Rankings/List

Some of the top tools and pitches in the minor leagues will be on display this spring, as many of the game’s top prospects have been invited to participate in big league spring training. Whether it’s Billy Hamilton’s speed, Wil Myers’ power or Gerrit Cole’s fastball, the future of baseball will undoubtedly be on display over the next month.

Many of the game’s top prospects have been invited to big league camp this spring, which indicates that they’re within a few years of reaching the majors. This year’s group of top-ranked prospects is highlighted by a core group of promising sluggers, including Wil Myers, Mike Olt and Xander Bogaerts.

While it is evident that the World Baseball Classic is filled with superstars, there are also some lesser-known players that get the chance to shine during baseball's big tournament.

Players from around the world can make a name for themselves on an international stage. For players that are in the minor leagues, this tournament could lead their respective teams to speed up their timetable.

The business of building rosters for the upcoming 2013 MLB season is now almost complete. With spring training now in progress, many teams will now begin the work of putting the best product on the field.

The question is, has each team constructed a roster that can take advantage of its home ballpark?

Baseball is unlike any other major sport in that its playing fields are not symmetrical. Parks are generally defined as either pitcher-friendly or hitter-friendly.

Spring training is finally among us, and with only 42 days separating us from MLB Opening Day, teams everywhere have their work cut out for them as they prepare for a regular-season marathon.

Teams like the Atlanta Braves and Toronto Blue Jays made major improvements to their lineups and rotations this offseason, and they promise to make a big splash once the season gets underway.

The Seattle Mariners’ farm system is one of the best in the game, with a majority of their top prospects stashed at Double-A or above.

Even though spring training is only a few days old, there are numerous highly regarded prospects that have already generated a favorable buzz. Granted, it has come in the form of a batting practice session or light bullpen—but hey, it counts.

Edwin Encarnacion, Ian Desmond and Josh Reddick all enjoyed breakout seasons in 2012.

But, at the beginning of the season, their names were not well-known by the average fan.

Who has the potential to become somebody everybody is talking about in 2013?

With spring training starting to get underway, MLB teams will be closely examining their rosters to see who can make the biggest impact. However, there are still a number of players that remain free agents looking to make a difference for any of the 30 teams.

During the 2013 MLB offseason, well over a hundred free agents signed new contracts that equaled a value comparable to that of the gross national product of several countries.

Indeed, overpaying was the theme this offseason.

Each free agent will no doubt work hard to justify the bloated contracts offered to them. Some of them could in fact show that the money rewarded to them was the right decision.

However, there were several contracts offered and accepted that made many fans and experts shake their heads in dismay.