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MLB Pipeline will utter its 2024 Top 100 Possibilities checklist at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Jan. 26, with a one-hour demonstrate on MLB Network and MLB.com. Leading as a lot as the open of the Top 100, we’ll mediate about baseball’s prime 10 potentialities at every position.
In an perfect world, groups would have faith a valid thumper to birth with unpleasant, a man who can take a seat somewhere within the course of the lineup and be a valid trek producer. The groups with potentialities on this prime 10 checklist hope these players can fit the prototype for the infield nook position.
There’s been a valid amount of turnover from the 2023 preseason version of this checklist, with the tip two — Triston Casas of the Purple Sox and the A’s Tyler Soderstrom — graduating off prospect lists, as have faith fellow A’s prospect Jordan Diaz and the Rockies’ Michael Toglia. The Rays’ Xavier Isaac jumps from 9 to the tip put of residing whereas Kyle Manzardo moves up one slot, from three to 2, albeit with a clear group.
The Cubs will have faith a charming logjam within the prolonged trek. If the recently got Michael Busch settles in to birth with in Chicago, they’ll then have faith two on the tip 10 under at the upper ranges of the procedure awaiting an opportunity.
1. Xavier Isaac, Rays (2026)
2. Kyle Manzardo, Guardians (2024)
3. Nolan Schanuel, Angels (2024)
4. Abimelec Ortiz, Rangers (2025)
5. Tyler Locklear, Mariners (2024)
6. Matt Mervis, Cubs (2024)
7. Blaze Jordan, Purple Sox (2025)
8. Nathan Martorella, Padres (2025)
9. Spencer Horwitz, Blue Jays (2024)
10. Haydn McGeary, Cubs (2025)
Total checklist »
Top 10 potentialities by position:
1/16: RHP
1/17: LHP
1/18: C
1/19: 1B
1/22: 2B
1/23: 3B
1/24: SS
1/25: OF
1/26: Top 100
Hit: Schanuel (60)
As a junior at Florida Atlantic in 2023, Schanuel led all Division I hitters in batting common (.447), on-unpleasant percentage (.615) and walks (71). He left FAU with a occupation .386/.516/.698 line after which made a beeline to the broad leagues after the Angels took him within the first spherical closing July, posting a .992 OPS over 22 Minor League games after which reaching unpleasant in all 29 games for the length of his Vital League debut.
Vitality: Isaac (65)
Isaac was as soon as a chunk of a surprise first-rounder in 2022, nonetheless he began to illustrate why the Rays loved him sufficient to purchase him No. 29 overall for the length of his first fleshy season of authentic ball. He began to with out a doubt faucet into his appreciable raw pop whereas playing all over two ranges of A ball, mashing 19 homers and slugging .521. He made a large splash for the length of his 12-sport taste of High-A ball, with a 1.389 OPS and six homers.
Hotfoot: Schanuel (50)
There are no longer any speedsters in this set up, and groups most ceaselessly don’t look wheels at this position. Schanuel received’t defend many races, nonetheless he’s a solid runner with valid instincts, which enabled him to proceed 25-for-27 in stolen-unpleasant makes an are trying in 2022 and 2023 blended at FAU.
Arm: Isaac, Schanuel, Locklear, Mervis, Jordan, Martorella, McGeary (50)
No hoses right here, nonetheless a couple of of those guys had been third basemen within the past and had sufficient arm from the unusual nook, even supposing no longer basically the differ, to stay there.
Discipline: Isaac, Manzardo, Schanuel (50)
This year’s set up of first basemen don’t seem love they’ll contend for Gold Gloves at this level, nonetheless this trio will be factual ravishing at the put of residing. Isaac has enhanced his conditioning to befriend his agility in and all around the ranking and Manzardo has labored to toughen his overall defensive play as properly.
Absolute best ceiling: Isaac
Isaac has an even bigger up arrow subsequent to his title than anybody on this checklist, with many evaluators feeling he’s factual scratching the outside of his offensive capacity. The left-handed hitter will be factual 20 for all of the 2024 season and we could well very properly be having a inquire at the sole vitality hitting prospect within the sport by the tip of the year.
Absolute best floor: Schanuel
The vitality hasn’t shown up for the length of his brief authentic occupation, yet. But given how stepped forward his approach is — he’s walked more than he’s struck out in 51 whole games — he’s a beautiful to find bet to hit properly sufficient to be a solid enormous leaguer … and there goes to be some extra-unpleasant authority to attain befriend.
Rookie of the Year Award candidate: Manzardo
Different and capability could well meet up right here completely. The Guardians got Manzardo from the Rays within the Aaron Civale deal closing July. He’s prolonged had a reputation as a fancy hitter and he started showing some increasing vitality within the Arizona Drop League closing year (.565 SLG), with more to attain befriend now that he’s set up a shoulder ruin that slowed him closing year within the befriend of him.
Absolute best riser: Ortiz
Ortiz is a fabricated from the Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy in Puerto Rico who went on to Florida SouthWestern Converse College, a two-year college, earlier than signing as a nondrafted free agent in 2021 for factual $20,000. Unranked on the Rangers’ Top 30 before every thing up of the 2023 season, he burst on the scene this past season, finishing among the Minor League leaders in home runs (31), slugging (.619) and OPS (.990) after which posted a 1.060 OPS within the AFL.
Humblest foundation: McGeary
McGeary wasn’t on the Cubs’ Top 30 both before every thing up of the 2023 season. Chicago nabbed him out of Division II Colorado Mesa University in Spherical 15 of the 2022 Draft and signed him for the slot for Day 3 draftees ($125Okay). He’s moved swiftly thru the procedure, reaching Double-A in 2023 whereas his raw vitality started showing up (19 homers).
Most to prove: Mervis
In 2022, Mervis jumped on the prospect scene by hitting .309 with 36 homers and 119 RBIs whereas reaching Triple-A, having a inquire love the Cubs’ first baseman of the prolonged trek. He didn’t discover quite loads of time to illustrate what he could well in Chicago, factual 99 plate appearances, nonetheless had factual a .531 OPS in that time. He did post a .932 OPS in Triple-A closing year, nonetheless he’s turning 26 in April and the Cubs brought in Michael Busch to presumably play first within the broad leagues, so Mervis will must demonstrate he belongs within the lineup.
Retain an peep on: Garrett Forrester, Pirates
Forrester was as soon as a three-year starter at Oregon Converse and did nothing nonetheless hit there, culminating with a junior year whereby he hit .341/.485/.522 with 10 homers. That landed him within the third spherical with the Pirates, a company that does no longer have faith quite loads of depth at this position within the procedure. Don’t be surprised to inquire Forrester at the least make it to Double-A in his first fleshy season thanks to his stepped forward approach at the plate.
