The top three players on MLB Pipeline’s 2024 Top 100 Prospects list are Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio, Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes, and Orioles shortstop/second baseman Jackson Holliday. The list was revealed on Friday night. That puts the final two first-round selections in the draft order between a player who committed to an eight-year, $82 million deal before making his major league debut.
At the top of the ranking, where they occupy 21 of the first 22 slots and 39 of the first 48, are hitters. There are 49 first-round selections, 20 overseas signees, and prospects from ten different nations among the Top 100. With seven choices, the Cubs top the farm systems; the Orioles are next with six, while the Padres, Pirates, and Reds are all tied for fifth.
Blue Jays two
29. ETA (2024) for Ricky Tiedemann, LHP
89. Elvis Martinez, INF (Date of Arrival: 2024)
Pitcher of the Year on the Arizona Fall League circuit, Tiedemann was healthy and productive despite battlering shoulder and biceps injuries that restricted him to just 44 innings during the regular season. His changeup, slider, and fastball might eventually be useful in any role for the Jays. Martinez made an approach change and kept showing off his strength, which helped him improve his on-base abilities and go back into the Top 100.
4. 3B/SS Junior Caminero (ETA: 2024)
20. ETA (2025) for Carson Williams, SS
55. 3B/2B Curtis Mead (ETA: 2024)
Xavier Isaac, 1B, is 58. (Anticipated by 2026)
This would result in a very unique infield. Someone say “Spring Breakout”? On his route to making his Major League debut at the age of 20, Caminero demonstrated plus-plus power with 31 Minor League home runs in 2023. Meanwhile, Williams (23 HR) and Isaac (19 HR) demonstrated their ability to provide pop as well. Williams’s hit tool questions were answered by his excellent defence, which kept him in the Top 20. Mead still has the makings of a plus bat, but he needs to establish a consistent spot on the field.
The top-ranked amateurs in the international classes of 2019 and 2022 were Domínguez and Arias, respectively. Before blowing out his elbow last September, Domínguez was living up to his enormous hype, hitting four home runs in his first eight big league games. Arias is expected to have a breakout year in 2024. At 6-foot-6 and 235 pounds, Jones offers an intriguing blend of rare quickness and power. After making his professional debut in Double-A, Hampton, a 2022 sixth-round pick, is the Yankees’ most recent mid-round acquisition.
Despite the fact that the White Sox are rebuilding, they have two possible pillars in Montgomery and Schultz. In terms of physical resemblance, Schultz is physically similar to Randy Johnson, but at the same stage of their careers, Montgomery still lives up to the Corey Seager similarities.
Almost certain to select one of the Big Five in the 2023 Draft class, the Tigers selected Clark with the third overall pick. Clark is an Indiana prep outfielder with plus-plus speed, a powerful arm, and a left-handed swing that can play to all fields. Detroit has developed Keith and Jung into two plus-power infield sluggers, and at some point this summer, the two should have an effect on the MLB roster. Detroit is much closer to the Major Leagues. With numerous pitches that grade out of sixty and plus control, Jobe may have the highest ceiling of all the players in the group. His potential durability is the only thing stopping him after lumbar spine irritation kept him out of the first half of the previous season.
The Astros have only three prospects on our last five rankings and are excluded from our preseason Top 100 for the second time in three years. Nevertheless, they continue to produce Rookie of the Year candidates and win big league games. Right-hander Spencer Arrighetti and outfielder Jacob Melton may be their newest farmhands who are underappreciated by the public and industry.
