He was one of the sought-after skills this offseason, and he hadn’t even performed stateside ball but. Now, he can add one other bullet level to his already prolonged baseball resume.
Dodgers right-hander Roki Sasaki tops MLB Pipeline’s 2025 preseason rating of the Prime 100 prospects, adopted by Pink Sox outfielder Roman Anthony and Twins outfielder Walker Jenkins within the high three.
The 23-year-old pitcher was posted this offseason after 4 skilled seasons in Japan’s Nippon Skilled Baseball, and after taking conferences with a number of Main League golf equipment, he signed with the Dodgers for $6.5 million earlier this week. Since Sasaki is youthful than 25 and didn’t play greater than six skilled seasons abroad, he certified to signal beneath the worldwide newbie signing guidelines and was subsequently thought-about prospect-eligible for the needs of this checklist. His triple-digit fastball and 80-grade splitter grow to be two of the perfect pitches in prospectdom instantly, and he has the ceiling of a real ace with Los Angeles.
Anthony — one in every of three Boston prospects within the Prime 12 — continues to shut in on Fenway Park with improved bat pace, energy and general hitting capability. Jenkins is one other potential plus hitter with plus energy who may stick in middle discipline, as is No. 4 Dylan Crews, who debuted for the Nationals late final summer season. Rounding out the highest 5 is a fellow 2024 debutant Jackson Jobe, who sports activities 4 plus to plus-plus pitches that he placed on show throughout the Tigers’ current run to the postseason.
The Prime 101. Roki Sasaki, RHP, Dodgers2. Roman Anthony, OF, Pink Sox3. Walker Jenkins, OF, Twins4. Dylan Crews, OF, Nationals5. Jackson Jobe, RHP, Tigers6. Max Clark, OF, Tigers7. Kristian Campbell, 2B/SS/OF, Pink Sox8. Andrew Painter, RHP, Phillies9. Carson Williams, SS, Rays10. Travis Bazzana, 2B, GuardiansComplete Prime 100 »
Listed here are myriad different methods to have a look at the 2025 preseason Prime 100:
There are 40 new faces on this preseason Prime 100 in comparison with final yr’s, although that whole doesn’t embody the 15 gamers from the 2024 Draft and the one 2025 worldwide signee on the checklist in Sasaki.
Nobody who was eligible for the checklist in 2024 made an even bigger leap than Campbell, who wasn’t even on the Pink Sox’s Prime 30 checklist heading into final season. The 2023 132nd general decide slashed .330/.439/.558 with 20 homers and 24 steals in 115 video games throughout three ranges (together with Triple-A Worcester) in his first full season and received Hitting Prospect and Breakout Prospect of the Yr honors for his efforts. Padres shortstop Leodalis De Vries – the highest 2024 worldwide prospect – additionally jumped from exterior the Prime 100 at the moment final yr to No. 18 after trying superior on the plate and within the discipline in Single-A at simply 17. Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle (No. 28), Dodgers outfielder Josue De Paula (No. 40) and Marlins left-hander Thomas White (No. 41) additionally make robust debuts on a preseason Prime 100 after lacking out this time final yr.
The very best jumper from the 2024 version to 2025 is Pirates right-hander Bubba Chandler, who leapt from No. 93 to No. 15 after a robust season on the higher ranges, particularly down the stretch with Triple-A Indianapolis. The others to climb 40-plus spots had been Giants first baseman Bryce Eldridge (No. 96 to No. 24), Mariners shortstop Colt Emerson (No. 87 to No. 20), Rangers shortstop Sebastian Walcott (No. 71 to No. 17), Royals catcher Blake Mitchell (No. 94 to No. 48) and Dodgers catcher Dalton Speeding (No. 75 to No. 30).
Rockies center infielder Adael Amador (No. 28 in 2024) slashed simply .230/.343/.376 in 455 plate appearances with Double-A Hartford and slid over to second base full-time (aka away from a extra premium place at shortstop). The 21-year-old switch-hitter was additionally pushed to the Majors doubtless earlier than he was prepared, and his 6-for-35 (.171) flip with restricted energy didn’t assist his inventory within the eyes of evaluators, deepening his slide off the Prime 100 heading into this yr. Others from final yr’s Prime 50 to fall off utterly whereas retaining prospect eligibility for 2025 had been Blue Jays left-hander Ricky Tiedemann (No. 29), Marlins left-hander Robby Snelling (No. 36), Brewers first baseman Tyler Black (No. 46), Nationals third baseman Brady Home (No. 48) and Phillies right-hander Mick Abel (No. 49).
9 gamers moved down 25 spots or extra from their 2024 rating. Most notably was Brewers right-hander Jacob Misiorowski, who dropped from No. 33 to No. 100 because it seemed extra doubtless he’s headed for a long-term bullpen position with Milwaukee. The others had been Pirates second baseman Termarr Johnson (No. 44 to No. 83), White Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery (No. 9 to No. 39), Marlins right-hander Noble Meyer (No. 57 to No. 85), Mariners catcher Harry Ford (No. 38 to No. 65), Cubs right-hander Cade Horton (No. 26 to No. 52), Padres catcher Ethan Salas (No. 8 to No. 33), Cubs outfielder Kevin Alcántara (No. 65 to No. 90) and Reds shortstop Edwin Arroyo (No. 67 to No. 92).
Shortstops carry the day on this rating, taking over 25 spots – essentially the most we’ve ever had on a preseason or midseason Prime 100 replace. There have been additionally MLB Pipeline preseason highs for many catchers (13) and second basemen (eight). These peaks correspond with a valley for whole pitchers. Solely 25 arms (19 righties, six lefties) cracked the Prime 100 this yr, partly as a result of innings limits and accidents have lowered the ceilings of pitchers throughout the game. That isn’t to say there aren’t nonetheless high-quality pitching prospects, nevertheless, with Sasaki sitting up high and three within the high eight.
Outfielders (18), first basemen (six) and third basemen (three) spherical out the positional teams.
The Prime 100 prospects hail from 11 nations. Seventy-five had been born in america, with the Dominican Republic (11), Venezuela (5) and Cuba (two) claiming a number of representatives. Australia, The Bahamas, Canada, Colombia, Japan, Panama and Puerto Rico additionally boast a Prime 100 prospect this yr.
Seventy-five of the 100 additionally entered professional ball by way of the Draft, together with 2024 No. 1 general decide Bazzana. Angels right-hander Caden Dana (No. 78) is the bottom decide on this yr’s crop, having been taken within the eleventh spherical out of a New Jersey highschool in 2022. Of the 25 worldwide signees on the checklist, bonuses have ranged from Sasaki’s $6.5 million this month to Tigers catcher Thayron Liranzo’s $30,000 when he first joined the Dodgers in January 2021.
The Cubs and Mariners each declare essentially the most Prime 100 prospects this yr with seven apiece, whereas the Dodgers, Tigers and White Sox all set the following tier with six every. All 30 farm golf equipment have at the very least one prospect on this yr’s checklist.
However uncooked numbers of Prime 100 prospects don’t inform the entire story. We will additionally have a look at the energy of every group’s Prime 100 class by way of the prism of Prospect Factors (100 factors for No. 1, 99 for No. 2, and so forth.). In that mode, we’ve got an AL Central battle on the high between the rebuilding White Sox and the upstart Tigers.
The Prime 10 organizations when it comes to Prospect Factors, with their greatest prospect in parentheses
White Sox, 364 (Noah Schultz, LHP, No. 16)Tigers, 337 (Jackson Jobe, RHP, No. 5)Dodgers, 317 (Roki Sasaki, RHP, No. 1)Pink Sox, 307 (Roman Anthony, OF, No. 2)Mariners, 263 (Colt Emerson, SS/3B, No. 20)Cubs, 253 (Matt Shaw, INF, No. 19)Guardians, 236 (Travis Bazzana, 2B, No. 10)Phillies, 212 (Andrew Painter, RHP, No. 8)Twins, 202 (Walker Jenkins, OF, No. 3)Rangers, 192 (Sebastian Walcott, SS/3B, No. 17)
