Kiley McDaniel covers MLB prospects, the MLB Draft and more, including trades and free agency.
Has worked for three MLB teams.
Co-author of Author of ‘Future Value’
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The New York Islanders have the man to make the first pick in the draft. The team hired Tampa Bay Lightning assistant general manager Mathieu Darche as its new GM.
Darche, 48, has worked in Tampa Bay’s front office since 2019, helping the Lightning win two Stanley Cups. He was viewed by many in the league as GM Julien BriseBois’ right-hand man. This will be Darche’s first general manager job after being a candidate for a handful of openings over the last several years.
“With the Islanders owning the first overall pick in the upcoming NHL Draft and preparing to welcome the Olympic sendoff at UBS Arena next season, there is much to which our franchise, our players, and our passionate fans can look forward,” Islanders managing partner John Collins said. “Mathieu’s arrival adds to that momentum.”
Darche played parts of nine seasons in the league with five different teams. With a commerce degree in marketing and international business from McGill University, Darche also has experience working for the NHL Players’ Association in labor negotiations.
“I am truly honored by the opportunity to be the New York Islanders General Manager and Executive Vice President,” Darche said. “I’d like to thank Scott Malkin, Jon Ledecky, John Collins, and the entire ownership group for entrusting me with the hockey operations of this great franchise.”
The Islanders’ other finalist, according to sources, was Marc Bergevin, the former Montreal Canadiens GM who spent last season in the Los Angeles Kings front office.
Sources also said the Islanders received permission from the Maple Leafs to speak to Brendan Shanahan before it was decided by Toronto’s board that the Hockey Hall of Famer’s contract would not be renewed. According to sources, the Islanders were viewing Shanahan for a president role, similar to one he had with Toronto; however, Darche is the only hire expected at this time.
Darche takes over for Lou Lamoriello, who was fired after seven seasons on the job. New York didn’t make the playoffs this season and hasn’t made it past the first round since 2020-21 — when the Islanders lost in the East semifinals to the Lightning. Even after the decision to move on from Lamoriello, the team has still been consulting with the Hockey Hall of Famer, whose contract expires on June 30.
This is the second high-profile departure for the Lightning this offseason after assistant coach Jeff Blashill was hired by the Blackhawks on Thursday to be their head coach.
The Isles have the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL draft after receiving some lottery luck — jumping from 10th to the first selection earlier this month. This will be the first time the Islanders have the top pick since taking John Tavares in 2009.
Matthew Schaefer and Michael Misa are widely believed to be the best two prospects in the draft. However, the Islanders may be tempted by a hometown talent, James Hagen, who grew up in Hauppauge, New York, as a fan of the Islanders.
Mired in a nine-game losing streak, the Athletics shook up their roster Friday and called up five players, including highly touted prospect Denzel Clarke.
Veteran Seth Brown was designated for assignment amid moves that general manager David Forst hopes will give the club more flexibility.
“Ultimately, obviously we’re in a stretch right now we’re not finding ways to win,” Forst said in a video news conference. “I think we’re better than we’ve shown the last 10 days.”
Clarke, a 25-year-old center fielder known for his standout defense, speed and power, was the team’s fourth-round selection in the 2021 amateur draft. He was set to start and make his major league debut Friday night for the A’s (22-29) in the opener of a three-game home series against the Philadelphia Phillies at home in West Sacramento.
Clarke was batting .286 with no home runs, 21 RBIs and seven stolen bases in 31 games with Las Vegas. His .436 on-base percentage ranked fourth in the Pacific Coast League.
During the skid, the club has been outscored 72-26, is batting .209 and has a team ERA of 8.23 while allowing 23 home runs.
Outfielder JJ Bleday was optioned to Triple-A along with right-hander Carlos Duran and catcher Jhonny Pereda. The A’s also transferred second baseman Zack Gelof to the 60-day injured list.
Forst said Bleday needed a “reset” to find a rhythm at the plate and on defense — something he couldn’t find playing every day at the big league level right now. Manager Mark Kotsay spoke to Bleday on Friday about the move.
“Hopefully he’ll be back here very soon,” Forst said.
Third baseman Gio Urshela was placed on the 10-day injured list after straining his left hamstring in a loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday. He underwent an MRI on Friday.
Urshela left the game in the sixth inning with the injury of the 10-5 defeat.
Urshela went 1 for 2 with a bases-loaded walk in the game. He is batting .224 with no homers and 13 RBIs in 32 games this season.
The 32-year-old Brown had been the longest-tenured player on the team but struggled to get regular opportunities. He spent time in the minor leagues last year for a stretch, and Forst remained hopeful he would clear waivers and play for Las Vegas before returning at some point to the A’s.
He was hitting .192 with a home run and three RBIs in 33 games.
BOSTON — Rafael Devers had a career-high eight RBIs, hitting a three-run homer in the sixth inning and a grand slam in a 13-run eighth, to lead the Boston Red Sox over the Baltimore Orioles 19-5 on Friday in the opener of what was supposed to be a day-night doubleheader.
Devers had four hits and leads the major leagues with 47 RBIs. He hit his seventh career slam and his second in a six-day span, his 12th homer this season. The drive came off rookie infielder Emmanuel Rivera, who gave up eight runs and got three outs, leaving him with a 72.00 ERA. Devers hit an RBI single earlier in the inning against Cionel Pérez.
“Everybody is surprised about what he’s doing, but that’s who he is,” said Red Sox starter Brayan Bello, according to MLB.com. “Everybody was also surprised he got off to a slow start in the first five or six games, but we know the type of hitter that he is, the type of player that he is and the numbers he can put up.”
Boston scored its most runs since a 20-8 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Aug. 11, 2021, and finished with 20 hits.
Its 13 runs in the eighth inning are the franchise’s second most in an inning over the past 50 seasons (14 on June 27, 2003, against the Marlins). They were also the most runs by any team in the eighth inning or later since the New York Yankees on June 21, 2005, against the Tampa Bay Rays (also 13).
Baltimore has lost nine of 10 and and 15 of 18, dropping to 16-33. The Orioles are 1-5 since manager Brandon Hyde was fired and replaced on an interim basis by third-base coach Tony Mansolino.
Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman left because of right quadriceps tightness after singling in the fifth inning.
Rob Refsnyder had four RBIs, including a three-run homer in the eighth off Pérez. Duran had three RBIs.
The Red Sox had eight players score multiple runs, one shy of tying the franchise record.
Garrett Whitlock (3-0) allowed one hit in two scoreless innings.
Game 2 of the scheduled doubleheader was postponed later Friday because of rain. The teams will play a split doubleheader Saturday (1:05 p.m., 6:35 p.m.).
Information from ESPN Research and The Associated Press was used in this report.