As we inch closer to the 2023 season, it is time to take a look at the top prospects that could make an impact at the first base position. In this blog post, I am going to give you a summary of the top three prospects at the position and provide you with a deeper dive into each one. So, get ready to find out who the top first base prospects are for the 2023 season and why you should pay attention to them.
At the top of the list is Yainer Diaz. Diaz is a bat-first catching prospect who has proven his ability with the bat wherever he has been assigned. In 2022, Diaz played in 105 games between Double-A and Triple-A hitting .306 with 25 HR, 96 RBI. This earned him minor league player of the year in the Astros system. Diaz has a good command of the strike zone and rarely strikes out. He has plus power and has shown the ability to drive the ball the other way at a high rate. In 2022, he played 36 games at first base.
The second prospect on the list is Joey Loperfido. Loperfido played all over the field in college including only first base in his freshman season. He would go onto play second, third and outfield before getting drafted in the 7th round by the Astros in 2021. The 2022 season was a big one for Loperfido. He started the season in Single-A and hit .304 with a .872 OPS in 82 games. He was promoted to High-A where he hit .354 with .986 OPS in 26 games. Overall he slashed .316/.408/.492 with 25 2B, 12 HR, 32 SB. Loperfido is a plus athlete that should be able to provide above average defense at first base or in the outfield.
The final prospect on the list is Luke Berryhill. After making some swing adjustments, Luke turned in a phenomenal 2021 season. He had a career year posting a .974 OPS with a 159 wRC+ in 73 games across three different levels. Berryhill has flashed above average raw power and the potential to work counts and draw walks. In 2022, Berryhill got on base at a high clip, .380 on-base percentage, despite battling a few injuries. In 2022 he played 32 games at first base.
These are the top three prospects at the first base position for the 2023 season. They each have the potential to make an impact at the major league level and should be monitored closely. So, if you’re looking for the top first base prospects for the 2023 season, look no further than Yainer Diaz, Joey Loperfido, and Luke Berryhill.
Source: www.crawfishboxes.com