Prospect debuts we’re excited to see in 2023
The 2022 season was an thrilling one for Major League debuts. Twelve Top 100 prospects started the marketing campaign on Opening Day rosters, together with three of the highest 5 in Bobby Witt Jr., Julio Rodríguez and Spencer Torkelson. Others who adopted of their footsteps with later bows — like National League Rookie of the Year Michael Harris II and American League ROY runner-up Adley Rutschman — saved the practice coming with expertise. The regular stream of massive names to The Show is an enormous method by which we’ll keep in mind this 12 months in baseball.
With any luck, 2023 can be no totally different.
Just earlier than the calendar flips to the brand new 12 months, let’s take a look at the top-prospect debuts we’re most excited to see within the Majors subsequent season:
Blue Jays: Yosver Zulueta, RHP (No. 5)
Zulueta’s upper-90s fastball and spectacular slider probably would have gotten him a spot with the Blue Jays late final 12 months if not for shoulder/knee points that knocked him out for a lot of August and a few management considerations after his return to Double-A/Triple-A in September. Still, he completed with a career-high 55 2/3 innings and after being added to the 40-man roster this month, he has an out of doors shot to make the membership out of Spring Training. Even if he doesn’t, that blend of high-end velocity and respectable offspeed stuff will probably be too good to maintain him down for lengthy.
Orioles: Grayson Rodriguez, RHP (No. 2/MLB No. 4)
The Orioles gave us Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson within the large leagues in 2022 (Henderson remains to be a rookie for 2023!). Rodriguez probably would have joined them if not for a lat pressure, however assuming well being, search for his four-pitch combine (three of them plus) and plus command to make a big impact as Baltimore continues to maneuver in the direction of competition within the AL East.
Rays: Curtis Mead, 3B/2B (No. 2/MLB No. 35)
Taj Bradley would even be an ideal shout right here, however we’ll lean on the Australian infielder who will nearly definitely hit his solution to St. Petersburg within the first half. A profession .306 hitter within the Minors, Mead continues so as to add energy as he develops from his easy upright stance, and his transferring round from third to second to first at instances suits the Tampa Bay mildew fairly nicely.
Red Sox: Ceddane Rafaela, OF/SS (No. 3/MLB No. 96)
Rafaela could be one of the best defender within the Minors — he is excellent all around the diamond — and will fill a gap within the infield or outfield relying on how the Red Sox wind up changing Xander Bogaerts. Signed for simply $10,000 out of Curacao in 2017, he is listed at 5-foot-8 and 182 kilos however has sneaky energy and plus velocity. He hit .299/.342/.538 with 21 homers and 28 steals in 116 video games between High-A and Double-A.
Yankees: Anthony Volpe, SS (No. 1/MLB No. 5)
Coming off the primary 20-homer, 50-steal season within the Minors since Andruw Jones in 1995, Volpe ought to be beginning someplace within the Yankees’ center infield sooner or later this season. The 2019 first-rounder from a New Jersey highschool continues to enhance his instruments and get essentially the most out of him together with his excessive baseball IQ.
Guardians: Daniel Espino, RHP (No. 1/MLB No. 15)
Though Espino made simply 4 Double-A begins in 2022 whereas coping with tendinitis in his left knee and soreness in his proper shoulder, there isn’t any query that the 2019 first-rounder from a Georgia highschool has front-of-the-rotation stuff when wholesome. He can blow hitters away with a operating mid-90s fastball that tops out at 101 mph in addition to with two variations of an influence slider, and he additionally has a strong curveball and a changeup with comparable upside.
Royals: Nick Loftin, OF/3B/SS (No. 4)
Kansas City underwent a youth motion in 2022 however ought to have a farm system that’s farther away on the prime subsequent 12 months. With Maikel Garcia and Drew Waters seeing the Majors final summer season, that leaves us with Loftin as the subsequent choice right here. With above-average grades for his velocity, arm and glove, the 24-year-old has moved across the diamond from shortstop to middle to 3rd base to discover a spot in KC’s plans. Should he bounce again from a tough early spell at Triple-A Omaha, that athleticism ought to do him nicely to discover a spot within the Royals’ crew of the longer term and even current.
Tigers: Wilmer Flores, RHP (No. 3/MLB No. 100)
If 2022 was the 12 months of rookie hitters in Detroit, Flores may assist make 2023 extra centered on the arms as he tries to drive his method into the rotation dialogue. The 6-foot-4 righty, who will solely flip 22 in February, had a 3.01 ERA with 95 strikeouts in 83 2/3 innings at Double-A Erie final season and relied on a mid-90s fastball and plus curveball to elbow his method into MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 for the primary time. He’ll have to see Triple-A for the primary time within the spring, however he has the potential to make it a brief keep in Toledo.
Twins: Edouard Julien, 2B (No. 14)
He’s all the time drawn walks (110 in 2021 and 98 in 2022) and he did quite a lot of injury in Double-A final 12 months (.300/.441/.490). Then he went on to hit .400 with a 1.249 OPS to earn Arizona Fall League Breakout Player of the Year honors. That efficiency ought to function a springboard to Minnesota, even when it’s a bit unclear what place he’ll play long run.
White Sox: Oscar Colas, OF (No. 2/MLB No. 95)
Signed for $2.7 million final January, Colas lived as much as expectations in his U.S. debut, batting .314/.371/.524 with 23 homers whereas rising from High-A to Triple-A and searching like the subsequent Cuban star for the White Sox. With his nicely above-average uncooked energy and arm power, he suits the right-field profile properly — and Chicago occurs to have a necessity at that place.
Angels: Zach Neto, SS (No. 2)
Is this a stretch given the actual fact Neto was drafted simply final July? Maybe, however the No. 13 total choose of the 2022 Draft has the form of superior hit device that might carry him to the large leagues in a rush. The reality he hit .320 with an .874 OPS in 30 video games in Double-A throughout his summer season debut provides us extra confidence he can begin the season within the decrease ranges and hit his solution to L.A., maybe as the primary 2022 draftee to make his Major League debut.
Astros: Pedro Leon, OF/2B (No. 4)
Leon has had the loudest instruments within the Astros’ system since signing for $4 million in January 2021, the most important bonus in that worldwide class. The Cuban defector has nicely above-average energy and velocity, to not point out top-of-the-scale arm power. To discover a job with the defending World Series champions, he’ll have to make extra constant contact after batting .228/.365/.431 with 17 homers, 38 steals and a 29 p.c strikeout price in Triple-A.
A’s: Zack Gelof, 3B/2B (No. 3/MLB No. 94)
Gelof obtained off to a scorching begin in Double-A to start his first full season of professional ball solely to be sidelined by a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder. He got here again to the touch Triple-A and play within the AFL and whereas his efficiency on the plate was uneven, he confirmed glimpses offensively in addition to some defensive versatility that might punch a ticket to Oakland quickly.
Mariners: Emerson Hancock, RHP (No. 2)
The 2018 and 2019 first-rounders, Logan Gilbert and George Kirby, are within the Mariners’ rotation already. Now it’s time for the 2020 No. 6 total choose to affix them. Arm and shoulder points hampered him in 2021, however he bounced again with 21 begins in Double-A in 2022. A little bit extra seasoning on the higher ranges and he ought to be prepared to assist out the large league workers.
Rangers: Owen White, RHP (No. 4/MLB No. 59)
Recent top-three-overall picks Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker are way more well-known, however fellow Rangers right-hander White could have a brighter future than both. After he signed for $1.5 million as a 2018 second-rounder out of a North Carolina highschool, he did not make his professional debut till May 2021 due to Tommy John surgical procedure and the pandemic. He used 4 solid-to-plus pitches to submit a 3.59 ERA, .233 opponent common and 104/23 Okay/BB ratio in 80 1/3 innings between High-A and Double-A in 2022, although he did miss two months with forearm points.
Braves: Jared Shuster, LHP (No. 1)
The Braves’ system is definitely thinned out, much more so following the commerce to accumulate Sean Murphy, however they all the time discover assist from the farm yearly. Shuster, the membership’s first-rounder in 2020, proved to be very sturdy (139 1/3 IP) and in a position to miss bats (9.4 Okay/9) on the higher ranges of the system. He’s extra flooring than ceiling, however he’s prepared to succeed in it now.
Mets: Ronny Mauricio, SS (No. 6)
Francisco Álvarez, Brett Baty and Mark Vientos have already debuted, and Kevin Parada, Alex Ramirez and Jett Williams are too far to see the Majors in 2023. So we’re centered on Mauricio, who has been within the news currently after he was named LIDOM MVP. Where will he play if he will get the decision with Francisco Lindor and Carlos Correa working on the left aspect of the infield? That’s TBD, however there’s sufficient thump within the bat for the 22-year-old to make an affect whilst a depth piece.
Marlins: Eury Pérez, RHP (No. 1/MLB No. 9)
Pérez will not flip 20 till April 15 however does not have a lot left to show within the Minors after compiling a 4.08 ERA, .223 opponent common and 106/25 Okay/BB ratio in 75 Double-A innings. He did miss almost two months with gentle shoulder fatigue, although that was a precaution. Signed for $200,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2019, he may have 4 plus pitches when he is a completed product and his 6-foot-8 body creates tough extension and angle.
Nationals: Thad Ward, RHP (No. 13)
In its rebuild, Washington appeared primed to take a top quality Rule 5 choice earlier this month and did so by taking arguably one of the best pitcher out there in Ward from the Red Sox. The 25-year-old right-hander returned from Tommy John final 12 months and confirmed high quality stuff with a 92-96 mph sinking fastball and plus slider. The Nats have mentioned Ward will start ‘23 in the bullpen, but it wouldn’t be a shock to see him get begins earlier than lengthy.
Phillies: Andrew Painter, RHP (No.1/MLB No. 24)
If you’re not already, it’s time to get on the Painter practice. Yes, he doesn’t flip 20 till April and solely has 109 2/3 skilled innings on his resume. But after dominating at three ranges, together with pitching nicely in Double-A and incomes MLB Pipeline Pitcher of the Year honors, it’s clear he doesn’t want way more when it comes to improvement. Look for him to assist the Phillies win the NL East in 2023.
Brewers: Sal Frelick, OF (No. 2/MLB No. 46)
The 2021 first-rounder hit in any respect three ranges he performed in 2022 and arguably was at his finest at Triple-A Nashville, the place he produced a .365 common and .943 OPS whereas placing out solely 7.4 p.c of the time. He has the velocity to cowl floor on the basepaths and the grass, although he has been a bit tough across the edges defensively early in his profession. Still, his bat and total offensive method can’t be held down for lengthy, and there’s probability he jumps over 2022 debutant Garrett Mitchell on the MLB depth chart.
Cardinals: Jordan Walker, OF (No. 1/MLB No. 6)
Walker’s debut can be one of the extremely anticipated throughout the league, each time it comes. That may very well be as early as Opening Day as a result of even with a crowded outfield state of affairs, Walker nonetheless possesses the excessive ceiling of a participant you’d need up for a complete season. That comes from the thunderous right-handed bat that helped him hit .306/.388/.510 with 19 homers in 119 video games at Double-A final season, and as he confirmed within the Arizona Fall League, his transition to the outfield has been comparatively easy, thanks partly to plus-plus arm power.
Cubs: Brennen Davis, OF (No. 2/MLB No. 48)
If not for repeated again points that restricted him to 53 Triple-A video games and necessitated June 2 surgical procedure to right a nest of blood vessels pushing in opposition to a nerve, Davis already would have debuted with the Cubs. The 2018 second-rounder from an Arizona highschool and 2021 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game MVP may have a minimum of strong instruments throughout the board and is able to enjoying all three outfield spots.
Pirates: Endy Rodriguez, C/2B/OF (No. 6/MLB No. 97)
He can play throughout and he can flat out rake, reaching Triple-A in 2022 and ending with a mixed .323/.407/.590 and 25 homers. Sure, the Pirates signed Austin Hedges to bridge the hole to Rodriguez and/or Henry Davis, however Rodriguez will definitely hit his solution to the large leagues and the workers can work his bat into the lineup behind the plate, at second or within the outfield.
Reds: Elly De La Cruz, SS/3B (No. 1/MLB No. 14)
If you’re not itching to see what De La Cruz does within the large leagues, you haven’t been paying consideration. He’ll be simply 21 for all of 2023 and is coming off of a season that noticed him get to Double-A and hit a mixed .304/.359/.586 with 28 homers and 47 steals as one of the electrical prospects in all of baseball.
D-backs: Brandon Pfaadt, RHP (No. 4/MLB No. 90)
Arizona may very well be a darkish horse candidate to make the 2023 postseason, and its probabilities may very well be aided by the arrival of Pfaadt, final 12 months’s Minor League strikeout chief with 218 at Double-A/Triple-A. A 92-94 mph fastball and fading changeup have been thought-about his two plus pitches, however his sweeping slider additionally helped him rack up the Okay’s in opposition to upper-level bats final summer season. Those three pitches (plus an occasional curveball) give Pfaadt mid-rotation potential, and he probably gained’t want way more Pacific Coast League seasoning earlier than reaching The Show.
Dodgers: Bobby Miller, RHP (No. 2/MLB No. 26)
The Dodgers can substitute a few of the innings they misplaced with departed free brokers Tyler Anderson and Andrew Heaney by turning to Miller, who recorded a 4.25 ERA, .222 opponent common and a 145/37 Okay/BB ratio in 112 1/3 innings between Double-A and Triple-A. A 2020 first-rounder from Louisville, he can overwhelm hitters with a driving upper-90s fastball, an influence slider and a fading, sinking changeup.
Giants: Kyle Harrison, LHP (No. 2/MLB No. 21)
A 3rd-round alternative who signed for first-round cash ($2,497,500) as a California excessive schooler in 2020, Harrison has developed into baseball’s finest left-handed pitching prospect. He led the Minors in strikeout price (14.8 per 9 innings) and strikeout share (39.8) whereas logging a 2.71 ERA, .196 opponent common and 186 strikeouts in 113 innings between High-A and Double-A. His two finest pitches are a operating mid-90s fastball and a mid-80s slider.
Padres: Alek Jacob, RHP (No. 25)
We’re excited to see a wider viewers response to Jacob’s throwing model and repertoire. The 24-year-old right-hander chucks it from a tough sidearm angle and nonetheless manages to maintain hitters off steadiness with a sinking fastball that sits within the upper-80s. A low-70s fading changeup and low-70s sweeping slider look Bugs Bunny-like at instances, and people had been the 2 which have given Jacob success in Minor League bullpens. The former Gonzaga star can be there each time San Diego desires so as to add funk to its reduction corps.
Rockies: Zac Veen, OF (No. 1/MLB No. 23)
Veen struggled when he obtained to Double-A for the primary time in 2022, however righted the ship with a robust displaying within the AFL, hitting .333, drawing a ton of walks and swiping 16 baggage. Give him a bit time on the higher ranges earlier than he hits and runs his method into the Rockies’ lineup in Colorado.
