Updated top 50 MLB prospects: Jesús Made takes the No. 1 spot
With Konnor Griffin now in the big leagues, we have a new No. 1 prospect in baseball. Illustration: Demetrius Robinson / The Athletic; Photo: Jeremy Chen, Steph Chambers / Getty Images, Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Imagn Images
Analysis
May 28, 2026 5:30 am EDT Updated
We’ve already seen a plethora of players from my preseason top 100 MLB prospect rankings reach or appear in the majors this year, including the top two prospects, five of the top 10, four of the next 10 and 18 from the top 50. With that in mind, here’s an updated list of the top 50 prospects still in the minors, adjusted slightly for early performance and more than slightly when we have something more substantial to work with.
A reminder that, for my midseason lists, I omit any players who are currently on a big-league roster, even if they have not yet reached the thresholds for rookie eligibility, so players like Bryce Eldridge, Trey Yesavage and Gage Jump are not on this list. Players who’ve already passed those rookie thresholds (130 AB, 50 IP, or 45 days on the major-league active roster) are always ineligible.
I don’t use a model or any precise formula for these rankings, but because we are still in small sample-size territory — what you see here only reflects 2026 performance a little bit. New information, like someone adding a pitch or changing a swing, carries more weight, as does a significant injury that might affect a player’s short- or long-term outlook.
I’ve talked to pro scouts who’ve been out seeing players, as well as some execs, and reviewed data and video, in addition to the handful of prospects I’ve seen between spring training and regular-season games. When in doubt, I have deferred to the pre-2026 evaluation and outlook, because we’re only about a third of the way through the season.
(Note:Stats as of Sunday, May 24. Scouting grades are on the traditional 20-80 scouting scale. Ages as of July 1.)
Preseason Rank: 3
Made rises to the top as the two players ahead of him on the preseason top 100 both graduated. Made’s performing well at the plate in Double A. despite only turning 19 in early May, with a .277/.353/.452 line that puts him well above the Southern League average. His defense at shortstop has taken a hit as he’s gotten thicker and has lost some lateral range, however.
Photo: Imagn Images
Milwaukee Brewers
SS
Preseason Rank: 13
De Vries, acquired in the Mason Miller trade last July, is also 19 in Double A, about seven months older than Made is, and is hitting .281/.360/.401 with slightly improved defense at short.
Photo: Getty Images
Athletics
SS
Preseason Rank: 12
Arias has already set a new career high in homers, with 11 in 36 games so far in Double A, but more impressive is how difficult it has been to strike him out: he has just 19 strikeouts on the season, a 12.3 percent rate, with a whiff rate on pitches in the zone of just 13 percent this year. Arias is very likely to stick at shortstop with excellent hands and a plus arm, with 25+ homer upside.
Photo: Getty Images
Boston Red Sox
SS
Preseason Rank: 28
Through eight starts in Double A, last year’s No. 3 pick has struck out 41 percent of batters he’s faced and walked all of seven batters (4.9 percent). His changeup remains at least a plus pitch, with hitters whiffing on half their swings, while his slider remains his best breaking pitch and may be plus at this point as well. His velocity has crept back
