Top 100 Prospects
By: Max Greenfield
I’ve spent a lot of my off-season reading about farm systems, prospects, and getting a better understanding of the player development process. I started this research because I wanted to learn from the best to help with my job as a pitching coach. Then as the major publications began releasing their prospect lists, I felt that in order to make myself a better baseball mind I should attempt to make a list of my own. This list is a culmination of a several weeks long effort where I watched a great deal of video, read a lot of reports, tried to access whatever data I could get my hands on to make the most informed decisions possible.
There will be rankings you agree and don’t agree with and that’s ok. That’s what makes the process fun and interesting. I have a great deal of respect for the outlets that go through this process and I couldn’t have made this list without the work from Baseball Prospectus, Baseball America, Kiley McDaniel, MLB Pipeline, FanGraphs, and Keith Law. Without any more delay, here are my top 100 prospects.
1. Jackson Holliday BAL
Hit 60/65 Raw Power 50/60 Game Power 45/60 Field 55/55 Throw 50/50 Speed 60/60 Age: 20 Position: MIF MLB Debut (Estimation): 2024
Holliday has been the consensus number one prospect in baseball across most media outlets and it’s not hard to understand why. He possesses one of the best hit tools in the sport at his age and the raw power only continues to grow. Group those attributes together with an incredible eye, Holliday’s offensive ceiling for a middle infielder is special. Questions if he can be a shortstop at the major league level are warranted but not an issue for Baltimore who has Gunnar Henderson who just won a ROY available. Holliday could be on the opening day roster for the Orioles who are looking to repeat as AL East champions after acquiring Corbin Burnes
2. Wyatt Langford TEX
Hit 60/65 Raw Power 65/70 Game Power 60/65 Field 40/45 Throw 50/50 Speed 55/60 Age: 22 Position: OF MLB Debut (Estimation): 2024
A large part of me really wanted to rank Langford first overall. The batted ball data is incredible and he tore up both AA and AAA immediately after being drafted. Ultimately though, it’s hard to ignore the sample size of success in Holliday’s favor. Langford may be the best hitter in the top 100 as he put up a whopping .360/.480/.677 line with more walks than strikeouts. A plus base runner as well, Langford possesses a remarkably high ceiling. He is coming off the longest season of his career and didn’t slow down at any point during it. Always finding ways to make adjustments at the plate to keep going. He will be a big league corner outfielder who should be able to go get enough baseballs to be average at either spot. One of my favorite prospects in the entire list and is also a threat to make the team on opening day.
3. Jackson Chourio MIL
Hit 45/55 Raw Power 60/65 Game Power 50/55 Field 60/65 Throw 45/45 Speed 65/70 Age 19 Position: OF MLB Debut (Estimation): 2024
Chourio inked himself an extension before seeing a single MLB pitch. The Brewers may look like geniuses for it when it’s all said and done. Chourio has the speed/defense/power combo to rival any prospect on this list and has a strong case to be the top prospect in baseball. He needs to improve the swing decisions but that should come over time to give him a well above average hit tool. The defense is stellar in centerfield with the capability of competing for several gold gloves in that spot. The Brewers are going to let him run wild from opening day to beyond, and it’s going to be interesting to watch how he grows from here.
4. Junior Caminero TBR
Hit 40/45 Raw Power 70/80 Game Power 60/65 Field 40/45 Throw 50/50 Speed 50/55 Age: 20 Position: 3B/OF MLB Debut (Estimation): 2023
It’s rare to see anybody have the raw power to match guys like Judge, Stanton, and Acuna but Caminero will. Even more impressive how gets the power out of his frame. It’s a violent and chaotic swing but it can produce some impressive power numbers. He has an aggressive approach but he has enough power to justify it. He will hit in the middle of the Rays lineup that already Arozarena, B. Lowe, J. Lowe, and Yandy Diaz. Likely an average third baseman at best, he could end up in the outfield where he will be more than capable of holding it down. Caminero could be a big reason why the Rays once again over perform projections.
5. Dylan Crews WAS
Hit 60/65 Raw Power 55/60 Game Power 55/60 Field 65/65 Throw 60/60 Speed 60/60 Age: 21 Position: OF MLB Debut (Estimation): 2024
The second overall pick in last year’s draft, Crews possess an above average tool at everything. Crews doesn’t have any major flaws but he showed some swing decision issues and hit the ball on the ground a little too much during his stint in AA. Still, Crews can go get a baseball in centerfield and has a plus arm. The biggest concern for Crews is less about him and more about the system around him. The Nationals haven’t developed a well above average MLB hitter since Juan Soto and let’s be honest, it’s hard to mess up Juan Soto. Are they the team to help him reach his massive potential? That remains to be seen after some of the changes they’ve made in their front office.
6. Evan Carter TEX
Hit 50/50 Raw Power 40/45 Game Power 45/45 Field 55/55 Throw 45/45 Speed 65/65 Age: 20 Position: MIF MLB Debut (Estimation): 2024
It’s hard to find a person who had a better year than Evan Carter. A shocking pick in the 2020 draft, Carter made his debut in 2023 and was an integral part to the World Series run for the Rangers. Carter doesn’t possess the power of some the other prospects in the top five here, but he has an unmatched eye and may lead the league in OBP a few times in his career. Pair that with a solid power tool, good hit tool, and a great glove in center field, it’s easy to see why he’s had such a meteoric rise. Carter’s defense also allows the Rangers to move Langford to a corner spot comfortably and gives them a demonic outfield of Langford, Carter, and Garcia.
7. James Wood WAS
Hit 40/50 Raw Power 65/75 Game Power 55/60 Field 50/50 Throwing 50/50 Speed 55/50 Age 21 Position: OF MLB Debut (Estimation): 2025
The prize of the trade return for Juan Soto, Wood saw his hit tool fall back a little bit this year as the strikeouts increased. The raw power is still elite and the potential of being 30/30 guy still remains for him. Though, given his size, Wood will likely never reach that stolen base total as he tries to take care of his body moving forward. The defense is still going to be good in the corners and when paired with Crews in center, they should be a formidable combo in the outfield. Like Crews, his issues aren’t totally a reflection of him, more of the organization he plays for.
8. Roman Anthony BOS
Hit 45/55 Raw Power 55/65 Game Power 45/60 Field 50/50 Throwing 55/55 Speed 40/40 Age 19 MLB Debut (Estimation): 2025
Few players did more for themselves to vault up prospects lists than Roman Anthony in 2023. He dominated High-A and earned a promotion to AA at the end of the year. Anthony is going to whiff at the big-league level but he’s going to pair it with good swing decisions and the raw power shows flashes of being a potential 25+ home run candidate. Anthony needs to hit lefties better as he moves up the ranks but given the progress he made this year, it would not surprise me to see those improvements next year. Where he ends up playing in Fenway over the next few years will be interesting to watch as he’s not a plus runner but he is a solid defender. The Red Sox have often been touting Marcelo Mayer as the future, but Roman Anthony is the king of this system.
9. Jackson Merrill SDP
Hit 50/60 Raw Power 55/55 Game Power 45/50 Field 50/55 Throwing 55/55 Speed 50/50 Age 20 Position: SS MLB Debut (Estimation): 2025
Jackson Merrill coming off another full season in the Padres system reaching the AA level. He consistently smokes the ball with above average bat speed and groundball rate that slowly dwindled as the season went on reaching pretty solid levels. There are questions if he can ever put the ball in the air enough to reach the upper level HR totals that guys with his raw power have but he offers a good floor for a prospect. He swings early and often but he makes a lot of contact to make up for his lack of walks. The defense should stick at shortstop (though they may make him the next Ha-Seong Kim after he was taking balls in the outfield this spring) and he’s a patient/smart baserunner willing to take opportunities where he can.
10. Colson Montgomery CHW
Hit 40/50 Raw Power 55/55 Game Power 45/55 Field 40/45 Throwing 50/50 Speed 40/40 Age 21 Position INF MLB Debut (Estimation): 2025
Not a lot has gone right for the White Sox in recent years but Colson Montgomery is going to be a solid MLB player. Montgomery makes excellent swing decisions and knows the strike zone extremely well. The hit tool needs some work but he should be able to be good enough to produce a .250/350/.450 type line even if the hit tool never fully develops. He can tap into his power a little bit more but the White Sox may have to change philosophies offensively to see it. Montgomery isn’t a flashy athlete but he is a big one and that leads to some questions about his long term fit at shortstop. Knowing the White Sox, they may look to move him to third and he should be able to handle the position.
11. Jackson Jobe DET
Fastball 65/70 Slider 60/60 Cutter 50/55 Changeup 65/65 Command 50/60 Age Position RHP MLB Debut (Estimation): 2024*
The first pitcher to appear on the list and it isn’t Paul Skenes which may surprise some. I like Skenes but I just like Jobe more. The fastball shape needs some fine tuning, something the Tigers have actually gotten better at but he has 2 plus secondaries with a cutter that should continue to help him get lefties out. His changeup is one of the best in all of MiLB imo and could be a legitimate weapon for him. The issue for Jobe has been health. He only threw 64 innings last year but they were some absolutely stellar innings where he struck out 84 batters and only walked 6(!!!). Those are numbers that only seem possible in MLB The Show. Yes, we have to see how he holds up over a full season and that is a valid reason to be lower on him I am than I am but he is the most polished pitching prospect in baseball.
12. Paul Skenes PIT
Fastball 60/70 Slider 70/70 Curveball 50/55 Changeup 45/50 Command 45/55 Age 21 MLB Debut (Estimation): 2024
The first overall pick from last year’s draft, Paul Skenes probably could get outs right now at the MLB level. While he dominated the SEC with a fastball that could touch 102 and sit 98–99 in starts, his slider is the real weapon of his arsenal. Tons of sweep with high velocity, the pitch could immediately be one of the best breaking balls in the whole league. His curveball and changeup have above average shape but he doesn’t have a ton of feel for them. Ultimately, Skenes isn’t higher on this list for two main reasons. The first, he threw a ton last year and more than he ever had before with big spikes in velocity. His health is a giant question heading into the season. Second, his four seam fastball will get pummeled at the MLB level if he doesn’t start to increase the usage of his sinker or develop more feel for the curveball and changeup. The Pirates aren’t exactly known for their pitching development so it remains to be seen if he can reach his demonstrably high ceiling.
13. Ethan Salas SDP
Hit 40/55 Raw Power 50/60 Game Power 35/50 Field 60/70 Throwing 60/60 Speed 40/40 Age 17 Position C MLB Debut (Estimation): 2025
Making your AA debut at 17 is impressive even if Salas didn’t perform that well at the level. The Padres have been aggressive with their promotion of Salas and he looked the part in his stint in Low-A. His numbers won’t jump off the page but a .350 OBP and near .500 slugging at that level given his age is a good sign for his future at the plate. The power is there and the hit tool should be more than good enough to elevate his game power over the years to come. Salas is going to be a defensive monster though with well above average skills at every facet of the game behind the dish. He gives a solid target and has smooth hands to receive pitches in and out of the zone. The Padres have not been committed to a long-term catcher in recent years and Salas’ future behind the dish is a big reason why.
14. Jordan Lawlar ARZ
Hit 45/50 Raw Power 50/55 Game Power 50/55 Field 50/50 Throwing 50/50 Speed 70/70 Age 21 MLB Debut (Estimation): 2023
Lawlar was the 6th overall pick in the 2021 draft and his definitely lived up to that billing. His performance at the plate in 2023 vaulted him up several lists and even into the show for a small stint. He made some good adjustments in his swing to be able to lift the ball a little more while still maintaining some above average bat speed. He can be beat in the zone and the strikeouts will be a part of his game because of it, but he does enough everywhere else to make up for it. There were some questions about his arm in the past but he put those to rest this past year and should be an average shortstop at the big league level defensively. Though given his speed and instincts, it’s not hard to see how he could become a plus shortstop. Lawlar went 33/37 in stolen bases at AA last year, showing off an ability to pick his spots wisely on the basepaths. He should be in contention for several stolen base titles for years to come.
15. Samuel Basallo BAL
Hit 50/60 Raw Power 65/70 Game Power 60/65 Field 35/40 Throwing 65/65 Speed 40/40 Age 19 Position C/1B MLB Debut (Estimation): 2026
The Orioles have had the top prospect three years in a row and it’s not impossible for Basallo to be the next guy on that list. The offensive profile is outstanding with near elite swing decisions paired with tons of power and great feel for the barrel. Basallo will be a juggernaut offensively as a steady 30 home run threat for years to come. The problem is that he is more than likely not going to stick at catcher. While he does have a rocket arm, he is stiff behind the plate and lacks good feel to receive pitches on the edges of the zone. It’s possible for him to get better behind the dish, but I’m not sure Baltimore needs him to be depending on their long term situation with Adley Rustchman. It’d be a waste to put him at first base but he doesn’t have the athleticism to go to third or the outfield. Still, the bat will play in the middle of the lineup.
16. Walker Jenkins MIN
Hit 35/55 Raw Power 65/70 Game Power 40/60 Field 40/50 Throwing 50/50 Speed 50/50 Age 19 Position OF MLB Debut (Estimation) 2026
Jenkins was the fifth overall pick by the Minnesota Twins in this past year’s draft and much like other top picks in this draft, Jenkins did a lot to raise his stock. He seemed to improve his hit tool quite a bit as the swing and miss that that was supposedly a large part of his game was not a problem in his brief stints in pro-ball. He showed great ability to adjust the barrel in the zone and still showed flashes of the power that made Minnesota draft him in the fifth spot. He should be able to handle one of the corner outfield spots with plenty of ability but may seem some time in center field which isn’t too big of an issue. He needs some work on the base paths but that’s not what he’s there to do. He is there to hit the ball hard a lot and he should be more than capable of doing so.
17. Jasson Domínguez NYY
Hit 45/55 Raw Power 65/70 Game Power 55/60 Field 50/50 Throwing 60/60 Speed 55/50 Age 21 Position OF MLB Debut (Estimation) 2023
The Martian landed in 2023 to the surprise of baseball fans across the world. While the Yankees were massively disappointing in 2023, it did push them to bring up Dominguez for a September call up. His small stint before a torn UCL would end his season was magnificent. There has been a lot of prospect fatigue around Dominguez after being hyped up as the next coming of Mickey Mantle. He is not that, but he is a 30–30 threat who can be an average defender in centerfield. With the emergence of Spencer Jones however, the Yankees may be able to afford moving Dominguez into one of the corner OF spots where he will almost certainly be a plus defender. Dominguez will return from Tommy John surgery later this year and if he can continue to make strides in his hit tool, the sky is the limit for him.
18. Carson Williams TBR
Hit 30/40 Raw Power 65/65 Game Power 50/60 Field 60/60 Throwing 65/65 Speed 55/55 Age 20 Position MIF MLB Debut (Estimation 2025)
If you like extreme profiles, then Carson Williams is the guy for you. The hit tool leaves a fair amount to be desired as he runs extremely whiff and k rates for his age/level. He did get better in this area in 2023, but it’s still a noticeable concern. However, few middle infield prospects possess the sheer raw power that Williams does. Pair that with a smooth lefty swing that should be able to maximize that power to the tune of 20–25 home runs a year, Williams offers a very unique skillset. He may never be the best defender at shortstop but he will be thought of as one of the best out there. Think of a .230/.320/480 type hitter playing above average defense at shortstop at his peak, that’s a pretty good player.
19. Coby Mayo BAL
Hit 50/50 Raw Power 65/65 Game Power 60/60 Field 45/45 Throwing 55/55 Speed 45/45 Age 22 Position INF MLB Debut (Estimation) 2024
Imagine having an infield of Coby Mayo, Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday, and Heston Kjerstad with Adley Rustchman behind the dish. Well, that may be a reality soon enough for the Orioles. Mayo looks the part of a middle of the order masher. The Orioles do what they do, improved his swing decisions, and got him to pull the ball in the air more. He should be a threat to make the team out of camp or at least early in the year. Mayo’s big issue is he’s not much of a defender over at third base or first base. His value is going to come primarily from his plus power which means, he could very well be trade point for a starter at some point this year. If he remains in Baltimore, he may be spending some time at AAA until they can figure out where he should play.
20. Noelvi Marté CIN
Hit 55/55 Raw Power 65/65 Game Power 60/60 Field 45/45 Throwing 60/60 Speed 70/70 Age 22 Position INF MLB Debut (Estimation) 2023
If you want a prospect who is going to give you a great floor, Noelvi Marte is a great choice. He debuted in 2023 to some BABIP fueled success but Marte hits the ball plenty hard to contend as a guy who can run high BABIPs with success. He is also playing most of his game in Great American Ball Park, so his batted ball data suggests he’s likely able to maintain a strong performance for years to come. He makes ok swing decisions but he makes a lot of contact to justify it. Given his great speed, you’d like to see him run more on the base paths but it’s never been a massive part of his game. Marte should slide in at third base and be ok over there. It’s not going to be amazing but he should be ok enough to justify playing him there, though a trip to the outfield may be worth it for him. Still, Marte presents a solid foundation of skills that will lead to him being a good player for a long time in Cincinnati.
21. Peter Crow-Armstrong CHC
Hit 40/50 Raw Power 45/45 Game Power 40/45 Field 80/80 Throwing 60/60 Speed 60/60 Age 21 Position CF MLB Debut (Estimation) 2023
After making his big league debut in 2023, and with Cody Bellinger seemingly not set to return, Peter Crow-Armstrong is going to be the opening day centerfielder for the Chicago Cubs. PCA can go get a baseball better than anybody on this list. He will contend for gold and platinum gloves right away which gives him a remarkably high floor. The questions about his bat have lingered and showed up in his brief debut in the show. While he swings the bat with some quickness, he doesn’t do a good job adjusting his swing through the zone. There are places you can beat him. Add in that he was chasing more out of the zone at the upper levels, there are questions about the sustainability of his offense. At worst though, he could be a slightly worse version of Kevin Keirmaier which is still a pretty good player.
22. Hurston Waldrep ATL
Fastball 60/60 Slider 65/65 Splitter 70/75 Command 40/55 Age 21 Position RHP MLB Debut (Estimation) 2024
Remember when this guy fell in the draft? Yeah, not sure what teams were thinking there! Waldrep was one of my favorite arms in the whole draft. He can touch 100 mph but sits mid 90’s with pretty good shape. His slider is a gyro variety that can reach upper 80’s and could even get to low 90’s with the right coaching. The splitter/changeup however is one of the best single pitches in this list. It falls off the table and hitters have little to no chance of hitting it. His mechanics needs some tightening as he tends to fall off arms side too much causing issues with his command but Waldrep’s ceiling is comparable to the likes of Skenes and Jobe. You’ll be kicking yourself for years when this guy dominates your team that picked ahead of Atlanta in the draft.
23. Matt Shaw CHC
Hit 50/55 Raw Power 55/60 Game Power 50/55 Field 45/45 Throwing 45/45 Speed 50/50 Age 22 Position INF MLB Debut (Estimation) 2025
Drafted 13th in this past year’s draft, the Cubs may have gotten one of the most polished hitters in the draft. He entered pro-ball and didn’t miss a beat after his successful season at Maryland. Shaw swings with a vengeance, hitting the ball hard with a swing that should be able to put the ball in the air frequently. The downside of that is he swings too much at times and could benefit from becoming a little more selective. He doesn’t whiff enough for it to be an issue but only walking 5% of the time does open him up to more variance. He is likely not going to stick at shortstop but could be the third baseman of the future for the Cubs.
24. Ricky Tiedemann TOR
Fastball 65/65 Slider 60/70 Changeup 40/45 Command 50/55 Age 21 Position LHP MLB Debut (Estimation) 2024
Juco guys will always have my heart and Ricky Tiedemann is the crown jewel of former JUCO prospects. The fastball is the calling card with a mid 90’s offering that plays up due to his plus carry. The slider is a sweeper that could end up better than the fastball with a little extra velo. The pitch creates some tough swings out of both sided hitters and he has good command of the pitch. His changeup is at best an average pitch but he doesn’t have the feel for it to locate it consistently. Tiedemann’s problem is just health. He has had arm problems in back to back seasons and hasn’t thrown over 100 innings yet. If he wants to rise the ranks to be grouped with the guys in front of him, he just needs to stay healthy.
25. Colt Keith DET
Hit 60/60 Raw Power 60/60 Game Power 55/55 Field 45/45 Throwing 50/50 Speed 40/40 Age 22 Position 2B/3B MLB Debut (Estimation) 2024
Colt Keith inked himself a nice extension with the Tigers this off-season and is set to be the opening day 2B for the team. Keith is projected to be an above average hitter in his first full season. Keith will pull the ball in the air a lot and doesn’t have the normal whiff issues that come with that kind of approach. He should provide power in the middle of the Tigers lineup that is on the come up. Keith will not be a gold glove caliber fielder or a must watch baserunner. The hope for him is to be average enough at both, which may not happen but he is too good of a hitter to deny everyday opportunities.
26. Max Clark DET
Hit 30/60 Raw Power 45/55 Game Power 30/50 Fielding 50/55 Throwing 55/60 Speed 65/65 Age 19 Position OF MLB Debut (Estimation) 2026
The top high-school bat in the draft, there were rumors of Clark potentially being the first pick of the draft. He ended up third with Detroit and there is a lot to like in his profile. He will be a contact driven hitter most likely with enough power to push the 20 home run mark consistently. He will have to show that he can handle upper level off-speed and breaking stuff but he hasn’t shown signs that will be an issue. He is a top-tier athlete and should be able to patrol centerfield in the future while being a regular threat to run on the base paths.
27. Chase DeLatuer CLE
Hit 50/50 Raw Power 50/55 Game Power 40/45 Fielding 50/50 Throwing 55/55 Speed 55/55 Age 22 Position OF MLB Debut (Estimation) 2025
The left-handed Hunter Pence, Chase DeLatuer finally got healthy this year and raked across three different levels in his return from injury. It doesn’t look like it should work and old school scouts may not love what they see, but the ball jumps off the bat and he hits upper tier stuff pretty well. It doesn’t have to look good it just has to get the job done type mentality. He is likely to shift into a corner outfield spot as he continues to move up the levels but he should hold his own out there. DeLatuer has the chance to be the kind of impact bat paired with Jose Ramirez to make another postseason run in Cleveland.
28. Cade Horton CHC
Fastball 60/60 Slider 65/65 Curveball 40/45 Changeup 35/45 Command 50/55 Age 22 Position RHP MLB Debut (Estimation) 2024
Cade Horton had an excellent year in 2023. 117 strikeouts to 27 walks in 88 innings, Horton can punch tickets with the best of them. His arsenal is headlined by a mid to upper 90’s fastball that the Cubs made some adjustments to from his college days to get more out of it. His slider is his main out pitch and will be one of the best in baseball. If he wants to make it as a starter he needs to the curveball and the changeup to become average offerings to be able to get both sides of the plate out and let him work deeper into games. The Cubs have been careful in their handling of him which shows they are committed to make him start because he could get outs in the bullpen right now.
29. Jett Williams NYM
Hit 50/60 Raw Power 35/45 Game Power 40/45 Fielding 50/50 Throwing 45/45 Speed 60/60 Age 20 Position UTL MLB Debut (Estimation) 2025
Jett Williams is a unique prospect in a variety of ways. The obvious is that you don’t see guys his size make the kind of impact on the ball that he does. He doesn’t have amazing raw power but average raw power is going to play up because of his great feel for the barrel and a smooth swing. He has an incredible knowledge of the strike zone but can be too passive at times. As he moves up, I expect that to iron itself out. He is not a shortstop long term but he should stick at second base or could even see some time in centerfield as well. I expect him to be plus at either spot but would prefer to see him at second.
30. Spencer Jones NYY
Hit 35/45 Raw Power 80/80 Game Power 50/70 Fielding 60/55 Throwing 65/65 Speed 60/50 Age 22 Position OF MLB Debut (Estimation) 2025
Arguably the biggest boom or bust prospect on this list. Spencer Jones has the raw power that will lead you to believe he could hit 40 home runs a year. Now imagine that paired with plus defense in centerfield and the ability to steal 40 bases a year. His ceiling is an MVP level talent. His floor is never making it beyond 500 career AB’s. Jones is going to swing and miss, but he’s been slowly but surely cutting down on it since being drafted. He needs to continue to adjust his bat path to leverage the ball in the air more, which is difficult change to make. However, he is showing signs that it can be done.
31. Adael Amador COL
Hit 60/70 Raw Power 40/45 Game Power 35/45 Fielding 50/50 Throwing 45/45 Speed 55/55 Age 20 Position MIF MLB Debut (Estimation) 2025
Adael Amador was on a red hot streak before an unfortunate hamate injury sidelined him for a bit. He wasn’t quite the same when he came but that’s not expected. Amadaor swings hard and makes a lot of contact for a guy who swings the way he does. I expect some struggles to continue into next year but long term he should be a contact driven hitter who should have enough power to hit double digit home runs. He is not going to stick at shortstop which is ok because he can form a remarkable double play combo with Ezequiel Tovar for years to come in Colorado.
32. Drew Gilbert NYM
Hit 50/60 Raw Power 45/50 Game Power 40/45 Fielding 55/55 Throwing 60/60 Speed 50/50 Age 23 Position OF MLB Debut (Estimation) 2025
The Tennessee standout Drew Gilbert was the prize return for Justin Verlander at this past deadline. Gilbert spent the bulk of the year raking after he worked through an elbow injury in the middle of the season. Gilbert is similar to Williams, undersized hit first type hitter who has good feel to leverage his raw power into average game power. He doesn’t have quite the hit tool that Williams does but he is already a plus outfielder and could be the one to take the centerfield job long term for the Mets. Gilbert is the poster boy for the Mets rejoiced system, and could be one of the leaders in their next wave of stars.
33. Jeferson Quero MIL
Hit 40/45 Raw Power 55/55 Game Power 45/50 Fielding 70/70 Throwing 65/65 Speed 40/40 Age 21 Position C MLB Debut (Estimation) 2024
The Milwaukee Brewers have another defensive stud behind the dish? Milwaukee’s reputation for developing solid defenders behind the dish continues to grow as Quero comes up. Smooth and fast hands behind the plate, Quero will be an everyday catcher with a lively throwing arm. At the plate, he showed some real gains in raw and game power this year. The hit tool isn’t quite good enough to know if he’ll be a true above average hitter at catcher but he is so good defensively that he you will be happy with an average bat behind the dish. He looked poised to make his debut this year but the signing of Gary Sanchez might delay that.
34. Kyle Harrison SFG
Fastball 50/55 Slurve 40/45 Changeup 45/45 Slider 40/50 Command 40/50 Age 22 Position LHP MLB Debut (Estimation) 2023
Kyle Harrison probably wouldn’t have been eligible for this list if he hadn’t gotten hurt last year. Harrison ended up making his debut in late August and showed a mix bag of results. His fastball gets solid results and has decent shape at solid velocity. Not a giant fan of his slurve and he struggled to generate the kind of whiffs with the pitch that he needs. He doesn’t have great feel for his changeup and his slider needs to continue to develop but I like that pitch far more than his slurve. Harrison’s main issue is command. He didn’t walk too many hitters at the MLB level but it came at a cost of stuff and whiffs, the kind of change I’m not sure will benefit him in the long run.
35. Cole Young SEA
Hit 55/65 Raw Power 40/45 Game Power 35/40 Fielding 60/60 Throwing 50/50 Speed 50/50 Age 20 Position MIF MLB Debut (Estimation) 2025
I am probably higher on Cole Young than most for two main reasons. I think his ability to control the strike zone could lead him to having an OBP that pushes .400 regularly and that he is more likely to stick at shortsto. First, Young is contact driven hitter who doesn’t have a ton of power but he leverages his short and strong swing to put the ball roughly where he wants. It’s also a swing that could easily be altered into lifting the ball pull-side for more power. His defense I think is well above average even if the arm might have some issues to where I think he could be a good shortstop.
36. Brooks Lee MIN
Hit 55/55 Raw Power 55/55 Game Power 50/50 Fielding 50/50 Throwing 50/50 Speed 50/50 Age 23 Position INF MLB Debut (Estimation) 2024
The 10th pick out of Cal Poly and son of the head coach of the Mustangs Larry Lee, Brooks Lee is a sure thing to be an everyday infielder for the Minnesota Twins. He is probably going to hover around a .280/.360/.450 type line and play solid defense at either third or second base. Lee’s emergence probably made the Twins more comfortable with trading Jorge Polanco. Lee hasn’t been moved off shortstop yet but his average glove at shortstop will play better at third. He’s had some issues with lefties but platoon splits can be fluky over a given sample. The former college standout can usher in a new wave of Twins prospects in a division that is begging for any team to try.
37. Curtis Mead TBR
Hit 60/60 Raw Power 55/55 Game Power 50/50 Fielding 45/45 Throwing 35/35 Speed 40/40 Age 23 Position INF MLB Debut (Estimation) 2023
The Rays called up Curtis Mead alongside Caminero at the end of the season and Mead’s results were ok. He has all the tools to be another capable middle of the order bat for the Rays but he started to chase a little more and pressed for contact rather leaning into his potential power profile. Previous injuries could’ve had an impact but because of the lack of defense in his game, Mead needs to be able to hit for some sort of slug to maintain a spot in the lineup. The Rays will likely look to move on from Yandy Diaz at some point, not because he’s bad but that’s just what they do. That could open a spot for him at first base in the long run. Still, the offensive upside remains quite high if he leans into his damage profile.
38. Heston Kjerstad BAL
Hit 55/55 Raw Power 60/60 Game Power 55/55 Fielding 45/45 Throwing 45/45 Speed 40/40 Age 25 Position UTL MLB Debut (Estimation) 2023
After missing time with myocarditis, Kjerstad was able to make his big league debut in 2023. The former 2nd overall pick can be a monster playing in left-handed friendly AL East parks for the bulk of his games. He has a well above average hit tool but he can whip his bat around with some serious strength making him a serious 30 home run threat. He is not going to stick at third base and his defense at first base still needs some work as well but they were willing to float him in the outfield and he can handle that just fine. The Orioles have been unwilling to move him and you can understand why, slotting him in with the rest of the Orioles core lineup could produce a tough lineup for opposing pitchers to navigate. However, if the defense never improves, could see Kjerstad fetch quite the return on the mound for the Orioles.
39. Andrew Painter PHI
Fastball 70/70 Slider 70/70 Changeup 55/55 Command 55/55 Age 20 Position RHP MLB Debut (Estimation) 2025
Andrew Painter is one of best liveliest arms when he’s healthy. He has two elite pitches in his fastball and slider that have good shape and great velo. His changeup is a tick behind those pitches but he still shows feel for it and he can spot up all three pitches when he needs to. One could argue he is the most talented pitching prospect in baseball. So why is he not ranked higher? Well, Dombrowski said he would miss all of 2024 after missing all of 2023. It’s hard for me to rank him much higher than this when he could go two years without facing hitters in a game and it’s no guarantee that the stuff remains the same. The risk is high here as with every pitching prospect but it’ll be a long time till we get answers about his status.
40. Marcelo Mayer BOS
Hit 45/55 Raw Power 55/55 Game Power 50/50 Fielding 55/55 Throwing 50/50 Speed 50/50 Age 21 Position SS MLB Debut (Estimation) 2025
It was an up and then down year for Marcelo Mayer. Mayer looked to be living up to the billing as a top pick in the early parts of the year in high A. His smooth swing that produces ideal launch angles with plus bat speed was on full display. Then he got to AA and struggled immensely eventually being shut down in August with a shoulder injury. It is very possible that the shoulder injury greatly affected his performance at AA but Mayer struggled with off-speed and breaking stuff down in the zone. Unable to resist swing swinging at it and barely doing any kind of damage with it. Something that has undone other prospects in the past but Mayer has time to fix this issue and he discovered it early, which could be both good and bad.
41. Drew Thorpe SDP
Fastball 45/50 Changeup 70/70 Slider 50/55 Command 60/60 Age 23 Position RHP MLB Debut (Estimation) 2024
The breakout pitching prospect of 2023, Drew Thorpe has a serious chance to make the club out of camp. Thorpe was one of the headliners in the trade that sent Juan Soto to the Yankees and it was easy to see why. Across two levels and almost 140 innings, Thorpe struck out over a 30% of hitters he faced while walking less than 7% of hitters. He’s done it primarily through a devastating changeup that hitters had no chance of touching that he could put anywhere he wanted. The pitch is one of the best single pitches in all of minor league baseball. The fastball saw a couple ticks increase as the year went on and he will need another big boost to help hitters stay off the changeup. His slider continues to improve as well and should be a plus offering as time goes on. San Diego has a potential future front-line starter in Thorpe.
42. Dylan Lesko SDP
Fastball 55/65 Changeup 65/65 Curveball 50/55 Command 45/55 Age 20 Position RHP MLB Debut (Estimation) 2025
Making his debut after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2022, Lesko showed the signs of the brilliant prep arm he once was. A lively fastball that gets good carry and is effective up in the zone. His changeup may be just as good as his teammates Drew Thorpe’s one day. His curveball is a true 12–6 variety and he uses it in a variety of counts. Pitchers coming off TJ are likely to have command issues and Lesko was no different, but since he’s young, it’s unclear if that command will ever get marginally better. Given the fact he was known to have plus command in the past, I see it returning to that point. The Padres will likely move slow with him as there’s no reason to rush. He could be one of best pitching prospects in baseball this time next year.
43. Owen Caissie CHC
Hit 40/45 Raw Power 65/65 Game Power 55/60 Defense 55/55 Throwing 60/60 Speed 50/50 Age 21 Position OF MLB Debut (Estimation) 2025
After a very rough April, Caissie started to settle in as the season went on. The strikeout rate began to fall after an adjustment in his approach. While the strikeouts are likely always going to be a part of his game, you can live with a 30% strikeout rate if he continues to hit for power and get on base at the rate he does. Caissie has a powerful left-handed swing that should be able to produce some strong home run seasons in Wrigley, something the Cubs may need right now. He moves better in the outfield than one would expect and has a great throwing arm, he is your prototypical power corner outfielder with good defense. To get to a higher spot on this list, Caissie will have to continue to cut down the swing and miss while not making an impact on his damage potential and make better decisions on the base paths.
44. Jacob Misorowski MIL
Fastball 80/80 Slider 60/60 Cutter 55/55 Curveball 45/50 Changeup 45/45 Command 30/40 Age 21 Position RHP MLB Debut (Estimation) 2025
One of the most impressive fastballs we have ever seen from a pitching prospect. Jacob Misiorowski easily dials it up to 100 when he needs with some insane movement profiles. He also features potentially four plus pitches with three of them already being plus plus. The problem is simple, he cannot throw a lot of strikes. He’s never had a walk rate below 11% and thus he struggles to work in any kind of length. The Brewers have made progress in his command but it may not be enough for him to ever make it as a starter. The Brewers could put him on the opening day roster as a reliever and he’d instantly compete with Devin Williams for the best reliever on the staff. I don’t think they should give up just yet, but the most likely outcome here is a heavy stuff over command reliever.
45. Colton Cowser BAL
Hit 45/45 Raw Power 50/50 Game Power 50/50 Defense 55/55 Throwing 55/55 Speed 50/50 Age 23 Position OF MLB Debut (Estimation) 2023
Colton Cowser put up a monster year at AAA and was called up at the end of the season and barely played. He admittedly, didn’t perform when he did play but it’s hard to read into the kind of inconsistency in playing time. Cowser makes good swing decisions but not as good as some of the guys in front of him on this list. Cowser above average power but not quite as good as one might think. He has the same fatal flaw that Marcelo Mayer seems to have, an inability to hit an off-speed pitch at the bottom of the zone. The difference is Cowser didn’t seem to discover that until he reached the upper levels, which gives him less of a chance of fixing it. He’s still pretty good in the outfield there are more groundballs and strikeouts in his profile than some of his teammates above him on this list.
46. Chase Hampton NYY
Fastball 65/70 Curveball 55/60 Slider 55/60 Cutter 50/50 Changeup 40/45 Command 45/55 Age 22 Position RHP MLB Debut (Estimation) 2025
“I’m trying to strike everybody out” says Chase Hampton and strikeout a lot of batters he did. Hampton had 145 of them across two levels and threw over 100 innings in a season for the first time in his life. Hampton’s ceiling is higher than you’d expect from a guy who only sits 92–94. Part of that is because the shape of his fastball is borderline elite, getting close to 20 inches of IVB. Pair that with good secondary stuff that the Yankees have a knack for making even better, Hampton has the makings of a front line starting pitcher if he can find just a little bit more velo. Another part of why his ceiling is so high is because of the Yankees ability to make guys like him better. Hampton wavered as the season went on but fatigue might’ve been setting in as he was in uncharted territory. Now, with a full season under his belt, he could be in contention for a late call up this year.
47. Harry Ford SEA
Hit 45/50 Raw Power 45/50 Game Power 40/45 Fielding 50/55 Throwing 50/50 Speed 55/55 Age 21 Position C MLB Debut (Estimation) 2025
Sir Harry Ford was one of the stars of the WBC in 2023 and followed it up with a good campaign at High-A for the Mariners. Ford is patience personified at the plate, always look for his pitch to do damage on when he gets it. That approach leads to some potential in the OBP department but as pitchers throw more strikes as he moves up, he could get exposed for being too passive. Still, Ford is a tremendous athlete that at the very least, he should have a spot somewhere on the field. I still like his odds to be a catcher as he showed some improvements back there and there’s no indication Seattle wants to move him. Ford reminds me of the Russell Martin ilk. He may not be that good defensively but he can swipe bags and is patient at the plate.
48. Marco Luciano SFG
Hit 35/40 Raw Power 75/75 Game Power 65/65 Fielding 50/50 Throwing 60/60 Speed 45/45 Age 22 Position SS MLB Debut (2023)
The Giants unexpectedly called up Marco Luciano last year after an injury to Brandon Crawford. Luciano would hit the injury list himself for a few weeks but did return to the Giants down the stretch. His raw power is impressive and something the Giants absolutely need. However, Luciano swings and misses inside the strike zone a lot. A dangerous amount almost. He doesn’t chase a ton, raised his walk rate this year but also raised his strikeout rate. He would have to have some seriously good fortune to hit .250 in the big leagues but you don’t get infield prospects with his kind of power all that often. He looked good enough at shortstop in his small stint there but may still eventually move to third base. The giants have looked to acquire a shortstop but have been unable to do so, maybe that will get rewarded with Luciano emerging as a dependable glove from there.
49. Dalton Rushing LAD
Hit 35/45 Raw Power 65/65 Game Power 55/60 Fielding 45/45 Throwing 55/55 Speed 40/40 Age 23 Position C MLB Debut (Estimation) 2025
Dalton Rushing has the potential to be the next great Dodger catching prospect. Rushing is a power over hit type hitter and a throw over field type defender behind the dish. His line would have you believe he is headed towards being a true outcomes type hitter and that’s definitely a possibility. Yet, with the way he hits the ball, I expect there to be some positive BABIP regression in his future, not enough to an above average hit tool, but enough to get to average. He will smack some dingers in Dodgers stadium however. Defensively, Rushing needs to show some improvement in framing and blocking. His throwing arm will be good enough to keep runners honest but he’s a little stiff and as long as the robo umps never come, framing is still the most important job of a catcher.
50. Kyle Manzardo CLE
Hit 50/50 Raw Power 50/50 Game Power 55/55 Fielding 45/45 Throwing 45/45 Speed 40/40 Age 23 Position 1B MLB Debut (Estimation) 2024
The return for Aaron Civale from the Tampa Bay Rays, Manzardo had a very strange 2023. Perhaps plagued by a shoulder injury in the first half, it looked like he was regressing in a lot of bad ways. Then once he got traded, Manzardo seemed to go right back to his old ways of hitting. He is more of a hit over raw power type hitter but he does a really good job of leveraging his swing to pullside elevate to make his power play up. In that short porch type right field in Cleveland, he could be the perfect fit. He’s going to be the opening day first baseman for the Guardians and he could be a nice fixture next to Josh Naylor, Jose Ramirez, and Andres Gimenez in that lineup that could use some pop.
51. Colt Emerson SEA
Hit 40/60 Raw Power 35/50 Game Power 30/45 Fielding 50/55 Throwing 45/50 Speed 55/55 Age 18 Position SS MLB Debut (Estimation) 2026
Colt Emerson was selected 22nd overall by the Mariners in this past year’s draft and the sample size is small on the young shortstop but the early return are good. He hit the ball with a little more authority than expected and showed well above average plate discipline. A short swing from the left side, Emerson was able to make a lot of contact and could project to be a potential .300 hitter in the future. Emerson showed some real aggressiveness on the basepaths as well, swiping 8 bags on 8 attempts. Emerson can rise quickly on this list as he continues to play in the lower levels.
52. Tyler Black MIL
Hit 55/55 Raw Power 40/40 Game Power 35/35 Fielding 45/45 Throwing 45/45 Speed 60/60 Age 23 Position UTL MLB Debut (Estimation) 2024
Tyler Black is slated to play some sort of utility role for the Brewers this year and he’ll take his plus hit tool with him to Milwaukee. Black makes good swing decisions and hits a lot of line drives in the gap. With his speed, Black could be contending for the triples leaders for years to come. However, his lack of power may hamper his ceiling. Black is fine at third base, good enough to be below average there but not bad enough to be unplayable. He’s played some time in the outfield but at the moment, that position is crowded for Milwaukee. Black will run wild on the bases so we could see some backup utility roles and late game pinch-running opportunities to start till a role becomes clear.
53. Josue De Paula LAD
Hit 40/55 Raw Power 40/55 Game Power 30/50 Fielding 35/45 45/45 Speed 45/45 Age 18 Position OF MLB Debut (Estimation) 2027
Josue De Paula is a young athletic corner outfielder who’s beginning to shows signs of a potential boom. He has an advanced feel for the barrel for someone his age, able to make contact on a variety of pitch types. He also has a strong foundational knowledge of the strike zone and makes solid decisions within the zone. The power output hasn’t been there yet but there are signs that he can make some strides there. It’s a big year for him, after slugging under .400 last year he needs to start making those strides into a reality as he starts to fill out his body. De Paula has a swing that everyone can appreciate, but it’s time for that swing to start showing some results.
54. Kyle Teel BOS
Hit 50/55 Raw Power 40/45 Game Power 35/40 Fielding 55/55 Throwing 50/50 Speed 50/50 Age 22 Position C MLB Debut (Estimation) 2025
Kyle Teel continued his fantastic 2023 into AA. The first round pick of the Red Sox in the 2023 draft Teel will stick behind the dish no matter what. While I would be quite surprised by a debut this year, Teel might already be a better option defensively than anything the Red Sox have on the current roster. Offensively, he is a hit over power type that can handle himself in the zone and knows not to expand out of it. There is a little concern over the lack of power there and how it might age, but at the very worst, I see an average hitting catcher with plus defense and smart base running. His ceiling may be limited but Teel is a pretty safe bet to make the big leagues.
55. Michael Busch CHC
Hit 55/55 Raw Power 60/60 Game Power 55/55 Fielding 40/40 Throwing 40/40 Speed 45/45 Age 26 Position UTL MLB Debut (Estimation) 2023
Michael Busch has finally found the playing time that many fans have been asking for. It just so happens to be on another team. Busch was traded to the Chicago Cubs this off-season and currently slots in at first or third base for the team. Busch had impressive numbers for multiple years at the upper levels of the minors but never really found an opportunity with the Dodgers. Some concerns over his ability to play the field kept the Dodgers from ever giving him a real chance and those concerns don’t go away despite some real talent at the plate. Busch’s only major flaw at the plate is that he is a little too passive. If that develops into a legitimate problem, has yet to be seen.
56. Brady House WAS
Hit 45/50 Raw Power 55/60 Game Power 45/55 Fielding 50/50 Throwing 60/60 Speed 45/45 Age 20 Position 3B MLB Debut (Estimation) 2025
Brady House seemed to bounce back from an injury plagued 2022. House had almost 400 plate appearances last year and showed off some emerging power. The question for House is simple, can he not chase enough to be a solid hitter. House loves to swing and definitely does too much of it at times. He makes a good amount of contact but probably not enough to justify swinging as much as he does. There are a lot of moving parts in his swing and he’d likely benefit it from simplifying it. He should be an average defensive third baseman with a strong throwing arm that probably could handle shortstop in a pinch but really shouldn’t be out there over a full season. House isn’t a bad base runner but he is pretty content going base to base as he won’t rack up stolen bases at a high clip.
57. Noah Schultz CHW
Fastball 60/65 Slider 65/70 Changeup 45/50 Command 55/60 Age 20 Position LHP MLB Debut (Estimation) 2026
The White Sox don’t have a ton going for them but hey Noah Schultz has a great ceiling. The lefty from Illinois made his pro debut in 2023 and while the injuries continue to be a concern, he really showed out in his debut. Striking out 30%+ of hitters he faced while only walking six. Sounds great but it was only 27 innings and he faced injury problems after those innings. Still, he varies his sinker and four seam a lot for them to play up but are good on their own. His changeup is an average offering that could get into plus territory depending on how they tweak it. His slider is his money pitch and could get even better if he can add some velocity to it. Again, it’s not a stuff or ceiling issue for Schultz, he just needs to play.
58. Rhett Lowder CIN
Fastball 55/60 Changeup 55/60 Slider 50/60 Age 21 Position RHP MLB Debut (Estimation) 2026
The Wake Forrest standout, Rhett Lowder, is one of the few players to make this list without having a single inning in affiliated ball. Lowder was already a very polished pitcher who only needed a little bit of help with his fastball. He goes to the Cincinnati Reds who have been pretty good at improving fastball shapes, not an easy task, and developing good breaking balls. Lowder’s slider could use some fine tuning but is at worst an average offering to go with a changeup that’s pretty good. He has shown an ability to be made for the moment and someone I think could be a difference maker for the Reds.
59. Robbie Snelling SDP
Fastball 50/55 Breaking Ball 50/50 Changeup 40/45 Command 55/60 Age 20 Position LHP MLB Debut (Estimation) 2025
Robbie Snelling spurned LSU to go to the Padres after being drafted in 2022. Snelling then proceeded to be one of the best pitchers in MiLB in 2023 performance wise. He has a good fastball that can live in the low 90’s with some good vertical break to it. His breaking ball isn’t quite defined in any direction but is visually very appealing. It doesn’t generate as much chase as one would expect but that could be due to the shape of the pitch. His changeup continued to improve throughout the year but it still needs work. Snelling throws a lot of strikes and has advanced maturity for a pitcher his age. Alongside Lesko and Thorpe, the Padres have an incredible trio of pitching prospects.
60. Masyn Winn STL
Hit 40/45 Raw Power 40/40 Game Power 35/35 Fielding 60/65 Throwing 80/80 Speed 70/70 Age 21 Position SS MLB Debut (Estimation) 2023
Masyn Winn can throw baseballs very hard. He’s thrown baseballs over 100 mph across the infield multiple times and it makes for quite the highlight. His defense is his calling card but it’s not quite as good one would expect with that kind of arm and speed. It’ll cleanup over time as he learns to leverage his speed more but he has some improvements to make. He struggled in his short stint in the show but he hit pretty well at the upper levels. Not a lot of power there and the swing decisions are questionable. I’m not as sold on his bat as others are but it’s possible for him to outperform my expectations.
61. Tink Hence
Fastball 50/55 Curveball 60/70 Slider 45/50 Changeup 40/45 Command 45/50 Age 21 Position RHP MLB Debut (Estimation) 2025
Tink Hence was able to nearly double his workload in 2023 from 2022, but still didn’t throw 100 innings in a season. He also, hasn’t throw more than 90 pitches in a start this in his career. The durability issues that entered the season still remain but there’s a lethal pitcher somewhere in there. A low slot heater with good velocity that plays in the zone. His curveball has elite potential while the slider and changeup can be good enough to fill out the arsenal. His command should be good enough to induce some chase on the off-speed stuff but the Cardinals aren’t exactly the org to develop the things Hence needs to improve at. He could rocket up this list or completely fall off it this time next year.
62. Xavier Isaac TBR
Hit 45/55 Raw Power 65/65 Game Power 50/55 Fielding 45/45 Throwing 45/45 Speed 40/45 Age 20 Position 1B MLB Debut (Estimation) 2026
The surprise first round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Rays in 2022, Xavier Isaac looks to be a potential steal of the first round. When you picture power hitting lefty first basemen, Isaac fits that mold to perfection. The swing is pretty and results in some serious pull side damage. He’s shown an advanced hit tool for his age and is primed to start the year in AA. AA is a make or break level for a lot of prospects as it’s arguably the most difficult jump to make in pro-ball. Isaac looks up to the task though as he’s shown some real prowess at the plate. The only reason he’s not higher on this list is because he is likely an average first baseman at best with no real base running value.
63. Emmanuel Rodriguez MIN
Hit 40/45 Raw Power 60/60 Game Power 55/55 Fielding 55/55 Throwing 60/60 Speed 55/55 Age 20 Position OF MLB Debut (Estimation) 2025
It was a tale of two seasons for Emmanuel Rodriguez. The beginning part of the year it seemed he was still searching for some things after an injury in 2022. From June 1st on however, Rodriguez had an impressive .270/.420/.504 line. He’s extremely patient, probably to a fault, but can do damage on pitches he does swing at. He doesn’t make enough contact in the zone for the hit tool to be anything more than average at the moment but the raw power is too good to deny. He’s a plus base runner who should be good enough to stick in centerfield but may go to the corners eventually. Rodriguez is a boom or bust prospect, but the ceiling is fun to dream on.
64. Sebastian Walcott TEX
Hit 30/40 Raw Power 70/80 Game Power 45/60 Fielding 40/50 Throwing 60/60 Speed 55/55 Age 17 Position INF MLB Debut (Estimation) 2027
Speaking of boom or bust, Sebastian Walcott was able to make into affiliate ball this year after an impressive run in the Arizona Complex League. Walcott already has insane raw power for a 17 year old. He’s hit balls over 110 mph and has already shown some ability to elevate. The problem is Walcott will get exposed by improving stuff at each level. His contact rates aren’t great and the swing decisions aren’t immaculate either. The Rangers have had some success improving guys like him but it’s not simple. Walcott needs to continue to work defensively but his arm, like you’d expect, is quite good. Walcott will likely start the year in the lower levels where he will get the chance to iron out his contact issues.
65. Noble Meyer MIA
Fastball 50/60 Slider 45/55 Changeup 40/50 Command 40/50 Age 19 Position RHP MLB Debut (Estimation) 2026
Noble Meyer was selected 10th overall in this past year’s draft and it’s easy to see why. A slender frame that can already reach the upper 90’s with the fastball and a visually appealing breaking ball. The fastball might need to be tweaked or he could add a sinker to help the fastball play up over time. The slider is a little slow but does show some natural sweeper tendencies that could come out more over a larger sample. The changeup is an average offering that could grow into something more over time. Meyer is a pretty standard high pick high school arm and the Marlins have been good with guys like him in the past. He doesn’t have the ace potential other guys on this list do, but I think he should be a capable starting pitcher.
66. Carson Whisenhunt SFG
Fastball 50/55 Changeup 65/65 Curveball 45/45 Command 50/50 Age 23 Position LHP MLB Debut (Estimation) 2025
Another lefty that likes to punch tickets in the Giants system, Carson Whisenhunt has an impressive changeup. It fades arm side in the mid 80’s that is paired with a low 90’s fastball. The fastball changeup combo could probably get major league hitters out right now, but out of the bullpen. The curveball is probably good enough for hitters to honor it, but it’s not good enough to increase its usage to a legitimate third offering. Not to mention, Whisenhunt hasn’t stayed healthy and the Giants seem to treat as a long reliever to try and keep him healthy. He seems destined for the bullpen right now unless something changes but I do really like the fastball/changeup combo.
67. Temarr Johnson PIT
Hit 30/40 Raw Power 60/65 Game Power 50/55 Fielding 50/50 Throwing 50/50 Speed 50/50 Age 19 Position 2B MLB Debut (Estimation) 2026
Temarr Johnson was once thought to be a potential number 1 pick and it’s not hard to see why when you watch him play. The swing is violent and pretty at the same time. Given his approach, it’s a kind of controlled chaos that makes him very intriguing. His problem, like others listed, is an ability to hit off-speed pitches in the zone. Johnson takes violent swings and doesn’t have much adjustability in it. He’s got the right mindset of doing damage as much as possible, but he doesn’t adjust his swing at any point. A fine tuning in his swing or in his approach to try and make a little more contact will do him some good. He makes good swing decisions that would be better if he were a little less passive so the approach doesn’t need a ton of changing but he needs to make more contact.
68. Jared Jones PIT
Fastball 55/55 Slider 50/55 Changeup 45/45 Curveball 40/40 Command 45/50 Age 22 Position RHP MLB Debut (Estimation) 2024
Jared Jones had a promising season in 2023, reaching AAA while throwing over 120 innings. Jones fastball is good enough right now. He can hit triple digits with it early but it fades as his starts go on. He’d be better off sitting 95–96 early in outings to be able to maintain it throughout the start. It’s got enough carry to get guys out at the top of the zone. His slider and changeup are both very firm with his slider being his man whiff pitch. Both could maybe use a little more movement and a little less velo but are good enough to be major league offerings right now. His curveball is inconsistent but he uses it for strikes mainly. Jones just needs to make small tweaks and change how he approaches each start and he may get that chance in the big leagues this year.
69. Jace Jung DET
Hit 50/55 Raw Power 55/55 Game Power 55/55 Fielding 45/45 Throwing 45/45 Speed 40/40 Age 23 Position UTL MLB Debut (Estimation) 2024
Following in the footsteps of his older brother, Jace Jung was a first round pick out of Texas Tech University. Jung doesn’t show the same sort of defensive prowess his older brother does but he has good pullside power and stronger hit tool than you’d expect given the swing and miss. He handled AA pitching no problem in his stint there and has shown a strong knowledge of the strike zone. The problem for Jung is he does not have a position. Colt Keith already signed an extension and is slotted in to play second base, where Jung is probably best as well. Jung isn’t fast enough for the outfield and Spencer Torkelson plays first base. Right now, Jung is blocked but might be good trade bait for a Detroit team that could make a push in that division.
70. Austin Wells NYY
Hit 50/50 Raw Power 60/60 Game Power 55/55 Fielding 50/50 Throwing 45/45 Speed 40/40 Age 24 Position C MLB Debut (Estimation) 2023
Austin Wells has caught a lot of scrutiny over his defense over the years but the former Arizona catcher made his big league debut in 2023 and held his own behind the dish. He showed some good feel for receiving on the arm side corner and the lower part of the zone but needs some work glove side. The arm is still not amazing but he had solid pop times last year despite poor caught stealing numbers. Pitchers liked throwing to him and commended his work ethic. Still, Wells will make his money with the bat. Plus raw power from the left side and good ability to go to all fields with power, Wells should be able to put up 25+ home runs for years to come. He needs to adjust to big league off-speed and not chase as much but this could be an above average offensive catcher with solid defense for years to come.
71. Luisangel Acuña NYM
Hit 50/55 Raw Power 45/50 Game Power 40/45 Fielding 60/60 Throwing 55/55 Speed 65/65 Age 21 Position INF MLB Debut (Estimation) 2025
The younger brother of the NL MVP, Luisangel Acuna is what you’d imagine the typical second baseman to look like. A good glove with a lot of speed who has a knack for putting the ball in play to put pressure on the defense. The problem is that as defenses improve, the hits will come in less bunches. He has average enough raw power to potentially be a double digit home run threat but he doesn’t put the ball in the air enough to leverage it. His brother runs a high groundball rate but also has way better raw power so it works for him. Luisangel doesn’t have that ability and it doesn’t look like it’ll come. Still, he’s going to be stud defensively who can run with reckless abandon on the base paths. It’s hard for him to not at least be serviceable in the big leagues.
72. Kevin Alcántara CHC
Hit 45/55 Raw Power 65/65 Game Power 45/55 Fielding 60/60 Throwing 55/55 Speed 60/60 Age 21 Position OF MLB Debut (Estimation) 2026
It’s been a whirlwind of a prospect life for the young Cubs outfielder. Alcantara was the central piece that sent Anthony Rizzo to the Yankees and while the performance hasn’t lined up yet, the potential is still sky high. He has advanced power for someone his age that gets weighed down by an ok hit tool and a lack of ability to lift the ball consistently. A swing change that could get him in the air more would do him a lot of good and shoot him up the rankings as time went on. He’s still quite fast and quite good in the outfield. He can track baseballs down in centerfield and if he moved to a corner spot may be able to become one of the best corner outfielders in baseball. He hasn’t done enough to fully calm concerns about him not panning out, but there’s good signs that he can become an everyday player.
73. Tommy Troy ARZ
Hit 50/55 Raw Power 55/55 Game Power 50/55 Fielding 50/50 Throwing 55/55 Speed 55/55 Age 22 Position INF MLB Debut (Estimation) 2025
The Stanford standout, Tommy Troy was an intriguing draft choice. He spent most of his time playing all around the diamond for the Cardinal but spent most of his time at shortstop in his pro-debut. Troy is probably an average defensive shortstop in the long term but may be above average at second or third base. His defense won’t be his calling card though as he has some serious pop in that compact frame. Paired with a good hit tool, Troy should be able to turn in a .260/.340/.480 type line in his career. The swing decisions in his small stint at High-A were a little lacking but he made good decisions at Stanford so I expect that to correct itself as times goes on. Troy presents a nice a floor with a good ceiling that can go higher if he finds a way to gain a little more power.
74. Mick Abel PHI
Fastball 65/65 Curveball 60/60 Slider 55/55 Changeup 55/55 Command 40/40 Age 22 Position RHP MLB Debut (Estimation) 2024
Mick Abel reached AAA this year but that feels a little disappointing. Abel has some of the best raw stuff in the league but he loses it quickly as the starts goes on and his command is just not good enough to be a big league starter right now. Abel’s stuff is good enough to justify the “throw it down the middle” approach. The problem is I’m not sure he has good enough feel to just do that. He is more than likely going to end up in the bullpen as the command has just never been there. He does fit the model bullpen type for the Phillies with rocket stuff and not a ton of command. I’d give it another season and let him try to make some starts at the big league level before we get there though.
75. Ryan Clifford NYM
Hit 40/50 Raw Power 65/65 Game Power 60/60 Fielding 35/35 Throwing 45/45 Speed 40/40 Age 20 Position 1B/OF MLB Debut (Estimation) 2025
Ryan Clifford was the other central piece in the Justin Verlander trade for the Mets but he was not quite as good once the trade happened. Admittedly, Brooklyn is a brutal place to play for hitters given the backdrop but that’s still something to consider. Clifford profiles to be your typical big power lefty who doesn’t have any defensive value. He’s not quite as true outcome heavy as Adam Dunn, or perhaps that bad defensively, but that’s the kind of hitter he could be. That would be phenomenal offensive outcome for Clifford but that’s the power we’re talking about here. Still, how good can he be if he doesn’t figure out what position he can play?
76. Jordan Wicks CHC
Fastball 40/40 Changeup 55/55 Sinker 50/50 Cutter 40/40 Curveball 45/45 Slider 55/55 Command 55/55 Age 24 Position LHP MLB Debut (Estimation) 2023
The Cubs left-hander made his big league debut in 2023 and had mixed results. The stuff is unique and he doesn’t throw very hard but his pitch mix is all over the place. He throws too many four seam fastballs and he doesn’t get it high enough in the zone for it to be effective. His cutter doesn’t really do anything should probably be scrapped. His slider and curveball are effective and should be thrown more alongside the sinker. That pitch mix resulted in very few whiffs and strikeouts but not a lot of walks and a guy who is tough to square up. Wicks is a contact manager through and through but with the right mix he can become a solid mid rotation starter.
77. Nick Frasso LAD
Fastball 65/65 Slider 60/60 Changeup 60/60 Command 55/55 Age 25 Position RHP MLB Debut (Estimation) 2025
Returning from elbow surgery, Nick Frasso threw 93 innings this past year primarily at AA. An encouraging sign for the Dodgers as they were cautious with his handling only letting him build up pitch count towards the end of the season. The Dodgers are notoriously cautious with pitchers and Frasso was no different. Frasso flashes a great fastball, slider, changeup combo. All of them are clearly plus pitches and he has pretty good feel of all of them. The upside is tremendous here but throughout the year he got tired and his stuff saw a decrease because of it. A guy coming off surgery at his age may be better fit for the bullpen to let his stuff eat for short stints but I understand why the Dodgers want to ride it out as a starter.
78. Connor Phillips CIN
Fastball 70/70 Slider 80/80 Curveball 65/65 Changeup 40/40 Command 45/50 Age 22 Position RHP MLB Debut (Estimation) 2023
There’s a theme with some of the lower arms on this list. Gaudy stuff but a serious lack of command or great command but a lack of stuff. Phillips is the first one posting three plus pitches including an 80-grade sweeper. His fastball is good and he likes to throw it but he takes the “throw it down the middle” approach a little too literally. Phillips doesn’t have great feel for his sweeper and curveball to increase the usage on those pitches to get hitters out. Phillips changeup is bad and is going to struggle against lefties which makes him a likely bullpen arm. If he can find a way to land the curveball for strikes and maybe add a splitter, he could be a starter if he throws more strikes. That’s a lot of things that need to happen for him to start but man the stuff is too good to sleep on.
79. Zach Dezenzo HOU
Hit 45/50 Raw Power 60/60 Game Power 55/55 Fielding 50/50 Throwing 50/50 Speed 40/40 Age 23 Position INF MLB Debut (Estimation) 2025
The Houston Astro’s lone representative on this list, Dezenzo is a power first type corner infielder that the Astros will turn into an average to potential above average hit tool. The raw power is real and if he gets to Houston, he will surely abuse the Crawford boxes. He does have power to all fields though and that will play at any park. Dezenzo is more than capable of being an average defensive third baseman and could be a plus first baseman if they decided to throw him over there. Given the extension to Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman’s future in Houston remains up in the air. I’d be comfortable with Dezenzo taking over the reigns given Houston’s track record of success with players replacing stars.
80. Chase Dollander COL
Fastball 70/70 Slider 65/65 Curveball 50/50 Changeup 50/50 Command 55/55 Age 22 Position RHP MLB Debut (Estimation) 2026
At one point in time, Chase Dollander was the perceived top arm in the draft and legitimate threat to go first overall. He still possesses that kind of upside but the command took a step back and he didn’t throw a single inning in pro-ball. His fastball should still have the plus shape that just needs to live a little more at the top of the zone. The slider is still a good pitch but he just kept pulling off of it. He’s got an average curveball and changeup to keep lefties honest but both could use a little more to make them into legitimate plus offerings. The problem is where he got drafted to. It’s hard to project he’ll get to his ceiling with the Rockies.
81. Victor Scott II STL
Hit 55/60 Raw Power 45/45 Game Power 40/40 Fielding 65/65 Throwing 65/65 Speed 80/80 Age 23 Position CF MLB Debut (Estimation) 2024
To use a quote to describe Rickey Henderson. “Victor Scott II is so fast he can turn lights off in his room and be in bed before its dark”. This is unbelievable speed. He had 95 stolen bases last year in 109 attempts. Alongside that generational speed, Scott presents a good hit tool with enough power to potentially do some damage. He’s a wiz defensively in centerfield and should be the Cardinals centerfielder of the future. This is a good floor prospect because at the very worst, he will be a good defensive outfielder with 30–40 stolen bases. However, if he can find some strength and develop a gap to gap line drive approach, he could be an all-star.
82. Brayan Rocchio CLE
Hit 50/50 Raw Power 45/45 Game Power 40/40 Fielding 65/65 Throwing 55/55 Speed 50/50 Age 23 Position SS MLB Debut (Estimation) 2023
If you were to look up the word “pressing” in the dictionary, there might be a picture of Brayan Rocchio there. Rocchio is a glove first shortstop that you’re hoping will hit enough to play every day. In his short big league stint, he did none of those things. He looked nervous and tried to make things happen to earn a job for 2024. His chase rate alone should be evidence of that. Still, lots of great players have had bad debuts and Rocchio still has a chance to be an above average defensive shortstop who is an average hitter. That is a good player. His floor though, is quite low because of the lack of power in his bat.
83. Thomas Saggesse STL
Hit 55/55 Raw Power 55/55 Game Power 50/50 Fielding 45/45 Throwing 45/45 Speed 45/45 Age 21 Position INF MLB Debut (Estimation) 2024
Acquired in the trade that sent Jordan Montgomery to Texas, Thomas Saggesse is a very polished hitter. He likes to lift the ball but does so without insane raw power. Still, he will hit for plenty of doubles and over double-digit home runs. The swing decisions are good enough to justify his aggressive approach early in counts. The phrase “He’s looking to hit” is true for Saggesse. The defense leaves a little to be desired but he should be able to handle second base without a ton of issues. His arm is not good enough to play third and a move to the outfield is not in his future due to his speed. He could look to contribute to the Cardinals sometime in 2024 depending on the direction of the team.
84. Enrique Bradfield Jr. BAL
Hit 40/45 Raw Power 35/40 Game Power 35/35 Fielding 65/65 Throwing 55/55 Speed 70/70 Age 22 Position CF MLB Debut (Estimation) 2026
Enrique Bradfield Jr. doesn’t exactly fit the mold of what the Orioles have liked in first round picks. With that said, Bradfield is an athletic left-handed hitter who can pick em up and put em down with the best of them. Bradfield’s game is predicated on putting the ball in play a lot, getting on base, stealing bases, and saving runs. The Orioles are probably hoping to fine tune the swing decisions, create a little more loft on his swing, and continue to terrorize teams on the bases. The Orioles are good at improving quality of contact and launch angle tightness so Bradfield has the ability to rise on this list. Similar to Victor Scott II though, he should be a great defensive outfielder who can steal bases.
85. Cade Cavalli WAS
Fastball 45/45 Curveball 50/55 Changeup 70/70 Slider 50/55 Command 55/55 Age 25 Position RHP MLB Debut (Estimation) 2022
I just can’t quit Cade Cavalli. One of my favorite pitchers in his draft class, Cavalli had TJ last year and thus missed all of 2023. When he’s healthy, Cavalli features two plus breaking balls and a plus plus changeup. The issue his four seam fastball is in the deadzone and he tries to command it like it’s a high vertical break fastball. The command is good enough where if he had a high vertical break fastball, it’d be plus with his velo. A smart team would teach Cavalli a one-seam sinker while improving sharpness of the curveball and slider. He’d be able to command all of them and success would follow. I’ll leave with you MacKenzie Gore talking about Jim Hickey to let you decide if those things happen.
86. Christian Scott NYM
Fastball 65/65 Slider 50/50 Changeup 55/55 Command 60/60 Age 24 Position RHP MLB Debut (Estimation) 2024
Christian Scott emerged this past season as one of the better pitching prospects in baseball. Scott has a premier fastball that sits in the mid 90’s with lots of ride that’ll get whiffs at the top of the zone. He mustered a 30%+ strikeout rate at three different levels while having a sub 4% walk rate on the year. He’s going to fill up the zone with all of his pitches. His slider could use some tweaking and there are some reports about trying to get some more sweep on the pitch. His changeup is a plus pitch that pairs well with his fastball so he shouldn’t have an issue getting lefties out. Scott is the first real test of the Eric Jagers pitching lab and I think he can pass with flying colors.
87. Chase Davis STL
Hit 45/55 Raw Power 60/65 Game Power 45/60 Fielding 50/50 Throwing 50/50 Speed 50/50 Age 22 Position OF MLB Debut (Estimation) 2025
Often compared to Carlos Gonzalez, and inspired by him too, Chase Davis has the kind of violent lefty swing that can be feast or famine. My bias for my alma mater may be setting in here for this ranking but Davis has the makings of an incredible hitter one day. He makes a lot of contact for a guy who puts up the kind of exit velocities he does. Unfortunately that hellish swing got exposed a bit in his pro-debut. That could be a sign of concern and he could fall lower on this list or it could be a function of a long season that he’s never gone through before. It’ll be on him in 2024 to prove to teams that they were wrong to pass on him so much in the draft and put up the type of numbers he’s capable of.
88. Nolan Schanuel LAA
Hit 65/65 Raw Power 40/45 Game Power 35/40 Fielding 40/50 Throwing 40/40 Speed 40/40 Age 22 Position 1B MLB Debut (Estimation) 2023
The lone Angels representative, Nolan Schanuel pulled off the rare feat. To debut as a position player the same year he was drafted. Schanuel also reached base in every game he played in. He has an extreme hit tool for his position and his size. He makes pristine swing decisions alongside lots of contact. The problem is he has nowhere near enough power to do anything with those swings. Schanuel doesn’t really need to change his swing he just needs to get a long stronger and sacrifice a little bit of his hit tool for a little more power. The defense should be good enough to be an average first baseman one day and I have no questions about the Angels giving him the reigns to first base. The only question, a big one at that is, can he add more power to his game?
89. Max Meyer MIA
Fastball 45/60 Slider 70/70 Changeup 45/45 Command 55/55 Age 24 Position RHP MLB Debut (Estimation) 2022
The second Marlins prospect named Meyer to make this list, Max Meyer is healthy rolling into spring training this year. The third overall pick in 2020 showed off a ton of promise before his injury in 2022. Meyer has a three pitch mix with a fastball that you’d think would be good but he cuts so it loses a lot of it’s value. Coming back from injury, Meyer perhaps had some time to clean up the fastball and get behind the ball more to lean into it’s vertical break potential. Or they could teach him a cutter and hope he throws it hard enough to supplement in the fastball. The slider was a great pitch before injury that he liked to throw. If he can find that shape again and improve the fastball, Meyer may just make it work.
90. Will Warren NYY
Slider 70/70 Sinker 55/55 Fastball 50/50 Cutter 50/50 Changeup 45/45 Command 50/50 Age 24 Position RHP MLB Debut (Estimation) 2024
Will Warren began to find himself at the end of 2023. The sinker slider combo is lethal and allows his averageish four seam fastball to play up because he located it well at the top of the zone. His slider is a traditional sweeper with tons of horizontal break at a pretty good velocity. His other offerings are average enough to give him a lot of tools to get lefties out. Warren ended the year on a hot streak and looks to take that into spring training where he will likely provide depth for a Yankees rotation that could use it. I’d be comfortable with Will Warren making starts every fifth day and I think the Yankees are too given the conversations around him.
91. Tekoah Roby STL
Fastball 55/55 Curveball 65/65 Slider 45/55 Changeup 40/40 Command 55/55 Age 22 Position RHP MLB Debut (Estimation) 2025
Tekoah Roby was another piece of the Jordan Montgomery trade to the Rangers, one that may pave serious dividends for the Cardinals. Roby has run over ride type fastball that flashes in the mid 90’s. He’s got good command of it and allows it to play up when paired with his great curveball. A sharp low 80’s breaker that has fooled hitters for a bit. He’s working on a gyro slider to give him another weapon against both righties and lefties, especially since his changeup is not really worth anything at the moment. Roby looks destined for the bullpen as he hasn’t shown a reliable ability to stay healthy enough to start.
92. Yanquiel Fernandez COL
Hit 35/40 Raw Power 60/65 Game Power 55/60 Fielding 45/45 Throwing 60/60 Speed 45/45 Age 21 Position OF MLB Debut (Estimation) 2025
The third Colorado Rockie to be on this list, much to my surprise, Yanquiel Fernandez is a whole lot of power and a whole lot of swing and miss. Fernandez hit 25 home runs last year across multiple levels but he also struck out 133 times. That’s pretty much the name of his game, he’s going to hit more than a few tape measure shots while striking out a lot along the way. He should be ok enough defensively to be in the corners but Coors Field is pretty unrelenting to bad defensive outfielders. If Brenton Doyle is still around by then, that could be beneficial to him there.
93. DL Hall MIL
Fastball 55/65 Slider 75/75 Changeup 50/50 Curveball 45/45 Command 35/45 Age 25 Position LHP MLB Debut (Estimation) 2022
DL Hall was the main piece in the return in the trade for Corbin Burnes. Hall has some great stuff that can compete with anybody from the left side but he toned his fastball down a little bit in 2023 to try and throw more strikes. That did result in a better ERA but a lower stuff+ score. The rest of his arsenal is still fantastic and Milwaukee is going to give him the chance to start. I am still unsure if he will throw enough strikes to do that but he doesn’t get hit hard and has a couple of elite pitches. A dominant closer is still a very viable outcome for him.
94. Henry Lalane NYY
Fastball 60/70 Changeup 60/60 Slider 55/65 Command 60/60 Age 19 Position LHP MLB Debut (Estimation) 2026
Henry Lalane is a name you’re going to hear a lot about over the coming months. He’s projected to appear in affiliated ball for the first time in his professional career and that’ll allow people to see what I’ve been fortunate enough to see. A big imposing lefty, Lalane already flashes a couple of plus pitches that should continue to get better as he stays in the Yankees system. The fastball has great shape and can get up to 97. The slider also shows good shape with sweeper tendencies but could use a little more velo to turn into an elite pitch. His changeup is already plus and should remain that way as he climbs up the ladder. What makes it all work is that the command is pristine and only continues to get better. Lalane will need to prove he can handle a starters workload, something the Yankees have been comfortable giving to pitchers, but he is someone I expect to rise on this list next year.
95. Orvelis Martinez TOR
Hit 40/40 Raw Power 60/60 Game Power 60/60 Fielding 50/50 Throwing 55/55 Speed 45/45 Age 22 Position INF MLB Debut (Estimation) 2024
After some struggles in 2022, Orelvis Martinez bounced back in 2023 even earning a promotion to AAA. Martinez’s raw power is pretty good but not elite. Though, he leverages that power brilliantly with a swing that’s designed for pull-side fly balls. He will whiff as his hit tool lacks a little to ever put up an above average batting average but he could put 30 home runs out a few times in his career. The defense is better suited for third base where he may never be elite over there but he should be good enough to get the job done. The Blue Jays don’t have a true long term third baseman on the roster so Martinez might be their answer there.
96. Ceddanne Rafaela BOS
Hit 45/45 Raw Power 50/50 Game Power 45/45 Fielding 70/70 Throwing 70/70 Speed 70/70 Age 23 Position CF/SS MLB Debut (Estimation) 2023
One of the more fun prospects in all of baseball, Ceddanne Rafaela made his big league debut in 2023. The rare combination of being an above average shortstop and borderline elite centerfielder, Rafaela will make his name on the defensive side of the ball. He takes excellent routes in the outfield and has a laser arm. The Red Sox plan to make him a central part of their outfield plans but he can play shortstop at a well above average rate too. Rafaela’s bat will be behind his glove and legs, but he should be good enough to be around an average bat. Though, guys with his offensive profiles have struggled to make adjustments and he doesn’t have the raw power to just muscle balls over the infielders or to the walls. I expect a good player here but the bat may limit that very fun ceiling.
97. Leodalis De Vries SDP
Hit 40/55 Raw Power 40/55 Game Power 35/50 Fielding 35/50 Throwing 40/55 Speed 60/65 Age 17 Position SS MLB Debut (Estimation) 2028
The top international signing of this past period, Leodalis De Vries makes the very end of this list. Truth be told, one could justify him both higher and off this list entirely given we don’t have a ton of data on him yet. Still, the film and what I’ve read about De Vries made me feel he should be on this list. The switch-hitting shortstop is showing the early signs of being a legitimate threat on the bases, in the field, and at the plate. The Padres are very aggressive with their promotions of prospects they like so if De Vries is in High-A next year I would not be surprised at all and that will give us the real look at how good he can be.
98. Bryce Eldridge SFG
Hit 45/55 Raw Power 55/60 Game Power 45/55 Fielding 35/45 Throwing 60/60 Speed 30/30 Age 19 Position 1B/OF MLB Debut (Estimation) 2026
Originally drafted as a potential two-way talent, Bryce Eldridge will no longer be continuing that path per the Giants. They announced (shortly after I finished this write up by the way) that they were making him a full time first baseman. The Giants tried to get him some reps in the outfield but he doesn’t have the speed for that despite a good arm. The 6’7 Giant still justifies his first round pick with an above average hit tool and game power tool while hopefully being close to average at first base. As he ages, he should be able to develop more power over time and could climb these rankings because of it.
99. Kevin McGonigle DET
Hit 55/60 Raw Power 50/60 Game Power 45/55 Fielding 45/50 Throwing 40/45 Speed 45/45 Age 19 Position INF MLB Debut (Estimation) 2026
An older high school draft pick, Kevin McGonigle has a nice lefty swing with plenty of pop but it’s just a bit of question if it ever gets better? He has enough skills at the plate to where if he doesn’t get a ton better he should be at least an above average hitter at the plate from the left side. Much like the rest of his Tigers counterparts, he’s not a shortstop and may be destined to second base because of a lack of arm strength. He probably will be solid over there, unlike Jung and Keith, and is years away from making the show so it can improve. His floor is a sold second baseman but his ceiling is not that much higher than that.
100. Druw Jones ARZ
Hit 45/55 Raw Power 55/60 Game Power 40/50 Fielding 65/65 Throwing 65/65 Speed 70/70 Age 20 Position CF MLB Debut (Estimation) 2026
There has been a lot made of the former second overall pick Druw Jones. At one point in time, I argued he should go first in the draft showing outstanding potential with the bat and an already polished defender in center. The defense and speed are still there but the bat has been inconsistent when he does play. Injuries are have been a problem for him and he’s hoping that 2024 can bring him a year of fortune in that regard. He hit a little better when he came back from a quad injury last year but the variance in the bat is still quite high. The talent is still too good to give up on and I’m hoping he can get back on track in 2024.
