The Orioles had the best record in the American League.
They have the No. 1 prospect in baseball.
The Orioles also have the game's top farm system. Again.
Even after graduating catcher Adley Rutschman and shortstop Gunnar Henderson-the last two preseason No. 1 prospects in baseball-as well as righthander Grayson Rodriguez, the Orioles remain atop our Organization Talent Rankings.
Baltimore again has the game's best prospect. Shortstop Jackson Holliday has had an incredible first full season, flourishing in Double-A as a 19-year-old after the Orioles drafted him with the No. 1 overall pick in 2022.
One of the Orioles' AL rivals pulled off a nearly impossible feat at the trade deadline. The Rangers cashed in prospects to acquire starting pitchers Max Scherzer and Jordan Montgomery and reliever Aroldis Chapman. Despite parting with the likes of shortstop Luisangel Acuña, righthander Tekoah Roby and second baseman Thomas Saggese, Texas actually moved up in our updated talent rankings.
Most of the Rangers' rise in farm system standing can be attributed to drafting Florida outfielder Wyatt Langford at No. 4 overall. He was already hitting bombs in High-A. The other key factor for the Rangers' rise was the emergence of 17-year-old Bahamian shortstop Sebastian Walcott, one of the top talents in the Rookie complex leagues.
1. ORIOLES
No change
Including shortstop Jackson Holliday, the Orioles had six players ranked among the Top 100 Prospects. Most of that talent has come through quality draft picks. The Orioles have hit on first-round outfielders Colton Cowser and Heston Kjerstad as well as a pair of fourth-rounders in shortstop Joey Ortiz and third baseman Coby Mayo. Now, the Orioles have a notable impact international talent in the pipeline, with 19-year-old catcher Samuel Basallo ranking inside the top 50.
Denne historien er fra September 2023-utgaven av Baseball America.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra September 2023-utgaven av Baseball America.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Wood Has Towering Upside- Nationals rookie James Wood also stands 6-foot-7 and also has game-changing power.
Aaron Judge and Oneil Cruz are 6-foot7 sluggers who stand out for their power in this year’s MLB Best Tools voting. Wood spent half of this season with Triple-A Rochester before making his MLB debut on July 1. While he was in the International League, he captured managers’ attention. Wood unanimously won Best Power Prospect and also claimed Most Exciting Player in a survey of league skippers. Wood hit .353/.463/.595 with 10 home runs in 52 games for Rochester. His .242 isolated slugging was the best for a player 21 or younger at Triple-A this season.
ROAD BLOCK?
Scholarship expansion puts mid-majors at a major disadvantage on the road to Omaha
ROYALS REVIVAL
A revamped and rejuvenated farm system has Kansas City ready to rebound
SUMMER STANDOUTS
The top prospects in summer college leagues are poised to impact the 2025 draft
FLORIDA COMPLEX LEAGUE TOP 10
Last year’s Florida Complex League prospect crop has been beset by lengthy injuries to many of its top players, including Yankees pitchers Henry Lalane and Carlos Lagrange, Mets infielder Marco Vargas and Red Sox catcher Johanfran Garcia.
IN WITH THE NEW
The 2024 draft is in the books. The trade deadline is history.
WALCOTT BLASTS OFF
It took some time for Rangers shortstop Sebastian Walcott to find his footing at High-A Hickory.
A RECORD NIGHT FOR COLLEGIANS
Four key takeaways from the 2024 draft
K.C.MASTERPIECE
Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. wins games for the Royals with his bat, glove, speed and baseball IQ. He might be the most tooled-up player in the game.
HOW THE MAJORS HAVE CHANGED FOR YOUNG PLAYERS
When negotiating the 2022 Collective Bargaining Agreement, the MLB Players Association prioritized the earning power of young major league players, especially young stars.