Which Top 100 prospect will debut next?

3:38 AM UTC

This year, the Top 100 prospect promotions are coming rapid-fire. Last year's No. 2 overall pick, Chase Burns, debuted Tuesday against the Yankees. Top overall prospect Roman Anthony was recently summoned to Boston, as was Jac Caglianone to Kansas City. Since the start of the season, 29 prospects who began the year on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects list have reached the big leagues, and it's still only June.

The logical question now is: Who's next? Jim Callis, Jonathan Mayo and host Jason Ratliff tackled that question on the latest MLB Pipeline Podcast, via a creative mock draft exercise.

Here's how it works.

There are currently 16 players on the Top 100 who are at Triple-A and have an ETA of 2025. Callis and Mayo conducted a four-round mock draft, basing their picks on who they think will be promoted first. In the weeks to come, each pick will be assessed one point for each day until those prospects actually get called up. Lowest point total wins.

Here is the field:

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And here is how they picked:

Pick 1, Callis
C Samuel Basallo (MLB No. 15), Orioles

The case for: The disappointing Orioles are mired in last place, and Basallo, their top prospect, is tearing up Triple-A: 15 homers and a .968 OPS through 48 games. There is nothing standing in Basallo's way in terms of getting at-bats too, with Adley Rutschman on the injured list. Baltimore needs his bat in the lineup.

The case against: Basallo is still only 20 (he turns 21 in August) and questions remain about his defensive ability behind the plate. Keeping him at Triple-A a little longer to develop further also avoids the chance of those at-bats drying up when Rutschman returns.

Pick 2, Mayo
OF Justin Crawford (MLB No. 50), Phillies

The case for: Crawford has hit at every level and he's raking at Triple-A, hitting .336/.413/.429 with 26 steals through 59 games. The Phillies have a need right now in left field and are currently trying No. 24 prospect Otto Kemp -- a natural infielder -- at the position.

The case against: The 21-year-old Crawford appears primed to debut in Philadelphia at some point this season, and they are auditioning Kemp in left to get a right-handed bat in the lineup. The left-handed Crawford can't form the same type of platoon with Max Kepler that the Phillies hope Kemp can.

Pick 3, Mayo
LHP Quinn Mathews (MLB No. 34), Cardinals

The case for: Mathews had a huge season last year and has pitched well since returning from a shoulder issue in late May. He could provide rotation depth for a Cardinals team that ranks in the bottom half of National League clubs in team ERA and strikeouts.

The case against: Mathews is only four starts removed from the shoulder scare, and 11 starts into his Triple-A career, he profiles more as a mid-rotation type than a front-line starter.

Pick 4, Callis
RHP Andrew Painter (MLB No. 5), Phillies

The case for: The first-place Phillies have always expected Painter to pitch for them this season, and there isn't an unlimited number of innings for the 22-year-old after missing two years recovering from Tommy John surgery. Philadelphia had a rotation opening recently it chose to fill with Mick Abel, the club's No. 5 prospect.

The case against: Painter has struggled since reaching Triple-A, where his walk rate has spiked. The prudent move might be to let him iron out those command issues before promoting him.

Pick 5, Callis
OF Chase DeLauter (MLB No. 46), Guardians

The case for: The second-place Guardians need more outfield production outside of Steven Kwan, and when DeLauter is healthy, he's an impact bat. He also happens to be healthy for the first time in a while, hitting .297 with a .904 OPS in 21 games since returning to Triple-A Columbus.

The case against: Injuries have limited the 23-year-old to 125 games and 525 plate appearances over three Minor League seasons, with only 27 of those games coming against Triple-A pitching.

Pick 6, Mayo
RHP Bubba Chandler (MLB No. 2), Pirates

The case for: Chandler is the game's top pitching prospect and well into his second stint at Triple-A after making seven starts there down the stretch last season. Development-wise, he's pretty much ready.

The case against: Chandler is experiencing a bit of a rough patch with a 10.61 ERA in June. The Pirates rotation has also been very good at the big league level pretty much all season.

Pick 7, Mayo
1B/OF C.J. Kayfus (MLB No. 94), Guardians

The case for: Kayfus has always hit and he's doing so right now at Triple-A, sporting a .309/.380/.552 slash line for Columbus. Meanwhile, the Guardians are again getting by without a very potent offense, ranking 12th in the American League in runs.

The case against: A third-round pick in 2023, Kayfus wasn't a big prospect until breaking out at High-A last season, and his smaller profile is atypical among big league first basemen. He's less experienced defensively in the outfield, where Cleveland does have that aforementioned need.

Pick 8, Callis
OF Owen Caissie (MLB No. 43), Cubs

The case for: The 22-year-old is well into his second turn at Triple-A, where he's hit 30 homers over the past two seasons. He looks like he'll be a steady MLB-caliber offensive contributor.

The case against: Caissie is kind of blocked in the Cubs outfield full of regulars, but that doesn't mean he won't be traded and debut quickly with another team.