He was one of the most coveted prospects this offseason, despite never having played in the U.S. Now, he adds another achievement to his growing baseball resume.
Roki Sasaki, a right-handed pitcher with the Dodgers, claims the top spot on MLB Pipeline’s 2025 preseason ranking of the Top 100 prospects. He’s followed by Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony and Twins outfielder Walker Jenkins in the top three.
Sasaki, 23, was posted this offseason after spending four seasons in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. After meeting with several Major League clubs, he signed with the Dodgers for $6.5 million earlier this week. Due to being younger than 25 and having fewer than six years of professional experience overseas, Sasaki qualifies as a prospect. His triple-digit fastball and 80-grade splitter are among the best in the prospect pool, and he has the potential to become a true ace for Los Angeles.
Anthony, one of three Boston prospects in the Top 12, continues to improve his bat speed, power, and overall hitting ability as he moves closer to Fenway Park. Jenkins, a potential plus hitter with impressive power, could also stick in center field. At No. 4 is Dylan Crews, who made his MLB debut with the Nationals late last season. Rounding out the top five is Jackson Jobe, who features four above-average to plus pitches and showcased them during the Tigers’ postseason run.
The Top 10 prospects for 2025:
- Roki Sasaki, RHP, Dodgers
- Roman Anthony, OF, Red Sox
- Walker Jenkins, OF, Twins
- Dylan Crews, OF, Nationals
- Jackson Jobe, RHP, Tigers
- Max Clark, OF, Tigers
- Kristian Campbell, 2B/SS/OF, Red Sox
- Andrew Painter, RHP, Phillies
- Carson Williams, SS, Rays
- Travis Bazzana, 2B, Guardians
The 2025 list also sees 40 new players compared to last year, excluding 2024 Draft picks and Sasaki, the sole 2025 international signee on the list.
One standout riser is Kristian Campbell, who leapt from outside the Red Sox’s Top 30 to No. 7 after a breakout season. Another significant jump comes from Pirates right-hander Bubba Chandler, who moved from No. 93 to No. 15 after a strong showing at Triple-A Indianapolis. Other big climbers include Giants first baseman Bryce Eldridge (No. 96 to No. 24) and Mariners shortstop Colt Emerson (No. 87 to No. 20).
