Youngest Players By League On Opening Day 2022
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Image credit: Francisco Alvarez (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
If history is any indication, a team aggressively moving a player up the minor league ladder serves as an excellent vote of confidence. It’s also often a sign of great things to come.
For an example, let’s turn the clock all the way back to 2021. The youngest player in Triple-A was Wander Franco. A year later, he’s made his big league debut, was part of a playoff roster and looks like he has a chance to reach his lofty ceiling.
The youngest player in the Double-A Texas League was Padres super prospect CJ Abrams. Opening Day this year? He’s in the big leagues. The same might have been true for Tigers outfielder Riley Greene—who was the youngest player in the Double-A Eastern League—were it not for a broken foot suffered late in spring training. Hunter Greene was the fifth-youngest player in the Double-A Southern League, and he dazzled this past week in his first big league start.
The youngest player in the High-A Northwest League was Mariners Uber-talent Julio Rodriguez. Guess where he spent his Opening Day. That’s right, with the big league team in Minnesota.
The youngest player on any Opening Day roster in 2021 was Marlins righthander Eury Perez, who made the Low-A roster despite having never thrown a pro pitch. He crushed the competition in the Florida State League, and finished the year with five starts in the Midwest League. Instead of returning to High-A, the Marlins chose to jump Perez to Double-A, where he’s the youngest player at any classification above Low-A.
Perez’s Double-A assignment is the first time an 18-year-old pitcher has begun the season in Double-A since Julio Urias began the 2015 season at Double-A Tulsa. Urias and Perez are the only two 18-year-old pitchers since 2010 to begin a season at Double-A.
Below, Baseball America once again brings you the youngest players at each minor league level. Some names are familiar, others aren’t. Five leagues, including the National League, have Top 100 Prospects as their youngest player. The players who are at the top of the other leagues might just be on the Top 100 by this time next year.
Also worth noting. Nationals star Juan Soto was the fifth-youngest player on any National League roster for Opening Day 2022. Soto is also tied for 100th on the active leaderboard for MLB home runs (99) and is 48th among all active players in walks (375).
American League | ||||
Rk | Player, Pos. | Team | ORG | Age |
1 | Wander Franco, SS | Tampa Bay Rays | TB | 21.10 |
2 | Julio Rodriguez, RF | Seattle Mariners | SEA | 21.27 |
3 | Bobby Witt, SS | Kansas City Royals | KC | 21.82 |
4 | Luis Patino, RHP | Tampa Bay Rays | TB | 22.45 |
5 | Spencer Torkelson, 3B | Detroit Tigers | DET | 22.62 |
6 | Joe Perez, 3B | Houston Astros | HOU | 22.66 |
7 | Jarred Kelenic, LF | Seattle Mariners | SEA | 22.73 |
8 | Reid Detmers, LHP | Los Angeles Angels | LAA | 22.75 |
9 | Jo Adell, LF | Los Angeles Angels | LAA | 23.00 |
10 | Vladimir Guerrero, 1B | Toronto Blue Jays | TOR | 23.06 |
National League | ||||
Rk | Player, Pos. | Team | ORG | Age |
1 | CJ Abrams, SS | San Diego Padres | SD | 21.51 |
2 | Geraldo Perdomo, SS | Arizona Diamondbacks | ARI | 22.47 |
3 | Hunter Greene, RHP | Cincinnati Reds | CIN | 22.67 |
4 | Spencer Strider, RHP | Atlanta Braves | ATL | 23.45 |
5 | Juan Soto, RF | Washington Nationals | WAS | 23.45 |
6 | Dylan Carlson, CF | St. Louis Cardinals | STL | 23.46 |
7 | Andre Pallante, RHP | St. Louis Cardinals | STL | 23.55 |
8 | Brusdar Graterol, RHP | Los Angeles Dodgers | LAD | 23.62 |
9 | Joan Adon, RHP | Washington Nationals | WAS | 23.66 |
10 | Keibert Ruiz, C | Washington Nationals | WAS | 23.72 |
International League (AAA) | ||||
Rk | Player, Pos. | Team | ORG | Age |
1 | Oswald Peraza, SS | Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders | NYY | 21.81 |
2 | Ivan Herrera, C | Memphis Redbirds | STL | 21.85 |
3 | Luis Garcia, SS | Rochester Red Wings | WAS | 21.90 |
4 | Nolan Gorman, 3B | Memphis Redbirds | STL | 21.91 |
5 | Gabriel Arias, SS | Columbus Clippers | CLE | 22.11 |
6 | Triston Casas, 1B | Worcester Red Sox | BOS | 22.23 |
7 | Mark Vientos, 3B | Syracuse Mets | NYM | 22.33 |
8 | Brice Turang, SS | Nashville Sounds | MIL | 22.38 |
9 | Grayson Rodriguez, RHP | Norfolk Tides | BAL | 22.39 |
10 | Roansy Contreras, RHP | Indianapolis Indians | PIT | 22.42 |
Pacific Coast League (AAA) | ||||
Rk | Player, Pos. | Team | ORG | Age |
1 | Miguel Perez, CF | Tacoma Rainiers | SEA | 21.63 |
2 | Alek Thomas, CF | Reno Aces | ARI | 21.94 |
3 | Ryan Weathers, LHP | El Paso Chihuahuas | SD | 22.31 |
4 | Cole Winn, RHP | Round Rock Express | TEX | 22.37 |
5 | Miguel Vargas, 3B | Oklahoma City Dodgers | LAD | 22.39 |
6 | Cesar Izturis, SS | Tacoma Rainiers | SEA | 22.41 |
7 | Heliot Ramos, CF | Sacramento River Cats | SF | 22.59 |
8 | Gregory Santos, RHP | Sacramento River Cats | SF | 22.61 |
9 | Eguy Rosario, 2B | El Paso Chihuahuas | SD | 22.62 |
10 | Ramon Perez, LHP | El Paso Chihuahuas | SD | 22.77 |
Eastern League (AA) | ||||
Rk | Player, Pos. | Team | ORG | Age |
1 | Francisco Alvarez, C | Binghamton Rumble Ponies | NYM | 20.38 |
2 | Orelvis Martinez, SS | New Hampshire Fisher Cats | TOR | 20.38 |
3 | Ezequiel Tovar, SS | Hartford Yard Goats | COL | 20.69 |
4 | Gunnar Henderson, SS | Bowie Baysox | BAL | 20.78 |
5 | Anthony Volpe, SS | Somerset Patriots | NYY | 20.95 |
6 | Ronny Mauricio, SS | Binghamton Rumble Ponies | NYM | 21.01 |
7 | Jose Tena, SS | Akron RubberDucks | CLE | 21.05 |
8 | Brayan Rocchio, SS | Akron RubberDucks | CLE | 21.23 |
9 | Daniel Espino, RHP | Akron RubberDucks | CLE | 21.27 |
10 | Liover Peguero, SS | Altoona Curve | PIT | 21.27 |
Southern League (AA) | ||||
Rk | Player, Pos. | Team | ORG | Age |
1 | Eury Perez, RHP | Pensacola Blue Wahoos | MIA | 18.98 |
2 | Jose Rodriguez, SS | Birmingham Barons | CWS | 20.90 |
3 | Taj Bradley, RHP | Montgomery Biscuits | TB | 21.05 |
4 | Michael Harris, CF | Mississippi Braves | ATL | 21.09 |
5 | Coleman Crow, RHP | Rocket City Trash Pandas | LAA | 21.27 |
6 | Felix Valerio, 2B | Biloxi Shuckers | MIL | 21.28 |
7 | Curtis Mead, 2B | Montgomery Biscuits | TB | 21.45 |
8 | Johan Lopez, SS | Montgomery Biscuits | TB | 21.70 |
9 | Ivan Armstrong, RHP | Rocket City Trash Pandas | LAA | 21.70 |
10 | Livan Soto, SS | Rocket City Trash Pandas | LAA | 21.79 |
Texas League (AA) | ||||
Rk | Player, Pos. | Team | ORG | Age |
1 | Jordan Walker, 3B | Springfield (MO) Cardinals | STL | 19.88 |
2 | Jaime Melendez, RHP | Corpus Christi Hooks | HOU | 20.53 |
3 | Julio Robaina, LHP | Corpus Christi Hooks | HOU | 21.04 |
4 | Malcom Nunez, 3B | Springfield (MO) Cardinals | STL | 21.08 |
5 | Andy Pages, RF | Tulsa Drillers | LAD | 21.33 |
6 | Dwayne Matos, RHP | San Antonio Missions | SD | 21.42 |
7 | Simeon Woods Richardson, RHP | Wichita Wind Surge | MIN | 21.53 |
8 | Corbin Carroll, OF | Amarillo Sod Poodles | ARI | 21.63 |
9 | Jordan Diaz, 3B | Midland RockHounds | OAK | 21.65 |
10 | Jonathan Ornelas, 3B | Frisco RoughRiders | TEX | 21.87 |
Midwest (HiA) | ||||
Rk | Player, Pos. | Team | ORG | Age |
1 | Owen Caissie, OF | South Bend Cubs | CHC | 19.75 |
2 | Brayan Buelvas, LF | Lansing Lugnuts | OAK | 19.83 |
3 | Petey Halpin, OF | Lake County Captains | CLE | 19.87 |
4 | Euribiel Angeles, 2B | Lansing Lugnuts | OAK | 19.90 |
5 | Yohendrick Pinango, LF | South Bend Cubs | CHC | 19.92 |
6 | Masyn Winn, SS | Peoria Chiefs | STL | 20.05 |
7 | Gabriel Rodriguez, SS | Lake County Captains | CLE | 20.12 |
8 | Ed Howard, SS | South Bend Cubs | CHC | 20.19 |
9 | Angel Martinez, 2B | Lake County Captains | CLE | 20.20 |
10 | Elly De La Cruz, 2B | Dayton Dragons | CIN | 20.24 |
Northwest (HiA) | ||||
Rk | Player, Pos. | Team | ORG | Age |
1 | Ronaldo Flores, C | Eugene Emeralds | SF | 19.89 |
2 | Luis Matos, OF | Eugene Emeralds | SF | 20.19 |
3 | Zac Veen, CF | Spokane Indians | COL | 20.32 |
4 | Kyren Paris, 2B | Tri-City Dust Devils | LAA | 20.41 |
5 | Noelvi Marte, SS | Everett AquaSox | SEA | 20.48 |
6 | Sem Robberse, RHP | Vancouver Canadians | TOR | 20.49 |
7 | Marco Luciano, SS | Eugene Emeralds | SF | 20.58 |
8 | Drew Romo, C | Spokane Indians | COL | 20.60 |
9 | Kyle Harrison, LHP | Eugene Emeralds | SF | 20.66 |
10 | AJ Vukovich, 3B | Hillsboro Hops | ARI | 20.72 |
South Atlantic (HiA) | ||||
Rk | Player, Pos. | Team | ORG | Age |
1 | Evan Carter, CF | Hickory Crawdads | TEX | 19.68 |
2 | Maikol Escotto, SS | Greensboro Grasshoppers | PIT | 19.92 |
3 | Thomas Saggese, SS | Hickory Crawdads | TEX | 20.06 |
4 | Nick Yorke, 2B | Greenville Drive | BOS | 20.09 |
5 | Bryan Ramos, 2B | Winston-Salem Dash | CWS | 20.15 |
6 | Luisangel Acuna, SS | Hickory Crawdads | TEX | 20.15 |
7 | Dariel Lopez, SS | Greensboro Grasshoppers | PIT | 20.24 |
8 | Coby Mayo, 3B | Aberdeen IronBirds | BAL | 20.40 |
9 | Cristian Gonzalez, SS | Asheville Tourists | HOU | 20.53 |
10 | Andrick Nava, C | Jersey Shore BlueClaws | PHI | 20.57 |
California League (LoA) | ||||
Rk | Player, Pos. | Team | ORG | Age |
1 | Victor Lizarraga, RHP | Lake Elsinore Storm | SD | 18.36 |
2 | Pedro Pineda, CF | Stockton Ports | OAK | 18.59 |
3 | Edwin Arroyo, SS | Modesto Nuts | SEA | 18.62 |
4 | Leonard Garcia, LHP | Inland Empire 66ers | LAA | 18.67 |
5 | Deyvison De Los Santos, 3B | Visalia Rawhide | ARI | 18.80 |
6 | Fernando Guanare, RHP | Inland Empire 66ers | LAA | 18.80 |
7 | Victor Juarez, RHP | Fresno Grizzlies | COL | 18.80 |
8 | Adrian Placencia, SS | Inland Empire 66ers | LAA | 18.85 |
9 | Alejandro Hidalgo, RHP | Inland Empire 66ers | LAA | 18.88 |
10 | Jackson Merrill, SS | Lake Elsinore Storm | SD | 18.97 |
Carolina League (LoA) | ||||
Rk | Player, Pos. | Team | ORG | Age |
1 | Hendry Mendez, LF | Carolina Mudcats | MIL | 18.41 |
2 | TJ White, OF | Fredericksburg Nationals | WAS | 18.71 |
3 | Carter Jensen, C | Columbia Fireflies | KC | 18.77 |
4 | Carson Williams, SS | Charleston (SC) RiverDogs | TB | 18.79 |
5 | Jose Corniell, RHP | Down East Wood Ducks | TEX | 18.80 |
6 | Moises Chace, RHP | Delmarva Shorebirds | BAL | 18.83 |
7 | Brady House, SS | Fredericksburg Nationals | WAS | 18.84 |
8 | Reggie Preciado, SS | Myrtle Beach Pelicans | CHC | 18.90 |
9 | Jheremy Vargas, SS | Carolina Mudcats | MIL | 18.91 |
10 | Alimber Santa, RHP | Fayetteville Woodpeckers | HOU | 18.93 |
Florida State League (LoA) | ||||
Rk | Player, Pos. | Team | ORG | Age |
1 | Cristian Santana, SS | Lakeland Flying Tigers | DET | 18.37 |
2 | Carlos Marcano, RHP | Lakeland Flying Tigers | DET | 18.75 |
3 | Roberto Campos, OF | Lakeland Flying Tigers | DET | 18.82 |
4 | Jose Salas, SS | Jupiter Hammerheads | MIA | 18.95 |
5 | Kahlil Watson, SS | Jupiter Hammerheads | MIA | 18.98 |
6 | Andrew Painter, RHP | Clearwater Threshers | PHI | 19.00 |
7 | Chase Petty, RHP | Daytona Tortugas | CIN | 19.01 |
8 | Jeremy Rivas, SS | Palm Beach Cardinals | STL | 19.10 |
9 | Emmanuel Rodriguez, OF | Fort Myers Mighty Mussels | MIN | 19.11 |
10 | Dahian Santos, RHP | Dunedin Blue Jays | TOR | 19.11 |
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