Who's Next?: Projecting 10 Top MLB Prospects Who Will Debut Soon
One of the biggest storylines at the start of each season is which prospects played well enough during spring training to earn a spot on the Opening Day roster.
Outfielders Jackson Chourio (Brewers) and Wyatt Langford (Rangers) were among the most highly regarded newcomers who made their MLB debut on Opening Day, while others like Evan Carter (Rangers), Masyn Winn (Cardinals) and Nolan Schanuel (Angels) saw big league action last year but still carried rookie status.
The focus here is not on the prospects who made Opening Day rosters, but on the ones who will headline the next wave of call-ups in the coming weeks.
The following 10 players are all knocking on the door for a spot in the majors, and they all have a high enough ceiling that their respective teams will find a place for them once they are deemed ready, whether they are currently blocked or not.
The focus here was on players who could in theory get the call at any point, so guys like Junior Caminero (Rays), Jordan Lawlar (D-backs) and Brooks Lee (Twins) who are currently dealing with injury issues were not included.
So let's take a look at who's next.
SP Mick Abel, Philadelphia Phillies
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Andrew Painter has the highest ceiling of any pitcher in the Philadelphia Phillies farm system, but with injuries derailing his development, Mick Abel is now next in line to make an impact in the MLB rotation.
The No. 15 overall pick in the 2020 draft, Abel still has significant physical projection remaining in his 6'5", 190-pound frame, but his present stuff is already plenty good enough to profile as a future MLB starter with front-line upside.
The 22-year-old had a 4.13 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 132 strikeouts over 113.1 innings in the upper levels of the minors, and he struck out four of the eight batters he faced over 2.2 scoreless innings during spring training.
Veteran Spencer Turnbull is currently filling in for the injured Taijuan Walker in the MLB rotation, but if another starter goes down or Turnbull struggles, Abel could get a quick promotion.
OF Jordan Beck, Colorado Rockies
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With a strong 6'2", 225-pound frame and good all-around athleticism, Jordan Beck has a chance to fly up top prospect lists this season, but he might just reach the big leagues before he gets a chance.
The 22-year-old hit 33 home runs in 133 games during his sophomore and junior seasons at the University of Tennessee, but some swing-and-miss concerns led to him still being on the board at No. 38 overall in the 2022 draft where the Colorado Rockies scooped him up with an above-slot bonus.
He hit .271/.364/.503 with 34 doubles, 25 home runs, 91 RBI and 20 steals in 126 games between High-A and Double-A last year, and while he logged a 25.2 percent strikeout rate, he also walked at a strong 13.0 percent clip.
After going 10-for-27 with three extra-base hits during spring training, he is off to a red-hot start at Triple-A, going 5-for-12 with two home runs and six RBI over his first three games. The Rockies have a path to playing time in right field if they shift Charlie Blackmon into a full-time DH role.
3B Tyler Black, Milwaukee Brewers
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Through the Milwaukee Brewers' first three games of the new season, Andruw Monasterio, Oliver Dunn and Joey Ortiz have each started a game at third base. That speaks to a team still trying to figure out who is going to see the bulk of the playing time at the hot corner.
The answer could end up being Tyler Black.
The 23-year-old hit .284/.417/.513 with 25 doubles, 12 triples, 18 home runs, 73 RBI, 105 runs scored and 55 steals in 123 games between Double-A and Triple-A last season, and after starting his career as a second baseman, he played primarily at third base in 2023.
While his counting numbers last year jump off the page, an even more encouraging stat was his 88 walks against only 100 strikeouts in 557 plate appearances, showing he has an advanced approach that gives him a high offensive floor.
Black will likely never be more than an average defender, but his work in the batter's box could make him a star.
CF Pete Crow-Armstrong, Chicago Cubs
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The Chicago Cubs decided Pete Crow-Armstrong would benefit from a bit more seasoning in the minors before handing him the starting center field job, but that doesn't mean he is going to be down for long.
Already widely regarded as the best defensive outfielder in the minors and a potential perennial Gold Glove contender once he reaches the big leagues, Crow-Armstrong looked overmatched at the plate in his first taste of the majors last year, going 0-for-14 with seven strikeouts.
The 22-year-old has shown the potential to be an impact offensive player, hitting .283/.365/.511 with 26 doubles, 20 home runs, 82 RBI and 37 steals in 107 games between Double-A and Triple-A last year before he was promoted.
He went just 4-for-29 with nine strikeouts during spring training, so his assignment to Triple-A to start the year was not a surprise. That said, he might be one hot streak at the plate away from returning to the MLB roster.
2B/SS Jackson Holliday, Baltimore Orioles
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With Gunnar Henderson, Jordan Westburg, Ramón Urías and Jorge Mateo all in the mix for playing time at second base, shortstop and third base for the Baltimore Orioles, the team opted to send baseball's top prospect, Jackson Holliday, back to the minors.
However, there's a reason he still has the third-best AL Rookie of the Year odds, behind only Texas Rangers teammates Wyatt Langford and Evan Carter.
The 20-year-old crushed minor league pitching to the tune of a .323/.442/.499 line with 30 doubles, 12 home runs, 75 RBI and 24 steals in 125 games while reaching Triple-A in his first full professional season after going No. 1 overall in the 2022 draft.
He hit .311/.354/.600 with seven extra-base hits in 48 plate appearances during spring training, and has gone 5-for-14 with two doubles, one home run and five RBI in his first three games at Triple-A.
He's ready now, it's just a matter of when he gets the call.
IF/OF Joey Loperfido, Houston Astros
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Joey Loperfido might not have made the Houston Astros roster to kick off the season, but he left the organization with an extremely difficult decision after hitting .382/.488/.588 with six extra-base hits in 41 plate appearances during spring training.
"I told him that at some point this year I could see him impacting our club," Astros manager Joe Espada told reporters. "I also asked him to go down to Triple-A and get some work at first base, like he's done in the past. I think Joey Loperfido definitely put himself on the map, and I think he can help us and he could definitely play at the major league level."
The 24-year-old hit .278/.370/.510 with 27 doubles, 25 home runs, 78 RBI and 27 steals in 124 games across three minor league levels while seeing time at first base, second base and all three outfield spots.
With his defensive versatility and a 50-hit, 50-power, 55-speed offensive profile, it won't be hard to find a role for him on the MLB roster when the time comes.
1B Kyle Manzardo, Cleveland Guardians
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The Cleveland Guardians acquired Kyle Manzardo at the trade deadline last year in a one-for-one swap that sent Aaron Civale to the Tampa Bay Rays, and while the Rays have received a bigger impact in the short-term, the scales could be leveled on that deal in short order.
Manzardo, 23, had a huge season in the minors in 2022, hitting .327/.426/.617 with 26 doubles, 22 home runs and 81 RBI in 93 games. His numbers took a step backward last year, but a left shoulder injury could have been partially to blame.
The Guardians sent him to the Arizona Fall League to make up for the time he missed, and he hit .272/.340/.565 with seven doubles, six home runs and 19 RBI in 22 games.
After finishing 27th in the majors in runs scored in 2023 and with no major offensive additions made during the offseason, it's only a matter of time before the Guardians need an offensive spark, and Manzardo could be the one to provide it.
SP Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates
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It's only a matter of time before Paul Skenes forces the Pittsburgh Pirates' hand thanks to an electric arsenal that gives last year's No. 1 overall pick a chance to be a generational talent on the mound.
The 21-year-old struck out five batters over three perfect innings in his season debut at Triple-A, and with an 80-grade fastball that consistently hits triple digits and a lethal slider, he might already be the best pitcher in the entire Pittsburgh organization.
He went 13-2 with a 1.69 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 209 strikeouts in 122.2 innings last spring at LSU, and while the Pirates have no reason to rush him to the majors, he is also built to be a workhorse with a 6'6", 235-pound frame and clean, easy mechanics.
If Pittsburgh's hot start continues, he can provide a huge in-house reinforcement to the starting rotation.
SP Ricky Tiedemann, Toronto Blue Jays
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The Toronto Blue Jays have one of baseball's top pitching prospects in left-hander Ricky Tiedemann, but he still has some work to do in the minors before he gets his shot in the big leagues.
"We don't need to see [dominance] for him to be someone who's coming here," Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins told reporters, "but it's about getting to a level where his fastball command, his slider usage and changeup usage are at levels where he can do different things to different lineups. He has so much potential, so it's really important for us to help him maximize that time down there."
Injuries and an abundance of caution have limited him to 125.1 professional innings since he was taken in the third round of the 2021 draft, so it's not surprising that the Blue Jays opted to give him more time in the minors.
That said, after he took home Pitcher of the Year honors in the 2023 Arizona Fall League by posting a 2.50 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 23 strikeouts in 18 innings, he could be knocking on the door before the All-Star break.
OF James Wood, Washington Nationals
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Many expect 2023 first-round pick Dylan Crews to make his MLB debut with the Washington Nationals later this season, but before he does, fellow outfielder James Wood is likely next in line for a call-up in the outfield.
The prospect centerpiece of the Juan Soto blockbuster trade with the San Diego Padres, Wood sent his prospect soaring last year when he hit .262/.353/.520 with 28 doubles, 26 home runs, 91 RBI and 18 steals in 129 games between High-A and Double-A.
The 21-year-old then gave the Nationals something to think about this spring when he batted .364/.509/.705 with four home runs in 57 plate appearances, and while he was ultimately optioned to Triple-A, it might not be long before he forces the issue.
He has gone 4-for-10 with five walks in 15 plate appearances over his first three games back with Triple-A Rochester, and with all due respect to Jesse Winker and Eddie Rosario, a starting role will be his the second he is deemed ready.
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