2021 Top 100 MLB Prospects By The Numbers

Each year, we examine the demographics of the Baseball America Top 100 Prospects. We continue this year by looking at how many players made the 2021 Top 100 Prospects by team, position and nationality. You can find Top 100 demographic information for previous years here and here. 

BY TEAM

Notable

—The Padres have at least six Top 100 Prospects for the fourth straight year. This is the second time in the last three years they have been at least tied for the most Top 100 Prospects of any team.

—The Nationals are the only team without a Top 100 Prospect. This is the first time the franchise has not had a Top 100 Prospect—including when they were the Montreal Expos—since BA released its first Top 100 in 1990.

—The Blue Jays have the largest increase in the number of Top 100 Prospects from 2020 to 2021, going from three to six. Nate Pearson, Jordan Groshans and Simeon Woods Richardson remain in the Top 100, while first-round pick Austin Martin, Alejandro Kirk and Orelvis Martinez are newcomers.

BY POSITION

—The 35 pitchers are the fewest ever to make a Top 100. The previous low was 38 pitchers in 2009. It marks the continuation of a recent decline in the number of arms that make the list each year. There were 44 pitchers on the 2017 and 2018 Top 100s, 42 pitchers on the 2019 Top 100 and 40 pitchers on the 2020 Top 100.

—The number of shortstops, conversely, continues to grow. There were 14 shortstops on the 2019 and 2020 Top 100s before the increase to 19 this year. However, many project to move off the position.

—The 23 outfielders also represent an increase from recent years. Outfielders make up seven of the top 18 prospects overall this year, making it a banner crop of outfield prospects in terms of both upside and depth.

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BY NATIONALITY

—Wander Franco (Dominican Republic) joins Andruw Jones (Curacao) as the only international players to be ranked the No. 1 prospect in back-to-back years. The only other players to be ranked the No. 1 prospect in consecutive years are Joe Mauer (2004-05) and Bryce Harper (2011-12).

—Jeter Downs grew up in Florida, but he was born in Colombia and lived there until he was 5. He is counted with Luis Patiño as players from Colombia in the 2021 Top 100.

—Ha-Seong Kim is the first player from South Korea to rank in the Top 100 since Hyun-Jin Ryu, who ranked No. 42 in 2013.