1. Kris Bryant – 3B – Chicago Cubs
Had this list come out last year, Kris Bryant would likely be a repeat-champion. No Minor League player has garnered more acclaim in as short a time period as Bryant, and there were legitimate arguments being made that the slugger would have survived in the Majors the same season in which he was drafted. While that may have been a stretch, 2014 should have been Bryant’s debut, but the Cubs – whether or not they would admit it – certainly were concerned about how an early call-up would move up Bryant’s eventual arbitration and free agent eligibility.
Now, there are no excuses. The Cubs have an abundance of talented youth, and almost all of them should see time with the big league club. That starts with Bryant, whose projections have been so overblown that scouts are now actively trying to downplay his potential. Whether Bryant breaks camp with the Cubs or gets the call mid-season, he is a potential star in the making, and the player whose debut is most anticipated in 2015.
