2022 Preseason Top 100 Prospects

Rutschman has ably handled high expectations since his days at Oregon State. As a switch-hitting catcher who controls the strike zone, possesses plus power, is a plus defender and shows elite leadership skills, he is the face of the Orioles’ rebuild and projects to be a perennial all-star.

Few prospects combine the ability to hit for average and power like Rodriguez. A career .331 hitter with booming, all-fields power, he will soon take his place in the middle of the Mariners order and be the driving force behind their attempt to return to the postseason.

The son of longtime major league pitcher Bobby Witt finished one stolen base shy of a 30-30 season as he climbed to Triple-A in 2021 and won BA Minor League player of the year. A premium athlete who has plus tools across the board, Witt has a chance to be a rare five-tool player as long as he improves his approach at the plate.

Greene has rocketed up the minors since the Tigers selected him fifth overall in the 2019 draft. With a sweet, powerful lefthanded swing, he projects to be an offensive force in the middle of the Tigers lineup and an all-star regardless of whether he ends up in center field or a corner.

The top overall pick in the 2020 draft hit 30 home runs and rose three levels to Triple-A in his first full season. His patience at the plate and enormous power have him set to be a middle-of-the-order force in the Tigers lineup for years to come.

The consensus top pitching prospect in baseball, Rodriguez combines four plus pitches, the ability to locate on both sides of the plate and intimidating physicality on the mound to project as a potential No. 1 starter.

A fractured thumb limited Moreno to 37 games last season, but he showed premium hitting ability, growing power and plus defense behind the plate when he was healthy. As long as he stays on the field, he projects to give the Blue Jays yet another young, homegrown all-star.

Baz blossomed from a hard-throwing but erratic pitcher into a premium strike-thrower without any reduction in stuff in 2021. With an electric arsenal, a newfound ability to pound the strike zone and an unmistakable swagger, Baz should pitch near the front of a high-octane Rays rotation for years to come.

Abrams suffered a season-ending fractured left tibia and torn left MCL in a collision at second base after just 42 games last season. His premium contact skills from the left side, game-changing speed and rapidly-improving shortstop defense still give him the foundation to be an impact player as long as he stays healthy.

After delivering the biggest breakout season of any prospect last year, Volpe is primed to show it wasn’t a fluke with his growing power, elite at-bat quality, underrated athleticism and exceptional work ethic.

After being stuck behind Will Smith with the Dodgers, Ruiz finally gets the chance to be an everyday major league catcher with the Nationals. A switch-hitter with plus contact skills from the left side, growing power and improving defense behind the plate, Ruiz has the potential to be a foundational player in Washington’s rebuild.

Kirby has evolved from a premium strike-thrower with average stuff to a premium strike-thrower with an upper-90s fastball, a wipeout slider and two more average or better secondary offerings. Along with Grayson Rodriguez and Shane Baz, he is one of the few pitching prospects with the combination of stuff and control to be a potential front-of-the-rotation starter.

Alvarez made a loud full-season debut with 24 home runs and a .941 OPS across both Class A levels as a 19-year-old. His fast swing and immense strength give him a chance to be an offensive force, while his defense is improving enough to keep him behind the plate.

The 6-foot-7 Cruz is already the tallest player to ever start a major league game at shortstop. Regardless of whether he stays there, his immense power that produces elite exit velocities at the plate projects to make him an impact player the Pirates can build with.

The Red Sox snagged arguably the top player in the 2021 draft when Mayer slipped to them at No. 4 overall. With a smooth, lefthanded stroke and graceful, fluid actions at shortstop, Mayer has the foundation to grow into one of the top all-around players in the game.

Davis’ rapid rise continued as he won Futures Game MVP and ascended to Triple-A in 2021. With the Cubs rebuilding, his superb athleticism and growing power should earn him a spot in the majors in 2022.

Luciano showcased his prodigious power and enticing tools throughout his first full season in 2021. If he can cut down on his strikeouts, he has a chance to be a power-hitting force in the middle of the Giants lineup in the coming years.

Marte has blossomed from a skinny teenager into a physical, broad-shouldered specimen as a professional. His impact power, impressive athleticism and feel for managing the strike zone make for a promising foundation if he can improve his consistency on both sides of the ball.

Casas hit his way to Triple-A and starred for the U.S. Olympic team as a 21-year-old during a memorable 2021 campaign. His advanced strike-zone discipline, growing power and impressive athleticism for his size give him the potential to be an anchor of the Red Sox’s order and the club’s long-term answer at first base.

Carroll played only seven games before he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in 2021. If he comes back healthy, his explosive speed and athleticism, advanced feel to hit and sneaky power for his size should help him make up quickly for lost time and become a cornerstone in the D-backs outfield.

Soderstrom is advanced beyond his years as a hitter with a polished, lefthanded swing, a sharp eye for the strike zone and plus power to all fields. Whether he can stick at catcher remains to be seen, but his bat will play at any position.

Veen did it all in his full-season debut with a .301 batting average, 15 home runs, 36 stolen bases and eight assists while ably playing both outfield corners. As long as he sharpens his plate discipline, he’ll give the Rockies the type of homegrown star they desperately need in the wake of the Nolan Arenado trade and Trevor Story’s departure.

Cartaya’s full-season debut was limited to 31 games by back and hamstring injuries, but he showed a rare combination of ability and maturity for his age when he was healthy. With exceptional poise in the batter’s box, a compact, powerful swing and plus defense behind the plate, he has a chance to be next in a long line of standout Dodgers homegrown catchers.

Few prospects hit the ball as hard as the 6-foot-5, 220-pound Walker, especially teenage ones. With elite exit velocities and a mature approach that allows him to access his power in games, Walker has as much offensive potential as any prospect in the lower levels of the minors.

The son of longtime big league starter Al Leiter lived up to sky-high expectations at Vanderbilt en route to becoming the second overall pick in the 2021 draft. With a deep five-pitch mix topped by a fastball that reaches 98 mph and a swing-and-miss curveball, Leiter gives the Rangers the type of premium pitching prospect the franchise hasn’t had in years.