Farm Futures: 148 AL Central Prospects You Need To Know

Usually I use these divisional articles to write up every fantasy-relevant prospect in each team's farm system, but given the lack of a minor-league season in 2020, there's just not much new to say about a large percentage of the prospect universe. I am still going to rank the fantasy-relevant prospects in all 30 systems, and I've already written outlooks on the site for the majority of the top-250 prospects on my top 400. I'm also providing a list of prospects in each org. that could contribute in 2021 along with an overview of each system. 

Feel free to ask me any prospect-related questions in the comments or on Twitter.

WHITE SOX

Players We Could See In 2021: Andrew Vaughn, Michael Kopech, Nick Madrigal, Garrett Crochet, Jonathan Stiever, Gavin Sheets, Blake Rutherford

Dynasty Overview: This system is so shallow that, had he not exhausted his prospect eligibility due to days on the active roster, setup man Codi Heuer would rank 10th on this list. We know the drill with the top three guys — they should spend most or all of the season in the majors. Beyond Benyamin Bailey, I'm not targeting any of the players outside of the top two. Madrigal and Crochet seem to be somewhat controversial in terms of dynasty valuations. My take on Madrigal is that he's at best a three-category guy, and possibly a two-category guy if he is hitting at the bottom of the lineup. Crochet is likely to end up in the bullpen or on the shelf, although the healthy version of him is a top-10 reliever in the game.

CLEVELAND

Players We Could See In 2021: Tyler Freeman, Triston McKenzie, Nolan Jones, Emmanuel Clase, Daniel Johnson, Gabriel Arias, Owen Miller, Sam Hentges, Eli Morgan, Ernie Clement, Bobby Bradley, Scott Moss, Jean Carlos Mejia

Dynasty Overview: Perhaps the deepest farm system in the game, and certainly the system with the most talent in the lower levels of the minors, Cleveland is set up to be a top-five farm system for the foreseeable future. It's a rare organization where I give a legitimate bump to certain pitching prospects they acquire — not the stuff monsters like Daniel Espino, but the guys who command three or four really solid pitches like Tanner Burns or Logan Allen, both of whom were selected out of college in the 2020 draft. Given how much of a buyer's market it is, Cleveland could probably acquire any available big leaguer at the deadline without dealing one of its top 10 prospects. Everyone knows I love Freeman (although he's more of a 2022 redraft guy, even if he were to debut later this summer), and Burns, Carson Tucker, Angel Martinez, Allen and Lenny Torres are my favorites from outside the top 100.

TIGERS

Players We Could See In 2021: Matt Manning, Casey Mize, Tarik Skubal, Daz Cameron, Isaac Paredes

Dynasty Overview: It's honestly pretty pathetic how shallow this system is, given how long the Tigers have been rebuilding. They spend money on the international market, but they seem to end up with oversized 16-year-olds who tumble down the defensive spectrum, rather than lean, athletic up-the-middle players who can gradually grow into their frames. I expect Spencer Torkelson and Riley Greene to debut in the first half of 2022 if they stay on schedule. If Parker Meadows can somehow develop a 45- or 50-grade hit tool, he would shoot up the top 400 due to his 30/20 potential. 

ROYALS

Players We Could See In 2021: Bobby Witt, Daniel Lynch, Jackson Kowar, Kyle Isbel, Carlos Hernandez, Lucius Fox

Dynasty Overview: Kansas City opted to focus its rebuild around pitching, and thanks to a ridiculous haul from the 2018 draft, they may be successful in pulling it off. This system is so flush with talented starting pitchers that there will eventually be a bit of a logjam that could impact the ascent of guys like Jonathan Bowlan and Austin Cox, but that's obviously a good problem to have. I've been scooping up shares of Daniel Vazquez in dynasty first-year player drafts, as he is typically sitting there as my best hitter available after the first 75-80 picks. He could be a big riser if he fills out and develops the type of power/speed combo I think he's capable of. Ben Hernandez and Darryl Collins could jump into the top 400 early this season.

TWINS

Players We Could See In 2021: Alex Kirilloff, Trevor Larnach, Jordan Balazovic, Ryan Jeffers, Jhoan Duran, Brent Rooker, Cole Sands, Bailey Ober, Travis Blankenhorn

Dynasty Overview: The news about Royce Lewis suffering a torn right ACL really ruined my week, not because of my dynasty teams (I actually only have him in one league), but because I thought he was really going to prove the doubters wrong this year. This really comes at a terrible time for his development, as he will now go two full seasons without real minor-league games. Based on about 20 minutes of research, there seems to be roughly an 82 percent recovery rate, and as a right-handed hitter it would have been preferable for the injury to have been to his lead (left) leg, rather than his plant (right) leg. I dropped him from No. 12 to No. 32 on the top 400, partly because of the delayed ETA and partly because of the decreased chances that he reaches his potential. Keoni Cavaco, Kala'i Rosario and Sands are my favorite prospects in this system who are somewhat under the radar, and Josh Winder is a guy who could be added to the top 400 sooner rather than later.