Fantasy Baseball Prospect Rankings: 26-50 (Updated)

Fantasy Baseball Prospect Rankings: 26-50 (Updated)

These prospect rankings are based on fantasy value, not real-life value. Considering such, hitters generally weigh a bit heavier for me due to the injury risk and higher volatility of prospect pitchers. Proximity to the Majors is also prominent in the equation, though these prospect fantasy baseball rankings are focused on long-term/dynasty outlooks. Think of these rankings as more of a five-year plan. 

Rather than writing mini bios on all of these prospects, I’ve decided to keep my rankings simple by providing the most recent year’s stats of each player across all levels, a player comp, a small blurb on the player’s prime skills for fantasy, including my tool grades/pitching arsenals and an explanation of my ranking that may include trending data.

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Fantasy Baseball Prospect Report

Please note these rankings are the result of months of work from using available data, regular in-person scouting (Florida-based), writing weekly prospect performance columns for FantasyPros and regular film review; I have provided my personal comps for each prospect. Comps may be based on mechanics, body type, pitching arsenal or similar skills & box score style, and how I generally think each prospect will perform once in the Majors over the next five or so seasons.

Please keep in mind that since this is a massive write-up, the statistical inputs will have varying dates and are not based upon one static date.

NOTE: Rookie status is determined by 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched at the Major League level. Christian Scott (SP – NYM) was removed from prospect status.

Full Top 150 Prospect Rankings:

26. Robby Snelling (SP – MIA)

  • 2024 AA/AAA: 115 1/3 IP | 13.8 K-BB%, 12.2 SwStr%, 28.9 CSW% | 5.15 ERA, 1.52 WHIP
  • 2025 AA/AAA (as of 8/18/25): 38 IP | 20.7 K-BB%, 14.3 SwStr%, 31 CSW% | 4.03 ERA, 1.34 WHIP
  • Age: 21
  • ETA: Late 2025
  • Comp: Jesus Luzardo-lite
  • Prime Skills: Robby Snelling’s 3/4 arm slot helps create a lot of deception between his fastball and slider, which he repurposed this year to make the sweeping curveball his primary breaker, and he also improved his change-up. Snelling was only hitting 93 miles per hour (MPH) on the fastball last year and dialed it up to 95-97 this year. We forget how young he was in 2023 when he first broke out. His change-up is also up a couple of ticks from 86 MPH last year to 88-89 this year. The slider is up to an average of about 83 MPH, and that’s where the majority of his strikeouts seem to come on. He does have some issues in a reverse split against lefties, oddly enough, as he’s rocking a 2.01 SIERA against righties and 3.55 SIERA against lefties.
  • Ranking Explanation: Snelling won Baseball America’s 2023 Minor League Pitcher of the Year; then followed it up with a roller coaster of a 2024, where he was terrible with the Padres until the Marlins acquired him, and everything changed. The improvement was drastic as soon as the Marlins acquired Snelling, and then he added velocity in the offseason, while also changing his primary breaker. I know Andrew Painter might have a higher ceiling if he can find his command and regain the spin on the fastball that previously had much better shape, but Snelling is doing it better, continues to get better each time out and is actually younger than Painter, with a better future home ballpark to boot.
  • Previous Rank: 49
  • Arsenal Grades:
    • FA (94-97 MPH), high rise: 60/70
    • CU (81-84 MPH), sweeping curve: 60/60
    • SL (82-84 MPH): 45/45
    • CH (88-90 MPH), sinking change: 50/60
    • Command: 55/60

27. Andrew Painter (SP – PHI)

  • 2022 A/A+/AA: 103 2/3 IP | 32.4 K-BB%, 16.2 SwStr%, 32.3 CSW% | 1.56 ERA, 0.89 WHIP
  • 2025 Season (as of 5/25/25): 23 1/3 IP | 20.8 K-BB%, 13.9 SwStr%, 29.2 CSW% | 3.09 ERA, 1.11 WHIP
  • Age: 21
  • ETA: September, 2025
  • Comp: A bigger Jacob deGrom or Tyler Glasnow with more control
  • Prime Skills: Andrew Painter regularly touches 99 MPH on his fastball, but he hasn’t regained the spin on it that he had pre-Tommy John surgery, so it has lost some ride. Even when I saw him at Low-A earlier this year, the batters down there were squaring up the fastball. He has an excellent pitch mix and knows how to throw his change-up and breaking stuff off his fastball; those pitches have more or less returned to form, sans some command.
  • Ranking Explanation: Painter has not been nearly as good pre-injury throughout his rehab. When I saw him live, the fastball was pretty hittable, even at 98 MPH. The command actually looked on-point, which is the aspect of pitching that usually has the worst result post-Tommy John surgery, but the breaking stuff looked sharp with the slider being his most effective pitch, while the cutter and change-up have also been solid. My recommendation in my last rankings update was to throw the fastball less, which he was throwing 55% of the time. He has done that, throwing it 47% of the time. Despite Bubba Chandler‘s struggles, he has at least maintained the swing and miss on his elite pitches, while Painter is still searching for his fastball and has lost a full grade of command, if not more, since Tommy John surgery. Nothing looks elite right now, just solid (though he still has a decent 3.58 JA ERA SIERA at AAA this year).
  • Previous Rank: 11
  • Arsenal Grades:
    • FA (96-99 MPH): 45/60
    • FC (90-92 MPH) w/ sweep: 55/60
    • CU (82-84 MPH): 45/50
    • SL (84-85 MPH): 60/60
    • CH (88-89 MPH): 45/55
    • Command: 45/60

28. Kade Anderson (SP – SEA)

  • 2025 College: 119 IP | 30.1 K-BB% | 3.18 ERA, 1.06 WHIP
  • Age: 21
  • ETA: Mid/Late 2026
  • Comp: Max Fried
  • Prime Skills: Kade Anderson has a plus arsenal across the board, against some of the other prospects in the class that were elite one or two pitchers without the full arsenal to do damage, but is a leaner, 6-foot-2 lefty, who gives off Max Fried vibes, despite needing work on his command. He has a fastball with up to 20 inches of induced vertical break (IVB) on it that had the second-best whiff rate in his draft class to Liam Doyle‘s fastball. His arsenal also features a two-plane slider, a nasty diving curve and a change-up with some nice fade.
  • Ranking Explanation: It was not an easy decision to bump Anderson ahead of Trey Yesavage with the kind of year Yesavage has had in the Minors, but I like Anderson’s arsenal better. Despite him already having Tommy John surgery, I trust his durability at this point more than that of Yesavage. Now, when it comes to Andrew Painter, I gave the Phillies prospect the slight edge just based on his pre-Tommy John surgery track record and the hope that if Painter gets his fastball back, it could tick back up to a 70-grade pitch.
  • Previous Rank: N/A
  • Arsenal Grades:
    • FA (92-96 MPH): 60/60
    • SL (84-88 MPH): 55/60
    • CU (79-81 MPH): 55/60
    • CH (81-85 MPH): 50/60
    • Command: 45/55

29. Josue Briceno (C, 1B – DET)

  • 2024 A: .319/.402/.529 | 12.2 BB%, 14.6 K% | 29 XBH, 7 HR, 3 SB
  • 2025 A+ (as of 8/20/25): .268/.386/.518 | 15.3 BB%, 19.5 K% | 36 XBH, 19 HR, 1 SB
  • Age: 20
  • ETA: Early 2027
  • Comp: Joey Votto mechanics
  • Prime Skills: Josue Briceno is a huge 6-foot-5 catcher who has already started to move off to first base due to his size, plus hit tool and plate skills. The power came along in the Arizona Fall League (AFL), where he cranked 17 extra-base hits, including 10 bombs and a .433/.509/.867 slash line. The power has continued forward into this season as he’s rocking a .251 ISO against a .210 ISO last season. The contact rate has decreased from 84% last year to 76.5% this season, but that drop is worth the power uptick if that’s the trade-off. He has been pushed hard up levels this season,  expect him to rebound once he settles in at the higher levels. There are also good power angles here, as he has a nearly 50% fly ball rate. Briceno has put up a 114.3 max exit velocity and had a ridiculous 107.5 90th percentile exit velocity in 2024.
  • Ranking Explanation: He’s big, strong, has a great eye and can make contact, which is why the Tigers are starting to move him away from catcher as they want him to focus on hitting. He has a 157 wRC+ this year and was a little young for the level at High-A and 2-3 years young at AA, so an age-to-level bump of around 35-45 points is fair. Ethan Holliday gets the edge over Briceno because he’s going to be hitting in Colorado, while Briceno has to deal with Detroit as a lefty.
  • Previous Rank: 65
  • Hitter Tool Grades:
    • Hit: 45/60
    • Plate Approach: 50/60
    • Power: 60/65
    • Speed: 30/30

30. Trey Yesavage (SP – TOR)

  • 2024 College: 93 1/3 IP | 145 Ks, 32 BBs | 2.03 ERA, 0.87 WHIP
  • 2025 A/A+/AA/AAA (as of 8/19/25): 82 1/3 IP | 31.5 K-BB%, 20.7 SwStr%, 36.6 CSW% | 3.17 ERA, 0.97 WHIP
  • Age: 22 (and 22 days as of this writing!)
  • ETA: Early 2026
  • Comp: Righty Clayton Kershaw light
  • Prime Skills: Trey Yesavage is a big righty with a super over-the-top trebuchet-like delivery who throws a solid fastball, slider, cutter and change-up combo. Yesavage has an above-average 14.6% SwStr% on the fastball, but his most impressive pitch is the slider (also sometimes labeled a cutter due to its tight break), which has a 27.9% SwStr% on the season in Statcast games. The splitter also has a 28% SwStr% and is located well for an infamously tough pitch to command.
  • Ranking Explanation: Yesavage slid in the draft compared to where a lot of draft analysts thought he would go, and I understand why. His arm slot could lead to some shoulder troubles in the future, but he has been dominant enough this season to receive a huge bump in the rankings. I’m a fan of the stuff since he has an effective four-pitch mix that generates a near 50% ground ball rate. The Jays have been pretty safe with him this year, as he has rarely surpassed 75 pitches in a game, and the velocity has dropped some as the season has gone on. Keep that in mind from a durability standpoint with his over-the-top delivery that can wear on a shoulder. Yesavage has had a much better year than Andrew Painter, but the durability and sometimes inconsistent command are worrisome. I’m not ready to anoint him as a future ace yet, and think he might be a really good No. starting pitcher or maybe a solid No. 2 rotation arm.
  • Previous Rank: 60
  • Arsenal Grades:
    • FA (93-97 MPH): 55/60
    • SL (86-89 MPH): 60/65
    • FS (82-86 MPH): 55/60
    • CU (79-81), death ball: 45/50
    • Command: 45/50

31. Ryan Waldschmidt (OF – ARI)

  • 2024 College: .333/.469/.610 | 31 XBH, 14 HR, 25 SB
  • 2024 A: .273/.485/.318 | 22.7 BB%, 13.6 K% | 2 XBH, 0 HR, 4 SB
  • 2025 A+/AA (as of 8/23/25): .277/.412/.462 | 16.3 BB%, 17.7 K% | 42 XBH, 15 HR, 24 SB
  • Age: 22
  • ETA: Mid 2026
  • Comp: Righty Lars Nootbaar
  • Prime Skills: Ryan Waldschmidt is a big outfielder who can play in center field and has great plate skills with an above-average hit tool to pair with a solid power and speed combo. He hits the crap out of the ball with some of the highest exit velocities in the 2024 draft. Waldschmidt is a little overly passive for someone who has some insane tools, Statcast-wise (ala Lars Nootbaar). Thankfully, he has increased his in-zone aggressiveness since the last time I ranked him, even though he went through a cold spurt and his contact rate dropped to 76%. The line-drive rate is an insane 32.8% at AA, as he also gets to optimal angles. Waldschmidt has plus power with a 109 MPH 90th percentile exit velocity and 112.5 max exit velocity.
  • Ranking Explanation: I always love it when batters walk more than they strikeout, and Waldschmidt is someone who can do this through the Minors. If he can show power with the big-time exit velocities he’s known for, he could climb the levels pretty quickly based on his advanced skillset. Over the last 12 games, he has hit .489/.574/.933 with five bombs.
  • Previous Rank: 68
  • Hitter Tool Grades:
    • Hit: 45/50
    • Plate Approach: 65/65
    • Power: 55/65
    • Speed: 55/55

32. Michael Arroyo (2B, SS – MIA)

  • 2024 A/A+: .285/.400/.509 | 12.3 BB%, 23 K% | 56 XBH, 23 HR, 18 SB
  • 2025 A+/AA (as of 8/19/25): .265/.407/.458 | 13.1 BB%, 18.2 K% | 41 XBH, 17 HR, 8 SB
  • Age: 20
  • ETA: Late 2026
  • Comp: More athletic Ronnie Belliard build with a good Jorge Polanco-ish profile.
  • Prime Skills: Short swinging stocky athlete with quick hands and a ton of power in his fire hydrant frame, along with some speed. Michael Arroyo has a good plate approach and above-average contact tool, which led to his 2024 breakout that has now carried over to 2025. Arroyo has recorded up to a 109.7 max exit velocity in 2025, and we don’t have barrel or launch angle data on him, but the 24.3% line-drive rate and reports of consistent hard contact with doubles power lead us to the conclusion that he’s a plus angles hitter with an above-average hit tool. Arroyo has a 77% contact rate on the season and is the classic “sum of the parts is greater than the whole” type of hitter when all his above-average tools are working in coordination.
  • Ranking Explanation: Arroyo’s contact rates are down a bit this year, resulting in a bit less damage, but he’s still putting up a 136 wRC+, which is slightly below the average age to level by enough to provide maybe a 10-point boost to his wRC+. The speed has not been a part of his game this season, which I kind of expected based on his frame, making him more of a points league play longer term rather than a categories league target. He looks like a .255/.370/.430 hitter who will pop 20-25 bombs with only a few steals as a major league second baseman. Drake Baldwin gets the edge as he’s doing it now and has about the same level of upside as a solid starting player at his position who might make some All-Star games. Some people will think I’m crazy for rating Arroyo over Zyhir Hope, but he has the tools of a more consistent player, and I haven’t bought into Hope being a plus stolen base threat in the Majors.
  • Previous Rank: 50
  • Hitter Tool Grades:
    • Hit: 55/55
    • Plate Approach: 55/60
    • Power: 55/55
    • Speed: 45/45

33. Zyhir Hope (OF – LAD)

  • 2024 CPX/A: .290/.419/.484 | 15.1 BB% / 22.8 K%| 25 XBH, 9 HR, 9 SB (61 games)
  • 2025 A+ (as of 8/17/25): .276/.389/.448 | 15.1 BB%, 26.4 K% | 38 XBH, 12 HR, 24 SB
  • Age: 20
  • ETA: Early 2027
  • Comp: Lean Josh Naylor
  • Prime Skills: Zyhir Hope is a shorter prospect with quick hands and a high-impact lefty swing with some major pull power. Hope started the season hot and has cooled off a bit, but has been filling up the stolen base category lately. The contact rate is way down to a lackluster 67.2%, but he’s still showing a good eye at the plate and reportedly has hit (when recorded) to a 90th percentile exit velocity of 108.5. He did hit a 470-foot bomb in the AFL and gets good angles with a line-drive rate over 25%. He has pulled the ball less this year, though, which has hurt him a bit in the home run per fly ball totals.
  • Ranking Explanation: Hope’s hit tool has regressed as the season has gone on, though he does have some sneaky speed and should hit for more power as the quality of contact itself is good when the ball hits wood. He needs to rein in the strikeouts and take more chances in-zone instead of accepting walks if he’s going to do the most damage he can in the lineup; otherwise, he may be more of a solid six-hole hitter rather than a middle-of-the-order batter.
  • Previous Rank: 33
  • Hitter Tool Grades:
    • Hit: 40/45
    • Plate Approach: 45/50
    • Power: 50/65
    • Speed: 55/55

34. Kaelen Culpepper (SS – MIN)

  • 2024 A/A+: .242/.330/.394 | 9.8 BB%, 13.4 K% | 8 XBH, 3 HR, 4 SB
  • 2025 A+/AA (as of 8/17/25): .304/.384/.495 | 9.8 BB% / 17.4 K% | 35 XBH, 18 HR, 23 SB
  • Age: 22
  • ETA: Mid 2026
  • Comp: Dansby Swanson
  • Prime Skills: Kaelen Culpepper is showing a very nice hit tool and a plus plate approach this season with a little power and speed on the side. Culpepper is running an average contact rate at 76% and is running a reported 105.9 90th percentile exit velocity with a 110.3 max exit velocity on the season. Culpepper has a slight reverse with only a .263/.323/.404 slash line against lefties. However, the approach and power don’t change much, so this may be a coincidence. His ability to hit to angles is more or less below average at an average 10-degree launch angle, but he has hit to a near 50% ground ball rate. His flatter swing path should lead to more line drives and fewer ground balls as he continues to develop.
  • Ranking Explanation: Culpepper has gone from a solid potential starter to a near guaranteed major league regular who will have fantasy value as an above-average across-the-board player in the mold of Dansby Swanson. He’s a safe 20/20 bet who will hit .230 to .270 in the Majors. Unlike other Twins prospects, he has yet to have a major injury slow him down. Culpepper gets a slight edge over Bryce Rainer, primarily because Rainer has been hurt and there’s a large proximity gap, even though I expect Rainer to ultimately be the better player.
  • Previous Rank: 125
  • Hitter Tool Grades:
    • Hit: 45/50
    • Plate Approach: 55/60
    • Power: 55/55
    • Speed: 60/55

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35. Bryce Rainer (SS – DET)

  • 2024 CPX: N/A
  • 2025 A: .288/.383/.448 | 13.4 BB%, 22.1 K% | 10 XBH, 5 HR, 9 SB
  • Age: 20
  • ETA: Late 2027
  • Comp: Lefty Carson Williams with a slightly better hit tool and much better eye
  • Prime Skills: Bryce Rainer is a big lefty bat with a nice stroke that should lead to an average hit tool (72.1% contact rate and only 76.8% in zone) with very good angles (11.1% barrel rate and 23% line-drive rate). He has already shown plus power at the plate with an elite 90th percentile exit velocity of 107.9 and a max exit velocity of 111.6 with some wheels to boot. He was also a pitcher and has a killer arm, so he should be a prime defender as well. Sans injury, Rainer might have worked his way into the top 20 by year’s end. Now is the time to buy before he has a ridiculous spring training.
  • Ranking Explanation: The eye is solid with a 21.7% chase rate, and there are no split concerns as he’s actually hit lefties better than righties with a nice reverse split, hitting .318/.462/.500 against lefties. Rainer has been completely overshadowed by Konnor Griffin, but he is a very good prospect in his own right and could be a nice dynasty value since he’s avoided all the hype of other similarly successful prep prospects. His exit velocities are already better than Dalton Rushing‘s, for instance,
  • Previous Rank: 55
  • Hitter Tool Grades:
    • Hit: 40/50
    • Plate Approach: 50/60
    • Power: 55/65
    • Speed: 50/55

36. 2B/3B Sal Stewart (Reds)

  • 2024 A+: .279/.391/.454 | 14.8 BB%, 16.9 K% | 32 XBH, 8 HR, 10 SB (80 games)
  • 2025 AA/AAA (as of 8/21/25): .308/.382/.515 | 9.1 BB%, 15.5 K% | 49 XBH, 17 HR, 16 SB
  • Age: 21
  • ETA: Late 2025
  • Comp: Manny Machado-lite
  • Prime Skills: Sal Stewart is a large prospect who should develop more power, but has a fantastic plate approach and hit tool for his age. I got a live look at him and think he’s going to be a killer ballplayer. He might end up moving off the position because of his size. He has a plus hit tool (80% contact rate and 82.4% Z-Contact% at AAA), plus plate skills, an ability to get to some killer angles (18.9 barrel rate and 13-degree average launch angle) with an all-fields approach. He has mid-to-upper 20s home run power potential (113.7 max exit velocity and a 107.2 90th percentile exit velocity).
  • Ranking Explanation: I don’t see him stealing more than 10 bags as he’s a good baserunner with below-average speed, just as I don’t really see him at second base despite him leaning out. He’s a nice, well-rounded player with above-average tools, but I doubt there’s a star-level player here, though I bet he will be a solid option in points leagues. I give him the edge over Braden Montgomery for a few reasons: Proximity, position and he has a much safer profile with a significantly better hit tool. Bryce Rainer gets a slight edge over Stewart, as I think Rainer has some crazy high potential we were only just seeing the beginning of before his injury.
  • Previous Rank: 83
  • Hitter Tool Grades:
    • Hit: 55/60
    • Plate Approach: 40/50
    • Power: 55/60
    • Speed: 45/40

37. SP Liam Doyle (Cardinals)

  • 2025 College: 95 2/3 IP | 34.3 K-BB% | 3.20 ERA, 0.99 WHIP
  • Age: 21
  • ETA: Late 2026
  • Comp: Tarik Skubal/Sonny Gray mash-up
  • Prime Skills: Liam Doyle is best known for a big 100 MPH+ fastball from the left side with big-time ride, along with his bulldog-like mentality on the mound, which reminds me of Sonny Gray, as does the high effort/high arm speed delivery. Doyle is one of the very few lefties who features a splitter in their arsenal, with a ton of dive to it and a nice off-balance pitch to throw against the fastball. The sweeper could be a bigger weapon with an uptick in velocity, while the cutter is a solid weapon without a ton of break, but enough to make it a weapon up in the zone.
  • Ranking Explanation: Doyle has ace-level potential for the Cardinals, and his success will largely be dependent upon health and the development of his secondaries, as the fastball will be one of the better fastballs in the Majors the moment Doyle debuts. He should be a quick mover and debut by the end of 2026 as long as he can build up to normal workloads and replicate the track some of the other top pitching prospects have taken in recent seasons. Doyle has a higher upside than Trey Yesavage with the super elite fastball, but Yesavage has had a very solid season of pro ball and deserves the bump at this time.
  • Previous Rank: N/A
  • Arsenal Grades:
    • FA (94-100 MPH): 70/70
    • FS (84-89 MPH): 50/60
    • SL (82-85 MPH)
    • Sweeping SL: 50/60
    • FC (87-90 MPH): 50/50
    • Command: 45/50

38. Aidan Miller (SS – PHI)

  • 2024 A/A+/AA: .261/.366/.446 | 12.1 BB%, 21.6 K% | 45 XBH, 11 HR, 23 SB
  • 2025 AA (as of 8/22/25): .249/.361/.414 | 13.5 BB%, 24.7 K% | 35 XBH, 12 HR, 47 SB
  • Age: 21
  • ETA: Late 2026
  • Comp: Shades of Royce Lewis (lower hit, better speed)
  • Prime Skills: Aisan Miller is an athlete. I had a live look at him, and he’s really just a super-athlete and gamer. A lot of analysts thought he would move off shortstop to third base, but he looks super smooth and athletic. He should stay at shortstop as long as he can. He has above-average to plus tools across the board with a 77.3% contact rate and a great ability to pull the ball in the air. He is still pretty raw and seems to run into issues when he gets to a new level, but he eventually adapts. He’s recorded an impressive 106.3 90th percentile exit velocity on the season and has a max exit velocity of 109.3.
  • Ranking Explanation: It’s important to remember that Miller is still young for the AA level by a year or two and should get a theoretical bump to his already solid 124 wRC+ of about 40-50 points. He’s actually running more this year and should translate some of the doubles power into more home run power as he matures. Phillies fans should get excited, as the hit tool should be playing better than it has been this year. I give Miller the edge over George Lombard and Marcelo Mayer because I think he has a bit more power upside and is just a bit more electric. He gets the edge over Rainiel Rodriguez because he plays a premium position, has proximity and brings speed/steals to the table.
  • Previous Rank: 79
  • Hitter Tool Grades:
    • Hit: 45/50
    • Plate Approach: 55/55
    • Power: 50/60
    • Speed: 65/60

39. Jonah Tong (SP – NYM)

  • 2024 A/A+/AA: 113 IP | 24.1 K-BB%, 14.9 SwStr%, 31.1 CSW | 3.03 ERA, 1.17 WHIP
  • 2025 AA/AAA (as of 8/22/25): 107 2/3 IP | 29.8 K-BB%, 16.8 SwStr%, 34.8 CSW | 1.50 ERA, 0.92 WHIP
  • Age: 22
  • ETA: Early/Mid 2026
  • Comp: Tim Lincecum
  • Prime Skills: Jonah Tong has some tricky IVB on a sinking mid-90s fastball (hitting 95-96 MPH now), a big curveball that drops right in on hitters from a high over the top arm slot from a smaller 6-foot-1, 180-pound frame. He also pairs these with a decent back pocket change-up and a hard vertical slider to bridge between the fastball and curveball. The command has been pretty steady of late and didn’t falter in his first AAA start, which is a task on its own. Tong has been phenomenal this season with a 1.75 JA ERA (SIERA). The fastball grades so well based on ride and generated a 20% SwStr% in his first AAA start. The change-up is a Vulcan grip change-up that is pretty nasty with a 25.8% SwStr% in his first AAA start.
  • Ranking Explanation: His success largely depends on having at least an average command of his pitches. The command issues may be a thing of the past at this point. The biggest concern now is how his shoulder will hold up based on a slight frame and a super over-the-top arm slot that could lead to injury. The fact that his pitches are primarily north and south would benefit from a pitch that breaks east to west.
  • Previous Rank: 84
  • Arsenal Grades:
    • FA (95-98 MPH): 65/65
    • CH (84-87 MPH): 50/60
    • CU (76-78 MPH): 55/55
    • SL (84-89 MPH): 40/50
    • Command: 40/45

40. Rainiel Rodriguez (C – STL)

  • 2024 DSL: .345/.462/.683 | 16.3 BB%, 13.6 K% | 25 XBH, 10 HR, 1 SB
  • 2025 CPX/A (as of 8/23/25): .275/.413/.550 | 16.5 BB%, 17.8 K% | 36 XBH, 16 HR, 4 SB
  • Age: 18
  • ETA: 2028
  • Comp: Agustin Ramirez
  • Prime Skills: Rainiel Rodriguez has big-time power potential with plus to plus-plus exit velocities for his age (103.8 90th percentile exit velocity and 109 max exit velocity) and a great, mature plate approach, as well as crazy pull power (I saw him hit the second-longest homer in Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium of anyone I have seen there, including pro players). The hit tool tracks to be average, if not above average, with a 78.4% contact rate and 83% Z-Contact%. He’s only 18 years old and continues to get better the longer he’s at the level.
  • Ranking Explanation: Rodriguez has a sky-high power ceiling at catcher/designated hitter and is a little short to move off the position to first base. He’s a solid, but not fantastic defender at catcher with a good arm and may see some time in left field or third base based on the Cardinals’ catching depth, so there may be a Josh Donaldson-like move around the field. I have seen a lot of Rainiel Rodriguez in person, and every time I see him, the plate approach and contactability improve. There’s no reason to think he won’t develop into a power-hitting stud. The hit tool and plate approach launch his potential over that of someone like Spencer Jones, despite the proximity and speed of Jones. Rodriguez has shown consistent growth and has the potential to be one of the better power hitters in the Majors down the road if this developmental track continues. Even though Zyhir Hope is seven spots higher, the spread here is so thin. This is a nice tier of top players through to Eduardo Tait.
  • Previous Rank: 89
  • Hitter Tool Grades:
    • Hit: 50/55
    • Plate Approach: 60/65
    • Power: 55/70
    • Speed: 40/35

41. Nolan McLean (SP – NYM)

  • 2024 CPX/A+: 76 IP | 21.2 K-BB%, 15.8 SwStr%, 32 CSW% | 2.84 ERA, 1.04 WHIP
  • 2025 AA/AAA: 113 2/3 IP | 16.5 K-BB%, 12 SwStr%, 29.2 CSW% | 2.45 ERA, 1.13 WHIP
  • 2025 MLB (as of 8/24/25): 12 1/3 IP | 23.9 K-BB%, 10.8 SwStr%, 29.6 CSW% | 1.46 ERA, 0.81 WHIP
  • Age: 24
  • ETA: Debuted (in MLB)
  • Comp: Tanner Bibee/Luis Severino mash-up
  • Prime Skills: Nolan McLean is focusing on pitching for the first year of his Minor League career, and we are seeing an uptick in the effectiveness of his stuff. His arsenal includes a mediocre mid-90s fastball (that tops out at 98) and a potential elite late-breaking vertical sweeper with a unique hard cut at the tail end of the pitch. He also has a sinker that sits in the mid-90s that had a 75% ground ball rate in AAA, along with an 88-90 MPH cutter with slider break, an 85-88 MPH change-up and a low-80s big hooking curve that is his best swing-and-miss pitch.
  • Ranking Explanation: McLean currently has below-average command, but he’s still developing. He is a big-time kitchen sink sum of the parts is greater than the whole type of player because his pitches are all solid and don’t really work as well on their own, but together are a major problem.
  • Previous Rank: 103
  • Arsenal Grades:
    • FA (94-98 MPH): 50/50
    • SW (84-87 MPH): 50/60
    • SI (93-96 MPH): 55/60
    • FC (88-91 MPH): 55/60
    • CU (80-82 MPH): 60/70
    • CH (85-88 MPH): 40/40
    • Command: 40/45

42. Eduardo Tait (C – MIN)

  • 2024 CPX/A: .302/.356/.486 | 6.4 BB%, 19.6 K% | 30 XBH, 11 HR, 5 SB (79 games)
  • 2025 A/A+ (as of 8/19/25): .249/.309/.427 | 7.6 BB%, 19.5 K% | 38 XBH, 14 HR, 0 SB
  • Age: 18
  • ETA: 2027
  • Comp: A lefty version of the Contreras brothers
  • Prime Skills: Eduardo Tait has a nice lefty swing from the catching position. The Panama prospect (a la lefty Ivan Herrera) also has big power potential, especially for a catcher, and made it to Single-A ball last year at 17 years old. This season, he has shown an above-average contact profile with a 77% contact rate and 85.2% Z-Contact% with a solidly aggressive 72.5% Z-Swing%. He also has some ludicrous power numbers, like a 113.8 max exit velocity and 105.9 90th percentile exit velocity, plus a 10% barrel rate and 16-degree average launch angle as an 18-year-old prospect.
  • Ranking Explanation: Tait has put up some incredibly impressive numbers for his age, and I love his swing and power. He’s also good defensively as someone who got eyes on him at Single-A ball this season, hanging in to catch Andrew Painter. There is a little bit of a split concern, as he is not good against lefties. As a lefty catcher, it means he might have kind of a strong-side platoon thing going on once he’s in the Majors, unless the defense becomes invaluable behind the dish. His slash line against righties is .262/.312/.450. Against lefties, it is .188/.293/.313. With a 102 wRC+ at his age, we should be adjusting for about a 75-point age-to-level bump. The biggest knock on him is the plate approach, as he is running a 38% chase rate on the year and needs to tone down the aggression outside of the zone, though this has been much worse at High-A for him. Tait has some big-time power potential from the catcher spot with a solid hit tool. He gets the edge over Jett Williams as I value hit and power over plate approach and speed.
  • Previous Rank: 32
  • Hitter Tool Grades:
    • Hit: 50/60
    • Plate Approach: 30/40
    • Power: 55/70
    • Speed: 30/30

43. Jett Williams (2B, SS, OF – NYM)

  • 2023 A/A+/AA: .263/.425/.451 | 43 XBH, 13 HR, 45 SB
  • 2024 A/AA/AAA: .215/.358/.298 | 14.9 BB%, 23.6 K% | 9 XBH, 0 HR, 5 SB (33 games)
  • 2025 AA/AAA (as of 8/19/25): .282/.387/.479 | 14.2 BB%, 22.8 K% | 47 XBH, 11 HR, 32 SB
  • Age: 21
  • ETA: Early 2026
  • Comp: Jose Altuve build with Bryson Stott-like production
  • Prime Skills: Jett Williams has plate skills and speed. The contact tool is still developing, but should ultimately be a good tool for Williams, as he has gotten the hit tool back to his pre-injury 2023 levels with an 80.1% contact rate (it’s at 75.8% on the year and higher than his Z-Contact% at AAA). He has non-zero power, and because he has a quick swing, he can get to a surprising number of extra-base hits. He has a max 108.4 exit velocity in a small sample size of Statcast data this year and could run into a couple of 20-homer seasons, but will likely live in the 15-home run range and steal 30-40 bags.
  • Ranking Explanation: Williams is back in the rankings range he was at pre-injury in 2023, but with a completely different cast of characters around him. I give Kaelen Culpepper the edge over Williams as he has a tick higher hit/power combo and is more likely to hit for another .20 points of batting average and 3-5 more bombs per season, but may run a worse on-base percentage (OBP) and 10 steals fewer than Williams. I do give Williams the edge over Marcelo Mayer, though, as I think Mayer’s lack of speed will lead to more like .240 to .260 averages, which Williams should also be able to reach, with a better OPB and more steals.
  • Previous Rank: 37
  • Hitter Tool Grades:
    • Hit: 40/45
    • Plate Approach: 60/60
    • Power: 45/50
    • Speed: 65/65

44. Marcelo Mayer (SS – BOS)

  • 2024 AA: .307/.370/.480 | 9 BB%, 19.7 K% | 36 XBH, 8 HR, 13 SB (77 games)
  • 2025 AAA: .271/.347/.471 | 10.4 BB%, 19.7 K% | 15 XBH, 9 HR, 2 SB
  • 2025 MLB (as of 8/18/25): .228/.272/.402 | 5.9 BB%, 30.1 K% | 13 XBH, 4 HR, 0 SB (44 games)
  • Age: 22
  • ETA: Debuted (on IL)
  • Comp: Lefty Dansby Swanson with more doubles power but lower home run power
  • Prime Skills: Marcelo Mayer has fast hands and a good eye, leading to an advanced batting average profile, but how much power will he hit for in his prime? He’s had some bad injury luck, impacting his stat line two seasons in a row now. Mayer has an above-average hit tool with an 86.3% Z-contact% this season at AAA and an aggressive approach with a 64.7 Z-swing%. I think we have a high doubles hitter here who will provide immediate value based on an advanced approach. The exit velocities are also above average, with a 111.2 max exit velocity at AAA and an impressive 106.3 90th percentile exit velocity.
  • Ranking Explanation: Mayer is getting bigger and might not be a superstar, but he should be an above-average major leaguer or All-Star in his peak years and provide decent fantasy value. He doesn’t have elite power potential, but he hits the ball hard consistently with a 106.3 90th percentile exit velocity that should allow him to get to nice gap power. Mayer strikes out more against lefties, but he hits them just as well, so there are no real platoon concerns as he could have some All-Star level seasons in the 130 wRC+ range. I really didn’t want to have to rank Mayer again, but the injury means he is still a prospect by three at-bats. I do have some concerns about Mayer’s durability long-term; while on the other side, Mayer gets the edge over Eduardo Tait purely because of proximity.
  • Previous Rank: 27
  • Hitter Tool Grades:
    • Hit: 55/55
    • Plate Approach: 50/55
    • Power: 55/55
    • Speed: 40/40

45. George Lombard (SS – NYY)

  • 2024 A: .231/.338/.334 | 12.3 BB%, 22.9 K% | 32 XBH, 5 HR, 39 SB
  • 2025 A+/AA (as of 8/21/25): .234/.365/.373 | 14.4 BB%, 24.1 K% | 36 XBH, 7 HR, 29 SB
  • Age: 20
  • ETA: 2027
  • Comp: Barry Larkin-lite
  • Prime Skills: George Lombard has a plus-plus plate approach with an average hit tool (73.6% contact rate and solid, but not great angles). He also shows some extreme athleticism that hasn’t had a chance to play up yet (outside of the speed) since he’s been advanced aggressively age-to-level in a Cole Young-esque way. Lombard added some muscle to his 6-foot-2 frame this offseason, but it hasn’t resulted in much of a power uptick as of yet. He’s a doubles guy right now, but could grow into more power as he has reportedly hit the ball over 110 MPH, though the highest max exit velocity on record is 108.4. His 90th percentile from 2024, when we had data, was 102.4, but it is likely higher post muscle spurt.
  • Ranking Explanation: Lombard was mashing High-a with a .329/.505/.488 line, but has struggled a bit since making the transition to AA as a 20-year-old to a still solid 103 wRC+. Age-to-level, a 50-65 point bounce is fair, as Lombard’s adjustments to AA and a hopeful increase in power production are key indicators for his future value moving forward. He hasn’t really put up the numbers you would like to see, but tools-wise and under the hood, he’s been impressive on an age-to-level basis. I give Lombard the edge over Arjun Nimmala as he has a better plate approach, hit tool and speed; while Nimmala has a higher power upside.
  • Previous Rank: 69
  • Hitter Tool Grades:
    • Hit: 40/50
    • Plate Approach: 50/60
    • Power: 40/55
    • Speed: 65/60

46. Braden Montgomery (OF – CWS)

  • 2024 College: .322/.454/.611 | 32 XBH, 17 HR, 6 SB
  • 2025 A/A+ (as of 8/19/25): .280/.371/.463 | 11.4 BB%, 24.8 K% | 45 XBH, 12 HR, 14 SB
  • Age: 22
  • ETA: Late 2026
  • Comp: Bigger Jasson Dominguez with less speed
  • Prime Skills: Braden Montgomery is an athletic, switch-hitting power hitter. He has an arm as a former pitcher as well, and a quick, short swing where he gets to the ball no matter where it’s thrown. Montgomery is a true switch-hitter with no split to speak of. He’s a boss on both sides of the plate, which is a boon in this day in age, though he does appear to have a better eye from the left side of the plate. He explodes on the ball from the left side of the plate level with the zone and seems to have more of an upper cut on his swing from the right side. The contact rates have unfortunately dropped from average-ish at Low-A (74%) to well below-average (67%) at High-A and AA. He does have a high quality of contact with an over 23% line-drive rate on the season, especially from the right side of the plate, where his slugging rate jumps from .427 as a lefty against righties to .562 as a righty against lefties. Montgomery has recorded some elite power numbers with a 115 max exit velocity and an above-average 106.4 90th percentile exit velocity.
  • Ranking Explanation: Montgomery has a volatile range within each skillset: Below-average contact but above-average quality of contact. Below-average reach rate but above-average walk rate. Slow acceleration, but high top-end speed. There’s a less volatile Emmanuel Rodriguez in this profile that hopefully is more durable, injury-wise. Montgomery and Arjun Nimmala have both proven themselves to be very streaky players over the course of the season. While Nimmala is younger and plays shortstop, Montgomery has the safer hit/power upside of the two purely as hitter.
  • Previous Rank: 21
  • Hitter Tool Grades:
    • Hit: 30/50
    • Plate Approach: 30/40
    • Power: 55/65
    • Speed: 50/55

47. Arjun Nimmala (SS – TOR)

  • 2024 CPX/A: .232/.325/.482 | 10 BB%, 30.7 K% | 44 XBH, 17 HR, 9 SB
  • 2025 A+ (as of 8/19/25): .229/.318/.339 | 10.2 BB%, 20.8 K% | 43 XBH, 13 HR, 15 SB
  • Age: 19
  • ETA: Late 2027
  • Comp: Leaner Carlos Correa with Troy Tulowitzki production
  • Prime Skills: Arjun Nimmala should stick at shortstop long-term as a solid defensive player with a good all-fields hit tool that currently projects as better gap power than homerun power. He’s young with a solid frame and brings a lot more power than you might expect for his age. He maxed out with a 107 exit velocity last season, with a 90th exit velocity of 102.3 (solid for his age), but only a 105.7 exit velocity in the limited Statcast data we have available from High-A. He’s rocking only a 72.3% contact rate with poor angles this year at High-A, as there seems to be a lot of groundouts or fly outs as he misses with the bat on barrels for line drives.
  • Ranking Explanation: It has been a tale of two halves for Arjun Nimmala. Since June 15th, he’s been hitting .178/.273/.288 with only three homers. Before June 15th, Nimmala hit .267/.351/.483 with 10 homers. Nimmala has a higher upside than Lazaro Montes, hence the ranking above him, despite the terrible second half. He’s adjusted from bad halves successfully before.
  • Previous Rank: 31
  • Hitter Tool Grades:
    • Hit: 30/45
    • Plate Approach: 50/50
    • Power: 40/60
    • Speed: 55/50

48 Lazaro Montes (OF – SEA)

  • 2024 A/A+: .288/.397/.484 | 14.4 BB%, 23.6 K% | 44 XBH, 21 HR, 5 SB
  • 2025 A+/AA (as of 8/20/25): .249/.361/.535 | 15 BB%, 28.7 K% | 52 XBH, 29 HR, 5 SB
  • Age: 20
  • ETA: Early 2027
  • Comp: Shades of an outfield version Matt Olson
  • Prime Skills: Lazaro Montes is a strong kid with fantastic power from the left side and a solid eye. The power is up this year from last year, but he is also striking out quite a bit more. The hit tool seems to be getting worse from a contact standpoint (62.7% contact rate on the season and 57.7% at AA), while the angles are still very good (15% barrel rate in 2024). He hits the ball very hard with a reported 116 max exit velocity and a 106.3 90th percentile exit velocity this season.
  • Ranking Explanation: Montes killed it in Low-A last season and then struggled when he was first bumped up to High-A, but he did finish the season strong. From August on, Montes hit .333/.459/.604 with seven bombs and three steals. The strikeout rates have ticked up, the contact has ticked down and he has not been good against lefties with a .208/.282/.432 slash, so I have concerns as the current approach is not sustainable for a Major League hitter. Montes is only 20 years old and has more time to further develop the hit tool in the Minors, as he was at least running a 72% contact rate at Single-A ball.
  • Previous Rank: 24
  • Hitter Tool Grades:
    • Hit: 30/40
    • Plate Approach: 35/45
    • Power: 65/70
    • Speed: 35/30

49. Mike Sirota (OF – LAD)

  • 2024 College: .298/.473/.687 | 23 BB%, 18.8 K% | 25 XBH, 7 HR, 19 SB
  • 2025 A/A+ (as of 8/22/25): .333/.452/.616 | 17.8 BB%, 21.9 K% | 32 XBH, 13 HR, 5 SB (59 games)
  • Age: 22
  • ETA: 2027
  • Comp: Julio Rodriguez-lite
  • Prime Skills: Mike Sirota has an advanced plate approach and big-time athleticism with a power/speed combo that pops as long as he can hit at least at an average level (73.4% contact rate this season). He’s a twitchy hitter in the box with quick hands that lead to explosive gap power, along with some great quality of contact, with a 26% line-drive rate on the season. Sirota recorded a max exit velocity of 113 and a 90th-percentile exit velocity of only 102.6, but this was only in a limited sample size — the line-drive rate and extra-base hit ability show there is a plus power tool.
  • Ranking Explanation: Sirota is one of the top breakout prospects of 2025, but unfortunately is out for the rest of the season. The speed is there (though he hasn’t shown it in the steals department) and I trust the contact and plate skills a bit more, even in only a small sample size in the Minors. The baserunning did not match the speed this year, but there is more potential than what we have seen on the back of the baseball card. Sirota ran a 189 wRC+ on the season and has only played at levels where he is above or at the average age. I bump him ahead of Spencer Jones as the hit tool and plate approach are significantly better, while the tools are only slightly worse. Lazaro Montes gets the edge, despite my trusting Sirota’s tools more, just because of the age-to-level power being so impressive.
  • Previous Rank: 71
  • Hitter Tool Grades:
    • Hit: 40/45
    • Plate Approach: 60/65
    • Power: 55/65
    • Speed: 45/55

50. Logan Henderson (SP – MIL)

  • 2024 CPX/A+/AA/AAA: 81 1/3 IP | 28.1 K-BB%, 15 SwStr%, 31.6 CSW% | 3.32 ERA, 0.91 WHIP
  • 2025 AAA: 77 2/3IP | 20.2 K-BB%, 13.9 SwStr%, 29.4 CSW% | 3.59 ERA, 1.11 WHIP
  • 2025 MLB (as of 8/20/25): 21 IP | 28.4 K-BB%, 12 SwStr%, 24.9 CSW% | 1.78 ERA, 0.99 WHIP
  • Age: 23
  • ETA: Debuted (IL)
  • Comp: Spencer Strider-light (dude has some quads) mash with Michael Wacha
  • Prime Skills: Logan Henderson is of slight build (5-foot-11) with excellent command and a nice fastball/change-up combo. The fastball runs 92-96 MPH with nearly 17″ of IVB and 85th MLB percentile run, not to mention a 95th percentile vertical approach angle (VAA). His change-up is one of the better change-ups in all of baseball, with 99th percentile break and 100th percentile spin. On a pitch level, Henderson throws the fastball and change-up a combined 80-85% of the time. He needs to throw the cutter and slider (bad command) more often to balance the borderline elite fastball/change-up combo.
  • Ranking Explanation: I have been one of the bigger Logan Henderson fans for the last year or so when it comes to prospecting. The cutter is good; Henderson should throw it a little more and then work on developing a better breaking pitch this offseason (sweeper?) to improve the arsenal. Liam Doyle has better overall stuff than Henderson. Funny enough, he might also pitch more innings this season than Henderson did. I likely would have had Henderson up a few more spots had he not gotten hurt.
  • Previous Rank: 46
  • Arsenal Grades:
    • FA (92-96 MPH): 65/65
    • CH (81-84 MPH): 60/70
    • FC (87-90 MPH): 50/55
    • SL (82-85 MPH): 35/40
    • Command: 60/60

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Tim Kanak

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I have a Broadcast Journalism degree from the University of Missouri and reported sporting news for the local NBC affiliate. I also have a Masters from UCF. I own and operate multiple construction businesses in South Florida and in my free time write about fantasy baseball and podcast; including creating the fScores. Find me via the Fantasy Aceball Podcast, here on Fantasy Pros or on FWFB. Twitter @fantasyaceball.