Sportsvival’s Updated Top 50 MLB Prospects, August 2026
The prospect world never stays still for very long.
Since Sportsvival released its previous Top 50 MLB Prospects, players have reached the Major Leagues, the 2026 MLB Draft added another wave of premium talent, the Trade Deadline moved several high-level prospects to new organizations, and a number of young players have forced their way higher with outstanding performances.
As always, this is Sportsvival’s ranking. It is not simply a copy of MLB Pipeline, Baseball America or any other prospect list. Performance matters, but so do age, level of competition, tools, defensive value, positional importance, projection, risk and ultimately what Sportsvival believes the player can become in the Major Leagues.
Sportsvival also continues to use one important eligibility rule. Once a player appears in a Major League game, he is removed from this list.
That means Kade Anderson, George Lombard Jr., Max Clark, Luis Lara and Hagen Smith are among the players who are no longer eligible. Anderson made his highly anticipated Seattle debut on August 23, while Lombard, Clark and Smith have also reached the majors.
Here is the new Sportsvival Top 50.
1. Jesús Made, SS, Milwaukee Brewers
Previous: 1
Made keeps the top spot. The 19-year-old remains one of the most complete prospects in baseball, combining hitting ability, discipline, speed, emerging power and the defensive tools to remain in the middle of the diamond. His five-hit, two-homer, seven-RBI performance for Double-A Biloxi earlier this month was another reminder of how special the ceiling could be.
Sportsvival is not ready to move him off No. 1.
2. Leo De Vries, SS/3B, Athletics
Previous: 5
De Vries makes one of the biggest moves near the top of the rankings. He is still only 19 and is already competing successfully at Double-A. The switch-hitter has the ingredients Sportsvival looks for in a future star, bat speed, strike-zone awareness, power projection and the athletic ability to impact the game defensively.
There may ultimately be more offensive upside here than with any shortstop on the list.
3. Seth Hernandez, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates
Previous: 2
Hernandez drops only one position, and the reason has nothing to do with his ability.
His tremendous first professional season was likely ended by a left oblique strain suffered July 24. The Pirates projected a six-to-eight-week absence, which makes a return before the end of the Minor League season unlikely. Hernandez finished with 118 strikeouts in only 74 innings between Single-A and High-A.
Sportsvival still sees a potential No. 1 Major League starter. A healthy Hernandez remains one of the most talented pitchers anywhere in the minors.
4. Franklin Arias, SS, Boston Red Sox
Previous: 3
Arias continues to erase questions about whether his offensive ceiling matches his excellent contact ability. He has carried his success into Triple-A despite being only 20 years old and was batting .291/.357/.488 through roughly his first month with Worcester.
The combination of contact, improving power and shortstop defense makes Arias one of the safest elite prospects on the list.
5. Josue De Paula, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers
Previous: 7
De Paula continues moving toward becoming the complete offensive player scouts have envisioned for years. The left-handed swing is smooth, the power continues developing and the approach has improved considerably.
His defensive value will not match the shortstops above him, but his offensive ceiling might.
6. Ryan Sloan, RHP, Seattle Mariners
Previous: 4
With Kade Anderson graduating from the list, Sloan becomes Sportsvival’s highest-ranked healthy pitching prospect. He combines upper-90s velocity with multiple quality secondary pitches and improving control.
There is legitimate top-of-the-rotation potential.
7. Eli Willits, SS, Washington Nationals
Previous: 13
Willits makes a major jump. The 18-year-old has handled an aggressive High-A assignment while showing switch-hitting ability, excellent instincts, speed and advanced strike-zone awareness.
He was already one of the safest prospects from the 2025 draft class. His ceiling now appears to be moving upward as well.
8. Sebastian Walcott, SS/3B, Texas Rangers
Previous: 21
One of Sportsvival’s biggest risers.
Walcott possesses the type of physical tools that cannot be taught. He is producing at Double-A while still only 20 and continues showing signs of controlling the strike zone better. His combination of size, power, arm strength and athleticism gives him legitimate superstar upside.
9. Theo Gillen, OF, Tampa Bay Rays
Previous: 17
Gillen has become one of the biggest breakout prospects in baseball. His move from the infield to center field has gone well, and his combination of contact, speed, athleticism and improving offensive impact has changed his projection significantly.
He is beginning to look like a potential everyday center fielder who hits near the top of a Major League lineup.
10. Walker Jenkins, OF, Minnesota Twins
Previous: 15
Injuries are about the only thing slowing Jenkins down. Since returning from a shoulder injury, his bat has taken off again at Triple-A. He has recently produced multiple two-home-run games and continues to make a case for a Major League promotion.
The hit tool, power projection and overall approach remain worthy of a Top 10 ranking.
11. Grady Emerson, SS, Tampa Bay Rays
Previous: NEW
The No. 2 pick in the 2026 MLB Draft immediately enters Sportsvival’s Top 15.
Emerson brings an outstanding combination of hitting ability, athleticism, defensive projection and long-term power potential. MLB Pipeline also placed him immediately inside its Top 10 after the draft.
12. Roch Cholowsky, SS, Chicago White Sox
Previous: NEW
The first overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft does not have quite the raw upside Sportsvival sees in Emerson, but Cholowsky may have the higher floor.
He is an advanced defender at shortstop, has performed against elite college competition and possesses enough offensive ability to eventually become an impact Major League player.
13. Rainiel Rodriguez, C, St. Louis Cardinals
Previous: 12
Rodriguez remains one of baseball’s premier young catching prospects. Offensive production from a player who also has a legitimate chance to remain behind the plate carries enormous value.
He continues to show power, patience and an advanced offensive approach.
14. Mike Sirota, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers
Previous: 18
Sirota continues his climb. Power, speed, center-field defense and improved consistency have made him one of the best all-around outfield prospects in baseball.
The Dodgers seemingly develop players like this every year.
15. Ralphy Velazquez, 1B/OF, Cleveland Guardians
Previous: 20
Nobody on this list may be hotter right now.
Velazquez has gone on an incredible power surge at Triple-A Columbus, including 14 home runs in his first 17 games of August and six during one recent week.
The defensive profile places more pressure on his bat, but if he continues hitting like this, that may not matter very much.
16. Ethan Salas, C, San Diego Padres
Previous: 8
Salas slides slightly because several prospects have exploded around him, not because Sportsvival has lost confidence.
His offensive rebound in 2026 has been one of the better prospect stories of the season, and he has advanced to Triple-A at age 20. Add his defensive ability behind the plate and the ceiling remains extremely high.
17. Luis Peña, SS, Milwaukee Brewers
Previous: 19
The Brewers somehow have another premium teenage infielder. Peña combines bat speed, athleticism and middle-infield defensive ability with an offensive game that continues developing.
18. Alfredo Duno, C, Cincinnati Reds
Previous: 14
Duno remains one of the best offensive catching prospects in baseball. His power and ability to draw walks create an exciting offensive foundation, although the swing-and-miss risk keeps him outside the top tier.
19. Vahn Lackey, C, Minnesota Twins
Previous: NEW
The third overall selection in the 2026 Draft enters immediately inside Sportsvival’s Top 20.
Lackey was one of college baseball’s most productive hitters and brings power, patience and the additional value of playing catcher. MLB Pipeline debuted him at No. 19 overall as well.
20. Eduardo Quintero, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers
Previous: 29
Another major Sportsvival riser.
Quintero does almost everything well. He hits, runs, plays center field and continues adding power. The more offensive impact he shows, the more difficult it becomes to find a significant weakness in his profile.
21. Josuar Gonzalez, SS, San Francisco Giants
Previous: RE-ENTRY
Gonzalez returns to the Sportsvival Top 50 in a big way. His combination of youth, athleticism, hitting ability and projection deserves another look, and his development has helped turn San Francisco into one of baseball’s fastest-rising farm systems.
22. Emil Morales, SS/3B, Los Angeles Dodgers
Previous: RE-ENTRY
Morales forced his way back onto the list. MLB Pipeline recently identified him as one of the largest risers in baseball after he produced a .919 OPS with 22 home runs across two levels of Class A ball in his age-19 season.
That type of production cannot be ignored.
23. JoJo Parker, SS, Toronto Blue Jays
Previous: 31
Parker continues climbing quickly. The smooth left-handed swing, athleticism and ability to remain at shortstop give Toronto another high-ceiling young position player.
24. Edward Florentino, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates
Previous: 16
Florentino slides because of the influx of premium prospects around him, but he remains Pittsburgh’s top position-player prospect on this list.
His combination of power, patience, speed and youth remains extremely intriguing.
25. Gage Wood, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies
Previous: 41
Wood makes one of the largest jumps in the ranking. His fastball and breaking ball have generated plenty of swings and misses, and he continues showing enough control to project as a starting pitcher.
26. Caleb Bonemer, SS/3B, Chicago White Sox
Previous: 10
Bonemer drops considerably, but this should not be viewed as Sportsvival giving up on him.
His 2026 breakout remains legitimate. The question is whether his future value eventually comes more from the bat than from playing shortstop.
27. Luis Hernández, SS/3B, San Francisco Giants
Previous: RE-ENTRY
Hernández has played his way back onto the list. His youth, athleticism and offensive upside have pushed him back into the national Top 50 conversation.
28. Arjun Nimmala, SS, Los Angeles Angels
Previous: 28
The organization beside Nimmala’s name has changed.
Toronto traded Nimmala to the Angels as the centerpiece of the José Soriano deal at the deadline. He was hitting .279 with an .806 OPS in Double-A at the time of the trade.
The power potential from a shortstop remains extremely attractive.
29. Zyhir Hope, OF, Detroit Tigers
Previous: 35
Hope also changed organizations in a blockbuster. The Dodgers sent Hope, River Ryan and Brady Smith to Detroit for Tarik Skubal.
Hope still possesses an exciting combination of power, speed and athleticism. Detroit now gets the opportunity to develop one of the louder tool sets in the minors.
30. Josiah Hartshorn, OF, Chicago Cubs
Previous: 25
Hartshorn has moved rapidly into the prospect conversation with a combination of hitting ability, athleticism and developing power. There is still plenty of development ahead, but the ceiling is considerable.
31. Jackson Flora, RHP, San Francisco Giants
Previous: NEW
The fourth overall pick in the 2026 Draft becomes the highest-ranked new pitcher on Sportsvival’s list.
Flora possesses a starter’s arsenal with the type of stuff that could allow him to move quickly if his command translates immediately to professional baseball.
32. Eric Hartman, OF, Atlanta Braves
Previous: 24
Hartman remains one of 2026’s better breakout stories. His contact ability, speed and growing power give him a chance to develop into a quality everyday outfielder.
33. Thomas White, LHP, Miami Marlins
Previous: 50
White begins climbing again.
His season has not been perfect, but a young left-hander reaching Triple-A with his combination of stuff and projection still belongs comfortably in the Top 50.
34. Aiva Arquette, SS, Miami Marlins
Previous: 37
Arquette continues adjusting to professional baseball while showing the size, athleticism and power that made him such an intriguing draft prospect.
Whether he remains at shortstop or eventually shifts to third base, the bat has impact potential.
35. Liam Doyle, LHP, St. Louis Cardinals
Previous: 42
Left-handed pitchers with Doyle’s velocity and strikeout ability are always going to receive attention. Improved command and efficiency could move him another 10 to 15 spots very quickly.
36. Tyler Bremner, RHP, Los Angeles Angels
Previous: 46
Bremner continues moving in the right direction. His fastball-changeup combination is already Major League quality at its best, and his control gives him a chance to remain in the rotation.
37. Anthony Eyanson, RHP, Baltimore Orioles
Previous: 27
Another Trade Deadline change.
Eyanson went from Boston to Baltimore as part of the blockbuster Adley Rutschman trade and immediately became one of the Orioles’ best prospects.
His combination of stuff, command and rapid professional development keeps him comfortably inside the Top 50.
38. Christian Zazueta, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers
Previous: NEW
Zazueta has pitched his way into the national conversation and gives the Dodgers yet another high-upside prospect.
The organization’s ability to develop pitching makes his continued progress particularly interesting.
39. Michael Arroyo, SS/2B, Seattle Mariners
Previous: 36
Arroyo continues to display excellent contact ability and offensive instincts. His eventual defensive home remains a question, but there is enough hitting ability for second base to work.
40. Jhonny Level, SS, San Francisco Giants
Previous: 43
Level remains one of the more intriguing long-range shortstop prospects. Athleticism, arm strength and developing power create a high ceiling if the bat continues progressing.
41. Bryce Rainer, SS, Detroit Tigers
Previous: 26
Rainer slides because the production has not always matched the tools, but Sportsvival remains interested in the upside.
The left-handed power, arm strength and physical projection are still significant.
42. Felnin Celesten, SS, Seattle Mariners
Previous: NEW
Celesten finally breaks into Sportsvival’s Top 50.
He is a switch-hitting middle infielder with tools across the board and continues showing why Seattle invested heavily in him as an international prospect.
43. Eric Booth Jr., OF, Baltimore Orioles
Previous: NEW
Baltimore selected Booth seventh overall in July, and his combination of speed, athleticism and offensive upside makes him one of the most interesting prep players from the 2026 class.
44. Drew Burress, OF, Athletics
Previous: NEW
Burress was one of college baseball’s most accomplished hitters and should move quickly.
The size will always create questions for some evaluators, but Sportsvival cares much more about whether a player can hit, and Burress has done plenty of that.
45. Charlie Condon, OF/1B, Colorado Rockies
Previous: 48
Condon continues rebuilding his prospect value after a difficult beginning to his professional career. He has reached Triple-A and the enormous raw power remains intact.
His future ranking will depend heavily on how consistently he makes contact against advanced pitching.
46. Lazaro Montes, OF, Seattle Mariners
Previous: 47
Few prospects can match Montes’ raw power.
There is significant swing-and-miss risk and limited defensive value, but a player capable of becoming a 30-plus home run threat deserves continued patience.
47. Aidan Miller, SS/3B, Philadelphia Phillies
Previous: 22
This is a significant drop, but Miller remains a quality prospect.
He is already in Triple-A and still possesses the strength, patience and offensive ability to become a Major League regular. Other players have simply passed him this summer.
48. Josue Briceño, C/1B, Detroit Tigers
Previous: 23
Briceño’s bat keeps him on the list. His ultimate value will be much greater if he can remain behind the plate, but the left-handed power gives him a path even if he eventually moves elsewhere.
49. Murf Gray, 3B, Pittsburgh Pirates
Previous: 49
Gray stays in the Sportsvival Top 50.
His huge offensive improvement in 2026 has changed his status inside the Pittsburgh system. The power is real, he competes at the plate and he has continued proving himself as the Pirates have challenged him with higher levels.
He has earned the right to remain here.
50. Juneiker Caceres, OF, Cleveland Guardians
Previous: 30
Caceres narrowly hangs onto the final position.
The tools and offensive projection remain intriguing, but this portion of the ranking has become extremely crowded. He will need to continue converting his raw ability into game power to stay inside the Top 50.
The Biggest Changes
The biggest difference between this list and Sportsvival’s previous ranking is the arrival of the 2026 MLB Draft class. Grady Emerson, Roch Cholowsky, Vahn Lackey, Jackson Flora, Eric Booth Jr. and Drew Burress all enter the Top 50. MLB Pipeline similarly placed Emerson and Cholowsky immediately at Nos. 10 and 11 overall, Lackey at No. 19 and Flora at No. 31 following the draft.
There are also several important re-entries. Josuar Gonzalez, Emil Morales and Luis Hernández have played their way back onto Sportsvival’s board, with Morales especially difficult to ignore after his power surge.
The hottest hitter on the list might be Ralphy Velazquez. His Triple-A power explosion has pushed him from No. 20 to No. 15, and another few weeks like this could send him even higher.
Sebastian Walcott makes an even larger jump, from No. 21 to No. 8. Sportsvival continues to place significant value on young players succeeding against older competition, and Walcott is doing exactly that.
At the top, Jesús Made remains No. 1, but there is no comfortable gap anymore. Leo De Vries has moved to No. 2, Seth Hernandez remains Sportsvival’s top pitching prospect at No. 3 despite his injury, and Franklin Arias has become increasingly difficult to separate from the three players in front of him.
No Longer in the Sportsvival Top 50
Five players are removed because they have reached the Major Leagues:
Kade Anderson, LHP, Seattle Mariners
George Lombard Jr., SS, New York Yankees
Max Clark, OF, Detroit Tigers
Luis Lara, OF, Milwaukee Brewers
Hagen Smith, LHP, Chicago White Sox
Six additional players fall outside the Top 50 because of the arrival or rise of other prospects:
Johnny King, LHP, Toronto Blue Jays
Dasan Hill, LHP, Toronto Blue Jays
Wei-En Lin, LHP, Athletics
Carlos Lagrange, RHP, New York Yankees
Jett Williams, INF/OF, Milwaukee Brewers
Ronny Cruz, SS/3B, Washington Nationals
None should be considered forgotten. The difference between approximately No. 40 and No. 70 on a prospect list can be extremely small, and several could easily work their way back into Sportsvival’s rankings.
Sportsvival’s Final Thoughts
This may be the deepest version of Sportsvival’s Top 50 yet.
There is elite shortstop talent everywhere. Made, De Vries, Arias, Willits, Walcott, Emerson and Cholowsky give the top of the list a remarkable collection of players capable of staying at premium defensive positions while also becoming impact offensive players.
Pitching is thinner, which makes the development of Seth Hernandez and Ryan Sloan particularly important. Hernandez’s injury is disappointing because his 2026 season was becoming one of the biggest pitching prospect stories in baseball, but nothing that happened before the injury changed Sportsvival’s belief in his ceiling.
The other name worth circling is Ralphy Velazquez. Players do not accidentally hit home runs at the pace he has been hitting them in August. If that power surge continues while his approach remains intact, No. 15 may look far too low when Sportsvival updates this list again.
Then there is the 2026 draft class. Emerson, Cholowsky, Lackey and Flora have immediately changed the landscape. Now they have to prove it in professional baseball.
For August 2026, Jesús Made remains Sportsvival’s No. 1 MLB prospect. Leo De Vries is coming fast, Seth Hernandez remains the top arm, and Franklin Arias has officially made this a four-player race at the top.
The next few weeks could change everything again.
If not for sports, how would we survive.