The release of our Top 100 Prospects list is one of the most exciting times around MLB Pipeline. It's a moment to celebrate the best of the prospect world and project the future of the sport.

MLB Pipeline's Jim Callis, Jonathan Mayo and Sam Dykstra went through multiple iterations after much discussion and input from scouts. Some players were bumped off an initial Top 100. Some were close to making it but just fell short. Others were just surpassed by a rising name.

Many names were considered for our final rankings, but unfortunately only 100 can ever fit on the list. Here are 10 more prospects, listed in alphabetical order by last name, who nearly made the cut:

Carson Benge, OF, Mets
If we had to pick a prospect who ranked 101st, Benge would likely be that person. He played well during his cameo with Single-A St. Lucie after going 19th overall in the 2024 Draft, as you'd expect from a college hitter. Not only was the Oklahoma State product well disciplined, but he also whiffed a minuscule 17.2 percent of the time. Benge's power was more impressive in college than in pro ball to date, but as he adds weight and gets the ball in the air more, he should project for above-average power. Plus, he has the arm you'd expect from a former two-way prospect that should enable him to stick in center field or right.

Ryan Clifford, 1B/OF, Mets
Clifford took a while to get going last season. For the first two months, between High-A Brooklyn and Double-A Binghamton, he hit just .192/.371/.298 with two home runs and a 34.5 percent strikeout rate. But from June on, the hulking slugger slashed .247/.373/.486 with 17 homers and a more manageable 26.8 percent K rate. While Clifford is not likely to hit for a high average -- in part because his patient approach leads to many two-strike counts -- his disciplined eye allows him to get on base at a high rate, and his tremendous power is a big reason why he enters the year as the No. 7 1B prospect. He'll be one of the youngest hitters in the upper Minors this season -- not turning 22 until July -- giving him time to iron out his rough areas.

Jimmy Crooks, C, Cardinals
As a 2022 fourth-rounder out of Oklahoma, Crooks was seen as a rugged defender with middling offensive upside. The 23-year-old remains a strong framer with an above-average arm, and now his bat matches his glove in potential. Crooks earned Texas League MVP honors in 2024 with a .321/.410/.498 line and routinely posts high exit velocities. Although his power disappears against fellow lefties (.104 ISO), his eye remains exceptionally sharp (17 walks, 20 K's vs. LHPs). His flat swing is currently geared for fastballs, so how he fares against Triple-A secondary pitches merits watching. Crooks may not be a flashy prospect, but catchers who can mash line drives and play solid defense tend to get starting roles.

• Subscribe to the MLB Pipeline Newsletter

Jace Jung, 3B/2B, Tigers
At his best, Jung is a disciplined left-handed hitter capable of spraying hard liners across the field. He compiled an elite 21.2 percent chase rate at Triple-A and was still above average in that department in the Majors (26.3), but the rest of his hitting profile collapsed, with a 4.0 percent barrel rate and a .241/.362/.304 line in 94 plate appearances. Some of that lack of impact may have had to do with him playing through a wrist injury that initially sidelined him in June, and he did undergo offseason surgery to address lingering inflammation. Expect his above-average pop to return, though bigger questions remain for MLB's No. 6 3B prospect as his shift to the hot corner has been a work in progress due to a lack of range.

Agustin Ramirez, C/1B, Marlins
Ramirez is one of the best hitting catchers in the Minors, pairing impressive exit velocities with acceptable whiff rates. Whether he'll be able to stick behind the plate remains a question; he only threw out 10 of 89 potential base stealers (11.2 percent) in 53 games last year and has a rather slow release. But even if he has to move to first base, his power should profile well there. The Dominican Republic native does a great job of putting pulled balls in the air (39.3 percent, 87th percentile in Triple-A), which should help him maximize his already impressive natural power.

Chandler Simpson, OF, Rays
The Rays love Simpson's unique profile -- and for good reason. He's the fastest player in the Minors and uses his speed -- which may break the 20-80 scouting scale -- well. The gap between his 198 steals over the past two Minor League seasons and second-place Seth Stephenson (130) is the same as the gap between Stephenson and 78th place. And Simpson was successful at an 86.1 percent rate, which somehow suggests he should be stealing even more. On the flip side, Simpson's power is almost non-existent. His only pro homer was an inside-the-parker, and he had only one triple in 2024. Still, with a potentially plus-plus hit tool and excellent plate discipline (more walks than strikeouts in all three pro seasons), he has the tools to be a throwback leadoff hitter.

Ryan Sloan, RHP, Mariners
Sloan has all the makings of a potential top-of-the-rotation starter. Not only does he have three potential plus pitches, including a fastball that has touched triple digits with run, but the extension created by his 6-foot-5 frame and his flat approach angle also add a layer of deception. The 18-year-old's advanced polish helped make him the top high school righty in the 2024 Draft, and the M's paid him accordingly with a $3 million bonus in the second round. Seattle has historically been cautious with prep pitchers, but Sloan's workhorse frame and history of pounding the zone could enable him to make a big impact in his highly anticipated pro debut.

Aidan Smith, OF, Rays
The Rays made another nifty pickup in Smith, a Mariners 2023 fourth-rounder acquired in the Randy Arozarena trade. The Texas native is growing into power as he fills out his slender 6-foot-2 frame -- he already reaches elite exit velocities to the pull side -- and also has the speed and arm strength to potentially stick in center field. Smith entered pro ball with questions about his hit tool and he did strike out at a 23.2 percent clip at Single-A last year, but his consistently lofty walk rates help mitigate that a bit. The 20-year-old handled offspeed pitches well at Single-A, and how he continues to handle improved stuff as he climbs the rungs of the Minors will help determine how high he rises in the rankings.

James Tibbs III, OF, Giants
Tibbs was seen as having one of the highest offensive floors in the 2024 Draft after making consistent, hard contact and rarely striking out (10.2 percent) at Florida State thanks to a disciplined approach. His pro debut, however, was a mixed bag. The 13th overall pick went 17-for-41 at Single-A San Jose but picked up just four total hits in his first 15 games with High-A Eugene. Perhaps those struggles can be attributed to wearing down after a lengthy college season, and the lefty slugger still projects to have a plus hit tool in pro ball. His bat will have to hold up for him to return to the Top 100 list, as he's a fringy fielder who may have to shift to first base.

Ralphy Velazquez, 1B, Guardians
Cleveland drafted Velazquez 23rd overall in 2023 as a catcher, but the Guardians have shifted the 19-year-old solely to first base. That's OK, though, because he's got the power to match the position and ranks as the No. 8 1B prospect heading into the season. With a strong 6-foot-3 frame, ample bat speed and loft to his left-handed swing, Velazquez could certainly profile as a middle-of-the-order hitter in the future. He did struggle in a brief cameo with High-A Lake County (54 wRC+), but he remained disciplined at the plate and suffered from bad batted-ball luck. It's also worth remembering that Velazquez was one of the youngest players in full-season ball last year and won't turn 20 until the end of May.