It’s that point of yr once more: the announcement of the MLB Pipeline Hitting and Pitching Prospects of the Yr for every group.
The group is led by our general Hitting Prospect of the Yr Kristian Campbell (Purple Sox) and Pitching Prospect of the Yr Quinn Mathews (Cardinals). They’re two of the 22 gamers chosen who have been on our Prime 100 Prospects listing throughout the 2024 season (23 present, one graduated). It’s largely a brand new group, with simply 4 gamers who have been so honored in 2023 repeating on the listing.
Alan Roden, OF (No. 12)Roden completed among the many prime two certified full-season Minor Leaguers within the Toronto system in all three slash-line classes (.293/.391/.475) and led the group in each OBP and OPS (.865) in 125 video games between Double-A New Hampshire and Triple-A Buffalo. He added a career-high 16 homers whereas additionally placing out in solely 14.2 p.c of his plate appearances, the second-lowest mark within the system.
Fernando Perez, RHP (No. 10)Perez was higher than his 4.06 ERA in 82 innings for Single-A Dunedin alone would point out. He led Blue Jays pitchers (min. 80 IP) with a 1.06 WHIP whereas holding batters to a .211 common and posting a stable 86/24 Ok/BB ratio. He was an All-Star Futures Recreation choice in July.
Coby Mayo 3B/1B (No. 1/MLB No. 8)Mayo retains constructing his power-hitting resume. The third baseman on our Prospect Workforce of the Yr, he completed second amongst all Minor League hitters with not less than 400 plate appearances in SLG (.592) and ISO (.299) and completed fourth in OPS (.964) en route to creating his huge league debut at age 22.
Brandon Younger, RHP (No. 19)Not unhealthy for a nondrafted free agent signed after the shortened 2020 Draft, proper? Younger completed third amongst all Orioles’ Minor Leaguers with 132 Ok’s in 111 IIP (10.7 Ok/9). Pitching at Double-A and Triple-A, Younger completed with a stable 3.57 ERA (3.92 xFIP) and .241 BAA.
Chandler Simpson, OF (No. 4)The 2022 seventieth general choose grew to become the primary Minor Leaguer to steal 100 luggage since 2012 when he swiped 104 in 110 video games between Excessive-A Bowling Inexperienced and Double-A Montgomery. Not content material to guide the Minors in only one class, he additionally received the Minor League batting title with a .355 common and led the way in which with 160 hits.
Ian Seymour, LHP (No. 17)Having undergone Tommy John surgical procedure in 2022, Seymour hadn’t thrown greater than 55 1/3 innings in any of his first three skilled seasons however blew previous that with 145 1/3 between Double-A and Triple-A, principally as a result of he was so efficient. He led certified Rays full-season Minor Leaguers in ERA (2.35), WHIP (0.95) and strikeouts (162), tying for sixth amongst all Minor League arms within the latter class.
Kristian Campbell, 2B/OF/SS (No. 3/MLB No. 10)Campbell slashed .330/.439/.558 with 20 homers and 24 steals whereas rising from Excessive-A to Triple-A in his first full season, main the Minors in wRC+ (180) whereas rating second in on-base share and OPS (.997), fourth in batting and fifth in runs (94). MLB Pipeline’s Hitting Prospect of the Yr and Breakout Prospect of the Yr, he additionally earned Double-A Japanese League MVP honors.
Hunter Dobbins, RHP (No. 21)Dobbins effectively used his four-pitch combine to tempo Purple Sox farmhands with a 3.08 ERA whereas placing out 120 in 125 2/3 innings between Double-A and Triple-A.
Ben Rice, 1B/C (graduated from Yankees Prime 30)Additionally our choose as the highest Yankees hitting performer a yr in the past, Rice batted .273/.400/.568 with a system-best 24 homers in simply 79 video games between Double-A and Triple-A earlier than making an enormous league debut that included a three-homer recreation in opposition to the Purple Sox.
Cam Schlittler, RHP (No. 25)The Excessive-A South Atlantic League pitcher of the yr, Schlittler led Yankees farmhands in strikeouts (154 in 120 2/3 innings) and Ok share (30 p.c) whereas posting a 3.36 ERA with a .218 average-against and advancing to Triple-A.
Johnathan Rodriguez, OF (No. 12)A repeater from 2023, Rodriguez received the Worldwide League MVP award this time round and paced the Triple-A circuit in wRC+ (140) and RBIs (94) whereas ending second in homers (29), whole bases (237), slugging (.540) and OPS (.930), third in on-base share (.390) and fifth in batting (.301).
Matt Wilkinson, LHP (No. 29)The nationwide junior faculty pitcher of the yr at Central Arizona CC in 2023, Wilkinson used his misleading low-90s fastball to guide the Minors in strikeout (38) and strikeout minus stroll (30) share and rank second in ERA (1.90), strikeouts (174 in 118 2/3 innings), average-against (.169) and WHIP (0.91).
Blake Mitchell, C (No. 2/MLB No. 51)Solely two Minor League catchers this yr loved 18/18 seasons: Marlins/Yankees backstop Agustin Ramirez (25 HR, 22 SB) and Mitchell (18, 26) throughout his run at Single-A Columbia and Excessive-A Quad Cities. The 2023 first-rounder additionally led Kansas Metropolis qualifiers in walks (80), stroll price (16.5 p.c) and wRC+ (135) in his first full season.
Noah Cameron, LHP (No. 12)The 25-year-old left-hander led the system with 149 strikeouts, a 27.8 p.c strikeout price and 21.1 p.c Ok/BB price, all whereas taking over 128 ⅔ innings between Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha. He was even higher on the greater stage, posting a 2.32 ERA and 1.01 WHIP with 62 strikeouts in 54 1/3 innings for the Storm Chasers.
Kevin McGonigle, SS/2B (No. 3/MLB No. 31)There have been 1,081 Minor Leaguers with not less than 300 plate appearances this season, and none of them had a greater ratio of walks-to-strikeouts than McGonigle’s 1.64 (46 BB, 28 Ok) throughout his 74-game run with Single-A Lakeland and Excessive-A West Michigan. The 2023 thirty seventh general choose’s .309 common, .401 OBP and 144 wRC+ led Tigers Minor Leaguers underneath those self same parameters.
Jaden Hamm, RHP (No. 7)A king of the driving fastball, the 2023 fifth-rounder loved a breakout season with Excessive-A West Michigan with a 2.64 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 122 strikeouts in 99 innings. He struck out 30.6 p.c of his batters confronted and held opposing hitters to a .202 common.
Luke Keaschall, 2B/OF/1B (No. 3/MLB No. 63)Earlier than being shut down in August and having Tommy John surgical procedure, Keaschall was one of many higher hitters within the Minors, reaching Double-A and going to the Futures Recreation in his first full season. He hit .303/.420/.483 with 15 homers and 23 steals, main all Twins full-season Minor Leaguers together with his 158 wRC+.
Zebby Matthews, RHP (Graduated from Twins Prime 30)Up till Matthews made his huge league debut in August, he was the most effective strike-thrower in all the Minors. The 2022 eighth-round choose had an absurd 0.6 BB/9 price throughout three ranges of the Minors whereas placing out 10.6/9 (114/7 Ok/BB ratio). He additionally posted a 2.60 ERA (2.45 xFIP topped arms within the Minors) and a .211 BAA.
Brooks Baldwin, 2B/SS (graduated from White Sox Prime 30)Baldwin went from Twelfth-rounder in July 2022 to White Sox beginning second baseman two years later after slashing .324/.391/.460 with eight homers and 17 steals in 82 video games between Double-A and Triple-A this season.
Noah Schultz, LHP (No. 1/MLB No. 16)The most effective left-handed pitching prospect in baseball and the Double-A Southern League pitcher of the yr, Schultz destroyed hitters together with his slider and logged a 2.24 ERA, .196 average-against and 115/24 Ok/BB ratio in 88 1/3 innings between Excessive-A and Double-A.
Rio Foster, OF (No. 30)A Sixteenth-rounder out of junior faculty in 2023, Foster started the 2024 season on the complicated in Arizona. He hit his manner out to full-season ball after which stored on raking. He completed with a mixed .301/.409/.477 line. His .866 OPS topped all Angels Minor Leaguers with not less than 250 plate appearances and he was second in the identical group together with his 132 wRC+.
Caden Dana, RHP (No. 1/MLB No. 68)A 2024 Futures Recreation participant, Dana made our second all-prospect workforce this yr after dominating the Double-A Southern League at age 20. He topped the league in ERA (2.52), BAA (.184), WHIP (0.94) and strikeouts (147) earlier than making his huge league debut.
Shay Whitcomb, INF/OF (No. 14)The final participant taken within the shortened five-round 2020 Draft, Whitcomb was one in every of simply three 25/25 Minor Leaguers, hitting .293/.378/.530 with 25 homers and 26 steals and inserting fourth within the Triple-A Pacific Coast League in OPS (.908) and RBIs (91).
Miguel Ullola, RHP (No. 7)Yet one more worldwide cut price pitcher for the Astros, Ullola has an electrical fastball and led the Minors in average-against (.163) whereas ending third in strikeouts (171 in 130 1/3 innings) and compiling a 4.28 ERA, principally at Double-A.
Colby Thomas, OF (No. 7)A member of our all-prospect second workforce, Thomas is shut to creating an influence on the large league workforce after splitting the yr between Double-A and Triple-A in 2024. He was fourth amongst all Minor Leaguers with 31 homers and among the many leaders with 400 plate appearances in SLG (.563) and ISO (.287).
Gunnar Hoglund, RHP (No. 12)A primary-rounder of the Blue Jays in 2021, Hoglund was acquired by the A’s within the Matt Chapman commerce whereas he was recovering from Tommy John surgical procedure. He lastly was wholesome in 2023 and confirmed good outcomes for the primary time this yr. He reached Triple-A and amassed 130 2/3 innings, ending with a 3.44 ERA, .215 BAA and 1.07 WHIP.
Lazaro Montes, OF (No. 3/MLB No. 47)He’s hit just about in all places he’s gone and he reached Excessive-A Everett at age 19 in 2024 after hitting .309/.411/.527 down a stage. He completed tied for third amongst all Minor Leaguers with 105 RBIs, minimize his strikeout price and drew a ton of walks to make it simple to venture continued offensive manufacturing.
Michael Morales, RHP (No. 13)After making incremental progress in every of his first two full seasons (2022-23), Morales actually took off this yr, reaching Double-A earlier than he turned 22 and ending with a 13-2 document to associate with a 3.02 ERA over 149 IP. He topped the system with 147 Ok’s and made an enormous step ahead in his stroll price (2.30 BB/9).
Alejandro Osuna, OF (No. 16)The youthful brother of former All-Star nearer Roberto Osuna and the nephew of ex-big leaguer Antonio Osuna, Alejandro earned Rangers group participant of the yr honors after batting .292/.362/.507 with 18 homers and 17 steals and topping the system in slugging, OPS (.869) and wRC+ (143).
Kohl Drake, LHP (No. 21)After getting tattooed for a 6.36 ERA in his 2023 professional debut, Drake improved his power and athleticism and rebounded to document a 2.29 ERA (eighth within the Minors), .196 average-against, 148/31 Ok/BB ratio and 35 p.c strikeout price (third) in 106 innings whereas shifting from Single-A to Double-A.
Drake Baldwin, C (No. 5)The Braves’ third-round choose in 2022 out of Missouri State, Baldwin was stable in his first full season with Excessive-A Rome then actually turned it on when he obtained to Triple-A this yr after 52 video games with Double-A Mississippi. The 2024 Futures Gamer had an .891 OPS in 72 video games with Gwinnett and topped the system general in SLG (.423), completed second in OPS (.793) and third in wRC+ (119).
Lucas Braun, RHP (No. 21)Over his 143 2/3 IP between Excessive-A Rome and Double-A Mississippi, Braun totaled 162 strikeouts (first within the group), had a 3.25 xFIP (first), 20.5 Ok/BB share (first), 10.15 Ok/9 (second), 1.14 WHIP (second), 3.26 ERA (third) and .227 BAA (third).
Joe Mack, C (No. 9)Chosen thirty first general within the 2021 Draft, Mack scuffled in his first three professional seasons earlier than doing a greater job of attacking fastballs and pulling pitches, changes that resulted in a .252/.338/.468 line (principally at Double-A) and system bests in homers (24), extra-base hits (54), whole bases (221) and RBIs (78).
Thomas White, LHP (No. 1/MLB No. 46)Named the highest prospect within the Excessive-A Midwest League, White usual a 2.81 ERA with a 120/38 Ok/BB ratio in 96 innings at two Class A stops.
Nick Morabito, OF (No. 19)A dream leadoff hitter, Morabito led Mets full-season Minor Leaguers together with his .312 common, .403 OBP, 135 wRC+, 142 hits and 59 stolen bases in 119 video games between Single-A St. Lucie and Excessive-A Brooklyn. It wasn’t notably shut on the basepaths both, nobody else within the system swiped greater than 45 luggage.
Jonah Tong, RHP (No. 10)The 2022 seventh-rounder was one of many breakout tales in any system as he climbed three ranges from Single-A to Double-A in his age-21 season. Tong struck out 160 in 113 innings, ending third amongst MiLB full-season qualifiers with a 34.2 p.c Ok price, and posted an organizational-best 3.03 ERA in that span.
Dylan Crews, OF (No. 1/MLB No. 1)Crews ranked second amongst Nationals full-season qualifiers together with his 115 wRC+ and positioned among the many prime 4 in common (.270), slugging (.451) and OPS (.792) over 100 video games between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Rochester. He was additionally one in every of solely two gamers within the group with double-digit homers (13) and 20-plus steals (25).
Travis Sykora, RHP (No. 2/MLB No. 79)Washington had excessive hopes for its 2023 third-rounder, however the 6-foot-6 right-hander might need exceeded them by placing out 39.2 p.c of his batters confronted in 85 innings for Single-A Fredericksburg, giving him the best Ok price amongst Minor Leaguers with not less than 80 frames. He additionally completed with a 2.33 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and .168 average-against — numbers that might sparkle over any pattern dimension.
Justin Crawford, OF (No. 3/MLB No. 53)The Phillies’ hitting prospect of the yr for a second yr in a row, Crawford posted a sturdy .313/.360/.444 line throughout two ranges and ended up with 42 steals. He began driving the ball a bit extra and completed with 130 wRC+.
Jean Cabrera, RHP (No. 13)Signed for simply $10,000 in 2019, Cabrera is wanting like he could be an enormous cut price success story. He reached Double-A for the primary time this yr, ending with a 3.80 ERA (3.61 xFIP, good for second amongst all pitchers within the group with 90 or extra IP), a .231 BAA and 1.21 WHIP whereas placing out greater than a batter per inning.
Luis Pena, SS/3B (No. 22)It’s uncommon for this award to go to a short-season participant, by no means thoughts a 17-year-old taking part in in his first skilled season, however Pena’s flip by the Rookie-level Dominican Summer time League was simple. The infielder received the DSL batting title with a .393 common in 44 video games and ranked sixth in slugging share (.583), fourth in OPS (1.039) and fourth in wRC+ (175). He added 39 steals as properly, inserting him third in that class.
Ok.C. Hunt, RHP (No. 29)There’s a sure temptation to go along with Minor League Reliever of the Yr Craig Yoho right here, however Hunt was too good as a starter to disregard. Pitching at Single-A, Excessive-A and Double-A, the 24-year-old righty had the fourth-best ERA (2.03), fourth-best WHIP (0.93) and fifth-best strikeout price (34.7 p.c) among the many 313 Minor Leaguers with not less than 100 innings.
Jimmy Crooks, C (No. 5)Named the Texas League MVP this season, the 2022 fourth-rounder led the Double-A circuit (min. 350 PA) together with his .498 slugging share, .908 OPS and 156 wRC+. (Nobody else had a wRC+ greater than 140 in that pattern.) He added a .321 common and 11 homers in his 90-game spin with Springfield.
Quinn Mathews, LHP (No. 3/MLB No. 77)Our Minor League Pitching Prospect of the Yr, Mathews led the Minors with 202 strikeouts over 143 ⅓ innings throughout 4 full-season ranges, turning into simply the second Minor Leaguer since 2011 to punch out greater than 200 batters. He additionally sported a 2.76 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and .179 average-against over 26 begins in his first full season.
Matt Shaw, INF (No. 1/MLB No. 22)In his first full professional season, Shaw slashed .284/.379/.488 with 21 homers and 31 steals, was one in every of 4 20/30 gamers within the Minors, received Double-A Southern League MVP accolades and boosted his manufacturing after a promotion to Triple-A.
Brandon Birdsell, RHP (No. 23)Birdsell cut up his yr between Double-A and Triple-A and posted a 3.91 ERA whereas topping Cubs farmhands in innings (135 2/3), strikeouts (134), Ok share (24 p.c) and stroll share (5 p.c).
Jhonny Severino, 3B/SS (No. 19)Acquired by the Pirates from the Brewers within the 2023 Carlos Santana commerce, Severino made it out of the complicated league and to full-season ball for the primary time, ending with a .528 SLG and .869 OPS, 16 homers and 16 steals. He had a .257 ISO and 131 wRC+.
Bubba Chandler, RHP (No. 1/MLB No. 15)Hat tip to Thomas Harrington and his spectacular season, however Chandler simply obtained higher and higher because the yr went on. Whereas his 3.08 ERA was third amongst Pirates arms with 100 or extra IP, he led the system in strikeouts (148), Ok/9 (11.1), Ok/BB share (22.3) and xFIP (3.37) whereas ending second in WHIP (1.02) and BAA (.187).
Sal Stewart, 2B (No. 4/MLB No. 76)Spending the yr at Excessive-A Dayton at age 20, Stewart performed in simply 80 video games due to a wrist harm, however he led the group amongst all hitters with not less than 250 PA with 144 wRC+ and his BB/Ok ratio (0.88). He completed with a stable .279/.391/.454 line.
Rhett Lowder, RHP (No. 2/MLB No. 33)It took him a minute to search out his footing when he obtained to Double-A for the primary time, however then regarded each bit just like the superior faculty arm he was billed to be, topping the system in a bunch of classes (xFIP, BB/9, WHIP, BB%) and that doesn’t even account for his 1.17 ERA over his first six huge league begins.
Adrian Del Castillo, C (No. 14)The 2021 67th general choose was named the Pacific Coast League MVP after being the one Minor League full-season qualifier to slug above .600 (.603 in his case). He additionally led the Minors with a 1.002 OPS and positioned fourth with 65 whole extra-base hits in 105 video games for Reno.
Spencer Giesting, LHP (No. 27)Giesting led the system with 154 strikeouts in 141 1/3 innings as a workhorse at Excessive-A Hillsboro and Double-A Amarillo and completed with a 3.31 ERA in his 25 begins. Probably the most dominant run of his profession got here within the Northwest League, the place he sported a 1.50 ERA in 10 outings.
Dalton Speeding, C/OF (No. 1/MLB No. 39)Named Dodgers group participant of the yr and the highest prospect within the Double-A Texas League, Speeding batted .271/.384..512 between Double-A and Triple-A and tied for second amongst Minor League catchers with 26 homers.
Jackson Ferris, LHP (No. 4/MLB No. 78)Acquired from the Cubs in an offseason deal for Michael Busch and Yency Almonte, Ferris efficiently navigated Excessive-A and Double-A at age 20, main the system in ERA (3.20), strikeouts (145 in 126 2/3 innings) and Ok share (27 p.c).
Bryce Eldridge, 1B (No. 1/MLB No. 35)Named the Excessive-A Northwest League’s prime prospect, Eldridge batted .289/.372/.513, paced all Minor League youngsters in homers (23) and slugging and ranked second in OPS (.885) and fifth in wRC+ (137) whereas advancing from Single-A to Triple-A in his first full yr out of highschool.
Trent Harris, RHP (No. 16)Signed for $10,000 as a nondrafted free agent a yr in the past, Harris logged a 1.81 ERA, .173 opponent common and 105/25 Ok/BB ratio in 79 2/3 innings whereas rising from Single-A to Double-A. He is the son of former huge leaguer Greg W. Harris.
Romeo Sanabria, 1B (No. 23)First-base prospects actually need to hit, and that’s simply what the 22-year-old did to pressure himself on the radar this season. Sanabria climbed three ranges from Single-A to Double-Some time hitting .288/.396/.427 with 11 homers in 125 video games. His 130 wRC+ was greatest amongst Padres full-season qualifiers.
Henry Baez, RHP (No. 7)Baez went unprotected and unpicked in final yr’s Rule 5 Draft however will make the Padres’ choice a lot more durable this offseason after he led the group’s full-season qualifiers in ERA (2.99), WHIP (1.09) and average-against (.212) over 126 1/3 innings between Excessive-A Fort Wayne and Double-A San Antonio.
Kyle Karros, 3B (No. 18)Eric’s child had a terrific first full season of professional ball with Excessive-A Spokane after the Rockies took him within the fifth spherical of the 2023 Draft. He topped the system with 145 wRC+ and his .875 OPS, ending with a .311/.390/.485 line.
Chase Dollander, RHP (No. 2/MLB No. 20)We have been questioning when the Rockies may promote Dollander, their 2023 first-round choose, as he was dominating Excessive-A ball, and he stored on doing it as soon as he obtained to Double-A. The fitting-hander completed with a system-best 169 strikeouts and 12.89 Ok/9 price whereas ending second in xFIP and Ok/BB share, third in ERA, BAA and WHIP.
