Here are all of our No. 1 overall prospects, ranked
Since 2004, MLB.com has been rating prospects. Between our preseason rankings, and, extra just lately, midseason updates, we’ve had 19 gamers ranked because the No. 1 prospect in baseball.
How would the perfect prospects rank amongst themselves? What would this event of champions, so to talk, seem like? Measuring them primarily based on the hype surrounding them, the expectations on their shoulders once they have been prospects, relatively than how they’ve carried out since, proves to be an fascinating train.
There are some rankings that can shock you, however many high prospects fall in need of (and even exceed) the promise that comes with being baseball’s top-ranked prospect. It’s very subjective and there have been some critical challenges when it comes to evaluating prospects from completely different time intervals.
There have been particular points round recency bias and massive league success that needed to be pushed apart. And there’s no query that the hype machine nowadays is a lot louder than it was due to the proliferation of prospect protection, and naturally, social media platforms.
Trying to maintain that in thoughts whereas answering the straightforward query of “Who was the best prospect at the time?,” right here is the rating of all of MLB.com’s No. 1 general prospects (with the years they have been No. 1 in parentheses).
1. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays (2018 midseason, 2019 preseason)
The hype for Vlad Jr. actually was deafening, however it was for good motive. He’s the primary prospect we ever gave an 80 hit grade to, and he graduated from the Minors with a .331/.414/.531 slash line to again up the lofty rating.
2. Shohei Ohtani, RHP/OF, Angels (2018 preseason)
We’d by no means seen something like him earlier than and whereas his time as a prospect was short-lived, his skills on either side of the ball places him close to the very high of this record. He would’ve been the No. 1 prospect simply as a pitcher and certain would’ve been high 10 as an outfielder.
3. Wander Franco, SS, Rays (midseason 2019, preseason 2020, midseason 2020, preseason 2021)
He was simply 20 years outdated when he hit the bottom operating in Tampa as our second prospect to get an 80 hit grade. After enjoying throughout two ranges of A-ball in 2019, Franco nimbly made the leap to Triple-A in 2021 and introduced a formidable .332/.398/.536 profession Minor League line with him to the massive leagues.
4. Byron Buxton, OF, Twins (preseason 2014-15; midseason 2013-15)
While he’s simply now residing as much as expectations when wholesome, there is no such thing as a query everybody was enthralled with Buxton’s five-tool bundle as a prospect. The No. 2 general decide within the 2012 Draft was our No. 1 prospect for 5 straight rankings, from the midseason 2013 record by means of the midseason record in 2015, dropping to No. 2 at first of 2016.
5. Delmon Young, OF, Rays (preseason 2005-07)
Young was the No. 1 decide within the 2003 Draft and had all of the hype that goes together with being chosen there. He was our No. 1 prospect three years in a row and was a two-time Futures Game participant earlier than arriving within the massive leagues at age 20 in 2006. He had some moments within the massive leagues, together with ending second in Rookie of the Year voting in 2007, tenth in MVP voting with the Twins in 2010 and taking house an ALCS MVP Award in 2012 with the Tigers.
6. Mike Trout, OF, Angels (preseason 2011)
This was a troublesome one to not use some revisionist historical past on. Because of who he’s grow to be within the massive leagues, the temptation was to run him up greater on the record. But whereas he was clearly well-regarded, he was solely ranked No. 1 as soon as and was ranked No. 3 behind Matt Moore (see under) and Bryce Harper in 2012.
7. Bobby Witt Jr. (preseason 2022)
An argument may very well be made that Witt and Rutschman (one under) ought to share a rating as the 2 are linked since being the highest two picks within the 2019 Draft. Witt may’ve been a 1-1 in nearly every other yr and the hype simply received louder when he practically pulled off a 30-30 season and reached Triple-A in his first full season whereas turning simply 21 years outdated.
8. Adley Rutschman, C, Orioles (midseason 2021)
The hype machine begins immediately while you’re the perfect participant in faculty baseball and the clear option to be the No. 1 decide in your Draft. Rutschman put up monster numbers at Oregon State and debuted on our midseason 2019 record all the way in which up at No. 6, the best a draftee has ever landed since we began our midseason updates in 2012. If it weren’t for Wander Franco, he would’ve spent extra time within the high spot.
9. Joe Mauer, C, Twins (preseason 2004)
Our very first No. 1 prospect (insert nostalgic sigh right here). Mauer, after all, was the No. 1 general decide in 2001, taken by his hometown Twins and was thought of to be among the many high prospects within the sport all through his climb to Minnesota earlier than handing over a Hall of Fame caliber profession that included six All-Star Games, an AL MVP, 5 Silver Slugger Awards and three Gold Gloves.
10. Yoan Moncada, 2B, White Sox (midseason 2017)
Moncada grew to become a high prospect the second the Red Sox signed him for $31.5 million in March 2016, and he debuted at No. 7 on the 2016 preseason record. He then sat at No. 2 for 2 straight lists, even whereas getting traded to the White Sox, earlier than sliding into the highest spot for the midseason Top 100 in 2017, shortly earlier than graduating off the record.
11. David Price, LHP, Rays (preseason 2009)
Price made it as much as the massive leagues so shortly, he nearly didn’t get his due as a prospect. He was the slam-dunk option to be the No. 1 decide within the 2007 Draft and he debuted at No. 11 on the Top 50 in 2008, the yr he ended together with his eye-opening prove of the Rays’ bullpen within the playoffs. He catapulted to the highest spot earlier than the subsequent season, however graduated off that yr.
12. Gunnar Henderson, 3B/SS (preseason 2023)
Henderson jumped on the Top 100 map with a strong 2021 season and was No. 64 on the 2022 preseason record. Then he went off in 2022, going from Double-A to the massive leagues whereas incomes MLB Pipeline Hitting Prospect of the Year honors. The mixture of his five-tool potential, the truth that he confirmed he’s prepared for the massive leagues already, that he’s a front-runner for American League Rookie of the Year honors and that he’s a part of the thrilling Orioles youth motion (developing proper after Adley Rutschman doesn’t harm, both) has added to the excitement round him.
13. Matt Moore, LHP, Rays (preseason 2012)
In retrospect, it may appear ridiculous to have ranked Moore forward of Mike Trout and Bryce Harper earlier than the 2012 season. But on the time, he was clearly the highest pitching prospect within the sport, one who had proven 100-mph warmth within the 2011 Futures Game a yr after main the Minors with over 200 strikeouts. He did make the 2013 All-Star Team, however accidents saved him from residing as much as his promise.
14. Alex Bregman, SS/3B, Astros (midseason 2016)
Another prospect who moved too shortly by means of the Minors to get his prospect rating due, Bregman was the No. 2 decide within the 2015 Draft and was within the massive leagues simply over a yr later. He had debuted at No. 27 on the midseason 2015 record, moved as much as 22 to begin 2016, then briefly ascended to the highest spot due to his big first full season within the Minors.
15. Francisco Álvarez, C, Mets (midseason 2022)
There’s some hype hooked up as a result of Álvarez is headed to New York, after all, however a lot of it’s warranted. He deserves credit score for being so good at such a younger age, reaching Triple-A as a 20-year-old. Another constructive in his column is place shortage: His catching wants work, however he can stick there, and there aren’t many guys who can mash like him behind the plate. The different aspect of the coin is the truth that his protection is simply so-so and he is not perceived to be a slam-dunk No. 1 man.
16. Andrew Benintendi, OF, Red Sox (preseason 2017)
The Red Sox’s first-round decide in 2015, Benintendi made his first Top 100 look at No. 74 the summer time after he was drafted. He was within the high 10 by the midseason 2016 record and have become the No. 1 prospect previous to the beginning of 2017 after his robust MLB debut in 2016 and earlier than occurring to complete second in 2017 AL Rookie of the Year Award voting.
17. Jason Heyward, OF, Braves (preseason 2010)
Heyward may get extra consideration for his defensive prowess (5 Gold Gloves) and sure, his contract, however again earlier than the beginning of the 2010 season, he was thought of by many to be the highest prospect within the sport. Atlanta had drafted him within the first spherical of the 2007 Draft in their very own yard and the homegrown child put up spectacular numbers within the Minors earlier than debuting in Atlanta in 2010 and ending second in ROY voting.
17. Corey Seager, SS, Dodgers (preseason 2016)
The Dodgers nabbed Seager within the first spherical of the 2012 Draft and he put up monster numbers within the Minors in 2014 and ’15, which led to his big massive league debut in ’15 (.337/.425/.561). That led to him touchdown within the high spot earlier than the 2016 season started after rating behind Byron Buxton the yr prior.
18. Jurickson Profar, SS, Rangers (midseason 2012, preseason 2013)
While Profar didn’t actually set up himself within the massive leagues till he was enjoying second base every single day for the Rangers and A’s in 2018-19 and is now largely an outfielder with the Padres, he was a shortstop phenom developing by means of the Rangers’ system and was universally regarded as the highest prospect in baseball heading into the 2013 season, with an intriguing power-speed mixture for an up-the-middle participant.
19. Jay Bruce, OF, Reds (preseason 2008)
Part of an enormous 2005 Draft that included excessive schoolers like Justin Upton (No. 1 decide), Cameron Maybin (10) and Andrew McCutchen (11), Bruce ranked forward of Maybin and McCutchen on the 2008 Top 50 after an enormous 2007 season that noticed him hit .319 with 26 homers throughout three ranges of the Minors.
