Players Making Significant Jumps Up June Top 30 Prospects Lists

We’ve updated our Top 30 Prospects lists for our June update. Below are players who made significant jumps.

Angels

Caden Dana, RHP (No. 13 to No. 8)

Dana improved the carry on his fastball to make it a swing-and-miss pitch up in the zone and thoroughly dominated Low-A batters to earn a quick promotion to High-A. Both his slider and curveball have impressed early and he has shown an advanced feel for pitch selection for a teenager. 

Jack Kochanowicz, RHP (NR to 10)

Kochanowicz lowered his arm slot at the end of spring training, switched from a four-seamer to a two-seamer and a curveball to a slider and re-emerged as a prospect. His velocity is up on both his fastball and slider and he has added more movement to his changeup, all while throwing more strikes than ever before. He’s now a groundball specialist who has a chance to be a back-of-the-rotation starter.

Trey Cabbage, 1B (NR to 15)

Cabbage has improved his ability to hit velocity and continued to hit for huge power at Triple-A Salt Lake while showing surprising baserunning acumen with 20 steals in 21 attempts. Cabbage is strictly limited to first base and has to cut down on his strikeouts, but his improved contact rates against velocity have improved his chances of a callup.

Jose Soriano, RHP (NR to 19)

Soriano returned from his second Tommy John surgery last year and has flourished in his second season back. He showed explosive stuff with an upper-90s fastball and a power, swing-and-miss curveball at Double-A to earn a callup to the Angels bullpen, where he has held opponents scoreless in six of his first seven career appearances.

Jorge Ruiz, OF, (NR to 28)

Ruiz hit .335 in the Arizona Complex League last year and has continued to hit with a .322 batting average for Low-A Inland Empire in his full-season debut. The diminutive outfielder faces skepticism due to his lack of physicality and aggressive approach, but his contact skills and plus speed from the left side give him tools to work with.

Astros

Ryan Clifford, OF (No. 20 to No. 4)

Clifford signed for an overslot bonus in the 11th round out of Pro5 Academy in North Carolina. He was assigned to Low-A Fayetteville out of camp this spring and hit .337/.488/.457 over 25 games before being promoted to High-A Asheville. In Asheville Clifford has shown power and on-base skills but has had some bad luck on balls in play. A talented hitter with an outfield corner defensive profile, Clifford looks like a wise pick by the Astros. 

Luis Baez, OF (NR to No. 5)

The early reports on Baez this summer have been tremendous, as he’s been a name many view as ready to break out. So far Baez has shown huge power at the plate for the Astros Florida Complex League team. He’s hitting .351/.467/.865 with six home runs in 10 games. Baez’s exit velocity data is outstanding for a teenager as his average exit velocity is 93 mph with a 90th percentile exit velocity greater than 105 mph. He’s a power-hitting corner outfielder with a plus throwing arm. 

Zach Dezenzo, 3B (NR to No. 6)

Coming out of Ohio State, Dezenzo was an afterthought but after hitting .407/.474/.628 over 31 games with High-A Asheville, the third baseman was then promoted to Double-A Corpus Christi, where he’s hit .321/.429/.491 over his first 15 games. Dezenzo has a strong combination of average contact, above-average approach and plus raw power and could hit his way into everyday regular status. 

J.P. France, RHP (No. 21 to No. 7)

Viewed as rotation depth for the Astros, France has emerged as a legitimate rotation option. France won’t overpower you but his stuff has ticked up across the board as he’s used his deep repertoire of pitches to keep hitters off balance and generate outs. While France lacks a plus pitch, he has five average or better pitches he uses effectively. France is a late blooming pitchability profile who can eat innings and give you competitive starts at the back end of the rotation. 

Colton Gordon, LHP (No. 28 to No. 14)

A pitchability lefthander with a variety of pitch shapes, Gordon had his fans coming into the season but there was some skepticism about his success in 2022. Gordon has answered those skeptics with a strong campaign with Double-A Corpus Christi. While his strikeout to walk rate numbers have ticked down with the jump to Double-A, they’re still good enough to rank within the top 10 in the Texas League. Gordon mixes a low-90s sinker with a curveball, a slider, a changeup and a four-seam fastball. 

Shay Whitcomb, SS (NR to No. 19)

Whitcomb has rejuvenated his prospect status by hitting for power across the top two levels of the minors while showing improved defense in the infield. Whitcomb hit .273/.340/.545 with 12 home runs over 46 games for Double-A Corpus Christi. He was promoted to Triple-A Sugar Land in June and has hit five home runs over his first 12 games. He provides a power-hitting utility infielder profile. 

Ronel Blanco, RHP (NR to No. 27) 

Blanco debuted as a reliever in 2022 and began the season in the Astros bullpen. He was demoted to Triple-A Sugar Land to be stretched out to start. After four appearances with the Space Cowboys, Blanco returned to the Astros roster as a starter. He’s made three starts so far and has been steady but unimpressive in the role. Blanco slides onto the Top 30 as an older prospect who fits as a versatile pitcher.

Athletics

Mason Miller, RHP (No. 4 to No. 2)

Seeing Miller jump two spots may seem like a modest rise, but his perception in the industry skyrocketed this April when he showed his dominant Arizona Fall League season could carry over into a role as a Triple-A and then MLB starter. Miller’s elbow injury has caused a little bit of hesitation since then, but he remains one of the best hopes for a future A’s resurgence.

Henry Bolte, OF (No. 14 to No. 9)

Bolte’s athleticism and tools were unquestioned, but there have been concerns about how well he’ll hit in pro ball. So far, he’s more than held his own in the California League. His 34% strikeout rate is on the high side, but he’s hitting for solid average and getting on base to go with a well-rounded set of above-average tools.

Blue Jays

Kendry Rojas, LHP (No. 21 to No. 6)

Rojas is a projectable lefthander who has performed for Low-A Dunedin this season. He’s made 10 appearances and has held opponents to a .218 batting average with 9.5 strikeouts per nine and 2.8 walks per nine. Rojas has added 3 mph of velocity onto his four-seam fastball and slider in 2023 and the improved stuff has led to results. Rojas’ fastball has added velocity while maintaining above-average ride on the pitch. With starters traits and improving stuff, Rojas is a big arrow-up name. 

Leo Jimenez, SS (No. 20 to No. 7)

Over the course of his professional career Jimenez has struggled to stay on the field. This season he’s been healthy for Double-A New Hampshire and has hit leadoff while spending time at second base and shortstop. His versatility defensively is an asset but it’s been his combination of strong plate skills, above-average exit velocity data and the ability to find the barrel that has him climbing up the Blue Jays rankings. Jimenez is hitting .301/.361/.451 with 11 doubles and four home runs over 39 games with Double-A New Hampshire. He is difficult to strike out and shows a wide variety of skills that could translate to success sometime in the next few seasons. 

Chad Dallas, RHP (NR to No. 15)

Selected out of Tennessee in the fourth round of the 2021 draft, Dallas has shown improved stuff and gotten results over the first half of the 2023 season. He mixes four pitches led by a sweepy low-to-mid-80s slider and a fastball that sits 92-94 mph. Dallas will mix in some curveballs and changeups but his slider and fastball combination is his bread and butter. After five strong starts with High-A Vancouver, Dallas was promoted to New Hampshire, where he’s been solid against better competition. 

Connor Cooke, RHP (NR to No. 25) 

A 10th-round pick in 2021, Cooke has developed into a potential high-leverage reliever who could move quickly to the major leagues. His fastball features above-average velocity and plus shape and release characteristics that make it a swing-and-miss offering. He mixes in a high-spin low-to-mid-80s sweeping slider that may actually be Cooke’s best pitch. He’ll show a changeup but feel for the pitch come and goes. 

Rafael Sanchez, RHP (NR to No. 28)

Signed out of Cuba as an older prospect with professional experience, Sanchez has shown one of the most unique changeups in the Blue Jays system. A low-spin splitter, it’s a signature pitch that the rest of his arsenal plays off of. His fastball is fringy but shows average velocity and movement. His slider is his second best pitch and works in tandem with his splitter to miss bats. Sanchez has a back-end starter ceiling with some upside as a reliever with feel for two bat-missing secondaries. 

Ryan Jennings, RHP (NR to No. 29)

Outside of a rough three-start stretch in early-to-mid-May, Jennings has pitched well in 2023, earning a promotion to High-A Vancouver. Jennings mixes a low-to-mid-90s fastball with a mid-80s cutter and a curveball with good depth. He’s a smooth athletic thrower with the potential to add more velocity should he move to the bullpen. He was a good pick for Toronto in the fourth round of the 2022 draft.

Peyton Williams, 1B (NR to No. 30) 

A big-bodied first base-only slugger with advanced plate skills and plus power, Williams took a little while to get his footing this season but over his last month with Low-A Dunedin Williams has hit .337/.417/.615 with seven home runs over 28 games. He’s struggled early with High-A Vancouver but fits the profile of a prototypical lefthanded-hitting and throwing first base-only bat with contact and power. 

Braves

Ignacio Alvarez, 3B/SS (No. 17 to No. 7)

Alvarez possesses some of the best plate skills in the Braves system. He’s walked more than he’s struck out this season and shows plus contact and plate discipline. His power hasn’t yet shown up as Alvarez is still learning to elevate the ball on his best contact. He’s seen most of his time at shortstop this season but likely will see time at second base and third base long term. 

Brewers

Jeferson Quero, C (No. 6 to No. 3)

Quero entered the year as a bubble candidate for the Top 100. Now, he’s firmly a Top 100 prospect, showing his trademark defensive skills that rank among the best of any catcher in the minors as well as more power that’s showing up in games this year. He’s doing it all while being pushed aggressively as a 20-year-old in Double-A.

Luis Lara, OF (No. 12 to No. 6)

We were aggressive ranking Lara as soon as he signed, and he has only continued to elevate his prospect status since then. He’s short but with a lean, athletic frame, the speed for center field and a high-contact bat from both sides of the plate. Lara’s eye for the strike zone is exceptional, which he has demonstrated with nearly twice as many walks as strikeouts as an 18-year-old in Low-A Carolina. If he can find a way to unlock more power, he could become a Top 100 prospect.

Carlos Rodriguez, RHP (No. 14 to No. 10)

Rodriguez has been a low-profile prospect since he signed with the Brewers as a sixth-round pick in 2021. He had success in the lower levels, though there were questions about how his stuff would translate against hitters in the upper minors. So far, Rodriguez has continued to pitch well in Double-A as a 21-year-old, with improved results on his slider helping him become one of the better pitching prospects in the organization.

Matt Wood, C (No. 23 to No. 11)

Wood doesn’t have one loud carrying tool, but he does a lot of things well that should get him to the big leagues. A fourth-round pick out of Penn State in 2022, Wood is a selective hitter with nearly as many walks as strikeouts this year, helping him get on base at a high clip. His power numbers have dipped since the Brewers promoted him to High-A Wisconsin, but his direct, adjustable swing path and ability to recognize pitches enable him to make frequent contact whether he’s facing fastballs or offspeed stuff.

Justin Jarvis, RHP (NR to No. 13)

Jarvis commands his fastball well to all areas of the strike zone, pitching at 92-94 mph and reaching 96 with the ability to miss bats when he elevates. The angle he creates with his slider gives righthanded hitters a difficult look, too. After a few seasons in the lower minors where he didn’t do much to stand out as a prospect, Jarvis has put together a strong year in Double-A to put himself in the mix for a back-end starter job within the next couple of years.

Luke Adams, 3B/1B (No. 26 to No. 20)

Will the unorthodox swing work for Adams against better pitching? That remains a question, but when he connects, he’s able to drive the ball with impact, producing exit velocities up to 111 mph. With the way his swing works, his batting averages will probably always be on the lower end, though his patience has helped him draw walks to keep his on-base percentage up. Adams has played third base, though long term he’s probably destined for either an outfield corner or first base. It’s not a traditional look, but for a 12th-round pick out of high school last year, Adams has already elevated his status from where he was this time a year ago.

Cardinals

Victor Scott II, OF (NR to No. 9)

Elite athletes are rare outside of the first round of the draft but the Cardinals managed to land Scott in the fifth round last July. He spent time with the big league club during spring training and has been a standout for High-Peoria in the field and at the plate. A plus-plus runner with the ability to cover ground and make athletic highlight catches in center field, Scott has also shown advanced plate skills and some power in addition to being one of the most fearsome baserunners in the minors. Scott looks like a potential everyday center fielder if he can continue to hit as he moves up the ladder.  

Max Rajcic, RHP (No. 21 to No. 10)

After a notable career at UCLA Rajcic has proven to be too much for Low-A hitters, dominating across his first 11 starts as a professional. While Rajcic doesn’t have premium stuff he pairs a low-90s fastball with a low-80s curveball with good two-plane break. He’ll flash a changeup as well to keep hitters off balance. Off all the college starters the Cardinals selected in 2022, Rajcic has performed the best. 

Won-Bin Cho, OF (NR to No. 11) 

Signed out of South Korea in 2021, Cho made headlines for his highlight-reel home runs in amateur home run derbies and workouts. His stateside debut was quiet but so far in 2023 he’s been one of the more impressive hitters in the Low-A Florida State League. His combination of contact, approach and projectable power makes him one of the more exciting young hitters in the Cardinals system. He’s a corner outfielder defensively but looks like he could develop into an average defender with above-average offensive potential.  

Luken Baker, 1B (NR to No. 14)

With country strength and physicality, Baker is an imposing presence at the plate. After five solid but unspectacular seasons in the minor leagues, Baker went unprotected and subsequently unselected in the Rule 5 draft last winter. Entering spring training he looked like a long shot for the 40-man roster but after hitting .313/.434/.641 with 18 home runs he earned the callup to St. Louis. Baker played sporadically for the Cardinals but showed he’s an option for the organization should an injury arise.  

Matt Koperniak, OF (NR to No. 20)

A member of the Great Britain squad at the World Baseball Classic, Koperniak is a former nondrafted free agent who’s hit his way to Triple-A already this season. He’s an older prospect but signed from Division III Trinity (Conn.). He’s shown plate skills and enough power and defense in the outfield to profile as a platoon bat or a fourth outfielder long term.  

Cubs

Jackson Ferris, LHP (No. 15 to No. 5)

Ferris was one of the most impressive pitchers in minor league spring training and earned a quick assignment to Low-A Myrtle Beach, where he has a 2.89 ERA in seven starts. Ferris has shown loud stuff with a mid-90s fastball and hammer curveball and has further impressed with his poise and maturity on the mound. 

Pablo Aliendo, C (No. 25 to No. 13)

Aliendo has long been a plus defensive catcher and has gotten stronger to improve as a hitter He’s driving the ball more than ever with his added strength and already has a career-high eight home runs at Double-A Tennessee, a development that has enhanced his chances of becoming an everyday catcher.  

Luke Little, LHP (NR to No. 19)

Little slimmed down and quickly jumped to Double-A Tennessee this year, where he’s shown swing-and-miss stuff from the left side. He still has to corral his control, but his stuff makes him a weapon in relief.

B.J. Murray, 3B (NR to No. 23)

Murray has demonstrated excellent strike-zone control at Double-A while showing the ability to make contact and hit for power from both sides of the plate. He has spent time at third base, second base and first base and has multiple paths to the big leagues as a switch-hitter who can move around the infield. 

Jefferson Rojas, SS (NR to No. 26)

Rojas stood out as one of the biggest stars of extended spring training, highlighted by hitting a home run off rehabbing big league righthander Zach Davies. Rojas received a promotion to Low-A Myrtle Beach after just one game in the ACL and has hit .355 (11-for-31) with four doubles in his first nine games.

D-backs

Ryan Bliss, 2B (NR to No. 16)

After unsuccessfully chasing power last year, Bliss has returned to his previous line-drive, all-fields approach and had a bounceback season at Double-A Amarillo. He leads the Texas League with a .369 batting average and has nearly as many hits (89) through 55 games as he did all of last season (91). 

Kristian Robinson, OF (No. 30 to No. 17)

Robinson is back playing for the first time since 2019 and is showing the same physicality and tools that once made him a top prospect. He has struggled with strikeouts as he shakes off the rust (35% strikeout rate) but his pure ability remains intact. 

Bryce Jarvis, RHP (No. 28 to No. 18)

Jarvis made adjustments to increase the extension and deception in his delivery and has seen his fastball begin to play better. He’s getting plenty of swings and misses on his slider and changeup and received an early promotion to Triple-A Reno. 

Dodgers

Emmet Sheehan, RHP (No. 13 to No. 7)

Sheehan entered the year with a dominant fastball and decent changeup and was universally considered a future reliever. He significantly improved his slider and control to become a legitimate starting pitching prospect and flourished at Double-A Tulsa, posting a 1.86 ERA with 88 strikeouts in 53.1 innings. He received his first major league callup last week and pitched six no-hit innings against the Giants in his major league debut.

Landon Knack, RHP (No. 22 to No. 14)

Knack improved his nutrition habits to get in better shape and has delivered the best season of his career. He posted a 2.20 ERA in 12 starts at Double-A Tulsa while executing his four-pitch mix with precision and earned a promotion to Triple-A Oklahoma City. 

Kyle Hurt, RHP, (No. 27 to No. 15)

Motivated by last year’s struggles, Hurt spent the offseason getting into better shape and vastly improved his control and execution to project as a starter for the first time. He is getting swings and misses in the strike zone with all four of his pitches and now must build his durability to fulfill his newfound starter potential.

Thayron Liranzo, C (NR to No. 20)

An interesting but unexceptional prospect in the Arizona Complex League last year, Liranzo has broken out as a switch-hitting catcher with enormous power from both sides of the plate at Low-A Rancho Cucamonga. He is tied for the California League lead with 14 home runs—many of them gargantuan moonshorts—and projects to stay behind the plate as a solid defender.

Austin Gauthier, 3B/OF (NR to No. 26)

Gauthier showed elite strike-zone discipline in his pro debut last year and spent the offseason working to get stronger and more explosive. He’s come back this year hitting the ball significantly harder and showing the ability to play multiple positions at a higher level than before. He’s batting .346/.473/.543 across High-A and Double-A while capably playing five different positions.  

Giants

Patrick Bailey, C (No. 25 to No. 5)

Giants officials were ecstatic by what they saw from Bailey in 2023. After a pro career marked by injuries and a development path stunted terribly by the pandemic, Bailey finally found his way to the upper levels and took off immediately. The team never doubted the defensive acumen that was his calling card in college, and they believed in his lefthanded swing as well. As his mindset improved, so did his overall game, leading to his first big league callup and an early run of outstanding production that gives the team hope that it might have solved its post-Posey catching vacancy.

Wade Meckler, OF (No. 21 to No. 16)

Meckler’s carrying tool at Oregon State was an outstanding ability to put the bat on the ball. As it turns out, that approach plays in pro ball as well. Meckler hit his way to Double-A quickly, albeit with a couple of minor injuries along the way. He makes a tremendous amount of contact, knows the strike zone and can cause havoc on the bases while playing a steady center field. Power is not much of a factor in Meckler’s game, so he will likely fit in as a pest at the top or bottom of an order.

Diego Velasquez, SS (NR to No. 17)

Velasquez signed with the Giants out of Venezuela in 2021 on the strength of a well-rounded set of skills. That same type of game showed up in the Low-A California League, where he showed off a little bit of everything but not a lot of any one tool. He shows bat speed and contact ability from both sides of the dish and has a chance to stick at shortstop, where his bat would profile more easily. 

Hayden Birdsong, RHP (NR to No. 19)

The Giants popped Birdsong out of Eastern Illinois in the sixth round of the 2022 draft on the strength of a big fastball with impressive analytical characteristics and the ability to spin a breaking ball. Those same traits helped him bully his way out of Low-A with 70 strikeouts in 41.2 innings. Birdsong’s 22 walks in the same span speaks to a need for further refined command and control, and the Giants would like to see him nibble less on the corners of the plate and let his stuff naturally do its work. He was promoted to High-A Eugene on June 13. 

Guardians

Jaison Chourio, OF (NR to No. 25)

Chourio is the younger brother of top Brewers prospect Jackson Chourio and signed with Cleveland in 2022. Like his brother, Jaison is a future center fielder but with a different set of offensive skills. Chourio had more walks (40) than strikeouts (22) in the Dominican Summer League in 2022 and has excellent bat-to-ball ability with fringy power that could take a jump forward depending on the way his body develops. He’s a plus runner and rangy defender in center field and should stick there in the long run. 

Wuilfredo Antuñez, OF (NR to No. 27)Antunez’s story is fascinating. The lefthanded hitter was a low-dollar sign out of Venezuela in 2019. Once the sport resumed in 2021 after the pandemic, he was lightly used in extended spring training, mostly seeing time in intrasquad action. But he just kept hitting. He opened eyes in the Arizona Complex League, where he posted a .982 OPS in 21 games. He hasn’t quite torched the competition to that level this season at Low-A, but he’s shown just enough flashes of fringe-average to above-average tools across the board to make himself an intriguing young prospect. 

Mariners

Jonatan Clase, OF (No. 12 to No. 9)

Clase overwhelmed the High-A Northwest League with his electric tools and earned a quick promotion to Double-A Arkansas. He has 16 home runs and 41 stolen bases in 59 games, although his strikeout issues have resurfaced with a 34% strikeout rate in Double-A.

Alberto Rodriguez, OF (No. 27 to No. 19)

After ballooning out of shape last year, Rodriguez slimmed down and showed up a different player in spring training to facilitate a bounceback year. He is batting .291/.381/.563 with 10 home runs and 41 RBIs at High-A Everett and is slated to receive a promotion to Double-A soon.

Ty Adcock, RHP (NR to No. 20)

A two-way player at Elon, Adcock missed the 2019, 2020 and 2021 seasons due to a shoulder impingement, the coronavirus pandemic and Tommy John surgery, respectively. He showed impressive arm strength in his return last year and blossomed this season, climbing from High-A to Double-A to the majors in less than three months. He’s shown power stuff with a mid-to-upper-90s fastball and power slider and has yet to allow a run in three appearances out of the Mariners bullpen.

Marlins

Victor Mesa Jr., OF (NR to No. 6)

After an underwhelming season at High-A in 2022, Mesa Jr. has turned a corner after a move to Double-A. The 21-year-old has shown standout defense in center field and has hit for more average and power than ever before. He’s made better swing decisions and kept his front hip from leaking early in his swing, allowing for more, harder contact. His arm is also an asset, grading out at least above-average if not plus. 

Mets

Ronny Mauricio (No. 8 to No. 1)

Greater maturity in his swing decisions and his overall outlook have vaulted the switch-hitting Mauricio into a dominant season at Triple-A Syracuse and to the cusp of an MLB callup. He has gotten to more power this season while adding second base to his defensive portfolio. 

Mike Vasil, RHP (No. 12 to No. 4)

A focus on loading the back side of his delivery had helped Vasil throw more strikes at Double-A Binghamton. He was also holding mid-90s velocity to go with a plus slider. Vasil rounds out his arsenal with an at least average changeup and curveball. The 23-year-old commands four pitches to both sides of the plate and looks like a mid-rotation starter.

Daiverson Gutierrez, C (No. 28 to No. 12)

The Mets are excited about the potential for the 17-year-old Venezuelan catcher who signed in January. Gutierrez looks comfortable against Dominican Summer League pitchers in his pro debut. He has massive power and makes good swing decisions. Guttierez’s work behind the plate is less refined and will dictate his development timeline.

Matt Rudick, OF (NR to No. 13)

Rudick hit .341 in four years at San Diego State—including .410 to rank 10th in the nation as a senior—and struck out just 8% of the time. But the 5-foot-6 lefthanded hitter totaled just five home runs in 176 games, which pushed him down the board to the Mets in the 13th round in 2021. Rudick has reached new offensive heights this season at Double-A Binghamton—.314/.457/.519 with seven home runs through 46 games—by picking his spots to pull the ball with power, while still holding onto his double-plus swing decisions and bat-to-ball skill. He’s a strong defensive outfielder who plays all three positions and seems primed for a future role as a fourth outfielder, potentially later this season if he keeps hitting at Triple-A. Mets farm director Kevin Howard compared Rudick with former Cardinals outfielder Jon Jay.

Raimon Gomez, RHP (NR to No. 15)

Gomez signed as a 19-year-old out of Venezuela in 2021 and pitched mostly in relief during his first two pro seasons. He came out firing this spring to catch the attention of scouts on the minor league backfields with high-90s heat and a sharp high-80s slider. Assigned to High-A Brooklyn to work as a starter, Gomez struck out 12 in seven innings before succumbing to Tommy John surgery after three starts. He toyed with a low-90s cutter briefly before going under the knife. He should get back on the mound next season, when he will still be just 22 to continue working on refining his command and developing a changeup. Gomez has big league arm talent, potentially as a reliever. 

Nationals

Daylen Lile, OF (No. 28 to No. 12)

Prior to having Tommy John surgery, Lile showed strong discipline in the Florida Complex League. However, he was forced to sit out all last season to recover from surgery. The Nationals were not sure what they would get from the 2021 second-round pick when healthy.This season with Low-A Fredericksburg, he is proving to be everything Washington could have hoped for, and then some. He’s shown power and consistency at the plate and is rising up the farm system very quickly. 

Orioles

Samuel Basallo, C (No. 15 to No. 7)

It’s been a long time since the Orioles had a high bonus international signing with legitimate helium. Basallo fits that bill as he’s hit .289/.347/.454 with six home runs as an 18-year-old in full-season ball. He has a double-plus arm behind the plate and looks like he could be a potential power hitter with at least average contact and plate skills. The Orioles Top 10 is as good if not better than any team in baseball and Basallo has played his way squarely into the mix. 

Creed Willems, C (NR to No. 21)

After a season to forget in 2022, Willems has hit his way into the Orioles Top 30 list. He hit .302/.442/.615 with eight home runs over 30 games for Low-A Delmarva and saw a promotion to High-A Aberdeen in late May. He’s struggled against more advanced completion but Willems has power and plate discipline that masks some of his contact deficiencies. He’s likely a three true outcomes slugger who ends up at first base long term. 

Zack Showalter, RHP (NR to No. 24) 

Showing some of the loudest stuff in the Florida Complex League early in 2023, Showalter has an easy plus fastball in the mid 90s with ride and shape. He’s still developing his secondaries but he’s gotten rave reviews from scouts early. He’s only allowed one run across 10 innings with 16 strikeouts to four walks. Showalter looks like a prospect who could climb up the Orioles rankings in the coming years. 

Trace Bright, RHP (NR to No. 25) 

While Bright’s performance has been up and down he’s shown an above-average fastball capable of missing bats and improved breaking ball shapes. He hit a rough patch in May but has been strong over his last four starts, allowing just three earned runs over 16.2 innings while striking out 30% of the batters he’s faced. Bright’s future may be in the bullpen long term but he’s got interesting pitch shapes and the makings of a solid rotation piece if he can harness his command in the coming years. 

Padres

Jairo Iriarte, RHP (No. 13 to No. 6)

Iriarte has shown some of the best pure stuff in the Midwest League and is 3-3, 3.12 in 12 starts for High-A Fort Wayne. His plus fastball remains explosive and his slider and changeup have both continued to progress toward becoming average pitches. He still needs to improve his command, but his arsenal and athleticism are among the organization’s best.

Phillies

Orion Kerkering, RHP (No. 25 to No. 6)

Kerkering has dominated both Class A levels thanks to an exciting two-pitch combination that has befuddled hitters. He leads the way with a plus-plus fastball that sits in the mid 90s and tops out in the triple digits and also boasts a wipeout mid-80s slider that is effective against both righthanded and lefthanded hitters.

Wen Hui Pan, RHP (NR to No. 14)

Pan, a 2023 international signing from Taiwan, stood out to scouts in spring training and has pitched well at Low-A Clearwater to begin his pro career. Pan throws five pitches, including a pair of fastballs that sit in the mid 90s and top out at 99 mph, to go with a mid-80s splitter that has some fading life and flashes plus and a pair of breaking balls. Pan has the look of a back-end reliever who could move quickly through the minors.

Bryan Rincon, SS (NR to No. 21)

Rincon, a 2022 14th-rounder, struggled in April at Low-A Clearwater but has fared much better the last two months, posting a .914 OPS in May and an .827 OPS through June 17. Rincon has good timing at the plate with solid pop, but some evaluators believe he needs to clean up a loose approach. He has the tools to be an above-average defender at shortstop, with good instincts and an above-average arm. 

Pirates

Jared Jones, RHP (No. 11 to No. 5)

Jones is the biggest riser in the system by a long shot. He’s always been talented, but he’s started to become more mature as he’s gotten older. The righthander has an electric fastball and backs it with two nasty breaking balls and a much-improved changeup that took strides after offseason work to find a more effective way to deliver the pitch. 

Tsung-Che Cheng, SS (No. 24 to No. 14)

Cheng has shown excellent bat-to-ball skills, a discerning approach and sneaky power at High-A. The increased thump isn’t just a product of his hitter-friendly park, either. Cheng’s numbers are better when playing away from Greensboro. He has a chance to stick at shortstop as well, but if he doesn’t his offensive output might make him viable at second base.

Braxton Ashcraft, RHP (NR to No. 15)

Ashcraft missed 2022 while recovering from Tommy John surgery and has been one of the system’s more impressive arms upon returning to action. The righthander has become more mature and physical over the past year, and the results have shown up in a mix that primarily runs three pitches deep. His repertoire is fronted by a dynamite fastball-curveball combination and backed by a slider/cutter hybrid and a rarely thrown changeup. 

Rangers

Aidan Curry, RHP (NR to No. 21)

Curry is one of a pack of intriguing NDFAs signed by the Rangers after the shortened 2020 draft. The New York high school product already brings his fastball up to the mid 90s and backs it with a cutter, slider and changeup. The present stuff and results are intriguing enough, but Curry’s size and remaining projection could lead to big results in the coming years. 

Josh Stephan, RHP (NR to No. 30)

Like Curry, Stephan was also signed as an NDFA after the shortened 2020 draft. He hails from Texas and was impressive early at High-A Hickory. Adding a cutter has helped Stephan combat lefthanders, who gave him issues in 2022 at Low-A. The righthander works primarily with a sinker-slider mix. His fastball has been up to the mid 90s, though some scouts are concerned about a lack of life on the pitch and think he might be overmatching hitters at the Class A levels. 

Rays

Marcus Johnson, RHP (No. 25 to No. 10)

Over the years, the Rays have had a knack of taking somewhat wild pitchers and helping them develop their control and command. Sometimes it’s as simple as telling them to trust their stuff and throw to the heart of the zone. Other times it’s mechanical tweaks or other adjustments. Johnson was never wild, but as a Ray, he’s become one of the minors’ most consistent strike-throwers. In his first 13 starts this year, Johnson has only walked five batters and he’s yet to throw four straight balls to any batter. 

Trevor Martin, RHP (NR to No. 20)

A college closer who’s now starting, Martin has a lively 92-94 mph fastball and a promising slider. He may end up back in the bullpen long term, but the Rays have every reason to see if he can fit as a starting pitcher.

Red Sox

Roman Anthony, OF (No. 9 to No. 4) 

It’s rare that a player hits .228 with one home run in Low-A and is lauded for his hitting ability. That, however, is the case with Anthony. He walked as much as he struck out with Salem while showing great underlying data. He’s a high-contact hitter who is rarely fooled and hardly if ever expands the strike zone. He’s learning to elevate the ball but shows above-average exit velocities and batting practice power. He’s already slugged two home runs for High-A Greenville since the promotion and could blossom into a plus power hitter with good plate skills. 

Shane Drohan, LHP (NR to No. 7)

After coming into the season unranked, Drohan dominated across six Double-A starts before seeing a promotion to Triple-A. While he’s been up and down with Worcester, it’s undeniable that Drohan has improved in 2023. His addition of a cutter has allowed him to find a middle feline between his low-to-mid-90s fastball and curveball and changeup. He has potential as a back-of-the-rotation starter who projects as a No. 4 or No. 5 starter depending on the evaluation. 

Luis Perales, RHP (No. 17 to No. 10)

After two difficult starts to begin the season Perales has turned in quality outings in seven of his last eight. Over that time frame he has struck out 30.3% of the batters he’s faced while holding opposing batters to a .186 average. His ERA of 2.60 over those eight starts is supported by a 2.93 FIP. While his command is still fringy he has cut the walks to a reasonable rate. The Red Sox have allowed Perales to go deeper into games and he’s gone five and six innings, respectively, in each of his last two starts. Perales has a plus-plus four-seam fastball with ride and velocity in the mid-to-high 90s. He pairs that with a low-to-mid-80s slider with cut and a changeup. He’s starting to show the makings of a true starting prospect.

Chase Meidroth, 2B/3B (No. 26 to No. 15)

Meidroth is one of the few 2022 draftees who’s already reached Double-A and he’s thrived thus far as a professional, hitting .312/.453/.482 over 70 games with more walks than strikeouts. He’s hitting .289/.431/.454 across 28 Double-A games and is putting up comparable numbers to No. 3 prospect Nick Yorke. 

David Hamilton, SS (No. 30 to No. 17)

Hamilton played his way onto the Red Sox 40-man roster last season and has earned the callup to the Red Sox in 2023. He’s slowly added power over the last two seasons to go along with double-plus speed and baserunning prowess. Hamilton saw a sharp jump in his exit velocities year over year and is now making hard contact at an above-average rate. Hamilton’s speed affords him a variety of opportunities if shortstop doesn’t work out long term. His addition of power to go along with his speed makes him an exciting sleeper in the Red Sox system. 

Allan Castro, OF (NR to No. 22)

While the numbers may not bear it out, Castro has strong plate skills with projectable power for a 20-year-old. He’s among a strong crop of young Red Sox hitters all vying for inclusion on the back end of the Red Sox list. He shows the ability to work deep into counts, make contact and barrel up on occasion. He should get bigger and stronger and should see his contact quality improve.

Angel Bastardo, RHP (NR to No. 24)

After a strong season at Low-A Salem in 2022, Bastardo has been better in 2023 at High-A. He’s striking out 30.4% of batters he’s faced while improving his walk rate and driving ground balls at a rate better than 50%. He’s an under-the-radar name with a mid-90s fastball and three solid-average or better secondaries in his changeup, curveball and slider. Bastardo will be Rule 5-eligible again this winter. 

Reds

Andrew Abbott, LHP, (No. 11 to No. 5)

Abbott had a few adjustment issues late in an impressive 2022 season that saw him make a Futures Game appearance. His fastball is average, but it pairs well with his curveball and his ability to locate and mix pitches should make him a very reliable starter for a surprisingly impressive Reds team.

Carlos Jorge, 2B (No. 17 to No. 10)

Jorge hit in the Dominican Summer League. He hit in the Arizona Complex League and now he’s hitting in the Florida State League. He’s been one of the most consistent hitters in the FSL and is slowly winning over evaluators who have been concerned about his skills-over-tools approach.

Hector Rodriguez, OF (No. 25 to No. 15)

If you had predicted before the season that Rodriguez would be atop the FSL leaderboard in a couple of categories, it would have been a safe bet to predict the speedster would lead in triples and stolen bases. He does lead in triples, but he’s nowhere to be found among stolen base leaders. Instead, he’s shockingly leading the league in slugging percentage and is one of only three players in the league to have reached double digits in home runs. Rodriguez is still not expected to be a slugger long term, but his ability to sting the ball regularly is an encouraging sign for a speedster with the tools to fit at the top or bottom of a lineup.

Will Benson, OF (No. 26 to No. 20)

Benson’s emergence as a useful backup outfielder for the big league club may have understandably gotten lost among the emergence of Spencer Steer, Elly De La Cruz and Matt McLain. But Benson’s ability to get on base, pinch run, pinch hit and serve as a useful fourth outfielder is a valuable addition to a lineup that is deeper in the infield than the outfield.

Rockies

Adael Amador, SS (No. 4 to No. 1)

All Amador has done is hit at every level of the minors, improving season after season. He burst onto the scene based on strong production and feedback from scouts in the Arizona Complex League in 2021, before impressing at Low-A Fresno last season. He moved on to High-A Spokane and has put up the best offensive production of his professional career. He’s hitting .315/.406/.535 with nine home runs and 12 stolen bases. His 147 wRC+ is top 10 among minor leaguers age 20 or younger. 

Yanquiel Fernandez, OF (No. 13 to No. 2) 

The young Cuban has slugged his way to Double-A Hartford after laying waste to High-A Northwest League competition. Fernandez hit .284/.340/.507 with 21 home runs and 109 RBIs in 2022, and improved in High-A this season. Across 58 games with Spokane prior to his promotion to Double-A Hartford, Fernandez hit .319/.354/.605 with 17 home runs. His combination of power and contact allow him to hit for plus power without elevated strikeout totals. It’s a bat-first profile but one of the best contact and power hitters in the minor leagues. 

Dyan Jorge, SS (No. 23 to No. 12)

A high-bonus signing out of Cuba, Jorge has been one of the better hitters in the Arizona Complex League this season. He’s walked twice as much as he’s struck out and has reached base in all but two games so far. A projectable athlete, Jorge’s skills are a welcome sign for his future prospect stock. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Jorge at a full-season affiliate before long. 

Aaron Schunk, 3B (NR to No. 19) 

After a rough 2022 Schunk has rebounded with Triple-A Albuquerque. He’s seen a sharp increase in his average exit velocity and is hitting the ball harder than at any point in his career. The added power has driven Schunk’s profile, which is predicated on contact, power and a hyper-aggressive swing-happy approach. He has a plus throwing arm and looks like a legitimate everyday third baseman defensively. His aggressive tendencies make him a risky bet as an everyday player, however. 

Bladimir Restituyo, OF (NR to No. 22) 

The lean outfielder can do a little bit of everything. He loves to swing and hardly ever walks but is adept at getting the ball in play and using his speed to get on base. He’s a throwback player in some ways but has some ability defensively and could fit in long term as a role player. Restituyo will flash average raw power but he doesn’t consistently find it due to his contact-over-power approach. 

Royals

Frank Mozzicato, LHP (No. 5 to No. 1)

Kansas City’s 2021 first-round pick, Mozzicato added feel for his fastball up in the zone, added consistency to his curveball, and in general improved his feel for pitching, resulting in a strikeout rate of 14 per nine innings. A freak on-field injury during batting practice was not as serious as projected, with him missing only one start with Low-A Columbia.

Anthony Veneziano, LHP (No. 21 to No. 9)

Projected to make a big jump forward in 2022, Veneziano instead struggled with his command and control. He made major strides this year in his return to Double-A, cutting his walk rate from 4.9 to 1.1, with the fastball regularly sitting 96 early in games but also proving that he can be effective when the heater drops a couple of ticks.

Noah Cameron, LHP (No. 23 to No. 10)

Last year’s surprise pick for the Royals Top 30 list, Cameron took another jump forward with his performance with High-A Quad Cities in his first full season back from Tommy John surgery. Despite a fastball typically sitting in the low 90s, the pitchability lefty struck out 14.9 batters per nine innings before receiving a promotion to Double-A Northwest Arkansas.

Daniel Vazquez, SS (NR to No. 12)

The Royals top international signee in 2021 has gotten taller and stronger, cutting down on strikeouts and driving more balls in the air in his return to Low-A Columbia. Vazquez projects to stay at shortstop. He’s an above-average defender and flashes a plus arm.

Tigers

Colt Keith, 3B (No. 5 to No. 1)

Keith’s 2022 season was derailed by a shoulder injury. He’s had no such problems in 2023 as he’s quickly demonstrated that he’s the Tigers’ best young hitting prospect. Spencer Torkelson has struggled to live up to expectations as a Tiger, but Keith may end up being the sweet-hitting slugger the Tigers thought they were getting in Torkelson.

Twins 

Kala’i Rosario, OF (NR to No. 19)

Coming from Hawaii, the Twins made sure to not push Rosario too fast in his first few years in the system. They are reaping the rewards this year, as Rosario has found his power stroke, partly because he’s getting better at working into advantageous counts.

Zebby Matthews, RHP (NR to No. 20)

Matthews has shown he has starter traits with plus-plus control to match with an assortment of average pitches. He dominated the Florida State League but will get a more reasonable test in the Midwest League now that he’s been promoted.

Cory Lewis, RHP (NR to No. 27)

Can a knuckleball help a pitcher dominate, even if he doesn’t throw it all that often? Lewis is going to find out. He has a fringy assortment of pitches, but it’s the fact that he mixes in a developing knuckleball that seems to keep hitters just a little bit uncomfortable.

Kyle Jones, RHP (NR to No. 29)

Jones has a shot to be the Twins’ next later-round pitching find, following on the heels of Louie Varland and now Orioles’ prospect Cade Povich. If the Twins can help Jones add a little more velocity, watch out, as he has shown he knows how to pitch with stuff that’s just a little short.

White Sox

Jonathan Cannon, RHP (No. 11 to No. 7)

Last year’s third-round pick from Georgia, Cannon has impressed talent evaluators with his fastball command and the ability to hold his velocity deep into games.

Terrell Tatum, OF (No. 24 to No. 13)

Tatum has added strength and is showing good bat-to-ball skills, to go with a very high walk rate that gets him on base better than 40% of the time, allowing him to use his plus-plus speed.

Jacob Burke, OF (NR to No. 20)

The White Sox 11th-round pick from Miami in 2022 was expected to be more of a high-energy outfielder able to play all three positions, but early returns from his first 100 at-bats at Low-A Kannapolis show that he may have more potential with the bat then projected. 

Yankees

Chase Hampton, RHP (NR to No. 6)

Hampton has followed the Will Warren plan from a year ago, which entails a more instruction-based regimen after being drafted before being unleashed at High-A in his pro debut. The righthander has impressed evaluators both inside and outside the organization for his mix of power stuff, led by a mid-90s fastball and buttressed by a combination of curveball, slider, cutter and changeup. The array of offspeeds gives him weapons against both lefthanders and righthanders, and he’s been effective against hitters of both sides. He unlocked a couple of extra ticks on his fastball through small mechanical tweaks that helped further engage his lower half during his delivery.

T.J. Rumfield, 1B (NR to No. 17)

Rumfield came to the Yankees along with lefty Joel Valdez in the deal that sent Nick Nelson and Donny Sands to the Phillies. New York’s hitting department liked Rumfield’s physicality and believed they could tap into big-time power by simplifying his load and eliminating some of the excess hand movement in his swing. That process was derailed a bit in 2022 by a hand injury that cost him a significant chunk of the season. He’s shown some of that thump this year with Double-A Somerset but the Yankees believe there’s still more in the tank as he continues fine-tuning his mechanics.

Jared Serna, SS/2B (NR to No. 26)

In the Florida Complex in 2022, Serna raked. He did not fare nearly as well in a cameo appearance at Low-A. He returned to the level in 2023 and has begun showing the same hitterish tendencies as appeared on the backfields in 2022. Serna is a strong, compact player who will be no better than an average defender at second base but could make up for it by hitting for a high average with a bit of sneaky pop mixed in as well. He makes plenty of hard contact but also needs to rein in the swing decisions a bit and learn the difference between pitches he can hit and pitches he can drive.