mlb prospect rankings 2022

Improved approach and swing mechanics have helped his long-term outlook over the last couple seasons, but Vientos still remains a boom-or-bust corner player with immense offensive upside. Batys stock has continued to rise as he has hedged his weaknesses and tapped into his strengths as he has progressed through his career. A well-rounded hitter with plus power to dream on, Baty has long been considered one of baseballs best third base prospects for good reason. Top Prospects by Team While he has improved significantly since being drafted, he is a below-average defender there due to his heavy-ish feet and not enough arm to make up for it. The 22-year-old overcame some drifting issues with his swing earlier in the season, finding much more lower half consistency which has helped him make more consistent contact with more impact. Tommy John Surgery put an end to Meyers rookie season shortly after his big league debut. An inconsistent lower half is common among younger players and is going to be even more pronounced when you are 6-foot-4, 175 pounds. Despite being a below-average runner, Burlesons reads and routes were solid as the year went on and his arm as a former pitcher is comfortably above-average. Hendersons skillset is similar to that of Bobby Witt Jr.s with perhaps slightly less loud tools and a more advanced approach. Age: 22|Height/Weight: 510, 180|Bat/Throw: L/L|1st Round (15) 2021 (MIL)|ETA: 2023. Top 60 MLB prospects: Keith Law's updated rankings following the Juan Soto trade Keith Law Aug 1, 2022 363 This is my midpoint check-in on the best prospects still in the minors,. An extremely fundamentally sound third baseman, Jung may not wow with the range, but only made three errors in his final 77 games at the hot corner in the minors. It seemed like 2022 was finally the season where Lewis was starting to put it all together. Harrisons plus fastball is his best pitch. Naturally, Tiedemann favors his slider against lefties and changeup against righties, but he will still mix his slider in against righties around 20% of the time with success and the change around 10% of the time with success against lefties. If Veen moves to a corner, he could be Gold Glove-caliber. Height/Weight: 511, 180|Bat/Throw: R/R|1st Round (30), 2019 (NYY)|ETA: 2023. An above-average runner, Arroyo has had success swiping bags through the lower levels and should be a threat for 15 or more stolen bases annually. His efficient bat path is quick to the ball while staying in the zone for a long time. Good stuff and already solid command, Hence has big upside. Vientos crushed fastballs to a 1.010 OPS this season compared to a dreadful .447 OPS against breaking balls. Height/Weight: 65, 220|Bat/Throw: R/R|1st Round (21), 2020 (STL)|ETA: 2023. Since his 2019 breakout in High-A, Steer has not really blinked at any level. After setting a career high of 14 homers last year, Aranda has launched 20 this season while maintaining his elite contact rates. Height/Weight: 61, 205|Bat/Throw: S/R|CBA Round (35) 2020 (COL)|ETA: 2024. Injuries cut Lucianos 2022 season to just 65 games, but when he was on the field, he flashed the elite bat speed and raw pop that has made him one of the most highly touted prospects in baseball for years. He has the ability to be an above average defender at first base while trending closer to average at best at second. Age: 23|Height/Weight: 62, 210|Bat/Throw: R/R|1st Round (1), 2017 (MIN)|ETA: 2022. Holliday should start the season in A- Delmarva before getting bumped to A+ Aberdeen. Still an aggressive hitter, Soderstrom could benefit from cutting down his 31% chase rate, but that will likely come with more at bats. 2021 Still probably two years from Fenway Park, Mayer could have a claim as one of baseballs best overall prospects by the end of next year. The 19-year-old right-hander features a fastball that tops out at 97 mph and can play up in the zone or have sinking movement down. Lawlars feel to hit and approach rivals any bat from his draft class, showcasing a impressive bat-to-ball skills and an advanced knowledge of the strike zone as one of the youngest hitters at each level his has jumped to. One of the most polished hitters in the 2021 draft, some scouts wondered how much power would be in the tank for Cowser with a swing that is more geared for consistent contact. Solid reads and instincts along with an above average arm give him a great chance to stick in center, but if he moves to a corner he could profile as a fringe plus defender. Walker starts slightly open with his stance and does not close himself off totally, sometimes even stepping in the bucket a bit. The rare high floor/ceiling combination for a big bodied power hitter, Casas boasts 30+ home run potential with an innate feel to hit and plus makeup. The high velocity, riding fastball pairs with Rodriguezs screwball of a changeup at 83-85 mph to make hitters extremely uncomfortable. Yet another electric pitching prospect in a loaded Dodgers system, Miller has a good chance to be the best of the bunch. Grayson Rodriguez, SP 3. He only throws it a few times each outing and it tends to back up a bit on him at times leading to some consistency issues regarding location. A big body with three easily plus pitches and good command make it easy to see why Rodriguez is the most impressive arm in the minors. Lee has flashed above average power to his pull side and will pick his spots to try to do damage. Rafaela is an incredibly unique prospect for all of the right reasons. The safest bat in the 2022 draft class, the switch hitting Lee has added muscle to tap into above average power to pair with his 70 grade hit tool. The Cubs were in no rush with Alcantara, letting him feel things out for the entire season in Low-A which allowed him to keep working towards tapping into his power in games rather than sending the youngster into fight or flight mode in High-A. All UZR (ultimate zone rating) calculations are provided courtesy of Mitchel Lichtman. The 22-year-old picked up just a dozen bags in his first 100 games of the season, but should be more of a base stealer as he gets more comfortable on the base paths at the upper levels. Merrill enjoyed a growth spurt in his senior year of high school and seems to just be reaping the rewards of the added physicality. The downward action makes it a weapon to both lefties and righties. The reality is, if Norby keeps hitting like this, they will have to find a spot for him at Camden Yards. Even in his brief MLB stint this year, Aranda has seen action at second base, first base and third base as well as some games in left in the minors. Ruiz has an wide, athletic stance, really getting into his legs while starting with his hands already coiled. Improving his strike throwing consistency was as simple as finding a more consistent landing spot for Espino given his explosive lower half. Often times, hitters cannot differentiate the changeup from his riding fastball until its too late. Consistently punching out batters at a 27% clip or higher, Abel dominated lower level hitters with his fastball/slider combination though his feel for his changeup has improved as the season progressed. Starting with an open stance and a toe tap to close himself off, Alvarez has some of the easiest power youll find in the minors. Every year we see great values pop up from the later rounds of first year player drafts. The Official Site of Major League Baseball. Montgomery was viewed as an older prep prospect, but now he is ahead of schedule of most of the 2021 draftees thanks to his polish at the plate. Of course, that has since changed and every time I watch Tovar play, I come away more confident that he will be a good big leaguer. Prospects with 70 grade raw power to dream on and potential to stick in center field dont come around every day. An arsenal that is led by an exceptional fastball along with three secondaries that boast above average to plus potential, Leiter has the goods to become a frontline starter. MLB Draft, 2023 MLB Draft. Colas is an aggressive hitter, which stifled his walk rates, but he rarely misses mistakes and feasted by ambushing fastballs. Rounding out Graceffos arsenal is his sweeping curveball in the 78-80 mph range. Rafaela controls his body well and has steady numbers against breaking balls and off speed pitches. Arroyo was taken in the second round of 2021s Draft as more of a glove-first shortstop, but has shown more offensive upside than many evaluators anticipated. 1 overall pick in the 2022 draft, rounds out Baltimore's trio of top 15 prospects. After operating more in the upper 80s with his slider last season, Brown tweaked the slider to sit in the low 90s with sharper bite. He has no problem catching up with velocity and is already an above average hitter. Hes so athletic and cerebral that he will find a way to develop into at least an average defensive catcher .Unsurprisingly, he moves well and gets to difficult pitches to block. His routes and overall comfort in the outfield makes it easy to forget that he is just 18 years old. All eyes will be on the hit-tool for the teenager and I believe he will make strides in that regard next season. A former two-way player at Duke, Mervis also played some third base when he was not pitching. Height/Weight: 62, 170|Bat/Throw: R/R|IFA: (2018)|ETA: 2023. Athleticism and mobility is a big part of Hassells game from the batters box to center field and the base paths. Rafaelas offensive onslaught this season has totally shifted his outlook. A zone contact rate of 89% through his 31 professional games while walking at a solid 12% mark, Lee should be a high on-base, low strikeout threat annually. The struggles against velocity are a concern with Pages and he will need to find a way to be more efficient to the baseball. Dominguez shedded some unnecessary weight last offseason, helping him move better in the outfield and on the bases, looking more like the plus runner he has was anticipated to be. Winn boasts top of the scale speed and his freakish athleticism can be seen on the base paths and in the field. The blend of whippy bat speed while living in the zone for so long helps Manzardo post an impressive 86% zone contact rate while driving the ball with authority. Holliday projects as a plus hitter. Height/Weight: 64, 220|Bat/Throw: R/R|5th Round (165) 2019 (NYY)|ETA: 2022. The 70 grade speed has translated into big stolen base numbers for Winn, swiping 43 bags on 48 tries this season. . A switch-hitter with a great feel to hit, its easy to see why the Rockies shelled out $1.5 million for Amador in 2019s loaded IFA class. Plus raw power and potential for an above-average hit-tool, Marte has the upside of a middle-of-the-order masher with some speed. Shortly after signing with Arizona, Jones tore his labrum taking batting practice and required surgery that ended his season. 4 starter with the swing-and-miss potential to show flashes of a middle-of-the-rotation starter. Bobby Witt Jr., SS/3B: Witt Jr. had an outstanding spring at the plate and enters the 2022 season with a chance to gain eligibility at two . Touching 99 mph, Painter earns widespread praise. His reads are already at least big league average and the combination of his speed and efficient routes make it seem like he can get to any baseball. Hall saw his 2021 season cut short due to a stress reaction in his elbow, but has returned looking as good as ever this season. A plus runner, Davis has the goods to stick in center field along with an above-average arm which could handle either corner as well. Alvarezs arm is easily plus and he has honed in on his accuracy this year, throwing out 28% of base stealers in the upper levels (a figure that has progressively gotten better as the year has gone on). His setup is a bit reminiscent of Carlos Correa, though Ruiz uses a toe tap for timing as he sinks into his back hip. The different looks he can give hitters at 6-foot-5 makes at-bats miserable to say the least. Like many young outfielders the 22-year-old could improve on his reads in center, but his quickness from his days on the basketball court and recovery speed give him a margin for error. Aside form a slight stretch backwards, Henderson doesnt feature much hand movement with his load, allowing him to repeat his moves and timing. While there is some present whiff for Cartaya, he controls his body well, repeating his moves in the box. Even with command issues, Harrison gets enough whiffs to be a high strikeout middle of the rotation arm who may struggle with consistency. Carroll made up for lost time by reaching the Major Leagues in just 142 Minor League games. Already earning high marks for the way he commands a game behind the dish, Cartaya is an incredibly cerebral catcher who pitchers love to throw to. The right-hander has a four seamer and sinker along with a plus curve, slider and changeup. Hit-tool concerns hold him back some, but he is just 21 years old with success in Double-A under his belt. Lewis has shown he can handle shortstop throughout the Minor Leagues. His footwork is great, his actions are smooth, his arm is plus and he has the instincts of a 10-year veteran. His long levers fortunately dont create too much extra length in his swing, but do generate a ton of bat speed and whip, aiding his double-plus raw power potential. The pitch averages more than 19 inches of induced vertical break. Seeing gains in just about every tool while demonstrating a veterans maturity at the plate, it is easy to see how the 21-year-old has become one of baseballs best prospects. As he gets more reps and irons out the fundamentals, Williams should be an above average defender at short. If he can refine his approach, Rafaela could easily be an above average hitter with decent power that he taps into effectively. Mead made the majority of his starts at the hot corner this season, but still saw action in 20 games at second. Top Ranked 2022 Major League Baseball Prospects according to Baseball America including highest level reached and career mlb/minor league stats. The pitch breaks so much that it can be difficult to land for a strike, but Priester racked up a 45% chase rate with the offering while allowing almost no hard contact. While his swing is geared for doing damage to his pull side, Davis generates enough bat speed and backspin to where the ball carries well to all fields. Even in a hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, Campusano posted impressive offensive numbers over his last two seasons hitting .296/.364/.511 with 29 homers and a strikeout rate of just 18.7%. Of his off-speed offerings, Espinos slider is his strongest. Every year we see great values pop up from the later rounds of first year player drafts. The majority of his time in the field is spent at second base. Hences second plus pitch is his his slurvy breaking ball in the low 80s. Veen is one of the more tantalizing talents in the minor leagues. A plus offering, nearly half of Leiters strikeouts this season came on the pitch. March 1, 2023. 3 or even No. Theres some question within the industry if De La Cruz can stick at shortstop as he physically matures, but given that he is an off the charts athlete with a rocket for an arm, added muscle and weight shouldnt hold him back much, if at all. Not only does Priester get more whiffs with his sinker than his four seamer, but it is also a weak contact machine. Luciano has also ditched his pull-happy approach, using the whole field more than ever this season. Not only has Mervis been the biggest breakout prospect in 2022, but hes also flat out been one of the best hitters in the Minor Leagues. Theres no minor league pitcher with bag of pitches as deep and as nasty as G-Rod. It is safe to assume that Moreno could at least be an average defender with potential to be above-average with the glove. The four seam fastball has been a hittable pitch for Priester through the years. Davis returned from injury for the final month of the Triple-A season and is slated to get more at bats in the Arizona Fall League while eying a strong start to 2023 and a potential call up. The swing itself is somewhat reminiscent of Freddie Freeman due to the ability of using a short swing with a big frame. Like many young hitters who have a strong feel to hit, Rocchio can at times be a bit too swing-happy, swinging at tough pitches early in counts. Bibees fastball velocity has jumped more than 3 mph this season, helping the rest of his arsenal play up as well. After striking out in 24% of the time in High-A, Mervis cut that to 20% in Double-A and then just 14% in Triple-A. Burrows put it all together this year, carving through Double-A and holding his own in Triple-A. His change-up might be the best in the draft and has good fade and tumble, grading out at a double plus pitch for Lesko. Height/Weight: 67, 220|Bat/Throw: L/R|2nd Round (62) 2021 (SD)|ETA: 2025. Standing at 6-foot-4, 210 pounds with already impressive present pop, many evaluators are eager to see what kind of power Caissie will be able to generate as he continues to fill out and mature physically and at the plate. The pitch tunnels well off of his riding fastball boasting late, sharp bite away from right-handers. If you are looking for an arm with some upside late in your drafts check out Brandon Birdsell. The first two pro seasons for Turang were a solid but also reinforced some of the fears that scouts had: there was plenty of contact, but not much more than that offensively. If Rocchio can develop into a .270 hitter with 15-20 homers per season, his defense, speed and intangibles would make him a well above average regular at the position. Millers surface level stats may not be as sexy as some of the other pitching prospects in his ranking tier, however the Texas League and Pacific Coast League are two of the most difficult spots in the Minors to pitch. The improved command for Brown has him trending towards a solid middle of the rotation option with flashes of more. In 57 games, Cross slashed .328/.411/.660 with 14 doubles, 8 triples, 17 home runs, and 70 runs scored, making the All-ACC first team in 2022. Jungs groundball rate dipped by more than 15% while his HR/FB rate jumped from 5% to 22%. Hes a lock to stick in center field long-term if the D-backs prefer him there over Alek Thomas. For the top tier of prospects, I present their tools as 45/60 meaning . His explosive lower half paired with his bat speed helps him react to hard stuff inside, boasting plus power to his pull side already. A powerful bat who controls the strike zone really well, Busch has the ingredients of a Max Muncy lite. Hell flash plus pop times thanks to his quick transfer and above-average arm strength, but the accuracy of his arm is currently inconsistent.

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