Orioles Prospect Report - November 2024

[Orioles]

From the BA Miami Marlins Top 10 Prospects:


6. Robby Snelling, LHP

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

Age: null

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: Snelling was well regarded in high school both in baseball and football. The Padres drafted him in the supplemental first round in 2022 and signed him for $3 million, going $1 million over slot. Snelling was brilliant in his first full season, pitching to a 1.82 ERA in 2023 while flying to Double-A and earning the Baseball America Minor League Pitcher of the Year award. However, he faced much rougher waters in his return to Double-A in 2024, with an ERA over 5.00. The Padres traded him to the Marlins in a midseason deal that brought back relievers Tanner Scott and Bryan Hoeing.

Scouting Report: Snelling isn’t your typical raw, projectable high school arm. His body is already mature, and he features a diverse repertoire rather than one or two plus pitches. His fastball is 90-95 mph with ride, and he likes to pitch up in the zone with it, but it can be hittable if he leaves it over the heart of the plate. His 78-82 mph slider is a slower, sweepier breaking pitch with two-plane depth that he likes to bury to his glove side. His changeup has improved throughout his pro career and now projects to be a solid-average offering with fade and arm speed. Snelling attacked hitters relentlessly in the low minors, but in the upper levels he got hit more and started to pitch around the edges, leading to increased walk rates. There’s still hope that he will be at least an average strike-thrower at peak.

The Future: Snelling’s 2024 struggles were concerning, especially considering he lacks true wipeout stuff and that the strikes have regressed. However, he will still be 21 in 2025, with the ingredients to be a No. 3 or 4 starter if he can improve his strike-throwing and get his fastball more into the higher bands of its velocity range. He will likely open 2025 at Triple-A.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 55. Control: 50

____________________

From the BA Philadelphia Phillies Top 10 Prospects:


6. Moises Chace, RHP

Ht: 6'1" | Wt: 213 | B-T: R-R

Age: null

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: The Orioles signed Chace as part of their international class of 2019, but the pandemic kept him from making his pro debut until 2021. He moved slowly through the Baltimore system—including two seasons at Low-A—until a breakout campaign in 2024. His hot start led to his inclusion—along with fellow righthander Seth Johnson—in the deal that sent closer Gregory Soto from Philly to Baltimore. Chace’s 80.1 innings marked a career high-water mark.

Scouting Report: Chace’s fastball is one of the signatures of the righthander’s mix. The pitch averages 95 mph and peaks at 98, but under the hood is where it really stands out. Chace’s lower slot, unusual carry and an average of roughly 18.5 inches of induced vertical break combine to produce a fastball that reminds some of the offering that has made Astros righthander Cristian Javier famous. The pitch garnered a miss rate north of 40%, and Chace backs it with a deep and varied pitch mix that has been tweaked as he’s matured. His current repertoire includes a short, hard slider, a sweeper and a changeup. The slider—which has the look of a cutter at times—is an effective offering against both righties and lefties and helps set up his sweeper for swings and misses. His changeup needs further development but has a chance to be average. Chace’s next step will be to turn his control into command, especially when it comes to pounding the zone early in counts.

The Future: Chace performed nicely after changing organizations. He has the mix to remain in the rotation if he can raise the quality and volume of his strikes. If he has to move to the bullpen, his fastball, slider and sweeper should give him plenty of options to blow away hitters in the late innings of games.

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


9. Gabriel Rincones, OF

Ht: 6'3" | Wt: 225 | B-T: L-R

Age: null

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.

Track Record: Rincones began his college career at St. Petersburg (Fla.) JC and finished at Florida Atlantic, where he slugged 19 home runs in just 58 games as a junior. The Phillies selected Rincones in the third round of the 2022 draft, and he spent the first portion of his pro career recovering from a torn right shoulder. Healthy in 2023, he showed the kind of impact that led the Phillies to call his name, but the injury bug struck again in 2024, limiting him to 68 games—mostly at Double-A—while recovering from surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb.

Scouting Report: Rincones’ carrying tool is his power, which showed up in 26 extra-base hits—including 11 home runs—in just 59 games at Reading. He was one of just 11 minor leaguers to show that kind of impact in such a small number of games. He still needs to clean up some of his contact deficiencies—including an in-zone miss rate of nearly 25%—but his 90th percentile exit velocity points to plenty of loud contact. He was once again vexed by lefthanders, running a .596 OPS against them in 2024. As was the case in 2023, Rincones split his time between both corner outfield spots, though his reps were tilted toward right field. Though Phillies officials say Rincones has improved defensively, he is still likely to be a below-average defender with a potentially plus throwing arm. Despite the stolen base totals, Rincones is a 30-grade runner.

The Future: For the second straight year, Rincones was assigned to the Arizona Fall League to make up for lost time. If he can stay healthy in 2025, he’ll have a shot at the majors. Ultimately, he could fit as a powerful regular on a second-division club or as part of a platoon on a championship team.

Scouting Grades Hit: 40 | Power: 60 | Run: 30 | Fielding: 40 | Arm: 60

____________________

From the BA Washington Nationals Top 10 Prospects:


6. Alexander Clemmey, LHP

Ht: 6'6" | Wt: 205 | B-T: L-L

Age: null

BA Grade/Risk:55/Extreme.

Track Record: After winning Rhode Island Gatorade player of the year, Clemmey went to the Guardians in the second round—58th overall—of the 2023 draft. Cleveland swayed Clemmey from a Vanderbilt commitment by signing him to a well over-slot $2.3 million bonus. He made his pro debut in 2024 with Low-A Lynchburg, pitching to a 4.67 ERA in 19 starts and striking out 97 in 69.1 innings. At the trade deadline, Cleveland sent Clemmey to the Nationals as part of the package used to acquire outfielder Lane Thomas. He made six regular-season starts for the Nationals’ Low-A affiliate, ending his season with two postseason outings for the Carolina League champions.

Scouting Report: At 6-foot-6, 205 pounds, Clemmey has the type of projection that is easy to dream on. His fastball sits in the mid 90s with late life through the zone. He touched 98 mph in 2024 and could flirt with triple-digits as he adds strength. Clemmey’s windup is a bit untraditional, sometimes looking like it lacks rhythm. As he develops and adds strength, his movements should become more controlled and fluid. His curveball generates some swings and misses and has plus potential. The Nationals want to develop Clemmey’s changeup, which, as is often the case with high school draftees, is his least polished pitch.

The Future: Clemmey was one of the youngest players in the 2023 draft and shows his age with the rawness in his game. The tools are there, but expect Washington to move slowly with Clemmey. Though his development is a year behind Travis Sykora’s, the Nationals believe he could have the same type of breakout season once he matures and improves his control.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 70 | Curveball: 60 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 40

[Orioles]

From the 11/4 BP article 2025 Prospects: Washington Nationals Top Prospects:


6. Alex Clemmey

Pos: P
Born: 2005-07-18
B: Left
T: Left
H: 6′ 6″
W: 205 lbs.

History: Drafted by the Cleveland Guardians in the second round of the 2023 draft, Bishop Hendricken HS (Warwick, RI); signed for $2.3 million. Acquired from the Guardians for Lane Thomas.

Previous Rank: #10 (CLE)

Major League ETA: 2027

The Report: Washington got a pretty tidy return for one-plus years of Lane Thomas. José Tena looks like a potential regular now that he’s gotten some steady run in the majors, and while Clemmey remains a bit of a long-term project, he’s flashed bat-missing stuff in the low minors for both the Guardians and the Nats. His delivery starts with him lifting his leg like he’s gingerly stepping over a sleeping alligator in order to set up closed off and crossfire-ready. The funk continues with a slinky, uptempo arm action with some late torque and jerk. This creates a very tough angle for hitters on both his fastball and slider, but also results in well-below-average present command and control. Clemmey’s fastball touches 95, but generally sits in the low 90s. It can generate some late, choppy swings from both lefties and righties, and sets up his low-to-mid-80s slider which is a brutally tough pitch for his fellow southpaws to deal with. Against right-handers it’s more of a spot pitch and he’ll mix in a firm, but vaguely effective high-80s change. I do wonder if Clemmey could use a hard cutter for a different look, although he did not have a particularly notable platoon split in Low-A. There’s still a lot of physical projection remaining for the 6-foot-6 teenager—and he only just turned 19 over the summer—and the advanced breaking ball gives him a path to the majors even if the command remains perennially a work in progress. He has as much upside as the arms ahead of him on this list, but the pro track record of quality command is just as bad as Susana’s without the premium stuff to cover for it.

OFP: 55 / no. 3/4 starter.

Variance: Very High. Clemmey has a potential plus fastball and slider combo, but his strike-throwing really needs to improve to stick in a rotation long term.

[Orioles]

From BA's AFL Week 5 Hot Sheet:

5. Gabriel Rincones Jr., OF, Phillies

Team: Glendale
Age: 23

Why He’s Here: .636/.667/.818 (7-for-11), 5 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBIs, 1 BB, 0 SO, 3-for-3 SB

The Scoop: Rincones is one of the Phillies’ best position prospects, but he’s been unable to stay on the field over the last two seasons. He’s making up time in the AFL for the second straight year, and weeks like his most recent have shown his upside. He’s got the power to fit in a corner outfield spot or at first base, but he’ll need to get more reps—especially at the upper levels—to keep himself on a path toward making his upside a reality. (JN)

[Orioles]

From BA's Top 10 Cardinals Prospects 2025:


5. Yairo Padilla, SS

Ht: 6'0" | Wt: 170 | B-T: S-R

Age: null

BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme.

Track Record: The Cardinals signed Padilla for $760,000 in January 2024, and so far it looks like a savvy investment. Padilla debuted in the Dominican Summer League nearly a month before his 17th birthday, hitting .287/.391/.404 in 35 games with five doubles, four triples and a home run while stealing 22 bases on 27 attempts. The switch-hitter slashed .308/.403/.442 against righthanders but just .111/.292/.111 versus lefties. He should debut stateside in 2024 in the Florida Complex League.

Scouting Report: Padilla is a projectable, athletic player who wowed scouts in his professional debut. A shortstop who shows impact potential on both sides of the ball, he could grow into a premium player with a body to dream on. Padilla did a majority of his damage this season against fastballs from righthanders and will need to show an ability to hit lefthanders as a switch-hitter. He shows glimpses of average or better power now but is still growing into his body and should find more strength eventually. Overall, Padilla shows plus bat-to-ball skills with above-average swing decisions. While his raw power is well below-average now, he should grow into more pop as he matures. Padilla is a double-plus runner at present who is a threat to steal whenever he’s on base. This translates to plus range at shortstop with natural feel and timing for the position. Padilla pairs smooth hands and actions with a plus arm that allows him to make all the necessary throws.

The Future: Padilla is an exciting and projectable switch-hitting shortstop who has the potential to develop into an above-average regular if everything comes together. Should Padilla grow into power and continue to hit while playing premium defense, he has a chance to become a star.

Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 70 | Fielding: 60 | Arm: 60

____________________


From BP's 2025 Prospects: St. Louis Cardinals Top Prospects:


10. Yairo Padilla

Pos: SS
Born: 2007-06-28
B: Switch
T: Right
H: 6′ 0″
W: 170 lbs.
History: Signed January 15th, 2024 out of the Dominican Republic for $760,000.
Previous Rank: NR
Major League ETA: 2029

The Report: Padilla is an eye scouting marvel: a tall, skinny, classically projectable 17-year-old who takes a smooth swing from both sides of the plate. If you believe in the old ways of scouting even a little bit, you’re liable to see a future star here; he even made a solid amount of contact and controlled the zone pretty well in the Dominican Summer League, to the extent one should care about DSL performance indicators.

There’s one key one where he just doesn’t stack up, and you can see it in his slash line, his damage metrics, and video: he doesn’t hit the ball hard at all. What we don’t know is whether there’s a “yet” to be appended onto the end of that sentence. He certainly could add a bunch of functional strength and, if he does, is likely to be a Top-101 prospect pretty fast, but whether or not he will is a much tougher question. His present exit velocity numbers are well behind the top DSL players in his age cohort—like Rodriguez—so there’s a lot of growth needed.

OFP: 50 / Choose your own adventure

Variance: Extreme. If you can tell me how to project in real time which of the half-dozen skinny, low-power DSL shortstops with a projectable frame as 17-year-olds will grow into impact game power, I’d also like tonight’s lottery numbers.

[Orioles]

From the BA Cardinals Top 10 Chat on Yairo Padilla:

Question: Can you explain more about Padilla’s rise to their number five prospect? How much upside does he have? Could he be their top prospect soon?

Geoff Pontes: The feedback has been off the charts most scouts viewed him as the second best DSL prospect behind Jesus Made in 2024. He ranked that way in the list Josh Norris put out back on October 7th. He's a plus athlete, defender at short, plus-plus runner with excellent bat-to-ball (12.6% z-miss) and swing decisions (low chase, higher swing, high heart swing). All we need to see if power and the reports from the offseason camps all say he's the standout player in camp.

[Orioles]

From BP's November 15th Minor League Update:

Rayner Castillo, RHP, Detroit Tigers (AFL Scottsdale): 4 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K.

Signed out of the Dominican in 2021, Castillo spent his first three professional seasons at the complex level before finally making his full-season debut this year in Lakeland. The arsenal features a sinking fastball that easily sits in the mid-90s and, while never eliciting a ton of swing-and-miss, generates plenty of weak ground balls. Throw in a potentially plus slider and developing changeup and Castillo has the stuff to turn over an opposing lineup.

[Orioles]

From BA's San Diego Padres Top 10 Prospects in 2025:


1. Leodalis De Vries, SS

Ht: 6'2" | Wt: 183 | B-T: S-R

Age: null

BA Grade/Risk: 65/Very High.

Track Record: De Vries was the crown jewel of the 2024 international free agent class, and the Padres signed the Dominican shortstop for $4.2 million, which was the second-highest total in the class. De Vries bypassed the Rookie-level complex leagues and made his pro debut as a 17-year-old with Low-A Lake Elsinore on April 24. He regularly flashed his tantalizing tool set and slashed .238/.361/.442 with 11 home runs and 13 stolen base in 75 games. After some growing pains—and a brief stay on the injured list in May with a shoulder injury—De Vries finished the season strong. In his final 45 games, he hit .260/.384/.519 with all 11 of his homers. After the season, he participated in the Arizona Fall League.

Scouting Report: A switch-hitting shortstop, De Vries has the tools to eventually be the centerpiece of a big league club. From the left side, he has a slightly open front side with a medium-high handset. There are some moving parts to his swing. During the pitcher’s delivery, he proceeds to rest his bat across his back shoulder, which leads into a slight barrel tip followed by a dropping and drifting of his hands. It’s a busy operation, but De Vries’ bat speed helps make up for it. He’s also shown the ability to adjust. Late in the season, De Vries opted to rest the bat on his back shoulder pre-delivery, and his hand movement decreased. As a righthanded hitter, De Vries’ front side is slightly more open and he opts for a higher handset. While the move in his lower half is similar on each side, there is more of a bat wrap in his load from the right side. De Vries has a knack for back-spinning the baseball from both sides of the plate, with his home run power coming to his pull side, especially batting righthanded. He has demonstrated the ability to drive the ball to all fields batting lefthanded. As De Vries continues to age, he figures to naturally grow into more strength and impact. He has a sound approach and chased at a respectable 22% clip, but secondary offerings were a particular bugaboo. Expect his pitch recognition skills to improve, because he has already flashed advanced contact ability. De Vries’ high-level athleticism is evident at shortstop, where he shows range in either direction, comfort attacking the baseball and advanced instincts. He has quick hands and an average arm, and he will get plenty of time to develop his defensive skill set at shortstop. De Vries is an above-average runner who can impact the game with his legs.

The Future: De Vries has the look of a potential high-impact big leaguer. He should begin the 2025 season back with Lake Elsinore but figures to earn an eventual promotion to High-A Fort Wayne. There is no reason for the Padres to rush De Vries through the minors, and his MLB debut year projects to be 2027 with an outside shot at late 2026.

Scouting Grades Hit: 60 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Fielding: 55 | Arm: 50


4. Humberto Cruz, RHP

Ht: 6'1" | Wt: 190 | B-T: R-R

Age: null

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme.

Track Record: Cruz was the pitching headliner of the Padres’ 2024 international class. Needing more pool space to acquire him, San Diego traded 2023 12th-rounder Blake Dickerson to the Tigers to acquire the bonus pool money needed to push Cruz’s $750,000 deal over the finish line. Cruz made two one-inning starts in 2024 in the Arizona Complex League, where he did not allow a run and struck out a pair.

Scouting Report: The 6-foot-1 Cruz has a high-waisted, athletic build and plenty of room to add physicality, which shouldn’t be too tall of a task given his youth. He has an athletic delivery with plenty of arm speed and features a fastball, slider and changeup. Cruz’s fastball was up to 93 mph prior to his signing, but in his pro debut it was clocked as high as 97 mph. In addition to his lively heater, Cruz spins a tight, low-to-mid-80s slider that has posted spin rates in the 2,400-2,500 rpm range, as well as a changeup which gets solid separation off his fastball and flashes plenty of fade to his arm side. On top of his intriguing three-pitch mix, Cruz has also shown above-average pitchability and is consistently around the strike zone. He can generate plenty of whiffs with all three of his pitches and has middle-of-the-rotation upside.

The Future: While Cruz’s upside is exciting, there is no reason to rush him through the minor leagues. He will pitch the entire 2025 season as an 18-year-old and likely projects to begin the year in extended spring training and possibly the ACL. The Padres have shown they aren’t shy about sending 17- or 18-year-olds to full-season affiliates, so expect Cruz to reach Low-A Lake Elsinore at some point in 2025. His big league debut is still many years away and figures to not be until at least 2028.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 55


7. Victor Lizarraga, RHP

Ht: 6'3" | Wt: 180 | B-T: R-R

Age: null

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.

Track Record: Lizarraga ranked as Mexico’s best pitching prospect in the 2021 international class and signed with the Padres for $1 million. His progression through the minor leagues has been steady. Following a strong showing in the Arizona Complex League as a 17-year-old in 2021, Lizarraga struck out 95 in 94.1 innings in 19 starts for Low-A Lake Elsinore in 2022. His strikeout rate dipped in 2023, but he enjoyed a bounceback 2024 season at Double-A San Antonio in which he posted a 4.03 ERA with a career-high 102 strikeouts in 96 innings.

Scouting Report: Lizarraga has a lengthy 6-foot-3 frame with present strength and physicality in his lower half. He has a long, whippy arm action and pitches out of a low-three quarters slot. His fastball sits in the 90-94 mph range and flashes run and ride through the zone. It doesn’t miss a ton of bats, but it generates the most swings and misses when located in the top half of the strike zone or to Lizarraga’s arm side. His slider sits in the high 70s to low 80s and will flash sharp, late sweeping life, while his mid-to-high-70s curveball has solid depth and at times shows quality downward bite. Lizarraga rounds out his arsenal with a mid-to-high-80s changeup that he threw just 7% of the time in 2024. He has average—if not a shade above—control and has a sound feel for his arsenal. He pitched all of 2024 at 20 years old, and his velocity and pure stuff should continue to tick up as he matures.

The Future: After spending all of 2024 at Double-A, Lizarraga projects to start 2025 back at San Antonio. An eventual promotion to Triple-A El Paso seems to be in the cards for Lizarraga, who could make his major league debut as soon as 2026. Once called up, Lizarraga projects as a back-of-the-rotation starter or swingman.

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

[Orioles]

From BP's San Francisco Giants 2025 Top Prospects:


8. Lisbel Diaz

Pos: OF
Born: 2005-07-19
B: Right
T: Right
H: 6′ 2″
W: 201 lbs.
History: Signed July 2023 out of Cuba.
Previous Rank: NR
Major League ETA: 2028

The Report: Diaz was widely underrated entering 2024 despite some small-sample signals in his batted-ball data that pointed to a potential breakout. After defecting from Cuba in 2022, he signed with the Giants the following summer to little fanfare and headed to the Dominican Summer League, where he quickly established a feel to hit that was advanced for the league and his age. That carried over to 2024, where his precocious bat-to-ball talent shined both on the complex and in Low-A, where he was promoted at the end of June. Diaz spent the rest of the summer in the Cal League, and got better as the season progressed, at one point racking up 19 hits in a 10-day span at the end of August.

Diaz’s bat control is somewhat similar to organization-mate Luis Matos in that he makes a ton of contact and can get to pitches all over the zone. In Matos’ case, those bat-to-ball skills have meant a lot of weak contact on chase pitches he should be taking, adversity that Diaz is also likely to face as he advances. The similarities mostly end there, as Diaz is quicker and more physical than Matos, and has already posted max exit velocities north of 110 mph. Diaz is a little stiff mechanically and often looks to pull, yanking more than half of his batted balls at each level he’s played. A lot of those balls hit to his pull side are also hit hard, so it’s more of a quirk for now than a problem once more advanced pitchers stop leaving anything middle-in to him. A little more than two-thirds of Diaz’s batted balls are also hit on the ground or line drives, so he’s unlikely to hit many more than 10-12 homers until and unless he starts elevating the ball a little more consistently. Diaz moves well and is a fine enough defender in a corner, splitting his time between left and right field 60-40. While he does have the arm for right, racking up 10 assists in his 55 games in San Jose, he’s more likely to be a better fit in left long term.

OFP: 50 / Imagine if Isaac Paredes could run and hit a bunch of line drives instead of fly balls
Variance: Very high. Diaz doesn’t turn 20 until July and is ticketed for a much tougher hitting environment in the Northwest League. Adjust your immediate expectations accordingly.

[Orioles]

From the BA Dodgers Top 10 chat:

Christian Garner, Lacey WA: The Dodgers continue to find and develop pitching in later rounds and from obscure places. Who is the next "guy" not on the Top 10 to get excited about?

Josh Norris, BA: For me, it's Eriq Swan. He was the second-best pitching prospect in the Fall League, behind only the superbeast known as Andrew Painter. Huge stuff and a great ball of clay for the Dodgers to mold. Upside of a mid-rotation starter at least.

[Orioles]

From the BA San Francisco Giants Top 10 Prospects for 2025


6. Grant McCray, OF

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

Age: null

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: McCray is the son of former MLB outfielder Rodney McCray, who got 14 at-bats over three seasons with the Mets and White Sox. Grant debuted in Rookie ball in 2019 after he was the Giants’ third-round pick. He lost the 2020 season because of the pandemic-scuttled season. In 2022, a series of mechanical changes unlocked his potential and put him firmly in the mix as one of the system’s best prospects. His career since then has been filled with highs and lows, but he made his big league debut in 2024 and swatted five home runs in 37 games.

Scouting Report: McCray has a reputation as a bit of a slow starter, and the same was true in 2024 at Double-A Richmond. He finished April with a .528 OPS, then boosted that figure all the way to .994 in May. When he’s going right, McCray has the kind of combination of power and speed scouts dream of finding. In his short big league stint, McCray’s exit velocities and barrel rate were both well above-average, and his sprint speed and arm strength were near-elite among his peers in center field. The next step in McCray’s development will be to make more contact. He struck out at a 28.7% clip in the minor leagues and then racked up 56 strikeouts in 130 big league plate appearances, including chase and whiff rates of roughly 31% and 44%. Without major improvements in those areas, McCray might be largely relegated to the bench or the minor leagues for the remainder of his career. If he can make marginal gains, he’ll have a shot to scratch the surface of his tremendous upside.

The Future: McCray will be given a chance to earn a roster spot out of spring training. To do so, he’ll need to make contact at a much higher rate.

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

[Orioles]

From the BP 2025 Prospects: San Diego Padres Top Prospects


1. Leodalis De Vries

Pos: SS
Born: 2006-10-11
B: Switch
T: Right
H: 6′ 0″
W: 183 lbs.
History: Signed January 15th, 2024 out of the Dominican Republic for $4.2 million
Previous Rank: NR
Major League ETA: 2028

The Report: The Padres treated their Top IFA bat this year much the way they did Ethan Salas in 2023, with a quick move to full-season ball. The 17-year-old de Vries had a very successful season in context, posting a 117 DRC+ and with underlying metrics that fully supported the stat line. He has the standard young switch-hitter split, more polished from the left-hand side, more power from the right, although he hits the ball plenty hard as a southpaw as well. The swings are pretty close to mirror images, with a little more torque and length as a righty. Either side, De Vries uses a bit of a pump/hitch to start his swing but the bat speed may end up top-of-the-scale, and he shoots the barrel around (and out of) the zone pretty well at present. This was not the season of a prospect merely trying to stay above water during a very aggressive assignment. de Vries might not have the physical strength or pro experience yet to really tap into the full potential in his bat, but if the top-line offensive tools end up 70/70 here, I won’t be shocked. I will be slightly more surprised if he ends up at shortstop long term. His arm strength and hands are good, but it’s likely he will fill out and slide over to third base, where he’d be a more than capable defender. The only real knocks on de Vries at present are a lack of functional strength and barrel control to really fully tap into the pull-side power potential—which should come with time—and the general hit tool concerns you’d have about any 17-year-old prospect yet to face upper-minors competition.

OFP: 60 / First-division infielder
Variance: High. There’s obviously a hard role 7 outcome in play here not too far above the 75th percentile outcome. I’m also about as confident in a major-league starter grade as I could ever be for a 17-year-old IFA who hasn’t been in organized ball for a full calendar year yet. Which is not that confident. Come on man, don’t put that in the papers.


9. Humberto Cruz

Pos: RHP
Born: 2006-12-18
B: Right
T: Right
H: 6′ 1″
W: 170 lbs.
History: Signed February 21st, 2024 out of Mexico for $750,000.
Previous Rank: NR
Major League ETA: 2029

The Report: Arguably the best pitcher in the 2024 IFA class, Cruz doesn’t turn 18 for another month and only threw two innings in Peoria this season. Yet here he sits in the Top 10 of the system. Yes the pre-signing superlatives matter—as does the mid-90s fastball—but Cruz is even higher-variance and less physically projectable than the prep arms in front of him. The velocity comes with high spin—although poor extension—and all told it’s pretty free and easy from an even-keeled full windup. Cruz has a projectable slider as well, and threw a couple changeups in game action—which honestly is all we expect out of the prep arms at this point anyway. He’s a lean 6-foot-1 righty with barely a wisp of a pro footprint. He can be anything you want him to be for now, but he’s probably got to be in this system Top 10 all things considered.

OFP: 50 / Sometimes the dart throw hits the exact midpoint
Variance: Extreme. That’s the whole variance, just extreme.


14. Victor Lizarraga, RHP (Double-A San Antonio)

Lizarraga has even less stuff than the pitchers right ahead of him, but he’s paced a precocious path through the Padres org nonetheless. His breakers tease and tantalize at the edges of the zone, his fastball generally gets grounders, but everything is very back-end starterish. It’s a different kind of back-end starter than the arms with more fastball juice and sharper swing-and-miss breakers, but the same projected outcome. El Paso will be the next—and most stern test of Lizarraga’s 90-mph fastball and fringy four-pitch mix, but if he puts up an ERA around 4.00 once again, a major league shot may beckon before he turns 22.

[Orioles]

From BA's Top 25 Prospects From The 2024 Arizona Fall League:


4. Leodalis De Vries, SS, Padres

De Vries opened the Fall League as a 17-year-old and more than held his own as the league’s youngest player. The Dominican-born infielder showed off loose swings from both sides of the plate, as well as an impressive ability to hit the fastball for someone his age. There are still some struggles against spin, which is to be expected for a player the equivalent of a junior in high school. De Vries split his time in the AFL between shortstop and second base, but evaluators believe he has the quickness, range and just enough arm strength to stick on the left side. All told, he has the upside of a perennial all-star


17. Eriq Swan, RHP, Dodgers

When the Fall League announced its rosters, it was clear that Andrew Painter was going to be the cream of the pitching crop. The only question was: Who was going to take second place? Swan filled that role to perfection. The tall righthander, whom Los Angeles selected with their fourth-round pick in 2023, handcuffed hitters with a four-pitch mix led by a mid-90s fastball and backed by a sweeper, slider and changeup. His slider was at least a plus offering, and his changeup showed plenty of potential, as well. He’ll need to sew up some mechanical inconsistencies and improve his direction to the plate, but Swan’s time in the AFL pointed toward a pitcher capable of being one of the breakout stars of 2025.

[Orioles]

From BA's Baltimore Orioles Top 10 Prospects in 2025:


3. Heston Kjerstad, OF

Ht: 6'3" | Wt: 205 | B-T: L-R

Age: null

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Medium.

Track Record: It’s been an exercise in delayed gratification, but Kjerstad continues to show why the Orioles bet on him as the No. 2 overall pick in the pandemic-shortened 2020 draft, after which he signed for an under-slot $5.2 million bonus. The former Southeastern Conference star’s pro debut was put off for an entire season by myocarditis—heart inflammation—but he made the majors in 2023 just 14 months after his first pro game. Kjerstad overwhelmed Triple-A again in 2024 but was mostly on the fringes in the majors, though he had a hot spell midseason that came to an end after a hit-by-pitch caused a concussion.

Scouting Report: Kjerstad was still getting back to form in the batter’s box in 2022, but the last two seasons have proven he’s an advanced hitter who generates loft and natural carry, along with attractive exit velocities. His has a unique lefthanded swing with a high leg kick and short stroke to the ball, and Kjerstad is able to drive the ball back the way it’s pitched because of how his swing works. That sometimes leads to aggressive swing decisions, but the overall offensive output won’t be jeopardized by his plate discipline, especially if he attacks balls in the strike zone at a high rate. He sees lefthanders well and might not face a strict platoon in the majors. Kjerstad looked more comfortable in the outfield in the majors in 2024, and he has plenty of arm for right field if that’s where he ends up. He has also spent time at first base, which adds a bit of value given his corner bat profile.

The Future: Kjerstad’s first full-time major league role could come with the Orioles in 2025 at age 26. His offensive profile remains that of a middle-of-the-order hitter on a good team.

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

[Orioles]

From BA's Tampa Bay Rays Top 10 Prospects in 2025:


1. Carson Williams, SS

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

Age: null

BA Grade/Risk:60/Medium.

Track Record: Williams didn’t play in a lot of showcases during his high school career at Torrey Pines in San Diego, but he impressed scouts with his big arm, even if he made it clear to everyone that he preferred hitting to pitching. He made swing improvements as a senior, which helped him use his lower half better and convinced scouts to shelve the idea of getting him back on the mound. Williams’ power jumped significantly and helped him vault from third- or fourth-round consideration into the back of the first round in 2021, where the Rays drafted him 28th overall. Williams has shown rare power for a shortstop throughout his pro career. Since the 2022 season began, his 62 home runs are the most among minor league shortstops. That includes a 20-homer, 33-steal performance for Double-A Montgomery as a 21-year-old in 2024.

Scouting Report: Williams has moved relatively quickly up the minor league ladder, but at the plate he is still learning how to get his pitch and adjust depending on a pitcher’s approach. His two-strike approach is rudimentary at this point, but his bat speed and plus power make pitchers pay for any mistakes. Williams’ exceptional footwork is the key to his plus defense. He reads the ball off the bat, and finds ways to avoid in-between hops. He gets into the right position to turn tough plays into routine ones, and his internal clock helps him play under control. He knows when he needs to hurry or when he can slow down and get set. Williams’ hands are fine, but it’s the footwork combined with his plus-plus arm that allow him to make plays many shortstops can’t even consider. Much like the Orioles’ Gunnar Henderson, he makes hard plays in the hole because he can get plenty into off-balance throws. Williams is a reliable defender. He made nine errors all season in 2024, and his .979 fielding percentage was fourth among minor league shortstops.

The Future: The Rays often emphasize versatility in their prospects, asking them to bounce around the field, but Williams notably has never played a game at a position other than shortstop. That could change in 2025 as he heads to Triple-A Durham, but any other position he plays will only be to make him viable as a short-term fill-in. Shortstop is his long-term home. His defense is big-league ready right now, but his bat may need 500 plate appearances at Triple-A to add some final polish. Williams should be the Rays’ everyday shortstop for years to come. His combination of defense, power and athleticism gives him all-star upside. It wouldn’t be a surprise if his hitting doesn’t fully blossom later in the 2020s, but his glove will make him a valuable regular, even if he starts out in the majors as a lower-average power hitter whose hitting eventually catches up to the rest of his skills.

Scouting Grades Hit: 40 | Power: 60 | Run: 50 | Field: 70 | Arm: 70.

[Orioles]

From BP's Almost Comprehensive Fall League Prospect Rankings:


6. Leodalis De Vries – INF – SD: He could very well end up being better than everyone else on this list, with a chance to be a superstar, but because he’s the youngest and most undeveloped but there’s still considerable risk as well. No matter what position he ends up at: he’ll hit! Think Rafael Devers with a chance to be even better.


39. Rayner Castillo – RHP – DET: Raw strike thrower with a heavy fastball and a good pitcher’s frame, but needs to develop an off-speed.

[Orioles]

From MLB Pipeline's Here are 8 prospects standing out in winter ball:

Zach Dezenzo, 3B

Senadores de San Juan (Puerto Rico) - HOU No. 5

The 24-year-old Dezenzo reached the big leagues with Houston down the stretch and scored a run in Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series, but overall was limited to 52 Minor League games due to injury in 2024. He's in Puerto Rico playing winter ball ahead of what'll be an important spring for him as he tries to crack the Astros' 2025 Opening Day roster. He's demonstrated a mature approach so far, slashing .379/.472/.414 with five walks in his first eight games.