Whenever a prized international free agent gets off to a great start to their professional career, the hype train typically leaves the station earlier than other prospects. January 17, 2023. The Rockies may have a Gold Glover in a few years at catcher. There was no sugar coating how concerning things looked for Dominguez in 2021, however 2022 has served as a perfect example as to why you do not close the door on talented teenagers after a tough seasonespecially when they have the expectations and pressure placed on them like Dominguez did. The 19-year-old produced impressive offensive numbers between Low-A and High-A while providing reason to believe that he can stick at shortstop longterm. Rafaela is not quite as elite at shortstop due to his average arm, but his quickness, great hands and range make him an above average infielder at the position. While there is not much more room to fill out for Green, he is as physically imposing of an 18-year-old as we have seen in pro-ball in a while. Of his off-speed offerings, Espinos slider is his strongest. A 1.049 OPS in his first season with as many walks as strikeouts as a 22-year-old is hard to argue against. Yet another big time catching prospect out of Georgia Tech, Paradas bat rivals just about any prospect that has come out of there, but the glove is way behind. The only reason we did not see Mervis promoted was due to the fact that he is not Rule 5 eligible until next year and the Cubs already have a 40 Man Roster crunch. Reaching Double-A before his 20th birthday, Tiedemann is on a fast track to the big leagues. Hall saw his 2021 season cut short due to a stress reaction in his elbow, but has returned looking as good as ever this season. If Rocchio can develop into a .270 hitter with 15-20 homers per season, his defense, speed and intangibles would make him a well above average regular at the position. The added strength/weight has slowed Lee down a tick and his range is limited. Priester may not consistently be a huge strikeout pitcher, though when he is on, he can accumulate Ks in bunches. The bat will likely always lead the way for the 23-year-old, though theres a lot to like in that department. Big body with long levers and tremendous strength throughout his frame, Casas deploys a small hovering leg kick that is very slow and controlled and allows him to maintain incredible balance throughout every swing. The Rays very likely have another homegrown stud pitcher on their hands. As is the case with most prep prospects, Jones is raw in the batters box though he has already flashed plenty to be excited about. Colliers elite swing decisions should continue to help him stay ahead of the curve and as he continues to develop consistency with his swing, there is a plus hit tool to dream on here with at least above-average power. The MLB and MLBPA recently came to an agreement, and now we are close to the start of the 2022 MLB season. A proven above-average hit-tool prospect, who taps into more power without wagering his contact, is almost always a safe profile. Colas found more consistency with his swing as the season went on, driving the ball in the air more frequently while using the whole field. Not only did we update our 2022 Top 100 prospect list, but we updated the functionality of it as well. Walkers average speed and elite arm and give him the potential to play an above average right field once he gets comfortable out there. Rafaela swiped 28 bags in 35 tries this season. Combined, Lee slashed .303/.388/.451 with 6 doubles, 4 home runs, and 15 RBIs in 31 games. The pitch is presently average with a chance to be comfortably above average because of the way it plays. Its hard to argue with a hitter who posts an OPS above .900 from both sides of the plate and while Rodriguezs exit velocities are above average at best, his swing is designed to drive the ball in the air. Jobes fastball sits 94-96 MPH, with high spin and solid life. Impressive knowledge of the strike zone and the ability to play all three outfield spots have him looking like a potential Aaron Judge type of talent, but for every Judge there are dozens of John Mayberry Jr.s. Rounding out Graceffos arsenal is his sweeping curveball in the 78-80 mph range. While his range is still closer to average theres no doubts in his ability to play the hot corner. AL East Baltimore Orioles Boston Red Sox New York Yankees Tampa Bay Rays Toronto Blue. Injuries cut Merrills season to just 45 games this year, though that was all the 19-year-old needed to show that he has a lot more upside than he was given credit for. Ford reminds me a bit of Daulton Varsho. Carroll finds the barrel easily with a swing geared for line drives, but hits the ball so hard that he is a home run threat as well. An easy plus plus pitch, the 12 inches of horizontal break, the pitch fades away from lefties, inducing plenty of weak contact while also diving in and under the hands of righties. He has a plus arm with plenty of carry on his throws, which should help him project as an above-average defender at the position. Manzardo has a patient approach, rarely chasing and leverages his hitters counts well. The left-handed hitter has shown plenty of comfort shooting balls the other way when he is behind in the count, but also had no problem leaving the yard to left field, launching eight oppo homers this season. A prized international free agent after a track record of hitting (and pitching) in Cuba and in Japans Minor League system, Colas scrapped the pitching to focus on hitting and turned in a monster first season in the White Sox org. Big power and at least average hitting ability will have Colas looking like a corner outfield masher who can stay in the lineup every day thanks to his left-on-left success. Pages has a swing geared for lifting the ball in the air to the pull-side. It will never be a bat-missing machine like the changeup, but it is a valuable pitch nonetheless. The larger question in regards to De La Cruzs ceiling is how much he is going to hit, but his ridiculously high slugging on contact and improved body control in the box bode well even if he is a fringy hitter. The pitch can get firm on him, though he does have a decent feel for the pitch. Despite being one of the youngest players at each level he reaches, Walker seems to get better each time hes promoted. Viewed as one of the best pure prep hitters in years, Johnsons bat has a chance to be special, but as an average running second baseman, theres a lot of pressure on that bat. He already has a polished approach that led to a 15% walk rate in the upper minors this season. OHoppe uses the ground well tapping into above average raw power with explosive lower half. If Ford is able to stay at catcher, he could be one of the most dynamic prospects we have seen in a while. One of the biggest adjustments hell have to make at the big league level is picking his spots and when to be aggressive early in counts. Lawlars advanced feel to hit and developing power give him great upside in the batters box. Viewed as a candidate to climb relatively quickly, Jobes stay in Low-A was longer than planned due to somewhat inconsistent fastball command and lower than expected chase rates on his slider. He put the finishing touches on a fantastic collegiate career, slashing .357/.462/.664 with 15 HRs and 55 RBIs in 58 games played at Cal Poly in 2022. Birdsell played for three different colleges from 2019-2022 with the final two years at Texas Tech. The right-hander has extreme confidence in the offering, using it in any count and locating it well. Wiemer has struggled at times with his jumps and reads, but his tools are just too tantalizing to write off his definitive upside. Merrill starts with a slightly open stance, relaxed hands and his weight slightly stacked on his back side. Height/Weight: 63, 195|Bat/Throw: L/R| 1st Round (27) 2021|ETA: 2025, An under slot first round pick, the Padres followed their trend of scooping up pop up prospects with the selection of Merrill. The raw movement on his pitches is great. Cowser has answered those questions this season with 17 homers across three levels. Taken by the Nationals 5th overall, Green slashed .302/.404/.535 with 4 doubles, 2 home runs, and one stolen base. Easy plus speed and projectable power give Ford plenty of upside even if he does not stick behind the dish. The then teenager received an aggressive assignment to High-A for 2022 and responded well. The hard-throwing right-handers maturation was immediately visible (1.83 ERA across 22 Low-A and High-A starts). Arguably the most advanced prep prospect in his class, Holliday has a chance to climb the minors relatively quickly thanks to his polish and approach to the game. His arm is average at best, but he does a good job of getting himself in a good position to make strong throws by beating the ball to the spot. A 13% walk rate and overall struggles to get ahead of hitters plagued Leiter this season, but few pitchers make their professional debut in Double-A. The improved command for Brown has him trending towards a solid middle of the rotation option with flashes of more. Though still a very volatile prospect profile, Alcantaras strong first full season in Low-A hedges at least some of the extreme risk around his hit-tool. The right-hander has a four seamer and sinker along with a plus curve, slider and changeup. Experimenting with timing mechanisms has likely contributed to the highest ground ball rate of Campusanos professional career, however he is still consistently hitting the ball hard and has cut his strikeout rate by three percent. The defense will be something to follow for Amador, not because he isnt capable at shortstop, but rather the presence of Ezequiel Tovar and Amadors elite defensive potential at second base could result in a move to the other side of the diamond at the upper levels. Here is a quick overview on the 20-80 scale used extensively throughout the list and standard across the baseball industry. During his final year at Oklahoma State, Campbell showed off his command and control, walking only 25 batters in 101.1 innings. The limited track record caused us to keep White towards the back of our preseason top 100 list this year, however another 80 impressive innings has White climbing up the list and positioning himself as one of the better right-handed pitching prospects in baseball. After operating more in the upper 80s with his slider last season, Brown tweaked the slider to sit in the low 90s with sharper bite. Height/Weight: 62, 185|Bat/Throw: R/R|11th Round (324), 2021 (PIT)|ETA: 2024. If he slows down a step, there is a chance that Merrill could move to second base or third, but for now he looks like he should get every shot at short. Many services re-rank players periodically as they graduate to the Majors but these adjustments are not captured. He may not have the kind of stuff that will frequent him on Pitching Ninja, but he has above average stuff that plays up thanks to his elite command and overall feel to pitch. The speed has always been there for Turang, but he has looked as comfortable on the base paths as ever. Similar to his father in many ways, Druw has shown big power potential to go along with the best speed and defense in the 2022 draft. Though his power is above average at best, Rafaelas adjustments have helped him tap into it in games making his jump in HR/FB rate sustainable. Herreras zone contact and chase rates are well above-average, which bodes well for his overall ability to hit at the highest level. The Twins took Lee 8th overall and sent the 22-year-old to rookie complex to make his pro debut. Rodriguez could be a threat to hit .300 with 20+ homers. Hell likely begin next season in Triple-A with a chance at an early season promotion. Just a 17% chase rate has helped Cowser walk at a 15% clip and his natural feel to hit still shines through. While I understand why scouts see that kind of upside with Johnson, I do think theres more susceptibility to whiff than some are accounting for with Johnson. Yet another breakout offensive prospect in the Rays system, Manzardo offers one of the safest offensive profiles youll see. The Guardians liked what they saw from Campbell and selected him 37th overall. Priester has a deep bag of five pitches that he will mix really well. Pfaadts preferred weapon for left-handed hitters is his above average changeup with late arm side fade in the mid 80s. One of the more overlooked prospects in the 2018 international free agent class, De La Cruz signed for just $65K and is looking like he could end up being one of the biggest IFA steals in years. The Rays have gone with athletic, projectable shortstop is the first round of two of their last four drafts selecting Greg Jones and Carson Williams. There have been few players with Woods profile, so projecting a player like him is extremely difficult. What encourages me most about McLain is his strong approach and pitch recognition. 3 starter, Height/Weight: 61, 210|Bat/Throw: R/R|IFA: $300K, 2017 (LAD)|ETA: 2023. Cowser has had to adjust to aggressive assignments and should settle into a strikeout rate closer to 20% than 30%. The southpaw will also mix in an average upper 70s curveball to steal strikes on occasion. Taken with the 13th overall pick by the Angels, Neto was a polished collegiate hitter with plus bat-to-ball skills and solid speed on the base paths that could rise quickly. Moreno is ready to be an everyday catcher at the highest level with a great chance to hit for average, get on base at a strong clip and provide at least average defense which should steadily improve as he earns more reps. Due to 2020s pandemic and an injury that wiped out Crow-Armstrongs 2021 season, we were left not totally knowing what to expect from the former first-rounder this season. Theres no crazy tools to dream on or much defensive value, however he has been arguably the most consistent hitter in the minors over the last couple years. His consistent splits left-on-left further solidify just how safe his bat is. The pitch sits in the upper 80s, occasionally touching 90 MPH. Naturally, the 20-year-old should start to impact the baseball with a bit more authority and should be able to tap into 20 homer power, but a 20/20 profile with a high batting average and staying power in center field seems like the most likely profile for Hassell. 2 starter and he is in the right organization to keep developing on the mound quickly. The uptick in power and comfort in centerfield pushes Cowsers ceiling higher, but Orioles fans should feel really confident in the fact that they have at least an above average regular in Cowser. Height/Weight: 62, 195 | Bat/Throw: L/L | 1st Round (8) 2020 | ETA: 2024. Brown pitched his way into draft consideration after a lights-out season at Division II Wayne State University in 2019, flashing electric stuff but iffy command. 4 starter with the swing-and-miss potential to show flashes of a middle-of-the-rotation starter. Elite contact rates and a knack for getting on base give Frelick a high floor with enough impact to rack up plenty of extra base hits. This is extremely good news for the Rockies, as Veen could beat his original ETA of 2025 by proving he is more advanced than many evaluators speculated. Lee has a knack for manipulating the barrel, showing the ability to spray the ball all over the field even when he is fooled or the pitch is in a tough location. Despite projecting as an impact defender at shortstop, the Brewers have given Turang some making starts this season at third base, second base and even centerfield likely due to the presence of Willy Adames with the big league club. Davis has shown good bat-to-ball skills and immense pull-side power that should have Pirates fans excited. A plus runner with plenty of lateral quickness and range, Holliday has a great chance to stick at shortstop. There is probably some room for improvement in terms of picking the right spots to run and getting slightly better jumps from first base, but the speedster should be a 20+ stolen base threat annually. Like many young hitters who have a strong feel to hit, Rocchio can at times be a bit too swing-happy, swinging at tough pitches early in counts. Turang has impressed scouts with his ability to hit and polish dating back to his high school days in Corona, California. The son of legendary center fielder Andruw Jones, Druw has a skillset reminiscent of his fathers, which helped him go No. Winn found more overall consistency with his swing in 2022, seeing his zone contact rate jump by 6% while his 90th percentile exit velocity jumped by nearly three mph. Henderson has continued to add strength since joining the Orioles organization, producing exit velocities as high as 112 mph and home runs as long as 480 feet this season. Much like his offensive game, Volpes instincts help him maximize his tools. Because of his difficult to pick up release point, hitters struggle to differentiate Gassers fastball from his changeup until it is too late, helping it play up. This allows him to keep his weight back and spray the ball all over the field. and play-by-play data provided by Sports Info Solutions. 3 starter than the fringe No. An under-the-radar Tennessee prep prospect in the 2020 Draft, few pro scouts had seen Carter play. He threw it to the bottom of the zone at will and it should miss bats at the highest level. Alvarezs arm is easily plus and he has honed in on his accuracy this year, throwing out 28% of base stealers in the upper levels (a figure that has progressively gotten better as the year has gone on). A sweet left-handed swing with a ton of whip, Mayer hit the ball hard and can spray it all over. He should be a 30/30 threat at any level. As you may expect with a tall, lanky hitter, theres some swing and miss concerns with Alcantara, but his athleticism helps him control his large frame through his swing. The Mets could very well have their best catcher since Mike Piazza. Brown has a pair of impressive breaking balls, including a spike curve in the low 80s and a sharp slider in the low 90s. Hendersons skillset is similar to that of Bobby Witt Jr.s with perhaps slightly less loud tools and a more advanced approach. Though the pitch can be inconsistent, it boasts 17 inches of horizontal movement which can be devastating for right-handed hitters given how difficult it can be to pick up the ball out of his hand from his slingshot release. Height/Weight: 58, 195|Bat/Throw: R/R|IFA: $10K (2017) BOS|ETA: 2023. Starting with the right side, Dominguez cut down his leg kick while quieting/simplifying his hand load. A high floor relative to the other prep bats recently drafted, Montgomery still offers immense upside. A slightly open stance with a rhythmic leg kick, Aranda has some of the best bat to ball skills in the minors. Now, were seeing Vientos mishit baseballs that are getting out to the opposite field. A high-floor offensive profile along with plus speed and a solid above-average glove, that can play all over the diamond, McLain is yet another safe prospect in this Reds system who you fans can still hope for fringe All Star upside. Carroll has the ability to drive the ball with authority, but he also can slap balls into the ground with a great chance of beating them out. There seems to be some dissent in the industry as to how valuable of a prospect Valera is, but he has responded to every promotion by making the adjustments needed and remaining productive. The power is closer to average than above average for Ruiz, but he hits a ton of line drives and generates some impressive carry to his pull side. The curveball has high RPMs making it a potential plus pitch with some refinement. For the top tier of prospects, I present their tools as 45/60 meaning . Our team has taken in nine showcase tournaments and been closely monitoring fall scrimmages . Caissie moves well for his size, but his limited experience in the outfield heading into 2022 was evident in his reads and routes. A strong hitter with plenty of raw bat speed, Cartaya produces impressive exit velocities with ease along with a swing that is built for lift and carry. Scouts and evaluators have seen significant improvement with pitch recognition and holding back on balls out of the zone in 2022. Perez his one of the favorites to take over the best pitching prospect in baseball title upon Grayson Rodriguezs graduation. A crouched stance with a quiet load and short stride, Westburg keeps things simple in the box. De La Cruz could use some refinement with his actions at shortespecially his handswhich will come with more reps but he has shown the ability to make all of the throws with plenty of range thanks to his athleticism and elite arm. His pro debut went well slashing .325/.413/.575 with 4 doubles, 2 home runs, and 11 RBIs in 12 games split between rookie ball and A- Charleston. The 21-year-old has all of the physical goods and the instincts to be a big league average shortstop now, but also offers the ability to move all over the infield. The Top 300 is here. Height/Weight: 64, 185|Bat/Throw: R/R|2nd Round (59), 2017 (NYM)|ETA: 2022. He swiped 19 bases on 20 tries last season at Campbell and added four more stolen bases in his 30 Double-A games. Waldichuk has a pair of breaking balls and a changeup that he mixes well, but the slider and change lead the way for him off of his fastball. The size, stuff and improved ability to repeat his mechanics have Williams trending like a potential No. The talented switch-hitter kicked things up another notch in 2022, putting up arguably the best offensive season in all of the minors. His hand load is quiet and he uses a small step to get himself closed while keeping his energy stored in his back hip. Rafaela controls his body well and has steady numbers against breaking balls and off speed pitches. A plus runner, Tovar has improved in translating his speed into stolen bases. Its a delicate balance for Frelick, who does hit the ball on the ground a lot (51% GB rate), but also racks up so many hits by slapping the ball on the ground and using his wheels. After really struggling through his first couple seasons left-on-left, Henderson has looked much more comfortable against lefties in the upper minors this year. Brown has three potentially plus offerings, starting with his 95-97 MPH fastball topping out at 99. Casas has the classic look of a slugging first baseman capable of producing runs in bunches. Coming out of IMG Academy, Green impressed scouts with his massive power output and speed on the basepaths. Pitchers will fear going inside on him because of the way he is able to turn around stuff on the inner half with authority. Even with the loud moves, Neto puts himself in a good spot to hit and uses the big stride to tap into as much power as possible. Look for a bounce back season from the talented competitor in 2023. However, he will have to continue to make strides with his command in order to reach his No. Waldichuk was dealt to the As as part of the Frankie Montas return at the 2022 Trade Deadline. When Davis was drafted in 2018, he was seen as a tall, lanky kid with quick-twitch ability, but scouts were unsure what to expect with the bat. An arsenal that is led by an exceptional fastball along with three secondaries that boast above average to plus potential, Leiter has the goods to become a frontline starter. Gavin Cross could start the season in A+ Quad Cities and should be a quick riser if he continues to hit. Lees swing is almost identical from both sides of the plate, utilizing a simple set up and quiet load while relying on his impressive bat speed and added strength to produce impact. When Caissie is able to keep his weight back and stay in his back hip, the way he can impact the baseball to all fields is impressive and his pull side power can be jaw-dropping. Starting slightly open with his weight slightly favoring his backside, Winn has stayed behind the baseball better, hitting less ground balls while seeing a higher percentage of his fly balls leave the yard. Averaging nearly 2400 RPMs from a high three-quarters release, Harrison features a lot of life on his fastball with run as well from a spot that is difficult to pick up out of the hand. The former second round pick has mashed his way to Triple-A in just 152 games. Not the biggest of frames, much Chourios pop comes from his powerful lower half and rotational power. A much more aggressive and efficient base runner this season, Peraza stole 33 bases on 38 tries in Triple-A. Its a high spin pitch that jumps from his low release point, generating plenty off whiff in the zone. While he may not have the superstar upside of Elly De La Cruz or Noelvi Marte, McLain has a really good chance to be an above-average regular at the shortstop positionor anywhere else the Reds want to stick himas a flat out gamer who can set the tone for your lineup. Tovar has a compact swing and uses the whole field well thanks to his barrel and body control. Regardless of where he ends up on the defensive side of things, Soderstoms bat will be his ticket to becoming an above average big league regular. Luciano has also ditched his pull-happy approach, using the whole field more than ever this season. While stolen bases have not been a huge part of his game, Davis plus speed and long strides make him an effective base runner and he should be able to swipe 10-15 bags per year with ease. There may not be as much superstar upside with Rocchio than most other top 100 prospects, but theres also few prospects who have as high of a probability of being a big league regular. Impressive balance and plate coverage helps Rodriguez stay back on breaking pitches and drive them with authority to all fields while still being quick and explosive enough to turn on hard stuff in. Espinos arsenal could go toe-to-toe with any pitcher in the minors and his fastball leads the way. That said, Luciano deserves every bit of the hype. The hit tool and raw power were never a question for Jung, but he struggled to tap into his plus raw pop in his first professional season. Assuming Espino is healthy, he is talented enough to start next season in Triple-A with a chance of breaking into the big leagues at some point next season. Opposing hitters from both sides of the plate have slashed just .110/.197/.174 against the pitch this season. Smooth and easy mechanics help White repeat his delivery and pound the strike zone. - One of the early standouts from the 2022 draft class, Gavin Cross is hitting .309/.438/.650 with eight home runs and 25 RBI in 26 games between rookie ball and Single-A. Jung has had impressive bat-to-ball skills dating back to his days at Texas Tech, where he hit .348/.455/.577 over his three years as a Red Raider. While he did swipe 28 bags, he as caught 13 times. The 67 Campbell is an intimidating bulldog on the mound, striking out 141 batters in 101.1 innings while posting a 3.82 ERA in 16 starts in 2022. Having only played just over 200 professional games, De La Cruz is ahead of the curve. It is more of a matter of whether his hit tool can translate at the highest level. After not being seen in a game setting since 2019 due to injuries and 2020s MiLB season cancellation, Lewis looked healthy and much improved at the plate in 2022 before unfortunately re-tearing his ACL. Neto has enough power to smack 20 homers hitting for a solid average and getting on base. An above average runner who uses his long strides to cover ground quickly, Wiemer is fast enough to play all three outfield spots, but projects better at a corner where his 80 grade arm will shine. Burleson wasted no time in his pro debut, climbing three levels and finishing the year in Triple-A thanks to his strong approach and pitch recognition. Already on the 40 man roster, Valera could break into the big leagues next year, though another few hundred at bats in Triple-A would do him well. With the summer showcase circuit behind us and college fall ball in the rearview mirror, we're ready to re-rank the 2023 draft class. Like many young hitters, the high fastball has been an area of temptation that he has succumbed to, though I expect the talented hitter to quell his aggressiveness against better pitching in High-A. The pitch averages more than 19 inches of induced vertical break. After a rough 2019 Minor League season, Lewis broke out as the MVP of the Arizona Fall League. The high spin fastball averages more than 19 inches of vertical break, causing hitters to frequently swing under it. The 20-year-old has as much helium as just about any prospect. Arroyo is a natural up the middle, with clean actions, impressive footwork and a rocket for an arm. We . The top selection in 2021s MLB Draft has been banged up in his first full pro season, but has shown flashes of offensive brilliance. There have been starts where the changeup is there for Miller and he is comfortable throwing it to both lefties and righties, providing hope that it can be an above average offering. Green ran a ridiculous 6.16 60-yard dash as a high schooler and his electrifying speed helps him cover a ton of ground in center. This is very common in young hitters and it should be cleaned up with with more at-bats. The swing itself is somewhat reminiscent of Freddie Freeman due to the ability of using a short swing with a big frame. Carroll made up for lost time by reaching the Major Leagues in just 142 Minor League games. With tools across the board and impressive bloodlines, theres plenty to dream on with Green.
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