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The 2025 season is upon us, and we¡¯re seeing how all of the big league lineups and rotations are shaking out. And that¡¯s giving us a better idea of which prospects will be where up and down systems.
We, of course, will be all over it, with upcoming stories on where every member of the Top 100 Prospects list is projected to start the season and picking one player at Triple-A for each organization to watch. We¡¯ll expand to stories on starting spots for the Top 30 prospects for each system, and we¡¯ll be off and running, with the Minor League season kicking off at the Triple-A level on Friday, the day after Major League Opening Day.
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Surveying the list of guys who didn¡¯t make big league rosters but are very close, I got to thinking you could form a pretty good lineup and pitching staff from this group. Call it the ¡°phone call away¡± team. I only picked guys who will be active to start the season and seemingly starting the year in Triple-A. Here¡¯s the squad I would put together -- too bad there isn¡¯t some kind of simulator to see how this team would fare in a Major League schedule.
C: Kyle Teel, White Sox
There¡¯s some depth here, and you¡¯ll see I snuck in a couple of other Top 10 catching prospects into the lineup, but Teel offers a really good all-around package behind the plate, and Chicago is going to have to make room for him soon, especially after his 1.119 OPS in Cactus League action.
1B: Nick Kurtz, A¡¯s
Kurtz¡¯s power in Las Vegas? Yes please. It will be interesting to watch him vs. the Royals¡¯ Jac Caglianone, who is starting the year in Double-A, but neither should take too long to hit the American League.
2B: Luke Keaschall, Twins
I was tempted to stretch my rule here and take Christian Moore because, well, we know what the Angels do. There are still options here with someone like Cole Young a possibility, but he might play more shortstop in Triple-A? Keaschall can flat-out hit, too.
3B: Coby Mayo, Orioles
I fully expect Mayo to use his disappointment in not making the O¡¯s Opening Day roster as motivation and take it out on International League pitching. The guy has a career .921 OPS in the Minors heading into 2025 (.964 last year) and will get the chance to show what he can do in Baltimore soon enough.
SS: Carson Williams, Rays
I love having a guy who can flat-out defend as my infield captain and Williams is one of the best infield defenders in the Minors. Oh, he also has had back-to-back 20-20 seasons (20-30 last year) and is still only 21.
OF: Roman Anthony, Red Sox
Still only 20, Anthony¡¯s left-handed swing is something worth watching on repeat. I, for one, can watch his Spring Breakout home run right after someone in the crowd was chanting ¡°overrated¡± on a loop. He¡¯s coming off a 2024 season that saw him hit better in Triple-A than Double-A, and he¡¯s just scratching the surface.
OF: Dalton Rushing, Dodgers
I told you I was sneaking in some other catchers. Just like the Dodgers are doing because of depth at the position, I¡¯m happy to let Rushing¡¯s bat (26 homers, .894 OPS in 2024) play in a corner outfield spot.
OF: Owen Caissie, Cubs
Matt Shaw made the Cubs¡¯ Opening Day lineup; Caissie¡¯s not far behind. Now 22, Caissie has tremendous raw power and has hit 41 homers at the upper levels over the past two years. Look for him to start launching balls back in Iowa for his second season to force the Cubs¡¯ hands.
DH: Samuel Basallo, Orioles
Catcher No. 3! This is a good fit because not only is it unclear if Basallo can catch long-term, he¡¯s obviously blocked by Adley Rutschman. Plus he¡¯s not catching right now because of injury. But he¡¯s hit 39 homers the past two years and has a career .841 OPS heading into 2025, when he¡¯ll play most of the season at age 20.
SP: Bubba Chandler, Pirates
Count me as one who was hoping he¡¯d make the Pirates¡¯ Opening Day roster. For now, Carmen Mlodzinski is the No. 5 in Pittsburgh, but no staff makes it through a season with just five guys, and we¡¯ll all be watching to see if Chandler can follow a Skenes-like arc to the Burgh.
SP: Chase Dollander, Rockies
Dollander made a very good impression in big league camp overall this spring, striking out more than 12 per nine. He¡¯s coming off a very strong first full season and should knock on the door loudly. A word of caution: His stats in Albuquerque may not look as pretty as his numbers in Hartford, but that doesn¡¯t mean he isn¡¯t ready.
SP: Quinn Mathews, Cardinals
Our 2024 MLB Pipeline pitching prospect of the year, Mathews tossed six shutout innings in Grapefruit League action to make it clear he doesn¡¯t need much more time on the farm, not after a year that saw him pitch across four levels, all the way up to Triple-A, in his first season of pro ball in 2024.
SP: Brandon Sproat, Mets
He has velocity, a full complement of pitches with an outstanding four-pitch mix and throws strikes. All Sproat needs is perhaps a little more refinement of his command in the zone after scuffling a bit with his first taste of Triple-A and he¡¯ll be ready.
SP: Cade Horton, Cubs
I was tempted to find a spot for Andrew Painter here, but he won¡¯t be active to start the year, and I¡¯m more than happy to have Horton¡¯s stuff. I¡¯d like for him to stay healthy, but I really want to see how that 70-grade slider plays.