Top 30 Prospects by yours truly

Phil Gurnee ♦ July 29, 2026 ♦ 1 Comment

The trade deadline is coming up, so after perusing Baseball America / Rotowire / Prospects Live / MLB Pipeline and watching multiple minor league games over the last two years here is my own top thirty Dodger Prospects. Some of these folk will get traded in the next five days. I would place De Paula/Quintero/Morales/Zazueta in the I’m not trading them unless Mason Miller is available.

Skubal is of course the big name and also a free agent so putting together a deal for a guy who has won the last two American League CYA and is also a free agent is simply throwing darts but I like throwing baseball darts. To get Skubal I expect the Dodgers will indeed part with a major league rotation piece, thus keeping the actual prospect part of the deal more in the top 50-100 range. If they don’t deal Sheehan/Wrobo, then yes, I could see Zazueta being part of the package. With Snell / Glasnow coming back the easy argument is that the Dodgers don’t need to overpay for Skubal but I think what many are missing when they make that argument, is that the Brewers can easily match any Dodger package if they want to. We might be salivating over the current Dodger farm system, but the Brewers are loaded from top to bottom along with a major league rotation piece like Logan Henderson. Even with the best record in baseball, I don’t think any Dodger fan feels this is a powerhouse Dodger team and facing the likes of Miz and Skubal would be quite the gauntlet, if the Brewers were to acquire Skubal. Thus, my own package is clearly an overpay for the best pitcher to be available at the deadline in quite some time.

What do the Tigers need? They would want a major league rotation piece to replace Skubal, they don’t need a CF with Max Clark ready to step into that void as early as August so I’m not including Sirota or Quintero in the deal. Gleyber Torres is a one year player, so they could use a 2nd baseman or SS if they move McConigle to 2nd base after this year. 3rd base could use an upgrade. The corner outfield spots could use an upgrade. They could use another future starter or current bullpen help. Their top prospect is a CF in Max Clark, followed by SS Bryce Rainer and catcher Josue Briceno. Those are basically all they have when it comes to top 100 prospects so they could use an influx of new talent.

No one will like what I’m suggesting, but if you want to win a Championship you might want one of the best pitchers in baseball on your side instead of against you. Sheehan or Wrobo. Wrobo would be the better sell to the Tiger franchise base because of his fantastic first half, but Sheehan still touches all the bases you’d want in a good young controllable starter. Sorry Hope fans, Zyhir Hope will follow Sheehan/Wrobo. The Tigers would want De Paula they would have to settle for Hope who should be bashing home runs for the Tigers by this time next year. You’d think that would be enough but I don’t think it would be. Chase Harlan might seal the deal. If we didn’t have Morales, I wouldn’t think of trading Harlan but we do and besides, Muncy has decided he’s going to play forever anyway.

So Step One:

Trade James Tibbs III to the Miami Marlins for Braxton Garrett

Trade Wrobo or Sheehan / Zyhir Hope / Chase Harlan / Braxton Garrett for two time CYA winner Tarik Skubal

Instead of six top ten outfielders the Dodgers will only have four in De Paula / Quintero / Sirota / Davalan. If the Brewers really want Skubal they can beat this. Will they? I hope they do, it would make October even more special.

Onto the top 30 list:

Rank	Name	Notes
1	Josue De Paula	Closest thing to Yordan since the Dodgers traded Yordan
2	Eduardo Quintero	All five tools, will be a future Dodger CF
3	Mike Siiota	All Five tools, only reason below Quintero is age and historical health
4	Emil Morales	Possible future Dodger 3rd Baseman
5	Christian Zazueta	Best pitcher in the system. Might be best prospect pitchers in the NL. Yup, just might be.
6	Zyhir Hope	Would be many teams top outfield prospect
7	Charles Davalan	Would be many teams top outfield prospect. Incredible steal last year.
8	Zach Root	Only above River Ryan because of health but he’s another 2025 draft steal.
9	James Tibbs	Would be “some” teams top outfield prospect
10	Bo Lowrance	Another Dodger draft day steal? Many think so
11	Aidan West	Don’t sleep on him, my new favorite low A prospect
12	Chase Harlan	Possible future Dodger 3rd Baseman and a fantastic trade chip.
13	River Ryan	Best stuff in system, but to many injuries to have him any higher.
14	Ching-Hsien Ko	Big power
15	Kellon Lindsey	Like to see him healthy for a full year but finally putting together a season that makes you remember why he was a number one pick.
16	Jackson Ferris	Back end starter at this point, don’t think he ever gets more than a handful of Dodger starts.
17	Kendall George	A better Chandler Simpson or Scott? Heck, if he can just be Chandler Simpson that has value.
18	Brady Smith	Like him alot, good to see him in A+ now.
19	Zach Ehrard	Alex Call in AAA, should have a Major league career. If not traded this summer, could be on the Dodger roster next spring.
20	Nicolas Perez	Not sure yet, but was having a breakout season until he got hurt
21	Cam Leiter
22	Joendry Vargas	Not writing him off yet, but getting close. At one time Quintero and Vargas were neck and neck. One blossomed, one stagnated, but still young enough to get it together.
23	Adam Serwinoski	back end starter or bullpen
24	Noah Miller	Will be someone’s utility infielder if the glove is as advertised. They basically already have the White Sox’s Billy Carlson.
25	Elijah Hainline	Will be someone’s utility infielder, but with probably more bat than Miller but not as much glove.
26	Russell Sandefer	2026 Draft – Just going by others on this, have zero insight on him.
27	Mairoshendrick Martinus	I like this guy, no one else seems to. Repeating Low A but still young, power, speed, plays everywhere. I’ve seen him alot on TV, always seems to be doing something well.
28	Tyler Gough	Just a dartboard shot here but I like where my dart landed.
29	Easton Shelton	Billy Ashley step on up. His K rate is his Achilles heal. No one thinks he’s a real prospect but is there anyone more fun to watch right now in the system? I say no.
30	Ryan Ward	Yeah – No way he and Tibbs survive this deadline.

I don’t have Elkins in my top 30. He could be, he’s done everything he needs to do with Ontario and finally got the bump to the Loons. He struck out four times in his first game for the Loons. That is the problem, he’s an incredible athlete, speed, power, can play CF, but the K rate……….. Elkins is only 21, so he’s not old for the Loons, I would not be surprised if he can’t have an Outman type of career. I mean if James Outman can still find a Major League job, I imagine that Elkins will also eventually find one.

I wish Copen was on this list. He’s someone I’m rooting for but just not seeing it. Payton Martin is another and actually had his best game of the year right after I created the list. Marten is still very young, and in AA, and I’m looking forward to seeing how he handles the 2nd half of this season.

Do you have a favorite prospect who wasn’t mentioned?