Brandon Birdsell Stats & Scouting Report

Born

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme.

Track Record: The Giants signed Arias out of the Dominican Republic at the head of the organization’s 2023 international signing class. His bonus of $2,697,500 was the highest the Giants awarded that year. So far, injuries have kept Arias from delivering on the potential the team believes he can achieve. He has broken his left wrist in each of the past two seasons, limiting his time on the field to just 41 games. He spent 2023 in the Dominican Summer League, where he was one of the league’s top performers in a small sample, and moved to the Arizona Complex League a year later.

Scouting Report: Despite the limited sample, Arias still shows flashes of his upside. Nine of his 22 hits in 2024 went for extra bases, though that total did not include a home run. His overall miss rates—including a 16.4% clip on pitches in the zone—were encouraging, as was his 90th percentile exit velocity of 102 mph. Those numbers lend credence to the Giants’ belief that more game power is in the offing once he can stay on the field for extended periods of time. Defensively, Arias will be given the chance to stick in center field, but the way he’s added strength to his 6-foot-2 frame means his future is likely in a corner outfield spot. If he does move, right field seems like the obvious choice given his above-average arm and foot speed which, for now, grades as average.

The Future: The lion’s share of Arias’ future projection hinges on whether he can stay on the field, which he did during the Giants’ postseason camps and instructional league. If he’s healthy in 2025, when he’ll likely reach full-season ball for the first time, he could begin working toward a future as an everyday outfielder with assets on both sides of the ball.

Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Fielding: 50 | Arm: 55
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: In a 2023 draft famously light on lefthanders, Whitman stood out as the best of the bunch. The Giants pounced on the Kent State alumnus in the second round and signed him for $805,575. He split his first pro season between the Arizona Complex League and Low-A San Jose, then spent his first full year in 2024 between both Class A levels. His 108 strikeouts were the ninth-most in San Francisco’s system.

Scouting Report: Whitman works with three pitches: a four-seam fastball that averaged 93 mph and peaked at 95, as well as a low-80s slider and a mid-80s changeup. His changeup in particular went through an evolution in 2024. Whitman and the Giants cycled through several grips before eventually settling on a kick-changeup, similar to the version employed in the big leagues by Giants rookie Hayden Birdsong. By far, Whitman’s slider was his most-used secondary and was thrown almost as often as his fastball. The 35.2% swing-and-miss rate it produced was the highest of any pitch in his arsenal. Whitman controls the strike zone and finished the year with an overall strike rate of 64%, including a 67% clip during his time at High-A Eugene. Going forth, Whitman has two notable areas for improvement. First, he needs to ration his intensity during outings to help him last longer in games. Second, he needs to continue bringing forth his changeup in order to better neutralize righthanded hitters, who reached him for six of the seven home runs he allowed in 2024.

The Future: Whitman will reach the upper levels in 2025. If he brings his changeup closer to its ceiling as an average pitch, he has a chance to be a back-end starter. If not, he has the look of a bulk reliever who is especially effective against lefthanded hitters.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 55
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: The Giants selected Black in the third round of the 2021 draft out of Lehigh, then watched as he motored up the rankings. His 155 strikeouts in 2023 were the second-most in the organization, and he reached the big leagues for the first time on May 6, 2024, when he returned to his home state of Pennsylvania to make the start against the Phillies. Black bounced between Triple-A and San Francisco all season long and finished with nine MLB appearances.

Scouting Report: The most notable portion of Black’s season involved his velocity, which was down a couple miles per hour. In 2023, his signature two-seamer averaged 93.5 mph. In 2024, the pitch averaged less than 92 mph in the minor leagues. Internal evaluators believe part of the reason for the drop in velocity might revolve around the way Black’s workload was managed. Though he ended up with roughly the same innings total, he was asked to go deeper in games earlier in 2024 than was the case in 2023. The Giants are hopeful Black’s velocity will return in 2025. Black works with a five-pitch mix, headed by four- and two-seam fastballs and backed by a sweeper slider, a gyro slider and a changeup. The gyro version of his slider was introduced in 2024, and his changeup was thrown sparingly early before being re-emphasized later in the year. Despite the ups and downs with his velocity and changes to his pitch mix, Black showed solid control in both the Pacific Coast League and the big leagues.

The Future: The 2025 season will be huge for Black. If he can return his fastball to its previous velocity and make strides with his changeup, he has a chance to stick at the back of a rotation. If not, a future as a swingman might be his most likely outcome.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 40. SWEEP: 50 | Control: 55
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: The Giants drafted McDonald with their 11th-round pick in 2019 but awarded him an $800,000 bonus which stood as the third-highest in their class, behind just first-rounder Hunter Bishop and second-rounder Logan Wyatt. McDonald rose up draft boards thanks to a strong summer on the high school summer showcase circuit that saw his fastball jump several ticks. The Giants added McDonald to their 40-man roster after the 2023 season and then summoned him for his big league debut on Sept. 29, 2024.

Scouting Report: McDonald’s 2024 season was delayed by a pulled right groin which kept him off the mound until his first rehab outing on May 14 in the Arizona Complex League. He reached full-season ball in June and spent roughly a month apiece at High-A, Double-A and Triple-A before getting the call to San Francisco. The righthander works with a five-pitch mix of four-seam and sinking fastballs as well as a curveball, slider and changeup. McDonald worked almost exclusively with his two-seamer in 2024, but the Giants would like him to reintroduce the four-seamer in 2025. His best secondary pitch is his curveball, which is a potentially plus weapon, but he needs to do a better job of keeping it from blending with his slider. He also has a solid feel for a mid-80s changeup, though it was the least prolific of his non-fastballs. Outside of a blip in the Northwest League, McDonald continued to show the potentially plus control which will aid him in his quest to earn a spot in a big league rotation.

The Future: McDonald has reached the big leagues. To earn a permanent role there, he’ll have to regain some of his fastball velocity and establish either his changeup or slider as a second average offspeed pitch. If he does, he could be a back-end starter. If not, he fits more as a swingman.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 40 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 60
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: McCray is the son of former MLB outfielder Rodney McCray, who got 14 at-bats over three seasons with the Mets and White Sox. Grant debuted in Rookie ball in 2019 after he was the Giants’ third-round pick. He lost the 2020 season because of the pandemic-scuttled season. In 2022, a series of mechanical changes unlocked his potential and put him firmly in the mix as one of the system’s best prospects. His career since then has been filled with highs and lows, but he made his big league debut in 2024 and swatted five home runs in 37 games.

Scouting Report: McCray has a reputation as a bit of a slow starter, and the same was true in 2024 at Double-A Richmond. He finished April with a .528 OPS, then boosted that figure all the way to .994 in May. When he’s going right, McCray has the kind of combination of power and speed scouts dream of finding. In his short big league stint, McCray’s exit velocities and barrel rate were both well above-average, and his sprint speed and arm strength were near-elite among his peers in center field. The next step in McCray’s development will be to make more contact. He struck out at a 28.7% clip in the minor leagues and then racked up 56 strikeouts in 130 big league plate appearances, including chase and whiff rates of roughly 31% and 44%. Without major improvements in those areas, McCray might be largely relegated to the bench or the minor leagues for the remainder of his career. If he can make marginal gains, he’ll have a shot to scratch the surface of his tremendous upside.

The Future: McCray will be given a chance to earn a roster spot out of spring training. To do so, he’ll need to make contact at a much higher rate.

Scouting Grades Hit: 40 | Power: 55 | Run: 60 | Fielding: 60 | Arm: 70
BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme.

Track Record: The Giants surrendered their second- and third-round picks in 2024 after signing free agents Blake Snell and Matt Chapman, then decided to shoot for big-time upside by drafting Jordan in the fourth round. The Mississippi State alum was a three-star football prospect but spent his time in the Southeastern Conference exclusively on the diamond. He posted a 1.129 OPS with 20 home runs in his final season with the Bulldogs, prompting the Giants to select him and sign him for $1,997,500, the fourth-highest figure ever awarded to a player chosen in the fourth round. His pro debut was limited to just two games because of a nagging hamstring injury.

Scouting Report: If everything clicks, Jordan could one day ascend to the top spot in the system. His power and athleticism translate into dazzling tools on both sides of the ball. Now, he needs to polish them into skills. Jordan’s quick hands and strength-filled frame help him generate the massive bat speed needed to produce monstrous home runs. His raw power easily ranks as double-plus. The next step will be to cut down on his miss and chase rates to help that juice show up as often as a pro as it did in college. In instructional league, the Giants helped Jordan get into a better hitting position by making his stance more upright. In doing so, he’s able to track pitches a little better and stay in his legs a little longer. Jordan’s plus speed will aid him both on the basepaths and in center field, where San Francisco hopes he can remain. He could be an average defender in center field or an above-average one in right field, where his above-average arm and prodigious power would fit perfectly.

The Future: Jordan’s first full season as a pro will focus on making more contact. If he succeeds, he’ll quickly rise through the system’s ranks and give the Giants a potential impact talent.

Scouting Grades Hit: 40 | Power: 60 | Run: 60 | Fielding: 50 | Arm: 55
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: Tibbs’ career at Florida State started quickly and loudly in 2022, when he swatted 10 home runs as a freshman. He added 17 more in his sophomore year and then an Atlantic Coast Conference-best 28 in his draft season, when he was a first-team All-American. All told, he finished his time in Tallahassee with 55 doubles in 176 games. In between, he posted a solid summer hitting with wood in the Cape Cod League, batting .303/.390/.472 with six home runs in 40 games in 2023. Tibbs’ outstanding track record was enough for the Giants to draft him 13th overall in 2024 and sign him for $4,747,500. Tibbs split his pro debut between Low-A San Jose and High-A Eugene, finishing with 26 games in total. He hit the first two pro home runs of his career during his 17 games in the Northwest League.

Scouting Report: More important than the total production, Tibbs also slashed his strikeout rate from 31.7% as a freshman to 10.5% as a junior. In doing so, he solidified himself as one of the best pure hitters available in the 2024 draft. The Giants believe in Tibbs’ bat-to-ball skills, as well as his abilities to pick up spin and quickly separate balls from strikes. Now, he needs to learn when to pick his spots to unleash his best swings. Tibbs is a fringe-average runner now but might slow down as he gets older. Defensively, he has a ceiling as a fringy corner outfielder but will likely settle in as below-average. Tibbs has the above-average arm strength that would fit nicely in right field.

The Future: Tibbs scuffled somewhat upon reaching High-A after a long season between FSU and the minor leagues. After an offseason to recover, he will embark on his first full pro season and will try to realize his ceiling as a right fielder with a solid blend of hitting ability and power.

Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 40 | Fielding: 40 | Arm: 55
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: The Giants employed a risk-reward strategy with their top picks in the 2022 draft. First-rounder Reggie Crawford was a high-upside lefthander who had little mound experience and was coming off Tommy John surgery. Second-rounder Whisenhunt had missed his entire junior season at East Carolina while serving a performance-enhancing substance suspension. The Giants were confident enough in their history with Whisenhunt to draft him, and he reached Double-A in his first full year. He spent all of 2024 at Triple-A, where he struggled somewhat in the offensive atmosphere and with the tighter strike zone enforced by the automated ball-strike system.

Scouting Report: The book on Whisenhunt reads the same as it did a year ago. His mid-90s fastball and wicked changeup are enough to get him to the big leagues, but the progression of his breaking ball will set his ceiling. He continued tinkering with the pitch in 2024, moving from a curveball to a gyro slider before settling on a slurvy hybrid that he throws with a slider grip. Whisenhunt also had other problems to solve in Sacramento. His fastball velocity was down a couple ticks, something the organization attributes to the longest season of his career, nearly double the 58.2 innings he threw in 2023. It was the first time in either his amateur or professional career that he had thrown more than 100 innings. Whisenhunt’s changeup backed up a touch as well, possibly a product of his delivery becoming a bit more cross-body as the season moved along. The Giants also moved Whisenhunt more toward the middle of the rubber in an effort to add more deception and angle to his repertoire.

The Future: The Giants and Whisenhunt are banking on a full, healthy offseason to help him return to his 2023 form. He could crack the big leagues in 2025 and eventually settle in as a No. 4 starter.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Slider: 40 | Changeup: 70 | Control: 55
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High.

Track Record: The Giants signed Luciano out of the Dominican Republic in 2018 and watched as he hit his way to the top spot in the system, a position he held for four straight years before being lapped by Kyle Harrison in 2024. He made his MLB debut in 2023 and got into 14 games. Luciano reached San Francisco again in 2024 and spent the year shuffling back and forth between Triple-A and the big leagues, including three separate callups.

Scouting Report: Though his surface numbers might not show it, there was still plenty to like about Luciano’s season in the batter’s box. He made plenty of contact—his in-zone miss rate was just 18% at Triple-A—and chased at a rate of less than 20%. When he made contact, Luciano still showed an ability to put a major charge into a ball. His 90th percentile exit velocity was 107 mph, just a hair less than top prospect Bryce Eldridge. Big league pitchers, however, showed Luciano he had plenty of work to do against breaking balls. Against those pitches with San Francisco, Luciano hit just .154 with no extra-base hits. Luciano also struggled to pull the ball in the air. At Triple-A, he did it just 7.1% of the time. Perhaps the bigger concern is his defense. The Giants were uncomfortable putting a shaky defensive shortstop behind their sinkerballers, leading them to use the light-hitting Nick Ahmed until Tyler Fitzgerald grabbed the reins. Luciano got experience at second base in instructional league games and got reps in the outfield during practice sessions. He is roughly an average runner.

The Future: To get regular playing time, Luciano will need to improve his defense. If he does, he should have a chance to settle into an everyday role, either at second base or on an outfield corner.

Scouting Grades Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Fielding: 40 | Arm: 60
BA Grade/Risk: 65/High.

Track Record: Eldridge starred as a two-way player at his high school outside Washington, D.C. The prevailing thought entering his junior year was that his best fit was on the mound, where he stood 6-foot-7 and his fastball reached 96 mph. By draft time, it was clear his future was in the batter’s box. The convincing evidence came during a starring role on USA Baseball’s 18U national team, which included a squad-best eight home runs. The Giants drafted Eldridge with the 16th overall pick in 2023 and watched as he made an immediate impression on evaluators during stints in Rookie ball and Low-A. Eldridge turned up the heat in his first full season by rocketing from Low-A to Triple-A and clubbing 23 home runs along the way. The total tied him with Mariners prospect Michael Arroyo for the most among teenagers, and California League managers voted him the best power prospect on the circuit. Eldridge’s season also featured his first appearance in the Futures Game, where he went 1-for-2 with a run in the National League’s win. He closed his year with a couple of weeks in the Arizona Fall League, where he worked on his defense at first base.

Scouting Report: Eldridge is a big man with a lightning-quick bat capable of losing baseballs to all sectors of any park in the country, from Oracle to Yellowstone. His impact numbers—including a 90th percentile exit velocity of 106 mph and a max of 111—back that up. Given that he stands at 6-foot-7, it’s understandable that the lefthanded-hitting Eldridge has a few holes he’ll need to close to make himself into a complete hitter. Specifically, scouts noticed weaknesses on elevated fastballs and breaking balls away. Evaluators inside the organization, however, were heartened by the sound swing decisions he made at every level. To wit, Eldridge was part of a group of prospects who swung at pitches in the zone more than 74% of the time while chasing less than 27% of the time. In 2023, Eldridge played 11 games in right field in 2023, but he is now exclusively a first baseman. He’s still learning the finer points of the position and will likely never be better than a fringe-average defender. His above-average arm will serve him well when it comes time to turn 3-6-3 double plays. He’s a well below-average runner, which won’t matter much if he can get the most out of his prodigious power.

The Future: Eldridge reached Triple-A in 2024, but he did so after playing just eight games at Double-A Richmond before the Eastern League season ended. He could return to either upper-level affiliate to begin his 2025 season. No matter where he starts, Eldridge has a strong chance to end the year with his first taste of MLB action. When he arrives, he has the ceiling of a middle-order masher and a cornerstone of the Giants’ lineup for years to come.

Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 70 | Run: 30 | Fielding: 40 | Arm: 55
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Very High.

Track Record: Troy went undrafted in 2020 due to a combination of his commitment to Stanford, the pandemic cutting short his senior season at Los Gatos (Calif.) High and that year’s shortened, five-round draft. A three-year starter in college, his production improved every season, and the Diamondbacks bet on his bat and athleticism when they took him 12th overall and signed him for $4.4 million in 2023. His first full season did not go well. He missed two months at High-A Hillsboro with a hamstring strain and, when healthy, struggled on both sides of the ball.

Scouting Report: Troy has a quick swing, with tight movements and fast hands. His strength and athleticism allow him to churn out big exit velocities, but he did not do so often in 2024. He was trying too hard to generate power and hitting too many ground balls. At his best, he’s shooting balls up to the middle or to right-center field with some occasional pull-side damage. Despite the results, he still showed speed, athleticism and twitchiness, suggesting everything under the hood is still there for an impact bat. At shortstop, Troy struggled with balls to his right and with making consistent, accurate throws. He was moved to second base ahead of the Arizona Fall League and figures to remain there in 2025. He should have the tools to be an average second baseman. He is an above-average runner with good instincts on the bases.

The Future: The organization hopes moving Troy off shortstop will take a load off him, and there is a belief that his strong finish to the year—he hit .299/.404/.485 over his final 26 games—is more indicative of the type of hitter he is going forward.

Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Fielding: 50 | Arm: 50
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Very High.

Track Record: Groover’s senior year of high school outside Atlanta was cut short by the pandemic, perhaps costing him a chance to go in the modified five-round draft that year. He wound up spending a season at Charlotte before transferring to North Carolina State, where he hit .332/.430/.546 with a team-leading 13 homers in 2023. Despite questions about Groover’s future defensive home, the Diamondbacks took him in the second round and signed him for $1.78 million. His first full pro season in 2024 was interrupted after just four games by a broken left wrist that cost him three months, but he returned to action and finished the season strong, earning a September promotion to Double-A Amarillo.

Scouting Report: Groover is a natural hitter with a clean, direct bat path in a swing that has little wasted movement. He has solid contact and chase rates, and last season he showed more power than he did in his pro debut. He can further improve his thump with better understanding of ideal contact points and knowing when to take shots. Few question his ability to hit; it is more about how much impact his bat will bring. Scouts are far less convinced about his defense at third base. With limited range and athleticism and some occasional throwing issues, it is possible he could need to shift to first base, and he has also seen time at second base. He is a below-average runner.

The Future: Groover’s pure hitting ability creates optimism that his power will continue to blossom. If it does—and if he can stick at either second or third base—he could be an above-average regular. His bat should still play even with a shift to first base or the outfield, but he’ll have to hit that much more to generate value.

Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 40 | Fielding: 40 | Arm: 50
BA Grade/Risk: 50 Risk: High.

Track Record: Lightly recruited out of high school in Florida, Waldschmidt spent a year raking at Charleston Southern before transferring to Kentucky. He headed to the Cape Cod League after his sophomore season but blew out his left knee and needed anterior cruciate ligament surgery. He made it back by the following spring, and not only did he show no ill effects from the injury, he turned in a monster season, impressing with both pure production and under-the-hood data. He ranked sixth in the Southeastern Conference with a .469 on-base percentage. Waldschmidt’s performance pushed him into first-round consideration, and the Diamondbacks took him at No. 31—the Prospect Promotion Incentive draft pick they earned from Corbin Carroll’s Rookie of the Year win—and signed him for $2.9 million.

Scouting Report: Waldschmidt has a controlled yet aggressive righthanded swing that seems to be on time more often than not, leading to strong contact rates without sacrifices in exit velocity. He does not have much pre-swing movement, staying on his legs well to generate natural lift. He makes good swing decisions, both in terms of limiting chase and attacking the pitches he hits best. He is working to find an optimal bat path to get the most out of his hard contact. Waldschmidt is an average defender who goes all-out to make plays and has an average arm. He played primarily left field in his pro debut, with some time in right. He gets high marks for his makeup, work ethic and coachability. He is an above-average runner with good instincts on the bases.

The Future: Since his future is likely on an outfield corner, Waldschmidt’s bat will take him as far as he goes. He could develop into a Randal Grichuk-type player.

Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Fielding: 50 | Arm: 50
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Medium.

Track Record: Del Castillo has been viewed as an offensive-oriented catcher since his days at Miami’s Gulliver Prep, and his bat more than lived up to the billing in his first two years at Miami. He entered his junior year as one of the top college hitters in the country and a likely first-round pick, but his production tailed off, making questions about his ability to catch more pronounced. He fell to the 67th overall pick, where the Diamondbacks took him and signed him for a slightly above-slot $1 million. He mashed his way to the majors in 2024, enjoying a breakout season at the plate in Triple-A Reno and carrying that production into a six-week run in the majors.

Scouting Report: Del Castillo has a loose, rhythmic, lefthanded swing which helps him regularly generate hard contact. He produced even more than ever last season, seeing meaningful jumps in his batted-ball data. He pulled the ball in the air more and hit fewer ground balls, a combination which helped explain how he nearly doubled his previous career high in homers. Though his production was solid in the majors, his underlying numbers were not as strong, as evidenced by a high chase rate and some issues at the top of the zone. He was exposed defensively, throwing out just two of 29 basestealers. His arm strength is well below-average, and he needs to quicken his exchange in order to give himself a better chance. He’s a fringy blocker and receiver.

The Future: Del Castillo answered any questions about his ability to hit in 2024, but he has a ways to go defensively to show he is not a liability behind the plate. If he can get better there, he would have a tantalizing bat-first profile. Otherwise, he may fit as a bat-first backup.

Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 30 | Fielding: 40 | Arm: 30
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: A two-time Gatorade player of the year in Arkansas, Caldwell was one of the better hitters on the showcase circuit the summer before his draft year, then led Valley View High to a 5A championship as a senior. The Diamondbacks took him with the 29th overall pick in 2024, making him the latest undersized, lefthanded-hitting outfielder they’ve selected high in the draft, following the likes of Corbin Carroll, Alek Thomas and Dominic Fletcher, among others. He became the first Arkansas prep player to be taken in the first round since 1995. He was signed away from a Mississippi commitment for $3.087 million.

Scouting Report: Caldwell is 5-foot-9 with a thick, strong build reminiscent of Daulton Varsho, and his short levers make for a compact swing. He has plus bat speed and an advanced feel for the barrel with the ability to spray the ball to all fields. He has an advanced and stubborn approach at the plate and can regularly work walks. His ability to impact the ball was his biggest question from rival clubs, and his already-muscular frame makes projection harder. He opened eyes with his pop at a pre-draft workout for the Diamondbacks and continued to show decent power potential at the club’s continuation camp after the draft. He looks capable of hitting 15 home runs, though most of his pop will likely come via doubles and triples. He is an instinctual defender in center field who puts his double-plus speed to good use. His arm is fringe-average at best.

The Future: Caldwell’s polished skill set projects as a table-setting leadoff man whose best attributes are on-base ability and speed, a la Adam Eaton. He could move quickly, and he might apply some pressure to Druw Jones as he moves through the system.

Scouting Grades Hit: 60 | Power: 45 | Run: 70 | Fielding: 60 | Arm: 45
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: Luis, a relative of former big league infielder Pedro Ciriaco, stood out to the Diamondbacks because of his twitchy actions, athleticism, projectable frame and feel to hit from both sides of the plate. They signed him for $525,000 in January 2022. Luis has mostly lived up to the organization’s expectations, producing from both sides of the plate and showing actions that could allow him to remain in the center of the diamond, perhaps at shortstop. He spent the 2024 season at Low-A Visalia and ranked second in the California League with 46 extra-base hits, a product of high totals of doubles and triples.

Scouting Report: Luis rarely tinkers with his repeatable, simple swing from both sides of the plate. He hit both lefties and righties well in Low-A during his first year at a full-season level. He is a pure hitter who generates a fair amount of contact, but his quality of contact can suffer due to his propensity to chase. He has yet to crack double-digits in home runs but has room on his frame to add strength and could have 15-20-homer upside with more of his power coming on balls in the gaps. Luis is a steady shortstop with good hands and an accurate arm, though he needs work on balls to his right. He also played 25 games at both second base and third base for Visalia in 2024. Luis is at least an above-average runner but he could slow down as he matures and adds strength. He earns praise for his makeup, work ethic and grinder mentality.

The Future: Luis still needs to tighten up his approach at the plate and learn how to better tap into his power. He has the potential to develop into a well-rounded shortstop who has neither loud tools nor major deficiencies.

Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Fielding: 50 | Arm: 50
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: Jones is the son of 10-time Gold Glove center fielder Andruw Jones and has long reminded onlookers of his father. He had an impressive run on the prep showcase circuit before winning Gatorade’s Georgia player of the year award in 2022. He was taken by the Diamondbacks with the No. 2 pick and signed for just shy of $8.2 million. His pro career has had its challenges. Jones immediately suffered a left labrum tear in his shoulder, requiring season-ending surgery in 2022. His 2023 season was wrecked by quadriceps and hamstring injuries. While he put together a good season at Low-A Visalia in 2024, hit tool questions make him one of the most polarizing prospects in the minor leagues.

Scouting Report: Jones has the raw tools to be an impact hitter, including lightning-fast hands that generate plus raw power, a good idea of the strike zone and the ability to make solid contact. But concerns arise from how he gets it done. He routinely bails on swings, giving the impression he is afraid of the ball, and he has yet to prove he can pull the ball in the air to left field. He has a passive approach that led to lots of walks in Low-A. He began implementing a toe-tap late in 2024, which helped with his direction, and the organization hopes to see continued improvement to his direction and getting the ball in the air to his pull side. He is a plus-plus defender in center field with a plus arm that is both strong and accurate. He is a plus runner.

The Future: Scouts who watched Jones in 2024 saw significant improvement from start to finish in his offensive growth. Having yet to reach High-A, he’s on a slower than normal path, but the D-backs believe those strides will continue, even if it takes him longer than expected to reach the majors.

Scouting Grades Hit: 45 | Power: 40 | Run: 65 | Fielding: 65 | Arm: 60
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Medium.

Track Record: Diaz’s frustration over going unsigned as a teenager in Venezuela prompted him to quit baseball and travel South America. He spent time in Colombia and Peru, working odd jobs and occasionally panhandling before being lured back to baseball. The Diamondbacks spotted Diaz in late 2019 throwing in the low 90s. In March 2020, they brought him to their facility in the Dominican Republic to undergo a physical. He got stranded there due to the pandemic but continued to get better, eventually signing in February 2021 for $10,000. He has shown steady improvement ever since, making his big league debut in 2024 and pitching well both as a starter and out of the bullpen.

Scouting Report: Diaz has electric stuff, starting with a 94-98 mph fastball that sits 96 with enough carry that it works at the top of the zone. His power curve is his most reliable secondary pitch and a swing-and-miss offering. His slider took big strides in 2024 and was a real weapon in the big leagues, where it elicited a 36.5% whiff rate. Diaz entered the offseason driven to develop a changeup that can be more of a factor. His biggest strides in 2024 came in his strike-throwing. He got to two strikes before throwing two balls 60% of the time in 2023, a number that jumped to 72% in 2024.

The Future: Many were skeptical Diaz could be an effective starter, but with more strikes and a better third pitch, he started to convert doubters. It is still a control-over-command profile, but more strides there and the addition of a changeup would further enhance his chances to stick in the rotation. As always, the fallback of a power-armed reliever raises his floor.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 55
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High.

Track Record: Crisantes hit .485 and struck out just three times his senior year, helping Nogales High to a runner-up finish in the 5A Arizona state playoffs. He needed Tommy John surgery at age 15, then dealt with more elbow problems as a senior. Concerns about his arm, plus a firm price tag, likely pushed him down in the draft. After the Diamondbacks took him in the seventh round, they renegotiated his bonus upon discovering he needed a second elbow repair but still signed him for an above-slot $425,000. When healthy, Crisantes has done nothing but hit, to the point that he is viewed by most as the best pure hitter in the system. He finished 2024 with a 57-game on-base streak between the Arizona Complex League and Low-A Visalia.

Scouting Report: Crisantes has a simple, repeatable and direct swing that he employs to generate consistent hard contact, and it often looks like the ball is sitting on a tee for him at the plate. His chase rate is below-average, but he rarely swings and misses in the zone. He shows an ability to hit the ball hard enough and at the right angles that above-average-to-plus power projection isn’t a stretch. The big question for Crisantes is where he fits defensively. His arm strength, which has improved as he’s gotten further removed from surgery, is fringy, and he is a little light on athleticism compared to the average major league second baseman. His makeup and work ethic are excellent, so he is a safe bet to keep improving to get the most out of his abilities. He is a fringe-average runner who is better once he gets up to speed.

The Future: Crisantes’ bat will be his carrying tool and figures to play in some capacity almost no matter where he ends up on the diamond. The Diamondbacks believe he can develop into an offensive-minded second baseman.

Scouting Grades Hit: 60 | Power: 50 | Run: 45 | Fielding: 45 | Arm: 45
BA Grade/Risk: 60/Medium.

Track Record: Lawlar was a well-regarded prep player who won Gatorade’s Texas player of the year honors and performed well on the showcase circuit. His well-rounded skill set had him in the mix to go No. 1 overall in 2021, but he slid to sixth, where the Diamondbacks swooped in and signed him away from a Vanderbilt commitment for $6.7 million, which was the third-highest bonus in the draft. He needed shoulder surgery shortly after signing, then dealt with more injuries in his first full professional season. He put together back-to-back strong years to force his way to the majors at the end of 2023, but he ran into more health problems in what was mostly a lost 2024 season which saw him miss time due to thumb and hamstring injuries. Lawlar made up for the lost at-bats by playing winter ball with Licey in the Dominican League. He enters 2025 without many questions left to answer from a performance standpoint, but he is still lacking upper-level experience.

Scouting Report: Lawlar has a versatile skill set to his game which stands out at the plate. He has plus bat speed and above-average-to-plus raw power, he controls the zone and draws walks, he uses all fields and he has the ability to hit a variety of pitches thanks to a bat path that stays in the zone for a long time. In 2023, he hit fewer ground balls and hit more hard line drives and fly balls. If there were one area of focus coming out of 2023, it was evening out his platoon splits. That season, he produced a 1.153 OPS versus lefthanders and a .767 versus righties, with most of his issues coming against righthanded spin. Lawlar is a tremendous baserunner who combines plus speed with basestealing prowess and the instincts to routinely take the extra base. He has also made big strides at shortstop throughout his pro career. He started getting rid of his throws more quickly and dropped down to a three-quarters arm slot, and his overall comfort at the position seemed much improved after more reps.

The Future: Nothing has changed about Lawlar’s long-term upside: He still has the potential to be a cornerstone player for the Diamondbacks. He might have to once again prove he can stay on the field, while other questions have emerged in terms of his long-term position. No one doubts Lawlar at shortstop, but Geraldo Perdomo has established himself at the position in Arizona while becoming a clubhouse leader. Lawlar has seen time at third base, and second base and center field are also logical options as well. Whether Lawlar enters 2025 with a reasonable path to big league at-bats remains to be seen, but he figures to push his way into the mix assuming he can stay healthy.

Scouting Grades Hit: 60 | Power: 50 | Run: 70 | Fielding: 55 | Arm: 55
BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme.

Track Record: At UNC Pembroke, Ryan was both an infielder and a pitcher. The Padres drafted him as a hitter in the 11th round in 2021, and he spent his first pro summer as a position player in the Arizona Complex League. His one home run came off of future big leaguer Walter Pennington. Ryan returned to the mound for instructional league and showed off a vicious mix of pitches which signaled the end of his days in the batter’s box. The Dodgers were intrigued and acquired him in the deal that sent Matt Beaty to San Diego. Ryan made his big league debut on July 22, 2024, but had Tommy John surgery in late August and will miss all of 2025.

Scouting Report: At his best, Ryan has the nastiest repertoire in the organization, and scouts outside the organization were also impressed with his combination of stuff, athleticism and feel to manipulate the ball. Ryan’s mix features six distinct pitches, though his main weapons are a four-seam fastball which averaged 97 mph and touched 100 and a shorter slider in the mid 80s. He backs those two offerings with a cutter, changeup, two-seamer and curveball, the latter two of which were thrown sparingly during his time in the minor leagues and across his four major league starts. Ryan’s curveball and changeup have each earned above-average grades in the past and would give him four pitches which grade as 55 or better on the 20-80 scouting scale if his stuff returns intact from his recovery. His control is fringe-average but had shown improvement during his limited action in 2024.

The Future: Ryan has the ceiling of a midrotation starter but will have to wait until 2026, when he will be 27 years old, for another crack at realizing that potential.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 70 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 55 | Cutter: 40 | Control: 45
BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme.

Track Record: As a youth, Vargas was a switch-hitter, but by the time he signed he was a righthanded hitter only. By the time he was 16, he was one of the most coveted players on the amateur market and signed with the Dodgers for $2,077,500. He helped clubs in the Dominican Summer and Arizona Complex leagues win championships in each of his last two seasons and ranked fourth on BA’s annual ACL top 20 prospects list in 2024.

Scouting Report: Vargas’ calling card was his potential for big-time offensive upside, and he showed hints of those gifts in Arizona. He finished the year with four home runs and a max exit velocity of 109.7 mph. To make the most of his power, he’ll need to cut down on his tendency to swing and miss. His 27.2% in-zone miss rate is particularly concerning, and opposing scouts pointed to an overly busy load that will need to be simplified as he moves up the ladder. For their part, the Dodgers spent extra time with Vargas at extended spring training helping him get his swing in a better place for game action. Vargas will likely outgrow shortstop, but his plus arm will play just fine at third base. He played four games at third during the 2024 season, and scouts have noted that Vargas could stand to shore up the routes he takes to ground balls. He’s a fringe-average runner who could slow down as he grows and adds strength to his 6-foot-4 frame.

The Future: In 2025, Vargas will move to full-season ball for the first time at Low-A Rancho Cucamonga. There, he’ll need to improve his contact rates against more advanced pitchers. He’ll also need to keep his body in shape to give himself a better chance to stick at shortstop. If he can, he’ll come closer to capitalizing on his big-time potential.

Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 45 | Fielding: 50 | Arm: 60
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: Wrobleski pitched at Clemson, State College of Florida and Oklahoma State during his college career but had Tommy John surgery after just nine appearances with the Cowboys. The Dodgers selected Wrobleski in the 11th round in 2021 and signed him for $197,500. He reached the upper levels in 2024 and earned a World Series ring by helping Los Angeles weather the torrent of injuries to its pitching staff by contributing 36.1 innings.

Scouting Report: Like many pitchers in the Dodgers’ organization, Wrobleski’s pitch mix is deep. He backs a lively, mid-90s four-seam fastball—which touched 100 mph in 2024—with a two-seamer, cutter, curveball, slider and changeup. His four-seamer is lively and plays well up in the zone. Wrobleski’s cutter is most-used secondary. Scouts grade both it and his slider as potentially average offerings, while his changeup lags behind as a below-average pitch. Development of his changeup will be the biggest key to Wrobleski’s future because he needs a viable weapon to use against righthanders, who touched him for eight of the nine home runs he allowed in the big leagues and all of seven of the ones he surrendered in the minors. Scouts say his changeup shows solid drop at its best but its quality is inconsistent. He also sometimes tips the pitch by dropping his arm slot. The Dodgers have also continued to work with Wrobleski on mechanical changes, specifically focusing on making his movements down the mound more consistent and better using his lower half.

The Future: Wrobleski will need to bring the consistency and quality of his changeup forward, or find another way to attack righthanders, to reach his ceiling of a back-end starter.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 40 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 40 | Cutter: 50 | Control: 50
BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme.

Track Record: Lindsey—who was also a quarterback at his Florida high school—gained late helium in his draft year and quickly became one of the hottest names in one of the draft’s usual hot spots. He earned this rep thanks to a combination of speed, defense and athleticism, which led the Dodgers to spend the 23rd overall pick to select him and sign him away from a Florida commitment for $3,297,500. He did not play in an official game after signing. Instead, he got his first action during instructional league.

Scouting Report: Lindsey’s carrying tool is his speed, which grades as a true 80 on the 20-80 scouting scale and puts him stride for stride with Kendall George for the system’s fastest runner. That type of quickness usually leads to a ticket to center field, but Lindsey’s hands, feet and actions will give him plenty of chances to stay on the dirt. Since signing, Lindsey has added roughly 10 pounds of muscle and worked on plenty of small tweaks to his hitting mechanics, which were a bit more raw than most high-end prospects due to his two-sport background. Specifically, the Dodgers had him raise his hands and focus on staying back longer before exploding through the zone. The results, they hope, will show in a cleaner bat path and more impact on contact. To alleviate a bit of inconsistency in Lindsey’s arm stroke—possibly from years of marrying the arm actions of a quarterback, an outfielder and a shortstop—he set to work with the Dodgers’ pitching development team as well as the offensive and defensive coaches.

The Future: When he makes his pro debut in 2025, Lindsey is likely ticketed for the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League. If everything clicks, he has the skills to hit toward the top of an order, wreak havoc on the bases and play a sound shortstop.

Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 80 | Fielding: 55 | Arm: 50
BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme.

Track Record: As an amateur in Venezuela, Quintero trained as a catcher and had shown solid tools behind the dish. He also posted 60-yard dash times of quicker than 6.5 seconds, so he wound up in center field once he took the field for the first time in the Dominican Summer League in 2023. Since then, he’s been the centerpiece of championship-winning clubs in the DSL and the Arizona Complex League. He ranked as the top prospect in the ACL in 2024 and finished his second professional season in Low-A Rancho Cucamonga.

Scouting Report: Quintero is gifted with a well-rounded tool set capable of producing value on both sides of the ball in near-equal measure. Scouts who saw him in Arizona reported a player with a sound approach, quality bat-to-ball skills and flashes of power that could one day make him an average slugger in the big leagues. The numbers bear out those observations. Quintero’s respective zone-miss and chase rates were 14.4% and 19.4%, and he produced a 90th percentile exit velocity of 104.8 mph. Those numbers were steady across a wide range of pitch types as well. He scuffled a bit once he reached Low-A, which the organization attributes partly to a more passive approach that was less effective against the better competition in full-season ball. Quintero ranks as the system’s best defensive outfielder, thanks in part to the plus speed that ended his days behind the plate and an above-average arm that would serve him well if his lower half were to get too thick—a mild concern raised by opposing scouts.

The Future: After arriving at Low-A to end the season, Quintero should begin 2025 back in the California League. If everything goes as planned, he’ll take the next step toward a future as an above-average outfielder with a good chance to stick in center field.

Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 60 | Fielding: 60 | Arm: 55
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High.

Track Record: After beginning his prep career in North Carolina, Ferris spent the last half of his high school days at Florida’s IMG Academy, where he went 16-0 over two seasons. The Cubs drafted him with their second-round pick in 2022, then watched as he opened eyes at Low-A Myrtle Beach in 2023. He was dealt to the Dodgers—along with outfielder Zyhir Hope—in the trade that sent Michael Busch to Chicago in January 2024. Ferris finished his first season with the Dodgers with 145 strikeouts across 126.2 innings and reached Double-A.

Scouting Report: Ferris works with a five-pitch mix, but his low-90s fastball and mid-80s slider are by far his most-used offerings. His heater featured an average of 16 inches of induced vertical break and got a miss rate of 23.7%. With the Cubs, Ferris’ arm slot was lower and his main breaking ball was a sweeper. With the alterations to his delivery, he now throws a short, sharp bullet slider which gives him a pitch with velocity that nestles nicely between his fastball and curveball. Ferris rounds out his mix with a low-70s curveball, a changeup that averaged around 87 mph and a potentially average cutter. Scouts outside the organization believe his heater and both breaking pitches could be above-average offerings, while his changeup is a clear fourth pitch. Ferris’ control can be a bit scattershot and is somewhat hindered by a longer arm action in the back of his delivery, though he improved his core strength and coordination as the year went on and found the strike zone more often as a result. His next steps will involve upping the usage of his curveball and changeup and streamlining his delivery to throw more consistent strikes.

The Future: After a solid stint at Double-A to close the 2024 season, Ferris will likely return to Double-A in 2025. He has a ceiling as a midrotation starter if everything comes together.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 40 | Cutter: 50 | Control: 50
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High.

Track Record: As an amateur, Hope showed an intriguing but unfinished tool set. He was an elite runner, as demonstrated by a 6.34-second 60-yard dash time which was the third fastest at the 2022 East Coast Professional Showcase. He had plenty of power, too, but was also prone to swinging and missing. The Cubs spent their 11th-round pick in 2023 on him, then signed him away from a North Carolina commitment with a $400,000 bonus. In January 2024, Chicago traded Hope and lefthander Jackson Ferris to the Dodgers in the deal that sent first baseman Michael Busch to Chicago. Hope’s 2024 season was splintered by a fractured rib which cost him roughly three months of time at Low-A. He made up those at-bats in the Arizona Fall League.

Scouting Report: When the Dodgers acquired Hope, they knew they were getting a potential gem waiting to be polished. They believed he was being too passive and letting too many hittable pitches go by as an amateur. In Hope’s first full season, his swing decisions had improved immensely and he was doing an outstanding job connecting on pitches in the zone. The contact also came with big-time impact, including a 90th percentile exit velocity of 108.5 mph. Hope uses quick, powerful movements from a compact, athletic frame to help him lose baseballs to all sectors with shocking ease. His home-to-first times show a fringe-average runner, but the sprint speeds he’s posted underway are closer to above-average. He’s likely ticketed for left field thanks to a below-average arm, but his bat should be plenty for the position. His reads off the bat need to improve as well.

The Future: Hope will be ready for High-A at some point in 2025, if not on Opening Day. He’s as easy to dream on as any player in the organization and could one day blossom into a well-rounded outfielder.

Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 60 | Run: 45 | Fielding: 50 | Arm: 40
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High.

Track Record: De Paula was raised in New York but moved to the Dominican Republic as a teenager, just a year before he signed with the Dodgers for a bonus of $397,500 in 2022. Since then, he’s done nothing but perform. After a stellar pro debut in the Dominican Summer League, De Paula was skipped over Rookie ball to join Low-A Rancho Cucamonga in 2023. He returned to the level to begin 2024 and was the sixth-youngest player in the California League on Opening Day. He split his season between both Class A levels and finished the year with a .404 on-base percentage, which led all Dodgers full-season minor leaguers.

Scouting Report: De Paula’s approach is unparalleled within the Dodgers’ system and is one of the most advanced among his youthful peers. Among his system-mates with 400 or more plate appearances, his 16.2% chase rate was the lowest and his 105.3 mph 90th percentile exit velocity was the third highest, behind just Chris Newell and Dalton Rushing. Scouts praised De Paula for how long he kept his barrel in the zone, his all-fields approach and his fearless attitude against lefthanders. There’s little question about De Paula’s ability to hit. The bigger question is where he’ll land on the diamond. In spring training, the Dodgers enlisted veteran Jason Heyward to impress upon De Paula the importance of defense as part of a well-rounded skill set. He’s a fringe-average runner, and his average arm would fit in left field if he can stick at the position. Currently, evaluators give De Paula an outside chance to remain in the outfield, though they acknowledge a future at first base or DH might be in the cards.

The Future: De Paula’s next step will be Double-A, where he’ll once again be one of the youngest players in the Texas League and will face his stiffest test yet.

Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 60 | Run: 45 | Fielding: 40 | Arm: 50
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High.

Track Record: Despite being born with a clubfoot which required multiple surgeries to correct, Freeland has thrived on the diamond. First, he starred at Central Florida, where he swatted 18 home runs across two seasons before the Dodgers selected him in the third round of the 2022 draft. Two years later, he was one of the system’s highest risers. In 2024, Freeland moved from High-A to Triple-A and racked up a system-best 32 doubles while hitting 18 home runs and stealing 31 bases in the process.

Scouting Report: Inside and outside the organization, Freeland drew raves from evaluators for his well-rounded skill set. In the batter’s box, he can work an at-bat until he gets the pitch he likes before spraying a line drive to the outfield—if not over the fence. He’s got quick hands, excellent bat speed and the ability to manipulate the barrel into different parts of the strike zone. Defensively, Freeland has a chance to stick at shortstop but second or third base are also viable options. His bat would profile at either spot. Freeland’s above-average arm makes third base his likeliest non-shortstop defensive home. He’s an above-average runner and was one of just four players in the minor leagues with 30 or more doubles and stolen bases. Evaluators were also particularly fond of Freeland’s makeup, citing a player dripping with the kind of confidence necessary to remain unfazed in key situations.

The Future: Shortstop is one of the few spots where the reigning World Series champions have a bit of a question mark. If they do not sign a free agent to take over the role, Freeland has a shot to earn the job at some point in 2025. If not, he’ll head back to Triple-A to continue getting reps at other infield spots after having played exclusively at shortstop from Double-A onward.

Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Fielding: 50 | Arm: 55
BA Grade/Risk: 60/High.

Track Record: Looking back, the catching situation at Louisville in 2021 was one of the best position groups in the nation. The Cardinals’ starter that year was Henry Davis, whom the Pirates drafted No. 1 overall that summer. The following year, with Davis in pro ball, Rushing got his chance to shine. He swatted 23 homers, posted a 1.156 OPS and was drafted by the Dodgers in the second round—40th overall—in 2022. In the two full seasons since, Rushing has impressed with a combination of hitting ability, a keen eye and plenty of power.

Scouting Report: Rushing is a strong-bodied lefthanded hitter with the power output to match. He racked up 48 extra-base hits in 2024, including 26 home runs, which placed second in the system. His batted-ball data, including 90th percentile and maximum exit velocities of 106 and 111 mph, showed that Rushing is capable of making frequent loud contact. Those traits have been present throughout the course of his career, but 2024 was the first time as a pro when his actual output matched his expected numbers. The biggest reason for the uptick was an improvement against premium velocity. At High-A in 2023, he struggled against pitches 94 mph and harder. A year later he hit .284/.415/.493 against those pitches. Rushing entered the season with a stated goal of improving his strikeout rate, which he accomplished. He lowered it by nearly four percentage points to 20.5% while playing at Double-A and Triple-A. Now, the question is which glove he’ll wear on his left hand when he takes the field for his major league debut. The Dodgers gave Rushing more and more exposure to left field in 2024, especially once he reached Triple-A. Scouts who saw Rushing’s work behind the plate reported a player with reliable hands, enough mobility to block pitches in the dirt and the above-average arm strength to control the running game. He finished the year with just five passed balls and a 30% caught stealing rate across both levels. Data captured in Triple-A pointed to a swifter runner than one would expect from a catcher. His sprint speed in the Pacific Coast League was 28.4 feet per second, the same figure produced in the big leagues by J.T. Realmuto and Connor Wong, the two fastest MLB catchers in 2024. That speed also helps him in the outfield, where he’s still got plenty of work to do but should be athletic enough to be an average defender. First base is also an option.

The Future: With Will Smith—another Louisville product—under contract until 2033, the Dodgers have their catching spot locked down. Rushing’s bat will easily profile in an outfield corner and should add another jolt of power to their lineup, likely as soon as 2025.

Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 60 | Run: 50 | Fielding: 50 | Arm: 50
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.

Track Record: Ritter played high school ball in Frankfort, outside Chicago, and spent the 2020 season at Logan (Ill.) JC before transferring to Kentucky. After his first season with the Wildcats, he starred in the Cape Cod League as a rising junior. The Rockies drafted Ritter in the fourth round in 2022 after a junior season in which he hit .283/.369/.469 with eight home runs. He made a brief pro debut after the draft before moving to full-season ball in 2023, a season he began at Low-A Fresno and finished at Double-A Hartford. Ritter returned to Hartford in 2024 and spent the full season with the Yard Goats, hitting .270/.370/.403 over the course of 91 games. He missed roughly a month on the injured list, then made up the at-bats in the Arizona Fall League.

Scouting Report: Ritter is an athletic infielder with a slick glove and an ever-evolving identity as a hitter. He shows average bat-to-ball skills but is weighed down by an overzealous approach at the plate. Ritter is prone to chasing breaking and offspeed pitches, leading to whiffs. While he lacks even average raw power, he has a knack for finding the barrel and back-spinning fly balls to his pull side. Because of his ability to find the barrel, Ritter could add strength in the coming years and get his power to average. He is an above-average runner and heady basestealer who knows how to pick his spots. Ritter shows range in the field with good hands and actions and a plus arm at shortstop. Eastern League managers voted him as having the best infield arm in Best Tools voting. Ritter is likely to stick at shortstop but has shown some versatility by playing second base occasionally.

The Future: A strong infield defender with the ability to stick at shortstop, Ritter might fit best as a utility infielder who can fill in all across the dirt with some power and speed.

Scouting Grades Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Fielding: 60 | Arm: 60
BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme.

Track Record: A two-sport star at Iowa, Brecht played wide receiver for the Hawkeyes football team for two years before giving it up to focus on the diamond. In 2024, his draft year, Brecht had his best collegiate season. In 15 starts, he pitched to a 3.33 ERA with a 37.2% strikeout rate. Questions around Brecht’s command dropped him outside of the first 30 picks, but the Rockies selected the righthander with the 38th overall pick. Brecht signed for an over-slot bonus of $2.7 million and did not debut following the draft.

Scouting Report: Brecht is a fireballing righthander with questions around his command and below-average fastball shape. A talented athlete with a prototype starter’s build, Brecht looks the part on the mound. He mixes a mid-to-high-90s four-seam fastball, an upper-80s-to-low-90s slider, a split-changeup in the low 90s and a mid-80s curveball. Brecht’s fastball sits 96-97 mph and will touch 100 at peak, but it lacks consistent ride or heavy armside run. His best pitch is his upper-80s cut-slider which was his most thrown pitch during his junior season at Iowa. The pitch is an effective bat-misser and his best pitch when he needs a strike. Brecht’s split-changeup is a clear third pitch, but it made strides as a swing-and-miss pitch in 2024. Brecht will show a mid-80s curveball with more depth than his slider, but it was rarely used. Brecht’s command has long been a concern, particularly when it comes to landing his fastball in the zone. Whether Brecht can develop average fastball command will determine his ceiling.

The Future: Brecht is a high-powered righthander with a midrotation ceiling and relief floor. If he can develop command as a professional, he could rank among the top prospects in the game.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 65 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 70 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 40
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: After two outstanding years working out of the Miami bullpen, Palmquist impressed during USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team trials and made the jump to the Hurricanes’ rotation as a junior. The Rockies drafted Palmquist in the third round in 2022 and signed him for $775,000. The lefthander made his full-season debut with High-A Spokane in 2023 and reached Double-A Hartford late that season. Palmquist made 18 starts with Hartford in 2024 before he was promoted to Triple-A Albuquerque.

Scouting Report: Palmquist is a sidearming lefthander with feel for all of his pitches. While he lacks even average power across his arsenal, he mixes shapes well and hits spots consistently with deception. Palmquist mixes a four-seam fastball that sits 90-92 mph and touches 94 at peak with an upper-70s slider, a low-80s changeup and a low-80s cutter. Palmquist’s usage is dominated by his fastball and slider. His slider has slurvy shape and plays up because of his low arm slot, leading to a high rates of whiffs. While his fastball has below-average velocity and ride on the surface, his arm slot, low release and nearly seven feet of extension create conditions for his fastball plane to play up. Palmquist’s changeup is a good chase pitch which he struggles to land in the zone. It’s an effective pitch in two-strike counts. Palmquist will mix in a low-80s cutter as well but it’s rarely used. He throws an average number of strikes and tends to stay out of the trouble zones but will experience lapses in command.

The Future: Palmquist has the makings of a back-end starter who can handle innings and strike out more batters than his fastball velocity would suggest. He will likely debut with the Rockies in 2025 if a rotation spot opens.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 45 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: The Rockies drafted Veen ninth overall in the five-round 2020 draft. He signed for an above-slot $5 million, performed at the Class A levels and reached Double-A Hartford late in 2022. He returned to Double-A in 2023 but missed a majority of the season with a left wrist tendon injury. Back at Hartford for a third time to begin 2024, Veen hit well but missed nearly two months with a back injury and about a month with a thumb injury. The Rockies promoted him to Triple-A Albuquerque on Aug. 24 to finish the season.

Scouting Report: After a series of injuries over the past two seasons, Veen has seen his prospect status begin to deteriorate. Still, he shows strong traits at the plate which could lead to success. His plate approach is plus, he shows a strong ability to discern balls from strikes and rarely passes on a fastball over the plate. Veen’s bat-to-ball skills have regressed as he has added loft to his bat path, which has resulted in rising whiffs. Veen did his best hitting in 2024 against breaking balls and fastballs above 94 mph, both good signs for his ability to handle MLB pitching. Despite altering his swing path to add more loft, Veen still has below-average power. His raw exit velocity data is fringe-average, giving little hope he can ever develop into a 25-plus home run threat. Veen is an average straight-line runner but will show above-average run times. He’s an excellent basestealer who has an intuition for reading pitchers and getting out of the blocks quickly. Veen shows the ability to play all three outfield positions but has seen a majority of his time on the corners, mostly left field in 2024.

The Future: Veen has a variety of pathways to success. In 2025, his best ability will be availability. He will likely make his MLB debut in 2025 as a first-year member of the 40-man roster.

Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 55 | Fielding: 55 | Arm: 50
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: The Rockies signed Amador for $1.5 million in July 2019 after a noteworthy amateur career. Following the pandemic, he began to emerge as a top prospect, culminating in a strong 2023 season at Double-A Hartford which was cut short by a hamate injury. Amador returned to Hartford in 2024 and struggled, but the Rockies called him up on June 9 after a rash of injuries on the big league roster. He played 10 games before he hit the injured list with an oblique injury. He returned to Double-A a few weeks later and batted .258/.348/.413 in his final 54 games.

Scouting Report: Over the last year-plus, Amador has dealt with injuries and what could be seen as an overzealous callup to Colorado. Despite underwhelming production in 2024, Amador’s advanced bat-to-ball skills and pristine approach are intact. He makes contact at a high rate against all pitch types, with a precocious ability to discern balls from strikes. A switch-hitter, Amador doesn’t have significant platoon splits. He simply had poor batted-ball luck in the first half of 2024, which evened out from July forward. While Amador has been able to reach double-digit home runs in each of the last three years, he’s likely to have fringe-average home run totals at peak. His power is backed by solid if unspectacular exit velocity data. An above-average runner, Amador is a strong basestealer with good instincts and a quick first step. His speed doesn’t translate to defensive range. He’s a fringe-average defender at second base.

The Future: A bat-first second baseman with the ability to hit for average, get on base at a high rate and hit for mid-teens power, Amador should recover from an uneven 2024 and see some time with the Rockies in the second half of 2025.

Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 55 | Fielding: 45 | Arm: 45
BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme.

Track Record: One of the top players in the January 2023 international class, Calaz signed with the Rockies for $1.7 million. A native of the Dominican Republic, he was billed as an advanced power hitter with a mature physique before signing. That’s exactly what the scouts saw in his 2023 pro debut in the Dominican Summer League. Calaz made the jump stateside in 2024, starting in the Arizona Complex League, where he won the triple crown by hitting .349/.462/.651 with 10 home runs and 45 RBIs. Promoted to Low-A Fresno, he appeared in 13 games and hit .327/.386/.571 with two home runs. Calaz was awarded the ACL MVP award following the season and was selected as a Rookie-level all-star.

Scouting Report: A physical, righthanded power hitter who stands in at 6-foot-2 with some remaining strength projection, Calaz is an explosive hitter with some rawness to his game. There’s a good amount of swing-and-miss at present, and he’s also prone to chasing spin. He still struggles against good velocity but does damage on contact against all pitch types. Calaz’s approach is aggressive, but he shows at least an average ability to discern balls and strikes. His power is his standout tool and is already potentially plus-plus. He gets to it in games and shows the ability to hit the ball out to all fields. Calaz posts elite exit velocity data, including a 90th percentile EV of 109.5 mph in 2024. He shows the ability to find the barrel and boasted some of the best contact quality in the lower levels of the minors. Calaz is a below-average runner with enough range to handle the corner outfield with an above-average arm.

The Future: Calaz has prodigious power and an aggressive approach at the plate. If he can sharpen his plate skills, he has middle-of-the-order slugger written all over him.

Scouting Grades Hit: 45 | Power: 70 | Run: 40 | Fielding: 45 | Arm: 55
BA Grade/Risk: 55/Very High.

Track Record: Signed out of Cuba in July 2019 for $295,000, Fernandez looks like one of the Rockies’ best investments in recent years. He dominated the Dominican Summer League in his 2021 pro debut before leading the Low-A California League in RBIs in 2022. Fernandez reached Double-A by the end of 2023 and returned to Hartford to begin 2024. It took time for Fernandez to find his footing at Double-A. He hit .283/.339/.439 in 89 games before being promoted to Triple-A on Aug. 6.

Scouting Report: Fernandez is a physical slugger with huge raw power and a plus arm. He has above-average pure contact skills, but his poor swing decisions drag down his overall offensive profile. Fernandez excels at adjusting his barrel to get on plane with breaking balls and changeups, both pitches which he hits at an above-average rate. His greatest struggles come when trying to discern balls and strikes. This leads to whiffs and poor contact on pitches he should simply take. What Fernandez does have is special hands, which give him the ability to adjust on the fly and send balls into orbit when he finds the barrel. He has plus-plus power projection if he can optimize his ball flight. Fernandez’s lack of selectivity might limit his overall power output, but adjustments could lead to a higher contact rate, more sustainable on-base skills and a higher rate of barrels on balls in play. Fernandez is a below-average runner who is acceptable in a corner outfield spot because of his plus arm.

The Future: Fernandez is a corner outfielder with power whose poor swing decisions will cut into his production. If he can improve his ability to discern balls and strikes, he could develop into a 30-home run threat. Fernandez will likely return to Triple-A to begin 2025.

Scouting Grades Hit: 45 | Power: 60 | Run: 40 | Fielding: 40 | Arm: 60
BA Grade/Risk: 65/High.

Track Record: Dollander was not heavily recruited out of Greerbrier High in Georgia and wound up on campus at Georgia Southern. After a standout freshman campaign, he transferred to Tennessee. In his first year in Knoxville in 2022, Dollander won Southeastern Conference pitcher of the year honors for going 10-0 with a 2.39 ERA and 108 strikeouts against 13 walks in 79 innings. Heading into his draft year, he ranked as the top pitcher on the board. After a tumultuous start to the 2023 season, Dollander was passed by LSU’s Paul Skenes on draft rankings after his fastball shape and command backed up. In 17 starts as a junior, Dollander posted a 4.75 ERA while both his walk rate and number of home runs allowed doubled. Undeterred, the Rockies drafted him ninth overall. Dollander made his pro debut at High-A Spokane in 2024 and pitched to a 2.83 ERA and struck out 37% of batters over 70 innings. The Rockies promoted him to Double-A Hartford in late July. He made nine Eastern League starts and pitched to a 2.25 ERA with 58 strikeouts in 48 innings.

Scouting Report: Dollander stands 6-foot-2 with a lean, athletic frame that projects to age well. His mechanics are simple and clean. He starts from a semi-windup, with a higher leg lift that closes off his front side. His arm action is moderate in length and gives way to a three-quarters arm slot with a crossfire finish. Dollander mixes four pitches in a four-seam fastball, curveball, cutter and changeup. His fastball is a double-plus weapon with a strong combination of plus velocity, movement and release traits. Sitting 95-97 mph and touching 100, Dollander delivers his fastball from a 5-foot-4 release height and generates 16-17 inches of induced vertical break from that point, which is an outlier combination. This led to outrageous success for the pitch in 2024, when Dollander generated a minor league-best 20.4% swinging-strike rate against his fastball. While Dollander’s fastball is his best pitch, he also has a trio of secondaries, led by his upper-80s cut-slider hybrid. The pitch has power and gyro cutter shape and generates a heavy amount of whiffs. Dollander’s curveball sits 77-78 mph and is an anomaly in the modern game as a classic curve with two-plane break. He uses his curveball is a major part of his repertoire against both righties and lefties. His changeup is a clear fourth pitch which sits 89-90 mph with solid vertical separation off his fastball. Dollander shows average or better control with the ability to work all parts of the strike zone with his fastball.

The Future: Dollander has the stuff, durability and pitchability of a future No. 2 starter. Despite concerns around his future home park in Denver, he has the ability to be an all-star in time. He will likely begin 2025 at Triple-A Albuquerque, with a legitimate chance at the Rockies rotation at some during the season.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 70 | Curveball: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Cutter: 60 | Control: 55
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High.

Track Record: Carrigg proved to be a versatile player during his three seasons at San Diego State. He saw time at every position but first base and right field, including three appearances as a pitcher. Carrigg hit .303/.357/.458 with five home runs and 17 stolen bases as a junior in 2023, and the Rockies drafted him 65th overall. After the draft, he debuted in the Arizona Complex League before being promoted to Low-A Fresno for the final month. Carrigg was assigned to High-A Spokane in 2024 and played 111 games while hitting .280/.358/.475 with 16 homers and 51 steals.

Scouting Report: Carrigg is a tall, athletic switch-hitter with the ability to do a variety of things well. He has developed as a hitter as a professional and shows bat-to-ball skills and power from both sides of the plate. Carrigg still shows just fringe bat-to-ball skills overall and struggles against spin and offspeed. Carrigg destroys fastballs and velocity, against which he does most of his damage. He shows fringe-average underlying exit velocity numbers but has both lefthanded and righthanded swings designed to backspin the ball to his pull side. Carrigg has mid-teens home run power but could grow into more raw power as he ages. A plus runner who will flash a plus-plus run time, Carrigg is an aggressive basestealing threat. His speed affords him grace at his primary position of center field. He’s not always the most natural defender but has the speed and range to make a majority of plays and should improve in time. Carrigg’s double-plus arm has allowed him to play shortstop and catcher when called upon in pro ball.

The Future: A versatile, athletic player with plus speed and sneaky average power, Carrigg’s outcomes range from all-star center fielder with 20-homer, 20-steal upside or a versatile role player. He is likely to begin 2025 at Double-A Hartford.

Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 60 | Fielding: 60 | Arm: 70
BA Grade/Risk: 60/High.

Track Record: Condon redshirted during his first season at Georgia before rapidly turning into a star. He hit .386/.484/.800 with 25 home runs in 2023 to win Freshman of the Year. A year later he was College Player of the Year after turning in one of the best seasons in college history. Condon hit .433/.556/1.009 and led the nation in batting average, slugging and home runs while setting the BBCOR record with 37 bombs. The Rockies drafted him third overall and signed him for $9.25 million, which tied the Reds’ Chase Burns for the all-time bonus record. Condon dealt with a hand injury in his pro debut and hit just .180/.248/.270 in 25 games for High-A Spokane.

Scouting Report: Standing 6-foot-6 with long levers and a well-proportioned, athletic build, Condon employs a low-maintenance swing with a toe-tap and a simple load. At Georgia, he showed the ability to make contact and do damage with a variety of pitch types while maintaining a balance of aggressiveness and patience. In a limited pro sample, Condon struggled mightily against breaking and offspeed pitches, whiffing at an alarming rate. On the bright side, he continued to hit fastballs and velocity at a high rate. Few batters hit the ball harder than Condon, with his elite exit velocity data in college holding true as a professional. Condon has double-plus power, with the ability to hit the ball out to all parts of the park with moonshot home runs on his best-struck drives. Condon is a below-average runner and not a basestealing threat. He saw time at third base and left field in his debut. There’s a high likelihood Condon moves to an outfield corner—where his above-average arm will play—or possibly first base.

The Future: Condon’s struggles against soft stuff raised questions about his hit tool. His power is such an outlier that it’s still worth buying into his bat and potential for 30 home runs annually.

Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 70 | Run: 40 | Fielding: 45 | Arm: 55
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme.

Track Record: Fountain enjoyed a standout prep career at Norris High in Firth, Neb., in which he set state career records with 31 home runs, 154 RBIs and 84 stolen bases. He broke the Nebraska prep home run record while still a junior. In addition to his personal accolades, Fountain as a senior led his team to a Nebraska Class B state championship. The Padres drafted him in the fifth round in 2024 and inked him to an over-slot deal worth $1.7 million. Fountain did not play after the draft and had Tommy John surgery in October.

Scouting Report: Fountain has an extra-large, 6-foot-5 frame with impressive strength throughout. He sets up in the righthanded batter’s box with a closed-off front side and wide base, and while his load with his front leg is significant, his actual stride is small. He really sits on his back side, and there is a bit of a bat wrap in his load. Fountain has thunderous bat speed with comfortably plus raw power which he has shown he can get to in games. His swing decisions on the 2023 high school summer showcase circuit were solid, but there are questions about whether he will make enough contact to be an average hitter. Fountain has an above-average arm at third base, but he is a stiff mover and could eventually move off the position.

The Future: The Padres expect Fountain to be ready to hit by spring training. Given the fact he recently had surgery and has yet to make his pro debut, he could spend all of 2025 at the Padres’ Arizona complex. Much of Fountain’s upside is contingent on how much he is able to hit. His plus power is his calling card, but it doesn’t mean much if he is unable to get to it on a consistent basis. Fountain’s big league debut is unlikely to come before 2028.

Scouting Grades Hit: 45 | Power: 60 | Run: 40 | Fielding: 45 | Arm: 55
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Very High.

Track Record: Lowe had top-five-rounds interest in the 2022 draft, but the Padres nabbed him in the 11th round and signed him for an over-slot deal worth $400,000. Lowe didn’t debut professionally until 2023, when he had a productive three-start stint with Low-A Lake Elsinore before shoulder fatigue forced him to the injured list for virtually all of the year. Lowe began 2024 back with Lake Elsinore and pitched his way to High-A Fort Wayne in August. In seven starts at the higher level, he compiled a 4.05 ERA though his command faltered and he did not miss as many bats as he did at Low-A.

Scouting Report: Lowe is a strong-bodied and physical righthander with a particularly thick lower half. He has a compact delivery and pitches out of a three-quarters slot. Lowe’s fastball sits 92-95 mph, but it has been up to 97 with carry at the top of the zone. His low-80s slider generated an impressive 44% miss rate in 2024 between two levels, and it flashes sharp sweeping life with a bit of depth. It is a plus pitch for which he has an advanced feel, and it is effective against both righthanded and lefthanded hitters. Lowe’s third pitch is an average mid-to-upper-80s changeup which will flash late fade with some tumble. He is an average strike-thrower, though his control will be worth monitoring in 2025 after it took a step back at the end of 2024.

The Future: A shoulder injury cut Lowe’s 2023 season short, so it was encouraging to see him put together a full and healthy 2024. He is on track to start 2025 with High-A Fort Wayne and could earn a promotion to Double-A San Antonio before the end of the season. Long term, he projects as a back-end starter with a chance to make his debut by 2027.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 50 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Very High.

Track Record: Hightower was a pop-up player who gained serious momentum in the spring leading up to the 2024 draft. He hit .462 with 10 doubles, two triples and nine home runs in his senior season at East Rowan High and led his team to a North Carolina 3A state championship. The Padres drafted Hightower in the third round and signed him for a full-slot bonus of $852,300.

Scouting Report: Hightower has a hitterish look in the box with quick hands, plenty of bat speed and an advanced feel for the barrel. He has a medium handset, a slight barrel tip and his hands don’t drift at all. There’s an appealing, compact explosiveness to Hightower’s operation and he is an athletic mover in the box. His lower half is engaged and in sync, and he consistently gets off quick, tight turns. His bat speed combined with his barrel control bodes well as it pertains to his ability to hit for game power. Hightower has an enticing hit-plus-power blend at the plate. Defensively he projects to stick somewhere on the dirt. He figures to get the chance to develop as a shortstop, but an eventual move to second base might make the most sense.

The Future: Hightower lit up the Arizona bridge league—unofficial games featuring recent draftees and other young players not ready for full-season ball—after the draft and was one of the top performers on the circuit. Scouts are bullish on Hightower’s offensive ability, and he will have a bat-first profile no matter where he ends up defensively. Hightower could begin 2025 at Low-A Lake Elsinore and be a reasonably quick mover, depending on how his bat holds up. San Diego may have drafted another gem in Hightower, who has a chance to be in the big leagues as early as 2028.

Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Fielding: 50 | Arm: 50
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.

Track Record: Lizarraga ranked as Mexico’s best pitching prospect in the 2021 international class and signed with the Padres for $1 million. His progression through the minor leagues has been steady. Following a strong showing in the Arizona Complex League as a 17-year-old in 2021, Lizarraga struck out 95 in 94.1 innings in 19 starts for Low-A Lake Elsinore in 2022. His strikeout rate dipped in 2023, but he enjoyed a bounceback 2024 season at Double-A San Antonio in which he posted a 4.03 ERA with a career-high 102 strikeouts in 96 innings.

Scouting Report: Lizarraga has a lengthy 6-foot-3 frame with present strength and physicality in his lower half. He has a long, whippy arm action and pitches out of a low-three quarters slot. His fastball sits in the 90-94 mph range and flashes run and ride through the zone. It doesn’t miss a ton of bats, but it generates the most swings and misses when located in the top half of the strike zone or to Lizarraga’s arm side. His slider sits in the high 70s to low 80s and will flash sharp, late sweeping life, while his mid-to-high-70s curveball has solid depth and at times shows quality downward bite. Lizarraga rounds out his arsenal with a mid-to-high-80s changeup that he threw just 7% of the time in 2024. He has average—if not a shade above—control and has a sound feel for his arsenal. He pitched all of 2024 at 20 years old, and his velocity and pure stuff should continue to tick up as he matures.

The Future: After spending all of 2024 at Double-A, Lizarraga projects to start 2025 back at San Antonio. An eventual promotion to Triple-A El Paso seems to be in the cards for Lizarraga, who could make his major league debut as soon as 2026. Once called up, Lizarraga projects as a back-of-the-rotation starter or swingman.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme.

Track Record: Nett is a scouting success story for the Padres. He did not pitch in college, recorded just two outs in the summer collegiate Appalachian League in 2021 and worked a 6.48 ERA across 16.2 innings in the MLB Draft League in 2022. The Padres signed him that August. Nett spent much of 2023 in the Arizona Complex League, while reaching Low-A Lake Elsinore for 13 innings and then adding 17 more in the Arizona Fall League. In 2024, Nett reached a career-high 65 innings between High-A Fort Wayne and, briefly, Double-A San Antonio.

Scouting Report: Nett has an athletic frame with some length in his lower half and strength throughout. He moves well on the mound and features a compact delivery with a short, quick arm stroke and attacks hitters from a three-quarters slot. A former basketball player, Nett’s athleticism is evident in his dynamic movement patterns. His fastball sits in the mid-to-upper 90s and is most effective—and generates the most whiffs—in the top half of the strike zone thanks to its carrying life. Nett’s low-to-mid-80s slider flashes tight sweeping life as well as some depth. In 2024 it generated a 38% miss rate. He rounds out his arsenal with a seldom-used changeup which ranges between the high 80s and low 90s. Nett’s control is fringe-average and his strike-throwing ability can escape him at times. He will need to continue to take positive strides in that department in order to maximize his upside.

The Future: Nett figures to begin 2025 with Double-A San Antonio, and he could earn a promotion to Triple-A El Paso before the end of the season. Much of Nett’s ceiling hinges on how his command and control progress. At his best, he could be a serviceable No. 4 starter. A 2025 MLB debut is not completely out of the question, though 2026 is more realistic.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 45
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme.

Track Record: Nicknamed “Sasquatch” because of his extra-large, 6-foot-8 frame, Bateman had a strong showing on the 2023 summer showcase circuit followed by an outstanding spring in which he went 11-1, 0.54 with 130 strikeouts in 64.1 innings against SoCal high school competition. The Padres drafted him 52nd overall and went nearly $800,000 over slot to sign him for $2.5 million.

Scouting Report: Bateman is an imposing presence on the mound and has done an admirable job of cleaning up his delivery since 2023. The lefthander deploys a slight rocker step toward the third base side, gathers himself and then goes into an average tempo delivery. Bateman has an abbreviated arm action and attacks from a high three-quarters slot and pitches against a slightly closed-off front side. His fastball was up to 96 mph in 2024, but Bateman’s secondary offerings are his bread-and-butter. His high-70s, high-spin curveball flashes big-time depth with sharp, two-plane tilt. The pitch spins in the 2,900 rpm range and generates plenty of swings and misses. Bateman also features a low-80s slider with average potential and a fringy mid-80s changeup. There is some reliever risk with Bateman given his frame. The key for Bateman will be the continued refining of his delivery and the development of a third pitch, which right now appears to be his slider. His control right now is fringe-average.

The Future: Bateman did not pitch after being drafted, so it would make sense for him to make a few appearances in the Arizona Complex League in 2025 before being sent to Low-A Lake Elsinore. If he is unable to stick as a starter, his fastball/curveball combination is a deadly one-two punch that will play well in the bullpen. Long term, he projects as a potential No. 3 or 4 starter.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Curveball: 60 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 45
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme.

Track Record: Cruz was the pitching headliner of the Padres’ 2024 international class. Needing more pool space to acquire him, San Diego traded 2023 12th-rounder Blake Dickerson to the Tigers to acquire the bonus pool money needed to push Cruz’s $750,000 deal over the finish line. Cruz made two one-inning starts in 2024 in the Arizona Complex League, where he did not allow a run and struck out a pair.

Scouting Report: The 6-foot-1 Cruz has a high-waisted, athletic build and plenty of room to add physicality, which shouldn’t be too tall of a task given his youth. He has an athletic delivery with plenty of arm speed and features a fastball, slider and changeup. Cruz’s fastball was up to 93 mph prior to his signing, but in his pro debut it was clocked as high as 97 mph. In addition to his lively heater, Cruz spins a tight, low-to-mid-80s slider that has posted spin rates in the 2,400-2,500 rpm range, as well as a changeup which gets solid separation off his fastball and flashes plenty of fade to his arm side. On top of his intriguing three-pitch mix, Cruz has also shown above-average pitchability and is consistently around the strike zone. He can generate plenty of whiffs with all three of his pitches and has middle-of-the-rotation upside.

The Future: While Cruz’s upside is exciting, there is no reason to rush him through the minor leagues. He will pitch the entire 2025 season as an 18-year-old and likely projects to begin the year in extended spring training and possibly the ACL. The Padres have shown they aren’t shy about sending 17- or 18-year-olds to full-season affiliates, so expect Cruz to reach Low-A Lake Elsinore at some point in 2025. His big league debut is still many years away and figures to not be until at least 2028.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 55
BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme.

Track Record: Mayfield cemented himself as one of the more advanced strike-throwers in the 2024 draft as an underclassman, but he didn’t pitch in any of the major events in the summer leading up to his draft year. Nonetheless, the 2023 Gatorade player of the year for the state of Oklahoma ascended rapidly up draft boards in the spring of 2024. He went 25th overall to the Padres and signed for $3,442,100, which was full slot for the pick.

Scouting Report: Mayfield has an aesthetically pleasing, low-effort delivery in which he flashes body control and athleticism. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound southpaw attacks hitters from a three-quarters slot and has a clean arm action. Mayfield’s fastball took a considerable jump in 2024. It sat in the low-to-mid 90s and got up to 97 mph. He has two above-average secondary pitches in a high-70s slider and a low-80s changeup. The above-average grade on Mayfield’s slider hinges on him adding more velocity and teeth to the pitch, while his changeup is slightly further along thanks to his advanced feel for the pitch. He has plus control and can land all three of his offerings for strikes. Mayfield looks every bit of a starter thanks to his clean motion, strike-throwing ability and stuff.

The Future: Mayfield did not pitch after being drafted, so it is reasonable to expect him to make a few starts at the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League before being assigned to Low-A Lake Elsinore. He’ll be 20 before he makes his professional debut, so the Padres might not be as conservative with his path through the minor leagues, and it’s not out of the realm of possibility that he will finish the 2025 season with High-A Fort Wayne. Mayfield projects as an effective No. 3 starter, and a big league debut will likely not come until at least 2027.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 60
BA Grade/Risk: 60/High.

Track Record: Salas was the top prospect in the 2023 international signing period and signed with the Padres for $5.6 million, the highest bonus in the class. He made his pro debut that season with Low-A Lake Elsinore a few days before turning 17 years old. The Padres promoted Salas to High-A Fort Wayne in August and then to Double-A San Antonio later that month. He spent all of 2024 with Fort Wayne, hitting .206/.288/.311 with 27 doubles and four home runs in 111 games before appearing in the Arizona Fall League.

Scouting Report: Salas stands almost upright in the box with a somewhat high handset and a low-maintenance, repeatable lefthanded swing. He has a slight barrel tip in his load and is a small strider with an appealing quickness and compactness to his swing. After a slow start to the season, he started to stand taller in the box, raised his hands and put more of an emphasis on working down and through the ball. What followed was a strong month of August in which he laced 11 doubles and hit two home runs. Salas has above-average bat-to-ball skills and a polished approach, working to all parts of the field. His home run power comes almost exclusively from center field to right. Salas’ calling card has long been his defense. He has soft hands, receives the ball well and does an excellent job of corralling pitches in the dirt. His transfers are ultra quick, and he has a comfortably plus, accurate arm. He has shown at a young age that he can both handle and lead pitching staffs.

The Future: If Salas doesn’t begin 2025 at Double-A San Antonio, he will get there in relatively short order. He could make his big league debut as soon as 2026. Salas profiles as a potential Gold Glove-caliber catcher with advanced offensive ability.

Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 45 | Fielding: 70 | Arm: 60
BA Grade/Risk: 65/Very High.

Track Record: De Vries was the crown jewel of the 2024 international free agent class, and the Padres signed the Dominican shortstop for $4.2 million, which was the second-highest total in the class. De Vries bypassed the Rookie-level complex leagues and made his pro debut as a 17-year-old with Low-A Lake Elsinore on April 24. He regularly flashed his tantalizing tool set and slashed .238/.361/.442 with 11 home runs and 13 stolen base in 75 games. After some growing pains—and a brief stay on the injured list in May with a shoulder injury—De Vries finished the season strong. In his final 45 games, he hit .260/.384/.519 with all 11 of his homers. After the season, he participated in the Arizona Fall League.

Scouting Report: A switch-hitting shortstop, De Vries has the tools to eventually be the centerpiece of a big league club. From the left side, he has a slightly open front side with a medium-high handset. There are some moving parts to his swing. During the pitcher’s delivery, he proceeds to rest his bat across his back shoulder, which leads into a slight barrel tip followed by a dropping and drifting of his hands. It’s a busy operation, but De Vries’ bat speed helps make up for it. He’s also shown the ability to adjust. Late in the season, De Vries opted to rest the bat on his back shoulder pre-delivery, and his hand movement decreased. As a righthanded hitter, De Vries’ front side is slightly more open and he opts for a higher handset. While the move in his lower half is similar on each side, there is more of a bat wrap in his load from the right side. De Vries has a knack for back-spinning the baseball from both sides of the plate, with his home run power coming to his pull side, especially batting righthanded. He has demonstrated the ability to drive the ball to all fields batting lefthanded. As De Vries continues to age, he figures to naturally grow into more strength and impact. He has a sound approach and chased at a respectable 22% clip, but secondary offerings were a particular bugaboo. Expect his pitch recognition skills to improve, because he has already flashed advanced contact ability. De Vries’ high-level athleticism is evident at shortstop, where he shows range in either direction, comfort attacking the baseball and advanced instincts. He has quick hands and an average arm, and he will get plenty of time to develop his defensive skill set at shortstop. De Vries is an above-average runner who can impact the game with his legs.

The Future: De Vries has the look of a potential high-impact big leaguer. He should begin the 2025 season back with Lake Elsinore but figures to earn an eventual promotion to High-A Fort Wayne. There is no reason for the Padres to rush De Vries through the minors, and his MLB debut year projects to be 2027 with an outside shot at late 2026.

Scouting Grades Hit: 60 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Fielding: 55 | Arm: 50
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.

Track Record: McGreevy earned freshman All-America honors as a reliever in 2019 before breaking out as a starter in 2021. He drew scouts to UC Santa Barbara in his draft year by showing increased velocity and advanced pitchability. The Cardinals selected McGreevy with the 18th pick in 2021, and he signed for $2.75 million. Over three full professional seasons, McGreevy has shown a knack for racking up innings, throwing 144.1 in 2022, 153 in 2023 and 173 in 2024, counting his major league time after he made his MLB debut on July 31.

Scouting Report: McGreevy fits the back-of-the-rotation pitchability type to a tee. Sitting 91-93 mph and mixing two fastball shapes, he leans primarily on a sinker. His quartet of secondary pitches includes an upper-80s cutter, a mid-80s sweeper slider, an upper-70s curveball and a changeup. McGreevy’s sinking fastball is a fringe-average pitch which helps him drive groundball contact. His slider is his highest-graded pitch, missing bats at an average-or-better rate while showing strong underlying control metrics. His curveball, cutter and changeup all grade as below-to-fringe-average offerings. McGreevy attacks the strike zone extremely well and tunnels effective areas with a variety of pitch shapes and moves the ball around the zone. His pitchability gives him a solid chance to hack it as a back-of-the-rotation innings-eater.

The Future: McGreevy projects to be a part of the Cardinals’ rotation for a good chunk of 2025. He’s proven he can handle the workload and has the ability to work efficiently, though he lacks midrotation-or-better upside.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 45 | Curveball: 40 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 40 | Cutter: 45 | Control: 60
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: Crooks went the junior college route, playing a season at McLennan JC in Texas before transferring to Oklahoma. With the Sooners, Crooks enjoyed two successful seasons before the Cardinals drafted him in the fourth round in 2022. He had a strong season in his debut before breaking out in 2024 by hitting 321/.410/.498 in 90 games with Double-A Springfield and winning the Texas League MVP.

Scouting Report: Crooks is a stout, strongly built catcher with solid bat-to-ball skills and a knack for finding the barrel. He features a wide-open setup at the plate and a level swing angle that allows him to attack high fastballs and make strong, quality contact against all middle-up locations. Crooks is an excellent fastball hitter and handles velocity well, but the flatness of his swing leaves him susceptible to spin and offspeed pitches located at the bottom of the zone. He shows average underlying exit velocity data, as evidenced by a 90th percentile EV of 103.9 mph in 2024. While his raw power is just average, his ability to consistently backspin the ball leads to a high rate of line drives and fly balls. Crooks is a well below-average runner who runs the bases station to station. Behind the plate, Crooks is an above-average framer with metrics that support his above-average strike-stealing skills. While his receiving is strong, Crooks doesn’t sacrifice impact in the running game. He caught 33% of basestealers over 76 attempted steals in 2024.

The Future: Crooks is an above-average defensive catcher with ability to hit for average and some power. If he conquers the challenge of Triple-A pitching, he could debut for the Cardinals in 2025. He projects as a second-division regular catcher.

Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 30 | Fielding: 55 | Arm: 55
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: Davis was a highly touted recruit when he reached campus at Arizona. After a breakout sophomore campaign, he reached new heights as a junior, hitting .362/.489/.742 to earn Pacific-12 all-conference honors. The Cardinals drafted Davis with the 21st pick in 2023, signing him for $3.62 million. He debuted with Low-A Palm Beach in his draft year, appearing in 34 games. To begin 2024, Davis returned to Palm Beach, seeing 74 games before earning a promotion to High-A and later Double-A.

Scouting Report: Davis is an enigmatic player defined by his inconsistencies. The Cardinals made some tweaks to his swing, including implementing an open stance and toned-down leg kick. It took time for Davis to adjust to the changes, and he struggled by hitting .184/.281/.291 over his first 38 games of 2024. But from June 1 onward, Davis hit .288/.384/.483 while cutting his strikeout rate from 29% to 21%. Davis shows fringe-average bat-to-ball skills and above-average swing decisions. He’s an excellent fastball hitter and handles velocity especially well, hitting .305 against fastballs 94 mph or harder in 2024. Davis does damage against breaking pitches, as well, slugging .492 against sliders and curveballs. He struggles with sizable holes down and in and high and away due to his steep, uppercut swing path. Still, Davis shows above-average raw power and can get the ball in the air, giving him potential to grow into a 25-plus home run threat. An average runner, Davis is not a basestealer, but he is an average defender in an outfield corner where his plus arm plays.

The Future: Davis has the tools to be an average regular, but concerns around his hitting ability give him some risk. If he hits, he has the upside of an above-average corner outfielder with power.

Scouting Grades Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Fielding: 50 | Arm: 60
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: After leading the nation in strikeouts in 2022 at Oregon State, Hjerpe went to the Cardinals 22nd overall and signed for $3.18 million. He debuted the following spring but was limited to just eight starts after surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow. Hjerpe began 2024 healthy, making 11 starts with High-A Peoria and pitching well enough to earn a promotion to Double-A Springfield in June. Hjerpe made four starts at Double-A before being shut down with an elbow injury. Hjerpe has pitched just 93.1 pro innings.

Scouting Report: A sidearming lefthander, Hjerpe has an unusual look and angle on his pitches that allows them to play well above their raw velocity. He mixes a fastball, curveball, cutter and changeup, each moving in different directions with well-defined shapes. Hjerpe’s fastball sits 90-92 mph and touches 94 at peak. The velocity is ordinary, but the pitch’s unusually flat approach angle makes it stand out. He releases the ball from a 4-foot-1 height with above-average extension, giving hitters a truly unique experience. Hjerpe’s cutter has become his most-used secondary pitch. Sitting 85-87 mph, the pitch doesn’t generate lots of whiffs, but it gets weak contact and gives him a pitch that consistently lands in the zone. Hjerpe’s changeup is his primary weapon against righthanded hitters, and it performed well in 2024. His curveball is an upper-70s sweeper which plays well off of his trio of shapes. Hjerpe’s command has been up and down, but he has above-average zone rates on his fastball, cutter and changeup.

The Future: Hjerpe boasts the deep arsenal of a future back-end starter but has not shown the ability to stay healthy. The Cardinals will continue to develop him as a starter, but he could end up as a deceptive lefthanded reliever capable of getting four or more outs.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 45 | Changeup: 55 | Cutter: 45 | Control: 50
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: After popping up on the summer showcase circuit in 2019, Roby entered the 2020 draft cycle as a helium name. The Rangers selected him in the third round, and he signed for an above-slot $775,000. Roby has struggled with injuries for most of his professional career. He made just six starts in 2021 because of an ailing elbow, then missed time with shoulder injuries in 2023 and 2024. The Cardinals acquired Roby along with Thomas Saggese in the 2023 trade deadline deal that sent Jordan Montgomery and Chris Stratton to the Rangers. Roby made just 10 starts in 2024, missing time from mid May until late August.

Scouting Report: Roby has the type of stuff and smooth mechanics that scouts can dream on. However, the righthander has yet to deliver on his promise. A lack of consistent health is likely the biggest culprit. Roby mixes four pitches: a four-seam fastball, curveball, cutter and changeup. The fastball is Roby’s primary pitch. It sits 95-97 mph with average ride and approach angle. Roby uses his fastball around 50% of the time and has been clocked as high as 99 mph. Roby’s curveball is his primary secondary weapon. It sits 82-84 mph with plus depth and higher spin rates. The pitch generated a 21.1% swinging-strike rate in 2024. Roby’s cutter sits 88-90 mph with a tighter shape, and the pitch does an excellent job of generating chase swings. Roby also throws a changeup around 10% of the time, but he struggles to command the pitch. Overall, Roby shows average strike-throwing abilities but struggled with command in Double-A.

The Future: Roby still has midrotation upside, but whether or not he can maintain the health needed to handle a starter’s workload is in question.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 60 | Cutter: 50 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50
BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme.

Track Record: The Cardinals signed Padilla for $760,000 in January 2024, and so far it looks like a savvy investment. Padilla debuted in the Dominican Summer League nearly a month before his 17th birthday, hitting .287/.391/.404 in 35 games with five doubles, four triples and a home run while stealing 22 bases on 27 attempts. The switch-hitter slashed .308/.403/.442 against righthanders but just .111/.292/.111 versus lefties. He should debut stateside in 2024 in the Florida Complex League.

Scouting Report: Padilla is a projectable, athletic player who wowed scouts in his professional debut. A shortstop who shows impact potential on both sides of the ball, he could grow into a premium player with a body to dream on. Padilla did a majority of his damage this season against fastballs from righthanders and will need to show an ability to hit lefthanders as a switch-hitter. He shows glimpses of average or better power now but is still growing into his body and should find more strength eventually. Overall, Padilla shows plus bat-to-ball skills with above-average swing decisions. While his raw power is well below-average now, he should grow into more pop as he matures. Padilla is a double-plus runner at present who is a threat to steal whenever he’s on base. This translates to plus range at shortstop with natural feel and timing for the position. Padilla pairs smooth hands and actions with a plus arm that allows him to make all the necessary throws.

The Future: Padilla is an exciting and projectable switch-hitting shortstop who has the potential to develop into an above-average regular if everything comes together. Should Padilla grow into power and continue to hit while playing premium defense, he has a chance to become a star.

Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 70 | Fielding: 60 | Arm: 60
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Medium.

Track Record: Saggese experienced success almost from the moment Rangers drafted him with their final pick in the five-round 2020 draft. His big breakout occurred in 2023, when he hit .306/.374/.530, was dealt to the Cardinals at the trade deadline and eventually won Texas League MVP. Saggese experienced an uneven performance in 2024 with Triple-A Memphis, struggling through May and June before finding his swing in July. He hit .290/.351/.524 from July 1 onward and made his MLB debut on Sept. 10.

Scouting Report: While Saggese is not physically imposing or particularly athletic, he’s a highly skilled hitter with advanced bat-to-ball ability. He sports a well-balanced righthanded swing which has a knack for staying on-plane through the zone, allowing him to balance both hit and power. Saggese rarely swings and misses in the zone, keeping his strikeouts in check. However, his hyper-aggressive plate approach would benefit from some dialing down. Saggese shows a consistent ability to find the barrel, leading to a high rate of quality contact despite fringe-average exit velocity data. He optimizes his hard contact and shows the ability to consistently hit the ball in the air to his pull side, traits which should allow him to outproduce his raw power. Saggese is an average runner home-to-first but a below-average basestealer. He’s seen the majority of his time as a professional at shortstop but has moved around to second and third base. Saggese’s fringe-average arm and lack of range mark him as a likely second baseman.

The Future: Saggese is a bat-first second baseman with the ability to hit for average and power. Incremental improvements to his swing decisions could see him develop into an above-average regular.

Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Fielding: 45 | Arm: 45
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High.

Track Record: Hence was just 17 years old when the Cardinals selected him in the supplemental second round in the five-round 2020 draft. He saw limited game action over his first two pro seasons—just 60.1 innings—but showed the ability to handle a larger workload in 2023 and the first half of 2024. Hence dealt with injuries over the final three months of 2024 and missed a month during the middle of the year with shoulder and chest tightness. He was limited to just 26 innings from June 5 onward and left his final appearance of the season with a lat issue. Hence’s 40-man roster status will likely give him a shot to debut in 2025, health permitting.

Scouting Report: Hence is an undersized righthander who looks smaller than his listed measurements of 6-foot-1, 195 pounds. His lack of physicality and limited workload have led to a great deal of durability concerns. From a stuff and control standpoint, however, Hence has always impressed. He sits 93-95 mph on his four-seam fastball, generating above-average ride from a 5-foot-6 release height. Beyond his fastball, Hence mixes a trio of secondaries: a mid-80s pure gyro slider, a changeup with heavy armside run at 82-84 mph and a 12-6 curveball in the low 80s. Hence shows above-average command of his arsenal with the ability to locate his fastball and land his secondaries in effective locations. His ability to generate swings and misses against his slider, curveball and changeup allow him to be equally effective against righthanded and lefthanded hitters.

The Future: Hence’s lack of durability is the biggest question heading into 2025 and beyond. When on the mound, he looks the part of a top-of-the-rotation arm with a deep arsenal of effective pitches and command. Showing he can stay healthy and handle a starter’s workload is paramount in 2025.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 55
BA Grade/Risk: 55/Medium.

Track Record: Mathews returned to Stanford for his senior season after spurning the Rays, who drafted him in the 19th round in 2022. It was a wise move for Mathews, who won Pacific-12 Conference pitcher of the year, helped lead Stanford to the College World Series and finished second in the nation in strikeouts behind only LSU’s Paul Skenes. Mathews went to the Cardinals in the fourth round in 2023 and made his professional debut in spring 2024. With a significant uptick in fastball velocity, he pitched at all four full-season levels of the minor leagues. On the season, Mathews went 8-5 with a 2.76 ERA in 143.1 innings with 200 strikeouts, marking only the second time a minor league pitcher had reached that total since 2011. Following the season, Mathews was honored with the BA Minor League Pitcher of the Year award.

Scouting Report: Mathews stands 6-foot-5 with a lean build. His mechanics are simple, starting from a full overhead windup. Mathews delivers the ball from a low three-quarters arm slot and does a good job of getting downhill in his drop-and-drive delivery, which allows his fastball to play up. The pitch sits 94-95 mph and touches 98 at peak with above-average ride for his release height. While Mathews added enough velocity to make his fastball development a headline of the season, the quality of his slider and changeup drove his results. Mathews’ mid-80s slider and low-80s changeup miss bats at an above-average rate, giving him a pair of secondary weapons that move in opposite directions. Mathews has a history of going deep into starts and handling a starter’s workload.

The Future: Mathews is a surefire midrotation arm with the ability to eat innings and navigate a lineup efficiently thanks to a combination of stuff and execution.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 65 | Control: 60
BA Grade/Risk: 60/High.

Track Record: Wetherholt was a four-year star at Mars (Pa.) Area HS under head coach Andy Bednar and played alongside future Giants first-rounder Will Bednar. Despite growing up just 20 miles from Pittsburgh, Wetherholt committed to rival West Virginia. On campus in Morgantown, Wetherholt blossomed into one of the top hitters in the country. He hit .449 in 55 games as a sophomore to lead the nation in hitting. He spent the summer of 2023 in the Cape Cod League and with USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team before hitting .331/.472/.589 as a junior. He was limited to just 36 games by a hamstring injury. The Cardinals drafted Wetherholt seventh overall in 2024 and signed him for $6.8 million. He made his professional debut with Low-A Palm Beach, hitting .295/.405/.400 in 29 games. Wetherholt is likely to begin 2025 at High-A Peoria, though he’s experienced enough to skip the level entirely and begin at Double-A Springfield.

Scouting Report: Wetherholt entered pro ball as an advanced hitter with an adjustable, righthanded swing geared for stinging line drives and punishing mistakes in the zone. He is adept at attacking all pitch types, producing near-identical underlying metrics against fastballs and breaking pitches. Wetherholt rarely expands the zone and should walk at a high rate in the majors. Power is not the primary focus of Wetherholt’s approach, but he shows above-average impact and the ability to elevate the ball consistently, portending mid-20s home run power at peak. Wetherholt produced a 90th percentile exit velocity of 105.3 mph in his pro debut to go with a 54.9% hard-hit rate, showcasing above-average power. Wetherholt stole 36 bases as a sophomore at West Virginia but has run considerably less after being hampered by lower body injuries. Wetherholt produces plus run times, but he will likely settle in as an above-average runner. It’s possible basestealing could become a part of his game again down the line as he recovers from the hamstring injury that continued to plague him into his pro debut. Wetherholt has played shortstop primarily since his sophomore season in college, and many within the organization believe he can stick at the position. He has an average arm that plays above-average on his best throws, pointing to a potential future on the left side of the infield. After seeing extensive time at both second and third base in college, a position switch should be easier for Wetherholt if he moves off shortstop.

The Future: After Wetherholt fell to pick No. 7 in the 2024 draft, the Cardinals view him as the top prospect in their system and a major part of their future. If Wetherholt gets to his peak power projection and proves he can stick at shortstop, he has all-star upside. In all likelihood, he develops into a third baseman with a plus bat and some star-level peak seasons.

Scouting Grades Hit: 65 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Fielding: 50 | Arm: 50
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: Barco was a well-known prep with first-round potential in 2019 who instead reached Florida, where he mostly performed well in the SEC until Tommy John surgery ended his draft spring early in 2022. Pittsburgh selected him 44th overall that year and signed him for $1.525 million. He debuted in late July 2023 and threw 18.1 innings. Barco spent most of 2024 with High-A Greensboro, where he struck out 77 batters in 62 innings before reaching Double-A Altoona. His season was cut short in July by a stress response in his lower left leg.

Scouting Report: A year removed from surgery, Barco returned with more strength and power, which benefited his expanding arsenal. His 92-94 mph fastball touched 96 with solid armside run. The Pirates have spent considerable time developing Barco’s shorter 83 mph slider, and he’s comfortable manipulating its shape and velocity so that it sometimes functions more like a cutter. Batters missed his slider nearly 42% of the time in 2024, and it has solid-average future potential. He added a mid-80s changeup in addition to his mid-80s splitter. Scouts prefer the spin-killing splitter as a swing-and-miss offering, even though his feel for the pitch wavered at times. During his rehab, Barco worked to address a strength deficiency in hips to help get down the mound more efficiently. His unique delivery requires some maintenance, though the Pirates are hopeful his strike-throwing continues to sharpen as more time elapses from his elbow surgery.

The Future: Barco needs to prove his durability and velocity can hold up. If he can, he could move relatively quickly through the upper minors. The Pirates feel the lefthander is a good fit for PNC Park. He has a high likelihood of one day settling into the back of a big league rotation.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Split: 55 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 50
BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme.

Track Record: The Pirates haven’t shied away from drafting cold-weather prep arms in recent years. They targeted Mueth, an Illinois native, in the second round of the 2023 draft, going over slot by roughly $650,000 to sign him to a bonus just shy of $1.8 million. The 19-year-old debuted in 2024, earning a Florida Complex League player of the year award before ending the year with Low-A Bradenton. Mueth posted a 2.31 ERA with 79 strikeouts in 74 innings, though he walked more batters (24) than he struck out (23) over 22.2 innings in Bradenton.

Scouting Report: The 6-foot-6 Mueth throws from a nearly sidearm slot, making for an uncomfortable at-bat for righthanded hitters. His deceptive release creates unique ride and run on a 92-95 mph fastball that touched 97 and has plus potential. Mueth’s preferred secondary is a sweeping mid-80s slider that tunnels well with his fastball release and flashes plus, albeit with inconsistent shape when it Frisbees across the strike zone. Hitters whiffed on his slider roughly 46% of the time. Mueth also throws a mid-80s changeup that flashes hard bottom and sinking action and functions as another chase option against lefties. Mueth’s willingness to challenge hitters with his entire east-west arsenal drew praise from external evaluators. Now, he needs to land everything in the zone more frequently. Mueth’s command of his secondaries can waver and he often loses pitches to his arm side. The long-limbed righty moves well on the mound with a great frame, so there’s reason for optimism that the strike-throwing improves with age, though his ceiling is likely fringe-average command.

The Future: Mueth has midrotation upside. He’ll return to the lower levels in 2025 looking to turn his impressive stuff into more efficient results.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45
BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme.

Track Record: Sterling was a two-way star at Notre Dame High outside Los Angeles, the same program that produced big leaguers Giancarlo Stanton, Hunter Greene and Brendan Ryan. He also played alongside fellow Pirates farmhand Konnor Griffin on Team USA’s 18U National Team in 2023. Pittsburgh selected him No. 37 overall in 2024 and signed him to a bonus just north of $2.5 million. He did not make his pro debut.

Scouting Report: While Sterling wasn’t the hardest thrower in the 2024 class, the 6-foot-5, 200-pound righthander is quite projectable and shows advanced pitchability for his age. Sterling has a four-pitch mix fronted by an 89-92 mph fastball that he throws for loads of strikes. His accuracy and willingness to spot his heater in any quadrant of the strike zone sets up the rest of his arsenal. Sterling’s low-80s changeup flashes plus shape and tumbles away from lefthanded batters, and he already confidently throws it with good arm speed. Additionally, he shows feel to spin two distinct breaking pitches: a mid-70s curveball that has above-average potential and is slightly ahead at this stage and a low-80s slider with classic shape and solid-average potential. Already a proficient strike-thrower, Sterling’s athleticism allows him to repeat his clean, balanced delivery. He has also never focused on pitching full-time. Sterling was a talented prep shortstop who hit third in his high school team’s order last spring. There’s plenty of room on his frame to add more strength and power.

The Future: The Pirates believe Sterling, who did not turn 18 until September, has considerable upside now that he can focus all his attention on pitching given his projection indicators. Sterling has midrotation upside and could reach Low-A Bradenton in relatively short order in 2025.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 60
BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme.

Track Record: Sanford emerged as perhaps the best defensive high school shortstop in the 2024 class after an impressive spring with Independence High in Frisco, Texas. The Pirates drafted him in the second round, buying him out of a Texas A&M commitment with an over-slot bonus just shy of $2.5 million. Like Pittsburgh’s other prep picks, Sanford did not make his pro debut, instead participating in instructional league-style action at bridge league following the draft. His father Chance Sanford was twice drafted by the Pirates and briefly reached the majors in 1998 and 1999.

Scouting Report: Sanford looks the part of a future big league shortstop. He has natural, easy actions at shortstop, good instincts and reliable hands. Sanford makes a decisive first step and is comfortable moving both laterally and hard-charging slow-rolling grounders. He can make every throw with his above-average arm strength, and he is also a plus runner. His bat, though, is more of a question mark. He has decent bat-to-ball skills but doesn’t hit the ball particularly hard, leading evaluators to question Sanford’s overall impact potential following an inconsistent summer circuit. He took a step forward in his senior spring, during which he showed more twitch and explosiveness. Sanford doesn’t have a particularly big frame, either, but he could hit 10-15 home runs per year if he finds a way to add more strength and physicality.

The Future: Sanford will be 19 years old for the entirety of the 2025 season, when he should reach full-season ball after a tune-up in the complex league. He has the upside of a defensive-minded everyday shortstop in the big leagues.

Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 60 | Fielding: 60 | Arm: 55
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: Yorke made a strong first impression in pro ball after his surprising selection at No. 17 overall by the Red Sox in 2020. His stock faded after two nondescript seasons in 2022 and 2023 during which he dealt with injuries amidst a growing glut of infield options in Boston’s system. Yorke bounced back in 2024 at Triple-A Worcester. The Pirates needed more upper-level hitting depth and pounced at the trade deadline, acquiring him in exchange for 2019 first-rounder Quinn Priester. Yorke made an 11-game major league debut late in 2024.

Scouting Report: Yorke has long been lauded for his compact swing, barrel control and all-fields approach. His resurgent 2024 season was keyed by cutting down his in-zone miss while becoming slightly more selective, further enhancing his already adept ability to parse balls and strikes. Evaluators believe he can be an above-average big league hitter with enough power to hit mistakes for homers. He has solid bat speed and sprays pitches gap-to-gap at his best. Yorke’s 90th percentile exit velocity of 105.3 mph is slightly above-average for his age and level, though he doesn’t frequently pull the ball. Defensively, Yorke’s work at second base continues to receive mixed external reviews because of his fringy range, hands and arm strength. His advanced metrics graded out more favorably. He dabbled in both corner outfield spots for the first time in 2024, which offers another viable defensive path even though he doesn’t project to be more than a fringe-average runner.

The Future: The offensive-minded Yorke should provide value on the strength of pure hitting chops, despite his defensive limitations. He will compete for a starting role in Pittsburgh in 2025.

Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 45 | Fielding: 45 | Arm: 45
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: When the Pirates drafted Johnson fourth overall in 2022 and signed him for $7.219 million, he was billed as one of the most advanced prep hitters in recent memory. His professional career, however, has been uneven. The 20-year-old spent most of 2024 with High-A Greensboro, where he hit just .200 through May before a stronger finish. He ended with a .238/.372/.385 line and 13 homers, then made a 14-game cameo with Double-A Altoona. Nearly 40% of Johnson’s 544 plate appearances ended in a walk (85), strikeout (116) or home run (15).

Scouting Report: Johnson is a bit of a vexing prospect as he tries to find the proper balance of approach and impact. The 5-foot-7, 190-pound lefthanded hitter whips the bat through the zone with lightning-quick hands capable of hitting majestic pull-side homers. He also has superb strike-zone discipline and owns a career .390 on-base percentage. But the pure hitting ability many projected as an amateur has yet to consistently materialize. Even despite modest improvements to his chase and in-zone miss rates, he still racked up a 31% overall swing-and-miss rate in 2024. Johnson’s in-zone contact rates were below-average for his age, as well. He would benefit from getting in better positions more consistently to better optimize his contact. The Pirates felt Johnson worked hard to improve his range defensively and continued to give him shortstop reps. The prevailing sentiment remains that he’s a long-term second baseman, which is a better fit for his fringe-average arm.

The Future: Johnson has age and on-base skills on his side, but he’ll need to hit more as he climbs the ladder. The ingredients remain for a future offensive-oriented everyday second baseman. Expect him to return to Double-A Altoona to start the season.

Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Fielding: 50 | Arm: 45
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: The Pirates drafted Ashcraft No. 51 overall in 2018 and signed the Texas native for $1.825 million. Injuries and the lost 2020 season due to the pandemic have slowed his ascent to Pittsburgh. Ashcraft injured his non-throwing shoulder in 2019, had knee surgery in 2020 and missed all of 2022 recovering from Tommy John surgery. He re-asserted himself as one of Pittsburgh’s most impressive pitching prospects upon returning and performed in 2024, though he was limited to 73 innings in the upper minors while dealing with a recurring forearm injury.

Scouting Report: The 6-foot-5 Ashcraft cuts an imposing, athletic figure on the mound and attacks hitters as such. His arsenal is fronted by a mid-90s fastball that touched 98 mph and landed for strikes roughly 68% of the time. Ashcraft throws a pair of potentially plus breaking pitches: a tight, powerful upper-80s slider that he threw with more consistent break in 2024, and a low-80s curveball. Hitters whiffed on both more than 40% of the time. He can also dial up the velocity on the slider to make it more closely resemble a cutter. Evaluators were encouraged by the shape and performance of his 89-91 mph changeup, but Ashcraft rarely throws it and would benefit from another offering he can throw to his arm side. The lack of a changeup coupled with Ashcraft’s durability concerns—he has yet to throw more than 75 innings in a season—invites questions about whether Ashcraft will stick as a starter.

The Future: Ashcraft is another option for the Pirates who is closing in on the majors and has midrotation upside. He’s expected to be healthy for spring training and has a fallback option as an intriguing late-inning power arm given his health and a potentially crowded Pittsburgh rotation in the not-too-distant future.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 60
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Medium.

Track Record: Pittsburgh selected Harrington No. 36 overall in 2022 out of Campbell. He arrived in pro ball with more projection than a typical college arm, given his limited track record after going from being a walk-on to becoming the Camels’ Friday night starter. He enjoyed his best professional season in 2024 despite missing the first month with a right rotator cuff strain. Harrington’s walk rate of 1.46 per nine innings and 0.96 WHIP both ranked in the top 10 among qualified minor league pitchers.

Scouting Report: Harrington relies on a deep pitch mix and pristine command to induce plenty of weak contact. His arsenal has undergone significant changes since turning pro. After previously relying on a two-seam fastball in college, Harrington has since turned to a 92-93 mph four-seamer with decent spin and life through the zone thrown from a lower release height. The Pirates hope Harrington can add another tick or two of velocity, which would help reduce the ambush risk against better hitters. He also added more sweep to his above-average 82-84 mph slider and reintroduced a solid-average upper-80s cutter in 2023. Staying true to form, Harrington reworked his changeup grip and emerged from the offseason with a new mid-80s splitter that hitters missed nearly 36% of the time in 2024. Harrington didn’t miss an overwhelming amount of bats, but the ability to throw any offering to any quadrant of the strike zone has remained intact throughout the changes. His success is largely based on plus-plus control. His 4.1% walk rate in 2024 was fifth-best among minor league pitchers who threw at least 100 innings.

The Future: Harrington’s pitchability and variety of pitches provide the makings of a No. 4 starter. He could reach Pittsburgh by the second half of 2025.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Cutter: 50 | Split: 55 | Control: 70
BA Grade/Risk: 60/Extreme.

Track Record: In an otherwise down year for high school prospects, Griffin remained near the top of draft boards throughout the 2024 draft cycle. The Mississippi prep star hit .559/.690/.996 with nine home runs and 85 steals and was named BA High School Player of the Year. The Pirates drafted Griffin ninth overall and signed him to a $6,532,025 bonus, the largest of any prep player in the class. While Griffin did not get into any official games, he did appear in instructional league games later in the summer.

Scouting Report: Most evaluators agree that Griffin is a tool shed. He has a freakish combination of size, strength and explosiveness. He’s a plus-plus runner once underway with plus raw power, and receives rave makeup reviews. Griffin also has a plus arm—some amateur scouts believed he had legitimate two-way potential—and touched mid-90s on the mound. There is far less consensus on whether Griffin can make enough contact to regularly dip into the rest of his tools. He improved this spring, but Griffin has faced questions about his bat path, stiffness and aggressive approach. The Pirates were encouraged by Griffin’s early contact quality in instructs and have started to work with Griffin on improving certain angles of his swing to induce better contact quality and stay behind the ball more consistently. Griffin’s defensive home remains an open-ended question, too. He played both shortstop and center field upon turning pro. He’ll likely get a chance to stick in the dirt, where he’s a solid defender, but his speed, instincts and throwing arm could be special in center field.

The Future: Griffin’s ascension through the minors hinges on the development of his hit tool. If it clicks, he has all-star upside.

Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 60 | Run: 70 | Fielding: 60 | Arm: 60
BA Grade/Risk: 65/High.

Track Record: Chandler burnished a reputation for athletic prowess as a multi-sport star at North Oconee High, where he was a four-star quarterback, could dunk a basketball and even golfed ambidextrously. He committed to Clemson to play both baseball and football—that is, until the Pirates ensured Chandler never reached campus. Pittsburgh drafted Chandler as a two-way player at No. 72 overall in 2021, the same year they went under slot at No. 1 to draft Henry Davis. The Pirates signed Chandler to a $3 million bonus more akin to late first-round money. The move looks like a wise decision. Chandler teased his immense ceiling in 2023, his first year exclusively pitching, then took a massive leap forward in 2024, emerging as one of baseball’s finest pitching prospects. The righthander posted a 3.08 ERA and struck out 148 batters over 119.2 innings in the upper minors. He ended the season with a flourish, compiling a 34% strikeout rate and 1.83 ERA over 39.1 innings for Triple-A Indianapolis.

Scouting Report: While Chandler has always shown impressive fastball traits, his upper-90s four-seamer took another step forward in 2024 and was among one of the more impressive heaters in the minor leagues. He added another tick to his elite fastball, which he throws with impressive extension, generating a flatter plane even from his vertical slot. He also sustained his velocity deep into starts. The rest of Chandler’s arsenal and his strike-throwing coalesced more consistently in 2024. He can manipulate the velocity on his mid-80s slider, which has above-average potential with depth and bite. He did a better job landing it for strikes in the second half of the season, which keyed his late-season surge. Chandler also showed more willingness to lean on his 89 mph changeup, which is another future potential plus offering, throwing it 13% of the time in 2024. He’ll flip in the occasional curveball, though most evaluators prefer his slider. While Chandler showed inconsistent command early in his professional career, most evaluators remained hopeful that his strike throwing would improve over time given his athleticism and ability to repeat his delivery. He’s still a work in progress, especially with his slider, but his strike percentage was slightly above-average in 2024 and has incrementally improved in each of his three full professional seasons. The Pirates worked with Chandler on establishing a better game plan and sequencing, especially once he reached Triple-A, and opposing scouts lauded his competitiveness on the mound.

The Future: Behind a premium arsenal featuring three pitches bordering on plus or better, Chandler has already staked his claim as one of the top pitching prospects in baseball. Now, his sights are set on a spot in Pittsburgh’s rotation. Chandler has legitimate No. 2 upside and should reach the majors in 2025—perhaps even out of spring training—where he’ll hope to settle in alongside Paul Skenes and Jared Jones to form one of the most potent young trios in the sport.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 70 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 55
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: Wichrowski split time between the rotation and bullpen as a junior at Bryant in 2023. The Brewers drafted him in the 13th round that year and signed him for $100,000. In spring training the following year, Wichrowski was one of the buzziest names on the back fields thanks to stuff that had spiked significantly since his time in college. He carried that performance over early in the season in High-A Wisconsin and drew a quick promotion to Double-A Biloxi after four starts. As the season progressed, however, he wasn’t able to maintain the same quality of stuff.

Scouting Report: In college, Wichrowski pitched in the low 90s and could reach back for 96 mph. In spring training in 2024, he touched triple-digits. Early in the regular season, he was sitting at 94-97 mph and reaching 101. However, as the season wore on, his velocity was not as hot. Wichrowski mixes four-seam and two-seam fastballs in what is typically an east-west attack, though he could miss more bats if he rides his fastball up in the zone more often. To miss bats, he throws a sharp slider with lateral break that flashes above-average potential. Wichrowski’s changeup has minimal separation from his fastball, meaning it’s not a pitch he uses often. While he’s not wild, his control was below-average, especially at Double-A, where his walk rate was 11%.

The Future: If Wichrowski can hold the upper-level velocity he showed at the beginning of the year while also sharpening his command, he has the potential to be a midrotation starter. If he is unable to maintain that stuff as a starting pitcher, he could find himself in a late- or multi-inning relief role out of the bullpen.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Cutter: 50 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 45
BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme.

Track Record: Peña received $800,000 from the Brewers when he signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2024, making him the organization’s third-highest paid player of that international signing period. Jesus Made, a fellow 2024 Brewers signee, stole the spotlight as the Dominican Summer League’s top prospect, but Peña also had an outstanding debut. He won the DSL batting title (.393), ranked fourth in the league in OPS (1.040) and tied for second in stolen bases (39) with a 91% success rate.

Scouting Report: Peña is an athletic, aggressive hitter with outstanding bat-to-ball skills who tracks pitches well with excellent hand-eye coordination. He covers the plate and beyond with little swing-and-miss in his game, striking out at just an 8.2% clip. Peña succeeded despite chasing too much, so he will need to be more selective against better competition. He has a strong, compact frame and drives the ball for consistent hard, quality contact with exit velocities up to 106 mph. With a swing geared toward topspin line drives, Peña’s one regular-season homer was an inside-the-park job, though there’s potential for average or better power with approach adjustments. Scouts were split on Peña’s long-term defensive home, but he played better than some expected in his first season. He doesn’t have the typical wiry shortstop build, but he’s a power runner with plus-plus speed and is a quick-twitch, explosive athlete. He has work to do to refine his actions at shortstop, but he has a plus arm and the potential to stick. If not he could handle third base, second base or potentially center field.

The Future: Peña is a toolsy shortstop with the contact skills that could help him move quickly. He’ll join Made in Low-A Carolina early in the season or, if not, will likely be there at some point in 2025.

Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 70 | Fielding: 50 | Arm: 60
BA Grade/Risk: 55/Very High.

Track Record: Letson was not a major recruiting target for colleges when he was an underclassman in high school who committed to Purdue. By his senior year in 2023, his velocity had inched up to touch 93 mph with a lot of space still left to fill out his athletic, lanky, 6-foot-4 frame. The Brewers signed Letson that year as an 11th-round pick for an above-slot deal of $482,600. His fastball and stock took another leap forward in 2024 when he had a strong pro debut with Low-A Carolina, though he came down with elbow soreness at the end of the season.

Scouting Report: A lanky, long-levered pitcher with a whippy arm, Letson attacks hitters with two high-quality fastballs. One is a four-seamer with good carry and velocity that jumped this year to mostly range from 91-95 mph and can reach 98. The other, a lively two-seamer, has above-average armside run with 15-16 inches of horizontal break. His stuff gets on hitters faster than they’re expecting because he generates around 7.5 feet of extension, the most of any starting pitcher in the minors and an amount that would rank among the top handful of pitchers in the majors. His best secondary pitch, a 79-82 mph slider that gets heavy usage, has good sweep and spin in the 2,300-2,400 rpm range. Letson’s changeup has good fade and shows at least average potential. Letson has a long arm swing in the back and struggles to repeat his release point—particularly with his secondary stuff coming from a lower release than his fastball—but his athleticism bodes well for his ability to make adjustments.

The Future: Letson is young and still lacks polish, but he has been trending up with upside arguably as high as any pitcher in the system after Jacob Misiorowski. There’s potential to develop into a midrotation starter, with High-A Wisconsin his next stop.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: Boeve posted a 4.2% strikeout rate as a junior at Nebraska-Omaha in 2023, when the Brewers drafted him in the second round and signed him for $1.25 million. Boeve dominated High-A Wisconsin for two weeks in 2024 before being bumped to Double-A Biloxi. His production slowed there, especially while playing through a right shoulder injury that sidelined him in July. He came back and hit well upon his return in August.

Scouting Report: Boeve is one of the purest hitters in the Brewers’ organization. He has a calm, quiet swing with a simple lower-half load and minimal hand movement, taking a short path to stay inside the ball. He rarely swings and misses, he’s consistently on the barrel and he doesn’t expand the strike zone much, making him a potential high on-base threat. How much game power Boeve can develop will be key. He makes hard contact—his exit velocities have been up to 111 mph—but his approach isn’t conducive to big slugging numbers. After hitting a lot of balls on the ground in college, Boeve cut his groundball rate significantly in 2024, but there still isn’t much loft in his swing and he doesn’t pull much in the air. Getting to more power will be important for Boeve, not just to maximize his offensive value, but because there’s risk he could end up at first base. He has an average arm and should get a chance to continue developing at third base, but he’s an offensive-minded player with below-average speed and quickness.

The Future: Boeve hits the ball hard enough that he could grow into 20-plus home run power if he’s able to make the right approach adjustments, which could make him an everyday regular if he’s able to handle third base. Triple-A Nashville is up next.

Scouting Grades Hit: 60 | Power: 45 | Run: 40 | Fielding: 40 | Arm: 50
BA Grade/Risk: 55/Very High.

Track Record: Bitonti had the physical look of a man among boys in high school despite being one of the youngest players in the 2023 class. He turned 18 four months after the 2023 draft, when the Brewers picked him in the third round and signed him for a well above-slot bonus of $1.75 million. Held back from full-season ball for the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League in 2024, Bitonti tied for third in the ACL with eight home runs, then joined Low-A Carolina in late July.

Scouting Report: Bitonti is a physical lefthanded slugger with the strength and leverage in his swing that helps him produce plus-plus raw power. Bitonti’s power comes with a high dose of swing-and-miss, and he struck out at a 28% clip in 2024. For a young, long-levered hitter, Bitonti keeps his hands tightly connected to his body, but there’s a steepness to his swing as he looks to launch balls. He tends to step in the bucket, leaving him vulnerable on the outer third. Still, he’s not a free-swinger, and his ability to draw walks will be important, especially with the strikeouts that will always be part of his game. There aren’t many third basemen in major league history as big as Bitonti, but he has surprising range and body control for his size to go with a plus arm and quick reactions off the bat. A below-average runner, Bitonti has the tools to be able to stick at third base, though he has experience at first base, too, and could be a plus defender if he moves there one day.

The Future: If everything clicks, Bitonti has the upside to develop into a 30-plus homer third baseman. With minimal full-season experience, however, he will have to prove he can keep his swing-and-miss in check against better pitching.

Scouting Grades Hit: 40 | Power: 70 | Run: 40 | Fielding: 50 | Arm: 60
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Medium.

Track Record: The No. 33 overall pick in 2021, Black had his 2022 season cut short after 64 games because of a broken scapula. He then had the highest OPS of any player in the Brewers’ farm system with at least 200 plate appearances in 2023. Black made three brief appearances of a little more than a week each with the major league club in 2024 but spent most of his year with Triple-A Nashville, where he didn’t perform as well compared to his 2023 campaign. He scuffled from Aug. 1 on in Triple-A, batting .187/.320/.325 in his final 36 games.

Scouting Report: No hitter in the organization makes better swing decisions than Black. He recognizes pitches well and has a selective approach, seldom expanding the strike zone. The lefthanded hitter loads his swing with a hanging leg kick and takes a tight turn of the barrel with the hand-eye coordination and barrel accuracy to square up all types of pitches consistently. It’s a hit-over-power game for Black, who projects as a likely 15-20 home run threat. With Black spending most of his time at first base in 2024, that lack of typical first base power creates more risk to his profile. Black is a smart baserunner and good athlete with plus speed, so he is a good basestealer, but that athleticism hasn’t translated defensively. Black saw time at third base, center field and left field in 2024, with experience at second base as well. He’s not a natural infielder and his arm is below-average, with first base or left field likely his best defensive fits.

The Future: Black has the potential to be a high on-base hitter, but to break through and become an everyday regular, he will need to either show more power or take a step forward defensively.

Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 60 | Fielding: 40 | Arm: 40
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High.

Track Record: The Brewers spent well above slot to sign Pratt out of high school in Mississippi for $1.35 million as a sixth-round pick in the 2023 draft. His stock continued to rise in his pro debut in 2024, which included a trip to the Futures Game. Pratt spent most of the season at Low-A Carolina and received a promotion to High-A Wisconsin at the end of July. After the season, he spent a playoff series with Double-A Biloxi in September.

Scouting Report: Pratt has a simple, balanced approach in the box and good bat-to-ball skills when he’s swinging at pitches in the strike zone. He will chase at times, something that got exposed more after his promotion to High-A, where his strikeout rate jumped from 18% to 25%. But he has good hand-eye coordination and feel to manipulate the barrel against both fastballs and soft stuff. Pratt has a line-drive approach with fringe-average raw power, which is enough to pull a mistake over the fence. There’s more room to fill out his 6-foot-4 frame and add strength, which should lead to more home runs, even if he doesn’t have the high-end bat speed that points to him becoming a huge power threat. An average runner, Pratt is a fundamentally sound defender with a good internal clock, body control, a high baseball IQ and soft hands. He has a plus arm and is adept at making throws on the run from different angles. Some scouts like his defense at shortstop, but his lack of first-step quickness and range create some risk that he might eventually slide to third base depending on his physical development.

The Future: Pratt is an up-arrow player with the potential to develop into an above-average regular at shortstop. He could start 2025 back in High-A but should be in Double-A or Triple-A by the end of the year.

Scouting Grades Hit: 50. | POW: 45. | RUN: 50 | Fielding: 50 | Arm: 60
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High.

Track Record: The Brewers drafted Misiorowski in the second round in 2022 and paid him $2.35 million, their top bonus for a draft pick that year. He spent most of 2024 with Double-A Biloxi, then, as he neared his innings limit for the season, the Brewers moved him to the bullpen in Triple-A Nashville in August with the thought of potentially bringing him up to Milwaukee for the stretch run. He ended up staying in the minors the rest of the season.

Scouting Report: Misiorowski has some of the most explosive stuff in the minors. His high-spin fastball reaches 101 mph and sits at 95-99 as a starter. He throws from a low release height into a low three-quarters slot and generates 7.4 feet of extension—which would rank among the top 10 in the majors—allowing his upper-tank velocity to play up even more. Misiorowski throws two plus-plus breaking balls. One is a power curveball in the mid 80s that he snaps off with sharp, late bite and lateral break from his lower slot to miss bats at a high clip. The other is a mid-to-upper-80s slider that has hard, late bite with two-plane depth to be another bat-missing weapon. Misiorowski also has a firm changeup but he rarely uses that pitch. He has an aggressive delivery and extremely long limbs that he struggles to sync up to repeat his mechanics, leading to below-average control that remains his biggest red flag.

The Future: If everything clicks, Misiorowski’s stuff would fit as either a front-end starter or as an elite reliever. Some scouts think his lack of strikes will limit him to a bullpen role, but if he can develop better control over his gangly, 6-foot-7 frame, the upside is there for him to become a dominant starter.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 80 | Curveball: 70 | Slider: 70 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 40
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High.

Track Record: Signed out of Venezuela for $200,000 in 2019, Quero moved quickly through the minors, reaching Double-A Biloxi as a 20-year-old in 2023. One of the game’s top catching prospects, Quero opened 2024 in Triple-A Nashville and was on schedule to likely make his major league debut by the end of the year. Instead, he tore the labrum in his right shoulder diving back to first base in his first game, an injury that led to season-ending surgery in April.

Scouting Report: Quero draws rave reviews in all areas of his defense, from his technique to his tools to his intangibles. He’s a polished receiver and an athletic, agile mover behind the plate who does a good job of blocking balls in the dirt. He combines plus-plus arm strength with a quick release, often cutting his pop times on throws to second base under 1.9 seconds. He’s a favorite among managers and pitchers for his high-energy style, leadership and intelligence on the field. While Quero’s 2024 season was essentially wiped out, the leap forward he took at the plate in 2023 was encouraging. He uses a simple swing from a slightly open setup that he starts with a toe tap. He’s a good fastball hitter who keeps his hands quiet and makes contact at a high clip on pitches he swings at in the strike zone, though he will need to improve his swing decisions and tighten his approach against offspeed stuff. He has produced exit velocities up to 111 mph and has the power to develop into a 20-25 home run threat.

The Future: With catcher William Contreras in his prime and under team control for three more seasons, the Brewers can be patient with Quero. He should return to Triple-A Nashville to begin 2025 and could develop into a plus regular if he can sharpen his plate discipline.

Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 40 | Fielding: 70 | Arm: 70
BA Grade/Risk: 65/Extreme.

Track Record: When the Brewers signed Jackson Chourio out of Venezuela in 2021, they landed a future franchise cornerstone who made his major league debut three years later as a 20-year-old. With Made, the Brewers might have their next international star. Made signed out of the Dominican Republic for $950,000 as a 16-year-old in 2024. A switch-hitting shortstop, Made had an outstanding debut in the Dominican Summer League, where he was the league’s top prospect. Even as a DSL hitter, Made’s season was impressive enough that the Brewers named him their co-minor league player of the year with shortstop Cooper Pratt.

Scouting Report: Made checks just about every box you could ask for from a young hitter. He makes outstanding swing decisions for his age with a patient, disciplined approach to consistently put together quality at-bats. At times, Made will open early and get out on his front side, but he’s able to track pitches well and deftly maneuver the barrel throughout the strike zone, leading to good plate coverage with a low swing-and-miss rate. He makes consistent hard, high-quality contact, too, with the ability to backspin balls with exit velocities up to 109 mph, which translated to some of the best power in the DSL. Given Made’s fast bat speed and strength projection, he could have plus or better power to go with his high on-base skills. Some scouts think Made might have even more power from the right side, though with the lack of lefthanders in the DSL, Made had just 32 plate appearances batting righthanded in 2024. Made’s athleticism also stands out. He’s a plus runner who stole 28 bases in 32 attempts and also has a plus arm, which is a tool that could still tick up another grade given his age and strength projection. Made mostly played shortstop but got reps at third base and second base, as well. He’s not as polished defensively as he is at the plate, so while he has a chance to stick at shortstop, he could move around the infield or potentially fit in center field, too. He has the athleticism, range and arm strength for shortstop, but like a lot of young infielders, he’s still learning to slow the game down and set his feet properly to cut down on throwing mistakes.

The Future: Made is still several years away, but he has star potential. Chourio headlines a strong group of young players the franchise has signed out of Venezuela in recent years, but Made has the potential to be the organization’s best Dominican signing in a long time. He’s on track to likely skip the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League and jump straight to Low-A Carolina in 2025, similar to what the Brewers have done with Chourio and outfielders Luis Lara and Yophery Rodriguez in recent years.

Scouting Grades Hit: 60 | Power: 60 | Run: 60 | Fielding: 50 | Arm: 60
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: Cabrera hit .350 to rank sixth in batting average in the Arizona Complex League in 2023. A year later, he hit .252, which ranked fourth-best in the Florida State League batting race. It’s a stark lesson about the differences in run context between minor leagues. It is much more difficult to hit in Florida than it is in Arizona. So in an FSL context, Cabrera’s .252/.331/.399 season was a solid effort. One of the fixtures in the middle of Low-A Daytona’s lineup, Cabrera’s season ended prematurely. He missed the final month of the season because of a hamstring injury.

Scouting Report: Cabrera’s big league future is based on him being an above-average hitter with power that will develop as he matures. He generally controls the strike zone with a pull-heavy approach. There’s gap power already present, and he could develop into a 20-home run threat with plenty of doubles. A shortstop when he signed, Cabrera is now a third baseman who is learning how to play second base, a challenge he embraced in pregame work. He projects to have fringy range but with the hands and footwork to make it work. He has a plus arm, but his throwing accuracy has to improve. He committed 17 throwing errors out of 23 total, and his 11 throwing errors at third base were most in the Florida State League. Cabrera remains an above-average runner for now, but his body is thickening.

The Future: Cabrera projects as a bat-first infielder who can play second or third base well enough to stick there if he hits as expected. If everything develops as hoped, his profile isn’t all that different from that of a young Jonathan India. Cabrera’s 2024 season wasn’t exceptional, but he more than held his own. He’s ready to head to High-A Dayton.

Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Fielding: 40 | Arm: 60
BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme.

Track Record: The Reds have had similar drafts the past two years. With their first picks, they took a Wake Forest righthander—Rhett Lowder in 2023 and Chase Burns in 2024—and in the second round they drafted an athletic high school shortstop from an area of the country not known as a prep hotbed. In 2023, that shortstop was Sammy Stafura, out of New York. In 2024, it was Lewis, who hails from Nebraska. After leading Omaha’s Millard West High to its second state title in three years, Lewis became the highest-ever drafted high school hitter from Nebraska when the Reds selected him 51st overall. He signed for late first-round money. His $3.05 million signing bonus was the 29th largest of the 2024 draft.

Scouting Report: Like many Reds draftees, Lewis didn’t get in an official game after signing, but he impressed the organization’s front office officials and coaches with his athleticism and his consistent at-bats in the bridge league. Lewis faced concerns about his swing earlier in his high school career, but he rose up draft boards as a senior after making some useful changes. He widened his stance, toned down a leg kick and removed an arm bar, giving him a smoother, more adaptable lefthanded swing which should serve him well in pro ball. He should grow into above-average productive power. A shortstop with a quick first step, Lewis’ athleticism gives him a solid shot to stay at the position, but with his plus speed, he could also fit in center field if needed.

The Future: Stafura’s progression to Low-A Daytona in 2024 is a logical template for Lewis as well. He may need some time to acclimate to the faster speed of the pro game, but Lewis is one of the most talented all-round athletes in the Reds organization.

Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 60 | Fielding: 50 | Arm: 50
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: When the Reds drafted Stafura with the 43rd pick in 2023, he became just the third high school hitter in the past decade from New York state to be picked in the top 50 picks, joining catcher Joe Mack and outfielder Garrett Whitley. Considering Stafura’s cold-weather background, it wasn’t a shock when the Reds decided to hold him back in Arizona when the 2024 minor league season began. Stafura quickly changed those plans by hitting his way to full-season ball. He had two four-hit games in his first five in the Arizona Complex League and hit .346 with power in 15 games of Rookie ball. The Reds sent him to Low-A Daytona before May ended, and he ended up leading the Tortugas with a .374 on-base percentage and 27 stolen bases.

Scouting Report: Stafura had an eye-opening first taste of pro ball in 2023, when he hit .071/.212/.190 with a 44% strikeout rate in a 12-game stint in the Arizona Complex League. The Reds were impressed with how he worked hard to catch up over the winter, and how he responded to the challenge. He did that in high school as well. He hit .273 as a junior but cleaned up a bat wrap and hit .516 as a senior. Stafura can be beat by top-notch velocity, but he recognizes spin and offspeed pitches well and has a solid understanding of the strike zone. He’s a plus runner with plenty of athleticism. Defensively, he should stick at shortstop, with a slow heartbeat and a good first step. He’ll show more of an average than above-average arm, but it’s accurate and he has a good internal clock.

The Future: Stafura’s athleticism could fit almost anywhere on the diamond, but in an organization that has many players shuffling around the infield, Stafura has only played shortstop. He should join a talented group at High-A Dayton in 2025.

Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 60 | Fielding: 55 | Arm: 50
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: A fiery competitor who is a spark plug for whichever team he’s on, Stewart was one of High-A Dayton’s best players in the first half of 2024. He injured his wrist in an off-field accident in mid July. He was working back from that injury at the Reds’ Arizona complex when he injured his wrist further and had surgery. He’s friends and a workout partner with Padres third baseman Manny Machado.

Scouting Report: Stewart is a more advanced hitter than most 20-year-olds. His 19% miss rate is among the best in the Reds’ organization, and he has walked almost as much as he has struck out in pro ball. He is a patient hitter who knows the strike zone, though he can be attacked with elevated fastballs. Stewart does an excellent job with breaking balls and isn’t fooled by changeups. He especially feasts on lefthanders. He hit .317/.512/.617 against lefties in 2024 with a 26.7% walk rate and just a 10% strikeout rate. Stewart hits more line drives than long fly balls, but he has enough power to develop into a 20-home run slugger. The Reds had Stewart work at second base to increase his defensive versatility and help get him and third baseman Cam Collier on the field at the same time. With current restrictions on shifting, his below-average range is noticeable. Third base will require a lot of work as well. He’s better there than Collier, with adequate hands and feet and fringe-average range to go with an above-average arm, but his body control and first step limit him. He’s a below-average runner.

The Future: Stewart was swinging a bat again by October and should be fully ready for spring training. Much like Collier, his ultimate position is an open question. His most likely everyday position in the big leagues is first base, with a fallback option as a multi-position corner infielder.

Scouting Grades Hit: 60 | Power: 55 | Run: 40 | Fielding: 40 | Arm: 55
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High.

Track Record: A second-round pick of the Mariners in 2021, Arroyo was 17 years old when drafted and one of the youngest players in his draft. He immediately stood out in pro ball with smooth defensive actions and stronger than anticipated bat. The Mariners dealt Arroyo a year after drafting him to the Reds with Noelvi Marte and two pitchers in the trade that sent Luis Castillo to Seattle. Arroyo has shown better than expected power as a pro, though his development was derailed in 2024. Arroyo injured his left shoulder diving back into first base when he was picked off in a March 13 spring training game. He had season-ending labrum shoulder a week later. He got back on the field for the Arizona Fall League, where he shook off rust at the plate.

Scouting Report: Arroyo is a smooth, steady and reliable shortstop. He’s going to make the routine play almost every time, but he doesn’t have the blazing-fast first step or rocket arm to make the SportsCenter highlight play. It’s hard to see him pushing Elly De La Cruz off shortstop, because De La Cruz’s arm and range are special. But Arroyo is an above-average defender at shortstop who could be plus at second base or third base if the need arrives. As a hitter, Arroyo should be an average hitter or have average power, but it’s difficult to say that he can get to both at the same time. He lines balls to the gaps, and his above-average speed and aggressive baserunning help him stretch singles and doubles into doubles and triples. His 21 triples in 2022 and 2023 were the most in the minors over those two seasons.

The Future: Even with a lost season, Arroyo is on a fast track. He can return to Double-A Chattanooga, where he ended 2023, as one of the younger players in the league at age 21. His glove fits at any infield spot, and he has enough offensive potential to project as a solid regular.

Scouting Grades Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Fielding: 55 | Arm: 60
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High.

Track Record: The son of major league utility infielder Lou Collier, Cam graduated early from high school to head to Chipola (Fla.) JC so he could be eligible for the 2022 draft. The Reds’ first-round pick that year, Collier split time at first and third base with Sal Stewart at Low-A in 2023. Collier started and finished his 2024 season at High-A Dayton in excellent form. He put up a .933 OPS in April and a 1.157 mark in August with 13 home runs in 44 games. In between, he hit .210/.318/.326 with seven home runs in his other 75 games.

Scouting Report: When Collier is locked in, he can carry a team with his bat. He has plus power, with the ability to clear fences from foul pole to foul pole. The lefthanded hitter homered to left, center and right field in the same game. Collier has a solid understanding of the strike zone and showed steady improvement at working counts as the season wore on. Defensively, Collier is overmatched at third base. His limited range means he dives to try to get to balls not hit directly at him, leaving him with a tough throw from his knees if he fields the ball cleanly. His plus arm is his best defensive asset, and scouts have long projected that he would fit better at first base. Collier came into 2024 in the best shape of his young career, but he thickened up as the season wore on, which reduced his range.

The Future: The Reds had Collier take balls at first base during instructional league. Expect him to play both corner-infield positions at Double-A Chattanooga in 2025, but first base is his most likely long-term home. Collier’s ability to handle the Midwest League as a 19-year-old is notable. He was the third-youngest position regular in the league and should be one of the youngest players in the Southern League in 2025.

Scouting Grades Hit: 45 | Power: 60 | Run: 30 | Fielding: 40 | Arm: 60
BA Grade/Risk: 60/Extreme.

Track Record: Two years into Duno’s pro career, the Reds are still waiting to see what he can do when fully healthy. He couldn’t catch in 2023 as he dealt with arm soreness in the Dominican Summer League. His 2024 season at Low-A Daytona ended in late May when he broke a rib. He spent the rest of the season on the 60-day injured list. Duno was able to catch 21 games in 2024 and was a part of the Reds’ spring breakout team in spring training, but his development has been slowed by missed time.

Scouting Report: Duno is one of the larger and more powerful catchers in pro ball. He’s listed at 6-foot-2, 210 pounds. He has a powerful, already thick trunk and lower half. He has near top-of-the-scale raw power and hits the ball exceptionally hard for a teenager. When he connects, great things happen. Duno has an advanced idea of the strike zone, but there’s length to his swing with a large load and leverage. In 2024, pitchers could beat him in the strike zone with quality stuff, even if they struggled to get him to chase. He’ll likely always have his share of strikeouts, but he has 30-plus home run potential to go with it. Duno has an exceptionally strong arm, but he needs to speed up his transfer to take the best advantage of it. He posts plus pop times on throws to second base right now. He moves well for a big catcher, and he has the ingredients to be a solid receiver. He works well with pitchers and his ability to speak both Spanish and English is beneficial.

The Future: Duno is expected to return to Low-A Daytona, though a strong offseason of work could help him get to High-A Dayton before long. He has all-star potential if it all clicks, but that will require him to take steps defensively and tweak his swing to make more consistent contact.

Scouting Grades Hit: 40 | Power: 65 | Run: 45 | Fielding: 50 | Arm: 60
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High.

Track Record: In high school, Petty gained attention as one of the hardest-throwing pitchers in the 2021 draft class. The Twins selected him with the 26th pick. He threw just five innings in the organization before he was traded to the Reds in the March 2022 Sonny Gray deal. Petty was handled carefully in 2023, never throwing more than four innings or 65 pitches in a start, but the Reds lengthened him out in 2024. He threw seven innings in four of his final seven starts of the season, the final two for Triple-A Louisville.

Scouting Report: After touching 102 mph in high school, Petty morphed from a flame-thrower into a sinker/slider craftsman in pro ball who sat at 92-94 mph. In 2024, he regained his velocity and now has blended the best of both worlds. Petty has a 95-97 mph four-seam fastball, a 93-95 mph sinker, a hard 85-87 mph slider, an even harder 90 mph cutter and a usable 87-88 mph changeup. Despite the increased velocity, Petty works with a scalpel rather than a meat cleaver. His four-seamer doesn’t move enough to get lots of swings and misses. It’s better to set up his plus slider and plus cutter. Those two pitches can blend together at times, but both are effective power pitches. Petty’s fringe-average changeup will improve if he can improve his release point. He tips it by dropping down lower than he does with his fastball. Petty has above-average control and stays in the zone, but his command can waver, and he will sometimes end up in the heart of the zone.

The Future: Petty projects as a well-rounded fourth starter. The Reds promoted him to Triple-A Louisville late in the 2024 season. He’ll head back there to start 2025, and he’s a candidate to join the rotation at some point later in the season.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 45 | Cutter: 60 | Control: 55
BA Grade/Risk: 60/High.

Track Record: Burns touched 100 mph in high school and was Tennessee’s Opening Day starter as a freshman in 2022. He looked dominating at times, but an up-and-down sophomore season saw him demoted to the bullpen. He transferred to Wake Forest in 2024 and regained his dominant form, breaking Rhett Lowder’s single-season program record with 191 strikeouts. The Reds drafted Burns second overall and signed him for a record deal of $9.25 million. Cincinnati drafted Wake Forest aces Lowder and Burns with back-to-back first-round picks.

Scouting Report: Burns hasn’t thrown an official pro pitch yet, but it’s notable that he threw with the MLB baseball during instructional league. This suggests that he won’t spend a lot of time at Double-A or below. Burns’ stuff is good enough to simply blow away many hitters. His plus-plus fastball regularly touches 99-100 mph and sits at 97-98 and it has above-average life. His plus-plus 87-88 mph slider is just as impressive. It has depth, power and bite and is devastating for righties and lefties. Burns’ above-average low-80s power curveball and hard, upper-80s changeup both made strides at Wake Forest. They become even more important in pro ball. Burns’ delivery is energetic, but he has been a consistent strike-thrower with average control. He’s durable and has not missed time with an injury in any of the past four seasons.

The Future: Burns is not as polished as Lowder was coming out of Wake Forest, but he has a higher ceiling. After all, few pitchers have a pair of 70-grade pitches on their scouting report. Burns should follow a similar track as Lowder did, with Double-A Chattanooga likely to be his main destination for 2025. A late-season callup to Cincinnati isn’t out of the question. Burns could develop into a No. 2 starter if his control and command can come close to matching his top-shelf stuff.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 70 | Slider: 70 | Curveball: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50
BA Grade/Risk: 55/Medium.

Track Record: Lowder is one of the most accomplished college pitchers in recent memory. The Wake Forest ace matched LSU’s Paul Skenes pitch for pitch when they faced off in the 2023 College World Series. Lowder departed after seven scoreless innings in a game LSU eventually won 1-0 in 11 innings. Lowder posted a 1.87 ERA and set Wake Forest records with 15 wins and 143 strikeouts in 2023, the year the Reds drafted him seventh overall. Skenes, the No. 1 overall pick, was the only college pitcher drafted higher. It was a rocky start to 2024 for Lowder—he ran up a 5.04 ERA through June at High-A Dayton and Double-A Chattanooga—but he finished the season with a flourish in Cincinnati. His 1.17 ERA in six big league starts was the best debut by a Reds pitcher since Tom Browning posted a 0.95 ERA in his first six starts between 1984 and 1985.

Scouting Report: It’s hard to describe Lowder as a pitcher without seeming to belittle his stuff, because the sum of the parts is significantly better than any individual pitch grade. His success is predicated on staying out of hitters’ counts, keeping opponents guessing and avoiding hard contact. Early in the season, Lowder tried to beat hitters in the zone with his four-seam fastball, but he found that he was more effective when he relied more heavily on his sinker and secondaries. Lowder has double-plus control. His 68% strike percentage was one of the best marks in the minors in 2024. Lowder lacks a true out pitch, so he relies on getting weak contact and ground balls. His inability to finish off hitters with two strikes is his biggest concern and opportunity for improvement going forward. His average 92-94 mph four-seamer is best when he’s getting on top of bats, and it’s almost exclusively a top-of-the-zone chase pitch against righthanded hitters. He also uses it effectively away in the zone against lefties. His average sinker pairs well with his above-average mid-80s slider. He tries to work armside and down with his sinker and spins his slider glove side and down. He’s able to spot his above-average 86-88 mph changeup in and under righthanded hitters’ hands while working down and away from lefties. Nothing Lowder throws has exceptional movement or velocity, but his ability to avoid the middle of the zone, change hitters’ eye levels with four-seamers and work in the bottom third of the zone with three pitches frustrates hitters.

The Future: Unless he develops more of a swing-and-miss slider or finds another couple of ticks of velocity, Lowder projects as a durable and reliable No. 3 starter rather than a true ace. His command, feel for pitching and consistency are qualities which could make him a multi-time all-star. Following Aaron Nola’s career path from dominating college ace to seventh overall pick to rotation stalwart would be a best-case scenario.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 70
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme.

Track Record: The 6-foot-6 Wiggins flashed plus stuff in high school and faced huge expectations when hit campus at Arkansas. He struggled to a 6.17 ERA in his first two seasons in Fayetteville and then missed his junior season after having Tommy John surgery. The Cubs were still willing to bet on Wiggins’ massive upside and drafted him 68th overall in 2023. Wiggins signed for $1.4 million and debuted in May 2024, making 18 starts totaling 59.2 innings between the Arizona Complex League, Low-A and High-A. It was an encouraging performance which featured a 4.37 ERA, 3.99 FIP, 28% strikeout rate and a .194 opponent average.

Scouting Report: Stepping off the bus, Wiggins has the look of a prototype starter. He’s tall, long-limbed, strong and athletic. Wiggins moves fluidly on the mound with simple mechanics and delivers the ball from a high three-quarters slot. He throws exclusively from the stretch and struggles to command his arsenal. As far as stuff goes, there are very few pitchers with a velocity-and-movement combination better than Wiggins. He throws a four-pitch mix led by a four-seam fastball that sits 96-97 mph and touches 100 with above-average ride and armside run. Wiggins’ secondaries are led by his cut-slider, which is in the 85-88 mph range. It is his best bat-missing pitch and a driver of ground balls. Wiggins’ changeup is inconsistent, but he’s shown bat-missing skills and glimpses of average command with his offspeed stuff. Wiggins also throws a high-70s, two-plane curveball, but it’s a secondary part of his arsenal. Coming off Tommy John surgery, his command was hit or miss, and it grades no better than near-average.

The Future: If Wiggins can find more strikes, he has rotation upside. It not, he has stuff that would fit in high-leverage relief.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 40
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.

Track Record: Birdsell is the rare player to be drafted three times. He was taken by the Astros out of high school in the 39th round in 2018 and then twice out of Texas Tech, the first time by the Twins in the 11th round in 2021 and then by the Cubs in the fifth round in 2022. Birdsell signed for $385,000 and made his pro debut the following season, performing well across High-A and Double-A with a 2.78 ERA and 97 strikeouts to 32 walks in 107 innings. In 2024, Birdsell took another step forward, dominating in the Double-A Southern League for 14 starts before making the jump to Triple-A, where he posted a 19.4% strikeout-minus-walk rate.

Scouting Report: Birdsell stands 6-foot-2 with a stocky, filled-out body. He uses a short arm action with a slight pause before delivering the ball from a high three-quarters slot. Birdsell mixes five pitches but primarily relies on his fastball and slider combination. His heater sits 94-95 mph and touches 98 at peak with below-average ride and cut. Birdsell’s fastball plays below that velocity because of a lack of extension in his delivery. His slider sits 83-85 mph with a heavy gyro shape and late drop. Birdsell’s cutter was used less than his slider, but it generated good results at 88-90 mph with more horizontal movement than a typical cutter. Birdsell also mixes a curveball and changeup, though both pitches are used intermittently. Ultimately, the thing that pulls Birdsell’s arsenal together is his plus command. He has shown excellent walk rates across every level of the minors and has the ability to land all of his pitches in the strike zone.

The Future: Birdsell is a ready-made No. 5 starter for a club as soon as 2025. While he doesn’t have bat-missing stuff, he boasts a deep arsenal with above-average velocity and throws lots of strikes.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 40 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 40 | Cutter: 55 | Control: 60
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: Rojas was one of the more highly touted players from the 2022 signing class to emerge out of the Dominican Republic. The Cubs landed him for $1 million, and he made his pro debut that June in the Dominican Summer League. Rojas was selected as a DSL all-star in a season in which he hit .303/.391/.407. To begin 2023, Rojas needed only one game in the Arizona Complex League before the Cubs promoted him to Low-A Myrtle Beach, where he hit .268/.345/.404 as an 18-year-old. Rojas spent all of 2024 with High-A South Bend, hitting .245/.310/.336 in 96 games as one of the youngest qualified hitters in the Midwest League.

Scouting Report: While Rojas’ 2024 statistics don’t jump off the page, his underlying data shows the makings of a strong contact hitter with a balanced approach and projection for fringe-average to average power. While the combination of the Midwest League’s treacherous hitting environment and his youth likely dragged down Rojas’ numbers, he did show the ability to hit a variety of pitch types and handle velocity. Rojas boasts above-average-or-better contact rates against all pitch types, and he has a good balance of patience and aggression. Rojas’ underlying power metrics are above-average for his age and level, and he shows a knack for getting the ball in the air consistently. On the bases, Rojas is an average runner who gets good jumps and can be a threat to steal bases. He’s an average fielder at shortstop and might ultimately move to second base, but his above-average arm could allow him to stick on the left side of the infield.

The Future: Rojas is a talented young player with advanced bat-to-ball skills and the ability to stick in the dirt. He should develop into an average everyday regular.

Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Fielding: 50 | Arm: 55
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High.

Track Record: Triantos was a two-way star for Madison High in Vienna, Va., outside Washington, D.C. Like many teams, the Cubs believed his future was as a position player and drafted him as such in the second round in 2021. He signed for a well above-slot $2.1 million and debuted in the Arizona Complex League that summer. Triantos had solid seasons over his first two professional years, hitting .278/.347/.388 in 196 minor league games in 2022 and 2023. He broke out in 2024, hitting .300/.345/.437 in 89 games for Double-A Tennessee before being promoted to Triple-A Iowa on Aug. 6.

Scouting Report: Triantos has made his name as one of the better contact hitters in the minor leagues. With a game that is predicated on his ability to make contact, he hits a variety of pitch types consistently and handles velocity well. He has a plus hit tool and shows the ability to manipulate the barrel and make flush contact with a variety of pitch types and locations. Triantos has fringe-average raw power and below-average game power. His linear bat path leads to lots of grounders and more liners than fly balls on his best-struck drives. An above-average straight-line runner, Triantos maximizes his speed on the basepaths by getting excellent jumps, as evidenced by 47 steals in 56 attempts in 2024. Triantos has developed into an above-average fielder at second base. He has cleaned up his footwork, jumps and actions. His above-average arm plays at any spot on the infield.

The Future: Triantos is a hit-over-power second baseman with speed on the basepaths. While he’ll never put up big slugging numbers, he can impact the game with his contact skills, speed and glove. Triantos will likely return to Triple-A Iowa to begin 2025. A big league callup might not be far off.

Scouting Grades Hit: 60 | Power: 40 | Run: 55 | Fielding: 55 | Arm: 55
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High.

Track Record: Though Smith enjoyed a standout, 12-home run freshman campaign at Florida State, swing-and-miss concerns cast doubt across the scouting industry about his future. He played in the Cape Cod League in 2023 and hit .347/.406/.575 while showing a more well-rounded plate profile. The following spring, he hit .387/.488/.654 with 16 home runs as a draft-eligible FSU sophomore. Smith went 14th overall to the Cubs in 2024 and signed for $5.07 million. He debuted shortly after signing and jumped three levels to reach Double-A. His pro debut was arguably the most impressive of any 2024 draftee. He hit .313/.396/.609 with five doubles, four triples and seven home runs in 32 games.

Scouting Report: Over the last two years, Smith has matured from a pure power prospect with heavy swing-and-miss to a well-balanced hitter with a blend of contact, approach and power. He shows above-average bat-to-ball skills and does consistent damage against fastballs and offspeed. He still struggles with swing-and-miss against breaking pitches but mitigates some of these concerns with good swing decisions. Smith’s power plays easily as plus in games, and he knows how to get to it consistently. His power plays to all fields, and he doesn’t sell out for pull-side lift. A good athlete, Smith is an average runner who will show an above-average run time from time to time. He is a below-average defender at third base and will get out of sync with his hands, actions and footwork at times. Still, Smith’s plus arm allows him to make plays at third, and he could fit in an outfield corner as well.

The Future: Smith is an advanced hitter with on-base skills and power. Questions about his future defensive position persist, but his above-average bat should be a fit anywhere on the diamond.

Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 60 | Run: 50 | Fielding: 40 | Arm: 60
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High.

Track Record: Originally signed by the Yankees in July 2018 for $1 million, Alcantara was a buzzworthy Rookie-level standout when the Cubs acquired him in the 2021 trade that sent Anthony Rizzo to New York. Alcantara has enjoyed three productive seasons in the Cubs’ system, hitting .278/.353/.448 over 325 games from 2022 to 2024. Alcantara made his major league debut on Sept. 25 and started three games in right field for the Cubs at the end of the 2024 season. He should be in line for an opportunity to make Chicago’s Opening Day roster.

Scouting Report: Standing 6-foot-6 with a lean, long and athletic build, Alcantara wouldn’t look out of place on an NBA court. Instead, he’s a tooled-up outfielder who boasts power and speed but also frustrating inconsistency. While Alcantara has always dealt with swing-and-miss due to an overly aggressive plate approach, he made major strides in that department in 2024, cutting his chase rate and, as a result, his swings and misses. Breaking and offspeed pitches still give Alcantara fits, and his tendency to chase increases against secondary pitches. Power is a big part of Alcantara’s game. He produces plus exit velocity data and consistently hits the ball hard. He will get more power when he consistently finds the barrel, but there are a lot of ground balls due to a tendency to roll over. Alcantara is an above-average runner who typically finds top speed when underway, but he gets out of the batter’s box slowly. He has potential for 20 or more stolen bases a season. Alcantara is a plus defender in center field with an above-average arm.

The Future: Alcantara is a bag of exciting tools mixed with a healthy amount of hit tool risk. If he continues to improve as a hitter, he has all-star upside.

Scouting Grades Hit: 45 | Power: 60 | Run: 55 | Fielding: 60 | Arm: 55
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High.

Track Record: Caissie’s prodigious power earned him notice on Canada’s junior national team. The Padres selected him 45th overall in 2020, signed him for $1.2 million and shipped him to the Cubs as a part of the package for Yu Darvish that December. Caissie enjoyed two strong seasons to begin his professional career before breaking out in Double-A as a 20-year-old in 2023 by hitting .289/.398/.519 in 120 games. He spent the entire 2024 season at Triple-A Iowa, slashing .278/.375/.472 with a 28.4% strikeout rate that was the lowest of his career.

Scouting Report: Caissie is a tall, athletic slugger who is also surprisingly toolsy. A Three True Outcomes hitter—45% of his plate appearances ended with a walk, strikeout or home run in 2024—his contact skills took a step forward in 2024. Caissie saw gains in both overall and in-zone contact rates, while employing a more aggressive approach at the plate. Handling velocity isn’t an issue for Caissie, who produced a .203 isolated slugging against pitches at 94 mph and faster. He shows swing-and-miss tendencies against breaking and offspeed pitches, but he shows the ability to adjust to high and low locations and does above-average-or-better damage against all pitch types. Caissie’s power is his standout skill. He features some of the best exit velocity data in the minor leagues. He also shows an ability to find the barrel with consistency, making lots of hard contact in the air. His all-fields approach and plus raw power allow him to hit balls out to all parts of the ballpark. An above-average runner, Caissie projects to steal 10-15 bases a year and is a strong defender on an outfield corner with an above-average arm.

The Future: Caissie has a robust set of tools for a slugger and could develop into a middle-of-the-order threat with the ability to play average or better outfield defense. He should debut for the Cubs in 2025.

Scouting Grades Hit: 45 | Power: 60 | Run: 55 | Fielding: 55 | Arm: 55
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High.

Track Record: Ballesteros signed with the Cubs for $1.5 million in 2021. He performed well in his U.S. debut in the Arizona Complex League in 2022 before breaking out in 2023 by hitting .285/.374/.449 and jumping three levels. Ballesteros began his age-20 season at Double-A Tennessee in 2024 before a promotion to Triple-A in June. He hit .281/.340/.454 in his final 68 games and was the second-youngest hitter to see 200 or more plate appearances at Triple-A in 2024.

Scouting Report: While a stout 5-foot-8 build has led to questions about where Ballesteros fits defensively, there are few doubts about his bat. He has advanced bat-to-ball skills and is adept at making contact with a variety of pitch types and locations. Ballesteros does major damage against velocity, with some of his strongest underlying metrics coming against fastballs at 94 mph and faster. He crushed breaking balls, too, producing a .204 isolated slugging against sliders, curveballs and cutters in 2024. He shows plus underlying power metrics with a 105 mph 90th percentile exit velocity. His all-fields approach likely limits his home run totals, but he consistently hits the ball in the air with authority. Ballesteros should grow into an above-average home run hitter with a chance to flirt with 30 a year while hitting for a high batting average. Ballesteros has well below-average speed and is a station-to-station baserunner. Behind the plate, he’s a below-average framer who struggles with blocking and threw out just 13% of basestealers. He has above-average arm strength but has been unable to improve his transfers.

The Future: A bat-first catching prospect with an exciting combination of hitting ability and power, Ballesteros should make his MLB debut in 2025. He’ll need to improve defensively to stick at catcher but could make a move to first base or DH long term.

Scouting Grades Hit: 60 | Power: 55 | Run: 30 | Fielding: 40 | Arm: 50
BA Grade/Risk: 60/High.

Track Record: A standout two-sport athlete in high school, Horton committed to Oklahoma to play both baseball and football. Horton had Tommy John surgery and redshirted his freshman year in 2021. Upon return, Horton quit football and focused on easing into the Sooners’ rotation in 2022. He eventually became staff ace en route to Oklahoma’s run to the College World Series. The Cubs drafted Horton seventh overall in 2022 and signed him for a below-slot $4.45 million. During his pro debut in 2023, Horton solidified himself as one of the top pitching prospects in the game. After four dominant turns with Double-A Tennessee to begin 2024, Horton was promoted to Triple-A Iowa on May 4. He struggled through five starts before hitting the injured list with a right lat strain in June. After re-aggravating the injury during rehab, Horton was shut down in early August.

Scouting Report: Horton’s right lat injury likely impacted his 2024 results, because the difference in pitch quality compared to 2023 was stark. The regression on his fastball shape and velocity were notable. Horton lost around two inches of ride on his fastball and saw its velocity dip by 1.5 mph to around 94, leading to a much straighter approach angle than seen in 2023. Horton’s slider remained effective. He gained velocity on the pitch, trading some sweep to achieve it. It sat 85-87 mph and had nearly identical performance metrics to the 2023 version. Horton’s changeup is a clear third pitch. It was used around 10% of the time in 2024 and is a hit-or-miss offering due to Horton’s poor command of it. He shows above-average command of his slider, and the results back that.

The Future: A healthy Horton has a chance to debut as a starter for the Cubs in 2025. If unsuccessful in that role, he has a floor as a quality high-leverage reliever.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Slider: 65 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 50
BA Grade/Risk: 55/Medium.

Track Record: A native of Brimfield, Mass., Shaw starred for three seasons at Maryland, where he set the program’s home run record with 53. As a rising junior in 2022, Shaw won Cape Cod League MVP honors and led the league with a .360 average. He carried that momentum into 2023, when he won Big 10 Conference player of the year honors. The Cubs drafted Shaw 13th overall that year and signed him for $4,848,500. Shaw is Maryland’s highest drafted player ever. He appeared in 38 games at three levels after the draft, reaching Double-A Tennessee for the final three weeks of the season. In 2024, Shaw began the season at Double-A and moved to Triple-A Iowa in August. He hit .284/.379/.488 with 21 home runs and 31 stolen bases in 121 games. Shaw participated in the Futures Game and was awarded Southern League MVP honors after the season.

Scouting Report: Shaw stands just 5-foot-9, but he plays well above his height, showing an explosive combination of hitting ability, power and speed. He does a good job of balancing aggression and plate approach while avoiding passivity at the plate and showing enough barrel awareness to keep his strikeouts in check. Shaw’s ability to make consistent, hard contact against a variety of pitch types is testament to his advanced hitting ability, and his swing adjustments allow him to not only do damage against breaking and offspeed pitches, but to also consistently find the barrel. Shaw’s ability to drive the ball in the air consistently allows him to get the most out of his power in games. He hits the ball with authority to all fields, spraying an even number of pull-side and opposite-field home runs in 2024. Shaw will have above-average power at peak with 25-plus homer upside. He pairs his hitting ability and power with above-average speed and an aggressive approach on the bases. Shaw will run into outs from time to time but isn’t afraid to take the extra base and is adept at reading pitchers and getting good jumps. In the field, Shaw has seen time at multiple positions. Drafted as a shortstop, Shaw saw more time at third base in 2024, starting 63 games at the hot corner. Shaw is a fringe-average defender at third and, due to his lack of arm strength, is likely only a fill-in at shortstop. Though he showed above-average range at third, his actions can look awkward. He lacks the natural arm strength typical of third basemen, but his athleticism and quick release allow him to make many plays that less nimble infielders do not make.

The Future: Shaw is a bat-first infielder with power and an above-average hit tool. His positional versatility could earn him big league playing time in 2025 and should make him one of the more dynamic rookies.

Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Fielding: 45 | Arm: 45

Draft Prospects

School: Tuscola HS, Waynesville, N.C. Committed: North Carolina. Age At Draft: 18.9

With velocity trending up, Rich has reached 91 mph and should have more on the way as he fills out his lean 6-foot-2 frame. It’s a lively, riding fastball from his high slot that he uses to attack up in the zone and above barrels for swing-and-miss. He shows feel to spin a low-to-mid 70s curveball that’s ahead of his changeup.
School: Chaminade-Madonna College Prep HS, Hollywood, Fla. Committed: South Carolina. Age At Draft: 18.8

Krasner pitches off a lively fastball with good armide run that’s typically in the upper 80s and has touched 90 mph. He pitches from a sound delivery and has room to fill out his projectable 6-foot-3 frame and eventually pitch more consistently in the low 90s or better. Krasner has feel to manipulate multiple secondary offerings, including a low-to-mid 70s curveball with good shape that he can use to freeze hitters as well as an upper-70s changeup that flashes heavy action.
School: Saguaro HS, Scottsdale, Ariz. Committed: South Carolina. Age At Draft: 18.9

Originally from Venezuela, Gomez moved to Arizona, where scouts got a lot of looks at him during his sophomore year when he was the catcher for lefthander Cam Caminiti, the Braves’ 2024 first-round pick. Gomez is a switch-hitter with good bat speed, but defense is his calling card. He has the ability to back pick runners and produce pop times under 1.9 seconds on his best throws thanks to his above-average arm and quick exchange.
School: Nazareth Academy, La Grange Park, Ill. Committed: Tennessee. Age At Draft: 18.6

The son of Hall of Fame first baseman Jim Thome, Landon stood out in August 2024 when he earned player of the week honors at the Area Code Games underclass event. He has good balance in his compact lefthanded swing, staying inside the ball well to manipulate the barrel. He’s a solid-average runner with the defensive skill set to play somewhere in the infield at the next level.
School: Abington Heights HS, Summit, Pa. Committed: Auburn. Age At Draft: 18.6

An athletic pitcher with a strong fastball, Bradley has sound mechanics, compact arm action and repeats his delivery well to pound the strike zone. He has been up to 92 mph, with room to fill out his broad-shouldered build and reach the mid 90s. He has a low-80s slider that has solid action at times and shows feel for a changeup that should become a bigger part of his arsenal as he moves up.
School: Richmond Hill HS, Queens, N.Y. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.1

Young for the class with a loose, fast arm from the left side, Ortiz reaches the low 90s from a low-effort operation and has the look of a pitcher who should be throwing in the mid 90s or better by the time the 2026 draft nears. His control will need to take a step forward, but his athleticism should help, with feel for both a slider that has good spin and lateral break and his changeup as well.
School: Tomball (Tex.) HS. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 19.1

Reeder has a tall, projectable 6-foot-4 frame, good pitchability and a fastball that has reached 91 mph. He pitches from a tall-and-fall delivery and should have more velocity in the tank once he packs on more weight and refines his mechanical efficiency. His lively changeup has good sink, fade and separation off his fastball, with a mid-70s slider and slower curveball as well.
School: Providence HS, Jacksonville, Fla. Committed: Mississippi. Age At Draft: 18.1

Pitching with a fastball that parks in the mid 80s, Walls’ velocity isn’t as advanced as some of the other top pitchers in the class, but he’s young for his class, has a lot of room to fill out his projectable 6-foot-3 frame and an innate ability to spin his breaking stuff. His mid-to-upper 70s curveball can crack above 3,000 rpm at times with sharp, tight break to become a true out pitch and he has flashed feel for a changeup as well.
School: Silverado HS, Las Vegas, N.V. Committed: TCU. Age At Draft: 19.1

Guariglia is a 6-foot righthander with a strong, physically mature frame for his age. There’s some effort to his delivery but he throws a lot of strikes and has a pair of pitches that stick out, including a fastball that has touched 94 mph with good carrying life. His upper-70s curveball is a high-spin pitch that has sharp bite to miss bats when it’s at its best.
School: Basic HS, Henderson, Nev. Committed: Southern California. Age At Draft: 18.6

Southisene is the younger brother of shortstop Ty Southisene, who was a Cubs fourth-round pick out of high school in 2024, and shortstop Tate Southisene, a prominent prospect in the 2025 high school class. Troy has similar hitting mannerisms and is another player in the family with good hand-eye coordination and advanced instincts for the game. He has experience both at shortstop and in center field, reading the ball well off the bat at both positions. He’s a high-contact hitter with gap power.
School: Franklin HS, Elk Grove, Calif. Committed: LSU. Age At Draft: 18.4

With a hitterish look from the left side, Minnatee starts with a slightly open setup, strides into a closed off stance and keeps his hands quiet before firing a simple, compact swing. It’s impressive barrel control with a knack for driving balls the other way and to the middle of the field for deep alleys power.
School: Pennsbury HS, Fairless Hills, Penn. Committed: Vanderbilt. Age At Draft: 18.1

Bradley has outstanding physical projection in his lanky 6-foot-5 frame. He’s one of the youngest players in the class and has a ton of room to fill out and add to a fastball that has touched 91 mph. He’s still learning to sync up his long limbs to throw more consistent strikes, with a slider that’s ahead of his changeup.
School: South Gibson County HS, Medina, Tenn. Committed: Tennessee. Age At Draft: 18.4

A high-level strike-thrower, Allen fires fastballs up to 92 mph from his long, slinging arm stroke, getting deep into his legs to deliver the ball from a low release height and good extension. His slider isn’t a high-spin pitch but it has good lateral break to help him miss bats, while his changeup is an advanced pitch for his age with a lot of horizontal run.
School: Georgia Premier Academy, Statesboro, Ga. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 19.0

Romero has a projectable frame, good arm action and excellent stuff for his age. He pitches off a fastball that’s up to 94 mph with bigger velocity coming once he fills out. Romero has feel to spin a pair of sharp breaking balls with his curveball and slider that gives him the stuff to miss a lot of bats. His control is still erratic, but he could shoot up this list if he’s able to throw more strikes.
School: St. John Bosco HS, Bellflower, Calif. Committed: UCLA. Age At Draft: 19.4

Jackson has a compact 5-foot-10 build with a strong lower half and a simple lefthanded stroke. He starts his swing with a small toe tap, doesn’t have much hand movement and takes a direct cut, putting the ball in play at a high clip. He stays through the middle of the field well and has the strength to drive the ball for hard contact. He could fit at second or third base at the next level.
School: St. John Bosco HS, Bellflower, Calif. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.2

With a fastball up to 92 mph, Garcia has a lean, projectable 6-foot-3 frame with the look of a pitcher who should be able to reach the mid 90s. His upper-60s-to-low-70s curveball has tight spin above 2,800 rpm and should become a bigger weapon once he’s able to add more power behind that pitch. He has flashed feel for a changeup at times as well.
School: Plant City (Fla.) HS. Committed: Wake Forest. Age At Draft: 18.0

One of the younger players in the 2026 class, Carbaugh sticks out for his physical projection with a long, lean 6-foot-5 frame. He has room to add another 30-plus pounds and grow a fastball that has touched 92 mph. While he will need to throw more strikes, his fastball has good armside run from his low three-quarters slot. Carbaugh flashes feel to spin a slider, though he’s still learning to refine its shape and consistency, and while his upper-70s changeup has not been a big bat-missing pitch yet, it flashes good tailing action.
School: Trinity Episcopal HS, Richmond, Va. Committed: LSU. Age At Draft: 18.3

McLeod has a big fastball that reaches 94 mph with the potential for more in the tank as he continues to fill out his strong 6-foot-6 frame. Like most pitchers his age and size, McLeod is still learning to repeat his delivery to throw more consistent strikes, but it’s a power fastball with downhill angle. His fastball is his predominant pitch, one he leans on heavily, though at the end of the 2024 summer circuit his curveball showed signs of improvement, with a changeup rounding his repertoire.
School: Iona Prep HS, New Rochelle, N.Y. Committed: Miami. Age At Draft: 18.7

Diaz has a solid offensive game for a catcher, setting up with a wide base and a short stroke, but defensively is where he shines the most. He’s athletic behind the plate with a quick, efficient transfer to an above-average arm that helps him control the running game with pop times under 1.9 seconds on his best throws.
School: Spring Hill (Kan.) HS. Committed: Florida. Age At Draft: 18.7

An athletic two-way player, Neal has promise both as a pitcher and a position player. Neal has primarily been a position player, with his body control and hand-eye coordination evident on the mound and at the plate. He’s a fluid mover at shortstop with a plus arm that could tick up another grade. Neal can drive the ball with impact during BP, with up-and-down game performance on the travel circuit. On the mound, Neal has a smooth, athletic operation as a pitcher and a fastball that has touched 94 mph from a crossfire delivery. With his arm speed and lots of space left to fill out his lean 6-foot-3 frame, there should be another velocity jump coming. He has feel for a slider, a pitch that should benefit from extra power that should come as he gets stronger.
School: Lake Mary (Fla.) HS. Committed: Clemson. Age At Draft: 18.9

Hernandez has the strength, bat speed and leverage in his swing to produce some of the better raw power in the class in a pull-oriented approach. That power should only grow as he continues to fill out his well-proportioned 6-foot-4 frame with a likely power-over-hit offensive game. He’s athletic for his size with average speed, a quick first step and a strong arm, giving him the defensive tools to have a chance to stick at third base in pro ball.
School: Lipscomb Academy, Nashville, Tenn. Committed: Tennessee. Age At Draft: 18.8

Springall has a clean, crisp swing from the left side. He has good rhythm and balance, taking a compact, tight turn of the barrel that leads to good plate coverage and a high contact rate. Springall has a slender frame and a hit-over-power profile, driving the ball from gap to gap with a good eye for the strike zone to help him get on base at a high clip. He’s a middle infielder with smooth actions and the arm strength that projects best at second base in pro ball.
School: Cardinal Gibbons HS, Raleigh, N.C. Committed: North Carolina. Age At Draft: 18.7

Tarkenton can stymie hitters with his fastball/slider combination. He pitches with his fastball that’s up to 93 mph and should have at least another couple ticks of velocity still to come. Tarkenton liberally mixes in his slider against both lefties and righties, showing feel to spin that pitch and execute it effectively to get empty swings.
School: Lake Travis HS, Austin, Tex. Committed: Texas. Age At Draft: 19.0

Webb has a sound delivery, fast arm speed and can reach 91 mph from his three quarters slot, with the strength projection left in his lean 6-foot-3 frame to where he should be throwing in the mid 90s as he gets stronger. He has a swing-and-miss pitch with his curveball, which has sharp bite and good depth when it’s at its best.
School: Kingsburg (Calif.) HS. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.5

Hirckshorn sticks out right away at 6-foot-7, 195 pounds. He’s already up to 93 mph and has a ton of space on his extremely tall, slender frame to pack on more strength and add velocity. Hirckshorn pitches from an upright delivery with shorter arm action into a high three-quarter slot, delivering the ball with steep downhill plane. His fastball is his best pitch, with a curveball and changeup rounding his repertoire.
School: Olentangy Liberty HS, Powell, Ohio. Committed: Louisville. Age At Draft: 18.7

Van Engelenhoven has a tall, projectable build at 6-foot-5, with the space to fill out and eventually add to a fastball that has touched 91 mph from his low three-quarters slot. His best pitch is his slider, which snaps off with sharp, sweeping action and tight rotation to miss bats with above-average potential.
School: McCutcheon HS, Lafayette, Ind. Committed: Kentucky. Age At Draft: 18.7

Swank is a 6-foot-4 righthander with a fastball that’s regularly in the low 90s and can hit 93 mph with the projection for mid-90s or better velocity in the next few years. He’s a solid strike-thrower for his age with a long, winding arm action and leans on his slider when he wants to change speeds, showing feel to spin that pitch in the mid-to-upper 70s with three-quarters break and sharp snap at times. He hasn’t thrown his changeup as much yet, but it’s a pitch he has shown feel for as well.
School: Carlsbad (Calif.) HS. Committed: Miami. Age At Draft: 18.5

Kelley was in the 2027 class, but after the 2024 summer circuit he reclassified to become 2026 eligible. He has a lean, athletic 6-foot-2 frame and generates good bat speed with stretch and separation in his swing to make hard contact. He has athletic actions at shortstop, where he has good body control and a strong arm.
School: Sayre HS, Lexington, Kent. Committed: Kentucky. Age At Draft: 18.5

Gibson has a quality three-pitch mix, starting with a fastball that has grown throughout the year. He’s now up to 94 mph, attacking hitters down in the zone from his low three-quarters slot. His low-80s slider is his go-to secondary pitch, a breaking ball he shows feel to spin. He hasn’t used his changeup as often, but it’s a pitch he has feel for with swing-and-miss traits, so it should become a bigger part of his game with more experience.
School: Lamar HS, Houston, Tex. Committed: Texas A&M. Age At Draft: 18.2

Dowell has tools and athleticism that jump out. He’s a plus runner with a strong arm and good bat speed, allowing him to drive the ball out of the park to his pull side. While his tools stand out more than his pure hitting ability, Dowell has a chance to develop into a power/speed threat if everything clicks, with experience at all three outfield spots.
School: Asheville (N.C.) HS. Committed: Texas. Age At Draft: 18.7

Cameron Maybin was a first-round pick out of high school in the 2025 draft who reached the majors when he was 20 and went on to have a 15-year big league career. His son, Trent, is another exciting athlete in center field. Maybin is a plus runner who glides around center field with good instincts, reads and routes. He can make highlight catches and is one of the better defensive center fielders in the 2026 high school class. His defense is what stands out the most right now, but there’s significant strength potential in his lean, athletic 6-foot-2 frame to grow into bigger power.
School: Cathedral Catholic HS, San Diego, Calif. Committed: Stanford. Age At Draft: 19.1

A triplet whose brother, shortstop Alex Harrington, is also a Stanford commit and one of the top players in the 2026 class, Hunter Harrington is another standout athlete at a premium position. He has a lean, long-limbed build and is a plus runner who defends his position well in center field. He has good instincts, quick reactions off the bat, ranges well to both gaps and reads the ball well on balls over his head. At the plate, Harrington has a line-drive approach with gap power.
School: Lutheran South Academy, Houston, Tex. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.3

Walker’s father, Ramon, is a former Houston Texans safety, and Jaylen brings an impressive blend of physicality and explosiveness to the baseball field. He has a strong, compact frame and can whistle the barrel through the zone by rotating powerfully and firing his fast hands to produce high-end bat speed. His timing at the plate has been inconsistent, but Walker has the power to drive the ball a long way when everything is in sync with the potential for plus raw power. He’s an above-average runner who likely projects as a corner outfielder in pro ball.
School: Hoover (Ala.) HS. Committed: Tennessee. Age At Draft: 19.0

Wood packs a lot of quick-twitch athleticism into his 5-foot-9 frame. He’s an aggressive hitter with fast hands at the plate and good bat-to-ball skills, driving the ball with surprising sock for his size with occasional triple-digit exit velocities. He’s a plus runner with a quick first step, quick feet and the athleticism to play somewhere up the middle, whether it’s at shortstop, second base or using his speed in center field.
School: JSerra Catholic HS, San Juan Capistrano, Calif. Committed: TCU. Age At Draft: 19.1

Greis is a shortstop who is steady across the board. He has a compact, adjustable swing with good barrel awareness that results in frequent contact with a hit-over-power game, but he is strong enough to drive the ball out to his pull side. He’s a fundamentally sound defender at shortstop with the hands and footwork to stick in the infield. He has a strong arm as well that has been up to 92 mph on the mound with feel to spin a tight curveball in the mid-to-upper 70s.
School: Cypress Woods (Tex.) HS. Committed: Oklahoma State. Age At Draft: 18.6

One of the most electric athletes in the 2026 class, Darden has an exciting mix of power and speed. He’s a plus-plus runner with an explosive first step to handle center field and he generates high-end bat speed to make loud contact when he connects. There’s still some rawness to his game that he will have to develop at the plate, but there aren’t many players in the class with his level of tools and athleticism.
School: Sussex Central HS, Georgetown, Del. Committed: Maryland. Age At Draft: 18.8

Pitching from a smooth, easy delivery with good arm action, Kelley has a fast arm and good pitchability for his age. He can touch 91 mph and has the arm speed that suggests bigger velocity gains in his future. His changeup is his most advanced offspeed weapon, a pitch he sells well off his fastball to generate empty swings.
School: Loranger (La.) HS. Committed: Mississippi State. Age At Draft: 18.4

Holton is an athletic righthander and one of the hardest throwers in the 2026 class. His lively fastball has touched 96 mph, and given his outstanding arm speed and space to add weight onto his projectable 6-foot-3 frame, he looks like he should eventually reach the upper 90s and possibly triple digits. Holton throws a mid-to-upper 70s slider and a low-80s changeup, but it’s the fastball that’s his predominant pitch. He has an aggressive, up-tempo delivery and could take another jump up the list if he’s able to repeat his release point more consistently to throw more strikes.
School: Queen Creek (Ariz.) HS. Committed: Clemson. Age At Draft: 19.3

Reynolds is a two-sport standout who’s committed to play both baseball and football as a quarterback at Clemson. He hasn’t spent as much time on the national summer circuit as other players because of football, but Reynolds shows promising traits on the diamond. He’s a plus runner with the speed and athleticism to give him a chance for center field. At the plate, it’s a short swing with strength behind it to drive the ball for hard line drives and power to the alleys.
School: Reagan HS, Pfafftown, N.C. Committed: Tennessee. Age At Draft: 19.1

Marshall is a patient hitter with little swing-and-miss overall and especially against fastballs in the zone. He has a simple lower half move, is able to let the ball travel, then fires his strong hands at the ball with a short path and the strength to drive the ball for extra-base damage to both gaps. Marshall is an offensive-minded player who has a chance to stick at third base if he can develop his arm strength, though if he outgrows the position he could move to an outfield corner in pro ball.
School: JSerra Catholic HS, San Juan Capistrano, Calif. Committed: Oregon State. Age At Draft: 18.5

Bowen’s size and tools stick out as a potential power/speed threat. He’s 6-foot-3, 205 pounds with some of the best bat speed in the 2026 class. That allows him to drive the ball out of the park with a chance to grow into plus or better raw power. Against live pitching, there’s swing-and-miss to his game, but his swing itself works well, so his approach and selectivity are what scouts will be watching as the draft gets closer. He’s a plus runner with a plus arm in center field.
School: Charles Page HS, Sand Springs, Okla. Committed: Oklahoma State. Age At Draft: 19.0

A standout quarterback for his high school football team, Webb is an athletic righthander with a strong 6-foot-4 frame. His fastball reaches 92 mph from his three-quarters slot and his athleticism helps him repeat his delivery to throw strikes at a high clip. Webb liberally mixes in his secondary stuff, the best of which is a mid-to-upper 70s curveball with above-average potential, getting swing-and-miss with spin in the 2,400-2,700 rpm range. He throws a low-80s changeup but mostly leans on his fastball and curveball.
School: Santa Margarita (Calif.) Catholic HS. Committed: TCU. Age At Draft: 18.6

Skip Schumaker, now the Marlins manager, had an 11-year big league career. His son, Brody, has the instincts and baseball IQ that comes from growing up around the game. Using a simple, level swing, Schumaker is a high-contact hitter with some of the best bat-to-ball skills in the class, spreading line drives around the field with gap power. He’s a plus runner who should be able to handle the middle infield, whether it’s at shortstop or second base long term.
School: Charlotte (N.C.) Catholic HS. Committed: Virginia Tech. Age At Draft: 18.6

Hoffman has spent time behind the plate and stands out for his arm strength, but his future now looks brightest on the mound. He throws a high-spin fastball (2,500-2,700 rpm) up to 94 mph, throwing strikes at a high clip and attacking hitters up in the zone to miss bats with that pitch. Hoffman leans heavily on his fastball, but he has shown feel to spin a slider (2,400-2,700 rpm) as well that flashes sharp bite.
School: Regis Jesuit HS, Aurora, Col. Committed: Vanderbilt. Age At Draft: 18.8

Alpert has elevated his stock over the past year as his stuff has trended up. He has a good delivery and arm action, throwing strikes with a fastball that touches 93 mph from his three-quarters slot. He pitches up in the zone with his fastball and executes his secondary stuff down, led by a sharp, tight slider that has two-plane depth to miss bats against both righties and lefties. Alpert throws a low-80s changeup as well but it’s his fastball/breaking ball mix that stands out the most.
School: Pleasant Grove HS, Texarkana, Tex. Committed: Arkansas. Age At Draft: 18.6

Browning has a strong, compact build with a mature tool set. He’s a plus-plus runner with the arm strength for the left side of the infield. Browning can drive the ball for extra-base damage when he connects, using a swing path that’s geared to try to lift and pull the ball with a likely power-over-hit profile.
School: Oak Ridge (Tenn.) HS. Committed: Tennessee. Age At Draft: 17.9

Teasley will still be 17 on the 2026 draft date, so he’s one of the youngest players in the 2026 class. With his compact frame, Teasley doesn’t have the prototypical projection build for a young pitcher, but he already has one of the better fastball/breaking ball combinations in the class. He’s an athletic pitcher with a fast arm, touching 93 mph with what should be at least a couple more ticks of velocity in the tank. He can snap off one of the better curveballs in the class as well with tight rotation, good depth and shape to miss bats. He will need to tighten his control against more advanced hitters but his delivery and arm action are sound and bode well for his ability to make adjustments.
School: The Woodlands (Tex.) HS. Committed: Texas. Age At Draft: 18.5

Smejkal regularly pitches in the low 90s and can reach 94 mph with fast arm speed in a long, winding arm stroke into an open stride/ His low-80s changeup is advanced for his age with sink and run to miss bats. His low-80s slider is inconsistent but he flashes feel to spin that pitch. Smejkal also plays shortstop with a high-contact bat from the right side, though his future in pro ball right now leans more toward the mound.
School: Episcopal HS, Bellaire, Tex. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.8

A physical righthanded hitter, Young has outstanding bat speed and power that stacks up among the best in the country for 2026. There’s length to his swing and a pull-oriented approach that leads to his power coming with a higher swing-and-miss rate, but he has a chance for 70 raw power on the 20-80 scouting scale in his prime. An above-average runner, Young has played shortstop but would likely slide over to third base or perhaps right field in pro ball, with an above-average arm that could tick up more.
School: Mater Academy, Hialeah Gardens, Fla. Committed: Florida State. Age At Draft: 18.7

Quevedo’s physicality sticks out right away. He’s one of the strongest players in the 2026 class, has excellent bat speed and huge raw power for his age with a swing geared to lift the ball. It’s a power-over-hit profile, with swing-and-miss to his game against soft stuff, but any mistake has a chance to land over the fence or in a gap, with the potential for plus-plus raw power. He’s a solid-average runner with an above-average arm.
School: Walsh Jesuit HS, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Committed: Alabama. Age At Draft: 19.1

Sullivan has an elite fastball for his age, something he showed at the Area Code Games underclass event in Aug. 2024 when he touched 97 mph. It’s outstanding arm speed and velocity that he’s able to generate from his 6-foot frame and he complements it with a sharp curveball that helps him miss bats. There’s a lot of effort to his operation and a head jerk in his finish, which leads to scattered control, so some scouts view him as a future power reliever in pro ball, but he could vault up the board for teams if he shows more pitchability to go with his power stuff.
School: Orange (Calif.) Lutheran HS. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 19.0

Morse made a loud impression at the end of the 2024 summer circuit with a dominant performance at the Area Code Games underclass event, where he struck out seven of the nine batters he faced without allowing a hit or a walk over three innings. A towering presence at 6-foot-8, 190 pounds, Morse has an extremely tall, thin frame, with lots of room to pack on more weight and significantly grow a fastball that has been up to 92 mph. He pitches heavily off his fastball, which comes at hitters with steep downhill plane from his high three-quarters slot. Whether his curveball or changeup is his more effective secondary pitch depends on the outing. His breaking ball is a lower spin pitch but can get chase at times with sharp bite and good depth. His changeup might hold more long-term upside with its heavy tailing action when it’s at its best.
School: South Walton HS, Santa Rosa Beach, Fla. Committed: Florida. Age At Draft: 18.6

At 6-foot-8, 200 pounds, Lord stands out for his extremely tall, projectable frame. He already has some of the best velocity in the class with a fastball that touches 94 mph from his three-quarters slot with the arm speed and physical upside to be throwing in the upper 90s or better as he packs on more weight. Lord has a fastball-heavy attack, mixing in a mid-70s curveball that he flashes feel to spin with good depth and is ahead of his changeup. Like nearly any teenage pitcher his size, Lord is still learning to sync up his long levers to repeat his release point for more consistent strikes, but he has a good delivery and arm action that bodes well for that with more experience.
School: Chesterton (Ind.) HS. Committed: Kentucky. Age At Draft: 19.1

Czarniecki has trended up over the past year with a well-rounded mix of tools and skills that made a strong impression in July 2024 at Prep Baseball Report’s Future Games. He has a compact swing, taking a tight turn to get the barrel into the hitting zone to make contact at a high clip. There’s a blend of power and speed for Czarniecki, who generates fast bat speed and can drive the ball out of the park to his pull side. He’s a plus runner with an average arm, giving him a chance to develop in center field.
School: Westmoore HS, Oklahoma City, Okla. Committed: Oklahoma. Age At Draft: 18.8

Kemp, whose uncle is former Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp, is another athletic outfielder who has stood out both offensively and defensively. Kemp hit well throughout the summer, using a simple lower half move with a short swing that keeps his hands inside the ball. He has an aggressive approach and gap power that should grow as he continues adding strength. He’s an above-average runner and an advanced defender in center field for his age, tracking the ball well off the bat and ranging well to both gaps, with multiple highlight diving catches during the summer.
School: Marist HS, Atlanta, Ga. Committed: Misssissippi State. Age At Draft: 18.9

Shelar has a good blend of strength, tools and contact skills. He takes an aggressive, full-throttle swing that has some unconventional parts to it, but he’s able to accelerate the barrel quickly to produce big bat speed. Shelar’s ability to track pitches and his hand-eye coordination makes him difficult to strike out, with the strength and bat speed that allows him to drive the ball with impact now and the potential for above-average or better raw power. He’s an above-average runner with the arm strength for right field.
School: McMinn County HS, Athens, Tenn. Committed: Alabama. Age At Draft: 19.5

Arms has a hitterish look from the left side of the plate with a swing that’s short, simple and fluid. He has good hand-eye coordination and makes high contact at a high clip with mostly gap power and occasional home run juice. He’s an above-average runner with a quick first step, giving him a chance to develop in center field.
School: Iolani School, Honolulu, Hi.. Committed: Arkansas. Age At Draft: 18.7

Ota has a tall, athletic and projectable frame and promising offensive upside. He’s a lefthanded hitter with good rhythm in a fluid lefthanded swing. His hands come through the hitting zone well and he generates good stretch in his swing to rotate powerfully and generate power that should only get bigger as he fills out his 6-foot-5 frame. Ota is a center fielder who runs well for his size and likely projects to play a corner in pro ball.
School: Georgia Premier Academy, Statesboro, Ga. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 19.3

Cope is 6-foot-8, 240 pounds, so he stands out as soon as he walks on the field. He touches 92 mph with his tailing fastball and gives hitters an uncomfortable at-bat with long arms and legs flying at them in his funky mechanics. He’s on the older side of the 2026 class but there should be more velocity in the tank once he streamlines his delivery. Cope throws a curveball, but it’s his changeup that’s his most promising offspeed pitch. It’s a deceptive changeup with around 10 mph of separation off his fastball, giving him a weapon to generate empty swings or weak contact. Cope is a two-way player as a first baseman with big bat speed, huge raw power and loft in his stroke, though with swing-and-miss that’s going to come with any hitter his size. He gives his infielders a huge margin for error with his size at first base.
School: TNXL Academy, Ocoee, Fla. Committed: Florida. Age At Draft: 18.2

Hanes spent 2023 pitching as a member of the 2027 class, but at the end of the year reclassified to 2026. He stands out for his projectable 6-foot-4 frame, with a long arm swing in the back to throw a fastball that reaches 93 mph with more to come. He shows feel to spin a slider, the secondary pitch he leans on most when he’s going for swing-and-miss, with his slider ahead of his changeup.
School: Lausanne Collegiate HS, Memphis, Tenn. Committed: Mississippi. Age At Draft: 19.4

From Olive Branch, Mississippi and attending high school just across the border in Memphis, Tennessee, Doty has a strong, compact frame and packs a punch behind his quick, direct swing. It’s a simple righthanded stroke, generating high-end bat speed with a concise move to work inside the ball, allowing him to consistently perform at a high level in games. An offensive-minded infielder with a tick above-average speed and an average arm, Doty turns 19 in February of his draft year, putting him on the older end of the 2026 class.
School: Mater Dei HS, Santa Ana, Calif. Committed: Georgia Tech. Age At Draft: 19.5

Lara has been on an upward trend throughout 2024. On the older end of the 2026 class, Lara makes good swing decisions with the patience to rack up walks and the bat control that leaves little swing-and-miss to his game. A lefthanded hitter, Lara has a simple lower half load with a turn of his heel before taking a quick, compact swing with a knack for finding the barrel and mostly gap power. He’s an above-average runner who moves around all three outfield spots with a chance to stick in center field.
School: Keller (Tex.) HS. Committed: Tennessee. Age At Draft: 18.9

Koeninger does a lot of things well on the field. He’s an aggressive hitter with good bat speed, performing at a high level in games with extra-base damage and frequent quality contact. An above-average runner, Koeninger is an athletic mover at shortstop with an above-average arm. He’s a two-way prospect with a fastball that’s typically working into the low 90s, along with a curveball that’s ahead of his changeup.
School: Casteel HS, Queen Creek, Ariz. Committed: Texas A&M. Age At Draft: 18.9

Harwood is 6-foot-3 with a strong, physically mature build for his age and hit well throughout the 2024 travel circuit. He has a compact lefthanded swing, strong hands and drives the ball with impact, showing the potential to be a 25-plus home run threat. His speed and range fit best either in an outfield corner or at first base with the above-average arm strength for right field.
School: St. Mary’s HS, Stockton, Calif. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 19.1

With a strong, physically mature build for his age, Hardcastle has a starter look with feel for three pitches. He attacks hitters up in the zone, where he gets swing-and-miss with a fastball up to 92 mph and should have a few extra ticks of velocity on the way. Hardcastle’s ability to manipulate a pair of secondary pitches stands out. His flashes feel to spin a mid-to-upper 70s curveball that has sharp bite and good depth when it’s on, spinning in the 2,600-2,800 rpm range. His changeup has lively tailing action away from lefties, though he’s confident throwing it to righties as well. It’s a pitch he sells well with 10 mph of separation off his fastball while maintaining his arm speed to catch hitters out front. He’s a two-way player in high school who also shows big raw power from the right side.
School: Etowah HS, Woodstock, Ga. Committed: Georgia Tech. Age At Draft: 18.6

Cole has a mix of power and athleticism. He can fire his hands quickly, enabling him to whistle the barrel through the zone with good bat speed. It comes with a higher swing-and-miss rate, but when he’s locked in and on time, he can drive the ball with impact and could grow into plus raw power. An above-average runner, Cole has experience both in the infield and outfield but has been a primary center fielder, where he has a chance to stick, though depending on his physical development he could move around to a corner as well.
School: Franklin Regional HS, Murrysville, Penn. Committed: Virginia. Age At Draft: 18.5

Williams packs an explosive tool set into his 5-foot-11 frame. He’s a plus-plus runner with a quick first step and a plus arm with experience at shortstop and in center field. At the plate, Williams has an approach geared to pull and lift the ball with mostly gap power. He had a deep hand load that he has shortened up some from where it was last year, though it can still get big, so if he can prove his bat-to-ball skills as the draft gets closer, he could rise up boards given his athleticism and tools to play a premium position.
School: Jesuit College Prep School of Dallas, Tex. Committed: Texas. Age At Draft: 18.8

With strong, quick hands, Jorgensen is able to snap the barrel through the zone and drive the ball for extra-base damage with an aggressive approach and a good track record of performance and bat-to-ball skills in games. He’s an above-average runner with a plus arm who has experience both at shortstop and in the outfield. Jorgensen offers promise on the mound as well. He regularly pitches in the low 90s with a fastball that gets swing-and-miss up in the zone and shows feel to spin a curveball.
School: Trinity Christian Academy, Jacksonville, Fla. Committed: LSU. Age At Draft: 18.7

Loew has quick hands, rotates powerfully and generates high-end bat speed for his age. He drives the ball with impact already, showing the ability to go deep from right-center over to his pull side. It does come with an aggressive approach and swing-and-miss tendencies he will need to cut down on, but the potential is there for Loew to end up with plus or better raw power. Loew has the arm for the left side of the infield and could move around the dirt in pro ball, with experience at shortstop but third base a more likely fit as he moves up the ladder.
School: Greenwich (Conn.) Country Day HS. Committed: Stanford. Age At Draft: 18.3

Hill has a tall, strong frame (6-foot-5, 215 pounds) and one of the better fastballs in the 2026 class. He’s still learning to command it more consistently, but Hill can dial his fastball up to 95 mph and has the projection for more velocity on the way. Hill’s fastball is his best weapon and he pitches heavily off that pitch, mixing in a low-80s slider in the 2,000-2,300 range with short break and a changeup that flashes heavy life at times.
School: Los Banos (Calif.) HS. Committed: Stanford. Age At Draft: 18.6

After an excellent 2024 high school season, Cazares continued to pitch well on the travel circuit. He has a lean frame and a fast arm, getting his fastball up to 94 mph from his low three-quarters slot. He has good pitchability for his age and feel for a mid-to-upper 70s slider that he’s adept at landing for strikes. Cazares will throw an occasional changeup but mainly leans on his fastball/slider attack.
School: Center Grove HS, Greenwood, Ind.. Committed: Tennessee. Age At Draft: 19.3

Grant attacks hitters with three quality pitches. He works off a fastball that’s regularly in the low 90s and can reach 93 mph. He’s able to get empty swings with his ability to manipulate multiple secondary pitches, including a slider with tight rotation and an advanced changeup that has heavy tumbling action.
School: Corona (Calif.) HS. Committed: LSU. Age At Draft: 19.3

Murphy positioned himself early as one of the top names to watch in southern California after a huge freshman season at Corona (Calif.) HS in 2023 in which he hit six home runs, then followed it up with another big year in 2024 for the national powerhouse program. He’s an athletic outfielder with a mix of power and a tick above-average speed from an aggressive approach, with what could end up a power-over-hit offensive game. Murphy moves well enough to get a chance to develop in center field, though his above-average arm would fit in right field as well.
School: Ottumwa (Iowa) HS. Committed: Uncommitted. Age At Draft: 18.0

Long is young for the class with a loose, whippy arm stroke and throws a lot of strikes with a fastball up to 92 mph, generating good armside run from his low three-quarters slot. He’s a good strike-thrower for his age, and between his arm speed and room to add weight on to his slender 6-foot-1 frame, there should be mid-90s or better velocity in his future. Long throws a low-80s changeup that’s advanced for his age with late diving action and was ahead of his slider in national events during the 2024 summer circuit.
School: Etowah HS, Woodstock, Ga. Committed: Georgia. Age At Draft: 18.8

Sharman can befuddle hitters with an excellent fastball/changeup combination. He’s a 6-foot-3 righthander with good control of a heavy, tailing fastball that touches 93 mph from his low three-quarters slot. It’s a good fastball for his age, but what separates Sharman is his elite changeup that stacks up among the best in the country. It’s a Bugs Bunny changeup that parachutes out of his hand, peeling off his fastball with more than 10 mph of separation, late tumble and fade. It’s flashing plus now with a chance to get even better. Sharman leans heavily on his changeup—he will double and triple up on the pitch at times—and he commands it well, throwing an occasional hesitation in his delivery to further disrupt hitters’ timing. His slurvy breaking ball is a third pitch that will need more development, but his fastball, changeup and control have enabled him to carve through lineups.
School: William Amos Hough HS, Cornelius, N.C. Committed: Clemson. Age At Draft: 19.1

Matthews has promising size, tools and offensive upside from the left side of the plate. He sets up with an open stance and loads his swing with a sizable leg kick, a move he has condensed some over the past year. Matthews has above-average bat speed and flashes home run power in games now with the space to fill out his 6-foot-4 frame and grow into at least above-average raw power, with a chance to unlock more game power if he’s able to generate more loft with his swing. He runs surprisingly well underway for his size with above-average speed and the arm strength that should fit in right field.
School: The Stony Brook (N.Y.) HS. Committed: Vanderbilt. Age At Draft: 19.3

Ruiz is one of the smoothest defensive shortstops in the 2026 class. An above-average runner, Ruiz has quick feet, soft hands and is an instinctive defender with good body control. His coordination is evident in the field and at the plate, where he’s a switch-hitter who rarely swings and misses, spraying line drives to all fields with gap power.

Minor League Top Prospects

EL managers came to have the same feelings about Larish that scouts have had since his college days at Arizona State. Once considered a potentially elite hitter, he has adopted an approach and sells out for home runs. It makes his profile more that of a second-division regular than as a championship-caliber starter. "He's abandoned using the whole field and has very little two-strike approach," one scout said. "He was just trying to jerk balls, but he showed pretty big power, and it's from the left side." His upright stance turns off some, because it precludes him from covering the outer third of the plate and produces serious holes in his swing. The things he can do make Larish a prospect. He's patient, ranking second in the league and sixth in the minors with 87 walks, and he waits out pitchers until he gets a pitch he can drive. His strength and leveraged swing produce well above-average power, as he led the EL with 28 homers and 101 RBIs. He's also an accomplished defender around the bag at first base.
As they did with lefty John Danks in 2006, the Rangers bumped Hurley to Triple-A just three years after drafting him in the first round out of high school. Texas felt comfortable moving Hurley quickly, given his even temperament and willingness to take instruction. He pitched very well for Oklahoma before getting hammered in his final two starts, when he allowed six of his 13 Triple-A homers. With a repertoire headed by a 91-95 mph fastball and an above-average slider with late depth, Hurley is all about power. Those two pitches will play up--and his strikeouts will increase--as he gains more command. He needs to improve his changeup and do a better job of working down in the strike zone.
Because of his stuff, frame and profile, Reyes gets compared Horacio Ramirez, who likewise signed with the Braves out of a southern California high school. Reyes made 14 starts at Mississippi before spending three months in the majors when injuries beset Atlanta's pitching staff. He struggled but did win two of his last three starts and posted a 3.10 ERA in September. Reyes doesn't have a true put-away pitch, but he has five weapons at his disposal, headlined by a fastball that ranges from 88-94 mph. He can add and subtract from his fastball, and also throws a cutter in the high 80s. His solid-average slider is his best secondary pitch, which he complements with a usable changeup and curve. He's erratic with his command at times, and Reyes has lapses when a series of mistakes leads to big innings. He profiles as a back-of-the-rotation starter. "He's a guy for me," the second scout said. "He can speed up and slow down bats, and he has enough effective wildness and enough stuff to get away with some of his inconsistency."
Saunders is one of the best athletes in the Mariners system, but his stock took a hit when he batted .240/.329/.345 in his full-season debut in low Class A last year. He flashed his five-tool potential on a much more consistent basis in the Cal League, and he played well in Double-A in August. He's still growing into his 6-foot-4 frame and has good loft in his swing, which could make him a 20-homer hitter on an annual basis. He has plus speed that makes him a basestealing threat and a plus defender in center or right field. A Canadian who had NHL potential in hockey and also played basketball, lacrosse and soccer, he lacks true baseball instincts but has shown a better sense for the game with each of his promotions.
Paulino hadn't played above Class A coming into the season, but he made his major league debut in Houston in September, earning wins in his last two starts. He has the body and the stuff to pitch at the top of a rotation, with a fastball that touches 100 mph and sits at 95-99 mph. Paulino has four legitimate pitches, using both a slider and a curveball as well as a changeup. His curveball is probably the best of his complementary pitches, but none of them stand out. To establish himself in the big league rotation, Paulino will have to improve his command and become more confident with his fastball. His velocity allows him to dominate, but if hitters hit his heater early in games, he tends to shy away from it.
Ely overmatched Pioneer League hitters in his pro debut by consistently by consistently throwing strikes and using his 91-93 mph fastball to set them up for a plus changeup that ranks as his best pitch. His curveball was a solid pitch for him at Miami (Ohio) this spring, though it received mixed reviews from those who saw him this summer. Ely has a deceptive delivery that he repeats well and keeps hitters off balance, but he's also a max-effort pitcher with a head jerk. There are some concerns about how his ability to avoid injuries with his mechanics, but he has no history of arm problems in the past. He's extremely competitive on the mound.
An exceptional athlete, Brown was recruited by Miami as a wide receiver but he chose instead to sign as a 20th-round pick in 2006. The ball jumps off his bat, though his swing can get long and has some holes that can be exploited. His wiry-strong build evokes Darryl Strawberry, and he can hit the ball a long way when he connects. A long strider with above-average speed, Brown plays a shallow center field. He occasionally takes some bad routes, but he's athletic enough to compensate and has a strong arm. "He's got a ton of tools," Hudson Valley manager Matt Quatraro said. "His body, if it fills out, he could be a monster. His swing's long at times, but when he gets on top of the ball, he's got some juice."
Fabian has added 30 pounds since signing out of the Dominican in 2003, and his 6-foot-3 frame still has plenty of projection remaining. He has yet to reach full-season ball in five years as a pro and is far from a finished product, but his loose arm is loaded with potential. Fabian's fastball sits at 91 mph and he was up to 96 in the first game of the NWL finals, when he pitched into the eighth inning and earned the win against Salem-Keizer. He's aggressive and attacks hitters, though his command is below-average. He'll occasionally break off a filthy downer curveball that could become a legitimate putaway offering. His changeup is below-average, though it too could develop into a weapon.
The Yankees signed Heredia out of the Dominican Republic last year. He didn't pitch in the Dominican Summer League in 2006 and made his pro debut in the States this summer. Not big but wiry strong, Heredia pumps out fastballs from 91-93 mph, touching some 94s along the way. He has a loose, easy delivery and adds and subtracts from his fastball, which he commands to all four quadrants of the strike zone. His slurvy breaking ball needs to get tighter, though it shows flashes of being a plus pitch with solid downward rotation. "He just reminds me of Pedro Martinez when I was with the Dodgers in '93," Reed said. "You see the frame and wonder where it all comes from. This guy is the same way." His changeup is still a work in progress, as he's refining his arm action and grip to command it more consistently. Heredia morphed into a two-pitch pitcher at times, and he'll have to gain more confidence in his changeup if he's going to profile as a starter.
Ottavino's approach is simple yet effective. He relies on a 92-93 mph fastball featuring good armside run and a tight slider, as the fastball rides in on righthanders while the slider runs away from them. His command isn't very polished, but he gets enough movement that he can simply aim for the middle of the plate and relying on the run on his fastball and the tilt on his slider to hit the corners. Ottavino got FSL hitters to chase his slider out of the zone, though there's some concern as to whether he can throw it consistently for strikes if more advanced players lay off of it. He also throws a below-average changeup and curveball, and he might wind up in the bullpen down the road.
James flew under the radar last season despite going 6-2, 1.36 in Lexington. His fringy fastball didn't excite scouts then, but they believe in him more now that his velocity increased this year. His heater sat at 89-92 and he can sink and tail it to either side of the plate, making him a groundball machine. James' slider is an average pitch with plus potential. He has toyed with different grips on his changeup but hasn't found consistent command of it yet. "He could be unhittable at times here and all he'd throw were sinkers," Sarbaugh said. "He'd flash you the breaking ball, he'd flash the changeup, but he was pretty much all sinkers."
AZL managers found Culberson, a surprise supplemental first-round pick in June, far from conventional but nonetheless to their liking. He rebounded from a terrible start to help drive the Giants into the championship game, leading the team with 19 stolen bases (in 20 tries) and batting .354 in August. Culverson showed pull power, savvy baserunning skills and above-average bat speed, and he made progress on learning when to be aggressive and when to be smart. Culberson hit 16 homers as a high school senior, but homers aren't likely to be a significant part of his game as he moves up the ladder. The unconventional part comes with his glove. Culberson has excellent arm strength despite an unusual, almost sidearm release point, and as he learns to trust his arm, he'll improve his fringe-average range by playing deeper and learning better positioning. His aggressive nature led to mistakes, but he worked hard with roving instructor Fred Stanley and showed enough aptitude (one error in his last 12 games in the AZL) to keep playing shortstop in instructional league.
Romero finished third in the league in batting (.316) and homers (nine). He's a gap-to-gap hitter who can drive the ball hard the other way, and he should have even more power as he gets stronger and turns on more pitches. Defensively, Romero has limited range at third base but he does have soft hands, arm strength and a quick release. He sometimes overthrows, but he's fairly steady and led Appy League third baseman with a .929 fielding percentage. His biggest need is to find an even keel, as he gets down on himself and lets his emotions affect his play. "He's got it in him," Elizabethton manager Ray Smith said. "He's a tools guy and he can hit it as far as anybody. He's got it in him, but we need to get it out of him."
After hitting just three homers in Rookie ball last year, Francisco won the MWL home run crown with 25, including 10 in the final month. In a league full of young power hitters, scouts and managers thought Francisco had the most raw pop of any of them. "He swings the bat with a lot of authority," Great Lakes manager Lance Parrish said. "He has a lot of potential and it's not too far in the future. He'll be leading every league he's in in home runs and he'll be an all-star." Francisco offers incredible pull power from the left side, though he needs to tone down his aggression and tighten his strike zone after fanning 161 times and walking only 23 in 135 games. He has a long swing and tends to chase balls in the dirt, but he's also just 20. He has enough arm and mobility to stay at third base, though he'll have to watch his weight to do so.
Like Votto, Lind came into the season with high expectations after winning the Double-A Eastern League's MVP award and hitting .367 in 60 September big league at-bats in 2006. He started 2007 with Syracuse, earning an early callup when Reed Johnson had back surgery. American League pitchers were ready for Lind this time and he struggled to make adjustments, hitting .230/.274/.383 before a July demotion. Lind regained his confidence and his stroke in the IL, and he fared better (.273/.298/.473) after a September callup. He's balanced at the plate and stays inside the ball well, using his classic lefthanded swing to drive the ball from line to line. "His hands somewhat work independently from his body," Syracuse manager Doug Davis said. "He's got such good hand-eye coordination that it's very easy for him to put the barrel of the bat on ball. That's my biggest thing. He's a natural hitter who can not only put the ball in play, but drive it." Lind missed two weeks in early August when he strained a muscle in his neck after violently banging his head on the ground while making a diving attempt for a catch. A similar play in 2006 caused a concussion. He remains a work in progress in the outfield, where below-average speed and just playable range and throwing mechanics limit him to left field.
After serving as a catcher when he wasn't injured during his first two pro seasons, Snyder moved to first base this year and looked more comfortable. He had his best offensive season to date, rebounding nicely from the dislocated right shoulder and rotator-cuff surgery that limited him to 72 games in 2006. Snyder showed improved plate discipline and continued to display a smooth swing from the right side. He consistently gets his hands in a good hitting position. The question, however, is whether he'll drive in enough runs to be an impact player at the major league level, because the move to first base puts a greater emphasis on his bat. Snyder, who showed soft hands and good athleticism at his new position, also took groundballs at third base. "He adapted well defensively and has become a quality first baseman," Kendall said. "He also made adjustments with the bat, particularly with his pitch selection. Last year, he didn't have a plan when he stepped in the box. While he'll still wave at breaking balls, he has improved in working the count and using the whole field."
The highlight of Lofgren's season was going home to San Francisco for the Futures Game--he's from famed Serra High in nearby San Mateo--but the regular season held some struggles for him. His athletic ability, competitiveness and aptitude still make him one of the minors' more intriguing lefties, but he has work to do. Lofgren pitches off his average-to-plus fastball, running it up to 93-94 mph at times. His curveball, slider and changeup all flash above-average potential as well. He started throwing his changeup two years ago and it's now his best secondary pitch, allowing him to be more effective against righthanders (.739 OPS against) than lefties (.815 OPS). Lofgren didn't attack Double-A hitters like he needed to, getting into trouble by nibbling when he got ahead or by struggling to throw his secondary pitches for strikes early in counts. One scout said Lofgren needs to learn pitchability and expects his athletic ability to help him do that with another year in the minors.
Patton spent the first half of the season in Double-A and required just eight Triple-A starts before he was thrust into Houston's rotation in August. The Astros turned to him not because he had blown away PCL batters, but because he shows exceptional poise for a young pitcher. After three effective appearances in Houston, he was shut down with shoulder soreness, which cut short his two previous seasons as well. With command of three pitches and a strong pickoff move, Patton has the ingredients to be a solid No. 3 starter. He locates his 88-92 mph fastball to both sides of the plate and has confidence in his hard curveball. Patton has made the greatest strides with his changeup, which fades down and away from righthanders.
Just before Scherzer would have re-entered the 2006 draft, the Diamondbacks coughed up a four-year major league contract worth $4.3 million in guaranteed money to sign the 11th overall pick from 2005. Nicknamed "Max-a-million" by his teammates, he made three starts in high Class A before arriving in Mobile in late June. Scherzer's most attractive attribute is a sinking fastball that tops out near 95 mph. His mechanics need some work, as his release point is inconsistent and there's some effort to his delivery, but he does achieve good extension out front and his arm strength is obvious. Scherzer has a two-seamer he can run up to 90 mph, an 80-84 mph slider and a changeup, all of which have potential to be solid-average to plus offerings. But Scherzer's arsenal is inconsistent, and his overall command is below average. That leads some scouts to project he'll wind up in the bullpen, where he can focus on his fastball and slider. "It's an outstanding arm who needs polish and has some max effort to it, which impacts his ability to command the baseball," a fourth scout said. "The stuff is there, it's just a matter of if he can make that next step and command it."
Statia has the tools to play shortstop in the majors now. He's an athletic defender with above-average range to both sides, plus arm strength and good instincts. He's a savvy basestealer as well, swiping 29 bags in 37 tries despite just average speed. While his defense is big league-ready, his bat is nowhere close. Until he adds some strength to his lanky frame, he'll be vulnerable to good fastballs. He has little power, and while he makes consistent contact, he doesn't draw many walks.
Rodriguez doesn't offer one overwhelming tool, but his overall package and strong baseball instincts should make him an effective big leaguer. His offensive numbers dipped from 2006, when he led the minors with 291 total bases, but he was still selected as the league's all-star shortstop. Power is probably Rodriguez' best tool, as he shows the ability to drive the ball to all fields and could hit 20-25 homers per year in the majors. Some observers think he would be better served shortening his swing and being more of a doubles hitter, however. Though he has a good swing and balance at the plate, he led the league with 132 whiffs, in part because of poor strike-zone recognition. Rodriguez has been a shortstop so far in his career and shows good defensive actions, but his below-average speed and big frame, as well as organization depth, could push him to second base or the outfield. He'll probably end up as a utility player.
Fish finished in a three-way tie for the league lead with 77 strikeouts in 72 innings and fanned 13 in eight innings in his lone playoff outing. His funky delivery creates deception and confuses hitters, making his 88-93 mph fastball seem quicker than it really is. He has good secondary pitches, though he needs to be more consistent with his curveball, which rates as solid-average when he throws it for strikes. Fish still needs to improve his command and must keep his weight under control.
Welker had an up-and-down spring as a weekend starter for Arkansas after transferring from Seminole State (Okla.) JC, but the Pirates drafted him in the second round based on his arm strength and projectable 6-foot-7 frame. He had a strong pro debut before the Pirates shut him down because of elbow soreness. Welker pitches at 92-93 mph and touches 95-96 with his lively fastball, and he might throw even harder as he matures. He pitches off his fastball, working it in and out, and mixes in a slurvy breaking ball that has potential but needs some tightening. His changeup is usable but also needs some refinement. Welker has a strong, durable frame and pitches on a good downward plane. He could be a starter in the big leagues if he can polish his secondary offerings. "One thing that sticks out the most to me is his competitiveness and his presence," State College manager Turner Ward said. "To me, he's definitely a big leaguer. He's got the stamina, the body, just the package of a starting pitcher."
Canham's makeup and offensive prowess were a big part of Oregon State's back-to-back College World Series titles. The day he reported to Eugene, he introduced himself to manager Greg Riddoch and promptly asked to take the opposing hitters' chart home with him to prepare for the next night's game. Canham injured a testicle in mid-July and missed two weeks. After he returned to the lineup, his solid-average bat speed and raw power weren't as evident, but he's a confident hitter with a good approach from the left side of the plate. He has a tendency to drift during his swing, which creates some length. Canham's defensive skills are subpar, but he's a good athlete with plenty of agility and aptitude to work his way into becoming an adequate catcher. He has solid-average arm strength with a fair release that would be aided by better footwork, and he threw out 31 percent of basestealers in the NWL. He's an average runner.
The tallest pitcher in the GCL at 6-foot-10, Moviel also has stuff to back up his height advantage. He consistently threw 92-93 mph and touched 95 with his fastball. He draws comparisons to Yankees first-round pick Andrew Brackman because both are huge Ohio natives who committed to North Carolina State (Brackman played for the Wolfpack but Moviel turned pro). Though Brackman is three years older, Moviel may be more polished. Scouts raved about his ability to not only repeat his delivery, but his secondary pitches as well. He'll pitch inside with his fastball with no fear, and his 82-83 mph hammer curveball really keeps opposing hitters at bay. Moviel also has a workable changeup, though it lags behind his other two offerings. There are concerns about his long arm action, but he's athletic and fields his position well for a big man.
With Outman, it's all about control. He struggles at times to control his fastball, which explains why ranked among the minor league leaders with 77 walks in 159 innings. At times he struggles to control his emotions, which explains why he overthrows and is prone to big innings and bad outings. But there's also a lot to like about the lefty, who led the league with a 2.45 ERA and earned a promotion to Double-A. Outman's fastball sits at 92-94 mph and he pairs it with an 84-87 mph slider. He's working on a changeup that still has a ways to go. A good athlete, Outman has reworked his mechanics and developed a more conventional delivery since turning pro. He also has added some deception, as he now hides the ball much longer, and his fastball has picked up some life. One manager who saw him in low Class A in 2006 said has made significant strides since last year
A second-round pick in 2006, Perez made his full-season debut with the Avalanche. He was up an down for much of the season, but he showed two quality pitches throughout. His fastball has excellent late life and sits at 91-93 mph, while his 84-mph slider was his out pitch for much of the year. Perez' changeup improved as the season wore on, though he still doesn't have quite the arm action he needs to make it as effective as it could be. He repeats his delivery well, though some scouts expressed concern with the way he wraps his wrist in the back of his delivery
Carvajal had to repeat the league after a hand injury curtailed his season last year. He needed the experience because he had gotten just 75 at-bats since signing for $350,000 in late 2005 out of the Dominican Republic. He's still raw, particularly in terms of pitch recognition and plate discipline, but he also has some of the best bat speed in the Padres system and enough athletic ability to play well in a short trial in center field. According to AZL Padres manager Tony Muser, the former Royals skipper, Carvajal profiles best as a left fielder with good defense and enough power for the position. "He has a lot of upside because he can do a lot of things," Muser said. "He can run, he's got a plus arm, he's got raw power. A lot of times with young players like him, it can take longer getting on their feet, and he lost time, but now he's making progress."
If Van Mil makes it all the way up, he'll be the tallest pitcher in major league history at 7-foot-1. By the time he follows through, he's practically standing on home plate. His velocity is closer to Chris Young's than Randy Johnson's, however. Van Mil's fastball settles in around 91 mph and tops out at 95. His height gives him a downward plane that's tough on hitters. He's athletic and agile for his size. A product of the Netherlands, Van Mil lacks pitching instincts and profiles more as a reliever than as a starter. He's working on a slider that has some tilt, but he sometimes slows down his arm when he throws it. He also lacks control.Van Mil came down with elbow soreness, which sidelined him for three weeks in August.
Like Poveda, Whittleman was much improved and still young for the league in his second stint at Clinton. After batting .227/.313/.343 as a 19-year-old in 2006, he boosted those numbers to .271/.382/.476 before an August callup to high Class A. He also added a Futures Game homer off the Mets' Deolis Guerra. Whittleman had a quieter approach and better balance at the plate this season, and he didn't chase as many pitches. With his swing, strength and grasp of the strike zone, he has a chance to hit .280 with 15-20 homers annually in the majors. He doesn't profile as well at third base as Bell, but he has a better stroke and puts more effort into his defense. Playing third base is still a struggle for Whittleman, who has the arm strength but lacks sure hands and quick feet. He made 29 errors in 85 games, and his .880 percentage was worse than his 2006 mark of .891. He tailed off in July, batting just .154/.264/.179 as most observers thought he got frustrated because he wasn't promoted earlier.
Jones posted the second-highest slugging percentage (.507) in the Southern League and didn't miss a beat after earning a late-July promotion to Richmond, where he helped the Braves win the IL wild card. With a confident, quiet setup and a sweet lefty swing, he projects to be an above-average major league hitter. He makes adjustments and stays inside the ball well, taking what pitchers give him. Jones has 20-homer potential, which is about average for a corner outfielder, and he rarely turned on pitches in the IL, prompting some to question his assertiveness as a potential middle-of-the-order hitter. An average runner, he gets down the line well because of his clean swing mechanics. But with below-average hands and defensive instincts and a slow release on throws, he's a left fielder all the way.
Hanson went just 2-6 in 14 starts at Rome, but his record fails to tell the true story. He used solid command of four pitches along with a willingness to throw inside to post a 2.59 ERA and limit hitters to a .194 average. Six-foot-6 and 210 pounds, Hanson has impressive mound presence and delivers the ball on an intimidating downhill plane. His fastball sits in the low 90s and he commands it well. Add in the tight spin on his curveball and improving depth on his changeup, and he's on the fast track in the Braves system. "He has good arm strength and I really like his breaking ball," Asheville pitching coach Bryan Harvey said. "He has a real good idea out there on the mound."
Kendrick never had pitched above Class A prior to 2007, but he entered the postseason as the Phillies' Game Two starter, and his 3.87 ERA ranked second among their starters. He got started down that path in the EL, as he harnessed his command and stopped trying to pitch up in the strike zone with his fastball and down with his slider. The athletic Kendrick repeats his delivery, pumps his two-seam sinker to the bottom of the zone and spots his harder, low-90s four-seamer down and away. He also has a hard slider that's more of a groundball pitch than a strikeout offering. His changeup plays up because he locates it well. "He realized strikeouts are over-rated," Reading manager P.J. Forbes said. "He's pitching at the knees and when he misses, he misses down. He made hitters hit his pitch, because his command was that good. To give up just three home runs, playing in our ballpark, that's all about executing your pitches, and he did."
One of the few Mariners prospects who has been allowed to develop more or less at his own pace, Balentien showed improvement across the board in his first taste of Triple-A. Most strikingly, he slashed his strikeout rate from one every 3.2 at-bats in 2006 to one every 4.5 for Tacoma. Though Balentien still will wildly chase pitches out of the zone, he did show increased selectivity in the first half, especially with regard to breaking balls off the plate. He has immense raw power to all fields and hit his first big league homer in September off Fausto Carmona. Balentien also has average speed and good baserunning instincts. He's an average defender with a plus arm in right field. He frequently has come under scrutiny for his lackadaisical play and though he still has lapses, he showed more focus and maturity in 2007.
After a dominant season in 2006, Meloan spent the first half of 2007 as Jacksonville's closer before climbing to Triple-A and the majors. Managers rated him the league's best reliever and he has the makings of a valuable late-inning man in the big leagues. Meloan has two speeds--hard and harder--and a tenacious attitude. He works primarily off an 89-94 mph fastball and a mid-80s slider that has touched 89. He also has feel for a curveball and changeup, but his slider and above-average command are his ticket. Meloan attacks both sides of the plate and pitches ahead in the count. His delivery is rigid and lacks fluidity, but he has shown resilience since arm soreness arose shortly after he was drafted in 2005.
If Young reaches the majors, his speed will be what gets him there. After leading the minors with 87 steals in 2006, he ranked second this year with 73. He became more efficient swiping bases, succeeding on 80 percent of his attempts, up from 74 percent a year ago. "He's a legitimate big league basestealer," Subero said. "He could go up on speed alone." Young uses his speed to get on base via bunts, though he still needs to improve his strike-zone judgment to be a tablesetter at the top of the order. He upgraded his total package by improving his defense at second base, showing better range and footwork.
Duran was an afterthought in the Texas system coming into 2007, but he stung the ball all season and ranked among the TL leaders in most offensive categories. He also represented the Rangers on the World team in the Futures Game. Scouts and managers see Duran as an offensive second baseman whose overall approach to hitting isn't as polished as Antonelli's, but he offers more power. Duran isn't big but has a strong body and a quick bat, with the ability to put a charge in the ball. Most managers regarded Duran as a solid second baseman. He's good around the bag and should be able to make the routine plays, with average range and an average arm. His speed is fringe-average.
Ambriz had shoulder surgery in 2004, then returned to star as a two-way player for UCLA the last two seasons. The Diamondbacks drafted him solely as a pitcher, and in his first pro summer he excelled as a swingman and earned the save in the clinching game of the Pioneer League playoffs. Arizona wants Ambriz to pitch off his fastball, and when he worked in shorter outings than he did as a college starter, his heater sat at 91-93 mph and touched 95. He also did a better job of keeping the ball down in the strike zone than he did at UCLA, with his mid-80s splitter resulting in a lot of groundballs. Ambriz also tightened his curveball. His curve and his changeup are still inconsistent, and he'll need to further develop them to succeed when he becomes a full-time starter next season.
While he's a college pitcher, Wagner isn't the average college product. A former North Dakota State player, he saw his draft stock fall in 2005 due to a left kneecap injury that altered his mechanics and sapped his velocity. Healthy again, he and Aberdeen's Luis Lebron were the NY-P's dominant relievers. Wagner had the league's best fastball, sitting at 95-97 mph in just about every outing. He was content to blow fastballs by hitters, and his above-average control of the pitch means he can throw it for strikes to all four quadrants of the strike zone. However, Wagner lacks a second pitch. He has tried both a curveball and a slider, showing little feel for spinning a breaking ball. He had more success late in the summer when he started throwing a splitter, but he lacked confidence in the pitch. It looked better in the bullpen than in games.
Cowart took the NWL by storm in his pro debut after the Giants drafted him in the 35th round as a Kansas State senior. He didn't allow an earned run in his first four starts and 21 innings, then reeled off an even longer stretch of five starts and 28 innings without yielding an earned run. On his way to winning NWL pitcher of the year honors, Cowart won his first 10 professional decisions before losing in his final regular-season outing. Cowart, who led the league with 10 wins and a 1.08 ERA, has impeccable control of underwhelming stuff, walking just eight batters in 83 innings. He also does a great job keeping the ball on the ground. The key to his success was the deception he creates with his funky submarine arm angle. He also has a very advanced feel for pitching, working both halves of the plate and leaving nothing above the knees. He has plenty of poise on the mound and fields his position well. But Cowart works in the 80-83 mph range with his fastball, topping out at 85, and he lacks a plus pitch. He also uses a slurvy breaking ball and a changeup. Cowart's future is in the bullpen, and his best-case scenario is that he can become a right-on-right specialist in the big leagues. Scouts are skeptical he'll be able to get hitters out at higher levels.
A star tailback who rushed for 2,183 yards as an Illinois high school senior and could have played college football, Benson committed to baseball after the Twins made him a second-round pick in June. He offered one of the better combinations of power and speed in the GCL. He also has the range and enough arm to play center field. Besides his physical tools, Benson has a knack for making adjustments and playing with a football mentality. He can get too aggressive at times and will have to tone down his approach at the plate and on the bases. He had the mental toughness to handle a jump to low Class A after injuries riddled the Twins' Beloit affiliate.
A guy who hit .224 in a return trip to low Class A doesn't seem like a prime candidate for the FSL Top 20. But Golson improved after a promotion to Clearwater and his ceiling remains high, even if he remains raw. "He's got all the tools," Legg said. Golson is a standout center fielder with plus range and arm strength, though his routes to the ball could use improvement. He's a plus-plus runner who's still learning how to pick his spots to steal. And he shows above-average power potential at the plate. Golson's only problem is a big one. He has yet to show the ability to make consistent contact, as evidenced by his .233 batting average and 160 strikeouts between two Class A stops this year. He doesn't recognize pitches well and he pulls off the ball too much. But he also has quick hands and a quick bat, which lead some to believe he'll figure it out. "He's young," Warner said. "He'll chase here and there, but if you make a mistake, it's a different sound coming off of his bat."
A revelation offensive and defensively in his 2005 pro debut, Lowrie suffered a high ankle sprain in May, missed a month and didn't find any rhythm at the plate until August. When he finally go healthy, he hit .325 with two of his three homers in the final month. While there are questions about Lowrie remaining at short because he lacks range and eye-popping arm strength, several scouts compared him to Jeff Blauser and Kevin Elster and gave him a chance to stay there. "He's kind of like David Eckstein with a lot better tools," an AL scout said. "You sit there and say to yourself, 'That guy's an everyday shortstop.' He makes the plays, nothing necessarily real flashy, but he's going to get it done."
The Padres won the league in part because of the ability of Durango and Hunter to get on base and the knack Carrasco and league RBI champ Ranyor Contreras had for driving them in. San Diego officials rave about Carrasco's raw power, though some managers questioned his defense and listed age of 19, preferring Contreras. A year younger and more physical, Carrasco earns the nod here for two big power tools. Besides his pop, he also has a plus throwing arm, as well as the range and hands to become an average defensive third baseman. "He's a legitimate switch-hitter, and when he got into one, it went a long way," one manager said. "He needs to improve his pitch recognition and he's pretty mature physically, but he has outstanding power."
Though Severino was repeating the league and is significantly older than the other pitchers on this list, his stuff stood out. He had arguably the best fastball in the league, a 92-93 mph heater that explodes on hitters and enabled him to lead the league with 90 strikeouts in 68 innings. Three times he struck out 10 or more batters in a start. At 5-foot-11 and 150 pounds, Severino doesn't resemble a power pitcher, but he attacks hitters and his stuff certainly plays that way. His quick arm action also makes his slider tough to hit, though the pitch is a work in progress. Severino has average command of a changeup he throws to keep hitters from sitting on his fastball. His inconsistent mechanics sometimes lead to lapses in control.
The league MVP, Baisley did it all. He led the MWL in runs (86) and RBIs (110, the second-highest total in the minors) and also was the circuit's best defensive third baseman. Baisley is a very good situational hitter who doesn't try to do too much. He has a balanced stance, sound swing and pitch-recognition skills, enabling him to drive balls from gap to gap. He moves better than most 6-foot-3, 210-pounders, showing range to both sides, and has a solid arm. The biggest knock against him was his age: 23, ancient for low Class A. The Athletics are also high on fellow third baseman Myron Leslie (Baisley's former South Florida teammate), who was ensconced in high Class A, so they left Baisley at Kane County. "It's an absolute crime that kid played there for the entire season," a second AL scout said.
Denorfia continued to do what he's always done--hit for average, get on base and play good defense--as he spent the season shuttling between the majors and the minors. He saw more time with the Reds after the mid-July trade of Austin Kearns, but Denorfia didn't hit enough to avoid a demotion. His future is probably as a fourth outfielder. Denorfia is a manager's delight because he's an overachiever who plays with passion. He has no one exceptional tool, but he's a disciplined, line-drive hitter who can take the ball up the middle or to the opposite field. He's probably no more than a 15-home run hitter in the majors. "He puts the ball in play and he's a good two-strike hitter," Cliburn said. "We played one series where we couldn't get him out. We'd pitch him away and he'd go the other way. Pitch him in and he'd drive it into the gap." Denorfia has average range in center field and enough arm to play in right. Above-average speed may be Denorfia's strongest tool, and he succeeded in 15 of 16 steal attempts.
Outman doesn't have the feel for pitching that his teammate Maloney does, but he throws significantly harder. He also put together one of the most dominant months any minor league pitcher had this year when he went 5-0, 0.28 in August. He won 13 of his final 15 decisions. A wiry 6-foot-1 and 180 pounds, Outman often catches hitters off guard with his 90-94 mph fastball. His 80-84 mph slider also has the potential to be a plus pitch. He throws a curveball as well, but the consensus is that he'd be better off scrapping it and sticking solely with his slider. The key to Outman's future will be his changeup, which is still fringy. If it doesn't improve, his fastball-slider combo alone should make him an effective reliever.
Olson climbed to Double-A in his first full pro season and displayed durability, consistency and solid-average stuff. If he improves his command and changeup, he could become a No. 3 or 4 starter. His fastball sits near 90 mph, and Olson has crafted a two-seamer that's slower but helps his cause against righthanders. His well above-average curveball is sharp with late, hard break and tight rotation. It's especially tough on lefties. He mixes his pitches well and moves them around, but he works deep in the count too often and tries to be too fine. His curve alone guarantees that he should become at least a dependable left-on-left reliever.
Guzman has yet to duplicate his breakout 2004 season, and the Dodgers finally decided to use him in a deadline deal for Julio Lugo in July. His days as a shortstop have come to an end, and is future now appears to be in the outfield or first base, with third base also a possibility. Guzman still stands out from a physical standpoint, as he's a 6-foot-6, 250-pounder loaded with athleticism. He still needs to tighten his strike zone and add more defensive polish at his new positions, but he has tape-measure power, above-average arm strength and solid speed. "I like his size and power potential," DeFrancesco said. "The length of his swing has to be shortened, though, in order to survive in the big leagues. I see him as a first baseman. He'd be a nice big target over there with above-average athleticism for the position."
Broadway started his season as strong as anyone in league, going 3-1, 1.74 in April. But then his delivery fell out of whack for two months, and hitters feasted on fastballs left up in the strike zone. He eventually fixed his mechanics and got back on track. The best pitch in Broadway's arsenal is a plus-plus spike curveball, which he commands to any part of the plate and will throw in any count. His average 89-90 mph fastball lacks consistent life and flattens out late in games. He seldom used a changeup in college and needs to increase arm speed to make it an effective third pitch. "He's polished and he's a fast-track guy," a NL scout said. "Whether he's fast-tracked as a pen guy or a starter depends on that changeup. It shows flashes, but sometimes it's very easy for hitters to pick up what's coming."
A former high school valedictorian, Headley stands out most for his headsy approach to the game. Multiple managers commented on how much they enjoyed talking to him while they coached third base and he played the field. Headley does everything fairly well but nothing exceptionally well. His biggest asset is his plate discipline and pitch recognition. A switch-hitter, he's much more effective as a lefty, though his swing is tailored more to hit line drives than home runs from both sides. Power is the biggest question mark, because he lacks physical projection and scouts doubt he'll have enough pop for third base. He's a solid defender at the hot corner, with soft hands, a fairly strong, very accurate arm and adequate range. He does a good job charging bunts and makes all the routine plays. One scout compared Headley to Greg Norton, and he could end up as a solid player off the bench.
Balentien drew comparisons to Manny Ramirez from league managers, both for his hitting potential and for his sometimes mystifying on-field behavior. Some managers called him a hot dog. He's one of the most intriguing power hitters in the minors--and represented the Mariners in the Futures Game in July--but his performance this season didn't match his potential. He has all the tools to be a middle-of-the-lineup force, including light-tower power. "My God, he can hit the ball a long way," Clark said. He has strength in his body and in his swing, with power from gap to gap, but his swing is big and he has not shown an ability to cut it down based on the count. He also struggled with breaking stuff, though he did show a willingness to hit the ball the other way this year. Balentien has a strong arm and runs well, though he's not a burner, and he played both right and center field for San Antonio. His long-term fit is in right, though. His attention sometimes wavered, and he led TL outfielders with 11 errors.
A preseason appendectomy nearly derailed Hynick's junior season at Birmingham-Southern, but he rebounded to post a 2.59 ERA this spring. The Rockies pounced on him in the eighth round, confident they could help crispen his secondary stuff behind his 90-93 mph fastball. He quickly bought into instruction and went on to capture the league's pitcher of the year award. Hynick has an unorthodox arm action, but it works for him and hasn't hampered his ability to fill the strike zone. He made a lot of progress with a splitter that one coach said was the league's best pitch. He still has more work to do with his curveball and changeup.
Pino was the best young Latin middle infielder in the league, though Aberdeen's Pedro Florimon received notice for his outstanding shortstop defense. Pino has more offensive upside and polish than Florimon, and his athletic ability stood out in a league dominated by college players. Pino ranked third in the league batting race, relying on a quick bat, contact-oriented approach and excellent hand-eye coordination. He fits best as a No. 2 hitter, though he needs to improve his bunting as well as his willingness to draw walks. He's an above-average runner and was caught just twice in 20 attempts. Pino's arm strength limits him to second base, but he has enough to be efficient at turning the double play.
A native of Montana, where there's no high school baseball, the 6-foot-9 Mickolio played only basketball until the summer before his senior year of high school, when he began playing American Legion ball. He showed enough promise in his first year at Eastern Utah JC in 2003 that the Cardinals drafted him in the 35th round, and he made even more progress after transferring to Utah Valley State. With his enormous size, Mickolio was an imposing bullpen arm for Everett this summer. His height allows him to pitch on a downward angle and induce plenty of groundballs, as evidenced by his 49-18 ground-fly ratio. He works in the low 90s with a heavy fastball that has plenty of life and touches 94 mph. Mickolio also flashes a decent slider now and then, though he still has plenty of work to do on it and his changeup. His slider lacks tight rotation and doesn't miss many bats, and he needs to do a better job commanding his stuff within the strike zone. But considering how far Mickolio has come in his short pitching career, it's not a huge stretch to project him as a major league reliever.
Another piece of the Abreu trade, Monasterios remained in the GCL with Sanchez, with both players moving across town from Tampa to Clearwater. As with most young pitchers, his best pitch is his fastball. He usually throws in the low 90s but was clocked as high as 96 mph. Monasterios pounds the strike zone and walked just six batters in 45 innings. He flashes a plus breaking ball, but it flattens out when he gets around the pitch in his delivery. He has shown some feel for a changeup, though it remains a distant third option for now.
Patterson never has wowed scouts, even when he was winning the Cape Cod League batting title or hitting 50 homers during his college career at Louisiana State. But he continues to hit, and he impressed FSL managers with his heady approach at the plate. He led the league with a .520 slugging percentage after topping the short-season New York-Penn League with a .595 mark in his pro debut a year ago. Patterson has quick hands and power to all fields. He hits breaking balls well, but there's some concern that he still has too much of an aluminum-bat swing, with his weight too far forward at contact, leaving him vulnerable to being busted inside. Though he has average speed and an average arm, Patterson was able to handle center field with few problems. He still profiles better on a corner, however.
Before he moved up to Double-A and made way for Lillibridge, Bixler was one of the most exciting players in the league. As with Lillibridge, speed is Bixler's best tool, though he's not quite as fast. A spray hitter with gap power, Bixler learned to work counts more effectively this season. He's surehanded, but his range and arm are average at best and may be better suited for second base. "His bat is really going to have to carry him because he's not going to be a shortstop in the big leagues," a NL scout said. "He has some instincts there, but not enough to get to balls he should get to. He's Tony Graffanino for me."
After signing for $150,000, Madrigal spent his first five seasons in pro ball as an outfielder. However, his above-average raw power didn't translate to games well enough because of his inability to recognize breaking balls. After getting off to a tough start in his third straight assignment to low Class A Cedar Rapids, Madrigal assented when the Angels asked him to move to the mound in late May. As a pitcher, Madrigal showed the same raw arm strength he had as an outfielder. His fastball touched 98 mph and he regularly sat at 94 mph when he maintained his mechanics. His slider also showed signs of being a reliable second pitch. Still just 22, he could move quickly if he continues to show aptitude in his new role. "What impressed me was the poise he showed for being new to pitching," Angels manager Ever Magallanes said. "He had pretty good mound presence for his level of experience."
After finishing second in the Missouri Valley Conference batting race with a .382 average, Ashley figured to tear up the Appy League--and he did by hitting .333 and leading the league with a .440 on-base percentage. The oldest player on this list, he made quick transition to wood bats and made hard contact to all fields. He's physically mature but still may have room for growth in the power department. While he is highly athletic for a catcher, Ashley still needs work behind the plate. In instructional league, the Devil Rays plan to address his mechanical flaws in terms of his setup, receiving and blocking. He does have good hands, shows a plus arm at times and threw out 52 percent of basestealers in his pro debut.
While Kelly is steady, Ciriaco is spectacular but also erratic. Though he had one of the MWL's strongest infield arms and was one of its fastest players, he stole just 19 bases in 27 attempts and led the minors with 45 errors. "He has God-given talent," Joyce said. "He might have the best arm strength in the league. It's right there with (2004 No. 1 overall pick) Matt Bush, and he's more accurate and gets to more balls than Bush." Still learning to apply that talent, Ciriaco plays out of control at the plate and in the field. He chases pitches out of the strike zone, gets his feet tangled up on defense and commits mental as well as physical mistakes. But he has the hand-eye coordination to hit, and the physical skills to excel in all aspects of the game if he slows himself down.
Haeger topped the IL with 14 wins and finished among the league leaders in nearly every category: 3.07 ERA (fourth), 170 innings (fourth), 130 strikeouts (fourth) and 78 walks (second). With uncanny command of a knuckleball for such a young pitcher, Haeger projects as an innings-eating No. 5 starter. Though Haeger still walked a lot of batters, he has improved the command of his lively knuckler to the point where he can go to either corner with the pitch. He can change speeds on the knuckler--ranging from 65-75 mph--depending on the effect it's having on batters. Some IL batters thought his knuckleball was the best they'd ever seen, and he reminded one scout of Tom Candiotti for the action he got on the pitch. When he falls behind, Haeger can go to a straight 84-86 mph fastball, a pitch that's easier to locate. It's strictly a get-me-over offering, which is problematic on days when his knuckler doesn't cooperate.
Until Will Inman qualified for the ERA title in his last start of the season, Matt Maloney was in line to capture the SAL pitching triple crown. He settled for leading the league in victories (16), innings (169) and strikeouts (180) while winning the league's pitch-of-the-year award. He's a classic soft-tossing lefty who relies on command and guile. His fastball sits at 85-87 mph and he compliments it with a slider, changeup and curveball. He locates all of his pitches well and his fastball the best, making it his go-to offering. With his advanced feel, he should move fast, but his lack of velocity will give him far less room for error as he advances. The 6-foot-4 Maloney has a tendency to stay upright in the finish to his delivery, causing him to leave the ball up in the zone, which could be a problem at higher levels.
Things really fell apart for Liz shortly after he was called up from high Class A in July. He overpowered hitters in the Carolina League but his below-average command doomed him in the EL. He left his stuff over the plate and fell behind in the count too often. Liz has a lightning-fast arm that generates 97-mph heat, but he struggles to repeat his delivery and release point. His curveball is inconsistent, as is his changeup. At times, both show the potential to be plus pitches. His upside is significant, and 2006 was just his second season in America, so with time Liz could develop into a starter in the mold of Orioles righty Daniel Cabrera. At worst, he moves to the bullpen and could become a closer.
Volquez entered the season rated as the Rangers' No. 1 prospect, based on his mid-90s fastball and well above-average changeup. He used those pitches to finish fourth in the PCL in strikeouts (130 in 121 innings) and fifth in ERA (3.21) while limiting Triple-A hitters to a .203 average. "His arm strength is outstanding," Sacramento manager Tony DeFrancesco said. "He was 94, 95 with his fastball against us. His slider was hard and he had a decent changeup. He just needs command. Right now, it's not there." Volquez, who ranked third in the PCL with 72 walks, had even more trouble locating his stuff in the majors. He has a 1-10, 9.20 record with Texas--the worst ERA in major league history for a pitcher who has made 10 starts. With the Rangers, he consistently has fallen behind hitters, gotten crushed when he has found the plate and failed to show a reliable breaking ball.
Sonnanstine's stuff isn't as good as Niemann's or Talbot's, but unlike them, he played a role in Montgomery's success all season long. He reeled off nine straight victories in June and July, and he led the minors with four complete games--all shutouts. Durable and resilient, he topped the SL in wins (15) and innings (186, which ranked second in the minors). Sonnanstine's plus-plus control and plus command are more notable than the quality of his pitches. His best offering is his changeup, as he worked hard with Biscuits pitching coach Xavier Hernandez to perfect his grip and arm action. He also throws an 89-92 mph fastball and a slurvy breaking ball, keeping hitters off balance by varying his arm angle and changing speeds. "This guy might be too smart for the game," an AL scout said. "He's confident, mixes his pitches well and always seems to have a plan."
Ramos wore down in his 2005 pro debut after pitching 126 innings at Long Beach State that spring, but he entered this season refreshed and it showed. He went 7-4, 2.93 over the season's first four months before fatigue set in once again, and he went 0-4, 8.27 in August. When he's at his best like he was in the first half, Ramos has very good command of a four-pitch mix. He has a solid-average fastball that sits at 88-91 mph and jumps up to 92-93 when he needs it, and he uses an average curveball and average slider. His best pitch is a plus changeup that's effective against righthanders. Ramos doesn't rack up many strikeouts, but works to all corners of the zone to keep hitters off balance. He left too many pitches up late in the season when his arm was tired. He has an easy, compact delivery and a physical 6-foot-2, 200-pound frame that should prove more durable as he gets acclimated to a pro workload.
You're excused if you had never heard of Evans before this year. No one else had, either. He spent 3½ seasons in obscurity in the Cardinals organization, and he returned to high Class A for the third time to open 2006. He hit 15 home runs in 60 games there to earn a promotion to Springfield, and then he was traded to the Angels in the July for Jeff Weaver, which kept him in the Texas League at Arkansas. He finished the season with a combined 33 home runs, 37 stolen bases and a .942 on-base plus slugging percentage. Evans always had been regarded as a hard worker with an intriguing combination of power and speed. This season he developed a more relaxed, consistent approach at the plate that kept him from getting himself out by chasing pitches and going into prolonged slumps. Evans played exclusively in right field while in Springfield, but he played mostly in center for Arkansas. While he has the speed to play center on occasion, his strong arm and power profile perfectly in right.
Chapman spent his third straight season in Rookie ball, but he showed enough this year to earn a late-season promotion to low Class A. PL observers liked his lefthanded bat, as he has good pitch recognition and uses the entire field. He should have at least doubles power as he advances, and he adjusted well after early-season struggles against southpaws. He's just an average runner, but has good instincts and can steal a base. He plays too shallow in center field, as balls get over his head and he doesn't always have enough speed to track them down.
The proverbial crafy lefty, Salamida's success was too much for league observers to ignore. After dropping his first start despite not giving up any earned runs, he won his final 10 decisions in the regular season before losing to Kontos in the league championship game. Salamida led the NY-P in wins (10) and ERA (1.06). A two-way player at Division II SUNY Oneonta, Salamida has average size, average stuff and well above-average control, as well as a knack for pitching and moxie. His fastball sat in the upper 80s and touched 90, and he threw his changeup (his best secondary pitch) and slider for strikes with maddening regularity. He's the kind of pitcher who will have to prove himself at every level, but so far, so good. "Most guys in the league were one-pitch guys," Greer said. "This was a four-pitch guy who could throw breaking balls for strikes in fastball counts, then freeze a hitter with an 0-2 fastball. He was impressive."
A year after being drafted in the fifth round out of high school and spending a summer in the Arizona League, Deal handled the jump to the Northwest League well and emerged as Vancouver's top starter. He struck out just 35 in 76 innings of work, but he doesn't ever figure to be a strikeout pitcher. He's a sinkerballer who posted a 106-80 ground-fly ratio and allowed just three homers in 76 innings. Deal has a tall, skinny frame with plenty of room to fill out, so he could increase the velocity on his 87-89 mph fastball that touches 91-92. It's a heavy pitch with good sink and life, and he commands it well most of the time. "He's very aggressive and he comes right at you," Gainer said. "Everyone knew he had that sinker and it didn't matter. He just got ground ball after ground ball." Deal also has a slider and changeup that can be average at times. He has cleaned up his arm action quite a bit since high school, and he now does a good job of repeating his fluid, easy delivery.
The Yankees used McAllister in a relief role piggybacking with Betances, and they were a tough duo to beat. The son of Diamondbacks crosschecker Steve McAllister, Zach pitches with the savvy of someone who grew up around the game. McAllister has added six inches and 60 pounds over the last two years, and he saw his heavy sinker climb to 90-92 this spring before gaining another tick of velocity during the summer. His secondary stuff is fringy, though he has shown feel for a slider that could be a plus pitch if learns to control it more effectively. Like Betances, McAllister pitched better as the summer went on. "He has a good, sinking fastball. It's a power sinker. It's his No. 1 pitch," Martin said. "He got lots of ground balls, and I could see him throwing harder as he matures."
In a league dominated by pitching, Casilla was one of the few middle infielders who stood out. Acquired from the Angels in the offseason for J.C. Romero, Casilla started the season in Fort Myers and finished it in Minnesota. At the plate, Casilla takes advantage of his plus-plus speed by employing a running, slashing swing. He profiles as a leadoff hitter. He controls the strike zone and makes pitchers work, and once he reaches base, he's always a threat to steal. He has a knack for getting good jumps and reading pitchers. His weakness at the plate is his utter lack of power. Casilla played both second base and shortstop with the Miracle, and he's more polished at short right now. He has above-average range and arm strength. He's still figuring out his footwork and double-play pivot at second base. "He's very intelligent," Boles said. "You tell him to do something one time, he puts it into the game that night. He makes adjustments very quickly."
Part of the talented Salem rotation, Reineke earned the win in the California-Carolina League all-star game. He has an intimidating presence on the mound, using his 6-foot-6 frame to unleash 93-94 mph fastballs on an extreme downward plane. He also throws a plus slider, with late sweeping life Reineke was more free and easy in his delivery this season, showing better overall balance and staying on a direct line toward home plate. He still lacks much feel for his changeup, part of the reason he was moved to the bullpen following a promotion to Double-A. It has good diving action at times but he has yet to find a comfortable grip or consistency with it.
Peguero teamed with Avila to give the Mariners a 1-2 punch unrivaled in the league. They tied with teammate Wellington Dotel for the home run lead with seven, and Peguero's .649 slugging percentage easily topped the AZL. He didn't fare as well after a promotion to short-season Everett, however, where his inexperience with breaking balls and somewhat long swing were exposed. Peguero has a big, projectable frame at 6-foot-5, 210 pounds and moves well for a big man, though he figures to slow down as he fills out. He showed more ability and willingness to use the whole field than Avila did, but he doesn't have quite as much raw power. Peguero's outfield arm is another plus tool.
The fact that Chavez, at age 17 and in his first year as a pro, bypassed the VSL for Pulaski suggests how highly the Blue Jays regard him. While he held his own in the Appalachian League, he's all projection at this point. Chavez has done well to adapt to a new culture and will continue to gain strength, though he is already physical at 6-foot-3 and 200 lbs. His swing has come a long way in a year, but he's still prone to chasing pitches out of the zone and is too pull-conscious. He'll be a corner outfielder because he doesn't have the instincts or range for center field, though he has average speed and arm strength.
Kelly succeeded 2004 first-round pick Trevor Plouffe as Beloit's shortstop, and MWL observers liked Kelly more. A 2005 second-rounder, Kelly has better physical tools and is a superior hitter. He kept getting better as the year wore on until a torn meniscus in his left knee ended his season in late July. Kelly is more advanced than most teenage hitters. He has a solid approach, recognizes breaking balls, uses the whole field and has a plan with two strikes. He didn't show much power this summer but will have some pop once he adds some strength and experience. He'll hit enough to be a regular, though at what position is uncertain. Kelly has fringe-average speed, which cuts down on his range, but his positioning and cannon arm--he was clocked at 94-95 mph as a high school pitcher--allow him to make plays. "I always judge a shortstop by if he has to use his arm or not," Beloit manager Jeff Smith said. "His glove is so good and he's always in position, so he never has to use it. And he has one of the best arms in the league, too."
Pedroia is the classic example of a player who plays above his tools. Opposing mangers described him as a pesky hitter and a tough out, but had reservations about his lack of power and range. Pedroia got results in Triple-A, though, batting .305 (fifth in the IL) with 30 doubles and nearly twice as many walks (48) as strikeouts (27). Pedroia makes up for below-average speed and raw power by maximizing his selectivity as a hitter and by using the whole field. He showed an aptitude for taking the breaking ball the other way, and he has the hand-eye coordination to make consistent contact while using a big swing. "Pitchers will always challenge Pedroia, and he will prove them wrong," a scout said. "He will put the ball in play. He'll use the first-base and third-base line. He's a kid you love to have on your club." Pedroia was a shortstop at Arizona State and spent the majority of his time there for Pawtucket, but he doesn't have the range to be a regular there in the majors. He spent a lot of time at second base, and his sure hands and strong arm play better at the keystone.
The fourth Greensboro starter on this list, Thompson ranks just behind Volstad in terms of polish but his stuff has the least upside among the group. Like Volstad, Thompson has above-average command of three pitches. His fastball sits consistently at 88 mph with natural tailing action, and he'll occasionally crack 90. His 80-81 mph slider is his best secondary offering. He also has a change with a late downward break that he uses as an out pitch against righthanders, and he'll flash a slow curveball to set up his slider. Because of his lack of velocity, command will continue to be paramount for Thompson. His fastball was clocked as high as 92 mph in high school, so there's also the chance he could get back to that point.
Part of the Jim Thome trade with the White Sox, Gonzalez had a productive first full season in the Phillies system. He showed durability by logging a career-high 155 innings as a 20-year-old and finished second in the league with 166 strikeouts. Gonzalez has a repeatable delivery and quick arm, but he's just 5-foot-11, which hinders to create good plane on his fastball. It sits at 87-91 mph and touches 93, but it lacks life and gets pounded when he leaves it up in the zone. He surrendered 24 home runs, tied for the most in the EL. Gonzalez possesses a well above-average downer curveball that remains his go-to offering. His changeup is a reliable third pitch. Without a plus fastball and fringy command--he led the league with 81 walks--he might move to the bullpen in the big leagues.
Easily the best catcher ever developed by the Rockies, Iannetta continued to shine at the plate following a promotion to Colorado Springs in late June. He controls the strike zone very well, waiting out pitchers until they give him a pitch he can hammer. He calls a good game and has an average arm, and while throwing out basestealers has been an issue at times, he erased 31 percent in Triple-A. "He really gives you quality at-bats for a catcher," Runnells said. "In fact, he led our organization in quality at-bats. Defensively, he's a sponge for knowledge and he tries so hard to improve. He's a humble kid and a guy who is going to be a frontline catcher for years to come."
Signed as a third baseman out of the Dominican Republic for $600,000 in 1998, Salas was converted to the mound midway through 2004 after hitting .264/.296/.361 over six seasons. He hasn't looked back, putting up ridiculous numbers in the SL this season and adding a Futures Game appearance to his resume. He didn't allow an earned run in 35 innings with the Biscuits and reached the majors in September. Salas has equally ridiculous stuff, starting with a fastball that sits at 93-96 mph, topping out at 98. While the velocity is plus-plus, so is the movement. One scout described his heater as "the best 95-mph slider I've ever seen," as it has sharp, cutting action away from righthanders. Salas also throws an actual 86-87 mph slider that has more pronounced depth and life, and it can be equally as devastating. As good as those two pitches are, he's still learning how to attack hitters. His mechanics dissolve at times, as he flies open with his front shoulder and his arm gets too far away from his body.
Deduno continued to be an enigma, finishing second in the Cal League to teammate Morales with 167 strikeouts, but also leading the minors with 34 wild pitches and finishing fourth in the minors with 92 walks. Clearly, command is his bugaboo, but when he's on, he's nasty. His best pitch is a sometimes plus-plus power curveball, and he also showed an above-average 92-94 mph fastball with so much movement that his catchers would sometimes struggle to catch it cleanly. "That breaking ball is devastating, but I don't know what to think of this guy," a National League scout said. "The breaking ball is unhittable when he commands it, but after two or three innings, he couldn't find the release point. He was lights out for three innings both times I saw him, then was an absolute thrower." Right now, Deduno is essentially a two-pitch guy who profiles as a potential dominant reliver if he can harness his stuff. He has a little feel for his changeup, but it has a long way to go if he's to remain a starter.
McBeth continued one of the most intriguing turnaround stories in the minors this season, reaching Triple-A in his first full season as a pitcher. Drafted by the Athletics as an outfielder in 2001, he turned to pitching in 2005 after a career .233 average kept him from getting out of Class A. On the mound, he has shown not only the stuff but also the makeup to be a successful reliever. He throws a fastball that tops out at 94-96 mph, and he backs it up with a slider that's particularly tough on righthanders. A's pitching instructor Ron Romanick also taught him a changeup that has become a put-away pitch because he does such a good job of maintaining his arm speed. He has also worked on a two-seam fastball that could become an out pitch if he can learn to control it. McBeth challenges hitters. He needs to refine his command, but he should be no worse than a setup man and has the raw stuff to close games if he continues to make strides.
The Rockies grew tired of Strop's struggles with the bat, and after he hit .212/.277/.299 in four seasons as an infielder, they decided a career change was in order. They moved him to the mound this year, and he immediately took to pitching. He dominated the Pioneer League in 11 appearances and continued to impress after a promotion to low Class A. As with many converted position players, arm strength is Strop's forte. He threw 93-95 mph in spring training and has good control of his fastball, though he leans too heavily on the pitch. He also has a low-80s slider but must stay on top of it more often so it doesn't flatten out, making him vulnerable to home runs. "I'd try to start him next year to add some pitchability to his plus stuff," Kotchman said. "If not, you know you have a solid reliever."
Hilligoss' track record says he'll hit. He batted .404 and .386 in his final two seasons at Purdue, .309 with wood bats in the Central Illinois Collegiate League in 2005, and .292 in his pro debut to finish 10th in the NY-P batting race. One scout who saw Hilligoss as an amateur compared his swing, offensive potential and overall game to Frank Catalanotto. As with Catalanotto, Hilligoss' forté is getting the barrel of the bat to the ball consistently, driving balls to the gaps and driving pitchers crazy with an advanced two-strike approach. He also hangs in well against lefthanders and hit .397 against them this summer. The Catalanotto comparisons extend to Hilligoss' defense as well. Though he profiles best as an infielder, he doesn't have the hands or range to stick in the middle of the diamond. He's a better fit at third base, but he doesn't project to hit for the power wanted there or on an outfield corner. Hilligoss will have to hit for a high average to be a factor--and he has done that at every level so far.
Bailey's workload at Wagner this spring was limited as he recovered from May 2005 Tommy John surgery, but the Athletics saw enough power stuff to draft him in the sixth round. He was very impressive in his pro debut despite his 2-5 record, and he would have ranked second in the NWL in ERA if he hadn't fallen three innings shy of qualifying. With a big, physical frame that invites comparisons to Joe Blanton, Bailey could develop into a workhorse as he gets further away from his surgery. His heavy sinker bores in on righthanders at 91-93 mph and touches 94-95. He also has a solid-average 11-to-5 curveball with good rotation and depth, and a developing changeup that could become an average pitch if he learns to command it more consistently. Bailey has an aggressive approach but remains more of a thrower than a pitcher. He struggles to repeat his arm path and delivery, which has a lot of moving parts, making it difficult for him to command the strike zone and execute his pitches. He sometimes gets distracted and tries to pitch too quickly with speedsters on the basepaths.
Myers figured to complement a banner 2006 recruiting class at Southern California until he accepted a $250,000 bonus as a fourth-round pick in June. That he signed was somewhat surprising, but even more so was his performance in his debut. Considered toolsy but extremely raw, he made significant strides in his swing and approach and tied for third in the GCL in batting. Myers' swing gets long but he showed above-average bat speed at times. He needs to improve his plate discipline and work counts more efficiently. He's wiry strong, and though he rarely showed power in games, he could hit 12-15 home runs annually. His well above-average speed is his best tool. Myers played all three outfield positions in the GCL and has the range to stay in center field. His reads and routes are raw, while his arm strength is average.
There's a lot not to like about Jose Mijares. Start with his 3.57 ERA as a reliever, which doesn't stand out. Take a look at his 5-foot-10, 220-pound body, which screams Rich Garces. Scouts have questioned his makeup and mound demeanor as well. But when he rears back and throws, it's hard to not get excited. When he was locked in, Mijares featured a 94-95 mph fastball and a filthy 77-78 mph slider that both ranked among the best in the league. He only showed that plus stuff in limited stretches, however. At other times, his velocity would dip to the low 90s and his command would fall apart. Part of the problem is that Mijares hasn't worked hard enough to stay in shape, which hampers his ability to repeat his delivery. He also has a below-average changeup that hasn't improved much because he rarely uses it when working out of the bullpen. He's a long ways from the majors, but the wait could be worth it.
For a player in just his second season at shortstop after playing center field for much of his college career, Lillibridge is very advanced with the glove. He has outstanding range and first-step quickness, with soft hands and an above-average arm that allows him to make plays from deep in the hole. With well above-average speed, Lillibridge profiles more as a tablesetter than a run producer. He incorporates very little of his lower half in his longish swing, with a pronounced drift in his hands and his feet spread wide apart. He made some adjustments to shorten his stroke, and his plate discipline was exceptional during his first full season. Energetic and driven, Lillibridge was one of the most consistent players in the league. He drew rave reviews from managers for his grind-it-out style.
While Van Stratten isn't a pure speedster like Royals outfield mates Robinson or Jarrod Dyson, he's quick, has plenty of tools and looks like a steal from the 10th round of the 2006 draft. He set a national junior college record with 14 triples this spring at St. Louis CC-Meramec, and hit seven more to rank second in the AZL. His mix of gap power and speed mix impressed managers. Van Stratten showed the ability to drop a bunt or to sting the ball to both gaps. His best tools are his bat, with a short swing and outstanding pitch recognition considering his experience, and his above-average throwing arm. His gritty, all-out approach also earned him praise.
Ramirez made a strong U.S. debut, finishing among the Appy League leaders in average (.314), hits (72), doubles (20) and triples (five) after spending three years in the Rookie-level Venezuelan Summer League. He has surprising pop for a 6-foot, 149-pounder, though he's more of a spray hitter now who takes the ball where it's pitched. He should add strength as he fills out. Ramirez spent most of the year at shortstop but also saw time at second base. He may profile better at second because while he has good range to his left, he has below-average range toward the shortstop hole. His footwork also needs improvement and he lacks the arm strength of a true shortstop. He's an average runner.
When he was at his very best, Morlan ranked with the top pitchers in the league. One scout said Morlan turned in one of the three best performances he saw all year, along with Adenhart and Cueto. Cedar Rapids manager Bobby Magallanes said Morlan touched 97 mph in the ninth inning of an 11-strikeout complete game. He began the season in the bullpen, and that may be his long-term destination. His fastball usually sits in the low 90s but he's still seeking a consistent second pitch. He owns a mid-80s slider that shows flashes of bite and a developing changeup. Morlan has a quick arm and a smooth delivery that he repeats easily. He tends to drop his elbow, which causes his pitches to flatten out and arrive higher in the strike zone. He missed most of July with a sore shoulder but returned to pitch 22 scoreless innings over his final four starts.
Bourn played for four teams this summer, ranging from Double-A Reading to the Phillies to Team USA, with perhaps his finest moment coming when he connected for two home runs in a victory against Cuba in the Olympic qualifying tournament. He spent just six weeks with Scranton, but made the most of his well above-average speed by stealing 15 bases in 16 tries and hitting seven triples, good for fourth in the league. Bourn has shown improvement with each promotion and he plays up to his strengths. He runs extremely well and is a smart baserunner capable of reading pitchers and using his raw speed. He has a good batting eye and projects as a solid-average major league hitter. He's also a plus defensive center fielder with a slightly above-average, accurate arm. His power is strictly gap-to-gap and is below average, but he can surprise opponents, as he did by taking Cuban flamethrower Pedro Luis Lazo deep. The Phillies want him to concentrate on hitting the ball in the air less and cutting down on his strikeouts, a byproduct of working deep counts.
Like Cain, Campbell built on a 2005 MVP award in Rookie ball (the Appalachian League in his case) with a strong 2006 campaign. A student of the game who kept a notebook on the pitchers in the league, he applied that knowledge by leading the league with 22 homer. Campbell is an aggressive hitter who swings early in the count and rarely misses when pitchers make mistakes. He has ample pull power, but his open stance often leads to him flying open on the front side of his swing, making it hard to drive pitches to the opposite field. Though his speed is average at best, Campbell has good instincts and is an excellent baserunner with a knack for stealing bases when the opportunity arises. He's solid at third base but has a slow first step to his right.
After a sensational first half in high Class A, Jurrjens moved up to the EL and continued to impress Tigers brass. He has thrown harder more consistently and shown more feel for pitching than Detroit anticipated when it signed him out of Curacao three years ago. Jurrjens' fastball ranges from 87-92 mph and touches 95, and he can spot it to both sides of the plate. His slider is below average, making his performance even more impressive considering he did it primarily off fastball command and a plus changeup. Jurrjens has a clean, simple delivery. Some scouts envision him moving to the bullpen, but if he develops a usable breaking ball, he could fill a role as a back-of-the-rotation starter in the big leagues.
Montero had a breakthrough season in 2005 and proved it was no fluke this year. He makes consistently hard contact with a short stroke and did a better job of using the entire field this season. He also does a fine job behind the plate, showing an average arm with a quick release to go with strong blocking and game-calling ability. "He really improved the second time we saw him," Brundage said. "He made some adjustments, especially on the offspeed stuff. He's a very aggressive hitter. But the thing I like most about him his is presence behind the plate, especially for such a young guy in this league. He has a good arm and seemed to call a good game."
With older brother Corey traded to the Orioles last offseason, there will be no Patterson brothers reunion in Chicago. But Eric is getting close to ready for Wrigley Field, recovering from a second-half slump to bat .358 following a mid-August promotion to Triple-A. Patterson's best tool is his speed, which rates as a 65-70 on the 20-80 scouting scale. He also has surprising power for his size, though he sometimes gets caught up too much in trying to hit homers. He has made strides in shortening his swing for a more gap-to-gap approach. Patterson's speed aids his range at second-base, though his first-step quickness and body control are a bit disappointing. His footwork around the bag is questionable, though he does have soft hands.
Perez is a cerebral player, as one might expect from the highest-drafted player ever (seventh round, 2004) out of Columbia University. He learned how to switch-hit in the offseason, and while he struggled from the left side early in the year, he soon began hitting line drives and finished with a .303 average against righthanders. He's a dynamic player who led the minors with 123 runs scored. "He's a game-changer. You don't want to see him up in the ninth inning up by one or in a tie game, because he'll bunt, he'll slap one to left or hit it in the gap, and you're just praying you'll get the ball in fast enough before he gets to third," Steverson said. "He's just irritating. He roams the outfield like there are just floating pop-ups up there all day. I know for a fact he's taken 15 hits away from us." Perez has outstanding range in the outfield thanks to his plus-plus speed, though he's still working on his defensive instincts. He has a playable, if not strong, outfield arm. Perez has plenty of things to refine in his game--he strikes out too much for a top-of-the-order hitter, and he was thrown out in 16 of his 49 steal attempts--but he offers an intriguing leadoff package and enough strength at the plate to make him more than a one-dimensional Punch-and-Judy hitter.

Top 100 Rankings

Best Tools List

Rated Best Defensive SS in the Florida State League in 2006
Rated Best Control in the Florida State League in 2006
Rated Best Reliever in the Florida State League in 2006
Rated Best Defensive Catcher in the Florida State League in 2006
Rated Best Defensive Outfielder in the Florida State League in 2006
Rated Best Baserunner in the Florida State League in 2006
Rated Best Strike-Zone Discipline in the Florida State League in 2006
Rated Best Infield Arm in the Florida State League in 2006
Rated Best Outfield Arm in the Florida State League in 2006
Rated Best Defensive 1B in the Florida State League in 2006
Rated Best Batting Prospect in the Florida State League in 2006
Rated Best Defensive 3B in the Florida State League in 2006
Rated Best Power Prospect in the Florida State League in 2006
Rated Best Pitching Prospect in the Florida State League in 2006
Rated Best Fastball in the Florida State League in 2006
Rated Best Breaking Pitch in the Florida State League in 2006
Rated Best Defensive 2B in the Florida State League in 2006
Rated Most Exciting Player in the Florida State League in 2006
Rated Fastest Baserunner in the Florida State League in 2006
Rated Best Power Prospect in the Carolina League in 2006
Rated Best Fastball in the Carolina League in 2006
Rated Best Defensive Catcher in the Carolina League in 2006
Rated Best Pitching Prospect in the Carolina League in 2006
Rated Best Defensive SS in the Carolina League in 2006
Rated Best Defensive 2B in the Carolina League in 2006
Rated Best Reliever in the Carolina League in 2006
Rated Best Defensive 1B in the Carolina League in 2006
Rated Best Breaking Pitch in the Carolina League in 2006
Rated Best Infield Arm in the Carolina League in 2006
Rated Best Defensive 3B in the Carolina League in 2006
Rated Best Control in the Carolina League in 2006
Rated Best Defensive Outfielder in the Carolina League in 2006
Rated Fastest Baserunner in the Carolina League in 2006
Rated Best Baserunner in the Carolina League in 2006
Rated Best Batting Prospect in the Carolina League in 2006
Rated Most Exciting Player in the Carolina League in 2006
Rated Best Strike-Zone Discipline in the Carolina League in 2006
Rated Best Outfield Arm in the Carolina League in 2006
Rated Best Defensive Catcher in the Midwest League in 2006
Rated Best Outfield Arm in the Midwest League in 2006
Rated Best Control in the Midwest League in 2006
Rated Best Defensive Outfielder in the Midwest League in 2006
Rated Best Breaking Pitch in the Midwest League in 2006
Rated Best Defensive 1B in the Midwest League in 2006
Rated Best Defensive 3B in the Midwest League in 2006
Rated Best Defensive SS in the Midwest League in 2006
Rated Best Reliever in the Midwest League in 2006
Rated Best Fastball in the Midwest League in 2006
Rated Most Exciting Player in the Midwest League in 2006
Rated Fastest Baserunner in the Midwest League in 2006
Rated Best Baserunner in the Midwest League in 2006
Rated Best Defensive 2B in the Midwest League in 2006
Rated Best Strike-Zone Discipline in the Midwest League in 2006
Rated Best Infield Arm in the Midwest League in 2006
Rated Best Power Prospect in the Midwest League in 2006
Rated Best Batting Prospect in the Midwest League in 2006
Rated Best Pitching Prospect in the Midwest League in 2006
Rated Best Infield Arm in the International League in 2006
Rated Best Defensive 1B in the International League in 2006
Rated Best Power Prospect in the International League in 2006
Rated Best Pitching Prospect in the International League in 2006
Rated Best Control in the International League in 2006
Rated Best Defensive SS in the International League in 2006
Rated Best Defensive Catcher in the International League in 2006
Rated Best Outfield Arm in the International League in 2006
Rated Best Baserunner in the International League in 2006
Rated Best Reliever in the International League in 2006
Rated Most Exciting Player in the International League in 2006
Rated Best Defensive 3B in the International League in 2006
Rated Best Fastball in the International League in 2006
Rated Best Defensive 2B in the International League in 2006
Rated Best Batting Prospect in the International League in 2006
Rated Best Breaking Pitch in the International League in 2006
Rated Best Defensive Outfielder in the International League in 2006
Rated Best Strike-Zone Discipline in the International League in 2006
Rated Fastest Baserunner in the International League in 2006
Rated Best Batting Prospect in the South Atlantic League in 2006
Rated Best Infield Arm in the South Atlantic League in 2006
Rated Best Defensive 3B in the South Atlantic League in 2006
Rated Best Defensive 1B in the South Atlantic League in 2006
Rated Best Strike-Zone Discipline in the South Atlantic League in 2006
Rated Best Defensive Outfielder in the South Atlantic League in 2006
Rated Best Power Prospect in the South Atlantic League in 2006
Rated Best Defensive SS in the South Atlantic League in 2006
Rated Best Pitching Prospect in the South Atlantic League in 2006
Rated Most Exciting Player in the South Atlantic League in 2006
Rated Best Control in the South Atlantic League in 2006
Rated Best Defensive Catcher in the South Atlantic League in 2006
Rated Best Defensive 2B in the South Atlantic League in 2006
Rated Fastest Baserunner in the South Atlantic League in 2006
Rated Best Baserunner in the South Atlantic League in 2006
Rated Best Outfield Arm in the South Atlantic League in 2006
Rated Best Fastball in the South Atlantic League in 2006
Rated Best Breaking Pitch in the South Atlantic League in 2006
Rated Best Reliever in the South Atlantic League in 2006
Rated Best Defensive 2B in the Eastern League in 2006
Rated Best Defensive Outfielder in the Eastern League in 2006
Rated Best Baserunner in the Eastern League in 2006
Rated Best Defensive Catcher in the Eastern League in 2006
Rated Best Reliever in the Eastern League in 2006

Career Transactions

Sultanes de Monterrey placed IF Joel Flores on the reserve list.
Sultanes de Monterrey activated RHP Juan Salas from the reserve list.
Algodoneros de Guasave placed RHP Juan Cossio on the reserve list.
Algodoneros de Guasave placed LHP Ariel Gracia on the reserve list.
OF Narciso Crook assigned to Algodoneros de Guasave.
Algodoneros de Guasave placed 3B Angel Erro on the reserve list.
Algodoneros de Guasave placed OF Yadir Drake on the reserve list.
Algodoneros de Guasave activated 1B Yael Romero from the reserve list.
Algodoneros de Guasave activated RHP Kevin Ribon from the reserve list.
Algodoneros de Guasave activated LHP Edwin Cervantes from the reserve list.
CF Odúbel Herrera assigned to Tigres de Aragua.
Venados de Mazatlan activated RHP Adolfo Ramirez from the reserve list.
Venados de Mazatlan placed RHP Victor Morales on the reserve list.
Venados de Mazatlan placed LHP Amilcar Gaxiola on the reserve list.
Venados de Mazatlan activated RHP Erick Casillas from the reserve list.
Tomateros de Culiacan activated RHP Fernando Olguin from the reserve list.
Tomateros de Culiacan activated RHP Axel Sauceda from the reserve list.
Tomateros de Culiacan placed RHP Carlos Machorro on the reserve list.
Tomateros de Culiacan placed LHP Manny Bañuelos on the reserve list.
Naranjeros de Hermosillo placed CF Alejandro Gonzalez on the reserve list.
RF Alex Robles assigned to Naranjeros de Hermosillo.
Mayos de Navojoa placed OF Asael Sanchez on the reserve list.
Mayos de Navojoa placed RHP Damian Mendoza on the reserve list.
Mayos de Navojoa activated LHP Denny Roman from the reserve list.
Mayos de Navojoa activated SS Edgar Lugo from the reserve list.
Caneros de los Mochis activated RHP Omar Araujo from the reserve list.
Caneros de los Mochis placed RHP Adrian Hernandez on the reserve list.
Caneros de los Mochis placed RHP Luis Gastelum on the reserve list.
Charros de Jalisco placed RHP Cristian Alvarado on the reserve list.
Charros de Jalisco activated RHP Dario Gardea from the reserve list.
SS Diomar Hidalgo assigned to DSL Red Sox Blue.
New York Yankees selected the contract of LF Taylor Trammell from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
New York Yankees selected the contract of RHP Yerry De Los Santos from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
New York Yankees selected the contract of C J.C. Escarra from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
RHP Lou Trivino elected free agency.
LHP Kyle Muller elected free agency.
Sultanes de Monterrey activated RHP Mario Perez from the reserve list.
Sultanes de Monterrey placed RHP Noah Bremer on the reserve list.
Sultanes de Monterrey activated IF Edgar Bravo from the reserve list.
Sultanes de Monterrey placed RHP Arturo Roque on the reserve list.
Sultanes de Monterrey activated RHP Mario Garcia from the reserve list.
Sultanes de Monterrey placed Carlos Medina on the reserve list.
Sultanes de Monterrey placed 3B Carter Aldrete on the reserve list.
2B Marcos Castañon assigned to Sultanes de Monterrey.
Algodoneros de Guasave placed LHP Edwin Cervantes on the reserve list.
Algodoneros de Guasave activated LHP Ariel Gracia from the reserve list.
Algodoneros de Guasave placed RHP Kevin Ribon on the reserve list.
Algodoneros de Guasave activated RHP Peyton Gray from the reserve list.
Algodoneros de Guasave activated LHP Jesus Broca from the reserve list.
Algodoneros de Guasave placed RHP Christian Crespo on the reserve list.
Algodoneros de Guasave activated RHP Oscar Rojas from the reserve list.
Algodoneros de Guasave placed CF Victor Labrada on the reserve list.
DSL Arizona Red released OF Dauwin Gonzalez.
DSL Padres Gold released C Estiven Giron.
DSL Rays released RHP Yannelbinson Lugo.
Tigres de Aragua activated RHP Guillermo Moscoso.
RHP Guillermo Moscoso assigned to Tigres de Aragua.
OF Yordanys Linares assigned to Bravos de Margarita.
LHP Yohander Méndez assigned to Leones del Caracas.
RHP Nomar Rojas assigned to Aguilas del Zulia.
Venados de Mazatlan placed RHP Adolfo Ramirez on the reserve list.
Venados de Mazatlan placed RHP Irving Medina on the reserve list.
Venados de Mazatlan activated RHP Fernando Burgueno from the reserve list.
Venados de Mazatlan activated RHP Victor Morales from the reserve list.
Tomateros de Culiacan placed RHP Fernando Olguin on the reserve list.
Tomateros de Culiacan activated RHP Diego Castro from the reserve list.
Tomateros de Culiacan placed 2B Ichiro Cano on the reserve list.
Tomateros de Culiacan activated RHP Luis Aguayo from the reserve list.
Naranjeros de Hermosillo activated LHP Javier Rodriguez from the reserve list.
Naranjeros de Hermosillo placed LHP Jorge Rodriguez on the reserve list.
Naranjeros de Hermosillo placed RHP Augusto Mendieta on the reserve list.
Naranjeros de Hermosillo activated RHP Enrique Castillo from the reserve list.
Naranjeros de Hermosillo activated RHP Jose Albertos from the reserve list.
Naranjeros de Hermosillo placed RHP Saul Arias on the reserve list.
Mayos de Navojoa placed RHP Erick Preciado on the reserve list.
RHP Alex Valverde assigned to Mayos de Navojoa.
Algodoneros de Guasave placed RHP Victor Buelna on the reserve list.
Algodoneros de Guasave activated C Jose Lizarraga from the reserve list.
Algodoneros de Guasave activated LHP Edwin Cervantes from the reserve list.
Algodoneros de Guasave placed LHP Ian Medina on the reserve list.
Algodoneros de Guasave placed LHP Jesus Broca on the reserve list.
Algodoneros de Guasave activated RHP Christian Crespo from the reserve list.
RHP Yoandri Gonzalez assigned to DSL Mets Orange.
C Edinson Duran assigned to Tiburones de La Guaira.
Bravos de Margarita traded RHP Julio Vivas to Tiburones de La Guaira.
CF Anthony Jimenez assigned to Bravos de Margarita.
Leones del Caracas traded C Eliezer Alfonzo and RHP Alfred Gutierrez to Navegantes del Magallanes for C René Pinto.
Leones del Caracas traded C Eliezer Alfonzo and RHP Alfred Gutierrez to Navegantes del Magallanes for C René Pinto.
Leones del Caracas traded C Eliezer Alfonzo and RHP Alfred Gutierrez to Navegantes del Magallanes for C René Pinto.
Yaquis de Obregon placed LHP Saul Vazquez on the reserve list.
SS Juan Carlos Gamboa assigned to Yaquis de Obregon.
Venados de Mazatlan activated RHP Ernesto Borges from the reserve list.
Venados de Mazatlan activated RHP Adolfo Ramirez from the reserve list.
Venados de Mazatlan placed RHP Victor Morales on the reserve list.
Venados de Mazatlan placed RHP Fernando Burgueno on the reserve list.
2B Joseph Rosa assigned to Venados de Mazatlan.
Venados de Mazatlan placed 1B Carlos Munoz on the reserve list.
Northwest Arkansas Naturals released LHP A.J. Block.
Northwest Arkansas Naturals released RHP Chase Wallace.
Tiburones de La Guaira activated RHP Pedro Garcia.