MLB Prospect Report: Updated Top-250 Rankings

Published: Apr 28, 2021

With there being so many different prospects getting called up early in the season this year and about a dozen prospects graduating from the ranks of being called a prospect, now seems like a good time to update my Top-250 prospect rankings from the preseason list that was in the Draft Guide. Below the rankings, we’ll look at the biggest risers since the preseason rankings with analysis as to why they’re rising up through the ranks.

Overall Rankings

Rank	Player	Team	Pos	Rank	Player	Team	Pos
1	Wander Franco	TB	SS	126	Sherten Apostel	TEX	3B
2	Jarred Kelenic	SEA	OF	127	Alexander Canario	SF	OF
3	Julio Rodriguez	SEA	OF	128	Nick Bitsko	TB	P
4	Spencer Torkelson	DET	3B	129	Tyler Stephenson	CIN	C
5	MacKenzie Gore	SD	P	130	Maximo Acosta	TEX	SS
6	Bobby Witt Jr.	KC	SS	131	Daniel Johnson	CLE	OF
7	Andrew Vaughn	CHW	1B	132	Travis Swaggerty	PIT	OF
8	Adley Rutschman	BAL	C	133	Isaac Paredes	DET	SS
9	Marco Luciano	SF	SS	134	Josh Lowe	TB	OF
10	Nate Pearson	TOR	P	135	Kevin Alcantara	NYY	OF
11	Noelvi Marte	SEA	SS	136	Kameron Misner	MIA	OF
12	Austin Martin	TOR	SS	137	Jordan Walker	STL	3B
13	CJ Abrams	SD	SS	138	Khalil Lee	NYM	OF
14	Sixto Sanchez	MIA	P	139	Kyle Isbel	KC	OF
15	Alex Kirilloff	MIN	OF	140	J.B. Bukauskas	ARI	P
16	Kristian Robinson	ARI	OF	141	Jose Garcia	CIN	SS
17	Riley Greene	DET	OF	142	Aaron Sabato	MIN	1B
18	Nick Gonzales	PIT	SS	143	Alexfri Planez	CLE	OF
19	Jasson Dominguez	NYY	OF	144	Miguel Amaya	CHC	C
20	Matt Manning	DET	P	145	Luis Rodriguez	LAD	OF
21	Corbin Carroll	ARI	OF	146	Dean Kremer	BAL	P
22	Logan Gilbert	SEA	P	147	Luis Medina	NYY	P
23	Luis Patino	TB	P	148	Heriberto Hernandez	TEX	C
24	Max Meyer	MIA	P	149	Michael Busch	LAD	2B
25	Jordan Groshans	TOR	3B	150	Brice Turang	MIL	SS
26	Spencer Howard	PHI	P	151	Jared Kelley	CHW	P
27	Trevor Larnach	MIN	OF	152	Patrick Bailey	SF	C
28	Alek Thomas	ARI	OF	153	Jeremiah Jackson	LAA	SS
29	Asa Lacy	KC	P	154	Braden Shewmake	ATL	SS
30	Royce Lewis	MIN	SS	155	Gabriel Arias	CLE	SS
31	Joey Bart	SF	C	156	Gunnar Henderson	BAL	SS
32	Grayson Rodriguez	BAL	P	157	Diego Cartaya	LAD	C
33	Nolan Gorman	STL	3B	158	Yusniel Diaz	BAL	OF
34	Vidal Brujan	TB	2B	159	Daniel Cabrera	DET	OF
35	Drew Waters	ATL	OF	160	Isaiah Greene	CLE	OF
36	JJ Bleday	MIA	OF	161	Alejandro Kirk	TOR	C
37	Ronny Mauricio	NYM	SS	162	Bryce Jarvis	ARI	P
38	Brandon Marsh	LAA	OF	163	Gilberto Jimenez	BOS	OF
39	Nolan Jones	CLE	3B	164	Ezequiel Duran	NYY	2B
40	Emerson Hancock	SEA	P	165	Joe Ryan	TB	P
41	Cristian Pache	ATL	OF	166	Brent Rooker	MIN	OF
42	Ke'Bryan Hayes	PIT	3B	167	Chris Rodriguez	LAA	P
43	Austin Hendrick	CIN	OF	168	Bayron Lora	TEX	OF
44	Orelvis Martinez	TOR	SS	169	Andy Pages	LAD	OF
45	Zac Veen	COL	OF	170	William Contreras	ATL	C
46	Oneil Cruz	PIT	SS	171	Jhoan Duran	MIN	P
47	Triston Casas	BOS	1B	172	Reginald Preciado	CHC	SS
48	Michael Kopech	CHW	P	173	Bobby Miller	LAD	P
49	Heliot Ramos	SF	OF	174	Braxton Garrett	MIA	P
50	Jeter Downs	BOS	2B	175	Jordan Westburg	BAL	SS
51	Edward Cabrera	MIA	P	176	Justin Foscue	TEX	OF
52	Hunter Bishop	SF	OF	177	Dillon Dingler	DET	C
53	Shane McClanahan	TB	P	178	Luis Gil	NYY	P
54	George Kirby	SEA	P	179	Brennan Malone	PIT	P
55	George Valera	CLE	OF	180	Ronaldo Hernandez	BOS	C
56	Pete Crow-Armstrong	NYM	OF	181	Cal Raleigh	SEA	C
57	Geraldo Perdomo	ARI	SS	182	Slade Cecconi	ARI	P
58	Robert Hassell III	SD	OF	183	Blake Walston	ARI	P
59	Brailyn Marquez	CHC	P	184	Jay Groome	BOS	P
60	Erick Pena	KC	OF	185	Mason Martin	PIT	1B
61	Nick Lodolo	CIN	P	186	Daulton Jefferies	OAK	P
62	Heston Kjerstad	BAL	OF	187	Pavin Smith	ARI	1B
63	Garrett Crochet	CHW	P	188	Zach McKinstry	LAD	2B
64	Garrett Mitchell	MIL	OF	189	Forrest Whitley	HOU	P
65	Xavier Edwards	TB	SS	190	Luis Toribio	SF	3B
66	Shane Baz	TB	P	191	Tucker Davidson	ATL	P
67	DL Hall	BAL	P	192	Alexander Vargas	NYY	SS
68	Daniel Lynch	KC	P	193	Lewin Diaz	MIA	1B
69	Taylor Trammell	SEA	OF	194	Jeferson Espinal	ARI	OF
70	Matthew Liberatore	STL	P	195	Michael Baumann	BAL	P
71	Quinn Priester	PIT	P	196	Zack Thompson	STL	P
72	Brennen Davis	CHC	OF	197	Seth Beer	ARI	1B
73	Clarke Schmidt	NYY	P	198	Elehuris Montero	COL	3B
74	Kody Hoese	LAD	3B	199	Ivan Herrera	STL	C
75	Tyler Freeman	CLE	SS	200	Bryan Abreu	HOU	P
76	Brendan McKay	TB	P	201	Jonathan Stiever	CHW	P
77	Jonathan India	CIN	2B	202	Keoni Cavaco	MIN	SS
78	Mick Abel	PHI	P	203	Jack Kochanowicz	LAA	P
79	Francisco Alvarez	NYM	C	204	Adam Kloffenstein	TOR	P
80	Deivi Garcia	NYY	P	205	Jake Fraley	SEA	OF
81	Jordan Balazovic	MIN	P	206	Seth Corry	SF	P
82	Josh Jung	TEX	3B	207	Jairo Pomares	SF	OF
83	Hunter Greene	CIN	P	208	Arol Vera	LAA	SS
84	Simeon Woods-Richardson	TOR	P	209	Estevan Florial	NYY	OF
85	Jesus Sanchez	MIA	OF	210	Tanner Burns	CLE	P
86	Robert Puason	OAK	SS	211	J.T. Ginn	NYM	P
87	Jarren Duran	BOS	OF	212	Miguel Hiraldo	TOR	3B
88	Jordyn Adams	LAA	OF	213	Bo Naylor	CLE	C
89	Josiah Gray	LAD	P	214	Jerar Encarnacion	MIA	OF
90	Luis Campusano	SD	C	215	Kyle Muller	ATL	P
91	Cade Cavalli	WSH	P	216	Mark Vientos	NYM	3B
92	Austin Wells	NYY	C	217	Alex De Jesus	LAD	2B
93	Jared Oliva	PIT	OF	218	Gabriel Moreno	TOR	C
94	Tanner Houck	BOS	P	219	Ethan Small	MIL	P
95	Brayan Rocchio	CLE	SS	220	Ji-Hwan Bae	PIT	2B
96	Hedbert Perez	MIL	OF	221	Logan Davidson	OAK	SS
97	Jackson Kowar	KC	P	222	Tyler Callihan	CIN	2B
98	Luis Matos	SF	OF	223	Jack Herman	PIT	OF
99	Aaron Bracho	CLE	2B	224	Parker Meadows	DET	OF
100	Tyler Soderstrom	OAK	C	225	Cole Roederer	CHC	OF
101	Ed Howard	CHC	SS	226	Colton Welker	COL	3B
102	Reid Detmers	LAA	P	227	Wilderd Patino	ARI	OF
103	Luisangel Acuna	TEX	SS	228	Ryan Vilade	COL	SS
104	Michael Toglia	COL	1B	229	Cole Winn	TEX	P
105	Jackson Rutledge	WSH	P	230	Kyren Paris	LAA	SS
106	Greg Jones	TB	SS	231	Zach DeLoach	SEA	OF
107	Matthew Allan	NYM	P	232	Corbin Martin	ARI	P
108	Brent Honeywell Jr.	TB	P	233	Jared Jones	PIT	P
109	Liover Peguero	PIT	SS	234	Luis Frias	ARI	P
110	Alek Manoah	TOR	P	235	Thad Ward	BOS	P
111	Brett Baty	NYM	3B	236	Bryce Ball	ATL	1B
112	Bryson Stott	PHI	SS	237	Jhon Torres	STL	OF
113	A.J. Puk	OAK	P	238	Miguel Vargas	LAD	3B
114	Hudson Head	PIT	OF	239	Jeremy Pena	HOU	SS
115	Ryan Weathers	SD	P	240	Nick Loftin	KC	SS
116	Peyton Burdick	MIA	OF	241	Will Wilson	SF	SS
117	Keibert Ruiz	LAD	C	242	Bryan Mata	BOS	P
118	Ethan Hankins	CLE	P	243	Sheldon Neuse	OAK	2B
119	Misael Urbina	MIN	OF	244	Benyamin Bailey	CHW	OF
120	Shea Langeliers	ATL	C	245	Owen Miller	CLE	SS
121	Tahnaj Thomas	PIT	P	246	Gabriel Rodriguez	CLE	SS
122	Sam Huff	TEX	C	247	Bubba Thompson	TEX	OF
123	Daniel Espino	CLE	P	248	Joey Cantillo	CLE	P
124	Cole Wilcox	TB	P	249	Hudson Potts	BOS	SS
125	Monte Harrison	MIA	OF	250	Daz Cameron	DET	OF

Rankings By Position

The number in brackets is the player's overall rank in the top-250.

Catcher

Rank	C
1	Adley Rutschman [8]
2	Joey Bart [31]
3	Francisco Alvarez [79]
4	Luis Campusano [90]
5	Austin Wells [92]
6	Tyler Soderstrom [100]
7	Keibert Ruiz [117]
8	Shea Langeliers [120]
9	Sam Huff [122]
10	Tyler Stephenson [129]

First Base

Rank	1B
1	Andrew Vaughn [7]
2	Triston Casas [47]
3	Michael Toglia [104]
4	Aaron Sabato [142]
5	Mason Martin [185]
6	Pavin Smith [187]
7	Lewin Diaz [193]
8	Seth Beer [197]
9	Bryce Ball [236]

Second Base

Rank	2B
1	Vidal Brujan [34]
2	Jeter Downs [50]
3	Jonathan India [77]
4	Aaron Bracho [99]
5	Michael Busch [149]
6	Ezequiel Duran [164]
7	Zach McKinstry [188]
8	Alex De Jesus [217]
9	Ji-Hwan Bae [220]
10	Tyler Callihan [222]

Third Base

Rank	3B
1	Spencer Torkelson [4]
2	Jordan Groshans [25]
3	Nolan Gorman [33]
4	Nolan Jones [39]
5	Ke'Bryan Hayes [42]
6	Kody Hoese [74]
7	Josh Jung [82]
8	Brett Baty [111]
9	Sherten Apostel [126]
10	Jordan Walker [137]

Shortstop

Rank	SS
1	Wander Franco [1]
2	Bobby Witt Jr. [6]
3	Marco Luciano [9]
4	Noelvi Marte [11]
5	Austin Martin [12]
6	CJ Abrams [13]
7	Nick Gonzales [18]
8	Royce Lewis [30]
9	Ronny Mauricio [37]
10	Orelvis Martinez [44]

Outfield

Rank	OF
1	Jarred Kelenic [2]
2	Julio Rodriguez [3]
3	Alex Kirilloff [15]
4	Kristian Robinson [16]
5	Riley Greene [17]
6	Jasson Dominguez [19]
7	Corbin Carroll [21]
8	Trevor Larnach [27]
9	Alek Thomas [28]
10	Drew Waters [35]
11	JJ Bleday [36]
12	Brandon Marsh [38]
13	Cristian Pache [41]
14	Austin Hendrick [43]
15	Zac Veen [45]
16	Heliot Ramos [49]
17	Hunter Bishop [52]
18	George Valera [55]
19	Pete Crow-Armstrong [56]
20	Robert Hassell III [58]
21	Erick Pena [60]
22	Heston Kjerstad [62]
23	Garrett Mitchell [64]
24	Taylor Trammell [69]
25	Brennen Davis [72]

Pitcher

Rank	P
1	MacKenzie Gore [5]
2	Nate Pearson [10]
3	Sixto Sanchez [14]
4	Matt Manning [20]
5	Logan Gilbert [22]
6	Luis Patino [23]
7	Max Meyer [24]
8	Spencer Howard [26]
9	Asa Lacy [29]
10	Grayson Rodriguez [32]
11	Emerson Hancock [40]
12	Michael Kopech [48]
13	Edward Cabrera [51]
14	Shane McClanahan [53]
15	George Kirby [54]
16	Brailyn Marquez [59]
17	Nick Lodolo [61]
18	Garrett Crochet [63]
19	Shane Baz [66]
20	DL Hall [67]
21	Daniel Lynch [68]
22	Matthew Liberatore [70]
23	Quinn Priester [71]
24	Clarke Schmidt [73]
25	Brendan McKay [76]
26	Mick Abel [78]
27	Deivi Garcia [80]
28	Jordan Balazovic [81]
29	Hunter Greene [83]
30	Simeon Woods-Richardson [84]
31	Josiah Gray [89]
32	Cade Cavalli [91]
33	Tanner Houck [94]
34	Jackson Kowar [97]
35	Reid Detmers [102]
36	Jackson Rutledge [105]
37	Matthew Allan [107]
38	Brent Honeywell Jr. [108]
39	Alek Manoah [110]
40	A.J. Puk [113]
41	Ryan Weathers [115]
42	Ethan Hankins [118]
43	Tahnaj Thomas [121]
44	Daniel Espino [123]
45	Cole Wilcox [124]
46	Nick Bitsko [128]
47	J.B. Bukauskas [140]
48	Dean Kremer [146]
49	Luis Medina [147]
50	Jared Kelley [151]

Biggest Risers

Quinn Priester, RHP PIT - Current rank: 71, previous rank: 150

Priester was the top pick of the Pirates in the 2019 draft as a high-upside, prep right-hander which perfectly fits the Pirates’ modus operandi in the draft the last few years. The 6’3”, 210-pound righty used his first offseason, and the 2020 season at instructionals, to add weight to his frame but also velocity and movement to his pitches. The fastball averages a tick over 97 mph while touching 99 occasionally with a very good spin rate over 2,200 rpm. The two-seamer is a sinking pitch that he uses to induce ground balls at a good clip and the remaining three pitches are two distinct breaking pitches in a curveball and slider and then a seldom-used changeup. All five pitches are at least average with the fastballs and curveball being plus-pitches. His repeatable delivery and still improving stuff has Priester possessing as much upside as any pitching prospect in baseball.

Shea Langeliers, C ATL - Current rank: 120, previous rank: NR

Langeliers also came out of the 2019 draft in the first round after a solid college career at Baylor. He was known as a glove-first catcher coming into the draft but he’s worked hard to improve the bat and get it closer to his defense and that work is paying off. While getting time at the alternate site last year, the right-handed hitting catcher worked on taking balls the other way and his average exit velocity on those balls in play was 95.4 mph. He did hit .255 in a brief stint in the minors in 2019 as well. The arm is perhaps the best of any catcher in the minors as he threw out 41-percent of would-be base stealers in 2019 and the framing and blocking grade out as plus skills. If the bat continues to improve on the work he put in at the alternate site, there’s no doubt he’ll be just a tick behind the likes of Adley Rutschman and Joey Bart in the catching prospect ranks.

Pavin Smith, 1B/OF ARI - Current rank: 187, previous rank: NR

Smith was drafted with the thinking that he might be the replacement for Paul Goldschmidt at first base, and though his development has taken longer than expected, he’s finally starting to make an impact on the major league roster. He’s a patient hitter with a good eye and approach as he walked (148) nearly as many times as striking out (158) in his four seasons in the minors. In his brief time in the majors to this point, the bat speed and hit tool have been quite good though the power has still been lacking, like it’s always been since being drafted, which hurts his upside a bit. Arizona is using him in both the outfield and at first base to keep his bat in the lineup and while his speed isn’t off the charts, his athleticism helps him be close to an average runner. His overall profile is a hitter who will hit for a high average and a great OBP while hitting 10-15 HR a year and qualifying at 1B and OF in fantasy leagues.

Ryan Weathers, LHP SD - Current rank: 115, previous rank: 197

Weathers has been the talk of the industry over the last week and change given his first two starts in the majors, including shutting down the Dodgers’ potent offense in one of those starts. The southpaw was a first-round pick of San Diego in the 2018 draft and since then has put on a show at each level he’s been at including opening a ton of eyes at the alternate site in 2020. The fastball is a plus pitch with plus command and sits in the high-90s with great late life. The mid-80s slider and nice fading changeup round out the arsenal and are both out pitches to either handedness of hitter. Weathers has the MLB pedigree to go along with his stuff and he should be a number-three starter at best or a high-leverage bullpen arm in a worst-case scenario.

Shane McClanahan, LHP TB - Current rank: 53, previous rank: 103

McClanahan has managed to hang out as one of the top pitching prospects in baseball, let alone in the Rays’ system, without a whole lot of hubbub. That will change soon though as he is being called up to start on the 28th of April as the Tampa rotation continues to need depth. The lefty brings a 70-grade fastball as the lead pitch in his arsenal that tops out at 101 but sits 95-98 mph when he’s starting. He pairs that double-plus heater with an upper-80s slider that produced a 40-percent whiff rate to this point in the pros between minors and a brief debut for Tampa last year in the playoffs. The upper-80s changeup that looks like a splitter is a developing third pitch that gives him a ceiling of a number-two starter but likely number-three arm for the Rays or he could wind up like a Josh Hader type and ride that electric stuff to a high-leverage role in the bullpen.

Chris Rodriguez, RHP LAA - Current rank: 167, previous rank: NR

Rodriguez has always had the stuff to be in the discussion as a mid-rotation piece for the Halos but the injury history here has kept him from showing off that stuff. He pitched all of 9.1 innings in 2018 and 2019 combined due to a back injury, but now he’s fully healthy and pitched more than 50 innings between the alternate site and Fall league last year. This spring, the mid-to-upper-90s fastball was showing up consistently in games, and the control, which had been an issue before, is now more refined as well. The fastball is a sinking two-seamer, while the slider is more of the hard and tight variety to differentiate it from his slower, more looping curveball, and don’t sleep on the plus-changeup either. If he can remain healthy, there’s no doubt that he and Andrew Heaney and Reid Detmers could form a very good top-three in the rotation.

Matthew Allan, RHP NYM - Current rank: 107, previous rank: 186

Allan was a liability to draft due to the high signing bonus demanded and his commitment to the University of Florida, however, the Mets were able to get him to sign for less than he had asked for ($2.5 million compared to $4 million) after taking him in the third round of the 2019 draft. The prep school righty then impressed everyone at the alternate site in 2020 where he showed off his mid-to-upper-90s fastball that he works well both down in the zone and as a high strike. The mid-80s changeup is perhaps his best secondary pitch as it’s flashed plus consistently while showing good fade and deception along with his downer-curveball that sits in the low-80s. At 6’3”, 225-pounds and with three plus-pitches in tow, the 20-year-old seems poised to be on a fast track to being the Mets’ rotation as a future frontline starter to sit behind deGrom in the starting five.

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