Ranking Top 10 MLB Prospects Traded at the 2022 Deadline

The 2022 MLB trade deadline has come and gone, and while the major leagues who were dealt stole the headlines, the prospects involved in those swaps will determine who walks away as winners.

The San Diego Padres made the summer's biggest splash, acquiring Juan Soto and Josh Bell from the Washington Nationals for a stacked package of young talent that included a pair of Top 100 prospects in Robert Hassell III and James Wood. The Cincinnati Reds also added a wealth of talent to their farm system, including Noelvi Marte and Edwin Arroyo, in the deal that sent Luis Castillo to the Seattle Mariners.

Ahead, we've ranked the 10 best prospects moved, including the four above. We noted where each ranked on B/R's most recent Top 100 prospect list, which was published Friday.

Let's start with some honorable mentions.

Pitchers

RHP Clayton Beeter (LAD to NYY, Joey Gallo trade)
RHP Ben Brown (PHI to CHC, David Robertson trade)
LHP Tucker Davidson (ATL to LAA, Raisel Iglesias trade)
LHP Robert Gasser (SD to MIL, Josh Hader trade)
LHP Jay Groome (BOS to SD, Eric Hosmer trade)
LHP Steve Hajjar (MIN to CIN, Tyler Mahle trade)
RHP Luis Medina (NYY to OAK, Frankie Montas trade)
RHP Chayce McDermott (HOU to BAL, Trey Mancini trade)
LHP Cade Povich (MIN to BAL, Jorge Lopez trade)
LHP T.J. Sikkema (NYY to KC, Andrew Benintendi trade)
RHP Levi Stoudt (SEA to CIN, Luis Castillo trade)
RHP Jarlin Susana (SD to WAS, Juan Soto-Josh Bell trade)
RHP Beck Way (NYY to KC, Benintendi trade)
RHP Hayden Wesneski (NYY to CHC, Scott Effross trade)
LHP Nick Zwack (NYM to SF, Darin Ruf trade)

Hitters

OF Wilyer Abreu (HOU to BOS, Christian Vazquez trade)
SS Victor Acosta (SD to CIN, Brandon Drury trade)
SS Jordan Groshans (TOR to MIA, Anthony Bass-Zach Pop trade)
3B Malcom Nunez (STL to PIT, Jose Quintana trade)
OF Esteury Ruiz (SD to MIL, Hader trade)
2B Samad Taylor (TOR to KC, Whit Merrifield trade)
IF Enmanuel Valdez (HOU to BOS, Vazquez trade)

B/R Top 100 Rank: Unranked

After a forgettable debut season in 2019 as a third-round pick and the lost 2020 season, Spencer Steer announced himself as a prospect to watch with a breakout 2021 campaign.

The University of Oregon product posted an .833 OPS with 24 home runs and 66 RBI in 110 games in High-A and Double-A, and his intriguing power production has continued this year in the upper levels of the minors.

The 24-year-old has an .889 OPS with 23 doubles, 20 home runs and 62 RBI in 83 games in Double-A and Triple-A, and he has shown a more refined approach while slashing his strikeout rate from 21.5 to 17.0 percent.

The Minnesota Twins included him in the package to acquire Tyler Mahle from the Cincinnati Reds, and he could make his MLB debut before the 2022 season is over. He actually shares a lot of similarities with the recently traded Brandon Drury.

B/R Top 100 Rank: Unranked

Seth Johnson could wind up being the best pitching prospect traded at the deadline, though it will take patience.

The 23-year-old is scheduled to undergo Tommy John surgery in days, but that did not stop the Baltimore Orioles from targeting him in the three-team deal that sent Trey Mancini to the Houston Astros.

Johnson began his college career as a JUCO shortstop before transferring to Campbell University, for which he showed enough on the mound to be picked at No. 40 in the 2019 draft.

"Johnson always had the ingredients to succeed, including a fastball that touches 98 mph and sits in the mid-90s with carry at the top of the zone plus a swing-and-miss slider in the mid-80s that ticked up in velocity late last season," MLB.com wrote.

He posted a 2.88 ERA with 115 strikeouts in 93.2 innings at Single-A last season, and he had a 3.00 ERA with a 41-to-11 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 27 innings at High-A this season.

His late move to the mound and power stuff give him more upside than most pitchers his age, even with a year of rehab on the horizon.

B/R Top 100 Rank: Next 50

In one of the most under-the-radar moves of the deadline, the Milwaukee Brewers acquired hard-throwing reliever Matt Bush from the Texas Rangers for second baseman Mark Mathias and left-hander Antoine Kelly.

In B/R's most recent farm system rankings, which published shortly after the 2022 draft, I ranked Kelly as the No. 5 prospect in the Milwaukee system and the club's top pitching prospect.

The 22-year-old comes with undeniable risk. He's coming off thoracic outlet surgery, but by all accounts, his return this year has been successful. He has a 3.86 ERA with 119 strikeouts in 91 innings and a .189 opponents' batting average at High-A.

He showed a 99 mph fastball pre-injury, and he is back to working consistently in the mid-90s with a sweeping slider and developing changeup. He could wind up as a middle-of-the-rotation starter, though his stuff could also play up out of the bullpen.

The 2022 Futures Game participant has a high-risk, high-reward profile, but the potential payoff was well worth trading a 36-year-old reliever.

B/R Top 100 Rank: Next 50

Christian Encarnacion-Strand has done nothing but hit since he was selected in the fourth round of the 2021 draft out of Oklahoma State.

The 22-year-old has a .320/.384/.609 line with 27 doubles, 29 home runs and 103 RBI in 109 games in the minors, and he was promoted from High-A to Double-A last month amid a breakout season in the Minnesota Twins organization.

"The results have obviously spoken for themselves throughout his amateur career and early pro career and he's made some strides with his plate discipline and selectivity, with some mechanical adjustments with his stride also in play to help his consistency," MLB.com wrote.

The 6'0", 224-pound slugger is striking out at a 25.4 percent clip this year, and he's a below-average athlete, but he has played defense better than expected at third base and should have a good chance to stick there long-term.

His bat is going to carry him regardless, and now he has a chance to be an impact offensive player for the Cincinnati Reds after coming over in the Tyler Mahle trade.

B/R Top 100 Rank: No. 89

With a 6'7", 240-pound frame, James Wood certainly looks the part of a future middle-of-the-order slugger. He is more polished at the plate than expected since he was selected in the second round of the 2021 draft and given a $2.6 million bonus that was nearly double slot value.

The 19-year-old hit .337/.453/.601 with 19 doubles, 10 home runs and nearly as many walks (37) as strikeouts (42) over 50 games at Single-A prior to being included in the Juan Soto blockbuster.

With plus speed—he has 26 steals in 81 career games—he is a rare athlete for his size. He has primarily played center field and has a chance to stick there even as he continues to mature physically.

"Wood comes from an athletic family—his father played professional basketball in Europe, and his sister is a captain on the Northwestern University women's basketball team—and his own athleticism is apparent in all aspects of his game," MLB.com wrote.

He has a lot of developing to do, but it's not out of the question that he could be the best player the Washington Nationals acquired for Soto.

B/R Top 100 Rank: No. 77

After striking out 49 in 29.1 innings in his debut campaign in 2019, Ken Waldichuk returned from the canceled 2020 season and established himself as the top pitching prospect in the New York Yankees system. Splitting the 2021 campaign in High-A and Double-A, he posted a 3.03 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 163 strikeouts in 110 innings.

The 6'4" southpaw does not have overpowering stuff, but he has good life on his fastball and two quality off-speed pitches.

"His heater's shape and carry up in the strike zone are even more impressive than its velocity, and hitters repeatedly swing under it. He also has made progress with his slider, adding sweep to it since signing, as well as his fading changeup, and both low-80s offerings grade as plus at their best," MLB.com wrote.

The 24-year-old has continued to miss bats in the upper levels of the minors this year, posting a 2.71 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 116 strikeouts in 76.1 innings while limiting opposing hitters to a .196 batting average.

He is now the top pitching prospect in the Oakland system after he was acquired in the Frankie Montas deal.

B/R Top 100 Rank: No. 71

The Los Angeles Angels have a new No. 1 prospect and a much-needed catcher of the future after acquiring Logan O'Hoppe from the Philadelphia Phillies in a one-for-one swap for center fielder Brandon Marsh.

O'Hoppe, 22, has been climbing the prospect ranks since he was picked in the 23rd round of the 2018 draft. He enjoyed a breakout 2021 season in which he hit .270/.331/.458 with 19 doubles, 17 home runs and 58 RBI in 104 games over three minor league levels.

"The backstop's work ethic will help ensure he makes the most out of his tools. He was named the Dernell Stenson Sportsmanship Award winner in the [Arizona Fall League] because of his makeup, and pitchers love working with him. There's a big up arrow next to his name, with every chance of him being a starting catcher in the big leagues soon," MLB.com wrote.

He has continued to impress this season in Double-A, hitting .275/.392/.496 with 11 doubles and 15 home runs in 75 games while nearly doubling his walk rate from 7.5 to 13.0 percent.

With J.T. Realmuto signed through the 2025 season, O'Hoppe had no path to playing time with the Phillies, but now he's a significant part of the Angels' future.

B/R Top 100 Rank: No. 46

Edwin Arroyo has boosted his stock as much as any 2021 draft pick this season. He was selected in the second round as the first player chosen out of Puerto Rico.

Still just 18 years old until Aug. 25, he hit .316/.385/.514 with 19 doubles, seven triples, 13 home runs, 67 RBI and 21 steals in 25 attempts over 87 games in Single-A prior to being included in the Luis Castillo trade.

"Arroyo has an intriguing package of athleticism, defense and offensive potential, and he was making a quicker-than-expected transition to full-season ball in 2022," MLB.com wrote.

He is a safe bet to stick at shortstop with his range, soft hands and strong arm, and he has already showed more power than expected as he continues to grow into his 6'0", 175-pound frame.

He joins Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain and fellow deadline pickups Noelvi Marte and Spencer Steer to give the Cincinnati Reds an impressive collection of young infielders.

B/R Top 100 Rank: No. 25

The Seattle Mariners paid a steep price to acquire Luis Castillo from the Cincinnati Reds, bolstering a starting rotation that already included Logan Gilbert, Robbie Ray, Marco Gonzales, Chris Flexen and George Kirby.

Shortstop Noelvi Marte was the best prospect Cincinnati picked up in the deal, as the 20-year-old has one of the highest offensive ceilings in the minors.

After posting an .825 OPS with 28 doubles, 17 home runs, 71 RBI, 91 runs and 24 steals in his full-season debut last year, he has continued to impress in High-A, slashing .272/.359/.457 with 19 doubles, 15 home runs and 55 RBI.

"Marte has ridiculous raw power, as the young shortstop can go toe-to-toe with just about anyone in batting practice displays," MLB.com wrote.

While he's unlikely to stick at shortstop, his offensive profile should be a clean fit at third base.

B/R Top 100 Rank: No. 23

The No. 8 pick in the 2020 draft and the top prospect in the San Diego Padres system until Tuesday, center fielder Robert Hassell III was the headliner for the Washington Nationals in the Juan Soto blockbuster.

The 20-year-old has one of the best hit tools in the minors, and he has posted a .299/.379/.467 line with 19 doubles, 10 home runs, 55 RBI and 20 steals in 23 attempts this year in High-A.

"With a left-handed swing that is geared toward driving the ball to the middle and opposite fields, Hassell projects as a plus hitter. He controls the zone well and shows a solid approach, though there is still room for him to grow as a power threat," MLB.com wrote.

He has played better defense than expected in center field, though his plus arm would fit in right field if a shift is necessary.

The Nationals have no reason to rush him, but a debut after the All-Star break next season is not out of the question.

Stats courtesy of Baseball Reference and accurate through Tuesday.