Arizona Fall League 2022 sleepers

As excited as we’re to see the highest prospects in motion on this 12 months’s version of the Arizona Fall League, and there are many elite-level gamers beginning to play when the season opens on Monday, we don’t lose sight of the truth that the AFL is usually a coming-out get together for a lot of lesser-known prospects.

The 2021 Fall League season, in some ways, was the 12 months of the “sleeper.” So most of the prime performers within the league appeared on this story that includes a sleeper prospect for every group a 12 months in the past. The Cubs’ Nelson Velázquez was the AFL MVP and hit the large leagues final 12 months. Rangers right-hander Owen White was voted the highest pitching prospect after being Texas’ sleeper decide. Elijah Dunham of the Yankees was the breakout participant of the 12 months, the Rays’ Curtis Mead had a really robust displaying. Different under-the-radar prospects who stood out have been Logan O’Hoppe, who’s now a High 100 man, Juan Yepez, Jose Tena, who received the batting title, and Caleb Kilian, who has pitched within the massive leagues 12 months.

So observe this group of 30 names carefully. They received’t be sleepers for for much longer.

Blue Jays: Hagen Danner, RHP
We dropped Danner out of the Blue Jays’ High 30 record after he missed a lot of the season with a lat harm, however the Fall League is an ideal time for him to make up for the misplaced innings. Danner could possibly be top-of-the-line tales at this 12 months’s AFL. He was chosen within the second spherical as a catcher in 2017, performed three seasons behind the dish and transitioned to the mound in 2021, when he sat within the mid-90s, touched 100 and confirmed an above-average slider. Already on the 40-man, Danner might use his time in Arizona to vault himself into Toronto’s bullpen consideration for 2023.

Orioles: Reed Trimble, OF
Trimble entered professional ball popping out of Southern Miss with an thrilling power-speed mixture, a giant purpose why the Orioles took him within the second spherical of the 2021 Draft. He didn’t get to indicate off a lot of both in a 2022 season restricted to simply 33 complete video games following surgical procedure to restore a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder final offseason. This AFL season might put him again on the radar.

Rays: Sandy Gaston, RHP (No. 22)
Name Gaston a wild card for Mesa, in virtually each sense. The 20-year-old right-hander has lengthy proven elite velocity since signing for $2.61 million in November 2018 with a fastball vary of 96-101 mph. It’s that sort of warmth that can play within the desert. Management might be a serious level of emphasis, nevertheless. Gaston walked 56 batters in 54 2/3 innings this season at Single-A Charleston whereas shifting to the bullpen full-time. The Rays contend the Cuba native might nonetheless begin and that pitching in aid supplied extra alternatives on the mound to iron out his management. The AFL will carry extra of these, and if Gaston finds the zone, his velo might be sufficient to wow any on-lookers.

Pink Sox: Thad Ward, RHP (No. 15)
Ward rapidly went from a fifth-round select of Central Florida in 2018 to one of many Pink Sox’s finest pitching prospects, then misplaced the 2020 season to the pandemic shutdown and required Tommy John surgical procedure after two begins in 2021. He returned to the mound this July, reclaimed his sharp slider and 92-96 mph sinker, and posted a 2.28 ERA with 66 strikeouts in 51 1/3 innings throughout 4 ranges, largely in Double-A.

Yankees: Tyler Hardman, 3B/1B
Hardman received the Large 12 Convention batting title (.397) at Oklahoma in 2021, prompting the Yankees to draft him within the fifth spherical. He hit extra for energy than common in his first full professional season, translating his plus uncooked pop right into a .262/.329/.479 line with 22 homers in 107 video games in Excessive-A.

Guardians: Lenny Torres, RHP
A supplemental first-round decide as a New York excessive schooler in 2018, Torres reached 98 mph along with his fastball and flashed a plus slider earlier than having Tommy John surgical procedure in Could 2019. He is nonetheless attempting to reclaim that stuff and compiled a 6.00 ERA with 36 strikeouts and 28 walks in 33 innings in Excessive-A.

Royals: Samad Taylor, 2B/OF (No. 25)
Say hello to the brand new man. Taylor was included together with Max Castillo within the Whit Merrifield Commerce Deadline transfer with the Blue Jays however has but to go well with up within the Royals system as a result of a pre-deal harm sustained on July 13. When wholesome, Taylor reveals plus pace that has helped him steal 20-plus luggage in 4 straight Minor League seasons, and he has some intriguing pop too. Taylor acquired probably the most of his appears at second base with Triple-A Buffalo however has some left-field expertise too. His vary makes him a stable defender at both spot, and he’ll be enjoying for a possible 40-man roster spot forward of his Rule 5 eligibility within the offseason.

Tigers: Parker Meadows, OF (No. 16)
The 2018 second-rounder has lengthy been a standout athlete with plus pace and above-average glove and arm instruments, however coming into 2022, he had but to publish a full-season OPS above .625 and had strikeout points induced partly as a result of a hitch in his swing. He regarded a lot better in 2022, hitting .275/.354/.466 with 16 homers, 17 steals and an improved 18.4 p.c Ok price in 113 video games at Double-A Erie. His 20 complete dingers (together with 4 at Excessive-A) greater than doubled his earlier profession excessive of eight. These offensive enhancements might be put to the check in Arizona earlier than he’s eligible for the Rule 5 Draft this winter.

Twins: Edouard Julien, 2B (No. 14)
The 2022 season was a little bit of a coming-out get together for Julien, who was named to the Second Workforce for this 12 months’s MLB Pipeline Prospect Workforce of the Yr after ending with a .931 OPS. A powerful Fall League will cement a spot on the 40-man roster and put Julien in line to contribute within the massive leagues in 2023.

White Sox: Terrell Tatum, OF
A possible steal as a Sixteenth-rounder out of North Carolina State in 2021, Tatum has eye on the plate, plus pace and an opportunity to stay in middle discipline if he improves his routes. He hit .267/.405/.415 with 13 extra-base hits and 16 steals in 42 video games between Single-A and Excessive-A, although he missed 50 video games after getting suspended for testing optimistic for amphetamine use.

Angels: Kyren Paris, SS/2B (No. 20)
Paris missed an enormous chunk of 2021, his first actual full professional season following the shutdown, with a damaged tibia and it might have taken him some time to shake off the rust whereas in Excessive-A this season. However in August and September, between Tri-Metropolis and a late bump as much as Double-A, Paris began displaying what he’s succesful offensively, with an 1.100 OPS over his remaining 32 video games, one thing he and the Angels hope carries over to the AFL.

Astros: J.C. Correa, C/2B/3B
The youthful brother of former Astros star Carlos Correa, J.C. has confirmed to be greater than only a courtesy nondrafted free agent signing in 2020 out of Lamar. He makes a whole lot of line-drive contact, as evidenced by his .309/.364/.446 batting line and eight p.c strikeout price in Excessive-A, and he additionally has a robust arm and the flexibility to have performed catcher, all 4 infield spots and left discipline in two professional seasons.

A’s: Ryan Cusick, RHP (No. 14)
The A’s acquired Cusick, the Braves’ first-round decide in 2021, within the Matt Olson deal this previous spring, however they didn’t actually get to see a lot of him this season as an indirect harm knocked him out for greater than two months. His pure stuff ranks up there with anybody within the league, with a fastball that touches triple digits and a slider that could possibly be plus amongst his four-pitch combine.

Mariners: Bryan Woo, RHP (No. 15)
Although Woo’s Draft season at Cal Poly in 2021 was minimize brief when he wanted Tommy John surgical procedure, the Mariners noticed sufficient of him to take him within the sixth spherical of that Draft and rehab him underneath their supervision. He returned the mound in June and the M’s have been very excited by his stuff, with Woo putting out 13.3 per 9 over 57 innings.

Rangers: Cody Freeman, C/3B
Although Freeman has but to interrupt out on the plate, scouts reward his really feel for the barrel, fingers, versatility (he has caught and performed all 4 infield positions as a professional) and management means. A fourth-round decide from a California highschool in 2019 and the youthful brother of Guardians infielder Tyler Freeman, he batted .234/.312/.366 with 13 homers in 102 video games in Excessive-A.

Braves: Justyn-Henry Malloy, OF/3B (No. 12)
Malloy walked greater than he struck out at Georgia Tech in 2021 and he introduced that selectivity to the Braves in his first full season this 12 months, ending within the prime 10 amongst all Minor Leaguers with 97 walks whereas making it to Double-A. The Braves system is likely to be skinny, however might Malloy be the following influence bat to leap to the large leagues, a la Vaughn Grissom?

Marlins: Victor Mesa Jr., OF (No. 15)
The son of legendary Cuban outfielder Victor Mesa, Victor Jr. has outperformed older brother Victor Victor within the Marlins system regardless of signing for a lot much less ($1 million versus $5.25 million). He has a easy left-handed swing and a excessive baseball IQ, and he batted .243/.323/.346 with 34 extra-base hits and 10 steals in 121 video games in Excessive-A.

Mets: Grant Hartwig, RHP (No. 22)
From unpicked in a 20-round Draft to the Mets’ High 30 in a single 12 months. It’s been an unimaginable 12 months for Hartwig, who is about to play for his fifth staff of the season after climbing from Single-A to Triple-A this summer time. The 24-year-old reliever could be round 93-94 mph along with his fastball however stands out most for a low-80s slider with promising two-plane break. These two pitches (plus a serviceable changeup) helped him publish a 1.75 ERA with 83 strikeouts in 56 2/3 innings throughout 4 ranges through the season, and a few extra Ok-heavy appearances out of the Peoria bullpen would assist him finish the 12 months with an exclamation level.

Nationals: Darren Baker, 2B
Sure, that is Dusty’s son, however the Fall League ought to present Baker with one other alternative to make a reputation for himself as a Nats prospect. Taken within the tenth spherical final 12 months out of Cal, Baker hit .280/.343/.365 with three homers and 15 steals in 105 video games at Excessive-A and Double-A in his first full season. His numbers truly improved on the increased degree, partly as a result of he acquired away from pitcher-friendly Wilmington. Baker is a stable runner and defender at second base however has to show more proficient at making arduous contact the upper he climbs.

Phillies: Carlos De La Cruz, OF/1B
Just a little little bit of a late bloomer who signed with the Phillies again in August 2017, the 6-foot-8 De La Cruz broke out this 12 months in bashing 17 homers between Excessive-A and Double-A. He must refine his strategy to get to that energy, however the Phillies like his swing. In addition they like his means to defend effectively in all three outfield spots with stable pace. He’ll additionally get extra time at first base this fall.

Brewers: Abner Uribe, RHP
Uribe and his triple-digit fastball acquired Craig Counsell’s consideration within the spring, and it regarded just like the 22-year-old right-hander might have had an out of doors shot at cracking the Milwaukee bullpen in some unspecified time in the future in 2022. Then, he suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee in late April and missed the remainder of the common season. Uribe pitched in final 12 months’s Fall League too, so this project is nothing new for him. As with many fireballers, management would be the key level of emphasis. Uribe struck out 16 batters in 9 AFL innings final 12 months but in addition walked 17 in the identical span.

Cardinals: Ryan Loutos, RHP (No. 26)
Everybody loves a neighborhood story. Everybody loves an undrafted free agent making good. Loutos suits the center of that individual Venn diagram, signing with St. Louis out of Division III Washington College for $20,000 in July 2021. A 12 months later, he already climbed to Triple-A Memphis on the energy of a mid-90s fastball and stable low-80s slider. The 23-year-old right-hander did hit a little bit of a wall with the Redbirds (6.33 ERA, 2.07 WHIP in 27 innings), however the Fall League presents probability for him to reset after such a fast climb.

Cubs: Matt Mervis, 1B (No. 21)
Mervis had a breakout 2022 season, hitting .309/.379/.605 whereas advancing from Excessive-A to Triple-A, main the Minors in extra-base hits (78), complete bases (310) and RBI (119) and rating third with 36 homers. Signed as a nondrafted free agent out of Duke in 2020 after the pandemic shortened the Draft to 5 rounds, he presents the most effective mixture of energy and make contact with within the Cubs system.

Pirates: Blake Sabol, C/OF
Ever for the reason that Pirates took Sabol out of Southern Cal within the seventh spherical of the 2019 Draft, all he’s accomplished is hit. His .957 OPS in 66 video games throughout two ranges of A ball have been attention-grabbing in 2021, however he actually jumped on the map extra this 12 months, hitting 19 homers in Double- and Triple-A. He earned kudos from the group for his willingness to get again behind the plate in 2021 after not having caught since 2018.

Reds: Christian Roa, RHP (No. 30)
The Reds’ second-round decide in 2020, Roa missed a whole lot of 2021 due to accidents. He logged over 90 innings this 12 months and pitched his strategy to Double-A within the course of. He has the possibility to have a professional four-pitch combine and confirmed he can miss bats (10.1 Ok/9), although he’ll must refine his command (5.4 BB/9) to succeed in his ceiling as back-end starter.

D-backs: Kyle Backhus, LHP
Backhus performed 5 years at Sam Houston State, the place he was teammates with High 100 prospect Colton Cowser earlier than the D-backs signed him as an undrafted free agent in July 2021. He acquired off to a quick begin this season at Excessive-A and Double-A, ending second amongst Arizona farmhands (min. 50 IP) with a 34.5 p.c Ok price in 52 1/3 frames. The 6-foot-4 left-hander sports activities an 89-92 mph fastball and high-70s sweeping slider and makes each pitches play up due to the deception from his low sidearm slot. He might dominate AFL lefties and put himself extra firmly on the Arizona map.

Dodgers: Jorbit Vivas, 2B/3B (No. 16)
One of many higher contact hitters within the Minors, Vivas has batted .286 with a 12 p.c strikeout price since signing for $300,000 out of Venezuela in 2017. He additionally has some sneaky energy regardless of being listed at 5-foot-10 and 171 kilos, and he hit .269/.374/.401 with 10 homers in 128 video games in Excessive-A.

Giants: Adrian Sugastey, C (No. 19)
Signed for $525,000 out of Panama in 2019, Sugastey received the Rookie-level Arizona Advanced League batting title (.358) in his 2021 professional debut however stands out most for his effectively above-average arm behind the plate. He hit .240/.329/.333 with 5 homers in 75 video games in Single-A this summer time.

Padres: Alek Jacob, RHP (No. 24)
The 2016 Sixteenth-rounder is about to carry a whole lot of funk to the Peoria bullpen. Jacob might solely get into the upper-80s along with his fastball, however the sink on the pitch is so heavy that it might nonetheless be efficient. His low-70s changeup is likely to be his finest pitch with promising fade and separation off the fastball, however a sweeping slider with the identical velo retains hitters off too. A sidearm angle retains hitters from squaring him up too, and the entire bundle fueled Jacob’s rise from Excessive-A to Triple-A in his first full season with this AFL reward remaining.

Rockies: Warming Bernabel, 3B (No. 8)
Possibly it’s a attain to choose an organizational prime 10 prospect as a “sleeper,” however the 20-year-old Bernabel has but to play past A ball, so this might be check and probability for him to introduce himself on a bigger stage. He has hit wherever he’s been, with a .312 common in 2021 as he made it to full-season ball for the primary time and .313 this 12 months with Fresno and Spokane.