The signing deadline for this year's drafted players has passed, with few surprises. Only one player (Tampa Bay Rays pick Drew Rasmussen of Oregon State) drafted on Day 1 failed to sign, and I've already reordered the top 50 prospects in the minors earlier in the month.
We've also seen a few major trades involving top prospects as the White Sox and A's continue their rebuilding efforts.
Here now is a very temporary ranking of the five strongest farm systems in baseball, subject to change even in the next week as we approach the trade deadline.
Top 50 prospects: Ronald Acuna (9), Kolby Allard (26), Ozhaino Albies (32), Kyle Wright (35), Luiz Gohara (39), Ian Anderson (41), Mike Soroka (49)
I still have Atlanta at the top, because they have more depth of players who project to be average big leaguers or better in their system than any other organization -- and, by and large, their prospects have met or exceeded expectations this year.
