Baseball America Spring Training Prospect Report -- March 2, 2020

Sunday's Stars

Brayan Rocchio, SS, Indians — Rocchio is a teenager who hasn’t played in full-season ball yet, but he certainly didn’t look overmatched in big league camp. Rocchio went 3-for-3 with an opposite-field home run, showing why he’s a strong candidate to jump into the Top 100 at some point.

George Valera, OF, Indians — Rocchio wasn’t the only 19-year-old who yet to make his full-season debut to play yesterday. Valera joined Rocchio in the starting lineup for the Indians’ split-squad game and showed off his combination of patience and power by hitting a home run and drawing two walks. Both Rocchio and Valera could be Top 100 prospects by the end of the year.

Nate Pearson, RHP, Blue Jays — Pearson came out firing his usual upper-90s fastballs, striking out three of the six batters he faced in two perfect innings. It’s possible the Blue Jays might keep Pearson in the minors to start the year to delay his service time, but he has a chance to be a frontline starter as soon as he gets to Toronto.

Oneil Cruz, SS, Pirates — When the 6-foot-7 Cruz is able to get his arms extended and barrel the ball, he is able to drive the ball with as much impact as nearly any hitter in the minors. That’s what happened yesterday, when Cruz went 1-for-2 with a home run drilled to the middle of the park.

Sam Huff, C, Rangers — Huff has 70 raw power on the 20-80 scale, an impact tool he showed off yesterday by hitting a home run that nearly cleared the batter’s eye in center field. The Rangers’ No. 2 prospect has the pure power to be a 30-homer threat, though he will have to improve his overaggressive offensive approach.

Kyle Wright, RHP, Braves — The Braves’ No. 4 prospect, Wright struck out five of the 10 batters he faced, allowing only one hit with no walks in three scoreless innings.

Jesus Luzardo, LHP, Athletics — The No. 9 prospect in baseball and the second-best lefthanded pitching prospect in the game, behind MacKenzie Gore of the Padres, Luzardo struck out three with no walks and one hit allowed in three scoreless innings. Durability is still a concern with Luzardo, but if he stays healthy, he’s a strong candidate to be in the mix for American League Rookie of the Year honors.

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