As we roll out our latest update to the RotoProspects Top 700 Prospect fantasy baseball rankings, let’s dive into the key updates surrounding the top-ranked prospects this week.
Esmerlyn Valdez cracks the Top 100 on a power surge for Pirates
Valdez (pictured above) has quietly turned into one of Pittsburgh’s more exciting breakout bats, and now earns a spot inside the Top 100 overall. In 2025, he posted a .286/.376/.520 slash line, with 26 home runs, 86 RBIs, 25 doubles, and 131 hits over 123 games — walking 56 times against 130 strikeouts.
His second-half surge at Double-A Altoona was especially eye-opening: in August, he hit .311/.407/.522 (six homers, 19 RBIs) and earned Eastern League Player of the Week honors.
In his Arizona Fall League debut, he’s already homered twice in three games with six walks, showing he’s carrying that power into fall play.
Breakout year from Cardinals’ Deniel Ortiz propels him into the Top 200
The Cardinals’ outfield prospect made one of the quietest but most complete leaps of 2025, climbing firmly into the Top 200 after a breakout campaign across two levels. In 320 plate appearances at Low-A Palm Beach, the 20-year-old posted a 145 wRC+ with 10 home runs and 31 stolen bases, then took it up a notch after a promotion to High-A Peoria, where he logged a 169 wRC+ with three homers and eight steals in 130 plate appearances.
There’s legitimate 20/20 potential with plus exit velocities, strong barrel rates, and a great chase rate. His contact skills are still developing but remain playable thanks to his improving plate discipline. Ortiz’s balanced power-speed blend and ability to adjust to advanced pitching make him one of the more underrated breakouts in the Cardinals’ system this year — and a name to circle heading into 2026.
Rays’ Xavier Isaac slips out of the Top 100 after an injury-marred season
Xavier Isaac, once comfortably inside the Top 100, has dropped out of that tier this week—a slide shaped by injury and missed time. Isaac began 2025 back in Double-A Montgomery, but was placed on the injured list in early July and did not return. Before the IL stint, he showed glimpses of his usual raw power, but the break in momentum, limited at-bats, and absence from the final stretch cooled his standing among evaluators.
The Top 30 players in this week’s updated RotoProspects Top 700 Prospect Rankings
The Top 100 can be found HERE (no subscription required). For the complete list, CLICK HERE (subscription required).
| No. | Name | Pos | Team | B/T | Level | Age |
| 1 | Konnor Griffin | OF | PIT | R/R | High-A | 19 |
| 2 | Leo De Vries | SS | ATH | L/R | AA | 18 |
| 3 | Jesus Made | SS | MIL | S/R | AA | 18 |
| 4 | Walker Jenkins | OF | MIN | L/R | AAA | 20 |
| 5 | Kevin McGonigle | 2B/SS | DET | L/R | AA | 20 |
| 6 | Sebastian Walcott | SS | TEX | R/R | AA | 19 |
| 7 | Samuel Basallo | C/1B | BAL | L/R | MLB | 20 |
| 8 | Sal Stewart | 1B/3B | CIN | R/R | MLB | 21 |
| 9 | JJ Wetherholt | SS | SL | L/R | AAA | 22 |
| 10 | Nolan McLean | SP | NYM | R/R | MLB | 23 |
| 11 | Josue De Paula | OF | LAD | L/L | High-A | 20 |
| 12 | Max Clark | OF | DET | L/L | AA | 20 |
| 13 | Bubba Chandler | SP | PIT | S/R | MLB | 22 |
| 14 | Jonah Tong | SPRP | NYM | R/R | MLB | 22 |
| 15 | Travis Bazzana | 2B | CLE | L/R | AAA | 22 |
| 16 | Owen Caissie | OF | CHC | L/R | AAA | 22 |
| 17 | Luis Pena | SS | MIL | R/R | High-A | 18 |
| 18 | Andrew Painter | SP | PHI | R/R | AAA | 22 |
| 19 | Thomas White | SP | MIA | L/L | AA | 20 |
| 20 | Bryce Eldridge | OF | SF | L/R | MLB | 20 |
| 21 | Zyhir Hope | OF | LAD | L/L | AA | 20 |
| 22 | Jett Williams | SS | NYM | R/R | AAA | 21 |
| 23 | Spencer Jones | OF | NYY | L/L | AAA | 24 |
| 24 | Lazaro Montes | OF | SEA | L/R | AA | 20 |
| 25 | Moises Ballesteros | C/1B | CHC | L/R | MLB | 21 |
| 26 | Edward Florentino | 1B/OF | PIT | L/R | Single-A | 18 |
| 27 | Chase Burns | SP | CIN | R/R | MLB | 22 |
| 28 | Bryce Rainer | SS | DET | L/R | Single-A | 19 |
| 29 | Carter Jensen | C | KC | L/R | MLB | 21 |
| 30 | Ethan Holliday | SS | COL | L/R | R (ACL) | 18 |