has huge upside, but the Nats want him to work on his secondary stuff at Double-A Harrisburg. He's struggled with his control early this season while he does so but has a career 2.64 ERA and 9.8 strikeouts per nine innings in the minors.

 
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5. Dansby Swanson, SS, Braves

Dansby Swanson, SS, Braves
Mark Cunningham / Getty Images

The Diamondbacks inexplicably traded Swanson, the first overall pick in the 2015 draft, along with a package of players for Shelby Miller this offseason. Swanson started off nicely at High-A Carolina, hitting .333-1-10 with seve stolen bases in 21 games. He's now up in Double-A ball.

 
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6. Alex Reyes, SP, Cardinals

Alex Reyes, SP, Cardinals
MLB.com

Reyes is currently serving a 50-game suspension for using marijuana but could still be a factor for the Cardinals this year. He's been a dominant pitcher in the minors, flashing a fastball nearing 100 mph that has helped him produce nearly 12 strikeouts per nine innings in the minors.

 
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7. A.J. Reed, 1B, Astros

A.J. Reed, 1B, Astros
Joe Robbins / Getty Images

Everyone's Minor League Player of the Year in 2015, Reed is off to a nice start at Triple-A Fresno, hitting .260-5-18 in 20 games. Last year he hit .340-34-127 between High-A and Double-A. He should help the Astros during the second half of this season.

 
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8. Lewis Brinson, OF, Rangers

Lewis Brinson, OF, Rangers
Lisa Blumenfeld / Getty Images

Delino DeShields has started the year slowly in Texas, which could be all Brinson needs to get his chance. The former first-round pick has started off well at Double-A Frisco and hit .332-20-69 between three levels last season.

 
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9. Andrew Benintendi, OF, Red Sox

Andrew Benintendi, OF, Red Sox
Danny Johnson / Associated Press

The seventh overall pick in the 2015 draft, no one has started the year better than Benintendi. He's hitting .360-1-22 with six steals at High-A Salem early on after hitting .313-11-31 with 10 steals in only 54 games at Low-A last season.

 
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10. Yoan Moncada, 2B, Red Sox

Yoan Moncada, 2B, Red Sox
Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox / Getty Images

A high-priced Cuban signing last year, Moncada has backed up the hype so far. He's hitting .316 with 16 steals in only 21 games at High-A Salem this season. The 21-year-old is baseball's best leadoff prospect.

 
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11. Orlando Arcia, SS, Brewers

Orlando Arcia, SS, Brewers
Brace Hemmelgarn / Getty Images

The younger brother of Twins outfielder Oswaldo Arcia, Orlando is hitting .308 in 20 games at Triple-A Colorado Springs. Acclaimed for his defense, Arcia has the offense to be a solid leadoff man.

 
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12. J.P. Crawford, SS, Phillies

J.P. Crawford, SS, Phillies
Justin K. Aller / Getty Images

Crawford's bat is off to a slow start at Double-A Reading, but that doesn't impact his status as an elite prospect. He hit .288 with more walks than strikeouts between High-A and Double-A last season and flashes great defense. He could be in Philly late this season.

 
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13. Jose De Leon, SP, Dodgers

Jose De Leon, SP, Dodgers
Norm Hall / Getty Images

De Leon looked good for the Dodgers in spring but hasn't pitched in a minor league game yet due to an ankle injury. He was terrific between High-A and Double-A last season, with a 2.99 ERA and 12.8 strikeouts per nine innings. His fastball and changeup could make him an elite strikeout pitcher.

 
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14. Brent Honeywell, SP, Rays

Brent Honeywell, SP, Rays
Mark LoMoglio / MiLB.com

Honeywell has control that would make Greg Maddux proud and is doing his best to keep the screwball alive. The 21-year-old has a 0.89 ERA in five starts at High-A Charlotte, with only four walks in 30.1 innings. Last season he had a 3.18 ERA between two levels, with fewer than two walks per nine innings.

 
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15. David Dahl, OF, Rockies

David Dahl, OF, Rockies
Jennifer Stewart / Getty Images

2015 was a lost year for Dahl after he ruptured his spleen in an on-field collision, but he's off to a blazing start in 2016. He already has eight home runs in 21 games at Double-A Hartford, posting an OPS above 1.000.

 
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16. Austin Meadows, OF, Pirates

Austin Meadows, OF, Pirates
Brian McLeod / MiLB.com

Meadows is back on the field after taking a pitch to the face during spring training. He could be Andrew McCutchen's replacement in Pittsburgh after hitting .310 between High-A and Double-A last season.

 
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17. Trea Turner, SS, Nationals

Trea Turner, SS, Nationals
G. Fiume / Getty Images

Turner failed to win the shortstop job for Washington this spring, but he could be just days away from getting it. He hit .322 between Double- and Triple-A last season and is hitting .337-2-10 with eight steals at Triple-A Syracuse this year.

 
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18. Alex Bregman, SS, Astros

Alex Bregman, SS, Astros
Stacy Revere / Getty Images

The second overall pick in the 2015 draft, Bregman is already crushing Double-A pitching. He's hitting .340-5-14 in only 13 games and could be looking at a move to third base soon with Carlos Correa holding down the shortstop position in Houston.

 
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19. Cody Reed, SP, Reds

Cody Reed, SP, Reds
Christian Peterson / Getty Images

Reed has been sidelined with a minor finger injury this season, but he's pitched well in three starts at Triple-A Louisville. The lefty has a 1.62 ERA after posting a 2.41 ERA in the minors last season. He should arrive in Cincinnati soon.

 
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20. Josh Hader, SP, Brewers

Josh Hader, SP, Brewers
Jason Wise / Major League Baseball

Hader's mechanics are similar to Chris Sale, and his minor league results play the part. He has a 0.78 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 23 innings at Double-A Biloxi this season with his nasty mid-90s fastball from the left side. Control remains an issue for Hader, so he probably won't see the majors until 2017.

 
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21. Edwin Diaz, SP, Mariners

Edwin Diaz, SP, Mariners
Mark Cunningham / Getty Images

Diaz is quickly transitioning from a projected strong pitcher to an ace at Double-A Jackson this season. The 22-year-old has a 3.00 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 27 innings and could be looking at a promotion to Triple-A soon.

 
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22. Jameson Taillon, SP, Pirates

Jameson Taillon, SP, Pirates
Joe Robbins / Getty Images

Taillon is making up for lost time after missing two full seasons to injuries. He has a 1.54 ERA and 11.5/1 K/BB ratio in 23.1 innings at Triple-A Indianapolis so far. The Pirates won't rush their former first-round pick after two missed seasons, but he's looking like he will be ready soon.

 
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23. Brendan Rodgers, SS, Rockies

Brendan Rodgers, SS, Rockies
Ron Antonelli / Major League Baseball

A 2015 first-round pick out of high school, Rodgers is off to a quick start at Low-A hitting .345-5-19 in only 22 games. He shows huge potential as a future Rockies hitter.

 
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24. Willson Contreras, C, Cubs

Willson Contreras, C, Cubs
MiLB.com

Contreras' 2015 offensive breakout has continued into this season at Triple-A Iowa. He's hitting .359 in only 17 games and is a Miguel Montero injury away from being the Cubs' starting catcher.

 
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25. Ozzie Albies, SS, Braves

Ozzie Albies, SS, Braves
Stacy Revere / Getty Images

The 19-year-old Albies was terrific at Double-A Mississippi this season, hitting .369 in 22 games, and he was recently promoted to Triple-A. While he lacks power, Albies' defense, contact ability and speed should make him a solid major leaguer.

Seth Trachtman is a fantasy sports expert and diehard Kansas City Chiefs fan. He doesn't often Tweet, but when he does, you can find him on Twitter @sethroto.

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