Farm System Team Rankings are often viewed in the lens of overall depth and not true star power at the top of the group, but a deeper look at the best trios in the Roger Dorn Baseball League gives a look of just how impactful these high-end prospects can be for a Franchise.
Led by the Burlingame Blue Ducks trio of former collegiate Draft selections, here are the top Prospect trios in the RDBL entering 2024.
1. Burlingame Blue Ducks
Paul Skenes, Dylan Crews, Wyatt Langford
GM Ryan Walsh took a different approach to the Reserve Draft in 2022, carrying it over to 2023 with a focus on talent outside of the Minor Leagues. The club’s selection of Dylan Crews in ’22 was followed with back to back selections of Paul Skenes and Wyatt Langford in ’23. All three are now widely considered Top 10 Prospects in all of baseball with each expected to make an impact on their big league clubs this season. The future looks awfully bright for the Ducks.
2. Las Vegas Aristocrats
Jackson Holliday, Gavin Williams, Jackson Chourio
While some mid-season fireworks were present in the ‘Crats Front Office between Nick Holz and his Assistant GMs on their move to sell last season, the club looks much better positioned to open up a Title contending window in a hurry. Jackson Holliday and Gavin Williams were acquired in a blockbuster deal with the Idaho Taters (now San Mateo Oppo Tacos), while 2nd overall 2023 selection Jackson Chourio looks poised to break into the big leagues quickly after inking an 8-year pact with the Milwaukee Brewers. The ‘Crats hold the 2nd and 3rd overall picks in the 2024 Reserve Draft with Max Meyer, Brett Baty, Hurston Waldrep, Gavin Stone and Shea Langeliers all expected to open this season in the big leagues.
3. Lake Merced Goutfish
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Bobby Miller, Matt McLain
The depth of the Goutfish Farm System might not be as strong as previous seasons, but their trio of young stars rivals any in the RDBL. All three top prospects are ready to step into full-time roles in 2024 with Yoshinobu Yamamoto fresh off signing the biggest pitcher contract in Major League History. The addition of Matt McLain helps balance out the 2024 Keeper Roster for GM Ryan Atkinson in another season they will enter with serious Title aspirations.
4. Maltese Falcons
Eury Perez, Triston Casas, Royce Lewis
The health of Royce Lewis might be the only thing preventing the Falcons from topping this list with Eury Perez and Triston Casas both showing elite production at the big league level in 2023. Perez ranked as the second best pitcher in the RDBL Top 100 while Casas hit .317 with 15 home runs and a 1.034 OPS over his final 54 games. Lewis has mashed in 70 big league games (.307/.364/.549), but it comes with a laundry list of injuries that he will need to put in his past to fulfill his lofty ceiling.
5. Alamo Short Stacks
Evan Carter, Junior Caminero, Colson Montgomery
The Stacks pulled the plug on their 2023 Season, jumping the rest of the market to acquire each of their top five prospects via trade. That group is headlined by 2023 Playoff breakout Evan Carter who vaulted into the top third of the Rangers World Champion winning lineup and looks well suited for the OBP driven scoring format of the RDBL. Caminero matches the upside of any prospect in the RDBL with a chance to hit the Stacks Active Roster as soon as 2024 while Montgomery has drawn Corey Seager comps with a 2025 ETA.
6. Lunatic Fringe
Grayson Rodriguez, Noelvi Marte, Triston McKenzie
While the rest of the RDBL has pushed away from pitching prospects, GM Tony Guglielmi has consistently jumped on them with Grayson Rodriguez heading up Farm. A dominant second half stretch looks like a sign of things to come for G-Rod who could quickly rise to ace-level status for the Fringe while Triston McKenzie's 900+ big league points are the most of any RDBL Prospect still under a Minor League deal. Noelvi Marte has suffered through a bit of prospect fatigue, but was exceptional after a big league call-up and looks to have a bright future with an Opening Day role locked in for the Reds.
7. Asti Grape Stompers
Jordan Walker, Francisco Alvarez, Jordan Lawlar
A mid-season demotion back to Triple-A turned some away from Walker who looks to be severely underrated going into the 2024 Season. The Cardinals slugger showed his promise after his second call-up to the team in June, where he hit a .277/.346/.455 slash line with 14 home runs and 40 RBIs, a trend that ranked him 7th Overall in the RDBL Top 100. If Francisco Alvarez's hit tool didn't drag behind in 2023 (.208 overall and just .171 after the All-Star Break), the trio might be ranked much higher on this list with Jordan Lawlar set to showcase his elite skillset at short in Arizona early in 2024.
8. Cloverdale Clovers
Elly De La Cruz, Anthony Volpe, Andrew Painter
On upside alone, the Clovers rival any trio in the RDBL but previous big league experience, and falters there, are the only thing that has dimmed the light a bit on both Elly De La Cruz and Anthony Volpe. Unfairly or not, their early promotions to the big leagues highlighted some potential scoring issues in the OBP department that will need to be flxed to reach their respective ceilings while Andrew Painter's Tommy John surgery delayed the arrival of one of the league's top young arms until 2025.
9. Mission Viejo Maulers
Nolan Jones, Jasson Dominguez, Brooks Lee
Jones was one of the biggest prospect risers in 2023 after being the lead return on a deal that sent Daulton Varsho to the Ducks, posting the fourth most points in RDBL Playoff History while slashing .297/.389/.542 with 46 extra base hits overall. An elbow injury to Jasson Dominguez will delay his arrival on the Maulers Active Roster by a year, likely pushing the trio down at least a spot here while Brooks Lee looks ready to make an impact in Minnesota early in 2024.
10. Mt. Diablo Devils
Bo Naylor, Michael Busch, Brady House
The Devils have one of the more underrated trios in the RDBL, especially following Michael Busch's trade to the Chicago Cubs and potential to start 2024 as the Opening Day starter at first base on the North Side. Bo Naylor looks poised to enter 2024 as a potential Top-10 catcher while Brady House brings the highest upside of any prospect in the Devils system with more of a 2025 ERA for the infielder.
11. St. Joseph Jokers
Roki Sasaki, Endy Rodriguez, MacKenzie Gore
With Matt McLain out the door following a trade to the Lake Merced Goutfish, the Jokers fell a bit down the list, buoyed by Japanese stud Roki Sasaki who still holds a 2025 or 2026 ETA. A down year from MacKenzie Gore has dampened his stock while an unexpected elbow injury to Endy Rodriguez will push back his Active Roster arrival to 2025.
12. Meinert Hops
Chase DeLauter, Henry Davis, Joey Wiemer
The Hops could activate all three of their top prospects in 2024 with Chase DeLauter serving as one of the biggest risers over the past few months due to an impactful Arizona Fall League stint. He joins Henry Davis, who should earn back catcher eligibility quickly in 2024, and Joey Wiemer as potential Opening Day activations for GM Garrett Shelley.
13. San Mateo Oppo Tacos
Walker Jenkins, Spencer Jones, Gavin Cross
The wait is likely to be worth it on Walker Jenkins for GM Erik Nielsen, with the Twins young outfielder having the potential to be the top prospect in the sport in the next 1-2 years. It was a mixed bag for Spencer Jones in 2023, but the ceiling remains high with extremely loud tools while Gavin Cross looks to build back up his value after a down year.
14. Spokane Fightin' Fish
Heston Kjerstad, Termarr Johnson, Connor Norby
Reaching the big leagues in 2024, Kjerstad has battled a difficult road as a prospect following a heart condition that sidelined him for all of the 2021 season. A former 2nd overall pick in the MLB Draft, Kjerstad's future might now lie at first base with a chance to make a major impact in Baltimore in 2024. Connor Norby could face an uphill battle for playing time in that crowded Orioles depth chart, making him a potential candidate to be traded at the big league level at some point this season which might be a boon for his value. Second baseman Termarr Johnson's star has dimmed a bit following a mixed bag in 2023, but plenty of upside remains with a longer ETA of 2025 or 2026.
15. Honolulu Hammerheads
Brandon Pfaadt, Benny Montgomery, Quinn Priester
The Hammerheads Front Office is confident Pfaadt can carry over his dominant Playoff run into 2024 where they hope he will emerge as a front of the rotation arm immediately. GM Ross Horiuchi is clearly looking to build back up the club's Farm System, peeling a 1st Rounder away from the St. Joseph Jokers last week in exchange for Sonny Gray and Michael Wacha. Benny Montgomery has some upside, especially with a future in Coors Field, but expect a major talent infusion into this group on Draft Day.
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