Each MLB Team's Top Prospect on the 2024 Opening Day Roster Bubble
Spring training is here, and one of the biggest storylines this time of year is top prospects making their case for a spot on the big league roster.
Last season, Gunnar Henderson (BAL), Corbin Carroll (ARI), Jordan Walker (STL), Anthony Volpe (NYY), Triston Casas (BOS), Josh Jung (TEX), Hunter Brown (HOU), Miguel Vargas (LAD) and Ezequiel Tovar (COL) headlined a deep class of rookies on Opening Day rosters.
Ahead we've taken a closer look at each team's top prospect who enters this preseason squarely on the roster bubble. For this debate, prospects who appear to be a lock for the Opening Day roster like Evan Carter (TEX), Colt Keith (DET), Nolan Schanuel (LAA), Kyle Harrison (SF), Michael Busch (CHC) and Dominic Fletcher (CWS) were excluded from the conversation.
Instead, the focus is on guys who will be competing for a chance to start the season with the big league club.
American League East
1 of 6
Baltimore Orioles: SS Jackson Holliday
Holliday hit .323/.442/.499 with 51 extra-base hits and 101 walks in 125 games across four minor league levels last season, closing out the year at Triple-A Norfolk. With Gunnar Henderson capable of playing shortstop and Jorge Mateo still on the roster, the Orioles have no reason to rush him to the majors, but a strong spring could make it difficult to keep him down any longer.
Boston Red Sox: OF Wilyer Abreu
The No. 22 prospect in the Red Sox system heading into the 2023 season, Abreu posted a .930 OPS with 22 home runs and 65 RBI in 86 games at Triple-A before making his MLB debut on Aug. 22. The 24-year-old hit .316/.388/.474 with two home runs and 14 RBI in 28 games, and for the time being he has a clear path to win a roster spot, though an outside addition is still possible.
New York Yankees: C Austin Wells
Wells will need to look the part defensively this spring to secure his place on the Opening Day roster, though the offseason trade of Kyle Higashioka does help his chances of getting the nod. Veteran Jose Trevino is back to fill one catcher spot, but Ben Rortvedt is also still on the 40-man roster if the Yankees decide Wells needs a bit more defensive seasoning.
Tampa Bay Rays: SS/3B Junior Caminero
One of baseball's elite prospects, Caminero hit .324/.384/.591 with 31 home runs and 94 RBI in 117 games between High-A and Double-A before making his MLB debut as a September call-up and earning a spot on the postseason roster. The Rays plan to go with José Caballero as the starting shortstop to open the year, and Isaac Paredes is back at third base, so if there is no path to regular playing time, it makes sense to start him back at Triple-A.
Toronto Blue Jays: RHP Yariel Rodríguez
Rodríguez signed a five-year, $32 million contract in January, and while he has a ton of upside, he has not pitched competitively since the 2023 World Baseball Classic. He was a full-time reliever in Japan in 2022, but started for Team Cuba in the WBC, and if the Blue Jays intend to use him in that role, they could decide to stretch him out at Triple-A before he makes his MLB debut.
American League Central
2 of 6
Chicago White Sox: OF Zach DeLoach
DeLoach hit .286/.387/.481 with 30 doubles, 23 home runs and 88 RBI in 138 games at Triple-A last season, and the White Sox acquired him from the Seattle Mariners in the deal that sent reliever Gregory Santos the other way. The 25-year-old has little left to prove in the minors and the White Sox are retooling, so a strong spring could vault him into a prominent role.
Cleveland Guardians: SS Brayan Rocchio
First baseman Kyle Manzardo will get a long look this spring, but if Rule 5 pick Deyvison De Los Santos makes the team, it will be hard to find a spot for him on the Opening Day roster. The bigger roster battle is at shortstop, where Gabriel Arias is the front-runner to win the job, but Rocchio could easily swoop in with a strong spring. The 23-year-old hit .280/.367/.421 with 46 extra-base hits and 25 steals in 116 games at Triple-A.
Detroit Tigers: RHP Sawyer Gipson-Long
The TIgers acquired Gipson-Long in the deal that sent Michael Fulmer to the Minnesota Twins at the 2022 deadline, and he opened 2023 as the No. 19 prospect in the Tigers system. Injuries opened the door for him to get his first MLB opportunity in September, and he posted a 2.70 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 26 strikeouts in 20 innings over four starts. With Kenta Maeda and Jack Flaherty added in free agency, the rotation is crowded, but he has earned an extended look.
Kansas City Royals: IF Nick Loftin
Loftin hit .323/.368/.435 with six extra-base hits and 0.6 WAR in 19 games as a September call-up last season, and he has seen time at all four infield positions during his pro career since going No. 32 overall in the 2020 draft. The additions of Adam Frazier and Garrett Hampson in free agency mean a less clear path to the Opening Day roster, but his versatility helps his case.
Minnesota Twins: RHP David Festa
There is a good chance the Twins will start the year without a rookie on the Opening Day roster, but keep an eye on Festa as a dark horse in the race for the No. 5 starter job. Veteran Anthony DeSclafani and hard-throwing Louie Varland are the leading candidates to round out the rotation, but Festa is also on the 40-man roster and after posting a 4.19 ERA with 119 strikeouts in 92.1 innings in the upper levels of the minors he is knocking on the MLB door.
American League West
3 of 6
Houston Astros: IF Trey Cabbage
The Astros acquired Cabbage from the Los Angeles Angels in January, and he is coming off a huge season in the minors. The 26-year-old hit .306/.379/.596 with 30 home runs and 32 steals in 107 games at Triple-A, and while that was accompanied by a strikeout rate near 30 percent, it's difficult to ignore that type of production. He could compete with fellow prospect Grae Kessinger for the final spot on the bench this spring.
Los Angeles Angels: IF Kyren Paris
Paris took a step forward offensively in 2023 when he hit .255/.393/.417 with 23 doubles, 14 home runs and 44 steals in 113 games at Double-A. The 22-year-old has always been viewed as a solid defender up the middle with plus speed, so his offensive game will be the ticket to carving out an MLB role. He will compete with Michael Stefanic and non-roster invitee Richie Martin for the backup infield spot.
Oakland Athletics: SS Darell Hernaiz
The Athletics could simply go with some combination of Nick Allen and Aledmys Díaz at shortstop to begin the season, but Hernaiz has earned a long look this spring, and he has a much higher ceiling than that incumbent duo. Acquired in the deal that sent Cole Irvin to Baltimore last offseason, Hernaiz hit .321/.386/.456 with 45 extra-base hits and 13 steals in 131 games between Double-A and Triple-A last year while playing a solid defensive shortstop.
Seattle Mariners: RHP Ty Adcock
The Mariners have welcomed several high-profile prospects in the big leagues in recent seasons, but there stands to be a bit of a lull with most of their current top prospect talent still in the lower levels of the minors. Adcock, 27, had a 1.74 ERA, 0.68 WHIP and 9.6 K/9 in 19 appearances in the minors last season, and he also made his MLB debut in June. With an upper 90s fastball and wipeout slider, he has the stuff to be a weapon out of the bullpen.
Texas Rangers: OF Wyatt Langford
After a huge junior season at the University of Florida, Langford went No. 4 overall in the 2023 draft and went on to hit .360/.480/.677 with 17 doubles, 10 home runs and 30 RBI in 44 games while reaching Triple-A in his pro debut. The 22-year-old will be in big league camp as a non-roster invitee, and if he tears the cover off the ball all spring, it's not far-fetched to think he could win the open DH job.
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National League East
4 of 6
Atlanta Braves: RHP AJ Smith-Shawver
Max Fried, Spencer Strider, Charlie Morton and Chris Sale are locked into the first four spots in the Atlanta rotation, and sinkerballer Bryce Elder would seem to be the front-runner for the No. 5 job after he was an All-Star in 2023. However, he struggled to a 5.11 ERA and 1.40 WHIP in 13 starts after the All-Star break, and if he scuffles this spring, it could open the door for Smith-Shawver to round out the staff.
Miami Marlins: RHP Max Meyer
Remember him? With a 100 mph fastball and electric slider, Meyer was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2020 draft, and he made his MLB debut in 2022. Unfortunately, he made just two starts before Tommy John surgery derailed his ascent, and he spent all of last season recovering. The 24-year-old is healthy once again, and the Marlins could choose to ease him back into the mix in a bullpen role, which would also serve to limit his innings.
New York Mets: RHP Mike Vasil
With Brett Baty and Mark Vientos both exhausting their rookie status in 2023, the Mets don't have any prospects vying for a spot on the Opening Day roster. That said, if injury strikes in their starting rotation, Vasil could compete with Tylor Megill and Joey Lucchesi to be the next man up for a spot on the staff. The 23-year-old had a 4.65 ERA and 138 strikeouts in 124 innings between Double-A and Triple-A last year.
Philadelphia Phillies: RHP Orion Kerkering
Kerkering posted a 1.51 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 13.2 K/9 in 49 appearances in the minors last year before making his MLB debut as a September call-up and pitching his way onto the postseason roster. The 22-year-old should have a leg up for one of the final spots in the Phillies bullpen.
Washington Nationals: IF Nasim Nuñez
Nuñez hit .225/.341/.286 with 18 extra-base hits in 585 plate appearances at Double-A last season, and his 40-hit, 20-power offensive profile provides little optimism at the plate, but he could be a useful bench piece. The Nationals took him with the No. 5 pick in this year's Rule 5 draft, and with 70-grade speed and Gold Glove-caliber infield defense, he could be a useful bench piece.
National League Central
5 of 6
Chicago Cubs: OF Pete Crow-Armstrong
Crow-Armstrong figures to patrol center field at Wrigley Field for years to come once he stakes claim to the starting job. That said, after going 0-for-14 with seven strikeouts in his first MLB action last season, the Cubs might decide he could use a bit more time in the minors and go with Mike Tauchman in center field. Crow-Armstrong hit .283/.365/.511 with 26 doubles, 20 home runs, 82 RBI and 37 steals in the minors last year.
Cincinnati Reds: IF Noelvi Marté
With Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain, Jonathan India, Jeimer Candelario, Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Marté all vying for playing time on the infield, someone is going to be the odd-man out. If the Reds don't feel they can give Marté everyday playing time, he could be sent back to Triple-A to start the year. The 22-year-old hit .316/.366/.456 with 10 extra-base hits in 123 plate appearances in his MLB debut last year.
Milwaukee Brewers: IFs Joey Ortiz and Tyler Black
Brice Turang and Andruw Monasterio are the incumbents at second base and third base, but don't be surprised if Ortiz and Black give them a serious push for those starting jobs this spring. Ortiz hit .321/.378/.507 with 43 extra-base hits in 88 games at Triple-A last season, while Black posted a .930 OPS with 25 doubles, 12 triples, 18 home runs, 73 RBI and 55 steals in 123 games between Double-A and Triple-A.
Pittsburgh Pirates: LHP Jackson Wolf
Wolf posted a 4.13 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 135 strikeouts in 124.1 innings at Double-A last season, and he also made a spot start in the majors on July 22, tossing five innings of six-hit, three-run ball against the Detroit Tigers to earn the victory. A few weeks later, he was traded to the Pirates in the deal that sent Rich Hill and Ji-Man Choi to the San Diego Padres, and he will be competing for one of the two open spots in the rotation behind Mitch Keller, Martín Pérez and Marco Gonzales.
St. Louis Cardinals: SS Masyn Winn
Winn could be a perennial Gold Glove contender at shortstop, but there are still some unanswered questions about his bat. The 21-year-old hit .172/.230/.238 in 137 plate appearances in the majors last season, and he'll need to show he is capable of more to break camp with the starting shortstop job. The good news is, he hit .288/.359/.474 with 15 doubles, 18 home runs, 61 RBI and 17 steals in 105 games at Triple-A, so the tools are there for him to produce.
National League West
6 of 6
Arizona Diamondbacks: IF Jordan Lawlar
Geraldo Perdomo has earned the first crack at Arizona's starting shortstop job after he was an All-Star last season, but he hit just .214 with a .619 OPS in 221 plate appearances during the second half. Lawlar is waiting in the wings as the shortstop of the future, and he made his MLB debut as a September call-up last season.
Colorado Rockies: OF Hunter Goodman
Goodman has been one of minor league baseball's most productive power hitters in recent seasons, posting huge numbers in 2022 (.926 OPS, 33 2B, 36 HR, 106 RBI) and 2023 (.919 OPS, 30 HR, 34 HR, 111 RBI) while climbing the organizational ladder. Sean Bouchard and non-roster invitee Bradley Zimmer are also in the mix for the vacant right field job.
Los Angeles Dodgers: RHP Kyle Hurt
Hurt racked up 152 strikeouts in 92 innings between Double-A and Triple-A last season using an electric four-pitch arsenal, and while his improving command gives him a better chance of sticking as a starter, the Dodgers might decide his best path to contributing in 2024 is as a multi-inning reliever. If that's the case, the 25-year-old will be in the mix for a bullpen spot this spring.
San Diego Padres: RHP Drew Thorpe
Thorpe went 14-2 with a 2.52 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 182 strikeouts in 139.1 innings in his pro debut last season after going in the second round of the 2022 draft. The Padres acquired him in the Juan Soto blockbuster with the New York Yankees, and while he has not yet made his MLB debut, he has the polish and upside to make the jump straight from Double-A to the Opening Day rotation. Outfielder Jakob Marsee is another player to watch this spring after he took home Arizona Fall League MVP honors.
San Francisco Giants: SS Marco Luciano
It has been treated as a foregone conclusion this offseason that Luciano will be the Giants' starting shortstop in 2024, and while that may very well be the case, he is far from a proven commodity. The 22-year-old hit just .231/.333/.308 for an 80 OPS+ in 45 plate appearances in his debut last season, and questions remain about the defensive side of his game. If he doesn't look ready this spring, the club could go with Casey Schmitt, Tyler Fitzgerald or Otto Lopez at shortstop to open the year.
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