For some it may be the hottest and heaviest days of summer, but for us at MLB Pipeline it’s a time of excitement and positive energy.
Source of caffeine? An influx of talent from the recently concluded draft, the changing landscape due to the trade deadline, and new editions of our rankings. Top 100 OpportunitiesOur group’s top 30 lists and top 10 rankings.
Since our list was released at the start of the 2023 season, seven of the top 10 breaking rookie statuses (130 at-bats, 50 innings pitched or 45 days on the active roster) have graduated. This leads to loss of opportunity. That’s one reason why the top of the rankings looks so different this time around, thanks to an incredible first season starting with Orioles phenom Jackson Holiday who grabbed this season’s No. 1 ranking. Complete professional baseball.
Another Jackson follows, a Venezuelan with the last name of Saurio, an outfielder and Brewers’ five-tool prospect … and things start to change from there:
1. Jackson Holiday, SS, Orioles (MLB ETA: 2024)
2. Jackson Sorio, OF, Brewers (ETA: 2024)
3. Paul Skeens, RHP, Pirates (ETA: 2024)
4. Dylann Cruz, OF, Nationals (ETA: 2024)
5. Ethan Salas, C, Parents (ETA: 2026)
6. Jr. Caminero, 3B/2B, Rays (ETA: 2025)
7. James Wood, OF, Nationals (ETA: 2024)
8. Evan Carter, OF, Rangers (ETA: 2024)
9. Jackson Merrill, SS, Padres (ETA: 2024)
10. Jordan Lawler, SS, D-Backs (ETA: 2024)
One of the things that deserves the most attention is the meteoric rise of Venezuelan Ethan Salas, now ranked 5th.
Salas isn’t a top 100 prospect entering the season, which is understandable for a 16-year-old who just signed with the Padres. He was included in the top 100 alternates during the season and has been promoted twice based on his remarkable performance to date in full-season leagues (he has now been promoted to high-A).
As our records indicate, we’ve never had so many young (17-year-olds) in the top 100. Big international promises don’t even come close. Dominican Jason Dominguez was ranked 54th on the Top 100 list in 2020, when he turned 17. Venezuela’s Kevin Maithon arrived with much fanfare and reached 32nd place in the top 100 at the age of 17. So we are in uncharted territory.
Another Latin American in the Top 100 is Dominican Junior Caminero, a 20-year-old 3B/SS from the Tampa Bay Rays and currently active in Double-A.
The ranking includes 73 players from the United States, followed by the Dominican Republic (11), Venezuela (7), Canada and Cuba (2 each). Australia, Bahamas, Curacao, Panama and Puerto Rico have one representative each.
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