Ranking Zyhir Hope and the Top 10 MLB Prospects Traded at 2026 Deadline
The 2026 MLB trade deadline frenzy is over, and while the established big leaguers who joined contenders make the headlines, it's the prospects involved in those swaps who will determine the winners.
Ahead is a look at the 10 best prospects moved at this year's deadline, including where they ranked on Bleacher Report's most recent Top 100 prospect list that was published immediately following this year's draft.
In all, five players from the B/R Top 100 changed teams, while several others from the "Next 100" also found new homes.
Let's start with a few notable prospects who didn't quite crack our Top 10 rankings.
Honorable Mentions
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The following prospects fell just short of landing a spot on the list, but they ranked among their organization's top 10 prospects in B/R's most recent farm system rankings prior to being traded:
RHP Jack Cebert (No. 10 NYY prospect)
NYY to WAS in Luis Garcia Jr. trade
RHP Daniel Eagen (No. 9 ARI prospect)
ARI to STL in Lars Nootbaar trade
OF Alexander Frias (No. 10 MIL prospect)
MIL to STL in Dustin May/JoJo Romero trade
SS Joniel Hernandez (No. 5 SD prospect)
SD to SF in Robbie Ray trade
LHP Dasan Hill (No. 9 MIN prospect)
MIN to TOR in Jeff Hoffman trade
LHP Henry Lalane (No. 8 NYY prospect)
NYY to SF in Heliot Ramos trade
RHP Miguel Mendez (No. 7 SD prospect)
SD to SF in Robbie Ray trade
10. RHP River Ryan, Detroit Tigers
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Trade Details: Dodgers acquired LHP Tarik Skubal from the Tigers in exchange for OF Zyhir Hope, RHP River Ryan and RHP Brady Smith
Age: 27
Prospect Rank: Not Ranked
Stats (AAA): 8 GS, 4.46 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 8 BB, 43 K, 36.1 IP
Prospect evaluation is so often about long-term projection and physical development that it's difficult to assess a 27-year-old under that same lens, but technically River Ryan does still qualify as a prospect.
A two-way player in college who spent more time in the infield than he did on the mound, Ryan has logged just 212.2 professional innings since he was selected in the 11th round of the 2021 draft.
He still needs to prove capable of handling a starter's workload, and time is ticking with his 28th birthday just a few weeks away, but his electric stuff gives him a good chance to contribute in some capacity almost immediately.
9. OF Enddy Azocar, Baltimore Orioles
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Trade Details: Red Sox acquired C Adley Rutschman, C Jake Rogers from Orioles in exchange for RHP Anthony Eyanson, RHP Kyson Witherspoon, OF Enddy Azocar, C Carlos Narváez, PTBNL
Age: 19
Prospect Rank: Not Ranked
Stats (A/A+): 85 G, .286/.341/.540, 51 XBH (18 HR), 11 SB
Signed for a modest $40,000 in 2024, Enddy Azocar has taken off at the plate this season after posting a .657 OPS in his stateside debut last year.
He has added significant muscle since starting his pro career, and now profiles as a dynamic 55-power, 55-speed outfielder with the athleticism to stick in center field and the arm to handle a move to right field.
With 95 strikeouts in 85 games this season, he will need to continue refining his approach at the plate, but his raw tools have him trending toward Top 100 prospect consideration.
8. RHP Michael Forret, Baltimore Orioles
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Trade Details: Rays acquired RHP Tyler Wells from Orioles in exchange for RHP Michael Forret
Age: 22
Prospect Rank: Next 100 on B/R Top 100
Stats (AA/AAA): 19 GS, 3.29 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 40 BB, 102 K, 93.0 IP
The Orioles traded Michael Forret to the Rays back in December as part of the package to acquire Shane Baz, and now he rejoins the organization that originally drafted him in the 14th round in 2023.
With a 3.04 ERA and 317 strikeouts in 266.2 innings over three pro seasons, Forret has impressed at every level in the minors, but he has yet to eclipse 100 innings pitched in a season.
Assuming he proves capable of handling a starter's workload, his three plus offerings and deceptive crossfire delivery give him middle-of-the-rotation upside.
7. RHP Ramon Marquez, San Francisco Giants
5 of 11Trade Details: Phillies acquired 2B Luis Arraez, RHP Caleb Kilian from Giants in exchange for RHP Ramon Marquez, RHP Marty Gair
Age: 20
Prospect Rank: Next 100 on B/R Top 100
Stats (A/A+): 11 GS, 1.68 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, 19 BB, 93 K, 59.0 IP
A year after signing for just $10,000 out of Mexico, right-hander Ramon Marquez has put together one of the biggest breakout seasons of any pitching prospect in baseball.
He touches 98 mph with his fastball and throws a good cutter, but his best pitch is his changeup, and it's one of the best in all of the minors. It's a legitimate swing-and-miss pitch and a big reason why he is carrying a 41.9 percent strikeout rate on the year.
There is effort in his delivery, which raises some questions about his ability to stick as a starter, but he still immediately slots in as the new top pitching prospect in the San Francisco system.
6. SS/3B Jefferson Rojas, New York Mets
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Trade Details: Cubs acquired RHP Clay Holmes, OF Tyrone Taylor from Mets for SS Jefferson Rojas
Age: 21
Prospect Rank: Next 100 on B/R Top 100
Stats (AA): 91 G, .270/.339/.461, 35 XBH (15 HR), 17 SB
The Cubs have pushed Jefferson Rojas aggressively up the ladder in their farm system, and after multiple years of playing against older competition, his production is finally catching up to his raw tools.
His OPS has climbed 61 points this year while making the jump to Double-A, which is often the most difficult step in the developmental process, and his 15 home runs already represent a career-high.
He has settled in at third base this season, but also has experience at shortstop and second base. There is a legitimate case to be made that he is now the No. 1 prospect in the Mets farm system.
5. RHP Kyson Witherspoon, Baltimore Orioles
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Trade Details: Red Sox acquired C Adley Rutschman, C Jake Rogers from Orioles in exchange for RHP Anthony Eyanson, RHP Kyson Witherspoon, OF Enddy Azocar, C Carlos Narváez, PTBNL
Age: 21
Prospect Rank: No. 92 on B/R Top 100
Stats (A+): 17 GS, 4.78 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 34 BB, 78 K, 75.1 IP
Kyson Witherspoon went 10-4 with a 2.65 ERA and a 124-to-23 strikeout-to-walk over 95 innings last spring at the University of Oklahoma before going No. 15 overall in the 2025 draft.
A plus athlete on the mound with clean mechanics and electric stuff, he touches the upper 90s with his fastball and backs it with three different secondary pitches that all flash plus.
With a 3.49 ERA and .237 opponents' batting average in 49 innings over his last 10 starts, his recent performance has been stronger than his surface-level numbers, and there's a reason he was such a high draft pick.
4. LHP Kash Mayfield, Detroit Tigers
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Trade Details: Padres acquired RHP Casey Mize, IF Gage Workman from Tigers in exchange for LHP Kash Mayfield, LHP Jackson Wolf
Age: 21
Prospect Rank: No. 87 on B/R Top 100
Stats (A+): 15 GS, 3.54 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 22 BB, 62 K, 53.1 IP
Another year, another round of AJ Preller gutting the San Diego farm system, and Kash Mayfield was the latest top-tier prospect to be sent packing as the headliner in the deal to acquire rental starter Casey Mize.
The No. 25 overall pick in the 2024 draft, Mayfield was the second high school pitcher taken in his class, one pick after Braves left-hander Cam Caminiti.
With a 6'4", 200-pound frame, three plus pitches and smooth mechanics, he has the tools to be a No. 2/3 starter if everything clicks. A step forward with his command will be the next step in his development, as he has a 10.6 percent walk rate over his first two professional seasons.
3. SS Arjun Nimmala, Los Angeles Angels
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Trade Details: Blue Jays acquired RHP Jose Soriano from the Angels in exchange for SS Arjun Nimmala, OF Eddie Micheletti, RHP Angel Rivero
Age: 20
Prospect Rank: No. 44 on B/R Top 100
Stats (Rk/A/A+/AA): 62 G, .265/.364/.453, 26 XBH (8 HR), 6 SB
Loud 60-grade raw power and the athleticism to stick at shortstop made Arjun Nimmala one of the headliners in a deep 2023 prep infielder class, and he quickly became the No. 1 prospect in the Toronto system after going No. 20 overall.
He made his Double-A debut on July 8 and has more than held his own as one of the youngest everyday players in the Eastern League, hitting .279/.355/.451 over 138 plate appearances.
If everything clicks, he has the tools to be a 30-homer shortstop and franchise cornerstone, and acquiring him could intensify Zach Neto trade talks during the offseason.
2. OF Zyhir Hope, Detroit Tigers
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Trade Details: Dodgers acquired LHP Tarik Skubal from the Tigers in exchange for OF Zyhir Hope, RHP River Ryan, SP Brady Smith
Age: 21
Prospect Rank: No. 38 on B/R Top 100
Stats (AA): 94 G, .293/.369/.530, 41 XBH (23 HR), 18 SB
Despite not being the top outfield prospect in his own farm system, Zyhir Hope has the potential to be a perennial All-Star and offensive cornerstone in the not-too-distant future.
Originally drafted by the Cubs in the 11th round of the 2023 draft, Hope was traded to the Dodgers in the deal that sent Michael Busch the other way, and he has since blossomed into a consensus top 50 prospect in the sport.
An outfield of Riley Greene, Max Clark and Hope could be the backbone of the Detroit roster alongside rising star Kevin McGonigle and standout catcher Dillon Dingler as the Tigers continue building toward sustainable contention.
1. RHP Anthony Eyanson, Baltimore Orioles
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Trade Details: Red Sox acquired C Adley Rutschman, C Jake Rogers from Orioles in exchange for RHP Anthony Eyanson, RHP Kyson Witherspoon, OF Enddy Azocar, C Carlos Narváez, PTBNL
Age: 21
Prospect Rank: No. 22 on B/R Top 100
Stats (A+/AA): 15 GS, 1.32 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 26 BB, 94 K, 68.1 IP
A year ago, Anthony Eyanson was the co-ace of the LSU Tigers alongside Kade Anderson, helping to lead them to a national championship while going 12-2 with a 3.00 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 152 strikeouts in 108 innings.
The Red Sox selected him in the third round of the 2025 draft, and he has been virtually untouchable in his pro debut, allowing 35 hits and 10 earned runs in 68.1 innings over 15 starts.
His fastball velocity has gone from 92-93 mph to 95-96 mph and bumps 98, while his slider, curveball and splitter are all viable MLB offerings. He has gone from a potential middle-of-the-rotation starter coming out of college to a legitimate frontline-caliber arm and now the No. 1 prospect in the Orioles system.
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