MLB Top 250 Prospects (2018 May Update)

With MLB Draft is right around the corner and most minor leaguers have 100+ at-bats or around 40 innings already under the belt. With all of that, of course, comes movement in the rankings. We have seen a few players surge up the list, as always, and I’ll highlight a few of the biggest risers today along with a mini-draft preview.

Perhaps this is the first time you’ve seen this list. If that is, in fact, the case, let me fill you in on what makes it different from other lists:

• This is based strictly on projected future fantasy output
• MLB ballparks come into play as a result, as do paths to playing time
• Fielding has no impact on my rankings other than how it influences a player’s likelihood to win a job in the future
• College, high school and even international players who have not made the leap to America are on this list

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Risers

I don’t need to tell you that Juan Soto has risen up lists considerably as anticipated this spring. If he weren’t called up, he was on track to become the #1 prospect in all 2019 publications. Soto was ranked anywhere from 20 to 60 in major publications this Spring, but is now a consensus top 10 prospect. Behind him, Taylor Trammell (OF, CIN) and Jesus Luzardo (SP, OAK) have both leapt into the top 25. Luis Urias has soared up lists in his assault on the minors while Blake Rutherford (OF, CWS) has seen a substantial recovery from last year’s flop. Both are right on the fringe of being top 50 names at this point. A few other youngsters who have made some noise this spring include Yusniel Diaz (OF, LAD), Lazaro Armenteros (OF, OAK), Brandon Marsh (OF, LAA) and Randy Arozarena (OF, STL), who could all be top 100 prospects by the time the list is next updated. On the international side, both Tomoyuki Sugano (SP, JAP) and Kodai Senga (SP, JAP) have soared up into the top 100 and could move much higher if they don’t slow down.