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Keith Law's Midseason Top 50 Prospect Rankings

ESPN's Keith Law published his midseason Top 50 prospect rankings this morning, and here is a look at some of the guys he ranked.

By Ray Guilfoyle
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

ESPN'S prospect expert Keith Law published his updated Top 50 prospect rankings earlier this morning. Some of the prospect experts publish their midseason rankings before the MLB Futures game, but Law usually waits till after the game to publish his.

Here is a look at his top 12 rankings, with some other notes:

1.     Corey Seager, Dodgers

2.     J.P. Crawford, Phillies

3.     Lucas Giolito, Nationals

4.     Julio Urias, Dodgers

5.     Joey Gallo, Rangers

6.     Nomar Mazara, Rangers

7.     Tyler Glasnow, Pirates

8.     Rafael Devers, Red Sox

9.     Brendan Rodgers, Rockies

10.   Kyle Schwarber, Cubs

11.   Yoan Moncada, Red Sox

12.   Michael Conforto, Mets

Here is what he wrote about Cubs catcher Schwarber:

This ranking may still be too light. I've had two clubs tell me their internal rankings have Schwarber with a 70 hit tool, something I might say about only one or two other players in the minors (Seager in particular). And that praise is coming from quarters where he wasn't as highly regarded before the season; his laying to waste of Double-A pitching before his cup of coffee with the Cubs raised his stock everywhere, including with me.

It appears Law is changing his mind on Schwarber, so he should be a hot commodity in all leagues next season.

Law ranked Yankees outfield prospect Aaron Judge as his 13th ranked prospect and expects him to be the Yankees starting right fielder next season.

He ranked a few more of the 2015 draft picks in his top 50, including Diamondbacks shortstop Dansby Swanson at #22,  Pirates shortstop Kevin Newman at #27 and Astros shortstop Alex Bregman at #29.

Speaking of shortstops, Law ranked Nationals shortstop of the near future, Trea Turner, as his #16 prospect and had this to say about him:

Turner has added enough strength to be a serious extra-base-hit threat to go along with his 70 speed and bat control. With Ian Desmond likely heading to free agency, even Turner's average defense at short will make it easy for the Nats to let Desmond walk.

Some are calling for the Nationals to bring Turner up this season, as Desmond has been so bad at the plate and in the field this season. Desmond walked away from a $100 million contract offer from the Nationals last year and may be hard-pressed to get half of that this offseason.