I like to think of Triple-A more like a waiting room than a level per se. Not every player stops through Triple-A these days, and many are there for just a matter of weeks. It’s often rosters cluttered with failed prospects, long shots, and fringe MLB regulars that need a little seasoning.

The International League, at least on paper, far exceeds those expectations. With Vladimir Guerrero Jr. technically highlighting, there’s a strong crop behind him in Bo Bichette, Nick Senzel, Touki Toussaint, Dylan Cease, Nate Lowe, and others. The first half of the year should be deep with prospect showdowns particularly those games in which Gwinnett is involved. The Braves affiliate boasts the most loaded rotation and staff in the minors with three Top 100 arms on the roster. Should be a fun group to follow as many of these future stars debut on the big stage.

Top 100 Prospects:

#1 - Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 3B Blue Jays - Buffalo Bisons

#9 - Nick Senzel, 3B/OF/2B Reds - Louisville Bats

#13 - Bo Bichette, SS Blue Jays - Buffalo Bisons

#22 - Brent Honeywell, RHP Jr. Rays - Durham Bulls

#27 Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B Pirates - Indianapolis Indians

#28 - Mike Soroka, RHP Braves - Gwinnett Stripers

#29 - Touki Toussaint, RHP Braves - Gwinnett Stripers

#31 - Austin Riley, 3B Braves - Gwinnett Stripers

#51 - Mitch Keller, RHP Pirates - Indianapolis Indians

#56 - Dylan Cease, RHP White Sox - Charlotte Knights

#75 - Nate Lowe, 1B Rays - Durham Bulls

#93 - Cole Tucker, SS Pirates - Indianapolis Indians

#96 - Luiz Gohara, LHP Braves - Gwinnett Stripers

All-Prospect Team Pre-Season:

C - Seby Zavala (Charlotte)

1B - Nate Lowe (Durham)

2B - Nick Solak (Durham)

3B - Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Buffalo)

SS - Bo Bichette (Buffalo)

OF - Nick Senzel (Louisville)

OF - Daz Cameron (Toledo)

OF - Oscar Mercado, OF (Columbus)

UTIL - Austin Riley, 3B (Gwinnett)

P - Brent Honeywell (Durham)

P - Mike Soroka (Gwinnett)

P - Touki Toussaint (Gwinnett)

Honorable Mention: Michael Chavis (Pawtucket), Cavan Biggio (Buffalo), Nick Gordon, SS MIN (Rochester), Brent Rooker,1B MIN (Rochester), Luke Raley, OF (Rochester), Ryan Mountcastle, 1B/3B (Norfolk)

TEAM BY TEAM STORY LINES

Buffalo Bisons Say Hi Vlad, Bye Vlad

The award for biggest sham in professional sports 2019 goes to the Toronto Blue Jays for the Vladimir Guerrero Jr. assignment to Triple-A. Make no mistake, this was happening injury or not. It will likely be for at most a dozen games and then we’ll see him in the big leagues every season until 2037. Outside of Vladito, the combination of Bo Bichette and Cavan Biggio should provide plenty of spark offensively. There’s a possibility each spend the majority of the season in Buffalo if the Blue Jays decide to push Bichette’s clock back until 2020, but he may force the issue. The rest of the lineup lacks much punch, and the pitching staff outside of David Paulino lacks much upside.

Toronto Blue Jays Top 30 Prospects

Dylan Cease Leads Solid Charlotte Staff

The Knights have seen their fair share of talented players over the last few seasons, with Eloy and Michael Kopech both seeing significant time on their 2018 roster. This season the roster doesn’t boast any elite bats like Eloy, in fact, outside of catcher Seby Zavala the positional corps is comprised of former major leaguers and Quad-A types. The pitching staff on the other hand features a collection of interesting arms, even if many have likely relief futures. The best of the group is Dylan Cease and he’s head and shoulders above the rest. This should be a seminal year for Cease, as he has a real opportunity to stake his claim as one of the better pitching prospects in baseball. He’s been on the periphery of that discussion for a year or so, but he needs to prove he can stay healthy and control his big stuff. The rest of the staff features familiar names like Zack Burdi, Spencer Adams, Carson Fulmer, Jordan Guerrero, and Jordan Stephens. But that’s mostly a bag of nickels.

Chicago White Sox Top 30 Prospects

Bobby Bradley and Yu Chang Bring The Thump To Columbus

If you’re looking to watch a major league outfield for the price of a minor league game, you might want to catch Columbus early in the season. As of writing this their outfield features Carlos Gonzalez, Cameron Maybin, Brandon Barnes, and Trayce Thompson. It’s almost like the Indians were trying to block Oscar Mercado from playing early in Triple-A. Speaking of Mercado, he makes up one third of an interesting trio of hitters, between three true outcome disciple Bobby Bradley, and versatile infielder Yu Chang. As long as those three remain in Columbus the Clippers will be a fun take. The pitching staff features a lot of spillover from the MLB roster with guys like Tyler Clippard, Cody Anderson, A.J. Cole, Nick Goody and others. The arm I’m most likely to check out when Columbus swings through Pawtucket is Chih-Wei Hu, a right-hander that saw some brief time in the majors with the Rays last season.

Cleveland Indians Top 30 Prospects

Simple And Plain The Durham Bulls Are Loaded

Don’t make a Nuke Laloosh joke, don’t make a Nuke Laloosh joke. Deep breath… The Durham Bulls are loaded. In fact this might be one of the strongest teams in the minors. They feature less Top 100 players than Gwinnett, but Nate Lowe, and eventually Brent Honeywell will be two of the biggest stars to grace the International League. The bullpen will feature one of my favorite arms in the minors in Colin Poche. Great extension and electric stuff, Poche features a legit 70 fastball and an above average slider that flashes plus. The rest of the staff features several players we’re familiar with from stints in Tampa, players like Jake Faria, Austin Pruitt, Emilio Pagan, and Andrew Kittredge. The lineup outside the aforementioned Nate Lowe features one of the more underrated prospects in the game in Nick Solak. After producing stellar numbers, I’m very interested to get my eyes on the second baseman. Other familiar dudes include Nick Ciuffo and Joe McCarthy.

Tampa Bay Rays Top 30 Prospects

Is The Gwinnett Stripers Staff The Best In The Minors?

It’s a very real question, though not all of the potential rotation members are healthy at the moment. The idea of a rotation that boasts Touki Toussaint, Mike Soroka, Luiz Gohara, and Kolby Allard is one that makes Gwinnett always worth the price of admission. That said, there’s a very real possibility Soroka and Gohara take a little while to come back and we don’t see either until mid-May. That leaves Toussaint and Allard in the spotlight early. Toussaint was a favorite to break camp coming into the year but his erratic control reared its ugly head. Allard’s stock has continued to drop year after year, with many viewing the lefty as nothing more than a back end rotation piece. The lineup is led by returning third baseman Austin Riley. He’ll look to regain his top form and put together a strong full season at the minors highest level. Though it’s possible he could log some service time late this season if injuries ravage the Braves infield. The other two players of note are blasts from wayback in Alex Jackson (circa 2105 and again in 2017) and Travis Demeritte, each of whom look to take a step forward in their development and prove themselves worthy major league regulars.

Atlanta Braves Top 30 Prospects

Is Indianapolis Better Than Gwinnett?

The infield in Indy will be a good one with #27 overall prospect Ke’Bryan Hayes, #93 prospect Cole Tucker, Kevin Kramer, and Will Craig. Three former first round picks, and a second rounder in Kramer. Craig will be interesting to monitor as he added power to his game and never looked back. While Hayes in 2018 took a step forward into elite prospect status, staking a real claim to the title of ‘best third base prospect in the minors”. Cole Tucker might be the best defensive shortstop in the minor leagues, and talk of added power to his profile make him a dark horse to really breakout in 2019. The rest of the lineup returns former Vandy switch-hitter Bryan Reynolds, who often slides under the radar despite posting his third consecutive minor league season with an OPS above .815. He’s joined by Jason Martin, a player whose production has always out shot his pedigree. The rotation is headed by our #51 prospect Mitch Keller, he’s joined by JT Brubaker as the two arms to take note of in Indy.

Pittsburgh Pirates Top 30 Prospects

The Bacon Trio

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs start the 2019 season with a trio of promising starting pitchers in their rotation: Ranger Suarez, Jojo Romero and Enyel De Los Santos. Suarez and De Los Santos both debuted in the major leagues last season, making the construction of this squad feel like a mix of pure talent that needs seasoning to reach a level of win-now contribution the Phillies have as a standard to break in with their club. With the Phillies bullpen looking only passable, there’s a good chance the IronPigs share a decent amount of talent with their parent club—for better or worse.

Offensively, Mitch Walding and Dylan Cozens are familiar, albeit 26-year-olds, joined by little else in terms of top-30 talent. There will likely be a home-run fueled power showcase by on of their big power lefties, but otherwise, the intrigue in this team comes from their arms.

Philadelphia Phillies Top 30 Prospects

Louisville accepts Cincinnati’s rejected son, Nick Senzel

Nick Senzel started at every infield position for the Bats in 2018 besides first base. In 2019, he will presumably play center field in hopes of joining the Reds when they figure out what to do with their plethora of outfielders. It seems unlikely Senzel is in Louisville for more than a few months, even with his injury history. But for service time and “defensive” reasons, the Reds can toy with him as they please. In the end, little will change his exceptional bat control and contact approach. He’s a plus major league regular right now and projection systems agree (Steamer = 1.9 WAR projection).

Outside of Senzel, there are good chances Jose Siri and TJ Friedl make it to Louisville this season, likely to supplement the eventual loss of Senzel. Both are hit over power, but where Siri has some greater power projection, Friedl has plus-plus speed. Vladimir Gutierrez starts in Louisville with Tony Santillan—hopefully—lurking close behind. If the Reds linger in the central long enough, Gutierrez could see a start or two at the major league level. His curveball flashes plus-plus and his changeup needs work, but he shouldn’t have career-threatening issues with left-handed hitters as his breaking ball plays to either side.

Cincinnati Reds Top 30 Prospects

The Norfolk Mike Eliases

The Tide are a perplexing combination of talent from the Orioles prior regime and upcoming hopefuls who the organization can still work their magic on. Prior talent includes Ryan Mountcastle, Keegan Akin, Tanner Scott, and Austin Hays (at some point, most likely). Coming talent includes players like Ryan McKenna, Yusniel Diaz and Dean Kremer. Akin’s lefty changeup approach makes him a nightmare for right-handed hitters while Diaz’s bat will quickly need a greater test than the Eastern League.

With Elias and new management in place, embracing statistics like they literally never have before, the Tide will be the polishing step for a variety of prospects, not the more interesting testing ground that lower levels of the Orioles system will be. But talent still abounds, it may just look familiar until after the midpoint in the minor league season. Change is good. Embrace it.

Baltimore Orioles Top 30 Prospects

The PawSox Packed With Potential MLB Contributors

While the PawSox might not be as stacked as Gwinnett or Indy, they do feature a core of players that could provide some impact on the big league club this season. Led by slugger Michael Chavis, righthander Mike Shawaryn, and relievers Travis Lankins, Bobby Poyner, and Josh Taylor. Not the most exciting group but I can see Chavis and Shawaryn being called on to provide depth in Boston at some point this summer. There’s also some optimism regarding potential promotions this season as Drawinzon Hernandez, Durbin Feltman, and Bobby Dalbec should all see time in the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution. With just two seasons left in Pawtucket, the team looks to make some final memories.

Boston Red Sox Top 30 Prospects

Starters A Plenty in Rochester With Thorpe, Gonsalves, And Littell

The Rochester roster features a bevy of notable names on both sides of the ball. The offense is led by sluggers Brent Rooker and Luke Raley, and features divisive middle infield prospect Nick Gordon. That core should provide plenty of excitement at the plate with each looking to take a step forward in 2019 and push for big league roles as soon as this summer. Other players to watch are LaMonte Wade, Randy Cesar, as well as a strong staff that features Zack Littell, Fernando Romero, Lewis Thorpe, and Stephen Gonsalves.

Minnesota Twins Top 30 Prospects

Some day they will be known as the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Right-Handers

The Yankees have an insane amount of young, right-handed starting pitching depth with a lot of polishing needed. Chance Adams, once the darling of the Yankees depth of starters is presently the only true prospect on the roster. This is because Domingo German and Jonathan Loaisiga are both presently—as of April 4— in the Yankees rotation. By season’s end, Albert Abreu and Deivi Garcia have a chance to finish out the season in the International League, potentially with German and Johnny Lasagna, providing this team a jolt of rejuvenation that might spur some extra eyes in PNC Field.

Kyle Higashioka will be behind the plate with Ryan McBroom manning first base, both viable talents with little paths to playing time but enough spark to generate familiarity in fans, something that a lot of these Triple-A clubs find solace in. But hey, baseball is baseball.

New York Yankees Top 30 Prospects

Flushing completes the circle of life by adding Syracuse as affiliate

A standard blue-and-orange design with the crisp flourishes of the signature “Mets” font, Syracuse already looks and feels like a Mets affiliate. Is that because Tim Tebow is on the roster? And Carlos Gomez? And… Rajai Davis? BVW’s initiative to add major league depth like the Dodgers may have been taken too far by making the Chiefs a 2010 cross-sport all-star team.

But enough kidding around, this team will likely not be a development-based club early in the minor league season. It lacks any of the Mets’ top 10 prospects due to Gimenez starting in Binghamton with a slew of arms with ties to major league bullpens circa 2018. This is the team that you don’t mind coming into town to see how other International League pitchers fare against major league talent. I’ll set the over-under on Tebows’s major league debut at Aug. 25.

New York Mets Top 30 Prospects

Daz And The Mud Hens Bring Hope To Toledo

After years of operating as one of the poorest farm systems in the game, the Tigers have started to add talent to their organization. It starts with Daz Cameron, a player they acquired in the Justin Verlander trade late in 2017. The son of former major league outfielder Mike Cameron, Daz brings to the table a varied skill set that includes plus defense, above average speed and baserunning, an improving approach, and projectable power. The bat has grown by leaps and bounds the last year and many expect more growth to occur in the coming months. Daz will be one of the most exciting players to monitor in the International League with a date in Detroit in the not too distant future.

The lineup isn’t just Daz however with Willi Castro, Dawel Lugo, and Jacob Robson all providing some firepower in the lineup. The pitching staff features a core of good arms in Kyle Funkhouser, Beau Burrows, Sandy Baez, Zac Houston, and Tyler Alexander. All five should have an impact in a variety of roles on the Detroit staff in years to come. My interest is mostly in Funkhouser and Zac Houston. The latter of which looks like a potential middle relief piece at the highest level, while Funkhouser looks to rebound from a tough 2018 and rediscover the sizzle he had as a sophomore at Louisville and over the first season and a half of pro career.

Detroit Tigers Top 30 Prospects

Sleepers

Colin Poche, LHP TB (Durham)

Willi Castro, 2B DET (Toledo)

Patrick Weigel, RHP ATL (Gwinnett)

Keegan Akin, LHP BAL (Norfolk)

Lewis Thorpe, LHP MIN (Rochester)

Travis Lakins, RHP BOS (Pawtucket)

Mike Shawaryn, RHP BOS (Pawtucket)

Enyel De Los Santos, RHP PHI (Lehigh Valley)

Jojo Romero, LHP PHI (Lehigh Valley)

Mitch Walding, 3B PHI (Lehigh Valley)

Thairo Estrada, SS NYY (Scranton/Wikes-Barre) *Recently promoted to NYY

Stock Tips

Prospect Stock Up: Cole Tucker, SS Indianapolis Indians - What can I say? I’m a sucker for a great athlete. After years of honing every tool but his power, it looks like there might have been actual gains this off-season as Tucker flashed improved boom-boom in the wood. The elite defense is there, the plate approach, above-average speed, and baserunning acumen is all there. If he can get to 50 game power, we might be looking at a multi-time All-Star.

Prospect Stock Down: Mitch Keller, RHP Indianapolis Indians - You know I had to take my shots at Keller, but I do feel this is an appropriate statement whether Keller truther or not. The results haven’t been there, though the peripherals tell a different tale. His Triple-A numbers look just unlucky, and it’s a relatively small sample size. He also has excellent spin rates on his primary pitches, his fastball-curveball combo. This might be the year Keller bounces back, or he could fall victim to the same questions I’ve had this off-season regarding his third pitch, fastball effectiveness, and ability to miss bats.

Wishlist

Wander Franco, SS Tampa Bay (#1 on our Rays Top-30) - This is aggressive wishful thinking when Franco is starting in Low-A Bowling Green, but hear me out. He’s an elite talent that might just embarrass the lower levels of the minors to the point a year and a half in Triple-A is the only option. Think Acuña in 2017, but he’ll be here longer, because it’s the Rays.

Cristian Pache, OF Atlanta (#2 on our Braves Top-30) - I want to see the unicorn live. All the tools, the improving power, the plus plus speed. I haven’t seen Pache outside of MiLB TV. I need to feed my FOMO.

Taylor Trammell, OF Cincinnati (#3 on our Reds Top-30) - I’ve loved Taylor Trammell since the minute I laid eyes on him. Others have wained in his prospect status, but I still see the same elite athlete with excellent approach and untapped power.

Ian Anderson, RHP Atlanta (#5 on our Braves Top-30) - One of the few Braves pitching prospects from this Golden Generation I’ve yet to see live. I need to remedy that this season.

Alex Kirilloff, OF/1B Minnesota (#2 on our Twins Top-30) - It’s Alex Kirilloff of course he’s on my wish list. He’ll begin the season in the injured list, but when he returns it will be with Double-A Pensacola. He’s just a step away. Hopeful I get this wish late summer.

Adam Haseley, OF Philadelphia (#3 on our Phillies Top-30) - With 159 plate appearances of plus discipline already under his belt in Reading, 2019 will be a two-level season for Haseley. Expect a promotion and savor it. Haseley has the discipline and approach to become an everyday outfielder at the major league level.

Ryan McKenna, OF Baltimore (#6 on our Orioles Top-30) - It’s reasonable to expect McKenna in Norfolk before season’s end, with a real chance to break camp in 2020 with the Orioles and their depleted roster. Blazing speed and plus defense, McKenna feels like an upgraded version of Cedric Mullins.

Andres Gimenez, SS New York (N) (#1 on our Mets Top-30) - The Mets top prospect returns to the Eastern League, but will likely break in with the Chiefs as he shouldn’t need more than 100 games total at Double-A total to prove he’s an above average defender with a viable combination of hit and power.

Deivi Garcia, RHP New York (A) (#2 on our Yankees Top-30) - Garcia is 19 years old with a 5-foot-9 frame and only five innings in Double-A, but heck, we want to see him in Triple-A by the end of the season, even if it’s just for a taste of the International League.