When you have five shortstop eligible players rolling off the board in the First Round and another two in the second, it’s hard to say avoiding the Top-Tier is a good approach. Take what the position gives you and don’t worry if you miss out on the elite shortstops as there are plenty of opportunities to acquire very serviceable players at any point in time during the draft.

1. Bobby Witt Jr., KCR –Witt is a consensus Top-3 overall pick, and with back-to-back 30-30 seasons, he has earned that lofty status.

2. Elly De La Cruz, CIN – It will be hard to sustain a decent BA when you strikeout at the level he did last year (218 K’s in 618 AB), but one can overlook these struggles when a 30 HR/70SB season is a very real possibility.

3. Gunnar Henderson, BAL – He tailed off a bit in the second half, but when you go 28-63 with 14 thefts in the first half, is that expected to be repeated? He’s on the cusp of becoming a superstar.

4. Francisco Lindor, NYM –For those who were concerned with Lindor’s first season in New York, the next three seasons, especially the last two, have alleviated those concerns. In 2024, he came up with one SB short of back-to-back 30-to-30 seasons.

5. Mookie Betts, LAD – OF-43 – He’s consistent with outfield eligibility. If you’re looking for safety, here you go.

6. Trea Turner, PHI—The data is starting to show some wear with Turner as his exit velo is mid-pack, and he’s chases a ton, but he’s still one of the fastest players in the league.

7. Corey Seager, TEX – IF he can stay healthy, he’s going to hit 40 home runs one year. However, health has been a problem of late.

8. CJ Abrams, WAS – He’s still young but doesn’t hit the ball very hard and still needs work on controlling the strike zone. If you believe he solves that as he matures, it’s a great pick.

9. Oneil Cruz, PIT – OF-23 – It’s crazy bat speed (100th percentile) with speed. The speed and power upside are enormous. The fly in the ointment is he swings at everything and doesn’t always hit things when he does swing. Know your parameters!

10. Willy Adames, SFG – Where did the 21 stolen bases come from? I’m not sure, as he’s an average runner. However, everyone seems to steal bases now and throw in exit velocities that point to 25+ home run pop, there’s a lot to like.

11. Anthony Volpe, NYY – The 2024 campaign was looked at as an underwhelming season for the 23-year-old shortstop, and he still managed to hit 12 homers, steal 28 bases, score 90 runs hitting at the top-of-the-order, and improve his BA from .209 to .244. Many a player would be very happy to have that type of underwhelming season.

12. Ezequiel Tovar, COL – He’s not a complete player yet as his ability to control the strike zone leaves a lot to be desired. Ok, it’s terrible! He should get stronger and 20 home runs should become the floor. There’s more speed in his game than he showed. If you can live with a sub .300 OBP, then there’s good value if one of the elite shortstops are off the board.

13. Matt McLain, CIN – There’s no doubting McLain has the potential to produce a 25-25 season. A shoulder injury suffered in Spring Training and the subsequent surgery cost him all of 2024, but an AFL rehab stint has him looking to be 100% ready to roll come Spring.

14. Masyn Winn, STL – Winn has already stated he wants to run more in 2025 with his goal being to steal between 30 and 40 bases. If he can follow through on those plans, the soon-to-be 23-year-old is poised to take a big leap up the charts.

15. Dansby Swanson, CHC – He’s a bit boring, but there are enough skills here for at least 15-15 production with a chance for 20-20. His xBA was .244, and while he could post a .250 batting average, I don’t think there would be much more in the tank than that.

16. Jeremy Pena, HOU – His sprint speed is in the 98th percentile, so the 20 stolen bases he posted in 2024 shouldn’t be a surprise. However, the exit velocities point to average power. The data suggest 2024 looks repeatable.

17. Zach Neto, LAA – He was rushed through the minor leagues and then got hurt in 2023. However, who had 23-30 on their bingo card last season? I didn’t. In looking at the data, there’s a lot of “meh” there. Poor bat speed and exit velocities don’t portend 25+ home runs. Think more – 15 to 20. His sprint speed is in the 73rd percentile, so 30 stolen bases might be a stretch, but I could see a 15-20 player who hits .250.

18. Xavier Edwards, MIA – 31 stolen bases in a half season combined with a very good hit tool and hitting at the top-of-the-order makes Edwards a most intriguing option. Can we set the floor at 40 thefts and a .270 BA after last year’s results?

19. Tyler Fitzgerald, SFG – The 27-year-old finally got a legitimate shot and took full advantage of it, slugging 15 homers to go along with 17 stolen bases in only 314 at-bats. The upside potential makes for a solid spec pick in the mid-teen rounds. He currently doesn’t possess 2B eligibility but will attain it early in the 2025 season.

20. Trevor Story, BOS – It’s all about the health, something sorely missing since the move to Boston in 2022.

To read the other 36, become a Patreon member at patreon.com/prospect361.

Sorry! This part of content is hidden behind this box because it requires a higher contribution level ($5) at Patreon. Why not take this chance to increase your contribution?

Below are the Top 100 Prospects in the game. There isn’t a consensus name this year as there has been in the past.  However, the floor and upside of Dylan Crews, Jasson Dominguez and Roki Sasaki are impressive and the fact that all of them will see significant time in the Majors, pushed them to the top.  Boston has two players in the Top 10 and even after the trade for Garrett Crochet, they are still extremely strong.

If you’re interesting in seeing all Top 500 prospects, become a Patreon member at Patreon.com/prospect361.

1. Dylan Crews (OF, Was) – He has an advanced approach at the plate with high-end exit velocities.

2. Jasson Dominguez (OF, NYY) – He has 20-20 upside and has improved his contact skills as he has matured.

3. Roki Sasaki (RHP, FA) – He has the size, arsenal, and pitchability to be an ace.

4. Max Clark (OF, Det) – Extremely athletic with plus speed and plenty of bat speed to project future power.

5. Roman Anthony (OF, Bos) – He’s athletic with a beautiful lefty swing that is short to the ball. He’s not very physical but has surprising pop.

6. Walker Jenkins (OF, Min) – Athletic with a lefty swing built for 30+ home run future pop.

7. Kristian Campbell (OF, Bos) – He blew up this season, showing more power and the ability to control the strike zone.

8. Sam Basallo (1B, Bal) – An athletic catcher/first baseman with a feel to hit and potential future plus power.

9. Kumar Rocker (RHP, Tex) – He’s back pitching and touching the upper 90s with his fastball with excellent control.

10. Jackson Jobe (RHP, Det) – He has #1 stuff, and if he continues to throw strikes, he could be an ace.

11. Colt Emerson (2B, Sea) – He’s a high-floor player with the tools to be a .300 hitter and 15 to 20 future home run power. Speed will not be a big part of his game.

12. Matt Shaw (SS, CHC) – He has solid all-around tools with 15-15 type of upside, maybe more as the power develops.

13. Jordan Lawlar (SS, AZ) – He spent most of the season on the IL with a thumb and hamstring injury. I still believe the upside is a 15-20 type of player.

14. Noah Schultz (LHP, CHW) – He’s tall and lanky with a big fastball and emerging secondary pitches. The delivery is a lower three-quarter with effort.

15. Coby Mayo (3B, Bal) – He is a power-hitting corner infielder who should hit .250 to .260 with 80 points more for his OBP.

16. Emmanuel Rodriguez (OF, Min) – He has 70-grade raw power, with speed early in his career. There will be strikeouts but also a ton of walks.

17. Josue De Paula (OF, LAD) – He has excellent bat speed and an impressive feel for hitting as a teenager.

18. Travis Bazzana (2B, Cle) – High-floor player with average power and speed potential.

19. Aidan Miller (3B, Phi) – He has plus future power potential but needs to work on making better contact.

20. Andrew Painter (RHP, Phi) – He last pitched in September of 2022 and has spent two full seasons recovering from TJS.

21. Tink Hence (RHP, STL) – Extremely athletic with an impressive four-pitch mix.

22. JJ Wetherholt (2B, STL) – He makes elite contact with plus speed and average power.

23. Jett Williams (OF, NYM) – He’s a toolsy player walking as much as he’s striking out. Unfortunately, he missed most of the 2024 season with a wrist injury that required surgery.

24. Nick Kurtz (1B, Oak) – He has an elite understanding of the strike zone and 25+ home run power but is limited defensively.

25. Cole Young (SS, Sea) – He’s demonstrating a plus hit tool with speed and solid power potential.

26. Bubba Chandler (RHP, Pit) – There is a top-of-the-rotation starter brewing.

27. Harry Ford (C, Sea) – The power did not carry forward to Double-A as the exit velo is more average. He continues to steal bases at a high clip.

28. Marcelo Mayer (SS, Bos) – I still like the swing and power potential, but it needs to start showing up in the stat line at some point.

29. Sebastian Walcott (SS, Tex) – He has tremendous bat speed and the potential to hit for significant home run power. However, there will likely always be a lot of strikeouts.

30. Cam Collier (3B, Cin) – The power is starting to play, and when you combine that with his feel to hit, there is an impact when playing lurking.

31. Leodalis De Vries (SS, SD) – While he’s only 17, De Vries has star potential with plus power and a natural feel to hit.

32. Moises Ballesteros (C, CHC) – He’s a natural hitter with excellent exit velocities that point to 20 home run pop.

33. Carson Williams (SS, TB) – Exciting fantasy tools, but strikeouts are still a problem.

34. Dalton Rushing (C, LAD) – He has above-average power and high on-base skills. He’s also improved his contact skills.

35. Justin Crawford (OF, Phi) – He has the athleticism to make him an impact player. He does need to get stronger, and given his age, there’s a strong possibility that he will.

36. Charlie Condon (OF, Col) – Long and lean with 30+ home run pop. There are some concerns about how much contact he will make.

37. Tyler Black (1B, Mil) – He can hit with plus speed and average power. He has moved full-time to first base.

38. Braden Montgomery (OF, CHW) – He has 70-grade power with some swing-and-miss risk in his game.

39. Chase Dollander (RHP, Col) – His fastball is back up to 98 MPH, and his slider appears, once again, to be a serious weapon.

40. Cade Horton (RHP, CHC) – He has three plus pitches with the athleticism to throw consistent strikes. He did miss the last four months of the season with a shoulder injury.

41. Thomas White (LHP, Mia) – He has impressive stuff with improved control.

42. Kyle Teel (C, CHW) – He has a plus hit tool with average power.

43. Caden Dana (RHP, LAA) – Improved secondary pitches point to a mid-rotation starter, if not more.

44. Zac Veen (OF, Col) – He’s a toolsy outfielder with a feel for hitting. However, his history of injuries has become disconcerting.

45. Michael Arroyo (OF, Sea) – He’s showing an excellent feel for hitting with an advanced approach and enough bat speed to project future above-average power.

46. Zebby Matthews (RHP, Min) – Strike thrower whose velocity and secondary pitches have improved in 2024.

47. Brandon Sproat (RHP, NYM) – He has a big fastball and is throwing more strikes.

48. Kevin McGonigle (2B, Det) – High-floor player who should hit with a bit of power and speed.

49. Jacob Melton (OF, Hou) – Toolsy outfielder who continues to show improved contact skills. If he can shorten up his swing, there is All-Star upside.

50. Sal Stewart (3B, Cin) – He’s a high-floor player who can really hit and should develop 20-home run pop.

51. Rhett Lowder (RHP, Cin) – He has a nice arsenal with a great change-up, but the delivery needs work.

52. Chase DeLauter (OF, Cle) – High-floor player with average power and speed potential.

53. Jac Caglianone (1B, KC) – Huge raw power with a chance to hit for 30+ home run pop. He has length and chase in his swing, so strikeouts could be a problem.

54. Noble Meyer (RHP, Mia) – Young and athletic with some physical projection remaining. Control has been an issue.

55. Bryce Eldridge (1B, SF) – His carrying tool is his 70-grade raw power. However, at 6 feet 7 inches, there are concerns about how much contact he will make.

56. Jacob Misiorowski (RHP, Mil) – He is tall and thin, with two 70-grade pitches in his fastball and slider. He needs to develop a third pitch and work on repeating his delivery.

57. Enrique Bradfield (OF, Bal) – He makes excellent contact with 80-grade speed and exceptional defense. He doesn’t have much over-the-fence power.

58. Termarr Johnson (SS, Pit) – He’s a solid prospect with 10 to 15 home run pop who should hit if he gets more aggressive at the plate.

59. Felnin Celesten (SS, Sea) – He showed a feel for hitting with plus speed and more power than first advertised.

60. Jaison Chourio (OF, Cle) – He’s a switch hitter with an excellent understanding of the strike zone. He’s also a plus runner. He needs to add power.

61. Jeferson Quero (C, Mil) – A smallish catcher with a feel to hit with pop. He missed the entire season after shoulder surgery.

62. Ethan Salas (C, SD) – He was overmatched offensively, and his contact quality indicates that he needs to get stronger.

63. Adael Amador (SS, Col) – He’s a high-floor player who makes excellent contact.

64. Luke Keaschall (2B, Min) – Excellent contact skills with plus speed and average power.

65. Orelvis Martinez (3B, Tor) – He has 70-grade power with improved swing decisions. Unfortunately, he got hit with an 80-game PED suspension.

66. Jace Jung (2B, Det) – He has developed a highly leveraged swing that produces more over-the-fence power but at the expense of some swing-and-miss.

67. Chase Burns (RHP, Cin) – He has a big fastball and an 80-grade slider. The change-up needs work, and his delivery requires effort.

68. Drew Gilbert (OF, NYM) – He has a high floor as a solid Major League regular but lacks the tools to be a stat-stuffing fantasy player.

69. Justin Foscue (2B, Tex) – He can flat-out him with 15 to 20 home run pop and 8 to 10 stolen base potential.

70. Kevin Alcantara (OF, CHC) – He has elite tools, but there will be pressure on his batting average.

71. Colson Montgomery (SS, CHW) – He had a down season in Triple-A with more strikeouts than he showed in the lower levels of the minor leagues. He might not have been ready for an entire season of Triple-A.

72. Hagen Smith (LHP, CHW) – He has an extreme cross-body delivery and a plus arsenal. He could develop into a number two starter if he can throw enough strikes.

73. Edgar Quero (C, CHW) – He should be able to hit with solid OBP skills and 12 to 15 home run pop.

74. Agustin Ramirez (C, Mia) – He makes excellent contact with plus power.

75. Zyhir Hope (OF, LAD) – He’s highly athletic with emerging power and a growing understanding of the strike zone.

76. Bryce Rainer (SS, Det) – He has plus raw power and a feel to hit. There is current speed that will not be a big part of the profile in the future.

77. AJ Smith-Shawver (RHP, ATL) – He has a solid arsenal, and with better control, he should be able to pitch as a number three starter, if not more.

78. Xavier Isaac (1B, TB) – He’s showing power and speed, but he’s still a work in progress with a strikeout rate that has become problematic.

79. Blake Mitchell (C, KC) – He has excellent bat speed but expands the strike zone too much. He’s athletic and should provide stolen bases early in his career.

80. Edwin Arroyo (SS, Cin) – He missed the entire season when he had Labrum surgery.

81. Brady House (SS, Was) – He has excellent bat speed and projects to hit 20+ home runs. Unfortunately, he continues to be overly aggressive at the plate, and if he doesn’t address it, it could limit his playing time and, ultimately, his ceiling.

82. Ricky Tiedemann (LHP, Tor) – He has the size and arsenal to pitch at the top of the rotation. However, health has been a problem, and after rest and rehab, he had TJS in July.

83. Franklin Arias (SS, Bos) – He’s a high-floor player with a 15-15 type of upside.

84. River Ryan (RHP, LAD) – He has an extensive arsenal with a plus fastball, and enough control to pitch at the top of the rotation. He looked great in his four MLB starts before blowing out his elbow. He’ll likely miss the entire 2025 season.

85. Owen Caissie (OF, CHC) – He has 70-grade raw power but with plenty of strikeouts.

86. Carson Whisenhunt (LHP, SF) – He has a plus arsenal but needs to improve his strike-throwing to hit his ceiling.

87. Spencer Jones (OF, NYY) – His game has speed, power, and the potential for significant swing-and-miss.

88. Brayden Taylor (3B, TB) – He has all-around skills with a beautiful lefty stroke that should produce 20+ future home run pop. He has struck out more than I initially thought.

89. Travis Sykora (RHP, Was) – He has the size and arsenal to pitch at the top of the rotation.

90. Yophery Rodriguez (OF, Mil) – He is a toolsy outfielder with a feel for the strike zone. The Brewers have been aggressive with him, much like they were with Jackson Chourio.

91. Konnor Griffin (OF, Pit) – He’s tooled up with concerns about how much he will hit.

92. Luisangel Acuna (2B, NYM) – He’s a plus runner with a feel to hit. He’ll unlikely hit for a ton of power, but there is enough bat speed to project some.

93. Justin Wrobleski (RHP, LAD) – Athletic pitcher with a potential plus arsenal.

94. Ronny Mauricio (SS, NYM) – There is 20-20 potential, but it will come with a .300ish OBP.

95. Jacob Wilson (SS, Oak) – He makes extreme contact with modest speed and power.

96. Jaden Hamm (RHP, Det) – A potential plus arsenal who throws strikes. It looks like the recipe for a top-of-the-rotation starter.

97. Aiden Smith (OF, TB) – Toolsy outfielder with concerns about how much contact he will make.

98. Cole Carrigg (C, Col) – He had a great season, showing plus speed, great defense, and a bit more power than anticipated.

99. Josue Briceno (C, Det) – He hits the ball extremely hard with a feel to hit.

100. Gavin Cross (OF, KC) – He finally started to control the strike zone better in 2024. There still is a 20-20 player lurking.

The top tier at Second Base is light, but the middle tier gives one plenty of opportunities from which to pick and choose. So much so that I’ll be looking at the middle-tier to fill my Second Base needs in 2025. Jake Cronenworth, Bryson Stott, Colt Keith, or Andres Gimenez will hopefully find their way onto many of my Fantasy squads this season.

1. Ketel Marte, ARZ – When you’ve bested your peers by 13 home runs, 21 RBI, and finish the season as the only player at second to top both .800 and .900 OPS, you are in a league all onto yourself.

2. Jose Altuve, HOU – It may not be 2016 good, but Altuve can still put together a 20-20 season.

3. Ozzie Albies, ATL – The only thing missing and cause for a down year are the at-bats. Give him 500+ and he has the potential to be the home run leader at Second Base.

4. Marcus Semien, TEX – 2024 was a down year for Semien but he still managed to score 101 runs, the only 2B to break the 100 RS mark in 2024.

5. Jordan Westburg, BAL – There will be a 25 HR, 85 RBI season in his future and that could be as early as 2025. 3B-67

6. Brice Turang, MIL – The power is limited, but there is no doubting the speed. Turang broke out in 2024, finishing third in all of baseball with 50 stolen bases. Expect more of the same moving forward.

7. Luis Garcia Jr., WAS – Garcia enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2024 in which the 24-year-old fell two homers short of a 20-20 season.

8. Matt McLain, CIN – There’s no doubting McLain has the potential to produce a 25-25 season. A shoulder injury suffered in Spring Training and the subsequent surgery cost him all of 2024, but an AFL rehab stint has him looking to be 100% ready to roll come Spring.

9. Maikel Garcia, KCR – Even a half dozen more homers to go along with the high-30’s stolen base potential and Miakel Garcia will quickly move up this list. He did experience a bone chip issue in his right elbow but should be ready for Spring Training. 3B-124

10. Jackson Holliday, BAL – He struggled badly in his first go-round in Baltimore but went back to Triple-A and did everything that got him his first kick-at-the-can. The upside is sky high, it just has to come to fruition.

11. Luis Rengifo, LAA – Rengifo has both power and speed potential. What we need to witness is it being on display for that first season of 500+ at-bats. 3B-48

12. Jake Cronenworth, SDP – 15-to-20 homers and 80-to-90 RBI’s makes for a fine option in the mid-rounds. 1B-85

13. Bryson Stott, PHI – 10-to-15 homers with a 30-stolen base floor works rather well in your middle-infield.

14. Colt Keith, DET – Keith struggled out of the gate and didn’t hit his first home run last year until May 24. He finished strong and gave us a taste of what we witnessed at Double and Triple-A in 2023. The best is yet to come, and it could be at a new position, First Base.

15. Andres Gimenez, TOR – A smattering of homers, 25+thefts, and a decent average makes Gimenez a solid mid-tier option.

16. Nico Hoerner, CHC – 5-to-10 homer potential with a 30 stolen base floor provides solid value. Monitor Hoerner’s status closely as your draft day approaches. The flexor tendon repair could be cause for a delayed start to 2025.

17. Zack Gelof, OAK – The 17 home runs and 25 stolen bases accumulated last year are impressive, but they come with a whopping 188 strikeouts in 497 at-bats. Know your parameters!

18. Jonathan India, KCR – India sports a career OBP of .352. to go along with solid power and speed. He could also be hitting at the top-of-the-order in Kansas City. There’s upside potential as the #18 2B off-the-board.

19. Luis Arraez, SDP – Batting average and runs scored are but two-of-the-five offensive categories in play in our game and that’s simply not enough to push him higher up the board.1B-69

20. Gleyber Torres, DET – 2024 was a down year for the 28-year-old Torres, but the consistency flashed in both 2022 and 2023 gives hope for a bounceback campaign.

To see the rest of our list- another 44, become a Patreon member.

You can access our Patreon site here.

Sorry! This part of content is hidden behind this box because it requires a higher contribution level ($5) at Patreon. Why not take this chance to increase your contribution?

While the Rangers could not repeat their 2023 World Series season, they are still a great baseball team with a rotation that should have Jacob Degrom leading the way for a better outcome in 2025.

Their minor league system continues to be strong.  Sebastian Walcott was my top-ranked player in the Rangers organization until mid-August when Kumar Rocker flew by him and then all the way to the Major Leagues. WOW, what a performance by Mr. Rocker. All arrows are pointing up. However, Walcott had a great season and should develop into a power-hitting outfielder or first baseman.

Winston Santos and Alejandro Rosario blew up this season and look like viable starting options for the Rangers as early as 2026.  Justin Foscue is a good player and needs a chance to play.  He could become trade bait if he can’t find playing time with the Rangers in 2025.  Finally, there is Jack Leiter.  The arsenal points to a top-of-the-rotation starter, but until he throws more strikes, his ceiling is a number four starter or even a bullpen arm.

There’s a lot to like with the Rangers, and there is an excellent chance for them to compete for another title in 2025.

Prospect Snapshot

• Top Prospect: Kumar Rocker
• Biggest Mover: Winston Santos and Alejandro Rosario
• Biggest Disappointment: Dustin Harris
• Emerging Prospect: Paulino Santana

The list can be found here.

The Top Five are elite. The next tier through to #11 Spencer Steer are all solid options. The rest of this group brings, in some cases, more questions than answers, and with it comes risk—sometimes too much risk.

I prefer to come out of the draft with one of the top-tier 1B types. Vladdy at the wheel or Josh Naylor at the Fifth Round works fine. Vinnie Pasquantino in the 7th/8th round? You betcha!  The mid and latter options work fine in filling the corner infield slot but provide too many unanswered questions to warrant being an everyday player at First Base.

1. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., TOR – 2024 moved Vladdy one step closer to a half-a-billion-dollar payday. 2025 could prove to be the finale that gets the deal done.

2. Bryce Harper, PHI – 30 homers, a handful of stolen bases, and an OPS in the .900 range is great production at First Base.

3. Matt Olson, ATL – In a down year, Olson slugged 29 homers and drove in 98 runs. Many a player would be very happy with those results in a down year.

4. Freddie Freeman, LAD – Freeman had surgery at the beginning of December to remove loose bodies from his ankle, a concern that followed him around for most of the 2024 season. A return to health will help, but heading into his age-36 season has the eventual decline commenced?

5. Josh Naylor, ARZ – Christian Walker is out. Josh Naylor is in. Naylor is coming off a career season in Cleveland but having the likes of Ketel Marte and Corbin Carroll hitting ahead of him in Arizona won’t dim the chances for a repeat of that great 2024.

6. Pete Alonso, FA – The strikeouts were up. The power was down. The 2024 season didn’t improve the odds of Alonso securing a long-term deal.

7. Salvador Perez, KCR – You will most likely roster Perez at catcher, but he’s far from a non-entity at first. C-91

8. Vinnie Pasquantino, KCR – The fractured thumb cost the 27-year-old the full month of September and he still found a way to hit 19 homers and drive in 97 runs. Better days are right around the corner for the 27-year-old.

9. Christian Walker, HOU –A few less at-bats. A few less homers. A few less strikeouts. A lot more cash in Houston over the next three years. A rebound into the 30-home run range would go a long way towards endearing him to the Houston faithful.

10. Triston Casas, BOS – We are all aware of the power potential in that bat. Will it come to fruition in 2025?

11. Spencer Steer, CIN – The .260 BABIP, down from .318 in 2023 helps explain the drop in BA. Other than the dip in BA, the past two seasons have been remarkedly consistent. OF-102

12. Jake Burger, TEX – Burger has amassed a .250 BA in three years running. His OBP has been .302, .309. .301 over those same three years. That’s remarkedly consistent production for a 30-home run power bat. 3B-59

13. Cody Bellinger, NYY – Two years of Cody Bellinger could prove to be a huge bargain or curse. After his second-year decline in Chicago, I’ll go with the latter and proceed with caution. OF-94

14. Paul Goldschmidt, NYY – He’s moving to the Bronx after a solid 2024 in which he slugged 22 homers, drove in 65 runs, and swiped 11 bases. Is there one more year in the tank?

15. Michael Busch, CHC – A bird in the hand is worth two in the Busch?

16. Michael Toglia, COL – How do you like your home runs? I like mine with a bit more BA, but beggars can’t be choosers.

17. Rhys Hoskins, MIL – The high-end potential that was on display in 2018 has never been duplicated, but that doesn’t mean the 27, 30, and 26 home runs he has hit over the past three seasons should be ignored.

18. Jake Cronenworth, SDP – The numbers are just okay at First Base, but look much better at the “keystone corner.” 2B-70

19. Nathaniel Lowe, WAS – The move to Washington and a potentially better spot in the order could fuel an increase in the RBI totals.

20. Luis Arraez, SDP – BA and Runs scored are still just two categories in our game, right? 2B-42

To see the rest of our list- another 44, become a Patreon member.

You can access our Patreon site here.

Sorry! This part of content is hidden behind this box because it requires a higher contribution level ($5) at Patreon. Why not take this chance to increase your contribution?

One can pursue catchers in many ways and get you where you want to be. The elite group consists of William Contreras and you’ll pay a 2nd/3rd Round price to acquire him on draft day. The next tier offers plenty of great options, followed by a mid-tier with plenty of depth and solid production. It has been long since we’ve seen the Catcher position this deep. Just be careful if you plan to go late filling the position, as you could dig yourself a BA hole that could prove to be a challenge.

1. William Contreras, MIL – If the HR, RBI, BA/OBP, and SB numbers aren’t convincing, the fact that he finished the year with 99 runs scored, a whopping 22 more than runner up Will Smith, should convince you he is the #1 catcher in the game.

2. Adley Rutschman, BAL – In the first half, Rutschman posted a 16-59 .275 line and looked like the best offensive catcher in the game. He followed that up with a 3-20 .207 second half and looked very mortal. He’s simply too talented to repeat that poor second half.

3. Yainer Diaz, HOU – The Houston offense isn’t as good as it once was, but Diaz hitting in the five hole will post a floor of 20 HR, 80 RBI, and .280 BA. In Leagues that use 10 game eligibility rules he qualifies at 1B.

4. Salvador Perez, KCR – The last full season in which Sal Perez hit less than 20 homers was 2014. That won’t change in 2025.1B-49

5. Cal Raleigh, SEA – Raleigh slugged 34 homers last year, the best at his position. He was 2’nd in RBI with 100 on the nose and 3’rd in runs scored with 73. Producing numbers of that high caliber makes it very easy to live with the .220 BA.

6. Will Smith, LAD – Over the past 4 years, Will Smith has hit 25, 24, 19, and 20 home runs. He has driven in 76, 87, 76, and 75 runs. If you’re looking for a safe floor in the 6’th/7’th Round he’s your guy.

7. Willson Contreras, STL – Contreras is moving to First Base full-time in 2025. That’s 550-to-600 at-bats of catcher eligibility and with it the potential for great counting stats.

8. Logan OHoppe, LAA – O’Hoppe managed to slug 20 homers to go along with 56 RBI last year but more importantly looks to be fully healed from the torn labrum suffered in his 2023 rookie season. The best is yet to come!

9. Francisco Alvarez, NYM – 25 home runs as a 21-year-old in 2023 won’t be his career best.

10. Shea Langeliers, OAK – Langeliers hit 29 homers and drove in 80 runs last year. He also struggled to a .224 BA. The RBI totals will probably never reach those of Cal Raleigh, but three rounds later you’re getting close to the same player.

11. J.T. Realmuto, PHI – There could be another 2023 in the tank, just don’t pay for it on draft day as it appears the gradual decline has commenced.

12. Tyler Stephenson, CIN – A perfectly boring 15-to-20 HR type with a solid hit tool.

13. Austin Wells, NYY – A fine rookie campaign where he smacked 13 homers while driving in 55 runs has him in position to be the #1 catcher on a team boasting one of the best offenses in the game. The future is looking very bright for the 25-year-old backstop.

14. Ryan Jeffers, MIN – The power developed in 2024 as he broke the 20 home run mark, but the high BABIP fueled BA tumbled from .276 in 2023 to a more realistic .226 in 2024. Somewhere in-between is the likely destination.

15. Keibert Ruiz, WAS – One of these years Ruiz will go 20-75 with a .270 BA. Will 2025 be that year?

16. Gabriel Moreno, ARZ – The hit tool is solid. Will the power catch up to the hit tool?

17. Sean Murphy, ATL – That sound you’re hearing is Drake Baldwin pulling into the parking lot.

18. Jonah Heim, TEX – The outstanding 2023 campaign could very well prove to be the outlier.

19. Ivan Herrera, STL – Ivan Herrera is now the #1 Catcher in St. Louis and That 2023 season at Triple-A Memphis was some impressive. He could move up quickly as we head into draft season.

20. Connor Wong, BOS – Wong came out of nowhere in 2024 to post a 13 HR, 52 RBI, .280 season. That level of production should continue moving into 2025, which makes for a solid #2 catcher in two catcher sets.

To see the rest of our list- another 46, become a Patreon member.

You can access our Patreon site here.

Sorry! This part of content is hidden behind this box because it requires a higher contribution level ($5) at Patreon. Why not take this chance to increase your contribution?

The Mariners have a top-heavy Minor League system. Their 1 through 5 might be the best in baseball outside the Red Sox’s Top 5 players.  However, the back half of the system is not strong, and it was tough even to find players who might be relevant at the highest level.

Colt Emerson, Cole Young, and Harry Ford lead the system.  While I have Emerson at the top, you can make an argument for each player to lead the system.  You can even argue that Michael Arroyo, their number four ranked prospect, has the best blend of tools and feel for hitting.  Felnin Celesten is about to catch Ethan Salas as the best prospect in the 2023 International class.  He looked great in 2024 after an injury-riddled 2023 season.

Finally, there is Jurrangelo Cijntje.  He’s a switch pitcher with enough stuff from both sides to pitch in at least Double-A.  If you can maintain pitching from both sides into the Major Leagues, he could become the most discussed player in baseball since Shohei Ohtani made his debut in 2018.

 Prospect Snapshot

• Top Prospect: Colt Emerson
• Biggest Mover: Felnin Celesten
• Biggest Disappointment: Jonny Farmelo – only because he got hurt.
• Emerging Prospect: Dawel Joseph

The list can be found here.

I’ve always struggled to find 20 legitimate players to include in the A’s list.  But, this year, it was easier.  Are all of them guaranteed to be in the Major Leagues?  No, but there’s no denying that the system is better.

Nick Kurtz and Jacob Wilson lead the list and are entirely different players.  Kurtz could be a power-hitting first baseman with high OBP skills, and Wilson is a light-hitting middle infielder who could hit .300.  Both are great defenders and could become fixtures in Oakland by the end of the 2025 season.

Colby Thomas jumped up this season and showed power and speed (31 home runs and 15 stolen bases) but also struck out 30% of the time in Double-A.  Luis Morales is the top-ranked pitcher and can touch 100 MPH with his fastball.

There is also plenty of depth in the system, more than I’ve seen in years.

Prospect Snapshot

• Top Prospect: Nick Kurtz
• Biggest Mover: Colby Thomas
• Biggest Disappointment: Darrel Hernaiz – I thought he would be better, but he didn’t hit in his time in Oakland.
• Emerging Prospect: Gage Jump

The list can be found here.

The Angels system is not very good.  Fortunately, they made a couple of solid trades at the deadline that helped the top of the system, but after Caden Dana, I’m not sure there is a true impact player.  Christian Moore has looked good in his professional debut, but I’m not a fan of the swing.  Nelson Rada is also intriguing but needs to get stronger.

Sam Aldegheri, Matthew Lugo, and George Klassen were the Angels’ significant acquisitions at the deadline, and all three are projected to be Major Leaguers but will likely fall short of impact Major Leaguers.  After that, there are some lottery picks but not much else.

Hopefully, Mike Trout will return healthy in 2025 and give the Angels faithful something to cheer for.  Unfortunately, there’s not much in the minor leagues that can surround him to make it a competitive team.  It’s been that way for 15 years.  Just ridiculous!

Prospect Snapshot

• Top Prospect: Caden Dana
• Biggest Mover: George Klassen
• Biggest Disappointment: The Angels front office – It’s just a weak system
• Emerging Prospect: Dioris De La Rosa

The list can be found here.

While it appears the Astros are ending the waning phase of their window, they continue to win.  However, the Major League team is aging, and while there is talent in the minor leagues, the players are mostly complementary.

Jacob Melton is once again the top prospect and appears to be just about ready to help. He has speed and power and the best chance to become an impact player.  Zach Dezenzo is also an intriguing player who had a brief audition in Houston over the summer. Of course, Pedro Leon is still kicking around, but he does not appear to be in the Astros’ plans anytime soon. Luis Baez has big-boy power with concerns about how much he’ll hit, and Brice Matthews falls into the category of “if only he could hit.”  The strikeout rates are scary.

The system’s pitching is thin, with A.J. Blubaugh having the best chance to develop into a mid-rotation starter.

Prospect Snapshot

• Top Prospect: Jacob Melton
• Biggest Mover: AJ Blubaugh
• Biggest Disappointment: Pedro Leon – I’m not sure it’s all his fault, but he needs a change of scenery.
• Emerging Prospect: Anderson Brito

The list can be found here.