70 MLB Prospects Who Impressed Scouts On The Backfields

Paul Skenes, RHP, Pirates

Big surprise to find the reigning No. 1 overall draft pick on this list, isn’t it? The Louisiana State alum’s performance certainly merits inclusion, thanks to extremely loud stuff that should find him in Pittsburgh in short order. The big righty regularly brings his fastball into triple-digits and backs it with one of the nastier sliders in the game. Some scouts find Skenes’ delivery a bit unorthodox but still see no reason to tinker with it until and unless it proves to be a problem. He dominated in his opening start with Triple-A Indianapolis and should continue to do so until he gets the call to join fellow young Buc Jared Jones in the big league rotation.

Dylan Crews, OF, Nationals

A pick after Skenes went to the Pirates, the Nationals selected Crews, making the pair the first teammates to go 1-2 in a draft. Though his stat line in the Grapefruit League didn’t jump off the page, Crews still caught the eyes of scouts patrolling Florida’s east coast. Evaluators see a player with the potential to be a plus hitter with plus power. They also note a strong awareness of the strike zone and a sculpted body built to do damage. On defense, they see a player who should stick in center field while playing potentially plus defense. His tools tick up thanks to a blue-collar attitude that shows through in the way he approaches the game.

Spencer Jones, OF, Yankees

In New York’s Spring Breakout game, Jones made a very loud impression. Two of them, actually. The towering outfielder clubbed two monstrous home runs against Blue Jays prospects, a performance that only added to his overall spring. Power was never a question for Jones, who was New York’s 2022 first-rounder, out of Vanderbilt. Rather, scouts questioned if he would make enough contact to get the most out of his tools. This spring, those same scouts saw a simpler swing that closed a few of his holes and helped him better manage what will always be a large strike zone. Specifically, he removed an arm bar that mitigated the way he could manipulate his barrel. Now, free to get the bat to more sectors of the zone, Jones looks primed for a breakout.

Hayden Birdsong, RHP, Giants

Birdsong was a sleeper in San Francisco’s system entering last season and vaulted in to the upper tiers of their system with a powerful mix that helped him bully his way to Double-A by the end of the year. One difference scouts have reported this year is that Birdsong’s slider now appears to be the better of his two breaking balls. The result is more power in a north-south attack of the strike zone. He’s also doing a better job of staying closed in his delivery, which should help him improve his control the strike zone, which led to a rocky introduction to the upper levels in 2023. If he can bring those changes into his sophomore campaign, he could quickly be knocking on the door of the big leagues in some capacity.

Thayron Liranzo, C, Dodgers

After finding his way onto this list a year ago, Liranzo responded by bumrushing the California League with 24 home runs in 90 games, good enough to lead all qualified teenage catchers and finish just two bombs behind Milwaukee’s Wes Clarke for the overall positional lead. This spring, scouts have responded with renewed vigor. He’s got effortless power, especially from the left side, makes sound swing decisions and recognizes spin well, leading to a potentially outstanding offensive player. He’s also got the potential to be an average defender thanks to a combination of surprising athleticism and a powerful throwing arm.

Nelson Rada, OF, Angels

Like De Paula, Rada showed enough during spring training in 2023 to skip the Arizona Complex League and head to Low-A for his first official games stateside. More than that, he also skipped extended spring training and made the Inland Empire roster on Opening Day. This spring, he’s continuing that upward trend by showing the same prototypical leadoff skills that include plus speed and instincts on the basepaths, a contact-geared approach in the box and just enough power to be a threat for double-digit home runs on an annual basis in the big leagues. He came to camp this spring looking stronger without sacrificing any speed or athleticism. The caveat here is that he was hit in the head with a pitch in the later days of spring training and might get a late start to his season.

A little bit of Nelson Rada action for the timeline. #Angels pic.twitter.com/QIxB6QO5kO

— Josh Norris 🐻 (@jnorris427) October 5, 2023

Cooper Pratt, SS, Brewers

Milwaukee reached deep in its bag to sign Pratt, whom they awarded a bonus of more than $1 million over the recommended slot in the sixth round of the most recent draft to sway the shortstop from his commitment to Ole Miss. Based on scouts’ reviews so far, the investment appears wise. They see a potential everyday player who can put the barrel often and grow into plenty of power as he adds muscle to his tall frame. He may one day grow out of shortstop and have to move over to third base, but his hands and arm would fit well at the position and the potential uptick in power would help his bat fit the prototypical hot corner profile.

James Wood, OF, Nationals

The second of Washington’s twin peak outfielders, Wood came over as the gem of the trade that sent Juan Soto to San Diego. The massive lefty swinger blitzed the competition at High-A before taking a small step back upon reaching Double-A, where he struck out 33% of the time. Wood was a standout in Grapefruit League games and earned Opening Day placement in Triple-A. He was particularly vulnerable to spin in 2023, but scouts this spring saw a player who’d done a much better job patching that hole in his game. He’s got elite power and elite speed on the basepaths, two traits which comprise the most coveted combination in the game. Like Dylan Crews, Wood would fit well in either center or right field, and his offensive skills would fit at either spot. There’s still some polish to apply against righthanded spin, and his sizable frame will create more holes than most, but his ceiling is as high as any prospect in the sport.

Max Clark, OF, Tigers

If you’re following along, Clark’s inclusion gives this least three of the first five picks from last year’s draft, which so far looks like its first round could be extraordinarily special. The Tigers’ top prospect has excellent table-setter skills, including a two-strike approach scouts praise as among the best they’ve seen in years. He’s got the speed and defense to easily stick in center field, and his game could take more steps forward as he learns on which pitches to swing for impact rather than simple contact. With Riley Greene already entrenched Detroit, Clark in the next few years could provide a second dose of youth at the top of the Tigers’ lineup.

George Lombard Jr., SS, Yankees

The Yankees’ team in the Florida Complex League received plenty of praise all summer long for its blend of young talent, and that was even before Lombard came along. After he signed, the big league legacy and 2023 first-rounder added a blend of polish and potential to a group already teeming with upside. This spring, Lombard opened evaluators’ eyes thanks to a mature, physical frame with big-time bat speed that produced power to all sectors as well as mature, professional at-bats. He’s a solid defender at shortstop with an arm that bumps against above-average. He’ll likely split time at the position in the Florida State League with Roderick Arias, the team’s top infield prospect. No matter where he winds up on the diamond, Lombard has already earned his place among a cavalcade of young, talented Yankees hitters.

Bradgley Rodriguez, RHP, Padres

Rodriguez was signed by San Diego in 2021 but had not pitched in an official game since that summer, when he produced a 6.20 ERA in the Dominican Summer League. His last game action came this past winter, when he struck out 21 hitters in 20 innings in the Venezuelan Winter League. This spring, he’s looked like a potential pop-up prospect. He appeared in San Diego’s Spring Breakout game and showed an upper-90s fastball that peaked at 100 mph. He backed it with a potentially plus changeup and a slider that showed upside but was a clear third pitch. Both offspeed pitches sat in the high 80s, and his fastball showed heavy sink and tail at its best. The righthander is likely a reliever prospect, but there’s significant ceiling if he can get back on track after a long layoff from affiliated ball.

Luke Keaschall, 2B, Twins

After transferring from San Francisco to Arizona State, Keaschall put together a big draft year in 2023 and was taken by the Twins in the second round. He hit his way to High-A Cedar Rapids in his pro debut and clubbed three home runs along the way. Scouts who’ve seen him this spring were extremely high on Keaschall’s potential as on offensive-minded player who should be able to stick on the dirt or handle center field if he has to defer to a better defender. No matter where he winds up, he has the upside of a plus hitter with at least average power that should manifest itself with plenty of doubles and a fair amount of longballs.

Christian Scott, RHP, Mets

Scott is a fantastic development story. When the Mets popped him out of Florida in 2021, he had a sound delivery and an excellent pitching body, but his stuff needed refinement. This spring, scouts have reported a tighter, more powerful slider to go with a much-improved changeup as well. Scott’s fastball has added velocity as well, giving him a chance at a potent three-pitch mix that he can use to pound the zone and get whiffs. He’s knocking on the door of the big leagues and could wind up as a nice rotation piece in short order.

Kyle Carr, LHP, Yankees

Carr was the Yankees’ second pick in the most recent draft and their first pitcher off the board. The southpaw, taken out of junior college in California, was a two-way prospect as an amateur but has put his bat away as a pro. Like many of their recent pitcher draftees, Carr did not make an official appearance after signing. This spring, he emerged with a 92-94 mph fastball that could gain a few ticks as he matures and gains strength. He backed it up with a slurvy breaking ball that already flashes average and could to plus as well as a changeup that has average potential. More than his pure stuff, scouts were attracted by Carr’s aggressive mindset on the mound and his willingness to pound the strike zone without fear. Lefthanded pitching has been a fallow point of New York’s system in recent years, but Carr, Brock Selvidge and Henry Lalane are beginning to address that area.

George Klassen, RHP, Phillies

Klassen is the classic pitcher with big stuff but small results on whom teams are willing to take a chance in the draft in the hopes that pro coaching will sand away the rough edges and eventually produce a gem. Klassen, a Minnesota alum and the Phillies’ sixth-round selection, has the stuff box checked in Sharpie. Scouts this spring reported a pitcher with a fastball that sat in the upper 90s and a slider that graded out as at least plus. Moreover, they saw a clean, athletic delivery that should allow him to throw plenty of strikes as he moves up the ladder. That last bit would represent a departure from his amateur days, when he walked 8.5 hitters per nine innings in two seasons with the Golden Gophers.

Brody Hopkins, RHP, Mariners

When it comes to the best systems for pitching development, the Mariners are somewhere near the top. Their next gem might be Hopkins, a low-slot slinging righthander whom Seattle selected out of Winthrop in the sixth round of the most recent draft. Hopkins was a two-way player in college but the Mariners selected him as a pitcher and, if the early returns are any indication, are about to reap the benefits. Evaluators this spring saw a pitcher with a funky, athletic delivery that allowed him to deal lively fastballs in the 94-98 mph range in addition to sweepy slider and a changeup. His heater and breaker have a chance to be plus pitches, while his changeup could be average.

Caden Dana, RHP, Angels

Dana was Los Angeles’ 11th-round pick in 2022 out of high school in New Jersey. He lost parts of his first full pro season to injury but has looked re-energized this spring. Scouts patrolling Arizona’s east valley saw a pitcher with more fluid, athletic mechanics and a corresponding uptick in stuff. His fastball has sat in the mid 90s and is backed by a downer curveball, a slider that has gotten tighter and a changeup for which he’s shown solid feel. The mix has been amplified by Dana’s much more mature frame, which has packed on plenty of muscle since his amateur days and now allows him to cut an imposing presence on the hill.

Josue De Paula, OF, Dodgers

Simply put, De Paula could be a monster. The 18-year-old outfielder skipped the Arizona Complex League in 2023 and more than held his own against advanced competition. He looks like he’s begun to take the next steps in his development this spring. The lefty swinger didn’t show much in the way of over-the-fence power in the Cal League, but he racked up 15 doubles in 74 games and struck out just 18% of the time. Scouts saw a player who’s begun to grow into plenty of impact, with some projecting double-plus power at full maturity. He knows the strike zone and rarely strays outside, but does have a bit of vulnerability against premium velocity. He stays back on breaking balls and shows hittability and power to all sectors with a swing that keeps the barrel in the zone for a long time.

Alfredo Duno, C, Reds

Duno was Cincinnati’s top signing in the international period that opened on Jan. 15, 2023. He spent his first pro summer demolishing the competition in the Dominican Summer League, finishing with a .945 OPS and half a dozen home runs. Duno is a sturdy-bodied catcher who was kept from playing defense last season by injury. He’s back behind the plate this season and has shown a strong arm that is somewhat muted by a slower release. He’s got plenty of work to do on the receiving end as well, but at 18 years old he has time to add polish. Even if he has to move off the position, his bat will more than carry the bulk of what should be significant value. Duno has elite bat speed, a malleable path and the ability to one day produce 70-grade power.

Connor Norby, 2B, Orioles

The East Carolina alum has always been one of the more pure hitters in Baltimore’s system, but a swing change this offseason has helped him unlock even more of that potential. Now, he’s getting the bat head out quicker and putting the barrel on the ball with more frequency. Scouts see a player with at least average hittability and the potential for 20 or more home runs once he reaches his peak. Norby is unlikely to be more than an average defender at second base, but his offensive game should easily make up for any shortcomings in the field.

Logan Evans, RHP, Mariners

By now, you’ve heard about the legend of Logan Evans. Seattle’s 2023 12th-rounder out of Pittsburgh was, by all appearances, a nondescript senior sign. However, the Mariners’ analytics department tabbed him as one that their pitching development group could get the most out of, and so far that intuition has proved correct. The righthander has taken a big jump in stuff, including a fastball that now sits in the 94-98 mph range and is backed by a cutter and a sweepy slider that has the potential to get to double-plus with further refinement. His changeup could be at least average as well, and some scouts give it a chance to be a tick higher than that as he gains more feel for the pitch in the ensuing years. There’s a bit of reliever risk because of the way his delivery works, but Evans has a full complement of weapons, which should give him plenty of opportunity to start.

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Jaden Hamm, RHP, Tigers

At Middle Tennessee State, Hamm showed solid stuff but only fringy strikes. After turning pro, he’s also turning heads. The righthander was the buzz of the Lakeland backfields, leaving scouts overwhelmed by what they saw. So, what did they see? For starters, Hamm works with a 93-96 mph fastball with well over 20 inches of induced vertical break and a downer curveball that grades as another potentially plus weapon. His changeup flashed plus as well, and he had a slider that rounded out his arsenal but stands as a clear fourth pitch in his mix. The Tigers already have one of the best pitching prospects in the sport in Jackson Jobe, and now they might have the fastest rising arm as well.

Juan Flores, C, Angels

Flores was signed out of Venezuela in 2023 and performed well in the DSL after a rough start. His arm also stood out, and in the process helped him throw out more than 53% of attempted basestealers. The Angels rewarded him this spring by giving him time in big league camp, where he stood out to scouts. He was lauded especially for his work behind the plate, where he showed solid receiving ability with a plus throwing arm. Flores has a sound approach in the box with a swing that is geared more toward timing than overwhelming bat speed. He should begin in the Arizona Complex League and will be one to monitor as the season progresses.

Edgardo Henriquez, RHP, Dodgers

Henriquez missed the 2023 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery but re-announced his presence with plenty of authority during the Dodgers’ Spring Breakout game. There, the righthander’s fastball sat in the triple-digits and served as an appetizer before a finishing course of a mid-80s slider that projects as double-plus pitch. There are questions about his mechanics and the overall consistency of his stuff that might push him to the bullpen—he is already Rule 5-eligible—where he has the potential to be a lethal weapon. His fastball peaked at 102 mph in a game Baseball America attended.

Jackson Jobe, RHP, Tigers

After dealing with injuries in the early stages of his pro career, Jobe broke out in a big way during the 2023 regular season and continued his rocket ship trajectory in the Arizona Fall League. This spring, he’s looked even better and has a case as the best pitching prospect in the game thanks to a mix of three pitches that could each be double-plus or better. He consistently sits in the upper 90s with his fastball and buttresses the pitch with a changeup and a slider that each earned grades of 70 on the 20-to-80 scouting scale. There are concerns that he might get a little too slider-heavy at times and that the fastball could use a little more angle, but these are minor concerns about an overall package that should carry Jobe to the top of a big league rotation.

Can I interest anyone in some slow-mo Jackson Jobe heat? pic.twitter.com/QdJFxKPTlm

— Josh Norris 🐻 (@jnorris427) October 10, 2023

Leodalis De Vries, SS, Padres

A year after Ethan Salas broke onto the scene, the Padres appear to have landed another international shooting star. As it is wont to do, San Diego has already exposed De Vries to Cactus League action and played him in the team’s Spring Breakout game against Seattle. Scouts on the backfields saw a smooth athlete with the actions and arm to play shortstop. In the box, he’s loose and projectable with plenty of bat speed. All those variables point to a player with star-level upside who has a chance to one day take his place at the top of the Padres’ system. In fact, you can find scouts who believe he’s already there.

Brady House, 3B, Nationals

Along with Dylan Crews and James Wood, House is part of a talented trio of prospects that forms the upper crust of the Nationals system. After injuries muted his performance in 2022, he bounced back in a big way in 2023 and finished the year with a dozen home runs over 88 games across three levels. Now that he’s moved off of shortstop, scouts see a player with the potential to be an above-average or plus defender at third base. His offensive game will easily profile at the corner thanks to long levers and a loose, easy swing that produces enough bat speed to get to pitches up in the zone.

Colt Emerson, SS, Mariners

Nearly as soon as he debuted, Emerson started showing massive upside. He ran roughshod over the competition in the Low-A California League and continued to impress in spring training. Scouts saw a player who’d gotten bigger and stronger, which has in turn helped him bump his power up to nearly equal with his hittability. Both tools could be at least above-average if not plus once he reaches the big leagues. He flashes the ability to shortstop but might be better suited in the long run at third base, where his bat would easily profile.

JD Gonzalez, C, Padres

High school catching has always been a fraught demographic, but the Padres have always been willing the chase upside. Those two forces collided at the 96th pick in the 2023 draft, when San Diego chose him and signed him away from a commitment to Indiana State. He impressed scouts this spring with a loose, easy swing from the left side that produced easy pull-side power. That development only amplified a profile that already included outstanding defense and a strong throwing arm.

If you like sweet lefty swings, have I got one for you. Here’s #Padres catcher JD Gonzalez vaporizing a baseball. He hit two bombs this morning in Peoria. pic.twitter.com/C1eQnSqNBk

— Josh Norris 🐻 (@jnorris427) March 26, 2024

Byron Chourio, OF, Twins

Chourio was one of the prospects the Twins got back from the Marlins in the deal that sent Luis Arraez to Miami and brought Pablo Lopez to Minnesota. The outfielder was a young, up-arrow lottery ticket at the time, and this spring has started scratching at the surface of his potential. Scouts in the Fort Myers saw a player with above-average defense and speed that could keep in center field depending on the way his body layers on muscle as he ages. At the plate, he’s got the bat-to-ball skills and impact to project as a potentially plus hitter with roughly average power that could tick up as his body takes shape.

Franklin Arias, SS, Red Sox

Arias signed with Boston out of Venezuela in the international signing period that opened on Jan. 15, 2023 and put forth a strong debut season in the Dominican Summer League. His arrow is pointing up this spring after a minor league camp where he showed off fluid athleticism and a swing that was both malleable up and down the zone and geared toward shooting line drives to all sectors. He’s a smooth defender at shortstop, has above-average arm strength and showed the ability to make throws on the run.

Angel Genao, SS, Guardians

In 2022, Genao was one of the talks of Cleveland’s complex in Arizona. He scuffled in 2023 in a year that was stalled by surgery to repair the mensicus in his right knee, but has looked rejuvenated so far this spring. Scouts who liked him the most saw a switch-hitter with an excellent body that looked like it could continue to add strength in the coming years. He might scrape up against an average hit tool and pair it with 55-grade power. Genao is an average runner but has long strides to eat up plenty of ground and could stick at shortstop if he can remain lithe as he matures.

Izack Tiger, RHP, Rangers

The vast majority of the value in Texas’ system centers around big leaguers Wyatt Langford and Evan Carter and dynamic infielder Sebastian Walcott, who will begin the season at High-A roughly 15 months after signing his first professional contract. A little deeper into the system lurks Tiger, a seventh-round draft pick out of junior college in Kansas in the most recent draft. Tiger was tabbed by team officials last fall as someone who could be on the fast track, and the arrow is still pointing up as the 2024 season dawns. The righty pairs a powerful fastball in the upper 90s with a potentially plus or better slider to form a nasty one-two punch that would fit well in the later innings of games, possibly in leverage situations.

Rhett Lowder, RHP, Reds

Wake Forest has been somewhat of a pitching factory of late, with 10 arms selected over the last four drafts and a few more to come this July. The long-locked righthander left scouts buzzing with his performance in the Spring Breakout game, with a two-inning, two-strikeout stint that earned him the win over Rangers prospects. Lowder pairs pitchability and command, including a sinking fastball in the mid 90s, a potentially plus changeup and a slider that could get to the same heights in time. He was rested after the 2023 draft and will make his pro debut at High-A Dayton, when he is scheduled to take the ball on Opening Night. He’s the type of pitcher who might not be long for the minors, and it wouldn’t be a huge shock to see him in Cincinnati in relatively short order.

Brett Wichrowski, RHP, Brewers

Last fall, Ryan Birchard popped up out of Milwaukee’s instructional league camp. This spring, Wichrowski is the hot name. The righthander came to the Brewers in the 13th round of the 2023 draft out of Bryant and did not pitch post draft outside of instructional league, where scouts saw him pump fastballs at 92-94 mph. He’s taken huge velocity gains this spring and now sits in the mid 90s and touched 100 mph in a late-spring backfield game. Wichrowski pairs his fastball with a sweeper slider in the high 80s and a hard cutter a few ticks hotter. His command and control aren’t always pinpoint, but the ingredients are there for another in the Brewers’ stable of intriguing pitching prospects.

Oswaldo Osorio, 2B/3B, Dodgers

The Dodgers always have a parade of tooled-up teenagers spread across their spring, and Osorio was one of the players who most stood out this spring. The nearly 19-year-old infielder was signed out of Venezuela in 2022 and has put up solid numbers in Dominican Summer and Arizona Complex leagues in each of the past two seasons. He’s not going to flash any particularly standout tool, but he has the defensive chops to play at both second or third base and could handle shortstop in a pinch as well. The lefty swinger has a polished approach, a physical frame and a stroke that keeps the barrel in the zone a long time. As a result, scouts see a player who could produce average and power that each grade as roughly 50 or 55 on the 20-to-80 scouting scale.

Wilmer Flores, RHP, Tigers

After breaking out in 2022, Flores took a bit of a step back in 2023 but appears poised for a rebound this season. The righthander looks slimmer and in better overall shape this season, and the result is stuff that looks much closer to the form from two years ago. His fastball has ticked back up, the curveball flashes wipeout potential and his slider adds a third wrinkle for hitters to worry about, though he does lower his arm slot on the pitch. If he can carry his gains into the regular season, he has a chance to reach Detroit at some point in 2024, likely in the bullpen.

Kevin Alcantara, OF, Cubs

There is no denying Alcantara’s talent. On any given day he’ll flash star-level tools both in the field and at the plate. They have not come together often enough to predict a high-impact future with any degree of certainty, but he’s making strides and inching closer to reaching ceiling. Scouts this spring were particularly encouraged by his improved command of the strike zone and better at-bats overall. His blazing speed helps him erase his own mistakes in the outfield, but he still could stand to improve his routes overall. His twitchy frame will keep him in center field for now, but if he gets thicker he could slide over to a corner. If that’s the case, he has more than enough thump in his whip-quick bat to profile at the new position. Alcantara’s road to the big leagues has been incremental, but the end result might just be worth the wait.

Jackson Ferris, LHP, Dodgers

Ferris was one half of the package Los Angeles acquired from the Cubs in exchange for first baseman Michael Busch. The lefthander began bubbling on the backfields in extended spring training before putting together a solid run at Low-A Myrtle Beach that hinted at a high upside. More than his pure stuff, which includes a lively fastball that peaks around 96 mph, a nasty changeup and a breaking ball with solid snap, Ferris’ biggest area of improvement involves his mechanics. The lefty sports a physical frame with a compact, repeatable delivery that should help him throw all of his pitches for strikes.

David Morgan, RHP, Padres

Morgan was an undrafted free agent signing out of Hope International University in California in 2022. He debuted in the Arizona Complex League that season, then spent the following year between the Class A levels, where he punched out 46 hitters in 44.2 innings. The righthander, who also pitched in the West Coast Collegiate League, sports a three-pitch mix that features a fastball in the 97-99 mph range with high spin rates as well as a pair of breaking balls that scouts peg as potential plus offerings. Morgan is a pure relief prospect, but he could shoot through the upper levels given his high-powered arsenal.

Bryce Eldridge, 1B, Giants

Though he was selected as a two-way player, Eldridge never made a professional appearance on the mound. Given the immense thunder in his bat, that’s probably a smart choice. Scouts who staked out San Francisco’s minor league complex saw a player with drool-worthy juice from the left side, capable of punishing balls over the fence to all sectors. They also praised his approach at the plate and overall hittability, pointing to a player who could one day be the centerpiece of San Francisco’s lineup. There’s plenty of polish to be applied on defense, but even if he’s only average at first base his bat should supply more than enough value to make Eldridge the Giants’ top prospect in short order.

Thomas White, LHP, Marlins

White was the second half of Miami’s prep arm two-step from the most recent draft, taken in the third round after they’d snagged Noble Meyer in the first round. The lefty out of Massachusetts has long had enviable stuff but saw a dip in quantity and quality of strikes in his senior season of high school. He got his first real taste of the spotlight in the Marlins’ Spring Breakout game and made the most of his chance. In that outing, he showed a potentially overpowering three-pitch mix fronted a two possibly plus weapons in his fastball and breaking ball with a changeup just a touch behind. Given Miami’s success with pitching development, he could make huge strides this coming season.

Starlyn Caba, SS, Phillies

Right now, Caba might be a plus defender. In time, he might be a truly elite defender, as in an 80-grade shortstop. Offensively, he’s got fluid mechanics from both sides of the plate and plenty of bat-to-ball skills, though he’ll need to continue to add strength to get the most out of his power potential. No matter how his offensive game develops, his show-stealing work on the infield will give them the floor of a lockdown big league shortstop.

Luichi Casilla, LHP, Rockies

After spending two seasons in the Dominican Summer League, Casilla might be ready to pop. The lefthander signed in the same class as players like Dyan Jorge and Derek Bernard but has made some noise this spring on the backfields. Scouts who saw Casilla reported a player with a loose arm that pumped 95-98 mph fastballs and hard, two-plane sliders in the mid 80s as well as the occasional changeup. Casilla has both a lot to like and a long way to go. His pure stuff is tantalizing, but he’ll have to work hard to keep his body synced and coordinated in order to maximize both his quality and quantity of strikes.

Fabian Lopez, SS, Marlins

Miami’s system tilts heavily toward pitchers, but Lopez stands as one of its more intriguing position player talents. He made a big impression during the Spring Breakout game, when he showed soft hands, advanced footwork and the arm talent necessary to stick on the left side of the diamond. He’ll need to add strength to his frame, and he certainly has room to do so, in order to make himself a true offensive threat. He already has positive indicators at the plate, including the ability to manipulate his hands to help get the barrel to different sectors of the strike zone.

Xavier Isaac, 1B, Rays

In 2023, Isaac asserted himself as the best power broker in the Rays’ system not named Junior Caminero. Scouts were enamored of his prodigious juice from the left side, and he finished the year with 19 home runs and a .916 OPS across both Class A levels. Scouts this spring still saw a player flush with juice that can lose balls to any part of any park, but they were impressed by the short, quick nature of the swing that he uses to produce that power. Moreover, his body looked to be in excellent shape, which will help him withstand a season that should include plenty of at-bats at the upper levels.

Cole Carrigg, SS, Rockies

Carrigg was Colorado’s second-round pick last summer out of San Diego State. The switch-hitter reached Low-A Fresno and dominated in a manner one would expect from a hitter with a college pedigree. Evaluators were intrigued by Carrigg during instructional league and became even moreso during this past spring training. The versatile Carrigg employs a swing that helps him deliver the barrel well from both sides of the plate, shows above-average speed on the basepaths and has solid actions and hands as well. He’s athletic enough to play center field, too, which will come in handy with defensive wizard Ezequiel Tovar entrenched in Denver for the long term.

Brandon Sproat, RHP, Mets

The Mets have long been admirers of Sproat’s stuff, having drafted the Florida product twice. Multiple scouts who saw the righthander in the Spring Breakout game came away impressed. Sproat combines excellent pure stuff, including a mid-90s fastball, a nasty changeup and a 60-grade slider, into a strong, athletic body that should allow him to hold up against the rigors of a full starter’s workload. He’s also worked to tweak the mechanics in his lower half in order to achieve a more consistent movement profile on his fastball.

Jonny Farmelo, OF, Mariners

Farmelo is the player the Mariners selected with the pick they earned as part of the Prospect Promotion Incentive, thanks to Julio Rodriguez’s success in his rookie campaign. Already, it appears that choice is paying off. Scouts reported a player neck and neck with the rest of the top talents in the system, including 2023 standout Colt Emerson. Farmelo gets strong jumps and reads in center field and has a swing that allows him to keep the barrel in the zone a long time while also adjusting to pitches in different parts of the zone. He’s an above-average runner with strong athleticism and instincts that should help him stick in center field.

Brady Choban, RHP, Angels

The Angels might have found themselves a steal by plucking Choban as an undrafted free agent after the righthander split his college career between Marshall and Rio Grande, with a stop in the MLB Draft League before signing. The 23-year-old has a full complement of filthy stuff, including four- and two-seam fastballs in the upper 90s—he touched 100 mph on the backfields—as well as a tight-breaking slider and a split-changeup that had plenty of drop away from hitters’ barrels. Choban has just one official professional appearance on his card, but he’s certainly one to pay attention to in the Angels’ system.

KEEP AN EYE ON

• Royals OF Carson Roccaforte stuck out to scouts as an excellent defender in center field who got great jumps and was adept at chasing down balls in either gap.
• Reds RHP Luis Mey needs to improve the quality and quantity of his strikes, but it’s hard to argue with his powerful right arm. He touched 102 mph in the later days of spring training.

• Marlins C Will Banfield has shown a flatter bat path that could help him improve his offensive game enough to make himself a viable big league backup thanks to already-stellar defensive skill set.
• D-backs RHP Yilber Diaz needs to throw more strikes and improve his command, but he has the weapons to be a big league reliever one day thanks to a mid-90s fastball and a pair of breaking balls that flash plus. He’ll get his first test at the upper levels in 2024.
• Rangers RHP Winston Santos still intrigues evaluators thanks to a mid-90s fastball with outstanding analytical properties and a changeup that keeps hitters guessing. He still needs to bring along his breaking ball.
• The Pirates have a host of interesting arms brewing in the lower levels of their system, including Uganda native David Matoma, Vanderbilt product Patrick Reilly and Arizona State alum Khristian Curtis. Reilly and Curtis showed their wares in the Spring Breakout game, and Matoma impressed on the backfields. All three can bring their fastballs into the mid-to-upper 90s.
• Yankees RHP Josh Grosz got strong reviews this spring. The 2023 11th-rounder out of East Carolina showed a solid delivery with a 93-95 mph fastball and a slider and changeup that flashed average potential. System-mate Bryce Warrecker flashed a filthy sweeping slider as well.
• In the blast from the past department, Giants LHP Seth Corry showed a solid three-pitch mix on the backfields. He carved hitters with a 91-93 mph fastball with plenty of plane and angle, a curveball with plenty of snap that he could drop over the shoulder of lefties and a changeup that got righties to chase.
• Blue Jays SS Arjun Nimmala impressed scouts with big-time bat speed and a lively, athletic body at the front of a tool set that could give him a chance to make an impact on both sides of the ball.
• Dodgers RHP Reynaldo Yean got hit hard in the California League, but it’s hard to ignore a righthander who can get his fastball up over 100 mph and back it with a powerful slider with plenty of sweep.
• Guardians infielder Rafael Ramirez Jr. caught the attention of scouts during the Arizona Complex League season and continued doing so during spring training. He pairs wiry strength with standout athleticism. Now, the question is whether he can quiet his swing mechanics enough to improve his timing and tap into the best of his offensive game. If he can, he has a chance to be a fringe-average hitter with plus power.
• Cubs RHP Michael Arias broke out during 2023 and has a chance to rise even further this coming season. He brings a loose, whippy arm from a lower slot that delivers fastballs that can bump 100 mph while also showing a powerful sweeping breaking ball that rides the line between slider and cutter. He’ll occasionally flash a changeup with solid fading action, but this fastball-slider combo should be enough to carry him to a big league bullpen.

• Yankees lefthander Henry Lalane remains one of the highest-upside prospects in New York’s system. The southpaw showed off a dominant fastball-changeup combination in the Spring Breakout game, and he has a pretty darn good slider in his back pocket as well. He controls his long arms and legs and shows impressive command for someone his size.
• One sleeper prospect coming out of Arizona is D-backs catcher Alberto Barriga, a converted infielder from Mexico whose 2023 season in the DSL was limited to just 10 games. Scouts see a strong-armed receiver who is improving the finer points of catching while also showing a swing geared for hard line drives.
• Phillies infielder Devin Saltiban is one of the bigger up-arrow prospects in the org. The team took a chance on moving the Hawaii native to shortstop after viewing him in pregame warmups in high school and like the early results. In spring he showed a knack for loud contact and an ability to find the barrel often.
• Yophery Rodriguez is the Brewers’ latest outfield prospect allergic to playing the Arizona Complex League. After Jackson Chourio and Luis Lara skipped the level in 2022 and 2023, Rodriguez will do the same in 2024. Scouts who saw Rodriguez in Arizona tabbed him as a player with solid timing in the box and a swing geared for low line drives that should give him a nice hitter’s profile.
• Reds LHP Adam Serwinowski shows off a dynamic combination of fastball and slider that he does well to keep around the zone despite a funky delivery that adds plenty of deception. He has remaining projectability and arm speed, which could help him add a few more ticks to his fastball. He’ll mix in a changeup every now and then, but the pitch is the clear next step in his development.