Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes (greatest fastball, slider) took the Main Leagues by storm because the NL Rookie of the 12 months, due to his hard-throwing methods and elite pitch combine. Rays third baseman Junior Caminero (greatest energy) posted a 116.3 mph max exit velocity that topped the rookie leaderboards. Cubs teenager Pete Crow-Armstrong (greatest defender) was value 14 Outs Above Common in his first full MLB marketing campaign, tied for fifth-best amongst MLB middle fielders, and once you incorporate his arm expertise, his +16 Fielding Run Worth runs have been third-best amongst all place gamers. Talking of arms, Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn (strongest arm) registered the toughest throw from an MLB shortstop in 2024 (101.2 mph) and accounted for six of the 15 hardest total on the place.
Certain, Orioles infielder Jackson Holliday (greatest hitter) served as a reminder that not all abilities translate to the bigs instantly, particularly in the case of hitting — that hardest feat in the entire main sports activities. However the adage stays true — have instruments, will journey.
These are the most effective instruments on the 2025 Prime 100, rated on the normal 20-80 scouting scale by which 50 is taken into account common:
Wilson is the closest participant to Luis Arráez on this 12 months’s preseason record as a hitter with extraordinarily good contact charges, unbelievable hand-eye coordination and a willingness to place the ball in play above all else. The 2023 sixth total decide whiffed on solely 9 % of his swings throughout all ranges in his first full season, and he was one among solely 5 Main Leaguers to put up a strikeout price beneath 10 % over a pattern of 100 plate appearances or extra. Like Arráez, Wilson expands the zone an excessive amount of at occasions in the hunt for that contact and will use extra impression to assist these hits pack punches. However the former Grand Canyon star — a .361 hitter in faculty and .401 hitter within the Minors — reached the A’s MLB roster so shortly for a cause.
Different 70-grade hit instrument: Travis Bazzana, 2B, Guardians
Caglianone’s energy was legendary throughout his run on the College of Florida. He clubbed 68 homers between his sophomore and junior years in 2023 and 2024, and it isn’t very tough to see why. The left-handed slugger stands within the field at 6-foot-5, 250 kilos and has the energy to muscle the ball to each a part of the sector. (He registered 110+ mph exit velocities seven occasions in an Arizona Fall League run.) He is aware of it too, which is why he expanded the zone a bit an excessive amount of in faculty, and decreasing that chase price shall be key to getting the pop to play on the professional aspect. Kansas Metropolis will maintain Caglianone’s concentrate on hitting in 2025 after he performed each methods as a Gator, and that might enble him to muscle his solution to the bigs briefly order.
Different 70-grade energy instruments: Charlie Condon, OF/3B, Rockies; Bryce Eldridge, 1B, Giants; Xavier Isaac, 1B, Rays; Coby Mayo, 3B/1B, Orioles
The seventeenth total decide in 2022, Crawford was identified for his wheels popping out of Bishop Gorman Excessive Faculty in Las Vegas, and he’s hit the bottom working by two full seasons of professional ball. He swiped 47 luggage in 2023 and added 42 extra thefts final 12 months as he reached Double-A Studying. His 89 steals rank seventeenth within the Minor Leagues in that span, and nobody else within the Prime 100 has greater than 66.
Tampa Bay’s prime prospect routinely comes up in conversations as probably the greatest defenders in the entire Minors, and each his glovework and arm energy are components of that dialogue. An above-average runner with good instincts, Williams can get to most balls hit his approach on the dust, and he has the regular palms to see the ball into the glove. As soon as there, his plus-plus arm energy doesn’t simply imply he fires rockets; he additionally earns plaudits for his accuracy. The perfect defenders make each highlight-reel performs and constant mundane ones too (or in some circumstances, make highlight-reel performs look mundane), and Williams matches the outline. It’s what provides him such a excessive flooring coming into his age-22 season and potential MLB debut.
Different 70-grade arm instruments: Max Clark, OF, Tigers; Konnor Griffin, SS/OF, Pirates; Coby Mayo, 3B/1B, Orioles; Braden Montgomery, OF, White Sox; Bryce Rainer, SS, Tigers; Sebastian Walcott, SS/3B, Rangers
Touching triple digits will all the time arch a number of eyebrows, nevertheless it isn’t velocity alone that earns Misiorowski the nod right here. The 6-foot-7 right-hander will get elite extension to shorten the space between his launch and the batter, giving them even much less time to react, and his three-quarters launch is on the low aspect, giving him a flat method angle that allows the heater to buzz over bats. Opposing batters hit simply .212 off Misiorowski’s heater at Double-A and Triple-A in 2024, and their whiff price on the pitch was 31 %; Main League common was .247 and 22 % final season.
Curveball: Misiorowski (70)
As if that fastball wasn’t sufficient, Misiorowski’s curveball is one other devastating pitch — a mid-80s two-plane snapper with chew. The 22-year-old didn’t enable a success off his curve in 14 Triple-A appearances and elicited whiffs on 41 % of swings in opposition to the pitch on the Minors’ prime degree. The fastball, curve and arduous slider give the Milwaukee righty an imposing arsenal, however issues about total command and management proceed to observe him. Even so, the combo might be particular sufficient to make Misiorowski an elite nearer as early as this summer season.
It’s known as a “dying ball” for a cause. After Tommy John surgical procedure slowed him early in his profession, Rocker received to unleash his killer breaking pitch for good within the higher Minors and ultimately the Main Leagues final 12 months. It’s a mid-80s providing that has gyro motion and seems at occasions to drop straight down, somewhat than have among the gloveside motion you’d count on from a standard slider or sweeper. That form befuddles hitters utterly; the slider had a 66 % swing-and-miss price in Double-A, Triple-A and the Majors final 12 months.
Different 70-grade sliders: Chase Burns, RHP, Reds; Cade Horton, RHP, Cubs; Jackson Jobe, RHP, Tigers; Noah Schultz, LHP, White Sox
A number of the greatest changeups appear to be fastballs … till it’s too late. That’s precisely what occurs with Therefore’s 82-84 mph circle change — a pitch that is available in with comparable arm angle and intent as his 92-96 mph fastball, solely to hit the brakes because it approaches the plate. Texas League batters might barely contact Therefore’s cambio in 2024; the pitch had a 73 % whiff price total and 63 % whiff price within the zone. Even when it was over the plate, there was little they may do.
Sasaki’s triple-digit fastball will garner loads of fan intrigue as he strikes stateside, particularly if he can get his velo to bounce again after a slight dip in 2024, however the true seamheads will take note of his 88-90 mph splitter. The providing has wowed evaluators on either side of the Pacific as a result of it is available in arduous for such an offspeed providing and sometimes drops straight down, eschewing the armside motion sometimes related to splitters and changeups. It garnered a 57.1 % whiff price in NPB final 12 months; solely Reds hurler Fernando Cruz (59.3 %) had a greater price of swing-and-miss within the Majors in ‘24.
Jobe’s high-spin slider has enamored scouts since his novice days, however the 2021 third total decide added a bridge cutter in late 2022, looking for one thing between his fastball and the sweep of his slider. The cutter was the Tigers righty’s most-used secondary pitch throughout his transient MLB run, illustrating his confidence within the providing, particularly in the case of needing to find a pitch. Righties anticipating to see a breaker head towards the opposing batter’s field can get stunned when a cutter simply catches the skin edge.
Lowder (34.1 %) obtained essentially the most votes for Greatest Pitchability in MLB Pipeline’s Govt Prospect Ballot. The 2023 seventh total decide walked solely 5.4 % of his batters confronted in 108 2/3 innings throughout three Minor League ranges in his first full season, and whereas he wasn’t as in line with limiting walks throughout his six Main League begins, his historical past of enchancment over time ought to assist him iron that out. The flexibility to pump strikes and work on the advantageous edges of the zone might maintain Lowder in Cincinnati’s rotation for a very long time.
Different 65-grade management: Andrew Painter, RHP, Phillies
