Top 150 Prospect Rankings Update (Memorial Day, 2026):
These prospect rankings are based on FANTASY value, not on real life value. Considering such, hitters generally weigh a bit heavier for me due to the injury risk and higher volatility of prospect pitchers. Proximity to the majors is also prominent in the equation, though these rankings are taking a longer-term / dynasty look on these guys (think of it more as a 5 year plan).
Rather than getting into writing little bios on all of these hitters, I’ve decided to keep my rankings simple by providing the 2026 stats of each player across all levels, the player’s fScores (which can be found only on MLB Data Warehouse), a player comp, a small blub on the player’s prime skills for fantasy including my tool grades / pitching arsenals and an explanation of my ranking that may include trending data.
Please note these rankings are the result of months of work from using available data via MLB Data Warehouse, the fScore algorithms developed by myself (and coded by Jon Anderson), regular in-person scouting (Florida based), writing weekly prospect performance columns and weekly performance podcasts and regular film review; I have provided my personal comps for each prospect (for fun - note: comps may be based on mechanics, body type, pitching arsenal or similar skills & box score style) and how I generally think each prospect will perform once in the majors over the next five or so seasons.
Additional in-season note: The statistical references will vary as I’m writing this article in-season over the course of a two week time period. Look at the right side of the date slider to see the dates in comparison to each other when referencing multiple players.
Follow me on X (@fantasyaceball), YouTube (@TheTimkanak) and my podcast (@fantasyaceball podcast).
NOTE: Rookie status is determined by 130 ABs, or 50 IPs at the Major League level - rather than including time on roster.
26. SS Sebastian Walcott (Rangers)
ETA: Mid 2027
Comp: Fernando Tatis Jr. - light, similar build and swing
Prime Skills: Super raw, a huge 19-year-old kid with raw power for days (115.1 EV posted this spring). He needs to further develop the hit tool and plate skills, but the tools are there and he debuted at high A as a 17-year-old. He ran an improved hit tool in the second half and hit .323 with an 82% contact rate in the final month of the season, but the power was lacking. Ultimately the raw power and power ceiling are extremely high and he will get to the homers, the concern is if there will be a trade-off in the hit tool to get there. He also walked more than he struck out over this period. Walcott only managed to hit 34 extra base hits in 124 minor league games this year, but the age-to-level factor is real here and we should give him another year to jump forward in power.
Hitter Tool Grades:
Hit: 45/50
Plate Approach: 50/60
Power: 45/65
Speed: 55/50
Ranking Explanation: The kid is still super raw and unfortunately Walcott is missing the entire season with a torn UCL, however there has been recent news he might make it back in August, which at least will get him a little development time. His biggest asset in his fantasy value was the fact he was so advanced age-to-level and has ridiculous natural tools, while the back of the baseball card stats had never caught up to his potential. The fact he’s missing a year dings him in my rankings a bit - hopefully we get him back at the end of the year.
Previous Rank: 13
27. SP Ryan Sloan (Mariners)
ETA: 2028
Comp: Chris Carpenter-ish w/ a slider instead of a curve
Prime Skills: He’s a big dude for a high school guy at 6’ 5” 220 pounds with a mid 90s fastball in the 95-97 mph range with above average ride and some arm-side run, a plus sweeper that has 1/7 curve shape, but slider velocity and dives right off the plate when it’s on, a solid split changeup and an electric hard vertical slider/cutter with plus to plus, plus command of his stuff for his age. The gyro slider and splitter play off each other very nicely, he’s a fun pitcher. Sloan has a 2.76 JA ERA (SIERA) last season and has been having a worse season this year with a 3.18 JA ERA and only a 17.8 K-BB% after a 22.5 K-BB% last season. The big difference is the increase in walk rate, as the swing and miss has been fairly stable.
Arsenal Grades:
FA (95-99 mph): 60/60
ST (80-85 mph): 55/60
SL/FC (93-94 mph): 55/60
FS/CH (85-88): 55/65
Command: 55/65
Ranking Explanation: Sloan may not have some of the big strikeout numbers that other prospect pitchers ranked lower might have, but the stuff is electric from a high pedigree pitcher in an organization that really knows how to effectively develop starters, especially with this type of arsenal. Sloan is one of my favorite pitchers in the minors and unless an injury occurs, he’s a fairly safe bet to be a great #2 starter for a long time, which limits his overall prospect upside as I don’t think he has #1 type stuff.
Top 150 Rank: 56
28. OF AJ Ewing (Mets)
ETA: Debuted
Comp: Jarren Duran
Prime Skills: Ewing is centerfielder with a quick, compact swing and runs an above average to potential plus hit tool with decent enough angles to be an above average extra bases threat. Ewing has improved his exit velocities y/o/y with a new 110.5 max EV in the majors and very solid 89.2 average EV in the minors, which is enough to reach 15-20 homers in his peak seasons. Ewing ran some ridiculous contact rates this season prior to promotion, but it hasn’t translated to the majors as of yet, though I expect it will and counterbalance against the high BABIP to date.
Hitter Tool Grades:
Hit: 55/60
Plate Approach: 55/60
Power: 45/50
Speed: 70/70
Ranking Explanation: Ewing advanced at an insane rate up the levels this year and even in the Spring I noted he was a Top 50 prospect for me, so here he is debuted in the majors and doing very well. Ewing is a speed first prospect, a little bit different than the other prospects higher up in the rankings and should be in his peak a .270-.290 hitter with 15 homers and 40 steal speed.
Previous Rank: 69
29. 2B/SS/3B Devin Fitz-Gerald (Nationals)
ETA: Mid/Late 2027
Comp: Kevin McGonigle LIGHT
Prime Skills: Fitz-Gerald is a dude I liked back when he was with the Rangers as the trade that keeps on giving continues to produce for the Nationals (MacKenzie Gore trade) as a 2024 fifth round draft pick out of my hood in South Florida. Fitz-Gerald continues to play second, third and shortstop giving him a useful amount of utility value while also rocking a plus hit tool, plus bat speed and increased pop from last season. Fitz-Gerald doesn’t get to the highest raw powers with a 109 max EV, but he does have an 89.5 average EV and his ability to get the barrel on the ball consistently will lead to above average power production for his size and raw power.
Hitter Tool Grades:
Hit: 45/60
Plate Approach: 60/65
Power: 40/55
Speed: 50/50
Ranking Explanation: From the left side Fitz-Gerald looks like Kevin McGonigle, but from the right side it’s pretty rough. He was better last year as a righty against lefties, so he’s not a total zero to Cedric Mullins as a switch hitter, however he’s downtrending from that side in the 2026 small sample size ABs. Through the last two years he has a much better looking .256/.404/.436 slash from that side of the plate. Fitz-Gerald’s new found power gives him a future peak line something like .280-.300 with low 20s homers and 15-20 steals. Ewing has a speed and proximity edge, which pushes him ahead in the rankings.
Previous Rank: Top 250
30. 1B/OF Ralphy Velazquez (Guardians)
ETA: Mid/Late 2026
Comp: Lefty Only Victor Martinez
Prime Skills: Great hit tool with power, plate skills and some speed - he had some bad luck in 2024 and performed extremely poorly in high A, but has had a major rebound in 2025 getting a promotion to AA where he finished the season on an absolute tear. His second half slash between both levels was .325/.406/.581 with 10 bombs. Ralphy knocked a pretty ridiculous 59 extra base hits in 122 games in 2025 and now we have statcast data on him. The Z-Contact is insanely good in the small AAA sample size and he doesn’t even chase very much, if he can limit the chase even more, he could have a plus hit tool. The line drive rates at every level have been fantastic, near 30% and even though at the time of the article we only have 13 BIP for statcast, the EVs are looking solid with an average 92.2 and 90th of 105 so far.
Hitter Tool Grades:
Hit: 55/60
Plate Approach: 55/60
Power: 55/60
Speed: 35/30
Ranking Explanation: Velazquez has moved off catcher permanently, which is probably for the better to get his bat into the lineup regularly. He now has 21 extra base hits in 40 games this year giving him an incredible 80 extra base hits over his last 162 games (a full major league season). Velazquez projects out as a doubles machine and has been playing more 1B than OF and could easily replace the struggling Kyle Manzardo by mid-season. I would put a peak project on him as a .270-.290 hitter with 25 homer power and no steals, but tons of doubles and RBI. If he can stick at 1B defensively or in the outfield, rather than getting pigeon holed at DH, he is one of the better top end prospect values available right now.
Top 150 Ranking: 44