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Nick Kurtz (left) and Jacob Wilson (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

Future value is often in the eye of the beholder, especially when it comes to projecting the future value of prospects and young major leaguers. That’s why we’ve put three sets of eyes on the task of identifying the best bets for future success among this year’s graduated American League prospects and rookies. 

To do so, Baseball America’s J.J. Cooper (JJ), Matt Eddy (ME) and Geoff Pontes (GP) took part in a 30-pick draft. The goal was to identify players with the highest perceived peak value and likelihood of achieving it.

Below, you can find the top 30 graduated players from 2025. Each is presented with an upside role (expressed as BA Grade), a risk assessment and an adjusted grade that factors role and risk.

Join us as we bid farewell to the prospects who graduated into big leaguers in 2025.

1. Nick Kurtz, 1B, Athletics

2026 Age: 23. Upside Role: 70 (perennial all-star 1B). Risk: Mild. Adjusted: 65.

It was a difficult decision choosing between Kurtz and Roman Anthony, a pair of candidates without a wrong answer. Ultimately, Kurtz was the pick based on the historical nature of his rookie season, which was achieved less than 12 months from him being drafted fourth overall in 2024. All-fields power is the draw for Kurtz, who has easy 40-homer potential and will make many all-star teams. (GP)

2. Roman Anthony, OF, Red Sox

2026 Age: 22. Upside Role: 70 (perennial all-star RF). Risk: Average. Adjusted: 60.

The Red Sox had one of the best records in the league between June and early September, the period of time in which Anthony was in the lineup. An oblique injury ended his season early, but he hits the ball incredibly hard and was beginning to hit his stride in late summer. In his final 35 games, Anthony hit .325/.427/.530 with six homers. (JJ)

3. Jacob Wilson, SS, Athletics

2026 Age: 24. Upside Role: 55 (above-average SS). Risk: Mild. Adjusted: 50.

Wilson lets the ball travel and employs a deep contact point similar to Luis Arraez or Steven Kwan to line the ball to all fields and hit for a high average. He produced more power as a rookie than those hitters, though he doesn’t run as well. Wilson will never be a slugger, but he has room to get to 20 home runs with a more opportunistic early-count approach. Also, he derives a lot of value from playing an average shortstop. (ME)  

4. Cam Schlittler, RHP, Yankees

2026 Age: 25. Upside Role: 60 (No. 3 starter). Risk: Average. Adjusted: 50.

After a few solid seasons in the Yankees’ system, Schlittler added velocity across his arsenal and broke out in 2025. After providing valuable innings down the stretch, he delivered a historic performance against the Red Sox—eight innings, no runs, 12 strikeouts, no walks—in the Wild Card Series. (GP)

5. Jackson Jobe, RHP, Tigers

2026 Age: 23. Upside Role: 65 (No. 2 or 3 starter). Risk: High. Adjusted: 50.

Jobe pitched 49 innings over 10 starts in 2025 before succumbing to Tommy John surgery. Assuming his pitch arsenal returns intact in 2027, he has the goods to become a frontline starter with an above-average-to-plus fastball, sinker, slider, curveball and changeup. (JJ)

6. Cam Smith, OF, Astros

2026 Age: 23. Upside Role: 55 (above-average RF). Risk: Average. Adjusted: 45.

Drafted by the Cubs in 2024, Smith made an uproarious pro debut that summer as he reached Double-A. Following an offseason trade to the Astros, he made Houston’s Opening Day roster. Smith’s production completely cratered in the second half (.489 OPS), but what he showed in the first half (.765 OPS), combined with his youth, bat speed and power potential make him an interesting long-term play. On top of that, he quickly adapted to right field and showed a plus arm. (ME)

7. Colson Montgomery, SS/3B, White Sox

2026 Age: 24. Upside Role: 55 (above-average SS). Risk: Average. Adjusted: 45.

Montgomery slammed 21 home runs in 71 games and played a better shortstop than expected. His bat speed and barrel rate are legit, but high chase rates and strikeout totals will cut into his batting average and on-base percentage. (GP)

8. Marcelo Mayer, SS/3B, Red Sox

2026 Age: 23. Upside Role: 55 (above-average SS or 3B). Risk: Average. Adjusted: 45.

Mayer brought his well-rounded game to the big leagues in late May but did not get a clear runway to everyday time with Boston’s crowded infield before wrist surgery ended his season in August. He also sat against most lefthanders. Mayer showed impressive bat speed and hard-hit rates that should manifest in stronger surface production in the future. (JJ)

9. Jac Caglianone, 1B, Royals

2026 Age: 23. Upside Role: 60 (occasional all-star 1B). Risk: High. Adjusted: 45.

Caglianone is the ultimate boom-or-bust player. He destroyed the upper minors in his pro debut, hitting 20 homers with a 1.025 OPS in 66 games, but his game fell flat in MLB. His –1.6 fWAR was the worst showing among rookies, fueled by a .157 batting average that was one of the worst ever by a rookie. And yet, Caglianone has elite bat speed and immense power potential. He was playing out of position in right field and was ushered quickly to MLB after being drafted in 2024, so if he has a chance to catch his breath, he could flourish. (ME)

10. Luke Keaschall, 2B, Twins

2026 Age: 23. Upside Role: 55 (above-average 2B). Risk: Average. Adjusted: 45.

All Keaschall has done as a pro is hit. The Twins drafted him out of Arizona State in the second round in 2023. He hit his way to Double-A in 2024 before having season-ending Tommy John surgery. Keaschall reached the majors early in 2025 and produced a 134 wRC+ that trailed only Nick Kurtz and Roman Anthony among rookies. He thrives on swing decisions and good batted-ball angles. (GP)

11. Kyle Teel, C, White Sox

2026 Age: 24. Upside Role: 55 (above-average C). Risk: Average. Adjusted: 45.

One of the prizes of the Garrett Crochet deal, Teel showed starting catcher upside as a rookie. A potent lefthanded hitter, he is poised to deliver power and on-base ability. (JJ) 

12. Luis Morales, RHP, Athletics

2026 Age: 23. Upside Role: 60 (No. 3 starter). Risk: High. Adjusted: 45.

Morales turned up the strikeouts and reined in his control in the upper minors in 2025 to earn his first big league callup. He has extreme velocity and a strong slider, though he is far from a finished product and must improve his control and command to reach his ceiling. (ME)

13. Carlos Narvaez, C, Red Sox

2026 Age: 27. Upside Role: 50 (solid-average C). Risk: Mild. Adjusted: 45.

Narvaez looks like a future Gold Glove contender behind the plate, and his batting statistics were better than expected as a rookie. He won’t have to hit a ton to be an asset. (GP)

14. Kristian Campbell, 2B/OF, Red Sox

2026 Age: 24. Upside Role: 55 (above-average OF). Risk: High. Adjusted: 40.

The 2024 Minor League Player of the Year had a forgettable rookie season in 2025. He made Boston’s Opening Day roster but never really hit. He also contended with diminished power and a spiraling strikeout rate when sent back to Triple-A. Campbell’s walk rate held up, but he needs to get back to his 2024 batting results while also settling on a defensive role. (JJ)

15. Jasson Dominguez, OF, Yankees

2026 Age: 23. Upside Role: 50 (Solid-average LF). Risk: Average. Adjusted: 40.

Dominguez hits the ball hard, runs well and performed as a league-average major league hitter at age 22. It’s not clear exactly how much upside he possesses, but he appears to be sturdy as at least a solid-average hitter who provides baserunning value. Defense is another matter. Dominguez’s reviews and metrics in left field are poor, making him perhaps a DH-in-waiting. (ME)

16. Jack Leiter, RHP, Rangers

2026 Age: 26. Upside Role: 55 (No. 3 or 4 starter). Risk: High. Adjusted: 40.

Leiter boosted the velocity on his fastball and saw improved results. He also threw it less often in favor of more pitch variety, in particular, a changeup and sinker. Bringing his walk rate down further could lead to a big step forward. (GP)

17. Will Warren, RHP, Yankees

2026 Age: 27. Upside Role: 50 (No. 4 starter). Risk: Average. Adjusted: 40.

Warren was durable and often effective as a 26-year-old rookie. He doesn’t shine in any one particular area or lag in any other, though he has to tread more carefully against lefthanded batters with his sinker and sweeper off the table. (JJ)

18. Coby Mayo, 1B, Orioles

2026 Age: 24. Upside Role: 55 (Above-average 1B). Risk: High. Adjusted: 40.

Once the Orioles committed to calling him up from Triple-A and decommitted from him playing third base, Mayo began to show what he can do—eventually. In his final 26 games, Mayo hit .280 with a .256 isolated slugging and 29% strikeout rate. Mayo has strong bat speed and a “three true outcomes” type of profile heavy on home runs, walks and strikeouts. A lack of baserunning and fielding value make power and patience his only dimensions. (ME)  

19. Grant Taylor, RHP, White Sox

2026 Age: 24. Upside Role: 55 (No. 3 or 4 starter or closer). Risk: High. Adjusted: 40.

Drafted in 2023, Taylor had tossed fewer than 50 minor league innings when the White Sox called him up. He began the season as a starter at Double-A and ended it as Chicago’s closer. There is a lot to like with Taylor as a closer—velocity, extension, whiffs, ground balls—if he can stay healthy. (GP) 

20. CJ Kayfus, 1B/OF, Guardians

2026 Age: 24. Upside Role: 50 (solid-average 1B). Risk: Average. Adjusted: 40.

Kayfus raked at Double-A and Triple-A and held his head above water as a rookie. Without a true carrying tool, he should be more adequate than exceptional as a big league corner bat. (JJ)

21. Mick Abel, RHP, Twins

2026 Age: 24. Upside Role: 50 (No. 4 starter). Risk: Average. Adjusted: 40.

Part of the Twins’ return for Jhoan Duran, Abel improved his walk rate by five percentage points year-over-year at Triple-A and has pitch quality that Stuff models really like. However, he ran up a 6.23 ERA and 1.51 WHIP in his first taste of MLB, so a lot of work remains. Better results against lefthanded hitters would go a long way. (ME)  

22. Cole Young, 2B, Mariners

2026 Age: 22. Upside Role: 50 (solid-average 2B). Risk: Average. Adjusted: 40.

Called up as a 21-year-old, Young played to his strengths in his rookie season. He stayed within his strike zone, made lots of contacts and drew walks. Young showed occasional glimpses of power, but the defensive metrics were less kind than expected in his first MLB taste. (GP)

23. Chandler Simpson, OF, Rays

2026 Age: 25. Upside Role: 50 (solid-average LF). Risk: Average. Adjusted: 40.

Simpson will go as far as his legs take him. He is the fastest man in MLB in terms of running home to first, and he uses his elite speed to steal a high volume of bases and leg out infield hits. Simpson’s bat-to-ball skills are strong enough to make him a .300 hitter over a full season. The downside is everything else, including 20-grade power and below-average defense in left field. (JJ) 

24. Kumar Rocker, RHP, Rangers

2026 Age: 26. Upside Role: 55 (No. 3 or 4 starter or closer). Risk: High. Adjusted: 40.

As the quality of his slider goes, so goes Rocker. He made the Rangers’ Opening Day rotation in 2025, but things unraveled quickly and thoroughly. Still, Rocker has shown in flashes that he has upside, perhaps as a midrotation starter or high-leverage reliever. (ME)

25. Shane Smith, RHP, White Sox

2026 Age: 26. Upside Role: 55 (No. 3 or 4 starter). Risk: High. Adjusted: 40.

From Rule 5 pick to American League all-star, Smith had a memorable rookie season. Adding a changeup to a well-rounded repertoire helped secure a future in the rotation. Smith does a little bit of everything well. (GP) 

26. Denzel Clarke, OF, Athletics

2026 Age: 26. Upside Role: 50 (solid-average CF). Risk: Average. Adjusted: 40.

If he hits enough to play every day, Clarke is a future Gold Glove center fielder. He’s also extremely fast and has good raw power. It will come down to swing decisions and maximizing his best contact. (JJ)

27. Noah Cameron, LHP, Royals

2026 Age: 26. Upside Role: 50 (No. 4 starter). Risk: Average. Adjusted: 40.

Cameron fits the “crafty lefty” prototype to a T. He’s going to show the rare lefthanded batter mostly four-seamers and sliders, but righties have essentially a one-in-five shot to guess between location and pitch type—four-seamer, cutter, curveball, changeup or slider. For Cameron, it’s all about sequencing and avoiding barrels. (ME)

28. Chase Meidroth, 2B/SS, White Sox

2026 Age: 24. Upside Role: 45 (second-division 2B or UT). Risk: Mild. Adjusted: 40.

Meidroth is a pesky hitter who manages the strike zone to find ways to work his way on base via singles, walks and occasional extra-base hits. Power won’t be a major factor, but Meidroth’s bat-to-ball skills, batting eye, baserunning savvy and fielding skill will translate to a big league role. (GP) 

29. Edgar Quero, C, White Sox

2026 Age: 23. Upside Role: 50 (solid-average C). Risk: High. Adjusted: 35.

Quero will need to improve his framing to become a no-doubt regular catcher, but he’s a young switch-hitting backstop who hits for power and takes walks. (JJ)

30. Christian Moore, 2B, Angels

2026 Age: 23. Upside Role: 50 (solid-average 2B). Risk: High. Adjusted: 35.

Moore hit 14 home runs between the minors and majors in a disjointed 2025 season in which he played at Double-A, Triple-A and MLB, with some rehab time at Low-A for good measure. His power-and-patience approach may take time to manifest at the highest levels—if it does at all—and he faces a lot of pressure to hit because he’s a minus defender. (ME)