Before you enter your fantasy baseball drafts this season, you need prospect rankings for the top youngsters poised to make an impact in 2019.
Below are my rankings of the best minor leaguers expected to reach the majors and provide fantasy value this season. That's where this list differs from other prospect lists, as this is a reflection of this season's fantasy potential and not overall prospect skill.
With spring officially here, we need a temperature check on the top 50 prospects for 2019. Below, I have updated the status of the top 10 players from my preseason rankings along with some information on players who have had a status change -- good or bad -- that warrants mentioning.
1. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 3B, Toronto Blue Jays
Guerrero shouldn't even be eligible for prospect lists because he was big-league-ready around Memorial Day of last year. The Blue Jays took advantage of a midsummer knee injury to delay his arrival, but they will not be able to do so for much longer. He'll probably spend the first two weeks in Buffalo to suppress his service time before making the short trip across the border. After a tremendous season in which he hit .381/.437/.636 in 95 games, he continued to rake in the Arizona Fall League. In 19 more games, he hit .351/.409/.422. The hit tool is 80 (the highest grade on the 20-80 scouting scale). So is the power. He also has 80 discipline if that were a thing. He remains No. 1 until he isn't eligible.
Update: Vlad Jr. has been sidelined with an oblique injury for most of the spring. The ailment gives the Blue Jays an easy excuse to start him in the minors.