BALTIMORE — Even without rookie catcher Adley Rutschman leading Major League Baseball’s top prospect lists, the Orioles have the best farm system in the sport.
Rutschman has established himself as an American League Rookie of the Year candidate with the big league club, but with shortstop Gunnar Henderson taking his place as the top prospect in the game, Baseball America ranked Baltimore’s farm system No. 1 in Thursday’s midseason update. The Orioles also took the top spot in ESPN’s updated rankings.
In Baseball America’s preseason rankings of organizational talent, the Orioles were No. 4. They’ve risen as a result of Henderson’s development, as well as draft and trade deadline acquisitions. Baltimore selected Oklahoma high school shortstop Jackson Holliday with the first overall pick last month, and the publication ranked the 18-year-old as the No. 39 overall prospect. Despite not pitching since June because of a right lat muscle strain, right-hander Grayson Rodriguez is considered the No. 4 overall prospect and the best pitching prospect.
