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. Jackson Chourio, OF - 70 OFP
Age: 19 Highest Level: AA
2022 Pre-season Rank: 6 OFP: 50
| Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | 60 | 60 | 50 | 70 | High |
PHYSICAL Chourio oozes projectability, with a thin, athletic frame that should allow for a ton of physical maturity. He has a smooth and direct, slightly uppercut swing path with quick hands. He keeps his front foot grounded throughout his load – only raising his heel – and remains balanced with good hip rotation.
STRENGTHS The ball flies off Chourio’s bat, with usable power from line to line. He posted plus exit velocities as a teenager, and there should be more coming as he physically matures. He has a unique ability to match the pitch angle with his bat path, creating some lift without having to sell out for power. Although a free swinger, he makes plenty of contact both in and out of the zone and his bat speed enables him to catch up to any velocity. The tools are in place for him to be a future plus hitter with plus power. Chourio’s speed is double-plus, with long strides and good acceleration on the bases. His reaction time and first step quickness in center field are elite, and he covers a ton of ground in a very short amount of time. There’s no reason he can’t be a plus defender in center field with further refinement.
WEAKNESSES Chourio’s plate discipline and approach are very impressive for his age, but there is still room for growth in that department. He occasionally expands the zone and could stand to be more selective. Additionally, he’s a bit raw in the outfield, which is normal for a converted shortstop. His speed has masked any major issues thus far, but his routes could be more efficient. His arm strength lags behind his other tools, but it will certainly play just fine in center.
SUMMARY On top of being toolsy, athletic, and projectable, Chourio is already one of minor league baseball’s most productive players. He’s already sniffed Double-A at just 18 years old and should continue to quickly climb the ladder. He’s an organization-changing type of player and is on pace for superstardom.
EVALUATOR Harris Yudin
2. Sal Frelick, OF - 55 OFP
Age: 22 Highest Level: AAA
2022 Pre-season Rank: 4 OFP: 50
| Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | 45 | 60 | 50 | 70 | Moderate |
PHYSICAL Frelick is small and athletic with a strong build and is maxed out physically. His simple, compact swing features a small load and quick hands and is geared primarily towards line drive contact.
STRENGTHS Frelick possesses exceptional plate discipline and bat-to-ball skills. He is willing to draw walks and work deep into counts, and he makes quality swing decisions. He has a proven ability to hit both velocity and spin, making adjustments whenever needed, and he makes quality contact to all fields. He posted double-plus contact rates on pitches in the zone during 2022. He doesn’t hit the ball particularly hard, posting just average exit velocities last season, but he is an extra-base threat every time he steps into the box. Frelick boasts double-plus speed, which allows him to steal plenty of bases and cover lots of ground in the outfield, where he also has good instincts and reads. He can be a plus defender in either left or center field with further refinement.
WEAKNESSES Despite some flashes, he has never shown consistent in-game power, and that is unlikely to change too much given his lack of projection. He’s likely to be more of a gap hitter at the next level, albeit a potentially good one. Frelick’s arm strength is merely average and the weakest part of his defensive profile. He can cover right field in a pinch, but he’s more suited for left or center field.
SUMMARY Frelick is an advanced player with a polished skillset and a high floor. He has produced at every level and, while his upside is limited, he can reasonably be expected to continue to make an impact on both sides of the ball. He is ready to be Milwaukee’s everyday center fielder and could be a stalwart at the top of the lineup.
EVALUATOR Harris Yudin
3. Joey Wiemer, OF - 50 OFP
Age: 24 Highest Level: AAA
2022 Pre-season Rank: 2 OFP: 55
| Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | 60 | 50 | 70 | 55 | High |
PHYSICAL Wiemer flaunts a large, physical frame with tons of strength and a high-energy style of play. He has very good athleticism for his size, and there’s not too much concern about losing speed in the short-term because he’s already maxed out physically. He keeps his hands very high and has a slight bat wrap in his swing. He recently switched from a leg kick to a toe tap, but he still tends to over-stride a bit.
STRENGTHS With plus power and speed, Wiemer’s toolset is one of the most appealing in the entire system. He has quick hands and good barrel control, leading to tons of loud contact. His feel for the strike zone is impressive, and he will take his fair share of walks. Wiemer moves like a freight train on the basepaths, wreaking havoc in the running game by getting excellent jumps. He profiles best in right field, with the kind of arm strength that strikes fear into opposing baserunners.
WEAKNESSES Wiemer’s swing has quieted down a ton since college, but it still has lots of moving parts and can get quite long, leading to a healthy dose of swing-and-miss. Adjusting to big league pitching could exacerbate the problem, preventing him from tapping into his massive power. He moves better on the bases than he does in the outfield and is limited to a corner spot as a result.
SUMMARY The big and toolsy outfielder is knocking on the door of the big leagues, but he will not join the club without concerns. Wiemer will whiff quite a bit, but also barrel up a ton of balls, and he has the look of a dangerous, but streaky, hitter. Combine that with his arm strength and prowess on the bases, though, and you have an intriguing overall profile.
EVALUATOR Harris Yudin
4. Brice Turang, SS - 50 OFP
Age: 23 Highest Level: AAA
2022 Pre-season Rank: 3 OFP: 50
| Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 40 | 55 | 55 | 60 | High |
PHYSICAL Turang has a small, lean frame with fluid athleticism. He was drafted with some projection but never added much strength. He keeps his hands high with an open stance and a big leg kick, and he has a tendency to pound the ball into the dirt.
STRENGTHS Turang brings a patient approach that allows him to take plenty of walks, and he has good bat control that leads to impressive contact rates. He doesn’t chase balls out of the zone with much frequency and generally makes good swing decisions. He may not have top-of-the-line speed, but he’s an above-average runner with exceptional instincts on the basepaths. Turang boasts smooth footwork and soft hands on the defensive side of the ball. Turang has excellent accuracy and the ability to make all kinds of throws, which allows his average arm strength to play up. The sum of his defensive tools point towards a future above-average defender up the middle, and his experience in center field and third base give him utility options.
WEAKNESSES Turang lacks a true carrying tool, and his upside is fairly limited. He will likely never possess more than average raw power, and that tool is not quite there at the moment, even though he enjoyed his best power season in 2022. He’s likely to be more of a gap hitter at the next level, in part because he consistently churns out high ground ball rates. Despite good chase rates, he has shown an inclination to expand the zone against more high caliber pitching. This may be further exacerbated once he reaches the big leagues.
SUMMARY Turang has the look of a glove-first, bottom-of-the-order type of player who can be an everyday middle infielder or a utility guy. His defensive prowess, baserunning ability, and feel for the strike zone should help him get to the big leagues at some point in 2023, and his ultimate potential boils down to his offensive ability.
EVALUATOR Harris Yudin
5. Garrett Mitchell, OF - 50 OFP
Age: 24 Highest Level: MLB
2022 Pre-season Rank: 5 OFP: 50
| Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | 45 | 60 | 60 | 70 | High |
PHYSICAL Mitchell has added strength to his large, athletic frame since being drafted. He has an open, upright stance with a small leg kick. He keeps his lower half balanced through his swing, although his swing can get very flat at times.
STRENGTHS Mitchell is capable of covering lots of ground in center field and making an impact on the bases due to his excellent speed, plus athleticism, and long strides. He has a very strong arm with good accuracy that could also play in right field, if necessary. He makes hard contact with a knack for finding the gaps, and his raw power is apparent. He posted plus exit velocities in 2022. His long arms allow him to cover the outside part of the plate, and at his best he looks like a solid contact hitter.
WEAKNESSES Mitchell has yet to develop much in-game power, primarily due to his ground ball-heavy approach. He hits the ball hard, and there’s certainly power projection, but it will require an adjustment to his swing plane. Additionally, he comes with a decent amount of swing and miss and a tendency to chase breaking balls in the dirt. His strikeout rate was over 40% during his brief big league debut. Improved swing decisions may unlock more of his hit and power tools, but he’s unlikely to ever excel in either area.
SUMMARY Mitchell still has a ton of upside, and he puts his loud tools on display every once in a while. However, the consistency isn’t there and, despite his rapid ascent to the big leagues, he comes with plenty of platoon risk. Questions remain regarding his ability to translate his tools into production at the plate.
EVALUATOR Harris Yudin
6. Jacob Misiorowski, RHP - 50 OFP
Age: 20 Highest Level: A
2022 MLB Draft Rank: 75
7. Jeferson Quero, C - 50 OFP
Age: 20 Highest Level: A+
2022 Pre-season Rank: 3 OFP: 55
8. Eric Brown Jr., SS - 50 OFP
Age: 22 Highest Level: A
2022 MLB Draft Rank: 35
9. Robert Gasser, LHP - 45 OFP
Age: 23 Highest Level: AA
2022 Pre-season Rank: 10 (SD) OFP: 45
10. Tyler Black, 2B - 45 OFP
Age: 22 Highest Level: A+
2022 Pre-season Rank: 10 OFP: 45