This year, graduation day arrived on May 11.
That's when prospects who began the 2025 season on Major League Opening Day rosters exceeded 45 days of service time and exhausted their rookie eligibility/prospect status. Around here, we say that's when they graduate from prospectdom.
This year, three Top 100 prospects came off the list on Sunday -- Red Sox second baseman Kristian Campbell, Astros outfielder Cam Smith and Braves catcher Drake Baldwin. Dodgers right-hander and previous No. 1 overall prospect Roki Sasaki graduated on May 2 due to Los Angeles' early start to the season in Tokyo.
So instead of adding three new names to MLB Pipeline's Top 100, we're taking this opportunity of pomp and circumstance to give the ranking a shakeup, or what we call a market correction.
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We historically do two complete updates of the Top 100 and team Top 30 lists each year -- one preseason and one midseason that incorporates the latest Draft class. But in recent years, in between, we’ve been making tweaks to the Top 100 approximately every six weeks that include the following adjustments: a complete revote on the top 15, movement of players up or down 10+ spots as needed, removal of struggling prospects and addition of worthy names. In other words, you won't see many slight movements at this time, unless they happen because of other seismic jumps/falls. We want to give breakout talents the rises they deserve and accurately reflect players who have lost some shine as their sample sizes have widened this spring.
With all that in mind, here's the first batch of market corrections to MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects rankings for 2025:
Top 15:
1. Roman Anthony, OF, Red Sox
2. Bubba Chandler, RHP, Pirates
3. Leo De Vries, SS, Padres
4. Jordan Lawlar, INF, D-backs
5. Andrew Painter, RHP, Phillies
6. Walker Jenkins, OF, Twins
7. Max Clark, OF, Tigers
8. Marcelo Mayer, SS, Red Sox
9. Sebastian Walcott, SS/3B, Rangers
10. Jac Caglianone, 1B/OF, Royals
11. Chase Burns, RHP, Reds
12. Travis Bazzana, 2B, Guardians
13. Noah Schultz, LHP, White Sox
14. Nick Kurtz, 1B, Athletics
15. Dalton Rushing, C/OF, Dodgers
Anthony retains his spot at No. 1 following Sasaki's graduation, and it was an easy call. At just 20 years old (he turns 21 on Tuesday), the Red Sox outfielder has consistently been at or near the top of the Triple-A leaderboard in barrels, barrel rate, expected slugging percentage, average exit velocity and chase rate. In other words, he hits the ball hard, he hits the ball hard often and he won't expand the zone to do it. He should be in Boston soon. The Red Sox are the only organization with two top 15 prospects, as Mayer also holds onto a prominent spot at No. 8.
Chandler jumps to No. 2, his highest ranking ever and the highest spot for a Pirate since another right-hander slid there in May 2024. He's named Paul Skenes. Chandler has picked up from where he left off with Triple-A Indianapolis last year and shown even more dominant stuff. His four-seamer alone has averaged 98.3 mph with 18.6 inches of induced vertical break, and the combination of velo and ride has generated a 42 percent whiff rate. His changeup and slider also continue to show above-average promise, and a curveball gives one more offering for batters to consider. A former two-way player and Clemson quarterback recruit, Chandler's athleticism continues to enable him to blossom on the mound in his age-22 season.
De Vries makes the biggest jump into the top 15, climbing 11 spots from 14 to 3, as he takes the High-A Midwest League by storm at just 18 years old. The switch-hitting shortstop is a slightly better slugger from the right, but he's no slouch from the other side. With above-average speed and a good arm on the dirt, he's become the game's top shortstop prospect.
The 2024 Draft is well represented on the top 15 with Caglianone, Burns, Bazzana and Kurtz in the mix.
Now a hitter only in pro ball, Caglianone -- the highest-ranked among them -- has brought his Stantonian power to Double-A Northwest Arkansas, and while his chase rate remains on the high side, it's not as concerning as it was at Florida. He's also sprinkled in some outfield work as Kansas City considers a spot for him in the bigs soon.
Climbing 18 spots, Kurtz is still trying to find his footing with the A's but he blasted through Triple-A Las Vegas, causing the org to make space for him less than a year after his selection out of Wake Forest. And Burns has already forced an in-season promotion to Double-A Chattanooga on the strength of his elite fastball and exceptional slider.
Highest risers
+49 George Lombard Jr., SS, Yankees (93 to 44)
+26 Jesús Made, SS, Brewers (49 to 23)
+21 Zyhir Hope, OF, Dodgers (66 to 45)
+19 Arjun Nimmala, SS, Blue Jays (78 to 59)
+19 Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Brewers (91 to 72)
+18 Nick Kurtz, 1B, Athletics (32 to 14)
+15 Alex Freeland, SS, Dodgers (63 to 48)
+11 Leo De Vries, SS, Padres (14 to 3)
+10 Chase Burns, RHP, Reds (21 to 11)
+10 Dalton Rushing, C/OF, Dodgers (25 to 15)
+10 Cade Horton, RHP, Cubs (45 to 35)
+10 Braden Montgomery, OF, White Sox (48 to 38)
+10 Franklin Arias, SS/2B, Red Sox (67 to 57)
+10 Jefferson Rojas, SS/2B, Cubs (88 to 78)
Lombard was our first in-season addition to the Top 100 after a good showing in Major League camp this spring as the result of a simplified swing and added strength. Already considered a potential plus defender at shortstop, he has moved to Double-A Somerset at just 19 years old because High-A proved to be no challenge for him.
Made continues to have jet fuel in his profile. He skipped over the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League and opened his age-18 season with Single-A Carolina, where his combination of advanced approach and solid power has him putting up numbers of a player with much more experience. An early ankle injury has limited his sample somewhat, but if he can hold his current performance over a few more months, he'll be in clear consideration for a Top 10 spot.
Limited to 61 games due to a rib injury in '24, Hope solidified his standing as a Top 100 prospect in last year's Arizona Fall League and continues to look like a five-tool star at High-A Great Lakes in his second full season. Nimmala has similarly continued his momentum after a second-half turnaround last summer and has cut down on the strikeouts while maintaining his power production with High-A Vancouver.
At Triple-A, Misiorowski still holds a spot in the Nashville rotation and has shown flashes of improved control. It may not be enough to keep him from becoming a high-leverage reliever in the long run, but there's increased belief he could get a shot at the Milwaukee rotation with his 80-grade fastball, pair of plus breaking balls and makings of a usable changeup. At the same level, Freeland is playing his way into consideration for the Dodgers. Like Lombard, he earned plus grades for his defense, but he's been up there with Anthony among many hard-hit indicators with Oklahoma City, giving him another dynamic in his age-23 season. He's seen time at third base and second in case the defending World Series champs want to bring him up and keep Mookie Betts at the six.
New faces
94. Robby Snelling, LHP, Marlins
95. Brady House, 3B, Nationals
96. Ryan Sloan, RHP, Mariners
97. Agustín Ramírez, C/1B, Marlins
99. Slade Caldwell, OF, D-backs
100. Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, D-backs
There are a couple of familiar faces in this spot actually. Snelling, House and Ramírez all slot back into the Top 100 after previously featuring in that range.
Snelling, acquired from the Padres at last year's Trade Deadline, has had an uptick in his velocity in his return to Double-A, and his fastball now averages 94 mph, per Synergy. His slider and changeup have proven to be at least average offerings as well, and his walks remain in check despite the extra heat. Sticking in the same system, Ramirez has already climbed to the Majors, where his trademark power and fast bat speed have eased the transition. His defensive work behind the plate will remain in question so long as he sticks at catcher, but he's proving his bat can do enough to compensate.
House dropped out of the Top 100 this offseason because of an overly aggressive approach in his first taste of Triple-A with Rochester last season. He’s still swinging outside the zone more than you’d typically like, but the chase rate isn’t as extreme, enabling his trademark power to play better in games. He’s performing at an above-average level for Triple-A to begin ‘25, and he still doesn’t turn 22 until next month.
Sloan becomes Seattle's ninth member of the Top 100, joining the list not long after switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje. Evaluators can be split on which of the two 2024 picks they prefer, but Sloan, just 19 years old for the whole season, has plenty of upside himself with two plus pitches in his fastball and changeup and an above-average slider.
Rounding out the new group is another pair of 2024 picks from the same organization -- and two outfielders to boot. Caldwell falls in line with Arizona's penchant for smaller left-handed-hitting outfielders, and the first-rounder has been an on-base machine in his early days with Single-A Visalia, perfect for a player with plus-plus speed. ACL recovery slowed Waldschmidt in his final season at Kentucky, but he caught fire late and looked like an outfielder with above-average hit and power tools. Back to full health with High-A Hillsboro, that reputation has carried into pro ball with a solid approach and slugging results.
Biggest droppers
-28 Brandon Sproat, RHP, Mets (40 to 68)
-22 Chase DeLauter, OF, Guardians (30 to 52)
-22 Noble Meyer, RHP, Marlins (76 to 98)
-21 Brayden Taylor, INF, Rays (58 to 79)
-19 Carson Williams, SS, Rays (5 to 24)
-13 Termarr Johnson, 2B/SS, Pirates (74 to 87)
-13 Thayron Liranzo, C/1B, Tigers (73 to 86)
-13 Thomas Harrington, LHP, Pirates (71 to 84)
-11 Carter Jensen, C, Royals (77 to 88)
-11 Harry Ford, C, Mariners (56 to 67)
Sproat is coming off one of his best Triple-A outings on Wednesday, but dating back to last season, he's still having difficulty missing bats with regularity at the Minors' top level. None of his pitches have a whiff rate above 30 percent this season, and his four-seamer has proven fairly hittable despite sitting 95-97 mph.
DeLauter hadn't played more than 57 games in either of his first two full seasons due to various left foot injuries, making his health paramount for development in 2025. Unfortunately, he underwent core muscle surgery in March, delaying his start to the season. Even if it's unrelated to his previous woes, the lost time stacks up and affects the belief the outfielder can reach his considerable ceiling.
Meyer -- the 10th overall pick in the 2023 Draft -- clings to his spot despite more rough results at High-A Beloit (7.13 ERA in five starts). He's still missing bats with 20 strikeouts in 17 2/3 innings, thanks largely to his low-80s slider, and he has projection remaining as a 6-foot-5 right-hander at just 20 years old. But unless results turn around, he's a drop candidate for our next round of market corrections early this summer.
Rounding out the biggest droppers are a pair of Rays infielders. Williams still has an immense ceiling as a potential all-world defensive shortstop with plus power and above-average speed. But his fringy hit tool has reached its biggest test yet at Triple-A, and the right-handed slugger has really struggled against non-fastballs with Durham, causing him to drop out of the top 20 completely. Taylor has long been considered a jack-of-all-trades player on the dirt but is off to a slow start in his return to Double-A Montgomery. Without a true plus tool, it's harder to keep him in the middle of the Top 100 until results return.
Moving out
Colson Montgomery, SS, White Sox (from 34)
James Triantos, 2B/OF, Cubs (from 67)
Tink Hence, RHP, Cardinals (from 71)
Montgomery was already coming off a down year at Triple-A Charlotte in 2024 (.214/.329/.381) but still had the look of a potential plus power hitter considering he was just 22 for the entire season. Returning to the International League this spring, he got off to an even tougher start with a .149 average and 41.7 percent strikeout rate in 23 games, and the White Sox moved him back to the Arizona complex for an in-season reset. He could still play a big part of the rebuild on the South Side, but we want to see the 2021 first-rounder perform consistently again before putting him back on the list.
Triantos headed back to Triple-A Iowa's loaded lineup with a reputation for having exceptional bat-to-ball skills, above-average speed and questionable power. The power continues to be below average, and the overall hit tool has struggled too, in part because the Cubs prospect's chase rate ranks below the fifth percentile for Triple-A. Triantos was always pretty aggressive, but he's become worryingly so to this point in '25.
Hence really needed a healthy 2025. He still hasn't thrown more than 96 innings in a season since the Cardinals took him 63rd overall in 2020, and lat/chest/shoulder issues held him to 79 2/3 frames in '24. He suffered a right rib cage strain before the season began and moved to the 60-day injured list in late March. As good as the stuff has looked, he needs to show he can stick to the mound to regain more solid Top 100 consideration.