1. Athletics 1B Nick Kurtz (22, AAA)
I have no idea how or when he’s going to crack the lineup, but I feel more confident in him as an impact hitter during his rookie year than I do about pretty much anyone else left in the minors. Feels like a dominant hitter in search of a level that can challenge him.
2. Red Sox OF Roman Anthony (20, AAA)
He’s been streaky in early going with 15 strikeouts in 11 games, but he’s also got two homers, ten walks and a 149 wRC+ as one of the youngest players at the level. I’m hesitant to put him first here because it’s hard to see where he’ll fit, and I’m not sure he’ll hit the ground running, but he’s a big time talent who’ll get it figured out and provide power and speed at some point.
3. Pirates RHP Bubba Chandler (22, AAA)
Chandler hasn’t allowed an earned run through two starts covering 6.2 innings, allowing just two hits alongside 12 strikeouts and five walks. I think Carmen Mlodzinski is good enough to stick in that rotation. Andrew Heaney and Mitch Keller are locked into spots. So it comes down to how many starts the team is willing to give Bailey Falter and his 7.20 ERA, and even if/when they bump him, Thomas Harrington is right there and deserving of his own opportunity. Lotta convenient factors lining up to keep Chandler in Indianapolis for a few weeks.
4. Twins 2B Luke Keaschall (22, AAA)
Minnesota has been playing Edouard Julien at second base, and he’s been fine so far, but Keaschall gives them a right-handed option who strikes out quite a bit less than Julien. He’s typically been under 20 percent throughout his pro career, whereas Julien lives in the 30 percent neighborhood. Keaschall is slashing .291/.415/.419 with a 19.5 percent strikeout rate through ten games. Brooks Lee and Royce Lewis are complicating factors, but Keaschall’s bat can clear its own path.
5. Orioles C Samuel Basallo (20, AAA)
Like everyone else on this list, Basallo faces a complicated path to playing time. Unlike anyone else on this list, he’ll be catcher-eligible with a topside something like Yordan Alvarez.
6. Twins RHP Zebby Matthews (24, AAA)
David Festa got the first call from the minors this year and pitched well enough to ring the bell for round two. Here’s what I wrote this week in Prospect news: Feel The Peña Everyone or Take Zac Veen:
“Matthews (24, AAA) is throwing harder than ever, sitting in the high 90’s as he dispatches with minor league hitters. Through two starts covering ten innings, he’s got 13 strikeouts alongside a 1.30 ERA and 0.60 WHIP. Chris Paddack has looked helpless both times he’s taken the mound this year. Maybe he’d be okay in relief, but I think Minnesota is throwing good money after bad here in letting Paddack make starts that should be going to one of the team’s many minor league options (Matthews, Andrew Morris, Marco Raya, David Festa).”
7. Diamondbacks SS Jordan Lawlar (22, AAA)
I’ve been pumping the brakes on doing this first stash list because I feel like a broken record: this player is good and waiting for his opportunity. Lawlar’s striking quite a bit in the early going but has been heating up since we turned the page on March, slashing .286/.362/.452 with a home run and two steals over his last ten games.
8. Brewers RHP Jacob Misiorowski (23, AAA)
He’s surrendered just three hits in three starts covering 13.2 innings, so while he’s allowed ten walks among his 16 strikeouts. That’s not likely to fly in the majors, but the crew needs all the pitchers it can get, and Misiorowski is a pitcher they can get.
9. Guardians 2B Travis Bazzana (22, AA)
Cleveland hasn’t had a rocketship prospect in long enough that it’s unclear how they’ll handle Bazzana. They’ve had a million good prospects, of course, but you develop the first overall pick out of college a bit differently than you do a standard dude. Nonetheless, my org-based read on this is Bazzana will spend most of the season in the minors. He’s slashing .320/.414/.560 with one home run and two stolen bases through six games, so he can likely accelerate the timeline with these kinds of outcomes.
10. Royals 1B Jac Caglianone (22, AA)
He should probably graduate Double-A any day now, slashing .333/.389/.600 with two home runs and a 19.4 percent strikeout rate through seven games.
Thanks for reading!
