Welcome to the MLB Pipeline Podcast! This week, Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo (joined by co-host Jason Ratliff) break down the prospects who just missed the cut for the Top 100 list. While only 100 players can make the list, there are still plenty of impressive players out there who are just one big season away from making it to the top.
In this blog post, we’ll take a look at 10 of these players who are on the cusp of becoming household names. From the Cubs’ Cade Horton to the Astros’ Yainer Diaz, these players have all made an impressive case for themselves and could be the breakout stars of the 2023 season.
Let’s start with Cade Horton, the Cubs’ seventh overall pick in the 2022 Draft. After recovering from Tommy John surgery, Horton saw his velocity peak at 98 mph and led Oklahoma to the College World Series. Jim Callis believes that the North Siders have found themselves a soon-to-be Top 100 prospect.
Next up is Connor Norby of the Orioles. Norby hit a farm system-high 29 homers last year and is on the precipice of the big leagues on the back of his ample power potential.
Yainer Diaz of the Astros had a stellar 2021 season, earning a SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game invite and making sizable progression behind the dish. With 25 homers and 96 RBIs across two levels, Diaz could be the Astros’ Day 1 starter at catcher next season.
The Mariners’ Cole Young was the 21st overall selection in the 2022 Draft and hit in droves last summer between Rookie-level and Single-A competition. He could be the one to put Seattle’s two representatives on the Top 100 Prospects list to three.
The Rays’ Junior Caminero was acquired in November 2021 from Cleveland and made an affiliate-ball debut just after turning 19 years old. He posted a 137 wRC+ in a 26-game stint with Single-A Charleston and then went on to club 14 homers in 39 contests in Australia.
Edouard Julien of the Twins had a standout performance in the Arizona Fall League, earning Breakout Player of the Year honors. He posted a .925 OPS in 113 games at Double-A Wichita and could be in the big leagues as soon as the early part of the 2023 campaign.
The Dodgers’ Dalton Rushing was bumped back 10 selections due to exceeding luxury tax rules, but that hasn’t stopped him from making an impact. He slashed a gaudy .424/.539/.778 with 19 extra-base hits and 30 RBIs in just 28 games with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga.
The Angels’ Edgar Quero had an impressive full-season debut for Single-A Inland Empire. He slashed .312/.435/.530 and led all qualified California League batters with a .439 wOBA and 150 wRC+.
The Marlins’ Dax Fulton has the potential to take a big step forward in 2023. His curveball grades out as one of the premier individual pitches in all of prospectdom and helped him accrue 150 strikeouts in 118 1/3 innings this past season.
Finally, the Cardinals’ Matthew Liberatore was the premier prep lefty in the 2020 Draft class. He has undergone something mirroring prospect fatigue, but the southpaw has oodles of upside and could be a key contributor in the early part of the 2023 campaign.
These 10 players are on the cusp of making it to the Top 100 list and could be the breakout stars of the 2023 season. Keep an eye out for them as the year goes on!
Source: www.mlb.com