Yearly because the calendar flips, we at MLB Pipeline gaze into crystal balls and switch our collective consideration to potential breakout prospects for the approaching season. Final yr on this area, we listed Josue De Paula (Dodgers), Bryce Eldridge (Giants), Kevin McGonigle (Tigers), Jacob Melton (Astros), Lazaro Montes (Mariners), Travis Sykora (Nationals), James Triantos (Cubs), Ralphy Velazquez (Guardians) and Thomas White (Marlins) as candidates, and each ended the 2024 season on the High 100 Prospects record.
To prepare for 2025, we’re ready to offer the prediction recreation one other go. Right here is one potential breakout prospect for every of the 30 farm programs:
Blue Jays: Sean Keys, 3B (No. 24)A profession .358 hitter in his three years at Bucknell, the 2024 fourth-rounder continued to carry out in professional ball with a .293/.378/.451 line in 22 video games for Single-A Dunedin. The left-handed-hitting nook infielder restricted his case within the Florida State League and answered a few of his energy questions with above-average injury in his first style of the professionals. Keys’ steadily bettering strategy already has him on the radar, and any good points within the slugging division would additional shoot him up the Toronto ranks, regardless of the place he lands defensively.
Orioles: Emilio Sanchez, SS (No. 23)It’s now not a shock when the Orioles make an enormous splash in Latin America they usually did so final January after they signed Sanchez, who was ranked No. 30 on our High 50 worldwide prospects record on the time for $1.3 million. He’s an athletic left-handed hitting shortstop who has an opportunity to actually hit and stick on the premium place. He may take an enormous step ahead whereas introducing himself to the USA in 2025.
Rays: Theo Gillen, OF (No. 5)First-rounders aren’t typically breakout candidates as a result of they have already got a strong popularity, however this yr’s 18th general choose can get overshadowed in such a deep farm as Tampa Bay’s. The Rays have pretty much as good an opportunity as any group to get probably the most out of Gillen’s candy left-handed swing, permitting his plus hitting and above-average energy instruments to play as they need to. There’s additionally the truth that Gillen will probably be one other yr faraway from his junior-year knee harm, and his pace may give him one other weapon. Put these a number of instruments on show in a primary full season, and Gillen may pop comfortably into the High 100.
Purple Sox: Conrad Cason, RHP/SS (No. 15)The Purple Sox have an fascinating resolution to make with Cason, their 2024 eighth-rounder who signed for supplemental second-round cash ($1.25 million) and was among the finest two-way skills within the Draft. The Georgia highschool product has a strong three-mix highlighted by a fastball that touches 98 mph, however he is additionally a strong-armed shortstop with 20-homer potential. He’ll make his professional debut in 2025.
Yankees: George Lombard Jr., INF (No. 3)The son of former huge leaguer George Lombard and a 2023 first-rounder as a Florida excessive schooler, George Jr. is a top quality defender at shortstop with the upside of at the least strong instruments throughout the board and a excessive baseball IQ. He batted .231/.338/.334 with 5 homers and 39 steals in 110 video games between two Class A stops.
Guardians: Welbyn Francisca, SS/2B (No. 9)Angel Genao jumped onto the High 100 with a breakout season in 2024, and one other Dominican center infielder within the Guardians system may do the identical this yr. Signed for $1,375,000 in 2023, Francisca’s really feel for the barrel from either side of the plate was evident whereas he was hitting .326/.411/.474 with seven homers and 19 steals in 74 video games between Rookie ball and Single-A.
Royals: Asbel Gonzalez, OF (No. 20)Scouts love their no-doubt middle fielders, and Gonzalez has wowed loads of Royals evaluators along with his protection and pace in the course of the grass over his first two Minor League seasons. That already provides the Venezuela native a strong ground, and he’s confirmed to be strong at getting on base with a .398 OBP and 11.0 p.c stroll price over 41 video games within the Arizona Complicated League in 2024. Including elevation and energy to his swing would go a good distance towards making Gonzalez a extra distinguished prospect, and he’ll nonetheless solely be 19 for the whole 2025 marketing campaign.
Tigers: Franyerber Montilla, SS/3B/2B (No. 13)Detroit is flush with shortstop choices within the low ranges proper now with Kevin McGonigle and Bryce Rainer additionally getting reps there. For his bit, the 19-year-old Montilla already confirmed breakout potential within the Florida Complicated League with a .273/.409/.448 line, because of a easy strategy that prioritizes drivable pitches. Defensively, his above-average pace helps at shortstop, and he has the arm for third, if wanted. Montilla’s Single-A introduction wasn’t terrific in a 20-game pattern, however the items are there for him to take off with a return subsequent spring.
Twins: Brandon Winokur, SS/OF/3B (No. 17)Winokur’s loud uncooked instruments stood out within the 2023 Draft, coming from a 6-foot-6 body, and that’s why the Twins went over slot to signal him for $1.5 million within the third spherical that summer time. There’s plenty of work to be achieved on his strategy (28-percent strikeout price and a 115/34 Okay/BB ratio throughout his full-season debut with Fort Myers in 2024), however he additionally confirmed that the instruments may play, with 14 homers and 23 steals in 94 Florida State League video games. If he can tighten issues up somewhat bit, he may put up some big numbers as he strikes up.
White Sox: George Wolkow, OF (No. 9)Wolkow reclassified into the 2023 Draft as a Chicago-area prepster and signed for $1 million within the seventh spherical, impressing scouts along with his dimension (6-foot-7, 239 kilos), big uncooked energy and maturity for an adolescent. He received higher all through his age-18 season, slashing .257/.357/.451 with 13 homers in 93 video games, largely in Single-A.
Angels: Joswa Lugo, SS (No. 6)Dawel Lugo’s youthful brother signed with the Angels final January for $2.3 million and when you don’t need to put an excessive amount of inventory in a Dominican Summer season League debut, the No. 37 prospect on our High 50 worldwide prospects record did publish a strong .301/.370/.466 line with 19 extra-base hits and 18 steals. He’s a bodily infielder who may not stick at quick, however he has the facility potential to profile nicely at third. The Angels don’t hesitate to push guys so it could be fascinating to see if Lugo goes straight to full-season ball in 2025.
Astros: Walker Janek, C (No. 3)The Astros nabbed the most effective catching prospect within the 2024 Draft with the twenty eighth general choice. Janek, a Sam Houston product who gained the Buster Posey Award as school baseball’s prime backstop, gives plus arm energy and 20-homer pop. He batted .175/.214/.289 with one homer throughout his 25-game professional debut in Excessive-A.
A’s: Luis Morales, RHP (No. 3)We’ve been ready for Morales, who signed for $3 million out of Cuba in January of 2023, to place all of it collectively and whereas that hasn’t fairly occurred in his two years of professional ball, there have been glimpses of how good his stuff may be. He wants to search out the strike zone extra, however he’s struck out near 10 per 9 over his two seasons with a four-pitch combine that might dominate if he does refine his command.
Mariners: Jonny Farmelo, OF (No. 9)The Mariners received Farmelo with the 2023 PPI Draft choose awarded for Julio Rodriguez’s Rookie of the 12 months win in 2022 and he may need been the breakout participant of 2024, with an .816 OPS over 46 video games in his debut, however a torn ACL ended his season in June. A return to well being ought to permit the speedy outfielder to get again to what he was doing, exhibiting off a complicated strategy with some thump and excellent protection to go together with base-stealing acumen.
Rangers: Yolfran Castillo, SS (No. 11)Signed for $647,500 out of Venezuela final January, Castillo loved among the finest professional debuts within the 2024 worldwide class, hitting .377/.481/.415 with almost twice as many walks (27) as strikeouts (15) in 35 video games between two Rookie leagues. He may have three plus instruments in his hitting skill, pace and shortstop protection.
Braves: JR Ritchie, RHP (No. 7)The 2022 draftee got here again from 2023 Tommy John surgical procedure and confirmed why he was a first-round caliber expertise, reaching Excessive-A and ending with a 2.90 ERA, .214 BAA and 10.1 Okay/9 price over 49 2/3 mixed innings. With the elbow harm additional in his rearview, let’s see what the right-hander can do when the gloves come off a bit and he places in a full season of innings.
Marlins: Kemp Alderman, OF (No. 13)A damaged hamate in his left hand stored Alderman’s numbers down throughout his first full professional season (.242/.306/.391, eight homers in 77 video games as he superior from Rookie ball to Double-A) however he confirmed off his large uncooked energy within the Arizona Fall League. The 2023 second-rounder from Mississippi slammed six homers in 9 video games and recorded the best exit velocity (119.5 mph) within the developmental circuit earlier than leaving to get married.
Mets: Edward Lantigua, OF (No. 26)Signed for $950,000 final January, Lantigua loved a strong first season within the Dominican Summer season League, incomes All-Star honors alongside his .263/.397/.395 line and 122 wRC+ in 45 video games. There may be undoubtedly extra energy coming as he fills out his 6-foot-1 body, although he confirmed that pop in flashes this summer time. If and when it does, the 18-year-old may land wherever within the outfield and be precious, regardless of if he wants to maneuver off middle full-time as some anticipate.
Nationals: Angel Feliz, SS/3B (No. 16)Having solely turned 18 in November, Feliz is on the larger aspect for shortstops at 6-foot-3 already, however that’s to his benefit as he’s already utilizing his dimension to generate good energy to his pullside. The $1.7 million signee hit .310/.381/.468 with 4 homers and 27 steals in 49 DSL video games this season. He’s definitely able to tackle the Florida Complicated League in his second MiLB marketing campaign, and something near a repeat would possible get him to Single-A Fredericksburg earlier than his nineteenth birthday.
Phillies: Eduardo Tait, C (No. 5)After hitting .333/.400/.517 within the Dominican Summer season League after signing with the Phillies for simply $90,000 in 2023, Tait continued to make a reputation for himself as an up-and-coming catching backstop by reaching full-season ball and ending the yr with an OPS of .842. He has a laser for an arm and loads of pop on the plate and can play almost all the 2025 season at age 18.
Brewers: Bryce Meccage, RHP (No. 16)Chilly-weather arms at all times appear able to breaking out within the execs, and this yr’s second-rounder (a New Jersey native) ticks a number of different containers as nicely along with his mid-90s fastball, above-average exhausting slider and strong curveball and changeup. Meccage can expertise command troubles stemming from the trouble in his supply, in order that’s one thing Milwaukee will possible give attention to in his first style of the Minors.
Cardinals: Yairo Padilla, SS (No. 29)Padilla was a DSL All-Star this previous summer time with a .287/.391/.404 line and 22 steals in 35 video games – numbers that every one however guarantee he’ll be stateside for his age-18 season in 2025. The $760,000 signing can swap hit and confirmed a strong strategy from either side, although he’s gotten rather more expertise from the left so far. His above-average pace and plus arm energy are two extra property, however a lot will come all the way down to how his energy develops as a 6-foot infielder.
Cubs: Ronny Cruz, SS (No. 15)The Cubs have excessive hopes for Cruz, who was troublesome to scout as a Florida highschool senior final spring after having knee surgical procedure in November 2023. He wasn’t utterly wholesome till late in his senior yr, however the Cubs nonetheless took him within the third spherical as a result of they consider he has strong uncooked energy and pace and good actions at shortstop. He’ll make his professional debut this yr.
Pirates: Levi Sterling, RHP (No. 11)The Pirates appear to have a reasonably good really feel for scouting, drafting, signing and creating pitching and Sterling could possibly be subsequent in that pipeline to pop. He’s 6-foot-5 and super-athletic and will probably be specializing in pitching just for the primary time (he was a strong infield prospect in highschool). He has the prospect to have 4 at the least above-average pitches sooner or later and he’ll put them to the check for the primary time in 2025.
Reds: Alfredo Duno, C (No. 7)Duno joined phenom Ethan Salas as catching prospects within the prime 5 of the 2023 High 50 worldwide record and the Reds gave him $3.1 million to hitch the group. After posting a .944 OPS hitting solely within the DSL that summer time (He had an elbow problem that stored him from catching.), he got here to the U.S. in 2024 and passed over the Arizona Complicated League, holding his personal in full-season ball. He has abilities on either side of the ball that time to a future as an enormous league common and will leap into conversations of the most effective backstop prospects within the recreation.
D-backs: Ryan Waldschmidt, OF (No. 4)After struggling a critical left knee harm within the Cape Cod League in 2023, Waldschmidt was constructing again as much as dominance all through the spring at Kentucky simply in time for the Draft. Arizona picked him up with the thirty first general choose (acquired because of Corbin Carroll’s Rookie of the 12 months season) and have hope that Waldschmidt can take one other leap with the knee much more totally behind him. Because it stands, the previous Wildcat may be affected person on the strategy in quest of tapping into his above-average energy with wonderful bat pace, and within the eyes of D-backs officers, his wheels may assist him play any of the three outfield spots.
Dodgers: Zyhir Hope, OF (No. 11)Acquired from the Cubs within the Michael Busch/Yency Almonte Commerce in January 2024, Hope slashed .287/.415/.490 with 9 homers and eight steals in 54 video games at Single-A regardless of lacking three months with a rib stress fracture. He was probably the most dynamic participant within the Arizona Fall League, incomes nicely above-average grades for uncooked energy, pace and arm energy from some scouts.
Giants: Rayner Arias, OF (No. 5)Signed for the second-largest worldwide bonus in franchise historical past ($2,697,500 in 2023), Arias has been hampered by accidents to his left wrist in every of his two professional seasons. His .250/.371/.364 line in 25 video games final summer time within the Rookie-level Arizona Complicated League belies his superior hitting skill, big energy potential and spectacular exit velocities.
Padres: Humberto Cruz, RHP (No. 5)Signed for $750,000 out of Mexico firstly of final yr, Cruz solely pitched in two Arizona Complicated League video games as he received his ft moist in professional ball, however behind the scenes, he confirmed the makings of a complicated arm able to leap up the San Diego ranks. His fastball averaged round 94 mph already, whereas his changeup and slider could possibly be two different weapons with additional refinement. Cruz’s athleticism helps him pump strikes, and that entire bundle will draw loads of eyes in ‘25.
Rockies: Robert Calaz, OF (No. 9)Signed for $1.7 million firstly of the 2023 worldwide signing interval, Calaz had a .984 OPS within the DSL that summer time to whet the Rockies’ appetites. He stored on raking, from the ACL to the full-season California League, ending 2024 with a mixed .344/.446/.633 line over 62 video games. He has an opportunity to stay in middle, but additionally would profile nicely as a run-producing athletic nook outfielder with a strong strategy on the dish.
