This yr, commencement day arrived on Might 11.
That is when prospects who started the 2025 season on Main League Opening Day rosters exceeded 45 days of service time and exhausted their rookie eligibility/prospect standing. Round right here, we are saying that is after they graduate from prospectdom.
This yr, three Prime 100 prospects got here off the listing on Sunday — Pink Sox second baseman Kristian Campbell, Astros outfielder Cam Smith and Braves catcher Drake Baldwin. Dodgers right-hander and former No. 1 total prospect Roki Sasaki graduated on Might 2 attributable to Los Angeles’ early begin to the season in Tokyo.
So as a substitute of including three new names to MLB Pipeline’s Prime 100, we’re taking this chance of pomp and circumstance to offer the rating a shakeup, or what we name a market correction.
We traditionally do two full updates of the Prime 100 and staff Prime 30 lists every year — one preseason and one midseason that includes the most recent Draft class. However in recent times, in between, we’ve been making tweaks to the Prime 100 roughly each six weeks that embrace the next changes: a whole revote on the highest 15, motion of gamers up or down 10+ spots as wanted, removing of struggling prospects and addition of worthy names. In different phrases, you will not see many slight actions at the moment, except they occur due to different seismic jumps/falls. We wish to give breakout abilities the rises they deserve and precisely replicate gamers who’ve misplaced some shine as their pattern sizes have widened this spring.
With all that in thoughts, here is the primary batch of market corrections to MLB Pipeline’s Prime 100 Prospects rankings for 2025:
Prime 15:
1. Roman Anthony, OF, Pink Sox
2. Bubba Chandler, RHP, Pirates
3. Leo De Vries, SS, Padres
4. Jordan Lawlar, INF, D-backs
5. Andrew Painter, RHP, Phillies
6. Walker Jenkins, OF, Twins
7. Max Clark, OF, Tigers
8. Marcelo Mayer, SS, Pink Sox
9. Sebastian Walcott, SS/3B, Rangers
10. Jac Caglianone, 1B/OF, Royals
11. Chase Burns, RHP, Reds
12. Travis Bazzana, 2B, Guardians
13. Noah Schultz, LHP, White Sox
14. Nick Kurtz, 1B, Athletics
15. Dalton Speeding, C/OF, Dodgers
Anthony retains his spot at No. 1 following Sasaki’s commencement, and it was a simple name. At simply 20 years outdated (he turns 21 on Tuesday), the Pink Sox outfielder has constantly been at or close to the highest of the Triple-A leaderboard in barrels, barrel fee, anticipated slugging share, common exit velocity and chase fee. In different phrases, he hits the ball arduous, he hits the ball arduous typically and he will not increase the zone to do it. He ought to be in Boston quickly. The Pink Sox are the one group with two high 15 prospects, as Mayer additionally holds onto a outstanding spot at No. 8.
Chandler jumps to No. 2, his highest rating ever and the very best spot for a Pirate since one other right-hander slid there in Might 2024. He is named Paul Skenes. Chandler has picked up from the place he left off with Triple-A Indianapolis final yr and proven much more dominant stuff. His four-seamer alone has averaged 98.3 mph with 18.6 inches of induced vertical break, and the mix of velo and trip has generated a 42 % whiff fee. His changeup and slider additionally proceed to indicate above-average promise, and a curveball provides another providing for batters to think about. A former two-way participant and Clemson quarterback recruit, Chandler’s athleticism continues to allow him to blossom on the mound in his age-22 season.
De Vries makes the most important bounce into the highest 15, climbing 11 spots from 14 to three, as he takes the Excessive-A Midwest League by storm at simply 18 years outdated. The switch-hitting shortstop is a barely higher slugger from the fitting, however he is no slouch from the opposite facet. With above-average velocity and arm on the filth, he is grow to be the sport’s high shortstop prospect.
The 2024 Draft is nicely represented on the highest 15 with Caglianone, Burns, Bazzana and Kurtz within the combine.
Now a hitter solely in professional ball, Caglianone — the highest-ranked amongst them — has introduced his Stantonian energy to Double-A Northwest Arkansas, and whereas his chase fee stays on the excessive facet, it isn’t as regarding because it was at Florida. He is additionally sprinkled in some outfield work as Kansas Metropolis considers a spot for him within the bigs quickly.
Climbing 18 spots, Kurtz remains to be looking for his footing with the A’s however he blasted by Triple-A Las Vegas, inflicting the org to create space for him lower than a yr after his choice out of Wake Forest. And Burns has already compelled an in-season promotion to Double-A Chattanooga on the energy of his elite fastball and distinctive slider.
Highest risers
+49 George Lombard Jr., SS, Yankees (93 to 44)
+26 Jesús Made, SS, Brewers (49 to 23)
+21 Zyhir Hope, OF, Dodgers (66 to 45)
+19 Arjun Nimmala, SS, Blue Jays (78 to 59)
+19 Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Brewers (91 to 72)
+18 Nick Kurtz, 1B, Athletics (32 to 14)
+15 Alex Freeland, SS, Dodgers (63 to 48)
+11 Leo De Vries, SS, Padres (14 to three)
+10 Chase Burns, RHP, Reds (21 to 11)
+10 Dalton Speeding, C/OF, Dodgers (25 to fifteen)
+10 Cade Horton, RHP, Cubs (45 to 35)
+10 Braden Montgomery, OF, White Sox (48 to 38)
+10 Franklin Arias, SS/2B, Pink Sox (67 to 57)
+10 Jefferson Rojas, SS/2B, Cubs (88 to 78)
Lombard was our first in-season addition to the Prime 100 after displaying in Main League camp this spring as the results of a simplified swing and added energy. Already thought of a possible plus defender at shortstop, he has moved to Double-A Somerset at simply 19 years outdated as a result of Excessive-A proved to be no problem for him.
Made continues to have jet gas in his profile. He ignored the Rookie-level Arizona Advanced League and opened his age-18 season with Single-A Carolina, the place his mixture of superior strategy and strong energy has him placing up numbers of a participant with rather more expertise. An early ankle damage has restricted his pattern considerably, but when he can maintain his present efficiency over just a few extra months, he’ll be in clear consideration for a Prime 10 spot.
Restricted to 61 video games attributable to a rib damage in ’24, Hope solidified his standing as a Prime 100 prospect in final yr’s Arizona Fall League and continues to seem like a five-tool star at Excessive-A Nice Lakes in his second full season. Nimmala has equally continued his momentum after a second-half turnaround final summer season and has minimize down on the strikeouts whereas sustaining his energy manufacturing with Excessive-A Vancouver.
At Triple-A, Misiorowski nonetheless holds a spot within the Nashville rotation and has proven flashes of improved management. It will not be sufficient to maintain him from changing into a high-leverage reliever in the long term, however there’s elevated perception he might get a shot on the Milwaukee rotation along with his 80-grade fastball, pair of plus breaking balls and makings of a usable changeup. On the similar stage, Freeland is enjoying his manner into consideration for the Dodgers. Like Lombard, he earned plus grades for his protection, however he is been up there with Anthony amongst many hard-hit indicators with Oklahoma Metropolis, giving him one other dynamic in his age-23 season. He is seen time at third base and second in case the defending World Sequence champs wish to carry him up and preserve Mookie Betts on the six.
New faces
94. Robby Snelling, LHP, Marlins
95. Brady Home, 3B, Nationals
96. Ryan Sloan, RHP, Mariners
97. Agustín Ramírez, C/1B, Marlins
99. Slade Caldwell, OF, D-backs
100. Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, D-backs
There are a few acquainted faces on this spot really. Snelling, Home and Ramírez all slot again into the Prime 100 after beforehand that includes in that vary.
Snelling, acquired from the Padres eventually yr’s Commerce Deadline, has had an uptick in his velocity in his return to Double-A, and his fastball now averages 94 mph, per Synergy. His slider and changeup have confirmed to be at the very least common choices as nicely, and his walks stay in verify regardless of the additional warmth. Sticking in the identical system, Ramirez has already climbed to the Majors, the place his trademark energy and quick bat velocity have eased the transition. His defensive work behind the plate will stay in query as long as he sticks at catcher, however he is proving his bat can do sufficient to compensate.
Home dropped out of the Prime 100 this offseason due to a very aggressive strategy in his first style of Triple-A with Rochester final season. He’s nonetheless swinging exterior the zone greater than you’d usually like, however the chase fee isn’t as excessive, enabling his trademark energy to play higher in video games. He’s acting at an above-average stage for Triple-A to start ‘25, and he nonetheless doesn’t flip 22 till subsequent month.
Sloan turns into Seattle’s ninth member of the Prime 100, becoming a member of the listing not lengthy after switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje. Evaluators will be cut up on which of the 2 2024 picks they like, however Sloan, simply 19 years outdated for the entire season, has loads of upside himself with two plus pitches in his fastball and changeup and an above-average slider.
Rounding out the brand new group is one other pair of 2024 picks from the identical group — and two outfielders besides. Caldwell falls in step with Arizona’s penchant for smaller left-handed-hitting outfielders, and the first-rounder has been an on-base machine in his early days with Single-A Visalia, excellent for a participant with plus-plus velocity. ACL restoration slowed Waldschmidt in his last season at Kentucky, however he caught hearth late and seemed like an outfielder with above-average hit and energy instruments. Again to full well being with Excessive-A Hillsboro, that status has carried into professional ball with a strong strategy and slugging outcomes.
Greatest droppers
-28 Brandon Sproat, RHP, Mets (40 to 68)
-22 Chase DeLauter, OF, Guardians (30 to 52)
-22 Noble Meyer, RHP, Marlins (76 to 98)
-21 Brayden Taylor, INF, Rays (58 to 79)
-19 Carson Williams, SS, Rays (5 to 24)
-13 Termarr Johnson, 2B/SS, Pirates (74 to 87)
-13 Thayron Liranzo, C/1B, Tigers (73 to 86)
-13 Thomas Harrington, LHP, Pirates (71 to 84)
-11 Carter Jensen, C, Royals (77 to 88)
-11 Harry Ford, C, Mariners (56 to 67)
Sproat is coming off one in all his finest Triple-A outings on Wednesday, however relationship again to final season, he is nonetheless having issue lacking bats with regularity on the Minors’ high stage. None of his pitches have a whiff fee above 30 % this season, and his four-seamer has confirmed pretty hittable regardless of sitting 95-97 mph.
DeLauter hadn’t performed greater than 57 video games in both of his first two full seasons attributable to numerous left foot accidents, making his well being paramount for improvement in 2025. Sadly, he underwent core muscle surgical procedure in March, delaying his begin to the season. Even when it is unrelated to his earlier woes, the misplaced time stacks up and impacts the assumption the outfielder can attain his appreciable ceiling.
Meyer — the tenth total decide within the 2023 Draft — clings to his spot regardless of extra tough outcomes at Excessive-A Beloit (7.13 ERA in 5 begins). He is nonetheless lacking bats with 20 strikeouts in 17 2/3 innings, thanks largely to his low-80s slider, and he has projection remaining as a 6-foot-5 right-hander at simply 20 years outdated. However except outcomes flip round, he is a drop candidate for our subsequent spherical of market corrections early this summer season.
Rounding out the most important droppers are a pair of Rays infielders. Williams nonetheless has an immense ceiling as a possible all-world defensive shortstop with plus energy and above-average velocity. However his fringy hit device has reached its largest check but at Triple-A, and the right-handed slugger has actually struggled in opposition to non-fastballs with Durham, inflicting him to drop out of the highest 20 fully. Taylor has lengthy been thought of a jack-of-all-trades participant on the filth however is off to a gradual begin in his return to Double-A Montgomery. With out a true plus device, it is more durable to maintain him in the midst of the Prime 100 till outcomes return.
Transferring out
Colson Montgomery, SS, White Sox (from 34)
James Triantos, 2B/OF, Cubs (from 67)
Tink Therefore, RHP, Cardinals (from 71)
Montgomery was already coming off a down yr at Triple-A Charlotte in 2024 (.214/.329/.381) however nonetheless had the look of a possible plus energy hitter contemplating he was simply 22 for your complete season. Returning to the Worldwide League this spring, he obtained off to a good more durable begin with a .149 common and 41.7 % strikeout fee in 23 video games, and the White Sox moved him again to the Arizona complicated for an in-season reset. He might nonetheless play an enormous a part of the rebuild on the South Facet, however we wish to see the 2021 first-rounder carry out constantly once more earlier than placing him again on the listing.
Triantos headed again to Triple-A Iowa’s loaded lineup with a status for having distinctive bat-to-ball expertise, above-average velocity and questionable energy. The facility continues to be under common, and the general hit device has struggled too, partially as a result of the Cubs prospect’s chase fee ranks under the fifth percentile for Triple-A. Triantos was at all times fairly aggressive, however he is grow to be worryingly so so far in ’25.
Therefore actually wanted a wholesome 2025. He nonetheless hasn’t thrown greater than 96 innings in a season for the reason that Cardinals took him 63rd total in 2020, and lat/chest/shoulder points held him to 79 2/3 frames in ’24. He suffered a proper rib cage pressure earlier than the season started and moved to the 60-day injured listing in late March. Pretty much as good because the stuff has seemed, he wants to indicate he can follow the mound to regain extra strong Prime 100 consideration.
