Made earns the top spot on this list because of the rare upside he brings to the table, along with the strong production he put up as a 17- and 18-year-old between three levels in 2025. 

What to Like
Jesús Made is an explosive athlete with the potential for plus or better tools across the board. From a physical standpoint, he already looks the part, and he recently reported to camp looking even stronger, adding noticeable muscle to a frame that was already trending in the right direction.

Offensively, the switch-hitting ability is one of the most exciting parts of his profile. His swings from both sides of the plate are nearly mirror images, and his bat speed is similar whether he is hitting right-handed or left-handed. That level of symmetry is uncommon and gives him a very strong foundation at the plate. The hit tool projects as plus, due to his bat-to-ball ability and capacity to use the whole field.

There's also real power upside. Made already shows the strength and bat speed needed to drive the ball with authority, and has posted a 90th-percentile exit velocity of 105.2 MPH, which would be above-average even in MLB. This spring, his EV90 is 108 MPH, and he's hit one ball 110.8 MPH.

As he continues to mature physically, the power should continue to develop. If he begins to consistently lift the ball and convert hard contact into damage, the offensive ceiling becomes extremely high. A switch-hitting bat with plus hit and plus power potential is rare, especially at a premium defensive position.

Defensively, Made has the tools to remain at shortstop for the long term. He shows strong instincts, good hands, and a plus arm. His athleticism allows him to cover ground, and he has the body control to make plays from different angles. While there are still moments of youthful inconsistency, the physical tools and flashes of high-level defense suggest the potential for above-average or better performance at shortstop, or either second or third base.

Made can also really run, posting plus times from home to first, and he does it with an effortless glide to his gait. He stole 47 bases in 2025, and has the type of speed to be a big-time threat in that regard.

When combining the athleticism with the offensive and defensive tools, the overall ceiling is extremely high. Few players in all of baseball possess this level of upside on both sides of the ball.

What to Work On
The primary offensive area for improvement is launch angle and overall batted-ball profile. Made already hits the ball hard, but maximizing his power output will require lifting more of those hard-hit balls into the air. Improving that aspect of his swing would unlock more consistent extra-base production and allow his raw strength to show up more often in games.

Defensively, consistency will be the main focus. While the tools are evident, routine plays and throwing accuracy need refinement. Cleaning up inaccurate throws and maintaining focus from pitch to pitch will help him turn flashes of high-end defense into the steady defense that is required of any Brewers infielder.

Made flashes plus speed, but he does have some work to do in terms of his jumps on stolen bases—he was caught stealing 13 times in 2025—as well as his reads off the bat, if he is going to maximize the value he can bring on the bases.

What’s Next
Made is expected to begin back in Double-A, where he finished briefly in 2025. He has the chance to make his way to Triple-A at some point, and it’d be foolish to completely rule out a 2026 MLB debut, though 2027 seems far more likely. Given his combination of switch-hitting ability, power upside, defensive tools, and athleticism, he has the profile of a franchise-level player if everything clicks.

The 2026 season will be another key step in his development, particularly in seeing how the added strength translates into in-game production. If it’s seamless, it wouldn’t be a shock to see Made in Milwaukee by September.