Prospect Report: Mets, Nationals, Rockies Prospects Shine On The Back Fields

Image credit: Alex Ramirez (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images)

Alex Ramirez, OF, Mets — The Mets No. 5 prospect had a standout day on the backfields in the High-A game against the Nationals. He homered and collected three hits. Ramirez has added strength and shown the ability to drive the ball in the air. He’s potentially poised for a breakout in 2023. He possesses bat speed, twitch, foot speed and a projectable frame. Improvements to his approach could lead to a better overall line this season. Likely to begin the season with High-A Brooklyn, Ramirez is a name to keep an eye on. —Geoff Pontes

Brady House, 3B, Nationals — After an injury-plagued first full season, House looks healthy and ready to make good on his potential. One of the more famous amateurs in recent memory, House showed off his raw power with a long home run to left field. He also stole a base in the game and came around to score. Likely to return to Low-A to begin the 2023 campaign, House is a bounceback candidate. His combination of raw power, feel to hit and athleticism could make him one of the top third base prospects in the game. —Geoff Pontes

Kevin Parada, C, Mets — The 11th overall pick in the 2022 draft, Parada started behind the plate in the High-A game against the Nationals on Tuesday. He hit a double to the wall and handled the pitching staff well. He also recorded a 1.97-second pop time to second in the ninth inning. There’s little question about Parada’s ability to hit, but his improved receiving and throwing is a welcome sign that he could stick behind the plate. Blessed with feel to hit and power, Parada is one of the top offensive catching prospects in the minors. —Geoff Pontes

Colin Barber, OF, Astros — The Astros’ No. 11 prospect had a strong but injury-plagued campaign in 2022. He shows the ability to handle an outfield corner at an average or better level and has always possessed contact and on-base ability. Previously he’s struggled to tap into his raw power, rarely pulling a ball in the air. That looks to be changing heading into 2023. Barber pulled a ball for a home run during an intrasquad game on Sunday and then did it again on Tuesday during the Double-A game off of Cardinals 2021 first-rounder Michael McGreevy. If Barber shows the ability to do this consistently throughout 2023 he could break out and earn a place on the Astros’ 40-man roster by season’s end. —Geoff Pontes

Zac Veen, OF, Rockies —  Veen has long been known as one of the most electric prospects in the game. He reinforced that reputation on Tuesday. Batting leadoff in the Rockies’ Double-A game, Veen smoked the first two pitches he saw from Angels righthander Landon Marceaux for a long home run to right field and a triple to dead center field. In his third at-bat, Veen dropped a double into the corner in left field. Three at-bats, three extra-base hits, one to each sector of the outfield. Veen didn’t get a chance to complete the cycle, however, after being pinch-hit for before his fourth at-bat. — Josh Norris

Victor Juarez, RHP, Rockies — Colorado’s system has vastly improved in recent years, and sneaky prospects like Juarez are part of the organization’s depth. The righthander started in Colorado’s High-A game on Tuesday and chewed through the Angels’ lineup. Juarez, still just 19, is not the most overpowering prospect in the world, but his fastball has plenty of life in the low 90s, and he can use his changeup and sharp slider to neutralize hitters on both sides of the plate. Moreover, he’s shown the ability to command both sides of the plate to a degree uncommon among pitchers in his age group. He’ll likely head to High-A, where he’ll be part of a loaded Spokane roster in the Northwest League. — Josh Norris

Jackson Cox, RHP, Rockies — Cox, a Washington high school product, was the Rockies’ second-round pick in 2022. The righthander pitched the middle portion of Colorado’s Low-A game against the Angels. He showed a low-90s fastball that touched 95 mph and flashes of the nasty, high-spin breaking ball that helped make him famous. He also mixed in a changeup with fading life. Cox has plenty of potential, but—as would be expected from any high school pitching prospect—there’s plenty to do in terms of remaining consistent. — Josh Norris