At 17 years old on draft day, Bradley was one of the youngest players in the entire class. Despite being one of the youngest players at each level he reaches, Walker seems to get better each time hes promoted. To the naked eye, the immense amount of late-life could easily get it confused with a splitter. Its a delicate balance for Frelick, who does hit the ball on the ground a lot (51% GB rate), but also racks up so many hits by slapping the ball on the ground and using his wheels. Hardly ever handing out free passes and attacking hitters with an assortment of pitches, Pfaadt has become one of the more fun pitching prospects to watch. An average runner at best, Baty is not much of a base stealer, swiping only eight bags in his 237 minor league games. He is a bit position-less. As Herrera gains confidence in his ability to drive the ball all over the field, his offensive consistency should continue to improve as it is a much tougher game when you are trying to catch everything out in front of home plate. He is consistently clocked with sub-four second run times to first base. One of hopeful prospect player in NPB, Yoshinobu Yamamoto.https://t.co/UNBh3Va9rT #npbeng #YoshinobuYamamoto pic.twitter.com/QJO9j5svDY. Assuming he makes a 100% recovery, theres 30 home run power in the tank with a well above average hit tool and a newfound ability to draw free passes. He has the upside to be a premier, Gold Glove center fielder. The then teenager received an aggressive assignment to High-A for 2022 and responded well. Technically drafted as a shortstop, Johnson profiles as a second baseman and already saw the majority of his starts in Low-A at the position. Neto features one of the more pronounced leg kicks youll see, then tones it down to a toe tap with two strikes. He topped his 2021 career-high of 15 homers with 17 more in 2022. A below-average runner, Luciano has fringy range and choppy actions that have marginally improved over the last year or so. He is currently a plus runner who utilizes long strides to cover tons of ground in the outfield along with a plus arm. Prospect Rankings Depth Charts . Manzardo starts with his hands relaxed on his shoulder, using a toe tap for timing. Colas could be a middle of the order force for the White Sox soon. January 17, 2023 . 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. Height/Weight: 511, 195|Bat/Throw: R/R|IFA: $25K (2018) TOR|ETA: 2022. However, he will have to continue to make strides with his command in order to reach his No. Harrisons slider gives him a second plus pitch in the low 80s with two-plane break. 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. If Hassell slows down a bit due to added strength, there is a chance he moves to a corner where his arm would more than play. He would project as a well above average defender at either spot. The Rays have gone with athletic, projectable shortstop is the first round of two of their last four drafts selecting Greg Jones and Carson Williams. 2 option if he keeps trending the way he has. Arroyo displays strong bat-to-ball skills from both sides of the plate. 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. The big right-hander has been able to sustain at least mid 90s velocity deep into starts. Even as he stands now, he looks like a well-rounded above average backstop at the highest level. 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. Meyer went to the pitch around 15% of the time in his 15 starts this season as a weak contact weapon even when it is not located perfectly. Though he may not have ace upside, Pfaadt is as much of a virtual lock to stick as a starter and continues to get better each time I watch him pitch. Starting with his lead elbow pointed out towards the pitcher and his bat pointed directly towards the ground, Parada starts his load early, slowly pulling the nob downwards and further back into his stance while he gets into his leg kick. Height/Weight: 64, 210|Bat/Throw: L/R|2nd Round (45), 2020 (CHC)|ETA: 2024. If Merrill continues to fill out and tap into his power, he could be a breakout name to watch in 2023. Rafaela is an incredibly unique prospect for all of the right reasons. Impressive range, smooth actions, an above average arm and impressive instincts have Turang looking like a plus defender at the highest level. It was huge for Davis to return to the field before the end of the 2022 season to shake off the rust from missing the majority of the season. Perezs changeup gives him a third plus offering, also working off of his fastball really well to lefties. . Hes not coming off a great season. Rodriguez could be a threat to hit .300 with 20+ homers. At the plate, he hit 46 home runs, drove in 100 runs, and posted an .865 OPS. Boasting the ability to leave the yard foul pole to foul pole, Wood has a chance to develop into elite power paired with bat-to-ball skills that most wouldnt expect with his profile. There wasnt much hesitation from the speedy Carter in regards to attempted steals this season. The pennant races are set to begin anew as NPB prepares to kick off another season. Height/Weight: 64, 220|Bat/Throw: R/L|3rd Round (85)- 2021|ETA: 2023. 2 pick while offering a bit less volatility than most players with his kind of ceiling. He's been a voluminous thief, averaging more than 15 stolen bases over the past four seasons, but not an efficient one. A crouched stance with a quiet load and short stride, Westburg keeps things simple in the box. 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. The adjustments to Ruizs set up are minor, but they have allowed him to get into his pre launch position earlier and repeat his moves more consistently. He covers plenty of ground with great closing speed, but could improve his jumps and routes some. A borderline plus hit tool and comfortably above average power paired with strong defense behind the dish has OHoppe looking like the Angels backstop of the future. Guys like Thatcher Hurd, Chase Burns and Ben Hess excite scouts. As Japans 12 clubs prepare to chase the pennant, here are six players from the Pacific League to keep an eye on. Luciano has also ditched his pull-happy approach, using the whole field more than ever this season. Assuming Carter picks up where he left off next season, he could easily be considered one of baseballs best young outfield prospects. He has a slider, a cutter and a two-seamer, and will mix in a curveball. Green should have no problem sticking in center and has a chance to produce impressive power numbers. A decent arm and pretty good mobility behind the plate, Herrera has the tools to be an above-average catcher. Elite speed and defensive potential in centerfield with an offensive skillset to dream on, Chourio has a lot of similarities to Michael Harris II, including how young he could possibly debut. 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. He hit .335/.453/.565 with 28 home runs and more walks than strikeouts. This season, Waldichuk racked up an impressive 14.6% swinging strike rate on the offering. In 133.1 innings between Double-A and Triple-A, Bradley pitched to a 2.57 ERA with 141 strikeouts and just 33 walks as one of the youngest pitchers in the upper levels. A sweet left-handed swing with a ton of whip, Mayer hit the ball hard and can spray it all over. Like many young outfielders, Veen could clean up his routes, but with plus speed, a plus arm, theres a good chance he will be an above average defender up the middle. Struggles with breaking balls seem to be the only thing holding back Winn offensively, though it is important to note that he was hardly 20 years old at the time of his Double-A promotion. Masataka Yoshida, OFOrix BuffaloesB-T: L-R. Born: July 15, 1993 (27). This approach is something ECU coach Cliff Godwin has instilled in his hitters and it is a big reason why Burleson has been able to maintain a minuscule 17% strikeout rate in his Minor League career. Early in his collegiate career, Gasser operated in the upper 80s, using deception to get guys out from a low three-quarters release point. He is an above average athlete which provides hope that he can develop into at least an average defender. Seiya Suzuki, 3B/SSHiroshima CarpB-T: R-R. Born: Aug. 18, 1994 (26). Suzuki was the most productive position player in NPB last season, according to DeltaGraphs' Wins Above Replacement measure. Though the new moves are louder, Naylor is extremely athletic and controls his body really well. As the start of the 2022 Major League Baseball season opens, the questions facing the Japanese import players are about building. He identifies spin well and punishes mistakes while lifting the ball as much as anyone in the minors which helps his offensive profile. While there is some present whiff for Cartaya, he controls his body well, repeating his moves in the box. Jobes fastball sits 94-96 MPH, with high spin and solid life. While Herrera has the tendency to be out and around the baseball, he has the strength and carry to leave the yard dead central and even mishit baseballs that sailed over the wall opposite field. I love the fans. Mervis detailed his swing adjustments on our prospect podcast The Call Up back in May then proceeded to climb three levels, mashing to a .310/.381/.610 line with 36 HR and 77 XBH over the course of the season. His walk rates marginally improved in 2022, but he will need to find a way to more consistently repeat his mechanics to reach his frontline ceiling. He also led the league in walk percentage, so it isn't all butterflies and cupcakes here. All Rights Reserved. Still an aggressive hitter, Soderstrom could benefit from cutting down his 31% chase rate, but that will likely come with more at bats. Alvarez has put his big time power on display this season, crushing home runs as far as 452 feet and as hard as 113 mph off of the bat. He already understands how to use the count to dictate his approach, with most of his damage coming while hes ahead in the count and an innate ability to battle and spray the ball when hes behind. After three seasons with the Seattle Mariners, Kikuchi signed a three-year, $36 million contract with Toronto in the off-season. The third pitch for Jobe is a changeup that has flashed above average in the mid 80s. He may not be as aggressive on the base paths, however even a tempered Lewis can swipe 20 bags with ease. Though his reps have been limited at the professional level thus far, Davis is a polished hitter who should be able to make up for lost time. Ohno was in the low 90s with his fastball this year and has a good mix of pitches that includes a two-seam fastball, forkball, slider and changeup. An insanely twitchy athlete who was also a highly regarded prospect on the mound, Winn generates impressive bat speed and rotational power. While the power is immense, the advanced approach and adjustability of his swing gives him more upside than your prototypical power hitter. It seems like Hassell is not too eager to put on weight and slow down as the speed component of his game is something he prides himself on. Given Harrisons athleticism and ability to get outs already in the upper minors, Ill bet on him being closer to the frontline starter outcome. Green has as much upside as any player in the 2022 class and the more I watch, the more I believe that there is above-average bat-to-ball skills in there as well. He simply dismantled Low-A hitters, punching out 81 batters in 52.1 innings with a WHIP of 0.88. That tidbit isn't meant to discount Mori or his accomplishments, by the way, since he can clearly handle business. His playing time steadily eroded, and he finished with a .204 batting mark. Product Configuration: 10 cards per pack, 24 packs per box. Munetaka Murakami, IFTokyo Yakult SwallowsB-T: L-R. Born:Feb. 2, 2000 (20). As a result, Miller has seen a jump in the whiff rates of his fastball, setting the tone for his three impressive secondaries. Yet another electric pitching prospect in a loaded Dodgers system, Miller has a good chance to be the best of the bunch. Height/Weight: 62, 185|Bat/Throw: R/R|11th Round (324), 2021 (PIT)|ETA: 2024. Order force for the White Sox soon strides to cover tons of ground the! 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