NEW Top 100 and Top 30 Prospects lists
There's a new Top 100 Prospects list at MLB Pipeline . . . but not a new No. 1 overall prospect. Orioles middle infielder Jackson Holliday remains atop our biannual rankings. Not only is he No. 1 for the third straight list, but Baltimore has claimed the top spot for
There's a new Top 100 Prospects list at MLB Pipeline . . . but not a new No. 1 overall prospect.
Orioles middle infielder Jackson Holliday remains atop our biannual rankings. Not only is he No. 1 for the third straight list, but Baltimore has claimed the top spot for the fifth time in last seven Top 100s. Adley Rutschman (midseason 2021) and Gunnar Henderson (preseason 2023) are Holliday's Orioles predecessors at No. 1, sandwiching Bobby Witt Jr. (pre-2022) and Francisco Alvarez (mid-2022).
Team Top 30 Prospects lists:
ALE: BAL | BOS | NYY | TB | TOR
ALC: CLE | CWS | DET | KC | MIN
ALW: HOU | LAA | OAK | SEA | TEX
NLE: ATL | MIA | NYM | PHI | WSH
NLC: CHC | CIN | MIL | PIT | STL
NLW: AZ | COL | LAD | SD | SF
Let's take a look at the new list:
The Top 10
The Orioles, Rays and Tigers each have a pair of the Top 10 prospects, the first time since mid-2012 that three teams could claim that distinction at the same time. Tampa Bay boasts two of the six best prospects, matching a feat that only four other organizations have achieved in our past 15 rankings, most recently when the Rangers had Evan Carter and Wyatt Langford at Nos. 5 and 6 on this year's preseason Top 100.
1. Jackson Holliday, 2B/SS, Orioles
2. Junior Caminero, 3B/2B, Rays
3. Dylan Crews, OF, Nationals
4. Walker Jenkins, OF, Twins
5. Marcelo Mayer, SS, Red Sox
6. Carson Williams, SS, Rays
7. Max Clark, OF, Tigers
8. Jackson Jobe, RHP, Tigers
9. Jordan Lawlar, SS, Diamondbacks
10. Coby Mayo, 3B/1B, Orioles
Complete Top 100 »
Newcomers
Not including 2024 Draftees -- more on them in a moment -- 31 players crashed the midseason Top 100 party after missing the preseason list. Tigers middle infielder Kevin McGonigle has the loftiest ranking among them at No. 33, after batting .309/.401/.452 as a 19-year-old at two Class A stops in his first full pro season before breaking the hamate in his right hand.
The 10 highest-ranked non-Draft newcomers:
33. Kevin McGonigle, SS/2B, Tigers
40. Brandon Sproat, RHP, Mets
44. Moises Ballesteros, C/1B, Cubs
46. Thomas White, LHP, Marlins
47. Leodalis De Vries, SS, Padres
48. Lazaro Montes, OF, Mariners
49. Josue De Paula, OF, Dodgers
50. Brayden Taylor, SS/3B, Rays
62. Cooper Pratt, SS, Brewers
63. Edgar Quero, C, White Sox
Draft debuts
The 2024 Draft was more top-heavy than deep in terms of talent, and 12 first-round picks immediately joined the Top 100, up from 11 each in 2021, 2022 and 2023. The consensus top two prospects in the Class of '24, Rockies outfielder/third baseman and Guardians second baseman Travis Bazzana, headline that contingent:
12. Charlie Condon, OF/3B, Rockies (No. 3 overall pick)
13. Travis Bazzana, 2B, Guardians (No. 1)
18. Jac Caglianone, 1B/LHP, Royals (No. 6)
19. JJ Wetherholt, SS/2B, Cardinals (No. 7)
24. Chase Burns, RHP, Reds (No. 2)
32. Hagen Smith, LHP, White Sox (No. 5)
45. Nick Kurtz, 1B, Athletics (No. 4)
55. Konnor Griffin, SS/OF, Pirates (No. 9)
59. Braden Montgomery, OF, Red Sox (No. 12)
61. Bryce Rainer, SS, Tigers (No. 11)
81. Christian Moore, 2B, Angels (No. 8)
99. James Tibbs III, OF, Giants (No. 13)
Biggest risers
Only 57 of our preseason Top 100 prospects remain on our current list. Of the other 43, 22 graduated to the big leagues while 21 didn't make the cut this time.
Mariners shortstop Colt Emerson made the biggest jump of anyone on the preseason list, moving from No. 87 to No. 30 after hitting his way to High-A at age 18 before breaking his left foot in mid-May. Here are the 10 highest risers:
+57: Colt Emerson, SS, Mariners (No. 87 to No. 30)
+52: Bubba Chandler, RHP, Pirates (No. 93 to No. 41)
+42: Jacob Wilson, SS, Athletics (No. 68 to No. 26)
+42: Bryce Eldridge, 1B, Giants (No. 96 to No. 54)
+38: Blake Mitchell, C, Royals (No. 94 to No. 56)
+37: Xavier Isaac, 1B, Rays (No. 58 to No. 21)
+36: Dalton Rushing, C/OF, Dodgers (No. 75 to No. 39)
+35: Noah Schultz, LHP, White Sox (No. 50 to No. 15)
+33: Sebastian Walcott, SS/3B, Rangers (No. 71 to No. 38)
+32: Aidan Miller, SS, Phillies (No. 61 to No. 39)
Demographics
This is our hitter-heaviest Top 100 yet, with a record-low 24 pitchers. Breaking it down by primary position, there are 23 shortstops, 22 outfielders, 19 right-handed pitchers, nine catchers and second basemen, eight first basemen and five third basemen and left-handed pitchers.
Eighty-one of the Top 100 prospects entered pro ball through the Draft, including 50 first-round picks and two of the last three No. 1 overall choices, Holliday (2022) and Bazzana (2024). Twins righty David Festa was the lowest selection, a 13th-rounder out of Seton Hall in 2021. Nineteen players signed out of the international market, with Ethan Salas (No. 20) landing the largest bonus at $5.6 million in 2023.
📩 CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO BEN'S BIZ
Ten members of the Top 100 have been traded, highlighted by Caminero, whom the Rays grabbed from the Guardians in exchange for Tobias Myers while looking to clear space on their 40-man roster in November 2021.
The Top 100 prospects hail from eight different countries or territories, including 80 born in the United States. The others come from the Dominican Republic (10), Cuba (three), Venezuela (three), Australia (one), Canada (one), Italy (one) and Puerto Rico (one).
Farm reports
We'll unveil our updated farm system rankings this week. As a preview of coming attractions, we can tell you that five different organizations tied for the most Top 100 prospects with six each: the Cubs, Guardians, Mariners, Rockies and Twins. Twenty-seven different clubs were represented, with only the Astros, Blue Jays and Braves getting shut out.
One quick if imprecise way to measure the strength of star talent in an organization is to calculate what we call Prospect Points (100 for the No. 1 prospect, 99 for No. 2 and so on). The Cubs have the most Prospect Points with 336, narrowly edging the Tigers (332), Rays (325), Twins (321) and Red Sox (320).
The top 10 organizations in terms of prospect points, with their best prospect in parentheses:
1. Cubs, 336 (Matt Shaw, INF, No. 25)
2. Tigers, 332 (Max Clark, OF, No. 7)
3. Rays, 325 (Junior Caminero, 3B/2B, No. 2)
4. Twins, 321 (Walker Jenkins, OF, No. 4)
5. Red Sox, 320 (Marcelo Mayer, SS, No. 5)
6. Orioles, 281 (Jackson Holliday, 2B/SS, No. 1)
7. Mariners, 271 (Colt Emerson, SS, No. 30)
8. White Sox, 266 (Noah Schultz, LHP, No. 15)
9. Guardians, 257 (Travis Bazzana, 2B, No. 13)
10. Rockies, 205 (Charlie Condon, OF/3B, No. 12)
Gwinnett Out-Slugged by Lehigh Valley in 15-9 Defeat
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – In a three-hour and 21-minute offensive slugfest, the Gwinnett Stripers (7-8) finished on the losing end of a 15-9 loss against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (12-4) on Tuesday afternoon at Coolray Field. Eddy Alvarez homered twice and tallied four RBIs in the losing cause. Decisive Plays: The
Homestand Highlights: Stripers Host First-Ever “Stripers Open”
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The Gwinnett Stripers pay tribute to Baseball Hall-of-Famer Jackie Robinson, welcome golf enthusiasts, suit up as the Malmö Oat Milkers, and more during a six-game series at Coolray Field from April 15-20 against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Triple-A, Philadelphia Phillies). The jam-packed homestand features Jackie Robinson Day
Stripers Score Early, Often in 12-8 Finale Win at Norfolk
NORFOLK, Va. – A three-run home run by Alex Verdugo and RBIs from five other hitters powered the Gwinnett Stripers (7-7) to a 12-8 victory over the Norfolk Tides (6-9) on Sunday afternoon at Harbor Park. Gwinnett took four out of the six games to win its second consecutive series.
Stripers Split First Twin-Bill of 2025 in Norfolk
NORFOLK, Va. – The Gwinnett Stripers (6-7) extended their road winning streak to three games with a 6-1 win in game one on Saturday night but fell 6-2 to the Norfolk Tides (6-8) in the nightcap to split a doubleheader at Harbor Park. Decisive Plays (Game 1): The Stripers struck
Stripers, Norfolk Postponed Friday at Harbor Park
NORFOLK, Va. – Tonight’s 6:35 p.m. game between the Gwinnett Stripers and Norfolk Tides at Harbor Park has been postponed due to inclement weather. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader at Harbor Park on Saturday, April 12. The first of two seven-inning games begins at
Strider Ties Gwinnett Record with 13 Strikeouts in Stripers’ 6-1 Victory at Norfolk
NORFOLK, Va. – Atlanta Braves’ right-hander Spencer Strider produced a truly historic third rehab start for the Gwinnett Stripers (5-6) on Thursday afternoon, tying the team’s single-game record with 13 strikeouts over 5.1 innings in a 6-1 victory over the Norfolk Tides (5-7) at Harbor Park. Strider and three relievers
Daniel Stellar in Debut, Stripers Topple Tides in 10th
NORFOLK, Va. – Davis Daniel struck out six over 6.0 one-hit innings in a no-decision and the Gwinnett Stripers (4-6) scored three runs in the top of the 10th inning to slip past the Norfolk Tides (5-6) 4-2 on a frigid Wednesday night at Harbor Park. The win snapped an
Stripers’ Ninth-Inning Flurry Isn’t Enough in 8-7 Walk-Off Loss at Norfolk
NORFOLK, Va. – The Gwinnett Stripers (3-5) erased a four-run deficit in the ninth inning to force extra innings, but the Norfolk Tides (5-5) walked it off in the bottom of the 10th on a one-out single by Maverick Handley to win 8-7 on Tuesday night at Harbor Park. Decisive
Stripers, Nashville Postponed Sunday at Coolray Field
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – Today’s 12:05 p.m. game between the Gwinnett Stripers and Nashville Sounds at Coolray Field has been postponed due to impending inclement weather. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader at Coolray Field on Thursday, May 1. The first of two seven-inning games begins
Nashville Bats Break Through in 10-2 Win Over Stripers
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The Gwinnett Stripers (3-5) fell behind early and couldn’t pull a rally together in a 10-2 defeat against the Nashville Sounds (3-5) on Saturday night at Coolray Field. Decisive Plays: Nashville took an early lead in the first inning on a three-run home run from Wes Clarke
Gwinnett Stripers Add Palmetto Sports & Entertainment to Broadcast Network
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The Gwinnett Stripers, Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, and Gray Media have agreed to expand their partnership into the western Carolinas and northeastern Georgia with the addition of Palmetto Sports & Entertainment to the Stripers’ broadcast network. In addition to the 30 games that will air
Atlanta Braves Pitcher Spencer Strider to Rehab with Gwinnett
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Gwinnett Stripers, in conjunction with the Atlanta Braves, have announced today that pitcher Spencer Strider will join the Stripers on an injury rehab assignment. Strider, on Atlanta’s 15-day injured list as he recovers from 2024 surgery to repair his right ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), is slated
All Eyes on Drake: Braves Top Prospect Gearing Up for First MLB Season
Headed into the 2024 season, catcher Drake Baldwin entered the year on the fringe of the MLB.com Atlanta Braves Top 30 Prospects list. The Madison, Wisconsin native had just come off a breakout campaign during his first full season of minor league baseball in which he saw time at three
Atlanta Braves Catcher Sean Murphy to Begin Rehab with Gwinnett
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The Gwinnett Stripers, in conjunction with the Atlanta Braves, have announced today that catcher Sean Murphy will join the Stripers on an injury rehab assignment. Murphy, on Atlanta’s 10-day injured list with a left ribcage fracture, is scheduled to play in Gwinnett’s 4:05 p.m. Opening Day game
Homestand Highlights: Stripers Nearing Four-Millionth Fan Milestone as 2025 Season Begins
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The Gwinnett Stripers begin their 16th season of baseball at Coolray Field with a thrilling – and potentially historic – six-game series from April 1-6. The Stripers host the Nashville Sounds (Triple-A, Milwaukee Brewers) as they welcome fans back to the ballpark for Opening Week. The Stripers
Strider Dominant, Williams Provides Walk-Off Magic in Stripers’ 2-1 Thriller
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The Gwinnett Stripers (3-4) needed 11 innings and a walk-off wild pickoff throw to edge the Nashville Sounds (2-5) for a 2-1 win at Coolray Field on Friday night. Rehabbing Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Strider and catcher Sean Murphy served as the starting battery for Gwinnett in
Nashville’s Four-Run Third Inning Enough to Best Stripers 5-1
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The Gwinnett Stripers (2-4) saw their two-game winning streak come to an end courtesy of a 5-1 defeat at the hands of the Nashville Sounds (2-4) on Thursday night at Coolray Field. Rehabbing Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy caught seven innings and went 1-for-3 in his second
Wiles Impressive in Debut, Pitching Leads Way in 4-1 Stripers Win
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The Gwinnett Stripers (2-3) are now winners of their last two games after taking down the Nashville Sounds (1-4) by a 4-1 score on Wednesday at Coolray Field. Starting pitcher Nathan Wiles struck out five over 4.0 no-hit innings in his Gwinnett debut. Decisive Plays: For the
Murphy’s Blast Backs Waldrep as Stripers Earn First Win of 2025
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The Gwinnett Stripers took an early lead with the help of rehabbing Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy and held on for a 5-1 series-opening win over the Nashville Sounds on Tuesday at Coolray Field. The win was their first of 2025, snapping a three-game slide. Decisive Plays:
Bullpen Struggles Continue as Stripers Lose 9-6 to Charlotte
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Gwinnett Stripers held a 3-2 lead through five innings, but for the second straight game the Charlotte Knights put together a big inning against the bullpen. Charlotte’s five-run sixth inning led them to a 9-6 victory, completing a three-game sweep of the Stripers at Truist Field.
Strider Strong in Rehab Start, but Stripers Fall 12-4 in Charlotte
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Atlanta Braves’ right-hander Spencer Strider struck out six over 3.0 innings in his first rehab start for Gwinnett, but the Charlotte Knights surged late against the bullpen to beat the Stripers 12-4 on Saturday night at Truist Field. Decisive Plays: The Stripers fell behind 2-1 after four
Charlotte Powers Past Elder, Stripers on Opening Night
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Home runs by Colson Montgomery, Tim Elko, and Kyle Teel propelled the Charlotte Knights to a 9-1 victory over the Gwinnett Stripers on Friday night at Truist Field. Sandy Leon provided Gwinnett’s only run with a solo homer in the fifth. Decisive Plays: Teel staked Charlotte to
Atlanta Braves Set Gwinnett Stripers’ 2025 Opening Day Roster
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The Atlanta Braves announced today the Gwinnett Stripers’ roster to open the 2025 International League season. Gwinnett’s 150-game schedule begins on Friday, March 28 with the opener of a three-game series at the Charlotte Knights.
Stripers in Spring Training Update: March 24
The Atlanta Braves get ready to wrap up spring training games this week with the regular season beginning on Thursday. They approach the end of spring on a hot streak, going unbeaten in all but one game last week. Here’s an overview of who’s stood out this past week: Former
Stripers in Spring Training Update: March 17
The Atlanta Braves have wrapped up eight more spring training games in addition to the highly anticipated Spring Breakout Game against Detroit. Atlanta came away with just a pair of wins during the week, but many former and potential Stripers got the chance for additional reps. Here’s an overview of