Which Top 100 prospects are headed for Opening Day rosters?

As the sounds of bats cracking and gloves popping echo across the diamonds of Florida and Arizona, baseball's top prospects will be digging in to push for spots on Major League Opening Day rosters.

Although most of these prospects will begin the season in the Minors, there are a handful who could hear their names announced in big league ballparks at the end of March.

On the latest Pipeline Podcast, Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo debate the odds of 17 of baseball's Top 100 prospects breaking camp as Major Leaguers -- from an infielder they agree has a 90 percent or better chance, down to players who just might pull off a huge upset to land on the roster.

Matt Shaw, 3B, Cubs (MLB No. 19)
Callis: 90 percent
Mayo: Under

Shaw doesn't have a completely open road to The Friendly Confines, but the opportunity is in his hands. The 23-year-old showcased his offensive prowess last year, slashing .284/.379/.488 with 21 homers and 71 RBIs between Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa. ¡°I do think the only way he¡¯s not going to win the job is if he doesn¡¯t perform in Spring Training," Callis said. "I don¡¯t think Matt Shaw is going to fail.¡±

Christian Moore, 2B, Angels (MLB No. 68)
Mayo: 75 percent
Callis: Under

The Halos have been extremely aggressive promoting top prospects with minimal pro experience. Moore finds himself in a similar situation after a scorching debut in 2024. Selected eighth overall last year out of Tennessee, the 22-year-old had no trouble adapting to life as a pro. Moore slashed .347/.400/.584 with 12 extra-base hits and 20 RBIs in 25 games and finished the season with Double-A Rocket City.

¡°Given what [the Angels] tend to do and given how good Christian Moore can be, I think he¡¯s got a really, really good chance to make this team," Mayo said.

Jackson Jobe, RHP, Tigers (MLB No. 5)
Mayo: 70 percent
Callis: Push

Baseball's No. 2-ranked pitching prospect got his feet wet with four late-season appearances in relief for the Tigers, including two during the postseason. An overpowering heater that reaches triple digits and a high-spin slider highlight Jobe's four-pitch repertoire, which helped the 22-year-old post a 2.36 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP in 2024. Jobe limited opponents to a .178 average and struck out 96 in 91 2/3 innings across three Minor League levels last year.

Kristian Campbell, 2B/SS/OF, Red Sox (MLB No. 7)
Callis: 60 percent
Mayo: Slight under

It was a doozy of a season for MLB Pipeline's Hitting Prospect of the Year and MiLB's Breakout Player of the Year, who opened 2024 with High-A Greenville and finished with a 19-game stint for Triple-A Worcester. When the dust settled, Campbell had fashioned a .330/.439/.558 slash line, 55 extra-base hits, 22 homers, 77 RBIs and 24 stolen bases in 115 games.

Chase Dollander, RHP, Rockies (MLB No. 25)
Mayo: 50 percent
Callis: Over

Perhaps the only thing holding Dollander back from a spot on Colorado's Opening Day roster is experience. The ninth overall pick in the 2023 Draft turned in one of the most impressive professional debuts in the Minors last year. Using a mid-90s fastball, a slider, a changeup and an occasional curve, Dollander blitzed opposing batters in 2024 and finished with a 2.59 ERA and 169 strikeouts in 119 innings spanning 23 starts.

¡°[The Rockies] are going to give him every opportunity, I think, to make their Opening Day rotation," Mayo said.

Kyle Teel, C, White Sox (MLB No. 32)
Callis: 50 percent
Mayo: Slight under

The centerpiece of last December's trade that sent Garrett Crochet to Boston, Teel is on the cusp of the big leagues after a strong first full season in the Minors. Although his numbers dipped during a late-season stint in Triple-A, the 23-year-old ended the year with 41 extra-base hits, 78 RBIs and a .288/.386/.433 slash line in 112 games across two Minor League levels.

Rhett Lowder, RHP, Reds (MLB No. 35)
Mayo: 50 percent
Callis: Under

Lowder's professional debut began in the High-A Midwest League and culminated in an eye-opening four-start cup of coffee in The Show. Through it all, the seventh overall pick in the 2023 Draft displayed the dominance and poise befitting a two-time ACC pitcher of the year during his time at Wake Forest. Lowder's inexperience (one Triple-A start) and up-and-down performance with Double-A Chattanooga might sway the organization to err on the side of caution.

Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Brewers (MLB No. 100)
Callis: 50 percent
Mayo: Push

One of the best power arms in the entire Minors, Misiorowski rolled over opposing batters in 2024, averaging 11.8 K/9 across 33 appearances (19 starts) between Double-A and Triple-A. The 6-foot-7 flamethrower, who touches triple digits with ease and sits 97-99 mph, limited batters to a .167 average, which was somewhat offset by his command (5.5 BB/9).

¡°I think [his stuff] is as good as anyone in the Minor Leagues," Callis said. "He hasn¡¯t harnessed it."

Bubba Chandler, RHP, Pirates (MLB No. 15)
Mayo: 45 percent
Callis: Push

It was a fun summer on the mound in Pittsburgh as Paul Skenes and Jared Jones burst onto the big league scene in 2024. Comparing Chandler to Skenes -- the reigning NL Rookie of the Year -- would not be fair, but the 22-year-old is a Top 100 prospect for a reason and could complete a dominant triumvirate upon his arrival in the Steel City. Chandler posted a 1.83 ERA in seven Triple-A starts, ultimately carving out a 3.08 ERA while limiting opponents to a .189 average and striking out 148 in 119 2/3 innings across two Minor League levels.

Coby Mayo, 3B/1B, Orioles (MLB No. 14)
Mayo: 40 percent
Callis: Slight under

The seemingly never ending flow of prospects from the Baltimore pipeline will continue in 2025 with the arrival of Mayo, who got his feet wet during a 17-game showcase with the Birds last year. The 23-year-old put together another strong season in the Minors in 2024, reaching 25 homers for a second consecutive year, though he did miss nearly a month with a broken rib.

¡°I think he¡¯s going to get a long look," Jonathan Mayo said. "I think, if he has a hot spring, [the O's] are going to maybe try to find a way to get that right-handed power into the lineup.¡±

Chase DeLauter, OF, Guardians (MLB No. 36)
Callis: 40 percent
Mayo: Significantly over

The talent is there, the hit and power potential are there and obvious, but DeLauter has struggled with staying on the field. Continuing foot injuries limited the 16th overall pick in 2022 to 96 games in his pro career across 2023-24, though he made up for lost time with a pair of strong Arizona Fall League campaigns.

• Subscribe to the MLB Pipeline Newsletter

Kumar Rocker, RHP, Rangers (MLB No. 44)
Callis: 35 percent
Mayo: Significantly over

Shoulder and Tommy John surgeries behind him, Rocker looked like the pitcher who was a workhorse during his collegiate career with Vanderbilt. Although the 25-year-old only has 16 Minor League appearances under his belt, his dominance last year (1.96 ERA and 0.79 WHIP) spurred Texas to promote him for three late regular-season starts in which he acquitted himself well (3.86 ERA). The Rangers rotation is set, if not unsettled with injury questions, so an Opening Day nod is not out of the question for the two-time first-rounder.

Roman Anthony, OF, Red Sox (MLB No. 2)
Callis: 20 percent
Mayo: Push

Anthony has done nothing but impress since his pro debut in 2022 and now finds himself with an outside chance of an Opening Day roster spot at 20 years old. While it is a longshot thanks to a crowded and complicated roster situation in Boston, Anthony's numbers in 2024 (.291/.396/.498 with 54 extra-base hits) are proof the 79th pick in the 2022 Draft is all but ready for Beantown.

Dalton Rushing, C/OF, Dodgers (MLB No. 30)
Callis: 20 percent
Mayo: Push

Rushing showed promise and tools during his first two pro seasons before putting it all together in 2024. While breaking camp with the defending champs is unlikely, the 22-year-old looks to be ready for showtime after slashing .271/.384/.512 and posting numerous career bests, including homers (26) and RBIs (85) between Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Cole Young, SS/2B, Mariners (MLB No. 49)
Mayo: 20 percent
Callis: Under

Young took a step back from his breakout 2023 full-season performance, but he did spend the entire year at Double-A at just 21 years old. While Young's numbers (.271/.369/.390, 23 stolen bases) with Arkansas were solid, he has time on his side and Seattle has the wherewithal to be patient with their 2022 first-rounder, who will likely begin the year at Triple-A.

Jordan Lawlar, SS, D-backs (MLB No. 11)
Callis: 10 percent
Mayo: Push

Last year was a lost campaign for Lawlar, who missed virtually the entire season with thumb and hamstring injuries. He only appeared in 23 Minor Leagues games, though he did play for Licey during winter ball in the Dominican Republic. Still just 22 years old, Lawlar remains one of the game's brightest young middle infield prospects, and if healthy, should see time in Arizona in 2025 after making his Major League debut two years ago. It most likely won't be at the conclusion of Spring Training, though.

¡°I don¡¯t think he¡¯s going to make the big league club," Callis said. "I think they would like him to a.), get some regular at-bats and b.) there¡¯s not an obvious spot.¡±

Nick Kurtz, 1B, A's (MLB No. 38)
Mayo: 10 percent
Callis: Under

Kurtz stood out during his brief professional debut last summer. The fourth overall pick in the 2024 Draft, Kurtz appeared in just 12 games but showed the same hitting prowess he did during a standout collegiate career at Wake Forest. The 21-year-old closed out a long season of baseball by slashing .353/.450/.608 with seven extra-base hits and 11 RBIs in 13 Arizona Fall League games.

¡°It¡¯s not going to take him very long to make it to the big leagues," Mayo said. "I do not think that he has any real chance, but I think he¡¯s going to show up and he¡¯s going to hit. ... The power is going to show up and they¡¯ll move him pretty aggressively.¡±