Fantasy baseball prospects can play a significant role on your team, so it’s essential to stay informed on which top 2021 MLB rookies can make an immediate impact ahead of your 2021 fantasy baseball draft. In this article, we’ll take a look at the Top 100 2021 Fantasy Baseball Prospects, based on rankings of how these upcoming top 100 rookies and full-timers can help fantasy baseball players just for the 2021 MLB season.
Hint: You won’t find 18-year-old New York Yankees phenom Jasson Dominguez on here.
These fantasy baseball prospect rankings also include players who have some MLB experience but are still considered rookies; they have not yet reached service-time thresholds that eliminate top 2021 rookie eligibility. The list prioritizes players who have a good chance at playing on MLB Opening Day, but those with high upside are also bumped in these fantasy baseball prospect rankings.
With that in mind, let’s dive in to find out which fantasy baseball prospects you should attack in your drafts or monitor on the waiver wire for the 2021 fantasy baseball season.
2021 Fantasy Baseball Prospects: Top 100 MLB Rookies For This Season
1. Randy Arozarena, OF, Tampa Bay Rays
2. Ian Anderson, SP, Atlanta Braves
3. Sixto Sanchez, SP, Miami Marlins
4. Triston McKenzie, SP, Cleveland Indians
5. Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B, Pittsburgh Pirates
6. Dylan Carlson, OF, St. Louis Cardinals
7. Ryan Mountcastle, 1B/OF, Baltimore Orioles
8. Leody Taveras, OF, Texas Rangers
9. Nick Madrigal, 2B, Chicago White Sox
10. James Karinchak, RP, Cleveland Indians
Randy Arozarena combines high power upside (17 home runs in 166 plate appearances last year) with the ability to chip in with double-digit stolen bases. Ian Anderson posted an impressive 1.95 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 19.6 K-BB% in 32.1 innings before dominating in the playoffs. Sixto Sanchez has an electric four-seamer that averages 98.5 MPH. Triston McKenzie posted an impressive 33.1 K% in 33.1 innings last season. Ke’Bryan Hayes showed surprising power in his big league stint, slashing .376/.442/.682 with five home runs in 95 plate appearances.
Dylan Carlson struggled last year, but he has an intriguing power-speed profile in an improved Cardinals lineup. Ryan Mountcastle has 30-plus-homer upside playing in the bandbox that is Camden Yards. Leody Taveras showed off his speed last year, totaling eight stolen bases in 134 plate appearances. Nick Madrigal also has stolen base upside combined with a strong contact profile, batting in an exciting White Sox lineup. James Karinchak dominated out of the bullpen last season, posting an absurd 48.6 K% in 27 innings.
11. Jarred Kelenic, OF, Seattle Mariners
12. Ha-Seong Kim, SS, San Diego Padres
13. Alex Kirilloff, OF, Minnesota Twins
14. Nate Pearson, SP, Toronto Blue Jays
15. Wander Franco, SS, Tampa Bay Rays
16. MacKenzie Gore, SP, San Diego Padres
17. Alejandro Kirk, C, Toronto Blue Jays
18. Deivi Garcia, SP, New York Yankees
19. Bobby Dalbec, 1B, Boston Red Sox
20. Daulton Varsho, C/OF, Arizona Diamondbacks
Jarred Kelenic has a sweet swing with an appealing power and speed profile. Ha-Seong Kim comes over from the KBO as an MLB-ready bat who should force his way into a stacked Padres lineup. Alex Kirilloff is another high-upside outfielder with the ability to hit for power and steal bases.
Nate Pearson has a fastball that touches 100 MPH and a clear pathway to playing time in a thin Blue Jays’ starting rotation. Wander Franco is the consensus top prospect in baseball - it’s unclear when he’ll be up, but he’s too good to keep down in the minors for long.
Consensus top MLB prospect Wander Franco is a little less of a sure thing to be up for the entire 2021 MLB season, which sees him lower down the 2021 Fantasy Baseball Prospects & Top 2021 MLB Rookies list than expected. (USA TODAY Sports)
MacKenzie Gore is the top pitching prospect in MLB; the Padres rotation is stacked, but Blake Snell and Dinelson Lamet carry plenty of injury concerns.
Alejandro Kirk has the ability to become one of the top-hitting catchers in baseball, forcing the Blue Jays to even use him as DH at times. Deivi Garcia posted an impressive 18.5 K-BB% in 34.1 innings in his brief stint last season - the Yankees rotation is crowded but has injury-prone pitchers like Luis Severino (slated to return this summer after 2020 Tommy John surgery), Corey Kluber and Jameson Taillon. Bobby Dalbec is penciled in as the everyday Red Sox first baseman; he hit eight home runs in only 92 plate appearances last season. Daulton Varsho has catcher eligibility but will play in the outfield. Add in his double-digit stolen base upside and you have an enticing prospect, but there’s a logjam at outfield in Arizona.
21. Dane Dunning, SP, Texas Rangers
22. Michael Kopech, SP, Chicago White Sox
23. Tarik Skubal, SP, Detroit Tigers
24. Andrew Vaughn, 1B, Chicago White Sox
25. Jo Adell, OF, Los Angeles Angels
26. Adbert Alzolay, SP, Chicago Cubs
27. Casey Mize, SP, Detroit Tigers
28. Spencer Howard, SP, Philadelphia Phillies
29. Ryan Jeffers, C, Minnesota Twins
30. Devin Williams, RP, Milwaukee Brewers
Dane Dunning makes up for limited upside with high volume - he projects to be in the Rangers’ starting rotation on Opening Day. Michael Kopech has electric stuff, but he hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since 2018, which raises questions about his floor. Tarik Skubal posted a 19.4 K-BB% in 32 innings and projects to be in the Tigers’ starting rotation on Opening Day. Andrew Vaughn has a strong contact + power profile with the chance to hit in one of the best lineups in baseball, he just needs to earn a role. Jo Adell has plate discipline issues but five tools to work with, which means we can’t quit him due to the upside. Adbert Alzolay has control issues (14.9 BB% in 2020) but showcased some strikeout upside (33.3 K%) in 21.1 innings last season.
Casey Mize struggled in a brief stint last season, but he remains a Top-15 prospect in MLB, so the upside is there for a breakout season among the top 2021 MLB rookies. Spencer Howard had troubles with the longball last year (2.22 HR/9), but he has an impressive arsenal and is considered the Phillies’ top prospect on a team with a thin rotation. Ryan Jeffers projects as the Twins starting catcher, so the volume is there for some production, especially in deeper leagues. Devin Williams put up 53.0 K% in 27 innings last season - he’s next in life for saves in Milwaukee.
31. Jordan Romano, RP, Toronto Blue Jays
32. Cristian Pache, OF, Atlanta Braves
33. David Peterson, SP, New York Mets
34. A.J. Puk, SP, Oakland Athletics
35. Jazz Chisholm, 2B/SS, Miami Marlins
36. Luis Patiño, SP, Tampa Bay Rays
37. Adley Rutschman, C, Baltimore Orioles
38. Spencer Torkelson, 3B, Detroit Tigers
39. Julio Rodriguez, OF, Seattle Mariners
40. Tanner Houck, SP, Boston Red Sox
Jordan Romano impressed last year, putting up a 1.23 ERA in 14.2 innings; he has closing experience and looks like he’s next in line behind Kirby Yates for saves in 2021. Cristian Pache projects to be the Braves’ starting centerfielder; he has an intriguing combination of power and speed, hitting in a strong lineup. David Peterson put up solid ratios in 49.2 innings last season; he still qualifies among the top 2021 MLB rookies and projects as the Mets’ fifth starter. A.J. Puk has major injury concerns, but the upside is there; he just needs to stay healthy and win a job in the A’s rotation. Jazz Chisholm hit 18 home runs and stole 13 bases in Triple-A back in 2019; the Marlins traded Zac Gallen for him, so they clearly have plans for their young shortstop. Luis Patiño was the main return in the Blake Snell trade and is considered to be one of the best pitching prospects in baseball.
Adley Rutschmann is a switch-hitting catcher with plus power and widely considered baseball’s No. 2 overall, long-term prospect, behind the Rays’ Wander Franco. Spencer Torkelson could remain in the minors this season, but if he gets called up, look out: He’s an exceptional hitter with the ability to hit for contact and power. Julio Rodriguez is similar to Torkelson: He might not be up this year, but he has a ton of power with immense upside. Tanner Houck struggled with control (14.3 BB% in 2020) but posted an impressive 33.3 K% in 17 innings last season.
