MLB Pipeline will reveal its 2024 Prime 100 Prospects listing at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Jan. 26, with a one-hour present on MLB Community and MLB.com. Main as much as the discharge of the Prime 100, we’ll study baseball’s high 10 prospects at every place.
The final two gamers to headline our Prime 10 catching prospects lists, Adley Rutschman (2022) and Francisco Álvarez (2023), each ranked as one of the best total prospect in baseball at one level. This yr’s finest catcher, Ethan Salas, might pull off the identical feat within the close to future.
The highest-rated expertise within the 2023 worldwide class, Salas signed with the Padres for $5.6 million that January. By the top of his first skilled season, he already had reached Double-A and ranked fifth on MLB Pipeline’s Prime 100 Prospects listing — regardless of being simply 17 years previous.
Salas most likely will not make his large league debut till 2025 on the earliest, which is true of all however certainly one of our Prime 10 catchers. The lone exception is Jeferson Quero, who’s already Milwaukee’s finest defensive possibility behind the plate and will floor at American Household Subject after a while in Triple-A.
1. Ethan Salas, Padres (2025)2. Samuel Basallo, Orioles (2025)3. Jeferson Quero, Brewers (2024)4. Harry Ford, Mariners (2025)5. Kyle Teel, Purple Sox (2025)6. Dalton Speeding, Dodgers (2025)7. Blake Mitchell, Royals (2027)8. Moises Ballesteros, Cubs (2026)9. Edgar Quero, White Sox (2025)10. Diego Cartaya, Dodgers (2025)Full listing »
Prime 10 prospects by place:1/16: RHP1/17: LHP1/18: C1/19: 1B1/22: 2B1/23: 3B1/24: SS1/25: OF1/26: Prime 100
Hit: Basallo (60)Basallo made a spectacular full-season debut at age 18 final summer time, batting .313 and ending fourth within the Minors with a 162 wRC+ whereas rising from Single-A to Double-A. Extraordinarily superior for his age, he controls the strike zone and makes loads of laborious contact.
Energy: Salas, Basallo (60)Each Salas and Basallo might be 30-homer threats of their prime, particularly as soon as they add some power and study to drive the ball within the air on a extra common foundation. Each have fast left-handed swings, tall and projectable frames and hitting means nicely past their years.
Run: Ford (60)Uncommon for a catcher, Ford possesses professional plus pace and has swiped 50 bases in 63 makes an attempt (79 p.c) in 241 professional video games. His athleticism has prompted comparisons to Craig Biggio, who spent the primary 4 large league seasons of his Corridor of Fame profession behind the plate.
Arm: Mitchell (70)The eighth total choose within the 2023 Draft as a catcher, Mitchell would have merited top-two-rounds curiosity as a pitcher as a result of he had a simple supply that produced fastballs as much as 97 mph, downer curveballs and promising changeups with tumble. His plus-plus arm power will likely be a helpful weapon as groups need to steal extra typically today.
Subject: J. Quero (70)Quero received a Minor League Gold Glove in 2023 and it was nicely deserved. His receiving, framing and blocking abilities rank among the many finest within the Minors and are very superior for a 21-year-old.
Highest ceiling: SalasSalas held his personal as a 17-year-old who rocketed to Double-A in his professional debut, and he has the possibility to have 4 plus or higher instruments whereas staying behind the plate. One membership advised the Padres that given his age and upside, their analysts seen Salas as probably the most worthwhile expertise within the sport — within the Majors or Minors.
Highest flooring: J. QueroQuero’s protection is so good that it alone nearly ensures him an extended profession as not less than a backup. He is additionally a profession .278/.349/.445 hitter in three professional seasons regardless of persistently being one of many youngest gamers in his leagues, so he ought to present sufficient offense to be not less than a strong common.
Rookie of the Yr candidate: J. QueroQuero is the one certainly one of our Prime 10 catchers projected to achieve the Majors in 2024, so he is the apparent selection right here. His protection is forward of his offense, so he is not more likely to make a powerful push for ROY honors.
Highest riser: BasalloEntering the 2023 season, Basallo had but to play full-season ball and ranked twelfth in a deep Orioles system. Now he is thought to be having one of many highest offensive ceilings within the Minors and can place almost as excessive on our soon-to-be-released 2024 Prime 100.
Humblest starting: E. QueroNeither Quero signed for large cash on the worldwide market, with Jeferson turning professional for $200,000 out of Venezuela in 2019 and Edgar receiving the identical bonus out of Cuba two years later. Jeferson’s defensive upside was apparent on the similar stage, so Edgar will get the nod on this class.
Most to show: CartayaAfter successful Dodgers Minor League Participant of the Yr honors in 2022 with an .892 OPS and 22 homers between two Class A stops at age 20, Cartaya appeared poised to succeed the graduating Alvarez as one of the best catching prospect in baseball. As an alternative, he hit .189/.278/.379 in Double-A, elevating enormous issues about his bat.
Keep watch over: Austin Wells, YankeesWith Kyle Higashioka heading to the Padres within the Juan Soto commerce, Wells ought to share Yankees catching duties with Jose Trevino in an offense/protection platoon. A well-rounded hitter who comes with questions on his receiving and throwing, he slashed .238/.332/.449 with 21 homers between 4 ranges a yr in the past, together with 4 homers in 19 video games with New York.
