Here are the 10 farm systems with the best outfield prospects
Last week, we looked at the top farm systems based on infield talent. This week, let’s go from the dirt to the grass.
Below is a ranking of the top 10 organizations when it comes to those who patrol the outfield, using a combination of top-end Top 100 talent and depth.
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1. Colorado Rockies
They are the only team with three outfielders on the Top 100 Prospects list (Charlie Condon, Zac Veen, Yanquiel Fernandez) and it would have been four if Jordan Beck hadn’t recently graduated from prospect status. There are a pair of outstanding performers in the Rockies’ top 10 who also see time in the outfield -- Cole Carrigg and Robert Calaz -- and the Rockies have seven outfielders total in their Top 30.
2. Boston Red Sox
One of three teams on both the infield and outfield top 10 lists, Boston has some serious star power at the very top. Roman Anthony is the No. 13 overall prospect in the game, is raking in Triple-A at age 20 and he’s joined in the Top 100 by 2024 first-round pick Braden Montgomery, who’ll officially start his career next year. Those two alone warrant a spot somewhere on this list, and the Sox also have Miguel Bleis in their top 10 and two more young outfielders in their top 20. (We didn’t think it fair to count Kristian Campbell since he was part of the infield consideration last week.)
3. Minnesota Twins
Another team that has landed in both top 10s, the Twins have a pair of exciting outfield prospects in 2023 first-rounder Walker Jenkins and Emmanuel Rodriguez, giving them two prospects in the top 21 of the overall Top 100. (Like with Campbell above, we didn’t include Luke Keaschall here because he was part of the infield group.) Gabriel Gonzalez’s star has faded a bit, but he’s still an intriguing outfield bat in the team’s top 10 and Minnesota has a total of six outfielders in its Top 30.
4. Los Angeles Dodgers
While the Dodgers currently only have one outfielder in the Top 100 in Josue De Paula, they land this high largely on the strength of a bunch of intriguing names behind De Paula in the top half of their Top 30. Eduardo Quintero is in the top 10 at No. 9, but both Zyhir Hope at No. 11 and Kendall George (No. 13) have had solid first full seasons when healthy. Ching-Hsien Ko (No. 14) signed in June for $650,000 to give them another exciting young outfield talent.
5. Cleveland Guardians
Not only are the Guardians the third team landing on both of these lists, they’re the only ones to finish in the top five of both. Chase DeLauter and Jaison Chourio give them a pair of Top 100 guys (and if Ralphy Velazquez sticks in the outfield, they’d move up). They also have a total of seven outfielders in their Top 30.
6. Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies are tied for having the most depth in their Top 30 on this list, with nine outfielders in their rankings. The crop is led by Justin Crawford, who is having an outstanding second full season of pro ball, reaching Double-A at age 20. They added talent in the 2024 Draft, with Dante Nori and Griffin Burkholder both landing in club’s top 10, pushing out fellow outfielders Gabriel Rincones Jr. and fellow 2024 draftee John Spikerman.
7. Chicago Cubs
The 1-2 punch of Owen Caissie, No. 35 on the Top 100, and Kevin Alcántara (No. 72) gives the Cubs two 22-year-old outfielders currently at Triple-A. They have four other outfielders in their Top 30, though no one else lands on the top half of the list.
8. New York Mets
Drew Gilbert and Ryan Clifford are in the Top 100 and both came from Houston courtesy of the Justin Verlander trade last year. Carson Benge isn’t in the Top 100 … yet, but the 2024 first-rounder out of Oklahoma State could land on the list in the future if he performs well. The Mets have seven outfielders on their Top 30.
9. San Francisco Giants
Like the Phillies, the Giants have nine outfielders on their Top 30, led by 2024 first-rounder James Tibbs III. The rest of the club’s top 10 is really exciting on the grass, with Dakota Jordan (No. 4) also from the most recent Draft along with Rayner Arias (No. 5) and Grant McCray (No. 10). Bo Davidson is only No. 26 on the list, but he’s a fun one to watch as an undrafted free agent who has an OPS north of 1.000 this year.
10. Washington Nationals
No other team has more than one outfield prospect in the Top 100, but the Nats have Dylan Crews, currently the No. 2 overall prospect, getting his feet wet in the big leagues. Daylen Lile (No. 12) and Robert Hassell III (No. 13) still have upside, with the club totaling seven outfielders in the Top 30.