Any system that leads off with Junior Caminero is going to be strong.  When you throw in Curtis Mead and Carson Williams, and one of the more advanced hitters taken in the 2023 draft in Brayden Taylor, the system is still one of the best in baseball. All four of those players should help the Rays in 2024 and 2025, with Caminero having a chance to compete for American Rookie of the Year next season.

A little further away is Xavier Isaac.  He’s a player that I felt might be a little light to play first, but his performance in High-A was nothing short of amazing.  I think he calms down, but I’ve moved his ceiling up.  Also, with his hit tool, he could be another that moves quickly.

I don’t want to summarize every player in this intro, but I encourage you to read them carefully.  The system is strong, and most players should be considered for Dynasty Leagues.

Prospect Snapshot

• Top Prospect: Junior Caminero
• Biggest Mover: Xavier Isaac
• Biggest Disappointment: Mason Auer and Carlos Colmenarez
• Emerging Prospect: Brailer Guerrero

 The list can be found here.

The Yankees have one of the best minor league systems in baseball.  It’s strong at the top with Top Prospects like Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones, but also incredibly deep.  The Yankees Complex League team was among the most talented teams in the entire minor leagues.  There will be several Major Leaguers that emerge from that team – some could be impact players.

While the hitting side of the equation is strong, the pitching side is not far behind.  They have a number of pitchers that should be ready to contribute in New York next season.  Drew Thorpe was excellent with one of the best change-up/slider combinations I saw all year.  Will Warren and Chase Hampton have a mid-rotation upside.

The larger question is how many of the 27 prospects on this list will stay with the Yankees long enough to wear pinstripes?  I hope many of them will, as the Yankees can remake their Major League team over the next few years with a core of high-end homegrown players.

Prospect Snapshot

• Top Prospect: Jasson Dominguez
• Biggest Mover: Drew Thorpe and Henry LeLane
• Biggest Disappointment: Austin Wells
• Emerging Prospect: Brando Mayea

The list can be found here.

While the Red Sox had a down season in the Major Leagues, their minor league system took a step up.  It wasn’t enough to keep Chaim Bloom employed, but I think Brian O’Halloran and his leadership team have some depth to quickly rebuild their team if they choose.

The top is extremely strong, with Marcelo Mayer, Kyle Teel, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Roman Anthony leading the system.  But it doesn’t stop there.  I’m very intrigued by their young pitchers.  Luis Perales and Yordanny Monegro are exciting arms that need to learn to throw strikes.  At worst, they will be helpful bullpen arms but have the stuff to pitch as mid-rotation starters, if not more.

Will all of these players make it to the Major Leagues?  Of course not.  Will all of the players who make it to the Major Leagues out of this group become Red Sox players?  Definitely not.  The Red Sox will likely use many of them as trade bait as they wheel and deal at the Major League level to add established veterans.  That’s just the way they roll.

Prospect Snapshot

• Top Prospect: Marcelo Mayer
• Biggest Mover: Roman Anthony
• Biggest Disappointment: Mikey Romero
• Emerging Prospect: Yordanny Monegro

The list can be found here.

It’s easy to compare the Orioles to what the Houston Astros did ten years ago.  The playbook is the same, and the leadership for the Orioles can be traced back to the Astros rebuild.  The other comparison you can make is that it’s working.

The Orioles Major League team is good but will be much better over the next few years as the players mature and others are promoted. The system is light on pitching, but I think you’ll see the Orioles trade some of their young hitters to acquire pitching both in-season and in the off-season.

Now, the owner has already cried “poor,” and this is the biggest difference in what Houston did.

When Jeff Luhnow interviewed with Jim Crane for the General Manager’s job, he presented multiple slides that pointed to the Houston market to support a winner.  Apparently, that section was omitted from Mike Elias’ deck, or the Orioles ignored it.  If the Orioles cannot sign their young core long-term, and several of them are represented by the Boras Corporation (Gunnar and Jackson, to name two), they will have to pivot to a Tampa Bay Rays model.  While that’s a harder model to follow, the Rays have proven that it’s possible.  Given the Orioles’ ability to acquire and develop talent through the use of advanced metrics, I believe they can make that work.

For fantasy managers, owning Orioles’ minor league players is getting tricky.  Besides Jackson Holliday and Sam Basallo, many of the other players are blocked. I always bet on the talent, as playing time usually works out.  Sometimes, it takes longer, but good players rarely get left out in the cold.

Prospect Snapshot

• Top Prospect: Jackson Holliday
• Biggest Mover: Sam Basallo
• Biggest Disappointment: Colton Cowser
• Emerging Prospect: Luis Almeyda

The list can be found here.

I write profiles throughout the year, and then, as part of putting out the organizational Top 20s, I rework them based on their overall season, my scouting reports, and what other evaluators are saying.  I spent more time editing the Nationals system than any other system.  It wasn’t close.

I found myself constantly downshifting on players. Robert Hassell, Jarlin Susana, and Elijah Green had terrible seasons.  I would rank them, write more, re-rank them lower, write more, and then lower them further.  It was rather remarkable.  You can even throw Brady House into that equation.  He was better, but in the end, he’s a guy you are betting will hit for considerable power, but he’s a well-below hitter.

Two guys that I felt great about were Dylan Crews and James Wood.  Crews feels like Jackson Holliday 2.0.  High Floor with great tools that should make him an excellent Major Leaguer.  Not Ronald Acuna, but more Gunnar Henderson.  Wood could be Ronald Acuna if he can make enough contact.  His swing is fighting his length; unfortunately, the length is winning.  But athleticism like he has doesn’t grow on trees, and he could be special.

I’m not going to lie, it was a struggle to write. But, also fun.  There’s a TON of talent here, and with some better contact here and there, the Nationals should be on the right path.

Prospect Snapshot

• Top Prospect: Dylan Crews
• Biggest Mover: Cristhian Vaquero
• Biggest Disappointment: Robert Hassell and Elijah Green
• Emerging Prospect: Travis Sykora

The list can be found here.

Writing up the Phillies organization is usually a struggle, and this year was no exception.  There are talented players, but most of them have flaws that make it difficult to put a realistic ceiling on them.   Here’s a sampling of what I’m referring to:

• Andrew Painter looked like he was going North with the team in the Spring but blew out his elbow and is now recovering from TJS.
• Mick Abel has a great arm but struggles to throw strikes.
• Justin Crawford is a premium athlete but needs to get stronger to become a full-time regular.
• Simon Muzziotti can hit and run with no power.
• Griff McGarry got the Yipes and couldn’t throw strikes.

I could go on and on and encourage you to read the capsules.

The exception to the pattern might be their first-round pick last July – Aidan Miller.  He looks like he can hit with plus power.  There’s little speed, but that’s okay, as we know who the player might become.

Prospect Snapshot

• Top Prospect: Andrew Painter
• Biggest Mover: Justin Crawford
• Biggest Disappointment: Griff McGarry
• Emerging Prospect: Starlyn Caba

 The list can be found here.

The Mets had a disastrous season, but to their credit, they admitted defeat, sold off their mistakes, and then hired a new leader in David Stearns.  Will it work?  I think it will, and they could be contenders as soon as next season or 2025.

The system is strong, with many potential impact players.  The four players at the top could have gone in any order, but Jet Williams was a monster last season and gets the nod for the top spot.  Drew Gilbert can flat-out hit, and if Acuna can add some strength, he could also be an impact player.  We’ve already seen what Mauricio can do – and not do.

It doesn’t end there, as they have depth at all levels; in pitching and positional players.

Prospect Snapshot

• Top Prospect: Jett Williams
• Biggest Mover: Christian Scott
• Biggest Disappointment: Kevin Parada (there, I said it)
• Emerging Prospect: Jeffry Rosa

 The list can be found here.

The Marlins system is light.  Noble Meyer was their first-round pick last July, and his data looks fantastic, but he’s an 18-year-old pitcher, and so much can go wrong.  But if it works, he could pitch at the top of the rotation.

Xavier Edwards is the top positional player, and he might be a middle infielder with some speed and great contact skills.  I like Max Meyer and Dax Fulton, but both are rehabbing from elbow surgery.  Finally, there are some interesting high-end Latin prospects further down the list.

But it’s weak, and the Marlins need players who can contribute at the Major League level, particularly bats.  While I’m sure they liked their second and third-round picks in July – two big college bats.  They both have significant swing-and-miss in their game and are high-risk options to become impact players.

It feels like it’s more of the same.  They develop pitchers and pray that they can cobble together an offense.

Prospect Snapshot

• Top Prospect: Noble Meyer
• Biggest Mover: Ian Lewis
• Biggest Disappointment: Jacob Berry (I’m just not a fan)
• Emerging Prospect: Janero Miller

The list can be found here.

The Braves have built a great organization with young, controllable players at the Major League level.  The window has been open for a while and should continue to remain open for many more years.  But what about the Minor Leagues?  Just when you think their system is light, you do the research and realize that there still is talent.  Most of it is on the pitching side, but teams are always looking for pitching, so that’s not bad.

AJ Smith-Shawver has already seen time in Atlanta, and while he pitched okay, there’s more in the tank.  Hurston Waldrep made my Daily Notes multiple times over the summer and will likely move quickly through the system. The further removed from TJS Spencer Schwellenbach gets, the better the command gets.  Watch out for him; he could be the best of the bunch.

Prospect Snapshot

• Top Prospect: AJ Smith-Shawver
• Biggest Mover: Spencer Schwellenbach
• Biggest Disappointment: Jesse Franklin
• Emerging Prospect: Luis Guanipa

The list can be found here.

I like the Twins system.  Walker Jenkins has star potential, Emmanuel Rodriguez could hit 40 home runs one day, and Brooks Lee should be the starting shortstop over Carlos Correa, but that is unlikely.  And don’t laugh, Austin Martin finally played this season and looked much better.  There is also depth in the system, with Marco Raya and David Festa having a chance to pitch as mid-rotation arms with some high-end talent in the lower minor leagues.

The biggest problem might be finding places for all these kids to play in Minnesota.  It’s a nice problem to have for the Twins, but if you are a Dynasty League owner – not so much.

 Prospect Snapshot

• Top Prospect: Walker Jenkins
• Biggest Mover: David Festa
• Biggest Disappointment: Connor Prielipp
• Emerging Prospect: Jose Rodriguez

The list can be found here.