The White Sox had an incredible season — going from last to first in the American League Central. Is it sustainable? Time will tell, but their all‑or‑nothing offense will likely be an issue moving forward. They need players who can make contact and get on base to complement all the sluggers. They should have that in Roch Cholowsky, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 draft. He shouldn’t be far away and brings an excellent blend of bat‑to‑ball skills and power that should make him a mainstay in the lineup. Billy Carlson, their first‑round pick in 2025, is another player with a quality hit tool and strong defense, though he’s a bit further off.

From a pitching standpoint, the system has some exciting arms, but likely more bullpen pieces than true top‑of‑the‑rotation starters. Hagen Smith looked great down the stretch in a relief role, and both Tanner McDougal and David Sandlin may ultimately fit best in the bullpen as well.

I expect the White Sox to take a small step back in 2027, but the ship is finally pointed in the right direction.

Prospect Snapshot

• Top Prospect: Roch Cholowsky
• Biggest Mover: Kyle Lodise
• Biggest Disappointment: William Bergola Jr.
• Emerging Prospect: Sebastian Romero

You can access the entire list here.

The Pirates graduated several high‑end prospects, including Konnor Griffin, yet the system remains strong — anchored by one of the few pitching prospects you can realistically project as a future fantasy ace: Seth Hernandez. Edward Florentino and Murf Gray both delivered excellent 2026 campaigns and look poised to help Pittsburgh in 2028, or 2029 at the latest. The Pirates played it safe at the draft table in July with Derek Curiel, but he should hit and has a chance to produce steady 15‑15 seasons.

The depth doesn’t stop with the top four players. There are plenty of gems throughout the system. In fact, the Pirates boast four Top‑100 prospects and 19 players inside the Top‑500.

Prospect Snapshot

• Top Prospect: Seth Hernandez
• Biggest Mover: Murf Gray
• Biggest Disappointment: Termarr Johnson
• Emerging Prospect: Johan De Los Santos

You can access the entire list here.

It’s difficult to label any minor‑league system as the best in baseball, but when you have the No. 1 prospect in the game, 23 Top‑500 players, and five Top‑100 players, you can make a strong argument that the Brewers now own the top system in the sport.

Jesus Made didn’t deliver the drop‑the‑mic season I hoped for, but he still hit 14 home runs, stole 36 bases, and struck out only 14% of the time as the youngest player in Double‑A. There’s clear superstar potential and why he’s our Top prospect in the game. Luis Peña — his partner‑in‑crime for much of the season — also excelled, though staying on the field proved challenging. His speed and on‑base ability give him legitimate top‑of‑the‑lineup upside.

Plenty of others had standout seasons, including Braylon Payne’s 28‑25 campaign, Blake Burke’s 34‑28 line, and Eric Bitonti’s 25‑24 season. In fact, had Bitonti stolen one more base, the Brewers would have had three of the 11 players who finished 25‑25. And not to bury the lede: Andrew Fischer set the modern record for most home runs in a single minor‑league season with 48.

It was truly a remarkable year across the Brewers’ system.

Prospect Snapshot

• Top Prospect: Jesus Made
• Biggest Mover: Braylon Payne and Blake Burke
• Biggest Disappointment: Jett Williams
• Emerging Prospect: Diego Frontado and Ricki Moneys

You can access the entire list here.

The Reds have long embraced a philosophy of building around athletic players with loud tools but real questions about how much they’ll hit. Elly De La Cruz is the blueprint — an explosive athlete who has hit enough to become a star. Whether Steele Hall, Tyson Lewis, and Justin Lebron can hit enough to follow in his footsteps remains the open question.

That’s not the case with Alfredo Duno, their top prospect. He looks like the real deal and is getting close to helping in Cincinnati. I’d expect him to join the big‑league club at some point in 2027, with a chance to develop into one of the best catchers in the game.

Prospect Snapshot

• Top Prospect: Alfredo Duno
• Biggest Mover: Hector Rodriguez
• Biggest Disappointment: Cam Collier
• Emerging Prospect: Eider Gutiérrez

You can access the entire list here.

Josiah Hartshorn and Owen Ayers were two of the biggest breakout players in the minor leagues in 2026 and now rank as the top two prospects in the Cubs’ system. After that, there are some solid pieces in Jaxon Wiggins and Kane Kepley, but overall the system is thin, lacking both high‑end upside and meaningful depth. Their draft did add some pitching help in Cade Townsend, who has a big arm but real questions about how many strikes he’ll ultimately throw. I’m 50/50 on whether he stays in the rotation.

That said, the Cubs are firmly in their competitive window and already have a strong core at the big‑league level. They’ll likely use their minor‑league talent as complementary pieces or trade assets. With that as the objective, the system should be more than adequate.

Prospect Snapshot

• Top Prospect: Josiah Hartshorn
• Biggest Mover: Owen Ayers
• Biggest Disappointment: Kevin Alcantara
• Emerging Prospect: Johan Geraldo

You can access the entire list here.

Jonah Cox, OF, SFG (CBS: 2% rostered)

Jonah Cox has been running wild, with eight stolen bases in 58 at‑bats, including three last night. He’s also not void of power, hitting two home runs in the past week. If your need is speed, that 98th‑percentile sprint speed should get the job done.

Nolan Gorman, 2B/3B, STL (CBS: 4% rostered)

Recalled this week, Gorman simply is who he is. He’ll hit it out of the park and struggle to produce anything resembling a decent batting average. The one given is that he’ll have plenty of short‑term opportunities with JJ Wetherholt, Masyn Winn, and Blaze Jordan all hitting the IL this past week.

Walker Jenkins, OF, MIN (CBS: 56% rostered)

What would a late‑season Waiver Wire article be without a top‑tier prospect? Jenkins is this week’s choice, and his 1.420 OPS over the last three weeks at Triple‑A left him with very little left to prove down on the farm.

Sean Murphy, C, ATL (CBS: 3% rostered)

It’s time for a blast from the past, and Sean Murphy certainly qualifies. Over the past week, he’s gone 6‑for‑14 with a homer and three RBI, giving managers a chance to upgrade that second catcher spot in two‑catcher formats.

Tristan Peters, OF, CWS (CBS: 45% rostered)

It seems that every time Munetaka Murakami suffers a power outage, someone else in the White Sox lineup goes on a tear. This time, Tristan Peters is that guy, homering in five consecutive games beginning August 22. Let’s hope he left some of that power in the tank for this coming week.

Pedro Ramirez, 2B/3B, CHC (CBS: 27% rostered)

The injury to Dansby Swanson opened the door for steady playing time, and Pedro Ramirez has seized it — going 9‑for‑23 with two homers and nine RBI over the past week. A relatively small bid could yield very solid returns.

Hector Rodriguez, OF, CIN (CBS: 13% rostered)

After a slow start, Hector Rodriguez is showing signs of life with three homers in his past six games. The Reds aren’t going anywhere fast this year. Let the kids play!

Two‑Start Pitchers

Eric Lauer, LAD (CBS: 27% rostered)

McGreevy and TBA in Washington look like a perfectly fine pair of matchups for Lauer this week. Hopefully the Dodgers offense shows up in support of his cause.

Randy Dobnak, KCR (CBS: 18% rostered)

Since moving into the Royals rotation at the beginning of July, Dobnak has allowed two or fewer earned runs in eight of his ten starts. Look for him to build on those numbers this week as he faces the Marlins’ Tyler Phillips and the Jays’ Spencer Arrighetti at home.

Closer Report

Elvis Alvarado, ATH (CBS: 9% rostered)

Hogan Harris looked to be in the driver’s seat in the ninth for Sacramento, but Elvis Alvarado’s three saves in his past four outings raise questions about Harris’s current role. The hot hand is definitely Alvarado, and he’s likely looking at more than his fair share of saves moving forward.

Calvin Faucher, MIA (CBS: 5% rostered)

Nerve irritation in his right hand has sent incumbent Pete Fairbanks to the IL. Calvin Faucher should be the favorite for saves in his absence, given his history of ninth‑inning work (15 saves in 2025). If he struggles, Michael Petersen could work his way into the mix.

Bryan Hudson, SP/RP, CWS (CBS: 3% rostered)

Bryan Hudson has three saves and a win in his past six appearances, including back‑to‑back saves in his last two. He’s up to seven saves on the year. Grant Taylor has two saves in his past six appearances, three wins, and eight saves overall. It looks like we have a committee on the South Side.

An update has been made to our Closer Report.  It can be found here.

An update has been made to our Closer Report.  It can be found here.