Players Making Significant Jumps Up Midseason Top 30 Prospects Lists

With the all-star break nearly upon us, we’ve updated our Top 30 Prospects lists for our midseason update. Below are players who made significant jumps since the May update.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Buddy Kennedy, 3B/2B (Moved from unranked to No. 17)

Kennedy earned his first big league callup after a strong start to the year at Triple-A Reno. His pure hitting ability is a tick short, but his power and defensive versatility in the infield give him a chance to stick as a reserve.

Atlanta Braves

Douglas Glod, OF (Moved from unranked to No. 29)

Glod is an offensive-minded center fielder with a strong track record at the plate. He has a medium, compact frame that’s relatively mature already, so while he doesn’t have a lot of physical projection remaining, he’s already a skilled player with explosiveness to his game. He has the raw power to drive the ball out from center field over to the pull side, with an adjustable swing that leads to good plate coverage. Depending on his physical development, Glod could end up in right field if he slows down. For now he’s a plus runner whose speed underway is better than his first-step quickness with a solid-average arm to start his career in center.

Baltimore Orioles

Jean Pinto (Moved from No. 29 to No. 21)

The undersized righthander has continued to use his fastball less and less to better and better results. His fastball usage is around 20%, with his plus changeup and his sweepy mid-80s slider leading the way. Pinto’s ability to command his secondaries and sequence his three-pitch mix effectively has allowed him to see continued success despite his size and lack of power.

Chris Vallimont (Moved from No. 24 (Twins) to No. 22)

Vallimont was a savvy addition by the Orioles, who added him from the Twins off waivers in late May. In his first six appearances between Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk, he pitched to a 3-1 record with a 3.54 ERA and 33 strikeouts to eight walks over 28 innings pitched. Added to the Orioles 40-man roster, Vallimont should see some appearances with the big league club this season. He’ll continue to be developed as a starter but has the stuff to air it out in the pen. 

Leandro Arias, SS (Moved from unranked to No. 29)

An athletic shortstop with plus speed, Arias has the attributes that give him a good chance to stick at the position, with a quick first step, easy actions and a solid-average arm. At the plate, Arias has a hit-over-power profile now with doubles power, but he has good leverage in his swing and the strength projection in his lean, lanky build to develop more power as he fills out.

Boston Red Sox

Eddinson Paulino, UTL (Moved from No. 28 to No. 14)

The 2018 international signee has put a difficult April behind him and has shown strong on-base skills and game power over the last two-plus months. He’s split time between the infield and outfield providing the positional versatility that the Red Sox have started to covet under Chaim Bloom. 

Chicago Cubs

Matt Mervis, 1B (Moved from unranked to No. 18)

A two-way player at Duke, Mervis has blossomed with his focus solely on being a position player. He is one of the best offensive prospects in the Cubs’ system with plus raw power he gets to in games and a physical frame that should allow him to continue impacting the ball. Mervis is limited strictly to first base defensively, but he has the bat to profile there.

Darius Hill, OF (Moved from unranked to No. 21)

Hill continues to hit at every level with a short, quick stroke from the left side and exceptional timing in the batter’s box that allows him to connect on any pitch. His ability to hit and play average defense in center field has him in the Cubs’ near-term plans.

Daniel Palencia, RHP (Moved from unranked to No. 24)

Acquired from the A’s as part of the deal for Andrew Chafin last year, Palencia has shown some of the best arm strength in the Cubs system. His fastball sits at 100 mph and touches 102 as a starter and his slider flashes plus, although it’s inconsistent. Palencia’s command and control are both below-average and his future is in the bullpen, but he has a chance to pitch in high-leverage situations with explosive stuff. 

Bryce Ball, 1B (Moved from unranked to No. 26)

Ball has bounced back from a poor season last year and is showing why the Cubs acquired him for Joc Pederson at last year’s trade deadline. He has demonstrated a patient approach and the ability to use the whole field at Double-A Tennessee, although his underwhelming raw power creates profile questions at first base.

Chicago White Sox

Lenyn Sosa, SS/2B (Moved from No. 11 to No. 8)

Sosa’s bat continued to develop at Double-A Birmingham and more power emerged, making him the fastest riser in the system and earning him a June promotion to the major league team.

Loidel Chapelli, 2B (Moved from unranked to No. 28)

The 20-year-old native of Cuba signed in early June and began his White Sox career in the Dominican Summer League. While old for the level, Chapelli is a plus runner with good bat-to-ball skills and plate discipline, as well as surprising power for his size.

Terrell Tatum OF (Moved from unranked to No. 30)

The North Carolina State product was off to a hot start in Low-A in his first full season before earning a promotion to High-A Winston-Salem. The 22-year-old lefthanded hitter is a slash hitter with surprising power, but he needs to cut down on strikeouts in order to take better advantage of his plus speed.

Cincinnati Reds

Joe Boyle, RHP (Moved from No. 30 to No. 15)

Boyle has been nearly unhittable this year, with just 18 hits allowed in 62.2 innings, while making it an emphasis to throw sliders more often in addition to his electric fastball that touches triple digits. He still struggles to throw strikes consistently, but he looks like a weapon out of the bullpen.

Cleveland Guardians

Joey Cantillo, LHP (Moved from unranked to No. 12)

Cantillo was acquired by Cleveland in the deal that sent Mike Clevinger to San Diego. He did an excellent job over the offseason adding strength to his frame and has seen a corresponding boost in velocity, with his four-seam fastball now sitting in the low 90s and peaking at 93. He pairs the fastball with a changeup that could be at least above-average if not plus as he matures, and is continuing to hone the development of his curveball and slider. He’s performed exceptionally well this season with Double-A Akron. 

Tanner Bibee, RHP (Moved from No. 21 to No. 13)

Bibee is looking increasingly like another in the line of Guardians talented pitching prospects. He’s improved his stuff dramatically without sacrificing his ability to throw quality strikes. His fastball bumps the upper 90s and he backs it up with a nasty slider as well as an early-count curveball and a changeup. 

Will Brennan, OF (Moved from No. 28 to No. 15)

Brennan just keeps on raking. After honing his command of the strike zone and working with Cleveland’s hitting development staff he’s unlocked the kind of power that drives players up rankings. That he’s done so while making plenty of contact only bolsters his case as a future big leaguer.

Angel Genao, SS (Moved from unranked to No. 17)

Genao signed with Cleveland in January 2021 and has already impressed evaluators, especially with his early play in the Arizona Complex League. He’s a true shortstop prospect with smooth hands and instincts and the arm to stick at the position. He’s not the most physical player, but his plate discipline and swing decisions give him a chance to hit for both average and power. 

Hunter Gaddis, RHP (Moved from unranked to No. 19)

Gaddis is another in the Guardians’ line of talented pitching prospects. He can bring his fastball into the mid 90s and has improved his slider into a potential out pitch and his changeup isn’t far behind. Gaddis has a curveball in his bag of tricks as well, but it’s not used as frequently as his slider. 

Colorado Rockies

Jordy Vargas (Moved from No. 23 to No. 19)

Over three appearances in the Arizona Complex League, Vargas has been impressive, striking out 18 batters over 14 innings of work while allowing just two earned runs. The 18-year-old Vargas is a 6-foot-3 righthander with plenty of projection who sits 91-94 mph with plus ride and late life on his fastball. He pairs his fastball primarily with a high-spin curveball that sits 75-77 mph with upwards of 2,800 rpm raw spin and a changeup he throws less frequently. 

Brayan Castillo (Moved from unranked to No. 28)

Between his high-90s fastball and his high-80s slider Castillo has some of the purest raw stuff you’ll see, as each pitch has movement, velocity and spin. Castillo has struggled to perform in games, as his ability to land his secondaries is inconsistent and he tends to throw his fastball over the middle of the plate. He’s a work in progress but has some of the best stuff in the Colorado system. 

Detroit Tigers

Kerry Carpenter, OF (Moved from unranked to No. 16)

Carpenter has shown consistent power throughout his pro career, which is impressive when you consider his career MiLB slugging percentage is better than the best slugging percentage he posted in his two years at St. John’s River (Fla.) JC and one year at Virginia Tech. But it’s hard to say that anyone saw this coming, even after he tweaked his swing during the offseason. Carpenter was leading the minors in home runs at the halfway point of the season, earning a promotion to Triple-A Toledo after a dominant return to Double-A Erie. Long viewed as an excellent org player, Carpenter has raised that evaluation to where he’s now seen as a potential MLB backup outfielder. He is hitting the ball harder this year, but it’s viewed as plus power rather than 30-plus home run potential. He’s a pure left fielder who is a below-average runner.

Garrett Burhenn, RHP (Moved from unranked to No. 27)

The Tigers’ ninth-round pick in 2021 out of Ohio State, Burhenn was a consistent but unspectacular starter at Ohio State. He’s begun his pro career by demonstrating improved control to go with his solid but unremarkable four-pitch mix. There may not be a plus pitch in Burnhenn’s quiver, but his low-90s fastball, slider, curve and changeup are all fringe-average to average. That, combined with above-average control, gives him a shot of being a back-of-the-rotation starter.

Wenceel Perez, SS (Moved from unranked to No. 29)

Perez was considered one of the better prospects in the Tigers’ system before the pandemic, but his slow progress through the system (he spent 2018, 2019 and the start of 2021 in Low-A) became a concern. His bat didn’t seem to be developing as needed. To his credit, his 2022 season has shown him make significant improvements. Perez is hitting the ball significantly harder, which makes his contact ability more valuable. While his bat has gotten better, his range has diminished as he’s thickened up and gotten stronger. He’s now a second baseman who can slide to third, rather than the shortstop he was pre-pandemic.

 

Houston Astros

Justin Dirden, OF (Moved from No. 20 to No. 10)

Arguably the best nondrafted free agent in the 2020 class, Dirden has continued to show valuable skills on both sides of the ball with power, contact and on-base ability at the plate and the ability to handle center field defensively. Dirden has gone from afterthought to one of the best position players in the Houston farm system. 

Enmanuel Valdez, 2B/3B (Moved from No. 22 to No. 12) 

It’s been a landmark season for Valdez, who’s cemented his prospect status with excellent production across the highest levels of the minors in 2022. He’s limited defensively but shows above-average contact, approach and power at the plate, making him a bat-first prospect worth paying attention to. 

Misael Tamarez, RHP (Moved from No. 21 to No. 16)

An older international signing back in 2019, Tamarez has ascended quickly through the Astros system on the back of his powerful three-pitch mix. Tamarez sits 93-95 mph on his four-seam, pairing it with a mid-80s cutter/slider hybrid and a mid-to-high-80s changeup he lands for strikes. Over 16 appearances with Double-A Corpus Christi Tamarez has performed well. 

Wilyer Abreu, OF (Moved from Unranked to No. 21) 

One of the most under-the-radar prospects in the Astros system, Abreu has taken big steps forward with his power and approach over the last few seasons and the results have followed. He’s showing in game power and his on-base ability is creeping into elite levels. With the ability to handle all three positions in the outfield, Abreu is an underrated athlete and prospect.  

Kansas City Royals

Michael Massey, 2B (Moved from No. 13 to No. 8)

Massey continues to hit after a promotion to Triple-A, with power to all fields and good strike zone awareness. 

Tyler Gentry, OF (Moved from unranked to No. 18)

Healthy for the first time since joining the Royals organization, Gentry started off hot in High-A and has continued raking in Double-A. He stands out most for the consistency of his hit tool, and a plus arm suits him for right field.

Brennon McNair, SS/3B (Moved from unranked to No. 24)

Drafted in the 11th round in 2021, McNair signed for a well-above slot bonus of $347,500. The Mississippi high school product saw limited action after signing, so 2022 is really his first experience as a pro. Returning to rookie ball this year, McNair stands out for his outstanding makeup and physicality.

Peyton Wilson, 2B/OF (Moved from unranked to No. 26)

Kansas City’s second-round pick from Alabama in 2021 projects as a super utility player capable of playing up the middle in both the infield and outfield, and perhaps even filling in behind the plate having had catching experience in his freshman year with the Crimson Tide. He’s got twitchy athleticism and plus speed, with average raw power from both sides of the plate.

Nate Eaton, UTL (Moved from unranked to No. 27)

Eaton succeeds in being a Swiss army knife type of player, capable of playing multiple infield and outfield positions, with outstanding makeup allowing him to play above his tools. He’s showing more with the bat this year, especially since his move to Triple-A Omaha.

Diego Hernandez, OF (Moved from unranked to No. 28)

The lean, lanky Hernandez has always teased with his potential, but growing into his body and gaining strength has resulted in his best season at the plate, with more home runs in less than half a season in High-A than his combined total in three previous seasons. A swing change has resulted in him hitting more line drives, with his batting line improving each month.

Los Angeles Angels

David MacKinnon, 1B/3B (Moved from unranked to No. 23)

MacKinnon maintained his elite strike zone discipline at Triple-A Salt Lake and showed increased power to earn his first big league callup. He’s already entered the Angels starting lineup due to injuries, although he profiles as a reserve long term.

Livan Soto, RHP (Moved from unranked to No. 25)

The slick-fielding Soto has stood out defensively at both shortstop and second base at Double-A Rocket City while showing an improved approach. His bat still projects to be light, but he now makes enough contact to survive as a potential reserve in the majors.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Gavin Stone, RHP (Moved from No. 12 to No. 6)

Stone has continued to dominate after his promotion to Double-A with a 1.29 ERA in nine starts for Double-A Tulsa. Most notably, he has struck out 71 batters against only 16 walks in 49 innings, a dominant showing that has proved his stuff will play against upper-level hitters. Stone’s fastball, breaking ball and changeup have all ticked up to flash plus or better without any loss of control, helping him emerge as a potential mid-rotation or better starter.

Miami Marlins

Bryan Hoeing, RHP (Moved from No. 21 to No. 13)

Hoeing has been the biggest pop-up arm in the Marlins’ system this season. He’s not going to light up radar guns by any measure—his fastball sits around 92 mph—but he does an excellent job keeping the ball on the ground, changing eye levels and keeping the ball off the barrel. 

Jerar Encarnacion, OF (Moved from No. 25 to No. 15)

Encarnacion draws comparisons to Reds outfielder Aristides Aquino for his massive size and corresponding light-tower power. He crushes lefthanders in particular and has a powerful throwing arm, which could make him a useful piece off the bench. He made his big league debut on June 19 and made an immediate impact by hitting a grand slam. 

Nick Fortes, C (Moved from No. 26 to No. 16)

Fortes has been entrenched as the Marlins’ backup catcher for most of the season. During that time he’s shown an ability to manage the strike zone, get on base and provide occasional pop. He’s likely to continue filling that role for the foreseeable future.

Paul McIntosh, C (Moved from Unranked to No. 29)

The Marlins signed McIntosh as a nondrafted free agent in 2021 and have been treated to a player who’s done good work with the bat upon jumping to Double-A for his first full season as a pro. He earns high marks for the way he gets his barrel to the ball as well as the high makeup he shows in the clubhouse and while leading a pitching staff. He’s struggled with the finer points of catching as well as throwing out runners, so scouts struggle to see him sticking behind the plate. 

Milwaukee Brewers

Luis Lara, OF (Moved from No. 17 to No. 10)

Lara ranked as the Brewers’ No. 17 prospect in May prior to making his pro debut. Now that he’s playing, he’s backing up the exciting reports from scouts with strong performance in the Dominican Summer League. Lara is small but explosive with a sweet swing, good bat-to-ball skills and impressive defense in center field. 

Carlos Rodriguez, RHP (Moved from unranked to No. 20)

A sixth-round pick in 2021, Rodriguez has stood out for his performance in a system that’s lighter on pitching. He pitches in the low 90s but can run it up to the mid 90s, with an above-average changeup that keeps hitters off balance and is his best secondary pitch. He throws a slider that’s still a fringy pitch that he will need to develop. Rodriguez is a solid strike-thrower who should continue to develop as a starter, though some scouts think he could end up in a relief role long term.

Tristan Peters, OF (Moved from unranked to No. 26)

A seventh-round pick last year, Peters played at Southern Illinois and hit .355/.463/.548 with more walks (46) than strikeouts (28) in 60 games for the Salukis in 2021. Peters doesn’t have much physical projection and is limited defensively in an outfield corner, but he does have good strike-zone judgment and a knack for putting the barrel to the ball. He might not ever have enough impact to become a regular in left field, but at least in High-A he is showing the bat control to continue to earn a shot to prove himself at the upper levels.

Cam Robinson, RHP (Moved from unranked to No. 27)

Robinson is a pure reliever, but he is a sleeper who has transformed himself from a player who once looked more like an organizational player into a legitimate prospect with a chance to pitch in the big leagues within the next year. After posting a 1.45 ERA with a 52-17 K-BB mark in 37.1 innings as the closer for High-A Wisconsin, Robinson earned a promotion to Double-A Biloxi at the beginning of July. His velocity has improved from pitching more in the upper 80s early in his career to now operating in the low-to-mid 90s. He throws a big-breaking, overhand curveball with good shape and depth to help him miss bats, and while his walks are still on the higher end, his control has improved significantly from recent years.

Justin Jarvis, RHP (Moved from unranked to No. 30)

A fifth-round pick out of high school in 2018, Jarvis didn’t do much to distinguish himself as a prospect his first few years in the system, posting a 5.40 ERA with 5.0 BB/9 last year. This year, his walks are down, his strikeouts are up and his overall performance has been one of the better ones for pitchers in the lower levels of Milwaukee’s farm system. He pitches in the low 90s and can regularly touch the mid 90s while showing feel for a big-breaking curveball. His future might be in the bullpen, where both his fastball and breaking ball could play up in shorter bursts.

Minnesota Twins

Cade Povich, LHP (Moved from unranked to No. 22)

A skinny lefty who showed flashes of dominance and plenty of stretches of effectiveness at Nebraska, the Twins’ 2021 third-round pick has impressed at High-A Cedar Rapids, but the best is likely yet to come. Povich has plenty of projection left because he’s still so skinny. His outings show it as well, as he struggles to maintain the 94-96 mph velocity he begins games with for more than an inning or two. But even when he settles into the low 90s, his four-pitch mix gives him enough to pile up strikeouts.

Ian Hamilton, RHP (Moved from unranked to No. 30)

A waiver-wire claim by the Twins in February, Hamilton is a fastball-slider reliever who struggled in his lone outing with Minnesota this year. Hamilton remains on the Twins’ 40-man roster and his performance at Triple-A St. Paul (1-2, 1.25 with 28 strikeouts, eight walks and 12 hits in 21.2 innings) has been much better. Hamilton’s mid-90s fastball is fine as a second pitch, but it’s his 85-90 mph slider that could give him success in a return to the majors. The Twins need bullpen help, and Hamilton could find himself with another opportunity.

New York Mets

Jesus Baez, SS (Moved from unranked to No. 14)

Signed in January, Baez is a 17-year-old Dominican shortstop who powered his way to five homers and a .544 slugging percentage in his first 18 games in the Dominican Summer League. He has advanced feel to hit and power for his age, with big swings producing loud contact and impact. Baez is filled out for his age and may slide to third base as he matures, but he has major helium in the system.

Colin Holderman, RHP (Moved from unranked to No. 19)

Holderman came to big league camp this spring firing fastballs up to 99 mph. The 6-foot-7 reliever held that velocity at Triple-A, got called up in May and pitched with poise and effectiveness for New York, handling medium-leverage assignments. The 26-year-old’s hard slider has been a swing-and-miss weapon.

Christian Scott, RHP (Moved from unranked to No. 23)

Drafted in the fifth round last year out of Florida, Scott worked primarily in relief for the Gators but has been tried in the rotation at Low-A this season. The 23-year-old sits 94 mph with a slider that could get to above-average and has missed bats. Ultimately, Scott probably fits in the bullpen.

Carson Seymour, RHP (Moved from unranked to No. 24)

A sixth-round pick last year out of Kansas State, Seymour leans on a power groundball repertoire to get outs. The athletic, 6-foot-6 righty throws hard but doesn’t miss as many bats as expected, suggesting a potential future bullpen role. The 23-year-old reached High-A this summer on the strength of a 94 mph sinker, complemented by a mid-90s four-seamer, cutter, curveball and changeup. 

Stanley Consuegra, OF (Moved from unranked to No. 26)

Consuegra is a strong athlete with an incredible arm who lost most of the past three seasons to injury. Finally healthy, he hit enough at Low-A to earn a July bump to High-A. He can do a bit of everything but needs to do it more consistently now that he’s 21 years old.

Nick Swack, LHP (Moved from unranked to No. 27)

A 6-foot-3 lefty drafted in the 17th round last year out of Xavier, Zwack surprised the Mets by quickly pitching his way to High-A. He throws strikes with three average pitches that play up because of his deception. His fastball sits 91-94 mph and needs to build more separation between it and his mid-80s changeup and slider. 

Michel Otanez, RHP (Moved from unranked to No. 28)

One of the system’s hardest throwers, Otañez has averaged 99 mph on his fastball as a 25-year-old Triple-A reliever. His consistent velocity has allowed his slider to play up, but he needs to throw more strikes.

New York Yankees

Will Warren, RHP (Moved from No. 27 to No. 8)

After not pitching at all in his draft season, Warren has emerged not only as one of the stars of the team’s most recent draft class, but of the system as a whole. The Yankees altered Warren’s arsenal to give him a mix based heavily around a sinker and slider, and the result has helped him rocket to Double-A while getting grounders by the bushel.

Estevan Florial, OF (Moved from No. 26 to No. 11)

The biggest impediments to Florial’s success in recent years have revolved around a simple lack of development time. He played just 149 games from 2018 through 2020 because of injuries and the pandemic and as a result was largely unable to get on track, though he did make his big league debut in 2020. The other area keeping Florial from reaching his ceiling was his plate discipline. He’s made great strides in that department this year and is seeing big-time gains, both in terms of pure performance and analytically, as a result. 

TJ Sikkema, LHP (Moved from unranked to No. 23)

Sikkema was the Yankees’ supplemental first-rounder in 2019 but had his career waylaid by the pandemic and a series of injuries to his lat, shoulder and elbow that cost him the 2021 season and kept him out this season until May 8. Now he’s back and throwing a high percentage of strikes with a quality three-pitch mix that includes a low-90s fastball, a sweeper slider and a fading changeup. The entire arsenal is amplified by the deception created in his low-slot, crossfire delivery.

Luis Serna, RHP (Moved from unranked to No. 26)

The Yankees signed Serna in May 2021 and it hasn’t taken him long to open eyes in and out of the organization. The righthander is rail-thin now but has already shown big-time velo gains with a fastball that now sits around 92 and has touched a couple of ticks higher. His best offspeed pitch is his changeup, which already has been likened to some of the best in the minors. He shows outstanding pitchability for his age and pounds the zone with all four of his offerings. 

Oakland Athletics

Garrett Acton, RHP (Moved from unranked to No. 29)

A nondrafted free agent signed out of Illinois after the five-round 2020 MLB Draft, Acton has been a fast mover as a largely two-pitch power reliever. Acton’s 94-98 mph above-average fastball has the exceptional life teams look for in a setup man. Acton pairs that fastball with an 83-86 mph slider that flashes plus. Acton’s delivery is unorthodox, high effort and ugly. He has a significant head whack and finishes firmly into his front half. But it’s also deceptive. His glove hand flashes out front while he hides the ball behind his back until close to his release point. He could help the A’s bullpen at some point later this year or in 2023.

Grant Holman, RHP (Moved from unranked to No. 30)

A high school teammate of Red Sox shortstop Marcelo Mayer and Twins third baseman Keoni Cavacao, Holman didn’t focus full-time on pitching until his final year at California in 2021. There’s reason to think that the massive (6-foot-6, 250-pound) Holman may have more projection and development than most college draftees because of that. What he’s shown so far is he’s a groundball machine with a 92-95 mph sinker out of a three-quarters arm slot. He’s also shown plus control. He’s a strike-thrower with the ability to develop into a back-of-the-rotation starter. He’s currently working his way back from a shoulder injury, first reported by Melissa Lockard, that led to a trip to the injured list in early May.

Philadelphia Phillies

Griff McGarry, RHP (Moved from No. 10 to No. 4)

McGarry has one of the loudest pitch mixes in the minor leagues, with a fastball that regularly sits in the mid 90s and tops out at 99 mph from a low slot, an above-average sweepy slider with plus potential, a cutter and a changeup that flashes plus. McGarry has improved his walk rate drastically from his college days at Virginia, but doesn’t yet throw enough strikes to profile as more than a back-end starter. If his strike throwing improves he has mid-rotation or better upside. 

Ben Brown, RHP (Moved from unranked to No. 7)

The imposing 6-foot-6 righthander has stood out in a crowded Jersey Shore rotation thanks to a pair of fastballs—two-seamer and four-seamer—and a power slider that works as an out pitch. Brown’s fastball ranges from 94-97 mph, with the four-seamer currently ahead of the two-seamer. His slider is a hard-breaking 84-87 mph offering. He also throws a curveball that blends with his slider at times. Brown struggles to throw strikes, which could ultimately limit him to a reliever role, but he has the stuff to eventually be a high-leverage reliever if he ends up on that path.

Mickey Moniak, OF (Moved from No. 20 to No. 13)

Moniak looked as if he turned a corner in spring training with quicker bat speed that was leading to a significant increase in his max exit velocity up to 114 mph, but he was sidelined with a broken right hand. He returned to excel at Triple-A Lehigh Valley before a promotion to the big leagues on June 26.

Darick Hall, 1B (Moved from No. 28 to No. 24)

Hall’s plus bat speed has led to max exit velocities at 119 mph, and he parlayed his success at Triple-A into a big league promotion on June 29. He immediately made his presence felt with a two-homer performance in his second big league game. Hall is a first base-only prospect with one outstanding tool, his power, but that tool should be enough to keep him in the majors as a lefty bat off the bench.

Noah Skirrow, RHP (Moved from unranked to No. 29)

Skirrow doesn’t have impressive stuff, topping out in the low 90s in a starting role, but he’s managed to put up solid numbers at Double-A with a heater that gets good ride up in the zone. He mixes in a pair of breaking balls that he has feel to spin.

Andrew Baker, RHP (Moved from unranked to No. 30)

Baker, a 2021 11th-rounder out of Chipola (Fla.) JC has a fastball that sits in the upper 90s and routinely tops out in the triple digits to go with a hard slider. Baker is an inexperienced arm who’s struggled to throw strikes, but he has the ceiling of a high-leverage reliever if he learns to consistently harness his mix.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Ji-Hwan Bae, OF/2B (Moved from No. 26 to No. 20)

Bae’s skill set is the same as ever, excellent bat-to-ball skills, blazing speed and the ability to play up the middle both on the infield and in the outfield. He uses the whole field and profiles as a table-setting super utility player. 

Matt Gorski, OF (Moved from unranked to No. 22)

Gorski worked hard to improve his swing between last year and now, and the results were evident. He smoothed out his bat path and changed some of the movement in his lower half to make his swing a bit more adjustable. He absolutely mashed at High-A while also showing plenty of speed in the outfield as well as a strong throwing arm. He had an excellent 30-game stretch for Double-A Altoona before straining a quad that will keep him on the injured list for a prolonged period. 

Tyler Samaniego, LHP (Moved from unranked to No. 26)

Samaniego has emerged as an intriguing sleeper prospect, even if it’s as a reliever only. He was a 15th-round selection in 2021 out of South Alabama and overpowered the competition this season at High-A Greensboro before a move to Double-A. He primarily works with a fastball he can run into the mid 90s as well as a nasty slider in the low 80s. His arsenal plays up thanks to some funk in his delivery as well.

Andres Alvarez, INF (Moved from unranked to No. 27)

Alvarez is in the midst of a breakout season with Double-A Altoona. After entering the season with just seven career home runs, he slammed 11 through his first 56 games at Double-A Altoona. He can play both shortstop and third base and has sprinkled in some time in the outfield as well, giving him a chance at a utility role if he can sustain his newfound power. 

Canaan Smith-Njigba, OF (Moved from unranked to No. 29)

Smith-Njigba was part of the package acquired from the Yankees for Jameson Taillon. He’s got a sharp knowledge of the strike zone and hits the ball quite hard. His defense is behind his offense, but he’s playable in a corner spot. Smith-Njigba made his big league debut on June 14 but broke his right wrist three days later in an outfield collision with teammate Bryan Reynolds.

 

St. Louis Cardinals

Alec Burleson, OF (Moved from No. 9 to No. 4)

One of the top hitters in Triple-A this season, Burleson has improved nearly across the board year over year, striking out less and hitting for more power. He looks like an everyday regular corner outfielder who can hit for power without sacrificing average. Long term he’s strong enough defensively to stick in right or left field for the foreseeable future. At the plate he rarely swings and misses and shows the ability to punish mistakes when the opportunity presents itself. 

Gordon Graceffo, RHP (Moved from No. 10 to No. 5)

An up-arrow player dating back to spring training, Graceffo has handled his late-May promotion to Double-A and continued to perform. His primary mix of a mid-90s fastball, mid-80 slider, high-70s curveball and changeup gives hitters a variety of looks and shapes. There’s an element of pitchability with Graceffo that’s more important than his fastball gains or the bite on his changeup. It’s his ability to induce ground balls, mix four pitches for strikes and vary his sequencing that makes him a potential mid-rotation starter. 

Tink Hence, RHP (Moved from No. 14 to No. 7)

Few prospects have more helium heading into the second half than Hence does at the moment. For those that have been able to see him live the stuff has been electric. Sitting 94-96 mph on his fastball and touching 99 mph with ride and late arm-side run, Hence has generated whiffs at a rate greater than 30% this season. He mixes in a high-70s curveball with two-plane break and a low-80s changeup he’s shown feel for in limited usage. It’s an exciting pitch mix from an athletic, projectable pitcher’s frame. 

San Diego Padres

Max Ferguson, 2B/SS (Moved from unranked to No. 23)

Ferguson combined his plus speed and elite baserunning instincts to steal 51 bases in 55 attempts through the first half of the season. He still needs to get stronger to project to hit enough to be a utilityman.

Matt Batten, SS (Moved from unranked to No. 24)

A 32nd-round pick in 2017, Batten continued his storybook rise with his first big league callup this summer after a dominant stint at Triple-A El Paso. Batten can play all around the infield, conducts good at-bats and has some of the best instincts and awareness of any player in the Padres organization, to the point most believe he has a future as a coach or scout when his playing career ends.

San Francisco Giants

Casey Schmitt, 3B (Moved from No. 7 to No. 4)

Schmitt started slowly in 2021 before turning it on later in the season. He’s had no such problem in 2022, when he’s been one of the most consistent performers in the High-A Eugene lineup. He’s made plenty of contact, produced both average and power and played outstanding defense at third base. Further, when Marco Luciano hit the injured list with a balky back, Schmitt stepped in as the everyday shortstop. The move speaks to not only the amount of trust the Giants have, but also the makeup required to undertake such a move for his team.

Vaun Brown, OF (Moved from No. 28 to No. 13)

Brown was one of the Giants’ two early-season revelations at Low-A, along with fellow outfielder Grant McCray. Evaluators were more cautious with Brown, however, because of his age and level. He’s a muscular, athletic player with the potential for plus power that comes with such a frame. There are still questions about Brown’s overall hit tool, and scouts will point to holes at the top of the strike zone that come from a slightly grooved swing. He’s particularly dangerous against lefthanders. He’s made strides because he’s toned down his swing mechanics, which has allowed him to be on time more often. He fits as a corner outfielder who can fill in as a center fielder as well. 

David Villar, 3B (Moved from No. 29 to No. 18)

Slowly but surely, Villar has hit his way to the big leagues. He made his big league debut on the Fourth of July and collected the first hit of his career against former Giants ace Madison Bumgarner. Villar is lauded for stellar makeup and the defensive versatility to fit as a utility player who can fill in at both corners. 

Cole Waites, RHP (Moved from No. 30 to No. 19)

Without a question, Waites has some of the best pure stuff in the organization. His fastball is among the best in the system, and his slider is particularly wicked as well. That combination, along with improved command and control, has helped him advance to Double-A and emerge as a potential late-innings option with further development. 

Seattle Mariners

Travis Kuhn, RHP (Moved from unranked to No. 24)

A 19th-round pick out of San Diego in 2019, Kuhn has emerged as one of the best relief prospects in the organization at Double-A. The hard-throwing righthander’s fastball is sitting 96-97 mph and his slider has been a wipeout pitch, leading to 42 strikeouts in his first 35 innings.

Andrew Moore, RHP (Moved from unranked to No. 26)

Moore has emerged as a potential steal out of the 2021 draft with a lively 95-97 mph fastball and a breaking ball that gets swings and misses both in and out of the zone. He struck out 50 batters in his first 28 innings of relief.

Spencer Packard, OF (Moved from unranked to No. 27)

Packard has impressed at the plate with both his contact ability and power in his first full season. His defense is well below-average in the outfield, but he may hit his way to a stint in the majors.

Tampa Bay Rays

Kyle Manzardo (Moved from unranked to No. 10)

Manzardo has to hit, because there’s little other value he provides on the diamond. He’s a below-average defender at first and he’s a well below-average runner. The good news is Manzardo is quite the hitter. In the coronavirus-shortened 2020 season, he hit .435/.500/.694. In the full 2021 season, he hit .365/.437/.640 and that combination of high on-base percentage, high batting average and solid power has carried over to his brief pro career. Manzardo has been one of the best hitters in the South Atlantic League, having skipped over Low-A. He is hit over power with a plus hit tool and average power, but the 21-year-old may grow into more power as he ages, and his ability to make consistent hard contact is noteworthy.

Mason Auer, OF (Moved from unranked to No. 19)

When Auer was in high school and early in his college career, there was an open question of whether he fit better on the mound or in the outfield. That arm is still apparent in the outfield, but he’s found a home as a position player. The Rays promoted him to High-A Bowling Green recently after he blitzed Low-A Charleston. Auer’s nine triples led the minors as of July 5, and he’s swiped bases with ease. Auer is a plus-plus runner with a plus arm. He’s a plus defender in the corner outfield spots with the range to sporadically play center. At the plate, his max exit velocities are some of the best in the Rays organization, although he doesn’t hit a ton of line drives. Auer has shown a discerning batting eye so far, but now he’ll be tested in High-A to see if he can maintain that approach against tougher pitching.

Miles Mastrobuoni, INF (Moved from unranked to No. 20)

The Rays seem to specialize in acquiring and developing versatile infielders who find a way to get to the majors with somewhat modest tools. Mastrobuoni seems to be the next in line. He’s started at six different positions this year for Triple-A Durham (seven if you count DH), as first base and catcher are pretty much the only positions he can’t handle. He’s limited in his range, but he has reliable hands and a solid understanding of what to do wherever he plays. At the plate, he’s a contact hitter who doesn’t chase out of the zone and doesn’t miss if he gets a fastball in it. It’s more of a line-drive swing than one geared for power, but he projects as an average hitter with 5-10 home run power. Mastrobuoni will likely never be an MLB starter, but it’s also likely he’ll find a way to an MLB role.

Brett Wisely, 2B (Moved from unranked to No. 24)

Wisely isn’t particularly flashy, and he’s a second baseman who is stretched when he slides over to shortstop. He’s actually played more games at first base than shortstop this year. But what Wisely does very well is hit with a simple, effective, contact-oriented swing. Scouts and other evaluators are quite sure that he’s going to hit his way to some sort of big league role. His hit tool may be Wisely’s only plus tool, but he’s an average defender at second base and plus at first (although he doesn’t profile there).

Toronto Blue Jays

Yosver Zulueta, RHP (Moved from unranked to No. 5) 

The last time we updated our Top 30 lists, Zulueta had made just a few appearances with Low-A Dunedin. Since then he’s had major helium around the industry as a legitimate pitching prospect. Now with Double-A New Hampshire, Zulueta has risen three rungs up the minor league ladder in his first healthy season. On the mound, “Zulu” is electric with a fastball that sits 97-98 mph, touching triple digits with late life, and two average or better secondary pitches. His slider may be his best pitch, sitting mid 80s with sweep and depth. Zulueta will throw all three of his pitches, including a high-80s changeup with heavy arm-side run, for strikes and will mix up his sequencing from at-bat to at-bat.  

Spencer Horwitz, 1B/OF (Moved from No. 17 to No. 11)

A bat-first player who’s done nothing but hit over the last two seasons, Horwitz has a strong balance of skills at the plate. He shows excellent plate discipline, above-average bat-to-ball skills and above-average game power from the left side of the plate. Promoted to Triple-A on July 5, Horwitz is on the 40-man roster and just a call away from the major leagues. He’s not your prototypical first baseman but his ability to make contact, get on base and do damage is hard to question. He has a chance to be a second division regular. 

Gabriel Martinez, OF (Moved from No. 30 to No. 12)

One of the more underrated hitters in the Blue Jays system, Martinez may be the position player that’s made the biggest jump in 2022. A strong combination of bat-to-ball skills, power and barrel control make Martinez a name opposing evaluators are smitten with. It’s a bat-first profile as Martinez is likely a corner outfielder long term, but it’s a pristine swing with a knack for finding the barrel. Martinez is still very aggressive but rarely strikes out due to his ability to get the bat on the ball. He projects to be a potential everyday regular in the corner outfield with the ability to hit for power while limiting strikeouts. 

Nick Frasso, RHP (Moved from unranked to No. 13)

One of the best athletes in the Blue Jays system, Frasso returned from Tommy John surgery in under 12 months and was back pitching in the Florida State League by mid-May. He made seven stellar appearances for Dunedin, striking out 42 over 25.2 innings while allowing just two earned runs. Frasso sits upper 90s on his four-seam fastball and generates whiffs on both his low-to-mid-80s slider and his changeup. He’s been limited to four innings per appearance but should continue to build up following his early July promotion to Vancouver. 

Max Castillo, RHP (Moved from unranked to No. 14)

An under-the-radar breakout prospect from the early part of the season who’s risen all the way to the major leagues, Castillo shows excellent feel for his three-pitch mix and the ability to miss bats with his fastball and slider combination. Castillo doesn’t have tremendous power or movement on his arsenal. He does show the ability to consistently execute his three pitches to their intended zones and can drive both groundballs with his changeup or miss bats with his fastball and slider. Now handling a swingman role for the Blue Jays, many evaluators feel Castillo is a starting pitcher long term. 

Texas Rangers

Emiliano Teodo, RHP (Moved from unranked to No. 21)

Teodo has some of the most electric stuff in the system, including an upper-90s fastball, a nasty slider and a changeup that shows flashes of being a plus pitch. He’s worked in a piggyback role and has been tremendous as a starter but erratic as a reliever. In his eight starts, Teodo has 43 strikeouts and 12 walks in 33 innings. In four relief appearances, he’s whiffed 10 and walked 11 in 10.1 innings. The stuff is undeniable. If he can throw strikes more consistently and make more progress with his changeup, Teodo could raise his prospect stock significantly.

Marc Church, RHP (Moved from unranked to No. 22)

Church has one of the most dynamic two-pitch mixes in the Rangers’ system and could pitch high-leverage innings one day. There have also been discussions about possibly trying him as a starter, at which point he’d have to develop his seldom-used changeup into a viable third pitch. Presently, he cuts down hitters with a mid-90s fastball and a mid-80s slider. The latter pitch earns grades of at least plus from scouts, some of whom have been willing to dub it a future 70-grade offering.  

Washington Nationals

Jake Irvin, RHP (Moved from unranked to No. 27)

Irvin missed the entire 2021 season recovering from Tommy John surgery. Prior to that, he ranked as the No. 23 prospect in the Nationals organization. He returned to the mound in Double-A this season and seems to be settling back in. The big question mark around his return was if he could get back to his pre-surgery form. The velocity on his fastball is sitting right around 95 mph, which is on par with his ability before his injury. His power curveball and improving changeup give him a solid mix.

Josh Palacios, OF (Moved from unranked to No. 28)

In April, the Nationals claimed Palacios on waivers after he was released by the Blue Jays—where he ranked as the No. 31 prospect. He was assigned to Triple-A Rochester, where he was off to a scorching-hot start. The 26-year-old outfielder could see a major league callup soon, as he is on the 40-man roster and has shown he can produce at the plate.