Sportsvival is back with a fresh update of the Top 50 MLB Prospects, now under the monthly feature name Sportsvival Prospect Pulse. Each month, Sportsvival will take a look across professional baseball and update the board based on current production, tools, age, level, position value, movement, injuries, promotions and long-term upside.
This list follows one major rule: only players who have not appeared in Major League Baseball are included. Once a player reaches MLB, he is removed from this particular ranking.
The top of the board remains loaded with young shortstops, athletic outfielders and high-upside arms. Jesús Made keeps the top spot, Leo De Vries moves into the No. 2 position, and Seth Hernandez slides one spot because of his injury situation — not because of performance.
1. Jesús Made, SS, Milwaukee Brewers
Made remains Sportsvival’s No. 1 prospect. He is young, athletic, switch-hits, plays a premium position and continues to show the kind of all-around skill set that could make him a franchise-level player.
2. Leo De Vries, SS, Athletics
De Vries moves up to No. 2 on the Sportsvival board. He is still only 19 years old, already handling Double-A competition and showing the switch-hitting ability, patience and power projection teams dream about at shortstop. With his age, position value and offensive upside, De Vries has earned the slight bump.
3. Seth Hernandez, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates
Hernandez drops just one spot from No. 2 to No. 3, and the reason is not performance. It is the injury situation. Hernandez is dealing with a left oblique injury and is expected to miss 6–8 weeks. When healthy, Sportsvival still views Hernandez as one of the best pitching prospects in baseball and possibly the top arm in the minors. His fastball, athletic delivery and swing-and-miss stuff give him potential ace upside. The injury adds short-term uncertainty, but it does not change the long-term belief in his ceiling.
4. Eli Willits, SS, Washington Nationals
Willits keeps climbing. The Nationals have a potential five-tool shortstop with speed, defense, bat-to-ball ability and more power coming as he gets stronger.
5. Josue De Paula, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers
De Paula has made one of the strongest cases to be considered the best pure bat in the minors. His left-handed swing, approach and power projection make him a major part of the Dodgers’ future.
6. Franklin Arias, SS, Boston Red Sox
Arias drops slightly only because of how strong the group above him is. His combination of contact, emerging power and shortstop defense still makes him one of the biggest risers of the season.
7. Kade Anderson, LHP, Seattle Mariners
Anderson remains one of the safest pitching prospects on the board. He has polish, command, left-handed stuff and the look of a future top-half-of-the-rotation starter.
8. Theo Gillen, OF, Tampa Bay Rays
Gillen makes a major jump from the last Sportsvival list. He has been one of the best developmental stories in the minors, showing contact, speed and enough offensive growth to look like a future impact outfielder.
9. Ethan Salas, C, San Diego Padres
Salas stays in the top 10 because the talent is still too good to ignore. Catchers develop differently, and his combination of defense, maturity and offensive upside keeps him high on the board.
10. Ryan Sloan, RHP, Seattle Mariners
Sloan remains one of the better arms in the minors. The ERA may not always show the full story, but the strikeout ability, command growth and starter traits are very real.
11. Max Clark, OF, Detroit Tigers
Clark remains one of the most talented all-around outfield prospects in baseball. His speed, defense, energy and on-base ability still give him a strong floor, and more power could push him back into the top 10.
12. Mike Sirota, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers
Sirota continues to climb because he can help a team in several ways. He brings athleticism, center-field ability, power, speed and a much better offensive profile than some expected.
13. Caleb Bonemer, SS/3B, Chicago White Sox
Bonemer has been one of Chicago’s biggest breakout prospects. The power has taken a step forward, and his ability to remain on the left side of the infield gives him real value.
14. Rainiel Rodriguez, C, St. Louis Cardinals
Rodriguez remains one of the better young catching prospects in the sport. He has power, offensive upside and the chance to carry value at a premium position.
15. Walker Jenkins, OF, Minnesota Twins
Jenkins stays in the top 15 because the left-handed bat is still special. Injuries and uneven stretches have slowed some of the hype, but the long-term offensive upside remains strong.
16. Eric Hartman, OF, Atlanta Braves
Hartman continues to force his way up the board. His power-speed production has become impossible to ignore, and he now looks like more than just a breakout name. He looks like a legitimate national prospect.
17. Eduardo Quintero, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers
Quintero is one of the biggest risers on the Sportsvival board. He can hit, run, defend and impact the baseball with authority. The Dodgers have another athletic, toolsy outfielder moving quickly.
18. Sebastian Walcott, SS/3B, Texas Rangers
Walcott still has one of the loudest ceilings in the minors. The swing-and-miss risk keeps him from being higher, but the size, power and arm strength are special.
19. George Lombard Jr., SS, New York Yankees
Lombard remains a strong top-20 prospect. His recent hot stretch helped calm some concerns, and his patience, athleticism and defensive versatility make him a very interesting Yankees piece.
20. Aidan Miller, SS/3B, Philadelphia Phillies
Miller continues to look like a future everyday infielder. Whether he stays at shortstop or moves to third base, the strength, approach and ability to drive the baseball give him a strong offensive foundation.
21. Joshua Báez, OF, St. Louis Cardinals
Báez is new to the Sportsvival Top 50. The power has been too loud to ignore, and his home-run production has pushed him into the conversation as one of the more dangerous bats in the upper minors.
22. Alfredo Duno, C, Cincinnati Reds
Duno remains a high-upside offensive catcher. The strikeouts are still something to monitor, but the power and patience give him a chance to become an impact bat behind the plate.
23. Josiah Hartshorn, OF, Chicago Cubs
Hartshorn continues to trend upward. He has athleticism, contact ability, speed and developing power, giving the Cubs a very interesting young outfield prospect.
24. Edward Florentino, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates
Florentino slips a little on the list, but not because Sportsvival is down on him. He remains one of Pittsburgh’s best young position players, with power, speed and a strong long-term ceiling.
25. Luis Peña, SS, Milwaukee Brewers
Peña remains part of Milwaukee’s strong prospect core. Injuries and missed time have slowed some of his momentum, but the bat speed, athleticism and defensive value are still impressive.
26. Bryce Rainer, SS, Detroit Tigers
Rainer is still about projection and upside. The strikeouts create risk, but his left-handed power, frame and arm strength keep him in the Top 50.
27. Ralphy Velazquez, 1B/OF, Cleveland Guardians
Velazquez still has a bat that can carry the profile. He may not have premium defensive value, but the offensive upside remains strong enough to keep him high.
28. Arjun Nimmala, SS, Toronto Blue Jays
Nimmala brings power and athleticism at a premium position. The swing-and-miss risk is still part of the profile, but very few shortstops can match his offensive ceiling.
29. Jaxon Wiggins, RHP, Chicago Cubs
Wiggins returns to the Sportsvival Top 50. The fastball is electric, the stuff is loud and his upside is too strong to leave off the board.
30. Josue Briceño, C/1B, Detroit Tigers
Briceño has big left-handed power and remains one of Detroit’s better offensive prospects. His defensive home will matter, but the bat gives him Top 50 value.
31. Hagen Smith, LHP, Chicago White Sox
Smith is the biggest riser on this update. He jumps from No. 45 to No. 31 because the fastball-slider combination continues to miss bats, and left-handed strikeout arms with that kind of stuff are hard to find.
32. Anthony Eyanson, RHP, Boston Red Sox
Eyanson remains a solid pitching prospect with starter traits. He has moved quickly and continues to give Boston a quality arm with mid-rotation upside.
33. JoJo Parker, SS, Toronto Blue Jays
Parker remains one of Toronto’s most exciting young infielders. He has a smooth left-handed swing, athleticism and enough defensive ability to stay at shortstop.
34. Aiva Arquette, SS, Miami Marlins
Arquette has size, power and athleticism. The Marlins have a potential impact infielder if the bat continues developing and he proves he can handle the left side long term.
35. Juneiker Caceres, OF, Cleveland Guardians
Caceres remains a young hitter with major upside. His bat speed, approach and physical projection make him one of Cleveland’s most interesting lower-level prospects.
36. Carlos Lagrange, RHP, New York Yankees
Lagrange has one of the biggest arms in the minors. The command and future role are still questions, but the stuff is good enough to keep him inside the Top 50.
37. Caden Scarborough, RHP, Texas Rangers
Scarborough is new to the Sportsvival Top 50. The size, fastball-curveball combination and ability to miss bats give Texas another high-upside arm worth tracking.
38. Dax Kilby, SS, New York Yankees
Kilby is new to the list after getting back on the field and showing the athletic skill set that made him a first-round talent. He brings speed, left-handed bat speed and long-term upside.
39. Michael Arroyo, SS/2B, Seattle Mariners
Arroyo slips slightly but stays on the board because of the offensive foundation. His contact skills, versatility and ability to impact the ball give Seattle another quality infield prospect.
40. Johnny King, LHP, Toronto Blue Jays
King remains a young left-handed arm with a strong ceiling. The fastball and improving secondary pitches give him a chance to become one of Toronto’s better pitching prospects.
41. Dasan Hill, LHP, Minnesota Twins
Hill slides a few spots but remains a strong upside arm. His projectable frame, fastball and breaking ball keep him in the Top 50 conversation.
42. Gage Wood, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies
Wood stays in the same range because the strikeout ability continues to stand out. He attacks hitters and has enough command to remain a starter.
43. Liam Doyle, LHP, St. Louis Cardinals
Doyle remains a power left-hander with strikeout stuff. The efficiency and command still need work, but the fastball gives him major upside.
44. Zyhir Hope, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers
Hope slides because of the inconsistency, but Sportsvival is not giving up on the tools. The raw power, speed and athleticism are still too loud to ignore.
45. Luis Lara, OF, Milwaukee Brewers
Lara remains a strong defender with speed and improving offensive ability. His major-league readiness keeps him inside the Top 50.
46. Jett Williams, INF/OF, Milwaukee Brewers
Williams stays on the list because of his versatility, plate discipline and speed. The bat needs to finish stronger, but he still offers several ways to help a roster.
47. Tyler Bremner, RHP, Los Angeles Angels
Bremner remains an upside arm with a strong fastball-changeup combination. His development is still early, but the Angels have a pitcher who could move quickly.
48. Lazaro Montes, OF, Seattle Mariners
Montes still has huge left-handed power. The strikeouts and defensive limitations keep him near the back of the list, but the raw power is too big to leave out.
49. Josh Adamczewski, OF/INF, Milwaukee Brewers
Adamczewski is new to the Sportsvival Top 50. His bat has continued to play, and his offensive production has pushed him into a much stronger prospect conversation.
50. Murf Gray, 3B, Pittsburgh Pirates
Gray holds onto the final spot. He has earned continued Top 50 consideration because of his power, approach and defensive tools at third base.
Biggest Riser: Hagen Smith, LHP, Chicago White Sox
The biggest riser in this Sportsvival update is Hagen Smith, who jumps from No. 45 to No. 31.
Smith’s rise is about more than just results. It is about the type of arm he is. Left-handed pitchers with his fastball-slider combination do not come around often. The command is still not perfect, but the strikeout ability gives him a chance to become a real weapon for the White Sox.
The White Sox system has several interesting names, but Smith gives them something different: a potential high-strikeout starter from the left side. If he finishes the season strong, he could push even higher in the next Sportsvival Prospect Pulse.
Other Major Risers
Eduardo Quintero makes one of the biggest jumps, moving from No. 29 to No. 17. His blend of hit tool, speed, power projection and defensive ability makes him one of the more exciting Dodgers prospects.
Theo Gillen also continues his climb, moving from No. 17 to No. 8. Tampa Bay has done a strong job helping him turn athleticism into production, and he now looks like a serious top-10 prospect on this board.
Eric Hartman moves from No. 24 to No. 16. His power-speed production has been one of the loudest stories in the minors, and Sportsvival is buying the breakout.
New to the Sportsvival Top 50
The following five players were not on the last Sportsvival Top 50 but have now earned a spot:
Joshua Báez, OF, St. Louis Cardinals
Jaxon Wiggins, RHP, Chicago Cubs
Caden Scarborough, RHP, Texas Rangers
Dax Kilby, SS, New York Yankees
Josh Adamczewski, OF/INF, Milwaukee Brewers
Báez brings loud power. Wiggins brings a huge fastball. Scarborough gives Texas another big arm. Kilby brings athletic upside after returning to action. Adamczewski has hit his way into the conversation.
No Longer in the Sportsvival Top 50
The following five players were on the last Sportsvival list but fall out of this update:
Wei-En Lin, LHP, Athletics
Jhonny Level, SS, San Francisco Giants
Ronny Cruz, SS/3B, Washington Nationals
Charlie Condon, OF/1B, Colorado Rockies
Thomas White, LHP, Miami Marlins
This does not mean Sportsvival is giving up on any of these players. Lin is still young and advanced for his age. Level and Cruz still have upside. Condon still has big raw power. White still has premium left-handed stuff. But for this update, they were passed by players whose production, momentum or overall prospect stock pushed them ahead.
Sportsvival’s Final Thoughts
The top of the board remains very strong. Jesús Made keeps the No. 1 spot because of his complete profile, age, switch-hitting ability and chance to stay at shortstop. Leo De Vries moves into the No. 2 spot because of his youth, production, premium-position value and offensive upside.
Seth Hernandez drops one spot to No. 3, but the move is not about performance. Hernandez is dealing with a left oblique injury and is expected to miss 6–8 weeks. That injury adds short-term uncertainty, and that is the only reason for the small drop. When healthy, Hernandez still has the fastball, secondary pitches and starter traits to become one of the best pitching prospects in baseball.
Eli Willits and Franklin Arias give the top of the list even more high-end shortstop talent, while Josue De Paula continues to look like one of the best young bats in the minor leagues. Kade Anderson, Ryan Sloan, Hagen Smith and several other arms also show how strong the pitching group is becoming across the minors.
The Dodgers continue to show why they have one of the deepest systems in baseball, with Josue De Paula, Mike Sirota, Eduardo Quintero and Zyhir Hope all inside the Top 50. The Mariners remain strong with Kade Anderson, Ryan Sloan, Michael Arroyo and Lazaro Montes. Milwaukee is also well represented with Jesús Made, Luis Peña, Luis Lara, Jett Williams and Josh Adamczewski.
This update shows how quickly prospect rankings can change. Injuries, promotions, hot streaks, cold stretches and MLB debuts all play a role. Some players climbed because their production now matches the tools. Others slipped because of health, inconsistency or stronger movement from players behind them.
For now, Sportsvival Prospect Pulse: August Top 50 still starts with Jesús Made, but the gap at the top is getting tighter. De Vries, Hernandez, Willits, Arias, De Paula and Anderson all have the talent to make a push toward the No. 1 spot by the next update.
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