The new Top 100 Prospects record is coming! Revised Top 30s for each group too! Thursday night, to be precise.
We provide you with a sneak preview under by figuring out the prospect who has risen the furthest on every crew’s Top 30 because the begin of the season. As for the largest leap on the Top 100, that can belong to Padres catcher Ethan Salas.
Blue Jays: Alan Roden, OF
Selected within the third spherical final yr, Roden was a wait-and-see prospect left on the surface of the preseason Top 30 whereas we evaluated how his excessive on-base abilities translated to the professionals. Verdict: fairly comfortably actually. Roden hit .321/.437/.459 with a 32/42 Ok/BB ratio over 69 video games with High-A Vancouver after Blue Jays coaches labored with him on standing extra upright in his stance to provide him a greater shot at tapping into some energy. He moved to Double-A New Hampshire final month and continues to stroll greater than he’s struck out, although the pop warrants monitoring.
Orioles: Leandro Arias, SS
Signed for $600K initially of the 2022 worldwide signing interval, Arias didn’t make many waves throughout his professional debut that summer time within the Dominican Summer League. The 18-year-old switch-hitter has made a pleasant transition to the United States and has greater than held his personal within the Florida Complex League this yr.
Rays: Dominic Keegan, C
A bat-first catcher out of Vanderbilt, Keegan continues to hit in all places he’s despatched, together with Single-A and High-A with related manufacturing at each ranges in 2023. While he’s confirmed able to hitting for each energy and common within the execs, the 23-year-old has additionally impressed Tampa Bay officers together with his defensive features behind the plate, and his caught-stealing charge has really gone up as he’s ascended. There will probably be additional exams coming, however the Rays could possibly develop Keegan from a fourth-rounder right into a well-rounded backstop.
Red Sox: Yoeilin Cespedes, SS
Cespedes obtained the most important bonus ($1.4 million) in Boston’s 2023 worldwide class as a result of he was thought of one of many extra superior hitters in the marketplace, and he has lived as much as that status within the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League. Cespedes is batting .359/.409/.594 with six homers in 41 video games and likewise incomes reward for his baseball IQ and work ethic.
Yankees: Chase Hampton, RHP
A Texas Tech product, Hampton went from the sixth spherical of the 2022 Draft to the Yankees’ greatest pitching prospect in lower than a yr. His fastball, curveball and slider all play as plus pitches at their greatest, as does a cutter that he has added since turning professional. He has logged a 3.53 ERA, .208 opponent common and 129/33 Ok/BB ratio in 91 2/3 innings between High-A and Double-A.
Guardians: Welbyn Francisca, SS
Known for his hitting prowess, Francisca landed the most important bonus ($1.375 million) in Cleveland’s 2023 worldwide crop when he signed out of the Dominican Republic. He makes arduous contact from either side of the plate and is batting .336/.431/.531 with three homers and 11 steals in 37 video games within the Dominican Summer League.
Royals: Chandler Champlain, RHP
Kansas City acquired Champlain from the Yankees on the 2022 Trade Deadline within the Andrew Benintendi commerce, and one yr later, the 24-year-old right-hander has actually hit his stride at Double-A Northwest Arkansas, the place he has a 1.04 ERA and 22 strikeouts in his final 4 begins (26 innings). Champlain works effectively with a mid-90s fastball and a pair of spectacular breaking balls in his curveball and slider.
Tigers: Enrique Jimenez, C
Detroit signed Jimenez for $1.25 million again in January, making the switch-hitting backstop their highest-ranked worldwide addition within the newest signing window. The Venezuela native entered the Tigers system with a robust status as a defensive catcher, however he’s constructed on that with a robust offensive displaying within the Dominican Summer League with a .296/.407/.443 line by way of 37 video games. There’s loads of improvement forward, however for now, Jimenez is trending towards being a multi-tooled catcher and potential starter in Motor City.
Twins: Cory Lewis, RHP
The Twins’ ninth-round choose within the 2022 Draft, Lewis wasn’t even on the Top 30 initially of the season. But armed with a four-pitch combine that features a legit knuckleball, the 6-foot-5 right-hander has pitched his approach from Single-A to High-A and dominated at each ranges, wanting like one more late-round school arm discover by this group who’ll find yourself making begins within the large leagues.
White Sox: Jacob Burke, OF
Burke missed the primary six weeks of the season with lower-back points however since has batted .311/.413/.473 with 5 homers and 17 steals in 64 video games at two Class A ranges. An Eleventh-round choose from Miami in 2022, he is an aggressive hitter who supplies strong pace and center-field protection.
Angels: Jack Kochanowicz, RHP
He’s been on the record earlier than, as excessive as No. 8 initially of the 2021 season. But he’s had loads of bother staying wholesome and had fallen off the record to begin this yr. He’s again in a great place due to dominating over 5 begins in High-A and incomes his first transfer to Double-A, the place he began out effectively earlier than stumbling a bit. But he’s already surpassed his profession excessive in innings pitched for a season and remains to be solely 22 years outdated.
Astros: Zach Dezenzo, 3B/2B
Dezenzo tied an Ohio State document with 19 homers in 2022 earlier than the Astros made him a Twelfth-round choose, and he has stood out together with his frequency of arduous contact and high-end exit velocities since turning professional. He’s batting .329/.407/.545 with 10 homers in 66 video games between High-A and Double-A.
A’s: Joey Estes, RHP
He was OK, however not nice, for the A’s in 2022, his first season with the group after coming over within the Matt Olson deal. He’s taken a really good step ahead this yr in his first style of Double-A, incomes a bump as much as Triple-A after posting a 3.28 ERA and .215 BAA in 20 outings with Midland.
Mariners: Alberto Rodriguez, OF
Rodriguez’s modest rating to begin the 2023 season was largely a results of a somewhat pedestrian season with High-A Everett in 2022 and the actual fact the Mariners designated him for task to make roster room in January. He cleared waivers and is making a really sturdy case to get added again to the roster by posting a .973 OPS in 72 video games again with Everett that earned him a bump as much as Double-A.
Rangers: Cameron Cauley, SS/2B
Cauley’s hitting potential and large swagger in a small body drew comparisons to Dustin Pedroia when he signed for an over-slot $1 million as a third-round choose in 2021. The Texas highschool product has had some swing-and-miss points in professional ball, however he is driving the ball with authority, displaying plus-plus pace and offering high quality protection at shortstop. He’s hitting .250/.328/.427 with 30 extra-base knocks and 29 steals in 82 video games between Single-A and High-A.
Braves: Luis De Avila, LHP
It’s been fairly a journey for a man who was launched by the Rockies, signed by the Royals after which taken within the Minor League section of the Rule 5 Draft by the Braves. Given an opportunity to begin in 2022, he’s run with it, main the South Atlantic League in ERA final yr. The transfer as much as Double-A hasn’t slowed him down as his 2.95 ERA was third lowest within the Southern League, and he’s fourth in WHIP and BAA.
Marlins: Dane Myers, OF/3B/1B
A two-way participant at Rice who initially centered on pitching after the Tigers drafted him within the sixth spherical of the 2017 MLB Draft, Myers turned a full-time hitter following the pandemic and got here to the Marlins through the Minor League section of the Rule 5 Draft final December. He has creating energy, plus pace, arm energy and the flexibility to play all three outfield spots and each infield corners. He batted .288/.295/.373 in July with Miami and is hitting .336/.426/.523 with 13 homers and 16 steals in 75 video games between Double-A and Triple-A.
Mets: Christian Scott, RHP
Scott was restricted to solely 58 2/3 innings at Single-A and High-A for what ought to have been his first full season in 2022. He’s already gotten extra begins in 2023 and has ascended to Double-A with considerably improved management (12 walks in 76 2/3 innings this summer time) whereas displaying a mid-90s fastball, promising slider and creating changeup. A former reliever at Florida, the right-hander may need wanted slightly further time to develop into beginning, however he’s wanting like a strong Mets choice for the second half of 2024.
Nationals: Daylen Lile, OF
The 2021 second-rounder entered professional ball with a robust status as a hitter, however he underwent Tommy John surgical procedure in March 2022, that means we needed to wait one other yr to see the bat play in professional ball. It’s actually accomplished that in 2023. Lile hit .291/.381/.510 with 34 extra-base hits and 21 steals in 66 video games for Single-A Fredericksburg this summer time earlier than getting promoted to High-A Wilmington in mid-July. He lacks the loud instruments of different Nationals outfielder prospects like Dylan Crews, James Wood and Elijah Green, but when Lile retains hitting like this, Washington will discover a spot on the grass for him in some unspecified time in the future.
Phillies: Orion Kerkering, RHP
While beginning throughout his junior yr at South Florida didn’t work out, it’s clear Kerkering has a future in a giant league bullpen, and shortly. He may need the very best mixture of pure stuff and strike-throwing within the Phillies’ group and has pitched his option to Double-A in his first full season, placing out 12.9 batters per 9 innings whereas strolling simply 1.8. This man goes to pitch in high-leverage conditions within the large leagues.
Brewers: Yophery Rodriguez, OF
Milwaukee signed Rodriguez — then ranked as MLB Pipeline’s No. 22 worldwide prospect — for $1.5 million out of Venezuela again in January, and he’s been a outstanding DSL performer thus far, hitting .284/.432/.514 with six homers in 43 video games. Even extra astounding, he’s walked 39 occasions and struck out solely 28 occasions for a 1.4 BB/Ok ratio that ranks second amongst DSL gamers with at the very least 190 plate appearances. Milwaukee is aware of how one can develop outfielders, and Rodriguez may very well be its subsequent success story.
Cardinals: Victor Scott II, OF
We knew the 2022 fifth-rounder was quick coming into professional ball, contemplating his 80-grade pace, and he’s lived as much as that status with 73 steals in 97 video games at High-A and Double-A. Where Scott has surpassed expectations has been within the field. The 22-year-old has stored the strikeouts in examine and put the ball in play, thus permitting his wheels to rev. With solely 4 homers and 25 complete extra-base hits, there nonetheless isn’t a ton of pop, however Scott is displaying that he may hit for a excessive common and be an old-school tablesetter within the Majors.
Cubs: Jefferson Rojas, SS
The Cubs appreciated Rojas’ hitting potential sufficient to signal him for $1 million out of the Dominican Republic in 2022 and additional confirmed their religion in him by sending him to Single-A as an 18-year-old this season. He’s holding his personal by batting .256/.335/.405 with 16 extra-base hits in 45 video games whereas additionally getting the job accomplished defensively at shortstop.
Pirates: Jared Triolo, 3B
It was arduous to know what to make of Triolo after a yr with not a ton of offensive affect, at age 24, in Double-A in 2022, though he performed excellent protection at third and confirmed he can deal with different positions virtually as effectively. Though he began this season late due to hamate surgical procedure, he was hitting higher in Triple-A and has appeared very strong in his time up within the large leagues thus far.
Reds: Lyon Richardson, RHP
Richardson started his profession again in 2018 as a highschool draftee with the Reds and has appeared good when he’s been wholesome. He struggled in 2021 and finally had Tommy John surgical procedure and missed all of 2022. Reports of him throwing effectively at instructs final fall weren’t exaggerated, and he carried that over to a improbable 2023 season that’s included his large league debut.
D-backs: Kristian Robinson, OF
Due to authorized points (which Robinson has stated stemmed from psychological well being considerations) and eventual visa issues, Robinson hadn’t performed in a Minor League recreation since 2019 earlier than he made his season debut with Single-A Visalia on May 30. The former Top 100 prospect nonetheless has a very good power-speed combo however is displaying some rust with decently excessive Ok charges. He’s nonetheless solely 22 and may very well be at the very least a beginning Major League outfielder if all the pieces continues to click on with taking part in time.
Dodgers: Payton Martin, RHP
More of a shortstop than a pitcher as a North Carolina excessive schooler, Martin nonetheless confirmed sufficient on the mound for the Dodgers to draft him within the seventeenth spherical in 2022. He has been a revelation, working with a mid-90s fastball and mid-80s slider in his first full professional season. They’ve translated right into a 2.04 ERA, .213 opponent common and 48/15 Ok/BB ratio in 39 2/3 Single-A innings.
Giants: Wade Meckler, OF
Meckler hit .367 in his professional debut final summer time and has posted a .370/.455/.500 line this yr, rating second within the Minors in batting and on-base proportion whereas rising from High-A to Triple-A. A 2022 eighth-round select of Oregon State, he is a contact-over-power man with plus pace and succesful protection in any respect three outfield spots.
Padres: Brandon Valenzuela, C
San Diego officers have been happy with how Valenzuela added energy forward of his age-22 season, and that proved true together with his improved affect at High-A Fort Wayne, the place he hit .279/.372/.456 with 4 homers in 39 video games earlier than shifting as much as Double-A for the primary time in late June. While he’s been challenged offensively with San Antonio, Valenzuela has a decently excessive ground as a gifted defender behind the plate, and the early enhancements present hope that he can hit at the very least sufficient to be a Major League backstop.
Rockies: Dyan Jorge, SS
The Rockies have been assured that Jorge’s worldwide competitors expertise would assist him transition to professional ball and thus far, they’ve been proper. After hitting .320/.402/.451 within the DSL after signing in 2022, he’s hit his approach from the Arizona Complex League to full-season ball and has a mixed .315/.394/.472 line over his first 45 mixed video games.
Content Source: www.mlb.com