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          Keith Law Blog

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          Top sleeper prospects in 2017 for every team

          White Sox prospect Alec Hansen was drafted in the second round, but he looked like a first-rounder late last season. Stephen Smith/Four Seam Images/AP Images
          • Keith Law, ESPN Senior WriterFeb 3, 2017, 08:15 AM ET
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            • Senior baseball analyst for Insider
            • Was special asst. to Blue Jays GM
            • Wrote for Baseball Prospectus
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          Every year, I identify at least one sleeper prospect for each team. These players listed below are not in the current top 100, but I think they have a good chance to take a big leap forward during 2017, ending up not just in the top 100 but also somewhere in the middle to upper reaches of it.

          Past sleepers have included Xander Bogaerts, Josh Hader, Stephen Piscotty, Manuel Margot, Ronald Acuna, Dylan Cozens, J.T. Realmuto, and Trevor Rosenthal.

          Based on past results, somewhere between six and eight guys from this list will be top 100 guys next January. They're mostly prospects with real upside, chances to become good everyday players or above-average big league starters.

          National League

          Arizona Diamondbacks: Jasrado Chisholm, SS

          Chisholm is the one guy in the system who looks like he has a legitimate chance to develop into a 60: an everyday player who makes some All-Star teams.

          Atlanta Braves: Cristian Pache, CF

          Aside from Mike Soroka, who was too close to the top 100 this year to call him a sleeper, Pache is their best shot for a big breakout guy in 2017. He has the defense in center already and has shown the kind of approach in short-season ball that should lead to a big year in low-A.