As promised, on Opening Day of the minor league baseball season, Jim and I bring you the anticipated “Ones to Watch” post for the 2017 season. Up first are the hitters. 

Aside from our Organizational All-Star series, most of the kids you see on both lists are those who,  1) had great seasons in 2016;  2) Didn’t quite make the UTR OAS cut;  or 3) Made the OAS cut, but outlying situations and circumstances are favorable for them to have an even better season than in 2016. Some names you may be familiar with, some you may not.

Either way, we try to bring you those deeper up-and-coming names to help firm up your fantasy spreadsheets. Choosing a breakout player is not an easy task. One never knows. Could we have predicted at the start of 2016 that Indians catcher Francisco Mejia would would collect a hit in 50 consecutive games or that Rockies Brian Mundell would set the modern day minor league doubles record with 59? You can’t, and that’s what makes what we do so much fun. As an added bonus, when I run into a situation where a situation deems difficult to decide on one prospect, I’ll toss in more names.

So, with off-season stats in our pocket and hesitating risk thrown out the window, without further adieu, we bring you the 2017 UTR “Ones to Watch” list.

American League East:

• Baltimore Orioles:  Seamus Curran  –  1B
• Boston Red Sox:  Kervin Suarez  –   2B
  • Kyri Washington  –  CI
• New York Yankees:  Oswaldo Cabrera  –  SS
• Tampa Bay Rays:  Ronaldo Hernandez  –  C
• Toronto Blue Jays:  Mc Gregory Contreras  –  CF

American League Central:

• Chicago White Sox:  Corey Zangari  –  1B
• Cleveland Indians:  Jodd Carter  –  CF
• Detroit Tigers:  Juan Ramirez  –  CF
• Kansas City Royals:  Esteury Ruiz  –  2B
• Minnesota Twins:  Agustin Marte  –  SS

American League West:

• Houston Astros:  Enmanuel Valdez  –  2B
• Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim:  Rayneldy Rosario  –  CF
• Oakland Athletics:  Chris Iriart  –  1B
• Seattle Mariners:  Luis Rengifo  –  2B/3B
• Texas Rangers:  Yeyson Yrizarri  –  SS

National League East:

• Atlanta Braves:  Randy Ventura  –  CF
• Miami Marlins:  Isaiah White  –  LF
• New York Mets:  Hansel Moreno  –  3B
• Philadelphia Phillies:  Keudy Bocio  –  2B
• Washington Nationals:  Luis Perdomo  –  RF

National League Central:

• Chicago Cubs:  Darryl Wilson  –  CF
• Cincinnati Reds:  Mariel Bautista  –  CF
• Milwaukee Brewers:  Gabriel Garcia  –  1B
• Pittsburgh Pirates:  Rodolfo Castro  –  SS
• St. Louis Cardinals:  Carlos Soto  –  C

National League West:

• Arizona Diamondbacks:  Kyle Smith  –  1B/3B
• Colorado Rockies:  Robert Ramos  –  1B
• Los Angeles Dodgers:  Carlos Rincon  –  2B
• San Diego Padres:  Kelvin Alarcon  – 3B
• San Francisco Giants:  Gio Brusa  –  LF