The Top 100 prospects for 2020, team by team
MLB Pipeline¡¯s Top 100 Prospects list for 2020 is live, led by an 18-year-old with an 80-grade hit tool.
But what about the rest of the list? Who made the cut from your favorite team? Here¡¯s a team-by-team look at every organization¡¯s representatives on this year¡¯s list:
(Editor's note: Prospect Points are determined by assigning a numerical value to each spot in the Top 100, giving 100 points to No. 1, 99 points to No. 2, and so on. A team's total is calculated by adding the values assigned to each of its Top 100 prospects.)
AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST
Blue Jays (3)
8. Nate Pearson, RHP (ETA: 2020)
75. Jordan Groshans, SS/3B (2022)
98. Simeon Woods Richardson, RHP (2021)
While the graduations of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette (MLB Pipeline¡¯s respective Nos. 1 and 11 prospects in 2019) have drastically impacted the Blue Jays¡¯ representation on this year¡¯s Top 100 compared to last year, when they had a franchise-record five Top 100 prospects, they still managed to place a prospect inside the top 10 for a third straight year. The Blue Jays have also opened each of the past four seasons with at least three Top 100 prospects, though their 122 Prospect Points this year is the organization¡¯s lowest total in that span.
Orioles (4)
4. Adley Rutschman, C (ETA: 2021)
36. Grayson Rodriguez, RHP (2021)
69. DL Hall, LHP (2021)
94. Ryan Mountcastle, 1B/OF (2020)
The number of Top 100 prospects in a system isn¡¯t the only way to evaluate organizational growth, but it¡¯s safe to say the Orioles are headed in the right direction. Last year¡¯s placement of three on the list was the most the organization had since we moved to a Top 100 list in 2012, and one more has been added in '20, headlined by last year¡¯s No. 1 overall pick in Rutschman, who is the kind of player that can transform a system.
Rays (6)
1. Wander Franco, SS (ETA: 2021)
15. Brendan McKay, LHP/DH (2020)
45. Vidal Brujan, 2B/SS (2020)
72. Xavier Edwards, 2B/SS (2022)
90. Shane Baz, RHP (2022)
91. Brent Honeywell, RHP (2020)
The Rays have more Top 100 prospects than any other team this year, ending San Diego¡¯s two-year reign as the best-represented team on the list. It¡¯s the third time since MLB Pipeline expanded its rankings from 50 to 100 in 2012 that the Rays have placed six players on the list, and they¡¯ve now done so twice in the last three years. This year¡¯s Rays group is headlined by Wander Franco, MLB Pipeline¡¯s No. 1 overall prospect, but also features three players ranked inside the top 50, including two in the top 15. The Rays rank fifth among all teams with 292 Prospect Points, and although that total is down compared to the previous two years, it¡¯s still above the organization¡¯s Prospect Points average from 2012-19 (245).
Red Sox (1)
77. Tristan Casas, 1B (ETA: 2022)
Boston's farm system heavily contributed to the 2018 World Series championship, providing plenty of homegrown talent including Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers, not to mention trade fodder to acquire Craig Kimbrel and Chris Sale. Boston is now in the process of replenishing its young talent, with some promising players in the lowest levels of the system but only one Top 100 Prospect for the second straight year.
Yankees (3)
54. Jasson Dominguez, OF (ETA: 2024)
88. Clarke Schmidt, RHP (2020)
92. Deivi Garcia, RHP (2020)
Homegrown talent has helped fuel back-to-back 100-win seasons for the Yankees, though promotions and trades have thinned out their farm system somewhat since MLB Pipeline ranked it as baseball's second-best three years ago. Dominguez has an immense ceiling and is drawing athletic comparisons to Bo Jackson and Mickey Mantle before making his pro debut, while Schmidt and Garcia could bolster the big league rotation in 2020.
AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL
Indians (2)
42. Nolan Jones, 3B (ETA: 2020)
96. Tyler Freeman, SS (2021)
The Indians' system is the strongest it has been since the start of last decade, when Michael Brantley, Carlos Carrasco, Jason Kipnis, Corey Kluber, Francisco Lindor, Jose Ramirez and Carlos Santana were working their way toward Cleveland. They may boast just two current Top 100 prospects in Jones and Freeman, but the Indians have several talented teenagers (catcher Bo Naylor, outfielder George Valera, right-hander Daniel Espino and more) who could crack the list in the near future.
Royals (3)
10. Bobby Witt Jr., SS (ETA: 2022)
59. Brady Singer, RHP (2020)
61. Daniel Lynch, LHP (2021)
The Royals did not have a Top 100 prospect for two straight years (2017-18) before 2018 first-round Draft pick Brady Singer joined the mix ahead of ¡¯19. They have three this year, the club¡¯s highest total since 2015 (5), and they¡¯re all products of the Royals¡¯ past two Drafts. Bobby Witt Jr., the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 Draft, gives the Royals some star power up top, helping to place them in the top-half among all 30 teams in Prospect Points (13th, 173). That growth on the farm reflects Kanas City¡¯s strong rebuilding effort in recent years, and it would not be surprising if the system continued to grow in 2020.
Tigers (4)
7. Casey Mize, RHP (ETA: 2020)
24. Matt Manning, RHP (2020)
31. Riley Greene, OF (2022)
46. Tarik Skubal, LHP (2021)
Though they¡¯ve now placed four players in the Top 100 in two of the past three years (2018, '20), the Tigers have never been better represented on the list than they are this year, with all four prospects ranking inside the top 50. That highly ranked group translates to 296 Prospect Points for Detroit, smashing the organization¡¯s previous high-water mark in 2008 (185) as well as their 2018 total (174). Mize and Manning, the club¡¯s respective first-round picks in 2018 and '16, headline a deep crop of Tigers pitching prospects who could reach the Majors in 2020.
Twins (5)
9. Royce Lewis, SS (ETA: 2020)
32. Alex Kirilloff, OF/1B (2020)
81. Trevor Larnach, OF (2020)
83. Brusdar Graterol, RHP (2020)
86. Jordan Balazovic, RHP (2021)
Given their market size, the Twins feel they must rely on a continuously strong farm system feeding the big league team. And they¡¯ve done a good job of it, landing in the top 10 in six of the 10 farm system rankings MLB Pipeline has done since the start of the 2015 season. Entering 2020, they once again have a strong farm system, with five Top 100 players and with some depth in terms of players who could step into that conversation during the season.
White Sox (4)
3. Luis Robert, OF (ETA: 2020)
16. Andrew Vaughn, 1B (2021)
20. Michael Kopech, RHP (2020)
40. Nick Madrigal, 2B (2020)
The White Sox have one of the most top-heavy systems in the game, with four Top 100 prospects -- their fewest since they fully committed to rebuilding after the 2016 season -- but not much depth. That said, Robert, Vaughn and Madrigal are the best trio of position prospects anywhere, and Kopech showcased arguably the best pure stuff in the Minors before he had Tommy John surgery.
AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST
A¡¯s (3)
12. Jesus Luzardo, LHP (ETA: 2020)
33. Sean Murphy, C (2020)
60. A.J. Puk, LHP (2020)
The A¡¯s have used their farm system a lot to build winning teams the last couple of seasons, though it¡¯s been more through trades than promotions. Even with that being the case, all three of the organization¡¯s Top 100 prospects contributed to the 2019 playoff team and should make major impacts as parts of the Opening Day roster in 2020.
Angels (2)
6. Jo Adell, OF (ETA: 2020)
79. Brandon Marsh, OF (2020)
This is a farm system that definitely needs an up arrow next to its name, and that¡¯s not just because top prospect Jo Adell has company in the Top 100 (though the Adell-Marsh outfield tandem should excite Angels fans). There¡¯s a ton of upside in this system, and while that comes with some risk, even some moderate steps forward, particularly from the toolsy position players, would vault Los Angeles into the top half of farm systems in baseball.
Astros (1)
19. Forrest Whitley, RHP (ETA: 2020)
After going all in to win the last three years, resulting in a 2017 World Series triumph, two pennants and an MLB-best 311 victories, the Astros have a strong big league club and one of the game's thinnest systems. They've graduated Alex Bregman, Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker to Houston and dealt a combined eight Top 100 prospects to acquire Justin Verlander, since-departed Gerrit Cole and Zack Greinke, leaving the enigmatic but talented Whitley as their lone current Top 100 representative -- their fewest since MLB Pipeline expanded its list from 50 to 100 in 2012.
Mariners (5)
11. Jarred Kelenic, OF (ETA: 2021)
18. Julio Rodriguez, OF (2022)
38. Logan Gilbert, RHP (2020)
56. Evan White, 1B (2020)
100. George Kirby, RHP (2021)
The rebuilding of the Mariners' system has been fun to watch, as general manager Jerry Dipoto has traded for -- instead of sent away -- prospects to add depth. And they¡¯ve held on to the guys they¡¯ve done a fantastic job of scouting and signing from the amateur landscape. Four of the organization¡¯s five Top 100 prospects are homegrown, and the Kelenic-Rodriguez combo is as good as any outfield prospect tandem in the game.
Rangers (2)
55. Josh Jung, 3B (ETA: 2021)
74. Sam Huff, C (2021)
Injuries and development setbacks have prevented the Rangers' farm system from contributing much while the team has endured three straight losing seasons. The organization still has plenty of high-ceiling prospects, exemplified by the slugging and strong-armed Huff, though it may have signaled a more moderate approach by taking Jung and his polished bat with the eighth overall pick last June.
NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST
Braves (5)
13. Cristian Pache, OF (ETA: 2020)
26. Drew Waters, OF (2020)
37. Ian Anderson, RHP (2020)
52. Kyle Wright, RHP (2020)
70. Shea Langeliers, C (2022)
The outfield duo at the top, Pache and Waters, is the only one that might be able to do battle with the Mariners' Kelenic-Rodriguez pairing, not only giving the Braves two more super young and toolsy outfielders coming up behind Ronald Acu?a Jr., but giving them two who could be ready to contribute this season. Even with graduations, trades and some relatively lackluster performances, there¡¯s still a lot of pitching depth in this system, with a lot of the talent pooling up at the highest level.
Marlins (5)
22. Sixto Sanchez, RHP (ETA: 2020)
28. JJ Bleday, OF (2021)
66. Jazz Chisholm, SS (2021)
80. Jesus Sanchez, OF (2020)
85. Edward Cabrera, RHP (2021)
Since a group led by Bruce Sherman and Derek Jeter bought the Marlins in September 2017 and fully embraced the rebuilding process, the farm system has improved from arguably the game's worst to No. 4 in MLB Pipeline's most recent system rankings in August. Their five Top 100 prospects are their most since they tied for the lead with six in 2013, and four of them were acquired last year: both Sanchezes and Chisholm in three separate trades, and Bleday with the No. 4 overall pick in the Draft.
Mets (4)
62. Ronny Mauricio, SS (ETA: 2022)
63. Francisco Alvarez, C (2023)
84. Andres Gimenez, SS (2020)
93. Brett Baty, 3B (2022)
The Mets have as many Top 100 prospects this year as they did in the previous three combined, but they¡¯re 21st in terms of Prospect Points (102) because all of their representatives rank outside of the top 60. The good news is that none of those players are any older than 21, and as a result they all have to the potential to rank much higher on the Top 100 a year from now, especially Mauricio, Alvarez and Baty.
Nationals (2)
21. Carter Kieboom, SS/2B (ETA: 2020)
97. Luis Garcia, SS/2B (2021)
Washington¡¯s had at least two Top 100 prospects on nine consecutive preseason lists dating back to 2012, and this year is the sixth straight in which the organization has placed a player inside the top 25. They¡¯re 22nd among all 30 teams with 84 Prospect Points, the club¡¯s lowest total since 2014.
Phillies (3)
30. Alec Bohm, 3B/1B (ETA: 2020)
34. Spencer Howard, RHP (2020)
87. Bryson Stott, SS (2022)
The Phillies' system has been thinned out a bit, with players graduating to the big leagues and/or being dealt to help the big league team out. The addition of Bohm, who reached Double-A in his first full season and then raked in the Arizona Fall League, in the 2018 Draft and Stott from last year¡¯s Draft helps considerably, as does the big step forward by Howard to give them a legitimate top pitching prospect.
NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL
Brewers (0)
While the Brewers are the only team without a Top 100 representative this year, they did have several prospects receive consideration: Brice Turang, Mario Feliciano and Tristen Lutz. They placed five prospects in the Top 100 in back-to-back years (2016-17), but they have combined for four in the past three years. That trend reflects the team¡¯s desire to elongate their competitive window by trading prospects for big leaguers, and they have a slew of young players who could be firmly in the Top 100 conversation by this time next year.
Cardinals (3)
17. Dylan Carlson, OF (ETA: 2020)
47. Nolan Gorman, 3B (2022)
58. Matthew Liberatore, LHP (2022)
Gorman is the Cardinals¡¯ only Top 100 holdover from last year, when he ranked No. 61 overall, though Liberatore made last year¡¯s list as a member of the Rays (No. 55) before joining St. Louis in an offseason trade. One the top breakout players in the Minors last season, Carlson now ranks among the best prospects in the game after he totaled 26 homers and 20 steals as a 20-year-old last season between Double- and Triple-A. Overall, the Cardinals have placed at least two prospects in the Top 100 in five straight years and all but once since 2012.
Cubs (4)
51. Nico Hoerner, SS (ETA: 2020)
68. Brailyn Marquez, LHP (2021)
78. Brennen Davis, OF (2022)
95. Miguel Amaya, C (2021)
The Cubs' ability to churn out quality position prospects resulted in a long-awaited World Series title, but their inability to develop pitchers has hurt their chances of adding another championship. Though Marquez is a potential frontline starter, Hoerner, Davis and Amaya testify that the system is still deeper in bats than arms.
Pirates (3)
39. Mitch Keller, RHP (ETA: 2020)
41. Ke¡¯Bryan Hayes, 3B (2020)
64. Oneil Cruz, SS (2021)
It¡¯s not the super-deep system it once was, as some prospects were traded away when the Pirates were trying to contend, and many others graduated off the list. Keller will do the same once he throws two innings at the start of the 2020 season and Hayes should be ready to contribute this year as well if there¡¯s a need at third. Cruz continues to be one of the most fascinating -- and hard to figure out -- prospects in the game, but one who has the chance to be a true impact player if it all comes together.
Reds (2)
48. Nick Lodolo, LHP (ETA: 2021)
53. Hunter Greene, RHP (2022)
It always hurts when your top prospect goes down with Tommy John surgery, but Greene will be back soon enough, and rest assured, he won¡¯t be outworked on his path to recovery. In the meantime, the Reds added Lodolo in the 2019 Draft, giving them an advanced college lefty who should move quickly. The rest of the system has thinned out a bit with graduations to the big leagues and some trades. A healthy season from 2018 first-round Draft pick Jonathan India would be a help.
NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST
D-backs (5)
43. Kristian Robinson, OF (ETA: 2022)
49. Alek Thomas, OF (2022)
76. Daulton Varsho, C (2020)
82. Geraldo Perdomo, SS/2B (2022)
89. Corbin Carroll, OF (2023)
One of eight teams with five players on the 2020 Top 100, the D-backs¡¯ system improved exponentially last year as they infused their farm with young, impact prospects via a strong Draft and some shrewd trades. Their Top 100 total this year matches the club¡¯s combined total from the previous three years, and it can be argued that no club is in a better position to have more Top 100 prospects in 2021 than Arizona. They have the fewest Prospect Points (166) among teams with five Top 100 prospects this year, although that mark is also the D-backs¡¯ second-highest PP total since 2013.
Dodgers (5)
2. Gavin Lux, SS/2B (ETA: 2020)
23. Dustin May, RHP (2020)
44. Jeter Downs, SS (2021)
67. Josiah Gray, RHP (2020)
73. Keibert Ruiz, C (2021)
No team combines winning in the Majors and developing impact talent in the Minors better than the Dodgers. Lux and May are their latest National League Rookie of the Year candidates and cracked last October's playoff roster just three years after being drafted out of high school. Downs, Gray and Ruiz should contribute in Los Angeles in the near future as well.
Giants (5)
14. Joey Bart, C (ETA: 2020)
35. Marco Luciano, SS (2022)
65. Heliot Ramos, OF (2021)
71. Hunter Bishop, OF (2022)
99. Seth Corry, LHP (2022)
The Giants are coming off their worst three-year stretch since 1983-85, but there's hope for the future because their system is stronger than it has been in a decade. Bart and Luciano are their most talented farmhands since Buster Posey and Madison Bumgarner, and their five Top 100 prospects eclipse their previous high of two since we expanded the list starting in 2012.
Padres (5)
5. MacKenzie Gore, LHP (ETA: 2020)
25. CJ Abrams, SS (2022)
27. Luis Patino, RHP (2021)
50. Luis Campusano, C (2021)
57. Taylor Trammell, OF (2021)
The Padres established a new MLB Pipeline record last year with their 10 Top 100 prospects and 574 Prospect Points and also led the way in both categories (7 and 423, respectively) in 2018. But their two-year run as the best-represented team on the Top 100 now has come to an end, as the club is one of eight teams this year to place five players in the Top 100. The Padres still have the most Prospect Points (341), thanks largely to the presence of No. 5 prospect MacKenzie Gore, not to mention the fact that each of their five Top 100 prospects rank inside the top 60 spots. However, it¡¯s also the lowest top Prospect Points total since MLB Pipeline expanded its rankings from 50 to 100 in 2012.
Rockies (1)
29. Brendan Rodgers, 2B/SS (ETA: 2020)
A healthy Rodgers in 2019 likely graduates from prospect rankings, but his shoulder injury, which will delay his 2020 debut, keeps him here and gives the Rockies their lone Top 100 representative. They do have three of our Top 10 first-base prospects, with 2019 first-round Draft pick Michael Toglia leading the Colorado trio there, and '18 first-rounder Ryan Rolison could climb back onto the Top 100 during the 2020 season.