Prospect predictions for each team 2023

This story was excerpted from MLB Pipeline's newsletter. To read the full newsletter, clickhere. Andto get it regularly in your inbox.

We use multiple Opening Days here.

Sure, Major League Opening Day came and went last Thursday, and Triple-A Opening Day arrived a day later. But for those of us with the Minor Leagues constantly on the brain, two more Opening Days come this week with most of Double-A, High-A and Single-A opening Thursday and everything else in full-season ball coming Friday.

And what’s an Opening Day without some predictions? In this edition of the MLB Pipeline newsletter, we present optimistic prospect-related prediction for the 2023 season ahead:

Blue Jays: After recovering from shoulder issues, Ricky Tiedemann continues to dominate the upper levels and is used out of the Major League bullpen in the second half to get him opportunity while preserving his innings.

Orioles: Because of his advanced plate discipline and budding power, Jackson Holliday becomes a Top 3 overall prospect by our midseason update and is a clear candidate to be No. 1 entering 2024.

Rays: Kyle Manzardo is this year’s Vinnie Pasquantino – a left-handed-hitting slugger who is locked in at first base and uses an exceptional approach to push for the Majors in his second Minor League season.

Red Sox: So long as Miguel Bleis doesn’t expand the zone too much starting at Single-A Salem, he has the power and speed tools to be this year’s Jackson Chourio.

Yankees: Fairly or not, the Aaron Judge comparisons get louder for 2022 first-rounder Spencer Jones, with the 6-foot-6 outfielder climbing two levels and showing at least above-average pop on his way to the Bronx.

Guardians: One of Justin Campbell or Parker Messick knocks on the door of the Top 100 by season’s end as the next Cleveland pitcher in line to bring above-average control and then add velocity in the pros.

Royals: Carter Jensen keeps his momentum going from an impressive second half at Single-A Columbia in 2022 and uses his bat-first profile to become a Top 10 catching prospect by the end of his second full season.

Tigers: Finally able to stay on the field for 100-plus games, Colt Keith hits 25-plus homers at Double-A and Triple-A and gets a late-season callup to Detroit after turning 22 in August.

Twins: With a torn meniscus behind him, Emmanuel Rodriguez continues to post eye-popping numbers and becomes a Top 25 overall prospect, thanks to his approach, power and speed.

White Sox: Despite his debut being overshadowed by bigger names, Oscar Colás uses a full-season’s worth of at-bats to finish top four in American League Rookie of the Year voting because of his power and cannon arm in right.

Angels: Zach Neto and Ben Joyce race each other to become the first members of the 2022 Draft class to make the Majors. Joyce’s elite fastball gives him the edge, but Neto hits enough to see Anaheim by August.

Astros: Drew Gilbert has the other four tools down, and he shows just enough power to squeak into the Top 100 at the midseason update.

Athletics: Tyler Soderstrom and hitter-friendly Las Vegas Ballpark are a match made in heaven. The top A’s prospect leads Triple-A in homers before jumping over to Oakland as a 21-year-old in the second half.

Mariners: The World Baseball Classic was just the start. Harry Ford takes another leap in his second full season and finishes out 2023 as a Top 2 catching prospect in baseball, trailing only Diego Cartaya.

Rangers: Taking advantage of more hitter-friendly environs in the Texas League, Evan Carter posts a slash line above .300/.400/.500 at Double-A Frisco to open his age-20 season, prompting a promotion to Triple-A Round Rock before he can legally drink in the United States.

Braves: Atlanta gains a Top 100 prospect in the midseason update after 2022 20th overall pick Owen Murphy brings his four-pitch mix and 55-grade control to the Minors for a full season.

Marlins: Eury Pérez has struck out at least 30 percent of his batters faced at every Minor League level thus far. That streak continues in 2023 at both Double-A and Triple-A.

Mets: Either Francisco Álvarez or Brett Baty finishes in the top three of National League Rookie of the Year voting. Baty is the early favorite given his clearer path to playing time, but don’t rule out Álvarez crushing his way to contention either.

Nationals: James Wood sees three levels of the Nationals system in his first full year as a Washington prospect, and he enters the offseason as a real threat to crack the Nats’ 2024 Opening Day lineup.

Phillies: Griff McGarry got Triple-A bullpen looks out of potential Major League need in 2022. Despite limited control, his four above-average pitches thrive in that role as he becomes a shutdown reliever in Philly down the stretch.

Brewers: Starting at Double-A Biloxi, Jeferson Quero continues to show enough defensive polish and offensive potential to crack through to the Top 100 for the first time.

Cubs: The NL Central is fairly open, and if the team is within five games of a playoff spot after the Trade Deadline, Pete Crow-Armstrong joins the big club to provide stellar outfield defense and speed.

Cardinals: Masyn Winn joins Jordan Walker in St. Louis after the All-Star break and sets a new Statcast record for the hardest infield throw in the Majors within a week.

Pirates: Termarr Johnson bats at least .310 in the pitcher-friendly Florida State League and puts up even better numbers at hitter-friendly High-A Greensboro.

Reds: Elly De La Cruz zooms through Triple-A once healthy and finishes the season with the highest WAR among Reds position players, despite a late start.

D-backs: While Corbin Carroll is the one competing for a Rookie of the Year Award, Brandon Pfaadt becomes Arizona’s most valuable rookie pitcher and makes one postseason start after a dark horse Wild Card run.

Dodgers: By late season, Diego Cartaya and Dalton Rushing team up at Triple-A Oklahoma City to make for the Minors’ most interesting catching duo, much like Will Smith and Austin Barnes in the bigs.

Giants: San Francisco says it’s focused on getting Reggie Crawford back on the mound after the 2022 first-rounder underwent Tommy John surgery, but the former UConn star gets a few late-season at-bats too … and homers.

Padres: Jackson Merrill is pushed to Double-A San Antonio by June. The 20-year-old ends with a taste of Triple-A El Paso and starts to get some looks at second base to prepare for his MLB debut.

Rockies: Playing in hitter-friendly Hartford and Albuquerque does wonders for Zac Veen’s power, and he at least doubles his 2022 home-run total of 12.