Luis Alexander Basabe Stats & Scouting Report

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Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk:40/High.

Track Record: Morrobel has long been one of the most talented players in the system, but injuries and underperformance have muted his prospect stock. The lefty swinger signed for $1 million in 2021 and performed well in Rookie ball before stalling at the full-season levels. He missed a chunk of the 2023 season after having shoulder surgery. He re-emerged in 2024 and had a down season at High-A Hickory.

Scouting Report: Morrobel does a decent job controlling the zone and hits the ball hard, but he’s going to need to improve against spin. Overall, he missed on just 16.7% pitches in the zone and produced a 90th percentile exit velocity of 104.7 mph. His miss and chase rates were elevated against breaking balls. In prior years, Morrobel had gotten reps in center field. In 2024, his defensive time was limited to the corners. The shoulder surgery turned his formerly elite arm strength down a few notches. It is merely plus now, which is still plenty strong for a future in right field. He added about 20 pounds of strength during his rehab process and has slowed down a touch as a result.

The Future: Morrobel will likely need to return to High-A in 2025 to continue honing his offensive game. If he reaches his ceiling, he could be a second-division regular in a corner outfield spot.

Scouting Grades Hit: 40 | Power: 45 | Run: 40 | Field: 50 | Arm: 60.
BA Grade/Risk: 40/High.

Track Record: The Nationals signed Romero out of Colombia in 2021. The righty started in the Dominican Summer League before making his way stateside for five games in 2022 in the Florida Complex League. Romero sat out the entire 2023 after having elbow surgery in November 2022. Fully recovered, he began the 2024 season back in the FCL before earning a promotion to Fredericksburg. He made seven regular season starts for the FredNats, owning a 5.52 ERA. Romero made one postseason start on the club’s path to a Carolina League championship.

Scouting Report: Romero’s sinker is easily a future plus pitch. It was up to 96 mph with heavy sink rather than armside movement in 2024. Scouts noted that he threw the pitch with ease. He is still very raw in his delivery, but this pitch could be his not-so-secret weapon as a reliever. He also throws an average changeup that sits in the mid 80s. Romero’s slider is a work in progress, but he did throw it 10% of the time. Developing that pitch is his second biggest goal. First on the agenda is adding more strikeouts. Romero had 52 strikeouts in 68.2 innings, including a rate of just 10% at Low-A.

The Future: Romero impressed in 2024 with his sinker. Now, he will need to improve his bat-missing rate as he faces better competition. He should begin 2025 with Low-A Fredericksburg.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 35 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 40.
BA Grade/Risk: 40/High.

Track Record: The Nationals drafted Lord in the 18th round in 2022 and signed him for $125,000. The righty was solid in 2023, splitting his time between the Class A levels. His pitching coach in Low-A Fredericksburg—who turned out to be a distant cousin—helped him make some mechanical adjustments that improved his stuff overall. It really worked because 2024 was a breakout season for Lord. He jumped three levels, reaching Triple-A by the end of June. Lord was awarded the Nationals Way Award, which is given to a player who demonstrates work ethic, leadership and determination.

Scouting Report: Lord relies heavily on his sinker, which sits 93 mph and topped out at 96. The pitch averages 16 inches of horizontal break, making it an especially effective pitch in on the hands of righthanded batters. Lord rarely used his four-seam fastball in 2024 as he grew more comfortable with his changeup and mid-80s slider. Heading into 2025, Lord is working to sharpen and get more depth out of his changeup.

The Future: Expect Lord to make his MLB debut in 2025. He is one of the best pitching development stories to come out of the farm system in a while, which will be a huge win for the organization once he is playing at Nationals Park.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 55.
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Extreme.

Track Record: Vaquero signed with the Nationals for $4.925 million out of Cuba in 2021. He was one of the most touted international free agents the organization had signed. At the time, they noted his talent and maturity were well beyond his 17 years. Vaquero made his U.S. debut in 2023 in the Florida Complex League, where he hit .279/.410/.393. Promoted to Low-A Fredericksburg to end the season, he hit for average but struggled to hit for much power. The 2024 season was a massive struggle for Vaquero. He slashed .190/.291/.303 with 137 strikeouts for Fredericksburg. In the Carolina League championship series, he hurt his right shoulder sliding back into first base on a pickoff attempt.

Scouting Report: The Nationals knew that Vaquero has a reputation for being aggressive at the plate. That continued in 2024 as he owned the fourth-most strikeouts in the farm system. When he did get on base, Vaquero was able to show off his plus run tool by stealing 29 bases in 35 tries. He divided time in the outfield, playing all three spots. He can be perhaps average in center field but has the arm for right.

The Future: Still just 20 years old, Vaquero has time to develop. However, the Nationals have plenty of talent in the outfield. Vaquero will need to prove that he can scale back his strikeouts while adding power. His shoulder injury also could affect his availability early in the 2025 season.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 30 | Power: 40 | Run: 60 | Field: 50 | Arm: 60.
BA Grade/Risk: 40/High.

Track Record: Nunez was considered the best high school defender in the 2019 draft. The Marlins drafted him 46th overall and signed him for an over-slot $2.2 million. Nunez represented the Marlins in the 2023 Futures Game and took home MVP honors for the game. However, he was left off the organization’s 40-man roster and was selected by the Nationals in the 2023 Rule 5 draft. Nunez spent the entire 2024 season on the Nationals’ big league roster, so now Washington controls his rights, including the right to option him to Triple-A in 2025. Nunez totaled just 61 at-bats in 51 MLB games. But for the final two weeks of the season, he served as the Nationals’ starting shortstop because the organization optioned CJ Abrams after he was spotted staying out at a Chicago casino until 8 a.m. on a game day.

Scouting Report: Nunez has a good feel for the strike zone and plus bat-to-ball skills. After the 2024 season, the switch-hitter worked to be shorter to the ball and to maximize his barrel time in the zone. He’s also working to control his head during his swing. Where Nunez shines is at shortstop. He is an outstanding defender and a double-plus runner. In his limited time on base in MLB, he managed to steal eight bases in 10 attempts. He posted nearly elite Statcast sprint speeds of 29.5 feet per second.

The Future: The Nationals have their franchise shortstop in CJ Abrams—assuming the late-season issue is addressed. Nunez doesn’t have the hit tool or power to be a mainstay in a lineup, which is a shame given how strong he is defensively and on the bases.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 30 | Run: 70 | Field: 70 | Arm: 70.
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Extreme.

Track Record: Hernandez was viewed as one of the better hitting catchers in the 2025 international class.

Scouting Report: Hernandez has a solid track record of hitting against quality pitching in workouts. He has a loose and easy lefthanded swing with solid barrel control. His hands generate the bat speed to project to fringe-average power. He’s got the agility and feel for receiving to stick behind the plate, but may need to improve his below-average arm to stay at catcher long-term.

The Future: Hernandez’s bat is promising for a catcher, but he’ll need to prove he can stick behind the plate over the long-term.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 40 | Field: 50 | Arm: 40.
BA Grade/Risk: 40/High.

Track Record: The Mets drafted Stuart out of Southern Mississippi in 2022. Despite working as a reliever in college, he entered the High-A Brooklyn rotation in 2023 and earned a promotion to Double-A Binghamton for his final seven starts of the season. In 2024, he racked up 17 solid starts for Binghamton, owning a 3.96 ERA, before the Mets traded him to Washington for outfielder Jesse Winker. Stuart quickly made a name for himself with the Nationals, earning a Triple-A promotion after just four starts.

Scouting Report: At 6-foot-9, 250 pounds, Stuart is an imposing figure on the mound and moves with surprising grace given his size. His fastball sits 94 mph, but his bread-and-butter pitch is his sweepy slider, which he threw 41% of the time. The righty is developing both a changeup and a cutter as he works toward a rotation role. However, scouts are mixed on whether he can stick as a starter given his command.

The Future: The Nationals are going to continue to work Stuart up to be a starter and believe he could be a solid young option in spot starts in 2025, similar to Mitchell Parker or DJ Herz. Nationals pitching development took a step forward in 2024, and adding a solid third pitch for Stuart would be another win.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 40 | Cutter: 45 | Control: 45.
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme.

Track Record: The Nationals drafted Green fifth overall in 2022 out of high school, with the promise of adding one of the most dynamic prospects in the draft class. Green immediately struggled with swing-and-miss, though he put up crazy exit velocity numbers when he did make contact. He struggled again in 2023, striking out nearly 42% of the time. The Nationals hoped that he would take a step forward in 2024 with Low-A Fredericksburg by showing improved swing decisions. Green did take a step forward on defense, but he led the minor leagues with 206 strikeouts.

Scouting Report: Green’s athleticism speaks for itself. When he makes contact, it is explosive. The issue is that is not a common outcome. He saw his strikeout rate rise to 44% in 2024. Green’s max exit velocity was 116 mph, teasing at what could be. The outfielder showed great development in center field and led the Nationals’ farm system with a career-high eight assists. Green has worked on the mental side of the game and not letting the disappointing start to his pro career get to him, which has really impressed the organization.

The Future: Green remains one of the toughest challenges for the Nationals’ player development team. Time is ticking as he looks to make progress in his pro career.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 30 | Power: 65 | Run: 70 | Field: 55 | Arm: 60.
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme.

Track Record: Morales earned playing time as a freshman at Miami and added pop and a solid arm at third base. Morales played for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team in 2022 and led Team USA in most offensive numbers, rounding out a successful sophomore season. Morales slipped into the second round in 2023, when the Nationals drafted him with the 40th overall pick and signed him for an above-slot $2.6 million. He impressed in 42 games in his pro debut. Morales was looking for a breakout 2024, but a thumb injury he sustained in May limited him to just 75 games. He played six rehab games in Low-A Fredericksburg at the end of July and spent the remainder of the season at Double-A Harrisburg, for whom he slashed .269/.362/.384 with just five home runs.

Scouting Report: Morales is a solid athlete who takes after his father who spent a few seasons in the Yankees and Red Sox farm systems. Morales, also known as “Yoyo,” is known to do damage when he makes contact, though there are swing-and-miss concerns. He still does not look comfortable at first base, committing five errors in 45 total games at first versus 20 starts and two errors at third base, his college position. He is athletic but is just a fringe-average runner.

The Future: If Morales’ power comes back, he could be the answer at first base. The Nationals attribute his lack of power to the lingering thumb injury and say he should tap into his raw power in 2025.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 45 | Field: 45 | Arm: 60.
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Very High.

Track Record: Cranz posted a 1.63 ERA in 30 relief appearances for Oklahoma State in 2024. He held batters to a .139 average and struck out 59 to just 12 walks. The Nationals drafted him in the seventh round in 2024 and quickly got him into game action. He joined Low-A Fredericksburg as the team pushed towards a Carolina League championship. In six innings, he allowed just two hits and struck out seven.

Scouting Report: Cranz has a high-spin, high-carry fastball with very good characteristics. The righty saw a velocity jump in 2024, adding nearly 3 mph on his fastball. It currently sits around 93 mph and topped out at 96 with nearly 21 inches of ride. He pairs that with a mid-80s gyro slider. Cranz is working on developing both a curveball and changeup. His curve is slow but he locates it very well, especially against lefthanded hitters. He only flashed a changeup a few times during his limited action after signing.

The Future: The Nationals believe that Cranz could work toward a starting role, especially if he is able to fully develop his four-pitch mix. They will assess making that change in spring training. Likely a future reliever, Cranz could move very quickly through the system.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 55.
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Very High.

Track Record: It seems like ancient history that the Nationals drafted Rutledge with the 17th pick in the 2019 draft. Since then, the righty has navigated setbacks and comebacks each season. In 2021, he dealt with a shoulder injury that sidelined him for most of the year, returning to post a 7.68 ERA in 36.1 innings. He had a breakout 2022 campaign coupled with a good 2023, culminating in his MLB debut on Sept. 13, 2023. Rutledge began the 2024 season at Triple-A, with many expecting that he would be the first man up if the Nationals needed an arm. However, other pitching prospects heard their name called. Rutledge made three appearances for Washington, pitching to a 3.24 ERA in 8.1 innings. For Triple-A Rochester, Rutledge started 27 games and pitched a career high 122.1 innings.

Scouting Report: Rutledge looks the part of an imposing starter at 6-foot-8, 250 pounds. His four-seam and two-seam fastballs sit in the mid 90s and touch 97 mph. His slider is his go-to secondary, while his cutter sits around 88 mph. He rounds out his repertoire with an average curveball and changeup, both pitches accounting for 14% of his pitches thrown in 2024. Rutledge struggles to keep his command deep into games, making a move to the bullpen likely.

The Future: Rutledge has yet to establish himself in Washington and looks headed for the bullpen as other arms develop faster in the farm system.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 45.
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Very High.

Track Record: Despite earning the Cape Cod League’s reliever of the year award, Brzykcy went undrafted in the abridged 2020 draft and signed with the Nationals for $20,000. His 2022 campaign put him on the prospect map and saw him jump three levels. He was well on his way to earning a spot in the Nationals’ bullpen in 2023 until he injured his forearm in spring training and had Tommy John surgery. The organization added Brzykcy to the 40-man roster after that season anyway. He returned in 2024 and spent July and the first half of August with Double-A Harrisburg before moving up to Triple-A. Brzykcy made his MLB debut on Sept. 1 and made six outings for Washington.

Scouting Report: Brzykcy’s fastball continues to get hitters out, despite seeing a slight decrease in velocity. It now sits 94-95 mph. As he continues to work his velocity back up closer to the explosive 98 mph he was throwing, Brzykcy isn’t afraid to use his secondaries—an above-average curveball and split-changeup. Brzykcy showed he was able to shake off a disastrous MLB debut and settle in at the highest level.

The Future: While the Nationals work to figure out their rotation and move some prospects to a reliever track, one thing is certain: Brzykcy will be a staple in Washington’s bullpen, likely beginning in 2025.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 65 | Curveball: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 45.
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme.

Track Record: The Nationals signed Cortesia for $1.92 million, the largest bonus of the organization’s 2025 class. The shortstop stood out early in the scouting process as a top athlete with good hands.

Scouting Report: Cortesia has grown around four inches since teams began scouting him early. He’s now 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, with newfound size and strength helping his tools tick up with projection for more still to come. Cortesia always showed a short, quick swing from the right side to maneuver the barrel throughout the zone and spray line drives around the field. He’s a plus runner with an above-average arm, which is a good sign for his future in the infield.

The Future: Cortesia has a good shot at remaining at shortstop long term. He should see a boost in power as he still has room left to fill out after his growth spurt.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 60 | Field: 50 | Arm: 55.
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.

Track Record: Slow and steady seems to be Lara’s development path. He was the top player in the Nationals’ 2019 international class but struggled at instructional league. His 2021 debut was much more promising. He ended the season making two starts for Low-A Fredericksburg. He returned to Low-A in 2022, where he remained for the entire season and was the youngest player on the roster. He moved to High-A for the entirety of 2023, working to develop a third pitch and adding strength to his young frame. Lara started out strong with High-A Wilmington in 2024, owning a 2.35 ERA in six starts. He was quickly promoted to Double-A and finished the season with 19 starts for Harrisburg. Lara tossed a career-high 134.2 innings.

Scouting Report: In his age-21 season, Lara added needed muscle to his 6-foot-5 frame and proved he could pitch deeper into games. His fastball velocity—which used to sit in the mid 90s—sat 93 mph and maxed out at 96. Lara’s slider took a massive step forward and was noted as one of the best in the farm system. He is working to develop his changeup, as he has the past two offseasons. The upper-80s change is still a touch below-average and needs a bit more development before it is a true third pitch.

The Future: The Nationals showed their faith in Lara by adding him to the 40-man roster after the 2024 season. He needs to develop a third pitch to stay on a starter route, but a move to the bullpen is likely.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50.
BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium.

Track Record: The Nationals acquired Millas from the Athletics in the 2021 trade that sent Yan Gomes and Josh Harrison to Oakland. He was solid during the 2022 season, but broke out during his stint in the Arizona Fall League. Millas started the following year with Double-A Harrisburg but earned a Triple-A promotion quickly. He made his MLB debut on Aug. 28, 2023. His second stint with the big league team came in April 2024. He was supposed to be available as a third catcher but ended up starting when Keibert Ruiz went down with a stomach bug. Millas would travel back and forth between Washington and Triple-A Rochester two more times in 2024 before his final callup in August.

Scouting Report: Millas continues to show strong bat-to-ball skills. However, he had limited reps during his time with Washington in 2024. His offense is limited by his well below-average power. Behind the dish is where he shines. He is very athletic and has excellent game-calling abilities—especially with the young pitchers the Nationals added from Triple-A this season.

The Future: The Nationals need to address their MLB backup catching situation. Ruiz, Riley Adams and Millas will be on the roster, but with other talent coming up the pipeline, the team could opt for someone who adds more pop to their lineup.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 30 | Run: 50 | Field: 50 | Arm: 60.
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.

Track Record: After Pinckney posted a career year with Alabama in 2023, the Nationals drafted him in the fourth round and signed him to a below-slot bonus. He adjusted well in his first stint as a pro, splitting time between Class A affiliates before finishing out the season with Double-A Harrisburg. Pinckney started the 2024 campaign at Double-A and slashed .259/.328/.366 in 114 games. The Nationals promoted him to Triple-A Rochester in late August and he produced at a similar rate. Pinckney again struggled with strikeouts in 2024, racking up 167 of them, which were second-most in the Nationals’ farm system behind only Elijah Green.

Scouting Report: The Nationals drafted Pinckney hoping that his above-average bat speed would overshadow the swing-and-miss concerns. However, the experienced college bat they were hoping for continued to struggle, as his 25.2% in-zone miss percentage suggests. When he does make contact, Pinckney tends to put the ball on the ground. He is a phenomenal athlete—tabbed as one of the best in the Nationals’ system by scouts—but he will need to work on pitch recognition if he wants to make it to Washington. He is a plus runner and stole 27 bases, though he was caught stealing 10 times as well.

The Future: Pinckney has proven that he is capable of moving quickly through the minors. However, he will need to show an adjustment at the plate to make the jump to Washington. The Nats have other options in the outfield, so his bat will need to improve quickly to prove he is the right choice.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 50 | Run: 60 | Field: 55 | Arm: 60.
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.

Track Record: Bazzell transferred from Dallas Baptist to Texas Tech after his first semester, forcing him to sit out the 2022 season due to transfer rules. In 2023 and 2024, he impressed scouts with his advanced offensive approach. The Nationals drafted him in the third round in 2024 and signed him for slot value of $980,300. He joined Low-A Fredericksburg in time for its run to the Carolina League championship.

Scouting Report: In the batter’s box, Bazzell has a simple setup with a small load and slight, subtle hand press as he works to launch position. His impressive bat-to-ball skills drive his offensive profile. Bazzell doesn’t project to add a ton of pop, so he will likely be more of a hit-over-power player. He is a solid athlete and really impressed the Nationals with his catching abilities in his short stint in 2024. He caught a postseason game thrown by top pitching prospect Travis Sykora and was able to call pitches with impressive confidence. Bazzell will need to improve his receiving setup behind the dish, but he showed that he has a real chance to stick at this position.

The Future: Bazzell projects to have a higher hit grade than his power grade, which is unusual for a catcher. His long-term outlook is as a catcher who is right in between a fine starter or a backup.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 40 | Run: 45 | Field: 45 | Arm: 55.
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme.

Track Record: Feliz was one of the headliners the Nationals added at the start of the 2024 international signing period, agreeing to a $1.7 million deal. After adjusting at the team’s academy in the Dominican Republic, he played in the Dominican Summer League. Across 49 games, the shortstop owned an impressive slash line of .310/.381/.468. He earned a spot at the DSL All-Star Game.

Scouting Report: At 6-foot-3, Feliz has an already large frame for a 18-year-old with considerable strength projected as he gets older. He has a good offensive approach and is able to hit and adjust in-game, though there is a bit of length to his swing that the organization is looking to tighten up. Feliz hit just four home runs in the DSL in 2024, though he did post a 90th percentile exit velocity of roughly 101 mph and a max north of 106 mph. Those are promising signs for his power projection. While he played shortstop for nearly every start in the DSL this season, Feliz’s defense warrants a possible move to third base. He has a strong arm, which would help him make the move in the future.

The Future: Feliz showed that he was able to adjust to pro ball and can handle higher level competition in 2025.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Field: 45 | Arm: 50.
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.

Track Record: The similarities between Bennett and fellow Nationals prospect Cade Cavalli are numerous. Both are Tulsa natives who went on to pitch for Oklahoma. Both were drafted by the Nationals—Cavalli in the first round in 2020 and Bennett in the second round in 2022. As they both progressed through the farm system, it seemed like the two would follow each other all the way to Nationals Park. Cavalli had Tommy John surgery early in 2023 and spent most of 2024 rehabbing. Bennett was shut down in August 2023 and had TJ in mid September. He missed the entire 2024 season and was expected to be ready for 2025 spring training.

Scouting Report: Bennett is known for having the best control in the Nationals’ farm system and one of the best changeups. During the 2023 season, he relied heavily on his low-90s two-seam fastball, though he became more comfortable throwing his secondaries throughout the season. His go-to secondary is a plus changeup that was effective against both righties and lefties. He rounds out his repertoire with an average slider that will need continued development. Towards the end of his 2023 campaign, Bennett was having trouble holding his velocity as he pitched deeper into games. The organization believes that problem will be completely eradicated by his Tommy John surgery—and he may even see a boost in velocity.

The Future: Bennett should get back on the mound in spring training. He showed tremendous promise before the surgery, so the organization is hoping he gets right back on track.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 55.
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme.

Track Record: Hassell was one of the top ranked prospects shipped to the Nationals in the blockbuster Juan Soto trade in August 2022. Many expected he would be one of the first of the bunch to reach Washington. However, injury and a lack of offensive protection halted Hassell’s development once again in 2024. He started the season at Double-A Harrisburg and got off to a hot start. It seemed as though he was finding his groove as he hit for average, but then he went on the injured list in mid June with a right hand injury. He returned to game action on Aug. 20 and earned a promotion to Triple-A in September. He returned to the Arizona Fall League and found his stride yet again after playing in the league in 2022 and 2023 as well.

Scouting Report: When healthy, Hassell continues to live up to his reputation from the 2020 draft as the top pure hitter among preps that year. During the AFL in 2024, he tweaked his swing by slightly changing his stride direction. This allowed him to hit the ball with more authority. In a 22-game sample, he hit .281/.360/.517 with four home runs. In a best-case scenario, Hassell could be an average hitter with below-average power. His above-average arm combined with above-average speed gives him the ability to play any outfield position.

The Future: The Nationals hope the third time was the charm for Hassell in the Arizona Fall League. He needs to prove that he can stay healthy and produce at the plate. Now, he is a member of the 40-man roster and could get an MLB look in 2025 if he hits at Triple-A Rochester.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 55 | Field: 55 | Arm: 55.
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: Wallace is one of the few pro players who can say he got to play with his brother. His older brother Paxton was his teammate with the Royals’ High-A Quad Cities affiliate for much of the 2023 season before Cayden was promoted to Double-A Northwest Arkansas in August. The 2024 season was a frustrating one for Cayden. An oblique injury sent him to the injured list in May. He was working back to full strength on a rehab assignment in the Arizona Complex League when the Royals traded him to the Nationals for reliever Hunter Harvey. After a tune-up at High-A Wilmington, Wallace finished the season at Double-A Harrisburg.

Scouting Report: Wallace has a simple, smooth, righthanded swing and quick hands that are set just outside of his torso and allow him to adeptly control the barrel. His swing and skill set are geared to hitting for average more than power. He has a line-drive swing suited for finding the gaps, which will yield more doubles than home runs. Defensively, Wallace is an above-average third baseman. He has a plus arm with solid accuracy, even if his throwing motion is often a lengthy one. He is an average runner but has solid baserunning instincts that could lead to more steals. He swiped 18 bases in 130 games in the Royals’ system in 2023.

The Future: Wallace joined the Nationals’ contingent in the Arizona Fall League to make up for at-bats he missed during 2024. He should head to Triple-A Rochester to start 2025. With a strong start, he could end up in D.C. before long. He projects as an everyday third baseman and could provide the Nationals an answer at the position by mid 2025, though Brady House and Trey Lipscomb will also be making their case.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Field: 55 | Arm: 60.
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme.

Track Record: Dickerson was a two-sport athlete at Krolls High in New Jersey, helping his school win the state championship in hockey before impressing scouts on the diamond. He quickly became a huge up-arrow prospect for the 2024 draft. The shortstop saw increased power to match his athleticism. That was all the Nationals needed to see to draft Dickerson in the second round and sign him for $3.8 million, which was nearly double the slot value for the 44th pick and the highest figure of the bonus pool era for a player drafted after the supplemental first round.

Scouting Report: The verdict is still out on whether Dickerson will be more power-over-hit or hit-over-power. Though no one is questioning his athletic abilities and his plus run tool. He has a quick and easy righthanded swing that is easy to replicate. Dickerson has also impressed scouts with his ability to adjust during at-bats. He should continue to tap into his power at the plate and add on to the developments shown in the spring of 2024. His fringe arm could move him off of shortstop in the future, though the organization is confident Dickerson can stay up the middle with reps and development.

The Future: Dickerson will make his pro debut in 2025. He will likely make the switch to second base or center field in the future, but the Nationals will give him time to develop at shortstop with plenty of reps at Low-A Fredericksburg.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 60 | Field: 50 | Arm: 45.
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: The Nationals drafted Lile in the second round out of high school in 2021 and signed him for an over-slot $1.75 million bonus. After a weak pro debut, he missed the entire 2022 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. His first healthy season in 2023 was a huge success. He slashed .291/.381/.510 at Low-A Fredericksburg and earned a promotion to High-A Wilmington in July. He began the 2024 season with Wilmington and posted similar numbers to his breakout 2023 campaign. He earned a promotion to Double-A in June and finished the season in Harrisburg.

Scouting Report: The lefthanded-hitting Lile trails only Dylan Crews as the best hitter in the Nationals’ system. He is able to make adjustments pitch-to-pitch and doesn’t let at-bats get away from him. He has started to hit for more power as he’s developed and begun adding muscle to his 5-foot-11, 195-pound frame. Lile hit 10 home runs in each of the past two seasons and is more of a hit-over-power player. He has struggled to hit sweepers and cutters, another improvement he will need to make to his game. Lile is a dynamic athlete, but it is more of a raw trait than anything that makes him a “toolsy” player. He has seen most of his time in left field in pro ball, and Nationals evaluators say he is an 80-grade worker. Washington’s player development staff also praises his competitive drive and maturity.

The Future: If Lile can stay healthy, he could make a great addition to a clubhouse. He has the ceiling of an everyday outfielder who relies on his bat-to-ball skills to make an impact, though he may have to fight for regular at-bats in Washington’s crowded outfield. While the Nationals may want players like him in Washington, they have a lot of depth at the position already.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Field: 50 | Arm: 45.
BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme.

Track Record: The Nationals have not seen much of their 2020 first-round pick. Cavalli made his pro debut in 2021 and dazzled, leading the minor leagues in strikeouts. The Oklahoma alum worked quickly through the minor leagues, spending the 2022 season at Triple-A before making his MLB debut on Aug. 26. After one outing, he was shut down with right shoulder inflammation. Cavalli was a strong candidate to earn a spot on the Nationals’ 2023 Opening Day roster before injuries plagued him once again. He left his third spring training start and was diagnosed with a Grade 3 sprain of his ulnar collateral ligament. He had Tommy John surgery and missed the entire 2023 season. Expected to return in June 2024, which would have been 15 months after the surgery, Cavalli struggled with setbacks. Following a rehab start in June, he missed time with the flu and began experiencing dead arm.

Scouting Report: When healthy, Cavalli has one of the top fastballs in the Nationals’ organization. The pitch was touching triple-digits prior to surgery but sat closer to 96 mph in his brief work in 2024. Cavalli’s mid-80s curveball is a plus to near plus-plus pitch as well. His changeup and slider are works in progress, with the latter being closer to MLB ready. Cavalli has shown average control when healthy.

The Future: Cavalli looked like one of the best pitching prospects in baseball in 2022, but he’s missed nearly all of two seasons since. Staying healthy has been his biggest challenge. Cavalli threw his first bullpen session in early September and began an offseason throwing program. He will fight for a spot in the Nationals’ rotation in spring training. If his control wavers or his repertoire is too limited to start, Cavalli could fit as a power reliever.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 65 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 50.
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: After a standout high school career in Hawaii, Lomavita made an immediate impact at California as a DH and backup catcher in 2022. He took over as the team’s catcher in 2023, but it was his bat that continued to impress, both with the Bears and in two summers in the Cape Cod League, where he hit .323 with four home runs in 49 games. The Nationals made him the third catcher taken off the board in the 2024 draft, taking him 39th overall in the supplemental first round. Lomavita signed for a bonus of $2,325,000, then helped Low-A Fredericksburg to the Carolina League title after a late-season debut.

Scouting Report: A pitcher, outfielder and catcher in high school, Lomavita embraced the move to catching full-time in college. He’s more athletic than most catchers, and for now is an above-average runner who is a basestealing threat. At the plate, Lomavita’s contact skills and athleticism speak for themselves. He loves to swing the bat, which leads him to chase pitches. Lomavita has a huge personality, which has helped in his catching role. He controls a game with authority and makes pitchers feel more at ease during big moments. He does not look out of place behind the dish despite being relatively new to the position. Lomavita’s arm strength is above-average, and he has strong hands, both of which are qualities that should make him an asset behind the plate.

The Future: Lomavita has plenty of development ahead of him, but scouts praise his work ethic and willingness to put in the work to improve. His bat-to-ball skills, leadership skills and athleticism give him a chance to be a well-rounded catcher. An opening assignment with High-A Wilmington is most likely in 2025.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Field: 55 | Arm: 55.
BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme.

Track Record: After winning Rhode Island Gatorade player of the year, Clemmey went to the Guardians in the second round—58th overall—of the 2023 draft. Cleveland swayed Clemmey from a Vanderbilt commitment by signing him to a well over-slot $2.3 million bonus. He made his pro debut in 2024 with Low-A Lynchburg, pitching to a 4.67 ERA in 19 starts and striking out 97 in 69.1 innings. At the trade deadline, Cleveland sent Clemmey to the Nationals as part of the package used to acquire outfielder Lane Thomas. He made six regular-season starts for the Nationals’ Low-A affiliate, ending his season with two postseason outings for the Carolina League champions.

Scouting Report: At 6-foot-6, 205 pounds, Clemmey has the type of projection that is easy to dream on. His fastball sits in the mid 90s with late life through the zone. He touched 98 mph in 2024 and could flirt with triple-digits as he adds strength. Clemmey’s windup is a bit untraditional, sometimes looking like it lacks rhythm. As he develops and adds strength, his movements should become more controlled and fluid. His curveball generates some swings and misses and has plus potential. The Nationals want to develop Clemmey’s changeup, which, as is often the case with high school draftees, is his least polished pitch.

The Future: Clemmey was one of the youngest players in the 2023 draft and shows his age with the rawness in his game. The tools are there, but expect Washington to move slowly with Clemmey. Though his development is a year behind Travis Sykora’s, the Nationals believe he could have the same type of breakout season once he matures and improves his control.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 70 | Curveball: 60 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 40.
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High.

Track Record: King put together two incredible seasons with Division II Wingate (N.C.), including logging a 47-game hitting streak over the 2022-23 seasons. After impressing with USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team, he transferred to Wake Forest for the 2024 season. He played center field, shortstop, third base and some second base for the Demon Deacons. In 2024, King joined teammates Chase Burns and Nick Kurtz as top 10 selections in the draft, going 10th overall to the Nationals for a slightly under-slot bonus of $5.15 million. He had a solid debut, helping Low-A Fredericksburg to the Carolina League championship.

Scouting Report: King’s pure bat speed and ability to maneuver the barrel to all areas of the zone allowed him to put up excellent 90th percentile exit velocity numbers in college. He has a free-swinging approach and quick hands. He came into pro ball with a tendency to be aggressive and get himself into bad counts, but he worked to be more patient in his approach during his short time with Fredericksburg. King is a plus-plus runner. He profiles well at shortstop, which is where he will likely take the most of his reps as he continues to develop. His body type is a bit boxy, so maintaining weight and adding lean muscle will be imperative for him to maintain his plus athleticism. Scouts who saw him in limited looks during his time in Fredericksburg noted that he looked tired. It will be important to see if the offseason will help reset his body to the athlete the organization expects.

The Future: Defensive versatility figures to help King get to Washington quickly. His athleticism and bat speed should make him a mainstay in the Nationals’ lineup, where his double-plus speed should mesh with Washington’s aggressive basestealing game plan.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 70 | Field: 50 | Arm: 50.
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High.

Track Record: The Nationals pried Sykora away from a Texas commitment after signing him for $2.6 million as a third-rounder in 2023. That figure was more than double the slot value at No. 71 overall, but Washington believed it was getting a great value. Sykora affirmed that assessment with a dominant 2024 season. Sykora allowed zero or one hit in eight of his 20 starts for Low-A Fredericksburg. He finished with a 2.33 ERA and 129 strikeouts, which led all Low-A pitchers, over 85 innings.

Scouting Report: Sykora’s 94-96 mph fastball will touch 99. It has just average shape but it’s effective because of his above-average extension. He pitches from a more upright delivery with a high leg kick. Sykora works with three pitches: a four-seam fastball, slider and split-changeup. His slider sits in the low-to-mid 80s, and topped out at 87 mph, hinting that he could add power to the pitch. His splitter has a swinging-strike rate of just over 28%, proving to be an effective tool to collect swings and misses outside the zone. Sykora’s control took a big step forward in 2024, and was especially impressive in the second half of the season, when he walked eight batters in his final eight starts. It will need to continue to improve further as he faces higher-level bats. His fastball showed the kind of deception and velocity required to get hitters out in 2024, but it was in the strike zone less than 50% of the time, which is a function of him working regularly above the top of the zone.

The Future: Sykora proved he can pitch in meaningful games. He stuck out nine batters while allowing one hit and zero runs in a pair of Carolina League playoff starts. The 2025 season will allow Sykora to test his stuff against higher-level hitters and prove that any lingering control issues have been quashed.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 65 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50.
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High.

Track Record: The Padres signed Susana out of the Dominican Republic in January 2022 and then traded him to the Nationals as one of the key pieces in the Juan Soto blockbuster seven months later. For a couple of years, Susana’s results seemed to lag behind his exceptional stuff. He struggled in 2023, and had a nearly 9.00 ERA eight starts into his 2024 return to Low-A Fredericksburg. In late May, Susana adopted a more aggressive, attacking approach. From then until the end of the year, he had the best strikeout rate—14.2 per nine innings—of any minor league starter and was just as dominant after a promotion to High-A Wilmington.

Scouting Report: Susana is one of the hardest-throwing pitchers in the game. He touches 103 mph and sits at 99-100 with his fastball. He throws both a two- and four-seam fastball, showing swing-and-miss abilities with both shapes. However, it is his slider that has taken the biggest step forward this season. Susana threw his cut-slider nearly the same number of times as his fastball, generating swinging strikes 24% of the time. The 88-90 mph pitch pairs very well with his fastballs, which hitters have to gear up to time. He gets hitters to chase the slider more than 35% of the time, making it his most effective pitch. Susana also throws a low-90s changeup, though it is still behind his slider and fastball development-wise. While Susana is showing the traits of a midrotation starter, there are still some control issues that need to be corrected for that kind of rotation ceiling to be realized.

The Future: As a member of the triple-digit club with a dominating slider, Susana faces questions about whether he’ll end up as a power reliever or starter. His dramatic turnaround in 2024 gives him a better chance to remain a starter.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 70 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45.
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High.

Track Record: The Nationals drafted House 11th overall in 2021 and signed him for an over-slot $5 million. Featuring double-plus raw power, he was viewed as one of the top shortstop prospects in the class. After an impressive 2021 debut, his power seemed to evaporate in 2022, which eventually was explained by the back injury that sidelined him in June of that year. He reached Double-A Harrisburg in 2023, the season he moved from shortstop to third base. He played in just 88 games that season on a tightly managed workload. Healthy in 2024, House began the year at Double-A Harrisburg and earned a promotion to Triple-A Rochester in July. He hit for only modest power in 2024, connecting on 19 home runs, just six of which came at Triple-A.

Scouting Report: House has easy plus raw power, and his 6-foot-4, 215-pound frame looks every bit of the part of a slugger. While he makes a lot of hard contact, he has continued to struggle hitting velocity. This has become more evident as he’s moved through the minor leagues. He swings at a lot of pitches, chasing out-of-zone offerings nearly 10% more than average. While the impact questions are starting to subside, he will need to prove he can hit top-flight pitching. Defensively, House improved at third base in 2024. His plus arm profiles well there, and he could potentially be a permanent solution to the string of players who have been filling the gap left by Anthony Rendon’s departure following the 2019 season.

The Future: With the Nationals still trying to find a solid answer at third base, House has a real opportunity to make the big league team in 2025, potentially out of camp. If he can adjust to higher-level pitching, his raw power could give a young Nationals lineup some extra pop.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 60 | Run: 50 | Field: 55 | Arm: 60.
BA Grade/Risk: 60/Medium.

Track Record: In his first year at LSU in 2021, Crews set a program freshman record with 18 home runs. As a sophomore, he was Southeastern Conference player of the year. Crews repeated as POY as a junior, hitting .426/.567/.713 with 18 homers in 2023 and playing an integral role in the Tigers’ national championship. Crews and LSU teammate Paul Skenes made draft history as the first pair of teammates selected with the top two picks of the draft. As the second overall pick, Crews signed for $9 million, which was the second-highest bonus in draft history at the time. Crews reached Double-A Harrisburg in his first pro summer after being drafted. He began 2024 at the same level and earned a promotion to Triple-A Rochester after hitting .274/.343/.446 in 51 games. He boasted similar numbers in 49 games at Triple-A and earned his MLB callup on Aug. 26. After going hitless in his debut, Crews recorded hits in his next four games, including hitting two homers in that span. He struggled offensively to end the season, slashing just .218/.288/.353 while flashing a plus arm in right field.

Scouting Report: At 5-foot-11, 203 pounds, Crews is not an imposing figure. Rather, his top prospect status derives from his ability to get on base and his well-roundedness. So far in his young career, Crews has been streaky at the plate. When he’s hot, he is elevating balls and attacking pitchers. When he’s off, he tends to be more aggressive and show an elevated rate of in-zone miss. He has continued to show great plate discipline, and until his struggles in the majors, he had rarely chased outside of the strike zone. At each level, Crews has found his footing at the plate, and despite his early struggles, life in the majors figures to eventually be no different. In his first exposure to MLB pitchers, he struggled against sliders. He chased them out of the zone, with a miss rate of 42%. He didn’t get a hit against a slider in the majors, and only once in 82 pitches did he hit the ball out of the infield. In the outfield, Crews is a solid defender who makes plays look easy. He played a majority of center field in the minors but moved to right field after his callup to Washington. As long as Jacob Young is in center, Crews fits best in right field, where his range and plus arms are assets.

The Future: Crews finished the season in Washington playing alongside rookies James Wood and Jacob Young in the outfield, which gives the organization a taste of what the future core of the team could look like. Crews has all-star upside and should be a mainstay in the Nationals’ lineup for years to come. The 2024 season ended with Crews just a handful of at-bats away from officially graduating from prospect status.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 60 | Run: 70 | Field: 55 | Arm: 60.
BA Grade/Risk: 40/High.

Track Record: Signed by the Red Sox out of the Dominican Republic in 2018, Paulino moved steadily throughout the minors over his first six seasons. He began his season with the Red Sox Double-A affiliate in Portland by hitting .263/.349/.391 over 69 games. He was traded to the Blue Jays for Danny Jansen on July 27. Paulino missed time due to injury but returned to action with Double-A New Hampshire at the end of the season. Paulino participated in the Arizona Fall League following the regular year.

Scouting Report: A well-rounded player with quick hands and the ability to adjust to spin, Paulino’ has a simple lefthanded swing with few moving parts which allows him to make consistent contact. Some of his bat-to-ball skills dissipated in 2024 as he chased improved bat speed. Paulino maintained strong swing decisions and showed the ability to put the ball in the air at a higher rate than at any point in his career. Still, Paulino lacks physicality and has below-average game power. He’s a fringe-average runner who lacks range in the field but has good actions at second and third base.

The Future: Paulino fits as a multi-positional infield utility player who doesn’t give away at-bats and can fill in at second base, third base, shortstop and the outfield.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 45 | Field: 50 | Arm: 50.
BA Grade/Risk: 40/High.

Track Record: Santos signed for $150,000 in 2019 out of Venezuela and made his professional debut two years later in 2021. Santos impressed in 2022 and in the first half of 2023 but an elbow strain kept him off the mound for 11 months. He returned in mid June of 2024 and after a three-week rehab joined Double-A New Hampshire.

Scouting Report: Santos is an undersized righthander with a low three-quarters arm slot and inverted-W style mechanics. Santos slings the ball in a near sidearm fashion with a way of wrapping rotationally around his pitches for a true crossfire finish. This enhances his pitches, which are a four-seam fastball, slider and changeup. Santos’ four-seamer fastball sits 92-93 mph with below-average ride and heavy armside run. The pitch generates whiffs above its velocity due to his tricky angle. His low-80s sweeper slider averaged around 11-13 inches of horizontal break with a unique approach angle. Santos misses lots of bats with his low-80s changeup when he lands it, but command of the pitch is spotty. Santos has below-average command in large part due to the amount of break on his pitches

The Future: Santos has endured durability issues but has the unique angle on his pitches to be a deceptive reliever who dominates righthanded hitters.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 40.
BA Grade/Risk: 40/High.

Track Record: Brock spent four years at Ohio State and did two tours of duty in the Cape Cod League. He received some scouting buzz for his high-octane stuff and ability to touch triple-digits with his fastball. Brock was taken by the Blue Jays in the sixth round of the 2022 draft and signed for a bonus of $72,500. After being limited to just 11 appearances in 2024 due to an elbow injury, Brock made up time after the season in the Arizona Fall League.

Scouting Report: Brock is a pure relief prospect with a high-powered two-pitch mix that’s designed to blow away opposing batters. Brock sits 95-97 mph on his four-seam fastball with plus ride and heavy cut. While Brock’s fastball lights up the radar gun, his upper-80s cut-slider does all the heavy lifting. It’s Brock’s most frequently thrown pitch and it generates swings and misses in bunches. In 2024, Brock’s slider had a 28% swinging strike rate against all competition. Brock fits the mold of a late-inning fire-breathing dragon with plus velocity and a swing and miss secondary.

The Future: Brock’s elbow injury did lead to offseason Tommy John surgery which will delay his arrival. When healthy he projects as a bullpen arm.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Control: 45.
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme.

Track Record: The Blue Jays signed the Dominican shortstop for $997,500 in January 2025. It was the second highest bonus of the team’s international class.

Scouting Report: Sanchez is 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, a body type that would typically point toward a move off of shortstop, but Sanchez is surprisingly light on his feet for his size. He’s an above-average runner with quick actions and an above-average arm that fits at either spot of the left side of the infield. Sanchez has the physicality and strength potential to develop above-average power and already drives the ball well now from the right side of the plate in a power-over-hit approach.

The Future: Sanchez should debut in the Dominican Summer league in 2025 alongside fellow IFA signee Cristopher Polanco giving the Blue Jays a pair of higher upside prospects to watch.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Field: 55 | Arm: 55.
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme.

Track Record: The Blue Jays selected Barriera with the 23rd overall pick and signed him for $3.6 million. He made his pro debut in May of 2023 after dealing with a shoulder injury in spring training. He made four starts before hitting the injured list with an elbow sprain. Barriera returned in July but after three starts went down with biceps soreness. The previous season’s injuries were a foreshadowing of what was to come as Barriera tore his UCL in his first start of 2024 and had hybrid Tommy John Surgery.

Scouting Report: A highly touted prep player, Barriera has struggled with health and conditioning as a professional. He started his pro career significantly overweight, and dealt with subsequent injuries. He slimmed down entering 2024 but it was too little too late as the wear and tear of the previous two years saw him break down. Barriera has shown glimpses of a plus slider that dominated amateur competition by sitting 82-84 mph with heavy sweep and feel to manipulate its shape. His fastball is a low-to-mid-90s cut four-seamer which, depending on the day, can sit 92-94 mph or 93-96 mph. He’ll show a curveball in the high-70s with two-plane break and a mid-to-high-80s changeup with parachuting drop.

The Future: Barriera will likely miss most, if not all, of 2025 and it’s uncertain what he will look like upon returning.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 40 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 45.
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.

Track Record: A three-year starter at Iowa, the Blue Jays selected Williams in the seventh round of the 2022 draft. He signed for $197,500 and debuted in Low-A. He spent a majority of the 2024 season with High-A Vancouver, playing in 77 games and hitting .289/.362/.476 with 11 home runs. After the season Williams played in the Arizona Fall League with Scottsdale.

Scouting Report: Williams is a large-bodied slugger with the build of an offensive lineman. He uses his strength to club long, loud drives all over the ballpark and does so without selling out for power or pullside juice. Williams has average bat-to-ball skills with excellent swing decisions. He has double-plus raw power but plus game power he gets to with ease. Williams’ exit velocity data is outstanding, with a 113.6 mph max EV during the 2024 season and a 46% hard-hit rate. Williams’ game is rooted in his ability to get to his power while limiting his swings and misses. He’s a bottom of the scale runner and is limited to first base defensively. There’s heavy pressure on Williams to hit.

The Future: Williams is lefthanded-hitting first base prospect with a solid balance of skills but limited fallback options if he doesn’t hit.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 60 | Run: 20 | Field: 40 | Arm: 45.
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.

Track Record: Keys popped in his sophomore season at Bucknell and then upped the ante in his junior season by hitting .405/.535/.798 with 13 home runs. He was named Patriot League player of the year and the Blue Jays selected Keys in the fourth round of the 2024 draft. He signed for a bonus of $569,700 and debuted following the draft with Low-A Dunedin. Over 22 games with Dunedin, Keys hit .293/.378/.451 with eight extra-base hits.

Scouting Report: Keys is a physical lefthanded hitter with average present power, above-average plate skills and the ability to backspin the ball to all parts of the ballpark. Keys shows above-average bat-to-ball skills with good swing decisions. He wasn’t beaten very often in the zone and avoided passivity in his approach. His power ticked down from his college data based on exit velocities, and his max EV was 108.3 mph in his pro debut. Keys’ ability to hit the ball hard in the air gives him above-average power projection. He is a below-average runner and fringe-average defender at third base. He has a chance to stick at the hot corner due to his above-average arm.

The Future: Keys has a chance to break out in 2025 due to his combination of feel to hit, approach and developing power.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 40 | Field: 45 | Arm: 55.
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.

Track Record: Bastardo signed for $35,000 in 2018 as a raw pitcher who had promising shapes to his fastball and changeup. Though his surface numbers have never been impressive, he’s made major increases in his ability to get swings and misses based on improvements of his stuff and usage. He punched out 29% of hitters in High-A and Double-A in 2023, and was nearing a promotion while striking out 26% of hitters in Portland in 2024 when he blew out, requiring season-ending Tommy John surgery that will sideline him for most or all of 2025. The Red Sox left Bastardo unprotected for the Rule 5 draft and he was selected by the Blue Jays with the sixth overall pick.

Scouting Report: Bastardo’s 95-98 mph four-seamer doesn’t generate as many whiffs as the velocity might suggest. Mindful thereof, the Red Sox had him tweak his usage in 2024 to further emphasize his changeup, slider and curveball. All three of those offerings sat in the low-to-mid 80s last year. Boston wanted him to boost his gyro slider to roughly 85-88 mph to gain separation from the rest of his repertoire. His 11% walk rate will need to come down to remain on a starting track.

The Future: If he can throw more strikes, Bastardo has the ceiling of a No. 5 starter. Otherwise, he’s a power bullpen arm.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 40 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 40.
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme.

Track Record: The younger brother of Rockies 2024 third-round pick catcher Cole Messina, Carson is the pitcher of the family battery. Messina was committed to South Carolina and played on the same high school team as Marlins first-round pick PJ Morlando. The Blue Jays drafted Messina in the 12th round and signed him for $550,000. Messina is likely to debut in the Florida Complex League in 2025.

Scouting Report: Messina is a stocky righthander with present physical strength and average athleticism. He works from a modified stretch, slinging the ball from a three-quarters arm slot with a drop-and-drive delivery that lowers his release of the ball. He mixes a fastball with heavy armside run at 93-94 mph, with a mid-80s slider with sweep and late bite. His slider earned double-plus grades as an amateur and looks to be his best pitch entering pro ball thanks to the ugly swings it elicits. Messina’s low-80s changeup is a below-average pitch that he shows in flashes. His ability to miss bats with his fastball-slider combination gives Messina a foundation on which to build. His command is fringy at present, with out of sync mechanics that can often spin Messina off his landing spot. He’ll need to improve his strike-throwing and feel for his changeup if he’s going to develop into a back-of-the-rotation starter.

The Future: As an interesting righthander with excellent feel for spin and some power behind his pitches, Messina has a wide range of outcomes. The Blue Jays will develop him as a starter.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 70 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 40.
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.

Track Record: A native of Slovakia, Macko was introduced to baseball in grade school and learned to pitch by watching YouTube videos of MLB pitchers. His family moved to Ireland and then Canada, where Macko entered more formal baseball training and blossomed. Drafted in the seventh round by the Mariners in 2019, Macko was traded to the Blue Jays in the Teoscar Hernandez deal in November of 2022. Macko spent the majority of the 2024 season with Double-A New Hampshire and reached Triple-A in September.

Scouting Report: Macko’s deceptive three-quarters arm slot with a crossfire finish is particularly difficult on righthanded hitters, whom he held to an OPS of just .647 in 2024. Macko’s fastball sits 91-93 mph with average ride and above-average armside run. His primary secondary is a cut-slider at 82-83 mph against which hitters produced an .858 OPS. His curveball is his best secondary pitch but trails the slider in usage; it sits in the mid 70s with a wicked two-plane break. In 2024 batters hit just .102 with a 36.2% whiff rate against the curveball. The pitch is fairly easy to identify out of the hand, however, and was swung at infrequently. His changeup is a low-80s pitch with heavy tumble and late fade. The pitch shows promise but his feel for it comes and goes. Macko is an average strike-thrower with particularly good command of his fastball and curveball.

The Future: Macko has unexceptional stuff and average command of his four-pitch mix. He’s had some durability issues but looks like a depth starter.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 45 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50.
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.

Track Record: A shoulder injury while playing high school football forced Watts-Brown to redshirt his freshman season at Long Beach in 2021. He broke out in 2022, earning second-team Freshman All-American honors. After a strong performance on the Cape, he entered the transfer portal and committed to Oklahoma State. Watts-Brown struggled but the Blue Jays liked his projectable frame and stuff and selected him in the third round of the 2023 draft. He signed for $1 million and debuted in 2024 at Low-A and split his season across both Class A levels.

Scouting Report: A tall, thin righthander with an uptempo delivery and an over-the-top arm slot. Watts-Brown mixes four pitches in a four-seam fastball, slider, curveball and changeup. His four-seam fastball sits 92-94 mph touching 96 mph at peak with above-average ride and run from a six-foot release. Watts-Brown doesn’t generate much swing and miss with his fastball but he does use it effectively enough to set up his trio of secondaries. Watts-Brown’s mid-80s gyro slider with average spin rates in the 2,400-2,500 rpm range generates whiffs at an elite rate while tunneling off of his fastball. Both his high-70s curveball and low-80s changeup miss an above-average amount of bats with average command.

The Future: Watts-Brown shows projectable starters traits with command of a four-pitch mix and a swing-and-miss weapon in his slider.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50.
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme.

Track Record: A highly touted recruit out of Naples, Fla., King was one of the youngest high school players eligible for the 2024 draft at 17 years old on draft day. King was viewed as a projection pick and likely a difficult sign away from a Miami commitment. The Blue Jays selected King in the third round with the 95th overall pick and signed him for a bonus just under $1.25 million. King did not debut after the draft and is likely to make his debut in the Florida Complex League in 2025.

Scouting Report: King is a tall lefthander with remaining projection. He began to fill in his larger frame during the spring and looked more filled out pre-draft. He throws from a slingy low three-quarters arm slot that gives his pitches, particularly his fastball, a difficult angle. King’s pitch mix consists of a four-seam fastball, curveball, slider and a changeup. King’s fastball sits in the low 90s with some ride and late run, and is a projectable pitch that should add a few ticks in the coming years. His curveball was his primary breaking ball in high school, sitting 76-78 mph with two-plane break. King has also shown a low-80s slider with sweep that has spin rates in the 2,500-2,600 rpm range. King has a changeup but it’s a very raw pitch that the team could rework into more of a splitter. King shows fringe-average command of his pitch mix, which will need to improve if he’s going to project as a starter.

The Future: King is a projectable lefthander who could blossom into a back-of-the-rotation starter.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 30 | Control: 45.
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.

Track Record: A highly touted prep player out of the state of Oklahoma, Bohrofen ranked 141st in the 2020 class. He honored his commitment to his home-state school of Oklahoma, but lasted one season with the Sooners before transferring to Arkansas. Bohrofen broke out at the plate as a junior and the Blue Jays selected him in the sixth round. Bohrofen spent all of 2024 with High-A Vancouver, hitting .254/.364/.433 with 27 doubles, 14 home runs and 10 stolen bases.

Scouting Report: While Bohrofen’s stats don’t jump off the page he’s a well-rounded player on both sides of the ball and held in high esteem within the organization. His sweet lefty swing produces lots of bat speed and impact at the point of contact but his bat-to-ball skills are below-average. He makes up for poor contact skills with plus swing decisions that grade out well on teams’ analytical models. Bohrofen’s quality of contact is excellent, and his ability to hit the ball in the air at a high rate and do damage makes him a dangerous power threat. Bohrofen’s exit velocity data is above-average with a 104.3 mph 90th percentile EV and a 110.7 mph max EV. Bohrofen is an excellent fastball hitter who struggles against spin and offspeed. He’s an above-average runner and it translates to above-average defense in the outfield. He’s average in center field but above-average in the outfield corners.

The Future: Bohrofen’s ceiling is as a second-division regular corner outfielder with 20-plus home run power at peak and high on-base percentages.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Field: 50 | Arm: 50.
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme.

Track Record: The Blue Jays international signing class was delayed a few days after the opening of the International signing window due to the team’s pursuit of eventual Dodgers signee Roki Sasaki. The top prospect in the class that eventually signed a few days later was Cristopher Polanco. The Blue Jays signed the Dominican shortstop for $2,300,000 and he was rated as one of the top prospects available out of the Dominican Republic.

Scouting Report: Polanco has a hitterish look from the left side of the plate. He’s a mature, polished hitter, using a clean, compact swing to square up pitches throughout the strike zone and the quickness to catch up to good velocity. He’s 5-foot-11, 180 pounds with more hitting ability than raw power right now, with scouts split on whether it will stay that way or if he could end up developing power later in his career. His offensive game is his selling point. He has a chance to stick at shortstop, though many scouts think he would fit best at second base at higher levels.

The Future: Polanco is one of the Blue Jays’ biggest bonus signing for the last few years and carries with him above-average offensive upside. He will debut in the 2025 Dominican Summer League.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Field: 50 | Arm: 50.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.

Track Record: McAdoo comes from an athletic family. Two of his cousins are Bob McAdoo and James Michael McAdoo, who each won a pair of NBA titles. Charles spent three seasons with San Jose State and was first-team All-Mountain West Conference as a sophomore and junior. The Pirates drafted McAdoo in the 13th round in 2023 and signed him for $150,000. He was assigned to High-A Greensboro out of camp in 2024 and hit .336/.415/.561 over 60 games before earning a promotion to Double-A Altoona. He was traded to the Blue Jays at the 2024 deadline for Isiah Kiner-Falefa.

Scouting Report: Standing 6-foot-1, 215 pounds, McAdoo has a muscular and physically mature build with no remaining projection. His offensive profile is centered around his plus bat speed and impact. His contact hitting is about average. He shows some swing-and-miss against velocity but destroys breaking balls and shows solid contact against offspeed. McAdoo’s swing decisions are fringe-average, as he will often show passivity in the strike zone. His raw power is plus, but due to below-average ball flight on his hard-hit drives, his current power is capped at above-average. A few tweaks could unlock more loft and ultimately game power. McAdoo is a fringe-average runner based on home-to-first times but shows basestealing acumen. A below-average defender at third base, McAdoo has clunky hands and actions and less than ideal footwork. McAdoo’s arm is above-average and allows him to make plays often despite his poor footwork. He also saw time at first base, second base and right field in 2024.

The Future: McAdoo has a power-over-hit offensive profile with defensive questions. He likely has enough feel to hit and power to carve out a role as a bat-first utility-type player.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 45 | Field: 40 | Arm: 55.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.

Track Record: The Blue Jays selected Jennings in the fourth round of the 2022 draft out of Louisiana Tech and signed him for $70,000. He dealt with an elbow injury in 2023 and missed three months, returning for one appearance in September. Out of camp in 2024 he was assigned to High-A Vancouver, making 11 starts with the Canadians before being promoted to Double-A New Hampshire. Jennings missed around a month of the season following the all-star break and made up time in the Arizona Fall League.

Scouting Report: An undersized righthander with a filled-out frame, Jennings has dealt with injuries throughout his career and missed time, leading to durability concerns that will likely lead him to the bullpen. His pitch mix is suited for the role with a four-seam fastball that sits 94-96 mph touching 98 mph at peak with average ride and heavy armside run. It’s an above-average pitch that held batters to a sub-.200 batting average in 2024, but it didn’t miss many bats. His primary secondary is a slider that sits 85-87 mph with tight gyro spin. It’s his best bat-missing pitch with a 19.6% swinging strike rate in 2024. He shows above-average command of a low-80s downer curveball and a changeup that’s worked as a good chase pitch. Jennings has above-average command of his four-pitch mix and does have starter’s traits, but a lack of durability.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 55.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.

Track Record: A native of Los Angeles, Schreck attended Harvard-Westlake High and spent four seasons playing at Duke before entering the portal as a graduate transfer and committing to Vanderbilt. After Schreck hit .306/.454/.588 over 62 games with the Commodores, the Mariners drafted him in the ninth round in 2023. He signed for $75,000 and debuted that year. Schreck was assigned to High-A Everett to begin 2024 and hit for an .865 OPS before earning the promotion to Double-A. Schreck was traded to the Blue Jays for Justin Turner on July 29.

Scouting Report: Schreck’s advanced feel for the barrel is his carrying tool, enhancing both his hit tool and his power. Schreck rarely misses in-zone and shows elite swing decisions in teams’ analytical models. It’s a plus hit tool with the ability to manipulate the barrel, not only hitting the ball in the air at a high rate, but elevating to his pull side. Schreck has an ideal blend of plate skills and barrel accuracy. This allows his power to play above below-average exit velocity markers. Schreck’s pull side exploits allow him to project for 17-20 home runs at peak. Schreck is a fringe-average runner with good baserunning instincts. He plays a fringe-average corner outfield with an average arm. He’s filled in at center field, but is likely stretched at the position from a range perspective.

The Future: Schreck is an intriguing late-bloomer with unusual barrel control that enhances his profile. Schreck looks like a second-division regular with a bat-first profile.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 50 | Run: 45 | Field: 45 | Arm: 50.

BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium.

Track Record: Clase signed with the Mariners for $35,000 in 2018 out of the Dominican Republic and has since proven to be a savvy signing. After a breakout 2023, Clase was sent to Triple-A to begin 2024 and was called up on April 15, making his debut with Seattle at home against the Reds. Clase was optioned back and forth three times prior to his trade to the Blue Jays on July 26.

Scouting Report: Clase is a tooled-up player with a unique feel to manipulate the barrel. He’s undersized at 5-foot-10 and just 150 pounds, with limited strength in his frame. Clase is a switch-hitter who has strong bat-to-ball skills from both sides, but his power and overall skills are better as a lefthanded hitter. His approach is hyper-aggressive and his swing decisions grade as below-average. Clase has a knack for putting the ball in the air with a 58% line-drive-plus-flyball rate in 2024. His ability to hit the ball in the air allows his power to play above his raw exit velocities, which are fringe. While adept at putting the ball in the air, Clase has not learned to pull the ball in the air, which caps some of his home run potential. He is a plus-plus runner who is a threat to steal 30-plus bases. Clase has spent the majority of his time defensively in center field but grades as fringe-average there with the potential to reach average.

The Future: Clase has exciting tools to develop into an everyday player with speed, feel to hit and power. He’ll need to tighten his pitch recognition and fielding to outperform a depth role.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 45 | Run: 70 | Field: 45 | Arm: 40.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.

Track Record: A standout athlete and native of Indiana, Stephen spent two seasons at Purdue, working as a reliever as a freshman before moving into the starting rotation as a sophomore. Stephen entered the transfer portal prior to his junior season and enrolled at Mississippi State. He experienced a standout season in 2024 despite making the sizable jump to the Southeastern Conference. There, he made 16 starts and posted an 8-3 record, 3.28 ERA and 107 strikeouts to 21 walks over 96 innings. Following the season, the Blue Jays selected Stephen in the second round and signed him for a bonus of a little more than $1.1 million. Stephen did not pitch following the draft. He will debut in 2025.

Scouting Report: An above-average athlete with a prototypical starter’s build at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, Stephen’s delivery is smooth and athletic. He repeats it well and gets over his front side consistently. He uses a higher three-quarters arm slot with a quick snap at release. Stephen mixes five pitches: a four-seam fastball, slider, curveball, changeup and cutter. His fastball sits 92-93 mph and touches 96, with up to 20 inches of induced vertical break regularly. His primary secondary is a slider with some ride and sweep that sits in the low-to-mid 80s and generated whiffs at a rate of 40% in 2024. Stephen’s didn’t throw his changeup much in 2024 but it showed good results and boasted a 23% swinging-strike rate and a 61% groundball rate. Stephen throws a Bugs Bunny-style changeup that mimics fastball movement. He also mixes a curveball and a cutter, but neither is used regularly. Stephen shows above-average command of his pitch mix.

The Future: Stephen has midrotation upside but is more than likely a No. 5 starter with a middle relief floor.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 40 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Cutter: 40 | Control: 55.

BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium.

Track Record: The son of former all-star closer Billy Wagner, Will played his way from the 18th round in 2021 to the major leagues in 2024. An 18th-round pick and fourth-year signee out of Liberty for $50,000, Wagner was immediately lauded for his hit tool and advanced strike-zone discipline. He reached Triple-A in 2023 and returned to the level to begin 2024. Wagner hit .307/.424/.429 in 70 games with Triple-A Sugar Land before he was traded to the Blue Jays in the Yusei Kikuchi deal. Wagner made his MLB debut with the Blue Jays on Aug. 12 and hit .305 over 24 games.

Scouting Report: At 26 years old, Wagner is a finished product. He offers advanced feel to hit and showcased that in the majors, where he hit not only for a high average but ran a 93% zone-contact rate. Wagner handles all pitch types and velocity, though he’s somewhat passive in the zone. He has a plan at the plate and sticks to it. He doesn’t sell out for lift or pull-side damage with a heavy opposite-field approach. This limits Wagner’s overall power output despite average exit velocity markers. He is a below-average runner. He’s a below-average fielder at a variety of positions, most notably second base and third base.

The Future: Wagner is a ready-made, bat-first utility player who can fill in at a variety of positions and make things happen by putting the ball in play.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 45 | Run: 40 | Field: 40 | Arm: 40.

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: Rojas signed for $215,000 out of Cuba in October 2020. He pitched just 64 innings in his first two pro seasons, missing time with a lat injury in 2021. Rojas remained at Low-A Dunedin in 2023, where he had his first extended run of success. He moved to High-A Vancouver in 2024, but a left shoulder injury in April forced him to the injured list for two months. Over his final nine starts, Rojas posted a 2.16 ERA in 50 innings and struck out nearly 28% of batters while walking just 5.5%. He participated in the Arizona Fall League following the season.

Scouting Report: Rojas is a projectable lefthander with a prototype build. Now, the project has started to materialize over the last year. Rojas gained more than 1 mph in fastball and slider velocity in 2024 and produced his best season. He has loose, low-effort mechanics and does a good job repeating his operation. His three-pitch mix is led by a four-seam fastball that sits 92-94 with above-average ride and, at times, cut. His fastball accounts for around 60% of his usage. Despite the high usage rate, it was an effective swing-and-miss pitch for Rojas against High-A batters. His slider is his primary secondary weapon and sits 83-85 with cut. He will likely continue to add power to the pitch as he gets more physical. Rojas’ changeup is third in usage but is an above-average pitch that boasts the highest swinging-strike rate, chase rate and swing rate in his arsenal. Rojas has shown the ability to work deeper into games and throw strikes. Over his final eight starts of 2024, he went six or more innings seven times.

The Future: Rojas is still a year away from his MLB debut, but he shows starter traits with a deep arsenal of average-or-better pitches and command.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.

Track Record: An under-the-radar signing in January 2022, Perez grew up in a remote area of Nicaragua and was not heavily scouted. He debuted the following summer in the Dominican Summer League, where he showcased advanced command over a dozen starts. Perez’s U.S. debut in the 2023 Florida Complex League continued to fuel his rise when he impressed over 10 starts, the most memorable of which was a combined no-hitter in which he threw the first seven innings. Perez was assigned to Low-A Dunedin in 2024 and stayed with the team all season, making 17 starts, pitching to a 4.06 ERA and appearing in the Futures Game.

Scouting Report: Perez is a young, pitchability righthander with advanced feel for his five-pitch mix. Despite pedestrian stuff, he convinces many evaluators that he will grow into improved stuff in the coming years. At the moment, Perez mixes a four-seam fastball, slider, curveball, cutter and changeup. His primary offering is his four-seam fastball that sits 92-93 mph and touches 95 with average ride and run. Everything around his fastball metrics is average, but his performance with the pitch in 2024 was excellent. Perez’s slider is his primary secondary pitch and sits 80-82 with traditional slider shape. It’s the best pitch in his arsenal and does a good job of generating whiffs and chase swings from hitters. His changeup is his primary secondary against lefthanded hitters and shows good vertical life and velocity separation, but his release point on the pitch is inconsistent. His mid-80s cutter and mid-70s curveball were both used sparingly in 2024.

The Future: Perez is a back-end starter with advanced feel for his arsenal but no plus offerings. He’s likely to slot in as No. 5 starter in his peak seasons.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 40 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 55.

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: Roden redshirted as a Creighton freshman in 2019 and retained freshman status into his third season because of the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. He turned down draft interest in 2021 to return to campus in order to finish his physics degree. The decision proved wise, as Roden was drafted in the third round in 2022 and signed for an underslot $497,500 bonus. Roden began his first full season in 2023 at High-A Vancouver before moving to Double-A. He returned to New Hampshire in 2024, playing 54 games before a promotion to Triple-A Buffalo. In 71 Triple-A games, he hit .314/.406/.410 with a 12% walk rate and a 14% strikeout rate.

Scouting Report: Roden’s boxy, 5-foot-11 build obscures the athleticism that drives his well-rounded game. His batting stance is unique. He sets up open with his hands high, before using a high leg kick with a slow drift. Despite his unusual swing, Roden is one of the Blue Jays’ best contact hitters. He pairs excellent bat-to-ball skills with a selective approach bordering on passive. Roden projects to hit for a high average with high walk rates. His combination of contact and on-base ability drive his batting profile. In 2024, Roden flashed more game power, hitting a career high 16 home runs and posting strong quality-of-contact metrics. He does a lot of damage against breaking and offspeed pitches, slugging .528 in 2024 against non-fastballs. Roden’s power is somewhat limited by his unusual swing and setup, but he has a knack for hard contact to his pull side. He is an average runner who will take an extra base. He has enough speed to handle an outfield corner and an above-average arm that keeps runners honest.

The Future: Roden will likely return to Buffalo in 2025 but has a chance to make his MLB debut by summer. His advanced hit tool and strong supporting tools should allow him to carve out an everyday role.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Field: 50 | Arm: 55.

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Medium.

Track Record: Kasevich spent three seasons at Oregon, earning first-team all-Pacific-12 Conference honors as a junior. He was drafted by the Blue Jays in the second round in 2022 and signed for a bonus of $1 million. Kasevich debuted post-draft with Low-A Dunedin before making the jump to High-A Vancouver in his first full professional season in 2023. Kasevich was assigned to Double-A New Hampshire to begin 2024 and earned a late-season promotion to Triple-A Buffalo. In 41 games with Buffalo, Kasevich hit .325/.382/.433 while making 31 starts at shortstop.

Scouting Report: Kasevich is a well-rounded, sum-of-his-parts-type of player who shows an advanced feel to hit. His bat-to-ball skills are top 98th percentile in terms of every contact measure, and he shows an uncanny ability to make contact with a variety of pitch shapes. He has above-average swing decisions to go along with his plus-plus bat-to-ball skills. Kasevich’s swing is level and flat, leading to a heavy rate of groundball contact. His underlying exit velocity data is average, with a 90th percentile EV of 103.5 mph. Kasevich shows a knack for making consistent hard contact with a higher hard-hit rate than his power numbers would suggest. He is an above-average runner but not an aggressive basestealer. His speed translates to solid range at shortstop, with the ability to stick at the position despite a fringy throwing arm. At the very least, Kasevich is a utility infielder with a plus hit tool and a touch of power projection.

The Future: Kasevich’s advanced hit tool and the ability to play a variety of positions should land him in the major leagues 2025. He looks like a good second-division regular with versatility.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 40 | Run: 55 | Field: 55 | Arm: 45.

BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme.

Track Record: Maroudis was a two-way star at Florida prep power Calvary Christian, starting at shortstop on days he didn’t pitch. The Blue Jays drafted him in the fourth round in 2023 and signed him for $1.5 million, about three times slot value. Maroudis impressed in his first spring training in 2024 and broke camp with Low-A Dunedin. He made three starts before tearing the ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow and having an internal brace surgery in mid May. Maroudis had returned to throwing from 120 feet by early November.

Scouting Report: Maroudis is a projectable righthander who moves well on the mound. He delivers the ball from a low, three-quarters arm slot, which, coupled with average extension, creates a low release height that improves his deception. Maroudis mixes four pitches in his four-seam fastball, slider, curveball and changeup. His four-seam fastball sits 93-94 mph and touches 96. He generates below-average ride, but his fastball shape plays up due to his low release height, which gives his fastball flatter plane that plays in the upper quadrants of the strike zone. Maroudis’ primary secondary pitch is a mid-80s gyro slider that he used nearly one-for-one with his fastball. He shows advanced feel for his slider, with the ability to put it where he wants. Maroudis’ curveball sits 79-81 with heavy two-plane break and looks to be his best bat-missing pitch. He shows a changeup with good shape that generates tumble and heavy fade, but his command of the pitch is below-average. Maroudis has starter traits, deception and room to add more power to his mix.

The Future: Maroudis has mid-rotation upside with good foundational starter traits. He’ll return to action in 2025 looking to show he can handle a starter’s workload.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50.

BA Grade/Risk: 55/High.

Track Record: Martinez signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2018 for $3.51 million as the top player in the Blue Jays’ signing class. He breezed through the Florida Complex League in 2019 and both levels of Class A in 2021. As a 20-year-old at Double-A in 2022, Martinez set a New Hampshire franchise record with 30 home runs. He returned to the level in 2023 and performed, showing noticeable contact gains. He was promoted to Triple-A Buffalo, where he hit .263/.340/.507 in 55 games. He returned to Buffalo in 2024 and impressed, earning a callup to Toronto on June 21. Two days later, MLB announced an 80-game suspension for Martinez after he tested positive for clomiphene. He returned to Buffalo in September and appeared in 11 games.

Scouting Report: With a power-over-everything profile, Martinez has shown steady gains to his plate skills in recent seasons. He is an excellent fastball hitter who handles velocity well and does not miss many heaters in the zone. Against breaking and offspeed pitches, Martinez struggles to make contact and tends to expand his zone. He maintains strong contact quality against all pitch types, doing particularly-impressive damage against breaking balls when he makes contact. Martinez has 30-home-run upside because of his bat speed, strength and ability to backspin the ball to his pull side. The biggest question centers on whether Martinez will make enough contact. He is a fringe-average runner with limited range in the field. He split time between second base and third base in 2024 and is a fringe-average defender at both. Martinez has an above-average arm but an unusual release.

The Future: A bat-first prospect, Martinez could play his way into everyday MLB at-bats in 2025.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 60 | Run: 45 | Field: 45 | Arm: 55.

BA Grade/Risk: 55/High.

Track Record: Nimmala became the highest-drafted player of Indian descent ever when the Blue Jays selected him 20th overall in 2023. Just 17 years old at the time, he was the youngest high school player in his class. He signed for a below-slot $3 million. Nimmala began 2024 with Low-A Dunedin after a strong spring training performance. He hit just .167 with a 34% strikeout rate over his first 29 games. The Blue Jays sent him to extended spring and then the Florida Complex League, where he played eight games before returning to Dunedin on June 27. Over his final 53 games, Nimmala hit .265/.331/.564 with 13 home runs and 32 extra-base hits. Nimmala ended his season on a high note and looks poised to make the jump to High-A Vancouver in 2025.

Scouting Report: Nimmala is an above-average athlete with a thin, but projectable broad-shouldered frame. Due to his above-average bat speed and knack for backspinning fly balls to his pull side, he hunts for power. Over the first half of the 2024 season, Nimmala was out in front far too often, with a pronounced bat wrap. Upon his return, he made posture changes and reduced his bat wrap, allowing him to more consistently extend through contact. Nimmala will always have some swing-and-miss but shows above-average swing decisions. His above-average power is his carrying tool, while projection could get him to plus at peak. Nimmala’s exit velocity data is above-average for his age, and he’s adept at pulling the ball in the air. He is an average runner but shows above-average range in the field, with a good first step and strong actions and transfers. His arm projects as a future plus and is capable at shortstop.

The Future: Nimmala took a major step forward in the second half of the 2024 season and looks the part of a future power-hitting shortstop.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Field: 55 | Arm: 60.

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Medium.

Track Record: Bloss spent three seasons at Lafayette College in Pennsylvania, then transferred to Georgetown in 2023. He broke out with a 2.58 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 76.2 innings to win Big East Conference pitcher of the year honors and was drafted by the Astros in the third round. Bloss bullied minor league competition out of the gate in 2024, earning a promotion to Double-A after just four starts. Houston called him up directly from Corpus Christi on June 21. Bloss exited his MLB debut with shoulder discomfort but returned in early July to make two starts. The Astros traded him to the Blue Jays as a part of the Yusei Kikuchi deadline deal.

Scouting Report: Bloss has a prototype pitcher’s build, standing 6-foot-3 with a strong, athletic build. He uses a semi-windup with a high leg lift before moving into his drop-and-drive mechanics. Bloss does a good job getting downhill, creating well-above-average extension that helps the release from his high, three-quarters arm slot play up. He mixes five pitch shapes: a four-seam fastball, cutter, slider, curveball and changeup. Bloss’ four-seam fastball is an above-average four-seamer that sits 93-95 mph and touches 98 with above-average ride and cut. His cutter is his primary secondary and sits 86-88 with a cutter-slider hybrid shape. His slider is designated by some as a sweeper and sits 81-83 with 11-12 inches of horizontal break. Both his slider and cutter show average-or-better command and the ability to miss bats. Against lefthanded hitters, Bloss mixes in a steady diet of his upper-80s changeup and upper-80s two-plane curveball. He lands all of his pitches at an average-or-better rate.

The Future: Bloss looks like a quality No. 5 starter ready to contribute in 2025.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 45 | Cutter: 55 | Control: 50.

BA Grade/Risk: 55/High.

Track Record: Yesavage spent his freshman season in the East Carolina bullpen before moving to the rotation as a sophomore. As a junior, he ascended to the role of staff ace, making 15 starts and pitching to a 2.02 ERA, the lowest of any Division I starter. Late in the 2024 season, Yesavage suffered a partially collapsed lung due to an off-the-field medical procedure and missed the American Athletic Conference Tournament. He returned to pitch in regionals, facing off against Wake Forest’s Chase Burns. Yesavage allowed one run in 7.1 innings to outduel Burns. Yesavage fell to the Blue Jays at No. 20 overall on draft day because of some teams’ concerns with his medicals. He signed for a slightly overslot $4.175 million bonus and did not debut following the draft.

Scouting Report: Yesavage has prototype starter size, the ability to repeat his mechanics and a mix of average-or-better offerings. He was a reliable innings-eater in college with above-average command. Yesavage has a short windup, with a short stride to the plate that creates little-to-no extension. He delivers the ball from an over-the-top slot with good arm speed. Despite his lack of extension, it hasn’t hurt how his fastball has played. The pitch sits 93-95 mph and touches 97 with elite induced vertical break and late armside run. Opposing batters hit just .198 against his fastball in 2024. Yesavage’s primary secondary is a slider he uses predominantly in right-on-right matchups. His slider sits 86-87 and touches 90 with heavy gyro action. His primary secondary weapon against lefties is a low-to-mid-80s splitter with excellent vertical and velocity separation off his fastball. Yesavage also mixes a low-80s downer curveball, but it’s a clear fourth pitch.

The Future: Yesavage should move fast. He possesses mid-rotation upside, most likely as a high-end No. 4.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 55 | Split: 55 | Control: 55.

BA Grade/Risk: 60/Extreme.

Track Record: After going undrafted in the five-round 2020 draft out of high school, Tiedemann backed out of his commitment to San Diego State and enrolled at Golden West JC in California. He blossomed physically and reentered the draft in 2021. The Blue Jays drafted him in the third round and paid him a below-slot bonus of $644,800. Tiedemann debuted the following season in Low-A and dominated both levels of Class A before reaching Double-A in his age-19 season. During the 2022 season, he made 18 starts, pitched to a 2.17 ERA across 78.2 innings and struck out nearly 39% of batters. Over the next two years, Tiedemann was limited to just 61.1 innings due to persistent elbow pain. He had Tommy John surgery in late July 2024 and will likely miss all of 2025. Despite missing large parts of three seasons with elbow problems, Tiedemann still ranks among the game’s top lefthanded pitching prospects.

Scouting Report: A tall, physical lefthander with broad shoulders and natural strength in his frame, Tiedemann looks the part of a mid-rotation horse but has lacked health. When on the mound, he operates from a dominant three-pitch mix that plays up due to his low, three-quarters arm slot. Tiedemann’s arm path is on the longer side, but when coupled with his release point, it creates deceptive traits that keep hitters off-balance. When healthy, Tiedemann does a good job of repeating his mechanics, but he’s struggled with his release point the past few seasons due to health. He mixes three pitches in a four-seam fastball, slider and changeup. His fastball sits 94-96 mph with heavy armside run that plays up due to his slot. In 2024, Tiedemann generated less armside run on his fastball compared to previous seasons, possibly a product of his lingering elbow injury. The slider is Tiedemann’s primary secondary weapon. It has had some varied shapes over the last few seasons. In 2024, his slider resembled the sweeper of 2022, less than his more traditional slider in 2023. When Tiedemann is at his best, he shows the ability to use his slider against lefthanded and righthanded hitters, wearing out the armside half of the plate. Tiedemann’s changeup was viewed as his best secondary as an amateur, but it has become less-effective over the last two seasons. Tiedemann shows an uncanny ability to kill lift on his changeup and generate armside run. The pitch moves dramatically in the opposite direction of his slider. His changeup command has been inconsistent, particularly over the last two seasons. Tiedemann has struggled with command in lockstep with his elbow issues. Prior to the injury, he pitched with above-average command.

The Future: Tiedemann will return in 2026 at age 23 with a spot on the 40-man roster. He will likely be in the Blue Jays’ rotation mix upon his return.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 65 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50.

BA Grade/Risk: 40/High.

Track Record: Cauley was the Rangers’ third-round pick in 2021 and earned a $1 million bonus to turn pro instead of heading to Texas Tech. He’s spent the entirety of his career at the lower levels of the minor leagues, including 93 games at High-A Hickory in 2024. He missed a chunk of the season while dealing with turf toe. He hit a dozen home runs with the Crawdads—and three more during rehab games—matching his total from 2023.

Scouting Report: The book on Cauley is the same as it was a year ago. He’s twitchy, athletic and one of the slickest infield defenders in the system—but he needs to swing and miss far less often. He chased nearly 40% of the time in 2024, missed on pitches in the zone at a 21.4% clip and racked up 118 strikeouts in 93 games at Hickory. He hits the ball hard, but he doesn’t hit it enough. Cauley is a plus defender with a plus arm who can easily stick at shortstop. He’s a plus runner, and grades as the fastest player in the Rangers system.

The Future: Cauley will likely reach Double-A in 2025. His defensive skills will keep him interesting, but he needs to show at least some improvement in the batter’s box—whether that’s by making more contact or drawing more walks—for it to matter.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 30 | Power: 40 | Run: 60 | Field: 60 | Arm: 60.

BA Grade/Risk: 40/High.

Track Record: The Rangers have a long history with Stephan. He played on their scout team at Perfect Game’s annual WWBA Championships in Jupiter, Fla., while at South Grand Prairie High in Texas. He missed most of his first two high school seasons with elbow and knee injuries but showed enough in his last two years to earn a free agent contract from Texas. He dealt with injuries to his lower back in 2023 and elbow in 2024. He made up for lost time in the Arizona Fall League but was left unprotected for the Rule 5 draft. He went unselected.

Scouting Report: In 2023, Stephan worked to diversify his arsenal by adding a cutter to his two- and four-seam fastballs. He backs those pitches with his sweeper and changeup. The slider is his only plus offering, and he threw the pitch 38% of the time, the highest rate of any part of his arsenal. His changeup could be an average pitch as well. None of his fastballs projects as better than fringe-average, and neither averaged higher than 92 mph in 2024. He threw his four-seamer most often of the trio, a reversal of his sinker-heavy approach from 2023. As a result, his groundball rate dipped by 10% year over year. He has potentially plus control.

The Future: If he can stay healthy, Stephan will advance to Triple-A Round Rock and has a shot at making his big league debut. He could fit as a swingman, especially if he can add a few ticks to his fastballs.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 45 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 55 | Cutter: 40 | Control: 60.

BA Grade/Risk: 40/High.

Track Record: After a shoulder injury limited his freshman year to just four games, Cook used the next two seasons in Chapel Hill to establish himself as one of the more polished hitters on North Carolina’s roster. He also spent a summer in the Cape Cod League but scuffled with Yarmouth-Dennis. He clubbed 18 home runs in his junior season and was taken in the third round by the Rangers. He signed for $700,000 and reached Low-A in his pro debut.

Scouting Report: Cook is not the toolsiest player, but he’s a polished hitter with an advanced approach from the left side. Scouts on the amateur side noted he was somewhat vulnerable against spin and changeups and also believed his fringy power was amplified in college by metal bats and the lefty-friendly confines at UNC’s Boshamer Stadium. Cook is probably an average corner outfielder whose fringe-average arm would likely limit him to left field, but the Rangers believe he can play second base and got him 17 games of experience at the position at Low-A. He played two games there in his freshman year and five more in the CCBL.

The Future: A successful move to second base will relieve some of the pressure that would have been on his bat in a corner outfield spot. He should spend most of his 2025 season at the Class A levels.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 45 | Field: 50 | Arm: 45.

BA Grade/Risk: 40/High.

Track Record: Bonzagni started his college career at Weatherford (Texas) JC, where he spent two seasons before transferring to Southern Illinois. There, he made 24 appearances—four starts—and racked up an 8-4, 4.94 mark with 50 strikeouts. The Rangers took a chance on him in the 12th round and signed him for $150,000. He’s spent the last two seasons at the lower levels, where he has a reputation as one of the system’s premier groundball machines.

Scouting Report: Bonzagni works primarily with two pitches: a sinker and a slider, both of which project as potentially plus offerings. The sinker sits around 94 mph and touches as high 99 with hard biting action. His slider averages around 83 mph and features hard sweeping action away from righthanders. Those two pitches helped him rack up groundball rates of between 56%-60% in each of the last two seasons. He’ll mix in a high-80s changeup as well, but the pitch needs plenty more development. He worked during the team’s fall instructional camp to find a grip that worked best in order to make it a bigger part of his repertoire. He pounds the strike zone with both pitches and should have plus control.

The Future: Bonzagni will move to the upper levels in 2025. If his stuff translates against more advanced hitters, he should have a clear path to the big leagues as a middle-innings arm who can get grounders by the bushel.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Control: 60.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/Extreme.

Track Record: Hagaman redshirted in his freshman year at West Virginia, then struck out 89 hitters over two seasons and 73.1 innings. He had a signature outing on March 23 against Oklahoma, when he struck out 10 hitters in 6.2 innings of relief. He also spent time in the Futures League, Northwoods League and New England Collegiate League. The Rangers drafted Hagaman in the fourth round and signed him for $515,000. He did not pitch after signing and had Tommy John surgery.

Scouting Report: Hagaman is a classic case of a college pitcher with extremely loud stuff but results that don’t correspond. His fastball in college sat at 93 mph, touched 98 and showed plenty of life at the top of the zone. He backs the fastball with a deep-breaking mid-80s slider that can appear cutterish at times and a mid-80s changeup with plenty of tumble away from lefthanders. He has a clean delivery but a longer arm action, which may have contributed to the scattershot control he showed in college, where he walked 11.7% of hitters in his two seasons. Hagaman’s high-octane pitch mix and physical frame give him a chance to transition into the rotation as well as a sound fallback option in the bullpen.

The Future: Once he returns from surgery, Hagaman should begin working with the Rangers’ pitching development team to tap into his massive upside.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 40.

BA Grade/Risk: 40/High.

Track Record: Curtis pitched at Bishop Verot High in Fort Myers, Fla., and was committed to Barry University before the Rangers signed him as an undrafted free agent. He made his debut in the Arizona Complex League in 2023, then turned in a standout season at Low-A Down East.

Scouting Report: Curtis is a tall, projectable righthander with a four-pitch mix that should take steps forward as he adds strength to his frame. His four-seam fastball averaged 93 mph and touched 96 while showing nearly 18 inches of induced vertical break. He backs it with a slider, curveball and changeup. Some scouts see the changeup as his best pitch while others prefer the slider, which has gyro shape and solid depth. The changeup, thrown in the high 70s, shows solid sinking action. The curveball is a top-down breaker that offers a north-south contrast to the east-west pattern created by his slider and a split-changeup, though its break is inconsistent. Curtis’ command and control are below-average, and he walked 12.2% of hitters at Low-A.

The Future: The Rangers have been aggressive with undrafted free agents in recent years, and Curtis looks like their latest success story. Scouts who saw him in the Carolina League reported a pitcher with the potential to fit in the back end of a rotation. To do so, he’ll have to keep adding strength to his frame and throw a few more strikes. His next stop is High-A Hickory.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 40 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 40.

BA Grade/Risk: 40/High.

Track Record: Figuereo signed with Texas out of the Dominican Republic in 2021 and has gone through a series of highs and lows in the following three seasons. He bopped nine home runs over 35 games in the Arizona Complex League, then added nine more in a full season at Low-A Down East. He returned to the level to begin 2024 but reached High-A in mid June. Figuereo’s father Victor pitched three seasons in the Texas organization, reaching as high as the short-season Northwest League.

Scouting Report: The book on Figuereo is as it was after the 2023 season: He hits the ball plenty hard but needs to make contact more often. His 20 home runs tied Blaine Crim for tops in the system and made him one of just eight minor leaguers 20 or younger to reach that plateau. Figuereo looked noticeably trimmer in 2024 and did a better job making contact on fastballs, but breaking balls continued to be an Achilles’ heel. He missed those pitches 40.5% of the time, nearly double his miss rate against fastballs. Figuereo also suffered badly against lefthanders, against whom he produced an OPS of just .542. He is a future average third baseman with arm strength that is nearly double-plus and his trimmer body has helped him get a tick speedier.

The Future: Figuereo will likely return to High-A in 2025. If he can solve breaking balls and lefthanders, he’s still young enough to have plenty of runway toward the ceiling of a slugging third baseman on a second-division club.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 50 | Run: 40 | Field: 50 | Arm: 65.

BA Grade/Risk: 40/High.

Track Record: Drake was the Rangers’ 11th-round draft pick in 2022 out of Walters State JC in Tennessee. In his draft season, he went 14-0, 1.93 and won the NJCAA pitcher of the year award. He also pitched collegiately at Arkansas Tech and San Joaquin Delta JC. He was hit hard in his first full season but blossomed in 2024, when he struck out 148 hitters in 106 innings and advanced to Double-A.

Scouting Report: Drake’s results jumped in 2024 for two reasons: He improved his lines to the plate and his breaking ball started breaking. He employs a three-pitch mix centered on a low-90s fastball that peaked at 96 and averaged 16 inches of induced vertical break. His breaking ball showed slurvy shape in the low 80s and was effective when thrown at the feet of lefthanders. His changeup comes in around 82 mph and is likely to settle in as an average pitch with flashes of a little more every now and again. He has a well below-average cutter as well. Drake throws his entire mix with conviction and has turned himself into a prospect over the last year.

The Future: The lack of a true plus pitch will likely limit Drake’s ceiling, but he has a chance to reach the big leagues as a reliever who thrives on deception, pitchability and a pitch mix that can hold up to multiple innings.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Cutter: 30 | Control: 55.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.

Track Record: Corniell signed with the Mariners in 2019 for $330,000 but was traded before he could officially throw a pitch. Seattle shipped Corniell and infielder Andres Mesa to Texas in exchange for reliever Rafael Montero. He’s spent the entirety of his career at the lower levels and had a breakout season in 2023, when his 119 strikeouts ranked as the second-most in the organization. Corniell missed all of the 2024 season with a torn ulnar collateral ligament that required Tommy John surgery in June.

Scouting Report: During his breakout season, Corniell showed a four-seamer around 94 mph and a sweeper slider thrown in the mid 80s. Those two pitches were poison to righthanders, but he didn’t have an answer for lefties early in his career. In 2023, he added a cutter and worked to throw his mid-80s changeup more often. The pitch showed promising signs and had a chance to be average in the future. Corniell’s repertoire also includes a two-seam fastball. Though his slider has plus potential, he still needed to execute the pitch more consistently. His breakout season earned Corniell the Rangers’ 2023 pitcher of the year award.

The Future: The Rangers added Corniell to the 40-man roster after the 2023 season. He was slated to breach the upper levels for the first time in 2024, but the injury scuttled those plans. The timing of the surgery means Corniell likely will miss 2025 as well. He has back-end starter upside if his stuff returns intact.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Cutter: 45 | Control: 55.

BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium.

Track Record: Acker had a decorated career at Oklahoma that included an 11-strikeout no-hitter against LSU in 2020. The Athletics drafted him a few months later, then traded him to the Rangers in 2021 in the deal that also brought catcher Jonah Heim to Texas. He had Tommy John surgery in 2022 and has seen his workload gradually increase over the following years. His 97.1 innings in 2024 marked a career high.

Scouting Report: Acker’s pitch mix has gone through a metamorphosis in recent years, and he now works with four-seam fastball, curveball, slider and changeup. The fastball sits in the low 90s and peaked at 95. It showed an average of 19 inches of induced vertical break. In prior years, he’d employed a cutter. In 2024, he swapped it out for a mid-80s slider which drew the highest miss rate (34.8%) of any of his three offspeed pitches. His low-80s curveball is a top-down breaker with a chance to be fringe-average, and his mid-80s changeup grades out as a 50. He walked should have average control in the big leagues.

The Future: Acker rides the line between back-end starter and reliever. No matter the role, his fortunes would improve if he could bring one of his offspeed pitches into plus territory. He’ll have a chance to make his big league debut in 2025.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45.

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme.

Track Record: At $1.1 million, Rodriguez earned the biggest bonus of any of Texas’ signees in the 2025 international signing class. He was highly regarded for his well-rounded skill set, though none of his tools sticks out as a potential plus.

Scouting Report: Rodriguez has short, quick swing from the left side and a strong sense of the strike zone for his age. His cut is geared for contact over impact, though he could come into a bit more pop as he grows into his adult body. Rodriguez is a solid-average runner who could wind up at any of the three outfield spots or second base.

The Future: Rodriguez will begin his pro career in the Dominican Summer League, though the Rangers have not been shy about moving their prospects stateside if their performance warrants such a move.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 50 | Field: 50 | Arm: 45.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.

Track Record: Davalillo was originally signed by the Mets—where his father has been a longtime minor league coach—in 2021 but was released after the season and signed by the Rangers the next year. He spent most of his next two seasons in Rookie ball save for one start at Low-A. The righthander broke out in 2024 in a major way. His 1.88 ERA was the best in the minor leagues and his 113 strikeouts ranked ninth in the system.

Scouting Report: Nothing in Davalillo’s arsenal jumps out as a true plus pitch, but nothing in his mix is worse than fringe-average. His fastball sits around 93 mph and touches 96, and he switched its shape from four-seam to two-seam as the season wore on. Davalillo’s best offspeed is his split-changeup. The pitch garnered a 57.8% miss rate, the highest of any part of his repertoire. He throws two distinct breaking balls: a curveball in the mid 70s and a sweeper in the low 80s. Both pitches earned fringe-average grades from scouts. He pounded the zone with his entire arsenal and walked just 32 hitters in 110.1 innings. His results didn’t skip a beat after the move to High-A, a fact scouts inside and outside the organization attribute to his cerebral nature and excellent feel to pitch.

The Future: After a breakout season, Davalillo will reach Double-A for the first time in 2025. If he can tame the hitter-friendly upper levels of the Rangers’ system he’ll jump up the ranks and work toward a future as a back-end starter.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 45 | Split: 55 | Sweeper: 45 | Control: 55.

BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium.

Track Record: The Athletics drafted Harris in the 11th round in 2019, then dealt him to the Rangers in 2020 as part of the Mike Minor deal. For the first few years of his tenure with Texas, Harris looked like a steal. He won the organization’s minor league player of the year award in 2021 and appeared in the 2022 Futures Game. He made his big league debut in 2024 and hit his first home run over the course of six MLB at-bats.

Scouting Report: Harris showed a fair amount of hitting ability and zone control in 2024, but his power waned. His overall and zone-miss rates were 22.7% and 14%, respectively, but he produced a 90th percentile exit velocity of just 99.7 mph and homered just 10 times in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. He doesn’t lack raw power or strength, but his barrel accuracy needs to be improved and his swing is a bit stiff. In 2024, Harris got defensive reps at first base, third base, center field and left field. Scouts were not fans of his work in the outfield, and his only games in Texas were as a DH. Harris produced an average sprint speed of 29.2 feet per second in Triple-A, and scouts also saw excellent instincts on the basepaths. That speed will work well in the outfield, where he could be a fringe-average defender with a fringy arm.

The Future: The Rangers’ infield picture is full for the foreseeable future, and the outfield also doesn’t have many holes to fill. Without a change of scenery, Harris’ likely role is as a bench bat or second-division utility player.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 45 | Run: 55 | Field: 45 | Arm: 45.

BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium.

Track Record: Church’s time in high school was split between shortstop and the mound, so he was relatively inexperienced compared to most prep products. Nonetheless, the Rangers’ interest was piqued and they chose him in the 18th round and signed him for $300,000. The pandemic delayed his pro debut until 2021 and he’s moved methodically through the system over the years. He made his big league debut on Sept. 28 with a scoreless inning against the Angels.

Scouting Report: From the moment they drafted him, the Rangers knew Church’s development was going to be a long-term play. He had plenty of experience to gain and lots of room to add strength to his frame. He’s a pure relief prospect, but he’s got the stuff to be extremely effective if he can increase the quantity and quality of his strikes. Church’s bread and butter are his fastball and slider, each of which grade as potentially plus pitches. His changeup has gone through several iterations, and in the Arizona Fall League he moved to a split grip which showed early signs of being an above-average offering. Church needs to sequence his pitches better and improve his control and command, but his 2024 season stands as a breakout.

The Future: Church has already gotten a taste of the big leagues. With a few more tweaks, he could return there for good. He fits as a late-inning reliever who can pile up the swings and misses.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 45.

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme.

Track Record: Santana earned the top bonus in Texas’ 2024 international signing class, an outlay of $1,297,500 that ranked among the top 40 awarded during the period. He opened his pro career in the Dominican Summer League, where he produced an .830 OPS and was named MVP of the league’s annual all-star game.

Scouting Report: Scouts who saw Santana in the DSL reported a player with a sound approach and a knack for making contact without a ton of present power. He did a great job staying within the strike zone and chased just 14.9% of the time. He produced a max exit velocity of 103 mph and still has the potential to stack strength onto his lean frame. If he does, he might more closely fit the profile of a corner outfielder. Evaluators in the DSL thought Santana’s lack of high-end speed already might point him toward a future move off of center field, and any added muscle might exacerbate such a switch. He’s athletic enough to fit as an average defender with an average arm, and he got reps in left field in the DSL.

The Future: Santana will move stateside in 2025 and spend his year in the Arizona Complex League. If he performs, he’ll have a chance to make a full-season cameo toward the end of the summer. He has a chance to be a player who hits toward the top of the order and gets on base.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Field: 50 | Arm: 50.

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme.

Track Record: Morel was signed in 2023 as part of Texas’ international class. His tool set earned him a bonus of $97,500, and he began his career in the Dominican Summer League. He led the league with 17 doubles, 32 extra-base hits and 117 total bases. In 2024 he moved stateside and hit well again in the Arizona Complex League, where he hit seven home runs and produced a .982 OPS, which ranked fourth in the league.

Scouting Report: Morel’s calling cards can be found in his offensive game. He did a good job staying within the zone and making damage on contact. He finished with a zone-miss rate of just 16% and chased just 21.7% of the time. He also produced a 90th percentile exit velocity of 103.8 mph, though some scouts believe he sells out to get to that power. The Rangers also note that Morel’s bat speed has taken a jump year over year. Defensively, he has a lot of questions to answer. He’s not a particularly good athlete, and some scouts doubt whether he can even stick in the outfield. He makes poor reads and his hard hands sometimes prevent him from catching the balls he reaches.

The Future: If Morel has to move to first base, there will be more pressure on his offensive tools to turn into skills. He’ll reach full-season ball for the first time in 2025.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 60 | Run: 50 | Field: 40 | Arm: 50.

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme.

Track Record: Tiger got the Rangers’ attention over the course of three years at Butler JC in Kansas, where he struck out 121 hitters in 84.2 innings in his final season. Texas took him in the seventh round and signed him for $180,000. He opened his career with four innings in the Arizona Complex League and a run in the Carolina League postseason with Low-A Down East. His first full season as a pro started with a strong outing in one of the Rangers’ Spring Breakout games but was limited to just 46 innings by an elbow injury that eventually required surgery that is likely to keep him out all of 2025.

Scouting Report: Tiger’s arsenal is dynamic and powerful, with a mid-90s four-seam fastball leading the way. The pitch peaked at 98 mph and averaged 18 inches of induced vertical break. The righty backs the fastball with two filthy offspeed pitches: a mid-80s slider and a low-90s split-changeup. Combined, Tiger’s repertoire allows him to work the strike zone from the top down while racking up bushels of whiffs along the way. Both his fastball and slider are potential plus pitches while the splitter lags just a tick behind and could be above-average. Tiger is a solid athlete and repeats his delivery well.

The Future: Tiger has the kind of pitch mix dreams are made of. Once he returns from the surgery, he has a chance to fit as a No. 4 starter or a knockout reliever at the end of games.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Split: 55 | Control: 45.

BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium.

Track Record: Foscue was the Rangers’ first-round pick in the pandemic-shortened 2020 draft. His big league debut on April 5 gave Texas four big leaguers from that year’s class. Throughout his minor league career, Foscue has been an outstanding hitter without a defensive home. He got 42 at-bats in the big leagues but a chunk of his 2024 season was lost to an oblique injury that kept him on the injured list from early April through late June.

Scouting Report: At his best, Foscue blends hitting ability, a strong sense of plate discipline and a bit of power into a package that could produce significant offensive value. Those same traits showed up again at Triple-A Round Rock, where he produced overall and zone-miss rates of just 17.6% and 10.8%. His overall approach was fairly passive, and he swung less than 40% of the time. He found the big leagues a stiffer challenge, however, and collected just two hits in 42 at-bats. He struck out 18 times and swung and missed nearly 10% more often than he’d done in the minor leagues. The bigger question going forth is where he’ll fit on the diamond. His defensive reps in Triple-A came at first and second base, and he’s not likely to be better than below-average at either spot. He’s a well below-average runner.

The Future: The Rangers’ acquisition of Jake Burger sets up another blockade for Foscue. He might need a change of scenery to get regular playing time in the big leagues. If that doesn’t happen, he fits as a platoon player who can mash lefties.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 40 | Run: 30 | Field: 40 | Arm: 40.

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme.

Track Record: The Rangers signed Cabrera out of the Dominican Republic in 2022. He spent his first two seasons in the Dominican Summer League and hit .322/.445/.559 in his second year in the league. He moved stateside in 2024, where his nine home runs were good for second in the Arizona Complex League. His 52 runs and 1.009 OPS ranked first and fourth in the league, respectively. After the ACL season concluded, Cabrera spent 23 games at Low-A Down East.

Scouting Report: Cabrera impressed scouts in the ACL with his combination of raw power and athleticism, though they noted a need for improved barrel accuracy and a bit of a weakness against lefthanders. He produced a 90th percentile exit velocity of 103.2 mph, but his miss rates—including a mark of 23.2% on pitches in the zone–were a bit elevated. His raw power is plus and game power could get to that figure with further maturation of his overall offensive game. Cabrera showed solid range in center field, but he’s likely to move to an outfield corner once he starts packing more strength onto his frame. Evaluators believe left field is his most likely destination thanks to arm strength that is just average.

The Future: Cabrera will return to Low-A in 2025 and could be a prototype corner outfielder thanks to his potential for profile power at the position. He’ll have cut down on his whiff rates and improve his fortunes against southpaws.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 60 | Run: 50 | Field: 45 | Arm: 50.

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: Osuna is the nephew of former big league reliever Antonio Osuna and signed with the Rangers in October 2020. He skipped over both complex levels and debuted with Low-A Down East in 2021. He spent the first three seasons of his career at the Class A levels. The lefthanded hitter played 100 games for the first time in 2024, when he put together a breakout season between Hickory and Double-A Frisco. His 18 home runs doubled his previous season-high. He finished his season in the Arizona Fall League, where he won the league’s Dernell Stenson Sportsmanship Award.

Scouting Report: Osuna is a well-rounded player whose stock jumped after the longest season of his career. He trimmed down his body by roughly 10 pounds and in doing so gave himself a fighting chance to stick in center field. Even if he does move to a corner—he bounced among all three outfield spots in 2024—his average, accurate arm would play. If he is to stick in center field, he’ll need to improve his routes and jumps and work to maintain his body. He showed plenty of thump as well, including a 90th percentile exit velocity of 104.1 mph and max EVs up to 110 mph. His power plays to both sides of the park, and his 18 home runs were split nearly equally between both alleyways. The next step for the lefthanded hitter is to improve his fortunes against same-side spin, which scouts identified as a potential wart and against which he produced an OPS of just .594 in 2024.

The Future: Osuna’s 2024 season was the best of his career and could provide a building block for the future. If he repeats his performance in 2025, which will likely be split between Double-A and Triple-A, he could jump into the upper realms of the system.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Field: 50 | Arm: 50.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/Medium.

Track Record: At Vanderbilt, Leiter was one of the country’s most celebrated pitchers and part of a powerful one-two punch with Kumar Rocker, who now reigns as the Rangers’ top prospect. Texas selected Leiter with the second overall pick in 2021 and then sent him directly to Double-A. He sputtered at the level for the bulk of two seasons before reaching Triple-A at the end of 2023. He made nine MLB appearances in 2024 after making his debut on April 18.

Scouting Report: Though he reached Arlington, Leiter still has a few more coats of polish to apply before he’s ready to become a stalwart in the rotation. His success at Triple-A was due in part to a much smoother, more repeatable delivery, which in turn aided his command. The bread-and-butter of Leiter’s arsenal is his combination of a mid-90s fastball and a mid-80s slider. Of his 141 strikeouts between the major and minor leagues, 122 came on either a fastball or a slider. Leiter complements those two pitches with a changeup, curveball and cutter. None of those three offerings is better than fringe-average. Leiter’s walk rate rose slightly year over year, going from 10% in 2023 to 10.8% in 2024. Scouts outside the organization were concerned about the quality of his offspeed pitches, saying that none of them has the late movement to be a true big league weapon. Perhaps more concerning is his slipshod command. If hitters can lay off of his offspeed pitches, they’re likely to get hittable fastballs in the zone as a reward.

The Future: Leiter’s ceiling has diminished over his time as a pro, but he still has a chance to fit in the back of a rotation if he can improve his command and control and bring one of his offspeed pitches forward.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Cutter: 40 | Control: 40.

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: As an amateur, Dreiling was intriguing. After four years at high school in Kansas, he moved to Tennessee and posted a pair of excellent seasons. He broke out in 2024 with a campaign that included 23 home runs, which more than tripled his total from a year prior. His final season in Knoxville ended in storybook fashion when Tennessee won the College World Series and Dreiling took home the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player award. The Rangers popped him in the second round and signed him for a bonus of $1,287,600.

Scouting Report: The Rangers had been interested in Dreiling from his high school career through his two seasons with the Volunteers. The lefthanded hitter is a well-rounded player without a standout or below-average tool on his card. He showed a keen eye at the plate in college and finished with a career walk rate of 18.5%. His power is mostly to his pull side, and he produced a 90th percentile exit velocity of 102.2 mph after switching from metal to wood at High-A Hickory. Dreiling did a good job putting the bat on the ball, too, finishing with a miss rate of just 15.5% during his pro debut. Though Dreiling played mostly center field as a pro, scouts entering the draft believed he was best suited for left field. He runs well and should cover plenty of ground, but his throwing arm is just fringe-average. The Rangers were heartened by the early defensive impressions they saw and believe he could be an average defender with more work. He’s an above-average runner and has long earned a reputation as a baseball rat who is willing to do whatever it takes to improve.

The Future: Dreiling has the marks of a well-rounded player who has the hitting ability and power to profile in an outfield corner. He has a chance to reach Double-A at some point in 2025.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Field: 45 | Arm: 45.

BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme.

Track Record: The Rangers have never been shy about promoting their best prospects, and Castillo earned that honor in 2024. He signed out of Venezuela in January 2024 then showed sublime bat-to-ball skills in the Dominican Summer League. He struck out just eight times in 97 plate appearances before earning a bump to the Arizona Complex League. He continued to put lumber on leather in Arizona and finished his season with just 15 strikeouts in 163 plate appearances. Castillo’s 35th and final game was the only one during which he failed to reach base.

Scouting Report: Castillo’s signature skill is his ability to swing without missing. His miss rate overall was just 11.6%, and he whiffed just 5.4% on pitches in the zone. The contact came with moderate impact, including a max exit velocity of 102.6 mph despite just five extra-base hits and zero home runs. Scouts who saw Castillo over the course of the season were impressed by his defensive chops, including range, athleticism, a sound internal clock and plus arm strength. His soft hands and sound footwork also lend credence to his ability to stick at shortstop. He’s not a burner but could settle in as an average runner who makes up for a lack of speed with the type of first-step quickness which should serve him well at shortstop. All of his tools should play up as he adds strength to his lanky, 6-foot-3, 165-pound frame. If he’s able to stack muscle on top of his athleticism, power could become a bigger part of his game. Scouts also noted an uncommon level of maturity for a player of his age and experience.

The Future: Castillo mastered the complex levels. Now, he’ll head to Low-A Down East with eyes on doing the same in full-season ball. He’s the second-best shortstop prospect in the organization and has the skills to be one of the system’s breakout stars in 2025.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Field: 60 | Arm: 60.

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: After two seasons at Stanford, including stops in the West Coast League, a spot on BA’s Freshman All-America team and a stint with USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team, Moore established himself as one of the best catchers in the nation in 2024. The Rangers agreed, selected him 30th overall and signed him for $3 million. He debuted with High-A Hickory, where he slammed three home runs in 25 games.

Scouting Report: Moore’s game centers around the big-time power he can generate from a lefthanded cut that follows an unorthodox setup in the batter’s box. Despite simplifying his operation, Moore’s results took a bit of a dip in his final season. Even so, the Rangers were drawn in by his high-end bat speed and the thump it could one day produce in the big leagues. He showed hints of that power as a pro, including a maximum exit velocity of 108 mph. As would be expected from a Stanford product, Moore is a highly cerebral player who can process information quickly and make adjustments. There’s little doubt about Moore’s offensive game. The next steps will involve making sure he can stick behind the plate. Scouts before the draft noted that Moore had made strides defensively during the college season as well. He has average arm strength which would play up with a more efficient transfer. He and the Rangers worked on that aspect of his game—as well as fine-tuning his setup—during the season and at instructional league in the fall. He is a well below-average runner.

The Future: With a full offseason to rest, Moore will likely reach Double-A quickly in his first full season as a pro. If he reaches his ceiling, he’ll settle in as an offensive-minded catcher who can hit toward the middle of an order.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 30 | Field: 40 | Arm: 50.

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: Santos signed with the Rangers in 2019 but didn’t make his pro debut until 2021 after the pandemic canceled the 2020 minor league season. When he got on the mound for the first time, it was in the Dominican Summer League for one start before moving stateside for the remainder of his debut season. He advanced a level a year for the next two seasons, during which time he showed an intriguing fastball and changeup but no breaking pitch to tie the mix together. Once that changed, his stock soared.

Scouting Report: Santos’ upswing rests almost entirely on the maturation of his breaking ball. The pitcher and team worked for years to find a pitch and a grip that worked, and the winning combination was a gyro slider which showed the most consistent break yet. Armed with a full complement of weapons, Santos gained helium. He roughed up hitters at High-A Hickory in 2024, including a five-inning, 12-strikeout masterpiece against Greensboro on April 19. He was bitten by the homer bug upon moving to Double-A, but his rates of strikeouts, walks and hits allowed were nearly identical at both stops. None of Santos’ pitches projects as plus, but his control reaches those heights and should amplify his mix and its overall effectiveness. One of Santos’ final hurdles is to improve the quality of those strikes and keep his fastball off the heart of the plate. Four of the nine home runs he allowed in Double-A came on pitches down the heart of the plate, while another three were at least belt-high.

The Future: Santos needs further refinement, which he’ll get in 2025 in a return to the upper levels. If he can pair the quality of his strikes with their quantity, he has the ceiling of a No. 4 starter. If not, he might fit better as a bulk reliever.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 60.

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: Teodo was signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2020 for a small bonus and began his career the next year as a reliever in the Arizona Complex League. Over the past two seasons he has improved his stuff and raised his profile little by little. His career’s trajectory turned in 2023, when he swapped his hittable four-seam fastball for a two-seamer. From that point forward, he has been one of the most dominant arms in Texas’ system. He reached Double-A Frisco for the first time in 2024 and also earned the starting nod in the Futures Game.

Scouting Report: No matter whether he was throwing a four- or two-seam fastball, Teodo has always produced premium velocity. The pitch averaged 98 mph in 2024 and touched 102, velocity that helped him become the first player in Futures Game history to throw two perfect innings. He backed his fastball with a power slider and a changeup. Teodo’s slider in particular took a strong leap forward in 2024. The pitch showed a more consistent shape, and Teodo worked hard to keep his arm speed the same as when he throws his changeup and fastball. The Rangers were also heartened by the work Teodo did behind the scenes when it came to buying into game-planning and learning which pitches to deploy in certain situations. Teodo doesn’t show a particular platoon split, and holds both lefties and righties to averages under .200. He still need to apply some more polish and raise his overall strike rate above its 60% mark from 2024, but Teodo’s overall arrow is pointing up.

The Future: Teodo was added to the 40-man roster in November to shield him from the Rule 5 draft. His next step is Triple-A, and his big league debut won’t be far behind. He has a chance to be back-end starter or a powerful bullpen weapon late in games.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 70 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 40.

BA Grade/Risk: 60/High.

Track Record: Rocker’s road to the big leagues took many twists and turns. At Vanderbilt, he was Freshman of the Year in 2019 and College Player of the Year in 2021. The Mets drafted Rocker 10th overall in the latter season but did not sign him when he didn’t pass a physical. Rocker joined Tri-City of the independent Frontier League in the summer of 2022. The Rangers drafted him third overall based on that five-start run. Rocker made his first pitches in a Texas uniform in the Arizona Fall League after signing. He made his official pro debut in 2023 at High-A Hickory, where his stuff looked as filthy as it did during his college days. But the success was short-lived, and Rocker made just six starts before suffering a torn ulnar collateral ligament and having Tommy John surgery on May 22. He re-emerged on July 5, 2024, in the Arizona Complex League, then sliced through Double-A and Triple-A over the course of seven starts. He made his MLB debut on Sept. 12 and made three starts.

Scouting Report: Rocker boasts a deep pitch mix, but his fastball and slider are the clear gems. The former averaged 96 mph in the big leagues and has touched triple digits. The latter garnered a swinging-strike rate of 40.6% in the minor leagues, the highest by any single pitch thrown 160 or more times. To his four-seamer and slider, Rocker also adds a two-seamer, cutter and changeup, though the bulk of his MLB mix revolved around his fastball varieties and slider. He threw his changeup just four times and did not unleash a single cutter. The pitches were thrown sparingly in the minor leagues as well. Area scouts gave Rocker’s changeup a chance to be above-average, while his cutter appeared to have a future as an average pitch. The biggest difference between the version of Rocker evaluators saw in the AFL and the one that blitzed through the minor leagues is health. Observers in the AFL believed he might have been protecting his arm. Now, his delivery is freer and easier and allows him to drive down the mound with authority. Rocker also worked with Rangers pitching coaches Keith Comstock and Jordan Tiegs to make sure his delivery was more in sync and that he was throwing each of his pitches from the same slot. The righthander earns praise as a hard worker who keeps an even keel on the mound.

The Future: Rocker clearly has the stuff to dominate MLB hitters. Now, he and the Rangers will face the challenge of safely getting him to a starter’s workload. He’s thrown fewer than 40 innings in each of the last two seasons, so the process may take time. If successful, he could fit toward the top of a rotation.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 70 | Changeup: 55 | Cutter: 50 | Control: 50.

BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium.

Track Record: As the Rays reached a decision point on shortstop/outfielder Greg Jones, who was burning through options without a clear path to a big league role in Tampa Bay, they managed to deal him for Rock, a lefthander who didn’t have to be added to the 40-man roster until after the 2024 season. Rock had a solid if unspectacular season for Durham in his first year as a Ray.

Scouting Report: If Rock was a righthander, he wouldn’t make the Top 30, but as a lefty with some deception thanks to a funky delivery and a low arm slot, he has a chance to be a back-of-the-rotation lefty starter or a lefty reliever. He eats up lefties with his fastball-slider combo and survives against righthanders thanks to his ability to locate and stay out of the heart of the zone with his sinker. Rock sits at 91-93 mph with both his four-seam fastball and sinker. His 83-85 mph slider is plus against lefties and average against righties because he can consistently spot it down and into them. He has a fringy changeup as well. He has above-average control.

The Future: Rock’s ability to create angles and deception makes him a plausible multi-year big leaguer, although he’s unlikely to ever be a standout. He was added to the 40-man roster. He’s set to return to Durham but will be on call if injuries arise.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 40 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 55.

BA Grade/Risk: 55/High.

Track Record: Early in his amateur career, Rosario was part of a star-studded USA Baseball 15U National Team which also included current big leaguers Pete Crow-Armstrong, Dylan Crews and Masyn Winn. Over three seasons at Miami, Rosario ran up a 6.47 ERA, hardly a precursor of pro success. The Rangers saw areas for improvement to his stuff and approach and drafted him in the fifth round in 2023. He debuted in 2024 and produced one of the best pitching years in the system.

Scouting Report: Once Rosario turned pro, the Rangers’ first move was to simplify his mix. He resurfaced the split-fingered fastball he had shelved in college and added it as the signature piece of a repertoire which also included a fastball and curveball. Texas also asked Rosario to use his fastball in the upper third of the strike zone and allow his two offspeed offerings to create a nasty north-south attack pattern. The final tweak involved moving him to the third-base side of the rubber in order to get a better angle on his stuff. The results were striking. Rosario bullied hitters at the lower levels and finished the year with a 33.1 K-BB% that led all minor league pitchers with at least 75 innings. He also pounded the zone relentlessly, finishing with a 68% strike rate across both Class A levels. In fact, Rosario found himself in just one 3-0 count all season. The only red flag on his season involved a shoulder impingement that delayed his arrival at Low-A Down East by a couple of weeks and kept him on a conservative pitch count in the early going.

The Future: Rosario’s next step will be the upper levels, where he’ll face not only more advanced hitters but also extreme offensive environments in the Texas and Pacific Coast leagues. If he can come anywhere close to matching his 2024 form, he’ll elevate into one of the top overall pitching prospects.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 55 | Split: 60 | Control: 70.

BA Grade/Risk: 60/High.

Track Record: Walcott signed with the Rangers out of the Bahamas just a couple months shy of his 17th birthday in 2023 and earned a bonus of $3 million. He rose through the ranks quicker than most in his first pro year, beginning in the Dominican Summer League and finishing at High-A Hickory. He opened the 2024 season as the youngest player in the South Atlantic League and the second-youngest player at High-A. He finished the year at Double-A.

Scouting Report: Walcott’s upside is unmatched in the Rangers’ system and equaled by few in the sport. He’s lithe, athletic, tooled to the hilt and strong-willed enough to hold his own against near-universally older competition. The first two months of the 2024 season were rough for Walcott, but he kept making adjustments and eventually reaped the benefits. Once he did, evaluators reported a player with a chance at average or better grades on all five tools. His hit tool is the biggest question, and he’ll need to continually stay sharp against spin to get the most out of his offensive gifts. Walcott shows off prodigious raw juice in batting practice and gets to nearly all of it once the lights turn on. His 90th percentile exit velocity of 106.4 mph ranked third-best in the system. There are questions about where Walcott will settle defensively, but shortstop is not out of the question thanks to a rangy frame, high-end athleticism and an arm strong enough to erase even the swiftest baserunners. He’s a plus runner now but might slow down a tick as he ages and tacks on even more muscle.

The Future: Walcott reached the upper levels for the first time in 2024 and likely will return to Double-A Frisco in 2025. If he shows the same ability to adjust as he has in his past two seasons, he has a chance to reach the big leagues late in the season. He has a shot to become a franchise cornerstone.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 65 | Run: 55 | Field: 50 | Arm: 70.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.

Track Record: When the Rays drafted Santana with a supplemental first-round pick in 2023, they knew that he’d likely be challenged by an assignment to full-season ball. The 19-year-old just isn’t as physical as most of the players in the Carolina League. To his credit, he managed to demonstrate excellent survival skills. Despite a lack of power, he uses his barrel control to put together a solid season while finishing second in the league with 51 stolen bases.

Scouting Report: Santana is a twitchy athlete with excellent body control. He glides across the dirt. He’s mastered leaving his feet to field the ball and then quickly popping back up to throw. But his range can continue to improve, as too often he just missed making excellent plays in 2024. As a hitter, Santana has to get stronger. A skinny switch-hitter, he hits the ball roughly as hard as Chandler Simpson. He’s a plus runner, but he can’t match Simpson’s speed and knack for infield hits. Santana does have solid contact skills, but he projects as a bottom-of-the-order hitter whose glove carves out his spot in the lineup.

The Future: The Rays are collecting well-above-average gloves at shortstop. Santana will be following right on Gregory Barrios’ heels. In the old minor league system, he’d likely be just getting ready for full-season ball, but having spent a whole year in the Carolina League, he’s set for High-A Bowling Green.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 30 | Run: 60 | Field: 60 | Arm: 55.

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme.

Track Record: Garces stood out as a heady if undersized teenager who made plenty of contact from a small (5-foot-7) frame. But he’s added three inches since, making him a much more traditional gamer who can stick up the middle.

Scouting Report: Garces is a switch-hitter who builds his game around making plenty of contact and having an intelligent approach at the plate. He will need to add a good bit more strength to develop more than gap, doubles power. He is more twitchy than speedy, but it works well at shortstop, as he had a quick first step, good feet and dependable hands. He does have an above-average arm that gives him a shot to stick at short.

The Future: Garces’ combination of present skills and solid, well-rounded tools give him a path to being a well-rounded middle infielder. He’s set to head to the Dominican Summer League to make his pro debut.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 30 | Run: 50 | Field: 55 | Arm: 55.

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme.

Track Record: Gonzalez was one of the younger players in the 2023 draft class. He impressed during the summer showcase season in 2022, but was limited by a knee injury in the spring before the draft. The Padres pushed him to Low-A Rancho Cucamonga for his first full season, then included him with Homer Bush Jr. and Dylan Lesko in the trade that sent Jason Adam to San Diego.

Scouting Report: Gonzalez was pushed to Class A in 2024 as part of the Padres’ tendency to give players aggressive assignments. His glove was more than ready, but at the plate, it left him struggling to survive. He has a whippy bat with some power potential, but he didn’t get to it at all as he spent many at-bats seemingly guessing at what he was going to face. He was beaten by fastballs and bedeviled by sliders and curves. He likely will need another season at Charleston to let his bat develop. Defensively, he’s significantly more advanced, with above-average receiving and a plus-plus arm.

The Future: Gonzalez went to play in the Puerto Rican winter league to get further experience, but he will play the entire 2025 season as a 19-year-old. The Rays struggle to develop catchers, but Gonzalez has the tools to be a backup who could become a regular if his bat improves.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 45 | Run: 40 | Field: 55 | Arm: 70.

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme.

Track Record: After signing for $1.75 million at the start of the 2024 international signing period, Pineda made a loud introduction to pro ball. He hit .311/.449/.508 in his first month in the Dominican Summer League, earning a spot in the all-star game. His bat cooled as the summer wore on, and he didn’t have an extra-base hit in his final 15 games.

Scouting Report: While he may have worn down in his first pro season, Pineda showed loud tools. He has well above-average bat speed and plus power potential. He showed he can handle velocity, and at times, he also showed zone awareness and the ability to use the whole field, although those traits were less apparent as the season wore on. He’s a plus runner with a plus arm, so while he should be able to stay in center, all three outfield spots are options.

The Future: Pineda will be making the big jump to the States and the Florida Complex League in 2025. His tools give him a shot to be an impact regular, but there’s going to be a lot of refinements and work ahead to get there.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 55 | Run: 60 | Field: 55 | Arm: 60.

BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium.

Track Record: Montgomery’s fastball has always been an impressive pitch. He’s just struggled to develop the secondary offerings to go with it. Montgomery had an 8.16 ERA in 14 starts at Durham, which led to the long-awaited move to a late-inning relief role in August 2024. He didn’t allow a run in 10 relief outings with the Bulls, and he then allowed just two runs in nine relief outings with the Rays in September.

Scouting Report: The Rays’ decision to move Montgomery to the bullpen has helped to make his plus-plus fastball better, allowed him to shelve his below-average changeup and has helped add more power to his cutter-ish slider. That 86-88 mph slider is still only an average pitch, but the shorter stints of relief work also improved Montgomery’s command, which often wavered as a starter thanks to his funky delivery. In short stints, he can dot the fastball at or above the top of the zone, while drilling the gloveside bottom of the zone with his slider. Montgomery sat at 93-94 mph with his fastball as a starter, but he sat at 96-98 mph as a reliever, and his slider was three ticks harder as well.

The Future: There’s long been a belief that Montgomery would eventually end up as a power reliever. He took quickly to the role and should be a high-leverage reliever for the Rays for several years to come.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 70 | Slider: 50 | Control: 50.

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme.

Track Record: Coret was one of the top two players in the Rays’ 2025 international class, alongside shortstop Eliomar Garces.

Scouting Report: Coret is a tall (6-foot-4), long-limbed center fielder with plus power potential to go with plus speed. His length and frame may always lead to some swings-and-misses, but that will be paired with above-average bat speed and plus power potential. He’s a plus runner who has a chance to be an above-average center fielder if he doesn’t bulk up too much. Even if he does, his athleticism, power and plus arm would fit in right field.

The Future: Coret should be one of the bigger power threats in the Dominican Summer League in 2025.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 60 | Run: 60 | Field: 55 | Arm: 60.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.

Track Record: When the Brewers signed their international class in 2021, the two most prominent acquisitions were a pair of Venezuelan shortstops: Jackson Chourio and Barrios. Chourio quickly moved to the outfield and became a star. Barrios, a $1 million signee, will never match Chourio, but he has impressed, especially defensively. He’s been voted the best defensive shortstop in his league in each of the past two years. He was traded to the Rays for Aaron Civale in July 2024.

Scouting Report: Barrios’ glove should get him to the majors, but his bat is going to determine if he just stops by or settles in for a long time. He was a switch-hitter when he signed, but he stopped batting lefty when he came to the U.S. in 2022. He understands the strike zone and makes good decisions. He just lacks the power to drive the ball enough to make much of an impact. Improving his strength and bat speed is vital to him becoming a better hitter. Defensively, Barrios is a rangy and reliable defender with excellent body control. He is very comfortable charging to bare-hand choppers, but he’s also excellent at going deep to his right. His above-average arm is an asset. He uses his above-average speed to good effect as an aggressive baserunner.

The Future: Barrios’ skill set isn’t all that different from that of his now-teammate Adrian Santana. Barrios has a more mature approach at the plate, but like Santana, it will depend on him getting stronger as he matures to make him more than a singles hitter. If not, he’ll likely slide into a utility infielder role eventually.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 30 | Run: 55 | Field: 60 | 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: 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.

Draft Prospects

School: High Point
Walton was a relatively unheralded recruit, but he’s announced his presence with authority. The 6-foot-5 righthander this spring has a 3.82 ERA with 71 strikeouts to 20 walks in 63.2 innings. Walton has an imposing, high-waisted frame with a bit of projection remaining. He works exclusively out of the stretch with a short arm stroke and attacks from a three-quarters slot. Walton’s fastball has been up to 94 mph, though it doesn’t miss many bats, and he’ll need to refine its shape. His secondary offerings—a mid-80s changeup and a high-70s curveball—are his bread-and-butter pitches. Walton’s changeup is effective against both righthanded and lefthanded hitters, and it flashes above-average with late tumble. His curveball also flashes above-average at times with sharp, downward bite.

School: Ole Miss
Age At Draft: 21.7
A product of Louisiana powerhouse West Monroe, Federico has served as a sparkplug atop the Ole Miss lineup. An undersized switch-hitter, Federico stands out for his plus bat-to-ball skills—this year he’s running an overall in-zone contact rate of 92%—his polished and patient approach and barrel accuracy. It’s more extra-base hit power than it is home run power, but Federico has a bit of pullside thump from the right side. Federico was the quarterback of his high school football team and is both an advanced athlete and plus runner, which are two traits that translate well to the outfield.

School: Florida
Age At Draft: 20.9
Barberi this spring has pitched primarily in relief, though he’s fared well to the tune of a 4.71 ERA with 36 strikeouts to 18 walks in 28.2 innings. A projection righthander, Barberi has a high-effort delivery in which he falls off towards the first base side with a head whack. His fastball has been up to 97 mph, but his best pitch is a mid-80s sweepy slider that flashes above-average with lateral life and, at times, late vertical bite. Barberi rounds out his arsenal with a budding mid-80s changeup that looks like a promising third offering. Between his "now" stuff and ample remaining projection, it’s easy to dream on what Barberi might look like in a year or two. He’ll need to tone down the effort and clean up his strike-throwing, but he’s an intriguing ball of clay.

School: Ole Miss
Age At Draft: 21.5
While Paino showed well this fall, it’s been a slow spring in which he’s hitting .222/.339/.333 with four extra-base hits and six RBIs. He’s making contact at just a 70% clip, has struggled mightily against secondary offerings and is running a 33% chase rate. Paino has above-average power, but that’s a moot point if he’s unable to put the ball in play on a consistent basis. Should he add a coat or two of polish to his hit tool, it will go a long way towards him achieving his offensive upside. When he’s played, Paino has been used at shortstop, but he projects as either a second or third baseman long-term.

School: South Carolina
Age At Draft: 21.8
Hollins ranked inside the top 450 on the final BA 500 last year, and he’s been a bright spot in South Carolina’s lineup. Through 36 games, he’s hitting .290/.367/.460 with 12 extra-base hits and 17 RBIs. A switch-hitter, Hollins is markedly better from the left side than he is the right. He has a crouched stance with a slightly-open front side and ear-high handset. Hollins wraps his bat in his load, and his swing can get long, but he has intriguing power upside. However, his hit tool and swing decisions lack polish.

School: Florida
Age At Draft: 21.6
Whritenour blew out this fall and won’t pitch this season, but he has plenty of appealing traits and figures to be a key arm for the Gators in the future. He’s a great athlete and attacks out of a three-quarters slot with comfortably-plus arm speed. Whritenour’s fastball has been up to 97 mph with riding life, but his best pitch is a sharp, mid-80s slider that flashes two-plane tilt. He has tons of upside with a lively arm and is on track to return in 2026.

School: Oregon
It’s been a bit of an inconsistent season for Sanford, who has a 6.39 ERA with 42 strikeouts against 39 walks across 38 innings. He has a compact frame with present physicality—especially in his lower half—and a simple delivery that has an appealing degree of explosiveness. Sanford has a short arm stroke and does a nice job creating a positive angle with his shoulder tilt. His command is below-average, but his low-90s fastball plays well at the top of the zone thanks to its riding life. Sanford relies heavily on his heater—a pitch he throws 64% of the time—but he also mixes in a mid-70s curveball that pops out of his hand and, at times, flashes plenty of depth with sharp, downward bite. As time goes on, he’ll need to continue to develop a viable third pitch and take a sizable step forward in the pitchability department.

School: North Carolina
Age At Draft: 21.4
McDuffie has enjoyed plenty of success pitching out of Carolina’s bullpen this spring and has a 3.03 ERA with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 57-to-17 in 43.2 innings. An undersized righthander with a thick lower half, McDuffie has a compact and slightly up-tempo operation in which he has an abbreviated arm stroke and attacks hitters from a low three-quarters slot. He pitches off his low-to-mid-80s sweeper that routinely flashes plus with plenty of lateral tilt. McDuffie’s fastball sits in the low 90s and has been up to 94 mph with some natural armside run. He’ll need to develop a third pitch and shore up his command, but McDuffie could transition into the Tar Heels’ weekend rotation in 2026.

School: Kentucky
After opening the season as Kentucky’s midweek starter, Harris pitched his way into the weekend rotation with a 3.67 ERA and 31-to-15 strikeout-to-walk ratio across 41.2 innings. He has a prototypical pitcher’s frame with some thickness in his lower half. He features a simple, repeatable operation with a compact arm stroke and attacks out of a high-three quarters slot. Harris’ heater sits in the low 90s, but it’s been up to 96 mph with armside life. His low-80s breaking ball is below-average, but his mid-to-upper-80s changeup flashes consistent tumbling life.

School: Rutgers
Mack was the headliner in Rutgers’ 2024 recruiting class, and he’s lived up to the hype and then some. He immediately slotted into the Scarlet Knights’ weekend rotation and has compiled a 3.70 ERA with 52 strikeouts to just 13 walks across 58.1 innings. An undersized righthander, Mack has an abbreviated, stabby arm stroke and features a low-90s fastball, an effective upper-80s cutter, an upper-70s curveball and a mid-to-upper-80s changeup. His fastball is most effective when located in the top-third of the zone, while his cutter flashes late gloveside life. Mack uses his curveball just 10% of the time, though it flashes two-plane bite with both depth and sharpness.

School: Georgia Tech
Age At Draft: 21.8
Daniel has thrived in his first season on "The Flats" and is hitting .315/.415/.532 with 19 extra-base hits and 26 RBIs. He has a slightly-open front side with a high handset and does a nice job of creating leverage to the pull side. He has flashed plus bat-to-ball skills and currently boasts a 90% overall in-zone contact rate. He’s also demonstrated an understanding of the strike zone, and his swing decisions have been above-average. While Daniel has a bit of thump to the pull side, he is very much a hit-over-power profile.

School: UNCW
In his freshman season, Bagwell has served as the anchor of UNCW’s rotation. Through 64.1 innings, he’s pitched his way to a 3.08 ERA with 43 strikeouts to just 10 walks. Bagwell has a projectable, high-waisted frame with room to fill out. He lacks explosiveness in his delivery, however, and there’s some low hanging fruit to clean up. Bagwell isn’t overwhelming from a stuff standpoint, either, but his arsenal should tick up as he gets stronger and continues to fill out. His fastball sits in the upper 80s and has been up to 94 mph, a pitch he supplements with a low-80s breaking ball and a seldom-used low-80s changeup.

School: Vanderbilt
Age At Draft: 21.6
Rigdon had top five-round buzz in last year’s draft cycle, but he ended up making it to campus. As a regular member of Vanderbilt’s starting nine, he has faired well and is hitting .271/.430/.365 with six extra-base hits, 18 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. He’s a plus runner—a trait that translates well to the outfield—and is a fairly polished hitter. His contact skills have been lackluster to this point, but he’s chasing at just a 16% clip. Rigdon is better from the left side than the right, where he has a smooth swing with present hand speed. He is a disciplined hitter who consistently puts together quality at-bats.

School: East Carolina
Age At Draft: 21.8
Burress has rather quietly put together one of the more impressive seasons—at least from a statistical standpoint—of any freshman hitter in the country. The 5-foot-9 outfielder has been a sparkplug atop ECU’s lineup and is hitting .397/.515/.493 with nine extra-base hits, 21 RBIs, 14 stolen bases and 26 walks to just 16 strikeouts. Burress has a simple operation with minimal moving parts and present bat speed with an advanced feel for the barrel. It’s a hitterish look, and he sprays line drives all over the yard. While he has minimal power, Burress’ contact skills are outstanding. In addition to his 89% overall contact rate, his in-zone contact rate is a whopping 95%. Burress runs well and fits best either in left field or at second base.

School: Virginia Tech
Age At Draft: 21.1
Last year, it was Brett Renfrow who made waves a freshman starter for Virginia Tech. This year, it’s Marciano. Marciano’s ERA is a little inflated at 6.06, but he’s collected 57 strikeouts across 46 innings. He has a lean, projectable build and attacks out of a low three-quarters slot. Marciano has a loose, whippy arm stroke and features a low-90s fastball that flashes run and ride through the zone—particularly in the top half—a high-70s slider that’s an especially tough look against lefties given its lateral life and a low-80s changeup that flashes above-average with late tumble. As Marciano continues to fill out physically, his stuff figures to tick up across the board.

School: Virginia
Age At Draft: 21.8
It’s been a down year for Virginia, but Valincius has been a bright spot. He’s spent the entire season in the Cavaliers’ weekend rotation and has pitched his way to a 5.05 ERA with 57 strikeouts to just 13 walks across 51.2 innings. Valincius has averaged 93.7 mph on his fastball that’s been up to 96 with some armside life. His mid-to-upper-80s slider flashes plus with long, lateral tilt and some sharpness. Valincius’ mid-80s changeup has flashed above-average with armside fade and late tumble. He’s a plus strike-thrower with a thick, physical build—especially in his lower half—and looks like the part of a professional starter.

School: Troy
While he’s in a prominent spot at No. 34, there’s a chance Janicki is still underrated when all is said and done. He was a bat head coach Skylar Meade and his staff were high on in the fall, and he’s lived up to expectations this season to the tune of a .295/.384/.794 line with 12 extra-base hits and 25 RBIs. Janicki has a strong, athletic build and features an upright stance with a high handset. He has a deep hand press in his load, though he has comfortably-plus bat speed. Janicki’s underlying metrics also stand out. In addition to his 90% overall contact rate and 94% in-zone contact rate, he’s running a more than respectable 21% chase rate and only a handful of his swings have come outside of the shadow zone. Furthermore, his 90th percentile exit velocity is 106.9 mph, and he has posted numerous exit velocities north of 110. Janicki’s plus arm plays at third base, though he figures to be the Trojans’ primary catcher in 2026.

School: Rice
Age At Draft: 21.3
Brown ranked inside the top 450 on the final BA 500, but arrived on campus without as much fanfare as some of the other players ranked. However, he’s done nothing but impress and is hitting .311/.371/.539 with 11 doubles, nine home runs and 35 RBIs. Brown has an impressive frame with present strength, though he has projection remaining. His swing can get long at times, but he’s shown all-fields power. Brown struggles picking up spin out of the hand and can get trigger happy against fastballs up and/or out, but his power upside is immense. He’s been used sparingly on the mound, but he profiles best as a corner outfielder where he moves farily well and has above-average arm strength.

School: West Virginia
Age At Draft: 21.6
Kelly wasn’t a super well-known commodity on the draft circuit last spring, but he’s made waves this season in Morgantown. Through 35 games, he’s hitting .312/.412/.413 with seven extra-base hits, 31 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. Kelly stands tall in the box with an ultra-high handset, but he has a hitterish look with present hand speed. Though it’s a somewhat unique operation, he consistently gets in a good position to hit. Kelly has a solid feel for the barrel and particularly feasts on heaters to the tune of a 92% contact rate against the pitch, but he has a 93% in-zone contact rate against all pitch types. A hit-over-power profile, I’ll be curious to see how much impact Kelly will be able to grow into during his time at West Virginia.

School: Stanford
Age At Draft: 21.8
Bates was one of the more prominent freshman position players to make it to campus, and while his season has been limited to 18 games due to injury, he’s collected six extra-base hits and six RBIs. Bates has impressive hand-eye coordination and an advanced feel for the barrel, which translates to above-average contact skills. He grew into some more impact last spring, and while his power may be more extra-base oriented than over-the-fence, it could end up being solid-average. Bates has been used primarily as a center fielder this spring, but he figures to slide back up to shortstop in 2026 where his smooth actions and soft hands give him a chance to stick at the position long term.

School: Arkansas
Age At Draft: 21.8
On an Arkansas pitching staff that boasts a plethora of talented arms, Gibler has carved out a meaningful role for himself. Across 14 appearances spanning 18.2 innings, the 6-foot-2 southpaw has collected an impressive 39 strikeouts against seven walks. Gibler possesses a three-pitch mix that includes a low-90s fastball, mid-80s breaking ball and a seldom-used mid-to-upper-80s changeup. His arsenal has garnered an eyebrow-raising 49% overall miss rate, led by his breaking ball that flashes two-plane tilt and late bite. Gibler has an under control delivery with a clean arm stroke and is a sound strike-thrower. While he has some present physicality in his lower half, there’s still projection remaining.

School: Tennessee
Age At Draft: 21.8
Abernathy was one of the headliners in Tennessee’s stacked recruiting class and has carved out a meaningful role in his first year on campus. A quick-twitch athlete, he is not only a 70-grade runner, but also possesses comfortably-plus bat-to-ball skills and currently boasts an overall in-zone contact rate north of 90%. He has plenty of quickness in his hands, and his swing is geared towards peppering the entire field with line drives. Abernathy puts pressure on opposing defenses, and his skillset enables him to affect the game in a number of ways. His speed and athleticism also translate in the field, and this season he’s been used in left field, center field and second base. Abernahty is very much a hit-over-power profile, so he’ll need to really hit going forward.

School: NC State
Age At Draft: 21.5
From a sheer numbers standpoint, Nance has been one of the best freshman pitchers in the ACC. He’s an arm that head coach Elliot Avent is more than comfortable going to, and so far he’s compiled a 2.68 ERA with 45 strikeouts to just nine walks across 43.2 innings. While Nance has just one start to his name, he typically piggybacks the starter and is comfortable throwing four-to-five innings at a time. Nance moves well on the mound and has a somewhat stabby arm stroke. His fastball has been up to 97 mph with life through the zone, and he supplements it with a low-to-mid-80s breaking ball that can get slurvey at times. Nance rounds out his arsenal with a low-80s changeup that routinely flashes above-average with tumble and plenty of fade to the arm side. He looks the part of a future Friday starter.

School: TCU
Age At Draft: 21.1
Traeger isn’t overwhelming from a tools standpoint, but he does a lot of things well and is a solid all-around player. He’s been a consistent member of TCU’s starting lineup and is hitting .318/.402/.455 with 10 extra-base hits. Traeger has borderline double-plus contact skills to the tune of a 93% in-zone contact rate and has a simple, line drive-oriented swing. Behind the dish, Traeger is an above-average defender with advanced actions and an above-average arm to boot.

School: Arizona
Age At Draft: 21.9
Bailey ranked just outside the top 200 on the final BA 500 at 2033, but he’s hit the ground running since arriving in Tuscon. He earned a weekend rotation spot coming out of the fall and has worked a 4.26 ERA with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 50-to-20 across 50.2 innings. At 6-foot-4, Bailey has a projectable, high-waisted frame to dream on with present stuff that should only continue to tick up. His fastball isn’t a bonafide bat-misser at this point, but it’s been up to 95 mph with run and ride in the top half of the zone. His low-80s slider and mid-80s changeup have generated miss rates of 34% and 28%, respectively.

School: Baylor
Age At Draft: 21.5
Bailey this spring has been a stalwart in Baylor’s rotation, compiling a 5.13 ERA with 50 strikeouts to 19 walks in 47.1 innings. He has an athletic frame with some present thickness in his lower half, though he has room to fill out further. He works exclusively out of the stretch and has a long arm stroke. Bailey has present arm speed and attacks out of a three-quarters slot and features a fastball that averages 93.4 mph, a low-to-mid-80s slider and a mid-80s changeup. He does a nice job of manipulating the shape of his slider, and it’s effective against both right and lefthanded hitters. Against lefties, it takes on more of a gyro look, though he has shown the ability to back-foot it. Against righties, it has two-plane tilt with more length than depth. Bailey’s changeup has flashed above-average with late tumble.

School: Vanderbilt
Age At Draft: 21.3
Johnston is one of, if not the only freshman who made waves in a wood bat collegiate league before arriving on campus, as he was an Appy League all-star with the Greeneville Fly Boys. Following an impressive showing in the fall, Johnston won the starting third base job, hitting .260/.294/.513 while currently leading the team in extra-base hits (21), home runs (9) and RBIs (42). He’s a physical player who looks to do damage each time in the box, and there is an appealing compact explosiveness to his operation. However, Johnston is a bit of a free-swinger and is making contact at just a 69% clip with a 37% chase rate. Going forward, he’ll need to do a better job of picking up shapes out of the hand and staying within the strike zone.

School: Indiana
Age At Draft: 21.9
Indiana has one of the more underrated track records of any program in the country when it comes to freshmen contributing right away. Hanley fits that description to a tee, and right now he’s the frontrunner to take home Big Ten freshman of the year honors. Through 45 games, the 6-foot-6 first baseman is hitting .349/.444/.606 with seven doubles, 12 home runs and 42 RBIs. Hanley has flashed plus in-game power and has shown the ability to drive the baseball with authority to all fields, but his highest quality of contact has come to the pull side. While his contact skills are average, Hanley has demonstrated an advanced understanding of the strike zone and is chasing at just a 20% clip. Like any hitter of his stature, the key will be keeping his long levers in-sync.

School: Tennessee
Age At Draft: 21.1
Clark got off to one of the most impressive starts of any hitter in the country, but he’s since slowed down. Even after "cooling off," Clark is hitting .324/.490/.716 with five doubles, eight home runs, 27 RBIs and more walks (23) than strikeouts (21). He sits fairly deep in his base, and a noticeable barrel tip leads into an explosive swing in which he has plus bat speed. He has present contact skills to go along with a sound approach and comfortably above-average power to the pull side. Clark has a strong arm behind the plate and looks like the backstop of the future for the Volunteers.

School: UCLA
Age At Draft: 21.4
Moss wasn’t the most heralded recruit or buzziest draft name last year, but he’s rather quietly been one of the more successful freshman arms in the country. He’s pitched his way into the Friday starter role for UCLA and has a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 40-to-11 to go along with a 2.35 ERA. Moss is mechanically sound and has a simple, repeatable delivery with a loose, whippy arm stroke. His fastball has been up to 96 mph with solid carry in the top half of the zone. His best offering is a plus high-70s-to-low-80s changeup that he throws with conviction and shows great separation off his heater. Moss rounds out his arsenal with a mid-80s slider that is shorter in shape but looks the part of an at least average pitch in the future. Moss has an-already intriguing combination of strikes and stuff with room to fill out, and he projects to continue to headline the Bruins’ rotation going forward.

School: East Carolina
Age At Draft: 20.2
Jenkins re-classed from 2025 to 2024 and recently turned 18 years old on April 17. His back of the card numbers won’t blow you away, as he’s compiled a modest 5.77 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 48.1 innings, but he’s showed flashes of his impressive arsenal. He has a four-pitch mix that includes a fastball that’s been up to 97 mph with riding life, two distinct breaking balls in a low-80s curveball and amid-80s slider and a mid-80s splitter with which he does an excellent job killing spin. Jenkins’ slider is further along than his curveball right now, and he’ll need to miss more bats with his fastball, but he’s an above-average strike-thrower who looks every bit the part of a starter professionally.

School: Virginia
Age At Draft: 21.2
Nunnallee was drafted by the Brewers in the 14th round of last year’s draft and generated plenty of buzz thanks to a loud fall. He’s begun to hit his stride after going through some freshman growing pains and is hitting .297/.425/.405 with 10 extra-base hits, 23 RBIs and 17 walks against just nine strikeouts. Nunnallee has an ultra-hitterish look in the box, with an advanced feel for the barrel, quick hands and polished approach. He uses the entire field and has shown impressive adjustability in his operation. Nunnallee has posted a gaudy overall in-zone contact rate of 94%, though he’ll need to grow into more power and impact. That’s not to say he needs to put on 20-plus pounds, but even adding 10-15 could make a meaningful difference.

School: Arizona State
Age At Draft: 21.5
The son of former big leaguer Scott Hairston, Landon has enjoyed an outstanding freshman season in which he’s hitting .353/.477/.493 with 12 extra-base hits, 28 RBIs and an impressive walk-to-strikeout ratio of 30-to-17. Hairston is a polished hitter who features an advanced feel for the barrel and mature swing decisions, and he’s also flashed some power to the pull side. He has a loose, easy swing, and it’s a real hitterish look in the box. In the field, Hairston figures to stick in a corner outfield spot.

School: Auburn
Age At Draft: 21.4
Though he had no shortage of draft buzz last spring, Terrell decided to honor his committment to Auburn and has been one of the Tigers’ freshman standouts. The 6-foot-3 outfielder has an impressive set of tools, and it’s easy to dream on his upside. Terrell has outstanding bat speed and plus power potential, while he’s also a plus runner with an above-average arm. Shoring up his hit tool will go a long way in achieving his offensive ceiling. While he feasts on fastballs—Terrell has a 90% contact rate against the pitch to this point—he’ll need to do a better job of picking up spin out of the hand and staying within the strike zone.

School: TCU
Age At Draft: 21.9
A 6-foot-4, 190-pound lefthander, Brassfield has a great pitcher’s frame. Pitching primarily out of the bullpen, he’s cemented himself as one of TCU’s more reliable options and has compiled a 2.61 ERA with 46 strikeouts to just 12 walks across 41.1 innings. Brassfield attacks out of a high three-quarters slot with present arm speed and pitches off a mid-80s slider for which he has an impressive feel. The slider is effective against both righthanded and lefthanded hitters and has garnered a 41% whiff rate. Brassfield’s fastball sits in the low 90s and has been up to 97 mph with life in the top-third of the zone, though it’s not a real bat-misser at the moment. He has an effort delivery with a bit of a head whack, and he falls off towards the third base side, though that’s fairly low-hanging fruit to clean up.

School: Louisville
Age At Draft: 21.8
Davis had some draft interest last spring, but he wound up making it to Louisville and has fared well hitting in the middle of the Cardinals’ lineup. At 6-foot-4, 225 pounds, Davis has an impressive frame with plenty of natural strength. His calling card is his comfortably-plus raw power—especially to the pull side—and he’s posted multiple exit velocities north of 115 mph this spring. However, there are some whiff and chase issues, particularly against spin, and Davis is a clear power-over-hit profile. While his power is immense, the key for Davis will be continuing to make enough contact to enable him to get to it consistently in games.

School: Texas A&M
Age At Draft: 21.8
In terms of pure athleticism, Kiel is the "créme de la créme" in his class. On top of his ability on the diamond, he was also a three-star football recruit who held multiple Division I offers. It’s been a wild season for the Aggies to this point, though Kiel has been one of the team’s most reliable options. He’s currently hitting .329/.426/.422 with with 12 extra-base hits, 24 RBIs and 11 stolen bases and is a good fit atop the lineup. Kiel is a plus-plus runner and is at least a plus defender in the outfield. He has present strength in his frame, though it’s up in the air as to how much power he’ll get to when all is said and done. There are some moving parts to his operation, and his bat-to-ball skills have been average. Expect Kiel to be the Aggies’ center fielder come 2026.

School: LSU
Age At Draft: 21.8
Schmidt ranked No. 22 overall on the final BA 500 last year and was the highest-ranked prepster from the list to make it to campus. Unsurprisingly, he has logged meaningful innings while splitting time between the bullpen and rotation. Through 30.2 innings, he’s notched 38 strikeouts and has compiled a 4.11 ERA. Schmidt has a projectable frame and throws out of a long, deep arm stroke. His fastball sits in the mid 90s and has been up to 98 mph, though his moneymaker is a low-80s curveball that has plenty of depth and sharp 12-to-6 shape. He consistently spins it in the 2,900 rpm range, and it was widely considered to be the best of its kind in last year’s draft. Schmidt’s changeup is a clear third pitch right now, though it’s flashed at times this spring.

School: Wake Forest
Age At Draft: 21.4
Levonas was drafted by the Brewers in the second round of last year’s draft, but he opted not to sign. After missing the first part of the season, Levonas has already pitched his way into Wake Forest’s weekend rotation and has collected 30 strikeouts in 25 innings. He’s a good athlete who has a fast, whippy arm stroke and a high-octane arsenal that includes a quartet of intriguing weapons. In addition to a fastball that’s been up to 97 mph, Levonas features a sharp, low-80s slider, a banger 12-to-6 curveball in the mid 80s and a power changeup that flashes serious fade to the arm side. He’s had difficulty harnessing his stuff at times, and there’s reliever risk, but his upside his immense.

School: Notre Dame
Age At Draft: 21.3
While Watters didn’t have the same type of draft buzz as some of the other players on this list, he’s exploded onto the scene in his first season at Notre Dame. The 6-foot-2 outfielder is hitting .305/.432/.533 with nine doubles, eight home runs, 35 RBIs and more walks (31) than strikeouts (26). He has a strong, physical look in the box with impressive hand and bat speed. He has shown the ability to drive the baseball with authority to all fields, though his highest quality of contact has come to the pull side. Watters has a maximum exit velocity of 113.5 mph and nearly half of his batted balls have had an exit velocity of at least 95. Watters also has present barrel skills and, at least in the early going, an offensive profile that is somewhat reminiscent of 2024 Giants first-rounder James Tibbs.

School: Vanderbilt
Age At Draft: 21.2
There’s a world in which Nye was a high draft pick last July if he was healthy. Now, he’s well on his way to being selected in a prominent spot in 2027. Nye is one of the best midweek starters in the country and has worked a 1.83 ERA with 46 strikeouts across 39.1 innings. He relies heavily on a low-90s fastball that has been up to 95 mph with impressive carry up in the zone. His low-80s slider has the makings of a future plus pitch and flashes sharp, two-plane tilt. Nye has a whippy arm stroke and a bit of a head whack in his delivery. He figures to slide seamlessly into the Commodores’ weekend rotation sooner rather than later.

School: LSU
Age At Draft: 21.8
Evans ranked inside the top 100 on the final iteration of last year’s BA 500, but he made it to campus. After being lights out in relief this spring, he recently made his first start and allowed just two runs across six innings against a loaded Tennessee lineup. Across 33 innings, Evans has amassed 47 strikeouts and has a 1.09 ERA. All three of Evans’ offerings—a mid-to-upper-90s fastball, mid-80s slider and mid-80s split changeup—generate whiffs. He spins his slider well, and he does a nice job of killing spin on his split-change, which flashes plus with late diving life. Evans is a good athlete who could potentially headline LSU’s rotation as soon as next spring.

School: Yale
Ohman this season has been one of the more fascinating stories in all of college baseball. Through 10 appearances—nine of which have been starts—the 6-foot righthander has pitched his way to a microscopic 0.89 ERA with 71 strikeouts to just 17 walks across 60.2 innings. Ohman is an advanced athlete who moves well on the mound and goes after hitters with a mighty effective fastball-slider combination. His heater has been up to 97 mph with over 20 inches of carry at times, while his mid-to-upper-80s gyro slider is a plus pitch that has generated a whopping 57% miss rate. Ohman rounds out his arsenal with a mid-80s changeup that’s flashed, though it lags behind his fastball and slider.

School: Auburn
Age At Draft: 21.9
It’s been an excellent season for Auburn to this point, and Fralick has been one of the team’s biggest contributors. Not only is he hitting .340/.406/.484 with 15 extra-base hits, but from a tools standpoint, he has flashed plus raw power, a plus arm and plus bat-to-ball skills to the tune of a 92% overall in-zone contact rate. Fralick’s defensive skillset needs to improve behind the plate, but he’ll have plenty of time to do exactly that over the next two seasons.

School: Florida
Age At Draft: 21.6
Lawson this spring has been one of the more impressive 2027-eligible hitters in the country. Through 45 games, the Canadian infielder has posted a .331/.447/.561 line with 10 doubles, eight home runs and 48 RBIs. He features a unique operation in which he has an ultra-high handset and drops and drifts them in his load, but it works. Lawson has present bat speed and presents an enticing hit-power combination, as each tool could grade out as above-average down the line. While he has an above-average arm, where he fits best on the dirt is a bit unclear.

School: TCU
Age At Draft: 21.2
Originally a member of the high school class of 2025, Franco re-classed to 2024 and had some top five- round buzz last summer. He’s since emerged as one of the Horned Frogs’ most productive hitters, collecting 19 extra-base hits with 32 RBIs through 42 games. Franco has an explosive swing with big-time bat speed and plus raw power, and adding a coat or two of polish to his hit tool will only further enhance his offensive ceiling. He’s also logged 12 innings on the mound where he’s flashed a fastball up to 97 mph and an effective slider. His long-term future, however, is as a position player.

School: Florida
Age At Draft: 21.1
After beginning the season coming out of the bullpen, King has enjoyed success as a starter, collecting 53 strikeouts across 49.1 innings. He deploys a three-pitch mix that includes a low-to-mid-90s fastball that plays well up in the zone, a low-80s slider and a mid-80s changeup. King doesn’t have a bonafide plus pitch quite yet, though both his slider and changeup have flashed. He has a fast arm, and his stuff figures to continue to tick up as he matures.

School: Texas
Age At Draft: 21.8
Volantis gained momentum as last year’s draft cycle progressed, but he wound up making it to Austin, where he’s established himself as one of college baseball’s premier relievers. A 6-foot-6 lefthander with plenty of room to fill out, Volantis attacks from a high slot and primarily goes after hitters with his fastball-slider combination. Though his fastball sits in the upper 80s and has been up to 93 mph, it’s easy to dream on more velocity coming. Volantis has an advanced feel for a low-80s breaking ball that has generated an eyebrow-raising whiff rate north than 50%. He looks the part of a future Friday starter for the Longhorns.

School: Oregon State
Age At Draft: 21.5
Whitney was one of the buzziest prep arms last spring and had plenty of top two-round chatter, but he made it campus The 6-foot-5 righthander possesses a high-octane arsenal that includes a mid-90s fastball that has been up to 98 mph, two swing-and-miss breaking balls in a low-to-mid-80s slider and a high-70s curveball and a seldom-used mid-80s changeup. Whitney’s heater plays well up in the zone thanks to its riding life, while his curveball, which features sharp, downward tilt, is his best secondary.

School: Texas
Age At Draft: 21.2
Rodriguez has been a key cog within the top-ranked Longhorns’ starting nine and has posted a .302/.384/.535 line with nine doubles, seven home runs and 17 RBIs through 34 games. At the dish, he’s flashed comfortably-plus bat-to-ball skills and budding power to go along with a polished approach. Rodriguez profiles best at third base defensively, though he’s also logged a handful of games in left field.

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 is an asset to help him get on base and in center field, where he projects to stick with good instincts and a strong arm.

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 then later as a top-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: 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 low to mid 70s and a splitter in the upper 70s.

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 slide in the low 80s and a changeup in the upper 70s.

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. His older brother, Kyle, played for Virginia and was a first round pick by the Red Sox in 2023.

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 an 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: 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 needs more reps against quality secondaries. Carrero is a fringy runner now, but could get quicker with more strength.

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: Kansas Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.1

Moore is a 6-foot-1, 200-pound righthander and 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: Corona Del Sol HS, Tempe, Ariz. Drafted/Committed: BYU
Age At Draft: 18.4

LoRe is a 5-foot-11, 180-pound shortstop and righthanded hitter with solid pure contact skills. He doesn’t miss frequently and can put the barrel on the ball with a chance for an average hit tool, though his raw power is just fringy. A shortstop now, LoRe is an average runner with fine quickness in the infield and might be a better fit for third base or second in the long run.

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: 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, Walters sits in the 94-98 mph range with a fastball that will touch 98 and uses a low-80s slider as his primary swing-and-miss offering. He also has a mid-80s changeup but rarely uses it.

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 began focusing on hitting only as a sophomore. A 6-foot, 190-pound infielder, outfielder and righthanded hitter, Monistere 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 took a big step forward in 2025.

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 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: Texas Tech Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.9

Bravo is a performance-over-tools righthanded hitter who has played all three outfield spots for Texas Tech and became a regular as a sophomore. In 2025 he served as the team’s primary right fielder and began to convert a few more of his gap doubles into home runs. Bravo is a bit of a free swinger who doesn’t take too many walks and doesn’t have a clear carrying tool to hang his hat on.

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 junior 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 and has homered to all fields. He’s shown solid power without a significant amount of swing and miss, and has done a nice job cutting his strikeouts and boosting his walks as a junior.

School: Ole Miss Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.9

Morris is a physical righthander with a 6-foot-4, 225-pound frame. He’s pitched out of the bullpen for three seasons with Ole Miss but made a significant jump in stuff from 2024 to 2025. He now averages around 96 mph with his fastball and will touch 99, while mixing in harder breaking stuff as well. He has a cutter in the low 90s and a slider in the upper 80s. The jump in stuff has come with a career-best strikeout rate and walk rate.

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, Palmer 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: Choctaw (Okla.) HS Drafted/Committed: Tennessee
Age At Draft: 19.7

Williams is a hard-nosed, high-energy grinder of a player with a couple of plus tools on his scout card. At 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, Williams has present physicality and plus raw power that comes from a high-effort swing that features a big leg kick and a significant step-in-the-bucket action. He’s a pull-oriented hitter who tends to be a bit of a free swinger as well 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 HS, Mishawaka, Ind. Drafted/Committed: LSU
Age At Draft: 18.4

Braun is a compact and strong lefthanded hitter and first baseman with a knack for hitting. He’s a bit undersized for a first baseman at 6-feet, 195 pounds, but he is well developed with a strong lower half and lots of bat speed in his swing. There’s some noise in his setup, including a high handset and a notable hand hitch, but Braun has feel for the barrel and tends to get through the zone with good timing to go with a standout batting eye. He’s a below-average runner who might be able to play a corner outfield spot.

School: East Tennessee State Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.2

Gallagher played two seasons with Sante Fe (Fla.) JC before transferring to East Tennessee State for the 2025 season. A 5-foot-10, 175-pound third baseman and righthanded hitter, Gallagher’s carrying offensive tool is his batting eye. He walked more than he struck out in junior college, and while his strikeouts have ballooned against Division I competition, he still rarely expands the zone, takes his walks and has pull side power.

School: Las Vegas (Nev.) HS Drafted/Committed: Ole Miss
Age At Draft: 19.4

Bull is a lefthanded hitting projection slugger with a huge 6-foot-5, 190-pound frame that has plenty of room to add mass and physicality in the future. His raw power is his carrying tool, and it comes with long levers and good bat speed with a smooth, uphill path through the zone. While Bull’s power is impressive, his pure hitting ability needs more polish. He has lots of swing-and-miss tendencies and can be put off-balance with quality secondaries. As a fringy or below average runner, Bull should fit best in a corner outfield—where his strong arm would play nicely in right—or first base.

School: Stetson Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 22.0

Van Dyke is a big and strong righthanded reliever with a hoppy fastball that misses bats. Listed at 6-foot-2, 255 pounds, Van Dyke sits in the 91-93 mph range and touches 95, but has generated around a 40% miss rate with the pitch in 2025 thanks to the riding life he generates. He also mixes in a low-80s slider, mid-70s curveball and a low-80s changeup.

School: NC State Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.2

Andrews is a draft-eligible sophomore who pitched in a limited role as a reliever for NC State during his 2024 freshman season, but moved into a full-time starting role in 2025. Listed at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, Andrews has a sinking fastball that averages 92-93 mph and will touch 95. His mid-80s slider is a high spin sweeper and his primary secondary, and he rounds out his arsenal with a mid-80s changeup.

School: Oregon Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.5

Grinsell is a 6-foot-1, 195-pound lefthander who was second in appearances for Oregon as a freshman reliever in 2023. He then moved to a starting role in 2024 and 2025 where he has been a scattered, but effective, pitcher since. Grinsell has a light fastball that sits in the upper 80s and will touch 92 and comes with above-average riding life. His go-to secondary is a changeup in the upper 70s and low 80s, though he will mix in a soft downer mid-70s curveball and a shorter breaking ball variant in the low 80s.

School: Troy Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 22.1

Edders is a redshirt junior with a 6-foot-4, 230-pound frame who spent two seasons with Bradley before transferring to Troy in 2025. Initially a scattered-control split starter, Edders has gradually improved his strikes each season and in 2025 pitched as a full-time starter for Troy. He throws his fastball in the low 90s and will touch 96 and uses a low-80s slider as his primary swing-and-miss offering. Edders also throws a mid-80s changeup.

School: LSU Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.9

Ware pitched two seasons with Pearl River (Miss.) JC where he flashed solid stuff but dealt with injuries that limited his innings. He transferred to LSU for the 2025 season where he pitched as both a starter and reliever. A big and broad-shouldered 6-foot-4, 220-pound lefthander, Ware has a four-pitch mix led by a 90-92 mph fastball that gets up to 95. He also mixes an upper-70s curveball, a low-80s changeup and a low-80s slider. His control is scattered across the board.

School: Iowa Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.0

Savary is a skinny righthander with a 6-foot-3, 180-pound frame and a crossfire delivery. He pitched as a reliever for two years with Iowa before moving into a starting role in 2025. Savary has a light fastball that sits in the 88-90 mph range and will touch 93, but has always managed to strike out a decent number of batters thanks to his secondaries. He throws a big, sweeping breaking ball in the mid 70s that has tons of movement and depth and will also get swings and misses with a low-80s changeup.

School: Florida Gulf Coast Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.3

Henschel is a 6-foot-3, 190-pound righthander who appeared to be on the verge of a breakout season in 2025 with Florida Gulf Coast. After sitting in the mid 90s in the fall, Henschel opened up the 2025 season with a fastball that averaged 93-95 mph and touched 97. He paired that improved heater with a hard mid-80s slider that generated a 50% miss rate in his first three outings. He left in the middle of his third game of the season vs. Georgia with an injury and hasn’t returned to the mound since.

School: Georgia Southern Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.9

Tate is a 5-foot-11, 180-pound outfielder and second baseman who started his career with Georgia but transferred to Georgia Southern for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Tate has been a well-rounded offensive player with power, speed and on-base skills at Georgia Southern, though his power didn’t translate to wood bats in a 21-game stint in the Cape Cod League in 2024. He’s shown solid plate discipline and makes a lot of contact within the strike zone.

School: Central Florida Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.1

Jimenez is a draft-eligible shortstop who started his college career with Miami but transferred to Central Florida for the 2025 season. Jimenez has a 6-foot-1, 200-pound frame and an aggressive approach from the right side that comes with some power to the pull side. He struggled offensively with Miami and in a 39-game stint in the Cape Cod League but hit over .330 with seven home runs and 11 doubles through his first 40 games with Central Florida.

School: Hawaii Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 22.1

O’Brien is a lanky righthander with a 6-foot-5, 215-pound frame who throws with a stiff and ultra compact arm action. He pitched two seasons in junior college before a 2024 junior season with Gonzaga where he made only five appearances, then settled into a regular starting role with Hawaii in 2025. O’Brien has a two-pitch mix that features a low-90s fastball that has touched 96 and a hard power curve in the 80-85 mph range. His pitch mix and below-average control point to a reliever role at the next level.

School: Duke Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.6

Proksch is a 6-foot-3, 225-pound lefthander and Texas native who pitched out of Duke’s bullpen as a freshman and sophomore. He worked his way into a starting role in late March during his 2025 junior season and has generally been one of the team’s most reliable arms. Proksch throws a three-pitch mix that includes an 89-91 mph fastball that touches 94, a sweeping slider around 80 mph and a less frequently used changeup in the low 80s. Proksch has some deception in his delivery with a crossfire landing and a low three-quarters slot.

School: Virginia Military Institute Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 22.2

Prince is a 5-foot-9, 175-pound contact merchant who’s played all three outfield positions and a handful of games at catcher with VMI. Prince has always walked at a strong clip in college, and he’s also cut his strikeout rate significantly in each season. He’s a contact-oriented, ground ball hitter who slaps the ball the other way with consistency and has extremely impressive contact and in-zone contact rates. If a team thinks Prince can catch it would make him an interesting versatility option, but his old school game, size and lack of power could make him a polarizing prospect.

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 in Utah. 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, and 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: Butler Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 22.1

Moroknek is a 6-foot-3, 185-pound outfielder and lefthanded hitter with power. He didn’t play his 2023 freshman season with Butler, but broke out in a 2024 redshirt sophomore season and held a .400 batting average through 40 games in 2025. There’s a bit of stiffness to his swing and he can get pull-happy while leaking out with his lower half, but his top-end exit velocity is impressive and has allowed him to generate plenty of extra-base damage.

School: Loyola Marymount Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 22.3

Ankeney spent three seasons at Grand Canyon before transferring to Loyola Marymount for his redshirt junior campaign in 2025. With a 6-foot-4, 235-pound frame, Ankeney has plenty of physicality and raw power, with impressive top end exit velocities and in-game home runs that mostly go to the pull side. He’s an aggressive hitter who expands the zone a bit too frequently and needs to clean up his misses vs. secondaries. He moves reasonably well for his size—potentially enough to fit in an outfield corner—but is a definite corner profile who’s most likely to land at first base.

School: Lamar Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.3

Ruiz is a 6-foot-1, 170-pound outfielder who spent two years as a middling performer with Houston Christian, but transferred to Lamar in 2025 where he has been one of the most impressive hitters in the Southland Conference. Ruiz doesn’t boast significant home run power or top-end exit velocities, but instead stands out for his approach and contact skills. He’s a patient hitter who doesn’t expand the zone much and makes tons of contact when he does swing. Ruiz plays right field for Lamar but doesn’t have typical power for the position and could profile as a tweener outfielder because of that.

School: Delsea Regional HS, Franklinville, N.J. Drafted/Committed: Coastal Carolina
Age At Draft: 17.8

Cairone is a 6-foot-2, 200-pound lefthander who is young for the class and has great natural feel to spin the ball. After pitching in the mid 80s during the 2024 summer, Cairone took a big step forward with his velocity in 2025. He was throwing his heater in the low 90s and topping out around 94 mph, and also has a big, sweeping breaking ball in the 78-83 mph range that pushes 3,000 rpm.

School: Illinois State Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.7

Pacella is a big and physical 6-foot-4, 235-pound lefthanded hitter who has been a double-digit home run producer for three seasons with Illinois State. Pacellla has hit over .300 in each season with Illinois State and is a great fastball hitter, but his underlying miss tendencies and struggles vs. secondaries point to a power-over-hit profile at the next level. He generates impressive exit velocities and consistently gets the ball in the air to his pull side to take advantage of his raw power. He’s a below-average runner and will be limited to a corner.

School: Penn State Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.0

Weingartner was an All-Atlantic 10 first team player after a 2024 season where he hit 25 homers and stole 18 bases with St. Joseph’s. After two years with the program, Weingartner transferred to Penn State for his 2025 junior season. He hasn’t replicated the same offensive performers but does have solid on-base skills and some occasional power. Weingartner is a patient hitter who doesn’t expand the zone too often and has always taken his share of walks. At 5-foot-11, 185 pounds, he doesn’t offer much physical projection but he’s a good runner and can play a premium defensive position.

School: Duke Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.8

Tallon is a lean, high-waisted lefthander with a 6-foot-5, 195 pound frame who attacks hitters from a deceptive low slot. He throws a fastball in the 90-93 mph range and has touched 95, but the pitch has played up in college thanks to solid riding life and a flat vertical approach angle. The fastball is Tallon’s best pitch, and he has always used it with extreme usage—including around 70% usage in 2025—but he will mix in an 80-85 mph slider with glove side cutting action and very little depth as well as an occasional mid-80s changeup. Tallon is a below-average strike-thrower with a deep, plunging arm action.

School: Crespi Carmelite HS, Los Angeles Drafted/Committed: LSU
Age At Draft: 18.4

Hodge is a lean lefthanded hitter and catcher with a 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame and a quick bat. Historically an aggressive hitter, Hodge showed solid plate discipline throughout the 2024 showcase circuit but some swing-and-miss tendencies vs. all pitch types that led to a decent number of strikeouts. When he’s locked in and on time Hodge has a line drive swing and can drive the ball up the middle and to both gaps. He’s an agile defender with the hands, athleticism and tools to be a good catcher. He sticks the ball nicely when he receives and can block effectively. Hodge also has a strong throwing arm.

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. Hintz 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 glove-side 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: Mercer Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.1

Dalley is a 6-foot-4, 215-pound slugger who has been a consistent home run threat for Mercer since he stepped on campus. Through parts of three seasons the lefthanded hitter and outfielder homered 54 times in 158 games—just two off the Mercer program home run record. He’s an aggressive hitter with a violent, effortful swing that comes with some swing-and-miss tendencies and big-time pull side power. His swing and approach should always make him a power-over-hit offensive profile. He’s spent time at first base but as a sophomore and junior has mostly been Mercer’s everyday right fielder.

Minor League Top Prospects

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

Charros de Jalisco signed free agent 1B Grant Lavigne.

ACL Athletics released C Angel Rivera.

Toros de Tijuana released RHP Parker Dunshee.

Toros de Tijuana signed free agent RHP Jorge Rondon.

1B Yuli Gurriel elected free agency.

LHP Ozzie Mendez assigned to Caliente de Durango.

Caliente de Durango activated OF David Hensley from the reserve list.

Caliente de Durango placed RHP Felipe Acosta on the reserve list.

RHP Tyler Ras assigned to Fayetteville Woodpeckers.

ACL Reds placed SS Tyson Lewis on the 7-day injured list.

ACL Reds placed LHP Edwin Cervantes on the 7-day injured list.

Caliente de Durango placed LHP Josh Smith on the reserve list.

OF Starlin Mieses assigned to DSL Orioles Orange.

C Brandon Jaime assigned to ACL Reds from DSL Rojos.

RHP Cesar Gomez assigned to Reno Aces from Amarillo Sod Poodles.

RHP Josue Lopez assigned to ACL Reds from DSL Rojos.

Reno Aces transferred C Jeremiah Boyd to the Development List.

RHP Jose Trevizo assigned to DSL Giants Black.

2B Cesar Garcia assigned to DSL Miami.

Visalia Rawhide sent C Kenny Castillo on a rehab assignment to ACL D-backs.

RHP Enrique Velasquez assigned to DSL Brewers Gold.

Arizona Diamondbacks sent RHP Kendall Graveman on a rehab assignment to ACL D-backs.

SS Cristian Montilla assigned to DSL Brewers Gold.

Somerset Patriots placed LHP Edgar Barclay on the 7-day injured list.

Somerset Patriots activated RHP Kelly Austin from the 7-day injured list.

Lehigh Valley IronPigs transferred LHP Nick Vespi to the Development List.

SS Juan Elejandro assigned to DSL Braves.

Tigres de Quintana Roo released LHP Jacob Smith.

Tigres de Quintana Roo signed free agent RHP Pedro Peniche.

Tigres de Quintana Roo signed free agent LHP Yeury Gervacio.

LHP Alonso Becerra assigned to Sultanes de Monterrey.

Acereros del Norte placed RHP Oscar Soria on the reserve list.

C Erick Rodriguez assigned to Sultanes de Monterrey.

Acereros del Norte activated SS Alfredo Reyes from the reserve list.

Syracuse Mets transferred RHP Jordan Geber to the Development List.

SS Fernando Peguero assigned to Norfolk Tides from Delmarva Shorebirds.

Acereros del Norte signed free agent 1B Kennys Vargas.

Delmarva Shorebirds placed SS Steven Ondina on the 7-day injured list.

Tecos de los Dos Laredos activated RHP Adrian De Horta from the reserve list.

Portland Sea Dogs placed RHP Caleb Bolden on the 7-day injured list.

Tacoma Rainiers activated RHP Troy Taylor.

Tecos de los Dos Laredos placed C Eduardo Luna on the reserve list.

Tacoma Rainiers placed LHP Tayler Saucedo on the 7-day injured list.

LHP Nick Margevicius assigned to Toledo Mud Hens.

Rieleros de Aguascalientes released RHP Chris Muller.

RHP Henry Henry assigned to Rieleros de Aguascalientes.

Cedar Rapids Kernels activated 2B Jose Salas from the 7-day injured list.

Charlotte Knights transferred RHP Chris Rodriguez to the Development List.

RHP Joander Suarez assigned to Binghamton Rumble Ponies from Syracuse Mets.

San Diego Padres sent CF Jackson Merrill on a rehab assignment to San Antonio Missions.

RHP Nate Webb assigned to Aberdeen IronBirds from Norfolk Tides.

OF Edwin Brito assigned to FCL Red Sox from DSL Red Sox Red.

FCL Red Sox placed RHP Alvaro Mejias on the 60-day injured list.

Clearwater Threshers sent RHP Orlando Gonzalez on a rehab assignment to FCL Phillies.

FCL Phillies placed OF Jaeden Calderon on the 7-day injured list.

Clearwater Threshers sent C Angel Mata on a rehab assignment to FCL Phillies.

C Yhoan Escalona assigned to FCL Phillies from Clearwater Threshers.

RHP Jorge De Leon assigned to St. Lucie Mets from FCL Mets.

FCL Phillies placed RHP Naoel Mejia on the 60-day injured list.

FCL Phillies placed RHP Wilmer Blanco on the 7-day injured list.

IF Eyeksson Rojas assigned to FCL Nationals from DSL Nationals.

RHP Tanner Witt assigned to St. Lucie Mets from FCL Mets.

Louisville Bats sent RHP Connor Phillips on a rehab assignment to Dayton Dragons.

RHP Juan Sanchez assigned to FCL Braves from Augusta GreenJackets.

Daytona Tortugas activated SS Bernard Moon from the 7-day injured list.

LHP Nick Sando assigned to Daytona Tortugas from Dayton Dragons.

Iowa Cubs released RHP Trevor Richards.

OF Yeiferth Castillo assigned to ACL Guardians from Columbus Clippers.

RHP Grant Cherry assigned to Hickory Crawdads.

RHP Alberto Mota assigned to Hub City Spartanburgers from Hickory Crawdads.

Olmecas de Tabasco activated RHP Bubby Rossman from the reserve list.

Fredericksburg Nationals activated C Christian Fagnant.

Peoria Chiefs activated OF Ian Petrutz from the 7-day injured list.

Bravos de Leon released RHP Juan Mateo.

Fredericksburg Nationals sent OF Sam Petersen on a rehab assignment to FCL Nationals.

Fredericksburg Nationals sent RHP Travis Sykora on a rehab assignment to FCL Nationals.

Gwinnett Stripers released RHP Chad Kuhl.

Rome Emperors released 2B Carlos Arroyo.

DSL Arizona Red released RHP Reinel Caicedo.

Bowling Green Hot Rods placed LHP T.J. Fondtain on the 7-day injured list retroactive to May 2, 2025.

Bowling Green Hot Rods placed 3B Tony Santa Maria on the 7-day injured list retroactive to May 2, 2025.

DSL Rojos placed C Brandon Jaime on the 60-day injured list.

Northwest Arkansas Naturals placed LF Connor Scott on the full-season injured list.

DSL Rockies released OF Wuilker Cumare.

Clearwater Threshers transferred LHP Erik Ritchie to the Development List.

Harrisburg Senators transferred RHP Jose Atencio from the 7-day injured list to the 60-day injured list.

Tacoma Rainiers activated RHP Sauryn Lao.

RHP Cole McDonald retired.

FCL Yankees placed RHP Jorge Luna on the full-season injured list.

FCL Yankees placed RHP Jerson Alejandro on the full-season injured list.

FCL Yankees placed RHP Sabier Marte on the full-season injured list.

Daytona Tortugas placed RHP Shawn Guilliams on the full-season injured list.

Lehigh Valley IronPigs activated RHP Daniel Robert.

Lehigh Valley IronPigs released RHP Jose Cuas.

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers placed RHP Manuel Rodriguez on the 7-day injured list.

FCL Nationals activated OF Francesco Barbieri.

FCL Nationals released RHP Adrian Ogando.

ACL D-backs activated RHP Daniel Eagen.

Aberdeen IronBirds activated LHP Walter Pennington.

Cedar Rapids Kernels sent 2B Jose Salas on a rehab assignment to Fort Myers Mighty Mussels.

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