About Our Top 30 Lists
The evaluation team has painstakingly worked every detail of the forthcoming list. We’ve incorporated our live looks, watched hours of film, consulted with industry folk, and combed through too many data sets to count. This process is much the same for each team we’ll be covering this offseason, and it’s led to what we consider to be our best work yet.
The list is organized by and utilizes the Overall Future Projection (OFP) scale. Although there is no empirical method for ranking or classifying prospects, this method is as close as possible. Prospects are scored on the traditional 20-80 scale, with a 20 representing a non-prospect and a 70 or 80 representing an elite, MVP-caliber player. These are the two extremes, with most prospects occupying something in between. A 50 OFP means we project that player to be a future average big leaguer, while a 55 or 60 OFP means they’re a future above-average or all-star player. Most prospects, however, tend to project in the 40 or 45 OFP range, which are below-average or specific role players, such as utility players or low-leverage relievers.
Sometimes these grades will be more aggressive, while others will be conservative. We’ve included a “Risk” component to help differentiate between these situations. We’ve done our best to apply these grades and risk components relative to all prospects both within and outside of each organization. It’s also important to note that players grow or regress year-to-year, and we’ve also incorporated where these players were ranked on last year’s list.
Below you'll find the top 10 players in the system with full reports of the top 5. The full rankings and reports on all top 30 prospects per team will be available on our Patreon at the 55-tier ($5 level) as we publish them. If you're into fantasy baseball, this tier also gets you the dynasty show, the FYPD list, and the MiLB Daily Sheet during the regular season.
Top 10 Team Rank at First 5 Reports for Free Below
1. Ezequiel Tovar, SS - 55 OFP
Age: 21 Highest Level: MLB
2022 Pre-season Rank: 5 OFP: 45
| Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | 50 | 70 | 60 | 50 | High |
PHYSICAL Tovar has slightly above-average height for the position and a projectable body. He really started to fill out in 2022, but there is still more room for growth.
STRENGTHS Tovar already had what looked like above-average bat-to-ball skills coming into the season, but he really took that next step in his development, increasing his ability to drive the ball to all parts of the field. He continues to add strength which should play well in the power department as he already has above-average raw power. He’s an average runner, but he has great instincts on the base paths which should allow his speed to play up and reach double digit steals. Tovar is a wizard on defense. He is plus at shortstop today thanks to his quick hands and ability to cover ground with quick reflexes, and there’s further room for growth once he gets accustomed to the speed of the big leagues. His arm is above-average and has strong carry across the diamond.
WEAKNESSES Tovar’s defense is ahead of his offense but his offense should catch up with time. He posted below-average exit velocities once he hit the big leagues, and he’s simply yet to impact the ball against advanced pitching. He’s young with room to grow, and it was a very brief debut. He posted average exit velocities in the minors. Tovar is still a bit aggressive at the plate. He will chase pitches out of the zone from time to time, and that lack of patience restricts him from drawing walks. There are some concerns about his ability to get on base.
SUMMARY Tovar took a massive leap in 2022, and he improved in all aspects of his game. The Rockies were aggressive with his assignments, and he even made his major league debut. He is easily one of the best defensive prospects in the entire organization, and he has the potential to be their everyday shortstop in the near future. As long as he keeps growing into his strength and refining his approach, he should reach his ceiling of an above-average regular.
EVALUATOR Jared Perkins
2. Zac Veen, OF - 55 OFP
Age: 21 Highest Level: AA
2022 Pre-season Rank: 1 OFP: 55
| Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | 50 | 50 | 55 | 55 | Moderate |
PHYSICAL Veen has a tall, slender build and is a bit under developed physically. He’s skinny with long limbs and the frame screams physical projection, although it may be difficult for him to add weight. Veen lacks physicality but makes up for it a bit with his Cody Bellinger-esque flexibility, which really allows him to lift the baseball despite his lean build.
STRENGTHS Veen has a polished hit tool and will go line to line and work all fields, although he did get a little too pull heavy during his stint in Double-A. His walk rates are above-average and with two strikes he will choke up and simplify his leg kick. He is a strong defender in the outfield, and his above-average speed allows him to cover ground. His combination of long strides and quick acceleration allow him to be a menace on the base paths. He’s one of the more aggressive base runners in the minors and is always looking to grab the extra base. His arm is also an above-average tool.
WEAKNESSES There’s some skepticism regarding his power due to his build, and it may prove to be just an average tool. That’s not truly a weakness, but it does play behind the rest of his tools and overall reduces his ceiling. He’s better suited for a corner defensively but could play centerfield in short stints.
SUMMARY Veen really popped during the showcase circuit and established himself as one of the top prep outfield prospects in the pandemic-shortened 2020 draft. There’s enormous offensive upside here if the Rockies can get Veen to add strength to the frame, but that won’t be an easy task due to his unique build. There could be 30-homer pop here down the line, but he likely settles in closer to 20 but with plenty of extra base hits. There is a big difference between what his stat lines look like now and what it could look like at his peak.
EVALUATOR Matt Thompson
3. Drew Romo, C - 55 OFP
Age: 21 Highest Level: A+
2022 Pre-season Rank: 2 OFP: 50
| Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | 40 | 70 | 60 | 50 | Moderate |
PHYSICAL Romo is well-built, and he has added some mass since entering pro ball. He’s physically mature with room to add to his frame. A good athlete who can handle the everyday rigors of the position.
STRENGTHS Romo is one of the best defensive catchers in the minors. He is very quick going side-to-side and is exceptional at blocking pitches in the dirt. The plus footwork allows him to post elite pop times. The arm is accurate with plus carry, and he is a threat to even the most aggressive running games. It is no surprise his pitchers enjoy throwing to him. His athleticism also translates to the basepaths where he should steal up to ten bags per year at his peak while also being able to take the extra base when needed. He has quality bat-to-ball skills and projects as an above-average hitter who could also reach double-digit power at his peak.
WEAKNESSES He’s still growing into his frame and working on getting the power to translate in games. He doesn’t elevate the ball enough to fully tap into his strength. He really struggles making contact against breaking balls and will even chase pitches down and off the plate. He’s underperformed from a power standpoint and will need to catch the ball out front more to tap into more power.
SUMMARY Romo projects as an above-average everyday regular due to his plus defensive skills and his ability to make contact. The defensive skills provide a playable floor, and there’s some untapped offensive potential here if he finds the power stroke to go with his above-average contact abilities. He should be ready to take the big league catching job sometime in 2024, and the position should be his for the better part of the next decade.
EVALUATOR Matt Thompson
4. Adael Amador, SS - 50 OFP
Age: 19 Highest Level: A
2022 Pre-season Rank: 6 OFP: 45
| Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 55 | Moderate |
PHYSICAL Amador has average height with some room to fill out in the upper body. A classic middle infielder frame. He’s a good athlete who should be able to stick up the middle, although he may fill out some and fit better at second base.
STRENGTHS Amador has a smooth setup at the plate with minimal wasted movements. He has exceptional bat-to-ball skills and posted plus contact rates on pitches in the zone. He is equally good from both sides of the plate with no discernable difference in his batted ball events. He has a slight uppercut to his swing, which paired with his bat-to-ball skills means he should get to his power in game and perhaps even maximize it if he learns to create more lift. Amador has consistently walked more than striking out, and that’s tied to a strong approach at the plate that generally includes good swing decisions and minimal chase rates. He works counts and puts himself in a position to find a pitch to drive. He’s a solid defender at shortstop who makes all the routine plays. His defense may play up at second base, where has begun to take some reps. His speed is an asset that he can utilize as a baserunner and stealer.
WEAKNESSES Amador has yet to be challenged with his assignments. He beat up the California League as a teenager, but he could be pushed even further. He does at times make some puzzling swing decisions and will get a bit aggressive at the plate which can lead to some ugly swings. He hit far too many balls on the ground in 2022, but he’s young and there’s time to create more lift. His tools are just average at shortstop, and there’s a chance he outgrows the position.
SUMMARY Amador projects as a solid major leaguer with his combination of hit tool, speed, and defensive versatility. He will also show off more power than one would expect, and he could be a rare 20/20 bat given the opportunity. His hit tool in Coors could be exciting if he begins to produce more line drives.
EVALUATOR Rhys White
5. Benny Montgomery, OF - 50 OFP
Age: 20 Highest Level: A
2022 Pre-season Rank: 6 OFP: 45
| Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 50 | 60 | 60 | 60 | High |
PHYSICAL Montgomery has a nice, projectable frame with plenty of room to fill out. It’s a bit on the wiry side, so with more strength may come more power. He’s high-waisted with long legs and levers, and he’s a good athlete on both sides of the ball.
STRENGTHS There are plenty of tools here to be excited about. He is a plus defensive center fielder thanks to his cannon of an arm, plus speed, tremendous reads off the bat, and efficient routes to the ball. He is great at going forward and getting balls and trekking backwards to balls hit over his head. His speed will be an asset as a base runner and a base stealer, and he will be able to stretch singles into hustle doubles. He has a quick first-step and gets up to his top speed quickly. He posted plus exit velocities in 2022, and he shows an early ability to get the bat on the ball when he’s swinging at balls in the zone.
WEAKNESSES While there is plenty of raw power, his fairly linear bat path severely limits the frequency that he is able to get into it. He simply hits too many balls on the ground, and the lack of any loft brings his in-game power grade down to average. Montgomery also posted extreme chase rates on pitches out of the zone, and there’s bound to be swing and miss until he irons out his swing and aggressive approach.
SUMMARY There is a lot to like about Montgomery and the tools he displays during games. He will, at the very least, be a plus defensive center fielder who brings extra value to the game with his legs. He has an opportunity to unlock more power and become a more high profile player if he improves his bat path and increases the amount of loft in his swing. He can still be a solid regular, even if he doesn’t make those changes.
EVALUATOR Rhys White
6. Sterlin Thompson, OF - 50 OFP
Age: 21 Highest Level: A
2022 MLB Draft Rank: 32
7. Gabriel Hughes, RHP - 45 OFP
Age: 21 Highest Level: A
2022 MLB Draft Rank: 21
8. Warming Bernabel, 3B - 45 OFP
Age: 20 Highest Level: A+
2022 Pre-season Rank: 13 OFP: 45
9. Jordy Vargas, RHP - 45 OFP
Age: 19 Highest Level: A
2022 Pre-season Rank: 14 OFP: 45
10. Jaden Hill, RHP - 45 OFP
Age: 23 Highest Level: A
2022 Pre-season Rank: 10 OFP: 45