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Even if most fans are paying attention to the current season, it’s still important to be aware of the best MLB farm systems in 2022. After all, MLB teams with the best prospects can sometimes get good in a hurry.
Just think about the fact that some of the best players under 25 in MLB are some of the best players, period. That makes it important to pay attention to the game’s top prospects and the best MLB farm systems in 2022.
Best MLB farm systems 2022
But what teams have the best MLB farm systems in 2022? Well, we were curious about that as well, so we did the leg work.
Granted, there isn’t a lot of consensus when it comes to the MLB teams with the best prospects or even the top prospects themselves. While it’s up for debate, here is our ranking of the top 10 farm systems in baseball right now.
10. Giants
Even if Joey Bart is no longer considered a prospect, the Giants still have a trio of prospects among the top 60-80 in all of baseball. The only caveat with San Francisco’s farm system is that the Giants don’t have that many high-end players who are close to the big leagues outside of Bart.
However, Marco Luciano still ranks among the top-five shortstop prospects in baseball. There are high hopes for outfielders like Luis Matos and Jairo Pomares. The Giants are also in decent shape on the mound with Kyle Harrison and Will Bednar.
9. Royals
There are a lot of eyes on Bobby Witt Jr., who began the 2022 season as the top prospect in all of baseball. On his own, he’s almost enough to carry the Royals into the top-10 best MLB farm systems of 2022. Witt is already in the majors while catcher MJ Melendez and first baseman Nick Pratto are both top-75 prospects who could also be in the majors before the end of the current season.
That gives Kansas City three quality prospects who are almost ready to contribute, which is not something every team can say.
8. Tigers
Detroit’s farm system is unique because both Spencer Torkelson and Riley Greene began the year as consensus top-five prospects in all of baseball. Torkelson is already in the big leagues while Greene should be there soon.
Those two along carry the Tigers a long way, giving them two young position players who have high ceilings and could be everyday players sooner rather than later. There is some younger talent throughout the rest of the farm system, but the strength at the top gives the Tigers a top-10 farm system.
7. Guardians
The Guardians are another team with a farm system that should be helping them sooner rather than later. They have five prospects ranked among the top-100 in the game and all five are in double-A or triple-A at the moment. That doesn’t mean they can be saved in 2022. But they have multiple middle infielders who project to be big league regulars who should be ready by 2023 or soon thereafter.
Meanwhile, outfield prospect George Valera might be the best of the bunch. There is also a ton of excitement around Daniel Espino, who might be the best pitching prospect Cleveland’s farm system has seen in a long time, which is saying a lot considering the arms that the franchise has produced in recent years.
6. Diamondbacks
Things are not going well for the D’Backs this year, but Arizona does have one of the best MLB farm systems in 2022. The Diamondbacks have three youngsters who are considered among the top-25 prospects in baseball by most talent evaluators.
Alek Thomas and Corbin Carroll are both outfield prospects with a ton of upside and both could be in the big leagues within the next year or so. Shortstop Jordan Lawlar is younger but also a top-25 caliber prospect. Meanwhile, the rest of Arizona’s top 10-15 prospects are dominated by pitchers who all have a chance to contribute in the big leagues one day.
5. Pirates
The Pirates are still in the midst of a long rebuilding project, but there could be a payoff down the line if they’re patient. Pittsburgh’s farm system currently boasts six top-100 prospects, including five who have made it to at least double-A. Nick Gonzales and Oneil Cruz could be their middle infield of the future, as both are top-30 prospects.
Catcher Henry Davis isn’t quite as far along but he has one of the best upsides of any catcher in the minors. Pitching-wise, it’s unclear how many difference-makers the Pirates have down on the farm, although there are plenty of candidates, including former first-round pick Quinn Priester.
4. Mariners
Seattle owns one of the best MLB farm systems in 2022 on the back of three prospects who are easily top-40 prospects overall. Julio Rodriguez is a top-five prospect and the 21-year-old is already in the big leagues. Shortstop Noelvi Marte isn’t as far along but has just as much upside.
The Mariners are also well-stocked on the pitching front with George Kirby, Matt Brash, and Emerson Hancock. Not long ago, the Mariners made a lot of trades to acquire young talent, and that has led them to have a top-notch farm system that should help them in the immediate future and the long term.
3. Marlins
Miami’s big league roster is already filled with talented young pitchers and there is even more help on the way. Sixto Sanchez is a notable name who’s been slowed by injury but is still a top-100 prospect.
The catch is that he might not even be the best arm in Miami’s farm system anymore. Max Meyer, Eury Perez, and Edward Cabrera are also top-60 MLB prospects who could be in the majors within the next year. The Marlins also have high hopes for 19-year-old Khalil Watson, who is already one of the top-10 shortstop prospects in baseball.
2. Rays
The Rays always seem to have one of the best farm systems in baseball. They just find a way to keep replenishing the farm. Even with the likes of Wander Franco and Luis Patino graduating from the team’s group of prospects, Tampa has a handful of top-100 prospects that’s led by pitcher Shane Baz and outfielder Josh Lowe, who are already in the majors.
Beyond those two, Tampa’s next five top-rated prospects are all in double-A or triple-A, so the fountain of talent coming up through the pipeline is practically never-ending. Taj Bradley is the next great pitching prospect in the system while infielders Vidal Brujan, Greg Jones, Xavier Edwards, and Curtis Mead are all players to watch.
1. Orioles
The Orioles have been bad for a while, but they have the pieces down on the farm to start turning things around in the years to come. For starters, Grayson Rodriguez is one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball and should be in the big leagues sooner rather than later.
Meanwhile, Adley Rutschman is the best catching prospect and arguably the best overall prospect in the game. Including Rodriguez, six of Baltimore’s top-10 prospects are at double-A or higher, which means some of their best prospects have advanced far in the minors and will be knocking on the door soon.
The Orioles also have a good balance with outfielders like Colton Cowser and Kyle Stowers mixed in with promising infielders like Gunnar Henderson and Jordan Westburg. Cowser and Henderson are also among the top-75 prospects in baseball, so it’s not just Rodriguez and Rutschman that make up the best farm system in baseball.
