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. Eury Perez, RHP - 60 OFP
Age: 19 Highest Level: AA
2022 Pre-season Rank: 1 OFP: 60
| Fastball | Curveball | Slider | Changeup | Command | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70 | 55 | 55 | 60 | 60 | High |
| 95-98 mph | 79-83 mph | 84-87 mph | 87-91 mph |
PHYSICAL Perez has started to fill out his long-levered, NBA power forward frame, and he still shows substantial room for projection. He maintains some of the best body control throughout his mechanics for a pitcher of his size. The right-hander throws from a three-quarters slot with a quick arm. He has a tendency to fall off towards first base.
STRENGTHS The 19-year-old has added a mid-to-high-80s slider with sharp horizontal break to now round out a true four-pitch mix. Perez’s fastball is a legitimate double-plus offering with tremendous life. He’s shown an ability to hold his premier velocity late into his outings. His changeup made huge strides last season as a very firm offering that gets devastating fade and tumble and it now looks like a clear plus pitch when paired with his plus command. His curveball has become an overlooked pitch now that he’s added a power slider, but both pitches can be above-average long term, particularly if he’s able to maintain consistent shape and depth. The overall repertoire is among the best in the minor leagues.
WEAKNESSES Perez can get predictable in pitch sequencing at times and, as he continues to face better hitting, he may not be able to overpower as many bats if they see a pitch multiple times during an at-bat. Perez has yet to truly work deep in games. He only worked six innings twice last year, and he’ll need to continue building up his workload to become the dominant arm that many anticipate.
SUMMARY Through the first two professional years of Perez's career, there has been consistent progress into one of the best pitching prospects in baseball. The right-hander is now equipped with four above-average or better pitches with present plus command in a still projectable extra, extra large frame. As each day passes, it becomes more and more clear that Perez will be big league ready at 20 years old with a near limitless upside.
EVALUATOR Ian Smith
2. Max Meyer, RHP - 55 OFP
Age: 24 Highest Level: MLB
2022 Pre-season Rank: 2 OFP: 60
| Fastball | Slider | Changeup | Command | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | 70 | 50 | 55 | High |
| 93-96 mph | 85-89 mph | 83-87 mph |
PHYSICAL Meyer has a wiry and lean build. His smaller frame does present some durability concerns. He underwent Tommy John surgery in August after his second big league start. While he may get some late season game action, the better bet is a healthy return to begin 2024. Prior to the injury, Meyer worked out of a three-quarters slot with a quick arm and a tendency to fall off toward first base.
STRENGTHS The 24-year-old had one of the best sliders in the minors that he paired with an above-average, mid-90s fastball. It was a nasty combination that helped him dominate batters. His slider showed sharp, late break and tons of horizontal movement with plenty of depth. It was an excellent, double-plus offering to batters on both sides of the plate, and he could throw it in any count for strikes. He heavily relied on the pitch to great results. His changeup was an average pitch that played better against left-handed hitters, but he could also effectively incorporate it against right-handers during his time in the upper minors. The three-pitch mix showed serious strikeout potential before the injury, not just because of the raw stuff but also because he regularly showed above-average command of the fastball and slider.
WEAKNESSES The elbow injury complicates his timeline, and he may not return until the 2024 season. Meyer’s delivery has some effort in it, which has long created relief concerns. His size and health also add risk. The command of his changeup is inconsistent compared to his other pitches, and there are also some slight concerns about the pitch playing against right-handed hitters at the big league level. If the changeup doesn’t play, he’s a bit of a two-pitch arm against most hitters.
SUMMARY Meyer has a frontline starter upside and is among the team’s core of young starters. While he may not see the field for another year, he should be back and ready for the big league rotation to begin 2024. There are some long term concerns about his ability to stay in the rotation, but the team should give him every opportunity to do so. The right-hander has big stuff.
EVALUATOR Cameron Emamian
3. Jacob Berry, 3B - 50 OFP
Age: 21 Highest Level: A
2022 MLB Draft Rank: 16
| Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | 55 | 40 | 55 | 40 | Moderate |
PHYSICAL Berry is on the shorter side for a player with his skillset, with a sturdy build, a thick lower half and room for added strength up top. He stands crouched with his hands high, leading up to his quick, efficient swing with a significant load and a small leg lift leading. His swing mechanics are very clean from both sides.
STRENGTHS Berry has the strength to put plenty of baseballs over the fence, with most of his power coming from the left side. He can handle velocity and has a knack for finding the barrel while utilizing the whole field. His best assets are his plate discipline and bat-to-ball skills, both of which allow him to tap into that raw power. The switch hitter can recognize spin and lay off pitches out of the zone, drawing lots of walks and minimizing strikeouts. He has good hands and his arm is more than playable at the hot corner, although he may not get to make use of that arm strength at the higher levels.
WEAKNESSES Despite making consistent quality contact, Berry’s high end exit velocities don’t match his strength and physicality. He doesn’t run particularly well and, on top of not being a threat on the bases, he has limited range and agility in the infield. He will almost certainly have to move off third base sooner than later and, while he spent some time in both corner outfield spots in college, first base is his most likely defensive home. Any move puts pressure on him to make strides in the power department.
SUMMARY Berry has a polished offensive profile and a strong track record of production. An improved ability to impact the ball with authority would give him an incredibly high ceiling to go along with an already high floor. No matter where he ends up defensively, even if he is a full-time designated hitter, his bat will carry him at the next level.
EVALUATOR Harris Yudin
4. Jake Eder, LHP - 50 OFP
Age: 24 Highest Level: AA
2022 Pre-season Rank: 8 OFP: 50
| Fastball | Slider | Changeup | Command | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | 60 | 50 | 50 | High |
| 93-98 mph | 79-85 mph | 82-87 mph |
PHYSICAL Eder has a long and lanky frame with a bit of room to fill out. He looks like an athlete on the mound with a strong presence. The left-hander missed all of 2022 following Tommy John surgery. Prior to the injury, there was a lack of fluidity at times in his delivery due to what appeared to be an overfocus on repeatability. He threw from a traditional three-quarters arm slot.
STRENGTHS The 24-year-old flashed a pair of plus pitches in 2021, including a mid-90s fastball that touched 98 MPH. The pitch had deception, giving it a bit of extra pop, and solid riding life. He showed an ability to manipulate the shape of his slider, at times creating a loopy version that was more curveball-esque. It was an easy plus pitch that generated whiffs both inside and outside the strike zone before the injury. Eder also incorporated an average changeup that operated in the low-to-mid-80s with solid separation off his fastball. He showed increased command of his slider prior to being shut down, and there’s hope that his command as a whole can reach average territory given his athleticism.
WEAKNESSES While Eder’s command could approach average territory, it wasn’t there in 2021. He needs to continue to work on that aspect of his game to take the next step. His fastball could use a bit more carry, but that could come post-surgery once he begins to focus more on pitching rather than throwing. The injury interrupted a breakout 2021, and there’s always some risk while working back from major elbow surgery.
SUMMARY Eder hasn’t pitched in a game since August 2021, so there are some general unknowns about much of his profile. He reportedly looked good during late season practice and offseason workouts, so he should be capable of validating his 2021 breakout once he gets back on the mound. He’s a potential mid-rotation starter.
EVALUATOR Chris O’Day
5. Dax Fulton, RHP - 50 OFP
Age: 21 Highest Level: AA
2022 Pre-season Rank: 10 OFP: 50
| Fastball | Slider | Changeup | Command | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | 60 | 50 | 50 | High |
| 92-95 mph | 80-84 mph | 85-89 mph |
PHYSICAL Fulton is tall with a broad-shouldered and physically imposing extra, extra large frame. There’s significant projection remaining, especially in his lower half. Long removed from Tommy John surgery, Fulton is growing into a durable innings-eater frame that only strengthens his profile. The left-hander throws from a three-quarters arm slot and has a tendency to fall off toward third base.
STRENGTHS The curveball remains a plus offering for Fulton. He has the ability to command it throughout the strike zone while maintaining consistent 12/6 shape. He uses the pitch in the zone for called strikes while also letting it drop out of the zone for chases. His fastball continues to make strides with both cut and run and improving velocity. He’s now touching 97 MPH while sitting in the low-to-mid-90s from the left side. His changeup is a firm but effective offering due to heavy gloveside tumble and ability to kill spin. Fulton is starting to show a real ability to generate whiffs with all three of his pitches. His command projects as average.
WEAKNESSES Fulton will need to work on minimizing hard contact, especially to the pull side. The command of his fastball can waver at times, with misses both armside and below the zone. Overall command outside of the curveball will need to continue to develop, but it shows potential.
SUMMARY A household name coming into the 2020 Draft, albeit with question marks due to Tommy John surgery, Fulton has quickly and quietly developed into one of the best arms in the Marlins system. There’s a real chance at a mid-rotation profile if the command continues to develop. A realistic floor is a backend starter.
EVALUATOR Ian Smith
6. Sixto Sanchez, RHP - 45 OFP
Age: 24 Highest Level: MLB
2022 Pre-season Rank: 5 OFP: 55
7. Yiddi Cappe, SS/3B - 45 OFP
Age: 20 Highest Level: A
2022 Pre-season Rank: 13 OFP: 45
8. Jacob Amaya, SS - 45 OFP
Age: 24 Highest Level: AAA
2022 Pre-season Rank: 22 (LAD) OFP: 40
9. Xavier Edwards, 2B - 45 OFP
Age: 23 Highest Level: AAA
2022 Pre-season Rank: 13 OFP: 50
10. Jordan Groshans, 3B - 45 OFP
Age: 23 Highest Level: MLB
2022 Pre-season Rank: 4 OFP: 55