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Organization Prospect Rankings
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BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: Harmon threw the best fastball of any high school righthander in the 2025 draft class and trailed only lefthander Jack Bauer among all prep pitchers. Harmon helped pitch East Union High to a Mississippi 2A state title in 2025, the program’s second in three years. He was committed to Mississippi State before he aligned with the Nationals in the third round and signed for $2.5 million, a bonus akin to a top-40 overall pick.
Scouting Report: Harmon is a projectable 6-foot-5 righthander with long limbs and a high-waisted frame. He is tall, lean and flexible with a loose arm that generates easy velocity. Harmon sits in the mid 90s and has been up to 98 mph with riding life and late cutting action to his glove side. His delivery is clean and repeatable, and he throws strikes from a three-quarters arm slot and slight crossfire landing. Harmon’s fastball has double-plus potential and could top out at 100 mph one day, but his secondary pitches need more work. He throws a low-80s sweeper and a slider in the high 80s, both of which he can locate well for his age. Refining them into above-average pitches will be a key development goal. He occasionally throws a low-80s changeup that will be another point of emphasis. Adding strength to his frame and testing his stuff against professional hitters to see what needs to be tweaked are the next steps.
The Future: High school righthanders are among the most volatile draft commodities. Harmon has a great foundation for the Nationals to build upon, as they did with Travis Sykora from the 2023 draft, but it will be years before the righthander’s full potential comes into focus. The Nationals will likely hold Harmon back in extended spring training, as they did Sykora, before assigning him to the Florida Complex League or Low-A Fredericksburg in 2026.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 70 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: The Nationals in recent years have had mixed results in international free agency. They have gotten limited production from Dominican shortstop Armando Cruz and Cuban outfielder Cristhian Vaquero, their top signees in 2021 and 2022, but players from the 2024 and 2025 signing classes offer hope. That includes Feliz, a Dominican shortstop who signed for $1.7 million in 2024. He played well in the Dominican Summer League in his debut, then turned in a fine season in the Florida Complex League in 2025. Feliz finished third in the FCL with 51 hits and seventh with 69 total bases before moving to Low-A Fredericksburg for 31 games to finish his season.
Scouting Report: Feliz is a strong-bodied, 6-foot-3 shortstop who hits the ball hard for a teenager. His tall, rangy frame could add more good weight as he matures, which, combined with his bat speed, gives him a chance to grow into above-average power. He competes in the box with a slightly open stance and tracks pitches well for his age. Feliz hits the ball where it’s pitched on a line but must continue proving himself against velocity, especially on inside pitches. His ability to hit to all fields with authority suggests a future average hit tool or better. Feliz is a well below-average runner who has acceptable range at shortstop as a teenager but could outgrow the position as he matures. His above-average arm would fit at third base if he has to move, and he already has pro experience at second base.
The Future: Feliz can do a little bit of everything, except run, at a young age, but he risks falling into more of a reserve profile unless his power takes a step forward. The Nationals praise his leadership and poise, so they are optimistic that his game will develop.
Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 30 | Field: 50 | Arm: 55. -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
Adjusted Grade: 40
Track Record: James is a veteran of USA Baseball who played for the gold medal-winning 15U National Team in 2022 and for the 2023 18U National Team as an underclassman. As a senior in 2025 he won Gatorade North Carolina player of the year honors by hitting .605 with nine home runs for Davie County High. James had top-three rounds talent in the 2025 draft and wound up signing a bonus commensurate with a top 40 overall pick when the Nationals paid him $2.5 million in the fifth round. He worked out at the organization’s West Palm Beach, Fla., complex after signing but did not get into an official game.
Scouting Report: James makes hitting look easy with a loose, whippy righthanded swing and an ability to find the barrel. He makes a ton of hard, line-drive contact with strong hand-eye coordination and a compact swing. James hits velocity and does a good job using all fields to keep defenses guessing. He should grow into 20-homer power based on his feel to hit and present strength, but he doesn’t have much projection remaining in his 6-foot, 185-pound frame. James has sure hands in the batter’s box and is a reliable shortstop, but he might be stretched to play the position professionally. He’s an average runner with ordinary range in the field and an average arm that could be stretched on the left side of the infield. James’ time at other positions should increase as he moves up the ladder.
The Future: Many scouts see James as a bat-first second or third baseman capable of hitting for average, getting on base and delivering average power. The Nationals will have to find playing time for a cadre of young shortstops in 2026 that also includes Luke Dickerson, Angel Feliz and 2025 first overall pick Eli Willits, so it wouldn’t be surprising if James begins in the Florida Complex League.
Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Field: 50 | Arm: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
Adjusted Grade: 40
Track Record: The Nationals bet big on Dickerson in the second round of the 2024 draft, taking the New Jersey prep two-sport athlete—he also starred in hockey—in the second round and going way over slot to sign him for $3.8 million. That was nearly double the slot value for the 44th pick. Dickerson debuted in the Florida Complex League in 2025 but stayed just six games before the Nationals promoted him to Low-A Fredericksburg. He hit well for the first 20 games but his production tapered off and he finished his time in the Carolina League with a .204 average, 25% strikeout rate and five home runs in 83 games.
Scouting Report: The Nationals got an incomplete look at Dickerson in his first full season because he played through a wrist injury. Despite that mitigating factor, he grinded through a full season and showed plus bat speed and aptitude to drive the ball for power to his pull side on occasion. Like many young hitters, Dickerson will need to hone in on his strike zone and make more contact in the zone and avoid chasing out of it. He can get too passive at times. He hits the ball hard enough consistently enough to provide at least average power, while his quality swing decisions should make him an above-average hitter. Dickerson is a solidly-built, 5-foot-11 athlete who moves well on the infield and can convert routine plays at shortstop. He is a plus runner but doesn’t have classic shortstop range, and his arm is borderline for the left side of the infield. Dickerson saw time at second base late in the season, and some scouts have floated center field as a possible destination.
The Future: Scouts who like Dickerson view him as a potential big league second baseman with solid all-around tools with enough hitting ability and power to play regularly.
Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 60 | Field: 50 | Arm: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Average
Adjusted Grade: 40
Track Record: The Nationals drafted Bennett out of Oklahoma two years after they chose fellow Sooner Cade Cavalli in the first round. Bennett was a second-round pick in 2022 who got into 15 games in 2023 before missing most of July and September and having Tommy John surgery after the season. Bennett missed all of 2024 and returned to the mound in May 2025, ultimately making 19 appearances spanning 75.1 innings. Most of the innings were compiled for Double-A Harrisburg, and he added more in the Arizona Fall League after the season.
Scouting Report: Bennett is a 6-foot-6 lefthander with a wide assortment of pitches that play up because he gets down the mound with plus extension. While he doesn’t blow batters away with raw velocity, Bennett is around the zone with six different pitches he can use to attack both sides of the plate. His four-seam fastball velocity was a tick higher in 2025 than it had been during his pro debut and averaged 92-93 mph and topped out near 96. His low three-quarters arm slot adds deception. He mixes in sinkers and occasional cutters to vary his fastball looks. Bennett’s carrying secondary pitch is his mid-80s changeup that fades to his arm side and flummoxes minor league righthanded batters, who hit .210 with no home runs against him in 2025. He has good touch on an average low-to-mid-80s slider and high-70s curveball, both of which he can spot for strikes and elicit some chases. He throws breaking pitches only about 20% of the time, opting for more of a fastball/changeup attack. Bennett has plus control of his entire arsenal.
The Future: Given his wide repertoire of quality stuff, lefthandedness and feel for the strike zone, Bennett is a no-doubt starter with a good chance to settle in as a No. 4 type in a rotation.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 60. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Average
Adjusted Grade: 40
Track Record: King starred at Division II Wingate for two years before the Nationals drafted him 10th overall out of Wake Forest in 2024. In his pro debut, King helped lead Low-A Fredericksburg to the 2024 Carolina League title. He got off to a slow start with High-A Wilmington in 2025 but recovered to reach Double-A Harrisburg on June 3. King showed speed with 30 stolen bases in 125 total games but hit just .244/.294/.337 with six home runs and a 32-to-116 walk-to-strikeout ratio. His bat showed improved life in the Arizona Fall League after the season.
Scouting Report: Despite King’s poor results in his first full season, scouts remain optimistic about his future because of his overall athleticism and twitch, enhanced by his enthusiasm. Early in the season, he appeared to be selling out for power by trying to pull the ball in the air, which spiked his strikeout rate. King reverted to a more dynamic hitting style by putting aggressive swings on pitches in all parts of the zone and hitting to all fields. He maintained strong exit velocities in 2025, even if hits weren’t falling. King has strong bat-to-ball skills but needs to be more selective after an alarming chase rate of 37% in 2025. Some would like to see him move his contact point forward and with a swing coming from a lower slot to avoid excess groundball contact. If he can make things work, King can be a solid-average hitter with fringe power or better. He is a double-plus runner and efficient basestealer. King played more third base and center field at Wake Forest, but he settled in as a reliable everyday shortstop with an above-average arm. He has the athletic ability to adapt at the position and learn its nuances.
The Future: King has interesting tools and the athleticism to stay up the middle. He could be a few tweaks away from realizing his offensive potential and becoming a solid regular.
Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 70 | Field: 50 | Arm: 55. -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
Adjusted Grade: 40
Track Record: The Guardians drafted Clemmey out of a Rhode Island high school in the second round in 2023, going nearly $1 million over slot to sign him for $2.3 million. Cleveland dealt him to the Nationals at the 2024 trade deadline as part of the package for Lane Thomas. Clemmey logged 116.2 innings in 2025 and led all Nationals minor league pitchers with 136 strikeouts but also 73 walks. He reached Double-A Harrisburg in mid August and saved his best work for last, when he posted a 2.04 ERA with 15 strikeouts and five walks in his final 17.2 innings.
Scouting Report: Clemmey’s exciting stuff gives him the potential to become a top overall lefthanded pitching prospect. It will come down to control, after he walked more than 14% of batters in 2025 to rank 11th worst among minor league pitchers with at least 100 innings. The 6-foot-6, long-limbed Clemmey has worked hard to streamline and repeat his mechanics, and his zone and strike rates on his fastball continue to creep upward. Opposing hitters have a hard time seeing his 93-94 mph four-seam fastball that reaches near 98. His arm slot and low release height make his heater difficult to square up for batters of both hands. He upped his sinker usage in 2025 to introduce a new wrinkle. Scouts would like to see him improve his fastball command to his glove side. Clemmey’s mid-80s slider has plus potential but wasn’t the same type of swing-and-miss weapon as it had been at Low-A in 2024. He threw many more changeups in 2025 to develop the high-80s pitch with above-average potential and good fade.
The Future: Clemmey exudes confidence and is a strong competitor with the athleticism to continue improving his command, which will determine his future role. He has the raw talent to become a No. 3 or 4 starter or potentially a high-leverage relief weapon.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 40. -
BA Grade/Risk: 60/Extreme
Adjusted Grade: 40
Track Record: Sykora had top-two rounds talent in the 2023 draft coming out of Round Rock High in Texas. When he slipped to the Nationals in round three—but still signed for $2.6 million, or late first-round money—he used the perceived slight as motivation. Sykora unleashed his fury on Carolina League batters in 2024, leading all Low-A pitchers with 129 strikeouts in 85 innings for league-champion Fredericksburg. He had surgery on the labrum in his hip in the offseason and got a late start in 2025. After Sykora missed time with a triceps injury in July while at Double-A Harrisburg, it was later revealed he had a UCL tear in his elbow. Sykora had Tommy John surgery in August.
Scouting Report: Sykora idolizes Texas pitching icon Nolan Ryan, and like The Ryan Express, he uses a power approach consisting mostly of a high-octane fastball and a devastating breaking pitch. Sykora pitches at 95-96 mph with his four-seam fastball and tops out at 99. He compensates for average fastball shape with strong extension and pure velocity. The pitch should continue to play as Sykora recovers from TJ. He improved the horizontal life on his low-80s slider, which gets up near 87 mph, and he threw the pitch for strikes at a high rate. He also threw it more than his fastball in 2025. Sykora’s mid-80s splitter tumbles and fades to his arm side with consistently low spin rates. Sykora needs to tighten up his fastball command to different parts of the zone, but his wandering control is typical for a young power pitcher and will likely improve.
The Future: Given that he had TJ late in the 2025 season, Sykora probably won’t be at full strength again until 2027, when he will still be just 23 years old. His stuff and control make him a candidate to be at least a No. 3 starter.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 65 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 60/High
Adjusted Grade: 45
Track Record: The Nationals’ Juan Soto trade with the Padres is the gift that keeps giving. CJ Abrams, MacKenzie Gore and James Wood are already established in Washington. Susana is next. He ended 2024 on a roll, with a 2.79 ERA and 123 strikeouts in his final 77.1 innings, mostly for High-A Wilmington. Susana opened 2025 at Double-A Harrisburg but never really got going before he lost nearly three months with a sprained elbow. He looked electric upon his return in July but then injured his right lat and had season-ending surgery in September.
Scouting Report: Few pitchers can match the electricity of Susana’s repertoire. He pitches at 99-100 mph with his four seam fastball and tops out near 104. The pitch is delivered at a lower release height, which, coupled with its incredible velocity, compensates for ordinary shape. Susana’s 99 mph two-seamer tops at 102 and has plus horizontal life. It helps him change batters’ eye levels and elicit ground balls. His mid-80s slider has become a devastating pitch as he has harnessed command of it. He manipulates the pitch to produce curveball action at lower speeds and power slider movement up to 91 mph at the other extreme. Susana found a power changeup grip that works in 2025. The pitch has splinker-like action with sink and diving action at 93-94 mph and up to near 97. Susana took major strides with his mental preparation and physical conditioning, and he now throws more quality strikes than ever. He flies open at times and misses east and west, so true command could be elusive.
The Future: The Nationals’ media guide lists Susana at 6-foot-7, 283 pounds, calling to mind a pair of jumbo-sized all-stars: starter Michael Piñeda and closer Felix Bautista. The Nationals will give Susana every chance to start, where his pitch quality could make him a No. 2 or 3 starter. He is expected to be ready to go by midseason at the earliest.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 70 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 45. -
BA Grade/Risk: 60/Average
Adjusted Grade: 50
Track Record: Willits was originally slated to graduate from Fort-Cobb Broxton High in 2026, but the Oklahoma prep reclassified to become draft eligible in 2025. Doing so made him one of the youngest players available in his draft class, and when the Nationals selected the shortstop first overall, he became the youngest player ever drafted 1-1 based on baseball age. Willits was 17 years, six months and 21 days old on June 30 of his draft year, younger even than the youngest 17-year-old top overall picks such as Ken Griffey Jr., Bryce Harper and Carlos Correa. Willits is the son of former big leaguer Reggie Willits, a switch-hitting outfielder who played six seasons for the Angels. These days, Reggie serves as associate head coach at Oklahoma, where his oldest son Jaxon is the Sooners’ shortstop. Eli had committed to Oklahoma before he signed for $8.2 million, which was nearly $2.876 million under slot for the No. 1 pick. Willits got the cachet associated with being drafted first overall; Washington freed up bonus pool money to apply toward signing high schoolers Landon Harmon, Miguel Sime Jr. and Coy James in the third, fourth and fifth rounds. Willits signed on July 19 and saw action in 15 games for Low-A Fredericksburg. He hit .300, drew seven walks and stole two bases while handling shortstop in 14 of his appearances.
Scouting Report: Willits is a 6-foot-1, 180-pound switch-hitter with a chance to make an impact in every facet of the game with his hitting, running and fielding ability at shortstop. The hallmarks of his offensive game are his bat-to-ball skills—he struck out just a handful of times as a high school senior—and swing decisions that fuel an above-average hit tool. Willits showed sharp zone-contact skills in his pro debut while recognizing pitches and staying in his strike zone with a low chase rate. He hits all different pitch types, while his balanced, line-drive stroke from both sides of the plate allows him to use all fields. If Willits adds good weight to his frame and develops his lower half, he should improve his below-average exit velocities and find at least average power as he learns to hunt his pitch to inflict damage. He is a plus runner who not only poses a basestealing threat but runs the bases efficiently. Willits’ body control, range and above-average arm stand out in the field, where he is a no-doubt shortstop. He appears to have the “it” factor and the poise necessary to draw in teammates and emerge as a team leader.
The Future: Willits’ well-rounded profile makes him the Nationals’ likely shortstop of the future. That future could arrive as early as at some point during the 2028 season, following two-plus solid development years in the minor leagues. Willits will be just 20 years old in 2028, which, barring an extension, will also be the final season of club control for shortstop CJ Abrams in Washington.
Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power; 50 | Run: 60 | Field: 55 | Arm: 55. -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: The Braves have not received great returns from the international market in years, but Tornes, the team’s $2.5 million Cuban headliner from the 2025 class, has the potential to change that. The physical switch-hitter was lauded for his offensive prowess before signing and then ranked as the No. 4 prospect in the Dominican Summer League in 2025.
Scouting Report: Officially listed at 6-foot-2, 178 pounds, Tornes is both young for the class and more physically developed than his peers. He has a strong, athletic build that still has more strength potential, with clean hitting mechanics from both sides of the plate to go with excellent bat speed. While some scouts described Tornes as an aggressive, free swinger in his debut, he showed an impressive blend of hitting ability and power with a knack for making adjustments and covering the entire zone. While he didn’t hit a single home run, his exit velocity data is tremendous. His 105.4 mph 90th percentile exit velocity was fifth among Braves prospects with at least 100 plate appearances, and the best mark of any hitter younger than 22 years old. Tornes has turned in plus run times and impressed internal and external scouts with his defensive instincts and athleticism in center field. There’s a split camp on whether he’s destined for a corner or will continue to move well enough to stay in center, but his defensive progress is already better than it was billed. His arm might be his loudest individual tool, with both excellent strength and accuracy on his throws.
The Future: Tornes’ collection of physical tools gives him more upside than any hitter in the system, but he’s years away from the majors with plenty of refinement still needed. He should make his stateside debut in 2026 in what will be his age-17 season.
Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Field: 55 | Arm: 60 -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Average
Adjusted Grade: 40
Track Record: The Braves took a shot on Sinnard’s upside with a $735,300 deal in the third round out of Indiana even after he missed his 2024 draft year with Tommy John surgery. He then dealt with a nerve issue after his surgery but made his pro debut in 2025. Sinnard split time between Low-A Augusta and High-A Rome, posting a 2.86 ERA over 16 starts and 72.1 innings with a 28.3% strikeout rate. He pitched in the Arizona Fall League after the season.
Scouting Report: Sinnard has an extra-large frame at 6-foot-8, 250 pounds with plenty of strength and broad, coat-hanger shoulders. He primarily works with a three-pitch mix that includes a fastball, slider and splitter. Sinnard’s fastball averaged 93-94 mph and touched 97. It’s a steep pitch that comes from a higher slot, with solid riding life, but because of his steep approach and release height the Braves worked with him to add a two-seam variant. Both Sinnard’s slider and splitter were effective swing-and-miss pitches against Class A hitters. Sinnard’s slider is an upper-80s breaking ball with short, biting action. His splitter is an 80-85 mph pitch with spin rates around 800-900 rpm with solid depth. He uses the slider at a heavy clip versus righties and breaks out the splitter more often against lefties. He also has a rarely used low-80s curveball. The Braves were impressed with the control and command Sinnard showed throughout the season. He tends to attack the zone more than the team would like him to in pitcher’s counts, and he might have more strikeout potential if he gets more aggressive and uses his secondaries with the intent to be chase pitches below the zone.
The Future: Sinnard now needs to show he can miss bats at more age-appropriate levels. He has backend rotation upside and enough pure stuff to carve out a reliever role if necessary.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Average
Adjusted Grade: 40
Track Record: Baumann signed an over-slot $747,500 deal as a fourth-round pick in 2023 and has been an imposing workhorse since. After a rock-solid first full season with Low-A Augusta in 2024, Baumann replicated his efforts in 2025 with High-A Rome. He posted a 3.40 ERA over 23 starts and 113.2 innings with a 22.5% strikeout rate and 6.4% walk rate.
Scouting Report: Baumann has been a monstrous, physical presence since his prep days. He stands 6-foot-8, 245 pounds and attacks hitters from a high release point with a delivery that is surprisingly coordinated and synced up for a 20-year-old pitcher of his size. He added more than a tick of velocity to his fastball this year and now averages 95 mph and will touch 99. His four-seam is a steep offering that doesn’t generate a ton of whiffs. As a remedy, he began incorporating a two-seamer that would play off his release height and potentially be a weapon at the bottom of the zone. Baumann’s ability to throw his fastball for strikes has been an asset for multiple years now—he’s thrown it for strikes more than 70% of the time in 2024 and 2025—but there are questions about his secondary pitches. He throws a mid-80s slider with some sweep, a low-80s curveball with more depth and an 86-90 mph splitter. All his secondaries earn fringy reviews and leave him without a reliable swing-and-miss pitch to put hitters away. The splitter could be his best bet, though Baumann might also try to add a harder, tighter gyro slider or a cutter in 2026.
The Future: Baumann’s fastball velocity and command remain strengths, but his secondaries could limit him to a back-end starter or reliever role without improvement. He should begin to face upper-minors competition in 2026.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 40 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 55. -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Mild
Adjusted Grade: 40
Track Record: Braun has been a reliable starter and strike-thrower for the Braves since he signed as a sixth-rounder out of Cal State Northridge for $347,500 in 2023. In each of the last two seasons he eclipsed the 140-inning mark, and in 2025 he posted a 3.67 ERA in 26 starts and 149.2 innings between Double-A Columbus and Triple-A Gwinnett. Braun’s 145 strikeouts were the most in Atlanta’s system.
Scouting Report: Braun is a 6-foot, 185-pound righthander who works out of the stretch and sets up on the third base side of the rubber. He continued to add more pitches to his arsenal in 2025 and now has six distinct offerings. Braun’s four-seam fastball sits 92-93 mph and touches 95, but he also worked in a two-seam fastball much more frequently compared to the 2024 season. His go-to pitch at this point is a mid-80s sweeping slider, which gets heavy usage and is his most consistent swing-and-miss offering. Braun has also worked to implement an 87-91 mph cutter and continues to throw a softer, downer curveball at 78-82 mph and an upper-80s changeup with increased usage versus lefties. Nothing Braun throws is plus. Instead, he relies on his advanced control and command—the best in the system—and an ability to mix and match. Braun’s fastball command has always been a strength, and his career 6.7% walk rate points to above-average control.
The Future: The Braves are hoping there’s a bit more velocity to be found with Braun that could unlock a bit more upside. An optimistic outlook could be a Chris Bassitt-like pitcher who finds success with below-average velocity by throwing the kitchen sink with good control. Braun should be ready to help the major league team in 2026, which will be his 40-man roster evaluation season.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 45 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 45 | Cutter: 50 | Control: 55. -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
Adjusted Grade: 40
Track Record: Lodise was one of the best players in college baseball in 2025, when he was the Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year after hitting .394/.462/.705 with 17 home runs and 18 doubles for Florida State. He ranked as the No. 26 prospect in the class but fell to the second round, where the Braves signed him to a $1,297,500 bonus. Lodise played 25 games with High-A Rome after signing and hit .252/.294/.398 with a 38.5% strikeout rate and 4.6% walk rate.
Scouting Report: Listed at 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, Lodise is a strong and physical athlete who packs a punch at the plate and likes to swing the bat—a lot. He’s an aggressive hitter who swung 53% of the time in his three-year college career and then 54% of the time in his pro debut. That aggression leads to lots of chases as well. Lodise will need to become more selective, and the Braves are also hoping a few mechanical tweaks will help him make contact more in different parts of the zone. Without improving in this area, Lodise could be a streaky hitter who doesn’t walk much—he had a sub 10% walk rate in college—and is reliant on how often he can turn on the ball for extra-base damage. He’s a solid runner and potentially underrated defender at shortstop. He has better lateral range than his speed might indicate and has a plus arm that helps him make difficult plays from deep positions in the hole. He also has solid arm versatility and is comfortable throwing on the run and from different slots.
The Future: Lodise has everyday upside as a pull-side power hitter with the defensive chops to stick at shortstop. Whether he gets to that upside depends heavily on the progress he can make with his approach and contact.
Scouting Grades Hit: 40 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Field: 50 | Arm: 60. -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
Adjusted Grade: 40
Track Record: Murphy starred as a two-way player at his suburban Chicago high school as a shortstop/righthander. He signed for $2,556,900 as Atlanta’s first-round pick in 2022 and has pitched well whenever he’s been on the mound. A Tommy John surgery cut short a potential breakout season in 2024, but Murphy returned to the mound in late July 2025 and continued posting. He had a 1.19 ERA in 30.1 innings between Rookie ball and Low-A with a 25.5 K-BB% that was second-best in the Braves’ system among pitchers with at least 30 innings.
Scouting Report: Murphy is a 6-foot-1, 190-pound righthander who works with a clean delivery and three-quarters slot. He primarily works with a three-pitch mix led by a 90-92 mph fastball. His four-seam fastball was down about a half tick of velocity in 2025, and he averaged just under 91 mph while touching 94. The pitch is light on power but has always played up thanks to tremendous riding life and a flat approach angle. The shape of Murphy’s fastball could allow it to be effective in the majors even with below-average power, though adding more velocity remains a crucial goal. Murphy throws a mid-80s slider that lacks depth but has solid gloveside action, as well as a downer curveball in the mid 70s. The Braves were happy with his slider progress, and he threw the pitch more frequently compared to 2024. Murphy is also experimenting with a kick changeup, but he’s yet to fully break the pitch out in games. He’s an above-average athlete and average strike-thrower and who has always done a nice job attacking the top of the zone with his fastball.
The Future: Murphy’s post-surgery 2025 season was a success. Now he needs to find a way to add more power to his mix and show he can miss bats in the upper minors. He has back-end starter upside.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 55 | Control: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
Adjusted Grade: 40
Track Record: McKenzie ranked as the No. 46 prospect in the 2025 draft and signed an over-slot deal with the Braves for $2,997,500 in the fourth round—the largest bonus in Atlanta’s class. McKenzie was an up-arrow prospect early in the spring with his Corinth Holders High team in North Carolina. He showed improved fastball velocity and a refined changeup, but his velocity was more inconsistent closer to the draft. He threw at instructional league but not in official games after signing.
Scouting Report: McKenzie is a lanky 6-foot-2, 190-pound lefthander with a smooth delivery that features a lengthy arm action and a cross-body finish. He’s been up to 95 mph with his fastball—and touched 94 mph in instructs—but his average velocity comes and goes and can sit in the low 90s or upper 80s depending on the start. He has great aptitude to spin a breaking pitch with huge spin rates. McKenzie’s curveball sits 75-79 mph and routinely gets into the 3,000 rpm range with great depth and biting action at its best. It would be unsurprising if he developed that breaking ball into more of a classic sweeper slider as he adds more strength and power. The development of his mid-80s changeup this spring was key in pushing him up draft boards, and was a pitch Braves officials were enamored of after signing him. He uses a circle change grip that he holds deep in his hand and generates hellacious depth at its best. It has high-end bat-missing potential as he learns to land it with more consistency. McKenzie has been a solid strike-thrower, but the length of his arm action could inhibit his command.
The Future: McKenzie is slated to pitch at Low-A Augusta in 2026. He has the tools to become a solid No. 3 or 4 starter but has a long way to go. His workmanlike makeup and coachable mindset are assets.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 60 | Changeup: 55 | Control 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/Average
Adjusted Grade: 45
Track Record: Ritchie signed with the Braves for $2.4 million as the 35th overall pick in the 2022 draft as a cerebral three-pitch righty with polish beyond his years. He dealt with Tommy John surgery and recovery in 2023 and 2024 but had a strong 2025 season. Ritchie threw 140 innings—a top 15 mark among minor league pitchers—across three levels and posted a 2.64 ERA and 24.8% strikeout rate. He started the Futures Game at Truist Park and was the Braves’ 2025 minor league player of the year.
Scouting Report: Ritchie continues to stand out for his advanced feel to pitch, but his arsenal today looks nothing like it did when he was drafted. Previously a fastball/slider/changeup pitcher, Ritchie now throws seven unique pitches and has an uncanny ability to separate them and manipulate his arsenal seemingly overnight. Ritchie averaged 93.5 mph with his four-seam fastball and touched 96-97. He also throws a two-seam fastball with similar power, an upper-80s changeup, a low-80s curveball, a mid-80s gyro slider, a sweeper that’s a tick or two softer and a cutter around 90 mph that pushes 92. Ritchie is comfortable landing his entire mix. While that could be enough to keep hitters off-balance, he lacks a true wipeout offering. In the past, his gyro slider was a swing-and-miss pitch, but it backed up in 2025 to the point where Ritchie threw it less in the second half of the season. Rediscovering that breaking ball or adding more velocity—perhaps by doing a better job sitting into his back leg in his delivery—could help him find another gear.
The Future: Ritchie is nearing his big league debut and has the tools to be a solid No. 4 starter. He could get an MLB opportunity in 2026.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Cutter: 50 | Sweeper: 50 | Control: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Average
Adjusted Grade: 40
Track Record: Fuentes signed with the Braves out of Colombia in 2022 without much fanfare, but he elevated his stock as a pro thanks to a strong combination of strikes and fastball life. He pitched effectively at three minor league levels in his age-20 season in 2025, but struggled with fastball location and home runs in his first four major league starts in June and July.
Scouting Report: Fuentes has a solid frame with more physicality than his official 6-foot, 170-pound frame indicates. He attacks hitters from a low release point and does a nice job getting off the rubber with above-average extension—which helps him throw one of the flattest fastballs in the game. Fuentes added nearly a tick and a half to his fastball velocity and averaged 94.7 mph while touching 98-99. The pitch has both power and life that makes it a swing-and-miss heater at its best, but its shape is reliant on him pounding the upper third of the strike zone and above. Fuentes’ brief major league stint showed what could happen to his fastball when he put it in the heart of the zone too often—namely, an .886 opponent slugging percentage and six home runs allowed in just 13 innings. Sharpening his fastball command will be important, as will developing secondaries to keep hitters from sitting on his fastball. Fuentes has toyed with both a sweeper and gyro slider, as well as an 80-83 mph curveball with more depth and an upper-80s splitter. He has a strong track record as an above-average strike-thrower, though his command is not yet at that level.
The Future: In 2026, Fuentes will pitch as a 21-year-old who has outlier fastball traits and a solid control foundation. His future role will depend on his secondary development and fastball command.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 55. -
BA Grade/Risk: 60/High
Adjusted Grade: 45
Track Record: Caminiti was the top-ranked high school pitcher in the 2024 class and signed with the Braves for $3,553,800 as the organization’s first pick at No. 24 overall. A former two-way player with impressive raw power in high school, Caminiti is now a full-time pitcher and turned in an electric 2025 campaign, primarily with Low-A Augusta. He missed two months of the season with forearm tendinitis. He got on the mound in May, threw a handful of tuneup games in the Florida Complex League, then posted a 2.08 ERA and 31.9% strikeout rate in 56.1 innings and 13 starts with Augusta. Among minor league pitchers who were 18 or younger with at least 50 innings, Caminiti ranked third with 90 strikeouts and fourth in strikeout rate. He’s a cousin of the late Ken Caminiti.
Scouting Report: Caminiti has a lean and athletic frame at 6-foot-2, 195 pounds. He creates a tough angle for hitters by working from the first base side of the rubber and throwing across his body with a low release height. Caminiti lowered his arm slot in 2025 and simultaneously added a bit of extension, which helped his four-seam fastball play better at the top of the zone. He went from a two-seam grip in high school to a four-seam grip with the Braves, and in 2025 averaged 93-94 mph and touched 97. The flat nature of the pitch combined with its power should allow it to be at least a plus offering, and he did an excellent job using it to attack the strike zone and get ahead in counts. While the fastball is the centerpiece of Caminiti’s arsenal, he has flashed exciting secondaries as well. He got plenty of whiffs on both his slider and changeup against Low-A hitters in 2025. He throws a low-80s, sweeping slider as his go-to secondary pitch. It grades well analytically and can be a nightmare for lefthanded hitters, but it needs more consistency. The Braves are hoping he can add a harder and shorter breaking ball, such as a gyro slider, in the future. Caminiti started throwing a kick changeup in 2025. The pitch sits in the 85-88 mph range with solid armside life and occasional splitter-like depth at its best. It was a reliable miss and chase offering at the lower levels, but it remains a work in progress that Caminiti will need to locate more consistently after he threw it for strikes less than half the time in 2025.
The Future: Caminiti is the highest-upside arm in Atlanta’s system and has the stuff to become a solid No. 3-type starter who pitches a shade better than that on his best days. Those most excited about Caminiti’s future could envision a Chris Sale-esque low-slot lefty who dominates with a fastball and slider. While his upside is tantalizing, Caminiti still has a long way to go. After dominating Low-A, he should be ready to start the 2026 season with High-A Rome, where adding command and consistency to his secondaries and potentially deepening his arsenal will be developmental keys.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 55. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: Caba signed with the Phillies for the top bonus in their 2023 international class and impressed in his debut, which was cut short by a left elbow injury. He returned in 2024 with no lingering effects, earning the No. 1 spot on the Florida Complex League prospects ranking before a late-season promotion to Low-A Clearwater, where he played 26 games. The Marlins acquired Caba from Philadelphia in a December 2024 trade for Jesus Luzardo. In 2025, he appeared in 51 games for Low-A Jupiter, hitting .222/.335/.278 with one home run. He missed two months after spraining his left thumb while sliding into second base.
Scouting Report: Caba hasn’t yet replicated the offensive success of his 2024 stateside debut in the FCL. He has struggled to find consistent impact in Class A with two organizations. He hits from both sides of the plate with a flat, contact-oriented swing and lacks the strength to produce more than modest exit velocities. Though his batting line hasn’t reflected it, Caba shows patience and rarely chases. Evaluators believe that even modest offensive improvement could carry him through the system because of his elite defense. A fluid, instinctive shortstop with an above-average arm, Caba’s twitch and body control allow him to make rangy plays to either side look routine. A plus runner, he stole 50 bases in 79 games in 2024 but just 14 in 51 games in 2025. He capped his season in the Arizona Fall League.
The Future: Caba will be just 20 years old entering his fourth professional season. The athletic middle infielder will need to show real offensive progress to unlock his full potential. If his bat develops, he projects as a top-of-the-order catalyst with Gold Glove-caliber defense at a premium position. If it doesn’t, his glove alone may not be enough to lift him beyond a replacement-level profile.
Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 35 | Run: 60 | Field: 70 | Arm: 55. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Average
Adjusted Grade: 40
Track Record: Compton made an immediate splash as a freshman at Arizona State in 2024, hitting .355/.427/.661 with 14 home runs and 16 doubles to earn Pac-12 freshman of the year honors. He carried that momentum into a strong summer with Cotuit in the Cape Cod League and entered his 2025 draft-eligible season with high expectations. Though he regressed slightly, Compton still produced a solid .278/.383/.498 line with nine home runs and 19 doubles while upping his walk rate from 10.8% to 15.3%. The Marlins drafted him in the second round and signed him for $2 million, which was slightly under slot value. Compton hit .217/.354/.359 with two home runs, a 32.7% strikeout rate and 16.8% walk rate in his first taste of pro ball with High-A Beloit.
Scouting Report: Compton packs considerable strength and power into his barrel-chested 6-foot-1, 225-pound frame. He generates easy plus raw power with a short, compact lefthanded swing that produces 90th percentile exit velocities around 110 mph. While power is his calling card, his approach remains volatile. After a strong start to 2025, his discipline regressed, as he expanded the zone too often and swung through quality velocity. He hit just .139 against fastballs at 93 mph or higher. He’ll need to refine his pitch recognition and contact skills, particularly against spin. Compton does show some on-base ability with a 13.2% career walk rate as an amateur, but there’s pressure on his bat given his likely future in left field, where he profiles as an average runner and a fringy thrower and defender.
The Future: The Marlins bet on Compton’s power when they selected him in the second round. For him to meet those expectations, continued refinement of his approach will be key. He’s expected to begin that process back at High-A Beloit in 2026.
Scouting Grades Hit: 40 | Power: 60 | Run: 50 | Field: 45 | Arm: 45. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Average
Adjusted Grade: 40
Track Record: A two-sport star at Liberty High and Missouri’s 2022 Gatorade player of the year, Milbrandt was drafted by the Marlins in the third round in 2022 and signed for an over-slot $1.5 million. After posting a 5.09 ERA with 94 strikeouts over 97.1 innings between Low-A Jupiter and High-A Beloit in 2023, he took a step forward with a 4.33 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 97.2 innings the following year. His 2025 campaign was his best yet: a 3.00 ERA with 113 strikeouts, 48 walks over 90 innings and a late-season promotion to Double-A Pensacola.
Scouting Report: At 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, Milbrandt boasts an athletic frame, low-effort delivery and plus arm speed. Prior to the 2025 season, he added roughly 20 pounds of healthy weight to better harness his mechanics and address control issues that plagued his first two pro seasons. Working from a mid-three-quarters arm slot, he sits 94-96 mph with his fastball, touches 98 and is most effective when elevating it for swings and misses. He leaned more heavily on his slider in 2025—up to about 30% usage—and the mid-to-high-80s pitch produced a 33% miss rate and 43% chase rate with sharp two-plane break. He also mixes in a tight low-80s curveball with strong vertical depth that misses bats at a 46% clip and elicits chases 36% of the time, while also showing a high-80s cutter that evaluators believe could become a plus pitch after it generated a 40% whiff rate in 2025.
The Future: The Marlins get one more season to evaluate Milbrandt for the 40-man roster. That provides time to continue developing him deliberately while refining his mechanics and tightening his command. He has the pure stuff to project as a back-end starter, but improved strike-throwing will be essential to keep him from shifting to the bullpen.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 45 | Cutter: 60 | Control: 40. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Average
Adjusted Grade: 40
Track Record: Cannarella burst onto the scene as the 2023 ACC freshman of the year after hitting .388 with 24 stolen bases at Clemson. He followed with another standout campaign in 2024, increasing his home run total from seven to 11 despite playing through a shoulder injury that limited his running game and ability to throw. After having labrum surgery before the 2025 season, Cannarella returned to form as a junior. He cemented his offensive reputation as a career .360/.453/.551 hitter, and the Marlins drafted him 43rd overall and signed him for a slightly over-slot bonus of $2,277,425. He batted .284/.337/.375 with six doubles in 22 games during his pro debut with High-A Beloit.
Scouting Report: A wiry 6-foot center fielder, Cannarella stands out for his exceptional athleticism, defense and pure hitting ability. The lefthanded batter hits from an open stance with a somewhat busy hand load, but he consistently makes quality swing decisions and above-average contact to produce sharp line drives to all fields. Offensively, he’s a clear hit-over-power player—he hit just three home runs as a junior and is unlikely to exceed double digits in pro ball—but his advanced barrel control and feel for the zone give him a realistic chance to remain a .300 hitter. Cannarella’s calling card is his defense. His plus speed and outstanding instincts make him a natural in center field, where he routinely tracks down balls in the gaps and makes highlight-reel plays. His arm strength remains a concern. It was below-average even before his labrum injury and has since regressed further.
The Future: Cannarella’s near-elite center field defense and above-average hit tool make him worth the gamble even if his arm strength never fully returns. He’s expected to open 2026 back at High-A Beloit.
Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 30 | Run: 60 | Field: 70 Arm: 30. -
BA Grade/Risk: 60/Extreme
Adjusted Grade: 40
Track Record: The Marlins were enamored of Defrank’s blend of raw stuff and athleticism when they signed him out of the Dominican Republic in 2025. They signed him for $560,000, handing him the fourth-largest bonus given to a pitcher in that international signing class. He quickly validated the investment, posting a 3.19 ERA with 34 strikeouts to 10 walks over 31 innings in the Dominican Summer League. He was 16 years old for most of the season.
Scouting Report: Defrank stands out before even taking the mound. He boasts a listed 6-foot-5, 235-pound frame that’s unusually thick and muscular for a teenager. The Marlins were first drawn to his exceptional arm speed and athleticism, traits that allowed him to reach the mid 90s at signing and sit in the upper 90s now while occasionally touching triple digits. His fastball features both run and ride. It’s still a bit raw in shape but already overpowering for his age. He complements it with a plus changeup showing heavy sink and fade, along with a sweeping slider that many evaluators project as a future plus pitch. Defrank uses a high leg kick and a fluid three-quarters release that accentuates his arm speed. His physicality is an asset, but maintaining it will be crucial, because avoiding bad weight as he matures will be key to preserving his velocity and smooth delivery. Right now, he shows a standout combination of flexibility and power that allows him to get his body into ideal positions as he moves down the mound.
The Future: Having turned 17 in August, Defrank could return to the DSL in 2026, with a U.S. debut later in the year well within reach. If he can maintain his athleticism and continue refining his delivery, he has the ingredients of a future frontline starter—though he remains several developmental steps away from realizing that potential.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 70 | Sweeper: 55 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 45. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Average
Adjusted Grade: 40
Track Record: Alderman was one of the most visible successes under the Marlins’ revamped player development efforts, which emphasized simplified communication to help hitters focus on three key pillars: swing decisions, contact rate and quality of contact. After hitting eight home runs with a .242 average in 2024, Alderman broke out in 2025, slugging 22 homers with 22 steals and a .285/.338/.482 line across 110 games at Double-A Pensacola and 20 at Triple-A Jacksonville. The performance marked not just a surge in output, but proof of concept for Miami’s developmental overhaul.
Scouting Report: Alderman is a stocky righthanded hitter with massive power—a defining trait that’s endured even after trimming 20 pounds since being drafted. He’s worked diligently to streamline his swing, quieting his mechanics and maintaining a tighter path than most hitters with his power profile. Despite that progress, chase tendencies remain. He swung at pitches out of the zone 30% of the time in 2025, showing improved restraint against high velocity but continued vulnerability to spin. Even so, Alderman’s overall approach improved markedly, as he attacked strikes aggressively and limited mistakes. Whether his bat-to-ball skills hold up against major league pitching will be his key test. Defensively, Alderman projects as a corner outfielder with a plus arm that once produced mid-90s velocity off the mound in his amateur days. He’s a solid runner underway, though he’s still refining his timing on the bases.
The Future: Alderman’s power surge in 2025 vaulted him into near-big league readiness and solidified his status as a bat-first corner outfielder with a power-over-hit profile. His defense has improved, but his impact will come at the plate. A strong spring could earn him a spot on the Opening Day roster.
Scouting Grades Hit: 45 | Power: 60 | Run: 45 | Field: 45 | Arm: 60. -
BA Grade/Risk: 60/Average
Adjusted Grade: 50
Track Record: Arquette broke out in 2024 at Washington, where he hit .325/.384/.574 with 12 home runs. He then transferred to Oregon State in 2025, shifted from second base to shortstop and elevated his game further by slashing .354/.461/.654 with 19 home runs. The Marlins drafted him seventh overall and signed him for a slot value bonus of $7,149,900.
Scouting Report: At 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, Arquette looks the part of a modern slugger. His free and easy righthanded swing generates above-average bat speed and plus raw power, allowing him to drive the ball to all fields while punishing mistakes to his pull side. Though swing-and-miss and chase tendencies have accompanied that pop, he refined his approach in 2025, showing improved plate discipline and producing a thunderous 93.5 mph average exit velocity with a 59% hard-hit rate. At times, he over-corrected—his 60% zone-swing rate reflected a bit of hesitation—but the overall approach was more measured and mature. Arquette moves well for his size, grading as an average runner once underway. He’s never been a true basestealing threat, yet he matched his college high with seven steals in 27 games at High-A Beloit to align with the Marlins’ emphasis on basepath aggression. Defensively, he’s shown enough fluidity and arm strength to stick at shortstop, with above-average instincts, reliable hands and a plus, accurate arm from a lower slot. His physicality and offensive profile could ultimately fit at third base if a move becomes necessary.
The Future: Arquette’s combination of body control and powerful frame made him one of few sure-thing middle infielders in a 2025 draft class thin on them. He has the bat, arm strength and internal clock to remain at a premium position and should at least reach the upper minors in 2026.
Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 60 | Run: 45 | Arm: 60. -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/Average
Adjusted Grade: 45
Track Record: After an injury-shortened first full pro season in 2022 and a relatively poor 2023 campaign, Mack finally broke through in 2024, launching 24 home runs and lighting up the Midwest League on his way to Double-A Pensacola and Top 100 Prospects status. His ascent continued in 2025. It took just 13 strong games in Double-A to earn a promotion to Triple-A Jacksonville, where he hit .250/.320/.459 with 18 home runs, 18 doubles and a 90 mph average exit velocity over 99 games.
Scouting Report: Mack features a distinctive look in the box. The lefthanded batter stands tall with a high handset and compact load. Earlier in his career, he used a leg kick for timing and rhythm, but he pared it down in 2025. His quick bat and strong forearms help him generate above-average raw power that plays in games despite a modest hit tool. Mack’s pitch recognition and discipline are roughly average—he swung and missed in the zone 25% of the time and chased 28%—but when he connects, the contact is loud, producing high-end exit velocities to his pull side. A below-average runner overall, he moves fluidly for his size and position with a smooth gait and better-than-expected agility. Behind the plate, he’s an above-average receiver who presents pitches quietly and earns strikes on the edges, aided by near plus mobility and soft hands. His plus arm controls the run game. He threw out 32% of basestealers in 2025.
The Future: Mack’s blend of defense, power and a refined approach makes him one of the top catching prospects in the upper minors. The Marlins are expected to add Mack to the 40-man roster this offseason to shield him from the Rule 5 draft. He will likely begin 2026 at Triple-A as the Marlins find playing time for him along with big league catchers Agustin Ramirez and Liam Hicks.
Scouting Grades Hit: 40 | Power: 55 | Ryn: 40 | Field: 60 | Arm: 65. -
BA Grade/Risk: 70/High
Adjusted Grade: 55
Track Record: The top high school lefthander in the 2023 draft class, White signed with the Marlins for a well over-slot $4.1 million as the 35th overall pick. He wasted no time making an impact in his first full pro season, striking out nearly 30% of hitters with a 2.81 ERA across two Class A levels in 2024. He remained on his meteoric trajectory in 2025 with a 2.31 ERA and dominant 38.6% strikeout rate while advancing from High-A Beloit to Triple-A Jacksonville. Control remains White’s lone blemish. His walk rate climbed from 9.2% in 2024 to 13.6% in 2025, and he has said he plans to overhaul his delivery ahead of his fourth professional season.
Scouting Report: White has begun to grow into his long-levered 6-foot-5, 240-pound frame. He’s added roughly 10 pounds since 2024, with even more physicality likely to come. The added strength has only sharpened his already electric arsenal. Working from a compact arm stroke that stays hidden until the last instant, he fires from a high-three-quarters arm slot and unleashes a fastball that sits 94-96 mph, touches 99 and carries late life through the zone. The pitch rides up on hitters with both vertical carry and subtle armside run—a combination that produced a 34% miss rate and swing-and-miss utility against both righthanded and lefthanded bats. His best weapon is a sweeping low-to-mid-80s slider that tunnels perfectly off his heater. It misses bats at a premium clip—50% miss rate, 31% chase rate in 2025—and can both back-foot righties and dart away from lefties. His mid-80s changeup took a leap forward in 2025, showing fade and late tumble, and it was particularly effective against righthanders, who struggle to pick it up before it dives below the barrel. White ranked third among minor leaguers with at least 80 innings in strikeout rate in 2025, and all three of his pitches are legitimate putaway options. The question, as it often is with young power arms, is control. White is unlikely to ever be a precise, paint-the-black type. For now, his focus is simply filling the zone consistently. His walk rate climbed in 2025, a sign of either chasing whiffs off the plate or losing rhythm in his delivery. That inconsistency can lead to inefficiency, which was frequently evident, as he pitched into the sixth inning just twice in 2025. Yet, even when laboring, White competes and tends to tighten his execution when traffic builds.
The Future: White’s raw stuff is already among the most advanced in the minors and is only getting better, giving him all the ingredients of a frontline starter. If he can refine his delivery and strike-throwing, he has the makings of a potential ace. White reached Triple-A as a 20-year-old in 2025 and should reach the majors in 2026.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Sweeper: 70 | Changeup: 65 | Control: 45. -
BA Grade/Risk: 60/Average
Adjusted Grade: 50
Track Record: A standout two-sport athlete in high school, Snelling chose baseball over football after signing with the Padres for $3 million—$1 million over slot—as a supplemental first-round pick. He dominated his first full season in 2023 with a 1.82 ERA, rising to Double-A and earning Minor League Pitcher of the Year honors. But a rocky 2024 followed. Snelling’s command and sharpness faded en route to a 6.01 ERA in 16 starts before he was traded to the Marlins. He rebounded in 2025, ranking fourth in the minors with 166 strikeouts, fifth with a 2.51 ERA and excelling at Triple-A Jacksonville with a 1.27 ERA and 81 strikeouts to 17 walks over 63.2 innings.
Scouting Report: Snelling’s 2024 struggles stemmed from erratic command, a passive approach and a velocity dip that left him sitting 91-93 mph and topping out at 95. His 2025 rebound began with regained power and subtle tweaks to his delivery, which is now more upright and repeatable and helped restore his reputation as an advanced strike-thrower. From a high three-quarters slot, he averaged 94.5 mph and touched 99 with a relatively flat approach angle to produce a 30% miss rate and 31% chase rate on fastballs—including 37% and 40%, respectively, at Triple-A. He also leaned more on a sharp, two-plane low-80s curveball now viewed as plus, reshaped his slider into a tighter gyro look and turned his firm, high-80s changeup into a reliable chase weapon against righthanded hitters. The improved mechanics yielded a career-best 7.1% walk rate alongside a 30.3% strikeout rate.
The Future: After quelling many of the doubts raised by his uneven 2024, Snelling now straddles the line between a No. 2 and No. 3 starter who could break camp with the Marlins in 2026. If he begins in Triple-A, his major league debut shouldn’t be too far down the road.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/High.
Track Record: The Nationals signed Romero out of Colombia in 2021. The righty started in the Dominican Summer League before making his way stateside for five games in 2022 in the Florida Complex League. Romero sat out the entire 2023 after having elbow surgery in November 2022. Fully recovered, he began the 2024 season back in the FCL before earning a promotion to Fredericksburg. He made seven regular season starts for the FredNats, owning a 5.52 ERA. Romero made one postseason start on the club’s path to a Carolina League championship.
Scouting Report: Romero’s sinker is easily a future plus pitch. It was up to 96 mph with heavy sink rather than armside movement in 2024. Scouts noted that he threw the pitch with ease. He is still very raw in his delivery, but this pitch could be his not-so-secret weapon as a reliever. He also throws an average changeup that sits in the mid 80s. Romero’s slider is a work in progress, but he did throw it 10% of the time. Developing that pitch is his second biggest goal. First on the agenda is adding more strikeouts. Romero had 52 strikeouts in 68.2 innings, including a rate of just 10% at Low-A.
The Future: Romero impressed in 2024 with his sinker. Now, he will need to improve his bat-missing rate as he faces better competition. He should begin 2025 with Low-A Fredericksburg.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 35 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 40. -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/High.
Track Record: The Nationals drafted Lord in the 18th round in 2022 and signed him for $125,000. The righty was solid in 2023, splitting his time between the Class A levels. His pitching coach in Low-A Fredericksburg—who turned out to be a distant cousin—helped him make some mechanical adjustments that improved his stuff overall. It really worked because 2024 was a breakout season for Lord. He jumped three levels, reaching Triple-A by the end of June. Lord was awarded the Nationals Way Award, which is given to a player who demonstrates work ethic, leadership and determination.
Scouting Report: Lord relies heavily on his sinker, which sits 93 mph and topped out at 96. The pitch averages 16 inches of horizontal break, making it an especially effective pitch in on the hands of righthanded batters. Lord rarely used his four-seam fastball in 2024 as he grew more comfortable with his changeup and mid-80s slider. Heading into 2025, Lord is working to sharpen and get more depth out of his changeup.
The Future: Expect Lord to make his MLB debut in 2025. He is one of the best pitching development stories to come out of the farm system in a while, which will be a huge win for the organization once he is playing at Nationals Park.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 55. -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Extreme.
Track Record: Vaquero signed with the Nationals for $4.925 million out of Cuba in 2021. He was one of the most touted international free agents the organization had signed. At the time, they noted his talent and maturity were well beyond his 17 years. Vaquero made his U.S. debut in 2023 in the Florida Complex League, where he hit .279/.410/.393. Promoted to Low-A Fredericksburg to end the season, he hit for average but struggled to hit for much power. The 2024 season was a massive struggle for Vaquero. He slashed .190/.291/.303 with 137 strikeouts for Fredericksburg. In the Carolina League championship series, he hurt his right shoulder sliding back into first base on a pickoff attempt.
Scouting Report: The Nationals knew that Vaquero has a reputation for being aggressive at the plate. That continued in 2024 as he owned the fourth-most strikeouts in the farm system. When he did get on base, Vaquero was able to show off his plus run tool by stealing 29 bases in 35 tries. He divided time in the outfield, playing all three spots. He can be perhaps average in center field but has the arm for right.
The Future: Still just 20 years old, Vaquero has time to develop. However, the Nationals have plenty of talent in the outfield. Vaquero will need to prove that he can scale back his strikeouts while adding power. His shoulder injury also could affect his availability early in the 2025 season.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 30 | Power: 40 | Run: 60 | Field: 50 | Arm: 60. -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/High.
Track Record: Nunez was considered the best high school defender in the 2019 draft. The Marlins drafted him 46th overall and signed him for an over-slot $2.2 million. Nunez represented the Marlins in the 2023 Futures Game and took home MVP honors for the game. However, he was left off the organization’s 40-man roster and was selected by the Nationals in the 2023 Rule 5 draft. Nunez spent the entire 2024 season on the Nationals’ big league roster, so now Washington controls his rights, including the right to option him to Triple-A in 2025. Nunez totaled just 61 at-bats in 51 MLB games. But for the final two weeks of the season, he served as the Nationals’ starting shortstop because the organization optioned CJ Abrams after he was spotted staying out at a Chicago casino until 8 a.m. on a game day.
Scouting Report: Nunez has a good feel for the strike zone and plus bat-to-ball skills. After the 2024 season, the switch-hitter worked to be shorter to the ball and to maximize his barrel time in the zone. He’s also working to control his head during his swing. Where Nunez shines is at shortstop. He is an outstanding defender and a double-plus runner. In his limited time on base in MLB, he managed to steal eight bases in 10 attempts. He posted nearly elite Statcast sprint speeds of 29.5 feet per second.
The Future: The Nationals have their franchise shortstop in CJ Abrams—assuming the late-season issue is addressed. Nunez doesn’t have the hit tool or power to be a mainstay in a lineup, which is a shame given how strong he is defensively and on the bases.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 30 | Run: 70 | Field: 70 | Arm: 70. -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Extreme.
Track Record: Hernandez was viewed as one of the better hitting catchers in the 2025 international class.
Scouting Report: Hernandez has a solid track record of hitting against quality pitching in workouts. He has a loose and easy lefthanded swing with solid barrel control. His hands generate the bat speed to project to fringe-average power. He’s got the agility and feel for receiving to stick behind the plate, but may need to improve his below-average arm to stay at catcher long-term.
The Future: Hernandez’s bat is promising for a catcher, but he’ll need to prove he can stick behind the plate over the long-term.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 40 | Field: 50 | Arm: 40. -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/High.
Track Record: The Mets drafted Stuart out of Southern Mississippi in 2022. Despite working as a reliever in college, he entered the High-A Brooklyn rotation in 2023 and earned a promotion to Double-A Binghamton for his final seven starts of the season. In 2024, he racked up 17 solid starts for Binghamton, owning a 3.96 ERA, before the Mets traded him to Washington for outfielder Jesse Winker. Stuart quickly made a name for himself with the Nationals, earning a Triple-A promotion after just four starts.
Scouting Report: At 6-foot-9, 250 pounds, Stuart is an imposing figure on the mound and moves with surprising grace given his size. His fastball sits 94 mph, but his bread-and-butter pitch is his sweepy slider, which he threw 41% of the time. The righty is developing both a changeup and a cutter as he works toward a rotation role. However, scouts are mixed on whether he can stick as a starter given his command.
The Future: The Nationals are going to continue to work Stuart up to be a starter and believe he could be a solid young option in spot starts in 2025, similar to Mitchell Parker or DJ Herz. Nationals pitching development took a step forward in 2024, and adding a solid third pitch for Stuart would be another win.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 40 | Cutter: 45 | Control: 45. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme.
Track Record: The Nationals drafted Green fifth overall in 2022 out of high school, with the promise of adding one of the most dynamic prospects in the draft class. Green immediately struggled with swing-and-miss, though he put up crazy exit velocity numbers when he did make contact. He struggled again in 2023, striking out nearly 42% of the time. The Nationals hoped that he would take a step forward in 2024 with Low-A Fredericksburg by showing improved swing decisions. Green did take a step forward on defense, but he led the minor leagues with 206 strikeouts.
Scouting Report: Green’s athleticism speaks for itself. When he makes contact, it is explosive. The issue is that is not a common outcome. He saw his strikeout rate rise to 44% in 2024. Green’s max exit velocity was 116 mph, teasing at what could be. The outfielder showed great development in center field and led the Nationals’ farm system with a career-high eight assists. Green has worked on the mental side of the game and not letting the disappointing start to his pro career get to him, which has really impressed the organization.
The Future: Green remains one of the toughest challenges for the Nationals’ player development team. Time is ticking as he looks to make progress in his pro career.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 30 | Power: 65 | Run: 70 | Field: 55 | Arm: 60. -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Very High.
Track Record: Cranz posted a 1.63 ERA in 30 relief appearances for Oklahoma State in 2024. He held batters to a .139 average and struck out 59 to just 12 walks. The Nationals drafted him in the seventh round in 2024 and quickly got him into game action. He joined Low-A Fredericksburg as the team pushed towards a Carolina League championship. In six innings, he allowed just two hits and struck out seven.
Scouting Report: Cranz has a high-spin, high-carry fastball with very good characteristics. The righty saw a velocity jump in 2024, adding nearly 3 mph on his fastball. It currently sits around 93 mph and topped out at 96 with nearly 21 inches of ride. He pairs that with a mid-80s gyro slider. Cranz is working on developing both a curveball and changeup. His curve is slow but he locates it very well, especially against lefthanded hitters. He only flashed a changeup a few times during his limited action after signing.
The Future: The Nationals believe that Cranz could work toward a starting role, especially if he is able to fully develop his four-pitch mix. They will assess making that change in spring training. Likely a future reliever, Cranz could move very quickly through the system.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 55. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme.
Track Record: Morales earned playing time as a freshman at Miami and added pop and a solid arm at third base. Morales played for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team in 2022 and led Team USA in most offensive numbers, rounding out a successful sophomore season. Morales slipped into the second round in 2023, when the Nationals drafted him with the 40th overall pick and signed him for an above-slot $2.6 million. He impressed in 42 games in his pro debut. Morales was looking for a breakout 2024, but a thumb injury he sustained in May limited him to just 75 games. He played six rehab games in Low-A Fredericksburg at the end of July and spent the remainder of the season at Double-A Harrisburg, for whom he slashed .269/.362/.384 with just five home runs.
Scouting Report: Morales is a solid athlete who takes after his father who spent a few seasons in the Yankees and Red Sox farm systems. Morales, also known as “Yoyo,” is known to do damage when he makes contact, though there are swing-and-miss concerns. He still does not look comfortable at first base, committing five errors in 45 total games at first versus 20 starts and two errors at third base, his college position. He is athletic but is just a fringe-average runner.
The Future: If Morales’ power comes back, he could be the answer at first base. The Nationals attribute his lack of power to the lingering thumb injury and say he should tap into his raw power in 2025.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 45 | Field: 45 | Arm: 60. -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Very High.
Track Record: Despite earning the Cape Cod League’s reliever of the year award, Brzykcy went undrafted in the abridged 2020 draft and signed with the Nationals for $20,000. His 2022 campaign put him on the prospect map and saw him jump three levels. He was well on his way to earning a spot in the Nationals’ bullpen in 2023 until he injured his forearm in spring training and had Tommy John surgery. The organization added Brzykcy to the 40-man roster after that season anyway. He returned in 2024 and spent July and the first half of August with Double-A Harrisburg before moving up to Triple-A. Brzykcy made his MLB debut on Sept. 1 and made six outings for Washington.
Scouting Report: Brzykcy’s fastball continues to get hitters out, despite seeing a slight decrease in velocity. It now sits 94-95 mph. As he continues to work his velocity back up closer to the explosive 98 mph he was throwing, Brzykcy isn’t afraid to use his secondaries—an above-average curveball and split-changeup. Brzykcy showed he was able to shake off a disastrous MLB debut and settle in at the highest level.
The Future: While the Nationals work to figure out their rotation and move some prospects to a reliever track, one thing is certain: Brzykcy will be a staple in Washington’s bullpen, likely beginning in 2025.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 65 | Curveball: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 45. -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Very High.
Track Record: It seems like ancient history that the Nationals drafted Rutledge with the 17th pick in the 2019 draft. Since then, the righty has navigated setbacks and comebacks each season. In 2021, he dealt with a shoulder injury that sidelined him for most of the year, returning to post a 7.68 ERA in 36.1 innings. He had a breakout 2022 campaign coupled with a good 2023, culminating in his MLB debut on Sept. 13, 2023. Rutledge began the 2024 season at Triple-A, with many expecting that he would be the first man up if the Nationals needed an arm. However, other pitching prospects heard their name called. Rutledge made three appearances for Washington, pitching to a 3.24 ERA in 8.1 innings. For Triple-A Rochester, Rutledge started 27 games and pitched a career high 122.1 innings.
Scouting Report: Rutledge looks the part of an imposing starter at 6-foot-8, 250 pounds. His four-seam and two-seam fastballs sit in the mid 90s and touch 97 mph. His slider is his go-to secondary, while his cutter sits around 88 mph. He rounds out his repertoire with an average curveball and changeup, both pitches accounting for 14% of his pitches thrown in 2024. Rutledge struggles to keep his command deep into games, making a move to the bullpen likely.
The Future: Rutledge has yet to establish himself in Washington and looks headed for the bullpen as other arms develop faster in the farm system.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 45. -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium.
Track Record: The Nationals acquired Millas from the Athletics in the 2021 trade that sent Yan Gomes and Josh Harrison to Oakland. He was solid during the 2022 season, but broke out during his stint in the Arizona Fall League. Millas started the following year with Double-A Harrisburg but earned a Triple-A promotion quickly. He made his MLB debut on Aug. 28, 2023. His second stint with the big league team came in April 2024. He was supposed to be available as a third catcher but ended up starting when Keibert Ruiz went down with a stomach bug. Millas would travel back and forth between Washington and Triple-A Rochester two more times in 2024 before his final callup in August.
Scouting Report: Millas continues to show strong bat-to-ball skills. However, he had limited reps during his time with Washington in 2024. His offense is limited by his well below-average power. Behind the dish is where he shines. He is very athletic and has excellent game-calling abilities—especially with the young pitchers the Nationals added from Triple-A this season.
The Future: The Nationals need to address their MLB backup catching situation. Ruiz, Riley Adams and Millas will be on the roster, but with other talent coming up the pipeline, the team could opt for someone who adds more pop to their lineup.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 30 | Run: 50 | Field: 50 | Arm: 60. -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.
Track Record: Slow and steady seems to be Lara’s development path. He was the top player in the Nationals’ 2019 international class but struggled at instructional league. His 2021 debut was much more promising. He ended the season making two starts for Low-A Fredericksburg. He returned to Low-A in 2022, where he remained for the entire season and was the youngest player on the roster. He moved to High-A for the entirety of 2023, working to develop a third pitch and adding strength to his young frame. Lara started out strong with High-A Wilmington in 2024, owning a 2.35 ERA in six starts. He was quickly promoted to Double-A and finished the season with 19 starts for Harrisburg. Lara tossed a career-high 134.2 innings.
Scouting Report: In his age-21 season, Lara added needed muscle to his 6-foot-5 frame and proved he could pitch deeper into games. His fastball velocity—which used to sit in the mid 90s—sat 93 mph and maxed out at 96. Lara’s slider took a massive step forward and was noted as one of the best in the farm system. He is working to develop his changeup, as he has the past two offseasons. The upper-80s change is still a touch below-average and needs a bit more development before it is a true third pitch.
The Future: The Nationals showed their faith in Lara by adding him to the 40-man roster after the 2024 season. He needs to develop a third pitch to stay on a starter route, but a move to the bullpen is likely.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme.
Track Record: The Nationals signed Cortesia for $1.92 million, the largest bonus of the organization’s 2025 class. The shortstop stood out early in the scouting process as a top athlete with good hands.
Scouting Report: Cortesia has grown around four inches since teams began scouting him early. He’s now 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, with newfound size and strength helping his tools tick up with projection for more still to come. Cortesia always showed a short, quick swing from the right side to maneuver the barrel throughout the zone and spray line drives around the field. He’s a plus runner with an above-average arm, which is a good sign for his future in the infield.
The Future: Cortesia has a good shot at remaining at shortstop long term. He should see a boost in power as he still has room left to fill out after his growth spurt.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 60 | Field: 50 | Arm: 55. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme.
Track Record: Feliz was one of the headliners the Nationals added at the start of the 2024 international signing period, agreeing to a $1.7 million deal. After adjusting at the team’s academy in the Dominican Republic, he played in the Dominican Summer League. Across 49 games, the shortstop owned an impressive slash line of .310/.381/.468. He earned a spot at the DSL All-Star Game.
Scouting Report: At 6-foot-3, Feliz has an already large frame for a 18-year-old with considerable strength projected as he gets older. He has a good offensive approach and is able to hit and adjust in-game, though there is a bit of length to his swing that the organization is looking to tighten up. Feliz hit just four home runs in the DSL in 2024, though he did post a 90th percentile exit velocity of roughly 101 mph and a max north of 106 mph. Those are promising signs for his power projection. While he played shortstop for nearly every start in the DSL this season, Feliz’s defense warrants a possible move to third base. He has a strong arm, which would help him make the move in the future.
The Future: Feliz showed that he was able to adjust to pro ball and can handle higher level competition in 2025.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Field: 45 | Arm: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.
Track Record: After Pinckney posted a career year with Alabama in 2023, the Nationals drafted him in the fourth round and signed him to a below-slot bonus. He adjusted well in his first stint as a pro, splitting time between Class A affiliates before finishing out the season with Double-A Harrisburg. Pinckney started the 2024 campaign at Double-A and slashed .259/.328/.366 in 114 games. The Nationals promoted him to Triple-A Rochester in late August and he produced at a similar rate. Pinckney again struggled with strikeouts in 2024, racking up 167 of them, which were second-most in the Nationals’ farm system behind only Elijah Green.
Scouting Report: The Nationals drafted Pinckney hoping that his above-average bat speed would overshadow the swing-and-miss concerns. However, the experienced college bat they were hoping for continued to struggle, as his 25.2% in-zone miss percentage suggests. When he does make contact, Pinckney tends to put the ball on the ground. He is a phenomenal athlete—tabbed as one of the best in the Nationals’ system by scouts—but he will need to work on pitch recognition if he wants to make it to Washington. He is a plus runner and stole 27 bases, though he was caught stealing 10 times as well.
The Future: Pinckney has proven that he is capable of moving quickly through the minors. However, he will need to show an adjustment at the plate to make the jump to Washington. The Nats have other options in the outfield, so his bat will need to improve quickly to prove he is the right choice.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 50 | Run: 60 | Field: 55 | Arm: 60. -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.
Track Record: Bazzell transferred from Dallas Baptist to Texas Tech after his first semester, forcing him to sit out the 2022 season due to transfer rules. In 2023 and 2024, he impressed scouts with his advanced offensive approach. The Nationals drafted him in the third round in 2024 and signed him for slot value of $980,300. He joined Low-A Fredericksburg in time for its run to the Carolina League championship.
Scouting Report: In the batter’s box, Bazzell has a simple setup with a small load and slight, subtle hand press as he works to launch position. His impressive bat-to-ball skills drive his offensive profile. Bazzell doesn’t project to add a ton of pop, so he will likely be more of a hit-over-power player. He is a solid athlete and really impressed the Nationals with his catching abilities in his short stint in 2024. He caught a postseason game thrown by top pitching prospect Travis Sykora and was able to call pitches with impressive confidence. Bazzell will need to improve his receiving setup behind the dish, but he showed that he has a real chance to stick at this position.
The Future: Bazzell projects to have a higher hit grade than his power grade, which is unusual for a catcher. His long-term outlook is as a catcher who is right in between a fine starter or a backup.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 40 | Run: 45 | Field: 45 | Arm: 55. -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.
Track Record: The similarities between Bennett and fellow Nationals prospect Cade Cavalli are numerous. Both are Tulsa natives who went on to pitch for Oklahoma. Both were drafted by the Nationals—Cavalli in the first round in 2020 and Bennett in the second round in 2022. As they both progressed through the farm system, it seemed like the two would follow each other all the way to Nationals Park. Cavalli had Tommy John surgery early in 2023 and spent most of 2024 rehabbing. Bennett was shut down in August 2023 and had TJ in mid September. He missed the entire 2024 season and was expected to be ready for 2025 spring training.
Scouting Report: Bennett is known for having the best control in the Nationals’ farm system and one of the best changeups. During the 2023 season, he relied heavily on his low-90s two-seam fastball, though he became more comfortable throwing his secondaries throughout the season. His go-to secondary is a plus changeup that was effective against both righties and lefties. He rounds out his repertoire with an average slider that will need continued development. Towards the end of his 2023 campaign, Bennett was having trouble holding his velocity as he pitched deeper into games. The organization believes that problem will be completely eradicated by his Tommy John surgery—and he may even see a boost in velocity.
The Future: Bennett should get back on the mound in spring training. He showed tremendous promise before the surgery, so the organization is hoping he gets right back on track.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 55. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme.
Track Record: Hassell was one of the top ranked prospects shipped to the Nationals in the blockbuster Juan Soto trade in August 2022. Many expected he would be one of the first of the bunch to reach Washington. However, injury and a lack of offensive protection halted Hassell’s development once again in 2024. He started the season at Double-A Harrisburg and got off to a hot start. It seemed as though he was finding his groove as he hit for average, but then he went on the injured list in mid June with a right hand injury. He returned to game action on Aug. 20 and earned a promotion to Triple-A in September. He returned to the Arizona Fall League and found his stride yet again after playing in the league in 2022 and 2023 as well.
Scouting Report: When healthy, Hassell continues to live up to his reputation from the 2020 draft as the top pure hitter among preps that year. During the AFL in 2024, he tweaked his swing by slightly changing his stride direction. This allowed him to hit the ball with more authority. In a 22-game sample, he hit .281/.360/.517 with four home runs. In a best-case scenario, Hassell could be an average hitter with below-average power. His above-average arm combined with above-average speed gives him the ability to play any outfield position.
The Future: The Nationals hope the third time was the charm for Hassell in the Arizona Fall League. He needs to prove that he can stay healthy and produce at the plate. Now, he is a member of the 40-man roster and could get an MLB look in 2025 if he hits at Triple-A Rochester.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 55 | Field: 55 | Arm: 55. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme.
Track Record: Dickerson was a two-sport athlete at Krolls High in New Jersey, helping his school win the state championship in hockey before impressing scouts on the diamond. He quickly became a huge up-arrow prospect for the 2024 draft. The shortstop saw increased power to match his athleticism. That was all the Nationals needed to see to draft Dickerson in the second round and sign him for $3.8 million, which was nearly double the slot value for the 44th pick and the highest figure of the bonus pool era for a player drafted after the supplemental first round.
Scouting Report: The verdict is still out on whether Dickerson will be more power-over-hit or hit-over-power. Though no one is questioning his athletic abilities and his plus run tool. He has a quick and easy righthanded swing that is easy to replicate. Dickerson has also impressed scouts with his ability to adjust during at-bats. He should continue to tap into his power at the plate and add on to the developments shown in the spring of 2024. His fringe arm could move him off of shortstop in the future, though the organization is confident Dickerson can stay up the middle with reps and development.
The Future: Dickerson will make his pro debut in 2025. He will likely make the switch to second base or center field in the future, but the Nationals will give him time to develop at shortstop with plenty of reps at Low-A Fredericksburg.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 60 | Field: 50 | Arm: 45. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.
Track Record: The Nationals drafted Lile in the second round out of high school in 2021 and signed him for an over-slot $1.75 million bonus. After a weak pro debut, he missed the entire 2022 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. His first healthy season in 2023 was a huge success. He slashed .291/.381/.510 at Low-A Fredericksburg and earned a promotion to High-A Wilmington in July. He began the 2024 season with Wilmington and posted similar numbers to his breakout 2023 campaign. He earned a promotion to Double-A in June and finished the season in Harrisburg.
Scouting Report: The lefthanded-hitting Lile trails only Dylan Crews as the best hitter in the Nationals’ system. He is able to make adjustments pitch-to-pitch and doesn’t let at-bats get away from him. He has started to hit for more power as he’s developed and begun adding muscle to his 5-foot-11, 195-pound frame. Lile hit 10 home runs in each of the past two seasons and is more of a hit-over-power player. He has struggled to hit sweepers and cutters, another improvement he will need to make to his game. Lile is a dynamic athlete, but it is more of a raw trait than anything that makes him a “toolsy” player. He has seen most of his time in left field in pro ball, and Nationals evaluators say he is an 80-grade worker. Washington’s player development staff also praises his competitive drive and maturity.
The Future: If Lile can stay healthy, he could make a great addition to a clubhouse. He has the ceiling of an everyday outfielder who relies on his bat-to-ball skills to make an impact, though he may have to fight for regular at-bats in Washington’s crowded outfield. While the Nationals may want players like him in Washington, they have a lot of depth at the position already.
Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Fielding: 50 | Arm: 45
Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Field: 50 | Arm: 45. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.
Track Record: Wallace is one of the few pro players who can say he got to play with his brother. His older brother Paxton was his teammate with the Royals’ High-A Quad Cities affiliate for much of the 2023 season before Cayden was promoted to Double-A Northwest Arkansas in August. The 2024 season was a frustrating one for Cayden. An oblique injury sent him to the injured list in May. He was working back to full strength on a rehab assignment in the Arizona Complex League when the Royals traded him to the Nationals for reliever Hunter Harvey. After a tune-up at High-A Wilmington, Wallace finished the season at Double-A Harrisburg.
Scouting Report: Wallace has a simple, smooth, righthanded swing and quick hands that are set just outside of his torso and allow him to adeptly control the barrel. His swing and skill set are geared to hitting for average more than power. He has a line-drive swing suited for finding the gaps, which will yield more doubles than home runs. Defensively, Wallace is an above-average third baseman. He has a plus arm with solid accuracy, even if his throwing motion is often a lengthy one. He is an average runner but has solid baserunning instincts that could lead to more steals. He swiped 18 bases in 130 games in the Royals’ system in 2023.
The Future: Wallace joined the Nationals’ contingent in the Arizona Fall League to make up for at-bats he missed during 2024. He should head to Triple-A Rochester to start 2025. With a strong start, he could end up in D.C. before long. He projects as an everyday third baseman and could provide the Nationals an answer at the position by mid 2025, though Brady House and Trey Lipscomb will also be making their case.
Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Fielding: 55 | Arm: 60
Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Field: 55 | Arm: 60. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.
Track Record: After a standout high school career in Hawaii, Lomavita made an immediate impact at California as a DH and backup catcher in 2022. He took over as the team’s catcher in 2023, but it was his bat that continued to impress, both with the Bears and in two summers in the Cape Cod League, where he hit .323 with four home runs in 49 games. The Nationals made him the third catcher taken off the board in the 2024 draft, taking him 39th overall in the supplemental first round. Lomavita signed for a bonus of $2,325,000, then helped Low-A Fredericksburg to the Carolina League title after a late-season debut.
Scouting Report: A pitcher, outfielder and catcher in high school, Lomavita embraced the move to catching full-time in college. He’s more athletic than most catchers, and for now is an above-average runner who is a basestealing threat. At the plate, Lomavita’s contact skills and athleticism speak for themselves. He loves to swing the bat, which leads him to chase pitches. Lomavita has a huge personality, which has helped in his catching role. He controls a game with authority and makes pitchers feel more at ease during big moments. He does not look out of place behind the dish despite being relatively new to the position. Lomavita’s arm strength is above-average, and he has strong hands, both of which are qualities that should make him an asset behind the plate.
The Future: Lomavita has plenty of development ahead of him, but scouts praise his work ethic and willingness to put in the work to improve. His bat-to-ball skills, leadership skills and athleticism give him a chance to be a well-rounded catcher. An opening assignment with High-A Wilmington is most likely in 2025.
Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Fielding: 55 | Arm: 55
Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Field: 55 | Arm: 55. -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme.
Track Record: The Nationals have not seen much of their 2020 first-round pick. Cavalli made his pro debut in 2021 and dazzled, leading the minor leagues in strikeouts. The Oklahoma alum worked quickly through the minor leagues, spending the 2022 season at Triple-A before making his MLB debut on Aug. 26. After one outing, he was shut down with right shoulder inflammation. Cavalli was a strong candidate to earn a spot on the Nationals’ 2023 Opening Day roster before injuries plagued him once again. He left his third spring training start and was diagnosed with a Grade 3 sprain of his ulnar collateral ligament. He had Tommy John surgery and missed the entire 2023 season. Expected to return in June 2024, which would have been 15 months after the surgery, Cavalli struggled with setbacks. Following a rehab start in June, he missed time with the flu and began experiencing dead arm.
Scouting Report: When healthy, Cavalli has one of the top fastballs in the Nationals’ organization. The pitch was touching triple-digits prior to surgery but sat closer to 96 mph in his brief work in 2024. Cavalli’s mid-80s curveball is a plus to near plus-plus pitch as well. His changeup and slider are works in progress, with the latter being closer to MLB ready. Cavalli has shown average control when healthy.
The Future: Cavalli looked like one of the best pitching prospects in baseball in 2022, but he’s missed nearly all of two seasons since. Staying healthy has been his biggest challenge. Cavalli threw his first bullpen session in early September and began an offseason throwing program. He will fight for a spot in the Nationals’ rotation in spring training. If his control wavers or his repertoire is too limited to start, Cavalli could fit as a power reliever.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 65 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 50
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 65 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme.
Track Record: After winning Rhode Island Gatorade player of the year, Clemmey went to the Guardians in the second round—58th overall—of the 2023 draft. Cleveland swayed Clemmey from a Vanderbilt commitment by signing him to a well over-slot $2.3 million bonus. He made his pro debut in 2024 with Low-A Lynchburg, pitching to a 4.67 ERA in 19 starts and striking out 97 in 69.1 innings. At the trade deadline, Cleveland sent Clemmey to the Nationals as part of the package used to acquire outfielder Lane Thomas. He made six regular-season starts for the Nationals’ Low-A affiliate, ending his season with two postseason outings for the Carolina League champions.
Scouting Report: At 6-foot-6, 205 pounds, Clemmey has the type of projection that is easy to dream on. His fastball sits in the mid 90s with late life through the zone. He touched 98 mph in 2024 and could flirt with triple-digits as he adds strength. Clemmey’s windup is a bit untraditional, sometimes looking like it lacks rhythm. As he develops and adds strength, his movements should become more controlled and fluid. His curveball generates some swings and misses and has plus potential. The Nationals want to develop Clemmey’s changeup, which, as is often the case with high school draftees, is his least polished pitch.
The Future: Clemmey was one of the youngest players in the 2023 draft and shows his age with the rawness in his game. The tools are there, but expect Washington to move slowly with Clemmey. Though his development is a year behind Travis Sykora’s, the Nationals believe he could have the same type of breakout season once he matures and improves his control.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 70 | Curveball: 60 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 40
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 70 | Curveball: 60 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 40. -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High.
Track Record: King put together two incredible seasons with Division II Wingate (N.C.), including logging a 47-game hitting streak over the 2022-23 seasons. After impressing with USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team, he transferred to Wake Forest for the 2024 season. He played center field, shortstop, third base and some second base for the Demon Deacons. In 2024, King joined teammates Chase Burns and Nick Kurtz as top 10 selections in the draft, going 10th overall to the Nationals for a slightly under-slot bonus of $5.15 million. He had a solid debut, helping Low-A Fredericksburg to the Carolina League championship.
Scouting Report: King’s pure bat speed and ability to maneuver the barrel to all areas of the zone allowed him to put up excellent 90th percentile exit velocity numbers in college. He has a free-swinging approach and quick hands. He came into pro ball with a tendency to be aggressive and get himself into bad counts, but he worked to be more patient in his approach during his short time with Fredericksburg. King is a plus-plus runner. He profiles well at shortstop, which is where he will likely take the most of his reps as he continues to develop. His body type is a bit boxy, so maintaining weight and adding lean muscle will be imperative for him to maintain his plus athleticism. Scouts who saw him in limited looks during his time in Fredericksburg noted that he looked tired. It will be important to see if the offseason will help reset his body to the athlete the organization expects.
The Future: Defensive versatility figures to help King get to Washington quickly. His athleticism and bat speed should make him a mainstay in the Nationals’ lineup, where his double-plus speed should mesh with Washington’s aggressive basestealing game plan.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Speed: 70 | Fielding: 50 | Arm: 50
Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 70 | Field: 50 | Arm: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High.
Track Record: The Nationals drafted House 11th overall in 2021 and signed him for an over-slot $5 million. Featuring double-plus raw power, he was viewed as one of the top shortstop prospects in the class. After an impressive 2021 debut, his power seemed to evaporate in 2022, which eventually was explained by the back injury that sidelined him in June of that year. He reached Double-A Harrisburg in 2023, the season he moved from shortstop to third base. He played in just 88 games that season on a tightly managed workload. Healthy in 2024, House began the year at Double-A Harrisburg and earned a promotion to Triple-A Rochester in July. He hit for only modest power in 2024, connecting on 19 home runs, just six of which came at Triple-A.
Scouting Report: House has easy plus raw power, and his 6-foot-4, 215-pound frame looks every bit of the part of a slugger. While he makes a lot of hard contact, he has continued to struggle hitting velocity. This has become more evident as he’s moved through the minor leagues. He swings at a lot of pitches, chasing out-of-zone offerings nearly 10% more than average. While the impact questions are starting to subside, he will need to prove he can hit top-flight pitching. Defensively, House improved at third base in 2024. His plus arm profiles well there, and he could potentially be a permanent solution to the string of players who have been filling the gap left by Anthony Rendon’s departure following the 2019 season.
The Future: With the Nationals still trying to find a solid answer at third base, House has a real opportunity to make the big league team in 2025, potentially out of camp. If he can adjust to higher-level pitching, his raw power could give a young Nationals lineup some extra pop.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 60 | Speed: 50 | Fielding: 55 | Arm: 60
Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 60 | Run: 50 | Field: 55 | Arm: 60. -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High.
Track Record: The Nationals pried Sykora away from a Texas commitment after signing him for $2.6 million as a third-rounder in 2023. That figure was more than double the slot value at No. 71 overall, but Washington believed it was getting a great value. Sykora affirmed that assessment with a dominant 2024 season. Sykora allowed zero or one hit in eight of his 20 starts for Low-A Fredericksburg. He finished with a 2.33 ERA and 129 strikeouts, which led all Low-A pitchers, over 85 innings.
Scouting Report: Sykora’s 94-96 mph fastball will touch 99. It has just average shape but it’s effective because of his above-average extension. He pitches from a more upright delivery with a high leg kick. Sykora works with three pitches: a four-seam fastball, slider and split-changeup. His slider sits in the low-to-mid 80s, and topped out at 87 mph, hinting that he could add power to the pitch. His splitter has a swinging-strike rate of just over 28%, proving to be an effective tool to collect swings and misses outside the zone. Sykora’s control took a big step forward in 2024, and was especially impressive in the second half of the season, when he walked eight batters in his final eight starts. It will need to continue to improve further as he faces higher-level bats. His fastball showed the kind of deception and velocity required to get hitters out in 2024, but it was in the strike zone less than 50% of the time, which is a function of him working regularly above the top of the zone.
The Future: Sykora proved he can pitch in meaningful games. He stuck out nine batters while allowing one hit and zero runs in a pair of Carolina League playoff starts. The 2025 season will allow Sykora to test his stuff against higher-level hitters and prove that any lingering control issues have been quashed.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 70 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 65 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High.
Track Record: The Padres signed Susana out of the Dominican Republic in January 2022 and then traded him to the Nationals as one of the key pieces in the Juan Soto blockbuster seven months later. For a couple of years, Susana’s results seemed to lag behind his exceptional stuff. He struggled in 2023, and had a nearly 9.00 ERA eight starts into his 2024 return to Low-A Fredericksburg. In late May, Susana adopted a more aggressive, attacking approach. From then until the end of the year, he had the best strikeout rate—14.2 per nine innings—of any minor league starter and was just as dominant after a promotion to High-A Wilmington.
Scouting Report: Susana is one of the hardest-throwing pitchers in the game. He touches 103 mph and sits at 99-100 with his fastball. He throws both a two- and four-seam fastball, showing swing-and-miss abilities with both shapes. However, it is his slider that has taken the biggest step forward this season. Susana threw his cut-slider nearly the same number of times as his fastball, generating swinging strikes 24% of the time. The 88-90 mph pitch pairs very well with his fastballs, which hitters have to gear up to time. He gets hitters to chase the slider more than 35% of the time, making it his most effective pitch. Susana also throws a low-90s changeup, though it is still behind his slider and fastball development-wise. While Susana is showing the traits of a midrotation starter, there are still some control issues that need to be corrected for that kind of rotation ceiling to be realized.
The Future: As a member of the triple-digit club with a dominating slider, Susana faces questions about whether he’ll end up as a power reliever or starter. His dramatic turnaround in 2024 gives him a better chance to remain a starter.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 70 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 70 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45. -
BA Grade/Risk: 60/Medium.
Track Record: In his first year at LSU in 2021, Crews set a program freshman record with 18 home runs. As a sophomore, he was Southeastern Conference player of the year. Crews repeated as POY as a junior, hitting .426/.567/.713 with 18 homers in 2023 and playing an integral role in the Tigers’ national championship. Crews and LSU teammate Paul Skenes made draft history as the first pair of teammates selected with the top two picks of the draft. As the second overall pick, Crews signed for $9 million, which was the second-highest bonus in draft history at the time. Crews reached Double-A Harrisburg in his first pro summer after being drafted. He began 2024 at the same level and earned a promotion to Triple-A Rochester after hitting .274/.343/.446 in 51 games. He boasted similar numbers in 49 games at Triple-A and earned his MLB callup on Aug. 26. After going hitless in his debut, Crews recorded hits in his next four games, including hitting two homers in that span. He struggled offensively to end the season, slashing just .218/.288/.353 while flashing a plus arm in right field.
Scouting Report: At 5-foot-11, 203 pounds, Crews is not an imposing figure. Rather, his top prospect status derives from his ability to get on base and his well-roundedness. So far in his young career, Crews has been streaky at the plate. When he’s hot, he is elevating balls and attacking pitchers. When he’s off, he tends to be more aggressive and show an elevated rate of in-zone miss. He has continued to show great plate discipline, and until his struggles in the majors, he had rarely chased outside of the strike zone. At each level, Crews has found his footing at the plate, and despite his early struggles, life in the majors figures to eventually be no different. In his first exposure to MLB pitchers, he struggled against sliders. He chased them out of the zone, with a miss rate of 42%. He didn’t get a hit against a slider in the majors, and only once in 82 pitches did he hit the ball out of the infield. In the outfield, Crews is a solid defender who makes plays look easy. He played a majority of center field in the minors but moved to right field after his callup to Washington. As long as Jacob Young is in center, Crews fits best in right field, where his range and plus arms are assets.
The Future: Crews finished the season in Washington playing alongside rookies James Wood and Jacob Young in the outfield, which gives the organization a taste of what the future core of the team could look like. Crews has all-star upside and should be a mainstay in the Nationals’ lineup for years to come. The 2024 season ended with Crews just a handful of at-bats away from officially graduating from prospect status.
Scouting Grades Hit: 65 | Power: 60 | Run: 70 | Fielding: 55 | Arm: 60
Scouting Grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 60 | Run: 70 | Field: 55 | Arm: 60. -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/High.
Track Record: Santos signed for $150,000 in 2019 out of Venezuela and made his professional debut two years later in 2021. Santos impressed in 2022 and in the first half of 2023 but an elbow strain kept him off the mound for 11 months. He returned in mid June of 2024 and after a three-week rehab joined Double-A New Hampshire.
Scouting Report: Santos is an undersized righthander with a low three-quarters arm slot and inverted-W style mechanics. Santos slings the ball in a near sidearm fashion with a way of wrapping rotationally around his pitches for a true crossfire finish. This enhances his pitches, which are a four-seam fastball, slider and changeup. Santos’ four-seamer fastball sits 92-93 mph with below-average ride and heavy armside run. The pitch generates whiffs above its velocity due to his tricky angle. His low-80s sweeper slider averaged around 11-13 inches of horizontal break with a unique approach angle. Santos misses lots of bats with his low-80s changeup when he lands it, but command of the pitch is spotty. Santos has below-average command in large part due to the amount of break on his pitches
The Future: Santos has endured durability issues but has the unique angle on his pitches to be a deceptive reliever who dominates righthanded hitters.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 40. -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/High.
Track Record: Signed by the Red Sox out of the Dominican Republic in 2018, Paulino moved steadily throughout the minors over his first six seasons. He began his season with the Red Sox Double-A affiliate in Portland by hitting .263/.349/.391 over 69 games. He was traded to the Blue Jays for Danny Jansen on July 27. Paulino missed time due to injury but returned to action with Double-A New Hampshire at the end of the season. Paulino participated in the Arizona Fall League following the regular year.
Scouting Report: A well-rounded player with quick hands and the ability to adjust to spin, Paulino’ has a simple lefthanded swing with few moving parts which allows him to make consistent contact. Some of his bat-to-ball skills dissipated in 2024 as he chased improved bat speed. Paulino maintained strong swing decisions and showed the ability to put the ball in the air at a higher rate than at any point in his career. Still, Paulino lacks physicality and has below-average game power. He’s a fringe-average runner who lacks range in the field but has good actions at second and third base.
The Future: Paulino fits as a multi-positional infield utility player who doesn’t give away at-bats and can fill in at second base, third base, shortstop and the outfield.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 45 | Field: 50 | Arm: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme.
Track Record: The Blue Jays signed the Dominican shortstop for $997,500 in January 2025. It was the second highest bonus of the team’s international class.
Scouting Report: Sanchez is 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, a body type that would typically point toward a move off of shortstop, but Sanchez is surprisingly light on his feet for his size. He’s an above-average runner with quick actions and an above-average arm that fits at either spot of the left side of the infield. Sanchez has the physicality and strength potential to develop above-average power and already drives the ball well now from the right side of the plate in a power-over-hit approach.
The Future: Sanchez should debut in the Dominican Summer league in 2025 alongside fellow IFA signee Cristopher Polanco giving the Blue Jays a pair of higher upside prospects to watch.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Field: 55 | Arm: 55. -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/High.
Track Record: Brock spent four years at Ohio State and did two tours of duty in the Cape Cod League. He received some scouting buzz for his high-octane stuff and ability to touch triple-digits with his fastball. Brock was taken by the Blue Jays in the sixth round of the 2022 draft and signed for a bonus of $72,500. After being limited to just 11 appearances in 2024 due to an elbow injury, Brock made up time after the season in the Arizona Fall League.
Scouting Report: Brock is a pure relief prospect with a high-powered two-pitch mix that’s designed to blow away opposing batters. Brock sits 95-97 mph on his four-seam fastball with plus ride and heavy cut. While Brock’s fastball lights up the radar gun, his upper-80s cut-slider does all the heavy lifting. It’s Brock’s most frequently thrown pitch and it generates swings and misses in bunches. In 2024, Brock’s slider had a 28% swinging strike rate against all competition. Brock fits the mold of a late-inning fire-breathing dragon with plus velocity and a swing and miss secondary.
The Future: If Brock can stay healthy and master Triple-A, he has a chance to help the Blue Jays bullpen in the coming years.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Control: 45. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme.
Track Record: The Blue Jays selected Barriera with the 23rd overall pick and signed him for $3.6 million. He made his pro debut in May of 2023 after dealing with a shoulder injury in spring training. He made four starts before hitting the injured list with an elbow sprain. Barriera returned in July but after three starts went down with biceps soreness. The previous season’s injuries were a foreshadowing of what was to come as Barriera tore his UCL in his first start of 2024 and had hybrid Tommy John Surgery.
Scouting Report: A highly touted prep player, Barriera has struggled with health and conditioning as a professional. He started his pro career significantly overweight, and dealt with subsequent injuries. He slimmed down entering 2024 but it was too little too late as the wear and tear of the previous two years saw him break down. Barriera has shown glimpses of a plus slider that dominated amateur competition by sitting 82-84 mph with heavy sweep and feel to manipulate its shape. His fastball is a low-to-mid-90s cut four-seamer which, depending on the day, can sit 92-94 mph or 93-96 mph. He’ll show a curveball in the high-70s with two-plane break and a mid-to-high-80s changeup with parachuting drop.
The Future: Barriera will likely miss most, if not all, of 2025 and it’s uncertain what he will look like upon returning.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 40 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 45. -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.
Track Record: Keys popped in his sophomore season at Bucknell and then upped the ante in his junior season by hitting .405/.535/.798 with 13 home runs. He was named Patriot League player of the year and the Blue Jays selected Keys in the fourth round of the 2024 draft. He signed for a bonus of $569,700 and debuted following the draft with Low-A Dunedin. Over 22 games with Dunedin, Keys hit .293/.378/.451 with eight extra-base hits.
Scouting Report: Keys is a physical lefthanded hitter with average present power, above-average plate skills and the ability to backspin the ball to all parts of the ballpark. Keys shows above-average bat-to-ball skills with good swing decisions. He wasn’t beaten very often in the zone and avoided passivity in his approach. His power ticked down from his college data based on exit velocities, and his max EV was 108.3 mph in his pro debut. Keys’ ability to hit the ball hard in the air gives him above-average power projection. He is a below-average runner and fringe-average defender at third base. He has a chance to stick at the hot corner due to his above-average arm.
The Future: Keys has a chance to break out in 2025 due to his combination of feel to hit, approach and developing power.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 40 | Field: 45 | Arm: 55. -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.
Track Record: A three-year starter at Iowa, the Blue Jays selected Williams in the seventh round of the 2022 draft. He signed for $197,500 and debuted in Low-A. He spent a majority of the 2024 season with High-A Vancouver, playing in 77 games and hitting .289/.362/.476 with 11 home runs. After the season Williams played in the Arizona Fall League with Scottsdale.
Scouting Report: Williams is a large-bodied slugger with the build of an offensive lineman. He uses his strength to club long, loud drives all over the ballpark and does so without selling out for power or pullside juice. Williams has average bat-to-ball skills with excellent swing decisions. He has double-plus raw power but plus game power he gets to with ease. Williams’ exit velocity data is outstanding, with a 113.6 mph max EV during the 2024 season and a 46% hard-hit rate. Williams’ game is rooted in his ability to get to his power while limiting his swings and misses. He’s a bottom of the scale runner and is limited to first base defensively. There’s heavy pressure on Williams to hit.
The Future: Williams is lefthanded-hitting first base prospect with a solid balance of skills but limited fallback options if he doesn’t hit.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 60 | Run: 20 | Field: 40 | Arm: 45. -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.
Track Record: A shoulder injury while playing high school football forced Watts-Brown to redshirt his freshman season at Long Beach in 2021. He broke out in 2022, earning second-team Freshman All-American honors. After a strong performance on the Cape, he entered the transfer portal and committed to Oklahoma State. Watts-Brown struggled but the Blue Jays liked his projectable frame and stuff and selected him in the third round of the 2023 draft. He signed for $1 million and debuted in 2024 at Low-A and split his season across both Class A levels.
Scouting Report: A tall, thin righthander with an uptempo delivery and an over-the-top arm slot. Watts-Brown mixes four pitches in a four-seam fastball, slider, curveball and changeup. His four-seam fastball sits 92-94 mph touching 96 mph at peak with above-average ride and run from a six-foot release. Watts-Brown doesn’t generate much swing and miss with his fastball but he does use it effectively enough to set up his trio of secondaries. Watts-Brown’s mid-80s gyro slider with average spin rates in the 2,400-2,500 rpm range generates whiffs at an elite rate while tunneling off of his fastball. Both his high-70s curveball and low-80s changeup miss an above-average amount of bats with average command.
The Future: Watts-Brown shows projectable starters traits with command of a four-pitch mix and a swing-and-miss weapon in his slider.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme.
Track Record: The younger brother of Rockies 2024 third-round pick catcher Cole Messina, Carson is the pitcher of the family battery. Messina was committed to South Carolina and played on the same high school team as Marlins first-round pick PJ Morlando. The Blue Jays drafted Messina in the 12th round and signed him for $550,000. Messina is likely to debut in the Florida Complex League in 2025.
Scouting Report: Messina is a stocky righthander with present physical strength and average athleticism. He works from a modified stretch, slinging the ball from a three-quarters arm slot with a drop-and-drive delivery that lowers his release of the ball. He mixes a fastball with heavy armside run at 93-94 mph, with a mid-80s slider with sweep and late bite. His slider earned double-plus grades as an amateur and looks to be his best pitch entering pro ball thanks to the ugly swings it elicits. Messina’s low-80s changeup is a below-average pitch that he shows in flashes. His ability to miss bats with his fastball-slider combination gives Messina a foundation on which to build. His command is fringy at present, with out of sync mechanics that can often spin Messina off his landing spot. He’ll need to improve his strike-throwing and feel for his changeup if he’s going to develop into a back-of-the-rotation starter.
The Future: As an interesting righthander with excellent feel for spin and some power behind his pitches, Messina has a wide range of outcomes. The Blue Jays will develop him as a starter.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 70 | Changeup: 45 | Control: . -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.
Track Record: Bastardo signed for $35,000 in 2018 as a raw pitcher who had promising shapes to his fastball and changeup. Though his surface numbers have never been impressive, he’s made major increases in his ability to get swings and misses based on improvements of his stuff and usage. He punched out 29% of hitters in High-A and Double-A in 2023, and was nearing a promotion while striking out 26% of hitters in Portland in 2024 when he blew out, requiring season-ending Tommy John surgery that will sideline him for most or all of 2025. The Red Sox left Bastardo unprotected for the Rule 5 draft and he was selected by the Blue Jays with the sixth overall pick.
Scouting Report: Bastardo’s 95-98 mph four-seamer doesn’t generate as many whiffs as the velocity might suggest. Mindful thereof, the Red Sox had him tweak his usage in 2024 to further emphasize his changeup, slider and curveball. All three of those offerings sat in the low-to-mid 80s last year. Boston wanted him to boost his gyro slider to roughly 85-88 mph to gain separation from the rest of his repertoire. His 11% walk rate will need to come down to remain on a starting track.
The Future: If he can throw more strikes, Bastardo has the ceiling of a No. 5 starter. Otherwise, he’s a power bullpen arm.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 40 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 40. -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.
Track Record: A highly touted prep player out of the state of Oklahoma, Bohrofen ranked 141st in the 2020 class. He honored his commitment to his home-state school of Oklahoma, but lasted one season with the Sooners before transferring to Arkansas. Bohrofen broke out at the plate as a junior and the Blue Jays selected him in the sixth round. Bohrofen spent all of 2024 with High-A Vancouver, hitting .254/.364/.433 with 27 doubles, 14 home runs and 10 stolen bases.
Scouting Report: While Bohrofen’s stats don’t jump off the page he’s a well-rounded player on both sides of the ball and held in high esteem within the organization. His sweet lefty swing produces lots of bat speed and impact at the point of contact but his bat-to-ball skills are below-average. He makes up for poor contact skills with plus swing decisions that grade out well on teams’ analytical models. Bohrofen’s quality of contact is excellent, and his ability to hit the ball in the air at a high rate and do damage makes him a dangerous power threat. Bohrofen’s exit velocity data is above-average with a 104.3 mph 90th percentile EV and a 110.7 mph max EV. Bohrofen is an excellent fastball hitter who struggles against spin and offspeed. He’s an above-average runner and it translates to above-average defense in the outfield. He’s average in center field but above-average in the outfield corners.
The Future: Bohrofen’s ceiling is as a second-division regular corner outfielder with 20-plus home run power at peak and high on-base percentages.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Field: 50 | Arm: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.
Track Record: A native of Slovakia, Macko was introduced to baseball in grade school and learned to pitch by watching YouTube videos of MLB pitchers. His family moved to Ireland and then Canada, where Macko entered more formal baseball training and blossomed. Drafted in the seventh round by the Mariners in 2019, Macko was traded to the Blue Jays in the Teoscar Hernandez deal in November of 2022. Macko spent the majority of the 2024 season with Double-A New Hampshire and reached Triple-A in September.
Scouting Report: Macko’s deceptive three-quarters arm slot with a crossfire finish is particularly difficult on righthanded hitters, whom he held to an OPS of just .647 in 2024. Macko’s fastball sits 91-93 mph with average ride and above-average armside run. His primary secondary is a cut-slider at 82-83 mph against which hitters produced an .858 OPS. His curveball is his best secondary pitch but trails the slider in usage; it sits in the mid 70s with a wicked two-plane break. In 2024 batters hit just .102 with a 36.2% whiff rate against the curveball. The pitch is fairly easy to identify out of the hand, however, and was swung at infrequently. His changeup is a low-80s pitch with heavy tumble and late fade. The pitch shows promise but his feel for it comes and goes. Macko is an average strike-thrower with particularly good command of his fastball and curveball.
The Future: Macko has unexceptional stuff and average command of his four-pitch mix. He’s had some durability issues but looks like a depth starter.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 45 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme.
Track Record: A highly touted recruit out of Naples, Fla., King was one of the youngest high school players eligible for the 2024 draft at 17 years old on draft day. King was viewed as a projection pick and likely a difficult sign away from a Miami commitment. The Blue Jays selected King in the third round with the 95th overall pick and signed him for a bonus just under $1.25 million. King did not debut after the draft and is likely to make his debut in the Florida Complex League in 2025.
Scouting Report: King is a tall lefthander with remaining projection. He began to fill in his larger frame during the spring and looked more filled out pre-draft. He throws from a slingy low three-quarters arm slot that gives his pitches, particularly his fastball, a difficult angle. King’s pitch mix consists of a four-seam fastball, curveball, slider and a changeup. King’s fastball sits in the low 90s with some ride and late run, and is a projectable pitch that should add a few ticks in the coming years. His curveball was his primary breaking ball in high school, sitting 76-78 mph with two-plane break. King has also shown a low-80s slider with sweep that has spin rates in the 2,500-2,600 rpm range. King has a changeup but it’s a very raw pitch that the team could rework into more of a splitter. King shows fringe-average command of his pitch mix, which will need to improve if he’s going to project as a starter.
The Future: King is a projectable lefthander who could blossom into a back-of-the-rotation starter.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 30 | Control: 45. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme.
Track Record: The Blue Jays international signing class was delayed a few days after the opening of the International signing window due to the team’s pursuit of eventual Dodgers signee Roki Sasaki. The top prospect in the class that eventually signed a few days later was Cristopher Polanco. The Blue Jays signed the Dominican shortstop for $2,300,000 and he was rated as one of the top prospects available out of the Dominican Republic.
Scouting Report: Polanco has a hitterish look from the left side of the plate. He’s a mature, polished hitter, using a clean, compact swing to square up pitches throughout the strike zone and the quickness to catch up to good velocity. He’s 5-foot-11, 180 pounds with more hitting ability than raw power right now, with scouts split on whether it will stay that way or if he could end up developing power later in his career. His offensive game is his selling point. He has a chance to stick at shortstop, though many scouts think he would fit best at second base at higher levels.
The Future: Polanco is one of the Blue Jays’ biggest bonus signing for the last few years and carries with him above-average offensive upside. He will debut in the 2025 Dominican Summer League.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Field: 50 | Arm: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.
Track Record: McAdoo comes from an athletic family. Two of his cousins are Bob McAdoo and James Michael McAdoo, who each won a pair of NBA titles. Charles spent three seasons with San Jose State and was first-team All-Mountain West Conference as a sophomore and junior. The Pirates drafted McAdoo in the 13th round in 2023 and signed him for $150,000. He was assigned to High-A Greensboro out of camp in 2024 and hit .336/.415/.561 over 60 games before earning a promotion to Double-A Altoona. He was traded to the Blue Jays at the 2024 deadline for Isiah Kiner-Falefa.
Scouting Report: Standing 6-foot-1, 215 pounds, McAdoo has a muscular and physically mature build with no remaining projection. His offensive profile is centered around his plus bat speed and impact. His contact hitting is about average. He shows some swing-and-miss against velocity but destroys breaking balls and shows solid contact against offspeed. McAdoo’s swing decisions are fringe-average, as he will often show passivity in the strike zone. His raw power is plus, but due to below-average ball flight on his hard-hit drives, his current power is capped at above-average. A few tweaks could unlock more loft and ultimately game power. McAdoo is a fringe-average runner based on home-to-first times but shows basestealing acumen. A below-average defender at third base, McAdoo has clunky hands and actions and less than ideal footwork. McAdoo’s arm is above-average and allows him to make plays often despite his poor footwork. He also saw time at first base, second base and right field in 2024.
The Future: McAdoo has a power-over-hit offensive profile with defensive questions. He likely has enough feel to hit and power to carve out a role as a bat-first utility-type player.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 45 | Field: 40 | Arm: 55. -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.
Track Record: The Blue Jays selected Jennings in the fourth round of the 2022 draft out of Louisiana Tech and signed him for $70,000. He dealt with an elbow injury in 2023 and missed three months, returning for one appearance in September. Out of camp in 2024 he was assigned to High-A Vancouver, making 11 starts with the Canadians before being promoted to Double-A New Hampshire. Jennings missed around a month of the season following the all-star break and made up time in the Arizona Fall League.
Scouting Report: An undersized righthander with a filled-out frame, Jennings has dealt with injuries throughout his career and missed time, leading to durability concerns that will likely lead him to the bullpen. His pitch mix is suited for the role with a four-seam fastball that sits 94-96 mph touching 98 mph at peak with average ride and heavy armside run. It’s an above-average pitch that held batters to a sub-.200 batting average in 2024, but it didn’t miss many bats. His primary secondary is a slider that sits 85-87 mph with tight gyro spin. It’s his best bat-missing pitch with a 19.6% swinging strike rate in 2024. He shows above-average command of a low-80s downer curveball and a changeup that’s worked as a good chase pitch. Jennings has above-average command of his four-pitch mix and does have starter’s traits, but a lack of durability.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 55. -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium.
Track Record: The son of former all-star closer Billy Wagner, Will played his way from the 18th round in 2021 to the major leagues in 2024. An 18th-round pick and fourth-year signee out of Liberty for $50,000, Wagner was immediately lauded for his hit tool and advanced strike-zone discipline. He reached Triple-A in 2023 and returned to the level to begin 2024. Wagner hit .307/.424/.429 in 70 games with Triple-A Sugar Land before he was traded to the Blue Jays in the Yusei Kikuchi deal. Wagner made his MLB debut with the Blue Jays on Aug. 12 and hit .305 over 24 games.
Scouting Report: At 26 years old, Wagner is a finished product. He offers advanced feel to hit and showcased that in the majors, where he hit not only for a high average but ran a 93% zone-contact rate. Wagner handles all pitch types and velocity, though he’s somewhat passive in the zone. He has a plan at the plate and sticks to it. He doesn’t sell out for lift or pull-side damage with a heavy opposite-field approach. This limits Wagner’s overall power output despite average exit velocity markers. He is a below-average runner. He’s a below-average fielder at a variety of positions, most notably second base and third base.
The Future: Wagner is a ready-made, bat-first utility player who can fill in at a variety of positions and make things happen by putting the ball in play.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 45 | Run: 40 | Field: 40 | Arm: 40. -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.
Track Record: A native of Los Angeles, Schreck attended Harvard-Westlake High and spent four seasons playing at Duke before entering the portal as a graduate transfer and committing to Vanderbilt. After Schreck hit .306/.454/.588 over 62 games with the Commodores, the Mariners drafted him in the ninth round in 2023. He signed for $75,000 and debuted that year. Schreck was assigned to High-A Everett to begin 2024 and hit for an .865 OPS before earning the promotion to Double-A. Schreck was traded to the Blue Jays for Justin Turner on July 29.
Scouting Report: Schreck’s advanced feel for the barrel is his carrying tool, enhancing both his hit tool and his power. Schreck rarely misses in-zone and shows elite swing decisions in teams’ analytical models. It’s a plus hit tool with the ability to manipulate the barrel, not only hitting the ball in the air at a high rate, but elevating to his pull side. Schreck has an ideal blend of plate skills and barrel accuracy. This allows his power to play above below-average exit velocity markers. Schreck’s pull side exploits allow him to project for 17-20 home runs at peak. Schreck is a fringe-average runner with good baserunning instincts. He plays a fringe-average corner outfield with an average arm. He’s filled in at center field, but is likely stretched at the position from a range perspective.
The Future: Schreck is an intriguing late-bloomer with unusual barrel control that enhances his profile. Schreck looks like a second-division regular with a bat-first profile.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 50 | Run: 45 | Field: 45 | Arm: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium.
Track Record: Clase signed with the Mariners for $35,000 in 2018 out of the Dominican Republic and has since proven to be a savvy signing. After a breakout 2023, Clase was sent to Triple-A to begin 2024 and was called up on April 15, making his debut with Seattle at home against the Reds. Clase was optioned back and forth three times prior to his trade to the Blue Jays on July 26.
Scouting Report: Clase is a tooled-up player with a unique feel to manipulate the barrel. He’s undersized at 5-foot-10 and just 150 pounds, with limited strength in his frame. Clase is a switch-hitter who has strong bat-to-ball skills from both sides, but his power and overall skills are better as a lefthanded hitter. His approach is hyper-aggressive and his swing decisions grade as below-average. Clase has a knack for putting the ball in the air with a 58% line-drive-plus-flyball rate in 2024. His ability to hit the ball in the air allows his power to play above his raw exit velocities, which are fringe. While adept at putting the ball in the air, Clase has not learned to pull the ball in the air, which caps some of his home run potential. He is a plus-plus runner who is a threat to steal 30-plus bases. Clase has spent the majority of his time defensively in center field but grades as fringe-average there with the potential to reach average.
The Future: Clase has exciting tools to develop into an everyday player with speed, feel to hit and power. He’ll need to tighten his pitch recognition and fielding to outperform a depth role.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 45 | Run: 70 | Field: 45 | Arm: 40. -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.
Track Record: An under-the-radar signing in January 2022, Perez grew up in a remote area of Nicaragua and was not heavily scouted. He debuted the following summer in the Dominican Summer League, where he showcased advanced command over a dozen starts. Perez’s U.S. debut in the 2023 Florida Complex League continued to fuel his rise when he impressed over 10 starts, the most memorable of which was a combined no-hitter in which he threw the first seven innings. Perez was assigned to Low-A Dunedin in 2024 and stayed with the team all season, making 17 starts, pitching to a 4.06 ERA and appearing in the Futures Game.
Scouting Report: Perez is a young, pitchability righthander with advanced feel for his five-pitch mix. Despite pedestrian stuff, he convinces many evaluators that he will grow into improved stuff in the coming years. At the moment, Perez mixes a four-seam fastball, slider, curveball, cutter and changeup. His primary offering is his four-seam fastball that sits 92-93 mph and touches 95 with average ride and run. Everything around his fastball metrics is average, but his performance with the pitch in 2024 was excellent. Perez’s slider is his primary secondary pitch and sits 80-82 with traditional slider shape. It’s the best pitch in his arsenal and does a good job of generating whiffs and chase swings from hitters. His changeup is his primary secondary against lefthanded hitters and shows good vertical life and velocity separation, but his release point on the pitch is inconsistent. His mid-80s cutter and mid-70s curveball were both used sparingly in 2024.
The Future: Perez is a back-end starter with advanced feel for his arsenal but no plus offerings. He’s likely to slot in as No. 5 starter in his peak seasons.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 40 | Slider: 55. CH: 50. CUT: 40 | Control: 55.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 40 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 55. -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.
Track Record: A standout athlete and native of Indiana, Stephen spent two seasons at Purdue, working as a reliever as a freshman before moving into the starting rotation as a sophomore. Stephen entered the transfer portal prior to his junior season and enrolled at Mississippi State. He experienced a standout season in 2024 despite making the sizable jump to the Southeastern Conference. There, he made 16 starts and posted an 8-3 record, 3.28 ERA and 107 strikeouts to 21 walks over 96 innings. Following the season, the Blue Jays selected Stephen in the second round and signed him for a bonus of a little more than $1.1 million. Stephen did not pitch following the draft. He will debut in 2025.
Scouting Report: An above-average athlete with a prototypical starter’s build at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, Stephen’s delivery is smooth and athletic. He repeats it well and gets over his front side consistently. He uses a higher three-quarters arm slot with a quick snap at release. Stephen mixes five pitches: a four-seam fastball, slider, curveball, changeup and cutter. His fastball sits 92-93 mph and touches 96, with up to 20 inches of induced vertical break regularly. His primary secondary is a slider with some ride and sweep that sits in the low-to-mid 80s and generated whiffs at a rate of 40% in 2024. Stephen’s didn’t throw his changeup much in 2024 but it showed good results and boasted a 23% swinging-strike rate and a 61% groundball rate. Stephen throws a Bugs Bunny-style changeup that mimics fastball movement. He also mixes a curveball and a cutter, but neither is used regularly. Stephen shows above-average command of his pitch mix.
The Future: Stephen has midrotation upside but is more than likely a No. 5 starter with a middle relief floor.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 40 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Cutter: 40 | Control: 55. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.
Track Record: Roden redshirted as a Creighton freshman in 2019 and retained freshman status into his third season because of the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. He turned down draft interest in 2021 to return to campus in order to finish his physics degree. The decision proved wise, as Roden was drafted in the third round in 2022 and signed for an underslot $497,500 bonus. Roden began his first full season in 2023 at High-A Vancouver before moving to Double-A. He returned to New Hampshire in 2024, playing 54 games before a promotion to Triple-A Buffalo. In 71 Triple-A games, he hit .314/.406/.410 with a 12% walk rate and a 14% strikeout rate.
Scouting Report: Roden’s boxy, 5-foot-11 build obscures the athleticism that drives his well-rounded game. His batting stance is unique. He sets up open with his hands high, before using a high leg kick with a slow drift. Despite his unusual swing, Roden is one of the Blue Jays’ best contact hitters. He pairs excellent bat-to-ball skills with a selective approach bordering on passive. Roden projects to hit for a high average with high walk rates. His combination of contact and on-base ability drive his batting profile. In 2024, Roden flashed more game power, hitting a career high 16 home runs and posting strong quality-of-contact metrics. He does a lot of damage against breaking and offspeed pitches, slugging .528 in 2024 against non-fastballs. Roden’s power is somewhat limited by his unusual swing and setup, but he has a knack for hard contact to his pull side. He is an average runner who will take an extra base. He has enough speed to handle an outfield corner and an above-average arm that keeps runners honest.
The Future: Roden will likely return to Buffalo in 2025 but has a chance to make his MLB debut by summer. His advanced hit tool and strong supporting tools should allow him to carve out an everyday role.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Field: 50 | Arm: 55.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Field: 50 | Arm: 55. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.
Track Record: Rojas signed for $215,000 out of Cuba in October 2020. He pitched just 64 innings in his first two pro seasons, missing time with a lat injury in 2021. Rojas remained at Low-A Dunedin in 2023, where he had his first extended run of success. He moved to High-A Vancouver in 2024, but a left shoulder injury in April forced him to the injured list for two months. Over his final nine starts, Rojas posted a 2.16 ERA in 50 innings and struck out nearly 28% of batters while walking just 5.5%. He participated in the Arizona Fall League following the season.
Scouting Report: Rojas is a projectable lefthander with a prototype build. Now, the project has started to materialize over the last year. Rojas gained more than 1 mph in fastball and slider velocity in 2024 and produced his best season. He has loose, low-effort mechanics and does a good job repeating his operation. His three-pitch mix is led by a four-seam fastball that sits 92-94 with above-average ride and, at times, cut. His fastball accounts for around 60% of his usage. Despite the high usage rate, it was an effective swing-and-miss pitch for Rojas against High-A batters. His slider is his primary secondary weapon and sits 83-85 with cut. He will likely continue to add power to the pitch as he gets more physical. Rojas’ changeup is third in usage but is an above-average pitch that boasts the highest swinging-strike rate, chase rate and swing rate in his arsenal. Rojas has shown the ability to work deeper into games and throw strikes. Over his final eight starts of 2024, he went six or more innings seven times.
The Future: Rojas is still a year away from his MLB debut, but he shows starter traits with a deep arsenal of average-or-better pitches and command.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Slider: 55. CH: 50 | Control: 50.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme.
Track Record: Maroudis was a two-way star at Florida prep power Calvary Christian, starting at shortstop on days he didn’t pitch. The Blue Jays drafted him in the fourth round in 2023 and signed him for $1.5 million, about three times slot value. Maroudis impressed in his first spring training in 2024 and broke camp with Low-A Dunedin. He made three starts before tearing the ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow and having an internal brace surgery in mid May. Maroudis had returned to throwing from 120 feet by early November.
Scouting Report: Maroudis is a projectable righthander who moves well on the mound. He delivers the ball from a low, three-quarters arm slot, which, coupled with average extension, creates a low release height that improves his deception. Maroudis mixes four pitches in his four-seam fastball, slider, curveball and changeup. His four-seam fastball sits 93-94 mph and touches 96. He generates below-average ride, but his fastball shape plays up due to his low release height, which gives his fastball flatter plane that plays in the upper quadrants of the strike zone. Maroudis’ primary secondary pitch is a mid-80s gyro slider that he used nearly one-for-one with his fastball. He shows advanced feel for his slider, with the ability to put it where he wants. Maroudis’ curveball sits 79-81 with heavy two-plane break and looks to be his best bat-missing pitch. He shows a changeup with good shape that generates tumble and heavy fade, but his command of the pitch is below-average. Maroudis has starter traits, deception and room to add more power to his mix.
The Future: Maroudis has mid-rotation upside with good foundational starter traits. He’ll return to action in 2025 looking to show he can handle a starter’s workload.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 50. CH: 45 | Control: 50.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Medium.
Track Record: Kasevich spent three seasons at Oregon, earning first-team all-Pacific-12 Conference honors as a junior. He was drafted by the Blue Jays in the second round in 2022 and signed for a bonus of $1 million. Kasevich debuted post-draft with Low-A Dunedin before making the jump to High-A Vancouver in his first full professional season in 2023. Kasevich was assigned to Double-A New Hampshire to begin 2024 and earned a late-season promotion to Triple-A Buffalo. In 41 games with Buffalo, Kasevich hit .325/.382/.433 while making 31 starts at shortstop.
Scouting Report: Kasevich is a well-rounded, sum-of-his-parts-type of player who shows an advanced feel to hit. His bat-to-ball skills are top 98th percentile in terms of every contact measure, and he shows an uncanny ability to make contact with a variety of pitch shapes. He has above-average swing decisions to go along with his plus-plus bat-to-ball skills. Kasevich’s swing is level and flat, leading to a heavy rate of groundball contact. His underlying exit velocity data is average, with a 90th percentile EV of 103.5 mph. Kasevich shows a knack for making consistent hard contact with a higher hard-hit rate than his power numbers would suggest. He is an above-average runner but not an aggressive basestealer. His speed translates to solid range at shortstop, with the ability to stick at the position despite a fringy throwing arm. At the very least, Kasevich is a utility infielder with a plus hit tool and a touch of power projection.
The Future: Kasevich’s advanced hit tool and the ability to play a variety of positions should land him in the major leagues 2025. He looks like a good second-division regular with versatility.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 40 | Run: 55 | Field: 55 | Arm: 45.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 40 | Run: 55 | Field: 55 | Arm: 45. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Medium.
Track Record: Bloss spent three seasons at Lafayette College in Pennsylvania, then transferred to Georgetown in 2023. He broke out with a 2.58 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 76.2 innings to win Big East Conference pitcher of the year honors and was drafted by the Astros in the third round. Bloss bullied minor league competition out of the gate in 2024, earning a promotion to Double-A after just four starts. Houston called him up directly from Corpus Christi on June 21. Bloss exited his MLB debut with shoulder discomfort but returned in early July to make two starts. The Astros traded him to the Blue Jays as a part of the Yusei Kikuchi deadline deal.
Scouting Report: Bloss has a prototype pitcher’s build, standing 6-foot-3 with a strong, athletic build. He uses a semi-windup with a high leg lift before moving into his drop-and-drive mechanics. Bloss does a good job getting downhill, creating well-above-average extension that helps the release from his high, three-quarters arm slot play up. He mixes five pitch shapes: a four-seam fastball, cutter, slider, curveball and changeup. Bloss’ four-seam fastball is an above-average four-seamer that sits 93-95 mph and touches 98 with above-average ride and cut. His cutter is his primary secondary and sits 86-88 with a cutter-slider hybrid shape. His slider is designated by some as a sweeper and sits 81-83 with 11-12 inches of horizontal break. Both his slider and cutter show average-or-better command and the ability to miss bats. Against lefthanded hitters, Bloss mixes in a steady diet of his upper-80s changeup and upper-80s two-plane curveball. He lands all of his pitches at an average-or-better rate.
The Future: Bloss looks like a quality No. 5 starter ready to contribute in 2025.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 50. CH: 45. CUT: 55 | Control: 50.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 45 | Cutter: 55 | Control: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High.
Track Record: Martinez signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2018 for $3.51 million as the top player in the Blue Jays’ signing class. He breezed through the Florida Complex League in 2019 and both levels of Class A in 2021. As a 20-year-old at Double-A in 2022, Martinez set a New Hampshire franchise record with 30 home runs. He returned to the level in 2023 and performed, showing noticeable contact gains. He was promoted to Triple-A Buffalo, where he hit .263/.340/.507 in 55 games. He returned to Buffalo in 2024 and impressed, earning a callup to Toronto on June 21. Two days later, MLB announced an 80-game suspension for Martinez after he tested positive for clomiphene. He returned to Buffalo in September and appeared in 11 games.
Scouting Report: With a power-over-everything profile, Martinez has shown steady gains to his plate skills in recent seasons. He is an excellent fastball hitter who handles velocity well and does not miss many heaters in the zone. Against breaking and offspeed pitches, Martinez struggles to make contact and tends to expand his zone. He maintains strong contact quality against all pitch types, doing particularly-impressive damage against breaking balls when he makes contact. Martinez has 30-home-run upside because of his bat speed, strength and ability to backspin the ball to his pull side. The biggest question centers on whether Martinez will make enough contact. He is a fringe-average runner with limited range in the field. He split time between second base and third base in 2024 and is a fringe-average defender at both. Martinez has an above-average arm but an unusual release.
The Future: A bat-first prospect, Martinez could play his way into everyday MLB at-bats in 2025.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 60 | Run: 45 | Field: 45 | Arm: 55.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 60 | Run: 45 | Field: 45 | Arm: 55. -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High.
Track Record: Yesavage spent his freshman season in the East Carolina bullpen before moving to the rotation as a sophomore. As a junior, he ascended to the role of staff ace, making 15 starts and pitching to a 2.02 ERA, the lowest of any Division I starter. Late in the 2024 season, Yesavage suffered a partially collapsed lung due to an off-the-field medical procedure and missed the American Athletic Conference Tournament. He returned to pitch in regionals, facing off against Wake Forest’s Chase Burns. Yesavage allowed one run in 7.1 innings to outduel Burns. Yesavage fell to the Blue Jays at No. 20 overall on draft day because of some teams’ concerns with his medicals. He signed for a slightly overslot $4.175 million bonus and did not debut following the draft.
Scouting Report: Yesavage has prototype starter size, the ability to repeat his mechanics and a mix of average-or-better offerings. He was a reliable innings-eater in college with above-average command. Yesavage has a short windup, with a short stride to the plate that creates little-to-no extension. He delivers the ball from an over-the-top slot with good arm speed. Despite his lack of extension, it hasn’t hurt how his fastball has played. The pitch sits 93-95 mph and touches 97 with elite induced vertical break and late armside run. Opposing batters hit just .198 against his fastball in 2024. Yesavage’s primary secondary is a slider he uses predominantly in right-on-right matchups. His slider sits 86-87 and touches 90 with heavy gyro action. His primary secondary weapon against lefties is a low-to-mid-80s splitter with excellent vertical and velocity separation off his fastball. Yesavage also mixes a low-80s downer curveball, but it’s a clear fourth pitch.
The Future: Yesavage should move fast. He possesses mid-rotation upside, most likely as a high-end No. 4.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 55 | Split: 55 | Control: 55.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 55 | Split: 55 | Control: 55. -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High.
Track Record: Nimmala became the highest-drafted player of Indian descent ever when the Blue Jays selected him 20th overall in 2023. Just 17 years old at the time, he was the youngest high school player in his class. He signed for a below-slot $3 million. Nimmala began 2024 with Low-A Dunedin after a strong spring training performance. He hit just .167 with a 34% strikeout rate over his first 29 games. The Blue Jays sent him to extended spring and then the Florida Complex League, where he played eight games before returning to Dunedin on June 27. Over his final 53 games, Nimmala hit .265/.331/.564 with 13 home runs and 32 extra-base hits. Nimmala ended his season on a high note and looks poised to make the jump to High-A Vancouver in 2025.
Scouting Report: Nimmala is an above-average athlete with a thin, but projectable broad-shouldered frame. Due to his above-average bat speed and knack for backspinning fly balls to his pull side, he hunts for power. Over the first half of the 2024 season, Nimmala was out in front far too often, with a pronounced bat wrap. Upon his return, he made posture changes and reduced his bat wrap, allowing him to more consistently extend through contact. Nimmala will always have some swing-and-miss but shows above-average swing decisions. His above-average power is his carrying tool, while projection could get him to plus at peak. Nimmala’s exit velocity data is above-average for his age, and he’s adept at pulling the ball in the air. He is an average runner but shows above-average range in the field, with a good first step and strong actions and transfers. His arm projects as a future plus and is capable at shortstop.
The Future: Nimmala took a major step forward in the second half of the 2024 season and looks the part of a future power-hitting shortstop.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Field: 55 | Arm: 60.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Field: 55 | Arm: 60. -
BA Grade/Risk:40/High.
Track Record: Morrobel has long been one of the most talented players in the system, but injuries and underperformance have muted his prospect stock. The lefty swinger signed for $1 million in 2021 and performed well in Rookie ball before stalling at the full-season levels. He missed a chunk of the 2023 season after having shoulder surgery. He re-emerged in 2024 and had a down season at High-A Hickory.
Scouting Report: Morrobel does a decent job controlling the zone and hits the ball hard, but he’s going to need to improve against spin. Overall, he missed on just 16.7% pitches in the zone and produced a 90th percentile exit velocity of 104.7 mph. His miss and chase rates were elevated against breaking balls. In prior years, Morrobel had gotten reps in center field. In 2024, his defensive time was limited to the corners. The shoulder surgery turned his formerly elite arm strength down a few notches. It is merely plus now, which is still plenty strong for a future in right field. He added about 20 pounds of strength during his rehab process and has slowed down a touch as a result.
The Future: Morrobel will likely need to return to High-A in 2025 to continue honing his offensive game. If he reaches his ceiling, he could be a second-division regular in a corner outfield spot.
Scouting Grades Hit: 40 | Power: 45 | Run: 40 | Field: 50 | Arm: 60. -
BA Grade/Risk: 60/Extreme.
Track Record: After going undrafted in the five-round 2020 draft out of high school, Tiedemann backed out of his commitment to San Diego State and enrolled at Golden West JC in California. He blossomed physically and reentered the draft in 2021. The Blue Jays drafted him in the third round and paid him a below-slot bonus of $644,800. Tiedemann debuted the following season in Low-A and dominated both levels of Class A before reaching Double-A in his age-19 season. During the 2022 season, he made 18 starts, pitched to a 2.17 ERA across 78.2 innings and struck out nearly 39% of batters. Over the next two years, Tiedemann was limited to just 61.1 innings due to persistent elbow pain. He had Tommy John surgery in late July 2024 and will likely miss all of 2025. Despite missing large parts of three seasons with elbow problems, Tiedemann still ranks among the game’s top lefthanded pitching prospects.
Scouting Report: A tall, physical lefthander with broad shoulders and natural strength in his frame, Tiedemann looks the part of a mid-rotation horse but has lacked health. When on the mound, he operates from a dominant three-pitch mix that plays up due to his low, three-quarters arm slot. Tiedemann’s arm path is on the longer side, but when coupled with his release point, it creates deceptive traits that keep hitters off-balance. When healthy, Tiedemann does a good job of repeating his mechanics, but he’s struggled with his release point the past few seasons due to health. He mixes three pitches in a four-seam fastball, slider and changeup. His fastball sits 94-96 mph with heavy armside run that plays up due to his slot. In 2024, Tiedemann generated less armside run on his fastball compared to previous seasons, possibly a product of his lingering elbow injury. The slider is Tiedemann’s primary secondary weapon. It has had some varied shapes over the last few seasons. In 2024, his slider resembled the sweeper of 2022, less than his more traditional slider in 2023. When Tiedemann is at his best, he shows the ability to use his slider against lefthanded and righthanded hitters, wearing out the armside half of the plate. Tiedemann’s changeup was viewed as his best secondary as an amateur, but it has become less-effective over the last two seasons. Tiedemann shows an uncanny ability to kill lift on his changeup and generate armside run. The pitch moves dramatically in the opposite direction of his slider. His changeup command has been inconsistent, particularly over the last two seasons. Tiedemann has struggled with command in lockstep with his elbow issues. Prior to the injury, he pitched with above-average command.
The Future: Tiedemann will return in 2026 at age 23 with a spot on the 40-man roster. He will likely be in the Blue Jays’ rotation mix upon his return.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 65. CH: 55 | Control: 50.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 65 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/High.
Track Record: Cauley was the Rangers’ third-round pick in 2021 and earned a $1 million bonus to turn pro instead of heading to Texas Tech. He’s spent the entirety of his career at the lower levels of the minor leagues, including 93 games at High-A Hickory in 2024. He missed a chunk of the season while dealing with turf toe. He hit a dozen home runs with the Crawdads—and three more during rehab games—matching his total from 2023.
Scouting Report: The book on Cauley is the same as it was a year ago. He’s twitchy, athletic and one of the slickest infield defenders in the system—but he needs to swing and miss far less often. He chased nearly 40% of the time in 2024, missed on pitches in the zone at a 21.4% clip and racked up 118 strikeouts in 93 games at Hickory. He hits the ball hard, but he doesn’t hit it enough. Cauley is a plus defender with a plus arm who can easily stick at shortstop. He’s a plus runner, and grades as the fastest player in the Rangers system.
The Future: Cauley will likely reach Double-A in 2025. His defensive skills will keep him interesting, but he needs to show at least some improvement in the batter’s box—whether that’s by making more contact or drawing more walks—for it to matter.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 30 | Power: 40 | Run: 60 | Field: 60 | Arm: 60. -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/High.
Track Record: The Rangers have a long history with Stephan. He played on their scout team at Perfect Game’s annual WWBA Championships in Jupiter, Fla., while at South Grand Prairie High in Texas. He missed most of his first two high school seasons with elbow and knee injuries but showed enough in his last two years to earn a free agent contract from Texas. He dealt with injuries to his lower back in 2023 and elbow in 2024. He made up for lost time in the Arizona Fall League but was left unprotected for the Rule 5 draft. He went unselected.
Scouting Report: In 2023, Stephan worked to diversify his arsenal by adding a cutter to his two- and four-seam fastballs. He backs those pitches with his sweeper and changeup. The slider is his only plus offering, and he threw the pitch 38% of the time, the highest rate of any part of his arsenal. His changeup could be an average pitch as well. None of his fastballs projects as better than fringe-average, and neither averaged higher than 92 mph in 2024. He threw his four-seamer most often of the trio, a reversal of his sinker-heavy approach from 2023. As a result, his groundball rate dipped by 10% year over year. He has potentially plus control.
The Future: If he can stay healthy, Stephan will advance to Triple-A Round Rock and has a shot at making his big league debut. He could fit as a swingman, especially if he can add a few ticks to his fastballs.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 45 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 55 | Cutter: 40 | Control: 60. -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Extreme.
Track Record: Hagaman redshirted in his freshman year at West Virginia, then struck out 89 hitters over two seasons and 73.1 innings. He had a signature outing on March 23 against Oklahoma, when he struck out 10 hitters in 6.2 innings of relief. He also spent time in the Futures League, Northwoods League and New England Collegiate League. The Rangers drafted Hagaman in the fourth round and signed him for $515,000. He did not pitch after signing and had Tommy John surgery.
Scouting Report: Hagaman is a classic case of a college pitcher with extremely loud stuff but results that don’t correspond. His fastball in college sat at 93 mph, touched 98 and showed plenty of life at the top of the zone. He backs the fastball with a deep-breaking mid-80s slider that can appear cutterish at times and a mid-80s changeup with plenty of tumble away from lefthanders. He has a clean delivery but a longer arm action, which may have contributed to the scattershot control he showed in college, where he walked 11.7% of hitters in his two seasons. Hagaman’s high-octane pitch mix and physical frame give him a chance to transition into the rotation as well as a sound fallback option in the bullpen.
The Future: Once he returns from surgery, Hagaman should begin working with the Rangers’ pitching development team to tap into his massive upside.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 40. -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/High.
Track Record: After a shoulder injury limited his freshman year to just four games, Cook used the next two seasons in Chapel Hill to establish himself as one of the more polished hitters on North Carolina’s roster. He also spent a summer in the Cape Cod League but scuffled with Yarmouth-Dennis. He clubbed 18 home runs in his junior season and was taken in the third round by the Rangers. He signed for $700,000 and reached Low-A in his pro debut.
Scouting Report: Cook is not the toolsiest player, but he’s a polished hitter with an advanced approach from the left side. Scouts on the amateur side noted he was somewhat vulnerable against spin and changeups and also believed his fringy power was amplified in college by metal bats and the lefty-friendly confines at UNC’s Boshamer Stadium. Cook is probably an average corner outfielder whose fringe-average arm would likely limit him to left field, but the Rangers believe he can play second base and got him 17 games of experience at the position at Low-A. He played two games there in his freshman year and five more in the CCBL.
The Future: A successful move to second base will relieve some of the pressure that would have been on his bat in a corner outfield spot. He should spend most of his 2025 season at the Class A levels.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 45 | Field: 50 | Arm: 45. -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/High.
Track Record: Bonzagni started his college career at Weatherford (Texas) JC, where he spent two seasons before transferring to Southern Illinois. There, he made 24 appearances—four starts—and racked up an 8-4, 4.94 mark with 50 strikeouts. The Rangers took a chance on him in the 12th round and signed him for $150,000. He’s spent the last two seasons at the lower levels, where he has a reputation as one of the system’s premier groundball machines.
Scouting Report: Bonzagni works primarily with two pitches: a sinker and a slider, both of which project as potentially plus offerings. The sinker sits around 94 mph and touches as high 99 with hard biting action. His slider averages around 83 mph and features hard sweeping action away from righthanders. Those two pitches helped him rack up groundball rates of between 56%-60% in each of the last two seasons. He’ll mix in a high-80s changeup as well, but the pitch needs plenty more development. He worked during the team’s fall instructional camp to find a grip that worked best in order to make it a bigger part of his repertoire. He pounds the strike zone with both pitches and should have plus control.
The Future: Bonzagni will move to the upper levels in 2025. If his stuff translates against more advanced hitters, he should have a clear path to the big leagues as a middle-innings arm who can get grounders by the bushel.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Control: 60. -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/High.
Track Record: Figuereo signed with Texas out of the Dominican Republic in 2021 and has gone through a series of highs and lows in the following three seasons. He bopped nine home runs over 35 games in the Arizona Complex League, then added nine more in a full season at Low-A Down East. He returned to the level to begin 2024 but reached High-A in mid June. Figuereo’s father Victor pitched three seasons in the Texas organization, reaching as high as the short-season Northwest League.
Scouting Report: The book on Figuereo is as it was after the 2023 season: He hits the ball plenty hard but needs to make contact more often. His 20 home runs tied Blaine Crim for tops in the system and made him one of just eight minor leaguers 20 or younger to reach that plateau. Figuereo looked noticeably trimmer in 2024 and did a better job making contact on fastballs, but breaking balls continued to be an Achilles’ heel. He missed those pitches 40.5% of the time, nearly double his miss rate against fastballs. Figuereo also suffered badly against lefthanders, against whom he produced an OPS of just .542. He is a future average third baseman with arm strength that is nearly double-plus and his trimmer body has helped him get a tick speedier.
The Future: Figuereo will likely return to High-A in 2025. If he can solve breaking balls and lefthanders, he’s still young enough to have plenty of runway toward the ceiling of a slugging third baseman on a second-division club.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 50 | Run: 40 | Field: 50 | Arm: 65. -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/High.
Track Record: Curtis pitched at Bishop Verot High in Fort Myers, Fla., and was committed to Barry University before the Rangers signed him as an undrafted free agent. He made his debut in the Arizona Complex League in 2023, then turned in a standout season at Low-A Down East.
Scouting Report: Curtis is a tall, projectable righthander with a four-pitch mix that should take steps forward as he adds strength to his frame. His four-seam fastball averaged 93 mph and touched 96 while showing nearly 18 inches of induced vertical break. He backs it with a slider, curveball and changeup. Some scouts see the changeup as his best pitch while others prefer the slider, which has gyro shape and solid depth. The changeup, thrown in the high 70s, shows solid sinking action. The curveball is a top-down breaker that offers a north-south contrast to the east-west pattern created by his slider and a split-changeup, though its break is inconsistent. Curtis’ command and control are below-average, and he walked 12.2% of hitters at Low-A.
The Future: The Rangers have been aggressive with undrafted free agents in recent years, and Curtis looks like their latest success story. Scouts who saw him in the Carolina League reported a pitcher with the potential to fit in the back end of a rotation. To do so, he’ll have to keep adding strength to his frame and throw a few more strikes. His next stop is High-A Hickory.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 40 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 40. -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/High.
Track Record: Drake was the Rangers’ 11th-round draft pick in 2022 out of Walters State JC in Tennessee. In his draft season, he went 14-0, 1.93 and won the NJCAA pitcher of the year award. He also pitched collegiately at Arkansas Tech and San Joaquin Delta JC. He was hit hard in his first full season but blossomed in 2024, when he struck out 148 hitters in 106 innings and advanced to Double-A.
Scouting Report: Drake’s results jumped in 2024 for two reasons: He improved his lines to the plate and his breaking ball started breaking. He employs a three-pitch mix centered on a low-90s fastball that peaked at 96 and averaged 16 inches of induced vertical break. His breaking ball showed slurvy shape in the low 80s and was effective when thrown at the feet of lefthanders. His changeup comes in around 82 mph and is likely to settle in as an average pitch with flashes of a little more every now and again. He has a well below-average cutter as well. Drake throws his entire mix with conviction and has turned himself into a prospect over the last year.
The Future: The lack of a true plus pitch will likely limit Drake’s ceiling, but he has a chance to reach the big leagues as a reliever who thrives on deception, pitchability and a pitch mix that can hold up to multiple innings.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Cutter: 30 | Control: 55. -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium.
Track Record: Acker had a decorated career at Oklahoma that included an 11-strikeout no-hitter against LSU in 2020. The Athletics drafted him a few months later, then traded him to the Rangers in 2021 in the deal that also brought catcher Jonah Heim to Texas. He had Tommy John surgery in 2022 and has seen his workload gradually increase over the following years. His 97.1 innings in 2024 marked a career high.
Scouting Report: Acker’s pitch mix has gone through a metamorphosis in recent years, and he now works with four-seam fastball, curveball, slider and changeup. The fastball sits in the low 90s and peaked at 95. It showed an average of 19 inches of induced vertical break. In prior years, he’d employed a cutter. In 2024, he swapped it out for a mid-80s slider which drew the highest miss rate (34.8%) of any of his three offspeed pitches. His low-80s curveball is a top-down breaker with a chance to be fringe-average, and his mid-80s changeup grades out as a 50. He walked should have average control in the big leagues.
The Future: Acker rides the line between back-end starter and reliever. No matter the role, his fortunes would improve if he could bring one of his offspeed pitches into plus territory. He’ll have a chance to make his big league debut in 2025.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45.
Draft Prospects
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School: Union County, HS, Liberty, Ind.Committed: West Virginia. Age At Draft: 18.3
Cheatham has a strong, 6-foot-3 frame and a power fastball for his age that he can already run up to 94 mph. The pitch has solid ride up in the zone, and he pairs it with a slider into the low 80s for which he shows feel to spin. -
School: Manheim Township HS, Lancaster, Penn.Committed: Oregon. Age At Draft: 18.3
Carrasco, who at one point looked like he might sign as an international prospect, has a strong build for his age and can put a charge into the ball from the right side of the plate. He has a good track record of bat-to-ball skills in-game with the look of a player who could develop into a 15-20 home run threat with an average arm. -
School: Newnan (Ga.) HSCommitted: Arkansas. Age At Draft: 19.0
Maginnis has a medium, compact frame without a ton of physical projection but with skills that make him intriguing as an infielder and a pitcher. He’s a patient, high-contact hitter who gets on base at a high clip. He shows gap power, average speed and the defensive actions to stick somewhere in the infield with a strong arm. That arm strength is also evident on the mound, where he pitches with his fastball up to 92 mph with good shape and carry. He also mixes in a mid-to-upper 70s curveball he shows feel to spin and a changeup with heavy action and good fade. -
School: Georgia Premier Acadaemy, Statesboro, Ga.Committed: Arkansas. Age At Draft: 18.8
Wall has been a consistent high-end performer on the travel circuit. He’s an offensive-oriented catcher who gets on base at a high clip by grinding out quality at-bats with good swing decisions and bat-to-ball skills. He also shows solid power that has trended up over the past year. -
School: Cherokee HS, Marlton, N.J.Committed: Tennessee. Age At Draft: 18.3
Burti is a 6-foot lefty with a fastball up to 91 mph and the ability to manipulate multiple offspeed pitches. All of his pitches have swing-and-miss traits, including a mid-70s slider with tight rotation and sharp bite and a changeup with good horizontal run away from righties. -
School: Redwood HS, Visalia, Calif.Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.6
McElree has a slender 6-foot-2 frame and is already pitching up to 92 mph with his fastball—a pitch that should have more velocity in the tank once he adds another 30-plus pounds. It’s a starter’s look for McElree between his delivery, pitchability and three-pitch mix, which includes a high-spin slider with good sweep and a changeup with lively fade when it’s at its best. -
School: Barbe HS, Lake Charles, La.Committed: LSU. Age At Draft: 19.0
Littleton has a lot of space left to add weight to his wiry 6-foot-2 frame and grow a fastball that he can run into the low 90s. His feel to spin a mid-70s curveball stands out, and it has the makings of a swing-and-miss breaking ball at higher levels. -
School: Monte Vista HS, Danville, Calif.Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.0
McMillan could end up one of the tallest pitchers in major league history. He’s 6-foot-10, 200 pounds and is on the younger end of the 2027 class, so he might still be growing. He pitches from a relatively low-effort delivery with impressive body control for his size. While his present stuff isn’t quite as electric as the top pitchers in the 2027 class, there’s obvious projection between his youth and potential to add another 40-plus pounds. He pitches off a mid-to-upper 80s fastball that has reached 89 mph and should continue to climb, and he mostly attacks hitters with it up in the zone. A curveball and changeup both in the mid 70s round out his repertoire. -
School: Capistrano Valley HS, Mission Viejo, Calif.Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 17.8
Fuller will still be 17 on the day of the 2027 draft, so he’s one of the younger players in the class. That said, he’s already running his fastball up to 93 mph and should be in the mid 90s soon. Fuller’s fastball is his best pitch, with his slider his most-used secondary pitch ahead of his changeup. -
School: Sumrall (Miss.) HSCommitted: Alabama. Age At Draft: 18.9
Davis shows intriguing traits both as a pitcher and a hitter. On the mound, he doesn’t offer huge physical projection, but he throws strikes with a fastball that touches 92 mph, and he backs it up with a high-spin curveball in the upper 70s that snaps off with sharp break and good depth to miss bats at a high clip. His changeup flashes good fade at times, but he mainly leans on his fastball/curveball mix. At the plate, Davis has minimal movement in a short, handsy, contact-oriented swing geared for line drives with doubles power. He’s an average runner who could move all around the dirt with the arm strength for the left side of the infield. -
School: Oakleaf HS, Orange Park, Fla.Committed: Jacksonville. Age At Draft: 18.7
Farina sets up at the plate from a slightly-crouched stance and takes a simple, compact swing to put the ball in play at a high clip, using the whole field with a line-drive approach and gap power. He has a strong lower half and should continue to get an opportunity to develop at shortstop and play somewhere in the infield at higher levels, possibly at second or third base in pro ball. -
School: Cedar Creek HS, Ruston, La.Committed: LSU. Age At Draft: 18.8
Pitching from a smooth, repeatable delivery, Luker is a prolific strike-thrower with a fastball that touches the low 90s. He gets down the mound well and generates a lot of armside run from his lower release height that helps his fastball play above its raw velocity. Luker’s changeup has good fade at its best. He also throws a low-to-mid 70s curveball that has slurve action and could eventually morph into a harder slider from his low three-quarters slot. -
School: Beechwood HS, Fort Mitchell, Kent.Committed: Louisville. Age At Draft: 19.0
Fryman is a standout wide receiver who has drawn Division I interest in football and baseball. He’s an athletic center fielder with plus-plus speed, using his wheels to his advantage on defense and at the plate, where he has a compact righthanded swing with a line-drive approach and gap power. -
School: Lake Central HS, St. John, Ind.Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.7
Robinson stands out right away for his lean 6-foot-4 build that’s athletic and well-proportioned with more room to add good weight. When he’s at his best, he shows a patient offensive approach and stays through the middle of the field with the strength projection to grow into significant power. He’s an average runner with the arm strength to play on the left side of the infield. -
School: Skutt Catholic HS, Omaha, Neb.Committed: Tennessee. Age At Draft: 19.2
Day is an athletic 6-foot-4 righthander with good strength projection remaining for him to add to a fastball that’s regularly in the low 90s and up to 93 mph. His fastball is his predominant pitch, but his slider has shown signs of improvement throughout the summer. His low-80s changeup is a pitch he doesn’t use much yet, but it flashes good fade when it’s on and could become a bigger part of his arsenal with more experience. -
School: Brookstone HS, Columbus, Ga.Committed: Auburn. Age At Draft: 18.9
Neal has explosiveness to his game with some of the better tools in the 2027 class. He has a lean, athletic 6-foot-2 build with quick hands and fast bat speed that helps him drive the ball with big raw power for his age in what could end up a power-over-hit offensive game. He’s a quick-twitch athlete and a plus runner, making him a potential power/speed threat, and he has the arm strength to handle shortstop. -
School: Westlake HS, Austin, Tex.Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.9
Armbruster has significant physical projection remaining in his long-armed 6-foot-3 frame, and it’s already starting to come on. On the summer circuit in 2024 while splitting time between catching and pitching, Armbruster was mostly operating in the mid-to-upper 80s and touching 90 mph. Now, he’s reaching 94 mph and should have more velocity in the tank. Armbruster’s fastball is his best weapon, but he will mix in a curveball, slider and changeup, as well. He has a chance to move up the list if one of his secondary pitches takes the next step forward. -
School: Southern Maryland Christian Academy, White Plains, Md.Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 19.3
Blaqman is a quick-twitch, bouncy athlete at shortstop, where he has good defensive actions and a strong arm. An above-average runner, Blaqman has strong hands, quick wrists and gap power. -
School: IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla.Committed: Auburn. Age At Draft: 18.7
Thomas is the son of Hall of Fame first baseman Frank Thomas and has a professional look in the batter’s box and in the field. While his father is 6-foot-5 and one of the game’s all-time great sluggers, Thomas has more of a hit-over-power profile, and he performed well throughout the 2025 travel circuit. He’s a lefthanded hitter who starts with his hands set high above his head, stays inside the ball well and uses the whole field. Thomas moves around athletically at first base with advanced actions around the bag for his age. -
School: Harvard-Westlake HS, Studio City, Calif.Committed: Texas. Age At Draft: 18.9
Rootman is a righthanded-hitting center fielder with good balance at the plate and a quick swing to make hard contact that has started to tick up and should continue to climb higher as he fills out his lean frame. He’s a quick-twtich athlete and a plus runner who moves around well in center field. -
School: Trinity Classical Academy, Valencia, Calif.Committed: TCU. Age At Draft: 18.2
Carlson has a good blend of projection and pitchability. He’s a 6-foot-3 righthander with a low-effort delivery who throws strikes with a fastball that reaches 93 mph and should be into the mid 90s or better in the near future. It’s a starter’s look for Carlson, who mixes in multiple breaking balls with his slider and curveball while also showing feel for a changeup. -
School: Lincoln HS, Vincennes, Ind.Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.2
The catcher on USA Baseball’s 15U National Team in 2024, Collins projects to stick behind the plate, where he’s an athletic mover with quick feet and a strong arm to generate pop times under 1.9 seconds on his best throws. At the plate, it’s a low swing-and-miss rate from a contact-oriented swing with a line-drive approach and gap power. -
School: Faith Lutheran HS, Las Vegas, Nev.Committed: Stanford. Age At Draft: 19.5
Martin has a projectable 6-foot-3 frame, a sound delivery and a fastball that touches 93 mph. It’s a quality fastball, but his best pitch is his slider, which gets into the low 80s and holds plane well off his fastball. It’s a high-spin slider with late, sharp break and two-plane depth at its best to get swinging strikes. He also throws a low-80s changeup that has good separation off his fastball, but it’s his fastball/slider combination that accounts for most of his success. -
School: Aledo (Tex.) HSCommitted: Texas. Age At Draft: 19.0
Gladchuk has a short, contact-oriented swing from the left side of the plate. He rarely swings and misses, staying inside the ball well to lace line drives all around the field with gap power. He’s an average runner with a strong arm from center field. -
School: Notre Dame HS, Sherman Oaks, Calif.Committed: Texas. Age At Draft: 18.7
Berg has a lanky, 6-foot-5 frame and a fastball that has trended up over the summer to reach 92 mph. There’s room for Berg to add another 30-plus pounds, and he should see his velocity get into the mid 90s or better once he packs on more size and strength. Berg’s changeup has good fade away from lefties and could become a bigger swing-and-miss pitch for him with more reps. His slider is a pitch for which he has flashed some feel to spin with short break. -
School: Roseville (Calif.) HSCommitted: Vanderbilt. Age At Draft: 18.4
At 6-foot-6, 185 pounds, Gustus has a tall, lanky, long-limbed frame that screams projection. He can already dial his fastball up to 93 mph and looks like he could eventually throw into the upper 90s once he adds weight. Gustus’ fastball is his best pitch, one he complements with a low-80s slider and a heavy, sinking changeup. -
School: Cookeville (Tenn.) HSCommitted: Auburn. Age At Draft: 19.7
Anderson has compiled a strong offensive track record competing on the travel circuit. He’s a patient hitter with an adjustable lefthanded swing and bat speed that helps him launch balls out deep to his pull side when he lets it loose. Anderson is an offensive-oriented catcher who should get the opportunity to stick behind the plate, but he’s also an average runner who moves well enough to handle a corner outfield spot, if needed. He turns 19 in October after his draft year, so he’s one of the oldest players in the 2027 class and would be a draft-eligible sophomore if he gets to college. -
School: Mauldin (S.C.) HSCommitted: Arkansas. Age At Draft: 18.0
New is young for the 2027 class and has a projectable 6-foot-3 frame that points to more velocity that he figures to add to a fastball that already reaches the low 90s. New is still learning to repeat his release point to harness his control, but he has swing-and-miss stuff with his feel for both a sharp-breaking curveball and an occasional changeup. -
School: Battlefield HS, Haymarket, Va.Committed: Virginia Tech. Age At Draft: 19.0
Moritz-Toledo is one of the fastest players in the 2027 class. He’s a plus-plus runner, showing speed that translates well in center field, albeit with limited arm strength. Moritz-Toledo has strong, fast hands that he fires at the ball with a line-drive approach and alleys power. -
School: Baylor School, Chattanooga, Tenn.Committed: Alabama. Age At Draft: 19.3
Morris was one of the early standouts in the 2027 high school class, committing to South Carolina when he was 14 (though, he has since reopened his recruitment). A South Carolina native who goes to school in Tennessee, Morris loads his swing with a big leg kick and makes hard contact when he’s on time. He’s an average runner and a good athlete who could move all around the infield with a strong arm. -
School: Puyallup (Wash.) HSCommitted: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.0
One of the younger players in the 2027 class, Landry is a lean, athletic shortstop with good range, actions and instincts for the position. He’s a polished defender for his age with a nose for the ball, and he turns double plays well. At the plate, Landry’s hands stay short to the ball with good contact skills and gap power. -
School: Brother Rice HS, Bloomfield Hills, Mich.Committed: Vanderbilt. Age At Draft: 19.0
Katke is a power-hitting catcher with good bat-to-ball skills from the right side of the plate. He’s strong for his age and can launch balls deep out of the park to his pull side. He has the catch-and-throw skills to stick at catcher with a quick release and pop times under 2.0 seconds on his best throws. -
School: Etowah HS, Woodstock, Ga.Committed: Clemson. Age At Draft: 18.1
Borcherding has a lean build for a catcher and is one of the younger players in the 2027 class. He has an aggressive offensive approach with impressive bat speed pointing to bigger power that should come once he layers more strength onto his projectable frame. He’s loose, agile and flexible behind the dish, where he receives well, has a quick exchange and projects to have at least an average arm once he fills out. -
School: Reeltown HS, Notasulga, Ala.Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.8
Smith has fast arm speed coming out of his wiry 6-foot-2 frame with long limbs to produce a fastball that has reached 92 mph. It’s impressive velocity for a pitcher who is still just scratching the surface of his strength potential, and arrows are pointing toward a pitcher who should throw significantly harder once he adds more weight. Smith flashes feel for a slider, a pitch he at times throws just as often as his fastball. He’s still learning to repeat his release point to throw more consistent strikes, but his athleticism should help him make adjustments. -
School: Center Grove HS, Greenwood, Ind.Committed: Texas A&M. Age At Draft: 19.0
McClurg is an athletic center fielder with plus speed and a quick first step. He has been a strong offensive performer on the travel circuit with a direct swing from both sides of the plate with mostly gap power and occasional over-the-fence juice. -
School: Libertyville (Ill.) HSCommitted: Tennessee. Age At Draft: 19.0
Buenik has a strong, 6-foot-3 frame with velocity that has jumped this year, reaching 95 mph with heavy sink and run on his fastball out of his low three-quarters slot. His slider is inconsistent, but he has shown improved feel to spin that pitch this year with good depth at its best. His spin-killing splitter with hard tumble could become a bigger factor with more experience. -
School: Sierra Canyon HS, Charsworth, Calif.Committed: LSU. Age At Draft: 18.5
Parrow has a tall, physical 6-foot-5 frame and attacks hitters up in the zone with a fastball that has trended up to sit in the low 90s and reach 94 mph with what should be another uptick still to come. He primarily pitches off his fastball, complementing it with a slider reaching the low 80s that he flashes feel to spin. -
School: Arvada West (Col.) HSCommitted: Texas. Age At Draft: 18.6
Vais has been excellent on the summer circuit in 2025, filling the strike zone and missing bats at a high clip. He’s an athletic 6-foot righthander with a short stride down the mound and a quick arm to run his high-spin fastball up to 92 mph. It’s not a prototypical, high-physical projection frame for a pitcher, but he has the explosiveness that suggests more velocity could come with strength gains and mechanical refinement. The best weapon for Vais is his high-spin slider—a pitch he throws more than his fastball in some outings—showing solid depth and good lateral tilt. It’s a pitch he consistently executes for strikes, either landing it in the zone or getting hitters to chase it for empty swings, and it should continue to be a high-whiff pitch for him at higher levels. Vais has mostly made a name for himself as a pitcher, though there are intriguing tools here as an outfielder with plus speed, an above-average arm and impressive bat speed and power for his size. -
School: Durant HS, Plant City, Fla.Committed: Florida State. Age At Draft: 18.7
McPherson has a strong 6-foot-2 build with good arm action, a sound delivery and a fastball he can run up to 93 mph. It’s a fastball with good shape and carry that gets an abundance of swinging strikes when he elevates it. McPherson also shows feel to spin a mid-70s curveball with three-quarters action. -
School: Conwell Egan Catholic HS, Fairless Hills, Penn.Committed: Virginia. Age At Draft: 19.1
Pitching from a low-effort, repeatable delivery, Guzzie pitches off a fastball that reaches 92 mph and should get into the mid 90s once he fills out. His fastball already plays up because he’s able to generate good extension and because of the riding life on the pitch that he uses to his advantage by attacking hitters up in the zone. Guzzie’s fastball is his best pitch. He also shows feel for a changeup that has good separation off the heater, along with a mid-70s curveball. -
School: Great Bridge HS, Chesapeake, Va.Committed: Clemson. Age At Draft: 18.4
Cinnamond is a 6-foot-4 lefty who can dial his fastball up to 93 mph and should be into the mid 90s or better in the near future. He’s still learning to corral his heater in the zone consistently, but he has the look of a power arm from the left side with a slider that has solid sweep and depth at its best. -
School: Indian Hill HS, Cincinnati, OhioCommitted: Mississippi State. Age At Draft: 19.0
A standout running back also getting Division I offers for football, Daniel is a strong, physical hitter with big bat speed who can drive the ball with impact from both sides of the plate. In games, Daniel can get more contact-oriented, but there’s more game power that he could unlock as his approach evolves. He likely fits best in a corner outfield spot with a strong enough arm to play right field. -
School: Barbe HS, Lake Charles, La.Committed: LSU. Age At Draft: 18.8
Griffin packs a lot of quick-twitch explosiveness into a smaller frame. He takes advantage of his small strike zone with a selective approach that helps him get into favorable counts and pile up walks. Griffin has a lot of moving parts with his hands to get his swing started, and while there’s some swing-and-miss to his game, he has strong hands, quick wrists and generates a lot of bat speed, which helps him hammer the ball with surprising power for his size. He’s a good athlete and a plus-plus runner who defends his position well in center field, where he has good instincts and range. He also has experience at second base, adding versatility to his game. -
School: Baylor School, Chattanooga, Tenn.Committed: Tennesssee. Age At Draft: 19.1
Coming off an outstanding spring season in 2025, Lundy is a strong, 6-foot 3 catcher who can drive the ball with impact. His timing at the plate is inconsistent, but he can drive the ball out of the park deep to his pull side with a power-over-hit offensive game. Lundy has a big frame for a catcher, but he folds up well behind the plate and is a good receiver. His plus arm stacks up among the best in the 2027 class, enabling him to post pop times around 1.9 seconds on his best throws. -
School: John F. Kennedy HS, Bellmore, N.Y.Committed: Vanderbilt. Age At Draft: 18.5
Yormack has a projectable 6-foot-3 frame and generates easy velocity. It’s a repeatable delivery that helps him throw strikes with a fastball that has lively armside run and can reach 92 mph without much effort. He primarily pitches off a fastball/slider mix, with his slider ahead of his changeup. -
School: Suwannee HS, Live Oak, Fla.Committed: Florida. Age At Draft: 18.5
Moran has built an impressive track record of performing at a high level on the travel circuit. He’s a lefthanded-hitting catcher with a knack for barreling the ball in the air to all fields via a smooth swing that gets on plane early and stays through the hitting zone for a long time. An offensive-minded catcher with experience as an infielder, as well, Moran has the power to go deep to his pull side now with a chance to grow into a 15-20 home run threat. He runs well for a catcher with average speed underway. -
School: Lamar HS, Meridian, Miss.Committed: Mississippi State. Age At Draft: 19.1
Reed has massive raw power that stacks up among the best in the country for the 2027 class. It’s potential plus-or-better power and Reed has been able to tap into it frequently in games during the summer circuit, using his strength and bat speed to punish mistakes left up in the zone. Reed runs surprisingly well for his size and has experience at third and first base. -
School: Warsaw (Ind.) HSCommitted: Mississippi. Age At Draft: 19.1
Nelson has an extra-large frame with thunder in his lefthanded bat, generating loft and punishing balls with some of the best raw power in the class. Nelson has shown the ability to handle soft stuff, as well, with an approach that makes him more than just an all-or-nothing slugger. What Nelson does in the batter’s box is what will drive his value as a likely first baseman at the next level. -
School: McDonough HS, Pomfret, Md.Committed: Alabama. Age At Draft: 18.7
Lambert is a wiry and strong righthanded hitter with quick wrists in a handsy swing that he uses to snap the barrel through the zone with good bat speed. It’s an aggressive approach, and he’s still learning to recognize breaking pitches, but it’s quality contact when he connects with occasional over-the-fence power that should climb as he gets stronger. Lambert is an average runner and a good athlete with a strong arm who has the versatility to play all around the infield and outfield. -
School: Doral (Fla.) AcademyCommitted: LSU. Age At Draft: 19.2
Ravelo was an early standout in the 2027 class, committing to LSU when he was 14. He has a lean, expandable 6-foot-3 frame that looks like it should hold significant good weight and strength to help him grow into a potential 25-plus home run threat. He’s a good athlete who moves around well in center field. -
School: The Colony (Tex.) HS Age At Draft: 19.2
Committed: Texas
An athletic righthander, Rangel has electric stuff that should only get better as the 2026 draft approaches. He has a lean 6-foot-1 frame with excellent arm speed to run his fastball up to 97 mph. The pitch already plays up because it has good riding life up in the zone, and he gets good extension out front. There could be another uptick in velocity for what’s already a high-end fastball for his age. What makes Rangel dangerous is his ability to spin an 80-84 mph slider that can spin above 3,100 rpm at times—top-end spin for any age. The attributes are there for his slider to be a plus-or-better pitch that should miss a ton of bats. Rangel’s fastball/breaking ball combination is his bread-and-butter, but he shows feel for a spike changeup. It comes in firm off his fastball but flashes good depth and could become a bigger weapon with more reps. There are times when Rangel’s command has escaped him, so scouts will be closely watching that aspect of his game as the draft gets closer, but he has the stuff to be one of the first high school pitchers off the board. -
School: De La Salle HS, Concord, Calif. Age At Draft: 18.8
Committed: Stanford
Spangler has a tall, lean build with high-end strength projection and an accurate barrel from the left side. He’s a long-limbed hitter who is able to make contact at a high clip, with quiet hands that he fires quickly into a compact, direct swing with a mature approach for his age. It’s an easy swing from Spangler, who already delivers consistent quality contact, with the bat speed and physical upside to project above-average-or-better power once he’s in his prime. He’s an above-average runner with good lateral agility and body control at shortstop for his size. Depending on his physical development, there’s a chance he could outgrow the position and go to third base, but his fluid actions, soft hands, strong arm and instincts all fit well at shortstop. -
School: Trinity Christian Academy, Jacksonville, Fla. Age At Draft: 18.5
Committed: Florida
Harris has immense upside as a potential middle-of-the-order bat who can play a premium position. He has performed at a high level in games with a powerful swing from the right side, generating torque with good rhythm and balance as he rotates explosively to unleash excellent bat speed. It results in some of the best raw power in the class, and given the strength potential remaining in his well-proportioned 6-foot-2 frame, he should grow into at least plus power. Harris is a good athlete who also shines defensively in center field. With plus speed and an arm that draws plus-or-better grades, Harris has the quickness, range and efficient route running to stick in center field. -
School: Jackson Prep HS, Flowood, Miss. Age At Draft: 17.9
Committed: Florida
Roberts was high school teammates with 2024 High School Player of the Year Konnor Griffin, so scouts got a lot of looks at him that spring. Roberts is one of the youngest players in the class, but he stands out for his size, dynamic athleticism and tools. He generates a lot of torque with his swing, and between his bat speed and physical upside on his tall, broad-shouldered frame, he should grow into at least plus if not plus-plus raw power. His barrel gets deep into the hitting zone early and he’s able to drive the ball well to all fields, showing improved timing this year that has helped him translate his power against live pitching. He has a patient approach with a good eye for the strike zone. Roberts is a plus runner with long strides and a chance to stick in center field. If he does end up going to right field, he has the offensive upside to profile there and already has a plus arm that could end up a 70 on the 20-80 scouting scale. Roberts is primarily a position player but offers significant upside on the mound, as well, with a fastball that has touched 94 mph and a changeup with good sink and separation off his fastball along with a curveball. -
School: Gulliver Prep HS, Miami, Fla. Age At Draft: 18.8
Committed: Uncommitted
While scouts were following 2023 shortstop George Lombard Jr. before he became a first-round pick of the Yankees, they also got plenty of looks at his teammate and younger brother Jacob. The son of Tigers bench coach George Lombard, Jacob’s baseball upbringing is evident with his instincts and fundamentally-sound game. He’s one of the most disciplined hitters in the 2026 class, making good swing decisions with the patience to take his walks. Lombard gets himself into a good hitting position and takes a short, efficient swing and keeps his head locked in, which helps him track and recognize pitches. He has good balance, enabling him to stay back to use the whole field and use his quick hands. There have been stretches where Lombard has shown a higher swing-and-miss rate, so while it’s not elite bat-to-ball skills, he has typically gotten on base at a high clip. As he’s gotten bigger, stronger and faster, Lombard is now showing some of the better raw power in the 2026 class, with a chance for that to develop into an above-average tool. He’s a plus-plus runner who projects to stick at shortstop, where he makes everything look smooth and easy. He has a quick first step, reads hops well and has a nose for the ball. He can make the flashy play, but unlike a lot of young shortstops, he plays under control too, with good hands and a quick transfer. -
School: Argyle HS, Flower Mound, Tex. Age At Draft: 18.4
Committed: Texas
Emerson is a pure hitter with an exciting, well-rounded blend of tools, athleticism, skills and upside at a premium position. A two-time member of the USA 15U National Team—including a gold medal finish at the U-15 World Cup in 2022—Emerson was one of two underclassmen to make the 18U National Team in 2024 that won a gold medal at the U-18 World Cup Americas Qualifier. He has a calm, relaxed presence in the box with minimal wasted movement in his efficient lefthanded swing. It’s a quick, compact stroke with a clean path through the zone, staying balanced to track pitches well with innate timing and feel for the barrel. He rarely swings and misses, squaring up good fastballs or offspeed stuff throughout the strike zone. While a lot of young hitters get pull-happy, Emerson is able to let the ball travel deep and drive it the opposite way or turn on it depending where the ball is pitched. He’s a patient hitter who doesn’t expand the zone much, making him a high on-base threat. Emerson doesn’t stray from his hit-first approach, but as he’s grown, he has come into more power to drive the ball out to his pull side. With his bat speed and the strength potential in his lean frame, more of his doubles should start to start turning into homers. Emerson’s hitting skills are advanced beyond his years, but he also defends his position well at shortstop. He’s a plus runner, a good athlete and moves his feet well at shortstop with good body control, soft hands and a strong arm. All the traits are there for Emerson to be a high first-round pick. -
School: Marshall Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.5
Niu spent two years at New Orleans before transferring to Marshall for the 2025 season where he hit .276/.343/.560 with 15 home runs and 14 doubles 14 doubles and new career-highs in nearly every major statistical category. He was one of the best players in the Cape League after the season and hit .338/.404/.650 through his first 120 games. Niu has a somewhat unique setup in the box with an inverted front foot and medium-high handset, but he has big-time bat speed and consistently gets off quick, tight turns with his hips. Niu has shown the ability—both with metal and wood—to hammer the baseball to all fields, though his highest quality of contact has come to the pull side. At Marshall he posted a 90th-percentile exit velocity of 106.8. Picking up spin and seeing shapes out of the hand have both been bugaboos for Niu, and he has shown the tendency to whiff and chase against secondaries. Niu has consistently turned in plus run times and is a good athlete whose defensive profile is best suited for the outfield. His actions need refining, but his arm strength, speed and athleticism all translate well on the grass. -
School: Hawaii Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.8
Miura has been a consistent performer at Hawaii as the team’s everyday center fielder and boasts some of the best bat-to-ball skills in the 2025 college class. He’s a 5-foot-11, 185-pound righthanded hitter who almost never misses when he swings at a pitch in the zone, and he’s performed with a wood bat as well. After hitting .378/.483/.475 in the Northwoods League in the summer of 2024, Miura hit .338/.454/.460 with 18 stolen bases during the spring with Hawaii. After the season he played for Hyannis in the Cape Cod League. -
School: Hofstra Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.8
Palmer is an undersized infielder who has been a high-level performer for three straight seasons with Hofstra. At just 5-foot-9, 170 pounds, he doesn’t have much power to speak of and managed just two home runs over his first three college seasons. Instead, Palmer is a contact savant who rarely misses and likes to swing the bat. Palmer is especially effective making contact on pitches in the strike zone. He hits ground balls and low line drives to all fields and is also an above-average runner who has been a consistent stolen base threat. He’s played all over the infield and outfield in his college career, though he spent the bulk of his time at third base in 2025. Palmer has a path to a contact-oriented utility role, although it’s a tightrope to walk given his bottom-of-the-scale power. -
School: Elon Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 20.8
Sprock has been an impact two-way player for three seasons with Elon. A 5-foot-10, 205-pound corner infielder and righthander, Sprock hit in the three-hole for Elon in 2025—where he slashed .321/.411/.593 with 14 home runs—and also posted a 3.63 ERA as a reliever with 19 strikeouts in 17.1 innings. He had struggled much more as a starting pitcher in 2023 (5.52 ERA in 45.2 innings) and 2024 (10.12 ERA over 42.2 innings). Offensively, Sprock has a solid combination of power and plate discipline. He consistently hits the ball hard and can homer to both gaps while doing a nice job managing at-bats, limiting strikeouts and taking walks. He split time as a third base and first base defender in his junior season, although that was in part due to his work as a pitcher which added to the stress on his arm. On the mound, Sprock throws a fastball that sits around 93 mph and touches 96. He also mixes in a slider in the 78-81 mph range and a changeup in the same velocity band. -
School: Georgia Tech Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.0
Jones was a moment-of-truth reliever for Georgia State as a freshman, going 2-2, 5.06 with four saves. He struggled to match that performance as a sophomore, as he went 5-1, 7.32 with a 1.8 WHIP. But he took a step forward in 2025 when he transferred to Georgia Tech, joining the Yellow Jackets’ weekend rotation to throw as many innings as he had in his first two college seasons combined. Jones was generally effective, as he quickly bounced back from a brutal Georgia Tech debut where he failed to record an out in his first start of the season. He went 7-3, 4.92 while posting a 23.2% strikeout rate and 12.1% walk rate. A 6-foot, 205-pound righthander, Jones throws a riding fastball that sits 92-94 mph and touches 96, as well as a mid-80s cutter, low-80s slider and mid-80s changeup. Jones’ stuff should be enough to work in pro ball, but he will need to improve his below-average control. -
School: Georgia Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.8
Hoskins is a big and filled-out righthander with a powerful 6-foot-2, 210-pound frame. He was effective as a freshman reliever, but he missed the second half of his freshman season and the first half of his sophomore season because of Tommy John surgery. In 2025, Hoskins posted a 5.93 ERA over 27.1 innings with a 29.5% strikeout rate and 17.4% walk rate. Despite limited college success, his stuff should give him plenty of chances to figure out his delivery in pro ball. Hoskins sits in the 96-98 mph range out of the bullpen and his fastball has touched 100 mph. He pairs the fastball with a swing-and-miss slider that features impressive two-plane biting action in the mid 80s and looks like an easy above-average pitch. He’s thrown a handful of mid-80s changeups, but that pitch is far behind his fastball/slider and remains a distant third offering. The elbow injury impacted his development, as he’s thrown just 50.2 innings over three seasons, so there is plenty of development and polish to come. His well below-average control should limit him to the bullpen, where he’ll need to improve his strikes to become a reliable option. -
School: Indiana Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 22.0
Cerny is a 6-foot-2, 205-pound righthanded-hitting infielder who went unpicked as a draft-eligible sophomore in 2024. Cerny’s 2025 season was a near carbon copy of his 2024 campaign. He hit .281/.286/.517 as a junior and has hit .292/.371/.511 for his Indiana career. He has hit exactly 10 home runs in each of his three seasons, with a hunched over stance and an aggressive approach at the plate. Cerny is a hit-by-pitch magnet, which plays a role in him getting on base. His 45 career HBPs is a school record and exactly matched his number of career walks. Cerny likes to frequently swing the bat, both at pitches inside and outside of the zone, which caps his walk rate. His contact skills aren’t good enough to make that approach work in pro ball, so he’s going to need to learn to be more selective. He’s logged plenty of time at both shortstop and second base in college and has a chance to play both with solid range and actions. If he goes unselected, Cerny is set to transfer to Kentucky. -
School: Virginia Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.7
Hodges’ father, Daniel, was a 41st-round pick of the Cubs in 1996 as a lefthander out of Liberty. Brad is a 6-foot-1, 195-pound lefthander who pitched as a high-usage reliever as a freshman for Virginia in 2023. He seemed poised to step into the Cavaliers’ weekend rotation for 2024, but he suffered an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery. He returned to the mound in March of 2025 and was rounding into form as the season ended. He posted a 4.88 ERA over eight starts and 27.2 innings with just two starts of five-plus innings. Hodges mostly works off a three-pitch mix that includes a 90-92 mph fastball that will touch 93-94, a low-80s slider and a low-80s changeup. He will occasionally fold in a mid-70s curveball. Hodges will have to improve his well-below-average control. He’s walked 13.8% of batters over his short college career. -
School: Fresno State Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.3
Anker is a 6-foot-2, 200-pound righthander with an excellent track record as a control artist with Fresno State. While his swing-and-miss stuff is light, Anker owns a career 4.6% walk rate. He does get hit a lot, and he posted a 5.46 ERA with a .293 opponents average in 91.1 innings. He did post a career-best 24.3% strikeout rate. His below-average 90-92 mph fastball will touch 94 with good riding life and a plate plane. He has plenty of confidence in a mid-80s changeup, and will also mix in a few different breaking ball shapes including an upper-80s cutter, low-80s slider and upper-70s curveball. He should be able to compete as a back-of-the-rotation starter in pro ball, but will need to develop more velocity and a better swing-and-miss pitch to unlock any impact potential. -
School: Fort Zumwalt North HS, O’Fallon, Mo. Drafted/Committed: Missouri
Age At Draft: 18.7
Lohman is a projection righthander with a 6-foot-4, 185-pound frame that should allow him to pack on plenty of weight in the future. He has a fastball that’s been up to 95 mph, and he has shown flashes of an average curveball. There are questions about a third and fourth pitch, which could add to his reliever risk, though his delivery is fairly clean and easy. Lohman is committed to Missouri. -
School: Cloud City (Kan.) JC Drafted/Committed: Rangers ’22 (13)
Age At Draft: 21.9
Marcum is a high-waisted and lanky righthander with a 6-foot-5, 180-pound frame that has space for tons of extra weight and mass in the coming years. He’s a fastball/slider pitcher who led Cloud City (Kan.) JC with 85 strikeouts, as he went 6-2, 4.18. Opponents hit .189 against him, but he also walked 5.4 batters per nine innings. Marcum has a fastball that gets into the upper 90s but mostly sits in the low 90s, and pairs the pitch with a fringy breaking ball in the 76-82 mph range that blends in shape between a curveball and slider. He’ll also mix in a mid-80s changeup, but has extremely limited feel for that pitch currently. Marcum is a deep projection arm talent with big upside but real risk as well. His uncle Shaun pitched in the majors for nine years. He’s committed to Ohio State. -
School: Sacramento State Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.2
Brown is a 6-foot-6, 220-pound righthander who redshirted with Sacramento State in 2023, but has pitched as a reliable back-end reliever in 2024 and 2025. This spring, he posted a 2.93 ERA in 43 innings out of the pen with a 26.8% strikeout rate and a 10.9% walk rate. Brown looks like a reliever all the way with some effort in his delivery and a long arm action that he could struggle to repeat—but he does have some bat-missing stuff. He sits around 90 mph and will touch 93 with a fastball that has sink and run, but primarily confounds hitters with his slider and changeup. His mid-80s slider has gyro shape and he uses it almost half the time, while the changeup is a high-spin cambio in the low 80s that flashes impressive tumble and bottoming life. Brown generated a 40% miss rate between the two pitches. He has below-average control and owns a career 10.8% walk rate. -
School: Pearl River (Miss.) JC Drafted/Committed: Mississippi State
Age At Draft: 0.0
Spencer Jr. is a 6-foot-3, 220-pound righthander who was originally committed to Ole Miss out of high school, but ended up at Pearl River (Miss.) JC. Spencer blew out his elbow and needed Tommy John surgery in 2024, but he returned to action to go 8-4, 3.69 with 23 walks and 64 strikeouts in 39 innings in 2025. He’s a power-armed righthander with an extreme, downer head whack in his delivery and throws a 94-95 mph fastball that touches 99. His go-to secondary is a hard mid-to-upper-80s slider with sharp tilt. He lives at the top of the strike zone, although he also scatters plenty of pitches above the zone. Both his delivery and below-average control scream reliever, but he could have the pure stuff to pitch effectively in that role. Spencer is committed to Mississippi State. -
School: UC Santa Barbara Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.5
Barrett is a 6-foot-5, 225-pound lefthander who threw the first and second no-hitters in school history at Bakersfield, Calif.’s Frontier High. He broke onto the scene as a freshman with UC Santa Barbara in 2023 when he led all Division I freshmen with 82 strikeouts and posted a 1.92 ERA over 61 innings. He threw just 2.1 innings in 2024 before an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery sidelined him until late April 2025, and he made just three appearances for 4.2 innings before UC Santa Barbara’s season ended. He did also throw at the MLB draft combine. His stuff has come back post-injury. Barrett throws a three-pitch mix that includes a 90-93 mph fastball that will touch 95 and has generated most of his whiffs with an 82-85 mph changeup. The change is Barrett’s go-to secondary but he will also throw a sweepy slider around 80 mph. He’s historically been a below-average strike-thrower who might profile best in the pen. His lack of mound time the last two years adds to his uncertainty. -
School: Vista Murrieta HS, Murrieta, Calif. Drafted/Committed: Virginia
Age At Draft: 19.2
Holmes is a 6-foot-1, 190-pound shortstop and outfielder with a handful of interesting tools between his athleticism, bat speed and arm strength. He is well-built now with a quick righthanded swing that should lead to solid power potential in the future, though he does have swing-and-miss tendencies that could limit his pure hitting ability. He has the arm strength for the left side of the infield, but his actions can get a bit long and might fit better at third, or perhaps in the outfield, where his above-average running ability could fit nicely. Holmes is committed to Duke and will be a draft-eligible sophomore if he makes it to campus. -
School: West Virginia Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.2
White is a 5-foot-11, 195-pound utilityman and lefthanded hitter. He’s been a full-time starter for West Virginia since his freshman year and has played a number of positions—including second, third, first, left, right and catcher. He had a productive summer in the Cape Cod League, hitting .267/.377/.389, and he carried that over into the 2025 season. He cut his strikeout rate significantly and slashed .361/.426/.529 with five home runs and 17 doubles. White has shown average raw power and a tick above-average contact skills, although he can get too aggressive at times. White started the season as the team’s everyday second baseman but injured his shoulder in late March and was strictly used as a DH the rest of the season, and he batted cleanup during the team’s run to the NCAA super regionals. White’s defensive versatility and excellent contact numbers as a junior could make him a draft target in the 11-20 round range. -
School: Florida State Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.2
Harrelson had an excellent freshman season at Texas Tech and a more modest sophomore year. He transferred to Florida State for the 2025 season, where he immediately became the team’s everyday right fielder and leadoff hitter. A 6-foot-3, 180-pound lefthanded hitter, Harrelson slashed .339/.444/.462 with 15 stolen bases and a career-low 21.2% strikeout rate. He doesn’t have prototypical power for a corner profile, even if he can sting 100+ mph line drives at times. His swing is short and he can get on top of pitches at the top of the zone, but he also has more swing-and-miss tendencies than you’d like for a contact-oriented hitter. His plus speed may be enough to earn him a chance to play center field at least on a part-time basis in pro ball. -
School: Chipola (Fla.) JC Drafted/Committed: Florida State
Age At Draft: 0.0
Vanek is a 6-foot-3, 205-pound outfielder, first baseman and lefthanded hitter who played for Louisiana’s famed Barbe High School. He led Chipola (Fla.) JC in hitting in 2025 and slashed .395/.512/.631 with nine home runs and more walks than strikeouts. Vanek has a crouched and open stance with plenty of present strength, and does a nice job shortening up and hunting more contact in two-strike counts. He’s committed to Florida State where he can continue proving his hitting chops against better competition, but could be of interest for MLB teams in the 11-20 round range. -
School: Archbishop Moeller HS, Cincinnati Drafted/Committed: LSU
Age At Draft: 19.1
Theophilus jumped on the national scene with a loud showing at the 2023 Area Code Game underclass showcase, where he struck out eight of the 12 batters he faced. A 6-foot-2, 195-pound righthander, Theophilus throws a fastball in the 90-93 mph range and touches 94 with a solid low-80s slider to go with it. He will mix in a low-80s changeup and a curveball in the upper 70s, too. Theophilus has a long, extended arm action and some effort in his delivery which could add reliever risk to his profile. He’s committed to LSU and will be a draft-eligible sophomore if he makes it to campus. -
School: Mineral Area (Mo.) JC Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 0.0
Lee is a lean and wiry righthanded hitter who put together one of the more impressive offensive seasons in junior college in 2025. A 5-foot-11, 165-pound outfielder, Lee hit .444/.498/.800 with 13 home runs, five triples and 15 doubles for Mineral Area (Mo.) JC. He’s an explosive runner who gets out of the box in a hurry and stole 32 bags in 34 attempts. Lee’s speed is his most obvious tool at the moment. He’s at least a plus runner who should be able to stick in center field. Despite his home run production, his frame and raw power suggests a contact-over-power offensive profile, but somebody who could continue stacking plenty of extra-base hits in the form of doubles and triples into the gaps. There are wide error bars on Lee’s pure hitting ability given the quality of his competition, but he’s an athlete with some obvious physical tools. -
School: The First Academy, Orlando, Fla. Drafted/Committed: Oklahoma State
Age At Draft: 18.1
Indomenico is a lefthanded hitter and outfielder with a solid collection of secondary tools. Listed at 6 feet, 185 pounds, Indomenico stands out mostly for his speed and arm strength. He’s at least an above-average runner and has turned in plus run times, which could give him a chance to stick in center field at the next level. While he moves well enough for the position, Indomenico does still need to sharpen his routes and his instincts to avoid moving to a corner, where his above-average throwing arm would fit nicely in right field. Indomenico is a bit more raw offensively. He’s a pull-oriented hitter who did a nice job making contact and spitting on pitches out of the zone in the 2024 travel circuit, but he doesn’t have much power yet and will need to add plenty of strength to impact the ball to the opposite field. Indomenico led his First Academy high school team to a 2A state championship in Florida this spring. He’s committed to Oklahoma State. -
School: Hansworth SS, North Vancouver, B.C. Drafted/Committed: Michigan
Age At Draft: 17.9
Brinham is a double-projection lefthander with a 6-foot-1, 175-pound frame who made strides with both his strikes and fastball velocity in 2025. After pitching in the upper 80s and touching 91 mph in 2024 with scattered strikes, Brinham has pushed his fastball into the 88-90 mph range and touched 93 in 2025 with more precision. His secondaries are fringy now and require plenty of projection, but he has shown some flashes of a quality breaking ball in the mid 70s and a changeup in the low 80s. Brinham moves well on the mound with a compact arm action and three-quarter slot. He could make some big strides by adding a bit more strength in the future. The Canadian native is committed to Michigan and will still be 17 on draft day. -
School: Grand Canyon Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.7
Barreras was a three-year contributor at Grand Canyon and replaced A’s sixth overall pick Jacob Wilson as the team’s starting shortstop in 2024. While Barreras is not in the same class of hitter as Wilson and also isn’t quite as big at 6-foot, 190 pounds, he fits a similar archetype as a contact merchant with special bat-to-ball skills that allow him to make contact all over the zone against all pitch types. He recovered from a slow start in the spring of 2025 to hit .358 with nearly four times as many walks (27) as strikeouts (7). Barreras’ strikeout rate in his college career was just 7.4%. But his power is light and it’s tough to envision Barreras reaching even double-digit homers in a season without getting stronger. Defensively, scouts believe Barreras has the tools to stick at shortstop and certainly in the dirt—he was named to the all-WAC defensive team as a freshman while splitting time between shortstop and third base. -
School: Pearl River (Miss.) JC Drafted/Committed: Auburn
Age At Draft: 0.0
Johnson is a lanky righthander with a 6-foot-3, 165-pound frame who posted a 1.62 ERA over 14 starts and 66.2 innings with Pearl River (Miss.) JC in 2025. He has a three-pitch mix that includes a low-90s fastball that gets up to 96, a low-80s slider and a less-frequently used changeup in the mid 80s. Johnson is committed to Auburn but has some interest from teams in rounds 11-20. -
School: Kankakee Valley HS, Wheatfield, Ind. Drafted/Committed: Indiana
Age At Draft: 0.0
Barr is a big-bodied lefthander with a physical, 6-foot-2, 200-pound frame. There’s some effort in his delivery and depth in his arm stroke, but Barr has big pure arm speed and a fastball that sits in the low 90s and has been up to 95 mph. It’s easy to see him touching upper-90s velocity with some frequency in the next few years, but Barr’s secondaries need more refinement. He throws a below-average curveball in the mid 70s that he has used more frequently than a mid-80s slider that could become his better breaking ball in the future. Barr is a scattered strike-thrower who carries some reliever risk, but he is still interesting because of his size and heavy fastball. He’s committed to Indiana. -
School: Northwest Florida State JC Drafted/Committed: Orioles ’23 (15)
Age At Draft: 20.7
Lott is a massively projectable outfielder and righthanded hitter with an ultra-lanky 6-foot-5, 190-pound frame. The Orioles drafted him in the 15th round out of high school, but he didn’t sign and went to Northwest Florida JC, where he hit .335/.482/.555 with 12 home runs and 21 stolen bases in two seasons. He was named the 2025 Panhandle Conference player of the year. Lott has an upright stance with a high handset and is a great runner for his size. It’s easy to dream of an athletic power-speed combination with Lott, who should profile best as a corner outfielder. -
School: Alabama State Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 20.9
Cruz is a big and physical righthander and first baseman with a 6-foot-5, 240-pound frame and a hyper-aggressive approach at the plate. He slashed .416/.478/.682 with 14 home runs and 22 doubles in 2025 with Alabama State and can drive the ball hard into the gaps—but loves to swing the bat. Cruz had an extremely swing-happy 56% swing rate in 2025 and expanded the zone with regularity. Cruz does have impressive bat-to-ball skills to go with his aggressive approach, and rarely misses a fastball, but will get a bit more exposed against secondaries. His batted ball data might be a little bit light for a right-right first base profile reliant on batted ball outcomes and without a huge floor of on-base skill. However, he’s an interesting hitter committed to Georgia with loud performance who could fit in rounds 11-20 in the draft. -
School: Auburn Drafted/Committed: Brewers ’23 (18)
Age At Draft: 21.0
Watts is a 6-foot-4, 205-pound righthander who began his career at Tacoma (Wash.) Community JC in 2023. The Brewers drafted him in the 18th round in 2023, but instead of signing Watts went to Auburn where he pitched mostly in the bullpen for the next two years. Watts’ career 7.25 ERA at Auburn is underwhelming, but teams are intrigued with his pure arm talent. He sits around 95 mph with his fastball and has been up to 99 at peak velocity. He also generated a miss rate north of 50% with his hard and tight mid-80s slider. His mid-80s fading changeup is a real third pitch as well. Watts showed solid control in his 2025 draft season. -
School: Rice Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.8
Hickson started his college career at Florida State but threw just one inning as a freshman in 2023 before transferring to Rice. A 6-foot-2, 210-pound righthander, Hickson pitched first as a reliever and then moved into a starter role in 2025, where he posted a 3.82 ERA over 73 innings with a 27.7% strikeout rate and 10.8% walk rate, which was an improvement over his 13.9% walk rate in 2024. He throws a three-pitch mix that includes a fastball that sits 93-94 mph and touches 97, a mid-80s slider and a mid-80s changeup. Hickson is a fringy strike-thrower and has better feel for his fastball and slider than changeup. -
School: Samford Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.7
Gupton was a top-10-rounds talent coming out of high school because of his top-of-the-scale speed and impressive raw power. He didn’t get drafted and made it to campus at NC State, where he had just seven plate appearances, before transferring to Gulf Coast Community (Miss.) JC in 2024 and Samford in 2025. Now listed at 5-foot-9, 175 pounds, Gupton remains a high-end runner who regularly turns in 80-grade run times and can homer to the pull side. He is limited by an extremely raw offensive approach with below-average contact skills, but he did hit .333/.401/.630 with 15 homers through 55 games in 2025. Gupton too frequently gets himself out by expanding the zone on bad pitches and struck out at a 28% clip. Gupton’s swing is also long enough that his home-to-first times will play down from his true speed. He’s an above-average center fielder whose speed should be more than enough to stick at the position, but he’s never stolen the amount of bases that his raw running ability might suggest. -
School: New Mexico JC Drafted/Committed: Texas Tech
Age At Draft: 20.4
Becerra is a physical 6-foot-1, 215-pound righthander with a big fastball and a chance to be a power reliever. He ran his fastball up to 97 mph in the fall and early in the 2025 spring season, though his velocity was inconsistent and trended more toward the 90-94 mph range later in the year. At its best, scouts think his fastball has a chance to be a double-plus offering, though Becerra needs to sharpen his secondaries and his control. His best non-fastball might be a curveball that could become an average pitch. He’s also thrown a slider and changeup that are solidly below-average. Becerra is committed to Texas Tech for the 2026 season and might profile best as a reliever in pro ball. -
School: Samford Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.7
Keshock is a lean righthander with a 6-foot-7, 225-pound frame who pitched sporadically with Auburn in his first two college seasons. He transferred to Samford for the 2025 season where he posted a 5.73 ERA over 14 starts and 77 innings with a 20.2% strikeout rate and 9% walk rate, and his final line ballooned after allowing 10 earned runs in his final outing against East Tennessee State. Keshock sits in the 90-94 mph range with his two-seam fastball and has touched 95-96. The pitch is more of a groundball-inducing heater than a real swing-and-miss pitch. He relies on a mid-80s gyro slider and a mid-80s changeup to get most of his whiffs. Keshock struggled at times syncing his long levers down the stretch, but at his best he’s a classic sinker-slider righty from a lower arm slot. -
School: Alabama Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 20.8
Neal ranked as a top-100 player in the 2022 class out of high school as a young-for-the-class backstop with a well-rounded game. He made it to campus at LSU where he showed some on-base ability and flashes of power, but transferred to Alabama for the 2025 season. A 5-foot-10, 190-pound lefthanded hitter, Neal has never quite lived up to his prep pedigree as a hitter in college and finished his first three seasons as a career .236/.397/.434 hitter. Neal does have a solid understanding of the zone and his 17.6% career walk rate shows he’s plenty willing to take a free pass, but he really struggles to make contact against secondaries. Neal has all the tools to stick behind the plate and be a solid catcher. He has soft hands while receiving, and quick actions and footwork on his throws with a better exchange than pure arm strength. Neal’s glove and pedigree could appeal to a team in rounds 11-20 that believes it can help him rediscover more of his impact at the plate. -
School: Cape Henlopen HS, Lewes, Del. Drafted/Committed: Kentucky
Age At Draft: 18.8
Mitchell is a power-oriented lefthanded hitter and catcher with a great frame at 6-foot-3, 195 pounds. The Delaware native played for the same Cape Henlopen program that produced big leaguer Zack Gelof and, like Gelof, won the state’s Gatorade player of the year award. He has plus raw power already and still has a chance to fill out and add more strength in the future. Mitchell does make some aggressive swing decisions now and has the sort of long-levered swing that might come with miss tendencies and create a power-over-hit profile. He has a chance for an above-average arm behind the plate, but there are questions about his blocking and receiving that could ultimately force him off the position. Mitchell is committed to Kentucky. -
School: Lee’s Summit (Mo.) West HS Drafted/Committed: Tennessee
Age At Draft: 18.6
Wood is a physical, muscled-up prep righthander with a 6-foot-2, 210-pound frame. He sat 92-94 mph with his fastball and touched 96 at peak during his senior spring, then carried on to the MLB Draft League where he maxed out at 98 mph in a short outing in mid June. Wood also shows flashes of an average low-80s slider and a mid-80s changeup that has a chance to develop into a reliable third offering. He has some reliever risk but enough arm talent to make him interesting to teams right out of high school. Wood is committed to Tennessee. -
School: Walters State (Tenn.) JC Drafted/Committed: Tennessee
Age At Draft: 0.0
Myatt was the most dominant hitter in junior college in 2025. He was named the NJCAA Division I player of the year after he won the juco triple crown and led the country with a .484 average, 31 home runs and 110 RBIs. Myatt slashed .484/.583/1.014 and set the Walters State (Tenn.) JC record for home runs and RBIs while tying the hits record at 105. Myatt is filled out and physical with a 5-foot-11, 205-pound frame and plenty of strength, though there are some limitations to his game. Myatt is not a great athlete and he doesn’t have a clear defensive home. He’s played a bit of second base and third, but also spent a solid amount of time in the lineup as a DH. Myatt is committed to Tennessee, where he’ll have an opportunity to prove his hitting chops against better competition and potentially add more clarity to where he can play in the field. He could be a draft target for teams in the 11-20 range purely on his production. -
School: Auburn Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.4
Snow began his career at South Florida where he had a standout 2023 freshman season, led the team in hitting and homered eight times. He wasn’t nearly as productive as a sophomore and transferred to Auburn for the 2025 season where he moved from a regular shortstop into a utility infield role, mostly playing third base and second. Snow’s impact at the plate more closely resembled his impressive freshman campaign. Listed at 5-foot-8, 190 pounds, Snow is undersized with a compact frame that is mostly filled out. He doesn’t have loud tools, but he is an excellent contact hitter who doesn’t miss a fastball and rarely swings and misses inside the strike zone. His power is limited and he’s not a burner, but he does a lot of things well on the field, competes in the box and has the hands to play all over the infield. His fringy arm strength might make second base his best defensive fit at the next level. -
School: IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. Drafted/Committed: Florida State
Age At Draft: 19.2
Paulino Jr. is part of an annually-loaded IMG Academy team in Bradenton, Fla. and pairs solid physicality with intriguing hitting traits. A 6-foot-1, 190-pound third baseman and righthanded hitter, Paulino combines solid bat speed with good contact skills and an advanced approach at the plate. He has above-average raw power that could play as average in game—mostly to the pull side now—and also has the tools to stick at third base. He’s a below-average runner who doesn’t look like a real basestealing threat, but he has solid hands and enough arm strength for the hot corner. Paulino’s game is more well-rounded than explosive, and he’s physically close to maxed out, so some teams could prefer the right-right corner infielder to prove his hitting chops at Florida State. -
School: Blue Valley HS, Stilwell, Kan. Drafted/Committed: Texas
Age At Draft: 19.0
Westphal is an athletic, high-energy righthander with a 6-foot-3, 185-pound frame. He has a loud fastball/slider combination with both pitches earning above-average future grades or better. The fastball sits in the low 90s and will touch 93 mph, while his slider is a big, sweeping breaking ball in the upper 70s with huge spin rates that get north of 3,000 rpm. While Westphal does have solid strikes for a high school righthander, the effort in his delivery does lead to some reliever questions. While he’s mostly a two-pitch righthander now, he does have a mid-80s changeup in the arsenal. Westphal is committed to Texas and will be a draft-eligible sophomore if he makes it to campus. -
School: South Carolina Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 22.3
Kaczmar was a draft-eligible sophomore who received some interest from MLB clubs after he led Ohio State in hitting in 2024. Instead of being drafted and signing, Kaczmar transferred to South Carolina for the 2025 season where he hit .315/.394/.486 as the team’s everyday shortstop. Despite his consistent collegiate hitting track record, Kaczmar has some offensive questions. His swing is noisy with some moving parts, and he tends to expand the strike zone a bit too often, with contact questions against all pitch types, but especially against fastball velocity. He never hit more than seven home runs in a college season. Kaczmar is a solid defender who gets the ball out of his glove quickly, though his pure arm strength might be a bit light for shortstop. -
School: Archbishop Ryan HS Drafted/Committed: West Virginia
Age At Draft: 19.1
Perez is a muscular shortstop and righthanded pitcher with a 5-foot-10, 190-pound frame and solid tools on both sides of the ball. As a hitter, Perez has a power-over-hit offensive look, with an open stance and lots of bat speed and intent on his swings. He needs more refinement with his approach, but he has the ability to impact the baseball, particularly to the pull side. He has a plus arm that should give him a chance to stick on the left side of the infield, though his size and actions could make him a better fit for third base at the next level. On the mound, Perez has a fastball that’s regularly in the low 90s and has been up to 95 mph, as well as a low-80s breaking ball and low-80s changeup that needs plenty of work. He’s more thrower than pitcher now and carries plenty of reliever risk without significant strides. Perez is committed to West Virginia and will be a draft-eligible sophomore if he makes it to campus. -
School: Trinity Christian HS, Sharpsburg, Ga. Drafted/Committed: Chipola (Fla.) JC
Age At Draft: 18.6
Stiltner is a high-waisted and projectable righthander with a 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame. He throws with a low three-quarters slot and has a solid three-pitch mix. His fastball is typically in the low 90s, though in the 2025 spring he pushed the pitch up to 95 mph with consistent sinking life. He throws the slider in the low-to-mid 80s and has also shown some swing-and-miss traits with a tumbling, mid-80s changeup—though his feel for the change remains a bit behind his fastball/slider combo. Stiltner is committed to Chipola (Fla.) JC. -
School: University School of Nashville (Tenn.) HS Drafted/Committed: Arkansas
Age At Draft: 18.7
Peck is a big-bodied righthanded hitter with tons of physical projection and the ingredients to become an impact bat with more seasoning. Listed at 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, Peck has lean strength throughout his frame with impressive bat speed and functional hitting mechanics. His leg kick is early and gets drawn out, which might become more of a timing concern against better pitchers, and he’ll also get a bit pull-happy and leak out with his lower half at times. He can impact the ball to the pull side when he’s timed up and has the bat speed to handle high-end velocity, but Peck’s overall approach and bat-to-ball skills need polish. Peck isn’t a burner and could slow down to more of a fringy runner in the future as he adds strength. He’s a shortstop now but his longer actions and overall build could be a better fit for third base where his solid-average arm should fit fine. Peck is an Arkansas commit who could raise his stock significantly by continuing his hitting development in the SEC. -
School: Central Florida Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.7
Williams is a 6-foot-2, 215-pound righthanded reliever with a loud two-pitch combo but strikes issues. He started his career at Jacksonville where he missed most of the 2023 season with injury, but pitched well out of the bullpen before transferring to Central Florida for the 2025 season. Williams posted a 9.28 ERA in 10.2 innings in 2025, but scouts are intrigued with his arm talent despite his lack of performance. He averages 95 mph with his fastball and has touched 99 and has a hard, upper-80s slider that has potential purely on its power—though it remains inconsistent.
Minor League Top Prospects
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EL managers came to have the same feelings about Larish that scouts have had since his college days at Arizona State. Once considered a potentially elite hitter, he has adopted an approach and sells out for home runs. It makes his profile more that of a second-division regular than as a championship-caliber starter. "He's abandoned using the whole field and has very little two-strike approach," one scout said. "He was just trying to jerk balls, but he showed pretty big power, and it's from the left side." His upright stance turns off some, because it precludes him from covering the outer third of the plate and produces serious holes in his swing. The things he can do make Larish a prospect. He's patient, ranking second in the league and sixth in the minors with 87 walks, and he waits out pitchers until he gets a pitch he can drive. His strength and leveraged swing produce well above-average power, as he led the EL with 28 homers and 101 RBIs. He's also an accomplished defender around the bag at first base. -
Saunders is one of the best athletes in the Mariners system, but his stock took a hit when he batted .240/.329/.345 in his full-season debut in low Class A last year. He flashed his five-tool potential on a much more consistent basis in the Cal League, and he played well in Double-A in August. He's still growing into his 6-foot-4 frame and has good loft in his swing, which could make him a 20-homer hitter on an annual basis. He has plus speed that makes him a basestealing threat and a plus defender in center or right field. A Canadian who had NHL potential in hockey and also played basketball, lacrosse and soccer, he lacks true baseball instincts but has shown a better sense for the game with each of his promotions. -
Paulino hadn't played above Class A coming into the season, but he made his major league debut in Houston in September, earning wins in his last two starts. He has the body and the stuff to pitch at the top of a rotation, with a fastball that touches 100 mph and sits at 95-99 mph. Paulino has four legitimate pitches, using both a slider and a curveball as well as a changeup. His curveball is probably the best of his complementary pitches, but none of them stand out. To establish himself in the big league rotation, Paulino will have to improve his command and become more confident with his fastball. His velocity allows him to dominate, but if hitters hit his heater early in games, he tends to shy away from it. -
Ely overmatched Pioneer League hitters in his pro debut by consistently by consistently throwing strikes and using his 91-93 mph fastball to set them up for a plus changeup that ranks as his best pitch. His curveball was a solid pitch for him at Miami (Ohio) this spring, though it received mixed reviews from those who saw him this summer. Ely has a deceptive delivery that he repeats well and keeps hitters off balance, but he's also a max-effort pitcher with a head jerk. There are some concerns about how his ability to avoid injuries with his mechanics, but he has no history of arm problems in the past. He's extremely competitive on the mound. -
The Yankees signed Heredia out of the Dominican Republic last year. He didn't pitch in the Dominican Summer League in 2006 and made his pro debut in the States this summer. Not big but wiry strong, Heredia pumps out fastballs from 91-93 mph, touching some 94s along the way. He has a loose, easy delivery and adds and subtracts from his fastball, which he commands to all four quadrants of the strike zone. His slurvy breaking ball needs to get tighter, though it shows flashes of being a plus pitch with solid downward rotation. "He just reminds me of Pedro Martinez when I was with the Dodgers in '93," Reed said. "You see the frame and wonder where it all comes from. This guy is the same way." His changeup is still a work in progress, as he's refining his arm action and grip to command it more consistently. Heredia morphed into a two-pitch pitcher at times, and he'll have to gain more confidence in his changeup if he's going to profile as a starter. -
Ottavino's approach is simple yet effective. He relies on a 92-93 mph fastball featuring good armside run and a tight slider, as the fastball rides in on righthanders while the slider runs away from them. His command isn't very polished, but he gets enough movement that he can simply aim for the middle of the plate and relying on the run on his fastball and the tilt on his slider to hit the corners. Ottavino got FSL hitters to chase his slider out of the zone, though there's some concern as to whether he can throw it consistently for strikes if more advanced players lay off of it. He also throws a below-average changeup and curveball, and he might wind up in the bullpen down the road. -
As they did with lefty John Danks in 2006, the Rangers bumped Hurley to Triple-A just three years after drafting him in the first round out of high school. Texas felt comfortable moving Hurley quickly, given his even temperament and willingness to take instruction. He pitched very well for Oklahoma before getting hammered in his final two starts, when he allowed six of his 13 Triple-A homers. With a repertoire headed by a 91-95 mph fastball and an above-average slider with late depth, Hurley is all about power. Those two pitches will play up--and his strikeouts will increase--as he gains more command. He needs to improve his changeup and do a better job of working down in the strike zone. -
An exceptional athlete, Brown was recruited by Miami as a wide receiver but he chose instead to sign as a 20th-round pick in 2006. The ball jumps off his bat, though his swing can get long and has some holes that can be exploited. His wiry-strong build evokes Darryl Strawberry, and he can hit the ball a long way when he connects. A long strider with above-average speed, Brown plays a shallow center field. He occasionally takes some bad routes, but he's athletic enough to compensate and has a strong arm. "He's got a ton of tools," Hudson Valley manager Matt Quatraro said. "His body, if it fills out, he could be a monster. His swing's long at times, but when he gets on top of the ball, he's got some juice." -
Because of his stuff, frame and profile, Reyes gets compared Horacio Ramirez, who likewise signed with the Braves out of a southern California high school. Reyes made 14 starts at Mississippi before spending three months in the majors when injuries beset Atlanta's pitching staff. He struggled but did win two of his last three starts and posted a 3.10 ERA in September. Reyes doesn't have a true put-away pitch, but he has five weapons at his disposal, headlined by a fastball that ranges from 88-94 mph. He can add and subtract from his fastball, and also throws a cutter in the high 80s. His solid-average slider is his best secondary pitch, which he complements with a usable changeup and curve. He's erratic with his command at times, and Reyes has lapses when a series of mistakes leads to big innings. He profiles as a back-of-the-rotation starter. "He's a guy for me," the second scout said. "He can speed up and slow down bats, and he has enough effective wildness and enough stuff to get away with some of his inconsistency." -
Fabian has added 30 pounds since signing out of the Dominican in 2003, and his 6-foot-3 frame still has plenty of projection remaining. He has yet to reach full-season ball in five years as a pro and is far from a finished product, but his loose arm is loaded with potential. Fabian's fastball sits at 91 mph and he was up to 96 in the first game of the NWL finals, when he pitched into the eighth inning and earned the win against Salem-Keizer. He's aggressive and attacks hitters, though his command is below-average. He'll occasionally break off a filthy downer curveball that could become a legitimate putaway offering. His changeup is below-average, though it too could develop into a weapon. -
James flew under the radar last season despite going 6-2, 1.36 in Lexington. His fringy fastball didn't excite scouts then, but they believe in him more now that his velocity increased this year. His heater sat at 89-92 and he can sink and tail it to either side of the plate, making him a groundball machine. James' slider is an average pitch with plus potential. He has toyed with different grips on his changeup but hasn't found consistent command of it yet. "He could be unhittable at times here and all he'd throw were sinkers," Sarbaugh said. "He'd flash you the breaking ball, he'd flash the changeup, but he was pretty much all sinkers." -
The highlight of Lofgren's season was going home to San Francisco for the Futures Game--he's from famed Serra High in nearby San Mateo--but the regular season held some struggles for him. His athletic ability, competitiveness and aptitude still make him one of the minors' more intriguing lefties, but he has work to do. Lofgren pitches off his average-to-plus fastball, running it up to 93-94 mph at times. His curveball, slider and changeup all flash above-average potential as well. He started throwing his changeup two years ago and it's now his best secondary pitch, allowing him to be more effective against righthanders (.739 OPS against) than lefties (.815 OPS). Lofgren didn't attack Double-A hitters like he needed to, getting into trouble by nibbling when he got ahead or by struggling to throw his secondary pitches for strikes early in counts. One scout said Lofgren needs to learn pitchability and expects his athletic ability to help him do that with another year in the minors. -
Patton spent the first half of the season in Double-A and required just eight Triple-A starts before he was thrust into Houston's rotation in August. The Astros turned to him not because he had blown away PCL batters, but because he shows exceptional poise for a young pitcher. After three effective appearances in Houston, he was shut down with shoulder soreness, which cut short his two previous seasons as well. With command of three pitches and a strong pickoff move, Patton has the ingredients to be a solid No. 3 starter. He locates his 88-92 mph fastball to both sides of the plate and has confidence in his hard curveball. Patton has made the greatest strides with his changeup, which fades down and away from righthanders. -
Statia has the tools to play shortstop in the majors now. He's an athletic defender with above-average range to both sides, plus arm strength and good instincts. He's a savvy basestealer as well, swiping 29 bags in 37 tries despite just average speed. While his defense is big league-ready, his bat is nowhere close. Until he adds some strength to his lanky frame, he'll be vulnerable to good fastballs. He has little power, and while he makes consistent contact, he doesn't draw many walks. -
Welker had an up-and-down spring as a weekend starter for Arkansas after transferring from Seminole State (Okla.) JC, but the Pirates drafted him in the second round based on his arm strength and projectable 6-foot-7 frame. He had a strong pro debut before the Pirates shut him down because of elbow soreness. Welker pitches at 92-93 mph and touches 95-96 with his lively fastball, and he might throw even harder as he matures. He pitches off his fastball, working it in and out, and mixes in a slurvy breaking ball that has potential but needs some tightening. His changeup is usable but also needs some refinement. Welker has a strong, durable frame and pitches on a good downward plane. He could be a starter in the big leagues if he can polish his secondary offerings. "One thing that sticks out the most to me is his competitiveness and his presence," State College manager Turner Ward said. "To me, he's definitely a big leaguer. He's got the stamina, the body, just the package of a starting pitcher." -
Like Votto, Lind came into the season with high expectations after winning the Double-A Eastern League's MVP award and hitting .367 in 60 September big league at-bats in 2006. He started 2007 with Syracuse, earning an early callup when Reed Johnson had back surgery. American League pitchers were ready for Lind this time and he struggled to make adjustments, hitting .230/.274/.383 before a July demotion. Lind regained his confidence and his stroke in the IL, and he fared better (.273/.298/.473) after a September callup. He's balanced at the plate and stays inside the ball well, using his classic lefthanded swing to drive the ball from line to line. "His hands somewhat work independently from his body," Syracuse manager Doug Davis said. "He's got such good hand-eye coordination that it's very easy for him to put the barrel of the bat on ball. That's my biggest thing. He's a natural hitter who can not only put the ball in play, but drive it." Lind missed two weeks in early August when he strained a muscle in his neck after violently banging his head on the ground while making a diving attempt for a catch. A similar play in 2006 caused a concussion. He remains a work in progress in the outfield, where below-average speed and just playable range and throwing mechanics limit him to left field. -
After serving as a catcher when he wasn't injured during his first two pro seasons, Snyder moved to first base this year and looked more comfortable. He had his best offensive season to date, rebounding nicely from the dislocated right shoulder and rotator-cuff surgery that limited him to 72 games in 2006. Snyder showed improved plate discipline and continued to display a smooth swing from the right side. He consistently gets his hands in a good hitting position. The question, however, is whether he'll drive in enough runs to be an impact player at the major league level, because the move to first base puts a greater emphasis on his bat. Snyder, who showed soft hands and good athleticism at his new position, also took groundballs at third base. "He adapted well defensively and has become a quality first baseman," Kendall said. "He also made adjustments with the bat, particularly with his pitch selection. Last year, he didn't have a plan when he stepped in the box. While he'll still wave at breaking balls, he has improved in working the count and using the whole field." -
Canham's makeup and offensive prowess were a big part of Oregon State's back-to-back College World Series titles. The day he reported to Eugene, he introduced himself to manager Greg Riddoch and promptly asked to take the opposing hitters' chart home with him to prepare for the next night's game. Canham injured a testicle in mid-July and missed two weeks. After he returned to the lineup, his solid-average bat speed and raw power weren't as evident, but he's a confident hitter with a good approach from the left side of the plate. He has a tendency to drift during his swing, which creates some length. Canham's defensive skills are subpar, but he's a good athlete with plenty of agility and aptitude to work his way into becoming an adequate catcher. He has solid-average arm strength with a fair release that would be aided by better footwork, and he threw out 31 percent of basestealers in the NWL. He's an average runner. -
Romero finished third in the league in batting (.316) and homers (nine). He's a gap-to-gap hitter who can drive the ball hard the other way, and he should have even more power as he gets stronger and turns on more pitches. Defensively, Romero has limited range at third base but he does have soft hands, arm strength and a quick release. He sometimes overthrows, but he's fairly steady and led Appy League third baseman with a .929 fielding percentage. His biggest need is to find an even keel, as he gets down on himself and lets his emotions affect his play. "He's got it in him," Elizabethton manager Ray Smith said. "He's a tools guy and he can hit it as far as anybody. He's got it in him, but we need to get it out of him." -
After hitting just three homers in Rookie ball last year, Francisco won the MWL home run crown with 25, including 10 in the final month. In a league full of young power hitters, scouts and managers thought Francisco had the most raw pop of any of them. "He swings the bat with a lot of authority," Great Lakes manager Lance Parrish said. "He has a lot of potential and it's not too far in the future. He'll be leading every league he's in in home runs and he'll be an all-star." Francisco offers incredible pull power from the left side, though he needs to tone down his aggression and tighten his strike zone after fanning 161 times and walking only 23 in 135 games. He has a long swing and tends to chase balls in the dirt, but he's also just 20. He has enough arm and mobility to stay at third base, though he'll have to watch his weight to do so. -
Rodriguez doesn't offer one overwhelming tool, but his overall package and strong baseball instincts should make him an effective big leaguer. His offensive numbers dipped from 2006, when he led the minors with 291 total bases, but he was still selected as the league's all-star shortstop. Power is probably Rodriguez' best tool, as he shows the ability to drive the ball to all fields and could hit 20-25 homers per year in the majors. Some observers think he would be better served shortening his swing and being more of a doubles hitter, however. Though he has a good swing and balance at the plate, he led the league with 132 whiffs, in part because of poor strike-zone recognition. Rodriguez has been a shortstop so far in his career and shows good defensive actions, but his below-average speed and big frame, as well as organization depth, could push him to second base or the outfield. He'll probably end up as a utility player. -
Just before Scherzer would have re-entered the 2006 draft, the Diamondbacks coughed up a four-year major league contract worth $4.3 million in guaranteed money to sign the 11th overall pick from 2005. Nicknamed "Max-a-million" by his teammates, he made three starts in high Class A before arriving in Mobile in late June. Scherzer's most attractive attribute is a sinking fastball that tops out near 95 mph. His mechanics need some work, as his release point is inconsistent and there's some effort to his delivery, but he does achieve good extension out front and his arm strength is obvious. Scherzer has a two-seamer he can run up to 90 mph, an 80-84 mph slider and a changeup, all of which have potential to be solid-average to plus offerings. But Scherzer's arsenal is inconsistent, and his overall command is below average. That leads some scouts to project he'll wind up in the bullpen, where he can focus on his fastball and slider. "It's an outstanding arm who needs polish and has some max effort to it, which impacts his ability to command the baseball," a fourth scout said. "The stuff is there, it's just a matter of if he can make that next step and command it." -
AZL managers found Culberson, a surprise supplemental first-round pick in June, far from conventional but nonetheless to their liking. He rebounded from a terrible start to help drive the Giants into the championship game, leading the team with 19 stolen bases (in 20 tries) and batting .354 in August. Culverson showed pull power, savvy baserunning skills and above-average bat speed, and he made progress on learning when to be aggressive and when to be smart. Culberson hit 16 homers as a high school senior, but homers aren't likely to be a significant part of his game as he moves up the ladder. The unconventional part comes with his glove. Culberson has excellent arm strength despite an unusual, almost sidearm release point, and as he learns to trust his arm, he'll improve his fringe-average range by playing deeper and learning better positioning. His aggressive nature led to mistakes, but he worked hard with roving instructor Fred Stanley and showed enough aptitude (one error in his last 12 games in the AZL) to keep playing shortstop in instructional league. -
Fish finished in a three-way tie for the league lead with 77 strikeouts in 72 innings and fanned 13 in eight innings in his lone playoff outing. His funky delivery creates deception and confuses hitters, making his 88-93 mph fastball seem quicker than it really is. He has good secondary pitches, though he needs to be more consistent with his curveball, which rates as solid-average when he throws it for strikes. Fish still needs to improve his command and must keep his weight under control. -
A second-round pick in 2006, Perez made his full-season debut with the Avalanche. He was up an down for much of the season, but he showed two quality pitches throughout. His fastball has excellent late life and sits at 91-93 mph, while his 84-mph slider was his out pitch for much of the year. Perez' changeup improved as the season wore on, though he still doesn't have quite the arm action he needs to make it as effective as it could be. He repeats his delivery well, though some scouts expressed concern with the way he wraps his wrist in the back of his delivery -
Carvajal had to repeat the league after a hand injury curtailed his season last year. He needed the experience because he had gotten just 75 at-bats since signing for $350,000 in late 2005 out of the Dominican Republic. He's still raw, particularly in terms of pitch recognition and plate discipline, but he also has some of the best bat speed in the Padres system and enough athletic ability to play well in a short trial in center field. According to AZL Padres manager Tony Muser, the former Royals skipper, Carvajal profiles best as a left fielder with good defense and enough power for the position. "He has a lot of upside because he can do a lot of things," Muser said. "He can run, he's got a plus arm, he's got raw power. A lot of times with young players like him, it can take longer getting on their feet, and he lost time, but now he's making progress." -
One of the few Mariners prospects who has been allowed to develop more or less at his own pace, Balentien showed improvement across the board in his first taste of Triple-A. Most strikingly, he slashed his strikeout rate from one every 3.2 at-bats in 2006 to one every 4.5 for Tacoma. Though Balentien still will wildly chase pitches out of the zone, he did show increased selectivity in the first half, especially with regard to breaking balls off the plate. He has immense raw power to all fields and hit his first big league homer in September off Fausto Carmona. Balentien also has average speed and good baserunning instincts. He's an average defender with a plus arm in right field. He frequently has come under scrutiny for his lackadaisical play and though he still has lapses, he showed more focus and maturity in 2007. -
If Young reaches the majors, his speed will be what gets him there. After leading the minors with 87 steals in 2006, he ranked second this year with 73. He became more efficient swiping bases, succeeding on 80 percent of his attempts, up from 74 percent a year ago. "He's a legitimate big league basestealer," Subero said. "He could go up on speed alone." Young uses his speed to get on base via bunts, though he still needs to improve his strike-zone judgment to be a tablesetter at the top of the order. He upgraded his total package by improving his defense at second base, showing better range and footwork. -
The tallest pitcher in the GCL at 6-foot-10, Moviel also has stuff to back up his height advantage. He consistently threw 92-93 mph and touched 95 with his fastball. He draws comparisons to Yankees first-round pick Andrew Brackman because both are huge Ohio natives who committed to North Carolina State (Brackman played for the Wolfpack but Moviel turned pro). Though Brackman is three years older, Moviel may be more polished. Scouts raved about his ability to not only repeat his delivery, but his secondary pitches as well. He'll pitch inside with his fastball with no fear, and his 82-83 mph hammer curveball really keeps opposing hitters at bay. Moviel also has a workable changeup, though it lags behind his other two offerings. There are concerns about his long arm action, but he's athletic and fields his position well for a big man. -
Hanson went just 2-6 in 14 starts at Rome, but his record fails to tell the true story. He used solid command of four pitches along with a willingness to throw inside to post a 2.59 ERA and limit hitters to a .194 average. Six-foot-6 and 210 pounds, Hanson has impressive mound presence and delivers the ball on an intimidating downhill plane. His fastball sits in the low 90s and he commands it well. Add in the tight spin on his curveball and improving depth on his changeup, and he's on the fast track in the Braves system. "He has good arm strength and I really like his breaking ball," Asheville pitching coach Bryan Harvey said. "He has a real good idea out there on the mound." -
Kendrick never had pitched above Class A prior to 2007, but he entered the postseason as the Phillies' Game Two starter, and his 3.87 ERA ranked second among their starters. He got started down that path in the EL, as he harnessed his command and stopped trying to pitch up in the strike zone with his fastball and down with his slider. The athletic Kendrick repeats his delivery, pumps his two-seam sinker to the bottom of the zone and spots his harder, low-90s four-seamer down and away. He also has a hard slider that's more of a groundball pitch than a strikeout offering. His changeup plays up because he locates it well. "He realized strikeouts are over-rated," Reading manager P.J. Forbes said. "He's pitching at the knees and when he misses, he misses down. He made hitters hit his pitch, because his command was that good. To give up just three home runs, playing in our ballpark, that's all about executing your pitches, and he did." -
After a dominant season in 2006, Meloan spent the first half of 2007 as Jacksonville's closer before climbing to Triple-A and the majors. Managers rated him the league's best reliever and he has the makings of a valuable late-inning man in the big leagues. Meloan has two speeds--hard and harder--and a tenacious attitude. He works primarily off an 89-94 mph fastball and a mid-80s slider that has touched 89. He also has feel for a curveball and changeup, but his slider and above-average command are his ticket. Meloan attacks both sides of the plate and pitches ahead in the count. His delivery is rigid and lacks fluidity, but he has shown resilience since arm soreness arose shortly after he was drafted in 2005. -
With Outman, it's all about control. He struggles at times to control his fastball, which explains why ranked among the minor league leaders with 77 walks in 159 innings. At times he struggles to control his emotions, which explains why he overthrows and is prone to big innings and bad outings. But there's also a lot to like about the lefty, who led the league with a 2.45 ERA and earned a promotion to Double-A. Outman's fastball sits at 92-94 mph and he pairs it with an 84-87 mph slider. He's working on a changeup that still has a ways to go. A good athlete, Outman has reworked his mechanics and developed a more conventional delivery since turning pro. He also has added some deception, as he now hides the ball much longer, and his fastball has picked up some life. One manager who saw him in low Class A in 2006 said has made significant strides since last year -
If Van Mil makes it all the way up, he'll be the tallest pitcher in major league history at 7-foot-1. By the time he follows through, he's practically standing on home plate. His velocity is closer to Chris Young's than Randy Johnson's, however. Van Mil's fastball settles in around 91 mph and tops out at 95. His height gives him a downward plane that's tough on hitters. He's athletic and agile for his size. A product of the Netherlands, Van Mil lacks pitching instincts and profiles more as a reliever than as a starter. He's working on a slider that has some tilt, but he sometimes slows down his arm when he throws it. He also lacks control.Van Mil came down with elbow soreness, which sidelined him for three weeks in August. -
Like Poveda, Whittleman was much improved and still young for the league in his second stint at Clinton. After batting .227/.313/.343 as a 19-year-old in 2006, he boosted those numbers to .271/.382/.476 before an August callup to high Class A. He also added a Futures Game homer off the Mets' Deolis Guerra. Whittleman had a quieter approach and better balance at the plate this season, and he didn't chase as many pitches. With his swing, strength and grasp of the strike zone, he has a chance to hit .280 with 15-20 homers annually in the majors. He doesn't profile as well at third base as Bell, but he has a better stroke and puts more effort into his defense. Playing third base is still a struggle for Whittleman, who has the arm strength but lacks sure hands and quick feet. He made 29 errors in 85 games, and his .880 percentage was worse than his 2006 mark of .891. He tailed off in July, batting just .154/.264/.179 as most observers thought he got frustrated because he wasn't promoted earlier. -
Jones posted the second-highest slugging percentage (.507) in the Southern League and didn't miss a beat after earning a late-July promotion to Richmond, where he helped the Braves win the IL wild card. With a confident, quiet setup and a sweet lefty swing, he projects to be an above-average major league hitter. He makes adjustments and stays inside the ball well, taking what pitchers give him. Jones has 20-homer potential, which is about average for a corner outfielder, and he rarely turned on pitches in the IL, prompting some to question his assertiveness as a potential middle-of-the-order hitter. An average runner, he gets down the line well because of his clean swing mechanics. But with below-average hands and defensive instincts and a slow release on throws, he's a left fielder all the way. -
Duran was an afterthought in the Texas system coming into 2007, but he stung the ball all season and ranked among the TL leaders in most offensive categories. He also represented the Rangers on the World team in the Futures Game. Scouts and managers see Duran as an offensive second baseman whose overall approach to hitting isn't as polished as Antonelli's, but he offers more power. Duran isn't big but has a strong body and a quick bat, with the ability to put a charge in the ball. Most managers regarded Duran as a solid second baseman. He's good around the bag and should be able to make the routine plays, with average range and an average arm. His speed is fringe-average. -
Ambriz had shoulder surgery in 2004, then returned to star as a two-way player for UCLA the last two seasons. The Diamondbacks drafted him solely as a pitcher, and in his first pro summer he excelled as a swingman and earned the save in the clinching game of the Pioneer League playoffs. Arizona wants Ambriz to pitch off his fastball, and when he worked in shorter outings than he did as a college starter, his heater sat at 91-93 mph and touched 95. He also did a better job of keeping the ball down in the strike zone than he did at UCLA, with his mid-80s splitter resulting in a lot of groundballs. Ambriz also tightened his curveball. His curve and his changeup are still inconsistent, and he'll need to further develop them to succeed when he becomes a full-time starter next season. -
While he's a college pitcher, Wagner isn't the average college product. A former North Dakota State player, he saw his draft stock fall in 2005 due to a left kneecap injury that altered his mechanics and sapped his velocity. Healthy again, he and Aberdeen's Luis Lebron were the NY-P's dominant relievers. Wagner had the league's best fastball, sitting at 95-97 mph in just about every outing. He was content to blow fastballs by hitters, and his above-average control of the pitch means he can throw it for strikes to all four quadrants of the strike zone. However, Wagner lacks a second pitch. He has tried both a curveball and a slider, showing little feel for spinning a breaking ball. He had more success late in the summer when he started throwing a splitter, but he lacked confidence in the pitch. It looked better in the bullpen than in games. -
The Padres won the league in part because of the ability of Durango and Hunter to get on base and the knack Carrasco and league RBI champ Ranyor Contreras had for driving them in. San Diego officials rave about Carrasco's raw power, though some managers questioned his defense and listed age of 19, preferring Contreras. A year younger and more physical, Carrasco earns the nod here for two big power tools. Besides his pop, he also has a plus throwing arm, as well as the range and hands to become an average defensive third baseman. "He's a legitimate switch-hitter, and when he got into one, it went a long way," one manager said. "He needs to improve his pitch recognition and he's pretty mature physically, but he has outstanding power." -
A star tailback who rushed for 2,183 yards as an Illinois high school senior and could have played college football, Benson committed to baseball after the Twins made him a second-round pick in June. He offered one of the better combinations of power and speed in the GCL. He also has the range and enough arm to play center field. Besides his physical tools, Benson has a knack for making adjustments and playing with a football mentality. He can get too aggressive at times and will have to tone down his approach at the plate and on the bases. He had the mental toughness to handle a jump to low Class A after injuries riddled the Twins' Beloit affiliate. -
Cowart took the NWL by storm in his pro debut after the Giants drafted him in the 35th round as a Kansas State senior. He didn't allow an earned run in his first four starts and 21 innings, then reeled off an even longer stretch of five starts and 28 innings without yielding an earned run. On his way to winning NWL pitcher of the year honors, Cowart won his first 10 professional decisions before losing in his final regular-season outing. Cowart, who led the league with 10 wins and a 1.08 ERA, has impeccable control of underwhelming stuff, walking just eight batters in 83 innings. He also does a great job keeping the ball on the ground. The key to his success was the deception he creates with his funky submarine arm angle. He also has a very advanced feel for pitching, working both halves of the plate and leaving nothing above the knees. He has plenty of poise on the mound and fields his position well. But Cowart works in the 80-83 mph range with his fastball, topping out at 85, and he lacks a plus pitch. He also uses a slurvy breaking ball and a changeup. Cowart's future is in the bullpen, and his best-case scenario is that he can become a right-on-right specialist in the big leagues. Scouts are skeptical he'll be able to get hitters out at higher levels. -
A guy who hit .224 in a return trip to low Class A doesn't seem like a prime candidate for the FSL Top 20. But Golson improved after a promotion to Clearwater and his ceiling remains high, even if he remains raw. "He's got all the tools," Legg said. Golson is a standout center fielder with plus range and arm strength, though his routes to the ball could use improvement. He's a plus-plus runner who's still learning how to pick his spots to steal. And he shows above-average power potential at the plate. Golson's only problem is a big one. He has yet to show the ability to make consistent contact, as evidenced by his .233 batting average and 160 strikeouts between two Class A stops this year. He doesn't recognize pitches well and he pulls off the ball too much. But he also has quick hands and a quick bat, which lead some to believe he'll figure it out. "He's young," Warner said. "He'll chase here and there, but if you make a mistake, it's a different sound coming off of his bat." -
A revelation offensive and defensively in his 2005 pro debut, Lowrie suffered a high ankle sprain in May, missed a month and didn't find any rhythm at the plate until August. When he finally go healthy, he hit .325 with two of his three homers in the final month. While there are questions about Lowrie remaining at short because he lacks range and eye-popping arm strength, several scouts compared him to Jeff Blauser and Kevin Elster and gave him a chance to stay there. "He's kind of like David Eckstein with a lot better tools," an AL scout said. "You sit there and say to yourself, 'That guy's an everyday shortstop.' He makes the plays, nothing necessarily real flashy, but he's going to get it done." -
Though Severino was repeating the league and is significantly older than the other pitchers on this list, his stuff stood out. He had arguably the best fastball in the league, a 92-93 mph heater that explodes on hitters and enabled him to lead the league with 90 strikeouts in 68 innings. Three times he struck out 10 or more batters in a start. At 5-foot-11 and 150 pounds, Severino doesn't resemble a power pitcher, but he attacks hitters and his stuff certainly plays that way. His quick arm action also makes his slider tough to hit, though the pitch is a work in progress. Severino has average command of a changeup he throws to keep hitters from sitting on his fastball. His inconsistent mechanics sometimes lead to lapses in control. -
Outman doesn't have the feel for pitching that his teammate Maloney does, but he throws significantly harder. He also put together one of the most dominant months any minor league pitcher had this year when he went 5-0, 0.28 in August. He won 13 of his final 15 decisions. A wiry 6-foot-1 and 180 pounds, Outman often catches hitters off guard with his 90-94 mph fastball. His 80-84 mph slider also has the potential to be a plus pitch. He throws a curveball as well, but the consensus is that he'd be better off scrapping it and sticking solely with his slider. The key to Outman's future will be his changeup, which is still fringy. If it doesn't improve, his fastball-slider combo alone should make him an effective reliever. -
Olson climbed to Double-A in his first full pro season and displayed durability, consistency and solid-average stuff. If he improves his command and changeup, he could become a No. 3 or 4 starter. His fastball sits near 90 mph, and Olson has crafted a two-seamer that's slower but helps his cause against righthanders. His well above-average curveball is sharp with late, hard break and tight rotation. It's especially tough on lefties. He mixes his pitches well and moves them around, but he works deep in the count too often and tries to be too fine. His curve alone guarantees that he should become at least a dependable left-on-left reliever. -
Guzman has yet to duplicate his breakout 2004 season, and the Dodgers finally decided to use him in a deadline deal for Julio Lugo in July. His days as a shortstop have come to an end, and is future now appears to be in the outfield or first base, with third base also a possibility. Guzman still stands out from a physical standpoint, as he's a 6-foot-6, 250-pounder loaded with athleticism. He still needs to tighten his strike zone and add more defensive polish at his new positions, but he has tape-measure power, above-average arm strength and solid speed. "I like his size and power potential," DeFrancesco said. "The length of his swing has to be shortened, though, in order to survive in the big leagues. I see him as a first baseman. He'd be a nice big target over there with above-average athleticism for the position." -
Broadway started his season as strong as anyone in league, going 3-1, 1.74 in April. But then his delivery fell out of whack for two months, and hitters feasted on fastballs left up in the strike zone. He eventually fixed his mechanics and got back on track. The best pitch in Broadway's arsenal is a plus-plus spike curveball, which he commands to any part of the plate and will throw in any count. His average 89-90 mph fastball lacks consistent life and flattens out late in games. He seldom used a changeup in college and needs to increase arm speed to make it an effective third pitch. "He's polished and he's a fast-track guy," a NL scout said. "Whether he's fast-tracked as a pen guy or a starter depends on that changeup. It shows flashes, but sometimes it's very easy for hitters to pick up what's coming." -
The league MVP, Baisley did it all. He led the MWL in runs (86) and RBIs (110, the second-highest total in the minors) and also was the circuit's best defensive third baseman. Baisley is a very good situational hitter who doesn't try to do too much. He has a balanced stance, sound swing and pitch-recognition skills, enabling him to drive balls from gap to gap. He moves better than most 6-foot-3, 210-pounders, showing range to both sides, and has a solid arm. The biggest knock against him was his age: 23, ancient for low Class A. The Athletics are also high on fellow third baseman Myron Leslie (Baisley's former South Florida teammate), who was ensconced in high Class A, so they left Baisley at Kane County. "It's an absolute crime that kid played there for the entire season," a second AL scout said. -
Denorfia continued to do what he's always done--hit for average, get on base and play good defense--as he spent the season shuttling between the majors and the minors. He saw more time with the Reds after the mid-July trade of Austin Kearns, but Denorfia didn't hit enough to avoid a demotion. His future is probably as a fourth outfielder. Denorfia is a manager's delight because he's an overachiever who plays with passion. He has no one exceptional tool, but he's a disciplined, line-drive hitter who can take the ball up the middle or to the opposite field. He's probably no more than a 15-home run hitter in the majors. "He puts the ball in play and he's a good two-strike hitter," Cliburn said. "We played one series where we couldn't get him out. We'd pitch him away and he'd go the other way. Pitch him in and he'd drive it into the gap." Denorfia has average range in center field and enough arm to play in right. Above-average speed may be Denorfia's strongest tool, and he succeeded in 15 of 16 steal attempts. -
A native of Montana, where there's no high school baseball, the 6-foot-9 Mickolio played only basketball until the summer before his senior year of high school, when he began playing American Legion ball. He showed enough promise in his first year at Eastern Utah JC in 2003 that the Cardinals drafted him in the 35th round, and he made even more progress after transferring to Utah Valley State. With his enormous size, Mickolio was an imposing bullpen arm for Everett this summer. His height allows him to pitch on a downward angle and induce plenty of groundballs, as evidenced by his 49-18 ground-fly ratio. He works in the low 90s with a heavy fastball that has plenty of life and touches 94 mph. Mickolio also flashes a decent slider now and then, though he still has plenty of work to do on it and his changeup. His slider lacks tight rotation and doesn't miss many bats, and he needs to do a better job commanding his stuff within the strike zone. But considering how far Mickolio has come in his short pitching career, it's not a huge stretch to project him as a major league reliever. -
Before he moved up to Double-A and made way for Lillibridge, Bixler was one of the most exciting players in the league. As with Lillibridge, speed is Bixler's best tool, though he's not quite as fast. A spray hitter with gap power, Bixler learned to work counts more effectively this season. He's surehanded, but his range and arm are average at best and may be better suited for second base. "His bat is really going to have to carry him because he's not going to be a shortstop in the big leagues," a NL scout said. "He has some instincts there, but not enough to get to balls he should get to. He's Tony Graffanino for me." -
After finishing second in the Missouri Valley Conference batting race with a .382 average, Ashley figured to tear up the Appy League--and he did by hitting .333 and leading the league with a .440 on-base percentage. The oldest player on this list, he made quick transition to wood bats and made hard contact to all fields. He's physically mature but still may have room for growth in the power department. While he is highly athletic for a catcher, Ashley still needs work behind the plate. In instructional league, the Devil Rays plan to address his mechanical flaws in terms of his setup, receiving and blocking. He does have good hands, shows a plus arm at times and threw out 52 percent of basestealers in his pro debut. -
Another piece of the Abreu trade, Monasterios remained in the GCL with Sanchez, with both players moving across town from Tampa to Clearwater. As with most young pitchers, his best pitch is his fastball. He usually throws in the low 90s but was clocked as high as 96 mph. Monasterios pounds the strike zone and walked just six batters in 45 innings. He flashes a plus breaking ball, but it flattens out when he gets around the pitch in his delivery. He has shown some feel for a changeup, though it remains a distant third option for now. -
After signing for $150,000, Madrigal spent his first five seasons in pro ball as an outfielder. However, his above-average raw power didn't translate to games well enough because of his inability to recognize breaking balls. After getting off to a tough start in his third straight assignment to low Class A Cedar Rapids, Madrigal assented when the Angels asked him to move to the mound in late May. As a pitcher, Madrigal showed the same raw arm strength he had as an outfielder. His fastball touched 98 mph and he regularly sat at 94 mph when he maintained his mechanics. His slider also showed signs of being a reliable second pitch. Still just 22, he could move quickly if he continues to show aptitude in his new role. "What impressed me was the poise he showed for being new to pitching," Angels manager Ever Magallanes said. "He had pretty good mound presence for his level of experience." -
A former high school valedictorian, Headley stands out most for his headsy approach to the game. Multiple managers commented on how much they enjoyed talking to him while they coached third base and he played the field. Headley does everything fairly well but nothing exceptionally well. His biggest asset is his plate discipline and pitch recognition. A switch-hitter, he's much more effective as a lefty, though his swing is tailored more to hit line drives than home runs from both sides. Power is the biggest question mark, because he lacks physical projection and scouts doubt he'll have enough pop for third base. He's a solid defender at the hot corner, with soft hands, a fairly strong, very accurate arm and adequate range. He does a good job charging bunts and makes all the routine plays. One scout compared Headley to Greg Norton, and he could end up as a solid player off the bench. -
Patterson never has wowed scouts, even when he was winning the Cape Cod League batting title or hitting 50 homers during his college career at Louisiana State. But he continues to hit, and he impressed FSL managers with his heady approach at the plate. He led the league with a .520 slugging percentage after topping the short-season New York-Penn League with a .595 mark in his pro debut a year ago. Patterson has quick hands and power to all fields. He hits breaking balls well, but there's some concern that he still has too much of an aluminum-bat swing, with his weight too far forward at contact, leaving him vulnerable to being busted inside. Though he has average speed and an average arm, Patterson was able to handle center field with few problems. He still profiles better on a corner, however. -
Balentien drew comparisons to Manny Ramirez from league managers, both for his hitting potential and for his sometimes mystifying on-field behavior. Some managers called him a hot dog. He's one of the most intriguing power hitters in the minors--and represented the Mariners in the Futures Game in July--but his performance this season didn't match his potential. He has all the tools to be a middle-of-the-lineup force, including light-tower power. "My God, he can hit the ball a long way," Clark said. He has strength in his body and in his swing, with power from gap to gap, but his swing is big and he has not shown an ability to cut it down based on the count. He also struggled with breaking stuff, though he did show a willingness to hit the ball the other way this year. Balentien has a strong arm and runs well, though he's not a burner, and he played both right and center field for San Antonio. His long-term fit is in right, though. His attention sometimes wavered, and he led TL outfielders with 11 errors. -
A preseason appendectomy nearly derailed Hynick's junior season at Birmingham-Southern, but he rebounded to post a 2.59 ERA this spring. The Rockies pounced on him in the eighth round, confident they could help crispen his secondary stuff behind his 90-93 mph fastball. He quickly bought into instruction and went on to capture the league's pitcher of the year award. Hynick has an unorthodox arm action, but it works for him and hasn't hampered his ability to fill the strike zone. He made a lot of progress with a splitter that one coach said was the league's best pitch. He still has more work to do with his curveball and changeup. -
Pino was the best young Latin middle infielder in the league, though Aberdeen's Pedro Florimon received notice for his outstanding shortstop defense. Pino has more offensive upside and polish than Florimon, and his athletic ability stood out in a league dominated by college players. Pino ranked third in the league batting race, relying on a quick bat, contact-oriented approach and excellent hand-eye coordination. He fits best as a No. 2 hitter, though he needs to improve his bunting as well as his willingness to draw walks. He's an above-average runner and was caught just twice in 20 attempts. Pino's arm strength limits him to second base, but he has enough to be efficient at turning the double play. -
While Kelly is steady, Ciriaco is spectacular but also erratic. Though he had one of the MWL's strongest infield arms and was one of its fastest players, he stole just 19 bases in 27 attempts and led the minors with 45 errors. "He has God-given talent," Joyce said. "He might have the best arm strength in the league. It's right there with (2004 No. 1 overall pick) Matt Bush, and he's more accurate and gets to more balls than Bush." Still learning to apply that talent, Ciriaco plays out of control at the plate and in the field. He chases pitches out of the strike zone, gets his feet tangled up on defense and commits mental as well as physical mistakes. But he has the hand-eye coordination to hit, and the physical skills to excel in all aspects of the game if he slows himself down. -
Volquez entered the season rated as the Rangers' No. 1 prospect, based on his mid-90s fastball and well above-average changeup. He used those pitches to finish fourth in the PCL in strikeouts (130 in 121 innings) and fifth in ERA (3.21) while limiting Triple-A hitters to a .203 average. "His arm strength is outstanding," Sacramento manager Tony DeFrancesco said. "He was 94, 95 with his fastball against us. His slider was hard and he had a decent changeup. He just needs command. Right now, it's not there." Volquez, who ranked third in the PCL with 72 walks, had even more trouble locating his stuff in the majors. He has a 1-10, 9.20 record with Texas--the worst ERA in major league history for a pitcher who has made 10 starts. With the Rangers, he consistently has fallen behind hitters, gotten crushed when he has found the plate and failed to show a reliable breaking ball. -
Haeger topped the IL with 14 wins and finished among the league leaders in nearly every category: 3.07 ERA (fourth), 170 innings (fourth), 130 strikeouts (fourth) and 78 walks (second). With uncanny command of a knuckleball for such a young pitcher, Haeger projects as an innings-eating No. 5 starter. Though Haeger still walked a lot of batters, he has improved the command of his lively knuckler to the point where he can go to either corner with the pitch. He can change speeds on the knuckler--ranging from 65-75 mph--depending on the effect it's having on batters. Some IL batters thought his knuckleball was the best they'd ever seen, and he reminded one scout of Tom Candiotti for the action he got on the pitch. When he falls behind, Haeger can go to a straight 84-86 mph fastball, a pitch that's easier to locate. It's strictly a get-me-over offering, which is problematic on days when his knuckler doesn't cooperate. -
Until Will Inman qualified for the ERA title in his last start of the season, Matt Maloney was in line to capture the SAL pitching triple crown. He settled for leading the league in victories (16), innings (169) and strikeouts (180) while winning the league's pitch-of-the-year award. He's a classic soft-tossing lefty who relies on command and guile. His fastball sits at 85-87 mph and he compliments it with a slider, changeup and curveball. He locates all of his pitches well and his fastball the best, making it his go-to offering. With his advanced feel, he should move fast, but his lack of velocity will give him far less room for error as he advances. The 6-foot-4 Maloney has a tendency to stay upright in the finish to his delivery, causing him to leave the ball up in the zone, which could be a problem at higher levels. -
Sonnanstine's stuff isn't as good as Niemann's or Talbot's, but unlike them, he played a role in Montgomery's success all season long. He reeled off nine straight victories in June and July, and he led the minors with four complete games--all shutouts. Durable and resilient, he topped the SL in wins (15) and innings (186, which ranked second in the minors). Sonnanstine's plus-plus control and plus command are more notable than the quality of his pitches. His best offering is his changeup, as he worked hard with Biscuits pitching coach Xavier Hernandez to perfect his grip and arm action. He also throws an 89-92 mph fastball and a slurvy breaking ball, keeping hitters off balance by varying his arm angle and changing speeds. "This guy might be too smart for the game," an AL scout said. "He's confident, mixes his pitches well and always seems to have a plan." -
Ramos wore down in his 2005 pro debut after pitching 126 innings at Long Beach State that spring, but he entered this season refreshed and it showed. He went 7-4, 2.93 over the season's first four months before fatigue set in once again, and he went 0-4, 8.27 in August. When he's at his best like he was in the first half, Ramos has very good command of a four-pitch mix. He has a solid-average fastball that sits at 88-91 mph and jumps up to 92-93 when he needs it, and he uses an average curveball and average slider. His best pitch is a plus changeup that's effective against righthanders. Ramos doesn't rack up many strikeouts, but works to all corners of the zone to keep hitters off balance. He left too many pitches up late in the season when his arm was tired. He has an easy, compact delivery and a physical 6-foot-2, 200-pound frame that should prove more durable as he gets acclimated to a pro workload. -
Things really fell apart for Liz shortly after he was called up from high Class A in July. He overpowered hitters in the Carolina League but his below-average command doomed him in the EL. He left his stuff over the plate and fell behind in the count too often. Liz has a lightning-fast arm that generates 97-mph heat, but he struggles to repeat his delivery and release point. His curveball is inconsistent, as is his changeup. At times, both show the potential to be plus pitches. His upside is significant, and 2006 was just his second season in America, so with time Liz could develop into a starter in the mold of Orioles righty Daniel Cabrera. At worst, he moves to the bullpen and could become a closer. -
The proverbial crafy lefty, Salamida's success was too much for league observers to ignore. After dropping his first start despite not giving up any earned runs, he won his final 10 decisions in the regular season before losing to Kontos in the league championship game. Salamida led the NY-P in wins (10) and ERA (1.06). A two-way player at Division II SUNY Oneonta, Salamida has average size, average stuff and well above-average control, as well as a knack for pitching and moxie. His fastball sat in the upper 80s and touched 90, and he threw his changeup (his best secondary pitch) and slider for strikes with maddening regularity. He's the kind of pitcher who will have to prove himself at every level, but so far, so good. "Most guys in the league were one-pitch guys," Greer said. "This was a four-pitch guy who could throw breaking balls for strikes in fastball counts, then freeze a hitter with an 0-2 fastball. He was impressive." -
You're excused if you had never heard of Evans before this year. No one else had, either. He spent 3½ seasons in obscurity in the Cardinals organization, and he returned to high Class A for the third time to open 2006. He hit 15 home runs in 60 games there to earn a promotion to Springfield, and then he was traded to the Angels in the July for Jeff Weaver, which kept him in the Texas League at Arkansas. He finished the season with a combined 33 home runs, 37 stolen bases and a .942 on-base plus slugging percentage. Evans always had been regarded as a hard worker with an intriguing combination of power and speed. This season he developed a more relaxed, consistent approach at the plate that kept him from getting himself out by chasing pitches and going into prolonged slumps. Evans played exclusively in right field while in Springfield, but he played mostly in center for Arkansas. While he has the speed to play center on occasion, his strong arm and power profile perfectly in right. -
Chapman spent his third straight season in Rookie ball, but he showed enough this year to earn a late-season promotion to low Class A. PL observers liked his lefthanded bat, as he has good pitch recognition and uses the entire field. He should have at least doubles power as he advances, and he adjusted well after early-season struggles against southpaws. He's just an average runner, but has good instincts and can steal a base. He plays too shallow in center field, as balls get over his head and he doesn't always have enough speed to track them down. -
In a league dominated by pitching, Casilla was one of the few middle infielders who stood out. Acquired from the Angels in the offseason for J.C. Romero, Casilla started the season in Fort Myers and finished it in Minnesota. At the plate, Casilla takes advantage of his plus-plus speed by employing a running, slashing swing. He profiles as a leadoff hitter. He controls the strike zone and makes pitchers work, and once he reaches base, he's always a threat to steal. He has a knack for getting good jumps and reading pitchers. His weakness at the plate is his utter lack of power. Casilla played both second base and shortstop with the Miracle, and he's more polished at short right now. He has above-average range and arm strength. He's still figuring out his footwork and double-play pivot at second base. "He's very intelligent," Boles said. "You tell him to do something one time, he puts it into the game that night. He makes adjustments very quickly." -
Part of the talented Salem rotation, Reineke earned the win in the California-Carolina League all-star game. He has an intimidating presence on the mound, using his 6-foot-6 frame to unleash 93-94 mph fastballs on an extreme downward plane. He also throws a plus slider, with late sweeping life Reineke was more free and easy in his delivery this season, showing better overall balance and staying on a direct line toward home plate. He still lacks much feel for his changeup, part of the reason he was moved to the bullpen following a promotion to Double-A. It has good diving action at times but he has yet to find a comfortable grip or consistency with it. -
Peguero teamed with Avila to give the Mariners a 1-2 punch unrivaled in the league. They tied with teammate Wellington Dotel for the home run lead with seven, and Peguero's .649 slugging percentage easily topped the AZL. He didn't fare as well after a promotion to short-season Everett, however, where his inexperience with breaking balls and somewhat long swing were exposed. Peguero has a big, projectable frame at 6-foot-5, 210 pounds and moves well for a big man, though he figures to slow down as he fills out. He showed more ability and willingness to use the whole field than Avila did, but he doesn't have quite as much raw power. Peguero's outfield arm is another plus tool. -
A year after being drafted in the fifth round out of high school and spending a summer in the Arizona League, Deal handled the jump to the Northwest League well and emerged as Vancouver's top starter. He struck out just 35 in 76 innings of work, but he doesn't ever figure to be a strikeout pitcher. He's a sinkerballer who posted a 106-80 ground-fly ratio and allowed just three homers in 76 innings. Deal has a tall, skinny frame with plenty of room to fill out, so he could increase the velocity on his 87-89 mph fastball that touches 91-92. It's a heavy pitch with good sink and life, and he commands it well most of the time. "He's very aggressive and he comes right at you," Gainer said. "Everyone knew he had that sinker and it didn't matter. He just got ground ball after ground ball." Deal also has a slider and changeup that can be average at times. He has cleaned up his arm action quite a bit since high school, and he now does a good job of repeating his fluid, easy delivery. -
The Yankees used McAllister in a relief role piggybacking with Betances, and they were a tough duo to beat. The son of Diamondbacks crosschecker Steve McAllister, Zach pitches with the savvy of someone who grew up around the game. McAllister has added six inches and 60 pounds over the last two years, and he saw his heavy sinker climb to 90-92 this spring before gaining another tick of velocity during the summer. His secondary stuff is fringy, though he has shown feel for a slider that could be a plus pitch if learns to control it more effectively. Like Betances, McAllister pitched better as the summer went on. "He has a good, sinking fastball. It's a power sinker. It's his No. 1 pitch," Martin said. "He got lots of ground balls, and I could see him throwing harder as he matures." -
Easily the best catcher ever developed by the Rockies, Iannetta continued to shine at the plate following a promotion to Colorado Springs in late June. He controls the strike zone very well, waiting out pitchers until they give him a pitch he can hammer. He calls a good game and has an average arm, and while throwing out basestealers has been an issue at times, he erased 31 percent in Triple-A. "He really gives you quality at-bats for a catcher," Runnells said. "In fact, he led our organization in quality at-bats. Defensively, he's a sponge for knowledge and he tries so hard to improve. He's a humble kid and a guy who is going to be a frontline catcher for years to come." -
Pedroia is the classic example of a player who plays above his tools. Opposing mangers described him as a pesky hitter and a tough out, but had reservations about his lack of power and range. Pedroia got results in Triple-A, though, batting .305 (fifth in the IL) with 30 doubles and nearly twice as many walks (48) as strikeouts (27). Pedroia makes up for below-average speed and raw power by maximizing his selectivity as a hitter and by using the whole field. He showed an aptitude for taking the breaking ball the other way, and he has the hand-eye coordination to make consistent contact while using a big swing. "Pitchers will always challenge Pedroia, and he will prove them wrong," a scout said. "He will put the ball in play. He'll use the first-base and third-base line. He's a kid you love to have on your club." Pedroia was a shortstop at Arizona State and spent the majority of his time there for Pawtucket, but he doesn't have the range to be a regular there in the majors. He spent a lot of time at second base, and his sure hands and strong arm play better at the keystone. -
The fact that Chavez, at age 17 and in his first year as a pro, bypassed the VSL for Pulaski suggests how highly the Blue Jays regard him. While he held his own in the Appalachian League, he's all projection at this point. Chavez has done well to adapt to a new culture and will continue to gain strength, though he is already physical at 6-foot-3 and 200 lbs. His swing has come a long way in a year, but he's still prone to chasing pitches out of the zone and is too pull-conscious. He'll be a corner outfielder because he doesn't have the instincts or range for center field, though he has average speed and arm strength. -
Kelly succeeded 2004 first-round pick Trevor Plouffe as Beloit's shortstop, and MWL observers liked Kelly more. A 2005 second-rounder, Kelly has better physical tools and is a superior hitter. He kept getting better as the year wore on until a torn meniscus in his left knee ended his season in late July. Kelly is more advanced than most teenage hitters. He has a solid approach, recognizes breaking balls, uses the whole field and has a plan with two strikes. He didn't show much power this summer but will have some pop once he adds some strength and experience. He'll hit enough to be a regular, though at what position is uncertain. Kelly has fringe-average speed, which cuts down on his range, but his positioning and cannon arm--he was clocked at 94-95 mph as a high school pitcher--allow him to make plays. "I always judge a shortstop by if he has to use his arm or not," Beloit manager Jeff Smith said. "His glove is so good and he's always in position, so he never has to use it. And he has one of the best arms in the league, too." -
The fourth Greensboro starter on this list, Thompson ranks just behind Volstad in terms of polish but his stuff has the least upside among the group. Like Volstad, Thompson has above-average command of three pitches. His fastball sits consistently at 88 mph with natural tailing action, and he'll occasionally crack 90. His 80-81 mph slider is his best secondary offering. He also has a change with a late downward break that he uses as an out pitch against righthanders, and he'll flash a slow curveball to set up his slider. Because of his lack of velocity, command will continue to be paramount for Thompson. His fastball was clocked as high as 92 mph in high school, so there's also the chance he could get back to that point. -
Part of the Jim Thome trade with the White Sox, Gonzalez had a productive first full season in the Phillies system. He showed durability by logging a career-high 155 innings as a 20-year-old and finished second in the league with 166 strikeouts. Gonzalez has a repeatable delivery and quick arm, but he's just 5-foot-11, which hinders to create good plane on his fastball. It sits at 87-91 mph and touches 93, but it lacks life and gets pounded when he leaves it up in the zone. He surrendered 24 home runs, tied for the most in the EL. Gonzalez possesses a well above-average downer curveball that remains his go-to offering. His changeup is a reliable third pitch. Without a plus fastball and fringy command--he led the league with 81 walks--he might move to the bullpen in the big leagues. -
Signed as a third baseman out of the Dominican Republic for $600,000 in 1998, Salas was converted to the mound midway through 2004 after hitting .264/.296/.361 over six seasons. He hasn't looked back, putting up ridiculous numbers in the SL this season and adding a Futures Game appearance to his resume. He didn't allow an earned run in 35 innings with the Biscuits and reached the majors in September. Salas has equally ridiculous stuff, starting with a fastball that sits at 93-96 mph, topping out at 98. While the velocity is plus-plus, so is the movement. One scout described his heater as "the best 95-mph slider I've ever seen," as it has sharp, cutting action away from righthanders. Salas also throws an actual 86-87 mph slider that has more pronounced depth and life, and it can be equally as devastating. As good as those two pitches are, he's still learning how to attack hitters. His mechanics dissolve at times, as he flies open with his front shoulder and his arm gets too far away from his body. -
Deduno continued to be an enigma, finishing second in the Cal League to teammate Morales with 167 strikeouts, but also leading the minors with 34 wild pitches and finishing fourth in the minors with 92 walks. Clearly, command is his bugaboo, but when he's on, he's nasty. His best pitch is a sometimes plus-plus power curveball, and he also showed an above-average 92-94 mph fastball with so much movement that his catchers would sometimes struggle to catch it cleanly. "That breaking ball is devastating, but I don't know what to think of this guy," a National League scout said. "The breaking ball is unhittable when he commands it, but after two or three innings, he couldn't find the release point. He was lights out for three innings both times I saw him, then was an absolute thrower." Right now, Deduno is essentially a two-pitch guy who profiles as a potential dominant reliver if he can harness his stuff. He has a little feel for his changeup, but it has a long way to go if he's to remain a starter. -
There's a lot not to like about Jose Mijares. Start with his 3.57 ERA as a reliever, which doesn't stand out. Take a look at his 5-foot-10, 220-pound body, which screams Rich Garces. Scouts have questioned his makeup and mound demeanor as well. But when he rears back and throws, it's hard to not get excited. When he was locked in, Mijares featured a 94-95 mph fastball and a filthy 77-78 mph slider that both ranked among the best in the league. He only showed that plus stuff in limited stretches, however. At other times, his velocity would dip to the low 90s and his command would fall apart. Part of the problem is that Mijares hasn't worked hard enough to stay in shape, which hampers his ability to repeat his delivery. He also has a below-average changeup that hasn't improved much because he rarely uses it when working out of the bullpen. He's a long ways from the majors, but the wait could be worth it. -
McBeth continued one of the most intriguing turnaround stories in the minors this season, reaching Triple-A in his first full season as a pitcher. Drafted by the Athletics as an outfielder in 2001, he turned to pitching in 2005 after a career .233 average kept him from getting out of Class A. On the mound, he has shown not only the stuff but also the makeup to be a successful reliever. He throws a fastball that tops out at 94-96 mph, and he backs it up with a slider that's particularly tough on righthanders. A's pitching instructor Ron Romanick also taught him a changeup that has become a put-away pitch because he does such a good job of maintaining his arm speed. He has also worked on a two-seam fastball that could become an out pitch if he can learn to control it. McBeth challenges hitters. He needs to refine his command, but he should be no worse than a setup man and has the raw stuff to close games if he continues to make strides. -
The Rockies grew tired of Strop's struggles with the bat, and after he hit .212/.277/.299 in four seasons as an infielder, they decided a career change was in order. They moved him to the mound this year, and he immediately took to pitching. He dominated the Pioneer League in 11 appearances and continued to impress after a promotion to low Class A. As with many converted position players, arm strength is Strop's forte. He threw 93-95 mph in spring training and has good control of his fastball, though he leans too heavily on the pitch. He also has a low-80s slider but must stay on top of it more often so it doesn't flatten out, making him vulnerable to home runs. "I'd try to start him next year to add some pitchability to his plus stuff," Kotchman said. "If not, you know you have a solid reliever." -
Hilligoss' track record says he'll hit. He batted .404 and .386 in his final two seasons at Purdue, .309 with wood bats in the Central Illinois Collegiate League in 2005, and .292 in his pro debut to finish 10th in the NY-P batting race. One scout who saw Hilligoss as an amateur compared his swing, offensive potential and overall game to Frank Catalanotto. As with Catalanotto, Hilligoss' forté is getting the barrel of the bat to the ball consistently, driving balls to the gaps and driving pitchers crazy with an advanced two-strike approach. He also hangs in well against lefthanders and hit .397 against them this summer. The Catalanotto comparisons extend to Hilligoss' defense as well. Though he profiles best as an infielder, he doesn't have the hands or range to stick in the middle of the diamond. He's a better fit at third base, but he doesn't project to hit for the power wanted there or on an outfield corner. Hilligoss will have to hit for a high average to be a factor--and he has done that at every level so far. -
Myers figured to complement a banner 2006 recruiting class at Southern California until he accepted a $250,000 bonus as a fourth-round pick in June. That he signed was somewhat surprising, but even more so was his performance in his debut. Considered toolsy but extremely raw, he made significant strides in his swing and approach and tied for third in the GCL in batting. Myers' swing gets long but he showed above-average bat speed at times. He needs to improve his plate discipline and work counts more efficiently. He's wiry strong, and though he rarely showed power in games, he could hit 12-15 home runs annually. His well above-average speed is his best tool. Myers played all three outfield positions in the GCL and has the range to stay in center field. His reads and routes are raw, while his arm strength is average. -
Bailey's workload at Wagner this spring was limited as he recovered from May 2005 Tommy John surgery, but the Athletics saw enough power stuff to draft him in the sixth round. He was very impressive in his pro debut despite his 2-5 record, and he would have ranked second in the NWL in ERA if he hadn't fallen three innings shy of qualifying. With a big, physical frame that invites comparisons to Joe Blanton, Bailey could develop into a workhorse as he gets further away from his surgery. His heavy sinker bores in on righthanders at 91-93 mph and touches 94-95. He also has a solid-average 11-to-5 curveball with good rotation and depth, and a developing changeup that could become an average pitch if he learns to command it more consistently. Bailey has an aggressive approach but remains more of a thrower than a pitcher. He struggles to repeat his arm path and delivery, which has a lot of moving parts, making it difficult for him to command the strike zone and execute his pitches. He sometimes gets distracted and tries to pitch too quickly with speedsters on the basepaths. -
While Van Stratten isn't a pure speedster like Royals outfield mates Robinson or Jarrod Dyson, he's quick, has plenty of tools and looks like a steal from the 10th round of the 2006 draft. He set a national junior college record with 14 triples this spring at St. Louis CC-Meramec, and hit seven more to rank second in the AZL. His mix of gap power and speed mix impressed managers. Van Stratten showed the ability to drop a bunt or to sting the ball to both gaps. His best tools are his bat, with a short swing and outstanding pitch recognition considering his experience, and his above-average throwing arm. His gritty, all-out approach also earned him praise. -
Bourn played for four teams this summer, ranging from Double-A Reading to the Phillies to Team USA, with perhaps his finest moment coming when he connected for two home runs in a victory against Cuba in the Olympic qualifying tournament. He spent just six weeks with Scranton, but made the most of his well above-average speed by stealing 15 bases in 16 tries and hitting seven triples, good for fourth in the league. Bourn has shown improvement with each promotion and he plays up to his strengths. He runs extremely well and is a smart baserunner capable of reading pitchers and using his raw speed. He has a good batting eye and projects as a solid-average major league hitter. He's also a plus defensive center fielder with a slightly above-average, accurate arm. His power is strictly gap-to-gap and is below average, but he can surprise opponents, as he did by taking Cuban flamethrower Pedro Luis Lazo deep. The Phillies want him to concentrate on hitting the ball in the air less and cutting down on his strikeouts, a byproduct of working deep counts. -
For a player in just his second season at shortstop after playing center field for much of his college career, Lillibridge is very advanced with the glove. He has outstanding range and first-step quickness, with soft hands and an above-average arm that allows him to make plays from deep in the hole. With well above-average speed, Lillibridge profiles more as a tablesetter than a run producer. He incorporates very little of his lower half in his longish swing, with a pronounced drift in his hands and his feet spread wide apart. He made some adjustments to shorten his stroke, and his plate discipline was exceptional during his first full season. Energetic and driven, Lillibridge was one of the most consistent players in the league. He drew rave reviews from managers for his grind-it-out style. -
When he was at his very best, Morlan ranked with the top pitchers in the league. One scout said Morlan turned in one of the three best performances he saw all year, along with Adenhart and Cueto. Cedar Rapids manager Bobby Magallanes said Morlan touched 97 mph in the ninth inning of an 11-strikeout complete game. He began the season in the bullpen, and that may be his long-term destination. His fastball usually sits in the low 90s but he's still seeking a consistent second pitch. He owns a mid-80s slider that shows flashes of bite and a developing changeup. Morlan has a quick arm and a smooth delivery that he repeats easily. He tends to drop his elbow, which causes his pitches to flatten out and arrive higher in the strike zone. He missed most of July with a sore shoulder but returned to pitch 22 scoreless innings over his final four starts. -
Ramirez made a strong U.S. debut, finishing among the Appy League leaders in average (.314), hits (72), doubles (20) and triples (five) after spending three years in the Rookie-level Venezuelan Summer League. He has surprising pop for a 6-foot, 149-pounder, though he's more of a spray hitter now who takes the ball where it's pitched. He should add strength as he fills out. Ramirez spent most of the year at shortstop but also saw time at second base. He may profile better at second because while he has good range to his left, he has below-average range toward the shortstop hole. His footwork also needs improvement and he lacks the arm strength of a true shortstop. He's an average runner. -
Perez is a cerebral player, as one might expect from the highest-drafted player ever (seventh round, 2004) out of Columbia University. He learned how to switch-hit in the offseason, and while he struggled from the left side early in the year, he soon began hitting line drives and finished with a .303 average against righthanders. He's a dynamic player who led the minors with 123 runs scored. "He's a game-changer. You don't want to see him up in the ninth inning up by one or in a tie game, because he'll bunt, he'll slap one to left or hit it in the gap, and you're just praying you'll get the ball in fast enough before he gets to third," Steverson said. "He's just irritating. He roams the outfield like there are just floating pop-ups up there all day. I know for a fact he's taken 15 hits away from us." Perez has outstanding range in the outfield thanks to his plus-plus speed, though he's still working on his defensive instincts. He has a playable, if not strong, outfield arm. Perez has plenty of things to refine in his game--he strikes out too much for a top-of-the-order hitter, and he was thrown out in 16 of his 49 steal attempts--but he offers an intriguing leadoff package and enough strength at the plate to make him more than a one-dimensional Punch-and-Judy hitter. -
With older brother Corey traded to the Orioles last offseason, there will be no Patterson brothers reunion in Chicago. But Eric is getting close to ready for Wrigley Field, recovering from a second-half slump to bat .358 following a mid-August promotion to Triple-A. Patterson's best tool is his speed, which rates as a 65-70 on the 20-80 scouting scale. He also has surprising power for his size, though he sometimes gets caught up too much in trying to hit homers. He has made strides in shortening his swing for a more gap-to-gap approach. Patterson's speed aids his range at second-base, though his first-step quickness and body control are a bit disappointing. His footwork around the bag is questionable, though he does have soft hands. -
Like Cain, Campbell built on a 2005 MVP award in Rookie ball (the Appalachian League in his case) with a strong 2006 campaign. A student of the game who kept a notebook on the pitchers in the league, he applied that knowledge by leading the league with 22 homer. Campbell is an aggressive hitter who swings early in the count and rarely misses when pitchers make mistakes. He has ample pull power, but his open stance often leads to him flying open on the front side of his swing, making it hard to drive pitches to the opposite field. Though his speed is average at best, Campbell has good instincts and is an excellent baserunner with a knack for stealing bases when the opportunity arises. He's solid at third base but has a slow first step to his right. -
After a sensational first half in high Class A, Jurrjens moved up to the EL and continued to impress Tigers brass. He has thrown harder more consistently and shown more feel for pitching than Detroit anticipated when it signed him out of Curacao three years ago. Jurrjens' fastball ranges from 87-92 mph and touches 95, and he can spot it to both sides of the plate. His slider is below average, making his performance even more impressive considering he did it primarily off fastball command and a plus changeup. Jurrjens has a clean, simple delivery. Some scouts envision him moving to the bullpen, but if he develops a usable breaking ball, he could fill a role as a back-of-the-rotation starter in the big leagues. -
Montero had a breakthrough season in 2005 and proved it was no fluke this year. He makes consistently hard contact with a short stroke and did a better job of using the entire field this season. He also does a fine job behind the plate, showing an average arm with a quick release to go with strong blocking and game-calling ability. "He really improved the second time we saw him," Brundage said. "He made some adjustments, especially on the offspeed stuff. He's a very aggressive hitter. But the thing I like most about him his is presence behind the plate, especially for such a young guy in this league. He has a good arm and seemed to call a good game."
Top 100 Rankings
Best Tools List
- Rated Best Defensive SS in the Florida State League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive Catcher in the Florida State League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive Outfielder in the Florida State League in 2006
- Rated Best Baserunner in the Florida State League in 2006
- Rated Best Reliever in the Florida State League in 2006
- Rated Best Strike-Zone Discipline in the Florida State League in 2006
- Rated Best Infield Arm in the Florida State League in 2006
- Rated Best Control in the Florida State League in 2006
- Rated Best Outfield Arm in the Florida State League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive 3B in the Florida State League in 2006
- Rated Best Power Prospect in the Florida State League in 2006
- Rated Best Fastball in the Carolina League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive 1B in the Florida State League in 2006
- Rated Best Pitching Prospect in the Florida State League in 2006
- Rated Most Exciting Player in the Florida State League in 2006
- Rated Best Fastball in the Florida State League in 2006
- Rated Best Power Prospect in the Carolina League in 2006
- Rated Best Batting Prospect in the Florida State League in 2006
- Rated Best Breaking Pitch in the Florida State League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive 2B in the Florida State League in 2006
- Rated Fastest Baserunner in the Florida State League in 2006
- Rated Best Reliever in the Carolina League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive Outfielder in the Carolina League in 2006
- Rated Best Pitching Prospect in the Carolina League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive 1B in the Carolina League in 2006
- Rated Best Breaking Pitch in the Carolina League in 2006
- Rated Best Infield Arm in the Carolina League in 2006
- Rated Fastest Baserunner in the Carolina League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive SS in the Carolina League in 2006
- Rated Best Control in the Carolina League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive Catcher in the Carolina League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive 2B in the Carolina League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive 3B in the Carolina League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive Outfielder in the Midwest League in 2006
- Rated Best Breaking Pitch in the Midwest League in 2006
- Rated Best Baserunner in the Carolina League in 2006
- Rated Best Batting Prospect in the Carolina League in 2006
- Rated Best Strike-Zone Discipline in the Carolina League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive Catcher in the Midwest League in 2006
- Rated Best Outfield Arm in the Midwest League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive 1B in the Midwest League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive 3B in the Midwest League in 2006
- Rated Best Control in the Midwest League in 2006
- Rated Most Exciting Player in the Carolina League in 2006
- Rated Best Outfield Arm in the Carolina League in 2006
- Rated Most Exciting Player in the Midwest League in 2006
- Rated Fastest Baserunner in the Midwest League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive 2B in the Midwest League in 2006
- Rated Best Strike-Zone Discipline in the Midwest League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive SS in the Midwest League in 2006
- Rated Best Fastball in the Midwest League in 2006
- Rated Best Infield Arm in the Midwest League in 2006
- Rated Best Power Prospect in the Midwest League in 2006
- Rated Best Reliever in the Midwest League in 2006
- Rated Best Baserunner in the Midwest League in 2006
- Rated Best Batting Prospect in the Midwest League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive SS in the International League in 2006
- Rated Best Outfield Arm in the International League in 2006
- Rated Best Baserunner in the International League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive 1B in the International League in 2006
- Rated Best Pitching Prospect in the International League in 2006
- Rated Best Control in the International League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive Catcher in the International League in 2006
- Rated Best Reliever in the International League in 2006
- Rated Best Infield Arm in the International League in 2006
- Rated Best Power Prospect in the International League in 2006
- Rated Best Pitching Prospect in the Midwest League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive 3B in the International League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive 2B in the International League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive Outfielder in the International League in 2006
- Rated Best Batting Prospect in the International League in 2006
- Rated Best Strike-Zone Discipline in the International League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive 3B in the South Atlantic League in 2006
- Rated Most Exciting Player in the International League in 2006
- Rated Best Fastball in the International League in 2006
- Rated Fastest Baserunner in the International League in 2006
- Rated Best Breaking Pitch in the International League in 2006
- Rated Best Batting Prospect in the South Atlantic League in 2006
- Rated Best Infield Arm in the South Atlantic League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive SS in the South Atlantic League in 2006
- Rated Best Control in the South Atlantic League in 2006
- Rated Most Exciting Player in the South Atlantic League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive 1B in the South Atlantic League in 2006
- Rated Best Power Prospect in the South Atlantic League in 2006
- Rated Best Pitching Prospect in the South Atlantic League in 2006
- Rated Best Strike-Zone Discipline in the South Atlantic League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive Outfielder in the South Atlantic League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive 2B in the South Atlantic League in 2006
- Rated Fastest Baserunner in the South Atlantic League in 2006
- Rated Best Baserunner in the South Atlantic League in 2006
- Rated Best Fastball in the South Atlantic League in 2006
- Rated Best Breaking Pitch in the South Atlantic League in 2006
- Rated Best Outfield Arm in the South Atlantic League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive Catcher in the South Atlantic League in 2006
- Rated Best Reliever in the Eastern League in 2006
- Rated Best Infield Arm in the Eastern League in 2006
- Rated Best Reliever in the South Atlantic League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive 2B in the Eastern League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive Outfielder in the Eastern League in 2006
- Rated Best Baserunner in the Eastern League in 2006
Career Transactions
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Tucson Baseball Team activated SS Marcos Valenzuela from the reserve list.
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Tucson Baseball Team placed 2B Aldo Nunez on the reserve list.
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Algodoneros de Guasave placed RHP Jorge Monroy on the reserve list.
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Algodoneros de Guasave activated LHP Ariel Gracia from the reserve list.
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Venados de Mazatlan activated LHP Guillermo Arvizu from the reserve list.
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Venados de Mazatlan placed RHP Jonatan Bernal on the reserve list.
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Venados de Mazatlan placed RHP Jesus Rios on the reserve list.
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Naranjeros de Hermosillo placed RHP Jose Albertos on the reserve list.
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Naranjeros de Hermosillo placed RHP Orlando Gonzalez on the reserve list.
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Naranjeros de Hermosillo placed RHP Enrique Castillo on the reserve list.
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Naranjeros de Hermosillo placed RHP Sergio Rodriguez on the reserve list.
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Naranjeros de Hermosillo activated IF Emiliano Valencia from the reserve list.
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Naranjeros de Hermosillo activated RHP Augusto Mendieta from the reserve list.
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Naranjeros de Hermosillo activated RHP Saul Arias from the reserve list.
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Charros de Jalisco placed RHP Edgar Manzo on the reserve list.
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Naranjeros de Hermosillo activated LHP Jorge Rodriguez from the reserve list.
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RHP Gerardo Bojorquez assigned to Charros de Jalisco.
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Aguilas de Mexicali placed RHP Jesus Gamez on the reserve list.
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Aguilas de Mexicali activated LHP Alonso Becerra from the reserve list.
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Aguilas de Mexicali activated OF Antonio Castaneda from the reserve list.
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Aguilas de Mexicali placed RHP César Vargas on the reserve list.
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3B Carter Kieboom elected free agency.
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RHP Pedro Garcia assigned to Scottsdale Scorpions.
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SS Jose D. Hernandez assigned to Glendale Desert Dogs.
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Los Angeles Angels sent RHP Connor Brogdon outright to Salt Lake Bees.
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Los Angeles Angels sent RHP Carson Fulmer outright to Salt Lake Bees.
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Los Angeles Angels sent 1B Logan Davidson outright to Salt Lake Bees.
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Los Angeles Angels sent 3B Carter Kieboom outright to Salt Lake Bees.
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Milwaukee Brewers claimed LHP Sammy Peralta off waivers from Los Angeles Angels.
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Seattle Mariners activated RHP Casey Legumina.
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Seattle Mariners activated RHP Logan Evans.
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Seattle Mariners activated RHP Domingo Gonzalez.
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Seattle Mariners activated 3B Ben Williamson.
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Seattle Mariners activated 2B Samad Taylor.
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Seattle Mariners activated LF Rhylan Thomas.
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Seattle Mariners activated LHP Jhonathan Díaz.
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Seattle Mariners activated RHP Troy Taylor.
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Seattle Mariners activated RHP Blas Castaño.
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Seattle Mariners activated 2B Cole Young.
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Seattle Mariners activated RF Luke Raley.
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Seattle Mariners activated LHP Tayler Saucedo.
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Seattle Mariners activated RHP Jackson Kowar.
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Tucson Baseball Team placed SS Marcos Valenzuela on the reserve list.
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OF River Town assigned to Tucson Baseball Team.
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Tucson Baseball Team activated LHP Eduardo Mares from the reserve list.
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Algodoneros de Guasave activated RHP Victor Buelna from the reserve list.
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Algodoneros de Guasave placed IF Jose Villa on the reserve list.
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Ichiro Rodriguez assigned to Algodoneros de Guasave.
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Algodoneros de Guasave placed LHP Vidal Sotelo on the reserve list.
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1B Pedro Castellanos assigned to Tiburones de La Guaira.
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RHP Anthony Escobar assigned to Tiburones de La Guaira.
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LHP Igor Gil assigned to Tiburones de La Guaira.
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Navegantes del Magallanes activated RHP Wilking Rodríguez from the reserve list.
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Navegantes del Magallanes activated RHP Alfred Gutierrez from the reserve list.
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CF Jose Cordoba assigned to Navegantes del Magallanes.
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SS Diego Guzman assigned to Caribes de Anzoategui.
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C Jeferson Quero assigned to Cardenales de Lara.
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RHP Wilser Barrios assigned to Cardenales de Lara.
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Yaquis de Obregon activated C Nestor Rios from the reserve list.
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Yaquis de Obregon placed RHP Jesus Luna on the reserve list.
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Venados de Mazatlan activated RHP Jonatan Bernal from the reserve list.
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Venados de Mazatlan placed 2B Italo Motta on the reserve list.
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Venados de Mazatlan placed RHP Alan Valdez on the reserve list.
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Venados de Mazatlan activated RHP Jesus Rios from the reserve list.
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C Miguel Ojeda Jr. assigned to Venados de Mazatlan.
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Venados de Mazatlan placed RHP Irving Medina on the reserve list.
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1B Joey Meneses assigned to Tomateros de Culiacan.
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RHP Joe Barlow assigned to Tomateros de Culiacan.
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Tomateros de Culiacan placed RHP Nick Krauth on the reserve list.
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Tomateros de Culiacan placed RHP Pedro Reyes on the reserve list.
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Tomateros de Culiacan activated RHP Axel Sauceda from the reserve list.
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Tomateros de Culiacan placed LHP Baltazar Arredondo on the reserve list.
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Tomateros de Culiacan activated LHP Juan Pablo Lopez from the reserve list.
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Tomateros de Culiacan placed OF Valentin Hernández on the reserve list.
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Naranjeros de Hermosillo placed IF Emiliano Valencia on the reserve list.
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Naranjeros de Hermosillo placed LHP Jorge Rodriguez on the reserve list.
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Naranjeros de Hermosillo activated RHP Enrique Castillo from the reserve list.
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Naranjeros de Hermosillo activated RHP Rolando Mora from the reserve list.
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Caneros de los Mochis placed RHP Jesus Rodolfo Garcia on the reserve list.
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Caneros de los Mochis activated RHP Manuel Urias from the reserve list.
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Charros de Jalisco activated LHP Isaias Felix from the reserve list.
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Charros de Jalisco placed IF Luis Carlos Martinez on the reserve list.
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Charros de Jalisco placed RHP Axel Munoz on the reserve list.
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Charros de Jalisco activated RHP Edgar Manzo from the reserve list.
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C Alen Pineda assigned to Aguilas de Mexicali.
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RHP César Vargas assigned to Aguilas de Mexicali.
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Aguilas de Mexicali placed RHP Victor Juarez on the reserve list.
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Aguilas de Mexicali placed RHP Erick Casillas on the reserve list.
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Aguilas de Mexicali placed LHP Alonso Becerra on the reserve list.
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Aguilas de Mexicali placed SS Jonathan Ornelas on the reserve list.
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OF Ren Tachioka assigned to Aguilas de Mexicali.
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2B Gilberto Carrera assigned to Aguilas de Mexicali.
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LHP Joe Jacques assigned to Syracuse Mets.
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Venados de Mazatlan activated RHP Edgar Rodriguez.
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Algodoneros de Guasave activated C Alan Espinoza.
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Bravos de Margarita activated RHP William Casique.
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Biloxi Shuckers activated SS Dylan O'Rae.
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1B Luis Castro assigned to Aguilas del Zulia.
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Reno Aces activated C Adrian De Leon.
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Reno Aces activated LHP Jake Rice.
