Prospect Report: Kjerstad, Dominguez, Walker Open With Bangs

Heston Kjerstad, OF, Orioles: In the early days of spring training, Kjerstad has picked up right where he left off in the Arizona Fall League. The Orioles’ 2020 first-rounder, whose career has been littered with injuries, swatted two home runs on Saturday as part of a 3-for-3 afternoon against the Twins. The early power show comes after an AFL during which Kjerstad hit five home runs and posted an OPS of 1.007.

Jasson Dominguez, OF, Yankees: Dominguez carries as much hype as any Yankees prospect in recent memory, and he took clear advantage of his first Grapefruit League action in 2023 by destroying a fastball for a 420-foot home run to left-center field. The ball left the bat at roughly 110 mph. 

Garrett Mitchell, OF, Brewers: Mitchell, who made his big league debut in 2022, has long been known as a player with game-changing speed that shows up on the bases and in the outfield. He also had big-time raw power, but there were questions about whether it would show up in games. At least in the first days of the Cactus League, there are positive signs. Mitchell swatted two home runs on Saturday as part of a four-RBI effort.

Jordan Walker, OF/3B, Cardinals: The top Cardinals prospect is one of the minor leagues’ biggest boppers, and he re-established that reputation on Sunday with a long home run against veteran big leaguer Johnny Cueto. The blast was the hardest-hit ball of the game, leaving the bat at nearly 109 mph and traveling an estimated 430 feet. 

Eury Perez, RHP, Marlins: The Marlins’ top prospect made his spring debut on Sunday, spinning two one-run innings with a strikeout. His fastball was already sitting in the upper 90s and touched 100 mph. His one strikeout came on a changeup that got Alec Burleson to swing and miss. 

Drew Thorpe, RHP, Yankees: Thorpe was the Yankees’ second-round pick in 2022, out of Cal Poly. At the time, the pick looked a little atypical for an organization that covets velocity because Thorpe averaged just 90.5 mph throughout the college season. He didn’t pitch after signing but was invited to instructional league. Thorpe made his Grapefruit League debut on Sunday and threw seven four-seamers. The pitches sat between 92-93 mph. New York has made a tradition of unlocking velocity from their pitchers, and Thorpe could be the next in line. 

Brendan White, RHP, Tigers: Detroit took White in the 26th round out of Siena in 2019 and has seen him strike out 209 hitters in 199.2 career innings. The Tigers added White to the 40-man roster this past offseason to shield him from the Rule 5 draft. In his Grapefruit League debut on Sunday, White needed eight pitches to record two strikeouts and a scoreless inning. His fastball sat around 95 mph and his slider, which spun at roughly 3,000 rpm, clocked in around 83 mph. Both of his strikeouts were swinging, and he got three whiffs in all.