The second version of Spring Breakout is bursting with high-profile prospects. Seventy members of MLB Pipeline’s Prime 100 are slated to take part, together with Crimson Sox outfielder Roman Anthony (No. 2), Tigers outfielder Max Clark (No. 6), Crimson Sox infielder Kristian Campbell (No. 7), Rays shortstop Carson Williams (No. 9) and Guardians second baseman Travis Bazzana (No. 10). Bazzana was the No. 1 total choose within the 2024 Draft, and 32 of the highest 35 decisions final 12 months will participate in Spring Breakout.
The 16 all-prospect video games additionally will give an opportunity for lesser-known Minor Leaguers to make names for themselves. With that in thoughts, we establish a proficient participant from every farm system who may stand out on the Spring Breakout stage.
The entire video games will probably be broadcast stay and blackout-free on MLB’s streaming platforms (MLB.com, MLB.TV and the MLB app), with eight carried stay on MLB Community.
Blue Jays: Sean Keys, 3B (No. 20)Toronto has had success in recent times growing high-OBP varieties in Spencer Horwitz and Alan Roden, and Keys — the Jays’ fourth-rounder final 12 months out of Bucknell — may fall proper in line. The left-handed hitter constructed on that status in his first style of the professionals final 12 months (.378 OBP at Single-A Dunedin), and his energy performed properly in that setting too. That pop, mixed with Keys’ unwillingness to broaden the zone, may flip some heads Saturday towards the Twins in Dunedin.
Orioles: Austin Overn, OF (No. 29)A multisport standout in highschool, Overn went on to Southern Cal as a large receiver and outfielder. After a 12 months, he gave up the gridiron to deal with baseball and landed within the third spherical of the 2024 Draft as an eligible sophomore. He had a stable professional debut and can let his almost top-of-the-scale pace free for his first full season. He’d be the quickest man within the group if it weren’t for Spring Breakout teammate Enrique Bradfield Jr.
Rays: Will Simpson, 1B (No. 30)Xavier Isaac and Tre’ Morgan had been late Spring Breakout removals, opening up the prospect for Simpson to absorb the eye at first base in Thursday’s Florida opener towards the Crimson Sox. Acquired from the A’s this offseason for lefties Jeffrey Springs and Jacob Lopez, the right-handed slugger has impressed Rays officers with a number of the greatest uncooked bat pace in camp — a trait that helped him hit 18 homers between Excessive-A and Double-A in his first full season final 12 months. That’s saying one thing for a corporation loaded with hitters, and it may make for an enormous introduction to Rays followers up and down the Gulf Coast.
Crimson Sox: Justin Gonzales, 1B/OF (No. 15)Signed for $250,000 out of the Dominican Republic in January 2024, Gonzales debuted by slashing .320/.391/.517 with 20 extra-base hits and eight steals over 47 video games within the Rookie-level Dominican Summer season League, profitable each a league championship and the group’s Latin program participant of the 12 months award. He already options plus uncooked energy with extra to return, producing spectacular exit velocities whereas additionally making superior swing choices.
Yankees: Eric Reyzelman, RHP (No. 23)A cyst on his again required three surgical procedures and sidelined Reyzelman for many of his first two years as a professional, however he returned final 12 months to put up a 1.16 ERA, .136 average-against and 41 % strikeout price in 31 appearances between three ranges, largely at Double-A. The 2022 fifth-rounder from Louisiana State works with a using fastball that touches 99 mph, a decent low-80s slider and a promising changeup with comparable velocity.
Guardians: Alfonsin Rosario, OF (No. 26)Acquired from the Cubs in alternate for Eli Morgan in November, Rosario has a number of the greatest all-around instruments in his new group, together with well-above-average uncooked energy and arm energy in addition to plus pace. His excessive aggression on the plate does result in strikeout points, and he slashed .230/.344/.423 with 16 homers and 20 steals in 109 video games at Single-A final 12 months.
Royals: Spencer Nivens, OF (No. 30)Nivens was the most well liked hitter within the Minor Leagues from Aug. 1 onward final 12 months at Excessive-A Quad Cities, slugging 15 homers whereas posting a MiLB-best 1.179 OPS over his last 34 video games of the common season. What can the 2023 fifth-rounder do as a follow-up? Watch his mechanics on the plate Friday towards the D-backs. He simplified a few of his actions previous to that breakout, and people changes performed an enormous function in getting his spectacular pullside pop into video games constantly.
Tigers: Franyerber Montilla, INF (No. 14)Detroit will probably be loaded with middle-infield abilities Sunday towards the Braves with Kevin McGonigle, Bryce Rainer and Hao-Yu Lee all on the roster, however don’t overlook Montilla. The 19-year-old positioned himself squarely in Prime 30 consideration after slashing .273/.409/.448 with 24 steals and a near-even 40/38 Okay/BB ratio over 48 video games within the Florida Complicated League final 12 months. His above-average pace would possibly work at brief, however he has sufficient arm for third too. A powerful Breakout may solidify Montilla’s standing as a must-follow prospect in the perfect system in baseball.
Twins: Travis Adams, RHP (No. 22)The Twins have a knack for locating huge league arms later within the Draft, with guys like Zebby Matthews and David Festa among the many most up-to-date examples. It’s taken Adams, a sixth-rounder in 2021, some time to click on, however it occurred final 12 months at Double-A and he earned a spot on the 40-man roster after pitching his option to Triple-A. He’s a strike-thrower with continued enchancment within the utilization of his four- or five-pitch combine, giving him the prospect to slot in the again finish of a rotation.
White Sox: George Wolkow, OF (No. 10)Although he’s overshadowed by Chicago’s six Prime 100 prospects, Wolkow has extra energy upside than any of them. After reclassifying into the 2023 Draft and signing for an over-slot $1 million, he slashed .257/.357/.451 with 13 homers in 91 video games final 12 months as an 18-year-old between Rookie ball and Single-A. He’ll must make extra constant contact however the energy and leverage in his 6-foot-7, 239-pound body and the bat pace in his left-handed stroke give him large uncooked pop.
Angels: David Mershon, INFMershon posted a .954 OPS with 27 steals as a Draft-eligible sophomore at Mississippi State however wasn’t taken till Spherical 18 of the 2024 Draft, when the Angels went over slot to signal him for $405,000. The Angels pushed him to Double-A throughout his professional debut. He held his personal (.254/.326/.298) after which obtained some good work in throughout an Arizona Fall League stint (.858 OPS). He’s a switch-hitter with on-base abilities and pace who can play wonderful infield protection.
Astros: Jackson Nezuh, RHP (No. 15)One other cut price pitching discover by the Astros, Nezuh went from 14th-rounder out of Louisiana-Lafayette in 2023 to logging a 3.89 ERA and rating tenth within the Minors with a 30 % Okay price whereas reaching Excessive-A in his professional debut final 12 months. He has an excellent low-80s changeup that plunges on the plate, attaining hefty vertical separation from his 93-97 mph fastball with carry.
A’s: Shotaro Morii SS/RHP (No. 28)Morii opted to return to the USA relatively than enter the NPB Draft and the A’s gave him simply over $1.5 million to signal, the most important bonus ever given to an novice participant from Japan. Most scouts suppose he’ll find yourself as a hitter full time, enjoying on the left facet of the infield, however he’s going to get the chance to do this and pitch (with a four-pitch combine). The potential to see him do each in a single Spring Breakout recreation is among the extra thrilling storylines this weekend.
Mariners: Grant Knipp, C/RHPA two-way man at Campbell who hit .402 with with 18 homers whereas pitching a bit out of the bullpen as a senior, Knipp joined the Mariners as an under-slot sixth-round signing. The Mariners are going to proceed with two-way growth and see if the facility performs at this degree, however most suppose his future is on the mound, the place he’s as much as 95-96 mph along with his fastball and backs it up with extra of a real up-down form of curve.
Rangers: David Davalillo, RHP (No. 30)Signed for simply $10,000 out of Venezuela in 2022, Davalillo led the Minors with a 1.88 ERA final 12 months whereas placing out 113 in 110 1/3 innings between two Class A stops. The important thing to his success is a low-80s splitter that generated a 58 % swing-and-miss price in 2024, whereas the remainder of his arsenal grades as fringy to common. He comes from an prolonged baseball household that features a grandfather (Pompeyo) and great-uncle (Vic) who performed within the Majors, a father (David) who reached Double-A and a youthful brother (Gabriel) who signed with the Angels for $2 million in January.
Braves: Elison Joseph, RHP (No. 29)A way-under-the-radar signing on the worldwide market in November 2019 when he was virtually 19, Joseph spent three years within the Florida Complicated League or with Single-A Augusta, however issues clicked a bit in 2024 as he pitched his option to Double-A for the primary time. He’s the kind of reliever who may create a buzz in his Spring Breakout recreation by touching triple digits along with his fastball whereas additionally lacking bats along with his nasty slider.
Marlins: Joe Mack, C (No. 9)Three years after the Marlins chosen him thirty first total within the 2021 Draft out of a New York highschool, Mack lastly broke out. After altering his strategy and seeking to assault fastballs early in counts, he completed fifth amongst Minor League catchers final season with 24 homers whereas slashing .252/.338/.468 (largely in Double-A). He’s additionally an athletic defender with a powerful arm behind the plate.
Mets: Christopher Suero, C/1B/OF (No. 22)Any time you hear a few catching prospect who’s quick sufficient to additionally play outfield, Daulton Varsho comparisons instantly leap to thoughts. Having solely reached Excessive-A thus far, Suero is years away from really solidifying such a lofty comp, however don’t be shocked if he finds a number of methods to contribute Sunday towards the Nationals. The 5-foot-11 right-handed hitter has some pullside pop, and his plus pace helped him swipe 20 baggage final season. He’s listed among the many Mets catchers, however he may slide to first base, left discipline and even heart if New York wants it.
Nationals: Sam Petersen, OF (No. 30)Dylan Crews and James Wooden needs to be mainstays in Washington’s outfield for years to return, and 2025 Breakout contributors Daylen Lile, Elijah Inexperienced and Andrew Pinckney will probably be amongst these pushing to affix them within the D.C. grass down the road. The identical goes for Petersen, a 2024 eighth-rounder who shouldn’t go ignored in both of the Nats’ two Spring Breakout matchups. The Iowa product has plus pace, can play above-average protection and may choose extra-base hits aplenty within the gaps.
Phillies: Keaton Anthony, 1BAnthony has hit just about all over the place he’s been, leaving Iowa with a profession .372/.476/.686 line earlier than signing as a nondrafted free agent in July 2023. He then proceeded to hit his means from Single-A to Double-A in his first full season and led all Minor League first basemen in hitting, ending with a .327/.414/.454 line whereas additionally incomes a Gold Glove award for his protection.
Brewers: Jack Hostetler, RHPThis is a real deep minimize. Hostetler signed with the Brewers as a nondrafted free agent final 12 months simply earlier than he was set to maneuver from Division III Whitman School to Oregon State, and he’s caught the group’s consideration this spring as famous in our Brewers Spring Coaching Report. Hostetler already has a Cactus League look below his belt from Feb. 25 when he touched 97.3 mph and confirmed off a cutter and a changeup. The Crew believes Hostetler may use that heater to blow by professional hitters rapidly as a possible breakout hurler in his first professional season.
Cardinals: Luis Gastelum, RHP (No. 30)Followers of terrific changeups will need to be careful for a possible Gastelum look Friday towards the Marlins. The 23-year-old right-hander’s 81-84 cambio had unfavorable induced vertical break final 12 months, together with 15-16 inches of armside break, making it a menace for batters. Gastelum has made one Grapefruit League look this spring and struck out two of the three batters he confronted (one among whom was Dylan Crews on a changeup), proving that he’s carried the pitch’s effectiveness into 2025.
Cubs: Jaxon Wiggins, RHP (No. 10)Tommy John surgical procedure sidelined Wiggins for his Draft 12 months at Arkansas in 2023, although he did land a well-over-slot $1,401,500 as a second-rounder, and led the Cubs to restrict him to 59 2/3 innings in his professional debut final season. He’s inconsistent however has a fastball that reaches triple digits and a mid-80s slider with large depth, and he may rank because the Cubs’ greatest place prospect by season’s finish.
Pirates: David Matoma, RHP (No. 30)Signed for $20,000 in January 2023 out of Uganda, Matoma began creating some buzz on the backfields in Bradenton, Fla., after which threw rather well within the Florida Complicated League. It was solely 22 innings, however the 6-footer struck out 11.5 per 9 innings and held hitters to a .183 common, with a fastball that hits triple digits and a stable gyro-like slider. He’s solely 19 and comparatively uncooked, however confirmed as much as camp this spring with extra physicality for the complete season forward.
Reds: Luis Mey, RHP (No. 20)Mey has all the time had arm energy however hadn’t been capable of land his high-octane stuff within the strike zone (profession 7.1 BB/9 price). That modified throughout his Arizona Fall League stint, when he allowed simply two walks and one hit in 8 2/3 scoreless innings. It was sufficient for the Reds so as to add him to the 40-man roster, and his sinking fastball (as much as 102 mph) and upper-80s slider are nasty sufficient to ascertain him closing out huge league video games sooner or later.
D-backs: Yordin Chalas, RHP (No. 17)Spring Breakout video games are terrific alternatives to indicate off plus-plus stuff, and Chalas’ fastball ticks that field. It’s ranged 96-99 mph in Statcast video games already this spring, and it performs up with near 7 ft of extension. He’ll additionally combine in a mid-80s slider that flashes plus whereas he searches for a 3rd pitch to maintain hitters guessing. A Breakout outing may present a glimpse at that progress earlier than the 21-year-old ascends to the higher Minors.
Dodgers: Ching-Hsien Ko, OF (No. 16)He will get misplaced among the many Dodgers’ avalanche of high quality teenage prospects as a result of he has performed simply 9 professional video games, however Los Angeles director of Pacific Rim scouting Jon Deeble in contrast Ko to Cody Bellinger when he signed for $650,000 out of Taiwan in 2023. He has all of the elements to hit for common and energy in addition to a sophisticated strategy on the plate.
Giants: Trent Harris, RHP (No. 11)The son of former huge leaguer Greg W. Harris, Trent has been a revelation since signing for $10,000 as a nondrafted free agent out of NCAA Division II UNC Pembroke in 2024. He has compiled a 1.52 ERA and 36 % strikeout price whereas ascending to Double-A in his first year-plus as a professional, due to a dynamic mid-90s fastball and a pair of high quality breaking pitches.
Padres: Kai Roberts, OF (No. 24)San Diego feels prefer it’s unearthed a possible gem in Roberts, a seventh-round pick of Utah final July. The 6-foot-5 outfielder is a plus-plus burner (exceptional for somebody his dimension) who went 14-for-14 in steal makes an attempt after the Draft with Single-A Lake Elsinore and may play an above-average heart discipline. He doesn’t have important energy regardless of his massive body, however these wheels may wreak some havoc towards the A’s on Friday.
Rockies: Michael Prosecky, LHPThe 6-foot-3 left-hander was on the Rockies’ Prime 30 a 12 months in the past following a stable 2023 season within the Single-A California League after he was the workforce’s sixth-round choose in 2022 out of Louisville. He missed almost all the 2024 season with a flexor pressure, throwing simply 64 uneven innings between the common season and the Arizona Fall League. He’s wholesome now, with the hope that he can get again to lacking a ton of bats along with his four-pitch combine, led by a fastball as much as 96 mph and a stable slider.
