Francisco Alvarez (greatest energy) grew to become simply the sixth catcher to slam 25 homers as a rookie. Corbin Carroll (quickest runner) was the primary rookie ever to mix 25 homers and 50 steals, ending second within the Nationwide League with 54 swipes.
Masyn Winn (strongest arm) ranked second amongst massive league shortstops with not less than 100 performs by averaging 92.4 mph on his throws from the place. Pete Crow-Armstrong (greatest defender) solely began three video games throughout a September callup however offered internet gems in two of them. Grayson Rodriguez’s (greatest changeup) cambio ranked because the 14th-most efficient among the many 127 pitchers who labored 100 innings in 2023.
The gamers incomes superlatives on our new 2024 High 100 have the possibility to make a right away affect as nicely. A lot of the prospects highlighted under ought to play within the Majors this season. Their instruments are grades on the usual 20-80 scouting scale, with 50 representing massive league common.
Finest hitter: Jackson Holliday, SS/2B, Orioles (70)
Holliday ranks atop our newest High 100 before everything due to his hitting capability. He broke J.T. Realmuto’s nationwide prep report for hits in a season (89 in 41 video games) in 2022 earlier than going No. 1 total within the Draft that July, and he hasn’t stopped raking since. He has batted .320 since turning professional, zooming from Single-A to Triple-A in his first full season at age 19. With a fast, compact left-handed stroke and a complicated method, he hits the ball with authority to all fields.
Additionally within the operating: Evan Carter, OF, Rangers; Dylan Crews, OF, Nationals; Jackson Merrill, SS, Padres.
Finest energy: Junior Caminero, 3B/SS, Rays (70)
Although he is simply 20 years outdated, Caminero hits the ball tougher than virtually anybody in baseball — together with the massive leagues. His mixture of bat velocity, energy and hitting capability helped him lead all youngsters in homers (31, fifth total within the Minors) and slugging (.591, sixth total) a 12 months in the past. As soon as he makes the adjustment to launch balls within the air extra persistently, he may produce 40 homers on an annual foundation.
Additionally within the operating: Jackson Chourio, OF, Brewers; Wyatt Langford, OF, Rangers; James Wooden, OF, Nationals
Quickest runner: Justin Crawford, OF, Phillies (75)
Carl Crawford received 4 American League stolen-base titles from 2003-07, and his son has the velocity to take a seat atop the swipe leaderboards in the future. Justin recorded 60-yard sprint occasions beneath 6.2 seconds on the highschool showcase circuit and used his quickness to steal 47 bases in 55 makes an attempt and to show sufficient grounders into singles to rank seventh within the Minors in batting (.332) throughout his first full professional season.
Additionally within the operating: Evan Carter, OF, Rangers; Jackson Chourio, OF, Brewers; Jordan Lawlar, SS, Diamondbacks.
Strongest arm: Masyn Winn, SS/2B, Cardinals (80)
Winn not solely ranked second in common velocity amongst massive league shortstops final summer time, he additionally recorded three of the six hardest throws (98.4, 98.0 and 97.3 mph) on the place regardless of not arriving in St. Louis till mid-August. He was scouted closely as a pitcher in highschool, when he ran his fastball as much as 98 mph. He famously unleashed a 100.5 mph laser on the 2022 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Recreation, and he additionally hit 102 mph on a relay in Triple-A final July.
Additionally within the operating: Roderick Arias, SS, Yankees; Coby Mayo, 3B/1B Orioles; Blake Mitchell, C, Royals.
Finest defender: Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF, Cubs (80)
Winn and Crow-Armstrong are the lone repeaters from the pre-2023 superlatives, and each have been straightforward decisions. With plus-plus velocity, excellent instincts and complete fearlessness, Crow-Armstrong is the perfect defensive outfield prospect in years. He can flip almost unattainable performs into outs and make tough performs look routine.
Additionally within the operating: Druw Jones, OF, Diamondbacks; Jeferson Quero, C, Brewers; Ceddanne Rafaela, OF/SS, Crimson Sox.
Finest fastball: Paul Skenes, RHP, Pirates (80)
Skenes rode his fastball to nice heights in 2023, successful a nationwide championship, School World Collection most excellent participant and Southeastern Convention pitcher of the 12 months honors and main NCAA Division I in strikeouts (209), strikeouts per 9 innings (15.3) and WHIP (0.75) earlier than going No. 1 total within the Draft and signing for a report $9.3 million. He averaged 98 mph and touched 102 whereas starring at Louisiana State, and his fastball performs up due to his flat method angle, command and carry. Some analysts quibble with the form of his heater, however hitters aren’t in a position to catch as much as it.
Additionally within the operating: Daniel Espino, RHP, Guardians; Kyle Harrison, LHP, Giants; Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Brewers.
Finest curveball: Tekoah Roby, RHP, Cardinals (60)
Although the Rangers don’t have any regrets about buying and selling for Jordan Montgomery final July, they did should half with the perfect curveball on the High 100 to get him. Roby’s greatest pitch is a high-spin curve within the higher 70s that options true downer break. He is in a position to each land it for strikes or use it as a chase pitch, and it performs nicely off his 93-96 mph fastball with good carry up within the zone.
Additionally within the operating: Mick Abel, RHP, Phillies; Chase Hampton, RHP, Yankees; Robby Snelling, LHP, Padres
Finest slider: Paul Skenes, RHP, Pirates (70)
Skenes’ slider improved tremendously at LSU beneath the tutelage of pitching coach Wes Johnson. His slide piece went from a good breaker that sat at 83-85 mph to an 85-89 beast with enormous sweep that elicited a 62 p.c swing-and-miss price towards school hitters in 2023. Regardless of its motion, he is in a position to command it nicely.
Additionally within the operating: Cade Horton, RHP, Cubs; Jackson Jobe, RHP, Tigers; Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Brewers.
Finest changeup: Dylan Lesko, RHP, Padres (70)
Probably the most superior highschool pitcher within the 2022 Draft, Lesko additionally featured the perfect changeup in your complete class. His cambio parks within the low-80s with important fade and a few sink as a bonus. He sells it with the identical arm velocity with which he delivers 93-98 mph fastballs and has full religion in his changeup. It is a main motive why he dominated left-handers in his 2023 professional debut, holding them to a .186 common with a 39 p.c strikeout price.
Additionally within the operating: Brock Porter, RHP, Rangers; Drew Thorpe, RHP, Padres; Carson Whisenhunt, LHP, Giants.
Finest different pitch: Hurston Waldrep, RHP, Braves (65 splitter)
Waldrep positioned third in Division I in strikeouts (156) and fourth in strikeout price (13.8 per 9 innings) whereas serving to Florida to the School World Collection finals final spring, relying closely on one of many extra unhittable pitches within the 2023 Draft. His upper-80s splitter climbs as excessive as 94 mph earlier than falling off the desk when it arrives at house plate, producing exceptionally excessive swing-and-miss (63 p.c) and chase (45 p.c) charges in school final 12 months. He loved comparable success with the pitch throughout his transient time in Double-A and Triple-A in his professional debut.
Additionally within the operating: Chase Hampton, RHP, Yankees (cutter); Jackson Jobe, RHP, Tigers (cutter); Jacob Misiorowski, Brewers (cutter).
Finest management: Rhett Lowder, RHP, Reds (65)
4 school pitchers went within the first spherical of the 2023 Draft, and three of them (Skenes, Lowder, Waldrep) mixed to seize 4 of the six pitching superlatives. A two-time Atlantic Coast Convention pitcher of the 12 months who topped Division I with 15 wins whereas rating fourth in ERA (1.87) and strikeouts (a Wake Forest-record 143) final spring, he kilos the zone with three pitches whereas repeating his straightforward supply. He walked simply 24 in 120 1/3 innings whereas throwing 70 p.c of his pitches for strikes as a junior, and his polish may land him in Cincinnati’s rotation by midseason.
Additionally within the operating: Jackson Jobe, RHP, Tigers; Andrew Painter, RHP, Phillies; Paul Skenes, RHP, Pirates.
