Each year, Keith Law identifies his top 100 MLB prospects. As part of each system’s top 20 ranking, he then selects one player from each team who he believes is most likely to make the top 100 over the next year. Six of Keith’s sleepers in 2022 made the top 100 in 2023. Here’s this year’s sleeper class whose names you might see more clearly by 2024.
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MLB Prospect Rankings 2023: Keith Law’s Complete Guide to Every Farming System
Patiño has the potential to be a top 100 guy and has already spawned something at the lower levels. I think there’s going to be a power outage soon. Full scouting report
Atlanta: JR (Ian) Ritchie, RHP
The player in Atlanta’s system with the best chance of making the top 100 next year is Ritchie, who has the combination of existing stuff, performance and projection to have that kind of prospect if he stays healthy and throwing strikes this year . Full scouting report
There are many players in Baltimore with advantages, even among varsity drafts, but Basallo has the best chance of making the list from outside the top 100 thanks to his position and current ability with the racquet. Full scouting report
There are a lot of guys I like in the Red Sox organization, including Roman Anthony and Mikey Romero from the 2022 draft, but if I pick one name, it’s Paulino. He’s capable of many things and still offers a fair bit of physical projection. Full scouting report
Ramos wasn’t that far from the top 100 and he’s the most likely guy for the White Sox to step up while still being eligible a year from now. Full scouting report
I see a lot of guys for the Cubs who could make a step up, including Miguel Amaya, who I suspect will lose his eligibility this year, so I’ll go with Made, whose racquet and defensive stats make him one Top 100 player could make in a year and someone other teams will be asking for a ton in trade talks. Full scouting report
Petty seems poised for a nice step forward after a year of consolidation that focused more on command and control and less on breaking the radar gun. Full scouting report
Do I only have to choose one from Cleveland? Alright, I’ll go with Angel Martínez, the positional player who combines tools with a fairly advanced approach for his age. Full scouting report
Fernandez’s impatience is the only real thing keeping him from establishing himself as an above-average right field regular, but he has the racquet control, strength and the hose of an arm to become a top-100 guy with a strong following in a year his -up in High A. Full scouting report
Meadows’ transformation is good enough to either put him in the top 100 next year or maybe get him into the big leagues before the end of the year. Full scouting report
I like both Drew Gilbert and Melton, but while Gilbert is the more valuable prospect right now due to his likelihood, Melton has the potential to make the top 100 in a year’s time. Full scouting report
Jensen has so many things working in his favor, from position to defense to ball/shot detection, that I think counting on him to make a meaningful adjustment is the right choice. Full scouting report
I’ve been a Calabrian advocate since his draft year, so while I’ll fall prey to confirmation bias with the strong second half, I’ll go above even Jake Madden and Nelson Rada with him as the guy who’s making a big step forward this year . Full scouting report
Make your choice. For next year’s top 100, I’m looking to River Ryan, while if we’re talking about future top 100 beyond that, I’d suggest Josue De Paula. Full scouting report
The Marlins system could have more sleepers than anyone else – Yiddi Cappe, Joe Mack, Lewis and Kahlil Watson could all make the top 100 next year. However, Lewis gets the greatest praise from Scouts for his combination of athleticism and shot feel. Full scouting report
Misiorowski even got some votes from scouts and analysts I asked about the top 100 this year. If he shows he can bang a whole year with this kind of super-premium stuff, he’ll be there next winter. Full scouting report
Mercedes ticks a lot of boxes as someone with some current skill, a center position and the tools to give him a real advantage. Full scouting report
I’m really looking forward to seeing what Gomez and Luis Serna do this year; I’ll take Gomez as a sleeper because he’s the positional player and maybe less of a risk. Full scouting report
New York Mets: Jett Williams, SS
Williams is the obvious pick here as a first-round pick that could skyrocket industry lists just by proving the hit tool is what we think it is. Full scouting report
Hernaiz was often overlooked in Baltimore’s system with all the high-draft picks around him and often played the same positions, but I think he could end up being an above-average starter, especially if Oakland just let him play one spot for him can focus on the racket. Full scouting report
Lee is already a Top 125 prospect, and a full year of similar production by him at Jersey Shore would put him squarely in the Top 100. Full scouting report
Jared Jones could be on the cusp of something big here, especially if the ballpark really was the source of some of his 2022 struggles. Consider Axiel Plaz a deep sleeper if you want a longer view. Full scouting report
Dylan Lesko (Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
I mean, Lesko is the non-Top 100 guy who has the best chance of making the Top 100 next year, although I’ll admit that’s like telling you water is wet. Full scouting report
Aeverson Arteaga was my choice last year, and since I’m not reusing names for sleeper prospects, I’ll go with Mason Black. Full scouting report
Michael Arroyo could become the best Arroyo in the system in a year. I don’t like projecting that fast on DSL guys but he’s got the eye and such good swing that I’m doing it here. Full scouting report
Bernal is really fascinating as a catcher with a good swing and a chance to get some power. Your international group has brought up some very interesting hitting perspectives, all of which seem to share nice looking, repeatable swing mechanics. Full scouting report
Vasquez’s second-half surge looks real and sustainable to me, and regardless of his final position, the racquet should play. Full scouting report
Something is bubbling under the surface here. Gutierrez is the guy who could explode on the scene this year, especially if Rangers are their typically aggressive selves and he spends part of 2023 in Low A. Full scouting report
Gabriel Martinez looks poised for a major breakout at this point. If he continues what he did for High-A Vancouver last month of the season, he will be in the top 50 next winter. Full scouting report
Vaquero was due to head to Low-A Fredericksburg this year and we’ll see if those tremendous tools make for good contact and justify the moniker. Full scouting report
(Top photo by Eddinson Paulino: Tracy Proffitt/Four Seam Images via AP)