8 prospect-related predictions for ’23

In the primary Pipeline Podcast of 2023, Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo check out the yr forward with a variety of predictions about prospects and farm techniques to regulate, from Rookies of the Year in each leagues and the No. 1 general Draft choose to which group will end with the top-ranked farm system at season’s finish and extra. Since bragging rights come all the way down to predictions, we’ll concentrate on these.

“[Carroll] made it as much as the Majors final yr and confirmed that he may maintain his personal. He doesn’t have plenty of Minor League time as a result of he missed most of 2021 with the shoulder damage, however he confirmed this yr that he’s the type of superior hitter who’s going to determine issues out. Even if he’s not swinging the bat that nice, the velocity and the protection are going to play in middle discipline. I’d put him within the Diamondbacks’ leadoff spot and let him go.”

Jim Callis: Carroll (NL); Henderson (AL)

“I think the American League pick is a little clearer cut for me. In the National League you’ve got guys like Mets catcher Francisco Álvarez and Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker. But I too would pick Corbin Carroll. I think he’s got both the clearest opportunity at playing time, especially now that the Diamondbacks traded [Daulton] Varsho, and I also think his bat is the most ready for the big leagues.”

“With Gunnar Henderson, I guess we could question if he’s going to play shortstop, is he going to play third? [‘Who cares?’ — Mayo] He’s just everything he was cracked up to be. Like Carroll, he got to play the final month of the season and stepped right in, didn’t look overmatched, and he played three different positions. In my mind, I know Álvarez is No. 1 on our Top 100 Prospects list right now … I think I’d vote for Gunnar Henderson as we begin a new one.”

“We knew he was superior on the plate — you clearly aren’t going No. 1 within the Draft in the event you don’t have plenty of bodily skill and expertise. But he simply managed the strike zone so effectively, even after leaping as much as Single-A at age 18. I feel he’s going to hit for common, hit for energy, [play] actually good shortstop. It’ll be enjoyable to determine who’s enjoying the place in that Orioles infield when he’s prepared in a few years.”

“[Mayer] was after all the No. 4 general choose within the Draft to the Red Sox in 2021 however was on the high of our board. He carried out very effectively throughout two ranges of A-ball, despite the fact that the bounce to High-A was a bit of more difficult, however he confirmed off a very good method. I feel the ability goes to maintain coming and I feel he’s going to fully explode this yr.”

“I’m going to say that the Phillies are going to go back-to-back. I feel that Abel spends most of [next] yr between Double-A and Triple-A, possibly touches the Majors on the finish of the yr … He missed a ton of bats, I feel he’s going to essentially determine issues out and he’s going to see Andrew Painter beat him to Philadelphia and that’s going to inspire him … I feel the stuff is simply going to get higher and sharper.”

“To me it got here down to 3 guys — Mick Abel, Ricky Tiedemann, possibly Jackson Jobe of the Tigers … I’ll go together with Tiedemann. I need to give a shoutout to Keegan Matheson, who does our Blue Jays record with Sam Dykstra, he was actually pushing for Ricky Tiedemann going into the yr … Third-round choose in 2021, mid-90s fastball, slider, changeup, [throws] strikes, left-handed, good 6-foot-4, 220-pound body. I’ll gamble a bit of bit that Tiedemann spends sufficient time within the Minors.”

“In my thoughts he’s the very best pitching prospect within the Draft, going again to Gerrit Cole or Stephen Strasburg, and I feel he’s a bit of extra uncommon than what Dylan Crews (Draft No. 1) or Wyatt Langford convey to the desk.”

“I feel Langford goes to point out folks he can play middle discipline — he hasn’t performed it earlier than — he runs a bit higher than Crews, I feel he’s a bit of extra athletic … I don’t assume there’s that a lot separating the 2 and I feel there might be some spirited conversations, however I’m going to take heed to the 2 completely different scouts that I spoke to once we have been placing collectively our record and take Langford.”

“I’m going to stick with him for all the same reasons why I picked him as the Hitter of the Year. More power is going to come and I think he’s going to really take off at the upper levels while playing a very good shortstop.”

“I’m going to reflect what you probably did, Jonathan, and simply stick to my Hitter of the Year … I simply assume he’s going to be the very best hitting prospect within the Minors. I don’t assume he’s fairly pretty much as good defensively as Mayer is at shortstop, however he’s stronger and sooner.”

“This might be probably the most troublesome query … It’s nonetheless a really younger farm system: George Valera (No. 2), Gavin Williams (No. 3), Bo Naylor (No. 5) and Brayan Rocchio (No. 4) are all knocking on the door, all on the Top 100 Prospects record, and so is Tanner Bibee (No. 6). I don’t assume any of these guys are locks to lose their prospect standing. I like their Draft, beginning with Chase DeLauter (No. 7) and Justin Campbell (No. 12). They have Jackson Chourio’s little brother Jaison Chourio (No. 21), who began to make an increase final yr. I simply assume they’ve a very deep farm system and received’t get as affected by graduations as a lot as different golf equipment.”

“I’m going to say that Elly De La Cruz (No. 1) goes to carry onto rookie eligibility for another yr to make me look sensible. I do know we noticed Noelvi Marte (No. 2) not look that nice within the Fall League however I feel he’s going to settle in enjoying third base and the ability is there. They nonetheless have Edwin Arroyo (No. 3), Cam Collier (No. 4) from the Draft, I feel Matt McLain (No. 5) may have a bounceback season … If Brandon Williamson (No. 6) and Andrew Abbott (No. 10) aren’t within the Majors that provides to their pitching depth. I feel Chase Petty (No. 9) goes to take a giant step ahead this yr.”

“He’s obtained five-tool potential and had a very robust professional debut, largely in Single-A, the place he had an OPS over 1.000 in 26 video games. He’s a man who may begin the yr in High-A, possibly in Double-A. Left-handed hitter who can hit and have energy popping out of that Virginia Tech offense and may perform a little little bit of all the things.”

“Merrill was the third-youngest participant within the Fall League and he didn’t seem like it … He simply by no means appeared overmatched. I really like the swing, simply love the way in which he hits. I feel he’s going to be an impression bat. With plenty of these younger shortstops it’s, ‘Is he a shortstop, third baseman, second baseman…?’ I don’t assume it issues as a result of it is a man who may ultimately be a .300/25-plus homer man after which that bat will play everywhere in the diamond.”

“The man signed for $4.925 million so it’s not like if he blossoms it’ll be a giant shock. But he’s 6-foot-3, he’s obtained all types of energy and bat velocity, he’s a switch-hitter, he can actually run. I don’t assume anybody who follows worldwide baseball could be shocked like, ‘Where did Cristhian Vaquero come from?’ But I do assume he’s able to making that leap from the DSL to rising up the Top 100 record in a short time.”

“He signed for $1.3 million in January of 2021, which was on the time the most important bonus the Orioles had ever given to a world prospect. He performed within the States in 2022 within the Florida Complex League, actually held his personal and confirmed off a reasonably good method. There is plenty of uncooked energy for him to faucet into as a left-handed-hitting catcher. There’s an outdoor probability he outgrows catcher — he’s obtained a very robust arm — so it’s actually the bat that I’m shopping for. He’ll solely be 18 for many of this upcoming season the place he’ll transfer to full-season ball.”