THREE-FOR-ALL!
TOP 100 BY TEAM
6 PIRATES, D-BACKS
5 DODGERS, GIANTS, GUARDIANS, MARINERS, MARLINS, ORIOLES, RAYS, TWINS
4 RED SOX, REDS
3 BLUE JAYS, BRAVES, CARDINALS, METS, NATIONALS, PADRES, RANGERS, ROYALS, TIGERS, YANKEES
2 ASTROS, CUBS, PHILLIES
1 ANGELS, ATHLETICS, BREWERS, ROCKIES
0 WHITE SOX
TOP 100 BY NATIONALITY
68 UNITED STATES
17 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
8 VENEZUELA
2 PUERTO RICO, CUBA
1 AUSTRALIA, CANADA, PANAMA
TOP 100 BY DRAFT ROUND
73% 51 OF THE 70 DRAFTED PLAYERS IN THE TOP 100 PROSPECTS WERE SELECTED IN THE FIRST ROUND
TOP 100 BY POSITION
24 SS
24 RHP
17 OF
12 C
8 LHP
8 3B
4 2B
TOP 100 BY SOURCE
42 HIGH SCHOOL
30 INTERNATIONAL
26 COLLEGE
2 JUNIOR COLLEGE
The annual Top 100 Prospects ranking is the culmination of Baseball America’s prospect reporting from the past 12 months In some years, the No. 1 prospect is obvious. That was the case last year with 20-year-old Rays shortstop Wander Franco. No other prospect could match his combination of youth, upside and proximity.
The outlook this year is not as clear.
Three prospects have clear and persuasive cases to rank No. 1. BA staffers made compelling arguments for Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman, Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez and Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.
Ultimately, we ruled in favor of Rutschman after consulting with industry sources. They voiced a slight but consistent preference for the 24-year-old Orioles catcher and future face of the Baltimore franchise.
The margins separating the trio were so narrow that in these pages BA national writer Kyle Glaser makes the case for each of Rutschman, Rodriguez and Witt to rank No. 1.
About The Top 100 Prospects
■ Players qualify for the ranking if they have 130 or fewer MLB at-bats or 50 or fewer MLB innings in their career. Major league service time is not considered.
■ Each player’s listed age is his baseball age in 2022.
■ The estimated time of arrival, or ETA, is the season when the player is projected to graduate from prospect to big leaguer.
■ The scouting grades are projected future grades on the 20-80 scale, where 50 is average. Position players are assessed for their ability to hit for average, power, speed, fielding and throwing arm. Pitchers are graded on the quality of their fastball, curveball, slider, changeup and control.
1. ADLEY RUTSCHMAN
ORIOLES, C
Age: 24. ETA: 2022
Average exit velocity: 87 mph
Hit: 70 | Pow: 70 | Run: 40 | Fld: 60 | Arm: 70
Top 100 History: #5 in 2020 | #2 in 2021
Rutschman has ably handled high expectations since his days at Oregon State. As a switch-hitting catcher who controls the strike zone, possesses plus power, is a plus defender and shows elite leadership skills, he is the face of the Orioles’ rebuild and projects to be a perennial all-star.
2. JULIO RODRIGUEZ
MARINERS, OF
Age: 21 ETA: 2022
Average exit velocity: 91 mph
Hit: 70 | Pow: 70 | Run: 55 | Fld: 55 | Arm: 60
Top 100 History: #8 in 2020 | #3 in 2021
Few prospects combine the ability to hit for average and power like Rodriguez. A career .331 hitter with booming, allfields power, he will soon take his place in the middle of the Mariners’ order and be the driving force behind their drive to return to the postseason.
3. BOBBY WITT JR.
ROYALS, SS
Age: 22. ETA: 2022
Average exit velocity: 90 mph
Hit: 60 | Pow: 70 | Run: 70 | Fld: 60 | Arm: 60
Top 100 History: #24 in 2020 | #16 in 2021
The son of longtime major league pitcher Bobby Witt finished one stolen base shy of a 30-30 season as he climbed to Triple-A in 2021 and was the BA Minor League Player of the Year. A premium athlete who has plus tools across the board, Witt has a chance to be a rare five-tool player as long as he improves his approach at the plate.
4. RILEY GREENE
TIGERS, OF
Age: 21. ETA: 2022
Average exit velocity: 91 mph
Hit: 70 | Pow: 55 | Run: 55 | Fld: 60 | Arm: 55
Top 100 History: #49 in 2020 | #31 in 2021
Greene has rocketed through the minors since the Tigers selected him fifth overall in the 2019 draft. With a sweet, powerful lefthanded swing, he projects to be an offensive force in the middle of the Tigers’ lineup and an all-star regardless of whether he ends up
