Our top prospect jumped up to the top-5 prospects in all the major leagues according to Baseball America. Outfielder Jason Heyward, last year's first-round draft pick (number 14 overall) is having a spectacular season at the low-A Rome Braves club. He is hitting .331 with 8 homeruns and 14 stolen bases in his first full-season in pro baseball.

On the mid-season top-25 prospect list, Heyward is ranked fifth overall behind Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers), David Price (Rays), Matt Wieters (Orioles), and Colby Rasmus (Cardinals). Heyward's ranking represents a significant jump in his prospect status in just half a season. He was ranked 28th on Baseball America's preseason list, and only 8 prospects in front of him have graduated to the majors and lost their prospect status. That represents a raw jump of 15 spots on the prospect list for Heyward.

Mississippi outfielder Jordan Schafer was ranked 25th on the preseason list, but was not present in the top-25 of the midseason list. Pitcher Jair Jurrjens was ranked 29th, but has since lost his prospect status (of course, he did just win the Rookie of the Month award for the month of June). Brandon Jones was ranked 70th on the top-100 preseason list, and Gorkys Hernandez was ranked 92nd.

The article also alludes to three other Braves prospects who are strong contenders for the top-100 should they continue their current rate of success; pitchers Tommy Hanson and Julio Teheran and first baseman Freddie Freeman.