As we gear up for Spring Training, which is miraculously right around the corner, major outlets have been releasing their top prospect lists at a dizzying pace.
When comparing one list to another, it becomes clear the way outlets value prospects can reflect wild swings in opinion. Some outlets put more weight on a prospect’s proximity to reaching his ceiling; others base their opinion on the likelihood that ceiling is reached relative to the player’s risk. Some outlets bristle at injuries while some continue to gamble on a combination of ceiling and tools until a the side effects of an injury - or injuries - become excessive.