Innholdsfortegnelse for August/September 2025 i Baseball America

Caleb Bonemer has had a great first year. Is he the most exciting bat in the White Sox system? Do scouts have his tools at 55 across the board now? I think the shortstop is the most exciting bat the White Sox have drafted in a long while. I think he’s at that level of at least 50s across the board with some chance for 55s. —Geoff Pontes Have you heard any news about Dominican Summer League players coming over to the States to finish up in Low-A ball? If so, who? The only guy I’ve heard about is already in Low-A, and that’s Royals righthander Kendry Chourio, whom I got to see pitch in the Arizona Complex League. His stuff is legit, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he…

AN ANALYTICALLY INCLINED LOOK AT THE GAME The 2025 trade deadline has passed and prospect lists have been updated accordingly. Now, we turn our attention to ranking the farm systems for all 30 organizations. It is important to note that these rankings represent a snapshot in time. The Brewers rank No. 1, but if Jacob Misiorowski had graduated by mid August, they would likely slide down a couple of spots. The Red Sox, who ranked No. 1 entering this season, have moved down because Roman Anthony and others have graduated. Our farm system rankings are weighted toward top-tier prospects. A player such as the Brewers’ Jesus Made is worth significantly more in a trade than a bundle of prospects from the back of the Top 100. Studies have shown that…

USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team annually puts together a roster of some of the top players in the country, giving scouts and fans an early preview of the best talent for next year’s class. For instance, the 2024 CNT was headlined by five players who went on to become top 30 overall picks in the 2025 draft: righthanders Tyler Bremner (No. 2 overall, Angels) and Kyson Witherspoon (No. 15, Red Sox), lefthander Jamie Arnold (No. 11, Athletics), shortstop Marek Houston (No. 16, Twins) and catcher Caden Bodine (No. 30, Orioles). Team USA didn’t fare well this summer during its five-game sweep at the hands of Japan, getting outscored 28-12 in a lopsided series. Despite the results, the roster was loaded with top-end talent for the 2026 and 2027 draft classes—including…

HITTING Best Hitter Jarren Advincula, Georgia Tech Best Power Jack Natili, Cincinnati Best Plate Discipline Chris Hacopian, Texas A&M Fastest Runner Adam Magpoc, San Diego State Most Exciting Player Maika Niu, Arkansas PITCHING Best Pitcher Jake McCoy, South Carolina Best Fastball Jake McCoy, South Carolina Best Breaking Pitch Tyler Pitzer, Mississippi State Best Changeup Haiden Leffew, Texas Best Control Brady Hamilton, Wichita State FIELDING Best Defensive C Cashel Dugger, UCLA Best Defensive INF Manny Marin, Tennessee Best Defensive OF Jon LeGrande, St. John’s…

Jump Makes Huge Strides In Pro Debut Louisiana State is renowned for producing major league pitchers, including 2023 top overall pick Paul Skenes and longtime big league starters Kevin Gausman and Aaron Nola. Those three were all first-round picks. The Athletics harbor high hopes for a another former LSU Tiger: 2024 second-rounder Gage Jump. The 22-year-old lefthander is one of the fastest risers among pitching prospects and represented the organization at the Futures Game, along with third baseman Tommy White, himself another LSU product. Jump’s fastball has touched 97 mph. His velocity and movement make him one of the more impressive arms in the minors, while his low release point creates deception. He also throws a nasty curveball that plays off his fastball. The organization’s No. 1 prospect was promoted…

BEST HITTER 1. Aaron Judge, Yankees 2. Jose Ramirez, Guardians 3. Bobby Witt Jr., Royals BEST POWER 1. Aaron Judge, Yankees 2. Cal Raleigh, Mariners 3. Junior Caminero, Rays BEST BUNTER 1. Steven Kwan, Guardians 2. Daulton Varsho, Blue Jays 3. Kyle Isbel, Royals BEST STRIKE-ZONE JUDGMENT 1. Steven Kwan, Guardians 2. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays 3. Aaron Judge, Yankees BEST HIT-AND-RUN ARTIST 1. Steven Kwan, Guardians 2. Jacob Wilson, Athletics 3. Ernie Clement, Blue Jays BEST BASERUNNER 1. Bobby Witt Jr., Royals 2. Chandler Simpson, Rays 3. Byron Buxton, Twins FASTEST BASERUNNER 1. Chandler Simpson, Rays 2. Bobby Witt Jr., Royals 3. Byron Buxton, Twins MOST EXCITING PLAYER 1. Aaron Judge, Yankees 2. Bobby Witt Jr., Royals 3. Byron Buxton, Twins BEST PITCHER 1. Tarik Skubal, Tigers 2.…

A year ago, the Florida Complex League was dominated by Phillies prospects. Slick-fielding shortstop Starlyn Caba took the top spot, while catcher Eduardo Tait checked in at No. 5. Caba has since been traded to the Marlins, where he’s been underwhelming and injured at Low-A. Tait—who was dealt this July—is a Top 100 Prospect, as is last year’s No. 2 prospect, Red Sox shortstop Franklin Arias. Evaluators believe the 2025 FCL class is one of the thinnest in recent memory. 1. ESTEBAN MEJIA RHP, ORIOLES Age: 18. B-T: R-R. HT: 6-3. WT: 175. Signed: Dominican Republic, 2024. Mejia’s stuff is the best not only in the FCL, but ranks among the best in the minor leagues. Mejia has a four-pitch mix that can utterly obliterate hitters. His four- and two-seam…

HITTING Best Hitter Roch Cholowsky, UCLA Best Power Ace Reese, Mississippi State Best Plate Discipline AJ Gracia, Virginia Fastest Runner Lucas Moore, Louisville Most Exciting Player Roch Cholowsky, UCLA PITCHING Best Pitcher Liam Peterson, Florida Best Fastball Liam Peterson, Florida Best Breaking Pitch Dax Whitney, Oregon State Best Changeup Brett Renfrow, Virginia Tech Best Control Ryan Marohn, N.C. State FIELDING Best Defensive C Vahn Lackey, Georgia Tech Best Defensive INF Roch Cholowsky, UCLA Best Defensive OF Lucas Moore, Louisville…

With this year’s draft in the books, interest now turns to the 2026 class. Even before the Nationals chose Eli Willits with the top pick in this year’s draft, preparations for the 2026 edition were already underway. The summer circuit starts up for both college and high school players before the draft takes place in mid July. As is custom, Baseball America is taking a shot at the first 10 picks in next year’s draft. It is actually simpler than you might think to identify the top players in a given class this far in advance. Most years, the very best players make themselves known early and do a solid job maintaining their status. The 2025 class, however, was a bit of a puzzle. Last year’s way-too-early mock was a…

BASEBALL MOURNS LOSS OF HALL OF FAMER RYNE SANDBERG Ryne Sandberg was synonymous with Cubs baseball in the 1980s and ’90s. Millions watched his hitting exploits and masterful defense at second base on the cable superstation WGN. Despite his iconic status in Chicago and in MLB as a whole, amplified by all those Wrigley Field day games, Sandberg did not want news of his failing health to overshadow Hall of Fame induction weekend. His passing from prostate cancer was announced on Monday, July 29, one day after CC Sabathia, Ichiro Suzuki and Billy Wagner were enshrined. Sandberg was 65. Superstardom was not preordained for Sandberg. Drafted by the Phillies in the 20th round in 1978, he was a star shortstop and quarterback at North Central High in Spokane, Wash. Sandberg…

FORMER BALLPLAYERS REFLECT ON PRO SUCCESS AND FAILURE The phrase “a new era of college athletics” has gotten a lot of run in the 2020s thanks to the advent of the transfer portal and NIL—name, image and likeness. As of July 1, fans of college athletics, especially baseball, find themselves in yet another new era. The results of the House v. NCAA settlement mean an increase to up to 34 full scholarships per team. Schools can also now provide “direct institutional support for talent acquisition,” allowing programs to pay athletes as independent contractors to play at their schools. Jonathan Perrin, a former Oklahoma State righthander and Brewers minor leaguer who now works as a certified financial planner, can easily point to one obvious winner. “The biggest winner (is) the SEC,”…

HOW PLAYERS QUALIFY All prospect-eligible players—no more than 130 at-bats or 50 innings in the big leagues—were considered for the Top 100 Prospects Summer Update, though prospects on MLB rosters as of Aug. 1 were excluded. 1. KONNOR GRIFFIN PIRATES, SS Griffin won High School Player of the Year honors at Jackson Prep in Mississippi in 2024. He was the star shortstop and ace pitcher for a team that won seven straight championships. Scouts loved Griffin’s power potential, his speed and his explosiveness. Still, they questioned how much he would hit in pro ball. That skepticism enabled the Pirates to swoop in and draft Griffin with the ninth overall pick. That looks like money well spent after Griffin hit .338/.396/.536 with nine home runs and 26 stolen bases in 50…

BEST HITTER 1. Freddie Freeman, Dodgers 2. Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers 3. Manny Machado, Padres BEST POWER 1. Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers 2. Kyle Schwarber, Phillies 3. Eugenio Suarez, D-backs BEST BUNTER 1. Jacob Young, Nationals 2. TJ Friedl, Reds 3. Victor Scott II, Cardinals BEST STRIKE-ZONE JUDGMENT 1. Juan Soto, Mets 2. Kyle Schwarber, Phillies 3. Kyle Tucker, Cubs BEST HIT-AND-RUN ARTIST 1. Luis Arraez, Padres 2. Nico Hoerner, Cubs 3. Xavier Edwards, Marlins BEST BASERUNNER 1. Elly De La Cruz, Reds 2. Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs 3. Trea Turner, Phillies FASTEST BASERUNNER 1. Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs 2. Elly De La Cruz, Reds 3. Trea Turner, Phillies MOST EXCITING PLAYER 1. Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs 2. Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers 3. Elly De La Cruz, Reds BEST PITCHER 1. Zack Wheeler, Phillies 2. Paul…

Perhaps one day—maybe even as soon as next year—Tigers fans who made the trip to Comstock Park, Mich., will reflect on seeing Max Clark, Kevin McGonigle and Josue Briceño in the same lineup as West Michigan Whitecaps teammates. It’s easy to see why. All three talented Tigers are Top 100 Prospects, a testament not just to their performance, but to the respect they’ve earned from peers and evaluators alike. It’s one thing to post impressive numbers; it’s another to earn recognition from one’s opponents. All three check the list, and all three were promoted together to Double-A Erie in early July—but not before drawing acclaim in the Midwest League. It’s hard not to feel Clark’s presence the moment he walks into a room. It’s even harder to miss it once…

While the Cape Cod League is still considered the nation’s premier summer collegiate league, its landscape has continued to rapidly evolve. The transfer portal, USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team and increasingly strict innings limits for pitchers have led to high turnover rates throughout the summer for all 10 Cape teams. By the end of the summer, it’s not uncommon for a team to have played 70 different players. The amount of turnover puts a strain on Cape coaching staffs and creates challenges for the housing coordinators who work to try to find each player a host family for their time in the league, whether that be two weeks or two months. This trend is not necessarily the league’s friend, and it begs the question: What will the Cape Cod League…

Life was a peach at the 2025 Baseball America Prospect Pad in Atlanta, presented by Evoshield. Launched during All-Star Weekend in 2016 as a way to connect with the top prospects in baseball on the eve of the Futures Game, the event has attracted the biggest up-and-coming stars over the past decade, including Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Fernando Tatis Jr., Bobby Witt Jr., Pete Alonso, Julio Rodriguez, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Jackson Chourio, Jackson Holliday and so many more. It has been a veritable who’s who of young baseball talent. Many of this year’s interviews and highlights—and classic ones going back to 2016—are available on demand right now at BaseballAmerica.com and on our YouTube channel … and we hope you join us next July for Prospect Pad in Philadelphia. WATCH MAX CLARK’S INTERVIEW…

Highlight-reel plays and big-time talent were on full display at the 2025 Futures Game. The Dodgers’ Josue De Paula earned MVP honors after launching a go-ahead home run in the bottom of the fourth inning, propelling the National League to a 4-2 win against the American League. With De Paula’s blast setting the tone, here’s a quick rundown of the top players and tools on display from this year’s prospect showcase. BEST PLAYER George Lombard Jr., SS, Yankees Josue De Paula had the best hitting performance and won MVP honors for his game-winning home run, but Lombard was the best all-around player in the game. He made several heady plays in the field at second base and shortstop. At the plate, he went 1-for-2 with a double and a walk.…

A few days before the trade deadline this year, the Royals announced a contract extension for righthander Seth Lugo. Around the same time, Kansas City also brought in outfielders Mike Yastrzemski and Randal Grichuk, utilityman Adam Frazier and young righthanders Ryan Bergert and Stephen Kolek in an array of trades. None of those moves was a seismic acquisition, but all were notable and significant because it meant that a team on the edge of the postseason race decided to try to win. The Royals were 54-55 at the end of the day on July 31, three and a half games out of the third American League wild card. But instead of trying to sell off to save money on salary in 2025, the Royals made moves to try to figure…