Featured Columnist IVMarch 9, 2024
Mike Ehrmann/Getty Pictures
The Baltimore Orioles as soon as once more have the most effective farm system in Main League Baseball, topping the 2024 preseason rankings.
Rounding out the highest 5 are the Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres and Detroit Tigers.
The complete preseason farm system rankings are as follows:
- Baltimore Orioles
- Chicago Cubs
- Milwaukee Brewers
- San Diego Padres
- Detroit Tigers
- Tampa Bay Rays
- Texas Rangers
- Los Angeles Dodgers
- Pittsburgh Pirates
- Cincinnati Reds
- New York Yankees
- Washington Nationals
- New York Mets
- Boston Crimson Sox
- Minnesota Twins
- Arizona Diamondbacks
- San Francisco Giants
- Seattle Mariners
- Cleveland Guardians
- Chicago White Sox
- Colorado Rockies
- Philadelphia Phillies
- St. Louis Cardinals
- Toronto Blue Jays
- Oakland Athletics
- Atlanta Braves
- Houston Astros
- Kansas Metropolis Royals
- Miami Marlins
- Los Angeles Angels
After lacking the playoffs in six straight seasons and being one in every of MLB’s worst groups for a lot of that timeframe, the Orioles took a giant step ahead final season, and the event of former high prospects was a giant purpose why.
Baltimore received the American League East and had the most effective file within the AL final season at 101-61, and it was led by younger stars akin to Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson and Grayson Rodriguez, all of whom have been 25 years of age or youthful.
Nearly as good because the Orioles have been final 12 months, they’ve the potential to develop into the dominant workforce in baseball within the coming years if their high prospects change into pretty much as good as marketed.
Baltimore’s standing as the highest farm system is bolstered by the presence of No. 1 prospect Jackson Holliday. The 2022 No. 1 total draft decide hit .323 with 12 residence runs, 75 RBI and 24 stolen bases within the minor leagues final season and he has a powerful probability to make the Opening Day roster this season.
The O’s additionally boast 4 different top-32 prospects in Samuel Basallo, Colton Cowser, Coby Mayo and Heston Kjerstad.
In the meantime, the Cubs have seven top-100 prospects, led by outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong at No. 16, and the Brewers have 5 top-100 prospects, together with 4 within the high 50.
Milwaukee’s system is headlined by No. 2 prospect Jackson Chourio, who signed an eight-year, $82 million contract with the Brewers in December earlier than ever showing in his first MLB sport.
Chourio, who turns 20 subsequent week, hit .283 with 22 homers, 91 RBI and 44 steals within the minors final season, making him a possible 30/30 or 40/40 risk on the subsequent stage as soon as he develops.
