Flexing: Each team’s top power-hitting prospect
Last week, we coated one of the best pure-hitting prospect in every system, noting that it’s nearly unattainable to be a Major League common should you can’t hit. Do you recognize what’s one other strategy to put your self excessive? Hit the ball exhausting.
Power could make a .250 hitter right into a star or, in some instances, hold you within the sport on the energy of that instrument alone. With extra emphasis on swinging with intent, having gamers who could make loud contact has as a lot worth as ever, and that’s mirrored right here.
These are the highest power-hitting prospects from every of the 30 farm programs, 18 of whom are Top 100 prospects and topped by the one 70-grade slugger on that listing — Mets catcher Francisco Álvarez.
Blue Jays: Orelvis Martinez, SS/3B (No. 4)
Martinez fell out of the Top 100 due to strategy and defensive considerations, however the pop has at all times been there for the July 2018 signee. Despite being solely certainly one of three 20-year-olds to get 400 plate appearances at Double-A final season, Martinez set a New Hampshire document with 30 residence runs in 118 video games. His .242 remoted slugging share was the sixth-highest amongst 120 Double-A qualifiers. Martinez’s downside will be that he chases energy too typically, resulting in rougher averages and OBPs, however the Jays are hopeful that speaks extra to his age than his general means.
Orioles: Gunnar Henderson, 3B/SS (No. 1/MLB No. 1)
One of the small handful of gamers who’re on this listing in addition to the greatest hitter one, Henderson remains to be studying the right way to faucet into his appreciable uncooked energy. The changes he made final 12 months as a hitter have helped him entry it extra, with much more to return as he continues to mature and get used to large league pitching.
Rays: Heriberto Hernandez, OF (No. 17)
Acquired from the Rangers again within the December 2020 commerce for Nathaniel Lowe, Hernandez continues to indicate among the greatest exit velocities in a deep Tampa Bay system, because of his energy and fast fingers within the field. His 24 Bowling Green homers marked a profession excessive and ranked second amongst High-A batters in 2022. The 23-year-old catcher-turned-outfielder can get caught chasing breaking balls too typically, however when he makes contact, the ball tends to go a great distance.
Red Sox: Triston Casas, 1B (No. 2/MLB No. 23)
A primary-round pick of a Florida highschool in 2018, Casas tied for the match lead with three homers on the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Boston’s projected starter at first base, he went deep 5 instances in 27 large league video games final September, together with a 411-foot, opposite-field shot off Gerrit Cole. More than only a masher, he is a disciplined hitter and an asset at first base.
Yankees: Jasson Domínguez, OF (No. 2/MLB No. 47)
Perhaps probably the most hyped worldwide prospect ever, Domínguez landed a $5.1 million bonus when he turned professional out of the Dominican Republic in 2019, partially due to his means to crush balls from each side of the plate. He has the potential for not less than strong instruments throughout the board and slashed .273/.375/.461 with 16 homers and 37 steals final 12 months whereas reaching Double-A at age 19.
Guardians: Jhonkensy Noel, OF/3B/1B (No. 20)
Signed for $100,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2017, the 6-foot-3, 250-pound Noel has among the greatest uncooked pop in the complete Minors. His mixture of light-tower energy and an unrepentantly aggressive strategy reminds some scouts of Franmil Reyes, and Noel slashed .229/.310/.489 with 32 homers and 150 strikeouts whereas advancing from High-A to Triple-A at age 20.
Royals: Gavin Cross, OF (No. 1/ MLB No. 62)
The Virginia Tech star loved back-to-back seasons with slugging percentages above .600 in his closing two years at college and had nearly as many extra-base hits (39) as strikeouts (41) in his junior spring with the Hokies. Batting out of an open stance that helps him elevate, Cross continued to indicate good pop throughout his first style of the Minors at Single-A Columbia, the place he homered seven instances and slugged .596 over 26 video games. Even if it’s simply above-average pop in the long run, that’s worthwhile whether or not Cross leads to heart or proper long-term.
Tigers: Jace Jung, 2B (No. 2/ MLB No. 83)
There’s actually a case for fellow Detroit infielder Colt Keith right here, too, and it needs to be enjoyable to see each try and turn into sluggers on the filth on their strategy to Motor City. For his half, Jung had a .647 slugging share over his three seasons at Texas Tech and led the Big 12 with 21 homers in 2021 when nobody else within the convention had greater than 16. His bat pace and energy assist him present good all-fields energy, and that would carry into 2023, after some preliminary bumps final season in his intro to professional ball.
Twins: Matt Wallner, OF (No. 7)
It’s grow to be fairly clear who Wallner is and who he’s going to be. He’s going to swing and miss rather a lot, with a strikeout fee over 30 p.c in his professional profession so far. He’s going to stroll rather a lot, with a 12.8 p.c free go fee. And he’s going to hit the ball over the fence rather a lot. He hit a mixed 29 homers and slugged .542 throughout two ranges of the Minors and the large leagues in 2022 and that shouldn’t be an outlier.
White Sox: Oscar Colas, OF (No. 2/MLB No. 85)
Not solely does Colas have properly above-average uncooked energy that performs largely to his pull aspect, he additionally confirmed extra adaptability on the plate than anticipated in his U.S. debut. Signed for $2.7 million in January 2022, he slashed .314/.371/.524 with 23 homers whereas reaching Triple-A and will assist the White Sox within the close to future.
Angels: Logan O’Hoppe, C (MLB No. 53)
We just lately put him on a brief listing of American League Rookie of the Year candidates and his energy is just one small a part of the equation. He hit 17 homers in 2021, his first style of full-season ball, then upped that to 26 final 12 months. He actually discovered his energy stroke after coming to the Angels on the Trade Deadline for Brandon Marsh, discovering the seats 11 instances in 29 Double-A video games to earn his first name as much as the large leagues. Seeing him hit 20-plus residence runs a 12 months within the large leagues appears extraordinarily affordable.
Astros: Yainer Diaz, C/1B
The most underrated catching prospect within the sport, Diaz is a .321 hitter with a 14 p.c strikeout fee in 5 seasons within the Minors — and his exit velocities jumped about 5 mph as he cranked a career-best 25 homers between Double-A and Triple-A in 2022. The Guardians signed him for $25,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2016, then included him in a commerce for Myles Straw 5 years later.
A’s: Tyler Soderstrom, 1B/C (MLB No. 39)
A primary-round decide in 2020, Soderstrom entered professional ball as a sophisticated highschool bat who gave the impression to be a bit hit over energy. He nonetheless can actually hit, however the energy has proven up after which some. He slugged his method from High-A to Triple-A in 2022, homering 29 instances and ending the 12 months with a .501 SLG. The swing-and-miss upticked as properly, however he has a adequate strategy for him to probably be a plus hitter with plus energy within the large leagues, and he ought to knock on the door quickly at age 21.
Mariners: Lazaro Montes, OF
Just 18, Montes will make his United States debut in 2023 after signing with the Mariners for $2.5 million in January of 2022. He gave an early indication about his means to make use of his energy by ending within the Dominican Summer League prime 10 in homers (10), SLG (.585) and OPS (1.007). The DSL is a hitting-friendly league, so the Mariners are excited to see how he produces stateside.
Rangers: Josh Jung, 3B (MLB No. 34)
More of a hit-over-power man when the Rangers chosen him eighth general out of Texas Tech in 2019, Jung turned extra aggressive final 12 months and began driving balls with extra authority and within the air extra typically. He went deep off Ross Stripling in his first large league at-bat final September, smacked 5 homers in 26 video games with the Rangers and needs to be their beginning third baseman for years to return.
Braves: Jesse Franklin V, OF (No. 14)
Franklin mashed 24 homers in a less-than-hitting-friendly residence ballpark in High-A Rome in 2021. The left-handed hitter actually struggled within the Arizona Fall League after that, however he didn’t actually get to include classes realized or work on bettering his strategy in 2022, needing Tommy John surgical procedure and taking part in simply 15 video games. He wants a full season of at-bats to see if the facility will play on the higher ranges.
Marlins: Jacob Berry, 3B (No. 2/MLB No. 61)
The sixth general decide final July, Berry stands out most for his hitting means and superior strategy from each side of the plate, however he presents strong energy as properly. He had practically as many homers (15) as strikeouts (22) final spring at Louisiana State earlier than going deep thrice in 33 video games in Single-A.
Mets: Francisco Álvarez, C (No. 1/ MLB No. 3)
Álvarez is the kind of batter that makes you wish to get a great seat throughout batting observe. His whiplike swing and immense energy typically elicit wows from followers, coaches, fellow gamers and evaluators alike, and he carries that energy into video games too. His 51 homers during the last two seasons rank second amongst all Minor League catchers, and he achieved that whole earlier than his twenty first birthday. In solely a quick Major League callup, he posted a 108.9 mph exit velocity that led all Mets catchers in 2022, and all indications level to there being much more the place that got here from.
Nationals: Elijah Green, OF (No. 3/ MLB No. 46)
Green’s fast wrists and double-plus uncooked energy made him a candidate to go first general final July, and the Nationals had been elated to get him with the fourth general decide. The concentrate on pop continued throughout his temporary foray into the Minors, when six of his 13 hits within the Florida Complex League went for further bases. The right-handed slugger additionally struggled with excessive warmth throughout that point, drawing into query whether or not he can get into the facility, however at its ceiling, he might be not less than a 30-homer hitter within the Majors. The idea of pairing his energy with James Wood’s in a future Nats outfield needs to be mouth-watering.
Phillies: Carlos De La Cruz, OF (No. 9)
De La Cruz has made about as giant of a leap as any prospect in baseball, going from unranked to into the Phillies’ prime 10 this 12 months. The uncooked energy is a giant motive as he began tapping into it in 2022, hitting 17 homers between High-A and Double-A, then slugging .516 within the Arizona Fall League. If he can proceed to refine his strategy on the plate and see extra pitches, he might have plus in-game energy sooner or later.
Brewers: Jackson Chourio, OF (No. 1/ MLB No. 8)
Chourio is probably going greater than his listed 6-foot-1, 165 kilos as of late, however he nonetheless could be among the many wiriest gamers on this listing. That mentioned, he hit 20 homers, notched 55 extra-base hits and slugged .538 over 99 video games throughout three ranges in his breakout 2022 season. Milwaukee’s prime prospect has energy that performs everywhere in the park too, and he typically left Brewers coaches wowed by the way in which he might drive the ball to proper in addition to left. He’s nonetheless solely coming into his age-19 season, and it’s enjoyable to take a position simply how large the pop can get from right here.
Cardinals: Jordan Walker, OF/3B (No. 1/ MLB No. 4)
St. Louis followers have already gotten a take a look at Walker’s immense energy this spring when he hit a 430-foot homer off Marlins veteran Johnny Cueto on Feb. 26. Entering Thursday, it’s the longest Statcast-measured Spring Training from a Cardinal in 2023 thus far, and with Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt each competing within the World Baseball Classic, Walker would be the one to beat his personal document. The right-handed slugger hit 19 homers and slugged .510 as a 20-year-old at Double-A final season and remains to be discovering one of the best methods to take advantage of his plus-plus uncooked as he good points upper-level expertise.
Cubs: Alexander Canario, OF (No. 11)
The Cubs have a number of promising sluggers of their system and none hit extra homers final 12 months than Canario, who ranked second within the Minors with 37 in his first full season with the group after arriving from the Giants within the July 2021 Kris Bryant commerce. He has electrical bat pace and big uncooked energy, although his large league debut is on maintain after a baserunning mishap within the Dominican Winter League final November left him needing surgical procedure on a damaged left ankle and dislocated left shoulder.
Pirates: Henry Davis, C (No. 3/MLB No. 57)
Davis slugged .663 and hit 15 homers at Louisville in 2021, one of many causes he landed at No. 1 general within the Draft. Even although he missed a bunch of 2022 with accidents, which undoubtedly hampered his means to get in a groove, he nonetheless slugged .472 and hit 10 homers. Seeing how a lot of the facility exhibits up with a completely wholesome season is without doubt one of the most fascinating prospect storylines in 2023.
Reds: Elly De La Cruz, SS/3B (No. 1/MLB No. 10)
We don’t get bored with speaking about De La Cruz, one of the crucial dynamic prospects in all of baseball. He has all 5 instruments and regardless that he’s solely 21, he’s already accessing his energy from each side of the plate. After slugging .539 in his U.S. debut in 2021, he upped that to .586 final 12 months, with 28 homers and 68 whole extra-base hits between High-A and Double-A. Imagine what may occur if he can reduce down the strikeouts somewhat.
D-backs: Deyvison De Los Santos, 3B/1B
De Los Santos climbed three ranges and performed within the Arizona Fall League throughout his age-19 season because the D-backs tried to seek out him recent challenges. Stemming from his energy at such an early time in his profession, his exit velocities are among the many greatest in the complete Arizona system, and he might put up some monster numbers within the hitter-friendly environs of Double-A Amarillo and Triple-A Reno. Arizona must discover a spot for him on the sector between the 2 infield nook spots, however they’ll be further motivated to take action if De Los Santos builds on final 12 months’s 22-homer efficiency.
Dodgers: Diego Cartaya, C (MLB No. 14)
MLB Pipeline’s No. 1 prospect within the 2018 worldwide class, Cartaya signed for $2.5 million out of Venezuela and attracts Salvador Perez comparisons due to huge energy and robust 6-foot-3, 219-pound body. A extra superior hitter than Perez on the identical stage of their careers, he popped 22 homers in 95 video games between Single-A and High-A.
Giants: Marco Luciano, SS (MLB No. 22)
Few gamers within the Minors have a faster bat than Luciano, who turns it into plus-plus uncooked energy to all fields. Signed for $2.6 million out of the Dominican Republic in 2018, he homered 10 instances in 57 High-A video games regardless of coping with again points.
Padres: Joshua Mears, OF
Mears has an all-or-nothing strategy with killer energy that makes him each tantalizing and maddening as a prospect. To wit, his 22 homers in 2022 had been tied for second-most within the Padres system, regardless of taking part in solely 93 video games, and 42 of his 70 whole hits between the Arizona Complex League, High-A Fort Wayne and Double-A San Antonio went for further bases. He additionally struck out 43.9 p.c of the time, highest amongst Minor Leaguers with not less than 300 plate appearances. If Mears will get a pitch in his zone, he rivals anybody else within the Minors for pure uncooked pop, and if he can discover a strategy to squeeze out only a bit extra contact, he might have a Joey Gallo-style profession within the bigs.
Rockies: Michael Toglia, 1B
He could be a little bit of an all-or-nothing energy man who attracts a ton of walks, however there’s no query about him attending to his plus energy. He hit 22 homers in his first full season (2021) after which smashed 30 a 12 months in the past, 23 of which got here in Double-A Hartford, which isn’t precisely a hitting haven. That doesn’t rely the 2 homers he hit throughout his large league debut and it will likely be fascinating to see if he could make sufficient contact within the large leagues to be a strong run producer.
