Every Top 100 Prospects Riser, Faller & New Addition In September
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Updating the Top 100 is somewhat of a moving target throughout the season.
At this point in the year, more than 160 players have ranked inside the Baseball America Top 100 Prospects, which is updated monthly throughout the season. Performance and injuries dictate player movement, and prospects also graduate throughout the season. We are constantly making calls and gathering more intel to keep this list fresh and updated for Baseball America subscribers.
Our September update is our last significant in-season change of the year. There are a series of changes, including a new No. 1 prospect, following additional reporting. Below, you can find:
- New additions to the Top 100
- Risers
- Fallers
- Players who dropped off entirely
- Graduates
You can also find previous Top 100 player movement here. We hope you enjoy following along with the ebbs and flows of the Top 100 throughout the season. We’re eager to watch the rest of the season unfold and begin our thorough offseason reporting process. The 2025 list will be here before we know it.
NEW ADDITIONS IN SEPTEMBER
Kumar Rocker (NR to No. 30), RHP, Rangers
Rocker was one of the best pitching prospects in the world in 2019. He’s battled injuries at times since then, but he once again looks like one of the top pitching prospects in baseball. Now, we’ll see if he can just stay healthy for years to come. You can read more about Rocker here.
Drake Baldwin (NR to No. 80), C, Braves
In a Braves farm system light on impact positional prospects, Baldwin has been a welcomed presence. The catcher has shown strong plate skills and power dating back to his professional debut in 2022. His performance this season in Triple-A has solidified his top prospect status.
Jesus Made (NR to No. 83), SS, Brewers
Made hit .331/.458/.554 with six home runs, 28 steals and more walks than strikeouts in his professional debut despite turning 17 years old less than a month before the DSL season began. Already showcasing elite contact and approach, Made is also showing above-average exit velocities relative to his age group.
Alejandro Rosario (NR to No. 86), RHP, Rangers
After dominating both Class A levels in his professional debut, Rosario was promoted to Double-A Frisco for the final few weeks of the season. Rosario has a refined three-pitch mix that could end up developing into three above-average or better pitches at peak.
Christian Moore (NR to No. 88), 2B, Angels
The Angels’ 2024 first-round pick skyrocketed to Double-A after the draft and has shown some of the best quality of contact of any player in MiLB. Moore is a slugging second baseman with some swing-and-miss, but he has enough refinement to get to his plus power consistently.
Jarlin Susana (NR to No. 89), RHP, Nationals
The light bulb has gone off for Susana. He’s one of the hardest-throwing starters in the minors, but it’s his secondaries that help him dominate.
Thayron Liranzo (NR to No. 90), C, Tigers
Liranzo is a perfect example of the fluid nature of the back of the Top 100. He’s been on the list before, and he’s back now as graduations have thinned the 100.
Thomas Harrington (NR to No. 91), RHP, Pirates
Harrington won’t light up the radar gun like Paul Skenes, Jared Jones or Bubba Chandler, but he has a deep arsenal of pitches and knows how to get outs.
Demetrio Crisantes (NR to No. 92), SS, D-backs
After dominating the Arizona Complex League, Crisantes continued his dominance in the second half of the season with Low-A. Crisantes has a well-rounded set of skills showing above-average on-base, contact hitting and power projection.
Franklin Arias (NR to No. 94), SS, Red Sox
Arias was the MVP of Florida State League, hitting .355/.471/.584 before earning a promotion to Low-A Salem. Excellent plate skills and developing impact make Arias an up-arrow name.
Samuel Aldegheri (NR to No. 96), LHP, Angels
The lefthander made history in his MLB debut by becoming the first player born and raised in Italy to start a major league game. Aldegheri has a pair of good secondaries and good fastball shape from the left side.
Emiliano Teodo (NR to No. 97), RHP, Rangers
The emergence of Teodo dates back to late last season when the Rangers altered his fastball shape. One year later, the upper-90s sinker and Teodo’s power slider have pushed him onto the Top 100 list.
Michael Arroyo (NR to No. 98), 2B, Mariners
The Mariners system is full of talented hitting prospects, but none have emerged in the way Arroyo has this season. He’s showing above-average in-game power with plate skills that compliment his well-rounded offensive game.
Travis Sykora (NR to No. 99), RHP, Nationals
The 6-foot-6 righthander has dominated the Low-A Carolina League with a powerful three-pitch mix featuring a mid-90s fastball, slider and splitter.
Felnin Celesten (NR to No. 100), SS, Mariners
Celesten had been in our Top 100 before the arrival of the 2024 draft picks knocked him out. He’s back again.
RISERS
Roman Anthony (No. 16 to No. 2), OF, Red Sox
Anthony is now in pole position to step into the No. 1 spot when Junior Caminero graduates before long. He’s poised to be in the big leagues well before his 21st birthday. You can read more about Anthony’s rise here.
Chase Dollander (No. 25 to No. 5), RHP, Rockies
Scouts are pretty consistent that Dollander ranks among the best pitching prospects in the game. Compared to the other top pitchers (Jackson Jobe and Noah Schultz), he has a longer track record of carrying a heavier workload.
Bubba Chandler (No. 55 to No. 22), RHP, Pirates
The Pirates have graduated Paul Skenes and Jared Jones to the big league rotation, but they still have an elite pitching prospect knocking on the door.
Kristian Campbell (No. 98 to No. 25), 2B, Red Sox
No prospect has done more to raise his stock in 2024 than Campbell. He’s a significantly stronger and better hitter now than he was in college, and he’s performed at every step up the MiLB ladder.
Leodalis De Vries (No. 72 to No. 32), SS, Padres
De Vries’s season ended early because of a shoulder injury, but not before he showed himself to be among the best players in the California League, even though he was also the league’s youngest player.
Josue De Paula (No. 48 to No. 35), OF, Dodgers
We’ve steadily beaten the De Paula drum dating back to the offseason. So far, the 19-year-old Dodgers prospect continues to show one of the higher ceilings in all the minors.
Bryce Eldridge (No. 60 to No. 37), 1B, Giants
Eldridge has been one of the most prolific power hitters in the second half of the MiLB season. He earned a bump to Double-A Richmond to wrap up the 2024 season.
Quinn Mathews (No. 58 to No. 39), LHP, Cardinals
Mathews has moved up significantly in each of the past three major Top 100 updates and now ranks among the best pitching prospects in the minors.
Luke Keaschall (No. 52 to No. 41), 2B/OF, Twins
Keaschall should be fully recovered from Tommy John surgery for the 2025 season. He has impressed at the plate in 2024 and figures to be part of the Twins’ plans next year.
Jaison Chourio (No. 76 to No. 53), OF, Guardians
Jackson Chourio’s little brother is an excellent player in his own right and stood out in our Best Tools voting.
Brandon Sproat (No. 93 to No. 63), RHP, Mets
Despite struggling in his first taste of Triple-A, Sproat jumps 30 spots on the strength of a fastball that has touched 101 this year and three pitches (fastball, slider and changeup) that all have at least average potential.
Alex Freeland (No. 95 to No. 68), SS, Dodgers
Freeland is yet another astute Dodgers’ find. He’s a savvy, well-rounded hitter who should stick in the middle of the infield.
Gary Gill Hill (No. 98 to No. 87), RHP, Rays
Gill Hill continues to draw raves, but we’re also hearing similar impressive reports on Trevor Harrison, who could be another Rays pitcher on the Top 100 before too long.
FALLERS
Xavier Isaac (No. 20 to No. 34), 1B, Rays
Isaac is struggling for the first time as a pro, showing some contact issues in Double-A that we have not seen in the past.
Heston Kjerstad (No. 24 to No. 42), OF, Orioles
We hoped Kjerstad would have graduated by now, but a concussion has sidelined him. It remains unclear how quickly he’ll earn a regular job in Baltimore.
Lazaro Montes (No. 31 to No. 43), OF, Mariners
Montes remains a force offensively, but he’s moving down in comparison to Eldridge, another Northwest League slugger.
Cade Horton (No. 33 to No. 44), RHP, Cubs
This is a minor injury adjustment. Horton’s strained lat has cost him more time than we first expected.
Justin Crawford (No. 35 to No. 46), OF, Phillies
There are still concerns about whether Crawford’s ground ball tendencies will work as well at upper levels of the minors, but he has hit so far wherever he has played.
Christian Scott (No. 21 to No. 65), RHP, Mets
A sprained UCL has cost Scott the second half of the season. We’re adjusting as it’s become clear that it was a more significant injury than we first thought.
Drew Thorpe (No. 49 to No. 69), RHP, White Sox
Bone chips have sidelined Thorpe and kept him from reaching the 50 innings he needed to graduate.
Kyle Manzardo (No. 65 to No. 76), 1B, Guardians
Manzardo has hovered in this range of the Top 100 for much of the year. He may graduate this September, but his movement has more to do with other players moving on than any dramatic change in his evaluation.
DROPPED OUT
40. Adael Amador, SS, Rockies
A brief callup to the big leagues hasn’t helped Amador find his footing at Double-A Hartford. Amador has ranked highly because of the belief in his hitting ability, but it’s hard to keep ranking a second baseman who’s struggling to hit in Double-A.
64. Tyler Black, 3B, Brewers
Black is still a well-rounded infielder who can hit, but there are concerns about how much impact he’ll make. After reaching Triple-A in 2023, he’s struggled to find room in Milwaukee and is having to bide his time in Nashville.
70. Drew Gilbert, OF, Mets
Gilbert was sidelined for much of the first half of the season with a hamstring strain. He returned to action in August and has struggled to get back up to speed. This year may largely require a mulligan so he can get healthy and get his timing back, but when there isn’t that much difference between ranking 70th and 110th, we’re bumping him for prospects who have grabbed the opportunity to leap onto the list.
74. Jacob Melton, OF, Astros
Melton remains among the Astros’ best prospects, but it’s becoming harder and harder to argue he’s the team’s best prospect. He has legitimate power and athleticism, but he needs to refine his approach.
77. Marco Luciano, SS, Giants
It may be a case of prospect fatigue, but questions about Luciano’s eventual defensive position plus his inability to grab ahold of a job in San Francisco made it hard to keep him on the Top 100.
79. Spencer Jones, OF, Yankees
Ever since he was at Vanderbilt, the question facing Jones is whether his massive tools would outweigh his contact issues. In Double-A, Jones’ 37% strikeout rate attests that pitchers have found him quite pitchable.
83. Ricky Tiedemann, LHP, Blue Jays
We may very well add Tiedemann back to the Top 100 once he’s healthy, much like we did with Kumar Rocker. However, Tiedemann’s Tommy John surgery will sideline him for much or all of 2025. For now, he’s sliding off the list.
84. AJ Smith-Shawver, RHP, Braves
Smith-Shawver slid off the list, but he’s not far from the Top 100 and is still among the Braves’ best prospects. Holding onto a spot on the back of the 100 is difficult.
86. Tyler Locklear, 1B, Mariners
Locklear’s offensive production has dipped after a bump to Triple-A and a brief stint in the majors. As a first baseman, the offensive expectations are quite high.
91. Luis Morales, RHP, Athletics
Morales falls victim to a number’s game more than anything. He’s still hovering just off the Top 100 and could climb back in before long.
92. Blade Tidwell, RHP, Mets
Tidwell has seen a surprising dip in his control after his promotion to Triple-A Syracuse. Sticking on the back of the Top 100 is hard to do, as there are always players we’re looking to move on.
GRADUATED
James Wood (No. 1), OF, Nationals
Wood looks like a star in the making. Nothing in his brief stint with the Nationals has changed that.
Jackson Holliday (No. 2), 2B, Orioles
Holliday’s adjustment to pro ball has been tougher than expected, but there is a long history of players as young as Holliday (he’s 20) taking a little time to find their footing in the majors.
Max Meyer (No. 50), RHP, Marlins
Meyer’s demotion to the minors may have limited his innings, but he has struggled to match the success he had in April before he was sent back to Triple-A.
Spencer Schwellenbach (No. 93), RHP, Braves
Schwellenbach has exceeded all expectations. The one-time Nebraska shortstop has shown an advanced understanding of pitching in an excellent rookie year.
Cade Povich (No. 94), LHP, Orioles
Povich has provided needed innings for the Orioles as they struggle to deal with injuries to several rotation fixtures.
