The MLB Pipeline High 100 was launched final Friday evening, and since then, we hope you’ve spent hours studying up on scouting studies, instrument grades and ETAs for this yr’s prime prospects.
However there’s one query the record doesn’t reply — who’s simply on the skin trying in?
Earlier this week, we broke down 10 gamers who simply missed the lower. Now, we current one participant from every group who represents the membership’s finest non-High 100 prospect:
Blue Jays: Arjun Nimmala, SSNimmala was nonetheless solely 17 when Toronto picked him twentieth general final July, highlighting how lengthy of a growth path he’ll have. Ranked as MLB Pipeline’s No. 11 prospect within the 2023 Draft class, the 6-foot-1 shortstop slipped some due to issues round pitch choice, however his potential for plus uncooked energy is simple from the fitting facet. With good arm energy, he additionally has a stable shot of sticking at shortstop, upping his potential worth.
Orioles: Connor Norby, 2B/OF (No. 7 2B)Norby can play left subject, too, nevertheless it’s his brief right-handed swing that can get him to the massive leagues. After hitting 29 homers throughout three ranges in 2022, he spent the ’23 season with Triple-A Norfolk, the place he slashed .290/.359/.483 with 40 doubles and 21 homers. It’s crowded in Baltimore and the higher ranges of its system, so it will likely be attention-grabbing to see how and if Norby can break by means of into the massive league lineup.
Rays: Brayden Taylor, 3BTaylor grew to become TCU’s first-ever place participant to go within the first spherical (nineteenth general) after he set college information for single-season (23) and profession (48) residence runs. The left-handed batter slugged above .570 in all three of his seasons with the Horned Frogs, however he isn’t all energy both, with a capability to regulate the strike zone. He had sufficient athleticism to play a bit center infield in class however is a good higher match at third, particularly together with his arm energy. Then once more, these are the Rays, so don’t be shocked if he does transfer round on his technique to St. Petersburg.
Purple Sox: Miguel Bleis, OFBoston’s finest worldwide prospect since Rafael Devers, Bleis signed for $1.5 million out of the Dominican Republic in 2021. He is a middle fielder with 30-30 upside and the potential for at the least stable instruments throughout the board, however his 2023 full-season debut ended after he slashed .230/.282/.325 with 11 steals in 31 Single-A video games. He subluxated his left shoulder on a swing in late Might and required surgical procedure.
Yankees: Everson Pereira, OFThough he is overshadowed by fellow outfielders Jasson Domínguez and Spencer Jones within the Yankees’ system, some evaluators consider Pereira would be the finest huge leaguer among the many trio. Signed for $1.5 million out of Venezuela in 2017, he can play all three outfield spots and options stable energy and pace. He batted .300/.373/.548 with 18 homers and 11 steals in 81 video games between Double-A and Triple-A earlier than making 26 begins for the Yankees within the season’s remaining six weeks.
Guardians: Ralphy Velazquez, C/1BFew gamers within the 2023 Draft provided a greater mixture of hitting capacity and energy than Velazquez, whom the Guardians scooped up with the twenty third general choice. The California highschool product went 8-for-23 with two homers in Rookie ball throughout his temporary professional debut. He is a piece in progress behind the plate, however his stable arm energy is an asset.
Royals: Cayden Wallace, 3BBlake Mitchell was the one Kansas Metropolis prospect who got here up in High 100 discussions, and it’s a troublesome race behind him for No. 2 within the group. Proper now, we lean towards Wallace — a possible 15-15 participant with a very good shot at being an on a regular basis third baseman. His outcomes dropped after a late-season promotion to Double-A, however he did lower his strikeout price there and will have been the sufferer of dangerous luck (.265 BABIP) as he labored to enhance his raise on contact.
Tigers: Kevin McGonigle, SS/2BDetroit officers have been already happy to get McGonigle with the thirty seventh general decide final yr, signing him for above slot at $2,847,500 to verify he joined the group, they usually’ve been maybe much more impressed by their early seems. McGonigle confirmed nice information of the strike zone, posting a ten/18 Okay/BB ratio over 21 video games between the Florida Advanced and State Leagues, and his capacity to search out the barrel ought to assist him be a plus hitter even in opposition to extra superior arms.
Twins: David Festa, RHPA native of Verona, N.J., the 6-foot-6 Festa attended close by Seton Corridor College and has already outperformed expectations that got here with being a Thirteenth-round decide within the 2021 Draft. He’s continued to throw tougher as he’s made it to the highest of the Twins’ system, and the 2023 Futures Gamer is getting extra misses together with his heater and has two distinct breaking balls and a extremely good changeup.
White Sox: Edgar Quero, C (No. 9 C)An offensive-minded catcher with a mature strategy on the plate, Quero received the Single-A California League MVP Award after slashing .312/.435/.530 in 2022, then batted .255/.380/.351 in Double-A final yr at age 20. Acquired from the Angels in a commerce for Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo López final July, he is working to enhance his protection and has common arm energy.
Astros: Jacob Melton, OFThough the Astros received shut out on our newest High 100, Melton did obtain assist for making the record. A 2022 second-rounder from Oregon State, he slashed .245/.334/.467 with 23 homers and 46 steals in 99 video games between Excessive-A and Double-A throughout his first full professional season, and his underlying metrics have been even higher than his uncooked numbers. His finest instrument is his plus pace, and he may very well be stable or higher throughout the board.
Angels: Nelson Rada, OFThe Angels challenged Rada with a soar from the Dominican Summer time League in 2022 to full-season ball in ’23, and the outfielder, who performed a lot of the yr at age 17, greater than held his personal (.276 common with a .396 OBP). He additionally stole 55 bases and might play heart subject for a very long time. The one query remaining is simply how a lot energy he can achieve, which can hopefully result in extra affect.
A’s: Mason Miller, RHPMiller has beforehand been on the High 100, and he definitely has that form of stuff. He’s proven his elite-level energy repertoire can miss bats within the huge leagues (10.3 Okay/9), with a fastball that hits triple digits and a nasty slider. The priority about Miller is his capacity to remain wholesome. The fitting-hander missed almost all of 2022 with a scapula pressure after which misplaced a big chunk of final yr due to an elbow concern, main some to marvel if the bullpen is a greater match for him long run.
Mariners: Lazaro Montes, OFSigned for $2.5 million in January 2022, Montes made a powerful first impression with an OPS north of 1.000 within the Dominican Summer time League after signing, albeit with a hefty strikeout price (33.2 p.c). He got here stateside in 2023 and performed his means from the Advanced League to full-season ball, ending with a 1.001 OPS whereas slicing his strikeout price and elevating his stroll price. There have been some who felt he was one of the best outfielder within the system even earlier than the Mariners traded Gabriel Gonzalez to the Twins.
Rangers: Justin Foscue, 2B/3B (No. 5 2B)The 14th general decide in 2020 out of Mississippi State, Foscue combines energy with persistence. He ranked third within the Triple-A Pacific Coast League in walks (85) and tied for fourth in doubles (31), whereas slashing .266/.394/.468. He has seen most of his motion in professional ball at second and third base, however his finest possibilities for enjoying time with the defending World Sequence champions will come at first base (the place he started enjoying final summer time) and DH.
Braves: Spencer Schwellenbach, RHPThe Braves have a pair of right-handers within the High 100 (AJ Smith-Shawver and Hurston Waldrep) and there are extra right-handed pitchers behind them who’re actually attention-grabbing. Schwellenbach was a shortstop in faculty who didn’t pitch for Nebraska till his junior yr, when he received the John Olerud Award for finest two-way participant in faculty as a shortstop/nearer. Atlanta didn’t get to see him pitch competitively till 2023 as a result of he wanted Tommy John surgical procedure, nevertheless it was very inspired by the Futures Gamer’s 65 innings of labor and assume there’s some upside to faucet into right here.
Marlins: Thomas White, LHP (No. 8 LHP)Gatorade’s Massachusetts Excessive College Participant of the Yr as each a junior and senior, White went thirty fifth general within the 2023 Draft and signed for $4.1 million — a document bonus for a New England draftee. Whereas he wants so as to add polish, he might have three plus pitches as soon as absolutely developed — a mid-90s fastball with run and carry, a high-spin curveball that sits round 80 mph and a low-80s changeup with fade.
Mets: Christian Scott, RHPIn shifting from a two-seam fastball to a mid-90s four-seamer, Scott confirmed exceptional features in command final season and led Minor League pitchers (min. 80 IP) with a 2.33 FIP, 0.86 WHIP and eight.9 Okay/BB ratio. His slider and changeup are additionally at the least common pitches, making him stable in opposition to batters from either side. A former reliever at Florida, the 24-year-old nonetheless hasn’t thrown greater than 90 innings in faculty or the professionals, and that restricted workload is possibly the one factor holding him again from a extra well-known profile.
Nationals: Cade Cavalli, RHPThe 2020 twenty second general decide could have change into a bit forgotten in 2023 after Tommy John surgical procedure saved him out all season. So right here’s a refresher — Cavalli sits 95-97 mph together with his fastball and might contact triple-digits. His curveball, slider and changeup all earn above-average grades, and that helped him strike out 279 over 220 1/3 innings within the Minors. The 6-foot-4 righty did expertise some command points earlier than going underneath the knife, so we’ll must see that work proceed in his rehab and return this summer time. However for now, he simply stays Washington’s prime prospect on the mound.
Phillies: Starlyn Caba, SSTo say the Phillies are enthusiastic about Caba, who signed in January 2023 for $3 million, could be an understatement. He hit .301 with a .423 OBP throughout his debut within the DSL final summer time, exhibiting off a knack for contact from either side of the plate. Whereas we’ll should see how a lot energy and offensive affect he provides as he matures, he’s an elite-level defender at shortstop and might actually run, pointing at the least to a future as a table-setter in a giant league lineup. He’s simply 18 years outdated for the whole lot of his U.S. debut this season.
Brewers: Robert Gasser, LHP (No. 9 LHP)The 24-year-old southpaw led all Triple-A pitchers and completed sixth within the Minor Leagues with 166 strikeouts over 135 1/3 innings for Nashville. His 3.79 ERA was additionally second-best amongst qualifiers on the Minors’ highest degree. Gasser’s finest pitch is a 79-82 mph slider that works effectively in opposition to batters from either side, and he sports activities a pair of low-90s fastballs and an upper-80s cutter that retains hitters guessing. He ought to get a glance in Milwaukee’s rotation shortly in 2024 and has the substances of at the least a backend starter.
Cardinals: Victor Scott II, OFSpeed kills. That assertion is getting more true by the day, because of rule adjustments which have inspired motion on the basepaths. Nobody makes use of their pace fairly in addition to Scott, a real 80-grade runner who tied for the Minor League lead with 94 steals in 2023. He’s additionally a plus-plus heart fielder and could be a defensive asset within the Majors tomorrow if known as upon. Although he batted .303 at Excessive-A and Double-A, Scott nonetheless has some questions on general energy and talent in opposition to fellow lefties that preserve him out of the High 100 for now, however like the whole lot else in his profession, that would change shortly.
Cubs: Moises Ballesteros, C/1B (No. 8 C)The Cubs’ 2023 Minor League Participant of the Yr, Ballesteros slashed .285/.374/.449 with 14 homers whereas ending his age-19 season with a five-game cameo in Double-A. He attracts some Alejandro Kirk comps for his hitting capacity, tender fingers and husky construct, and he continues to make progress together with his receiving and blocking.
Pirates: Thomas Harrington, RHPThe Pirates have 4 arms within the High 100, however there’s lots of pitching depth behind Paul Skenes, Jared Jones, Anthony Solometo and Bubba Chandler. The subsequent tier begins with Harrington, the membership’s Aggressive Stability Spherical A (No. 36 general) decide in 2022. He used his superior really feel of what is usually a five-pitch combine to maneuver from Single-A Bradenton to Excessive-A Greensboro, the place he spent a lot of the yr. Alongside the best way, he struck out 10.3 per 9 and walked simply 2.9, seeming prepared for the higher ranges.
Reds: Sal Stewart, 3BStewart likes to hit, and he’s fairly good at it. He earned a promotion from Single-A Daytona to Excessive-A Dayton in his first full season and really hit higher up a degree, ending with a formidable .275/.396/.416 line with extra walks than strikeouts. He’s huge and robust — with extra energy to come back — and a greater athlete than individuals anticipated, giving him a very good probability to stay at third whereas the Reds additionally give him some reps at second like they did final yr.
D-backs: Yu-Min Lin, LHPThe 5-foot-11 southpaw stands proud extra for his secondary pitches than his 89-92 mph fastball, beginning with a diving low-80s changeup that was his finest swing-and-miss pitch at Double-A. Pitching within the Texas League in his age-19 season, Lin additionally received a promising whiff price on his mid-70s curveball, and his low-80s slider and mid-80s cutter offered extra seems. The D-backs have challenged Lin so as to add energy, and if that occurs in his third yr of professional ball, anticipate extra Okay’s to come back within the higher Minors.
Dodgers: Jackson Ferris, LHP (No. 7 LHP)After receiving first-round cash ($3,005,000) from the Cubs as a second-round select of a Florida highschool in 2022, Ferris posted a 3.38 ERA, .179 opponents’ common in opposition to and 77 strikeouts in 56 Single-A innings in his professional debut final summer time. A part of the Michael Busch commerce in January, he can miss bats with a mid-90s fastball with glorious carry, a pair of stable breaking pitches and a promising changeup with fade.
Giants: Rayner Arias, OFCompared to a younger Eloy Jiménez as a Dominican novice, Arias signed in January 2023 for $2,697,500, the second-highest worldwide bonus in Giants historical past. He is a complicated hitter whose excessive exit velocities portend loads of future energy, and he batted .414/.539/.793 with 4 homers and 4 steals throughout his 16-game professional debut within the Rookie-level Dominican Summer time League.
Padres: Leodalis De Vries, SSAfter signing Ethan Salas as the highest worldwide prospect in 2023, the Padres went again to an analogous technique by signing this yr’s No. 1 in De Vries. The 6-foot-2 shortstop is a switch-hitter with superior pitch recognition and potential 20-plus-homer energy. He’s additionally a plus runner out of the field and has sufficient arm energy to play anyplace on the filth, ought to he want to maneuver off shortstop later in his profession. He’s off the High 100 for now till his abilities present up in professional video games, however early indications are that he, like Salas earlier than him, may very well be a fast riser within the rankings at simply 17 years outdated.
Rockies: Sterlin Thompson, OF/2BThompson is one of the best pure hitter within the Rockies’ system, although he missed a bit of his first full season with a left elbow harm. He did return and made it to Double-A, the place he didn’t hit as effectively, however he nonetheless completed with a .293/.376/.487 line earlier than posting a .935 OPS within the Arizona Fall League. His finest place might be an outfield nook, however he’ll preserve getting time at second, maybe some third and even tinkering at first.
