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. Gavin Cross, OF - 55 OFP
Age: 22 Highest Level: A
2022 MLB Draft Rank: 8
| Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | 60 | 45 | 55 | 50 | High |
PHYSICAL Cross possesses a large frame with loads of physicality that’s evident on both sides of the ball. He uses a quick trigger at the plate, and his hands move instantaneously with impact in the barrel that trails behind them. He’s a quality athlete and above-average runner who projects to lose a step as his body fills out.
STRENGTHS Cross has a short swing to the ball with plenty of bat speed. He makes a ton of hard contact and can really drive any pitch in any part of the zone and some parts outside of it. He uses the whole field for contact and also has big raw power. He posted strong exit velocities while in college, and he showed legitimate power in his professional debut. His game power projects as plus, and he’s proven capable of hitting velocity and spin. His bat-to-ball skills suggest there’s also an above-average hit tool here. Cross has a strong left arm that should be an asset on defense, and he also really moves well for his size. He played center field in his debut, and his arm also projects in right field should move out of center.
WEAKNESSES Cross can be very aggressive with his swing decisions, which is understandable given his contact skills and production on balls in play. However, as pitching becomes more advanced and stuff scales up, he will need to make an improvement with his approach. His professional debut was encouraging. His feet are a bit choppy in center field, and he’s a likely candidate to move over to right field as his body fills out.
SUMMARY Cross possesses an explosive skill set that enticed the Royals to give him slot value at #9 overall in the 2022 MLB Draft. He quickly made his way to Single-A Columbia and smoked pitching there, and he projects as a stalwart in the middle of the order for Kansas City in the second half of the decade.
EVALUATOR Will Hoefer
2. Ben Kudrna, RHP - 50 OFP
Age: 20 Highest Level: A
2022 Pre-season Rank: 11 OFP: 45
| Fastball | Slider | Changeup | Command | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | 50 | 60 | 50 | High |
| 93-97 mph | 82-85 mph | 84-87 mph |
PHYSICAL Kudrna has a slender, athletic build with plenty of projection. He has long limbs with some rounded shoulders and good length with more room for added size and strength gains. It’s a strong physical profile to build upon. Kudrna utilizes a long, extended three-quarter slot with good arm speed. He gets out front and extended, and the ball comes out quick and gets on top of hitters.
STRENGTHS Kudrna possesses a big fastball that touches 98 MPH, but it often sits low-to-mid-90s with plenty of late ride up in the zone. He’s able to maintain his velocity late into games. His changeup has emerged as a plus pitch after trending that direction following the draft. The pitch has good depth and armside run while also creating quality separation off the fastball. It’s a very deceptive offering due to his ability to repeat his delivery. The slider is improving and has the potential to become a quality third offering. It flashes at least average, and that’s probably where it settles long term.
WEAKNESSES Kudrna’s offspeed stuff still needs some refinement. His slider and changeup currently helps him create a lot of weak contact, but he has struggled to miss bats with both pitches. The development of his slider as his third pitch will be crucial in his growth. He also periodically struggled to consistently throw strikes. He’ll need to improve his control and command to reach his ceiling.
SUMMARY Kudrna has an exciting profile. His physical projection, growth, and arsenal on the mound truly stand out. The fastball and changeup combo is one of the best in the system, and he now needs to improve his ability to miss bats with his plus stuff while also making command gains. He has the arm talent and mound presence to hit his mid-rotation ceiling, and he just needs more time in his development. His high baseball intelligence and maturity at such a young age will only pay dividends in his development.
EVALUATOR Jared Perkins
3. Maikel Garcia, SS - 50 OFP
Age: 23 Highest Level: MLB
2022 Pre-season Rank: 19 OFP: 40
| Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | 40 | 60 | 60 | 60 | Moderate |
PHYSICAL Heavier than his listed weight, Garcia has a trim, wiry build with room to fill out and add strength. He’s a good athlete who has plus speed and baseball bloodlines.
STRENGTHS Garcia finds the barrel with ease and can spray the ball from line to line. He shows off excellent plate discipline and manages to draw walks at an above-average rate because he doesn’t chase pitches out of the zone and isn’t aggressive on pitches in the zone. He’ll take what the pitcher gives him and wait until he finds something to put into play. He has wiry strength that gives him the potential to tap into his power. He more than doubled his home run output year-over-year and, while there may not be much more raw power coming, further strength gains will allow him to max out the below-average tool during games. Garcia is one of the best defenders in the entire organization, and that’s driven by some of the best hands in the minor leagues. He’s a plus defender with a plus arm and quick instincts in the field. He easily has the ability to stick at shortstop due to his hands and footwork. He’s also a threat to steal when he reaches base, and the Royals are the kind of organization that will give him opportunities to run.
WEAKNESSES Although Garcia’s ability to make contact and defend at a high level could help him carve out a prominent role in the big leagues, there are still questions surrounding his power. He is showing signs of improvement, but he will need to keep increasing his strength to be productive long term. He’s also potentially blocked at the big league level.
SUMMARY Garcia has all of the makings to be a long term, everyday big league shortstop like his cousin Alcides Escobar. The question remains on where he plays in the short term given the presence of Bobby Witt Jr. and the team's commitment to keep him at shortstop. Garcia will probably start the year in Triple-A, but he will be one of the first names called upon should an injury occur.
EVALUATOR Jared Perkins
4. Cayden Wallace, 3B - 50 OFP
Age: 21 Highest Level: A
2022 MLB Draft Rank: 56
| Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | 55 | 50 | 60 | 50 | Moderate |
PHYSICAL Wallace comes with a sturdy, maxed out frame that includes a strong lower half. He has good athleticism and mobility for his size. He shows off a quick bat that lends itself to hard contact and raw power.
STRENGTHS Wallace has plus raw power that mostly plays to the pull side. The ball explodes off his bat, and he should be able to tap into most of that power during games. He posted plus exit velocities in college and did the same during his professional debut. He showed off an advanced approach at the plate when he briefly reached Single-A, which included both quality swing decisions and minimal chase tendencies. He posted elite contact rates in a small sample, and that gives some hope that he can hit for average long term. It’s still more of a power-over-hit profile, but it has the potential to be a good one. Wallace has good instincts at the hot corner with the ability to make plays on the run and deep down the line. His arm strength is plus, and he can make all the throws required of the position. He is also capable of making an impact on the bases despite average speed.
WEAKNESSES After crushing 30 home runs over two collegiate seasons, Wallace didn't get into much over-the-fence power in his pro debut. He will need to make some adjustments to his approach in order to maximize his potent bat. He showed tendencies to expand the zone in college, which may be exploited once he faces better quality pitching. He also gets under the ball too often and his hit tool as a whole projects as fringe-average. There’s no guarantee he’s a long term third baseman given the potential presence of Bobby Witt Jr., should the team slide him off shortstop.
SUMMARY Wallace’s profile points to a future as a big league corner bat, either at third base or in right field. His power potential and defensive abilities should allow him to move relatively quickly and an improved approach would help him become a prominent middle-of-the-order contributor.
EVALUATOR Harris Yudin
5. Nick Loftin, UTL - 50 OFP
Age: 24 Highest Level: AAA
2022 Pre-season Rank: 10 OFP: 45
| Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | 45 | 55 | 55 | 50 | Moderate |
PHYSICAL Loftin is lean and athletic, and he has some room for physical projection in his frame. He’s quiet at the plate with very minimal movement. He stands tall, holds the bat head over his shoulder, and uses a slight toe tap as a trigger.
STRENGTHS There’s no true weakness in Loftin’s game. He’s a high contact hitter with a sound approach at the plate. He’s very quick to the ball and can use the whole field for contact. He’s patient and manages to work counts and draw walks. He has a simple setup and quick hands, and he will regularly find the barrel. He’s shown improving power, and the Royals believe it will continue to grow as he matures. His game power projects as fringe-average, although he might outgrow that projection. Loftin is a Swiss army knife on the field and can basically play every position besides catcher. He mostly played center field last season due to the organization’s middle infield depth, and he showed enough speed and quick instincts to stick there. He’s an above-average defender at a handful of spots. He’s also an average runner who utilizes his instincts to be disruptive on the bases.
WEAKNESSES Loftin can do a little bit of everything, but he lacks a true plus tool. His power leans more gap-to-gap, but he can still clear the fences to the pull side.
SUMMARY Loftin is the classic sum of his parts type player that any organization would be lucky to have. He has the glove, hit tool, and enough power to become a Ben Zobrist-type super utility player. He will never wow, but he will go out there every single day and do everything right. Loftin ended the year in Triple-A and is likely to return there to begin the season. His big league debut isn’t far away.
EVALUATOR Jared Perkins
6. Tyler Gentry, OF - 50 OFP
Age: 24 Highest Level: AA
2022 Pre-season Rank: Unranked
7. Frank Mozzicato, LHP - 45 OFP
Age: 19 Highest Level: A
2022 Pre-season Rank: 7 OFP: 45
8. Alec Marsh, RHP - 45 OFP
Age: 24 Highest Level: AAA
2022 Pre-season Rank: 5 OFP: 50
9. Asa Lacy, LHP - 45 OFP
Age: 23 Highest Level: AA
2022 Pre-season Rank: 4 OFP: 50
10. Jonathan Bowlan, RHP - 45 OFP
Age: 26 Highest Level: AA
2022 Pre-season Rank: 9 OFP: 45