2022 MLB Farm System Rankings

Triston Casas. Arizona Fall League 2021. Photo credit Benjamin Rush, forloveofbaseball on Instagram

Can we please get a resolution to this work stoppage and lockout so teams can get Spring Training underway? At least we know the Minor League Baseball season will not be affected, so you’ll still get to see many of the top prospects in the game play in 2022. During the entire month of January we gave you our Top 50 Prospects for each of the 30 teams, and now it’s time for our site’s 2nd Annual overall Minor League Baseball Organization Rankings.

Twenty-six (26) Prospects1500 writers each ranked the organizations 1 through 30, and then similarly to our overall Top 210 Prospects, we aggregated points to come up with an overall systems’ ranking. To determine these rankings, organizations were given points relative to their position in each writer’s list (e.g., 1st = 26 points and 30th = 1 point).

If you’d like to see each writer’s individual rankings, and how the overall point totals came about, the rankings spreadsheet is available to view.

In addition, each team’s correspondent has provided a short, 30,000-foot view snapshot of their minor league organization. Those comments are included with each ranking on this list. Here is our 2022 ranking of all 30 farm systems, counting down from number 30 to number 1. Feel free to compare to our 2021 farm system rankings if you wish.

30. Chicago White Sox
Considering the pipeline of core components this system sent to the big league club, it’s a fair assessment to suggest they rank at or near the bottom. However, with the infusion of prep talent and international signees (Colson Montgomery, Matthew Thompson, Oscar Colas and Erick Hernandez to name a few), Sox fans should view this as a mere bump in the road rather than an indictment suggesting organizational failure. -Dan Victor (@slydanno70)

29. Los Angeles Angels
Outside of Reid Detmers and Sam Bachman, the Angels’ farm system is stocked full of low-end starting pitchers and bullpen arms from their last 3 drafts. There are some talented hitters, but their hit tools tend to lag behind. There’s a good base of prospects but the system lacks the high-end hitters that many of the best farm systems have. -Andrew Rhodes (@A_Rhodes77)

28. Houston Astros
While lacking high-end talent, the Astros have an assortment of young pitchers that fit their criteria of fascinating pitch mix in need of command development. Don’t be surprised to see a couple of them arrive out of nowhere just like Framber Valdez did. -LaMar Gibson (@InsideFastball)

27. Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies system has been hurt by trades, promotions, and struggles by past prospects, but this is not a system to sleep on. They have some potential impactful players from recent drafts and International free agent signings in their lower levels, especially on the mound. There is light at the end of the tunnel and this summer should give us a better idea of how the organization is trending. -Tony Bps (@tonybps1)

26. Oakland Athletics
Tyler Soderstrom is the clear #1 in a system that currently lacks household names at the top. The 2020 and 2021 draft classes are looking to change that by infusing some intriguing young talent into this system. As these guys develop, look for this system to rise back up into the middle of the pack where it belongs. -Jeremy Mahy (@JMahyfam)

25. Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals began rebuilding their farm system in 2021. This system could be on the rise through a combination of great pitching prospects and developing hitters. -Colin Coulahan (@cjc07)

24. Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies system is top heavy, featuring Zac Veen and Benny Montgomery. The farm currently drops off in a hurry, but guys like Elehuris Montero, Michael Toglia, and others have a chance to really raise their stock across the league in 2022. -Trent Dickeson (@Trenciarte)

23. Milwaukee Brewers
This system is steadily climbing itself out of the basement and has several talented prospects in the pipeline with a mix of high upside talents and high floors. There are a few players with superstar potential and if they continue to show it in 2022, this system will continue to rise further. -David Gasper (@dgasper24)

22. New York Mets
The new Mets ownership and front office have begun the long climb up the org rankings by developing four potential everyday MLB position players and signing several potential stars from the international ranks to give them some lower-level depth. More high-quality pitching prospects and one or two more legit upper-level bats would potentially move this system into the top half of these rankings over the next year or two. -Erik Schmollinger (@erikpvl)

21. St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals minor league system appears ready to help supplement the big league club chase another playoff appearance in 2022. Top prospects Nolan Gorman, Matthew Liberatore, and last year’s breakout Juan Yepez are all on the cusp of contributing at the MLB level. The future of this system is less certain and rests in the hands of slugger Jordan Walker, speedster Masyn Winn, and potential catcher of the future Ivan Herrera. -Jeremy Mahy (@JMahyfam)

20. Atlanta Braves
The Braves minor league system is middle-tier quality, as the front office looks to rebound from international signing sanctions. Their system is led by pitching (no surprise!) and hitters up the spine of the defense, highlighted by Michael Harris II and Vaughn Grissom. I’d expect Alex Anthopoulos to cash in a few chips to make a run at repeating as champions. -Michael Kelley (@MKelley_ND)

19. San Diego Padres
With high-end talent, some huge-potential, superstar teenagers, and MLB-ready talent, do not sleep on the Padres. While they may not compete with the upper echelon systems in baseball, they may be one of the more underrated organizations around. -Alex Sanchez (@Alex_W_Sanchez)

18. Minnesota Twins
After struggling in 2021 due to a failed push to the playoffs, the Twins find themselves rebuilding for the future. This time, however, instead of relying on their hitting prospects in their long-range plans, they find themselves with a plethora of pitching prospects who could break through and have an impact on their future. -Dave Funnell (@sportz_nutt51)

17. Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays system has slipped down to the middle of the pack with the trading away of top prospects Austin Martin and Simeon Woods Richardson, along with a few others. Alek Manoah and Alejandro Kirk also graduated. The next wave of good prospects are still very young and yet to play at the higher levels. -Greg Bracken (@gregbracken07)

16. Cincinnati Reds
What a difference a year has made for Reds Country. From a perennial talent deficient system to one filled with talented prospects at every position. Get to know Elly De La Cruz if you don’t already. It truly is an exciting time to be a Reds fan. -Adam Wilson (@AdamWilly5312)

15. Texas Rangers
The Rangers’ system always seems to be one in constant transition. With the new batch of draft picks they seem to be heading on the right track. There are plenty of exciting prospects coming through but also plenty of Tier 4/5 players that could easily be in and out of the rankings. -Jake Tweedie (@MLBUKAnalysis1)

14. San Francisco Giants
The Giants have been impressive in developing young talent (a la Marco Luciano and Luis Matos) and look to continue improving the system in years to come. Don’t sleep on Kyle Harrison as he works to prove he’s the best left handed pitcher in the minors. -Paul Aiton (@Paul_8en)

13. Chicago Cubs
The Cubs system is on the rise, but they come in just outside of my top 10 for now. They’ve got a ways to go before they can catch the Pirates, who have the best system in the NL Central. Can’t wait for MiLB Spring Training. The owners can’t lock everybody out! -Kevin Will (@CubsProspector)

12. Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers are a perennial prospect-producing powerhouse. Year after year they churn top-level talent and either promote them to the bigs or trade them for assets such as Trea Turner and/or Max Scherzer. There is absolutely zero reason to think that this machine will ever stop producing blue-chip prospects for the next 25 years. -Nate Eckert (@GQ__82)

11. Arizona Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks have built up their system thanks to some quality drafting over the last couple years. It’s not hard to see a championship-caliber core emerging, but they need to prove their player development woes are behind them to make contention a reality in the loaded NL West. -Doug Otto (@hdouglasotto)

10. New York Yankees
The Yankees farm system broke out during the 2021 season, ranking second in baseball with an organizational record of 284-188. Numerous players enjoyed breakout seasons, including Anthony Volpe, Oswaldo Cabrera, Everson Pereira, Oswald Peraza, Randy Vasquez, Ken Waldichuk, and many more. In 2022 there should be more success to follow with other breakout stars to come. -Paul Woodin (@PaulWoodin1)

9. Boston Red Sox
Boston’s three Tier 1 prospects, Triston Casas, Marcelo Mayer, and Nick Yorke, lead the way in a vastly improved system (ranked 19th last year). Several starting pitchers are close to making their MLB debuts, and Red Sox Nation holds out hope that Jarren Duran and Jeter Downs can be impactful MLB additions. -Scott Greene (@Scotty_Ballgame)

8. Kansas City Royals
When you think Royals, Bobby Witt Jr. is likely the name that comes to mind. However, over the past few seasons players like Nick Pratto and MJ Melendez are trying to make themselves ‘household names’. The Royals may not have many of those “big name” guys, but keep an eye on this farm come midseason. -Eric Herauf (@ejh1528)

7. Miami Marlins
The Marlins farm system has improved over the years and they learned that you have to develop from within to be competitive year after year. They are turning heads with pitching development and have a wealth of middle infielders that will be fun to watch over the next coming years. Don’t sleep on their outfield prospects or you’re going to be playing catch-up! -Stoffer Cochran (@stoffer81)

6. Detroit Tigers
There is no question about the talent level of the Tigers’ top two prospects, Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson. They have skillsets that project out as multi-year All-Stars. After these Tier 1 players graduate in 2022 or 2023, the organization will struggle to find depth and consistency in development to remain a Top 10 team. -Kurt Moody (@DET_Guru_Kurt)

5. Cleveland Guardians
The Guardians system is flush with the typical Cleveland arms to dream on with perhaps the best collection of bats they’ve had in a while. Tier 1 George Valera in particular is a welcome sight for a Guardians outfield that ranked among the worst offensively in 2021. -Doug Otto (@hdouglassotto)

4. Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates are on the upswing after some very down years. Oneil Cruz, Henry Davis, and Nick Gonzales lead a very deep system flush with both pitching and position players at all levels. With the 4th pick in a very deep 2022 MLB draft, don’t be surprised if the Pirates rise up these rankings even further in 2023. -Greg Rosenthal (@Bucfish67)

3. Baltimore Orioles
When Mike Elias and company were hired to initiate a rebuild, it seemed an impossible climb back to relevancy. Several outstanding drafts, signing periods, and deadline deals later the Orioles have the best collection of projectable young talent in their history. Adley Rutschman sets the standard at catcher where he can call games pitched by D.L. Hall and Grayson Rodriguez, a pair of opposite-handed aces. Getting the pipeline to reach the bigs is where the priority has shifted as the talent pool continues to deepen. -Eric Garfield (@Eric_Birdland)

2. Tampa Bay Rays
Even after the graduation of top prospects Wander Franco and Shane McClanahan, the Tampa Bay Rays organization still boasts arguably the deepest and most well-developed farm system in the sport. Headlined by a trio of elite prospects ready to make a major league impact in Vidal Bruján, Shane Baz and Josh Lowe, the Rays system is absolutely stacked and primed to churn out high-end talent for years to come. -Jake Wiener (@GatorSosa)

1. Seattle Mariners
The Mariners possess arguably the best prospect and overall system in baseball. Strong drafting, player development, savvy trading, and a strong international presence. The organization is in a position to snap its playoff drought, and open up a nice window of contention. -Michael Richards (@MPRichards1981)

Prospects1500 is your comprehensive dynasty league resource, featuring deep MLB/MiLB top prospect lists, news and rankings.




1 Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*