MLB Prospect Rankings: Top 10 Prospects at Each Position, August 2024 Edition

Simply scrolling through a Top 100 prospect list doesn't always provide context for where a top prospect stands among his peers at the same spot on the field.

Ahead, we've provided a rundown of the top 10 prospects at each position, with outfielders all lumped into one group and pitchers split into right-handed and left-handed.

The following factors helped determine where each player fell in our rankings:

• Potential: Potential trumps production a lot of the time, especially in the lower levels of the minors and with recent draft picks. Skill set and tools are often better indicators of what kind of player someone will be.

• Talent: For those in the higher levels of the minors who are close to breaking into the big leagues, production and talent level were the determining factors since the players are viewed as more complete products.

• Eligibility: A player must maintain rookie eligibility to be considered for inclusion. That means no more than 130 big league at-bats for position players, 50 innings for pitchers or 45 days on the active roster. 

With all of that established, let's start with the catchers.

Top 10 C Prospects

1. Samuel Basallo, BAL
2. Ethan Salas, SD
3. Kyle Teel, BOS
4. Harry Ford, SEA
5. Jeferson Quero, MIL
6. Edgar Quero, CWS
7. Dalton Rushing, LAD
8. Moises Ballesteros, CHC
9. Agustin Ramirez, MIA
10. Blake Mitchell, KC

-With Adley Rutschman blocking his path behind the plate, it's not clear how exactly Samuel Basallo fits into the Orioles plans, but that is a good problem to have. After a breakout 2023 season, he has continued to impress at the Double-A level, hitting .283/.345/.461 with 19 doubles, 15 home runs and 47 RBI in 95 games.

-A year after going No. 14 overall in the 2023 draft, Kyle Teel is already knocking on the MLB door. The 22-year-old hit .299/.390/.462 with 20 doubles, 11 home runs and 60 RBI in 84 games at Double-A, and he made his Triple-A debut on Tuesday.

-Agustin Ramirez was the biggest breakout prospect in the Yankees system this year before he was traded to the Marlins at the deadline in the Jazz Chisholm Jr. deal. The 22-year-old has an .875 OPS with 21 doubles, 22 home runs, 77 RBI and 20 steals in 98 games between Double-A and Triple-A, and he could be a candidate for a September call-up.

Top 10 1B Prospects

1. Xavier Isaac, TB
2. Jac Caglianone, KC—2024 Draft Pick
3. Bryce Eldridge, SF
4. Nick Kurtz, OAK—2024 Draft Pick
5 .Tyler Black, MIL
6. Ralphy Velazquez, CLE
7. Kyle Manzardo, CLE
8. Ryan Clifford, NYM
9. Tyler Locklear, SEA
10. Deyvison De Los Santos, MIA

-The Rays seemingly reached for Xavier Isaac with the No. 29 overall pick in the 2022 draft. For context, he was ranked as Baseball America's No. 99 draft prospect and not expected to be a Day 1 selection. Two years later, the 20-year-old is hitting .281/.376/.527 with 17 home runs and 68 RBI in 80 games between High-A and Double-A, and he looks like one of the most promising offensive prospects in the sport.

-Nick Kurtz (No. 4 overall) and Jac Caglianone (No. 6 overall) hit a combined 57 home runs during the college season, and both could be on the fast track to the big leagues. Caglianone was drafted as a two-way player, but likely won't make his pro debut on the mound until next year after throwing 73.2 innings this spring at Florida.

-There is always significant risk with a bat-only prospect like Deyvison De Los Santos who does not provide any secondary value with his glove or athleticism, but it's impossible to ignore the season he is having. The 21-year-old is hitting .317/.372/.623 with 33 home runs and 95 RBI in 101 games as one of the youngest players in the upper levels of the minors, and he has a .903 OPS and five home runs in 14 games since joining the Marlins system at the trade deadline.

Top 10 2B Prospects

1. Jackson Holliday, BAL
2. Travis Bazzana, CLE—2024 Draft Pick
3. JJ Wetherholt, STL—2024 Draft Pick
4. Luke Keaschall, MIN
5. Christian Moore, LAA—2024 Draft Pick
6. Connor Norby, MIA
7. Kristian Campbell, BOS
8. Termarr Johnson, PIT
9. Sal Stewart, CIN
10. Adael Amador, COL

-Since returning to the big leagues on July 31 following a three-month demotion back to Triple-A, Jackson Holliday is hitting .250/.313/.614 with five home runs and 12 RBI in 12 games. The 20-year-old entered the season as baseball's top prospect for a reason, and it's important to remember not all future stars find instant success in the majors.

-In typical Angels fashion, Christian Moore has been put on the fast track since going No. 8 overall in last month's draft. The University of Tennessee standout is already playing at the Double-A level, where he is 13-for-27 with five home runs through his first seven games. Will he see the majors in September?

-Sal Stewart has been an on-base machine since going No. 32 overall in the 2022 draft, posting a .394 on-base percentage and 15.6 percent walk rate in 205 games across three minor league levels. He has split his time evenly between second base and third base this year after playing primarily at the hot corner in 2023.

Top 10 3B Prospects

1. Junior Caminero, TB
2. Coby Mayo, BAL
3. Brooks Lee, MIN
4. Matt Shaw, CHC
5. Brady House, WAS
6. Brayden Taylor, TB
7. Jace Jung, DET
8. Cam Collier, CIN
9. Cam Smith, CHC—2024 Draft Pick
10. Tommy White, OAK—2024 Draft Pick

-The Rays recently recalled Junior Caminero from the minors, and with Isaac Paredes traded to the Cubs at the deadline, he should get an extended look as the team's everyday third baseman the rest of the way. The 21-year-old was hitting .277/.331/.498 with 13 home runs and 34 RBI in 53 games at Triple-A when he was recalled.

-It remains to be seen where Brooks Lee will settle in on the Minnesota infield, but with Carlos Correa signed through 2028 it's unlikely it will be at his natural position of shortstop. The 2022 first-round pick played more games at third base than anywhere else after making his MLB debut on July 3, though he has been sidelined since Aug. 7 with biceps tendinitis.

-After crushing 75 home runs in three collegiate seasons, Tommy White could end up being one of the biggest steals of the 2024 draft class after slipping to the second round. That is especially true if he can stick at the hot corner and not be limited to first base defensively.

Top 10 SS Prospects

1. Marcelo Mayer, BOS
2. Carson Williams, TB
3. Jordan Lawlar, ARI
4. Leodalis De Vries, SD
5. Jacob Wilson, OAK
6. Colson Montgomery, CWS
7. Colt Emerson, SEA
8. Aidan Miller, PHI
9. Cole Young, SEA
10. Sebastian Walcott, TEX

-Slowed by a left shoulder injury during the second half of the 2023 season, Marcelo Mayer has reasserted his status as one of baseball's elite prospects this year. The 21-year-old is hitting .307/.370/.480 with 36 extra-base hits and 13 steals in 77 games at Double-A, and he could push for an MLB job next spring.

-Colt Emerson was the No. 22 overall pick in the 2023 draft, and he has started to separate himself from a loaded high school shortstop class drafted alongside him. The 19-year-old is hitting .284/.434/.421 with more walks (40) than strikeouts (31) in 47 games across three levels, and he is currently one of the youngest players in the High-A Northwest League.

-Aside from the 10 prospects listed above, there were eight other shortstops that cracked B/R's most recent Top 100 prospect list update. In order, that list includes Jett Williams (NYM), Starlyn Caba (PHI), Konnor Griffin (PIT), Angel Genao (CLE), Bryce Rainer (DET), Kevin McGonigle (DET), Felnin Celesten (SEA) and Cooper Pratt (MIL).

Top 10 OF Prospects

1. Dylan Crews, WAS
2. Charlie Condon, COL—2024 Draft Pick
3. Walker Jenkins, MIN
4. Roman Anthony, BOS
5. Lazaro Montes, SEA
6. Max Clark, DET
7. Emmanuel Rodriguez, MIN
8. Jasson Dominguez, NYY
9. Justin Crawford, PHI
10. Owen Caissie, CHC

-With James Wood exhausting his prospect status, future teammate Dylan Crews is now baseball's top outfield prospect. The 2023 Golden Spikes winner and No. 2 overall pick in last year's draft is hitting .269/.342/.460 with 21 doubles, 12 home runs, 60 RBI and 22 steals in 92 games between Double-A and Triple-A, and he could debut early in the 2025 season.

-Max Clark and Walker Jenkins went back-to-back at No. 4 and No. 5 overall in the 2023 draft, and both teenagers are already playing at the High-A level. Jenkins might have the highest ceilings due to his power potential, but Clark has a more well-rounded skill set as a strong defender in center field and a threat on the bases.

-With a .298/.479/.621 line and 22 extra-base hits in 37 games at Double-A, Emmanuel Rodriguez is one of baseball's most underrated prospects. The 21-year-old has played just three games since May 26 while dealing with a nagging thumb injury, otherwise he might be pushing for a late-season call-up on a contending Twins team.

Top 10 RHP Prospects

1. Jackson Jobe, DET
2. Chase Dollander, COL
3. Tink Hence, STL
4. Jacob Misiorowski, MIL
5. Rhett Lowder, CIN
6. Andrew Painter, PHI
7. Cade Horton, CHC
8. Chase Burns, CIN
9. Caden Dana, LAA
10. Noble Meyer, MIA

-The Tigers have brought Jackson Jobe along slowly since he was selected No. 3 overall in the 2021 draft, and this season has been no different as he has logged 62.2 innings over 15 starts between High-A and Double-A. That said, with a 2.01 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 66 strikeouts, he looks the part of a future frontline starter once he is finally turned loose.

-With a 2.62 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 130 strikeouts in 89.1 innings between High-A and Double-A in his pro debut, Chase Dollander might already be the best pitching prospect in Rockies franchise history. The No. 9 overall pick in the 2023 draft could be the homegrown ace the club has been searching for since Ubaldo Jiménez had a brief run of top-tier production.

-Caden Dana has gone from a promising young arm with a projectable frame to a bona fide top-tier pitching prospect this season. The 20-year-old has a 2.75 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 127 strikeouts in 118 innings at Double-A, and he has a chance to be the Angels best homegrown pitcher since Jered Weaver.

Top 10 LHP Prospects

1. Noah Schultz, CWS
2. Hagen Smith, CWS—2024 Draft Pick
3. Thomas White, MIA
4. Quinn Mathews, STL
5. Cade Povich, BAL
6. Ricky Tiedemann, TOR
7. Cam Caminiti, ATL—2024 Draft Pick
8. Justin Wrobleski, LAD
9. Ky Bush, CWS
10. Alex Clemmey, WAS

-With a towering 6'9" frame, an electric fastball and one of the best sliders of any pitching prospect, Noah Schultz looks the part of a future ace. The 21-year-old has a 2.61 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and a 92-to-19 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 69 innings between High-A and Double-A as he has made a strong case to be baseball's top overall pitching prospect.

-There were 51 pitchers selected before Quinn Mathews finally heard his name called at No. 122 overall in the fourth round of the 2023 draft. The 23-year-old did not pitch after signing following a heavy workload at Stanford, but he has a 2.49 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 157 strikeouts in 112 innings over three minor league levels in his pro debut this year.

-Alex Clemmey was the prospect centerpiece in the deadline deal that sent Lane Thomas to the Guardians, and he slots in alongside Jarlin Susana and Travis Sykora in the top-tier of pitching prospects in the Nationals system. The 6'6" southpaw has a 4.86 ERA and 102 strikeouts in 74 innings at Single-A this year in his pro debut.