Minor League Preview - The International League

The full season leagues will start play in the 2016 season this week, and with that in mind, the prospect staff here at Fake Teams will be taking a look at some of the relevant information with each league. While we always hope that you'll come to us when you're looking for fantasy writing and analysis to help you in your leagues, we also want to help you get a better understanding of what we're looking at so that you can do some of this analysis should you need it quickly. Next up in our preview series is the International League.

Previous Previews: Pacific Coast League

The Basics

The International League is a 14 team AAA minor league located on the East Coast and Midwest that has been in existence since 1884. It's a very neutral league in terms of favoring hitters or pitchers as this article from last year will show, with its' newest stadium (Charlotte) favoring hitters in its' first year. It is home to some of the more storied franchises in the minors - the Durham Bulls, Toledo Mud Hens, and Columbus Clippers among them.

Last Year's Champion: Columbus Clippers (Cleveland Indians affiliate)

Teams

(Fake Teams Top 100 Consensus Ranking in Parentheses, Potential Midseason Additions)

Buffalo (TOR) - No "prospects" but young players like OF Dalton Pompey, SP Drew Hutchison, and former top prospects 1B/DH Jesus Montero and OF Domonic Brown are on the team. SP Conner Greene.

Charlotte (CHW) - No "prospects" but young players like SPs Erik Johnson and Jacob Turner. SS Tim Anderson (#31)

Columbus (CLE) - SP Mike Clevinger, young 3B Gio Urshela. OF Bradley Zimmer (#27)

Durham (TB) - SP Blake Snell (#20), 2B Ryan Brett, SP Jacob Faria, C Justin O'Conner, 1B Richie Shaffer, and OF Mikie Mahtook

Gwinnett (ATL) - SP Aaron Blair (#61), SP Tyrell Jenkins, OF Mallex Smith (#89), SP Ryan Weber, 3B Rio Ruiz, and young SPs Casey Kelly and Mike Foltynewicz. SPs Lucas Sims and Sean Newcomb (#32). Veteran SP Jhoulys Chacin currently here until the Braves need a fifth starter.

Indianapolis (PIT) - SP Tyler Glasnow (#9), 1B Josh Bell(#38), SP Jameson Taillon(#52), 2B Alen Hanson, SP Nick Kingham, and OF Willy Garcia.

Lehigh Valley (PHI) - SP Jake Thompson (#43), OF Nick Williams (#25), SP Mark Appel, C Andrew Knapp, SP Zach Eflin, OF Darnell Sweeney. SS JP Crawford (#12), C Jorge Alfaro (#48), and OF Roman Quinn.

Louisville (CIN) - OF Jesse Winker (#42), SP Cody Reed, 2B Jose Peraza. Coming soon is SP Robert Stephenson (#33) who is in the big leagues making his debut in a spot start.

Norfolk (BAL) -1B Christian Walker.

Pawtucket (BOS) -SP Brian Johnson and young SP Henry Owens. C Christian Vazquez

Rochester (MIN) -SP Jose Berrios (#14), OF Max Kepler (#55), SS Jorge Polanco, SP Alex Meyer, and young SP Tyler Duffey.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (NYY) - OF Aaron Judge (#26), C Gary Sanchez (#74), 2B Rob Refsnyder, OF Slade Heathcott.

Syracuse (WAS) - SS Trea Turner (#16), SS Wilmer Difo, SP AJ Cole. SP Lucas Giolito (#2).

Toledo (DET) - SP Michael Fulmer (#62), SP Matt Boyd, OF Steven Moya, and young RP Bruce Rondon.