Youngest Players On Opening Day Rosters In Every Minor League In 2023
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Image credit: Masyn Winn (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images)
Brewers phenom Jackson Chourio ended 2022 as the youngest player in Double-A. In 2023, nothing has changed. With a completely new set of rosters, Chourio begins the season not only as the youngest player in the Southern League, but also as the youngest player at Double-A.
The only difference? Now, he ranks as the No. 1 overall prospect in the game.
Chourio’s excellent performances at both Class A levels hinted at the kind of prospect he might become. With that in mind, BA takes its annual look at the youngest players on Opening Day rosters in each minor league.
The name that immediately jumps out is Nelson Rada. The Angels outfielder signed his first pro contract in January 2022, then posted an excellent season in the Dominican Summer League. This year, the Angels have challenged the 17-year-old Rada, who begins the season as the youngest player in the full-season minor leagues after earning an assignment to Low-A Inland Empire.
The Angels were also aggressive with another one of their top prospects, catcher Edgar Quero, who jumped over High-A and began the season in Double-A Rocket City. He’s coming off a 2022 season in which he was MVP of the Low-A California League after hitting .312/.435/.530 with 35 doubles, 17 home runs and 12 stolen bases.
The youngest pitcher in the minor leagues is Braves righthander Didier Fuentes, who, like Rada, jumped over extended spring training and begins his season with Low-A Augusta. Fuentes signed with the Braves for $75,000 out of Colombia in 2022 and posted a 5-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio in the DSL. He pairs a mid-90s fastball with a high-70s curveball that got whiffs at a 50% clip in 2022.
Here are the top 10 youngest players in each full-season minor league on Opening Day. Only active players are counted, though players who would have ranked top 10 but opened on the seven-day injured list are listed as a footnote. BA previously reviewed the youngest players on major league Opening Day rosters.
International League (Triple-A)
Rk | Player | Pos | Team | Org | Age |
1 | Masyn Winn | SS | Memphis Redbirds | STL | 21.02 |
2 | Francisco Alvarez | C | Syracuse Mets | NYM | 21.36 |
3 | Jhonkensy Noel | OF | Columbus Clippers | CLE | 21.71 |
4 | Ronny Mauricio | SS | Syracuse Mets | NYM | 21.98 |
5 | Taj Bradley | RHP | Durham Bulls | TB | 22.03 |
6 | Malcom Nunez | 3B | Indianapolis Indians | PIT | 22.06 |
7 | Brayan Rocchio | SS | Columbus Clippers | CLE | 22.21 |
8 | Vaughn Grissom | 2B | Gwinnett Stripers | ATL | 22.23 |
9 | George Valera | OF | Columbus Clippers | CLE | 22.37 |
10 | Curtis Mead | 2B | Durham Bulls | TB | 22.42 |
Opened on seven-day IL: Elly De La Cruz, SS, Louisville (Reds), age 21.21
Pacific Coast League (Triple-A)
Rk | Player | Pos | Team | Org | Age |
1 | Tyler Soderstrom | C | Las Vegas Aviators | OAK | 21.34 |
2 | Kyle Harrison | LHP | Sacramento River Cats | SF | 21.63 |
3 | Justin Martinez | RHP | Reno Aces | ARI | 21.66 |
4 | Blake Walston | LHP | Reno Aces | ARI | 21.75 |
5 | Jordan Diaz | 2B | Las Vegas Aviators | OAK | 22.63 |
6 | Livan Soto | SS | Salt Lake Bees | LAA | 22.77 |
7 | Jonathan Ornelas | 3B | Round Rock Express | TEX | 22.84 |
8 | Chase Silseth | RHP | Salt Lake Bees | LAA | 22.86 |
9 | Misael Tamarez | RHP | Sugar Land Skeeters | HOU | 23.20 |
10 | Jairo Solis | RHP | Sugar Land Skeeters | HOU | 23.27 |
Opened on seven-day IL: Jorge Barrosa, OF, Reno (D-backs), age 22.11
Eastern League (Double-A)
Rk | Player | Pos | Team | Org | Age |
1 | Jasson Dominguez | OF | Somerset Patriots | NYY | 20.15 |
2 | Warming Bernabel | SS | Hartford Yard Goats | COL | 20.82 |
3 | Petey Halpin | OF | Akron RubberDucks | CLE | 20.85 |
4 | Nick Yorke | 2B | Portland Sea Dogs | BOS | 21.00 |
5 | Gabriel Rodriguez | SS | Akron RubberDucks | CLE | 21.10 |
6 | Case Williams | RHP | Hartford Yard Goats | COL | 21.12 |
7 | Luis Matos | OF | Richmond Flying Squirrels | SF | 21.17 |
Angel Martinez | 2B | Akron RubberDucks | CLE | 21.17 | |
9 | Zac Veen | OF | Hartford Yard Goats | COL | 21.30 |
10 | Coby Mayo | 3B | Bowie Baysox | BAL | 21.31 |
Southern League (Double-A)
Rk | Player | Pos | Team | Org | Age |
1 | Jackson Chourio | OF | Biloxi Shuckers | MIL | 19.06 |
2 | Eury Perez | RHP | Pensacola Blue Wahoos | MIA | 19.96 |
3 | Edgar Quero | C | Rocket City Trash Pandas | LAA | 19.99 |
4 | Cristian Mena | RHP | Birmingham Barons | CWS | 20.28 |
5 | Jeferson Quero | C | Biloxi Shuckers | MIL | 20.48 |
6 | David Calabrese | OF | Rocket City Trash Pandas | LAA | 20.51 |
7 | Owen Caissie | OF | Tennessee Smokies | CHC | 20.73 |
8 | Pete Crow-Armstrong | OF | Tennessee Smokies | CHC | 21.02 |
9 | Bryan Ramos | 3B | Birmingham Barons | CWS | 21.05 |
10 | Anthony Molina | RHP | Montgomery Biscuits | TB | 21.22 |
Texas League (Double-A)
Rk | Player | Pos | Team | Org | Age |
1 | Deyvison De Los Santos | 3B | Amarillo Sod Poodles | ARI | 19.78 |
2 | Evan Carter | CF | Frisco RoughRiders | TEX | 20.59 |
3 | Jordan Lawlar | SS | Amarillo Sod Poodles | ARI | 20.71 |
4 | Thomas Saggese | SS | Frisco RoughRiders | TEX | 20.97 |
5 | Luisangel Acuña | SS | Frisco RoughRiders | TEX | 21.05 |
6 | Joey Estes | RHP | Midland RockHounds | OAK | 21.48 |
7 | Jaime Melendez | RHP | Corpus Christi Hooks | HOU | 21.51 |
8 | Tekoah Roby | RHP | Frisco RoughRiders | TEX | 21.53 |
9 | Diego Cartaya | C | Tulsa Drillers | LAD | 21.56 |
10 | Darell Hernaiz | SS | Midland RockHounds | OAK | 21.66 |
Midwest League (High-A)
Rk | Player | Pos | Team | Org | Age |
1 | Victor Lizarraga | RHP | Fort Wayne TinCaps | SD | 19.33 |
2 | Hendry Mendez | OF | Wisconsin Timber Rattlers | MIL | 19.40 |
3 | Jose Serrano | 3B | Dayton Dragons | CIN | 19.46 |
4 | Edwin Arroyo | SS | Dayton Dragons | CIN | 19.60 |
5 | Carter Jensen | C | Quad Cities River Bandits | KC | 19.75 |
6 | Roberto Campos | OF | West Michigan Whitecaps | DET | 19.80 |
7 | Alejandro Hidalgo | RHP | Cedar Rapids Kernels | MIN | 19.86 |
8 | Jose Salas | SS | Cedar Rapids Kernels | MIN | 19.93 |
9 | Jackson Merrill | SS | Fort Wayne TinCaps | SD | 19.95 |
10 | Kahlil Watson | SS | Beloit Snappers | MIA | 19.96 |
Northwest League (High-A)
Rk | Player | Pos | Team | Org | Age |
1 | Victor Juarez | RHP | Spokane Indians | COL | 19.78 |
2 | Adrian Placencia | SS | Tri-City Dust Devils | LAA | 19.83 |
3 | Aeverson Arteaga | SS | Eugene Emeralds | SF | 20.04 |
4 | Dahian Santos | RHP | Vancouver Canadians | TOR | 20.09 |
5 | Harry Ford | C | Everett AquaSox | SEA | 20.11 |
6 | Axel Sanchez | SS | Everett AquaSox | SEA | 20.31 |
7 | Adrian Sugastey | C | Eugene Emeralds | SF | 20.44 |
8 | Peniel Otano | RHP | Hillsboro Hops | ARI | 20.48 |
9 | Estiven Machado | SS | Vancouver Canadians | TOR | 20.49 |
Eric Silva | RHP | Eugene Emeralds | SF | 20.49 |
South Atlantic League (High-A)
Rk | Player | Pos | Team | Org | Age |
1 | TJ White | OF | Wilmington Blue Rocks | WSH | 19.69 |
2 | Junior Caminero | SS | Bowling Green Hot Rods | TB | 19.74 |
3 | Mitch Bratt | LHP | Hickory Crawdads | TEX | 19.75 |
4 | Carson Williams | SS | Bowling Green Hot Rods | TB | 19.77 |
5 | Ignacio Alvarez | 3B | Rome Braves | ATL | 19.97 |
6 | Hao Yu Lee | 2B | Jersey Shore BlueClaws | PHI | 20.16 |
7 | Alex Ramirez | OF | Brooklyn Cyclones | NYM | 20.21 |
8 | Andry Lara | RHP | Wilmington Blue Rocks | WSH | 20.23 |
9 | Frederick Bencosme | 3B | Aberdeen IronBirds | BAL | 20.27 |
10 | Blaze Jordan | 3B | Greenville Drive | BOS | 20.28 |
California League (Low-A)
Rk | Player | Pos | Team | Org | Age |
1 | Nelson Rada | CF | Inland Empire 66ers | LAA | 17.60 |
2 | Rosman Verdugo | 2B | Lake Elsinore Storm | SD | 18.16 |
3 | Samuel Zavala | OF | Lake Elsinore Storm | SD | 18.71 |
4 | Jorge Ruiz | OF | Inland Empire 66ers | LAA | 18.75 |
5 | Andy Perez | SS | Fresno Grizzlies | COL | 18.83 |
6 | Payton Martin | RHP | Rancho Cucamonga Quakes | LAD | 18.87 |
7 | Denzer Guzman | SS | Inland Empire 66ers | LAA | 19.14 |
8 | Walbert Urena | RHP | Inland Empire 66ers | LAA | 19.18 |
9 | Gabriel Gonzalez | OF | Modesto Nuts | SEA | 19.24 |
10 | Gerelmi Maldonado | RHP | San Jose Giants | SF | 19.28 |
Jesus Galiz | C | Rancho Cucamonga Quakes | LAD | 19.28 | |
Robby Snelling | LHP | Lake Elsinore Storm | SD | 19.28 |
Carolina League (Low-A)
Rk | Player | Pos | Team | Org | Age |
1 | Didier Fuentes | RHP | Augusta GreenJackets | ATL | 17.79 |
2 | Anthony Gutierrez | OF | Down East Wood Ducks | TEX | 18.35 |
3 | Samuel Basallo | C | Delmarva Shorebirds | BAL | 18.63 |
4 | Gleider Figuereo | SS | Down East Wood Ducks | TEX | 18.76 |
5 | Manuel Mejias | C | Lynchburg Hillcats | CLE | 18.80 |
6 | Danyer Cueva | SS | Down East Wood Ducks | TEX | 18.84 |
7 | Seth Keller | RHP | Augusta GreenJackets | ATL | 18.85 |
8 | Cutter Coffey | SS | Salem Red Sox | BOS | 18.86 |
9 | Roman Anthony | OF | Salem Red Sox | BOS | 18.88 |
10 | Brenner Cox | OF | Fredericksburg Nationals | WSH | 18.89 |
Florida State League (Low-A)
Rk | Player | Pos | Team | Org | Age |
1 | Cam Collier | 3B | Daytona Tortugas | CIN | 18.36 |
2 | Leonardo Balcazar | SS | Daytona Tortugas | CIN | 18.79 |
3 | Victor Acosta | SS | Daytona Tortugas | CIN | 18.81 |
Manuel Beltre | SS | Dunedin Blue Jays | TOR | 18.81 | |
5 | Sammy Hernandez | C | Dunedin Blue Jays | TOR | 18.83 |
6 | Karson Milbrandt | RHP | Jupiter Hammerheads | MIA | 18.94 |
7 | Alessandro Ercolani | RHP | Bradenton Marauders | PIT | 18.95 |
8 | Danny De Andrade | SS | Fort Myers Mighty Mussels | MIN | 18.97 |
9 | Juan Reynoso | RHP | Jupiter Hammerheads | MIA | 18.99 |
10 | Hector Rodriguez | OF | Daytona Tortugas | CIN | 19.06 |
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