51. Tyler Bremner Los Angeles Angels RHP
Ht: 6'2" | Wt: 170 | B-T: R-R
Age: 21
BA Grade/Risk: 55/Average
Adjusted Grade: 45
The Skinny: Bremner’s selection second overall raised eyebrows during the 2025 draft, but his potential justifies the investment. He pairs some of the best command in the class with a three-pitch mix headlined by a 70-grade changeup and a mid-90s fastball. Bremner could move quickly.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 70 | Control: 60
https://www.baseballamerica.com/ranking ... prospects/
1. Tyler Bremner, RHP
Ht: 6'2" | Wt: 170 | B-T: R-R
Age: 21
BA Grade/Risk: 55/Average
Adjusted Grade: 45
Track Record: Bremner spent his first two years at UC Santa Barbara as a swingman, with strong performances as a sophomore and in the summer with USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team making him one of the top arms available in the 2025 draft class. Bremner started slowly as a junior, allowing five home runs and posting a 4.24 ERA with a 26% strikeout rate through his first seven starts. He quickly turned the corner and posted a 2.91 ERA with a 44% strikeout rate with no home runs allowed over his next seven starts, including six double-digit strikeout games, helping him become the Gauchos’ all-time strikeout leader with 295. Bremner pitched the whole season with the declining health of his mother Jennifer on his mind. She tragically died on June 11 after a five-year battle with breast cancer. One month afterward, Los Angeles drafted Bremner second overall and signed him for 75% of slot value at $7,689,525.
Scouting Report: Bremner is a lean 6-foot-2, 190-pound righthander with an ideal starter’s build and foundation for a midrotation future. He works early counts with his lively fastball that sits 94-96 mph and touches 98. His heater can sink to his arm side at the bottom of the zone and ride when elevated, but it was hit hard by amateur hitters who ambushed it early in counts. There are metric qualities—such as 17 inches of induced vertical break—that indicate it should improve with professional pitch design and not see it be purely a velocity-driven plus pitch. Bremner’s mid-80s changeup is a double-plus offering that he can get in and out of jams with, whether by weak contact or swing-and-miss to both righties and lefties. The pitch plays well off his fastball, holding a similar plane with late fade. He can locate it well and will throw it in any count. Bremner’s mid-to-upper-80s slider occasionally flashed above-average as an underclassman, but the consistency and feel backed up during his junior year. Improved breaking ball consistency is an early development focus. With a low-effort, repeatable delivery and a three-quarters arm slot, Bremner is a plus strike-thrower who can locate his three-pitch mix, giving more faith to his starter projection. Questions about his durability in college have carried into pro ball, where general soreness precluded him from getting post-draft reps in instructional league.
https://www.baseballamerica.com/teams/2 ... =preseason
The Future: Bremner has all the ingredients to become a midrotation starter. Some outside the organization believe he will be a rotation option in 2026. An argument can be made that a lengthier focus on pitch design and remaining physical projection could maximize his upside. Bremner looks like a staple in the Angels’ rotation for the next half-decade or more.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 70 | Control: 60
https://www.baseballamerica.com/teams/2 ... =preseason
1. Tyler Bremner, SP
Drafted: 1st Round, 2025 from UC Santa Barbara (LAA)
Age 21.8 Height 6′ 2″ Weight 190 Bat / Thr R / R FV 50
Tool Grades (Present/Future)
Fastball Slider Changeup Command Sits/Tops
55/55 45/55 65/70 40/55 93-97 / 98
The Angels held the draft’s second overall pick in a year characterized by a lack of consensus at the top. True to form, they passed on the higher-ceiling talents expected to go within the first few picks in order to take the draft’s most big league-ready player in Bremner. Were this the NFL, they likely could have traded down to do this. They did manage to sign the former Gaucho for $2.5 million under slot and were able to spread the savings throughout the rest of their draft. Still, consensus was that this was a bit of an overdraft.
Setting aside your and my opinion on the wisdom of the Angels’ draft strategy — see the System Overview for more on that subject — Bremner is a very good pitching prospect. He’s an above-average athlete with an innings-eater’s frame and a long history of peppering the strike zone. His walk rate across three seasons of college baseball was under 2.5 per nine, and he missed a ton of bats alongside. Most of that is due to his 70-grade changeup, a pitch that stands out immediately for its devastating sink, late depth that works against both lefties and righties. He also misses bats with his sinker, which is a little strange, but it works in part because the separation between it and the change has hitters guessing. Finding a better slider is the big developmental goal here, as Bremner’s flashes, but its shape is inconsistent and, uncharacteristically, so is his feel for it.
The big question here is how much learning on the job the Angels will prescribe for Bremner. Each of L.A.’s last three first-round picks boat raced to the big leagues in less than a year, an aggressive timeline that reflects the organization’s tendency to push talented farmhands quickly. Bremner has been invited to big league camp, and while you wouldn’t think he’s likely to crack the club out of spring training, the Angels did that very thing with last year’s second-round pick, Ryan Johnson, who was even greener. Bremner’s control, command, and out pitch would make him a candidate to move quickly in any organization, but my instinct is that it wouldn’t be the worst thing for him to sharpen his slider in a developmentally-appropriate environment. We’ll see if the Angels think overwise.
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/los-angeles ... prospects/
1. Tyler Bremner, RHP
Born: 2004-04-20
B/T: R/R
H: 6′ 2″ W: 190 lbs.
History: Drafted second overall in the 2025 draft, UC Santa Barbara; signed for $7,689,575.
Previous Ranking(s): NR
Major-league ETA: 2027
The Report: If you flashed forward from before the 2025 NCAA season to draft day, you wouldn’t have been surprised to see Bremner come off the board this high, but his junior year for the Gauchos was a little uneven, and we ended up ranking him 23rd on our draft board. First, the good news: Bremner added more ride on his fastball as the college season wore on, making it a true mid-90s bat-misser over the second half of the year. His change-up remained one of the best offspeed pitches around, too, with big arm-side fade, big velocity separation, and strong command in and out of the zone. On the negative side of the ledger, Bremner got off to a rough start on the non-conference slate, and now throws a firmer, more cutterish slider that doesn’t miss enough bats. 95 mph and this quality of change will dominate in college, but he will need to sustain his fastball shape gains (and we usually see regression in the switch to the pro ball) and find a better breaking ball option to continue his success in the minors.
OFP: 55 / no. 3/4 starter
Variance: Medium. Bremner is a prototypical fast-moving, “safe” college arm (which is no doubt why the Angels drafted him), but he will need a better breaking ball in the pros and has already dealt with elbow soreness.
Jesse Roche’s Fantasy Rundown:
Top-500 Dynasty Prospects: 125
Potential Earnings: $15-20
Fantasy Overview: Bremner has a mid-90s fastball with plenty of riding and running action, but it can bleed into a dead- zone shape, and plays down due to poor extension. He is most well- known for his bat-missing changeup, which receives plus-plus grades. It offers has 11-mph velocity separation and 10-inch vertical movement separation from his fastball while also generating a foot-and-a-half running action. Bremner also utilizes a mid-80s slider that lacks enough depth or sweep to be an impact offering. Changeup-oriented right-handed pitchers have mixed success in the majors without a viable breaking ball. Landing with the Angels means Bremner will arrive in the majors quickly, likely as soon as early 2026. Unless pro development unlocks a more viable breaking ball (and his 2024 shape was better), he may have a rough time.
Reckless Fantasy Comp: The best version of Chris Paddack
https://www.baseballprospectus.com/pros ... prospects/
2026 IBC Padres Prospect News & Notes
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2. Ethan Frey, OF
Ht: 6'5" | Wt: 220 | B-T: R-R
Age: 21
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Average
Adjusted Grade: 40
Track Record: Frey made the back of the BA 500 draft ranking out of high school in 2022 as a power-oriented catcher who was already 6-foot-4. He helped lead his Rosepine High team to a pair of Louisiana state titles, then was a part of an LSU team that won national championships in 2023 and 2025. He was a centerpiece of the LSU lineup in 2025, when he hit .331/.420/.641 with 13 home runs and 15 doubles in 62 games. The Astros drafted Frey in the third round in 2025, signing him for $997,500. He debuted after the draft with Low-A Fayetteville and impressed. Over 26 games with the Woodpeckers, he hit .330/.434/.470 with three home runs and nine stolen bases.
Scouting Report: Frey is a tall, athletic righthanded hitter who moves well in the box and in the outfield. He sets up deep into his back leg and uses a toe-tap timing mechanism. He likes to get extended in his swing and shows the ability to adjust to a variety of locations and pitch heights. Frey shows above-average bat-to-ball skills, with a patient approach that can border on passive. He looks to get on base and should run higher walk rates, but he could take more looking strikes than is ideal. Frey has plus raw power and has shown the ability to get into it in games with LSU and post-draft. He produces plus exit velocity data, with a 90th percentile exit velocity of 108.3 mph and a max of 113.8 mph. Frey is an average runner whom the Astros believe can stick in the outfield. He has played some center field but is likely best suited for a corner. His fringe-average arm could be a concern.
The Future: During his outstanding pro debut, Frey showed average hitting ability and the potential for above-average power. He is a future everyday regular in the corner outfield.
Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 60 | Run: 50 | Field: 50 | Arm: 45
10. Ethan Frey, OF
Born: 2004-03-15
B/T: R/R
H: 6′ 6″ W: 225 lbs.
History: Drafted in the third round of the 2025 draft, LSU; signed for $997,500.
Previous Rank: NR
Major League ETA: 2028
Year Team Level Age PA R 2B 3B HR RBI BB K SB CS AVG OBP SLG DRC+ BABIP
2025 FAY Lo-A 21 122 20 5 0 3 17 20 25 9 5 .330 .434 .470 116 .405
The Report: The Astros nabbed Frey in the third round following a breakout junior year in the SEC, one in which he slugged over .600 after seeing only limited time in his first two seasons. Interestingly, in his short stint in Low-A ball after the draft, the Astros employed Frey mostly in center field, which may portend more confidence in an eventual outfield spot than we would have. Beyond that, this is what you’d expect from an SEC corner bat—a three-true-outcome bat who will need to hit his way up the ladder.
OFP: 45 / power-first platoon bat.
Variance: High. Frey will need to sustain his junior performance for more than a year and at higher levels
Jesse Roche’s Fantasy Rundown:
Top-500 Dynasty Prospects: 253
Potential Earnings: $5-10
Fantasy Overview: Frey is a big, 6-foot-6 power hitter with plus-or-better raw power and surprisingly strong bat-to-ball ability. His debut in Single-A turned heads, particularly his excellent contact rates. Frey is a prospect on the rise and should not be overlooked in first-year player drafts. With a strong start in 2026, he is poised to rocket up rankings.
Reckless Fantasy Comp: Why not Jayson Werth?
https://www.baseballprospectus.com/pros ... prospects/
https://www.baseballamerica.com/teams/2 ... =preseason
Ht: 6'5" | Wt: 220 | B-T: R-R
Age: 21
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Average
Adjusted Grade: 40
Track Record: Frey made the back of the BA 500 draft ranking out of high school in 2022 as a power-oriented catcher who was already 6-foot-4. He helped lead his Rosepine High team to a pair of Louisiana state titles, then was a part of an LSU team that won national championships in 2023 and 2025. He was a centerpiece of the LSU lineup in 2025, when he hit .331/.420/.641 with 13 home runs and 15 doubles in 62 games. The Astros drafted Frey in the third round in 2025, signing him for $997,500. He debuted after the draft with Low-A Fayetteville and impressed. Over 26 games with the Woodpeckers, he hit .330/.434/.470 with three home runs and nine stolen bases.
Scouting Report: Frey is a tall, athletic righthanded hitter who moves well in the box and in the outfield. He sets up deep into his back leg and uses a toe-tap timing mechanism. He likes to get extended in his swing and shows the ability to adjust to a variety of locations and pitch heights. Frey shows above-average bat-to-ball skills, with a patient approach that can border on passive. He looks to get on base and should run higher walk rates, but he could take more looking strikes than is ideal. Frey has plus raw power and has shown the ability to get into it in games with LSU and post-draft. He produces plus exit velocity data, with a 90th percentile exit velocity of 108.3 mph and a max of 113.8 mph. Frey is an average runner whom the Astros believe can stick in the outfield. He has played some center field but is likely best suited for a corner. His fringe-average arm could be a concern.
The Future: During his outstanding pro debut, Frey showed average hitting ability and the potential for above-average power. He is a future everyday regular in the corner outfield.
Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 60 | Run: 50 | Field: 50 | Arm: 45
10. Ethan Frey, OF
Born: 2004-03-15
B/T: R/R
H: 6′ 6″ W: 225 lbs.
History: Drafted in the third round of the 2025 draft, LSU; signed for $997,500.
Previous Rank: NR
Major League ETA: 2028
Year Team Level Age PA R 2B 3B HR RBI BB K SB CS AVG OBP SLG DRC+ BABIP
2025 FAY Lo-A 21 122 20 5 0 3 17 20 25 9 5 .330 .434 .470 116 .405
The Report: The Astros nabbed Frey in the third round following a breakout junior year in the SEC, one in which he slugged over .600 after seeing only limited time in his first two seasons. Interestingly, in his short stint in Low-A ball after the draft, the Astros employed Frey mostly in center field, which may portend more confidence in an eventual outfield spot than we would have. Beyond that, this is what you’d expect from an SEC corner bat—a three-true-outcome bat who will need to hit his way up the ladder.
OFP: 45 / power-first platoon bat.
Variance: High. Frey will need to sustain his junior performance for more than a year and at higher levels
Jesse Roche’s Fantasy Rundown:
Top-500 Dynasty Prospects: 253
Potential Earnings: $5-10
Fantasy Overview: Frey is a big, 6-foot-6 power hitter with plus-or-better raw power and surprisingly strong bat-to-ball ability. His debut in Single-A turned heads, particularly his excellent contact rates. Frey is a prospect on the rise and should not be overlooked in first-year player drafts. With a strong start in 2026, he is poised to rocket up rankings.
Reckless Fantasy Comp: Why not Jayson Werth?
https://www.baseballprospectus.com/pros ... prospects/
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Re: 2026 IBC Padres Prospect News & Notes
5. Christian Oppor, SP, CHW
Drafted: 5th Round, 2023 from Gulf Coast CC (FL) (CHW)
Age 21.6 Height 6′ 2″ Weight 175 Bat / Thr L / L FV 50
Tool Grades (Present/Future)
Fastball Slider Changeup Command Sits/Tops
50/60 45/55 60/60 30/45 92-98 / 100
Oppor is an athletic JUCO lefty who has two bat-missing secondaries and has touched 100 mph, but he has a limited track record of strikes and performance.
It’s been a longer wait for Oppor to become a relevant prospect than was anticipated after the A’s used an 11th round pick on the Wisconsin prep lefty back in 2022. He didn’t sign and pitched a year of JUCO ball before the White Sox’s love of their Area Codes players won the day and he was plucked in the fifth round for nearly $150,000 over his slot value. Still, it wouldn’t be until 2025 that Oppor escaped the complex, and he made up for lost time, with the 21-year-old earning a promotion to High-A after the first month and finishing with a combined 116 strikeouts against 42 walks in 87.2 innings of 3.08 ERA ball.
Walks spiked on Oppor during the second half, but so did his stuff, hitting 100 mph on his two-seamer repeatedly down the stretch and finding a sweeper that worked with both his lower arm slot and his pronation inclinations. Oppor gets less arm-side action on his changeup than his heater, which is typically problematic at upper levels, but he has shown the arm speed, velo separation and feel for location to carve with it (47% miss rate) thus far. Still slenderly built after some strength gains, Oppor’s delivery is both fluid and easy-looking, and also kinda weird. He lands with his front foot still closed off to the plate, pinning it to the ground so he can crossfire around it with a uniquely short stride. Along with a fastball that gets over a foot of arm-side run, it’s not the most typical look for commanding the glove side to right-handers.
There’s a threadbare history of strike-throwing here, especially with any spin, but the emergence of above-average left-handed velocity, his dynamic on-mound athleticism, and Oppor’s changeup performance has us buying this as an arrow-up profile.
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/2026-top-100-prospects/
Christian Oppor is actually a natural pronator who has organic feel for a changeup, and actually developing a sweeper that works out of his low slot release was the development breakthrough of his 2025 season (that and maturing into triple-digit velocity). The end result was a 3.08 ERA and 31.7 percent strikeout rate in 87⅔ innings across two levels of A-ball, and even saying that, Oppor was more exciting for his flashes of greatness than overall consistency.
But look where Oppor's front foot lands in his delivery. I had been wanting to talk to Bannister about it since the moment I first noticed it.
He keeps his front toe pointed basically toward the first base dugout (just for a moment), and then crossfires around it. It's weird! Unsurprisingly, Bannister digs it, and not just because it's weird, but rather due to the extra half-second it keeps Oppor's front shoulder closed off from the opposing hitter.
"The lefties that have an ability to stay closed longer than other lefties, and certainly their righty counterparts, it just feels like they have massive deception," Bannister. "If their stuff is equivalent to a righty, it already out-performs, and then if there's a layer of visual deception on top of it, it just plays up that's much more. With Chris Sale, or Carlos Rodón or anybody I've had that has the ability to stay closed -- Garrett Crochet was that way -- it just gives hitters fits."
Despite his readily apparent athleticism, Oppor actually gets well below-average extension. But a uniquely short stride can often wind up being a strange look to give a hitter on its own, and combined with Oppor's distinctly crossfire angle of attack, Bannister is in favor of maintaining something that offers a possibly unquantifiable edge.
"I honestly think it's the last frontier in pitching," Bannister said. "We've solved a lot of things. But the visual deception component and timing deception is far and away what [research and development] departments struggle with quantifying the most, and quantifying it in their models. Between scouts and R&D, it's the hardest component to tackle. So when guys have weird and quirky things, or unique ways they move, or timing cadences in their delivery, those guys become even more valuable."
Like Shane Smith's rushed tempo leg kick.
"It gives hitters fits. [Clayton] Kershaw had the hitch, or Tyler Anderson, give me those types of guys all day long. Because everyone at this point can pitch design. Everybody can quantify the value of pitches in the strike zone. What they can't change is the visual and timing of the delivery that gets the ball to that point. So now it's to the point where the weirder you are, the more I like you."
https://soxmachine.com/2026/02/talking- ... -prospects
Drafted: 5th Round, 2023 from Gulf Coast CC (FL) (CHW)
Age 21.6 Height 6′ 2″ Weight 175 Bat / Thr L / L FV 50
Tool Grades (Present/Future)
Fastball Slider Changeup Command Sits/Tops
50/60 45/55 60/60 30/45 92-98 / 100
Oppor is an athletic JUCO lefty who has two bat-missing secondaries and has touched 100 mph, but he has a limited track record of strikes and performance.
It’s been a longer wait for Oppor to become a relevant prospect than was anticipated after the A’s used an 11th round pick on the Wisconsin prep lefty back in 2022. He didn’t sign and pitched a year of JUCO ball before the White Sox’s love of their Area Codes players won the day and he was plucked in the fifth round for nearly $150,000 over his slot value. Still, it wouldn’t be until 2025 that Oppor escaped the complex, and he made up for lost time, with the 21-year-old earning a promotion to High-A after the first month and finishing with a combined 116 strikeouts against 42 walks in 87.2 innings of 3.08 ERA ball.
Walks spiked on Oppor during the second half, but so did his stuff, hitting 100 mph on his two-seamer repeatedly down the stretch and finding a sweeper that worked with both his lower arm slot and his pronation inclinations. Oppor gets less arm-side action on his changeup than his heater, which is typically problematic at upper levels, but he has shown the arm speed, velo separation and feel for location to carve with it (47% miss rate) thus far. Still slenderly built after some strength gains, Oppor’s delivery is both fluid and easy-looking, and also kinda weird. He lands with his front foot still closed off to the plate, pinning it to the ground so he can crossfire around it with a uniquely short stride. Along with a fastball that gets over a foot of arm-side run, it’s not the most typical look for commanding the glove side to right-handers.
There’s a threadbare history of strike-throwing here, especially with any spin, but the emergence of above-average left-handed velocity, his dynamic on-mound athleticism, and Oppor’s changeup performance has us buying this as an arrow-up profile.
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/2026-top-100-prospects/
Christian Oppor is actually a natural pronator who has organic feel for a changeup, and actually developing a sweeper that works out of his low slot release was the development breakthrough of his 2025 season (that and maturing into triple-digit velocity). The end result was a 3.08 ERA and 31.7 percent strikeout rate in 87⅔ innings across two levels of A-ball, and even saying that, Oppor was more exciting for his flashes of greatness than overall consistency.
But look where Oppor's front foot lands in his delivery. I had been wanting to talk to Bannister about it since the moment I first noticed it.
He keeps his front toe pointed basically toward the first base dugout (just for a moment), and then crossfires around it. It's weird! Unsurprisingly, Bannister digs it, and not just because it's weird, but rather due to the extra half-second it keeps Oppor's front shoulder closed off from the opposing hitter.
"The lefties that have an ability to stay closed longer than other lefties, and certainly their righty counterparts, it just feels like they have massive deception," Bannister. "If their stuff is equivalent to a righty, it already out-performs, and then if there's a layer of visual deception on top of it, it just plays up that's much more. With Chris Sale, or Carlos Rodón or anybody I've had that has the ability to stay closed -- Garrett Crochet was that way -- it just gives hitters fits."
Despite his readily apparent athleticism, Oppor actually gets well below-average extension. But a uniquely short stride can often wind up being a strange look to give a hitter on its own, and combined with Oppor's distinctly crossfire angle of attack, Bannister is in favor of maintaining something that offers a possibly unquantifiable edge.
"I honestly think it's the last frontier in pitching," Bannister said. "We've solved a lot of things. But the visual deception component and timing deception is far and away what [research and development] departments struggle with quantifying the most, and quantifying it in their models. Between scouts and R&D, it's the hardest component to tackle. So when guys have weird and quirky things, or unique ways they move, or timing cadences in their delivery, those guys become even more valuable."
Like Shane Smith's rushed tempo leg kick.
"It gives hitters fits. [Clayton] Kershaw had the hitch, or Tyler Anderson, give me those types of guys all day long. Because everyone at this point can pitch design. Everybody can quantify the value of pitches in the strike zone. What they can't change is the visual and timing of the delivery that gets the ball to that point. So now it's to the point where the weirder you are, the more I like you."
https://soxmachine.com/2026/02/talking- ... -prospects
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Re: 2026 IBC Padres Prospect News & Notes
Imagine a 95 or 96 mph fastball coming at you, and there’s no chance to get out of the way.
Pain is sure to follow when it contacts said individual’s body, and that fact holds true even if it’s a slightly lower velocity slider, curve or changeup. Now, imagine getting hit by a pitch 39 times in one season, and you have part of Sam Antonacci’s breakout 2025 campaign.
The 23-year-old -- who ended '25 ranked as Chicago's No. 11 prospect -- was hit 16 times with Double-A Birmingham, 19 times with High-A Winston-Salem and four times with Glendale in the Arizona Fall League. But don’t look for the talented infielder to avoid those baseballs in ’26.
His goal is to get on base, any way possible.
“Definitely hurts a little bit, but you have to grow up at some point and just be able to play through it,” the non-roster invite to White Sox Spring Training told MLB.com prior to Tuesday’s workouts. “It was instilled in me in college, especially when kind of getting screamed at it if I got out of the way. I’m happy I have those teachings.”
Sam Antonacci
Antonacci had 306 plate appearances for Coastal Carolina during the ’24 season and was hit by a pitch 27 times. After he was selected by the White Sox in the fifth round of the ’24 Draft, he was hit another four times with Single-A Kannapolis.
“A lot of bruises,” said a smiling Antonacci. “But it’s part of it.”
“You can tell Sam to get out of the way. He won’t,” said White Sox director of hitting Ryan Fuller of the fast-rising left-handed hitter. “He wants to get on first and you are going to see him steal second and create some havoc out there. A run-producing player.”
There’s certainly more to Antonacci than being able to manage pain for a trip to first base. During his ’25 campaign, primarily with Winston-Salem and Birmingham, Antonacci posted a slash line of .291/.433/.409 with 21 doubles, five home runs, six triples, 57 RBIs, 78 runs scored and 73 strikeouts against 69 walks. His 48 stolen bases ranked second in the organization.
Sam Antonacci
This on-field prowess earned Antonacci a spot on Team Italy’s roster for the upcoming World Baseball Classic. He’ll be teammates with catcher Kyle Teel, a union figuring to play out again during the ’26 White Sox regular season.
“I’m excited to play alongside Teel. That should be fun,” Antonacci said. “Right now, I’m honestly just here to meet all these guys and kind of just get together with them and build on what the White Sox are doing, and then when Team Italy comes, I’ll focus on that. My sole focus is here and getting better with these guys.”
Team Italy contacted Antonacci in November. His great-grandfather is from Italy, and he would like to make that trip in the future.
His mom, Nicki, certainly will have immense pride watching her son in action. She’s not so happy with his propensity to get hit by pitches, as Antonacci explained.
“My mom hates me for it. I found that out in the offseason,” said Antonacci with a laugh. “She said I’m going to get hurt that way.
“She could be right. But I would rather get hurt for wearing a pitch to help my team out than getting out of the way and then striking out. So, she can be mad at that, but we’ll have our differences. I’m just here to try to get on first base.”
There have been near injury moments for Antonacci, but talented trainers and the organization’s recovery programs make sure he’s back on the field the next day. “No pain, no gain,” is a life motto for Antonacci.
“Sam is a gamer. It’s the level of work he puts in the cage,” Fuller said.
“His intent is amazing, but it turns to another level when the game starts. He’s not going to do anything that jumps off the page. He’s not going to hit the hardest balls, but he’s incredibly consistent. You watch him two, three games, you look at the scorecard and it’s, ‘Sam got on base seven times in the last two games.’”
“If that’s part of his game, then some guys, that’s just what they do,” said White Sox manager Will Venable, who was hit by a pitch 26 times during his nine-year Major League career. “He’s definitely that kind of player where he’s not going to shy away from any kind of contact -- certainly not from the ball. If it helps him get on base and he’s not breaking bones, it’s fine by me.”
https://links.mlb.mlbemail.com/s/vb/dC9 ... 1k6HFdg/17
Pain is sure to follow when it contacts said individual’s body, and that fact holds true even if it’s a slightly lower velocity slider, curve or changeup. Now, imagine getting hit by a pitch 39 times in one season, and you have part of Sam Antonacci’s breakout 2025 campaign.
The 23-year-old -- who ended '25 ranked as Chicago's No. 11 prospect -- was hit 16 times with Double-A Birmingham, 19 times with High-A Winston-Salem and four times with Glendale in the Arizona Fall League. But don’t look for the talented infielder to avoid those baseballs in ’26.
His goal is to get on base, any way possible.
“Definitely hurts a little bit, but you have to grow up at some point and just be able to play through it,” the non-roster invite to White Sox Spring Training told MLB.com prior to Tuesday’s workouts. “It was instilled in me in college, especially when kind of getting screamed at it if I got out of the way. I’m happy I have those teachings.”
Sam Antonacci
Antonacci had 306 plate appearances for Coastal Carolina during the ’24 season and was hit by a pitch 27 times. After he was selected by the White Sox in the fifth round of the ’24 Draft, he was hit another four times with Single-A Kannapolis.
“A lot of bruises,” said a smiling Antonacci. “But it’s part of it.”
“You can tell Sam to get out of the way. He won’t,” said White Sox director of hitting Ryan Fuller of the fast-rising left-handed hitter. “He wants to get on first and you are going to see him steal second and create some havoc out there. A run-producing player.”
There’s certainly more to Antonacci than being able to manage pain for a trip to first base. During his ’25 campaign, primarily with Winston-Salem and Birmingham, Antonacci posted a slash line of .291/.433/.409 with 21 doubles, five home runs, six triples, 57 RBIs, 78 runs scored and 73 strikeouts against 69 walks. His 48 stolen bases ranked second in the organization.
Sam Antonacci
This on-field prowess earned Antonacci a spot on Team Italy’s roster for the upcoming World Baseball Classic. He’ll be teammates with catcher Kyle Teel, a union figuring to play out again during the ’26 White Sox regular season.
“I’m excited to play alongside Teel. That should be fun,” Antonacci said. “Right now, I’m honestly just here to meet all these guys and kind of just get together with them and build on what the White Sox are doing, and then when Team Italy comes, I’ll focus on that. My sole focus is here and getting better with these guys.”
Team Italy contacted Antonacci in November. His great-grandfather is from Italy, and he would like to make that trip in the future.
His mom, Nicki, certainly will have immense pride watching her son in action. She’s not so happy with his propensity to get hit by pitches, as Antonacci explained.
“My mom hates me for it. I found that out in the offseason,” said Antonacci with a laugh. “She said I’m going to get hurt that way.
“She could be right. But I would rather get hurt for wearing a pitch to help my team out than getting out of the way and then striking out. So, she can be mad at that, but we’ll have our differences. I’m just here to try to get on first base.”
There have been near injury moments for Antonacci, but talented trainers and the organization’s recovery programs make sure he’s back on the field the next day. “No pain, no gain,” is a life motto for Antonacci.
“Sam is a gamer. It’s the level of work he puts in the cage,” Fuller said.
“His intent is amazing, but it turns to another level when the game starts. He’s not going to do anything that jumps off the page. He’s not going to hit the hardest balls, but he’s incredibly consistent. You watch him two, three games, you look at the scorecard and it’s, ‘Sam got on base seven times in the last two games.’”
“If that’s part of his game, then some guys, that’s just what they do,” said White Sox manager Will Venable, who was hit by a pitch 26 times during his nine-year Major League career. “He’s definitely that kind of player where he’s not going to shy away from any kind of contact -- certainly not from the ball. If it helps him get on base and he’s not breaking bones, it’s fine by me.”
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Padres
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Re: 2026 IBC Padres Prospect News & Notes
8. Zach Root, LHP
Ht: 6'1" | Wt: 177 | B-T: L-L
Age: 21
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Average
Adjusted Grade: 40
Track Record: With the 40th and 41st picks in the 2025 draft, the Dodgers went hog wild, selecting Root and outfielder Charles Davalan consecutively out of Arkansas. Root started his career with two seasons at East Carolina before transferring to Arkansas for his junior year. With the Razorbacks, Root went 9-6 and racked up 126 strikeouts in 99.1 innings while helping lead his team to within a game of the College World Series finals. The Dodgers signed Root for $2,197,500 and shut him down for the rest of the year.
Scouting Report: Root works with a full four-pitch complement and adds deception thanks to a funky delivery that contains a high leg lift and a three-quarters arm slot. His arsenal is fronted by a sinking fastball in the mid 90s and backed by a potentially above-average curveball and changeup as well as a slider that could be an average pitch. The latter breaking ball features 1-to-7 break and was used against both lefties and righties, and the Dodgers would like to see Root throw his changeup more as a professional than he did in college. The biggest questions about Root revolve around how many bats he’ll miss as he moves up the minor league ladder. He was less a bat-misser than a barrel-misser in college, and the Dodgers will consider adding a four-seam fastball to his mix to help him get whiffs up in the zone. Despite all of its moving parts, Root maintains and repeats his delivery well, which gives evaluators confidence that he’ll get to above-average control in the big leagues.
The Future: Root’s college pedigree means he’ll likely start his pro career at High-A Great Lakes. There, he’ll work on shaping his arsenal into that of a big league starter. He has a chance to pitch at the back end of a rotation in a few years.
https://www.baseballamerica.com/teams/2 ... =preseason
Zach Root, LHP, Los Angeles Dodgers, 6’2”/210
After pitching two strong years as a starter at ECU, Root transferred to Arkansas, where he continued to pitch well, posting a 3.62 ERA with a 30 percent and just an 8.3 percent walk rate. The lefty has steadily improved his strike-throwing ability, and it showed this year as he dominated despite moving to the SEC.
The arsenal is deeply Rooted here, but the 93-94 mph sinker is the foundation, getting 17 inches of arm-side run. Root plays off it well with a changeup, which works in the mid-80s that gets good, late depth and over 17 inches of arm-side movement on average.
Getting to the breaking stuff, the two-plane curveball sits around 81 mph and gets nice depth and sweep. Root also mixes in a mid-80 gyro slider that missed bats at over a 40 percent clip. The changeup had a deadly 55 percent whiff rate.
Root feels like a high-probability starter with room to grow into more in the Dodgers org.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1j3u ... 2c5ot8time
Ht: 6'1" | Wt: 177 | B-T: L-L
Age: 21
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Average
Adjusted Grade: 40
Track Record: With the 40th and 41st picks in the 2025 draft, the Dodgers went hog wild, selecting Root and outfielder Charles Davalan consecutively out of Arkansas. Root started his career with two seasons at East Carolina before transferring to Arkansas for his junior year. With the Razorbacks, Root went 9-6 and racked up 126 strikeouts in 99.1 innings while helping lead his team to within a game of the College World Series finals. The Dodgers signed Root for $2,197,500 and shut him down for the rest of the year.
Scouting Report: Root works with a full four-pitch complement and adds deception thanks to a funky delivery that contains a high leg lift and a three-quarters arm slot. His arsenal is fronted by a sinking fastball in the mid 90s and backed by a potentially above-average curveball and changeup as well as a slider that could be an average pitch. The latter breaking ball features 1-to-7 break and was used against both lefties and righties, and the Dodgers would like to see Root throw his changeup more as a professional than he did in college. The biggest questions about Root revolve around how many bats he’ll miss as he moves up the minor league ladder. He was less a bat-misser than a barrel-misser in college, and the Dodgers will consider adding a four-seam fastball to his mix to help him get whiffs up in the zone. Despite all of its moving parts, Root maintains and repeats his delivery well, which gives evaluators confidence that he’ll get to above-average control in the big leagues.
The Future: Root’s college pedigree means he’ll likely start his pro career at High-A Great Lakes. There, he’ll work on shaping his arsenal into that of a big league starter. He has a chance to pitch at the back end of a rotation in a few years.
https://www.baseballamerica.com/teams/2 ... =preseason
Zach Root, LHP, Los Angeles Dodgers, 6’2”/210
After pitching two strong years as a starter at ECU, Root transferred to Arkansas, where he continued to pitch well, posting a 3.62 ERA with a 30 percent and just an 8.3 percent walk rate. The lefty has steadily improved his strike-throwing ability, and it showed this year as he dominated despite moving to the SEC.
The arsenal is deeply Rooted here, but the 93-94 mph sinker is the foundation, getting 17 inches of arm-side run. Root plays off it well with a changeup, which works in the mid-80s that gets good, late depth and over 17 inches of arm-side movement on average.
Getting to the breaking stuff, the two-plane curveball sits around 81 mph and gets nice depth and sweep. Root also mixes in a mid-80 gyro slider that missed bats at over a 40 percent clip. The changeup had a deadly 55 percent whiff rate.
Root feels like a high-probability starter with room to grow into more in the Dodgers org.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1j3u ... 2c5ot8time
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Padres
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Re: 2026 IBC Padres Prospect News & Notes
It takes a lot to stand out in a batting practice group with Junior Caminero. Jacob Melton did just that Tuesday morning on Field 2 at Charlotte Sports Park.
The 25-year-old outfielder crushed balls all over the back field, an impressive display of power during Tampa Bay's first full-squad workout. It was just one example of the all-around athletic ability the Rays saw in Melton when they acquired him from the Astros as part of the three-team trade that sent Brandon Lowe, Jake Mangum and Mason Montgomery to the Pirates.
“He hits the ball incredibly hard. I mean, off the bat, he hits the ball like Yandy [Díaz] and Cami do -- that hard,” manager Kevin Cash said Wednesday. “It really jumps off his bat.”
Melton, the Rays’ No. 4 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, is one of the most intriguing players in camp due to his combination of power, speed and defense. That skill set prompted president of baseball operations Erik Neander to say he has the potential to be a 20-homer, 40-steal player who can offer elite defense in center field -- and that he’s “not terribly far off” from reaching that ceiling.
Melton may not crack the Rays’ Opening Day roster next month. They have a crowded enough outfield situation as it is, he has Minor League options and they don’t want to put undue pressure on someone in his first spring camp with a new team. But they will give him every opportunity to show what he can do in Spring Training, and it seems inevitable he will play a role in the Majors at some point this year.
“Some of the first conversations I had with them [were] just come in, be yourself and let the cards fall,” Melton said. “Obviously they acquired me, and they saw something that they liked, so I think that's a really cool thing. It kind of frees me up to go out and be myself, and, like I said, just enjoy every day and make the most of it.”
Melton, a second-round pick out of Oregon State in the 2022 Draft, said he learned he’d been traded while he was driving home for Christmas. He was about 10 minutes into the three-hour drive to Medford, Ore., after finishing up a workout at Oregon State, when his Astros teammates started texting him.
Melton was on the phone with his wife, Maizy, and had to ask her: “Hey, did I get traded?”
“We felt like some stuff had been building up to that and heard some rumors and stuff, so I had her check while I was driving,” Melton recalled. “She's like, 'Yeah, you just got traded to Tampa.'
“I was thrilled. I mean, Houston's a great organization. They do a lot of things the right way, but to come to another organization that is looked at in the same light -- especially from the player development side -- I think, is really special, and it's a really cool opportunity. So I'm thrilled to be here.”
Melton made his MLB debut for the Astros last season on June 1 against the Rays in Houston, during which he picked up his first hit -- an infield single that Cash challenged. He played regularly for two weeks before he landed on the injured list with a sprained right ankle, then struggled in his return to the Majors.
Melton’s numbers in 32 games with the Astros won’t catch your attention, as he slashed just .157/.234/.186, and he ended up back in Triple-A for much of September. But he felt he made important changes during the final weeks of last season, cleaning up his approach and regaining some momentum heading into the offseason.
“I am, in a way, fortunate for how it went,” Melton said. “Obviously, we would have loved for it to go a little better, but using that as a learning tool, I think it's gonna be really important for my development this year.”
Putting it all together at the plate would make Melton an impactful player in every aspect of the game, considering what he can already do on the bases and in the outfield.
His speed has allowed him to be a prolific basestealer in the Minors, as he swiped 76 bases in 204 games from 2023-24. Defensively, his combination of range and route efficiency has impressed the Rays, who will give him a look in all three spots this spring.
And there’s no doubting his raw power. Just look up when he steps into the cage.
“Couldn't be more excited to have him in our camp,” Cash said. “His defense is really, really good. Then you watch him put a bat in his hand, and what he does in batting practice is impressive.”
https://www.mlb.com/milb/news/jacob-mel ... e-coverage
The 25-year-old outfielder crushed balls all over the back field, an impressive display of power during Tampa Bay's first full-squad workout. It was just one example of the all-around athletic ability the Rays saw in Melton when they acquired him from the Astros as part of the three-team trade that sent Brandon Lowe, Jake Mangum and Mason Montgomery to the Pirates.
“He hits the ball incredibly hard. I mean, off the bat, he hits the ball like Yandy [Díaz] and Cami do -- that hard,” manager Kevin Cash said Wednesday. “It really jumps off his bat.”
Melton, the Rays’ No. 4 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, is one of the most intriguing players in camp due to his combination of power, speed and defense. That skill set prompted president of baseball operations Erik Neander to say he has the potential to be a 20-homer, 40-steal player who can offer elite defense in center field -- and that he’s “not terribly far off” from reaching that ceiling.
Melton may not crack the Rays’ Opening Day roster next month. They have a crowded enough outfield situation as it is, he has Minor League options and they don’t want to put undue pressure on someone in his first spring camp with a new team. But they will give him every opportunity to show what he can do in Spring Training, and it seems inevitable he will play a role in the Majors at some point this year.
“Some of the first conversations I had with them [were] just come in, be yourself and let the cards fall,” Melton said. “Obviously they acquired me, and they saw something that they liked, so I think that's a really cool thing. It kind of frees me up to go out and be myself, and, like I said, just enjoy every day and make the most of it.”
Melton, a second-round pick out of Oregon State in the 2022 Draft, said he learned he’d been traded while he was driving home for Christmas. He was about 10 minutes into the three-hour drive to Medford, Ore., after finishing up a workout at Oregon State, when his Astros teammates started texting him.
Melton was on the phone with his wife, Maizy, and had to ask her: “Hey, did I get traded?”
“We felt like some stuff had been building up to that and heard some rumors and stuff, so I had her check while I was driving,” Melton recalled. “She's like, 'Yeah, you just got traded to Tampa.'
“I was thrilled. I mean, Houston's a great organization. They do a lot of things the right way, but to come to another organization that is looked at in the same light -- especially from the player development side -- I think, is really special, and it's a really cool opportunity. So I'm thrilled to be here.”
Melton made his MLB debut for the Astros last season on June 1 against the Rays in Houston, during which he picked up his first hit -- an infield single that Cash challenged. He played regularly for two weeks before he landed on the injured list with a sprained right ankle, then struggled in his return to the Majors.
Melton’s numbers in 32 games with the Astros won’t catch your attention, as he slashed just .157/.234/.186, and he ended up back in Triple-A for much of September. But he felt he made important changes during the final weeks of last season, cleaning up his approach and regaining some momentum heading into the offseason.
“I am, in a way, fortunate for how it went,” Melton said. “Obviously, we would have loved for it to go a little better, but using that as a learning tool, I think it's gonna be really important for my development this year.”
Putting it all together at the plate would make Melton an impactful player in every aspect of the game, considering what he can already do on the bases and in the outfield.
His speed has allowed him to be a prolific basestealer in the Minors, as he swiped 76 bases in 204 games from 2023-24. Defensively, his combination of range and route efficiency has impressed the Rays, who will give him a look in all three spots this spring.
And there’s no doubting his raw power. Just look up when he steps into the cage.
“Couldn't be more excited to have him in our camp,” Cash said. “His defense is really, really good. Then you watch him put a bat in his hand, and what he does in batting practice is impressive.”
https://www.mlb.com/milb/news/jacob-mel ... e-coverage
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Padres
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Re: 2026 IBC Padres Prospect News & Notes
Spring Training Prospect Watch
Standout of The Day
Sam Antonacci, 2B, Chicago White Sox
Stats: 1/3, 1 HR, 2 RBI
Notable Data: 109.5 MPH HR, 100.3 MPH Ground Out, 94.6 MPH Force Out
Spring Line: 1/3, 1 HR, 2 RBI
Why The Performance Matters:
Antonacci got off to a blazing hot start to spring, leaving the yard off big leaguer, Jameson Taillon in the second inning of Friday’s game. It was no ordinary home run, though, as it left the bat with an exit velocity of 109.5 mph and traveled 417 feet. Sure, it was a 92.5 mph fastball that Taillon left over the heart of the plate, but the significance is the exit velocity here, as Antonnaci reached a max exit velocity of 110 mph last season.
The contact skills are legit and showed again on Friday as he swung and missed just once. In addition to the home run, Antonacci had an additional ball hit over 100 mph and another that was just shy of 95 mph.
Splitting the 2025 season between High-A and Double-A, Antonnaci slashed .291/.433/.409 with five home runs and 48 stolen bases. He did have 32 extra-base hits, so if a few more of those doubles turn into home runs, as we saw, this is a top 100 prospect.
Antonnaci ended the 2025 season with an overall contact rate of around 87 percent, and the in-zone number was just shy of 90 percent. The chase rate an impressive 16 percent.
Keep a close eye on Antonacci this spring.
Fantasy Spin:
The performance should not make you think Antonacci is immediately a top 50 prospect or anything of that nature, but it does show a few things.
Raw Power is developing
He can handle MLB pitching
His offensive ceiling might be a tad higher than originally thought.
Antonacci does not have much value in most dynasty leagues. If he is available, I would pick him up and see where it goes. Again, it’s early. Keep a close eye on the exit velocities the rest of spring. -CC
https://www.thedynastydugout.com/p/spri ... b71c27ac4e
MESA, Ariz. -- Sam Antonacci swiped the spotlight from Munetaka Murakami during the White Sox 8-1 victory over the Cubs on Friday.
Murakami understandably drew the main portion of the focus with his White Sox debut during the team’s 2026 Cactus League opener. But Antonacci, the left-handed-hitting second baseman with a propensity to get on base after being hit by a pitch 35 times last season in the Minors, had the biggest highlight with his Statcast-projected 417-foot, two-run home run off Jameson Taillon.
Antonacci added extra emphasis to that home run with a noticeable bat flip following his connection on the no-doubter to right.
“Yeah, a little bit,” said Antonacci, when asked if he immediately knew it was a home run. “Kind of reality hit there, and being able to produce for my team felt good.”
“That ball was crushed,” said White Sox starter Jonathan Cannon of his run support. “I kind of missed the swing, but I heard it and I was like, ‘Oh,’ and that ball was gone before I even could turn around. He’s a really good player and obviously has a ton of pop, so definitely excited to see him continue to play.”
There won’t be a great deal of time for the non-roster invite to prove himself at White Sox camp, as he’ll be joining catcher Kyle Teel with Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic. But with 48 stolen bases and a .433 on-base percentage over 519 plate appearances last season, Antonacci isn’t a surprise to anyone in the organization.
“Honestly, just the same mindset going forward,” said Antonacci, ranked by MLB Pipeline as the White Sox No. 11 prospect. “Just continue to master my routine and to help my team and be a good teammate.”
“It was amazing,” said White Sox manager Will Venable of Antonacci, who also picked up a stolen base. “You see kind of the look in his eye when he's out there competing. It's just a fierce competitor and obviously some good swings, some good at-bats, some good defense. Good first day out here for Sam."
https://www.mlb.com/milb/news/sam-anton ... e-coverage
Standout of The DaySam Antonacci, 2B, Chicago White Sox
Stats: 1/3, 1 HR, 2 RBI
Notable Data: 109.5 MPH HR, 100.3 MPH Ground Out, 94.6 MPH Force Out
Spring Line: 1/3, 1 HR, 2 RBI
Why The Performance Matters:
Antonacci got off to a blazing hot start to spring, leaving the yard off big leaguer, Jameson Taillon in the second inning of Friday’s game. It was no ordinary home run, though, as it left the bat with an exit velocity of 109.5 mph and traveled 417 feet. Sure, it was a 92.5 mph fastball that Taillon left over the heart of the plate, but the significance is the exit velocity here, as Antonnaci reached a max exit velocity of 110 mph last season.
The contact skills are legit and showed again on Friday as he swung and missed just once. In addition to the home run, Antonacci had an additional ball hit over 100 mph and another that was just shy of 95 mph.
Splitting the 2025 season between High-A and Double-A, Antonnaci slashed .291/.433/.409 with five home runs and 48 stolen bases. He did have 32 extra-base hits, so if a few more of those doubles turn into home runs, as we saw, this is a top 100 prospect.
Antonnaci ended the 2025 season with an overall contact rate of around 87 percent, and the in-zone number was just shy of 90 percent. The chase rate an impressive 16 percent.
Keep a close eye on Antonacci this spring.
Fantasy Spin:
The performance should not make you think Antonacci is immediately a top 50 prospect or anything of that nature, but it does show a few things.
Raw Power is developing
He can handle MLB pitching
His offensive ceiling might be a tad higher than originally thought.
Antonacci does not have much value in most dynasty leagues. If he is available, I would pick him up and see where it goes. Again, it’s early. Keep a close eye on the exit velocities the rest of spring. -CC
https://www.thedynastydugout.com/p/spri ... b71c27ac4e
MESA, Ariz. -- Sam Antonacci swiped the spotlight from Munetaka Murakami during the White Sox 8-1 victory over the Cubs on Friday.
Murakami understandably drew the main portion of the focus with his White Sox debut during the team’s 2026 Cactus League opener. But Antonacci, the left-handed-hitting second baseman with a propensity to get on base after being hit by a pitch 35 times last season in the Minors, had the biggest highlight with his Statcast-projected 417-foot, two-run home run off Jameson Taillon.
Antonacci added extra emphasis to that home run with a noticeable bat flip following his connection on the no-doubter to right.
“Yeah, a little bit,” said Antonacci, when asked if he immediately knew it was a home run. “Kind of reality hit there, and being able to produce for my team felt good.”
“That ball was crushed,” said White Sox starter Jonathan Cannon of his run support. “I kind of missed the swing, but I heard it and I was like, ‘Oh,’ and that ball was gone before I even could turn around. He’s a really good player and obviously has a ton of pop, so definitely excited to see him continue to play.”
There won’t be a great deal of time for the non-roster invite to prove himself at White Sox camp, as he’ll be joining catcher Kyle Teel with Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic. But with 48 stolen bases and a .433 on-base percentage over 519 plate appearances last season, Antonacci isn’t a surprise to anyone in the organization.
“Honestly, just the same mindset going forward,” said Antonacci, ranked by MLB Pipeline as the White Sox No. 11 prospect. “Just continue to master my routine and to help my team and be a good teammate.”
“It was amazing,” said White Sox manager Will Venable of Antonacci, who also picked up a stolen base. “You see kind of the look in his eye when he's out there competing. It's just a fierce competitor and obviously some good swings, some good at-bats, some good defense. Good first day out here for Sam."
https://www.mlb.com/milb/news/sam-anton ... e-coverage
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Padres
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Re: 2026 IBC Padres Prospect News & Notes
10. Kyle Lodise, SS
Ht: 5'11" | Wt: 180 | B-T: R-R
Age: 22
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Average
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: Lodise spent two years at Division II Augusta in Georgia, where he established a track record as a high-contact hitter, before transferring to Georgia Tech in 2025. Lodise hit for much more power with the Yellow Jackets than scouts expected, finishing with a .327/.427/.664 batting line and 16 home runs, a 17.6% strikeout rate and 12.7% walk rate. He was one of the better hitters in the Atlantic Coast Conference, along with his cousin Alex Lodise, a shortstop for Florida State and now a Braves prospect. The White Sox drafted Kyle Lodise in the third round, signing him for $922,500. After a very brief time in unofficial bridge league games in Arizona, Lodise was sent directly to High-A Winston-Salem, one of just six White Sox draft picks sent to an affiliate and the only player to go to High-A.
Scouting Report: Lodise is the type of player who will continually play above his abilities. His average hit tool is part of a well-rounded game, which also includes good bat-to-ball skills and patience at the plate. He showed more pop than expected during his time at Winston-Salem, with a max exit velocity of 108.5 mph, and he now projects to have at least fringy power. He’s an average shortstop defender with good instincts to compensate for a fringy arm. He is perhaps better suited to play second base but can cover the left side of the infield in a utility role. He has above-average speed with a high rate of successful stolen base attempts.
The Future: While Lodise won’t likely generate a lot of prospect buzz, he’s the kind of player who will find ways to help his team win games. He may profile best as a valuable utility infielder and is likely to move quickly through the system.
Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 55 | Field: 50 | Arm: 45
https://www.baseballamerica.com/teams/2 ... =preseason
7. Kyle Lodise, SS
Born: 2003-10-17
B/T: R/R B
H: 5′ 11″ W: 180 lbs.
History: Drafted in the third round of the 2025 draft out of the Georgia Institute of Technology; signed for $922,500.
Previous Ranking(s): N/A
Major-league ETA: 2028
Year Team Level Age PA R 2B 3B HR RBI BB K SB CS AVG OBP SLG DRC+ BABIP
2025 WS Hi-A 21 113 14 3 1 4 10 15 21 7 1 .185 .319 .370 109 .188
The Report: Aside from the top-line numbers being a bit lower than one might have wanted, Lodise has broadly hewed to the pre-draft projection of a safeish but lower-ceiling middle-infield prospect. The ocular-based evaluator in me discerned a certain know-how in the way he plays the game, with a strong internal clock in the field and good command of the plate. The tools range from averageish at worst to slightly above-average at best. Lodise generally runs an under-control operation at the dish, but his moderate stride and the way he throws his hands at the ball and finishes a bit on his front foot indicate to me that it is important for him to wring the most pop he can out of a moderate frame. How well continues to do that will impact whether he ends up being able to hold a strong everyday role in the big leagues.
OFP: 55 / Above-average middle-infield regular.
Variance: Medium. The top-line numbers were not great in his debut, and the offensive profile will likely rely on him continuing to maximize his power output. —Ben Spanier
Jesse Roche’s Fantasy Rundown:
Top-500 Dynasty Prospects: 392
Potential Earnings: $0-5
Fantasy Overview: Lodise is a jack-of-all-trades prospect with tools and underlying metrics that sit around average across the board on offense. That type of profile, while not exciting, often provides surprisingly solid fantasy production.
Reckless Fantasy Comp: Jonathan India
https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news ... prospects/
Ht: 5'11" | Wt: 180 | B-T: R-R
Age: 22
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Average
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: Lodise spent two years at Division II Augusta in Georgia, where he established a track record as a high-contact hitter, before transferring to Georgia Tech in 2025. Lodise hit for much more power with the Yellow Jackets than scouts expected, finishing with a .327/.427/.664 batting line and 16 home runs, a 17.6% strikeout rate and 12.7% walk rate. He was one of the better hitters in the Atlantic Coast Conference, along with his cousin Alex Lodise, a shortstop for Florida State and now a Braves prospect. The White Sox drafted Kyle Lodise in the third round, signing him for $922,500. After a very brief time in unofficial bridge league games in Arizona, Lodise was sent directly to High-A Winston-Salem, one of just six White Sox draft picks sent to an affiliate and the only player to go to High-A.
Scouting Report: Lodise is the type of player who will continually play above his abilities. His average hit tool is part of a well-rounded game, which also includes good bat-to-ball skills and patience at the plate. He showed more pop than expected during his time at Winston-Salem, with a max exit velocity of 108.5 mph, and he now projects to have at least fringy power. He’s an average shortstop defender with good instincts to compensate for a fringy arm. He is perhaps better suited to play second base but can cover the left side of the infield in a utility role. He has above-average speed with a high rate of successful stolen base attempts.
The Future: While Lodise won’t likely generate a lot of prospect buzz, he’s the kind of player who will find ways to help his team win games. He may profile best as a valuable utility infielder and is likely to move quickly through the system.
Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 55 | Field: 50 | Arm: 45
https://www.baseballamerica.com/teams/2 ... =preseason
7. Kyle Lodise, SS
Born: 2003-10-17
B/T: R/R B
H: 5′ 11″ W: 180 lbs.
History: Drafted in the third round of the 2025 draft out of the Georgia Institute of Technology; signed for $922,500.
Previous Ranking(s): N/A
Major-league ETA: 2028
Year Team Level Age PA R 2B 3B HR RBI BB K SB CS AVG OBP SLG DRC+ BABIP
2025 WS Hi-A 21 113 14 3 1 4 10 15 21 7 1 .185 .319 .370 109 .188
The Report: Aside from the top-line numbers being a bit lower than one might have wanted, Lodise has broadly hewed to the pre-draft projection of a safeish but lower-ceiling middle-infield prospect. The ocular-based evaluator in me discerned a certain know-how in the way he plays the game, with a strong internal clock in the field and good command of the plate. The tools range from averageish at worst to slightly above-average at best. Lodise generally runs an under-control operation at the dish, but his moderate stride and the way he throws his hands at the ball and finishes a bit on his front foot indicate to me that it is important for him to wring the most pop he can out of a moderate frame. How well continues to do that will impact whether he ends up being able to hold a strong everyday role in the big leagues.
OFP: 55 / Above-average middle-infield regular.
Variance: Medium. The top-line numbers were not great in his debut, and the offensive profile will likely rely on him continuing to maximize his power output. —Ben Spanier
Jesse Roche’s Fantasy Rundown:
Top-500 Dynasty Prospects: 392
Potential Earnings: $0-5
Fantasy Overview: Lodise is a jack-of-all-trades prospect with tools and underlying metrics that sit around average across the board on offense. That type of profile, while not exciting, often provides surprisingly solid fantasy production.
Reckless Fantasy Comp: Jonathan India
https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news ... prospects/
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Padres
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- Name: Jim Berger
Re: 2026 IBC Padres Prospect News & Notes
17. Joseph Dzierwa, LHP
Ht: 6'7" | Wt: 180 | B-T: R-L
Age: 21
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Average
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: Dzierwa was a three-sport star and all-state quarterback as a high schooler at Otsego High in Ohio. He thrived on the mound for Michigan State and was the Big Ten pitcher of the year in 2025, when he made 18 starts with a 1.42 ERA with 137 strikeouts and a 0.834 WHIP in 118.2 innings. The Orioles took him 58th overall—the highest they’ve taken a pitcher since Mike Elias took over in 2018—and signed him for a slightly below slot $1.5 million.
Scouting Report: Dzierwa threw one of the better changeups in the college class to drive a lot of his success in college, and has a mix that should scale well in pro ball as well. His fastball lives in the low-90s and reaches 95 mph, with run and ride, and he commands the pitch well in and around the zone. Dzierwa’s changeup is a platoon-neutral weapon that produced 39% whiff and 44% chase rates in 2025, and his slider is a significant development point. Dzierwa’s advanced command profile is also an asset and he could have plus control.
The Future: Dzierwa can climb quickly thanks to his command and plus changeup. Attention to his breaking ball and increased velocity could allow him to fit neatly in the back half of a major league rotation. He could begin his pro career in 2026 at Low-A Delmarva.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 50 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 60
https://www.baseballamerica.com/teams/2 ... =preseason
14. Joseph Dzierwa, LHP (Did Not Pitch)
The sixth of eight picks the Orioles had in the first 100 of the draft, Dzierwa was a second rounder who logged a very strong junior season for Michigan State. Despite his size (listed at 6-foot-8) and strikeout rate (10 per nine), he won’t overwhelm you, sitting in the low-90s and coming from a standard three-quarters slot. Because of his height and how well he gets down the mound, Dzierwa does get huge extension on his pitches. He also has a very good change-up which has velocity separation and sink. Any bump in velocity would be a boon here—on both his fastballs and breaking balls—but as we called him “a small velo bump away from being David Peterson” before the draft, he’s a small bit behind the other fourth starter candidates on this list.
https://www.baseballprospectus.com/pros ... prospects/
Ht: 6'7" | Wt: 180 | B-T: R-L
Age: 21
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Average
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: Dzierwa was a three-sport star and all-state quarterback as a high schooler at Otsego High in Ohio. He thrived on the mound for Michigan State and was the Big Ten pitcher of the year in 2025, when he made 18 starts with a 1.42 ERA with 137 strikeouts and a 0.834 WHIP in 118.2 innings. The Orioles took him 58th overall—the highest they’ve taken a pitcher since Mike Elias took over in 2018—and signed him for a slightly below slot $1.5 million.
Scouting Report: Dzierwa threw one of the better changeups in the college class to drive a lot of his success in college, and has a mix that should scale well in pro ball as well. His fastball lives in the low-90s and reaches 95 mph, with run and ride, and he commands the pitch well in and around the zone. Dzierwa’s changeup is a platoon-neutral weapon that produced 39% whiff and 44% chase rates in 2025, and his slider is a significant development point. Dzierwa’s advanced command profile is also an asset and he could have plus control.
The Future: Dzierwa can climb quickly thanks to his command and plus changeup. Attention to his breaking ball and increased velocity could allow him to fit neatly in the back half of a major league rotation. He could begin his pro career in 2026 at Low-A Delmarva.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 50 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 60
https://www.baseballamerica.com/teams/2 ... =preseason
14. Joseph Dzierwa, LHP (Did Not Pitch)
The sixth of eight picks the Orioles had in the first 100 of the draft, Dzierwa was a second rounder who logged a very strong junior season for Michigan State. Despite his size (listed at 6-foot-8) and strikeout rate (10 per nine), he won’t overwhelm you, sitting in the low-90s and coming from a standard three-quarters slot. Because of his height and how well he gets down the mound, Dzierwa does get huge extension on his pitches. He also has a very good change-up which has velocity separation and sink. Any bump in velocity would be a boon here—on both his fastballs and breaking balls—but as we called him “a small velo bump away from being David Peterson” before the draft, he’s a small bit behind the other fourth starter candidates on this list.
https://www.baseballprospectus.com/pros ... prospects/
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Padres
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Re: 2026 IBC Padres Prospect News & Notes
Most Intriguing Background: Mississippi high school OF Jamaurion McQueen (20) was a late pop-up player who didn’t rank on BA’s draft board until late May. He’s got a solid blend of tools and hitting chops with above-average power potential and solid defensive instincts in center field. McQueen is a rare “backwards” profile hitter as a righthanded hitter and lefthanded thrower.
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... port-card/
Jamaurion McQueen, OF, Texas Rangers, 6’3”/185
McQueen is a player that caught my eye watching film on players, and boy does he have the “get off the bus” look. A 20th-rounder out of Brandon, Mississippi, McQueen stands at 6'3” and has put on a ton of good weight. Just check out his video below and see the progress he has made since joining the Rangers org.
In 38 games during the high school season, McQueen hit .435 with a .503 OBP. He was also impressive on the mound, posting a 2.98 ERA with 40 strikeouts out of the bullpen. McQueen has solid contact skills and a good approach for his age. The frame suggests that the power potential is there as well. He has already filled out, but the athlete remains. The speed is above-average, and McQueen showed his athleticism on the football field as well.
A player with this frame and tools upside is a player I want to bet on late in an FYPD. Much like Nate George last season, McQueen is someone to consider in deeper leagues and hope the tools translate to the field.
https://www.thedynastydugout.com/p/the- ... 14f088d19f
School: Brandon (Miss.) HS Drafted/Committed: South Alabama
Age At Draft: 18.8
[Jamaurion] McQueen is a 6-foot-2, 185-pound outfielder with a backwards profile—he hits righthanded but throws lefthanded—and offers a solid blend of tools and hitting ingredients to get excited about. He has a clean righthanded swing and doesn’t swing and miss often, with an approach that allows him to draw plenty of walks and spit on pitches out of the zone. On top of that, McQueen has above-average power potential thanks to a strong frame with plenty of room to add more mass in the future. He’s a center fielder who has the instincts to potentially stick there, though he’s more of a fringy runner who might slow down as he develops. If and when McQueen does move to a corner, he has the tools to be an above-average defender, and his above-average arm could allow him to profile in right field. McQueen is committed to South Alabama but has the offensive upside to fit in the top 10 rounds out of high school.
https://www.baseballamerica.com/players ... n-mcqueen/
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... port-card/
Jamaurion McQueen, OF, Texas Rangers, 6’3”/185
McQueen is a player that caught my eye watching film on players, and boy does he have the “get off the bus” look. A 20th-rounder out of Brandon, Mississippi, McQueen stands at 6'3” and has put on a ton of good weight. Just check out his video below and see the progress he has made since joining the Rangers org.
In 38 games during the high school season, McQueen hit .435 with a .503 OBP. He was also impressive on the mound, posting a 2.98 ERA with 40 strikeouts out of the bullpen. McQueen has solid contact skills and a good approach for his age. The frame suggests that the power potential is there as well. He has already filled out, but the athlete remains. The speed is above-average, and McQueen showed his athleticism on the football field as well.
A player with this frame and tools upside is a player I want to bet on late in an FYPD. Much like Nate George last season, McQueen is someone to consider in deeper leagues and hope the tools translate to the field.
https://www.thedynastydugout.com/p/the- ... 14f088d19f
School: Brandon (Miss.) HS Drafted/Committed: South Alabama
Age At Draft: 18.8
[Jamaurion] McQueen is a 6-foot-2, 185-pound outfielder with a backwards profile—he hits righthanded but throws lefthanded—and offers a solid blend of tools and hitting ingredients to get excited about. He has a clean righthanded swing and doesn’t swing and miss often, with an approach that allows him to draw plenty of walks and spit on pitches out of the zone. On top of that, McQueen has above-average power potential thanks to a strong frame with plenty of room to add more mass in the future. He’s a center fielder who has the instincts to potentially stick there, though he’s more of a fringy runner who might slow down as he develops. If and when McQueen does move to a corner, he has the tools to be an above-average defender, and his above-average arm could allow him to profile in right field. McQueen is committed to South Alabama but has the offensive upside to fit in the top 10 rounds out of high school.
https://www.baseballamerica.com/players ... n-mcqueen/
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Padres
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Re: 2026 IBC Padres Prospect News & Notes
11. Will Watson, RHP,
Binghamton Rumble Ponies, AA New York Mets
AGE: 23 DOB: 11/07/2002
BATS: R THROWS: R
HT: 6' 1" WT: 180
DRAFTED: 2024, 7th (203) - NYM
ETA: 2026
Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 55 | Cutter: 40 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45
A native of Washington state, Watson spent one season apiece at Cal Lutheran and San Joaquin Delta College and got drafted by the Mariners in the 20th round of the 2023 Draft before heading to USC. He moved from the Trojans' bullpen to their starting rotation, and he flashed enough promising stuff in the longer role for the Mets to take him in the seventh round and sign him for around slot at $281,300 in 2024. Watson climbed from Single-A to Double-A in his first full season and finished with a 2.60 ERA over 121 1/3 innings; his 142 strikeouts were fourth-most in the New York system.
Despite the increased workload in the Minors, Watson experienced a velocity bump across the board in 2025. He averaged around 95 mph with a pair of fastballs, and his four-seamer shows promising ride and a flat approach angle from a relatively low release. His mid-80s slider gives him a gloveside option that can force opponents to expand the zone, while his upper-80s change moves even more horizontally armside. Because of the latter, he ran reverse splits last year, holding lefties to a .186 average and .561 OPS. Watson also shows an 88-91 mph cutter for a bridge pitch, but it can get hit hard with limited movement.
With some length in his delivery, Watson lacks pinpoint accuracy with his arsenal, and he walked more than 10 percent of his batters faced at each level in 2025. As things currently stand, he may lack a true plus pitch, though it’s possible the fastball velo would play up in shorter stints. Still, a bevy of above-average options will keep getting him starting looks in a system loaded with upper-level arms.
14. Eli Serrano III, OF
Brooklyn Cyclones, A+ New York Mets
AGE: 22 DOB: 05/01/2003
BATS: L THROWS: L
HT: 6' 5" WT: 201
DRAFTED: 2024, 4th (111) - NYM
ETA: 2027
Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45
A former high school teammate of fellow Mets prospect Ryan Clifford in North Carolina, Serrano headed to NC State for two years, where he was a solid performer. He was Draft-eligible as a sophomore, having turned 21 that May, and the Mets considered him an upside play in the fourth round with a corresponding above-slot bonus of $697,500. Serrano spent his entire first full season with High-A Brooklyn and hit .222/.332/.358 with seven homers in 88 games for the South Atlantic League champions.
Any left-handed slugger that comes through Coney Island deserves extra credit, given the way the wind comes off the beach beyond right field, and Serrano had the home-road splits to match. Standing 6-foot-5, he certainly has the size for power and had solid upper-end exit velocities to back up the fact that he could hit 15-plus homers in a season down the line. Before then, he’ll have to add strength -- early reports are promising on that heading into 2026 -- and improve some of his angles off the bat. For someone his size, Serrano didn’t have a huge issue making contact in 2025, but he proved a bit vulnerable to sliders and changeups below the lower third of the zone.
Serrano can use his long limbs to get moving down the line, looking more like someone eating up ground with big strides than doing all-out sprints, and that speed helps him on the grass too. He’d be average in center field, where he got the most of his starts, but could be better than that in a corner. He’ll show strong, accurate throws to keep runners on their toes and recorded 10 outfield assists in 2025. If he does land in a corner, he’ll need to show more in-game pop to be more than a platoon option.
15. Zach Thornton, LHP
Binghamton Rumble Ponies, AA New York Mets
AGE: 24 DOB: 01/17/202
BATS: L THROWS: L
HT: 6' 3" WT: 170
DRAFTED: 2023, 5th (159) - NYM
ETA: 2027
Scouting grades: Fastball: 45 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 55 | Cutter: 50 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 60 | Overall: 45
Thornton was a well-traveled southpaw heading into the 2023 Draft with two years at Barton CC in Kansas, a year at Grand Canyon and summer stops in the Appalachian and MLB Draft Leagues. Taking advantage of the scouting attention brought by teammates Jacob Wilson and Homer Bush Jr., he performed well enough as an Antelope to push himself into the fifth round, where the Mets took him and signed him for $350,000 in 2023. Thornton performed admirably at two A-ball stops in his first full season and broke out as a starter with a 1.98 ERA, 78 strikeouts and only 11 walks in 72 2/3 innings at High-A and Double-A before an oblique injury ended his 2025 in late June.
The 6-foot-3 left-hander cuts a thin figure on the bump but consistently repeats his delivery, leading to some of the best control in all of prospectdom. His fastball velocity only sits 89-92 mph (occasionally popping 95), but with some deception and ride on the heater, he can still put it past bats at the top rail. His 83-86 mph slider remains his best pitch. It’s a two-plane breaker that he can spot exceptionally well to the gloveside, and he isn’t afraid of bringing it in on righties. His upper-80s cutter gives him another chase-heavy pitch. His 82-84 mph changeup and slow mid-70s curveball occasionally get folded in but find the zone much less often than his other offerings.
Despite the lighter stuff, Thornton goes right after hitters with a bulldog mentality, and it served him well with a 4.0 percent walk rate in 2025, sixth-lowest among 691 Minor Leaguers with at least 70 frames. Unless additional velocity comes in his age-24 season and beyond, his ceiling is fairly capped at being a pitchability No. 5 starter.
https://www.mlb.com/milb/prospects/mets/
Binghamton Rumble Ponies, AA New York Mets
AGE: 23 DOB: 11/07/2002
BATS: R THROWS: R
HT: 6' 1" WT: 180
DRAFTED: 2024, 7th (203) - NYM
ETA: 2026
Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 55 | Cutter: 40 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45
A native of Washington state, Watson spent one season apiece at Cal Lutheran and San Joaquin Delta College and got drafted by the Mariners in the 20th round of the 2023 Draft before heading to USC. He moved from the Trojans' bullpen to their starting rotation, and he flashed enough promising stuff in the longer role for the Mets to take him in the seventh round and sign him for around slot at $281,300 in 2024. Watson climbed from Single-A to Double-A in his first full season and finished with a 2.60 ERA over 121 1/3 innings; his 142 strikeouts were fourth-most in the New York system.
Despite the increased workload in the Minors, Watson experienced a velocity bump across the board in 2025. He averaged around 95 mph with a pair of fastballs, and his four-seamer shows promising ride and a flat approach angle from a relatively low release. His mid-80s slider gives him a gloveside option that can force opponents to expand the zone, while his upper-80s change moves even more horizontally armside. Because of the latter, he ran reverse splits last year, holding lefties to a .186 average and .561 OPS. Watson also shows an 88-91 mph cutter for a bridge pitch, but it can get hit hard with limited movement.
With some length in his delivery, Watson lacks pinpoint accuracy with his arsenal, and he walked more than 10 percent of his batters faced at each level in 2025. As things currently stand, he may lack a true plus pitch, though it’s possible the fastball velo would play up in shorter stints. Still, a bevy of above-average options will keep getting him starting looks in a system loaded with upper-level arms.
14. Eli Serrano III, OF
Brooklyn Cyclones, A+ New York Mets
AGE: 22 DOB: 05/01/2003
BATS: L THROWS: L
HT: 6' 5" WT: 201
DRAFTED: 2024, 4th (111) - NYM
ETA: 2027
Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45
A former high school teammate of fellow Mets prospect Ryan Clifford in North Carolina, Serrano headed to NC State for two years, where he was a solid performer. He was Draft-eligible as a sophomore, having turned 21 that May, and the Mets considered him an upside play in the fourth round with a corresponding above-slot bonus of $697,500. Serrano spent his entire first full season with High-A Brooklyn and hit .222/.332/.358 with seven homers in 88 games for the South Atlantic League champions.
Any left-handed slugger that comes through Coney Island deserves extra credit, given the way the wind comes off the beach beyond right field, and Serrano had the home-road splits to match. Standing 6-foot-5, he certainly has the size for power and had solid upper-end exit velocities to back up the fact that he could hit 15-plus homers in a season down the line. Before then, he’ll have to add strength -- early reports are promising on that heading into 2026 -- and improve some of his angles off the bat. For someone his size, Serrano didn’t have a huge issue making contact in 2025, but he proved a bit vulnerable to sliders and changeups below the lower third of the zone.
Serrano can use his long limbs to get moving down the line, looking more like someone eating up ground with big strides than doing all-out sprints, and that speed helps him on the grass too. He’d be average in center field, where he got the most of his starts, but could be better than that in a corner. He’ll show strong, accurate throws to keep runners on their toes and recorded 10 outfield assists in 2025. If he does land in a corner, he’ll need to show more in-game pop to be more than a platoon option.
15. Zach Thornton, LHP
Binghamton Rumble Ponies, AA New York Mets
AGE: 24 DOB: 01/17/202
BATS: L THROWS: L
HT: 6' 3" WT: 170
DRAFTED: 2023, 5th (159) - NYM
ETA: 2027
Scouting grades: Fastball: 45 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 55 | Cutter: 50 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 60 | Overall: 45
Thornton was a well-traveled southpaw heading into the 2023 Draft with two years at Barton CC in Kansas, a year at Grand Canyon and summer stops in the Appalachian and MLB Draft Leagues. Taking advantage of the scouting attention brought by teammates Jacob Wilson and Homer Bush Jr., he performed well enough as an Antelope to push himself into the fifth round, where the Mets took him and signed him for $350,000 in 2023. Thornton performed admirably at two A-ball stops in his first full season and broke out as a starter with a 1.98 ERA, 78 strikeouts and only 11 walks in 72 2/3 innings at High-A and Double-A before an oblique injury ended his 2025 in late June.
The 6-foot-3 left-hander cuts a thin figure on the bump but consistently repeats his delivery, leading to some of the best control in all of prospectdom. His fastball velocity only sits 89-92 mph (occasionally popping 95), but with some deception and ride on the heater, he can still put it past bats at the top rail. His 83-86 mph slider remains his best pitch. It’s a two-plane breaker that he can spot exceptionally well to the gloveside, and he isn’t afraid of bringing it in on righties. His upper-80s cutter gives him another chase-heavy pitch. His 82-84 mph changeup and slow mid-70s curveball occasionally get folded in but find the zone much less often than his other offerings.
Despite the lighter stuff, Thornton goes right after hitters with a bulldog mentality, and it served him well with a 4.0 percent walk rate in 2025, sixth-lowest among 691 Minor Leaguers with at least 70 frames. Unless additional velocity comes in his age-24 season and beyond, his ceiling is fairly capped at being a pitchability No. 5 starter.
https://www.mlb.com/milb/prospects/mets/
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Padres
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Re: 2026 IBC Padres Prospect News & Notes
Orioles: RHP Nestor German
Manager Craig Albernaz has been impressed with all of the top pitching prospects in camp -- referring to each of them as “gross,” which is a good thing -- so any of them could be the pick here. But let’s go with German, who struck out four over 2 1/3 scoreless innings in his Grapefruit League debut against the Rays on Wednesday. The 24-year-old, Baltimore's No. 11 prospect after 2025, reached Triple-A Norfolk for the first time last year, but he made only two starts there, so he’ll be heading back to the level to open the 2026 season. But either he or fellow righty Trey Gibson is likely to be the first of the O’s top pitching prospects to get to the Majors, maybe even later this year. -- Jake Rill
White Sox: 2B/3B Sam Antonacci
In his first Cactus League game, on a 0-2 four-seamer from Cubs right-hander Jameson Taillon, Antonacci launched a 417-foot home run to right at Sloan Park with a 109.5 mph exit velocity. People who didn’t know about the hard-nosed, left-handed-hitting infielder certainly learned quickly. Antonacci, Chicago's No. 11 prospect following 2025, has departed for Houston to play in the World Baseball Classic with Team Italy. But the 23-year-old, who was hit by a pitch 39 times last season and had 59 stolen bases between two Minor League stops and the Arizona Fall League, is rapidly pushing toward a role with the White Sox. -- Scott Merkin
https://www.mlb.com/milb/news/prospects ... g-training
Manager Craig Albernaz has been impressed with all of the top pitching prospects in camp -- referring to each of them as “gross,” which is a good thing -- so any of them could be the pick here. But let’s go with German, who struck out four over 2 1/3 scoreless innings in his Grapefruit League debut against the Rays on Wednesday. The 24-year-old, Baltimore's No. 11 prospect after 2025, reached Triple-A Norfolk for the first time last year, but he made only two starts there, so he’ll be heading back to the level to open the 2026 season. But either he or fellow righty Trey Gibson is likely to be the first of the O’s top pitching prospects to get to the Majors, maybe even later this year. -- Jake Rill
White Sox: 2B/3B Sam Antonacci
In his first Cactus League game, on a 0-2 four-seamer from Cubs right-hander Jameson Taillon, Antonacci launched a 417-foot home run to right at Sloan Park with a 109.5 mph exit velocity. People who didn’t know about the hard-nosed, left-handed-hitting infielder certainly learned quickly. Antonacci, Chicago's No. 11 prospect following 2025, has departed for Houston to play in the World Baseball Classic with Team Italy. But the 23-year-old, who was hit by a pitch 39 times last season and had 59 stolen bases between two Minor League stops and the Arizona Fall League, is rapidly pushing toward a role with the White Sox. -- Scott Merkin
https://www.mlb.com/milb/news/prospects ... g-training
