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Organization Prospect Rankings
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BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Track Record: Luis, a relative of former big league infielder Pedro Ciriaco, stood out to the Diamondbacks because of his twitchy actions, athleticism, projectable frame and feel to hit from both sides of the plate. They signed him for $525,000 in January 2022. Luis has mostly lived up to the organization’s expectations, producing from both sides of the plate and showing actions that could allow him to remain in the center of the diamond, perhaps at shortstop. He spent the 2024 season at Low-A Visalia and ranked second in the California League with 46 extra-base hits, a product of high totals of doubles and triples.
Scouting Report: Luis rarely tinkers with his repeatable, simple swing from both sides of the plate. He hit both lefties and righties well in Low-A during his first year at a full-season level. He is a pure hitter who generates a fair amount of contact, but his quality of contact can suffer due to his propensity to chase. He has yet to crack double-digits in home runs but has room on his frame to add strength and could have 15-20-homer upside with more of his power coming on balls in the gaps. Luis is a steady shortstop with good hands and an accurate arm, though he needs work on balls to his right. He also played 25 games at both second base and third base for Visalia in 2024. Luis is at least an above-average runner but he could slow down as he matures and adds strength. He earns praise for his makeup, work ethic and grinder mentality.
The Future: Luis still needs to tighten up his approach at the plate and learn how to better tap into his power. He has the potential to develop into a well-rounded shortstop who has neither loud tools nor major deficiencies.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Field: 50 | Arm: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Track Record: Crisantes hit .485 and struck out just three times his senior year, helping Nogales High to a runner-up finish in the 5A Arizona state playoffs. He needed Tommy John surgery at age 15, then dealt with more elbow problems as a senior. Concerns about his arm, plus a firm price tag, likely pushed him down in the draft. After the Diamondbacks took him in the seventh round, they renegotiated his bonus upon discovering he needed a second elbow repair but still signed him for an above-slot $425,000. When healthy, Crisantes has done nothing but hit, to the point that he is viewed by most as the best pure hitter in the system. He finished 2024 with a 57-game on-base streak between the Arizona Complex League and Low-A Visalia.
Scouting Report: Crisantes has a simple, repeatable and direct swing that he employs to generate consistent hard contact, and it often looks like the ball is sitting on a tee for him at the plate. His chase rate is below-average, but he rarely swings and misses in the zone. He shows an ability to hit the ball hard enough and at the right angles that above-average-to-plus power projection isn’t a stretch. The big question for Crisantes is where he fits defensively. His arm strength, which has improved as he’s gotten further removed from surgery, is fringy, and he is a little light on athleticism compared to the average major league second baseman. His makeup and work ethic are excellent, so he is a safe bet to keep improving to get the most out of his abilities. He is a fringe-average runner who is better once he gets up to speed.
The Future: Crisantes’ bat will be his carrying tool and figures to play in some capacity almost no matter where he ends up on the diamond. The Diamondbacks believe he can develop into an offensive-minded second baseman.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 50 | Run: 45 | Field: 45 | Arm: 45. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Track Record: Groover’s senior year of high school outside Atlanta was cut short by the pandemic, perhaps costing him a chance to go in the modified five-round draft that year. He wound up spending a season at Charlotte before transferring to North Carolina State, where he hit .332/.430/.546 with a team-leading 13 homers in 2023. Despite questions about Groover’s future defensive home, the Diamondbacks took him in the second round and signed him for $1.78 million. His first full pro season in 2024 was interrupted after just four games by a broken left wrist that cost him three months, but he returned to action and finished the season strong, earning a September promotion to Double-A Amarillo.
Scouting Report: Groover is a natural hitter with a clean, direct bat path in a swing that has little wasted movement. He has solid contact and chase rates, and last season he showed more power than he did in his pro debut. He can further improve his thump with better understanding of ideal contact points and knowing when to take shots. Few question his ability to hit; it is more about how much impact his bat will bring. Scouts are far less convinced about his defense at third base. With limited range and athleticism and some occasional throwing issues, it is possible he could need to shift to first base, and he has also seen time at second base. He is a below-average runner.
The Future: Groover’s pure hitting ability creates optimism that his power will continue to blossom. If it does—and if he can stick at either second or third base—he could be an above-average regular. His bat should still play even with a shift to first base or the outfield, but he’ll have to hit that much more to generate value.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 40 | Field: 40 | Arm: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 60/Medium
Track Record: Lawlar was a well-regarded prep player who won Gatorade’s Texas player of the year honors and performed well on the showcase circuit. His well-rounded skill set had him in the mix to go No. 1 overall in 2021, but he slid to sixth, where the Diamondbacks swooped in and signed him away from a Vanderbilt commitment for $6.7 million, which was the third-highest bonus in the draft. He needed shoulder surgery shortly after signing, then dealt with more injuries in his first full professional season. He put together back-to-back strong years to force his way to the majors at the end of 2023, but he ran into more health problems in what was mostly a lost 2024 season which saw him miss time due to thumb and hamstring injuries. Lawlar made up for the lost at-bats by playing winter ball with Licey in the Dominican League. He enters 2025 without many questions left to answer from a performance standpoint, but he is still lacking upper-level experience.
Scouting Report: Lawlar has a versatile skill set to his game which stands out at the plate. He has plus bat speed and above-average-to-plus raw power, he controls the zone and draws walks, he uses all fields and he has the ability to hit a variety of pitches thanks to a bat path that stays in the zone for a long time. In 2023, he hit fewer ground balls and hit more hard line drives and fly balls. If there were one area of focus coming out of 2023, it was evening out his platoon splits. That season, he produced a 1.153 OPS versus lefthanders and a .767 versus righties, with most of his issues coming against righthanded spin. Lawlar is a tremendous baserunner who combines plus speed with basestealing prowess and the instincts to routinely take the extra base. He has also made big strides at shortstop throughout his pro career. He started getting rid of his throws more quickly and dropped down to a three-quarters arm slot, and his overall comfort at the position seemed much improved after more reps.
The Future: Nothing has changed about Lawlar’s long-term upside: He still has the potential to be a cornerstone player for the Diamondbacks. He might have to once again prove he can stay on the field, while other questions have emerged in terms of his long-term position. No one doubts Lawlar at shortstop, but Geraldo Perdomo has established himself at the position in Arizona while becoming a clubhouse leader. Lawlar has seen time at third base, and second base and center field are also logical options as well. Whether Lawlar enters 2025 with a reasonable path to big league at-bats remains to be seen, but he figures to push his way into the mix assuming he can stay healthy.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 50 | Run: 70 | Field: 55 | Arm: 55. -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
Track Record: A two-time Gatorade player of the year in Arkansas, Caldwell was one of the better hitters on the showcase circuit the summer before his draft year, then led Valley View High to a 5A championship as a senior. The Diamondbacks took him with the 29th overall pick in 2024, making him the latest undersized, lefthanded-hitting outfielder they’ve selected high in the draft, following the likes of Corbin Carroll, Alek Thomas and Dominic Fletcher, among others. He became the first Arkansas prep player to be taken in the first round since 1995. He was signed away from a Mississippi commitment for $3.087 million.
Scouting Report: Caldwell is 5-foot-9 with a thick, strong build reminiscent of Daulton Varsho, and his short levers make for a compact swing. He has plus bat speed and an advanced feel for the barrel with the ability to spray the ball to all fields. He has an advanced and stubborn approach at the plate and can regularly work walks. His ability to impact the ball was his biggest question from rival clubs, and his already-muscular frame makes projection harder. He opened eyes with his pop at a pre-draft workout for the Diamondbacks and continued to show decent power potential at the club’s continuation camp after the draft. He looks capable of hitting 15 home runs, though most of his pop will likely come via doubles and triples. He is an instinctual defender in center field who puts his double-plus speed to good use. His arm is fringe-average at best.
The Future: Caldwell’s polished skill set projects as a table-setting leadoff man whose best attributes are on-base ability and speed, a la Adam Eaton. He could move quickly, and he might apply some pressure to Druw Jones as he moves through the system.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 45 | Run: 70 | Field: 60 | Arm: 45. -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
Track Record: Lightly recruited out of high school in Florida, Waldschmidt spent a year raking at Charleston Southern before transferring to Kentucky. He headed to the Cape Cod League after his sophomore season but blew out his left knee and needed anterior cruciate ligament surgery. He made it back by the following spring, and not only did he show no ill effects from the injury, he turned in a monster season, impressing with both pure production and under-the-hood data. He ranked sixth in the Southeastern Conference with a .469 on-base percentage. Waldschmidt’s performance pushed him into first-round consideration, and the Diamondbacks took him at No. 31—the Prospect Promotion Incentive draft pick they earned from Corbin Carroll’s Rookie of the Year win—and signed him for $2.9 million.
Scouting Report: Waldschmidt has a controlled yet aggressive righthanded swing that seems to be on time more often than not, leading to strong contact rates without sacrifices in exit velocity. He does not have much pre-swing movement, staying on his legs well to generate natural lift. He makes good swing decisions, both in terms of limiting chase and attacking the pitches he hits best. He is working to find an optimal bat path to get the most out of his hard contact. Waldschmidt is an average defender who goes all-out to make plays and has an average arm. He played primarily left field in his pro debut, with some time in right. He gets high marks for his makeup, work ethic and coachability. He is an above-average runner with good instincts on the bases.
The Future: Since his future is likely on an outfield corner, Waldschmidt’s bat will take him as far as he goes. He could develop into a Randal Grichuk-type player.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Field: 50 | Arm: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Track Record: After signing for a modest $150,000 bonus, Curet has proven to be the most astute signing of the Rays’ 2019 international class. Curet struggled with his control early in 2024, but in the second half of the season, he was one of the best pitchers in the minors. After the MLB all-star break, Curet was 5-0, 1.66 while striking out 39% of the batters he faced.
Scouting Report: Curet’s plus-plus fastball is one of the best in the minors. He sits 94-96 mph and can touch 98, with tons of armside run and plenty of extension from a low release point. It eats up hitters even when they are looking for it. However, the rest of his arsenal has yet to catch up to his fastball. His cutter-like hard 85-88 mph slider will flash plus, but he doesn’t show much confidence in it, and his below-average mid-80s changeup is limited by his scattershot command of it. Curet’s control and command improved during 2024, but it remains below-average.
The Future: Curet’s development path resembles that of Mason Montgomery, as his fastball would be ready quickly in a relief role, but he’ll need plenty of work to develop as a starter. Curet will be entering his second year on the 40-man roster as he heads back to Double-A Montgomery to start the 2025 season. For now, he’s still a starter, but if the Rays get into a roster crunch, his exceptional fastball could lead to a move to the bullpen.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 70 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 40. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
Track Record: The arrow has been pointing up for Urbina from the moment he signed for $210,000 in 2023. Urbina has gone from sitting at 90-91 mph to sitting 94-95 and touching 99 in less than two years. The Rays aggressively sent him to the Florida Complex League in 2023, but then sent him back there with the earlier start date for the league in 2024. He finished the season with four starts at Low-A Charleston.
Scouting Report: Urbina has one of the best fastballs in the Rays system, with top-end velocity from an athletic, lanky build. His delivery does have some length and he’ll have to work to repeat consistently. He showed the aptitude to refine and develop his breaking ball, which helped him get in the strike zone more consistently. Early in the season, he relied on a below-average high-70s bigger curveball, but he switched more and more in-season to a low-80s slider that he can throw for strikes more regularly, although he’s still working on commanding it to better spots in the zone—he leaves it up too often. He has a below-average hard changeup that so far he shows little feel for commanding.
The Future: Of the Rays’ numerous young starters, Urbina carries one of the highest risks of ending up in the bullpen, but his combination of a dominating fastball and a developing breaking ball gives him a high upside and a pretty reasonable fallback option as well.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 70 | Curveball: 40 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 40. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Track Record: The Rays’ next significant homegrown catcher they produce will be their first. For an organization that has done an excellent job of player development, catching has long been the team’s blind spot. Keegan is the team’s next hope of fixing that. Primarily a first baseman at Vanderbilt, the Rays and Keegan have patiently worked at developing him behind the plate.
Scouting Report: Keegan remains a bat-first catcher, but his defense has improved and he works well with pitchers. He shows the willingness to devote the work to it, and he’s improved to be an adequate receiver. He does an excellent job blocking balls in the dirt over the plate, but his limited mobility causes him to struggle on balls outside his frame, especially to his right. He has a strong arm, but a slow exchange and long throwing stroke limits him to fringe-average pop times. At the plate, Keegan is a significantly better hitter than most catching prospects. He blends power and plate discipline, though it doesn’t lead to a lot of home runs because he doesn’t pull the ball in the air. He projects as an average hitter with on-base skills and fringe-average power, which could improve if he learns to feast more in hitter’s counts.
The Future: Keegan is ready for Triple-A, but he still has to show his defense is good enough to handle an MLB role. Logan Driscoll is the Rays’ best defensive option among their minor league catchers, but Keegan is the only one whose bat could help him be more than a defense-only backup.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 30 | Field: 45 | Arm: 45. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
Track Record: The son of Yankees and Blue Jays second baseman Homer Bush, Homer Jr. had few Division I offers coming out of high school. He barely played as a Grand Canyon freshman but blossomed into a key member of the Antelopes’ lineup, alongside one-time roommate and 2023 Athletics first-round pick Jacob Wilson. A fourth-round pick of the Padres, Bush was traded to the Rays at the 2024 trade deadline along with Dylan Lesko and J.D. Gonzalez for reliever Jason Adam.
Scouting Report: Bush is a top-of-the-scale runner who turned in the fastest 30-yard dash time at the MLB Draft Combine in 2023 (3.52 seconds). He could play plus defense in the majors right now, and eventually could be a plus-plus defender. His speed and defense has always been an asset, but the Rays worked hard after the season to get Bush more upright in his stance, helping him be athletic at the plate. Once a skinny speedster, Bush is now a well-built 200 pounds, but in 2024, the ball didn’t come off his bat with impact. He chases pitches out of the zone too much, but he has the barrel control that keeps him from piling up strikeouts.
The Future: Bush is faster than anyone in the Rays system other than Chandler Simpson, and his better defense gives him a solid shot to be a backup outfielder. If the swing/stance changes the Rays worked on click, he could be a dynamic regular.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 80 | Field: 70 | Arm: 45. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Track Record: A member of the Canadian National Team in high school, Pitre blossomed as a contact-hitting, smooth-fielding second baseman at Kentucky. He never showed much power, but he showed he could hit with wood bats with a solid stint in the Cape Cod League during the summer of 2023. Most teams had him pegged as a third- or fourth-rounder after he hit .301/.420/.519 for the Wildcats in 2024. The Rays liked him more, taking him in the second round. Pitre had a strong debut, hitting .291/.402/.403 in an impressive 21-game stint with Low-A Charleston.
Scouting Report: Pitre is a complementary player, who doesn’t have middle-of-the-order potential, but his ability to be an above-average defender at second base with a plus hit tool could make him a very useful top or bottom of the lineup regular. His plus speed plays well on the basepaths, where he swiped 20 or more bases in his final two seasons at Kentucky. He nabbed seven in nine tries in just 21 pro games. Defensively, he’s rangier than the average second baseman, especially to his right, as he very comfortably makes plays on the shortstop side of the bag. He is quick on double play turns and throws accurately on the run, although his average arm would be a drawback if he tried to fill in at shortstop.
The Future: Pitre was promoted to High-A Bowling Green for the 2024 postseason. He should return there to start 2025. His contact skills and defense should allow him to move relatively quickly, even if he may eventually be supplanted by players with more offensive upside.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 30 | Run: 55 | Field: 50 | Arm: 55. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
Track Record: When healthy, Kinney shows the skills to be an everyday second baseman, but injury issues could derail him. A torn right labrum in his shoulder cost Kinney all of the 2022 season and an injury to the same shoulder sent him back to the injured list to end the 2024 season. Despite playing just 89 games, he still led the South Atlantic League in doubles (32) and finished among league leaders in multiple other categories.
Scouting Report: As a sweet-swinging lefthanded hitter, Kinney has an advanced approach at the plate. He can set up pitchers and knows how to do damage when he gets ahead in counts. He will expand the zone more than is ideal, but he has enough barrel control to make it work. Defensively, he’s above-average at second and fringe-average at third. Kinney’s arm bounced back from his first injury to be playable, especially at second, but a second injury to his throwing shoulder raises concerns about how it will be post-injury.
The Future: Kinney will play all of the 2025 season as a 22-year-old, and he’s ready for Double-A Montgomery. If he can put his shoulder injuries behind him, he’s an excellent prospect, but the concerns about his durability remain.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 55 | Field: 50 | Arm: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Medium
Track Record:After a solid career at Virginia Tech, Seymour was a standout for the Rays in 2021 in his pro debut, but when he moved up to Double-A in 2022, something was clearly off. Eventually he was found to have an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery. He returned slowly to action in the second half of 2023 and immediately resumed his 2021 dominance. He was even better at Double-A and Triple-A in 2024. His 145 innings pitched were the 15th most in the minors, and his 2.35 ERA was best among anyone who threw 120 or more minor league innings.
Scouting Report: When Seymour is at his best, it can put a smile on the face of the crustiest scout. He adds, subtracts and tosses in some calculus, as he stays two steps ahead of hitters despite modest velocity. His average fastball rarely tops 92 mph, but he gets swings and misses on it in the zone because of its life and flat plane. That sets up his plus 81-83 mph changeup and above-average cutter. Because his changeup is so effective, he’s been better against righthanded hitters than lefties throughout his career.
The Future: Seymour’s pro success will be hard to fully replicate in the majors, but his combination of command and deception should make him a solid bulk-inning swingman who can spot start and relieve.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Changeup: 60 | Cutter: 50 | Control: 55. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Track Record: The brother of Tigers outfielder T.J. Hopkins, Brody went from barely playing at College of Charleston to being both a starting outfielder and wild starting pitcher (44 walks in 54 innings pitched) at Winthrop. The Mariners took a chance on his stuff as a sixth-round pick in 2023. The Rays were similarly impressed and acquired him with outfielder Aidan Smith in the trade that sent Randy Arozarena to the Mariners in July 2024.
Scouting Report: Hopkins is still very early in his pitching development. He’s an exceptional athlete with a low three-quarters arm slot that gives hitters an unusual look. Hopkins’ plus mid-90s fastball and 86-88 mph plus-plus slider give him a pair of true weapons. Hopkins pitches off his slider more than his fastball. It has depth and sweep, and he can spot it gloveside or armside in the zone, or he can bury it gloveside off the zone in two-strike counts. Thanks to his combination of a low slot and above-average velocity—he’ll touch 99 mph—his fastball misses bats, but he has yet to develop the command and control of it. His pitch mix raises concerns about handling lefthanded hitters, but it hasn’t been an issue so far. Hopkins has a fringe-average cutter and changeup as well, but he doesn’t sell the deception on his below-average change and he struggles to control it. Hopkins’ below-average control is the biggest concern going forward. His 59% strike percentage in 2024 was well below the Class A average of 62%.
The Future: Hopkins has the potential to be a rotation fixture, but he’s still quite a ways from reaching that projection. His low arm slot and fastball/slider combo would make him a devastating reliever as a fallback plan.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 70 | Changeup: 40 | Cutter: 45 | Control: 40. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Track Record: The Mariners have done a good job of nailing their picks on the second day of the draft. Smith fits that criteria. He hit .565 with six home runs and just eight strikeouts as a senior before signing for a well-above slot $1.2 million. The Rays picked up Smith, the Mariners’ 2023 fourth-round pick, as well as Brody Hopkins, the team’s 2023 sixth-round pick, in the Randy Arozarena trade.
Scouting Report: Smith has quickly demonstrated better than expected power and hitting ability as a pro to go with the excellent athleticism. Smith’s power is solely to his pull side for now, but he already posts exit velocities over 110 mph. He’s slender and lithe and has just begun to grow into his power. He feasts on changeups, recognizes spin well and stays in well against tough righthanders. There’s no glaring flaw to his game, and he has a chance to be a true five-tool player. Defensively, he’s a plus defender in center field with the above-average arm to also play right. He has plus speed and torments batteries–he swiped 13 bases in 14 tries in 19 games as a Ray.
The Future: Smith has the combination of defense, athleticism and offensive potential that the Rays covet in their outfielders. He should head to Bowling Green as one of the cornerstones of that club for 2025. Long-term, his combination of speed, defense and power is exactly what the Rays look for in a corner outfielder who can play with a center fielder’s range.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 60 | Field: 60 | Arm: 55. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Track Record: Nichols posted an 8.27 ERA at Arizona in his draft year due to control and command troubles. The Rays scooped him in the sixth round in 2023 and, after a solid year with Low-A Charleston in 2024, Nichols has taken another step forward in High-A in 2025. This year, he walked just 11 batters (5.7% walk percentage) in his first 47 innings.
Scouting Report: The Rays are great at helping pitchers simplify their approach by telling them to aim for the big part of the strike zone and trust their stuff to get outs. Nichols is the latest to embrace this philosophy. He’s throwing strikes 68% of the time, which is one of the highest rates in the minors. Nichols’ mid-to-high-90s above-average fastball plays much better now that he’s not starting most counts at 2-0 or 2-1. His fastball is generating a 28% whiff rate according to Synergy Sports while his plus slider has become a late-count nightmare for hitters. He’s throwing the slider for strikes two-thirds of the time with a 40% miss rate. He also has a changeup that will flash fringe-average, but he is more vulnerable against lefthanded hitters.
The Future: Nichols has long projected as a reliever who can rely on his fastball and slider. That’s still a potential outcome, but his massive control improvements makes it possible he can be an athletic midrotation starter.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 55. -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
Track Record: Gill Hill was a late bloomer whose prospect status took off as a high school senior in New York state when he went 6-2 with a 1.38 ERA with three no-hitters. He had been slated to go to Farleigh Dickinson but ended up committing to Wake Forest. When the Rays drafted him in the sixth round in 2022, a well above-slot $597,000 bonus convinced him to go pro instead. Much like Rays 2018 day two pick Taj Bradley, Gill Hill was very young for his draft class. Even after spending a year in Rookie ball, he was just 19 when he broke out at Low-A Charleston in 2024. He was one of only three teenagers to throw more than 100 innings in 2024, joining teammate Santiago Suarez and the Angels’ Barrett Kent.
Scouting Report: In 2023, Gill Hill seemed more project than prospect. He had a low arm slot that seemed destined to send him to the bullpen, and his velocity was modest. A strong offseason transformed his pro trajectory. Gill Hill added 20 pounds of good weight coming into 2024, and it paid off in a 2-3 mph velocity bump. He sat 92-94 in 2024, with the ability to reach back for 96-97. Gill Hill also raised his arm slot, which helped his fastball and slider movement and made him less vulnerable to lefthanded hitters. Gill Hill’s plus control allows him to locate four pitches consistently. He works his slider glove-side and down, while his changeup has fade and deception. Gill Hill has a fluid, athletic delivery that should allow him to remain a starter.
The Future: Gill Hill made big strides in 2024, but scouts believe there’s even more to come as he continues to fill out his 6-foot-2 frame and get stronger. He’s already shown he can throw strikes and maintain his delivery. If he keeps adding velocity, he could be a mid-rotation starter in a few years.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Cutter: 50 | Control: 60. -
BA Grade/Risk: 60/Extreme
Track Record: So far, Guerrero has met or exceeded the Rays’ expectations when he’s on the field. He just hasn’t been healthy enough. Guerrero’s 2023 season in the Dominican Summer League lasted just seven games before he was shut down with a torn labrum in his right shoulder. He starred in the early part of the 2024 Florida Complex League season, but a recurrence of the shoulder injury limited him to 28 games. He has taken 126 at-bats in two seasons.
Scouting Report: When Guerrero has been on the field, he’s been excellent. He has massive power potential from the left side, but he’s a hitter more than a slugger, with advanced bat-to-ball skills and barrel control. Guerrero has already filled out, so there’s not a lot of projection to his power, but he doesn’t need it. His exit velocities already rank among the top 10 in the Rays’ system. He doesn’t have to sell out to get to that power, because he has a patient, disciplined approach and generates above-average contact rates. Guerrero will turn in plus run times, but by the time he reaches the majors, he’ll likely be an average runner. He plays plenty of center field in Rookie ball, but he’ll likely end up in right field eventually. He’s average there defensively with a plus arm.
The Future: Guerrero’s well-rounded offensive ceiling is comparable to Xavier Isaac. He has the rare combination of massive power and a potentially-plus hit tool. There’s plenty to dream on, but there’s also the reality that Guerrero hasn’t played enough for his warts to be exposed. He’s yet to see quality breaking pitches, and he’s a lefthanded hitter who is hitless in his mere 20 pro plate appearances against lefties. The jump to Low-A Charleston in 2025 should give him a chance to be challenged. If he stays healthy, he could vault into the Top 100.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 60 | Run: 50 | Field: 50 | Arm: 60. -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
Track Record: The Marlins astutely signed Suarez as a slightly-older 17-year-old out of Venezuela in 2022. He quickly caught the Rays’ eye in the Dominican Summer League that year. When Tampa Bay traded reliever JT Chargois and shortstop Xavier Edwards to the Marlins to clear 40-man roster space in November 2022, they asked for Suarez and Marcus Johnson in return. The Marlins have already gotten production from Edwards, but Suarez could lead to a long-term payoff for the Rays. Suarez is a well-built, stocky righthander who has the body to eat innings. Including his playoff start, Suarez’s 116.2 innings were the most by any teenage pitcher in 2024.
Scouting Report: Suarez’s double-plus control is exceptional. His season high in walks was three, and he walked two or more four times in 23 starts for Low-A Charleston. In comparison, he walked no one eight times. Suarez’s 69% strike percentage was third-best among minor league pitchers with at least 100 innings. Because of his pitch efficiency, he worked deeper into games than almost any teenager, throwing five or more innings in 17 of 23 starts. Suarez touched 94 mph when he signed with the Marlins. Now he sits 94-95 and touches 97-98. His plus four-seam fastball has above-average carry at the top of the zone with a flat plane to miss bats. He mixes an average low-80s curveball and an above-average upper-80s cutter, both of which are most notable for his ability to locate them. He also had a hard, low-90s split-changeup that is fringe-average.
The Future: Suarez’s exceptional control and steadily-improving velocity combined with enviable durability gives him a clear path to being a mid-rotation starter. He’s ready for High-A Bowling Green, where he should be part of a talented young rotation.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Cutter: 60 | Control: 70. -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
Track Record: A three-year star at LSU and a career .322 hitter in college, Morgan was a key part of the Tigers’ 2023 national championship team. His defense and throw home on a bunt to help beat Wake Forest will be replayed in Baton Rouge for decades. Drafted in the third round in 2023, Morgan was assigned to Low-A to start 2024 largely to keep him and fellow first baseman Xavier Isaac off the same roster. They ended up together for much of the season at High-A Bowling Green and Double-A Montgomery and even played together in the Arizona Fall League. Morgan missed the Coronavirus-shortened 2020 high school season with a left elbow injury. He also saw his 2023 pro season end early because of a minor arm injury, but he’s generally been durable.
Scouting Report: Morgan has a chance to hit .290-300 in the big leagues in his best years thanks to a gap-heavy, all-fields approach. Early in counts, he will try to yank the ball into the seats, but once he gets to two strikes, he wears pitchers into submission by stubbornly refusing to give in. Morgan struck out on three pitches just three times in 2024, and he either took a ball, fouled the pitch off or put it in play on 90% of two-strike pitches seen. At first base, Morgan is exceptional. He should be a perennial Gold Glove candidate. He has plus range, top-tier hands and a shortstop’s mentality. He wants the ball hit to him in crucial situations. He has a plus arm for the rare cases where he needs to start a double play. He can play a below-average left field, but he’s so much better at first.
The Future: Morgan’s combination of exceptional bat control, a polished all-fields approach and exceptional defense makes him a low-risk MLB regular. The question becomes whether his power develops enough to make him a significant offensive contributor.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 65 | Power: 40 | Run: 50 | Field: 80 | Arm: 60. -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
Track Record: Harrison grew up just north of Tampa and has been a Rays fan all his life. He was a teammate of Phillies shortstop prospect Aidan Miller at Mitchell High. Harrison was primarily a first baseman and catcher until his junior year. He moved to the mound and quickly blossomed. The Rays convinced him to forgo a Florida State commitment with a well above-slot $847,500 bonus as a fifth-round pick in 2023. Harrison made his pro debut in 2024 with an assignment to the Rookie-level Florida Complex League, then earned a midseason promotion to Low-A Charleston. His best start of the year came in the Carolina League playoffs, when he held Kannapolis to one hit in five scoreless innings while striking out six.
Scouting Report: Harrison has gone from touching 95 mph as a high school senior to sitting at 95 in his first pro season. His fastball doesn’t have exceptional carry, but his velocity—he touches 98-99 now—makes it a plus pitch. Harrison was heavily fastball-reliant early in 2024, but he developed more and more comfort in his slider and changeup as the season progressed. His 84-86 mph slider has modest tilt but plenty of power. His changeup has separation, deception and some fade. Both flash above-average-to-plus and should continue to develop as he gains more confidence in them. He has average control.
The Future: The Rays had three young, high-ceiling starters at Class A in 2024: Harrison, Gary Gill Hill and Santiago Suarez. Of the three, Harrison has a bit further to go, but he also has the highest ceiling. Harrison has the physicality to develop into a frontline starter with power stuff. He may return to Charleston to start the season, but he should spend most of 2025 at High-A Bowling Green.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 55 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Medium
Track Record: Simpson’s 198 stolen bases over the past two seasons is 68 more than any other minor leaguer, and he did it with an 86% success rate. He led Division I with a .433 batting average for Georgia Tech in 2022 and won the minor league batting title at .355 in 2024, making him the only player in the past 40 years to have both a D-I and MiLB batting title. He hit .455 while going 9-for-9 on stolen bases for USA Baseball at the Premier12 world championships to end his 2024 season.
Scouting Report: Simpson is a man of extremes. He’s a top-of-the-scale runner with bottom-of-scale power. His lone home run as a pro was an inside-the-parker. It’s hard to be a .300 hitter with 20 power, but Simpson’s speed and bat control make it possible. With his short stroke, Simpson makes tons of contact. His 9% swing-and-miss rate was best among all minor league qualifiers. He can pull the ball when pitchers try to work inside, but he’s best when they stay away. Simpson hit .452 on balls on the outer third of the strike zone because he slaps the ball to left field so adeptly. Defensively, Simpson moved from second base in college to the outfield as a pro. Despite his great speed, he’s had to work hard to become a fringe-average defender in center field. His first step and routes need to improve, but if he fixes those, his speed could make him a special defender. His arm is well-below-average.
The Future: Simpson’s MLB role will depend significantly on continued defensive improvement. His hitting ability gives him a higher ceiling than most speedsters, but to be a regular, his glove needs to keep improving. The Rays’ hope is that he can develop into a Juan Pierre-type who hits close to .300 while leading the league in steals.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 70 | Power: 20 | Run: 80 | Field: 45 | Arm: 30. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Medium
Track Record: The Rays drafted Taylor 19th overall out of Texas Christian in 2023. He quietly had one of the best seasons in the Rays’ system in 2024, which he spent primarily at High-A Bowling Green. He finished third in the organization in home runs (20), fourth in slugging percentage (.493) and first in both walks (76) and extra-base hits (55). That tracks with what he did at TCU, where he was one of the Horned Frogs’ best hitters for three seasons.
Scouting Report: The best way to describe Taylor is he’s boringly impressive. He has no plus grade on his scouting report, but there’s also no glaring deficiency. He strings together quality at-bats, makes good swing decisions and gets the most from his average power because he knows how to get pitches he can drive to his pull side. The lefthanded hitter has shown he’s not helpless against lefties and projects to be a .250-.260 hitter with 18-20 home runs. Taylor is an average defender at second base and a fringe-average one at third base, though he’s played more third than any other position as a pro. He’s better at second because he isn’t particularly twitchy, so he does better when he has a little more time to react. His average arm is accurate. Taylor makes the routine play, but he doesn’t create many highlights. He’s an average runner, but he knows how to pick his spots. He has stolen 40 bases at an 85% success rate as a pro.
The Future: Taylor should be ready to join the Rays’ picture at second and third base by the end of 2025, and he makes sense as Brandon Lowe’s eventual replacement at the keystone. He’s not likely to be a star, but he has a pretty clear path to being a solid long-term regular. He should spend most of 2025 at Triple-A Durham.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Field: 50 | Arm: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
Track Record: A four-year starter at Austin’s Westlake High in Texas, Gillen impressed as a hitter for multiple years, but injuries always seemed to hamper his ability to show scouts what he could do. Gillen had right shoulder surgery in 2022, and a wrist injury hindered him during the summer of 2023. A healthy spring in 2024 helped him climb into the first round—18th overall—after he demonstrated he was one of the best, most consistent hitters in the high school class. He hit .415 with seven home runs and 29 stolen bases as a senior.
Scouting Report: The 2024 draft was not considered deep with prep hitters, which made Gillen’s bat stand out even more. He was viewed as the best amateur hitter in Texas, and some scouts noted that might include college players. Gillen has long impressed scouts with his steady, productive approach. The lefthanded hitter has a line-drive swing with plenty of bat speed. He doesn’t really sell out for power, but with his bat speed and developing strength, he should eventually have above-average game power to go with an above-average hit tool. He’s also a plus runner. Gillen was a shortstop in high school, but scouts long expected him to switch positions as a pro, because his fringe-average arm hasn’t really been strong enough post-surgery to handle the demands of the position. The Rays immediately moved him to center field, which will allow him to rely on his speed and limit the number of throws he has to make.
The Future: Gillen has a chance to be the Rays’ next top-tier position prospect. Unlike many high school players, he got a late-season stint with Low-A Charleston as a sneak peek of where he’ll play in 2025. He should be one of the more talented players in the Carolina League.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 60 | Field: 50 | Arm: 45. -
BA Grade/Risk: 60/Medium
Track Record: Williams didn’t play in a lot of showcases during his high school career at Torrey Pines in San Diego, but he impressed scouts with his big arm, even if he made it clear to everyone that he preferred hitting to pitching. He made swing improvements as a senior, which helped him use his lower half better and convinced scouts to shelve the idea of getting him back on the mound. Williams’ power jumped significantly and helped him vault from third- or fourth-round consideration into the back of the first round in 2021, where the Rays drafted him 28th overall. Williams has shown rare power for a shortstop throughout his pro career. Since the 2022 season began, his 62 home runs are the most among minor league shortstops. That includes a 20-homer, 33-steal performance for Double-A Montgomery as a 21-year-old in 2024.
Scouting Report: Williams has moved relatively quickly up the minor league ladder, but at the plate he is still learning how to get his pitch and adjust depending on a pitcher’s approach. His two-strike approach is rudimentary at this point, but his bat speed and plus power make pitchers pay for any mistakes. Williams’ exceptional footwork is the key to his plus defense. He reads the ball off the bat, and finds ways to avoid in-between hops. He gets into the right position to turn tough plays into routine ones, and his internal clock helps him play under control. He knows when he needs to hurry or when he can slow down and get set. Williams’ hands are fine, but it’s the footwork combined with his plus-plus arm that allow him to make plays many shortstops can’t even consider. Much like the Orioles’ Gunnar Henderson, he makes hard plays in the hole because he can get plenty into off-balance throws. Williams is a reliable defender. He made nine errors all season in 2024, and his .979 fielding percentage was fourth among minor league shortstops.
The Future: The Rays often emphasize versatility in their prospects, asking them to bounce around the field, but Williams notably has never played a game at a position other than shortstop. That could change in 2025 as he heads to Triple-A Durham, but any other position he plays will only be to make him viable as a short-term fill-in. Shortstop is his long-term home. His defense is big-league ready right now, but his bat may need 500 plate appearances at Triple-A to add some final polish. Williams should be the Rays’ everyday shortstop for years to come. His combination of defense, power and athleticism gives him all-star upside. It wouldn’t be a surprise if his hitting doesn’t fully blossom later in the 2020s, but his glove will make him a valuable regular, even if he starts out in the majors as a lower-average power hitter whose hitting eventually catches up to the rest of his skills.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 60 | Run: 50 | Field: 70 | Arm: 70. -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
Track Record: Isaac missed most of the prep showcase circuit with a foot injury, but the Rays were impressed with his hitting and power as a senior in 2022 and drafted him 29th overall. He lost 20 pounds that offseason, setting up a breakout 2023 in which he hit for average and power. Isaac was just as good in the first half of 2024 at High-A Bowling Green and earned a Futures Game invite. He had his first pro struggles after promotion to Double-A Montgomery. Over the final three months of the season, Isaac stuck out 40% of the time, which is nearly double his 2023 strikeout rate.
Scouting Report: The Rays loved Isaac coming out of high school because he was a pure hitter with massive power. In 2024, he focused more on getting to that power, which resulted in a lot more strikeouts. When Isaac was hitting .285 in 2023, he had a barely-noticeable timing step that started his swing. At times in 2024, that grew into a much bigger leg kick. It seems to have affected his timing, leaving him vulnerable to changeups. When Isaac’s swing is short, he has the potential to be a plus hitter with plus power. He hits the ball harder than any other Rays minor leaguer now that Junior Caminero has graduated. Isaac is more athletic and moves better than he did in high school, turning in above-average run times. That has made left field a viable option, though his pro outfield experience amounts to five games in right field in the AFL. He’s an average defender at first base who could get to fringe-average in left.
The Future: Isaac’s struggles after he reached Double-A are fixable, and he was one of the younger players at the level. He’ll head back to Montgomery as a 21-year-old to start 2025, looking to make more contact. He has a chance to hit for average and power, but he has to make adjustments.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 60 | Run: 55 | Field: 50 | Arm: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Extreme
Track Record: Showalter was a South Florida commit who caught teams’ attention on the 2021 showcase circuit. The Orioles selected him in the 11th round of the 2022 draft and signed him for $440,000. Showalter was dealt to the Cardinals at the 2023 deadline as a part of the Jack Flaherty trade. He spent the 2024 season with Low-A Palm Beach, making 24 appearances and striking out 59 batters over 34.1 innings. He went down with a rotator cuff injury on Aug. 1 and spent the final month and a half on the injured list.
Scouting Report: Showalter looks to be a fully relief prospect at present due to his struggles to stay on the mound and lack of a quality secondary. Showalter’s game is all about his fastball quality, which is plus. The pitch only sat 91-92 mph in 2024 but his outlier 4-foot-6 release height and above-average extension create one of the flattest approach angles in baseball. It’s a low-spin pitch but his ability to backspin it efficiently allows it to eat at the top of the zone. Showalter has a pair of secondaries, a mid-to-high-70s sweeper slider and mid-80s changeup, both of which are poor and do not miss bats. Showalter shows above-average command of his fastball but an inability to land his secondaries.
The Future: Showalter will look to return to health and develop his secondaries. Until then, he’s a long shot lottery ticket.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 30 | Changeup: 30 | Control: 45. -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Extreme
Track Record: After a strong showing in his sophomore season at Boston College and in his pre-draft summer in the Cape Cod League, Honeyman had first-round buzz entering 2023. He dealt with an injury-plagued campaign and dropped to the third round of the 2023 draft. Since then, he’s been limited to just over 50 games over parts of two seasons. He’s seen more action in 2025 than he did in 2024 but has already had two stints on the injured list.
Scouting Report: Honeyman is a good athlete with naturally-strong plate skills and projectable power. His growth over the last three years has been stunted by his inability to stay on the field. He shows above-average bat-to-ball skills with an advanced approach at the plate. While Honeyman has above-average raw power, most of his hardest-hit balls in play come in the form of line drives and hard-hit groundballs. Honeyman in the past has shown the bat speed to turn on a mistake over the heart of the plate, but he will need to adjust his bat path to get the most of his raw power. Honeyman is an above-average runner with strong basestealing skills. He’s played primarily center field but is just an average fielder overall.
The Future: When Honeyman is on the field, he shows a nice blend of plate skills and gap-to-gap power that allows him to tease everyday regular potential. Despite the injuries, Honeyman has been on the field more in 2025 than in any season since college.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 55 | Field: 50 | Arm: 45. -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/High
Track Record: Mautz popped up in his draft spring, going 10-2 with 122 strikeouts to 22 walks over 90.2 innings for San Diego. He earned first-team All-West Coast Conference honors, was selected by the Cardinals in the second round and signed for $1.1 million. He debuted the following spring and spent a full season with Low-A Palm Beach. Mautz was assigned to High-A Peoria and made 24 starts, pitching to a 3-13 record with a 5.18 ERA—but a 4.01 xFIP.
Scouting Report: Mautz mixes a low-90s sinker with a low-80s slider, mid-70s curveball and mid-80s changeup. Mautz’s low three-quarters arm action and slingy lefthanded motion allow his below-average stuff to play up against lefthanded hitters. Lefties batted .227/.306/.262 with no home runs against Mautz in 2024, as he dominated with his slider, which generated a 24% swinging strike rate in same-handed matchups. He didn’t have the same success against righthanders, who batted .287/.362/.528 with 20 home runs. Mautz’s mid-70s curveball was the only pitch that showed promising results in matchups with righthanders. He shows average command of his arsenal and limits walks.
The Future: Mautz should continue his level-per-season progression with a nearly full season at Double-A in 2025. His Rule 5 draft decision awaits next winter, and he’s a clear bubble player at the moment.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 40 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/High
Track Record: Saladin signed with the Cardinals for $200,000 in July of 2019 but didn’t debut until 2021 in the Dominican Summer League, where he spent two seasons. He made the jump stateside in 2023 and reached Low-A late in the season. Saladin returned to Low-A to begin 2024 and pitched his way to High-A Peoria by midseason. Across 21 starts spanning 123 innings, Saladin pitched to a 2.71 ERA with 134 strikeouts to 33 walks.
Scouting Report: Saladin is an undersized righthander who has shown the ability to handle his fair share of innings early in his professional career. Saladin mixes four pitches, a four-seam fastball, slider, curveball and changeup. Saladin’s fastball sits 92-93 mph, touching 96 mph at peak with above-average ride from a lower release height. Saladin’s ability to spin his fastball efficiently creates a flat vertical plane to the plate, making it an above-average bat-missing pitch. His most-used secondary is a low-80s slider that Saladin tunnels well off of his fastball. Saladin shows above-average feel for his changeup with good vertical separation from his four-seam. Overall, Saladin shows above-average control.
The Future: Saladin will likely see the fearsome Texas League early in 2025, when his high fastball attack plane will be put to the test. Saladin has starter traits but an undersized frame.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 40 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 55. -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/High
Track Record: An Arizona native who grew up in the Phoenix area, Campos made it to campus at hometown Arizona State, where he hit .367/.463/.552 with 21 home runs, a 9.8% strikeout rate and 13.9% walk rate. He was named to the all-Pacific-12 Conference first team in 2024 after earning an honorable mention as a sophomore. The Cardinals selected Campos in the fourth round of the 2024 draft and signed him for $669,300. Campos debuted with Low-A Palm Beach following the draft and hit .319 over 26 games.
Scouting Report: Campos is an average defensive catcher with advanced strike-zone awareness and an undersized build. His ability to discern balls from strikes and get his bat on any ball he swings at are his carrying tools. Campos missed just 8.7% of pitches he swung at during his last college season. That skill mostly held up in his professional debut, during which he produced a 14% in-zone whiff rate. Lots of Campos’ contact winds up on the ground as he looks to put strikes in play to the opposite field. He has excellent on-base skills for a contact hitter this pure and finished with a 12.2% walk rate in his debut, which was in line with his 13.9% career walk rate in college. Campos has 30-grade power and is unlikely to hit double-digit home runs in a professional season. He’s a good mover behind the plate with average blocking and receiving skills and a fringe-average arm.
The Future: Campos is a bat-first catcher with advanced plate skills in the mold of the White Sox prospect Chase Meidroth. He is 50/50 to stick behind the plate.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 30 | Run: 40 | Field: 50 | Arm: 45. -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
Track Record: Baez was a highly-touted Massachusetts prep prospect that passed on a Vanderbilt commitment after the Cardinals took him in the second round of the 2021 draft. Baez dealt with injuries and significant swing-and-miss concerns over his first three pro seasons. He seemed to turn a corner in 2024 and has taken another step forward in 2025.
Scouting Report: Baez is a physical power hitter who’s struggled with swing-and-miss throughout his career. His plus-plus raw power has rarely played as such due to his lack of contact. The 2025 season has been a breakthrough in this regard, as Baez has made contact at the highest rate of his career while showing improved plate discipline. Baez is now using the entire field, hitting more line drives, and his batted-ball profile has become more well-rounded. He’s done this without sacrificing power and is simply getting to it in a more consistent manner. Baez is an average runner now who’s likely to slow down by his peak seasons. He should be average in a corner outfield spot with a plus arm.
The Future: Baez has taken a major step forward in 2025, as he’s made tremendous progress as a hitter. If these changes stick, Baez has a chance to develop into a second-division regular with exciting power.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 60 | Run: 45 | Field: 45 | Arm: 60. -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/High
Track Record: Rajcic starred as the ace of the national prep power Orange (Calif.) Lutheran HS and arrived at UCLA as the top recruit in their 2020 class. He spent two seasons with the Bruins, acting as the team’s closer as a freshman. The Cardinals drafted Rajcic in the sixth round in 2022. He spent all of 2024 with Double-A Springfield and made 24 starts, pitching to a 4.33 ERA over 131 innings. Rajcic will likely spend the majority of 2025 at Triple-A Memphis with an outside shot at seeing a cup of coffee with the Cardinals.
Scouting Report: Rajcic is a burly righthander with below-average stuff but feel for a trio of secondaries. Rajcic mixes a four-seam fastball at 92-94 mph, touching 96 mph at peak, with a mid-80s changeup, low-80s downer curveball and mid-80s slider. Rajcic’s changeup is his best pitch, with heavy armside run and the best bat-missing metrics in his arsenal. His curveball and slider are both fringe-average pitches with a chance to be effective MLB offerings. The curveball has a heavy two-plane break and lots of depth at 80 mph but is too often an easy take. Rajcic shows above-average command of his fastball-changeup combo but below-average command of his other pitches.
The Future: Rajcic has an up-and-down starter future and could debut in late 2025.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 45 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
Track Record: A native of the Netherlands, Robberse is the rare prospect born and raised in Europe. He signed with the Blue Jays in 2019 and steadily climbed the minor league ladder, reaching Double-A by the end of his second full season. He returned to Double-A in 2023 and made 18 starts before he was traded to the Cardinals as part of the exchange for Jordan Hicks. Robberse spent nearly all of 2024 with Triple-A Memphis but missed two months in the middle of the season due to right elbow tightness.
Scouting Report: Robberse is a righthanded starter with good feel for spin and, up until 2024, had shown a penchant for eating innings. Robberse mixes four pitches: a four-seam fastball, slider, cutter and changeup. Robberse’s fastball sits 90-92 mph with ride and cut. His slider is his best secondary and his only above-average or better pitch. The slider sits 82-84 mph with spin rates up to 3,000 rpms with over a foot of sweep on average. His upper-80s cutter is often used in lieu of or in tandem with his fastball. Robberse’s changeup is a good chase pitch but rarely landed in the zone. Robberse has above-average command of his stuff and handled the Triple-A ABS well.
The Future: Robberse has back-of-the-rotation upside and could serve as a depth starter for the Cardinals in 2025 if healthy.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 40 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Cutter: 45 | Control: 55. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
Track Record: Ynfante signed with the Cardinals in 2022, then spent his first two professional seasons in the Dominican Summer League before moving to the U.S. this season. Performance-wise, he was one of the best arms in the league, leading the Florida Complex League in strikeouts (62) and innings pitched (52) while placing third in ERA (3.29) and fourth in WHIP (1.29). Ynfante made his full-season debut in 2024 with Low-A Palm Beach at the end of the season. He made eight appearances and posted a 2-0 record with a 2.70 ERA and 12 strikeouts to seven walks over 13.1 innings.
Scouting Report: The projectable righthander could stand to firm up his body a bit, but he has a three-pitch mix that he sequences well and possesses a solid feel to pitch. His fastball averages around 93 mph and tops at 96. He backs it with a slider and changeup. The fastball shows below-average ride but above-average armside run with raw spin rates up to 2,500 rpm. Ynfante’s slider sits in the low 80s with slurvy shape, and he shows above-average command of the pitch. His low-to-mid-80s changeup has tumble and fade. Ynfante shows above-average command of his fastball and slider but is still learning to gain feel for the changeup.
The Future: Ynfante is a projectable righthander who could make a jump with added velocity in the coming years.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 45 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium
Track Record: Signed as an undrafted free agent out of Division III Trinity following the 2020 draft, Koperniak hit his way onto Great Britain’s World Baseball Classic roster in 2023. He spent full seasons at Triple-A in 2023 and 2024. He hit .309/.370/.512 with 20 home runs and an 18.7% strikeout rate with Memphis in 2024. The performance earned him a spot on the Cardinals’ 40-man roster heading into 2025.
Scouting Report: Koperniak is a well-rounded player with refined bat-to-ball skills and some sneaky power. Koperniak makes contact at an above-average rate, with a 15.9% in-zone whiff rate in Triple-A in 2024. He’s not prone to chasing but does look to put the ball in play as a fairly aggressive swinger. He has the type of hit tool that will run fringe-average walk rates but few strikeouts. He grew into more power over 2023 and 2024 and produces average exit velocity data. His raw power is average with little projection remaining. Kopeniak has fringe-average home run power now with mid-teen totals expected in a full season of at-bats. He’s an above-average runner who has solid range in all three outfield spots, though he’s not a threat to steal bases. Koperniak is an above-average defensive outfielder in a corner with the ability to handle center field in a pinch.
The Future: Koperniak is a late-blooming outfielder who looks ready to contribute in 2025, when he should debut for the Cardinals.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 45 | Run: 55 | Field: 55 | Arm: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
Track Record: Hunter signed for $700,000 in January of 2025 and is one of the most promising prospects to emerge from Nicaragua in recent years.
Scouting Report: Hunter stands 5-foot-11, 170 pounds with an aggressive offensive approach, producing line drives to all parts of the field with gap power. Hunter hit well and made the all-tournament team at the U-18 World Cup Americas Qualifier last year, but it’s athletically and defensively where he might be the most exciting. Hunter played shortstop early in the scouting process but he has taken quickly to center field with plus speed, a plus arm and strong defensive instincts.
The Future: Hunter should debut in the Dominican Summer league this season.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 60 | Field: 60 | Arm: 60. -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium
Track Record: Svanson broke out for Lehigh in 2021, making 12 starts and posting a 4-4 record with a 2.30 ERA and 65 strikeouts to 24 walks. Svanson was selected in the 13th round of the 2021 draft and spent the majority of the 2022 season working as a reliever. The Cardinals acquired Svanson for Paul DeJong and cash from the Blue Jays at the 2023 trade deadline. Svanson spent all of 2024 with Double-A Springfield, where he made 53 appearances and collected 27 saves, the most by a prospect in 2024. Svanson struck out just 20.8% of batters he faced but generated ground balls at a rate of 52.7% throughout the season.
Scouting Report: Svanson is a ground-ball pitcher who knows how to keep the ball in the ballpark. Svanson has allowed only 14 home runs across 215 professional innings due in large part to his bread-and-butter sinker-slider combination. Svanson’s sinker sits 95-96 mph, touching 98 mph at peak with moderate sink and heavy armside run. His slider sits 84-86 mph with true sweeper shape averaging between 11-12 inches of horizontal break. Svanson also mixes a low-90s cutter and low-80s curveball on occasion. Most of his usage is divided between the sinker and slider as he looks to cement-mix his way to contact on the ground. Svanson shows above-average command of his mix, attacking the lower quadrants and throwing lots of strikes.
The Future: Svanson looks like a nearly ready groundball-heavy middle relief option who could debut in 2025.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 40 | Slider: 50 | Cutter: 45 | Control: 55. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
Track Record: Franco was one of the most highly touted pitchers in the 2024 international market, and the $800,000 bonus he received was the highest of any pitcher in his class. Franco debuted in the Dominican Summer League. By the time Franco signed, he had gone from the mid 80s to the low 90s and saw another velocity jump in the DSL, where he sat 93-95 mph. Franco made 12 starts for the Cardinals’ DSL team going 0-3 with a 6.16 ERA and 37 strikeouts to 24 walks over 38 innings.
Scouting Report: Franco is 6-foot-3 and weighs 190 pounds with arm speed and physical projection in his lean, long-limbed frame. While Franco has already made a substantial velocity jump, he is expected to continue to grow. He has an easy delivery, good arm action and the ball comes out of his hand cleanly. While his results were poor in his pro debut, there’s lots of growth remaining for the 17-year-old. Franco sat 94-95 mph on his fastball with average ride and above-average run. His best secondary is a slurvy, low-to-mid-80s slider with plus sweep and spin rates up to 2,750 rpm. His changeup is a work in progress but shows good vertical separation off his fastball. Franco shows fringe-average command of his fastball but struggles to land his secondaries consistently. How he matures as a strike-thrower will determine whether he remains a starter.
The Future: Franco should make his stateside debut in 2025 looking to improve his strike-throwing.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 45. -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium
Track Record: Graceffo made headlines in his first minor league spring training in 2022 when he hit 100 mph on Trackman and flashed a substantial velocity jump. Those gains have disappeared in successive seasons, though. Graceffo spent his second consecutive season in Triple-A, making 26 starts for Memphis with a 4.85 ERA. He made his major league debut on June 29 at home against the Reds as a reliever and made his first MLB start two weeks later against the Royals.
Scouting Report: Graceffo is a burly starter with a body built to eat innings. His track record backs that description, with over 130 innings pitched in two of the last three seasons. Graceffo mixes four pitches: a four-seam fastball, slider, curveball and changeup. His four-seam fastball sits 93-94 mph, touching 97 mph at peak. The pitch has a well below-average shape and did not perform well in 2024. Graceffo’s slider is his most-used secondary and doesn’t miss many bats but generates grounders. Graceffo’s curveball is his best pitch, sitting 79-80 mph with good depth. His changeup is a low-to-mid-80s pitch with some armside run. Graceffo has above-average command of his pitch mix and shows the ability to consistently throw strikes.
The Future: Graceffo’s velocity gain disappeared and he’s now a control-over-stuff pitcher with an arsenal of fringe offerings.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 40 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 55. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
Track Record: The Dominican outfielder and the son of former major league reliever Pedro Strop, signed with the Cardinals in January for $1.4 million. Strop is 6-foot-1, 165 pounds, young for the class and is a baseball rat who does a lot of things well.
Scouting Report: Strop is a lefthanded hitter with a knack for being able to go with where the ball is pitched, flashing home run power to his pull side along with the ability to backspin balls to left-center. Some scouts had concerns about contact with Strop, but those highest on him liked his hitting ability, strike-zone judgment and potential to grow into bigger power as well once he fills out his wiry frame. Strop is a plus runner who should be able to retain his speed as he gets older and has an above-average arm that could also tick up with strength gains.
The Future: Strop will be the top prospect to debut in the Dominican Summer League in 2025 for the Cardinals.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 60 | Field: 50 | Arm: 55. -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium
Track Record: Church won a California Interscholastic Federation D1 sectional championship with El Toro High in 2017 and committed to UC Irvine. He redshirted as a freshman and played three seasons with the Anteaters, hitting .309/.387/.438 with five home runs in 2022. The Cardinals drafted Church in the 11th round in 2022 and signed him for $125,000. Church made the jump to Double-A Springfield in 2024 and hit .268/.331/.373 with nine home runs and 24 stolen bases over 127 games. Church played in the Arizona Fall League following the season and batted .364/.397/.418.
Scouting Report: Church is one of the best defensive outfielders in the Cardinals’ system and in 2024 showed that he can keep his head above water with the bat. Church is a lefthanded hitter with a hands-driven swing that helps him to make line-drive contact to the gaps. He has plus bat-to-ball skills with a somewhat aggressive approach. He has below-average bat speed and fringe-average raw power, but he will hit lots of doubles and crush the occasional mistake. Church is a 70-grade runner who’s a threat to steal bases whenever he’s on and a plus defender in center field with excellent makeup speed and a nose to track the ball to all parts of the grass. His double-plus arm and quick trigger allow him to make every throw in the park and nab runners regularly.
The Future: Church has second-division regular potential but will likely end up as a fourth outfielder.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 40 | Run: 70 | Field: 60 | Arm: 70. -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
Track Record: Before pitching for Oklahoma State, Holiday was part of the 2023 national championship club at Central Florida JC, where he was named the tournament’s most outstanding pitcher. Holiday shoved in his first season with Oklahoma State in 2024 and posted a 2.95 ERA over 113 innings and 16 starts with a 28.6% strikeout rate and 4.2% walk rate, which led Big 12 starters. The Cardinals selected Holiday in the third round and signed him for $800,000. He did not pitch after the draft.
Scouting Report: Holiday is a short righthander with a 5-foot-11, 200-pound frame but standout strike-throwing ability and competitiveness. He uses a unique, high leg-kick delivery and mixes four pitches, led by a low-90s fastball with above-average ride and cut. The fastball is very good against righthanders but was crushed by lefthanded hitters during the 2024 collegiate season. The four-seam sets up his trio of average or better pitches. Holiday’s low-to-mid-80s short slider is his best pitch and he uses it consistently against lefties and righties. The slider produced a high 24% swinging strike rate thanks to perfect tunneling off his fastball. His mid-70s downer curveball is his third pitch and mixed in as a change of look. Holiday only throws his changeup to lefties and it’s sold well with arm speed. Holiday has average command of his arsenal but shows a high level of pitchability that amplifies his entire pitch mix.
The Future: Holliday has back-of-the-rotation upside with fast-moving depth starter as a likely outcome.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 45 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
Track Record: After leading the nation in strikeouts in 2022 at Oregon State, Hjerpe went to the Cardinals 22nd overall and signed for $3.18 million. He debuted the following spring but was limited to just eight starts after surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow. Hjerpe began 2024 healthy, making 11 starts with High-A Peoria and pitching well enough to earn a promotion to Double-A Springfield in June. Hjerpe made four starts at Double-A before being shut down with an elbow injury. Hjerpe has pitched just 93.1 pro innings.
Scouting Report: A sidearming lefthander, Hjerpe has an unusual look and angle on his pitches that allows them to play well above their raw velocity. He mixes a fastball, curveball, cutter and changeup, each moving in different directions with well-defined shapes. Hjerpe’s fastball sits 90-92 mph and touches 94 at peak. The velocity is ordinary, but the pitch’s unusually flat approach angle makes it stand out. He releases the ball from a 4-foot-1 height with above-average extension, giving hitters a truly unique experience. Hjerpe’s cutter has become his most-used secondary pitch. Sitting 85-87 mph, the pitch doesn’t generate lots of whiffs, but it gets weak contact and gives him a pitch that consistently lands in the zone. Hjerpe’s changeup is his primary weapon against righthanded hitters, and it performed well in 2024. His curveball is an upper-70s sweeper which plays well off of his trio of shapes. Hjerpe’s command has been up and down, but he has above-average zone rates on his fastball, cutter and changeup.
The Future: Hjerpe boasts the deep arsenal of a future back-end starter but has not shown the ability to stay healthy. The Cardinals will continue to develop him as a starter, but he could end up as a deceptive lefthanded reliever capable of getting four or more outs.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 45 | Changeup: 55 | Cutter: 45 | Control: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
Track Record: Lin first came stateside in the Northwoods League in the summer of 2022 as a Taiwanese college prospect. He returned for the MLB Draft League in 2023 and signed with the Cardinals shortly thereafter. Lin made his debut with the Cardinals’ Florida Complex League affiliate after signing and reached Low-A Palm Beach for four starts. Lin returned to Palm Beach to begin 2024 and spent the entire season in the Florida State League. He made 22 starts in 2024 and posted a 10-5 record with a 2.79 ERA and 123 strikeouts over 116 innings and was selected as a FSL all-star following the season.
Scouting Report: An extremely tall righthander who possesses huge stuff and some remaining projection, Lin dominated Low-A competition in 2024 with his four-pitch mix. His fastball sits 95-97 mph and touches 101 mph at peak with below-average ride and heavy armside run. Despite the plus-plus velocity, Lin doesn’t miss many bats with the pitch. His most-used secondary is a short mid-80s slider with well below-average spin rates. Lin’s changeup is his best pitch, sitting 87-88 mph with good velocity separation off of his fastball and lots of armside run. Lin also showed a splitter in the high-80s with a serious sink. Lin has a classic pronation-dominant profile and struggles to spin a breaking ball but has feel for changeup. Lin handled the ABS and challenge system with flying colors in 2024 and showed above-average strike-throwing abilities.
The Future: Lin should begin the season with High-A with a chance to reach Double-A by mid-summer.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 40 | Changeup: 60 | Split: 45 | Control: 55. -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
Track Record: Bernal signed for $680,000 out of Panama in January of 2021 and debuted in the Dominican Summer League later that year before jumping stateside in 2022. Bernal skipped the domestic complex leagues entirely and went directly to Low-A Palm Beach, where he spent two seasons before making the jump to High-A in 2024. Bernal played 96 games for High-A Peoria in 2024 and earned a promotion to Double-A Springfield late in the season. Bernal participated in the 2024 Arizona Fall League with Glendale.
Scouting Report: Bernal is switch-hitting catcher with above-average defensive abilities and a strong arm that keeps runners honest behind the plate. As a switch-hitter, Bernal has modest power from each side. His bat-to-ball skills and plate discipline are both average and provide some confidence that Bernal will hit. While he does show a little bit of chase, it’s not a restraint, and he’s very aggressive attacking strikes. Bernal shows average game power with the ability to hit 20 home runs in his peak seasons. His exit velocity data is above-average with a 104 mph 90th percentile EV and a 110.1 mph max EV. Bernal is an above-average defender behind the plate who’s particularly strong in the catch-and-throw side of the game. He’s only an average framer but has made strides in that regard since signing. His above-average arm helped him catch runners at a rate of 35% at Peoria in 2024.
The Future: Bernal has a chance to develop into a switch-hitting, everyday catcher and should be part of the Cardinals’ platoon by 2026.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 30 | Field: 55 | Arm: 55. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Track Record: Crooks went the junior college route, playing a season at McLennan JC in Texas before transferring to Oklahoma. With the Sooners, Crooks enjoyed two successful seasons before the Cardinals drafted him in the fourth round in 2022. He had a strong season in his debut before breaking out in 2024 by hitting 321/.410/.498 in 90 games with Double-A Springfield and winning the Texas League MVP.
Scouting Report: Crooks is a stout, strongly built catcher with solid bat-to-ball skills and a knack for finding the barrel. He features a wide-open setup at the plate and a level swing angle that allows him to attack high fastballs and make strong, quality contact against all middle-up locations. Crooks is an excellent fastball hitter and handles velocity well, but the flatness of his swing leaves him susceptible to spin and offspeed pitches located at the bottom of the zone. He shows average underlying exit velocity data, as evidenced by a 90th percentile EV of 103.9 mph in 2024. While his raw power is just average, his ability to consistently backspin the ball leads to a high rate of line drives and fly balls. Crooks is a well below-average runner who runs the bases station to station. Behind the plate, Crooks is an above-average framer with metrics that support his above-average strike-stealing skills. While his receiving is strong, Crooks doesn’t sacrifice impact in the running game. He caught 33% of basestealers over 76 attempted steals in 2024.
The Future: Crooks is an above-average defensive catcher with ability to hit for average and some power. If he conquers the challenge of Triple-A pitching, he could debut for the Cardinals in 2025. He projects as a second-division regular catcher.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 30 | Field: 55 | Arm: 55. -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium
Track Record: McGreevy earned freshman All-America honors as a reliever in 2019 before breaking out as a starter in 2021. He drew scouts to UC Santa Barbara in his draft year by showing increased velocity and advanced pitchability. The Cardinals selected McGreevy with the 18th pick in 2021, and he signed for $2.75 million. Over three full professional seasons, McGreevy has shown a knack for racking up innings, throwing 144.1 in 2022, 153 in 2023 and 173 in 2024, counting his major league time after he made his MLB debut on July 31.
Scouting Report: McGreevy fits the back-of-the-rotation pitchability type to a tee. Sitting 91-93 mph and mixing two fastball shapes, he leans primarily on a sinker. His quartet of secondary pitches includes an upper-80s cutter, a mid-80s sweeper slider, an upper-70s curveball and a changeup. McGreevy’s sinking fastball is a fringe-average pitch which helps him drive groundball contact. His slider is his highest-graded pitch, missing bats at an average-or-better rate while showing strong underlying control metrics. His curveball, cutter and changeup all grade as below-to-fringe-average offerings. McGreevy attacks the strike zone extremely well and tunnels effective areas with a variety of pitch shapes and moves the ball around the zone. His pitchability gives him a solid chance to hack it as a back-of-the-rotation innings-eater.
The Future: McGreevy projects to be a part of the Cardinals’ rotation for a good chunk of 2025. He’s proven he can handle the workload and has the ability to work efficiently, though he lacks midrotation-or-better upside.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 45 | Curveball: 40 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 40 | Cutter: 45 | Control: 60. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Track Record: Hence was just 17 years old when the Cardinals selected him in the supplemental second round in the five-round 2020 draft. He saw limited game action over his first two pro seasons—just 60.1 innings—but showed the ability to handle a larger workload in 2023 and the first half of 2024. Hence dealt with injuries over the final three months of 2024 and missed a month during the middle of the year with shoulder and chest tightness. He was limited to just 26 innings from June 5 onward and left his final appearance of the season with a lat issue. Hence’s 40-man roster status will likely give him a shot to debut in 2025, health permitting.
Scouting Report: Hence is an undersized righthander who looks smaller than his listed measurements of 6-foot-1, 195 pounds. His lack of physicality and limited workload have led to a great deal of durability concerns. From a stuff and control standpoint, however, Hence has always impressed. He sits 93-95 mph on his four-seam fastball, generating above-average ride from a 5-foot-6 release height. Beyond his fastball, Hence mixes a trio of secondaries: a mid-80s pure gyro slider, a changeup with heavy armside run at 82-84 mph and a 12-6 curveball in the low 80s. Hence shows above-average command of his arsenal with the ability to locate his fastball and land his secondaries in effective locations. His ability to generate swings and misses against his slider, curveball and changeup allow him to be equally effective against righthanded and lefthanded hitters.
The Future: Hence’s lack of durability is the biggest question heading into 2025 and beyond. When on the mound, he looks the part of a top-of-the-rotation arm with a deep arsenal of effective pitches and command. Showing he can stay healthy and handle a starter’s workload is paramount in 2025.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 55. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Track Record: Davis was a highly touted recruit when he reached campus at Arizona. After a breakout sophomore campaign, he reached new heights as a junior, hitting .362/.489/.742 to earn Pacific-12 all-conference honors. The Cardinals drafted Davis with the 21st pick in 2023, signing him for $3.62 million. He debuted with Low-A Palm Beach in his draft year, appearing in 34 games. To begin 2024, Davis returned to Palm Beach, seeing 74 games before earning a promotion to High-A and later Double-A.
Scouting Report: Davis is an enigmatic player defined by his inconsistencies. The Cardinals made some tweaks to his swing, including implementing an open stance and toned-down leg kick. It took time for Davis to adjust to the changes, and he struggled by hitting .184/.281/.291 over his first 38 games of 2024. But from June 1 onward, Davis hit .288/.384/.483 while cutting his strikeout rate from 29% to 21%. Davis shows fringe-average bat-to-ball skills and above-average swing decisions. He’s an excellent fastball hitter and handles velocity especially well, hitting .305 against fastballs 94 mph or harder in 2024. Davis does damage against breaking pitches, as well, slugging .492 against sliders and curveballs. He struggles with sizable holes down and in and high and away due to his steep, uppercut swing path. Still, Davis shows above-average raw power and can get the ball in the air, giving him potential to grow into a 25-plus home run threat. An average runner, Davis is not a basestealer, but he is an average defender in an outfield corner where his plus arm plays.
The Future: Davis has the tools to be an average regular, but concerns around his hitting ability give him some risk. If he hits, he has the upside of an above-average corner outfielder with power.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Field: 50 | Arm: 60. -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme
Track Record: The Cardinals signed Padilla for $760,000 in January 2024, and so far it looks like a savvy investment. Padilla debuted in the Dominican Summer League nearly a month before his 17th birthday, hitting .287/.391/.404 in 35 games with five doubles, four triples and a home run while stealing 22 bases on 27 attempts. The switch-hitter slashed .308/.403/.442 against righthanders but just .111/.292/.111 versus lefties. He should debut stateside in 2024 in the Florida Complex League.
Scouting Report: Padilla is a projectable, athletic player who wowed scouts in his professional debut. A shortstop who shows impact potential on both sides of the ball, he could grow into a premium player with a body to dream on. Padilla did a majority of his damage this season against fastballs from righthanders and will need to show an ability to hit lefthanders as a switch-hitter. He shows glimpses of average or better power now but is still growing into his body and should find more strength eventually. Overall, Padilla shows plus bat-to-ball skills with above-average swing decisions. While his raw power is well below-average now, he should grow into more pop as he matures. Padilla is a double-plus runner at present who is a threat to steal whenever he’s on base. This translates to plus range at shortstop with natural feel and timing for the position. Padilla pairs smooth hands and actions with a plus arm that allows him to make all the necessary throws.
The Future: Padilla is an exciting and projectable switch-hitting shortstop who has the potential to develop into an above-average regular if everything comes together. Should Padilla grow into power and continue to hit while playing premium defense, he has a chance to become a star.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 70 | Field: 60 | Arm: 60. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Track Record: After popping up on the summer showcase circuit in 2019, Roby entered the 2020 draft cycle as a helium name. The Rangers selected him in the third round, and he signed for an above-slot $775,000. Roby has struggled with injuries for most of his professional career. He made just six starts in 2021 because of an ailing elbow, then missed time with shoulder injuries in 2023 and 2024. The Cardinals acquired Roby along with Thomas Saggese in the 2023 trade deadline deal that sent Jordan Montgomery and Chris Stratton to the Rangers. Roby made just 10 starts in 2024, missing time from mid May until late August.
Scouting Report: Roby has the type of stuff and smooth mechanics that scouts can dream on. However, the righthander has yet to deliver on his promise. A lack of consistent health is likely the biggest culprit. Roby mixes four pitches: a four-seam fastball, curveball, cutter and changeup. The fastball is Roby’s primary pitch. It sits 95-97 mph with average ride and approach angle. Roby uses his fastball around 50% of the time and has been clocked as high as 99 mph. Roby’s curveball is his primary secondary weapon. It sits 82-84 mph with plus depth and higher spin rates. The pitch generated a 21.1% swinging-strike rate in 2024. Roby’s cutter sits 88-90 mph with a tighter shape, and the pitch does an excellent job of generating chase swings. Roby also throws a changeup around 10% of the time, but he struggles to command the pitch. Overall, Roby shows average strike-throwing abilities but struggled with command in Double-A.
The Future: Roby still has midrotation upside, but whether or not he can maintain the health needed to handle a starter’s workload is in question.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 60 | Changeup: 45 | Cutter: 50 | Control: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme
Track Record: Signed in April of 2024 for $300,000, Rodriguez was born in the Dominican Republic but spent time at a Pennsylvania high school before moving back to the D.R. prior to signing. Rodriguez debuted in the Dominican Summer League and was one of its the top hitting prospects as he produced a .345/.462/.683 slash line with 10 home runs over 184 plate appearances. Rodriguez was selected to represent the National League in the DSL all-star game. He should debut stateside in the Florida Complex League to begin 2025.
Scouting Report: A physically mature, bat-first catching prospect with major defensive questions but huge upside at the plate, Rodriguez dominated Dominican Summer League pitching only months after signing. He used a powerful righthanded swing to barrel balls consistently. Rodriguez has average bat-to-ball skills with a balanced approach and rarely misses a chance to attack a fastball in the zone. Rodriguez has plus power projection, and his 103.2 mph 90th percentile exit velocity was plus for a 17-year-old. He shows the ability to consistently hit the ball in the air and has already developed power to his pull side. He’s a well below-average runner who will likely be limited defensively. Rodriguez is a major question to stick behind the plate due to a below-average arm. There’s a strong chance he ends up at first base.
The Future: Rodriguez is a prodigious hitter with defensive questions. He will face the challenge of the Florida Complex League in 2025.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 60 | Run: 30 | Field: 40 | Arm: 40. -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/Medium
Track Record: Mathews returned to Stanford for his senior season after spurning the Rays, who drafted him in the 19th round in 2022. It was a wise move for Mathews, who won Pacific-12 Conference pitcher of the year, helped lead Stanford to the College World Series and finished second in the nation in strikeouts behind only LSU’s Paul Skenes. Mathews went to the Cardinals in the fourth round in 2023 and made his professional debut in spring 2024. With a significant uptick in fastball velocity, he pitched at all four full-season levels of the minor leagues. On the season, Mathews went 8-5 with a 2.76 ERA in 143.1 innings with 200 strikeouts, marking only the second time a minor league pitcher had reached that total since 2011. Following the season, Mathews was honored with the BA Minor League Pitcher of the Year award.
Scouting Report: Mathews stands 6-foot-5 with a lean build. His mechanics are simple, starting from a full overhead windup. Mathews delivers the ball from a low three-quarters arm slot and does a good job of getting downhill in his drop-and-drive delivery, which allows his fastball to play up. The pitch sits 94-95 mph and touches 98 at peak with above-average ride for his release height. While Mathews added enough velocity to make his fastball development a headline of the season, the quality of his slider and changeup drove his results. Mathews’ mid-80s slider and low-80s changeup miss bats at an above-average rate, giving him a pair of secondary weapons that move in opposite directions. Mathews has a history of going deep into starts and handling a starter’s workload.
The Future: Mathews is a surefire midrotation arm with the ability to eat innings and navigate a lineup efficiently thanks to a combination of stuff and execution.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 65 | Control: 60. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Medium
Track Record: Saggese experienced success almost from the moment Rangers drafted him with their final pick in the five-round 2020 draft. His big breakout occurred in 2023, when he hit .306/.374/.530, was dealt to the Cardinals at the trade deadline and eventually won Texas League MVP. Saggese experienced an uneven performance in 2024 with Triple-A Memphis, struggling through May and June before finding his swing in July. He hit .290/.351/.524 from July 1 onward and made his MLB debut on Sept. 10.
Scouting Report: While Saggese is not physically imposing or particularly athletic, he’s a highly skilled hitter with advanced bat-to-ball ability. He sports a well-balanced righthanded swing which has a knack for staying on-plane through the zone, allowing him to balance both hit and power. Saggese rarely swings and misses in the zone, keeping his strikeouts in check. However, his hyper-aggressive plate approach would benefit from some dialing down. Saggese shows a consistent ability to find the barrel, leading to a high rate of quality contact despite fringe-average exit velocity data. He optimizes his hard contact and shows the ability to consistently hit the ball in the air to his pull side, traits which should allow him to outproduce his raw power. Saggese is an average runner home-to-first but a below-average basestealer. He’s seen the majority of his time as a professional at shortstop but has moved around to second and third base. Saggese’s fringe-average arm and lack of range mark him as a likely second baseman.
The Future: Saggese is a bat-first second baseman with the ability to hit for average and power. Incremental improvements to his swing decisions could see him develop into an above-average regular.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Field: 45 | Arm: 45. -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/High
Track Record: The Mariners signed Suisbel out of Venezuela for $350,000 during the 2019-2020 international signing period. He spent two seasons in the Dominican Summer League before coming stateside in 2023, where he hit .291/.423/.529 and reached Low-A Modesto. He spent all of 2024 with Modesto and led the Low-A California League with 90 RBIs. Suisbel opened 2025 with High-A Everett.
Scouting Report: Despite modest skills, Suisbel has been a productive hitter at every level he’s played. Suisbel has fringe-average bat-to-ball skills and an aggressive swing-happy approach at the plate. Despite the combination of higher in-zone whiff and chase, Suisbel has enough plate skills to get to his standout skill, the ability to find the barrel. Suisbel is adept at getting the ball in the air to his pull side and getting the most out of his best struck balls in play. He’s a limited fielder at third base and will likely slide across the diamond to first base.
The Future: Suisbel is a minor league performer who continues to defy the odds. To hack it as a corner infield-only profile, he’s going to need to really hit.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 45 | Run: 40 | Field: 40 | Arm: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Extreme
Track Record: The Mariners signed Joseph out of the Dominican Republic for $3.3 million in January 2024, one of the largest bonuses in his class. He debuted in the Dominican Summer League that June and struggled, hitting just .133/.274/.173 over 47 games as a 17-year-old. Back in the DSL to open 2025, Joseph already has more home runs and as many RBIs in two games as he did during his entire debut season.
Scouting Report: Evaluators were concerned by Joseph’s diminished speed and twitch shortly after turning pro. He struggled to make contact, and while he showed hints of power projection and good bat speed, he was often fooled by soft stuff and struggled to get on plane. Reports this year are much better. Joseph seems to have reversed course, now showing scouts more of the signs he displayed as an amateur.
The Future: Joseph is looking for a mulligan on his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League. So far, his return to the DSL has looked a lot better.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Field: 50 | Arm: 60. -
BA Grade/Risk: 60/High
Track Record: Wetherholt was a four-year star at Mars (Pa.) Area HS under head coach Andy Bednar and played alongside future Giants first-rounder Will Bednar. Despite growing up just 20 miles from Pittsburgh, Wetherholt committed to rival West Virginia. On campus in Morgantown, Wetherholt blossomed into one of the top hitters in the country. He hit .449 in 55 games as a sophomore to lead the nation in hitting. He spent the summer of 2023 in the Cape Cod League and with USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team before hitting .331/.472/.589 as a junior. He was limited to just 36 games by a hamstring injury. The Cardinals drafted Wetherholt seventh overall in 2024 and signed him for $6.8 million. He made his professional debut with Low-A Palm Beach, hitting .295/.405/.400 in 29 games. Wetherholt is likely to begin 2025 at High-A Peoria, though he’s experienced enough to skip the level entirely and begin at Double-A Springfield.
Scouting Report: Wetherholt entered pro ball as an advanced hitter with an adjustable, righthanded swing geared for stinging line drives and punishing mistakes in the zone. He is adept at attacking all pitch types, producing near-identical underlying metrics against fastballs and breaking pitches. Wetherholt rarely expands the zone and should walk at a high rate in the majors. Power is not the primary focus of Wetherholt’s approach, but he shows above-average impact and the ability to elevate the ball consistently, portending mid-20s home run power at peak. Wetherholt produced a 90th percentile exit velocity of 105.3 mph in his pro debut to go with a 54.9% hard-hit rate, showcasing above-average power. Wetherholt stole 36 bases as a sophomore at West Virginia but has run considerably less after being hampered by lower body injuries. Wetherholt produces plus run times, but he will likely settle in as an above-average runner. It’s possible basestealing could become a part of his game again down the line as he recovers from the hamstring injury that continued to plague him into his pro debut. Wetherholt has played shortstop primarily since his sophomore season in college, and many within the organization believe he can stick at the position. He has an average arm that plays above-average on his best throws, pointing to a potential future on the left side of the infield. After seeing extensive time at both second and third base in college, a position switch should be easier for Wetherholt if he moves off shortstop.
The Future: After Wetherholt fell to pick No. 7 in the 2024 draft, the Cardinals view him as the top prospect in their system and a major part of their future. If Wetherholt gets to his peak power projection and proves he can stick at shortstop, he has all-star upside. In all likelihood, he develops into a third baseman with a plus bat and some star-level peak seasons.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 65 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Field: 50 | Arm: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Extreme
Track Record: Knipp had a successful career at Campbell as the starting catcher. However, he picked up pitching in his senior season, adding enough intrigue to his profile to be drafted by the Mariners in the sixth round in 2024. Reportedly, the Mariners plan to use him as a two-way player in pro ball.
Scouting Report: On the mound, Knipp pitches off of a straight 93-96 mph fastball with downhill angle. He pairs it with a power, two-plane 81-84 mph curveball. He was around the zone quite a bit in his small pitching sample, especially for how little mound experience he had. Offensively, Knipp’s calling card is plus raw power. He uses a grooved swing without a ton of adjustability, meaning that he lacks the plate coverage to get to balls down or away. He offsets it somewhat with his above-average plate discipline. Behind the plate, he has a plus-plus arm. However, he struggles to throw out opposing basestealers because he has a slower transfer and often airmails his throws. Knipp also is rough in the receiving and blocking departments. He has an awkward, heavy gait, but his top speed is respectable despite poor acceleration.
The Future: Knipp is an interesting player to project. He doesn’t have a clearly defined role as either a hitter or a pitcher, but there’s enough potential in both to squint to see some sort of path to an MLB roster. The added intrigue comes if he can survive as a team’s middle reliever and backup catcher. He will likely spend most of 2025 in the Low-A California League.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 30 | Power: 60 | Run: 40 | Field: 40 | Arm: 70. Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 55 | Control: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Extreme
Track Record: Shen’s journey from Taiwan to affiliated baseball has been anything but conventional. He initially signed with the Athletics in November 2022, but the deal fell through for undisclosed reasons. He had another opportunity with the Mariners in 2023, but a drunk driving incident prevented him from signing at that time. Shen remained in Taiwan and eventually signed with the Mariners for $175,000 in July 2024 out of Kainan University in Taoyuan City. He made his professional debut in the 2025 Arizona Complex League.
Scouting Report: Though he’s too old for complex league competition, Shen’s protypical build and feel for his three-pitch mix has impressed scouts. Shen mixes in a sinker, slider and changeup with below-average extension. His fastball sits 92-94 mph touching 95 mph at peak with moderate sink and armside run. His slider is a low-80s slurvy breaking ball that’s used around 30% of the time. He feeds lefthanded hitters a steady dose of changeups, which may end up being his best pitch.
The Future: Shen projects as a potential back-end starter with three average pitches and advanced feel. A promotion to Low-A Modesto is likely later this summer.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/High
Track Record: Rodden put up a strong junior season at Wichita State in 2022, leading the Athletics to take him in the 10th round. He decided to go back to school and followed that up with an even stronger senior season. The Mariners drafted him in the fifth round in 2023 and inked him for a below-slot $200,000. As one of the oldest draftees in the class, he split time in 2024 between High-A and Double-A, thriving in the former but struggling in the Texas League.
Scouting Report: Like most undersized hitters, Rodden is a pest at the plate, fighting off tough pitches in pitcher’s counts. He’s also an excellent bunter. Rodden is a switch-hitter but was much more productive from the righthand side of the plate in 2024. He hit for a sneaky amount of power both in college and pro ball. Despite his diminutive stature, he does an excellent job of creating loft, and his below-average raw power is enough to lift balls out of the yard. Rodden doesn’t have the biggest top-end speed, but he’s an overall solid-average runner buoyed by excellent acceleration. The run, acceleration, savvy and strong headfirst slides allow him to be a basestealing threat. Defensively, he splits time between second base, shortstop and third base. His tools, namely average range and a solid but non-elite arm strength, make second base the best fit for him, but he has enough in his bag to cover all three positions.
The Future: Rodden profiles as a prototype utility infielder capable of filling in at multiple positions. He’s an older prospect relative to his pro experience, but the Mariners have compensated by advancing him at a fairly aggressive pace. He will likely return to Double-A to begin 2025. If he has another strong season, it would not be a surprise to see him in the majors at some point should injuries arise.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 40 | Run: 55 | Field: 50 | Arm: 55. -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/High
Track Record: Perez was originally drafted by the Angels out of Texas Christian in the 20th round in 2021, but he elected to return to school for his senior season, after which he was selected and signed by the Mariners in the 11th round. He had a nice first full season in the pros but struggled in 2024 to the tune of a 6.81 ERA for High-A Everett.
Scouting Report: Perez relies heavily on his mid-80s slider, which he uses more than his fastball. It’s a solid-average pitch with two-plane break that he can locate in the zone versus both sides. His fastball is a 92-96 mph four-seamer that comes in with ride and uphill angle, accentuated by his 5-foot-10 stature. He will also mix in the occasional splitter that shows subtle but late bottoming action. Perez has done a better job throwing strikes in the pros than he did at TCU, in part due to his slider command, which exceeds his fastball command.
The Future: Perez has started his entire pro career, though many scouts have projected him as a reliever. After a rough 2024, he may be headed to the bullpen soon. Pitching in shorter stints could allow his stuff to play up, and he becomes an intriguing strikeout option with two above-average pitches and the ability to provide length out of the pen. Despite struggling in High-A, Perez will likely head to Double-A in 2025.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Split: 45 | Control: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/High
Track Record: Cranton rebounded from a disastrous 2023 at Kansas in which he ran up an 8.19 ERA to post a strong season as a redshirt senior reliever in 2024. However, he was not ranked highly on many boards, and his selection in the third round was a money-saver at $50,000 against a slot value of $812,900. Cranton went to Low-A Modesto and struck out 14 batters in 8.1 innings in his pro debut.
Scouting Report: Cranton’s carrying trait is his massive fastball. It sits 96-99 mph but plays up due to its huge vertical ride. His fastball is a true swing-and-miss offering up in the zone versus either side. He pairs it with a hard and short, upper-80s slider that is more effective because it plays off of the big fastball than because of its own shape. Cranton has below-average command and is looking to get his pitches in the zone rather than pitching to specific quadrants. Cranton will probably always carry an elevated walk rate due to his spotty command, stuff that is tough to square up and propensity to pitch up in the zone.
The Future: Cranton projects as a future mid-to-high-leverage reliever, especially if he can add depth to his slider or add a third pitch. He will likely head to High-A in 2025 and has the opportunity to advance quickly should he find success.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 70 | Slider: 50 | Control: 40. -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/High
Track Record: Caron had a middling college career at Nebraska until a big junior season that attracted the Mariners enough to take him in the fourth round in 2024. Caron was a young junior, and the Mariners sent him to the Low-A California League in his pro debut, where he held his own in a small 13-game sample.
Scouting Report: Caron has the ingredients to be a nice offensive catcher. He doesn’t possess any pluses, but he has the chance to be average in the hit, power and zone-control departments, which would make him a strong overall bat for the position. He showed strong zone-contact rates in a small pro sample and flashed solid exit velocity numbers. Caron is a below-average runner but not a clogger, especially for a catcher. Defensively, he shows solid framing instincts and an ability to stick his glove at the bottom of the zone. He still needs some work on blocking. He has a quick transfer on throws but fringe-average arm strength and below-average arm accuracy, making him easy to run on right now.
The Future: Caron projects as a backup catcher, but has the bat to be a regular if his defense tightens up. He will likely head back to the Cal League to open 2025.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 40 | Field: 45 | Arm: 45. -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium
Track Record: The Mariners acquired Castano at a steep discount, signing him in August 2023 after the Yankees released him from Double-A Somerset. Castano was originally a low-dollar sign by New York in 2018 out of the Dominican Republic. He has been solid if unspectacular at every level with the Yankees and Mariners, reaching Triple-A in both 2023 and 2024. Seattle added Castano to its 40-man roster in November.
Scouting Report: Castano has both started and relieved throughout his career, and he always pitches out of the stretch. His repertoire is deep enough to start, with four pitches and weapons for hitters of either hand. His sinker sits 92-95 mph with plenty of armside run, and he will also mix in the occasional four-seamer up in the zone. Castano pairs it with a cutter that he likes to spot in on the hands of lefties. He also has a softer breaking ball, a sweeping slider, that he uses for whiff. He rounds out his arsenal with a firm changeup that is effective more for its late fade than for its velocity separation. His changeup will flash above-average at times and is the best of his secondaries when at its best. Castano is generally around the zone, and will show average command, with the ability to pitch backward at times. However, he will get cute around the edges, leading to slightly elevated walk rates.
The Future: As a 40-man roster player, he will have multiple opportunities to contribute MLB innings in 2025. He is a jack-of-all-trades who is capable of starting, long relieving or one-inning stints. His ceiling is as a back-end starter, but his more likely outcome is as a do-everything swingman.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Cutter: 50 | Control: 45. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
Track Record: McGraw has had two Tommy John surgeries, one in high school and one at Wake Forest. Despite going under the knife in his draft season, the Mariners were enamored enough with his arm talent to take him in the third round in 2023. McGraw came back from his surgery in 2024 to appear for 8.2 innings and showcase his electric stuff before being shut down for an elbow flexor injury.
Scouting Report: The main concern with McGraw is health, because he looks like a top-of-the-rotation starter when he’s healthy. His fastball is 94-98 mph with sharp, late armside run. Both of his secondaries are plus pitches as well. His slider is a sharp lateral breaker that destroys righthanded hitters, while his changeup shows late dive and fade away from lefties. He showed scattered control at Wake Forest, but he doesn’t need to be pinpoint with the quality of stuff that he possesses.
The Future: McGraw’s start to 2025 is uncertain because of his flexor injury. He has thrown just 8.2 innings in two years. He has an ace ceiling, and he’d be much higher on this list if health were not a concern. Still, he is a long ways away from the bigs and needs as many innings under his belt as possible.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 45. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
Track Record: The Mariners signed Martinez for $600,000 in 2023, giving him the largest bonus for any prospect from Mexico in that signing class. He dominated the Dominican Summer League in his pro debut and followed that up with a decent 2024 season in the Arizona Complex League, albeit one littered with control issues.
Scouting Report: The appeal for Martinez begins with projectability. He’s 6-foot-4, athletic and has the room to add muscle, and his fastball already sits in the mid 90s and has touched as high as 99 mph. Martinez also shows the ability to manipulate the baseball, mixing in a two-seamer when he needs a ground ball. His slider shows good shape, but he struggles to locate it. His changeup will also flash solid armside run but lacks consistency and command. The bugaboo for Martinez remains his inability to pitch backwards or stay in the zone often enough. His control was fine for the DSL, and there are other scouting indicators that his control should improve in the future, but it remains the main roadblock to a future as a long-term starter. He walked nearly 17% of ACL batters in 2024.
The Future: Martinez has all of the ingredients to be at least a mid-rotation starter if he can rein in the walks. He is still incredibly young, ultra projectable and has the makings of three average or better offerings. There is a chance that he remains in extended spring training to spend extra time with player development, but he will likely be looking to make his full-season debut at some point in 2025.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45. -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
Track Record: Sundstrom spent his first two college seasons at Santa Rosa JC in California before transferring to UC Santa Barbara, where a strong junior season in 2023 catapulted him to round 10, where the Mariners drafted him. Sundstrom followed that up with a strong first full pro season at High-A Everett, where he hit .263/.380/.434 with 13 home runs in 112 games.
Scouting Report: Sundstrom stands upright at the plate, using a deep load and long swing to create maximum leverage. This leads to above-average raw power, but it also comes with significant whiff concerns. He has a solid eye at the plate and is willing to take his walks. Sundstrom is an above-average runner, and his long strides help him cover ground both on the basepaths and in the outfield. He’s a savvy basestealer who stole 26 of 32 successfully in 2024. His reads and jumps in the outfield could use some work. He has an average arm that will show better when he gets a runway. Overall, he’s capable in all three outfield spots, though he profiles as a fringy center fielder and above-average in a corner.
The Future: Sundstrom is a toolsy outfielder with everyday upside if he can limit strikeouts and hit for a high enough batting average. However, his more likely outcome is as an extra outfielder who can provide pop and speed off the bench while covering all three outfield positions. He will likely spend most of 2025 at Double-A Arkansas.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Field: 50 | Arm: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium
Track Record: Taylor experienced a winding road in college, playing for there different programs. The Mariners actually drafted him twice—once in 2021 out of Cypress JC in California and again in 2022 out of UC Irvine. He signed the second time for $125,000 as a 12th-round pick. Taylor rocketed to the majors, getting there in his second pro season. He held his own in his MLB debut, sporting a 3.72 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 19.1 innings.
Scouting Report: Taylor is a smaller-stature pitcher who releases from an upright posture, leading to a lack of extension. However, his fastball is firm enough and sits 95-99 mph with armside run. He pairs it with a plus mid-80s sweeper with significant lateral frisbee action. He will also mix in the occasional firm changeup that lacks separation or depth. Taylor’s command is below-average at best, but he does a manageable job of staying in the zone enough to let his stuff play.
The Future: There are small concerns with Taylor’s ability to face tough lefthanded hitters, but his stuff profiles him as a strong option versus same-side hitters, giving him a nice floor in middle relief. If he can figure out how to retire batters from both sides, he’s got a path to a higher-leverage ceiling. He will head to spring training with a reasonably good shot to break camp with the big club.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 45. -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
Track Record: Garcia was an unheralded 11th-round draftee in 2023, due to him being 23 years old on draft day and having a poor strike-throwing track record at Texas A&M. The Mariners helped transform him into a totally different pitcher, as his career 2.21 ERA and walk rate of 3.6 per nine innings in pro ball would attest. Garcia flew all the way to Double-A in 2024, while striking out 134 in his combined 116 innings along the way.
Scouting Report: Garcia mainly uses two pitches, but they’re good enough to live off them. His fastball comes from a lower, crossfire slot and sits 94-96 mph with some late armside run. He pairs it with a mid-80s slider that’s plus and will flash even better. His slider is a big, heavy sweeper with power and depth that can wreak havoc on lefthanded hitters. He will mix in an occasional firm changeup that’s flat with some armside run, but he has trouble locating it. Garcia will likely always possess below-average command, but he has taken steps to get his fastball in the zone, and he has the stuff to make mistakes that others can’t.
The Future: Garcia’s 2024 season put him at the doorstep of the majors. He will likely return to Double-A to start the 2025 season, with an eye toward Triple-A or Seattle at some point during the year. He has put to rest questions about relief thus far, and he has the chance to be a No. 2 or 3 starter if he maintains his control gains while continuing to develop his changeup, or a different third pitch.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 45. -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium
Track Record: Bliss was drafted in the second round out of Auburn by the Diamondbacks in 2021. He had a disappointing first full season but made a mechanical tweak in 2023 that allowed him to tap into more power. In the midst of his breakout season, he was traded to the Mariners in a deadline deal for Paul Sewald. Bliss spent 2024 shuttling between Triple-A and the big leagues.
Scouting Report: Bliss stands just 5-foot-7, but he produces sneaky power with strong wrists and enough bat speed. He also has more whiff in his game than most players his size. He works deep counts and is willing to take a walk. His main strength defensively is being able to play a bunch of positions. In 2024, he split time between second base, shortstop, third base and left field. He’s rough in the outfield, but he shows above-average hands and a smooth transfer in the infield. He has an above-average arm but rarely shows it, often opting for lob throws to first base. His nonchalance tends to lead to some errant throws. He’s a plus runner with strong acceleration, and he combines it with huge aggression, leading to a whopping 55 stolen bases in 68 attempts in 2024.
The Future: Bliss will head to spring training with a chance to break camp as a backup. In any case, he will likely spend the season again shuttling between Triple-A and the majors. His likely ceiling is as a utility infielder who can cover a variety of positions.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 45 | Run: 60 | Field: 55 | Arm: 55. -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
Track Record: The Mariners drafted Morales out of a Pennsylvania high school in 2021 and lured him away from his Vanderbilt commitment with an above-slot $1.5 million bonus. He struggled in his first full season but has made steady improvement in each of his three pro seasons, culminating in a strong 2024 with a 3.02 ERA across High-A and Double-A.
Scouting Report: The whole is greater than the sum of the parts for Morales, which allows him to be successful. His fastball sits 91-94 mph and is straight, but he did a better job in 2024 of keeping it on the edges of the plate. He also mixes in a short high-80s cutter to offset his straight fastball. His best offspeed pitch is his above-average changeup, and he maintains excellent separation on it with good arm speed. Morales has both a slider and curveball. His slider is a flat, low-80s offering that does not project to generate significant whiff. Though he uses his slider more than his curveball, the curve is the slightly better pitch. It is somewhat loopy, residing in the mid 70s, but features a bigger two-plane break. Morales improved both his control and command in 2024, which used to be a minus but now projects to be average or a tick better.
The Future: Morales doesn’t have the raw stuff to be a top-of-the-rotation starter, but his above-average changeup, overall deep bag, improving control and ability to make adjustments provide a high floor. He currently projects to be a back-end starter. He will open 2025 at either Double-A or Triple-A, with an outside shot at making his MLB debut at some point in the season if a litany of injuries hit the Mariners’ rotation.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 45 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 40 | Changeup: 55 | Cutter: 40 | Control: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
Track Record: Peete was a prominent two-way player coming out of the Georgia high school ranks in 2023. The Mariners took him with their competitive-balance pick after the first round and decided that his future was in the field, where his athleticism was too valuable to waste. Peete was initially drafted as a shortstop, but the Mariners have already started experimenting with him at third base, left field and center field. He put together a solid .269/.343/.408 batting line for Low-A Modesto in his first full season.
Scouting Report: Peete is still very raw, but he will at times show flashes of all five tools. His hit tool is the one most in question. He struck out over 30% of the time in 2024. Peete has a tendency to drift and lose his front side at the plate, and the lefthanded hitter will also bail with his front side versus southpaws. That also bleeds into his power output as well. Despite requisite size and natural strength to hit for power, he has yet to show much in-game power, often being too out-front and off-balance when he contacts the baseball. Still, evaluators are optimistic that Peete will eventually hit for average or better power. In addition, he sees a lot of pitches and walked over 10% of the time in 2024. He is a fluid mover on the bases who shows easy plus run and the baserunning instincts to go with it. He stole 45 bases in 50 attempts in 2024, and that should translate to some degree at higher levels. Defensively, it’s looking more likely that his future home is in center field. His jumps still need work, but his routes and closing speed are both excellent. As a former pitcher, his arm plays well in the outfield. He has the tools to stick at shortstop, but he boots too many plays, and arm accuracy has been a major issue for him thus far.
The Future: Peete is a longer-term project, but his ceiling is very high. He has the athleticism to develop into a do-it-all center fielder. He will likely head to High-A, where he could spend the majority of 2025.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 50 | Run: 60 | Field: 50 | Arm: 60. -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme
Track Record: Second baseman Michael Arroyo, outfielder Lazaro Montes and shortstop Felnin Celesten are all top 10 prospects in the Mariners system and Top 100 prospects who are homegrown international signings. If there’s a player from their 2025 class who could follow in their footsteps, it’s Venezuelan outfielder Yorger Bautista, who is signing for $2.1 million.
Scouting Report: Bautista stands 6-foot-1, 187 pounds, he’s a lefthanded outfielder who some scouts consider the top Venezuelan prospect this year. A high-level offensive performer, Bautista has consistently excelled in games using a swing that’s unconventional, but he compensates with strong pitch recognition, a disciplined approach and a knack for being on time. Over the past couple years, Bautista’s tools have all made significant improvements. He now generates excellent bat speed and has the strength to drive the ball with authority, projecting as a potential 25-plus home run hitter. Defensively, Bautista has shown natural instincts in center field for years, but his speed has improved to flash plus-plus times, giving him more range and solidifying his likelihood of staying in center field. His arm is another plus tool.
The Future: Bautista could follow in a long line of talented Mariners IFA’s who make substantial jumps in his pro debut.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 60 | Run: 70 | Field: 55 | Arm: 60. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Track Record: The Mariners drafted Izzi in the fourth round in 2022 out of an Illinois high school and liked him enough to sign him for a well-above-slot $1.1 million. He was a raw draft pick who needed some time to develop. He struggled in the Arizona Complex League in 2023 but then made significant strides in 2024, with a 2.85 ERA across 110 innings in the Low-A California League, albeit with a middling strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Scouting Report: Izzi’s fastball is already 92-96 mph with some uphill ride and run, and he’s projectable enough to be optimistic about another tick coming down the line. His slider is a horizontal sweeper that sits in the low 80s. It’s inconsistent and often lacks bite, but he will flash an average or better one at times. His changeup is the better of the two secondaries. Its shape is also inconsistent, but he shows good arm speed, and it will bottom out at its best. Izzi’s control and command are erratic at the moment, but he’s young enough and athletic enough to be hopeful for walk rates good enough to remain a starter.
The Future: Izzi is a long way away, but has the frame and three-pitch mix to be a midrotation starter at peak. He will need to improve his strike-throwing and tighten up his breaking ball to get there. He will likely head to High-A Everett and spend a large portion of 2025 there.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 45. -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Medium
Track Record: Locklear was one of the best college hitters in the country, culminating in an absurd junior season that catapulted him into the second round of the 2022 draft. He set Virginia Commonwealth’s single-season record with 20 home runs as a junior and finished his career with 37, which tied for the program’s all-time record. Locklear carried that success over to pro ball, where he boasts a career slash line of .280/.389/.485 in the minors. He made his MLB debut in 2024 but struggled in a 16-game sample.
Scouting Report: Locklear’s meal ticket is his bat. He can get swing-happy at the plate and is prone to expanding the zone, but he still maintained strong walk rates in the minor leagues because pitchers were scared out of the zone against him. It remains to be seen how his walk rate will translate to the majors. There is also some whiff in his bat. However, Locklear consistently hits the ball hard, both on a line and in the air. He has the chance for above-average hit and power tools at peak. He’s a below-average runner, but he’s not a base-clogger. He will even steal the occasional base on an unsuspecting pitcher. Locklear came into pro ball as a third baseman, but he has since transitioned to first base full time. He shows solid natural feel at picking throws out of the dirt, while his range in the field and mobility around the bag are more fringy.
The Future: Despite a rough MLB showing in 2024, Locklear still projects as a future above-average hitter. Having moved to first base full time, there is added pressure on his bat in order for him to be an everyday guy. He will likely head to spring training fighting for the Opening Day first base job.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 40 | Field: 45 | Arm: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
Track Record: The Mariners drafted Ford out of a Georgia high school with the 12th overall pick in 2021. While scouts disagreed on his future position, they were in agreement that he was one of the best athletes in the class. Ford has excelled in the pro ranks, especially in terms of on-base percentage, with a career .261/.404/.419 batting line.
Scouting Report: Despite using the increasingly rare two-handed finish, Ford generates good loft with his swing. He hit just seven home runs at Double-A Arkansas in 2024, but he projects to produce average power given his batted-ball profile and average strength. Ford’s best batting attribute is his exceptional plate discipline. He tracks the ball well at all quadrants of the zone, and he’s adept at checking his swing on offspeed pitches down. He has posted monstrous walk rates at every level, and should continue to do so in MLB. Ford’s secondary tools are not those of a typical catcher. He’s an incredible athlete with a legitimate plus run tool. He puts it to good use on the bases, stealing 35 in 2024 and 82 in his three full seasons. Not only does he love the traditional stolen base, but he’s also cunning with delayed steals and seeing balls in dirt. Ford’s defense behind the plate is very raw. Pitchers don’t trust throwing to him, his framing needs work and he’s fairly easy to run on. He has an average transfer on throws with average arm strength and inconsistent accuracy. Ford has enough athleticism to lead scouts to believe that he’ll either improve behind the plate or be able to adapt to another position.
The Future: Even with all-star Cal Raleigh entrenched in Seattle, the Mariners plan to continue developing Ford at catcher. Regardless of his future position, he’s a plus runner and plus athlete with excellent on-base ability and optimism for future power output growth. He will likely begin 2025 at Triple-A.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 60 | Field: 40 | Arm: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Medium
Track Record: It didn’t make many waves when the Mariners drafted Evans out of Pittsburgh in the 12th round in 2023, especially considering he was a 22-year-old college senior brandishing a 5.88 ERA in his draft year. However, he had a brilliant pro debut, and Seattle responded by aggressively assigning him to Double-A Arkansas to start 2024. Evans thrived there, pitching to a 3.20 ERA while generating a 48% groundball rate.
Scouting Report: Evans has the frame of a prototypical innings-eating starter, standing 6-foot-4 with wide shoulders. His fastball comes out of his hand with ease and sits 93-97 mph with natural sink. Its shape lends itself to ground balls more than whiffs. Evans’ offsets his sinker with a four-seam fastball up in the zone and a hard low-90s cutter. His best pitch is a 81-86 mph sweeper that he can use to back-foot lefthanded hitters and dive away from righties. He rounds out his arsenal with a high-80s changeup that shows solid fade. Evans has a deep arsenal, and he’s not afraid to throw any pitch in any count, though his command comes and goes. At times, he gets ahead early and buries pitches late, but there are innings where he misses big with his fastball. Overall, his control projects as average, with a chance for a tick better.
The Future: Though there are no flaws in Evans’ profile, he doesn’t carry any elite, top-of-rotation qualities either. There are concerns that he may never be a big strikeout pitcher, and neither his control nor groundball rate are at elite levels. He projects as a safe No. 3 or 4 starter who should be able to post strong innings totals every season. His success in Double-A in 2024 puts him in position to potentially make his MLB debut in 2025.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Cutter: 55 | Control: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
Track Record: Celesten was a well-regarded prospect in the Dominican Republic years before his signing period opened in 2023. He officially signed for $4.7 million, the largest international bonus ever given out by the Mariners. Celesten missed the entire 2023 season with a hamstring injury and then raised a few concerns by looking lost in extended spring training in 2024. He quelled those fears by going to the Arizona Complex League and dominating to the tune of .352/.341/.568, though his season was cut short by a wrist injury.
Scouting Report: Celesten is a bit of a tinkerer at the plate, toggling the degree of his crouch and the height and duration of his leg kick. The switch-hitter has a fairly similar setup from each side of the plate, though there’s a bit more present strength in his lefthanded swing. Celesten should end up with at least an average hit tool at peak, because he competes on pitches outside of his wheelhouse and shows a willingness to use the opposite field. He already has hit a ball at 110 mph as an 18-year-old, and he projects for plus power. Celesten also has an excellent eye at the plate for his age. He sees the ball deep and spits on close pitches. He’s a plus runner with explosive strides and does a good job of cutting corners on the bases. He has all the tools to stay at shortstop, boasting solid lateral mobility, soft hands and the arm to make plays in the hole or on the run.
The Future: The sky is the limit for Celesten. He’s still far away, with just 32 career games under his belt, but it would be foolish to put any sort of ceiling on him. He will look to make his full-season debut in 2025 and show off the tools and skills of a middle-of-the-order bat who runs and plays above-average defense at shortstop.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 60 | Run: 60 | Field: 60 | Arm: 60. -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
Track Record: The Mariners drafted Sloan in the second round out of a Chicago high school in 2024 and signed him for a $3 million signing bonus that was well over slot. Sloan and fellow Mariners draftee Jurrangelo Cijntje, a switch-pitcher out of Mississippi State, were given a combined $7.88 million, the most that the Mariners have given to their top two picks in more than 10 years. Sloan did not make his pro debut after he was drafted. Instead, he went to Arizona for simulated games and bullpens.
Scouting Report: Sloan is a 6-foot-5, 220-pound teenager with an ideal pitcher’s frame. He’s certainly projectable and just 18 years old, but he also already has loud stuff presently. Mariners player development raves about Sloan’s progress in bullpens. He sat mid 90s with his fastball in high school, reportedly touching triple digits once, and it arrives with late armside run. The most exciting part is that Sloan’s fastball might be his third-best pitch. Both of his secondaries project as plus pitches. His breaking ball is a low-80s hybrid slurve with sharp two-plane bite. It is capable of generating whiff versus batters of either hand. His changeup is a wipeout offering versus lefthanded hitters with disappearing late fade. His control and command in the pro ranks are still relative unknowns, but he has at least shown an aggressive mentality in and around the zone in showcases.
The Future: Sloan has all of the tools necessary to pitch at the front of a rotation. There is also additional signal that the Mariners are internally excited about his development. Sloan is far away, but if he can demonstrate he can throw strikes with all of his pitches, he projects to be an upper-rotation starter. He will likely spend most of 2025 at Low-A Modesto.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
Track Record: Cijntje has an incredible backstory. He was born a natural lefthander, but his father was a pro player in the Netherlands, and Jurrangelo used his father’s glove often enough that he learned how to throw righthanded. Cijntje has maintained his switch-pitching ability to this day, though he’s better from the right side and uses his left only for certain same-side matchups. He was drafted 15th overall in 2024 by the Mariners out of Mississippi State, but did not make his pro debut after signing.
Scouting Report: Cijntje is of smaller stature but makes up for it somewhat with impressive athleticism. His stuff is significantly crisper from the right side. He sits 94-97 mph and touches as high as 99 with explosive uphill life. His best swing-and-miss offspeed is a vertical hammer curveball that resides in the low 80s. He will also mix in a hard horizontal slider with short but late action. His changeup lags a bit behind his breaking pitches but acts as a fourth pitch he will show to lefties. His strike-throwing took a notable leap in his second season at MSU, and he’ll need to maintain those gains. From the left side, Cijntje sits a more pedestrian 90-94 mph and pairs it with a sweepy low-80s slider that has fringy bite to it.
The Future: It’s likely that Cijntje will continue his college philosophy of pitching righthanded to most hitters, using his left hand for select left-on-left matchups. He will likely spend a significant portion of 2025 at Low-A Modesto. Though there are some durability concerns due to his size, he has the chance to be a midrotation starter.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
Track Record: As an amateur, Montes trained with the same hitting instructor as Yordan Alvarez, a player comparison that Montes openly welcomes as a tall, powerful lefthanded hitter. The Mariners signed Montes out of Cuba for $2.5 million in 2022. To combat concerns about his overall size and defensive home, he slimmed down in 2024. His power took somewhat of a corresponding hit, but he still slashed .288/.397/.484 across both Class A levels.
Scouting Report: Montes’ calling card is his power, and he knows it. He swings hard every time, with a back shoulder tilt and uphill plane that indicates his intent to hit balls to the moon. As a teenager, he already posts exit velocities that dwarf many big leaguers. Montes has trouble at times making contact, and his strikeout rate ballooned after his midseason promotion to High-A Everett in 2024. He is willing to take a walk, and pitchers tend to pitch around him, leaving optimism that he will continue to sport a double-digit walk rate as he climbs levels. Montes is a virtual non-factor on the bases, largely due to his incredibly poor acceleration, though his top end speed on a straight line isn’t terrible. He did make some strides in the outfield in 2024, though his most likely outcome is still as a DH, with some right field and first base outcomes as possibilities. Montes does not track balls well, nor take good routes, and he will always be a clunky play finisher. He charges ground balls extremely well, allowing his average arm to play up when he’s coming in on hits to the outfield.
The Future: The Mariners will continue to run Montes out in the outfield for as long as they can, though most evaluators see his future at DH. His meal ticket will always be in the form of on-base ability and power output. Montes likely will spend 2025 between High-A Everett and Double-A Arkansas.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 70 | Run: 30 | Field: 30 | Arm: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
Track Record: Arroyo was signed for $1.375 million in January 2022, the largest bonus ever given to an amateur out of Colombia. He was billed as a polished hitter at the time, and he has more than lived up to that reputation. Arroyo boasts a career .282/.412/.477 line and his 23 home runs in 2024 tied for most among teenagers.
Scouting Report: Arroyo stands right on top of the plate, combining quick hands and an on-balance stride to create outstanding plate coverage. He’s both smart and disciplined, with an excellent idea of what the pitcher is trying to do in any given count. Though he likes to turn on inside pitches, Arroyo is willing to use the whole field—and does so with many balls hit at optimal launch angles. He showed a major uptick in power in 2024, even displaying opposite-field home run power. There are few questions with Arroyo’s bat, which combines hit, zone control and power. The rest of his profile is more ordinary. On the bases, Arroyo is a good accelerator, but his short strides and lack of top-end speed limit him to an average overall run tool. He has shown aggression stealing bases in the low minors but may not have the speed to maintain that at higher levels. He’s already moved from shortstop to second base, and though he should stay at the keystone, he projects as fringy at best. His range is fairly limited, and his subpar arm and lack of athleticism prevent him from making plays on the run.
The Future: Arroyo projects as an bat-first second baseman. Most of his value will come from the offensive side, but he could develop a loud bat that will help him hit for average, get on base at a high clip and produce above-average power. He was so effective in his second-half High-A stint in 2024 that it wouldn’t be surprising if he appeared in Double-A at or near the start of the 2025 season.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Field: 45 | Arm: 45. -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Medium
Track Record: Young has been billed as an advanced bat since he was drafted out of high school outside Pittsburgh in the first round of 2022. He signed for $3.3 million to lure him away from his Duke commitment. He’s lived up to that billing thus far, posting a career .279 batting average with 163 walks to his 185 strikeouts while reaching Double-A at age 20.
Scouting Report: Young’s carrying ability is his hit tool. Opposing pitchers struggle to generate whiffs against him, and he has a knack for seemingly hitting the ball out of the catcher’s glove. Young loves to let the ball travel as long as possible and use the back side of his swing. That also makes him difficult to shift against, and he projects to hit for a high batting average. The key to his offensive ceiling will be how much elevation he can access on his pull side. He’s not particularly big or strong, and his mean exit velocities are low, so he may never hit for meaningful power. Young is an average runner with solid acceleration, though he doesn’t have the same top gear as some of the more explosive athletes. He is aggressive on the basepaths and has stolen more than 20 bases in each of his two full seasons. His true basestealing prowess may be overstated, because his efficiency has been lacking. The Mariners have emphasized spending time at both middle infield positions for Young, but his true home is likely second base, where his average arm will play. He has excellent footwork, above-average hands, and decent lateral mobility, all of which bode well for his ability to play a capable second base in the major leagues.
The Future: Young more than held his own at Double-A, positioning him to make his MLB debut before his 23rd birthday, either late in 2025 or early 2026. At peak, he projects to be a high-average, high-OBP second baseman who can set the table at the top of the order.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Field: 55 | Arm: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
Track Record: The Mariners added the 29th pick in the 2023 draft as the Prospect Promotion Incentive prize for Julio Rodriguez’s American League Rookie of the Year win in 2022. Seattle chose Farmelo with the first PPI pick in draft history. Heading into the draft, Farmelo was known as a raw but toolsy prospect at his high school outside Washington, D.C. He has dispelled that notion somewhat by showing an advanced eye at the plate in his pro career. He got off to a strong start for Low-A Modesto during the 2023 California League playoffs and was performing well at Modesto in 2024 before suffering a season-ending injury. Farmelo tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee on June 11 while making a routine play in center field.
Scouting Report: Farmelo employs an awkward, unique setup at the plate with a crouched posture, high lead elbow and completely horizontal bat. There’s some arm bar in his lefthanded swing, and he often bails on pitches soft and away, but he has the natural athleticism and hand-eye coordination to make it work. He’s displayed a strong knowledge of the strike zone and, despite natural strength, a hit-over-power profile to this point. Before the injury, Farmelo showed off his plus-plus speed to swipe 18 of 20 bags in just 46 games. In center field, his jumps are still a bit choppy, but he more than makes up for it with long, smooth strides that cover ground. He has an average arm that should be fine for center field.
The Future: The Mariners are hopeful that Farmelo will return from his ACL tear with all of his athleticism, and he can resume his march up the ladder as a toolsy center fielder who impacts the game in all aspects. It’s pretty easy to see a path to an everyday regular, with a chance for more if the power comes along and the contact rates maintain.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run: 70 | Field: 55 | Arm: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 60/High
Track Record: Emerson has long been on scouts’ radars as a prominent member of USA Baseball’s 18U National Team in 2022 and a top prospect for the 2023 draft. The Mariners drafted him 22nd overall out of an Ohio high school as one of the youngest in his class, and he has done nothing but hit since turning pro. After Emerson raked in his pro debut, the Mariners assigned him to Low-A Modesto in 2024. He slashed .263/.393/.376 with almost as many walks as strikeouts in his first full season, reaching High-A Everett in August. Emerson’s season was limited to 70 total games by a fractured foot he suffered in May. His time in the Arizona Fall League was also cut short by a hamstring injury.
Scouting Report: Emerson uses a well-balanced lefthanded swing with a plate approach mature beyond his years. His bat head stays in the zone a long time, and he is adept at spraying line drives to all parts of the field. He also hangs in versus lefthanders, though the contact quality isn’t there yet. In same-side matchups he prioritizes high contact and walks. Even versus righthanders, Emerson’s over-the-fence power has not quite shown up. His combination of line-drive intent and solid, if unspectacular, exit velocities has led to just six home runs in 449 career plate appearances. However, scouts are confident that he will eventually grow into average power, especially considering his age and present feel for the barrel. Perhaps Emerson’s best trait in the batter’s box is his plate discipline. He fights off borderline pitches and takes ones just off the plate. His on-base ability should be among the best at every stop. Emerson has average foot speed at present that may slow a half tick at maturity, but he is a threat on the bases due to his advanced baserunning instincts. He has swiped 23 bases in 25 career attempts, mostly owing to his excellent jumps. He also has a good feel for when to take the extra base on batted balls. Defensively, Emerson’s tools are fairly pedestrian. He currently splits time between shortstop and third base, but the consensus is that he will eventually move off shortstop in deference to more dynamic options. Though he doesn’t have the most range or the quickest first step, he has solid feet and mostly reliable hands that allow him to field the balls he does reach. He also has a solid-average arm, though it takes a runway to ramp up, and he generally needs more time to make plays than most shortstops. It also hinders him making plays in the hole ranging to his right. This overall lack of dynamism and slower internal clock are what lead evaluators to believe he will eventually move over to third base full time.
The Future: Emerson projects to be an impact bat with a plus hit tool and zone control, along with average power and an average glove at the hot corner. He plays like someone who is mature beyond his years, and he could reach the major leagues in a hurry as one of the younger debutants.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 50 | Run: 45 | Field: 50 | Arm: 55. -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/High
Track Record: Gutierrez signed with the Giants in 2023 after a decorated career in Mexico that included a .414/.485/.517 line in 29 at-bats at the U-18 World Cup Americas Qualifier in Mexico in November 2022 where he competed against future system-mate Bryce Eldridge. Gutierrez missed most of 2024 with a nagging back injury.
Scouting Report: Gutierrez is a well-rounded player with neither a plus tool nor a below-average tool on his card. He makes up for the lack of explosion with outstanding baseball instincts. The same applies to his defense, which allows him to move around the outfield—which he shares with fellow top prospect Dakota Jordan at Low-A San Jose—with ease.
The Future: Without a standout tool, Gutierrez will need to keep producing at huge clips to move through the system. If he does, he could reach his ceiling as a useful, versatile fourth outfielder.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 55 | Field: 50 | Arm: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Extreme
Track Record: The Giants signed Martinez in 2023 but he didn’t debut until a year later. He skipped the Dominican Summer League and instead got his first pro experience in Arizona as a reliever. He’s begun the transition into a starter’s role in 2025 and in just half the innings has already eclipsed his strikeout total from his debut summer.
Scouting Report: Martinez works primarily with two pitches: a mid-90s fastball with plane and angle and a sweepy slider in the low 80s. He’s adept at commanding both pitches, especially the outside part of the strike zone against righthanders. He can also land the slider in the zone or bury it in the dirt to get silly swings and misses. Martinez is working to add a changeup to his repertoire. The pitch currently lives in the upper 80s and shows running life.
The Future: Martinez has made solid strides year over year and is one of the bigger up-arrow pitching prospects in the system. His development will be worth monitoring as the year progresses.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Extreme
Track Record: The Giants signed De La Torre as a free agent and assigned him to the Dominican Summer League. He spent the first two seasons of his career in the Dominican Republic, where he struck out 51 hitters over 37.1 innings. He moved stateside in 2025 and started his season in the Arizona Complex League.
Scouting Report: De La Torre—who was born in Phoenix—works with a three-pitch mix headed by a fastball and slider with plus potential. The former already peaks at 97 mph while the latter gives hitters fits because of the angles created by De La Torre’s lower release height. The lefty has a changeup as well, but it’s a clear third pitch in his arsenal.
The Future: Like any player in the complex leagues, De La Torre has a long way to go before reaching his ceiling. If he can further develop his changeup, De La Torre has a chance to be a back-end starter. If not, his fastball-slider combination should play well out of the bullpen.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 40 | Slider: 40 | Changeup: 40 | Cutter: 50 | Control: 55. -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/High
Track Record: Choate was the Giants’ ninth-round pick out of Assumption in 2022 and then let him loose on the Class A levels the next year. After 68 innings between San Jose and Eugene, Choate got a bit more experience in the Arizona Fall League and finished the year with 84.1 frames. In 2024, he reached Double-A for the first time. The level showed him the need for further refinement.
Scouting Report: Choate’s game is based around finesse and deception, and he’ll need to make strength gains to get a couple more ticks of velocity on his arsenal. His fastball averaged around 88 mph and touched 93 in 2024, though it plays up thanks to the deception generated by a lower slot and nearly seven feet of extension. He backs the fastball with a slurvy breaking ball in the mid 70s that plays like a sideways curveball. He ties his mix together with a changeup in the same velocity band as his breaking ball. All together, Choate’s pitches give him options in all quadrants of the strike zone, but his control took a step backward once he reached Double-A.
The Future: The Giants believe that a full offseason will give Choate a chance to add the strength he needs to put more power behind his pitches. A stronger frame would also help him hold up over the course of a starter’s workload, repeat his delivery better and bring his control up to the quality required for the upper levels.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 45 | Slider: 40 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50. -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/High
Track Record: The Giants signed Maldonado out of the Dominican Republic in 2021 as an under-the-radar prospect in that year’s class. His work in the Arizona Complex League earned him the circuit’s pitcher of the month for August. He made his full-season debut in 2023 at Low-A San Jose and struck out 81 hitters in 65 innings but also issued 40 walks. He missed the 2024 season while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery but came out in 2025 and showed no signs of depressed stuff following the operation.
Scouting Report: Maldonado’s game is based around a powerful three-pitch mix. His fastball sits in the mid 90s and projects to get near double-plus. His mid-80s slider needs more consistency but could one day become a plus offering. Maldonado rounds out his arsenal with a changeup with a chance to be fringe-average with more reps. To reach his ceiling, he’ll need to show a big-time jump in command and control.
The Future: Maldonado began 2025 at Low-A San Jose as a multi-inning opener and struggled to throw strikes in the early going. He has a ceiling of a middle-inning reliever if everything breaks right.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 65 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 40. -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Extreme
Track Record: The Giants selected Ortiz in the 13th round out of the 2023 draft out of Puerto Rico’s Leadership Christian Academy, the same high school that counts current Giants outfielder Heliot Ramos as an alumnus. He started his career in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League, where he collected four singles in 24 at-bats. His return to the ACL was limited to just 27 games thanks to a knee injury sustained when he ran into a wall in center field. Even so, he showed scouts enough to point to an up-arrow prospect
Scouting Report: In his brief time on the field, Ortiz gave evaluators a look at a player with several plus tools. He earned grades of 60 on the 20-80 scouting scale for his speed, defense and throwing arm, giving himself a claim to the title of the organization’s best defensive outfielder. He’s got upside at the plate as well. Even in a small sample, Ortiz did a good job putting the bat on the ball. He finished the year with a zone-miss rate of 13.4% and an overall miss rate of 24.2%. He could stand to tighten his chase rate by a couple of ticks, but his 90th percentile exit velocity of 102 mph and a max EV of 108 mph.
The Future: Ortiz hinted at his upside in his time in the ACL and made it to Low-A for a single game. He’ll return to the level in 2025, when he’ll hope first and foremost to stay on the field. If he can do that, he’ll have a chance to build on his 2024 season and could move quickly into the upper tier of San Francisco’s system.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 60 | Field: 60 | Arm: 60. -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/High
Track Record: Bresnahan was under the radar for most of his amateur career, but a strong senior season of high school changed that perception. He was one of the younger players in his draft class, and the Guardians took him in the 13th round and signed him away from a commitment to Oregon. The $375,000 outlay was the highest Cleveland had ever paid for a player in that round. They traded him to San Francisco that summer in the deal that sent Alex Cobb to Cleveland.
Scouting Report: Bresnahan is a long, lean lefthander with a three-pitch mix that could take a big jump if he’s able to add strength to his frame. His fastball averaged around 92 mph and touched up to 95 mph with roughly 17 inches of induced vertical break. He backs it with a low-80s slider and a mid-80s changeup. The former pitch shows inconsistent break and can occasionally appear like a curveball. The latter is in its developmental stages but scouts before the draft believed it could be an above-average pitch one day. The Giants believe Bresnahan’s stuff will take a jump forward once he gets into the weight room and packs on more muscle. Scouts outside the system thought his feel to spin was only fair but noted he seemed receptive to coaching.
The Future: Bresnahan’s first full year in the San Francisco system will likely be spent at the Class A levels. He has the projection of a back-end starter if he can get stronger and add more power to his mix.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 55. -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Extreme
Track Record: The Giants signed Arias out of the Dominican Republic at the head of the organization’s 2023 international signing class. His bonus of $2,697,500 was the highest the Giants awarded that year. So far, injuries have kept Arias from delivering on the potential the team believes he can achieve. He has broken his left wrist in each of the past two seasons, limiting his time on the field to just 41 games. He spent 2023 in the Dominican Summer League, where he was one of the league’s top performers in a small sample, and moved to the Arizona Complex League a year later.
Scouting Report: Despite the limited sample, Arias still shows flashes of his upside. Nine of his 22 hits in 2024 went for extra bases, though that total did not include a home run. His overall miss rates—including a 16.4% clip on pitches in the zone—were encouraging, as was his 90th percentile exit velocity of 102 mph. Those numbers lend credence to the Giants’ belief that more game power is in the offing once he can stay on the field for extended periods of time. Defensively, Arias will be given the chance to stick in center field, but the way he’s added strength to his 6-foot-2 frame means his future is likely in a corner outfield spot. If he does move, right field seems like the obvious choice given his above-average arm and foot speed which, for now, grades as average.
The Future: The lion’s share of Arias’ future projection hinges on whether he can stay on the field, which he did during the Giants’ postseason camps and instructional league. If he’s healthy in 2025, when he’ll likely reach full-season ball for the first time, he could begin working toward a future as an everyday outfielder with assets on both sides of the ball.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Field: 50 | Arm: 55. -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Extreme
Track Record: Tejada was one of the sleepers of San Francisco’s 2024 international class, which also included standout shortstop Jhonny Level. Tejada landed a bonus of $147,500 and made his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League. He put together a strong opening volley, producing an .893 OPS with five home runs.
Scouting Report: The righthanded-hitting Tejada is short and stocky with a powerful swing geared to produce electric power. He finished his first year with a 90th percentile exit velocity of 101 mph and max EVs near 108 mph. He’s an aggressive hitter who can damage fastballs and did a good job controlling the zone in the DSL. He produced an overall miss rate of just 21.6%, and the figure in the zone was an outstanding 12.6%. Not surprisingly for someone his age, Tejada was weaker against breaking balls. He missed those types of pitches at a 38% clip, including 20% when they were located in the zone. Tejada is young and will get plenty of chances to stick in center field, but if he gets stronger he might move over to left field thanks to fringe-average arm strength. He’s a fringe-average runner who gets out of the box quickly and looks to steal bases. He swiped 13 bags in 2024 but was caught nine times.
The Future: Tejada will move stateside to the Arizona Complex League in 2025. If everything clicks, he has a chance to be a powerful corner outfielder capable of 20 or more home runs annually. To do so, he’ll have to tighten his plate discipline.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 60 | Run: 45 | Field: 50 | Arm: 45. -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
Track Record: Ceballos was drafted twice. First, the Angels called his name in the 14th round of the 2022 draft when he was at San Jacinto JC in Texas. He transferred to Oregon instead and swatted 18 home runs. The Braves took him in the third round that year, then swapped him to San Francisco in the deal that moved Jorge Soler and Luke Jackson to Atlanta.
Scouting Report: The trade to the Giants meant Ceballos was reunited with his college home of PK Park, which houses both the Oregon Ducks and Eugene Emeralds. Perhaps buoyed by a return to friendlier confines, Ceballos’ power took a big leap forward. He slammed seven home runs in 32 games after the trade. His raw power is clear, and he produced exit velocities up to 114 mph. He did a solid job controlling the zone and produced overall and zone miss rates of just 22.1% and 16.3% respectively. Ceballos is not the rangiest defender at third base but he’s reliable on the routine plays and has the plus arm strength—perhaps a byproduct of his days as a catcher—required to stick at the position.
The Future: In order to maintain his value, Ceballos needs to stick at third base. He’s already big and physical, so he’ll have to maintain as much of his athleticism as possible as he moves up the ladder. If he does that, his power will be more than enough to profile at the position. He has the ceiling of a second-division regular. Double-A Richmond is his next stop.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 30 | Field: 45 | Arm: 60. -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
Track Record: Bostick’s college career—which also saw him get reps at shortstop and center field—took him from Texas to Florida and then back to Texas. His final stop was at Grayson JC in 2023, when he struck out 103 hitters in 60.2 innings. The Giants drafted him in the eighth round and signed him for $397,500. He got his feet wet in Rookie ball before spending all of 2024 at Low-A San Jose.
Scouting Report: The gem of Bostick’s arsenal is a mid-90s fastball that peaked at 99 mph and averaged 20 inches of induced vertical break. He pounded the zone with the pitch, racking up a strike rate of 68%. Bostick complements the fastball with a pair of breaking balls that blend together and a changeup which shows solid drop and gives him an excellent weapon against lefthanders. To get the changeup to the next level, he needs to throw it with the same arm speed as his other pitches. One of Bostick’s goals going forward is to give his slider and curveball more separation from one another. He also needs to find the zone more often with all of his offspeeds—his changeup led the way in that department with a 61% strike rate. The Giants would also like to see him perform better when pitching out of the stretch and become more diligent holding runners.
The Future: Bostick has a solid mix of pitches and plenty of athleticism and room to grow. He’s got a lot of ceiling and projection remaining and could one day fit in the back of a rotation.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 65 | Curveball: 40 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45. -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium
Track Record: The story of Meckler’s rise to pro ball is incredible. Despite being just 4-foot-10 and 75 pounds as a high school freshman, the lefty swinger packed on just enough bulk to walk on at Oregon State. Coming out of the pandemic, Meckler had just 10 collegiate at-bats. Over his next two years, he added 126 to that total. The Giants took him in the eighth round of the 2022 draft, and he was in the big leagues by the end of the 2023 season. Wrist and oblique injuries limited him to just 87 minor league games in 2024.
Scouting Report: Meckler’s game revolves around putting the bat on the ball and letting his legs do the rest. Internal evaluators rate him as the prospect likely to produce the highest average in the big leagues, though it won’t come with much in the way of power. He’s especially adept at hitting fastballs, against which he produced a miss rate of just 7.5% in 2024. On heaters in the zone, that figure was a microscopic 4%. Meckler entered the season with eight home runs in 106 minor league games. He hit nine this past season, mostly on pitches up and inside. Meckler’s problems against breaking balls again showed up, and he missed those pitches at a rate of 32.7%. His double-plus speed should help him in center field, but he’s also seen time in both outfield corners. His lack of power means sticking in the middle is an absolute necessity.
The Future: To get back to the big leagues, Meckler will need to stay healthy and do a better job handling non-fastballs. If he can, he fits as a second-division regular who can get on base and cause havoc.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 30 | Run: 70 | Field: 45 | Arm: 40. -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Medium
Track Record: Seymour was the Mets’ sixth-round pick in 2021 but he didn’t last long in New York’s system. The righthander was dealt to San Francisco the next season as part of the package that brought Darin Ruf to Queens. He’s spent a year apiece at Double-A and Triple-A over the last two seasons, and was solid enough to earn a spot on the 40-man roster and protection from the Rule 5 draft.
Scouting Report: Seymour works mostly with a mix of four- and two-seam fastballs as well as a slider and a changeup. His fastballs peaked at 98, and the two-seamer helped him coax a groundball rate of 53%. His slider—thrown in the mid 80s—is his best offspeed pitch. It has sharp gyro break and is effective at getting swings and misses against both lefties and righties. The next step in its evolution is commanding it more often to his glove side. To become a more complete pitcher, he’ll need to further establish his changeup. At its best, the pitch has plenty of drop and fade, but its shape is inconsistent. It’s a well below-average pitch now but could get to below-average with further reps. His command and control are also below-average.
The Future: With a spot on the 40-man roster in hand, Seymour’s big league debut is near. He fits best as a middle reliever with upside for a little more with improvements to his changeup and strike-throwing ability.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 40. -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium
Track Record: After three seasons at South Florida, Ragsdale was taken in the fourth round of the 2020 draft by the Phillies. He missed the 2019 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Before he could throw a professional pitch, he was dealt to the Giants in exchange for righthander Sam Coonrod. Since then, he’s moved through the minor leagues in a career stunted by a frustrating amount of injuries, including strains to his oblique and elbow and a bout of thoracic outlet syndrome. His 147 strikeouts were the most in San Francisco’s system.
Scouting Report: When healthy, Ragsdale shows the stuff to be a valuable part of a pitching staff. His current mix includes a four-seam fastball that averaged around 94 mph with 18 inches of induced vertical break as well as a curveball and a splitter. The former sits around 81 mph and shows true top-down break and late snap. In concert, the two pitches give Ragsdale a solid north-south attack pattern. The splitter, thrown in the mid 80s, acts as his changeup and was used relatively sparingly. He has fringe-average control and walked 11.2% of hitters and threw a career-high 120.2 innings, his first time topping 100 since 2021.
The Future: Ragsdale was added to the 40-man roster in November and should have a chance to make his big league debut at some point in 2025. Despite his checkered injury history, Ragsdale has the frame to hold up to a starter’s workload. If he doesn’t fit there, he could be a bulk reliever.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 60 | Split: 45 | Control: 40.
Draft Prospects
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School: First Presbyterian Day HS, Macon, Ga.Committed: Vanderbilt. Age At Draft: 18.3
Johnson offers significant upside with his talent at the plate and in the field. Hitting from an open stance and loading with a leg kick and a pull-heavy approach, Johnson has strong hands, excellent bat speed, high-level strength projection and already drives the ball with authority. He typically stays within the strike zone, doesn’t swing and miss much and has a chance to grow into plus raw power. A tick above-average runner, Johnson has a chance to stick at shortstop depending on his physical development, though some scouts think he could outgrow the position and slide to third base as he gets closer to the big leagues. He’s an intelligent player and an athletic defender with quick reactions off the bat and good body coordination. Johnson is adept on both ends of the double play, charges in well on the slow roller and has the arm strength for the left side of the infield. -
School: Jackson Prep HS, Flowood, Miss.Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 17.9
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. He has touched 94 mph and has the look of a potential 100 mph arm, showing an advanced changeup with good sink and separation off his fastball along with a curveball. -
School: Trinity Christian Academy, Jacksonville, Fla.Committed: Florida. Age At Draft: 18.5
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 average or better arm, Harris has the quickness, range and efficient route running to stick in center field. -
School: De La Salle HS, Concord, Calif.Committed: Stanford. Age At Draft: 18.8
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. Spangler already makes hard contact for his age, and with his bat speed and physical upside, there’s projection for a lot more home run damage to come, giving him one of the top potential hit/power combinations in the class. He’s an above-average runner with good lateral agility and body control at shortstop for his size. He has the defensive tools that should give him an opportunity to continue at shortstop in pro ball, though depending on his physical development, if he does outgrow the position he would profile well at third base too. -
School: Gulliver Prep HS, Miami, Fla.Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.8
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, with the torque in his swing that helps maximize his bat speed. As he’s gotten bigger, stronger and faster over the past year, 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. 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.Committed: Texas. Age At Draft: 18.4
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: Missouri State Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 22.0
Stewart ranked as a top-150 player in the 2024 class after two standout years with Missouri State, including a 21-homer campaign as a draft-eligible sophomore in 2024. He went undrafted and returned to campus for his third season. Stewart is a 6-foot-2, 225-pound outfielder and lefthanded hitter who stands out for his physicality, impact and power upside. He has great bat speed with a steep swing that allows him to homer to all fields but comes with significant contact questions. He’s a 27.1% career strikeout rate hitter who really struggles with spin and off-speed and might not be able to fully tap into his impressive raw power in games because of that. Stewart is a corner profile all the way with below-average speed and fair arm strength. -
School: Rutgers Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.2
Prince has one of the riskiest profiles in the 2025 draft. He’s a 6-foot-5, 235-pound lefthander with an excellent pitcher’s frame and great arm speed, but has never been able to throw strikes at even a 30-grade level in his three years at Rutgers. Splitting time as a starter and reliever, Prince owns a career 6.78 ERA over 73 innings with an 18.9% strikeout rate and 25% walk rate. He has bottom-of-the-scale control as his walk rate indicates, but he does have unique arm talent from the left side that a handful of times might attempt to harness. Prince sits in the 92-94 mph range and wil touch 98 mph. He also throws a mid-80s cutter and a mid-80s changeup. -
School: Salt Lake (Utah) JC Drafted/Committed: Utah
Age At Draft: 21.3
Grossman is a 6-foot-4, 220-pound righthander and Hawaii native who started his career at Utah but threw only a few innings before heading to Salt Lake JC. He’s a power arm who has a fastball that’s consistently in the mid 90s and has been up to 98-99 mph at peak. He can also can spin a low-80s slider that flashes above-average potential. Grossman has big stuff but below-average control and comes with some reliever risk because of that. -
School: Georgia Tech Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 22.1
Stanford ranked as a top-200 prospect out of a loaded 2022 Georgia prep class (and pitched for the same Buford High team as Padres first rounder Dylan Lesko) but made it to campus at Georgia Tech after going undrafted. Now a 6-foot-4, 235-pound righthander, Stanford has the same power-oriented, scattered-strikes profile he did in college. He sits around 94 mph with his fastball and will push the pitch up to 97, while mixing in a mid-80-s slider, a curveball in the upper 70s and a changeup in the upper 80s. He’s a below-average strike-thrower and a high-probability reliever despite the fact that he started seven games for Georgia Tech in 2025. -
School: Kansas City JC Drafted/Committed: Kansas
Age At Draft: 0.0
Deer is a physical 6-foot-6 lefthander who posted a 2.45 ERA over 55 innings in 2025 with Kansas City JC. He throws a fastball in the low 90s that has been up to 97 and attacks hitters from an almost fully sidearm slot. He mixes in a mid-80s slider and a mid-80s changeup that flash solid movement, but both need to come along in terms of his touch, feel and consistency. Deer’s strikes and delivery point to a likely reliever role, but he’s an imposing arm on the mound with arm strength to get excited about. He’s committed to Kansas. -
School: Texas State Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 22.2
Tippie pitched for Angelina (Texas) JC for two seasons before heading to Texas State in 2024 where he has pitched out of the bullpen for two seasons. A 6-foot-4, 210-pound righthander, Tippie throws a fastball in the 90-95 mph range but has excellent feel to spin a slider. He actually threw his low-80s slider more than half the time in 2025, making it his primary pitch, and despite that usage still generated a miss rate north of 50%. While Tippie is overwhelmingly a slider/fastball pitcher, he also has a low-80s split-change in his pocket that has solid movement but is difficult for him to throw for strikes. -
School: MIT Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 0.0
Estrada is a 6-foot, 200-pound righthander and draft-eligible sophomore who has flashes of big fastball velocity. He posted a 2.21 ERA over 10 starts and 40.2 innings with MIT in 2025, with 66 strikeouts and 23 walks. Estrada throws a fastball in the 90-94 mph range, but he has pushed that pitch to 97 at peak velocity and will mix in a mid-80s sweeping slider and firm, upper-80s changeup. He has quick arm speed from a low three-quarters slot but comes with significant reliever risk. -
School: Duke Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 22.0
Healy ranked as a top-300 player in the 2024 class as a draft-eligible sophomore but went unselected and returned to Duke for his 2025 season. A 6-foot-6, 200-pound lefthander, Healy pitched effectively as a freshman in 2023 but has struggled in both seasons since then. He owns a career 4.45 ERA over 36 starts and 125.1 innings, with a 22.7% strikeout rate and 7.7% walk rate. Between Healy’s frame, control, size, handedness and stuff there’s still plenty to like. He sits in the 93-95 mph range and will touch 97 with his fastball, and has good feel for a low-80s slider that is his primary off-speed pitch. Healy also mixes in a low-80s changeup and a slower, mid-70s curveball. -
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 in 17.1 innings. Offensively, Sprock has a solid combination of power and plate discipline. He 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. 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 pitched as a reliever for two seasons with Georgia State before transferring to Georgia Tech for the 2025 season where he posted a 4.30 ERA over 15 starts and 67 innings with a 23.9% 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. -
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 pitched as a reliever for parts of three seasons with Georgia and in 2025 posted a 4.94 ERA over 27.1 innings with a 30.5% strikeout rate and 17.2% walk rate. Hoskins has plus fastball velocity. He sits in the 96-98 mph range with his fastball and will touch 100. 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. His well below-average control should limit him to the bullpen and he’ll need to make strides with his strike-throwing to be reliable there. -
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 and in 2025 posted a 5.72 ERA over 15 starts and 91.1 innings with a career-best 26.4% strikeout rate. He sits in the 90-93 mph range with his fastball and will touch 94 with 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 starter in pro ball, but will need to develop a better swing-and-miss pitch to unlock any impact potential. -
School: Virginia Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.7
Hodges is a 6-foot-1, 195-pound lefthander who pitched as a high-usage reliever as a freshman for Virginia in 2023. He missed most of the 2024 season with Tommy John surgery, then returned to the mound in March of 2025 and posted a 4.88 ERA over eight starts and 27.2 innings. Hodges mostly works off a three-pitch mix that includes a 90-94 mph fastball, a low-80s slider and a low-80s changeup. He will occasionally fold in a mid-70s curveball and has below-average control. -
School: Indiana Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 22.0
Cerny is a 6-foot-2, 205-pound righthanded hitter and infielder who was draft-eligible in 2024 but went unselected and returned to Indiana in 2025 for his junior season. He’s a career .292/.371/.511 hitter who has hit 10 home runs in each season in college, with a hunched over stance and an aggressive approach at the plate. Cerny likes to swing the bat and does so frequently, both at pitches inside and outside of the zone, which caps his walk rate. 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. -
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 missed his 2024 season with Pearl River (Miss.) JC with an injury, but posted a 3.23 ERA over 39 innings with 64 strikeouts in 2025. He’s a power-armed righthander with an extreme, downer head whack in his delivery and throws a fastball that sits 94-95 mph and touches 99. His go-to secondary is a hard mid-to-upper-80s slider with sharp tilt. Both his delivery and strikes scream reliever, but he could have the pure stuff to pitch effectively in that role. Spencer is committed to Mississippi State. -
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 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, but also struggled mightily with his control. 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. -
School: Florida State Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.2
Harrelson spent two seasons with Texas Tech before transferring to Florida State for the 2025 season where he jumped into the team’s everyday right field job and leadoff spot. A 6-foot-3, 180-pound lefthanded hitter, Harrelson slashed .338/.440/.469 with 13 stolen bases and a career-low 20.5% strikeout rate. He doesn’t have prototypical power for a corner profile and also has more swing-and-miss tendencies than you’d like for a contact-oriented hitter, but might be quick enough to get a chance to play center field. -
School: Michigan Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.5
Lally Jr. was a top-300 prospect coming out of high school in Michigan thanks to a big physique and a fastball that was already touching 96 mph. He made it to campus at Notre Dame where he pitched briefly for two seasons, then transferred to Michigan in 2025 where he posted a 4.95 ERA over 13 starts and 76.1 innings. Now listed at 6-foot-5, 215-pounds, Lally is a scattered strike-thrower who has a deep five-pitch mix that he uses to attack hitters. He’ll sit in the low 90s with his fastball and touch 96 and mostly uses a slider, cutter and curveball vs. righties, while leaning on a changeup more frequently against lefties. -
School: UC Santa Barbara Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.5
Barrett is a 6-foot-5, 225-pound lefthander who 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. A Tommy John surgery ended most of his 2024 season and he didn’t return to the mound until late April in 2025. 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, but his lack of track record over the last two seasons creates some uncertainty. -
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: 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. In 2025 he cut his strikeout rate significantly and slashed .353 -
School: Vista Murrieta HS, Murrieta, Calif. Drafted/Committed: Duke
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: 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. 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: Southeastern Louisiana Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 125.6
Stuprich is a 5-foot-10, 210-pound righthander redshirt senior who’s been a reliable starter for Southeastern Louisiana for four years. He was named the Southland Conference pitcher of the year in 2025 and posted a 2.90 ERA over 14 starts and 90 innings, with a career-best 29.7% strikeout rate and 7.6% walk rate. Stuprich lacks much projection as an older righthander with a high-effort delivery and maxed out frame, but he does a nice job filling the zone with a four-pitch mix that includes a low-90s fastball, a low-80s slider, a low-80s changeup and an upper-70s curveball. -
School: Headland (Ala.) HS Drafted/Committed: Auburn
Age At Draft: 18.8
Shelley is a physical, athletic outfielder with exciting supplemental tools. He’s well-developed at 6-foot, 205 pounds and plenty strong now without a ton of physical projection remaining. Having developed a strong reputation as a defender in the outfield as an underclassman, he’s an above-average runner who can cover lots of ground with good route-running ability to match his speed as well as an above-average throwing arm. Shelley does have raw power and can drive the ball when he connects, but he lacks rhythm in the box and has significant swing-and-miss questions he’ll need to refine. -
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 has made strides in both his strikes and fastball velocity in 2025. After pitching in the upper 80s and touching 91 mph in 2024, Brinham has pushed his fastball into the 88-90 range and touched 93 in 2025. 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 is a solid mover on the mound with a compact arm action and three-quarter slot who could make some big strides with 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 named to the all-WAC defensive team as a freshman at Grand Canyon in 2023 when he split time at shortstop and third base. A 6-foot, 190-pound shortstop, Barreras seems like a strong enough defender to stick at the position in the long term, and he also boasts special bat-to-ball skills that allow him to make contact all over the zone against all pitch types. While he has great contact skills, his power is light and getting to even double-digit home runs in a season could be a challenge without significant strength gains. -
School: Kankakee Valley HS, Wheatfield, Ind. Drafted/Committed: Indiana
Age At Draft: 125.6
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 has 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: 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 11-20 round draft interest. -
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 .420/.481/.690 with 14 home runs and 23 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 expands 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 vs. 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, but he’s an interesting hitter with loud performance who could fit in the 11-20 round range in the draft. -
School: Troy Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 22.1
Meier spent two seasons with Columbia Basin (Wash.) JC before heading to Old Dominion for the 2024 season and Troy for the 2025 season. A 6-foot-1, 195-pound center fielder, Meier slashed .296/.443/.502 with eight home runs, 16 doubles and 24 stolen bases as Troy’s leadoff hitter. Meier has a low handset with a swing that gets slightly uphill at times to the pull side for him to sneak balls out of the park down the line, but he has below-average power and plus speed that should allow him to collect his extra-base hits via line drives into the gaps. He could be a senior sign inside the first 10 rounds but fits as an 11-20 round draft talent. -
School: Mississippi State Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 23.8
Williams is an extra-large righthander with an ultra physical 6-foot-4, 250-pound frame. He has power stuff to go with his build and throws a loud fastball/curveball combination. Williams sits around 94-96 mph with his fastball and will run the pitch up to 99. He then attacks hitters with a downer curveball in the upper 70s that has impressive depth and finish. Williams pitched two seasons with Florence-Darlington (S.C.) JC before heading to Mississippi State. In 2025 Williams posted a 4.33 ERA across 27 innings in the bullpen with a 47.2% strikeout rate and 8.2% walk rate. He’ll be nearly 24 on draft day, but his stuff is loud enough to make him a target in rounds 11-20 or as a senior sign before that. -
School: Samford Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.7
Gupton was a top-10 round talent coming out of high school on the back 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 .331/.400/.624 through 52 games in 2025. Gupton too frequently gets himself out by expanding the zone on bad pitches and struck out at a 27% 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: 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 headed to Auburn where he pitched mostly in the bullpen for the next two years. Watts’ Auburn performance is underwhelming, with a 7.25 career ERA, 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 has shown 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. 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: Lake Central HS, St. John, Ind. Drafted/Committed: Kentucky
Age At Draft: 18.1
Flores is a strong and stocky righthander with a 6-foot-1, 200-pound frame and loud pure stuff to go with it. He’s a hard-throwing high schooler who has sat around 93 mph with his fastball in the 2025 spring and pushed the pitch up to 96. Flores pairs the fastball with a hard, 12-to-6 curveball in the low 80s that has impressive power and depth and projects as a plus breaking ball. He will also mix in a slider and a changeup, but he carries some reliever risk because of his below-average strikes and a longer arm path that could inhibit his command. Flores is committed to Kentucky and is on the younger side for the high school class. -
School: Oregon Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 22.4
Walsh has been a high-profile prospect dating back to his prep days when he ranked as a top-200 prospect thanks to his power potential and multi-sport athleticism. A 6-foot-4, 225-pound first baseman and lefthanded hitter, Walsh had an up-and-down career with Oregon but turned in his best season as a senior in 2025. He hit .344/.451/.693 with 19 home runs in 54 games and had a career-low 17.1% strikeout rate and career-high 13.6% walk rate. Walsh has long been viewed as a power-over-hit offensive player who had questions about how much of his plus raw power he’d be able to tap into in games in pro ball. He employs an upright stance with a significant leg kick, and has a high effort swing with bat speed from his long levers that has led to some of the best 90th-percentile exit velocities in the country. His improved approach and performance in his senior season could lead to a bit more confidence about his pure hitting ability, but Walsh is likely to be limited to first base defensively. -
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 has run his fastball up to 97 mph in the fall and early in the 2025 spring season, though his velocity has been inconsistent. At its best, scouts think it 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. -
School: Troy Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 22.7
Dill has been a high-usage reliever since his 2022 freshman season with Clemson when he made 28 appearances. A 6-foot-6, 240-pound righthander, Dill pitched two seasons with Clemson then transferred to Troy for the 2024-2025 seasons. In 2025 he posted a 4.00 ERA over 45 innings with a career-best 32.5% strikeout rate. Dill is largely a two-pitch pitcher who sits around 94 mph and will touch 97 with his fastball—which he uses 70% of the time. His go-to secondary is a hard, upper-80s slider with real lateral bite. Dill will also mix in a firm, 86-91 mph changeup, but it’s a distant third pitch. He’s a below-average strike-thrower. -
School: North Carolina Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 24.9
Knapp is workhorse righthander with a 6-foot-5, 270-pound frame that makes him one of the most physical players in the country. He started his college career at UNC Wilmington, but didn’t play, then transferred to Walters State (Tenn.) JC where he pitched effectively as a starter. Knapp transferred to North Carolina in 2023 and missed the 2024 season with Tommy John surgery. In 2025 he was the ACC pitcher of the year after posting a 2.14 ERA over 12 starts and 80 innings, with a 23.8% strikeout rate and 4.2% walk rate. He sits around 93 mph with his fastball and will run the pitch up to 97. Against lefties he uses a mid-80s changeup as his go-to secondary, while against righties he turns to a slider around 80 mph. Knapp will turn 25 shortly after the draft, but some teams could view him as a quick-moving starter and priority senior sign target. -
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. 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 always 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: 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 a willingness to take a walk (he owns a 17.6% career walk rate), but he really struggles to make contact vs. 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. -
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 4.76 ERA over 13 starts and 73.2 innings with a 20.8% strikeout rate and 8.5% walk rate. 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. -
School: Lee’s Summit (Mo.) West HS Drafted/Committed: Tennessee
Age At Draft: 18.6
Wood is a physical, muscled-up righthander with a 6-foot-2, 210-pound frame. He sits in the 92-94 mph range with his fastball but will touch 96 at peak, and he shows flashes of an average slider at times around 80 mph. Wood will also throw a mid-80s changeup that could 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: 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: 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: 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 where he led the team in hitting and homered eight times. He 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. 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: 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: 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 .311/.389/.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 vs. fastball velocity. 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: Houston Drafted/Committed: Twins ’19 (17)
Age At Draft: 24.0
Jean is a 6-foot-2, 190-pound lefthander who spent three seasons as a starter and reliever with Alabama, before heading to Houston for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. He had a career year as a grad student in 2025, when he posted a 2.43 ERA over 63 innings as a multi-inning reliever. His 41.9% strikeout rate and 8.1% walk rate were the best marks of his career. Jean throws a four-pitch mix that includes a 90-94 mph fastball that touches 96, a mid-80s slider, an upper-70s curveball and a mid-80s changeup that he uses against righties. -
School: North Florida Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 0.0
Monile is a 5-foot-8, 170-pound contact merchant who brings plenty of bat-to-ball ability and on-base skill to the table. A redshirt sophomore, Monile slashed .346/.484/.466 in 2025 with North Florida, with a 20.1% walk rate and 8.4% strikeout rate. He has a patient, selective approach at the plate and rarely swings and misses—especially vs. a fastball—but also has little to no power. His one homer this spring was a pull-side fly ball he hooked down the right field line. -
School: Georgia Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.8
Obee ranked as a top-500 prospect in the 2024 class on the back of his athleticism and defense in center field, but went undrafted and transferred from Duke to Georgia for the 2025 season. A 6-foot-2, 215-pound center fielder, Obee continues to stand out for his defensive work and athleticism in center field. He has the range, speed and instincts to be a good defender at the position in the long run, but he needs to find a way to make more contact. Obee has always struggled with high swing-and-miss rates collegiately and after four years is a career .257/.370/.521 hitter with a 27.8% strikeout rate and 12.9% walk rate. -
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 North 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. -
School: South Florida Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.2
Newton has pitched in limited capacity throughout his three years with South Florida, but has interesting pure stuff and a large, 6-foot-6, 250-pound frame. He pitched out of the bullpen in 2024, but made a handful of starts in 2025 after getting on the mound in April. He sits around 93 mph with his fastball and has been up to 96, and pairs the heater with a sweeping, mid-80s breaking ball that could become an above-average pitch. Newton also has a mid-80s changeup, but has shown less feel for it compared to his fastball and slider. -
School: Kennesaw State Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 0.0
Cole is a lean, lefthanded-hitting outfielder with a 6-foot-2, 175-pound frame. He started his career at South Georgia State JC, then moved to Kennesaw State, where he spent three seasons and was a career .303/.438/.405 hitter. Cole’s carrying tool is probably his speed. He earns 70-grade run evaluations and gets out of the box quickly from the left side, in addition to being a threat on the bases and covering plenty of ground in the outfield. While Cole has a savvy approach at the plate, he doesn’t offer much power and doesn’t project to add much more in the future. Instead he has a slappy, opposite field approach and groundball-heavy offensive game that could suit his speed nicely. He fits as a solid 11-20 round prospect or senior sign target. -
School: New Jersey Tech Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 0.0
DeJong is a lean and projectable lefthander with a 6-foot-4, 185-pound frame. He throws from a higher three-quarters slot and has a loose, compact arm action with exciting pure stuff. DeJong made just six starts for New Jersey Tech in 2025 before an injury ended his season, but while healthy he sat in the low 90s and pushed his fastball up to 95 mph. He also mixes in a low-80s slider with solid two-plane bite and a mid-to-upper-80s changeup that he throws to the arm side. -
School: Wesleyan Christian Academy, High Point, N.C. Drafted/Committed: Texas
Age At Draft: 19.0
Cozart is a large, imposing righthander who has long stood out for his physicality on the mound. Already 6-foot-8, 250 pounds, Cozart has the look of a pro pitcher now, with plenty of strength throughout his frame and a fastball that’s been up to 95 mph. He typically sits in the low 90s and throws from a stiff and effortful delivery that creates some reliever risk, though he does have a solid track record as a strike-thrower. Cozart throws a short slider in the mid 80s, a curveball around 80 mph with solid depth and low-80s fading changeup. His older brothers, Caleb and Jacob, played college baseball and Jacob was a second-round pick by the Guardians in 2024. Samuel is committed to Texas and will be a draft-eligible sophomore if he makes it to campus. -
School: Kansas Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.8
Breckheimer is a 6-foot-5, 270-pound righthander who spent two years at Bryant & Stratton College in Wisconsin before heading to Kansas for his junior season in 2025. He’s an extra-large righthander reliever with an unwieldy and effortful delivery that looks out of control, though he managed a strong 6.2% walk rate as a junior. Breckheimer has a high-usage, swing-and-miss fastball that he throws about 75% of the time. He sits 93-94 mph with the pitch but has run it up to 98 and generated an impressive 30% miss rate with the pitch. He pairs the heater with a mid-80s slider. Breckheimer has also mixed in a mid-80s changeup and an upper-70s curveball, but overwhelmingly pitches off the fastball/slider combo. -
School: Brunswick (Md.) HS Drafted/Committed: Maryland
Age At Draft: 18.7
Kaunas is a 5-foot-10, 175-pound righthanded hitter and shortstop with a skills over tools high school profile. Nothing jumps off the page with Kaunas from a physical perspective, but scouts have been impressed with his feel for the game. In the box Kaunas employs a crouched setup and has a big, aggressive swing that starts with a large, leaking leg kick that becomes a real step-in-the-bucket lower half move. In two-strike counts Kaunas will get into a deeper crouch and his leg kick turns into more of a toe tap action. He has a solid understanding of the zone and makes a decent amount of contact, but lacks impact raw power presently. He’s a solid defender at shortstop with a good internal clock. His arm might be a tick light for the position but he has a quick exchange and knows how to get rid of the ball quickly. As a right-right middle infielder who lacks loud tools or much physical projection, Kaunas might need to head to campus at Maryland and prove his hitting chops. -
School: Arizona State Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.8
Contrades was the Hawaii Gatorade player of the year as a senior in high school, then made his mark as a freshman with Arizona State when he hit over .300 with 10 doubles and eight home runs. The 5-foot-10, 195-pound third baseman missed most of the 2024 season with a back injury, but was back to his aggressive hitting, extra-base ways in 2025. Contrades likes to swing the bat and does so often—at times expanding the zone too frequently—but he does have solid contact skills with solid bat speed and can drive the ball into the gaps. He’s a solid runner and has been efficient on the bases with the defensive tools to stick at third. -
School: Oklahoma State Drafted/Committed: Giants ’24 (19)
Age At Draft: 22.9
Ure ranked as a top 500 prospect in the 2024 class despite very little college track record with Oklahoma State because of his size and pure stuff. The Giants drafted him in the 19th round but he elected to not sign and return to Oklahoma State for the 2025 season. Ure missed the 2023 season entirely because of Tommy John surgery. In 2025 he pitched as a starter and reliever and posted a 6.05 ERA with a 30.7% strikeout rate in 19.1 innings. A 6-foot-8, 235-pound lefthander, Ure is an imposing presence on the mound with a fastball that’s been up to 96-97 mph at his best. In 2025 he sat more in the low 90s with the pitch from an extended three-quarters slot, and went to a mid-80s slider and a mid-to-upper-80s changeup as secondaries. Ure made progress with his fastball command in 2025 but is a stiffer mover who has historically had below-average control and because of that fits best as a unique look out of the bullpen. -
School: Elon Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 22.1
Duffey is a 6-foot, 210-pound catcher and lefthanded hitter who had a pair of solid seasons with Elon in 2022 and 2024 on either side of a missed 2023 season before a breakout 2025 campaign. Duffey has made impressive strides with his approach throughout his career and is now a patient, selective hitter who doesn’t swing often and rarely expands the strike zone. That’s led to nearly as many walks as strikeouts in his redshirt junior season and the best on-base percentage he’s managed in college. When he does swing, Duffey has an opposite field approach with below-average raw power that limits his home run upside but does allow him to spray the ball on a line to all fields. Behind the plate Duffey has below-average arm strength but a quick exchange that helps his throws play up at times. He needs to tighten up his receiving but has solid blocking skill and mobility. -
School: Venice (Fla.) Senior HS Drafted/Committed: Miami
Age At Draft: 18.7
Zaun earned a reputation as a standout hitter in the class after a loud sophomore season with Venice Senior High and a huge event at the 2023 WWBA World Championship as an underclassman that included three home runs in seven games. Listed at 6-feet, 200 pounds, Zaun is a maxed-out righthanded hitter with broad shoulders, plenty of strength and a fast bat through the zone. He has a simple setup and swing with a small leg kick and a soft hand press in his load that leads to a slight uphill bat path through the zone. He has the sort of strength and bat speed that should provide above-average power potential. Zaun also has a solid approach at the plate with good swing decisions, but some swing-and-miss tendencies that could inhibit his pure hit tool. He is a below-average runner who plays third base now and has above-average arm strength that could help him stick at the position. He’s played some outfield in the past and could also profile in right, but he’s a bat-first prospect whose value should come from what he does in the batter’s box. Zaun is committed to Miami. -
School: NC State Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.3
Van Dam started his career with SUNY Cortland in New York before transferring to NC State in 2024. As a sophomore in 2024 Van Dam pitched exclusively out of the bullpen where he posted a 4.58 ERA with a 22.6% strikeout rate in 37.1 innings. Van Dam tore his UCL in May of 2024 and didn’t get back on the mound until a full year later in May of 2025. A 6-foot-6, 200-pound righthander, Van Dam has a loud two-pitch mix that includes a mid-90s fastball and a low-80s slider with a lot of glove-side sweeping action. After returning from injury in 2025 Van Dam was still throwing his fastball in the 94-96 mph range, though that did come with below-average strikes. He’s never been a great strike-thrower even before the injury, and because of that and his two-pitch mix he’s a likely reliever only moving forward. -
School: Georgia Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 23.2
Zaborowski has had a long and winding path that eventually led to a breakout 2025 season with Georgia. He started his career with Grand Canyon in 2021, then made stops at Yavapai (Ariz.) JC, and Miami (Ohio) before moving to Athens for a season as a graduate student. Zaborowski is a 6-foot-5, 250-pound righthanded hitter who stands out for his raw power. He has a crouched and slightly stiff setup in the box before unloading a steep, flyball-oriented swing that sends tons of balls in the air to the left field. While Zaborowski has posted some of the best average exit velocities in college baseball, he’s done so as one of the older players in the class and with a swing that comes with its holes. Zaborowski has plenty of miss tendencies and worse production vs. spin and off-speed pitches than fastballs, and his strikeout rate pushed closer to 30% against SEC pitching. He’s been Georgia’s regular first baseman in 2025, but has also spent a solid chunk of innings at third base and in both outfield corners in his college career. Zaborowski’s 2025 performance could be loud enough to make him a priority senior sign type on draft day despite being 23 years old at the time of the draft. -
School: Grace Christian HS, Sanford, N.C. Drafted/Committed: South Carolina
Age At Draft: 18.9
Roupe is a 6-foot-2, 205-pound righthander with a solidly-built frame who has plenty of strength now, and perhaps a bit more room to fill out in the future. A South Carolina native, Roupe pitches for Grace Christian High in Sanford, N.C. and primarily works with a fastball/slider combo. He has a solid delivery with a direct stride to the plate and quick arm speed with a three-quarters slot. Roupe has pitched in the low 90s and run his fastball up to 94 mph at peak velocity, though during the 2025 spring, his fastball power was up-and-down depending on the outing. He has impressive feel for a slider in the upper 70s and low 80s. The pitch has solid spin rates and good movement that should allow it to become an above-average breaking ball with added power and consistency. He has also mixed in a low-to-mid-80s changeup that could round out his arsenal and be a useful pitch against lefties. Roupe is committed to South Carolina. -
School: Buford (Ga.) HS Drafted/Committed: Ole Miss
Age At Draft: 19.2
Goldin was an early standout in the 2025 class because of his athleticism and hitting ability. He’s a quick-twitch athlete with a strong, lean build who consistently strings together quality at-bats with good swing decisions and the ability to work deep counts. His lefthanded swing is short and quick with a flat path, helping him square up both fastballs and soft stuff with gap power and a line-drive approach. His plus speed helps him get on base and is an asset in center field, where he projects to stick with good instincts and a strong arm. -
School: Carroll HS, Bel Air, Md. Drafted/Committed: Uncommitted
Age At Draft: 18.4
Mueller is an extra-large righthander with a 6-foot-7, 235-pound frame and developing velocity. While he typically settles into the upper 80s in his starts, he has pushed his fastball up to 93-94 mph at peak in the 2025 spring and has done a nice job mixing in a top-down curveball in the lowto-mid 70s and a splitter in the upper 70s. -
School: TCU Drafted/Committed: Brewers ’24 (11)
Age At Draft: 22.1
Parker has been on draft radars for years, first as a projection righthander in high school and later as a BA 500 prospect in the 2024 class out of TCU. The Brewers drafted him in the 11th round, but he elected to not sign and returned to Fort Worth for his fourth year and third healthy season in college. A 6-foot-4, 190-pound righty, Parker sits around 92-94 mph and touches 96 with his fastball. He also has an upper-70s curveball, mid-80s changeup and low-80s slider. -
School: Harvard Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.7
Fang pitched as a reliever in his 2023 freshman season with Harvard and then won the Ivy League’s pitcher of the year award as a sophomore in a starting role in 2024. Listed at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, Fang has solid control of a fastball that sits in the 89-91 mph range and will touch 94. He pairs the fastball with an old school, overhand curve in the low 70s as well as a harder slider in the low 80s and a changeup in the upper 70s. -
School: Wallace State (Ala.) JC Drafted/Committed: Purdue
Age At Draft: 125.6
Fernandez is a 6-foot-2, 230-pound righthander who led Wallace State JC with 127 strikeouts in his 2025 sophomore season. He posted a 1.34 ERA over 13 starts and 80.2 innings and has a four-pitch mix that includes a low-90s fastball, a low-80s slider, a curveball in the upper 70s and an occasional changeup. Fernandez is committed to Purdue, but could be a draft target in the 11-20 round range. -
School: TCU Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 22.0
Silva was a heralded high school prospect in 2022 who withdrew from the draft, made it to campus at TCU and had a standout 2023 freshman season that resulted in a run with Team USA’s trials roster. It’s been tough sledding for him since, as he didn’t follow up that 2023 season as a draft-eligible sophomore in 2024 and has continued to struggle with strikeouts and a lack of pop during his junior year in 2025. At his best, Silva has shown impressive power from the right side to go with fluid defensive actions and above-average arm strength at shortstop, but he’s never been able to fully put things together. -
School: Arizona Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.7
Hintz is a sidearming reliever with a 6-foot, 170-pound frame and three years of solid track record with Arizona. He has a lean, slight build and doesn’t have overpowering stuff with a fastball in the 88-91 mph range, but his low slot and solid control have allowed him to find success. In 2025, Hintz used his sweeping, 80-mph slider as his primary offering. The pitch gets a ton of gloveside movement with spin rates around 2,500 rpm. In addition to the fastball and slider, Hintz has a mid-80s changeup that serves as an attack pitch for lefthanded hitters. -
School: Texas A&M Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.2
Jackson is a lean-framed righthander listed at 6-foot-2, 190 pounds who redshirted as a freshman in 2023 and then pitched only briefly for Texas A&M in 2024. He pitched a bit more frequently as a reliever in 2025 and posted a 5.89 ERA over 18.1 innings with a 25% strikeout rate and 12.5% walk rate. While Jackson’s track record and performance is limited, his arm talent is significant. He sits 95-96 mph with a fastball that has exciting spin traits, and will run the pitch up to 98 at peak. In addition to an above-average fastball, Jackson has a slider that is at least average in the mid 80s and flashes better than that with solid tilt and two-plane bite. He’s mostly a fastball/slider righty, but he will break out an upper-70s changeup against lefties. Jackson’s below-average control should limit him to a bullpen role, but he has the pure stuff to find success there. -
School: Northern Kentucky Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 0.0
Echeman is a 6-foot, 190-pound righthander who has been a reliable starter for three seasons with Northern Kentucky, progressively getting better each year. After missing the 2024 season Echeman posted a 3.83 ERA in 51.2 innings in 2025, with a career-best 36.2% strikeout rate and 9.0% walk rate. He throws a fastball in the low 90s that will touch 95-96 and a variety of secondary shapes. His upper-80s cutter is his most consistent, but he’ll also flash a slider in the low 80s, a curveball around 80 and a mid-80s changeup. -
School: McHenry (Ill.) HS Drafted/Committed: Louisville
Age At Draft: 18.7
Shannon is a projection righthander with a wiry 6-foot-4, 185-pound frame who attends the same McHenry High School in Illinois that produced 2020 Dodgers first-rounder Bobby Miller. Shannon has made real progress with his velocity over the last two years, going from a mid-to-upper 90s fastball to a heater that sits in the low 90s, and he has topped out around 95 mph. He has a trio of secondaries, led by a slider and a curveball—with the former better than the latter now—and will also mix in a mid-80s splitter. Like Miller before him, he’s committed to Louisville and has the physical traits to take a huge step forward in the next few years. -
School: Manuel Cruz Maceira Baseball Academy, Comerio, P.R. Drafted/Committed: Houston
Age At Draft: 18.9
Carrero is a 6-foot-2, 165-pound shortstop and one of the top Puerto Rican prospects in the class. He has a quick righthanded swing with a slightly uphill bat path and does a nice job handling fastballs, but he needs more reps against quality secondaries. Carrero is a fringy runner now but could get quicker with more strength. -
School: Kansas Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.1
Moore is a 6-foot-1, 200-pound righthander and draft-eligible sophomore who pitched as a reliever for Kansas in his freshman 2023 season. He moved to a starting role in 2024 and throws above-average strikes with a three-pitch mix that includes a 92-93 mph fastball that touches 96, a high-usage changeup in the mid 80s and a slurvy breaking ball around 80 mph. -
School: Virginia Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 20.9
Teel is a 6-foot, 195-pound outfielder and lefthanded hitter with solid speed and contact ability. He missed the 2023 season at Virginia with an injury, then pitched and hit as a sophomore in 2024 before taking on a leadoff hitter and regular center field job as a junior in 2025. Teel turns in competitive at-bats and doesn’t swing and miss often, but has below-average power. His older brother, Kyle, played for Virginia and was a first round pick by the Red Sox in 2023. -
School: South Carolina Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 22.1
Jerzembeck was a high profile prep arm out of high school in the 2022 class but made it to campus at South Carolina where he showed swing-and-miss stuff and solid control in 2023, but missed the entire 2024 season because of Tommy John surgery. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound righthander has shown a fastball up to 96 mph and an above-average, high-spin breaking ball when healthy. His 2025 season will be key given his missed time. Jerzembeck was a draft-eligible sophomore in 2024. His father, Mike, pitched in for the Yankees in 1998. -
School: Oak Grove HS, Hattiesburg, Miss. Drafted/Committed: Mississippi State
Age At Draft: 18.7
Miller is a lanky, projectable lefthander with a 6-foot-4, 165-pound frame that has tons of room to fill out. Miller pitched in the upper 80s and touched 91 mph during the 2024 summer, but in 2025 he bumped that fastball up to 94 mph at peak and should continue to add more velocity in time. His best pitch presently is a changeup around 80 mph that he turns over tremendously with great fade and tumbling life. It’s a potential plus offering and ahead of his soft and slurvy breaking ball. Miller’s father, Matt, pitched five big league seasons with the Rockies and Indians. -
School: Florida Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 22.6
Coppola took the mound for the first time in two years in 2024 and while he showed flashes of what made him a highly touted prospect in high school, the towering lefthander will return to Florida in 2025 after not getting drafted. He’s a 6-foot-8, 240-pound lefthander who sits in the low 90s and touches 96 with a low-80s short-breaking slider as his go-to secondary. Coppola will also mix in a mid-80s changeup. He’s been limited by back and shoulder injuries in the past and could use a complete, fully healthy 2025 season. -
School: Duke Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.7
Albright is a 6-foot, 200-pound outfielder and one of the rare “bats right, throws left” profiles you don’t see frequently. He had a loud freshman season with Duke in 2023 before scuffling with a strikeout rate north of 30% in his followup sophomore campaign, but he made strides in the right direction in 2025. He has quick hands at the plate and can spray the ball to all fields with a well distributed spray chart of home run pop. -
School: Miami Drafted/Committed: Mariners ’24 (19)
Age At Draft: 22.6
Walters ranked as a BA 500 player in the 2024 class and was drafted by the Mariners in the 19th round but didn’t sign. In his third season for Miami in 2025, Walters began pitching as a starter at times while continuing to fill up the zone at a high clip. Listed at 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, he sits in the 94-98 mph range with a fastball that will touch 98, and he uses a low-80s slider as his primary swing-and-miss offering. He also has a mid-80s changeup but rarely uses it. -
School: Northern Kentucky Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 0.0
Devenport was a full-time reliever as a freshman with Northern Kentucky in 2023. He converted to the outfield as sophomore and has been one of the better offensive players for the team since. He’s a strong righthanded hitter who gets the ball in the air with an uphill bat path, resulting in homers to all fields. He’s shown solid power without a significant amount of swing-and-miss, and he has done a nice job cutting his strikeouts and boosting his walks as a junior. -
School: Southern Miss Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.5
Monistere began his career at Southern Miss as both a pitcher and hitter, but started focusing on hitting only as a sophomore. A 6-foot, 190-pound infielder, outfielder and righthanded hitter, he has compact strength and a quick bat with power that mostly plays to left and left-center. He’s had an up-and-down offensive career at Southern Miss and needs to cut down on his whiffs vs. spin, but he took a big step forward in 2025. -
School: USC Upstate Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 0.0
Phillips is a 6-foot-1, 180-pound righthander who spent two seasons with Spartanburg Methodist before transferring to USC Upstate in 2025. Phillips has pitched as a starter and reliever, but has a two-pitch mix that might work best in the pen including a 92-93 mph fastball that touches 95 and a slider around 80 mph. -
School: Choctaw (Okla.) HS Drafted/Committed: Tennessee
Age At Draft: 19.7
Williams is a hard-nosed, high-energy grinder with a couple of plus tools on his scout card. At 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, he has present physicality and plus raw power that comes from a high-effort swing that features a big leg kick and significant step-in-the-bucket action. He’s a pull-oriented hitter who tends to be a bit of a free swinger, but when he gets a ball he can handle on the inner half, he can drive it with authority. Williams also has a plus throwing arm that will give him a chance to stick at catcher, but he needs to refine his actions and hands. -
School: Penn State Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.6
Molinaro is a 6-foot, 190-pound third baseman and righthanded hitter who has a solid blend of all-fields pop and on-base ability. He’s a strong, broad-shouldered hitter who can drive a fastball but has some swing-and-miss tendencies vs. secondaries. -
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, but he’s a contact savant who rarely misses and likes to swing the bat. 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. -
School: Cincinnati Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.7
Vidourek is a 6-foot-1, 190-pound outfielder and lefthanded hitter with some of the loudest exit velocity data in the country. Vidourek had a few modest seasons as a freshman and sophomore and didn’t hit double-digit home runs, but as a junior in 2025 he hit 14 home runs and slashed .299/.430/.578 as the team’s everyday right fielder. While Vidourek’s power is probably his loudest tool, he’s also a strong runner and has a good throwing arm in the outfield—both tools could grade out as plus. What will hold Vidourek back and create some skepticism in his draft profile is his strikeout rate. He owns a career 27.5% strikeout rate with Cincinnati and has never hit above .300 in a single season. His wood bat track record is relatively light in a handful of games between the Cape Cod League and the Future Collegiate League, but a team could be interested in his tools and upside in the 11-20 round of the draft.
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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Minnesota Twins optioned RHP Travis Adams to St. Paul Saints.
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Toronto Blue Jays optioned RHP Paxton Schultz to Buffalo Bisons.
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Toronto Blue Jays recalled RHP Spencer Turnbull from Buffalo Bisons.
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Toronto Blue Jays activated RHP Spencer Turnbull.
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RHP Mario Jimenez assigned to El Aguila de Veracruz.
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Charros de Jalisco placed LHP Pedro Salazar on the reserve list.
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RHP Luke Albright assigned to Reno Aces from Amarillo Sod Poodles.
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Reno Aces activated RHP Christian Montes De Oca.
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Reno Aces activated SS Connor Kaiser from the 7-day injured list.
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RHP Yoelvis Martinez assigned to DSL Mets Orange.
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RHP Jefferson Encarnacion assigned to DSL Rangers Blue from DSL Rangers Red.
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St. Paul Saints placed 2B Ryan Fitzgerald on the 7-day injured list. Right ankle sprain.
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SS Tom Guerrero assigned to DSL Padres Brown from DSL Padres Gold.
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SS Jose Verdugo assigned to DSL Padres Gold from DSL Padres Brown.
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RHP Maykol Vasquez assigned to DSL Mets Blue from DSL Mets Orange.
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RHP Josue Toledo assigned to DSL Brewers Blue from DSL Brewers Gold.
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Dorados de Chihuahua placed RHP Samuel Alvarado on the reserve list.
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Sultanes de Monterrey activated 2B Roberto Valenzuela from the reserve list.
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LHP Ben Shields assigned to Tampa Tarpons.
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Sultanes de Monterrey placed LHP Denny Roman on the reserve list.
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Acereros del Norte signed free agent RHP Ryley Gilliam.
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Nashville Sounds activated LHP Tyler Jay.
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Sultanes de Monterrey activated 2B Roberto Valenzuela from the reserve list.
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Nashville Sounds transferred RHP Sam McWilliams to the Development List.
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Omaha Storm Chasers activated RHP Thomas Hatch.
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Kansas City Royals sent RHP Lucas Erceg on a rehab assignment to Omaha Storm Chasers.
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Pericos de Puebla placed RHP Cristian Alvarado on the reserve list.
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Rancho Cucamonga Quakes activated SS Nicolas Perez from the 7-day injured list.
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Pericos de Puebla activated RHP Edgar Rodriguez from the reserve list.
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Binghamton Rumble Ponies transferred RHP Jordan Geber to the Development List.
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Modesto Nuts activated C Jose Caguana from the 7-day injured list.
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Wichita Wind Surge sent RHP C.J. Culpepper on a rehab assignment to Fort Myers Mighty Mussels.
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Modesto Nuts transferred 2B Starlin Aguilar to the Development List.
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Charlotte Knights activated RHP Keone Kela.
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Leones de Yucatan placed RHP Logan Ondrusek on the 15-day injured list.
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Leones de Yucatan signed free agent RHP Dario Agrazal.
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Charlotte Knights transferred C Juan Gonzalez to the Development List.
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Corpus Christi Hooks activated 3B Bryce Willits from the 7-day injured list.
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New Hampshire Fisher Cats activated SS Ryan McCarty.
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SS Jackson Nicklaus assigned to Rancho Cucamonga Quakes from Great Lakes Loons.
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Great Lakes Loons activated OF Kyle Nevin from the 7-day injured list.
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Great Lakes Loons activated OF Kyle Nevin from the 7-day injured list.
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New Hampshire Fisher Cats transferred 3B Alex De Jesus to the Development List.
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Olmecas de Tabasco signed free agent RHP Raul Barron.
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SS Shawn Ross assigned to Indianapolis Indians from Altoona Curve.
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Greenville Drive activated LHP Erik Rivera from the 7-day injured list.
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Brooklyn Cyclones transferred C Onix Vega to the Development List.
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Rochester Red Wings sent RHP Andry Lara on a rehab assignment to Wilmington Blue Rocks.
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SS Ryan McCarty assigned to New Hampshire Fisher Cats from Buffalo Bisons.
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Louisville Bats activated LHP Joe La Sorsa.
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Tulsa Drillers activated SS Kendall Simmons from the 60-day injured list.
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Tulsa Drillers placed LHP Christian Suarez on the temporarily inactive list.
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Chicago White Sox transferred LHP Fraser Ellard from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list. Left lat strain.
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New York Yankees optioned 1B CJ Alexander to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
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RHP Zach Plesac assigned to Memphis Redbirds.
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Milwaukee Brewers optioned LF Drew Avans to Nashville Sounds.
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Chicago White Sox signed free agent LHP Tyler Alexander.
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Philadelphia Phillies claimed RHP Ryan Cusick off waivers from Chicago White Sox.
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Philadelphia Phillies optioned RHP Ryan Cusick to FCL Phillies.
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Atlanta Braves activated RHP José Ruiz.
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Atlanta Braves optioned LHP Austin Cox to Gwinnett Stripers.
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Philadelphia Phillies reassigned RHP Ryan Cusick to the minor leagues.
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Philadelphia Phillies designated RHP Kyle Tyler for assignment.
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Minnesota Twins activated LHP Danny Coulombe from the 15-day injured list.
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Tampa Bay Rays optioned RHP Cole Sulser to Durham Bulls.
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Tampa Bay Rays recalled LHP Ian Seymour from Durham Bulls.
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St. Louis Cardinals signed free agent RHP Zach Plesac to a minor league contract.
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St. Louis Cardinals optioned RHP Roddery Muñoz to Memphis Redbirds.
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St. Louis Cardinals recalled RHP Michael McGreevy from Memphis Redbirds.
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DSL NYY Yankees placed RHP Saul Brinez on the 60-day injured list.
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DSL NYY Yankees placed RHP Jose Rosario on the 60-day injured list.
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DSL Mets Blue released RHP Johan Moreno.
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Beloit Sky Carp activated RHP Jorge Mercedes from the 7-day injured list.
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Omaha Storm Chasers activated RHP Jonathan Bowlan.
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Rancho Cucamonga Quakes placed SS Joendry Vargas on the 7-day injured list retroactive to June 7, 2025.
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Indianapolis Indians placed C Abrahan Gutierrez on the 7-day injured list retroactive to June 7, 2025.
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Wilmington Blue Rocks placed OF Elijah Nunez on the 7-day injured list.
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ACL Brewers placed LHP Russell Smith on the full-season injured list.
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RHP Ryan Cusick roster status changed by Chicago White Sox.
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1B LaMonte Wade Jr. roster status changed by San Francisco Giants.
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Fayetteville Woodpeckers placed C Carlos Cauro on the full-season injured list.
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ACL Guardians placed RHP Jacob Remily on the 60-day injured list.
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DSL Athletics placed C Azaeel Pacheco on the 60-day injured list.
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RHP Devin Kirby assigned to FCL Orioles.
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Knoxville Smokies placed RHP Brody McCullough on the full-season injured list.
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Frisco RoughRiders transferred RHP Janser Lara from the 7-day injured list to the 60-day injured list.
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Kannapolis Cannon Ballers placed RHP Jack Young on the 7-day injured list retroactive to June 6, 2025.
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RHP Julian Merryweather assigned to FCL Mets.
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Akron RubberDucks placed RF Justin Boyd on the 60-day injured list.
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Sugar Land Space Cowboys placed OF Quincy Hamilton on the 7-day injured list.
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Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders sent RHP Carson Coleman on a rehab assignment to FCL Yankees.
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RHP Justin Dunn assigned to ACL Royals.
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Birmingham Barons placed OF Jacob Burke on the 7-day injured list.
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Chicago White Sox placed LHP Jared Shuster on the 15-day injured list retroactive to June 5, 2025. Blister on left hand.
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Minnesota Twins placed RHP Zebby Matthews on the 15-day injured list retroactive to June 5, 2025. Right shoulder strain.
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Beloit Sky Carp sent RHP Jorge Mercedes on a rehab assignment to Jupiter Hammerheads.
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RHP Daniel Bard assigned to ACL Mariners.
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DSL Brewers Blue activated OF Gerlyn Payano.
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Reno Aces placed SS Connor Kaiser on the 7-day injured list.
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Nashville Sounds transferred LHP Tyler Jay to the Development List.
