This preview is my favorite type of piece I like to write, where I just get to unload my internal notes, both written and from memory, and talk about prospects. All the information in this article is sourced from contacts, inside and outside of Prospects Live, as well as things I’ve heard in various discussions with people in the industry. There’s also a sizable portion of video looks here from this season and some AFL call backs. All of the grades are my own and might differ from what you see on the site now or in the future. I’m just a part of our pro coverage, so my grades aren’t the end all be all.
American League Roster
Pitchers
A.J. Blubaugh, RHP Astros - 45 OFP
Acquired: Drafted in the 7th round, 223rd overall in the 2022 draft out of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Report: Blubaugh was a reliever in college but is now on the cusp of the big leagues here for the Astros. He’s coming off of a strong 2023 season which began in High-A and Double-A before ending with an Arizona Fall League stint, and he showed he could consistently miss bats as he adjusted to his new role as a starter. He’s spent all of 2024 in Triple-A averaging 92 with the four-seamer, sitting 91-95 with good ride. His best secondary is his change but his newly found cutter gives him another weapon against left-handers. He also throws the full kitchen sink of breaking balls, with a sweeper, slider and a big vertical curveball rounding out the arsenal.
Future Role: Injuries have hit the Astros pitching staff hard this season and Blubaugh looks like the next man up at this point off of the Sugar Land squad. That’s selling him a bit short as he’s pitched really well this season in a difficult Pacific Coast League environment and has earned his opportunity, whenever it comes. Blubaugh has good enough stuff and a deep enough arsenal to remain as a starter long term, but his previous experience as a bullpen arm could shift him into the bullpen if the Astros arms ever get healthy.
Pitch Grades: Fastball (50), Cutter (55), Changeup (50), Curveball (45), Command (45)
Caden Dana, RHP Angels - 50 OFP
Acquired: Drafted in the 11th round, 328th overall in the 2022 draft out Don Bosco Preparatory High School in New Jersey.
Report: Dana was given $1.5 million to sign in the eleventh round which was the highest bonus in history for someone picked later than the tenth round. The Angels admired his physicality and had to sign Dana away from a strong commitment to the University of Kentucky. His fastball sits 93-95 and touches 97 with excellent ride at the top of the zone. His big developed frame allows him to hold his velocity through his starts and it’s a true bat missing pitch. His slider has become his best secondary, getting whiffs against left and right-handed hitters and it gets set up by the fastball. They work in tandem together and he just overpowers hitters. His third pitch is a slow 12-to-6 breaker that he uses to steal strikes. He’s shelved his changeup it appears and that was projected to be his best secondary when he was drafted. Dana is showing the best command of his career to this point, and the Angels have made a point to say that they have no innings limit for Dana this year despite him throwing 68 innings last year and getting shut down in July.
Future Role: Dana very much looks like a future starter with a developed frame and strong lower half. He’s improved across the board in 2024, showing improved sequencing and setting hitters up. The lack of depth to his arsenal and only having two above-average offerings in his fastball and slider could push him into the bullpen if the Angels are looking for immediate impact, which they shouldn’t be. Dana would succeed in that role due to his fastball and slider, but the Angels have no reason to make that swap. He’s consistently going deep in game in Double-A and is routinely up over 90 pitches a start. He leads the Southern League in innings pitched as I type this.
Pitch Grades: Fastball (55), Slider (60), Curveball (45), Changeup (40), Command (50)
Ben Kudrna, RHP Royals - 45 OFP
Acquired: Drafted in the 2nd round, 43rd overall in the 2021 draft out of Blue Valley Southwest HS in Kansas.
Report: The Royals gave Kudrna a $3 million dollar bonus to sign and forego his commitment to LSU. He’s added mass to his already advanced frame since signing and has the look of a future big league starter. Kudrna has been pitching for High-A Quad Cities in 2024, which is where he ended his 2023 campaign. His fastball sits 92-94 and touches 97, and he compliments it with a changeup and a slider. Both secondary pitches have improved their sharpness this year and it shows in the numbers as opposing hitters are only hitting .204 against him this season. His changeup has excellent shape, with sharp downward movement and arm-side run. It’s a plus pitch and hitters are having a tough time lifting the pitch. His slider has added some break and he’s getting more whiffs against right-handers. His command remains average.
Future Role: Kudrna has the look of a future backend starter due to his three pitch arsenal and average command. He has a big sturdy frame and could be more than an innings eater if the changeup and/or slider continue on an upward trajectory. The fastball lacks the ideal shape to be a consistent swing and miss option and he’s going to have to continue to rely on his secondaries for whiffs as he moves up the ladder.
Pitch Grades: Fastball (50), Changeup (55), Slider (50), Command (50)
Luis Morales, RHP Athletics - 50 OFP
Acquired: Signed out of Cuba in 2023 for $3 million.
Report: Morales was a big ticket international signee by the A’s in the 2023 signing period. He has some of the best stuff by any pitcher in this event and will really shine in his one inning burst because of his premium velocity and athleticism. He sits at 96-97 with the fastball and reportedly has hit 100 at his peak. He has a pair of loud breaking balls, a big sweeper and a heavy curveball with two-plane depth. His changeup is still developing and likely won’t be used in this event. The command is still coming along, but he’s still young and is tracking as a future starter.
Future Role: Morales’ command issues could ultimately push him to the pen but the hope is his athleticism and stuff can help him get past that and keep him in the rotation long term. He’s more of a thrower than a pitcher right now, and that, coupled with his longer arm action are enough to cast at least some doubt on his future role.
Pitch Grades: Fastball (70), Sweeper (60), Curveball (55), Changeup (30) Command (40)
Fernando Perez, RHP Blue Jays - 45 OFP
Acquired: Signed out of Nicaragua in 2022 for $10,000
Report: Fernando Perez is one of the breakout arms of 2024, befuddling Single-A hitters with his above-average command, sequencing and plus changeup. That combination typically leads to success at the lower levels but Perez lacks the typical pedigree that comes with it. He’s only 20 but moves the ball around the zone and mixes in his whole arsenal very well. The delivery has some abruptness to it, with some starts and stops that could get ironed out but he controls himself so well and still fills up the zone as is.
Future Role: Perez looks like a solid bet to remain a starting pitcher and the only real question here is his ultimate ceiling. The plus changeup and command alone will get him through the lower levels with a high rate of success so his first real test will come as he advances. He looks like a future SP 4 with some room for a bit more. If he can find more velocity (he sits 92-93) or gets more from his gyro slider, he can find another gear.
Pitch Grades: Fastball (50), Changeup (60), Slider (50), Curveball (40) Command (55)
Noah Schultz, LHP White Sox - 60 OFP
Acquired: Drafted in the 1st round, 26th overall in the 2022 draft out of Oswego East HS in Illinois.
Report: Schultz is our second ranked pitching prospect on our mid-season T100 list, ranking only behind Jackson Jobe. The biggest knock against Schultz was his durability after missing his senior year in high school due to an illness and most of 2023 due to a flexor strain. He’s healthy now and has already doubled his 2023 innings total in 2024, and he has bulked up, adding mass to his stringbean frame. The stuff is premium, with his plus fastball and slider combination as well as plus command, this is a rare front of the rotation starter. He sits 93-95 and touches 98 with run, and it plays up due to his low release. His sweeper is in the low 80s with insane horizontal movement and he even has a changeup that has flashed above-average.
Future Role: Schultz is one of the higher upside starters in the game with two plus offerings in his pocket and a changeup that could also get there. He’s working on dispelling the durability concerns that could prevent him from becoming that future number one starter type, and will move as fast as the White Sox choose to push him.
Pitch Grades: Fastball (60), Slider (60), Changeup (50), Command (60)
Winston Santos, RHP Rangers - 45 OFP
Acquired: Signed out of Dominican Republic in 2019 for $10,000
Report: Santos signed with the Rangers for $10,000 in 2019 but then had to wait two years to make his professional debut due to the Covid pandemic. He showed an ability to miss bats in the past but has really found another level this season, in his 40-man roster evaluation season. He’s added ride to his 95-96 MPH heater and the optimized shape has also added some run. His best secondary is a 85-86 MPH gyro slider and an improved changeup. His arm action is a little whippy and he doesn’t repeat as often as you’d like but he throws enough strikes that you shouldn’t be concerned about it.
Future Role: Santos started 2024 in High-A, which is where he finished 2023. But this time around he came with improved stuff and after 12 starts he was bumped up to Double-A. Santos has the stuff and command to stick as a starter but the biggest thing working against him is the clock. He’s got seven innings under his belt in Double-A so far but will need to be added to the 40-man roster after the season. That could push him to the bullpen.
Pitch Grades: Fastball (60), Slider (50), Changeup (50), Command (50)
Brock Selvidge, LHP Yankees - 45 OFP
Acquired: Drafted in the 3rd round, 92nd overall in the 2021 draft out of Hamilton HS in Arizona.
Report: Selvidge got a $1.5 million bonus from the Yankees despite coming off the board in the third round. The fastball is a high spin offering in the 90-92 range but he has at times lived more in the 93-94 range early in his starts before the velocity drifts. His best secondary pitch is his slider, a gyro slider which is difficult for the hitters to pick up out of the hand due to its unique spin. His changeup and cutter are both in the mid-to-high 80s and are fringe pitches at present. He has a unique delivery and with his hands held very high and he often looks off balanced and falls off hard to the third base side.
Future Role: Selvidge’s command has fallen off a bit this year and the walks are piling up in Double-A. He had a reputation as a strike thrower with his fastball and slider, but he won’t last as a starter with his current command profile and only a two pitch mix. He will need one of his cutter or change to evolve and become a more trustworthy part of his arsenal. His fastball and slider should play well out of the bullpen though and we will get a glimpse of that in his one inning stint.
Pitch Grades: Fastball (55), Slider (60), Changeup (40), Cutter (40), Command (45)
Emiliano Teodo, RHP Rangers - 50 OFP
Acquired: Signed out of Dominican Republic in 2020 for $10,000
Report: Teodo was another low dollar bonus find by the Rangers, and he might be the most electric arm in this showcase event. As a starter Teodo is sitting 97-98, sometimes higher, with a slider that gets whiffs and generates groundballs. It’s pure filth. In a one inning stint in the Arizona Fall League he was up to 102, and he is going to be must see TV in his one inning of work.
Future Role: The Rangers should absolutely keep using Teodo as a starter because it’s working. He has a 1.71 ERA through 14 starts in the Texas League and really should get a bump to either Triple-A or the big leagues later this year. This is his 40-man evaluation year so a big league promotion could be valuable as he should be in the Rangers plans next year.
Pitch Grades: Fastball (70), Slider (60), Changeup (40), Command (45)
Hitters
Samuel Basallo, C Orioles - 60 OFP
Acquired: Signed out of Dominican Republic in 2021 for $1.3 million.
Report: Not even a stress fracture in his right (throwing) elbow could keep Basallo down to start 2024. He played through the injury for the season’s first month, mostly just DH’ing while also playing first occasionally. He was on a throwing program and resumed catching again in the middle of May, but that story gets buried a bit by the offensive production here as a teenager in Double-A. He’s hitting everything, and is even getting a slight reputation as a bit of a free swinger, but he’s been doing damage even on pitches out of the zone. Mechanically the swing reminds me of Rafael Devers with the deep load and controlled chaos that ensues afterwards. He’s fringy behind the plate, and he had plus arm strength prior to the injury, but the verdict is still out on if he can catch or not. With two plus offensive tools in the hit and power, I’d say it might not matter too much where he plays? Just find him a lineup spot.
Future Role: Basallo looks like a solid bet to be the future designated hitter in Baltimore, so the presence of Adley Rutschman won’t matter as much here. He’s a future middle of the lineup hitter though and one you can build your future lineup around. He’s likely going to make his big league debut sometime in 2025, but if there was a need in Baltimore he could likely hold his own.
Tool Grades: Hit (60), Power (70), Defense (45), Arm (60), Speed (40)
Harry Ford, C Mariners - 45 OFP
Acquired: Drafted in the 1st round, 12th overall of the 2021 draft out of North Cobb HS in Georgia.
Report: Athleticism is the ticket here with Harry Ford, and not many players at the catching position in affiliated ball are in the same ballpark as he is athletically. Ford is has recently asked to start playing some outfield instead of DH’ing on his off days as he wants to be more involved in the game. He’s a plus runner with a quick first step and twitchy actions. The speed should translate as he climbs the ladder. He’s more of a gap to gap guy as the power is below-average. It hasn’t taken the jump I expected due to his frame and athleticism. Instead he’s more of a gap to gap hitter whose home run power is limited to his pull-side. He’s a low ball hitter and also struggles handling pitches at the top of the zone, so big league pitchers will exploit that. The approach is passive, and the swing decisions are solid, but the walk rate is inflated a bit by his passivity. Defensively he has a cannon for an arm and has improved immensely behind the plate with his receiving and framing but still struggles blocking pitches in the dirt.
Future Role: Ford is a future big league catcher in my eyes as the defense has improved enough and his arm is a weapon. I do have some concerns about if he hits enough though. He’s going to get beat up in the zone unless he’s able to adjust but should still be able to go gap to gap while also stealing a healthy amount of bases. He’s likely an average hitter in the future that shows flashes of more than that due to his athleticism.
Tool Grades: Hit (50), Power (40), Defense (50), Arm (60), Speed (60)
Kyle Teel, C Red Sox - 55 OFP
Acquired: Drafted in the 1st round, 14th overall of the 2023 draft out of the University of Virginia.
Report: Teel ascended all the way up to Double-A in his draft year after just 17 games and ended up finishing the year there. He started 2024 in Double-A and quickly proved the collegiate numbers and the brief pro success weren’t a fluke. His hit tool and on-base skills are more developed than the power but he’s still going to pop somewhere between 18-25 homers at peak with plenty of doubles boosting his power numbers. His defensive skills are solidly above-average across the board and he’s a great athlete.
Future Role: Teel might be the most well rounded catching prospect in all of the minor leagues, and when it is all said and done 13 teams might regret passing on him in the 2023 draft. Teel is part of the trio in Portland that seemingly will move to Worcester by the end of the month. Teel should be in the mix to win the Red Sox catching job out of spring next year.
Tool Grades: Hit (55), Power (45), Defense (55), Arm (55), Speed (55)
Xavier Isaac, 1B Rays - 55 OFP
Acquired: Drafted in the 1st round, 29th overall of the 2022 draft out of East Forsyth HS in North Carolina
Report: A surprise first rounder when he was selected due to injuries costing him most of his draft summer, people aren’t questioning the pick anymore. Isaac had a true breakout in 2023, hitting .285/.395/.521 with 19 homers over 102 games. He really put things into high gear when he was bumped up to High-A and hit .408/.491/.808 with six homers over just 12 games. Isaac has really done a fantastic job improving the body while maintaining the easy power, but its the power with the on-base abilities that sets himself apart. He’s a future middle of the lineup bat that should post strong OBP’s while swatting 30+ homers at peak. His improvised physique has also allowed him to be an average defender at first base and staying on the field seemingly has helped him in the box.
Future Role: I’m as anti-first base prospect as it gets but even Isaac has managed to win me over with his offensive production and upside. He’s a complete hitter with an above-average hit tool (plus if you include his eye) and plus power with plus-plus raw. I expect him to spend the second half of the season in Double-A with a possible eye towards the big leagues in 2025, more likely 2026.
Tool Grades: Hit (55), Power (60), Defense (50), Arm (50), Speed (40)
Luke Keaschall, 2B Twins - 50 OFP
Acquired: Drafted in the 2nd round, 49th overall of the 2023 draft out of Arizona State University
Report: Keaschall looks like a potential steal for the Twins, getting him 49th overall in the 2023 draft. He’s been one of the more impressive hitters across the minor leagues, and that’s despite him dealing with an elbow injury that has forced him to DH duties more often than he’d like. His swing is direct to the ball and the contact rates have been impressive, hovering around the 84-85% range while also not expanding the zone. He’s added some loft to his swing and has already hit ten homers this year because of his ability to back spin the baseball. He’s going to be a high on-base guy with mostly gap power and above-average speed. He is fine at second base but his arm will limit him on the high effort plays.
Future Role: Keaschall can hit, and that’s the most important thing. Ideally he’s the Twins second baseman of the future, but as currently constructed he might have to learn some corner outfield or learn to get more comfortable as a DH. He’s not going to be good enough defensively to chase off a young infielder that’s already established himself there, but the bat is the type that you push people out of the way for. He’s spent sometime this year at second and in centerfield primarily but has also played some first base in 2024. It’s likely a mid-to-late 2025 timetable for Keaschall though and he will be fun to watch move through the minors.
Tool Grades: Hit (60), Power (45), Defense (50), Arm (40), Speed (55)
Hao-Yu Lee, 2B Tigers - 45 OFP
Acquired: Signed out of Taiwan in 2021 by the Phillies for $650,000. Traded to Detroit for P Michael Lorenzen in 2023.
Report: Lee is enjoying the best year of his career here in 2024 as he’s managed to stay healthy and is hitting a strong .297/.367/.503 with 12 homers, 15 doubles and 4 triples in 72 games. In about a week’s time he will be setting a new career high for games played in a season while showing everyone what it looks like when he does put everything together. He’s hitting for average and power while also showing some savviness on the bases despite below-average speed. He’s greatly improved his prospect stock this year and is a solid all-around player at the keystone.
Future Role: Lee has flashed a pair of average or better tools in 2024 with his hit and power tools, and he’s really starting to get into his power, especially to the pull side. The raw might be plus here and I’m not ruling out Lee getting to it in games because the eye and approach are good. He’s already blown past his career high for homers in a season this year, and it looks like he could hit 20+ homers at his peak. Before the season I would’ve said he was a future utility man or second division regular, but now it looks like he can be an average second baseman with above-average offensive upside.
Tool Grades: Hit (55), Power (50) Defense (50), Arm (50), Speed (45)
Marcelo Mayer, SS Red Sox - 60 OFP
Acquired: Drafted in the 1st round, 4th overall of the 2021 draft from Eastlake HS in California
Report: Mayer looks to be over the injuries that really slowed him down in 2023 and he’s back to his spot near the top of prospect lists as a result. He’s a 20-25 homer infielder that is going to stick at shortstop. That’s a very good player and with the Red Sox glaring need at the position it’s easy to see a clear path to the show for Mayer. He’s an aggressive hitter and will jump on hittable pitches early in the count, but he’s also been more selective this season. He’s repeating Double-A in 2024 but the walk rate is up while also reducing the strikeouts and hitting for more power. Doing exactly what you want and getting positive results.
Future Role: I’d expect Mayer to get bumped to Triple-A shortly after the Future’s Game and he will be given an opportunity early in 2025 to grab a hold of that everyday shortstop job and run with it. Mayer is an above-average bat with above-average power and above-average defensive abilities at shortstop. That can be a franchise building block, and very worthy of a top prospect spot.
Tool Grades: Hit (55), Power (55) Defense (55), Arm (55), Speed (45)
Colson Montgomery, SS White Sox - 50 OFP
Acquired: Drafted in the 1st round, 22nd overall of the 2021 draft from Southridge HS in Indiana
Report: Montgomery is big for shortstop but despite the size he has good defensive actions at shortstop and will likely stick at the position. His athleticism is underrated but the former Indiana basketball recruit was also the quarterback on his high school football team. Offensively is where the upside lies with Montgomery but it's also been the source of frustration this year. The strikeouts have piled up for him in Triple-A and he’s trying to lift everything to right field, even the pitches he shouldn’t. Speed isn’t part of his game so he needs to hit to be a key piece for the White Sox.
Future Role: Originally I thought Montgomery was a slam dunk to make his big league debut sometime this year but the struggles this year likely pushes that to 2025 for me. There’s significant power upside here but he’s having difficulties getting to it in Triple-A because he’s not making enough contact. Pitchers are staying away from him as well and he’s still trying to pull pitches on the outer half. His approach is sound though and when he gets going it should be a nice power and OBP dual threat.
Tool Grades: Hit (45), Power (55) Defense (50), Arm (55), Speed (45)
Ralphy Velazquez, 1B Guardians - 50 OFP
Acquired: Drafted in the 1st round, 23rd overall of the 2023 draft from Huntington Beach HS in California
Report: Ralphy has hung up his catcher’s gear for the time being as the Guardians are focused on drawing as much talent from the bat as they possibly can. The 2023 draftee has been a pleasant surprise with the bat and it appears the Guardians have made the correct call here. Despite the fringy defense he’s actually a good athlete that moves well for his size. His bat is strong enough to stick at first base and his combination of contact and power give him a middle of the lineup profile. It’s natural power, he’s not selling out for it and he doesn’t swing and miss or chase all that much.
Future Role: So far Ralphy has caught one game as a professional, none since 2023 and also spent two games in left this year. Everything else has either been as a first baseman or designated hitter. The offensive potential here is as high as anyone’s and I’d bet on the move to first base being a permanent one since he’s been crushing the ball in the lower minors. The bat here is always going to be the carrying tool though and he could move relatively briskly through the minors if they elect to keep him at first and/or DH.
Tool Grades: Hit (60), Power (60) Defense (40), Arm (60), Speed (30)
Sebastian Walcott, SS Rangers - 50 OFP
Acquired: Signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2023 for $3,200,000.
Report: Walcott has immense upside but he’s also one of the riskiest profiles in this event. He strikes out at a near 28% clip which is actually an improvement over a 30% strikeout rate he has been rocking over his last two stops. The power is plus and the raw is plus-plus, but none of that matters as much if he’s not making enough contact. His power comes from his twitchy, strong wiry build and his top end bat speed. He’s going to have to adjust to the pitching as he climbs the ladder, and he’s struggling with recognizing spin which is an age appropriate problem and we need to see how he adjusts. The Rangers have pushed him fairly aggressively, so they believe he can make the necessary changes.
Future Role: Walcott is probably going to play third base as he climbs the ladder due to his physical projection but he’s also had some lapses at shortstop and made some fairly routine errors. The arm will play on the left side and he should eventually be average or better no matter where he plays once he cleans up the actions and the focus. At the end of the day the ceiling here is the sort of stuff you dream about and the issues are all things you typically see from a guy that’s only 18 years old.
Tool Grades: Hit (45), Power (60) Defense (45), Arm (60), Speed (55)
Cole Young, SS Mariners - 50 OFP
Acquired: Drafted in the 1st round, 21st overall of the 2022 draft from North Allegheny HS in Pennsylvania
Report: What Young lacks in flash and pizazz and loud tools he makes up for with his on-base skills and overall high floor. Young has a plus hit tool and strong pitch recognition skills and he’s putting them on display in Double-A. He uses all fields and has a true knack for finding the barrel. The power is mostly gap to gap but he is more than capable of leaving the yard to the pull side. Defensively he’s going to stick up the middle and on the dirt. He’s steady and shows great instincts in the field, but his arm is a little stretched at short, making him an ideal second baseman.
Future Role: Young is going to hit at or near the top of the lineup and will be a pest for opposing teams due to his contact, approach and stolen base skills. He’s likely going to hit somewhere between 12-18 homers a year at peak, with 15-20 stolen bases and strong ratios. Young will be in Seattle at some point in 2025.
Tool Grades: Hit (60), Power (40) Defense (55), Arm (45), Speed (60)
Jaison Chourio, OF Guardians - 50 OFP
Acquired: Signed out of Venezuela in 2022 for $1,200,000.
Report: Jaison Chourio has had a very solid year in Single-A, picking up where he left off in 2023 showing an excellent approach and gap to gap power which should soon grow into the over the fence variety. He’s not as polished as his brother Jackson, but there aren’t many 20 year olds that are making their debut either, so it’s a bit unfair to keep making the comparison but he’s gotta be used to that by now. He’s a hit over power type with a good feel for finding the barrel. He’s a switch hitter and the frame makes it easy to project power from both sides. It’s going to be a slower burn than most guys in this event, but Chourio is trending upwards.
Future Role: Chourio projects to be more of a top of the lineup, everyday centerfielder. He will get on base at a strong clip, which is what he’s done at every minor league stop thus far. He’s a plus runner and sharp on the bases, and a strong defender, providing other elements to his game. He will eventually add that power tool to the belt and when he does he can be a perennial all-star.
Tool Grades: Hit (55), Power (45) Defense (55), Arm (50), Speed (60)
Max Clark, OF Tigers - 50 OFP
Acquired: Drafted in the 1st round, 3rd overall of the 2023 draft from Franklin HS in Indiana
Report: Clark seems like a very divisive prospect and he really shouldn’t be. After all he didn’t draft himself third overall over guys like Langford and even Walker Jenkins, which seems to be the biggest complaint. There are also some concerns over the power projections for Clark, and they are understandable. He’s a heavy ground ball hitter so while I think on pure impact ability I think he can be a 20-25 homer threat, the inability to add consistent loft likely makes him more of a 15-18 homer guy? Adding loft can be one of the more difficult things for hitters so it's far from a sure thing. The rest of his offensive game is solid, he makes contact, draws a good amount of walks and will be a top of the lineup type guy when he develops. Defensively he’s above-average to plus in center with a plus arm, and obviously his plus wheels are an asset on that side of the ball as well.
Future Role: There’s some risk here in the profile due to the lack of above-average projectable power, but everything else for Clark is trending in the positive direction. If that power does come he can be the rare five tool player, and to take it a step further than that he can be a guy with five plus tools. He’s lowered his hands some in an effort to get to that power so we will just have to see when he escapes High-A.
Tool Grades: Hit (55), Power (45) Defense (60), Arm (70), Speed (70)
Gavin Cross, OF Royals - 45 OFP
Acquired: Drafted in the 1st round, 9th overall of the 2022 draft from Virginia Tech
Report: When Cross was drafted ninth overall in 2022 he was supposed to be the safe college bat, but a rough stint at Quad Cities changed that. He hit .203/.298/.378 last year with all but two of his games in High-A. He was sent to Double-A in 2024 and it’s gone much better across the board. He’s hitting for more power, striking out less and walking more. As it turns out you can blame his down 2023 on a tick-borne illness called Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. With that behind him his prospect stock has rebounded and things are looking up.
Future Role: His signature plate skills and above-average power have returned, and Cross may even be ready for the next challenge after this stint in Double-A. Cross looks like a league average right fielder where his above-average arm will play. He won’t need a platoon partner either, and has separated himself from the other Royals upper minors bats.
Tool Grades: Hit (50), Power (50) Defense (55), Arm (60), Speed (50)
Spencer Jones, OF Yankees - 50 OFP
Acquired: Drafted in the 1st round, 25th overall in the 2022 draft from Vanderbilt
Report: We saw what it could look like this spring when Spencer Jones put it all together and was mashing everything in sight. He’s a unique prospect with the raw tools to put up some impressive stat lines, but the strikeouts are the wet blanket. His chase rates are poor and a concern. He hits the ball harder than pretty much everyone playing in this game, but he also lacks the launch to fully tap into the plus-plus power. For his size he’s such an athletic freak and he could put up some 25/25 or even 30/30 seasons if he makes enough contact. It’s unlikely, but that’s the ceiling here.
Future Role: For Jones it all comes down to the hit tool and health. A neck injury delayed the start of his season by a few weeks and also cut his spring training short. He’s come back for Double-A Somerset and has struck out in just under 37% of his at-bats. Jones will always have higher strikeout rates, but he needs to get them down closer to 30% to have success. I’m rooting for him because it could be really entertaining if he does.
Tool Grades: Hit (40), Power (60), Defense (50), Arm (50), Speed (60)
Chandler Simpson, OF Rays - 45 OFP
Acquired: Drafted in Competitive Balance Round B, 70th overall in the 2022 draft from Georgia Tech
Report: Simpson is a fun throwback. He’s a slash and dash hitter who is already running towards first base at the point of contact. He’s not trying to hit the ball in the air, instead he’s looking to find a hole somewhere with a groundball. He’s one of the fastest runners in the sport so a lot of the weak contact and mishits can actually turn into hits. He knows who he is and is allergic to hitting the ball in the air. Last season he led the minors with 94 steals, and this year he’s leading the minor leagues once again. Simpson has one career homer to his name and it was an inside the parker. He’s also a plus center because his speed simply allows him to cover so much ground. His routes do need some improvement though but he has incredible speed to bounce back.
Future Role: Simpson is a rabbit by true definition of the word, and while that is an exciting style of play I’m a little concerned he doesn’t have enough power to keep pitchers from just challenging him. The hit tool here has also improved enough to where he may not have to worry about that as much because of how often he simply puts the bat on the ball. If he gets on base he’s likely to be on third very quickly.
Tool Grades: Hit (50), Power (20), Defense (60), Arm (30), Speed (80)
National League Roster
Pitchers
Bubba Chandler, RHP Pirates - 55 OFP
Acquired: Drafted in the 3rd round, 72nd overall in the 2021 draft from North Oconee HS in Georgia
Report: The Pirates have developed a nice pitching factory and Chandler is the poster boy. Chandler was a very different development story than someone like Skenes who came through the Pirates system in a flash and did not need much development. Chandler was a switch-hitting, two-way multi-sport athlete who was finally just focusing on strictly one thing and the Pirates have done a fantastic job of taming that athleticism and funneling it to the mound. He is sitting in the 92-96 range with the fastball and it gets more life on the lower end of the velocity scale. He heavily leans on his upper 80s slider as his top secondary, and he will also mix in a changeup that has shown promise that he needs to trust more. Chandler is currently pitching in Double-A. He’s a sneaky candidate to touch 100 in a short one inning burst.
Future Role: Chandler projects as a mid-rotation arm but there’s a chance at more than that if his changeup becomes a viable third pitch. He learned how to command his secondaries in 2023 and can now drop those pitches in for strikes when needed. The delivery is clean and he lacks much, if any bullpen risk at this point. He projects as a solid number three starter.
Pitch Grades: Fastball (60), Slider (55), Changeup (50), Command (50)
Chase Dollander, RHP Rockies - 55 OFP
Acquired: Drafted in the 1st round, 9th overall in the 2023 draft out of the University of Tennessee.
Report: Dollander possesses the ideal pitcher’s frame; lean, strong, and athletic. The delivery is picturesque, and repeatable. He moves well, its a clean operation and he really gets down the mound with above-average extension from a ¾ arm slot giving him a low release point. His primary pitch is his fastball. It sits 94-96 and he touches 98-99 with regularity. It eats up in the zone and generates a high rate of swing-and-miss. His best secondary is his high-spin slider that has returned to being a plus pitch and one of the main reasons for his resurgence. He will throw his changeup exclusively against left-handers and will also throw a curveball. The command has improved as well and if you remove the Coors Field element that lingers in the background he might be the top pitching prospect in baseball.
Future Role: Dollander looks fantastic and gives the Rockies an arm with true number one potential which is exciting. He misses bats at a high rate with his entire arsenal and throws strikes. He looks just like the version of himself that was the SEC pitcher of the year in 2022 as opposed to the one that struggled as a junior in 2023. He didn’t make his professional debut until 2024 and the Rockies are being rewarded for their patience. There’s a chance Dollander has three plus pitches when it’s all said and done, and it’s a true top of the rotation profile.
Pitch Grades: Fastball (60), Slider (55), Changeup (50), Command (50)
Tink Hence, RHP Cardinals - 55 OFP
Acquired: Drafted in Competitive Balance Round B, 63rd overall in the 2020 draft from Watson Chapel HS in Arkansas.
Report: Tink Hence was having a strong 2023 but he struggled after his promotion to Double-A. Naturally he was sent to Double-A again to open 2024 and he’s flipped the script. He’s looked sharp and the velocity that would taper off as he got deeper in starts last year is staying with him longer this year as he’s also working deeper in games. For the first time in his career Hence has gone six innings in a start this year, which he’s now done multiple times and he even turned in a seven inning start to end April. The Cardinals have taken it easy with Hence to this point and they are getting rewarded for their patience. He’s sitting 95-96 and holding it deeper in games. His fastball is a swing and miss pitch up in the zone and at that velocity band. He runs into some trouble when it’s his typical 95-96. His slider is his primary weapon against right-handers, and the changeup is his primary secondary against lefties. Both pitches rely on the fastball being 95-96 and are at their best when they are used as chase pitches.
Future Role: It’s been a strong developmental year for Hence and he’s managed to check the boxes showing his durability, but he’s only thrown three innings since the end of May due to some cramping issues. He will likely not pitch in the event as he’s working back into game action. He looks like a solid mid-rotation starter with a few seasons of number two like production.
Pitch Grades: Fastball (55), Slider (55), Changeup (55), Curveball (45), Command (50)
Rhett Lowder, RHP Reds - 50 OFP
Acquired: Drafted in the 1st round, 7th overall in the 2023 draft out of Wake Forest University.
Report: Rhett Lowder was drafted seventh overall in 2023 and didn’t make his professional debut until this season but is already moved up to Double-A. He’s run into some issues being too hittable in the Southern League. Lowder is a strike thrower that fills up the zone with all three pitches. His fastball is 93-95 and he can touch 97 with life. He has a two-seamer that’s a few ticks below his four-seamer and works well off of the changeup that is 5-to-7 MPH off of the two-seamer. His slider is his best secondary at 85-88 with good depth. He has a soldi arsenal but is more floor than ceiling here and should move quickly through the minors. Wake Forest does a tremendous job maximizing their arms and it helps them move quickly through pro ball.
Future Role: Lowder is a solid mid-rotation arm and he could move through the minors quickly with his four-pitch mix and plus overall command. He lacks the ceiling of most arms on this list but makes up for it with his athleticism and plus command. He sequences well and can throw any of his four pitches for strikes in any count.
Pitch Grades: Fastball (55), Slider (55), Changeup (55), Command (60)
Quinn Mathews, LHP Cardinals - 50 OFP
Acquired: Drafted in the 4th round, 122nd overall in the 2023 draft out of Stanford.
Report: Mathews will probably always be most famous for striking out 16 hitters in a 156-pitch complete game in his NCAA tournament game against Texas. He’s doing a good job of trying to change the narrative with a very strong start to 2024. The stuff has taken a jump forward and credit goes to Mathews for strong off-season work. It could be the benefits of pitching once a week now and also having more managed work loads. When he was drafted he was viewed as more of a pitchability left-hander that could be a back of the rotation type arm, but now he’s added velocity. His fastball has become a bit of an outlier, not many others can match his mid 90s velocity, low VAA and high iVB combo. The slider gets whiffs at a high clip and his changeup is a pitch he is confident in and he will use it against right-handed bats. He has risen all the way to Double-A after not making his professional debut until 2024.
Future Role: Mathews has been one of the better stories of the year transforming himself from what was perceived to be a soft-tossing back end starter into a higher end starter with serious swing and miss upside. The fastball is a big one, averaging 94-95 with those unicorn traits and it will carry him through the minors. He has the most swing and miss upside in the Cardinals system.
Pitch Grades: Fastball (70), Slider (50), Changeup (50), Command (60)
Noble Meyer, RHP Marlins - 50 OFP
Acquired: Drafted in the 1st round, 10th overall in the 2023 draft from Jesuit HS in Oregon.
Report: Meyer was the top prep arm taken in the 2023 draft and he has already experienced some ups and downs during his limited professional career. In April he couldn’t throw strikes and was walking for too many hitters. He’s drastically trimmed his walk rate every month and while his command is still fringy it is much better than the unplayable level it was at to start the year. It’s not unusual for taller arms to struggle with command at times, but the 6’5” Meyer is in good control of his frame and repeats well. His best pitch is his sinker which he uses to both sides of the plate. Not sure how intentional it is all the time but he was running the sinker in against right-handers, making for an uncomfortable experience. He gets a healthy amount of armside run on the pitch and that’s the main reason its so tough to command. His slider is his best secondary. It’s typically around 2700-2800 RPMs but has been higher at times. It has tight, horizontal break and it will be a true out pitch when he gets his sinker aligned. His changeup has the armside fade but otherwise it’s inconsistent. It should be an average pitch, maybe even better than that with time. His mechanics are ok, he falls off the mound hard towards the first base side at times which can hinder his command. There’s some work to do here, and he’s not as polished as originally projected, but he does have some nasty stuff.
Future Role: Meyer has the ingredients here to possibly be in the conversation for best starting pitching prospect in all of baseball eventually. The frame, the nastiness of his sinker and slider, and what his changeup and command could become is something fun to speculate on. He’s not there yet though. Give him some time.
Pitch Grades: Fastball (60), Slider (60), Changeup (45), Command (40)
Robby Snelling, LHP Padres - 45 OFP
Acquired: Drafted in Competitive Balance Round A, 39th overall in the 2022 draft from McQueen HS in Nevada.
Report: A two sport star in high school, Snelling was also a highly recruited linebacker. The Padres saw the potential here and paid him $3 million, one million over slot, to sign him away from a commitment at LSU. His first professional season, which was also his first focusing exclusively on baseball, went about as well as one could hope, blowing through both levels of A-ball and getting to Double-A and pitching to a 1.82 ERA in over 100 innings for the season. Snelling is a big dude, pretty advanced physically for his age with a thick and muscular lower half. Snelling gets the fastball up to 95-96 with regularity and that comes with good ride up in the zone. His best secondary is his curveball and he has also recently introduced a slider to his arsenal. His changeup is a firm offering that is still developing. Snelling’s command has backed up this year and he’s also been way to hittable at Double-A.
Future Role: The Padres have been pushing Snelling aggressively and while it worked out well in 2023 he has stumbled a bit in 2024. I don’t love either of his breaking balls and don’t think they will be future swing and miss offerings consistently enough. He looks like a solid SP 4 to me with his two breaking balls and changeup in addition to mid-90s heat. He’s a bulldog on the mound though and is very vocal and animated at times.
Pitch Grades: Fastball (55), Curveball (55), Changeup (45), Slider (45) Command (45)
Brandon Sproat, RHP Mets - 50 OFP
Acquired: Drafted in the 2nd round, 56th overall in the 2023 draft out of the University of Florida.
Report: Yet another 2023 draft pick that didn’t make his professional debut until 2024. Sproat has a big fastball that sits 95-96 and can touch 100. He had this big fastball while at the University of Florida but it wasn’t optimized to miss bats like it is now. His changeup is his best secondary in my opinion and it gets a lot of swing and miss due to the arm side fade. He commands his slider well and it's an above-average pitch in its own right. He still working on the finer points of sequencing and building up stamina. He’s been able to go seven innings a handful of times this year and run up the pitch counts, which has been a goal of his.
Future Role: The Mets liked Sproat so much they drafted him twice and I think it has worked out well for both sides to this point. The Mets have altered the fastball shape and tapped into Sproat’s athleticism and he looks like a viable long term starter going forward. He has a deep four-pitch mix and his command has been solid.
Pitch Grades: Fastball (60), Changeup (60), Slider (55), Curveball (45), Command (50)
Thomas White, LHP Marlins - 50 OFP
Acquired: Drafted in Competitive Balance Round A, 35th overall in the 2023 draft out of Phillips Academy in Massachusetts.
Report: Thomas White came into the draft as one of the more accomplished amateur left-handers in recent memory. He’s a tall, projectable left-hander with a big fastball that can touch 97 with carry. His curveball is a plus offering but needs some refinement. The delivery is solid and the young lefty repeats it well. He’s doing everything a young lefty his age needs to do and it’s easy to dream on a future one-two punch with White and Noble Meyer.
Future Role: White has the ingredients to be one of the top pitching prospects in the game very soon if he isn’t already. The tall lanky lefty is sitting on a pair of plus offerings and also throws an average changeup. White has climbed all the way to High-A so far in 2024 despite fringy command, but in watching him and speaking to contacts the command is likely improving as he moves up and matures. White has solid mid-rotation upside here with a chance at being a number two.
Pitch Grades: Fastball (60), Curveball (60), Changeup (50), Command (45)
Hitters
Drake Baldwin, C Braves - 40 OFP
Acquired: Drafted in the 3rd round, 96th overall in the 2022 draft out of Missouri State University.
Report: Baldwin has emerged as a serious pop-up prospect for the Braves. The Missouri State product has a solid offensive approach and above-average pop. He has built a reputation for hitting fastballs well but he struggles against the soft stuff.
Future Role: Baldwin has moved quickly since getting drafted in 2022 and now finds himself on the doorstep to the big leagues. He’s a quality defender but needs to improve his throwing still. Offensively he has a nice combination of on-base skills and power, and as a left-handed bat he can provide slightly more value offensively. He’s in Triple-A now and is just waiting for the call.
Tool Grades: Hit (45), Power (50), Defense (50), Arm (50), Speed (30)
Thayron Liranzo, C Dodgers - 50 OFP
Acquired: Signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2021 for $30,000.
Report: Liranzo arrived on the scene as a prospect after a breakout 2023 in which he hit for average and power while also drawing rave reviews for how well he was handling the pitching staff while at Rancho. The switch-hitting catcher is very much power over hit and led the California League with 24 homers last season. He has shown more power from the left-side of the plate so far in his career. He’s an average defender with a plus arm that lacks consistency. It’s a crowded situation when talking about the catching options for the Dodgers but Liranzo did enough in 2023 to separate himself from the pack. He’s come back down to earth as a hitter in 2024 but he’s still getting on-base and hitting for some power.
Future Role: Liranzo will ultimately go as far as the hit tool and contact abilities take him. He’s been a little sluggish so far in 2024 but he’s still getting on-base and hitting for some power which gives you an idea of what he’s capable of. It’s strength based power so it’s fairly sticky from year to year
Tool Grades: Hit (40), Power (50), Defense (50), Arm (60), Speed (30)
Ethan Salas, C Padres - 50 OFP
Acquired: Signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2023 for $5,600,000.
Report: Ethan Salas started his professional career in Single-A at the age of 16, which is still crazy to even think about and he was also one of the league’s more productive players, hitting .267/.350/.487 in 48 games. He was aggressively bumped to High-A after that, and played in nine games before being promoted once again to Double-A. His season ended after a knee sprain after just nine games and even though he didn’t hit much after leaving the California League he was still being trusted to handle the staffs at those levels. Salas at 16 and 17 years old was playing plus defense while also handling velocity and hitting for power.
Future Role: Salas was assigned to the Midwest League to start this season and he didn’t turn 18 until June. The numbers aren’t pretty and he’s looked overmatched but this was a guy who hit nine homers when he should’ve been a sophomore in high school, so it’s impossible to evaluate him without factoring that in to the equation. Despite the 2024 struggles this is still someone who can become an everyday big league catcher at 20 or 21 which doesn’t really ever happen. At his peak he could be a high OBP, 20-homer backstop that plays plus defense. Every team in the league would take that.
Tool Grades: Hit (45), Power (50), Defense (60), Arm (60), Speed (30)
Cam Collier, 3B Reds - 45 OFP
Acquired: Drafted in the 1st round, 18th overall in the 2022 draft out of Chipola JC.
Report: By all accounts Collier had a disappointing season in the Florida State League in 2023 but much like Ethan Salas we need to apply proper context here. Collier graduated high school after his Sophomore season and then enrolled at Chipola where he played one season, and did one season on the Cape, before getting selected by the Reds. He played all of 2023 as an 18 year-old. He started off scorching hot in 2024 but has since cooled back down, but you can see the potential here. Offensively he has shown above-average power to the pull-side and plus contact abilities, it's just that the swing lacks consistency. He also doesn’t lift the ball enough to fully tap into the power and he may also be out growing third base, which puts even more pressure on the bat.
Future Role: Collier is sort of at a crossroads despite just being 19 years old. His mobility is waning as he’s filling out but his offensive production also hasn’t matched the tools to this point. There’s still time to turn it all around and show off the potential above-average hit and power that he could have, but it’s difficult to project those as there are multiple issues standing in his way. Issues such as pounding the ball into the ground, striking out a little more than advertised, rapidly filling out and having to move to first base, inconsistent swing paths, etc. The bat will be challenged even more if he needs to move to first base so he needs to maintain that athleticism.
Tool Grades: Hit (45), Power (50), Defense (40), Arm (60), Speed (40)
Deyvison De Los Santos, 3B Diamondbacks - 45 OFP
Acquired: Signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2019 for $200,000.
Report: Deyvison De Los Santos was selected in the Rule 5 draft by the Cleveland Guardians but was returned to the Diamondbacks late in spring training after failing to make the club. It was a worthwhile gamble because all he’s done in his minor league career is hit, and hit for power. His raw power and exit velocities are some of the best in all of the minor leagues but he had some previous issues with pitch selection and hitting the ball on the ground. He’s improved both of those metrics in 2024 and has been one of the most productive hitters in the minors bringing a .331/.380/.650 slashline with 27 homers split between Double-A and Triple-A so far in 2024.
Future Role: De Los Santos is just 21 years old and appears ready for a big league look with the Diamondbacks. He put in some work this off-season and made himself leaner and more athletic and he’s being rewarded by having the best season of his professional career. Defensively he’s still likely going to move to first base, while he’s leaner and more athletic he’s still just error prone and still has below-average speed and lacks quickness. He just plain mashes though and that’s really all that matters at first base.
Tool Grades: Hit (60), Power (60), Defense (40), Arm (50), Speed (40)
Bryce Eldridge, 1B Giants - 50 OFP
Acquired: Drafted in the 1st round, 16th overall in the 2023 draft out of Madison HS in Virginia.
Report: Eldridge is massive, standing 6’7” and was a true two way prospect coming out of high school. The Giants selected him as a two-way guy but those plans quickly changed after seeing him hit at the Complex. His combination of power and his ability to control the zone are his best assets. The power is massive, and he showed it off right away hitting five homers in just 16 games out at the complex. While I was out in Arizona covering the Fall League instructs had just wrapped up and there was significant buzz surrounding him and his power potential.
Future Role: Eldridge is one of the most exciting young power bats in the minor leagues and he’s been as advertised thus far in the lower minors. The power is real but he’s also going to strike out. It’s just a matter of managing the strikeouts. Most of his struggles came against non-fastballs which is typical for a young hitter. He also showed strong chase rates which bodes well for his future on-base skills. He’s probably going to play first base full time due to his size, and it looks like that’s already started to happen for him in the minors this year, and there also won’t be any real speed component to his game. It’s plus power though with plus-plus raw, so you’ll take some of the limitations if he can max out on the power.
Tool Grades: Hit (50), Power (60), Defense (45), Arm (55), Speed (30)
Termarr Johnson, 2B Pirates - 45 OFP
Acquired: Drafted in the 1st round, 4th overall in the 2022 draft from Mays HS in Georgia.
Report: Termarr Johnson had some brief 1-1 buzz in his draft year and many thought that he could go first overall to the Orioles. He was sold as having one of the best prep hit tools we’ve seen and was getting double-plus hit tool grades as an amateur but those grades look a little silly now. Only one time has he hit higher than .245 in a minor league stop and that was a 14-game sample in 2022 in the Florida State League where he hit .275. While the hit tool may not have shown up Johnson is still producing high on-base percentages and has pretty consistently been over a .400 OBP despite hitting in the .230-.240 range. His current 17.5% walk rate is the lowest he’s ever had in his career. There’s a little passivity here that’s certainly spiking the walk and strikeout rates but he generally makes contact at a solid clip. Defensively he looks locked into second base. The arm won’t be an asset on the left side of the infield and he’s got a thicker lower half so he lacks the range for shortstop.
Future Role: Despite the batting averages not really being there Johnson has still been a very productive minor league hitter because he gets on-base and has some pull-side power. He’s probably a 20-25 homer bat at his peak while running strong on-base percentages. If he hits .260 he should post big league OBP’s up over .400 and will also chip in some steals. Not many, but he’s been able to pick his spots at times. He’s dealt with some nagging injuries also so that needs to be said. I still like him as an above-average offensive player.
Tool Grades: Hit (50), Power (50), Defense (50), Arm (45), Speed (45)
Aidan Miller, SS Phillies - 50 OFP
Acquired: Drafted in the 1st round, 27th overall in the 2023 draft from Mitchell HS in Florida.
Report: All Aidan Miller has done throughout his career is hit and with the full benefit of hindsight it is a little shocking someone with his amateur track record lasted until pick 27. Miller has superb feel for the strike zone, plus bat speed and strong contact and power metrics. He’s checking every box. He had a very strong professional debut at the complex but did slow down a bit in the Florida State League. He was assigned back to the Florida State League to start 2024 and he’s already been promoted due to his production. He had an OBP of over .401 while popping 21 extra base hits in 39 games in notoriously tough offensive parks. He makes excellent swing decisions and is a solid bet to contend for batting titles in the future. He’s going to have to add some loft to his flat swing to fully reach that power potential.
Future Role: Miller is likely going to shift to third base as he ages and adds to his frame. He already has the plus arm strength and I’m confident enough to say that the bat will play. Miller is a solid bet to be an above-average offensive contributor wherever he ends up. Hitters this talented and that possess this strong of feel and instincts don’t come around all that often.
Tool Grades: Hit (60), Power (55), Defense (50), Arm (60), Speed (50)
Jeral Perez, 2B Dodgers - 45 OFP
Acquired: Signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2022 for $397,500.
Report: Perez burst onto the scene in 2023, mashing eleven homers at the complex in just over 50 games. He’s got a projectable frame that should add more size and strength and posted strong power numbers while also displaying a strong plate approach. He didn’t fare as well offensively after a late 2023 California League look but showed excellent plate skills there too which have also carried over into 2024. He’s also still hitting for power while working the gaps as well. It’s been an impressive start to pro ball for Perez.
Future Role: Perez is probably the guy in those showcase event that I’m most interested in seeing because I haven’t seen much of him coming into this game. The numbers and feedback on him have all been impressive and while he isn’t the most tooled up prospect you’ll find he’s also not really lacking anywhere either. A well rounded prospect. Seems like he’s more likely to end up at third base but he’s been playing mostly second base for now.
Tool Grades: Hit (50), Power (55), Defense (50), Arm (50), Speed (50)
Cooper Pratt, SS Brewers - 50 OFP
Acquired: Drafted in the 6th round, 182nd overall in the 2023 draft from Magnolia Heights HS in Mississippi.
Report: Pratt is a big physical presence and was an impressive find by the Brewers in the sixth round. They signed him for $1.35 million and he made them look smart by producing at the complex by hitting .356/.426/.444 right out of the gate. Pratt has a knack for finding the barrel and controlling the zone but the lack of power this year for someone his size is unusual.
Future Role: I do believe there is at least average power here but it doesn’t stick out in game yet. The high level swing decisions and contact rate combined with his 6’4” frame are all signs that the power is coming. He’s not the toolsiest guy but he’s a steady infielder that should stick at short. There will always be a faster guy with a quicker first step or a better arm, but Pratt is just solid and his high baseball acumen really helps him on the defensive side as well. He could simply outgrow shortstop though and if that is the case he will just slide over to third. Not meant to be a hot take here or anything but when the power arrives Pratt could be a top ten prospect in all of baseball.
Tool Grades: Hit (55), Power (45), Defense (50), Arm (55), Speed (50)
Matt Shaw, 3B Cubs - 55 OFP
Acquired: Drafted in the 1st round, 13th overall in the 2023 draft out of the University of Maryland
Report: Matt Shaw got a brief taste of Double-A to end last year with a 15-game sample to close out the season. He was sent back there for 2024 and he’s still there, hitting .247/.352/.416 which is admittedly a bit disappointing for someone we thought could move quickly and play a role on the 2024 Chicago Cubs. He’s still finding ways to produce, and he’s still far from a zero with the bat as he’s hit ten homers and chipped in 20 steals already. He’s seen his walk rates spike, which comes from swinging the bat less and becoming more selective. Shaw was a swing early and often guy and he’s toned that down significantly this season and clearly has a directive to work counts before attacking. He’s a high energy dude that’s also played through some minor ailments all season so I’m still very much in.
Future Role: Drafted as a second baseman, Shaw has shifted to third as his primary position this year due to an organizational need on the big club and he’s looked so good defensively that he may just stay there long term. Shaw was advertised as a quick mover and after hitting Double-A in his draft year it might be a little disappointing for him to still be there, but as we know development isn’t linear and he’s still likely to be a big league contributor for most of 2025. The Cubs are on the fringes of the playoff race right now and if they get back in the mix they still have a need at third, so this book isn’t closed on 2024 yet. There’s still some big time skills here and he’s learned to control the zone and could be a 20/20 dude or more with strong on-base skills.
Tool Grades: Hit (55), Power (50), Defense (55), Arm (45), Speed (50)
Justin Crawford, OF PHI - 50 OFP
Acquired: Drafted in the 1st round, 17th overall in the 2022 draft from Bishop Gorman HS in Nevada.
Report: Not much has changed with Crawford since we saw him in this event last season. He still has that strong offensive foundation with his above-average hit tool and double-plus speed. He has improved his launch angle and is hitting less balls on the ground now, and we’ve seen a direct impact on his power numbers as a result. He already has six homers this season which doubled his total homers from last year and we are roughly 50% into his season. The bottom hand dominant swing still tells me there’s more power here if he is able to continue to add some loft. He’s still tall and skinny with projection in the frame and seems likely to stick in center despite the fringy arm.
Future Role: The improved power numbers add even another way Crawford can impact the game. The double-plus speed and solid contact skills work hand-in-hand and he seems destined to find a spot at the top of a lineup. Defensively he projects to be above-average and
Tool Grades: Hit (55), Power (40), Defense (55), Arm (45), Speed (70)
Dylan Crews, OF Nationals - 60 OFP
Acquired: Drafted in the 1st round, 2nd overall in the 2023 draft out of LSU.
Report: One of the headliners of this showcase event, Dylan Crews has climbed all the way to Triple-A and is on the cusp of his big league debut. He’s done a terrific job of managing the strikeouts which were a big story early in the season. His strikeout rate is down under 20% in Triple-A and was under 24% during his Double-A stint. It has taken him some time to adjust but he’s been hitting well since. He’s been working on pulling the ball in Triple-A and while the results aren’t where he would like, he’s been more effective. He’s hitting the ball on the ground a tad bit more than you’d like to see as well but we are dealing with a 20 game sample in Triple-A, so I’m not concerned. It’s obviously preferable if he’s elevating with more consistency but Crews is going to be an extra base hit machine either way. His hit tool is above-average as he is an aggressive hitter. He will attack pitches early in the count and while the in-zone miss rate is a little higher than you want from an elite hitter he does make up for it by rarely expanding the zone. He hunts fastballs though and looks to do damage. When he connects he often does, with routinely high exit velocities. Defensively he should stick in center due to his plus wheels. His reads and jumps are solid and his arm is plus.
Future Role: Crews likely isn’t going to be the franchise cornerstone player he’s expected to be, but can still be a very good core piece for the Nationals moving forward. I think there are a few things he needs to iron out offensively which I discussed above for him to fully reach his ceiling. We need to see more games with this improved pull rate, and at the same time he needs to get back to elevating more as well. He’s more likely a 25-30 homer bat because of the lack of pull and the groundball issues, which is a step down from the 30-40 homer bat that some think he could become. That’s obviously still a very good player.
Tool Grades: Hit (55), Power (60), Defense (50), Arm (60), Speed (60)
Druw Jones, OF Diamondbacks - 45 OFP
Acquired: Drafted in the 1st round, 2nd overall in the 2022 draft from Wesleyan HS in Georgia.
Report: It has been quite the roller coaster for Druw Jones so far after getting picked second overall in 2022. He’s dealt with some serious injuries as well as some nagging ones and also essentially had to rebuild his swing on the fly. It’s an unusual development path for someone so vital to their organization but these are the type of expectations that come with being the number two pick in the draft. When you watch him you still see it and very quickly get why he was drafted so highly, and that doesn’t even include the bloodlines aspect of it. The elite bat speed is still there and honestly was the primary thing saving him for a while. The decisions are still solid as well but mechanically he was so out of sync he needed every bit of bat speed to get into hitting position. He’s been severely off-balance in his swing and most of the early at-bats had his upper and lower halves almost fighting each other and going in different directions. Teh groundball rate spiked because he wasn’t using his lower half and just rolling over balls. The groundball rate is still very high now but the swing has improved. He’s hitting the ball hard consistently and can still go get it defensively so there’s a clear path to the big leagues ahead of him still.
Future Role: Putting Jones in the fish bowl of an event like this probably isn’t something I would do with someone who has been going through the ups and downs like Jones has, but on the flip side it does speak highly of the kid that the organization believes he can handle it. Jones' focus for the rest of 2024 should be getting healthy and getting the swing back to where it was as an amateur. I’m not sure how much the mechanical issues and health issues have been related, if at all, but it wouldn’t surprise me if we find out later on that there was a link there. Getting the swing back will make the difference on whether or not he’s an everyday guy or just a defensive first fourth outfielder.
Tool Grades: Hit (45), Power (55), Defense (70), Arm (60), Speed (60)
