Each MLB Team's Most MLB-Ready Prospect Entering 2025
Every new MLB season brings a fresh wave of young contributors making the leap from prospect to rookie, and the 2024 crop was headlined by Paul Skenes, Jackson Merrill, Jackson Chourio, Shōta Imanaga, Luis Gil, Masyn Winn and Colton Cowser.
So who's next?
Ahead we've highlighted the most MLB-ready prospect in every MLB organization, and while some of these players have already seen big league action, they all maintain prospect status entering the 2025 season having tallied fewer than 130 at-bats, 50 innings pitched and 45 days on the active roster.
Players were chosen based on their performance in the upper levels of the minors and their path to a spot on the MLB roster.
In case you missed it: 1 Potential Breakout Prospect for Every MLB Organization in 2025
AL East
1 of 6
Baltimore Orioles: 1B/3B Coby Mayo (Age: 23)
Mayo posted a robust .926 OPS with 23 doubles, 22 home runs and 67 RBI in 89 games at Triple-A last season, so he has little left to prove in the minors. He went just 4-for-41 with 22 strikeouts in his first taste of the big leagues, but it's only a matter of time before he gets another shot. The O's have been willing to listen to offers for Ryan Mountcastle in the past, and Mayo could ultimately be his replacement.
Boston Red Sox: OF Roman Anthony (Age: 20)
There is a good chance Anthony will open the 2025 season as the No. 1 prospect in baseball after he hit .291/.396/.498 with 54 extra-base hits, 21 steals and a 14.6 percent walk rate in 119 games between Double-A and Triple-A. He does not turn 21 years old until May 13, and the Red Sox outfield is crowded, but he is the type of prospect you clear a path for when the time comes. Infielders Kristian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer are also knocking on the door.
New York Yankees: OF Jasson Dominguez (Age: 21)
All signs point to Dominguez breaking camp as the Yankees' starting left fielder in 2025, and while he was slowed by injuries last season, he hit .314/.376/.504 with 11 home runs and 16 steals in 58 games in the minors. He has been extremely hyped since he was signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2019, and expectations will be sky-high for his first full season in the big leagues.
Tampa Bay Rays: LHP Ian Seymour (Age: 26)
While Seymour is on the older end of the prospect scale, he put together one of the best individual performances in a deep Tampa Bay system in 2024, going 9-4 with a 2.35 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and a 162-to-41 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 145.1 innings in the upper minors. He could find a spot at the back of the rotation or as a bulk reliever.
Toronto Blue Jays: IF Will Wagner (Age: 26)
There are likely still a few moves to be made before the Blue Jays' starting lineup is a finished product, but Wagner has a solid case to be part of the mix. He hit .305/.337/.451 for a 124 OPS+ with six doubles, two home runs and 11 RBI in 86 plate appearances after coming over from the Astros in the Yusei Kikuchi trade, and while he is the leading in-house candidate for the designated hitter role, he can also play second base and third base.
AL Central
2 of 6
Chicago White Sox: IF Chase Meidroth (Age: 23)
Braden Montgomery and Kyle Teel were the prospect headliners in the blockbuster deal that sent Garrett Crochet to the Red Sox, but Meidroth could be the first new addition to suit up for the White Sox. He hit .293/.437/.401 with 30 extra-base hits and far more walks (105) than strikeouts (71), and his elite on-base skills could help him compete for a roster spot.
Cleveland Guardians: 2B Juan Brito (Age: 23)
With Andrés Giménez traded to the Blue Jays, Brito should get a long look for the starting second base job this spring. He hit .256/.365/.443 with 40 doubles, 21 home runs, 84 RBI and 13 steals in 144 games at Triple-A last season, and the Guardians showed a willingness to roll with an inexperienced middle infielder when Brayan Rocchio won the shortstop job last year.
Detroit Tigers: RHP Jackson Jobe (Age: 22)
Shortstop Trey Sweeney and third baseman Jace Jung could start on the left side of the infield for the Tigers on Opening Day, but they were both a bit overmatched at the plate in their first MLB action last year and would arguably benefit from more time at Triple-A. On the other hand, Jobe showcased electric stuff in his brief time in the majors, and he could join Tarik Skubal atop the rotation in 2025.
Kansas City Royals: LHP Noah Cameron (Age: 25)
Most of the Royals' top-tier prospect talent still resides in the lower levels of the minors, but Cameron could make an impact in 2025. The 2021 seventh-round pick has 380 strikeouts in 301.2 innings over three minor league seasons, and he posted a 3.08 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 149 strikeouts in 128.2 innings between Double-A and Triple-A in a breakout 2024 campaign.
Minnesota Twins: RHP Andrew Morris (Age: 23)
Morris relies more on deception than pure stuff with an over-the-top delivery that gives his fastball significant late life, though he does bump 97 mph on the radar gun. Across three minor league levels last year, he went 10-5 with a 2.37 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and a 133-to-32 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 133 innings. He closed out the season with seven starts at Triple-A and could be one of the first arms called upon when the Twins need rotation reinforcement.
AL West
3 of 6
Athletics: SS Jacob Wilson (Age: 22)
The No. 6 overall pick in the 2023 draft on the strength of his elite hit tool, Wilson continued to rake in his first full professional season, batting .433/.474/.668 in 226 plate appearances over three minor league levels. He suffered a hamstring injury in his MLB debut on July 19 and ended up missing more than a month, but he showed enough to be the favorite for Oakland's starting shortstop job.
Houston Astros: 3B Zach Dezenzo (Age: 24)
Following a breakout 2023 season, Dezenzo continued to impress in the upper levels of the minors during an injury-plagued campaign, hitting .300/.385/.492 in 52 games. He played winter ball in Puerto Rico to help make up for lost time and hit .361/.438/.410 in 73 plate appearances for Senadores de San Juan, setting him up nicely to compete for a bench spot this spring.
Los Angeles Angels: RHP Chris Cortez (Age: 22)
Armed with a fastball that touches 100 mph and a power slider, Cortez was arguably the most MLB-ready arm in the 2024 draft after going 10-3 with a 2.78 ERA and 102 strikeouts in 64.2 innings pitching primarily out of the bullpen as a junior at Texas A&M. The Angels have not been shy about rushing top draft picks to the big leagues, so don't be surprised if he claims a bullpen job on the Opening Day roster.
Seattle Mariners: 1B Tyler Locklear (Age: 24)
After hitting .402 with 20 home runs during his junior season at VCU in 2022, Locklear has continued to impress at the plate throughout his time in the minors. He hit .272/.382/.468 with 27 doubles, 16 home runs and 97 RBI in 111 games between Double-A and Triple-A last year, but he hit just .156/.224/.311 with 20 strikeouts in 49 plate appearances during his first taste of the big leagues. Can he push for the starting first base job in 2025?
Texas Rangers: RHP Kumar Rocker (Age: 25)
Rocker overpowered minor league hitters in his return from Tommy John surgery last season, posting a 1.96 ERA and a 55-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 36.2 innings across three levels to force his way onto the MLB roster in September. The 6'5", 245-pound right-hander made three starts down the stretch and should have every opportunity to win a rotation spot this spring.
NL East
4 of 6
Atlanta Braves: RHP AJ Smith-Shawver (Age: 22)
Smith-Shawver has terrific pure stuff with an upper 90s fastball, plus slider and quality curveball and changeup, and he has performed well in limited MLB action with a 3.64 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 29.2 innings. As things currently stand, he will compete with Grant Holmes, Ian Anderson, Bryce Elder and Hurston Waldrep for a spot at the back of the rotation.
Miami Marlins: 1B Deyvison De Los Santos (Age: 21)
De Los Santos was one of the most productive hitters in the minor leagues last year, posting a .294/.343/.571 line with 25 doubles, 40 home runs and 120 RBI in 137 games between Double-A and Triple-A. He has limited value outside of what he does in the batter's box, but someone has to drive in runs for the Marlins, and there is no one standing in his way at first base or designated hitter.
New York Mets: IF/OF Luisangel Acuña (Age: 22)
The Mets acquired Acuña in the 2023 deadline deal that sent Max Scherzer to the Rangers, and he turned heads in his first MLB action last year, hitting .308/.325/.641 with three home runs in 40 plate appearances as a September call-up. He can play second base, shortstop and center field, and could find a roster spot as a super-utility player.
Philadelphia Phillies: RHP Andrew Painter (Age: 21)
Painter was the top pitching prospect in baseball before Tommy John surgery cost him the 2023 and 2024 seasons, but now he's healthy once again. He won Pitcher of the Year honors in the Arizona Fall League, and while there is no open spot in the rotation, he could be utilized as a multi-inning bullpen weapon to help limit his innings in his return to action.
Washington Nationals: OF Dylan Crews (Age: 22)
A year after winning the Golden Spikes Award and going No. 2 overall in the 2023 draft, Crews made his MLB debut. He took his lumps, hitting .218/.288/.353 for an 82 OPS+ with nine extra-base hits and 12 steals in 132 plate appearances, but he will have every opportunity to break camp as the starting right fielder as he looks to join James Wood as a long-term building block.
NL Central
5 of 6
Chicago Cubs: 3B Matt Shaw (Age: 23)
The decision to include Isaac Paredes in the blockbuster deal to acquire Kyle Tucker has created a clear path to the starting third base job for Shaw. The No. 13 overall pick in the 2023 draft hit .284/.379/.488 with 19 doubles, 21 home runs, 71 RBI and 31 steals in 121 games between Double-A and Triple-A in his first full season and then spent the offseason starring for Team USA in the WBSC Premier12 tournament.
Cincinnati Reds: RHP Rhett Lowder (Age: 22)
Lowder went 15-0 with a 1.87 ERA and 143 strikeouts in 120.1 innings during his junior season at Wake Forest, and the Reds took him with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2023 draft. He flew through the majors in his pro debut and posted a 1.17 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 22 strikeouts in 30.2 innings in six big league starts down the stretch. The Cincinnati rotation is crowded, but he's good enough to force the team's hand this spring.
Milwaukee Brewers: IF Tyler Black (Age: 24)
Black followed up a breakout 2023 season by hitting .258/.375/.429 with 33 extra-base hits and 20 steals in 102 games at Triple-A last season. He hit .204 with a 59 OPS+ in 57 plate appearances in his MLB debut, and he has a limited defensive profile, but he could hit his way onto the roster. Hard-throwing Jacob Misiorowski still needs to further refine his command to make a case for a spot in the rotation.
Pittsburgh Pirates: 2B Nick Yorke (Age: 22)
The Pirates acquired Yorke from the Red Sox in a swap of former top prospects that sent Quinn Priester the other way. He hit .303/.385/.449 with 33 doubles, 12 home runs, 72 RBI and 21 steals in 123 games in the upper minors, and he will compete with Nick Gonzales for the starting second base job this spring while also potentially offering a high floor as a versatile utility piece off the bench.
St. Louis Cardinals: RHP Michael McGreevy (Age: 24)
McGreevy went No. 18 overall in the 2021 draft following a breakout junior season at UC Santa Barbara, and he has quietly climbed the ranks in a Cardinals system with a solid track record of developing college arms. He went 3-0 with a 1.96 ERA and 0.78 WHIP in 23 innings in the majors in 2024, and he could be an important part of a youth movement in St. Louis.
NL West
6 of 6
Arizona Diamondbacks: IF Jordan Lawlar (Age: 22)
After making his MLB debut in 2023 and earning a spot on the D-backs playoff roster, Lawlar played only 23 games during an injury-plagued 2024 campaign. He played in the Dominican Winter League to make up for the time he missed, and he figures to enter the year as the next man up at second base, shortstop and third base.
Colorado Rockies: C Drew Romo (Age: 23)
Romo went No. 35 overall in the 2020 draft on the strength of his defensive game, but he took a significant step forward at the plate last year, hitting .297/.339/.499 with 19 doubles, 14 home runs and 60 RBI in 85 games at Triple-A. Unless they trust slugger Hunter Goodman in the backup catcher role, Romo is the only other backstop on the 40-man roster behind starter Jacob Stallings.
Los Angeles Dodgers: OF/C Dalton Rushing (Age: 23)
Rushing provides a unique profile as a catcher who has also shown the ability to play a capable left field, and while Austin Barnes and Michael Conforto are blocking his path, he also has little left to prove in the minors. He hit .271/.385/.512 with 21 doubles, 26 home runs and 85 RBI in 114 games between Double-A and Triple-A in 2024.
San Diego Padres: OF Tirso Ornelas (Age: 24)
If Jurickson Profar is not re-signed and an outside addition is not made to replace him, Ornelas might be the leading in-house candidate for the left field job. He hit .297/.367/.497 with 24 doubles, 23 home runs and 89 RBI in 128 games at Triple-A, and he continued to impress in the Mexican Pacific Winter League with an .890 OPS and 19 extra-base hits in 48 games.
San Francisco Giants: RHP Mason Black (Age: 25)
After racking up 155 strikeouts in 123.2 innings in 2023, Black continued to miss bats at Triple-A last season while also getting a taste of the big leagues. He struggled to a 6.44 ERA and 1.68 WHIP in 36.1 innings in the majors, but he has an extremely high floor and will serve as valuable rotation depth. Slugger Bryce Eldridge has only played 17 games above the High-A level, but he's getting close.
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