Whereas a lot of the baseball world turns its focus to the Main League postseason this week, those that comply with the land of prospects carefully are in a quieter interval between the top of the Minor League season and the beginning of the Arizona Fall League.
As we’ve performed a couple of instances in the course of the 2025 season, we’ve made a collection of what we name market corrections to our total rankings of one of the best prospects in baseball. As a part of that course of, we have fully revoted on the highest 15 spots, moved deserving gamers up or down 10 or extra spots, eliminated prospects who’ve fallen out of High 100 standing and changed them with extra worthy abilities.
In different phrases, this isn’t an entire revamp, like these we do earlier than every season and once more in August. Nevertheless it does assist us paint a extra correct image of the state of prospects heading into the offseason.
Right here’s what to know concerning the up to date High 100:
High 151. Konnor Griffin, SS/OF, Pirates (earlier: No. 1)2. Kevin McGonigle, SS, Tigers (earlier: No. 2)3. Leo De Vries, SS, Athletics (earlier: No. 3)4. Jesús Made, SS/2B, Brewers (earlier: No. 5)5. JJ Wetherholt, SS/2B/3B, Cardinals (earlier: No. 6)6. Sebastian Walcott, SS/3B, Rangers (earlier: No. 4)7. Samuel Basallo, C/1B, Orioles (earlier: No. 8)8. Max Clark, OF, Tigers (earlier: No. 9)9. Colt Emerson, SS/3B, Mariners (earlier: No. 11)10. Walker Jenkins, OF, Twins (earlier: No. 14)11. Nolan McLean, RHP, Mets (earlier: No. 36)12. Bryce Eldridge, 1B, Giants (earlier: No. 13)13. Josue De Paula, OF, Dodgers (earlier: No. 12)14. Bubba Chandler, RHP, Pirates (earlier: No. 7)15. Eli Willits, SS, Nationals (earlier: No. 18)
Not a lot change on this higher echelon. The Griffin vs. McGonigle debate as the highest tier will rage on into the offseason and certain till each graduate (probably in 2026). For now, we’re sticking with the 19-year-old shortstop who simply recorded the Minors’ second 20/60 season since 1982 over the infielder with the Minors’ finest hit device.
Made slides up one spot and almost jumped fellow 18-year-old De Vries for No. 3, however the latter took off late within the yr at Double-A Midland, hitting .383/.420/.851 with 5 homers and 11 extra-base hits in 10 video games in September between the common season and playoffs. The A’s prime prospect reaffirmed why he’s been pushed so aggressively by way of two Minor League seasons.
Essentially the most notable mover into the highest 15 is McLean, who rises to his highest-ever place on the High 100 at No. 11. This shouldn’t come as an enormous shock to anybody who watched the Mets down the stretch, when it was clear that the 24-year-old right-hander was their finest starter. McLean posted a 2.06 ERA with 57 strikeouts and solely 16 walks in eight begins, and past the outcomes, he confirmed killer stuff along with his heavy mid-90s sinker in addition to his high-spin sweeper and curveball. McLean’s improved management in opposition to Main League bats as nicely locked in his place as the sport’s prime pitching prospect over Chandler, who slips to the 14th total spot. At 48 innings and 43 days of service time, McLean retains prospect/rookie eligibility heading into 2026.
This yr’s No. 1 total decide, Willits slides into the highest 15 for the primary time after going 15-for-50 (.300) in 15 video games with Single-A Fredericksburg as a 17-year-old in his professional debut. Getting the facility to point out up in video games could possibly be an space of focus heading into his first full season, however the switch-hitter already places the ball in play an excellent quantity, particularly in comparison with fellow 2025 prep decide Ethan Holliday, who struggled in that division in his personal aggressive task off the advanced this summer time.
Highest risers+38 Rainiel Rodriguez, C, Cardinals (93 to 55)+27 Carter Jensen, C, Royals (66 to 39)+25 Nolan McLean, RHP, Mets (36 to 11)+24 Robby Snelling, LHP, Marlins (75 to 51)+22 Alfredo Duno, C, Reds (70 to 48)+20 Kaelen Culpepper, SS, Twins (72 to 52)+19 Eduardo Quintero, OF, Dodgers (53 to 34)+17 Dylan Beavers, OF, Orioles (100 to 83)+16 Edward Florentino, OF/1B, Pirates (97 to 81)+16 Josuar Gonzalez, SS, Giants (98 to 82)+15 Aidan Miller, SS, Phillies (47 to 32)+13 JR Ritchie, RHP, Braves (99 to 86)+12 Jaxon Wiggins, RHP, Cubs (79 to 67)+10 Justin Crawford, OF, Phillies (64 to 54)+10 Caleb Bonemer, SS/3B, White Sox (83 to 73)
Two catchers took the largest jumps at very totally different parts of their careers.
The 18-year-old Rodriguez has garnered loads of consideration for climbing three ranges in his first stateside season and completed with 20 homers in 84 video games throughout the advanced, Single-A and Excessive-A. The facility he confirmed final yr within the Dominican Summer time League seemed extra actual by the month, and his 145 wRC+ at Single-A was third-highest amongst catchers aged 18 or youthful on the stage since 2006 (minimal of 250 plate appearances). Samuel Basallo (151) and Jesus Montero (147) have been the one ones larger, providing each pleasure and warning about backstops who get off to such sturdy begins.
Jensen, in the meantime, turns into Kansas Metropolis’s prime prospect, due to his personal thump on the plate. He already had set a career-high mark with 20 homers in 111 video games between Double-A and Triple-A when he moved to the Majors final month, and his .300/.391/.550 line and three homers over 20 video games did little to cease the hype prepare. Jensen continued to pummel balls with excessive barrel and hard-hit charges with KC, and his 482-foot dinger on Sept. 28 was the longest by a Royal within the Statcast period (since 2015). His blocking might nonetheless use work, however he actually has the higher hand on being Salvador Perez’s long-term successor behind the plate.
After McLean, Snelling is the pitching prospect with essentially the most helium. The 21-year-old southpaw confirmed no downside transitioning to Triple-A (after which MLB ball) with a 1.27 ERA, 81 strikeouts and 17 walks in 63⅔ innings with Jacksonville. He received ample whiffs along with his 93-96 mph four-seamer and 81-84 mph curveball and confirmed a quality-enough changeup to maintain righties at bay. He and No. 22 total prospect Thomas White could possibly be intriguing left-handed beginning choices for Miami’s MLB rotation within the first half subsequent yr.
Duno was arguably Single-A’s only hitter in his age-19 season, ending with a .287/.430/.518 line and 18 homers over 113 video games. His 164 wRC+ led all 120 qualifiers on the stage, and he was one among solely two Minor League qualifiers to stroll extra (95) than he struck out (91) whereas hitting 15+ homers; McGonigle was the opposite (59/46). Lastly among the many mega-jumpers, Culpepper wrapped up a stellar first full season with a .289/.375/.469 line, 20 homers and 25 steals in 113 video games between Excessive-A and Double-A. He can get jumpy in opposition to non-fastballs, however the 2024 twenty first total decide confirmed higher pop than anticipated as he transitioned full time to the professionals.
New faces97. Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz, RHP, Yankees98. Jackson Ferris, LHP, Dodgers100. Emil Morales, SS, Dodgers
Acquired from the Crimson Sox final offseason for catcher Carlos Narváez, Rodriguez-Cruz continued to construct on his velocity beneficial properties from 2024 with a fastball that sat 95-97 mph (touching 99) throughout three ranges this summer time. His slider, curveball and changeup all received ample swing-and-miss too, resulting in 176 strikeouts (second-most within the Minors) over a career-high 150 innings.
Ferris and Morales give the Dodgers seven High 100 prospects.
The previous had an uneven begin to his age-21 season at Double-A Tulsa however posted a 1.95 ERA with 77 strikeouts in 74 innings over his ultimate 14 begins. He depends closely on his 94-97 mph fastball and 85-88 mph slider but in addition works with a curveball and a changeup that flash above common. Like Rodriguez-Cruz, lackluster management retains him from leaping right into a firmer place within the High 100.
Morales moved stateside for his age-18 season and appeared to get higher because the season wore on, resulting in a .339/.420/.548 line with 5 homers and a 161 wRC+ in 30 video games with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga. He hit 14 homers throughout 89 video games total, aiding the idea he’ll have at the very least plus energy ultimately, due to ample bat pace and a stable capacity to raise the ball on contact. Whereas his strikeout fee truly decreased with the transfer from the Arizona Advanced League to the California League, he nonetheless confirmed vulnerability to secondary stuff — one thing value monitoring as he heads into 2026.
Largest droppers-23 Leonardo Bernal, C, Cardinals (69 to 92)-23 Jeferson Quero, C, Brewers (84 to 61)-20 Rhett Lowder, RHP, Reds (60 to 80)-19 Jarlin Susana, RHP, Nationals (68 to 87)-19 Arjun Nimmala, SS, Blue Jays (49 to 68)-14 Blake Mitchell, C, Royals (48 to 62)-13 Spencer Jones, OF, Yankees (86 to 99)-12 Jhostynxon Garcia, OF, Crimson Sox (73 to 85)
Bernal has a excessive ground as a powerful defensive backstop, and his 39.1 % caught-stealing fee was among the many Minors’ finest. However the Cardinals catcher hit a wall offensively in the course of the season and batted simply .204/.305/.277 with two homers and a 66 wRC+ in 52 video games for Double-A Springfield from July 1 onward. The switch-hitter will nonetheless solely be 22 heading into 2026 and doesn’t should be rushed towards St. Louis as he tries to seek out offensive consistency, although he’s Rule 5 Draft-eligible this offseason.
Equally, Quero has lengthy held an distinctive defensive repute, however after shoulder surgical procedure knocked him out for just about all of 2024 and different points restricted him once more in 2025, he backslid a bit, particularly when it got here to exhibiting off his rocket arm (simply an 18.9 % caught-stealing fee for Triple-A Nashville). He confirmed indicators of gaining power because the season wore on — and joined Milwaukee’s taxi squad, doubtless for that cause — however a considerably excessive chase fee at Triple-A pulls his bat into query too.
Lowder made solely 5 Minor League begins attributable to forearm and indirect accidents, setting him again for a misplaced yr after a powerful MLB starting in 2024. Susana flashed his typical electrical fastball-slider mixture however was restricted to 56 1/3 innings, first by a UCL sprain and later by a lat harm that required surgical procedure. That does little to quell the considerations he’s headed for the bullpen long run.
Again on the hitting facet, Nimmala ran cold-then-hot in 2024 and reversed that narrative this season with a .184/.277/.290 line in 75 video games for Excessive-A Vancouver after June 1. There’s nonetheless ample energy to dream on within the 6-foot-1 shortstop’s body, and he did a pleasant job of not increasing the zone as a 19-year-old within the Northwest League. However improved consistency is required for him to stay within the prime 50.
A damaged hamate dogged Mitchell for a lot of 2025 and may need performed a lot to elucidate his .296 slugging share in 49 video games with Excessive-A Quad Cities. The Arizona Fall League will present a extra prolonged take a look at him offensively, however for now, he slips beneath Jensen, each amongst Kansas Metropolis and total catching prospects. Jones had help for even larger than his placement on the midseason record, however the 6-foot-7 hulking slugger received again to his Okay-heavy methods with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in August and September with a 42.3 % fee. He stays some of the divisive prospects in baseball. Garcia received a quick cup of espresso with the Crimson Sox in late August however went simply 6-for-53 (.113) with one homer, two walks and 21 strikeouts the remainder of the way in which for Triple-A Worcester. The 22-year-old nonetheless has intriguing energy from the suitable facet however lacks a real plus offensive device.
Transferring outJefferson Rojas, SS/2B (from 59)Logan Henderson, RHP, Brewers (from 85)Felnin Celesten, SS, Mariners (from 91)
Rojas realized concerning the leap from Excessive-A to Double-A the onerous means. After becoming a member of Double-A Knoxville in mid-July, the right-handed-hitting infielder batted simply .164/.279/.205 with no homers and a 54 wRC+ in 39 video games. His strikeout fee jumped 4 factors between the 2 ranges (sliders have been particularly powerful on him), whereas his ground-ball fee went from 38.7 % at Excessive-A to 47.3 at Double-A and his ISO fell from .214 to .041. Rojas will nonetheless solely be getting into his age-21 season when he returns to the Southern League for 2026, however he’ll have to show round many indicators in that second go.
Henderson’s fastball-changeup mixture and spectacular management in his first 5 MLB begins had him wanting extra like he’d be a graduate than a High 100 candidate at season’s finish. As an alternative, a proper flexor tendon pressure saved him out of video games after Aug. 3, and he’s nonetheless but to throw greater than 103 innings in his first 4 Minor League seasons. That lack of sturdiness pushed him out for now.
Celesten didn’t play in any respect in video games in 2023 attributable to a hamstring pressure and was then restricted to 144 plate appearances final yr attributable to hamate surgical procedure. Maybe this yr’s expanded workload explains why he light late in the summertime with only a .257/.354/.377 line and three homers between 47 video games at Single-A and Excessive-A. He was particularly uncovered on the larger stage, placing out 31.3 % of the time in (an admittedly small pattern of) 48 plate appearances. Nonetheless, the 20-year-old switch-hitter was already slipping down the High 100 and misplaced his holding with no late turnaround.
