Roman Anthony and MLB's 25 Best Prospects 20 Years Old or Younger in 2024

The future of Major League Baseball is in good hands.

After welcoming one of the deepest rookie classes in recent memory to the majors in 2023, another wave of talented young players has arrived in the big leagues this year, led by Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes.

Meanwhile, the next wave of prospects is currently rising the ranks, with more high-ceiling young talent flashing promising long-term potential throughout the minors.

Ahead, we've ranked the top 25 prospects who are 20 or younger, based on current production, future upside and long-term expectations.

Enjoy!

Pitchers

LHP Cam Caminiti, ATL
LHP Jackson Ferris, LAD
RHP Gary Gill Hill, TB
LHP Kash Mayfield, SD
RHP Owen Murphy, ATL
RHP Fernando Perez, TOR
RHP Ryan Sloan, SEA
RHP Jarlin Susana, WAS
RHP Travis Sykora, WAS

Hitters

SS Edwin Arroyo, CIN
OF Robert Calaz, COL
OF Slade Caldwell, ARI
SS Felnin Celesten, SEA
OF Jaison Chourio, CLE
3B Cam Collier, CIN
C Alfredo Duno, CIN
OF Jonny Farmelo, SEA
OF Theo Gillen, TB
OF Brailer Guerrero, TB
2B Termarr Johnson, PIT
OF Druw Jones, ARI
SS Kellon Lindsey, LAD
C Blake Mitchell, KC
SS Cooper Pratt, MIL
OF Nelson Rada, LAA
SS Jeferson Rojas, CHC
2B Sal Stewart, CIN

25. SS Starlyn Caba, Philadelphia Phillies (Age: 18)

Signed for $3 million as part of the 2023 international class, Caba made his stateside debut this season in rookie ball where he hit .254/.427/.335 with 44 hits and 51 walks over 52 games before earning a promotion to Single-A. He is hitting just .169 in 18 games since moving up a level, but he has more walks (12) than strikeouts (10) and that advanced approach will serve him well.

24. Bryce Rainer, Detroit Tigers (Age: 19)

The No. 11 overall pick in this year's draft, Rainer has a 55-hit, 60-power offensive profile and he has drawn some comparisons to a young Corey Seager for his polished offensive game and projectable 6'3", 195-pound frame. He has the tools to stick at shortstop, but could also be a Gold Glove defender at third base if he outgrows the position.

23. 1B Ralphy Velazquez, Cleveland Guardians (Age: 19)

Velazquez is a strong 6'3", 215-pound slugger who was originally drafted as a catcher, but has since made the full-time move to first base where his bat could be on the fast track to the big leagues. He has a good enough hit tool to consistently tap into his plus raw power, and he is batting .236/.354/.400 with 22 doubles, 10 home runs and 53 RBI in 88 games between Single-A and High-A.

22. SS/OF Konnor Griffin, Pittsburgh Pirates (Age: 18)

The first high school player off the board in the 2024 draft at No. 9 overall, Griffin won 2024 Gatorade National Player of the Year honors at Jackson Prep in Mississippi this spring. With a 6'4", 215-pound frame, elite bat speed and 30-homer power, to go along with plus speed and strong defensive tools, he has legitimate five-tool upside.

21. SS/OF Jett Williams, New York Mets (Age: 20)

A wrist injury sidelined Williams in late April after just 11 games, and he ended up missing four months after undergoing surgery, finally returning to action earlier this week. Considering he was already playing at the Double-A level as a 20-year-old, he is still ahead of the developmental curve even with what essentially amounts to a lost year. He hit .263/.425/.451 with 108 hits and 104 walks in 121 games across three minor league levels in 2023.

20. 1B Bryce Eldridge, San Francisco Giants (Age: 19)

An imposing 6'7", 223-pound slugger who was one of the best two-way players in the 2023 draft class, Eldridge has turned his full attention to hitting in his first full professional season. He is hitting .283/.370/.494 with 21 doubles, 17 home runs and 78 RBI in 91 games between Single-A and High-A, and he has only scratched the surface of what could be some of the best raw power of any prospect.

19. OF Josue De Paula, Los Angeles Dodgers (Age: 19)

Signed for just $397,500 in 2022, De Paula has quickly emerged as one of the most tantalizing offensive prospects in the lower levels of the minors. He just turned 19 years old in May, and is more than holding his own against older competition with a .255/.385/.405 line that includes 14 doubles, 10 home runs, 58 RBI and 18 steals in 92 games between Single-A and High-A.

18. RHP Noble Meyer, Miami Marlins (Age: 19)

With a projectable 6'5", 185-pound frame and electric present stuff, Meyer was the top prep pitcher in the 2023 draft class. The Marlins took him with the No. 10 overall pick, and he impressed early this season at Single-A before earning a promotion to High-A where he has struggled. He has a 4.11 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 65.2 innings overall, though his 17.1 percent walk rate speaks to the work he still needs to do refining his command.

17. C Moises Ballesteros, Chicago Cubs (Age: 20)

Miles ahead of the developmental curve for a catcher, Ballesteros is already playing at the Triple-A level and knocking on the door for his first taste of the big leagues. His unassuming 5'7", 215-pound frame belies his elite offensive skills, and he is hitting .280/.347/.474 with 18 doubles, 17 home runs and 63 RBI in 101 games in the upper levels of the minors. He has raised his stock as much as any prospect on this list in 2024.

16. SS Sebastian Walcott, Texas Rangers (Age: 18)

An ultra-projectable 6'4", 190-pound infielder who signed for $3.2 million as one of the most hyped prospects on the 2023 international market, Walcott has begun to turn potential into production this season as one of the youngest players in the High-A South Atlantic League. He is hitting .255/.341/.422 with 23 doubles, 10 home runs, 39 RBI and 22 steals in 103 games.

15. LHP Thomas White, Miami Marlins (Age: 19)

The Marlins walked away with what many viewed as the two best high school pitchers in the 2023 draft class when they took Noble Meyer at No. 10 overall and White at No. 35 overall on an above-slot deal. He might not have as high of a ceiling as Meyer, but White is off to a much better start to his pro career, posting a 2.72 ERA with 106 strikeouts in 86 innings between Single-A and High-A this season.

14. SS Aidan Miller, Philadelphia Phillies (Age: 20)

One of the best power hitters in the 2023 prep class with more than enough hit tool to make the most of it, Miller went No. 27 overall to the Phillies and has quickly developed into a top-tier prospect. He is hitting .262/.373/.453 with 25 doubles, 10 home runs, 56 RBI and 20 steals in 88 games between Single-A and High-A, and he continues to get regular reps at shortstop, though third base could be his future home.

13. RHP Caden Dana, Los Angeles Angels (Age: 20)

The Angels went way over slot to sign Dana to a $1.5 million bonus as an 11th-round pick in 2022, and he is shaping up to be the team's best homegrown starting pitcher since Jered Weaver. The 6'4", 215-pound right-hander has a 2.64 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and a 140-to-39 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 129.2 innings at Double-A this season, and he could realistically compete for a rotation spot next spring.

12. 2B/SS Kevin McGonigle, Detroit Tigers (Age: 20)

McGonigle was part of a loaded 2023 prep shortstop class, and the No. 37 overall pick in last year's draft has been flying up prospect rankings this summer thanks to his polished approach and advanced hit tool. He hit .326/.407/.470 with 22 extra-base hits and 20 steals in 60 games at Single-A before he was promoted to High-A on July 23.

11. OF Justin Crawford, Philadelphia Phillies (Age: 20)

With a plus hit tool, elite speed and strong baseball bloodlines as the son of former All-Star Carl Crawford, the No. 17 overall pick in the 2022 draft has the potential to be a star. He is hitting .302/.348/.430 with 32 extra-base hits and 36 steals in 93 games between High-A and Double-A, and once he arrives in the big leagues he could finally provide a long-term answer to the Phillies long-standing center field question.

10. SS Colt Emerson, Seattle Mariners (Age: 19)

With a .411 on-base percentage and more walks (46) than strikeouts (40), Emerson has displayed an elite hit tool in his first full professional season after going No. 22 overall in the 2023 draft. He will likely always have a hit-over-power offensive profile, but his strength and bat speed could mean he develops at least average pop to go along with his advanced approach in the batter's box.

9. C Ethan Salas, San Diego Padres (Age: 18)

Signed for $5.6 million as the consensus top prospect in the 2023 international class, Salas was sent straight to Singe-A to begin his pro career, debuting just a few days before his 17th birthday. He posted a .752 OPS with 24 extra-base hits in 66 games across three levels last year, and while he is hitting just .207/.295/.317 in 414 plate appearances at High-A this season, his ceiling is still as high as any prospect in the minors.

8. OF Lazaro Montes, Seattle Mariners (Age: 19)

With a strong 6'3", 210-pound frame and elite raw power, Montes has been one of the breakout prospects of the 2024 season. He hit .309/.411/.527 with 13 home runs and 72 RBI in 65 games at Single-A, and he has held his own with a .749 OPS in 39 games since he was promoted to High-A. He has drawn some comparisons to Yordan Alvarez and offers that type of offensive ceiling.

7. SS Leodalis De Vries, San Diego Padres (Age: 17)

The Padres landed the top players on the international market for the second year in a row when they inked De Vries to a $4.2 million bonus in January. Similar to Ethan Salas, he was put on the fast track and tested early, and he has responded by hitting .238/.361/.442 with 22 doubles, 11 home runs, 38 RBI and 13 steals in 75 games at Single-A while also showcasing a reliable glove at shortstop.

6. OF Max Clark, Detroit Tigers (Age: 19)

The No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 draft, Clark is off to a terrific start in pro ball, hitting .290/.384/.442 with 19 doubles, five triples, nine home runs, 69 RBI, 71 runs scored and 28 steals in 32 attempts over 95 games between Single-A and High-A. It remains to be seen how big of a power threat he will be at the next level, but his hit tool, speed and defense in center field give him impact potential regardless.

Age: 20

Stats (A+/AA): 87 G, .272/.371/.506, 39 XBH (17 HR), 72 RBI, 57 R, 14 SB

Xavier Isaac was not expected to be a Day 1 selection heading into the 2022 draft, but the Tampa Bay Rays reached for him at No. 29 overall and he has quickly developed into one of the best offensive prospects in baseball.

The 6'4", 240-pound first baseman is just starting to tap into his in-game power, and his 55-hit, 65-power offensive profile gives him the potential to be a game-changing middle-of-the-order run producer.

He doesn't provide a ton of value outside of what he does in the batter's box, but he should be a decent defender at first base with enough speed to avoid clogging the bases.

Age: 20

Stats (AA/AAA): 93 G, .276/.370/.490, 42 XBH (16 HR), 50 RBI, 68 R, 16 SB

The Boston Red Sox gave Florida prep outfielder Roman Anthony first-round money with a $2.5 million signing bonus as the No. 79 overall pick in the 2022 draft, and he was one of the biggest breakout prospects of the 2023 season.

With an athletic 6'2", 200-pound frame and a smooth left-handed swing, he hit .272/.403/.466 with 27 doubles, 14 home runs and 64 RBI across three minor league levels last season, climbing from outside the Top 100 prospect picture to a consensus Top 25 prospect in the process.

He is 12-for-36 with three doubles and one home run in nine games since he was promoted to Triple-A on Aug. 13, and he could get a long look next spring for a spot on the Opening Day roster if he finishes strong over the final month.

Age: 20

Stats (AA): 103 G, .286/.352/.456, 36 XBH (15 HR), 52 RBI, 55 R, 9 SB

With Adley Rutschman locked in as the starting catcher at the MLB level, the Baltimore Orioles have no reason to rush Samuel Basallo to the big leagues, but he could end up forcing their hand.

The $1.3 million bonus he was given as part of the 2021 international class signaled a newfound focus on the international market for an organization that had largely ignored it in previous years, and it has quickly paid dividends.

He hit .313/.402/.551 with 20 home runs and 86 RBI in 114 games over three levels last season while also throwing out 33 percent of base stealers, and he has split his time between catcher, first base and designated hitter this year as he moves closer to the big leagues.

Age: 19

Stats (Rk/A/A+): 61 G, .280/.392/.418, 22 XBH (3 HR), 47 RBI, 40 R, 11 SB

With a physically mature 6'3", 210-pound frame, Walker Jenkins does not look like a teenager, but he is still just 87 games into his minor league career after going No. 5 overall in the 2023 draft out of South Brunswick High School in South Carolina.

He has hit .306/.400/.467 with more walks (51) than strikeouts (46) in 388 plate appearances since entering pro ball, though his progress has been slowed this season by a hamstring injury that cost him six weeks.

His plate discipline and overall approach in the batter's box should allow him to move quickly through the minors, and the next step in his development will be tapping into more of his immense raw power in games.

Age: 20

Stats (AAA): 73 G, .271/.431/.477, 35 XBH (10 HR), 38 RBI, 75 R, 8 SB
Stats (MLB): 31 G, .174/.231/.339, 7 XBH (5 HR), 16 RBI, 19 R, 0 SB

Jackson Holliday will likely exhaust his prospect status before the 2024 season comes to a close, but for now he is still short of reaching the eligibility limits and claims the No. 1 spot in these rankings.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 draft was called up to the MLB roster early in the season, but he was returned to Triple-A after hitting .059/.111/.059 with zero extra-base hits and 18 strikeouts in 36 plate appearances.

He returned to the majors on July 31, hitting a grand slam in his first game back in the big leagues, and he has posted a modest .227/.284/.467 line with five home runs and 15 RBI in 21 games as the team's primary second baseman since he was recalled.

It's important to remember that he does not turn 21 years old until December, so it was always likely he was going to take some lumps early before settling in at the MLB level. He still has superstar upside and the potential to be a franchise cornerstone in Baltimore alongside Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson.