Top prospect on every National League team

You may know the veteran stars on every team, but not every fan has a handle on top prospects in both leagues.

With spring training under way, Yardbarker MLB writers identify the top prospect on every National League team. (2024 regular-season records are in parentheses.)

NL East

ATLANTA BRAVES (89-73) | Catcher Drake Baldwin | A 2022 third-round pick by the Braves, Baldwin is gaining steam as spring training rolls on, with The Athletic’s David O’Brien writiing he's "too good not to be” a starting catcher in the majors soon. Sean Murphy will be the club’s primary catcher, while Chadwick Tromp can fulfill backup duties until Baldwin gets ready for a potential midseason call-up.

MIAMI MARLINS (62-100) | SS Starlyn Caba | Acquired from the Phillies in the Jesus Luzardo trade, Caba has quickly climbed the rankings of Miami's system. He's still far from making it to the big leagues, but the 19-year-old Dominican is tremendous at making contact and is stellar defensively.

NEW YORK METS (89-73) | RHP Brandon Sproat | The imposing righty Sproat will probably be in the majors this season, especially since the rotation has many questions entering 2025. In three levels in the minors last year, the 24-year-old had a 3.40 ERA with 131 strikeouts in 116.1 innings.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (95-67) | SS Aidan Miller | Drafted in the first round of the 2023 MLB Draft, Miller has flown through the minor leagues, ending 2024 in Double-A. As the team's No. 1 prospect, the 20-year-old posted a .812 OPS with 11 home runs and 60 RBI on three levels in the minors last season.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS (71-91) | 3B Brady House | Selected 11th overall by the Nationals in the 2021 MLB Draft, House had 21 doubles, 19 homers and 66 RBI in 129 Double-A and Triple-A games in 2024. Ideally, Washington would like him to win the third base job this spring, but the club has Jose Tena as another option at the position. — Lauren Amour 

NL West

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (89-73) | SS Jordan Lawlar | Shortstop Geraldo Perdomo was recently signed to a four-year extension, but Arizona GM Mike Hazen has made it clear there is a path for Lawlar to impact the Diamondbacks sooner than later. The 22-year-old went 4-for-31 with Arizona in limited playing time last season. 

COLORADO ROCKIES (61-101) | RHP Chase Dollander | The ninth overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, Dollander dazzled during his one minor league season, posting a 2.59 ERA over 23 starts between High-A and Double-A. A non-roster spring training invitee, he is drawing early high praise, perhaps putting him on the fast path to the big leagues this season.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS (98-64) | RHP Roki Sasaki | It seems strange to call him a prospect after all of the fanfare that went into his pursuit and signing this winter, but Sasaki’s MLB debut (likely coming in the opening series against the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo) will make for must-watch television. Sasaki has all of the tools to become one of the key components of an already deep and talented rotation.

SAN DIEGO PADRES (93-69) | C Ethan Salas | Only 18, Salas clearly is the future catcher for the Padres. In spring training, he is catching veteran Padres pitchers, giving him familiarity with those who could be his teammates before this season is over.

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (80-82) | 1B Bryce Eldridge | At 20, Eldridge is the youngest player in San Francisco’s camp and perhaps the one who is drawing the most eyeballs. Last season, he advanced from Low-A to Triple-A, logging an .893 OPS in 555 at-bats on those levels, giving the Giants hope for a long-term answer at first base. — Kevin Henry

NL Central

CHICAGO CUBS (83-79) | 3B Matt Shaw | After sending 2024 All-Star third baseman Isaac Paredes to the Houston Astros in a package to acquire outfielder Kyle Tucker, followed by being outbid by the Boston Red Sox for Alex Bregman, the team's 3B options are 40-year-old Justin Turner and Jon Berti, who played in only 25 games with the New York Yankees last season. Shaw, a first-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, has the tools to fill the shoes at third base after showing promise in Triple-A last season (.298/.395/.534 in 35 games).

CINCINNATI REDS (77-85) | Pitcher Rhett Lowder | A first-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft and Cincinnati’s No. 2 prospect, Lowder climbed from Single-A to the majors in his first season with the organization. In six major league starts, he posted a promising 1.17 ERA. He could be an option in a crowded rotation.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS (93-69) | Pitcher Craig Yoho | With the departure of two-time NL Reliever of the Year Devin Williams to the Yankees, the back end of the bullpen is thin. In the minors last season, Yoho posted a 0.94 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, .151 batting average against and 101 strikeouts in 57.2 innings, proving he has the tools to take his game to the next level.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES (76-86) | Pitcher Bubba Chandler |  Pittsburgh remains at the bottom of the barrel in the NL Central, but the Bucs have young talent on their pitching staff going for them. Chandler is the No.15 prospect in the MLB Top 100 after a 2024 campaign that included seven strong outings in Triple-A last year (1.83 ERA and 54 strikeouts in 39.1 innings).

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (83-79) | Pitcher Quinn Mathews | Mathews, the team's No. 3 prospect, climbed from Single-A to Triple-A last year, posting a 2.76 ERA and 202 strikeouts in 143.1 innings. In Single-A, High-A and Double-A, he posted a 2.26 ERA overall. However, he struggled in Triple-A (6.48 ERA) and must show more before he sticks in the big leagues. — Taylor Bretl