Are you a baseball fan looking for some exciting news on the latest Minor League developments? Look no further! The Minor League season is well underway and we have plenty of pleasant stories to share. From the Orioles outfielder Heston Kjerstad proving his Arizona Fall League performance was no fluke, to the recovery of Nationals third baseman Brady House from back problems that ruined his 2022 season, there is no shortage of intriguing storylines. But wait, there’s more! We’re spotlighting one standout story from every farm system so far this season, so keep reading to discover the promising players to watch from your favorite teams.
First up, we have Sem Robberse, right-handed pitcher from the Blue Jays’ farm system, who has been a refreshing surprise with his solid Double-A performance despite injuries and slow starts plaguing other top prospects. Meanwhile, Heston Kjerstad, the Orioles outfielder who had been out of action for two years after being diagnosed with myocarditis, has made a smooth transition to Double-A, posting a whopping 1.022 OPS. Dominic Keegan, a former Vanderbilt catcher batting .367 for the Single-A Charleston League, has definitely been commanding attention with his impressive performances at the plate.
The Boston Red Sox may need to beef up their thin pitching prospects, but left-handed pitcher Shane Drohan has emerged as a promising talent, leading the Minors with a 0.62 ERA and third with a 0.69 WHIP. Clayton Beeter of the New York Yankees has shown he has some serious stuff, with a mid-90s fastball and wipeout mid-80s slider, leading to a 1.35 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 26 2/3 Double-A innings. Tanner Bibee of the Guardians has gone from a fifth-round pick to one of the best pitching prospects in baseball in 2022 and is continuing to pound the strike zone with his high-spin mid-90s fastball.
The Royals have found a great prospect in right-handed pitcher Luinder Avila, who has shown he can be a key player with a 2.53 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 21 1/3 innings at High-A Quad Cities. Dillon Dingler, an athletically gifted backstop, has stepped up for the Tigers with his impressive .451/.548/.941 line through 14 games and seven home runs despite missing time due to right knee surgery. Ben Ross, a utility player from Notre Dame College in Ohio, has impressed with his .310/.374/.471 line while seeing time at four different positions defensively for the Twins.
White Sox’s Jonathan Cannon has helped turn the team’s struggling pitching prospects around with his polished skills, including a 92-96 mph fastball with heavy sink and a plus upper-80s cutter. Meanwhile, Jordyn Adams of the Angels may still need to work on his approach, but the 23-year-old has shown potential with his impressive .504 SLG and seven homers so far this season. Ryan Clifford of the Astros, who was a second-round pick after being one of the better all-around bats in the 2022 high school class, is batting .337/.488/.457 and leading the Single-A Carolina League in on-base percentage at just 19 years old.
Lastly, we have Brett Harris, the 3B from the A’s farm system who has exceeded expectations with his breakout performance, hitting 17 homers and reaching Double-A in 2022 before improving even further with a .341/.460/.549 line this season. Michael Morales of the Mariners, who went way over slot to sign him in the third round of the 2021 Draft, has been refining his skills after a rocky start to his first full season of pro ball, but he’s proving his worth with his 2.22 ERA and .227 batting average against.
With so many talented prospects in the Minor League system, the possibilities seem endless for these teams. Who’s your favorite up-and-coming talent to watch? Share with us in the comments below!
Source: www.mlb.com