Updated MLB Farm System Rankings After 2021 MLB Draft

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Rob Tringali/Getty Images

Now that the 2021 MLB draft is in the books, it’s time for an updated look at how all 30 MLB farm systems stack up.

The following factors helped determine the placement of players and teams:

• Potential (Player): Potential trumps production a lot of the time, especially in the lower levels of the minors and with recent draft picks. Skill sets and tools are often better indicators of what kind of player someone will be.
• Talent (Player): As for those in the higher levels of the minors who are close to breaking through to the big leagues, production and talent were the determining factors, as these players are viewed as more complete products.
• Overall Depth (Team): Having one or two elite prospects is great, but a deep farm system is the way to build a sustainable contender. Depth and talent were the biggest factors in ranking each team.
• High-End Talent (Team): With that being said, there is a difference between a prospect who has a chance of making an impact in the majors and a prospect who could be a star. Elite prospects served as a tiebreaker of sorts when teams were close in the rankings.

A tier system was used to help differentiate the varying levels of individual talent:

• Tier 1: Prospects who have elite skill sets and All-Star potential. This is the cream of the prospect crop. These 100 players will make up B/R’s updated Top 100 prospect list, which is scheduled to publish on Saturday, July 24.
• Tier 2: Prospects who have a good chance of becoming impact contributors. These are the players who were in consideration for spots on B/R’s updated Top 100 prospect list and could end up there in the future.
• Tier 3: Prospects who profile as fringe MLB contributors or young players who are still too raw to project any higher. This tier represents the bulk of prospects around baseball, though more than a few are capable of climbing to the next tier.

Teams were initially ranked based on the number of Tier 1 and Tier 2 prospects in their systems, and then the rankings were subjectively tweaked from there.

Note: A player must not have passed the rookie-eligibility limits (130 at-bats, 50 innings pitched, 45 days on an active roster prior to Sept. 1) to be included in these rankings.

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Cade CavalliLynne Sladky/Associated Press

Top 10 Prospects


Name	Age	Tier
1. RHP Cade Cavalli	22	1
2. SS Brady House	18	2
3. RHP Cole Henry	21	2
4. RHP Andry Lara	18	3
5. RHP Jackson Rutledge	22	3
6. SS/3B Yasel Antuna	21	3
7. SS Armando Cruz	17	3
8. OF Daylen Lile	18	3
9. LHP Tim Cate	23	3
10. LHP Matt Cronin	23	3

        

Farm System Snapshot

A thin Washington Nationals system has a new top position player after prep slugger Brady House slipped to No. 11 overall in the 2021 draft. With a 70-grade power tool highlighting a dynamic overall skill set, he should fit the mold of a power-hitting third baseman once he physically matures.

Meanwhile, last year’s first-round pick Cade Cavalli has moved to the top of the organization rankings with a strong start to the year. The hard-throwing right-hander has a 2.47 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 103 strikeouts in 62 innings between High-A and Double-A.

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Yoelqui CespedesGabe Christus/Associated Press

Top 10 Prospects


Name	Age	Tier
1. RHP Jared Kelley	19	2
2. OF Yoelqui Cespedes	23	2
3. SS Colson Montgomery	19	2
4. OF Micker Adolfo	24	2
5. 3B Wes Kath	18	3
6. RHP Matthew Thompson	20	3
7. INF Jose Rodriguez	20	3
8. RHP Andrew Dalquist	20	3
9. 3B Jake Burger	25	3
10. RHP Norge Vera	21	3

             


Farm System Snapshot

With Andrew Vaughn, Michael Kopech and Garrett Crochet all exhausting their prospect status since Opening Day, a once top-heavy Chicago White Sox system has thinned out considerably. Prep sluggers Colson Montgomery and Wes Kath both have Tier 1 potential, but they will take some developmental patience as they refine their hit tools.

Infielder Jose Rodriguez is hitting .282/.322/.465 with 27 extra-base hits and 18 steals at Single-A, and the 20-year-old is well on his way to outplaying the $50,000 bonus he signed in 2018.

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Tyler SoderstromMatt York/Associated Press

Top 10 Prospects


Name	Age	Tier
1. C Tyler Soderstrom	19	1
2. SS/2B Nick Allen	22	2
3. SS Robert Puason	18	2
4. SS Maxwell Muncy	18	2
5. OF Greg Deichmann	26	3
6. RHP Daulton Jefferies	25	3
7. OF Brayan Buelvas	19	3
8. SS Logan Davidson	23	3
9. RHP Jeff Criswell	22	3
10. OF Pedro Pineda	17	3

      

Farm System Snapshot

The 2021 draft class was headlined by an elite group of high school shortstops, and just behind that top tier was Maxwell Muncy who possesses above-average tools across the board. He could easily develop into an elite prospect in his own right, especially if his power develops as hoped.

Last year’s top pick Tyler Soderstrom was viewed by some as the best pure hitter in the 2020 draft class, and he is living up to they hype early with a .315/.400/.575 line that includes 20 doubles, 10 home runs and 43 RBI in 50 games at Single-A.

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Bryson StottGabe Christus/Associated Press

Top 10 Prospects


Name	Age	Tier
1. RHP Mick Abel	19	1
2. SS Bryson Stott	23	1
3. RHP Andrew Painter	18	2
4. RHP Francisco Morales	21	2
5. C Rafael Marchan	22	3
6. SS Luis Garcia	20	3
7. OF Simon Muzziotti	22	3
8. RHP Cristian Hernandez	20	3
9. OF Ethan Wilson	21	3
10. SS Casey Martin	22	3

      

Farm System Snapshot

After Jackson Jobe, who went No. 3 overall to the Detroit Tigers, projectable 6’7″ right-hander Andrew Painter was arguably the best prep pitcher in this year’s draft class. With a good feel for his entire four-pitch repertoire and plenty of room to add more velocity, he shares a lot of similarities with 2020 first-round pick Mick Abel.

Right-hander Cristian Hernandez began the year well off the top-prospect radar. The 20-year-old has a 3.48 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and a 66-to-20 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 51.2 innings at Single-A, and there is still projection remaining in his 6’3″, 180-pound frame.

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Korey LeeLynne Sladky/Associated Press

Top 10 Prospects


Name	Age	Tier
1. C Korey Lee	22	1
2. INF Jeremy Pena	23	2
3. RHP Hunter Brown	22	2
4. OF Pedro Leon	23	2
5. RHP Forrest Whitley	23	2
6. RHP Alex Santos	19	3
7. SS Freudis Nova	21	3
8. OF Alex McKenna	23	3
9. SS Tyler Whitaker	18	3
10. OF Colin Barber	20	3

       

Farm System Snapshot

The Astros did not pick until No. 87 overall in the 2021 draft, but they still managed to snag a high-ceiling slugger in Las Vegas prep Tyler Whitaker. It will likely take an above-slot bonus to get him signed in the third round.

Catcher of the future Korey Lee is off to a red-hot start with a .313/.380/.513 line that includes 10 home runs and 32 RBI in 53 games between High-A and Double-A. He has also thrown out 44 percent of base stealers.

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Ryan RolisonDavid Zalubowski/Associated Press

Top 10 Prospects


Name	Age	Tier
1. OF Zac Veen	19	1
2. OF Benny Montgomery	18	2
3. LHP Ryan Rolison	24	2
4. 1B Michael Toglia	22	2
5. OF Ryan Vilade	22	2
6. OF Brenton Doyle	23	3
7. 3B Elehuris Montero	22	3
8. RHP Chris McMahon	22	3
9. C Drew Romo	19	3
10. SS Adael Amador	18	3

        

Farm System Snapshot

Tooled-up high school outfielder Benny Montgomery was the Colorado Rockies’ top draft choice at No. 8 overall. He fits a similar mold to 2020 first-round pick Zac Veen, albeit with less overall polish. They also picked up talented but oft-injured LSU right-hander Jaden Hill in the second round, and he could be one of the steals of the draft if he stays healthy.

Acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals in the Nolan Arenado blockbuster, third baseman Elehuris Montero is hitting .269/.362/.509 with 10 doubles, 13 home runs and 42 RBI in 60 games at Double-A. He could see the majors before the season is over.

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Garrett MitchellAshley Landis/Associated Press

Top 10 Prospects


Name	Age	Tier
1. OF Garrett Mitchell	22	1
2. OF Sal Frelick	21	2
3. SS Brice Turang	21	2
4. OF Hedbert Perez	18	2
5. LHP Ethan Small	24	2
6. OF Joe Gray	21	3
7. LHP Aaron Ashby	23	3
8. C Mario Feliciano	22	3
9. LHP Antoine Kelly	21	3
10. C Jeferson Quero	18	3

        


Farm System Snapshot

The Brewers 2021 draft class is headlined by three productive college hitters in Sal Frelick, Tyler Black and Alex Binelas, and with one of the thinner systems in baseball, adding polished, high-ceiling talent is a wise approach.

Outfielder Joe Gray was a second-round pick in 2018, and after hitting below .200 in each of his first two pro seasons, things are finally clicking. The 21-year-old is hitting .272/.392/.582 with 16 doubles, 12 home runs and 57 RBI between Single-A and High-A, and he is also a perfect 14-for-14 on stolen base attempts.

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Matthew LiberatoreJulio Cortez/Associated Press

Top 10 Prospects


Name	Age	Tier
1. 3B Nolan Gorman	21	1
2. LHP Matthew Liberatore	21	1
3. 3B Jordan Walker	19	1
4. C Ivan Herrera	21	2
5. RHP Michael McGreevy	21	2
6. SS Masyn Winn	19	3
7. RHP Tink Hence	18	3
8. OF Joshua Baez	18	3
9. LHP Zack Thompson	23	3
10. OF Alec Burleson	22	3

          

Farm System Snapshot

The Cardinals will likely have to go above-slot to sign prep slugger Joshua Baez, but walking away with one of the top power hitters in the draft class and a polished college arm in Michael McGreevy makes them one of the biggest winners in this draft cycle. McGreevy had a 2.92 ERA and a 115-to-11 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 101.2 innings at UC Santa Barbara this spring.

A two-way player at East Carolina, 2020 second-round pick Alec Burleson is now a full-time outfielder and he’s hitting .300/.352/.543 with 17 home runs and 48 RBI in 59 games between High-A and Double-A in his pro debut.

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Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press

Top 10 Prospects


Name	Age	Tier
1. OF Brandon Marsh	23	1
2. LHP Reid Detmers	22	1
3. SS Kyren Paris	19	2
4. RHP Sam Bachman	21	2
5. OF Jordyn Adams	21	2
6. SS/2B Jeremiah Jackson	21	2
7. SS Arol Vera	18	3
8. OF Alexander Ramirez	18	3
9. RHP Jack Kochanowicz	20	3
10. LHP Ky Bush	21	3

        

Farm System Snapshot

The Angels had 20 picks in the 2021 draft and they selected 20 pitchers, led by Miami (Ohio) right-hander Sam Bachman who has a 70-grade fastball and 70-grade slider with the potential to develop into a frontline starter or a dominant reliever.

Shortstop Kyren Paris had just three professional games under his belt entering the 2021 season. The 19-year-old is making up for lost developmental time in the early going at Single-A with a .297/.423/.516 line that includes nine extra-base hits and 10 steals.

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Marcelo MayerBrian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Top 10 Prospects


Name	Level	Tier
1. SS Marcelo Mayer	18	1
2. 1B Triston Casas	21	1
3. OF Jarren Duran	24	1
4. SS/2B Jeter Downs	22	1
5. OF Gilberto Jimenez	21	2
6. RHP Tanner Houck	25	2
7. LHP Jay Groome	22	3
8. RHP Bryan Mata	22	3
9. OF Jud Fabian	20	3
10. RHP Brayan Bello	22	3

             


Farm System Snapshot

The Red Sox didn’t get Vanderbilt right-hander Jack Leiter or Louisville catcher Henry Davis, the two players most frequently linked to them during the predraft process. Instead, they got a player most expected to go No. 1 overall in Marcelo Mayer and the five-tool shortstop immediately shoots to the top of the organization rankings. Slugger Jud Fabian is also a first-round talent if he can cut down on his swing-and-miss.

Undersized 6’1″ right-hander Brayan Bello signed for just $28,000 in 2017, and he is throwing the ball as well as any prospect in the system right now with a 2.55 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and a 67-to-15 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 49.1 innings between High-A and Double-A.

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Spencer TorkelsonGene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Top 10 Prospects


Name	Age	Tier
1. 3B/1B Spencer Torkelson	21	1
2. OF Riley Greene	20	1
3. RHP Matt Manning	23	1
4. RHP Jackson Jobe	18	1
5. RHP Ty Madden	21	2
6. C Dillon Dingler	22	2
7. SS Izaac Pacheco	18	3
8. OF Daniel Cabrera	22	3
9. 3B Gage Workman	21	3
10. OF Roberto Campos	18	3

          

Farm System Snapshot

Spencer Torkelson, Dillon Dingler, Daniel Cabrera and Gage Workman were all added as part of the Tigers 2020 draft class, and the scored an impressive haul of talent once again this year with high-ceiling prep right-hander Jackson Jobe, Texas ace Ty Madden and high school power-hitter Izaac Pacheco all viewed as potential first-round picks entering the draft.

Outfielder Roberto Campos inked a $2.85 million bonus in 2019 after defecting from Cuba. He is a long way from contributing in the big leagues, but he has one of the highest ceilings in the system and is finally making his pro debut stateside in 2021.

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Bobby Witt Jr.Gabe Christus/Associated Press

Top 10 Prospects


Name	Age	Tier
1. SS Bobby Witt Jr.	21	1
2. LHP Asa Lacy	22	1
3. LHP Daniel Lynch	24	1
4. RHP Jackson Kowar	24	1
5. 1B Nick Pratto	22	1
6. OF Erick Pena	18	2
7. RHP Jonathan Bowlan	24	3
8. C MJ Melendez	22	3
9. LHP Frank Mozzicato	18	3
10. RHP Ben Kudrna	18	3

                 

Farm System Snapshot

The Royals made a big reach for left-hander Frank Mozzicato at No. 7 overall after he had some late helium this spring, and that should help them sign Kansas prep right-hander Ben Kudrna to an above-slot deal in the second round. They have done a solid job developing pitching talent recently, and both pitchers have huge upside.

It has taken Nick Pratto some time to figure things out at the plate since he went No. 14 overall in the 2017 draft, but after reworking his swing at the alternate site last year he is finally living up to his potential. The 22-year-old is hitting .288/.412/.606 with 13 doubles, 15 home runs and 43 RBI in 56 games at Double-A.

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Jack LeiterRebecca S. Gratz/Associated Press

Top 10 Prospects


Name	Age	Tier
1. RHP Jack Leiter	21	1
2. 3B Josh Jung	23	1
3. C Sam Huff	23	2
4. RHP Cole Winn	21	2
5. RHP Yerry Rodriguez	23	2
6. SS Luisangel Acuna	19	2
7. 2B Justin Foscue	22	2
8. SS Maximo Acosta	18	3
9. RHP Hans Crouse	22	3
10. 1B/3B Sherten Apostel	22	3

                

Farm System Snapshot

At least in terms of where he will rank on our updated top 100 prospect list when it is revealed next week, right-hander Jack Leiter was the best prospect in the 2021 draft. Now it’s up to a Texas Rangers organization that has had some trouble developing pitching talent to get the most out of him.

It’s a promising sign then that 2018 first-round pick Cole Winn is having a strong season after a lackluster pro debut. The 21-year-old earned a spot in the Futures Game and he has a 2.49 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 58 strikeouts in 50.2 innings at Double-A Frisco.

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Chase PettyDavid Zalubowski/Associated Press

Top 10 Prospects


Name	Age	Tier
1. SS Royce Lewis	22	1
2. RHP Jhoan Duran	23	1
3. RHP Jordan Balazovic	22	1
4. RHP Matt Canterino	23	2
5. RHP Chase Petty	18	2
6. 1B Aaron Sabato	22	2
7. INF Jose Miranda	23	2
8. SS Keoni Cavaco	20	3
9. RHP Blayne Enlow	22	3
10. RHP Josh Winder	24	3

           

Farm System Snapshot

The Twins rolled the dice on flame-thrower Chase Petty with the No. 26 overall pick in the 2021 draft. With a fastball that has touched 102 mph and a wipeout slider he has tremendous upside, but he also has some reliever risk with effort in his delivery and an undersized frame.

With Alex Kirilloff and Trevor Larnach moving on to the majors, Royce Lewis out for the year and Aaron Sabato off to a slow start, infielder Jose Miranda has been the team’s most promising position-player prospect. The 23-year-old is hitting .348/.417/.613 with 13 doubles, 18 home runs and 51 RBI in 61 games in the upper minors.

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Brennen DavisRob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images

Top 10 Prospects


Name	Age	Tier
1. OF Brennen Davis	21	1
2. LHP Brailyn Marquez	22	1
3. SS Ed Howard	19	1
4. SS Cristian Hernandez	17	2
5. C Miguel Amaya	22	2
6. LHP Jordan Wicks	21	2
7. SS Reginald Preciado	18	2
8. RHP Ryan Jensen	23	3
9. 2B Chase Strumpf	23	3
10. OF Owen Caissie	19	3

                

Farm System Snapshot

Left-hander Jordan Wicks is one of the most polished starters in the 2021 draft class. The 6’3″, 220-pound southpaw has an elite changeup as part of a refined four-pitch repertoire, and he should be one of the first pitchers from this class to reach the majors.

Infielder Reginald Preciado (11 G, .395/.490/.581, 4 XBH, 4 SB at rookie ball) and outfielder Owen Caissie (7 G, .333/.533/.524, 2 XBH, at rookie ball) were the prospect headliners in the blockbuster deal that sent Yu Darvish to the San Diego Padres during the offseason. Both are off to strong starts and could be promoted to full-season ball before the year is over.

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Shea LangeliersBrace Hemmelgarn/Getty Images

Top 10 Prospects


Name	Age	Tier
1. OF Cristian Pache	22	1
2. OF Drew Waters	22	1
3. C Shea Langeliers	23	1
4. LHP Kyle Muller	23	2
5. SS Braden Shewmake	23	2
6. OF Michael Harris	20	2
7. LHP Jared Shuster	22	2
8. LHP Tucker Davidson	25	3
9. RHP Ryan Cusick	21	3
10. RHP Bryce Elder	22	3

                 

Farm System Snapshot

A year after taking Wake Forest left-hander Jared Shuster with the No. 25 overall pick in the 2020 draft, the Braves selected another Demon Deacon in the first round this year in hard-throwing Ryan Cusick. The 6’6″ right-hander is not as polished as some of the other college arms in the class, but his pure stuff is impossible to ignore.

Catcher Shea Langeliers has jumped up to Tier 1 status with a strong start at Double-A Mississippi. The 2019 first-round pick is hitting .254/.327/.426 with 14 home runs and 30 RBI in 52 games while throwing out 53 percent of base stealers.

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Nolan JonesTony Dejak/Associated Press

Top 10 Prospects


Name	Age	Tier
1. 3B Nolan Jones	23	1
2. SS Tyler Freeman	22	1
3. RHP Daniel Espino	20	1
4. OF George Valera	20	2
5. SS Brayan Rocchio	20	2
6. RHP Gavin Williams	21	2
7. SS Gabriel Arias	21	2
8. C Bo Naylor	21	3
9. INF Angel Martinez	19	3
10. LHP Logan Allen	22	3

        

Farm System Snapshot


Few college pitchers did more to boost their stock this spring than East Carolina ace Gavin Williams. The 6’6″ right-hander went 10-1 with a 1.88 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 130 strikeouts in 81.1 innings after spending most of his first two years on campus as a reliever. He capped off his impressive spring with a dominant outing against Vanderbilt in the super regionals.

The Cleveland system does as good a job as anyone developing talent, which should bode well for high-floor left-hander Logan Allen. The undersized southpaw has a 1.46 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 73 strikeouts in 55.1 innings between High-A and Double-A after going in the second round of the 2020 draft.

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Jasson Dominguez=042021001662=/Associated Press

Top 10 Prospects


Name	Age	Tier
1. OF Jasson Dominguez	18	1
2. SS Oswald Peraza	21	1
3. RHP Deivi Garcia	22	1
4. SS Anthony Volpe	20	1
5. RHP Clarke Schmidt	25	2
6. RHP Luis Gil	23	2
7. C Austin Wells	22	2
8. RHP Luis Medina	22	3
9. LHP Ken Waldichuk	23	3
10. RHP Yoendrys Gomez	21	3

       

Farm System Snapshot

With a farm system loaded with high-risk/high-ceiling talent, the Yankees opted for a high-floor player in college standout Trey Sweeney with their first-round pick this year. He doesn’t quite crack their top 10 prospects, but he has better odds of being at least an MLB contributor than a lot of the guys ranked ahead of him.

Shortstop Anthony Volpe has been one of the breakout prospects of 2021, hitting .295/.444/.600 with 18 doubles, 12 home runs, 50 RBI and 21 steals while tallying more walks (52) than strikeouts (44) between Single-A and High-A. The 20-year-old was the No. 30 overall pick in 2019.

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Nick LodoloMatthew Stockman/Getty Images

Top 10 Prospects


Name	Age	Tier
1. RHP Hunter Greene	21	1
2. LHP Nick Lodolo	23	1
3. SS Jose Barrero	23	1
4. OF Austin Hendrick	20	1
5. SS Matt McLain	21	2
6. RHP Tony Santillan	24	2
7. OF Jay Allen	18	2
8. OF Michael Siani	21	3
9. 3B Rece Hinds	20	3
10. 2B Tyler Callihan	21	3

               

Farm System Snapshot

The Reds had four of the first 51 picks in this year’s draft, and they walked away with UCLA shortstop Matt McLain, who was widely regarded as the best college middle infielder; five-tool prep outfielder Jay Allen, who shares some similarities to Taylor Trammell; slugging college catcher Matheu Nelson; and high-floor college southpaw Andrew Abbott. It was a well-balanced use of their draft capital.

It’s only a matter of time before 2019 first-round pick Nick Lodolo is pitching in the majors. The 6’6″ southpaw has a 0.84 ERA with a 46-to-6 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 32 innings at Double-A, and he was widely regarded as one of the most polished arms in the class when he was selected out of TCU.

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Ryan PepiotAbbie Parr/Getty Images

Top 10 Prospects


Name	Age	Tier
1. RHP Josiah Gray	23	1
2. C Keibert Ruiz	22	1
3. C Diego Cartaya	19	1
4. RHP Bobby Miller	22	1
5. 2B Michael Busch	23	2
6. RHP Ryan Pepiot	23	2
7. 3B Kody Hoese	24	2
8. 3B Miguel Vargas	21	3
9. OF Andy Pages	20	3
10. SS Wilman Diaz	17	3

         

Farm System Snapshot

The Dodgers made one of the riskier selections of the first round, grabbing prep left-hander Maddux Bruns at No. 29 overall. He’s extremely raw with work to do smoothing out his mechanics, but in terms of raw stuff, he stacks up to any lefty in the class with a fastball that touches 97 mph and a hard-biting slider.

Changeup specialist Ryan Pepiot could find his way onto leaguewide top 100 lists in short order if he continues to dominate hitters in the upper levels of the minors. A third-round pick in 2019, he has a 1.77 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 63 strikeouts in 45.2 innings at Double-A this year.

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Grayson RodriguezDiamond Images/Getty Images

Top 10 Prospects


Name	Age	Tier
1. C Adley Rutschman	23	1
2. RHP Grayson Rodriguez	21	1
3. LHP DL Hall	22	1
4. SS Gunnar Henderson	20	1
5. SS Jordan Westburg	22	2
6. OF Colton Cowser	21	2
7. OF Heston Kjerstad	22	2
8. RHP Kyle Bradish	24	3
9. OF Kyle Stowers	23	3
10. 2B Connor Norby	21	3

         

Farm System Snapshot

The Orioles selected just one high school player among their 21 picks in the 2021 draft. Sam Houston State outfielder Colton Cowser and East Carolina second baseman Connor Norby headlined the college-heavy haul, and they were two of the most productive hitters in the country this year. Can they do it against high-level competition?

Outfielder Kyle Stowers was a second-round pick in 2019. After a forgettable pro debut at Low-A, he is making some noise this year with a .281/.405/.528 line that includes 11 doubles, 12 home runs and 45 RBI in 56 games between High-A and Double-A.

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Marco LucianoDustin Bradford/Getty Images

Top 10 Prospects


Name	Age	Tier
1. SS Marco Luciano	19	1
2. C Joey Bart	24	1
3. OF Heliot Ramos	21	1
4. LHP Kyle Harrison	19	1
5. OF Luis Matos	19	2
6. OF Hunter Bishop	23	2
7. RHP Will Bednar	21	2
8. OF Jairo Pomares	20	3
9. OF Alexander Canario	21	3
10. C Patrick Bailey	21	3

         

Farm System Snapshot

The Giants selected pitchers with each of their first nine picks in the 2021 draft and ended up with 14 arms among their 20 selections. College World Series Most Outstanding Player Will Bednar and Fordham left-hander Matt Mikulski were two of the best college pitchers on the board this year, and they help address a weakness in the system.

The Giants gave left-hander Kyle Harrison a $2.5 million bonus—roughly the slot value of the No. 28 overall pick—in the third round last year. He is quickly showing why he was worth every penny with a 3.52 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 53.2 innings at Single-A.

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CJ AbramsSue Ogrocki/Associated Press

Top 10 Prospects


Name	Age	Tier
1. LHP MacKenzie Gore	22	1
2. SS CJ Abrams	20	1
3. C Luis Campusano	22	1
4. OF Robert Hassell	19	1
5. IF Tucupita Marcano	21	2
6. RHP Justin Lange	19	2
7. OF Joshua Mears	20	2
8. RHP Mason Thompson	23	3
9. OF James Wood	18	3
10. RHP Reiss Knehr	24	3

        

Farm System Snapshot

Towering 6’7″, 240-pound outfielder James Wood looked like a potential first-round pick before an inconsistent spring at IMG Academy. The Padres will likely need an above-slot bonus to sign him, but reaching for Maryland prep shortstop Jackson Merrill in the first round will likely save them some money.

Robert Hassell has been impressive in his pro debut after going No. 8 overall in the 2020 draft. With a smooth lefty swing and plus tools across the board, he’s hitting .301/.381/.458 with 26 extra-base hits and 21 steals in 57 games at Single-A.

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Kumar RockerRebecca S. Gratz/Associated Press

Top 10 Prospects


Name	Age	Tier
1. C Francisco Alvarez	19	1
2. 3B Brett Baty	21	1
3. RHP Kumar Rocker	21	1
4. SS Ronny Mauricio	20	1
5. RHP Matthew Allan	20	1
6. 3B Mark Vientos	21	2
7. OF Pete Crow-Armstrong	19	2
8. RHP J.T. Ginn	22	3
9. OF Carlos Cortes	24	3
10. OF Khalil Lee	23	3

          

Farm System Snapshot

Who would have guessed Vanderbilt right-hander Kumar Rocker would still be on the board when the Mets picked at No. 10 overall? He still has work to do to reach his full potential, but in terms of pure stuff, he has the highest ceiling of any pitcher in this class.

Third baseman Brett Baty was viewed as one of the best bats in his draft class when he went No. 12 overall in 2019, and he is living up to the hype in 2021. The 21-year-old hit .309/.397/.514 with 22 extra-base hits in 209 plate appearances at High-A to earn a promotion to Double-A going into the All-Star break.

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Jordan LawlarMichael Ainsworth/Associated Press

Top 10 Prospects


Name	Age	Tier
1. SS Jordan Lawlar	18	1
2. OF Corbin Carroll	20	1
3. OF Alek Thomas	21	1
4. OF Kristian Robinson	20	1
5. SS Geraldo Perdomo	21	1
6. LHP Blake Walston	20	2
7. RHP Bryce Jarvis	23	2
8. RHP Slade Cecconi	22	3
9. RHP Ryne Nelson	23	3
10. OF Wilderd Patino	19	3

         

Farm System Snapshot

The D-backs were poised to land a top talent with the No. 6 overall pick, and they may have gotten the best player in the entire draft class. Prep shortstop Jordan Lawlar has drawn comparisons to Bobby Witt Jr. with his five-tool potential, and he immediately jumps to the top of the organizational prospect list.

A two-way player at Oregon who was used primarily as a reliever when he pitched, Ryne Nelson is getting a chance to start in the Arizona system after he was taken in the second round of the 2019 draft. The 6’3″, 184-pound right-hander has a 3.46 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 77 strikeouts in 52 innings between High-A and Double-A.

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Henry DavisDaniel Shirey/Getty Images

Top 10 Prospects


Name	Age	Tier
1. C Henry Davis	21	1
2. RHP Quinn Priester	20	1
3. 2B/SS Nick Gonzales	22	1
4. SS Oneil Cruz	22	1
5. SS Liover Peguero	20	1
6. RHP Roansy Contreras	21	2
7. RHP Tahnaj Thomas	22	2
8. LHP Anthony Solometo	18	2
9. RHP Carmen Mlodzinski	22	3
10. RHP Bubba Chandler	18	3

        

Farm System Snapshot

If the Pirates can find a way to get Henry Davis, Anthony Solometo and Bubba Chandler all signed, they’ll walk away with the best 2021 draft prospect haul of any team. The decision to go with Davis over one of the shortstops will save some money, and it also fills a glaring organizational hole. Chandler will undoubtedly take an above-slot deal as a third-rounder to sign him away from playing football and baseball at Clemson.

Right-hander Roansy Contreras was acquired in the deal that sent Jameson Taillon to the Yankees during the offseason, and he is turning heads at Double-A. The 21-year-old has a 2.35 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and a 65-to-11 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 46 innings.

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Max MeyerMatthew Stockman/Getty Images

Top 10 Prospects


Name	Age	Tier
1. RHP Sixto Sanchez	22	1
2. RHP Max Meyer	22	1
3. RHP Edward Cabrera	23	1
4. OF JJ Bleday	23	1
5. SS Kahlil Watson	18	1
6. OF Jesus Sanchez	23	2
7. C Joe Mack	18	2
8. 1B Lewin Diaz	24	2
9. OF Peyton Burdick	24	3
10. SS Cody Morissette	21	3

           

Farm System Snapshot

The Marlins walked away with a consensus top-10 talent in toolsy prep shortstop Kahlil Watson at No. 16 overall and a consensus first-rounder in power-hitting catcher Joe Mack at No. 31 overall in Balance Round A. Boston College shortstop Cody Morissette in the second round was icing on the cake.

Flame-thrower Max Meyer was sent to Double-A to begin his pro career after going No. 3 overall in last year’s draft, and he has more than held his own. Armed with a lethal fastball-slider combination, he has a 1.67 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 54 strikeouts in 54 innings.

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Alek ManoahJulio Cortez/Associated Press

Top 10 Prospects


Name	Age	Tier
1. SS/OF Austin Martin	22	1
2. RHP Nate Pearson	24	1
3. SS Jordan Groshans	21	1
4. RHP Alek Manoah	23	1
5. SS Orelvis Martinez	19	1
6. C Gabriel Moreno	21	2
7. RHP Gunnar Hoglund	21	2
8. RHP Simeon Woods Richardson	20	2
9. SS/2B Miguel Hiraldo	20	3
10. IF/OF Otto Lopez	22	3

          

Farm System Snapshot

The Blue Jays might have walked away with the steal of the draft selecting Ole Miss right-hander Gunnar Hoglund at No. 19 overall. He was a consensus top-10 pick before undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery, but Walker Buehler began his pro career in a similar fashion, and he proved well worth the wait.

Already loaded with high-ceiling middle infield talent, the Blue Jays have another one rising the organizational ranks in Otto Lopez. The 22-year-old is hitting .344/.402/.480 with 24 extra-base hits in 254 plate appearances at Double-A, and he is also seeing some time in center field.

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Noelvi MarteElaine Thompson/Associated Press

Top 10 Prospects


Name	Age	Tier
1. OF Jarred Kelenic	21	1
2. OF Julio Rodriguez	20	1
3. SS Noelvi Marte	19	1
4. RHP Emerson Hancock	22	1
5. RHP George Kirby	23	1
6. C Cal Raleigh	24	1
7. LHP Brandon Williamson	23	2
8. C Harry Ford	18	2
9. OF Zach DeLoach	22	3
10. RHP Connor Phillips	20	3

           

Farm System Snapshot

The uber-athletic Harry Ford was drafted as a catcher at No. 12 overall, and he has the defensive chops to stick there, but he could also handle second base or center field if the Mariners decide to try to expedite his bat to the majors. It was a surprise pivot for Seattle from the long-standing trend of drafting college players in the first round.

After a tantalizing pro debut in the Dominican Summer League in 2019, Noelvi Marte has continued to impress stateside as he makes the jump to full-season ball. The 19-year-old is hitting .286/.376/.496 with 13 doubles, 11 home runs and 42 RBI in 57 games at Single-A, and he has shown an advanced approach at the plate with an 11.3 percent walk rate.

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Wander FrancoChris O’Meara/Associated Press

Top 10 Prospects


Name	Age	Tier
1. SS Wander Franco	20	1
2. INF Vidal Brujan	23	1
3. RHP Shane Baz	22	1
4. 2B/SS Xavier Edwards	21	1
5. RHP Cole Wilcox	22	1
6. OF Josh Lowe	23	1
7. LHP Brendan McKay	25	2
8. RHP Joe Ryan	25	2
9. RHP Nick Bitsko	19	2
10. SS Greg Jones	23	3

           

Farm System Snapshot

It’s only a matter of time before Wander Franco and Vidal Brujan exit the prospect rankings now that they are both on the MLB roster, but the Tampa Bay system is still well-stocked.

Top picks Carson Williams (No. 28 overall) and Cooper Kinney (No. 34 overall) both have significant offensive upside, and the organization has shown a real knack for developing middle infield talent in recent years.

Signed to a $3.3 million bonus that stands as a record for a third-round pick, Cole Wilcox is thriving in his pro debut after he was traded from San Diego to Tampa Bay in the Blake Snell blockbuster during the offseason. The hard-throwing right-hander has a 2.03 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and a 52-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 44.1 innings at Single-A.

          

All stats courtesy of Baseball Reference and FanGraphs unless otherwise noted.