Two Fireflies Alumni Named to Pipeline Top 100 List

Two Columbia Fireflies alumni have been named to MLB Pipeline’s updated Top 100 Prospects List. Carter Jensen and Blake Mitchell, both catchers and members of The Kansas City Royals farm system were both named to the list for the second-consecutive year. Jensen played for Columbia in 2022 and Mitchell came to the Soda City in 2024.

Jensen climbed up the list as he made his Major League debut September 2. The backstop earned the promotion after a 43-game stint in Omaha where he slashed .288/.404/.647. The Kansas City native first debuted on the list in 2025, where he finished the year ranked 39th overall. This year, he’ll start the season in the 18 spot and will likely graduate from the list prior to the end of the season.

The 22-year-old played 113 games for The Fireflies. He slugged 11 homers for Columbia as he set a then-franchise record 66 runs scored and 83 walks. The 83 walks are still the Fireflies franchise record and Asbel Gonzalez set the franchise runs scored record in 2025 at 82.

Mitchell has been featured on the list all three years he has been a pro. He began as the 94th ranked prospect in 2024 and climbed to 75th in 2025. This year, he debuted at 75th on the list and 10th among catchers, although five of the top 10 catchers already have Major League experience and will likely graduate from the list prior to the All-Star Break. A position player graduates from MLB’s rankings after they lose their rookie status, which is at 130 at-bats for their major league club.

Mitchell earned Carolina League All-Star honors for the Fireflies in the 2024 season behind strong defensive play and the second-most homers in a season in franchise history (18). The catcher worked a .376 on-base percentage behind 79 walks and 37 extra-base hits. The 21-year-old was slowed by a hamate injury in 2025 but hit well in The Arizona Fall League. He has the runway for a quick rise during the 2026 season.

While fans can see Fireflies over 60 times a year at Segra Park, visiting teams were also well represented on Pipeline’s Top 100 List this year. In addition to Jensen and Mitchell, Fireflies fans have had the opportunity to see 16 additional players on the top 100 lists from seven separate teams in the Carolina League.

The Carolina Mudcats (Milwaukee Brewers) and Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Chicago Cubs) both have three alumni on the list. Jesús Made headlines the list as the number three overall prospect. Made played 83 games for Carolina in 2025 and on April 26, he clubbed his first career grand slam at Segra Park. Made was paired with Luis Pena, who was listed as the 26th-best prospect on the list, on The Mudcats infield this season. The last Mudcats representative was Cooper Pratt, who was named a Carolina League All-Star in 2024.

The Pelicans top alumni, Owen Cassie has headlined the trade market twice already. After the Padres picked him in the second round of the 2020 draft, they traded him in a package to pick up veteran starter Yu Darvish from the Cubs. January 7, Cassie hit the trade market again, this time as a headliner. Cassie was the key cog in a three-player package from Chicago to acquire 27-year-old starter Edward Cabrera from The Marlins. Cabrera had a career year in 2025. The righty struck out 150 batters in 137.2 innings to catch The Cubs eye. Myrtle Beach also has catcher Moisés Ballesteros and pitcher Jaxon Wiggins.

The Fredericksburg Nationals group led by a pair of dominant pitchers. Travis Sykora was named The Carolina League Pitcher of the Year in 2024 and pitched in two games at Segra Park. The righty struck out 16 over 10 innings while allowing only a single earned run between August 20 and 25. Jarlin Susana was able to show the Soda City why he was a high risk-high reward chip for The Nationals when they sent Juan Soto and Josh Bell to The San Diego Padres. Fans were able to see Susana hurl his fastball over 100 MPH and compliment it with off-speed pitches in the upper 80s and low 90s.

Finally, the Atlanta Braves future has rolled through Columbia for 10 years. Last year, fans were able to watch one of the top left-handed pitchers in the minors work his way through his first professional season. Cam Caminiti, cousin of 1996 MVP Ken Caminiti, fanned 75 batters over 56.1 innings to the tune of a 2.08 ERA for the GreenJackets in 2025. He isn’t the only former GreenJackets pitcher on the top 100 list though. JR Ritchie exploded in 2025, advancing from High-A to Triple-A while spinning 140 innings in 26 games. The righty spent parts of three seasons in Augusta and Fireflies fans got to see him in person in 2024 before he debuted in the Top 100 as the 90th-ranked prospect.

Future MLB stars play in Columbia today. The Fireflies historic 10th season kicks off at Segra Park April 7 against The Myrtle Beach Pelicans. Don’t miss out on the next wave of top prospects. Get your tickets starting at just $6 at FirefliesTickets.com.