The more I researched the Twins system, the more I liked it.  It’s strong at the top with Walker Jenkins, Emmanuel Rodriguez, Zebby Matthews, and Luke Keaschall with depth.  The depth is not just young players, but plenty of back-end starters and relievers can help the Major League club as soon as 2024.

Jenkins has star potential.  He could develop into a 30-home-run corner bat who hits for average.  Rodrguez has exciting tools and could even develop into a better fantasy player, although I’m not sure how much he will ultimately hit.  Zebby throws strikes and has already seen time in Minnesota.  Finally, Keaschall can flat-out hit.  It might not be the most exciting fantasy ceiling, but I would not be surprised if you told me he hits 12 home runs with 20 stolen bases.

Prospect Snapshot

• Top Prospect: Walker Jenkins
• Biggest Mover: Zebby Matthews
• Biggest Disappointment: Connor Prielipp
• Emerging Prospect: Daiber De Los Santos

The list can be found here.

When an organization drafts and develops a player like Bobby Witt Jr., it’s easy to overlook some of their mistakes—and the Royals have had many of them over the years. However, the Major League team is good. Besides Witt, other young players are contributing significantly: Makiel Garcia, Vinnie P., Kyle Isbel, and Cole Ragans, to name a few.

The best news is that more talent is brewing. Their first-round pick, Jac Caglianone, should move through the system quickly and provide significant raw power. Gavin Cross appears to have righted the ship and had a great season.  He could easily see Kansas City in 2025.  A little further away is the 2023 first-round pick, Blake Mitchell.  He’s showing power and speed from the catcher spot.

There is also surprising depth in the system that could provide trade bait over the off-season if the Royals need to shore up their pitching.  It’s a solid season, and if you’re a Royals fan, you have to like the setup.

Prospect Snapshot

• Top Prospect: Jac Caglianone
• Biggest Mover: Gavin Cross
• Biggest Disappointment: Frank Mozzicato
• Emerging Prospect: Yandel Ricardo

The list can be found here.

The Tigers have arguably the best Top 10 prospects in baseball.  The system falls off after that, but if you believe that stars make an organization run, you’ll like what they are doing.

At the top are Max Clark and Jackson Jobe—two potential impact players at the highest level. Jobe should see Detroit in 2025, with Clark following in 2026. Given his excellent bat-to-ball skills, Kevin McGongile has jumped up on my list, and Jace Jung has already seen time in the Major Leagues.

The Tigers did well in selecting Bryce Rainer, with their first selection in July’s Draft.  I don’t believe he has the same upside as Clark, but there is much to like.  Finally, they have a pair of intriguing young catchers, Thayron Liranzo and Josue Briceno, that I like.   The ceiling is extremely high on both.

Prospect Snapshot

• Top Prospect: Max Clark
• Biggest Mover: Kevin McGonigle and Jaden Hamm
• Biggest Disappointment: Wilmer Flores
• Emerging Prospect: Nestor Miranda

 The list can be found here.

The Guardians have a plan and have effectively executed it over the past several years. They stress pitching and hitters who can make contact and control the strike zone.  The plan led to a 100-win season in the Major Leagues and plenty of young talent that could help in the next year or two.

Travis Bazzana wasn’t the most talented player in the 2024 draft, but he can hit, so the Guardians took him with the number one overall pick. I think we see him in Cleveland in 2026. Chase Delauter and Kyle Manzardo should play meaningful innings for the Guardians in 2025, both of whom have a chance to be impact performers.  A little further away is Jaison Chourio Welbyn Francisca, who is one of my favorite players in the minor leagues.

The pitching depth looks a little light, but I always say that pitchers outperform their ceiling. A case in point is Austin Peterson. He doesn’t have a powerful arsenal, but he throws strikes and knows how to pitch.

Prospect Snapshot

• Top Prospect: Travis Bazzana
• Biggest Mover: Welbyn Francisca
• Biggest Disappointment: Kyle Manzardo
• Emerging Prospect: Juneiker Caceres

 The list can be found here.

The White Sox had a historically bad season in 2024, and while their minor league system has improved, it’s filled with many up-and-down and complementary players. In other words, they have a long way to go before they will be competitive.

As with all systems, there are some potentially elite prospects.  If Noah Schultz can stay healthy, he has a chance to be special.  It’s potentially number one stuff.  Their number one overall pick last July, Hagen Smith, also has the arsenal to pitch at the top of the rotation.  After that, there are question marks.  Many like Colson Montgomery, and while I think he’ll be a nice player, I don’t see a star, particularly from a fantasy standpoint.  Jarel Perez is also enticing but has not performed since April.

Again, for me, it’s a “meh” system.

Prospect Snapshot

• Top Prospect: Noah Schultz
• Biggest Mover: Jarel Perez
• Biggest Disappointment: Colson Montgomery
• Emerging Prospect: Eduardo Herrera

 The list can be found here.

I’ve been critical of the Cardinals organization for several years. I question many of their decisions, including those of Adolis Garcia, Randy Arozarena, Dylan Carlson, and Jordan Walker. I liked taking JJ Wetherholt with their first pick last July.  Granted, he was the best player on the board when it was their turn, but they still made the pick.  He should move quickly, even with an outside chance of seeing him in 2025 in St. Louis.  The Cardinals have several nice arms, including Tink Hence and Quinn Matthews, who could both see the Major Leagues in 2025.

After those three, there are a lot of question marks.  I’m not sure it’s enough for a team with some aging veterans to compete for a title.  For me, they are a second-tier team.  In other words, they might compete for a wildcard spot but don’t have enough juice to have a Championship Level team.

Prospect Snapshot

• Top Prospect: JJ Wetherholt
• Biggest Mover: Quinn Matthews
• Biggest Disappointment: Won-Bin Cho
• Emerging Prospect: Rainiel Rodriguez

The list can be found here.

The pitching is starting to translate at the Major League level, as Paul Skenes and Jared Jones were terrific in 2024.  Next in line are Bubba Chandler and Braxton Ashcraft.  Both should see time in Pittsburgh in 2024.

The bats have been the problem.  Nick Yorke and Billy Cook should help next season in a complimentary manner.  Terrmar Johnson likely needs another season in the minors but has the skills to be an impact player.  After that, there are a lot of question marks.

I believe the Pirates have the talent to continue to improve.  However, do they have enough to push them over the playoff hurdle?  I’m not sure.

Prospect Snapshot

• Top Prospect: Bubba Chandler
• Biggest Mover: Jhonny Severino
• Biggest Disappointment: Anthony Solometo
• Emerging Prospect: Yordanny De Los Santos

 The list can be found here.

I really like the Brewers system.  While the top of the system did not perform as well as I had hoped (I’m looking at you, Tyler Black), there’s still a ton of talent in Black, Jacob Misiorowski, and Jeferson Quero.  The excitement in the system stems from the crop of Latin signees – Yophery Rodriguez, Luis Pena, Jesus Made, and Jose Anderson.  Rodriguez is a level ahead of the trio they signed in 2024, but all four have a chance to be Major Leaguers.

There’s a ton of pitching depth after Misiorowski, and the one I like the most is Brett Wichrowski. His stuff is better than the stat line shows, and I think he stays a starter.

Finally, I have to comment on Black being my biggest disappointment.  I thought he would stick in the Major Leagues in 2024, but he just didn’t hit enough.  I wish he weren’t at first base, but the lack of an adequate arm drives him there.  If you roster him, you’ll have to play a juggling act, as I still don’t believe he’ll have considerable power.

Prospect Snapshot

• Top Prospect: Tyler Black
• Biggest Mover: Luis Pena and Jesus Made
• Biggest Disappointment: Tyler Black
• Emerging Prospect: Jose Anderson

 The list can be found here.

The Reds are absorbing their latest round of promotions, including Noelvi Marte, Edwin Encarnacion-Strand, Rhett Lowder, and Julian Aguiar.  I think it’s safe to say that Marte has been a disappointment.  First, the 80-game suspension, and then he didn’t hit when he returned.  Hopefully, Encarnacion-Strand returns healthy next season.

Because of the promotion, the Reds system takes a noticeable hit in depth.  I still like Cam Collier a lot, and he could even challenge for some MLB at-bats next season.   Sal Stewart can really hit, but unfortunately, his season ended in mid-July with a wrist injury.

On the pitching side, I’m anxious to see Chase Burns, the number two overall pick last July. Assuming health, he could follow a similar path to what Rhett Lowder did in 2024.

Prospect Snapshot

• Top Prospect: Cam Collier
• Biggest Mover: Julian Aguiar
• Biggest Disappointment: Carlos Jorge
• Emerging Prospect: Adolfo Sanchez

The list can be found here.

After an encouraging 2023 season, the Cubs missed the playoffs in 2024.  PCA and Jordan Wicks played significant roles in Chicago this season, and the good news is that there is plenty of talent in the upper levels of the minor leagues for 2025.

Matt Shaw should take over third base next season, with Moises Ballesteros seeing time behind the plate or at DH.  Both are nearly ready.  Kevin Alcantara continues to have the highest ceiling of anyone in the system, but there are contact concerns that will likely cause him to struggle to establish himself.  Owen Caissie should also see time, but as with Alcantara, there are contact concerns.

It’s a solid system with strength at the top and some modest depth.

Prospect Snapshot

• Top Prospect: Matt Shaw
• Biggest Mover: Moises Ballesteros
• Biggest Disappointment: Matt Mervis
• Emerging Prospect: Fernando Cruz

The list can be found here.