mlb prospect rankings 2022
The profile mirrors that of Bobby Witt Jr. coming out of the high school ranks in 2019. After not being seen in a game setting since 2019 due to injuries and 2020s MiLB season cancellation, Lewis looked healthy and much improved at the plate in 2022 before unfortunately re-tearing his ACL. Despite being one of the youngest players at each level he reaches, Walker seems to get better each time hes promoted. The changes really helped Lewis find offensive consistency, lighting up Triple-A to a .313/.405/.534 clip before getting the call up to the big leagues where he did kept things rolling for a dozen games before going down with the injury. If he continues to mature as a hitter, we could be looking at one of the best all-around players in baseball in a couple years. After tearing up High-A, Manzardo was promoted to Double-A and picked up right where he left off. An easy plus runner, Ford stole 23 bases on 28 tries this season. As Chourio improves with his patience and approach, he should develop into an above average hitter with plus raw power. When Walker is staying behind the baseball and driving it with authority to all fields, one cant help but think of a young Aaron Judge. Starting with the right side, Dominguez cut down his leg kick while quieting/simplifying his hand load. Similar to Marco Luciano, Matos has power and bat speed that defies his frame, making it hard to place limits on his power potential. Manzardo starts with his hands relaxed on his shoulder, using a toe tap for timing. The adjustments to Ruizs set up are minor, but they have allowed him to get into his pre launch position earlier and repeat his moves more consistently. Height/Weight: 64, 220|Bat/Throw: R/R|1st Round (22), 2020 (WSN)|ETA: 2022. He could probably benefit from getting the ball in the air a bit more (47% GB rate), though Hendersons ability to hit the ball hard to all fields and above average speed should have him routinely above average in the BABIP department. Here is a quick overview on the 20-80 scale used extensively throughout the list and standard across the baseball industry. His best pitch is his plus slider in the upper 80s. His quick bat and impressive body control helps him crush fastballs and changeups. His efficient bat path is quick to the ball while staying in the zone for a long time. Already posting above average contact rates, Winn could develop into a fringe-plus hitter as he matures at the plate. Realmuto, and while that may be aiming high, he has given no reason to believe that those heights are not achievable. Priester may not consistently be a huge strikeout pitcher, though when he is on, he can accumulate Ks in bunches. Height/Weight: 60, 170|Bat/Throw: R/R|IFA: $800K 2017 (COL)|ETA: 2023. In a 2020 MLB Draft dominated by college arms, the Giants were able to entice prep southpaw Kyle Harrison to forgo his UCLA commitment with a $2.5 million signing bonus. Yet another Brewers prospect with elite speed, Ruiz registered the 11th best sprint speed in MLB at 29.9 ft/sec despite only playing 14 games at the MLB level. Wood has a quiet upright set up, with simple pre-swing moves that are easier for him to repeat with his long levers. Drafted as a shortstop, Steer is capable of holding down the position if needed, but he projects more as a second or third baseman. The adjustments not only helped Dominguez up his OPS from the right side by more than 200 points, but he also trimmed his pull rate and chase rate, making better overall swing decisions. Aranda has above average power to his pull side and does a great job of hunting pitches he can get into that pull side pop with. Rafaela is not quite as elite at shortstop due to his average arm, but his quickness, great hands and range make him an above average infielder at the position. While Romo is strong and athletic enough to tap into some more power, his simple swing from both sides of the plate combined with above average bat speed has him trending towards a comfortably above average hit tool with enough power from both sides of the plate to be satisfied. Leiters mid 80s slider was easily his best pitch this season. Johnson starts with his bat resting on his shoulder and his weight favoring his backside before getting into a big leg kick that coincides with a barrel tip. Thanks to Espinos low release point and elite life (21 inches of induced vertical break), he was able to pick up a ton of swinging strikes up in the zone and freeze hitters at the knees. To the naked eye, the immense amount of late-life could easily get it confused with a splitter. After a lights-out 2021 season, Espino was off to an even better start in 2022 before a knee issue cut his season to just four starts. Elite contact rates and a knack for getting on base give Frelick a high floor with enough impact to rack up plenty of extra base hits. At this point, Matos bat-to-ball skills are almost a double-edged sword; on one hand, he is able to spoil tough pitches in two-strike counts, playing a big part in his minuscule 12% K-rate, but on the flip side, Matos will produce weak contact swinging at a ball off the plate early in the count that most other hitters would whiff and recalibrate. The former second round pick has mashed his way to Triple-A in just 152 games. A better hitter with added power, its easy to buy what Naylor is selling this year. Wagner slashed .243/.353/.386 with 1 home run, 11 RBIs, and 2 stolen bases in 19 games combined between rookie ball, A- Delmarva, and A+ Aberdeen. Height/Weight: 61, 200 | Bat/Throw: R/R | $1.55M 2018 (CIN) | ETA: 2024. The Cardinals have not stretched Hence out much, averaging less than four innings per start, but he is set to get more work in the Arizona Fall League. The elite defense, improved ability to get on base and integration of speed into game value has made Tovar a high floor prospect whose ceiling is difficult to peg for all the right reasons. Davis has a chance to be a dynamic outfielder with an enviable combination of power and speed, but he will need to find health and consistency in Triple-A. Fitting the trend for this years draft, Druw Jones is the son of former All-Star Andruw Jones. Averaging nearly 2400 RPMs from a high three-quarters release, Harrison features a lot of life on his fastball with run as well from a spot that is difficult to pick up out of the hand. Already on the 40 man roster, Valera could break into the big leagues next year, though another few hundred at bats in Triple-A would do him well. So even. The efficiency of his swing and simple pre-swing moves help him frequently be on time as well as get to tough pitches. Harrisons slider gives him a second plus pitch in the low 80s with two-plane break. Formerly starting from an extremely upright and setup, Mead is still relatively tall in his stance but is more bent at the knees. Rafaela controls his body well and has steady numbers against breaking balls and off speed pitches. That said, Luciano deserves every bit of the hype. Volpe stores plenty of energy in his back side with his hovering leg kick before unleashing his explosive lower half and bat speed. Rounding out Priesters arsenal is an above average slider and changeup. Rodriguez is a complete hitter with the body control, bat to ball skills and approach to give him a plus hit tool while tapping into every bit of his above average raw power in games. A two-way player at East Carolina, the Cardinals drafted Burleson as an outfielder andas he explained to Just Baseballback in June, exclusively focusing on hitting has allowed him to take his offensive game to the next level while tapping into more power. Should Wood move to a corner, he would be an above-average defender there. An inconsistent lower half is common among younger players and is going to be even more pronounced when you are 6-foot-4, 175 pounds. He fits the profile of the modern leadoff hitter to a tee. As a result, Miller has seen a jump in the whiff rates of his fastball, setting the tone for his three impressive secondaries. FantasyPros.com 2022 MLB Top Prospects Top 20 Prospects for FYPD. Its easy to envision a low-strikeout switch-hitter who will surprise you with his sneaky power and ability to get on base. Casas massive build limits him to first base, where he moves well and already excels at picking and has solid footwork around the bag. A grinder at the plate, Carroll is constantly battling and is a hard player to get out. Combined Neto slashed .299/.377/.476 with 9 doubles, 5 home runs, 27 RBI and 5 stolen bases in 37 games played. Jackson Holiday, SS 4. Yet another electric pitching prospect in a loaded Dodgers system, Miller has a good chance to be the best of the bunch. Assuming Chourio continues to mature as a hitter, he has 30/30 upside while playing center field at an extremely high level. Peraza is a plus runner with good footwork at shortstop, giving him above-average range. Meyer is an ultra-competitor who is not afraid to attack hitters and if he can improve his fastball shape, he projects as a middle of the rotation arm that will provide flashes of a bit more when hes on. The loud nature of his game and hard-nosed hustle will surely make him a fan favorite in Milwaukee. In all, Neto slashed .403/.500/.751 with 27 home runs and 31 stolen bases in 100 collegiate games at Campbell. Keegan should start the year in Charleston and should move up the ladder quickly. ProspectsLive.com 2021 Baseball Prospect Rankings Top 175+ Prospects for 2021 First-Year Player Drafts Top 600 Prospects for the 2021 MLB Amateur Draft Top 100 Prospects for 2022 MLB Amateur Draft Top 500 Prospects for Dynasty Leagues Top 1,150 Prospects Based on Dynasty Projections Top 100 Prospects for Fantasy Leagues. There have been starts where the changeup is there for Miller and he is comfortable throwing it to both lefties and righties, providing hope that it can be an above average offering. Starting with an open stance and a toe tap to close himself off, Alvarez has some of the easiest power youll find in the minors. Ford impressively only chased 14% of pitches in this season, helping him walk at a 18% clip. Montgomery was viewed as an older prep prospect, but now he is ahead of schedule of most of the 2021 draftees thanks to his polish at the plate. Lees swing is almost identical from both sides of the plate, utilizing a simple set up and quiet load while relying on his impressive bat speed and added strength to produce impact. During his final season with the Red Raiders, Birdsell struck out 106 batters in 85 innings holding a 2.75 ERA in 15 starts. Volpe can do it all, impacting the game in countless ways along with elite makeup. Peraza has a silky smooth right-handed stroke that features a big, slow and controlled leg kick and a clean barrel path that stays in the zone for a long time. He gets plenty of whiffs on the pitch at the top of the zone. A big body with three easily plus pitches and good command make it easy to see why Rodriguez is the most impressive arm in the minors. Espino does a great job of repeating his tough release point across all of his pitches, making it difficult for the hitter to differentiate whats coming out of his hand. January 17, 2023. Expanding to the rest of his stuff, Espino posted the second best swinging strike rate among qualified pitchers in the minors in 2021 at 20.2%, behind only Spencer Strider of the Braves. A three sport athlete in High School, Frelick won Masachusetts Gatorade Football Player of the Year before heading over to Boston College. Though an older prospect, Busch has had relatively limited professional at bats with his 2019 cut short and 2020s cancellation. The Rangers snagged Carter in the second-round for an underslot bonus of $1.25 million. After all, he remarkably has only 700 professional plate appearances under his belt. Top MLB Prospect Rankings for Fantasy Baseball. With a solid four pitch mix and impressive overall command (5% walk rate in 2022), the 22-year-old looks like hes on a fast track to the back of the Cardinals rotation. Even in a hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, Campusano posted impressive offensive numbers over his last two seasons hitting .296/.364/.511 with 29 homers and a strikeout rate of just 18.7%. He has consistently posted solid HR/FB rates since his High-A breakout in 2019 and should see his power start to translate at the highest level as he gains more comfort. The majority of his time in the field is spent at second base. One of the best power hitting catchers we have seen in the minors in some time, Alvarez has the goods to become one of baseballs best catchers and should arrive in Queens in early 2023. March 1, 2023. The 23-year-old is extremely comfortable landing both breaking balls for strikes. Height/Weight: 60, 180|Bat/Throw: L/R|IFA: $1.3M (2017) CLE|ETA: 2023. At 94-97 miles-per-hour with a ton of life, Bradley is able to get a ton of swings and misses when he elevates the heater, but also freezes hitters weary of his slider with four-seamers at the knees. A switch-hitter, Rocchio has a balanced and smooth swing from both sides of the plate. A slightly open stance with a rhythmic leg kick, Aranda has some of the best bat to ball skills in the minors. Though theres plenty of reason to believe he can stick in center, there is a chance that Alcantara could slow down a step as he physically matures. The speed has always been there for Turang, but he has looked as comfortable on the base paths as ever. Sets up in a medium base with an equal weight distribution, Lawlar uses a gathering leg kick along with a barrel tip for timing before unleashing a lightning quick stroke. The uptick in power and comfort in centerfield pushes Cowsers ceiling higher, but Orioles fans should feel really confident in the fact that they have at least an above average regular in Cowser. Signed away from Mississippi State for twice the slot value at $2.6M, he has top of the scale power potential in a surprisingly athletic XXL frame. He uses the whole field well while leveraging his hitters counts to look to do a bit more damage. Possessing a four pitch mix that rivals any pitching prospect in baseball, Painter has dominated hitters mostly with his 70 grade fastball that sits 95-97 mph and has been clocked as high as 101 mph. Yet another Yankees hitting development story, Dominguez made adjustments heading into the 2022 season and has looked like a completely different hitter. He has flashed the ability to drive the ball the other way with authority, but the front foot swings casting out and around the baseball have been more frequent. Williams has plus power potential with staying power at shortstop and decent speed. One of the younger players in Double-A, Tovars elite defensive ability and solid feel to hit has allowed him to play above his age-level at every stop. Rodriguez further simplified his load in 2022, losing the moving leg kick in favor for a toe tap. Caissie is short to the ball and can really turn on pitches middle-in with authority. He uses his athleticism to help him move well behind the dish and block effectively. He should be an above average defender at the position. Since his 2019 breakout in High-A, Steer has not really blinked at any level. After struggling to tap into his plus raw power at the University of Cincinnati, Wiemer made some adjustments to get the ball in the air more. Walker starts slightly open with his stance and does not close himself off totally, sometimes even stepping in the bucket a bit. Davis syncs his strong lower half and upper body well starting from the beginning of his swing where his unique hand load is almost always in the sequence with his slow leg kick. A Syracuse University grad, Aram hosts the "The Call Up" podcast centered around MLB prospects. The right-hander has three secondary offerings he will mix in with his above average slider leading the way. The 23-year-old could find himself in the big leagues as early as Opening Day 2023 and has the upside of a 30-30 threat with solid defense in a corner. How much power he taps into will be a determinant in just how absurdly high his ceiling is, but Hollidays instincts, natural hitting ability, physical projection and bloodlines have Holliday looking like a potential All-Star shortstop for the Orioles. Hall also has a slurvy breaking ball that features 10-4 break in the low 80s. Height/Weight: 62, 185|Bat/Throw: R/R|23rd Round (677) 2018|ETA: 2023. 15 of his 40 extra base hits in 2022 went to the opposite field. The fourth pitch for Painter is a changeup that has flashed above-average in the upper 80s. Caissie has not totally tapped into his big raw power in games due to his struggles to lower half inconsistencies. At one point, OHoppe was seen as a glove-first catching prospect. Theres a great chance that the Angels have their shortstop of the future in Neto and whether the hit tool is closer to above average or plus territory will likely determine his ceiling. Three potentially plus pitches with solid command and impressive size/athleticism on the mound paints the picture of a potential front line starter. All of the sudden, Dominguez looks like a really well-rounded hitter who still has the freakish strength capable of producing 30 home runs with ease as he continues to find consistency. Harrisons above-average changeup worked in tandem with his fastball to make at-bats extremely difficult on opposite-handed hitters. Perazas sweet swing from the right side and plus defense at short make him a high probability everyday shortstop. Hes so athletic and cerebral that he will find a way to develop into at least an average defensive catcher .Unsurprisingly, he moves well and gets to difficult pitches to block. He has held true to his assertion, swiping 31 bases on 34 tries between Double-A and Triple-A this season. With decent defensive tools across the board, Valera should be a fine defender in a corner outfield spot. Featuring a simple and easy swing with quiet, repeatable mechanics, Hassells quick bat and ability to control the barrel allow him to get to tough pitches. When the Twins drafted him first overall in the 2017 MLB Draft, they saw an uber-athletic position player with a high-floor coupled with a high-ceiling. A slightly open stance with the weight on his front foot up on his toe, Colas starts his load by turning his front foot inward to get into his back side and create tension before unleashing his explosive swing. The 21-year-olds set up and swing is reminiscent of Nolan Arenado, starting with his hands somewhat high while using the same unique timing mechanism that starts with the back heel actually coming off of the ground before rocking backwards and picking up his front foot. His defensive value comes from his 70 grade arm which is one of the strongest in the minors and pretty accurate as well thanks to his pitching days. Updated: Friday, March 3, 2023 11:11 PM ET, Park Factors A powerful bat who controls the strike zone really well, Busch has the ingredients of a Max Muncy lite. Matos has plus power to the pull side, but is a bit too eager to do damage that way, largely in part to his aggressive approach. Palatable chase rates and solid contact rates give Campusano a great chance to be an average hitter or slightly better and he has flashed his above average power on several occasions this year, maxing out at 112 mph off of the bat. The good news is Meyers fastball ticked up a notch prior to his injury, helping him get more whiffs on the pitch. Height/Weight: 511, 180|Bat/Throw: R/R|2nd Round (54), 2020 (STL)|ETA: 2023. The second plus offering for Hall is his slider with late bite in the mid 80s. Soderstrom is way ahead of his years in the batters box, but struggled behind the dish in his first two pro seasons. A plus offering, nearly half of Leiters strikeouts this season came on the pitch. The 22-year-old right-hander features a plus fastball topping out at 99 mph and a plus slider that has sharp cutting action in the high 80s. He is explosive rotationally, uncorking like a rubber band on pitches middle-in. Team-specific prospect lists can also be accessed by clicking on the team logos, which are arranged according to the number of prospects each team has in the Top 100. x7. Rounding out Graceffos arsenal is his sweeping curveball in the 78-80 mph range. The best pitching prospect in baseball really does not have a weakness on the mound. Though limited to first base professionally, he moves well at the position and has a plus arm with soft hands. However, he will have to continue to make strides with his command in order to reach his No. Martes ability to control the barrel and above-average exit velocities, paired with a decent approach, have helped him put up pretty consistent numbers at each level.