The 2022 MLB rookie class was one of the best in recent memory, and while that meant a number of high-profile up-and-comers graduated the prospect ranks, there is still a wealth of talent down on the farm.

Ahead, we've provided a rundown of the top 10 prospects at each position, with outfielders all lumped into one group and pitchers split into right-handed and left-handed.

The following factors helped determine where each player fell in our rankings:

• Potential: Potential trumps production a lot of the time, especially in the lower levels of the minors and with recent draft picks. Skill set and tools are often better indicators of what kind of player someone will be.

• Talent: For those in the higher levels of the minors who are close to breaking into the big leagues, production and talent level were the determining factors since the players are viewed as more complete products.

• Eligibility: A player must maintain rookie eligibility to be considered for inclusion. That means no more than 130 big league at-bats for position players, 50 innings for pitchers or 45 days on the active roster. 

With all of that established, let's start with the catchers.

Catchers

Top 10 C Prospects

1. Francisco Álvarez, NYM
2. Diego Cartaya, LAD
3. Endy Rodriguez, PIT
4. Logan O'Hoppe, LAA
5. Bo Naylor, CLE
6. Henry Davis, PIT
7. Drew Romo, COL
8. Kevin Parada, NYM
9. Harry Ford, SEA
10. Yainer Diaz, HOU

-It sounds like Francisco Álvarez is headed for Triple-A to start the 2023 season, which will give him a chance to continue refining the defensive side of his game. The 21-year-old has little left to prove offensively after posting an .885 OPS with 27 home runs in 112 games between Double-A and Triple-A last season, and the duo of Omar Narváez and Tomás Nido won't stand in his way once he's deemed ready.

-Where will Endy Rodriguez wind up defensively? He hit .323/.407/.590 with 68 extra-base hits in the minors last season while seeing action at catcher, first base, second base and left field. With Henry Davis still viewed as the catcher of the future, he could fill a utility role similar to Daulton Varsho with the D-backs last season.

-The decision to sign veteran Mike Zunino to a one-year deal won't block Bo Naylor from seizing the starting catcher job in Cleveland, and he could still win a spot on the Opening Day roster this spring.

First Basemen

Top 10 1B Prospects

1. Triston Casas, BOS
2. Tyler Soderstrom, OAK
3. Kyle Manzardo, TB
4. Matt Mervis, CHC
5. Mark Vientos, NYM
6. Blaze Jordan, BOS
7. Jhonkensy Noel, CLE
8. Spencer Horwitz, TOR
9. Dustin Harris, TEX
10. Lawrence Butler, OAK

-Few prospects have a more clear path to start on Opening Day than Triston Casas. The 23-year-old posted a 113 OPS+ with five home runs, 12 RBI and a 20 percent walk rate in 95 plate appearances as a September call-up, and the decision to release Eric Hosmer gives him first dibs at the first base job in Boston.

-With Shea Langeliers stepping into the starting catcher role and 2022 first-round pick Daniel Susac also in the mix, the expectation is that Tyler Soderstrom will make the full-time move to first base after playing 59 games there last season. That should help expedite his 60-hit/55-power offensive profile to the majors.

-Even with Trey Mancini and Eric Hosmer added in free agency, Matt Mervis will be given every opportunity to win a spot on the Opening Day roster. The 24-year-old hit .309/.379/.606 with 40 doubles, 36 home runs and 119 RBI in the upper levels of the minors last year, then capped things off with a .914 OPS and six homers in the Arizona Fall League.

Second Basemen

Top 10 2B Prospects

1. Michael Busch, LAD
2. Termarr Johnson, PIT
3. Jace Jung, DET
4. Edouard Julien, MIN
5. Nick Gonzalez, PIT
6. Connor Norby, BAL
7. Justin Foscue, TEX
8. Eguy Rosario, SD
9. Tyler Black, MIL
10. Cade Doughty, TOR

-After posting an .881 OPS with 38 doubles, 32 home runs and 108 RBI in 142 games between Double-A and Triple-A last season, Michael Busch is ready for his first taste of the big leagues in 2023. Don't be surprised if he makes a serious push for the starting second base job this spring.

-Edouard Julien hit .400/.563/.686 with five doubles and five home runs in 96 plate appearances in the Arizona Fall League to send his prospect stock soaring. The 23-year-old also had a .931 OPS with 17 home runs, 67 RBI and 19 steals in 113 games at Double-A during the regular season.

-The San Diego Padres have gutted their farm system, but they do still have some potential impact talent, including versatile infielder Eguy Rosario. The 23-year-old hit .288/.368/.508 with 34 doubles, 22 home runs, 81 RBI and 21 steals in 124 games at Triple-A El Paso last season.

Third Basemen

Top 10 3B Prospects

1. Gunnar Henderson, BAL
2. Brett Baty, NYM
3. Miguel Vargas, LAD
4. Curtis Mead, TB
5. Josh Jung, TEX
6. Jacob Berry, MIA
7. Cam Collier, CIN
8. Colt Keith, DET
9. Coby Mayo, BAL
10. Junior Caminero, TB

-Gunnar Henderson will start the season as the AL Rookie of the Year front-runner after posting a 123 OPS+ with 12 extra-base hits and 0.9 WAR in 34 games after making his MLB debut on Aug. 31. He started games at second base, shortstop and third base last year, but his long-term home is likely the hot corner.

-A shoulder injury limited Colt Keith to just 48 games in 2022, but he still emerged as a breakout prospect by hitting .301/.370/.544 with 26 extra-base hits in 216 plate appearances at High-A. The 21-year-old then made up for lost time by hitting .344/.463/.541 in 19 games in the Arizona Fall League.

-The Tampa Bay Rays acquired both Curtis Mead and Junior Caminero in under-the-radar offseason deals that saw them send a Rule 5 eligible player who didn't fit on their 40-man roster out in exchange for a promising low-level minor leaguer. Mead could be a major factor in 2023, while Caminero had a .882 OPS with 11 home runs and 51 RBI in 62 games while reaching the full-season ball in his stateside debut.

Shortstops

Top 10 SS Prospects

1. Jordan Lawlar, ARI
2. Elly De La Cruz, CIN
3. Anthony Volpe, NYY
4. Marco Luciano, SF
5. Marcelo Mayer, BOS
6. Ezequiel Tovar, COL
7. Jackson Holliday, BAL
8. Noelvi Marte, CIN
9. Oswald Peraza, NYY
10. Brooks Lee, MIN

-Jordan Lawlar hit .303/.401/.509 with 41 extra-base hits and 39 steals in 100 games while reaching Double-A shortly after his 20th birthday. The No. 6 overall pick in the 2021 draft has some work to do defensively, but his offensive game is the real deal.

-The New York Yankees have their middle infield of the future in Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza, though it remains to be seen who will ultimately shift to second base. Even with Gleyber Torres and Isiah Kiner-Falefa on the roster, both guys could be in the starting lineup by midseason.

-With no outside addition made so far to replace José Iglesias, it looks like the Colorado Rockies will turn the starting shortstop job over to 21-year-old Ezequiel Tovar. He hit .319/.387/.540 with 32 extra-base hits in 71 games in the upper levels of the minors before making his MLB debut in late September.

Outfielders

Top 10 OF Prospects

1. Jordan Walker, STL
2. Jackson Chourio, MIL
3. Corbin Carroll, ARI
4. Druw Jones, ARI
5. Zac Veen, COL
6. Robert Hassell III, WAS
7. Evan Carter, TEX
8. Jasson Dominguez, NYY
9. Pete Crow-Armstrong, CHC
10. James Wood, WAS

- While Jordan Walker was drafted as a third baseman, he played almost exclusively in the outfield over the final two months of the 2022 season in preparation for shifting positions, since Nolan Arenado is blocking his path. The 6'5", 220-pound slugger hit .306/.388/.510 with 31 doubles, 19 home runs and 22 steals in 119 games at Double-A last year.

-The Washington Nationals acquired Robert Hassell III and James Wood in the blockbuster deal that sent Juan Soto to the San Diego Padres at the deadline last year. The duo immediately shot to the top of the rebuilding club's farm system rankings,

-One of the breakout prospects of the 2022 season, Evan Carter hit .295/.397/.489 while filling up the box score with 21 doubles, 10 triples, 12 home runs, 73 RBI, 86 runs scored and 28 steals in 106 games between High-A and Double-A. He is one of baseball's true five-tool talents.

Right-Handed Pitchers

Top 10 RHP Prospects

1. Grayson Rodriguez, BAL
2. Eury Pérez, MIA
3. Taj Bradley, TB
4. Daniel Espino, CLE
5. Bobby Miller, LAD
6. Andrew Painter, PHI
7. Hunter Brown, HOU
8. Gavin Williams, CLE
9. Max Meyer, MIA
10. Tink Hence, STL

-Eury Pérez has grown four inches and gained 45 pounds since starting his pro career, going from an under-the-radar arm to one of baseball's best pitching prospects. The 6'8" right-hander has three quality pitches and plus command, and he already has 17 starts at the Double-A level under his belt heading into his age-20 campaign.

-The Philadelphia Phillies will have a tough time keeping Andrew Painter down if he continues to dominate hitters the way he did in 2022. The 19-year-old had a 1.56 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 155 strikeouts in 103.2 innings over three minor league levels, holding opposing hitters to a .181 average in the process.

-Hard-throwing Hunter Brown pitched his way onto the Houston Astros postseason roster last year with a 0.89 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 20.1 innings as a September call-up. The 24-year-old is currently sixth on the starting pitching depth chart, but he should have a role on the MLB roster from the get-go in 2023.

Left-Handed Pitchers

Top 10 LHP Prospects

1. Kyle Harrison, SF
2. Ricky Tiedemann, TOR
3. DL Hall, BAL
4. Ken Waldichuk, OAK
5. Logan Allen, CLE
6. Mason Montgomery, TB
7. Kyle Muller, OAK
8. Matthew Liberatore, STL
9. Brandon Williamson, CIN
10. Jake Eder, MIA

-Kyle Harrison ranked second in the minors with 186 strikeouts last season, and he backed that impressive total with a 2.71 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 113 innings between High-A and Double-A. He also trimmed his walk rate from 4.7 to 3.9 BB/9, and improved command will be the key to unlocking his frontline potential.

-One of the early steals of the 2021 draft class, Ricky Tiedemann was chosen in the third round at No. 91 overall out of Golden West College. He reached Double-A in his pro debut, logging a 2.17 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 117 strikeouts in 78.2 innings across three minor league levels.

-Armed with a four-pitch repertoire that includes an upper 90s fastball and a sweeping curveball, Brandon Williamson was the prospect centerpiece of the deal that sent Jesse Winker and Eugenio Suarez to Seattle last offseason. The 6'6" southpaw had a 4.11 ERA with 123 strikeouts in 122.2 innings in the upper levels of the minors, and his stuff gives him No. 2 starter upside.

All stats courtesy of Baseball Reference.