MLB 26-and-under power rankings: Evaluating the young talent in all 30 organizations

Yahoo Sports’ 26-and-under power rankings are a remix on the traditional farm system rankings that assess the strength of MLB organizations’ talent base among rookie-eligible and MiLB players. While focusing on strictly prospects can be a useful proxy for projecting how bright an organization’s future is, it fails to account for young players already contributing at the big-league level.

By evaluating the strength of all players in an organization entering their age-26 seasons or younger, this exercise aims to paint a more complete picture of each team’s young core. These rankings value productive young big leaguers more heavily than prospects who have yet to prove it at the highest level, and the majority of the prospects included in teams’ evaluations are those who have already reached the upper levels of the minor leagues.

To compile these rankings, each MLB organization was given a score in four categories:

• Young MLB hitters: 26-and-under position players and rookie-eligible hitters projected to be on Opening Day rosters; scored 0-10

• Young MLB pitchers: 26-and-under pitchers and rookie-eligible pitchers projected to be on Opening Day rosters; scored 0-10

• Prospect hitters: prospect-eligible position players projected to reach MLB in the next 1-2 years; scored 0-5

• Prospect pitchers: prospect-eligible pitchers projected to reach MLB in the next 1-2 years; scored 0-5

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We’re counting down all 30 organizations’ 26-and-under talent bases from weakest to strongest leading up to Opening Day. Below are the rankings released thus far. Check back for the top 10 teams later this week.

More rankings: Nos. 30-26, starting with the Phillies | Nos. 25-21: Young cores on the rise | Nos. 20-16, starring Bobby Witt Jr. | Nos. 15-11: Young superstars powering contenders

30. Philadelphia Phillies (total score: 10/30) | 2024 rank: 23

• Young MLB hitters (2/10): OF Johan Rojas, C Rafael Marchan

• Young MLB pitchers (2/10): RHP Orion Kerkering, RHP Michael Mercado

• Prospect hitters (2/5): SS Aidan Miller, OF Justin Crawford, OF Gabriel Rincones Jr.

• Prospect pitchers (4/5): RHP Andrew Painter, RHP Moisés Chace, RHP Mick Abel, RHP Seth Johnson

How are the Phillies, a team with three consecutive playoff appearances, dead last on our list? A lot of it has to do with roster construction. The Phillies are built around a bevy of veterans on big contracts: Bryce Harper; Kyle Schwarber; Trea Turner, Zack Wheeler; Aaron Nola. Being in win-now mode means depleting the farm system in favor of bolstering the big-league roster. Also, a trio of impact players in Philly — Bryson Stott, Brandon Marsh and Jesus Luzardo — miss our cutoff by a few months. There simply aren’t any open spots for young Phillies to seize playing time, which is a good problem that 20 other clubs would happily have.

Still, Rojas, an elite defensive center fielder who can’t hit, and Marchan, a talented but oft-injured catcher, have the tools to develop into every-day big leaguers. Rojas had a horrendous .601 OPS in 363 plate appearances last year, the sixth-lowest mark among hitters with that much playing time. He’ll continue to get chances to fail just because his glove is such a game-changer, but the Phillies’ offseason addition of Max Kepler is likely to push Rojas out of the starting lineup. Marchan impressed during a month-long MLB stint in 2024, but injuries have limited him to an average of 181 plate appearances per season since 2021. Expect him to make the Opening Day roster as J.T. Realmuto’s backup. Kerkering is a high-leverage reliever with a dastardly slider and a high-90s heater. Still just 23, he has already thrown in huge spots for the Phils and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

The Phillies’ middle-of-the-road farm system is built around a duo of potential impact pieces in Miller and Painter, yet it’s notably light in terms of depth. Painter, a 6-foot-7 right-hander, was the story of spring training in 2023 and looked primed to make his MLB debut that year. Then a barking elbow led to Tommy John surgery and robbed Painter of nearly two whole seasons. He looks back to his old self this spring and should help the big-league club this year. Miller, an infielder who can really rake, could also push his way to Citizens Bank Park in 2025. Chace throws unleaded gasoline that could play in an MLB bullpen right now, but the Phillies appear content to develop him as a starter for now. — J.M.

29. Colorado Rockies (total score: 11/30) | 2024 rank: 30

• Young MLB hitters (4/10): SS Ezequiel Tovar, 1B Michael Toglia, C Hunter Goodman, OF Jordan Beck

• Young MLB pitchers (1/10): RHP Seth Halvorsen, LHP Luis Peralta, RHP Victor Vodnik, RHP Angel Chivilli

• Prospect hitters (3/5): 3B/OF Charlie Condon, SS/OF Cole Carrigg, 2B Adael Amador, OF Yanquiel Fernández, C Drew Romo

• Prospect pitchers (3/5): RHP Chase Dollander, LHP Carson Palmquist, RHP Gabriel Hughes, LHP Sean Sullivan

The Rockies continue to exist in their own universe, as an organization that often seems more interested in selling tickets and craft beer than winning ball games. Colorado hasn’t made the playoffs since 2018, the second-longest drought in the National League, and while some intriguing young bats have percolated to the majors, it’s unlikely the Rox will end their schneid anytime soon in the loaded NL West. But they finished dead last in our rankings the past two years, so, well, this is progress.

Let’s begin with Brenton Doyle, who ages out of our list but is still worth a mention because his 2024 offers something of a blueprint for Colorado’s other young hitters. The speedy center fielder was an offensive zero in 2023 but took a massive leap forward in ‘24 in large part because the Rockies let him iron out the bumps at the big-league level. That’s a good lesson in developing bats such as Beck and Goodman, who both struggled as rookies last season.

In contrast, Tovar, a slick-fielding shortstop, and Toglia, a first baseman built like a mid-major power forward, took key steps forward. Tovar won a Gold Glove, but more importantly, he delivered average production at the plate. Still only 23, he’s an under-the-radar All-Star pick this year. Toglia, who clocked 25 homers, is a weird player. Tyler O’Neill was the only person in MLB who either struck out or walked in a higher percentage of plate appearances in 2024. If Toglia could just tone the Ks down …

Cultivating impact pitching in the thin air of Coors Field is, admittedly, a difficult proposition. Yet the Rockies also have a reputation for being behind the times when it comes to developing arms, particularly on the starting side. Notably, they don’t have a single 26-and-under arm in the projected rotation. Dollander, a consensus top-five pitching prospect with a special fastball, could change that soon. The ninth overall pick in the 2023 draft, the hard-throwing righty has enjoyed a smooth, linear climb up the minors and could show up in Denver this season.

Elsewhere on the farm, the Rockies are hoping for a bounce-back showing from Condon, the No. 3 pick last July. The strapping Georgia Bulldog won the Golden Spikes award for the top player in college baseball, thanks to a preposterous .433/.556/1.009 line. But upon arrival in pro ball, Condon looked stiff, tired and overmatched, with an awful .518 OPS in 25 games, though a thumb injury might have played a part. Getting Condon, who has a cathedral ceiling, back on track is priority No. 1 for Colorado’s player development group this season. — J.M.

28. Chicago White Sox (total score: 11/30) | 2024 rank: 26

• Young MLB hitters (1/10): C Korey Lee, 2B Lenyn Sosa, 3B Miguel Vargas, SS Colson Montgomery

• Young MLB pitchers (2/10): RHP Jonathan Cannon, RHP Sean Burke, RHP Drew Thorpe, RHP Shane Smith

• Prospect hitters (4/5): C Kyle Teel, C Edgar Quero, OF Braden Montgomery, INF Chase Meidroth, 1B Tim Elko, 3B Bryan Ramos

• Prospect pitchers (4/5): LHP Hagen Smith, LHP Noah Schultz, RHP Jairo Iriarte, RHP Grant Taylor, RHP Wikelman Gonzalez

The White Sox were historically bad in 2024, sinking to embarrassing depths that the organization will hope to never plummet to again. A series of trades and some strong recent draft picks have the farm system looking stronger, but the complete lack of players whom we know for sure to be good major leaguers keeps Chicago near the bottom of these rankings. While there are some promising pieces in place, we’re still a long way from knowing which players will form the core of the next good White Sox team — let alone how long it will take for such a team to come to fruition.

Chicago’s epic collective failure in 2024 was predominantly rooted in its abysmal offense, and it’s not readily apparent which young hitters could emerge as above-average big-league bats in the short term. Lee and Vargas have flopped offensively since being acquired via trade. Sosa had a strong September last year and was tremendous in the Venezuelan Winter League, but his upside is limited. Ramos scuffled in his brief debut stint and is now at least temporarily blocked by veteran Josh Rojas, so it’s unclear when we’ll see him back in the mix.

The most intriguing position players are the ones we have yet to see in the majors. Chicago’s first-round pick in 2021, Montgomery has arrived at an interesting juncture in his development. After excelling in the low minors and rocketing up prospect lists, he mostly struggled across a full season in Triple-A in 2024 as a 22-year-old, occasionally flashing high-end tools but striking out far too often to produce at a consistent level. In perhaps any other organization, Montgomery would likely return to Triple-A to refine his hit tool. But in an organization with so few proven pieces ahead of him at his position, there’s a clear path for the young infielder to break camp as Chicago’s starting shortstop, hence his inclusion in the young hitters group.

Montgomery will need to learn how to hit big-league pitching at some point, so perhaps it’s best to start giving him reps right away. Conversely, pushing a hitter too quickly can sometimes stunt their development. Whether spending most or all of 2025 in the majors will hurt or help Montgomery as he looks to prove himself as Chicago’s shortstop of the future will be a crucial storyline to monitor for this franchise.

In addition, there will be substantial focus this year on the trio of hitting prospects acquired from Boston in the Garrett Crochet blockbuster: Teel, Meidroth and Montgomery the outfielder. Teel and Quero, also acquired via trade, are a formidable duo of catching prospects who could reach Chicago in 2025. While each has hit well in the minors, it’s difficult to project virtually any catcher to be a legitimate difference-maker in the lineup due to the physical demands of the position. Meidroth is an on-base machine who can handle multiple infield spots, a high-probability contributor with modest upside. A switch-hitter with big power and a rocket arm in right field, Montgomery has a star-level ceiling but has yet to play a professional game; it’s far too early to crown him as a future anchor of the White Sox’s lineup.

For now, there is far more optimism on the mound. The headliners are Smith and Schultz, arguably the two best left-handed pitching prospects currently in the minor leagues. The 6-foot-9 Schultz carved opposing hitters with high velocity, a wicked slider and far better command than anticipated last year; he reached Double-A at age 20 and thrived. Smith parlayed a spectacular junior year at the University of Arkansas into being selected fifth by Chicago last summer. He should join Schultz in the upper minors to start this season and could pitch his way to the big leagues in short order. The organization that produced Chris Sale and Garrett Crochet just might have two more uniquely dynamic lefties on the way.

Beyond the splendid southpaws, both Cannon and Burke already look like steady innings-eaters, with Burke offering more swing-and-miss potential. Iriarte and Gonzalez also have nasty stuff, but their ideal roles are yet to be determined. And Taylor has built buzz since coming back from elbow surgery. It’s not impossible to envision a strong pitching staff coalescing in Chicago in the not-so-distant future. Whether the Sox can amalgamate an offense to support it remains to be seen. — J.S.

27. Miami Marlins (total score: 11/30) | 2024 rank: 21

• Young MLB hitters (2/10): SS Xavier Edwards, 3B Connor Norby, 2B Otto Lopez, INF Javier Sanoja

• Young MLB pitchers (5/10): RHP Eury Perez, LHP Ryan Weathers, RHP Max Meyer, LHP Andrew Nardi

• Prospect hitters (2/5): C Agustin Ramirez, 1B Deyvison De Los Santos, INF Jared Serna, OF Victor Mesa Jr.

• Prospect pitchers (2/5): LHP Thomas White, RHP Adam Mazur, LHP Robby Snelling, LHP Dax Fulton

It’s hard to fathom that the Marlins have appeared in the postseason more recently than the Red Sox, Cubs and Giants, among others, but president of baseball operations Peter Bendix has executed an extreme makeover of this roster — to the point that very few members of that 2023 playoff squad are still around just 16 months later. Since the beginning of last season, Miami has traded 14 players from its 40-man roster in exchange for 23 prospects, the majority of whom have yet to reach the majors. The result of this staggering amount of trades is a big-league roster bereft of proven talent, making it likely that the 2025 season will be the difficult nadir of this deep rebuild. It’s now on Bendix and new skipper Clayton McCullough to correctly identify which players can be core pieces for the long haul and nurture them into capable and impactful big leaguers.

Edwards was quietly a bright spot in 2024 as a speedy, switch-hitting shortstop with excellent contact skills but very little power to speak of. If he can improve as a defender and continue to reach base enough to bring value on the basepaths, he could entrench himself as a valuable every-day guy. Lopez is a far superior defender to Edwards but a less reliable bat; he’d be a bench guy on a better team. Norby has real power but has whiffed a bit too much at the upper levels; the same sentiment is true to the extreme for De Los Santos, who has thunderous pop but might never hit enough for it to matter. Keep an eye on Ramirez, acquired from New York in the Chisholm trade last summer, who could hit his way into significant big-league playing time in 2025. He could be an every-day, bat-first backstop if it all comes together.

But the star potential in this organization is found on the mound, as has often been the case with the Fish in recent years. Perez was marvelous as a 20-year-old rookie in 2023, and his return from Tommy John surgery later this summer will likely be one of the highlights of the season in Miami. Very few young pitchers on the planet have as high of a ceiling as Perez, and not just because he’s 6-foot-8; his combination of stuff, command and poise is simply uncommon for a pitcher his age.

Down on the farm, White could be the next big thing on the Marlins starting staff. The lefty received the 15th-largest signing bonus ($4.1M) as the 35th pick in the 2023 draft, and he quickly validated Miami’s investment, dicing up both levels of A-ball as a teenager in 2024. There’s zero reason to rush an arm such as this, but White should start 2025 in Double-A and will likely emerge as one of Miami’s best rotation options at some point in the near future. — J.S.

26. New York Yankees (total score: 11/30) | 2024 rank: 14

• Young MLB hitters (7/10): SS Anthony Volpe, C Austin Wells, OF Jasson Dominguez, UTL Oswaldo Cabrera, INF Oswald Peraza, C Ben Rice

• Young MLB pitchers (0/10): RHP Clayton Beeter

• Prospect hitters (1/5): OF Spencer Jones, C Rafael Flores, OF Everson Pereira, INF Jorbit Vivas, INF George Lombard Jr.

• Prospect pitchers (3/5): RHP Will Warren, RHP Cam Schlittler, RHP Chase Hampton, RHP Bryce Cunningham, RHP Ben Hess

The Yanks’ ranking takes a hit this year because Juan Soto, who is somehow still young enough for this exercise, is on the Mets now. Still, the Bombers’ big-league lineup boasts an impressive gaggle of 26-and-unders, which would be even stronger if Jazz Chisholm Jr. were a few months younger.

Wells, Volpe and Dominguez — who will play left this year but is still considered a center fielder in the long term — look to have the Yanks set up the middle for the next half-decade. Wells and Volpe are similar characters. Both play great defense at vital positions. Both have unscratched offensive potential yet are competent enough at present to remain valuable. And both get rave reviews in the makeup/work ethic/clubhouse department.

Dominguez is more of an unknown quantity. Perhaps the most famous amateur prospect to emerge from the Dominican Republic this century, the boxy, quick-twitch outfielder known as “The Martian” had his ascension disrupted by an ill-timed elbow surgery toward the end of 2023. He returned to the Bronx last year and featured on the playoff roster, but concerns about his outfield defense relegated him to the bench. Still just 22, Dominguez has somehow gone from overrated to overlooked. He figures to be a huge part of this upcoming Yankees season and is easily one of the more fascinating characters to watch in 2025.

The relative dearth of young pitching, both in the bigs and on the farm, is entirely linked to the Yankees’ perpetual contender status. Seemingly every July, GM Brian Cashman is dealing a promising arm or two or three to some bad team for a deadline boost. That has drained the system a bit, but this organization still has a magnificent reputation for pitching development, with Sam Briend, the club’s director of pitching, acting as mastermind. Given this team’s track record, don’t be shocked if this assortment of young arms takes a step forward or gets traded for a third baseman over the summer. Warren stands out as someone who could break into the big-league rotation this season if the injury bug hits the already stacked group of Bronx hurlers.

We’re a tick low on this offensive group. Jones has immense potential, but his 37% strikeout rate in Double-A last year has us spooked. Lombard gets rave reviews from scouts as a polished infielder with offensive potential, but he’s still a ways away from the big leagues and thus didn’t impact our grading too much. — J.M.

25. Toronto Blue Jays (total score: 12/30) | 2024 rank: 22

• Young MLB hitters (8/10): 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 2B Andrés Giménez, C Alejandro Kirk, 2B Davis Schneider, OF Joey Loperfido, INF Will Wagner, INF Leo Jimenez

• Young MLB pitchers (0/10): None

• Prospect hitters (2/5): 3B Orelvis Martinez, OF Alan Roden, SS Josh Kasevich, OF RJ Schreck

• Prospect pitchers (2/5): RHP Jake Bloss, LHP Ricky Tiedemann, RHP Trey Yesavage

Guerrero now occupies the same unique space on our list that Juan Soto did a year ago: a highly accomplished young superstar entering the final year of his contract. The Jays’ inability to come to terms with Guerrero on an extension means it’s impossible to consider him a definitive part of their long-term future, just as we couldn’t with Soto and the Yankees. Of course, New York benefited greatly from having a generational talent on the roster if even for a single season, and the same could be true for Guerrero and Toronto as the Blue Jays try to bounce back from a dismal 2024. As such, the Jays’ young hitting grade is boosted by Guerrero’s presence, but not as much as if the slugger were on board for the long haul.

Among all the 26-and-under players evaluated in our rankings, only Soto, Guerrero and Fernando Tatis Jr. have more career major-league plate appearances to their names than Giménez. Now with his third organization, Giménez’s reputation as one of the best infield defenders on the planet has only strengthened over the years, but his offensive profile remains murky at best. Owed $97 million over the next five seasons due to the extension he signed with Cleveland, it will be crucial for Giménez to reestablish himself as at least an average bat for him to be considered a foundational piece for the Blue Jays to build around.

Kirk has failed to recapture the All-Star form he showed in 2022 but has become a good enough defender that he’s still a competent every-day backstop. Wagner and Loperfido arrived in the Yusei Kikuchi trade; both boast impressive minor-league track records offensively and will now get a chance to prove themselves at the highest level. Martinez has higher upside due to his tremendous raw power but is coming off a PED suspension and is a questionable defender at third. Roden is a pick to click as an on-base machine who has raked at every level and could be the Jays’ leadoff man of the future.

Despite an impressive score for its position-player group, Toronto falls in our rankings due to its utter dearth of young arms who project to contribute meaningful innings at the major-league level anytime soon. The rotation is exclusively composed of older veterans, with the exception of Bowden Francis, who broke out last year at age 28, and the bullpen isn’t much different. Bloss, also acquired in the Kikuchi trade, could fill in as a spot starter in case of injury ahead of him on the depth chart. Top prospect Tiedemann had Tommy John surgery last summer, so we won’t see him in Toronto anytime soon. Yesavage, Toronto’s first-round pick last July, could move quickly through the minors as an advanced college arm, but he hasn’t thrown a professional pitch yet. All in all, if the Jays want to remain competitive in a possible post-Vladimir Guerrero Jr. era, their pitching acquisition and development will need to make huge strides over the next few years. — J.S.

24. San Francisco Giants (total score: 13/30) | 2024 rank: 24

• Young MLB hitters (5/10): OF Jung-Hoo Lee, C Patrick Bailey, OF Heliot Ramos, INF Brett Wisely, OF Luis Matos

• Young MLB pitchers (4/10): LHP Kyle Harrison, RHP Hayden Birdsong, RHP Randy Rodriguez, RHP Landen Roupp

• Prospect hitters (2/5): 1B Bryce Eldridge, OF James Tibbs III, OF Grant McCray

• Prospect pitchers (2/5): LHP Carson Whisenhunt, RHP Trevor McDonald, RHP Mason Black, RHP Carson Ragsdale, RHP Carson Seymour, LHP Joe Whitman

Lee is one of the more difficult players to evaluate as part of this project. He turns 27 in August, meaning he barely qualifies for inclusion. But this is also a player with only 37 big-league games under his belt due to a shoulder injury that wiped out the majority of his rookie year in 2024. And don’t forget: The dude got $113 million a year ago — that’s a pretty big deal in every sense. The 2025 season represents a pivotal mulligan for Lee to solidify himself as an everyday center fielder worth building around. He unquestionably still has significant talent — but also a ton to prove.

Bailey and Ramos are the two other core offensive pieces worth highlighting. Ramos had a breakout year with the bat and was named an All-Star last year. He hits the ball exceptionally hard, but his shoddy approach could result in some humbling regression. Bailey is a simply sensational defender behind the dish; is there another level for him at the plate as a switch-hitter with solid power, or will he always be a glove-first guy? That could be the difference between him being a reliable everyday player or becoming a full-blown star.

The enormous Eldridge might be special. The hulking first baseman reached Triple-A as a teenager and has the kind of power that could one day threaten to end the franchise’s infamous dinger drought: No Giant has hit 30 home runs in a season since 2004. That’s a lot to ask of a kid who was in high school two years ago, so for now, it’s more important that Eldridge continues to blossom into a legitimate middle-of-the-order hitter, regardless of his homer output. His growth is especially crucial considering the severe lack of position-player depth behind him in this farm system.

While the Giants have a ton of pitchers who could warrant big-league innings in 2025, we’re still waiting to find out if any of them can become impact arms, as opposed to useful members of a pitching staff. Harrison and Birdsong are the ones we’ve seen the most in the majors thus far, with Harrison disappointing relative to expectations as a rookie in 2024 and Birdsong more of a pleasant surprise. Rodriguez throws extremely hard, yet his slider was far more effective than his fastball in his debut as a middle reliever. Whisenhunt and his elite changeup should debut at some point in 2025, but it’s unclear if he has enough else in the arsenal to become a difference-maker in the rotation. — J.M.

23. Los Angeles Angels (total score: 13/30) | 2024 rank: 28

• Young MLB hitters (5/10): SS Zach Neto, C Logan O’Hoppe, 1B Nolan Schanuel, OF Jo Adell

• Young MLB pitchers (4/10): RHP Jose Soriano, LHP Reid Detmers, RHP Ben Joyce, RHP Hans Crouse, RHP Jack Kochanowicz, RHP Chase Silseth

• Prospect hitters (2/5): 2B Christian Moore, OF Nelson Rada, OF Matthew Lugo

• Prospect pitchers (2/5): RHP Caden Dana, LHP Sam Aldegheri, RHP George Klassen, LHP Samy Natera Jr., RHP Ryan Johnson, RHP Chris Cortez

Year 1 of the post-Ohtani era was, predictably, an utter catastrophe. The Angels lost 99 games, the most in team history, and were a typhoon of irrelevance wire-to-wire. Those struggles were driven, in part, by the lack of development at the big-league level from Anaheim’s young core, notably O’Hoppe, Schanuel and Detmers. That plateauing wasn’t as damning to the ’24 Halos as, say, Mike Trout missing five months, but the lack of progress is a concern for the future.

O’Hoppe was tracking like a future All-Star catcher, but he backslid offensively last year amid a big workload (136 games) for a player his age (24). Schanuel, rushed to the big leagues two months after he was drafted in 2023, had just 32 extra-base hits, the fewest by an everyday first baseman (min. 600 plate appearances) since a 40-year-old Pete Rose had the same number in 1982. Schanuel also ranked near the bottom in Statcast’s bat-speed metric, adding even more doubt to the idea that he’ll hit for enough power to be an impact first baseman. Detmers started hot, carrying a 1.19 ERA through his first four starts, before completely imploding. Across his next eight outings, the talented righty posted an ugly 8.93 ERA before being banished to minor-league purgatory.

There were also a few bright spots. Neto, easily the team’s most valuable player last year, took a meaningful step forward, posting 5.1 bWAR. He’s still just 24 years old and looks like a potential All-Star. Soriano made a successful transition to the rotation and is tracking as a reliable starter. Joyce, a flamethrowing closer, was utterly dominant and threw the second-hardest pitch in MLB history.

Meanwhile, the farm system has some compelling pieces. Dana is already a massive draft and development win. Selected in the 11th round out of a New Jersey high school and signed to a $1.5 million bonus, the sturdy righty with Noah Syndergaard’s hair should reach the bigs in 2025 and settle in as a rotation piece. Klassen, acquired in the Carlos Estevez deadline deal, has always thrown gas, but he took a big step forward command-wise before the trade (though his walk rate ballooned once he joined the Angels system). Odds are he’s a reliever, albeit an impact one. Moore is a divisive prospect who enjoyed one of the greatest college careers ever, shining as the face of an electrifying Tennesee Volunteers championship-winning club. He’s really strong, particularly for a middle infielder, but some evaluators have questions about the hit tool. We’re on the high end here and think Moore will become a good regular.

The Angels have a reputation for moving players through their system at warp speed, a strategy that initially seemed tied to the shrinking Ohtani timeline. Yet the Angels have continued that aggressive approach since the most talented player in MLB history peaced out, which is … interesting. Altogether, the path to contention remains hazy. The Angels’ scouting and development groups are embarrassingly underfunded and undersupported. Until that changes, it’s hard to see how the Halos salvage the Mike Trout era. — J.M.

22. Texas Rangers (total score: 13/30) | 2024 rank: 17

• Young MLB hitters (6/10): OF Wyatt Langford, OF Evan Carter, OF Leody Taveras, UTL Ezequiel Duran

• Young MLB pitchers (2/10): RHP Kumar Rocker

• Prospect hitters (3/5): SS Sebastian Walcott, INF Justin Foscue, OF Dustin Harris

• Prospect pitchers (2/5): RHP Alejandro Rosario, RHP Jack Leiter, RHP Emiliano Teodo, RHP Winston Santos

Langford, a popular Rookie of the Year pick, was horrendous to start the year in 2024. The linebacker-esque outfielder didn’t hit an over-the-fence-ball until July 17, 195 plate appearances into his MLB career. He seemed to turn a corner after that, thanks to some mechanical adjustments and additional big-league experience. Overall, it was a mixed bag debut season, but Langford is tracking like a future All-Star.

Carter, on the other hand, has seen his stock slide. He burst onto the scene as a 21-year-old during Texas’ 2023 World Series run after hardly playing in the bigs in the regular season. Then his first real season was awful; he struggled for the first two months of ’24 and then missed the last four due to a severe back issue. There’s reason for concern here — back injuries tend to linger — but he’s still only 22.

The pitchers on this list are compelling, with Rocker the likeliest to make the team out of camp. It has been an outrageously arduous road for the Vanderbilt product, who made his MLB debut last fall. The velocity has wavered quite a bit over the years, but Rocker’s stuff looked all the way back in 2024. He remains an injury risk, given his history, but we’re high on him.

Lastly, let’s talk about Walcott, who could be the consensus top prospect in baseball by this time next year. The Bahamian shortstop is still just 18 years old but projects to spend a big chunk of the upcoming season in Double-A. He has everything you look for in a franchise-altering shortstop prospect in the Carlos Correa-Fernando Tatis Jr.-Manny Machado mold. Sinewy and quick-twitch, Walcott needs to improve his swing decisions and prove he can tackle upper-minors pitching, but, boy, oh boy, is this an exciting player.

There’s not a ton of depth in this organization, but Texas boasts a handful of potentially elite players with Langford, Walcott and, if you’re on board, Rocker. — J.M.

21. Houston Astros (total score: 14/30) | 2024 rank: 27

• Young MLB hitters (5/10): C Yainer Diaz, 3B Isaac Paredes

• Young MLB pitchers (6/10): RHP Hunter Brown, RHP Spencer Arrighetti

• Prospect hitters (2/5): 3B Cam Smith, OF Jacob Melton, SS Brice Matthews, INF Zach Dezenzo, INF Shay Whitcomb

• Prospect pitchers (1/5): LHP Colton Gordon, RHP Ryan Gusto, RHP A.J. Blubaugh, RHP Miguel Ullola

With each passing year, the core of the Astros roster that has dominated the AL West for the better part of the past decade becomes less and less familiar. This past offseason brought perhaps the most dramatic changes yet, with the trades of Kyle Tucker and Ryan Pressly to the Cubs and the departure of Alex Bregman in free agency. Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez and Framber Valdez remain as franchise anchors, but Houston’s ability to extend its window as a contender will be dependent on the growth and success of its young players.

Despite having a bottom-tier farm system for several years now, Houston has consistently produced enough reinforcements from within to support its veteran stars. That was especially on display last year on the mound, with the breakouts of Ronel Blanco and Arrighetti after injuries ravaged key members of the pitching staff. While Arrighetti likely profiles as a useful backend starter moving forward, Brown has started to come into his own as a legitimate mid-rotation force worthy of handing the ball to in October — and he still might be getting better. The Astros do not currently boast any high-end pitching prospects by traditional standards, but they have considerable depth at the upper levels in arms that appear capable of filling in if/when injuries strike again. Among that group, Blubaugh has the most upside.

Savvily acquired from Cleveland for Myles Straw when the catcher was still in A-ball, Diaz has emerged as one of the better offensive backstops in the American League. His ultra-aggressive approach could be exploited more as he ages, but Diaz might just have enough raw power and advanced contact skills to sustain his production even if he keeps swinging at roughly everything. More pertinent to his long-term value will be his development as a defender, which has been a mixed bag so far.

Entering his fourth full season and coming off his first All-Star appearance, the 26-year-old Paredes is one of the more experienced players in this entire project. He arrived in the Tucker trade as a seemingly ideal fit for the Astros’ home ballpark, which features the notoriously close Crawford Boxes in left field, as Paredes excels at pulling fly balls as much as nearly any hitter in the sport. As Bregman’s successor at the hot corner, there will be substantial pressure on Paredes to produce right away.

But as important as Paredes will be to the 2025 Astros, Smith, the other hitter in the return for Tucker, is a far more crucial piece in the bigger picture for Houston. Chicago’s first-round pick just last summer, Smith is a physical, right-handed hitter who could be a game-changing offensive force, albeit at a position to be determined. He’ll play third base for now but likely fits better as a corner outfielder. His bat could be special, though, and it could be in Houston by the end of 2025. Matthews (ultra-athletic shortstop with big strikeout issues) and Melton (low-OBP center fielder with power) were college stars who became early draft picks but have yet to translate their impressive physical tools into steady production in the upper minors. — J.S.

20. Minnesota Twins (total score: 14/30) | 2024 rank: 11

• Young MLB hitters (5/10): 3B Royce Lewis, INF Edouard Julien, 2B Brooks Lee, UTIL Austin Martin

• Young MLB pitchers (2/10): RHP Simeon Woods-Richardson, RHP Eiberson Castellano

• Prospect hitters (4/5): OF Emmanuel Rodriguez, OF Walker Jenkins, INF/OF Luke Keaschall, SS Kaelen Culpepper, INF/OF Payton Eeles

• Prospect pitchers (3/5): RHP Zebby Matthews, RHP David Festa, LHP Connor Prielipp, RJP Marco Raya, RHP Andrew Morris

Coming off a catastrophic second-half collapse in 2024, the ‘25 Twins are counting on resurgences from their crew of youngsters to right the ship. Injuries once again delayed the start to Lewis’ season, but then the former top prospect was just kind of blah across Minnesota’s summer slide. He played pretty much every day from July 26 onward, posting a soggy .625 OPS over 221 PAs. He has the tools, attributes and charisma to be the face of this franchise for a long time, but that can’t happen if he doesn’t hit. This is a huge year for him.

Julien, too, was a massive disappointment last year. Expected to be an every-day player, the Québécois slugger was demoted to Triple-A for most of June and July, sunk by an avalanche of punchouts. Lee, like Lewis, has immense talent that has been overshadowed by a checkered injury history. The 2022 first-round pick reached the majors last year but struggled mightily. Woods-Richardson impressed as a 23-year-old in his first full big-league season, tossing 133⅔ league-average innings. Let’s see if he can evolve into a frontline piece.

Down on the farm, Jenkins and Rodriguez make for a compelling offensive duo. Jenkins, the No. 5 pick in 2023, looks like an offensive force. He’s projected to hit for average and power while playing a defensively sufficient corner outfield. Rodriguez, on the other hand, is a phenomenal center-field defender with big pop, a scary injury history and a strikeout-prone swing. — J.M.

19. Kansas City Royals (total score: 14/30) | 2024 rank: 20

• Young MLB hitters (9/10): SS Bobby Witt Jr., 3B Maikel Garcia, OF Nelson Velazquez, OF MJ Melendez, INF/OF Nick Loftin, 1B Nick Pratto, OF Drew Waters

• Young MLB pitchers (1/10): LHP Angel Zerpa

• Prospect hitters (3/5): 1B Jac Caglianone, C Blake Mitchell, C Carter Jensen, OF Gavin Cross

• Prospect pitchers (1/5): RHP Ben Kudrna, LHP Noah Cameron, RHP Steven Zobac, RHP Luinder Avila

Welcome to the Bobby Witt Jr. show. If BWJ, who turns 25 in June, weren’t on this list, the Royals would be dead last by a pretty wide margin. Fortunately for Kansas City, Witt is on the Royals and is still under 26. He was, besides Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani, the best player in MLB last season. His defense at shortstop has gone from awful to good to downright elite, and his bat took a massive leap forward in 2024. Witt was worth a remarkable 9.4 bWAR last season, leading the Royals to their first playoff appearance in nearly a decade, and he should be good for that hemisphere of value again this year. This is what a franchise player looks like, in every respect.

Beyond Witt, though, it’s pretty bleak. Melendez and Garcia were decent complementary pieces in 2024, but both struggled to reach their offensive ceilings. Both were well-below-average hitters who would be on the bench on a championship-caliber team. Pitching-wise, the Royals have really struggled recently to develop impact, homegrown arms. Brady Singer qualified in that category, but he was shipped to Cincy over the winter for Jonathan India.

Caglianone is perhaps the most volatile prospect in the minors, an uber-athletic, two-way star at the University of Florida who was taken sixth last year and will focus on hitting as a pro. He has mindblowing, top-of-the-charts power, a la Matt Olson. If he figures out how to not strike out in bunches, he’ll be a monster. And Jensen is tracking like an every-day catcher, the heir apparent to Salvador Pérez.

Ahead of 2024, Kansas City did a sensational job supplementing its roster with savvy veteran signings. Those pieces propelled the Royals to a playoff series win. That remains this team’s best path forward, particularly on the pitching side, where nothing of significance is coming from within the organization. But having Bobby Witt Jr. papers over a lot of flaws. — J.M.

18. Athletics (total score: 15/30) | 2024 rank: 29

• Young MLB hitters (6/10): OF Lawrence Butler, 2B Zack Gelof, SS Jacob Wilson, 1B Tyler Soderstrom, OF Esteury Ruiz

• Young MLB pitchers (4/10): RHP Mason Miller, RHP Joey Estes, RHP Grant Holman, RHP Luis Medina

• Prospect hitters (3/5): 1B Nick Kurtz, OF Colby Thomas, OF Denzel Clarke, SS Max Muncy, 3B Tommy White

• Prospect pitchers (2/5): RHP J.T. Ginn, RHP Jack Perkins, RHP Mason Barnett, RHP Luis Morales

As evidenced by their significant climb up our rankings since last year, the Athletics had several young players take big strides in 2024, and they have the roster looking noticeably more formidable as the franchise begins play in Sacramento. Miller and Butler represent the Athletics’ biggest breakouts. Miller emerged as one of the premier relievers in the sport, thanks in large part to his outrageous velocity that climbed as high as 104 mph; he made the All-Star team and finished fourth in AL Rookie of the Year voting. Butler was a top-10 player in MLB by WAR and wRC+ from July 1 through the end of the season. He should anchor the A’s lineup alongside Brent Rooker for years to come and might still be getting better.

Wilson, the son of former big-league shortstop Jack Wilson, raced to the big leagues a little over a year after being drafted sixth overall. While he’ll likely never slug much, his ability to play shortstop and make more contact than just about anyone not named Luis Arraez should ensure a big-league role of some kind for many, many years. Gelof will look to bounce back after a brutal sophomore slump in 2024, and Soderstrom will need to continue showing progress with the bat, especially with Kurtz potentially arriving soon.

Speaking of which, Kurtz headlines a stellar group of position-player prospects, and his advanced bat could propel him to the majors as soon as this year. The big first baseman was a real candidate to be the No. 1 overall pick entering his junior spring at Wake Forest, but an uneven season dropped him to No. 4, where the A’s were ecstatic to scoop him up. Thomas and Clarke are athletic outfielders who bring different skill sets to the table — Clarke as a standout defender in center and Thomas as a serious power threat with some substantial swing-and-miss concerns. Muncy — no, not that one, though they somehow have the same birthday 12 years apart — reached Triple-A last year and could factor into the big-league infield mix soon. White was an epic college performer (75 HR in 187 NCAA games) who got off to a slow start in pro ball last summer.

Among the prospect pitchers, Ginn is the best bet to be a rotation piece in the near future, while Morales has the loudest stuff and highest ceiling but needs to improve his command and is likely still at least a year away. — J.S.

17. Chicago Cubs (total score: 15/30) | 2024 rank: 15

• Young MLB hitters (5/10): OF Pete Crow-Armstrong, C Miguel Amaya, 3B Matt Shaw

• Young MLB pitchers (4/10): RHP Porter Hodge, RHP Ben Brown, LHP Jordan Wicks, RHP Daniel Palencia, LHP Luke Little, RHP Jack Neely

• Prospect hitters (4/5): OF Kevin Alcántara, OF Owen Caissie, C Moises Ballesteros, 2B James Triantos

• Prospect pitchers (2/5): RHP Cade Horton, RHP Brandon Birdsell, RHP Jaxon Wiggins

The Cubs are desperately trying to get back to the postseason and have assembled an impressive core of veteran stars on both sides of the ball to help them do so. But this roster also features several young players who could play pivotal roles in the team’s success. Crow-Armstrong has been known for his center-field defense since he was a teenager, and that special skill immediately translated to the highest level. His incredible glove and impact on the bases ensures a high floor, but Crow-Armstrong could be a full-blown star if his bat develops further.

Amaya’s development since signing as a 16-year-old out of Panama in 2015 has been a slow burn, but he made real strides offensively down the stretch last year and should get the bulk of the backstop reps in Chicago in 2025. Shaw has surged up prospect lists since being selected 13th overall in 2023 and is primed to handle the hot corner for the Cubs perhaps as soon as Opening Day, especially following Chicago’s failed pursuit of Alex Bregman.

Even with Shaw expected to break camp with the big-league club, few teams project to open the season with as much position-player talent at the Triple-A level as the Cubs. Each prospect offers obvious upside but also critical drawbacks that will need to be ironed out if they are to become key pieces for Chicago. Alcántara’s physical tools are unrivaled, but his offensive approach is still crude. Caissie has huge raw power but whiffs a bit too often to project as an every-day guy. Ballesteros is a gifted hitter who needs to prove he can be a competent defensive catcher. Triantos has plus contact ability and speed with limited pop. All four of these players could contribute in Chicago in 2025, but their ultimate upside remains unclear.

Hodge is the young major-league arm best positioned to make an immediate impact in a Cubs bullpen that acquired several veteran relievers over the winter. Hodge was quietly outstanding as a rookie in 2024, and his nasty fastball/sweeper is worthy of high-leverage opportunities. Brown and Wicks are solid rotation depth, while Palencia, Little and Neely should all get bullpen chances at some point this season. This group’s grade suffers from not having an obvious above-average starting pitcher, but the sheer quantity of MLB-ready arms is notable.

Horton leads Chicago’s crop of pitching prospects. He showed huge promise early in his pro career after being selected No. 7 overall in 2022 but was clearly hampered by injuries in 2024 and needs to get back on track. Birdsell is an advanced strike-thrower with an average arsenal, while Wiggins offers a different flavor as a likely future reliever with shaky command but monster raw stuff. — J.S.

16. St. Louis Cardinals (total score: 15/30) | 2024 rank: 13

• Young MLB hitters (7/10): SS Masyn Winn, OF Alec Burleson, 2B Nolan Gorman, OF Jordan Walker, C Ivan Herrera, INF Thomas Saggese, OF Michael Siani, C Pedro Pages, OF Victor Scott II

• Young MLB pitchers (3/10): RHP Andre Pallante, LHP Matthew Liberatore, RHP Gordon Graceffo, RHP Roddery Muñoz

• Prospect hitters (2/5): SS JJ Wetherholt, C Jimmy Crooks, C Leonardo Bernal, OF Chase Davis

• Prospect pitchers (3/5): LHP Quinn Mathews, RHP Tink Hence, RHP Tekoah Roby, LHP Cooper Hjerpe, RHP Michael McGreevy

Amidst Nolan Arenado trade rumors that ultimately led to nothing, the Cardinals were less active this winter than quite literally every other team in MLB. It is widely understood that this extreme degree of stasis was an organizational decision to not invest any further in veterans and instead use 2025 as a bridge year to figure out what exactly they have on their roster before Chaim Bloom takes over baseball operations from John Mozeliak at the conclusion of the season. As such, the 2025 Cardinals are slated to give an enormous portion of plate appearances to 26-and-under players.

Winn is a terrific piece to build around, and he’s coming off the best season of any of these young bats. He’s an excellent defender at shortstop and has the tools to become an above-average offensive player once he dials in his approach and takes advantage of his elite speed more often on the basepaths. The burly Burleson is probably a platoon DH, but his uncommon contact skills could make him a damn good one. Gorman and Walker were highly touted sluggers who endured severe steps back in 2024 after finding early success in the big leagues. Each has the talent to get back to mashing, but 2025 will be a considerable test. Scott and Siani bring speed and defense in center field but not much with the bat right now.

Beyond the goal of keeping his bat in the lineup more often, another contributing factor to Willson Contreras’ move to first base was St. Louis’ wealth of young catching options in both the big leagues and the upper minors. Herrera and Pagés are already an enviable duo, with Herrera providing more value with his bat and Pagés earning reps due to his standout defense. Crooks and Bernal aren’t far behind either, so don’t be surprised if one of these backstops becomes trade bait once the Cardinals flip back into contention mode.

While there is notably less depth on the mound beyond the veterans still in place, there are still some pieces worth monitoring moving forward. Pallante is a groundball machine who has found some success as both a starter and a reliever, but his inability to garner whiffs limits his upside. Liberatore was a high-profile prospect who now seems unlikely to live up to his rotation potential, though he could settle in as a competent lefty reliever. Muñoz got hit hard as a Marlin but has shown enough pure stuff to warrant additional looks.

The more promising arms are still in the minors, led by Mathews, who experienced one of the bigger breakouts of any pitching prospect in baseball in 2024. Mathews is a unique personality who gained attention at Stanford for his eye-popping pitch counts and then saw his velocity take a huge leap once he entered pro ball, spiking his prospect stock in turn. He comfortably led all MiLB pitchers in strikeouts last year, with 202 in 143⅓ innings and should debut at some point in 2025. Hence brings big stuff from a smaller frame, striking out 34% of batters in Double-A last season. He too could be in St. Louis in 2025, though his workload has been delicately monitored to this point. Roby and McGreevy project as solid backend options, while Hjerpe’s unusual arm slot could be amplified if he can find another gear velocity-wise. — J.S.

15. San Diego Padres (total score: 16/30) | 2024 rank: 9

• Young MLB hitters (10/10): OF Fernando Tatis Jr., OF Jackson Merrill, C Luis Campusano, INF Eguy Rosario, OF Tirso Ornelas

• Young MLB pitchers (3/10): RHP Jeremiah Estrada, LHP Adrian Morejon, RHP Randy Vásquez

• Prospect hitters (2/5): C Ethan Salas, SS Leo De Vries, OF Yonathan Perlaza, OF Kavares Tears

• Prospect pitchers (1/5): RHP Braden Nett, LHP Austin Krob, LHP Omar Cruz, RHP Victor Lizarraga

Arguably, no other club in MLB can boast an under-26 tandem like Tatis and Merrill. It was a relative down year for Tatis in 2024, and he still finished with an adjusted OPS 30% better than league average. He hasn’t quite returned to his MVP-contending, pre-PED-punishment level, but all the underlying metrics think the 26-year-old right fielder is still an elite player. We’re pretty confident there are still a few top-three MVP finishes in his future.

And Merrill’s 2024 was utterly preposterous. Having never played center field in his life, the 21-year-old learned the position during spring training and won the Opening Day job. Then he raked, finishing the season with 24 homers, 31 doubles, a .292 batting average and an adjusted OPS 27% better than league average. In any other year that didn’t include Paul Skenes, he would’ve won NL Rookie of the Year. Merrill’s defense in center — which, impressively, graded out as average in ‘24 — will surely get better with time and experience. He’s a cornerstone player with multiple All-Star Games ahead of him.

Beyond that duo, it’s pretty barren in San Diego. Estrada and Morejón are both very good relievers, but Vazquez, part of the Juan Soto trade package, was underwhelming in 98 innings last year. This organization, led by long time GM AJ Preller, is adept at identifying and developing young talent but often trades those prospects away for big-league impact. That dynamic has left the farm system, save for Salas and De Vries, understocked.

Salas, still just 18, is considered one of the best catching prospects in baseball, even though he had a bumpy 2024 in High-A while being four years younger on average than the competition. There’s not a lot of precedent for a young catcher being fast-tracked up the minor-league ladder like this, so it’s tough to evaluate Salas’ bat right now, but he still looks the part behind the dish. De Vries, a switch-hitting shortstop with real juice, also received an aggressive assignment in 2024, arriving in Low-A less than four months after he signed as an amateur. Neither of these guys seem likely to impact the big-league club within the next few years, even though Preller has a track-record of throwing caution to the wind with prospects. — J.M.

14. Detroit Tigers (total score: 16/30) | 2024 rank: 10

• Young MLB hitters (6/10): OF Riley Greene, OF Parker Meadows, SS Trey Sweeney, 1B Colt Keith, OF Wenceel Perez, 1B Spencer Torkelson, INF Jace Jung, C Dillon Dingler, 3B Justyn-Henry Malloy

• Young MLB pitchers (5/10): RHP Reese Olson, RHP Jackson Jobe, LHP Brant Hurter, RHP Keider Montero, RHP Ty Madden, RHP Matt Manning

• Prospect hitters (3/5): 2B Hao-Yu Lee, C Thayron Liranzo, C Josue Briceño, OF Max Clark, SS Kevin McGonigle

• Prospect pitchers (2/5): RHP Jaden Hamm, RHP Troy Melton, RHP Tyler Mattison, RHP Chase Lee

The 2024 Tigers made a surprise run to the ALDS thanks in large part to several of their 26-and-under big leaguers. Having so many young players leading the charge was a particularly invigorating way for Detroit to end its lengthy playoff drought, as it provided a blueprint for what this new era of Tigers baseball could look like if enough of the key characters involved continue to get better. As such, the Tigers enter 2025 with varying levels of optimism regarding their huge collection of MLB-ready 26-and-under talent.

Greene is the unquestioned anchor. He’s an All-Star outfielder whose excellent offensive ability stands out in a group of young hitters who have largely yet to prove themselves as big-league bats. Meadows made big strides at the plate after returning from a midseason demotion to Triple-A, but he still projects as more of a glove-first player (and a very good one at that). Keith signed an extension before he debuted and was competent as a rookie but has now moved to first base in deference to free-agent signing Gleyber Torres, in turn clouding the future of Torkelson.

There’s still a path to being a useful power bat in the big leagues for Torkelson, but how Detroit has handled him and the roster around him recently does not inspire much confidence. He is smelling more like a change-of-scenery candidate than a future franchise star at this point, but wherever he’s playing, Torkelson will need to iron out his swing-and-miss issues to stay relevant. Sweeney and Jung are former first-round picks who must improve the weak side of their game — Sweeney as a hitter, Jung as a defender — to become above-average players.

There are more hitters on the way via the farm system, though not many we should expect to see much of in the big leagues in 2025. Lee is another bat-first infielder who could be ready the soonest. Liranzo and Briceño are backstops with huge power who must improve defensively to become no-doubt every-day players. Clark and McGonigle are likely still a couple years away, but they warrant mention as the highest-ceiling hitting duo in the system and two advanced left-handed bats who have thrived in pro ball since being selected out of high school with Detroit’s first two picks in 2023.

Jobe, arguably the top pitching prospect in baseball, should open the season in Detroit’s rotation and is primed to break out in a big way. His workload and durability remain uncertain, as he has yet to throw 100 innings in a season, but the special raw stuff is undisputed, and the command has made real strides recently. He has the talent to join Tarik Skubal to form a fantastic duo atop Detroit’s rotation. Olson, Hurter and Montero each played a role in AJ Hinch’s “pitching chaos” strategy down the stretch last year. Olson could be a solid No. 4 starter, while Hurter looks like a multi-inning relief weapon. Among the prospect arms, Hamm has the most upside as a future rotation piece. — J.S.

13. New York Mets (total score: 17/30) | 2024 rank: 25

• Young MLB hitters (10/10): OF Juan Soto, 3B Mark Vientos, C Francisco Alvarez, INF Brett Baty

• Young MLB pitchers (1/10): RHP Christian Scott

• Prospect hitters (3/5): SS Ronny Mauricio, INF Luisangel Acuña, INF/OF Jett Williams, OF Drew Gilbert, 1B Ryan Clifford

• Prospect pitchers (3/5): RHP Brandon Sproat, RHP Nolan McLean, RHP Blade Tidwell, RHP Jonah Tong

Soto breaks the scale, as is so often the case. He’s still 26, so he qualifies for this list, even though including a $765 million player is against the spirit of this project, which is almost entirely about pre-free-agency players. Also, you know his deal: He’s one of the best hitters in the world with a flair for the dramatic.

But don’t sleep on Vientos or Alvarez, both of whom were key members of the OMG Mets last season. Vientos actually lost the starting third-base job to Baty out of spring training and was essentially kept in Triple-A until mid-May. But upon promotion, the swagged-out third baseman was magnificent. He strikes out a ton and is meh defensively at the hot corner, but only three hitters his age (25) or younger had a higher OPS+ last year: Bobby Witt Jr., Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Gunnar Henderson. Alvarez, who knocked 25 taters as a rookie in 2023, took an offensive step back in ‘24 and might be more average than stellar. But that’s fine for a catcher, especially one who grades out well in regard to framing.

Mauricio, Acuña and Williams could all feature for the 2025 Mets — or end up as bait in a Dylan Cease trade or a deadline deal this summer. A catastrophic knee injury in the Dominican Winter League stole Mauricio’s entire 2024 season, but the powerful, big-swinging infielder is expected to be full-go in the coming weeks. Acuña, Ronald’s brother, debuted last September and had a hot week while Francisco Lindor was nursing a back injury. Williams is built like a mid-major running back but has outrageous juice for a player his size (he’s listed at 5-foot-6). His eventual defensive home could be short, second, center or a combination of the three, but no matter where he ends up, he’s going to be a fan favorite because there just aren’t any players this short with this much pop.

A fifth-round pick out of the University of Florida, Scott improved dramatically in pro ball and was starting to look like a viable rotation option before Tommy John surgery in September cut his 2024 short. He’ll likely be out all of 2025 but will certainly be an arm to monitor at this time next year. Look for Sproat (another former Gator) to push for big-league starts at some point in 2025. Sproat has always thrown exceptionally hard for a starting pitcher, and now he needs to refine the rest of his arsenal and command in order to ensure success against big-league bats. Tidwell is less polished but has the stuff to contribute in some big-league role in the near future. McLean is a freak athlete who was still being deployed as a two-way player as recently as last June but now projects as a late-blooming rotation option or an impact reliever.

The Mets, under moneybags owner Steve Cohen, have not been shy about their ambitions. They want to become Dodgers East, a perennial contender with major-league stars and a developmental apparatus that churns out impact talent to supplement the big-league team. The Mets aren’t quite there yet — this group is good, not elite — but they’re definitely headed in the right direction. — J.M.

12. Arizona Diamondbacks (total score: 17/30) | 2024 rank: 4

• Young MLB hitters (8/10): OF Corbin Carroll, C Gabriel Moreno, SS Geraldo Perdomo, SS Blaze Alexander, OF Alek Thomas

• Young MLB pitchers (5/10): RHP Brandon Pfaadt, RHP Justin Martinez

• Prospect hitters (3/5): C Adrian Del Castillo, SS Jordan Lawlar, INF/OF Tim Tawa, 3B Gino Groover, SS Tommy Troy

• Prospect pitchers (1/5): RHP Yilber Diaz, RHP Cristian Mena, LHP Yu-Min Lin, RHP Joe Elbis

What a strange season it was for Carroll. While his 2023 Rookie of the Year counterpart, Gunnar Henderson, was busy ascending into MVP conversations, Carroll was downright dreadful in the first half of last season before rebounding in a big way down the stretch. That he finished the year with an above-average batting line speaks to how hot he was over the final two months, but that brutal start was certainly spooky. Carroll remains a franchise cornerstone whom 29 teams would love to have, albeit one who might be more susceptible to cold streaks than previously expected. Moreno’s elite defensive chops and terrific contact skills make him one of the better young catchers in baseball. Perdomo brings a similar skill set to Moreno except at shortstop; he just signed a long-term extension that reflects how much the D-backs value his presence in the infield and in the clubhouse.

Perdomo’s extension does raise some questions about Lawlar’s future as one of the top shortstop prospects in baseball. Injuries completely derailed his 2024, but he’s still just 22 and has the talent to break through in 2025 if he can stay on the field. Whether he’ll eventually seize the shortstop job and shift Perdomo into a utility role or succeed Eugenio Suarez at the hot corner remains to be seen. For now, Lawlar just needs to stay healthy and get back to hitting. Of the other prospect bats, Del Castillo is the most ready to contribute as a lefty slugger who could serve as a backup backstop who’s also worthy of DH at-bats.

While Arizona does not have a particularly deep stable of 26-and-under arms expected to contribute in 2025, its primary duo carries considerable water. Pfaadt might not have quite as much upside as thought during his 2023 postseason breakout, but he was a strike-throwing workhorse in his sophomore season, and there’s certainly value in that. Martinez was an exciting breakout in the bullpen with closer potential, and he might get even better if he can throw more strikes. On the farm, Diaz is an athletic, undersized right-hander with great stuff who must improve his command if he wants to be a starter long-term. — J.S.

11. Tampa Bay Rays (total score: 17/30) | 2024 rank: 16

• Young MLB hitters (5/10): 3B Junior Caminero, OF Christopher Morel, OF Jonny DeLuca, INF Curtis Mead

• Young MLB pitchers (5/10): RHP Taj Bradley, RHP Shane Baz, LHP Mason Montgomery, RHP Mike Vasil, RHP Joe Boyle

• Prospect hitters (5/5): SS Carson Williams, OF Chandler Simpson, 1B Xavier Isaac, 1B Tre’ Morgan, 3B Brayden Taylor, C Dominic Keegan

• Prospect pitchers (2/5): RHP Yoniel Curet, RHP Jackson Baumeister, LHP Joe Rock, LHP Ian Seymour

Yes, the Tampa Bay Rays have a lot of talented, young players whom you might not be familiar with. Also, the sky is blue.

Caminero is the potential game-changer here, a spectacularly talented in-box athlete with superstar potential. The bat speed is otherworldly, in the young Javier Báez/Manny Machado mold. In a 43-game sample last season, his 77.2 mph bat speed was tied for fourth in all of MLB with Aaron Judge. This allows Caminero to do things other hitters can’t dream of, such as his 455-foot, title-winning moon shot from the Dominican Winter League. He’s going to punch out a lot, especially as he adapts to big-league pitching, and his third-base defense is just OK, but this is one of the most exciting young hitters in the sport.

Bradley and Baz should both start the year in Tampa’s rotation. Bradley just logged 138 league-average innings as a 23-year-old, but there’s a lot of unscratched potential here if he can limit the damage on his four-seam fastball. Given the Rays’ track record of pitching development, I would bank on a nice step forward from Bradley in 2025. Baz missed all of 2023 after undergoing Tommy John, and while the recovery took a little longer than normal, he looked awesome upon return, hucking nearly 80 innings of All-Star-level ball down the stretch.

Tampa Bay always has a strong farm system, but this group of hitting prospects has a chance to be transformative. Not many prospects have Williams’ combination of power and defense at shortstop. Built like a young Carlos Correa, the 21-year-old might never hit for a high average but will be valuable anyway in a Dansby Swanson/Willy Adames way. Simpson is the fastest player in the minor leagues and will immediately create highlight-reel moments whenever he arrives in the bigs. It’s a throwback offensive approach built around contact and wheels, but he makes enough contact to make it work, even though he has yet to hit a pro home run over the fence. Isaac is a massive human being with comical raw power, though his 33.3% strikeout rate in 2024 is an orange flag. Morgan, a star on LSU’s 2023 College World Series team, is a doubles-oriented hitter with a spectacular, game-changing glove at first base. — J.M.