1 under-the-radar Spring Breakout prospect for each club
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Spring Breakout begins Thursday with a pair of the showcase event's 16 games set to kick things off. Headlined by the best and brightest prospects in the game, Spring Breakout will feature no shortage of household names: 72 of MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects and 575 of the 900 players on our organization Top 30 lists are on the rosters that were announced last week.
But what about the talented players fighting to make a name for themselves who haven't quite grabbed the headlines yet? They'll be there too and will have the same opportunity to shine as bright as the others.
So let's take a look at one prospect from each club's Spring Breakout roster who might be under-the-radar right now but maybe not for much longer.
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AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST
Blue Jays: Connor Cooke, RHP (No. 20)
Coming off an invite to Major League camp, Cooke totaled one run allowed over his first five innings of relief in the Grapefruit League. His fastball-slider mix has dominated in short stints, and he enters Spring Breakout with an opportunity to prove he can be the Blue Jays' next breakout high-leverage arm.
Orioles: Thomas Sosa, OF (No. 23)
It's easy to dream on Sosa's offensive upside as he fills out his lanky 6-foot-1 frame. The lefty swinger already has an impressive approach for a 19-year-old and could grow into plus power to go with his above-average speed. The Dominican outfielder has yet to play in full-season ball -- although he shined with a .290/.385/.492 line last year in the Florida Complex League -- so Spring Breakout will be his first big opportunity to show his intriguing skill set.
Rays: Chandler Simpson, OF (No. 12)
The 2023 co-MiLB stolen base leader (94) got stronger this offseason. After going homerless across two levels last year, Simpson is poised to show off more power and that same top-of-the-scale speed, all the while remaining a menace on the basepaths at Spring Breakout.
Red Sox: David Sandlin, RHP (No. 16)
Sandlin posted a 3.51 ERA in 14 games across Single-A and High-A in the Royals' organization, but his season abruptly ended in July with an oblique strain. The right-hander struck out 87 in 66 2/3 innings in his relatively light sample size. Sandlin, acquired in a February deal for right-hander John Schreiber, is armed with a four-pitch mix -- a 93-95 mph fastball that can reach 98, a mid-80s slider, a low-80s curveball and an upper-80s splitter. His selection allowed him to post a 79/13 K/BB ratio at Single-A in 2023.
Yankees: Ben Rice, C/1B (No. 13)
Last season was Rice's breakout campaign. After a solid-but-not spectacular showing in 2022, the Dartmouth product slashed .324/.434/.615 and slugged 20 home runs with 68 RBIs. Even more impressive, he racked up those numbers in only 73 games after he missed May and June with an oblique injury. He is continuing to improve behind the plate, but he has enough power to play first base.
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AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL
Guardians: Jackson Humphries, LHP (No. 14)
The left-hander posted a 5.49 ERA in 15 games, where he started in all but one tilt. He struck out 72 batters in 57 1/3 innings through Arizona Complex League and Single-A action. His three primary pitches are fastball, curveball and slider, but the 19-year-old is developing a changeup too, although it's still in its infancy stages. Humphries slipped to the Guardians in the eighth round in the 2022 Draft but signed for late-third-round money ($600,000).
Royals: Ramon Ramirez, C (No. 15)
After debuting in the Dominican Summer League last year, Ramirez has arrived stateside to continue to put on a show at the plate. The 18-year-old backstop clubbed nine doubles and eight home runs in 41 games, with his power playing everywhere in the DSL.
Tigers: Seth Stephenson, OF (NR)
Stephenson, an unranked outfielder in Detroit's system, is a top-tier basestealer, one who finished fourth in stolen bases (70) in MiLB last year. The righty also slashed .280/.381/.400 across two levels in his full professional season.
Twins: Kala?i Rosario, OF (No. 16)
Rosario showed off his power potential when he won the Arizona Fall League Home Run Derby and tied for the circuit's lead in roundtrippers over the six-week season last year. Time will tell if his hit tool will allow him to reach his ceiling -- he still has some issues with offspeed pitches -- but Rosario's simplified approach at the plate has allowed him to work counts better to find pitches he can punish. The 21-year-old's cannon arm also has the potential for highlight plays in right field.
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White Sox: Mason Adams, RHP (No. 22)
A 13th-round selection by the White Sox in 2022, Adams made it through Single-A and High-A in '23, finishing up at Double-A, holding a 3.14 ERA with 125 strikeouts across all levels. His flat-approach angle helps him deceive batters, causing Adams to be one of the best strike-throwers in all of the Minor Leagues. Adams' best pitch is his low-80s curveball that has a wicked downward break.
AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST
Angels: Capri Ortiz, SS (No. 23)
The headline here is speed, as Ortiz's 75-grade tool allowed him to lead the Arizona Complex League with 30 swipes in just 53 games last year. But the intriguing part of the Dominican infielder's profile is the fact that he took up switch-hitting midway through last year. His small frame and limited experience hitting from the left side leave him as more of a slap hitter for now, but his athleticism portends more impact down the road.
Astros: Waner Luciano, 3B/OF (No. 18)
The right-handed hitter was a Dominican Summer League All-Star in 2022 and then ranked second in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League with 10 homers last season. Scouts rave about how hard he hits the ball and he could be projected to hit 25-30 home runs per season if he develops at this pace. If he can raise his average (.247 in 2023), he could see himself higher on the rankings list in the future.
Athletics: Colby Thomas, OF (No. 14)
Thomas' debut season between two A-ball levels was one of the best at any level: a .286/.351/.493 line with 18 homers and 25 steals. His tools largely match the production, as all but his bat (45) grade as above-average. Facing tougher competition -- whether in the upper-Minors or at Spring Breakout -- will give a great indication as to what kind of impact the 23-year-old can make going forward.
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Mariners: Logan Evans, RHP (No. 20)
Evans has only pitched 15 innings in pro ball after going in the 12th round of the 2023 Draft, but the Mariners have reason to be excited about his workhorse potential. The former Pitt Panther has an athletic 6-foot-4 frame and throws plenty of strikes with his powerful two-seam/slider combination. Spring Breakout will provide a good opportunity for him to face advanced competition after he topped out at Single-A last year.
Rangers: Cameron Cauley, SS/2B (No. 13)
Cauley had a slash line of .245/.333/.411 with 12 home runs last season. Sure, those aren't eye-popping numbers, but when you consider he hit just .209 with two home runs in 2022, it's a good sign to see the adjustments from the Texas native. Getting on base will be key for him as he compiled 84 steals in 95 attempts (88.4 percent) in 201 games during his first three seasons. Some scouts have compared him to Dustin Pedroia as a smaller infielder with plenty of hitting potential.
NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST
Braves: Isaiah Drake, OF (No. 22)
Drake's older brother Kenyan has played running back in the NFL since 2016, and Isaiah has the speed to match -- a 70-grade tool that is among the best in Atlanta's system -- which has already allowed him to show off on the bases and in center field. The 18-year-old has plenty of raw power from the left side, although his approach is understandably raw -- he ran a 37.7 percent strikeout rate in the Florida Complex League league last year -- as one of the youngest prep players in last year's Draft.
Marlins: Javier Sanoja, OF/SS/2B (No. 16)
Standing at 5-foot-7, Sanoja has shown consistent improvement, culminating with a slash line of .298/.348/.388 while leading the Marlins organization with 158 hits in 2023. Sanoja grew up idolizing fellow Venezuelan Jose Altuve, but he doesn't carry the same power as the Astros' second baseman (four home runs last year). While his power won't propel him to the Majors, his bat-to-ball skills might. He ranked fourth among all qualified hitters in the Minors with a 7.3 percent strikeout rate in 2023.
Mets: Jeremy Rodriguez, SS (No. 12)
Acquired from Arizona in the Tommy Pham trade, Rodriguez boasts an above-average hit tool that he showed off during his age-16 season in the Dominican Summer League. New York will get a better look at him stateside after he hit .293 with an .878 OPS in 51 games last season.
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Nationals: Andrew Pinckney, OF (No. 17)
Seven outfielders rank ahead of Pinckney on Washington's Top 30, but the 2023 fourth-rounder still turned heads in his professional debut. He enters Spring Breakout after reaching Double-A last year and slashing .321/.415/.457 across four levels.
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Phillies: TJayy Walton, OF (No. 18)
Despite just being drafted out of high school, Walton already posts some of the highest exit velocities in the Phillies' system -- the only problem is he doesn't hit the ball in the air as much as he could to maximize that impact. Philadelphia is hoping that he'll be able to gear his swing more to the natural power that comes from his 6-foot-3, 225-pound frame. His above-average speed also gives him highlight potential.
NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL
Brewers: Yophery Rodriguez, OF (No. 11)
Rodriguez enters his age-18 season after hitting six home runs and drawing 41 walks to 40 strikeouts during his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League last year. Milwaukee has already gotten him playing time during multiple Cactus League contests.
Cardinals: Pedro Pag¨¦s, C (No. 16)
St. Louis added Pag¨¦s to its 40-man roster this offseason primarily for his defensive prowess. Pag¨¦s threw out 47 of the 123 runners (38.2 percent caught-stealing rate) that attempted to steal on him last season, and heading into Spring Breakout, the catcher will show off his game management skills alongside the organization's top pitching prospects.
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Cubs: Michael Arias, RHP (No. 14)
The right-hander first signed as a shortstop in 2018 with the Blue Jays but made the transition to the mound when the Cubs signed him in 2021. The change may have saved his career, as he struck out 110 batters in 81 1/3 innings in 22 starts between Single-A and High-A, earning him a spot on the Cubs' 40-man roster. Arias has a unique sidearm delivery and throws a fastball that can reach up to 98 mph.
Pirates: Yordany De Los Santos, SS (No. 17)
De Los Santos is one of Pittsburgh's biggest international signings in years, and he held his own when the team challenged him as one of the youngest regulars at Single-A last year. The numbers (.578 OPS) aren't there yet, but his intangibles are impressive for his age (19), as are his bat speed and feel for the strike zone. It's unclear whether he'll stick at shortstop or have to shift to third base on a more permanent basis eventually, but Spring Breakout will be a big platform for one of the Pirates' highest-upside hitting prospects.
Reds: Ethan O'Donnell, OF (No. 23)
O'Donnell is a well-rounded college performer who excelled during a 23-game stint with Single-A Daytona after going in the sixth round of last year's Draft. Is his cameo in 2023 a sign of more to come from the former Virginia Cavalier? Spring Breakout would be a great platform for him to show off his intriguing bat and run tools packaged in a center-field profile.
NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST
D-backs: Landon Sims, RHP (No. 23)
Sims threw only 24 2/3 innings last season after coming off Tommy John surgery, but he showed up to Spring Training stronger. The righty enters Spring Breakout with a 60-grade pitch tandem of his fastball and slider.
Dodgers: Zyhir Hope, OF (No. 21)
The Dodgers wanted to select Hope in the 2023 Draft, but the Cubs snagged him 14 picks prior. The outfielder joined Los Angeles as one of the two players whom the Dodgers acquired in exchange for Michael Busch and Yency Almonte. Hope only had 35 at-bats in the Arizona Complex League, but 10 went for hits, with three of them being home runs. There are still plenty of areas to grow for the youngster, but his 110-mph exit velocities mixed with his speed make many believe that he could one day be a 30-30-caliber player.
Giants: Landen Roupp, RHP (No. 12)
Roupp has made a strong impression with his wicked curveball, which is considered to be among the best in the Giants' organization. He recorded a 2.40 ERA, .189 opponents' average against and a 208/47 K/BB ratio in 146 1/3 innings during his first three years as a pro. He missed the second half of last season with a back injury, but if he can continue his pace, he might play a key role on San Francisco's staff at some point this season.
Padres: Homer Bush Jr., OF (No. 11)
A 70-grade runner, Bush Jr. bolted to Double-A in his first taste of pro ball. The 2023 fourth-round pick stole 22 bases in 44 games across three levels while slashing .325/.422/.439.
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Rockies: Jaden Hill, RHP (No. 28)
Hill's path through the Minors has been ... rocky, with injuries -- including Tommy John surgery -- slowing him down. But the former LSU Tiger still has his trademark velocity, which can touch triple-digits, and two above-average-to-plus secondary pitches. Now that he's committed to relieving full-time -- and will have the perceived adrenaline rush of a short appearance in a showcase game -- Hill should put his premium stuff on display during Spring Breakout.