Philly Leader

Teams from the East and West divisions have been prominent in baseball, with the 2016 Chicago Cubs being the last Central team to win a World Series. However, MLB Pipeline's updated Top 100 Prospects list suggests a potential shift in this trend.

The National League (NL) Central division leads with 23 top prospects, followed closely by the American League (AL) Central with 22. The AL West has 15, while both the AL East and NL East have 14 each. The NL West has 12 prospects.

A significant rise is seen in the AL Central, moving from 15 to 22 prospects. The White Sox contributed notably by acquiring Kyle Teel and Braden Montgomery in exchange for Garrett Crochet. This change means that nearly half of the top prospects are now from the Central divisions, which is crucial given their smaller markets and payrolls compared to coastal teams.

In terms of Prospect Points—a system where the No.1 prospect earns 100 points—the AL Central scores highest at 1,286 points, led by Walker Jenkins of the Twins. The NL Central follows with Bubba Chandler of the Pirates leading their tally at 915 points. The AL Central’s score is a record high since MLB Pipeline expanded to a Top 100 in 2012.

While quantity is important, quality also plays a role in assessing talent. Despite having fewer top-30 players like Sebastian Walcott and Colt Emerson, AL West falls lower on Prospect Points.

Comparing leagues shows an even split with 51 prospects in the AL and 49 in the NL. However, there are differences: American League teams focus more on hitters (44), while National League teams dominate pitching prospects (18 out of 25).

The data underscores AL Central's strength through its hitters' value alone surpassing any other division's total value—highlighting its depth further with three pitchers among top prospects.