Here’s our staff 2022 midseason update. We decided to wait until after the trade and signing deadlines to churn this out. The methodology was simple, six of us (Matt Thompson, Jake Kerns, Trevor Hooth, Adam Kiel, Tyler Jennings and Rhys White) submitted our own top 130 lists and we averaged them together and this was the result. Enjoy!
The Good simply describes what the prospect does so well and why he’s essentially ranked where he is.
The Bad covers flaws, currently or ones we predict he may run into in the future.
1. Corbin Carroll, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks
The Good: Carroll checks all the boxes with a plus hit tool, above-average to plus power, plus defensive skills in center and he’s also a plus runner. He’s quieted all the concerns from his season ending shoulder injury early in 2021 and has multiple all-star games in his future.
The Bad: The batted ball data doesn’t pop and could be heavily influenced by Amarillo and Reno, and there’s a chance Alek Thomas may be the better center fielder and push Carroll to a corner.
2. Gunnar Henderson, SS, Baltimore Orioles
The Good: Gunnar just turned 21 at the end of June and he’s already thriving in Triple-A. He does everything you want offensively. He hits, he hits for power, takes walks, and he also plays a solid shortstop. True five tool potential with a great chance to stick at short despite his size.
The Bad: Nitpicking here but the strikeout rate has jumped a bit since arriving at Norfolk. He’s been dominant this year and we need time (which we don’t have) to see how much of it is real.
3. Grayson Rodriguez, RHP, Baltimore Orioles
The Good: Rodriguez’s arsenal is unmatched. The right-hander has four plus or better pitches and looks like the next version of Gerrit Cole. He should thrive in the now all of the sudden pitcher friendly park at Camden Yards.
The Bad: The only reason he’s still prospect eligible is because he’s out with a pretty severe lat strain that is likely to cost him the rest of his season at this point. Pitching prospects, breaking hearts since the beginning of time.
4. Francisco Alvarez, C, New York Mets
The Good: One of the best bats in all of the minors. He’s already reached Triple-A at the age of 20 on the strength of the bat alone. Franchise catcher if everything clicks.
The Bad: If the defense behind the plate doesn’t improve, where does he play? Hard to commit the DH position to someone as young as Alvarez, but they absolutely will if he can’t stick behind the plate.
5. Jordan Walker, 3B, St. Louis Cardinals
The Good: Walker absolutely hammers the baseball and posts elite exit velocities despite being one of the youngest players in Double-A. His hit tool and approach are also very good, especially considering his age.
The Bad: You’d like to see Walker lift the ball a bit more, and while that’s not overly concerning right now it’s definitely something you want to see corrected sooner rather than later. He’s also not a very strong infielder but as of this writing he is going to start playing some outfield in Double-A.
6. Eury Perez, RHP, Miami Marlins
The Good: He’s just 19 and might be the best pitcher in Double-A. The fastball sits in the mid-90s, he’s got two advanced breaking balls and his changeup has become a weapon of late as well. Despite his size he pumps strikes and has stayed healthy to this point. What’s not to love?
The Bad: The health issues are always in the back of your mind with young arms, but I want to reiterate this. There have been no health issues to date with Perez. Also pitchers with his build tend to typically have a difficult time throwing strikes, again, he doesn’t. He’s unreal.
7. Jackson Chourio, OF, Milwaukee Brewers
The Good: Chourio had as good of a stateside/full-season debut as I can remember as he hit .324/.373/.600 as an 18-year old in Single-A before getting promoted. The power and speed are serious tools, and Chourio has as much helium as any prospect since Jasson Dominguez.
The Bad: The two biggest flaws in his game are one he can possibly help, and another that he has no control over. The latter is how far away he is from the big leagues after just getting promoted to High-A. If he keeps producing like this will eventually force their hand. The downside here is the whiff rate was an uncomfortable 28% at Single-A and reaching out to people that have seen him play in person say he does have issues recognizing spin, but he’s also just 18 and every single pitcher he faces is older than him.
8. Jordan Lawlar, SS, Arizona Diamondbacks
The Good: Lawlar is a shortstop that is able to impact every facet of the game and is a virtual lock to stay at short. He is one of the few five-tool prospects we have in baseball as a result of his tools all being at least above-average. He’s got all the makings of a perennial all-star type player.
The Bad: This is just me picking nits, but he has had a few injuries already in his short professional career. He also has a slight tendency to hit the ball on the ground, but that can be tweaked and played around with.
9. Elly De La Cruz, SS, Cincinnati Reds
The Good: Tall, skinny switch-hitter with eye catching bat speed and raw tools. Similar skills to what Oneil Cruz brings to the table for Pittsburgh. Plays a decent shortstop for his size but will stick somewhere on the left side of the infield. One of the more exciting prospects in the minors.
The Bad: He will be a little streaky due to his aggressiveness. Will chase pitches outside of the zone and doesn’t walk as much as you prefer. Triple-A will actually be a big test for him as you start to see more breaking balls consistently thrown for strikes there.
10. Anthony Volpe, SS, New York Yankees
The Good: Volpe has rewarded those that stuck with him despite his slow start to the season and checks every box you’re looking for in a potential franchise shortstop. He’s a plus hitter with average to slightly above-average power. He works the gaps, runs the bases well and also plays strong defense.
The Bad: The Yankees fan base will once again put a lot of pressure on the organization to add one of the premier shortstops that will be available this winter, but this is the future franchise guy. If he gets off to a slow start to begin 2023, the pressure will build.
11. Daniel Espino, RHP, Cleveland Guardians
The Good: Espino might even top Eury Perez as far as stuff goes. The arsenal isn’t quite as deep but Espino was touching 100 and had a double-plus slider in addition to his plus curveball. He lives in the high-90s with tremendous movement on the fastball and it’s stuff that immediately gets him a valuable role with the Guardians as soon as he’s called up.
The Bad: He hasn’t thrown a pitch since April due to a knee injury. There are some rumors swirling that it may be more than that but I’ve been unable to confirm. Hopefully he gets back on the mound soon.
12. Robert Hassell III, OF, Washington Nationals
The Good: Hassell has one of the best hit tools in the minors and it’s easy to see why the Nationals needed to get him back in the Juan Soto package. Bobby Barrels does everything just good enough and if everything breaks right could be a five tool dude.
The Bad: While one outcome may have him becoming a five tool guy there’s another world that has him as a bit of a tweener, meaning that he won’t quite be a strong enough defender to stick in center and have to get moved to a corner where his lack of plus power might not make him an ideal fit. I’m fully confident we are looking at a future big leaguer here, but there’s a chance his hit tool ends up as his only above-average tool.
13. Diego Cartaya, C, Los Angeles Dodgers
The Good: It is not often you come across a complete catching prospect at such a young age. There is no doubt that he sticks behind the plate, he moves well behind the dish, is proficient at blocking balls in the dirt, and has enough arm to deter base runners. He also plays with swag and is a true leader of the defense, and has the intangibles one looks for from a potential franchise catcher, There even is some projection left in the frame which should only bode for him to handle a substantial workload behind the plate and add more power.
The Bad: The bad in this case is normal catcher wear and tear, catching takes a toll on one's body. And at times those little bumps and bruises that come with the position can affect the bat.
14. Marcelo Mayer, SS, Boston Red Sox
The Good: Mayer has a beautiful, smooth left-handed swing and great defensive actions at shortstop which automatically gives him a high-floor. His plate approach and swing decisions also point to a strong future as an above-average big league shortstop.
The Bad: His large frame will lead to questions down the road about his long term ability to stick at shortstop. He has the type of “blank canvas” type frame that he could lean into it and put on some mass and become a bigger, bulkier dude if the position switch happens.
15. Marco Luciano, SS, San Francisco Giants
The Good: Luciano has all the makings of one of the game's better hitters when he reaches the highest level. He gets on-base, makes contact, and hits for power. He has cut down his k-rate, repeating High-A showing that last year might have been a blip. He’s got a beautiful swing and generates natural loft as well, he can get to any pitch in the zone.
The Bad: He is not a shortstop, even if he continues to moonlight as one. His body is filling out and not in a way that has allowed him to remain athletic. As he continues to fill out he’s moving down the defensive spectrum which hurts his overall status as a prospect.
16. Gabriel Moreno, C, Toronto Blue Jays
The Good: Moreno has a strong feel for contact and is a potential plus-plus hitter. He puts a ton of balls in play and is capable of drawing a walk. He should be a high on-base hitter at a premium position. Moreno has a strong arm behind the plate and projects as an at least average defender.
The Bad: Moreno’s power dropped off significantly once he reached Triple-A, and there’s a fear his stick lacks traditional impact.
17. Ezequiel Tovar, SS, Colorado Rockies
The Good: Tovar has become more patient and the better plan at the plate has led him to hitting well over .300 at Double-A, and he just turned 21 at the beginning of the month. Tovar plays an excellent shortstop as well and looks to be the long term solution for the Rockies at the position.
The Bad: I’m nitpicking a bit here but his power is a bit limited, and he’s probably limited to 20 or so homers at his peak, but will do everything else well enough offensively for that to not be an issue. His strikeouts did jump 8% in Double-A as well, but with the walk rate gains you’ll take it.
18. Kyle Harrison, LHP, San Francisco Giants
The Good: Harrison has loud stuff. His arsenal is led by his now mid-90s fastball which has added some velocity since his prep days. He also has a pair of above-average secondaries that have flashed plus in his slider and change. He’s already in Double-A at 20 years old. Future front of the rotation upside as he has a chance at three plus pitches with further refinement.
The Bad: He’s got a little Blake Snell in him. Harrison struggles with efficiency and will often times be approaching 100 pitches after just 5 innings. Also with the strikeout being his preferred way to retire hitters that can also jump pitch counts in a hurry. If the command gets to league average he can be a solid number two.
19. Zac Veen, OF, Colorado Rockies
The Good: Veen is one of the more dynamic athletes in all of the minors putting up that alluring power-speed combo that fans go crazy for. He is an imposing presence on a baseball field, and leverages that frame into some pretty serious power. He also has a keen eye at the plate and gets on-base at a high clip. He shows a willingness to use the entire field.
The Bad: While he is fast his stride is on the clunkier side as opposed to being fluid. This at times impacts him in the field and may push him to a corner, where there will be more pressure on his bat, which the bat will be able to handle. There’s also the whole Colorado Rockies thing that looms over their prospects and how they have to earn their playing time.
20. James Wood, OF, Washington Nationals
The Good: This can be thrown around too much at times, but Wood has true superstar potential with his massive 6’7” frame. His approach and swing decisions are extremely advanced for his age, and the raw power is at least double-plus.
The Bad: He’s missed some time with wrist issues and those have a tendency to linger, although he’s been in the clear since. The massive frame is a gift and a curse at the same time as his long levers create some length in the swing, and players with his frame almost always have unavoidable swing and miss issues. He also might not stick in center, but the bat will play anywhere.
21. Taj Bradley, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays
The Good: Bradley has plus command and has continued to miss bats even as he’s climbed all the way to Triple-A Durham. He sits 95-97, T98 with the fastball and has a plus slider. He also throws a backspin curveball and has a changeup with good fade.
The Bad: The Rays have cut him off at 6 innings in every start this year, and there’s some real concern that he will be a traditional at all and might work in a bulk role because his fastball and slider play so well together.
22. Druw Jones, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks
The Good: Jones quickly looked like one of the more polished prep prospects we’ve seen in a while, and possibly ever as he asserted himself as the number one player on most draft boards fairly early on in the draft cycle. Jones has a lean, powerful build and draws rave reviews for his ability to play centerfield. He’s a double-plus runner with a double-plus arm. It’s easy plus raw, and possibly a grade or two higher and he made consistent, loud contact everywhere he went.
The Bad: Continuing with Diamondbacks tradition, Jones injured his non-throwing shoulder taking batting practice and it required surgery, which could sideline him into next season. There are some questions about how advanced the hit tool is but we will have to wait to find out.
23. Jackson Holliday, SS, Baltimore Orioles
The Good: The legacy product was the first pick in the 2022 draft after a monster spring campaign that left an impact on all evaluators that came to see him. He added strength and started getting to the power naturally while keeping his contact rates up at his elite level. He is also projected to stick at shortstop.
The Bad: Holliday doesn’t have the same ceiling as guys like Druw Jones or Elijah Green, but his combination of all five tools and an off the charts baseball IQ have him looking like a future everyday big league shortstop at worst. There’s some risk he can fill out, especially in the lower half, and maybe move to third. I don’t see it though.
24. DL Hall, LHP, Baltimore Orioles
The Good: Hall has one of the filthiest arsenals in professional baseball with potentially four above-average offerings. The fastball is a huge one, getting double-plus grades due to velocity and movement. His slider also grades out as a plus pitch. He’s currently in Triple-A and missing bats at just under a 40% clip and he’s already on the Orioles 40-man roster.
The Bad: There are two major components working against Hall right now, his health and his command. He’s working his way back from an elbow injury this year and will likely soon hit his innings limit, and he’s also walking over 13% of hitters at Triple-A.
25. Noelvi Marte, SS, Cincinnati Reds
The Good: Noelvi has impressive power and it's a testament to his bat speed and raw strength. He keeps the barrel in the zone for a long time and makes contact at an above-average clip for his age, and that’s not even accounting for the damage he can do when he hits the ball. He’s a future middle of the lineup masher.
The Bad: He’s likely not a shortstop, and with the tremendous infield depth in the Reds system I could see him making a transition out to left field soon enough. The bat becomes a little less special on an outfield corner.
26. Josh Jung, 3B, Texas Rangers
The Good: Jung was a standout while at Texas Tech and his offensive prowess carried over into pro ball. Last year he was showing really good pull side power, which wasn’t happening as often with him in the past, while also making better in the zone contact and walking more.
The Bad: We’ve kind of already seen what the bad can be as Jung has missed some time time in 2021 due to a stress fracture in his left foot. He came back from that and raked, but then went down with a torn labrum in early 2022 that has kept him on the shelf. He’s just begun playing in games at the complex this past week.
27. Henry Davis, C, Pittsburgh Pirates
The Good: Davis is a standout offensively and has made contact at an above-average clip while also showing power at his two main offensive stops in 2022. I think it’ll be more gap-to-gap than over the wall so while he may not stand out from a pure raw homer number, I do see him being an extra base machine and working the gaps.
The Bad: He’s been out since the beginning of July with a wrist injury, and with limited time left I’d expect it to end his season. He needs some work defensively to become an asset there. Concerns about his receiving still exist but could be mitigated by the automated zone that seems like it's coming soon.
28. Ricky Tiedemann, LHP, Toronto Blue Jays
The Good: Tiedemann took a bit of a nomadic route to pro ball, but since he’s been here he’s absolutely shoved. Armed with three plus pitches, and his slider and change might even be more than that, he’s had no problem moving through lineups so far in his pro career. His primary fastball is a sinker but it now sits around 95.
The Bad: The Jays have taken it easy with Ricky and he’s been capped at five innings this year. The command has improved but still could use some further maturation, and the new velocity is, well, new, and can he hold it through a start? All typical questions for someone at this stage in their development.
29. Elijah Green, OF, Washington Nationals
The Good: He’s a fantastic athlete and possibly has the highest ceiling of anyone on the offensive side of the 2022 draft due to the exceptionally loud tools. He’s explosive and also has 80 grade speed, which shows up on both sides of the ball. The arm is a show stopper and the power is probably double-plus raw that already shows up in game.
The Bad: We’ve seen many tooled out athletes with questionable hit tools fail before him, and drafting a high school bat with strikeout concerns is one of the riskiest draft demographics. He has some issues with high heat due to his steep bat path, and those same issues have plagued guys before him (Austin Hendrick comes to mind). Not saying he’s Hendrick, but Green comes with a warning label. There’s considerable risk here.
30. Termarr Johnson, 2B, Pittsburgh Pirates
The Good: Johnson has the best prep hit tool in the class. He finds the barrel and can manipulate the bat path when needed to make optimal contact. It might be the fastest bat amongst all the prep hitters too. It’s that good. The swing decisions are sound, he rarely chases and possesses enough pop to hit in the middle of a lineup.
The Bad: Johnson’s size (5’9”) was held against him around draft time, but he’s strong enough where the lack of height won’t be exploited. He also might top out as a below-average fielder at second base.
31. Andrew Painter, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies
The Good: We’re still playing catch up with Painter a bit, as pre-2020 draft he was looked at as a safe future mid-rotation arm. Well he’s blown past that proclamation and now looks to be a future front of the rotation stud. He can touch triple digits and has a pair of sweeping breaking balls in his slider and curveball. An absolute bull dog on the mound too.
The Bad: The Phillies have understandably taken it easy with Painter so we don’t really know what he looks like with the restrictor plate off, which can be said about multiple young arms on this list. He’s still years away from the show.
32. Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF, Chicago Cubs
The Good: PCA had some people running for the hills due to his shoulder injury in 2021 and then the subsequent trade to the Cubs. Then came the rumors of a re-worked swing and there was some cause for concern. Well those people are quiet now. We already knew he was a standout on the defensive side of the ball and a pest on the bases but the power gains in 2021 (pre-injury) have also proven to be real. A true five tool player.
The Bad: He’s very aggressive in the box, and will often swing at the first fastball in the zone that he sees. It led to some struggles early in his High-A career but he’s since righted the ship and is back to being himself.
33. Miguel Vargas, 3B, Los Angeles Dodgers
The Good: Vargas was called up to the big leagues, but has since been sent back to Triple-A. He’s proven that minor league pitching is no match for him, as he’s legit hit well at every stop. He’s added some versatility as well, adding second base and the corner outfield to his portfolio.
The Bad: Nitpicking here but he’s more gap-to-gap than over the fence power wise, but that can change with the Dodgers big league coaching. I was a little surprised he wasn’t moved at the deadline as part of a package for a true superstar. He may take a bit to settle in with a true defensive home as he’s not the strongest on the defensive side.
34. Triston Casas, 1B, Boston Red Sox
The Good: Casas is the quintessential bat-first first base prospect, although his defense is strong enough to keep him on the bag. He has substantial raw power and a patient approach and has continually shown a solid hit tool. There’s some work that needs to be done, but he should have no issue reaching the offensive threshold necessary for playing every day.
The Bad: Casas’ strikeout rate has understandably increased since reaching Triple-A, and there are some concerns about swing-and-miss at the next level. His hit tool hasn’t quite shined like it did in 2021, and he may prove to be nothing more than a .240-.250 hitter once he reaches the big leagues.
35. Drew Romo, C, Colorado Rockies
The Good: Romo’s one of the better defensive catchers in the entire minor leagues, and he’s made gains in the offensive department since being drafted in 2020. He now projects as a potentially high-average hitter, in large part because of the improved quality of his swing decisions. Romo has a high floor based on his defensive value alone, but power gains could make him an All-Star.
The Bad: Romo lacks present game power, and there’s a chance it simply never develops and he winds up as an empty-average hitter. Romo was drafted a defense-first catcher, and he’ll continue to face scrutiny with the stick each step of the way.
36. Royce Lewis, SS, Minnesota Twins
The Good: Lewis showed a propensity for making contact during his brief big league sample and he even started to find his power stroke before going down with injury. Lewis should settle in as a multi-positional uber athletic swiss army knife for the Twins.
The Bad: Well he’s had some pretty awful injury luck, blowing out his ACL on two separate occasions. He’s also a very aggressive hitter and he’s still learning and adjusting to big league pitching.
37. Cade Cavalli, RHP, Washington Nationals
The Good: The velocity has always been there for Cavalli, as he sits 94-96 and touches 98 as a starter. He even hit triple digits in his abbreviated outing in the 2021 Future’s Game. The curveball, slider and change all show up as above-average pitches, if not better and all three offerings miss bats.
The Bad: He struggled in April and May but is sporting a 2.29 ERA since the beginning of June. His fastball is the main culprit as he struggled commanding his heater. The fastball doesn’t play up metrically, and in fact, his fastball might be his worst pitch, despite the plus velocity.
38. Gavin Williams, RHP, Cleveland Guardians
The Good: Williams is filthy. His fastball and curveball play well off of each other, and have incredible movement. He also mixes in a slider and a change. It’s a solid four-pitch mix that he commands very well, and the floor here is that of a mid-rotation starter with a chance at being Cleveland’s next rotation anchor.
The Bad: He’s dealt with injuries in the past and has been quite unlucky. A freak finger injury in college cost him some time and he’s been hit by line drives multiple times in 2022 that have caused him to skip a start or two. This also might be obvious but he also hasn’t been as dominant in Double-A.
39. Bobby Miller, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers
The Good: Miller’s stuff showed up during his Future’s Game appearance and you saw the huge triple digit heater as well as the three plus secondaries in his slider, curveball and changeup. On paper he should be much higher because all three pitches are optimized to miss bats, and the strikeout numbers have been incredible to this point.
The Bad: He struggles to throw strikes consistently and as you saw in that same Future’s Game outing he runs a lot of deep counts because of it. There’s significant relief risk in the profile because of this and you also have to wonder how much is Miller and how much of it is the elite Dodgers pitching development.
40. George Valera, OF, Cleveland Guardians
The Good: Valera very much just looks hitterish in the box and it draws you in immediately. He has electric bat speed and can turn around any fastball on the bottom two-thirds of the zone and drive it to all fields. He will also take his walks and generally not chase either, and when everything clicks he’s hitting in the top third of a lineup somewhere. While he can play a decent center he’s an ideal right fielder.
The Bad: Valera has a grooved swing and has to make bat plane adjustments and almost change his swing a bit to reach fastballs in the upper quadrants of the zone. As you can imagine, that is a very difficult thing to do on the fly. He’s also a platoon risk as he’s struggled to hit lefties in the past.
41. Shea Langeliers, C, Oakland Athletics
The Good: The power is enormous and very real and he consistently posts big exit velocity numbers. It’s easy plus juice and might even be a grade higher. He makes enough contact for it to play in games and profiles as a middle of the lineup hitter that also plays above-average defense at the catcher position.
The Bad: Langeliers is in the strange position of being big league ready, but also blocked behind Oakland’s best position player, who also happens to catch. It does Oakland no good to have them both up on the big league roster right now and even though he’s probably ready, Langeliers needs to catch everyday still.
42. Jack Leiter, RHP, Texas Rangers
The Good: Leiter’s fastball is still an easy plus offering on paper, but it’s just not getting the results it did while he was at Vanderbilt. It sits around 95 with its signature high spin and flat VAA, and it sets up his above-average slider and 12-to-6 curveball. He will also mix in a change.
The Bad: So perhaps the aggressive push to Double-A to begin his professional career might have been too optimistic, but the underlying numbers do suggest he’s ran into some bad luck down there. He’s also known for a lot of things but pinpoint command isn’t one of them as he’s walking over five guys per nine.
43. Mick Abel, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies
The Good: Abel has been as advertised and has done everything he’s been asked to do as he has moved through the Phillie system. His fastball/slider combination is as strong as ever and he looks to be fully back from a shoulder injury that ended his season early last year.
The Bad: Weird to say, but he’s been kind of boring? Abel probably doesn’t become the next true number one starter, but there’s a high probability he’s starting playoff games for the Phillies in the next few years.
44. Oswald Peraza, SS, New York Yankees
The Good: Peraza is an all-around infielder who offers both offensive and defensive value. He’s a good, contact-oriented hitter with average pop, and he’s a stolen base threat once he reaches base. Peraza should be at least an average defender at shortstop and, while he’s quite capable of staying there, he could push that grade to plus if he eventually moves to second base.
The Bad: Peraza won’t be a high on-base guy, despite his strong feel for hitting. He doesn’t draw many walks, and there are some genuine strikeout concerns. He doesn’t always create quality contact, and his performance is often streaky.
45. Edwin Arroyo, SS, Cincinnati Reds
The Good: Arroyo feasted on Single-A pitching in the California League prior to the deadline deal that sent him to the Reds organization for RHP Luis Castillo. He was one of the better defenders at shortstop in the 2020 class, but the bat has exceeded expectations. He makes contact at a much higher clip than anticipated, and was also driving the ball more.
The Bad: I’m skeptical on how much of the offensive gains stick with them and how much of it is inflated by the launching pads scattered throughout the California League. He also doesn’t post loud exit velo data. Heavy pull tendency as well, which inflates the power and could hinder the hit tool as he advances.
46. Hunter Brown, RHP, Houston Astros
The Good: Brown is the best pitcher in Triple-A right now and is on the brink of a call-up for the Astros. Brown has a big fastball with easy plus grades and can be double-plus at times when the command is all locked in. He sits 94-97 and can touch 100. In addition to the big fastball he has a pair of plus breaking balls in his curveball and slider. He will be a factor for the Astros down the stretch.
The Bad: Brown has big time stuff and could find himself ticketed for the bullpen due to a lack of a rotation spot available for the Astros at the moment, and there’s always the risk that if you pitch well out of the pen and you could stay there. He hasn’t been stretched out of late either and is sitting more around 50-70 pitches an outing. His command is his weakest attribute though and if that doesn’t improve he will certainly move to the pen regardless.
47. Tyler Soderstrom, C, Oakland Athletics
The Good: Soderstrom’s struggles early in the season were due to poor swing decisions, which have improved and he’s been promoted to Double-A Midland. During his struggles he was still hitting for power though and that’s a testament of his strength and leverage in his swing. He also significantly improved his defense in 2021, and there’s a chance for him to stick there with more work.
The Bad: Despite the defensive improvements Soderstrom is fast from a lock to stick behind the plate. In fact, the team used its 2022 first round pick on a catcher, and he’s been playing first base quite a bit this year. A move to first puts a significant amount of pressure on the bat.
48. Brennen Davis, OF, Chicago Cubs
The Good: Davis is one of the few legitimate five-tool prospects in the upper minors. He has big bat speed and plus raw power with remaining projection. He’s a present plus runner who could potentially be an above-average defender in any outfield position, but his plus arm strength profiles in right field. He has All-Star upside.
The Bad: Davis has missed most of 2022 with an injured back, something that potentially explains his early season struggles. It’s also an injury that could continue to plague him. Davis has struggled with strikeouts over the last two seasons, something that is attributable to his long levers and periodic bouts with the timing of his swing. Although his raw tools aren’t in doubt, he may simply never maximize his hit tool, and that brings the entire package down.
49. Curtis Mead, 3B, Tampa Bay Rays
The Good: Mead was yet another gem unearthed by the Rays when the Rays traded Cristopher Sanchez to the Phillies for Mead, teams have gotta stop trading prospects to the Rays. The man from down-under is a line-drive machine spraying hard liners all across the field and occasionally hitting a homer. He has a good understanding of the strike-zone and may very well be an impact hitter sooner than most on this list.
The Bad: Mead is not one that is ever going to draw rave reviews with his glove. He can not be a viable option at third because of his below-average arm which leaves him as an option only at first or second where there will be immense pressure on the bat. Plus we have the whole Rays infield situation and questions about playing time.
50. Masyn Winn, SS, St. Louis Cardinals
The Good: The Cardinals drafted Winn as a true two-way talent but wisely have him just focusing on the position player side right now. He’s simply too gifted of a shortstop and shown too much offensive upside to do anything else. We’ve all seen the ridiculous arm strength from shortstop by now as well. He’s a human highlight reel everynight in the minors with two 80-grade tools in his arm strength and speed.
The Bad: I’m still not completely sold on the bat; and have my doubts that he will be physical enough to drive the ball consistently. So far, so good though and maybe as he just more and more focuses on the hitting side of it the power will come. He could make this ranking look laughably low if he keeps improving like he has.
51. Brett Baty, 3B, New York Mets
The Good: Baty has blown by his previous career high in homers (12) with 19 this year on the date of writing. He’s lifting the ball more while also maintaining his great approach and still making enough contact. He also looks like his future might be at third as opposed to first or left.
The Bad: With his heavy groundball tendency hopefully behind him and his defense improving, Baty looks poised to be an eventual above-average regular at third base.
52. Brooks Lee, SS, Minnesota Twins
The Good: Most of Lee’s value will end up coming from the bat. He made elite contact in the zone and struck out less than 10% of the time in 2022. His line drive rates spiked and he just refused to chase pitches out of the zone. His flatter bat path allows him to hit the ball hard and in the air with great frequency.
The Bad: Lee is almost certainly moving off of shortstop sooner or later, and his average athleticism might push him to third. He’s not a great runner or defender and will have to hit to hit to earn his draft slot. The Twins were happy he dropped to them at six.
53. Colton Cowser, OF, Baltimore Orioles
The Good: Cowser was one of the better collegiate hitters in the country but still was a bit of a surprise top five pick by Baltimore, but he’s made them look very smart with his early results so far. Cowser makes excellent swing decisions and has one of the better eyes in the minors and will take his walks. He’s a future top of the lineup bat.
The Bad: He’s stretched a bit in center and didn’t come out of the gate strong in High-A, but eventually heated up enough to mask over his poor start. He also had some early struggles against left-handers that is worth watching.
54. Brayan Bello, RHP, Boston Red Sox
The Good: Bello has made the climb through the Red sox system and reached the big leagues. The heavy sinking fastball can touch 98 and operates mostly in the 93-95 range. In the minors in 2022 he was getting groundballs at over a 60% clip and that also carried over to his big league sample.
The Bad: Bello wasn’t getting nearly as many whiffs against big league pitching, and his command also wavered some. His command is only average, and we’ve seen the walks pile up on him at times.
55. Kevin Alcantara, OF, Chicago Cubs
The Good: Alcantara possesses one of the best and most projectable bodies in the entire minor leagues, and with that comes serious offensive potential. He has significant power potential that is beginning to show up during games. He’s an above-average runner in the grass and has a shot to stick in center field, although his above-average arm would also profile in right.
The Bad: Alcantara is long-levered and has difficulty covering the inside of the plate. Pitch recognition is still a work-in-progress, and all of those issues have led to a high strikeout rate as he’s moved up the ladder. His hit tool may not project better than below-average at peak maturity.
56. Brayan Rocchio, SS, Cleveland Guardians
The Good: Rocchio has a strong feel for the barrel and has above-average contact rates at Double-A despite only being 21 years old. He’s shown some power and runs well on the bases. He’s going to stick at shortstop and there’s a high probability of an above-average regular here.
The Bad: He’s a plus runner and fielder, but there are some questions about the bat, specifically in the power department. He might not be the flashiest player but he’s a likely big league regular.
57. Jackson Jobe, RHP, Detroit Tigers
The Good: The slider he throws is metrically and aesthetically one of the best pitches in all of the minor leagues. It’s a big time offering and has lived up to the plus-plus grades put on it coming out of the high school showcase circuit. His fastball sits 93-97 and also has an above-average changeup.
The Bad: His fastball has been extremely hittable despite the huge velocity. He’s got time to develop another offering and is seemingly forever away in Single-A.
58. Coby Mayo, 3B, Baltimore Orioles
The Good: Mayo is a physical freak that moves well and has shown an advanced enough hit tool and strong enough swing decisions to get the power to show up in a big way. He looks like a future middle of the lineup bat at the moment.
The Bad: He’s not having the same success in 2022 as he did in 2021 but he’s progressing as he should through the minors. Might be more of a six or seven hitter if the hit tool and approach don’t rebound a bit.
59. Owen White, RHP, Texas Rangers
The Good: White is a consistent strike thrower and he manages to do so with all four of his pitches. His command is plus and is his strongest attribute. He’s essentially a ready to go mid-rotation starter.
The Bad: His two breaking balls steal the show here, and his fastball is his third best pitch. Improvements in the fastball metrically could turn him into an ace. Easier said than done, but could happen.
60. Vaughn Grissom, SS, Atlanta Braves
The Good: Grissom has innate bat-to-ball skills and his high contact ability with his above-average speed create a pretty high offensive floor.
The Bad: He doesn’t have a particularly high ceiling though because he doesn’t possess a ton of power and isn’t a strong bet to stick at shortstop. I view him similarly to Amed Rosario as I think he will spend a lot of time on the infield as well as the outfield but will still end up as a very valuable pro.
61. Colson Montgomery, SS, Chicago White Sox
The Good: He’s an unconventional fit at shortstop due to his size but has performed well enough there to this point. The biggest thing going for him is his plate approach, and ast the moment he’s walked more than he’s struck out at High-A while also showing more over the fence pop.
The Bad: While he probably can stick at shortstop, the organization will likely have a better defender there and push Colson to third. Montgomery has the ingredients to be a star due to his approach, power projection and hit tool. It’s just a matter of getting them all synced up and cementing his future defensive home.
62. Evan Carter, OF, Texas Rangers
The Good: Carter has a fantastic approach and plays with the maturity of a big league veteran. His approach and swing decisions are plus and he profiles as a top of the lineup type bat, or even someone that can hit in a run producing spot. He runs well and plays an average centerfield.
The Bad: The nitpicks on Carter seemingly come with some personal preference right now. What I mean is there are people that think he’s moving off center, and there are also people that have some concerns on what the power numbers may look like. Well he does have decent batted ball data and I can see him hitting 20 homers in the big leagues, but that will come with gap-to-gap power.
63. Nick Pratto, 1B, Kansas City Royals
The Good: Pratto has plus power and is capable of delivering moonshots to the pull-side. He’s a plus defender at first base and could compete for Gold Glove awards in the future. He’s also taken reps in the outfield, and his above-average arm fits well in both right and left field.
The Bad: There’s a ton of swing-and-miss to Pratto’s game, despite a patient approach at the plate. His hit tool is fringe-average at best, and there’s a possibility it’ll play below that if he’s unable to clean up his strikeout issues. He’s at risk of being a three-true-outcome player.
64. Luis Campusano, C, San Diego Padres
The Good: Campusano checks a lot of boxes offensively and might be the best offensive catcher in the organization at the moment. He hits for average and power while also showing a strong plate approach and attitude, the last of which is important because in many other organizations he would’ve gotten more big league run at this point.
The Bad: There are some defensive issues to work through here, some involving his preparation. He’s improved his overall receiving and blocking this year but will need to keep doing so to become the primary backstop here.
65. Brady House, SS, Washington Nationals
The Good: House is a tremendous athlete, especially when you factor in his size and I think he will be good enough to stick at short on his own merit, but does the presence of stronger defenders push him to third?
The Bad: To be honest House has been pretty bad offensively in his career thus far, and he’s just too talented for that to happen. Some people much smarter than me have wondered if there needs to be a swing adjustment here as he’s just not getting to his power nearly as much as he should. He’s not lifting the ball at all and his unusually flat swing is to be blamed. We’ve seen players with this issue before, but can the Nationals make that adjustment?
66. Matthew Liberatore, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals
The Good: Liberatore has great shape on his three secondary offerings which have all flashed above-average to plus at times. He’s one of the more polished pitching prospects in the minors and has shown some flashes during his big league call up.
The Bad: His fastball isn’t a strong pitch and lacks any of the desirable secondary traits. He does have good velocity for a left-hander, averaging 93, but his command of the pitch also left a little to be desired. Hitters were openly hunting his fastball and it wasn’t consistent enough to force hitters to swing at his deep arsenal of secondary pitches. Lacks top of the rotation ceiling but should settle in as a backend option for a long time.
67. Jordan Westburg, SS/3B, Baltimore Orioles
The Good: Westburg is as consistent as they come, and he’s just hit since he turned pro out of Mississippi State. In fact, the entire package is a bucket of 50s and 55s. He’s an above average hitter with a strong approach, and should hit for power, play defense and run at an average clip.
The Bad: What he lacks here in superstar ceiling he makes up for in easy floor. He might end up handing the shortstop position to Gunnar Henderson, but the skills and baseball I.Q. are high enough that he can slide in anywhere on the dirt.
68. Jasson Dominguez, OF, New York Yankees
The Good: The Dominguez hate has gone too far, and now the Martian is out here making people look silly for completely writing him off. He’s getting to his power in games now and there’s a chance he sticks in center.
The Bad: Dominguez is never going to live up to the hype he had when he initially signed with the Yankees, which isn’t fair to him. He might move off of center to a corner but all things considered the bat looks like it will be good enough that it might not matter.
69. Kevin Parada, C, New York Mets
The Good: Parada has a very high offensive ceiling due to his contact skills and big time power. He’s a tad on the aggressive side in the box but generally doesn’t expand the zone so while he may not post elite walk rates he will be a very strong offensive contributor from the jump.
The Bad: He’s very likely to not stick behind the plate but the concerns about his future position aren’t pressing because almost every evaluator projects him to be a plus offensive player so he would be good enough to stick at first base or left field. His arm makes him a poor fit for a catcher, robot strike zone or not.
70. Quinn Priester, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates
The Good: Priester’s arsenal is propped up by a pair of plus breaking balls. His big 12-to-6 curveball and his two-plane slider. He’s an above-average athlete that pumps strikes and gets groundballs.
The Bad: Despite the velocity his fastball and sinker aren’t bat missing offerings and his changeup hasn’t progressed much either. He missed the first two months of the season due to an oblique injury and the right-hander is more floor than ceiling.
71. Joey Wiemer, OF, Milwaukee Brewers
The Good: Had an evaluator tell me he was the best player he saw in Low-A last season. His raw pop is double-plus and he’s an ideal fit in right field. His defensive skills in the outfield are above-average and he has an 80-grade cannon on his right-arm.
The Bad: It’s a noisy swing and there are some contact concerns here. His approach hasn’t held up against the advanced pitching in Double-A and Triple-A. Everything comes down to the hit tool here.
72. Alex Ramirez, OF, New York Mets
The Good: The 19 year old has more than held his own in both levels of A-ball and has shown good plate discipline while doing so. He doesn’t chase often and is starting to get into his power more consistently. He plays a fine centerfield as well. The true statistical breakout is coming.
The Bad: Ramirez has handled two aggressive assignments pretty well which when you factor in his age with his aggressiveness, is a very impressive feat. The frame can go a lot of different ways here and he might prove to be a slugging corner outfielder or more of a top of the lineup type.
73. Sal Frelick, OF, Milwaukee Brewers
The Good: Frelick is knocking on the door of the big leagues and has already reached Triple-A thanks to his elite contact ability. He also runs well and should stick in center. His athleticism is underrated too.
The Bad: Frelick’s value will come mostly from the hit tool as the power and stolen base totals won’t be anything exciting. The power will be mostly gap to gap and he will just be a steady contributor more than a star.
74. Max Meyer, RHP, Miami Marlins
The Good: The Marlins pitching lab has handed Meyer a plus changeup to go with his already plus-plus slider and his mid-to-high 90s fastball. Meyer also improved his command as he advanced throughout the minors and looks like a mid-rotation arm at the big league level.
The Bad: Meyer underwent Tommy John surgery in August and prior to the elbow injury he was in the top 30 of this list. His fastball has been really hittable despite the velocity and won’t be a bat missing offering unless the metrics improve.
75. Gavin Stone, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers
The Good: The Dodgers dug deep and found a gem here. He was drafted in the last round of the abbreviated 2020 draft out of Central Arkansas. He’s got a four pitch arsenal and all four are solidly above-average, with his fastball playing up due to its low release. His changeup is his best overall pitch and might be the primary reason he’s only allowed one homer in nearly 95 innings of work this year.
The Bad: He’s a Dodger so he has to be really really good to grab hold of a long term rotation spot. While he might fit that criteria it isn’t a sure thing until it happens with this organization. His command has wavered a bit in his Double-A sample but this is a nearly big league ready arm with top of the rotation upside.
76. Gordon Graceffo, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals
The Good: Graceffo has picked up serious velocity since his college days and now sits in the upper 90s with an easy plus changeup with two average breaking balls. His signature command is still present as well.
The Bad: He’s been more hittable and not getting as many whiffs since his promotion to Double-A, but you also can’t expect him to repeat what he was doing at High-A either. His pinpoint fastball command has wavered a bit at Double-A, but there’s still a solid chance he’s a mid-rotation arm with a good chance to blow past that as well.
77. Liover Peguero, SS, Pittsburgh Pirates
The Good: Peguero absolutely looks the part of a big league shortstop. He’s a plus defender at the position that runs very well and also makes contact at an above-average clip. There’s some power here too, he just needs more time to grow into it.
The Bad: Oneil Cruz. You ever heard of em? Normally these things tend to work themselves out, but Pegeuro has a pretty large roadblock in front of him if he wants that shortstop job in Pittsburgh. He could move to second base and create a fantastic defensive trio up the middle, but he’s too good for that. Position concerns aside, he’s also a free swinger at times and goes through stretches where his at-bats are over in the blink of an eye.
78. Griff McGarry, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies
The Good: McGarry has an absolutely lethal arsenal. The four-pitch mix features an easy plus heater that lives in the upper 90s, and his best secondary is a gorgeous slider with a ton of horizontal movement. His curveball and changeup have also flashed plus, just lack consistency.
The Bad: There’s significant bullpen risk here for a few different reasons. The first being the command. While it’s improved since his time at the University of Virginia, it's still below-average at best. The second is how well the fastball and slider play. Both pitches are easy plus, possibly even better and with the Phillies inability to find consistent relievers since seemingly forever, I could see them making the move. He spent time in the bullpen in college so it wouldn’t be completely new.
79. Harry Ford, C, Seattle Mariners
The Good: Harry Ford has been terrific in the early stages of his pro career, hitting for average, showing power, drawing walks and stealing bags. He’s got a very unique skill set in that he can do all those things while still (possibly) sticking behind the plate. He’s showing a keen eye and just flat out not chasing pitches in Single-A, with a career OBP north of .400.
The Bad: There’s a reason why players like him don't stick behind the plate, and oftentimes it's the team trying to extract as much value as possible out of the bat. The Mariners seem committed to keeping him there and he hasn’t played any other position besides catcher, other than DH, to this point. That’s a positive sign. He’s still years away though.
80. Nick Yorke, 2B, Boston Red Sox
The Good: While the quality of contact hasn’t been as great as it was last year, Yorke makes a lot of contact, especially on pitches within the strike zone. He also makes strong swing decisions. He is a baseball rat and the fans in Boston will love him.
The Bad: Two aspects of his batted ball data have drastically changed and he’s pulling the ball way more than he did last year while also pounding it into the ground. Also I’m worried that pitchers will constantly attack him without the fear of him taking them deep. The power is below average. Some injuries as an amateur will lock him into second base; his arm strength isn’t a great fit on the left side.
81. Ryan Pepiot, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers
The Good: Pepiot possesses a strong repertoire that projects well in a rotation. He’s capable of touching the upper-90s with his fastball, and his changeup might be one of the most devastating pitches in the entire minor leagues. He has a high floor as a potential reliever, but the parts exist to remain in the rotation.
The Bad: Pepiot’s command is probably below-average, and his inefficiency often leads to an early exit. There’s legitimate risk that he’ll be a five-and-dive type if he stays in the rotation. He’s also in an organization that’s incredibly deep with pitching options, and he simply may not get the opportunity to stick in the rotation based on circumstance.
82. Michael Busch, 2B, Los Angeles Dodgers
The Good: Busch is one of the more patient hitters in the minors and his strikeout rates will always be a tad inflated because he frequently finds himself in deep counts. He’s got plus pull-side power and the walks and power will be his offensive calling cards. He’s a true three outcomes type hitter. He’s started to play some left field this year in addition to second base.
The Bad: His strikeout rate is way up in Triple-A, and the walk rate is also way down. I’m much more concerned about the steep drop in his walk rate than the strikeout issues though. He’s not a very good defender anywhere on the diamond, and I once had an evaluator tell me that if Busch is a 4 defender at second he’s an easy everyday guy, and it appears he hasn’t quite gotten there yet.
83. Orelvis Martinez, SS, Toronto Blue Jays
The Good: Orelvis has serious pop, and has hit 25 homers in back to back seasons in the minors. He consistently has rocked high barrel rates and exit velocities. Orelvis knows who he is sporting high pull and flyball percentages. His game plan at the plate is relatively simple, elevate the ball pull side.
The Bad: There’s a glaring weakness against breaking balls here, and the hit tool in general has me a little worried as he’s a bit aggressive with some whiff concerns. Also his hands might push him out to left field. There’s no real obvious defensive home here.
84. Alec Burleson, OF, St. Louis Cardinals
The Good: Burleson just hits. The former two-way star in college has settled in nicely in the heart of the Memphis Redbirds lineup and is on the cusp of a big league call up. He makes contact at over an 80% clip while also hitting for power.
The Bad: He’s a below average athlete and all the value he provides will come from the bat so he has to hit. The trade of Harrison Bader was possible because of Burleson’s bat, and we should see him up this year.
85. Emerson Hancock, RHP, Seattle Mariners
The Good: Coming out of the draft Hancock was praised for his command, delivery and pitchability and all those remain true today. What has changed is he’s added some velocity and now sits 94-98 with the four-seamer and 93-96 with the two-seamer. His changeup was a plus pitch in college, and still remains above-average and he also has a low velocity slider.
The Bad: A bout with shoulder soreness cost him significant time in 2021, and a (possibly?) related lat strain delayed the start to his 2022 campaign. There’s some bullpen risk here due to his health, and there’s some speculation that the shoulder soreness could’ve been caused by the delivery. Looking at his 2022 numbers and he’s turned himself into a heavy flyball pitcher also, which leaves little room for error.
86. Jonathan Aranda, 2B, Tampa Bay Rays
The Good: Aranda has such a unique prospect profile. All the value here will come from the bat. His approach and contact skills have always been top notch, but recently he married it with a power uptick and is now capable of hitting 20+ homers a year if given regular playing time. It’s a plus hit, plus approach baseline, with average power. He’s got above-average power to his pull-side and will truly work line to line and pepper the gaps.
The Bad: He’s a 30 grade defender and is a guy that truly lacks a position. He’s limited and his small frame and bottom of the scale speed don’t help him at all.
87. Ivan Herrera, C, St. Louis Cardinals
The Good: Herrera is one of the youngest players in Triple-A and has also gotten a big league cup of coffee this year as the Cardinals have dealt with injuries. He makes a ton of contact and has a less than 7% SwStrk rate. The defense is improving and the power is coming along nicely.
The Bad: Herrera hasn’t shown a lot of pop yet and he’s still improving defensively as well. This is the Cardinals catcher of the future after Yadier Molina and he could be ready for everyday duty by the middle of next season.
88. Bo Naylor, C, Cleveland Guardians
The Good: Naylor has made legitimate gains in 2022 and once more looks like the patient, contact-oriented hitter that he was drafted as back in 2018. He’s one of the more athletic catchers in the minor leagues. He’s at least average defensively and should have no trouble sticking behind the plate.
The Bad: Naylor is fresh off an incredibly poor 2021 season, and there’s at least some question about who the real Naylor is. Although he’s improved his strikeout rate year-over-year, there will be some swing-and-miss issues moving forward.
89. Emmanuel Rodriguez, OF, Minnesota Twins
The Good: The data for Rodriguez absolutely pops. He’s just 19, has a Max EV up over 112 MPH, doesn’t chase and had more walks than strikeouts before he got hurt in June. There’s a good chance he sticks in center and the offensive upside is immense due to his power and plate approach. He had a .492 OBP prior to the knee injury.
The Bad: A knee injury ended his season in June, and without that we could be talking about someone that is much higher up on this list. The injury and his proximity hurt him here, and there are some strikeout concerns here as well.
90. Cam Collier, 3B, Cincinnati Reds
The Good: One of the more unusual paths to pro ball, the 17 year old Collier was playing at Chipola JC and also on the Cape where he performed very well, especially when you factor in his youth. The bat speed is very impressive and it might be plus hit, above-average power already. He had a history of performing with a wood bat already too.
The Bad: It’s tough to put something here for a 17 year old with his resume that just got drafted in the first round. If I have to nitpick he will be facing more advanced pitching as he climbs through the minors.
91. Justin Foscue, 2B, Texas Rangers
The Good: Foscue has really improved his approach and he’s performing very well in Double-A. He’s got plus raw power with above-average contact rates, making him a candidate to find another level in the big leagues.
The Bad: It’s more floor than ceiling with Foscue, but as I mentioned above he has a lot of similarities to late career big league breakouts. The hit tool may be limited by his large pull percentage and he doesn’t quite elevate enough to be projected for big power numbers.
92. Heston Kjerstad, OF, Baltimore Orioles
The Good: During his draft year he was widely regarded as one of the more prolific sluggers and he has shown that power in pro ball after a slight hiccup. He makes good swing-decisions and pairs that with plus power. He’s got all the makings of a middle of the order bat who plays one of the two corner outfield spots.
The Bad: Kjerstad after a pretty serious injury scare has rarely played after being drafted in 2020. There will be rust after not seeing game action for over a year and a half. He’s nothing special in the field and that will put more pressure on him to hit.
93. Luis Matos, OF, San Francisco Giants
The Good: Explosive is the best word to describe Luis Matos. If he was born in the United States he is the type of athlete that would have been funneled towards football. He has exceptional bat-to-ball skills to pair with some power and his plus speed. In the field he is a good defender in center-field. He could be a menace on the basepaths if given the opportunity to run because of his combination of explosiveness and foot-speed.
The Bad: Luis Matos’ aggressive approach has caught up with him as he made the jump from Single-A to High-A this year. While it doesn’t show in the strikeout totals, he’s a free swinger and that can lead, and has led, to his fair share of weak contact.
94. Carson Williams, SS, Tampa Bay Rays
The Good: Williams does everything well and looks like a very sneaky pick by the Rays in the backend of the first round in 2021. The glove is the calling card and there is no doubt about his future position. He’s going to stick at shortstop. There’s also above-average pop here, and it might even be plus to the pull-side. He is an above-average runner and also works counts, and takes walks.
The Bad: Most of his strikeouts are due to his relatively passive personality at the dish. When you work counts in the minors you are more likely to get punched out. However, some swing and miss has popped up this year, so that’s something to watch. There’s also the Wander Franco “issue”, but those things tend to work themselves out.
95. Adael Amador, SS, Colorado Rockies
The Good: Amador was a lesser known prospect coming into the year and his ability to hit the ball is what has opened up some eyes. He controls the zone well and rarely chases. He will mix in some solid power as well with some natural loft in his swing. Adael is a good athlete as well, and can steal some bases.
The Bad: Colorado prospects are hard to evaluate as they play in some of the more hitter-friendly environments in all of the minors. Prospects like this that have a good under-standing of the strike-zone tend to destroy the lower-levels so be weary of the statline. Adael has a wiry-frame and while he shows some power in game I don’t think it’s anything substantial.
96. Dylan Lesko, RHP, San Diego Padres
The Good: Lesko was considered the best high school pitcher in recent memory before tearing his UCL that resulted in Tommy John Surgery in April of 2022. Lesko sat 94-96 and T97, and it was unique for a prep arm to have such a narrow velocity band. The movement, velocity and command make this offering at least a double-plus pitch, and with the way TJ rehab goes he could come back throwing even harder. His changeup is one of the better prep changeups of the last few drafts with elite separation off of his fastball and he also has an average to slightly above-average curveball.
The Bad: Despite the injury Lesko still remains one of the better prep arms to come out of the draft in recent years, and with good health he might be a top 50 prospect without throwing a pitch in pro ball. The injury does cloud things a bit, but the TJ process is safer than it once was and there’s a good chance the Padres absolutely stole one here.
97. Tink Hence, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals
The Good: Hence checks many of the boxes you’re looking for in young pitching prospects. His fastball sits in the upper 90s and gets whiffs at an above-average rate due to low release and plus ride. His curveball has plus shape, but lacks consistency. He also throws a slider and a change, with the change flashing above-average.
The Bad: Hence had some shoulder soreness last season that looks to be behind him, and he’s gotten some big time helium. There’s some effort in his delivery and he needs more consistency with his three secondary offerings.
98. Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers
The Good: Misiorowski throws the hell out of the baseball, sitting 97-99, and has touched 102. He’s 6’7” but rail thin, and is a fantastic athlete. He gets down the mound and really uses his frame to his advantage giving hitters a unique look. A wipeout slider that sits in the low 90s is his primary off-speed pitch.
The Bad: There’s some bullpen risk here due to how dominant the fastball and slider can be when they work in tandem. His curve and split are fringy offerings and he will battle with his command at times. Obviously there’s some risk here, but even as a relief arm he’s capable of taking over games.
99. Ken Waldichuk, LHP, Oakland Athletics
The Good: Waldichuk is a nearly ready lefty with an arsenal that generates plenty of whiffs. The former Yankees prospect sits 93-95 with the heater and pairs it with a devastating changeup and an above-average slider. He should make a few starts with the A’s down the stretch.
The Bad: Waldichuk can struggle with his command at times and is still working on developing his curveball. There’s some worry that the added deception in his delivery won’t be enough to fool big league hitters. We should find out soon enough.
100. Logan O’Hoppe, C, Los Angeles Angels
The Good: O’Hoppe’s is a great defender behind the plate and is nearly big league ready. His best offensive skill is his plate approach, and he hardly chases and will take a walk. He also has average power, above-average to his pull-side, and a strong arm. He became a bit expendable for the Phillies after the Realmuto contract extension.
The Bad: He won’t be a superstar but this is a guy that you hand the starting catching job to and he performs well for the better part of a decade. Strong OBPs and multiple 20 homer seasons in his future.