ESPN updates 2026 MLB prospect rankings as Made retains top spot
The updated list reflects significant shifts following the MLB draft and trade deadline, with Franklin Arias and Kade Anderson rising to the top three.
ESPN has published its updated 2026 Major League Baseball top 100 prospect rankings, a revision that accounts for the recent MLB draft and the conclusion of the trade deadline. The new list incorporates recent draft picks, breakout performers, and players who have either graduated to the major leagues or changed teams during the season.
Jesús Made of the Milwaukee Brewers retains the number one position, although the report notes his grip on the top spot is not as strong as it was in May. He is followed by Franklin Arias of the Boston Red Sox, who has surged from No. 36 in the preseason list to No. 2. This rise is attributed to a breakout season characterised by increased raw power and in-game loft.
Kade Anderson, the top pick of the 2025 draft, is ranked No. 3 for the Seattle Mariners. The report indicates that Anderson’s stuff and command have exceeded expectations, positioning him as a likely contender for the American League Rookie of the Year award next March.
The rankings also include players who have recently reached the major leagues, such as Max Clark of the Detroit Tigers at No. 5 and George Lombard Jr. of the New York Yankees at No. 9. Both are eligible for the list under rookie eligibility rules, which require 130 at-bats, 50 innings pitched, or 45 days on the active roster.
The Los Angeles Dodgers maintain a strong presence in the upper tiers, with five players in the top 35. Notably, the team achieved this depth without trading any of these prospects to acquire pitcher Tarik Skubal. The top three picks of the 2026 draft—Roch Cholowsky, Grady Emerson, and Vahn Lackey—are ranked 17th, 18th, and 19th respectively, with the report noting they have not yet played enough to alter their pre-draft evaluations.
