The minor league season is upon us, and Triple-A games kicked off yesterday, Tuesday, April 5. Prospects Live will once more be providing regular coverage throughout the entire minors in the form of daily sheets (via our Patreon) and live looks, in addition to the more traditional scouting reports, video analysis, and other columns that our readers have come to expect.
In regard to our daily sheets, I will be primarily providing coverage of the International League this year and my counterpart Adam Kiel will be covering the Pacific Coast League, the Memphis Redbirds, and the Durham Bulls. Other staff will cover the remaining levels as they get going.
In anticipation of the season and our daily sheets, Adam and I have come together to provide this brief season preview, including quick takes on the top prospects, likely call-ups, breakout picks, and other prospects that have caught our eye upon reviewing roster assignments. These names will likely feature prominently in the daily sheets, so please read those for continual updates on performance and possible call-ups.
International League
Five of Prospects Live’s top seven prospects on its Top 100 spent time in the International League (last year known as Triple-A East) during the 2021 season, and until late last week, there was at least a chance that multiple of those players would start the season in Triple-A. That is no longer the case, as Bobby Witt Jr. and Spencer Torkelson made Opening Day rosters for their respective big-league clubs, and Adley Rutschman, Shane Baz, and Riley Greene are on the shelf with injuries. Despite the defection of very elite prospects, the International League remains absolutely stacked with talent, and there will be plenty of storylines to document as a result.
Top 50 Prospects:
1) Grayson Rodriguez, SP, Norfolk (Baltimore Orioles)
2) Gabriel Moreno, C, Buffalo (Toronto Blue Jays)
3) Brennen Davis, CF, Iowa (Chicago Cubs)
4) Oneil Cruz, RF, Indianapolis (Pittsburgh Pirates)
5) Triston Casas, 1B, Worcester (Boston Red Sox)
6) Cade Cavalli, SP, Rochester (Washington Nationals)
7) Nolan Gorman, 2B, Memphis (St. Louis Cardinals)
8) Oswald Peraza, SS, Scranton/Wilkes (New York Yankees)
9) Max Meyer, SP, Jacksonville (Miami Marlins)
10) MJ Melendez, C, Omaha (Kansas City Royals)
HM: Vidal Brujan, 2B, Durham (Tampa Bay Rays)
Quick take: “This is the crop of top prospects that will begin the year in the International League, and there could be upwards of a dozen more guys assigned that made the Prospects Live Top 100 list. The league is loaded, and the eleven players listed come from eleven different systems. Every team should have noteworthy prospects.” - JK
Non-Top 100 Prospects of Note:
1) Vinnie Pasquantino, 1B/DH, Omaha (Kansas City Royals)
2) Caleb Kilian, SP, Iowa (Chicago Cubs)
3) Kyle Muller, SP, Gwinnett (Atlanta Braves)
4) Kyle Bradish, SP, Norfolk (Baltimore Orioles)
5) Jonathan Aranda, 1B, Durham (Tampa Bay Rays)
HM: Daniel Brito, 2B, Lehigh Valley (Philadelphia Phillies)
Quick take: “Pasquantino hit his way to Triple-A, but it’s where he plays defensively that should be telling for his future in KC. I named Kilian in my contribution to our Bold Predictions article, and he’s the leading arm who didn’t make the Top 100 list that has a serious chance to impact the big-league team this summer. Muller needs to improve his command to stick, but he has a shot at getting some starts in Atlanta given their current back-end options. Bradish gets forgotten behind Grayson Rodriguez and DL Hall, but he’s another legitimate starting pitching prospect in a loaded system. Aranda received high remarks in his offseason scouting report, and he has a shot at hitting his way to Tampa Bay by the end of the year. Brito collapsed during a Lehigh Valley game last August following a brain bleed, and then had surgery and was left in a coma. He’s still recovering and yet to be assigned, but I mention him as a reminder that some things are bigger than baseball. If he starts appearing in box scores, don’t forget what he went through to get back on the diamond.” - JK
Breakout Picks:
1) Travis Swaggerty, CF, Indianapolis (Pittsburgh Pirates)
2) Richie Palacios, 2B, Columbus (Cleveland Guardians)
3) Drew Strotman, SP, St. Paul (Minnesota Twins)
4) Ryan Kreidler, SS, Toledo (Detroit Tigers)
5) Beau Brieske, SP, Toledo (Detroit Tigers)
Quick take: “I’ll define breakouts as someone beyond the top 10 of their system that could either move up the list or impact the major leagues in 2022. Swaggerty was knocking on the big-league door prior to a season-ending injury last year, and he’s someone to monitor now that he’s back in the lineup. It’s worth mentioning that his throwing shoulder gave him some fits during spring training. Palacios performed well in just over 100 at-bats in Columbus last season, and he has a shot at continuing that as a part of one of the best infields in the International League. Strotman gets buried in a pitching-heavy system, but he has a deep repertoire and an opportunity to take a step forward if he throws more strikes. I was impressed by Kreidler’s ability on both sides of the ball last year in several live looks, and he should continue to excel and get a shot with the big-league club. Several colleagues have pumped Brieske this off-season as one of the Tigers’ best arms, and I’ll follow suit here. He was named the organization’s best pitching performer in 2021, and he has the stuff to back it up.” - JK
Potential Early Call-Ups:
1) Oneil Cruz, RF, Indianapolis (Pittsburgh Pirates)
2) Grayson Rodriguez, SP, Norfolk (Baltimore Orioles)
3) Ethan Small, SP, Nashville (Milwaukee Brewers)
4) Vidal Brujan, 2B, Durham (Tampa Bay Rays)
5) Luis Gil, SP, Scranton/Wilkes (New York Yankees)
Quick take: “The strongest likelihood is a bunch of relievers or depth guys move up first, but Cruz was reassigned to Indianapolis to the dismay of Pirates fans, and there are already suggestions that he’ll be up with the Pirates at some point in April. Grayson Rodriguez falls into the same bucket with many Orioles fans bummed about his Norfolk assignment. He’s yet to pitch above Double-A. Small looked solid in camp, and Craig Counsell has stated that he’ll make starts for the Brewers in 2022. Brujan is a depth option for the Rays right now, and the Austin Meadows trade probably expedites his timeline to semi-regular at bats. Gil struggled in his final spring start, but he was in contention for the fifth rotation spot and could pitch his way into reconsideration.” - JK
Pacific Coast League
Top 100 Prospects:
1) George Kirby, SP, Tacoma (Seattle Mariners)
2) Josh Jung, 3B, Round Rock (Texas Rangers)*
3) Alek Thomas, CF, Reno (Arizona Diamondbacks)
4) Miguel Vargas, 3B, Oklahoma City (Los Angeles Dodgers)
5) Shea Langeliers, C, Las Vegas (Oakland Athletics)
HM: Cole Winn, SP, Round Rock (Texas Rangers)
*Editor’s Note: Jung begins the year on the IL but is projected to DH late in the season.
Quick take: “While roster decisions haven’t been finalized at the time of writing, this is generally how the top prospects will shake out to start the season. CJ Abrams may still be assigned to El Paso, but there’s a lot of smoke in San Diego right now. Kirby hasn’t been officially announced to Tacoma, although he is in minor league camp. The PCL doesn’t have the multitude of top prospects that the International League does due to its size, but that does not mean it is without premier talent. Furthermore, an influx of talent like Bobby Miller and Corbin Carroll will be joining the PCL as the season progresses. All of that being said, a league with hitters like Langeliers and Thomas, and possibly Jung or Abrams, going against arms like Winn and Kirby will be plenty of fun to watch.” - AK
Non-Top 100 Prospects of Note:
1) Ryan Pepiot, SP, Oklahoma City (Los Angeles Dodgers)
2) Heliot Ramos, CF, Sacramento (San Francisco Giants)
3) Pedro Leon, SS, Sugar Land (Houston Astros)*
4) Elehuris Montero, 3B, Albuquerque (Colorado Rockies)
5) Mackenzie Gore, SP, El Paso(San Diego Padres)*
HM: Matt Carpenter, 3B, Round Rock (Texas Rangers)
*Editor’s Note: Sugar Land and El Paso have yet to fully announce rosters.
Quick take: “Pepiot is just on the outside of the Top 100 but could easily play himself into that spot if he can improve his overall command. Unfortunately for him, he finds himself stuck as the first man out in a deep competitive system for the time being. Ramos is a toolsy outfielder who just needs more consistency. With consistent playing time, a more consistent hitting approach, and consistent results, it's not tough to predict him being a weapon at Gabe Kapler’s disposal later this season. Leon was pushed quite aggressively by the Astros last year and before he could adjust he broke his pinky and ended his season. The question now is whether he can get his feet under him and let his loud toolset shine or will his struggles continue? Montero has the unfortunate designation as the third baseman that was traded for Nolan Arenado. Last year all he did was hit and most believed that he would be given a chance at the opening day roster, but the Colorado Rockies aren’t like most. He will look to continue to show he is Major League ready while he awaits the call up. Gore’s story is known by most at this point, anointed a near can’t miss lefty that mysteriously lost it just when the Padres needed him most. His Spring Training has been promising, and he will head to El Paso to see if he can’t rediscover some of the electric stuff he once had. Finally, my homer pick (that's what HM stands for right?) is Matt Carpenter. He’s not a prospect, but he was once an MVP vote-getter, hitting bombs in Busch Stadium and now will look to take an offseason of working on his swing - most notably with Joey Votto - and see if he can revitalize his career.” - AK
Breakout Picks:
1) Janson Junk, SP, Salt Lake (Los Angeles Angels)
2) Davis Wendzel, 3B, Round Rock (Texas Rangers)
3) Brendon Davis, 3B, Salt Lake (Los Angeles Angels)
Quick take: “My esteemed colleague challenged me to find breakout picks outside of teams’ top 10 prospects, and these names stood out to me as players who could shoot up prospects lists or impact the major affiliate this year if given the opportunity. Junk had some limited success last year, including pitching 8 perfect innings. He was then thrown into the deep end and skipped Triple-A entirely, pitching 16.1 IP with the Angels. He is likely next in line for spot start duty if anything happens and, as long as his gains in command from last year stick around, he should be impactful to a playoff-hopeful Angels this season. Wendzel has an above-average glove with a hit over power profile that could fill in for a team that currently has Andy Ibanez, Charlie Culberson and Brad Miller as potential 3B options. The unfortunate injury to Jung has left the door open for Wendzel to break into the big league roster, and it's not hard to see him taking the opportunity and running with it if only for his defensive value. Davis has somewhat revitalized his career after not getting an invite to the Rangers alternate site and then being selected in the Rule 5. His hitting approach improved quite drastically, and it allowed his power to play more in-game. He’s on the 40-man.” - AK
Potential Early Call-Ups:
1) Alek Thomas, CF, Reno (Arizona Diamondbacks)
2) Ryan Pepiot, SP, Oklahoma City (Los Angeles Dodgers)
3) Miguel Vargas, 3B, Oklahoma City (Los Angeles Dodgers)
4) Shea Langeliers, C, Las Vegas (Oakland Athletics)
5) Mackenzie Gore, SP, El Paso (San Diego Padres)
Quick take: “Thomas could certainly find himself stuck in the minors all year, but I don’t believe the Diamondbacks will be able to. Thomas is one of the premier talents in the minors and there isn’t much in the way of his call up. The Dodgers are all but the reason the IL for pitchers will go back to 15 days starting in May. Add to that, Pepiot is among the next men up and all it takes is one injury or open roster spot. Vargas could certainly force the Dodgers’ hand and hit his way into the big leagues early on. Langeliers on the other hand will likely not be up if it is not for a starting role. The A’s are playing for the future and there isn’t much need to start his clock. There are rumors that Sean Murphy, the incumbent catcher, is on the block. The pitching depth is undeniable in San Diego, but injuries happen and if things go sideways and they get in a pinch like they did last year, I don’t think it is outlandish for Gore to get a shot, and he still might even crack the opening day roster.” - AK