MLB Prospect Rankings: Top 10 Prospects at Each Position, June Edition
An impressive wave of talent has arrived in the big leagues this year, with a number of top prospects making an immediate impact, but the minor league ranks are still loaded with potential future stars.
Ahead, we've provided a rundown of the top 10 prospects at each position, with outfielders all lumped into one group and pitchers split into right-handed and left-handed.
The following factors helped determine where each player fell in our rankings:
- Potential: Potential 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.
With all of that established, let's start with the catchers.
Catchers
1 of 8
Top 10 C Prospects
1. Diego Cartaya, Los Angeles Dodgers
2. Endy Rodriguez, Pittsburgh Pirates
3. Logan O'Hoppe, Los Angeles Angels
4. Harry Ford, Seattle Mariners
5. Henry Davis, Pittsburgh Pirates
6. Ethan Salas, San Diego Padres
7. Dalton Rushing, Los Angeles Dodgers
8. Bo Naylor, Cleveland Guardians
9. Jeferson Quero, Milwaukee Brewers
10. Kevin Parada, New York Mets
Notes
- Harry Ford starred for Team Great Britain in the World Baseball Classic, and the 20-year-old is hitting .267/.429/.446 with 17 extra-base hits, 12 steals and more walks (50) than strikeouts (48) in 53 games at High-A.
- Prized 2023 international signing Ethan Salas is already playing at the Single-A level after signing for $5.6 million in January. The 17-year-old is hitting .237/.388/.342 with one double, one home run and 10 walks in 49 plate appearances.
- Honorable Mentions: Samuel Basallo (BAL), Leonardo Bernal (STL), Korey Lee (HOU), Thayron Liranzo (LAD), Edgar Quero (LAA), Drew Romo (COL), Daniel Susac (OAK), Austin Wells (NYY)
First Basemen
2 of 8
Top 10 1B Prospects
1. Tyler Soderstrom, OAK
2. Christian Encarnacion-Strand, CIN
3. Kyle Manzardo, TB
4. Matt Mervis, CHC
5. Blaze Jordan, BOS
6. Hunter Goodman, COL
7. Lawrence Butler, OAK
8. Xavier Isaac, TB
9. Ivan Melendez, ARI
10. Luken Baker, STL
Notes
- A wave of exciting rookie talent has already arrived in Cincinnati this year, and slugger Christian Encarnacion-Strand could be next. The 23-year-old is hitting .362/.427/.735 with 13 doubles, 17 home runs and 46 RBI in 42 games at Triple-A, and he has done nothing but hit since he was taken in the fourth round of the 2021 draft.
- After a 36-homer, 106-RBI season in 2022, Hunter Goodman has solidified himself as one of the best power-hitting prospects in baseball this year. The 23-year-old has an .886 OPS with 16 doubles, 17 home runs and 55 RBI in 55 games at Double-A.
- Honorable Mentions: Tim Elko (CWS), Spencer Horwitz (TOR), Niko Kavadas (BOS), Nathan Martorella (SD), Jhonkensy Noel (CLE), Chandler Redmond (STL)
Second Basemen
3 of 8
Top 10 2B Prospects
1. Michael Busch, LAD
2. Termarr Johnson, PIT
3. Edouard Julien, MIN
4. Zack Gelof, OAK
5. Jace Jung, DET
6. Nick Yorke, BOS
7. Justin Foscue, TEX
8. Jorbit Vivas, LAD
9. Carlos Jorge, CIN
10. Connor Norby, BAL
Notes
- Michael Busch hit .274/.365/.516 with 38 doubles, 32 home runs and 108 RBI in 142 games in the upper levels of the minors last year, and he has continued to rake at Triple-A this season. The 25-year-old does not have a clear path to playing time in Los Angeles, but he has little left to prove in the minors.
- Second base has been an offensive hole for the Boston Red Sox this season, and that could open the door for Nick Yorke to make his MLB debut soon. The 21-year-old is hitting .297/.401/.500 with 20 extra-base hits in 49 games at Double-A.
- Honorable Mentions: Ryan Bliss (ARI), Cade Doughty (TOR), Nick Gonzales (PIT), Hao-Yu Lee (PHI), Jared Serna (NYY), Lenyn Sosa (CWS), James Triantos (CHC)
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Third Basemen
4 of 8
Top 10 3B Prospects
1. Junior Caminero, TB
2. Jordan Westburg, BAL
3. Curtis Mead, TB
4. Colt Keith, DET
5. Sterlin Thompson, COL
6. Cam Collier, CIN
7. Brady House, WAS
8. Coby Mayo, BAL
9. Cayden Wallace, KC
10. Justyn-Henry Malloy, DET
Notes
- Still just 19 years old, Junior Caminero has been the biggest breakout prospect of the 2023 season. The infielder is hitting .339/.386/.630 with 11 doubles, 13 home runs and 41 RBI in 48 games between High-A and Double-A, and he won't turn 20 until July.
- A fifth-round pick in 2020, Colt Keith has emerged as the top prospect in the Detroit Tigers farm system. The 21-year-old is hitting .332/.404/.597 with 16 doubles, 12 home runs and 43 RBI, and he has a 10 percent walk rate to go along with those strong power numbers.
- Honorable Mentions: Jacob Berry (MIA), Tyler Black (MIL), Zach Dezenzo (HOU), Tyler Locklear (SEA), Orelvis Martinez (TOR), Bryan Ramos (CWS), Yunior Severino (MIN), Tucker Toman (TOR)
Shortstops
5 of 8
Top 10 SS Prospects
1. Elly De La Cruz, CIN
2. Jackson Holliday, BAL
3. Marcelo Mayer, BOS
4. Jordan Lawlar, ARI
5. Matt McLain, CIN
6. Jackson Merrill, SD
7. Brooks Lee, MIN
8. Colson Montgomery, CWS
9. Ronny Mauricio, NYM
10. Carson Williams, TB
Notes
- It looks like the Baltimore Orioles made the right decision taking Jackson Holliday with the No. 1 overall pick last year. The 19-year-old earned a quick promotion from Single-A to High-A after just 14 games, and he is hitting .344/.479/.577 with 25 extra-base hits and the same number of walks and strikeouts in 52 games.
- After a red-hot start to the year in the minors, Matt McLain has made a splash since he was called up to the major leagues on May 15. The 23-year-old is hitting .330/.379/.504 with 13 extra-base hits in 124 plate appearances, and he has already racked up 1.1 WAR in 26 games.
- Honorable Mentions: Luisangel Acuña (TEX), Adael Amador (COL), Edwin Arroyo (CIN), Marco Luciano (SF), Noelvi Marte (CIN), Joey Ortiz (BAL), Brayan Rocchio (CLE), Jett Williams (NYM), Masyn Winn (STL), Cole Young (SEA)
Outfielders
6 of 8
Top 10 OF Prospects
1. Jordan Walker, STL
2. Jackson Chourio, MIL
3. James Wood, WAS
4. Evan Carter, TEX
5. Colton Cowser, BAL
6. Pete Crow-Armstrong, CHC
7. Druw Jones, ARI
8. Sal Frelick, MIL
9. Heston Kjerstad, BAL
10. Jasson Dominguez, NYY
Notes
- With a towering 6'6", 240-pound frame, James Wood had tremendous offensive upside when he was taken in the second round of the 2021 draft, but he has shown a more polished overall offensive game than expected. The 20-year-old was one of the centerpieces of last year's Juan Soto blockbuster, and he is hitting .281/.366/.563 with 13 doubles, 11 home runs and 44 RBI in 54 games between High-A and Double-A.
- The duo of Colton Cowser (199 PA, 1.048 OPS, 18 XBH at Double-A) and Heston Kjerstad (230 PA, .939 OPS, 25 XBH at Double-A/Triple-A) could both arrive in the majors before the 2023 season is over.
- Honorable Mentions: Kevin Alcántara (CHC), Miguel Bleis (BOS), Justin Crawford (PHI), Drew Gilbert (HOU), Gabriel Gonzalez (SEA), Elijah Green (WAS), Robert Hassell III (WAS), Spencer Jones (NYY), Luis Matos (SF), Andy Pages (LAD), Ceddanne Rafaela (BOS), Alex Ramirez (NYM), Emmanuel Rodriguez (MIN), George Valera (CLE), Zac Veen (COL), Samuel Zavala (SD)
Right-Handed Pitchers
7 of 8
Top 10 RHP Prospects
1. Eury Pérez, MIA
2. Bobby Miller, LAD
3. Taj Bradley, TB
4. Gavin Williams, CLE
5. Andrew Painter, PHI
6. Brandon Pfaadt, ARI
7. Mick Abel, PHI
8. Tink Hence, STL
9. AJ Smith-Shawver, ATL
10. Cade Horton, CHC
Notes
- The young trio of Eury Pérez (6 GS, 3-1, 2.17 ERA, 30 K, 29.0 IP), Bobby Miller (4 GS, 3-0, 0.78 ERA, 23 K, 23.0 IP) and Taj Bradley (8 GS, 4-3, 4.19 ERA, 52 K, 38.2 IP) have all found significant early success in the big leagues.
- It looked like a potential reach when the Chicago Cubs selected Cade Horton with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2022 draft, but he is backing up that decision in the early going this year. The 21-year-old has a 3.18 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and a 55-to-9 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 34 innings.
- Honorable Mentions: Ben Brown (CHC), Daniel Espino (CLE), Nick Frasso (LAD), Gordon Graceffo (STL), Jackson Jobe (DET), Jack Leiter (TEX), Dylan Lesko (SD), Ty Madden (DET), Mason Miller (OAK), Jacob Misiorowski (MIL), Luis Ortiz (PIT), Connor Phillips (CIN), Brock Porter (TEX), Quinn Priester (PIT), Emmet Sheehan (LAD), Gavin Stone (LAD), Owen White (TEX), Bryan Woo (SEA)
Left-Handed Pitchers
8 of 8
Top 10 LHP Prospects
1. Kyle Harrison, SF
2. Ricky Tiedemann, TOR
3. Andrew Abbott, CIN
4. Robby Snelling, SD
5. DL Hall, BAL
6. Frank Mozzicato, KC
7. Carson Whisenhunt, SF
8. Anthony Solometo, PIT
9. Mason Montgomery, TB
10. Brandon Barriera, TOR
Notes
- After racking up 186 strikeouts in 113 innings between High-A and Double-A last season, Kyle Harrison has continued to miss bats at an impressive clip this year with 72 punchouts in 42.1 innings. The 21-year-old has also walked 35 batters and will need to further refine his command, but the stuff is impossible to ignore.
- The Kansas City Royals reached for Frank Mozzicato with the No. 7 overall pick in 2021 to facilitate an above-slot deal for Ben Kudrna in the second round, but he is quickly living up to the draft slot. The projectable 6'3" southpaw has a 2.14 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 46.1 innings at Single-A.
- Honorable Mentions: Dax Fulton (MIA), Noah Schultz (CWS), Blake Walston (ARI), Jordan Wicks (CHC)
All stats courtesy of Baseball Reference and accurate through Monday's games.
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