Jacob Wilson, Carlos Narvaez and the 2025 MLB Rookie Power Rankings For June
With another month of the 2025 MLB season done, it's time for a fresh update to our rookie rankings.
Boston Red Sox second baseman Kristian Campbell was the clear-cut choice for the No. 1 spot in the May edition, with Kameron Misner (TB), Jacob Wilson (ATH), Shane Smith (CWS) and Jake Mangum (TB) rounding out the top five.
Only one of those rookies still has a place in the top five, and only one other has held onto a top-10 ranking. Finding consistency at the MLB level is often difficult for a newcomer, so significant shuffling is not a big surprise.
These rankings will be updated each month throughout the season, with rookies rising and falling based on their recent performance.
Future expectations, long-term upside, preseason prospect rankings and minor league track records were not a factor in these rankings. The sole focus is 2025 production.
Honorable Mentions
1 of 10
Pitchers
SP Sean Burke, CWS
SP/RP Hunter Dobbins, BOS
RP Brandon Eisert, CWS
SP Logan Evans, SEA
SP Richard Fitts, BOS
RP Mason Fluharty, TOR
SP/RP Ryan Gusto, HOU
RP Seth Halvorsen, COL
SP Logan Henderson, MIL
RP Cole Henry, WAS
SP Cade Horton, CHC
SP Jackson Jobe, DET
RP Max Kranick, NYM
SP/RP Brad Lord, WAS
RP Lyon Richardson, CIN
SP Roki Sasaki, LAD
RP Chase Shugart, PIT
SP AJ Smith-Shawver, ATL
RP Justin Sterner, ATH
RP Carlos Vargas, SEA
RP Mike Vasil, CWS
SP Will Warren, NYY
Hitters
2B Luisangel Acuña, NYM
OF Isaac Collins, MIL
OF Dylan Crews, WAS
OF Zach Dezenzo, HOU
3B Caleb Durbin, MIL
C J.C. Escarra, NYY
OF Jake Mangum, TB
C Edgar Quero, CWS
C/OF Dalton Rushing, LAD
UT Javier Sanoja, MIA
OF Chandler Simpson, TB
IF/OF Tim Tawa, ARI
1B/OF Eric Wagaman, MIA
Nos. 25-21
2 of 10
25. SS Trey Sweeney, Detroit Tigers (Previous Rank: HM)
Stats: 201 PA, 72 wRC+, .225/.284/.319, 8 XBH (4 HR), 23 RBI, 0.0 WAR
Sweeney has started 50 of 60 games at shortstop for a Tigers team sitting atop the AL Central standings and looking like a serious title contender with a 39-21 record. That has to count for something, right? Thanks in large part to that regular playing time, he ranks fifth among rookies with 41 hits.
24. C Liam Hicks, Miami Marlins (Previous Rank: HM)
Stats: 108 PA, 124 wRC+, .269/.349/.462, 9 XBH (4 HR), 22 RBI, 0.7 WAR
Hicks was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 Rule 5 draft, with the Marlins plucking him from the Tigers organization and slotting him in the backup catcher role to start the season. With a .405 on-base percentage and .778 OPS over 1,097 plate appearances in the minors, he has always had decent offensive upside.
23. RP Chase Lee, Detroit Tigers (Previous Rank: NR)
Stats: 12 G, 1 HLD, 1.15 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, 8.6 K/9, 15.2 IP, 0.3 WAR
The Tigers acquired Lee in the deadline deal that sent Andrew Chafin to the Rangers last summer, and he made his MLB debut on April 22. He throws a four-seam fastball, sinker and sweeper, none of which average 90 mph, but he has limited opposing hitters to a .160 batting average.
22. RP Eric Orze, Tampa Bay Rays (Previous Rank: HM)
Stats: 17 G, 2 SV, 0.81 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 6.9 K/9, 22.1 IP, 0.4 WAR
Orze was the return piece in the deal that sent Jose Siri to the Mets during the offseason, and it looks like the Rays have again identified untapped talent on the mound. His 25.4 percent hard-hit rate allowed is the third-lowest mark among all qualified pitchers, behind only Porter Hodge (22.2%) and Caleb Ferguson (22.2%) and just ahead of Josh Hader (25.5%).
21. 3B Matt Shaw, Chicago Cubs (Previous Rank: NR)
Stats: 115 PA, 92 wRC+, .238/.330/.327, 7 XBH (1 HR), 7 RBI, 0.3 WAR
Since returning from an early demotion back to Triple-A, Shaw is looking more like the impact player many were expecting him to be out of the gates when he broke camp as the Cubs' starting third baseman. In 47 plate appearances since his recall on May 19, he is hitting .326/.383/.442 with five doubles and five steals.
Nos. 20-16
3 of 10
20. 3B Ben Williamson, Seattle Mariners (Previous Rank: 23)
Stats: 150 PA, 72 wRC+, .250/.280/.306, 6 XBH (1 HR), 13 RBI, 0.1 WAR
Since making his MLB debut on April 15, Williamson has started 37 of 42 games at third base for the Mariners, shoring up a glaring hole on the roster. His offensive numbers don't jump off the page, but he is a terrific defensive third baseman, and that carries additional weight for a team built on pitching.
19. 2B Kristian Campbell, Boston Red Sox (Previous Rank: 1)
Stats: 214 PA, 85 wRC+, .228/.313/.349, 13 XBH (5 HR), 16 RBI, 0.0 WAR
Campbell was a slam dunk choice for the No. 1 spot in these rankings at the end of April, but he hit just .134/.184/.171 with one extra-base hit over 87 plate appearances in May as the league adjusted. His stellar start is enough to keep him in the rankings, but now he needs to adjust on his end to prove he belongs.
18. OF Kameron Misner, Tampa Bay Rays (Previous Rank: 2)
Stats: 174 PA, 90 wRC+, .224/.293/.365, 13 XBH (4 HR), 17 RBI, 0.8 WAR
Similar to Campbell, Misner had a fantastic first month (84 PA, .320/.369/.560, 11 XBH) and a dreadful May (88 PA, .138/.216/.188, 2 XBH). Strong defense in center field has helped prop up his overall value, and the Rays organization values glove work more than most, so he'll have a long runway to sort things out at the plate.
17. RP Zach Agnos, Colorado Rockies (Previous Rank: NR)
Stats: 15 G, 3 SV, 2 HLD, 1.59 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, 4.2 K/9, 17.0 IP, 0.1 WAR
Agnos leads all rookie pitchers with three saves, which also means he has slammed the door on 33 percent of Colorado's wins. He has limited opposing hitters to a .095 average with his cutter, backing that primary offering with a splitter that has generated a 40.0 percent whiff rate.
16. SP Noah Cameron, Kansas City Royals (Previous Rank: NR)
Stats: 4 GS, 2-1, 1.05 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, 8 BB, 16 K, 25.2 IP, 0.4 WAR
Cameron has only made four starts, but they've been four really good starts:
April 30: 6.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER
May 17: 6.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER
May 23: 6.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER
May 28: 6.1 IP, 6 H, 1 ER
The Royals have an interesting decision to make once Cole Ragans returns from a groin strain, especially with Kris Bubic, Michael Wacha, Seth Lugo and Michael Lorenzen all pitching well in their own right.
.png?w=256)
Nos. 15-11
4 of 10
15. IF/OF Hyeseong Kim, Los Angeles Dodgers (Previous Rank: NR)
Stats: 49 PA, 194 wRC+, .413/.449/.587, 4 XBH (2 HR), 7 RBI, 0.7 WAR
Playing for any other team, Kim might be the NL Rookie of the Year front-runner, but on a loaded Dodgers roster he spent the first 32 games of the season at Triple-A. The 26-year-old has been deployed in a super-utility role since debuting on May 3 with starts at second base, shortstop and in center field, but he is making a loud case for everyday playing time.
14. SP Jack Leiter, Texas Rangers (Previous Rank: HM)
Stats: 9 GS, 4-2, 3.66 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 23 BB, 36 K, 46.2 IP, 0.5 WAR
Leiter allowed six hits and one earned run in 10 innings over his first two starts before a blister landed him on the injured list for three weeks. He has not been quite as dominant since returning, but his numbers are inflated by one ugly start against the Mariners (4.1 IP, 8 H, 6 ER). How long can he tightrope around an 11.9 percent walk rate?
13. 1B Nick Kurtz, Athletics (Previous Rank: NR)
Stats: 108 PA, 110 wRC+, .245/.315/.447, 8 XBH (5 HR), 15 RBI, 0.2 WAR
Less than a year removed from going No. 4 overall in the 2024 draft, Kurtz is in the big leagues and looking like a keeper for the Athletics. It took him 17 games to hit his first home run, but he has a .901 OPS with five long balls and 10 RBI in 49 plate appearances since that game.
12. RP Jack Dreyer, Los Angeles Dodgers (Previous Rank: 19)
Stats: 23 G, 5 HLD, 2.97 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 9.5 K/9, 30.1 IP, 0.9 WAR
A prime example of how the Dodgers don't simply buy players but also do a great job identifying and developing talent, Dreyer was signed for $20,000 as an undrafted free agent on Aug. 3, 2021. He ranks in the 99th percentile in expected ERA (2.04) and expected batting average (.182), legitimizing his breakout performance.
11. SP Tomoyuki Sugano, Baltimore Orioles (Previous Rank: 11)
Stats: 11 GS, 4-3, 3.23 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 10 BB, 35 K, 64.0 IP, 0.3 WAR
A 35-year-old who played 12 seasons with the Yomiuri Giants in Japan, Sugano made his way stateside during the offseason on a one-year, $13 million deal, and he has been the best pitcher on a disappointing Orioles roster. He has completed six innings in six of his last eight starts, posting a 3.04 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in 50 innings during that stretch.
Nos. 10-6
5 of 10
10. RP Ben Casparius, Los Angeles Dodgers (Previous Rank: 7)
Stats: 19 G, 7 HLD, 2.72 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 10.4 K/9, 36.1 IP, 1.3 WAR
Casparius made his MLB debut last August, pitched his way onto the playoff roster, tossed 4.1 scoreless innings in the NLCS and then started Game 4 of the World Series as an opener. With Blake Treinen, Evan Phillips, Michael Kopech, Kirby Yates and Brusdar Graterol all on the injured list, he has been the Dodgers' primary right-handed setup man alongside lefty Alex Vesia and closer Tanner Scott in the late innings.
9. OF Cam Smith, Houston Astros (Previous Rank: 14)
Stats: 173 PA, 110 wRC+, .255/.341/.379, 12 XBH (3 HR), 17 RBI, 0.9 WAR
A surprise inclusion on Houston's Opening Day roster after a red-hot spring, Smith is holding his own in the majors less than a year after putting together a breakout season as a draft-eligible sophomore at Florida State. The prospect centerpiece of the Kyle Tucker trade with the Cubs, he hit .308/.388/.400 over 85 plate appearances in May.
8. 2B/SS Chase Meidroth, Chicago White Sox (Previous Rank: HM)
Stats: 144 PA, 105 wRC+, .281/.361/.336, 5 XBH (1 HR), 5 RBI, 0.9 WAR
Meidroth was an under-the-radar inclusion in the deal that sent Garrett Crochet to the Red Sox in exchange for a prospect package headlined by Kyle Teel and Braden Montgomery, and he ended up beating both of those consensus Top 100 prospects to the big leagues. He has limited pop, but his on-base skills and plus defense at both middle infield spots have made him one of the most valuable players on the White Sox roster.
7. C/DH Agustín Ramírez, Miami Marlins (Previous Rank: HM)
Stats: 146 PA, 120 wRC+, .254/.315/.493, 18 XBH (7 HR), 17 RBI, 0.4 WAR
Hyped as a potential "generational player" by one Yankees coach last season, Ramírez was traded to the Marlins in the Jazz Chisholm Jr. deal and he has been one of the few offensive standouts on the Marlins roster this year. Despite not making his MLB debut until April 21, he ranks second among all rookies with 18 extra-base hits.
6. SP Shane Smith, Chicago White Sox (Previous Rank: 4)
Stats: 11 GS, 1-3, 2.68 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 23 BB, 54 K, 57.0 IP, 1.1 WAR
It's not often a Rule 5 pick gets a shot at holding down a rotation spot. Even one of the most successful Rule 5 picks of all time, Johan Santana, started his career in the bullpen. However, the rebuilding White Sox have given Smith that opportunity and he has shined through his first 11 starts in the big leagues. The 25-year-old is just short of the innings required to qualify for the ERA title, or he would rank 11th in the AL in that category.
5. SP Chad Patrick, Milwaukee Brewers (Previous Rank: 9)
6 of 10
Stats: 13 G, 12 GS, 3-4, 2.97 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 18 BB, 57 K, 63.2 IP, 1.6 WAR
The Milwaukee Brewers squeezed 305.2 innings out of Colin Rea and Tobias Myers last season after neither pitcher was expected to be a major factor on the pitching staff, and they have uncovered another surprise rotation standout in Chad Patrick this year.
Acquired from the Athletics prior to the 2024 season in exchange for infielder Abraham Toro, Patrick spent all of last season at Triple-A Nashville, going 14-1 with a 2.90 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 145 strikeouts in 136.1 innings.
Despite that performance, he was still not ranked among the club's top 30 prospects at the start of the season, due in large part to the fact that he turned 26 years old last August.
However, the late-bloomer has been baseball's best rookie starter through the first two months of the season, allowing three or fewer earned runs in each of his 12 starts.
4. OF Jasson Dominguez, New York Yankees (Previous Rank: 10)
7 of 10
Stats: 191 PA, 119 wRC+, .247/.346/.420, 16 XBH (6 HR), 25 RBI, 0.7 WAR
It remains to be seen whether Jasson Domínguez will live up to the lofty expectations that have followed him since he was signed to a franchise-record $5.1 million bonus in 2019 and compared to the likes of Mickey Mantle, Mike Trout and Bo Jackson.
However, he has at the very least halted what had been a revolving door in left field for the New York Yankees.
Still only 22 years old for the entirety of the 2025 season, Domínguez hit .265/.369/.485 with three doubles, four home runs and 12 RBI over 84 plate appearances in May.
His defense (-5 DRS) and strikeout rate (28.8%) will both need to improve if he is going to take the next step forward in his development.
3. C Drake Baldwin, Atlanta Braves (Previous Rank: 20)
8 of 10
Stats: 114 PA, 142 wRC+, .321/.368/.500, 9 XBH (5 HR), 15 RBI, 1.4 WAR
Drake Baldwin emerged as the top prospect in the Atlanta Braves organization during a breakout 2024 season in which he hit .276/.370/.423 with 19 doubles, 16 home runs and 88 RBI in 124 games between Double-A and Triple-A.
The organization's decision to part ways with veteran Travis d'Arnaud during the offseason created a path for him to potentially debut in 2025, but with Sean Murphy still entrenched as the starter behind the plate, he was expected to open the year in the minors.
Instead, an injury to Murphy paved the way for him to be the team's Opening Day starter at catcher, and he showed enough before Murphy returned to hold onto his spot on the big league roster.
The 24-year-old is only starting a few games per week in a platoon role, but his playing time figures to steadily increase if he keeps posting impact offensive numbers, and he currently stands as the NL Rookie of the Year front-runner.
2. C Carlos Narvaez, Boston Red Sox (Previous Rank: 16)
9 of 10
Stats: 166 PA, 125 wRC+, .285/.349/.457, 16 XBH (5 HR), 17 RBI, 1.8 WAR
Carlos Narváez hit .254/.370/.412 with 20 doubles, 11 home runs and 58 RBI in 96 games for the New York Yankees Triple-A affiliate last season, also earning his first big league call-up and going 3-for-13 over six games.
Viewed more as an organizational depth piece than a top-tier prospect, he was traded to the rival Boston Red Sox in exchange for pitching prospect Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz in December, and he began the year as the No. 29 prospect in the Boston farm system.
The 26-year-old broke camp with a spot on the Opening Day roster as the backup to Connor Wong. And when Wong went down with a fractured left pinky finger on April 7, he suddenly found himself in a starting role.
He has responded with one of the more unexpected breakouts of the 2025 season, checking in fifth among all catchers with 1.8 WAR in 44 games. He hit .356/.427/.534 over 82 plate appearances in May.
1. SS Jacob Wilson, Athletics (Previous Rank: 3)
10 of 10
Stats: 241 PA, 158 wRC+, .357/.396/.504, 19 XBH (7 HR), 32 RBI, 2.8 WAR
The gap between Jacob Wilson and the rest of the 2025 rookie class is among the widest in recent memory, and he is showing no signs of slowing down thanks to a top-of-the-scale hit tool.
With only 13 walks, 14 strikeouts and two hit-by-pitches in 241 plate appearances, he has put the ball in play in 88 percent of his trips to the plate. And despite middling batted-ball metrics, he ranks among the MLB leaders in expected batting average (.306, 94th percentile).
His .357 batting average trails only Aaron Judge (.391) and Freddie Freeman (.365) among qualified hitters, and he has the tools to become the first rookie since Ichiro Suzuki and just the third rookie since 1901 to win a batting title.
The 23-year-old has 24 multi-hit games already this year, including three four-hit games since the beginning of May.
.png?w=480)
