This makes the plane as close to flat as possible. The Rays scooped him up in the fifth round and his breakout season occurred in 2021. Walker could hit 40-plus homers multiple times, but there are a couple subtle adjustments needed, as mentioned above. Mauricio has consistently been young for his level, so there's some natural growth to be expected as he matures, but he'll likely never be above average at this, as the concrete has mostly -- but not completely -- dried in my estimation. The main reason there's a tier break here is that Moreno offers premium ability, but in a more subtle package that a fan might not notice right away. I think he'll be a superior backup option to Knizner by the end of 2023. Kiley McDaniel's top 100 MLB prospects for 2023: Which future star is No. We've got you covered. ESPN MLB Insider Kiley McDaniel launched his annual list of the Top 100 Major League Baseball Prospects today on ESPN+. Rankings Home. Marte currently looks like an above-average hitter with above-average in-game power, but his physical development, ultimate defensive home and offensive approach will evolve over the coming years. How bright is your team's future? This is a somewhat familiar song to prospect watchers; Nate Pearson was sort of like this a few years ago, Forrest Whitley before him, and so on. Flores has a frankly bananas backstory. That's no problem, though, as Mayer is one of the best track-record shortstops in recent draft history, with scouts circling his name in their programs since early in his high school career. In Low-A, Rodriguez had walked 57 times and struck out 52 times through 47 games. WebHigh School Baseball Recruiting Database. That would become more of an issue in a robot ump future combined with the new rules that encourage more stolen bases, as throwing out runners is more important with more attempts and since framing wouldn't exist, catchers could sell out to block pitches. He's a plus runner and big league caliber shortstop with an 80-grade arm, above average power potential and bat speed, along with plus foot speed. 3 overall in the 2020 draft and made his big league debut in 2022, but needed Tommy John surgery. A 10-15 homer likelihood eats into his overall upside, but he may be plus at everything else on the field and has lots of pro scouting support for his ranking after an excellent 30-game stint in Double-A after signing. With the top free agents signed, here's where our experts think each team stands midway through the offseason. This isn't a true comparison, because most players don't have a one-for-one perfect analog. The Cards now have a glut of young position players at-or-near the big leagues that need to sort themselves out, but Winn figures to get a crack at the shortstop job, probably in 2024. OK, I don't have proof for the robot or the future part -- but I can confirm Julien has never been a good defender anywhere and you can look up that he's French-Canadian without my help. Peraza had a solid 18-game big league audition at the end of last season and showed his plus speed, plus glove and above-average arm. Now the downside: Chourio also struck out a lot and has a power-over-hit approach with a precocious feel for loft. On top of that, Alvarez has a real chance to be an everyday-quality defender behind the plate. In the aftermath of the blockbuster trade that sent Juan Soto to the Padres, some rumors about behind-the-scenes details circulated across the industry. As a prep draft prospect in 2019, Volpe was seen as a skills-over-tools type with good makeup that was a likely big leaguer, but without big upside in large part because of the power ceiling due to his size (listed at 5-foot-11, 180 pounds.). Join or start a league for free >>. His rise has been a slow burn as the Cards have tried to manage his workload, but Hence was outrageously good in 16 starts in Low-A last year. That said, scouts I spoke with aren't getting the fuzzy feelings they got with Acuna and Tatis at the same stage and there's some worry that Chuorio could be more of a fringy on-base threat who needs to get to most of his power -- maybe more like Luis Robert? He's on the 40-man and will likely make his big league debut at some point in 2023 with an advanced feel for the game that suggests he'll do well in any role. Mayer gets the slight nod as he's getting to his power (via exit velo, hard hit rate, barrels, etc.) He'll get a big league look at some point in 2023 and I'm rooting hard for him because baseball is more fun with more Kyle Schwarber types. There will always be contact questions given the length of his arms and good-not-great pitch selection, but he's continuing to progress, hitting .273/.360/.451 at Low-A as a teenager with 15 homers, 14 stolen bases and solid control of the strike zone for his age. Lawlar has excellent feel for the game and has always hit well in games, along with being a plus-plus baserunner, while the defensive questions are mostly a matter of focus, so I have no doubt he'll round into a solid average defender. This could literally go in any direction from here -- he has thrown 45 professional innings -- with the most exciting elements of upside and riskiest versions of risk all mixed together. Type: Dynamic athlete with an everyday shortstop look. His overall command, changeup and curveball are all around average. He also now looks like he'll be an average defensive catcher with an average arm. Rocchio doesn't come with sexy upside as he's 5-10 and his best selling points are plus contact skills, a solid approach and a steady glove at shortstop. Comparing the industry's 2023 Top 100 Prospects lists - MLB His changeup is still plus and with the added arm speed, his two breaking pitches now play above average. 2023 ESPN 100 Watchlist 2023 Top 100 Prospects | FanGraphs Baseball As a 22-year-old in 2021 he was dealing, but made only 10 starts because of a bout with COVID-19. The Padres targeted Susana, who popped up late in the international signing period with upper-90s velocity, after they had already spent all of their money, so they agreed to a $1.7 million bonus as long as he waited a year to sign in January 2022. Winn also has a history and even some pro experience on the mound, where he sits in the mid-90's and will show a 70-grade breaking ball. He's a disruptor on the interior, and I didn't think then and don't think now that this is an issue, as Holliday seems plenty coachable to dial things in. Which could work against him behind the plate, too -- even if he could stick, his bat may get to the big leagues fast enough that he won't be given time to finish becoming a big league catcher. In 2022, he was sitting 94-97 with above-average breaking stuff, a plus changeup and above-average command. Like Woods above, Walker was also a summer standout on the showcase circuit who swung and missed a bit while showing massive power. Tiedemann has east/west-oriented stuff with a tailing fastball, sweepy slider and diving changeup. Now buzz is growing that Painter might break camp with the big league team this spring, as GM Dave Dombrowski remains one of few GMs in the league not trying to win a gold medal in the Service Time Olympics. Baltimore's position-player development machine has turned another midlevel prospect into a real dude. Arroyo and Williams are back-to-back here because they're pretty similar prospects. Realmuto, Sean Murphy, Will Smith, and Willson Contreras for NL All-Star spots every year. Realmuto's career. Here's the good: He is an 18-year-old plus-plus runner with explosive bat speed and power. Type: Plus power and patience from a probable catcher. Pfaadt popped up in the Cape Cod League as a new name scouts were intrigued by, a Division 2 righty from Bellarmine (KY) reaching the mid-90s with big league talent, but generally unproven and likely to end up a reliever. And there are other potential candidates including Jordan Westburg, Joseph Ortiz, Cade Povich, Connor Norby and Coby Mayo -- all of whom are on this top 100 -- along with Kyle Stowers and D.L. Four players cracked the top 10 on all six lists, listed here with He's a center fielder right now and could eventually move to right field, but that's mostly irrelevant because he has plenty of offensive potential to profile anywhere. MLB composite top 100 prospect rankings, takeaways Elly De La Cruz is going to become appointment viewing once he gets to the TV league, in the same way that Oneil Cruz and Fernando Tatis Jr. lit up Statcast on a nightly basis when they hit the big leagues, Velo: 95-99, Fastball: 65/70, Slider: 55/60, Curveball: 50/60, Changeup: 45/55, Command: 40/50, Reminds me of: (leans in, whispering, looking around) Justin Verlander. He hit .279/.360/.526 with 29 homers, 16 stolen bases, a 10% walk rate and a 21% strikeout rate across High-A, Double-A and Triple-A. The Royals have had trouble getting to the next stage of their rebuild, but they haven't had trouble producing solid infielders. The comp thing starts to bother me here, because Holliday, Merrill, Montgomery, Mayer and Henderson, all in the top 18, are all advanced hit/power combos at shortstop without great big league comps (unless you squint at their size, and say maybe Corey Seager). Type: Advanced hit/power/approach at age 18. Type: 6-foot-5 likely third baseman with plus power and arm strength. MLB's 100 Names You Need To Know For 2023: Top prospects to As it stands, they traded one and kept one, and Merrill has the look of a future star. Julio Rodriguez improved a good bit on chase rate just last season after pitch selection was his biggest question mark as a top prospect. Type: Maybe a catcher, with 30-homer upside. In the 2020 draft, Tiedemann was an intriguing 17-year-old prep lefty whose price wasn't met. Scouts are still concerned that he isn't quite nimble enough behind the plate and his arm strength plays down due to execution, though a robot ump future would help. Minter are two guys who do this with their fastballs very well, and it's a huge reason why they succeed. He's now a franchise cornerstone in Baltimore, along with last year's top overall prospect, Adley Rutschman. It was a different story in 2022 as his velo jumped a couple ticks to 91-94 mph with good ride and the same standout command. O'Hoppe delivered what many (including myself) thought would be a breakout 2022 season, hitting .275/.392/.496 with 15 homers in 75 games in Double-A for the Phillies before the trade. His contact ability is just OK and his speed won't help him leg out many infield hits, but Alvarez's shorter arms and incredible strength make for a scary combination for pitchers. He made his big league debut last summer and should get an extended low-pressure big league look on the rebuilding Nationals this year. Luciano signed for $2.6 million as one of many standout seven-figure signees in the 2018 international class that also included Francisco Alvarez, Diego Cartaya, Noelvi Marte (all ranked above Luciano on this list), Orelvis Martinez and Kevin Alcantara. Kiley McDaniel covers MLB prospects, the MLB Draft and more, including trades and free agency. Lawlar continues keeping pace with Mayer and the difference between them is basically a coin flip for me over a year after their draft. He was excellent over the summer before that, looking like a midfirst-round pick, but swung and missed a good bit, so the spring made Wood look like a tools-projection whose long arms just wouldn't let him get to his upside at the plate, even when he dialed in the approach better. The big wave of Orioles prospects is almost here, with Rodriguez the potential ace of the group. Instead of cruising to being a first-round pick in 2023, he left high school after two years to go get on a professional schedule to pursue baseball: this seems like pretty good outward evidence of plus makeup, as well. Stone signed for a well-below slot bonus after going with the second-to-last pick in the five-round 2020 draft. Harrison, an interesting low-slot lefty starter, had a good summer showcase season and a solid spring out of a NorCal high school, but he was still working mostly 89-92 with stuff that flashed above average to plus at times. Grades for trades & signings He pitched half of 2022 in Triple-A and seems like the next above-average starting pitcher to come off the Rays' assembly line. He also has a slider and changeup that both flash above average but are rarely used. Spencer Steer, 2B, Cincinnati Reds Reminds me of: A Giants low-slot lefty starter with above average stuff and command. If he doesn't improve there, Tovar will be slightly below league average at the plate, but helped by Coors and his standout glove, so probably just a low-end regular. Henderson and Carroll have separated themselves from the pack and are a near coinflip for the top spot. I'm using the same description as last year because Dominguez is still the same player. Matthew Liberatore, LHP, St. Louis Cardinals. Hit: 40/45, Game Power: 55/65, Raw Power: 65/70, Speed: 40/35, Fielding: 45/50, Throwing: 55/55, Type: Powerlifter who catches and will hit 30 homers some day. Type: Power-over-hit third baseman with a solid glove. Type: Hit-over-power catcher who is ready for the big leagues. The selling point was that I didn't know his name because he wasn't playing much summer baseball due to getting Power 5 interest as a 6-4 point guard in Indiana. The added arm speed also improved both breaking balls, and the changeup is a plus to plus-plus weapon. The profiles are similar -- Carter has a notch more hit/on-base ability and Cowser has a notch more power -- but the O's development group has a strong track record of improving hitters like this. Perez is almost impossible in that he seems so good at everything at such a young age and extreme height that we basically haven't seen this kind of pitching prospect before. How he hits at higher levels this year will give us an idea of what sort of hitter he'll be against regularly 95 mph-plus velocity, but he has the tools to be an above-average hitter with above-average pitch selection and 30-plus homers. He had above-average command (still does) of average stuff and strong performances, but had been a full-time starter only in his abbreviated junior year at Central Arkansas, so the Dodgers were just betting on some qualities they liked more than a long track record of anything exceptional. Lesko injured his elbow during his biggest start of the spring, in front of over 100 scouts at a loaded tournament. Cavalli showed athleticism, arm speed and aptitude to dream on in high school and early in his career at Oklahoma, then broke out leading up to No. The Rockies are a confusing franchise to try to understand as a whole but the top of their system took a step forward in 2022, with the emergence of Ezequiel Tovar and Amador alongside Zac Veen and Drew Romo. Standings. Our way-too-early lineup rankings look at the best -- and worst -- offenses ahead of the 2023 MLB season. Wicks went No. There's still some relief risk and he may fit best in a five-and-dive starter or other hybrid role, but Brown's stuff is lively enough that he doesn't need fine command to get outs. Red Sox fans have seen two homegrown stars leave in recent years, but that won't happen a third time. It seems pretty obvious that Bradley is going to be pitching in the big leagues soon and the opposing broadcast team will incredulously ask where the Rays keep finding these arms. On the other hand, I think he'll be good enough to play an average shortstop (sliding over if the Bombers have a true plus defender to force him to shift over) and deliver an above average on-base percentage with a chance for 25-30 homers. Last year, Cowser finished the season strong: He hit four homers in 62 games in High-A to start the year, then hit 15 more in the other 76 games, split across Double-A and Triple-A. Hit: 35/40, Game Power: 45/60, Raw Power: 70/70, Speed: 70/70, Fielding: 40/50, Throwing: 70/70. That said, there's also a compelling argument that Carroll offers value in more facets. Holliday was a projected mid-first round pick after a strong summer, but after the first couple spring workouts, immediately jumped into the top 10 and kept climbing. If this all feels negative, he is ranked this high because he could break out and hit .270 with 25 homers at shortstop if things ever just click into place. So there's an argument that Carter is the best on-base-percentage threat among the top prospects in baseball, and he's a good defensive center fielder on top of that. Quinn Priester, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates Our experts predict every series, Memphis wasn't 'fine in the West' -- getting there hinges on massive culture questions, Why the Lakers' real test begins now, after dispatching the No. Mead has some similarities to Jung as a bigger-bodied third baseman with above average-to-plus hit and power potential and Triple-A success. Play Ball Youth Baseball & Softball. Cartaya is a bit better defensively, with a better chance to stick behind the plate, helped by an easy-plus arm. This 20-80 scale also applies to the FV (future value) used to sum up a player's overall value. He is now 23 and about average defensively at third base, but can contribute at all four corner spots. Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout of the Los Angeles During a disastrous, ill-fated deadline deal, the Mets shipped him to the Cubs straight up for Javier Baez on a rental while Crow-Armstrong was still recovering from shoulder surgery. Rodriguez was bitten by the aforementioned Best Pitching Prospect in Baseball snake last season, when he was limited to just 75 innings because of a right lat strain after earning the title on my preseason list. The upside is limited a bit by his average speed and likely long-term fit in right field. Wood still swung and missed too often the summer after signing, but his approach clicked in 2022 to the point that he was done a disservice not being promoted to High-A by Washington after being the headliner in the Juan Soto trade (ahead of Robert Hassell and Jarlin Susana, both later on this list, and MacKenzie Gore, who has graduated but was on last year's list). Prospect Rankings Depth Charts MLB Players He signed for a $2.7 million bonus that ranked third-highest in the 2018 class. Get the gang back together, or start a brand new tradition. Type: On the right day, four plus pitches and starter command. When I asked sources about Carter, everyone mentioned his excellent approach -- and, sure enough, per minor league TrackMan data, his chase rate (the rate at which he swings at pitches outside of the strike zone) is basically tied for best amongst everyone on this list. Waldichuk was another later-round Yankees find (fifth round in the 2019 draft out of St. Mary's) before becoming the headliner of Oakland's four-player return in last summer's Frankie Montas/Lou Trivino trade. As a 16-year-old from Venezuela, Alvarez was in the top tier of his international signing class. Winners, loser of the shortstop carousel . The other question at draft time was if his pitch selection and approach would be good enough to get to all of his power in games? Lesko was on the national scouting scene as early as his freshman year in high school, when he was sitting in the low-90s, mixing in a plus changeup and understandably putting up goofy numbers. I find it difficult to come up with comparisons for the players at the top of these lists as they are outliers in many ways, which you then have to compare among the other outliers in the big leagues, and they rarely match up perfectly to another player. There's a real shot he torches spring training, continues being ahead of schedule and grabs a spot in the big league lineup sooner than later in 2023, making me look a bit silly for hedging. Thats 87 players that the industry feels pretty good about -- nearly a top 100 of top 100-caliber players. His control of the strike zone has been better than expected, and he has developed enough physically to have plus raw power, plus pitch selection, and good feel to get to that power in games. The O's have back-to-back best prospects in baseball and their farm system is the class of the sport, thanks in large part to a really strong pipeline of scouting and developing hitters. Both his contact ability and ability to stick at third base were open questions at draft time due to his 6-foot-5 frame. This also helped him profile at his likely future position: third base. Type: Late-inning-caliber power stuff, but he can turn over a lineup at least once. Frelick has plus-plus contact skills and above-average pitch selection along with plus speed and an intense mentality. He is shorter than you'd prefer an elite pitching prospect at 6-feet tall, but was a plus athlete with a plus-plus-slider, mid-90s heat and plenty of changeup and command to make it all work. FV of a prospect who is big league ready maps to this pretty well: the top tier (65 FV this year) of prospects are projected to have multiple peak seasons of 4-to-5 WAR while the MVP winner is usually around 7-8 WAR. Normally, if this type of prospect has two good pitches as a teenager that would be enough to rank among the best prospects in the game, with the main question if they can come up with a third, or have enough command to be a starter. His slider and curveball also improved to flashing plus with the added arm speed, and he has maintained his starter command and solid changeup. Type: Probably a catcher, with 25-homer upside. He'll turn 25 in a few weeks and is penciled in as Texas' Opening Day third baseman with no platoon partner, so there's some real immediate MLB upside here. Expectations have come down a bit as Veen looks more like he might give you 55-grade tools across the board as a right fielder, which is a good-not-great player -- though there's still some chance he could still develop into a middle-of-the-order terror. Jake Eder, LHP, Miami Marlins The issue now is that the track record of pitchers with that title isn't great. He was good enough after returning that he certainly could have made his big league debut at the end of the season like fellow Baltimore prospect Gunnar Henderson did. He made his big league debut last season playing mostly shortstop, but with Carlos Correa returning combined with the long-term questions on Lewis' ultimate position, it looks like a utility role mixing both infield and outfield duty will make more sense. Type: Positionless Canadian-born hitting robot sent from the future. He produced a combined 23 homers and 23 stolen bases over the three levels. Veen was surprisingly not well-known as a tooled-up prep hitter in the Orlando, Florida, area until he announced himself on the national stage as a junior by taking Matt Allan deep on a 96 mph fastball while Allan was being heavily scouted as a first-round prospect. The question on Luciano's future is what position he'll play, with third base and corner outfield the leading options even though he's still only played shortstop in his pro career. Type: If it all clicks, it looks like Max Scherzer. Type: Similar to Anthony Rizzo at the plate, but less talented in the field. It is important to remember that he is facing pitchers who are generally five years older than him and these issues tend to be fixable for young, superlative talents.
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