Updated MLB Top 100 Prospect List 1 Month Into 2023 Season
We are now more than a month into the 2023 MLB season, and with players like Corbin Carroll, Gunnar Henderson, Miguel Vargas, Hunter Brown, Triston Casas and others exhausting their prospect status in April, it's time for an updated version of our Top 100 prospect list.
The following factors helped determine where each player fell on our updated list:
- Potential: This trumps production a lot of the time, especially in the lower levels of the minors and with recent draft picks. Skill set and tools are often better indicators of what kind of player someone will be.
- Talent: For those in the higher levels of the minors who are close to breaking into the big leagues, production and talent level were the determining factors since the players are viewed as more complete products.
- Eligibility: A player must maintain rookie eligibility to be considered for inclusion. That means no more than 130 big league at-bats for position players, 50 innings for pitchers or 45 days on the active roster.
Let's start with 50 players who fell just outside the rankings.
Honorable Mentions: Next 50
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RHP: Wilmer Flores (DET), Drey Jameson (ARI), Jack Leiter (TEX), Dylan Lesko (SD), Ty Madden (DET), Griff McGarry (PHI), Jacob Misiorowski (MIL), Quinn Priester (PIT), AJ Smith-Shawver (ATL), Bryan Woo (SEA), Yosver Zulueta (TOR)
LHP: Brandon Barriera (TOR), Mason Montgomery (TB), Frank Mozzicato (KC), Jared Shuster (ATL), Robby Snelling (SD), Anthony Solometo (PIT), Jordan Wicks (CHC)
C: Jeferson Quero (MIL), Ethan Salas (SD), Daniel Susac (OAK)
IF: Luisangel Acuña (TEX), Adael Amador (COL), Addison Barger (TOR), Osleivis Basabe (TB), Jacob Berry (MIA), Yiddi Cappe (MIA), Felnin Celesten (SEA), Christian Encarnacion-Strand (CIN), Zack Gelof (OAK), Nick Gonzales (PIT), Jace Jung (DET), Colt Keith (DET), Matt Mervis (CHC), Connor Norby (BAL), Casey Schmitt (SF), Mark Vientos (NYM), Jorbit Vivas (LAD), Cayden Wallace (KC), Jett Williams (NYM), Cole Young (SEA), Nick Yorke (BOS)
OF: Justin Crawford (PHI), Josue De Paula (LAD), Chase DeLauter (CLE), Drew Gilbert (HOU), Gabriel Gonzalez (SEA), Spencer Jones (NYY), Benny Montgomery (COL), Everson Pereira (NYY)
Nos. 100-91
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100. RHP Kumar Rocker, TEX
99. 3B Coby Mayo, BAL
98. RHP Jackson Jobe, DET
97. RHP Luis Ortiz, PIT
96. OF Kevin Alcántara, CHC
95. 3B/OF Justyn-Henry Malloy, DET
94. OF Brennen Davis, CHC
93. LHP DL Hall, BAL
92. RHP Max Meyer, MIA
91. SS Ronny Mauricio, NYM
- It was a long, winding road to pro ball for Kumar Rocker, from his time at Vanderbilt to a brief stint in independent ball after he failed to sign with the New York Mets to going No. 3 overall to the Texas Rangers. The 23-year-old was sent to High-A to start his pro career, and he has a 2.70 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and a 37-to-6 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 23.1 innings.
- The Atlanta Braves traded Justyn-Henry Malloy to the Detroit Tigers during the offseason in exchange for All-Star reliever Joe Jiménez, and it's a deal they may ultimately regret. Malloy is hitting .315/.448/.472 with nine extra-base hits and a 17.9 percent walk rate in 31 games at Triple-A.
- Shortstop Ronny Mauricio showed good power potential at Double-A last season, but it came with a .296 on-base percentage and 125 strikeouts in 123 games. He boosted his stock by winning Dominican Winter League MVP honors, and he's off to a red-hot start at Triple-A, hitting .336/.373/.592 with 18 extra-base hits in 32 games.
Nos. 90-81
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90. C Austin Wells, NYY
89. RHP Ryan Pepiot, LAD
88. IF/OF Edouard Julien, MIN
87. OF Gavin Cross, KC
86. SS Royce Lewis, MIN
85. OF Heston Kjerstad, BAL
84. RHP Gordon Graceffo, STL
83. RHP Mason Miller, OAK
82. OF Samuel Zavala, SD
81. OF Miguel Bleis, BOS
- Outfielder Gavin Cross hit .312/.437/.633 in 135 plate appearances after going No. 9 overall in the 2022 draft, and while he is off to a slow start at High-A to begin the year, he could reach the majors as quickly as any hitter from the 2022 class.
- After a stellar run in the 2022 Arizona Fall League, Mason Miller made just two starts in the minors this year—one of which saw him toss five no-hit innings with 11 strikeouts—before he was called up to join the Oakland Athletics rotation. The 6'5", 200-pound right-hander has a 3.52 ERA with 17 strikeouts in 15.1 innings over three starts, and he is averaging 98.4 mph with his fastball.
- One of the fastest-rising teenage prospects in the sport, Samuel Zavala won't turn 19 years old until July, but he already has 57 games at Single-A under his belt. With a .356 on-base percentage and eight extra-base hits in 103 plate appearances this year, he is more than holding his own as one of the youngest players in full-season ball.
Nos. 80-71
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80. RHP Brock Porter, TEX
79. 3B Brady House, WAS
78. SS Matt McLain, CIN
77. SS Joey Ortiz, BAL
76. RHP Cade Horton, CHC
75. C Drew Romo, COL
74. RHP Cade Cavalli, WAS
73. SS Carson Williams, TB
72. LHP Andrew Abbott, CIN
71. SS Brayan Rocchio, CLE
- Matt McLain (143 PA, .333/.448/.667, 20 XBH, 9 HR, 32 RBI, 8 SB) and Andrew Abbott (6 GS, 2-0, 2.05 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 60 K, 30.2 IP) both joined the Top 100 list for this update thanks to red-hot starts to the year in the minor leagues. Don't be surprised if both players get their first taste of MLB action before the 2023 season is over.
- Oklahoma right-hander Cade Horton sent his draft stock soaring during the College World Series last year, and the Chicago Cubs made him the second pitcher off the board when they took him No. 7 overall. He didn't pitch after signing last summer, but has a 1.26 ERA and a 21-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 14.1 innings at Single-A to begin the 2023 campaign.
- Brayan Rocchio is hitting .339/.400/.488 with 14 extra-base hits and nine steals in 30 games at Triple-A, and his performance the rest of the year could have a direct impact on whether the Guardians make a serious push to re-sign Amed Rosario in free agency during the offseason.
Nos. 70-61
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70. SS Edwin Arroyo, CIN
69. 2B Termarr Johnson, PIT
68. OF Andy Pages, LAD
67. IF/OF Ceddanne Rafaela, BOS
66. C Kevin Parada, NYM
65. RHP Owen White, TEX
64. OF George Valera, CLE
63. OF Alex Ramírez, NYM
62. LHP Matthew Liberatore, STL
61. 1B Kyle Manzardo, TB
- With a 31-homer season at High-A in 2021 and a 26-homer season at Double-A last year, Andy Pages has some of the best raw power in the minors. The 22-year-old is hitting .273/.437/.489 in 27 games back at Double-A to start the year, and he has quietly raised his walk rate from 10.9 to 18.6 percent.
- One of the breakout prospects of the 2022 season, Ceddanne Rafaela now resides comfortably inside the Top 100 as he looks to prove last year's performance was the real deal. The Red Sox are continuing to use him at shortstop and in center field, and that versatility could help expedite his arrival in the majors.
- Left-hander Matthew Liberatore saw his prospect stock take a hit last year when he struggled to a 5.17 ERA in 115 innings at Triple-A and did not fare any better in 34.2 innings in the majors. Still only 23 years old, he has seemingly turned a corner this season with a 2.77 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 39 innings back at Triple-A Memphis.
Nos. 60-51
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60. RHP Tanner Bibee, CLE
59. 3B Cam Collier, CIN
58. OF Emmanuel Rodriguez, MIN
57. OF Oscar Colás, CWS
56. LHP Logan Allen, CLE
55. IF/OF Jordan Westburg, BAL
54. SS Noelvi Marte, CIN
53. C Bo Naylor, CLE
52. RHP Bryce Miller, SEA
51. OF Joey Wiemer, MIL
- Oscar Colás broke camp with the Chicago White Sox starting right field job, but after hitting a lackluster .211/.265/.276 for a 49 OPS+ in 84 plate appearances, he was optioned back to the minors earlier this month. Can the 24-year-old sort things out at Triple-A and make a quick return to the majors?
- Right-hander Bryce Miller had a 3.16 ERA with 163 strikeouts in 133.2 innings across three minor league levels during a breakout 2022 season, and an injury to Robbie Ray has opened the door for him to join the MLB rotation. He tossed six innings of two-hit, one-run ball in his MLB debut on Tuesday, tallying zero walks and 10 strikeouts along the way.
- Injuries thrust Joey Wiemer into a larger MLB role than expected to start the year, and while he is hitting just .208 in 112 plate appearances, he has still made an impact. The 24-year-old has flashed some power, walked at a solid 9.8 percent clip, and provided stellar defensive metrics (4 DRS, 33.4 UZR/150, 3 assists) in the outfield.
Nos. 50-41
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50. C Dalton Rushing, LAD
49. 3B/OF Sterlin Thompson, COL
48. OF Elijah Green, WAS
47. C Henry Davis, PIT
46. OF Jasson Domínguez, NYY
45. RHP Gavin Stone, LAD
44. OF Robert Hassell III, WAS
43. SS Marco Luciano, SF
42. C Edgar Quero, LAA
41. SS Masyn Winn, STL
- Despite not having a first-round pick in 2022, the Dodgers still appear to have come away with one of the top prospects in the class by taking Louisville catcher Dalton Rushing in the second round. Following a stellar debut last season, he has a .950 OPS with four home runs and 17 RBI in 23 games at High-A to begin the 2023 season.
- Another early standout from the 2022 draft class, Sterlin Thompson is hitting an absurd .463/.513/.746 over 78 plate appearances at High-A Spokane to begin the year. The No. 31 overall pick in 2022 has seen time at third base and in the outfield.
- Only 20 years old and already playing at the Double-A level, Edgar Quero is hitting .300/.473/.414 with 21 walks in 93 plate appearances as one of the youngest players at his level. He has been on a steady upward trajectory since beginning his pro career in 2021.
Nos. 40-31
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40. SS/3B Junior Caminero, TB
39. C Harry Ford, SEA
38. RHP Mick Abel, PHI
37. OF Colton Cowser, BAL
36. OF Sal Frelick, MIL
35. 2B Michael Busch, LAD
34. RHP Tink Hence, STL
33. SS Colson Montgomery, CWS
32. RHP Daniel Espino, CLE
31. SS Brooks Lee, MIN
- Infielder Junior Caminero is the highest-ranked player among newcomers to our Top 100 list, as it appears the Tampa Bay Rays have pulled off another prospect heist in acquiring him from Cleveland prior to last year. The 19-year-old is hitting .356/.408/.678 with eight home runs and 24 RBI in 22 games at High-A Bowling Green.
- A bit overshadowed by fellow Phillies pitching prospect Andrew Painter, right-hander Mick Abel is one of the game's most promising young arms in his own right. The 21-year-old has a 2.53 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 25 strikeouts in 21.1 innings at Double-A to start the year.
- One of the most polished college bats in the 2022 draft class, Brooks Lee is already playing at the Double-A level after going No. 8 overall in last year's draft. The 22-year-old is hitting .294/.357/.461 with 11 doubles, two home runs and two steals in 25 games.
Nos. 30-21
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30. SS Jackson Merrill, SD
29. C/1B Tyler Soderstrom, OAK
28. 2B/3B Curtis Mead, TB
27. RHP Brandon Pfaadt, ARI
26. OF Zac Veen, COL
25. C/IF/OF Endy Rodríguez, PIT
24. C Diego Cartaya, LAD
23. LHP Kyle Harrison, SF
22. OF Pete Crow-Armstrong, CHC
21. OF Druw Jones, ARI
- The Pittsburgh Pirates have been one of the biggest surprises of the season's first month, and they could have some dynamic in-house reinforcements to call on by midseason. Versatile slugger Endy Rodríguez is the system's current headliner, and he is hitting .264/.353/.417 with three home runs in 18 games at Triple-A.
- Left-hander Kyle Harrison piled up 186 strikeouts in 113 innings between High-A and Double-A last season to establish himself as one of baseball's elite pitching prospects. He has continued to miss plenty of bats at Triple-A with 34 strikeouts in 19.2 innings, but he has also issued 21 walks and will need to further refine his command.
- Hyped 2022 draft prospect Druw Jones is off to a slow start in his pro debut, going just 7-for-40 with 14 strikeouts through his first 10 games at Single-A Visalia. However, the 19-year-old still has one of the highest overall ceilings of any prospect, and jumping him over rookie ball speaks to the D-backs expectations for his progression through the minors.
Nos. 20-11
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20. C Logan O'Hoppe, LAA
19. SS Jordan Lawlar, ARI
18. LHP Ricky Tiedemann, TOR
17. SS Marcelo Mayer, BOS
16. RHP Bobby Miller, LAD
15. SS Zach Neto, LAA
14. RHP Gavin Williams, CLE
13. OF James Wood, WAS
12. RHP Andrew Painter, PHI
11. RHP Eury Pérez, MIA
- Southpaw Ricky Tiedemann had a 2.17 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 117 strikeouts in 78.2 innings across three minor league levels in his pro debut last year, quickly rising from third-round pick in 2021 to elite-level prospect. The 20-year-old has struck out 23 of the 54 batters he has faced to start the year at Double-A.
- Towering 6'6", 240-pound slugger James Wood could wind up being the most valuable piece acquired by the Nationals in the Juan Soto blockbuster last summer. The 20-year-old continues to show a better all-around offensive game than expected, hitting .262/.347/.500 with 11 extra-base hits in 101 plate appearances at High-A.
- The Marlins have done a great job developing pitching talent in recent years, and Eury Pérez has the potential to be the best of the bunch. The 6'8" right-hander has struck out over 35 percent of the batters he has faced in the minors, and he has a 2.32 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and 42 strikeouts in 31 innings at Double-A.
Nos. 10-1
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10. OF Evan Carter, TEX
9. C Francisco Álvarez, NYM
8. RHP Grayson Rodriguez, BAL
7. RHP Taj Bradley, TB
6. SS Elly De La Cruz, CIN
5. OF Jackson Chourio, MIL
4. 3B Brett Baty, NYM
3. SS Jackson Holliday, BAL
2. SS Anthony Volpe, NYY
1. 3B/OF Jordan Walker, STL
- After posting an .885 OPS with 21 doubles, 10 triples, 12 home runs and 28 steals in his age-19 season last year, Evan Carter has continued his meteoric rise up prospect rankings in the early going this year. The 20-year-old is hitting .301/.463/.452 with more walks (26) than strikeouts (21) in 24 games at Double-A.
- Shortstop Jackson Holliday can flat-out hit, and he made short work of the Single-A level, hitting .392/.523/.667 in 13 games to start the year to earn a quick promotion to High-A Aberdeen. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 draft will be 19 for the entirety of the 2023 season, and it's not out of the question to think he could be in Double-A by the summer.
- After a slow start to his rookie season, Anthony Volpe is hitting .241/.344/.374 with five extra-base hits and 13 walks in his last 23 games. The 22-year-old played just 22 games at Triple-A before joining the MLB roster, so there were bound to be some ups and downs, but he looks the part of a long-term staple up the middle for the Yankees.
Team-by-Team Breakdown
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ARI (3): SS Jordan Lawlar (19), OF Druw Jones (21), RHP Brandon Pfaadt (27)
ATL (0): None
BAL (8): SS Jackson Holliday (3), RHP Grayson Rodriguez (8), OF Colton Cowser (37), IF Jordan Westburg (55), SS Joey Ortiz (77), OF Heston Kjerstad (85), LHP DL Hall (93), 3B Coby Mayo (99)
BOS (3): SS Marcelo Mayer (17), IF/OF Ceddanne Rafaela (67), OF Miguel Bleis (81)
CHC (4): OF Pete Crow-Armstrong (22), RHP Cade Horton (76), OF Brennen Davis (94), OF Kevin Alcántara (96)
CWS (2): SS Colson Montgomery (33), OF Oscar Colás (57)
CIN (6): SS Elly De La Cruz (6), SS Noelvi Marte (54), 3B Cam Collier (59), SS Edwin Arroyo (70), LHP Andrew Abbott (72), SS Matt McLain (78)
CLE (7): RHP Gavin Williams (14), RHP Daniel Espino (32), C Bo Naylor (53), LHP Logan Allen (56), RHP Tanner Bibee (60), OF George Valera (64), SS Brayan Rocchio (71)
COL (3): OF Zac Veen (26), 3B/OF Sterlin Thompson (49), C Drew Romo (75)
DET (2): 3B/OF Justyn-Henry Malloy (95), RHP Jackson Jobe (98)
HOU (0): None
KC (1): OF Gavin Cross (87)
LAA (3): SS Zach Neto (15), C Logan O'Hoppe (20), C Edgar Quero (42)
LAD (7): RHP Bobby Miller (16), C Diego Cartaya (24), 2B Michael Busch (35), RHP Gavin Stone (45), C Dalton Rushing (50), OF Andy Pages (68), RHP Ryan Pepiot (89)
MIA (2): RHP Eury Pérez (11), RHP Max Meyer (92)
MIL (3): OF Jackson Chourio (5), OF Sal Frelick (36), OF Joey Wiemer (51)
MIN (4): SS Brooks Lee (31), OF Emmanuel Rodriguez (58), SS Royce Lewis (86), IF/OF Edouard Julien (88)
NYM (5): 3B Brett Baty (4), C Francisco Álvarez (9), OF Alex Ramírez (63), C Kevin Parada (66), SS Ronny Mauricio (91)
NYY (3): SS Anthony Volpe (2), OF Jasson Domínguez (46), C Austin Wells (90)
OAK (2): C/1B Tyler Soderstrom (29), RHP Mason Miller (83)
PHI (2): RHP Andrew Painter (12), RHP Mick Abel (38)
PIT (4): C/IF/OF Endy Rodríguez (25), C Henry Davis (47), 2B Termarr Johnson (69), RHP Luis Ortiz (97)
SD (2): SS Jackson Merrill (30), OF Samuel Zavala (82)
SF (2): LHP Kyle Harrison (23), SS Marco Luciano (43)
SEA (2): C Harry Ford (39), RHP Bryce Miller (52)
STL (5): 3B/OF Jordan Walker (1), RHP Tink Hence (34), SS Masyn Winn (41), LHP Matthew Liberatore (62), RHP Gordon Graceffo (84)
TB (5): RHP Taj Bradley (7), 2B/3B Curtis Mead (28), SS/3B Junior Caminero (40), 1B Kyle Manzardo (61), SS Carson Williams (73)
TEX (4): OF Evan Carter (10), RHP Owen White (65), RHP Brock Porter (80), RHP Kumar Rocker (100)
TOR (1): LHP Ricky Tiedemann (18)
WAS (5): OF James Wood (13), OF Robert Hassell III (44), OF Elijah Green (48), RHP Cade Cavalli (74), 3B Brady House (79)
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