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.
Dodgers’ Jackson Ferris rockets up near the Top 150 after a career night at Triple-A
Ferris (pictured above, No. 151, up from No. 344) is the biggest mover in this week’s update, and it’s easy to see why. After a rough 2025 and a mixed start to 2026 (a league-high strikeout total paired with a bloated ERA at Triple-A Oklahoma City), the 22-year-old lefty has been nearly unhittable down the stretch, capped by a career night this week: 7 2/3 innings, 13 strikeouts, and only one hit allowed in a 12-0 win that clinched the Pacific Coast League’s second-half title. His fastball has ticked back up to 94-95 mph, and a slider-heavy approach is generating elite whiff rates. A former Cubs first-round talent acquired in the Michael Busch trade, Ferris looks like he’s rediscovering the form that once made him one of the top left-handed pitching prospects in the sport.
White Sox’s Hagen Smith surges up near the Top 100 with a dominant MLB debut stretch
Smith (No. 101, up from No. 178) has been about as good as a rookie pitcher can be since debuting on August 9. Working almost exclusively out of the bullpen, the 22-year-old lefty is 3-1 with a 0.50 ERA and 26 strikeouts through his first month in the majors, holding opposing hitters to an absurd sub-.100 batting average. The White Sox handed him his first career start this week as they try to stretch him back out, and if he can hold this form as a starter, he instantly becomes one of the more exciting rookie arms in the game.
Astros’ Ethan Pecko debuts and climbs inside the Top 200
Pecko (No. 183, up from No. 230) got his shot on August 19 after Houston’s rotation search for stability opened a door. The sixth-round pick out of Towson has bounced back from a UCL surgery and thoracic outlet syndrome surgery earlier in his career to reach the majors, working a six-pitch mix that touches 98 mph. His debut was uneven — 2 runs allowed over 3 2/3 innings against the Angels — but with the Astros chasing a division title, he’ll get more chances to prove he belongs.
Notable faller: Marlins’ Kemp Alderman slides out of the Top 150
Alderman (No. 161, down from No. 135) takes the week’s biggest step back. There’s no clear transaction or injury behind the drop — it looks like a straightforward cooling-off after a hot stretch earlier this year for the 2023 second-round pick, who’s spent the season at Triple-A. Dynasty owners shouldn’t panic over one down week, but it’s worth watching whether the underlying performance has genuinely leveled off before adding him back.
The Top 25 players in this week’s updated RotoProspects Top 700 Prospect Rankings
The Top 50 can be found HERE (no subscription required). For the complete list, CLICK HERE (subscription required).
| No. | Name | Pos | Team | B/T | Level | Age |
| 1 | Jesus Made | SS | MIL | S/R | AA | 19 |
| 2 | Sebastian Walcott | SS | TEX | R/R | AA | 20 |
| 3 | Theo Gillen | 2B/SS | TB | L/R | AA | 20 |
| 4 | Josue De Paula | OF | LAD | L/L | MLB | 21 |
| 5 | Leo De Vries | SS | ATH | S/R | AA (IL) | 19 |
| 6 | Walker Jenkins | OF | MIN | L/R | MLB | 21 |
| 7 | Ryan Sloan | SP | SEA | R/R | AA | 20 |
| 8 | Kade Anderson | SP | SEA | L/L | MLB | 22 |
| 9 | Eli Willits | SS | WAS | S/R | AA | 18 |
| 10 | Rainiel Rodriguez | C | STL | R/R | AA | 19 |
| 11 | Seth Hernandez | SP | PIT | R/R | High-A (IL) | 20 |
| 12 | Franklin Arias | SS | BOS | R/R | AAA | 20 |
| 13 | Braylon Payne | OF | MIL | L/L | AAA | 19 |
| 14 | Joshua Baez | OF | STL | R/R | MLB | 23 |
| 15 | Eric Hartman | OF | ATL | L/R | AA | 20 |
| 16 | Mike Sirota | OF | LAD | R/R | AA | 23 |
| 17 | George Lombard Jr. | SS | NYY | R/R | MLB | 21 |
| 18 | Angel Genao | SS | CLE | S/R | MLB | 22 |
| 19 | Ralphy Velazquez | 1B | CLE | L/R | AAA | 21 |
| 20 | Vahn Lackey | C | MIN | R/R | High-A | 21 |
| 21 | Drew Burress | OF | ATH | R/R | Single-A | 21 |
| 22 | Josuar Gonzalez | SS | SF | S/R | Single-A | 18 |
| 23 | Luis Hernandez | SS | SF | R/R | Single-A | 17 |
| 24 | Angeibel Gomez | OF | KC | R/R | R (DSL) | 17 |
| 25 | Zyhir Hope | OF | DET | L/L | AA | 21 |