Baseball’s youth movement has now been in full swing for a good five years and

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Baseballs youth movement has now been in full swing for a good five years and shows no sign of slowing down in 2019. Aggre sively promoting young talent and relying on rookies to help win championships might have seemed likean anomaly or short-term trend a few years ago, but itsnow clearly a new operating model for big league clubs. While the Red Sox used a slightly more experienced roster to win in 2018than did the Astros in '17 and Cubs in '16, Bostonstillgot most of its league-leading offensive production from players under 25. As such, fantasy baseball owners are also finding refuge on top prospects who years ago would have only been on the radar in keeper or dynasty leagues.NL Rookie of the Year Ronald Acuna Jr. almost notched a 20-20 season (26 HRs, 16 SBs) and propelled Atlanta to a playoff appearancewellbefore anyone expected the rebuilding Braves to be a postseason team. Seven other rookies hit at least 20 home runs,including Nationals19-year-oldoutfielder Juan Soto,who was one of baseballs best hitters, postinga .923 OPS with 22 long balls. Two-way player and AL Rookie of the Year ShoheiOhtanialso hit 22 home runs and notched an equally-impre sive .925 OPS while going 4-2 with a 3.31 ERA in 10 starts as a pitcher. Dodgers righthander Walker Buehler was a key Craig Reynolds Jersey piece in the Dodgers playoff run as he went8-5 with a sparkling 2.62ERA and 151strikeouts over 137.1innings. Cardinals righthander Jack Flahertylogged 182strikeoutsand was one ofsixrookies topitch at least 100 innings andpost a sub-4.00 ERA.DOMINATE YOUR DRAFT: This year should see another wave of top rookies arrive in the majors, including more than half the players on this list. Some will compete for jobs in spring training while; will start the season in the high minors and wait for the unofficial Super Two deadline to pa s in late May or early June before receiving a promotion. Still,others will get late-season auditions in the form of September call-ups as a preview for po sible full-time roles in 2020. Regardle s of how it plays out, theres no doubt that prospects will continue to play a large role in the majors during the coming campaign.Top MLB Prospects | | | | | | 2019 MLB Top Prospects1. Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., 3B, TorontoVlad Jr.wont turn 20 until just before the season starts, but hes already knocking on the door of the majors. Guerrerohas elite bat speedand great balance which generates impre siveplus raw power. He also has excellent patience and pitch recognition,which hasallowed him to logmore walks than strikeouts as a pro.Guerrero was slowed by injury in 2018, but when healthy he was unstoppable.He demolished Double Night Train Lane Jersey -A pitching to the tune of a .402 batting average and 14 home runs in only 61 games, then finished up at Triple-A where he hit .336 with sixhome runs and 15 walks versus only 10 strikeouts in 30 contests.He will probablybegin the season back at Triple-A due to service time concerns, buthe should be starting at third for Toronto no later than May.Long-term hes a guy who could hit .300 and stroke 30-plushome runs a season.2.Eloy Jimenez, OF, Chicago White Sox Jimenez could make DeShon Elliott Jersey a case for top prospect and has a similar offensive profile to Guerrero.Jimenez has plus bat speed and light-tower power that could be better than Guerreros raw pop. He also has good plate discipline and excellent hand-eye coordination, which should allow him to hit for average and draw plenty of walks.Jimenez dominated Triple-A last season to the tune of a .355 batting average with 12 home runs in 55 games.Like Vlad, hell probably open the season back in the minors in order to delay the start of his service time clock, but he should be starting in Chicago no later than midseason. Jimenez probably wont hit .300 as a rookie, but he should be able to hit 20-plushome runs even in a partial season.Long-term he has the tools to hit for average, get on base, and club 30-plushome runs over a full season in the majors.3. Forrest Whitley, RHP, Houston Whitley mi sed time last season due to injuries anda drug-related suspension, but when he was on the field he dominated.He overpowered hitters in Double-A (34 strikeouts and only 15 hits allowed in 26.1 innings) and then capped off hisseason with a scintillating showing in the hitter-friendly Arizona Fall League.This year, he showed up to spring training in great shape and has been impre sive in the early going.Whitley will almost certainly open the year in the minors, but if he continues to perform hell probably be in line for a call-up as early as midseason.Whitleys lively mid-90s fastball, plus curve, and solid command profile him as a front-line starter. Hes improved his pitch execution Taylor Decker Jersey from year to year and shown that he canmake adjustments.In other words, hes the best pitching prospect in baseball and isnt far off from making his big league debut.4. FernandoTatis, Jr., SS, San DiegoTatiswas onhis way to an impre sive 20-20 campaignat Double-A last yearbefore a fractured thumb ended his season in July.Only 20, hellcertainly open the year in the minors, buthecould be pushing for a big league promotion by midseason.Tatissaw his strikeouts soar in 2018 and hell need to tighten his plate discipline to succeed against advanced pitching, buthe has the hand-eye coordination to hit for a solid average.At the plate,Tatishas plus bat speed and uses his lower body to generate plus power.In the field, he has the arm, range, and athleticism to be a solid big league shortstop.If he can improve his plate discipline, he could hit for average with 25-30 home runs and 15-20 stolen bases in the majors.5. NickSenzel, 3B/2B/OF,Cincinnati -- Senzelappeared to be a lock Detroit Lions Jackets for the majors in 2018 but a series of injuries derailed his ascent.Now blocked at third by Eugenio Suarez and at second by ScooterGennett,Senzelmay make his big league debut as an outfielder.When I saw him in Phoenixat the beginning of spring training he was patrolling center field where his above-average speed is probably good enough to make him an average defender.Regardle s of where he starts in the field,Senzelis a polished offensive player with the bat speed, plate discipline, and hand-eye coordination to hit for average as a rookie.He doesnt have the swing plane to hit for power right now, but he has the strength to develop more pop as he matures.Long-term he should hit close to .300 and slug 20 home runs in the majors.2019 Fantasy Baseball Rankings: | | | | | | | | 6. Wander Franco, SS, Tampa Bay Franco turns 18 on March 1 and hasnt yet played ab