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MLB Top Prospects: Farm System Rankings for all 30 teams

By Benjamin Chase

MIAMI, FL - JULY 9: Members of the World Team are seen on the base path during player introductions prior to the SirusXM All-Star Futures Game at Marlins Park on Sunday, July 9, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - JULY 9: Members of the World Team are seen on the base path during player introductions prior to the SirusXM All-Star Futures Game at Marlins Park on Sunday, July 9, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /
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MLB Top Prospects
SCOTTSDALE, AZ – FEBRUARY 26: Tyler Beede /

27. San Francisco Giants

2017 Ranking: 26
Prospects in the top 150: 2
Projected starters 25 and under: 0

While the overall rank for the Giants stayed fairly static, there is definitely a startling loss of depth within the farm system. It just so happened that a number of teams also happened to deplete their depth along with their high-end players. The Giants were able to hold onto the top of their farm system while making their trades this offseason to make a big push for 2018.

The final line of the bolded ones above should be the one that stands out. The Giants have no starters under 25 in their positional starters or regular starting rotation. It’s not surprising at all that they are the second-oldest roster in the league right now. The major issue is that even with an aging roster, the Giants are locked into many of the players at the major leagues for a number more years, with over $90 million already committed in salary for 2021.

That puts tremendous pressure on the scouting and development, and this year, they hit a home run with their first draft pick for certain. Heliot Ramos has some of the most impressive raw tools that have been seen in the Giants farm system in recent memory. Add in the development of Garret Williams from their high-risk college arms drafted in 2016, and there are definitely some bright spots. The depth of the system, however, is shallow to say the very least.

In other words, enjoy 2018 and perhaps the next 2-3 years Giants fans, because it could be very rough after that for a while!

MLB Top Prospects
BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 23: Austin Hays /

26. Baltimore Orioles

2017 Ranking: 28
Prospects in the top 150: 4
Projected starters 25 and under: 2

When you rarely invest anything in the Latin American market, it’s not surprising in the modern game that your team is frequently ranked in the bottom 5 of the farm system rankings. However, some strong performances from unexpected sources helped to push up the Orioles system overall this season.

The system has a horrid track record still at developing pitching, leaving recent draft picks DL Hall, a high school arm needing development, as well as Zac Lowther and Michael Baumann, who are both college arms needing some developing to reach their potentials, to a possible rough career path unless they can forge their own way. Recent graduates from the system have developed as much at the major league level as they did along the path to get there.

However, seeing impressive performances from players like Austin Hays and DJ Stewart along with further development of Ryan Mountcastle does give some hope for the Orioles to continue to produce offensive pieces that can keep the team afloat, even if they have to find their pitching from outside the organization. There is the massive Manny Machado free agency looming this offseason, however, and that could really set the team back to lose him in the lineup and defensively as well.

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