Each MLB Team's Most MLB-Ready Prospect Entering 2024
Every new MLB season brings a fresh wave of young contributors making the leap from prospect to rookie, and 2023 saw one of the best crops of up-and-coming talent in years, led by Rookie of the Year winners Corbin Carroll and Gunnar Henderson.
So who's next?
Ahead we've highlighted the most MLB-ready prospect in every MLB organization, and while some of these players have already seen big league action, they all maintain prospect status entering the 2023 season.
Players were chosen based on their performance in the upper levels of the minors and their path to a spot on the MLB roster.
In case you missed it: 1 Potential Breakout Prospect for Every MLB Organization in 2024
American League East
1 of 6
Baltimore Orioles: OF Colton Cowser
There are a ton of options for the Orioles, including Heston Kjerstad and Joey Ortiz, who both made their debuts in 2023, as well as MLB's top prospect Jackson Holliday and slugger Coby Mayo, who closed out last season at Triple-A. Any of those guys would be acceptable answers, but Cowser truly has nothing left to prove in the minors after hitting .300/.417/.520 with 36 extra-base hits in 87 games at Triple-A before seeing his first MLB action.
Boston Red Sox: OF Wilyer Abreu
Barring a late offseason addition, it looks like the Red Sox will open 2024 with Abreu penciled into a starting spot in the outfield. The 24-year-old posted a .930 OPS with 22 home runs in 86 games at Triple-A last year, then hit .316/.388/.474 with six doubles and two home runs in 85 plate appearances after making his MLB debut on Aug. 22.
New York Yankees: C Austin Wells
If he were healthy, Jasson Dominguez would be the choice here, but he will start the 2024 season on the injured list recovering from Tommy John surgery. Instead, the nod goes to Wells, who is expected to open the season splitting catching duties with veteran Jose Trevino. The 2020 first-round pick has an .864 OPS over 1,298 plate appearances in the minors, and while he will always be a bat-first catcher, his defensive game has progressed during his time in the minors.
Tampa Bay Rays: 2B/3B Curtis Mead
Infielder Junior Caminero could very well end up on the Opening Day roster after getting a cup of coffee in September, but that doesn't necessarily mean he is the most MLB-ready prospect in the Rays pipeline. Mead, 23, dealt with injuries last season, but he hit .294/.385/.515 with 32 extra-base hits in 61 games at Triple-A. He has one of the most polished hit tools of any prospect, and his defensive versatility should help him grab a roster spot.
Toronto Blue Jays: 1B/OF Spencer Horwitz
Horwitz was the pick for the Blue Jays in this same article last year, and after hitting .337/.450/.495 with 30 doubles, 10 home runs, 72 RBI and more walks (78) than strikeouts (72) in 107 games at Triple-A, he still fits the bill. The 26-year-old is on the 40-man roster and should be given every opportunity to win a bench job this spring.
American League Central
2 of 6
Chicago White Sox: RHP Jordan Leasure
The White Sox acquired Leasure in the deal that sent Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the trade deadline. After a regular season in which he posted a 3.91 ERA and 14.7 K/9 in 44 games, he dominated in the Arizona Fall League, posting a 1.08 ERA with just two hits allowed and 13 strikeouts in 8.1 innings. With an 80-grade fastball and a plus slider, he has closer potential.
Cleveland Guardians: SS Brayan Rocchio
Rocchio hit .280/.367/.421 with 46 extra-base hits and 25 steals at Triple-A last season, and he has the defensive tools to be a standout shortstop at the next level. The Guardians might go with Gabriel Arias at shortstop to open the year, but if he doesn't hit, Rocchio could push for the starting job early. First baseman Kyle Manzardo and left-hander Joey Cantillo also deserve a mention.
Detroit Tigers: OF Parker Meadows
Slugger Colt Keith is the most hyped prospect in the Detroit system heading into 2024, and he could easily win a spot on the Opening Day roster. However, Meadows has already seen 37 games of MLB action, and his elite defensive metrics (3 DRS, 8.0 UZR/150) make him the front-runner for the starting center field job to open the year. The 24-year-old posted an .812 OPS with 27 doubles, 19 home runs, 65 RBI and 19 steals in 113 games at Triple-A.
Kansas City Royals: IF/OF Nick Loftin
Loftin hit .323/.368/.435 for a 121 OPS+ with six extra-base hits and 0.6 WAR in a 19-game audition as a September call-up last season. The 25-year-old has seen time at first base, second base, third base and in the outfield since going No. 32 overall in the 2020 draft, and his versatility should help him find a regular MLB role.
Minnesota Twins: 2B/SS Brooks Lee
Lee went No. 8 overall in the 2022 draft following a terrific junior season at Cal Poly, and he has rocketed through the minors since starting his pro career, closing out the 2023 campaign with 38 games at Triple-A. The 22-year-old would be the leading candidate to take over at second base if Jorge Polanco is traded this offseason.
American League West
3 of 6
Houston Astros: RHP Spencer Arrighetti
The Astros have done a nice job developing pitching talent over the years, and Arrighetti could be the next to make an impact in the majors. The 24-year-old has seen his stuff tick up since he went in the sixth round of the 2021 draft, and he has tallied 293 strikeouts in 231.1 innings over the past two seasons.
Los Angeles Angels: 1B Nolan Schanuel
It took a little more than two months from the time Schanuel was selected No. 11 overall in the 2023 draft to the time he reached the majors. The 21-year-old posted a 103 OPS+ with more walks (20) than strikeouts (19) in 132 plate appearances after making his MLB debut on Aug. 18, and he has a clear path to the starting first base job in 2024.
Oakland Athletics: RHP Mason Miller
With a 70-grade fastball that averaged 98.3 mph in his first MLB action, Miller has high-octane stuff. After making his MLB debut in April, he missed roughly five months with forearm tightness and returned as a reliever down the stretch. The 25-year-old is expected to pitch out of the bullpen in 2024, and he has the stuff to quickly pitch his way into the closer's role.
Seattle Mariners: RHP Emerson Hancock
The Mariners have been churning out young pitching talent in recent years, and after back-to-back full seasons at Double-A, Hancock made his MLB debut last August. The 24-year-old has a high floor as a durable strike thrower and could be the next man up for a spot in the rotation. Infielder Ryan Bliss is also a name to watch, and he could fill the role that Jose Caballero did in 2023 after winning Defensive Player of the Year in the Arizona Fall League.
Texas Rangers: OF Evan Carter
There is not a more MLB-ready prospect in baseball than Carter following his stellar September (75 PA, .306/.413/.645, 10 XBH) and equally impressive postseason (72 PA, .300/.417/.500, 10 XBH). The 21-year-old will almost certainly open the year as the AL Rookie of the Year front-runner slotted in as the everyday left fielder in a stacked Texas lineup.
National League East
4 of 6
Atlanta Braves: RHP AJ Smith-Shawver
The Braves starting rotation looks set with newly acquired Chris Sale joining Max Fried, Spencer Strider, Charlie Morton and Bryce Elder on the projected staff. Behind that group is an intriguing collection of young arms on the 40-man roster, and Smith-Shawver is the most promising of the bunch. The 21-year-old was the fourth-youngest player to appear in an MLB game in 2023, and he logged a 4.26 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 25.1 innings.
Miami Marlins: IF/OF Dane Myers
On the older end of the prospect scale, Myers spent his first three pro seasons as a pitcher after going in the sixth round of the 2017 draft. The 27-year-old abandoned pitching on the other side of the cancelled 2020 MiLB season, and after hitting .316/.406/.489 with 15 home runs, 62 RBI and 20 steals in 100 games in the upper levels of the minors, he could provide an offensive boost for the Marlins in 2024.
New York Mets: RHP Mike Vasil
The Mets have done a great job restocking the farm system over the past year, but the majority of their top-tier prospects are still a year or two away from contributing in the majors. Infielder Ronny Mauricio would have been the easy choice here before he suffered a torn ACL that will sideline him indefinitely. With a polished four-pitch repertoire and 138 strikeouts in 124 innings in the upper levels of the minors in 2023, Vasil is the pitching prospect closest to the majors.
Philadelphia Phillies: RHP Orion Kerkering
Kerkering made his MLB debut on Sept. 24 and showed enough in three relief appearances down the stretch to earn a spot on the postseason roster. The 22-year-old averaged 97.8 mph with his sinker and backed it with a potentially elite sweeper, giving him the stuff to be a dominant late-inning arm. Expect him to be part of the Opening Day bullpen.
Washington Nationals: RHP Jackson Rutledge
Rutledge has moved slowly through the Nationals system since going No. 17 overall in the 2019 draft, and the 2023 season marked the first time he pitched above High-A. The 24-year-old has a towering 6'8", 251-pound frame, and after posting a 3.71 ERA in 119 innings between Double-A and Triple-A, he made four starts in September. He should compete for a rotation spot this spring.
National League Central
5 of 6
Chicago Cubs: LHP Jordan Wicks
Center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong will be the prospect under the most scrutiny this spring as he looks to prove his bat is ready for the big leagues, but the most MLB-ready tag goes to Wicks. The left-hander made seven MLB starts down the stretch in 2023, posting a 4.41 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in 34.2 innings, and he will compete with Javier Assad for the No. 5 starter job this spring.
Cincinnati Reds: 3B Noelvi Marte
It's not clear exactly how Marte fits into the Reds' plans for 2023, especially if they don't end up trading Jonathan India, but that's a good problem to have. The prospect centerpiece in the blockbuster deal that sent Luis Castillo to Seattle, Marte hit .316/.366/.456 for a 120 OPS+ with 10 extra-base hits and six steals in 35 games after making his MLB debut on Aug. 19. Right-hander Connor Phillips could also be a factor early in the 2024 season.
Milwaukee Brewers: LHP Robert Gasser
An eight-year, $82 million extension all but assures Jackson Chourio will be part of the Opening Day roster, but that doesn't automatically make him the most big league ready, considering he only played six games at Triple-A. Meanwhile, Gasser spent the entire 2023 season at Triple-A, finishing 9-1 with a 3.79 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 166 strikeouts in 135.1 innings after coming over from San Diego in the Josh Hader trade at the 2022 deadline.
Pittsburgh Pirates: RHP Jared Jones
The Pirates welcomed a long list of prospects to the majors in 2023, and while there is still plenty of high-ceiling talent in the system, it might be a year or two before the next wave arrives. Paul Skenes could pitch his way into the MLB rotation this spring, but after a shaky pro debut, he might also need some seasoning in the minors. Jones, 22, has steadily climbed the ladder since going No. 44 overall in 2020, logging a 3.85 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 146 strikeouts in 126.1 innings in the upper minors in 2023.
St. Louis Cardinals: SS Masyn Winn
Defensively, Winn is ready to take over as the starting shortstop in St. Louis, and the versatility of incumbent Tommy Edman makes it easy to clear a path. The 21-year-old hit .288/.359/.474 with 18 home runs, 61 RBI and 17 steals in 105 games at Triple-A, providing plenty of reason for optimism that he can improve on the .172 average and 29 OPS+ he logged in 137 plate appearances after making his MLB debut on Aug. 18.
National League West
6 of 6
Arizona Diamondbacks: OF Dominic Fletcher
It's tempting to say Jordan Lawlar here after he played his way onto the D-backs playoff roster, but part of the consideration is each player's path to playing time, and he is firmly blocked by Geraldo Perdomo and Eugenio Suárez on the left side of the infield. On the other hand, Fletcher seems like the front-runner for the fourth outfielder job, and he hit an impressive .301/.350/.441 with 0.7 WAR in 28 games in the majors in 2023.
Colorado Rockies: 1B/OF Hunter Goodman
One of the most productive power hitters in the minors, Goodman had a 36-homer, 106-RBI campaign in 2022, and he followed that up with a .919 OPS, 30 doubles, 34 home runs and 111 RBI in 106 games between Double-A and Triple-A in 2023. The 24-year-old was originally drafted as a catcher, but he played exclusively first base and right field in a 23-game audition over the final month. Could he win a starting job in the Colorado outfield this spring?
Los Angeles Dodgers: 2B/3B Michael Busch
After hitting .323/.431/.618 with 26 doubles, 27 home runs and 90 RBI in 98 games at Triple-A Oklahoma City in 2023, Busch is the definition of a prospect with nothing left to prove in the minors. The 26-year-old hit just .167 with 27 strikeouts in 81 plate appearances in sporadic MLB action, but he should get a long look for a bench spot this spring.
San Diego Padres: RHP Randy Vásquez
The Padres acquired Vásquez as part of the Juan Soto trade with the New York Yankees, and after he posted a 2.87 ERA in 37.2 innings spanning five starts and six relief appearances last season, he has a real shot at winning a rotation spot this spring. Tip of the cap to Arizona Fall League MVP Jakob Marsee, who could find his way into a prominent role in a gutted San Diego outfield if no outside additions are made before Opening Day.
San Francisco Giants: LHP Kyle Harrison
Harrison still has work to do refining his command, evidenced by his 48 walks in 65.2 innings at Triple-A last season, but there is also zero question he has the stuff to get big league hitters out right now. The 22-year-old posted a 4.15 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and a 35-to-11 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 34.2 innings after debuting on Aug. 22 last year, and all signs point to him breaking camp with a spot in the MLB rotation.
.jpg?w=600 "Why Walker Knew He'd Leave Seahawks")
.jpg?w=600 "Report: Giants Signing Veteran DT")
.png?w=600 "Cardinals WR Recruiting Rodgers 👀")
.jpg?w=600 "Old Teams Eyeing Clowney")