This is the third annual Short-Season/Rookie Hitter Index. As you should know by now, the short-season and rookie leagues, which begin play every year in mid-June, are the breeding ground of tomorrow's elite prospects. Ronald Acuna, Juan Soto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Fernando Tatis Jr. and Wander Franco all saw their stock catapult in dynasty leagues before they got to Low-A (and in some cases before they played their first pro game). In serious dynasty leagues, if you don't roster these guys in rookie ball, you don't roster them.
What these players do on the field over the next 10 weeks is more important than anything they have done thus far in pro ball. I will update the top 400 prospect rankings as often as possible over the rest of the season, and the players in short-season and rookie leagues are the ones who can help their stock the most.
The whole point of this piece is to provide you a tool with which you can locate breakouts and guys you want to roll the dice on without further help from me. I tried to primarily include players at age-appropriate levels, so the top college guys from the 2019 draft were not included (they can really only hurt their stock in the levels below Low-A). This is such a fluid market for dynasty-league value, that I would recommend doing some of the legwork yourself. Do not hesitate. It's better to grab a guy and cut him for someone
This is the third annual Short-Season/Rookie Hitter Index. As you should know by now, the short-season and rookie leagues, which begin play every year in mid-June, are the breeding ground of tomorrow's elite prospects. Ronald Acuna, Juan Soto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Fernando Tatis Jr. and Wander Franco all saw their stock catapult in dynasty leagues before they got to Low-A (and in some cases before they played their first pro game). In serious dynasty leagues, if you don't roster these guys in rookie ball, you don't roster them.
What these players do on the field over the next 10 weeks is more important than anything they have done thus far in pro ball. I will update the top 400 prospect rankings as often as possible over the rest of the season, and the players in short-season and rookie leagues are the ones who can help their stock the most.
The whole point of this piece is to provide you a tool with which you can locate breakouts and guys you want to roll the dice on without further help from me. I tried to primarily include players at age-appropriate levels, so the top college guys from the 2019 draft were not included (they can really only hurt their stock in the levels below Low-A). This is such a fluid market for dynasty-league value, that I would recommend doing some of the legwork yourself. Do not hesitate. It's better to grab a guy and cut him for someone else a couple weeks later than to wait on someone and get sniped.
Before getting to the players, I wanted to provide some stuff to keep in mind when you're wading into these waters.
APPROPRIATE AGE
DSL: 16-17
GCL/AZL: 17-18
APPY/PIONEER: 17-19
NORTHWEST/NEW YORK-PENN: 18-19
DO NOT OVERREACT TO DSL STATS
It's just a different game in the Dominican Summer League. The quality of pitching and defense is the worst you will find in pro ball (99% of DSL pitchers should not be rostered in any format). If you have any semblance of an approach, you will put up big numbers there. Additionally, players can run wild on the bases in that league even without plus speed. The stats sometimes translate, but I typically only get excited when it's a player I was excited about before they started raking in the DSL (Julio Rodriguez is a good example from last year).
BEWARE THE R/R CORNER GUYS
When a player is in rookie ball and it is already clear that they won't stick up the middle, there will be pressure on the bat at every stop for the next 3-5 years. The R/R aspect is important to remember, because there is even more pressure on these guys to hit right-handed pitching in order to become everyday players -- a left-handed hitter can at least profile on the strong side of a platoon if they struggle against same-handed pitching. This rule is especially true of guys who are already pretty big, because we can assume they will get even bigger before reaching the majors, which could mean they become a DH-only prospect.
Without further ado, here is this year's Short-Season/Rookie Hitter Index:
The Known Studs
The players in this tier who were not selected in the 2019 draft should already be rostered in RDI-sized leagues. They are listed in approximately the order they will be ranked in the next top-400 update.
Kristian Robinson, OF, Short-Season Hillsboro 
George Valera, OF, Short-Season Mahoning Valley 
Marco Luciano, SS, AZL 
Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Unassigned (likely AZL) 
Riley Greene, OF, Unassigned (likely GCL) 
Brayan Rocchio, 2B/SS, Short-Season Mahoning Valley
Corbin Carroll, OF, Unassigned (likely AZL)
CJ Abrams, SS/OF, AZL 
Keoni Cavaco, SS/3B, GCL 
Noelvi Marte, SS, DSL 
Brett Baty, 3B/1B, GCL 
Everson Pereira, OF, New York-Penn League 
Antonio Cabello, OF, Appy League
Antoni Flores, SS, Short-Season Lowell 
Gabriel Rodriguez, SS, DSL
Misael Urbina, OF, DSL
Jhon Torres, OF, Appy League 
Orelvis Martinez, SS, Unassigned (likely GCL) 
Jeremy De La Rosa, OF, Unassigned (likely GCL) 
Alexander Canario, OF, AZL
Osleivis Basabe, SS/OF, AZL 
Johnathan Rodriguez, OF, Short-Season Mahoning Valley
Alexander Vargas, SS, DSL
Juan Pie, OF, New York-Penn League 
Luis Toribio, 3B, AZL
Pedigree Guys Who Could Pop
These prospects all received or are expected to receive seven-figure bonuses (or close to it), but have not blown up yet. Many of these players are either already ranked or will be ranked in the next top-400 update.
Alvin Guzman, OF, DSL
Gunnar Henderson, SS, Unassigned (likely GCL) 
Danny Diaz, 3B, Unassigned (likely GCL)
Matthew Lugo, SS, Unassigned (likely GCL)
Eduardo Lopez, OF, DSL
Luis Verdugo, SS, AZL 
Jose Lopez, OF, DSL
Tyler Callihan, 2B/OF, Unassigned (likely Pioneer League) 
Rece Hinds, 3B/OF, Unassigned (likely AZL)
Junior Sanquintin, SS, DSL
Aaron Bracho, 2B/SS, AZL
Yordys Valdes, SS, AZL
Christian Cairo, SS, AZL
Adinso Reyes, SS, DSL
Jose De La Cruz, OF, DSL
Colin Barber, OF, Unassigned (likely GCL) 
D'Shawn Knowles, OF, Pioneer League 
Jeremiah Jackson, SS, Pioneer League
Kyren Paris, SS, Unassigned (likely AZL)
Trent Deveaux, OF, AZL
Alexander Ramirez, OF, DSL
Diego Cartaya, C, DSL 
Nasim Nunez, SS, Unassigned (likely GCL) 
Victor Mesa Jr., OF, Unassigned (likely GCL)
Carlos Rodriguez, OF, Unassigned (likely Pioneer League) 
Eduardo Garcia, SS, DSL
Joe Gray, OF, Pioneer League
Eduarqi Fernandez, OF, DSL
Larry Ernesto, OF, AZL
Branlyn Jaraba, OF, DSL
Adrian Hernandez, OF, Unassigned (likely Appy League)
Francisco Alvarez, C, Unassigned (likely GCL)
Freddy Valdez, OF, DSL
Kevin Alcantara, OF, DSL
Raimfer Salinas, OF, Unassigned (likely GCL)
Anthony Volpe, SS, Unassigned (likely GCL)
Ronny Rojas, SS, Unassigned (likely GCL)
Sammy Siani, OF, Unassigned (likely GCL)
Joshua Mears, OF, AZL
Jairo Pomares, OF, AZL
Trejyn Fletcher, OF, Unassigned (likely GCL)
Nick Schnell, OF, Unassigned (likely Appy League) 
Alejandro Pie, SS, DSL
David Garcia, C, Northwest League
The Sleepers
This is the group I would be tracking for this year's crop of off-the-radar breakouts. Many of these players will be added to the top 400 on the next update.
Wilderd Patino, OF, AZL
Glenallen Hill Jr., SS, Unassigned (likely AZL)
Jeferson Espinal, OF, DSL
Gilberto Jimenez, OF, Short-Season Lowell
Bryan Gonzalez, OF, DSL
Brainer Bonaci, SS/2B, DSL
Elio Prado, OF, DSL
Albert Feliz, OF, DSL
Rafael Morel, SS, DSL
Joe Naranjo, 1B, Unassigned (likely AZL)
Angel Martinez, SS, DSL
Juan Guerrero, SS, DSL 
Aiverson Rodriguez, SS, DSL
Yohander Martinez, SS, DSL
Andy Pages, OF, AZL
Cristhian Rodriguez, 3B, DSL
William Lugo, 3B, Unassigned (likely GCL)
Angel Rojas, 2B, Unassigned (likely GCL)
Oswald Peraza, SS, New York-Penn League
Marcos Cabrera, 3B, DSL
Jordan Diaz, 3B, New York-Penn League 
Alexander Mojica, 3B, DSL
Albert Fabian, 1B/OF, DSL
Luis Matos, OF, DSL
Joerlin De Los Santos, OF, Unassigned (likely GCL)
Alberto Figuereo, 2B, Unassigned (likely GCL)
Abiezel Ramirez, SS/2B, Unassigned (likely GCL)
Luisangel Acuna, SS, DSL
Alexander Ovalles, OF, AZL
Dasan Brown, OF, Unassigned (likely GCL)
Best of the Rest
These are players I'm tracking, but not necessarily players who need to be on your radar just yet, unless you play in a really deep league. They are not top-400 prospects yet, but all of them are capable of getting there by the end of the year.
Jorge Barrosa, OF, Short-Season Hillsboro
Liover Peguero, SS, Pioneer League
Dairon Cuevas, SS, DSL
Luis Rubio, SS, DSL
Asdrubal Martinez, OF, DSL
Kevin Infante, OF, DSL
Angel Gomez, OF, DSL
Naysbel Marcano, C, DSL
Reivaj Garcia, 2B, Short-Season Eugene
Yohendrick Pinango, OF, DSL
James Beard, OF, AZL 
Anderson Comas, OF, Pioneer League
Ilvin Fernandez, SS, DSL
Raynel Delgado, SS/2B/3B, Short-Season Mahoning Valley
Sterling Romero, OF, DSL
Korey Holland, OF, Short-Season Mahoning Valley
Eddy Diaz, SS, Pioneer League
Warming Bernabel, SS/3B, DSL
Pedro Mota, SS/2B, DSL
Yoan Bravo, SS, DSL
Cristian Gonzalez, 3B/SS, DSL
Omar Diaz, OF, DSL
Miguel Palma, C, DSL
Omar Florentino, SS, DSL
Wilmin Candelario, SS, DSL
Ender Avendano, 2B, DSL
Felix Valerio, 2B, AZL
Carlos Roa, SS, DSL
Micah Bello, OF, Pioneer League
Jaylen Palmer, 3B, Appy League
Luis Castillo, 2B/SS, DSL
Anthony Garcia, OF, Unassigned (likely GCL)
Antonio Gomez, C, GCL
Roberto Chirinos, SS, Appy League
Agustin Ramirez, C, DSL
Kevin Richards, OF, New York-Penn League
Marcus Smith, OF, AZL
Lawrence Butler, OF, New York-Penn League
Jamari Baylor, SS, Unassigned (likely GCL) 
Alexeis Azuaje, 2B, DSL
Sergio Campana, OF, DSL
Orlando Chivilli, SS, DSL
Hudson Head, OF, Unassigned (likely AZL)
Jose Velez, OF, DSL
Charlis Aquino, SS, DSL
Euribiel Angeles, 2B, DSL
Eduard Hidalgo, OF, DSL
Garrett Frechette, 1B, AZL
Victor Bericoto, 1B/OF, DSL
Asdrubal Bueno, 2B, DSL
Jonatan Clase, OF, DSL
Malcom Nunez, 3B/1B, Appy League
Adanson Cruz, OF, Unassigned (likely GCL)
Victor Garcia, OF, Appy League
Carlos Soler, OF, Appy League
Diego Velasquez, C, DSL
Gionti Turner, 2B, Appy League
Daiwer Castellanos, OF, Unassigned (likely GCL)
Jelfry Marte, SS, Appy League
Cody Freeman, SS/2B, AZL
Randy Florentino, C, AZL
Johan Lopez, OF, DSL
Heriberto Hernandez, 1B/C, AZL
Jose Rodriguez, C, DSL
Efrenyer Narvaez, C, DSL
Miguel Hiraldo, 3B/2B, Appy League
Leonardo Jimenez, SS, Appy League
Alberto Rodriguez, OF, Unassigned (likely GCL)
Andry Arias, 1B, Unassigned (likely GCL)
Pitchers
I only included pitchers that I like enough to roster before they get to full-season ball. In most cases, picking up rookie-level pitchers is a poor use of a roster spot. Many of the pitchers listed here from the 2019 draft class may not pitch at all this season, as teams look to give them rest after a long spring season. They are listed in approximately the order they will be ranked in the next top-400 update.
Ethan Hankins, RHP, Short-Season Mahoning Valley
Adam Kloffenstein, RHP, Northwest League
Matthew Allan, RHP, Unassigned
Daniel Espino, RHP, AZL
Brennan Malone, RHP, Unassigned
Blake Walston, LHP, Unassigned
Osiel Rodriguez, RHP, DSL
Quinn Priester, RHP, GCL
Jimmy Lewis, RHP, Unassigned
Carlos Vargas, RHP, Short-Season Mahoning Valley
Richard Gallardo, RHP, AZL
JJ Goss, RHP, Unassigned
Tahnaj Thomas, RHP, Appy League
Frank Lopez, RHP, AZL
Yoendrys Gomez, RHP, Unassigned
Yordi Rosario, RHP, Appy League
Junior Santos, RHP, Appy League
Heitor Tokar, RHP, Unassigned
Taj Bradley, RHP, Appy League
