So that you’ve seen MLB Pipeline’s High 100 prospects rankings, pored over the scouting studies, dreamed about the way forward for the game. Now, you need to take your dissection of the record to the following degree. Begin with this — which programs look probably the most loaded?
High 100 illustration isn’t the one pillar in figuring out our Farm System Rankings (which come out in March!), however it’s definitely a significant factor in setting the order. In 2024, 5 organizations set themselves aside on the High 100:
Chicago Cubs (7)The Cubs solely had three High 100 prospects on the 2023 preseason record. Two of these stay, in outfielders Pete Crow-Armstrong (No. 16) and Kevin Alcántara (No. 65), however they’re now joined by 5 others. Three (Cade Horton, Owen Caissie, James Triantos) carried out their approach onto the record and now all sit within the High 75, as excessive as No. 26 within the case of Horton. Matt Shaw joined Chicago because the 2023 thirteenth general decide and proved his bat will definitely work in professional ball as he already climbed to Double-A. As if that core wasn’t sufficient, the Cubs picked up Michael Busch (No. 51) in a commerce with the Dodgers this offseason and hope to make the 26-year-old their Opening Day first baseman.
Baltimore Orioles (6)The O’s could have been knocked out of the highest spot, however there’s nonetheless loads of expertise to go round right here, beginning on the high. No. 1 general prospect Jackson Holliday represents the third straight Baltimore prospect to open a season within the high two spots, following Gunnar Henderson (No. 1, 2023) and Adley Rutschman (No. 2, 2022). Past him, the Orioles proceed to be bat-heavy with the remaining 5 High 100 abilities coming from the sphere: catcher/first baseman Samuel Basallo (No. 17), outfielder Colton Cowser (No. 19), nook infielder Coby Mayo (No. 30), outfielder Heston Kjerstad (No. 32) and infielder Joey Ortiz (No. 63). All six have ETAs of 2024 and 2025, that means they’ll press for an already crowded Main League position-player group quickly. Will the O’s deal from the highest of their farm to assist their pitching state of affairs or will they maintain the road? Solutions coming in 2024.
Cincinnati Reds (5)The Reds graduated Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain and Christian Encarnacion-Strand from earlier iterations of the High 100 and nonetheless handle one of many deeper cores on our record. It’s extra pitching-heavy now with Rhett Lowder (No. 34) getting into by way of the 2023 first spherical and Connor Phillips (No. 70) and Chase Petty (No. 98) pushing for inclusion with stellar stuff. On the hitting facet, the Reds’ conveyor belt of infield expertise continues with Noelvi Marte (No. 21) — a plus slugger with early Main League success already in his again pocket — and spectacular shortstop defender Edwin Arroyo (No. 67).
Pittsburgh Pirates (5)High general pitching prospect Paul Skenes makes for a heck of a headliner for any group, although it’s a fairly steep drop from him at No. 3 to Termarr Johnson at No. 44. Nonetheless, there are causes to imagine that Johnson, who drew plus-plus hit grades throughout his beginner days, may very well be able to take off once more in his second full season and switch his walk-heavy method into one with extra knocks as he sees higher pitching. Jared Jones (No. 62), Anthony Solometo (No. 82) and Bubba Chandler (No. 93) give the Bucs extra high quality arms behind Skenes, and Jones and Solometo particularly look in line to be rotation choices as early as this summer season.
San Diego Padres (5)The Padres have ridden a pleasant mixture of improvement and savvy additions to rebuild a farm system that appeared prefer it might have been decimated by the 2022 Juan Soto blockbuster. Ethan Salas (No. 8) was the Minors’ 2023 breakout prospect, reaching Double-A in the identical yr he signed as a 16-year-old, and Jackson Merrill (No. 12) continued to indicate the potential for a plus-plus hit instrument. On the pitching facet, Robby Snelling (No. 36) had top-of-the-line statistical seasons within the Minors with a 1.82 ERA and 118 strikeouts in 103 2/3 innings throughout three ranges, and fellow 2022 decide Dylan Lesko (No. 56) flashed plus stuff in his return from Tommy John surgical procedure. If anybody had a greater 2023 than Snelling, it was latest Padre Drew Thorpe (No. 85) — acquired on this offseason’s Soto commerce with the Yankees — who led the Minors with 182 strikeouts in 139 1/3 innings between Excessive-A and Double-A. Who has the most effective hit instrument? Who has the most effective changeup? Debates abound in a San Diego system that’s a lot deeper than people could have anticipated it’d be in August 2022.
If you break down the High 100 record by Prospect Factors (100 for No. 1, 99 for No. 2, and many others.), that is how the High 5 seems:
1. Orioles, 4442. Cubs, 3753. Padres, 3084. Brewers, 2885. Tigers, 284
Baltimore jumps over Chicago by the use of having 4 High 35 prospects, in comparison with solely two on the opposite facet. It, after all, helps to have the 100-point participant too, and it’s fascinating that this group of Orioles nonetheless accrued extra Prospect Factors than its 2023 equal (398).
Milwaukee and Detroit leap into the High 5 right here regardless of having solely 4 High 100 prospects every. The Tigers pushed their approach in with three abilities within the High 25 (Max Clark, Colt Keith, Jackson Jobe) whereas the Brewers are just a little broader however positioned all 4 (Jackson Chourio, Jacob Misiorowski, Jeferson Quero, Tyler Black) within the High 50.
The highest 5 all-time leaders in preseason High 50/100 following this newest replace are the Rays (87), Dodgers (78), Padres (70), Pirates (69) and Braves (68). The Angels (38), Nationals (43), Athletics (43), Giants (43) and Astros (45) take up the underside 5 spots. Houston drops into this group as the one group with out a preseason High 100 prospect in 2024.
