With the 2026 Trade Deadline nearing and the halfway point of the season past, it’s a good time to talk about prospects. More specifically, which prospects should be considered top-five prospects for their respective teams? So, here’s the redone top fives for all 15 American League teams.
Contents
AL East
Orioles
We’ll start with the Orioles, a team that saw their top prospect heading into 2026 graduate this year. Meaning, the top looks a little bit different.
Ike Irish has assimilated into pro ball very well, as he’s hit for power and drawn plenty of walks as a now-first baseman/outfielder. The top three are rounded out by Trey Gibson, who’s seen time in the Majors this season, plus Luis De Leon. De Leon has a 5.91 ERA but that doesn’t tell the whole story, as he generates a ton of ground balls and swing-and-miss.
This list may very well look different once the season ends. Why? Plenty of risers in the Orioles’ system this year, including Joseph Dzierwa, JT Quinn, and Ethan Anderson.
Red Sox
Not too much to debate here among the top five. Anthony Eyanson was one of the top pitchers in High-A this season, while Franklin Arias is a pure five-tool player.
Kyson Witherspoon has performed better of late, and Jake Bennett’s success at the MLB level gets him here.
Names to watch & potentially move up, including Henry Godbout, a standout of UVA and has hit well in High-A, plus infielder Yoeilin Cespedes.
Yankees
Little movement at the top here. George Lombard Jr. and Carlos Lagrange, the latter of whom is dealing with a shoulder ailment, are still the two prospects with the highest upside.
It’s hard to grade someone like Dax Kilby, who only has 83 pro plate appearances. Still, the pedigree and early returns move him to #3.
The big mover here is Henry Lalane. Big upside with Lalane, who didn’t pitch much in A-ball last season but has performed exceptionally well with Tampa this season. He’s a big lefty, so there’s some wild fluctuation with fastball velocity. But he can gun it.
Rays
Aside from Theo Gillen, who forced his way to Double-A this season, there are a lot of ways one can organize the top part of this list.
High-upside infielder in Daniel Pierce, a big power-hitting catcher in Nathan Flewelling, and Caden Bodine, another catcher who hit way to Double-A in his first pro season.
Anderson Brito, currently on the IL, has among the highest upside in the system as far as pitchers are concerned.
Blue Jays
Major League performance should mean something, which is why Sean Keys, who hit his way to Toronto, is here at #5. Outside of that, the list is populated by four upside players.
JoJo Parker’s produced very well in his first pro season. Gage Stanifer and Johnny King have been two of the best strikeout pitchers in their respective leagues.
And don’t be surprised if Nolan Perry, now in Double-A, cracks the top five in our offseason rankings.
AL Central
Guardians
Ralphy Velazquez is knocking on the door, as is Angel Genao, the latter of whom already surpassed his 2025 home run total & posted better offensive numbers this season.
Two risers in this system are Braylon Dought and Juneker Caceres. Caceres has blazed through Low-A as an 18-year-old, and he’s been one of the most contact hitters down in the Carolina League this season.
White Sox
Expect a new top prospect in the White Sox system shortly, as whoever is taken first overall may very well move into that top spot. But for now, the current Major League Braden Montgomery takes this spot while he’s still considered a prospect.
After that, Caleb Bonemer moved to #2 after he had a strong run in High-A with Winston-Salem. A lot of power with Bonemer, who edges out 2025 first-rounder Billy Carlson for now.
Two pitchers in Triple-A, Tanner McDougal & Hagen Smith, round out the top five. Smith, when he can command, has among the best wipeout stuff in the system. McDougal can pop triple-digit fastballs and overwhelm.
Tigers
Max Clark’s upside keeps him in the top spot. However, there’s an argument to be made for Bryce Rainer to be that top prospect. Rainer projects to be an above-average power hitter, although it would help to keep the strikeouts down.
Another Max, Max Anderson, could be the next notable call-up from Toledo.
Royals
Anytime a pitcher dominates A-ball as a teenager, it’s going to get attention.
That’s why Chourio, who can spot very well and has very good secondary stuff to play off the 93-96 MPH fastball, moved into the top spot. Behind him are 2025 first-rounders Josh Hammond & Sean Gamble, plus pitcher David Shields.
Blake Mitchell still has a ton of upside. But the swing-and-miss and strikeouts have piled up.
Twins
Not too much change here, as Walker Jenkins & Kaelen Culpepper have done nothing to hurt their prospect stock yet.
Riley Quick, one of the Twins’ 2025 first-rounders, moves into the top five, ahead of Dasan Hill.
AL West
Astros
Aside from Alvarez, who’s proven he can handle things well in A-ball as a teenager, and Neyens, there aren’t a ton of stars in this system
Bryce Mayer has pitched very well in Double-A this season, which puts him as arguably the best pitching prospect in the system. And as we noted in our AL West June report, Cole Hertzler has risen significantly of late.
Athletics
Leo De Vries remains one of baseball’s best prospects. Twenty extra-base hits over 69 contests in Double-A Midland, and it’s important to note that he’s still a teenager.
Gage Jump has helped solidify the A’s rotation in Sacramento, which pushes him up to #2, ahead of Jamie Arnold.
Angels
Much like the Astros, this is not a very deep system.
Tyler Bremner is the obvious top prospect. But outside of that, it’s not the clearest of pitchers. Denzer Guzman, who’s close to graduating, has hit MLB pitching well, as he slashed .253/.306/.405 with six extra-base hits over 20 games this season with the Angels. He’s one of three position players here, alongside Nelson Rada and Raudi Rodriguez, the latter of whom continues to rise.
Johnny Slawinski, who had 68 strikeouts over 46 innings in the ACL, is just behind these names.
Mariners
Very little debate here, as Kade Anderson is the top prospect in the Mariners’ system. The production backs that up.
The big mover is 20-year-old Felnin Celesten, who’s slashed .315/.404/.533 with 12 home runs and 33 extra-base hits in High-A this season.
Rangers
Sebastian Walcott could very well be in the Majors, had he not needed elbow ligament surgery back in February. But for now, the Rangers must play the waiting game before he returns.
The Rangers depleted the system when the team traded away MacKenzie Gore, as several high-end prospects were shipped out to Washington. Now, the onus is on the likes of Caden Scarborough, AJ Russell, and Josh Owens. Owens, a third-rounder from 2025, has hit seven home runs and is also pitching in the ACL.
Malcolm Moore, now healthy, just missed out on the top five.
Check out more of our MLB coverage, including our guide for prospects to watch for the 2026 Futures Game.