Inbox: Spring Training is here!

Were you like all of us, a little giddy seeing actual baseball on TV over the last week? Last weekend was the start of the college season. On Thursday, there was a real-life Spring Training game on. One of the best parts of Grapefruit and Cactus League action is we get to see so many of our favorite prospects in action. Whether they are competing for a spot (more on that below) or just getting a taste of what it¡¯s like while wearing outlandish baseball numbers, watching them in action is a sure sign that the season is getting underway.

We¡¯ll be hitting Spring Training camps starting next week, with first stops on Wednesday. Keep an eye out for our prospect segments on MLB Network and our Spring Training reports on each team¡¯s system as the spring unwinds. For now, though, let¡¯s get to some of your questions.

What prospect(s) could surprise the industry and be on the opening day roster, especially if they have a great spring showing? ¨C @mclovin84.bsky.social?

We spent a good amount of time discussing prospects who could win jobs, or at least make decisions hard, this spring, on this week¡¯s MLB Pipeline Podcast, so be sure to check that out. And the conversation Jim Callis and I had was turned into a story looking at the percentage chances we thought each of the Top 100 guys who fit the description (in big league camp, getting a chance to compete) had to make the Opening Day roster.

So the way I¡¯m thinking about this, I¡¯m looking at the players we had at the bottom of the list in the story, where the players are ranked from highest to lowest percentages. Some don¡¯t have any real chance at all, even if they go off in Grapefruit or Cactus League. So I¡¯ll move up the list and pick Cole Young of the Mariners, our No. 49 prospect on the Top 100. He¡¯s yet to play above Double-A and his surface numbers may not jump off the page, but he has such an advanced approach at the plate, that he¡¯d be able to at least hold his own, if not more. There are some more veteran options at second base, but none have Young¡¯s upside (and some think he¡¯s improved defensively enough that he¡¯ll be the shortstop in Seattle whenever J.P. Crawford¡¯s reign ends). The Mariners want to compete now, and I could see if Young is on fire all spring, he could win the job at the keystone.

Will Roki Sasaki be eligible to win the Dodgers a PPI pick? If yes, that will discourage teams from starting players¡¯ clocks early (Phillies with Painter, Pirates with Chandler, etc). - @ballsandgutters

We¡¯ve talked a lot about Sasaki over the past few months, including the first part of this question, so quickly, yes, the Dodgers would get a PPI pick should Sasaki win National League Rookie of the Year honors. (They could also win a pick if he finished top three in Cy Young or MVP voting.)

The second point is more interesting, partially because it was issued as a statement, not a question. I understand the argument, that Sasaki is the clear front-runner to be Rookie of the Year, greatly lowering the chances of getting a PPI pick this year. Here¡¯s why I don¡¯t think teams will let that sway them one way or another:

1. It¡¯s not a guarantee Sasaki wins, is it? Things happen, and favorites in the past haven¡¯t always been the one to win the thing.

2. Bobby Witt Jr. I bring him up because he¡¯s the first example of a team winning a PPI pick well after a rookie season. Witt finished fourth in ROY voting in 2022. But because he finished in the top three in MVP voting in 2024 (finishing second), the Royals get a pick in the 2025 Draft. If one of these prospects make the roster this year and finish top three in MVP or Cy Young voting, they¡¯d earn their team a PPI pick.

The two examples given in the question are interesting on their own, too. It looks like Andrew Painter won¡¯t pitch in Grapefruit League games this spring, as it seems the Phillies are looking to manage his workload so he¡¯s available in October, not April. So he probably has no chance of making the roster. I personally was rooting for Bubba Chandler to make the Pirates¡¯ roster, and I don¡¯t think it¡¯s impossible, but the signing of Andrew Heaney makes that less likely. But again, I don¡¯t think the Pirates decide to send Chandler to Triple-A because of Sasaki¡¯s presence.

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What is the ceiling and floor for Braden Montgomery? ¨C @buendia2323.bsky.social?

Our No. 55 overall prospect has already been a first-round pick and gotten traded, and he hasn¡¯t even played a professional game yet! After the Red Sox took Montgomery No. 12 overall in the 2024 Draft, he was sent in the offseason to the White Sox as part of the big Garret Crochet deal. He hasn¡¯t played since breaking his ankle during the NCAA Super Regionals with Texas A&M.

He¡¯s a switch-hitter (though some think he should just focus on hitting left-handed) with plenty of power to tap into. His offensive ceiling is dependent on how he can continue to refine his approach, cut down on chase and see spin better. I¡¯m bullish on all that happening, so to me he has the ceiling of an All-Star caliber right-fielder who hits in the middle of the lineup and hits the ball out to all fields. I also think he has a really high floor because I believe he¡¯s going to get to his power enough to be an every day player, even if he ends up being more power-over-hit, with a lower batting average, but still getting to, say, 25-30 homers a year.

Do you think Chase DeLauter is Cleveland's best option for right field to start the season? ¨C @SeatteBB

In a word, yes, I do. Colleague Anthony Castrovince recently had a good story on DeLauter in his first official big league camp. Honestly, if DeLauter had stayed healthy, we wouldn¡¯t be having this conversation -- he¡¯d already be in the Guardians¡¯ starting outfield. He has the chance to be a plus hitter with plus power. Oh, and a plus arm that¡¯s perfect for right (though he can handle center). The recurring foot injuries are obviously a concern, and he¡¯s played just 96 games in two Minor League seasons, so he¡¯d have to go out and prove he can stay on the field. The projected platoon of Will Brennan and Jhonkensy Noel combined for 21 homers and 58 RBIs in 509 at-bats last year; a healthy DeLauter should be able to provide at least that right out of the gate with a whole lot more ceiling.