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. Anthony Volpe, SS - 60 OFP
Age: 21 Highest Level: AAA
2022 Pre-season Rank: 1 OFP: 60
| Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | 55 | 50 | 50 | 55 | High |
PHYSICAL Volpe has about average height for an infielder with a compact and proportionate frame. His shoulders are square, and there’s still some leanness in his upper half that suggest there’s room to add further strength.
STRENGTHS Volpe has an innate feel for the strike zone that allows him to see a ton of pitches when he’s in the batter’s box. He doesn’t extend the zone with much frequency, and he makes pitchers earn their outs. He battles through at-bats while constantly looking for something to drive. He excels at putting balls into play to all fields, and he’s so far been able to max out his above-average raw power by consistently producing fly ball contact. His swing is compact and short to the ball, and he does well to keep the barrel through the zone. He’ll need to perhaps iron out his swing path just a bit to maximize his pure hitting ability, but the components are there for him to hit for both average and power at the next level. Volpe is an above-average runner underway, but his quick first step and natural awareness allowed him to steal 50 bases last season. He primarily played shortstop in 2022, and his average arm and range should be sufficient to keep him there, although the tools would play up at second base should the Yankees decide to move him to the keystone.
WEAKNESSES Volpe still has an opportunity to improve the quality of his contact. He puts a lot of balls in the air, which allows him to frequently reach his raw power, but it also leads to relatively easy fly outs when he doesn’t find the barrel. He also doesn’t hit the ball quite as hard as his numbers suggest, and that’s been a recent underlying cause for prospects who fail to maximize their hit tool.
SUMMARY Volpe is a well-rounded player who has quickly emerged as one of the best prospects in baseball. He’s not without risk on both sides of the ball, but he has all-star upside. He’s bound to see New York sooner than later, and he should hit the ground running, both literally and figuratively.
EVALUATOR Jake Kerns
2. Oswald Peraza, 2B/SS - 55 OFP
Age: 23 Highest Level: MLB
2022 Pre-season Rank: 1 OFP: 55
| Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 50 | 55 | 55 | 60 | High |
PHYSICAL Peraza has average height for an infielder with a quality baseball body. He has strength in his lower half and leannes in his core with enough present muscle to drive the ball. It’s a big league body as is with plenty of athleticism that shows on both sides of the ball.
STRENGTHS Peraza controls the strike zone well and doesn’t expand it by chasing with any real frequency. His bat-to-ball skills have long been above-average, and he’s made a more concerted effort over the last two seasons to drive the ball. That has resulted in him maximizing his average raw power, particularly to the pull side. The pieces are in place for him to be a future above-average hitter, but it’s going to require some approach-driven adjustments. For now, his hit tool projects as average. Peraza continues to operate at shortstop, while taking some reps at second base, and the Yankees believe he can be the future at either position. He has good instincts and hands, and his natural foot speed allows him to cover ground up the middle. He’s an above-average defender whose arm also plays on the left side of the infield. Peraza is a plus runner and legitimate stolen base threat.
WEAKNESSES Peraza’s hit tool isn’t as strong as originally thought, and a lot of it is approach-based. He’s sold out for power to his pull side. He’s reduced his opposite field contact and consistently elevated the ball, both of which have led to too many noncompetitive fly balls. While Peraza doesn’t strike at an alarming rate, he is aggressive on pitches over the plate and continually creates inconsistent quality of contact. He also struggled to hit the ball hard during his brief big league debut.
SUMMARY Peraza struggled out of the gate last season but ended the season on a high note. He still has some work to do at the plate, but he’s shown an ability to make adjustments in the past, and that bodes well for his future. He can be an above-average player up the middle, which could come as soon as 2023.
EVALUATOR Jake Kerns
3. Jasson Dominguez, OF - 55 OFP
Age: 20 Highest Level: AA
2022 Pre-season Rank: 3 OFP: 55
| Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | 60 | 50 | 55 | 55 | High |
PHYSICAL Dominguez has among the most unique bodies in all of baseball. He is a physical specimen with wide shoulders and tree trunks for legs and arms. He’s a good but not great athlete who moves well considering his frame. There’s no remaining projection, and he may have to work on his body to maintain his present athleticism.
STRENGTHS While not quite the toolshed that was described at the time of signing, Dominguez is nevertheless tooled up across the board. He is an above-average hitter from both sides of the plate who is also capable of tapping into big raw power. He has posted elite exit velocities while not chasing pitches out of the zone. He shows a good understanding of the strike zone and reads pitches out of the hand. He is able to make contact with any pitch in the zone, including velocity in the upper part and breaking balls. He pounces on mistakes and projects to have plus power during games at full maturity. Dominguez also has an above-average arm and above-average speed, which should give him the ability to contribute in all three outfield spots.
WEAKNESSES There are questions about how his body will develop as he matures. It’s a unique frame that is very muscular, and he may lose some flexibility with either age or additional muscle. Those concerns will probably move him out of center field and put more pressure on his bat. There are also some strikeout concerns, although he’s done well to counter those by drawing a ton of walks.
SUMMARY Dominguez probably isn’t the once in a generation prospect that he was billed as before he made his professional debut, but The Martian is still a quality prospect. His combination of hitting ability and raw power, along with his athleticism, allow him to easily project as an above-average player. The best is yet to come for the 20-year-old, even if he eventually moves to right field.
EVALUATOR Rhys White
4. Spencer Jones, OF - 50 OFP
Age: 21 Highest Level: A
2022 MLB Draft Rank: 28
| Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | 60 | 55 | 60 | 50 | High |
PHYSICAL Jones is tall with an extra large frame. He’s high-waisted with sloped shoulders, and there’s lean muscle abound. He’s a double-plus athlete and very few people on the planet are capable of moving as fast as he does with his frame.
STRENGTHS The behemoth of a man has at least double-plus raw power, and he posted some of the highest exit velocities for his age bracket while in college and upon his professional debut. Most of his impactful contact is to the opposite field but, when he finds the barrel, the ball will invariably find the bleachers. He has an advanced approach at the plate with a lot of confidence when up against two strikes. He will rarely get beat looking. Jones was an acclaimed high school pitcher who now shows off plus arm strength from the outfield. The tool is apparent even on the most pedestrian throws. He showed playmaking ability in center field while in college, and that’s where the Yankees utilized him in pro ball. He should also be a valuable defender in his more natural home of right field. He has posted above-average to plus run times down the first base line but should have average speed once his body is finished filling out.
WEAKNESSES Even with freakish athleticism and a very measured approach, extremely tall hitters will be vulnerable on the inner half. Jones is no exception, and pitchers that can hit spots there will find some success. His prodigious raw power will play down a bit in games due to his center to opposite field approach when trying to work pitchers middle away and some difficulties consistently lifting the ball. His routes in the outfield do need work, even if he possesses makeup speed.
SUMMARY Jones is a spectacle to behold on the diamond. He has 30+ home run potential and the footspeed and arm strength to take away hits and rack up outfield assists. The Yankees saw a mirror copy of Aaron Judge and snagged him in the first round. He has holes in his offensive game, but there is All-Star upside here if he can continue to tap into his top notch athletic ability and maintain his contact quality.
EVALUATOR Will Hoefer
5. Austin Wells, C - 50 OFP
Age: 23 Highest Level: AA
2022 Pre-season Rank: 7 OFP: 50
| Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | 55 | 45 | 40 | 40 | Moderate |
PHYSICAL Wells has good height and a sturdy, well-built frame with no remaining physical projection. He’s built tough with a thick and durable lower half and plenty of muscle in his upper half. It’s a body that can withstand the bumps and bruises that catching creates.
STRENGTHS The bat really carries the profile. Wells makes solid contact while also showing a good eye and patient approach. He rarely chases pitches out of the zone and generally makes good swing decisions on pitches over the plate. He posted average contact rates last year, but his bat-to-ball skills and approach can make him an above-average hitter. There’s an uppercut in his swing that allows him to tap into his raw power. He posted above-average exit velocities last season, and that’s about where his raw power lies. His combination of contact skills and bat path should allow him to reach that power during games. It’s an offensive profile that would play anywhere on the field.
WEAKNESSES The 23-year-old backstop is fringy behind the plate. While he does catch on one knee, he is not the greatest blocker. He also struggles at presenting pitches, although that may be irrelevant depending on future rule changes. His arm is below-average in part because he is inaccurate and his throws get loopy. He’s also not a great athlete and provides little value with his feet. Those issues might move him off the position, which puts further pressure on his bat to perform.
SUMMARY Not much has really changed for Wells since he was drafted. The bat will carry him, and he will probably have to find a different spot to play defensively. His left-handed power will be very appealing once he reaches Yankee Stadium, and the best case scenario is he turns into a slugger who can perhaps provide some time behind the plate while playing full time at first base, left field, or designated hitter.
EVALUATOR Rhys White
6. Everson Pereira, OF - 50 OFP
Age: 21 Highest Level: AA
2022 Pre-season Rank: 12 OFP: 45
7. Trey Sweeney, 2B/3B - 45 OFP
Age: 22 Highest Level: AA
2022 Pre-season Rank: 6 OFP: 50
8. Elijah Dunham, OF - 50 OFP
Age: 24 Highest Level: AA
2022 Pre-season Rank: 21 OFP: 45
9. Richard Fitts, RHP - 50 OFP
Age: 23 Highest Level: A+
2022 Pre-season Rank: Unranked
10. Randy Vasquez, RHP - 45 OFP
Age: 24 Highest Level: AA
2022 Pre-season Rank: 21 OFP: 40