With the new Major League season only weeks away, it’s time for a spring tradition like no other: the unveiling of each team’s preseason Top 30 Prospects list.
The annual launch provides a glimpse into the future for every club, highlighting the players likely to help either down the road or as early as this summer.
Here is a snapshot of each farm system, with links to their Top 30 lists and breakdowns of those lists (American League West teams being the exception; their lists are set to be released March 28):
Blue Jays
The Jays’ system is thinner now that they’ve turned former top prospects into key pieces on their World Series-hopeful club. But the top of Toronto’s system in particular remains strong, especially in multi-position infielders. More »
Orioles
Again the owners of one of the best systems in baseball, the Orioles enter 2022 anticipating the arrival of Adley Rutschman, Grayson Rodriguez and other future cornerstones. Things might finally be about to turn a corner in the Charm City. More »
Rays
The Rays’ ability to compete year in and year out remains evidence of how they develop talent and the sheer depth of their system. It’s no different this year, with five Top 100 prospects and plenty of talent behind those headliners. More »
Red Sox
Boston’s down year in 2020 helped it replenish its system, which is now headlined by top 2021 Draft prospect Marcelo Mayer and Rookie of the Year candidate Triston Casas. There is a good amount of depth here too to help the Red Sox return to the postseason. More »
Yankees
The Yankees’ system is deep, and swimming in shortstops. New York’s five best prospects are all position players, and it boasts several interesting arms as well. More »
Guardians
To return to contention, the Guardians will need to lean on a farm system that has been up to the task in recent years. The bulk of their rotation comes from the 2016 Draft, and they remain deep in middle infield and pitching prospects. More »
Royals
You may have heard of Bobby Witt Jr., baseball’s new top overall prospect. He’s far from alone in a Royals system set to bring excitement to Kansas City in the near future. More »
Tigers
The Tigers boast two of MLB Pipeline’s top 5 overall prospects — no other organization can make the same claim. But Spencer Torkelson and Riley Greene aren’t the only blue-chippers set to graduate to Detroit, where the big league team appears ready to turn a corner. This might be the best Tigers farm system we see for some time. More »
Twins
Minnesota dealt from its pitching prospect depth to bolster its rotation with Sonny Gray, flipping 2021 first-round pick Chase Petty in the deal. But there are more arms where that came from, and many are ready to contribute now. Six of the organization’s top 10 prospects will open the season on the 40-man roster, including the top four pitchers in the system. More »
White Sox
Chicago is focused more on the present than the future these days, the owners of back-to-back playoff appearances and one of the game’s weaker farm systems. Much of their prospect hopes rest in a strong Cuban contingent — five of the White Sox’ top prospects hail from the island. More »
Braves
The Braves won the 2021 World Series behind a cadre of homegrown stars and key trade acquisitions that didn’t require dealing prospects. But replacing Freddie Freeman did. Their system is thinner after sending Shea Langeliers, Cristian Pache and two others to Oakland for Matt Olson.
More »
Marlins
Miami’s farm system looks as strong as ever, particularly in terms of quality starting pitching. The Marlins open 2022 tied with the Mariners and Pirates for the most Top 100 Prospects with six. That total also matches their franchise high from 2013, when José Fernández and Christian Yelich were in the system. More »
Mets
The Mets have a top-heavy system headlined by three big bats. There is right-handed pitching depth too but not many top-of-the-rotation types, after the Mets decided not to sign 2021 first-round pick Kumar Rocker. More »
Nationals
It’s a new era in Washington’s farm system. The Nationals’ system sat at the bottom of MLB Pipeline’s rankings a year ago, but is much improved now after the club retooled at last summer’s Trade Deadline. It might need more, though, to support a full rebuild. More »
Phillies
Things are brewing in the Phillies’ system but a lot of that talent is far from Philadelphia. The lower levels are brimming with international signs, which comprise more than one-third of the team’s Top 30. More »
Brewers
The Brewers love to draft college outfielders and their system is strong at the position as a result. The top of Milwaukee’s list is also deep in Major League-ready left-handed pitching. More »
Cardinals
Big power is the draw at the top of the Cardinals’ list with Jordan Walker and Nolan Gorman, and Matthew Liberatore is a highly touted lefty acquired for Randy Arozarena. The rest of St. Louis’ system is filled with near Major League-ready types and young, burgeoning prospects with high ceilings. More »
Cubs
With most of the core from their 2016 title gone, the Cubs have spent the past year-plus remaking their big league roster and farm system through trades. Seven of their Top 30 prospects are the result of those deals, with seven of their eight best prospects joining the organization in the last 16 months. More »
Pirates
Good things are brewing on the farm for Pittsburgh, whose system boasts both elite-level talent and considerable depth. The Pirates have six Top 100 prospects and three players in the top 26, including 2021 top overall pick Henry Davis. More »
Reds
The Reds are retooling coming off two straight winning seasons. This season should feature top prospect Hunter Greene’s long-anticipated debut, contributions from lefty Nick Lodolo and perhaps Brandon Williamson, who was acquired from the Mariners for Jesse Winker and Eugenio Suárez this spring. More »
D-backs
The D-backs’ system keeps improving despite recent struggles at the big league level, evidenced by three Top 100 prospects and excellent depth. Anxious Arizona fans won’t have to wait very long to see the next wave of talent roll through the desert. More »
Dodgers
Sporting a seemingly never-ending supply of young talent, the Dodgers continue to marry winning with development better than any big league organization. Their roster is full of former Top 100 prospects, they’ve used others to swing blockbuster deals, and they still have one of the sport’s top systems. It’s a head-turning group, too, led by five Top 100 guys. More »
Padres
The Padres know how to restock quickly. Their farm isn’t as elite as it once was, but San Diego was able to retain many of its top prospects while elevating into true contenders at the big league level. The system still sports four Top 100 prospects. More »
Rockies
2020 first-round pick Zac Veen highlights Colorado’s top-heavy system, which is deep in international talent at the lower levels. The Rockies also have several top 10 guys on track for 2022 debuts and fast-rising backstop Drew Romo, another ’20 first-rounder. More »