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As a Red Sox fan, I was feeling some type of way last season when I saw the Red Sox had the top farm system according to Baseball America.
Now it is May, and I want to jump off the Green Monster (figuratively).
So, I went back and looked at all the top systems since 2010, and well, it didn’t make me feel much better.
Now, if this is too long and you don’t feel like reading, I will give you a quick bullet list of teams that ended up winning the World Series within a 5-year window of having the top farm system.
Kansas City Royals (2011 #1 System): Won the World Series in 2015
Chicago Cubs (2015 #1 System): Won the World Series in 2016.
Los Angeles Dodgers (2016 #1 System): Won the World Series in 2020.
Atlanta Braves (2017 & 2018 #1 System): Won the World Series in 2021.
Of those four teams, only two of them are still reaping the rewards of their great farm system. That would be the Braves and the Dodgers. So, in short, the last 16 teams with the top farm system: four won the World Series, two had prolonged success, and 12 are just eh.
2010
#1 Farm System: Tampa Bay Rays
Top Prospect: Desmond Jennings, OF
What Happened?
The Rays being here should not surprise anyone. Tampa Bay has basically been running a baseball laboratory for two decades while the rest of the league argues about whether their payroll is legal.
The 2010 Rays system was loaded with names like Desmond Jennings, Jeremy Hellickson, Wade Davis, and Matt Moore. That is a very Rays group: one highly ranked outfielder, a bunch of arms, and enough depth to make you feel like they were about to invent another 89-win season out of duct tape and scouting reports.
Jennings had moments, but he never became the franchise-changing star some expected. Hellickson won AL Rookie of the Year in 2011. Wade Davis eventually became an elite reliever, though his best years came in Kansas City.
The Rays stayed competitive. They won the AL East in 2010 and remained annoying in the exact way the Rays always remain annoying. But this group did not deliver a World Series title to Tampa Bay.
It was a good system. It produced real big leaguers. It helped keep the Rays machine moving.
2011
#1 Farm System: Kansas City Royals
Top Prospect: Eric Hosmer, 1B
What Happened?
This is one of the best examples of prospect hype actually turning into something real.
The Royals had Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Salvador Perez, Danny Duffy, Wil Myers, Jake Odorizzi, and Mike Montgomery.
Hosmer became a key piece. Moustakas became a key piece. Salvy became the face of the franchise. Duffy helped the pitching staff. Wil Myers was eventually traded in the James Shields deal. While Shield was good for the Royals, he would not get a ring with the team.
Kansas City won the AL pennant in 2014, lost a Game 7 heartbreaker to Madison Bumgarner and the Giants, then came back in 2015 and finished the job.
2012
#1 Farm System: San Diego Padres
Top Prospect: Yonder Alonso, 1B
What Happened?
The Padres had the shiny farm system.
Yonder Alonso became a useful major leaguer, but he was never a franchise-changing bat. Yasmani Grandal was part of this group and became a valuable player, though most of his best years came elsewhere. San Diego had talent, but the system never turned into the core of a real contender.
In terms of not production, this is probably the worst system on this list.
2013
#1 Farm System: St. Louis Cardinals
Top Prospect: Oscar Taveras, OF
What Happened?
Oscar Taveras was one of the most exciting young hitters in baseball. He looked like the next great Cardinals bat, the type of player who could extend an already-successful St. Louis era and give them another middle-of-the-order monster.
Then tragedy hit.
Taveras died in a car crash in 2014 at just 22 years old.
So the normal “did the prospect pan out?” conversation does not really apply here. Baseball-wise, the Cardinals still got value from that era of talent. They remained competitive, reached the 2014 NLCS, won 100 games in 2015, and did not have a losing season until 2023.
The prospect who went on to have the best career would be Michael Wacha, who was their #6 prospect that year.
2014
#1 Farm System: Pittsburgh Pirates
Top Prospect: Gregory Polanco, OF
What Happened?
Gregory Polanco was the headliner, Jameson Taillon was #2, Tyler Glasnow was #3, Austin Meadows was #4, and Josh Bell was #6. And down near the bottom was Clay Holmes at #16.
This might come as a surprise to some Gen Z TikTok boys, but the Pirates had a brief window when they were pretty damn good. From 2013 to 2015, the Pirates made the playoffs and won over 88 games each season. Andrew McCutchen was in his prime, and the farm system was deep. Pirates fans saw a dynasty incoming.
Polanco had flashes but never became the star people hoped for. Taillon became a solid starter but had to battle major health issues. Glasnow never put it together with the Pirates and would go on to find his form with the Rays; the same goes for Austin Meadows. That trade for Chris Archer doesn’t get talked about enough.
2015
#1 Farm System: Chicago Cubs
Top Prospect: Kris Bryant, 3B
What Happened?
This is the cleanest “yes, the farm system mattered” example. There are some freaking names on this list.
Kris Bryant, Addison Russell, Jorge Soler, Kyle Schwarber, Gleyber Torres, Eloy Jimenez, Jeimer Candelario, Daniel Vogelbach, Justin Steele, Dylan Cease, and Paul Blackburn.
Kris Bryant became NL Rookie of the Year in 2015, then NL MVP in 2016. Kyle Schwarber became a postseason folk hero. Addison Russell, despite everything that came later, was part of the on-field core. Torres was flipped for Chapman and we all know what came next.
And then, of course, 2016 happened.
2016
#1 Farm System: Los Angeles Dodgers
Top Prospect: Corey Seager, SS
What Happened?
Corey Seager became the NL Rookie of the Year in 2016, turned into one of the best shortstops in baseball, and eventually won World Series MVP in 2020 when the Dodgers finally captured their first championship since 1988.
There were some other significant names who either helped in the World Series or were traded away for pieces that played a role.
Julio Urias, Grant Holmes, Frankie Montas, Cody Bellinger, Alex Verdugo, Walker Buehler, Austin Barnes, Ross Stripling, and Kyle Farmer stand out.
2017 and 2018
#1 Farm System: Atlanta Braves
Top Prospect: Dansby Swanson, SS
What Happened?
The Braves are another clear success story and one of four teams on this list to appear twice. Both 2017 and 2018 saw them atop the rankings.
Dansby Swanson was the top name entering 2017, but the real strength of this system was the wave behind him. Ozzie Albies, Ronald Acuña Jr, Max Fried, Mike Soroka, Ian Anderson, Sean Newcomb, and Austin Riley were coming.
Outside of 2025, the team has not had a losing season since it went 72-90 in 2017. Of course, that includes their World Series in 2021.
2019
#1 Farm System: San Diego Padres
Top Prospect: Fernando Tatis Jr., SS
What Happened?
This system produced a superstar, and well, that is about it. Fernando Tatis Jr. is the only name from that year who would go on to become a star.
MacKenzie Gore, Luis Urías, Francisco Mejía, Chris Paddack, Adrian Morejon, Michel Báez, and Luis Patiño rounded out the top prospects. Gore is the biggest name here, and he had his best years with the Nationals after the Soto trade.
Compared to 2012, this farm system at least led to some success. From 2020 to 2025, the Padres only had one losing season.
2020 and 2021
#1 Farm System: Tampa Bay Rays
Top Prospect: Wander Franco, SS
What Happened?
It should come as no surprise that the 2020 and 2021 top farm systems were the same. There wasn’t much minor league ball in 2020, and the draft was shortened.
Let’s get the elephant in the room out of the way. Wander Franco was the top prospect in both of these seasons. Yeah, he was really freaking good, but he is a terrible human being (allegedly).
Outside of that, there were some studs on these lists. Xavier Edwards, Shane Baz, Shane McClanahan, Joe Ryan, Josh Lowe, Randy Arozarena, and Taj Bradley, to name a few.
And in the short term, the Rays had some success. They won 100 games in 2021 and would go on to make the Wild Card in 2022 and 2023. They didn’t win a series and actually only won a single game, but that is more than a lot of teams on this list.
If the Rays go and win a World Series this year (I don’t think they will), it will not be because of this farm system.
2022
#1 Farm System: Seattle Mariners
Top Prospect: Julio Rodríguez, OF
What Happened?
While there is no World Series yet, this farm system has led directly to Seattle breaking their playoff drought.
Julio Rodriguez, George Kirby, Noelvi Marte, Emerson Hancock, Lazaro Montes, Edwin Arroyo, Bryce Miller, and a few other solid names have either directly contributed or been moved for important pieces.
The Mariners have not won the American League. They have not won a World Series. But this system has absolutely mattered.
2023 and 2024
#1 Farm System: Baltimore Orioles
Top Prospect: Gunnar Henderson, 3B/SS (2023), Jackson Holliday, SS (2024)
What Happened?
The Orioles were the rebuilding team everyone had been waiting on.
And are still waiting on. Let’s go over the names here across the two seasons.
Gunnar Henderson, Grayson Rodriguez, Jackson Holliday, Colton Cowser, Jordan Westburg, Heston Kjerstad, DL Hall, Connor Norby, Joey Ortiz, Coby Mayo, Dylan Beavers, Samuel Basallo, Enrique Bradfield Jr, Cade Povich, and many more.
This is the only example on this list where maybe their farm system was TOO good. The Orioles didn’t seem to know what to do with all these guys and initially did not want to move any.
Their big league squad was performing superbly. 101 wins in 2023 and 91 wins in 2024 with all of this youth movement incoming? The sky was the limit.
Then they went 75-87 in 2025, were marred with injuries, and realized they should have moved a few of those names a year or two ago.
If they don’t see a World Series in the next three years, an argument can be made that this is the biggest farm system disaster in recent memory.
2025
#1 Farm System: Boston Red Sox
Top Prospect: Roman Anthony, OF
What Happened?
I almost feel dirty speaking poorly about a farm system this young.
Right now, everything looks like a disaster. Roman Anthony is hurt, Kristian Campbell is lost, Marcelo Mayer is eh.
Now, Connelly Early and Payton Tolle have looked great, so that is a big positive. Franklian Arias has also developed into the #3 prospect in all of MLB.