Top 10 Prospects Lists Updated

The Organizational Top 10 Prospects Lists have received a mid-season refresh, just ahead of Sunday's 2023 MLB Draft. Dylan Crews and Paul Skenes top the Burlingame Blue Ducks Farm System with the duo expected to be the first two names called on Sunday.

Of the fifteen #1 prospects across RDBL Organizations, eight have spent at least some time in the big leagues this season. That group is headlined by Cloverdale Clovers star Elly De La Cruz, slugging Asti Grape Stompers outfielder Jordan Walker, flame throwing Lake Merced Goutfish right-hander Bobby Miller and young Maltese Falcons ace Eury Perez.

The aggressive push from the Idaho Taters this season has left the club with just six prospects under contract, the lowest number in the RDBL. Meanwhile, the early firesale by the Alamo Short Stacks has left their club with a RDBL-high 16 prospects.

With the refresh, we took a stab at ranking the Top 10 overall prospects based on current value that remain under Minor League contracts in the RDBL. That list is headlined by De La Cruz who has burst onto the big league scene as one of the most exciting players in baseball.

Overall RDBL Top 10 Prospects

1 SS Elly De La Cruz, Cloverdale Clovers

2. RHP Eury Perez, Maltese Falcons

3. SS Jackson Holliday, Las Vegas Aristocrats

4. OF Jordan Walker, Asti Grape Stompers

5. OF Dylan Crews, Burlingame Blue Ducks

6. RHP Paul Skenes, Burlingame Blue Ducks

7. RHP Roki Sasaki, St. Joseph Jokers

8. SS Marcelo Mayer, Alamo Short Stacks

9. RHP Grayson Rodriguez, Lunatic Fringe

10. RHP Gavin Williams, Las Vegas Aristocrats

Just Missed (In No Particular Order): C Francisco Alvarez (Grapes), OF Colton Cowser (Grapes), OF Jackson Chourio (Crats), RHP Bobby Miller (Goutfish), OF James Wood (Falcons), 3B Brett Baty (Hops), OF Evan Carter (Stacks), SS Matt McClain (Jokers), RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Goutfish)

Previewing the MLB Draft for RDBL Prospects

The 2023 MLB Draft is set for Sunday, July 9th at 4:00pm PST on ESPN with Roger Dorn Baseball League Prospects expected to fly off the board quickly. The focus on amateur prospects from RDBL Front Offices has continued to grow annually with 13 players expected to be selected on Sunday while four underclass prospects are already under contract that won't be eligible to be drafted until 2024.

The Burlingame Blue Ducks and GM Ryan Walsh are the main story as the club holds the top three ranked prospects available with a likely fourth taken in the first ten picks.

Here are the RDBL Prospects expected be to selected Sunday.

1. OF Dylan Crews, Burlingame Blue Ducks

Crews is reportedly seeking a record bonus which could push him two second overall if the Pirates look to stay at that slot value with Paul Skenes or cut an underslot deal with Max Clark or Walker Jenkins. Crews should immediately slot in as a Top-15 prospect in baseball upon his selection.

2. RHP Paul Skenes, Burlingame Blue Ducks

Skenes is considered the current favorite to go first overall to the Pirates, due somewhat to Crews' bonus demands but also due to his spectacular season at LSU. Skenes rivals Stephen Strasburg as the most impressive college arm to hit the Draft in recent memory. He should also slot in as a Top-15 prospect in baseball when selected.

3. OF Wyatt Langford, Burlingame Blue Ducks

Langford is currently projected as the third overall pick to the Detroit Tigers which could give Ducks GM Ryan Walsh each of the top three picks in the Draft. Langford ranks just behind Crews as the best college bat available and has a change to fly through the Minor League system of whatever club lands him. Langford figures to slot in as a Top-25 prospect upon selection.

4. OF Max Clark, Alamo Short Stacks

Clark, Crews and Jacob Gonzalez were all 2022 RDBL Reserve Draft selections with Clark being a personal favorite of Stacks GM Greg Shelley. The outfielder draws comps to Jacoby Ellsbury with an already maxed out 6'1" frame and an advanced bat. He figures to not last past the fifth pick on Sunday and should slot in as a Top-30 prospect in baseball after his selection.

5. OF Walker Jenkins, Idaho Taters

Jenkins and Clark are neck and neck in Draft Rankings with many believing the outfielders will go 4th and 5th overall to the Rangers and Twins. A sweet swinging outfielder, Jenkins already rivals Gavin Cross and Spencer Jones as the best remaining prospect in the Idaho Taters Farm System. Like Clark, Jenkins should slot in as a Top-30 prospect after being selected.

6. RHP Rhett Lowder, Burlingame Blue Ducks

Lowder surpassed Chase Dollander this Spring as the second best college arm available. While he doesn't carry the highest ceiling, Lowder is a plug and play pitching prospect that should move quickly through the Minors and could be a safe mid-rotation starter for the Ducks by 2025 with Top-60 prospect status upon signing. Likely to go in the Top-10, Lowder would give Ducks GM Ryan Walsh four early selections in their revamped Farm System.

7. SS Jacob Gonzalez, Alamo Short Stacks

Gonzalez was viewed as a potential 1-1 candidate for the 2023 Draft following a breakout Sophomore season, but showed some regression in his Junior year that dropped his stock. Mocked as high as 6th overall to the Oakland Athletics, Gonzalez is a likely Top-75 prospect upon signing.

8. RHP Chase Dollander, Meinert Hops

Entering the 2023 College Season, Dollander was viewed as the top pitching prospect and a potential 1-1 candidate before being surpassed by Paul Skenes. He still possesses elite upside which should have him off the board in the first 10 selections. The Hops will have a close eye on the 9th overall pick as they look to avoid having Dollander stuck in a future at Coors Field. Dollander would be viewed as a Top-80 prospect upon signing.

9. RHP Hurston Waldrep, Las Vegas Aristocrats

Waldrep was a standout at Florida, helping lead the Gators to the College World Series final before falling to LSU. There are some folks in the industry who view him as the second best arm available, but command concerns provide some reliever risk in his profile. He would slot in as a Top-100 prospect upon signing with significant growth ahead of him if he can shake off those concerns.

10. 3B Brayden Taylor, Alamo Short Stacks

Taylor mashed early in the college year at TCU before a mid-season and prolonged slump. A late season run has pushed him back into the Top-15 of Mock Drafts while he's mocked as high as 6th to the Oakland Athletics who continue to be linked to college bats. Taylor is likely considered a prospect just outside of the Top-100 upon signing.

11. SS Jacob Wilson, Alamo Short Stacks

The son of former big leaguer Jack Wilson, Jacob has performed at every stop with exceptional contact rates and the ability to stay at short defensively. While he will be knocked for a lack of power and overall upside, Wilson's profile should be one that is aggressively moved through a Minor League system. He's likely considered just outside of the Top-100 prospects in baseball upon signing.

12. 3B Brock Wilken, Idaho Taters

Wilken had a decorated college career and has arguably the most present game power in the draft class. He's an analytical darling because he posts monster exit velocities that rate alongside top big league power hitters. He's a prospect that is knocked due to his defensive value in MLB circles, but the Taters could care less as long as it doesn't prevent him from being in the lineup. A prospect outside of the Top 100 in baseball upon signing, Wilken's bat could push his way into that range with a strong pro debut this summer.

13. 3B Yohandy Morales, Las Vegas Aristocrats

Currently a power over hit profile, Morales is currently projected as a mid to late first round selection for the Las Vegas Aristocrats. A former shortstop who outgrew the position, Morales hit .408/.475/.713 with 20 home runs as a Junior at Miami. He joins Wilken as a prospect outside of the Top 100 upon signing, but one to monitor closely given the upside of his bat.

2024 MLB Draft Prospects

1B/LHP Jac Caglianone, Mission Viejo Maulers

OF Vance Honeycutt, Las Vegas Aristocrats

RHP Chase Burnes, Las Vegas Aristocrats

3B Tommy "Tanks" White, Alamo Short Stacks

On The Lookout: Wild Card Contenders Flush with Starts

Friday is shaping up to be a critical day in the race for the three coveted Wild Card spots as contenders up and down the standings are sending multiple starters to the mound. The 2023 RDBL Trade Deadline is just eight days away as the new rule pushed the date up two weeks, forcing clubs into buy or sell decisions earlier than in past seasons.

Here's a team by team overview of Friday's starters for the Wild Card contenders.

Cloverdale Clovers: Glasnow vs. ATL, Williams vs. TEX

We highlighted Tyler Glasnow as the player to watch down the stretch for the Clovers on Thursday's LBB. He will face one of the top offenses in baseball Friday as the right-hander gets the Atlanta Braves at home in a matchup of two of the top teams in baseball. The matchups don't get any easier for the Clovers as Trevor Williams will also face a tough Rangers lineup at home.

Idaho Taters: Brown vs. SEA, Civale vs. KC

The Taters continue to close the gap on 4th place as they enter Friday just 21.5 points behind the Cloverdale Clovers. Hunter Brown gets the ball against the Mariners as he looks to continue his solid Rookie season, owning a 3.76 ERA and 1.25 WHIP. Aaron Civale has posted 16 or more points in four of his last six starts and will look to continue that hot streak against the lowly Royals.

Mission Viejo Maulers: Rodon vs. CHC, Castillo @ HOU

Friday will mark the long awaited return of Carlos Rodon who has been on the shelf since Spring Training. The Maulers acquired Rodon from the Maltese Falcons in a June deal, now slotting him behind Gerrit Cole and Luis Castillo as a potentially dominant three headed monster for the remainder of the season. Castillo enters Friday ranked 13th in starting pitcher scoring and will oppose the Astros on the road.

Las Vegas Aristocrats: Burnes vs. CIN

The 'Crats continue to hang around as they enter Friday 13.0 points out of the final Wild Card spot with their ace Corbin Burnes on the mound. A dominant start could have President of Baseball Ops Nick Holz thinking about adding before the July 15th deadline after it was reported Thursday that the club is likely to undergo a reshuffle in their Front Office this off-season.

Lunatic Fringe: Alcantara vs. PHI, Montgomery @ CHW, Hill @ ARZ

The Fringe have backed up a 443.5 point week with 197.0 already this week. They can add to that in a big way with Sandy Alcantara, Jordan Montgomery and Rich Hill on the mound Friday. While Alcantara has been a shell of his former self this season with a 4.93 ERA and 1.25 WHIP, the 2022 RDBL Pitcher of the Year is capable of dominance down the stretch.

Meinert Hops: Gallen vs. PIT, Lynch @ CLE

The Hops are banged up as they head into the All-Star Break with Shane McClanahan, Thairo Estrada and Jorge Polanco all hitting the IL recently. That makes Friday's starts from Zac Gallen and Daniel Lynch critical to keep pace in the Wild Card race. GM Garrett Shelley is likely to be the most aggressive GM before the July 15th deadline according to sources close to the club with offense the likely target with the current group ranking just 13th in scoring.

Honolulu Hammerheads: Ober vs. BAL

The Heads had a breakout Period 14, ranking second in scoring in the RDBL but have not been able to back it up in Period 15 with just 91.5 points entering Friday. With a ton of pitching above them today, Bailey Ober is staring down an important start against a tough Orioles offense as the Heads look to keep pace in the Wild Card hunt.

Burlingame Blue Ducks: Abbott @ MIL, Gonsolin vs. LAA, Manoah @ DET

It feels like a make or break day for GM Ryan Walsh as the Ducks have managed just 69.0 points in Period 15 and badly need a breakout day as they have fallen to 13th. All eyes will be on the big league return of Alek Manoah who enters his start against the Tigers with a 6.36 ERA and 1.90 WHIP.