Please enjoy the first release of the Top 25 Prospects article series. This Top 25 Prospects is brought to you by Paul (Toronto General Manager) and James (Seattle General Manager).
1 – C – Eric Malone – TOR – Max Rating = 98/98, .297 BA with a .921 OPS
Malone was a lower pick in the draft, yet he is a star. The White Sox dealt him to Toronto in 2023, I’m sure they regret that. Malone will be one of if not the best catchers in the game for a very long time.
2 – SS – Mike Kelso – TOR – Max Rating = 98/98, .292 BA with a .890 OPS
Kelso seems set to make his starting debut with the Toronto Blue Jays this season. His speed is very impressive, yet his bat is good for a .300 batting average and 20+ home runs a season. The Blue Jays take 1-2 in this Top Prospect list, watch out world.
3 – 3B – Marco Escanuelas – CHC – Max Rating = 96/96, .275 BA with a .867 OPS
Esanuelas is a very solid 3rd baseman with great power. Escanuelas could come up to the majors today and hit at least 20 home runs. His defense is also very good, expect a few gold glove awards from Escanuelas and several all star seasons.
4 – RP – John Rizzo – BAL – Max rating = 95/95, 2.84 ERA with a 1.00 WHIP
Rizzo is the best closer of this Prospect class, and that usually doesn’t mean much. Outahere has been lacking closers as of late, now we see several great closers for the future. Rizzo will be the Orioles closer in just a matter of a few seasons. Rizzo should win some rings as long as he stays in Baltimore.
5 – RP – Derek Toole – DET – Max rating = 97/97, 3.05 ERA with a 1.09 WHIP
At the start of the 2026 draft Tigers GM MogulMonster was asked who he would pick. He said something very simple, all closers. Toole was one of the first picks he had, and Toole turned out to be better than MogulMonster could have dreamed of. Tootle will be an excellent closer on a team that appears will have the greatest pen in Outahere history.
6 – 2 – 1B – Chris Woodfork – CIN – Max Rating = 95/95, .273 BA with a .895 OPS
Chris Woodfork is a 23 year-old who hit 33 home runs in AAA last season. That home run total will be the worst of what he is capable of doing in the majors. Woodfork will lead the league in home runs for many seasons. Not surprising, Woodfork is a 1b.
7 – SP – Adam Thomas – MIN – Max rating = 96/96, 3.29 ERA with a 1.13 WHIP
Thomas was stollen from the Florida Marlins in a trade that has been questioned by many, including the Marlins General Manager. Thomas has excellent control and very good movement. Thomas currently has 4 pitches, which should be very helpful. Expect a future Twins ace.
8 – 3B – Dustin Mott – MTC – Max Rating = 95/95, .281 BA with a .886 OPS
Mott was the first pick in the 2027 MLB Draft, and he may be one of the worst first overall picks in awhile. Yet, Mott will make several all star teams and hit plenty of home runs. Mott has a weak side in defense and health, but he is pretty quick and should have a great eye.
9 – SS – Christian Cora – CHW – Max Rating = 96/96, .303 BA with a .867 OPS
Another classic example of a trade that may be a regret several seasons down the road. Cora was dealth to the powerhouse White Sox earlier in the Off Season, and Cora will not be an average player. Cora has very good defense and should hit .300 for many seasons.
10 – SP – Daniel Fraser – MIN – Max rating = 94/94, 3.55 ERA with a 1.22 WHIP
Another AL Central Player in this list. Fraser should be a very good Starting Pitcher. Fraser throws 4 pitches and has very good movement. Fraser has a weak point in health, but it seems every Twins player always has weak health.
11 – RP – Wade Driskell – DET – Max rating = 94/94, 3.25 ERA with a 1.15 WHIP
22 year old Wade Driskell (80/93) is a right-handed reliever with an excellent fastball. He made his major league debut in 2028 getting into 17 games with the Tigers and pitching 28.0 innings. His 3.21 ERA in those first 28 innings are a solid indication of his potential as a major league reliever.
12 – RP – Jim Carpenter – DET – Max Rating = 93/93, 3.33 ERA with a 1.14 WHIP
22 year old Jim Carpenter (79/91) is a right handed reliever with an excellent fastball. He made his major league debut in 2027 posting a tidy 2.55 ERA over 17.2 innings but took a step backward in 2028 with a bloated 6.04 ERA over 28.1 innings pitched. Carpenter should develop into another reliable member of the Tiger’s bullpen.
13 – RF – Miguel Clavez – CIN – Max Rating = 94/94, .278 BA with a .845 OPS
21 year old Miguel Clavez (67/84) is a left-handed right fielder who is in his second year of professional baseball. In his draft year, Clavez posted an OPS of .852 playing in A-ball and was promoted to AA in 2028 where he posted an OPS of .801. Clavez should progress nicely in the Reds system and don’t let his current peak fool you!
14 – RP – Maxim Robertson – MIL – Max rating = 93/93, 3.45 ERA with a 1.23 WHIP
22 year old Maxim Robertson (83/92) is a right handed reliever with a deadly slider. Maxim made his major league debut with the Brewers in 2028 appearing in 23 games and posting an ERA of 4.55 over 29.2 innings pitched. What was impressive was his strikeout-to-walk ratio of 4.5:1 (27 K’s to 6 BB’s). This kid defiantly has closer material!
15 – 1B – Todd Narbors – HOU – Max Rating = 94/94, .250 BA with a .840 OPS
22 year old Todd Narbors (74/88) is a right-handed first baseman with tons of power and a slick glove. Narbors posted a massive .985 OPS in 38 games at AAA in only his second season of professional baseball. He has major league power and gold-glove calibre defense, a combination that should make him a huge hit in Houston.
16 – SP – Gongoro Tsukada – TOR – Max Rating = 91/91, 3.66 ERA with a 1.24 WHIP
21 year old Gongoro Tsukada (70/94) is a right-handed reliever who made his major league debut in 2028 in less than spectacular fashion. In 8.2 innings split between the Mets and Jays, Tsukada allowed 13 earned runs for a monstrous 13.50 ERA! Sources inside the Blue Jays front office, however, state that a more patient approach will be taken with Tsukada who posted a tidy 3.32 ERA over 62.1 innings in AA after posting a stellar 1.29 ERA in 14 innings a A-ball.
17 – RP – Reggie Huggler – BAL – Max Rating = 92/92, 3.55 ERA with a 1.28 WHIP
21 year old Reggie Huggler (69/91) is a right-handed reliever in the Orioles system. Drafted as a 17 year old, Huggler has spent 4 full seasons in the minors where he posted ERA’s of 2.66 and 2.94 in A-ball before posting a 3.66 ERA as a middle reliever in AA this past season.
18 – 2B – Mickey Morrison – TOR – Max Rating – 97/97, .280 BA with a .824 OPS
25 year old Mickey Morrison (91/96) is a right-handed second baseman with the Toronto Blue Jays. Morrison made his major league debut in 2028 and became an instant starter with the Jays playing 94 games and posting an OPS of .782 over his first 356 at bats. A great contact hitter with surprising power for a second basemen.
19 – SP – Toby Melenores – POR – Max Rating = 94/94, 3.88 ERA with a 1.28 WHIP
21 year old Toby Melenores (68/90) is a right-handed starter with a nasty splitter. While impressive in college, Melenores has had trouble since moving into professional baseball. In two seasons of A and AA, Melenores has yet to produce a sub 4.00 ERA, but most scouts feel that he should develop into a solid middle of the order starter with the potential to throw 180-200 innings with an ERA below 4.
20 – SP – Chris Nelson – TOR – Max Rating = 89/89, 3.84 ERA with a 1.28 WHIP
23 year old Chris Nelson (81/89) is a right-handed starter with the Blue Jays. After an impressive start to his 2028 AAA season that saw him post a tidy 2.93 ERA in 73.2 innings pitched, Nelson got the call to spot-start for the Jays. In 15 appearances with the Jays, including 6 starts, Nelson posted an impressive 2.66 ERA over his first 71.0 major league innings!
21 – LF – Joaquin Badena – NYY – Max Rating = 94/94, .282 BA with a .825 OPS
It is good to see another team up in this list. Badena has a very good eye with a great bat. Baden should have many seasons with a batting average around .300. Don’t expect Badena to win an MVP award, but make sure to remember this name.
22 – 1B – Donny Curtis – MTC – Max Rating = 95/95, .260 BA with a .830 OPS
Curtis is a former Twin, he was obtained at the start of the 2028 season. Curtis should have great power, in the high 90s. Curtis’ health is only a 69 which is a concern, but you shouldn’t be surprised to see yet another former Twin with low health.
23 – RP – Darryl Young – CCT – Max Rating = 92/92, 3.89 ERA with a 1.27 WHIP
Young is just another future closer on this list. Young’s movement should help him be a top tier closer some day down the road. His fastball currently gets up to 92 MPH, which isn’t the greatest. His health is also a problem, 63 health is not very good. His 3.89 ERA should prove he will have many good seasons as a closer though.
24 – SS – Bryan Andre – MTC – Max Rating = 93/93, .307 BA with a .762 OPS
Andre is MLB ready right now, at the start of the 2029 season. He will debut for the Cabritos this year. His defense is very very good with an 89 arm, 95 range, and 84 fielding. His 90 contact is very good and he is somewhat fast around the bases. His eye is above average. Very good short stop of the present and future.
25 – SP – Justin Cantrill – MIN – Max Rating = 93/93
Cantrill is a very talented starting pitcher the Twins obtained from Portland on June 1st 2028. His 87 control will only get better, and his 83 movement is very good. His 62 heath is yet another example of Twins poor health, but great vitals. Hey, maybe that works, you see the rings…