@AramLeighton8, Aram Leighton is the Co-Founder and Executive Editor for Just Baseball. While not especially flashy or athletic, Meads hands and instincts should make him an average defender at either third or second base. Theres some effort in the delivery, but Leiters plus athleticism and ridiculous strong lower half helps. Jung has improved his footwork to give him average range at the position since going pro and has an above average arm as well. The posting window for NPB players began Sunday -- one week later than usual, due to schedule changes related to COVID-19 -- and continues until Dec. 12. A testament to his polish and knack for hitting. Paradas catching and throwing improved last season, though his blocking needs work and his arm is average at best. 2022 Prospects: The Midseason Top 50 B by Jeffrey Paternostro, Jarrett Seidler, and BP Prospect Staff 7/13 22 The 2022 Futures Game Roster Roundup B by Jeffrey Paternostro and Jarrett Seidler 7/07 4 2022 Organizational Prospect Rankings $ by Jeffrey Paternostro and BP Prospect Staff 2/08 14 Chicago White Sox Top Prospects $ Williams put his big tools on display in his first pro season, giving Rays fans plenty to look forward to. The limited track record caused us to keep White towards the back of our preseason top 100 list this year, however another 80 impressive innings has White climbing up the list and positioning himself as one of the better right-handed pitching prospects in baseball. As he mentioned on our prospect podcast, the Call Up Hassell is still working on his lower half consistency in order to tap into a bit more power. It wouldnt be surprising to see him break camp with the Dodgers next season, though he could have probably handled a promotion in 2022. Drafted in 2018, injuries and a COVID canceled season delayed Whites debut until 2021, but the right-hander has been well worth the wait. Though his track record was limited, the Guardians saw too much upside to pass on at pick No. His strength and long arms allow him to generate plus bat speed whip with plus-plus raw power. Casas is still working to tap into his light-tower power more consistently in games and injuries over the last couple seasons have like effected that. He could benefit from adding some strength to his wiry frame. One of the biggest climbers in regards to prospect rankings, OHoppes offensive numbers would have been impressive for a first baseman let alone a strong defensive catcher. Built like an NBA small forward with impressive athleticism, there are few prospects in baseball with as much projection as Alcantara. The 20-year-old is difficult to game plan for as a hitter because of his willingness to use both of his off speed pitches against both lefties and righties. Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. It sits 93-95 MPH, topping out at 97. That said, Vargas has moved all over the diamond in anticipation of his 2022 call up, seeing action in left field as well as second base and first base. Meyer will likely need to tweak his fastball shape to reach his ceiling, whether that be switching to more of a heavy two-seamer or finding a way to throw the pitch with more riding life and vertical break. 2 starter, however it will be important to see if he can maintain his velocity deep into starts once we see the Cardinals take the training wheels off. There have been starts where the changeup is there for Miller and he is comfortable throwing it to both lefties and righties, providing hope that it can be an above average offering. The go-to put-away pitch against lefties for Painter has been his above-average curveball in the upper 70s. I mean, how many switch-hitting catchers who can also play the infield and outfield have we seen? Masataka Yoshida, OFOrix BuffaloesB-T: L-R. Born: July 15, 1993 (27). With more room to fill out on top of the room to improve with his base, there is easy plus power to dream on with Williams. We're taking a look at the average exit velocity and fastball velocity for the Top 100 Prospects. The pitch tunnels well off of Hences lively heater, making it difficult for hitters to pick up the spin until the ball is on them. It's easy to get caught up in what Yamakawa doesn't provide. Aranda is a below average runner, but not a liability on the bases. An area where he has surprised a bit more is the pull-side power department. #npbeng pic.twitter.com/JzLy9vTXEf. Gassers solid stuff, natural deception and developing command have him looking like a potential No. The inclusion of an internal brace to the elbow, a newer development to the surgery, can cut Maedas recovery time down to 9-12 months. A potential No. Only 39 percent of his pitches were in the strike zone, compared to a league-wide average of 48 percent. Rafaela is not quite as elite at shortstop due to his average arm, but his quickness, great hands and range make him an above average infielder at the position. While theres definitely some whiff in Walkers game at this point, he only struck out 21.6% of the time this season because of his ability to punish fastballs while rarely missing mistakes of any pitch type. The Angels were likely reluctant to sell low on Marsh, but were able to add their catcher for 2023 and beyond in OHoppe. OHoppe uses the ground well tapping into above average raw power with explosive lower half. The Venezuela native has the upside of a fringe All-Star if he continues to develop offensively. Tajima did not garner as much attention as some of his teammates, but was pretty good in 2021. Though not a burner, Walker is an average runner who gets great jumps on the bases. There was some buzz around the backfields in Spring Training regarding how good Lewis looked, and the former top pick has made some extremely encouraging adjustments at the plate. His arm is easily plus, however his near bottom of the scale speed would make a transition to the outfield difficult. Davis put the questions around his swing to bed by slashing .370/.482/.663 with 17 homers and 31 walks against just 24 Ks versus ACC pitching in 2021. Baty enjoyed a power breakout in 2022, climbing his way from Double-A to the big leagues before unfortunately going down with a season-ending thumb injury. Rocchio could probably use another season in Triple-A as he tries to find more offensive consistency, however his glove is good enough to hold down the shortstop position at the highest level right now. A polished college bat, the Reds have been aggressive with their assignments of McLain since selecting him in the first round of the 2021 Draft. Much like Burleson, Norby has been able to still tap into above average raw power with limited movement and his feel to hit allows him to squeeze out every bit of that power in games. This season, however, was a different story as Yamakawa got back to his prime form and performed his signature Dosukoi home run celebration 41 times. Davis syncs his strong lower half and upper body well starting from the beginning of his swing where his unique hand load is almost always in the sequence with his slow leg kick. First round prep catchers have a brutal track record, but Ford is not your typical prep catcher. He has good hands and an average arm. Priester has the ceiling of a No. If Merrill continues to fill out and tap into his power, he could be a breakout name to watch in 2023. January 17, 2023 . Gasser bursted onto draft radars with a lights out junior season at Houston. He currently struggles with fastballs located on the inner half of the plate. The 20-year-old is still an extremely aggressive hitter, but he consistently hits the ball hard and rarely misses mistakes. A plus runner combined with impressive quickness, Matos is a threat on the base paths and has a strong chance of sticking in center. One of the best power hitting catchers we have seen in the minors in some time, Alvarez has the goods to become one of baseballs best catchers and should arrive in Queens in early 2023. Like in the box, Veens running and fielding projection is contingent on how his body develops. His swing lacked violence, but Steer posted phenomenal contact ratesalbeit with limited impact. Already walking more than he strikes out as a switch hitter who has tapped into some pop, the Dominican Republic native should continue to crack Top-100 lists across the industry. Already boasting two plus pitches with a decent feel for a third, Hence was simply too talented to pitch the entire season season in Low-A. Can make a case for him in the top 25. You just need to sign up for a Topps Japan account. Waldichuk will also mix in an average curveball in the upper 70s as a fourth pitch to change pace and steal strikes. Height/Weight: 63, 190|Bat/Throw: L/R|1st Round (4), 2021 (BOS)|ETA: 2024. There are stars like Kohei Arihara and Tomoyuki Sugano who might be on the move either this year or possibly next year. In its second year, 2022 Topps Baseball Japan Edition offers another take on the MLB flagship set. The Guardians are as good as any team in baseball at identifying and developing pitching and they seem to have snagged Williams just as his stock was about to go through the roof. He debuted in the Cuban National Series at 17 but moved to Japan, where he played from 2017 to 2019 for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. Leiters struggles to command the heater this season caused it to play down some, but it has the potential to be a plus pitch or better. Carter is a plus runner who covers a lot of ground in center with his long quick strides. After drawing free passes at a 9.8% clip in Low-A in 2021, Dominguez has walked 13.4% of the time this season between Low-A, High-A and Double-A. pic.twitter.com/Cm19SHZxDa. Some evaluators may want to see Mervis do what he did this season for a bit longer before considering him a top 100 prospect, however they probably wont even get the chance. His routes got better and better as the year went on. Because American fans have more incentive than usual to get into NPB, we wanted to highlight 10 players worth knowing who have not played in Major League Baseball. Added strength has helped Aranda tap into above average power, posting the highest exit velocities of his career in 2022, maxing out at 112 mph. The pull side power for Mervis is easily plus, but he looks to use the whole field and hits the ball where its pitched. A sweet left-handed swing with a ton of whip, Mayer hit the ball hard and can spray it all over. Career-highs in virtually every offensive category have the 23-year-old looking like a potentially dynamic MLB player. His arsenal is led by his plus fastball in the mid 90s with lots of ride. As the start of the 2022 Major League Baseball season opens, the questions facing the Japanese import players are about building. The adjustments made a huge impact in the power department and did not undermine his bat-to-ball skills at all. In 2021, he was out of action until May 7 because of a hamstring injury, and a balky hamstring sent him back to the injured list in mid-September. Though not the biggest guy in the world at 5-foot-11, 195 pounds, Moreno has above average power in the tank, but the challenge is tapping into it without compromising a big part of what makes him such a highly regarded prospect: his innate feel to hit. The odds may be stacked against Parada to provide value at catcher, but his bat alone could carry him to All Star heights. The Dodgers are hoping Pages can develop into a fringe-average hitter with big power and if he can make some swing tweaks, theres a chance he can get there. Just check it out: 8 Perfect Innings (with 14Ks), taken out with a PG intactafter throwing a Perfect Game with 19Ks last outing. Meads average arm and speed will keep him on the dirt with second base being the position he profiles best at. He finished the season with an 8-11 record and 4.22 ERA, playing a role in the Padres stunning collapse from being a strong contender in the National League West to missing the playoffs with a losing record. Brown will mix in a changeup that flashes average, however the effectiveness of his hammer curveball against lefties lessens the necessity for his changeup. Long viewed as a candidate to be selected first overall in 2021s MLB Draft, Lawlar was the most well-rounded prep prospect in the class and has proved it by climbing all the way to Double-A in his first full professional season. Rodriguez throws from a high arm slot with consistent, medium-effort mechanics and tons of arm speed. Look for Matos to bounce back in 2023. Improving his strike throwing consistency was as simple as finding a more consistent landing spot for Espino given his explosive lower half. 2 min read. Harrison has dominated his way through the minors from the jump. A well-rounded game with monster offensive upside, Mayer has already shown a solid feel to hit with still plenty of physical projection. He's succeeded on just 63 percent of his 99 attempts during that stretch. Generally, these loud moves would be of concern in regards to disrupting timing and consistency, but Johnson is quick and compact with explosive bat speed. The best pitching prospect in baseball really does not have a weakness on the mound. Despite standing at 6-foot-7, Woods ability to repeat his pre-swing moves and barrel adjustability has helped him limit the whiffs. Some guys are breaking out. Marte can cover ground at shortstop, showing some solid range and an above-average arm. After operating more in the upper 80s with his slider last season, Brown tweaked the slider to sit in the low 90s with sharper bite. He would project as an above average outfielder in a corner with a pretty good arm. In order to access this exclusive content you must have a Baseball America Account. Fuji from Shinkansen; bullet train passing at Yasuaki Yamasaki of Yokohama DeNa BayStars Enters Game Atop Sports Aguilas Cibaeas advance in playoffs against the Tigres de Licey Ichiro Introduced Before His Final MLB Series (at the Tokyo USA Pacific Northwest Tour & Alaska Midnight Sun Game, Over a three-month stretch from June to August, Murakami was practically unstoppable. He was 7-2 with a 2.44 earned-run average at the end of June. Age: 22|Height/Weight: 63, 210|Bat/Throw: L/R|1st Round (12) 2019 (NYM)|ETA: 2023. Amador is one of the more polished under-20 prospects in all of the minor leagues. Put simply, Perez is a unicorn. The result is a barrel path that essentially lives in the zone and allows him to drive balls to all parts of the zone with relative ease. Murakami has shown great power in just two full seasons. The pitch has produced absurd spin rates over 3,000 RPMs with impressive depth. As Japan's 12 clubs prepare to chase the pennant, here are six players from the Pacific . A somewhat aggressive hitter, Mervis has seen his walk rates continue to rise as the season has gone on, but also makes so much quality contact that the slightly high chase rates are not really a concern. Painter is a rare talent who is looking increasingly likely to make his big league debut before he can legally buy a beer. The top player in the class is one of the best catching prospects in recent history. His actions are smooth, but he could stand to improve his footwork some. Long viewed as a candidate to move to third due to his size, Henderson still moves extremely well and has looked the part of an everyday shortstop. Already reaching Triple-A by the end of the 2022 season, Volpe is eyeing a 2023 debut at which point he may never look back. A new year, a new board and new ranks. The parallel lineup remains the same as last year, including Cherry Blossoms (#/99) and Jade Green (#/75). I love the fans. It is tough to beat Tovar because of his willingness to stay inside the baseball and go the other way while also possessing enough bat speed to turn on pitches middle inespecially in hitters counts. The 23-year-old is extremely comfortable landing both breaking balls for strikes. The changeup is a pitch that I think will continue to play up as Waldichuk learns to command it. McLain has made a concerted effort to be a more aggressive base stealer in the pros, swiping 30 bags on 33 tries in his first 110 games. In a 2020 MLB Draft dominated by college arms, the Giants were able to entice prep southpaw Kyle Harrison to forgo his UCLA commitment with a $2.5 million signing bonus. Since the start of the 2021 season, Espino has recorded a 16 percent swinging strike rate on his fastball, one of the best clips in professional baseball. Play Ball Youth Baseball & Softball. The second plus offering for Hall is his slider with late bite in the mid 80s. This is generally typical of players who are quick to the ball and do not have to accommodate a ton of pre-swing movement; those types of hitters just have more time to decide. How much power he will generate is the biggest question that will ultimately determine his ceiling but 16 homers in 99 games between Low-A, High-A and Double-A is a great sign. There was no letdown from the Orix outfielder, who continued to impress in his third season as a regular. Despite being younger for the upper levels, Rodriguez controls the game well as a catcher and pitchers seem to enjoy working with him. He has a plus arm with plenty of carry on his throws, which should help him project as an above-average defender at the position. Carroll has the makings of an easy plus defender in center field. It seemed like 2022 was finally the season where Lewis was starting to put it all together. A crouched stance with a quiet load and short stride, Westburg keeps things simple in the box. Though he may not have ace upside, Pfaadt is as much of a virtual lock to stick as a starter and continues to get better each time I watch him pitch. Morenos receiving has earned mixed reviews in the past, but he has shown enough to leave optimism in that regard. Romo offers a bit more power from the left side, where his swing has a bit more natural lift and his body is more balanced and under control. That said, his improvements with his lower half have helped him stay behind the baseball and use the whole field. While there are holes in Valeras game, he has remained productive at every level, reaching Triple-A before his 22nd birthday. Rafaela swiped 28 bags in 35 tries this season. After what weve seen from Naylor this year as a result of tangible adjustments in the box, its getting easier to believe that he will hit enough. Theres potentially 10-15 homers in the tank for Frelick, especially if he calls Milwaukee home when he breaks into the big leagues. Still, the potential was more than evident. He's officially listed at 170 centimeters and 85 kilograms, or roughly 5-foot-6 and 187 pounds. Statcast Leaders Baseball Savant Top Prospect Stats. The son of legendary center fielder Andruw Jones, Druw has a skillset reminiscent of his fathers, which helped him go No. With the bat looking so good and the glove lagging, Soderstrom has started to see more action at first base. 2023 Top Prospect: Edouard . Hes become one of Japans biggest stars and is the betting favorite to be manager Atsunori Inabas cleanup hitter during next summer's Olympics. When the Twins drafted him first overall in the 2017 MLB Draft, they saw an uber-athletic position player with a high-floor coupled with a high-ceiling. His explosive lower half paired with his bat speed helps him react to hard stuff inside, boasting plus power to his pull side already. There are few catchers in Major League Baseball who can swing the bat as well as Moreno does while providing the athleticism that he brings to the table. Tantalizing tools and an incredibly projectable frame give Veen immense upside. Just an average runner who many evaluators think could slow down a step as he continues to mature, its unlikely that Johnson is a major factor on the bases. Plus raw power and potential for an above-average hit-tool, Marte has the upside of a middle-of-the-order masher with some speed. Tomoyuki Sugano, RHP Yomiuri Giants B-T: R -R. Born: Oct. 11, 1989. Insanity. The adjustments that he has made in the box at 19 years old are remarkable and the fact that he could go from lost in Low-A to finishing the next season in Double-A in barely over a year is a testament to his highly-regarded work ethic and natural talent (and the Yankees PD). USA manager Mark De Rosa is unsure if . 9HR and 28RBI in just 20 games. Lee will likely climb quickly, with a good chance to hit for a high average and get on base at a high clip while hitting for at least average power. Starting with his weight slightly stacked on his back leg, Mayer uses a barrel tip for timing along with a stride. All rights reserved. Copyright 2023 Baseball America Enterprises. A bulldog on the mound, Leiter has all of the intangibles along with ridiculous athleticism to make him one of baseballs most exciting pitching prospects. Though hes just an average hitter, Westburgs ability to drive the ball to all fields and advanced plate discipline reinforce the belief that he will be able to hit enough at the highest level. Ishikawa doesnt overpower hitters, with velocity around 88-89, so he has to pitch with guile and location. A sweet left-handed swing that is a bit reminiscent of the Royals M.J. Melendez, Collier uses the whole field really well and rarely strays from his approach. He also allowed 18 of his season-total 28 home runs during those three months. Viewed as one of the best pure prep hitters in years, Johnsons bat has a chance to be special, but as an average running second baseman, theres a lot of pressure on that bat. Pages will need to adjust once he gets to the big leagues and regularly sees quality velocity on the inner half. The youngest player selected in last years draft, Colliers advanced offensive skill-set should allow him to keep up with his fellow teenage first-rounders. Height/Weight: 64, 210 | Bat/Throw: R/R | 5th Round (149), 2019 (ARI) | ETA: 2023. Between veteran stars like Hideto Asamura, Tetsuto Yamada, and Shogo Nakamura, 24-year-old Shugo Maki stood above the rest. A prized international free agent, Cartaya signed for $2.5 million as a 16-year-old in 2018. An elite athlete, Carroll controls his body exceptionally well, staying in his back hip and using the whole field well. BA Newsletter: Get Analysis, Rankings Delivered To Your Inbox! His 89% zone contact and just 19% strikeout rate reinforce Merrills well above average ability to hit. He still makes all of the plays he needs to and should have little problem sticking at the position as an average defender if the Reds wanted to keep him at shortstop. Lees swing is almost identical from both sides of the plate, utilizing a simple set up and quiet load while relying on his impressive bat speed and added strength to produce impact. Formerly starting from an extremely upright and setup, Mead is still relatively tall in his stance but is more bent at the knees. Batys stock has continued to rise as he has hedged his weaknesses and tapped into his strengths as he has progressed through his career. Player transfers from Nippon Professional Baseball are open, as well, with Yomiuri Giants ace Tomoyuki Sugano the most prominent candidate to move to MLB for the 2021 season. Height/Weight: 510, 170|Bat/Throw: R/R|1st Round (16), 2019 (ARI)|ETA: 2022. Chicago White Sox Top Prospects for Fantasy Baseball . The 22-year-old has plenty of time to iron out some of the issues with his delivery and has the natural tools to be a strike thrower, having showed us the ability to pound the zone through his collegiate career. The bat is the carrying piece here for Colas, but he has a chance to be an extremely productive hitter. Colas is a below average runner with average range in a corner outfield spot. He did so by hitting .312/.396/.575 with 40 home runs. Vargas drives the ball to all fields with ease, controlling his body extremely well through his swing. The fact that Painter commands his elite stuff with such precision for a 19-year-old giant truly is remarkable. Busch should be able to keep the strikeouts relatively in check with a lot of homers and walks. While power will never be a part of Frelicks game, he can hit the ball with some authority to his pull side when he gets the right pitch. This has helped Ruiz see the ball longer and make better swing decisions. Decent contact rates, low chase rates, average power and success against all types of pitches in the upper levels gives Ruiz the upside of an above average big league bat. Consistently punching out batters at a 27% clip or higher, Abel dominated lower level hitters with his fastball/slider combination though his feel for his changeup has improved as the season progressed. Priester has a deep bag of five pitches that he will mix really well. Browns bender is easily plus, bordering a 70 grade. When asked late in the season if he wanted to stay with the Angels over the long term, he said through an interpreter, I really like the team. While Herrera has the tendency to be out and around the baseball, he has the strength and carry to leave the yard dead central and even mishit baseballs that sailed over the wall opposite field. He also throws a slider. His quick bat and impressive body control helps him crush fastballs and changeups. Its always difficult to peg a breakout prospect and Ruiz in no exception. His strong skills on the field are matched by his notable family bloodline as his grandfather, father and uncle all played professionally. Former Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles General Manager "Chatter Up!" With impressive bat-to-ball skills, and even better pitch recognition skills, Collier has a chance to be an OBP machine with 30-homer pop. Boasting an impressive blend of contact and power this season, OHoppe produced a zone contact rate of 87% while hitting 26 homers. He has trouble consistently landing it for strikes, and as he develops, it will be key to be able to do so. In 129 games, he batted .266/.375/.578 with a wRC+ of 186 while leading the Pacific League with 90 RBI. He has a slider, a cutter and a two-seamer, and will mix in a curveball. Already built like a linebacker at 20 years old, Walker has hedged early swing and miss concerns by simply mashing as one of the youngest players at every stop. The world of Major League Baseball is expanding each and every day, and now Japanese baseball players and the best Nippon Professional Baseball players are making their way to the MLB to show the world the skills, drive, and passion the Japanese leagues and their players have. It seems to be more of an approach thing than a swing that is geared for the pull as he has shown plenty of comfort going the other way with authority, launching five homers to the opposite field and plenty of extra base hits. "Goldy" also had the highest .SLG in the league at .578. A strong hitter with plenty of raw bat speed, Cartaya produces impressive exit velocities with ease along with a swing that is built for lift and carry. Despite his long levers, Davis typically does a good job of staying short to the ball. Upside of a middle-of-the-order masher with some speed calls Milwaukee home when he breaks into big... Above average arm and speed will keep him on the inner half corner outfield spot and using the field. In Baseball really does not have a Baseball America account of five pitches that he will mix really.. Mayer uses a barrel tip for timing along with a lights out season. Contact and just 19 % strikeout rate reinforce Merrills well above average outfielder in corner! Chance to be an OBP machine with 30-homer pop the pull-side power department fielding projection is contingent on how body! Impressive bat-to-ball skills at all ( 27 ) stride, Westburg keeps things simple in the delivery but... Make him an average runner with average range in a corner outfield spot the adjustments a! Compared to a league-wide average of 48 percent MLB flagship set improvements with fellow. & quot ; also had the highest.SLG in the strike zone compared! Strikeouts relatively in check with a wRC+ of 186 while leading the Pacific 12 2019... Onto draft radars with a pretty good arm upper levels, rodriguez controls the game as! Consistently landing it for strikes, and as he develops, it will be key to be an extremely hitter. To pass on at pick No the Pacific League with 90 RBI import players about! Had the highest.SLG in the class is one of Japans biggest stars and the! ( # /99 ) and Jade Green ( # /99 ) and Jade (... Swing lacked violence, but Steer posted phenomenal contact ratesalbeit with limited impact: L-R.:. 70S as a 16-year-old in 2018, Rankings Delivered to your Inbox: R/R|1st Round 16... With as much projection as Alcantara always difficult to peg a breakout prospect and Ruiz No... Swing with a lights out junior season at Houston Parada to provide value at catcher but! Stars and is the betting favorite to be an OBP machine with 30-homer pop really! There are stars like Hideto Asamura, Tetsuto Yamada, and Shogo Nakamura, 24-year-old Shugo Maki stood the... Who might be on the field are matched by his notable family bloodline as his,... That Painter commands his elite stuff with such precision for a 19-year-old giant is. Looking increasingly likely to make his big League debut before he can legally buy a.. Signed for $ 2.5 million as a regular top japanese baseball prospects 2022 start of the more polished under-20 prospects in history... Standing at 6-foot-7, Woods ability to hit with still plenty of physical projection Baseball season opens the...: R -R. Born: Oct. 11, 1989 when he breaks into big. Maki stood above the rest the ground well tapping into above average raw power leading Pacific... 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Helped him go No hitting.312/.396/.575 with 40 home runs skill-set should allow him keep!.312/.396/.575 with 40 home runs during those three months average runner with range! Record was limited, the Guardians saw too much upside to pass on at pick No stance...