Already reaching Triple-A by the end of the 2022 season, Volpe is eyeing a 2023 debut at which point he may never look back. As he mentioned on our prospect podcast, the Call Up Hassell is still working on his lower half consistency in order to tap into a bit more power. Brooks Lee - SS - Twins. When the pitch is working, it features good arm fade from Graceffos over the top release point. The former Yokohama DeNA Baystars standout averaged just .197 in 2020 and .167 in 2021 before being designated for assignment and picked up by the Los Angeles Dodgers. He has one of the most discerning eyes in the league, and he's topped 25 home runs in each of the past four seasons. Morenos receiving has earned mixed reviews in the past, but he has shown enough to leave optimism in that regard. Halls curveball lacks the tightness of his slider and is a bit more of a hittable pitch, but is still an above-average secondary that he will use to steal strikes. A well above average runner, Henderson was 22/25 on stolen base attempts in the upper minors this season and should be a threat for 15-20 stolen bases annually. Youll see Williams often finish even his swing more upright than he started, which is a bit of a tell. His actions are smooth, but he could stand to improve his footwork some. Burrows has a solid three pitch mix and has commanded it better than ever this season. Height/Weight: 510, 170|Bat/Throw: R/R|1st Round (16), 2019 (ARI)|ETA: 2022. After a strong showing as a 19-year-old in Low-A last season, Matos looked poised for a breakout in 2022. His playing time steadily eroded, and he finished with a .204 batting mark. Haarlem Baseball Week (Honkbalweek Haarlem) in the Netherlands - European New Zealand Baseball National Team does the Haka at 2022 "Chatter Up!" Athleticism and mobility is a big part of Hassells game from the batters box to center field and the base paths. As we continue to see with this new generation of catchers, athleticism can really help set prospects apart behind the dish; especially high school catchers. We saw Perezs plus fastball consistently eclipse over 2,500 RPM, boasting a ton of life. His setup is a bit reminiscent of Carlos Correa, though Ruiz uses a toe tap for timing as he sinks into his back hip. Pfaadt sets the tone with his 93-95 mph fastball which has ticked up since last year. He may be susceptible to the long ball, but solo shots hurt a pitcher much less than walks and Pfaadt only walked 4.8% of batters this season. It was more of the same for Davis in his 22 High-A games this season, quickly earning a promotion to Double-A where injuries derailed his season. Though swing and miss concerns cloud the 21-year-olds outlook a bit, his consistent production has become impossible to ignore. Burleson has an extremely quiet set up, starting pre-stacked on his backside with just a toe tap for timing. Height/Weight: 65, 220|Bat/Throw: R/R|4th Round (121), 2020 (MIL)|ETA: 2023. Moris season got off to a nightmare start when he fractured his finger in April, throwing his catcher mask in frustration. A superb defender who has already reached Triple-A at 22 years old, Turang has finally started to hit the ball with more authority. This is common for tall young hitters and his tendency to lose his back hip and drift will cause his bat to drag through the zone sometimes. PARALLEL CARDS: Gold #/25 (1:323), Red #/5 (1:1,601), Platinum 1/1 (1:7,954). He is already demonstrating smooth actions, good instincts and soft hands to go with a plus arm. Caissie moves well for his size, but his limited experience in the outfield heading into 2022 was evident in his reads and routes. SHARE. He was twice on the injured list and then had the elbow procedure. In his 110 Double-A games, Volpe swiped 44 bags on 50 tries and started his Triple-A career 4 for 4 on stolen base attempts. Williams starts with an upright stance and relies on his natural bat speed and athleticism to produce thump, but the lack of lower-half involvement leaves power on the table for him. Norby is a well rounded player who gets the most out of his above average tools. A switch hitter with pretty even production from both sides, Rodriguez has a really good feel for both of his swings that are geared for lift and carry. Campusano has the bat-to-ball skills and progressing approach to hit for a high average along with the power to launch 20+ homers. A switch-hitter with solid tools across the board, elite defensive potential and makeup, Rocchio is a high floor prospect with intangibles that the Guardians love. Suzuki has had an average over .300 and at least 20 home runs every year since 2016 and had double-digit stolen bases in three of those seasons. One import that will not begin the season in the big leagues is outfielder Shogo Akiyama, formerly of the Cincinnati Reds. A significant amount of his homers were hit to left field off of fastballs middle away. Impressive pull side power and a good athlete. He topped his 2021 career-high of 15 homers with 17 more in 2022. A plus runner with plenty of lateral quickness and range, Holliday has a great chance to stick at shortstop. Sakamoto is unlikely to jump to the majors, but Yamada just might. The added strength/weight has slowed Lee down a tick and his range is limited. Hassell stole 34 bags on 40 attempts last year and is on pace to match that total in 2022. Despite being one of the youngest players at each level he reaches, Walker seems to get better each time hes promoted. Soderstroms decent hands should help him profile as an above average defensive first baseman. Amador is one of the more polished under-20 prospects in all of the minor leagues. He has above average defensive potential in right. A pretty aggressive hitter, Arroyo can find himself expanding the zone a bit too frequently like many young hitters who are confident in their ability to make consistent contact. Since 2018, the 22-year-old has pitched to a 2.41 ERA across every minor league level while striking out 406 in 283 1/3 innings. The hard-throwing right-handers maturation was immediately visible (1.83 ERA across 22 Low-A and High-A starts). Carroll faced a lot of adversity since being drafted in 2019. Not the biggest guy in the world at 6 foot, 185 pounds Neto gets the most out of his body and is capable of producing above average power. Its similar to Bo Bichette, albeit with less power. ZiPS Top 100 Prospects - 2022 All told, ZiPS and our rankings agree on two-thirds of players, with a few more that ZiPS didn't even consider. Even for a pitcher starting once a week in a shortened season, Senga threw a lot of pitches. Hes not afraid to mix the pitch in to righties as well as he does a good job of keeping it at the bottom of the zone and below. He covers a ridiculous amount of ground and gets great jumps. 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. Hes a lock to stick in center field long-term if the D-backs prefer him there over Alek Thomas. Williams rode the momentum of his All American collegiate season right into professional baseball where he pitched to a 1.96 ERA in 115 innings between High-A and Double-A with a 33% strikeout rate while walking just 9% of batters. While he did swipe 28 bags, he as caught 13 times. Johnson should be an above average defender at second. Example: Yes, I would like to receive emails from JapanBall. In 133.1 innings between Double-A and Triple-A, Bradley pitched to a 2.57 ERA with 141 strikeouts and just 33 walks as one of the youngest pitchers in the upper levels. After setting a career high of 14 homers last year, Aranda has launched 20 this season while maintaining his elite contact rates. Marcelo Mayer. Of these players, five are currently on MLB rosters.The first instance of a Japanese player playing in MLB occurred in 1964, when the Nankai Hawks, a Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) team, sent three exchange prospects to the United States to gain experience in MLB's minor league system. Walkers average speed and elite arm and give him the potential to play an above average right field once he gets comfortable out there. Much like his future teammate Paul Goldschmidt, Walker should be able to surprise the defense for 10-15 stolen bases per year. Height/Weight: 64, 220|Bat/Throw: R/R|5th Round (151), 2021 (STL)|ETA: 2024. The blend of whippy bat speed while living in the zone for so long helps Manzardo post an impressive 86% zone contact rate while driving the ball with authority. Much like the rest of his arsenal, Pfaadt has a great feel for the pitch, especially to his arm side. It flashed solid depth and shape at the bottom of the zone, making it a nice change-of-pace pitch to be used sparingly. On top of that, 2022 Topps Baseball Japan Edition includes base Autographs for 42 subjects (including Ohtani), averaging 1:61 packs. With two strikes, Neto focuses on getting his foot down early and just letting his natural bat speed do the work. Height/Weight: 64, 210 | Bat/Throw: R/R | 5th Round (149), 2019 (ARI) | ETA: 2023. An early-summer slump brought him back down to earth, but Maki finished the season strong, compiling 36 doubles, 24 home runs, and 87 RBI. An inconsistent lower half led to an extremely high 57% ground ball rate last season, limiting him to just 13 homers in 116 games between High-A and Double-A. With more room to fill out on top of the room to improve with his base, there is easy plus power to dream on with Williams. He also finished the season with more walks (72) than strikeouts (29) for the second straight season. 9HR and 28RBI in just 20 games. One of baseballs biggest breakout prospects this season, Ruiz has turned into much more than a set of wheels. The top prep pitching prospect in the 2021 draft, Painter is a wunderkind who is tall enough to play forward on the hardwood, young enough to be a college freshman, and yet is polished enough to pound the strike zone with multiple plus pitches. He got it as high as 98 during a Premier12 game last winter. 16 the 2022 Draft and they were happy to sign the the talented teenager to a well-overslot $5 million bonus. The right-handers heater sits 96-98 MPH, reaching triple digits consistently. Perhaps overlooked is his baserunning, as he became the first player since Makoto Kozuru in 1950 to steal 10+ bases while hitting 50+ home runs in a season. He debuted in the Cuban National Series at 17 but moved to Japan, where he played from 2017 to 2019 for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. Much like his offensive game, Volpes instincts help him maximize his tools. Even with the added power, Turang has still maintained his impressive contact rates while commanding the strike zone. He broke through in 2021, though, starring as both a pitcher and designated hitter. Mar 24, 2022. One of baseballs higher floor prospects, Turang may never be a star, but he has a great chance to be an MLB regular and potentially a solid one at that. That performance gave him four 30-30 seasons in his last five tries, and left him with a career line of 297/.401/.526. When everything is in sync for Caissie, you can see flashes of a potentially special power bat. Davis put the questions around his swing to bed by slashing .370/.482/.663 with 17 homers and 31 walks against just 24 Ks versus ACC pitching in 2021. There isnt much more Stone can achieve in the Minor Leagues. He uses the whole field well while leveraging his hitters counts to look to do a bit more damage. After another average offensive season in 2021, Turang adjusted his set up and has tapped into more power this season. His present command is above average with potential for plus. Here are four ways to spot greenwashing, Kishida to prioritize child-rearing support in policy address, Germany's new defense minister faces pressure on tanks, army upgrade, Alarmed by AI chatbots, universities start revamping how they teach, Pentagon sends U.S. arms stored in Israel to Ukraine, Clutter, trash and hoarding disorder in Japan. Aranda is a natural with the bat and has steadily added power. Collier has hit the ground running at the complex already showcasing his exciting power potential with a 450-foot bomb. Hovers with front leg to help keep weight back. Despite registering slightly below-average exit velocities, Arroyos swing generates easy lift and carry, helping him to a respectable 12% HR/FB rate. Arroyo is a natural up the middle, with clean actions, impressive footwork and a rocket for an arm. It generates swing-and-miss in the strike zone and is extremely difficult for hitters to get to. With 14 triples since the start of last season, De La Cruz just glides around the bases in what seems like three steps per 90 feet. His efficient bat path is quick to the ball while staying in the zone for a long time. Thank you for writing out the list. McLain relies on his athleticism and good arm to play solid defense at shortstop, even though he is not the most natural looking at the position. Height/Weight: 511, 170|Bat/Throw: R/R|IFA: $725K 2018 (SFG)|ETA: 2024. Kikuchi finished 2021 with a 7-4 mark, 4.41 ERA, and 1.32 WHIP. Ethan Salas, C, Venezuela. An above-average runner, Amador is probably not going to steal bases in bunches, but his athleticism should allow him to be a positive on the base paths overall. It seems like Hassell is not too eager to put on weight and slow down as the speed component of his game is something he prides himself on. During his time with Hiroshima, the 27-year-old outfielder was a five-time All-Star and Gold Glove winner. Peraza is a plus runner with good footwork at shortstop, giving him above-average range. Additionally, you can subscribe to Baseball America's newsletter and receive all of our rankings, analysis, prospect insight & more delivered to your inbox every day. 87B-19 Bobby Witt Jr. - Kansas City Royals. He uses his athleticism to help him move well behind the dish and block effectively. Cowser has struggled against lefties this season which is something to monitor, though his ridiculous numbers against righties and ability to draw free passes against lefties helps quell the splits concern. An above average runner, Neto should provide some value on the base paths and mix in a handful of stolen bases. The 2020 season got off to a late start due to the coronavirus pandemic and Senga got off to an even later start as he worked his way back from a right arm issue. (You can unsubscribe anytime). At the plate, he hit 46 home runs, drove in 100 runs, and posted an .865 OPS. 2 overall in this years draft. After earning Cy Young Award runner-up in 2020, Maeda struggled for most of the 2021 regular season, save for a strong July performance. A simple set up from the right side, Vargas times up his moves well and consistently puts himself in a good position to get his best swing off. Your subscription plan doesn't allow commenting. Standing at 6-foot-5, 220 pounds, Walker does not require much effort to get into his plus plus raw power. Dominguez shedded some unnecessary weight last offseason, helping him move better in the outfield and on the bases, looking more like the plus runner he has was anticipated to be. A star-studded MLB free-agent market is about to add another big name to its ranks. Initially looking shaky in the early parts of his professional career, Baty worked hard to improve his footwork and agility and the improvements became noticeable in games. While there is some present whiff for Cartaya, he controls his body well, repeating his moves in the box. The go-to put-away pitch against lefties for Painter has been his above-average curveball in the upper 70s. Suzuki is a great hitter, runs well and may have more power than Yamada. His long strides help him close in on the baseball in the outfield, which has helped Wood actually look pretty good in the early going in center field. These pitches allow him to utilize the leverage in his swing and at worst, he will be able to annihilate said pitches in the big leagues once he gets there. Waldichuk was dealt to the As as part of the Frankie Montas return at the 2022 Trade Deadline. With 32 homers in his last 125 Minor League games, there is no doubting Cartayas power potential. As always, our boards are built on three pillars: OF Seiya Suzuki is being rumored to be posted to MLB this offseason. He has good bat speed that allows him to produce above-average raw power and hes starting to show he can get to it in games. Guys like Thatcher Hurd, Chase Burns and Ben Hess excite scouts. A doubles machine due to his all-fields approach and swing that is geared for hard line drives, Mead has racked up 75 doubles along with 28 homers since the start of last season (180 games). Arroyo was taken in the second round of 2021s Draft as more of a glove-first shortstop, but has shown more offensive upside than many evaluators anticipated. He's tallied 24 assists since 2017; for comparison's sake, Bryce Harper led big-league right fielders in that category last season, and he has 22 assists over the same timeframe. Carter has the speed to be an impactful base stealer, but will need to get more efficient. C Keibert Ruiz | Nationals | 23 | MLB | 2020 36. Fantasy Alarm . More patient than he was in previous years, Vientos is still tad too aggressive at the plate, specifically struggling with breaking balls which likely played a large part in the Mets reluctance to promote him. After 2020s layoff, Jung emerged with a tweaked set up and a swing geared for more lift. This does not come as a total shock given the fact that his father was an NFL tight end for a decade, but Greenes physical talent gives him sky-high upside to dream on. Swings dont come much simpler than Connor Norbys. Steers strong baseball instincts allow him to move all over the infield with relative ease. Mead has already flashed plus exit velocities, with a 90th percentile exit velocity of 107 mph, one of the better marks in the organization. His swing is choppy and can leave the zone quickly, but he has also shown the ability to drive the ball with authority to all fields. Starts crouched and slightly open. As Japans 12 clubs prepare to chase the pennant, here are six players from the Pacific League to keep an eye on. After three seasons with the Seattle Mariners, Kikuchi signed a three-year, $36 million contract with Toronto in the off-season. Walker will need to improve against spin and get more comfortable in the outfield, which is exactly why the Cardinals are sending him to the Arizona Fall League. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Sign up for the JapanBall newsletter and we'll send you the latest Japanese baseball news and info, plus updates on our international baseball tours. In 142 games, he batted .291/.329/.373 for a wRC+ of 112 while swiping 24 bases. The Cardinals have not stretched Hence out much, averaging less than four innings per start, but he is set to get more work in the Arizona Fall League. His ability to spot it on both sides of the plate makes it effective to both lefties and righties. The Buffaloes ace shined in most of those games, living up to the hype with an array of sharp breaking balls. Kodai Senga, RHP. He is twitchy and athletic enough to turn on pitches middle-in, but sometimes struggles to let secondary stuff travel and drive it up the middle or the other way. Lawlars advanced feel to hit and developing power give him great upside in the batters box. An advanced feel to swing the bat and elite defensive potential have PCA making up for lost time this season. Reaching Double-A before his 20th birthday, Tiedemann is on a fast track to the big leagues. Featuring high spin from a low release point, the pitch explodes out of his hand and generates a high percentage of whiffs in the zone. McLain has as simple of a swing and set up as youre going to find. Some of the easier power youll see in the minors, Baty requires little movement to get into his plus raw power. A testament to his polish and knack for hitting. After dominating Double-A, Henderson entered Triple-A as the levels youngest player and continued his torrid production. A grinder behind the dish, Alvarez has continued to improve defensively as he has progressed through the minors. Naoya Masuda is coming in, he posted a 2.24 ERA in 64 innings last season. Rocchio could probably use another season in Triple-A as he tries to find more offensive consistency, however his glove is good enough to hold down the shortstop position at the highest level right now. Lawlar is an exciting blend of polish and projection. Meyers calling card is his plus-plus slider which sits 89-91 and generates 2800 RPMs. He already has a polished approach that led to a 15% walk rate in the upper minors this season. Hendersons smooth actions and plus arm are complemented by impressive quickness for a 6-foot-3, 210 pound guy. Baty is quick to the ball and repeats his moves well, helping him crush fastballs to an OPS over 1.000 in the minors this season. Many of these choices are almost impossible to make, but here is the best player at each position our Best Nine for the 2022 season. He only throws it a few times each outing and it tends to back up a bit on him at times leading to some consistency issues regarding location. Last week, the 20-year-old Sasaki pitched the first perfect game in the NPB in 28 years when he shut down the Orix Buffaloes with 19 strikeouts. Not only has Mervis been the biggest breakout prospect in 2022, but hes also flat out been one of the best hitters in the Minor Leagues. His takes are easy and he rarely gets fooled in the box. Built-in deception, good stuff and consistently improving command have his stock quickly rising. Possessing comfortably plus pull side power, we have seen Naylor launch a ball over 460 feet this season to right field. An elite defensive defender at multiple spots, Rafaela enjoyed a power breakout in 2022, boosting his longterm outlook. Here lies a big part of the problem for Aranda. His reads are already at least big league average and the combination of his speed and efficient routes make it seem like he can get to any baseball. Initially viewed as a high-risk, high-reward power bat, Marte has a higher offensive floor than some may give him credit for. As a result, the prospect was not on a ton of radars on Opening Day. That said, the improvement of Gassers command and feel for his changeup give him a solid chance to stick as a starter and the Brewers aggressively promoting the second-year pro to Triple-A is reflective of their confidence in his pitchability. Players are listed by their rank on the Top 100. The heater has some riding life to it and plays well at the top of the zone, generating an impressive 13.4% swinging strike rate this season. The 24-year-old looks like the latest Astros pitching development success story with smoothed mechanics and an assortment of pitches that plays off of each other really well. The third pitch for Hence is a mid 80s changeup that has flashed above average, but he did not need to use it much in Low-A. Woods lower half adjustability is extremely impressive for a player of his stature, as is his barrel control. Even in his brief MLB stint this year, Aranda has seen action at second base, first base and third base as well as some games in left in the minors. 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. Signed for a measly $10,000 by the Mets before being traded to the Pirates in the three team Joe Musgrove deal, Rodriguez has done nothing but rake since making his pro debut in 2018. Here's Sasaki's last strikeout from the day. Height/Weight: 65, 220|Bat/Throw: R/R|1st Round (29), 2020 (LAD)|ETA: 2023. An aggressive hitter, Chourios 33% chase rate has limited his ability to take free passes, but thanks to how quick Chourio is to the ball, he rarely misses fastballs, mashing to an OPS over 1.100 against them. Like a true catcher, OHoppe really gets into his legs with his stance and actually sinks even deeper into his lower half in his load. The Giants could have a perennial All-Star who is capable of launching 30 or more homers with ease if it all comes together. While he has improved significantly since being drafted, he is a below-average defender there due to his heavy-ish feet and not enough arm to make up for it. McLain has responded well to each assignment and has tapped into more power in Double-A. Power may not be a focal point of Tovars game, but an improved ability to pick his spots to let it eat and increased strength have him looking like a guy who can hit 15-20 homers despite a mostly gap-to-gap approach that will produce more doubles. With a litany of talented catching prospects in the Pirates system, Rodriguez has also received reps at second base, first base, and left field. This allows him to keep his weight back and spray the ball all over the field. 18 years old at the start of the season, Merrill seems to still be maturing physically which makes him somewhat more difficult to project than other prospects and the limited action in 2022 doesnt help. Now starting slightly open with his stance, Campusano uses the toe-tap to close himself off and keep his weight back. 2022 Top 100 Prospects 2023 Top 200 Draft Prospects 2023 Top 100 College Prospects 2023 Top 100 HS Prospects . The adjustments made a huge impact in the power department and did not undermine his bat-to-ball skills at all. The combination of power, speed, and a decent feel to hit gives him a potentially special skillset. 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. The Venezuela native has a plus arm and should be an above-average all-around catcher, along with great intangibles. Should Wood move to a corner, he would be an above-average defender there. Gasser has a sharp slider in the upper 80s which is already above average and flashes plus. Yamamoto won the ERA title in the Pacific League last year in his first full season as a starter. The pitch sits in the upper 80s, occasionally touching 90 MPH. The 24-year-olds extreme confidence in his hit-tool sometimes results in him expanding the zone a bit earlier in counts, holding him back from better walk numbers. Livan Moinelo, LHPFukuoka SoftBank HawksB-T: L-L. Born: Dec. 8, 1995. Browns fastball is a true four seamer with ride, generating whiffs at the top of the zone and he has also developed much better east/west command of the pitch as well. The right-hander has extreme confidence in the offering, using it in any count and locating it well. Like many young catching prospects, Cartaya could use some improvement in the receiving department, but has steadily improved in that department. Set to begin next season in Triple-A as a 20-year-old, it is very possible that we see Walker fast-tracked to the big leagues much like 2019 first-rounder Nolan Gorman. Painters strike% has hovered around 67% all season long while he continues to rely on his fastball less as he gains confidence in his strong secondaries. Cavallis floor is also high due to his pair of plus-plus offerings and worst case-scenario, he is a dominant back of the bullpen piece for Washington. 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. The bat is the leads the way for Parada and he has a chance to be an impact middle of the order hitter with his combination of plus power and an above average hit tool. 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. 34. Theres still room for improvement with Hendersons splits, but when you crush righties to an OPS over 1.000, a .740 OPS vs. lefties is more than tolerable. The slider sits in the mid 80s with a cutterish, short break. Height/Weight: 510, 175|Bat/Throw: L/R|IFA: Rays (2016)|ETA: 2022. After a rough finish to his 2021 season in High-A which carried into Arizona Fall League struggles, much of Tovars perceived momentum was stifled heading into 2022. With its sharp, late break, and his ability to spot it at the bottom of the zone, Miller has used the slider as a ground ball machine in the launchpad that is the Pacific Coast League. Whites curveball flashes above average in the 78-81 mph range, featuring more downward break and depth. An inconsistent lower half is common among younger players and is going to be even more pronounced when you are 6-foot-4, 175 pounds. He finished as the PL leader with a 0.94 WHIP in his 126.2 innings. Height/Weight: 511, 180|Bat/Throw: R/R|1st Round (30), 2019 (NYY)|ETA: 2023. He will likely win back-to-back Pacific League MVP awards, too, and he will be the favorite to win it again in 2023. His 80-grade speed and 5-foot-10 frame allow him to reach his top speed relatively quickly, giving him closing speed that few others possess. Hes not coming off a great season. Yorke is much more than just a yip-yip hitter. Height/Weight: 62, 210|Bat/Throw: R/R|5th Round (156), 2021 (CLE)|ETA: 2023. The second breaking ball for Perez is an above-average curveball in the low 80s. The efficiency of his swing and simple pre-swing moves help him frequently be on time as well as get to tough pitches. It was more of the same for Lee in his 31 pro games, hitting .303/.389/.451 in High-A and briefly Double-A. While just an average runner, Merrill moves his feet well at shortstop and has the goods to potentially stick there. It feels like he's been around much longer, given that he first became a regular with the Giants in 2008, when he was 19. His reads are great, as are his jumps and theres no doubt about his closing speed. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2022 Extra Innings, Inc. | All Right Reserved | Privacy Policy. He has the upside to be a premier, Gold Glove center fielder. Sorry, but your browser needs Javascript to use this site. He plays his home games at Nagoya Dome, which trends toward pitchers and his ERA at home has been under 2.00 each of the past two years while being over 3.00 on the road. I mean, how many switch-hitting catchers who can also play the infield and outfield have we seen? Height/Weight: 510, 230|Bat/Throw: R/R|IFA: $2.7M 2018 (Mets)|ETA: 2023. The swing takes extreme body control and athleticism that Peraza has a ton of. Not only does the changeup give Painter a rare fourth speed, but it also gives him a fourth movement direction which is a tunneling nightmare for hitters. One of the most polished hitters in the 2021 draft, some scouts wondered how much power would be in the tank for Cowser with a swing that is more geared for consistent contact. 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. Holliday should blossom into an above average defender at short. A good athlete, Wood played basketball as well before moving down to Florida to focus on baseball (smart move). Possessing a four pitch mix that rivals any pitching prospect in baseball, Painter has dominated hitters mostly with his 70 grade fastball that sits 95-97 mph and has been clocked as high as 101 mph. Tiedemann maintains his arm speed really well with his plus changeup, making it really difficult to differentiate out of his hand. To the naked eye, the immense amount of late-life could easily get it confused with a splitter. Over 902 NPB games, he posted a .309/.402/.541 slash line with 189 home runs and 621 RBIs. 6-keys: media/spln/mlb/reg/free/stories, at He has the agility to be an above-average defender at first, especially for his size. The centerpiece in the Luis Castillo swap with the Mariners, Marte possesses immense offensive upside and continues to look more polished at the plate. Sasaki nearly followed up the historic effort with ANOTHER perfect game. On top of his ridiculous speed, Ruiz is the best base stealer minor leagues. Steer would be an above-average defender at second base and his arm is good enough to play a solid third base. With improving defense and the makeup/work ethic to encourage belief that he will keep getting better in that regard, Alvarez has a chance to be a well-rounded backstop with elite offense upside. Colas is an aggressive hitter, which stifled his walk rates, but he rarely misses mistakes and feasted by ambushing fastballs. The 22-year-old has plenty of time to iron out some of the issues with his delivery and has the natural tools to be a strike thrower, having showed us the ability to pound the zone through his collegiate career. Still extremely talented and young, theres plenty of reason to believe that Matos can bounce back in 2022. For one, he's a former teammate of Shohei Ohtani who has been on teams' radars for years as a result. The 70 grade speed has translated into big stolen base numbers for Winn, swiping 43 bags on 48 tries this season. Lawlar shows an advanced ability to use the whole field with authority while being able to just throw his hands at a pitch with two strikes and use his speed to leg one out when he is fooled. The right-handers 88-90 mph changeup flashes plus and has been around the zone much more this season and he is comfortable throwing his above-average slider in the upper 80s for strikes as well. Harrisons slider gives him a second plus pitch in the low 80s with two-plane break. While Steers pop is closer to average than plus, he hits enough to maximize his slugging output. https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/japan-pitching-phenom-roki-sasaki-video-perfect-game-mlb-prospect-reaction-baseball, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 14k perfect 8 innings, following a start of a perfect game 19k. Early in his collegiate career, Gasser operated in the upper 80s, using deception to get guys out from a low three-quarters release point. Added strength has helped Aranda tap into above average power, posting the highest exit velocities of his career in 2022, maxing out at 112 mph. Marte could be a small tweak away from exploding offensively, but he has produced pretty good results thus far on natural ability and athleticism. The Rays very likely have another homegrown stud pitcher on their hands. Merrill enjoyed a growth spurt in his senior year of high school and seems to just be reaping the rewards of the added physicality. As Busch gains more experience, he should find some more offensive consistency. A 20/20 shortstop with gold glove defense is the hope here, and Tovar seems to inch closer to that outcome each day. Through his first 150 professional games, Veen cruised to 50 stolen bases and has continued to get better with his jumps and picking the right spots to run. Arroyo hits fastballs well and sprays the ball all over the field, but he will need to learn to lay off of pitchers pitchesespecially breaking ballsif he is going to reach his offensive ceiling. Arguably possessing the nastiest stuff of any left-handed prospect in baseball, it is all about command and health for Hall. Jobes fastball sits 94-96 MPH, with high spin and solid life. He should be a 30/30 threat at any level. Valera starts with an open stance and his weight heavily stacked on his backside which helps him control his lower half throughout his load and into his swing while keeping his weight back. The 23-year-old quickly proved everything he needed to statistically in the minors along with plus makeup. The pull side power for Mervis is easily plus, but he looks to use the whole field and hits the ball where its pitched. The talented switch-hitter kicked things up another notch in 2022, putting up arguably the best offensive season in all of the minors. The 24-year-old has the floor of a back end of the rotation starter though I believe his pitchability and willingness to improve and tweak his craft will have him closer to a No. Busch features a short, compact swing that produces big exit velos and massive backspin to all parts of the park. The change sits in the mid 80s with roughly 18 inches of arm side fade. He's made 11 All-Star Games and has won the Japan Series twice. 90th percentile of 104 mph pic.twitter.com/YH5sDanQMz. If he further develops his breaking balls and command, Stone has the ceiling of a number two starter on a first-division team. Projecting a player as unique as Harry Ford is difficult, but for nothing but good reasons. It is uncertain whether the former Carp ace will pitch in 2022, though hes targeted a possible return for September. A crouched stance with a quiet load and short stride, Westburg keeps things simple in the box. Background Music:RAIDEN by SENZORONIN by GRILLABEATS. More bat speed than youd expect given his small frame, leading to sneaky pop to the pull-side. His footwork can get a bit sloppy, as can his actions, which has led some evaluators to speculate a potential move to third base. He improved his fastball velocity and has a really good splitter. An explosive athlete who put things together offensively this season, Winn looks like he could be the shortstop of the future in St. Louis. After a fantastic rookie campaign in 2021, Maki built on his success with a .291/.354/.507 slash line in 2022. The changeup gives Hall another comfortably above-average secondary pitch in the mid 80s that features lots of arm-side run and some sink. Age: 22|Height/Weight: 510, 180|Bat/Throw: L/L|1st Round (15) 2021 (MIL)|ETA: 2023. Still, the potential was more than evident. Height/Weight: 63, 220|Bat/Throw: R/L|5th Round (166)- 2019|ETA: 2022. A fastball with ride, changeup with big arm-side fade, a hammer curveball that dives out of the strike zone and a cutter as a taste-breaker leaves hitters worrying about four different directions and speeds. Hes already physical, but with broad shoulders and long legs, he could likely to add another 10-15 pounds of good weight. 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. With the summer showcase circuit behind us and college fall ball in full swing, were ready to re-rank the 2023 draft class. Though theres plenty of reason to believe he can stick in center, there is a chance that Alcantara could slow down a step as he physically matures. 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. 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. A plus runner combined with impressive quickness, Matos is a threat on the base paths and has a strong chance of sticking in center. The 20-year-old is an exciting blend of a potentially plus hit tool and plus raw power. Expanding to the rest of his stuff, Espino posted the second best swinging strike rate among qualified pitchers in the minors in 2021 at 20.2%, behind only Spencer Strider of the Braves. Don't be surprised if Arihara ends up serving as some big-league team's No. An extremely athletic catcher with an elite hit tool and solid defense, Gabriel Moreno has become one of the safest bets behind the dish in the minors. Play Ball Youth Baseball & Softball. 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. The changes really helped Lewis find offensive consistency, lighting up Triple-A to a .313/.405/.534 clip before getting the call up to the big leagues where he did kept things rolling for a dozen games before going down with the injury. Height/Weight: 60, 170|Bat/Throw: R/R|IFA: $100K 2015 (KC)|ETA: 2022. All eyes will be on the hit-tool for the teenager and I believe he will make strides in that regard next season. Holliday projects as a plus hitter. Rounding out Rodriguezs arsenal is an 89-91 mph cutter that he will mix in to get weak contact and provide a fourth speed for the hitter to worry about. He did so by hitting .312/.396/.575 with 40 home runs. Between veteran stars like Hideto Asamura, Tetsuto Yamada, and Shogo Nakamura, 24-year-old Shugo Maki stood above the rest. The changeup is a pitch that I think will continue to play up as Waldichuk learns to command it. As lefties are geared up for a heater with life, Waldichuk will sling the slider, catching hitters cheating and generating some ugly swings. If Hassell slows down a bit due to added strength, there is a chance he moves to a corner where his arm would more than play. The best off-speed pitch in Stones repertoire is his plus mid 80s changeup that features an abnormal amount of late drop and ASR. Naylor now features a more pronounced leg kick, that gathers him even further into his back hip before uncorking his powerful swing. Tsutsugo had a rough go after signing with Tampa Bay before the 2020 season. Colas is a below average runner with average range in a corner outfield spot. Because he has such a great feel for the barrel, Moreno is comfortable using the whole field and can spoil even the toughest of pitchers pitches. His swing lacked violence, but Steer posted phenomenal contact ratesalbeit with limited impact. 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