Every MLB Team’s Most Intriguing Unfinished Product

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Arizona Diamondbacks: OF Alek Thomas

Age: 22

Key Stats: 30 G, 111 PA, 5 HR, 1 SB, .760 OPS

Thomas, our No. 19 prospect, is off to a good start with the Diamondbacks. Yet one issue that he had in the minors has followed him to the majors, and that’s his propensity for ground balls. Nearly 60 percent of his batted balls have hit the ground, which is a shame given that he clearly has good power. He doesn’t need to go full Joey Gallo in chasing after fly balls, but it’s hard to imagine any harm of him reducing his ground-ball rate.

Colorado Rockies: 2B Brendan Rodgers

Age: 25

Key Stats: 47 G, 199 PA, 6 HR, 0 SB, .717 OPS

Among Rockies hitters in 2022, only C.J. Cron has been better at producing barrels than Rodgers. Like with Thomas in Arizona, however, one catch is that Rodgers mainly hits ground balls. And that isn’t the only thing holding his power potential back, as he also rarely pulls the ball. The picture is of a guy who who has good power in his swing, but who also has work to do if he wants to tap into it more consistently.

Los Angeles Dodgers: 2B Gavin Lux

Age: 24

Key Stats: 52G, 188 PA, 2 HR, 5 SB, .754 OPS

Offensively, this is the best version of Lux the Dodgers have gotten so far. His primary quality is being a tough out, as he has a chase rate in the 95th percentile and is accordingly drawing plenty of walks and avoiding strikeouts. Yet he’s become something of a slap hitter in the process, with his average exit velocity having dropped to 86.1 mph. A hitter who once hit 26 home runs in a single minor league season should be capable of greater equilibrium.

San Diego Padres: LHP MacKenzie Gore

Age: 23

Key Stats: 9 G, 8 GS, 48.0 IP, 1.50 ERA

There’s nothing wrong with the results that Gore has produced for the Padres in 2022, yet there’s a notable lack of equilibrium among his pitches. His fastball has a superb minus-13 run value, while none of his other offerings are likewise below zero. He might benefit from throwing fewer sliders, curveballs and changeups in the zone so as to boost his chase rate above the 19th percentile. When batters go fishing, pitchers generally win.

San Francisco Giants: RHP Camilo Doval

Age: 24

Key Stats: 25 G, 17 GF, 24.2 IP, 2.92 ERA

Velocity certainly isn’t Doval’s problem, as this 101 mph pitch isn’t even his fastest of the season:

Doval’s fastball is nonetheless hittable, with batters teeing off on it for a .414 average and .690 slugging percentage in 2022. It might actually be worth his while to sacrifice some speed for better location, particularly if it means not leaving so many heaters out over the plate for left-handed batters.

Stats courtesy of Baseball Reference, FanGraphs and Baseball Savant. Statcast data is current through play on Thursday, June 9.