Get out the hats and gowns. It’s time for a lot of graduations and a new Top 100 Prospects list.
Young players who started the 2024 season on a Major League Opening Day roster but had no MLB service time reached the 45-day mark on Sunday. With that barrier achieved, MLB Pipeline is using this chance to improve the Top 100 prospect rankings.
MLB Pipeline: Top 100 Prospects | Prospect Video
This weekend’s notable grads include Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio, Tigers second baseman Colt Keith, and Pirates right-handed pitcher Jared Jones. Rangers outfielder Wyatt Langford is still on the injured list with a right hamstring injury, which has stalled his prospect clock.
But we didn’t just eliminate and replace those three. We’ve also revoted on the Top 15, shifted prospects in need of significant leaps or falls (i.e. 10 or more positions), removed others off the list entirely, and welcomed worthy performances ahead of their 2024 breakouts.
Top 15
1. Jackson Holliday, 2B/SS, Orioles.
2. Paul Skenes, RHP, Pirates.
3. Junior Caminero (3B/SS, Rays)
4. Wyatt Langford, OF, Rangers.
5. James Wood, OF (Nationals)
6. Ethan Salas, C. Padres
7. Dylan Crews, OF (Nationals)
8. Walker Jenkins, OF, Twins.
9. Jordan Lawlar, SS, Diamondbacks
10. Jackson Jobe (RHP, Tigers)
11. Colson Montgomery (SS, White Sox)
12. Marcelo Mayer, SS, Red Sox.
13. Max Clark, OF, Tigers.
14. Samuel Basallo, C/1B, Orioles.
15. Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF, Cubs
Complete Top 100 Rankings »
There isn’t much change at the top. Despite his initial troubles in the Majors and subsequent assignment to Triple-A Norfolk, Holliday remains in first place since this is a long-term rating. The Baltimore middle infielder is still only 20 years old, making him young for Triple-A, let alone the Majors, and his track record of performance at every other stop, combined with the knowledge that the gap between Triple-A and the Majors is as wide as ever, gives us hope that he’ll still be a plus-plus hitter in The Show someday. Because of Chourio’s graduation, Skenes moves up one slot to No. 2 one day after making his MLB debut, and Caminero and Langford remain in order to complete out the top four.
Wood and Jobe are the top climbers here.
The Nationals outfielder had some hit tool doubts after striking out 33.7 percent of the time in Double-A last season, but he’s improved significantly while still moving up to Triple-A to begin his age-21 season. Wood’s power potential is as high as it gets in the Minors, and his speed allows him to steal bases and play center field.
Jobe made headlines by reaching 102 mph during a brief stint in Spring Training, and his fastball-slider-changeup-cutter combination remains one of the Minors’ most extensive arsenals. He’s now battling with a hamstring issue, but he was putting up excellent statistics for Double-A Erie before that, with a 2.16 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and 24 strikeouts in 16 2/3 innings, bolstering his possible ace projection.
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Highest risers.
+42 Christian Scott, RHP, Mets (100 to 58) and +40 Andy Pages, OF, Dodgers (92 to 52).
+27 Colt Emerson, SS, Mariners (78–51)
+19 Drew Thorpe, RHP, White Sox (76–57)
+16 Bubba Chandler, RHP, Pirates (83–67)
+16 Jacob Melton, OF, Astros (90–74)
+15 Max Meyer, RHP, Marlins (99–84)
+14 Dalton Rushing, C, Dodgers (67–53)
+13 Kyle Manzardo, 1B, Guardians (52-39) +11 Jackson Jobe, RHP, Tigers (21-10) +11 Blake Mitchell, C, Royals (84-73)
Scott has been a Minor League development success story for the Mets, successfully pitching a four-seamer and a sweeper in recent years. With two excellent MLB starts under his belt, he’s looked like he belongs in The Show and may be an important element of New York’s rotation even when the team is at full strength. Similarly, Pages has been a valuable contributor to the Dodgers since his arrival on April 16, owing to his good power, which is especially important given how much other top prospects have failed at the highest level. With that performance, he’s put last year’s season-ending shoulder surgery in the past, allowing his stock to rise.
