Pitchers will fear going inside on him because of the way he is able to turn around stuff on the inner half with authority. A power breakout in 2021 had Jung on a fast track before a torn left labrum delayed his start to the 2022 season. Built like an NBA small forward with impressive athleticism, there are few prospects in baseball with as much projection as Alcantara. After hitting 10 homers in 102 Low-A games last year, Rafaela exploded with 21 bombs in 116 High-A/Double-A games this season while seeing his batting average jump by nearly 50 points. Kodai Senga, RHP. Initially viewed as a high-risk, high-reward power bat, Marte has a higher offensive floor than some may give him credit for. As he has become more comfortable with his reads and routes, Pages has started to cover more ground with ease. I regret not including defensive wizards like Sosuke Genda in my top 50 but it's just a lot easier to rank guys based on their offensive numbers than to use the eye test to compare guys on the field (every hitter I ranked was above league average in 2021). He has a tendency to get big in plus counts, similar to most young hitters, but it almost certainly wont be a problem as he matures. A grinder at the plate, Carroll is constantly battling and is a hard player to get out. This is very common in young hitters and it should be cleaned up with with more at-bats. The Phillies could very well have their next generation ace in Painter as he continues to exceed even the loftiest of expectations. The backstop had a particularly impressive July, hitting .325/.435/.481 in 20 games. Rafaela is not quite as elite at shortstop due to his average arm, but his quickness, great hands and range make him an above average infielder at the position. Suzuki, 25, has a well-rounded game. Much like Burleson, Norby has been able to still tap into above average raw power with limited movement and his feel to hit allows him to squeeze out every bit of that power in games. 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. A really physical 6-foot-2, 205 pound right-hander, Espino uses his body really well and has clean mechanics. 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. The 21-year-olds footwork looks strong enough to accommodate a move to second, but his arm is decent enough to play an average third base. Height/Weight: 63, 205|Bat/Throw: R/R|IFA: $300K, 2017 (LAD)|ETA: 2022. It will likely take Davis some time to fully regain his explosiveness both at the plate and in the field and he will likely be one of the most closely watched prospects in the Arizona Fall League. Walker has the upside of one of the most consistent power-hitters in baseball and the more games he plays, the more possible it seems that he can reach somewhere near his ceiling. Stats. Yamamotos stellar 2021 has made some fans numb to his sheer dominance. Now, Gasser operates more in the 93-96 MPH range, using his low vertical attack angle along with the riding life on his fastball to make for a tough pitch up in the zone. The youngest player in his conference, Collier raked to a .956 OPS against pitchers who were multiple years older than him. After a decent showing in his first pro season, albeit with limited power, Winn made some adjustments to get his lower half more involved and more consistent. This has helped Ruiz see the ball longer and make better swing decisions. Since making the jump to Triple-A, Frelick has posted some of the best contact rates in all of the Minor Leagues with a zone contact rate of 94% while still walking at a 12% clip. Winn projects as a plus defender as he gains more reps at short. Theres some zone whiff for Mayer as his swing can get long on him at times, but his strong approach, splits and body control point towards an above average hit tool in the future. He will likely begin next season in Double-A with a chance to jump up to Triple-A relatively quickly after already looking strong in his cameo with New Hampshire at the end of the season. Despite projecting as an impact defender at shortstop, the Brewers have given Turang some making starts this season at third base, second base and even centerfield likely due to the presence of Willy Adames with the big league club. Kodai Senga dominated the game. Back to back seasons in the upper minors with gaudy strike out numbers and improving walk rates had Waldichuk continuing his ascent as a highly regarded pitching prospect after being a more under-the-radar guy as a fifth round pick in 2019. He will need to improve his command and feel for pitching in order to achieve his ceiling, which remains sky high. Alvarez relied on his natural feel to hit and decent overall approach to climb all the way to Triple-A in his age 20 season, but as he got to the upper levels, his struggles with elevated heaters were exploited a bit. With improving defense and the makeup/work ethic to encourage belief that he will keep getting better in that regard, Alvarez has a chance to be a well-rounded backstop with elite offense upside. While Matos will need to adjust his approach in order to have success at the upper levels, his impressive season was buoyed by fantastic bat-to-ball skills. The right-hander has extreme confidence in the offering, using it in any count and locating it well. At the same time, Merviss walk rate and OPS steadily climbed. 34. Yoshida has a good approach and decent power. Left-handed pitching has given Casas some trouble in the upper-levels and is something to monitor, however his polish at the plate and unteachable raw power lend to the belief that he can develop into at least an average hitter left on left. He has trouble consistently landing it for strikes, and as he develops, it will be key to be able to do so. Casas has the classic look of a slugging first baseman capable of producing runs in bunches. Factor in his above-average defense in right field, and it's easy to understand why he was estimated to have contributed nearly nine wins on the year. A slightly above average runner, Valera is a good athlete who moves his feet pretty well along with an average arm. The former Yokohama DeNA Baystars standout averaged just .197 in 2020 and .167 in 2021 before being designated for assignment and picked up by the Los Angeles Dodgers. The good news is Meyers fastball ticked up a notch prior to his injury, helping him get more whiffs on the pitch. He must first rehab from the Tommy John surgery he underwent last September. While his stuff may not jump off the page pitch profile wise, it looks like it is coming out of a slingshot with the way he hides the ball. The son of MLB All-Star Matt Holliday and the No. Pages will need to adjust once he gets to the big leagues and regularly sees quality velocity on the inner half. Yamamoto is only 21 years old, but he's already proven to be a force. Peraza is a plus runner with good footwork at shortstop, giving him above-average range. Of course, there is one player who stands above the rest as quite possibly the best baseball player of all time, the legendary Shohei Ohtani. A plus hitter who has progressively tapped into more power, Aranda fits the mold of many other Rays prospects with an extremely safe offensive profile. Yamamoto adjusted his pitching form slightly and told reporters in June that its given him a little bit more on his fastball, which he throws in the low-to-mid 90s. One of hopeful prospect player in NPB, Yoshinobu Yamamoto.https://t.co/UNBh3Va9rT #npbeng #YoshinobuYamamoto pic.twitter.com/QJO9j5svDY. The pitch can be above average and provides a rare look from Espino that isnt in the upper 80s or upper 90s. Casas professional approach should help him develop into an above average hitter. One of the biggest climbers in regards to prospect rankings, OHoppes offensive numbers would have been impressive for a first baseman let alone a strong defensive catcher. Unsurprisingly, the agreements are bunched at. He has excelled at every challenge the Dodgers have thrown his way and the numbers/overall polish reflect the fact that he is big-league ready right now. Of course, there is one player who stands above the rest as quite possibly the best baseball player of all time . To the naked eye, the immense amount of late-life could easily get it confused with a splitter. Height/Weight: 62, 210|Bat/Throw: L/R|1st Round (18), 2022 (CIN)|ETA: 2025. As we are already seeing, Hall has a comfortable fall back as a nasty reliever. The 21-year-olds set up and swing is reminiscent of Nolan Arenado, starting with his hands somewhat high while using the same unique timing mechanism that starts with the back heel actually coming off of the ground before rocking backwards and picking up his front foot. Stones third pitch is a mid 80s slider that he deploys mostly against right-handed hitters. Steers strong baseball instincts allow him to move all over the infield with relative ease. Height/Weight: 60, 170|Bat/Throw: S/R|IFA: $1.5M 2019 (COL)|ETA: 2025. Height/Weight: 62, 210|Bat/Throw: R/R|5th Round (156), 2021 (CLE)|ETA: 2023. Theres potentially 10-15 homers in the tank for Frelick, especially if he calls Milwaukee home when he breaks into the big leagues. Lacking some of the tools to dream on, Turang slipped to the back end of the first round in 2018s MLB Draft. Unfortunately, American fans might recognize Sakamoto's name only for a different reason: he recently tested positive for COVID-19. Height/Weight: 62, 220|Bat/Throw: R/R|1st Round (8), 2019 (TEX)|ETA: 2023. Height/Weight: 64, 205|Bat/Throw: L/R|1st Round (22), 2021 (CWS)|ETA: 2023. Herrera blocks well and should continue to develop into at least an average defensive catcher with a chance for some more depending on his receiving. It looks like Hassell could put on anywhere between 20 and 30 pounds of muscle over the next couple of years if thats the route that he wants to go, but as he continues to solidify himself as a true centerfielder, he could ultimately continue his development as more of a gap-to-gap hitter with good complementary tools. Having just turned 22 years old, Norby is on a fast track to the big leagues. After hitting 12 homers in his 162 collegiate games, Steer launched 24 homers in his 110 games during the 2021 season. We're taking a look at the average exit velocity and fastball velocity for the Top 100 Prospects. The added strength/weight has slowed Lee down a tick and his range is limited. Ford already makes good swing decisions, shows a good feel for the barrel and has flashed above average power as a 19-year-old. Click here to get started. The 23-year-old is a gamer who plays at full speed all of the time and can help his team win in many different ways. Height/Weight: 60, 185|Bat/Throw: L/L|1st Round (19), 2020 (CHC)|ETA: 2024. Hendersons smooth actions and plus arm are complemented by impressive quickness for a 6-foot-3, 210 pound guy. Not only has his hit tool translated, but Merrill is hitting the ball with more authority than many evaluators anticipated with even more room for projection. Height/Weight: 60, 175 | Bat/Throw: S/S | $1.55M 2018 (CIN) | ETA: 2025. His receiving is better than I thought it would be, and his arm looks average. Even with nearly two lost seasons, he is still an extremely young 20 years old and has already hit his way to High-A. Mori, who turns 25 in August, is a smaller backstop than what Americans are accustomed to seeing behind the dish. This allows him to keep his weight back and spray the ball all over the field. Star Japanese outfielder Seiya Suzuki is expected to be . He would project as a well above average defender at either spot. Amador has steadily put on some strength since signing and has room for some more muscle as well. Just 20 years old and already mashing in Double-A, some of the extreme risk around De La Cruz has been hedged ever-so slightly. With his elite power/bat speed and ability to crush pitches belt high and below, Alvarez has been able to slug through his struggles with consistency in Triple-A. Top 100 Prospects for FYPD Top 50 International Prospects Positional Dynasty Prospects Catchers First Basemen Second Basemen Shortstops Third Basemen Outfielders Pitchers Top 20 Prospects by Team TheDynastyGuru.com 2022 Top MLB Prospects Top 200 Overall Prospects Top 100 Overall Prospects for Dynasty Using RC+ MVPR-1 Shohei Ohtani - Los Angeles Angels, MVPR-9 Shohei Ohtani - Los Angeles Angels. A new year, a new board and new ranks. First round prep catchers have a brutal track record, but Ford is not your typical prep catcher. Swing and miss crept into Lucianos game when he reached High-A last year, but he slashed his strikeout rate by more than 15% to a solid 22.2% rate thanks to the smoothing out of his load and lower half. The bat will likely always lead the way for the 23-year-old, though theres a lot to like in that department. If Parada sticks behind the dish, he would likely be a fringe-average defender at best, however his work ethic and high baseball IQ could help him in that department. An above average runner, Volpe does not need elite speed to be a menace on the base paths. Luciano is viewed by many as a candidate to move off of shortstop, though the Giants have exclusively played him at short so far in his career. Get away with it or B. The pitch has sharp, late break, darting away from right-handed hitters and tying up left-handed hitters. There are few catchers in Major League Baseball who can swing the bat as well as Moreno does while providing the athleticism that he brings to the table. Williams is an above average runner with an easy plus arm. A compact build with some wiry strength, Arroyo really gets into his lower half with a wide, crouched stance in order to get his entire body into his swing. 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. He did so by hitting .312/.396/.575 with 40 home runs. Burrows has a solid three pitch mix and has commanded it better than ever this season. Height/Weight: 60, 170|Bat/Throw: R/R|IFA: $100K 2015 (KC)|ETA: 2022. Remembering Tetsuto Yamada's game-changing home run in the #Premier12 Final against Korea: Story: https://t.co/jszQ4hsUvg @samuraijapan_pr @swallowspr @PacificleagueTV pic.twitter.com/ZWZBTKIZVp. 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. Play Ball Youth Baseball & Softball. To this point, it is really hard to deny the results from Meyer. With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. This year, he hit 28 doubles and 21 home runs with a Pacific League-best 201 wRC+ and 46.0 Hard Hit percentage. Montgomery already controls his body really well, keeping his weight back and using his leverage. Much like his future teammate Paul Goldschmidt, Walker should be able to surprise the defense for 10-15 stolen bases per year. Gassers solid stuff, natural deception and developing command have him looking like a potential No. Its a big leap from the complex to Low-A and he handled it extremely well as a teenager. We're including Yamakawa because he does one thing exceptionally well: slug. And some more highlights from his latest outing: Last week: Rki Sasaki throws a perfect game with 19Ks in a 1-0 victory for the Chiba Lotte Marines in . NPB is the third league to get underway this year, joining Chinese Professional Baseball League (Taiwan) and Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2008-2023 The Cardboard Connection. While the free-swinging aspect to Matos approach presents at least some risk, the combination of his bat-to-ball skills and room for growth within his frame give Matos exiting offensive upside. Height/Weight: 510, 190|Bat/Throw: R/R|2nd Round (41), 2020 (BAL)|ETA: 2023. He made 20 starts at shortstop this season, only making two errors. While it may be known as America's Pastime, Japans best baseball players are taking the league by storm and showcasing an entirely new way to play the game. He's batted .292/.359/.457 with 1,886 hits, 223 home runs, and 152 stolen bases. While just an average runner, Merrill moves his feet well at shortstop and has the goods to potentially stick there. Elite bat speed and present strength give Colas easy plus power. Millers best secondary offering his his plus slider in the upper 80s. Ishikawa's main weapon is a hard sinker he gets most of his swings and misses on. He swiped 19 bases on 20 tries last season at Campbell and added four more stolen bases in his 30 Double-A games. Even as he stands now, he looks like a well-rounded above average backstop at the highest level. His long strides help him close in on the baseball in the outfield, which has helped Wood actually look pretty good in the early going in center field. Ceddanne Rafaela - OF - Boston Red Sox. Arguably 2021s biggest breakout prospect got off to a brutally slow start this season before kicking things in gear the rest of the way. Volpe has the goods to blend a plus hit tool with plus game power. The swing takes extreme body control and athleticism that Peraza has a ton of. 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