Team-by-team look at top AL prospects

Last season turned out a bumper crop of new talent around the majors — from Carlos Correa, Francisco Lindor and Miguel Sano in the American League to Kris Bryant, Matt Duffy and Noah Syndergaard in the National League. Now, the cycle begins anew. Here are some names to watch for in 2016:

AL central

Twins

An already young team (only Kurt Suzuki and Joe Mauer are in the lineup and over 30) is about to get younger as elite prospects reach the majors. Byron Buxton is the crown jewel of the system and should own center field. Jose Berrios will be in the rotation soon, outfielder Max Kepler figures to reach the majors during the season, and a raft of relievers are close to breaking through.

Chicago White Sox

He's not a rookie, but 23-year-old Carlos Rodon could make a big jump this year. The lefthanded fireballer struck out a batter per inning last season, learned his way around the league and posted a 3.75 ERA. By the end of the year, Rodon could be joined by righthander Carson Fulmer, Chicago's first-round pick last year.

Cleveland Indians

Giovanny Urshela batted only .225 in his late-season call-up, but the 24-year-old Colombian already might be one of the three best fielding third basemen in the league. Tyler Naquin, 24, might soon have the same reputation in center field, and he's a strong candidate while Cleveland awaits Michael Brantley's midseason return.

Detroit Tigers

Tall and rangy, outfielder Steven Moya was the Tigers' hottest hitter through much of camp, showing far more plate discipline than in his two brief tryouts in Detroit. If his power holds up, he could challenge for a starting job. Righthander Michael Fulmer, acquired in the Yoenis Cespedes trade, should make his debut in 2016.

Kansas City Royals

Royals fans have been waiting on outfielder Bubba Starling ever since K.C. gave him a $7.5 million signing bonus in 2011, and this should be the year he finally arrives, albeit in a bench role. The 23-year-old will start at Class AAA Omaha but will be available in case anyone gets hurt. That's also where 20-year-old shortstop Raul Mondesi, who made his big-league debut in the World Series, figures to go, though he had a strong spring.

AL east

Baltimore Orioles

After pitching twice in the majors when he was 19, Dylan Bundy has made the Orioles as a 23-year-old, if mostly because he's out of options. Still, Baltimore believes Bundy will be effective in the bullpen. The Orioles also added a not-so-young rookie in Hyun-Soo Kim, a 28-year-old outfielder from South Korea.

Boston Red Sox

They have three 23-year-olds in their lineup already, in shortstop Xander Bogaerts, outfielder Mookie Betts and catcher Blake Swihart, so there's not room for many others. That's bad news for their current closest-to-the-majors prospect, shortstop Deven Marrero, who might have to change positions with Bogaerts in place.

New York Yankees

Greg Bird figured to take over first base, even over a healthy Mark Teixeira, but the 23-year-old is out for the season because of a torn labrum. The most promising Yankees prospect is a catcher, Gary Sanchez, whose path to the big leagues was cleared when John Ryan Murphy was traded to the Twins. Reliever Johnny Barbato has been a strikeout-an-inning guy at every level.

Tampa Bay Rays

Mikie Mahtook hit nine homers in a 41-game tryout, so while the outfielder starts the season at Triple-A, he won't stay there. Nor will Richie Shaffer, though as a third baseman in an organization that has Evan Longoria as a cornerstone, it's not certain where the 25-year-old might play. He will try first base while he waits for a chance.

Toronto Blue Jays

Having pruned the farm system to make the trades that brought them a division title, the Blue Jays will field one of the older teams in baseball this year, with few young players expected to make an impact. One exception: Lefty Chad Girodo, impressive in the spring, could be in the bullpen soon to provide critical strikeouts.

AL west

Houston Astros

AL Rookie of the Year Carlos Correa is 21, righthander Lance McCullers (who opens the season on the disabled list because of a sore shoulder) is 22, and even three-time All-Star Jose Altuve is only 25. This team is young and has more kids arriving: rookies A.J. Reed and Tyler White will fight over the first base job.

Los Angeles Angels

Mike Trout, a one-time MVP and three-time runner-up, still is only 24, so that's a nice place to start. Unfortunately for the Angels, that's about it for youngsters.

Oakland Athletics

The A's made over their starting rotation last season with players in their mid-20s, and three of them are 26 or younger. Sonny Gray is the unquestioned ace, but righthander Kendall Graveman hopes to smooth out some of his inconsistency and live up to mid-rotation projections. Newcomer Sean Manaea, a 24-year-old lefthander, figures to be better than any of them but Gray once he harnesses his fastball command.

Seattle Mariners

Catcher Mike Zunino, drafted immediately after Byron Buxton in 2012, can't seem to hit enough to take over the job, but the Mariners will keep trying. Until he does, righthander Taijuan Walker, whose 11 wins as a 22-year-old last year were a pleasant surprise, might be the only true youngster on a surprisingly old roster.

Texas Rangers

Twins fans may remember Joey Gallo for his amazing power during the Futures Game at Target Field in 2014, or the pair of solo shots he belted off them last June. The Rangers want the 22-year-old to improve on his .204 average and prodigious strikeout totals. He's not the only one, though; 20-year-old Nomar Mazara belted 13 homers at Class AA last year.

Phil Miller