Predicting 10 MLB Prospects Who Will Be Playing in 2025 MLB Postseason
The MLB postseason is an opportunity for rookies to become household names on a national stage, and this season has been no exception.
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio had a two-homer game in the NL Wild Card Series, San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill looked like a seasoned veteran in his playoff debut and Cleveland Guardians slugger Jhonkensy Noel hit one of the biggest home runs in franchise history.
Even the World Series has some rookie flavor, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Dodgers) and Luis Gil (Yankees) both expected to start games, while outfielder Andy Pages (Dodgers) will likely see at least a few starts after his two-homer game in the NLCS.
So which rookies could make their mark in the playoffs next season?
Ahead we've highlighted 10 top prospects with a relatively clear path to playing time for a team that could conceivably make the postseason in 2025.
OF Roman Anthony, Boston Red Sox
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Projected Role: Starting left fielder
The Red Sox have a bit of a logjam in the outfield, even with Tyler O'Neill set to depart in free agency, but they will find a way to clear a path once Roman Anthony is ready for his first shot in the big leagues.
The 20-year-old hit .291/.396/.498 with 32 doubles, 18 home runs, 65 RBI and 21 steals in 119 games between Double-A and Triple-A, and his production actually improved following a second-half promotion to Triple-A as he hit .344 with a .983 OPS in 164 plate appearances in the highest level of the minors.
He will be squarely in the conversation for the No. 1 prospect in baseball heading into the 2025 season, and playing his way to a spot on the Opening Day roster is not out of the question.
OF Chase DeLauter, Cleveland Guardians
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Projected Role: Starting right fielder
If not for suffering a fractured left foot—the same foot he injured during his junior season at James Madison—outfielder Chase DeLauter might have been a key part of the Cleveland Guardians postseason run in 2024.
The 6'3", 235-pound slugger has played just 96 games in the minors since going No. 16 overall in the 2022 draft, but he has produced when healthy, hitting .317/.387/.517 with 32 doubles, 13 home runs and 63 RBI in 406 plate appearances.
The Guardians used a long list of players in right field in 2024, headlined by Will Brennan and Jhonkensy Noel, and while both of those players are capable of being solid contributors, DeLauter has legitimate star potential.
IF Jordan Lawlar, Arizona Diamondbacks
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Projected Role: Starting third baseman
Jordan Lawlar has already made his postseason debut, playing his way onto the Arizona Diamondbacks playoff roster in 2023 after getting a brief taste of the big leagues as a September call-up.
The 22-year-old likely would have received an extended look in the majors in 2024, but a fractured thumb and nagging hamstring injury limited him to just 23 games in the minors. He is playing in the Dominican Winter League to make up for lost time, and he is 8-for-18 with two doubles, two home runs and six RBI through his first five games with Tigres del Licey.
The D-backs have a $15 million club option on Eugenio Suarez, who finished the season strong after an abysmal start. If they decide to cut ties, Lawlar might be the in-house favorite for the third base job. Otherwise, he will be the next man up if injury strikes at several positions across the infield.
1B Coby Mayo, Baltimore Orioles
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Projected Role: Starting first baseman
The Baltimore Orioles were reportedly willing to listen to offers on first baseman Ryan Mountcastle at the trade deadline, and while he ended up staying put, he could be on the block again this offseason.
The 27-year-old posted a 113 OPS+ with 30 doubles, 13 home runs and 63 RBI in 124 games, and he is under club control through 2026, but his salary is set to climb from $4.1 million to a projected $6.6 million.
Moving him would clear a path for top prospect Coby Mayo, who has a higher ceiling, smaller price tag and little left to prove in the minors. The 22-year-old hit .287/.364/.562 with 23 doubles, 22 home runs and 67 RBI in 89 games at Triple-A, though he was just 4-for-41 with 22 strikeouts in limited MLB action.
SP Andrew Painter, Philadelphia Phillies
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Projected Role: No. 5 starter
Andrew Painter was the consensus top pitching prospect in baseball and a candidate to break camp with a spot in the Philadelphia Phillies rotation heading into the 2023 season when he suffered a right elbow injury that ultimately required Tommy John surgery.
He missed the entire 2023 and 2024 regular seasons as a result, but is back in action in the Arizona Fall League where he is shaking off the rust in preparation for a full return in 2025.
Still just 21 years old, he had a 1.56 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 155 strikeouts in 103.2 innings across three minor league levels in 2022, closing out the year at Double-A. If he returns with the same elite-level stuff he showed pre-injury, it might convince the Phillies to cut ties with underperforming veteran Taijuan Walker to open up a spot in the rotation.
C/OF Dalton Rushing, Los Angeles Dodgers
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Projected Role: Backup catcher/left fielder
With incumbent catcher Will Smith signed to a 10-year, $140 million extension in March, the Los Angeles Dodgers started transitioning top prospect Dalton Rushing to left field during the second half of the 2024 season.
That said, with longtime backup Austin Barnes carrying a $3.5 million club option for the 2025 season, the Dodgers could opt to go younger and use Rushing in a hybrid role where he serves as the backup catcher and a part-time starter in left field.
The 23-year-old hit .271/.385/.512 with 21 doubles, 26 home runs and 85 RBI in 114 games between Double-A and Triple-A in 2024, and he is ready to contribute at the MLB level in some capacity.
IF Matt Shaw, Chicago Cubs
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Projected Role: Starting third baseman
The Chicago Cubs' move to acquire Isaac Paredes from the Tampa Bay Rays at the trade deadline has left top prospect Matt Shaw with a less clear path to playing time at the MLB level.
That said, it could be as simple as shifting Paredes into the primary designated hitter role once Shaw is ready for the big leagues, or the Cubs could explore a trade of second baseman Nico Hoerner this winter.
Shaw, 22, has moved quickly through the minors since going No. 13 overall in the 2023 draft, and he hit .284/.379/.488 with 19 doubles, 21 home runs, 71 RBI and 31 steals in 121 games between Double-A and Triple-A in 2024.
SP Brandon Sproat, New York Mets
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Projected Role: No. 4 starter
A second-round pick in the 2023 draft out of the University of Florida, right-hander Brandon Sproat has quickly emerged as one of the top prospects from his draft class following a stellar 2024 campaign.
The 24-year-old did not pitch after signing in 2023, so his pro debut came this year at the High-A level where he posted a 1.07 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 25.1 innings to earn a quick promotion.
He was promoted again to Triple-A late in the year, and all told he posted a 3.40 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 131 strikeouts in 116.1 innings across three levels. With Luis Severino and José Quintana both headed for free agency and Sean Manaea poised to join them with a $13.5 million player option he is likely to decline, Sproat could get a real shot at winning a rotation job next spring.
SP Hurston Waldrep, Atlanta Braves
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Projected Role: No. 4 starter
Rookie Spencer Schwellenbach pitched his way into a key role on the Atlanta Braves staff as the 2024 season progressed, and Hurston Waldrep could follow a similar path next season with a lot up in the air regarding the Atlanta Braves rotation.
Max Fried and Charlie Morton are both free agents, while Spencer Strider is still recovering from Tommy John surgery. That leaves Chris Sale, Reynaldo López and Schwellenbach as the only locks for a spot in the Opening Day rotation.
The No. 24 overall pick in the 2023 draft and a teammate of Brandon Sproat at the University of Florida, Waldrep had a 3.47 ERA, and 97 strikeouts in 93.1 innings over four minor league levels in 2024. He also made a pair of spot starts in the majors before landing on the injured list with elbow inflammation.
IF Cole Young, Seattle Mariners
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Projected Role: Starting second baseman
The Seattle Mariners will likely decline their $12 million club option on second baseman Jorge Polanco this offseason after he hit .213 with a 93 OPS+ in 118 games after coming over in a trade with the Minnesota Twins.
There are several potential options they could explore as an offensive upgrade at the position, but keeping a path clear for top prospect Cole Young could also be a top priority, so a stopgap option might be the route they end up going.
Young, 21, is one of the best pure hitters in the minors and a solid defender at both middle infield spots. He hit .271/.369/.390 with 36 extra-base hits and 23 steals in 124 games as one of the youngest players at the Double-A level. The Mariners sent him to the Arizona Fall League, which might also be an indication they will give him a serious look for the starting job during spring training.
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