BLB Power Rankings

New Orleans needed just four games to win the Brewmasters Cup, sweeping Baltimore after outlasting Wilmington in seven games in the Divisional Series and Montreal in five in the League Championship Series. That championship banner means little for 2073, though, once you look at how these rosters have turned over. Here is how the twenty-four teams stack up this time around.

1. Toronto Canadians — 84.9

2. New Orleans Voodoo — 93.0

3. Denver Bulls — 106.8

4. Philadelphia Freedom — 120.2

5. Washington Bats — 121.2

6. Pittsburgh Millers — 129.8

7. Windy City Blues — 132.4

8. Montreal Exports — 138.1

9. Maine Guides — 138.9

10. Indianapolis Clowns — 141.8

11. Seattle Sasquatch — 142.0

12. Phoenix Roadrunners — 142.1

13. Batavia Muckdogs — 142.7

14. Los Angeles Sharks — 143.8

15. Wilmington Wildcats — 145.3

16. Carolina Tobs — 155.2

17. Pawtucket Patriots — 158.1

18. Baltimore Bulldogs — 163.7

19. Syracuse Snappers — 170.8

20. California Kodiaks — 180.4

21. New York Cyclones — 180.4

22. Hartford Whalers — 185.0

23. Santo Domingo Rum Runners — 191.9

24. Dallas Drillers — 196.8

1. Toronto Canadians — Score: 84.9

Scott Stone won a third straight Designated Driver award at second base after hitting .311 with 30 home runs and 92 RBI, and ranks 1st at the position again, a stat line that’s landed him on the OSA Top 20 as well. John Mabry backed up his Gold Glove in left field with a .311/.374/.565 line, 29 home runs, and 85 RBI, and also ranks 1st there, another name on that same OSA list. Ben Blackman at shortstop (3rd), Sean Puckett at third base (4th), David Avila behind the plate (4th), and Regis Bryant in right field (3rd) give Toronto as deep a defensive core as anyone. No team was busier this winter, either: the Canadians tore down the pitching staff and started over, bringing in Holden Ritchey as a veteran innings-eater, plus Zack Watts and Jim Miller to round out a full rotation overhaul, and fired manager Alex Contreras in favor of Mel Dimitroff on a five-year deal.

None of the new arms has cracked the top of the rotation yet, though: Blaze Houk, an OSA Top 20 arm himself, still fronts it, going 8-11 with a 4.88 ERA but still posting 4.1 WAR, a sign the peripherals were better than the record. Kyler Geib, another OSA Top 20 pitcher, is part of that overhaul as well, though he hasn’t cracked the top of the rotation yet either. Grant Spivey, the winter’s other addition, mans center field but ranks just 18th there, and the bullpen, fronted by Scott Lewis, ranks 15th among relievers. Toronto missed the playoffs entirely a year ago. The farm system is loaded behind all this, too: second base prospect Trivante Nava, left field prospect Sean Bodine, and right field prospect Jon Wingfield are each rated the number one overall prospect in the league at their respective positions. On paper, with a retooled rotation, a new voice in the dugout, and that kind of pipeline behind it, this is the best team in the league.

2. New Orleans Voodoo — Score: 93.0

Isaac Paulk hit .329 with 19 home runs, 73 RBI, and 6.6 WAR at shortstop last season and ranks 4th there entering 2073, part of a championship roster that mostly returns intact after topping Baltimore for the franchise’s latest Brewmasters Cup. Edgar Pollert, an OSA Top 20 bat, followed a 49-homer, 134-RBI season with a rank of 2nd at first base, and Rayford Kimmons, another OSA Top 20 name, posted 5.4 WAR at second base, ranking 3rd. The bullpen is still the calling card: the relief corps ranks 1st in the league, and closer Cole Shelton ranks 3rd among closers, giving the Voodoo a shutdown late-inning tandem again.

Jacquil Laboy in right field (5th) and Jensen Bishop in left field (5th) round out a strong outfield outside of center, where Christopher Horan checks in at 20th. Seth Summitt, an OSA Top 20 arm, fronts a rotation that ranks a modest 12th, with Landon Robinette, last year’s Refreshing New Brew Award winner after going 17-4 with a 3.14 ERA and 4.4 WAR, behind him. Third base remains the weak spot, with Sawyer Dunivent at 20th, but this roster has a championship pedigree and enough talent to defend it. The pipeline is strong too: reliever prospect Lorenzo Knott is the top-rated prospect in the league at his position, and second base prospect Liam Tullock isn’t far behind at 2nd overall.

3. Denver Bulls — Score: 106.8

Denver climbs into the top five for 2073 despite missing the playoffs last season, and there’s a real case the 80-82 record undersold this roster. Denver ran nine games below its Pythagorean win total in 2072, meaning this team’s underlying performance was closer to a playoff club than the standings showed. The front office responded by betting on continuity, extending five of its own players this winter and locking up the entire coaching staff, bench coach, pitching coach, hitting coach, scouting director, and trainer, to five-year deals in a single day. The headline extension is Branden Clifton, an OSA Top 20 talent who backed up a .262/.342/.565 season with 40 home runs, 98 RBI, 26 stolen bases, and 4.3 WAR, and now ranks 1st in right field. Lex de la Cruz, also an OSA Top 20 name, who hit 41 home runs and drove in 115 runs a year ago, ranks 3rd at first base. Lenny Donahue won a Gold Glove at second base and ranks 5th there while Henry Munger gives the infield more depth at shortstop (10th).

Max Carlisle, extended after converting 6 saves with a 3.88 ERA out of the bullpen, anchors a relief corps that ranks 7th in the league. Logan Clark, an OSA Top 20 arm, went 13-9 with a 3.13 ERA and 3.7 WAR and fronts a rotation sitting at 15th. Left field turned over, with Jonathan Long now ranked 9th there, and new catcher Garett Thomas adds depth behind Jeremy Goodson. The lineup is deep across the diamond, and if the bad luck normalizes, Denver has the look of a real contender. Reliever prospect Kristian Rohr (3rd overall in the league at his position) and second base prospect Eddie Hermann (6th overall) give the pipeline some real ammunition too.

4. Philadelphia Freedom — Score: 120.2

Tarik Williams is considered the best pitcher in baseball right now, and it’s hard to argue: he took home a second straight Pale Ale Pitcher Award after going 15-2 with a 2.53 ERA and 5.5 WAR, and fronts a rotation that ranks 1st in the league again, with Dante Hill, also an OSA Top 20 arm (15-10, 3.97 ERA, 4.1 WAR), giving it a strong second option. Alec Bridges, an OSA Top 20 hitter, swept the third base honors, hitting .289 with 40 home runs, 105 RBI, and 5.7 WAR to go with Gold Glove defense, and ranks 1st at the position. Brian Van Hook remains one of the best defensive center fielders anywhere and ranks 2nd, with York Goldschmidt, who hit .287 with 39 home runs, 101 RBI, and 4.1 WAR, right behind him in right field at 2nd.

That kind of talent was enough to win the Stout outright a year ago, but the bullpen gave it away when Baltimore ended the run in a five-game Divisional Series, and it’s still the real problem now: the relief corps behind Chadwick Kihara ranked last in the league at 24th, and closer Jayden Lemley ranks 23rd among closers, and shortstop is thin too, with Trevor Fisher at 23rd. Philadelphia has the rotation and the corners to win the Stout again, but the bullpen needs a total overhaul. Behind it all, starting pitcher prospect Sheridan Innis is rated the top prospect in the league at his position, and center field prospect Lane Getz isn’t far behind at 2nd overall.

5. Washington Bats — Score: 121.2

Nathan Yarnes hit .310 with 37 home runs, 103 RBI, and 4.3 WAR last season and remains a premier left fielder, ranking 2nd at the position and cracking the OSA Top 20 in the process. Nick Strain gives the infield a steady presence at second base, ranking 4th, and Karter McClatchie won a fourth straight Designated Driver award behind the plate after hitting .270 with 27 home runs and 73 RBI. Washington fought through Batavia in the wild card round before Phoenix ended the run in a five-game Divisional Series, and the front office responded with the winter’s biggest pitching investment. Donte’ Escarcega left Pawtucket on a four-year, $109 million deal after a 7-8, 3.62 ERA season with 3.8 WAR, one of the largest commitments of the offseason for a pitcher who wasn’t even an ace by record, and now fronts a rotation that ranks 4th in the league.

Kaleb Morris gives the Bats a capable closer at 5th, with Erich Mosqueda, last year’s Last Call Award winner after a 1.70 ERA and 17 holds, setting up ahead of him. Tommy McDaniel at third base (12th) and Riley Adams at shortstop (11th) round out a solid infield. Center field is the weak spot, with Rob Lilley ranked 22nd, and right field is thin too, with Merrill Eubanks at 16th. Washington bet big on pitching this winter, and it has enough infield depth to make another run at the Stout. The farm system backs that up: starting pitcher prospect Tanner Gallion and left field prospect Desmond Tapia are both rated 2nd overall in the league at their positions.

6. Pittsburgh Millers — Score: 129.8

Benedict Zacarias earned the Pale Ale Pitcher Award with a 16-3 record, a 3.03 ERA, and 4.5 WAR a year ago, and Davon Arechiga, who posted a 3.32 ERA and 4.3 WAR of his own, now fronts a rotation that ranks 9th entering 2073. Randy Connor, last year’s Designated Driver honoree in center field after hitting .294 with 17 home runs, 70 RBI, and 3.6 WAR, ranks 4th at the position again. Colton Melchert gives the outfield more thump in left field at 3rd, and Sammy Garrison anchors a reliever corps that ranks 3rd in the league. Sean Blosser behind the plate (5th) rounds out a solid core.

That pitching and defense carried Pittsburgh to 101 wins and the Ale outright a year ago, but it wasn’t enough to get past Montreal, who ended the run in a seven-game Divisional Series, exposing the same corners that are still a concern now: Robbie Littrell at third base ranks 17th and Liam Kelley in right field ranks 22nd, and J.P. Esteban ranks 21st among closers. Pittsburgh has the pitching depth to get back to the Divisional Series, but the corners need work. Shortstop prospect Estes Qing (4th overall in the league at the position) and catching prospect Carl Overgard (3rd overall) give the pipeline real depth up the middle.

7. Windy City Blues — Score: 132.4

James Keating quietly put together one of the best pitching seasons in the league, going 14-12 with a 3.69 ERA over 236.2 innings and 6.1 WAR, and fronts a rotation that ranks 10th in 2073, good enough to land him on the OSA Top 20. Brad Castro, another OSA Top 20 name, hit .260 with 18 home runs, 45 RBI, and 3.8 WAR at shortstop, and ranks 2nd at the position. Tasher de la Cruz gives the Blues a strong complement at second base, ranking 6th, and Drew Wheeler in center field checks in at 6th. Nigel Torres, who hit .294 with 40 home runs, 100 RBI, and 3.8 WAR, rounds out a solid infield at first base, ranked 8th. Third base is the clear weakness, with Jonathon Hochstetler ranked 21st, and right field is thin too, with Ezekiel Wolfson at 19th.

Windy City missed the playoffs last season despite a .500 record, but the infield and Keating’s ace-caliber season give this roster real upside for 2073. Shortstop prospect Ogden Kim, rated the top prospect in the league at the position, and second base prospect Sean Wooten (5th overall) suggest that infield strength isn’t going anywhere.

8. Montreal Exports — Score: 138.1

Andy Blake went 16-9 with a 3.32 ERA and 5.0 WAR a year ago and fronts a rotation that ranks 3rd in the league, an OSA Top 20 season by any measure, with Rich Mount (3.67 ERA, 4.3 WAR), Andre Guse (4.2 WAR), and fellow OSA Top 20 arm Brandon Flynn giving it real depth behind him. Jeffrey Lauer and Braedin Kim, both OSA Top 20 hitters, give the Exports one of the best keystone-and-catcher combinations in the league, ranking 2nd at second base and 2nd behind the plate. Cole Bogue, another OSA Top 20 name, is right there at first base, ranked 3rd. That rotation carried Montreal to the deepest run of any non-finalist, sweeping Santo Domingo in the wild card round, outlasting Pittsburgh in a seven-game Divisional Series, and pushing New Orleans to five games in the League Championship Series before the eventual champions closed it out. Harrison Holly won the Designated Driver award at third base after hitting .305 with 36 home runs, 91 RBI, and 4.5 WAR, though the position now ranks 13th.

The outfield is a serious concern, with Devyn Glover in left field at 23rd and Tommy Dunham in center field at 21st, and the bullpen fell off hard: Fred Rodda, who converted 45 saves with a 2.29 ERA and won the Last Call Award, has given way to a relief corps behind Gunnar Wolfe ranked 18th and closer Dalton Hendrickson at 19th among closers. The rotation will need to carry Montreal that far again. First base prospect Cody Ferry, rated the top prospect in the league at the position, and shortstop prospect Wilmer Harp (7th overall) add to a farm system that’s already producing at the major league level.

9. Maine Guides — Score: 138.9

Cale Williams remains the anchor at catcher, ranking 1st at the position and among the OSA Top 20 to boot, and Marcus DeBone, also on that list, won a Gold Glove at first base, ranking 6th there. Maine also picked up a change-of-scenery bat this winter in Jeffery Barrett, who went cold for Baltimore during the Brewmasters Cup run after a .238, 21-homer, 79-RBI regular season, and now sits at shortstop, ranked 13th. Deondre Ivy quietly put up a strong season, going 15-11 with a 3.66 ERA and 4.8 WAR, though the rotation as a whole still ranks just 20th entering 2073; Justin Edlund, an OSA Top 20 arm, gives it another useful piece behind him. Jakob O’Connor gives the infield a piece to build around at third base, ranking 9th, and Derick Cross in center field checks in at 12th. Jeremy Golder shifted into the closer’s role and ranks 8th there.

The lineup thins out from second base, where James Kelley ranks 15th, to right field, where Deshaun Bearden sits at 18th. Maine finished 68-94 and missed the playoffs by a wide margin last season. Williams gives this roster a legitimate foundation, but there is still a lot of work left before Maine competes in the Ale. Center field prospect Leo Wheeless and first base prospect Dawson Pascal, both rated 6th overall in the league at their positions, are further out but worth tracking.

10. Indianapolis Clowns — Score: 141.8

Bailey Gray remains a middle-of-the-order threat at first base after hitting .285 with 35 home runs, 87 RBI, and 4.5 WAR, and ranks 5th at the position, an OSA Top 20 season. Alec Ford, also on that OSA list after posting 4.5 WAR, gives the infield a strong complement at third base, ranking 2nd, and Tucker Stokes is a weapon out of the bullpen, which ranks 11th among relievers overall, with Stokes himself ranking 4th among closers. London Schroeder, an OSA Top 20 arm, fronts a rotation that checks in at 8th. Johnny Campbell behind the plate (10th) and Weston McLean in center field (13th) round out the everyday mix. Second base is the biggest hole in the league, with Rick Ference ranked dead last at 24th, and shortstop is thin too, with Ray Ayres at 21st.

Indianapolis missed the playoffs a year ago, finishing third in the Ale. The corners and the bullpen give this roster a real floor, but the middle infield needs an overhaul, even with third base prospect Shadell Mitchell rated the top prospect in the league at the position and first base prospect Dayton Wanta right behind him at 2nd overall.

11. Seattle Sasquatch — Score: 142.0

Billy Heil remains one of the most complete players in the league in right field, combining a .334/.390/.617 line with 32 home runs, 93 RBI, 5.7 WAR, and Gold Glove defense, and ranks 4th at the position entering 2073. Preston Karr in center field (5th) rounds out a strong outer defense, and Anthony Costello gives the lineup a steady presence behind the plate at 6th. Seattle’s season ended in a four-game wild card loss to Baltimore, and the front office responded with the winter’s headline addition: Corey Hughes, last year’s Stout Slugger Award winner after hitting .325 with 39 home runs, 97 RBI, and 7.3 WAR, signed a three-year, $119.4 million deal to man left field and ranks 7th there.

Seattle also added second baseman Jay Sharpe from Pittsburgh on a three-year, $28 million deal after he hit .278 with 26 home runs and 78 RBI, though Ike Calabrese remains the top-ranked option there for now (10th). Joey Ness rounds out the left side of the infield at third base (10th). Leighton Bean went 11-9 with a 3.45 ERA and 3.7 WAR but still fronts a rotation that ranks just 18th. Seattle has as much outfield firepower as anyone in the league, but the pitching staff needs to catch up. Right field prospect Marcus Coffey (3rd overall in the league at the position) and catching prospect Aston Loeb (4th overall) suggest that outfield strength is built to last.

12. Phoenix Roadrunners — Score: 142.1

Franklin Pennell had the best pitching season in the league by WAR, going 18-5 with a 3.16 ERA over 231 innings and 6.3 WAR, and fronts a rotation that ranks 2nd entering 2073, easily an OSA Top 20 arm. That kind of arm carried Phoenix to the League Championship Series, where the Roadrunners fell to Baltimore in six games after beating Washington in the Divisional Series. V.J. Contreras in right field checks in at 6th, and Israel Elpers won the Designated Driver award at shortstop after hitting .318 with 17 home runs, 82 RBI, and 4.2 WAR, though the position now ranks 17th.

Kole Herber won a Gold Glove behind the plate, and Andrew Kelley at third base (7th) and Nathan Busse in left field (8th) add depth. The lineup thins out at first base, where Braxton Kanai ranks 23rd, and in center field, where Phil Wells sits at 16th. Phoenix has front-line pitching and a proven track record in October, but the middle of the lineup still has real questions. Center field prospect Bradyn Key (7th overall in the league at the position) and third base prospect Duncan Lindberg (5th overall) are further out but could help address that eventually.

13. Batavia Muckdogs — Score: 142.7

Joseph Stevens swept the major hitting honors at first base, winning the Stout Slugger Award and a Gold Glove after hitting .319 with 39 home runs, 105 RBI, and 5.8 WAR, though he ranks 15th at the position entering 2073. Terrance Anderson, an OSA Top 20 arm, is a true weapon at the back of the bullpen, ranking 2nd among closers in the league. Brian Niemeyer at shortstop (9th), Nelson Hawkins at second base (9th), and Greg Helm in center field (7th) give Batavia a strong defensive core, even after a first-round exit last October, swept by Washington in the wild card round. E.J. Scott (5.5 WAR) and Max Kidd (4.5 WAR, and the current top-ranked starter at 17th) give the rotation two useful arms even if the unit ranks in the bottom half of the league.

The reliever corps behind Anderson is the biggest concern, checking in at 20th. Batavia has thump at first base and a shutdown closer, but needs more from the middle of the rotation to get back to October. Right field prospect Dalton Conkin, rated the top prospect in the league at the position, and center field prospect Andy Williams (3rd overall) give the outfield pipeline real promise.

14. Los Angeles Sharks — Score: 143.8

Blaine Near gives the Sharks a true weapon at the back of the bullpen, ranking 1st among closers in the league and cracking the OSA Top 20, and Cady Amaro backs him up with a bullpen that ranks 6th overall. Blayke Ramos in center field (3rd) and Sean Radel at shortstop (6th) give the roster some athletic building blocks up the middle, and Kody Ripley in right field checks in at 8th. Mitchell Kovich fronts a rotation that ranks 14th. The left side of the infield and left field are the problem: Lucas King at third base and Tim Banner in left field both rank dead last in the league at 24th, and Devin Rhoton at second base ranks 21st.

Los Angeles missed the playoffs last season, finishing fifth in the Bock. A genuine shutdown closer and some pieces up the middle give this roster a foundation, but the corners need a real rebuild. Closer prospect Austyn Choe, rated the top prospect in the league at the position, and shortstop prospect River Morabito (2nd overall) suggest the pipeline is ahead of the current roster.

15. Wilmington Wildcats — Score: 145.3

Dominick Booth remains the real anchor, a two-time Gold Glove shortstop and OSA Top 20 talent who posted 6.2 WAR last season and ranks 1st at the position entering 2073. Cristian Wilfert (3.6 WAR) and Eamon Hakki (3.6 WAR, a 17-game winner), both OSA Top 20 arms, join Neil McClaine (3.6 WAR) to give the rotation three useful pieces, and it now ranks 7th in the league. That pitching staff pushed the eventual champions to seven games in the Divisional Series after grinding past Pawtucket in five in the wild card round, the closest anyone came to knocking off New Orleans all postseason. The club also closed the book on the Sorcery identity and reverted to the original Wildcats name and logo for 2073. The roster turned over some with the rebrand: Chandler Frazee left for California on a three-year, $21 million deal, and Corey Hughes departed as a free agent before eventually signing with Seattle. In their place, Wilmington added center fielder Corvin Bartlett, a part-time outfielder who hit .284 with 7 home runs in 56 games, and starting pitcher Keegan King, modest, complementary additions rather than headline replacements. J.D. Dorn in right field (tied for 8th) and Jerian Barnes at first base (13th) add some thump. Closer Raine Johnston ranks 10th among closers, but the relief corps behind Brian Tonkin is thin, ranked 22nd.

Wilmington still has a championship-caliber anchor at shortstop and playoff pedigree, but replacing the production it lost in the outfield and behind the plate will determine whether the Wildcats get back there. Starting pitcher prospect Hiram Ross and first base prospect Keaton Mitcham, both rated in the top 10 in the league at their positions, are further down the pipeline.

16. Carolina Tobs — Score: 155.2

Asa McKee, last year’s Designated Driver in left field after hitting .299 with 40 home runs and 109 RBI, has shifted to first base and ranks 7th there. Adrian Ramsey at shortstop (8th) and Bailey Collins in left field (4th) give the lineup real thump up the middle and at the corner, and Ray Burley rounds out the infield at second base (12th). Carolina also made one of the winter’s bigger single commitments, signing Chase Spiker for four years and $68 million after a .271, 18-homer, 12-steal season. He’s been used in center field, where he ranks dead last in the league at 24th, but that’s a stretch defensively; his real value is at second base, where he’s a five-time Defense with Integrity award winner, with left and right field as fallback spots. That center field decline is a real drop-off from Shane Kiely, last year’s Designated Driver there after hitting .310 with 20 home runs, who’s no longer part of the picture.

The Tobs also added catcher Brian Hermes, the wild card round MVP against Seattle a year ago, on a one-year deal, and he slots in at 12th behind the plate. The pitching staff is thin across the board, with Yolonzo Arias fronting a rotation ranked 16th, the relief corps behind Jakob Williamson at 16th, and closer Colton Karnuth at 15th among closers. Carolina missed the playoffs last season, finishing fifth in the Stout. There are offensive pieces here at first base, shortstop, and left field, and Spiker could unlock more value if he ever moves to his natural position, but the pitching staff needs real investment. Left field prospect Julian Rossi (4th overall in the league at the position) and shortstop prospect Carter Wallace (5th overall) add more talent to track.

17. Pawtucket Patriots — Score: 158.1

Davey Page anchors the left side of the infield at third base, ranking 3rd at the position entering 2073, with free agent addition Henry Miller providing depth behind him. Deontae Dennis in center field (8th) and Ryley Luciano at second base (8th) give the roster a solid defensive core up the middle. Pawtucket took Wilmington the distance in a five-game wild card round loss last October, then watched its ace cash in elsewhere: Donte’ Escarcega left for Washington on a four-year, $109 million deal after a 7-8, 3.62 ERA season with 3.8 WAR, leaving Ty Hurt (3.7 WAR) and Brad Zook (3.7 WAR) to front a rotation that now ranks just 11th. Dalton Marino at first base (12th) and Tristen Hanna in right field (12th) round out a balanced everyday group. Catcher and the bullpen are the glaring holes: Bailey Burke ranks dead last in the league at 24th, the relief corps behind Ridley Diez sits at 23rd, and closer Shane Scherger ranks last among closers at 24th.

Pawtucket has a well-rounded everyday roster, but losing Escarcega hurts, and the catching spot and the back of the bullpen still need real answers. Third base prospect Evan Bailey (3rd overall in the league at the position) and second base prospect Jarekious Walker (11th overall) give the infield pipeline some depth.

18. Baltimore Bulldogs — Score: 163.7

Aaren Hernandez hit .274 with 22 home runs and 75 RBI last season and remains the best center fielder in the league, an OSA Top 20 fixture who ranks 1st at the position entering 2073; the front office locked him up with a six-year, $145.5 million extension after nobody made a bigger October run than Baltimore, which knocked off Seattle, Philadelphia, and Phoenix on the way to the Brewmasters Cup before New Orleans finished the job in a sweep. Grant Henry, also on the OSA Top 20 and a Gold Glove winner on the mound, went 15-13 with a 3.39 ERA and 4.4 WAR, and fronts a rotation that checks in at 6th, with Tommy Humes (3.8 WAR) behind him after Marco Nzibo, who started 31 games in that playoff run, left for Hartford as a free agent. Anton Anthony gives the Bulldogs a capable closer at 9th, and the relief corps behind Max Joiner ranks 8th. Everything else took a step back: first baseman Seth Riddle, who hit 39 home runs during the Cup run, remains unsigned and off the roster, leaving Jack Peterson behind the plate at 21st, Landry Longstreth at second base at 23rd, Nate Camacho at third base at 19th, and LaRon Ahn in left field at 22nd.

Baltimore proved last October that pitching and Hernandez alone can carry a roster deep into the playoffs, but the infield and left field need real rebuilding to make another run. The pipeline offers some hope: center field prospect Hakim Curtis is rated the top prospect in the league at the position, and third base prospect Jamie Coker isn’t far off at 9th overall.

19. Syracuse Snappers — Score: 170.8

Tom Scholz remains a two-time Gold Glove center fielder and ranks 9th at the position, and Joseph Fleetwood gives the outfield more thump in right field after hitting .300 with 30 home runs, 95 RBI, and 4.9 WAR, ranking 7th. Dawson Tuttle added a .311 average, 32 home runs, 110 RBI, and 4.9 WAR of his own in left field, ranking 12th there. Heath Braddock at third base (6th) is a real asset, and the bullpen behind Brendan Cunningham ranks 2nd in the league, with Cunningham himself ranking 6th among closers. Shortstop is the biggest hole in the league, with Sheldon Keener ranked dead last at 24th, and the rotation fell apart too, with Cooper Stiltner, an OSA Top 20 arm, now fronting a staff ranked 23rd. Kameron Hall behind the plate checks in at 23rd as well.

Syracuse finished last in the Ale and missed the playoffs by a wide margin. The outfield and Cunningham give this roster real pieces, but the left side of the infield and the rotation need a full rebuild. Reliever prospect Dallas Jenkins (2nd overall in the league at the position) and center field prospect Xavier Eukepio (8th overall) are further down the pipeline.

20. California Kodiaks — Score: 180.4

Rory Elia Jr., who posted 5.5 WAR at third base, and Ethan Nimmons at shortstop both rank 5th at their positions, giving the left side of the infield a real foundation. Coda Alfaro, a Gold Glove left fielder, ranks 6th there, and Isaac Rippeon in right field checks in at 11th. California made two notable additions this winter: catcher Chandler Frazee left Wilmington on a three-year, $21 million deal despite a modest .237 average, a bet on his defense and game-calling rather than his bat, and now ranks 17th at the position, while center fielder Garrett Parker signed a three-year, $24 million contract and ranks 19th there. Barrett Sherrill won the Refreshing New Brew Award a year ago after hitting .305 with 27 home runs and 63 RBI. The pitching staff remains in rough shape, with Quenton Davis fronting a rotation ranked 21st, the relief corps behind Blaze Pettit at 21st, and closer Cooper Peck at 22nd among closers. Greg Thomas at first base (21st) and Tristan Pitts at second base (20th) round out a lineup with real holes.

California finished with the worst record in the league last season. The left side of the infield is a legitimate building block, but this is still very much a team in the early stages of a rebuild. Third base prospect Braydon Brubaker (2nd overall in the league at the position) and center field prospect Gaige Loy (9th overall) add to that left-side foundation.

21. New York Cyclones — Score: 180.4

Logan Merson got a four-year, $47.75 million extension to stay put after a .236, 10-homer, 22-steal season, the kind of glove-and-legs profile New York wants to build around, and he won a Gold Glove at shortstop, ranking 7th at the position. New York was one of the winter’s most active teams otherwise, reshaping its core rather than tinkering at the edges: Marc “Mole” Dillard signed for $20 million on a single year despite a rough 10-12, 5.36 ERA season, a bet on a proven veteran arm stabilizing the staff, and fronts a rotation that still ranks just 19th. First baseman Cole Mullen arrived on a three-year, $55 million deal after hitting .281 with 33 home runs and 106 RBI, though Dusty Tibbits remains the top-ranked option there for now (22nd). New York also added outfielders Deontay Gardner and Dawson Overton in left field, where Overton ranks 21st, plus reliever Gage Clark. D’Lon Porto is a real weapon in the bullpen, which ranks 5th among relievers overall, with Porto himself ranking 7th among closers. Ollie Mill at second base (13th) drove in 76 runs last season, and Zane Guao behind the plate rounds out the pieces at 13th. The corners are still a serious problem: Isaac Tibaldi at third base ranks 23rd and Brennan Hamilton in right field ranks dead last in the league at 24th.

New York finished last in the Stout and missed the playoffs last season. This is a franchise explicitly reshaping its core, but the corners of the diamond need to catch up. Closer prospect Devon Bess (4th overall in the league at the position) and shortstop prospect Frank Barnett (3rd overall) are part of that reshaping too.

22. Hartford Whalers — Score: 185.0

A.J. Stanley stands out as the real asset here, a legitimate building block behind the plate and OSA Top 20 name who ranks 3rd at catcher entering 2073. Kyle Factor in left field (11th) and Eric Wood in right field (10th) both give the outfield some balance. Hartford also went shopping in Baltimore’s rotation of playoff arms this winter, signing Marco Nzibo, who started 31 games for the Bulldogs during their run to the Brewmasters Cup, going 15-7 with a 4.76 ERA; he joins Justen Fairclough at the front of a rotation that still ranks just 13th. The Whalers also re-signed shortstop Shawn Lee, a glove-and-speed player who hit just .242 but stole 49 bases, keeping him at 19th on the depth chart for now. Kendal Haynes handles both setup and closing duties, with the relief corps ranking 17th and Haynes himself ranking 12th among closers. The lineup falls apart everywhere else: Garrett Paul at first base and Rick McGivney in center field both rank dead last in the league at their positions, 24th, and Dave Christal at third base and Terry Lizardo at second base both check in at 22nd.

Hartford finished 68-94 and missed the playoffs last season. Stanley and a couple of new arms are a start, but the rest of the position-player group needs a near-total overhaul. Catching prospect Eli Schambach (2nd overall in the league at the position) and shortstop prospect Harley Newton (6th overall) offer some hope for the position-player pipeline.

23. Santo Domingo Rum Runners — Score: 191.9

Micah Lumsden hit .297 with 30 home runs, 90 RBI, and 4.6 WAR at first base last season, an OSA Top 20 campaign, and remains an elite presence there, ranking 1st at the position. Troy Yordan posted 5.5 WAR at second base, though the position now ranks 11th, and Wyatt Raney at third base checks in at 8th, giving the left side of the infield real pieces to build around. That offense wasn’t enough last October, though, with Santo Domingo swept by Montreal in the wild card round. The rest of the roster is thin nearly everywhere else: Vince Moore behind the plate ranks 22nd, Nathan Bryant at shortstop ranks 20th, and David Hankins in right field ranks 21st.

The pitching staff is the most pressing need, with Mark Jawad fronting a rotation ranked 22nd and the relief corps behind Leo Morris ranked 19th, with Morris ranking 17th among closers. Santo Domingo has real standouts in Lumsden and Yordan, but last year’s playoff berth masks a roster that needs a significant overhaul heading into 2073. Third base prospect Mason McHugh (6th overall in the league at the position) and second base prospect Seth Taylor (10th overall) give the pipeline a little more to work with.

24. Dallas Drillers — Score: 196.8

Connor Szczurek has shifted across the infield to first base and still ranks 9th there, the roster’s clear strength entering 2073. Ty Dempsey, a nine-time Gold Glove winner in right field, remains with the Drillers but ranks 20th at the position amid last year’s struggles. No rebuilding team did more business this winter than Dallas, though: the Drillers locked up third baseman Orlando Schaeffer on a one-year extension worth $7.75 million and shortstop Nickolas Keyes on a two-year, $4 million extension, both currently ranked 15th and 18th at their positions, and added free agents Royce Turner (now at second base, 17th), starting pitcher Evan Baker, and reliever Nic McClelland to round out the roster. Cameron Kingery in center field (11th) is a reasonable everyday piece, and Finley McGuire handles the late innings, with the relief corps ranking 10th and McGuire himself ranking 16th among closers.

The rotation is still the glaring weakness, with Harry Lynaugh fronting a staff that ranks dead last in the league at 24th. Cooper Cole in left field (20th) and Alonzo Maybury behind the plate (20th) round out a lineup that needs real reinforcement. Dallas finished with the worst record in the Lager last season and missed the playoffs entirely. The front office is clearly betting on continuity and depth over splashy names, but this is a roster that needs help almost everywhere, starting with the rotation. Right field prospect Gage Lieberman (10th overall in the league at the position) and shortstop prospect Aidan Maloney (9th overall) are further out but worth watching.