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Thanksgiving arrives in the US on Thursday, and whereas we all know soccer tends to rule the day, we all know baseball will nonetheless be on the minds of followers as they offer thanks between rounds of turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce. Some might be dreaming of the times after they can provide thanks for the additions of Juan Soto and Roki Sasaki. Others will look to prospects already in-house to offer hope for the long run.
We don’t need anybody feeling ignored in the beginning of the vacation season. Right here’s a motive why followers of every farm system ought to give thanks this week:
Blue Jays: Arjun Nimmala exploded for Single-A Dunedin after a quick midseason hiatus within the Florida Advanced League, slugging .564 with 13 homers in 53 video games from June 27 onward. The 2023 twentieth total decide has the plus energy to be Toronto’s subsequent hitting prospect star.
Orioles: Baltimore nonetheless boasts a deep pipeline of hitting expertise, headlined by High 15 total prospects Coby Mayo and Samuel Basallo, and that depth might assist the franchise pull off one other Corbin Burnes-style commerce for a frontline starter.
Yankees: George Lombard Jr., the membership’s 2023 first-rounder, made louder contact at Single-A Tampa than his .348 SLG would point out (110.3 max exit velocity, 102.7 ninetieth percentile EV), and his fielding skill routinely impressed scouts at shortstop, making him the most effective defenders within the Minors.
Guardians: Cleveland continues to play into its sort with eight High 10 prospects with hit instruments of 55 or above. On the high of the record: No. 1 total decide Travis Bazzana and his 70-grade bat.
Royals: Jac Caglianone had probably the most prodigious energy on this yr’s Draft class, and his exit velocities within the Arizona Fall League have been particular, including to the idea that he generally is a one-way star even when his pitching doesn’t translate as properly to the professional facet.
Tigers: Deadline pickup Thayron Liranzo and Triple Crown winner Josue Briceño have been talks of the Arizona Fall League after packing a severe punch on the plate. They’ll be two of probably the most intently adopted prospects in subsequent yr’s Spring Coaching as they compete to be Detroit’s backstop of the long run.
Twins: Walker Jenkins climbed to No. 2 total in our High 100 rankings on the finish of the season after working round hamstring points to indicate high-ceiling upside throughout a climb to Double-A in his age-19 season.
Angels: Christian Moore’s post-Draft run (.347/.400/.584, six homers in 25 video games) was one of many greatest tales of the Minors’ second half, and the previous Tennessee star might simply be the Halos’ subsequent fast climber to The Present.
Astros: Brice Matthews’ first full season, wherein he hit 15 homers and stole 32 luggage in solely 79 video games throughout 4 ranges together with Triple-A, ought to give Houston followers at the very least some hope for the way forward for third base if Alex Bregman departs in free company.
Athletics: The proprietor of a 70-grade hit device, 2023 sixth total decide Jacob Wilson retains rookie eligibility heading into ’25, and his skill to hit for a excessive common and play a stable shortstop might put him in line for a Rookie of the 12 months run and a doable PPI decide.
Mariners: Seattle has three High 100 prospects at shortstop in Colt Emerson, Cole Younger and Felnin Celesten, and it ought to be enjoyable to see them kind themselves out at completely different ranges once more in 2025.
Rangers: Sebastian Walcott has No. 1 total prospect upside as an 18-year-old shortstop with plus energy, above-average pace and a cannon of an arm.
Braves: Travis d’Arnaud’s departure to the Angels opens a catching spot on Atlanta’s roster. Good factor 23-year-old Drake Baldwin is virtually prepared for The Present after displaying an all-around talent set behind the plate within the Minors, AFL and Premier12 match.
Marlins: Thomas White’s Ok-heavy first full yr offers the system a crack at a left-handed ace, whereas the midseason acquisitions of Agustin Ramirez and Deyvison De Los Santos supplies hope that there could possibly be a ton of energy coming to Miami’s lineup sooner or later.
Mets: Be grateful Brandon Sproat granted the Mets permission to draft him a second time after not signing out of the third spherical in 2022. The 2023 second-rounder posted a 3.40 ERA and 131 strikeouts in 116 1/3 innings throughout three ranges this yr, together with Triple-A Syracuse.
Nationals: James Wooden’s commencement would have left many different programs with out a famous person outfield prospect. The Nats nonetheless declare Dylan Crews atop their mantle, and after displaying regular enhancements at every cease within the Minors, the 2023 second total decide might explode as a Rookie of the 12 months candidate subsequent summer time.
Phillies: Pitching for the primary time in video games since spring 2023, Andrew Painter seemed like his outdated self because the AFL Pitcher of the 12 months, and his upper-90s fastball and particular management might contribute to Philadelphia’s pitching depth subsequent yr.
Brewers: Jesus Made appears to be like like Milwaukee’s subsequent huge worldwide improvement story after slashing .331/.458/.554 with 21 extra-base hits, 28 steals and a 28/39 Ok/BB ratio in 51 video games within the Dominican Summer time League. The under-the-hood information is simply pretty much as good for a 17-year-old, kicking the hype into one other gear.
Cardinals: Look to the center infield. JJ Wetherholt would possibly transform an enormous steal for St. Louis on the seventh slot within the 2024 Draft, and No. 4 prospect Thomas Saggese ought to be in play for the group’s beginning second-base job after tamping down his aggression on the plate within the AFL.
Pirates: What do you get a system that’s already produced Paul Skenes? How about one other high-quality right-hander in Bubba Chandler, who reveals upper-90s warmth as a part of a four-pitch combine that dominated Triple-A?
Reds: The Wake Forest pitching lab. The Demon Deacons gave the Reds 2023 seventh total decide Rhett Lowder, who debuted in Cincy in late August, and in addition developed Chase Burns right into a No. 2 total decide by the identical membership in July.
D-backs: Yu-Min Lin was the beginning pitcher in Chinese language Taipei’s 4-0 upset win over Japan within the Premier12 gold-medal recreation on Sunday. It was a terrific approach for the 21-year-old left-hander to finish 2024 after he missed six weeks with facial fractures suffered from a foul ball with Double-A Amarillo.
Dodgers: Los Angeles stays the most effective organizations for figuring out and growing expertise regardless of low Draft picks. The AFL served as a reminder of that after Zyhir Hope (acquired from the Cubs within the Michael Busch commerce) and Eriq Swan (2023 fourth-rounder) caught business consideration within the desert.
Giants: Bryce Eldridge’s climb via 4 ranges in his age-19 season offers the San Francisco system the shining star it so desperately wants. The 2023 sixteenth total decide has at the very least plus energy from the left facet, and his propensity for loud contact ought to assist his common too.
Padres: Breathe simple, San Diego. Ethan Salas rebounded from a tough season at Excessive-A Fort Wayne with a stable Fall League, buoying his standing as a future All-Star catcher who can impress from each side of the plate.
Rockies: After hanging out 169 in 118 innings between Excessive-A and Double-A in his first full season, Chase Dollander could possibly be the high-end arm the Colorado system has all the time craved. His fastball, specifically, has the velo and carry to dominate in any respect ranges.
