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This is my ranking of these players for the long term, taking into account their upside, risk and proximity to the big leagues, in consultation with scouts and execs around the league. Here’s more on the grading tiers and lingo I use. Players in the big leagues are eligible for this update (MLB rookie eligibility rules apply here — 130 at-bats, 50 innings pitched or 45 days on the active roster) so you will see some recently called up major leaguers. The listed level for each player is either where they’re active or where they were last if they’re now hurt or rehabbing an injury.

Now let’s get on to my final 2024 ranking of the top young prospects in baseball.

60 FV tier

1. Jackson Holliday, SS, Baltimore Orioles/MLB, Age: 20.7
You could put the four players in this top tier in any order you want. I’m leaning to Holliday, who was only temporarily unseated as my top prospect for Paul Skenes just before the Pirates’ ace graduated. Holliday went on a heater in his return to the majors, posting a 1.072 OPS with five homers in his first 10 games back.

2. James Wood, LF, Washington Nationals/MLB, Age: 21.9
Wood is about to graduate from the list and is hitting well in Washington, but he is a corner outfielder with a good-not-great contact rate due to his 6-foot-7 frame.

3. Carson Williams, SS, Tampa Bay Rays/AA, Age: 21.1
Williams is easily a plus defensive shortstop with 25-homer power, and he has stolen 48 bases over the past two years, but he has even more contact limitations than Wood.4. Junior Caminero, 3B, Tampa Bay Rays/MLB, Age: 21.1
Caminero was just called up and will hit 30 homers in the majors, maybe next season, and he can play a decent third base, but we’ll have to see if his pitch selection will hold up at the highest level.

5. Marcelo Mayer, SS, Boston Red Sox/AA, Age: 21.7
Mayer is now looking like the guy the Red Sox were expecting when they took him No. 4 overall in the 2021 draft. He projects for 20-25 homers at peak with at least average on-base skills and a steady glove at short.6. Coby Mayo, 3B, Baltimore Orioles/MLB, Age: 22.7
Mayo is on the third/first-base spectrum defensively and has roughly average on-base skills but projects for 25-30 homers.

7. Roman Anthony, RF, Boston Red Sox/AA, Age: 20.2
Anthony has plus power and patience, solid enough bat-to-ball skills, and is athletic enough to play center field if needed.

Editor’s Picks

Reranking every MLB farm system after the draft and trade deadline
9dKiley McDaniel

Ranking the top prospects who changed teams at the MLB trade deadline
14dKiley McDaniel

2024 MLB draft recap: Best picks, potential steals and analysis for all 30 teams
29dKiley McDaniel

8. Walker Jenkins, RF, Minnesota Twins/High-A, Age: 19.5
Jenkins has incredible feel for contact (.308 average, 47 walks, 40 strikeouts in pro ball) and 20-25 homer upside but hasn’t played much due to injury after going fifth overall in last year’s draft. Look at this swing.

9. Jackson Jobe, RHP, Detroit Tigers/AA, Age: 22.0
Jobe has three plus pitches, a fourth above-average one and starter command but has been cold of late (18 strikeouts, 14 walks in his past five starts) and has had a number of minor injuries in pro ball.10. Samuel Basallo, C, Baltimore Orioles/AA, Age: 20.0
Basallo is right there with the most raw power of anyone in the top 10, but he isn’t that polished behind the plate and would play first base if he can’t stick as a catcher.

11. Colt Emerson, SS, Seattle Mariners/High-A, Age: 19.0
Emerson is an infielder, maybe not a shortstop, who has plus on-base skills (57 walks, 51 strikeouts, .315 hitter in pro ball) and 20-homer upside.12. Dylan Crews, CF, Washington Nationals/AAA, Age: 22.4
Crews can stick in center field and has been hitting his stride in the second half, with a real shot for a 20-20 season next year.13. Max Clark, CF, Detroit Tigers/High-A, Age: 19.6
Clark has a touch more upside than Crews (better bat-to-ball ability, speed and defense) but is a few years behind him.

14. Emmanuel Rodriguez, CF, Minnesota Twins/AA, Age: 21.4
Rodriguez is a man of extremes, to the point that he’s hard to project: His eye at the plate is among the best in the minor leagues, he has plus-plus raw power, he’s among the best at getting to that power in games among top prospects, he has well-below-average bat-to-ball ability, and he’s a standout defender despite just average speed, all in a 5-foot-10, 210-pound frame that’s a bit stiff and frequently injured. He’s probably a good major leaguer but definitely a unique one.

15. Colson Montgomery, SS, Chicago White Sox/AAA, Age: 22.4
Montgomery’s best long-term fit is at third base, but he is above average in all aspects of hitting, so he could be an All-Star if it all clicks.16. Dalton Rushing, C, Los Angeles Dodgers/AAA, Age: 23.5
Rushing is a decent catcher who is now playing left field in Triple-A to potentially get ready for a call-up. He’s a plus power-and-patience type with solid bat-to-ball.17. Charlie Condon, 3B, Colorado Rockies/High-A, Age: 21.3
The No. 3 pick in this year’s draft — and my highest-ranked player from the 2024 class — Condon draws comparisons to a young Kris Bryant.

18. Travis Bazzana, 2B, Cleveland Guardians/High-A, Age: 21.9
Bazzana went No. 1 overall in last month’s draft thanks to a combination of plus in-game power and patience along with above-average speed.