Ranking All 30 MLB Teams' Homegrown Talent for the 2024 Season
For small-market MLB teams, finding young, cost-controlled talent is the key to remaining competitive on a budget, while big-market clubs can spend their available money more productively when they have a homegrown core to build around.
Regardless, a good in-house talent pipeline is a necessity for any team to win a title.
With that in mind, what follows is a look at how all 30 MLB franchises stack up based on homegrown talent. Clubs were initially ranked based on the number of homegrown players on the 40-man roster and then shuffled from there based on the amount of high-level talent.
Before we dive into the rankings, some quick clarification:
- Who qualifies as homegrown? To be considered homegrown, a player must have been drafted by an organization or signed by it as an amateur free agent and subsequently developed in its minor league system.
- What about international free agents? International players who entered the league with significant professional experience were not included. That means players such as Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Ha-Seong Kim, Seiya Suzuki, Shōta Imanaga, Kodai Senga, Jung Hoo Lee and Masataka Yoshida didn't help their respective teams' ranking.
Make sense? Let's get to it.
30. Washington Nationals
1 of 30
40-Man Roster: 12
Top 5 Homegrown Players
1. 2B Luis García Jr.
2. RHP Jake Irvin
3. 3B Trey Lipscomb
4. OF Victor Robles
5. RHP Jackson Rutledge
The Rest: RHP Joan Adon, IF/OF Jake Alu, RHP Zach Brzykcy, RHP Cole Henry, LHP Mitchell Parker, RHP Amos Willingham, OF Jacob Young, RHP Stephen Strasburg (60-day IL), RHP Cade Cavalli (60-day IL)
Notes
-For a rebuilding team, the Nationals don't have much in the way of homegrown building blocks, or building blocks in general for that matter. CJ Abrams, Keibert Ruiz, MacKenzie Gore and Josiah Gray—arguably their four best young MLB players—were all acquired in the deals that sent Juan Soto, Max Scherzer and Trea Turner out of town.
-Trey Lipscomb hit .400/.455/.540 in 55 plate appearances during spring training, and he is 5-for-11 with a home run to open the year. With Nick Senzel sidelined, he has a long runway to stake his claim to the starting third base job.
29. San Diego Padres
2 of 30
40-Man Roster: 8
Top 5 Homegrown Players
1. OF Jackson Merrill
2. C Luis Campusano
3. LHP Tom Cosgrove
4. IF Graham Pauley
5. IF Eguy Rosario
The Rest: IF Matthew Batten, RHP Alek Jacob, LHP Adrian Morejón
Notes
-Padres team president A.J. Preller has never been shy about trading away his top prospects, and the deal to acquire Juan Soto at the 2022 deadline gutted the system of many of the team's biggest names down on the farm.
-Despite playing almost exclusively shortstop in the minors, Jackson Merrill broke camp as the team's starting center fielder. The 20-year-old has an elite hit tool and top-of-the-scale athleticism, so he should make an immediate impact.
28. Oakland Athletics
3 of 30
40-Man Roster: 11
Top 5 Homegrown Players
1. 2B Zack Gelof
2. RHP Mason Miller
3. 1B/OF Seth Brown
4. SS Nick Allen
5. OF Lawrence Butler
The Rest: OF Lazaro Armenteros, LHP Brady Basso, IF Jordan Díaz, LHP Hogan Harris, C Kyle McCann, C/1B Tyler Soderstrom
Notes
-Zack Gelof burst onto the scene last year, posting a 137 OPS+ with 20 doubles, 14 home runs, 32 RBI, 14 steals and a team-high 2.6 WAR in 69 games after making his MLB debut on July 14. He was a second-round pick in the 2021 draft out of the University of Virginia.
-Hard-throwing Mason Miller debuted as a starter last season, but after missing significant time with forearm tightness, he returned as a reliever down the stretch. Now he is penciled into the closer's role.
27. Milwaukee Brewers
4 of 30
40-Man Roster: 9
Top 5 Homegrown Players
1. OF Jackson Chourio
2. RHP Devin Williams
3. OF Sal Frelick
4. 2B Brice Turang
5. RHP Abner Uribe
The Rest: LHP Aaron Ashby, OF Garrett Mitchell, C Jeferson Quero, OF Joey Wiemer, RHP Brandon Woodruff (60-day IL)
Notes
-The Brewers have a potential future face of the franchise in Jackson Chourio, and he turned 20 years old just a few weeks before making his MLB debut on Opening Day. He was signed out of Venezuela for $1.8 million back in 2021.
-The Brewers have done a nice job drafting position-player talent in the first round in recent years, taking Brice Turang (No. 21 in 2018), Garrett Mitchell (No. 20 in 2020), Sal Frelick (No. 15 in 2021) and top prospect Tyler Black (No. 33 in 2021).
26. Chicago White Sox
5 of 30
40-Man Roster: 11
Top 5 Homegrown Players
1. OF Luis Robert Jr.
2. 1B Andrew Vaughn
3. LHP Garrett Crochet
4. 1B/OF Gavin Sheets
5. LHP Tanner Banks
The Rest: OF Oscar Colas, RHP Josimar Cousin, RHP Davis Martin, 3B Bryan Ramos, IF José Rodriguez, IF Lenyn Sosa
Notes
-Luis Robert Jr. helps prop up the White Sox in these rankings, giving them a homegrown superstar who was inked out of Cuba while he was still an up-and-coming prospect. His six-year, $50 million contract runs through 2025 and also includes $20 million club options for 2026 and 2027.
-Left-hander Garrett Crochet is making the move from the bullpen to the starting rotation this year, and he has a 1.38 ERA, 0.69 WHIP and a 16-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio over his first two outings in his new role. He jumped straight to the majors after going No. 11 overall in the 2020 draft.
25. Tampa Bay Rays
6 of 30
40-Man Roster: 8
Top 5 Homegrown Players
1. 2B Brandon Lowe
2. OF Josh Lowe
3. IF Taylor Walls
4. C René Pinto
5. RHP Taj Bradley
The Rest: IF Jonathan Aranda, RHP Yoniel Curet, RHP Colby White, LHP Shane McClanahan (60-day IL)
Notes
-For a team that relies heavily on cost-controlled young talent, it's a bit surprising the Rays don't have more homegrown players on the 40-man roster. There are 15 players on the current active roster who were acquired via trade, and the team also does a nice job combing the waiver wire.
-Josh Lowe, Taylor Walls and Taj Bradley are all currently on the injured list, along with Shane McClanahan who does not currently count toward the team's 40-man roster total since he is on the 60-day injured list while he recovers from Tommy John surgery.
24. Miami Marlins
7 of 30
40-Man Roster: 12
Top 5 Homegrown Players
1. RHP Eury Pérez
2. RHP Edward Cabrera
3. LHP Braxton Garrett
4. LHP Trevor Rogers
5. RHP Max Meyer
The Rest: C Nick Fortes, RHP Bryan Hoeing, RHP Anthony Maldonado, OF Victor Mesa Jr., LHP Andrew Nardi, LHP Josh Simpson, RHP George Soriano
Notes
-Catcher Nick Fortes is the only homegrown position player on the active roster, and there is not much offensive talent in the pipeline poised to join the 40-man roster in the coming years. The last impactful homegrown hitter to come out of their system was third baseman Brian Anderson.
-Eury Pérez ($200,000) and Edward Cabrera ($100,000) were relatively inexpensive signings on the international market, and while they are both currently on the injured list, they have the potential to be rotation anchors alongside Sandy Alcántara and Jesús Luzardo in the coming years.
23. Pittsburgh Pirates
8 of 30
40-Man Roster: 16
Top 5 Homegrown Players
1. 3B Ke'Bryan Hayes
2. RHP Mitch Keller
3. RHP Jared Jones
4. IF Jared Triolo
5. C Henry Davis
The Rest: RHP Braxton Ashcraft, IF/OF Ji Hwan Bae, RHP Mike Burrows, IF Tsung-Che Cheng, C Jason Delay, IF Nick Gonzales, RHP Carmen Mlodzinski, RHP Luis L. Ortiz, RHP Quinn Priester, RHP Colin Selby, RHP Hunter Stratton
Notes
-Third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes has taken some time to settle in offensively at the MLB level, but he turned a corner last year when he posted a 105 OPS+ with 31 doubles, 15 home runs and 61 RBI in a 4.0-WAR season while snapping Nolan Arenado's streak of NL Gold Glove wins.
-Mitch Keller has emerged as Pittsburgh's best homegrown starter since Gerrit Cole, and hard-throwing Jared Jones has a chance to join him atop the rotation for years to come after pitching his way onto the Opening Day roster this spring.
22. Colorado Rockies
9 of 30
40-Man Roster: 23
Top 5 Homegrown Players
1. 3B Ryan McMahon
2. SS Ezequiel Tovar
3. OF Charlie Blackmon
4. RHP Justin Lawrence
5. 2B Brendan Rodgers
The Rest: 2B Adael Amador, RHP Jake Bird, OF Sean Bouchard, SS Julio Carreras, RHP Angel Chivilli, OF Brenton Doyle, RHP Ryan Feltner, OF Yanquiel Fernandez, LHP Kyle Freeland, LHP Lucas Gilbreath, 1B/OF Hunter Goodman, RHP Gavin Hollowell, LHP Evan Justice, RHP Peter Lambert, RHP Juan Mejia, RHP Riley Pint, 1B/OF Michael Toglia, IF Alan Trejo, RHP Antonio Senzatela (60-day IL)
Notes
-The Rockies have more homegrown players on their 40-man roster than any team other than the Cleveland Guardians, but that feels more like a result of a complacent front office not making any moves than anything resembling an organizational strategy.
-Shortstop Ezequiel Tovar broke through last season to establish himself as a core piece, and he could soon be joined by top prospect Adael Amador to form a dynamic young middle infield tandem. Incumbent second baseman Brendan Rodgers will be a free agent next offseason.
21. Kansas City Royals
10 of 30
40-Man Roster: 20
Top 5 Homegrown Players
1. SS Bobby Witt Jr.
2. C Salvador Pérez
3. 1B Vinnie Pasquantino
4. OF MJ Melendez
5. 3B Maikel García
The Rest: RHP Jonathan Bowlan, C Freddy Fermin, OF Tyler Gentry, RHP Carlos Hernández, OF Kyle Isbel, RHP Will Klein, IF Nick Loftin, LHP Daniel Lynch IV, RHP Alec Marsh, 2B Michael Massey, RHP John McMillon, 1B Nick Pratto, RHP Brady Singer, LHP Anthony Veneziano, LHP Angel Zerpa, LHP Kris Bubic (60-day IL)
Notes
-There is a very real chance that the Royals found their best homegrown player since George Brett when they selected Bobby Witt Jr. with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 draft. The 23-year-old posted a 119 OPS+ with 30 home runs and 49 steals in a 4.4-WAR season last year, and the Royals locked him up with an 11-year, $288.8 million extension in February.
-Salvador Pérez is the only holdover left from the 2015 World Series team that featured a homegrown core of Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Alex Gordon, Greg Holland, Yordano Ventura, Danny Duffy and Kelvin Herrera.
20. New York Mets
11 of 30
40-Man Roster: 11
Top 5 Homegrown Players
1. 1B Pete Alonso
2. OF Brandon Nimmo
3. 2B Jeff McNeil
4. C Francisco Álvarez
5. 3B Brett Baty
The Rest: RHP José Butto, RHP Grant Hartwig, RHP Tylor Megill, OF Alex Ramírez, 1B/3B Mark Vientos, LHP Josh Walker, IF Ronny Mauricio (60-day IL)
Notes
-The trio of Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil gives the Mets one of the better homegrown offensive cores on this list, and both Francisco Álvarez and Brett Baty are capable of joining that group in the coming years.
-A glaring lack of homegrown pitching is the reason the Mets don't rank any higher, and that has been an issue since Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey and Noah Syndergaard emerged from their system.
19. New York Yankees
12 of 30
40-Man Roster: 11
Top 5 Homegrown Players
1. OF Aaron Judge
2. SS Anthony Volpe
3. RHP Clarke Schmidt
4. C Austin Wells
5. IF Oswaldo Cabrera
The Rest: RHP Yoendrys Gómez, RHP Ron Marinaccio, C Carlos Narvaez, IF Oswald Peraza, OF Everson Pereira, C Agustin Ramírez, OF Jasson Dominguez (60-day IL)
Notes
-Few teams have a bigger homegrown superstar than Aaron Judge, while young shortstop Anthony Volpe and right-hander Clarke Schmidt both emerged as key contributors during the 2023 season. The drop-off after that trio is steep, though.
-Catcher Austin Wells and outfielders Jasson Dominguez and Everson Pereira have the potential to be everyday players in the big leagues, and it will be interesting to see how the team uses Dominguez when he returns from Tommy John surgery.
18. Arizona Diamondbacks
13 of 30
40-Man Roster: 19
Top 5 Homegrown Players
1. OF Corbin Carroll
2. RHP Brandon Pfaadt
3. OF Alek Thomas
4. SS Geraldo Perdomo
5. RHP Ryne Nelson
The Rest: IF Blaze Alexander, OF Jorge Barrosa, RHP Slade Cecconi, RHP Luis Frías, RHP Kevin Ginkel, LHP Tommy Henry, C José Herrera, RHP Bryce Jarvis, SS Jordan Lawlar, RHP Justin Martinez, OF Jake McCarthy, LHP Andrew Saalfrank, 1B/OF Pavin Smith, LHP Blake Walston
Notes
-Corbin Carroll was the No. 16 overall pick in a stacked 2019 draft class that also featured Adley Rutschman (No. 1), Bobby Witt Jr. (No. 2), Riley Greene (No. 5), CJ Abrams (No. 6), Josh Jung (No. 8), Bryson Stott (No. 14), George Kirby (No. 20) and Anthony Volpe (No. 30) in the first round.
-The D-backs selected Brandon Pfaadt in the fifth round of the abridged 2020 draft out of Bellarmine University, and he emerged as a top prospect in the farm system and a rising star in the starting rotation last year when he put together a terrific postseason run.
17. Philadelphia Phillies
14 of 30
40-Man Roster: 9
Top 5 Homegrown Players
1. RHP Aaron Nola
2. 2B Bryson Stott
3. 3B Alec Bohm
4. LHP Ranger Suárez
5. CF Johan Rojas
The Rest: RHP Seranthony Domínguez, 1B Darick Hall, RHP Orion Kerkering, C Rafael Marchán
Notes
-The Phillies are one of only four teams with fewer than 10 homegrown players on their 40-man roster, but that short list includes a front-line starter (Aaron Nola), their starting second baseman (Bryson Stott), starting third baseman (Alec Bohm), starting center fielder (Johan Rojas) and a quality middle-of-the-rotation starter (Ranger Suárez).
-Homegrown pitching prospects Andrew Painter and Mick Abel both have front-line potential, and Abel could be one of the first pitchers called upon when the MLB roster needs reinforcement this season.
16. Texas Rangers
15 of 30
40-Man Roster: 15
Top 5 Homegrown Players
1. 3B Josh Jung
2. OF Wyatt Langford
3. OF Evan Carter
4. OF Leody Taveras
5. RHP José Leclerc
The Rest: LHP Cody Bradford, RHP Marc Church, IF Justin Foscue, RHP Jonathan Hernández, C/1B Sam Huff, LHP Jacob Latz, IF Jonathan Ornelas, RHP Yerry Rodríguez, RHP Owen White, RHP Cole Winn
Notes
-The Rangers had a homegrown rookie starter in the 2023 All-Star Game when 2019 first-round pick Josh Jung earned the starting nod at third base, and highly touted outfielders Wyatt Langford and Evan Carter could follow in his footsteps with a trip to the Midsummer Classic this year.
-Left-hander Cody Bradford was a sixth-round pick in 2019, and he will be tasked with holding down a spot in the starting rotation until Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer and Tyler Mahle return from the injured list.
15. Boston Red Sox
16 of 30
40-Man Roster: 12
Top 5 Homegrown Players
1. 3B Rafael Devers
2. 1B Triston Casas
3. RHP Brayan Bello
4. OF Jarren Duran
5. RHP Kutter Crawford
The Rest: IF Bobby Dalbec, RHP Wikelman Gonzalez, RHP Tanner Houck, RHP Brayan Mata, RHP Luis Perales, OF Ceddanne Rafaela, LHP Brandon Walter
Notes
-With fellow homegrown stars Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts gone, Rafael Devers is now the unquestioned face of the franchise for the Red Sox. The 27-year-old was signed out of the Dominican Republic for a $1.5 million bonus in 2013, and he quickly became one of the most hyped international prospects in Red Sox history.
-The Red Sox have had a tough time developing impact starting pitching since Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz came through the pipeline, but that trend could be changing with Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford and Tanner Houck all currently occupying rotation spots.
14. Los Angeles Dodgers
17 of 30
40-Man Roster: 12
Top 5 Homegrown Players
1. C Will Smith
2. RHP Bobby Miller
3. RHP Walker Buehler
4. OF James Outman
5. 2B Gavin Lux
The Rest: C Diego Cartaya, C Hunter Feduccia, RHP Michael Grove, RHP Landon Knack, OF Andy Pages, RHP Gavin Stone, IF Miguel Vargas, LHP Clayton Kershaw (60-day IL), RHP Dustin May (60-day IL), RHP Tony Gonsolin (60-day IL), RHP Emmet Sheehan (60-day IL)
Notes
-The Dodgers' list would look a lot better if Clayton Kershaw, Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin and Emmet Sheehan were not all currently on the 60-day injured list recovering from various arm issues. That said, they still have a rising rotation star in Bobby Miller, and Walker Buehler will be back in the mix soon.
-Catcher Will Smith inked a 10-year, $140 million extension just before Opening Day, and it will be interesting to see what the Dodgers do with top catching prospects Diego Cartaya and Dalton Rushing now that he is locked in behind the plate.
13. Minnesota Twins
18 of 30
40-Man Roster: 17
Top 5 Homegrown Players
1. OF Byron Buxton
2. OF Max Kepler
3. 3B Royce Lewis
4. RHP Bailey Ober
5. 2B Edouard Julien
The Rest: RHP Matt Canterino, LHP Kody Funderburk, LHP Brent Headrick, RHP Griffin Jax, C Ryan Jeffers, 1B/OF Alex Kirilloff, OF Trevor Larnach, 1B/3B José Miranda, OF Emmanuel Rodriguez, RHP Cole Sands, RHP Louie Varland, OF Matt Wallner
Notes
-Can Byron Buxton and Royce Lewis stay healthy for a full season? Buxton was the No. 2 overall pick in 2012, while Lewis went No. 1 overall in 2017, and both have shown the potential to be franchise cornerstones when healthy.
-Right-hander Bailey Ober was a nice diamond in the rough find as a 12th-round pick in the 2017 draft out of College of Charleston. The 28-year-old had a 3.43 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 146 strikeouts in 144.1 innings during a breakout 2023 campaign.
12. Detroit Tigers
19 of 30
40-Man Roster: 18
Top 5 Homegrown Players
1. LHP Tarik Skubal
2. OF Riley Greene
3. 1B Spencer Torkelson
4. DH Kerry Carpenter
5. RHP Casey Mize
The Rest: RHP Beau Brieske, C Dillon Dingler, RHP Alex Faedo, RHP Wilmer Flores, RHP Jason Foley, 2B Colt Keith, IF Ryan Kreidler, RHP Matt Manning, OF Parker Meadows, RHP Keider Montero, OF Wenceel Pérez, RHP Will Vest, RHP Brendan White
Notes
-The Tigers have quietly assembled an intriguing homegrown offensive core, with Spencer Torkelson and Riley Greene both taking a significant step forward into their development last year, while Colt Keith, Parker Meadows and top prospect Jace Jung are poised to join them in 2024.
-Armed with a sinker that averages 98.8 mph and regularly bumps triple digits, Jason Foley is one of baseball's most underrated relievers. The 28-year-old was signed as a free agent in 2016 after going undrafted out of Sacred Heart University.
11. San Francisco Giants
20 of 30
40-Man Roster: 20
Top 5 Homegrown Players
1. RHP Logan Webb
2. RHP Camilo Doval
3. C Patrick Bailey
4. LHP Kyle Harrison
5. RHP Tyler Rogers
The Rest: RHP Nick Avila, IF Tyler Fitzgerald, RHP Sean Hjelle, SS Marco Luciano, OF Luis Matos, RHP Trevor McDonald, OF Wade Meckler, OF Heliot Ramos, RHP Randy Rodríguez, RHP Landen Roupp, IF Casey Schmitt, OF Austin Slater, IF David Villar, RHP Ryan Walker, RHP Keaton Winn
Notes
-There were 64 pitchers selected ahead of Logan Webb in the 2014 draft class, and he has developed into the ace of the Giants staff and one of the best workhorses in baseball after leading the majors with 216 innings pitched a year ago.
-Can Kyle Harrison and Patrick Bailey be the next generation version of Buster Posey and Madison Bumgarner? That is probably wishful thinking, but if they can provide even half of what that tandem did for the Giants, the team's outlook will be vastly improved.
10. Chicago Cubs
21 of 30
40-Man Roster: 14
Top 5 Homegrown Players
1. 2B Nico Hoerner
2. OF Ian Happ
3. LHP Justin Steele
4. RHP Adbert Alzolay
5. 3B Christopher Morel
The Rest: C Miguel Amaya, RHP Javier Assad, OF Brennen Davis, RHP Porter Hodge, LHP Luke Little, 1B Matt Mervis, RHP Keegan Thompson, IF Luis Vazquez, LHP Jordan Wicks
Notes
-The foundation of the Cubs' run to a World Series title in 2016 was homegrown position player talent, and while they have Ian Happ, Nico Hoerner and rising star Christopher Morel who fit that description, their homegrown pool skews more to the pitching side of things now.
-Outside of Justin Steele's emergence of an ace last year and both Jordan Wicks and Javier Assad showing potential as rookies, the Cubs also have one of baseball's most highly regarded pitching prospects in Cade Horton.
9. Toronto Blue Jays
22 of 30
40-Man Roster: 15
Top 5 Homegrown Players
1. SS Bo Bichette
2. 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
3. RHP Jordan Romano
4. C Alejandro Kirk
5. LHP Tim Mayza
The Rest: SS/3B Addison Barger, IF/OF Cavan Biggio, RHP Hagen Danner, 1B/OF Spencer Horwitz, C Danny Jansen, IF Leo Jimenez, RHP Alek Manoah, SS/3B Orelvis Martinez, RHP Nate Pearson, IF Davis Schneider
Notes
-The Blue Jays have one of baseball's most impactful tandems of homegrown hitters in Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., while slugger Orelvis Martinez could join them on the infield as the third baseman of the future at some point in 2024.
-The regression of Alek Manoah in 2023 was a blow to Toronto's stable of homegrown talent, and the Blue Jays are now relying on a starting rotation made up entirely of outside additions. Closer Jordan Romano is currently on the injured list, but he is now the team's best homegrown arm.
8. St. Louis Cardinals
23 of 30
40-Man Roster: 15
Top 5 Homegrown Players
1. 2B Nolan Gorman
2. CF Tommy Edman
3. IF/OF Brendan Donovan
4. OF Jordan Walker
5. OF Lars Nootbaar
The Rest: 1B Luken Baker, OF Alec Burleson, DH Matt Carpenter, OF Dylan Carlson, RHP Ryan Helsley, C Iván Herrera, RHP Lance Lynn, C Pedro Pagés, RHP Andre Pallante, OF Victor Scott II, LHP Zack Thompson, SS Masyn Winn
Notes
-The Cardinals have always had a knack for developing their own in-house talent, and it seems like every year there is at least one late-round draft pick or under-the-radar international signing who takes an unexpected step forward.
-Nolan Gorman (first round), Brendan Donovan (seventh round) and Lars Nootbaar (eighth round) were all part of the same 2018 draft class, and that trio logged a combined 7.6 WAR during the 2023 season.
7. Los Angeles Angels
24 of 30
40-Man Roster: 20
Top 5 Homegrown Players
1. OF Mike Trout
2. LHP Reid Detmers
3. RHP Griffin Canning
4. OF Taylor Ward
5. SS Zach Neto
The Rest: OF Jordyn Adams, OF Jo Adell, RHP Kelvin Caceres, RHP Davis Daniel, RHP Ben Joyce, RHP Jack Kochanowicz, RHP Victor Mederos, IF Kyren Paris, 1B Nolan Schanuel, RHP Chase Silseth, RHP José Soriano, IF Michael Stefanic, LHP José Suarez, C/1B Matt Thaiss, RHP Andrew Wantz
Notes
-The Angels ended up higher in these rankings than I expected them to be when I started writing this article, and they have prioritized MLB-ready talent in recent drafts, putting reliever Ben Joyce, shortstop Zach Neto and first baseman Nolan Schanuel on the fast track to the majors.
-Reid Detmers and Griffin Canning will both be major X-factors in the Angels starting rotation this year, and if they can provide quality middle-of-the-order production, it would elevate the team's pitching staff and give them a pair of solid building blocks.
6. Cincinnati Reds
25 of 30
40-Man Roster: 15
Top 5 Homegrown Players
1. SS Elly De La Cruz
2. RHP Hunter Greene
3. RHP Alexis Díaz
4. OF TJ Friedl
5. LHP Andrew Abbott
The Rest: RHP Tejay Antone, RHP Graham Ashcraft, OF Rece Hinds, OF Jacob Hurtubise, IF Jonathan India, LHP Nick Lodolo, RHP Lyon Richardson, RHP Christian Roa, RHP Carson Spiers, C Tyler Stephenson, IF Matt McLain (60-day IL)
Notes
-The Reds have assembled an impressive collection of young talent, and outside of the players on their Opening Day roster, they are also waiting on Matt McLain, TJ Friedl and Nick Lodolo to return from the injured list.
-Catcher Tyler Stephenson and infielder Jonathan India did not crack the top five homegrown players list, but both guys have been solid contributors in the past, and a bounce-back season could easily vault them into that top-five list.
5. Seattle Mariners
26 of 30
40-Man Roster: 10
Top 5 Homegrown Players
1. OF Julio Rodríguez
2. RHP George Kirby
3. RHP Logan Gilbert
4. C Cal Raleigh
5. RHP Bryce Miller
The Rest: RHP Ty Adcock, OF Jonatan Clase, RHP Emerson Hancock, OF Cade Marlowe, RHP Bryan Woo
Notes
-The Mariners have fewer homegrown players on the 40-man roster than any other team in the top 10 of these rankings, but it's a quality-over-quantity situation that vaults them into the No. 5 spot.
-Aside from five-tool superstar Julio Rodríguez and slugging catcher Cal Raleigh, the Mariners have also drafted and developed an entire starting rotation worth of good young pitchers in Logan Gilbert (No. 14 in 2018), George Kirby (No. 29 in 2019), Emerson Hancock (No. 6 in 2020), Bryce Miller (No. 113 in 2021) and Bryan Woo (No. 174 in 2021).
4. Baltimore Orioles
27 of 30
40-Man Roster: 14
Top 5 Homegrown Players
1. C Adley Rutschman
2. SS Gunnar Henderson
3. RHP Grayson Rodriguez
4. OF Cedric Mullins
5. OF Austin Hays
The Rest: LHP Keegan Akin, RHP Mike Baumann, OF Colton Cowser, 1B/OF Heston Kjerstad, LHP John Means, 1B Ryan Mountcastle, OF Kyle Stowers, LHP Nick Vespi, IF Jordan Westburg
Notes
-The arrival of 2019 No. 1 overall pick Adley Rutschman in the majors unofficially signaled the transition from rebuilding to contending for the Orioles, and that was followed last season by the emergence of Gunnar Henderson and Grayson Rodriguez as rising stars.
-The above group does not include baseball's No. 1 prospect Jackson Holliday since he is not currently a member of the 40-man roster, but that will likely change sooner than later, at which time the Orioles could climb even higher on this list. Don't sleep on them as a legitimate candidate for the No. 1 spot next year.
3. Houston Astros
28 of 30
40-Man Roster: 22
Top 5 Homegrown Players
1. 2B José Altuve
2. OF Kyle Tucker
3. 3B Alex Bregman
4. LHP Framber Valdez
5. RHP Cristian Javier
The Rest: RHP Bryan Abreu, RHP Brandon Bielak, RHP Ronel Blanco, RHP Hunter Brown, RHP Shawn Dubin, RHP J.P. France, RHP Luis García, IF David Hensley, OF Corey Julks, IF Grae Kessinger, OF Chas McCormick, OF Jake Meyers, LHP Parker Mushinski, SS Jeremy Peña, C César Salazar, RHP José Urquidy, RHP Forrest Whitley, RHP Lance McCullers Jr. (60-day IL)
Notes
-The Astros have reached the ALCS seven years in a row largely on the strength of a homegrown core, and while Carlos Correa and George Springer have moved on in free agency, they still have a stacked offensive core led by holdovers José Altuve and Alex Bregman and rising star Kyle Tucker.
-Developing pitching talent has been a major strength of the Astros organization, with guys like Framber Valdez, Cristian Javier, Luis García, J.P. France, Ronel Blanco and Bryan Abreu rarely mentioned on top prospect lists before they emerged as impact arms in the big leagues.
2. Cleveland Guardians
29 of 30
40-Man Roster: 24
Top 5 Homegrown Players
1. 3B José Ramírez
2. RHP Shane Bieber
3. OF Steven Kwan
4. RHP Tanner Bibee
5. RHP Triston McKenzie
The Rest: LHP Logan Allen, OF Will Brennan, RHP Xzavion Curry, RHP Daniel Espino, OF Tyler Freeman, RHP Hunter Gaddis, LHP Sam Hentges, LHP Tim Herrin, IF Angel Martinez, RHP Eli Morgan, C Bo Naylor, 1B/OF Jhonkensy Noel, SS Brayan Rocchio, OF Johnathan Rodriguez, RHP Nick Sandlin, RHP Cade Smith, IF José Tena, OF George Valera, RHP Gavin Williams, RHP James Karinchak (60-day IL)
Notes
-A small-market budget has made developing in-house talent a necessity for the Guardians, and they turn pitching prospects into MLB standouts as well as any organization in baseball. That was never more evident than last year when Tanner Bibee, Logan Allen and Gavin Williams all joined the starting rotation and found immediate success.
-While they have watched a number of homegrown stars leave over the years in free agency, the Guardians at least prioritized locking up José Ramírez with a seven-year, $141 million extension that will keep him in Cleveland through the 2028 season.
1. Atlanta Braves
30 of 30
40-Man Roster: 12
Top 5 Homegrown Players
1. OF Ronald Acuña Jr.
2. 3B Austin Riley
3. RHP Spencer Strider
4. OF Michael Harris II
5. 2B Ozzie Albies
The Rest: RHP Ian Anderson, LHP Dylan Dodd, RHP Bryce Elder, LHP Daysbel Hernández, LHP A.J. Minter, RHP AJ Smith-Shawver, RHP Darius Vines
Notes
-Those five players on the Braves list of best homegrown players racked up a staggering 25.5 combined WAR in 2023, and that group made Atlanta an easy choice for the No. 1 spot in these rankings.
-Not included on the top five list, lefty reliever A.J. Minter has been one of baseball's best setup relievers for much of the past five years. The Braves also have 2023 All-Star Bryce Elder, top prospect AJ Smith-Shawver and several other homegrown arms waiting in the wings to give them as much rotation depth as any team in the league.
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