03-04-2023, 06:07 AM
Provided the spread of COVID-19 permits it, Major League Baseball will launch its regular season on July 23, nearly four months after it was originally scheduled to begin. Earlier this month, teams started the build-up proce s by releasing their player pools. The pools can contain up to 60 players, and will dictate which players teams can use throughout the 60-game season. Because there will not be a traditional minor-league season, teams are including prospects in these pools for developmental purposes.As a result, we wanted to highlight one prospect from each team who is worth knowing. We've opted to focus on players who could conceivably contribute this year, even if they aren't likely to crack the Opening Day roster. Do note that we're not, nece sarily, focusing on the best prospect in each system, or even the best prospect who can crack the majors. With that in mind, let's get to busine s.Prospect watch Few prospects stand to benefit from the universal DH more than , who seemed like an Arizona Diamondbacks Jersey impractical fit for the when they acquired him in the trade. Beer is what one might call a profe sional hitter, which is a fancy way of saying he won't add value with his glove or wheels. He has well-above-average strength, and before the year is out he should receive an opportunity to prove he can make consistent hard contact against good pitching. can play a mean outfield and he has the speed, if not the basestealing technique, to be a menace on the basepaths. The biggest concern with him at this point is whether he'll hit enough to become a star. Pache made some progre s in that regard last season, upping his walk rate and even lifting the ball more often in Matt Andriese Jersey Double-A. His power gains didn't translate to Triple-A, but time is on his side as he won't turn 22 until November. At some point this season, Pache could help the big-league team with his glove and his wheels. The haven't added many prospects to their pool, so we're giving the nod to , a right-handed reliever on his third organization since January. Lakins has an average three-pitch arsenal, fastball-cutter-curve, and 16 games' worth of big-league experience. He could probably function in a multi-inning role given he has experience as a starter. The player pool does not yet include , the top prospect gained in the trade. It does include , a catcher who came over as part of the trade. Wong has experienced at second and third base, and figures to profile as Boston's version of . He played well during a limited run at Double-A last season, and the Red Sox could give him a big-league look late this year, either out of curiosity or nece sity. made his big-league debut last year, and he could play a bigger role this season, likely in relief. Alzolay has a quality fastball-curveball combination, but he's struggled to stay on the mound and he needs to improve his changeup and command if he's ever going to stick in a rotation. Before the pandemic, one of the big questions facing the was when they would bring up second baseman . That remains the case now. Madrigal has a special ability to put the bat on the ball -- special enough to so far overcome limited power potential -- and he's considered to be a good runner and fielder. At minimum, he's going to be an interesting player to watch, in part because he's so different from the norm. Right-hander split last season between Double- and Triple-A, positioning himself for a 2020 debut. The circumstances are different, but he should be able to contribute as a starter or reliever thanks to an a sortment of pitches and a bulldog demeanor. We thought there was a chance someone would take right-hander in last year's Rule 5 Draft. He throws a solid fastball and curveball from a steep release point. He's had trouble staying healthy, but if he can stay on the mound he should make his debut this year. is older than the standard prospect (he'll turn 28 during the season's first week) and is on his third organization. Even so, he has a chance to have a career thanks to an arsenal that includes two spin-rate standouts, in his fastball and his curveball. Goudeau spent last season as a starter, but he's more likely to fill a relief role in the majors. There's Alex Avila Jersey a time to get cute and then there's a time to play it straight. Here, we' Eduardo Escobar Jersey re doing the latter by giving the nod to , the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft. Mize has dealt with some injury i sues, but his feel for throwing strikes and well-rounded arsenal (including a trapdoor splitter) should allow him to pitch effectively in the majors as soon as the give him the call. The ' old regime pushed right along through the system last year. He started the season in High-A and finished it in Triple-A, posting shiny ERAs throughout. Despite Javier's high strikeout and walk rates, he's more of a feel-based pitcher than a pure power arm. How exactly the whole package plays in the majors is to be seen, and presumably soon. We're suckers for fast runners, and outfielder is one of the fastest in the minors. His speed and his defense should be enough for him to have a career as a reserve. There's no need to make this more complicated than it needs to be: is the pick here. He's the best prospect in baseball outside of , and he's guaranteed to play in the majors this season. The have some of the most exciting players in the game already, in and and and , and Adell is next in line. He has star-level upside. isn't a top prospect, but he's an intriguing one. Peters is listed at 6-foot-6 and has the impre sive raw power expected from a human being that size. Yet he's also graceful enough, for the time being anyway, to run well and play center field. The amount of swing-and- Archie Bradley Jersey mi s in his game could limit him to Quad-A status, but he should get a chance to prove he can cut it against big-league pitching this year. You can make the case that outfielder has four plus or better tools. The only one lacking is his hit tool, which happens to be the most important of them all. If Harrison can keep his strikeouts in check, he has a high ceiling. Otherwise, he'll fall on the spectrum between second-division starter and reserve. The don't have a great farm system to choose from, so a (likely) reliever gets this spot. has already undergone a pair of elbow surgeries. There's no reason to waste anymore time than is nece sary, then, so the Brewers should give him a look this season in a relief role. His fastball and breaking ball could make him a late-inning option sooner than later. almost certainly would have debuted in the majors last season had he not gotten injured at the same time as . He's a bat-over-glove, power-over-hit first baseman who is a threat to strike out in more than a third of his plate appearances. The snazziest or safest profile it isn't, but he should play in the Show. The ' farm system doesn't provide many options. , a physical left-hander without an outp