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One of the highlights of spring training each year is the opportunity to see top prospects in action against MLB talent.
It’s one thing to see names on a top-prospect list, but it’s another to see them in action. For most fans, spring training is the only real opportunity to do that until those players are called up for their MLB debut.
Here, we’ve highlighted each team’s most hyped up-and-coming talent right now. The focus was on players who have yet to make their MLB debut but could see the majors during the 2022 season. That meant no recent draft picks or lower-level prospects, even if they’re slotted higher on prospect rankings.
These are the prospect names to know for each team and the hyped debuts we could see in 2022.
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Triston CasasNorm Hall/Getty Images
Baltimore Orioles: C Adley Rutschman
A triceps injury has likely ruled out Rutschman earning a spot on Baltimore’s Opening Day roster, but he should make his MLB debut before the All-Star break. The No. 1 pick in the 2019 draft hit .285/.397/.502 with 23 home runs and 75 RBI between Double-A and Triple-A last year, and he has the defensive chops to be a two-way standout and the future face of the franchise.
Boston Red Sox: 1B Triston Casas
After an impressive 2021 season that included a star turn with Team USA in the Olympics, it’s only a matter of time before Casas is in the big leagues. Bobby Dalbec will get the first crack at playing time at first base after a strong finish last year, but Casas has a higher ceiling as a more well-rounded hitter. Expect to see Dalbec at DH and Casas at first base once J.D. Martinez becomes a free agent next winter.
New York Yankees: SS Anthony Volpe
The Yankees made it abundantly clear how highly they value Volpe’s future upside when they opted to sit out of this offseason’s shortstop market. Slick-fielding Isiah Kiner-Falefa is a solid placeholder at shortstop, but he won’t stand in Volpe’s way once he’s ready. That could be as soon as the second half of the 2022 season if he continues his rapid ascent to elite prospect status.
Tampa Bay Rays: 2B Xavier Edwards
Since Shane Baz, Vidal Brujan and Josh Lowe all made their MLB debuts last season, we’ll turn our attention to Edwards, the speedy second baseman whom the Rays acquired in the deal that sent Jake Cronenworth to the San Diego Padres. The 22-year-old hit .302 with a .377 on-base percentage and 19 steals in 81 games at Double-A last year, and he could push Brandon Lowe to the DH spot once he’s ready.
Toronto Blue Jays: C Gabriel Moreno
Moreno turned heads with a .367/.434/.626 line in the upper levels of the Toronto system last year before a fractured thumb ended his breakout season prematurely in June. Defensive-minded Danny Jansen probably fits better in a backup role and offensive-minded Alejandro Kirk seems better suited for the DH spot, so Moreno should be the guy behind the plate once he’s ready.
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Bobby Witt Jr.Icon Sportswire/Getty Images
Chicago White Sox: OF Yoelqui Cespedes
The White Sox have Eloy Jimenez in left field and Luis Robert in center field, but the third outfield spot is up in the air. Andrew Vaughn, Gavin Sheets and Adam Engel could all see time there, but the long-term answer appears to be Cespedes. The 24-year-old hit .285/.350/.463 with 30 extra-base hits in 299 plate appearances in his first season after defecting from Cuba.
Cleveland Guardians: OF George Valera
Valera hit .260/.405/.505 with 19 home runs and 65 RBI in 86 games between High-A and Double-A in his age-20 season, and his offensive upside is unmatched in the Cleveland system. With a 55-hit, 55-power profile, he could be the organization’s best homegrown superstar, and a 2022 debut is a very real possibility.
Detroit Tigers: 1B Spencer Torkelson and OF Riley Greene
Take your pick between Torkelson and Greene, both of whom figure to factor heavily into the Tigers’ plans for 2022 and beyond. Torkelson is a year older, but they have been on the same developmental path through the minor league ranks. Both are legitimate AL Rookie of the Year contenders with superstar upside who could make an immediate impact for a team looking to pivot toward contention.
Kansas City Royals: 3B Bobby Witt Jr.
Shortstop might still be his long-term home, but Witt is in camp battling for the Opening Day job at third base this spring, with Whit Merrifield, Adalberto Mondesi and Nicky Lopez vying for playing time up the middle. After hitting .290/.361/.576 with 35 doubles, 33 home runs and 29 steals in 124 games between Double-A and Triple-A, Witt has nothing left to prove in the minors.
Minnesota Twins: 3B/OF Austin Martin
The No. 5 overall pick in the 2020 draft, Martin was the prospect centerpiece of the blockbuster deal that sent Jose Berrios to Toronto at the trade deadline. With an elite hit tool that is among the most polished to come along in years, he should fly through the minors, and his future is now clearly at third base or in the outfield with Jorge Polanco and Carlos Correa manning the middle infield spots.
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Julio RodriguezAbbie Parr/Getty Images
Houston Astros: SS Jeremy Pena
With Carlos Correa and Trevor Story now off the market, it looks like the Astros will go with veteran utility man Niko Goodrum at shortstop until Pena is ready for the job. The 24-year-old hit .287/.346/.598 with 10 home runs in 30 games at Triple-A last season after missing most of the season with a wrist injury, and it might only be a matter of getting him a bit more experience in the upper minors before he gets the call.
Los Angeles Angels: RHP Sam Bachman
With a high-octane fastball that has touched 101 mph and a wipeout slider, Bachman could make an impact in an MLB bullpen right now. However, he also has a quality changeup and was used as a starter throughout his time at Miami (Ohio). The No. 9 pick in the 2021 draft could see the majors this year if the Angels decided to fast-track him as a reliever, and that wouldn’t mean starting down the line was out of the question.
Oakland Athletics: SS Nick Allen
Expect to see Allen get a shot at a starting middle infield spot at some point in 2022. The 23-year-old has always been viewed as a premium defender, but his undersized 5’8″ frame raised questions about his offensive upside. After hitting .288/.346/.403 with 25 extra-base hits in 89 games between Double-A and Triple-A last year—sandwiched around playing shortstop for Team USA in the Olympics—those questions are starting to wane.
Seattle Mariners: OF Julio Rodriguez
After Jarred Kelenic struggled initially following an early call-up last season, the Mariners might opt to play it a bit safer with Rodriguez, who just turned 21 years old in December. However, after he hit .347/.441/.560 with 19 doubles, 13 home runs and 21 steals in 74 games between High-A and Double-A, it’s only a matter of time before he forces their hand and takes his place in the Seattle outfield.
Texas Rangers: RHP Cole Winn
With third baseman Josh Jung recovering from surgery to repair a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder and 2021 top pick Jack Leiter likely to spend at least one full season in the minors, Winn is the name to know in the Texas farm system. The No. 15 pick in the 2018 draft had thrown only 68.2 professional innings entering last season. After posting a 2.41 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 107 strikeouts in 86 innings in the upper minors, he looks like an impact arm on the cusp of the majors.
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Bryson StottGabe Christus/Associated Press
Atlanta Braves: OF Michael Harris II
With Cristian Pache now in Oakland and Drew Waters coming off a season in which he struck out 142 times in 103 games at Triple-A, Harris now looks like the outfield prospect who’s most likely to make an impact in Atlanta this year. He hit .294/.362/.436 with 36 extra-base hits and 27 steals while continuing to showcase elite athleticism and loud raw tools across the board.
Miami Marlins: RHP Max Meyer
With a 2.27 ERA and 130 strikeouts in 111 innings between Double-A and Triple-A in his pro debut, Meyer quickly lived up to the hype of being the No. 3 overall pick in the 2020 draft. The flame-throwing right-hander is talented enough to force his way into a deep Miami rotation this year. Don’t sleep on JJ Bleday staking claim to a starting spot in the Miami outfield after a strong run in the Arizona Fall League, either.
New York Mets: IF/OF Mark Vientos
Catcher Francisco Alvarez is still at least a year away from debuting, and there’s no clear path to playing time for Ronny Mauricio, which leaves Vientos as the prospect to watch for the Mets. The 22-year-old hit .281/.352/.581 with 25 home runs and 63 RBI in 83 games last year while playing first base, third base and left field. That defensive versatility should help him carve out a role in the majors.
Philadelphia Phillies: SS Bryson Stott
Between the Philadelphia front office saying that Didi Gregorius will need to earn the starting shortstop job this year and the Phillies’ decision to sit out the shortstop market in favor of signing Nick Castellanos and Kyle Schwarber, it’s clear that Stott is a big part of their future plans. After he hit .318/.445/.489 with more walks (24) than strikeouts (14) in the Arizona Fall League, he looks ready for his first taste of the big leagues in 2022.
Washington Nationals: RHP Cade Cavalli
Cavalli separated himself from the rest of the pack in a thin Nationals system last year by posting a 3.36 ERA with 175 strikeouts in 123.1 innings over three minor league levels. He struggled a bit making the jump from Double-A to Triple-A, and he’ll need to cut down his 4.4 walks per nine innings, but all of the pieces are there for him to be a future ace.
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Brennen DavisRob Tringali/Getty Images
Chicago Cubs: OF Brennen Davis
One of baseball’s true five-tool prospects, Davis won Futures Game MVP last summer when he homered twice at Coors Field. He posted an .869 OPS with 25 doubles and 19 home runs in 100 games last season, reaching Triple-A at the age of 21. Rafael Ortega won’t stand in his way once he’s ready to take over as the Cubs’ starting center fielder.
Cincinnati Reds: RHP Hunter Greene
Left-hander Nick Lodolo might be the most MLB-ready prospect in the Cincinnati system, but he doesn’t have the same electric stuff and elite upside that Greene has possessed from the moment he was selected No. 2 overall in the 2017 draft. With a fastball that touches triple digits and elite athleticism on the mound, he posted a 3.30 ERA with 139 strikeouts in 106.1 innings between Double-A and Triple-A last season.
Milwaukee Brewers: LHP Ethan Small
The Brewers have shown a willingness to start their top pitching prospects in bullpen roles in recent years, from Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff in 2018 to Aaron Ashby last season. Small could follow the same path this year after posting a 1.98 ERA with 92 strikeouts in 77.1 innings in the minors last season, especially after he showed inconsistent command with an average of 4.9 walks per nine innings.
Pittsburgh Pirates: 2B Nick Gonzales
Although he has not yet played above the High-A level, Gonzales could be on the fast track to the majors after hitting .303/.385/.565 with 45 extra-base hits in 80 games during the regular season and then posting a 1.032 OPS in 87 plate appearances in the Arizona Fall League. His hit tool might be the best in all of minor league baseball right now.
St. Louis Cardinals: 2B Nolan Gorman
A shift from third base to second base should help Gorman reach the majors at some point in 2022, though he could ultimately slot into the DH role with Tommy Edman currently penciled in at the keystone. Regardless, his power will provide the bulk of his future value, as it’s among the loudest among the current crop of prospects. He could be a perennial 30-homer threat once he arrives.
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Ryan PepiotAbbie Parr/Getty Images
Arizona Diamondbacks: OF Alek Thomas
Thomas has moved ahead of Corbin Carroll in terms of MLB-readiness after Carroll played only seven games last year before season-ending shoulder surgery. Both figure to be staples in the Arizona outfield once they arrive in the majors, and Thomas could be the team’s starting center fielder by midseason. He hit .313/.394/.559 with 59 extra-base hits in 106 games while reaching Triple-A as a 21-year-old last season.
Colorado Rockies: LHP Ryan Rolison
Outfielders Zac Veen and Benny Montgomery and catcher Drew Romo are the top prospects in the Colorado system, but they’re all at least a few years away from reaching the majors. More immediate contributions could come from Rolison, the No. 22 overall pick in the 2018 draft. The 24-year-old has four above-average pitches and plus command, giving him a high floor and the potential to be an impact starter.
Los Angeles Dodgers: RHP Ryan Pepiot
With an elite 70-grade changeup headlining an advanced four-pitch repertoire, Pepiot looks like the next homegrown arm poised to break through for the Dodgers. The 24-year-old had a 4.62 ERA with 127 strikeouts in 101.1 innings, and while he still has work to do refining his command, he could help immediately as a multi-inning weapon out of the bullpen.
San Diego Padres: SS CJ Abrams
Will Fernando Tatis Jr.’s injury open the door for Abrams to debut early in the 2022 season? The 21-year-old hit .296/.363/.420 with 16 extra-base hits and 13 steals in 42 games at Double-A last year before a leg injury ended his season, but he’s back healthy in MLB camp this spring. With a 60-grade hit tool and legitimate 80-grade speed, he could be this generation’s version of Kenny Lofton offensively.
San Francisco Giants: OF Heliot Ramos
We’re still at least a year away from seeing Marco Luciano in the big leagues, and Joey Bart has already seen MLB action, so Ramos gets the nod for the Giants. The 22-year-old’s elite bat speed and huge raw power should give the Giants a major boost offensively once he gets the call, and the team’s outfield situation is far from set in stone.
All stats courtesy of Baseball Reference.
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