Can You Guess The Player? Here's Baseball America's 2024 Holiday Prospects Quiz

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As we’ve done the past few years, we’ve selected some prospect reports from over the years to see if you can guess who we were talking about. The names have been removed, but no other info has been tweaked. We’ll start easy and keep ramping up the difficulty.

You’ll find the answer key listed at the very bottom of this page. So, unless you want to be spoiled, don’t go scrolling too far until you have you answers!

Ready? Go!

40-Grade Tier: The Easy Ones

Ok, we’re easing you into this with a few warmups. These are more recent players, so even casual baseball fans should have a good idea who we’re talking about.

Player A

Player A has been expected near the top of the 2019 draft class for years thanks to his size, speed and power. Last summer, he showed excellent power potential but also raised questions about his hit tool as he showed more swing-and-miss than evaluators would have liked. This spring, admittedly against lesser competition, Player A has shown a better approach and more bat-to-ball skills. He’s using the entire field more and staying more balanced at the plate, where in the past he showed a tendency to get a little pull happy and collapse his backside during his swing. Player A shows a solid awareness of the strike zone—when he got into trouble last summer it was because he was swinging and missing at pitches in the zone rather than expanding it. He has plus power that projects for 20-plus home runs at the big league level and potentially even more in the current overheated major league power environment. At shortstop, Player A is the top defender in the class and a future plus defender with elite hands, quick feet and a plus arm. He shows the ability to throw from multiple arm slots and make plays going to both his right and left with excellent throwing accuracy. He’s a plus runner who can impact the game on the bases. Scouts have long raved about his makeup and several said that his work ethic and drive will help him get the most out of his considerable tools. Player A will turn 19 years old right after the draft, so he is older for the class. He is seen as both a high-floor player as well as someone with one of the highest ceilings in the class because of his well-rounded toolset and strong odds of sticking at shortstop. If he is even a .230 or .240 hitter, he should have a lengthy big league career because of his defensive ability at shortstop, speed and power. If he proves to be an average or better hitter, he could become a franchise-caliber player.

Player B

Player B was a generational talent in college at Oregon State, leading the Beavers to the College World Series title as a sophomore in 2018 and winning the Golden Spikes Award in 2019 . . . The switch-hitting Player B rebuilt his swing in college to gear for more power and consistency. He continues to find ways to refine and make his swing more efficient as he learns the professional game. He went through an adjustment period at the Bowie camp after the coronavirus shutdown period halted most of his work, but he quickly revealed the all-fields power and consistent hard contact that give him potential to be a plus-plus hitter with plus-plus power at his peak. He ended the summer as the best performer at the camp. His offensive production is aided by advanced plate discipline. Player B is clear in which pitches he’s able to drive and which he should lay off. He’ll likely see increased benefit from that when pitchers are around the strike zone more and umpires improve at the higher levels of the minors. Player B’s above-average pop times and advanced receiving skills behind the plate give him the physical tools to be a plus major league catcher. Player B is the game’s best catching prospect and one of the most exciting minor leaguers in all of baseball.

Player C

The Blue Jays had Player C, the son of the 2004 American League MVP, in their Dominican complex for the first time when he was 14, seeing a pudgy, immature body and precocious power. The Blue Jays traded prospects Chase DeJong and Tim Locastro to pick up extra bonus pool room and signed Player C for $3.9 million, the second-largest bonus in franchise history. Where his father was wiry and an untamed athlete with premium power, Player C is thick-bodied, with a corner profile. He stands out for his bat control, bat speed, hand strength and hand-eye coordination that could make him a bad-ball hitter and power plan like his father, who hit 449 home runs in the majors. Ostensibly a left fielder when he signed, the Jays tried him at third base in instructional league after asking Player C what his favorite position was. His arm strength, fringy in the outfield, improved to average with the shorter arm stroke. He may outgrow third, but the club will send him out at that position in 2016, believing his hands are suited for the spot even if his range is short. One club official compared Player C’s overall package to a bigger version of 1989 National League MVP Kevin Mitchell, who played infield early in his career but was ultimately a bat-first left fielder. Player C fits a similar profile and may wind up at first base or DH. The Jays will be OK with that if his power pans out as they hope. He should start 2016 in Rookie ball, either in the Gulf Coast or Appalachian leagues.

50-Grade Tier: Maybe You Have To Think A Little

We’re upping the difficulty level, but if you’re the kind of person spending time on the Baseball America website during the holidays, you should get these.

Player D

Player D, 22, almost bypassed the Southern League this season. He had a sensational spring and was one of the White Sox’ last cuts when they broke camp. Instead of sulking about being sent down, Player D went to Birmingham and went to work on league pitchers. His .545 slugging percentage and .476 on-base percentage (on the strength of 112 walks in 109 games) made it easy for the White Sox to call him up in early August. “He can hit for average, power and is good at getting on base,” Birmingham manager Ken Berry said. “He still needs to work hard on his defense, baserunning and situational play, but those are things that come with experience.”

Player E

Player E was recruited out of high school by Florida State to play shortstop, and he started all 65 games there for the Seminoles as a freshman. Following the 2006 season, however, Player E was asked to move behind the plate and catch for the first time in his life. He took to it naturally and two seasons later is considered the top catching prospect, both defensively and offensively, in the country. His offensive numbers this season, including a .471 average, put him among the national leaders in several categories. His receiving, footwork and release are all advanced, and his athleticism is apparent. Player D’s arm strength (he reaches 94 mph off the mound) and accuracy are pluses as well. At the plate, Player E has above-average bat speed and makes consistent contact. He has power to all fields but will probably be known more for his batting average than home runs. Player E is regarded as one of the safest picks in this year’s draft. His projection as an offensive catcher with Gold Glove-caliber defense has boosted Player D’s draft stock as much as anyone’s over the weeks leading up to the draft.

60-Grade Tier: Difficult, But Doable

Feeling confident? These are reports with enough hints to make them very solvable for baseball fans with a solid grasp of the Baseball America era.

Player F

Since signing, Player F has lived up to, and arguably exceeded, expectations. As one of the youngest players in the low Class A Midwest League in 2013, he finished third in batting (.320) and top five in on-base percentage (.405) while leading league shortstops in fielding percentage (.973) and finishing second in total chances (551). He also participated in the Futures Game, where he was the exhibition’s youngest player. Player F combines exceptional tools and outstanding knowledge and feel for the game. Some scouts worry that he’ll have to move to third base eventually because of his size and speed. He’s an average runner at best right now and likely will slow down. At 6-foot-4 and pushing 200 pounds, he’s already one of the bigger shortstops around. But others note that Player F makes all the plays expected of a front-line shortstop. He can make plays in the hole thanks in part to a 70 arm, and he also goes to his left well. Player F is more sure-handed than most young shortstops, with soft hands and a refined internal clock that lets him know when to charge a ball, when to stay back and when to put the ball in his back pocket. At the plate, he should hit for above-average power and average. He has the bat speed to rip fastballs, but his advanced pitch recognition means he also has excellent plate coverage and lays off breaking balls out of the zone . . . Though he hit just nine home runs in his first full season, he has 20-25 potential. Player F is one of those rare players who could hit in the middle of the lineup while playing a solid shortstop.

Player G

The Twins, with the first pick in the 1999 Rule 5 draft, acquired Player G in a pre-arranged trade with the Marlins in December. He must make the Twins’ Opening Day roster or be offered back to the Astros, his former organization. It might be a longshot for him to stick because he has no experience above the low Class A Midwest League. Player G has a loose, live arm and a fastball that ranges anywhere from 88-94 mph. He throws a good curveball with a wide, sweeping break and an advanced changeup for his age. Player G’s command of the strike zone and his success in winter ball in Venezuela improve his chances of sticking in Minnesota. The history of the Rule 5 draft is littered with pitchers who couldn’t make the jump from low Class A to the big leagues, or whose careers were harmed by the attempt. Player G must handle the big league environment and the possible inactivity. Unless Player G fails in spring training, the Twins have committed themselves to carrying him as the third reliever in the bullpen behind Eddie Guardado and Travis Miller.

Player H

Player H hit a growth spurt that saw him grow 8 inches during his high school senior year. He touched 100 mph that spring. Four years later, he’s the hardest throwing college pitcher ever. Player H touched 105 mph on multiple occasions this year and topped out at 105.5. He sat at 101 mph with a four-seamer that proved hittable at the lower end of his velocity range. His plus-plus slider may be a better pitch than his plus-plus fastball. It’s already hard (83-86 mph) with plenty of sweep. Only two batters put the slider in play during the regular season, although it’s currently a chase pitch he doesn’t throw for strikes. With two of the best pitches in the class, he’s probably the most famous pitcher not expected to go in the first round.

Player I

Nova Southeastern had four players drafted in 2009. The Astros had a strong report on Player I thanks to area scout Greg Brown, who since has become the Fort Lauderdale based NAIA school’s head coach. Player I signed for $30,000 as a 20th-round pick, then won the short-season New York-Penn League batting title (.326) in his pro debut. He won the South Atlantic League MVP award after leading the league in hitting (.362), on-base percentage (.433) and slugging (.598), and he ranked second overall in the minors in hits (183) while reaching Double-A. A late bloomer physically, Player I has added 20 pounds since signing, gaining strength for his unorthodox swing. He gets his front foot down early, lays the bat back and then unloads with good natural timing. Despite the front-foot approach, he recognizes pitches, stays back on breaking balls and squares up good pitches. His flat swing path means much of his power is to the gaps, and he projects to hit 35-40 doubles and 15-20 homers annually.

Player J

Player J has been a living contradiction at North Carolina State. He has been a three-year starting quarterback and an all-Atlantic Coast Conference choice in football and a platoon player in baseball, even though he is going to play baseball professionally. He passed for 3,288 yards and 26 touchdowns in the 2010 regular season as N.C. State went 8-4. On the diamond last spring, however, he made just 25 starts at second base and the outfield, playing almost exclusively against lefthanders. Player J was drafted by the Orioles out of high school in the 41st round in 2007, when he turned down six-figure overtures from other clubs. He signed as a fourth-round pick for $200,000 last summer, with the Rockies allowing him to return to quarterback N.C. State. He has the athleticism and aptitude that gave scouts reason to believe he could be a quality infielder. He has game-changing speed but has to learn the subtleties that will allow him to turn it into an asset. He understands the offensive game, hitting the ball the other way and incorporating the bunt into his game, and scouts have long liked his fairly compact swing. Player J shows plus range with good hands and a solid arm but needs reps in the infield and will have to adjust to the speed of the game. He did get into 32 games at short-season Tri-City last summer before returning to college and will play in low Class A this year. While the Rockies are counting on 2010 being his final football season–and N.C. State honored him on its senior day, even though he is a junior in football eligibility–it remains possible that he could return for another season of football. He has expressed a desire to reach the major leagues in both sports.

Player K

Coming out of high school in 2015, Player K was considered one of the best two-sport stars coming out of Texas in years. He has a familial history with both football and baseball. Player K’s father, —, was a star quarterback at Texas A&M in the early 1980s, while his uncle, —, was a big league outfielder with multiple teams. Player K would have been a potential late first-round pick out of high school if teams had thought he was signable, but as a two-sport star he told teams not to draft him because he was headed to Texas A&M. Player K has covered a lot of ground since then. He was supposed to be Johnny Manziel”s replacement for the Aggies, but he transferred to Oklahoma after starting three games and playing in eight as a freshman. That made Player K eligible to play his redshirt freshman season with the Sooners baseball team in 2017, but his rust was apparent. He hit .122 with no extra-base hits while struggling defensively in left field. Player K went to the Cape Cod League briefly last summer and, after serving as NFL No. 1 pick Baker Mayfield’s backup last season (he threw 21 passes), he showed significant strides in his second season with the Sooners baseball team. Player K looked much more comfortable in center field this year than he did in the corners last year, as the easier reads of center allowed him to take more decisive routes and let his plus speed play. There’s still a ton of projection involved with Player K because scouts know they aren’t seeing him at his best. He has spent much of the spring splitting time between baseball and spring football practice, where he was battling for the Sooners’ starting quarterback job. Scouts have generally seen more above-average than plus run times from him, but many believe that’s because he’s worn out. Similarly, he shows a 30 arm right now, but he doesn’t get to work on his throwing arm for baseball because he is muscled up for football. At the plate, Player K’s development this season has impressed evaluators. He is showing much more advanced pitch recognition and plate coverage, impressing with his ability to battle to deep counts. He has 20-25 home run potential down the road, with the bat speed that gives him a chance to develop into at least an average hitter as well. Player K’s signability is going to be a tricky puzzle for teams.

70-Grade Tier: Getting Into Rarified Air

We promise, everyone included here is a prominent player. We just made sure to pick scouting reports from very early in their careers. The difficulty level is getting much tougher, so you’ll really start to impress us if you get these correct.

Player L

After spending most of 2006 in the Ogden outfield, Player L joined Lucas May in converting to catcher during instructional league following that season. Like Dodgers all-star Russell Martin, who moved from third base, May and Player L are both athletes with agility and flexibility, which bodes well for their longterm futures behind the plate. Player L’s bat is behind May’s, but he’s a better receiver and projects as a better all-around defender. He has good hands and quick lateral movement, with a real knack for blocking balls. Player L has a plus arm and clean release, helping him erase 38 percent of basestealers in his first season behind the dish.

Player M

An Arizona prep product, Player M was a recruiting find for Seattle, which returned to Division I play in 2010. The team’s ace as a freshman, he was 13-5 with a 2.86 ERA and 118 strikeouts in 126 innings halfway through his college career before injuring his elbow midway through the 2016 season, requiring Tommy John surgery. At his best pre-injury, Player M presented scouts with a physical 6-foot-3, 218-pound lefty with a plus fastball. He pitched at 90-94 mph and touched 95 last spring, complemented by a fringy breaking ball and changeup. Player M had returned to the mound to throw bullpens by late April and was working out for scouts but was not slated to return to Seattle. He could take a redshirt and return as a junior next year but was expected to be signable.

Player N

Player N started his senior season of high school strong and appeared to be pitching himself into the first round. His momentum was halted, however, when he got injured four starts into the season and required Tommy John surgery in March. The Nationals, who have not shied away from drafting prominent pitchers with health concerns, made the Miami commit the 94th overall pick and signed him for $1.4 million, happy to add another premium arm to their system. Player N first stood out as an underclassman for his pitchability and offspeed stuff. But in 2016, before his injury, he showed improved velocity, running his fastball up to 97 mph. He more typically threw the pitch in the low 90s with good sinking action. He has a good feel for his changeup, which projects as a plus pitch, and shows multiple looks with his breaking ball. He commands his whole arsenal well, and has an advanced understanding of his craft. The Nationals have had success helping young pitchers through Tommy John rehab, including Lucas Giolito, Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmermann. Player N will look to follow in their footsteps and should be ready to make his pro debut when the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League opens in 2017.

Player O

Acquired from the Astros at the Winter Meetings, Player O immediately bolted to the head of the class. He didn’t come cheap: Lost was Eddie Taubensee, a lefthanded-hitting catcher who probably would be among the top five prospects on this list were he still in the organization. But in Player O the Indians believe they have someone who can out-Alex Cole Alex Cole. Player O is faster, much better defensively, a better bunter and younger than Cole. “We kept reading through our reports and asking people about him, and we couldn’t find anyone who would say anything negative,” Indians manager Mike Hargrove said. A prototype leadoff hitter and center fielder, Player O will get ample opportunity to unseat Cole in spring training. With 168 stolen bases in four professional seasons, Player O knows how to run. But he also knows how to get caught: his 55 percent success rate is unbecoming of one so swift. There is also a contact question. In the minor leagues, Player O has struck out once every 5.3 at-bats, a distressing figure for a leadoff hitter. But Indians officials can live with Player O’s growing pains, given the organization’s casual approach to the present.

80-Grade Tier: As Tough As It Gets

If you know these, you are among the elite. You’ve retained knowledge of thousands of players. Everyone here is someone who was a prominent player at some point, but the clues are designed to be difficult.

Player P

Player P had quite an eventful 2009. In March, he was the starting catcher for the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic and helped seal a 3-2 upset of the Dominican Republic by throwing out Willy Taveras trying to steal third base in the ninth inning. By November, was the talk of the Arizona Fall League–as a reliever. In five seasons as a catcher, Player P batted .229/.311/.337 and played just eight games above Class A. It was decided to utilize his cannon arm on the mound in late July and by the time he got to the AFL, he was routinely throwing his fastball at 95 mph and occasionally getting it to 98.

Player S

A career .227 hitter, Player S was on the verge of being released by the Reds after the 1990 season. He was spared only be Jim Lett, his manager at low Class A Charleston, who suggested that Player S be given one last chance–as a pitcher. Voila! Player S always had terrific arm strength, but the Reds never envisioned he would adapt to pitching almost overnight. He showed rare command for someone who hadn’t pitched in years, consistently throwing first-pitch strikes and dominating hitters at low Class A Cedar Rapids with a fastball clocked up to 95 mph. Player S has progressed so fast that some in the organization believe he has a chance to crack the big league staff in a setup role out of spring training.

Player T

How does a 13th-round selection two seasons out of junior college emerge as the best prospect in a Double-A league? With hard work and a near-insatiable thirst for the game. “Coaching third base, you get a chance to talk to him, get inside his head a little bit,” Harrisburg manager Mike Quade said. “He’s always talking about situations. He’s fearless at the plate, and he has a good idea of what he wants to do up there.” “He hits well, and even though he doesn’t run real well, he’s got a quick first step at third base,” said New Britain manager Gary Allenson. “He’s a line-drive hitter who has power potential, and he has a great mental outlook.” “He’s turned into a plus defensive player,” said Player T’s own manager, Ken Bolek of Canton-Akron. “Offensively he’s capable of hitting for a high average with power. He’s going to improve his home run totals, and he has outstanding makeup. He’s a gamer.” Player T didn’t turn 21 until after his promotion. He had little trouble playing third base at sometimes tricky Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium, showing a willingness to give up his body to make a play.

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