Like many young hitters, Johnson tends to try to get into his pull side power a bit too much, causing him to be out and around the baseball. He was able to get away with some things in college thanks to his absurd arm, but he will need to shore up some defensive fundamentals to provide value on the defensive side of things. It was never really a matter of hitting the ball hard for Baty, who has produced impressive exit velocities since entering pro ball, though high ground ball rates impeded his ability to consistently slug. Batys swing is smooth and his barrel stays in the zone for a long time, helping him use the entire field well. A decent arm and pretty good mobility behind the plate, Herrera has the tools to be an above-average catcher. Bibee has a great feel for the pitch, landing it for a strike nearly 70% of the time while holding opponents to a .426 OPS. Despite being a below-average runner, Burlesons reads and routes were solid as the year went on and his arm as a former pitcher is comfortably above-average. Ruiz has seen his chase rates drop by more than 5% while hitting significantly better against breaking balls. Yamamoto is only 22 so theres plenty of time for him to get even better before he can consider a move to MLB, if thats part of his plans. Injuries and 2020s cancelled season have limited Casas to just 284 Minor League games since being drafted in the first round of 2018s draft. Height/Weight: 62, 210|Bat/Throw: R/R|1st Round (1), 2021 (PIT)|ETA: 2023. He uses his athleticism to help him move well behind the dish and block effectively. A fastball with ride, changeup with big arm-side fade, a hammer curveball that dives out of the strike zone and a cutter as a taste-breaker leaves hitters worrying about four different directions and speeds. The Orioles will have a decision to make in regards to how they want their infield to shake out, but it is safe to assume that Henderson will be holding down the left side of their infield for the foreseeable future. It feels like he's been around much longer, given that he first became a regular with the Giants in 2008, when he was 19. His spring training numbers were good a 2-0 mark, 2.38 ERA, 14 strikeouts in 11.1 innings, and a 1.06 WHIP. Burleson has enough strength to leave the yard to all fields when he really gets a hold of one, hitting a handful of opposite field home runs this season. Already producing a bit more thump than expected, Mayer has a chance to develop into plus power as well. Even though the change is an above average pitch, it plays up to plus because of the way it works off of his fastball. If Abel can even get to average command, his stuff will give him a great chance of developing into an above average No. Impressive bat speed with a swing that is geared for home runs paired with Valeras patience at the plate make him a likely three true outcome slugger who should undoubtedly benefit from the limiting of the shift at the MLB level. After taking over the closer role from veteran Yuito Mori, Moinelo never looked back, picking up eight holds and 24 saves. McLain is a line drive hitter who splits the gaps and can tap into above-average pop to his pull side. 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). If he moves to third, Marte should be good defender at the position, though there is still hope that he can continue to find consistency up the middle. The 22-year-old has always impressed with his feel for the barrel and ability to spray the ball all over the field. When Marte sticks to his approach, hes a tough hitter to strikeout, but he can also find himself selling out for pull-side power, occasionally giving away at-bats. If this does not resolve the issue or you are unable to add the domains to your allowlist, please see this FAQ. Its a delicate balance for Frelick, who does hit the ball on the ground a lot (51% GB rate), but also racks up so many hits by slapping the ball on the ground and using his wheels. Chourios load is simple, picking his heel up while focusing on shifting his weight onto his back side. Getting his lower half more incorporated has helped Naylor hit the ball with authority more consistently, seeing his 90th percentile exit velocity jump by three mph. Soderstroms decent hands should help him profile as an above average defensive first baseman. The Rays tried Aranda out just about everywhere. Upright stance from the left side and a simple swing geared for line drive contact, Cowsers limited movement allows him to be on time and repeat his swing. 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. Not having a true defensive home hurts Aranda a bit, but he hedges that with the ability to play passable defense at multiple spots. 5 outlook he had on draft day. Assuming he makes a 100% recovery, theres 30 home run power in the tank with a well above average hit tool and a newfound ability to draw free passes. He has looked drastically better this season, taking cleaner routes and getting earlier jumps on balls. Imamiya was the only qualified NPB shortstop to hit above league-average this year (131 wRC+) and provided a steady presence in the lineup for the Hawks amid injuries to key players, with 30 doubles and 7 home runs. A powerful bat who controls the strike zone really well, Busch has the ingredients of a Max Muncy lite. His swing at times can be a bit flat, but he has started to lift the ball with more consistency. Even for a pitcher starting once a week in a shortened season, Senga threw a lot of pitches. In the volatile world of prospects, Cowser offers a rare level of safety while still providing enough projection to get excited about. He is exceptionally athletic and mobile on the mound, making it especially easy for him to repeat his mechanics. After struggling to develop as an infielder defensively, Ruiz made the move to the outfield where he has progressed pretty nicely. Not only does De La Cruz possess arguably the most exciting offensive tools in Minor League Baseball, but he is already translating them into production in what really is his first full professional season. An advanced feel to swing the bat and elite defensive potential have PCA making up for lost time this season. Yoshida has a good approach and decent power. After tearing up High-A, Manzardo was promoted to Double-A and picked up right where he left off. An upright stance, Herrera still uses his lower half well by sinking into his back side in his load. Colas could be a middle of the order force for the White Sox soon. Rodriguez also features a plus slider with sharp, late bite in the low 80s that he manipulates and locates with ease. As a result, Cassie found himself out on his front foot too frequently on off speed pitches, causing more weak contact and ground balls. Height/Weight: 510, 190|Bat/Throw: R/R|2nd Round (41), 2020 (BAL)|ETA: 2023. After a lights-out 2021 season, Espino was off to an even better start in 2022 before a knee issue cut his season to just four starts. As a result, the 20-year-old has put up above-average contact rates and solid K-BB figures. Sign up for the JapanBall newsletter and we'll send you the latest Japanese baseball news and info, plus updates on our international baseball tours. The pitch can get firm on him, though he does have a decent feel for the pitch. Swings dont come much simpler than Connor Norbys. Ford scrapped the leg kick in favor of a toe tap which has helped him catch up to higher velocity and has not come at the expense of power. He will likely begin 2023 in Double-A with a chance to debut in 2024. While the free-swinging aspect to Matos approach presents at least some risk, the combination of his bat-to-ball skills and room for growth within his frame give Matos exiting offensive upside. To enjoy our content, please include The Japan Times on your ad-blocker's list of approved sites. Bob Fontaine Jr., Legendary Scout and "Baseball "Chatter Up!" The 23-year-old quickly proved everything he needed to statistically in the minors along with plus makeup. He is such a good athlete that he could probably play centerfield much like Varsho if the Mariners wanted to get Ford some run in other spots or if he doesnt develop behind the dish like the team hopes. cut down his leg kick while quieting/simplifying his hand load. A wunderkind who towers at 6-foot-8, Perez has floored scouts and opponents alike with his ability to command the strike zone and repeat his mechanics on top of his nasty stuff. Just as things were looking up for the young prospect, an ACL tear abruptly ended Lewis 2021 season before it began. He has a tendency to get big in plus counts, similar to most young hitters, but it almost certainly wont be a problem as he matures. Ota was a hard-slugging high school player who was drafted by the Yomiuri Giants and promptly given Hideki Matsuis old No. After showing flashes of his ability at the complex last year, Wood made some small tweaks to get his lower half more involved and has started to tap into his elite raw power. He simply dismantled Low-A hitters, punching out 81 batters in 52.1 innings with a WHIP of 0.88. Matos has the capability to let the ball travel and use the whole field, which is why his aggressive approach doesnt knock down the hit tool projection for him too much. Height/Weight: 510, 190|Bat/Throw: R/R|3rd Round (90), 2019 (MIN)|ETA: 2022. Formerly utilizing a sizable leg kick, Campusano has since experimented with a few different timing mechanisms at the plate before settling on a toe-tap. Still, the potential was more than evident. Between veteran stars like Hideto Asamura, Tetsuto Yamada, and Shogo Nakamura, 24-year-old Shugo Maki stood above the rest. With the Buffaloes out of contention, the club opted to protect their star pitcher rather than running him out in a bid for either the ERA or strikeout title. 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. He's made 11 All-Star Games and has won the Japan Series twice. Given Harrisons athleticism and ability to get outs already in the upper minors, Ill bet on him being closer to the frontline starter outcome. Perhaps overlooked is his baserunning, as he became the first player since Makoto Kozuru in 1950 to steal 10+ bases while hitting 50+ home runs in a season. With multiple shortstops at the big league level for the Orioles, Westburg has seen action at third base and second base this season. Even with the bit of length, Pages makes plenty of contact and has a chance to be an average hitter with his plus game power as the calling card. The blend of whippy bat speed while living in the zone for so long helps Manzardo post an impressive 86% zone contact rate while driving the ball with authority. Of his off-speed offerings, Espinos slider is his strongest. He has flashed the ability to drive the ball the other way with authority, but the front foot swings casting out and around the baseball have been more frequent. Even so, Sakamoto has already had a heck of a career. Height/Weight: 67, 220|Bat/Throw: R/R|1st Round (13), 2021 (PHI)|ETA: 2023. Overall, there is 30 homer power here with good on-base skills and an ability to hit lefties. Jobes fastball sits 94-96 MPH, with high spin and solid life. Though not up to the standard of his other three impressive pitches, it gives Williams another look and can be an effective pitch as he gains more confidence in it. Factor in his above-average defense in right field, and it's easy to understand why he was estimated to have contributed nearly nine wins on the year. At the same time, Merviss walk rate and OPS steadily climbed. "Paul Goldschmidt will play for Team USA in the 2023 World Baseball Classic" - @ FOX Sports MLB. Lee has flashed above average power to his pull side and will pick his spots to try to do damage. Steers strong baseball instincts allow him to move all over the infield with relative ease. The improved contact rates have not come at the expense of power for Dominguez, registering a max exit velocity of 113 MPH this season while upping his 90th percentile EV by nearly three mph this season. His arm is average at best, but he does a good job of getting himself in a good position to make strong throws by beating the ball to the spot. Only throwing it around 6% of the time this year, Leiter will need to find more of a feel for the pitch, but it has a chance to be a viable fourth offering. 3 starter. His fastball sits in the mid-90s and he throws a splitter. Johnson should be an above average defender at second. The Top 300 is here. 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