2022 MLB Preseason Organization Talent Rankings

2021: 2 | 2020: 5 | 2019: 17 | 2018: 30 | 2017: 21

Top 100 Prospects (5): OF Julio Rodriguez (2), RHP George Kirby (12), SS Noelvi Marte (18), RHP Matt Brash (45), LHP Brandon Williamson (83)

The Skinny: Julio Rodriguez has a case for the best prospect in baseball and George Kirby is in the conversation for the best pitching prospect in baseball. Combined with a standout group of upper-level pitchers and an intriguing group of lower-level position players, the Mariners have a lot of impact talent en route to Seattle.

2021: 1 | 2020: 1 | 2019: 2 | 2018: 5 | 2017: 11

Top 100 Prospects (5): RHP Shane Baz (8), OF Josh Lowe (44), 2B/OF Vidal Bruján (56), RHP Taj Bradley (58), 3B/1B Curtis Mead (97)

The Skinny: The Rays no longer have the best prospect in baseball like they did in each of the past two seasons with Wander Franco, but they still have one of the deepest farm systems. Not only do the Rays have excellent homegrown talent, but they do as good a job as anyone at acquiring prospects in trades.

2021: 15 | 2020: 24 | 2019: 18 | 2018: 16 | 2017: 7

Top 100 Prospects (6): SS Oneil Cruz (14), C Henry Davis (41), 2B Nick Gonzales (49), SS Liover Peguero (78), RHP Roansy Contreras (80), RHP Quinn Priester (88)

The Skinny: After executing consecutive drafts with clockwork precision, the Pirates boast an embarrassment of riches at the top and impressive depth stretching 40 players deep. A balance of positional and pitching talent, close-to-the-majors players and high-upside youngsters herald a new era approaching in the Steel City.

2021: 7 | 2020: 12 | 2019: 22 | 2018: 17 | 2017: 27

Top 100 Prospects (5): C Adley Rutschman (1), RHP Grayson Rodriguez (6), LHP D.L. Hall (52), SS Gunnar Henderson (57), OF Colton Cowser (98)

The Skinny: Baltimore’s depth is not yet on par with some of the other teams in the top five, but picking at the top of the draft has worked out well. In catcher Adley Rutschman and righthander Grayson Rodriguez, the Orioles have the No. 1 overall prospect in baseball and the No. 1 pitching prospect in the minors.

2021: 13 | 2020: 18 | 2019: 27 | 2018: 29 | 2017: 26

Top 100 Prospects (3) SS Bobby Witt Jr. (3), C M.J. Melendez (42), 1B Nick Pratto (43)

The Skinny: Bobby Witt Jr. is the clear headliner in the Royals’ farm system, but the bounceback seasons by M.J. Melendez and Nick Pratto in 2021, plus the emergence of prospects like Vinnie Pasquantino, give the Royals a more well-rounded system than they had a year or two ago.

2021: 5 | 2020: 11 | 2019: 14 | 2018: 20 | 2017: 25

Top 100 Prospects (3): OF Riley Greene (4), 1B Spencer Torkelson (5), RHP Jackson Jobe (79)

The Skinny: Buoyed by elite-level talents at the top in Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson, Detroit boasts a solid top 10, but the talent drops off precipitously from there. The two most recent drafts yielded strong results for the Tigers, with six total picks from 2020 and 2021 ranking among their top 10.

2021: 18 | 2020: 29 | 2019: 7 | 2018: 10 | 2017: 13

Top 100 Prospects (4) SS Jose Barrero (33), RHP Hunter Greene (35), LHP Nick Lodolo (36), SS Elly de la Cruz (77)

The Skinny: Cincinnati has three prospects at the top of its system—Jose Barrero, Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo—who should contribute in the majors in 2022. Beyond that, it has a long list of high-upside position players in the lower levels of the minors mixed with a number of close-to-the-majors bullpen arms.

2021: 9 | 2020: 3 | 2019: 10 | 2018: 9 | 2017: 2

Top 100 Prospects (5): C Diego Cartaya (23), RHP Bobby Miller (38), 3B Miguel Vargas (40), 2B Michael Busch (76), RHP Ryan Pepiot (99)

The Skinny: The Dodgers’ player development machine continues to hum along. Even after a copious number of recent prospect graduations and trades, the Dodgers still have a deep, balanced system featuring impact talent in the lineup (Diego Cartaya, Miguel Vargas, Michael Busch) and on the mound (Bobby Miller, Ryan Pepiot, Landon Knack).

2021: 24 | 2020: 20 | 2019: 24 | 2018: 22 | 2017: 23

Top 100 Prospects (3): RHP Jack Leiter (25), 3B Josh Jung (26), RHP Cole Winn (61)

The Skinny: The Rangers’ system features an excellent trio of Jack Leiter, Josh Jung and Cole Winn—their top draft picks in 2021, 2019 and 2018. The system also got a boost from midseason trades that netted them a bevy of middle infield prospects and an impressive return from righthander Owen White.

2021: 17 | 2020: 10 | 2019: 21 | 2018: 26 | 2017: 28

Top 100 Prospects (6): OF Corbin Carroll (20), SS Jordan Lawlar (29), OF Alek Thomas (32), SS Geraldo Perdomo (89), LHP Blake Walston (93), RHP Ryne Nelson (96)

The Skinny: Arizona’s top two prospects, Corbin Carroll and Jordan Lawlar, tore labrums in their shoulders, tamping the system’s outlook down somewhat. Still, outfielder Alek Thomas and shortstop Geraldo Perdomo are impressive and righthander Ryne Nelson ranked among the minor league leaders in strikeouts last year.

2021: 21 | 2020: 22 | 2019: 30 | 2018: 23 | 2017: 14

Top 100 Prospects (4): SS Marcelo Mayer (15), 1B Triston Casas (19), 2B Nick Yorke (31), OF Jarren Duran (91)

The Skinny: Boston’s system isn’t the deepest, but its opening trio of shortstop Marcelo Mayer, first baseman Triston Casas and second baseman Nick Yorke is one of the most enticing. Righthander Brayan Bello took steps forward in 2021, including an appearance in Denver at the Futures Game.

2021: 11 | 2020: 19 | 2019: 15 | 2018: 21 | 2017: 18

Top 100 Prospects (5): SS Tyler Freeman (63), RHP Daniel Espino (65), SS Brayan Rocchio (66), OF George Valera (68), SS Gabriel Arias (100)

The Skinny: One can argue the Guardians’ prospect depth is among the best in the game, but a lack of high-end talent at the top drags the system down, with no players among the game's top 50 prospects. The next wave of major league talent is on the cusp of reaching Cleveland, most notably Tyler Freeman, Brayan Rocchio and George Valera.

2021: 16 | 2020: 17 | 2019: 20 | 2018: 2 | 2017: 3

Top 100 Prospects (3): SS Anthony Volpe (10), SS Oswald Peraza (55), OF Jasson Dominguez (87)

The Skinny: The Yankees’ system is anchored by a pair of promising shortstops in Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza, both of whom had breakthrough 2021 seasons. Few organizations win like the Yankees in the minor leagues, and they do it with both position and pitching talent, as exemplified by Luis Gil, Hayden Wesneski and Luis Medina.

2021: 8 | 2020: 7 | 2019: 8 | 2018: 12 | 2017: 22

Top 100 Prospects (5): OF/SS Austin Martin (47), SS Royce Lewis (82), RHP Jordan Balazovic (85), RHP Joe Ryan (86), 3B/2B Jose Miranda (90)

The Skinny: The deadline acquisition of Austin Martin provided Minnesota a top-of-the-system talent it sorely lacked. After Martin and 2017 top overall pick Royce Lewis, the system is rich in pitching, with seven arms ranking in its top 10.

2021: 22 | 2020: 21 | 2019: 29 | 2018: 28 | 2017: 16

Top 100 Prospects (2): OF Brennen Davis (16), SS Cristian Hernandez (81)

The Skinny: The Cubs’ teardown at the trade deadline brought back an abundance of talented players in the lower levels, such as outfielders Pete Crow-Armstrong and Kevin Alcantara. Many are years away from the majors and carry a lot of risk, but they are talented enough to potentially form the core of the next competitive Cubs team.

2021: 19 | 2020: 25 | 2019: 19 | 2018: 27 | 2017: 15

Top 100 Prospects (3): C Francisco Alvarez (13), 3B Brett Baty (39), SS Ronny Mauricio (92)

The Skinny: The Mets have a strong group of position prospects at the top of their system with Francisco Alvarez, Brett Baty, Ronny Mauricio and Mark Vientos. The Mets don’t have as much pitching that could help this year at the major league level, but they have a number of lower-level arms that intrigue, mostly acquired internationally or in the 2021 draft.

2021: 14 | 2020: 13 | 2019: 28 | 2018: 25 | 2017: 24

Top 100 Prospects (5): SS Marco Luciano (17), C Joey Bart (71), OF Luis Matos (73), OF Heliot Ramos (94), LHP Kyle Harrison (95)

The Skinny: San Francisco’s lower levels featured breakout seasons from some of its best prospects, including outfielders Luis Matos and Jairo Pomares and lefty Kyle Harrison. Top prospect Marco Luciano mostly performed well at Low-A before spinning his wheels a bit at High-A. Buster Posey’s retirement clears a path now for Joey Bart.

2021: 12 | 2020: 14 | 2019: 11 | 2018: 13 | 2017: 12

Top 100 Prospects (3): 3B Jordan Walker (24), 3B/2B Nolan Gorman (34), LHP Matthew Liberatore (50)

The Skinny: Jordan Walker’s smashing pro debut and the continued ascent of Nolan Gorman and Matthew Liberatore combine to give the Cardinals three premium prospects. The depth of the system falls off quickly, but breakouts from older, Triple-A players like Lars Nootbaar and Juan Yepez help mitigate some of that.

2021: 4 | 2020: 6 | 2019: 3 | 2018: 8 | 2017: 20

Top 100 Prospects (3): C Gabriel Moreno (7), RHP Nate Pearson (62), SS/3B Orelvis Martinez (75)

The Skinny: While major league acquisitions have thinned Toronto’s farm system, breakout seasons by catcher Gabriel Moreno and shortstops Orelvis Martinez and Otto Lopez softened the blow. The Blue Jays feature a young prospect group, with a majority of their best talent having never played above High-A.

2021: 10 | 2020: 9 | 2019: 25 | 2018: 24 | 2017: 29

Top 100 Prospects (5): RHP Eury Perez (48), SS Kahlil Watson (60), RHP Sixto Sanchez (64), RHP Edward Cabrera (69), RHP Max Meyer (74)

The Skinny: The Marlins’ system is as pitching-rich as any in the game, with 6-foot-8 righthander Eury Perez leading the way as he reached High-A at 18. Behind Perez is a line of talented pitchers, including major leaguers Sixto Sanchez and Edward Cabrera as well as near-ready righthander Max Meyer and breakout lefty Jake Eder.

2021: 3 | 2020: 2 | 2019: 1 | 2018: 3 | 2017: 9

Top 100 Prospects (3): SS CJ Abrams (9), OF Robert Hassell III (30), C Luis Campusano (53)

The Skinny: The Padres have either graduated or traded most of the prospects that made them the No. 1 farm system in baseball in 2019. CJ Abrams and Robert Hassell III give them two headliner prospects, but getting MacKenzie Gore back on track is critical for both a farm system and a franchise that now lacks depth.

2021: 6 | 2020: 4 | 2019: 4 | 2018: 1 | 2017: 1

Top 100 Prospects (3): OF Michael Harris II (46), C Shea Langeliers (54), OF Cristian Pache (84)

The Skinny: The Braves had the No. 1 farm system in 2018, and that young talent helped the Braves win the 2021 World Series. The system still has some excellent top-end prospects like Michael Harris II and Shea Langeliers, but the depth is almost gone, partly because of international amateur spending penalties the team faced.

2021: 27 | 2020: 26 | 2019: 12 | 2018: 7 | 2017: 6

Top 100 Prospects (2): RHP Mick Abel (51), SS Bryson Stott (67)

The Skinny: After years of underwhelming talent coming through the pipeline, Philadelphia has bet on prep pitching in the first round of consecutive drafts. Mick Abel and Andrew Painter are exciting young pitching prospects, but outside of shortstop Bryson Stott, the Phillies have very little coming in the short term.

2021: 25 | 2020: 28 | 2019: 23 | 2018: 19 | 2017: 10

Top 100 Prospects (1): OF Zac Veen (22)

The Skinny: The Rockies’ success in the complex and Class A leagues is indicative of the young talent lurking in the lower levels of their system. At the same time, those players are many years away and the upper levels are largely barren.

2021: 28 | 2020: 30 | 2019: 26 | 2018: 6 | 2017: 8

Top 100 Prospects (1): LHP Aaron Ashby (37)

The Skinny: Few organizations have developed homegrown pitching like the Brewers in recent years, with lefthander Aaron Ashby possibly the next in line. The rest of the Brewers system is less inspiring, with a host of high-upside question marks throughout the top half of their talent base.