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Organization Prospect Rankings
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BA Grade/Risk: 40/Average
Adjusted Grade: 30
Track Record: Cornelio played high school ball in Colorado before spending three years at Texas Christian. His lone full year in the rotation was 2022, when he led the Horned Frogs in strikeouts. The Nationals drafted Cornelio in the seventh round in 2022, and he plodded through the Class A levels in 2023 and 2024 with high walk rates and bloated ERAs. He reversed course in 2025, finishing second in the system with both 135 strikeouts and 134.1 innings, mostly at Double-A Harrisburg. He reached Triple-A, won the organization’s pitcher of the year award and was added to the 40-man roster in November.
Scouting Report: Cornelio threw nearly 3 mph harder in 2025 than he had the year before, helping to key his breakthrough to the upper levels. He pitched at 94 mph in 2025 and topped out at 98, the result of tweaking his delivery and getting more of his body into his delivery. His four-seamer features riding and running action. Cornelio tightened his mid-80s slider and threw more strikes with it. It’s his go-to secondary pitch with cutter action that hitters don’t see well. His mid-80s changeup flashes average and helps him compete versus lefthanded hitters. Cornelio is an extreme flyball pitcher with fringy control, and advanced hitters will make him pay when he misses spots.
The Future: Cornelio could be a late-bloomer with future swingman or bullpen value, perhaps along the lines of what Brad Lord contributed as a rookie in 2025.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 45 -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/Average
Adjusted Grade: 30
Track Record: Liñan signed with the Dodgers out of Colombia in 2022. He pitched at Rookie ball for two seasons before reaching Low-A in June 2024. He opened back in the California League in 2025 but earned a quick promotion after striking out 44% of batters. Liñan continued pitching effectively at High-A when Los Angeles traded him along with Eriq Swan to the Nationals in the Alex Call deal at the deadline.
Scouting Report: Liñan is a shorter, stockier righthander with a mediocre fastball but an absolutely deadly offspeed pitch. He throws a high-spin changeup in the low 80s that behaves like a screwball and has been likened to Devin Williams’ famous “airbender.” It is thrown with an average of more than 2,600 rpm. Class A hitters whiffed at Liñan’s changeup on two-thirds of their swings, and it’s a highly effective two-strike chase pitch. He takes a long stride and gets great extension while delivering from a three-quarters arm slot, helping his low-90s fastball and mid-80s slider/cutter approach average. He is a fringy strike-thrower and doesn’t have a great option to his glove side.
The Future: Liñan’s physique and changeup-driven profile point to a future in the bullpen, where he can air out his fastball and lean more heavily on his change-of-pace.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 45 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 70 | Control: 45 -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
Adjusted Grade: 30
Track Record: Tejeda is a South Florida prep who spent one season at Florida and one at Florida State, often working as a reliever, before the Nationals drafted him in the 14th round in 2024. Given his lighter college workload, Tejeda opened his first pro season in 2025 at Low-A Fredericksburg. He struck out 74 in 78.2 innings with a 3.43 ERA over 16 starts. He advanced to High-A Wilmington at the end of July, but his season ended with what the Nationals describe as a minor injury after two starts.
Scouting Report: Tejeda is an extra-tall, wiry righthander who uses his 6-foot-8 height to his full advantage by getting down the mound with elite extension of more than 7 feet on all his pitch types. He is primarily a fastball/slider pitcher with a three-quarters arm slot and east-west attack that presents a tough look for righthanded batters. Tejeda pitches around 93 mph and topped out at 97 in 2025, with plus tailing action on his four-seamer and sinker. He throws a firm mid-80s slider with good depth and a low-80s sweeper version that features a foot of break. His mid-80s changeup can be an effective weapon versus lefties with its lower spin and fading action. Tejeda is a good strike-thrower despite his long levers.
The Future: If Tejeda’s stuff plays against lefthanded hitters and he can weather a full-season workload, he has the type of profile that could eventually fit as a No. 4 starter.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50 -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
Adjusted Grade: 30
Track Record: Cruz is a Dominican Republic native who had an international free agent contract offer fall through. He then moved to Florida and played two prep seasons at Miami Christian School and was still 17 years old when the Cubs drafted him in the third round in 2024. Cruz made his pro debut the following season and batted .270/.314/.431 with two home runs and 10 stolen bases in 48 games in the Arizona Complex League. The Cubs dealt him to the Nationals at the 2025 trade deadline as part of the package for Michael Soroka. Cruz did not play after the trade.
Scouting Report: Cruz is a lean 6-foot-2 shortstop with room to fill out his frame and add power. He shows above-average power in batting practice and made plenty of hard contact in his ACL pro debut. He is a pull-oriented hitter who will sometimes leak out on his front side and lose his hitting base. In the field, Cruz has clean actions, an above-average arm and a good internal clock at shortstop. It’s possible he outgrows the position and moves to third base. He is an above-average runner who could slow down as he matures.
The Future: Cruz could develop into a power-over-hit major league infielder, possibly at shortstop, but his development will take time. He should open 2026 at Low-A Fredericksburg, where he will vie for playing time with fellow shortstops Eli Willits and Angel Feliz.
Scouting Grades Hit: 40 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Field: 55 | Arm: 55 -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/Average
Adjusted Grade: 30
Track Record: The Cubs drafted Franklin in the fourth round in 2021 after three years at Arkansas. A torn patellar tendon in his left knee the following spring wiped out his season, but he returned in 2023 to play primarily at High-A and then rose to Double-A in 2024. Franklin was playing at Triple-A Iowa in 2025 when the Cubs traded him to the Nationals as part of the package for Michael Soroka. Washington added Franklin to the 40-man roster in November to shield him from the Rule 5 draft.
Scouting Report: Franklin is an undersized, righthanded-hitting outfielder with good instincts for the game, on-base skills and a likely future as a fourth outfielder. He hits the ball hard with a balanced swing that helps him make steady line-drive contact. He is a contact-oriented hitter who makes pitchers come to him with strong plate discipline and high walk rates. He owns a career .393 OBP in the minors. Franklin would be capable of hitting 10-plus home runs with a full season of play. He is an above-average defender at all three outfield spots with an above-average arm. He is an average runner who can steal the occasional base.
The Future: Franklin will be 26 years old in 2026 and will be ready for his first taste of the big leagues. He could fill a role similar to the one Alex Call occupied in 2025 as a righthanded-hitting, on-base-oriented extra outfielder.
Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 50 | Field: 55 | Arm: 55 -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
Adjusted Grade: 30
Track Record: Sime grew up in Queens and attended Brooklyn’s Poly Prep Country Day School, where he was recognized as the Gatorade New York player of the year as a senior in 2025. Pitching in the MLB Draft League in June, he recorded the first-ever 100 mph pitch in the five-year history of the league. Not that he needed any additional helium. Sime was already regarded as one of the hardest throwers among high school pitchers in the 2025 draft. The Nationals bought him out of an LSU commitment when they drafted him in the fourth round and signed him for $2 million.
Scouting Report: Sime has a filled-out 6-foot-4, 235-pound frame with broad shoulders and a strong foundation. He looks the part of power pitcher, and that’s exactly what he is with consistent upper-90s velocity with a peak of 100 mph. Sime’s frame allows him to hold velocity, which he proved in a 100-pitch matchup against SoCal power Corona at the 2025 National High School Invitational. He throws a low-80s curveball that flashes average with 11-to-5 shape and bite. The Nationals like the running, sinking action on Sime’s mid-80s changeup and see it as a potential weapon versus lefthanded batters. Sime has an effortful delivery and deep arm action, so maintaining flexibility and keeping his mechanics on line will be key to refining present below-average control.
The Future: Sime’s long trek through the minor leagues begins in 2026. His goals will be building his workload and adapting his repertoire as needed.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 70 | Curveball: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 40 -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
Adjusted Grade: 30
Track Record: The Nationals signed Mota out of the Dominican Republic in 2022, and he spent the better part of three seasons in Rookie ball. Assigned to Low-A Fredericksburg out of spring training in 2025, the 20-year-old was the most productive regular on the team and one of the more productive in the pitcher-friendly Carolina League. Mota batted .270/.341/.409 with six home runs and 25 stolen bases in 81 games.
Scouting Report: Mota is a 6-foot-3 righthanded hitter with broad shoulders and a lanky but strong build. He has a hyper-aggressive hitting approach and likes to swing the bat. He has as much raw power as any Nationals prospect and has the exit velocity data to prove it. Mota’s 90th EV of 109 mph was one of the highest in the minor leagues in 2025. But he needs to be more selective to access even average power production, because his 2025 miss rate (39%) and chase rate (34%) are both prohibitive. Those factors contributed to a high groundball rate of 53%. Mota is a plus runner who has begun to amp up his basestealing aggressiveness. He has a chance to become an average defensive third baseman, thanks in part to his double-plus arm.
The Future: Mota took giant strides in 2025 but still has work to do to become even a second-division third baseman. Enhanced selective aggression would serve him well, because he has obvious 20-homer potential if he can identify which pitches he can drive in the air.
Scouting Grades Hit: 30 | Power: 50 | Run: 60 | Field: 40 | Arm: 70 -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Average
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: After signing with the Rangers out of the Dominican Republic in 2022, Cabrera spent the next two seasons in the Dominican Summer League before moving stateside in 2024. He played a career-best 102 games in 2025—all at Low-A Hickory—and posted a .730 OPS. The Nationals acquired Cabrera as one of five prospects in their January 2026 MacKenzie Gore trade with the Rangers.
Scouting Report: Cabrera is a solid all-around player who does a little of everything but needs a bit more oomph on offense to project as an everyday player. The lefthanded-hitting Cabrera does a solid job controlling the zone and can put a charge into a ball every now and then but mostly fills his slugging percentage with doubles and triples. His best-struck drives have reached 110 mph and he does a solid job pulling the ball in the air, but he needs to show a bit more barrel accuracy in order to get the most out of his strength. He is also a non-factor against lefthanders, against whom he produced a .203/.329/.327 line with just two extra-base hits in 59 at-bats. Cabrera is a plus defender in center field thanks to strong instincts and plus speed and grades as the system’s best outfield defender. His arm is below-average, however, and he’ll sometimes rush through throws and sacrifice accuracy as a result.
The Future: Cabrera’s next stop will be High-A. If he can get more out of his hardest-hit balls, his stock will rise in kind. For now, he projects as a hitter who resides toward the bottom of a lineup and provides value on defense and on the bases.
Scouting Grades Hit: 45 | Power: 40 | Run: 60 | Field: 60 | Arm: 40 -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
Adjusted Grade: 30
Track Record: Serrano was trending up as the Jan. 15 international signing period opening bell approached. The lean, 6-foot-3 outfielder signed with the Nationals for $1.97 million out of the Dominican Republic. Scouts regarded him as one of the better lefthanded hitters in Latin America this year.
Scouting Report: Serrano stands out for his easy, fluid swing. He uses his hands well, stays through the middle of the field and has enough power to occasionally leave the yard to his pull side. He has a hit-over-power offensive game but has plenty of space left to fill out and grow into bigger home run juice as he reaches his physical maturity. Serrano’s defensive instincts give him a chance to start his career in center field. He’s at best an average runner, which might ultimately push him to a corner. He gets good reads off the bat, takes crisp routes, moves around with ease and has an above-average arm.
The Future: The Nationals’ hiring of president of baseball operations Paul Toboni in October ushered in sweeping changes to the organization’s domestic scouting and player development apparatuses, but its international agreements have been in place for a while. Serrano looks like an astute signing and has the potential to develop into an everyday corner outfielder.
Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Field: 50 | Arm: 55 -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Average
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: Lomavita played high school ball in Honolulu before serving as a three-year starter at California, the last two as primary catcher. The Nationals drafted him 39th overall in 2024, using the competitive balance pick they acquired from the Royals for reliever Hunter Harvey. Lomavita helped Low-A Fredericksburg win the Carolina League title in his first pro summer and then spent most of 2025 with High-A Wilmington. He hit just .275/.333/.364 with four home runs in 99 games, playing half his games in a brutal hitter’s park, before spending the final three series with Double-A Harrisburg.
Scouting Report: Lomavita is an athletic catcher who moves well behind the plate but has significant questions to answer about his framing ability and hitting approach. He likes to swing the bat and will follow the pitcher out of the zone, resulting in a lot of groundball contact and easy outs. Lomavita has the average bat speed and raw power to hit 10-plus home runs; it’s going to be about identifying pitches to hit and getting off his best swings. Behind the plate, he is a noisy receiver who needs to improve his framing to help gain strikes for his pitchers. He moves well laterally and blocks balls in the dirt. Lomavita has average arm strength that can be improved with more consistent throwing mechanics. He runs well for a catcher and can swipe the occasional base.
The Future: Lomavita is trending toward a role of bat-first backup catcher, but he has time to iron out his issues. The 2026 season will be just his third as a pro, and it’s one likely to be spent primarily at Double-A.
Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 45 | Field: 45 | Arm: 50 -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: German represented one of the best scouting-and-development stories in the Nationals’ system in 2025. Signed out of the Dominican Republic for $400,000 in January, he adapted quickly to pro ball as one of the Dominican Summer League’s top performers. German batted .283/.479/.513 with eight home runs and 33 stolen bases in 53 games. His steals total ranked seventh in the DSL, while his .992 OPS ranked fourth among qualified 17-year-old peers.
Scouting Report: German is a 5-foot-10, switch-hitting middle infielder with a well-rounded game. He has a fluid swing from both sides of the plate and a good eye for the strike zone, as demonstrated by him accumulating 43 walks against 42 strikeouts in his DSL debut. German does a good job keeping the ball off the ground and elevating to his pull side when the situation warrants. He’s young and untested, but as he adds strength and exit velocity, he could grade as average for hit and power. German is an above-average runner and effective basestealer. His body type should allow him to remain on the middle infield, potentially at shortstop with an above-average arm.
The Future: German is part of a growing contingent of shortstops at the lower levels of the Nationals’ system. He should continue seeing time there and at second base and will be a top candidate to play middle infield in the Florida Complex League in 2026.
Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Field: 55 | Arm: 55 -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Average
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: Morales’ father Andy played for the Cuban national team and reached Double-A as a third baseman for the Red Sox and Yankees. Yohandy starred at Miami for three years, hitting 20 homers as a junior in 2023, when the Nationals drafted him in the second round. He played at four levels during his pro debut that summer but was limited to 75 games in 2024 by a left thumb injury. Fully healthy in 2025, Morales spent most of the season at Triple-A Rochester and led the system with 31 doubles and ranked third with 15 homers and 57 walks.
Scouting Report: Morales is a physical, 6-foot-3 righthanded hitter with plus raw power and a buggy-whip swing he can use to drive the ball to right field. Many of his extra-base hits are struck to the middle of the field or the other way because he can wait on the ball and let his quick hands take over. He is an aggressive hitter with a longer swing who needs to rein in his chase rate to get the most out of his skills, especially in right-on-right matchups. A high strikeout rate cuts into his productivity. Morales is a below-average runner who has played more first base than third the past two seasons. He can make on-target throws from behind the bag at third base with an above-average arm, but his hands work better at first base.
The Future: Morales has a power-over-hit corner infield profile that means his outlook is dependent on extra-base production. If he hits at Triple-A, he should get an MLB look in Washington, which has no entrenched first baseman.
Scouting Grades Hit: 40 | Power: 50 | Run: 40 | Field: 45 | Arm: 55 -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/Mild
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: The Nationals drafted Pinckney in the fourth round in 2023 following four years at Alabama. He reached Double-A briefly in his first pro summer and spent most of 2024 at the level, reaching Triple-A for 23 games. That season, Pinckney showed speed with 27 stolen bases but struggled to access his raw power and slugged just .362 in 137 games. The tide began to turn in 2025 when Pinckney hit 20 home runs and stole 34 bases in 125 games for Triple-A Rochester. He was one of just five 20-20 players at Triple-A.
Scouting Report: Pinckney has a wider array of tools than any Nationals prospect. He is the system’s best athlete with double-plus speed, plus raw power and a cannon of an arm. Accessing those tools is going to be the key. Toward that end, Pinckney improved his selective aggression in 2025. He reduced his swing rate and his chase rate, and he hit the ball harder than ever, improving his 90th percentile exit velocity from about 106 mph in 2024 to about 108 in 2025. It’s going to come down to the frequency and angle of contact, because Pinckney had high strikeout (29%) and groundball rates (51%) that will inhibit his hit tool. He has double-plus speed to leg out infield hits, take extra bases on gappers and steal efficiently. Pinckney is an adept defender at all three outfield positions and grades as above-average at each spot. His double-plus arm is a deterrent to baserunners. Of the 22 Triple-A outfield throws of 100 mph or faster in 2025, Pinckney made eight of them.
The Future: Pinckney is a late bloomer who didn’t play much during his first two years of college. He stuck with Alabama, though, because he was born in Tuscaloosa and has family there. Now, that determination is beginning to bear fruit in pro ball, where he profiles as an extra outfielder with power, speed and fielding skill.
Scouting Grades Hit: 30 | Power: 55 | Run: 70 | Field: 55 | Arm: 80 -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Average
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: Kent is a suburban Chicago prep who attended Arizona for two years, moving into the rotation in 2024 as a draft-eligible sophomore. The Nationals drafted him in the fourth round. Kent reached Double-A Harrisburg in the second half of his first pro season, and while his ERA ballooned to 4.61 on the season, he finished third in the Nationals’ system with 132 strikeouts and fourth with 123 innings.
Scouting Report: Kent is a physical 6-foot-3 lefthander who pitches in the low 90s and gets up to 95 mph while throwing one of the better changeups in the system. His velocity is up several ticks from even two years ago, and his four-seamer gets a boost in effectiveness from extension down the mound of nearly 7 feet. The resulting low release height helps make it a trustworthy strike pitch as he moves it around the zone. Kent’s low-80s changeup has tremendous fade to his arm side and he sells the pitch effectively. It’s a potential plus weapon. He needs to sharpen a low-80s slider and mid-70s curveball to enhance his unpredictability. Kent threw a fastball or changeup about 75% of the time in 2025. He has better feel to command his slider and it could be average with more power. Kent needs to do a better job throwing strike one and working ahead of batters.
The Future: The Nationals view Kent as perhaps their top competitor on the mound, giving him a good chance to pitch in a rotation one day, most likely toward the back.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 40 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 50 -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: After watching him for three underwhelming seasons at Miami, the Rangers believed there was much more than met the eye in Rosario’s profile. They were right. In 2024, he dominated at two Class A stops and was one of the bigger breakout pitchers in the sport. Unfortunately, his progress was halted in 2025. A torn elbow ligament before spring training required Tommy John surgery, but the operation was delayed until 2026. As a result, he will miss all of the 2026 season as well. The Nationals acquired Rosario as one of five prospects included in their January 2026 MacKenzie Gore trade with the Rangers.
Scouting Report: The key to Rosario’s 2024 breakthrough campaign was the return of a splitter that had been shelved during his career in Coral Gables. The pitch was used as a north-south complement to his four-seamer. The Rangers also moved Rosario to the third-base side of the rubber to help his fastball play up another notch above its 97 mph average velocity. Both of those pitches graded as potential plus offerings, and his curveball checked in a tick lower at a 55-grade offering on the 20-to-80 scouting scale. As if Rosario’s pitch mix wasn’t impressive enough on its own, he pounded the zone relentlessly and looked like he had a chance to reach double-plus control. He finished the year with a 68% strike rate and got into a 3-0 count just once all year. In addition to the elbow injury, Rosario dealt with a shoulder impingement before the 2024 season.
The Future: Rosario’s standout performance in his lone pro season vaulted him onto the Top 100 Prospects, and a strong encore would have pushed him into a place among the game’s elite. Now, his career is on hold until he can recover from a series of issues that will wind up costing him two full seasons.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 55 | Split: 60 | Control: 70 -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Average
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: Petry was second-team All-America as a freshman in 2023, when he blasted 23 home runs for South Carolina. That would prove to be his highest single-season total, though he still mashed 54 homers and slugged .661 in three years of Southeastern Conference play. Petry might have topped Justin Smoak’s program record of 62 homers had he not missed time as a junior with a shoulder strain. The Nationals drafted Petry in the second round in 2025 and signed him for a slightly above-slot $2.09 million. He got into 24 games for Low-A Fredericksburg and then played in the Arizona Fall League.
Scouting Report: Petry is a physical, 6-foot-4 righthanded hitter with the plus bat speed to do serious damage when he connects. He is a welcome addition to a Nationals system largely devoid of power. Petry hits the ball as hard as virtually any Washington minor league hitter and could get to plus game power. He has a long swing and had a zone-contact rate of roughly 70% in his pro debut, factors that raise questions about his hitting ability. He does a good job laying off pitches out of the zone and will take his walks. Petry is a left fielder or first baseman all the way, with well below-average speed and merely playable range. He has an above-average arm.
The Future: Power production will determine Petry’s rate of progression and ultimate big league role. The potential for plus power exists if he can dial in his selectivity and contact.
Scouting Grades Hit: 40 | Power: 55 | Run: 30 | Field: 40 | Arm: 55 -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: Harmon threw the best fastball of any high school righthander in the 2025 draft class and trailed only lefthander Jack Bauer among all prep pitchers. Harmon helped pitch East Union High to a Mississippi 2A state title in 2025, the program’s second in three years. He was committed to Mississippi State before he aligned with the Nationals in the third round and signed for $2.5 million, a bonus akin to a top-40 overall pick.
Scouting Report: Harmon is a projectable 6-foot-5 righthander with long limbs and a high-waisted frame. He is tall, lean and flexible with a loose arm that generates easy velocity. Harmon sits in the mid 90s and has been up to 98 mph with riding life and late cutting action to his glove side. His delivery is clean and repeatable, and he throws strikes from a three-quarters arm slot and slight crossfire landing. Harmon’s fastball has double-plus potential and could top out at 100 mph one day, but his secondary pitches need more work. He throws a low-80s sweeper and a slider in the high 80s, both of which he can locate well for his age. Refining them into above-average pitches will be a key development goal. He occasionally throws a low-80s changeup that will be another point of emphasis. Adding strength to his frame and testing his stuff against professional hitters to see what needs to be tweaked are the next steps.
The Future: High school righthanders are among the most volatile draft commodities. Harmon has a great foundation for the Nationals to build upon, as they did with Travis Sykora from the 2023 draft, but it will be years before the righthander’s full potential comes into focus. The Nationals will likely hold Harmon back in extended spring training, as they did Sykora, before assigning him to the Florida Complex League or Low-A Fredericksburg in 2026.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 70 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Sweeper: 50 | Control: 50 -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: If not for shin splints he contended with as an Iowa junior, Petersen had a chance to be drafted a bit higher than the eighth round in 2024. That’s where he landed with the Nationals, who signed him for a slot value bonus of $230,900. Petersen saw action in seven games for Low-A Fredericksburg after signing but got a late start to his 2025 season after dealing with a hamstring injury. He reached High-A Wilmington on June 5 and then played in the Arizona Fall League after the season to add at-bats.
Scouting Report: Petersen has a strong, 6-foot frame and a hard-nosed playing style. The Nationals have helped coax greater exit velocity out of his righthanded bat, while giving him a chance to prove himself in center field after he played mostly left in college. Petersen hits the ball with authority to all fields with a line-drive approach. He takes aggressive swings and is beginning to take shots to his pull side, with the potential for above-average power. His max exit velocity increased to 110 mph with wood after reaching 109 in 2024 with metal. Petersen does well staying within his zone and keeps strikeouts in check, but his zone-whiff rate of nearly 27% could curtail his production against more advanced pitchers. He is an above-average runner out of the box who is faster underway. His baserunning savvy is apparent in his 18-for-18 showing on stolen bases for Wilmington. Petersen is an average center fielder with a below-average arm that might limit him to left field.
The Future: Petersen was one of the top performers in the South Atlantic League while healthy, which is notable given that Wilmington suppresses home runs like few minor league parks. He showed the potential to be at least a fourth outfielder and potentially a regular if his power and speed continue to play. Petersen is ready for Double-A.
Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Field: 50 | Arm: 40 -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
Adjusted Grade: 40
Track Record: James is a veteran of USA Baseball who played for the gold medal-winning 15U National Team in 2022 and for the 2023 18U National Team as an underclassman. As a senior in 2025 he won Gatorade North Carolina player of the year honors by hitting .605 with nine home runs for Davie County High. James had top-three rounds talent in the 2025 draft and wound up signing a bonus commensurate with a top 40 overall pick when the Nationals paid him $2.5 million in the fifth round. He worked out at the organization’s West Palm Beach, Fla., complex after signing but did not get into an official game.
Scouting Report: James makes hitting look easy with a loose, whippy righthanded swing and an ability to find the barrel. He makes a ton of hard, line-drive contact with strong hand-eye coordination and a compact swing. James hits velocity and does a good job using all fields to keep defenses guessing. He should grow into 20-homer power based on his feel to hit and present strength, but he doesn’t have much projection remaining in his 6-foot, 185-pound frame. James has sure hands in the batter’s box and is a reliable shortstop, but he might be stretched to play the position professionally. He’s an average runner with ordinary range in the field and an average arm that could be stretched on the left side of the infield. James’ time at other positions should increase as he moves up the ladder.
The Future: Many scouts see James as a bat-first second or third baseman capable of hitting for average, getting on base and delivering average power. The Nationals will have to find playing time for a cadre of young shortstops in 2026 that also includes Luke Dickerson, Angel Feliz and 2025 first overall pick Eli Willits, so it wouldn’t be surprising if James begins in the Florida Complex League.
Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Field: 50 | Arm: 50 -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: The Nationals in recent years have had mixed results in international free agency. They have gotten limited production from Dominican shortstop Armando Cruz and Cuban outfielder Cristhian Vaquero, their top signees in 2021 and 2022, but players from the 2024 and 2025 signing classes offer hope. That includes Feliz, a Dominican shortstop who signed for $1.7 million in 2024. He played well in the Dominican Summer League in his debut, then turned in a fine season in the Florida Complex League in 2025. Feliz finished third in the FCL with 51 hits and seventh with 69 total bases before moving to Low-A Fredericksburg for 31 games to finish his season.
Scouting Report: Feliz is a strong-bodied, 6-foot-3 shortstop who hits the ball hard for a teenager. His tall, rangy frame could add more good weight as he matures, which, combined with his bat speed, gives him a chance to grow into above-average power. He competes in the box with a slightly open stance and tracks pitches well for his age. Feliz hits the ball where it’s pitched on a line but must continue proving himself against velocity, especially on inside pitches. His ability to hit to all fields with authority suggests a future average hit tool or better. Feliz is a well below-average runner who has acceptable range at shortstop as a teenager but could outgrow the position as he matures. His above-average arm would fit at third base if he has to move, and he already has pro experience at second base.
The Future: Feliz can do a little bit of everything, except run, at a young age, but he risks falling into more of a reserve profile unless his power takes a step forward. The Nationals praise his leadership and poise, so they are optimistic that his game will develop.
Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 30 | Field: 50 | Arm: 55 -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: Fitz-Gerald is the son of Todd Fitz-Gerald, the long-time head coach of Stoneman Douglas High, the South Florida power whose big league alumni include Anthony Rizzo, Jesús Luzardo, Roman Anthony and Coby Mayo. The Rangers drafted the younger Fitz-Gerald in the fifth round in 2024 and used a $900,000 bonus to sign him away from a commitment to North Carolina State. In his first season as a pro, Fitz-Gerald was one of the most polished players in the Arizona Complex League before earning a midseason bump to Low-A Hickory. Unfortunately, his time in full-season ball was limited to just 10 games by a left shoulder strain he suffered diving for a ball. The Nationals acquired Fitz-Gerald as one of five prospects in their January 2026 MacKenzie Gore trade with the Rangers.
Scouting Report: Given Fitz-Gerald’s background in the game, it’s not surprising that he was one of the most polished players in Rookie complex ball. Scouts saw a player without a plus tool but with a wide array of skills. He controls the strike zone well and finished the year with an excellent zone-miss rate of 11.6% and an overall miss rate of just 18.6%, and he hit well from both sides of the plate. Despite a smaller build, Fitz-Gerald has above-average raw power that he could tap into more often with a bit more barrel accuracy and more balls in the air. Defensively, Fitz-Gerald could be fringe-average on the field—most likely at second base—because of limited athleticism and a wider lower half. His speed is likely to wind up as below-average, but he has the kind of instincts that should allow him to steal 12-15 bases a year.
The Future: After an offseason to recover, Fitz-Gerald will likely return to Low-A in 2026. He has the skills and polish to be a long-term big leaguer who mostly plays second base but can fill in at third or the outfield.
Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 40 | Field: 45 | Arm: 40 -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
Adjusted Grade: 40
Track Record: The Nationals bet big on Dickerson in the second round of the 2024 draft, taking the New Jersey prep two-sport athlete—he also starred in hockey—in the second round and going way over slot to sign him for $3.8 million. That was nearly double the slot value for the 44th pick. Dickerson debuted in the Florida Complex League in 2025 but stayed just six games before the Nationals promoted him to Low-A Fredericksburg. He hit well for the first 20 games but his production tapered off and he finished his time in the Carolina League with a .204 average, 25% strikeout rate and five home runs in 83 games.
Scouting Report: The Nationals got an incomplete look at Dickerson in his first full season because he played through a wrist injury. Despite that mitigating factor, he grinded through a full season and showed plus bat speed and aptitude to drive the ball for power to his pull side on occasion. Like many young hitters, Dickerson will need to hone in on his strike zone and make more contact in the zone and avoid chasing out of it. He can get too passive at times. He hits the ball hard enough consistently enough to provide at least average power, while his quality swing decisions should make him an above-average hitter. Dickerson is a solidly-built, 5-foot-11 athlete who moves well on the infield and can convert routine plays at shortstop. He is a plus runner but doesn’t have classic shortstop range, and his arm is borderline for the left side of the infield. Dickerson saw time at second base late in the season, and some scouts have floated center field as a possible destination.
The Future: Scouts who like Dickerson view him as a potential big league second baseman with solid all-around tools with enough hitting ability and power to play regularly.
Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 60 | Field: 50 | Arm: 50 -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Average
Adjusted Grade: 40
Track Record: King starred at Division II Wingate for two years before the Nationals drafted him 10th overall out of Wake Forest in 2024. In his pro debut, King helped lead Low-A Fredericksburg to the 2024 Carolina League title. He got off to a slow start with High-A Wilmington in 2025 but recovered to reach Double-A Harrisburg on June 3. King showed speed with 30 stolen bases in 125 total games but hit just .244/.294/.337 with six home runs and a 32-to-116 walk-to-strikeout ratio. His bat showed improved life in the Arizona Fall League, where he hit .359/.468/.563 for a 1.031 OPS that ranked 10th in the league.
Scouting Report: Despite King’s poor results in his first full season, scouts remain optimistic about his future because of his overall athleticism and twitch, enhanced by his enthusiasm. Early in the season, he appeared to be selling out for power by trying to pull the ball in the air, which spiked his strikeout rate. King reverted to a more dynamic hitting style by putting aggressive swings on pitches in all parts of the zone and hitting to all fields. He maintained strong exit velocities in 2025, even if hits weren’t falling. King has strong bat-to-ball skills but needs to be more selective after an alarming chase rate of 37% in 2025. Some would like to see him move his contact point forward and with a swing coming from a lower slot to avoid excess groundball contact. If he can make things work, King can be a solid-average hitter with fringe power or better. He is a double-plus runner and efficient basestealer. King played more third base and center field at Wake Forest, but he settled in as a reliable everyday shortstop with an above-average arm. He has the athletic ability to adapt at the position and learn its nuances.
The Future: King has interesting tools and the athleticism to stay up the middle. He could be a few tweaks away from realizing his offensive potential and becoming a solid regular.
Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 70 | Field: 50 | Arm: 55 -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
Adjusted Grade: 40
Track Record: The Guardians drafted Clemmey out of a Rhode Island high school in the second round in 2023, going nearly $1 million over slot to sign him for $2.3 million. Cleveland dealt him to the Nationals at the 2024 trade deadline as part of the package for Lane Thomas. Clemmey logged 116.2 innings in 2025 and led all Nationals minor league pitchers with 136 strikeouts but also 73 walks. He reached Double-A Harrisburg in mid-August and saved his best work for last, when he posted a 2.04 ERA with 15 strikeouts and five walks in his final 17.2 innings.
Scouting Report: Clemmey’s exciting stuff gives him the potential to become a top overall lefthanded pitching prospect. It will come down to control, after he walked more than 14% of batters in 2025 to rank 11th-worst among minor league pitchers with at least 100 innings. The 6-foot-6, long-limbed Clemmey has worked hard to streamline and repeat his mechanics, and his zone and strike rates on his fastball continue to creep upward. Opposing hitters have a hard time seeing his 93-94 mph four-seam fastball that reaches near 98. His arm slot and low release height make his heater difficult to square up for batters of both hands. He upped his sinker usage in 2025 to introduce a new wrinkle. Scouts would like to see him improve his fastball command to his glove side. Clemmey’s mid-80s slider has plus potential but wasn’t the same type of swing-and-miss weapon as it had been at Low-A in 2024. He threw many more changeups in 2025 to develop the high-80s pitch with above-average potential and good fade to his arm side.
The Future: Clemmey exudes confidence and is a strong competitor with the athleticism to continue improving his command, which will determine his future role. He has the raw talent to become a No. 3 or 4 starter or potentially a high-leverage relief weapon.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 40 -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
Adjusted Grade: 40
Track Record: Entering the 2025 draft cycle, Fien had earned a reputation as one of the best prep hitters in the class. The California native hit .400/.429/.680 for USA Baseball’s 18U National Team in 2024, which included a who’s who of the following year’s first-rounders. The Rangers drafted Fien 12th overall and used a $4.8 million bonus to sign him away from a commitment to Texas. His official pro debut consisted of 10 games for Low-A Hickory. The Rangers traded him to the Nationals in January as the headliner of the six-player MacKenzie Gore exchange.
Scouting Report: Part of the reason the Rangers were so comfortable calling Fien’s name with their first pick was because of the long history he had developed with area scout Steve Flores. That relationship, plus Fien’s stellar track record, made the choice easy. At the plate, he does a good job discerning balls from strikes, limits his chase rate and uses a short, quick swing to help him catch up to premium velocity. As an amateur, Fien drew skepticism from scouts for his swing because of the way he holds his hands and a stiffer bat path than is typical for a player with his kind of production. Defensively, he has plenty of work to do to remain on the infield. Already big and physical at 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, his frame and footwork could fit better at third base than shortstop. He has a plus arm. Fien also got some experience at first base during his high school career, but he’s already been in the lab with Rangers infield coordinator Kenny Holmberg to improve his chances of staying on the left side. Fien is a below-average runner and likely won’t be better than fringy no matter where he lands on defense.
The Future: Fien will likely return to Low-A in 2026 to begin his first full season as a pro but could hit his way to High-A by season’s end. His ceiling is as an offensive-minded third baseman who provides most of his value in the batter’s box.
Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 40 | Field: 45 | Arm: 60 -
BA Grade/Risk: 60/High
Adjusted Grade: 45
Track Record: Sykora had top-two-rounds talent in the 2023 draft coming out of Round Rock High. When he slipped to the Nationals in round three—but still signed for late first-round money—he used the perceived slight as motivation. Sykora unleashed his fury on Carolina League batters in 2024, leading all Low-A pitchers with 129 strikeouts in 85 innings. He had surgery on the labrum in his hip in the offseason and got a late start in 2025. After Sykora missed time with a triceps injury in July while at Double-A Harrisburg, he later developed a UCL tear in his elbow. Sykora had Tommy John surgery in August.
Scouting Report: Sykora idolizes Texas pitching icon Nolan Ryan, and like The Ryan Express, he uses a power approach consisting mostly of a high-octane fastball and a devastating breaking pitch. Sykora pitches at 95-96 mph with his four-seam fastball and tops out at 99. He compensates for average fastball shape with strong extension and pure velocity. The pitch should continue to play as Sykora recovers from TJ. He improved the horizontal life on his low-80s slider, which gets up near 87 mph, and he threw the pitch for strikes at a high rate. He also threw it more than his fastball in 2025. Sykora’s mid-80s splitter tumbles and fades to his arm side with consistently low spin rates. Sykora needs to tighten up his fastball command to different parts of the zone, but his wandering control is typical for a young power pitcher and will likely improve.
The Future: Given that he had TJ late in the 2025 season, Sykora probably won’t be at full strength again until 2027, when he will still be just 23 years old. His stuff and control make him a candidate to be at least a No. 3 starter.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 65 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50 -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/Average
Adjusted Grade: 45
Track Record: The Mariners were drawn to Ford’s elite athleticism out of high school when they drafted him 12th overall in 2021. Seattle put Ford on a methodical trajectory of a level per year, and he spent almost all of 2025 with Triple-A Tacoma, where he slashed .283/.408/.460 with 16 homers and nearly as many walks (74) as strikeouts (88) before making his big league debut in September. While he got only six at-bats for Seattle, Ford soaked up valuable experience as the Mariners’ third catcher through their October postseason run. After the season, Seattle traded Ford and righthander Isaac Lyon to the Nationals for power lefty reliever Jose Ferrer.
Scouting Report: Ford made a key adjustment at the plate in 2025 by incorporating a toe tap to improve his timing while continuing to use his signature two-hand finish. That change led to the best season of his career. Ford’s 16 Triple-A homers were a career high. He posted nearly identical in-zone whiff and chase rates as he did in 2024, while maintaining above-average exit velocities. Ford has long been regarded as a plus runner, which is unusual for a catcher, but he ran less frequently in 2025, stealing just seven bases on 11 attempts after swiping 35 bags in 2024. Ford has long faced questions about his future position, even though he has played just eight games in the outfield as a pro. Scouts noted real defensive progress in 2025 and believe his once-fringy receiving now has a chance to become average. Ford has a strong, albeit sometimes inaccurate, throwing arm and threw out 23% of basestealers in 2025.
The Future: Ford faced a future in Seattle blocked by all-star Cal Raleigh. Now, he has a much clearer path to playing time in Washington, where he has a good chance to win a share of the catcher job alongside Keibert Ruiz, who is locked into a team-friendly deal through the 2030 season.
Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Field: 40 | Arm: 50 -
BA Grade/Risk: 60/High
Adjusted Grade: 45
Track Record: After he signed with the Red Sox for $75,000 out of Venezuela in 2019, Perales quickly started generating buzz thanks to a quick arm that unleashed mid-90s fastballs. His development proceeded slowly in part due to elbow discomfort in both 2021 and 2022, but a solid 2023 campaign served as a prelude to an early breakout in 2024, when a broader mix resulted in a 39% strikeout rate at High-A and Double-A. However, Perales had Tommy John surgery in June. He added significant strength while rehabbing, and when he returned to games in September 2025, he showed triple-digits velocity even as he worked to regain command. In December, the Red Sox traded Perales to the Nationals for 25-year-old lefthander Jake Bennett.
Scouting Report: Perales has a bazooka. He sat 98-101 mph in his brief return to the mound in 2025, with 17 to 20 inches of ride. His fastball can be a swing-and-miss weapon when he keeps it in the zone, but his ability to do so was inconsistent. He more reliably located his low-90s cutter—a pitch that contributed to his 2024 breakout—and that pitch may end up being his primary offering, with the four-seamer looming as a putaway pitch. His gyro slider and splitter have depth to stretch the zone vertically, but for now his splitter is too often non-competitive below the zone. The development of his splitter as a reliable weapon, not to mention improved control to leave hitters on the defensive, will dictate whether he’s a starter or a late-inning reliever.
The Future: If Perales can harness his stuff in the zone, he has the upside of a No. 3 starter. Otherwise, his future will be as a leverage reliever. He’ll compete for a big league bullpen spot in 2026, but more likely will open the year in the Triple-A rotation.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 70 | Slider: 45 | Cutter: 60 | Split: 45 | Control: 40 -
BA Grade/Risk: 60/High
Adjusted Grade: 45
Track Record: The Nationals’ Juan Soto trade with the Padres is the gift that keeps giving. CJ Abrams, MacKenzie Gore and James Wood are already established in Washington. Susana is next. He ended 2024 on a roll, with a 2.79 ERA and 123 strikeouts in his final 77.1 innings, mostly for High-A Wilmington. Susana opened 2025 at Double-A Harrisburg but never really got going before he lost nearly three months with a sprained elbow. He looked electric upon his return in July but then injured his right lat and had season-ending surgery in September.
Scouting Report: Few pitchers can match the electricity of Susana’s repertoire. He pitches at 99-100 mph with his four-seam fastball and tops out near 104. The pitch is delivered at a lower release height, which, coupled with its incredible velocity, compensates for ordinary shape. Susana’s 99 mph two-seamer tops at 102 and has plus horizontal life. It helps him change batters’ eye levels and elicit groundballs. His mid-80s slider has become a devastating pitch as he has harnessed command of it. He manipulates the pitch to produce curveball action at lower speeds and power slider movement up to 91 mph at the other extreme. Susana found a power changeup grip that works in 2025. The pitch has splinker-like action with sink and diving action at 93-94 mph and up to near 97. Susana took major strides with his mental preparation and physical conditioning, and he now throws more quality strikes than ever. He flies open at times and misses east and west, so true command could be elusive.
The Future: The Nationals’ media guide lists Susana at 6-foot-7, 283 pounds, calling to mind a pair of jumbo-sized all-stars: starter Michael Piñeda and closer Felix Bautista. The Nationals will give Susana every chance to start, where his pitch quality could make him a No. 2 or 3 starter. He is expected to be ready to go by midseason at the earliest.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 70 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 45 -
BA Grade/Risk: 60/Average
Adjusted Grade: 50
Track Record: Willits was originally slated to graduate from Fort-Cobb Broxton High in 2026, but the Oklahoma prep reclassified to become draft eligible in 2025. Doing so made him one of the youngest players available in his draft class, and when the Nationals selected the shortstop first overall, he became the youngest player ever drafted 1-1 based on baseball age. Willits was 17 years, six months and 21 days old on June 30 of his draft year, younger even than the youngest 17-year-old top overall picks such as Ken Griffey Jr., Bryce Harper and Carlos Correa. Willits is the son of former big leaguer Reggie Willits, a switch-hitting outfielder who played six seasons for the Angels. These days, Reggie serves as associate head coach at Oklahoma, where his oldest son Jaxon is the Sooners’ shortstop. Eli had committed to Oklahoma before he signed for $8.2 million, which was nearly $2.876 million under slot for the No. 1 pick. Willits got the cachet associated with being drafted first overall; Washington freed up bonus pool money to apply toward signing high schoolers Landon Harmon, Miguel Sime Jr. and Coy James in the third, fourth and fifth rounds. Willits signed on July 19 and saw action in 15 games for Low-A Fredericksburg. He hit .300, drew seven walks and stole two bases while handling shortstop in 14 of his appearances.
Scouting Report: Willits is a 6-foot-1, 180-pound switch-hitter with a chance to make an impact in every facet of the game with his hitting, running and fielding ability at shortstop. The hallmarks of his offensive game are his bat-to-ball skills—he struck out just a handful of times as a high school senior—and swing decisions that fuel an above-average hit tool. Willits showed sharp zone-contact skills in his pro debut while recognizing pitches and staying in his strike zone with a low chase rate. He hits all different pitch types, while his balanced, line-drive stroke from both sides of the plate allows him to use all fields. If Willits adds good weight to his frame and develops his lower half, he should improve his below-average exit velocities and find at least average power as he learns to hunt his pitch to inflict damage. He is a plus runner who not only poses a basestealing threat but runs the bases efficiently. Willits’ body control, range and above-average arm stand out in the field, where he is a no-doubt shortstop. He appears to have the “it” factor and the poise necessary to draw in teammates and emerge as a team leader.
The Future: Willits’ well-rounded profile makes him the Nationals’ likely shortstop of the future. That future could arrive as early as at some point during the 2028 season, following two-plus solid development years in the minor leagues. Willits will be just 20 years old in 2028, which, barring an extension, will also be the final season of club control for shortstop CJ Abrams in Washington.
Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 60 | Field: 55 | Arm: 55 -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/Average
Adjusted Grade: 30
Track Record: The Marlins signed Duran out of Venezuela for $450,000 in January 2021 and the Blue Jays acquired him as the third piece in the Jordan Groshans trade alongside Anthony Bass and Zach Pop. After spending parts of two seasons with Low-A Dunedin in 2023 and 2024, Duran returned to the level in 2025. Duran was promoted to High-A Vancouver after the all-star break and participated in the Arizona Fall League but was unimpressive.
Scouting Report: A glove-first catcher who took a few years to get his legs under him as a professional, Duran shows average bat-to-ball skills with a fairly aggressive approach in the box. Duran’s ability to avoid strikeouts is his carrying tool offensively. He shows below-average exit velocities and flat launch angles, leading to lots of topspin and groundball contact. Duran is not a runner and grades as a 30 runner long term. Behind the plate, Duran shows above-average skills as both a receiver and blocker and he began employing a one-knee stance in 2025. He will show a plus pop time and is quick out of the crouch, but his throwing accuracy is below-average and needs work. Duran’s advanced catching and contact skills give him backup catcher upside.
The Future: Duran fits a quintessential backup catcher’s profile with an above-average glove and the ability to make contact.
Scouting Grades Hit: 45 | Power: 30 | Run: 30 | Field: 55 | Arm: 55 -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/Average
Adjusted Grade: 30
Track Record: Coleman spent four seasons pitching mostly out of the bullpen for LSU but struggled mightily with command and experienced very little success. The Dodgers drafted him in the 16th round in 2023, but Coleman decided not to sign and headed back to school. Coleman then signed as an undrafted free agent with the Blue Jays in 2024 and made his pro debut in 2025, pitching purely in relief.
Scouting Report: Coleman is a lefthander power reliever with a three-pitch mix who saw a tremendous improvement with his strike-throwing in 2025. He works entirely from the stretch with a longer arm action and a true three-quarters slot. Coleman mixes three pitches in a four-seam fastball, slider and splitter. Coleman’s fastball sits 93-95 mph and touches 97 with 17-19 inches of induced vertical break on average from a 5-foot-6 release height. His fastball was a plus bat-missing pitch in 2025 and generated lots of swings and misses. Coleman mixes his slider and splitter nearly evenly. He throws the slider versus lefthanded hitters and the splitter versus righties. The slider sits 85-86 mph with cutter shape and he shows average command of the pitch. His splitter sits 82-84 mph with true splitter shape and an element of unpredictability in how it breaks—it’s Coleman’s best bat-missing pitch.
The Future: Coleman looks like a one-inning middle reliever.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Split: 60 | Control: 45 -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
Adjusted Grade: 30
Track Record: The Messina family had a notable night on draft day in 2024, as Carson and his older brother Cole were both drafted. The Blue Jays selected Carson in the 12th round and signed him for $550,000. Messina was assigned to the Florida Complex League where he made one appearance before going down with right elbow inflammation. Messina missed the rest of the season but was back throwing by the end of the regular season.
Scouting Report: Messina threw just two innings as a professional and not much has changed in a year. His arm swing is moderate in length as he delivers the ball from a three-quarters slot. Messina mixes four pitches in a fastball, curveball, slider and changeup. The four-seam fastball sits 91-93 mph with ride and some late bite. The curveball is Messina’s best pitch and his go-to swing-and-miss weapon. It sits in the low 80s with big downer break and late bite. His mid-to-upper-80s slider is cutter-like and was thrown more his last year as an amateur. Messina’s low-80s changeup is a fringe-average pitch that will flash average at its best. Messina’s control is below-average and will need to be tightened if he continues to start.
The Future: Messina has the upside to be a No. 4 starter but will need to prove he can stay healthy and throw enough strikes.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 40 -
BA Grade/Risk: 30/Low
Adjusted Grade: 30
Track Record: The Padres signed Valenzuela for $100,000 from the Mexican League in July 2017. Valenzuela spent seven seasons in the Padres’ system, producing subpar results at the plate. The Padres traded him to the Blue Jays for infielder Will Wagner at the 2025 trade deadline. Valenzuela spent the final two months with Triple-A Buffalo and was added to the Blue Jays 40-man roster after the season.
Scouting Report: The switch-hitting Valenzuela is a glove-first catcher without a lot of offensive upside. Valenzuela’s righthanded swing is better than his lefthanded swing, leading to average results against lefthanded pitching. He shows below-average contact skills with an advanced approach that should lead to at least an average walk rate. There will be a fair amount of strikeouts as Valenzuela is a well below-average contact hitter against righthanded pitching. He hit 15 home runs in 2025 and shows fringe-average game power. To Valenzuela’s credit he has average exit velocity data with lofty launch angles. Behind the plate he’s a plus defender with an above-average arm that keeps runners in check.
The Future: Valenzuela has the perfect backup catcher skill set, with split-dependent success and plus defense and provides Toronto catching depth they’re sorely lacking. He could see a solid amount of MLB time in 2026 as a ready-made backup catcher and defensive fill-in.
Scouting Grades Hit: 30 | Power: 45 | Run: 30 | Field: 60 | Arm: 55 -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
Adjusted Grade: 30
Track Record: The Blue Jays drafted Florida prep star Barriera with the 23rd overall pick in the 2022 draft, signing him for $3.6 million. Considered one of the top lefthanded pitchers in the class, Barriera’s professional career is yet to get off the ground. In his three-plus years since turning pro, Barriera has thrown a total of 27.1 innings. After dealing with shoulder, elbow and biceps injuries in 2023, Barriera tore his UCL in his first start of 2024 and had hybrid Tommy John surgery. Barriera returned to action in June of 2025 only to fracture his ulna during his rehab.
Scouting Report: It’s difficult to know how much the injuries over the last three seasons have impacted Barriera. Depending on his health in any given outing his velocity can have wild swings. He’s sat between the low- and mid-90s over the last few seasons. Whether or not Barriera can make it through a season healthy is up for some debate. When Barriera was healthy in 2025 his pitch mix looked a little different than it did pre-injury. He came back throwing a low-to-mid-90s cutter as his primary pitch and mixed in his signature mid-to-high-80s slider with moderate sweep. Barriera’s four-seam fastball sat 95-96 mph with heavy cut.
The Future: Barriera still has back-of-the-rotation or high-leverage relief upside. The question is: Can he finish a season healthy?
Scouting Grades Fastball: 50 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 40 | Cutter: 60 | Control: 45 -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/Average
Adjusted Grade: 30
Track Record: Macko grew up in Slovakia and learned to pitch by watching YouTube videos. He moved first to Ireland and then Canada where he entered more formal baseball training. The Mariners drafted him in the seventh round in 2019 and he was traded to the Blue Jays in November 2022. Macko has dealt with numerous injuries over the years and missed the first month of the 2025 season recovering from a torn meniscus in his left knee.
Scouting Report: Macko is an undersized lefthander with an innate feel for spin and a deceptive arm action. He has a longer arm action and short stride to the plate, raising the release height on his higher three-quarters slot. Macko mixes four pitches in a four-seam fastball, slider, curveball and changeup. His fastball sits 92-94 mph with below-average shape and extension, but he controls the pitch well. Macko’s mid-80s cut-slider is his best pitch, as he shows plus feel and ability to generate whiffs against it in and out of the zone. His curveball is purely a chase pitch sitting in the mid 70s with high spin rates and two-plane break. Macko’s changeup has good separation off of his fastball but he shows poor command for the pitch.
The Future: Macko looks like a low-leverage reliever who will throw a high rate of breaking balls.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 40 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 45 -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/Average
Adjusted Grade: 30
Track Record: The Blue Jays signed Jennings for $70,000 in the fourth round out of Louisiana Tech in 2022. He dealt with an elbow injury in 2023 and was limited to 43 innings in his debut. In 2024, after beginning the season as a starter with Vancouver, Jennings was moved to the bullpen late in the season with Double-A New Hampshire. The 2025 season was his first as a full-time reliever. He made 45 appearances between Double-A New Hampshire and Triple-A Buffalo.
Scouting Report: Jennings was a good strike-thrower over the first few years of his career, but that backed up in 2025 as he struggled to land his pitches in the zone. Now a relief-only prospect, Jennings let it air out in the bullpen as he saw his fastball velocity jump to 95-96 mph with erratic control. Jennings’ slider went from a pure gyro slider in 2024 to a harder cutter style slider in 2025. It was a good change for Jennings as he generated lots of whiffs against the slider. He throws a curveball at 83-84 mph with slurvy shape as his third pitch that sees an increase in usage against lefties. Jennings throws a mid-to-high-80s changeup with splitterish traits but it’s used infrequently.
The Future: Jennings will fit into middle relief nicely where he can miss bats with a pair of breaking ball shapes and a mid-90s fastball.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 55 -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
Adjusted Grade: 30
Track Record: McAdoo was first-team All-Mountain West Conference as a sophomore and junior at San Jose State. Questions around his defense and hit tool dropped him to the Pirates in the 13th round in 2023. He broke out in 2024 with High-A Greensboro and was traded to the Blue Jays at that year’s trade deadline for Isiah Kiner-Falefa. McAdoo spent all of 2025 with Double-A New Hampshire and started the year in brutal fashion before turning it around over his final 83 games, where he hit .270/.339/.463.
Scouting Report: McAdoo is a physical slugger who added speed to his repertoire in 2025 as he stole a career-high 34 bases. McAdoo’s combination of power and running ability gives him high upside but his unrefined hit tool and aggressive approach cap his in-game power production. McAdoo has well below-average bat-to-ball skills with a fairly aggressive approach. He doesn’t chase at a high rate, but he does expand the zone while at times being too passive on strikes. When McAdoo does connect he shows plus contact quality with strong exit velocities and loft at the point of contact. McAdoo is an average runner but gets excellent jumps and reads on the bases going 34-for-40 in 2025. McAdoo is a below-average defender at third base with an above-average arm.
The Future: McAdoo could blossom into a second-division regular with a more refined hit tool.
Scouting Grades Hit: 30 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Field: 40 | Arm: 55 -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: The son of former three-time all-star Sean Casey, Jake underperformed over his first three seasons at Kent State, and had Tommy John surgery in 2024. He broke out in 2025, hitting .356/.500/.736 with 17 home runs and 20 stolen bases. The Blue Jays selected Casey in the 15th round and signed him for $150,000. He debuted following the draft with Low-A Dunedin and impressed, hitting .281/.439/.531 over 23 games.
Scouting Report: After three underwhelming seasons with Kent State, Casey broke out in 2025 finding a level of power he had not previously shown. Casey shows average bat-to-ball skills with somewhat passive swing decisions. He is a great fastball hitter but does show some struggles against spin. Casey shows fringe-average power but good launch angles on contact. His ability to hit the ball in the air consistently allows his power to play up to average. Casey is an above-average runner, capable of running plus run times on jailbreaks to first. Casey can play all three outfield positions. He’s average in center field but is above-average in a corner. He shows good hands, routes and reactions in the outfield and his plus arm will allow him to make any needed throws while keeping baserunners honest.
The Future: An underrated senior sign, Casey looks like he could develop into a second-division regular if his hit tool translates.
Scouting Grades Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run: 60 | Field: 55 | Arm: 60 -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
Adjusted Grade: 30
Track Record: Miles showed more promise as a position player in the early days of his amateur career, but quickly blossomed once he started pitching. The Giants drafted Miles in the fourth round in 2022 and signed him for $347,500. He has pitched just 7.1 regular season innings since 2023 thanks to a back injury and then Tommy John surgery. He made up for some of that lost time in the Arizona Fall League. After Miles was left unprotected for the 2025 Rule 5 draft by the Giants, he was selected by the Blue Jays with the 27th overall pick.
Scouting Report: Miles shows a powerful pitch mix led by four-seam and sinking fastballs in the mid 90s. He backs them with a nasty, downer curveball with 11-to-5 shape that he can bury for chases at the end of at-bats. He also has a changeup, but it mostly takes a back seat to the rest of his mix. He pounded the zone in the Fall League, punching out a dozen and walking just one. Miles’ delivery is effortful, and scouts in the AFL noted that he sometimes had trouble driving the ball down in the zone and that his current mechanics might put undue amounts of stress on his shoulder.
The Future: Miles will work as a one-inning reliever with the stuff to fit in middle relief, but he’ll need to stay healthy.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 60 | Changeup: 40 | Cutter: 45 | Control: 50 -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Average
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: Born in New Zealand, Bucknam moved to Canada in his youth and was drafted by the Blue Jays out of high school in 2021. He didn’t sign and instead made it to campus at LSU, but after two seasons with the Tigers he entered the transfer portal and committed to Dallas Baptist. In his single season at DBU, Bucknam took the role of the Patriots’ ace and made 16 starts while striking out 80 batters in 62.1 innings. The Blue Jays selected Bucknam in the fourth round and signed him for $678,300.
Scouting Report: Bucknam is an undersized righthander with little remaining projection but good strength throughout his frame. He uses a shorter arm action with a higher three-quarters slot. It’s a simple operation with few moving parts but some recoil following release. Bucknam mixes four pitches in a four-seam fastball, slider, curveball and changeup. His fastball sits 93-94 mph and touches 96 mph with average ride. It’s a fringe-average pitch, and his command of it is also fringy. Bucknam’s slider is his best pitch and his most-used pitch against righthanded hitters. The slider is an 86-88 mph gyro that gets into the low 90s and generates bad swings as an effective put-away pitch. Bucknam’s curveball sees higher usage against lefties in the 83-85 mph range with more downer shape. He also throws a fringy and firm upper-80s changeup.
The Future: Bucknam fits the role of a depth starter who feeds hitters a steady diet of secondaries.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 45 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 45 -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Average
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: Keys broke out as a junior at Bucknell and hit .405/.535/.798 with 13 home runs and was named Patriot League player of the year in 2024. The Blue Jays drafted him in the fourth round and signed him for $569,700. He was assigned to High-A Vancouver to begin 2025 and spent the entire season with the Canadians and hit .217/.365/.408 with poor batted-ball luck throughout the season.
Scouting Report: Keys’ bat-first profile didn’t translate to his statline in 2025, but the underlying data and scouting feedback tells a different story. Those who saw Keys reported on a player with strong bat-to-ball skills, feel for the strike zone and the ability to impact the baseball. The underlying numbers back the quality of Keys’ hit tool as he showed above-average contact and approach in 2025. Keys’ hands are fairly stiff, leading to an unusual look to his follow through and at times leads to too steep of angles. The launch comes in handy on Keys’ best hit drives, as he shows the ability to hit his hardest balls in play at his best angles. Keys shows above-average underlying power and the ability to hit the ball to his pull side. It’s possible Keys breaks out at the plate in 2026. A below-average runner, Keys has limited range at third base and started to see more time at first base in 2025. He has an above-average arm at third.
The Future: Keys fits into the second-division regular role but he’ll need to hit to overcome his lack of defensive value.
Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 40 | Field: 40 | Arm: 55 -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: Kasevich was a star at Oregon, earning first-team all-Pacific-12 Conference honors as a junior. He was drafted by the Blue Jays in the second round of the 2022 draft, and signed for $1 million. Kasevich’s 2025 was delayed by a stress reaction in his lower back. He returned to action in May, but suffered a wrist injury on a rehab assignment and missed the next two months. Kasevich returned to Buffalo in mid-August and struggled over 29 games to end the season. He made up time after the season in the Arizona Fall League.
Scouting Report: Kasevich’s ability to put the bat on the ball has always been his carrying tool. His contact skills remained plus in his injury-plagued 2025 season. He’s still a patient hitter who’s likely to get on-base at a high rate. The back and wrist injuries clearly impacted Kasevich’s ability to impact the ball, as his 90th percentile exit velocity dropped by three mph year-over-year. Kasevich had below-average power to begin with, so the decrease in impact led to worse results. It’s possible a fully healthy Kasevich sees his impact return. Though the sample is small, Kasevich’s swing added loft during his 2025 sample which will be something to watch early in 2026, if his impact returns. Kasevich is an above-average runner but his speed translates more toward his range in the field than basestealing. Kasevich has an above-average glove but his below-average arm likely means he fits best at second base.
The Future: Kasevich will look to get back on track in 2026 and prove he’s still a potential regular.
Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 40 | Run: 55 | Field: 55 | Arm: 40 -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Average
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: Perez was an under-the-radar $10,000 signing for the Blue Jays in 2022. A native of Nicaragua, Perez was identified after reviewing scouting footage from a tryout where goats roamed around in the background, earning Perez his nickname: “The GOAT.” While Perez is unlikely to be mistaken for Tom Brady, he has been productive in four professional seasons. Perez began 2025 with High-A Vancouver, making 20 starts before he was promoted to Double-A on August 15th.
Scouting Report: One of the best strike-throwers in minor league baseball over the last few seasons, Perez’s game is driven by his plus-plus control. Perez’s 70.5% strike rate was the third-highest in the minors among pitchers who threw 1,000 or more pitches in 2025. Perez throws four pitches and throws all of them with regularity throughout his starts. Perez mixes a fastball, changeup, slider and curveball. Perez shows excellent command of his fastball allowing it to perform despite its below-average shape and velocity. Added velocity or movement would go a long way in improving Perez’s profile. His 81-84 mph changeup is his most frequently thrown pitch and he’ll use it against lefties and righties. His slider sits 82-84 mph with gyro shape, and isn’t much of a bat-missing pitch but does a good job of driving grounders. Perez’s curveball sits in the upper 70s with slurvy break, but he shows great feel for the pitch.
The Future: Perez is a fringy back-end starter whose below-average stuff plays up due to his plus-plus control.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 40 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 40 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 70 -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: Piasentin was the top Canadian prospect in the 2025 class, and the Blue Jays dialed up some home cooking when they selected him in the fifth round. He signed for $747,500, enough to buy him out of a Miami commitment. Piasentin is one of the more notable prep sluggers from the western provinces, joining Orioles outfielder Tyler O’Neill and Rays catcher Nathan Flewelling.
Scouting Report: While Piasentin is no standout athlete, he does have a strong and projectable build with fluid movements throughout his game. Piasentin is already physically mature but looks like he could add 10-15 pounds of good weight. Piasentin sets up slightly open at the plate, utilizing a toe-tap mechanism. When he gets into two-strike counts, he shortens up his swing, ditches the toe tap and his stride for a wider base and a quick pivot. Due to the strength of his hands he’s still able to drive the ball from his two-strike approach. Piasentin pairs fringy bat-to-ball skills with a fairly passive approach. The power in Piasentin’s game is not up for debate. He naturally generates plus-plus bat speed and power, posting impressive exit velocities and hitting majestic fly balls on his best struck drives. Piasentin is a below-average runner who’s likely to have little impact in the running game. He’s a corner infield profile and there’s some question about his ability to stick at third base. Corner outfield could be an alternative where his plus arm strength would play.
The Future: Piasentin is a high-upside corner infielder who could develop into an everyday regular with above-average power.
Scouting Grades Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 40 | Field: 45 | Arm: 60 -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Average
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: The Red Sox signed Bastardo for $35,000 in 2018 out of Venezuela as a raw pitcher who flashed promising traits. He began 2024 with Double-A Portland and pitched better than his ERA, striking out 26% of hitters. On June 4, he blew out his elbow and had season-ending Tommy John surgery. After the Red Sox left Bastardo unprotected for the 2024 Rule 5 draft, the Blue Jays selected him with the sixth overall pick. He did not appear in a game for the Blue Jays in 2025 and is expected to return in 2026.
Scouting Report: Bastardo is an undersized righthander with big velocity and fringy strike-throwing abilities. He has an athletic operation with some effort in his arm action and throws from a three-quarters slot with a crossfire finish. Bastardo sits 95-98 mph with a four-seamer that has moderate ride but lacks deception. He upped his secondary usage with the Red Sox and throws a mid-80s changeup with good vertical separation from his fastball that he locates well and plays up to its bat-missing upside. Bastardo’s primary breaking ball is a low-to-mid-80s gyro slider he shows great feel for that missed a fair amount of bats in Double-A in 2024. The curveball, a clear fourth pitch, sat in the low 80s with downer break and is an effective strike stealer. Bastardo shows below-average control.
The Future: Bastardo is a bit of a mystery. He was on a starter’s trajectory until his injury and now might be headed to the bullpen upon his return.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 40 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 40 -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: Bullard was a pop-up name who gained helium late in the spring among Texas area scouts. A Texas A&M commit, Bullard was considered a difficult signing, but the Blue Jays went well over-slot in the 12th round and signed him for just under $1.7 million. Bullard was older at the time of the draft, turning 19 a month after signing.
Scouting Report: Bullard is a plus-plus athlete who’s easy to dream on. His frame suggests strength gains, and his quick-twitch mechanisms shine in all parts of his game. Bullard is a switch-hitter but his lefthanded swing is far ahead of his righthanded swing. Despite the athletic switch-hitting profile, there’s some swing and miss to Bullard’s game, particularly on soft stuff. Bullard offsets some of that with a well-balanced approach at the plate. His game is predicated on putting the ball in play and using his speed to push for extra bases. Bullard’s game power is projectable despite flatter angles and a general lack of loft in his swing. He will likely hit a lot of ground balls early in his career, but some added strength onto Bullard’s 6-foot-2 frame could see him get to 10-14 home runs at peak. A plus runner, Bullard’s speed translates to the outfield where he’s above-average in center field with an average arm. It’s a tooled-up profile with a raw and unrefined hit tool.
The Future: Bullard has the ceiling of a switch-hitting table-setter with above-average defense in center.
Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 60 | Field: 55 | Arm: 50 -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Average
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: The Blue Jays signed Arias out of Venezuela in August 2019. Over the first five years of his professional career, Arias moved slowly. Assigned to High-A Vancouver out of camp in 2025, Arias hit .294/.381/.437 over the first 66 games before he was promoted to Double-A on July 18. Arias was placed on the injured list in the final week of the regular season with a shoulder injury that required surgery.
Scouting Report: A diminutive but muscular player, Arias took large steps forward in each of the last two seasons and flashes a variety of exciting tools. He has a fringe-average hit tool with a moderate amount of swing-and-miss in the zone and chase outside of it. A slight improvement to either contact or selectivity would likely push his hit tool to average. Arias is an explosive swinger who produces plus exit velocity data, demonstrated by his 106.5 mph 90th percentile exit velocity in 2025. His in-game power plays down because of a flatter swing and tendency to top-spin everything to his pull side. Arias does show his best angles on balls 95 mph or higher, which is a good sign. For now, Arias has fringe-average game power but could get to average or better with some tweaks. Arias is a plus-plus runner, but that doesn’t translate to high stolen base totals. He’s an average defender in center field with a lot of range.
The Future: Arias is most likely a fourth outfielder capable of providing speed and defense. If he adds loft to his swing, there’s everyday regular upside.
Scouting Grades Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run: 70 | Field: 50 | Arm: 40 -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: Hechavarria signed out of Cuba in 2024 for $240,000. Just four days after signing his contract, he pitched in his first affiliated game in the Dominican Summer League. He moved stateside to begin 2025 and made four appearances in the Florida Complex League before he was promoted to Low-A Dunedin. Hechavarria pitched in 11 games for Dunedin and posted a 1.90 ERA over 47.1 innings with 53 strikeouts to 11 walks.
Scouting Report: Hechavarria is a tall righthander with a strong lower half and an easy and free moving operation on the mound with a three-quarters slot. His pedestrian three-pitch mix plays up because of his strike-throwing. Hechavarria throws a four-seam fastball, slider and changeup. His fastball sits 93-95 mph and touches 98 with average ride and late, heavy armside run. It’s not a huge bat-missing pitch but Hechavarria does a good job getting chases when he elevates it above the zone.He throws an upper-80s cut-slider with ride and heavy cut. His ability to tunnel it off of his four-seam fastball made it a highly successful whiff inducing pitch in 2025. His changeup is a mid-80s splitter-like offering with average vertical separation off the fastball. Hechavarria throws all his pitches for strikes at a well above-average rate and shows plus control.
The Future: Hechavarria looks like a potential No. 5 starter but will need to prove his average stuff will play at the upper levels.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 60 -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Average
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: Pinango signed with the Cubs in 2018 for $400,000 out of Venezuela and debuted the following summer. He broke out in 2024 but was traded to the Blue Jays before the trade deadline for righthander Nate Pearson. Pinango began 2025 with Double-A New Hampshire, hitting .298/.406/.522 over 47 games and earning a promotion to Triple-A on June 1st.
Scouting Report: While Pinango has worked to improve his athleticism and running ability, he’s still a bat-first player with physical limitations in the outfield. Pinango shows above-average bat-to-ball skills that are heightened by a selective, almost passive, approach at the plate. He’ll take too many hittable pitches down the heart of the plate. This approach leads to walks and Pinango’s bat-to-ball skills are such that he shows the ability to flip the switch in two-strike counts, putting the ball in play and avoiding strikeouts. Pinango has plus-plus raw power demonstrated by his outstanding exit velocity data. He has plus-plus bat speed that produced a max exit velocity of 115.4 mph in 2025. Unfortunately Pinango’s launch angles are actually flatter on his batted balls clocked at 95+ mph. Adding loft will be imperative to Pinango’s future success. If he can there’s 25+ home run power to unlock. Pinango is a below-average runner and poor outfielder. He’s likely to always be a liability in the field.
The Future: Pinango is a bat-first player with the ability to hit in the majors but no true defensive position and little value outside his hitting.
Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 40 | Field: 30 | Arm: 40 -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
Adjusted Grade: 40
Track Record: After three seasons at Lafayette College, Bloss transferred to Georgetown in 2023 and won Big East Conference pitcher of the year honors. He was drafted by the Astros in the third round in 2023 and began his first full season in 2024 at High-A Asheville. Bloss dominated, earning a promotion to Double-A Corpus Christi by May. After four starts, Houston called Bloss up directly from Double-A 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 deal at the 2024 trade deadline. Bloss made six starts for Triple-A Buffalo in 2025 but struggled with his control before requiring season-ending UCL surgery in May.
Scouting Report: Bloss has a prototypical pitcher’s build with the size expected of a starter. He begins from a semi-windup with a high leg lift before driving down the mound with plus extension, which improves the plane on his fastball and allows him to create more ride than expected from his high three-quarters arm slot. Bloss mixes five different pitches, throwing four-seam and two-seam fastball variants, a slider, curveball and splitter. Bloss’ four-seam fastball sits 93-95 mph and touches 97 with true ride-cut shape. It’s an above-average offering and his most heavily used pitch. Bloss reworked his slider in 2025 by showing a baby sweeper shape with around 7-8 inches of sweep. He ditched his sweeper for a high-70s curveball with heavy two-plane break. He altered his changeup to use a splitter grip in 2025 and added more armside run to the pitch. Bloss struggled with the Triple-A zone but projects for average command.
The Future: Bloss should return to action in the second half of 2026 and looks like a No. 4 starter.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 45 | Cutter: 50 | Control: 50 -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: Cook redshirted as a freshman at Southern Mississippi and then played sparingly as a two-way player as a sophomore. A lefthanded thrower, he dropped pitching heading into 2025 and put together a strong season as an outfielder, hitting .350/.436/.468 with 19 extra-base hits as one of the toughest players to strike out in college baseball. The Blue Jays drafted Cook in the third round and signed him for $922,500.
Scouting Report: One of the best athletes in the 2025 draft class, Cook is an excellent mover who made rapid improvements as a hitter in his platform season. He is a lefthanded hitter with an inside-out swing who looks to hit inside the baseball and spray line drives to the opposite field. This approach means Cook rarely swings and misses, and he ran a 4% swinging-strike rate with Southern Miss in 2025. Despite his contact-centric profile, Cook shows above-average on-base skills with a good balance of patience and aggression. His power is well below-average and isn’t a major part of his game. He hit three home runs with Southern Miss but has good size and enough bat speed to grow into 8-12 home run power. He’ll likely collect a majority of his extra bases hitting the ball to the gaps and using his top-of-the-scale speed. Cook is an 80-grade runner who consistently will show home-to-first run times of 3.8 seconds. However, he is a poor basestealer and was caught on five of eight attempts with Southern Miss. His speed translates to the field, where he’s a plus center fielder capable of covering large swaths of ground in the outfield. The former pitcher has a plus arm.
The Future: Cook has many tools but is more raw than other college draftees. He has the attributes to develop into an everyday center fielder.
Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 30 | Run: 80 | Field: 60 | Arm: 60 -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
Adjusted Grade: 40
Track Record: Sanchez signed with the Blue Jays out of the Dominican Republic for $997,500, the second-highest bonus in their 2025 class. He made his debut in the Dominican Summer League a few months later and was one of the standout performers on the circuit. Sanchez hit .341/.439/.565 with eight home runs and ranked as the No. 5 prospect in the league.
Scouting Report: A large, physical slugger standing 6-foot-3 with plenty of space to add muscle and strength to his frame, Sanchez already shows in-game power with plus bat-to-ball skills. In 2025 he missed pitches in the strike zone just 10.8% of the time and ran solid underlying swing-decision metrics. Sanchez is prone to expanding the zone at times, which leads to whiffs. When he stays inside the zone and looks to do damage on pitches over the plate, he produces hard barrels all over the yard. Sanchez shows plus raw power, having hit a ball 115.8 mph in 2025. Sanchez already shows the ability to pull the ball hard and in the air and produces a high rate of barrel contact. He projects to grow into a plus power hitter at peak with elite high-end exit velocities and the ability to get to them in games. Sanchez is a fringe-average runner who will likely slow down as he matures. His lack of range and questionable actions likely mean a permanent move to third base in the future. He’s a natural fit for third base with an above-average arm capable of making all the necessary throws.
The Future: Sanchez has the tools and requisite bat-to-ball ability and power to grow into an above-average third baseman with peak seasons featuring 30 home runs. He’s viewed as one of the top players coming stateside in 2026 and should play in the Florida Complex League.
Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 60 | Run: 40 | Field: 45 | Arm: 55 -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Mild
Adjusted Grade: 40
Track Record: Schreck struggled as a senior at Duke in 2022 after hitting 18 home runs in 2021 and transferred to Vanderbilt for his graduate student season in 2023. The Mariners drafted Schreck in the ninth round in 2023 and signed him for $75,000. Schreck began the 2024 season with High-A Everett and earned a promotion to Double-A weeks before the 2024 trade deadline. He was traded to the Blue Jays for veteran third baseman Justin Turner. Schreck split his 2025 season between Double-A and Triple-A, hitting a combined .249/.395/.459 with 18 homers across both levels. He missed a month in the middle of the season with a hand injury.
Scouting Report: A well-rounded player with strong plate skills and the ability to fill in at all three outfield positions, Schreck proved that his contact skills and approach were no flukes in 2024. He replicated his plus zone-contact rate and swing decisions at Double-A and Triple-A in 2025. Schreck rarely expands the zone and uses an aggressive approach on strikes, leading to lots of contact. His ability to discern balls from strikes is his greatest asset, leading to clear plus plate skills. Schreck saw a jump in his exit velocity data in 2025 and hit a career-high max exit velocity of 111.9 mph. He shows the ability to hit the ball hard in the air to his pull side, optimizing his average underlying power. Schreck is likely to hit 15-18 home runs annually while providing solid batting averages and high on-base percentages. Schreck is an average runner who saw time in all three outfield spots in 2025. He is below-average in center field but better suited for a corner, where he is closer to average.
The Future: Schreck looks like a second-division regular with a bat-driven profile.
Scouting Grades Hit: 60 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Field: 45 | Arm: 50 -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
Adjusted Grade: 40
Track Record: Stanifer signed for $125,000 as an Indiana prep pick in the 19th round of the 2022 draft. After spending 2023 in the Florida Complex League and making 19 appearances for Low-A Dunedin in 2024, Stanifer broke out in a big way in 2025. Stanifer spent the first seven weeks of the season as a piggyback starter in tandem with top prospect Trey Yesavage and was promoted to High-A Vancouver alongside him on May 19. He moved into the rotation at High-A and was promoted to Double-A on Sept. 5 and made two starts.
Scouting Report: Stanifer stands 6-foot-3 with a broad-shouldered, muscular build and little in the way of remaining projection. He works exclusively from the stretch with a high leg lift that contracts into his body before he drives toward the plate. He’s a short-strider with a short arm action and releases the ball from a three-quarters arm slot. Stanifer mixes a four-seam fastball, slider and changeup. His four-seam fastball sits 93-96 mph with plus ride and heavy armside run. Despite a lack of extension, Stanifer creates a deceptively flat plane of approach to the plate, leading to impressive whiff rates against the pitch. His primary secondary pitch against righthanders is a low-to-mid-80s slider that looks like a harder curveball with heavy vertical drop. His slider is a plus bat-missing pitch that generated elite whiff rates in 2025. His changeup is his go-to secondary in off-handed matchups. Stanifer shows average feel for his changeup, but its primary function is driving weak grounders, not generating whiffs. Stanifer shows fringe-average control across his arsenal.
The Future: Stanifer carries a fair amount of relief risk but showed the ability to start over the final three months of the 2025 season and has No. 4 starter upside.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 45 -
BA Grade/Risk: 60/Extreme
Adjusted Grade: 40
Track Record: The Blue Jays drafted Tiedemann in the third round out of junior college in 2021 and signed him for $644,800. He dominated in his 2022 debut, starting in Low-A and reaching Double-A in his age-19 season. Tiedemann was limited to just 61.1 innings in 2023 and 2024 because of persistent elbow pain. He had Tommy John surgery in late July 2024 and missed all of 2025. The Blue Jays added Tiedemann to the 40-man roster following the 2025 season and plan to slowly ease him back into game action in 2026.
Scouting Report: Despite a physical, 6-foot-4 build, Tiedemann has struggled to stay healthy for most of his career. When Tiedemann is healthy and locked in, his arsenal plays up due to his low three-quarters arm slot. His arm swing is long, but it helps him hide the ball, creating deceptive traits. Since his initial elbow injury in 2023, Tiedemann has struggled to consistently repeat his mechanics and release point. He mixes a four-seam fastball, slider and changeup. His fastball sits 94-96 mph with heavy armside run that plays up due to his arm slot. In 2024, Tiedemann generated less armside run on his fastball compared to previous seasons, possibly a product of his lingering elbow injury. Tiedemann’s slider is his most-used secondary weapon. It has had varied shapes over the seasons, showing traditional break in 2023 and more sweeper action in 2022 and 2024. When at his best, Tiedemann shows the ability to use his slider against batters of both hands, wearing out the armside half of the plate. His changeup was viewed as his best secondary as an amateur, but it has become less effective in pro ball.
The Future: Tiedemann will likely see a heavy dose of relief work in 2026 as he builds up his workload, but his midrotation upside remains.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50 -
BA Grade/Risk: 60/High
Adjusted Grade: 45
Track Record: In the months leading up to the 2025 draft, no player had more helium than Parker. A four-year varsity starter for Purvis High in Mississippi, his impressive performance at East Coast Pro in 2024 got the hype train to leave the station. The Blue Jays drafted Parker with the eighth overall pick in 2025 and signed him for just under $6.2 million. He didn’t debut following the draft but did participate in unofficial bridge league games. Parker’s birth name is Joseph, but he goes by JoJo. His twin brother Jacob is an outfielder who played for Purvis and attends Mississippi State.
Scouting Report: Parker is a physical shortstop who stands 6-foot-2 with a strong, muscular build and room to add more strength. He was one of the older players in the 2025 high school class but shows arguably the best balance of hitting and power among his prep peers. Parker sets up with an open stance and a narrow base. He rests the bat on his shoulder, then engages his load with a leg kick that feeds into an aggressive stride. Parker shows plus bat-to-ball skills and a patient approach. He can get overly passive at times, taking too many hittable pitches in the zone. He does a good job of pulling pitches located on the inner half of the plate and shows plus raw power. His swing is more geared toward hard line drives than lofted fly balls, but he should grow into above-average power at peak. Parker is an average runner who gets out of the box well, but he’s unlikely to impact the game much with his speed. Parker is a shortstop at present but is likely to move to third base. He lacks the quick-twitch mechanisms and range needed to play shortstop. He does have a strong internal clock and an above-average arm.
The Future: Parker projects as an above-average regular at third base who could one day grow into an all-star.
Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Field: 50 | Arm: 55 -
BA Grade/Risk: 60/High
Adjusted Grade: 45
Track Record: King was just 17 years old on draft day when the Blue Jays selected him in the third round in 2024. A projectable 6-foot-4 lefthander from Naples, Fla., he was one of the brightest performers in Toronto’s farm system in 2025. King began in the Florida Complex League, making six appearances and striking out 41 batters to seven walks across 24 innings. He was promoted to Low-A Dunedin on June 29 and made 11 appearances and 10 starts. Over 37.2 innings with Dunedin, King struck out 64 batters to 30 walks, pitching to a 3.35 ERA.
Scouting Report: King has all the ingredients of a midrotation stalwart. His operation gets deep into his glutes, allowing him to drop and drive with a strong lead leg block. His low three-quarters arm slot creates a deceptive angle for both lefthanded and righthanded batters, though he saw more success in opposite-handed matchups in 2025. King is still learning to repeat his mechanics, something that should help him find more consistency with his release point. King mixes and matches with a four-seam fastball, curveball and changeup. King’s fastball is plus and sits 93-95 mph with above-average ride and heavy armside run. King had some of the highest total movement on his fastball of any lefthander in professional baseball in 2025. His most-used secondary pitch is a two-plane curveball that sits 80-82 mph with good depth. His curveball boasted a whiff rate north of 50% in 2025. King’s changeup is a clear third pitch and was used sparingly in 2025. King shows fringe-average control and struggled with strike-throwing with Dunedin.
The Future: King is poised to build on his breakout 2025 on his way to his final destination of midrotation starter.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 60 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 45 -
BA Grade/Risk: 60/High
Adjusted Grade: 45
Track Record: At 17 years old, Nimmala was the youngest player selected in the 2023 draft and debuted in the Florida Complex League months before his 18th birthday. His production was heavily disjointed in his first two full seasons. A rough start in 2024 for Low-A Dunedin led to a stint on the development list after 29 games. Upon his return, Nimmala showed improved posture in his swing and hit .265/.331/.564 over the final 53 games. The 2025 season was the reverse, as Nimmala started hot with High-A Vancouver, hitting .289/.372/.538 over the first 45 games. From June 1 onward, things took a gnarly turn and he hit .184 over the final 75 games.
Scouting Report: A young shortstop with exciting skills on both sides of the ball, Nimmala still has remaining projection in his broad-shouldered frame. At the plate, he sets up slightly open, deploying a toe-tap timing mechanism. He looks to meet the ball out in front, which at times is to the detriment of his contact quality when he catches the ball off the end of the bat. Nimmala showed improvements to his contact in 2025, which resulted in a drop in strikeout rate. His bat-to-ball skills are fringe-average, which he mitigates with above-average swing decisions. Nimmala showed improved underlying power in 2025 with a jump in exit velocity data, but struggled to pull the ball in the air. Nimmala should be an above-average power hitter due to his plus bat speed, current power and remaining projection. He is an above-average runner who will show plus run times on jailbreaks to first base. He’s an above-average defender at shortstop with a plus arm who looks likely to stick at the position.
The Future: Nimmala will look to find more consistency at the plate in 2026, and if he does he’ll develop into an above-average everyday shortstop. Double-A is next.
Scouting Grades Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Field: 55 | Arm: 60 -
BA Grade/Risk: 60/Mild
Adjusted Grade: 55
Track Record: Over three seasons at East Carolina, Yesavage went from a reliever to a key piece of the Pirates’ rotation. As a junior in 2024, he went 11-1 with a 2.03 ERA and struck out 145 in 93.1 innings. Late in that season, Yesavage suffered a partially collapsed lung due to an off-field medical procedure. He returned during regionals and outpitched Wake Forest ace Chase Burns. After Yesavage ranked as the No. 11 player in the 2024 class, questions around his medicals dropped him to the Blue Jays at pick No. 20. He signed for a little over $4.75 million and would debut the following spring with Low-A Dunedin. Toronto was deliberate with Yesavage’s workload and slowly moved him across each level of the full-season minors before he made his major league debut on Sept. 15. Not only did Yesavage make the Blue Jays’ postseason roster, he made five starts during Toronto’s run to the World Series. His biggest moment came in Game 5 of the World Series, when he threw seven innings of one-run ball, striking out 12 Dodgers batters to set a World Series rookie record.
Scouting Report: A physical 6-foot-4 righthander with a prototypical starter’s build, Yesavage employs an unusual operation with a nearly perfect overhand arm slot. Pitching exclusively from the stretch, he gets deep into his back leg as his arm plunges back before he catapults the ball over the top. His vertical arm angle and ability to hide the ball create a deceptive look that keeps opposing hitters off-balance. Yesavage employs a three-pitch mix of four-seam fastball, slider and splitter. The movement on his pitch mix is highly unusual. None of his pitches breaks to his glove side. Yesavage’s four-seam fastball is his primary pitch, thrown just under 50% of the time. Due to his over-the-top arm slot, he generates outlier ride on his fastball, averaging nearly 20 inches of induced vertical break in his brief MLB sample. His ride-cut shape and mid-90s velocity create a fearsome combination of traits that drove above-average whiff rates at every level. His slider is used nearly one-for-one to his splitter, and is the harder of his two secondaries, sitting in the upper 80s and touching the low 90s with cutter-like shape. It generates an unusual three inches of armside run. Yesavage’s slider is an above-average pitch due to its velocity and unique break, but his splitter is his signature pitch. It sits 83-84 mph with excellent velocity and vertical separation off his fastball. His splitter generates whiffs at elite rates and is a true plus-plus offering. Yesavage shows average control and relies on a heavy dose of chase swings to boost his strike rates.
The Future: Yesavage enters 2026 as an American League Rookie of the Year frontrunner and key part of the Blue Jays’ rotation. He could develop into a No. 2 starter.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Split: 70 | Control: 50 -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/Average
Adjusted Grade: 30
Track Record: Springer is a product of the prodigious Corona (Calif.) HS program that produced three first-rounders in the 2025 draft and counts big leaguers Samad Taylor and Tristan Beck among its alumni. Springer was taken in the 12th round of the 2024 draft, eschewing a commitment to Oregon in exchange for a bonus of $200,000. He split his first pro season between the Arizona Complex League and Low-A.
Scouting Report: Despite an unconventional setup and swing, Springer does a fantastic job of putting the bat on the ball and struck out just 10 times in 179 plate appearances. The next step is becoming more selective and swinging at pitches he can not only hit, but hit with authority. Doing so would surely give his exit velocity numbers a bump. He has the tools to be an average defender behind the plate and threw out 28% of attempted basestealers.
The Future: Springer will likely return to Low-A in 2026 but should reach High-A Hub City at some point during the summer. He has the look of a backup catcher who can provide solid work behind the plate and a hint of offense as well.
Scouting Grades Hit: 40 | Power: 40 | Run: 50 | Field: 50 | Arm: 45 -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/Average
Adjusted Grade: 30
Track Record: Pineda was on the rise when the Rangers signed him for $350,000 on Jan. 15, 2026. He is a cousin of former nine-year big leaguer Michael Pineda.
Scouting Report: Pineda is tall and projectable, with a loose, easy arm action that could lead to plenty more power in the coming years. As it is, his fastball already bumps 96 mph. He buttresses the fastball with a hard slider and a developing changeup. More than his pure stuff, Pineda has also shown solid control and command for his age.
The Future: Pineda and his three-pitch mix will begin in the Dominican Summer League.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 50 -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
Adjusted Grade: 30
Track Record: Johnson was taken by Texas in the 11th round of the 2025 draft and was awarded a $300,000 bonus in lieu of transferring from Pearl River (Miss.) JC to Auburn. His 12 wins with the Wildcats led the team and tied a program record.
Scouting Report: The Rangers have scored big in the JC ranks in recent years, with successes like Kohl Drake, Josh Trentadue and Izack Tiger. Johnson might be next up. He leads his mix with a fastball that touches 96 and backs it with a low-80s slider and a changeup that is a clear third pitch. The fastball has heavy sinking life, which helped him hold the opposition to just two home runs in 71 innings.
The Future: Johnson did not pitch after signing and will likely split his pro debut between the Arizona Complex League and Low-A Hickory.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 45 -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/Average
Adjusted Grade: 30
Track Record: After two seasons as a catcher at North Dakota State, Danielson talked his way into a role as a pitcher. Four seasons later, the Rangers were intrigued enough to call Danielson’s name in the 17th round in 2024. He got his feet wet later that summer at Low-A, then zoomed to Double-A in his first full season as a pro. He got a little more work under his belt in the Arizona Fall League.
Scouting Report: Most pitchers deploy their arsenal differently against righties and lefties, but Danielson takes it to another level. Facing righties, he works with a sinker, sweeper and cutter and delivers from a low three-quarters slot. Against lefties, he works from a much higher slot and utilizes his four-seamer, curveball, splitter and cutter. After annihilating the competition in High-A, the 24-year-old Danielson ran into resistance at Double-A Frisco. He struggled to throw strikes and was crushed by righthanders, who hit .375/.500/.563 against him. Lefties managed an OPS of just .440 against Danielson at Double-A, though he struggled to throw strikes in general. Danielson’s fastball is the only plus pitch in his mix. Among his offspeeds, only his curveball grades as average.
The Future: To land a spot in the big leagues, Danielson will have to drastically improve his control and bring one of his offspeed pitches forward a few clicks. If he can, he could settle in as a low-leverage arm.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 40 | Cutter: 45 | Split: 40 | Control: 40 -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
Adjusted Grade: 30
Track Record: Cauley signed for $1 million with Texas after being drafted in the third round in 2021. Injuries stunted his progress in the following seasons, but in 2025 he reached Double-A for the first time and posted a season with middling stats but hints of upside.
Scouting Report: Cauley is still twitchy and athletic and can put a decent charge into a ball, but he needs plenty of refinement to get the most out of his offensive potential. He handles spin fine, but he was vexed by premium fastballs and changeups. Even so, he got enough out of his contact and plus speed to become one of just nine minor leaguers 22 or younger who finished the year hitting .250 or better with at least 15 home runs and 25 stolen bases. He’d moved back and forth between shortstop and second base, but in 2025 he added center field to his bag of tricks. The results were outstanding. Cauley’s quickness and range allowed him to make scads of highlight reel plays, including diving grabs back, forth and side to side while chewing up turf with efficient routes. If that’s his future home, he’ll provide plenty of value with his glove.
The Future: Cauley’s defensive prowess and versatility gives him a variety of avenues to reach the big leagues. If he can become a more well-rounded hitter, he might tap into the upside the Rangers saw in him five summers ago.
Scouting Grades Hit: 30 | Power: 40 | Run: 60 | Field: 60 | Arm: 60 -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
Adjusted Grade: 30
Track Record: After two seasons at Weatherford (TX) JC, Bonzagni transferred to Southern Illinois for the second part of his college career. In between, he was part of a talented Cape Cod League team that was loaded with future first-rounders, including 2024 No. 1 overall pick Travis Bazzana. Bonzagni raised his stock with the Salukis, and the Rangers pounced on the chance to draft him in the 12th round. He signed for $150,000 and split his first full pro season between the Class A levels. He pitched just 9.1 innings in 2025 before a torn ulnar collateral ligament required Tommy John surgery.
Scouting Report: When healthy, Bonzagni is one of the best groundball-drivers in the Rangers’ system. That was the case in 2025, when he coaxed grounders at a 66.7% rate before his elbow flared up. At his best, he works with a fastball and slider that each grade as potentially plus offerings, as well as a changeup that was in line for a season of development before the injury. Historically, he’s shown a willingness to attack the strike zone with his entire mix and should have at least above-average control.
The Future: Bonzagni’s surgery will likely cost him all of 2026. If his stuff returns in full, he could be a late-game reliever whose pitch mix keeps hitters and infielders on their toes. Starting isn’t out of the question, however, and the next step toward that goal will come in 2027.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 55 -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
Adjusted Grade: 30
Track Record: Abeldt spent his first two seasons at TCU working almost exclusively out of the bullpen. Abeldt also spent two summers pitching with USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team. He was in line for a spot in the rotation before he tore his ulnar collateral ligament in February and had Tommy John surgery. Instead, he spent the season as the Horned Frogs’ informal bullpen coach. The Rangers bet on his upside and drafted him in the fifth round.
Scouting Report: At his best, Abeldt gets his outs on the strength of three pitches and a funky delivery that features a low slot and a crossfire action. His fastball sits in the low 90s and peaks at 96 with the kind of heavy sink that keeps infielders on their toes. He backs it with a sweepy slider in the 78-82 mph range that drives swings and misses and has above-average potential. He has a low-80s changeup in his back pocket as well, but he threw it just 7.7% of the time in 2024. Despite the high-maintenance delivery, Abeldt did an excellent job in college of pounding the strike zone and should have at least average control in the big leagues.
The Future: Abeldt should be ready for spring training and could move quickly as a reliever. He profiles as someone who can neutralize lefties, and his stock could tick up if he improves his changeup.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 50 -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
Adjusted Grade: 30
Track Record: After teasing his tremendous upside in his first pro season, when he was promoted stateside before the close of the Dominican Summer League season, Gutierrez has faced a series of injuries. Those include a fractured finger in 2023, shoulder surgery in 2024 and a hybrid Tommy John surgery in 2025. All told, he hasn’t reached the 90-game mark in either of his last two seasons.
Scouting Report: When healthy, Gutierrez has an ideal body that should produce power and athleticism in equal measure. All the time on the injured list has stunted his development and delayed his path to the big leagues. He’s an aggressive swinger who does a good job making contact on pitches in the strike zone but needs to chase at a far lower clip. He hits the ball fairly hard, with max exit velocities up to 109 mph, but needs to improve his barrel accuracy to get the most out of his strength. The 21-year-old Gutierrez still ranks among the best defensive outfielders in the system, and his arm strength—when healthy—is the best in the organization. He is an above-average runner who has been successful on more than 80% of his stolen base attempts in his career.
The Future: Gutierrez should be ready in time for spring training and should get to Double-A in 2026. When he does, he’ll need to become far more selective at the plate to get the most out of his offensive upside. A fully healthy season would go a long way, too.
Scouting Grades Hit: 40 | Power: 40 | Run: 55 | Field: 60 | Arm: 60 -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
Adjusted Grade: 30
Track Record: Santana was the gem of the Rangers’ 2024 signing class and opened his career on a strong note in the Dominican Summer League. There, he posted an .829 OPS, finished with more walks (52) than strikeouts (38) and was named the MVP of the league’s annual all-star game. The sailing wasn’t as smooth stateside, but he made it to Low-A Hickory by season’s end.
Scouting Report: Santana moved to the Arizona Complex League to begin 2025 and produced a middling year. His speed, defense and arm all settled in around average or slightly better, giving him a fair chance to stick in center field. Doing so would be a boon for his future, since his offense is unlikely to profile in a corner. Santana’s EV numbers were strong—including 90th percentile and max marks of 103.7 mph and 112.6 mph—but his miss rates were fringy or below-average across the board, and he finished the year with a 30.7% strikeout rate. Scouts chalked up the whiffs to poor swing decisions and general over-aggressiveness against soft stuff. Still, Santana’s compact swing and strong body provide hope that he can reach his potential with more refinement.
The Future: Santana will return to Hickory in 2026. He has the ceiling of a center fielder who hits toward the bottom of a lineup but will take plenty of patience if he is to reach those heights.
Scouting Grades Hit: 40 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Field: 50 | Arm: 50 -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/Average
Adjusted Grade: 30
Track Record: Martin was a two-sport standout in high school in Kennewick, Wash., and was committed to Oregon before the Rangers drafted him in the 11th round in 2023. The younger brother of former Pirates prospect Mason Martin, Maxton spent his first full pro season in the Arizona Complex League. He played most of 2025 at Low-A Hickory before making a season-ending run with High-A Hub City.
Scouting Report: Martin’s calling card is his power, which helped him swat 14 home runs in 2025. His 90th percentile exit velocity was 102 mph, and he maxed out at 111 mph. His raw juice is among the best in the system, but he’ll need to make more contact to use it to its full potential. His miss and chase rates were both worse than 30%, and his in-zone miss rate finished at 21.8%. Most of Martin’s defensive reps came in left field, with a few starts in right field and at first base mixed in as well. His arm strength and defense each project to be below-average, which puts plenty of pressure on him to make the offensive adjustments required to squeeze every drop out of his power. Martin is a below-average runner as well, but he showed enough to become one of just two minor leaguers with double-digit home runs and 15 or more stolen bases without getting caught.
The Future: Martin has a ceiling as a second-division regular who can provide a bit of thump.
Scouting Grades Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 40 | Field: 40 | Arm: 40 -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
Adjusted Grade: 30
Track Record: After losing out to the Dodgers in the Roki Sasaki sweepstakes, the Rangers had plenty of international pool money to spend. A total of $1.2 million of it went to Kim, an 18-year-old in South Korea with talent on both sides of the ball. He joined the Rangers after graduating from Gwangju Jeil High and spent a few games in the Dominican Summer League. He got 13 plate appearances as a hitter and one inning on the mound. He played both ways as an amateur and had a chance to be picked early in the Korean Baseball Organization draft.
Scouting Report: The Rangers are planning to let Kim play both ways at the outset of his career, though evaluators believe his stronger path to the big leagues is on the mound. He works with a four-seamer that’s peaked at 95 mph as well as a slider and splitter. He’s a lithe athlete in the field with the chops to stick at shortstop and the kind of strong arm that’s typical of someone who can also get on the mound. He produced limited exit velocity numbers in a small sample in the D.R. before the season ended and he transitioned into instructional league.
The Future: Kim will get a chance to hit and pitch in his first full season as a professional. The next step will likely be in the Arizona Complex League.
Scouting Grades Hit: 40 | Power: 40 | Run: 50 | Field: 50 | Arm: 60 | Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 40 | Slider: 50 | Sweeper: 50 | Control: 50 -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
Adjusted Grade: 30
Track Record: Rosario earned the highest bonus of any member of the Rangers’ 2026 international class. His outlay was the ninth-highest of any player in the period as well.
Scouting Report: Rosario is a big man with corresponding strength and power, and he has a chance to get even more physical as he ages. He’ll need to work making contact as he moves up the ladder, though he has shown a decent eye as well and could rack up walks as a pro. Rosario is a former infielder who has moved to the outfield and should profile in a corner. His speed and arm strength each grade as above-average.
The Future: Rosario will get his first pro action in 2026 in the Dominican Summer League.
Scouting Grades Hit: 45 | Power: 60 | Run: 55 | Field: 45 | Arm: 55 -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
Adjusted Grade: 30
Track Record: Rodriguez’s $1.1 million bonus was the highest awarded to any of Texas’ 2025 international class. He earned that figure based on a well-rounded tool set, and he opened his career in the Dominican Summer League and finished with a .979 OPS and six home runs over 46 games. His year included a berth in the DSL all-star game.
Scouting Report: On the surface, Rodriguez’s professional debut was a success. Under the hood, there’s plenty of areas to polish. He took professional at-bats and made sound swing decisions, but his exit velocities were a bit underwhelming. He finished the year with a 90th percentile mark of just 99.5 mph and a max figure of 104.5 mph. Considering his frame lacks much room for projection, there’s reason to believe his power numbers might jump much as he gets older. Rodriguez’s defense is also a bit of an issue. He split his reps between second base and center field, but scouts are skeptical he has the chops to be more than fringy at either spot. That’s especially true if his lower half gets any thicker than its current state.
The Future: Rodriguez will likely spend most of 2026 in the Arizona Complex League. There, he’ll work to up his exit velocities and improve his defense in an effort to stay up the middle.
Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 50 | Field: 40 | Arm: 40 -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: Wheeler was a two-way player at Illinois’ Morris High, where he also played basketball and football. He played with the varsity squad all four years in high school and was drafted by the Rangers in the sixth round in 2025. He signed for an above-slot bonus of $525,000 to keep him from landing on campus at Illinois. He did not play an official game after signing.
Scouting Report: Despite his potential on the mound, Wheeler’s path as a pro will come as a position player only. He’s big and physical and moves well for his size. His natural strength and loose swing help him generate premier raw power that should be more than enough to profile at his position. His midwestern roots mean he’s a little more raw than prep talents from amateur hotbeds in other parts of the country, and his reaction to spin during instructional league affirmed the idea that patience will be required as Wheeler climbs the ladder. Though he’s lithe enough now to handle third base, there’s a chance his body might push him to right field as he matures. If that’s the case, his above-average arm strength should be more than enough for the position.
The Future: Wheeler’s first official pro reps will come in the Arizona Complex League. If he passes those tests, he has a chance to be a prototype hitter who can profile either at third base or in right field.
Scouting Grades Hit: 40 | Power: 60 | Run: 55 | Field: 40 | Arm: 55 -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: Kling was a highly regarded prospect out of high school but decided to pull his name from draft consideration and instead enroll at LSU. His time in Baton Rouge did not go according to plan, and he transferred to Penn State after his sophomore season. Things started to click in State College, and Kling finished his lone season with the Nittany Lions with a sparkly 1.102 OPS and 13 home runs. The Rangers selected him in the seventh round in 2025, and he made it to High-A in his pro debut before a collision with Dylan Dreiling closed the curtains on his season.
Scouting Report: Kling is big and athletic and handles center field well, with mobility to all sectors. His above-average arm strength gives him a weapon that would help him profile in right field if he has to move there at some point. Kling’s raw power is evident in his frame, and he did a solid job finding the barrel in his pro debut. His max exit velocities didn’t jump off the page, but his 90th percentile mark of 104.2 mph points to consistent flush contact. There were some issues with spin as an amateur, and his miss rates were a little high in a smaller pro sample, so his pure hit tool might not be better than below-average.
The Future: Kling’s pedigrees in the Big Ten and Southeastern conferences should allow him to move quickly through the system. His ceiling is as a masher who can handle center field and make noise on the bases.
Scouting Grades Hit: 40 | Power: 55 | Run: 60 | Field: 50 | Arm: 55 -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Average
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: Pence redshirted during his first season at North Carolina, then spent the next two seasons pitching mostly out of the bullpen for the Tar Heels. He was used exclusively as a reliever in his draft year, when the Rangers took him in the 11th round and signed him for $350,000. He was shut down after signing, then spent his debut season as a rotation piece at the Class A levels.
Scouting Report: The Rangers believe Pence has the chops to start. To do so, he’ll need a fuller arsenal. Currently, he works with a four-pitch mix led by a low-90s fastball and backed by a slider, splitter and sparsely used curveball. Despite pedestrian velocity, Pence’s heater could get to plus thanks to more than 20 inches of induced vertical break and an ability to land it in the zone frequently. His slider—which can look like a cutter—is his most effective offspeed pitch and grades as a potential 55 on the 20-80 scouting scale. The splitter trails as a possible average pitch, and his curveball is a clear fourth option. In 2026, curveball growth will be a point of emphasis in order to give him a wider-breaking pitch as a way to introduce a different look into his mix. Pence had no trouble carving against Class A hitters and could get to above-average control.
The Future: Pence should reach Double-A in 2026. There, the savvier hitters in the Texas League will let him know just how much more diversity he’ll need in his pitch mix to be a starter at the highest level.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 40 | Slider: 55 | Split: 50 | Control: 55 -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/Mild
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: The seventh inning of the 2019 Perfect Game All-American Classic featured a pair of potential future Rangers pitchers. One was Alejandro Rosario. The other was Baumler, who was drafted in the fifth round by the Orioles the next year. The Iowa-bred righthander reached Double-A for the first time in 2025 and then was taken by the Pirates in the Rule 5 draft before being quickly traded to the Rangers.
Scouting Report: Injuries have taken their toll on Baumler, who has thrown just 88.2 innings since signing. The list includes a Tommy John surgery in 2020 that cost him all of the 2021 season. The 39.2 innings he threw in 2025 were a career high. The gem of Baumler’s mix is his fastball, which sits in the mid 90s and plays up because of the combination of its life through the zone and the way his delivery works. The righthander backs it up with a mid-80s, two-plane curveball and a slider that averages 89 mph and is rarely thrown. He has a chance to have average control in the big leagues, and he found the zone with both his fastball and curveball at rates of better than 66%. All three of his offerings garnered miss rates of better than 30%.
The Future: Baumler is a pure relief prospect who will get a chance in spring training to win a shot in Texas’ bullpen.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 40 | Control: 50 -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: After a decorated career at Stanford and with USA Baseball that helped him land a spot on BA’s Freshman All-America team, Moore cemented a place among the best catchers in the 2024 draft class. The Rangers selected him with the 30th pick and signed him for $3 million. He got his feet wet at High-A that summer, then returned to the level in 2025. His season was interrupted by a broken finger, and he made up for lost time in the Arizona Fall League.
Scouting Report: While the disjointed nature of his season didn’t help, even when healthy Moore had the look of a player who needed more polish than would be expected of a player with his pedigree. The lefthanded hitter was fairly aggressive and could put a charge into a ball every now and again, but there was much to be desired in terms of barrel accuracy. His season was unsuccessful in general, but he was particularly ineffective against lefthanders, against whom he produced an OPS of just .472 with one extra-base hit in 50 plate appearances. He also needs to find a quicker trigger to help him against premium velocity. Defensively, there’s plenty of work to be done as well. He’s a slow-twitch athlete and only a fringy receiver with a fringe-average arm. He caught 17.6% of attempted basestealers and had 70 bases stolen on him in just 47 games.
The Future: Moore’s first full pro season was a letdown, but there’s at least a partial mulligan required. He has plenty of work to do on both sides of the ball, and will likely head back to High-A to begin 2026. He now looks more like a backup than a starter.
Scouting Grades Hit: 40 | Power: 40 | Run: 30 | Field: 40 | Arm: 45 -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: Tiger spent his entire college career in Kansas at Butler JC. He struck out 121 hitters in his final season before the draft, and the Rangers called his name in the seventh round in 2023. He signed for $180,000. He got his first pro experience during Low-A Down East’s playoff run. In 2024, Tiger earned a spot in one of Texas’ Spring Breakout games, then pitched at three levels in the regular season, peaking at High-A. He pitched 46 innings before a torn ulnar collateral ligament required Tommy John surgery and cost him all of 2025.
Scouting Report: When healthy, Tiger has one of the most overwhelming pitch mixes in the Rangers’ system. His four-seam fastball reached into the upper 90s with plenty of life through the zone. He backed it with a slider in the mid 80s and a split-changeup in the low 90s. The combination allows him to work the strike zone from the top down while drawing plenty of empty swings. At their peak, Tiger’s fastball and slider are potential plus pitches. His changeup could get to above-average. He repeats his delivery well and should have fringe-average control once he reaches the big leagues.
The Future: After a year to recover, Tiger should be ready for spring training. If his stuff returns intact, he has a chance to be a back-end starter or a live-armed force in the back of a bullpen.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Split: 55 | Control: 45 -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Average
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: After earning Most Outstanding Player during Tennessee’s run to the 2024 College World Series championship, Dreiling had boosted his stock high enough to earn the Rangers’ second-round pick and a bonus of $1,287,600. He debuted later that year at High-A Hickory and returned to the level—albeit at Texas’ new affiliate in Spartanburg, S.C.—and posted a middling campaign.
Scouting Report: Dreiling does a strong job controlling the strike zone, but he needs to become more aggressive. His swing rate in 2025 was just 38.7%, among the lowest in the sport among players with 400 or more plate appearances. The Rangers also worked with Dreiling to tweak the mechanics in his lower half, and the results were promising. His August was the best month of the season, and he showed well during the Arizona Fall League. All of Dreiling’s exit velocity numbers were promising, including best bolts of better than 111 mph. Despite those numbers, he has a hole on the outer half of the plate that led to a lot of weak contact in 2025. He’ll need those positive signs to carry through into 2026 because of a defensive profile that lends itself more toward left field. Even in the corner, Dreiling is unlikely to be more than a fringy defender with similar arm strength.
The Future: After turning in a strong last few months in regular season and AFL, Dreiling’s prospect stock has steadied. He’ll begin 2026 at the upper levels and has a future as a second-division left fielder.
Scouting Grades Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Field: 45 | Arm: 45 -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Average
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: Teodo signed with the Rangers in 2020 but was forced by the pandemic to wait until the following year to make his pro debut. When he finally got on the mound, he showcased one of the system’s liveliest arms. After a standout turn in the 2024 Futures Game, it seemed he was on the precipice of the big leagues. A back injury and scattered command scuttled those plans, however, and instead he made his second Arizona Fall League appearance in three seasons.
Scouting Report: For the first few years of his career, Teodo got by on the sheer velocity of a fastball that routinely touched 100 mph or more. In 2023, while he was in High-A, hitters taught him that the pitch lacked the movement to be effective. He switched to a two-seamer at midseason and saw standout results. Now, he can bully hitters with his fastball, slider and rare changeup. His primary two offerings have a chance to be plus or better, and his changeup could get to fringe-average. Teodo’s injury meant he was out of sync all year, and it showed in his inability to throw strikes. He’ll need to get back on track in that department to reach the big leagues. The Rangers would also like to see him work back-to-back days, which he did not do in 2025.
The Future: If he can throw more strikes, Teodo has a chance to be an overwhelming force in the late innings. If not, he might be closer to a low-leverage arm, or someone who rides the shuttle back and forth from Triple-A.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 70 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 40 -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: Castillo signed with Texas in 2024 out of Venezuela and quickly showed exemplary bat-to-ball skills. He lasted just 20 games in the Dominican Summer League—where he hit .414/.552/.471—before the Rangers bumped him to the Arizona Complex League. Although the venue changed, Castillo continued producing at a stellar level. He split his 2025 season between the ACL and Low-A Hickory, where he continued to make plenty of contact but little impact.
Scouting Report: In 2024, Castillo’s body was long and lanky with plenty of room for more strength. Scouts who saw him a year later said he had made some progress in that area, but a large chunk of his future depends on whether he can get even stronger and turn more of his singles into extra-base hits. Castillo’s swing is a bit choppy, and he tends to make his contact deeper in the strike zone. Those traits, plus below-average exit velocities, have led to limited offensive success outside of contact abilities. He has just 21 extra-base hits—and only one home run—in 421 career plate appearances. That likely limits his upside to a bottom-of-the-order hitter. Scouts are sold on Castillo sticking at shortstop, and he ranks as the best defensive infielder in the system. He’s a smooth fielder with strong instincts, soft hands, plus range and an excellent internal clock. His arm strength is plus, too, and he got 10 games of experience at third base as well. Castillo is an average runner who has stolen 28 bases in 34 career attempts.
The Future: The next few years will be telling for Castillo. If he can revamp his bat path and add strength, he might be able to hack it as a shortstop who hits toward the bottom of the order. If not, it will be tough to find a path to the big leagues.
Scouting Grades Hit: 45 | Power: 30 | Run: 50 | Field: 55 | Arm: 60 -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Average
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: When he signed in 2021, Lopez was immediately tabbed as someone to keep an eye on in the coming years. He made the leap in his second stint in the Dominican Summer League, when he punched out 63 and walked just 18 over 34.1 innings. He flashed potential over the next two seasons, but really broke through in 2025, when he fanned 116 and walked 41 over 101.1 innings in a year when he reached Double-A for the first time. After the season, Lopez was added to the 40-man roster.
Scouting Report: Lopez has a case as the biggest breakthrough in Texas’ system in 2025. He shed fat, added strength and began repeating his delivery much more frequently. Now, his diverse pitch mix is more effective. He works with four- and two-seam fastballs, and backs them with a slider, curveball and changeup. The slider, a new addition to his mix, looks like a cutter but Lopez’s high release point makes the pitch appear more slider-ish. The pitch was more effective because of how often he was able to land it for strikes. Having two pitches he could throw in-zone helped the rest of his mix play up. Lopez’s split-grip changeup projects as a below-average pitch. Lopez’s control gains were more important than anything that happened with one of his pitches, and the improvement stuck after he moved from High-A to Double-A.
The Future: Now part of the 40-man roster, Lopez has a chance to make his MLB debut in 2026. Despite all but one of his appearances coming in the rotation in 2025, his likely role in the big leagues is as a reliever.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 50 -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Average
Adjusted Grade: 40
Track Record: Davalillo comes from a family bursting with baseball. His brother Gabriel is a catcher who is a top prospect for the Angels. His father David was a longtime coach in the Mets’ system. The younger David initially signed with the Mets as well but was released after the 2021 season and signed with Texas. His 1.88 ERA was the lowest in the minor leagues in 2024, and he followed it up with a 2.44 mark in a year split between High-A and the hitter-friendly Texas League.
Scouting Report: Others in the system have better stuff, but Davalillo is truly the best pitcher in the organization. He doesn’t have a plus pitch, but an improved body thanks to a better diet and work in the weight room has helped his stuff tick up. He works with four- and two-seam fastballs, as well as a split-changeup, a curveball, a gyro slider and a newly added sweeper and cutter. The former was added to help him put away righties, while the latter is a bridge between his other fastballs and his offspeeds. Davalillo’s splitter is the best pitch in his mix, and in 2025 it drew misses at a rate of better than 50%. Scouts praise his ability to move all his pitches around the zone and execute attack plans against righties and lefties alike. He threw strikes at a clip of 64% in 2025, and his control grades as the best in the system. Davalillo succeeds thanks to an innate ability to repeat his delivery, hand speed that allows him to throw a variety of pitch types and the gumption to pound the strike zone. He fields his position well.
The Future: Davalillo’s lack of a plus pitch limits his ceiling, but he’s proved himself throughout the minor leagues and was wily enough in the second half to tame upper-level hitters. He has a chance to make his MLB debut toward the end of the 2026 season, especially after being added to the 40-man roster in November.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 45 | Slider: 50 | Split: 55 | Sweeper: 55 | Control: 60 -
BA Grade/Risk: 40/Mild
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: The Rangers signed Santos in 2019 out of the Dominican Republic, but they had to wait until the sport returned from the pandemic shutdown to get their eyes on him in an official game. Once things resumed, the righthander showed one of the system’s more interesting pitch mixes. He broke out during an outstanding 2024 season that included a berth in the Futures Game—played at the Rangers’ home ballpark—but was limited by a lingering back injury to just 35.2 frames in 2025 between the regular season and Arizona Fall League.
Scouting Report: As ever, Santos’ profile is driven by his magnificent fastball/changeup combo. The former pitch reached 97 mph during the regular season and touched a couple of ticks hotter in shorter bursts in the AFL. It also showed an average of nearly 18 inches of induced vertical break during the regular season. The righthander’s changeup flashes plus in the mid-to-upper 80s and shows fade and bottom at its best. Those two pitches would give him a chance to be a multi-inning reliever. If he can figure out a consistent breaking ball, he could find a way into a rotation. He’s working with a fringy, short-breaking version of a slider thrown around 84 mph. At its very best, the pitch has sharp gyro break down and in toward the feet of lefthanders. More often than not, it backs up on him and hangs in the middle of the zone. Santos has the potential for above-average control with perhaps average command. He’s done a good job filling up the zone at each of his stops.
The Future: If Santos can find a breaking ball that plays at least average, he’ll have a chance to be a back-end starter. If not, he could use his fastball and changeup to overwhelm hitters for multiple innings out of the bullpen. With a full offseason of rest, he could reach the big leagues in 2026.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Slider: 40 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 55 -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Average
Adjusted Grade: 40
Track Record: After a stellar season in relief at Tennessee in 2023, Russell’s sophomore year was stymied by an elbow injury that eventually required surgery to repair his ulnar collateral ligament. He returned in February 2025 for one outing, then came back on a regular basis starting on April 1. In all, he threw 70 innings and made 11 starts during his three seasons in Knoxville. The Rangers drafted Russell with their second-round pick and signed him for $2.6 million. He pitched during instructional league. His selection was the first of back-to-back picks—the second being two-way talent Josh Owens—from the Volunteer State.
Scouting Report: Russell works with a three-pitch mix led by a potentially double-plus fastball that sits between 92-94 mph and has reached up to 98 with plenty of carry and life through the zone. The pitch showed hard, boring action in on righthanded hitters and got plenty of misses as well. He backs his fastball with a slider that sometimes loses its shape and looks a little bit like a slurve. The Rangers are confident their pitching department can help Russell get to the best version of his breaking ball more often. The physical righthander rounds out his mix with a potentially above-average changeup in the mid 80s that he was confident throwing against both righties and lefties. Russell did a good job filling the zone during his college career and has a chance to have average control.
The Future: Both in college and as a pro, Russell has shown the type of stuff to be dominant. He’ll get plenty of chances to start, but his limited track record and injury might lead him to a future as a reliever who can blow hitters away for an inning or two. His college pedigree might lead to his pro career officially beginning at High-A Hub City.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 70 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50 -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Mild
Adjusted Grade: 40
Track Record: Corniell signed with the Mariners in 2019 but was traded to Texas in 2020 for reliever Rafael Montero. Three seasons later, Corniell’s performance at two Class A stops earned him the system’s minor league pitcher of the year award. His momentum was stopped halfway through 2024 by an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery. Once healed, he quickly showed enough at Double-A to warrant a one-game cameo in the big leagues. He made up for some of his lost innings with a turn in the Arizona Fall League.
Scouting Report: Corniell gets his outs thanks to stellar command of a deep, varied pitch mix led by a full complement of four-seam, sinking and cut fastballs that allows him to attack righties and lefties with velocity and movement. Scouts grade the sinker—which was added during the AFL—as the best of the trio, but the other two variants aren’t far behind. The four-seamer would get a bit of a boost if Corniell could command it better toward the top of the zone. Corniell’s slider has a sweepier shape than in years past, and it shows above-average potential at its best. Scouts outside the organization believe Corniell’s changeup has the same kind of ceiling, but he needs to throw the pitch more often to get it sharp enough to reach that value. The righthander pounds the zone with all his pitches, though the sweeper is designed more for chase swings than to be landed for early-count strikes.
The Future: After making his MLB debut, Corniell has a chance to reach Arlington again in 2026. If he doesn’t land in the Opening Day rotation, he could get back there after a bit more seasoning in Triple-A Round Rock. He has the ceiling of a back-end starter.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 55 | Cutter: 50 | Control: 60 -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/Average
Adjusted Grade: 45
Track Record: Scarborough’s size and athleticism helped him star in both baseball and basketball at Harmony High in Florida. He was skilled enough to earn area player of the year honors in both sports. The Rangers drafted Scarborough in the sixth round in 2023 and used a $515,000 bonus to buy him out of his commitment to Dallas Baptist. He pitched just 10.1 innings in 2024 but was the organization’s best pitcher in 2025. Between two Class A stops, the righthander struck out 114 and walked just 21 over 88 innings.
Scouting Report: Scarborough’s game is based around outliers. His fastball, which sits around 94 mph and touched 97, has excellent life through the zone from a low release height. Those traits, plus the fact that he threw the pitch for a strike more than 68% of the time, make it an easy plus offering and the best of its kind in the system. That title was reinforced during the season as he learned to land it in the zone more often. Scarborough complements his fastball with a sweeper that he was able to land in the zone or use to induce empty swings. The pitch got a 44% miss rate, and its strike distribution was nearly 50/50 between called and swinging. Its sharp break makes it a weapon down and away from righties and at the feet of lefties. He completes his mix with a split-changeup that he tinkered with throughout the 2025 season and will be a continuing point of emphasis. Scarborough has added plenty of strength since he’s turned pro, which has helped him make his funky delivery more repeatable.
The Future: Scarborough has a high ceiling thanks to his physical abilities and unique pitch package. If it all comes together, he could pitch in the middle of a rotation. The next steps will include adding more pitches to his mix. He should return to High-A in 2026 and could reach Double-A by midseason.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 70 | Split: 45 | Sweeper: 60 | Control: 55 -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
Adjusted Grade: 40
Track Record: The Rangers looked to the Tennessee high school ranks in 2020 when they drafted Elizabethton’s Evan Carter in the second round. Texas again favored the Volunteer State when it chose Owens from neighboring Johnson City in the third round in 2025. A multi-sport athlete who also played football, Owens had legitimate draft stock as both a shortstop and pitcher. The Rangers used $1.1 million to buy him out of his commitment to Georgia Southern.
Scouting Report: Entering the draft, Owens’ future seemed to be veering toward a future as a position player with the potential for average or better tools across the board. After his first taste of pro ball, that’s no longer the case. Scouts who saw Owens pitch came away impressed with his blend of athleticism and potentially overwhelming stuff. In instructional league, he showed a 93-96 mph fastball with nasty two-seam life and a well-commanded slider that rode the line between plus and double-plus and was an effective weapon to backfoot against lefthanders. His changeup was an intriguing offering as an amateur but was seldom-used as a pro. Owens’ deceptive lower slot and repertoire could help him vault quickly into the top tier of the system’s pitchers. Owens has raw power that helped him produce exit velocities of up to 108 mph as an amateur, but scouts believe his swing would need a major overhaul. In eight games for Low-A Hickory he went 2-for-24 with no walks and 11 strikeouts. In the field, his athleticism and above-average speed and arm would help him fit either at shortstop or in center field.
The Future: Owens is the best athlete in the system and has a variety of ways to produce value in the big leagues one day. After Owens’ short stint in pro ball, tapping into his immense upside on the mound might be his best course of action and could one day lead to a spot in the middle of a rotation.
Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Field: 50 | Arm: 55 | Fastball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50 -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
Adjusted Grade: 30
Track Record: Hernandez was intriguing when he was an upper-80s righthander with plenty of savvy and pitchability. Now he’s added 5-7 mph of velocity and has turned himself into one of the best pitching prospects in the 2026 international class. A $400,000 signing out of Colombia, Hernandez could end up as one of the steals of the class.
Scouting Report: Hernandez now sits in the mid-90s and touches 97. He doesn’t have to work excessively hard to get to that velocity. He has a starter’s frame and delivery and he’s shown an ability to manipulate the baseball. His changeup is advanced for his age and could be an above-average pitch, while he spins a solid slider as well.
The Future: There’s still plenty of development and projection needed, but Hernandez has the stuff to be a solid starter.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50 -
BA Grade/Risk: 65/Average
Adjusted Grade: 55
Track Record: Walcott signed with the Rangers out of the Bahamas for $3.2 million in 2023 and quickly asserted himself as one of the best prospects not only in Texas’ system but in the entire sport. He hit his way from the Dominican Summer League to High-A in his debut season, then reached Double-A at the end of his second year. In 2025, Walcott returned to the Texas League, where he opened the season as the circuit’s second-youngest player. He and the Pirates’ Konnor Griffin were the only teenagers to finish the year with 15 or more doubles, 10 or more home runs and 30 or more stolen bases and spend any time at Double-A. After 124 games at Frisco, Walcott was assigned to the Arizona Fall League. He played one game before being shut down with a flexor strain in his right elbow. Walcott landed spots in the 2024 and 2025 Futures Games, with the former being played at Texas’ home of Globe Life Field.
Scouting Report: Quietly, Walcott put forth one of the best seasons in the Texas League thanks to a skill set oozing with upside and improved plate discipline and swing decisions. Scouts with history watching Walcott noted that he did a better job laying off the kinds of pitches that would result in weak contact, while more frequently unleashing his best swings on offerings in his happy zone. All of his 13 home runs were hit against pitches located inside or near the middle of the strike zone, and all of them were pulled. Walcott still has improvements to make, and he occasionally will stride in the bucket in an attempt to lift and pull. When his swing is in sync, he creates the kind of contact rarely found in players his age. Among teenagers with 300 or more plate appearances in 2025, Walcott’s 90th percentile exit velocity of 106.8 mph ranked fifth. Now, he needs to get to that kind of contact more often. His 46% groundball rate was 11th highest in the Texas League among qualified hitters. Walcott is big, lithe and physical, and may one day grow out of shortstop. He got 17 games of experience at third base in 2025. Walcott committed 24 errors at shortstop, most on wayward throws and misjudged short hops. Some scouts have suggested his double-plus arm might play better in right field, though evaluators aren’t convinced he’s a sure bet to move off the dirt. Whether the injury that cut short his AFL campaign has any lingering effects will be worth monitoring.
The Future: Walcott will likely spend the bulk of his 2026 season at Triple-A and has a chance to make his big league debut toward the end of the year. There’s no doubt that his tools are star quality, and he’s made strides toward turning them into skills. If he can take another couple of steps forward, he has a chance to be the centerpiece of the Rangers’ roster.
Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 70 | Run: 55 | Field: 50 | Arm: 70 -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: The 63rd pick in the 2023 draft, Baumeister was the Orioles’ highest drafted pitcher under Mike Elias until 2025. If he makes the majors, it will be for another team. The O’s sent him to Tampa Bay in the 2024 Zach Eflin trade and he is now the Rays’ best hope for a useful return on the deal. Mac Horvath has settled into more of an org player while Etzel was traded for Nick Fortes.
Scouting Report: Baumeister had an eventful 2025 season, with parts he would rather forget. He was shelled to the tune of a 9.95 ERA in April, and after a much better May, he missed two months with a shoulder injury. Returning to action in August, he looked much more like the pitcher the Rays traded for with a sub-1.00 ERA over five starts. His Arizona Fall League stint came to a premature end because he was hit in the head by a 110 mph line drive. Thankfully, he was not seriously injured. Baumeister’s lively 93-95 mph fastball gets swings and misses at the top of the zone. He has transformed his slider into a harder 87-89 mph cutter that he can locate in the zone and is average. He now relies much less on his slower curve and the feel for it has backed up. His below-average changeup remains a developing pitch.
The Future: Baumeister needs more consistency, but at his best, he can carve through a lineup multiple times. He will go to spring training competing for a spot in Triple-A Durham. He projects as a No. 4 starter.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 45 | Changeup: 40 | Cutter: 50 | Control: 50 -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: Guerrero’s $3.7 million bonus was one of the biggest in the 2023 international class, but he has struggled to stay healthy. He played just seven games in 2023 because of a shoulder injury, then played 28 games in 2024 before re-injuring the shoulder. In 2025, he played just 51 games because of an early hamstring injury and subsequent knee injury. The bill for that lost development time came due in the Arizona Fall League, where he hit .077 and was clearly overmatched by more experienced pitchers.
Scouting Report: Guerrero continues to hit the ball as hard as anyone in the Rays’ farm system and generates exceptional exit velocities for a teenager. The lefthanded hitter explodes from a coiled batting stance, and when he connects, he can drive balls far beyond the right field wall. But the rest of his offensive approach needs to catch up to that power. Despite an average batting eye for his age, Guerrero struck out 29.9% of the time because he swings through too many changeups and sliders. Much of this can be attributed to collecting less than 400 plate appearances in three seasons. Guerrero is a well-built right fielder with an above-average arm. He’s an above-average runner although his frame suggests he may slow down as he matures.
The Future: Guerrero needs a full healthy season of at-bats to help him catch up on lost developmental time. His lefthanded power could make him a middle-of-the-lineup cornerstone if he makes more consistent contact. High-A Bowling Green should be a big test in 2026.
Scouting Grades Hit: 40 | Power: 60 | Run: 55 | Field: 50 | Arm: 55 -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Average
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: An under-the-radar pitching prospect until his senior year of high school, Gill Hill was an astute sixth-round above-slot find for the Rays in 2022. After struggling in 2023, Gill Hill raised his arm slot and found more velocity in a breakout 2024 season. His 2025 season was a bit rockier, especially early. But his ERA in the second half of the season was two full runs lower than it was in the first half, and he slashed 100 points off his OPS allowed as well. He’s quite durable, throwing 245 innings over the past two seasons.
Scouting Report: After some adjustments, Gill Hill has settled in as a durable, strike-throwing sinkerballer. He fills the zone with a 68% strike rate, but he doesn’t miss a lot of bats (18.8% strikeout rate). His 92-94 mph sinker and his hard 85-88 mph cutter are both best at avoiding barrels and getting early-count grounders. Gill Hill will touch 96-97, but struggles to maintain that sort of velocity. He has some ability to manipulate the shape of his bigger average slider. It will flash depth and bite, and he can add sweep to run away from righthanded hitters. His below-average changeup has backed up, which helps explain why lefties proved a problem in 2025.
The Future: Gill Hill shows flashes of velocity that would make him a midrotation starter, and the 21-year-old is still young enough to add more strength and stuff. His current arsenal doesn’t miss many bats, but his plus control and durability make him a useful back-of-the-rotation arm.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 50 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 40 | Cutter: 50 | Control: 60 -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: Moss has competed against top talent for years. He was named to the 2018 Pan Am Game 12U all-star team at first base, and he played four years at IMG Academy, establishing himself as an above-average hitter in big events. The Rays paid him $2.097 million to forgo his commitment to LSU in 2025.
Scouting Report: Moss’ hitting ability is impressive, as he shows the skills to work counts, draw walks and spray the ball to all fields. He could be an above-average hitter with excellent hand-eye coordination. But he also has to prove that he won’t end up as a tweener. His modest below-average power is a tough fit in a corner outfield spot, while his average speed means he’s stretched in center. Scouts were mixed in their opinions as to whether Moss can stay in center field long-term in pro ball. The Rays like to have a plus-plus defender in center, but they also are comfortable trading some offensive impact for defense in the corner outfield spots, which makes Moss a potentially useful above-average defender in a corner, even if he’s only average in center field.
The Future: Moss has plenty of experience and polish, but his ability to develop in center field and as a slugger will likely determine his path to the majors. He should be part of a Low-A Charleston team that should have a number of Rays’ 2025 draftees.
Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 40 | Run: 50 | Field: 50 | Arm: 50 -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: In 1953, Frederick Flemming played 23 games in the Durham Bulls outfield as part of a four-season minor league career that topped out in Triple-A. Now, more than 70 years later, his grandson Cooper could also play in Durham. The Rays made that possible by drafting the Vanderbilt signee in the second round in 2025 and signing him for $2.297 million. Flemming was a showcase standout who raised his draft stock with an MVP performance at the WWBA 17U National Championship.
Scouting Report: Flemming has a well-rounded blend of tools and skills, with a solid feel for how to grind out at-bats, run the bases and play defense, even if he doesn’t have exceptional power, speed or twitchiness. As a hitter, Flemming’s straightforward lefthanded stroke sprays line drives to all fields. He has skinny legs, but should fill out to eventually develop average power. He’s a heady baserunner despite fringe-average speed. Defensively, he’s an average defender at shortstop. If he gets much bigger, his hands and above-average arm would work at third base as well. He has above-average arm strength, although the length of his arm stroke isn’t ideal and can lead to slower transfers.
The Future: The Rays are stocked with plus defensive shortstops, but Flemming helps them diversify their pool of shortstop prospects. He has more offensive potential than Adrian Santana or Gregory Barrios. Flemming is set to head to Low-A Charleston, where his well-rounded skill set and feel for the game should help him settle into pro ball quickly.
Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 45 | Field: 50 | Arm: 55 -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Average
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: Santana is the son of a pro infielder, Osmany Santana, and it shows. His defensive acumen and baseball intelligence stood out throughout his amateur career, but there were many concerns about his small size and lack of physicality. He hit 11 home runs as a high school senior, which alleviated some worries. Those concerns about his size remain. He handled his jump to High-A Bowling Green by showing excellent barrel control, but it’s essentially all singles. He had 17 extra-base hits.
Scouting Report: Santana is an excellent shortstop thanks to an innate understanding of time. He knows when he needs to rush, and when he can slow down. He has an above-average arm, but it’s his feet that stand out. He glides across the infield. Santana is more comfortable making plays to his left than to his backhand. As a hitter, he’s a bottom-of-the-order slap hitter with 20-grade power. Santana’s 12.5% swing-and-miss rate is exceptional, but pitchers don’t need to worry if they throw in the zone, and he’ll also chase balls out of the zone. He is a plus-plus runner and an excellent basestealing threat.
The Future: Santana remains a 155-pound shortstop, and at times he’s struggled to stay at that weight. His defense has a lot of value, and his basestealing and contact skills give him survival skills offensively, but it will be hard for him to find MLB success as more than a utility infielder unless he adds some power.
Scouting Grades Hit: 45 | Power: 20 | Run: 70 | Field: 60 | Arm: 55 -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Average
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: One of three players the Rays acquired for Isaac Paredes in a July 2024 trade, Johnson has long been viewed as a future reliever. But it’s hard to move a pitcher to the bullpen when he keeps dominating as a starter. He posted the second-best ERA in the Southern League (2.61) with the second-most strikeouts in the league (149) in a standout 2025 season.
Scouting Report: Johnson’s 2025 season was remarkable. He was one of the best starters in the Southern League relying almost entirely on his four-seam fastball and slider. In an age where some starters are using six or seven pitches, Johnson on most nights needs two. Johnson’s low slot and delivery make his 91-94 mph above-average fastball play better than its velocity or movement would seem to indicate. Hitters just don’t get a good look at the fastball, and his plus 84-86 mph slider is one he can manipulate. He relies on sharp, short-breaking sliders primarily, but he can make it bigger and deeper to run it down and out of the zone to finish off hitters. It generates above-average swings and misses. Despite not having a changeup he trusts, he’s been able to handle lefthanded hitters as well as righthanders.
The Future: Johnson’s success as a starter has delayed the transition, but evaluators still believe that Johnson’s future lies in the bullpen. His low-slot approach could work in the majors as a one-inning reliever as soon as 2026.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Slider: 60 | Control: 55 -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Average
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: Overn played football as well as baseball as a freshman at Southern California, and after focusing solely on baseball as a draft-eligible sophomore, signed for $850,000 as the 97th pick in 2024. He had a .754 OPS at both High-A Aberdeen and Double-A Chesapeake in 2025, hitting 13 home runs with 64 steals in his first full pro season. He was one of four prospects traded to the Rays for Shane Baz.
Scouting Report: Overn’s dual-sport background means he’s still refining his game on the baseball field, but he still has the potential to impact the game in several ways. Overn is a dynamic player who uses his speed and quick-twitch athleticism to impact the game defensively in center field, where he’s a great defender, as well as on the bases—and he’s already adept at bunting his way on as well. Overn takes good at-bats and gets on base—he walked 13% of the time in 2025—and can hit the ball hard, but some timing deficiencies meant he struggled against velocity in his first full season. He may max out as a fringe-average hitter with fringe-average power, but improving against heaters would raise his overall offensive profile significantly.
The Future: Overn can be an everyday big leaguer with some improvement in that department, given his ability to play a true center field and the traits to play a corner as well. He’s likely to head to Double-A Montgomery to start the 2026 season.
Scouting Grades Hit: 45 | Power: 45 | Run: 70 | Field: 70 | Arm: 50 -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: Valdez was the Rays’ top international bonus in the 2026 class. He signed for $3.5 million, as he impressed the Rays with his power. He has some of the best power potential in the international class, and he does that while showing the ability to stick in the dirt.
Scouting Report: Valdez has plenty of bat speed and present power. If it all clicks, he could develop into an above-average power hitter. He has a relatively savvy approach at the plate with a simple swing and an up-the-middle approach. Defensively, he’s trending in the right direction. Valdez has worked to improve his quickness and straightline speed. He’s now a plus runner and moves better defensively. There’s still a pretty good chance he ends up sliding from shortstop to third base, but his improved quickness, body control and plus arm should fit there.
The Future: Valdez gives the Rays a power bat to dream on with a chance to make a defensive impact as well.
Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 60 | Field: 45 | Arm: 55
Draft Prospects
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School: UC Santa Barbara Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted. Age At Draft: 21.3
Proskey pitched as a reliever in just eight games for UC Santa Barbara in 2024, then made the jump to the starting rotation in 2025 where he posted a 3.78 ERA and 24.7% strikeout rate in 66.2 innings. He’s a lean 6-foot-3, 195-pound righty with clean and repeatable mechanics and solid command. Proskey’s fastball is a bit light, checking in at 91 mph on average and touching 94, but he does get elite carry with the pitch, which could make it a weapon with a bit more power. Proskey throws a few breaking ball shapes, including a mid-80s slider and mid-70s curveball, and he will also mix in a mid-80s changeup. -
School: West Virginia Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted. Age At Draft: 21.5
Meyer is a 6-foot-2, 175-pound righthander who has shown electric pure stuff dating back to his prep days. Across his first two years of college time, including a summer in the Cape Cod League, Meyer has struck out 29.0% of batters but also walked 18.6% in 87.2 innings. He sits in the mid 90s with a fastball that has been up to 98 mph and has swing-and-miss traits with high spin rates. Both his mid-80s slider and mid-80s curveball have great pure spin, as well, and each could become plus offerings in the future. He throws an upper-80s changeup infrequently and will need to throw significantly more strikes to maximize his arm talent. -
School: Loranger (La.) HS Committed/Drafted: Mississippi State. Age At Draft: 18.4
Holton is a lean and athletic righthander with a 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame and a solid collection of pitches. He’s got a hoppy, high-spin fastball that sits in the low 90s but has already been up to 97 mph and could easily be in the upper 90s consistently in the near future. Holton uses the fastball to get whiffs and chases high, then attacks hitters with a low-to-mid-80s slider, a curveball in the upper 70s and a changeup in the mid 80s. Both his breaking balls are high-spin offerings with upside, but he lacks feel for them. His changeup might be a plus pitch, and he does a nice job killing spin on it and will throw it to lefties and righties alike. He’s a scattered strike-thrower overall who will need to reign in his command. Holton is committed to Mississippi State. -
School: Miami (Ohio) Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted. Age At Draft: 21.1
Novak is an on-base machine who has a penchant for walks and HBPs. A 6-foot-3, 210-pound outfielder and lefthanded hitter, Novak is extremely patient at the plate—bordering on passive—and swings only 33-35% of the time, which leads to solid on-base skills and lots of walks. In his first two seasons with Miami (Ohio), he hit .283/.443/.467 with a 17.5% walk rate. He was also hit by 12 pitches as a freshman and 13 pitches as a sophomore. He has solid power in the tank but leaves a lot of it on the table because he lets so many middle-middle pitches pass him by. -
School: San Jose State Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted. Age At Draft: 20.8
Albanese is a mountain of a pitcher with an imposing 6-foot-8, 230-pound frame and the excellent extension you’d expect given that length. He struggled as a freshman with San Jose State in 2024 (7.46 ERA) but made big strides in 2025 when he posted a 2.97 ERA and 32.0% strikeout rate in 39.1 innings out of the bullpen. He then pitched well as a backend reliever with Cotuit in the Cape Cod League. Albanese throws his fastball in the 92-95 mph range with solid riding life and nearly seven feet of extension. He also has an upper-70s slurvy curveball. Albanese is a high-probability reliever with plenty of effort in his delivery and one of the more extreme head whacks you’ll see. -
School: P27 Baseball Academy, Lexington, S.C. Committed/Drafted: Clemson. Age At Draft: 18.6
Few players in the 2026 class can match Coaxum’s quick-twitch athleticism and speed. He’s an elite runner with a tremendously quick first step that leads to at least 70-grade speed and plenty of top-of-the-scale times. That speed should give him more than enough range for center field, where he should be able to track down difficult balls in the gaps. He has a below-average arm and will also need to continue improving as a pure hitter. He has plenty of swing-and-miss tendencies against all pitch types, and as a 6-foot, 195-pound hitter, he isn’t likely to develop massive power—though he does have quick hands and can sneak a few balls out to the pull side. Coaxum is committed to Clemson. -
School: Illinois Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted. Age At Draft: 21.0
Jennings is a big and physical outfielder and lefthanded hitter with a 6-foot-5, 215-pound frame that has plenty of room for more strength gains. He played just 11 games with Illinois as a freshman, then in 2025 was among the team’s offensive leaders and hit .286/.407/.671 with 16 home runs and 10 doubles. Jennings is plenty strong, with big power to the pull side and a decent awareness of the strike zone, though his swing has length, and he’s susceptible to swinging and missing vs. secondaries. He’s played some center field, but mostly right field and projects best as a corner outfielder. -
School: Iolani School, Honolulu, Hi. Committed/Drafted: Arkansas. Age At Draft: 18.7
Ota is a tall, athletic and projectable outfielder with a 6-foot-5, 210-pound frame and exciting upside as a lefthanded hitter. He has fluidity and rhythm with his lefthanded swing and a naturally uphill bat path that should help him produce plenty of power. However, that power will likely come with its share of strikeouts. He swings and misses at a decent clip, but his solid understanding of the zone could help him offset those whiffs with walks. Ota has played center field in high school, but he’s a fringy runner who might fit better in a corner at the next level—especially as he continues to fill out and add strength. He’s committed to Arkansas. -
School: Poly Prep Country Day HS, Brooklyn, N.Y. Committed/Drafted: Vanderbilt. Age At Draft: 18.3
Hinojosa is a 6-foot-1, 190-pound righthander who was a junior on a loaded Poly Prep Country Day High School team that also featured righthanders Miguel Sime Jr. and Justice De Jong. Because of that, scouts have been aware of Hinojosa and his tremendous arm speed for years. He’s lean, loose and flexible with a deep arm swing that he fires to the plate and should allow for big velocity gains in the future. For now Hinojosa sits in the low 90s and touches 94 mph with his fastball. He pairs it with a mid-70s curveball, an 80-mph slider and a mid-80s changeup. Hinojosa is committed to Vanderbilt. -
School: University City HS, San Diego, Calif. Committed/Drafted: Tennessee. Age At Draft: 18.3
Curry is a 6-foot-3, 205-pound lefthanded hitter with a solid blend of contact skills, power and plate discipline. He has a loose, fluid stroke with strong hands and a quick bat, and he can easily lose a ball over the fence in batting practice. That power should slowly become more of a factor in games as he continues to develop, and he’s shown an impressive ability to use both gaps. Curry is a corner profile of some capacity at the next level. He’s an average runner who should be able to handle an outfield corner, but he also has some experience at first base and could develop the offensive game to profile there. Curry is committed to Tennessee. -
School: Texas A&M Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted. Age At Draft: 21.9
Freshcorn began his career at McLennan (Texas) JC, then transferred to Texas A&M in 2025, where he posted a 4.67 ERA and 28.0% strikeout rate in 27 innings—all out of the bullpen. He’s a 6-foot, 180-pound righty with a big leg kick and high-effort delivery to go with a three-pitch mix. His fastball checks in around 94-95 mph and will touch 96, and he throws both an upper-80s cutter and a mid-80s slider as primary secondary pitches. Freshcorn has thrown a handful of mid-80s changeups but rarely uses the pitch. -
School: Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft, N.J. Committed/Drafted: Virginia. Age At Draft: 18.5
Loggie is a lanky, projectable lefthander with a 6-foot-6, 195-pound frame to dream on. He throws a fastball around 90 mph that has touched 94 and comes with cutting lift. He threw his slider nearly half the time throughout the 2025 circuit. The pitch is a mid-80s breaking ball with solid sweeping life that should be reliable against both lefthanded hitters and righthanded hitters. He’ll also mix in a mid-80s changeup that’s a clear third pitch for now. Loggie will need to continue figuring out how to repeat his long levers and throw more strikes. He’s currently a well below-average strike-thrower. He’s committed to Virginia. -
School: Virginia Tech Committed/Drafted: Rangers ’25 (13). Age At Draft: 21.2
Robertson ranked as the No. 282 player in the 2025 class out of Walters State (Tenn.) JC and was drafted by the Rangers in the 13th round. He didn’t sign and instead transferred to Virginia Tech for the 2026 season. He’s a 6-foot-1, 180-pound righthander who led all Division I juco pitchers with 180 strikeouts in 2025. He throws a low 90s fastball that gets into the mid 90s and the makings of a promising low-80s changeup and a sweepy slider in the upper 70s and low 80s. He’s a low-slot righty who has some length in his arm action but is expected to play a key role in Virginia Tech’s rotation this spring. -
School: UCLA Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted. Age At Draft: 21.1
Randall is a physical righthander who attacks hitters with fastball/changeup combination and has pitched out of UCLA’s bullpen for two seasons. He owns a 3.94 ERA and a 27.8% strikeout rate over 32 total innings with erratic strikes. While Randall needs more polish, he leads his arsenal with a loud fastball that sits in the mid 90s and gets up to 98 mph with great riding life. He throws his 87-92 mph changeup to both lefties and righties and will also mix in an occasional upper-80s cutter and upper-80s slider. -
School: Cleveland HS, Rio Ranch, N.M. Committed/Drafted: Oklahoma. Age At Draft: 18.8
Del Angel has a long and rangy 6-foot-4, 205-pound frame and was a tremendous performer as an underclassman in the 2024 circuit. He dealt with an arm injury and struggled more in 2025, where his bat speed, timing and the ease of his operation in the box all took a step backward. Still, he has tools to dream on including big power potential to the pull side. He also showed above-average speed and a strong arm when healthy, though he wasn’t yet at full strength with his throwing at events in 2025. Del Angel has spent time at both third base and outfield. He’s committed to Oklahoma. -
School: Hough HS, Cornelius, N.C. Committed/Drafted: Clemson. Age At Draft: 19.1
Matthews is a 6-foot-4, 210-pound outfielder and lefthanded hitter with some of the best raw power in the prep class. He sets up with an open stance, loads his swing with a sizable leg kick and uses his whole body to generate explosive bat speed. He should easily get to plus power in the future and could have even more than that in the tank. But because of his steep, full-throttle swing, it also comes with plenty of miss tendencies. Matthews should fit in a corner outfield spot and his plus arm could make right field a natural home. He’ll be 19 on draft day and is committed to Clemson. -
School: Lyons HS, LeGrange, Ill. Committed/Drafted: Cincinnati. Age At Draft: 18.2
Slightom is a projection righthander with a tall, 6-foot-4, 200-pound frame. He is trending in the right direction with his fastball, and during the fall of 2025, he was pitching in the low 90s and touching 95 mph in brief outings. Slightom has thrown both a slider and a curveball, but he primarily uses an upper-70s slider and a mid-80s changeup as his main secondaries. He’s committed to Cincinnati and is on the younger end for the 2026 prep class. -
School: Clemson Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted. Age At Draft: 21.2
Titsworth ranked as the No. 453 player in the 2023 class out of high school, but made his way to Clemson where he pitched as a reliever initially before making his way into the rotation in 2025. A 6-foot-3, 215-pound righthander, Titsworth throws from a low, sidearm slot and uses both a four-seam and two-seam fastball. Both pitches check in around 93 mph and get up to 96-97 from a low release height and have an extremely flat approach angle. Titsworth uses a low-80s slider as his primary secondary pitch, but it can back up and flatten out at times. He also has a low-80s changeup that he uses infrequently but flashes impressive armside fade. -
School: UC San Diego Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted. Age At Draft: 21.7
Potestio comes from a baseball family. His father, Frank, played at UC Riverside and was a 1986 fourth-round pick by the White Sox. His uncle, Doug, was a 1980 fifth-round pick by the Royals. Potestio himself is a 5-foot-11, 190-pound shortstop and lefthanded hitter. He has hit .321/.429/.461 in two seasons with UC San Diego with solid plate skills and defensive versatility. After splitting time at second base, third base and left field as a freshman, Potestio moved into the team’s everyday shortstop and leadoff hitting job in 2025 as a sophomore. He’s a patient hitter who works the count and is difficult to strike out. -
School: Notre Dame Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted. Age At Draft: 21.8
Radel has a workhorse starter build at 6-foot-5, 250 pounds and has been a reliable member of Notre Dame’s rotation since he stepped on campus. He made 10 starts in 2024 and 13 more in 2025. Between both seasons he has posted a 4.01 ERA and 18.9% strikeout rate in 123.1 innings. He throws a fastball around 92 mph and has touched 97 but gets most of his whiffs with an 80-85 mph gyro slider. The fastball/slider combination accounted for more than 80% of his usage in 2025, but he will also fold in a slower curveball in the upper 70s and a firm, upper-80s changeup. While Radel hasn’t been a huge strikeout collector, he does control the zone and owns a 7.1% career walk rate. -
School: Lipscomb Academy, Nashville, Tenn. Committed/Drafted: Tennessee. Age At Draft: 19.0
Dugan is a strong athlete with a 6-foot-2, 190-pound frame, developing power and great speed. He was a strong performer as an underclassman, but showed a lot more swing-and-miss traits during the 2025 circuit where he struggled. Still, his swing is clean and compact with fast hands and flashes of pullside power, plus the physical projection to dream of more coming. He’s a plus runner who should get a chance to stick at shortstop, but his speed would also translate nicely to the outfield if and when he needs to move. He’s committed to Tennessee. -
School: Plant City (Fla.) HS Committed/Drafted: Mississippi State. Age At Draft: 18.0
Carbaugh is on the younger side for a high schooler in the 2026 class, but doesn’t look like it, with a 6-foot-6, 225-pound frame. He throws from a low slot that gets close to fully sidearm. Carbaugh throws a fastball that sits in the low 90s and has touched 95 mph with natural running action. He throws a high-spin breaking ball in the upper 70s and low 80s with great spin rates around the 2,800 rpm range and will also mix a low-80s changeup. All of Carbaugh’s pitches feature a decent amount of movement and he’s still learning to repeat his delivery and throw them all for strikes consistently. He’s committed to Mississippi State. -
School: Orange Lutheran (Calif.) HS Committed/Drafted: LSU. Age At Draft: 19.3
Weinstein developed an excellent reputation as a polished pure hitter as an underclassman and pairs that with a solid collection of tools. He’s a 6-foot-1, 190-pound shortstop and lefthanded hitter who shows a calm, quiet swing with a line-drive path and contact skills at his best. He had a down 2025 circuit with more modest performance than his track record would have suggested, and he should always have more of a hit-over-power offensive profile. He’s a solid defender with good instincts in the field but is just a fringe-average runner with an arm that could be better suited for second base at the next level. Weinstein is committed to LSU and will be a draft-eligible sophomore if he makes it to campus. -
School: Vanderbilt Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted. Age At Draft: 20.9
Johnstone was born in Hungary and spent time living in Spain before his family moved to California. He started his career with Cal State Fullerton, where he hit .344/.431/.535 with seven home runs in 2025 to earn Big West freshman of the year honors. After the season he transferred to Vanderbilt for his 2026 draft-eligible season. A 6-foot-1, 195-pound third baseman and lefthanded hitter, Johnstone is an unorthodox corner infielder because he has modest power but exceptional contact skills and a savvy batting eye. -
School: Florida State Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted. Age At Draft: 21.8
Dowd is a 5-foot-10, 180-pound outfielder and lefthanded hitter who started his career at Southern California, where he became an immediate contributor as a freshman. He hit .324/.429/.476 across two seasons with strong plate skills, then transferred across the country to Florida State for the 2026 season. He’s a fastball hitter who flashes some power to the pull side and has split his time in center field and right field to this point. -
School: Center Grove HS, Greenwood, Ind. Committed/Drafted: Tennessee. Age At Draft: 19.3
Grant is a 6-foot-2, 180-pound righthander who has a high-spin arsenal of three pitches. He throws a fastball that’s regularly in the 93-94 mph range and has touched 95 and gets plenty of whiffs with above-average fastball spin rates. His low-80s slider is a high-spin hammer of a breaking ball with tight rotation, two-plane break and spin rates in the 2,900 rpm range. His third pitch is a mid-80s changeup and looks like a solid offering for lefthanded hitters. Grant has an athletic look on the mound, repeats his delivery well and pounds the strike zone. He’s older for the class and will be 19 on draft day, making him an eligible sophomore if he makes it to campus at Tennessee. -
School: Rutgers Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted. Age At Draft: 21.0
Peyton Bonds is a product of baseball royalty as the son of 11-year professional Bobby Bonds Jr., the nephew of all-time home run king Barry Bonds and the grandson of three-time all star Bobby Bonds Sr. Peyton is a 6-foot-5, 225-pound righthanded hitter and outfielder who started his career at Campbell then transferred to Rutgers for the 2025 season. He has the loud raw power you’d expect of a Bonds family member, though he’s only hit 10 home runs in two seasons, in part because of an approach that’s far too aggressive. His defensive game is more polished, with plus speed that allows him to cover plenty of ground in center field and has helped him go 30-for-32 on the bases. -
School: Harvard-Westlake HS, Los Angeles, Calif. Committed/Drafted: Vanderbilt. Age At Draft: 18.3
Tronstein is a 6-foot, 185-pound shortstop and righthanded hitter with solid athleticism and baseball instincts. He has quick and strong hands that help him produce hard line drives to all fields. While his swing is simple, his approach is aggressive. Tronstein expanded the zone frequently throughout the 2025 circuit which led to more whiffs and weak contact than was typical of his underclass production. He’s an above-average runner who has defensive tools for both shortstop and center field and might profile best as an outfielder with a quick first step and solid routes. Tronstein is committed to Vanderbilt. -
School: Georgia Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted. Age At Draft: 22.2
Ishikawa is a true two-way player who led Seattle in most major hitting and many pitching categories in 2025. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound lefthanded pitcher and outfielder transferred to Georgia and is expected to start in center field, hit leadoff and also factor into the team’s starting rotation. In 2025, he pitched around 89-90 mph and touched 94, though in the fall with Georgia he showed a velocity jump and was consistently throwing in the mid 90s. Ishikawa also throws a slider, curveball, changeup and cutter. Ishikawa has some contact skills and pullside power as a hitter, but he will expand the zone frequently. -
School: Florida Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted. Age At Draft: 21.3
McNeillie was a projection righthander with great feel to spin the ball out of high school, where he ranked as a top 200 prospect in the 2023 class. He made it to campus at Florida where he primarily pitched out of the bullpen in his first two seasons, pitching to a 5.73 ERA in 88 innings with a 29.1% strikeout rate. McNeillie is a 6-foot-3, 190-pound righty with a quick arm who pitches with a mid-90s fastball that touches 97-98. As a reliever he has gone to high-spin, upper-80s slider as frequently as his fastball, and it has both the movement and power to profile as an easy plus pitch. McNeillie also throws a firm, upper-80s changeup—but rarely. -
School: Houston Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted. Age At Draft: 20.8
Broussard is an impact runner and center fielder who started his college career with San Jacinto JC in Texas before transferring to Houston in 2025. He became the team’s starting center fielder and hit .292/.371/.458 with seven home runs and 31 stolen bases. Broussard’s speed is his carrying tool and should keep him in the middle of the outfield and allow him to wreak havoc on the bases. He’s a contact hitter who doesn’t strike out or walk frequently and puts the ball on the ground at a heavy clip. -
School: Holy Cross HS, New Orleans Committed/Drafted: Tulane. Age At Draft: 19.1
Pellegrin is a 6-foot-1, 175-pound shortstop and righthanded hitter who stands out for his athleticism, speed and defensive chops. He wasn’t at many high-profile summer circuit events, so the opinions on his pure hitting ability will be mixed, but he has a simple swing with few moving parts and developing strength. Pellegrin is a plus runner with smooth defensive actions and a chance to be an impact defender. He’s committed to Tulane and will be 19 on draft day. -
School: Orange (Calif.) Lutheran HS Committed/Drafted: Texas. Age At Draft: 19.2
Murrietta is one of the most polished defensive catchers in the 2026 prep class. He’s a 5-foot-11, 185-pound catcher with great hands who knows how to frame the ball and steal strikes. He’s also loose and flexible with a great blocking foundation to go with a quick exchange that allows his fringe-average arm strength to play up. He can pop under 2.0 seconds on his best throws in games. Murrietta is more of a maxed-out hitter who doesn’t have much power now and might not grow into a lot, but he has shown some bat-to-ball ability and doubles power to the gaps. Murrietta is a Texas commit. -
School: Auburn Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted. Age At Draft: 21.7
Graves is a 5-foot-10, 175-pound lefthander who throws with some effort and moving parts but brings swing-and-miss stuff to the bullpen. He posted a 5.65 ERA with a 27.4% strikeout rate in his first two seasons with Auburn. Graves primarily attacks hitters with a 93-97 mph fastball that comes with excellent riding life and could be a regular miss pitch if he can improve his command a bit. He threw the fastball about 70% of the time in 2025. His go-to secondary is a low-80s slider, but Graves also mixes in an occasional mid-80s changeup and upper-70s curveball. -
School: North Carolina Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted. Age At Draft: 21.8
Schaffner is a lean shortstop and lefthanded hitter with a 6-foot-2, 175-pound frame. He played two seasons with North Dakota State and was named the Summit League’s defensive player of the year before transferring to North Carolina for the 2026 season. While Schaffner’s offensive performance at North Dakota State was solid, he has extremely modest power and will instead rely on making a lot of contact and minimizing his strikeouts at the plate. Schaffner has more exciting tools as a defender, where he’s an athletic shortstop with all the actions to stick at the position. -
School: Auburn Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted. Age At Draft: 21.0
McCraine is a draft-eligible redshirt freshman who didn’t appear in a game with Auburn during his first year in 2025. Still, scouts are excited about him on both sides of the ball. He’s a 6-foot-3, 185-pound infielder and outfielder who’s athletic and capable enough to play shortstop but also has the defensive versatility to play all over the field. While he has plenty to prove with the bat in 2026, he did play in the Perfect Game Collegiate summer league in 2025 and hit .304/.455/.446 with more walks than strikeouts and 15 bags. -
School: Arizona State Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted. Age At Draft: 21.7
Moutzouridis is a slick-gloved shortstop with a 6-foot, 190-pound frame. He spent two seasons with California, where he hit .284/.360/.413, and then transferred to Arizona State for the 2026 season. Moutzouridis has limited impact as a hitter, but he does make plenty of contact—especially against fastballs—and can hold his own in the box. His value is primarily based on his defensive work at shortstop, where he stands out as a plus defender with smooth actions and a strong arm. He’s unlikely to move off the position and could profile as a defensive-oriented back-of-the-lineup regular. -
School: Georgia Premier Academy, Statesboro, Ga. Committed/Drafted: Oklahoma. Age At Draft: 18.4
Jackson is a twitchy, switch-hitting shortstop with a 6-foot-1, 180-pound frame. He has a solid approach at the plate with snappy bat speed and the ability to drive the ball hard into the gaps, though he does have some miss tendencies—against breaking balls especially. Jackson has a quick first step and accelerates quickly, with above-average straight-line speed. He’s also a balanced and coordinated shortstop defender who can make difficult plays and does a nice job throwing off-balance. Jackson is committed to Oklahoma. -
School: Corsicana (Texas) HS Committed/Drafted: Texas. Age At Draft: 18.8
Autrey is on the short list of the most impressive power hitters in the prep class. He’s a strapping corner infielder with a 6-foot-4, 235-pound frame and excellent bat speed and present raw power. Autrey has an uphill bat path that should help him get the ball in the air consistently, but he will be limited by his aggression and contact skills. He swings and misses at a solid clip, and because of that might always be a power-over-hit offensive player who lives with a higher strikeout rate. Autrey is committed to Texas. -
School: Walsh Jesuit HS, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio Committed/Drafted: Michigan. Age At Draft: 18.7
Mansbery is a projectable shortstop and righthanded hitter with solid tools to build on and a frame that could pack plenty of strength in the future. He’s listed at 6-foot-2, 190 pounds with a lanky build and long levers. Mansbery has some moving parts in his swing including a slight hitch and a tendency to drift and leak out with his lower half, but he also has a solid eye and an impressive ability to shoot the ball to the opposite field. He’s an average runner with workable actions at shortstop and a solid arm. Mansbery is committed to Michigan. -
School: Georgia Tech Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted. Age At Draft: 21.9
McKee is a 6-foot-3, 210-pound righthander who attacks hitters with a deep six-pitch mix. In his first two seasons with Georgia Tech he posted a 5.74 ERA and 24.8% strikeout rate in 127 innings. McKee throws both a four-seam and two-seam fastball, both of which check in around 92-94 and will get up to 96 mph. He then has a collection of four distinct secondaries to choose from: a mid-80s slider, a low-80s curveball, an upper-80s cutter and a mid-80s changeup. The slider might be his best individual pitch and drove a 50% miss rate in 2025. -
School: Ole Miss Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted. Age At Draft: 21.1
Kelly is a 6-foot-4, 220-pound righthander with a low slot and an east-west fastball/slider attack. He pitched two seasons for Saint Louis, pitched well in a brief stint in the 2025 Cape Cod League and transferred to Ole Miss for the 2026 season. Kelly gets a lot of armside run on his 90-95 mph fastball and uses a mid-80s slider as his go-to secondary. He also throws a mid-80s changeup that gets increased usage vs. lefthanded hitters. Kelly isn’t a huge strikeout artist, but he does drive a lot of ground balls and throws strikes from a unique angle. -
School: North Carolina Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted. Age At Draft: 21.9
Hull is a physical outfielder with a 6-foot-4, 215-pound frame and an enticing power/speed combination. He spent two years with George Mason, where he hit a combined .351/.462/.537 with 44 steals, then transferred to North Carolina for the 2026 season. Hull’s swing is currently geared more for hard groundball contact but if he’s able to make some adjustments he has the raw power and impact ability to get to more home-run power in games. After playing right field with George Mason, he’s expected to take over center field duties for a Tar Heel program that has recently produced center fielders Kane Kepley and Vance Honeycutt. -
School: Cincinnati Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted. Age At Draft: 21.3
Natili is a 6-foot-3, 200-pound catcher whose raw power is the defining trait of his game. He spent a year with Rutgers then transferred to Cincinnati in 2025 where he had a breakout season. Natili hit .338/.451/.556 with nine home runs and 14 doubles, with all-fields power and excellent exit velocity data. His pure hitting ability is below average, with a swing that can get overly long at times, but he counters that with solid swing decisions. Natili’s plus arm is a solid tool behind the plate, but he’ll need to continue refining his defensive work. -
School: Florida Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted. Age At Draft: 21.0
Surowiec is an ultra-physical infielder with a 6-foot-1, 220-pound frame who has stood out for his bat speed and power potential going back to his prep days. Surowiec played in just 11 games for Ole Miss in 2025, but he hit well in that stretch, and then demolished the Northwoods League in the summer when he hit .387 with 17 home runs in 53 games—earning MVP honors. The draft-eligible sophomore transferred to Florida for the 2026 season and should get most of his time at first base. He’s an aggressive hitter who likes to swing and will have his share of misses, but his power potential should be able to make up for that. -
School: Walker (La.) HS Committed/Drafted: Oklahoma. Age At Draft: 18.7
Montgomery is one of the best athletes in the class and oozes upside with a strong 6-foot-4, 215-pound frame and a collection of impact tools. He runs shockingly well for his size and is at least a plus runner. He turned in a 6.54-second 60-yard dash at the East Coast Pro and he pairs that speed with plus raw power and arm strength. Despite those tools, he’s a raw hitter who will need patience and plenty of reps against higher quality pitching. He swings and misses at a decent clip, and that could always be part of his game, but he showed a solid approach and drove the ball well at a number of high-profile 2025 showcases. Montgomery is an Oklahoma commit. -
School: McLennan (Texas) JC Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted. Age At Draft: 20.5
Bailey is a lean lefthander with a still-projectable frame at 6-foot-3, 205 pounds. He pitched one season with Baylor in 2025, where he posted a 4.89 ERA in 53.1 innings, then transferred to McLennan (Texas) JC for the 2026 season. Bailey has solid power on his fastball but modest shape. He averaged 93-94 mph and touched 98 with the heater in 2025 but it doesn’t have the wiggle or power to be a real bat-misser just yet. Instead he collects his whiffs with a slurvy breaking ball in the low 80s and a mid-80s changeup. -
School: Arkansas Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted. Age At Draft: 21.1
Wiggins is a flamethrowing righthander who ranked as a top 100 prospect out of high school, but made it to campus at Arkansas—the same program his older brother and current Cubs prospect, Jaxon, came out of. The 6-foot-5, 215-pound righty threw just 14 innings in 2025 before his season ended with an elbow injury and subsequent surgery that could also wipe out his entire 2026 season. Wiggins is a wildcard because of that, but one who teams will still be enamored with because he pitches in the upper 90s and has touched 102 mph with his fastball. He also throws a hard slider in the upper 80s and a curveball a few ticks lighter. He’s thrown a splitter in the past but didn’t use it much in 2025. -
School: Cincinnati Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted. Age At Draft: 21.3
Taylor is a 6-foot-5, 230-pound righthander who stepped into a starting role from day one with Cincinnati. He owns a 4.62 ERA and a 23% strikeout rate in two seasons, though he made positive strides with both his strikeout and walk rates as a sophomore. In 2025, Taylor became the first Cincinnati pitcher with more than 90 strikeouts in a season this century. Taylor throws his fastball around 92 mph but has touched 96. He pairs it with a slurvy breaking ball in the mid 80s and a firm changeup in the upper 80s. -
School: Walsh Jesuit HS, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio Committed/Drafted: Alabama. Age At Draft: 19.1
Sullivan is a 6-foot, 185-pound righthander who has great arm speed and attacks hitters with a big fastball from a vertical arm slot. He regularly throws the fastball in the mid 90s and has been up to 97, though his control of the pitch is highly scattered. Sullivan backs the fastball with a trio of secondaries, including a distinct upper-70s curveball and mid-80s slider. Sullivan also throws a mid-80s changeup, he but primarily leans on the fastball and breaking balls. Because of the effort in his delivery and below-average control he carries reliever risk, but his athleticism and arm talent offers plenty of upside as well. He’ll be 19 on draft day and is committed to Tennessee. -
School: Melissa (Tex.) HS. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.2
A member of USA Baseball’s 15U national team in 2025, Scott has talent on the mound and at the plate. He’s young for the class and already up to 95 mph with a lively fastball, and while he’s still learning to throw it for consistent strikes, it’s a power pitch with more in the tank. He spins a sharp curveball with tight rotation that’s already a big swing-and-miss pitch for him, projects to be plus and should continue racking up whiffs against better hitters. He throws a changeup, but it’s mostly his fastball/breaking ball combination that accounts for his success. As a position player, Scott has big righthanded juice for his age, potentially with a power-over-hit offensive profile, and a strong arm to handle third base. -
School: Barrington (Ill.) HS. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.6
Postma is oozing with projection traits and a loose, whippy operation for scouts to dream on. He’s 6-foot-5, a tall, high-waist frame that’s still slender with high-end strength projection remaining. His fastball touches 89 mph and has the look of a pitcher who could eventually have upper-tank velocity once he’s physically mature. Postma is an athletic mover down the mound to generate great extension with a low release height for his size, attributes that help his stuff play up. He’s still learning to tighten his command and sharpen his secondaries, including a curveball that has natural lateral break from his low three-quarters slot and could eventually morph into a true slider. His changeup flashes solid fade and sink on his best ones. -
School: Bishop Fenwick HS, Franklin, Ohio. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.6
The rare lefthanded thrower who bats righthanded, Shouse packs a heavy punch behind his swing. He has a strong 6-foot frame and drives the ball with some of the better righthanded power in the 2028 class and solid bat-to-ball skills. Shouse is an average runner with a strong arm that should tick up to fit in either corner outfield spot. -
School: Wasatch HS, Heber City, Utah. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.8
Brown is extremely strong with an aggressive offensive approach and big lefthanded power. He has the strength and bat speed to blast balls out of the park deep to his pull side, and unlike a lot of young hitters with a lot of juice, it’s a fairly compact lefthanded stroke, so he doesn’t have to sell out his swing to generate that power. Brown is a tick below-average runner who fits best in an outfield corner. -
School: Nazareth (Penn.) Area HS. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.2
Steingall has promising building blocks for a young pitcher. He’s an athletic righthander with lots of space to fill out his lanky 6-foot-3 frame and add to a fastball that has ticked up to reach 94 mph. One of the younger pitchers in the 2028 class, Steingall looks like he could eventually throw in the upper 90s. His secondary stuff isn’t consistent yet, but he flashes feel for a spin-killing changeup that’s ahead of his slider, with good sink and solid fade on his best changeups. Like most young, long-levered pitchers, Steingall is still learning to repeat his release point to throw more strikes, but his athleticism bodes well for his ability to make adjustments. -
School: Metuchen (N.J.) HS. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.4
Fenton has a ton of space left to add weight to his lanky 6-foot-4 frame and add to a fastball that’s already up to 92 mph. He has long limbs, and his fastball jumps on hitters with good carry to miss bats with an approach geared to attack with that pitch at the top of the zone. Once he’s physically mature, he should be throwing in the mid-to-upper 90s. Fenton’s fastball is his best pitch, with a slider that he leans on most among his secondary stuff, though his changeup flashes good fade and could become a bigger part of his repertoire with more experience. -
School: Centennial HS, Circle Pines, Minn.. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.7
Sanders has a lean 6-foot-1 build and a quick arm. He’s already up to 93 mph with solid carry on his fastball to miss bats and the projection to be throwing in the mid 90s in the near future. Sanders often goes with a fastball-heavy attack, but he flashes feel to spin a curveball as well. He’s still learning to tighten his command, but he moves well on the mound with a sound delivery. -
School: Hernando HS, Nesbit, Miss.. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 19.2
Westmoreland stands out for his ability to make contact at a high clip. He trusts his hands and has high-end barrel accuracy for his age, so he rarely swings and misses. It’s a hit-over-power offensive game right now, but Westmoreland has a lean 6-foot-1 frame that’s well-proportioned with good strength projection remaining, so more of his doubles should start going over the fence in the next few years. Westmoreland has experience in center field, though he’s not a burner runner, so he could slide to an outfield corner in pro ball. -
School: Summit Christian Academy, Lee’s Summit, Mo.. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.7
Zumwalt immediately jumps out for his size and power potential. He has a long 6-foot-5 frame that’s strong but still has significant projection remaining. He already has big power for his age and should have plus or better raw power once he’s physically mature. Zumwalt has a lot of moving parts to his swing, and hitters with his length often have strikeouts that come with the power, so it’s a likely power-over-hit profile. He has a strong arm that could fit in right field, though at his size, first base could be his best defensive fit. -
School: Salisbury (Conn.) School. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.7
Conners-Schmid has a strong, physically mature build for his age with some of the best raw power in the 2028 class. Conners-Schmid sets up with a closed-off stance, raises his hands above his head with his bat tipped toward the pitcher as he loads his swing. He creates a lot of torque and bat speed, allowing him to crush balls when he’s on the barrel. He’s an aggressive hitter who will need to tighten his offspeed recognition, with a likely power-over-hit profile and the potential for plus or better raw power. Conners-Schmid is a tick below-average runner with experience in the outfield and at first base whose offensive ability will drive his value. -
School: Eastside Catholic HS, Sammamish, Wash.. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.6
Reese has a huge 6-foot-4 frame with some of the best raw power in the 2028 high school class. He can blast balls out of the park, something he showed at the Perfect Game 16U Fall World Series when he hit two opposite-field home runs in a game. There’s some swing-and-miss that comes with his power, but it’s a smooth lefthanded swing with good leverage and high-end bat speed for his age, with the potential for plus or better raw power in his prime. Reese has experience in center field, but his below-average speed is better suited for an outfield corner at the next level. -
School: The Stony Brook (N.Y.) HS. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.8
Raymond is one of the top offensive threats in the Northeast for the 2028 class. He has a physical 6-foot-3 frame with high-end strength potential and a sound lefthanded stroke that has good path through the hitting zone. There’s a promising combination of hitting ability and power potential with Raymond, who has experience behind the plate but has spent most of his time in the outfield. He’s an average runner, likely best suited for an outfield corner at the next level. -
School: Pro5 Baseball Academy, Holly Springs, N.C.. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 19.0
Motley stands out as soon as he steps on the field for his lean, athletic 6-foot-4 frame with high-end physical upside. Motley is a lefty who generates a lot of torque with his swing to produce big raw power that should end up a plus tool. It’s a solid swing, and Motley has been able to tap into home run juice in games, though he is a long-limbed hitter with some vulnerability against offspeed stuff, so it could end up a power-over-hit offensive game. Motley has good defensive instincts in center field, including on challenging plays on balls hit over his head, though he’s not a prototype burner runner for the position, so he could end up moving around all three outfield spots in pro ball. -
School: Hebron HS, Carrollton, Tex.. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.8
Bonner has a smaller frame and a contact-oriented bat from the left side. His swing is short, simple and direct to the ball, using fast hands and a quick, efficient turn to the ball to produce one of the lower swing-and-miss rates in the 2028 class. It’s a hit-over-power offensive game that’s likely to stay that way as he moves up. Bonner is athletic and an average runner who has spent time at both middle-infield spots, likely projecting best at second base at the next level. -
School: Wakefield HS, Raleigh, N.C.. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 19.2
Piscorik’s feel for the game is advanced on both sides of the ball with skills and instincts that stand out above his raw tools. He tracks and recognizes pitches well with good timing in the batter’s box. He loads with a leg kick and keeps his hands short to the ball to cover the plate well with a low swing-and-miss rate. Piscorik has a knack for driving the ball in the air and has more physical projection remaining in his lean 6-foot-1 frame, so his power should continue to tick up, though he doesn’t have the high-end bat speed that points to being a huge power threat. He’s not a burner runner, but Piscorik is an instinctive defender who gets good reads off the bat and moves fluidly at shortstop. His feet work well, his hands are soft, he reads hops well and has a good internal clock with the arm strength to stick at the position. -
School: Easlake HS, Chula Vista, Calif.. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.8
Vargas is an instinctive, high baseball IQ player with skills over raw tools. He was the leadoff hitter for Mexico at the U-15 World Cup in 2024, hitting .318/.455/.500 there and making the All-World team. Vargas is a patient hitter who piles up walks, has a well-sequenced swing and good bat-to-ball skills, which along with his plus speed give him the components to get on base at a high clip. It’s a hit-over-power game with an approach geared to hit line drives with gap power. Vargas gets quick reads off the bat in center field, where he accelerates quickly and takes efficient routes. -
School: Mt. Carmel HS, San Diego, Calif.. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.9
A switch-hitting shortstop, Godbold plays with an ease of operation on both sides of the ball. He has a smooth, compact swing with good path through the hitting zone, especially from the left side. He stays balanced in the box and shows good bat-to-ball skills with gap power. He moves around with fluid actions at shortstop and projects to stick in the infield. -
School: New Braunfels (Tex.) HS. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 19.0
Even playing up a level against 16U competition throughout the 2025 travel circuit, Ceballos stood out for his ability to consistently shut down opposing lineups. He has a good delivery that he repeats to throw strikes with both a fastball that’s up to 92 mph and a sharp curveball in the mid-to-upper-70s. Ceballos mainly carved through lineups in the summer with a two-pitch attack, though in the fall he made more use of a changeup that flashed good sink and fade, giving him a starter look with advanced pitchability for his age and the repertoire to quiet hitters from both sides of the plate. -
School: Etowah HS, Woodstock, Ga.. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.4
A member of USA Baseball’s 15U National Team in 2025, Anderson has a good mix of athleticism and power potential. He generates big bat speed for his age without much effort, allowing him to drive balls out now with the potential to grow into above-average power. It’s a pull-heavy approach and a potential power-over-hit offensive game. Anderson has experience all over the infield. He’s a plus runner who could fit at third or second base at the next level, with the speed to handle the outfield as well if needed. -
School: Maple Mountain HS, Spanish Fork, Utah. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.8
An athletic two-way player, Hall stood out from an early age, making USA Baseball’s 15U national team in 2024 as one of a handful of 2028 players on a team of mostly 2027s. As a hitter, Hall performed well on the travel circuit in 2025 with significant power potential from his strong 6-foot-3 frame. Hall is an above-average runner with a strong arm that fits on the left side of the infield, potentially at third base if he outgrows shortstop. On the mound, he is up to 92 mph with the strength projection and explosiveness to throw significantly harder. Hall gets good extension into a lower release height from his low three-quarters slot to ride his fastball to get swinging strikes at the top of the zone. Hall flashes feel for a curveball that’s inconsistent but flashes good depth as his main secondary pitch. He doesn’t throw his changeup much yet, but it has heavy tumbling action and should become a bigger part of his arsenal with more experience. -
School: Washington County HS, Sandersville, Ga.. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.8
Jenkins packs a lot of quick-burst explosiveness into his smaller frame. He’s a plus or better runner who accelerates well with quick reactions off the bat in center field, where he projects to stick and ranges well to both gaps. He’s a high-contact hitter with a short, simple swing from the left side of the plate. Jenkins is strong for his size with sneaky bat speed, though there isn’t much physical projection remaining, so power isn’t likely to be a big part of his game. If his game continues to trend in the right direction, he could end up along the lines of Diamondbacks outfielder Slade Caldwell, Arizona’s first-round pick out of high school in 2024. -
School: Austin Prep HS, Reading, Mass.. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 19.2
Cunningham has one of the better fastball/breaking ball combinations in the 2028 high school class. Cunningham has a strong build with broad shoulders and more physical projection remaining to add to a fastball that’s already up to 95 mph and could one day get into the upper 90s. It’s a fastball that has good carry up in the zone and pairs well with his high-spin, big-breaking curveball. It’s a true curveball he throws with power into the low 80s and snaps off with sharp bite and outstanding depth to rack up whiffs and freeze hitters. Cunningham mostly attacks hitters with those two pitches, mixing in an occasional short slider and a changeup that flashes good fading action but is still a nascent pitch. There’s length to his arm action and it’s an aggressive delivery with effort, so his control comes and goes, but it’s high-octane stuff that should miss a lot of bats. -
School: Woodland (Calif.) HS. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.3
Salvemini has a lot of projection arrows pointing in the right direction. He’s 6-foot-3 with a lean, long-limbed frame with prototype physical projection scouts want to see in a young pitcher. He has a smooth, controlled delivery with good arm action and a fastball that has touched the low 90s with the potential to grow into mid-90s-or-better velocity as he fills out. It’s a starter look for Salvemini between his operation, advanced pitchability for his age and feel for multiple offspeed weapons. His best secondary pitch is a sharp, hard curveball that snaps off with tight rotation to miss bats. Salvemini flashes feel for a changeup, a pitch that needs more consistency that should come with experience, but at its best has lively fading action and should give him another bat-missing weapon. -
School: Casteel HS, Queen Creek, Ariz.. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.0
Armenta will turn 18 just before the 2028 draft, making him one of the youngest players in the class. He’s an athletic righthanded hitter, starting his swing with a toe tap before firing his quick hands at the ball with good bat speed. Armenta has performed at a high level in games and already flashes over-the-fence power to his pull side that should continue to climb. He’s a plus runner with a chance to handle a premium position in center field. -
School: Liberty (Mo.) HS. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.7
Gillespie keeps his hands inside the ball well in a short lefthanded stroke with good plate coverage. He’s a patient hitter who controls the strike zone, recognizes offspeed stuff and has the hand-eye coordination to square up all pitch types with high barrel accuracy. It’s a flatter swing path with a line-drive, all-fields approach and gap power. An above-average runner, Gillespie is an athletic shortstop with good instincts and quick reactions off the bat and the actions to stick in the middle infield. -
School: Kenton Ridge HS, Springfield, Ohio. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.4
Groeschel is one of the most athletic players in the 2028 class, packing a ton of quick-burst explosiveness into his 5-foot-10 frame. While it’s not a classic, textbook swing, Groeschel has performed well at the plate in games. He has excellent hand speed, a fast bat and rotates powerfully, allowing him to drive the ball with impressive power, especially for his age and size. There’s a mix of potential power and speed for Groeschel, who is a plus runner and accelerates quickly, giving him the traits to be a stolen-base threat and stick in center field. -
School: Liberty HS, Bakersfield, Calif.. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.9
Witcher burst onto the scene with a big freshman season to become one of the standout catchers in the 2028 class. At 6-foot-4, Witcher is tall for a catcher, but he’s athletic and folds up well behind the plate, where he has advanced catch-and-throw skills. He’s a good receiver with soft hands and has a strong arm for his age that’s around average now with the physical projection to develop into an above-average or better tool. His arm already plays up because of his efficient throwing mechanics, quick footwork and swift exchange, enabling him to cut his pop times under 1.9 seconds on his best throws. Witcher has a solid righthanded swing and the look of a player who should hit for big power, likely with a power-over-hit offensive game. Witcher is also an intriguing prospect on the mound, where his catcher-like arm action is evident with a fastball that is up to 91 mph and feel to spin a slider. -
School: Ballston Spa (N.Y.) HS. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.2
Driver is an up-arrow arm who is already one of the better 2028 pitchers in the country and is still just scratching the surface of what he can become. He’s a lanky 6-foot-5 pitcher with long limbs on a frame that screams projection. It’s a loose, limber, elastic look on the mound, where he generates good extension from a low release height out of his low three-quarters slot. Driver runs his fastball up to 92 mph with lively armside run and the potential to eventually get to upper-90s velocity. It’s a starter look for Driver with feel for multiple secondary weapons. One of those pitches is a slider that flashes sharp bite with impressive two-plane depth from a lower slot and good lateral break at times. His changeup should become a bigger part of his repertoire with more experience and might end up his best offspeed pitch, generating a ton of fade and at times heavy tumbling action. Like a lot of young, gangly pitchers, Driver is still learning to sync everything up to throw consistent strikes, but the upside is significant. -
School: Lane Tech College Prep HS, Chicago, Ill.. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 17.9
Friedrich goes to high school in Illinois, but in July 2025 he also helped lead Germany to a first-place finish in the U-15 European Championship in Italy. Friedrich earned Best Pitcher honors at the event, striking out 10 with two walks in 5.2 innings. Friedrich is extremely young for the class—he turns 17 in August after the 2028 draft—but he already has a strong, 6-foot-5 frame. He pitches from a low three-quarters slot and gets good armside run on a fastball that has trended up to touch 92 mph and should be into the mid 90s in the near future. Friedrich shows feel to spin a slider that gets a lot of whiffs now and should continue to be a swing-and-miss weapon for him as he continues to refine the shape of that pitch. Friedrich’s pitchability and control are advanced for his age, particularly for a young pitcher his size. -
School: Norco (Calif.) HS. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.9
Ayala has explosive stuff. He’s a 6-foot righthander with a strong, compact build who ran his fastball up to 96 mph as a 15-year-old. Ayala’s approach is to attack hitters with high fastballs, living at the top and above the zone to miss bats. Ayala liberally mixes in a slider that has incredible power for his age. It’s consistently 83-87 mph, a nasty pitch with two-plane depth that gets a lot of whiffs and generates an abundance of broken, disjointed swings from both lefties and righties. There’s some effort to his operation and Ayala will need to tighten his fastball command, but even with mainly a two-pitch attack, he’s able to dominate and keep hitters guessing because he will throw his slider nearly as often as his fastball in some outings. Ayala stands out most on the mound, but he has promising traits as a hitter. He’s an aggressive, high-contact hitter who makes quality contact and has experience both in the infield and outfield, with the arm strength to fit at third base or in right field. -
School: McHenry (Ill.) Community HS. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 19.0
Cohn is an athletic, switch-hitting center fielder. He’s an advanced hitter for his age whose swing is more polished from his natural left side, where he’s short to the ball with quick hands, good balance and timing. It’s a hit-over-power game, but Cohn generates good bat speed and will drive the ball with sneaky pop for his size and should start to see more of his doubles go over the fence in the next couple of years. Cohn is a quick-burst athlete with plus speed, giving him a chance to stick in center field. -
School: Ride Point HS, Missouri City, Tex.. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.7
Fiedler has a hitterish look from the left side of the plate. He has a simple lower-half load into a balanced swing that’s compact with good path through the hitting zone. It’s an aggressive approach and he uses his hands well with an adjustable stroke, leading to strong plate coverage, good bat-to-ball skills and a knack for barreling line drives to all fields with gap power. Fiedler is an average runner and a good athlete (he’s also the quarterback of his football team) who has experience all around the infield. He should get a chance to continue at shortstop but could end up an offensive-oriented infielder at second or third base. -
School: TNXL Academy, Ocoee, Fla.. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.4
Diaz is one of the elite lefties in the 2028 class thanks to his combination of stuff and pitchability with starter traits. A member of USA Baseball’s 15U national team in 2025, Diaz pitches with good arm action into an easy delivery with slight crossfire angle and is a good strike-thrower for his age with all of his pitches. He pitches off a fastball that’s up to 91 mph with riding life to miss bats at a high clip, and he should be into the mid 90s in the coming years. His changeup is advanced for his age and another pitch that generates a lot of swinging strikes with its heavy life. Diaz sells his changeup well off his fastball by maintaining his arm speed and executing it consistently away from righthanded hitters to avoid the heart of the plate. Diaz gets more whiffs with his changeup than his slider, but he shows feel for his slider as well with good sweep at its best. -
School: Mater Dei HS, Evansville, Ind.. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.6
The physicality jumps out quickly with Murphy, a 6-foot-3, athletic power hitter from the right side of the plate. Murphy has plenty of strength and leverage in his swing, already capable of launching balls out of the park with the approach and bat-to-ball skills that allow him to translate that power against live pitching. With the physical projection remaining on his broad-shouldered frame, Murphy has the look of a player who should grow into plus or better raw power. Murphy is a good athlete and an above-average runner as an offensive-oriented shortstop who could end up outgrowing the position and sliding over to third base, where his offensive game profiles well. -
School: San Ramon Valley HS, Danville, Calif.. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.3
Fitzgibbon has blazing speed. He’s already an 80 runner on the 20-80 scouting scale. It’s speed that’s evident on the bases, in center field or flying by defenders on the football field, and it’s helped Fitzgibbon draw offers from Oregon, Oregon State and other Division I programs. Fitzgibbon has a lean, well-proportioned 6-foot frame with quick hands that stay short to the ball in a loose lefthanded stroke. He makes hard contact already and should grow into more power as he fills out his athletic build and makes adjustments with his lower half to improve his balance and ground force. Fitzgibbon has the speed to be an elite stolen-base threat and to cover tons of ground in center field, with the raw speed that gives him a chance to be an elite defender at a premium position. -
School: Bonita Vista HS, Chula Vista, Calif.. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.8
There’s a lot to like with Johnson, both in terms of present ability and upside, from a player who is just scratching the surface of his potential. He has a long, lean, expandable frame at 6-foot-4 with lots of room to project more strength gains. Johnson has good bat speed, big power for his age and the look of a player who could grow into plus or better raw power once he fills out. Johnson has good hand-eye coordination, so while he is a long-limbed hitter, he has a knack for putting the bat to the ball and has performed well in games, including at the WWBA World Championship in Jupiter last fall as one of the few 2028 players in a tournament heavy on 2026 and ‘27s. A tick below-average runner, Johnson has quick reactions off the bat at shortstop, where he charges the ball well and has good body control with a quick release to make throws on the run. At his size, there’s a chance he could outgrow shortstop and fit at third base, but he’s good enough to get a chance to prove he can stick at shortstop. His strong arm would fit at either spot on the left side of the infield. He’s already up to the low 90s on the mound and has the projection for his arm to be a plus or better tool once he’s physically mature. -
School: Doral (Fla.) Academy. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.5
Mesa has a promising balance of hitting ability and power potential from a player who should stick at shortstop. He has a sound righthanded swing with good leverage geared to lift the ball. Mesa has an aggressive approach, strong hands, good bat speed and he generates quality contact now with the physical projection to grow into a 20-plus home run threat. Mesa is also one of the better defensive shortstops in the 2028 class. An average runner, Mesa ranges well to both sides, charges well on the slow roller and makes challenging plays to all angles. He’s a smart, heads-up defender who is a fluid mover with good body control, an excellent internal clock, the arm strength for the position and the ability to make throws on the run. -
School: Norwalk (Conn.) HS. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.1
Chakar turns 18 in May of his draft year, so he’s one of the younger players in the 2028 class, but his stuff already stacks up among the best for 2028. A member of USA Baseball’s 15U national team, Chakar has starter traits. He pitches from a sound, efficient and repeatable delivery, throwing strikes with a fastball that’s up to 93 mph already. Between his youth, arm speed and the projection remaining in his 6-foot-4 frame, Chakar has the look of a pitcher who should eventually reach the upper 90s. He pairs his fastball with a slider that has sharp, late break and two-plane depth at its best to miss bats. Chakar throws a mid-80s changeup, though he primarily leans on his fastball/slider attack. -
School: Lehi (Utah) HS. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 19.1
Welch has been an up-arrow player over the past year after a big 2025 summer at the plate, including an MVP performance at the 15U WWBA National Championship in July. He has some of the best barrel accuracy in the 2028 class with good lower-half adjustability in his swing. He is consistently on time and on the barrel, resulting in a high contact rate and plenty of hard line drives. Welch has a thin frame and it’s his pure hitting ability that stands out above his raw power, but his power is trending up and he should grow into more over-the-fence pop as he fills out. An average runner, Welch has experience at both middle infield spots and projects to be able to stay there, potentially at shortstop, where he has a good internal clock, lateral agility and a strong arm. -
School: D.H. Conley HS, Greenville, N.C.. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.2
Stewart is one of the most advanced lefthanded bats in the 2028 class. He has a clean, balanced swing, taking a tight turn of the barrel with good path through the hitting zone. While there have been some periods of swing-and-miss, Stewart has typically performed at a high level, getting on base at a high clip with a knack for barreling balls in the air to all fields. A corner outfielder, Stewart makes hard contact, and with more room to fill out his lean, well-proportioned frame, there should be more power coming, especially as one of the younger players in the 2028 class. -
School: Linfield Christian HS, Temecula, Calif.. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.7
Reed Johnson had a 13-year major league career as an outfielder, mostly with the Blue Jays and Cubs. His son, Tyce, is one of the standout players in the 2028 high school class. Johnson has a mature offensive approach for his age, consistently registering quality at-bats with good bat control from the left side. His swing has continued to get more fluid and efficient, taking a sound lefthanded stroke with a high-contact game. It’s a hit-over-power profile right now, but Johnson makes hard contact, has good bat speed and the strength projection on his lean 6-foot-1 frame to project more of his doubles to turn into home runs in the next few years. Johnson is an average runner and a good athlete who has a chance to stick at shortstop with a quick exchange and a high baseball IQ. -
School: Chico (Calif.) HS. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.9
Tweedt is one of the best pure hitters in the 2028 high school class. It’s a short stroke with a tight turn of the barrel, good bat path, balance and sequence throughout his swing. He recognizes spin, makes good swing decisions and is consistently on time with the adjustability to cover pitches throughout the strike zone. Tweedt is a high-contact hitter who is able to go with where the ball is pitched and use the whole field with a line-drive approach and gap power. He’s a quick-twitch athlete with above-average speed and an instinctive defender in center field, where he takes good routes and moves well to both gaps. -
School: Sierra Canyon HS, Chatsworth, Calif.. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 19.2
Swafford has easy actions that work well in the batter’s box and at shortstop. He keeps his hands quiet and direct to the ball, taking a quick, compact stroke from the left side. Swafford is a disciplined hitter who rarely swings at pitches outside the strike zone. When he does swing, he has excellent barrel accuracy, recognizing spin and staying on breaking balls to square up all pitch types with minimal swing-and-miss. It’s a line-drive approach geared to hit to all fields with gap power. Swafford has the traits to stay in the middle infield. He’s a fluid mover with good body control, a quick release and is adept on both ends of the double-play turn. -
School: Rochester Adams HS, Rochester Hills, Mich.. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.8
Watters checks a lot of boxes teams look for in a young hitter. He has a lean, athletic build with good strength projection remaining and a compact lefthanded swing. He has a patient approach to draw his walks and is a high-contact hitter who is comfortable letting the ball travel deep into the hitting zone to barrel balls to the middle of the field and the opposite way. Watters makes quality contact with power that’s trending up and the physical upside for more home runs to start flying over the fence as he layers on more strength. He’s an above-average runner who has a chance to stick in center field, where he moves well laterally on balls in the gaps. He’s the brother of Bino Watters, who hit .317/.436/.549 in 44 games as a freshman for Notre Dame and is one of the top college outfielders in the 2027 draft class. -
School: Charlotte (N.C.) Christian HS. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.5
Vazquez offers an appealing blend of athleticism and offensive upside at a premium position. He’s 6-foot-2 with broad shoulders on a lean, well-proportioned build and has a fluid, compact stroke from the left side. Vazquez played up against 16U competition all of 2025 and performed well at the plate, making hard, quality contact with the projection to grow into significantly more power once he fills out. Vazquez is a plus runner and an athletic defender at shortstop, where he has a good chance to stick. He has quick reactions off the bat and moves his feet well with good hands and defensive instincts. He has a strong arm that should continue ticking up and is a more secure, reliable defender than most shortstop prospects his age. -
School: Daniel Boone Area HS, Birdsboro, Penn.. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.1
Bell oozes with traits scouts love to see in a young pitcher. He pitches from a silky smooth delivery, a low-effort operation that he repeats consistently to throw strikes at a high clip with pitchability beyond his years. He pitches off a fastball that’s up to 91 mph, and as one of the younger pitchers in the class with good physical projection remaining, he should be into the mid 90s in the near future. Bell’s ability to locate both his fastball and breaking stuff is advanced. He has innate feel to spin both his curveball and slider, with his slider the bigger swing-and-miss weapon. It’s one of the better sliders in the 2028 class, a high-spin breaking ball with impressive sweep and two-plane depth to miss bats running away from lefties or when he throws it to the back foot of a righthanded hitter. His changeup is still behind his other stuff, but the mechanics, control and stuff all point to a starter who projects to pile up strikeouts. -
School: Merritt Island (Fla.) HS. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.8
Arnold is one of the top offensive threats in the 2028 class, with similarities to Guardians first baseman Ralphy Velazquez and Marlins outfielder P.J. Morlando—both first-round picks with catching backgrounds. Arnold sets up with a wide base in an open stance, then loads with a leg kick that lands more squared off. He’s typically on time with a swing that comes through the zone with good bat path. Arnold has the strength and bat speed to generate some of the better raw power in the class and it should end up an above-average or better tool. A tick-above-average runner, Arnold has experience catching and as a corner outfielder, with the spot he fits best in pro ball still to be determined. He’s athletic for a catcher and has an above-average arm, though the arm right now plays better in the outfield than it does behind the plate. -
School: St. Francis HS, Mountain View, Calif.. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.0
King is one of the elite pure hitters in the 2028 class and also one of the youngest, as he won’t turn 18 until July of his draft year. A member of USA Baseball’s 15U National Team in 2025, King gets himself into a good hitting position before taking a quick, tight turn of the barrel in a sweet lefthanded swing. It’s an efficient stroke with great plate coverage and outstanding bat-to-ball skills as one of the highest-contact bats in the class. It’s mostly gap power now without huge physical projection remaining, but his knack for barreling balls should allow his game power to play up as he gets stronger. King isn’t an elite athlete or runner, but he’s a smart, instinctive defender at shortstop who projects to stay somewhere in the middle infield. He takes good angles to the ball and ranges well to both sides. King has a good internal clock, a quick release, the ability to make challenging throws on the run and is clean on double-play turns. -
School: Santiago HS, Corona, Calif.. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 19.3
Pence—the nephew of former major league outfielder Hunter Pence—is freakishly talented. He’s a 6-foot-6 righthander who threw eight pitches at 100 mph at the Area Code Games in August 2025. Two months later at the WWBA World Championship in Jupiter, Fla., Pence threw four fastballs at 101 mph, unprecedented velocity for a 16-year-old in the United States. It’s extraordinary arm speed and velocity for Pence, who sits in the mid-to-upper 90s with explosive life and armside run to his heater. There’s still more strength projection in Pence’s frame, but it’s already an elite, high-octane fastball. Pence complements his fastball with a hard slider that ranges from the low 80s to the upper 80s. It’s not a consistent pitch yet, but he shows feel to spin his slider with flashes of sharp, late break and two-plane depth at its best to miss bats. Pence understandably hasn’t needed to throw his changeup much yet, so it’s behind his fastball and slider. He’s a solid strike-thrower, though like nearly all 6-foot-6 pitchers his age, he’s still learning to sync up his long limbs to repeat his release point. Pence is on the older end of the 2028 class, but he would be one of the best pitchers if he were in the 2027 or even the 2026 class, with the upside to develop into a front-end starter. -
School: Buford (Ga.) HS. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.8
McCleon has elite athleticism that runs in the family. The Twins drafted his father, Dexter McCleon, in the 13th round out of high school in 1993, but he didn’t sign. He instead played college football at Clemson, then had a 10-year NFL career as a cornerback, mostly with the Rams. McCleon Jr. is a tremendously explosive athlete with tools at the top of the class. He has a lean, long-limbed 6-foot-3 build with plus-plus speed that fits in center field and an arm that’s another 70-grade tool. At the plate, McCleon has fast bat speed, makes hard contact and has the physical projection to grow into at least above-average raw power. McCleon challenged himself in 2025 by playing up a level for the USA Prime 16U national team with some of the top 2027 players in the country. He showed swing-and-miss tendencies, particularly against breaking balls that he will have to do a better job recognizing, but the athleticism, physical projection and toolset at a premium position makes McCleon one of the highest-upside players in the 2028 class. McCleon will draw attention primarily as a position player, but he would be a prospect if he were strictly a pitcher. He’s up to 98 mph with good extension, the physical projection to throw triple digits and an advanced changeup with good depth and fade to miss bats.
Minor League Top Prospects
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EL managers came to have the same feelings about Larish that scouts have had since his college days at Arizona State. Once considered a potentially elite hitter, he has adopted an approach and sells out for home runs. It makes his profile more that of a second-division regular than as a championship-caliber starter. "He's abandoned using the whole field and has very little two-strike approach," one scout said. "He was just trying to jerk balls, but he showed pretty big power, and it's from the left side." His upright stance turns off some, because it precludes him from covering the outer third of the plate and produces serious holes in his swing. The things he can do make Larish a prospect. He's patient, ranking second in the league and sixth in the minors with 87 walks, and he waits out pitchers until he gets a pitch he can drive. His strength and leveraged swing produce well above-average power, as he led the EL with 28 homers and 101 RBIs. He's also an accomplished defender around the bag at first base. -
Saunders is one of the best athletes in the Mariners system, but his stock took a hit when he batted .240/.329/.345 in his full-season debut in low Class A last year. He flashed his five-tool potential on a much more consistent basis in the Cal League, and he played well in Double-A in August. He's still growing into his 6-foot-4 frame and has good loft in his swing, which could make him a 20-homer hitter on an annual basis. He has plus speed that makes him a basestealing threat and a plus defender in center or right field. A Canadian who had NHL potential in hockey and also played basketball, lacrosse and soccer, he lacks true baseball instincts but has shown a better sense for the game with each of his promotions. -
Paulino hadn't played above Class A coming into the season, but he made his major league debut in Houston in September, earning wins in his last two starts. He has the body and the stuff to pitch at the top of a rotation, with a fastball that touches 100 mph and sits at 95-99 mph. Paulino has four legitimate pitches, using both a slider and a curveball as well as a changeup. His curveball is probably the best of his complementary pitches, but none of them stand out. To establish himself in the big league rotation, Paulino will have to improve his command and become more confident with his fastball. His velocity allows him to dominate, but if hitters hit his heater early in games, he tends to shy away from it. -
Ely overmatched Pioneer League hitters in his pro debut by consistently by consistently throwing strikes and using his 91-93 mph fastball to set them up for a plus changeup that ranks as his best pitch. His curveball was a solid pitch for him at Miami (Ohio) this spring, though it received mixed reviews from those who saw him this summer. Ely has a deceptive delivery that he repeats well and keeps hitters off balance, but he's also a max-effort pitcher with a head jerk. There are some concerns about how his ability to avoid injuries with his mechanics, but he has no history of arm problems in the past. He's extremely competitive on the mound. -
The Yankees signed Heredia out of the Dominican Republic last year. He didn't pitch in the Dominican Summer League in 2006 and made his pro debut in the States this summer. Not big but wiry strong, Heredia pumps out fastballs from 91-93 mph, touching some 94s along the way. He has a loose, easy delivery and adds and subtracts from his fastball, which he commands to all four quadrants of the strike zone. His slurvy breaking ball needs to get tighter, though it shows flashes of being a plus pitch with solid downward rotation. "He just reminds me of Pedro Martinez when I was with the Dodgers in '93," Reed said. "You see the frame and wonder where it all comes from. This guy is the same way." His changeup is still a work in progress, as he's refining his arm action and grip to command it more consistently. Heredia morphed into a two-pitch pitcher at times, and he'll have to gain more confidence in his changeup if he's going to profile as a starter. -
Ottavino's approach is simple yet effective. He relies on a 92-93 mph fastball featuring good armside run and a tight slider, as the fastball rides in on righthanders while the slider runs away from them. His command isn't very polished, but he gets enough movement that he can simply aim for the middle of the plate and relying on the run on his fastball and the tilt on his slider to hit the corners. Ottavino got FSL hitters to chase his slider out of the zone, though there's some concern as to whether he can throw it consistently for strikes if more advanced players lay off of it. He also throws a below-average changeup and curveball, and he might wind up in the bullpen down the road. -
As they did with lefty John Danks in 2006, the Rangers bumped Hurley to Triple-A just three years after drafting him in the first round out of high school. Texas felt comfortable moving Hurley quickly, given his even temperament and willingness to take instruction. He pitched very well for Oklahoma before getting hammered in his final two starts, when he allowed six of his 13 Triple-A homers. With a repertoire headed by a 91-95 mph fastball and an above-average slider with late depth, Hurley is all about power. Those two pitches will play up--and his strikeouts will increase--as he gains more command. He needs to improve his changeup and do a better job of working down in the strike zone. -
An exceptional athlete, Brown was recruited by Miami as a wide receiver but he chose instead to sign as a 20th-round pick in 2006. The ball jumps off his bat, though his swing can get long and has some holes that can be exploited. His wiry-strong build evokes Darryl Strawberry, and he can hit the ball a long way when he connects. A long strider with above-average speed, Brown plays a shallow center field. He occasionally takes some bad routes, but he's athletic enough to compensate and has a strong arm. "He's got a ton of tools," Hudson Valley manager Matt Quatraro said. "His body, if it fills out, he could be a monster. His swing's long at times, but when he gets on top of the ball, he's got some juice." -
Because of his stuff, frame and profile, Reyes gets compared Horacio Ramirez, who likewise signed with the Braves out of a southern California high school. Reyes made 14 starts at Mississippi before spending three months in the majors when injuries beset Atlanta's pitching staff. He struggled but did win two of his last three starts and posted a 3.10 ERA in September. Reyes doesn't have a true put-away pitch, but he has five weapons at his disposal, headlined by a fastball that ranges from 88-94 mph. He can add and subtract from his fastball, and also throws a cutter in the high 80s. His solid-average slider is his best secondary pitch, which he complements with a usable changeup and curve. He's erratic with his command at times, and Reyes has lapses when a series of mistakes leads to big innings. He profiles as a back-of-the-rotation starter. "He's a guy for me," the second scout said. "He can speed up and slow down bats, and he has enough effective wildness and enough stuff to get away with some of his inconsistency." -
Fabian has added 30 pounds since signing out of the Dominican in 2003, and his 6-foot-3 frame still has plenty of projection remaining. He has yet to reach full-season ball in five years as a pro and is far from a finished product, but his loose arm is loaded with potential. Fabian's fastball sits at 91 mph and he was up to 96 in the first game of the NWL finals, when he pitched into the eighth inning and earned the win against Salem-Keizer. He's aggressive and attacks hitters, though his command is below-average. He'll occasionally break off a filthy downer curveball that could become a legitimate putaway offering. His changeup is below-average, though it too could develop into a weapon. -
James flew under the radar last season despite going 6-2, 1.36 in Lexington. His fringy fastball didn't excite scouts then, but they believe in him more now that his velocity increased this year. His heater sat at 89-92 and he can sink and tail it to either side of the plate, making him a groundball machine. James' slider is an average pitch with plus potential. He has toyed with different grips on his changeup but hasn't found consistent command of it yet. "He could be unhittable at times here and all he'd throw were sinkers," Sarbaugh said. "He'd flash you the breaking ball, he'd flash the changeup, but he was pretty much all sinkers." -
The highlight of Lofgren's season was going home to San Francisco for the Futures Game--he's from famed Serra High in nearby San Mateo--but the regular season held some struggles for him. His athletic ability, competitiveness and aptitude still make him one of the minors' more intriguing lefties, but he has work to do. Lofgren pitches off his average-to-plus fastball, running it up to 93-94 mph at times. His curveball, slider and changeup all flash above-average potential as well. He started throwing his changeup two years ago and it's now his best secondary pitch, allowing him to be more effective against righthanders (.739 OPS against) than lefties (.815 OPS). Lofgren didn't attack Double-A hitters like he needed to, getting into trouble by nibbling when he got ahead or by struggling to throw his secondary pitches for strikes early in counts. One scout said Lofgren needs to learn pitchability and expects his athletic ability to help him do that with another year in the minors. -
Patton spent the first half of the season in Double-A and required just eight Triple-A starts before he was thrust into Houston's rotation in August. The Astros turned to him not because he had blown away PCL batters, but because he shows exceptional poise for a young pitcher. After three effective appearances in Houston, he was shut down with shoulder soreness, which cut short his two previous seasons as well. With command of three pitches and a strong pickoff move, Patton has the ingredients to be a solid No. 3 starter. He locates his 88-92 mph fastball to both sides of the plate and has confidence in his hard curveball. Patton has made the greatest strides with his changeup, which fades down and away from righthanders. -
Statia has the tools to play shortstop in the majors now. He's an athletic defender with above-average range to both sides, plus arm strength and good instincts. He's a savvy basestealer as well, swiping 29 bags in 37 tries despite just average speed. While his defense is big league-ready, his bat is nowhere close. Until he adds some strength to his lanky frame, he'll be vulnerable to good fastballs. He has little power, and while he makes consistent contact, he doesn't draw many walks. -
Welker had an up-and-down spring as a weekend starter for Arkansas after transferring from Seminole State (Okla.) JC, but the Pirates drafted him in the second round based on his arm strength and projectable 6-foot-7 frame. He had a strong pro debut before the Pirates shut him down because of elbow soreness. Welker pitches at 92-93 mph and touches 95-96 with his lively fastball, and he might throw even harder as he matures. He pitches off his fastball, working it in and out, and mixes in a slurvy breaking ball that has potential but needs some tightening. His changeup is usable but also needs some refinement. Welker has a strong, durable frame and pitches on a good downward plane. He could be a starter in the big leagues if he can polish his secondary offerings. "One thing that sticks out the most to me is his competitiveness and his presence," State College manager Turner Ward said. "To me, he's definitely a big leaguer. He's got the stamina, the body, just the package of a starting pitcher." -
Like Votto, Lind came into the season with high expectations after winning the Double-A Eastern League's MVP award and hitting .367 in 60 September big league at-bats in 2006. He started 2007 with Syracuse, earning an early callup when Reed Johnson had back surgery. American League pitchers were ready for Lind this time and he struggled to make adjustments, hitting .230/.274/.383 before a July demotion. Lind regained his confidence and his stroke in the IL, and he fared better (.273/.298/.473) after a September callup. He's balanced at the plate and stays inside the ball well, using his classic lefthanded swing to drive the ball from line to line. "His hands somewhat work independently from his body," Syracuse manager Doug Davis said. "He's got such good hand-eye coordination that it's very easy for him to put the barrel of the bat on ball. That's my biggest thing. He's a natural hitter who can not only put the ball in play, but drive it." Lind missed two weeks in early August when he strained a muscle in his neck after violently banging his head on the ground while making a diving attempt for a catch. A similar play in 2006 caused a concussion. He remains a work in progress in the outfield, where below-average speed and just playable range and throwing mechanics limit him to left field. -
After serving as a catcher when he wasn't injured during his first two pro seasons, Snyder moved to first base this year and looked more comfortable. He had his best offensive season to date, rebounding nicely from the dislocated right shoulder and rotator-cuff surgery that limited him to 72 games in 2006. Snyder showed improved plate discipline and continued to display a smooth swing from the right side. He consistently gets his hands in a good hitting position. The question, however, is whether he'll drive in enough runs to be an impact player at the major league level, because the move to first base puts a greater emphasis on his bat. Snyder, who showed soft hands and good athleticism at his new position, also took groundballs at third base. "He adapted well defensively and has become a quality first baseman," Kendall said. "He also made adjustments with the bat, particularly with his pitch selection. Last year, he didn't have a plan when he stepped in the box. While he'll still wave at breaking balls, he has improved in working the count and using the whole field." -
Canham's makeup and offensive prowess were a big part of Oregon State's back-to-back College World Series titles. The day he reported to Eugene, he introduced himself to manager Greg Riddoch and promptly asked to take the opposing hitters' chart home with him to prepare for the next night's game. Canham injured a testicle in mid-July and missed two weeks. After he returned to the lineup, his solid-average bat speed and raw power weren't as evident, but he's a confident hitter with a good approach from the left side of the plate. He has a tendency to drift during his swing, which creates some length. Canham's defensive skills are subpar, but he's a good athlete with plenty of agility and aptitude to work his way into becoming an adequate catcher. He has solid-average arm strength with a fair release that would be aided by better footwork, and he threw out 31 percent of basestealers in the NWL. He's an average runner. -
Romero finished third in the league in batting (.316) and homers (nine). He's a gap-to-gap hitter who can drive the ball hard the other way, and he should have even more power as he gets stronger and turns on more pitches. Defensively, Romero has limited range at third base but he does have soft hands, arm strength and a quick release. He sometimes overthrows, but he's fairly steady and led Appy League third baseman with a .929 fielding percentage. His biggest need is to find an even keel, as he gets down on himself and lets his emotions affect his play. "He's got it in him," Elizabethton manager Ray Smith said. "He's a tools guy and he can hit it as far as anybody. He's got it in him, but we need to get it out of him." -
After hitting just three homers in Rookie ball last year, Francisco won the MWL home run crown with 25, including 10 in the final month. In a league full of young power hitters, scouts and managers thought Francisco had the most raw pop of any of them. "He swings the bat with a lot of authority," Great Lakes manager Lance Parrish said. "He has a lot of potential and it's not too far in the future. He'll be leading every league he's in in home runs and he'll be an all-star." Francisco offers incredible pull power from the left side, though he needs to tone down his aggression and tighten his strike zone after fanning 161 times and walking only 23 in 135 games. He has a long swing and tends to chase balls in the dirt, but he's also just 20. He has enough arm and mobility to stay at third base, though he'll have to watch his weight to do so. -
Rodriguez doesn't offer one overwhelming tool, but his overall package and strong baseball instincts should make him an effective big leaguer. His offensive numbers dipped from 2006, when he led the minors with 291 total bases, but he was still selected as the league's all-star shortstop. Power is probably Rodriguez' best tool, as he shows the ability to drive the ball to all fields and could hit 20-25 homers per year in the majors. Some observers think he would be better served shortening his swing and being more of a doubles hitter, however. Though he has a good swing and balance at the plate, he led the league with 132 whiffs, in part because of poor strike-zone recognition. Rodriguez has been a shortstop so far in his career and shows good defensive actions, but his below-average speed and big frame, as well as organization depth, could push him to second base or the outfield. He'll probably end up as a utility player. -
Just before Scherzer would have re-entered the 2006 draft, the Diamondbacks coughed up a four-year major league contract worth $4.3 million in guaranteed money to sign the 11th overall pick from 2005. Nicknamed "Max-a-million" by his teammates, he made three starts in high Class A before arriving in Mobile in late June. Scherzer's most attractive attribute is a sinking fastball that tops out near 95 mph. His mechanics need some work, as his release point is inconsistent and there's some effort to his delivery, but he does achieve good extension out front and his arm strength is obvious. Scherzer has a two-seamer he can run up to 90 mph, an 80-84 mph slider and a changeup, all of which have potential to be solid-average to plus offerings. But Scherzer's arsenal is inconsistent, and his overall command is below average. That leads some scouts to project he'll wind up in the bullpen, where he can focus on his fastball and slider. "It's an outstanding arm who needs polish and has some max effort to it, which impacts his ability to command the baseball," a fourth scout said. "The stuff is there, it's just a matter of if he can make that next step and command it." -
AZL managers found Culberson, a surprise supplemental first-round pick in June, far from conventional but nonetheless to their liking. He rebounded from a terrible start to help drive the Giants into the championship game, leading the team with 19 stolen bases (in 20 tries) and batting .354 in August. Culverson showed pull power, savvy baserunning skills and above-average bat speed, and he made progress on learning when to be aggressive and when to be smart. Culberson hit 16 homers as a high school senior, but homers aren't likely to be a significant part of his game as he moves up the ladder. The unconventional part comes with his glove. Culberson has excellent arm strength despite an unusual, almost sidearm release point, and as he learns to trust his arm, he'll improve his fringe-average range by playing deeper and learning better positioning. His aggressive nature led to mistakes, but he worked hard with roving instructor Fred Stanley and showed enough aptitude (one error in his last 12 games in the AZL) to keep playing shortstop in instructional league. -
Fish finished in a three-way tie for the league lead with 77 strikeouts in 72 innings and fanned 13 in eight innings in his lone playoff outing. His funky delivery creates deception and confuses hitters, making his 88-93 mph fastball seem quicker than it really is. He has good secondary pitches, though he needs to be more consistent with his curveball, which rates as solid-average when he throws it for strikes. Fish still needs to improve his command and must keep his weight under control. -
A second-round pick in 2006, Perez made his full-season debut with the Avalanche. He was up an down for much of the season, but he showed two quality pitches throughout. His fastball has excellent late life and sits at 91-93 mph, while his 84-mph slider was his out pitch for much of the year. Perez' changeup improved as the season wore on, though he still doesn't have quite the arm action he needs to make it as effective as it could be. He repeats his delivery well, though some scouts expressed concern with the way he wraps his wrist in the back of his delivery -
Carvajal had to repeat the league after a hand injury curtailed his season last year. He needed the experience because he had gotten just 75 at-bats since signing for $350,000 in late 2005 out of the Dominican Republic. He's still raw, particularly in terms of pitch recognition and plate discipline, but he also has some of the best bat speed in the Padres system and enough athletic ability to play well in a short trial in center field. According to AZL Padres manager Tony Muser, the former Royals skipper, Carvajal profiles best as a left fielder with good defense and enough power for the position. "He has a lot of upside because he can do a lot of things," Muser said. "He can run, he's got a plus arm, he's got raw power. A lot of times with young players like him, it can take longer getting on their feet, and he lost time, but now he's making progress." -
One of the few Mariners prospects who has been allowed to develop more or less at his own pace, Balentien showed improvement across the board in his first taste of Triple-A. Most strikingly, he slashed his strikeout rate from one every 3.2 at-bats in 2006 to one every 4.5 for Tacoma. Though Balentien still will wildly chase pitches out of the zone, he did show increased selectivity in the first half, especially with regard to breaking balls off the plate. He has immense raw power to all fields and hit his first big league homer in September off Fausto Carmona. Balentien also has average speed and good baserunning instincts. He's an average defender with a plus arm in right field. He frequently has come under scrutiny for his lackadaisical play and though he still has lapses, he showed more focus and maturity in 2007. -
If Young reaches the majors, his speed will be what gets him there. After leading the minors with 87 steals in 2006, he ranked second this year with 73. He became more efficient swiping bases, succeeding on 80 percent of his attempts, up from 74 percent a year ago. "He's a legitimate big league basestealer," Subero said. "He could go up on speed alone." Young uses his speed to get on base via bunts, though he still needs to improve his strike-zone judgment to be a tablesetter at the top of the order. He upgraded his total package by improving his defense at second base, showing better range and footwork. -
The tallest pitcher in the GCL at 6-foot-10, Moviel also has stuff to back up his height advantage. He consistently threw 92-93 mph and touched 95 with his fastball. He draws comparisons to Yankees first-round pick Andrew Brackman because both are huge Ohio natives who committed to North Carolina State (Brackman played for the Wolfpack but Moviel turned pro). Though Brackman is three years older, Moviel may be more polished. Scouts raved about his ability to not only repeat his delivery, but his secondary pitches as well. He'll pitch inside with his fastball with no fear, and his 82-83 mph hammer curveball really keeps opposing hitters at bay. Moviel also has a workable changeup, though it lags behind his other two offerings. There are concerns about his long arm action, but he's athletic and fields his position well for a big man. -
Hanson went just 2-6 in 14 starts at Rome, but his record fails to tell the true story. He used solid command of four pitches along with a willingness to throw inside to post a 2.59 ERA and limit hitters to a .194 average. Six-foot-6 and 210 pounds, Hanson has impressive mound presence and delivers the ball on an intimidating downhill plane. His fastball sits in the low 90s and he commands it well. Add in the tight spin on his curveball and improving depth on his changeup, and he's on the fast track in the Braves system. "He has good arm strength and I really like his breaking ball," Asheville pitching coach Bryan Harvey said. "He has a real good idea out there on the mound." -
Kendrick never had pitched above Class A prior to 2007, but he entered the postseason as the Phillies' Game Two starter, and his 3.87 ERA ranked second among their starters. He got started down that path in the EL, as he harnessed his command and stopped trying to pitch up in the strike zone with his fastball and down with his slider. The athletic Kendrick repeats his delivery, pumps his two-seam sinker to the bottom of the zone and spots his harder, low-90s four-seamer down and away. He also has a hard slider that's more of a groundball pitch than a strikeout offering. His changeup plays up because he locates it well. "He realized strikeouts are over-rated," Reading manager P.J. Forbes said. "He's pitching at the knees and when he misses, he misses down. He made hitters hit his pitch, because his command was that good. To give up just three home runs, playing in our ballpark, that's all about executing your pitches, and he did." -
After a dominant season in 2006, Meloan spent the first half of 2007 as Jacksonville's closer before climbing to Triple-A and the majors. Managers rated him the league's best reliever and he has the makings of a valuable late-inning man in the big leagues. Meloan has two speeds--hard and harder--and a tenacious attitude. He works primarily off an 89-94 mph fastball and a mid-80s slider that has touched 89. He also has feel for a curveball and changeup, but his slider and above-average command are his ticket. Meloan attacks both sides of the plate and pitches ahead in the count. His delivery is rigid and lacks fluidity, but he has shown resilience since arm soreness arose shortly after he was drafted in 2005. -
With Outman, it's all about control. He struggles at times to control his fastball, which explains why ranked among the minor league leaders with 77 walks in 159 innings. At times he struggles to control his emotions, which explains why he overthrows and is prone to big innings and bad outings. But there's also a lot to like about the lefty, who led the league with a 2.45 ERA and earned a promotion to Double-A. Outman's fastball sits at 92-94 mph and he pairs it with an 84-87 mph slider. He's working on a changeup that still has a ways to go. A good athlete, Outman has reworked his mechanics and developed a more conventional delivery since turning pro. He also has added some deception, as he now hides the ball much longer, and his fastball has picked up some life. One manager who saw him in low Class A in 2006 said has made significant strides since last year -
If Van Mil makes it all the way up, he'll be the tallest pitcher in major league history at 7-foot-1. By the time he follows through, he's practically standing on home plate. His velocity is closer to Chris Young's than Randy Johnson's, however. Van Mil's fastball settles in around 91 mph and tops out at 95. His height gives him a downward plane that's tough on hitters. He's athletic and agile for his size. A product of the Netherlands, Van Mil lacks pitching instincts and profiles more as a reliever than as a starter. He's working on a slider that has some tilt, but he sometimes slows down his arm when he throws it. He also lacks control.Van Mil came down with elbow soreness, which sidelined him for three weeks in August. -
Like Poveda, Whittleman was much improved and still young for the league in his second stint at Clinton. After batting .227/.313/.343 as a 19-year-old in 2006, he boosted those numbers to .271/.382/.476 before an August callup to high Class A. He also added a Futures Game homer off the Mets' Deolis Guerra. Whittleman had a quieter approach and better balance at the plate this season, and he didn't chase as many pitches. With his swing, strength and grasp of the strike zone, he has a chance to hit .280 with 15-20 homers annually in the majors. He doesn't profile as well at third base as Bell, but he has a better stroke and puts more effort into his defense. Playing third base is still a struggle for Whittleman, who has the arm strength but lacks sure hands and quick feet. He made 29 errors in 85 games, and his .880 percentage was worse than his 2006 mark of .891. He tailed off in July, batting just .154/.264/.179 as most observers thought he got frustrated because he wasn't promoted earlier. -
Jones posted the second-highest slugging percentage (.507) in the Southern League and didn't miss a beat after earning a late-July promotion to Richmond, where he helped the Braves win the IL wild card. With a confident, quiet setup and a sweet lefty swing, he projects to be an above-average major league hitter. He makes adjustments and stays inside the ball well, taking what pitchers give him. Jones has 20-homer potential, which is about average for a corner outfielder, and he rarely turned on pitches in the IL, prompting some to question his assertiveness as a potential middle-of-the-order hitter. An average runner, he gets down the line well because of his clean swing mechanics. But with below-average hands and defensive instincts and a slow release on throws, he's a left fielder all the way. -
Duran was an afterthought in the Texas system coming into 2007, but he stung the ball all season and ranked among the TL leaders in most offensive categories. He also represented the Rangers on the World team in the Futures Game. Scouts and managers see Duran as an offensive second baseman whose overall approach to hitting isn't as polished as Antonelli's, but he offers more power. Duran isn't big but has a strong body and a quick bat, with the ability to put a charge in the ball. Most managers regarded Duran as a solid second baseman. He's good around the bag and should be able to make the routine plays, with average range and an average arm. His speed is fringe-average. -
Ambriz had shoulder surgery in 2004, then returned to star as a two-way player for UCLA the last two seasons. The Diamondbacks drafted him solely as a pitcher, and in his first pro summer he excelled as a swingman and earned the save in the clinching game of the Pioneer League playoffs. Arizona wants Ambriz to pitch off his fastball, and when he worked in shorter outings than he did as a college starter, his heater sat at 91-93 mph and touched 95. He also did a better job of keeping the ball down in the strike zone than he did at UCLA, with his mid-80s splitter resulting in a lot of groundballs. Ambriz also tightened his curveball. His curve and his changeup are still inconsistent, and he'll need to further develop them to succeed when he becomes a full-time starter next season. -
While he's a college pitcher, Wagner isn't the average college product. A former North Dakota State player, he saw his draft stock fall in 2005 due to a left kneecap injury that altered his mechanics and sapped his velocity. Healthy again, he and Aberdeen's Luis Lebron were the NY-P's dominant relievers. Wagner had the league's best fastball, sitting at 95-97 mph in just about every outing. He was content to blow fastballs by hitters, and his above-average control of the pitch means he can throw it for strikes to all four quadrants of the strike zone. However, Wagner lacks a second pitch. He has tried both a curveball and a slider, showing little feel for spinning a breaking ball. He had more success late in the summer when he started throwing a splitter, but he lacked confidence in the pitch. It looked better in the bullpen than in games. -
The Padres won the league in part because of the ability of Durango and Hunter to get on base and the knack Carrasco and league RBI champ Ranyor Contreras had for driving them in. San Diego officials rave about Carrasco's raw power, though some managers questioned his defense and listed age of 19, preferring Contreras. A year younger and more physical, Carrasco earns the nod here for two big power tools. Besides his pop, he also has a plus throwing arm, as well as the range and hands to become an average defensive third baseman. "He's a legitimate switch-hitter, and when he got into one, it went a long way," one manager said. "He needs to improve his pitch recognition and he's pretty mature physically, but he has outstanding power." -
A star tailback who rushed for 2,183 yards as an Illinois high school senior and could have played college football, Benson committed to baseball after the Twins made him a second-round pick in June. He offered one of the better combinations of power and speed in the GCL. He also has the range and enough arm to play center field. Besides his physical tools, Benson has a knack for making adjustments and playing with a football mentality. He can get too aggressive at times and will have to tone down his approach at the plate and on the bases. He had the mental toughness to handle a jump to low Class A after injuries riddled the Twins' Beloit affiliate. -
Cowart took the NWL by storm in his pro debut after the Giants drafted him in the 35th round as a Kansas State senior. He didn't allow an earned run in his first four starts and 21 innings, then reeled off an even longer stretch of five starts and 28 innings without yielding an earned run. On his way to winning NWL pitcher of the year honors, Cowart won his first 10 professional decisions before losing in his final regular-season outing. Cowart, who led the league with 10 wins and a 1.08 ERA, has impeccable control of underwhelming stuff, walking just eight batters in 83 innings. He also does a great job keeping the ball on the ground. The key to his success was the deception he creates with his funky submarine arm angle. He also has a very advanced feel for pitching, working both halves of the plate and leaving nothing above the knees. He has plenty of poise on the mound and fields his position well. But Cowart works in the 80-83 mph range with his fastball, topping out at 85, and he lacks a plus pitch. He also uses a slurvy breaking ball and a changeup. Cowart's future is in the bullpen, and his best-case scenario is that he can become a right-on-right specialist in the big leagues. Scouts are skeptical he'll be able to get hitters out at higher levels. -
A guy who hit .224 in a return trip to low Class A doesn't seem like a prime candidate for the FSL Top 20. But Golson improved after a promotion to Clearwater and his ceiling remains high, even if he remains raw. "He's got all the tools," Legg said. Golson is a standout center fielder with plus range and arm strength, though his routes to the ball could use improvement. He's a plus-plus runner who's still learning how to pick his spots to steal. And he shows above-average power potential at the plate. Golson's only problem is a big one. He has yet to show the ability to make consistent contact, as evidenced by his .233 batting average and 160 strikeouts between two Class A stops this year. He doesn't recognize pitches well and he pulls off the ball too much. But he also has quick hands and a quick bat, which lead some to believe he'll figure it out. "He's young," Warner said. "He'll chase here and there, but if you make a mistake, it's a different sound coming off of his bat." -
A revelation offensive and defensively in his 2005 pro debut, Lowrie suffered a high ankle sprain in May, missed a month and didn't find any rhythm at the plate until August. When he finally go healthy, he hit .325 with two of his three homers in the final month. While there are questions about Lowrie remaining at short because he lacks range and eye-popping arm strength, several scouts compared him to Jeff Blauser and Kevin Elster and gave him a chance to stay there. "He's kind of like David Eckstein with a lot better tools," an AL scout said. "You sit there and say to yourself, 'That guy's an everyday shortstop.' He makes the plays, nothing necessarily real flashy, but he's going to get it done." -
Though Severino was repeating the league and is significantly older than the other pitchers on this list, his stuff stood out. He had arguably the best fastball in the league, a 92-93 mph heater that explodes on hitters and enabled him to lead the league with 90 strikeouts in 68 innings. Three times he struck out 10 or more batters in a start. At 5-foot-11 and 150 pounds, Severino doesn't resemble a power pitcher, but he attacks hitters and his stuff certainly plays that way. His quick arm action also makes his slider tough to hit, though the pitch is a work in progress. Severino has average command of a changeup he throws to keep hitters from sitting on his fastball. His inconsistent mechanics sometimes lead to lapses in control. -
Outman doesn't have the feel for pitching that his teammate Maloney does, but he throws significantly harder. He also put together one of the most dominant months any minor league pitcher had this year when he went 5-0, 0.28 in August. He won 13 of his final 15 decisions. A wiry 6-foot-1 and 180 pounds, Outman often catches hitters off guard with his 90-94 mph fastball. His 80-84 mph slider also has the potential to be a plus pitch. He throws a curveball as well, but the consensus is that he'd be better off scrapping it and sticking solely with his slider. The key to Outman's future will be his changeup, which is still fringy. If it doesn't improve, his fastball-slider combo alone should make him an effective reliever. -
Olson climbed to Double-A in his first full pro season and displayed durability, consistency and solid-average stuff. If he improves his command and changeup, he could become a No. 3 or 4 starter. His fastball sits near 90 mph, and Olson has crafted a two-seamer that's slower but helps his cause against righthanders. His well above-average curveball is sharp with late, hard break and tight rotation. It's especially tough on lefties. He mixes his pitches well and moves them around, but he works deep in the count too often and tries to be too fine. His curve alone guarantees that he should become at least a dependable left-on-left reliever. -
Guzman has yet to duplicate his breakout 2004 season, and the Dodgers finally decided to use him in a deadline deal for Julio Lugo in July. His days as a shortstop have come to an end, and is future now appears to be in the outfield or first base, with third base also a possibility. Guzman still stands out from a physical standpoint, as he's a 6-foot-6, 250-pounder loaded with athleticism. He still needs to tighten his strike zone and add more defensive polish at his new positions, but he has tape-measure power, above-average arm strength and solid speed. "I like his size and power potential," DeFrancesco said. "The length of his swing has to be shortened, though, in order to survive in the big leagues. I see him as a first baseman. He'd be a nice big target over there with above-average athleticism for the position." -
Broadway started his season as strong as anyone in league, going 3-1, 1.74 in April. But then his delivery fell out of whack for two months, and hitters feasted on fastballs left up in the strike zone. He eventually fixed his mechanics and got back on track. The best pitch in Broadway's arsenal is a plus-plus spike curveball, which he commands to any part of the plate and will throw in any count. His average 89-90 mph fastball lacks consistent life and flattens out late in games. He seldom used a changeup in college and needs to increase arm speed to make it an effective third pitch. "He's polished and he's a fast-track guy," a NL scout said. "Whether he's fast-tracked as a pen guy or a starter depends on that changeup. It shows flashes, but sometimes it's very easy for hitters to pick up what's coming." -
The league MVP, Baisley did it all. He led the MWL in runs (86) and RBIs (110, the second-highest total in the minors) and also was the circuit's best defensive third baseman. Baisley is a very good situational hitter who doesn't try to do too much. He has a balanced stance, sound swing and pitch-recognition skills, enabling him to drive balls from gap to gap. He moves better than most 6-foot-3, 210-pounders, showing range to both sides, and has a solid arm. The biggest knock against him was his age: 23, ancient for low Class A. The Athletics are also high on fellow third baseman Myron Leslie (Baisley's former South Florida teammate), who was ensconced in high Class A, so they left Baisley at Kane County. "It's an absolute crime that kid played there for the entire season," a second AL scout said. -
Denorfia continued to do what he's always done--hit for average, get on base and play good defense--as he spent the season shuttling between the majors and the minors. He saw more time with the Reds after the mid-July trade of Austin Kearns, but Denorfia didn't hit enough to avoid a demotion. His future is probably as a fourth outfielder. Denorfia is a manager's delight because he's an overachiever who plays with passion. He has no one exceptional tool, but he's a disciplined, line-drive hitter who can take the ball up the middle or to the opposite field. He's probably no more than a 15-home run hitter in the majors. "He puts the ball in play and he's a good two-strike hitter," Cliburn said. "We played one series where we couldn't get him out. We'd pitch him away and he'd go the other way. Pitch him in and he'd drive it into the gap." Denorfia has average range in center field and enough arm to play in right. Above-average speed may be Denorfia's strongest tool, and he succeeded in 15 of 16 steal attempts. -
A native of Montana, where there's no high school baseball, the 6-foot-9 Mickolio played only basketball until the summer before his senior year of high school, when he began playing American Legion ball. He showed enough promise in his first year at Eastern Utah JC in 2003 that the Cardinals drafted him in the 35th round, and he made even more progress after transferring to Utah Valley State. With his enormous size, Mickolio was an imposing bullpen arm for Everett this summer. His height allows him to pitch on a downward angle and induce plenty of groundballs, as evidenced by his 49-18 ground-fly ratio. He works in the low 90s with a heavy fastball that has plenty of life and touches 94 mph. Mickolio also flashes a decent slider now and then, though he still has plenty of work to do on it and his changeup. His slider lacks tight rotation and doesn't miss many bats, and he needs to do a better job commanding his stuff within the strike zone. But considering how far Mickolio has come in his short pitching career, it's not a huge stretch to project him as a major league reliever. -
Before he moved up to Double-A and made way for Lillibridge, Bixler was one of the most exciting players in the league. As with Lillibridge, speed is Bixler's best tool, though he's not quite as fast. A spray hitter with gap power, Bixler learned to work counts more effectively this season. He's surehanded, but his range and arm are average at best and may be better suited for second base. "His bat is really going to have to carry him because he's not going to be a shortstop in the big leagues," a NL scout said. "He has some instincts there, but not enough to get to balls he should get to. He's Tony Graffanino for me." -
After finishing second in the Missouri Valley Conference batting race with a .382 average, Ashley figured to tear up the Appy League--and he did by hitting .333 and leading the league with a .440 on-base percentage. The oldest player on this list, he made quick transition to wood bats and made hard contact to all fields. He's physically mature but still may have room for growth in the power department. While he is highly athletic for a catcher, Ashley still needs work behind the plate. In instructional league, the Devil Rays plan to address his mechanical flaws in terms of his setup, receiving and blocking. He does have good hands, shows a plus arm at times and threw out 52 percent of basestealers in his pro debut. -
Another piece of the Abreu trade, Monasterios remained in the GCL with Sanchez, with both players moving across town from Tampa to Clearwater. As with most young pitchers, his best pitch is his fastball. He usually throws in the low 90s but was clocked as high as 96 mph. Monasterios pounds the strike zone and walked just six batters in 45 innings. He flashes a plus breaking ball, but it flattens out when he gets around the pitch in his delivery. He has shown some feel for a changeup, though it remains a distant third option for now. -
After signing for $150,000, Madrigal spent his first five seasons in pro ball as an outfielder. However, his above-average raw power didn't translate to games well enough because of his inability to recognize breaking balls. After getting off to a tough start in his third straight assignment to low Class A Cedar Rapids, Madrigal assented when the Angels asked him to move to the mound in late May. As a pitcher, Madrigal showed the same raw arm strength he had as an outfielder. His fastball touched 98 mph and he regularly sat at 94 mph when he maintained his mechanics. His slider also showed signs of being a reliable second pitch. Still just 22, he could move quickly if he continues to show aptitude in his new role. "What impressed me was the poise he showed for being new to pitching," Angels manager Ever Magallanes said. "He had pretty good mound presence for his level of experience." -
A former high school valedictorian, Headley stands out most for his headsy approach to the game. Multiple managers commented on how much they enjoyed talking to him while they coached third base and he played the field. Headley does everything fairly well but nothing exceptionally well. His biggest asset is his plate discipline and pitch recognition. A switch-hitter, he's much more effective as a lefty, though his swing is tailored more to hit line drives than home runs from both sides. Power is the biggest question mark, because he lacks physical projection and scouts doubt he'll have enough pop for third base. He's a solid defender at the hot corner, with soft hands, a fairly strong, very accurate arm and adequate range. He does a good job charging bunts and makes all the routine plays. One scout compared Headley to Greg Norton, and he could end up as a solid player off the bench. -
Patterson never has wowed scouts, even when he was winning the Cape Cod League batting title or hitting 50 homers during his college career at Louisiana State. But he continues to hit, and he impressed FSL managers with his heady approach at the plate. He led the league with a .520 slugging percentage after topping the short-season New York-Penn League with a .595 mark in his pro debut a year ago. Patterson has quick hands and power to all fields. He hits breaking balls well, but there's some concern that he still has too much of an aluminum-bat swing, with his weight too far forward at contact, leaving him vulnerable to being busted inside. Though he has average speed and an average arm, Patterson was able to handle center field with few problems. He still profiles better on a corner, however. -
Balentien drew comparisons to Manny Ramirez from league managers, both for his hitting potential and for his sometimes mystifying on-field behavior. Some managers called him a hot dog. He's one of the most intriguing power hitters in the minors--and represented the Mariners in the Futures Game in July--but his performance this season didn't match his potential. He has all the tools to be a middle-of-the-lineup force, including light-tower power. "My God, he can hit the ball a long way," Clark said. He has strength in his body and in his swing, with power from gap to gap, but his swing is big and he has not shown an ability to cut it down based on the count. He also struggled with breaking stuff, though he did show a willingness to hit the ball the other way this year. Balentien has a strong arm and runs well, though he's not a burner, and he played both right and center field for San Antonio. His long-term fit is in right, though. His attention sometimes wavered, and he led TL outfielders with 11 errors. -
A preseason appendectomy nearly derailed Hynick's junior season at Birmingham-Southern, but he rebounded to post a 2.59 ERA this spring. The Rockies pounced on him in the eighth round, confident they could help crispen his secondary stuff behind his 90-93 mph fastball. He quickly bought into instruction and went on to capture the league's pitcher of the year award. Hynick has an unorthodox arm action, but it works for him and hasn't hampered his ability to fill the strike zone. He made a lot of progress with a splitter that one coach said was the league's best pitch. He still has more work to do with his curveball and changeup. -
Pino was the best young Latin middle infielder in the league, though Aberdeen's Pedro Florimon received notice for his outstanding shortstop defense. Pino has more offensive upside and polish than Florimon, and his athletic ability stood out in a league dominated by college players. Pino ranked third in the league batting race, relying on a quick bat, contact-oriented approach and excellent hand-eye coordination. He fits best as a No. 2 hitter, though he needs to improve his bunting as well as his willingness to draw walks. He's an above-average runner and was caught just twice in 20 attempts. Pino's arm strength limits him to second base, but he has enough to be efficient at turning the double play. -
While Kelly is steady, Ciriaco is spectacular but also erratic. Though he had one of the MWL's strongest infield arms and was one of its fastest players, he stole just 19 bases in 27 attempts and led the minors with 45 errors. "He has God-given talent," Joyce said. "He might have the best arm strength in the league. It's right there with (2004 No. 1 overall pick) Matt Bush, and he's more accurate and gets to more balls than Bush." Still learning to apply that talent, Ciriaco plays out of control at the plate and in the field. He chases pitches out of the strike zone, gets his feet tangled up on defense and commits mental as well as physical mistakes. But he has the hand-eye coordination to hit, and the physical skills to excel in all aspects of the game if he slows himself down. -
Volquez entered the season rated as the Rangers' No. 1 prospect, based on his mid-90s fastball and well above-average changeup. He used those pitches to finish fourth in the PCL in strikeouts (130 in 121 innings) and fifth in ERA (3.21) while limiting Triple-A hitters to a .203 average. "His arm strength is outstanding," Sacramento manager Tony DeFrancesco said. "He was 94, 95 with his fastball against us. His slider was hard and he had a decent changeup. He just needs command. Right now, it's not there." Volquez, who ranked third in the PCL with 72 walks, had even more trouble locating his stuff in the majors. He has a 1-10, 9.20 record with Texas--the worst ERA in major league history for a pitcher who has made 10 starts. With the Rangers, he consistently has fallen behind hitters, gotten crushed when he has found the plate and failed to show a reliable breaking ball. -
Haeger topped the IL with 14 wins and finished among the league leaders in nearly every category: 3.07 ERA (fourth), 170 innings (fourth), 130 strikeouts (fourth) and 78 walks (second). With uncanny command of a knuckleball for such a young pitcher, Haeger projects as an innings-eating No. 5 starter. Though Haeger still walked a lot of batters, he has improved the command of his lively knuckler to the point where he can go to either corner with the pitch. He can change speeds on the knuckler--ranging from 65-75 mph--depending on the effect it's having on batters. Some IL batters thought his knuckleball was the best they'd ever seen, and he reminded one scout of Tom Candiotti for the action he got on the pitch. When he falls behind, Haeger can go to a straight 84-86 mph fastball, a pitch that's easier to locate. It's strictly a get-me-over offering, which is problematic on days when his knuckler doesn't cooperate. -
Until Will Inman qualified for the ERA title in his last start of the season, Matt Maloney was in line to capture the SAL pitching triple crown. He settled for leading the league in victories (16), innings (169) and strikeouts (180) while winning the league's pitch-of-the-year award. He's a classic soft-tossing lefty who relies on command and guile. His fastball sits at 85-87 mph and he compliments it with a slider, changeup and curveball. He locates all of his pitches well and his fastball the best, making it his go-to offering. With his advanced feel, he should move fast, but his lack of velocity will give him far less room for error as he advances. The 6-foot-4 Maloney has a tendency to stay upright in the finish to his delivery, causing him to leave the ball up in the zone, which could be a problem at higher levels. -
Sonnanstine's stuff isn't as good as Niemann's or Talbot's, but unlike them, he played a role in Montgomery's success all season long. He reeled off nine straight victories in June and July, and he led the minors with four complete games--all shutouts. Durable and resilient, he topped the SL in wins (15) and innings (186, which ranked second in the minors). Sonnanstine's plus-plus control and plus command are more notable than the quality of his pitches. His best offering is his changeup, as he worked hard with Biscuits pitching coach Xavier Hernandez to perfect his grip and arm action. He also throws an 89-92 mph fastball and a slurvy breaking ball, keeping hitters off balance by varying his arm angle and changing speeds. "This guy might be too smart for the game," an AL scout said. "He's confident, mixes his pitches well and always seems to have a plan." -
Ramos wore down in his 2005 pro debut after pitching 126 innings at Long Beach State that spring, but he entered this season refreshed and it showed. He went 7-4, 2.93 over the season's first four months before fatigue set in once again, and he went 0-4, 8.27 in August. When he's at his best like he was in the first half, Ramos has very good command of a four-pitch mix. He has a solid-average fastball that sits at 88-91 mph and jumps up to 92-93 when he needs it, and he uses an average curveball and average slider. His best pitch is a plus changeup that's effective against righthanders. Ramos doesn't rack up many strikeouts, but works to all corners of the zone to keep hitters off balance. He left too many pitches up late in the season when his arm was tired. He has an easy, compact delivery and a physical 6-foot-2, 200-pound frame that should prove more durable as he gets acclimated to a pro workload. -
Things really fell apart for Liz shortly after he was called up from high Class A in July. He overpowered hitters in the Carolina League but his below-average command doomed him in the EL. He left his stuff over the plate and fell behind in the count too often. Liz has a lightning-fast arm that generates 97-mph heat, but he struggles to repeat his delivery and release point. His curveball is inconsistent, as is his changeup. At times, both show the potential to be plus pitches. His upside is significant, and 2006 was just his second season in America, so with time Liz could develop into a starter in the mold of Orioles righty Daniel Cabrera. At worst, he moves to the bullpen and could become a closer. -
The proverbial crafy lefty, Salamida's success was too much for league observers to ignore. After dropping his first start despite not giving up any earned runs, he won his final 10 decisions in the regular season before losing to Kontos in the league championship game. Salamida led the NY-P in wins (10) and ERA (1.06). A two-way player at Division II SUNY Oneonta, Salamida has average size, average stuff and well above-average control, as well as a knack for pitching and moxie. His fastball sat in the upper 80s and touched 90, and he threw his changeup (his best secondary pitch) and slider for strikes with maddening regularity. He's the kind of pitcher who will have to prove himself at every level, but so far, so good. "Most guys in the league were one-pitch guys," Greer said. "This was a four-pitch guy who could throw breaking balls for strikes in fastball counts, then freeze a hitter with an 0-2 fastball. He was impressive." -
You're excused if you had never heard of Evans before this year. No one else had, either. He spent 3½ seasons in obscurity in the Cardinals organization, and he returned to high Class A for the third time to open 2006. He hit 15 home runs in 60 games there to earn a promotion to Springfield, and then he was traded to the Angels in the July for Jeff Weaver, which kept him in the Texas League at Arkansas. He finished the season with a combined 33 home runs, 37 stolen bases and a .942 on-base plus slugging percentage. Evans always had been regarded as a hard worker with an intriguing combination of power and speed. This season he developed a more relaxed, consistent approach at the plate that kept him from getting himself out by chasing pitches and going into prolonged slumps. Evans played exclusively in right field while in Springfield, but he played mostly in center for Arkansas. While he has the speed to play center on occasion, his strong arm and power profile perfectly in right. -
Chapman spent his third straight season in Rookie ball, but he showed enough this year to earn a late-season promotion to low Class A. PL observers liked his lefthanded bat, as he has good pitch recognition and uses the entire field. He should have at least doubles power as he advances, and he adjusted well after early-season struggles against southpaws. He's just an average runner, but has good instincts and can steal a base. He plays too shallow in center field, as balls get over his head and he doesn't always have enough speed to track them down. -
In a league dominated by pitching, Casilla was one of the few middle infielders who stood out. Acquired from the Angels in the offseason for J.C. Romero, Casilla started the season in Fort Myers and finished it in Minnesota. At the plate, Casilla takes advantage of his plus-plus speed by employing a running, slashing swing. He profiles as a leadoff hitter. He controls the strike zone and makes pitchers work, and once he reaches base, he's always a threat to steal. He has a knack for getting good jumps and reading pitchers. His weakness at the plate is his utter lack of power. Casilla played both second base and shortstop with the Miracle, and he's more polished at short right now. He has above-average range and arm strength. He's still figuring out his footwork and double-play pivot at second base. "He's very intelligent," Boles said. "You tell him to do something one time, he puts it into the game that night. He makes adjustments very quickly." -
Part of the talented Salem rotation, Reineke earned the win in the California-Carolina League all-star game. He has an intimidating presence on the mound, using his 6-foot-6 frame to unleash 93-94 mph fastballs on an extreme downward plane. He also throws a plus slider, with late sweeping life Reineke was more free and easy in his delivery this season, showing better overall balance and staying on a direct line toward home plate. He still lacks much feel for his changeup, part of the reason he was moved to the bullpen following a promotion to Double-A. It has good diving action at times but he has yet to find a comfortable grip or consistency with it. -
Peguero teamed with Avila to give the Mariners a 1-2 punch unrivaled in the league. They tied with teammate Wellington Dotel for the home run lead with seven, and Peguero's .649 slugging percentage easily topped the AZL. He didn't fare as well after a promotion to short-season Everett, however, where his inexperience with breaking balls and somewhat long swing were exposed. Peguero has a big, projectable frame at 6-foot-5, 210 pounds and moves well for a big man, though he figures to slow down as he fills out. He showed more ability and willingness to use the whole field than Avila did, but he doesn't have quite as much raw power. Peguero's outfield arm is another plus tool. -
A year after being drafted in the fifth round out of high school and spending a summer in the Arizona League, Deal handled the jump to the Northwest League well and emerged as Vancouver's top starter. He struck out just 35 in 76 innings of work, but he doesn't ever figure to be a strikeout pitcher. He's a sinkerballer who posted a 106-80 ground-fly ratio and allowed just three homers in 76 innings. Deal has a tall, skinny frame with plenty of room to fill out, so he could increase the velocity on his 87-89 mph fastball that touches 91-92. It's a heavy pitch with good sink and life, and he commands it well most of the time. "He's very aggressive and he comes right at you," Gainer said. "Everyone knew he had that sinker and it didn't matter. He just got ground ball after ground ball." Deal also has a slider and changeup that can be average at times. He has cleaned up his arm action quite a bit since high school, and he now does a good job of repeating his fluid, easy delivery. -
The Yankees used McAllister in a relief role piggybacking with Betances, and they were a tough duo to beat. The son of Diamondbacks crosschecker Steve McAllister, Zach pitches with the savvy of someone who grew up around the game. McAllister has added six inches and 60 pounds over the last two years, and he saw his heavy sinker climb to 90-92 this spring before gaining another tick of velocity during the summer. His secondary stuff is fringy, though he has shown feel for a slider that could be a plus pitch if learns to control it more effectively. Like Betances, McAllister pitched better as the summer went on. "He has a good, sinking fastball. It's a power sinker. It's his No. 1 pitch," Martin said. "He got lots of ground balls, and I could see him throwing harder as he matures." -
Easily the best catcher ever developed by the Rockies, Iannetta continued to shine at the plate following a promotion to Colorado Springs in late June. He controls the strike zone very well, waiting out pitchers until they give him a pitch he can hammer. He calls a good game and has an average arm, and while throwing out basestealers has been an issue at times, he erased 31 percent in Triple-A. "He really gives you quality at-bats for a catcher," Runnells said. "In fact, he led our organization in quality at-bats. Defensively, he's a sponge for knowledge and he tries so hard to improve. He's a humble kid and a guy who is going to be a frontline catcher for years to come." -
Pedroia is the classic example of a player who plays above his tools. Opposing mangers described him as a pesky hitter and a tough out, but had reservations about his lack of power and range. Pedroia got results in Triple-A, though, batting .305 (fifth in the IL) with 30 doubles and nearly twice as many walks (48) as strikeouts (27). Pedroia makes up for below-average speed and raw power by maximizing his selectivity as a hitter and by using the whole field. He showed an aptitude for taking the breaking ball the other way, and he has the hand-eye coordination to make consistent contact while using a big swing. "Pitchers will always challenge Pedroia, and he will prove them wrong," a scout said. "He will put the ball in play. He'll use the first-base and third-base line. He's a kid you love to have on your club." Pedroia was a shortstop at Arizona State and spent the majority of his time there for Pawtucket, but he doesn't have the range to be a regular there in the majors. He spent a lot of time at second base, and his sure hands and strong arm play better at the keystone. -
The fact that Chavez, at age 17 and in his first year as a pro, bypassed the VSL for Pulaski suggests how highly the Blue Jays regard him. While he held his own in the Appalachian League, he's all projection at this point. Chavez has done well to adapt to a new culture and will continue to gain strength, though he is already physical at 6-foot-3 and 200 lbs. His swing has come a long way in a year, but he's still prone to chasing pitches out of the zone and is too pull-conscious. He'll be a corner outfielder because he doesn't have the instincts or range for center field, though he has average speed and arm strength. -
Kelly succeeded 2004 first-round pick Trevor Plouffe as Beloit's shortstop, and MWL observers liked Kelly more. A 2005 second-rounder, Kelly has better physical tools and is a superior hitter. He kept getting better as the year wore on until a torn meniscus in his left knee ended his season in late July. Kelly is more advanced than most teenage hitters. He has a solid approach, recognizes breaking balls, uses the whole field and has a plan with two strikes. He didn't show much power this summer but will have some pop once he adds some strength and experience. He'll hit enough to be a regular, though at what position is uncertain. Kelly has fringe-average speed, which cuts down on his range, but his positioning and cannon arm--he was clocked at 94-95 mph as a high school pitcher--allow him to make plays. "I always judge a shortstop by if he has to use his arm or not," Beloit manager Jeff Smith said. "His glove is so good and he's always in position, so he never has to use it. And he has one of the best arms in the league, too." -
The fourth Greensboro starter on this list, Thompson ranks just behind Volstad in terms of polish but his stuff has the least upside among the group. Like Volstad, Thompson has above-average command of three pitches. His fastball sits consistently at 88 mph with natural tailing action, and he'll occasionally crack 90. His 80-81 mph slider is his best secondary offering. He also has a change with a late downward break that he uses as an out pitch against righthanders, and he'll flash a slow curveball to set up his slider. Because of his lack of velocity, command will continue to be paramount for Thompson. His fastball was clocked as high as 92 mph in high school, so there's also the chance he could get back to that point. -
Part of the Jim Thome trade with the White Sox, Gonzalez had a productive first full season in the Phillies system. He showed durability by logging a career-high 155 innings as a 20-year-old and finished second in the league with 166 strikeouts. Gonzalez has a repeatable delivery and quick arm, but he's just 5-foot-11, which hinders to create good plane on his fastball. It sits at 87-91 mph and touches 93, but it lacks life and gets pounded when he leaves it up in the zone. He surrendered 24 home runs, tied for the most in the EL. Gonzalez possesses a well above-average downer curveball that remains his go-to offering. His changeup is a reliable third pitch. Without a plus fastball and fringy command--he led the league with 81 walks--he might move to the bullpen in the big leagues. -
Signed as a third baseman out of the Dominican Republic for $600,000 in 1998, Salas was converted to the mound midway through 2004 after hitting .264/.296/.361 over six seasons. He hasn't looked back, putting up ridiculous numbers in the SL this season and adding a Futures Game appearance to his resume. He didn't allow an earned run in 35 innings with the Biscuits and reached the majors in September. Salas has equally ridiculous stuff, starting with a fastball that sits at 93-96 mph, topping out at 98. While the velocity is plus-plus, so is the movement. One scout described his heater as "the best 95-mph slider I've ever seen," as it has sharp, cutting action away from righthanders. Salas also throws an actual 86-87 mph slider that has more pronounced depth and life, and it can be equally as devastating. As good as those two pitches are, he's still learning how to attack hitters. His mechanics dissolve at times, as he flies open with his front shoulder and his arm gets too far away from his body. -
Deduno continued to be an enigma, finishing second in the Cal League to teammate Morales with 167 strikeouts, but also leading the minors with 34 wild pitches and finishing fourth in the minors with 92 walks. Clearly, command is his bugaboo, but when he's on, he's nasty. His best pitch is a sometimes plus-plus power curveball, and he also showed an above-average 92-94 mph fastball with so much movement that his catchers would sometimes struggle to catch it cleanly. "That breaking ball is devastating, but I don't know what to think of this guy," a National League scout said. "The breaking ball is unhittable when he commands it, but after two or three innings, he couldn't find the release point. He was lights out for three innings both times I saw him, then was an absolute thrower." Right now, Deduno is essentially a two-pitch guy who profiles as a potential dominant reliver if he can harness his stuff. He has a little feel for his changeup, but it has a long way to go if he's to remain a starter. -
There's a lot not to like about Jose Mijares. Start with his 3.57 ERA as a reliever, which doesn't stand out. Take a look at his 5-foot-10, 220-pound body, which screams Rich Garces. Scouts have questioned his makeup and mound demeanor as well. But when he rears back and throws, it's hard to not get excited. When he was locked in, Mijares featured a 94-95 mph fastball and a filthy 77-78 mph slider that both ranked among the best in the league. He only showed that plus stuff in limited stretches, however. At other times, his velocity would dip to the low 90s and his command would fall apart. Part of the problem is that Mijares hasn't worked hard enough to stay in shape, which hampers his ability to repeat his delivery. He also has a below-average changeup that hasn't improved much because he rarely uses it when working out of the bullpen. He's a long ways from the majors, but the wait could be worth it. -
McBeth continued one of the most intriguing turnaround stories in the minors this season, reaching Triple-A in his first full season as a pitcher. Drafted by the Athletics as an outfielder in 2001, he turned to pitching in 2005 after a career .233 average kept him from getting out of Class A. On the mound, he has shown not only the stuff but also the makeup to be a successful reliever. He throws a fastball that tops out at 94-96 mph, and he backs it up with a slider that's particularly tough on righthanders. A's pitching instructor Ron Romanick also taught him a changeup that has become a put-away pitch because he does such a good job of maintaining his arm speed. He has also worked on a two-seam fastball that could become an out pitch if he can learn to control it. McBeth challenges hitters. He needs to refine his command, but he should be no worse than a setup man and has the raw stuff to close games if he continues to make strides. -
The Rockies grew tired of Strop's struggles with the bat, and after he hit .212/.277/.299 in four seasons as an infielder, they decided a career change was in order. They moved him to the mound this year, and he immediately took to pitching. He dominated the Pioneer League in 11 appearances and continued to impress after a promotion to low Class A. As with many converted position players, arm strength is Strop's forte. He threw 93-95 mph in spring training and has good control of his fastball, though he leans too heavily on the pitch. He also has a low-80s slider but must stay on top of it more often so it doesn't flatten out, making him vulnerable to home runs. "I'd try to start him next year to add some pitchability to his plus stuff," Kotchman said. "If not, you know you have a solid reliever." -
Hilligoss' track record says he'll hit. He batted .404 and .386 in his final two seasons at Purdue, .309 with wood bats in the Central Illinois Collegiate League in 2005, and .292 in his pro debut to finish 10th in the NY-P batting race. One scout who saw Hilligoss as an amateur compared his swing, offensive potential and overall game to Frank Catalanotto. As with Catalanotto, Hilligoss' forté is getting the barrel of the bat to the ball consistently, driving balls to the gaps and driving pitchers crazy with an advanced two-strike approach. He also hangs in well against lefthanders and hit .397 against them this summer. The Catalanotto comparisons extend to Hilligoss' defense as well. Though he profiles best as an infielder, he doesn't have the hands or range to stick in the middle of the diamond. He's a better fit at third base, but he doesn't project to hit for the power wanted there or on an outfield corner. Hilligoss will have to hit for a high average to be a factor--and he has done that at every level so far. -
Myers figured to complement a banner 2006 recruiting class at Southern California until he accepted a $250,000 bonus as a fourth-round pick in June. That he signed was somewhat surprising, but even more so was his performance in his debut. Considered toolsy but extremely raw, he made significant strides in his swing and approach and tied for third in the GCL in batting. Myers' swing gets long but he showed above-average bat speed at times. He needs to improve his plate discipline and work counts more efficiently. He's wiry strong, and though he rarely showed power in games, he could hit 12-15 home runs annually. His well above-average speed is his best tool. Myers played all three outfield positions in the GCL and has the range to stay in center field. His reads and routes are raw, while his arm strength is average. -
Bailey's workload at Wagner this spring was limited as he recovered from May 2005 Tommy John surgery, but the Athletics saw enough power stuff to draft him in the sixth round. He was very impressive in his pro debut despite his 2-5 record, and he would have ranked second in the NWL in ERA if he hadn't fallen three innings shy of qualifying. With a big, physical frame that invites comparisons to Joe Blanton, Bailey could develop into a workhorse as he gets further away from his surgery. His heavy sinker bores in on righthanders at 91-93 mph and touches 94-95. He also has a solid-average 11-to-5 curveball with good rotation and depth, and a developing changeup that could become an average pitch if he learns to command it more consistently. Bailey has an aggressive approach but remains more of a thrower than a pitcher. He struggles to repeat his arm path and delivery, which has a lot of moving parts, making it difficult for him to command the strike zone and execute his pitches. He sometimes gets distracted and tries to pitch too quickly with speedsters on the basepaths. -
While Van Stratten isn't a pure speedster like Royals outfield mates Robinson or Jarrod Dyson, he's quick, has plenty of tools and looks like a steal from the 10th round of the 2006 draft. He set a national junior college record with 14 triples this spring at St. Louis CC-Meramec, and hit seven more to rank second in the AZL. His mix of gap power and speed mix impressed managers. Van Stratten showed the ability to drop a bunt or to sting the ball to both gaps. His best tools are his bat, with a short swing and outstanding pitch recognition considering his experience, and his above-average throwing arm. His gritty, all-out approach also earned him praise. -
Bourn played for four teams this summer, ranging from Double-A Reading to the Phillies to Team USA, with perhaps his finest moment coming when he connected for two home runs in a victory against Cuba in the Olympic qualifying tournament. He spent just six weeks with Scranton, but made the most of his well above-average speed by stealing 15 bases in 16 tries and hitting seven triples, good for fourth in the league. Bourn has shown improvement with each promotion and he plays up to his strengths. He runs extremely well and is a smart baserunner capable of reading pitchers and using his raw speed. He has a good batting eye and projects as a solid-average major league hitter. He's also a plus defensive center fielder with a slightly above-average, accurate arm. His power is strictly gap-to-gap and is below average, but he can surprise opponents, as he did by taking Cuban flamethrower Pedro Luis Lazo deep. The Phillies want him to concentrate on hitting the ball in the air less and cutting down on his strikeouts, a byproduct of working deep counts. -
For a player in just his second season at shortstop after playing center field for much of his college career, Lillibridge is very advanced with the glove. He has outstanding range and first-step quickness, with soft hands and an above-average arm that allows him to make plays from deep in the hole. With well above-average speed, Lillibridge profiles more as a tablesetter than a run producer. He incorporates very little of his lower half in his longish swing, with a pronounced drift in his hands and his feet spread wide apart. He made some adjustments to shorten his stroke, and his plate discipline was exceptional during his first full season. Energetic and driven, Lillibridge was one of the most consistent players in the league. He drew rave reviews from managers for his grind-it-out style. -
When he was at his very best, Morlan ranked with the top pitchers in the league. One scout said Morlan turned in one of the three best performances he saw all year, along with Adenhart and Cueto. Cedar Rapids manager Bobby Magallanes said Morlan touched 97 mph in the ninth inning of an 11-strikeout complete game. He began the season in the bullpen, and that may be his long-term destination. His fastball usually sits in the low 90s but he's still seeking a consistent second pitch. He owns a mid-80s slider that shows flashes of bite and a developing changeup. Morlan has a quick arm and a smooth delivery that he repeats easily. He tends to drop his elbow, which causes his pitches to flatten out and arrive higher in the strike zone. He missed most of July with a sore shoulder but returned to pitch 22 scoreless innings over his final four starts. -
Ramirez made a strong U.S. debut, finishing among the Appy League leaders in average (.314), hits (72), doubles (20) and triples (five) after spending three years in the Rookie-level Venezuelan Summer League. He has surprising pop for a 6-foot, 149-pounder, though he's more of a spray hitter now who takes the ball where it's pitched. He should add strength as he fills out. Ramirez spent most of the year at shortstop but also saw time at second base. He may profile better at second because while he has good range to his left, he has below-average range toward the shortstop hole. His footwork also needs improvement and he lacks the arm strength of a true shortstop. He's an average runner. -
Perez is a cerebral player, as one might expect from the highest-drafted player ever (seventh round, 2004) out of Columbia University. He learned how to switch-hit in the offseason, and while he struggled from the left side early in the year, he soon began hitting line drives and finished with a .303 average against righthanders. He's a dynamic player who led the minors with 123 runs scored. "He's a game-changer. You don't want to see him up in the ninth inning up by one or in a tie game, because he'll bunt, he'll slap one to left or hit it in the gap, and you're just praying you'll get the ball in fast enough before he gets to third," Steverson said. "He's just irritating. He roams the outfield like there are just floating pop-ups up there all day. I know for a fact he's taken 15 hits away from us." Perez has outstanding range in the outfield thanks to his plus-plus speed, though he's still working on his defensive instincts. He has a playable, if not strong, outfield arm. Perez has plenty of things to refine in his game--he strikes out too much for a top-of-the-order hitter, and he was thrown out in 16 of his 49 steal attempts--but he offers an intriguing leadoff package and enough strength at the plate to make him more than a one-dimensional Punch-and-Judy hitter. -
With older brother Corey traded to the Orioles last offseason, there will be no Patterson brothers reunion in Chicago. But Eric is getting close to ready for Wrigley Field, recovering from a second-half slump to bat .358 following a mid-August promotion to Triple-A. Patterson's best tool is his speed, which rates as a 65-70 on the 20-80 scouting scale. He also has surprising power for his size, though he sometimes gets caught up too much in trying to hit homers. He has made strides in shortening his swing for a more gap-to-gap approach. Patterson's speed aids his range at second-base, though his first-step quickness and body control are a bit disappointing. His footwork around the bag is questionable, though he does have soft hands. -
Like Cain, Campbell built on a 2005 MVP award in Rookie ball (the Appalachian League in his case) with a strong 2006 campaign. A student of the game who kept a notebook on the pitchers in the league, he applied that knowledge by leading the league with 22 homer. Campbell is an aggressive hitter who swings early in the count and rarely misses when pitchers make mistakes. He has ample pull power, but his open stance often leads to him flying open on the front side of his swing, making it hard to drive pitches to the opposite field. Though his speed is average at best, Campbell has good instincts and is an excellent baserunner with a knack for stealing bases when the opportunity arises. He's solid at third base but has a slow first step to his right. -
After a sensational first half in high Class A, Jurrjens moved up to the EL and continued to impress Tigers brass. He has thrown harder more consistently and shown more feel for pitching than Detroit anticipated when it signed him out of Curacao three years ago. Jurrjens' fastball ranges from 87-92 mph and touches 95, and he can spot it to both sides of the plate. His slider is below average, making his performance even more impressive considering he did it primarily off fastball command and a plus changeup. Jurrjens has a clean, simple delivery. Some scouts envision him moving to the bullpen, but if he develops a usable breaking ball, he could fill a role as a back-of-the-rotation starter in the big leagues. -
Montero had a breakthrough season in 2005 and proved it was no fluke this year. He makes consistently hard contact with a short stroke and did a better job of using the entire field this season. He also does a fine job behind the plate, showing an average arm with a quick release to go with strong blocking and game-calling ability. "He really improved the second time we saw him," Brundage said. "He made some adjustments, especially on the offspeed stuff. He's a very aggressive hitter. But the thing I like most about him his is presence behind the plate, especially for such a young guy in this league. He has a good arm and seemed to call a good game."
Top 100 Rankings
Best Tools List
- Rated Best Defensive SS in the Florida State League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive Catcher in the Florida State League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive Outfielder in the Florida State League in 2006
- Rated Best Baserunner in the Florida State League in 2006
- Rated Best Reliever in the Florida State League in 2006
- Rated Best Strike-Zone Discipline in the Florida State League in 2006
- Rated Best Infield Arm in the Florida State League in 2006
- Rated Best Control in the Florida State League in 2006
- Rated Best Outfield Arm in the Florida State League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive 3B in the Florida State League in 2006
- Rated Best Power Prospect in the Florida State League in 2006
- Rated Best Fastball in the Carolina League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive 1B in the Florida State League in 2006
- Rated Best Pitching Prospect in the Florida State League in 2006
- Rated Most Exciting Player in the Florida State League in 2006
- Rated Best Fastball in the Florida State League in 2006
- Rated Best Power Prospect in the Carolina League in 2006
- Rated Best Batting Prospect in the Florida State League in 2006
- Rated Best Breaking Pitch in the Florida State League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive 2B in the Florida State League in 2006
- Rated Fastest Baserunner in the Florida State League in 2006
- Rated Best Reliever in the Carolina League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive Outfielder in the Carolina League in 2006
- Rated Best Pitching Prospect in the Carolina League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive 1B in the Carolina League in 2006
- Rated Best Breaking Pitch in the Carolina League in 2006
- Rated Best Infield Arm in the Carolina League in 2006
- Rated Fastest Baserunner in the Carolina League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive SS in the Carolina League in 2006
- Rated Best Control in the Carolina League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive Catcher in the Carolina League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive 2B in the Carolina League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive 3B in the Carolina League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive Outfielder in the Midwest League in 2006
- Rated Best Breaking Pitch in the Midwest League in 2006
- Rated Best Baserunner in the Carolina League in 2006
- Rated Best Batting Prospect in the Carolina League in 2006
- Rated Best Strike-Zone Discipline in the Carolina League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive Catcher in the Midwest League in 2006
- Rated Best Outfield Arm in the Midwest League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive 1B in the Midwest League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive 3B in the Midwest League in 2006
- Rated Best Control in the Midwest League in 2006
- Rated Most Exciting Player in the Carolina League in 2006
- Rated Best Outfield Arm in the Carolina League in 2006
- Rated Most Exciting Player in the Midwest League in 2006
- Rated Fastest Baserunner in the Midwest League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive 2B in the Midwest League in 2006
- Rated Best Strike-Zone Discipline in the Midwest League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive SS in the Midwest League in 2006
- Rated Best Fastball in the Midwest League in 2006
- Rated Best Infield Arm in the Midwest League in 2006
- Rated Best Power Prospect in the Midwest League in 2006
- Rated Best Reliever in the Midwest League in 2006
- Rated Best Baserunner in the Midwest League in 2006
- Rated Best Batting Prospect in the Midwest League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive SS in the International League in 2006
- Rated Best Outfield Arm in the International League in 2006
- Rated Best Baserunner in the International League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive 1B in the International League in 2006
- Rated Best Pitching Prospect in the International League in 2006
- Rated Best Control in the International League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive Catcher in the International League in 2006
- Rated Best Reliever in the International League in 2006
- Rated Best Infield Arm in the International League in 2006
- Rated Best Power Prospect in the International League in 2006
- Rated Best Pitching Prospect in the Midwest League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive 3B in the International League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive 2B in the International League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive Outfielder in the International League in 2006
- Rated Best Batting Prospect in the International League in 2006
- Rated Best Strike-Zone Discipline in the International League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive 3B in the South Atlantic League in 2006
- Rated Most Exciting Player in the International League in 2006
- Rated Best Fastball in the International League in 2006
- Rated Fastest Baserunner in the International League in 2006
- Rated Best Breaking Pitch in the International League in 2006
- Rated Best Batting Prospect in the South Atlantic League in 2006
- Rated Best Infield Arm in the South Atlantic League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive SS in the South Atlantic League in 2006
- Rated Best Control in the South Atlantic League in 2006
- Rated Most Exciting Player in the South Atlantic League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive 1B in the South Atlantic League in 2006
- Rated Best Power Prospect in the South Atlantic League in 2006
- Rated Best Pitching Prospect in the South Atlantic League in 2006
- Rated Best Strike-Zone Discipline in the South Atlantic League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive Outfielder in the South Atlantic League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive 2B in the South Atlantic League in 2006
- Rated Fastest Baserunner in the South Atlantic League in 2006
- Rated Best Baserunner in the South Atlantic League in 2006
- Rated Best Fastball in the South Atlantic League in 2006
- Rated Best Breaking Pitch in the South Atlantic League in 2006
- Rated Best Outfield Arm in the South Atlantic League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive Catcher in the South Atlantic League in 2006
- Rated Best Reliever in the Eastern League in 2006
- Rated Best Infield Arm in the Eastern League in 2006
- Rated Best Reliever in the South Atlantic League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive 2B in the Eastern League in 2006
- Rated Best Defensive Outfielder in the Eastern League in 2006
- Rated Best Baserunner in the Eastern League in 2006
Career Transactions
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New York Yankees optioned CF Spencer Jones to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
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Tampa Bay Rays optioned CF Victor Mesa Jr. to Durham Bulls.
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Tampa Bay Rays optioned RHP Jesse Scholtens to Durham Bulls.
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Tampa Bay Rays optioned LHP Joe Rock to Durham Bulls.
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Seattle Mariners optioned RHP Domingo Gonzalez to Tacoma Rainiers.
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Seattle Mariners optioned RHP Blas Castaño to Tacoma Rainiers.
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Athletics optioned RHP Joey Estes to Las Vegas Aviators.
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RHP Brad Rudis assigned to Minnesota Twins.
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C Poncho Ruiz assigned to Minnesota Twins.
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Los Angeles Angels optioned SS Denzer Guzman to Salt Lake Bees.
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SS Yilber Herrera assigned to Minnesota Twins.
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RHP Mike McKenna assigned to Minnesota Twins.
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RHP Gerardo Salas assigned to St. Louis Cardinals.
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OF Damian Bravo assigned to San Francisco Giants.
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3B Jose Astudillo assigned to San Francisco Giants.
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C Bryan Arendt assigned to Athletics.
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CF Curtis Washington Jr. assigned to Seattle Mariners.
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OF Jose Ramos assigned to Athletics.
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3B Bryan Andrade assigned to Athletics.
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SS Samuel Gonzalez assigned to Athletics.
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RHP Jay Dill assigned to Athletics.
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CF Carlos Pacheco assigned to Athletics.
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3B Luis Arias assigned to Washington Nationals.
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RHP Juan Abreu assigned to Washington Nationals.
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C Kyle Hayes assigned to Kansas City Royals.
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RHP Yimi Presinal assigned to Kansas City Royals.
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OF Carter Frederick assigned to Kansas City Royals.
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SS Tyriq Kemp assigned to Kansas City Royals.
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CF Asbel Gonzalez assigned to Kansas City Royals.
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LHP Dash Albus assigned to Kansas City Royals.
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1B Derlin Figueroa assigned to Kansas City Royals.
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SS Austin Charles assigned to Kansas City Royals.
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2B Brandon Forrester assigned to Houston Astros.
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OF Mason Lytle assigned to Houston Astros.
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RHP Blake Wolters assigned to Kansas City Royals.
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RHP Adrian Herrera assigned to Cincinnati Reds.
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LHP Brandon Leibrandt assigned to Cincinnati Reds.
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SS Dyan Jorge assigned to Colorado Rockies.
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C Ryan Stafford assigned to Baltimore Orioles.
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C Josh Crouch assigned to Los Angeles Angels.
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RHP Zachary Redner assigned to Los Angeles Angels.
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SS Owen Cobb assigned to New York Yankees.
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RHP Josh Tiedemann assigned to New York Yankees.
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SS Luis Arana assigned to Miami Marlins.
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Washington Nationals released RHP James Colyer.
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C Hyungchan Um roster status changed by Kansas City Royals.
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FCL Cardinals released RHP Alec Willis.
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FCL Nationals released LHP Gabriel Agostini.
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Detroit Tigers selected the contract of LHP Enmanuel De Jesus from Toledo Mud Hens.
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New York Mets optioned RHP Jonah Tong to Syracuse Mets.
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Houston Astros optioned RHP Jayden Murray to Sugar Land Space Cowboys.
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Los Angeles Angels optioned RHP Victor Mederos to Salt Lake Bees.
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C Christian Vázquez assigned to Sugar Land Space Cowboys.
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OF Alex Ungar assigned to ACL White Sox.
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RHP Caleb Freeman assigned to New Hampshire Fisher Cats.
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C Kamren James assigned to Tampa Bay Rays.
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SS Trevor Haskins assigned to St. Louis Cardinals.
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San Francisco Giants signed free agent LHP Joey Lucchesi to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.
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SS Carter Dorighi assigned to Seattle Mariners.
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OF Conner Westenburg assigned to San Diego Padres.
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1B Ethan Long assigned to San Diego Padres.
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OF Rodney Green Jr. assigned to Athletics.
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SS Casey Yamauchi assigned to Athletics.
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CF Pedro Pineda assigned to Athletics.
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RHP Darlin Pinales assigned to Athletics.
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RHP Robert Cranz assigned to Washington Nationals.
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Washington Nationals designated LHP Richard Lovelady for assignment.
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RF Brenner Cox assigned to Washington Nationals.
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Washington Nationals signed free agent RHP Zack Littell.
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LF John Rhodes assigned to Los Angeles Dodgers.
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C Hyungchan Um assigned to Kansas City Royals.
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RHP Aiden Jimenez assigned to Kansas City Royals.
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RHP Jesus Rios assigned to Kansas City Royals.
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RHP Henson Leal assigned to Kansas City Royals.
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SS Trevor Austin assigned to Houston Astros.
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C Keduar Trujillo assigned to Houston Astros.
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CF Drew Brutcher assigned to Houston Astros.
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Detroit Tigers placed RHP Troy Melton on the 60-day injured list.
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OF Zach MacDonald assigned to Detroit Tigers.
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RHP Eliseo Mota assigned to Detroit Tigers.
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LF Aldalay Kolokie assigned to Colorado Rockies.
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RHP Austin Smith assigned to Colorado Rockies.
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LHP Michael Kennedy assigned to Cleveland Guardians.
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SS Victor Acosta assigned to Cincinnati Reds.
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C Zach Humphreys assigned to Los Angeles Angels.
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CF David Calabrese assigned to Los Angeles Angels.
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RHP Riskiel Tineo assigned to Miami Marlins.
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SS Fabian Lopez assigned to Miami Marlins.
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San Diego Padres optioned RHP Daison Acosta to El Paso Chihuahuas.
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Cleveland Guardians optioned 3B Angel Genao to Columbus Clippers.
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Cleveland Guardians optioned LF Kahlil Watson to Columbus Clippers.
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Chicago White Sox signed free agent OF Alex Ungar to a minor league contract.
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Toronto Blue Jays signed free agent RHP Caleb Freeman to a minor league contract.
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Houston Astros signed free agent C Christian Vázquez to a minor league contract.
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RHP Brett Kerry roster status changed by Los Angeles Angels.
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Texas Rangers signed free agent RHP Jeyson Bautista to a minor league contract.
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LF Jose Cordoba roster status changed by St. Louis Cardinals.
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C Jesus Castro roster status changed by San Diego Padres.
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LF Michael Conforto roster status changed by Chicago Cubs.
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FCL Nationals activated RHP James Colyer.
