Updated MLB Farm System Rankings at the Start of 2021 MiLB Season
After a cancelled 2020 season and a one-month delay to begin this year, minor league baseball has officially returned. There's no better time for an updated version of our farm system rankings and organizational top-10 prospect lists.
The following factors helped determine the placement of players and teams:
- Potential (Player): Potential trumps production a lot of the time, especially in the lower levels of the minors and with recent draft picks. Skill sets and tools are often better indicators of what kind of player someone will be.
- Talent (Player): As for those in the higher levels of the minors who are close to breaking through to the big leagues, production and talent were the determining factors, as these players are viewed as more complete products.
- Overall Depth (Team): Having one or two elite prospects is great, but a deep farm system is the way to build a sustainable contender. Depth and talent were the biggest factors in ranking each team.
- High-End Talent (Team): With that being said, there is a difference between a prospect who has a chance of making an impact in the majors and a prospect who could be a star. Elite prospects served as a tiebreaker of sorts when teams were close in the rankings.
A tier system was used to help differentiate the varying levels of individual talent:
- Tier 1: Prospects who have elite skill sets and All-Star potential. This is the cream of the prospect crop. These players make up B/R's top 100 prospect list. (Note: There are 13 players who have graduated the prospect ranks since our last top 100 list, and they were replaced for this article.)
- Tier 2: Prospects who have a good chance of becoming impact contributors. These are the players who were in consideration for spots on the leaguewide top 100 list and could end up there in the future.
- Tier 3: Prospects who profile as fringe MLB contributors or young players who are still too raw to project any higher. This tier represents the bulk of prospects around baseball, though more than a few are capable of climbing to the next tier.
Teams were initially ranked based on the number of Tier 1 and Tier 2 prospects in their systems, and then the rankings were subjectively tweaked from there.
Note: A player must not have passed the rookie-eligibility limits (130 at-bats, 50 innings pitched, 45 days on an active roster prior to Sept. 1) to be included in these rankings.
30. Washington Nationals
Top 10 Prospects
| Name | Age | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| 1. RHP Cade Cavalli | 22 | 2 |
| 2. RHP Jackson Rutledge | 22 | 2 |
| 3. RHP Cole Henry | 21 | 3 |
| 4. RHP Mason Denaburg | 21 | 3 |
| 5. RHP Andry Lara | 18 | 3 |
| 6. SS/3B Yasel Antuna | 21 | 3 |
| 7. LHP Tim Cate | 23 | 3 |
| 8. 1B Drew Mendoza | 23 | 3 |
| 9. LHP Matt Cronin | 23 | 3 |
| 10. SS Armando Cruz | 17 | 3 |
Farm System Snapshot
The Nationals are still waiting on first-round picks Jackson Rutledge and Mason Denaburg to take a step forward in their development, and with both Carter Kieboom and Luis Garcia moving on to the majors, it's a system without a top-tier prospect.
Shortstop Armando Cruz agreed to a $3.9 million deal during the most recent international signing period, and he has standout defensive tools with a chance to be an everyday shortstop if his offensive game develops as hoped. He could be the No. 1 guy before too long.
29. Houston Astros
Top 10 Prospects
| Name | Age | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| 1. OF Pedro Leon | 23 | 1 |
| 2. RHP Forrest Whitley | 23 | 2 |
| 3. INF Jeremy Pena | 23 | 2 |
| 4. SS Freudis Nova | 22 | 3 |
| 5. RHP Alex Santos | 19 | 3 |
| 6. C Korey Lee | 22 | 3 |
| 7. RHP Hunter Brown | 22 | 3 |
| 8. OF Colin Barber | 20 | 3 |
| 9. RHP Tyler Ivey | 24 | 3 |
| 10. RHP Shawn Dubin | 25 | 3 |
Farm System Snapshot
With Forrest Whitley sidelined once again following Tommy John surgery, there's a new No. 1 prospect in the Houston farm system. Outfielder Pedro Leon received the largest bonus ($4 million) of any player during the 2020-21 international signing period, and the 22-year-old could take over as the team's starting center fielder before the 2021 season is over.
Projectable right-hander Alex Santos become the organization's top pitching prospect following a strong pro debut after he was given an above-slot $1.25 million bonus as the No. 72 overall pick in the 2020 draft. This club does as good a job as anyone developing under-the-radar pitching talent, so don't sleep on undersized right-hander Shawn Dubin.
28. Colorado Rockies
Top 10 Prospects
| Name | Age | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| 1. OF Zac Veen | 19 | 1 |
| 2. LHP Ryan Rolison | 23 | 2 |
| 3. OF Ryan Vilade | 22 | 2 |
| 4. 1B Michael Toglia | 22 | 3 |
| 5. OF Brenton Doyle | 22 | 3 |
| 6. 1B/3B Colton Welker | 23 | 3 |
| 7. RHP Chris McMahon | 22 | 3 |
| 8. 3B Aaron Schunk | 23 | 3 |
| 9. C Drew Romo | 19 | 3 |
| 10. LHP Helcris Olivarez | 18 | 3 |
Farm System Snapshot
The Rockies farm system skews heavily toward position-player talent, and much of it resides at corner infield and corner outfield spots, which is a less-than-ideal organizational philosophy.
Prep outfielder Zac Veen has a chance to be the best pure hitter in the 2020 draft class, and he immediately shot to No. 1 in the system after going No. 9 overall. As for prospects who could make an impact this year, left-hander Ryan Rolison has a high floor and should be able to take over a spot in the rotation before the 2021 season is over.
27. Oakland Athletics
Top 10 Prospects
| Name | Age | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| 1. C Tyler Soderstrom | 19 | 1 |
| 2. LHP A.J. Puk | 26 | 2 |
| 3. SS Robert Puason | 18 | 2 |
| 4. SS/2B Nick Allen | 22 | 2 |
| 5. RHP Daulton Jefferies | 25 | 3 |
| 6. SS Logan Davidson | 23 | 3 |
| 7. RHP Jeff Criswell | 22 | 3 |
| 8. OF Brayan Buelvas | 18 | 3 |
| 9. OF Pedro Pineda | 17 | 3 |
| 10. OF Austin Beck | 22 | 3 |
Farm System Snapshot
With four teenagers ranked among their top 10 prospects, including 2020 first-round pick Tyler Soderstrom and $5.1 million international signee Robert Puason, there's a lot of potential for growth in the Oakland farm system.
A.J. Puk somehow still has prospect eligibility as a result of his struggle to stay healthy, and at 26 years old, he'll fall out of the prospect conversation this year one way or another. There's a dearth of pitching talent in this system right now, and that will no doubt be a focal point of this year's draft haul.
26. Los Angeles Angels
Top 10 Prospects
| Name | Age | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| 1. OF Brandon Marsh | 23 | 1 |
| 2. LHP Reid Detmers | 21 | 1 |
| 3. OF Jordyn Adams | 21 | 2 |
| 4. SS/2B Jeremiah Jackson | 21 | 2 |
| 5. RHP Chris Rodriguez | 22 | 3 |
| 6. SS Kyren Paris | 19 | 3 |
| 7. RHP Jack Kochanowicz | 20 | 3 |
| 8. SS Arol Vera | 18 | 3 |
| 9. LHP Hector Yan | 22 | 3 |
| 10. OF Alexander Ramirez | 18 | 3 |
Farm System Snapshot
The Angels have some potential to rise in these rankings, with toolsy outfielder Jordyn Adams, shortstop of the future Kyren Paris and projectable 6'6" right-hander Jack Kochanowicz all capable of joining the top-100 prospect conversation in the future.
For now, their system skews heavily toward lower-level prospects, though outfielder Brandon Marsh and left-hander Reid Detmers could both be in the big leagues this summer, and right-hander Chris Rodriguez is already there pitching out of the bullpen.
25. Milwaukee Brewers
Top 10 Prospects
| Name | Age | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| 1. OF Garrett Mitchell | 22 | 1 |
| 2. SS/2B Brice Turang | 21 | 2 |
| 3. OF Hedbert Perez | 18 | 2 |
| 4. LHP Ethan Small | 24 | 2 |
| 5. C Mario Feliciano | 22 | 2 |
| 6. LHP Antoine Kelly | 21 | 3 |
| 7. LHP Aaron Ashby | 22 | 3 |
| 8. SS Freddy Zamora | 22 | 3 |
| 9. C Jeferson Quero | 18 | 3 |
| 10. OF Tristen Lutz | 22 | 3 |
Farm System Snapshot
The Brewers may have walked away with the biggest steal of the 2020 draft when they selected UCLA outfielder Garrett Mitchell with the No. 20 overall pick. He's still working to tap into his power potential, but even if he never hits a ton of home runs, his speed, center field defense and hit tool give him an extremely high floor.
If you're looking for the next teenage phenom to rocket up leaguewide top-100 prospect rankings, outfielder Hedbert Perez has that type of upside. With five above-average tools and some valuable experience gained as the youngest player at the team's alternate site last year, his pro debut will be among the most anticipated of 2021.
24. Texas Rangers
Top 10 Prospects
| Name | Age | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| 1. 3B Josh Jung | 23 | 1 |
| 2. C Sam Huff | 23 | 1 |
| 3. RHP Yerry Rodriguez | 23 | 2 |
| 4. SS Maximo Acosta | 18 | 2 |
| 5. 2B Justin Foscue | 22 | 2 |
| 6. RHP Cole Winn | 21 | 3 |
| 7. 1B/3B Sherten Apostel | 22 | 3 |
| 8. SS Anderson Tejada | 23 | 3 |
| 9. RHP Hans Crouse | 22 | 3 |
| 10. SS Luisangel Acuna | 19 | 3 |
Farm System Snapshot
With Dane Dunning and Leody Taveras both exhausting their prospect eligibility early in the 2021 season, the Rangers slide a few spots in the rankings this time around. That prospect turnover will continue, as third baseman Josh Jung and catcher Sam Huff are both candidates to join the MLB roster by midseason.
Teenage shortstop Maximo Acosta is more polished than the average international prospect, so don't be surprised if he puts up big numbers against low-level pitching in his pro debut. With a lot of intriguing talent in the early stages of their pro careers, the Rangers have as much boom-or-bust potential as any minor league system.
23. Boston Red Sox
Top 10 Prospects
| Name | Level | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| 1. 1B Triston Casas | 21 | 1 |
| 2. SS/2B Jeter Downs | 22 | 1 |
| 3. OF Jarren Duran | 24 | 2 |
| 4. RHP Tanner Houck | 24 | 2 |
| 5. RHP Bryan Mata | 22 | 2 |
| 6. OF Gilberto Jimenez | 20 | 3 |
| 7. LHP Jay Groome | 22 | 3 |
| 8. 3B Blaze Jordan | 18 | 3 |
| 9. 2B Nick Yorke | 19 | 3 |
| 10. RHP Thad Ward | 24 | 3 |
Farm System Snapshot
The Red Sox system is set for some significant turnover with Bobby Dalbec and Tanner Houck already in the majors and Jeter Downs, Jarren Duran and Thad Ward all candidates to join them before the 2021 season comes to a close.
Gilberto Jimenez and 2020 draft picks Nick Yorke and Blaze Jordan are the headliners for the next wave of position player talent set to rise the ranks, but they don't have a slam dunk top prospect beyond Triston Casas once the aforementioned group moves on to the big leagues. Can Jay Groome stay healthy long enough to reclaim his top prospect status?
22. Chicago Cubs
Top 10 Prospects
| Name | Age | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| 1. OF Brennen Davis | 21 | 1 |
| 2. LHP Brailyn Marquez | 22 | 1 |
| 3. SS Ed Howard | 19 | 1 |
| 4. C Miguel Amaya | 22 | 2 |
| 5. SS Cristian Hernandez | 17 | 2 |
| 6. RHP Kohl Franklin | 21 | 3 |
| 7. RHP Ryan Jensen | 23 | 3 |
| 8. SS Reginald Preciado | 17 | 3 |
| 9. 2B Chase Strumpf | 23 | 3 |
| 10. 3B Christopher Morel | 21 | 3 |
Farm System Snapshot
The Cubs system is a bit top-heavy, but those first five guys have a chance to be extremely important for a club on the doorstep of a significant rebuild. A longstanding inability to develop pitching talent remains concerning, though Brailyn Marquez could buck that trend. Brennen Davis could be the team's best homegrown outfielder since the inception of the MLB draft in 1965.
The X-factor is shortstop Cristian Hernandez, who was signed for $3 million in January and was widely regarded as the top international prospect on the market. He's drawn comparisons to Alex Rodriguez and Manny Machado at the same point in their development, and his offensive tools are loud.
21. St. Louis Cardinals
Top 10 Prospects
| Name | Age | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| 1. 3B Nolan Gorman | 20 | 1 |
| 2. LHP Matthew Liberatore | 21 | 1 |
| 3. C Ivan Herrera | 20 | 1 |
| 4. LHP Zack Thompson | 23 | 2 |
| 5. 3B Jordan Walker | 18 | 2 |
| 6. RHP Johan Oviedo | 23 | 3 |
| 7. SS/RHP Masyn Winn | 19 | 3 |
| 8. OF Jhon Torres | 21 | 3 |
| 9. RHP Tink Hence | 18 | 3 |
| 10. RHP Edwin Nunez | 19 | 3 |
Farm System Snapshot
With Dylan Carlson moving on to the big leagues, slugger Nolan Gorman is now the No. 1 prospect in the St. Louis farm system, followed closely by left-hander Matthew Liberatore, who was acquired in the deal that sent Randy Arozarena to Tampa Bay prior to last season.
The Cardinals have added some exciting talent in the last calendar year. Power hitter Jordan Walker, two-way standout Masyn Winn and hard-throwing Tink Hence were selected in last year's draft, while right-hander Edwin Nunez and his 70-grade fastball were added for $525,000 on the international market last June.
20. New York Yankees
Top 10 Prospects
| Name | Age | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| 1. OF Jasson Dominguez | 18 | 1 |
| 2. RHP Deivi Garcia | 21 | 1 |
| 3. RHP Clarke Schmidt | 25 | 1 |
| 4. RHP Luis Gil | 22 | 2 |
| 5. C Austin Wells | 21 | 2 |
| 6. SS Oswald Peraza | 20 | 3 |
| 7. RHP Alexander Vizcaino | 23 | 3 |
| 8. OF Kevin Alcantara | 18 | 3 |
| 9. RHP Luis Medina | 22 | 3 |
| 10. RHP Yoendrys Gomez | 21 | 3 |
Farm System Snapshot
When Jasson Dominguez takes the field for the first time in a regular-season game, it will be the most anticipated professional debut in recent memory. He could be the top prospect in baseball by the end of the 2021 season, and that's the level of expectations he'll be facing.
The Yankees system is loaded with high-ceiling talent, giving them a ton of potential to climb up these rankings in the years to come. But for now, it's largely a boom-or-bust group with a lot to prove before they can start moving up.
19. Chicago White Sox
Top 10 Prospects
| Name | Age | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| 1. 1B/OF Andrew Vaughn | 23 | 1 |
| 2. RHP Michael Kopech | 25 | 1 |
| 3. LHP Garrett Crochet | 21 | 1 |
| 4. RHP Jared Kelley | 19 | 2 |
| 5. OF Yoelqui Cespedes | 23 | 2 |
| 6. RHP Matthew Thompson | 20 | 3 |
| 7. RHP Jonathan Stiever | 23 | 3 |
| 8. RHP Andrew Dalquist | 20 | 3 |
| 9. OF Micker Adolfo | 24 | 3 |
| 10. RHP Norge Vera | 20 | 3 |
Farm System Snapshot
Second baseman Nick Madrigal became the latest top-tier prospect to exit the White Sox organizational rankings earlier this year, and right-hander Michael Kopech is not far behind with 33 innings under his belt toward the 50-inning threshold. He'll be followed soon thereafter by Andrew Vaughn and Garrett Crochet, who are also currently playing important roles on the MLB roster.
In other words, this top prospect list is going to look markedly different by midseason. Right-hander Jared Kelley has Tier 1 upside, Yoelqui Cespedes is an exciting addition with dynamic bloodlines, and Matthew Thompson is an under-the-radar pitching prospect capable of breaking out.
18. Detroit Tigers
Top 10 Prospects
| Name | Age | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| 1. 3B/1B Spencer Torkelson | 21 | 1 |
| 2. RHP Matt Manning | 23 | 1 |
| 3. OF Riley Greene | 20 | 1 |
| 4. 3B/SS Isaac Paredes | 22 | 2 |
| 5. C Dillon Dingler | 22 | 2 |
| 6. OF Daniel Cabrera | 22 | 3 |
| 7. RHP Alex Faedo | 25 | 3 |
| 8. LHP Joey Wentz | 23 | 3 |
| 9. OF Parker Meadows | 21 | 3 |
| 10. 3B Gage Workman | 21 | 3 |
Farm System Snapshot
With Casey Mize and Tarik Skubal exceeding prospect eligibility limits earlier this season after making their MLB debuts last year, the Tigers farm system is not quite as stacked at the top as it has been in recent seasons.
That said, 2020 No. 1 overall pick Spencer Torkelson and outfielder Riley Greene have superstar potential, while Matt Manning could wind up being the best of the bunch among the team's homegrown starters. They also had a great draft beyond Torkelson, plucking catcher Dillon Dingler, outfielder Daniel Cabrera and third baseman Gage Workman from the college ranks.
17. Philadelphia Phillies
Top 10 Prospects
| Name | Age | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| 1. RHP Spencer Howard | 24 | 1 |
| 2. RHP Francisco Morales | 21 | 1 |
| 3. RHP Mick Abel | 19 | 1 |
| 4. SS Bryson Stott | 23 | 1 |
| 5. C Rafael Marchan | 22 | 2 |
| 6. SS Luis Garcia | 20 | 3 |
| 7. OF Simon Muzziotti | 22 | 3 |
| 8. OF Yhoswar Garcia | 19 | 3 |
| 9. SS Nick Maton | 24 | 3 |
| 10. SS Casey Martin | 22 | 3 |
Farm System Snapshot
Right-hander Mick Abel and shortstop Bryson Stott are among the newcomers to our top 100 prospects list with 13 players graduating since those rankings were last updated shortly after Opening Day. Stott is a polished prospect with the potential to be the long-term answer at shortstop, while Abel has an extremely projectable 6'5" frame and a ton of potential.
This is not the deepest farm system in baseball by any means, but they have some solid top-tier talent and enough high-ceiling potential in the lower levels to be pushing for a spot in the upper half of these rankings in the near future.
16. Baltimore Orioles
Top 10 Prospects
| Name | Age | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| 1. C Adley Rutschman | 23 | 1 |
| 2. RHP Grayson Rodriguez | 21 | 1 |
| 3. LHP DL Hall | 22 | 1 |
| 4. OF Heston Kjerstad | 22 | 1 |
| 5. SS Gunnar Henderson | 19 | 2 |
| 6. SS Jordan Westburg | 22 | 3 |
| 7. LHP Keegan Akin | 26 | 3 |
| 8. RHP Michael Baumann | 25 | 3 |
| 9. RHP Dean Kremer | 25 | 3 |
| 10. OF Yusniel Diaz | 24 | 3 |
Farm System Snapshot
The time has come for Keegan Akin (26), Michael Baumann (25), Dean Kremer (25) and Zac Lowther (25) to prove they are MLB-caliber pitchers as they have reached the upper-end of the prospect scale in terms of age. That said, it's Grayson Rodriguez and DL Hall who still profile as the future anchors of the starting rotation.
The biggest question in the organization right now might be whether Gunnar Henderson, Jordan Westburg or 2020 deadline pickup Terrin Vavra can step forward as the long-term answer at shortstop. Will we see top prospect and potential future face of the franchise Adley Rutschman in the majors in 2021?
15. Cincinnati Reds
Top 10 Prospects
| Name | Age | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| 1. SS Jose Garcia | 22 | 1 |
| 2. RHP Hunter Greene | 21 | 1 |
| 3. LHP Nick Lodolo | 22 | 1 |
| 4. OF Austin Hendrick | 19 | 1 |
| 5. 2B/3B Jonathan India | 24 | 1 |
| 6. OF Michael Siani | 21 | 3 |
| 7. 3B Rece Hinds | 20 | 3 |
| 8. RHP Tony Santillan | 24 | 3 |
| 9. RHP Lyon Richardson | 21 | 3 |
| 10. 2B/3B Tyler Callihan | 20 | 3 |
Farm System Snapshot
The Reds have graduated catcher Tyler Stephenson to the majors this year, and starting second baseman Jonathan India will soon join him in exiting the prospect ranks. Despite his struggles last year, Jose Garcia still profiles as the shortstop of the future and it was no surprise he was overmatched making the jump from High-A to the majors.
This team has struggled to develop homegrown pitching talent in recent years. There is still plenty of time for Hunter Greene to realize his vast potential and Nick Lodolo has one of the highest floors of any pitching prospect, but there's a steep drop-off from those two to the rest of the arms in the system.
14. Atlanta Braves
Top 10 Prospects
| Name | Age | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| 1. OF Cristian Pache | 22 | 1 |
| 2. OF Drew Waters | 22 | 1 |
| 3. LHP Kyle Muller | 23 | 2 |
| 4. C Shea Langeliers | 23 | 2 |
| 5. C William Contreras | 23 | 2 |
| 6. SS Braden Shewmake | 23 | 2 |
| 7. LHP Jared Shuster | 22 | 3 |
| 8. OF Michael Harris | 20 | 3 |
| 9. LHP Tucker Davidson | 25 | 3 |
| 10. RHP Jasseel De La Cruz | 23 | 3 |
Farm System Snapshot
The Braves have welcomed a steady stream of exciting young talent to the majors in recent years, and right-hander Ian Anderson became the latest former top prospect to exhaust his rookie eligibility and exit their organizational ranks earlier this year. Cristian Pache and William Contreras will soon follow.
Drew Waters needs to cut down his strikeout rate and Kyle Muller needs to refine his command if they are going to be the next prospects to emerge from the pipeline as impact players. The system appears to be thinning out a bit, but they know how to develop talent as well as anyone.
13. New York Mets
Top 10 Prospects
| Name | Age | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| 1. C Francisco Alvarez | 19 | 1 |
| 2. SS Ronny Mauricio | 20 | 1 |
| 3. RHP Matthew Allan | 20 | 1 |
| 4. 3B Brett Baty | 21 | 1 |
| 5. 3B Mark Vientos | 21 | 2 |
| 6. OF Pete Crow-Armstrong | 19 | 2 |
| 7. RHP J.T. Ginn | 21 | 3 |
| 8. OF Khalil Lee | 22 | 3 |
| 10. OF Alex Ramirez | 18 | 3 |
| 9. RHP Junior Santos | 19 | 3 |
Farm System Snapshot
Right-hander Matthew Allan jumped onto B/R's top 100 prospect list in April and slugger Brett Baty was one of the 13 prospects added to the list during this update, giving the Mets four Tier 1 prospects at the onset of the minor-league season.
It's a top-heavy system, but they added some quality depth over the past year by drafting Pete Crow-Armstrong and J.T. Ginn and trading for Khalil Lee. There is also a lot of potential breakout talent in the lower levels of the minors. This group could crack the top 10 in these rankings by midseason.
12. Kansas City Royals
Top 10 Prospects
| Name | Age | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| 1. SS Bobby Witt Jr. | 20 | 1 |
| 2. LHP Asa Lacy | 21 | 1 |
| 3. LHP Daniel Lynch | 24 | 1 |
| 4. RHP Jackson Kowar | 24 | 1 |
| 5. OF Erick Pena | 18 | 2 |
| 6. OF Kyle Isbel | 24 | 2 |
| 7. SS Nick Loftin | 22 | 3 |
| 8. RHP Jonathan Bowlan | 24 | 3 |
| 9. LHP Austin Cox | 24 | 3 |
| 10. RHP Carlos Hernandez | 24 | 3 |
Farm System Snapshot
Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. posted an .851 OPS with three home runs in 40 plate appearances during spring training, perhaps pushing up his timeline in the process. He has all the makings of a future superstar, from his five-tool potential to his MLB bloodlines.
Daniel Lynch made his MLB debut on Monday, joining recent top prospects Brady Singer and Kris Bubic on the big-league staff. It won't be long before Jackson Kowar joins him, while outfielder Kyle Isbel also got a taste of the big leagues earlier this year before he was optioned back to the alternate site. The strength of this system is the quantity of talent that is close to MLB-ready.
11. Arizona Diamondbacks
Top 10 Prospects
| Name | Age | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| 1. OF Kristian Robinson | 20 | 1 |
| 2. OF Corbin Carroll | 20 | 1 |
| 3. OF Alek Thomas | 20 | 1 |
| 4. SS Geraldo Perdomo | 21 | 1 |
| 5. LHP Blake Walston | 19 | 2 |
| 6. RHP Bryce Jarvis | 23 | 2 |
| 7. RHP Levi Kelly | 21 | 3 |
| 8. RHP Slade Cecconi | 21 | 3 |
| 9. OF Wilderd Patino | 19 | 3 |
| 10. 1B/OF Seth Beer | 24 | 3 |
Farm System Snapshot
The 20-year-old trio of Kristian Robinson, Corbin Carroll and Alek Thomas represents the future in Arizona, and all three of those outfielders could be in the majors by the second half of the 2022 season if all goes according to plan.
Looking beyond the top of the system, the D-backs have a wealth of projectable arms in their system, including 2020 draft picks Bryce Jarvis and Slade Cecconi who could jump up the rankings with a strong pro debut. If you're looking for a sleeper prospect who could break out in 2021, outfielder Wilderd Patino is worth keeping an eye on.
10. Los Angeles Dodgers
Top 10 Prospects
| Name | Age | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| 1. RHP Josiah Gray | 23 | 1 |
| 2. C Keibert Ruiz | 22 | 1 |
| 3. 2B Michael Busch | 23 | 1 |
| 4. 3B Kody Hoese | 23 | 1 |
| 5. RHP Bobby Miller | 22 | 2 |
| 6. C Diego Cartaya | 19 | 2 |
| 7. OF Andy Pages | 20 | 3 |
| 8. RHP Ryan Pepiot | 23 | 3 |
| 9. 3B Miguel Vargas | 21 | 3 |
| 10. SS Wilman Diaz | 17 | 3 |
Farm System Snapshot
The Dodgers have churned out star-level talent in recent years, from Corey Seager and Cody Bellinger on the position-player side of things to Walker Buehler, Julio Urias and Dustin May on the mound. And yet, they still have a top-10 farm system.
Michael Busch and Kody Hoese were both taken in the first round of the 2019 draft, and they could share the MLB infield for years once they arrive in the majors. Last year's top pick Bobby Miller has an electric fastball-slider combination that gives him closer potential if he doesn't stick as a starter. Wilman Diaz is the latest prized addition to the system as a five-tool shortstop who was signed for $2.7 million in January.
9. Pittsburgh Pirates
Top 10 Prospects
| Name | Age | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| 1. 3B Ke'Bryan Hayes | 24 | 1 |
| 2. RHP Quinn Priester | 20 | 1 |
| 3. 2B/SS Nick Gonzales | 21 | 1 |
| 4. SS Oneil Cruz | 22 | 1 |
| 5. SS Liover Peguero | 20 | 1 |
| 6. RHP Tahnaj Thomas | 21 | 2 |
| 7. OF Hudson Head | 20 | 3 |
| 8. RHP Cody Bolton | 22 | 3 |
| 9. RHP Brennan Malone | 20 | 3 |
| 10. OF Travis Swaggerty | 23 | 3 |
Farm System Snapshot
Recent first-round picks Quinn Priester (No. 18 in 2019) and Nick Gonzales (No. 7 in 2020) are both potential stars, with Priester set to emerge as one of baseball's elite pitching prospects and Gonzales poised to rocket through the minor leagues thanks to his polished offensive game.
Live arms Tahnaj Thomas, Cody Bolton and Brennan Malone are still building toward significant ceilings, while athletic outfielder Hudson Head is one to watch after coming over from San Diego as the centerpiece of the Joe Musgrove trade. There's a lot of potential there, but will it be developed properly in a system with a spotty track record?
8. Minnesota Twins
Top 10 Prospects
| Name | Age | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| 1. 1B/OF Alex Kirilloff | 23 | 1 |
| 2. SS Royce Lewis | 21 | 1 |
| 3. OF Trevor Larnach | 24 | 1 |
| 4. RHP Jhoan Duran | 23 | 1 |
| 5. RHP Jordan Balazovic | 22 | 1 |
| 6. 1B Aaron Sabato | 21 | 2 |
| 7. SS Keoni Cavaco | 19 | 3 |
| 8. RHP Blayne Enlow | 22 | 3 |
| 9. RHP Matt Canterino | 23 | 3 |
| 10. OF Gilberto Celestino | 22 | 3 |
Farm System Snapshot
Royce Lewis is sidelined with a torn right ACL, making Alex Kirilloff an easy pick as the No. 1 prospect in a top-heavy Minnesota farm system. There's a steep drop-off beyond the five Tier 1 guys and 2020 first-round pick Aaron Sabato, who could make his way into the top 100 rankings in short order with a strong debut.
Those six guys all profile as potential impact players at the next level, but it's mostly a crapshoot beyond that group. Keoni Cavaco has loud tools but needs polish, Blayne Enlow and Matt Canterino are solid second-tier arms, and high-profile international signings Gilberto Celestino, Wander Javier and Misael Urbina still have a ways to go to live up to the hype.
7. San Diego Padres
Top 10 Prospects
| Name | Age | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| 1. LHP MacKenzie Gore | 22 | 1 |
| 2. SS CJ Abrams | 20 | 1 |
| 3. C Luis Campusano | 22 | 1 |
| 4. OF Robert Hassell | 19 | 1 |
| 5. LHP Ryan Weathers | 21 | 1 |
| 6. INF Tucupita Marcano | 21 | 2 |
| 7. RHP Justin Lange | 19 | 3 |
| 8. OF Joshua Mears | 20 | 3 |
| 9. RHP Mason Thompson | 23 | 3 |
| 10. RHP Reggie Lawson | 23 | 3 |
Farm System Snapshot
Even after welcoming a number of top prospects to the majors and trading for Blake Snell, Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove during the offseason, the Padres still have a deep enough farm system to earn a spot inside the top 10.
Left-hander MacKenzie Gore is one of baseball's elite pitching prospects and CJ Abrams has a dynamic collection of skills including a 60-grade hit tool and 80-grade speed. Behind the current collection of Tier 1 prospects, there's an intriguing collection of high-upside talent including slugger Joshua Mears and 2020 draft pick Justin Lange who both possess Tier 1 upside.
6. Cleveland
Top 10 Prospects
| Name | Age | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| 1. 3B Nolan Jones | 22 | 1 |
| 2. SS Tyler Freeman | 21 | 1 |
| 3. OF George Valera | 20 | 1 |
| 4. SS Brayan Rocchio | 20 | 2 |
| 5. RHP Daniel Espino | 20 | 2 |
| 6. C Bo Naylor | 21 | 2 |
| 7. RHP Ethan Hankins | 20 | 2 |
| 8. SS Gabriel Arias | 21 | 3 |
| 9. 2B Aaron Bracho | 20 | 3 |
| 10. LHP Joey Cantillo | 21 | 3 |
Farm System Snapshot
There may be no farm system in baseball right now with a more impressive collection of lower-level talent than Cleveland, with nine of their top 10 prospects 21 years old or younger. That doesn't include Josh Wolf (20), Lenny Torres (20), Carson Tucker (19), Gabriel Rodriguez (19) and others positioned just outside the top 10 list.
That gives this system some serious potential, though it also comes with a certain level of volatility given most of those players have limited professional experience and still need to prove they can handle a higher level of competition. With elite on-base ability and budding power, Nolan Jones could be knocking on the door after the All-Star break.
5. Miami Marlins
Top 10 Prospects
| Name | Age | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| 1. RHP Sixto Sanchez | 22 | 1 |
| 2. OF JJ Bleday | 23 | 1 |
| 3. RHP Max Meyer | 21 | 1 |
| 4. RHP Edward Cabrera | 22 | 1 |
| 5. OF Jesus Sanchez | 23 | 2 |
| 6. 1B Lewin Diaz | 23 | 2 |
| 7. OF Peyton Burdick | 23 | 2 |
| 8. LHP Braxton Garrett | 23 | 3 |
| 9. SS Jose Devers | 21 | 3 |
| 10. OF Monte Harrison | 25 | 3 |
Farm System Snapshot
Even with early NL Rookie of the Year candidates Jazz Chisholm and Trevor Rogers exiting this list, the Marlins still have a top-five farm system thanks to the lingering impact of their fire sale a few years ago and some good drafting in recent years.
Peyton Burdick hit .308/.407/.542 with 20 doubles and 11 home runs in 69 games between Low-A and Single-A after signing as a third-round pick in 2019. He has as much breakout potential as any prospect heading into the 2021 season and could quickly jump onto top 100 lists. Don't sleep on Braxton Garrett still living up to the hype that made him the No. 7 overall pick in 2016.
4. San Francisco Giants
Top 10 Prospects
| Name | Age | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| 1. SS Marco Luciano | 19 | 1 |
| 2. C Joey Bart | 24 | 1 |
| 3. OF Heliot Ramos | 21 | 1 |
| 4. OF Hunter Bishop | 22 | 1 |
| 5. LHP Seth Corry | 22 | 2 |
| 6. OF Luis Matos | 19 | 2 |
| 7. OF Alexander Canario | 20 | 2 |
| 8. LHP Kyle Harrison | 19 | 3 |
| 9. C Patrick Bailey | 21 | 3 |
| 10. SS/2B Will Wilson | 22 | 3 |
Farm System Snapshot
The Giants have an exciting collection of young position players, headlined by shortstop Marco Luciano who has a shot at claiming the No. 1 prospect spot in all of baseball before the 2021 season is over. Fellow international signings Luis Matos, Alexander Canario, Luis Toribio also offer impact potential.
The question is whether they will be able to develop any rotation pieces in the years to come. Seth Corry took a huge step forward in 2019 when he posted a 1.76 ERA with 172 strikeouts in 122.2 innings, and they gave Kyle Harrison a $2.5 million bonus as a third-round pick last year. Those two are the cream of the pitching crop right now.
3. Toronto Blue Jays
Top 10 Prospects
| Name | Age | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| 1. RHP Nate Pearson | 24 | 1 |
| 2. SS/OF Austin Martin | 22 | 1 |
| 3. SS Jordan Groshans | 21 | 1 |
| 4. RHP Simeon Woods Richardson | 20 | 1 |
| 5. RHP Alek Manoah | 23 | 1 |
| 6. SS Orelvis Martinez | 19 | 1 |
| 7. C Gabriel Moreno | 21 | 2 |
| 8. RHP Adam Kloffenstein | 20 | 2 |
| 9. SS/2B Miguel Hiraldo | 20 | 3 |
| 10. RHP C.J. Van Eyk | 22 | 3 |
Farm System Snapshot
It won't be long until 2020 first-round pick Austin Martin and 55 hit/55 power infielder Jordan Groshans join an exciting young offensive core in Toronto. Beyond that duo, the system has a wealth of low-level minor-league talent capable of breaking through, led by toolsy shortstop Orelvis Martinez and catcher Gabriel Moreno.
Nate Pearson is still the team's top prospect, but health and command issues have raised some red flags in the past year. After Alek Manoah allowed just one hit while striking out 15 in seven scoreless innings this spring, it wouldn't be a shock to see him rise to the top of the organizational rankings with a strong start to the year in the minors.
2. Seattle Mariners
Top 10 Prospects
| Name | Age | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| 1. OF Jarred Kelenic | 21 | 1 |
| 2. OF Julio Rodriguez | 20 | 1 |
| 3. RHP Logan Gilbert | 23 | 1 |
| 4. OF Taylor Trammell | 23 | 1 |
| 5. RHP Emerson Hancock | 21 | 1 |
| 6. SS Noelvi Marte | 19 | 1 |
| 7. RHP George Kirby | 23 | 1 |
| 8. C Cal Raleigh | 24 | 2 |
| 9. LHP Brandon Williamson | 23 | 3 |
| 10. RHP Juan Then | 21 | 3 |
Farm System Snapshot
The Mariners are off to a strong start and eyeing their first postseason berth since 2001. The eventual arrival of outfielder Jarred Kelenic, right-hander Logan Gilbert and catcher Cal Raleigh should provide a significant in-house boost around midseason, and there is more talent behind them in the pipeline.
Hard-throwing George Kirby and precocious shortstop Noelvi Marte are prospects on the rise, ready to become the new headliners in the system. There's a relatively wide gap between the top eight guys on this list and everyone else, but those top-tier guys are good enough to make this one of the game's elite farm systems right now.
1. Tampa Bay Rays
Top 10 Prospects
| Name | Age | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| 1. SS Wander Franco | 20 | 1 |
| 2. LHP Shane McClanahan | 24 | 1 |
| 3. 2B/SS Vidal Brujan | 23 | 1 |
| 4. RHP Shane Baz | 21 | 1 |
| 5. 2B/SS Xavier Edwards | 21 | 1 |
| 6. LHP/DH Brendan McKay | 25 | 2 |
| 7. RHP Nick Bitsko | 18 | 2 |
| 8. RHP Joe Ryan | 24 | 2 |
| 9. OF Josh Lowe | 23 | 2 |
| 10. RHP Cole Wilcox | 21 | 3 |
Farm System Snapshot
Even with Randy Arozarena and Luis Patino moving off the top-10 prospect list since the season started, the Rays still have the deepest collection of minor-league talent in all of baseball. That starts with No. 1 overall prospect Wander Franco, and he's set to open the 2021 campaign at Triple-A.
One of the top prospects in the 2021 draft class, Nick Bitsko reclassified and went No. 24 overall last year. The 6'4", 225-pound right-hander has electric present stuff with four above-average pitches and 55-grade command. Even after Franco and Shane McClanahan exit this list, the Rays will still have a strong claim to the No. 1 ranking.
All stats courtesy of Baseball Reference and FanGraphs unless otherwise noted.