Red Sox MLB Pipeline update highlights pitching, disrespects former first round pick

Seventy-five of the 100 also entered pro ball via the Draft, including 2024 No. 1 overall pick Bazzana. That isn’t to say there aren’t still high-quality pitching prospects, however, with Sasaki sitting up top and three in the top eight. Only 25 arms (19 righties, six lefties) cracked the Top 100 this year, in part because innings limits and injuries have lowered the ceilings of pitchers across the sport. Most notably was Brewers right-hander Jacob Misiorowski, who dropped from No. 33 to No. 100 as it looked more likely he’s headed for a long-term bullpen role with Milwaukee. The 21-year-old switch-hitter was also pushed to the Majors likely before he was ready, and his 6-for-35 (.171) turn with limited power didn’t help his stock in the eyes of evaluators, deepening his slide off the Top 100 heading into this year. The others to climb 40-plus spots were Giants first baseman Bryce Eldridge (No. 96 to No. 24), Mariners shortstop Colt Emerson (No. 87 to No. 20), Rangers shortstop Sebastian Walcott (No. 71 to No. 17), Royals catcher Blake Mitchell (No. 94 to No. 48) and Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing (No. 75 to No. 30).

Signed to his ELC in March 2026, the 6-foot-2, 207-pound lefty has become famous across the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) for what scouts call “smart violence”. By the time he arrives, he will have three years of professional experience against men, making him a polished reinforcement (on an inexpensive entry-level contract) for a Montreal core that is currently entering its championship window. Scouts describe him as a magician with elite puck-handling and deceptive playmaking abilities that allow him to manipulate defenders in tight spaces. Rounding out the group is Alexander Zharovsky, whose skill level remains the highest of any prospect outside North America.

In the short term, that’s fine – Logan Thompson and Charlie Lindgren can get the job done. They have a few others who could be decent AHLers, but that’s about it. Nick Kempf is fine, but I’m not convinced he’s an NHL goaltender. Ivan Miroshnichenko and Lynden Lakovic bring skill and toughness up front with some middle-six potential. The Giants' farm system leans more on the younger side, meaning more projection and often a longer development path.

The Canucks are hoping players like Tom Willander and Jonathan Lekkerimäki can live up to their potential and become stars playing key roles in the NHL. But don’t expect much value on the trade front if GM Jim Nill is forced to decimate the farm to bring in immediate help. The Jets don’t have a deep farm to choose from, and the Manitoba Moose were at the bottom of the AHL standings last year. But they’ve got help coming up at a decent rate – and those players should be ready to contribute once the team gets closer to taking the next step.

Ray Grimes, who played for the Cubs 100 years ago, had a streak of 17 games in 1922 with at least one RBI, and that’s still a league record. The Cubs trail the Brewers by 5.5 games with seven tilts between the two teams remaining, including four at Wrigley Field when the schedule segues from August to September and another three in Milwaukee a week later. Well, the Cubs have scored 10 or more runs in a single game nine times this season, so they’re due for another.

Detroit Red Wings (A)

• Mix in good skating and good hockey IQ and I think there’s definitely some late-bloomer potential if he can unlock another level in his offensive game.
• Dave Dombrowski and the Philadelphia Phillies have continued to work on rebuilding the farm system since he took over as the president of baseball operations.
• Ivan Miroshnichenko and Lynden Lakovic bring skill and toughness up front with some middle-six potential.
• By the time he arrives, he will have three years of professional experience against men, making him a polished reinforcement (on an inexpensive entry-level contract) for a Montreal core that is currently entering its championship window.

The skilled, hard-working forward is a great passer, loves to rush the puck up the ice and has some good speed, too. Recent draft picks Tinus-Luc Koblar, Harry Nansi, Sam McCue and William Belle all love to throw the body and could be potential fourth-line options. Ben Danford, for example, loves to get in the way of shots and isn’t afraid of any physical bout. Not everyone’s going to be Lane Hutson – he’s special in that regard.

Danford is a guy his teammates like to rely on because he’s rarely caught making a mistake distributing the puck. Outside of Cowan, who has top-six potential, the Leafs don’t have a ton of high-end forward depth to work with. His reliability will take him far, and I think he’s going to be a decent NHLer, even if the ceiling isn’t that high. I do wonder if he’ll go spend a year in college after his junior career before turning pro – it wouldn’t hurt his confidence with the puck.

For High School & Club Coaches

While his skating might lack and some scouts wish he’d be more physical, everyone agrees that he’s one of the smartest players in this draft class. Philadelphia’s blueline leaves a lot to be desired, and I don’t think the farm system is going to do much to change that in the near future. Bonk is a solid prospect, but I don’t think he’ll be a top-pairing guy. Believes in blending analytics with old-school feel and observation, and can often be found watching four games at once when the Phillies aren't playing. In 2025, McGonigle hit .305 with 19 home runs, 59 walks and 46 strikeouts across 80 games, including a .254 batting average with 12 home runs, a 16% walk rate and a 12.6% strikeout rate in 46 games at the Double-A level.

Jun 18, 2024; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Miami Christian School shortstop Ronny Cruz during the MLB Draft Combine at Chase Field. Don’t get too upset if someone isn’t ranked where you think they should be. He has legitimate power and can play second base, third base, and shortstop. Boston has a lot of exciting young talent between Bennett and Romero (mainly from the 2025 MLB Draft class), but this felt pretty disrespectful. At No. 7, we see the first new member of the organization, as left-handed pitcher Jake Bennett slots in there. Getting the official 2026 rankings means we’re off to the races and will have a lot to talk about in the upcoming months.

The crown jewel of the farm is no longer a future consideration – he will make an impact right from the get-go. MLB Pipeline recently dropped their latest projections, and if their ETAs hold true, the next generation of Blue Jays talent may be much closer than we think. For the Toronto Blue Jays, 2026 isn't just another season that'll go by, it's the projected arrival date for a wave of talent that could redefine the roster and make a lasting impact. That sustained level of competitive play meant moving draft picks and selecting low when they didn’t. With a lack of high-end picks in recent years, they’re missing a goal-scorer, top-four defensive option or a potential backup goaltender. There might not be a single player that can step into a top-six or top-four role here.

So while I think Vancouver’s pipeline definitely lacks depth, the high-end talent could be impact players sooner rather than later. And that’s something many other pipelines can’t claim. Boston’s pipeline is far from deep, especially for a team that’s going to need Prospect pipeline to retool sooner rather than later.

He showed so much swagger and confidence with the puck, and his play reminded some of his brother, Lane Hutson. Hutson is coming off one of the most impressive seasons by any defensive prospect. Look for Leonard to start the year on the Capitals’ third line before becoming an instrumental cog in the team’s long-term plans. But that’s the one position the Capitals seem to lack in this otherwise deep pipeline.

Oliver Kapanen, C/RW, 21 (Montreal Canadiens)

The stark reality is that if the top three don’t become full-timers, there’s a good chance nobody else becomes more than a depth threat. Beyond that, there hasn’t been much to get excited about in terms of quality prospect talent. If the Golden Knights are forced to burn things to the ground in 2-3 years, there isn’t a group of players to build around. Right now, I feel confident about David Edstrom, but there are enough flaws in the rest of the system to worry about the potential.

Twins' MLB Draft Decision: Go With Consensus or the Upside Pitcher?

Now, with NHL rookie tournaments coming up, we’re finally close to catching the future up close. We’re a few months removed from a loaded 2023 NHL Draft with some potentially franchise-changing decisions being made by various teams. Skenes, the 2024 NL Rookie of the Year and 2025 NL Cy Young Award winner, has been outstanding again this season for the Pittsburgh Pirates, recording a 3.62 ERA in 97.0 innings with 119 strikeouts and only 22 walks. BATON ROUGE, La. – LSU sophomore outfielder Derek Curiel is rated No. 5 among the MLB Pipeline Top 20 College Prospects for the 2026 draft. He's a second- or third-rounder on talent, but age and concerns about the medicals could lead teams to shy away.