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This year I improved to the number three ranked minor league system. This is seven spots better than last year and is my new highest minor league system ranking. It is also the first time I've had the #1 overall prospect.

This year six of my prospects made the top 100: SP Guajardo at #1 (up from #28), SP Kamphuis at #27 (up from #87), SP Castiglione at #54 (up from #110), CF Rebold at #66 (up from #74), SP Duarte debuting at #73, and 3B Tellez at #74 (up from #89).

I had ten players place in the top 200, down two from last year. Those ranked in the next 100 include 3B Estrada (down from #41), SP Roque at #138 (up from #197), SP Villanova at #190 (down from #187), and SP Esteban at #195 (down from #120).

1. SP Guus Kamphuis, AAA (2027 Int'l FA Signing)
   Kamphuis rightfully returns to the top spot on my prospect list as he will bring his 99-101 mph fastball and currently above average with plus potential slider and splitter to AAA. He already has great stuff and movement. His control is average with the potential to be great. His results were good but not great in AA last year. I expect a big jump this year as he is paired with my "power pitcher" specialist pitching coach in AAA. At 21 years old, he probably could use about a full season at AAA and I'm not inclined to rush him. In summary, he looks to be a generational type talent, one that I hope will contend for Cy Young awards for the next decade plus.
2. SP Gabe Guajardo, MLB (Trade w/LAD 11/2030)
   Guajardo is a great pitching prospect in his own right, rising to the #1 overall prospect on the OOTP list. he has plus stuff with above average movement and average control. He projects to be nearly unhittable as a lefty armed with a great 96-98 mph cutter and plus curveball and changeup. He does have some risk as his control is only average, but OOTP and the projections don't see this being an issue at all.
3. 2B Jose Pellot, AAA (2027 Draft, Rd 2)
   Pellot probably deserves to be in the majors now. His AAA performance hasn't been great yet, but he has the best bat of my AAA prospects by ratings. He has plus gap power and potentially great (currently above average) home run power. His contact is only average, so he might end up a good slugging, low average hitter. His defense at second base is plus and he might end up with a gold glove one year.
4. SS Juan Amescua, AAA (2028 Draft, Rd 8)
   Drafted for his intangibles and bat, Amescua has developed into a great defender with a passable bat. He could be a utility infielder and bats left handed, unlike most of his competition. His very high leadership rating is another quality working in his favor. He may be one of those players where the sum is greater than any of the individual parts.
5. RP Michael Avilla, AAA (2027 Draft, Rd 9)
   Avilla doesn't have anything left to prove in AAA and is just waiting for a spot in the big league bullpen. He fits the profile of a lock down lefty with a great fastball (91-93 mph) and plus curve. He should rack up strikeouts like crazy with his plus stuff and above average movement and control.
6. RF Alex Ramos, AAA (2026 Int'l FA Signing)
   Ramos is an interesting player as he popped up on this radar seeming out of nowhere and is going to start the year in AAA. He is already full developed in his ratings too, but could use some seasoning as he only has a few PAs above A+. His bat is slightly above average across the board, he has plus speed, and plays average defense in the outfield corners. There doesn't look to be a whole lot of upside with Ramos, likely a fourth outfield type, but consider my curiosity piqued.
7. SP Manny Roque, AAA (2029 Draft, Rd 1)
   Roque is a player that I continue to get more excited about the more I look at him. He is already above average to great in the three pitching ratings. He also has three above average to great pitches. Also, it doesn't look like he is going to develop much of a change up, but the potential is there. If he develops the changeup, he could fit at the top of a rotation. As he is now, he could probably do well in the back end of a rotation.
8. SP Chris Castiglione, AAA (2028 Draft, Rd 1)
   Castiglione rightfully falls one spot behind Roque, though unlike Roque, Castiglione already has a year of great performance in AAA. He is above average in the three pitching ratings and has a deeper, but less polished repertoire (great fastball at 95-97 mph paired with four average to above average pitches). He stands to improve his stuff and control a little more, though could be serviceable even without this development. Looking realistically at my staff, he figures to pitch out of the bullpen and could spot start if needed.
9. CF Brad Greeson, AA (Trade w/TB 3/2032)
   Greeson is another conversion project. He projects to have an above average to great bat, though with poor eye/discipline. He has potential to develop into a great defensive center fielder.
10. SP Jimmy Turkel, AAA (2026 Draft, Rd 1)
    Turkel is similar to Castiglione in that he can't seem to buy a call up to the majors no matter how well or consistently he performs. Also like Castiglione, he figures to slot into a bullpen/spot starter role. He has a great, with plus potential, fastball at 97-99 mph from the left side. He has two above average pitches in a curve and splitter. He also has a changeup that hasn't developed to its potential and might not get there. As long as his movement and control stay at least where they are now (slightly above average), he should have a role on my team.
11. SS Miguel Naranjo, AAA (2024 Int'l FA Signing)
    Naranjo put together a great year in AAA last year, but still seems a bit underwhelming when I look at him. He has plus speed and plays great defense. His only batting ratings that jump out are a plus avoid k and poor eye/discipline. Amescua seems to have passed him up in the line for a callup, though part of that has to do with Naranjo being a redundancy in my stable of right handed hitting utility infielders.
12. RP Orlando Olvera, AAA (Scouting Discovery 3/2025)
    Olvera makes the biggest jump up from #28 on the midseason list. He is being pushed as a reliever, though he has the look of a borderline starter. He is fully developed to his potential already with plus stuff and average movement and control. What makes him intriguing are his three plus pitches (fastball 95-97 mph, curve, and change). Oh, and he is left handed. I'm really curious to see what comes of Olvera and if he will get a look as a starter in my very talented and full AAA rotation.
13. 3B David Estrada, A- (2030 Int'l FA Signing)
    Estrada is possibly my most exciting batting prospect, especially by OOTP ratings. He looks to favor a more contact/gap/avoid k approach than power/patience. His plus speed and batting profile is a bit odd for third base, so I am going to see how he does in center field for now.
14. SS Ryan Mitchell, AA (2028 Draft, Comp. Rd 1)
    Mitchell will advance to AA despite struggling in A+. He has great eye/discipline, speed, and defense.
15. SS Calvin Love, AAA (2025 Draft, Rd 8)
    Love has posted good numbers in AA and AAA. He favors speed, defense, and contact. His home run power and eye/discipline leave much to be desired.
16. CF Arturo Vargas, AAA (Scouting Discovery 9/2024)
    A scouting discovery back in 2024, the second season of this franchise, Vargas goes to show how long it can take to see the fruits of good acquisition and development work. He played well in AA last year and brings plus speed, above average defense, and a contact hitting profile to AAA this year.
17. RF Jared O'Brien, AAA (2027 Draft, Rd 1)
    O'Brien hit well in AA last year as well. He profiles as a plus defender with plus speed in right field. He has plus avoid k and slightly above average gap power and contact. His home run power and eye/discipline are below average.
18. SS Chad Hill, AAA (2028 Draft, Rd 7)
    Hill plays great defense at shortstop and has plus speed. His bat, on the other hand, is a bit of a mixed bag that more or less balances out to average.
19. CF Ryan Leech, AA (2027 Draft, Comp. Rd 1)
    Leech has had limited playing time so far, possibly due to injuries. He has great speed and defense with above average contact. He is below average in home run power and eye/discipline.
20. SP Mickael Lamy, A+ (2031 Draft, Rd 2)
    Lamy was my top draft pick last year and will start in A+. Unlike several of my picks who decline and then recover their ratings, Lamy showed some quick growth and development. His fastball (97-99 mph) is nearly great. He has three more pitches: two approaching average to above average (curve and forkball), and a below average but improving changeup. He figures to get a long look as a starter, but would likely be very effective as a reliever too.

Overall, I am very pleased with this list. Pitching remains the strength of my farm system, and though it isn't necessarily the best compliment, right handed utility infielders and fringey outfielders are a plenty. In all honesty, I realize not everyone is going to develop into an impact talent, but it looks like there are a few potential stars in here. And I think it is fair to say I have had some success already by building from within.

If this list continues to trend more and more toward older, high floor, low ceiling types, I might try to build something into the prospect calculation to include more of the younger, riskier prospects too.

For now, we will redirect our attention as the regular season gets underway...