Chicago Cubs

BA Grade/Risk: 45/Medium

Track Record: Wicks set Kansas State's single-season and career strikeout records and became the first Wildcats player drafted in the first round when the Cubs selected him 21st overall in 2021. He signed for $3.1 million and moved quickly to Double-A in his first full season in 2022. Wicks finished fifth in the Cubs system with 121 strikeouts and had only 28 walks in his full-season debut--the third-best strikeout-to-walk ratio among organization starters.

Scouting Report: Wicks keeps batters off balance with a deep, five-pitch mix. His four-seam fastball is an average pitch that ranges from 91-96 mph with cut and ride and his two-seamer sits at the same velocity with late run. He mixes in an average, low-80s slider that runs away from lefties, and he occasionally drops in a below-average, mid-70s curveball for strikes. All of them serve to set up Wicks' changeup, a plus pitch at 79-83 mph with late tumble and drop that he sells with his arm speed. He is comfortable throwing his changeup to both lefties and righties and gets awkward, off-balance swings and misses over the top in any count. His changeup particularly confounds righthanders, and he is a reverse-splits pitcher who is better against righties than lefties as a result. Wicks falls into deep counts and isn't very pitch efficient, but he makes pitches in big spots to avoid walking batters.

The Future: Wicks projects to settle in as a reliable, back-end starter. He has a chance to make his major league debut in 2023.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50. Slider: 50. Curveball: 40. Changeup: 60. Control: 50

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High

Track Record: Canario signed with the Giants for $60,000 out of the Dominican Republic and didn't reach full-season ball until five years after he signed, but the Cubs were intrigued by his massive power potential and acquired him as part of the return for Kris Bryant at the 2021 trade deadline. Canario broke out in 2022 with 37 home runs, second-most in the minor leagues, and he rocketed from High-A to Triple-A, but his season ended on a down note when he suffered a fractured ankle and dislocated shoulder in the Dominican Winter League after he stepped awkwardly on first base and fell to the ground.

Scouting Report: Canario is a strong, physical hitter with the most power in the Cubs system. His electric bat speed and impressive torque produce plus-plus power to all fields, including gargantuan home runs to his pull-side. He makes hard contact even when he's off-balance and is a constant threat to change games with one swing. Canario crushes balls when he connects, but he's an aggressive free swinger and frequently gets himself out by swinging at bad pitches. He is prone to chasing fastballs above the zone and breaking balls out of the zone and projects to be a well below-average hitter. Canario is a threat to steal bases with his above-average speed and is an above-average defender in right field with a plus arm. He is a good athlete and can play center field as needed.

The Future: Canario projects to be a low-average slugger who racks up homers and strikeouts. His big league debut may come in 2023 depending on how quickly he recovers from his offseason injuries.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 30. Power: 60. Speed: 55. Fielding: 55. Arm: 60.

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High

Track Record: Caissie showcased huge power for Canada's junior national team, including hitting a home run off the batter's eye in a spring training exhibition against minor leaguers, and was drafted 45th overall by the Padres in 2020. The Cubs acquired him as one of five players for Yu Darvish six months later, and he quickly emerged as the best prospect the Cubs received in the deal. Cassie made his full-season debut at High-A South Bend in 2022 and started slowly, but he rebounded to post an .811 OPS from May through the end of the season and helped South Bend win the Midwest League championship.

Scouting Report: Caissie stands a tall, projectable 6-foot-4 and has plenty of room to fill out his frame. His natural strength and leverage give him above-average power to all fields, and he gets to it with an easy, low-effort swing. Caissie's swing can get long and slow at times, but he puts together high-quality at-bats, swings at the right pitches and makes enough contact to project to be an average hitter. Caissie was previously raw in the outfield due to a lack of game experience, but has improved his routes and reads and now has a chance to be an average defender. His average speed and above-average arm profile best in right field.

The Future: Caissie projects to be an everyday, power-hitting corner outfielder as long as he continues to make strength gains. He'll head to Double-A Tennessee in 2023.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 55. Speed: 50. Fielding: 45. Arm: 55

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High

Track Record: Palencia signed with the Athletics for just $10,000 at age 20, ancient by international signing standards, and made only six appearances in Oakland's system before the A's traded him to the Cubs for reliever Andrew Chafin at the 2021 trade deadline. Palencia struggled with his control early at High-A South Bend in 2022, but he harnessed his stuff to become one of the system's breakthrough pitchers in the second half. He capped his season with five scoreless innings, no walks and eight strikeouts in the decisive game of the Midwest League semifinals.

Scouting Report: Palencia's arm strength is unmatched in the Cubs system. Though he's short, he has a strong, powerful build and generates triple-digit fastballs with ease. His fastball sits 98-99 mph and routinely reaches 101-102 with explosive late life up in the zone. He leans on his fastball heavily, but he also has a low-90s vertical, power slider that has become a plus pitch he can land for strikes or get chase swings with. His firm, upper-80s changeup is an average third pitch. Palencia is a good athlete for his size, but he has struggled with a series of minor injuries--including foot and oblique injuries in 2022--and has below-average command and control, especially of his secondaries. He rarely completes five innings and is best in short bursts.

The Future: Palencia projects to be a high-leverage reliever in the majors, although the Cubs will continue starting him for now. He'll head to Double-A in 2023.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 80. Slider: 60. Changeup: 50. Control: 40

BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme

Track Record: Ferris starred as an underclassman at Mt. Airy (N.C.) High before transferring to national prep power IMG Academy to gain increased exposure. He took advantage by going 16-0, 0.80 over two seasons at the high-profile program and solidified himself as one of the top prep lefthanders in the 2022 draft class. The Cubs drafted him 47th overall and signed him for just over $3 million, nearly double the recommended slot amount, to forgo a commitment to Mississippi.

Scouting Report: Ferris is a tall, projectable lefthander with premium stuff for his age. His fastball comfortably sits at 93 mph, touches 96-97 and has room to tick up as he gets stronger. He complements his fastball with an above-average, high-spin curveball in the mid 70s with impressive depth and a mid-80s changeup he sells well with his arm speed. Ferris' stuff is loud, but his complicated, contorting delivery has a lot of moving parts that cause him difficulty throwing strikes. His posture and balance are inconsistent and his arm is often not where it needs to be at foot strike, leading to scattered command and control. He tends to stay around the plate but struggles to consistently locate his offerings in the zone.

The Future: Ferris has the stuff to be a mid-rotation starter, but he has to smooth out his delivery and improve his control and consistency. He is set to make his pro debut in 2023.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Curveball: 55. Changeup: 55. Control: 40

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Very High

Track Record: Ballesteros starred as Venezuela's cleanup hitter at the 2015 12U World Cup in Taiwan and maintained his status as a premium hitter throughout his amateur career. He signed with the Cubs for $1.5 million on the first day of the 2021 international signing period and showcased his offensive potential in his stateside debut in 2022. He rose from the Arizona Complex League to Low-A Myrtle Beach as an 18-year-old and hit 10 home runs in only 63 games.

Scouting Report: Ballesteros is a highly advanced hitter for his age. He manages at-bats well, has excellent plate discipline and boasts above-average bat speed and strength from the left side. He is a patient hitter who puts himself in good counts and punishes mistakes with above-average power to all fields. Ballesteros has the skills and approach to hit for average and power, but he's physically maxed out at a burly 234 pounds and will need to manage his conditioning closely. His thick lower half and chunky midsection sharply limit his mobility at catcher and his receiving is below-average. He has a plus arm that will buy him time to develop behind the plate, but he is likely to end up at first base or DH unless he loses weight.

The Future: Ballesteros' future depends on how well he manages his heavyset frame. Most observers project him to get bigger and become a DH similar to Daniel Vogelbach.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 55. Speed: 20. Fielding: 30. Arm: 60.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: Herz starred in football and basketball as well as baseball in high school and signed with the Cubs for an above-slot $500,000 as an eighth-round pick. He led the organization in strikeouts in his first full season and again racked up whiffs with 134 strikeouts in 2022, second-most in the system, but he also had the most walks in the organization and struggled after a promotion to Double-A.

Scouting Report: Herz is an athletic lefthander with a potent combination of stuff and deception. His 91-94 mph fastball plays up with the deception and angle he generates from his crossfire delivery, which helps it jump on batters faster than they expect. He racks up swings and misses with his fastball and keeps hitters off-balance with a plus, 80-84 mph changeup he sells well with his arm speed. Herze leans heavily on his fastball and changeup, but he also has a tight, vertical curveball in the upper 70s that is an average third offering. Herz has plenty of stuff, but his extreme crossfire delivery and long arm action make it difficult for him to consistently throw strikes. His command and control are both well below-average and he relies on hitters chasing out of the zone, which they largely stopped doing once he reached Double-A.

The Future: Herz's control shortcomings will likely push him to the bullpen long-term. He has a chance to be a high-leverage, effectively wild lefty reliever similar to Jake Diekman.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 50. Changeup: 60. Control: 30

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: Triantos starred as both a pitcher and hitter in high school and was one of the top players in the 2022 draft class before he reclassified to be eligible for the 2021 draft. The Cubs drafted him in the second round and signed him for an above-slot $2.1 million to forgo a North Carolina commitment. Triantos made his full-season debut with Low-A Myrtle Beach in 2022 and led the Carolina League with 124 hits, but his lack of a clear position made him a divisive prospect.

Scouting Report: Triantos is one of the best pure hitters in the Cubs organization. He has a quick, compact righthanded swing with a heavy barrel that results in a lot of hard contact. He has a sharp eye for the strike zone and rarely strikes out, giving him the swing and approach to be an above-average hitter. Triantos primarily drives balls from gap to gap, but he projects to get stronger with age and grow into average power. A shortstop when he was drafted, Triantos gained weight and now has a pudgy build with limited athleticism. He is a well below-average defender at third base with a slow first step and poor balance, and he lacks the range or agility to play second base. Some Cubs officials want to move him to catcher, where his above-average arm strength will play.

The Future: Triantos has the bat to be an everyday player, but he needs to find a defensive home. That will be his main goal at High-A South Bend in 2023.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 55. Power: 50. Speed: 40. Fielding: 30. Arm: 55.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: One of the top pure hitters in the 2018 international class, Pinango signed with the Cubs for $400,000 and quickly established himself as one of the best contact bats in the organization. He began trying to hit for power in 2022 at High-A South Bend, however, and sacrificed his patient approach and natural contact skills. He set new career-lows with a .250 batting average and .297 on-base percentage, overshadowing his career-high 13 home runs.

Scouting Report: At his best, Pinango is a natural hitter with a smooth, balanced swing from the left side that stays in the zone a long time. He sprays balls from line to line, makes hard contact and forces pitchers to throw strikes with a patient approach. Pinango's swing became more violent and his strike-zone discipline regressed sharply as he began chasing power in 2022. He became overly aggressive and expanded the zone too often, taking away from his potential to be an above-average hitter. Pinango has improved at lifting the ball in the air and flashes above-average raw power, especially to his pull side, but he has to find a better balance between hitting for average and power. Pinango is a below-average athlete with a short, stocky frame. He's a below-average defender who is limited to left field with his below-average speed and average arm strength.

The Future: Pinango needs to find a more balanced approach between average and power. He can be a solid everyday left fielder if he does.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 45. Speed: 40. Fielding: 40. Arm: 50.

BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium

Track Record: The Cubs scouted Mexico heavily last decade and signed Assad for $150,000 from the Yucatan franchise shortly before his 18th birthday. He spent his first five seasons as a steady, reliable innings-eater with pedestrian stuff, but he gained three mph on his fastball in 2022 and took off. Assad set new career-bests in ERA (2.99) and strikeouts (111) as he blitzed through Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa. He earned his first callup in late August and finished the year in the Cubs rotation.

Scouting Report: Assad goes right after hitters and fills up the strike zone with a five-pitch mix. His fastball ticked up from 88-91 mph to 92-95 mph and plays above its velocity with his ability to command it in the zone. His short, tight 85-88 mph cutter is an above-average offering with late tilt and his above-average, low-80s slider with sharp break and movement gets chase swings at the bottom of the zone. He also has an average mid-80s changeup with solid fading action and a below-average mid-70s curveball he can ambush hitters with to steal a strike. Assad has an advanced feel for sequencing his pitches and impressive poise on the mound. He throws everything for strikes with above-average control and works efficiently.

The Future: Assad's command and feel for pitching should help him stick as a back-end starter or swingman. He could be more if his stuff continues to tick up.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50. Curveball: 40. Slider: 55. Cutter: 55. Changeup: 50. Control: 55

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: Made signed with the Cubs for $1.5 million out of the Dominican Republic and quickly jumped on an accelerated track. He went straight to Low-A Myrtle Beach for his pro debut at 18 years old and returned to the Pelicans to begin 2022, where he showed improved power and patience and earned a midseason promotion to High-A South Bend. Made took over as South Bend's starting shortstop and helped lead it to the Midwest League title, posting a .909 OPS in the championship series.

Scouting Report: Made has a promising foundation as a true shortstop who hits the ball hard. He has a mechanically sound swing and crushes fastballs in the strike zone. He recognizes breaking balls well for his age and has the hand-eye coordination and barrel accuracy to cover the entire plate. Made has the physical foundation to hit for average and power, but he is an extremely aggressive hitter prone to chasing fastballs. His approach limits him to a below-average hitter even with improvement. Made shines defensively at shortstop, where his soft hands, clean actions and advanced instincts make him a plus defender. He can make throws from anywhere on the field with his plus-plus arm.

The Future: Made's defense will buy him time to improve his plate discipline. He projects to be a glove-first shortstop even with offensive strides.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 40. Power: 40. Speed: 50. Fielding: 65. Arm: 70.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: Hodge led Salt Lake City's Cottonwood High to two Utah 5A state championships in three years and was the winning pitcher in the 2019 championship game. The Cubs drafted him in the 13th round and signed him for $125,000 to forgo a Utah commitment. Hodge struggled with his conditioning early in his career, but he slimmed down in 2022 and had his best season. He tied for the organization lead with 141 strikeouts and finished second with a 2.36 ERA across the Class A levels.

Scouting Report: Hodge transformed from a chubby righthander to a lean, athletic 6-foot-4, which led to more explosive stuff and better body control. His fastball is now a plus pitch that sits 92-96 mph with natural cut and gets on batters quickly with the extension he generates in his delivery. He complements his heater with a plus, mid-80s wiffle ball slider that cuts across and under barrels for swings and misses. Hodge mostly dominates with those two pitches and has above-average control of both. His vertical, upper-70s curveball and firm, upper-80s changeup with late drop flash the ability to draw whiffs but have lots of development left. His long arm action does cause occasional bouts of wildness.

The Future: Hodge is trending up and frequently requested in trades. He has mid-rotation potential if he can refine a third pitch.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Curveball: 40. Slider: 60. Changeup: 40. Control: 50

BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium

Track Record: Hill started all four years at West Virginia and hit over .300 every season, but his unconventional swing, lack of power and perceived inability to play center field caused him to fall to the 20th round of the 2019 draft, where the Cubs took him and gave him a $5,000 signing bonus. Hill quickly proved those assessments wrong and conquered both Double-A and Triple-A in 2022, where he finished tied for the minor league lead with 166 hits.

Scouting Report: Hill is an undersized lefthanded hitter who knows his game and sticks to it. He has a short, quick swing from the left side and exceptional timing and barrel accuracy. He squares up pitches in all parts of the zone and drives them for singles and doubles. Hill's swing has minimal loft and leverage and he doesn't hit for much power, but he makes a ton of contact and should be an above-average hitter. He is also an excellent bunter. Hill is an average runner and gets good jumps and reads in center field, where he is an average defender. His well below-average arm makes him a better fit in left field than right when he plays the corners.

The Future: Hill's contact skills and ability to play center field has him in the Cubs outfield plans for 2023. His debut should come during the season.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 55. Power: 30. Speed: 50. Fielding: 50. Arm: 30.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: Strumpf had a decorated amateur career as a member of USA Baseball's 15U national team and was a high-profile infielder at JSerra (Calif.) High and UCLA. The Cubs drafted him in the second round in 2019 and signed him for just over $1 million. Strumpf was known for his contact skills as an amateur, but he has morphed into a power hitter in pro ball. He hit 21 homers at Double-A Tennessee in 2022, tripling his previous career high, but also hit a team-low .234 and had a career-high 162 strikeouts.

Scouting Report: Strumpf is a strong righthanded hitter with a discerning eye for the strike zone. He draws plenty of walks and makes hard contact when he connects, sending balls out from left to right-center with above-average raw power. Strumpf has good rhythm and separation in the batter's box, but his swing has gotten too big as he's started chasing power. He swings and misses in the zone too often and has to shorten his swing to make more contact. A second baseman in college, Strumpf has taken well to third base as a pro. He is an above-average defender with a solid glove and average arm strength that plays up with a quick release.

The Future: Strumpf's power and infield versatility give him a path to the majors as a utilityman. He'll open at Triple-A Iowa in 2023.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 30. Power: 50. Speed: 45. Fielding: 55. Arm: 50.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: Aliendo signed with the Cubs for $200,000 out of Venezuela shortly before his 17th birthday and quickly asserted himself as one of the best defensive catchers in the organization. His bat took longer to come around, but he steadily improved and had his best offensive season at High-A South Bend in 2022. He set new career highs in almost every category and led South Bend to the Midwest League championship.

Scouting Report: Aliendo is one of the best defensive catchers in the low minors. He is a plus receiver with soft, quiet hands and handles both premium velocity and quality secondary stuff. He is a superb athlete who moves well laterally, is a plus blocker and has a plus, accurate arm. Aliendo complements his physical gifts with elite makeup. He is an advanced game-caller for his age and is a natural leader behind the plate. He is bilingual and an excellent communicator. Aliendo has good hand-eye coordination in the batter's box, but he is overly aggressive and swings at too many pitches he can't drive. He'll need to refine his pitch selection to be a below-average hitter and better access his growing power.

The Future: Aliendo has a chance to be a second-division starter if his bat develops. If not, his defense and makeup give him a chance to have a long career as a backup catcher.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 40. Power: 30. Speed: 50. Fielding: 60. Arm: 60.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: Devers signed with the Cubs for just $30,000 and spent three unremarkable seasons in the complex leagues before breaking out in 2022. He added 3 mph to his fastball and breezed through Low-A and High-A, finishing second in the minor leagues with a 1.91 ERA and tied for third with 13 wins. He capped the year by allowing one run or fewer in each of his final 12 starts.

Scouting Report: Devers is a skinny righthander with extreme deception and an advanced feel for pitching. He frequently alters the tempo and mechanics of his delivery, similar to Johnny Cueto, and will quick-pitch opponents to catch them unprepared. Batters struggle to time him up and he rarely allows hard contact. Devers' stuff is unremarkable in a vacuum, but everything plays up with his deception and above-average control. He sets hitters up with his 90-94 mph fastball and finishes them with a plus, low-80s changeup he sells well with his arm speed. His slurvy breaking ball with 11-to-5 shape is a fringy third offering he can use to steal a strike. Devers only commands the ball to his glove side, but he throws strikes and limits mistakes. He is durable and consistent.

The Future: Devers has a chance to be a No. 5 starter with improvements to his command and velocity. He'll head to Double-A in 2022.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 40. Curveball: 45. Changeup: 60. Control: 55

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme

Track Record: Ramirez trained in the same program as fellow Cubs prospect Moises Ballesteros and signed with the Cubs for $75,000 on the first day of the 2021 international signing period. He made a loud first impression by leading the Dominican Summer League in hits in his pro debut and continued to impress stateside in 2022. Ramirez finished fifth in the Arizona Complex League with a .329 batting average and third with a .940 OPS, earning a late promotion to Low-A Myrtle Beach.

Scouting Report: Ramirez is a polished switch-hitter advanced beyond his years. He sits deep in his stance and makes consistent contact with a short, fast swing and excellent barrel control. He covers the entire plate, has exceptional natural timing and puts together competitive at-bats from both sides of the plate. Ramirez mostly hits soft line drives and doesn't have much projection left, but his approach and feel for the barrel give him a chance to be an above-average hitter who runs into 10-12 home runs. Ramirez has good body control and is an average defender at second base. He is a plus runner and has the range for shortstop, but his fringy arm fits better at the keystone.

The Future: Opposing teams frequently ask about Ramirez in trade discussions. He has a chance to be a switch-hitting, everyday second baseman if he gets stronger.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 55. Power: 40. Speed: 60. Fielding: 50. Arm: 45.

BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium

Track Record: The son of former Padres reliever Scott Sanders and All-American softball player Linda Lunceford Sanders, Cam began his college career at Northwest Florida State JC before spending one season as a swingman at Louisiana State. Sanders did little to distinguish himself in the low minors after the Cubs drafted him, but his stuff ticked up in 2022 to facilitate a rise to Triple-A. He moved to Iowa's bullpen in the second half and didn't allow an earned run in eight of his final nine appearances.

Scouting Report: Sanders is an athletic, 6-foot-2 righthander with five different pitches that miss bats. His 94-96 mph four-seam fastball and 92-94 mph two-seamer feature high spin rates and are both above-average, swing and miss pitches. His favored secondary is an above-average, mid-80s slider he has good feel to spin, and his average mid-80s changeup and average low-70s curveball get swings and misses in the zone, too. He creates different shapes and looks with all his weapons and keeps hitters guessing. Sanders repeats his delivery, but he has trouble commanding all of his offerings at the same time. He has struggled with walks throughout his career and is prone to hitting batters.

The Future: Sanders' good stuff and shoddy control have him on track to be a middle reliever like his dad. His major league debut should come in 2023.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Curveball: 50. Slider: 55. Changeup: 50. Control: 30

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme

Track Record: A nephew of former all-star closer Ryan Franklin, Kohl signed with the Cubs for an overslot $540,000 bonus and showed promise at the short-season levels, but he missed 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic and all of 2021 with a strained oblique. He returned to the mound for the first time in nearly three years in 2022 and showed enhanced stuff, but he struggled with his control and posted a 6.88 ERA in 23 starts at High-A South Bend.

Scouting Report: Franklin has filled out his projectable frame and now possesses some of the best stuff in the Cubs organization. He powers his fastball 95-99 mph downhill out of his tall frame and has added velocity and bite to his spike curveball to make it an above-average pitch at 79-83 mph. Franklin's changeup has also gotten firmer in the mid-80s, but it has lost movement with the added velocity and regressed to an average pitch. Franklin's stuff is loud, but his fastball command is extremely poor and his feel for pitching is raw. He frequently falls behind batters and throws the wrong pitch in the wrong counts, leading to short, ineffective outings.

The Future: The Cubs hope Franklin was just rusty after two missed seasons and that his command and feel will improve with experience. He'll try to prove them right in 2023.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Curveball: 55. Changeup: 50. Control: 30

BA Grade/Risk: 40/High

Track Record: Thompson has flashed big stuff since his days at Louisville, but he's pitched very little despite being 26. He had Tommy John surgery and repeated shoulder injuries that limited him to just two partial seasons in college, didn't pitch in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic and missed all of 2021 with shoulder tightness. He returned to the mound for the first time in nearly three years in 2022 and improved as the year went on at Double-A Tennessee, providing optimism he can still be a part of the Cubs' future.

Scouting Report: Thompson has a strong, physical 6-foot-4 frame and has maintained his arm strength through his injuries. His fastball sits 94-98 mph and touches higher in relief. His 12-to-6 curveball in the low 80s has excellent spin and depth and is a plus pitch when he locates it, although his feel for it is inconsistent, and he has added a short, upper-80s slider that flashes average. He has also improved his feel for a fringy, mid-80s changeup. Thompson's stuff stands out, but his arm action allows batters to see the ball early out of his hand. His fastball plays down significantly, frequently getting crushed, and batters easily lay off his stuff out of the zone.

The Future: Thompson's arm strength gives him a chance to surface as a reliever despite his shortcomings. He'll head to Triple-A in 2023.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 45. Curveball: 55. Slider: 50. Changeup: 45. Control: 40