In a division without a true big-market club, a deep and productive farm system should represent a huge competitive advantage, but right now none of these five teams is running away from the pack.
The White Sox, who play in a huge market but don't necessarily carry that kind of payroll, just took their system from the bottom third to the top with two huge trades, pushing them out of a group with Detroit (top-heavy) and Kansas City (thin up top, deep in very young prospects). Meanwhile, Cleveland, for all its trades and winning and things of that nature, still has plenty of talent in the system, and the Twins have these waves of arms that should hit Minnesota any minute now.
Here are the top prospects in the NL Central:
Chicago White Sox: Top prospects report
Adding a huge haul of prospects in two major trades reloaded the White Sox farm system with high-end talent like power right-hander Michael Kopech.
Cleveland Indians: Top prospects report
Even after trading talent to aid their AL pennant chase, the Indians have both ready-now prospects and future stars like catcher Francisco Mejia.
Detroit Tigers: Top prospects report
Hard-throwing Matt Manning heads up a Tigers organization long on unrealized potential. Will some breakthroughs spare them dealing for more prospects?.
Kansas City Royals: Top prospects report
Matt Strahm gives the Royals a farmhand ready to contribute in the majors in 2017, but their prospect possibilities beyond him are much less certain.
Minnesota Twins: Top prospects report
For as much talent as the Twins have already graduated to the majors, they have more promising farmhands on the way, including shortstop Nick Gordon.
Law's 2017 Prospect Ranks
Farm system rankings:
Nos. 30-21
Nos. 20-11
Nos. 10-1
Prospects:
Nos. 100-81
Nos. 80-61
Nos. 60-41
Nos. 40-21
Nos. 20-1
Prospects who missed
Top 100 table
Prospects by team:
AL East
• Orioles | Red Sox | Yankees | Rays | Blue Jays
NL East
• Braves | Marlins | Mets | Phillies | Nationals
AL Central
• White Sox | Indians | Tigers | Royals | Twins
NL Central
• Cubs | Reds | Brewers | Pirates | Cardinals
AL West
• A's | Angels | Astros | Mariners | Rangers
NL West
• Diamondbacks | Rockies | Dodgers | Padres | Giants
Feb. 2: Top prospects by position
Feb. 3: Sleepers