Top Prospect Grading System

Before I start my endless rundown of the top prospects in baseball, I'd like to discuss my grading policy first. The grades are in your standard school grade format, A's being the best grades and therefore the best players, while C's are the lowest grade I'll give.

Players who receive an "A" for a grade are prospects who I deem the best in baseball. These prospects have the potential to be bonafide superstars and I feel, barring injury or a catastrophic decline, they will reach that potential. Because no player is guaranteed to enjoy success, no prospect on any of my lists will receive an "A+" grade.

The next tier of prospects are those who receive a "B" for a grade. These players have a solid chance to have successful careers. Some obviously have the chance to become stars, while others may only become role players or leave the league in a few years.

The lowest tier of prospects in my grading system are players who receive "C" grades. These prospects are the most common. Some players who receive a "C" grade can, of course, improve over the years, especially younger players who may be relatively unknown at the time. Older players who receive "C" grades have a lower chance at enjoying success.

In addition to the grades, I will generally provide statistics and written explanations further enhancing my grades and general outlook on their careers or at least the upcoming year.

It's important to note that I tend to grade high-upside type players higher than players who may not have the same potential, but may have better numbers. That might seem obvious to some, but a lot of these high-upside players can turn out to be busts as some hitters may lack good plate discipline, and some pitchers may lack control. Also, a lot of players who may not appear to have the greater potential, turn out to be league MVPs (Dustin Pedroia), so it's really one's personal philosophy in regards to grades.