MLB Top Prospects: Reviewing this year's Bold Predictions, Part 2

At the start of every season, the writers here at Fake Teams take our best shot at what we hope are bold predictions, guesses where we hope to make a statement on what we think can happen this year. While we don't anticipate that very many, if any, will come to pass, it's an interesting exercise to see whether the thinking involved held as true or not. You can find my original predictions here, and my review of the first half of them here.

Arismendy Alcantara and Javier Baez, Chicago Cubs

WHAT WAS SAID

Arismendy Alcantara, not Javier Baez, is the Cubs' prospect with the largest impact this year for fantasy owners.

HOW IT TURNED OUT

This one may honestly be right, but only barely if so. Alcantara has hit .211 with 9 home runs, 8 stolen bases, 28 runs, and 22 RBI in 242 at bats, and will qualify at both second base and outfield next year. Baez came up about a month later, and has hit .177, but also with 9 home runs, 4 stolen bases, 20 runs, and 18 RBI in 158 at bats, and will qualify at second base and shortstop. The 41% strike out rate for Baez will continue to hurt his value, but it's clear that his value can be sky high if he can keep the strikeouts under control.

GRADE: C+

Alexander Guerrero, Los Angeles Dodgers

WHAT WAS SAID

Alexander Guerrero spends the full season in the minors this year.

HOW IT TURNED OUT

I didn't think that Dee Gordon would hold off Guerrero for the whole year, but he's hitting .289 with 61 stolen bases and has been solid at second base for the Dodgers. It didn't hurt that Miguel Olivo cost Guerrero a bunch of time this year either, but it will be interesting to see what the Dodgers do in 2015 with both of their second basemen.

GRADE: C

Wilmer Flores, New York Mets

WHAT WAS SAID

Wilmer Flores is installed as the starting shortstop for the Mets on May 1st, after watching Ruben Tejada post a sub-600 OPS in the first month.

HOW IT TURNED OUT

Flores was called up on May 9th, and even got a few starts at shortstop after Ruben Tejada failed to hit yet again. However, Flores didn't do much with the opportunity either, and returned to the minors in late June for a month. He returned just before the trade deadline, and while he has been playing shortstop most days for the team, he still hasn't hit as had been anticipated. Overall, Flores is hitting .230/.263/.338 with 4 home runs and 20 RBI in 66 games.

GRADE: B-

Andrew Heaney, Miami Marlins

WHAT WAS SAID

The top 20 pitching prospect who makes the most starts in the majors this year is Andrew Heaney.

HOW IT TURNED OUT

Heaney has made just four starts this year, in comparison to Yordano Ventura's 27, Masahiro Tanaka's 18, and Marcus Stroman's 18. Heaney was called up in mid-June, but didn't stay up for very long and is currently working out of the bullpen for the Marlins this September.

GRADE: D+

Joey Gallo, Texas Rangers

WHAT WAS SAID

Joey Gallo shows that his 2013 season was no fluke, hitting 45 home runs with a .235 batting average and 175 strikeouts between High-A and AA.

HOW IT TURNED OUT

Pretty close on this one. Gallo did play at both High-A and AA, and almost hit 45 home runs (he finished with 42). He did strike out 179 times total (literally one-third of his at bats, but also managed to hit .271 rather than .235. Gallo has answered a lot of the questions that surrounded him, and he could be in Texas before the end of next year, whether it is at a corner infield spot or potentially a corner outfield spot as well.

GRADE: A-