Inbox: Settling prospect vs. prospect debates

Here’s hoping everybody has had a terrific vacation season and can have an exquisite 2023.
 
For the ultimate Pipeline Inbox of 2022, I believed it will be enjoyable to give attention to comparisons. You choose two gamers and I inform you which one I choose and why. It at all times has been a preferred matter — and I ought to do it extra typically — however I wasn’t anticipating almost 200 responses!

Jackson Chourio vs. Elly De La Cruz — @DelayedLegacy

Let’s begin with the breakout prospect of 2022 versus the breakout prospect of 2021, Brewers outfielder versus Reds infielder. De La Cruz (No. 14) is extra bodily and should have essentially the most freakish mixture of measurement and athleticism within the Minors. Yet, I’ll take Chourio (No. 10) as a result of I really feel higher about his capacity to make constant contact. The remainder of their instruments are related except for De La Cruz’s superior arm power.

Julio Rodríguez vs. Ronald Acuña Jr. — @flyers9372

Again, one other pair of equally proficient gamers, they usually each raced via the Minors earlier than profitable Rookie of the Year awards with a tantalizing mixture of energy and velocity. It’s extra of a intestine really feel than something particular, however I’ll wager on Rodríguez’s offensive sport over Acuña’s. J-Rod additionally provides extra defensive worth as a middle fielder versus a proper fielder.

Gunnar Henderson vs. Wander Franco — @bhau42

In my thoughts, Henderson (No. 2) is at the moment one of the best prospect within the sport and he instantly carried out effectively for the Orioles after they known as him up final August. That stated, Franco has elite hitting capacity that comes alongside solely a few times per era so it is a straightforward choice to go along with him. A fracture hamate hampered him this yr, however it would not shock me in any respect if he received the American League MVP award in 2023 if he stays wholesome.

Anthony Volpe vs. Marcelo Mayer vs. Jordan Lawlar — @SamLindauer

After Henderson, Anthony Volpe (No. 5, Yankees), Marcelo Mayer (No. 7, Red Sox) and Jordan Lawlar (No. 12, D-backs) are the three highest-rated shortstops on our end-of-season Top 100 Prospects record. Volpe is coming off the primary 20-homer, 50-steal season within the Minors since Andruw Jones in 1995; Mayer is one of the best defender and sure one of the best pure hitter of the trio; and Lawlar has one of the best mixture of energy and velocity and likewise has superior quicker. I’ll stick to the order on the Top 100 — although I’d take Orioles shortstop Jackson Holliday, the No. 1 choose within the 2022 Draft, over all three of them.

Andrew Painter vs. Eury Pérez — @ANTfuuuz

Any dialogue of one of the best pitching prospects in baseball proper now begins and ends with Grayson Rodriguez (No. 4, Orioles), Pérez (No. 9, Marlins), Painter (No. 24, Phillies) and, when wholesome, Daniel Espino (No. 15, Guardians). I’ve been driving the Pérez bandwagon since tutorial league in 2020, whereas Painter had the extra spectacular 2022 season and was MLB Pipeline’s Pitching Prospect of the Year. Their stuff is kind of related, with Pérez proudly owning a greater changeup and Painter displaying higher management and command this yr. This is the hardest name but … I’ll go for Painter.

Dylan Lesko vs. Brock Porter — @ANTfuuuz

Credit to @ANTfuuuz for asking some thought-provoking pitching questions, so I let him have two. These have been the 2 finest pitchers within the 2022 Draft, with Lesko signing for $3.9 million because the fifteenth total choose by the Padres and Porter getting $4 million from the Rangers after they pushed him to the fourth spherical. Though Lesko had Tommy John surgical procedure in April, I’d select him over the absolutely wholesome Porter. Lesko has much less fastball velocity however nonetheless works at 92-97 mph, owns among the best highschool changeups you will ever see, and his management and command are extraordinarily superior for a prepster as effectively.

Druw Jones vs. Dylan Crews long-term outlook — @ShaunHeyel

Georgia highschool outfielder Jones (No. 12, D-backs) was our top-rated prospect within the 2022 Draft, whereas Louisiana State outfielder Crews claims that spot for the 2023 Draft coming into the brand new yr. The son of Andruw Jones, Druw may be very harking back to his father and provides extra athleticism and a better ceiling than Crews, so the No. 2 total choose in July by Arizona wins this one. Crews has confirmed extra towards a better degree of competitors as an beginner and comes with a little bit extra certainty about his hitting capacity, however the energy is analogous and Jones is a plus-plus heart fielder with velocity to match and effectively above-average arm power.

Pete Crow-Armstrong vs. Zac Veen — @CubsInTexas

In the battle of outfielders of the close to future for rebuilding golf equipment, I’ll facet with Veen (No. 23, Rockies) over Crow-Armstrong (No. 30, Cubs). There’s extra influence in Veen’s bat, particularly after he grows into projected plus energy, and his velocity and baserunning capacity are actual belongings. It’s additionally straightforward to make a case for Crow-Armstrong, nonetheless, as a result of he is doing extra injury than anticipated and is one of the best defensive heart fielder within the Minors.