IBC

From the BA Tampa Bay Rays 2024 Top 10 Prospects:

2. Carson Williams
SS

Ht: 6'1" | Wt: 180 | B-T: R-R

Age: null

BA Grade/Risk:60/High.

Track Record: It seems hard to believe now, but at San Diego’s Torrey Pines High Williams was viewed as a pitcher who also played shortstop for most of his career. He added muscle as a senior and began to show newfound power, which convinced the Rays to draft him 28th overall and spend $2.35 million to buy him out of his California commitment. He led Low-A Charleston to a Carolina League title in 2022 and followed it up by leading the High-A South Atlantic League with 48 extra-base hits while finishing second with 23 home runs, 204 total bases and a .506 slugging percentage.

Scouting Report: Williams is one of the better defensive shortstops in the minor leagues thanks largely to his plus-plus arm. He’s a smooth, gliding fielder with fluid actions, above-average lateral range and a quick transfer, but his ability to make strong and accurate throws without having to set his feet or build momentum allows him to make plays other shortstops don’t even attempt. He’s an above-average runner. At the plate, Williams can carry a team when he’s locked in, but he struggles to maintain his timing. He uses a significant leg lift at the start of his swing that sometimes gets him out of sync. He will have stretches where he is an easy out, and others where his power plays. He can clear batter’s eyes in center field and is comfortable driving the ball to right field as well.

The Future: Depending on how Wander Franco’s legal issues are resolved, Williams has the glove and power to give him a chance to be the Rays’ shortstop of the not-too-distant future. His offensive game somewhat resembles that of Dansby Swanson as a shortstop who doesn’t always hit for average but gets on base at a solid clip and hits for enough power to make an impact. He’s ready for Double-A Montgomery.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 60 | Run: 55 | Fielding: 65 | Arm: 70.


4. Shane Baz
RHP

Ht: 6'2" | Wt: 190 | B-T: R-R

Age: null

BA Grade/Risk:60/Extreme.

Track Record: The Pirates drafted Baz 12th overall in 2017 then made him the player to be named in the 2018 trade with the Rays trade that sent Chris Archer to Pittsburgh for Baz, Austin Meadows and Tyler Glasnow. Baz reached the majors in 2021, and even made a start for Tampa Bay in the 2021 postseason, but he needed surgery to remove loose bodies in his elbow at the start of the 2022 season. He suffered further elbow pain upon his return and ended up having Tommy John surgery in September 2022 that sidelined him for all of 2023. Baz’s development has taken long enough that Archer has both returned to the Rays post-trade and now been out of baseball. He didn’t pitch anywhere in 2023.

Scouting Report: No one will know for sure what Baz looks like now until he returns to the mound. The Rays say his rehabilitation has gone as expected and that he should be full speed for the opening of spring training. Before the injury, Baz had a Gerrit Cole-like high-90s plus-plus fastball that can overwhelm hitters with its combination of exceptional velocity and above-average carry. He complements his heater with a high-80s bullet slider that relies more on velocity than movement to handcuff hitters. Baz will flip over a low-80s fringe-average curveball to get ahead in counts, and he has used an average high-80s changeup to combat lefthanded hitters.

The Future: The Rays may start Baz slowly in 2024 as he re-acclimates to the mound, but he’s a big part of Tampa Bay’s big league rotation plans, with the stuff to serve as a front-of-the-rotation playoff starter. The Rays ran out of starters in 2023 as elbow injuries claimed Shane McClanahan, Jeffrey Springs and Drew Rasmussen, so having a healthy Baz pitch in October 2024 would be a big improvement.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 70 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 55.

From the BA Chicago White Sox 2024 Top 10 Prospects:

10. Peyton Pallette
RHP

Ht: 6'1" | Wt: 180 | B-T: R-R

Age: null

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: Pallette was limited to just 19 games in his three-year college career at Arkansas, missing games first during the pandemic year. He moved to the Razorbacks’ rotation in his sophomore year for 15 games before having Tommy John surgery just before the 2022 season. Originally projected as a first-round talent before the elbow injury, Pallette’s three-pitch mix and pitch-data profile intrigued teams enough to keep him high on draft boards. The White Sox drafted him in the second round in 2022, signing him for an over-slot $1.5 million. After rehabbing for the entire 2022 season, Pallette got back on the mound in 2023 during spring training before getting a full slate of 22 starts at Low-A Kannapolis, where he posted a 4.13 ERA and struck out 78 in 72 innings.

Scouting Report: While size and durability concerns raise questions as to whether Pallette can stay in the rotation, he will continue to be developed as a starter because of the way his plus 93-95 mph fastball plays. His heater was up to 99 in college with impressive vertical break, and that velocity could come back the further he moves away from surgery. Pallette uses a four-seamer grip now and will look to add a two-seam sinker in time. He can really spin a 79-81 mph curveball with both 10-to-4 and 11-to-5 shape and a spin rate greater than 3,000 rpm. He’s still regaining his feel and consistency for his breaking pitch, as he varies the shape and tends to cast it instead of getting out front and finishing it. Pallette’s ultimate role may be determined by the development of what is now a fringe-average changeup that sits 86 mph and touches 88 when it’s too firm.

The Future: Pallette’s pair of plus pitches are a sign that he will have significant value either as a starter or reliever. With a strong spring, he could skip High-A and head right to Double-A Birmingham.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45

From the BA Oakland Athletics 2024 Top 10 Prospects:

6. Lawrence Butler
OF

Ht: 6'3" | Wt: 210 | B-T: L-R

Age: null

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High

Track Record: Butler was a toolsy developmental pick in the sixth round in 2018 with swing-and-miss issues early in his pro career. He returned from the 2020 shutdown as a revelation since and has steadily ascended. Butler hit .284/.350/.475 across 89 games in 2023 between Double-A Midland and Triple-A Las Vegas before making his big league debut on Aug. 11, where he struggled to a .211/.240/.341 line and a 60 wRC+.

Scouting Report: Butler is a dynamic athlete. Originally drafted as a first baseman, he played almost exclusively in center field upon reaching Oakland in 2023. He’s a powerful hitter with a strong, loose swing that produces good launch angles. Butler again posted some of the best 90th percentile exit velocities of any Oakland minor leaguer. A historically selective hitter, Butler also made meaningful adjustments to his approach in the minors in an attempt to reach that power more consistently. He cut his miss rate by roughly 8% and also reduced his chase rate despite increasing his swing rate for the second consecutive year. There will likely always be swing-and-miss elements to his game—he especially struggled with quality breaking balls in 2023—but there’s a chance for fringe-average contact ability. Butler is a good runner who stole 21 bases in the minors. He covers enough ground to adequately play center field, but he needs to refine his routes to the ball. Most evaluators believe he’s ultimately better suited for a corner. Butler draws positive reviews for his clubhouse presence and magnetic personality.

The Future: It may take some time to fully click, but Butler has the upside of an everyday power-speed corner threat who could become a foundational piece as Oakland tries to emerge from its rebuild.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 60 | Run: 55 | Field: 50 | Arm: 50.

From MiLB.com's 2023 Organization All-Stars:

LHP: Yu-Min Lin (AZ No. 4)
A+/AA: 6-5, 3.86 ERA, 121 1/3 IP, 140 K, 48 BB, .222 BA, 1.19 WHIP

Lin is a rare breed in the Minors: a strikeout artist who goes deep into games. The 20-year-old registered eight or more strikeouts in eight starts and threw at least six innings seven times. He was especially dominant during a five-start stretch from June 3-July 1 when he allowed just six runs (three earned) and struck out 41 across 28 innings.

"He's one of the craftiest pitchers I've been around," Sawdaye said. "He's not afraid to throw any pitch in any count, and he has really good command of all of his pitches. He's an undersized kid, but he's probably one of the best athletes we have in our system too. Very twitchy, very athletic, repeats his delivery really well."


LHP: Robby Snelling (SD No. 3, MLB No. 60)
A/A+/AA: 11-3, 1.82 ERA, 103 ⅔ IP, 118 K, 34 BB, .216 BAA, 1.12 WHIP

Snelling was also rightfully nominated for Minor League Debut of the Year alongside Salas, who was his batterymate during a hitless performance on Aug. 31. The 19-year-old posted his best numbers – 1.56 ERA with a .190 BAA – at Double-A, and his overall ERA was the lowest among all MiLB pitchers to complete at least 70 frames this season. Daly was impressed by Snelling’s ability to throw strikes and relentlessly work within the zone.


OF: Grant McCray (SF No. 7)
A+: .255/.360/.417, 127 G, 14 HR, 66 RBI, 101 R, 72 BB, 52 SB

McCray wasn’t quite as consistent as in his brilliant 2022 season, but the 22-year-old was one of only five Minor Leaguers with at least 50 steals and 100 runs scored. McCray, who would be eligible for the Rule 5 Draft if not added to the 40-man roster this offseason, had more punchouts (171) than any other Giants prospect, while leading the system in runs and stolen bases and finishing second in walks.


C: Alfredo Duno (CIN No. 13)
ROK: .303/.451/.493, 45 G, 36 R, 46 H, 6 HR, 41 RBI, 38 BB

Cincinnati’s system is light on backstops but it may have a gem in the Duno, who signed out of Venezuela for $3.1 million as the prize of the Reds' 2023 international class. The 17-year-old went right to work and did not disappoint in his first taste of pro ball. He finished the year ranked fourth among Reds Minor Leaguers in OBP, fifth in average and OPS and seventh in slugging.


3B: Sal Stewart (CIN No. 7)
A/A+: .251/.396/.415, 117 G, 117 H, 24 2B, 12 HR, 71 RBI, 84 BB, 15 SB

It was Stewart’s advanced bat that made the Reds grab him with the No. 32 overall pick in the 2022 Draft, and he showed it off in his first full season of pro ball, walking more than he struck out and reaching High-A as a 19-year-old. He led all Reds minor leaguers in walks and ranked fifth in RBIs, seventh in hits, eighth in runs and ninth in OBP.


1B: David McCabe (ATL No. 14)
A/A+: .276/.385/.450, 123 G, 17 HR, 75 RBI, 63 R, 80 BB, 10 SB

The Canadian has been known to wear out pitchers, seeing 4.27 pitches per plate appearance. McCabe tapped into his power in his first full season in the pros, improving his OPS by almost 200 points from last year. “We really like what David brings to the table,” Braves assistant general manager of player development Ben Sestanovich said. “His combination of power and patience at the plate is terrific.”


OF: Victor Mesa Jr. (MIA No. 6)
AA: .242/.308/.412, 123 G, 18 HR, 76 RBI, 73 R, 41 BB, 16 SB

This season will be remembered as the year that Mesa tapped into his power. After two seasons in which he swatted just five homers apiece, the Cuba native launched 18 big flies in 2023 to go along with a career-high 44 extra-base hits. This all comes in his first campaign at the Double-A level, facing off against his toughest competition yet. Mesa also swiped more than 10 bases for the third straight season.

"For us, he's an everyday center fielder," Crespo said. "So the fact that he was able to put it all together in a really good season, we're very proud."


OF: James Wood (WSH No. 2, MLB No. 7)
A+/AA: .262/.353/.520, 129 G, 26 HR, 91 RBI, 80 R, 65 BB, 18 SB

At 6-foot-6, 240 pounds and just 21 years old, Wood is the type of athlete that doesn’t come around often. His light-tower power and impressive speed project a five-tool player for years to come, and it showed in 2023. The outfielder -- acquired in the deal that sent Juan Soto to San Diego last summer -- led the system with 26 big flies, 91 RBIs and 62 XBH. He was also the only player to tally both 15 homers and 15 stolen bases. Longosz reiterated Wood's ability to be a five-tool guy for years to come:

“I don’t know what more to say, it’s just exciting.”


1B: Lawrence Butler
AA/AAA: .284/.350/.475, 89 G, 15 HR, 70 RBI, 67 R, 38 BB, 21 SB

The 2018 sixth-rounder showed more discipline -- both at the plate and on the basepaths -- this season. While increasing his number of steals from last season, Butler also struck out and got caught stealing at lower rates. Slugging .512 across 22 Triple-A games was enough to punch the first baseman's ticket to Oakland. Butler retained his prospect status into the offseason with just 123 career Major League at-bats.


OF: Alberto Rodriguez (SEA No. 17)
A+/AA: .300/.380/.504, 118 G, 14 HR, 85 RBI, 78 R, 51 BB, 8 SB

Rodriguez was the Mariners’ Hitting Prospect of the Year after he was designated for assignment and cleared waivers in January. The 23-year-old led the system in batting and doubles (38) and ranked second among Seattle’s full-season qualifiers in wRC+ (136) and BABIP (.378). Rodriguez didn’t tap into his power much in Arkansas, but he posted a similar average (.291) and still got on base at a decent clip (.361 OBP) at the higher level.


SS: Carson Williams (TB No. 2/MLB No. 19)
A+/AA/AAA: .257/.356/.497, 115 G, 23 HR, 81 RBI, 76 R, 59 BB, 20 SB

The 2021 first-rounder has 60-grade power and fielding tools to go along with a 65-grade arm. “Some of our staff have said that he’s got the best all-around tools in this organization,” Pappas said. “He’s shown some real maturation … but you still take all those intangibles.” Spending most of the season at High-A, Williams had a stint in Durham in August before ending the season at Montgomery. In six Double-A games, Williams posted a 1.062 OPS on 11 total bases.

From MiLB.com's 2023 Baltimore Orioles Organization All-Stars:

OF: Heston Kjerstad (BAL No. 3/MLB No. 24)
AA/AAA: .303/.376/.528, 122 G, 87 R, 145 H, 29 2B, 8 3B, 21 HR, 55 RBI, 42 BB

After more than two years sidelined with health issues, Kjerstad spent 2022 putting those concerns in the rearview mirror. At the top two levels of the Minors this past season, he played even better and reasserted himself as one of the best hitting prospects in the game. Kjerstad was radically consistent, hitting, reaching base, homering and walking at roughly the same rates at both Double-A and Triple-A. The Orioles, who took heat for picking him second overall in 2020, feel vindicated by and enthusiastic about this year's success.