The 10 best 2025 Spring Breakout rosters, ranked
Sam Dykstra
@SamDykstraMiLBDing, ding, who¡¯s ready for Round 2?
Last year¡¯s inaugural edition of Spring Breakout gave fans early looks at Paul Skenes, Jackson Chourio, Pete Crow-Armstrong, James Wood, Jackson Holliday, Ceddanne Rafaela and many other young stars who graduated off prospect lists in 2024. Not only does it serve as a great showcase for the next generation, but it also gives folks a concentrated look at the strength of every farm system.
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That said, teams aren¡¯t using their full farms for one exhibition. They had to craft rosters based on health, availability, 40-man status, and of course, talent. And as is the case with any type of roster construction, some clubs just put together more exciting groups of players than others.
Following Thursday¡¯s release of all 30 Spring Breakout rosters, here are the 10 we believe are the most loaded (in descending order):
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1. Boston Red Sox
Top 100 prospects (4): Roman Anthony, OF (No. 2); Kristian Campbell, 2B/SS/OF (No. 7); Marcelo Mayer, SS (No. 12); Franklin Arias, SS/2B (No. 75)
Total Top 30 prospects: 20
Matchup: @ Rays, March 13, 7:05 p.m. ET/4:05 p.m. PT
Boston is the only farm system with three top 12 overall prospects. All three are participating in Spring Breakout this year, including the top Breakout prospect in Anthony. Need we say more? OK, sure. Anthony, Campbell and Mayer all have at least above-average hit and power tools, and should they start together as expected, the Red Sox will have the most fearsome heart of the order in this year¡¯s Breakout showcase. This could also be an introduction to Arias, who has played only 36 games above the Complex levels but excites Boston officials for his early buy-in to their hitting philosophies. The hitting group brings the majority of the excitement here, but keep an eye out for David Sandlin (No. 9) and Connelly Early (No. 10) on the pitching side. The latter, in particular, has shown improved velocity this spring up to 97 mph and could use the event as a launching pad for a big 2025.
The White Sox are in the midst of a rebuild, so there¡¯s no way better for Chicago to exhibit the talent that¡¯s coming than by getting as much of it on the same field as once. Accordingly, all six of the Sox Top 100 prospects are included on the Spring Breakout roster. The two best left-handed pitching prospects in Schultz and Smith could go back-to-back at the start of the game. Teel, Braden Montgomery and Chase Meidroth (No. 8) could feature in the same lineup, all having been key pieces in the Garrett Crochet return. Beyond the Top 100 contingent, Chicago¡¯s top 14 prospects were included on the Breakout roster. How many will we see as regulars on the South Side? Check back in five years, but don¡¯t be shocked if it¡¯s a few.
The No. 2 farm system in the game is bringing all five of its Top 100 prospects and nine of its top 10 -- Brody Hopkins (No. 8) is the only one missing -- to this year¡¯s Breakout. This makes the Florida opener against Boston a prime opportunity to see Williams and Morgan flash the leather, Isaac display his plus-plus pop and Chandler Simpson show off arguably baseball¡¯s best set of wheels. That¡¯s a lot of tools and a diverse set of skills at that. The pitching will be led by promising young arms Santiago Suarez, Gary Gill Hill and Trevor Harrison, so the excitement isn¡¯t exclusive to the position-player group either. Tampa Bay¡¯s system is so deep that non-Top 30 prospects like Mac Horvath or Paul Gervase could play big roles against the Red Sox.
Seattle named six of its seven Top 100 prospects to the Breakout roster, tying with the White Sox for the most on one club. After developing pitching exceptionally well (plus Julio Rodr¨ªguez), the M¡¯s bring a Top 100 contingent of exclusively hitters to this year¡¯s showcase, giving fans a glimpse of the bats who could help the big club in time, even though none have experience above Double-A yet. Arroyo, in particular, just helped Colombia clinch a spot in the 2026 World Baseball Classic with a solid qualifiers performance in Tucson and will head to Friday¡¯s game with plenty of competitive juices flowing. The hurler most will want to see: 2024 15th overall pick and switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje.
MLB Pipeline just named the Tigers the No. 1 farm system in baseball because of its depth and quality of top talent. Would Detroit sit in the No. 1 spot here if Jackson Jobe was pitching in Spring Breakout? It¡¯s highly likely, but we won¡¯t begrudge the right-hander for staying on the MLB side while he competes for an Opening Day roster spot. Instead, the bats should rule the day on Sunday against Atlanta. Clark provides lightning at the top of the order, McGonigle brings exceptional bat-to-ball skills and Liranzo and Brice?o carry ample thunder. What¡¯s more, this will be many Detroit fans¡¯ first look at 2024 first-rounder Rainer, a shortstop with pop and plus-plus arm strength. With Hao-Yu Lee also in the mix, the Tigers will have a fun infield to sort through.
6. Cincinnati Reds
Top 100 prospects (3): Chase Burns, RHP (No. 26); Sal Stewart, 2B/3B (No. 83); Edwin Arroyo, SS (No. 91)
Total Top 30 prospects: 22
Matchup: @ Brewers, March 16, 7:40 p.m. ET/4:40 p.m. PT
Burns certainly commanded everyone¡¯s attention Wednesday when he threw four pitches at 100+ mph and struck out three in his one and only Cactus League inning of the spring. His plus-plus slider should also be a weapon, and you can bet both the heater and breaking ball will be on full display if he gets the ball against Milwaukee on Sunday. The velo doesn¡¯t stop there with Chase Petty (up to 98.9 mph this spring), Connor Phillips (98.6) and Luis Mey (100.5) also on the Breakout roster. Cincinnati could also bump up its infield group with Top 100 prospects with Stewart at second and Arroyo at short, and catcher Alfredo Duno could use this as a launching pad toward the Top 100 himself -- a broken rib cut his 2024 short in May.
7. Cleveland Guardians
Top 100 prospects (3): Travis Bazzana, 2B (No. 10); Jaison Chourio, OF (No. 59); Angel Genao, INF (No. 61)
Total Top 30 prospects: 16
Matchup: vs. Mariners, March 14, 8:05 p.m. ET/5:05 p.m. PT
Bazzana, last year¡¯s No. 1 overall pick already proved he can put on a spring show by homering in his second Cactus League game on Feb. 25, and playing in this type of environment against fellow prospects, the former Oregon State star may be able to flex his hitting prowess even more. He won¡¯t be alone. Chourio -- brother of Brewers star outfielder Jackson -- and Genao are both switch-hitters with plus hit tools, and after swiping 44 bags last season, Chourio can impact the game with his legs too. Outside the Top 100, Ralphy Velazquez and C.J. Kayfus rank No. 8 and 9 on MLB Pipeline¡¯s list of Top 10 first-base prospects and could be left-handed-hitting forces for Cleveland on Thursday. Be prepared for lefty pitchers too. The top four ranked Guards hurlers are southpaws, as is 2024 standout Matt ¡°Tugboat¡± Wilkinson.
8. Pittsburgh Pirates
Top 100 prospects (3): Bubba Chandler, RHP (No. 15); Konnor Griffin, SS/OF (No. 43); Termarr Johnson, 2B/SS (No. 82)
Total Top 30 prospects: 18
Matchup: @ Phillies, March 14, 1:05 p.m. ET/10:05 a.m. PT
Last year¡¯s Spring Breakout highlight was Skenes striking out Holliday in a matchup between two No. 1 overall picks. The Bucs could go with a big pitching prospect as its Breakout starter for the second year in a row with Chandler on the roster. The 22-year-old right-hander may have been assigned to Minor League camp earlier than expected, but his high-octane arsenal has the potential to baffle Phillies on Friday. Griffin and Johnson would make for a fun double-play partnership, and the former in particular caught a ton of attention for the way he handled himself at just 18 years old in MLB camp. A strong Breakout would only add to his impressive first Spring Training. Wyatt Sanford (second round) will give Pittsburgh fans an additional look at a shortstop from the 2024 Draft.
9. Kansas City Royals
Top 100 prospects (3): Jac Caglianone, 1B (No. 22); Blake Mitchell, C (No. 48); Carter Jensen, C (No. 85)
Total Top 30 prospects: 26
Matchup: @ D-backs, March 14, 8:10 p.m. ET/5:10 p.m. PT
We end with two organizations that understood the Spring Breakout assignment. Kansas City added 26 members of its Top 30 to the Breakout roster, tying them with the club below for most in this year¡¯s series. While Mitchell won¡¯t play as he recovers from a broken hamate, Caglianone and Jensen give the lineup ample heft. The former, in particular, has been a star of spring as he¡¯s taken his trademark power from Florida and put it to use in the Cactus League. His raw power might be the best in the entire showcase. Each of the Royals¡¯ top 19 prospects are on the roster, including notable arms Ben Kudrna, Noah Cameron and Steven Zobac. The Royals may not be as loaded a system as others, but you can¡¯t ask for much better from their Breakout roster.
10. Miami Marlins
Top 100 prospects (3): Thomas White, LHP (No. 41); Starlyn Caba, SS (No. 80); Noble Meyer, RHP (No. 84)
Total Top 30 prospects: 26
Matchup: vs. Cardinals, March 14, 12:10 p.m. ET/9:10 a.m. PT
Again, the Marlins did as well as could be expected for filling out a Breakout roster with 26 of the 27 spots used up by Top 30 prospects; they just lack someone with the star power of Caglianone. White and Meyer are no strangers to this event, having each gotten an inning against the Cardinals last year. The former struck out all three batters he faced, and all three were future Major Leaguers in Victor Scott II, Thomas Saggese and Pedro Pag¨¦s. Caba, a plus-plus defender at shortstop, will make his official organization debut after coming over from the Phillies in the Jes¨²s Luzardo deal. And Agustin Ramirez (another pickup from the Yankees at the 2024 Trade Deadline) brings ample power to the middle of the lineup.