10 More Breakout Hitters For The 2022 Minor League Season

Last week we unveiled 10 players that raised their stock over the course of the 2022 season. Here are 10 more players who similarly broke out during the same season in the minor leagues.

Oscar Colas signed with the White Sox in January 2022 for $2.7 million. He played for High-A Winston-Salem and Double-AA Birmingham last season. Cola played in the Futures Game and finished the season with a .314/.371/.524 line with 23 home runs and a 22.8% strikeout rate.

Kyle Manzardo, 1B, had a big season for the Rays in 2022. Kevin Alcantara, OF, was signed by the Yankees in 2018. He played in the Low-A Carolina League last season. He is 6-foot-6 with an athletic and projectable frame. His game is centered around his loud tools. The Dominican Republic native is an above-average center fielder with a plus throwing arm. he will probably play in an outfield corner long term. It is possible he could play full-time in 2023.

Christian Encarnacion-Strand is a 3B for the Reds. He played at Yavapai JC in Arizona and Oklahoma State. The Twins selected him in the fourth round in 2021 and assigned him to Low-A Fort Myers. Encarancacion Strand was promoted to Double-a Wichita in mid-July but was traded to the Wind Surge.

Matt Mervis played at Duke and is now a free agent. He had a breakout season at three levels in 2022, hitting .309/.379/.605 with 36 home runs and 119 RBIs. Merve is an above-average hitter with good contact skills and good power.

Esteury Ruiz was signed by the Royals in 2015. Ruiza was promoted to the major league team in mid-July. He was traded to Brewers as part of the Josh Hader deal. This season Ruizer hit .333/.467/.560 with 13 home runs and 60 stolen bases.

Addison Barger has been in the Blue Jays organization since 2020. He struggled to make consistent contact in 2021, but he hit well in 2022. Bager is a well-rounded player who is capable of playing an above-average shortstop, while hitting for power and average.

Mason Auer was drafted by the Rays in the fifth round of the 2021 draft. He played two seasons at San Jacinto JC in Texas. Aer played in Florida Complex League and Low-A Charleston. In June, he was promoted to High-a-level Bowling Green.

Vaun Brown signed for $7,500 in the 10th round out of Division II Florida Southern in 2021. He debuted in Arizona Complex League, hitting .354/.480/.620 across 25 games. Assigned to Low-A San Jose out the spring training in 2022, he hit .347/.428/.636 with 14 home runs across 59 games, and was promoted to High-a Eugene in late June. At season’s end he led the minor leagues in batting average with a mark of .346, while posting the second highest slugging percentage in minor league.

Hunter Goodman is a college and professional baseball player. He hit 42 home runs over 128 games during his college career. Goodman was drafted by the Rockies in the fourth round of the 2021 draft. In 2022, he played in Low-A Fresno and High-a-Spokane. Last season he was promoted to Double-AA Spokane.