His fastballs shape gives him in-zone margin for error that should enable him to be loose with in-zone location, and one of our scout sources thinks his changeup also has a shot to be average. There might be more game power here than there is raw power, or at least more game power than youd expect from someone who has some approach-related red flags. High-risk hitters with huge tools are also welcome since FV is a subjective way to factor both ceiling and risk into the same grade. Its human nature to remember all of the big hits. Hes actually a fairly rangy third baseman, as his foot speed allows him to cover a lot of ground, but his hands and arm accuracy are both pretty rough and cause him to be error-prone. -- $407,500Felix Amparo, INF, D.R. His left-handed swing is very uphill, the sort typically associated with strikeout issues, but his levers are so short that his swing is still fairly compact. Here he stays in the same FV tier as last year but falls within that tier due to his 2022 performance. He has performed well through the lower minors (.271/.368/.438), and his frame, speed, general athleticism, and long-term frame-based power projection are all very enticing from a scouting standpoint, but the limitations of his current swing still make Veens big league impact more of an abstract projection than an inevitability. Hes as patient as any hitter in the minors and has walked at a 19% career rate; he has a .437 career OBP in the minors. Hes likely to develop feel for that pitch over time and have a more complete arsenal at peak. The Yankees have been busy in the international market the last few years being able to sign both the top International prospect in the 2019 and 2022 classes, Jasson Dominguez and Roderick Arias respectively. Even though hes still eons from the big leagues, the Cubs were compelled to put Alcantara on their 40-man roster during the offseason to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft. Also, by disabling these cookies you will also disable banner ads served by Google Adsense on this website.. For more information about these items, view our complete privacy policy.Read More. He was a model-friendly prospect because of his age and performance, and a scout-friendly prospect because of his relative polish (especially on defense), physicality, and showcase tools. Hes a plus rotational athlete, his hands are exceptionally strong, he can drive his top hand through contact to punish pitches at the top of the zone and he sometimes alters his footwork and the bend in his lower half to dip down and barrel low pitches. All Win Expectancy, Leverage Index, Run Expectancy, and Fans Scouting Report data licenced from TangoTiger.com. From a heuristics standpoint, you cant do much better than Rodriguezs profile. : Rockies ($1,700,000) More 25. An approach or swing change could lead to a breakout and Acuas approach might also cause him to perform beneath this ranking, so consider him a volatile prospect even though hes on a 40-man.
Guardians 2023 Top 50 Prospects, No. 45 SS Welbyn Francisca by Retrosheet. He has some outfield experience but very little in pro ball, and he doesnt exactly look like a fish in water out there. "We really are excited about him and the live arm he has with control and how big he is," said Daniel Rodriguez, the Astros . He spent four years working for the Phillies Triple-A affiliate, two with Baseball Info Solutions and two contributing to prospect coverage at ESPN.com. The curve features similar movement with longer break and both are nasty when he runs them off the plate glove side, though both play in the strike zone, as well. Whats causing the swing-and-miss? The bumps and bruises suffered from catching can sometimes level players for whole seasons, and Davis had a lot of them in 2022. Henderson, still just the age of a college draft prospect, had one of the best offensive performances in minor league baseball in 2022 and made his big league debut late in the season. -- $497,500Daniel Mielcarek, SS, D.R. Before the 2022 draft there was again buzz that some teams were off Lee because of his medical, and also that Lee and his family preferred that he stay as close to home as possible by joining a team that trains in Arizona. Samuel Munoz, OF, Dominican Republic Dodgers More 8. With Willy Adames ahead of him on the shortstop depth chart, the Brewers tried Turang at second, third and in center in 2022; he will likely be in a timeshare with Milwaukees righty-hitting infield crew come 2023. A skilled but impatient hitter who can really pick it, Tovar is poised to be the Rockies everyday shortstop and probably will be for a while. This is where we value a contending teams plug-and-play third or fourth starter. He matriculated to Florida Atlantic, where the Owls considered him athletic enough to deploy as a two-way player during his freshman season before he focused more on pitching in 2019 and 2020. As I mentioned in my KBO update from Tuesday, when talent acquisition rules change, they tend to do so in ways that are unfavorable to players and increasingly financially favorable to teams. : Guardians+ ($1,375,000) More 29. Wherever he ends up, if you have the means to head to the ballpark early to watch lvarez take batting practice, you should. The area in which its most important for him to show late growth is on defense. Touching 99 mph, Painter earns widespread praise. The Yankees scouting department has done a phenomenal job outside of domestic borders in recent years, putting the "NY" letters on multiple talented ball players from overseas.13 of the Yankees'. M.J. Melendezs 2019 and Bo Naylors 2020 are recent examples of otherwise good-hitting catchers who had a terrible offensive season in the mid-minors followed by an immediate and significant rebound the following year. : Twins ($2,100,000) More 39. The funk-factor made up for a slight dip in velocity; the heater sat in the 94-95 range, but he still managed whiff and chase rates well above average on the offering as he made his way from Low- to Double-A in his first year of pro ball. His changeup is only fair right now, and his command still comes and goes, and even though he didnt walk nearly as many hitters in 2021 as he did in college, there was still relief risk here even before his elbow blew out. Accurate information on international players can be hard to find, but bonus size is generally a good proxy for prospect status. He chased at a 37% rate in 2022, which isnt terrible in a big league context, but is pretty bad when viewed through the minor league lens, where fewer pitchers have chase-inducing stuff.
With a fastball like this, his floor is that of an impact reliever. Any discussion of Walker begins with his exit velocities, which are nearly unheard of for a player this young. Because his delivery is so elegant and consistent, Bradleys splitter has deep projection. He isnt a great hands-and-feet athlete, and his arm strength doesnt match that of a typical third baseman. He is loose and fluid in the box but does have some swing-and-miss concerns, which is standard for a hitter with levers this long. His split/changeup is still his best pitch, but Allen has undergone a stylistic change and now takes a power pitchers approach with his fastball, ripping it past hitters at the letters with a high-effort delivery despite its mediocre velocity. Perennial contenders like the Dodgers and Yankees, teams that usually pick late in the draft, use international free agency to add elite prospects to their farm system. Jones had surgery, missed the back half of the summer and instructs, and only began hitting again in January. He was rewarded with a promotion to Brooklyn, where his walk rate again keeled off but Ramirez performed anyway, and he posted an above-average batting line as a 19-year-old during two months at High-A. Flores velocity tapered off some in 2022 but he threw more strikes than expected, enough to now project as a starter. Quants and front office analyst types are more bearish, citing issues with Priesters fastball playability. That caveat extends to his defense, where Luciano continues to look miscast as a shortstop. Lawlar is a slick shortstop defender with big power and a somewhat shaky hit tool. Lawlars hit tool projection is a bit of a conundrum. Its no surprise, then, that his introduction to pro ball came with a reduced workload, which Graceffo combined with a clear commitment to hitting the gym, resulting in an immediate velocity increase across his repertoire. Keith was on the SS/3B line as a high school defender, but his extra heft has pushed him down the defensive spectrum. We held our Dynasty Draft 16 Team OBP TB R SB RBI TB. Astros Future reported an agreement between Aparicio and the Astros on Jan. 27, 12 days after the 2022 international signing period opened. 2022 Onyx Vintage Extended Series Baseball Box, Don't miss all the Hot Prospects, phenoms, international prospects and big leaguers with this years edition of Onyx Vintage Extended Trading Cards. Still on the 2B/SS line, the lift in Arroyos swing helps him get to impact power for a middle infielder. Indeed, the way Mead plays defense isnt typical for an infielder at all; its as if he grew up not watching big league defenders every summer, which might be true. He now sits 96 mph and will touch as high as 102, though he typically tops out at 99 in any given start. His peak velocity has returned, and he has been sitting 94-97 and touching 99-100 with upshot angle and carry. However the defensive end of things shakes out for Mead (here he projects in left field for the third straight season), he has enough bat to be an above-average everyday player, combining potent contact, power, and perhaps a newfound sense of the strike zone. 2022 MLB Draft While our 2021 Top Prospects list continues to expand and mature, today we take a look even further into the future and the Top 100 prospects in the 2022 class. He must turn 16 before he signs and be 17 before Sept. 1 the following year -- in practical terms, that means players born between Sept. 1, 2004, and Aug. 31, 2005, will be eligible to sign in the upcoming signing period. 2022 Top 100 Top 30 by Team Top 10 by Position Draft International Stats Podcasts Show Full List Prospect Headlines Winn has bragging rights over Walker with 435-foot HR March 3, 2023 Armed with 99 mph sinker, Uribe making electric comeback March 3, 2023 Who will back up Cooper at first base in 2023? This was in part due to a notable adjustment to his pitch mix. Cue the Hunter Pence comps because Mayos swing is still wacky looking and odd, but it clearly works for him. Hes an okay receiver and framer, catching on one knee with the bases empty, utilizing a traditional crouch with two strikes and with runners on base. At the same time, players like Victor Acosta, Gabriel Gonzalez, Cristian Santana, Samuel Zavala, Junior Marin, and Carlos Jorge went from afterthoughts to coveted stashes. The switch hitter has improved in every facet of his game as he has matured physically in the last year, and he has a chance to have plus speed, arm, and raw power as a result. Flores will also show you an upper-80s cutter, which has more inconsistent shape but gives him a third viable weapon. Just three days after signing, Jones suffered a left posterior labral tear while hitting, another glitch in the Matrix that seems to be causing every high-profile Diamondbacks prospect to suffer a severe shoulder injury. Joendry Vargas, SS, Dominican RepublicAt 6-foot-3, the long and lean teen will face questions about his ability to stay at shortstop, but he already shows a quick first step, good hands and plus instincts for position. We think it's important to note, while these are based on live looks and discussion with team scouts and industry executives, it is awfully early. During the course of working on the 2023 class, I became aware of about a half-dozen players set to sign in 2025 and 26 who already have verbal deals for north of $3 million. He struggled to frame low pitches and one-hoppers would find a way through his wickets. Chance for 5 tools.
Details On MLB's International Draft Proposal Arroyo is a hard-swinging shortstop who is off to a much more powerful offensive start than was anticipated when he signed out of high school. A downward cutting swing and middling rotational athleticism limit Carters offensive impact to the doubles variety, and even though hes young and has a huge, rectangular frame, Carters lack of explosiveness tempers long-term raw power projection here, and we consider him more of a high-floor prospect than a future star. Baty made some subtle swing changes that may have better actualized his plus-plus raw power. His injuries reduced the sample size, but Merrills contact metrics from the regular season are incredible. As far as defensive projection is concerned, a boxy frame, medium straight line speed, and an awkward running gait push and pull against Mayers defensive instincts, first-step quickness, and strong arm. Pick Team Player Pos HT WT School; 1: Baltimore Orioles: Druw Jones: OF: 6'4" 180: Wesleyan HS (GA) 2: Arizona Diamondbacks: Elijah Green: OF: 6'3" 225: IMG Academy (FL) 3: Texas Rangers: Jackson Holliday: SS: He has a pronounced bat wrap. Initially considered a contact-first prospect, the effort level in Chourios swing ratcheted up in 2022 and he now takes a monster hack, whipping the bat through the zone with all his might, often needing the dirt of the batters box behind him to stop his rotation. When the most recent CBA was ratified, the league and the MLBPA had until July 25 to agree to a draft, the first of which would have taken place in 2024 had they done so. Hassell was playing like his usual sweet-swinging self until he was traded to Washington as part of the Juan Soto blockbuster; after the deal, his performance took a nosedive. He should be the Mets primary catcher as soon as most of the big league pitching staff feels confident and comfortable throwing to him. Even as various aspects of his profile remain amorphous, Ramos offensive performance to this point and optimism that hell ultimately be able to play at least one infield position well as he matures put him on the Top 100 despite his variance. Caminero has plus-plus bat speed, but his pitch recognition and swing path are concerning. 1 pitcher available this signing period. Quero is a bat-first catching prospect far away from the big leagues. He has a shot to break camp with the big club and play a huge role on the next Orioles contender. Hes already noticeably thicker now than he was in high school, though thats probably part of where the power is coming from. The period means everything and its only a few months away. -- $750,000, RaysWilian Trinidad, INF, D.R. by Handedness, Board Update: 2023 International Amateur Prospects, Official Professional Baseball Rules Book, recently-filed lawsuit in the Dominican Republic, the league and the MLBPA had until July 25, New Brewer Owen Miller Is Evolving as a Hitter (Or at Least Trying To). Rafaela is a Gold Glove-caliber center fielder with a very immature approach. Those metrics illustrate the way Manzardos skill set is tailored. Updated Top 100 Prospects After 2022 MLB Draft Joel Reuter July 29, 2022 Francisco Alvarez (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) Now that the 2022 MLB draft is complete, it's time for an. Ortiz put up some silly offensive numbers as an amateur, including a .422/.474/.697 line as a junior at New Mexico State that was caricatured by the elevation of Las Cruces, which is one of the most hitter-friendly environments in college baseball. Toronto didnt accelerate his promotion schedule to make up for the lost time, so he began 2021 back at Low-A as a 21-year-old and (mostly) flew under the FanGraphs prospect radar as an old-for-the-level player until 2022, when Barger hammered High- and Double-A pitching as a 22-year-old. Roderick Arias, SS, Dominican Republic - Yankees ($4,000,000) More 2. Abel is a prototypical power pitching prospect with huge arm strength, a plus breaking ball, and the frame to not only hold his velo all year but to perhaps keep throwing harder and harder until hes a No. He sits 92-95 mph while touching higher with his carrying four-seam fastball, and like any good D-backs prospect, moves it well north-south while generating whiffs at the top of the zone; he also has a sinker as a change of pace. Im not advocating for or against drafting international players. union players) is not involved with players this young. SS Ricardo Cabrera, Venezuela: Arguably the best hitter available this year, Cabrera is also a sound defender with "soft hands, good footwork and the type of range that will make him at least an average shortstop," according to MLB.com. Caminero has a big leg kick, loads his hands low, and swings with bloodthirsty effort, with plus bat speed driving big pull-side power. Libbys curveball wont ever play like you want it to, but he still goes at hitters with the kitchen sink and we think his command will sharpen enough for him to have a career as a fourth starter. March 1, 2023. He does play with lots of effort, though, and Mead has enough range that the second base experiment has merit. He made six appearances with the big league squad (four of them starts) for a total of 33 innings and lasted at least five frames in all but one of them (his only shorter appearance was in relief, and he pitched the final 3.2 innings of the game). His footwork on throws to second is clunky and variable, which often impacts his throw times and accuracy, but the pure arm strength is in there. But the best parts of Libbys game are offset by the fact that they dont fit with the rest of his profile, which puts a mild damper on it. He ran an 83% Z-contact rate in 2022, which again, is right on the precipice of viability, as chase-prone, low-OBP hitters like Ozzie Albies and Jonathan Schoop have shown. -- $520,000Breyias Dean, 3B, Bah. : Phillies ($3,000,000) More 14. He still hits the ball really hard for a player his age and looks the part in the uniform, but theres growing risk here, enough to reposition Lucianos FV into this tier. : Giants ($2,697,500) More 16. Cavalli has a huge arm and a good changeup, but also carries a considerable amount of relief risk due to past injury and his violent delivery. Hell be a cog in Phillys quest for a second NL pennant. *The forfeited monies are redistributed to the other clubs. Unless otherwise noted, clubs have not confirmed the deals. His numbers backed up in 2022, but thats typical of pitchers who go to work in Reno. Some aspects of Mauricios defense need to be cleaned up. He produced a 150 wRC+ when healthy and was making among the highest rates of hard, airborne contact in the minors when he got hurt.