Five MLB Prospects Rise After 85 Deadline Deals Moved 5 Top-100 Names
Updated
Updated · Baseball America · Aug 7
Five MLB Prospects Rise After 85 Deadline Deals Moved 5 Top-100 Names
3 articles · Updated · Baseball America · Aug 7
Summary
85 prospects changed organizations at the 2026 MLB trade deadline, and Baseball America flagged five whose value now appears higher than their current rankings.
Enddy Azocar, acquired by Baltimore in the Adley Rutschman deal, leads that group after cutting his groundball rate, hitting 18 homers and pushing his 90th-percentile exit velocity to 107.6 mph at age 19.
Joniel Hernandez gives the Giants another high-upside middle infielder after a .316/.439/.519 DSL start, while Tigers righty Brady Smith brings 113 strikeouts in 74.1 innings and a 56% whiff changeup after the Tarik Skubal trade.
Jacob Kmatz has emerged as a fast-moving Dodgers bullpen arm with a 2.83 ERA, 75 strikeouts in 54 innings and a velocity jump to 95 mph average, while Cardinals lefty Sandro Santana owns a 2.08 ERA and a 56% whiff slider.
The list underscores how deadline returns can outpace published rankings, with several secondary pieces already tracking toward bigger roles in their new farm systems.