10 Spring Breakout Prospects Without Any Professional Experience

Ben Hess, RHP, Yankees

The Yankees went pitching-heavy in the 2024 draft, but all of those arms were shut down post draft and will make their official pro debuts this coming season. Hess was New York’s first-round pick after three excellent seasons in Tuscaloosa as part of the Crimson Tide rotation. His fastball and slider each grade as potentially plus pitches, and he has an average changeup and developing curveball in his mix, as well. He is one of four 2024 draftees who can be found on the Yankees’ Spring Breakout roster.

Andrew Salas, SS, Marlins

Salas signed with the Marlins on Jan. 15, 2025 as part of a dazzling international signing group. He is the younger brother of Twins infielder Jose Salas (who was originally signed by Miami) and Padres prospect Ethan Salas. The youngest of the three brothers is a switch-hitter with a sound idea of the strike zone and present gap power. He’s also a smooth defender at shortstop with a 55-grade arm that could crank up a couple of ticks as he ages and adds strength. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Salas skip the DSL and instead land stateside to start his pro career. 

Brody Brecht, RHP, Rockies

If you like upside, Brecht is your guy. The righthander has an ideal power pitcher’s frame and fastball-slider combination that buckles knees and crushes spirits. He backs that dastardly duo with a fringy curveball and a potentially average changeup. The next step for the former wide receiver is to throw more strikes. His subpar control and command caused him to slide a bit in the draft, but the Rockies bet that they can cure what ails him and set his stuff on a crash course to Coors. 

Bryce Meccage, RHP, Brewers

The Brewers in recent years have garnered a reputation as an organization where pitchers go to blossom. Meccage is among their newest students and could do just that under their tutelage. The righthander has a diamond-studded lineage given that his father was a college pitching coach and his uncle was the Pirates’ bullpen coach for five seasons. He also has an arsenal with three pitches that project as above-average or better, including a potentially plus slider. His background and pitch mix could help him move quickly. 

Konnor Griffin, SS, Pirates

Griffin was one of the most dynamic players available in the 2024 draft, and the Pirates took the chance that they could polish his tools into skills in the coming years. The athletic, big-bodied shortstop earns potentially plus grades for his power, defense and arm strength, and he has double-plus speed. Now, the question is: Will he hit enough to get the most out of his gifts? If he does, the Pirates might have a monster on their hands. 

Ryan Sloan, RHP, Mariners

Seattle is an arm farm. Take one look at their rotation and that much is clear. George Kirby, Logan Gilbert, Bryce Miller and Bryan Woo are all products of their pitching development program, and Logan Evans was one of the stars of last spring training. Organizational track record alone makes Sloan one to watch, but he’s got plenty of talent, too. The Illinois prep product earns plus grades for his fastball, slider and changeup and ties it together with potentially average control. Those factors add up to a ceiling toward the front of a rotation. 

Kellon Lindsey, SS, Dodgers

Lindsey has a two-sport background and the corresponding oodles of athleticism. He gained serious helium in his draft year, which is a tall task among the hot spot of Florida high school baseball. Lindsey is an 80-grade runner who can go stride for stride with fellow fleetfoot Kendall George. Beyond his quickness, Lindsey earns marks as an above-average defender and could get to average hittability in time. The Dodgers worked with him at instructional league and will get a first look at him under the lights this summer.  

Slade Caldwell, OF, Diamondbacks

Caldwell was Arizona’s first-round pick in 2024 on the strength of two Gatorade Player of the Year awards in Arkansas. He fits the compact-bodied, lefthanded-hitting outfield mold the D-backs have used when selecting Corbin Carroll, Alek Thomas and Dominic Fletcher in recent years. Caldwell is a double-plus runner who also has 60-grade hittability and defense and should easily stick in center field. His arm strength and power are fringy, but that’s more than sufficient for someone who should hit toward the top of a lineup and cause havoc on the bases. 

Boston Bateman, LHP, Padres

The Padres love upside, and Bateman offers plenty. The massive lefthander has cleaned up his delivery in recent years and brings his fastball up to 96 mph from the left side. He backs the heater with a nasty, two-plane curveball that grades as a potential plus pitch. Bateman rounds out his mix with an average slider and a changeup and control that each earn fringe-average marks. 

Kash Mayfield, LHP, Padres

Mayfield marries stuff and strikes into a package that led San Diego to spend its first-round selection on him and sign him for nearly $3.5 million. Each of his three pitches—fastball, slider and changeup—earn grades of 55 on the 20-to-80 scouting scale, and his control is potentially plus, as well. The slider needs more power and bite to reach its ceiling, and the fastball has peaked at 97 mph. A clean delivery, solid stuff and a history of strikes gives Mayfield a future as part of a rotation.