The San Fernando farm system is at a bit of a cross roads after the promotion of several relevant prospects during the 2054 season. The system as a whole is lacking in top tier talent but does boast 21 of the top 500 prospects according to Prospect Pipeline.
Below is how I rank the 20th to 16th best prospects.
20) SS John McLeod
Age: 20
OVR 25 POT 40
SA .293/.351/.445
John McLeod makes this list as one of the few legitimate premium defenders in the Bears' system. The 2054 3rd round pick has the range to play shortstop but his mediocre error rate and arm might ultimately lump him in with the rest of the San Fernando 2B prospects. His personality ratings leave something to be desired, but on the bright side McLeod produced in short A ball in 2054 and will be ticketed for A ball in 2055.
19) P Jeff Wills
Age: 24
OVR 35 POT 45
AAA 96 IP, 33 BB, 86 K, 5.91 ERA
I was a lot higher on Jeff Wills going into the 2054 season, but he proceeded to struggle not just in AAA but also play mediocre when demoted back to AA. The Bears' 2nd round pick in 2051, Wills is polished but lacking upside, which may ultimately lead to a RP conversion.
18) C Dale Olds
Age: 19
OVR 30 POT 45
SA .251/.323/.431
Dale Olds was given a $4.5M signing bonus to be one of the only of several attractive young minor league free agents during the 2053-2054 offseason to sign with a team other than Nashville. Olds doesn't have a single hole in his game, with his ratings being almost exclusively a 6 or 7 across the board. The Bears hope he can get out in front of several other decent catching prospects by handling A ball in 2055.
17) P Jim Fields
Age: 20
OVR 20 POT 45
SA 83 IP, 14 BB, 84 K, 4.55 ERA
Jim Fields was signed to a minor league contract ($1.875M bonus) this past season after being drafted in the 3rd round by Des Moines, who signed him but never saw him play a game before being released. Fields has a three pitch mix that might work as a bottom-of-the-rotation starting pitcher or make him an effective reliever. He'll look to boost his movement rating as he starts in the year in A ball.
16) LF Tynan Rose
Age: 24
OVR 45 POT 45
AAA .237/.304/.420
Tynan Rose was acquired as part of the package that sent Arvin Duggan to Charm City during the past offseason. There was belief Rose could be an everyday player, but after struggling in AAA last year I've lowered my expectations to hoping he can be an effective short-side platoon bat for the Bears sooner rather than later.