FANGRAPHS Top 50 NL & AL Prospects

by matthewmafa on Mar 11, 2026 5:31 PM EST Comment 15 comments

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-top-50-national-league-prospects

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-top-50-american-league-prospects

The Top 10 NL Prospects
1. Jason Heyward, OF, Atlanta Braves
2. Stephen Strasburg, RHP, Washington Nationals
3. Mike Stanton, OF, Florida Marlins
4. Buster Posey, C, San Francisco Giants
5. Domonic Brown, OF, Philadelphia Phillies
6. Pedro Alvarez, 3B, Pittsburgh Pirates
7. Christian Friedrich, LHP, Colorado Rockies
8. Alcides Escobar, SS, Milwaukee Brewers
9. Madison Bumgarner, LHP, San Francisco Giants
10. Aroldis Chapman, RHP, Cincinnati Reds

Just Missed the Top 10
11. Logan Morrison, 1B, Florida Marlins
12. Andrew Cashner, RHP, Chicago Cubs
13. Starlin Castro, SS, Chicago Cubs
14. Tyler Matzek, LHP, Colorado Rockies
15. Devaris Gordon, SS, Los Angeles Dodgers
16. Derek Norris, C, Washington Nationals
17. Jarrod Parker, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks
18. Freddie Freeman, 1B, Atlanta Braves
19. Julio Teheran, RHP, Altanta Braves
20. Shelby Miller, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals

The Middle of the Pack
21. Fernando Martinez, OF, New York Mets
22. Yonder Alonso, 1B, Cincinnati Reds
23. Josh Vitters, 3B, Chicago Cubs
24. Jason Castro, C, Houston Astros
25. Brad Lincoln, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates
26. Zach Wheeler, RHP, San Francisco Giants
27. Arodys Vizcaino, RHP, Atlanta Braves
28. Jordan Lyles, RHP, Houston Astros
29. Brett Lawrie, 2B, Milwaukee Brewers
30. Tony Sanchez, C, Pittsburgh Pirates

31. Ike Davis, 1B/OF, New York Mets
32. Jenrry Mejia, RHP, New York Mets
33. Simon Castro, RHP, San Diego Padres
34. Jhoulys Chacin, RHP, Colorado Rockies
35. Brandon Allen, 1B, Arizona Diamondbacks
36. Thomas Neal, OF, San Francisco Giants
37. Jio Mier, SS, Houston Astros
38. Ethan Martin, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers
39. Matt Dominguez, 3B, Florida Marlins
40. Ian Desmond, SS, Washington Nationals

The Final 10 NL Prospects
41. Logan Forsythe, 3B, San Diego Padres
42. Hak-Ju Lee, SS, Chicago Cubs
43. Mike Leake, RHP, Cincinnati Reds
44. Jose Tabata, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates
45. Chris Heisey, OF, Cincinnati Reds
46. Andrew Lambo, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers
47. Mat Gamel, 3B, Milwaukee Brewers
48. Jaff Decker, OF, San Diego Padres
49. Jay Jackson, RHP, Chicago Cubs
50. Trevor May, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies
The Top 10 AL Prospects
1. Desmond Jennings, OF, Tampa Bay Rays
2. Neftali Feliz, RHP, Texas Rangers
3. Carlos Santana, C, Cleveland Indians
4. Jesus Montero, C/1B, New York Yankees
5. Dustin Ackley, 2B/OF, Seattle Mariners
6. Brian Matusz, LHP, Baltimore Orioles
7. Jeremy Hellickson, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays
8. Justin Smoak, 1B, Texas Rangers
9. Chris Carter, 1B, Oakland Athletics
10. Martin Perez, LHP, Texas Rangers
Just Missed the Top 10
11. Casey Kelly, RHP, Boston Red Sox
12. Aaron Hicks, OF, Minnesota Twins
13. Tim Beckham, SS, Tampa Bay Rays
14. Wade Davis, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays
15. Michael Montgomery, LHP, Kansas City Royals
16. Brett Wallace, 3B/1B, Toronto Blue Jays
17. Kyle Drabek, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays
18. Ryan Westmoreland, OF, Boston Red Sox
19. Josh Bell, 3B, Baltimore Orioles
20. Tyler Flowers, C, Chicago White Sox

The Middle of the Pack
21. Hank Conger, C, Los Angeles Angels
22. Mike Moustakas, 3B, Kansas City Royals
23. Wilson Ramos, C, Minnesota Twins
24. Casey Crosby, LHP, Detroit Tigers
25. Eric Hosmer, 1B, Kansas City Royals
26. Austin Romine, C, New York Yankees
27. Michael Taylor, OF, Oakland Athletics
28. Austin Jackson, OF, Detroit Tigers
29. Matthew Moore, LHP, Tampa Bay Rays
30. Lonnie Chisenhall, 3B, Cleveland Indians

31. Zach McAllister, RHP, New York Yankees
32. Zach Stewart, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays
33. Daniel Hudson, RHP, Chicago White Sox
34. Tanner Scheppers, RHP, Texas Rangers
35. Jacob Turner, RHP, Detroit Tigers
36. Brandon Erbe, RHP, Baltimore Orioles
37. Jordan Walden, RHP, Los Angeles Angels
38. Junichi Tazawa, RHP, Boston Red Sox
39. Jake Arrieta, RHP, Baltimore Orioles
40. Alex White, RHP, Cleveland Indians

The Final 10 AL Prospects
41. Kyle Gibson, RHP, Minnesota Twins
42. Zach Britton, LHP, Baltimore Orioles
43. Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels
44. Michael Saunders, OF, Seattle Mariners
45. Nick Hagadone, LHP, Cleveland Indians
46. J.P. Arencibia, C, Toronto Blue Jays
47. Trevor Reckling, LHP, Los Angeles Angels
48. Nick Barnese, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays
49. Hector Rondon, RHP, Cleveland Indians
50. Danny Duffy, LHP, Kansas City Royals

Full TOP 100 coming out tomorrow!!

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Comments

whoa

I respect the heck out of Hulet … but … Cashner at 12? The rest of the Cubs look alright, but you have to really, really love Cashner to put him at 12 (which makes him a pretty solid bet for top 50 on his final top 100 list).

by toonsterwu on Mar 11, 2026 6:04 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Probably top 25-30 more than top 50

Yeah I’m shocked

I myself Like Cashner a lot
remember on my list waaay back in November I put Cashner in the 70’s somewhere and I was getting slightly criticized for that? - I do

I thought I liked him more than most but apparently not Fan Graphs…..

Wow Blackburn makes nearly identical money as Baker does now....

by SteveHoffmanSlowey on Mar 11, 2026 8:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

withrow

just noticed chris withrow is missing..

by matthewmafa on Mar 11, 2026 6:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

yea

we have Lambo and E. Martin, but no Withrow?

by lakersdodgersyankees4life on Mar 11, 2026 6:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, he doesn't like Withrow

And his comments on him are puzzling:

Here’s the write up for his Dodgers top 10:

6. Chris Withrow, RHP, Double-A
DOB: April 1989 Bats: R Throws: R
Signed: 2007 1st round – Texas HS
MLB ETA: Mid-2011 40-Man Roster: No Options: 3
Repertoire: 88-92 mph fastball, curveball, change-up

Just 20, Withrow reached double-A in ‘09 and should return there at least for the first half of 2010. The right-hander began the year in high-A where he made 19 appearances while posting a 2.96 FIP. He allowed 80 hits in 86.1 innings and showed rocky control with a walk rate of 4.69 BB/9. His strikeout rate, though, was good at 10.95 K/9 and he allowed just three homers despite a ground-ball rate below 40%. In double-A, Withrow’s walk rate improved to 3.95 BB/9 but his strikeout rate dropped to 8.56 K/9 and his ground-ball rate remained below 40%. His stuff isn’t electric and he projects as more of a No. 3 starter.

And his comments on his stuff for this podcast:

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/fangraphs-audio-prospect-mavens-in-the-house/

seemed out of place with every other report I’ve read. He called his fastball an average pitch, sitting 88-92. I don’t know if he just saw him on an off day or what.

by jar75 on Mar 11, 2026 7:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wow

That’s the first report that Ive read that DOESN’T like Withrow’s fastball.. And the fact that he isn’t on the top 100 at all when every other prospector has him at #2 or higher potential, is amazing to say the least.

by lakersdodgersyankees4life on Mar 11, 2026 8:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

the guys report 88-92 average fastball is for WHEN HE WAS DRAFTED!!

this guys info he has is from when he was drafted!!

thats his scouting report… NICE

by matthewmafa on Mar 11, 2026 8:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

this has been mentioned before

way off-base, dare i say lazy reporting?

by daveh33 on Mar 11, 2026 11:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yea, I think it has

It just comes back up every time a new list comes out with the same problems..

by lakersdodgersyankees4life on Mar 11, 2026 11:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Erbe

Erbe above Britton and Arrieta? Interesting.

www.oriolesprospects.com

by ravensfan3 on Mar 11, 2026 6:50 PM EST via mobile reply actions 0 recs

Looks like the NL has the best prospects of all :)…correct that looks like the NL East has the best prospects of all

"Sure, I've been called a xenophobe, but the truth is, I'm not. I honestly just feel that America is the best country and the other countries aren't as good. That used to be called patriotism."- Eastbound and down...if you like baseball, watch this show it's one of the funniest ever!

by atlantalove on Mar 11, 2026 8:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs