There have been some superb performances by prospects in 2023. Many got here from high-ranking gamers dwelling as much as expectations. Others exceeded them, leaping extra firmly onto the prospect radar with breakout campaigns.
Jim Callis highlighted some together with his personal All-Breakout Prospect Workforce, however that squad doesn’t present the one examples of prospects who improved their shares this season. So we’ve determined to present you one who did from every group. There are 17 members of the Prime 100 listed under, none of whom have been on the checklist at first of this season.
Blue Jays: Alan Roden, OF (No. 7)A 3rd-round decide final 12 months, Roden entered 2023 on the surface of Toronto’s Prime 30 checklist however shot up the rankings throughout our midseason replace due to his sturdy strategy at Excessive-A and Double-A. The 23-year-old outfielder walked extra occasions (68) than he struck out (64) over 442 plate appearances and completed the season with a .430 OBP that ranked eighth amongst full-season qualifiers. Including energy would be the subsequent step, however Roden’s self-discipline and bat-to-ball abilities may get him an MLB look subsequent summer time.
Orioles: Samuel Basallo, C (No. 5/MLB No. 46)Shout out to Coby Mayo, who made Callis’ crew, however he wasn’t the one one to essentially enhance his inventory in 2023. Basallo started the 12 months because the O’s No. 12 prospect, one who was hitting full-season ball for the primary time. He’s ending it in the course of the Prime 100 and might be under-ranked on the O’s Prime 30 as an adolescent who completed with a torrid four-game debut in Double-A. He ended the season with a .953 OPS and his 162 wRC+ locations him third amongst all Minor Leaguers with greater than 400 plate appearances.
Rays: Junior Caminero, 3B/SS (No. 1/MLB No. 6)Caminero obtained some Prime 100 consideration within the spring due to the sturdy opening to his profession earlier than cracking the checklist shortly into the season on April 16. He hasn’t stopped rising since his age-19 marketing campaign. The infielder completed the Minor League season with 31 homers in 117 video games at Excessive-A and Double-A, and put up a .324/.384/.591 line over that span earlier than debuting within the Majors on Sept. 23. He’s already infamous for producing distinctive exit velocities, and it’s that sort of uncooked and in-game energy that has fueled his surge to prominence.
Crimson Sox: Roman Anthony, OF (No. 2/MLB No. 35)Marcelo Mayer, Ceddanne Rafaela and Miguel Bleis took up the Prime 100 oxygen within the Sox system getting into the season. Anthony – final 12 months’s 79th general decide – seemingly obtained off to a gradual begin at Single-A Salem, however his swing choices have been adequate for the Crimson Sox to advertise him to Excessive-A Greenville. That ended up being the proper transfer as Anthony hit .301/.422/.565 with 13 homers in 64 video games from June 13 onwards at Excessive-A and Double-A. He now initiatives as an above-average hitter with plus energy.
Yankees: Chase Hampton, RHP (No. 4/MLB No. 95)New York retains doing this – turning a mid-round decide right into a notable arm in fast time. Hampton (a sixth-rounder out of Texas Tech) confirmed three above-average pitches in his fastball, curveball and slider to strike out 145 batters in 106 2/3 innings between Excessive-A and Double-A. Regardless of this being his first full season, Hampton solely wanted 9 begins with Hudson Valley earlier than heading to Somerset, and his continued sturdy strikeout charge within the Jap League helped him leap 22 spots from his preseason rank.
Guardians: Juan Brito, INF (No. 6)Acquired from the Rockies for Nolan Jones final November, Brito is trending towards making that swap a win-win for each side. Ranked as Cleveland’s No. 18 prospect to start 2023, the 21-year-old switch-hitter has climbed three ranges and 12 spots within the rankings on the energy of a plus hit device, highlighted by low swing-and-miss charges throughout Excessive-A and Double-A.Â
Royals: Javier Vaz, 2B/OF (No. 13)Even popping out of Vanderbilt, Vaz was an neglected member of Kansas Metropolis’s 2022 Draft class as a Fifteenth-rounder. That’s now not the case. The 22-year-old swung and missed at solely 3.3 p.c of his pitches seen in 2023 – the third-lowest charge amongst 710 Minor League full-season qualifiers. That helped him hit .279/.373/.400 with 50 strikeouts and 64 walks in 119 video games at Excessive-A and Double-A, and he flashed plus pace with 30 steals too. He profiles as a possible old-school contact-heavy leadoff hitter.
Tigers: Colt Keith, 3B/2B (No. 2/MLB No. 25)We actually simply wanted to see what’d occur when Keith obtained wholesome for a full season after a shoulder damage restricted him to 48 video games in 2022 earlier than he confirmed out within the Arizona Fall League. We have now our reply. Keith put up related numbers at each Double-A and Triple-A this season – notably slugging above .500 and posting an OPS above .900 at every cease – and enters Wednesday with 27 homers and a workable 20.8 p.c Ok charge in 122 video games. After not opening within the Prime 100, he sits within the prime quarter of that checklist now.
Twins: Cory Lewis, RHP (No. 13)The Twins’ ninth-rounder in 2022 wasn’t even on the Prime 30 to begin this season however has leapt as much as No. 13 after an incredible first full 12 months. Armed with a four-pitch combine that features a legit knuckleball, Lewis’ 2.49 ERA was fifth amongst all Minor League pitchers with no less than 100 IP. He struck out 10.5 per 9 whereas strolling simply 2.9 throughout two ranges of A ball. Subsequent up: the problem of the higher ranges.
White Sox: Noah Schultz, LHP (No. 2/MLB No. 61)It’s true that the 2022 twenty sixth general decide threw solely 27 innings this season as a result of a flexor pressure and shoulder damage, however in a 12 months when a lot of Chicago’s prime prospects have been stagnant, current Draft picks or commerce acquisitions, his leap onto the Prime 100 stands out. The standard of the 6-foot-9 southpaw’s pitches – particularly a mid-90s fastball and near-plus-plus slider – helped him strike out Single-A batters in droves and has many within the trade intrigued by how dominant he might be in a bigger pattern.
Astros: Zach Dezenzo, 3B/2B (No. 5)The Astros took Dezenzo in Spherical 12 of the 2022 Draft after he tied an Ohio State file with 19 homers. He wasn’t on the membership’s Prime 30 checklist to begin the season, however jumped on the radar in a rush by hitting .407 with an OPS of 1.102 over 31 video games with Excessive-A Asheville to earn a bump to Double-A. He was simply two homers shy of a 20-20 season, ending with a mixed .914 OPS and 141 wRC+.
Angels: Nelson Rada, OF (No. 3)Rada was on the radar a bit as a world prospect who obtained seven figures to sign up January 2022, however got here in at No. 14 on the Angels’ preseason Prime 30 with the standard hesitation of ready to go too loopy a few prospect earlier than he’s performed a recreation in the USA. However not solely did Rada maintain his personal, he passed over the rookie-level advanced league and went straight to the Single-A California League, main the circuit with 55 steals and ending with a .276/.395/.351 line whereas taking part in many of the season at age 17.
A’s: Luis Morales, RHP (No. 5)Sure, Morales was thought of to be the most effective pitching prospect of the 2023 worldwide market and obtained $3 million to signal, however we’ve all seen prime prospects (from the Draft or internationally) actually stumble out of the gate. Whereas the A’s monitored the 20-year-old Cuban right-hander’s workload fastidiously, he nonetheless managed to the touch 4 ranges, ending in Excessive-A and ending with a mixed 2.86 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 10.8 Ok/9 and .202 BAA.
Mariners: Gabriel Gonzalez, OF (No. 3/MLB No. 66)There are some excellent younger hitters within the Mariners’ system nowadays, with them taking highschool hitters within the first spherical of the final three Drafts. Gonzalez helps be sure nobody forgets concerning the group’s worldwide efforts. He spent all of 2023 at age 19 and hit his manner from Single-A Modesto to Excessive-A Everett, ending with a .298/.361/.476 line and 18 mixed homers which allowed him to rise as much as No. 3 within the system and firmly onto our Prime 100.
Rangers: Sebastian Walcott, SS (No. 3/MLB No. 62)Ranked as our No. 8 worldwide prospect, the Bahamas native joined the Rangers for $3.2 million in January and moved stateside shortly, even selecting up a while at Excessive-A as a 17-year-old. Walcott is an rising power-speed risk, and his plus-plus arm ought to assist him play brief, third and even proper subject, wherever Texas feels his abilities greatest match down the road. He spent the vast majority of his season within the Arizona Complicated League, hitting .273/.325/.524 with seven homers in 35 video games.
Braves: AJ Smith-Shawver, RHP (No. 1/MLB No. 53)Smith-Shawver entered the 12 months as a former two-sport highschool star coming off an uneven first full season of professional ball in 2022. Although he did not throw a ton of whole innings this 12 months (87 1/3 mixed), he managed to rocket from Excessive-A to impacting the massive league pitching workers. His Minor League numbers (2.85 ERA, .174 BAA, 11.3 Ok/9) leap off the web page, all amassed at age 20, which is why he’s now the highest prospect within the group and its lone consultant within the Prime 100.
Marlins: Xavier Edwards, 2B/OF (Graduated)Edwards has type of gone from on the radar as a Rays prospect to at least one whose prospect star had light a bit previous to this season. The change in surroundings that got here through an offseason commerce with the Marlins has definitely helped. Getting into the 12 months because the membership’s No. 12 prospect, he jumped up after hitting .351 with a .429 OBP and 32 steals in Triple-A. He greater than held his personal within the massive leagues whereas contributing to the Marlins’ push for a Wild Card spot.
Mets: Jett Williams, SS/OF (No. 3/MLB No. 78)Williams was a favourite of scouts when he went 14th general to the Mets final 12 months, however many would have thought he’d be extra of a undertaking than a fast riser. As an alternative, he climbed three ranges in his age-19 season as a result of his walk-heavy strategy performed exceptionally effectively at each Single-A and Excessive-A this summer time with OBPs above .420 at each stops. A plus runner, he swiped 45 baggage too and obtained time at two premium positions in brief and middle.
Nationals: Daylen Lile, OF (No. 6)The 2021 second-rounder missed out on his first full season as a result of Tommy John surgical procedure however confirmed the above-average hit device that excited some scouts round Draft time when he reached Single-A Fredericksburg this summer time, hitting .291/.381/.510 with 34 extra-base hits and 21 steals in 66 video games. Lile slowed down at Excessive-A Wilmington, however he confirmed sufficient coming off the missed time to entrench himself firmly inside Washington’s deep outfield corps alongside Dylan Crews, James Wooden, Elijah Inexperienced, Robert Hassell III and others.
Phillies: Orion Kerkering, RHP (No. 7)School relievers taken within the fifth spherical of a Draft don’t usually include massive expectations, however Kerkering did every thing he may to be seen as one of many prime reduction prospects within the recreation. He completed up his first full 12 months of professional ball within the massive league playoff bullpen, pitching throughout 4 ranges of the system earlier than getting referred to as up. He introduced a 1.51 ERA, .186 BAA, 0.894 WHIP, 13.2 Ok/9 and 14 saves with him to Philadelphia and we must be seeing him hold pitching in excessive leverage conditions out of the Phillies’ pen.
Brewers: Jacob Misiorowski, RHP (No. 3/MLB No. 36)A second-round decide final 12 months, Misiorowski has already established himself as one of many Minors’ most dominant hurlers on a pitch-by-pitch foundation. His plus-plus fastball, depraved slider, above-average curveball and strong cutter made Single-A, Excessive-A, Double-A and even All-Star Futures Recreation batters look silly in his first full season as he struck out 110 over 71 1/3 innings. Management issues may ultimately transfer him to the bullpen, the place he might be a right-handed Josh Hader, however for now, the joy degree is excessive sufficient that he’ll hold beginning due to that ceiling.
Cardinals: Victor Scott II, OF (No. 4)Scott simply wrapped up his common season and completed with a Minors-best 94 stolen bases over 132 video games between Excessive-A and Double-A. As an 80-grade runner, his capacity to swipe baggage is probably not an enormous shock — although anybody predicting 90-plus thefts from him ought to accumulate a prize — however his leap up the Cardinals Prime 30 ranks was fueled by a robust offensive displaying too, significantly at Springfield, the place he hit .323/.373/.450 with a 119 wRC+ over 66 video games.
Cubs: Owen Caissie, OF (No. 3/MLB No. 64)The best-drafted Canadian outfielder ever, Caissie is the most effective a part of the commerce that despatched Yu Darvish to the Padres. He turned simply 21 in July of this 12 months and might need probably the most energy of any participant within the Prime 100, registering elite-level exit velocities and banging out 22 homers in Double-A this season, an enormous purpose why he’s jumped up from No. 13 on the Cubs’ preseason Prime 30 to No. 3.
Pirates: Anthony Solometo, LHP (No. 4/MLB No. 84)Solometo threw effectively throughout his 2022 professional debut, however with strict utilization limits (47 2/3 IP with Bradenton). The gloves got here off in 2023 and he topped 110 innings for the 12 months, throwing extraordinarily effectively in hitter-friendly Greensboro and incomes a midseason promotion to Double-A at age 20. He will get Madison Bumgarner comps quite a bit due to his unorthodox mechanics, and it’s working. He’s now probably the greatest left-handed pitching prospects within the recreation, one who completed with a mixed 3.26 ERA, .227 BAA and spectacular 17.5 Ok-BB%.
Reds: Connor Phillips, RHP (No. 4/MLB No. 68)One more a part of the youth motion that’s serving to the Reds keep within the Wild Card race, Phillips got here to the Reds by means of the Jesse Winker commerce with the Mariners. There’s nonetheless work to be finished command-wise (4.9 BB/9 within the Minors this 12 months), however the stuff is electrical (13.2 Ok/9 earlier than his massive league debut). Phillips started the 12 months as a high-upside sort who was No. 12 on the Reds’ checklist and is now in the course of the Prime 100 with an enormous up arrow subsequent to his identify.
D-backs: Jansel Luis, SS/2B (No. 12)Signed for $525,000 out of the Dominican Republic in January 2022, Luis jumped stateside for the primary time this summer time, hitting .292/.373/.483 with three homers in 24 video games within the Arizona Complicated League. The 18-year-old jumped to Single-A Visalia in mid-July and held his personal for somebody shifting to full-season ball on the age of an American highschool senior. D-backs officers consider within the switch-hitter’s energy potential, and he’s an excellent wager to stay up the center, both at brief or second relying on crew want.
Dodgers: Nick Frasso, RHP (No. 4/MLB No. 65)Someway the Dodgers managed so as to add a prime pitching prospect whereas contending in 2022, getting Frasso from the Blue Jays. He had simply returned from elbow surgical procedure and has actually taken off in his first full 12 months of well being, reaching Triple-Some time displaying an explosive fastball that touches triple digits. He’s missed loads of bats (10.4 Ok/9) all whereas nonetheless monitoring his innings. He has a legit three-pitch combine which may enable him to land in a rotation quickly if he can show he can deal with the workload.
Giants: Patrick Bailey, C (graduated)There was some concern that Bailey was going to be a first-round bust, particularly after he hit simply .225/.342/.420 with Excessive-A Eugene in 2022 (although his protection has all the time been extremely regarded). He took a pleasant little step ahead offensively between Double- and Triple-A earlier than being summoned to the massive leagues after simply 28 video games. His bat has been OK, however he’s been an enormous contributor behind the plate, each when it comes to framing and controlling the working recreation. Him solidifying the place is an enormous purpose why the Giants hung across the Wild Card race.
Padres: Ethan Salas, C (No. 1/MLB No. 5)You’ll be able to’t inform the story of Minor League Baseball this 12 months with out mentioning Salas’ rise. Ranked as our prime worldwide prospect within the 2023 class, Salas passed over the advanced ranges fully to open his age-17 season at Single-A Lake Elsinore, hitting .267/.350/.487 with 9 homers in 48 video games. He obtained later bumps to Excessive-A Fort Wayne and (maybe too aggressively) Double-A San Antonio whereas displaying plus defensive abilities behind the dish. The well-rounded profile makes him the sport’s prime catching prospect and has many questioning if he may see San Diego earlier than his twentieth birthday in June 2026.
Rockies: Yanquiel Fernandez, OF (No. 2/MLB No. 49)Fernandez was a bit of little bit of a lower-fanfare worldwide signing, getting $250,000 from the Rockies in July 2019, and he couldn’t make his professional debut till 2021 due to the pandemic. He undoubtedly put his identify on the map with 21 homers and 109 RBIs in his U.S. debut with Single-A Fresno in 2022 and he’s raised his profile much more by reaching Double-A at age 20 and hitting one other 25 homers to determine himself as one of many extra thrilling run-producing prospects within the recreation.
