Baltimore is built for the long run. The Orioles are coming off a 101-win season, have the No. 1 overall prospect in Jackson Holliday and five Top 100 Prospects.
Plenty of talent has settled in the American League East. The Orioles, Rays and Yankees rank inside the top 10 of our Organization Talent Rankings, and the Red Sox aren’t far behind.
Elsewhere, the defending World Series-champion Rangers enter 2024 with two of the five best prospects in baseball.
The Cubs rank among the top five farm systems for the first time since 2015, and the Tigers tie for their highest ranking in the 40-year history of this exercise.
A green light beside the team name indicates an organization that has moved up in the ranking compared with last year.
A red light means a move down in the ranking, while yellow indicates minimal year-over-year change.
Teams moving up or down more than 10 places receive two lights.
1. BALTIMORE ORIOLES
Top 100 Prospects: SS Jackson Holliday (#1), C Samuel Basallo (#10), 3B Coby Mayo (#25), OF Colton Cowser (#34), OF Heston Kjerstad (#41)
Until 2023, the Orioles had never topped our Organization Talent Rankings. Now, they’ve ranked No. 1 in back-to-back years. And in our estimation, there’s still a solid gap between the Orioles and the other 29 organizations. Jackson Holliday leads the way, but the Orioles are also deep in close-to-themajors prospects.
2. MILWAUKEE BREWERS
Top 100 Prospects: OF Jackson Chourio (#2), RHP Jacob Misiorowski (#32), C Jeferson Quero (#33), 3B Tyler Black (#70), LHP DL Hall (#93), LHP Robert Gasser (#98)
When the Brewers traded Corbin Burnes to the Orioles for prospects DL Hall and shortstop Joey Ortiz in February, Milwaukee entrenched its position as the No. 2 farm system more than it closed the gap with Baltimore. The Brewers lead with the high-impact pair of Jackson Chourio and Jacob Misiorowski and also have a solid second tier led by Jeferson Quero, Tyler Black, Robert Gasser and Hall.
3. TEXAS RANGERS
Top 100 Prospects: OF Evan Carter (#4), OF Wyatt Langford (#5), SS Sebastian Walcott (#54) Not everything has gone right for the
Rangers. Righthanders Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker—first-round picks in 2021 and 2022— have struggled to live up to lofty expectations, but those pitchers’ pace pales in comparison with the scouting success story of Evan Carter and the pro debut of 2023 top pick Wyatt Langford. Both will contribute to the 2024 Rangers.
4. CHICAGO CUBS
Top 100 Prospects: OF Pete Crow Armstrong (#18), RHP Cade Horton (#24), SS Matt Shaw (#31), 3B Michael Busch (#43), OF Owen Caissie (#47)
This system has improved dramatically over the past few years. Chicago is showing that it can develop pitching for the first time in quite a while, but it’s the mix of upside and potential regulars like Pete Crow-Armstrong, Matt Shaw, Michael Busch, Owen Caissie and catcher/first baseman Moises Ballesteros that has the Cubs in the top five.
5. DETROIT TIGERS
Top 100 Prospects: OF Max Clark (#19), RHP Jackson Jobe (#20), 3B Colt Keith (#28), 2B Jace Jung (#81)
The Tigers have ranked this highly only once before in 40-plus years of talent rankings. That happened in 2021, when outfielder Riley Greene, first baseman Spencer Torkelson and lefthander Tarik Skubal were prospects. Now they’re MLB veterans looking to take the next step. The Tigers have loaded up on hitters in recent drafts but also have one of the best pitching prospects in baseball in Jackson Jobe.
6. SAN DIEGO PADRES
Top 100 Prospects: C Ethan Salas (#8), SS Jackson Merrill (#17), LHP Robby Snelling (#27), RHP Dylan Lesko (#38), SS Leodalis De Vries (#99)
San Diego has a remarkable ability to regenerate top prospects despite trading away so much future value in the past few years in a so-far-unsuccessful attempt to catch the Dodgers. If Dylan Lesko can regain his high school form, the combination of him and Robby Snelling could be the best pitching duo in the minors.
7. TAMPA BAY RAYS
Top 100 Prospects: 3B Junior Caminero (#3), SS Carson Williams (#37), 3B Curtis Mead (#65), RHP Shane Baz (#66), 1B Xavier Isaac (#69), 3B Brayden Taylor (#95)
The Rays’ system keeps getting thinner, but the club’s ability to continue to produce top prospects keeps them in the top 10. The quartet of Junior Caminero, Carson Williams, Curtis Mead and Xavier Isaac could give Tampa Bay a complete future infield, but the organization’s trademark pitching depth has disappeared.
8. NEW YORK METS
Top 100 Prospects: SS Jett Williams (#30), 2B Ronny Mauricio (#87), OF Drew Gilbert (#91) While the 2023 MLB season was a disaster
for the Mets, the silver lining is that the organization’s farm system got a boost from trade deadline deals. They yielded five of the organization’s top 20 prospects, including Drew Gilbert, shortstop Luisangel Acuña, outfielder Ryan Clifford and Rookie-ball hitters Marco Vargas and Jeremy Rodriguez. Keep an eye on Jett Williams, whose ability to play up the middle and get on base could make him a productive lineup addition.
9. NEW YORK YANKEES
Top 100 Prospects: OF Jasson Dominguez (#16), OF Spencer Jones (#46), OF Everson Pereira (#67), SS Roderick Arias (#68), C Austin Wells (#71), RHP Chase Hampton (#72)
The Yankees’ struggles to meet expectations in the major leagues has led to incriminations about the organization’s player development system, some of which seem overblown. New York churns out useful pitchers—many of whom pitch for other organizations following trades—while the Yankees’ lower levels are filled with high-ceiling, highrisk prospects.
10. LOS ANGELES DODGERS
Top 100 Prospects: C Dalton Rushing (#50), RHP Gavin Stone (#82), OF Andy Pages (#96), Josue De Paula (#97)
The Dodgers’ exceptionally productive player development system rolls on, even after graduations and trades have thinned the team’s top-end talent. In 2023 alone, Los Angeles graduated Bobby Miller, James Outman, Emmet Sheehan and Miguel Vargas. While the Dodgers don’t have any top 25 overall prospects, they have more proximity pitchers than almost anyone, led by Gavin Stone.
11. CINCINNATI REDS
Top 100 Prospects: 3B Noelvi Marte (#23), RHP Rhett Lowder (#60), RHP Connor Phillips (#78)
The Reds graduated eight rookies in 2023—led by Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain and Spencer Steer—but they still have a relatively deep farm system thanks to a productive international department, a large bonus pool in the 2023 draft and astute pro prospect additions in 2021 and 2022 trades. The system should get yet another boost by picking second in the 2024 draft.
12. PITTSBURGH PIRATES
Top 100 Prospects: RHP Paul Skenes (#9), RHP Bubba Chandler (#59), RHP Jared Jones (#74), 2B Termarr Johnson (#77)
Drafting Paul Skenes first overall is going to boost any system, but prospect graduations—including Henry Davis, Endy Rodriguez and Liover Peguero in 2023—and the struggles of some recent top picks has pushed Pittsburgh toward the middle of the pack. The Pirates are pitching-heavy at the top, which is both an opportunity but also a risk because of pitchers’ volatility.
13. BOSTON RED SOX
Top 100 Prospects: SS Marcelo Mayer (#14), OF Roman Anthony (#21), C Kyle Teel (#62), OF Ceddanne Rafaela (#94)
The Red Sox have developed a nice mix of top prospects, led by recent high draft picks such as first-rounders Marcelo Mayer and Kyle Teel and second-rounder Roman Anthony, as well as likely solid MLB contributors like Ceddanne Rafaela and outfielder Wilyer Abreu. Boston’s system is a little hitter-heavy at this point, even after graduating Triston Casas in 2023.
14. MINNESOTA TWINS
Top 100 Prospects: OF Walker Jenkins (#13), SS Brooks Lee (#35), OF Emmanuel Rodriguez (#53)
The Twins have been quite productive in recent years in terms of producing big leaguers, but trades have meant that Spencer Steer, Yennier Cano and Christian Encarnacion-Strand graduated with other teams. Receiving the gift of the fifth pick in the 2023 draft netted talented high school outfielder Walker Jenkins to give the organization another elite prospect.
15. WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Top 100 Prospects: OF Dylan Crews (#6),OF James Wood (#11), 3B Brady House (#55) A system led by outfielders Dylan Crews
and James Wood is going to be in better shape than a lot of organizations, and third baseman Brady House had an encouragingly healthy 2023. Now, the Nationals need Elijah Green and/or Robert Hassell III to have bounceback seasons in 2024, like House had in 2023.
16. SEATTLE MARINERS
Top 100 Prospects: SS Cole Young (#44), C Harry Ford (#51), SS Colt Emerson (#52), OF Lazaro Montes (#100)
The Mariners’ system may be setting up nicely to complement the big league club. Hitting on pitchers like George Kirby, Logan Gilbert, Bryce Miller and Bryan Woo in the 2018, 2019 and 2021 drafts has given Seattle a core of young starters. Now the system is heavy in position players, led by shortstops Cole Young and Colt Emerson and catcher Harry Ford. The infusion of high school and international talent in recent years has given the Mariners the youngest collection of Top 10 Prospects talent.
17. ARIZONA D-BACKS
Top 100 Prospect: SS Jordan Lawlar (#7) Graduating Rookie of the Year Corbin
Carroll and catcher Gabriel Moreno, along with numerous pitchers including Brandon Pfaadt, Ryne Nelson and Drey Jameson, explains how Arizona plummeted from No. 2 in the talent rankings last year to the middle of the pack this year. But No. 1 prospect J...
Plenty of talent has settled in the American League East. The Orioles, Rays and Yankees rank inside the top 10 of our Organization Talent Rankings, and the Red Sox aren’t far behind.
Elsewhere, the defending World Series-champion Rangers enter 2024 with two of the five best prospects in baseball.
The Cubs rank among the top five farm systems for the first time since 2015, and the Tigers tie for their highest ranking in the 40-year history of this exercise.
A green light beside the team name indicates an organization that has moved up in the ranking compared with last year.
A red light means a move down in the ranking, while yellow indicates minimal year-over-year change.
Teams moving up or down more than 10 places receive two lights.
1. BALTIMORE ORIOLES
Top 100 Prospects: SS Jackson Holliday (#1), C Samuel Basallo (#10), 3B Coby Mayo (#25), OF Colton Cowser (#34), OF Heston Kjerstad (#41)
Until 2023, the Orioles had never topped our Organization Talent Rankings. Now, they’ve ranked No. 1 in back-to-back years. And in our estimation, there’s still a solid gap between the Orioles and the other 29 organizations. Jackson Holliday leads the way, but the Orioles are also deep in close-to-themajors prospects.
2. MILWAUKEE BREWERS
Top 100 Prospects: OF Jackson Chourio (#2), RHP Jacob Misiorowski (#32), C Jeferson Quero (#33), 3B Tyler Black (#70), LHP DL Hall (#93), LHP Robert Gasser (#98)
When the Brewers traded Corbin Burnes to the Orioles for prospects DL Hall and shortstop Joey Ortiz in February, Milwaukee entrenched its position as the No. 2 farm system more than it closed the gap with Baltimore. The Brewers lead with the high-impact pair of Jackson Chourio and Jacob Misiorowski and also have a solid second tier led by Jeferson Quero, Tyler Black, Robert Gasser and Hall.
3. TEXAS RANGERS
Top 100 Prospects: OF Evan Carter (#4), OF Wyatt Langford (#5), SS Sebastian Walcott (#54) Not everything has gone right for the
Rangers. Righthanders Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker—first-round picks in 2021 and 2022— have struggled to live up to lofty expectations, but those pitchers’ pace pales in comparison with the scouting success story of Evan Carter and the pro debut of 2023 top pick Wyatt Langford. Both will contribute to the 2024 Rangers.
4. CHICAGO CUBS
Top 100 Prospects: OF Pete Crow Armstrong (#18), RHP Cade Horton (#24), SS Matt Shaw (#31), 3B Michael Busch (#43), OF Owen Caissie (#47)
This system has improved dramatically over the past few years. Chicago is showing that it can develop pitching for the first time in quite a while, but it’s the mix of upside and potential regulars like Pete Crow-Armstrong, Matt Shaw, Michael Busch, Owen Caissie and catcher/first baseman Moises Ballesteros that has the Cubs in the top five.
5. DETROIT TIGERS
Top 100 Prospects: OF Max Clark (#19), RHP Jackson Jobe (#20), 3B Colt Keith (#28), 2B Jace Jung (#81)
The Tigers have ranked this highly only once before in 40-plus years of talent rankings. That happened in 2021, when outfielder Riley Greene, first baseman Spencer Torkelson and lefthander Tarik Skubal were prospects. Now they’re MLB veterans looking to take the next step. The Tigers have loaded up on hitters in recent drafts but also have one of the best pitching prospects in baseball in Jackson Jobe.
6. SAN DIEGO PADRES
Top 100 Prospects: C Ethan Salas (#8), SS Jackson Merrill (#17), LHP Robby Snelling (#27), RHP Dylan Lesko (#38), SS Leodalis De Vries (#99)
San Diego has a remarkable ability to regenerate top prospects despite trading away so much future value in the past few years in a so-far-unsuccessful attempt to catch the Dodgers. If Dylan Lesko can regain his high school form, the combination of him and Robby Snelling could be the best pitching duo in the minors.
7. TAMPA BAY RAYS
Top 100 Prospects: 3B Junior Caminero (#3), SS Carson Williams (#37), 3B Curtis Mead (#65), RHP Shane Baz (#66), 1B Xavier Isaac (#69), 3B Brayden Taylor (#95)
The Rays’ system keeps getting thinner, but the club’s ability to continue to produce top prospects keeps them in the top 10. The quartet of Junior Caminero, Carson Williams, Curtis Mead and Xavier Isaac could give Tampa Bay a complete future infield, but the organization’s trademark pitching depth has disappeared.
8. NEW YORK METS
Top 100 Prospects: SS Jett Williams (#30), 2B Ronny Mauricio (#87), OF Drew Gilbert (#91) While the 2023 MLB season was a disaster
for the Mets, the silver lining is that the organization’s farm system got a boost from trade deadline deals. They yielded five of the organization’s top 20 prospects, including Drew Gilbert, shortstop Luisangel Acuña, outfielder Ryan Clifford and Rookie-ball hitters Marco Vargas and Jeremy Rodriguez. Keep an eye on Jett Williams, whose ability to play up the middle and get on base could make him a productive lineup addition.
9. NEW YORK YANKEES
Top 100 Prospects: OF Jasson Dominguez (#16), OF Spencer Jones (#46), OF Everson Pereira (#67), SS Roderick Arias (#68), C Austin Wells (#71), RHP Chase Hampton (#72)
The Yankees’ struggles to meet expectations in the major leagues has led to incriminations about the organization’s player development system, some of which seem overblown. New York churns out useful pitchers—many of whom pitch for other organizations following trades—while the Yankees’ lower levels are filled with high-ceiling, highrisk prospects.
10. LOS ANGELES DODGERS
Top 100 Prospects: C Dalton Rushing (#50), RHP Gavin Stone (#82), OF Andy Pages (#96), Josue De Paula (#97)
The Dodgers’ exceptionally productive player development system rolls on, even after graduations and trades have thinned the team’s top-end talent. In 2023 alone, Los Angeles graduated Bobby Miller, James Outman, Emmet Sheehan and Miguel Vargas. While the Dodgers don’t have any top 25 overall prospects, they have more proximity pitchers than almost anyone, led by Gavin Stone.
11. CINCINNATI REDS
Top 100 Prospects: 3B Noelvi Marte (#23), RHP Rhett Lowder (#60), RHP Connor Phillips (#78)
The Reds graduated eight rookies in 2023—led by Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain and Spencer Steer—but they still have a relatively deep farm system thanks to a productive international department, a large bonus pool in the 2023 draft and astute pro prospect additions in 2021 and 2022 trades. The system should get yet another boost by picking second in the 2024 draft.
12. PITTSBURGH PIRATES
Top 100 Prospects: RHP Paul Skenes (#9), RHP Bubba Chandler (#59), RHP Jared Jones (#74), 2B Termarr Johnson (#77)
Drafting Paul Skenes first overall is going to boost any system, but prospect graduations—including Henry Davis, Endy Rodriguez and Liover Peguero in 2023—and the struggles of some recent top picks has pushed Pittsburgh toward the middle of the pack. The Pirates are pitching-heavy at the top, which is both an opportunity but also a risk because of pitchers’ volatility.
13. BOSTON RED SOX
Top 100 Prospects: SS Marcelo Mayer (#14), OF Roman Anthony (#21), C Kyle Teel (#62), OF Ceddanne Rafaela (#94)
The Red Sox have developed a nice mix of top prospects, led by recent high draft picks such as first-rounders Marcelo Mayer and Kyle Teel and second-rounder Roman Anthony, as well as likely solid MLB contributors like Ceddanne Rafaela and outfielder Wilyer Abreu. Boston’s system is a little hitter-heavy at this point, even after graduating Triston Casas in 2023.
14. MINNESOTA TWINS
Top 100 Prospects: OF Walker Jenkins (#13), SS Brooks Lee (#35), OF Emmanuel Rodriguez (#53)
The Twins have been quite productive in recent years in terms of producing big leaguers, but trades have meant that Spencer Steer, Yennier Cano and Christian Encarnacion-Strand graduated with other teams. Receiving the gift of the fifth pick in the 2023 draft netted talented high school outfielder Walker Jenkins to give the organization another elite prospect.
15. WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Top 100 Prospects: OF Dylan Crews (#6),OF James Wood (#11), 3B Brady House (#55) A system led by outfielders Dylan Crews
and James Wood is going to be in better shape than a lot of organizations, and third baseman Brady House had an encouragingly healthy 2023. Now, the Nationals need Elijah Green and/or Robert Hassell III to have bounceback seasons in 2024, like House had in 2023.
16. SEATTLE MARINERS
Top 100 Prospects: SS Cole Young (#44), C Harry Ford (#51), SS Colt Emerson (#52), OF Lazaro Montes (#100)
The Mariners’ system may be setting up nicely to complement the big league club. Hitting on pitchers like George Kirby, Logan Gilbert, Bryce Miller and Bryan Woo in the 2018, 2019 and 2021 drafts has given Seattle a core of young starters. Now the system is heavy in position players, led by shortstops Cole Young and Colt Emerson and catcher Harry Ford. The infusion of high school and international talent in recent years has given the Mariners the youngest collection of Top 10 Prospects talent.
17. ARIZONA D-BACKS
Top 100 Prospect: SS Jordan Lawlar (#7) Graduating Rookie of the Year Corbin
Carroll and catcher Gabriel Moreno, along with numerous pitchers including Brandon Pfaadt, Ryne Nelson and Drey Jameson, explains how Arizona plummeted from No. 2 in the talent rankings last year to the middle of the pack this year. But No. 1 prospect J...
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Baseball America (Digital) - 1 Issue, March/April 2024