What’s an offseason worth if you can’t cap it off with bold predictions? Below we have over a dozen bold hitter predictions for the 2022 MiLB season. Enjoy and feel free to leave your own in the comments!
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Jose Ramos finishes the year as the Dodgers' top prospect - Eddy Almaguer
With one of the most underrated power bats (top 4% in MiLB 2021 in 90th EV) and league average contact, Ramos is going to scorch High-A to start 2022. Add in above-average defense and a little speed, and you have the makings of a stud prospect.
Rayne Doncon finishes as a top 10 Dodgers prospect - Brandon Smith
Doncon flew under the radar during the 2020-2021 International signing period. Still a projectible athlete, Doncon has shown plus bat-to-ball skills and the ability to make consistently hard contact. This is reflective in his ability to tap into his raw power in game. He is expected to make his state-side debut in the Cal League in 2022.
Orelvis Martinez is the top SS prospect in the industry - Brandon Smith
Quick twitch athlete with plenty of room for projection. Martinez has impressive bat speed and has had no issues tapping into his power as he blasted 28 homers as a 19 year-old across two levels of A-ball. He will need to continue refining his approach at the plate by cutting down on the K%, but it is hard to ignore his presence in the box which will make Martinez the most coveted SS prospect in the industry.
Jordan Walker is the number one ranked prospect in the minor leagues - Brandon Smith
One of the more athletic position player prospects, Walker has the tools to be an everyday third baseman in the major leagues. He has 80-grade raw power which has translated in game as he has no problem generating elite exit velocity and elevating the ball. Defensively, he has the arm strength and range to be given the chance to stick at the hot corner. Still just 20 years old at the start of the season, there is plenty to project on with Walker.
CJ Abrams will be the #1 prospect at the end of the season - James Weisser
After finally completing his first season with over 100 games played he will show he has developing power after hitting 15+ home runs while stealing over 40 bases prompting San Diego to consider promoting him to the majors if they're in contention.
Zac Veen emerges as a consensus top 10 prospect - Tyler Paddor
The Rockies' 2020 first rounder had an electric pro debut in Low-A West, hitting 15 home runs and stealing 36 bags and flashing quality tools everywhere else. There's a lot of progress coming for his game power considering he didn't leave the yard until he finally got settled in in his 39th pro game. A 30/30 season will be Veen's golden ticket to a spot in every scouting outlets' top 10.
Owen Cassie finishes the season as the Cubs best prospect and a top 30 prospect in all of baseball - Rhys White
Owen Cassie was one of the many lower level prospects that the Cubs got back in the Yu Darvish trade. Cassie projects out to be a middle-of-the-order masher. He has tremendous power, shows an ability to draw a walk, and he rarely chases. He will easily blow past the 7 homers he hit this past season and will be expected to continue to walk at a high-rate, even if it takes a dip from his 18.6% walk rate last season. What gets the juices flowing about Orange Crush is the 113 max EV he posted along with the walk-rates. This is a hitter who profiles as a 30 homer type bat with a good walk-rate and a decent defender in a corner. With a big season where he unleashes the power and cut's back on the aggressiveness in the zone we are talking about the chance he ends the season as the Cubs top prospect and a consenus top 30 prospect in baseball.
Jackson Chourio finishes 2022 as a top 40 prospect and the best Brewers prospect - Jackson Thomas
Chourio has shown flashes of a dynamic offensive skillset. This is attributed to his 80% contact rate, a near even K:BB ratio, and a max EV of 107 at 17 years old. He also projects for more power considering his frame and bat speed. Aside from his offensive capabilities, he shows high athleticism with his defensive actions and plus speed. Chourio has true 5-tool potential that will play in the middle of the field, whether that is in CF or at SS. No Jackson favoritism, I swear.
Adrian Pinto establishes himself among the Blue Jays' best prospects and receives Top 100 consideration at the end of the season - Jake Kerns
Pinto is small in stature, but not in ability. He's fresh off a trade to the Blue Jays after winning the DSL MVP and should get an opportunity stateside to show off his above-average bat, plus speed, and average of better defense. He's one of the most intriguing names in the lower levels of the Blue Jays system, and if he gets the bat on the ball like he did in 2021, he's someone that willl take off as a middle infield prospect.
Junior Marin finds his way into the top 100 prospects discussion and makes himself a consensus top 10 prospect for the Kansas City Royals - Jared Perkins
With good max exit velocities and average chase rates, the 6'2, 220lb Marin seems to have plus power to go along with an average ability to make contact. Leading the DSL in wRC+ leader, Marin's statistics on the surface level just make you salivate. With a ridiculous ISO of .315, Marin destroyed DSL pitchers. A fresh 18 year old, he will get his first taste of pro ball stateside in 2022 where he will look to build on this success.
Triston Casas gets the call sooner than later, wins AL ROY over Witt, Torkelson, Rutschman - Ethan Kagno
With plus hitting and power tools, Casas shows an advanced plate approach beyond his years. His solid 6'4", 250 lb frame with powerful lower half helps exude his raw power and shows the ability to drive the ball to all fields. Casas impressed in the Olympics, helping the U.S. capture a silver medal. Followed that up in the AZFL by slashing .372/.495/.487 - good for a .982 OPS. After exemplifying his power tool in A and AA by hitting 32 HR, Casas has the offensive profile to slot into the middle of an already potent Boston lineup. If Dalbec continues to show his inconsistencies, the Red Sox may have to turn to their 2018 first-round selection sooner rather than later in what projects to be a tight AL East race.
Deyvison De Los Santos enters the top 100 conversation - Trevor Hooth
De Los Santos brings a ton to the table from an offensive standpoint. Most notably he has perhaps the biggest power in the Arizona organization. He went from an unknown to being universally a top 10 prospect in the organization after holding his own as a 17 year old in Low-A. The hit tool ingredients are there more than he gets credit for, too. Even at an average hit tool, though I think it can realistically be above average, there's an argument for double plus power to be there. He's slimmed down a lot and looks to be in a lot better shape entering this season. For me, the sky is the limit for this guy.
Harry Ford forces his way into the Top 30 prospects in all of baseball with an outlandishly loud campaign in Modesto - Joe Doyle
Harry Ford was Prospects Live no. 9 ranked prospect in the 2021 MLB Draft, and all he did was blow the doors off complex level ball after a slow start. I think the industry, as a whole, is sleeping on the whole package here. What's not to like? The size? Sure, he's not a prototype body for the catcher position, but it's an above average hit tool, potentially plus raw power, and unicorn speed for his position. Add in developing defensive chops and the chance to mash against advanced competition and you have a recipe for success. Ford will be the next great young catching prospect to insert himself near the top of prospect boards this summer. He's got a short, compact swing with a discerning eye at the plate, avoiding strikeouts and generating loud contact. I think it's a reasonably safe bet to hit.
The Marlins finish the year with two of the top 10 SS prospects in baseball (Kahlil Watson and Jose Salas) - Alex ‘Juicy’ Jensen
Separated by just 10 days of age, Watson and Salas both simply dominated the FCL with OPS of 1.130 and .969 to go with high-end pedigree and legitimate up-the-middle defensive projections. Both players have plus bat speed and project to get to plus raw power with enough speed and glove to impact the game and developing hit tools. Salas reached as high as A ball, where he looked like he belonged despite being among the youngest at the level. It's unclear how they will be sorted positionally but the two should play together in Low A and form the most dynamic double-play tandem in the minors, with both players finishing as top 10 SS prospects in the game.
Juan Yepez leads all NL rookies in HR - Kris Dunn
After a swing change last season, Yepez significantly cut down his K% while increasing his BB%. He's likely a 1B/DH only, however, he has seen time at the corner outfield spots. With an increasing number of players likely to see time on the IL due to the shortened Spring Training session, he'll slide in nicely when names like Albert Pujols and Corey Dickerson inevitably land on the shelf. The likelihood of guys missing time, coupled with many of the more well-known prospects playing every day fielding positions, providing increased injury risk and the need for days off, provides Yepez the necessary at-bats for him to reach the bombs to beat potential competitors in Oneil Cruz and Nolan Gorman.