Editor's note: The Oscar Taveras write-up has been adjusted to reflect his Friday call-up.
As I have in past years, I'm pausing my draft coverage here around the two-month mark of the season for a quick update of the top 25 prospects already in professional baseball.
There aren't many huge changes here from my preseason top 100, as only three of my top 25 have been promoted to the majors (Xander Bogaerts, George Springer and Kevin Gausman). Players currently in the majors or who have exhausted their rookie eligibility are not candidates for this list, but I will consider players currently on the DL -- and pretty much have to, since the disabled list might have the best farm system in baseball right now.
Also, this is not a ranking of players' performances to date, but a consideration of their major league futures, where performance is just one criterion alongside traditional scouting evaluations.
1. Byron Buxton | CF | Minnesota Twins (age 20)
Current level: High Class A (Ft. Myers)
Preseason rank: 1
It looked like such a promising year for Buxton, but he sprained his wrist in the final week of spring training, returned in early May, then reaggravated the injury in his fifth game of the year, going back on the DL on May 8.
He still has the minors' best combination of present skills and ultimate ceiling, a potential plus-plus defender in center who hits for average and has some power, along with huge value on the bases.
2. Carlos Correa | SS | Houston Astros (age 19)
Current level: High Class A (Lancaster)
Preseason ranking: 4