The Top Fantasy Baseball Prospect from Each MLB Team (AL Edition)

June 9, 2024

Eric Cross gives his top prospect for every American League organization that hasn't debuted yet and discusses their profiles, performance, and long-term expectations for fantasy baseball.

With the Dominican Summer League starting up, we now have all six minor league levels in full swing. Prospect rankings are always changing, and this is the time of year when you start seeing bigger changes in rankings as smaller sample sizes become more believable at this point.

Due to prospect performances along with plenty of callups, my rankings already have a new look to them near the top, and that's what I'll be focusing on today as I list my top prospects for each American League organization.

For the sake of this article (and the NL edition), I will be excluding any prospect that has already made their Major League debut. So that means no Jackson Holliday, Junior Caminero, Joey Loperfido, or Jasson Dominguez below.

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Each American League Team's #1 Prospect

Baltimore Orioles: Coby Mayo (3B)

Unfortunately, Coby Mayo is currently on the IL after breaking a rib while crashing into the dugout, but the future is incredibly bright here. Mayo has what I like to call "big boy power" and could be an annual threat to exceed 30 home runs and possibly have a few 40-homer seasons in his career. Add in an average of around .260 and plenty of runs and RBI from the middle of Baltimore's stacked young lineup, and you have a four-category monster waiting to be unleashed on Major League pitchers.

Boston Red Sox: Roman Anthony (OF)

It's basically a toss-up in the Boston organization between Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer, but I lean toward Anthony due to the slightly higher power/speed upside. After a breakout in 2023, Anthony has cooled off a bit in 2024 and is currently slashing .245/.368/.411 with 11 doubles, four home runs, and five steals in 42 games. There's plus raw power in the profile and Anthony has enough speed and athleticism to provide double-digit steals annually as well. But my two concerns right now are if he'll make enough contact and keep the strikeout rate in check.

Roman Anthony smokes a triple down the right field line. #RedSox pic.twitter.com/jhvLDPgvOR

— Eric Cross (@EricCross04) May 7, 2024

Chicago White Sox: Noah Schultz (P)

I'm sure many will have Colson Montgomery as the top White Sox prospect, but give me the massive upside of Noah Schultz on the mound. Thanks to three above-average or better pitches along with plus command and control, Schultz has posted a stellar 5.2% walk rate and 40.3% strikeout rate across 35 innings between Hi-A and Double-A this season. I'm not one to throw around the "ace" term often, but that's the upside we're looking at here with this particular 6'9 southpaw.

Cleveland Guardians: Chase DeLauter (OF)

Unfortunately, due to foot issues, we've only seen Chase DeLauter in 17 games this season. The durability is definitely a question right now, but the talent is not. DeLauter shows an advanced approach at the plate with plus raw power and above-average speed. We've seen glimpses of all of those tools over the last year when he slashed .355/.417/.528 in 57 minor league games and then .299/.385/.529 in 22 Arizona Fall League games. The upside is a well-rounded offensive outfielder capable of more than 25 homers and 20 steals annually if everything clicks and he's able to stay healthy.

Chase DeLauter scalds a double.#ForTheLand #Guardians pic.twitter.com/dim5eA9Lt0

— Eric Cross (@EricCross04) November 1, 2023

Detroit Tigers: Jackson Jobe (SP)

Once Paul Skenes graduates from prospect status in the upcoming weeks, Jackson Jobe will once again be in the #1 overall pitching prospect discussion, along with a few other arms. Jobe has been limited to five starts this season but is coming off a stellar 2023 season where he finished with a 2.81 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 2.3% walk rate, and a 32.6% strikeout rate. With plus command and control of a four-pitch arsenal that includes three potential plus or better offerings, the sky is the limit with Jobe moving forward.

Houston Astros: Jacob Melton (OF)

While there aren't any elite prospects in this Houston system right now, Jacob Melton brings plenty of intrigue for fantasy purposes, given his above-average power and plus speed. Those tools were on full display in 2023 when he racked up 23 home runs and 46 steals in just 99 games. And since the start of 2023, he's one of just four prospects to have more than 25 home runs and 50 steals. He's done so in 37-47 fewer games than the other three also. If Melton can flirt with average contact skills, he could be an impact fantasy outfielder.

Kansas City Royals: Ramon Ramirez (C)

This Kansas City system doesn't have any Top 100 prospects in my overall Top 500 right now, but one that could potentially enter the mix this season is soon-to-be 19-year-old catching prospect Ramon Ramirez. In 41 DSL games last season, Ramirez slashed .344/.440/.615 with nine doubles, eight home runs, and more walks than strikeouts. He's off to a solid start this season as well, with a .290 AVG and .402 OBP in 19 games. With above-average power and contact skills, Ramirez has the upside of a Top-15 fantasy catcher, but he's still several years away from the Majors.

Los Angeles Angels: Caden Dana (SP)

As was the case with the Royals, the Los Angeles Angels also lack a Top 100 overall prospect, but both Caden Dana and Nelson Rada are inside my Top 150. Dana was an 11th-round selection in the 2022 draft and has posted a solid 2.62 ERA and 0.98 WHIP in 10 starts for Double-A Rocket City so far this season. He has around average command and control of a four-pitch arsenal, but the reason why he's not Top 100 overall for me right now is his middle-of-the-road bat-missing ability. If Dana can start missing more bats, he'll be Top 100 overall.

Minnesota Twins: Emmanuel Rodriguez (OF)/Walker Jenkins (OF)

These two are back-to-back in my overall Top 500 prospect rankings, so I will call it a tie and list both of them here.

While Jenkins has already dealt with some injury issues in his short professional career, he's also given us glimpses of his massive offensive upside as well. In 38 games between 2023 and 2024, Jenkins has slashed .362/.435/.560 with 17 extra-base hits, nine steals, and nearly as many walks (18) as strikeouts (19). Durability permitting, Jenkins could blossom into an all-around offensive stud capable of posting a high AVG and OBP with more than 30 home runs and maybe even 15-20 steals.

As for Rodriguez, he excels in the power and patience departments, cranking 43 home runs in 220 career minor league games, along with a 22% walk rate. However, Rodriguez has often been too patient and it's limited him offensively at times and pushed the strikeout rate higher than it should be. If he can find that happy medium, Rodriguez has Top 5 overall prospect upside and maybe even a chance at the top spot next season.

New York Yankees: Spencer Jones (OF)

There's plenty of intrigue when you watch the 6'6 Spencer Jones play baseball. He possesses easy plus to double-plus raw power, which I've seen firsthand, but he has struggled to make consistent contact and is currently hitting .222 with a 34.7% strikeout rate this season. The power/speed blend could have him flirting with or exceeding 25 home runs and 25 steals, but Jones is going to need to clean up his approach at the plate to reach his lofty ceiling.

Spencer Jones with a towering 2-run home run off Ricky Tiedemann.#RepBX pic.twitter.com/JEN8AjkJ7X

— Eric Cross (@EricCross04) September 15, 2023

Oakland Athletics: Colby Thomas (OF)

There's not a lot to be excited about in Oakland these days, but one prospect everyone should be getting excited about is Colby Thomas. In 50 games for Double-A Midland, Thomas already has 14 home runs and 11 steals with a .282/.335/.584 slash line. He's a bit aggressive overall and only has a 5.4% walk rate, but Thomas has solid enough contact skills to make it work, and his above-average power/speed blend has him steadily rising up my prospect rankings.

Seattle Mariners: Lazaro Montes (OF)

You could make a case for Colt Emerson here too, but I currently have Lazaro Montes two spots higher in my overall Top 500, both inside the Top 15 overall. Montes has excelled at every level he's been at so far, hitting at least .282 at every stop with no lower than a .422 OBP. Overall, Montes is slashing .305/.430/.557 in 176 games with 43 doubles and 32 home runs. There are still some questions about his contact skills, but I believe he could be at least a .260 hitter with more than 30 homers annually as a middle-of-the-order force for Seattle.

Tampa Bay Rays: Carson Williams (SS)

While Junior Caminero remains the crown jewel of this Tampa Bay system (already debuted, not included here), Carson Williams is sneaking up on him in my overall prospect rankings and has entered my Top 10 overall. Williams possesses a plus power/speed blend and has put those tools on full display with a 23/20 season in 115 games last season and eight home runs and 13 steals in 43 games this season. Williams has also trimmed his strikeout rate from 31.8% to 27.4% this season, which will be huge for him moving forward as the hit tool is the question mark with him.

Arizona Fall League Batting Practice

Carson Williams#Rays #RaysUp pic.twitter.com/slKuqUnxy7

— Eric Cross (@EricCross04) November 5, 2023

Texas Rangers: Dustin Harris (OF)

Many of the top Texas Rangers prospects have struggled a bit this season, and Wyatt Langford just graduated, so that leaves outfielder Dustin Harris as their new top dog in my rankings. Harris has averaged 24 home runs and 43 steals per 162 games in the minors and has walked at a 12% clip for his minor league career. He might not be more than a .250 hitter or so, but that could come with 15-20 home runs and 20-25 steals annually if he's able to make enough contact.

Toronto Blue Jays: Ricky Tiedemann (SP)

Out of all the pitching prospects I've seen live over the last 6-7 years, Ricky Tiedemann ranks near the top of the list for most talented and most exciting to watch pitch. However, he also ranks near the top for most frustrating due to his inability to stay on the field. Tiedemann features a mid to upper-90s fastball with a wipeout sweeper and a good changeup, which have all helped him record a 39.5% strikeout rate over 130.2 career minor-league innings. If he can handle the workload, Tiedemann is one of the few pitching prospects with ace upside. But that still remains to be seen.

Ricky Tiedemann's first strikeout of the night on a slider.

Unfortunately, the velocity reading is not registering on the scoreboard.#NextLevel pic.twitter.com/6nFxhE0GhP

— Eric Cross (@EricCross04) September 15, 2023

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