Top 25 Pitchers
1. Perras, Ryker SP (Rays) [2037]
2. Andersen, Rasmus SP (Nationals) [2038]
3. Curry, Canon RP (Gamblers) [2037]
4. Hanna, Joshua RP (Rays)
5. Gaines, Charlie RP (Bandits)
6. Peterson, Ollie SP (Orioles)
7. Washington, Bryan SP (Twins)
8. Dorsey, Carey SP (Bandits)
9. Giles, Brody SP (Braves)
10. Patterson, Mark SP (Athletics)
11. Tate, Saul SP (Astros)
12. Wagner, Jason RP (Orioles)
13. Olsen, Dustin SP (Dodgers)
14. Cossairt, Calum SP (Lions) [2037]
15. Buchholz, Jax SP (Bandits)
16. Sanders, Ervin RP (Reds)
17. La Marca, Riyan SP (Reds)
18. Price, Xavier SP (Orioles)
19. Gill, Andrew RP (Volcanoes)
20. Stone, Dan RP (Bandits)
21. Longhorn, Chuck RP (Braves)
22. Samuels, Jande SP (Royals)
23. McHugh, Elder CL (Dodgers)
24. Rice, Brooks SP (Lions)
25. Baldwin, Logan RP (Rangers)
Top 25 Position Players
1. Chavez, Zhancarlo 2B(SS) (Twins) [2036 IFA]
2. Shields, Trevor C(3B) (White Sox)
3. Nikolai, Samen OF(SS) (Cardinals) [2036 IFA]
4. Gray, Gunnar 2B(DH) (Nationals)
5. Yantrius, Raja 2B(OF) (Yankees)
6. Gobayakawa, Hideyaki OF(OF) (Nationals) [2036 IFA]
7. Hightower, Channing 1B(C) (Reds)
8. Bell, Devin RF(3B) (Rays)
9. Quinlan, Brinley 3B(1B) (Lions) [2037]
10. Fitzgerald, Kerry 3B(DH) (Red Sox)
11. Gonzalez, Brian SS(2B) (Astros)
12. Cretella, Dzhozef OF(C) (Rays)
13. Bishop, Lloyd 2B(IF) (White Sox)
14. James, Demarius 1B(OF) (Lions)
15. Mora, Ivan 1B(C) (Twins)
16. Gwynn, Trey OF(OF) (Red Sox)
17. Utley, Maxwell 2B(SS) (Blue Jays)
18. Trosky, Herbert 2B(SS) (Mets)
19. Kersey, Sherwood C(DH) (Lions)
20. Kendrick, Tyson OF(2B) (Bandits)
21. Monroe, Lucas OF(OF) (Twins)
22. Halpert, Jr, Jim SS(3B) (Braves)
23. Marcinko, Esjay CF(2B) (Tigers) [2038]
24. Ball, Ricky 3B(OF) (Rays)
25. Brooklyn, Stanford 1B(OF) (Yankees)
Top Farm Systems
(Last year's ranking in parenthesis.)
#1 - Tampa Bay Rays (#1)
The Rays keep a hold on the top spot, and it really isn't even close. The Rays still have 17 Top 100 prospects, and this includes after promoting Bill Woodall (SP), Antwan Burroughs (3B), and Dave Olivas (2B).
The Rays spent money in FA to compete, and it hasn't worked out. They will have an additional $38M in 2039, so will they spend again or promote some of their top tier talent?
Ryker Perras (SP) - age 19, rank 87, prog C, 0.90 WHIP, 10.6 K/9, 19 Fire
Joshua Hanna (RP) - age 23, rank 92, prog C, 0.74 WHIP, 9.1 K/9, 14 Fire
The Rays' talent in pitching are rivaled only by their positional brilliance:
Devin Bell (RF/3B) - age 20, rank 94, prog S, 55-grade Hitting, 55-grade Power, 7 Speed
Dzhozef Cretella (OF/C) - age 18, rank 73, prog S, 0.493 OBP, 53% XBH, 17 Fire
Bell has a long way to go defensively, but his bat is nearly ready. Unsure if the Rays will move Geoff Shipman in favor of Bell, but they should. Well, if they want to compete. Cretella has a bit to go offensively, but gets on base better than most in the Minors. His age makes me believe that the Rays will keep him in the Minors until at least 2041 ... we shall see!
These are just four of the shining stars that are in the Rays' Farm System. An embarassment of riches, to say the least!
#2 - Minnesota Twins (#6)
Moving up four spots, the Twins still have 10 Top 100s prospects, with Chavez now the #1 overall positional player:
Zhancarlo Chavez (2B/SS) - age 20, rank 84, prog S, +1.46 dW, 9 Speed
Chavez continues to amaze, improving all aspects of his game, including a robust 0.430 OBP to go with 92 XBH. His 65-grade Hitting tool coupled with his blazing speed and solid defense makes him an enviable prospect to own. Other top Twins prospects include:
Ivan Mora (1B/C) - age 25, rank 74, prog S, 7 Speed, 60-grade Hitting, 14 Fire
Bryan Washington (SP) - age 25, rank 84, prog C, 0.93 WHIP, 9.7 K/9
Minnesota is locked in a battle with the Bandis for the AL Central, which will likely lead to ... nothing. They have the talent from which they could promote from within, but being 18+ games back of the AL leading Red Sox suggests to me that they won't push to make a deep playoff run. So, unless they all get promoted this off-season, look for the Twins to return as a Top 3 Farm System in 2039. Prospects are cool ... parades are cooler.
#3 - London Lions (#5)
In all honesty, probably the best-situated team in the game. Promoted a top SP in Cooper Arrieta, but with shrewd trades, intelligent cap management, and a bevy of top picks (that they have used very well), have a surging Lions squad in the playoff race - as well as set up for future success. 11 Top 100s players with five of them Top 25s. Lots of talent on the way in London.
Brinley Quinlan (3B/1B) - age 19, rank 65, prog S, +2.15 dW, 7 Speed
Calum Cossairt (SP) - age 20, rank 76, prog S, 0.97 WHIP, 10.2 K/9, 21 Fire
Brooks Rice (SP) - age 24, rank 60, prog C, 1.06 WHIP, 11.6 K/9, 18 Fire
Quinlan's path remains blocked by Myron Butts (3 years left on his contract), but the Lions GM has been sporadically shopping him to clear the path. Several Lions experienced sizable jumps in the rankings, led by SP Donny Mora (+33), CF Domingo Estrada (debuted at #28), and SP Natanawl Alferink (+35). Solid pro team, great farm, great picks, several picks ... the future is very bright an an otherwise foggy London.
#4 - Anaheim Angels (#11)
Cracking the Top 10 with authority, the Angels now boast 12 Top 100s players, four arms and eight bats. What is interesting is that they have no Top 25s talent, yet, but they are on the way.
Montsho Brown (1B/3B) - age 23, rank 68, prog A, 55-grade Hitting, 7-speed
Lloyd Burkhart (SP) - age 25, rank 57, prog C, 1.02 WHIP, 10.9 K/9
Ariel Jack (SP) - age 19, rank 65, prog C, 1.01 WHIP, 8.3 K/9
Individually, these 12 players may not look like much, but they're the right age and all look to be maturing on similar paths. 2040 may be the year that the Angels eschew Free Agency and focus on filling any roster gaps their farm system, rather than a big Free Agent contract.
#5 - San Antonio Bandits (#4)
The Bandits maintain their hold on a top 5 spot by virtue of having a deep pitching resevoir in the minors. Collectively, the Bandits have 10 of the Top 100s, led by RP Charlie Gaines, who jumped from #28 to #5! As the Bandits are locked in a battle with the Twins, for some additional resources they can pull from their farm, if needed.
Tyson Kendrick (OF/2B) - age 25, rank 72, prog S, 65-Grade Power
Charlie Gaines (RP) - age 22, rank 87, prog C, 0.79 WHIP, 10.2 K/9
Carey Dorsey (SP) - age 23, rank 69, prog S, 1.2 BB/9, 9.0 K/9
Gaines and Dorsey head the list of six pitchers in the Top 100. Both continue to remain primed for promotion or trade. Kendrick has vaulted to the top of the positional list for the Bandits, bringing a high-quality combination of power and on-base skills to the table. With a couple of studs already patrolling the Bandit outfield, I would more look for Kendrick to be traded rather than promoted.
#6 - Atlanta Braves (#7)
The Braves continue with their quality over quantity, playing nine of their 26 prospects on the Topp 100 lists. Jeramy Sparks was traded and Bjoern Del Rio was promoted, leaving Giles as their top prospect. Giles is joined by:
Brody Giles (SP) - age 22, rank 78, prog A, 9.8 K/9, 13 Fire
Jim Halpert, Jr. (SS/3B) - age 22, rank 73, 70 grade Hitter, prog A
Giles continues to marinate down on the farm, continuing to improve. It looks like he may join Del Rio in Atlanta in 2039. With starting SS Jeremy Williams in the final year of his contract, it looks like Halpert may join Giles as they get promoted together. The Braves continue to field competitive teams while trading little but drafting wisely.
#7 - Texas Rangers (#25)
I know that the Rangers are surprised to find themselves this high within the Tripwire Calculus ... that said, GM Jade800 has made trade after trade to get younger, acquiring picks and prospects, so much so that he indeed finds his squad making the biggest move, up 18 spots to #7. The Rangers' farm is paced by:
Kent Roberts (C/LF) - age 21, rank 91, prog A, 55 grade Power, 55 grade Hitting
Logan Baldwin (RP) - age 19, rank 77, prog F, 0.83 WHIP, 9.0 K/9
Roberts was acquired when the Rangers sent RP Corey Ward to Washington (since moved to Las Vegas) and Baldwin was a 2037 Draft Pick who rockets up the ranks with a decent camp and several top 100 promotions. These two contribute to nine Ranger players being in the Top 200. A far cry from the three they had last year. And knowing the Ranger GM, this is just the beginning of their resurgence both on and off the field.
#8 - Toronto Blue Jays (#9)
The Blue Jays have made a number of trades and promotions, reducing their prospect pool from 42 to 31. Those 31, however, are still highly rated and include:
Kid Fitzgerald (SS/IF) - age 20, rank 43, prog S, 75 grade Speed
Paul Mosley (SP) - age 26, rank 79, prog A, 10.6 K/9, 22 Fire
Granted, Fitzgerald is now in St. Louis, but I didn't want to re-do (again) the rankings. He'll be there with the Cardinals in 2039, lol! Making the a big jump was Maxwell Utley (2B/SS), moving up 20 spaces to #17 positionally. But the biggest jump [into Top 100 overall] was Carter Bruce (SS/CF), moving from up 58 spots to #40. The Blue Jays have some talented middle-infield prospects even though neither look to break through anytime soon, with reigning MVP Zan Heikki (only 24!) at SS and his double-play partner Aiden Russell manning the Keystone. I see more Blue Jays trades in the near future.
#9 - Las Vegas Gamblers (#13)
Jumping four spots, the Gamblers crack the Top 10. This is largely due to their in-house development of their minor league pitchers.
Canon Curry (RP) - age 20, rank 76, prog A, 0.84 WHIP, 12.2 K/9
Rasheed Webb (SP) - age 23, rank 76, prog A, 0.91 WHIP, 7.8 K/9
Each of these performers jumped 10+ spots in the Top 100 pitching list, leading the list of seven Top 100 pitchers, coupled with three Top 100 position players. The Gamblers continue to acquire talent via draft and trade, setting the stage for an intensely competitive team in years to come.
#10 - Chicago White Sox (#8)
The White Sox have 10 Top 200 players and four Top 50, including Shields and Bishop, who still lead the way.
Trevor Shields (C/3B) - age 24, rank 77, prog S, 1.043 OPS, 29 Fire
Lloyd Bishop (2B/IF) - age 23, rank 77, prog A, 1.82 dW, 0.434 OBP
Carter Ryland (RP) - age 24, rank 56, prog A, 0.93 WHIP, 14.7 K/9
Carter jumped 49 spots to #10 (Pitchers), fueled by his tremendous age 24 progression. Carter looks like he's on pace to join the ranks of elite RPs in the league. I'd look for him to make his White Sox debut in 2040, claiming the closer's role by 2041 at the latest.
The Rest ...
11-30, with best prospect listed (ranking indicates where the player is on the Pitcher or Position Player list):
11. New York Mets (#19) - Herbert Trosky 2B/SS (#18)
12. New York Yankees (#10) - Raja Yantrius 3B/C (#5)
13. San Jose Athletics (#11) - Mark Patterson SP (#10)
14. Boston Red Sox (#16) - Kerry Fitzgerald 3B/DH (#10)
15. Houston Astros (#3) - Saul Tate SP (#11)
16. Vancouver Volcanoes (#2) - Andrew Gill RP (#19)
17. Cincinnati Reds (#18) - Channing Hightower 1B/C (#7)
18. Baltimore Orioles (#15) - Oillie Peterson SP (#6)
19. Pittsburgh Pirates (#22) - Javi Hernandez OF/2B (#34)
20. St. Louis Cardinals (#23) - Nikolai Samen OF/SS (#3)
21. Washington Nationals (#17) - Rasmus Andersen SP (#2)
22. Arizona Diamondbacks (#14) - Osiel Ricos SP (#35)
23. Detroit Tigers (#26) - Esjay Marcinko CF/2B (#23)
24. Los Angeles Dodgers (#21) - Dustin Olsen SP (#13)
25. Kansas City Royals (#20) - Jande Samuels SP (#22)
26. Seattle Mariners (#27) - Meenakshi Sethi OF/2B (#78)
27. Philadelphia Phillies (#24) - Akbar Boveri OF/2B (#69)
28. San Francisco Giants (#30) - Efrayim Aronowitz SP (#87)
29. Chicago Cubs (#28) - LeBron Davis SP (#32)
30. San Diego Padres (#29) - Casey Dobratz SP (#116)