When discussing the fastest prospects (and frankly, all players) in baseball, there¡¯s the Rays¡¯ Chandler Simpson and then there¡¯s everyone else.
Now in the big leagues, Simpson has led scouts to say that he should get at least a 90 run grade on the 20-to-80 scouting scale. Watching him do his thing -- he had two steals over his first three games -- at the highest level has been truly exciting.
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But Simpson is far from the only guy with wheels worth watching in the prospect world. If you have a need for speed, here is the fastest prospect for each organization.
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AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST
Blue Jays: Dasan Brown, OF (No. 27)
The Ontario native got to stay local when he went to the Blue Jays in the third round of the 2019 Draft, and his 80-grade speed has kept him an intriguing prospect in the Toronto pipeline in the six years since. He¡¯s swiped at least 20 bags in each of his last four seasons and set a career mark last year with 35 in 106 games between High-A Vancouver and Double-A New Hampshire. With near plus-plus defense in center too, Brown only needs to hit a little to be a potential fourth outfielder in the bigs.
Orioles: Enrique Bradfield Jr. (No. 3)
If there¡¯s an heir apparent to Simpson should he graduate from prospect status, Bradfield might be at the front of the pack. The 2023 first-rounder stole 74 bases in his first full season of pro ball in 2024, second only to Simpson. He recorded an absurd home-to-first time of 3.69 seconds on a bunt single during Spring Training, faster than any time recorded by an Orioles big leaguer in 2024.
Rays: Chandler Simpson, OF (No. 7)
We¡¯ll take the easy layup here. Heck, call it a slam dunk. Simpson has already recorded the Rays¡¯ fastest home-to-first time per Statcast (3.90 seconds on that error-turned-single against the Yankees on Sunday), and he has three runs of 30+ ft/sec in only three games. Of course, we have to mention that he led the Minor Leagues with 104 steals last year and tied for the MiLB lead with 94 in 2023. If he sticks with Tampa Bay the rest of the way, he should be a favorite to lead the Majors in thefts.
Red Sox: Nelly Taylor, OF (No. 22)
Taylor's quickness helped him earn college basketball offers as a Florida high schooler, but he turned them down to play baseball at Polk State (Fla.) CC. He led Florida junior collegians with 31 steals in 48 games as a sophomore in 2023 before signing for a double-slot $300,000 in the 11th round. A center fielder with 20/20 upside, he used his well-above-average speed to swipe 33 bases and earn Red Sox Minor League defensive player of the year accolades in his pro debut last year.
Yankees: Brendan Jones, OF (No. 30)
Jones led the Big 12 Conference with 40 steals (fourth in NCAA Division I) in 42 attempts as a Kansas State junior last spring before joining the Yankees as a 12th-rounder, then swiped 18 bases in as many tries during his 24-game pro debut. His combination of well-above-average speed and sharp instincts has translated into eight steals in nine attempts through 12 games at High-A this season.
AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL
Guardians: Tommy Hawke, OF (unranked)
Hawke ranks second in the Minors with 18 steals in as many attempts through 15 games at Single-A, trailing only the Royals' Asbel Gonzalez (22). A sixth-round pick out of Wake Forest in 2023, Hawke is undersized but has plus-plus speed and has swiped 57 bags in 108 pro contests.
Royals: Tyler Tolbert, OF/2B (unranked)
Fun fact: Tolbert and Simpson missed each other by one year at UAB. Imagine how fast the Blazers could have been with both. Called up to the Royals for the first time earlier this month, Tolbert leads the Minor Leagues with 215 steals in 230 chances since the start of 2021, that¡¯s one more than Simpson in the same span. Now he¡¯s passing the torch to No. 23 Royals prospect Asbel Gonzalez, who leads the Minors with 22 steals entering Wednesday.
Tigers: Seth Stephenson, OF (unranked)
A seventh-round pick from the University of Tennessee in 2022, Stephenson swiped 70 bags in his first full campaign a year later and then added 60 more last season with High-A West Michigan. His 139 steals since the start of 2023 (including nine this season) are second-most in the Minors behind Simpson¡¯s 206. Stephenson is back with the Whitecaps for ¡®24, giving the Midwest League club two speed demons in the outfield between him and Max Clark.
Twins: Kyle DeBarge, 2B/SS (No. 12)
Tip of the cap to DaShawn Keirsey Jr., currently in the big leagues, but we¡¯ll give DeBarge the edge here. The Louisiana-Lafayette product was the Twins¡¯ pick at No. 33 overall in last year¡¯s Draft after swiping 44 bags in three years with the Ragin¡¯ Cajuns. The middle infielder then stole 15 more in 18 attempts during his debut last summer with Single-A Fort Myers. He hasn¡¯t stopped running during his first full season, going a perfect 8-for-8 on steal attempts over his first 11 games at High-A Cedar Rapids.
White Sox: Javier Mogollon, SS (No. 24)
Signed for just $75,000 out of Venezuela in 2023, the 5-foot-8 Mogollon not only generates some of the best exit velocities in the system but also has at least plus speed. He has gone 33-for-37 (89 percent) stealing bases in his first 107 pro games, including 6-for-8 in 14 games this year after making the jump to full-season ball.
AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST
Angels: Capri Ortiz, SS (No. 21)
Signed for just $150,000 at the start of the January 2022 signing period, Ortiz didn¡¯t really start showing off his 70-grade speed until he came stateside for the first time in 2023, leading the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League with 30 steals. He nabbed 22 during his full-season debut and the Angels stressed to the young infielder that they want him to run more. And so far, the 20-year old has listened, going 7-for-7 over his first 14 games with High-A Tri-City this year.
Astros: Jeron Williams, INF (unranked)
Williams led NCAA Division I with 49 steals in 53 tries at Toledo in 2023, after which the Astros signed him as a ninth-rounder. He has plus-plus speed and swiped 26 bases in 31 tries in 71 games between High-A and Double-A last year before sustaining a severe shoulder injury that led to season-ending labrum surgery that will sideline him until at least June.
A¡¯s: Henry Bolte, OF (No. 8)
With a name like Bolte, it would be disappointing if he couldn¡¯t run, wouldn¡¯t it? Luckily, the ultra-toolsy 2022 second-round pick gets a 65 grade on his speed. He stole 32 bases in his first full season, then upped his thievery in 2024 with 46 steals to lead the organization. He has an intriguing power-speed combination (29 homers and 78 steals over the past two years). While he does swing-and-miss a lot, his ability to walk should continue to give him base-stealing opportunities, and he uses his speed to cover a lot of ground in the outfield.
Mariners: Jonny Farmelo, OF (No. 6/MLB No. 92)
This one has a little bit of a TBD next to it. When healthy, he has easily double-plus speed and he stole 18 bases in 46 games during his debut with Single-A Modesto in 2024. But he tore his right ACL in June and isn¡¯t expected back until around midseason this year, and it¡¯s unclear whether all of that quickness will return post-injury.
Rangers: Cameron Cauley, SS/2B (No. 19)
A Texas all-star wide receiver in high school, Cauley signed for an over-slot $1 million as a third-rounder in 2021. While he has been inconsistent at the plate, his plus-plus speed has enabled him to cover plenty of ground at shortstop and steal 115 bases in 129 attempts in 312 games.
NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST
Braves: John Gil, SS (No. 13)
Signed for $110,000 at the start of the 2023 international signing period, Gil has at least 70 speed, according to evaluators. After swiping 20 bags during his Dominican Summer League debut after signing, he ran his way from the Florida Complex League to Single-A Augusta in 2024, going 40-for-48 in stolen-base attempts over 90 games. He¡¯s off to a slower start back in Augusta this year, but he still has nine steals over his first 14 games.
Marlins: Dillon Head, OF (No. 7)
One of the fastest players in the 2023 Draft, Head went 25th overall to the Padres as an Illinois prepster, then was traded to the Marlins the following May as part of a four-prospect package for Luis Arraez. He played in just five games in Miami's system before injuring his left hip and requiring season-ending surgery, though he's back and showing the speed that elicits top-of-the-scale 80 grades from some scouts. He has swiped five bases in 15 games at Single-A and also is covering plenty of ground in center field.
Mets: Luisangel Acu?a, 2B/SS (No. 7)
Acu?a stole 40+ bags in four straight Minor League seasons from 2021-24, and his wheels continue to be an asset during his Major League time. Entering Wednesday, he ranks seventh in Sprint Speed (29.5 ft/sec), one spot behind Trea Turner (29.7) on the Major League leaderboard and 28 spots higher than any other Met. He¡¯s only played on the dirt in the bigs, but that speed could make him a center-field option too if New York is pressed for options there.
Nationals: Elijah Green, OF (No. 24)
Green¡¯s supreme athleticism helped make him the fifth overall pick in the 2022 Draft, and he stole 31 and 39 bags respectively in his first two full seasons with Single-A Fredericksburg. There are some evaluators who believe the 21-year-old could be an impressive defender in the Majors right now with the way he tracks down balls in center. But his contact issues continue to be the biggest drag on his profile, and they¡¯ve kept those steal numbers from being even more impressive.
Phillies: Justin Crawford, OF (No. 3/MLB No. 60)
Carl Crawford won four American League stolen-base titles and finished his career with 480 steals. The apple clearly doesn¡¯t fall that far from the tree with son Justin and his 75-grade speed. The two-time Futures Gamer has 64 steals over his past two seasons and is 8-for-9 in 19 games this year as a 21-year old at Triple-A. The scary thing is, he¡¯s still figuring that part of his game out and added overall strength continues to make him a more dynamic runner.
NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL
Brewers: Braylon Payne, OF (No. 10)
Single-A Carolina has a loaded lineup, and right at the top are two 70-grade speedsters in Payne (11 steals this season) and No. 9 prospect Luis Pe?a (12 steals). You wouldn¡¯t be wrong for going with either here, but we¡¯ll give the slight edge to the 2024 first-rounder, who can burst out of the box from the left side and command the gaps well in center field.
Cardinals: Mike Antico, OF (unranked)
The Cards graduated absolute speedster Victor Scott II last year, and they have another at Triple-A now in the 27-year-old Antico. The 2021 eighth-rounder stole 67 bases in 2022, 52 in 2023 and 33 last year between Double-A and Triple-A. He¡¯s posted Sprint Speeds above 30 ft/sec five times with Memphis this season; Scott is the only St. Louis Major Leaguer with any such runs to this point in 2025.
Cubs: Brett Bateman (No. 21)
One of the fastest runners in the 2023 college class, Bateman quickly has earned a reputation as one of the best center-field defenders in the Minors since turning pro as an eighth-rounder out of Minnesota. His speed also is apparent on the bases, where he has swiped 45 bags in 55 tries in 145 pro games.
Pirates: Konnor Griffin, SS/OF (No. 2/MLB No. 40)
Shoutout to Mitch Jebb¡¯s speed here, but it¡¯s hard not to get fired up about Griffin¡¯s dynamic athleticism. The Pirates¡¯ first-round pick last year (No. 9 overall), Griffin can do it all on the field. Only 13 games into his pro career, he¡¯s already swiped 10 bases in 13 attempts for Single-A Bradenton. His quickness has also been on display with better-than-expected defense at shortstop and will get the chance to see how it plays in center field soon.
Reds: Sammy Stafura, SS (No. 8)
A 2023 second-round pick out of the New York high school ranks who got an over-slot $1.5 million to sign, Stafura is an ultra-athletic shortstop with easily plus speed that plays on both sides of the ball. He used his improved on-base skills last season to help him steal 31 bases in 36 tries across 93 games between the Arizona Complex League and Single-A Daytona.
NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST
D-backs: Slade Caldwell, OF (No. 3)
Arizona certainly has a type in its love for smaller, fast, left-handed-hitting outfielders, and Caldwell -- last year¡¯s 29th overall pick -- falls right in line with that. The Arkansas native, who still won¡¯t turn 19 until June, could be a plus defender from anywhere on the grass, and he¡¯ll give professional batteries plenty to think about on the basepaths. Arizona has three 70-grade runners in its Top 30 between him, Jordan Lawlar and Druw Jones -- all first-round picks by the organization.
Dodgers: Kendall George, OF (No. 14)
The Dodgers have taken legitimate 80 runners with their top pick in each of the past two Drafts: Texas high school outfielder George as a supplemental first-rounder in 2023 and Florida prep shortstop Kellon Lindsey as a first-rounder last July. Some scouts joke that George actually has 90 speed on the 20-80 scale, though he's still learning to refine his instincts on the bases and in center field. Nevertheless, he has swiped 60 bases (in 82 attempts) through 129 pro games.
Giants: Jonah Cox, OF
The son of former big league catcher Darron Cox, Jonah showed off his plus-plus speed by stealing 120 bases in three seasons at Butler (Kan.) CC, Eastern Oklahoma State JC and Oral Roberts before the Athletics drafted him in 2023's sixth round. Traded to the Giants for Ross Stripling seven months later, he ranked ninth in the Minors with 58 swipes in 67 attempts in his first full pro season and already is 11-for-11 through 15 games at High-A this season.
Padres: Kai Roberts, OF (No. 23)
Standing 6-foot-4, you wouldn¡¯t expect the 2024 seventh-rounder to be such a speedster, but he¡¯s recorded plus-plus 60-yard dash times. He also went a perfect 14-for-14 in steal attempts over 24 games for Single-A Lake Elsinore last summer after the Draft and 33-for-39 in 55 games for Utah in the spring before that. He was initially placed on the High-A Fort Wayne roster but is currently on the injured list with a hamstring issue.
Rockies: Cole Carrigg, OF/SS (No. 3)
A versatile toolshed who has played all over the place as an amateur and so far as a pro, including behind the plate, it looks like Carrigg might be settling in as an outfielder and some think he could be the Rockies¡¯ future center fielder. His easily plus speed works there and helps him be a constant threat on the bases. His 53 steals in 2024 led the organization, the 11th-highest total among all Minor Leaguers.