Official MiLB/Prospects Thread

[Spanky__99]

51

Michael Busch 2022

Michael Busch

Dodgers2B

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52

Ryan Pepiot 2022

Ryan Pepiot

DodgersRHP

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53

Gavin Stone 2022

Gavin Stone

DodgersRHP

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54

Termarr Johnson

Termarr Johnson

Pirates2B

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55

Ricky Tiedemann 2022

Ricky Tiedemann

Blue JaysLHP

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56

Mason Miller

Mason Miller

AthleticsRHP

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57

Oswald Peraza 2022

Oswald Peraza

YankeesSS

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58

Jasson Dominguez

Jasson Dominguez

YankeesOF

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59

Dylan Lesko 100

Dylan Lesko

PadresRHP

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60

Dalton Rushing

Dalton Rushing

DodgersC

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61

Noelvi Marte 2022

Noelvi Marte

Reds3B

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62

Emmanuel Rodriguez

Emmanuel Rodriguez

TwinsOF

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63

Marco Luciano 2022

Marco Luciano

GiantsSS

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64

Ronny Mauricio

Ronny Mauricio

MetsSS

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65

Emmet Sheehan

Emmet Sheehan

DodgersRHP

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66

Jeferson Quero

Jeferson Quero

BrewersC

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67

Cade Horton

Cade Horton

CubsRHP

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68

Ben Brown

Ben Brown

CubsRHP

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69

Nick Frasso

Nick Frasso

DodgersRHP

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70

Robby Snelling

Robby Snelling

PadresLHP

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71

Bo Naylor 2022

Bo Naylor

GuardiansC

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72

Parada Head Shot

Kevin Parada

MetsC

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73

Cam Collier

Cam Collier

Reds3B

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74

Cole Young 100

Cole Young

MarinersSS

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75

Joey Ortiz

Joey Ortiz

OriolesSS/2B

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76

Max Meyer 2022

Max Meyer

MarlinsRHP

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77

Andrew Abbott

Andrew Abbott

RedsLHP

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78

Gabriel Gonzalez

Gabriel Gonzalez

MarinersOF

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79

Luis Matos

Luis Matos

GiantsOF

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80

DL Hall 2022

D.L. Hall

OriolesLHP

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81

Samuel Basallo

Samuel Basallo

OriolesC

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82

Daniel Espino 2022

Daniel Espino

GuardiansRHP

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83

Yainer Diaz

Yainer Diaz

AstrosC

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84

Kjerstad

Heston Kjerstad

OriolesOF

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85

Bryan Woo

Bryan Woo

MarinersRHP

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86

Owen White 2022

Owen White

RangersRHP

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87

Edouard Julien

Edouard Julien

Twins2B

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88

Bleis 100

Miguel Bleis

Red SoxOF

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89

Edgar Quero

Edgar Quero

AngelsC

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90

Luis Ortiz

Luis Ortiz

PiratesRHP

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91

Jared Jones

Jared Jones

PiratesRHP

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92

George Valera 2022

George Valera

GuardiansOF

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93

Austin Wells

Austin Wells

YankeesC

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94

Drew Gilbert

Drew Gilbert

AstrosOF

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95

Casey Schmitt

Casey Schmitt

Giants3B

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96

Nick Yorke

Nick Yorke

Red Sox2B

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97

Jacob Misiorowski

Jacob Misiorowski

BrewersRHP

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98

Christian Encarnacion Strand

Christian Encarnacion-Strand

Reds3B/1B

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99

Robert Hassell 2022

Robert Hassell

NationalsOF

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100

Luisangel Acuna 1

Luisangel Acuna

RangersSS

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[Spanky__99]

2023 Top 100 Prospects: Notable Risers And Fallers In June Update

 

 

By BA Staff on June 7, 2023

 

With the arrival of our second significant in-season Top 100 Prospects update, we wanted to also post explanations for why prospects moved up or down significantly and why prospects moved off the list.

 

Below you can find significant risers, fallers and prospects who dropped off the Top 100 Prospects list, with explanations for each prospect.

 

Risers

Jeferson Quero, C, Brewers (Moved from No. 98 to No. 66)

 

Any conversation about the best defensive catcher in the minors has to include Quero. He has a plus arm and a swift exchange to cut his pop times under 1.9 seconds on his best throws, with hands and blocking skills that are advanced for his age. The defensive component of Quero’s game isn’t new, but he has taken another step forward offensively and done it while young for his level as a 20-year-old in Double-A. Quero is showing more power this year, driving the ball in the air with more frequency and with more impact. The big red flag for Quero remains his plate discipline, as he’s still an aggressive hitter who will expand the zone too often, but the damage he’s doing upon contact is a good sign for a young catcher.

 

Colt Keith, 2B/3B, Tigers (Moved from No. 93 to No. 31)

 

Keith’s 2022 breakout season was derailed by a shoulder injury, but every offseason gives Keith a chance to get even better than he was the previous season. He’s showing a very advanced bat for Double-A Erie while playing both second and third base. He’s the Tigers’ most promising and polished minor league hitter, and isn’t all that far away from being ready to help in Detroit.

 

Matt McLain, SS, Reds (Moved from No. 95 to No. 48)

 

McLain’s taken a step forward in 2023, which is great news for a Reds team that all of a sudden has a very young, very exciting lineup filled with up-the-middle players. McLain’s ability to play shortstop and second base, paired with Elly De La Cruz’s ability to handle shortstop and third base and Spencer Steer’s and Jonathan India’s versatility, gives the Reds a whole lot of options for the next few years.

 

Noelvi Marte, SS/3B, Reds (Moved from No. 78 to No. 61)

 

Marte is a somewhat divisive prospect, as it’s easy to find evaluators who like him a lot and others who are much more skeptical. It’s reasonable to split the difference, as he’s got enough power and a solid batting eye to be a useful regular at third base. The 21-year-old could end up as the team’s top prospect before long, as the Reds other Top 100 Prospects are either in Cincinnati or in Triple-A Louisville waiting for a callup.

 

Tanner Bibee, RHP, Guardians (Moved from No. 24 to No. 13)

 

Bibee is the latest example of Cleveland’s uncanny ability to coax better stuff and more velocity out of polished college strike-throwers. The righthander raised his velocity immensely after getting into the Guardians’ system and the rest of his arsenal was amplified as well. He carried his gains into the big leagues, where he’s settled in as a mainstay in his team’s talented rotation.

 

Henry Davis, C, Pirates (Moved from No. 60 to No. 36)

 

The biggest thing for Davis this season has been staying on the field. A propensity for standing too close to the plate resulted in an inordinate amount of pitches plunking him in 2022, which led to stints on the IL. He showed off in the Arizona Fall League after the season, then raked to start the year at Double-A Altoona before earning a bump to Triple-A.

 

Brayan Rocchio, SS, Guardians (Moved from No. 67 to No. 38)

 

Rocchio has earned a couple of cameos in Cleveland this season, but it might not be much longer before he’s up there for good. Scouts have raved about Rocchio’s performance on both sides of the ball at Triple-A Columbus. His all-around game should provide both offensive and defensive gifts and could lead to an all-star future.

 

Logan Allen, LHP, Guardians (Moved from No. 66 to No. 41)

 

As noted with Bibee, Allen has come through the Cleveland pitching factory and emerged as a piece of the team’s rotation. He doesn’t have knockout stuff, but he’s got more than enough to settle in as a solid piece at the back end of a rotation.

 

Ronny Mauricio, SS, Mets (Moved from No. 92 to No. 64)

 

Greater maturity in his swing decisions and his overall outlook have vaulted the switch-hitting Mauricio, still just 22, into a dominant season at Triple-A Syracuse and to the cusp of an MLB callup. He has gotten to more power this season while adding second base to his defensive portfolio.

 

Dalton Rushing, C, Dodgers (Moved from No. 74 to No. 60)

 

Rushing already looks like yet another in a long line of Dodgers draft steals. He went 40th overall last year, but if the draft was redone now, he'd be an easy top-15 pick.

 

Ben Brown, RHP, Cubs (Moved from No. 99 to No. 68)

 

Brown is a useful reminder to be patient when you draft a high school pitcher. A 2017 draftee, he broke out last year in his sixth pro season, was swapped to the Cubs in the David Robertson trade and now looks nearly ready to help in Chicago.

 

Cade Horton, RHP, Cubs (Moved from No. 88 to No. 67)

 

For years, the Cubs struggled with pitching development, but now the system has a number of potentially high-impact starting pitching prospects rising through the ranks. Horton is one of the keys to that pitching resurgence, and he's carried last June's breakout performance in the NCAA College World Series into his first full pro season.

 

Colton Cowser, OF, Orioles (Moved from No. 30 to No. 16)

 

Had it not been for a poorly timed injury we might have seen Cowser patrolling center field for the Orioles already. The 2021 first-round pick has more than held his own in Triple-A this spring, hitting for power, contact and approach while playing a strong center field. Cowser looks like an impact regular with a variety of ways to impact the game. He might be the next star to make his way to Camden Yards this summer.

 

Jordan Westburg, SS, Orioles (Moved from No. 63 to No. 46)

 

The 2020 supplemental first-round pick has done everything within his power to push his way to the major leagues in 2023. Westburg has hit for more power, struck out less and maintained his on-base skills while seeing time at three different outfield positions. While Joey Ortiz received the first callup to the major leagues, much of that was due to roster and 40-man mechanics. Look for Westburg to be with the Orioles sometime this summer as his upside on both sides of the ball and defensive versatility could pay dividends.

 

AJ Smith-Shawver, RHP, Braves (Moved from No. 97 to No. 49)

 

Smith-Shawver has been on a rocket ship to the major leagues this season. After beginning 2023 in High-A Rome, the righthander ascended three levels of the minors and into the rotation picture for the Braves. Atlanta is an organization that’s known for its aggressive handling of prospects and Smith-Shawver is the latest in a line of young stars to make his way to the major leagues for the Braves. Armed with two potential plus-plus offerings in his high-ride mid-90s four-seam fastball and slider, Smith-Shawver is equipped with the stuff to succeed at the highest level.

 

Adael Amador, SS, Rockies (Moved from No. 64 to No. 50)

 

The bat-to-ball skills, approach and baseball acumen were unquestioned entering 2023, but how much impact Amador would hit for remained a question. Over the first two months of 2023 not only is Amador flashing extra-base power, but his underlying exit velocity data is now creeping into average range for a major league hitter. One of the most talented young hitters in the minor leagues, Amador is difficult to strike out, takes his walks and can do damage on mistakes left over the plate. He's one of the most advanced hitters in the lower minors.

 

Ethan Salas, C, Padres (Moved from No. 77 to No. 40)

 

Salas is one of the most precocious young players in the minor leagues. He skipped the DSL and the ACL and made his official affiliated debut in Low-A two days before turning 17. The No. 1 prospect in the most recent international period, Salas has an unfathomably rich blend of tools and skills, all tied together by savvy sometimes unseen in players 10 years his senior.

 

Bryce Miller, RHP, Mariners (Moved from No. 73 to No. 44)

 

Like Eury Perez, Miller started his season in Double-A and then went straight to the big leagues without a turn in Triple-A. The righthander bulldozed the competition in his first few turns in the big leagues before running into trouble in his latter starts. Nevertheless, he looks to be another piece in Seattle's line of talented arms.

 

Emmet Sheehan, RHP, Dodgers (Moved from No. 100 to No. 65)

 

The rotation at the Dodgers' Double-A affiliate in Tulsa is one of the most talented in the sport, and Sheehan is its ace. The Boston College alum has sharpened his arsenal—particularly his slider—this year and now has improved his chance of staying a starter in the long term. His three-pitch mix and funky delivery could land him on Los Angeles' staff toward season's end.

 

Fallers

Curtis Mead, 3B, Rays (Moved from No. 23 to No. 37)

 

Mead’s biggest problem this year has been staying healthy, but even when he was on the field he seemed out of sorts at the plate. The underlying fundamentals are still really promising with Mead, but as a bat-first infielder with questions about his defense and now a wrist injury to recover from, Mead takes a slight tumble.

 

Emmanuel Rodriguez, OF, Twins (Moved from No. 37 to No. 62)

 

Rodriguez was exceptional in the Low-A Florida State League last spring, but a knee injury forced him to miss the final four months of the season. Sent to the High-A Midwest League, Rodriguez continues to be one of the pickiest hitters in baseball. He never swings at pitches out of the zone, but more advanced pitchers are getting him to swing and miss in the zone.

 

Mason Miller, RHP, Athletics (Moved from No. 45 to No. 56)

 

Miller’s MLB debut was excellent, but after his fourth MLB start, he was shut down with an ulnar collateral ligament strain. A strain indicates a likely partial tear, but the hope is that rest and rehabilitation will allow Miller to return to action without surgery.

 

Cam Collier, 3B, Reds (Moved from No. 58 to No. 73)

 

Collier’s slow start in the Florida State League isn’t that troubling yet. The FSL is a tough place to hit after all, but scouts have more and more questions about whether he can remain at third base long term. If he’s moving down the spectrum, he’s going to have to show more consistent pop than he’s shown in his first couple of months in pro ball.

 

Termarr Johnson, 2B, Pirates (Moved from No. 40 to No. 54)

 

After a tough first month of the season, Johnson has been perfectly respectable the rest of the way. He also dealt with a right hamstring injury that cost him plenty of reps during spring training. He’s striking out more than you would like—his rate was roughly 35% as of June 6—and he was also running an extremely high BABIP of .446, so he’s not making enough contact, but he’s also finding a ton of success when he does put the ball in play.

 

Marco Luciano, SS, Giants (Moved from No. 31 to No. 63)

 

Luciano has been lapped by lefthander Kyle Harrison for the top spot among San Francisco’s prospects, though he still has a chance at a very high ceiling. The 21-year-old Luciano’s issues have largely stemmed from a ton of time missed over the last two seasons from a recurring back issue. He started strong in a return to High-A Eugene but has since struggled in his first official test at the upper levels.

 

Bo Naylor, C, Guardians (Moved from No. 56 to No. 71)

 

Naylor hasn’t fallen as much as others in the system have risen. He had issues with his throwing arm early, though they stemmed less from poor arm strength than mechanics that left him in positions that were not ideal. He’s done a better job using the middle of the field and should settle in as a catcher who can provide some value with the bat as well.

 

Owen White, RHP, Rangers (Moved from No. 51 to No. 86)

 

When he’s right, White shows nasty stuff. He’s been a bit inconsistent this season, however, and his stuff has fluctuated from outing to outing and sometimes from inning to inning. His fastball is down a touch this year, too, and the crispness of his offspeeds has come and gone as well. If he can more consistently access his best stuff, he has the chance to scoot right back up the list.

 

Luis Ortiz, RHP, Pirates (Moved from No. 61 to No. 90)

 

Ortiz has always had excellent stuff but there were questions about whether he’d throw enough strikes to settle in as a starter. So far, he’s not throwing enough strikes in the big leagues to give the appearance of a pitcher who can stick in a big league rotation. Ortiz has also struggled with command. Put simply: He doesn’t throw enough strikes, and when he does find the strike zone he also often finds hitters’ barrels.

 

George Valera, OF, Guardians (Moved from No. 59 to No. 92)

 

Valera’s big issue is health. He missed a chunk of time early in the season with a wrist injury, then suffered a hamstring issue after returning. He’s currently playing rehab games in Arizona. He’s still young and has plenty of time, but he needs the developmental reps he’s missed while on the injured list.

 

Kevin Parada, C, Mets (Moved from No. 41 to No. 72)

 

The 2022 first-rounder out of Georgia Tech has not lit the world on fire in his full-season debut, but he has produced offensively at an above-average rate. Greater focus falls on his work behind the plate, where he needs to get more of his body into throws and improve his framing of high pitches.

 

Ricky Tiedemann, LHP, Blue Jays (Moved from No. 20 to No. 55)

 

There’s little to question about Tiedemann’s talent or production thus far in his professional career, as few lefthanders have better stuff than Tiedemann. However, his health has become a major question mark. Tiedemann dealt with a shoulder injury coming out of spring training and was shut down with a biceps injury in May. All of these injuries are ominous, particularly when Tiedemann has only exceeded the 60-pitch mark once since July 8 of last season.

 

Grayson Rodriguez, RHP, Orioles (Moved from No. 4 to No. 17)

 

The hard truth is Rodriguez hasn’t been the same pitcher the last two seasons after rising to the top of prospect rankings during a fantastic 2021 season. Evaluators have questions around the quality of his breaking balls and whether or not he has true front-of-the-rotation upside. It was a difficult major league debut for Rodriguez, who struggled with hard contact and at times command. All is not lost and there’s still real rotation projection here long term. That said, it’s hard not to question his place among the game's best pitching prospects, many of whom have experienced success in the major leagues.

 

D.L. Hall, LHP, Orioles (Moved from No. 62 to No. 80)

 

The question of whether or not Hall remains a starter is yet to be answered. With each passing season it seems more and more likely that Hall ends up in the bullpen long term. There are few pitchers on the planet with Hall’s quality of stuff, but his ability to harness it over five to six innings looks like it may never materialize. With multiple plus offerings, Hall could be a valuable multi-inning reliever as soon as this summer for the Orioles, but for now will remain in the rotation looking to turn a corner with his command.

 

Robert Hassell (Moved from No. 50 to No. 99)

 

The question with Hassell remains the same: “where’s the impact?” While Hassell has shown the ability to get on base, there are real questions around his ability to hit for any impact. After starting the season on the injured list, he’s worked his way back to Double-A but has yet to hit a home run over his first 28 games and is running the highest strikeout rate of his career this year. He's a solid player, but one has to question his star upside with the lack of impact hitting he’s shown.

 

Brewers

Young Brewers Catcher Jeferson Quero Stands Out In Big League Camp

The 20-year-old catcher could be poised for a breakout year after impressing members of the organization in spring camp.

 

Dropped Out

Elijah Green, OF, Nationals (Previous Rank: 80)

 

Scouts absolutely rave about Green's athleticism and power potential. But pre-draft concerns about his ability to make consistent contact have come to fruition so far. Green's 41% strikeout rate is simply unsustainable and will have to improve for him to reach his lofty ceiling.

 

Edwin Arroyo, SS (Previous Rank: 54)

 

It's not hard to find evaluators who still believe in Arroyo's ability to be a well-rounded shortstop. But his ability to hit for average and get on base has largely disappeared since he was traded to the Reds at last year's deadline. After hitting 13 home runs with a .316 average in 87 games at Low-A Modesto, Arroyo has five home runs and a .226 average in 70 games as a Reds prospect.

 

Everson Pereira, OF, Yankees (Previous Rank: 79)

 

Pereira will tease with his potential, at times showing an excellent combination of power and speed with standout defense in center field. He shows a bit too much swing and miss at times, however, and has had serious trouble staying on the field. His first season of more than 100 games was in 2022, and even then he missed time at the end of the season as well as in the Eastern League playoffs with undisclosed injuries.

 

Alex Ramirez, OF, Mets (Previous Rank: 75)

 

Ramirez does a little bit of everything but has not truly excelled in any area in his time at High-A Brooklyn. At age 20, the center fielder has plenty of time to hit his way back onto the Top 100. Consistent effort has been an issue at times.

 

Ceddanne Rafaela, 2B/OF, Red Sox (Previous Rank: 70)

 

After a breakout season in 2022, Rafaela has struggled to replicate the same numbers this spring. While his defensive chops are unquestioned, his aggressive nature and fringe in-game power have led to questions around how much impact Rafaela has at the plate. A strong defender with baserunning acumen and bat-to-ball skills, Rafaela is a good prospect but the upside might be limited.

 

Gavin Cross, OF, Royals (Previous Rank: 85)

 

While the Midwest League is cold early in the season, top-10 draft picks aren’t supposed to struggle like this. Cross has begun to show his power stroke the last several weeks but the lack of approach is concerning, as Cross is chasing at an elevated rate. All is not lost for the Royals outfielder but improvements to his swing decisions will be imperative if he’s to be added back into the Top 100.

 

Connor Norby, 2B, Orioles (Previous Rank: 76)

 

The power gains Norby seemed to make in the second half of 2022 have all but disappeared in 2023 in Triple-A. So far this season Norby has produced a league average line at Triple-A, showing less impact and fringe swing decisions. With limited power projection and below-average on-base skills Norby looks like a hit tool-driven second base profile with limited upside.

 

Kevin Alcantara, OF, Cubs (Previous Rank: 72)

 

Alcantara has always been a tooled-up player, but his future has always come with plenty of risk as well. He struggled early in the Midwest League—not uncommon in that kind of weather—and had yet to hit for much in the way of either average or power. Issues with complex swing mechanics and overall swing decisions might be leading to those issues and have led to questions among scouts dating back to his Yankees days.

[Stangstag]

Me drafting Edwin Arroyo and Gavin Cross with my highest picks in my first fantasy draft 😩

[Spanky__99]

Me drafting Edwin Arroyo and Gavin Cross with my highest picks in my first fantasy draft ��

 

Plenty of time, ranked 112 and 120 respectively.

[Laika]

Plenty of time, ranked 112 and 120 respectively.

 

Nah they suck

[Spanky__99]

Nah they suck

 

U suxxxxxxxxx

[Brownie19]

Frasso at 69 - just f***ing the Jays. Que the outrage! Fire Atkins.

 

How does O'Hoppe stay on this list? He finished up 2022 in the bigs and has been in the majors all year.

[Orgfiller]

Frasso at 69 - just f***ing the Jays. Que the outrage! Fire Atkins.

 

How does O'Hoppe stay on this list? He finished up 2022 in the bigs and has been in the majors all year.

 

He only has 75 PAs. Some prospect publications will use PA/IP thresholds to determine when a guy has graduated, others will use MLB's own active roster time (like O'Hoppe will have) for rookie eligibility to determine this.

[John Balkabella]

Addison Barger listed as DH for today’s FCL game.

[bones10]

Schultz first game in triple A right? line looked pretty good.

[Ray]

Some good stories in our farm lately. Not superstars per se, but there are guys who have the chance to be regular contributors to the big league team soon-ish. Some particularly interesting names at the higher levels:

 

Chad Dallas (RHP, 22 years old, A+/AA): 6IP, 2H, 1ER, 1BB, 5K today, dropping his season ERA to 2.20. Honestly may be the best pitching story in the system this year, even including Tiedemmen (just by virtue of him being injured really). His main issue has been limiting walks this year (also getting a little lucky suppressing home runs), but the stuff is fantastic. A fast-moving college arm is exactly what this system needs.

 

Damiano Palmegiani (3B/1B, 23 years old, AA): 3-for-5 today, .292/.400/.482 slashline, 20.5% K-rate, 13.5% BB-rate. Athletic build, short compact swing, plus great raw exit velo numbers. I think the most encouraging part about him is how incredibly well he's adjusted to pro-ball despite coming from a Canadian baseball program, and going to Jr. College. The growth trajectory has been incredible. Could be in AAA very soon if he keeps this up.

 

Paxton Schultz (RHP, 25 years old, AA/AAA): 5IP, 3H, 1ER, 2BB, 6K in his AAA debut after doing pretty well in AA. Sharp uptick in K-rate this year, albeit the WHIP is high due to the walks. Sits 94-95 mph with his fastball, great changeup. Was okay at AA last year, but seems to have taken step forward this year.

[BlueBaller]

Just noticed Van Eyk is back on the DL.

[John_Havok]

Just noticed Van Eyk is back on the DL.

 

Yeah, bugger got two rehab starts May 7 and 13 then shut down again. s*****

[Stangstag]

Just noticed Van Eyk is back on the DL.

 

Is it safe to drop him now in BORED

[L54]

Is it safe to drop him now in BORED

 

Yes i dropped him in a different league long ago

[L54]

Who cares if Frasso is a top 100 guy now. We needed Mitch White and it was a good trade at the time. He is a league average pitcher

[THANOS]

Who cares if Frasso is a top 100 guy now. We needed Mitch White and it was a good trade at the time. He is a league average pitcher

 

It's ok to admit Atkins made a mistake, he's only human.

[Ray]

It's ok to admit Atkins made a mistake, he's only human.

 

Even the best front offices aren't perfect. They are consistently making decisions that are based on incomplete/bad info, where they are in their competitive window, appetite for risk etc. As a result, some trades looks really bad in hindsight even if at the time they were considered sensible:

 

The team we traded Nick Frasso to traded away Yordan Alvarez and O'Neil Cruz for relievers.

The Rays traded away Jake Cronenworth and the 11.1 WAR he's provided in his career for a slapdick prospect (who they ended up trading later) and 1 year of not good Hunter Renfroe.

 

Nick Frasso was a 23-year-old in High-A coming off TJ, and we traded him for Mitch White, who was putting up solid numbers as a depth starter (which we desperately needed last season). He sucked, then got injured, but still has 4 more years of control after this so there's still more to the story. Frasso probably fulfilled his 10th percentile outcome by rocketing up the lists, but it's not he doesn't have major red flags as well. I would be shocked if he's a major league starter. He's averaging less than 4 innings a start this year.

[Terminator]

Even the best front offices aren't perfect. They are consistently making decisions that are based on incomplete/bad info, where they are in their competitive window, appetite for risk etc. As a result, some trades looks really bad in hindsight even if at the time they were considered sensible:

 

The team we traded Nick Frasso to traded away Yordan Alvarez and O'Neil Cruz for relievers.

The Rays traded away Jake Cronenworth and the 11.1 WAR he's provided in his career for a slapdick prospect (who they ended up trading later) and 1 year of not good Hunter Renfroe.

 

Nick Frasso was a 23-year-old in High-A coming off TJ, and we traded him for Mitch White, who was putting up solid numbers as a depth starter (which we desperately needed last season). He sucked, then got injured, but still has 4 more years of control after this so there's still more to the story. Frasso probably fulfilled his 10th percentile outcome by rocketing up the lists, but it's not he doesn't have major red flags as well. I would be shocked if he's a major league starter. He's averaging less than 4 innings a start this year.

 

Yeah we also acquired a 40FV prospect to Frasso's 40+ grade.

 

The trade has gone completely tits up at this point but even now we've got a long ways to go before we really regret it.

 

Yeah Frasso is pitching very well but 3.5 innings per start of 2.88 xFIP ball in AA for a 24 year old isn't quite as impressive as it seems. For comparison's sake Kloff isn't doing much worse (3.41 xFIP) and he's 22 years old and is averaging over 5 innings per start. But no one gives a crap about him.

[L54]

It's ok to admit Atkins made a mistake, he's only human.

 

Sarcasm brah

[BlueBaller]

Van Eyk pitching in Dunedin tonight.

[The Cats Ass]

It's ok to admit Atkins made a mistake, he's only human.

 

We won’t know if it’s a mistake for another 5-ish years.

[RustyTrombone]

Orelvis 2-5 last night with a double. Now batting .311/.421/.756 since May 10 with a 14% BB rate and 18.7% K rate. If these K rates are his new norm he is a borderline top 20-30 prospect in baseball.

[Pendleton]

Orelvis 2-5 last night with a double. Now batting .311/.421/.756 since May 10 with a 14% BB rate and 18.7% K rate. If these K rates are his new norm he is a borderline top 20-30 prospect in baseball.

 

Perhaps he'll always be a streaky type who will swing and miss a lot when he's cold, but also get on heaters where he makes a ton of loud contact.

[Pendleton]

Positive outing last night for CJ Van Eyk, who is on a rehab assignment down in Dunedin. Three spotless innings with three Ks.

[RustyTrombone]

Perhaps he'll always be a streaky type who will swing and miss a lot when he's cold, but also get on heaters where he makes a ton of loud contact.

 

IDK....this feels like a legit improvement he has made to his game. Would have to go back and check his game logs back a couple years to see if he had any stretch like this where his K and BB rates were actually good.

[Laika]

Wow. 114 wRC+ for Orelvis.

[Spanky__99]

Blue Jays new updated top 30 from Baseball America...

 

21. Hagen Danner | RHP

Hagen Danner

Born: Sep 30, 1998

Bats: R Throws: R

Ht.: 6'2" Wt.: 210

Signed By: Joey Aversa

Minors: 1-2 | 5.28 ERA | 28 SO | 7 BB | 16 IP

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BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

 

Track Record: Danner was drafted as a two-way player and toiled for the better part of three seasons as a catcher before committing to pitching full time prior to the 2020 pandemic. He returned in 2021 and flashed loud power reliever stuff in 25 appearances for High-A Vancouver and earned an addition to the 40-man roster. Danner spent much of 2022 injured and made just four appearances for New Hampshire. He returned in the Arizona Fall League, where he pitched in eight appearances with Salt River and flashed his signature stuff. Despite his injury-riddled season, the Blue Jays have kept Danner on the 40-man roster.

 

Scouting Report: In Fall League play Danner sat 96-98 mph on his four-seam fastball and touched 99 at peak with ride and cut. His fastball has the ability to overpower hitters no matter where it lands in the zone, with exploding life as it nears the plate. His primary secondary is a high-80s slider with cutter-like shape and he'll flash a more traditional hammer breaking ball at 78-79 mph with depth and two-plane break. With a violent delivery and injury history, Danner is a high-risk relief prospect with immense, high-leverage relief upside. His strike throwing has been average in his small professional sample as a pitcher. If he can manage to stay healthy and show his command is average or better Danner's 2023 season might end among the Blue Jays relief corps.

 

The Future: A potential fire-breathing dragon at the backend of a bullpen, Danner's future depends heavily on his ability to stay healthy and throw strikes.

 

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 70. Curveball: 55. Slider: 50. Control: 45.

 

22. Damiano Palmegiani | OF

Damiano Palmegiani

Born: Jan 24, 2000

Bats: R Throws: R

Ht.: 6'1" Wt.: 195

Minors: .292/.400/.482 | 7 HR | 4 SB | 168 AB

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BA Grade/Risk: 40/High

 

Track Record: Palmegiani was born in Venezuela but grew up in Canada. The Blue Jays twice drafted Palmegiani, first in the 35th round of the 2018 draft out of high school and again in 2021 out of Southern Nevada JC. He debuted out of the draft in the Florida Complex League and hit .333/.458/.538 over 17 games. He was assigned to Low-A Dunedin to start 2022 and hit .256/.351/.508 in the power-starved Florida State League. He was promoted to High-A Vancouver, where he hit .224/.335/.443 with 13 home runs over 62 games with his hometown Canadians. Palmegiani grew up a Blue Jays fan living in British Columbia.

 

Scouting Report: A bat-first prospect, Palmegiani provides a robust combination of plate skills similar to fellow Blue Jays prospect Spencer Horwitz. While his profile is slanted towards power, he's shown a unique ability to avoid strikeouts. He's an above-average contact hitter, with an above-average approach, who rarely expands the zone, and limits his swing and miss in-zone. While his raw power is just average his ability to backspin the ball allows his power to play a half grade above his raw power. Palmegiani can handle third base but his most likely defensive home is first base long term, as a limited defender overall and below-average runner.

 

The Future: A bat-first prospect with a good combination of contact, approach and power, Palmegiani may hit enough to carve out a role as platoon bat or offensive-driven, second-division regular at first base.

 

Scouting Grades: Hit: 55. Power: 55. Run: 40. Field: 40. Arm: 50.

 

23. Davis Schneider | 2B

Davis Schneider

Born: Jan 26, 1999

Bats: R Throws: R

Ht.: 5'10" Wt.: 190

Minors: .261/.380/.523 | 12 HR | 5 SB | 176 AB

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BA Grade/Risk: 40/High

 

June Update: It's been a slow burn for Schneider, who was a 2017 28th-round pick out of Eastern High in Voorhees, N.J. He broke out in 2022, climbing three levels and hitting .253/.366/.457 across 113 games. He returned to Triple-A to begin 2023 and has shown improved power both in his home run total and his exit velocity data. In 2022 Scheider showed a strong combination of approach, contact and average power. He's now showing above-average impact in games as his average exit velocity jumped from 88 mph in 2022 to 91 mph so far in 2023. This added impact makes Schneider an interesting hitter with above-average impact and plate skills. He's a versatile defender who's seen time at second, in the outfield corners and his natural position of third base.

 

Scouting Grades: Hitting: 55. Power: 55. Running: 50. Fielding: 45. Arm: 45

 

24. Adam Kloffenstein | RHP

Adam Kloffenstein

Born: Aug 25, 2000

Bats: R Throws: R

Ht.: 6'5" Wt.: 245

Drafted/Signed: HS--Magnolia, Texas, 2018 (3rd round).

Signed By: Brian Johnston.

Minors: 4-2 | 3.12 ERA | 64 SO | 22 BB | 52 IP

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BA Grade/Risk: 40/High

 

June Update: It’s taken a few years for Kloffenstein to get his footing in professional ball. A 2018 third-round pick, the righthander endured through up-and-down periods over his three and a half seasons and never looked like much of a prospect. Left unprotected in the 2022 Rule 5 Draft, Kloffenstein was at a crossroads entering 2023. So far this spring Kloffenstein has been impressive. As of June 8 he’s tied for the Eastern League lead in strikeouts and ranks seventh in xFIP. Kloffenstein has a deep arsenal of pitches, throwing a sinker, slider, changeup, cutter, four-seam fastball and curveball. A majority of his usage is split between his slider and sinker, his two primary pitches. His sinker is a low-90s offering with heavy drop from a steeper approach angle that saw a 2 mph jump year over year. His slider is his most used pitch, a sweeper in the low-to-mid 80s that’s by far his best pitch from a command and feel standpoint. His cutter, changeup, curveball and four-seam fastball are all fringe to below-average offerings.

 

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 45. Slider: 55. Curveball: 40. Cutter: 45. Changeup: 40. Control: 45

 

25. Connor Cooke | RHP

Connor Cooke

Born: Nov 2, 1999

Bats: R Throws: R

Ht.: 6'1" Wt.: 203

Minors: 1-0 | 3.50 ERA | 36 SO | 7 BB | 18 IP

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BA Grade/Risk: 40/High

 

June Update: There's a set of relievers that fall into the category of having plus fastball shape and possessing feel for spin and Cooke is squarely within that group. Cooke was drafted in the 10th round of the 2021 draft out of Louisiana-Lafayette, and was converted to a relief role during his first full season. Out of the bullpen Cooke's stuff is electric, capable of going multiple innings with a four-seam fastball. The fastball sits at 94-96 mph and touches 97 mph at peak with ride and bore and an outlier vertical approach angle that makes it hard for hitters to barrel up. He pairs his fastball with a low-to-mid-80s slider with on average 17-18 inches of horizontal break and spin rates in the 2,900-3,000 rpm range. He'll show a changeup as well but feel for the offspeed lags behind his four-seam and breaking ball.

 

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Slider: 55. Changeup: 45. Control: 45

 

26. Adam Macko | LHP

Adam Macko

Born: Dec 30, 2000

Bats: L Throws: L

Ht.: 6'0" Wt.: 170

Drafted/Signed: HS--Vauxhall, Alberta, 2019 (7th round).

Signed By: Les McTavish/Alex Ross.

Minors: 1-4 | 5.97 ERA | 40 SO | 13 BB | 35 IP

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BA Grade/Risk: 45/Extreme

 

Track Record: Macko was born in Slovakia and was first introduced to baseball in first grade. He taught himself to pitch by watching YouTube videos of Justin Verlander and David Price and developed a unique talent for the game, which he honed after his family moved to Ireland and eventually Canada. Macko blossomed with formal baseball instruction and became Canada's top prospect in the 2019 draft, leading the Mariners to draft him in the seventh round and sign him for $250,000. He became a hot trade commodity in 2021 and got off to a solid start at High-A Everett in 2022, but made only eight starts before having season-ending meniscus surgery in his right knee.

 

Scouting Report: Macko's stuff was inconsistent in 2022 as he lowered his arm slot and dealt with injuries, but it's still plenty potent. His fastball ranges from 91-96 mph out of a low slot and release point from the left side that creates a tough angle for lefthanded hitters. His signature pitch is a plus curveball with tight spin and late drop in the low 70s, but at times it devolves into a sweepy, soft offering in the upper 60s. Macko also has an average horizontal slider in the mid-80s that gives lefties trouble and a fringy, low-80s changeup that is improving. Macko is a good athlete, but overthrows at times and nibbles at others, resulting in below-average control. His biggest concern is health. Macko has pitched only 95 innings in three seasons after missing most of 2021 with shoulder tenderness and most of 2022 with his knee injury.

 

The Future: Macko has the arsenal to start, but his control and health point to a likely relief future. His primary goal will be to stay healthy in 2023.

 

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 60. Slider: 50. Changeup: 45. Control: 40

 

27. Enmanuel Bonilla | OF

Enmanuel Bonilla

Born: Jan 22, 2006

Bats: R Throws: R

Ht.: 6'0" Wt.: 180

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BA Grade/Risk: 45/Extreme

 

Track Record: The Blue Jays have hit on international signings at the top of the market (Vladimir Guerrero Jr.) down to the lower-dollar signings like Alejandro Kirk and Gabriel Moreno. For Jan. 15, 2023, Bonilla received a bonus in the $4 million area.

 

Scouting Report: Bonilla has high-end bat speed and the ability to drive the ball with impact, giving him a chance to be a 25-plus home run threat. Scouts highest on Bonilla thought he had one of the best combinations of hitting ability and power in the class, with a sound swing path and a good approach. Others thought he was a good fastball hitter who would have to make adjustments to get better against breaking stuff with a power-over-hit offensive profile. Bonilla is an above-average runner with a strong arm, so he could start off in center field, though with his physicality it's likely he ends up in right field long term.

 

The Future: He should make his debut in the DSL in 2023. Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 55. Speed: 50. Field: 45. Arm: 55

 

28. Rafael Sanchez | RHP

Rafael Sanchez

Born: Aug 22, 1999

Bats: R Throws: R

Ht.: 6'0" Wt.: 215

Minors: 5-3 | 3.91 ERA | 58 SO | 10 BB | 53 IP

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BA Grade/Risk: 45/Extreme

 

June Update: The Blue Jays signed Sanchez out of Cuba in January of 2022 after he spent parts of four years in Cuba’s Serie Nacional. An older prospect who will turn 24 in August, Sanchez has so far beaten up on younger competition. While he primarily uses a fastball and slider, Sanchez throws a splitter with incredibly low spin rates that average below 1,000 rpm. His four-seam fastball sits 92-93 mph, touching 95 mph with average ride, his slider sits low-to-mid 80s with cut and his changeup shows classic splitter shape. He shows the ability to miss bats with his slider and splitter while using the four-seam to set up his strong pair of secondaries. Sanchez is likely an up-and-down depth starter but has the stuff to potentially make the jump to the bullpen.

 

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 45. Slider: 55. Splitter: 50. Control: 50

 

29. Ryan Jennings | RHP

Ryan Jennings

Born: Jun 23, 1999

Bats: R Throws: R

Ht.: 6'0" Wt.: 190

Minors: 2-3 | 4.36 ERA | 44 SO | 14 BB | 33 IP

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BA Grade/Risk: 40/High

 

June Update: The results haven’t quite matched the stuff with Jennings as of yet, as the righthander has a deep arsenal of average or better pitches. Primarily Jennings works off of his four-seam fastball and curveball, mixing in a slider as well. His four-seam fastball sits 93-95 mph, touching 97 mph with cut from a flat vertical approach angle in the 4.2-degree neighborhood. His curveball is a power breaking ball with downer shape in the low 80s. He’ll mix in a gyro slider in the mid-to-high 80s and a very rare changeup. Jennings is starting now but looks like a potential reliever long term.

 

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50. Curveball: 50. Slider: 45 Changeup: 40. Control: 45

 

30. Peyton Williams | 1B

Peyton Williams

Born: Sep 14, 2000

Bats: L Throws: L

Ht.: 6'0" Wt.: 255

Minors: .261/.353/.455 | 8 HR | 3 SB | 176 AB

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BA Grade/Risk: 40/High

 

June Update: Williams is a big-bodied slugger who showed off a strong combination of plate skills and power during his time at Iowa as a collegiate. After a tough start to the season Williams got hot at the end of April and hit .366/.444/.677 from April 28 until May 29 when he was promoted to High-A Vancouver. Williams has average contact and approach with plus raw power, exemplified by his 106.5 mph 90th percentile exit velocity this season. Williams isn’t dissimilar to the Red Sox's Niko Kavadas as an advanced college slugger who will have to prove he can avoid swing-and-miss as he moves up the ladder.

 

Scouting Grades: Hitting: 45. Power: 60. Running: 30. Fielding: 45. Throw: 45

[Spanky__99]

11. Sem Robberse | RHP

Sem Robberse

Born: Oct 12, 2001

Bats: R Throws: R

Ht.: 6'1" Wt.: 180

Drafted/Signed: Netherlands, 2019.

Signed By: Andrew Tinnish.

Minors: 0-4 | 4.72 ERA | 56 SO | 20 BB | 54 IP

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BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

 

Track Record: While baseball is a global game, few legitimate major league prospects have come from Europe. Robberse, who grew up in The Netherlands, is looking to make a name for himself as a true European major leaguer. After signing for $125,000 during the 2019 international signing period, Robberse blossomed into a legitimate starting pitching prospect. He spent a majority of his 2022 season at High-A Vancouver and made 17 starts for the Canadians before seeing a late-season promotion to Double-A New Hampshire.

 

Scouting Report: A slight righthander with a long arm action and true three-quarters slot, Robberse mixes three pitches predominantly in his fastball, slider and changeup combination. He sits 89-92 mph on a four-seam fastball that has natural cut and mixes in a low-to-mid-80s slider with moderate sweep. The two pitches account for over 75% of his pitch usage. He shows a mid-to-high-80s changeup to lefthanded hitters that generated high rates of whiffs and chase swings. Robberse lacks power but repeats his delivery well and shows the ability to tunnel both his slider and changeup off his fastball. Overall it's a strong pitch mix with improving feel and command.

 

The Future: Robberse has the look of a pitchability back-of-the-rotation starter. If Robberse can add strength, and subsequently velocity, he has a chance to crack a big-league rotation.

 

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 45. Slider: 50. Changeup: 55. Control: 50.

 

12. Dahian Santos | RHP

Dahian Santos

Born: Feb 26, 2003

Bats: R Throws: R

Ht.: 5'11" Wt.: 160

Signed By: Francisco Plasencia/Jose Contreras

Minors: 2-3 | 4.18 ERA | 35 SO | 19 BB | 33 IP

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BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme

 

Track Record: Santos signed with the Blue Jays for $150,000 during the 2019 international signing period. Since that time Santos has blossomed into one of the top young pitchers in the Blue Jays system. Santos made his professional debut in 2021 with the Blue Jays Florida Complex League squad and struck out 53 batters over 35.1 innings. He earned a late-season promotion to Low-A Dunedin where he returned to begin the 2022 campaign. With Dunedin in 2022, Santos made 19 appearances, including 14 starts, and pitched to a 4-5 record with a 3.44 ERA and 120 strikeouts--the second most in the Florida State League. He was promoted to High-A Vancouver where he made four starts for the Canadians.

 

Scouting Report: An athletic righthander who oozes projection from his slender frame, Santos employs a true tall-and-fall operation with long whippy arm action and slings the ball from a sidearm slot. This unique arm action and release allows all of Santos' pitches to play up, particularly his sweeping slider. Santos mixes three pitches including a low-90s side-spinning four-seam fastball, a low-80s slider with over a foot of horizontal break and a mid-80s changeup he shows an innate ability to kill lift and spin on. It's the makings of three average or better pitches with his 2,700-rpm sweeping slider the crown jewel of his arsenal--a future plus pitch. Santos' command has been below average and with a unique operation and arm action it's never likely to get to anything more than average.

 

The Future: A talented and projectable pitcher who could add strength and velocity in the coming years, Santos projects as a back-of-the-rotation starter with a reliever floor.

 

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50. Slider: 60. Changeup: 55. Control: 40.

 

13. Manuel Beltre | SS

Manuel Beltre

Born: Jun 9, 2004

Bats: R Throws: R

Ht.: 5'11" Wt.: 165

Drafted/Signed: Dominican Republic, 2021.

Signed By: Sandy Rosario/Lorenzo Perez.

Minors: .240/.345/.312 | 1 HR | 3 SB | 125 AB

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BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

 

Track Record: Beltre signed out of the Dominican Republic during the January 2021 signing period for $2.35 million as one of the top players available in that year's class. He debuted in the Dominican Summer League in 2021 a little more than a month after his 17th birthday. He made his stateside debut in 2022 with the Blue Jays Florida Complex League squad before he was promoted to Low-A Dunedin in the final week of the season.

 

Scouting Report: Beltre is an undersized righthanded-hitting shortstop with a big swing and natural twitch. He's still a work-in-progress at the plate. His big, righthanded swing does make a high rate of contact, particularly in-zone, despite a longer bat path and he shows average plate discipline by staying inside the zone with some loft in his swing. At present, Beltre's game power is well below average, but he's shown traits that should portend future power gains, like bat speed and lift in his swing. He's an average runner, but a high-energy player who never dogs it down the line. Defensively, Beltre is an above-average defender with an opportunity to stick at shortstop long term.

 

The Future: Overall, Beltre is a righthanded-hitting contact-driven profile with some potential for increased power with the actions and range to stick in the dirt long term.

 

Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 45. Run: 50. Field: 55. Arm: 50.

 

14. Spencer Horwitz | 1B/OF

Spencer Horwitz

Born: Nov 14, 1997

Bats: L Throws: R

Ht.: 6'0" Wt.: 190

Signed By: Coulson Barbiche

Minors: .309/.432/.415 | 2 HR | 3 SB | 188 AB

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BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium

 

Track Record: Signed out of Radford for $100,000 in the 24th round of the 2019 draft, all Horwitz has done is hit for the better part of two seasons coming off the pandemic. He hit .294/.400/.462 between High-A and Double-A in 2021 and followed that up with a strong Arizona Fall League performance where he hit.375/.460/.484 over 16 games. Assigned back to Double-A New Hampshire to begin 2022, Horwitz hit .297/.413/.517 over 70 games with the Fishercats before he was promoted to Triple-A in early July. Horwitz was added to the Blue Jays 40-man roster in November of 2022.

 

Scouting Report: A bat-first prospect with some of the most well-rounded plate skills in the Blue Jays system, Horwitz flashes a strong lefthanded swing that allows him to make hard contact at a high rate. His bat-to-ball skills are average but his plate discipline is elite, as he rarely expands the zone, and works deep into at-bats. While his swing isn't naturally geared for power, he's added loft over the last few seasons which has allowed him to get to more of his above-average raw power. Horwitz is a culmination of good hitter traits that allow his profile to work. He's a well below-average runner, and defensively is best used at first base. He's played some outfield corner but he's very limited in the role due to a lack of range.

 

The Future: If Horwitz continues to improve as a power hitter without sacrificing his approach, he has a chance to carve out a role as a 1B/DH on the strong side of a platoon.

 

Scouting Grades: Hit: 55. Power: 50. Run: 30. Field: 40. Arm: 50

 

15. Chad Dallas | RHP

Chad Dallas

Born: Jun 26, 2000

Bats: R Throws: R

Ht.: 5'11" Wt.: 206

Signed By: Nate Murrie

Minors: 4-0 | 2.20 ERA | 57 SO | 21 BB | 49 IP

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BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

 

June Update: A 2021 fourth-round pick out of Tennessee, Dallas has impressed in 2023 with improved stuff across his arsenal. Dallas mixes four pitches in his four-seam fastball, slider, curveball and changeup. His primary pitch is a sweepy low-to-mid-80s slider that he throws more than his fastball. His four-seam sits 92-94 mph and he saw his velocity tick up 1-2 mph this season. He will also throw a low-80s two-plane breaking curveball and a changeup.

 

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 45. Slider: 55. Curveball: 50. Changeup: 40. Command: 40

 

16. Cade Doughty | 2B/3B

Cade Doughty

Born: Mar 26, 2001

Bats: R Throws: R

Ht.: 6'1" Wt.: 205

Minors: .231/.317/.408 | 5 HR | 1 SB | 147 AB

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BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

 

Track Record: Doughty was one of the top prospects in the 2019 high school class but fell to the Tigers in the 39th round because of his strong commitment to Louisiana State. His father Richard and older brother Braden both played baseball at LSU, and Doughty joined the family legacy by spending three seasons as a starter in the middle of LSU's lineup. He hit .301 with 30 home runs, 124 RBIs and .921 OPS in a decorated college career and was drafted 78th overall in the second round by the Blue Jays in 2022, signing for slot value at $833,600. Doughty played primarily second base in college and split his time between second and third base in his pro debut.

 

Scouting Report: Doughty is an adept contact hitter who has progressively seen his power grow. He has above-average contact skills from the right side and gets the most out of his average raw power by aggressively attacking pitches throughout his at-bats. Those aggressive tendencies can get him in trouble. He's prone to expanding the strike zone, but his power production keeps increasing. He hit six homers in 26 games for Low-A Dunedin in his pro debut despite modest exit velocities and launch angle data. Doughty is a fringe-average defender at second base with an average arm. He's a fringy runner who isn't a threat to steal bases. Doughty's tools are all roughly average, but he is a savvy player with a high baseball IQ that helps everything play up. He takes advantage of defensive mishaps with smart baserunning and plays hard in all facets.

 

The Future: Doughty's contact skills and feel for the game give him a chance to play above his tools and become a solid, if unspectacular, everyday second baseman in the major leagues. He'll see High-A Vancouver during his first full season in 2023.

 

Scouting Grades: Hitting: 50. Power: 50. Run: 45. Field: 45. Arm: 50

 

17. Alan Roden | OF

Alan Roden

Born: Dec 22, 1999

Bats: L Throws: R

Ht.: 6'0" Wt.: 215

Minors: .293/.411/.451 | 3 HR | 5 SB | 164 AB

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BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

 

June Update: A four-year player at Creighton, Roden redshirted his freshman year and after the Covid season in 2020 was technically a freshman for three seasons as a collegiate player. He was viewed as one of the better older college hitters in last July's draft and has been impressive with High-A Vancouver to start the season. Roden possesses sneaky athleticism and advanced plate skills. Roden has plus bat-to-ball skills, above-average or better swing decisions and average impact. While Roden's swing isn't tailor-made for home run hitting he peppers line drives to his pull side. He's an average defender in an outfield corner and could find more impact with slight tweaks to his bat path. Roden is a sleeper in the Blue Jays system with the type of plate skills they've been successful in developing.

 

Scouting Grades: Hitting: 55. Power: 45. Running: 50. Fielding: 50. Arm: 55

 

18. Gabriel Martinez | OF

Gabriel Martinez

Born: Jul 24, 2002

Bats: R Throws: R

Ht.: 6'0" Wt.: 170

Minors: .235/.297/.355 | 4 HR | 0 SB | 166 AB

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BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

 

Track Record: Martinez signed out of Venezuela in 2018 and took a few years to marinate, but popped up during the summer of 2021 after hitting .330 in the Florida Complex League. He made his full season debut with Low-A Dunedin late in 2021 and returned to the level to begin 2022. There Martinez hit .288/.348/.483 with 11 home runs and a 17% strikeout rate across 65 games. He was promoted to High-A Vancouver in early August and finished the season hitting .324/.381/.490 over 28 games. Martinez was left off the 40-man roster this offseason and went unselected in the Rule 5 draft.

 

Scouting Report: A true bat-first prospect, Martinez combines two key elements that drive his success at the plate. He possesses above-average bat-to-ball skills and above-average power and is capable of hitting a variety of pitch shapes and locations throughout the zone. He's physically strong with loose hands and mighty wrists that allow him to hit well-struck drives all over the field. Where Martinez gets into trouble is when he begins to expand the zone, and at times he is overly aggressive in his plan of attack. Martinez's strong contact skills have kept his strikeouts in check, however. Martinez is limited to an outfield corner, but could end up at first base due to a lack of range.

 

The Future: Martinez will go as far as the bat will take him due to a lack of supporting tools. His tanteling hit and power combination could allow him to settle in as a hit-first regular in one of the outfield corners.

 

Scouting Grades: Hit: 55. Power: 55. Run: 40. Field: 40. Arm: 50.

 

19. Rainer Nunez | 1B

Rainer Nunez

Born: Dec 4, 2000

Bats: R Throws: R

Ht.: 6'3" Wt.: 180

Minors: .296/.370/.432 | 4 HR | 0 SB | 162 AB

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BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

 

Track Record: Nunez signed in 2017 out of El Niche's Academy in the Dominican Republic for $350,000 and quickly moved off shortstop to third base in his professional debut in 2018. In 2019 he moved from third base to first base. He spent two seasons in the Florida Complex League before making his full-season debut with Dunedin late in 2021. He returned to Dunedin to begin 2022 and hit .299/.328/.482 with 19 doubles and 15 home runs over 93 games. He was promoted to High-A Vancouver in early August and finished his season on a high note by hitting .321/.379/.491 with four home runs over 27 games. Nunez finished his season with Estrellas de Oriente of the Dominican Winter League and led the LIDOM with seven home runs.

 

Scouting Report: Nunez is a bat-first prospect with a balance of average bat-to-ball skills and plus power. While Nunez's natural strength and ability to punish mistakes in the zone is noteworthy, it's often dragged down by his inability to differentiate balls from strikes. In fact, Nunez ran one of the highest whiff rates among Blue Jays prospects at a full-season level, and chased pitches outside of the zone over 43% of the time in 2022. Nunez's swing has several moving parts: he has a deep knee bend, a unique hand motion in his load where he extends the fingers on his bottom hand before swinging and a long powerful swing bath that sweeps through the zone. He hits for plus power, and advancements to his pitch recognition skills could go a long way toward tapping into his power ceiling. He is limited to first base only with below-average defensive ability and well below average speed.

 

The Future: Nunez has a plus skill in his in-game power hitting ability but will need to refine his overzealous approach to carry the heavy offensive demands of everyday first baseman.

 

Scouting Grades: Hit: 40. Power: 60. Run: 30. Field: 40. Throw: 50.

 

20. Dasan Brown | OF

Dasan Brown

Born: Sep 5, 2001

Bats: R Throws: R

Ht.: 6'0" Wt.: 185

Drafted/Signed: HS--Oakville, Ont., 2019 (3rd round).

Signed By: Kory Lafreniere.

Minors: .189/.258/.238 | 1 HR | 16 SB | 164 AB

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BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme

 

Track Record: Brown, an Ontario native, signed with the Blue Jays to an above-slot $800,000 bonus as the 88th overall pick in the 2019 draft. He began his pro career as a 17-year-old in the Gulf Coast League. Following the 2020 pandemic Brown was assigned to Low-A Dunedin. He was once again assigned to Dunedin to begin 2022, but found his footing and hit .279/.369/.450 over 38 games before seeing promotion to High-A Vancouver.

 

Scouting Report: There are few profiles in the amateur space more fraught with fool's gold than a tooled up, righthanded hitting prep outfielder from cold weather climates, but Brown took a sizable step forward in 2022 and solidified his prospect pedigree. A top-of-the-scale athlete, Brown is a 70-grade runner with explosiveness in everything he does. He uses a simple, hands-driven righthanded swing that utilizes little of his lower half and relies on his bat speed and quick twitch mechanisms. He's a below-average contact hitter with average approach and shows the ability to identify balls and strikes. While his power is below-average at present he projects to add more strength as he matures. His bat path is fairly level, but he showed the ability to barrel up on his best struck drives. Offensively Brown is work in progress but one that made strides at the plate in 2022. He's a double-plus runner who uses his speed most effectively in the field. Defensively he's one of the better center fielders in A-ball and showed gap-closing speed and precision in his route running.

 

The Future: A standout center fielder who got an early start on his professional career. Brown will be 21 for all of 2023 and should return to High-A Vancouver to begin his season. He has potential for an everyday regular in center with gold glove defense.

 

Scouting Grades: Hit: 45. Power: 45. Run: 70. Field: 70. Arm: 60.