Team Position Player | Age on 4/1/2026 | Level | ETA
1. Brewers SS Jesus Made | 18 | AA | 2027
2. Pirates RHP Seth Hernandez | 19 | A+ | 2027
3. Mariners LHP Kade Anderson | 21 | AA | 2026
4. Red Sox SS Franklin Arias | 20 | AA | 2027
5. Athletics SS Leo De Vries | 19 | AA | 2027
The top group feels much stronger than usual for this time of year, between the exodus of rookies and the incoming draft class. Hernandez is the most exciting teenage righty since Jose Fernandez, one of my all-time favorite players. May he rest in peace.
6. Blue Jays RHP Trey Yesavage | 22 | MLB | 2025
7. Guardians 2B Travis Bazzana | 23 | MLB | 2026
8. Mariners SS Colt Emerson | 20 | MLB | 2026
9. Giants SS Luis Hernandez | 17 | CPX | 2029
10. Rangers SS Sebastian Walcott | 19 | AA | 2026
Yesavage is all but graduated. Smart move by Toronto to slow play his start to the season. He’s back to full power after pitching deep into the post-season last year.
Walcott’s tough to rank, but the quick return to form from Yesavage serves as a reminder that the top percentile of talented guys is sometimes just built differently.
11. Mets OF AJ Ewing | 21 | MLB | 2026
12. Diamondbacks OF Ryan Waldschmidt | 23 | MLB | 2026
13. Giants SS Josuar Gonzalez | 18 | CPX | 2030
14. Dodgers OF Josue De Paula | 20 | AA | 2027
15. Phillies SS Aidan Miller | 21 | AAA | 2026
16. Reds C Alfredo Duno | 20 | A+ | 2027
17. Giants 1B Bryce Eldridge | 21 | MLB | 2025
18. Guardians 1B Ralphy Velazquez | 20 | AAA | 2027
19. White Sox SS Caleb Bonemer | 20 | A+ | 2027
20. Brewers SS Luis Pena | 19 | A+ | 2028
21. Nationals SS Eli Willits | 18 | A | 2020
22. Padres C Ethan Salas | 18 | AA | 2026
Aidan Miller hasn’t played yet this year, but if he were healthy, he’d be pushing for big league starts at third base and perhaps right field depending how quickly he can adapt out there. Alec Bohm and Adolis Garcia are both hitting their way out of the league.
23. Red Sox RHP Anthony Eyanson | 21 | AA | 2026
24. Cardinals C Rainiel Rodriguez | 19 | AA | 2027
25. Mariners OF Lazaro Montes | 21 | AA | 2027
26. Diamondbacks OF Tommy Troy | 24 | MLB | 2026
27. Tigers OF Max Clark | 21 | AAA | 2026
28. Brewers SS Jett Williams | 21 | AAA | 2026
29. Yankees SS George Lombard Jr. | 20 | AAA | 2026
30. Cubs SS Pedro Ramirez | 22 | MLB | 2026
31. Dodgers OF Mike Sirota | 22 | A+ | 2027
32. Rays OF Theo Gillen | 20 | A+ | 2029
Tommy Troy is on the escalator nearing a potential jump in dynasty value. He’s been slightly undervalued despite being a 12th overall draft pick and double-plus runner with solid plate skills.
33. White Sox OF Braden Montgomery | 22 | AAA | 2026
34. Twins SS Kaelen Culpepper | 23 | AAA | 2026
35. White Sox LHP Noah Schultz | 22 | MLB | 2026
36. Rockies 2B Roldy Brito | 18 | A | 2030
37. Marlins LHP Thomas White | 21 | AAA | 2026
38. Marlins SS Aiva Arquette | 22 | AA | 2027
39. Mariners SS Felnin Celesten | 20 | A+ | 2028
White might be much higher if not for “a bit of a shoulder thing” that has him on the injured list.
40. Dodgers OF Zyhir Hope | 21 | AA | 2027
41. Pirates OF Edward Florentino | 19 | A+ | 2029
42. Mets SS Elian Pena | 18 | A | 2030
43. Giants SS Jhonny Level | 19 | A | 2029
44. Blue Jays SS Jojo Parker | 18 | A | 2029
45. Twins OF Walker Jenkins | 21 | AAA | 2026
I’m likely to wind up comparatively low on Hope, Florentino and Jenkins. Partly because the hype got pretty intense. Partly because I simply like the players a little less than consensus. Tough to separate the two sometimes. Do I dislike these guys or is everyone else just a little over their skis for them?
46. Pirates SS Johan De Los Santos | 17 | CPX | 2031
47. Blue Jays SS Arjun Nimmala | 20 | AA | 2028
48. Guardians OF Robert Arias | 19 | A | 2029
49. Reds SS Steele Hall | 18 | CPX | 2029
50. Royals RHP Kendry Chourio | 18 | A | 2029
I’m taking some shots on future top five types here.
I got outspent in two competitive leagues by aggressive De Los Santos bids, so while he’s certainly higher here than you’ll find him elsewhere, I wasn’t even the highest bidder in two leagues where I really wanted to get him and thought I’d set myself up to overpay. In the Razz30, he went for $75 out of $200 on May 18. In a 15-teamer (shoutout 23 Jump Street), he went for $53 out of $1000. I could’ve easily afforded that. Oh well. We’ll get ’em next time.
Thanks for reading!
Good Morning Itch,
Thanks so much for the May Top 50. Always exciting to read.
Non-specific to any prospect question – in building a dynasty farm system do you think its generally wise to focus on position players, focus on pitching, draft to fill specific needs, or consistently take a best player available. I realize that the answer is highly variable and depends a number of circumstances, but is there a way to build a system that takes into account the inherent volatility of pitching (injury, role, success)? Is it sheer volume on the pitching side or is it try to avoid most pitchers and then try and grab a “failure” off the post hype reclamation pile? Know its a detailed question for a busy person – but even a gut feeling answer would be appreciated. Thanks so much.
Hi, Stargell,
I’ve got seven pitchers ranked here, which lines up pretty well with how my rosters play out. In the Razz 30, I have just three minor league pitchers and 17 minor league hitters. That’s unbalanced for that league, where pitching is extremely valuable, so I’ve got some bids in for pitchers right now. Oh and one of those MILB pitchers is Orlando Ribalta because it’s a saves/holds league.
I’ve got four minor league pitchers in a 15-team league, and one of them is Kyle Hurt.
I’ll write an article about this in the near future, but in general, I take home run swings on lower minors hitters and leave some room to add just about every prospect bat with a pulse that walks into a big league job. Arms, I’ll take them seriously when they get close, but you can go a long way trading prospect hitters for MLB pitchers.
Thanks so much for the detailed answer. Have a great weekend
Is the ETA of 2026 correct for Salas? That seems a little aggressive, considering the last time the Padres rushed him like that, he got hurt and obviously wasn’t ready as a 16-year old in Double A lol. I just don’t see the Padres bringing him up THIS season, but maybe I’m wrong
Good catch, I should bump that back to 27.
There is so much talent on this list, baseball future is in good hands….and so is Razzball. Rudy has to salivate seeing these names, the headlines wrote themselves.
Johnny Level
Steele Hall
Roldy Brito
Alfredo Dun
And of course Jesus Made, who looks like a phenom. Whats the comp for him, Acuna? Jimmy Rollins?
I’ve heard early career Hanley or Lindor as comps for Made
The thing about Made is he’s big.
Like Tom Hanks BIG big.
221 pounds at 18.
I think that’s where the Hanley comps Dom mentioned come from, but Made is WAY bigger than young Hanley was.
Thanks, Itch! Who do you think we’re most likely to see before September between Made and Arias?
I can see the Brewers playing games with Made. The Sawx might need a spark.
Hey Itch – Thanks for sharing! The one that stands out as super iffy is Aidan Miller. I was a big fan of his coming into the season, but the back issue now appears to be chronic. And he still hasn’t swung a bat! I’m not even sure he is top 100 anymore for me COMPLETELY do to the unknown back risk.
Yeah I agree on that. Had a lot of trouble with Miller. Moved him all over the place. If the back issue remains forever, then this is too high.
Teruaki Soto – not sure how familiar you are with him. Plus he’s in his upper 20s. But if if he posts over the Winter and plays 3B, where would he rank as he would be a rookie?
Dang, thought i was gonna see gillen higher and sooner.
Where does Cole Carigg and Edwin Arroyo fit into these rankings….would you drop either for Jett Williams for this year?
They’re right on the cusp. Could comfortably swap them into the 40’s.
Thanks Itch!
Is Joshua Baez a hold for you? K are 37%. BB 8% in AAA. Is he still a couple years away?
I’m still holding.
Could you recommend a dynasty 2B or two or three to target? Someone young and on the rise that I might be able to pry away from an owner. I have an abundance of SP to offer and looking at my dynasty team, that’s an obvious need. Thanks!
Probably a decent time to make a run at Christian Moore, Brett Baty or Oswald Peraza. How deep/cheap are we talking here?
Edwin Arroyo fits here, too, I think.
At the higher end, I like Bazzana a little more than the average Joe, but so does the team who has him, I’d expect.
I’ve seen Nico Hoerner moved at reasonable rates in some leagues this year.
Yeah I’ve tried to get Bazzana but no go from the other owner. Anyone else of that caliber I could inquire about?
Devin Fitz-Gerald isn’t high-end just yet, but you could toss a dart there. It’s hard to get a premium 2B bc they’re kind of like the megalodon or T1000. We know they’ll exist or that they once existed, but damn if it ain’t hard to find definitive proof.
Perhaps the Otto Lopez team isn’t fully buying the breakout?
Listen to Itch. I picked up Wehiwa Aloy (at SS right now) and 2B Aaron Estrada of Baltimore. My deep pick is Crisantes of Arizona, who has been injured to start the year. If his OBP remains, AND he can hit 300+, he could make a huge jump. IF!
These are all good picks imo. Should be able to get all at reasonable prices. Thanks, John John!
Itch awesome stuff as usual… in a 12 teamer with 12 farm, would you Drop either Pratt or Caminiti for Ronny Cruz? Or stay put .. thank you as always !
Yeah I’d drop either for Cruz.