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Now that we’re nearly two months into the 2025 MLB season, many of the best young players going into the season have graduated from top 100 eligibility and a new wave of prospects has started shining.

And since this is also the time of year when the conversation across the sport shifts into trade speculation, it’s the perfect opportunity to update my minor league prospect ranking — just before some of these players appear in deals over the coming months.

Though we have recently updated the rankings of the top 10 prospects in all 30 MLB farm systems (and will continue to do so monthly throughout the season), this is my first update to the offseason top 100 prospects list. You can read that intro for info on the Future Value (FV) tiers and deeper scouting reports. Players in the big leagues are eligible for this update (MLB rookie eligibility rules apply here — 130 at-bats, 50 innings pitched or 45 days on the active roster), but players projected to lose eligibility in the next week or so are not included.

To be clear, these are the players who have graduated (or are about to this season), taking them out of the mix for a spot: Roki Sasaki (No. 1 on preseason top 100), Dylan Crews (No. 6), Jackson Jobe (No. 7), Jasson Dominguez (No. 24), Kristian Campbell (No. 26), Jacob Wilson (No. 31), Drake Baldwin (No. 44), Cam Smith (No. 73). Matt Shaw, Nick Kurtz and Agustin Ramirez are included below, but they should graduate within the next month.

Now on to the top 50 MLB prospects, along with those who just missed out.


60 FV Tier

1. Roman Anthony, OF, Boston Red Sox

Anthony held serve as the default top prospect after Sasaki graduated from the No. 1 spot. The only real area for improvement left in Anthony’s offensive game is turning more of his 30-plus-homer-level raw power into home runs with better or more consistent lift/pull to his swing.

2. Bubba Chandler, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates

Chandler was a raw high school pitching prospect in the 2021 draft, given the time he spent as a quarterback, shortstop and switch-hitter before the Pirates took him in the third round. He’s now a polished, big league-ready potential front-line starter. His high-90s, plus-plus heater is possibly the best in the minor leagues, and he also has two above-average breakers, a plus changeup and above-average command.

3. Leodalis De Vries, SS, San Diego Padres

De Vries gets the edge among a group of three high-upside teenage shortstops appearing in a row. He has the best on-base and pull/lift skills of the three, while also being a switch-hitter who is at least as good defensively at shortstop as the other two. De Vries has the tools to be above average at everything, with potential for 25-30 homers.

4. Sebastian Walcott, SS, Texas Rangers

Walcott has gone from a long shot shortstop to now looking like an average long-term defender at the position, as is sometimes the case with big, athletic infielders (like current Rangers shortstop Corey Seager). Walcott has the most power of the three teen shortstops, with a shot to one day hit 40 homers, though his soft skills (on-base, pull/lift) are a notch behind De Vries.

5. Jesus Made, SS, Milwaukee Brewers

You heard about him here first last summer, when I put him at No. 45 in my August top 100 while he was still playing in the Dominican Summer League. When watching Made, I can’t help but see some of the same actions and posture of Ozzie Albies, but Made is five or six inches taller so he has more physical upside. To wit: Made’s exit velos (he just turned 18 this month) are within a tick or two of Albies’ career bests. It’s too early to know exactly what position he’ll end up playing (shortstop or second base) or what his ultimate offensive profile will be, but he looks like a potential star.

6. Marcelo Mayer, SS, Boston Red Sox
7. Jordan Lawlar, SS, Arizona Diamondbacks

Mayer and Lawlar have been ranked very close to each other (or literally back-to-back) going all the way back to the 2021 draft, and here they are again. Lawlar is back in the big leagues after a strong start, and Mayer is in Triple-A and seems like an option to debut later this season. Lawlar is a better runner and defender, and Mayer is a left-handed hitter and a better pure hitter.

8. Max Clark, OF, Detroit Tigers
9. Walker Jenkins, OF, Minnesota Twins

I’ve also had Clark and Jenkins basically back-to-back since they both went in the top five picks in the 2023 draft. Injuries have limited how much Jenkins has been on the field, but he has been outstanding when he plays: a plus-plus hitter with plus power who can help at all three outfield spots. Clark is a plus-plus runner who is a definite center fielder and has solid-average raw power, but his hit tool and approach are plus.

10. Colt Emerson, SS, Seattle Mariners
11. Kevin McGonigle, SS, Detroit Tigers

Emerson and McGonigle both were selected in the back half of the first round as high school hitters in the 2023 draft. Both are possible shortstops who will probably play more second base in the big leagues, especially if their teams have a plus defender there. They are plus hitters with a good approach and above-average raw power projections, along with some feel to get to it in games.

12. Chase Burns, RHP, Cincinnati Reds

Burns might not look like a command specialist with his loud delivery and upper-90s fastball, but he’s in the strike zone an awful lot. His 86-90 mph slider is possibly the best breaking ball in the minor leagues, and his fastball sits 96-100 mph.

13. Samuel Basallo, C, Baltimore Orioles
14. Dalton Rushing, C, Los Angeles Dodgers

Both Basallo and Rushing are solid (but not great) defenders with power-over-hit profiles. Rushing just got called up, and Basallo is already in Triple-A and still only 20 years old. Rushing has a much better approach — Basallo still chases too much — but Basallo has three grades more raw power, so he gets the edge due to upside and age.

15. Travis Bazzana, 2B, Cleveland Guardians
16. Aidan Miller, SS, Philadelphia Phillies

Miller is a shortstop who probably slides over to third base in the big leagues, and Bazzana should stick at second base. Bazzana is a slightly better runner and on-base threat, and Miller has more raw power. I’ll go with Bazzana’s soft skills, but their outlooks at the big league level are similar. (Bazzana will sit out at least eight to 10 weeks because of an oblique strain.)

17. Josue De Paula, LF, Los Angeles Dodgers

I can’t get the Yordan Alvarez comparison I heard at least a year ago out of my head when evaluating De Paula. He won’t offer much speed or defensive value, but he has 30-homer upside and a great approach.


55 FV Tier

18. Jac Caglianone, 1B, Kansas City Royals
19. Konnor Griffin, SS, Pittsburgh Pirates
20. Jett Williams, SS, New York Mets
21. Zyhir Hope, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers
22. Bryce Rainer, SS, Detroit Tigers
23. Andrew Painter, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies
24. Nick Kurtz, 1B, Athletics
25. Ethan Salas, C, San Diego Padres
26. Chase Dollander, RHP, Colorado Rockies
27. Carson Williams, SS, Tampa Bay Rays
28. Noah Schultz, LHP, Chicago White Sox
29. Arjun Nimmala, SS, Toronto Blue Jays
30. Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Milwaukee
31. Cole Young, SS, Seattle Mariners
32. J.J. Wetherholt, SS, St. Louis Cardinals
33. Kyle Teel, C, Chicago White Sox
34. George Lombard Jr., SS, New York Yankees
35. Thomas White, LHP, Miami Marlins

Caglianone continues to make progress, but there are some other big arrow-up prospects from the 2024 draft here, with Griffin, Rainer and Kurtz all up a good bit. Griffin’s swing concerns have calmed significantly, and his upside is still very high. Rainer has hit more and shown more power than I expected, and Kurtz’s shoulder issues seem to have been overstated at draft time. I’ve always been high on Williams, and he’s back to being healthy and performing — as is Painter. Misiorowski is throwing strikes in Triple-A … which could be for real? Nimmala, Hope and Lombard are some arrow-up hitters who were distinct possibilities to do so when they appeared on the preseason list.


50 FV Tier

36. Moises Ballesteros, C, Chicago Cubs
37. Emmanuel Rodriguez, OF, Minnesota Twins
38. Matt Shaw, 3B, Chicago Cubs
39. Luke Keaschall, 2B, Minnesota Twins
40. Angel Genao, SS, Cleveland Guardians
41. Coby Mayo, 3B, Baltimore Orioles
42. Jonny Farmelo, CF, Seattle Mariners
43. Alfredo Duno, C, Cincinnati Reds
44. Cade Horton, RHP, Chicago Cubs
45. Bryce Eldridge, 1B, San Francisco Giants
46. Brady House, 3B, Washington Nationals
47. Agustin Ramirez, C, Miami Marlins
48. Rhett Lowder, RHP, Cincinnati Reds
49. Chase Petty, RHP, Cincinnati Reds
50. Jonah Tong, RHP, New York Mets

Tong, Brandon Sproat and Nolan McLean are the top three Mets arms and I’ve shuffled them again from the team top 10s earlier this month, as Tong now narrowly looks like the best of the group for me. McLean has the most upside, if his command can take another step forward. Keaschall, Ballesteros and Ramirez have all hit more than I expected, and Horton’s velo/stuff is fully back and he is getting a big league shot in Chicago.

There are a several notable players who just got squeezed off the list (Jarlin Susana, Hagen Smith, Cooper Pratt and Alex Freeland among them) or are rising fast but couldn’t quite get on this time (including Andrew Salas, Luke Dickerson, Slade Caldwell, Caleb Bonemer, Ryan Sloan, Payton Tolle and Gage Jump). I’d also keep an eye on Blue Jays LHP Johnny King and Cardinals C Rainiel Rodriguez (both on the team lists) as my summer picks to click.

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Hamlin speeds to second consecutive playoff pole

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Hamlin speeds to second consecutive playoff pole

MADISON, Ill. — Denny Hamlin remained perfect in qualifying during the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, capturing the pole position Saturday at World Wide Technology Raceway.

It’s the 46th career pole and third this season for the Joe Gibbs Racing star, who also qualified first for last week’s playoff opener at Darlington Raceway.

“We made some great adjustments from where we were in practice,” said Hamlin, who turned a 139.190 mph lap in his No. 11 Toyota. “That’s what they did so well last week for qualifying. Now we’ve got great track position and just got to maintain it, and we’ll be in good shape.”

Kyle Larson will start second alongside Hamlin, earning his first top-10 qualifying effort on the 1.25-mile oval east of St. Louis.

Chase Briscoe qualified third, followed by Ross Chastain, Ryan Blaney, William Byron, Tyler Reddick, Christopher Bell and Austin Cindric as playoff drivers took the top nine starting spots for Sunday’s 300-mile race at the track known as Gateway.

It was a notable departure from how the playoffs began at Darlington. Only four championship-eligible drivers finished in the top 10 of the Southern 500, a record low for a playoff opener.

Among the disappointments was Larson, whose 19th at Darlington continued a five-race drought without a top-five finish.

“I think our team needs it more than anything,” the 2021 Cup champion said. “We haven’t been able to celebrate a whole lot, so we will definitely celebrate a front row starting spot at Gateway. It’s been a rough, inconsistent couple of months, so even just qualifying good feels really nice.”

Alex Bowman, who has finished no higher than 13th at Gateway, qualified 25th as the only playoff driver who will start outside the top 20. Bowman is tied with Josh Berry (who qualified 12th) for last in the points standings among the 16 playoff drivers.

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Belichick wins 1st at UNC, confirms Patriots ban

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Belichick wins 1st at UNC, confirms Patriots ban

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The man with more Super Bowl wins than any other coach in NFL history now has his first win as a college coach.

Bill Belichick picked up win No. 1 in college — and No. 334 overall — as North Carolina shrugged off a dismal opening performance Monday vs. TCU and beat Charlotte on Saturday night 20-3.

“It’s great,” Belichick said, “but it’s really about the team. It was disappointing Monday night against TCU, but these guys bounced back — players, coaches, staff, support people — and just got back to work. They were determined to have a better outcome. I’m really proud of what they did. They deserve the credit for tonight.”

After a 48-14 blowout loss that included two defensive touchdowns by the Horned Frogs, Belichick praised the team’s ability to shrug off the performance and focus on the fundamentals.

UNC led 17-3 at the half, rushed for 148 yards, and didn’t turn over the ball against Charlotte. Meanwhile, the Tar Heels’ maligned defense held the 49ers to just 21 yards on the ground, five days after TCU ran for 258.

The news cycle after Monday’s loss had been ugly for Belichick and the Tar Heels — “a lot of negativity from the outside,” he said — including reports from multiple outlets, including ESPN, that scouts from the New England Patriots, with whom Belichick won six Super Bowls, have been banned from North Carolina’s facility.

Belichick confirmed those reports Saturday, saying the decision was in response to a closed-door edict in New England.

“It’s obvious I’m not welcome at their facility,” Belichick said, “so they’re not welcome at ours.”

Belichick has had an acrimonious divorce from New England and owner Bob Kraft since he left the Patriots after the 2023 season, with multiple spats erupting in the media in recent months. Belichick took issue with comments from Kraft that hiring him had been a “big risk,” releasing a statement in July saying that he was the one who took a risk by accepting the job. In a Boston Globe story last month, Belichick appeared to take another swipe, saying that one of the perks of his job at North Carolina is that “there’s no owner, there’s no owner’s son,” the latter a reference to Jonathan Kraft.

On Saturday, Belichick seemed in far better spirits, though hardly effervescent in his celebration.

Asked if the team had given Belichick a game ball to celebrate his first win with the Tar Heels, senior Gavin Gibson laughed and said, “If we’d tried, I think he’d look at us like, ‘Nah.'”

Instead, Belichick pointed to UNC’s determination to wipe the slate clean after Monday’s ugly loss and offer some renewed hope that the Tar Heels wouldn’t roll over.

“It was clear in the locker room and as we got out on the practice field there was a … higher level of determination and commitment,” Belichick said. “That was good to see us improve.”

North Carolina hosts Richmond next week before heading to UCF to close out its nonconference schedule.

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O’s 1 out from being no-hit, score 4 to stun L.A.

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O's 1 out from being no-hit, score 4 to stun L.A.

BALTIMORE — Jackson Holliday homered with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to deny Yoshinobu Yamamoto a no-hitter, and the Baltimore Orioles weren’t satisfied with that, rallying for four runs in the inning to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-3 in a delirious comeback Saturday night.

Emmanuel Rivera won it with a two-run single off Tanner Scott, who also allowed a walk-off homer to Orioles rookie Samuel Basallo the previous night. But the Orioles did the bulk of their damage against Blake Treinen (1-3), who relieved Yamamoto after Holliday’s homer. He gave up a double to Jeremiah Jackson, hit Gunnar Henderson and walked Ryan Mountcastle and Colton Cowser to make it 3-2.

Scott came on with the bases loaded, and Rivera lined a single to center.

According to Elias, the Dodgers are just the second team in the Expansion Era (since 1961) to lose a game in nine innings after carrying a no-hitter through 8⅔ innings. On July 9, 2011, the Dodgers broke up the Padres’ combined no-hitter to win 1-0.

Los Angeles had a win probability of 99.6% with two outs before Holliday’s ninth-inning homer, according to ESPN Analytics.

Yamamoto came within one out of the major leagues’ first no-hitter of 2025. He allowed only two baserunners, both on third-inning walks, before Holliday’s drive. The 27-year-old right-hander tied a career high with 10 strikeouts. He threw 112 pitches, also a career high since coming to the U.S.

Yamamoto was removed after that and received a standing ovation by fans of both teams.

Camden Yards has hosted only one no-hitter since opening in 1992, and it was by another Japanese star. Hideo Nomo threw one on April 4, 2001, for the Boston Red Sox against the Orioles.

Shohei Ohtani hit an RBI grounder in the third. Mookie Betts added a run-scoring single in the fifth and an RBI triple in the seventh.

The Dodgers have not thrown a no-hitter since May 4, 2018, when Walker Buehler, Tony Cingrani, Yimi Garcia and Adam Liberatore pitched a combined effort against the San Diego Padres in Mexico. The last solo no-hitter by the team was Clayton Kershaw’s on June 18, 2014, against Colorado.

The last time the Orioles were no-hit was by Japanese right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma of the Seattle Mariners on Aug. 12, 2015.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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