What stands out the most with Mervis is how his numbers improved as he jumped levels. His at-bat quality is advanced for his age, keeping his chase rates at bay and is aware of the strengths he possesses in the box. The third above average or better pitch for White is his changeup in the upper 80s with late dive. 1 These are the names to know as college and high school baseball seasons get started By R.J. Anderson 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. He also has seen his natural hitting ability that attracted the Padres in the first place translate into pro ball. A sweet left-handed swing with a ton of whip, Mayer hit the ball hard and can spray it all over. He chokes up and widens out with two strikes and simply looks to put the ball in play rather than do damage and often still winds up doing damage because of elite raw power. It was more of the same for Davis in his 22 High-A games this season, quickly earning a promotion to Double-A where injuries derailed his season. If he further develops his breaking balls and command, Stone has the ceiling of a number two starter on a first-division team. Even with the high floor, the 22-year-old still has plenty of upside to look forward to, flashing comfortably above average power to his pull side and an ability to drive the ball with authority to all fields. Hell need to continue to improve his knowledge of the strike zone as he moves up, as he could stand to walk at a higher rate. A big X-Factor for Matos will be his approach, which could be the difference between him being a decent regular and a fringe-All-Star. Lawlar is an elite athlete with quick-twitch actions on the defensive side of the ball. If he does develop into above average power, you could be looking at a five-tool All Star up the middle. We . He is such a good athlete that he could probably play centerfield much like Varsho if the Mariners wanted to get Ford some run in other spots or if he doesnt develop behind the dish like the team hopes. Cavallis upside rivals that of any prospect in the minor leagues, as he features three swing-and-miss offerings and the size and athleticism seen in big league aces. Still a glove-first prospect, Tovar is trending more towards being an all-around shortstop than a defensive specialist. Maybe one of the most overlooked prospects in baseball over the last couple years, Aranda has produced a .323/.408/.513 slash line with 34 HR over his last two Minor League seasons. He should almost surely stick behind home plate and could be an average defender or slightly better at the highest level. The 20-year-old possesses a great feel for the barrel and is tough to strike out. The early results at the MLB level on top of a dynamite Triple-A season for Brown are hard to deny. 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. Perez has also shown a good feel for his above-average breaking balls, with the slider leading the way. Though not a burner, Walker is an average runner who gets great jumps on the bases. The tweaks have translated for Turang who has seen his 90th percentile exit velocity jump by 1.5 MPH with more 105+ batted balls than his previous two seasons combined. Still just 20 years old, the outfielder is following up a strong first pro season in Low-A with even more production in High-A. Three potentially plus pitches with solid command and impressive size/athleticism on the mound paints the picture of a potential front line starter. Not only does De La Cruz possess arguably the most exciting offensive tools in Minor League Baseball, but he is already translating them into production in what really is his first full professional season. Impressive knowledge of the strike zone and the ability to play all three outfield spots have him looking like a potential Aaron Judge type of talent, but for every Judge there are dozens of John Mayberry Jr.s. Height/Weight: 63, 220|Bat/Throw: R/L|5th Round (166)- 2019|ETA: 2022. The hit tool and raw power were never a question for Jung, but he struggled to tap into his plus raw pop in his first professional season. MLB's top 50 prospects 2022: Ranking Adley Rutschman, Bobby Witt Jr. and the rest of baseball's young talent Here are the best prospects in baseball as we head into the 2022 season By R.J. Anderson The more you play in dynasty leagues, the more likely you are to become addicted to prospects. Things clicked for Vargas in the power department during the 2021 season, launching 23 homers along with 52 extra base hits in 120 games between High-A and Double-A. This is extremely good news for the Rockies, as Veen could beat his original ETA of 2025 by proving he is more advanced than many evaluators speculated. An absolute speedster with phenomenal baseball instincts and a veterans presence in the batters box, Carroll is a safe bet to be a solid big leaguer with All Star potential. Leiters mid 80s slider was easily his best pitch this season. He may not have the kind of stuff that will frequent him on Pitching Ninja, but he has above average stuff that plays up thanks to his elite command and overall feel to pitch. Consistently punching out batters at a 27% clip or higher, Abel dominated lower level hitters with his fastball/slider combination though his feel for his changeup has improved as the season progressed. He only throws it a few times each outing and it tends to back up a bit on him at times leading to some consistency issues regarding location. top. First round prep catchers have a brutal track record, but Ford is not your typical prep catcher. The improved command for Brown has him trending towards a solid middle of the rotation option with flashes of more. Lewis has shown he can handle shortstop throughout the Minor Leagues. Decent contact rates, low chase rates, average power and success against all types of pitches in the upper levels gives Ruiz the upside of an above average big league bat. Johnson should start the season back in A- Bradenton before coming up to A+ Greensboro where I will be able to get live looks at the Pirates first-round pick. Some scouts were discouraged by Herreras receiving in the early going of his career and that will be something to monitor as he vies for big league reps next season. The swing produces more quickness than raw bat speed, but there is more bat speed to come as he adds strength. His pro debut went well slashing .325/.413/.575 with 4 doubles, 2 home runs, and 11 RBIs in 12 games split between rookie ball and A- Charleston. It sits in the 93-95 mph range but lacks shape. Updated MLB Prospects Rankings: Fantasy Baseball Drafts (2022 While he has a bit more juice from the right side, Arroyos contact rates are better from the left side. The swing itself is somewhat reminiscent of Freddie Freeman due to the ability of using a short swing with a big frame. He will need to cut down in the whiffs to reach his All-Star ceiling, though. The 24-year-olds extreme confidence in his hit-tool sometimes results in him expanding the zone a bit earlier in counts, holding him back from better walk numbers. 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. With decent defensive tools across the board, Valera should be a fine defender in a corner outfield spot. The big right-hander has been able to sustain at least mid 90s velocity deep into starts. 2022 MLB Top 100 Prospects | Just Baseball A testament to his polish and knack for hitting. Vientos crushed fastballs to a 1.010 OPS this season compared to a dreadful .447 OPS against breaking balls. A big guy at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, Tiedemann can struggle at times to sync up his mechanics, but still maintained a walk rate below 10% and should at least grow into average command. Great contact skills and developing power with a projectable/athletic frame give Cowser an exciting combination of a solid floor and intriguing upside. The tweaks helped Dominguez see the ball earlier and control his body much better. cut down his leg kick while quieting/simplifying his hand load. Veens upside rivals that of anyone in the minors as he has the potential to become a five-tool superstar. Height/Weight: 60, 180|Bat/Throw: L/R|IFA: $1.3M (2017) CLE|ETA: 2023. These are MLB prospects, rookies, and call-ups to potentially make a rest-of-season . The newly-turned 20-year-old has some work to do to achieve his frontline ceiling, but theres potential for three plus pitches and above average command if all goes right with Jobes development. Possessing as much upside as anyone you are going to find in the back end of the Top 100 list and somehow still just 23 years old, Lewis has the ingredients to become a perennial All-Star. Keegan should start the year in Charleston and should move up the ladder quickly. Cartaya has plus power to his pull side and at times will try to yank the ball that way, causing him to spin off of softer stuff, especially from lefties. Age: 22|Height/Weight: 510, 180|Bat/Throw: L/L|1st Round (15) 2021 (MIL)|ETA: 2023. He is athletic and talented enough to be an average defender at any of those positions. Easy plus speed and projectable power give Ford plenty of upside even if he does not stick behind the dish. 18 years old at the start of the season, Merrill seems to still be maturing physically which makes him somewhat more difficult to project than other prospects and the limited action in 2022 doesnt help. An arsenal that is led by an exceptional fastball along with three secondaries that boast above average to plus potential, Leiter has the goods to become a frontline starter. The thought that he can get to any pitch is confidence-inducing, but also approach-compromising. Like many other young outfielders, Green could improve upon his reads and routes, but theres no doubt that he can be a great defender up the middle. Despite pitching in some of the most hitter-friendly environments in the Minor Leagues as a fly ball pitcher, Pfaadt attacked hitters relentlessly. Top 100 Baseball Prospects | MLB.com Steers strong baseball instincts allow him to move all over the infield with relative ease. Vargas has a silky smooth swing and a barrel that lives in the zone. An electric athlete with elite arm speed, Hence overpowered Low-A hitters all year long. After operating more in the upper 80s with his slider last season, Brown tweaked the slider to sit in the low 90s with sharper bite. Perez essentially has the floor of a middle-of-the-rotation starter. Average or better tools across the board and consecutive productive seasons make it difficult to find a deficiency in Westburgss profile. The 22-year-old right-hander features a plus fastball topping out at 99 mph and a plus slider that has sharp cutting action in the high 80s. The newly-turned 20-year-old had 37 batted balls over 105 mph and reached exit velocities as high as 113 mph. Top MLB Prospect Rankings for Fantasy Baseball. Neto has enough power to smack 20 homers hitting for a solid average and getting on base. Though Carroll played in a very hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, he has produced a max exit velocity of 111 mph and his 90th percentile exit velocity of 106.6 just edges out Christian Walker for the best mark in the D-backs organization. Batys stock has continued to rise as he has hedged his weaknesses and tapped into his strengths as he has progressed through his career. Like a true catcher, OHoppe really gets into his legs with his stance and actually sinks even deeper into his lower half in his load. Volpe has the goods to blend a plus hit tool with plus game power. Through his first 150 professional games, Veen cruised to 50 stolen bases and has continued to get better with his jumps and picking the right spots to run. Improving his strike throwing consistency was as simple as finding a more consistent landing spot for Espino given his explosive lower half. His homers are majestic, as high as they are far and he has no trouble catching up to premier velocity while staying disciplined on quality breaking balls out of the zone. He has improved a bit with his approach this season, cutting his chase rate by 4% and walking at the highest clip of his career (9.3%). Rodriguez is a complete hitter with the body control, bat to ball skills and approach to give him a plus hit tool while tapping into every bit of his above average raw power in games. This does not come as a total shock given the fact that his father was an NFL tight end for a decade, but Greenes physical talent gives him sky-high upside to dream on. The Angels were likely reluctant to sell low on Marsh, but were able to add their catcher for 2023 and beyond in OHoppe. Much like his father, Jones already looks like he could patrol center field with the best of them. Brown will mix in a changeup that flashes average, however the effectiveness of his hammer curveball against lefties lessens the necessity for his changeup. Command/control pitchers with high spin rates and big strikeout upside are something the Guardians are known for. Though a bit unorthodox, Davis generates a ton of torque and rotational power with his swing while staying extremely short to the ball. 2 overall in this years draft. 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. A potential No. If he continues to mature as a hitter, we could be looking at one of the best all-around players in baseball in a couple years. Signed for a measly $10,000 by the Mets before being traded to the Pirates in the three team Joe Musgrove deal, Rodriguez has done nothing but rake since making his pro debut in 2018. January 17, 2023. The southpaw leans on the pitch much more frequently in left-on-left matchups, holding them to a .487 OPS on the pitch. Early in Davis career, youll also see an armsy swing that doesnt incorporate his lower half very much. Theres a bit of zone whiff for Wiemer, but he makes up for it with a solid approach and spectacular slugging on contact. Height/Weight: 65, 225|Bat/Throw: R/R|1st Round (11), 2018 (BAL)|ETA: 2022. A labrum injury while taking batting practice put an end to Jones 2022 season before it started, though he should be ready to go by Opening Day next year. His command has improved as the season went on and his ability to locate three of his four offerings with plenty of confidence gives Miller the potential for comfortably above average command. An athletic catcher, Moreno moves well behind the dish and has a quick release complemented by an above-average arm, helping him throw out 41% of attempted base stealers in Triple-A this season. Caissie is short to the ball and can really turn on pitches middle-in with authority. Carroll made up for lost time by reaching the Major Leagues in just 142 Minor League games. The profile mirrors that of Bobby Witt Jr. coming out of the high school ranks in 2019. His hands and wrists contain immense strength that allow him to manipulate the barrel at a high level. The slider has late, gyro break that dives under barrels and generates plenty of ground balls. Volpe stores plenty of energy in his back side with his hovering leg kick before unleashing his explosive lower half and bat speed. The last piece for Jung will just be improving his approach a bit. An overslot 11th round pick in 2018, the Pirates shelled out $500K to sign Burrows away from UCONN, betting on his upside. His willingness to go deep in counts leaves him more susceptible to strikeouts, though his improvements in the contact and pitch recognition department lend to optimism that he can keep the strikeout rates in the low 20% range. Possessing a four pitch mix that rivals any pitching prospect in baseball, Painter has dominated hitters mostly with his 70 grade fastball that sits 95-97 mph and has been clocked as high as 101 mph. As we continue to see with this new generation of catchers, athleticism can really help set prospects apart behind the dish; especially high school catchers. 2 starter and he is in the right organization to keep developing on the mound quickly. An average runner at best, Baty is not much of a base stealer, swiping only eight bags in his 237 minor league games. There have been few players with Woods profile, so projecting a player like him is extremely difficult. A power breakout in 2021 had Jung on a fast track before a torn left labrum delayed his start to the 2022 season. In the Cape Cod league, Lee slashed an astounding .405/.432/.667 with 6 home runs, 16 runs scored and 13 RBIs in 21 games played in 2021. All eyes will be on the hit-tool for the teenager and I believe he will make strides in that regard next season. The 23-year-old could find himself in the big leagues as early as Opening Day 2023 and has the upside of a 30-30 threat with solid defense in a corner. Tiedemann has the goods to be a strong No. He is able to repeat this move remarkably well, timing it up with a simple stride. Bibees fastball velocity has jumped more than 3 mph this season, helping the rest of his arsenal play up as well. As I speak to Minor Leaguers of who has stood out to them over the last couple seasons, Arandas name comes up as much as anyones. Pfaadt sets the tone with his 93-95 mph fastball which has ticked up since last year. The right-hander snaps his slider in the mid 80s with late horizontal bite, while commanding it exceptionally well. Considering his present ability to impact the baseball with more room to fill out in his frame, it would not be extreme to project 80 grade power for the shortstop. While he is not a burner, Williams is fast enough to be a factor on the base paths. An easy plus plus pitch, the 12 inches of horizontal break, the pitch fades away from lefties, inducing plenty of weak contact while also diving in and under the hands of righties. If he moves to third, Marte should be good defender at the position, though there is still hope that he can continue to find consistency up the middle. He stole 16 bases on 22 tries this year. It was more of the same for Lee in his 31 pro games, hitting .303/.389/.451 in High-A and briefly Double-A. With our update of the Top 100 Prospects listnow with 2022 draft picks includedwe have a new No. Height/Weight: 67, 220|Bat/Throw: R/R|1st Round (13), 2021 (PHI)|ETA: 2023. In 57 games, Cross slashed .328/.411/.660 with 14 doubles, 8 triples, 17 home runs, and 70 runs scored, making the All-ACC first team in 2022. A better hitter with added power, its easy to buy what Naylor is selling this year. As a result, Miller has seen a jump in the whiff rates of his fastball, setting the tone for his three impressive secondaries. Davis has shown good bat-to-ball skills and immense pull-side power that should have Pirates fans excited. Cavalli rounds out his arsenal with a mid-to-upper 80s change-up that features late arm-side run and sink and flashes plus when located down and to his arm-side. Ruiz has seen his chase rates drop by more than 5% while hitting significantly better against breaking balls. Busch should be able to keep the strikeouts relatively in check with a lot of homers and walks. Meads average arm and speed will keep him on the dirt with second base being the position he profiles best at. If Moreno is able to tap into just average game power, he could be a well-above average bat for any position, let alone catcher. If Merrill continues to fill out and tap into his power, he could be a breakout name to watch in 2023. Ford has the offensive skillset to put up 20/20 seasons while being an OBP machine. After all, he remarkably has only 700 professional plate appearances under his belt. Gavin Cross could start the season in A+ Quad Cities and should be a quick riser if he continues to hit. With just a 12% strikeout rate in his Minor League career and the potential to hit for at least some power, Moreno should ride his elite hit-tool and solid approach to offensive success at the highest level. Not only is the newly-turned 20-year-old already producing in the Minors, but he has big upside. With a max exit velocity of 113 MPH this season and 90th percentile EV of 103.6 MPH, Cowser is already producing above-average impact and has room to fill out more. Crew adds Singleton, 3 prospects to 40-man. Baseballs biggest breakout prospect in 2022, Mash Mervis has already become a farm system celebrity for Cubs fans. The slider sits in the mid 80s with a cutterish, short break. This allows him to keep his weight back and spray the ball all over the field. Manzardo has 20-25 home run juice with a 70 grade hit tool. Meyer is an ultra-competitor who is not afraid to attack hitters and if he can improve his fastball shape, he projects as a middle of the rotation arm that will provide flashes of a bit more when hes on. Holliday should start the season in A- Delmarva before getting bumped to A+ Aberdeen. What encourages me most about McLain is his strong approach and pitch recognition. 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. The power surge and improved patience have helped OHoppe walk at a 15% mark. A smooth, level swing that is geared for line drives, PCA has shown plenty of comfort spraying the ball all over the field. His above average arm has become increasingly accurate, throwing out a career-best 36% of attempted base stealers in Triple-A this season. Tall with long levers, Carter stays short to the ball with a flat swing geared for plenty of line drive contact. Carter uses a small leg kick and quiet load leading into a smooth swing. The son of legendary center fielder Andruw Jones, Druw has a skillset reminiscent of his fathers, which helped him go No. Height/Weight: 60, 170|Bat/Throw: S/R|IFA: $1.5M 2019 (COL)|ETA: 2025. The second breaking ball for Perez is an above-average curveball in the low 80s. Working off of his lively fastball is his hammer of a curveball in the low 80s. Dominguez should be a threat to steal 20+ bases even at the highest level if he doesnt slow down too much with age. Starting with an upright stance before sinking into his back leg to get into his powerful lower half, Walker effortlessly explodes through the baseball. A fastball with ride, changeup with big arm-side fade, a hammer curveball that dives out of the strike zone and a cutter as a taste-breaker leaves hitters worrying about four different directions and speeds. He will need to improve his command and feel for pitching in order to achieve his ceiling, which remains sky high. The changes really helped Lewis find offensive consistency, lighting up Triple-A to a .313/.405/.534 clip before getting the call up to the big leagues where he did kept things rolling for a dozen games before going down with the injury. Perhaps the most impressive thing about Perez is his command. An unorthodox set up and swing that has done nothing but produce big results, it is easy to see how Wiemer has drawn comparisons to Hunter Pence, but Wiemer has larger tools and risk. Never having hit more than six homers in a season entering this year, Turang has already launched a dozen long balls through his first 110 games this season. A track record of hitting at ECU topped off with a power breakout in his junior season shot Norby into early round consideration. Lee finished the year rising three levels finishing in Double-A Wichita. He has a great chance to be an above average regular with All Star upside at a difficult position. Hall has trouble consistently locating it to his glove side, something he will need to shore up in order to reach his ceiling. For now, we will dive into the top 10 and find the diamonds in the rough as they start their journey to the show. Maybe with even more power. The Top 300 is here. A big frame at 6-foot-4, 195 pounds, Carter has plenty of room to add more strength and could easily develop into plus power. Coming out of Oklahoma State, Justin Campbell put together a solid junior year for the cowboys. His defensive value comes from his 70 grade arm which is one of the strongest in the minors and pretty accurate as well thanks to his pitching days. A simple set up from the right side, Vargas times up his moves well and consistently puts himself in a good position to get his best swing off. Yet another electric pitching prospect in a loaded Dodgers system, Miller has a good chance to be the best of the bunch. One of the most polished hitters in the 2021 draft, some scouts wondered how much power would be in the tank for Cowser with a swing that is more geared for consistent contact. Hassell stole 34 bags on 40 attempts last year and is on pace to match that total in 2022. Westburg has above average raw power and his ability to get into it consistently in games this season bodes well for his longterm outlook. The Mets are hoping he can get better at recognizing quality spin and develop into an everyday thumper. At the same time, Merviss walk rate and OPS steadily climbed.