Which farm systems improved most after Draft and Deadline?

August 4th, 2023

The most popular question for this edition of the Pipeline Inbox: When will MLB Pipeline revamp its Top 100 Prospects list and organization Top 30s? The answer: Toward the end of next week.

Let's delve into some prospect queries that involve more detailed replies . . .

The White Sox and Mets helped their farm systems more than anyone over the last month. New York added a bit more high-end talent, but Chicago will make a bigger leap up our soon-to-be-updated organization talent rankings because they ranked close to the bottom before the Draft and Trade Deadline.

Ten of the first 20 White Sox prospects on our revised Top 30 joined the organization in the last month. Shortstop Jacob Gonzalez, right-handers Grant Taylor and Seth Keener and outfielder George Wolkow arrived via a deep Draft before catchers Edgar Quero and Korey Lee, left-handers Jake Eder and Ky Bush and righties Nick Nastrini and Jordan Leasure came via trades.

The Mets added the two best prospects who changed teams, shortstop Luisangel Acuña and outfielder Drew Gilbert. Some Astros club officials rated outfielder Ryan Clifford ahead of Gilbert before both were included in the Justin Verlander trade, and shortstop Marco Vargas is another young hitter on the rise. New York also spent its first three Draft picks on slugging shortstop Colin Houck, hard-throwing right-hander Brandon Sproat and two-way talent Nolan McLean.

The Cardinals drafted athletic outfielders Chase Davis and Travis Honeyman before being active at the Trade Deadline, collecting eight prospects headlined by right-handers Tekoah Roby and Sem Robberse and second baseman Thomas Saggese. The Reds and Giants hauled in more Draft talent than anyone, though both clubs did very little in terms of trades.

The Guardians executed just two moves at the Trade Deadline, but both were intriguing. They sent Aaron Civale, their most effective big league starter, to the Rays for first baseman Kyle Manzardo. Cleveland also shipped Josh Bell to the Marlins for Jean Segura (whom it immediately released) and shortstop Kahlil Watson.

Manzardo is the highest-ranked prospect (No. 36, seven spots ahead of Acuña and 31 in front of Gilbert) on our current Top 100 who was just traded. He ranked second in the Minors in OPS (1.043) in 2022, his first full pro season, though his numbers have declined in Triple-A this year while he has battled a shoulder injury. He's one of the better hitting prospects in the game and should have average pop.

Watson was a classic buy-low move. The 16th overall pick in the 2021 Draft -- who signed for the 10th-highest bonus in his class -- had a disastrous first full pro season marred by strikeouts and immaturity, and he was batting just .206/.337/.362 in High-A at the time of the deal. He's still loaded with tools, including well-above-average speed, a quick left-handed swing and plus arm strength, so he's worth a gamble.

The Guardians have an abundance of hit-over-power guys throughout the Majors and Minors, including a plethora of middle infielders who fit that description. They also have an offense that ranks last in the big leagues in homers and 29th in production from both its center fielders and right fielders. Finding some outfielders who can mash should be an offseason priority for Cleveland.

The Cubs system has improved more than any other in the last two years. Their organizational talent came in 22nd in our preseason 2021 rankings and should push for the top five when we update those in the very near future. They finally have a wave of pitching heading to Wrigley Field and also have a number of talented position players.

Chicago has four prospects on our current Top 100: outfielders Pete Crow-Armstrong and Kevin Alcantara, right-handers Cade Horton and Ben Brown. It has even more knocking on the door, with catcher Moises Ballesteros, outfielder Owen Caissie, middle infielders Matt Shaw and James Triantos and left-hander Jackson Ferris all coming up in the discussion for next week's Top 100. Jefferson Rojas, an 18-year-old shortstop holding his own in Single-A, has a high ceiling and could push for the Top 100 in the future.

Despite promoting Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain, Andrew Abbott, Spencer Steer and Christian Encarnacion-Strand to Cincinnati this year, the Reds still have a well-stocked system. Third baseman Cam Collier, the 18th overall pick in 2022, is the most famous player at Single-A Daytona but there are several other intriguing Tortugas.

Third baseman Sal Stewart (32nd selection in 2022) and second baseman Carlos Jorge are approaching Top 100 territory. Stewart projects to hit for both power and average and is batting .277/.397/.436 while making a lot of contact at 19. Jorge could be a plus hitter with speed to match and boasts a .290/.392/.474 line at the same age.

Center fielder Hector Rodriguez, also 19, is showing more power this year and is slashing .283/.332/.519. Also keep an eye on a pair of 19-year-old Daytona shortstops, Leonardo Balcazar and Victor Acosta, and 22-year-old Tortugas catcher Cade Hunter.

Jonathan Mayo, who covers the Reds system for us, also notes that one of the better stories at Daytona is left-hander Jacob Heatherly. He's old for the Florida State League at 25 and has a long history of injuries, but the 2017 third-round pick is consistently throwing in the upper-90s and has a .124 opponent average with 62 strikeouts in 31 2/3 innings (albeit with 35 walks).