1 prospect for each team to watch this spring

Spring may not have arrived quite yet, but Spring Training has! Players have reported to camp and exhibition games kick off Thursday with the Cubs visiting the Dodgers in Glendale, Ariz.

To celebrate, we're spotlighting an intriguing prospect from every system who's competing to make an Opening Day roster. We're not including guys all but guaranteed jobs -- such as Nationals outfielder Dylan Crews, Yankees outfielder Jasson Dom¨ªnguez and Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson -- focusing instead on players whose talent is more obvious than their opportunity. Of the 30 mentioned below, 17 are Top 100 prospects.

Jump to: AL East | AL Central | AL West | NL East | NL Central | NL West

AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST

Blue Jays: Alan Roden, OF
General manager Ross Atkins already identified Roden as a player he¡¯ll keep a sharp eye on this spring, and for good reason. The 2022 third-rounder continues to be an on-base machine and finished with a .314/.406/.510 line in 71 games at Triple-A Buffalo last season. He generally covers the zone well and has driven the ball better in recent years, giving him a more well-rounded offensive profile. He¡¯s likely to open back in Buffalo, but with the Opening Day status of Daulton Varsho (right shoulder) up in the air, there could be space for a Roden breakthrough.

Orioles: Coby Mayo, 3B/1B (MLB No. 14)
Mayo is expected to get every opportunity to show what he can do this spring, and it¡¯s clear he needs a longer runway for that than the 41 at-bats he got in the bigs last year after hitting 54 homers the past two seasons in the Minors and slugging .541 in his Minor League career. Where his opportunity may come from is difficult to ascertain at this point, with Jordan Westburg potentially at third base more (if Jackson Holliday settles in at second) and Ryan Mountcastle and Ryan O¡¯Hearn taking on first-base and designated-hitter duties. But Mayo could slug his way into the conversation.

Rays: Chandler Simpson, OF
There¡¯s no question Simpson is going to put on a speed show in Port Charlotte. He very well might be the fastest man in baseball, and after stealing 198 bags over the past two Minor League seasons, he¡¯ll be eager to show off those wheels as a non-roster invite. His bat-to-ball skills are elite too, and even if they come with bottom-of-the-scale power, they could translate to the Majors quickly. The Rays aren¡¯t exactly loaded with center-field options on the current roster, so if Simpson performs like he has everywhere else in his pro career, he could give Kevin Cash & Co. plenty to consider.

Red Sox: Kristian Campbell, 2B/SS/OF (MLB No. 7)
Alex Bregman's signing and Rafael Devers' reluctance to move off third base complicate matters, but they don't change the fact that Campbell is one of the most dynamic offensive prospects in baseball. He went from supplemental fourth-round pick out of Georgia Tech in 2023 to MLB Pipeline Hitting Prospect of the Year, MiLB Breakout Player of the Year and Double-A Eastern League MVP in 2024. He batted .330/.439/.558 with 20 homers and 24 steals in 115 games while advancing from High-A Greenville to Triple-A Worcester in 2024, topping the Minors in wRC+ (180) while placing second in on-base percentage and OPS (.997), fourth in batting and fifth in runs (94).

Yankees: Spencer Jones, OF
Dom¨ªnguez seems to have a lock on New York's left-field job, while Jones is more laying the groundwork to fill in if injuries (Giancarlo Stanton's elbows?) create an opportunity. The 2022 first-rounder from Vanderbilt has an intriguing combination of size (6-foot-6, 235 pounds), power and athleticism that has translated into 33 homers and 68 steals in two full pro seasons, but he also ranked second in the Minors with 200 strikeouts last year.

• Subscribe to the MLB Pipeline Newsletter

AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL

Guardians: Chase DeLauter, OF (MLB No. 36)
If he hadn't been slowed by repeated injuries to his left foot, DeLauter already would be Cleveland's right fielder instead of trying to wrest the job from Will Brennan. The only first-round pick ever from James Madison (2022), he has slashed .317/.387/.517 in two pro seasons and .313/.417/.522 in two trips to the Arizona Fall League while displaying an impressive combination of size (6-foot-3, 235 pounds), athleticism, ability to hit for both average and power, and plate discipline.

Royals: Noah Cameron, LHP
There¡¯s a certain temptation to go with Jac Caglianone in his first Spring Training, especially given his focus on hitting, but the 2024 first-rounder is very much a long shot to make the MLB roster. Cameron has more of a fighting chance in Kansas City¡¯s competition for the fifth rotation spot. The 25-year-old southpaw dominated at Triple-A Omaha with a 2.32 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 54 1/3 innings, and his 78-81 mph changeup could give Major Leaguers fits right away. What¡¯s more, he won¡¯t get in his own way with the way he pitches in the strike zone consistently.

Tigers: Jackson Jobe, RHP (MLB No. 5)
Remember Jobe¡¯s 101.8 mph fastball, the fastest pitch thrown in front of Statcast in 2024 Spring Training? What does he have for an encore? Maybe he won¡¯t hit that velo max this time around, but Detroit¡¯s top prospect has plenty on the line following his MLB debut last season. Alex Cobb¡¯s right hip injury opens up a spot in the Tigers' rotation, and with four plus to plus-plus pitches, Jobe is certainly capable of winning the spot outright at just 22 years old.

Twins: Eiberson Castellano, RHP
The Twins think they may have something more exciting than the typical Rule 5 pick in Castellano. Taken in the Major League phase from the Phillies in December, Castellano has a very strong three-pitch mix, missing a lot of bats with both his slider and changeup. He might ease in as a reliever, but especially if the strike-throwing improvements he made in 2024 are for real, he has the goods to start in the future.

White Sox: Kyle Teel, C (MLB No. 32)
Acquired from the Red Sox in the Garrett Crochet trade at the Winter Meetings in December, Teel already is Chicago's best big league option behind the plate, but he still will have to beat out Korey Lee and Matt Thaiss. He batted .288/.386/.433 with 13 homers in 112 games between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester during his first full pro season, and he is an athletic defender who continues to improve his receiving and blocking.

AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST

Angels: Christian Moore, 2B (MLB No. 68)
Stop us if you¡¯ve heard this: The Angels like pushing their prospects quickly. Their big league infield is a little in flux with Zach Neto¡¯s injury at shortstop, with Tim Anderson signed to potentially fill that hole for now and Yo¨¢n Moncada slated to play third with Anthony Rendon out. That would leave Luis Rengifo as the starter at the keystone, but Moore, the Halos¡¯ first-round pick last year, could move Rengifo back to a utility role if he swings the bat like he did at Tennessee last year (1.248 OPS) and during his pro debut (.984 OPS) despite a knee injury that shelved him for a spell.

Astros: Jacob Melton, OF
The Astros have uncertainty in their outfield, with a projected starting trio of Ben Gamel, Chas McCormick and Jake Meyers -- and Melton has better all-around tools than all of them. The 2022 second-rounder from Oregon State provides plus raw power, speed and center-field defense, and he's coming off a season in which he slashed .253/.310/.426 with 15 homers and 30 steals in 105 games between Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Sugar Land.

A¡¯s: Nick Kurtz, 1B (MLB No. 38)
The No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 Draft, the A¡¯s had Kurtz atop their board and were thrilled to get him. His pro debut was hampered by a right hamstring injury, but he looked good in the second half of the Arizona Fall League season, like an advanced hitter who shouldn¡¯t take too much time to be big league-ready. The A¡¯s do have 2020 first-rounder Tyler Soderstrom at first and Brent Rooker at DH, so it seems less likely that Kurtz could hit his way onto the Opening Day roster, but he certainly could serve notice in Cactus League play.

Mariners: Cole Young, SS/2B (MLB No. 49)
He¡¯s yet to play above Double-A Arkansas and the Mariners do have some short-term options at second base to look at like Dylan Moore, Leo Rivas and Ryan Bliss, so it wouldn¡¯t be shocking if Young, the club¡¯s first-rounder in 2022, starts the year in Triple-A Tacoma. We say short term because Young is thought to be the long-term answer at second, unless he eventually takes over from J.P. Crawford at short. His advanced approach at the plate (.387 career OBP) and feel for hitting should enable him to hold his own right out of the gate if the Mariners decide the future is now.

Rangers: Kumar Rocker, RHP (MLB No. 44)
With right shoulder and Tommy John surgeries behind him, a fully healthy Rocker showed why the Rangers made him the No. 3 overall pick in the 2022 Draft. The former Vanderbilt star reclaimed his wipeout mid-80s slider with two-plane depth while working with a 95-98 mph fastball that reached 100, posting a 1.96 ERA and a 55/5 K/BB ratio in 36 2/3 Minor League innings before making his long-awaited big league debut in September. Three of Texas' projected five starters (Jacob deGrom, Tyler Mahle, Cody Bradford) combined for just 99 2/3 innings in the Majors last year, so Rocker could force the issue.

NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST

Braves: Nacho Alvarez Jr., INF
Alvarez touched the big leagues last year and will be just 22 for all of the 2025 season. Offensively, he makes a ton of contact (16.6 percent strikeout rate in his Minor League career) and he is capable of driving the ball, though he¡¯ll have to continue to show he can get to some of his raw power more to be an everyday guy in the big leagues. He might be a Gold Glove-caliber defender at third, he¡¯s shown he has the hands and instincts to play short (though probably not every day) and he handled getting thrown in at second in the big leagues when the need arose. The roster is tight, but his versatility plus feel for the barrel could make things interesting.

Marlins: Agustin Ramirez, C/1B
Ramirez posted a rare 20/20 season for a catcher with 25 homers and 22 steals between Double-A and Triple-A last year, when he switched organizations as the prize prospect in the Jazz Chisholm deal with the Yankees in July. His defense still needs a lot of work, but he'd provide much more offense than the Marlins figure to get from Nick Fortes and Liam Hicks.

Mets: Luisangel Acu?a, SS/2B/OF
Acu?a had a down year in Triple-A Syracuse due to extreme chase rates but was a spark of energy as a fast, defensively capable injury replacement at shortstop for Francisco Lindor late in the Major League season. That was in a small sample, so an extended look this spring will give the Mets a better idea of where his offensive approach is heading into 2025. Jeff McNeil and Nick Madrigal figure to be second-base options, but don¡¯t rule out Acu?a banging down the door as a potential plus defender there alongside Lindor.

Nationals: Brady House, 3B
A former Top 100 prospect, House slipped outside of that ranking this offseason after a high chase rate at Triple-A caused him to post just a .280 on-base percentage in 54 games with Rochester. The Nationals still believe he can be a big part of their future because of his power potential, improving defense and youth at just 21 years old, but they¡¯ll monitor House closely this spring to see how he adjusted. Jos¨¦ Tena might have the hot corner for now, but you can bet Washington would love House to win the job himself.

Phillies: Andrew Painter, RHP (MLB No. 8)
OK, so this is wishful thinking on our part. Nobody doubts that Painter could get big league hitters out right now. But given that he¡¯s thrown just 15 2/3 innings in the Arizona Fall League over the past two years following his elbow injury and surgery, the Phillies are going to slow roll him out of the gate and he¡¯s unlikely to get Grapefruit League innings. But guaranteed he¡¯s impressing in bullpens and live BPs, and there¡¯s a good chance they¡¯re saving him now so he can be available in Philadelphia come October.

NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL

Brewers: Jacob Misiorowski, RHP (MLB No. 100)
Milwaukee officials will tell anyone who asks that they still see Misiorowski as a starter. And sure, you¡¯d want to see what the 6-foot-7 righty with an 80-grade fastball and two plus breaking pitches could do in an extended role. But the Crew also enters spring without Devin Williams, and though Trevor Megill is set to take over the closer role, Misiorowski is oft compared to a right-handed Josh Hader. If his stuff is up to snuff but his control still wavers, maybe the Brewers push him into relief, and that¡¯s how he earns an MLB debut.

Cardinals: Thomas Saggese, INF
Nolan Arenado remains a Cardinal, and that has ramifications for the entire St. Louis infield. It¡¯s more crowded than expected, but that doesn¡¯t mean Saggese doesn¡¯t have a shot at an Opening Day spot. After expanding the zone too much in Triple-A and the Majors, the slugger showed a much better approach in the Arizona Fall League, where he had a .524 OBP in 18 games. If that approach change holds this spring, Saggese should get long looks as a second-base option alongside Nolan Gorman and Brendan Donovan.

Cubs: Matt Shaw, INF (MLB No. 19)
The Cubs keep saying that Shaw will have to earn the starting job at third base after they shipped Isaac Paredes to Houston in the Kyle Tucker trade in December, but he's such a gifted hitter and his main competition is Jon Berti and Gage Workman. A 2023 first-rounder from Maryland, he batted .283/.379/.488 between Double-A and Triple-A during his first full pro season and was one of just four players in the Minors to reach 20 homers and 30 steals.

Pirates: Bubba Chandler, RHP (MLB No. 15)
Chandler served notice at the end of last year at Triple-A with a 1.83 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, .183 BAA and 12.4 K/9 rate over seven starts for Indianapolis, and it wouldn¡¯t have been surprising to have seen him up last year to help out had the Pirates hung around the playoff race. It remains to be seen if the club will be willing to bring him north on Opening Day, but the fact that they didn't get the extra PPI Draft pick from Paul Skenes winning Rookie of the Year because they didn¡¯t bring him up right away and he ended up being awarded a full season of service time anyway will be enough of a lesson learned.

Reds: Rhett Lowder, RHP (MLB No. 35)
This seemed like a no-doubter after Lowder made his big league debut last year and posted a 1.19 ERA over six starts, but Cincinnati's rotation is a little more crowded now with Nick Martinez back after accepting the Reds¡¯ qualifying offer and Brady Singer acquired via a trade. And Lowder had some minor elbow soreness that has him just a touch behind in terms of being ready for Opening Day. He should check off all the health-related boxes in short order and could be in the mix for the back of the rotation.

NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST

D-backs: Jordan Lawlar, SS (MLB No. 11)
Arizona officials planned to get Lawlar looks at second and third base this season, and that was before the club signed shortstop Geraldo Perdomo to a four-year extension. Expect those to be kicked up a notch as the 22-year-old tries to find a spot in the short and long term. Lawlar missed much of 2024 due to thumb and hamstring injuries and made up for some of the lost time in Dominican Winter League action as he tries to get back to the Majors for the first time since the 2023 postseason.

Dodgers: Dalton Rushing, C/OF (MLB No. 30)
Rushing is primed to take the Dodgers' backup catching job from Austin Barnes after slashing .271/.384/.512 between Double-A and Triple-A, ranking second among Minor League backstops with 26 homers and continuing to refine his defense. The 2022 second-rounder from Louisville is a well-rounded hitter who has enough athleticism to play left field, which will give him the opportunity to get more at-bats while playing behind All-Star catcher Will Smith.

Giants: Carson Whisenhunt (LHP No. 8)
Though Whisenhunt posted a 5.42 ERA in the hitter-friendly Triple-A Pacific Coast League, he also ranked second with 135 strikeouts in 104 2/3 innings as his tumbling 78-81 mph changeup continued to stand out as one of the best in the Minors. He also has a low-90s sinker that reaches 96, but he may get more Triple-A time to work on refining his breaking stuff unless an injury opens a spot in San Francisco's rotation.

Padres: Tirso Ornelas, OF
The 24-year-old was added to the 40-man roster in November after slashing .297/.367/.497 with a career-high 23 homers in 128 games for Triple-A El Paso, but any potential for him winning an Opening Day spot in left field was wiped out by the signings of Connor Joe and Jason Heyward. Ornelas should still be in the competition for a bench spot as a lefty slugger with decent power.

Rockies: Chase Dollander, RHP (MLB No. 25)
The Rockies may have what seems to be a set big league rotation at the moment, but there are plenty of question marks surrounding many of its members. At the same time, Dollander is getting a long look this spring and a chance to push his way into the conversation. We had some evaluators tell us they think the 2023 first-rounder is the best pitching prospect in the game after a first full season in which he finished with a combined 2.59 ERA, .215 BAA, 1.19 WHIP and 12.9 K/9 rate between High-A Spokane and Double-A Hartford.