All-Time No. 1 Farm Systems
Image credit: Dwight Gooden (Photo by Rich Pilling/MLB Photos/Getty Images)
Baseball America has been ranking baseball’s best farm systems since 1984, when Dwight Gooden, Ron Darling and Lenny Dykstra led the Mets to the No. 1 spot in the first Organization Talent Rankings. Two years later, they and many others from that system would help the Mets win a World Series.
They would hardly be the first team to have a No. 1 farm system translate to championships. The Blue Jays ranked No. 1 back-to-back years in 1987-88, and would go on to win back-to-back World Series in 1992-93.
The Braves had the top-ranked farm system heading into the 1992, 1994 and 1995 seasons. Helped by staples of those systems like Chipper Jones, Ryan Klesko, Javy Lopez and Mark Wohlers, they would win the franchise’s first World Series in Atlanta in 1995.
More recently, the 2011 Royals and 2015 Cubs turned their No. 1 farm systems into World Series banners, through both prospect graduations and trades of top prospects to acquire the final veteran pieces they needed.
Now, the Padres join the ranks as the No. 1 system in the 2019 Baseball America Organization Talent Rankings. It is the first time in franchise history the Padres have been atop the list.
Here is the all-time list of every team ranked No. 1 in Baseball America’s Organization Talent Rankings, as well as who some of the top talents were in those systems.
| Year | No. 1 Team | Notable Players |
| 2018 | Braves | Ronald Acuna, Mike Soroka, Touki Toussaint, Kyle Wright, Austin Riley |
| 2017 | Braves | Ronald Acuna, Ozzie Albies, Sean Newcomb, Dansby Swanson, Mike Soroka |
| 2016 | Dodgers | Corey Seager, Cody Bellinger, Walker Buehler, Julio Urias, Ross Stripling, Jose Peraza, Austin Barnes |
| 2015 | Cubs | Kris Bryant, Addison Russell, Kyle Schwarber, Gleyber Torres, Albert Almora, Eloy Jimenez, Jorge Soler, Carl Edwards |
| 2014 | Pirates | Gregory Polanco, Jameson Taillon, Josh Bell, Tyler Glasnow, Austin Meadows |
| 2013 | Cardinals | Carlos Martinez, Michael Wacha, Matt Adams, Stephen Piscotty, Trevor Rosenthal, Shelby Miller, Kolten Wong |
| 2012 | Nationals | Bryce Harper, Anthony Rendon, Derek Norris, Brad Peacock, Robbie Ray, Michael A. Taylor |
| 2011 | Royals | Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Wil Myers, Salvador Perez, Danny Duffy, Mike Montgomery, Yordano Ventura, Jarrod Dyson, Kelvin Herrera |
| 2010 | Rays | Jeremy Hellickson, Wade Davis, Matt Moore, Alex Colome, Alex Cobb, Jake McGee, Tim Beckham |
| 2009 | Rangers | Justin Smoak, Derek Holland, Elvis Andrus, Neftali Feliz, Martin Perez, Tommy Hunter |
| 2008 | Rays | Evan Longoria, David Price, Wade Davis, Jake McGee, Jeremy Hellickson, Alex Cobb, John Jaso |
| 2007 | Rays | Evan Longoria, Wade Davis, Delmon Young, Jake McGee, Akinori Iwamura, Jeremy Hellickson, Jason Hammel, John Jaso |
| 2006 | D-backs* | Carlos Gonzalez, Stephen Drew, Carlos Quentin, Miguel Montero, Conor Jackson, Chris Carter, Micah Owings, Emilio Bonifacio |
| 2005 | Angels | Ervin Santana, Howie Kendrick, Kendrys Morales, Erick Aybar, Mark Trumbo, Mike Napoli, Joe Saunders |
| 2004 | Brewers | Prince Fielder, J.J. Hardy, Rickie Weeks, Corey Hart, Manny Parra, Jorge De La Rosa, Chris Capuano |
| 2003 | Indians | Victor Martinez, Cliff Lee, Brandon Phillips, Travis Hafner, Grady Sizemore, Jhonny Peralta, Jeremy Guthrie, Coco Crisp |
| 2002 | Cubs | Mark Prior, Carlos Zambrano, Dontrelle Willis, Hee Seop Choi, Ryan Theriot |
| 2001 | White Sox | Aaron Rowand, Joe Crede, Miguel Olivo, Jon Rauch, Josh Fogg |
| 2000 | Yankees | Alfonso Soriano, Jake Westbrook, Nick Johnson, Juan Rivera, Marcus Thames |
| 1999 | Braves | Rafael Furcal, Marcus Giles, Jason Marquis, Odalis Perez, Mark DeRosa |
| 1998 | Marlins | Mark Kotsay, Alex Gonzalez, Ryan Dempster, Antonio Alfonseca, Kevin Millar, Brian Daubach |
| 1997 | Pirates | Aramis Ramirez, Jose Guillen, Tony Womack, Kris Benson, Bronson Arroyo, Jason Johnson |
| 1996 | Dodgers | Paul Konerko, Chan Ho Park, Todd Hollandsworth, Paul Lo Duca, Karim Garcia, Roger Cedeno |
| 1995 | Braves | Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones, Jason Schmidt, Jermaine Dye, Kevin Millwood |
| 1994 | Braves | Chipper Jones, Ryan Klesko, Javy Lopez, Jason Schmidt, Kevin Millwood |
| 1993 | Blue Jays | Carlos Delgado, Shawn Green, Alex Gonzalez, Shannon Stewart, Woody Williams, Ed Sprague |
| 1992 | Braves | Chipper Jones, Ryan Klesko, Javy Lopez, Vinny Castilla, Jason Schmidt, Mark Wohlers |
| 1991 | Yankees/Expos/Dodgers** | Bernie Williams, Carl Everett (NYY); Rondell White, Wil Cordero (MON); Pedro Martinez, Eric Karros, Raul Mondesi (LAD) |
| 1990 | Rangers | Juan Gonzalez, Ivan Rodriguez, Robb Nen, Dean Palmer, Darren Oliver |
| 1989 | Expos | Randy Johnson, Marquis Grissom, Delino DeShields, Wil Cordero, Kent Bottenfield |
| 1988 | Blue Jays | David Wells, Pat Hentgen, Todd Stottlemyre, Derek Bell, Glenallen Hill, Mark Whiten |
| 1987 | Blue Jays | Fred McGriff, David Wells, Pat Hentgen, Todd Stottlemyre, Glenallen Hill, Mark Whiten, Jose Mesa |
| 1986 | Athletics | Mark McGwire, Jose Canseco, Walt Weiss, Tim Belcher, Terry Steinbach, Stan Javier, Luis Polonia |
| 1985 | Mets | Lenny Dykstra, Randy Myers, Rick Aguilera, Dave Magadan, Jose Oquendo |
| 1984 | Mets | Dwight Gooden, Ron Darling, Lenny Dykstra, Kevin Mitchell, Sid Fernandez, Rick Aguilera |
*Justin Upton had not yet signed and thus was not among the players considered in the 2006 D-backs system.
**In 1991 Baseball America issued letter grades for each team’s farm system instead of a ranking. The Yankees, Expos and Dodgers were the three clubs that received an “A”.
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