Parada may not be able to catch, but we think his bat profiles anywhere. After initially showing feel for opposite field-only contact on the complex, Wood began to turn on balls more frequently in 2022 and started hitting line drive lasers to all fields, with his peak exit velocity topping out at 114 mph off the bat. Lesko looked like he had two plus pitches on board as a high schooler. The top 10 prospects in the 2022 MLB Draft according to MLB Pipeline are made up of an even split of five college players and five prep players. His slider execution is especially consistent, though his curveball has the more visually pleasing movement. Merrill only hit .325/.387/.482 in 45 Cal League games, a line good for a 125 wRC+ in the hitter-friendly league and aided by a .393 BABIP. Hes not a great defender right now, and probably wont ever be better than a 40-grade glove, but Davis frames high strikes well and has plus raw arm strength. He definitely has a starters mix, but just one of his three pitches is truly plus, giving Stone the look of a no. He covers the inner two-thirds of the zone quite well (his in-zone contact rates are actually about as good as Miguel Vargas), but his desire to pull and lift everything leaves him vulnerable on the outer edge and often impacts the quality of his contact. Constant max-effort hacking often leads to lots of strikeouts, but Wiemer had mostly kept his Ks in check until 2022, when he punched out 30% of the time at Double-A Biloxi. His raw power has improved considerably over the last two years, and at age 19, he already has thunderous pull-side pop and is lifting the ball consistently in games. De La Cruz is a boom-or-bust prospect who could really bust or go supernova. By the middle of 2022, Bibee was sitting 95. Hes only ever played shortstop in affiliated ball but saw time at third base in LIDOM, where he understandably looked uncomfortable at times. Diaz has plus, all-fields power and covers the outer third of the plate especially well. The Orioles selected Ortiz in the fourth round based largely on his defensive prowess, and he has lived up to those expectations while exceeding them on the offensive side. There are aspects of his swing that are very exciting and consistent with great big league hitters (his raw power and bat speed are uncommon for a shortstop, while his bent-at-the-waist hitting posture is akin to Mike Trouts and Dylan Crews), but his bat path is fairly grooved, and here the projection is that when the cement dries on Lawlars hit tool, it will be a little south of average. Painter overpowered low minors hitters with velocity then showed competent use of four pitches by the end of 2022. He also plays solid defense and it will keep him at shortstop as he makes his way through the Minor Leagues. Prior to the injury, he had allowed just 48 baserunners in 56 innings and struck out 80 men. Jones swing isnt quite dialed in. It cost him all of 2022. Mar 21, 2022 at 5:14 pm ET 6 min read Not every prospect list is suitable for every need. He was hurt in 2022. Now, after what might be a delayed start to his 2023, hell be asked to hit the ground running after only playing half of last year. OF Cristian Vaquero, Cuba: MLB.com's describes Vaquero as a "potential five-tool player with lots of potential," adding he "plays hard with lots of energy and shows tons of natural instinct in practice and in games." He needs to improve at framing pitches in the bottom of the zone, especially breaking balls, which he tends to let travel too deep, making them appear to be below the zone. The 2021-2022 international signing period began on Jan. 15, 2022, and runs through Dec. 15, 2022. In 2022, he established himself as one of the premiere pitching prospects in the Cardinals system, issuing 81 strikeouts and just 15 walks over his 52.1 innings at Low-A, where he spent the entire season. . His strikeout rate improved upon promotion to Triple-A, albeit in a smaller sample. -- $997,500, GuardiansJose Marcano, INF, Ven. After that it seemed like Ramirez was asked to try to demonstrate better plate discipline. Mayers gorgeous left-handed swing produces impact power for a shortstop. I pulled out portions of these documents for reference in the pieces published earlier this week and have done so again here, but I suggest readers familiarize themselves further. Thats a plus metric for a big leaguer and is ridiculous for a 19-year-old who hasnt totally grown into his body. The fluctuations in velocity, Nelsons mechanical look, and his end-of-year scapula injury in 2022 wrap his profile in long-term relief risk, but thats pretty standard among big stuff pitchers toward the back of the top 100. Fold below-average third base defense into that picture and while Vargas is going to be a doubles machine and productive big league player, he is probably not a star. You can really see his athleticism and remarkable hip/shoulder separation on his throws down to second. Carter has plus soft skills but doesnt have the power for stardom. He does show an ability to move the barrel around and sizzle the baseball somewhere, often with tremendous force behind it. After he went second overall in the 2021 draft, Leiter rested for the remainder of that season, having racked up 110 innings on the mound for Vanderbilt. With Martn Maldonado and Korey Lee around, Diaz will be able to ease into the everyday waters and start some games at 1B/DH to get his bat into the lineup. FREE SHIPPING OVER $199*, $9.95 FLAT UNDER $199**, DELIVERED 3 DAYS OR LESS! Rafaela is a Gold Glove-caliber center fielder with a very immature approach. Instead of a short stride toward the mound, his step is toward the plate, maintaining the width as he closes his stance, with quick lower-body rotation as he muscles the barrel through the zone. Johnsons swing bears some mechanical resemblance to Bryce Harpers, especially its lower half usage and finish. If most hitters leg kicks and move forward are outies, Mayos is an inny his front foot often lands closer to his rear foot than where it began. lvarez begins in an open set up and then straightens out upon swing initiation without taking a big step or needing a timing mechanism. Here hes projected to continue to improve on defense as he gets more experience, which would make him perhaps the best defensive center fielder in baseball at peak. With the World Baseball Classic returning for the first time since 2017, four former West Virginia Black Bears will represent their countries in the international competition beginning Wednesday, March 8. It is the open of the 2022 international signing period, one of two ways MLB teams can acquire amateur talent each year. 1st Round. For prospects around the globe hoping to sign with an MLB franchise, it kicks off a 11-month window for teams to land prospects. Previous work can also be found at Sports On Earth, CrashburnAlley and Prospect Insider. (International Prospects League) the ball was recorded leaving Ferreiras bat at 104 MPH by Flightscope Baseball. He has very little experience at second and looked okay making routine plays there during the few reps he got in 2022, but its tough to project him there full-time based on how his range, hands, and actions look at third. Hell work six or more innings and never throw a fastball below 95 mph, sitting 96-98 for the bulk of the outing. Julien finally got underway in pro ball in 2021 and since then, hes had two good seasons en route to a 40-man roster spot. We gravitate toward up-the-middle defenders littered all throughout the minor leagues, and really only tend to push corner bats onto the list when theyre close to the big leagues, or if we have an abnormal degree of confidence that they will continue to hit all the way through the minors. Hes also shown some ability to make mechanical adjustments, trading a high leg kick for a lower, longer stride that makes it even more evident just how powerful and balanced his lower half is than his previous swing did. Having made noticeable adjustments to his swing, including a lower load and a more compact back elbow, the center fielder has proven capable of tapping into in-game power previously missing from his offensive profile. Both of Painters breaking balls have huge movement. Over time, some managers become more emboldened (myself included) to chase the next big thing. 1 pitcher available this signing period. Because hes a bit stiff, its possible the grind of a full-season will impact his defensive mobility and even his offense if he has to catch 80-plus games. As of list publication, Rodriguez is one of just two catchers on Pittsburghs 40-man roster, and while its possible hes beaten out by a veteran non-roster invitee like Tyler Heineman or Kevin Plawecki, Rodriguezs defensive chops and versatility give him a shot to break camp with the big club, split time with Austin Hedges, and moonlight at one or two other positions before eventually seizing the primary catcher job. It can be tough to turn over a changeup from his arm slot, but that slot is also part of how Bibee creates depth on his curveball, which has become a show-me pitch that he lands in the zone at will. It makes everything nice and tidy. : Red Sox ($1,400,000) More 26. Projected bonus amounts for this group will be published on signing day. Marwys Jorge, RHP, D.R. -- $325,000Daniel Gaitor, OF, Bah. He ultimately went fourth overall to Pittsburgh, and because hes a relatively advanced hitter with a mature build, theres a good chance the Pirates move Johnson through the minors pretty quickly if he hits the ground running offensively. : Tigers ($900,000) More 45. He issued more strikeouts and lowered his WHIP, all while racking up more innings and advancing two levels without showing many growing pains in the process. Mead is a career .306/.376/.517 hitter in the minors and hit .298/.390/.532 throughout a 2022 season spent mostly at Double-A Montgomery, with about a month of reps at Triple-A Durham tagged on at the end. Hes also learning how to call a game and has a good makeup. Graceffos velocity has exploded since he left the Main Line, and hes now nearing the big leagues as a contenders fourth starter. Hes a good enough defender that hed probably being playing shortstop had he ended up at Arizona State, but in pro ball the keystone is Johnsons likeliest defensive home given his maxed-out, stocky build and what projects to be somewhat limited range. Vargas doesnt have the sort of projectable, statuesque frame typical of a hitter in his early 20s, and despite the relevant changes to his swing, he still isnt an especially electric athlete and the cement appears quite dry on his physique, so theres not much reason to project on his raw power going forward. -- $400,000Andres Valor, OF, Ven. His footwork on throws to second is clunky and variable, which often impacts his throw times and accuracy, but the pure arm strength is in there. But from June through mid-August, his two-strike fastball usage diminished to just 40%, with his curveball right behind it at 34%. The Diamondbacks selected Pfaadt with their final pick in 2020s abbreviated draft. Once I have a fairly complete picture of the players set to garner meaningful bonuses, I start to make more scouting and evaluation-centric calls and inquiries to augment the initial, bonus-based list. -- $600,000Hector Liriano, OF, D.R. The beginning of Major League Baseball's 2020-21 international signing period was pushed back from July 2 to Jan. 15 following the ramifications of the coronavirus pandemic. Below is Baseball America's international prospect bonus board, sorting the players in the 2021-22 signing class based on the top 50 expected bonuses. *** . : Brewers ($1,500,000) More 23. Ortiz is a plus defender anywhere on the infield dirt. Mayo makes frequent, hard, pull-heavy contact despite his sometimes ugly-looking cut, which features a strange, choppy stride. All Win Expectancy, Leverage Index, Run Expectancy, and Fans Scouting Report data licenced from TangoTiger.com. Its possible he was gassed from playing a career-high 132 games during the regular season, and these issues are uncharacteristic of Rocchio. After a blazing-hot end to the 2021 minor league season and a dominant Fall League performance, White rode a lot of hype into last season. Hes a compact-framed, contact-oriented middle infielder from a smaller conference, but Neto gets the most out of his body by taking very athletic, high-octane swings. Well, Volpes swing starts with what is best described as a heel tap of his rear leg, as he loads all his weight onto his back side before he strides forward and swings with verve and ferocity. He was back in 2022 long enough to make his major league debut, but re-tore his ACL in late May and will be out until later this summer. A career .269/.374/.485 hitter in the minors, there are still some analysts who are skeptical Casas will make enough contact to profile comfortably as an above-average regular at first base. This is the time when we start to look at not only the MLB draft in June but the International Signing period shortly after. He walked at hefty 15% clip in June, three times as much as he had to that point in the season, and his strikeout rate barely moved even though he was running deeper counts. He finished that season with a 10-game A-ball stint, where he struck out in 16 of his 42 plate appearances. Tall, well-built, and athletic, Pfaadt has plenty of starter traits. He doesnt have a huge frame, but his lack of room for mass arguably makes it more likely that he stays at short since hes unlikely to outgrow it. Bleis signed for $1.5 million out of the Dominican Republic in January of 2021, and after a solid showing in the DSL that year, he created huge buzz on the complex in Fort Myers throughout 2022 because of his bat speed and power. At the plate, he exhibits above-average bat-to-ball skills and strike zone awareness. There's good opposite-field power from the left side, and the overall package that could develop into a plus-plus hitter. The international signing period runs through Dec. 15, 2023. A very skilled hitter with a career .313/.390/.488 line in the minors, Vargas made his big league debut in 2022 and is poised to play a more prominent role for the Dodgers this season after their many free agent departures, though probably not at third base. Berry has no position but raked in college, including after he left hitter-friendly Tucson and faced SEC arms. His numbers backed up in 2022, but thats typical of pitchers who go to work in Reno. : Astros+ ($2,250,000) More 18. Lee played short at Poly, but based on his size (Brad Miller is a fair body comp), straight line speed (hes heavy-footed from home to first, in the 4.5s) and his medical, clubs tend to have him projected to third base. Hassell went to the Fall League, where he broke his right hamate; he had surgery and was shut down. At age 14, thin as a rail, he was already hitting balls out of big league spring training stadiums during workouts. He projects as a contact-oriented everyday shortstop, though one scouting director we spoke with for this list still wants to see what hed look like on the mound.
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