MLB Pipeline will reveal its 2024 Prime 100 Prospects record at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Jan. 26, with a one-hour present on MLB Community and MLB.com. Main as much as the discharge of the Prime 100, we’ll study baseball’s high 10 prospects at every place.
The final two gamers to headline our Prime 10 catching prospects lists, Adley Rutschman (2022) and Francisco Álvarez (2023), each ranked as the very best general prospect in baseball at one level. This 12 months’s finest catcher, Ethan Salas, may pull off the identical feat within the close to future.
The highest-rated expertise within the 2023 worldwide class, Salas signed with the Padres for $5.6 million that January. By the top of his first skilled season, he already had reached Double-A and ranked fifth on MLB Pipeline’s Prime 100 Prospects record — regardless of being simply 17 years outdated.
Salas in all probability will not make his massive league debut till 2025 on the earliest, which is true of all however one in all our Prime 10 catchers. The lone exception is Jeferson Quero, who’s already Milwaukee’s finest defensive possibility behind the plate and may floor at American Household Subject after a while in Triple-A.
1. Ethan Salas, Padres (2025)2. Samuel Basallo, Orioles (2025)3. Jeferson Quero, Brewers (2024)4. Harry Ford, Mariners (2025)5. Kyle Teel, Pink Sox (2025)6. Dalton Dashing, Dodgers (2025)7. Blake Mitchell, Royals (2027)8. Moises Ballesteros, Cubs (2026)9. Edgar Quero, White Sox (2025)10. Diego Cartaya, Dodgers (2025)Full record »
Prime 10 prospects by place:1/16: RHP1/17: LHP1/18: C1/19: 1B1/22: 2B1/23: 3B1/24: SS1/25: OF1/26: Prime 100
Hit: Basallo (60)Basallo made a spectacular full-season debut at age 18 final summer time, batting .313 and ending fourth within the Minors with a 162 wRC+ whereas rising from Single-A to Double-A. Extraordinarily superior for his age, he controls the strike zone and makes lots of exhausting contact.
Energy: Salas, Basallo (60)Each Salas and Basallo could possibly be 30-homer threats of their prime, particularly as soon as they add some energy and be taught to drive the ball within the air on a extra common foundation. Each have fast left-handed swings, tall and projectable frames and hitting skill effectively past their years.
Run: Ford (60)Uncommon for a catcher, Ford possesses reputable plus velocity and has swiped 50 bases in 63 makes an attempt (79 p.c) in 241 professional video games. His athleticism has prompted comparisons to Craig Biggio, who spent the primary 4 massive league seasons of his Corridor of Fame profession behind the plate.
Arm: Mitchell (70)The eighth general decide within the 2023 Draft as a catcher, Mitchell would have merited top-two-rounds curiosity as a pitcher as a result of he had a straightforward supply that produced fastballs as much as 97 mph, downer curveballs and promising changeups with tumble. His plus-plus arm energy will probably be a helpful weapon as groups want to steal extra usually as of late.
Subject: J. Quero (70)Quero received a Minor League Gold Glove in 2023 and it was effectively deserved. His receiving, framing and blocking expertise rank among the many finest within the Minors and are very superior for a 21-year-old.
Highest ceiling: SalasSalas held his personal as a 17-year-old who rocketed to Double-A in his professional debut, and he has the possibility to have 4 plus or higher instruments whereas staying behind the plate. One membership instructed the Padres that given his age and upside, their analysts considered Salas as probably the most useful expertise within the sport — within the Majors or Minors.
Highest ground: J. QueroQuero’s protection is so good that it alone just about ensures him an extended profession as a minimum of a backup. He is additionally a profession .278/.349/.445 hitter in three professional seasons regardless of constantly being one of many youngest gamers in his leagues, so he ought to present sufficient offense to be a minimum of a strong common.
Rookie of the Yr candidate: J. QueroQuero is the one one in all our Prime 10 catchers projected to succeed in the Majors in 2024, so he is the plain selection right here. His protection is forward of his offense, so he isn’t prone to make a robust push for ROY honors.
Highest riser: BasalloEntering the 2023 season, Basallo had but to play full-season ball and ranked twelfth in a deep Orioles system. Now he is considered having one of many highest offensive ceilings within the Minors and can place almost as excessive on our soon-to-be-released 2024 Prime 100.
Humblest starting: E. QueroNeither Quero signed for giant cash on the worldwide market, with Jeferson turning professional for $200,000 out of Venezuela in 2019 and Edgar receiving the identical bonus out of Cuba two years later. Jeferson’s defensive upside was apparent on the similar stage, so Edgar will get the nod on this class.
Most to show: CartayaAfter profitable Dodgers Minor League Participant of the Yr honors in 2022 with an .892 OPS and 22 homers between two Class A stops at age 20, Cartaya appeared poised to succeed the graduating Alvarez as the very best catching prospect in baseball. As an alternative, he hit .189/.278/.379 in Double-A, elevating big considerations about his bat.
Regulate: Austin Wells, YankeesWith Kyle Higashioka heading to the Padres within the Juan Soto commerce, Wells ought to share Yankees catching duties with Jose Trevino in an offense/protection platoon. A well-rounded hitter who comes with questions on his receiving and throwing, he slashed .238/.332/.449 with 21 homers between 4 ranges a 12 months in the past, together with 4 homers in 19 video games with New York.