The ideal time to get to know some of baseball’s top prospects is during spring training. The list below only features American League prospects who are projected to contribute in the majors this season, leaving out the great prospects who won’t make their debuts for some time.
Four AL players that could have an impact in 2023 are listed below:
Baltimore Orioles third baseman/shortstop Gunnar Henderson
MLB Pipeline position: 1
Near the close of the previous season, Henderson made his MLB debut and had an immediate impact. On his second career at-bat, he blasted a home run that was so hard it caused his helmet to fly off, giving him his first hit. The 21-year-old is a skilled and adaptable shortstop, third baseman, and even second baseman.
Henderson played in 34 games with Baltimore, batting.259 with four home runs, 18 RBI, and a.788 OPS. Henderson should have a busy season in 2023 if he keeps producing at his current rate. He is the frontrunner to win AL Rookie of the Year, according to Oddschecker.
Houston Astros pitcher Hunter Brown
Ranking from MLB Pipeline: 43
Brown, 24, will be an important player for the defending World Series champions, so don’t be fooled by his prospect ranking. Brown anticipates playing a key role in Houston’s rotation after Justin Verlander left for free agency and Lance McCullers Jr. is set to miss the first few weeks of the season.
Brown made his regular-season debut in September of last year, participating in seven games, including two starts. He pitched 20.1 innings, recording a 0.89 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 22 strikeouts, and seven walks. In the postseason, Brown also threw 3.2 innings without allowing a run.
Brown has a variety of fastballs in his arsenal, including an upper-90s four-seam fastball and a low-80s curveball. He also has a slider/cutter in the low 90s with a strong break, but the shape is inconsistent and the changeup is still developing.
Anthony Volpe, shortstop, New York Yankees
MLB Pipeline position: 5
Prior to being selected by the Yankees in the first round of the 2019 draught, the New Jersey native excelled at Delbarton School alongside Rangers prospect Jack Leiter.
Volpe, who was named the 2021 Hitting Prospect of the Year by MLB Pipeline, followed that honour with an even more outstanding season last year. Since outfielder Andruw Jones, he became the first minor leaguer to hit 20 home runs and steal 50 bases. The 21-year-total old’s average in Double-A and Triple-A was.249 with 21 home runs, 65 RBI, and a.802 OPS.
Volpe had a successful debut in spring training, going 2-for-4 while also stealing second and third. Volpe will benefit the Yankees in 2023 regardless of the position he plays.
Grayson Rodriguez, RHP, Baltimore Orioles
Baseball Pipeline’s position: seven
Baltimore’s top pitching prospect is already scheduled to start for the team and might emerge as its ace by the end of the year.
Rodriguez, who is 6-foot-5, not only commands attention on the mound but also has a terrifying arsenal of pitches.
His changeup is outstanding, and MLB Pipeline rates it as the best in the minor levels. His fastball has a top speed of 100 mph.
Rodriguez still needs to work on his mid-80s slider, which is becoming better, and he also has a passable curveball.
While returning towards the conclusion of the season, a lat injury prevented Rodriguez from making his MLB debut in 2022.
e excelled on the mound, recording a 2.62 ERA and 0.99 WHIP while striking out 109 batters over 75.2 innings.
