These are the names to watch in Rookie of the Year races

April 5th, 2022

It¡¯s a fun, fun time to be a prospect hound. Of course, part of what¡¯s great about being a prospect hound is there¡¯s always something fun to look ahead to. But right now? This moment? It¡¯s awfully good.

That¡¯s because not only is there a group of really exciting prospects at the top of the rankings, but we may be about to see several of them in the big leagues. Like, imminently.

Often, when handicapping contenders for Rookie of the Year honors, playing time is as much a factor as talent. This year, especially in the American League, it looks very much as though many of the most tantalizing and talented players will break camp with their Major League clubs and start getting at-bats and innings right out of the gate.

That means that you may see a good bit of overlap between these rankings of the most likely contenders for rookie awards, and MLB Pipeline¡¯s rankings of baseball¡¯s top 100 prospects. Here are those rookie rankings, as voted on by MLB Pipeline¡¯s staff.

American League

1. Bobby Witt Jr., Royals: There was actually some buzz that Witt might crack the Royals' roster at this time last year. He didn¡¯t, and it was probably for the best, but it¡¯s clear he has very little left to prove in the Minors. Witt, a legitimate five-tool prospect, fell one stolen base short of a 30-30 season split between Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha last year. He has big-time power, quality bat-to-ball skills, and can hold his own at shortstop. He¡¯ll start the year as the Royals¡¯ third baseman, but that¡¯s because of what else is on the roster, not because he¡¯s not good enough to play up the middle. Witt edged out two other names on this list to be Pipeline¡¯s No. 1 prospect.

2. Julio Rodr¨ªguez, Mariners: Ranking No. 3 on our prospect list, Rodr¨ªguez may have the most offensive upside of any player not currently in the Major Leagues. And it¡¯s trending as though he may break camp with the Mariners, which seemed a bit of a long shot a few weeks ago. Rodr¨ªguez ranks as the best pure hitter on the Top 100 list, and showed it with a combined .347 mark (along with a .441 on-base percentage and .560 slugging) in a season he split between High A and Double-A. The only real question about Rodr¨ªguez is his relative lack of experience -- he enters the year with fewer than 1,000 professional plate appearances.

3. Spencer Torkelson, Tigers: Like Rodr¨ªguez, Torkelson has not yet been announced as having made the big club, but it¡¯s sure trending that way. Also like Rodr¨ªguez, he ranks at the top in a major category: he¡¯s ranked as having the best power on the Top 100. Torkelson probably doesn¡¯t have the long-term upside that the two guys ahead of him have, but boy can he hit. He posted a .383 on-base percentage and .552 slugging across three levels of the Minors last year, just a year after he was drafted out of Arizona State.

4. Riley Greene, Tigers: It¡¯s tempting to put Torkelson and Greene as a single entry. Friends and fellow Tigers farmhands, they¡¯re also the faces of what Detroit fans hope will be the next championship team at Comerica Park. Greene is a polished hitter with an all-around skill set, who hit .301/.387/.534 at Double-A and Triple-A last year. He also stole 16 bases in 17 attempts, and is rated as at least a solid outfielder who can handle center if needed.

5. Adley Rutschman, Orioles: Rutschman spent some time as Pipeline¡¯s No. 1 prospect last year, and fell all the way to No. 2 for 2022, but not due to any failings. That¡¯s merely a reflection of enthusiasm about Witt. As for his relatively low positioning here? That¡¯s about opportunity. He¡¯s the one of these five who we are confident will not start the year in the Majors. Once he arrives, though, he¡¯s a rare combination of offense and defense behind the plate. Rutschman is a switch-hitter with big-time power, a strong arm and first-rate receiving skills. He even has a fine eye at the plate. He¡¯s the real deal, and if he arrives quickly, he¡¯ll be a serious contender for the award.

National League

1. Seiya Suzuki, Cubs: This is definitely a matter of talent meeting opportunity. Suzuki, who has played nine seasons in NPB in Japan, will play regularly for the Cubs, and he¡¯s a relatively known quantity. The guy can hit. The 27-year-old outfielder smacked 38 homers for Hiroshima last year, and has four straight seasons of at least a .300 average, .400 on-base percentage and .500 slugging. Oh, and he also has more than 100 career steals in NPB. He¡¯s not ranked as a prospect, but that¡¯s due to experience in Japan, not ability.

2. (tie) Bryson Stott, Phillies: Pipeline¡¯s No. 45 rated prospect, Stott may be the kind of player who forces an opportunity. He¡¯s had an outstanding spring. However, he¡¯s a shortstop by trade, and the Phillies have Didi Gregorius. So ¡­ how about third base? Stott, who hit .299/.390/.486 across three levels in the Phils¡¯ system last year, is doing all he can in camp to make the Phillies' decision very, very hard. And it seems likely that even if he starts the year in the Minors, he could be up quickly.

2. (tie) Oneil Cruz, Pirates: Welcome to one of the most intriguing players in professional baseball. Cruz, Pipeline¡¯s No. 26 prospect, is a 6-foot-7 ¡­ shortstop. And while he¡¯s not a Gold Glove-caliber defender, he can handle the position. He has light-tower power, slugging .594 across three levels last year -- including a cup of coffee in Pittsburgh. Cruz will start the year in the Minors, but the Pirates know they have something special in him, and he¡¯s already been up once. It shouldn¡¯t be too terribly long before we see him back in the bigs.

4. Hunter Greene, Reds: Now here¡¯s a guy you should be excited to see. Few pitchers at any level throw harder than Greene, and even fewer are more entertaining to watch pitch. Greene, Pipeline¡¯s No. 22-rated prospect, has an 80-grade, 100 mph fastball, and the kind of athletic talent that allowed him to play the infield at a high level as an amateur as well. He¡¯ll open the year in the Reds¡¯ rotation, and while there could be some bumps as he refines his command and control, there will also likely be days when all you can say is, "Wow."

5. Joey Bart, Giants: A few months ago, the Giants thought they might have a big dilemma. Now, they just hope they have a solution. Buster Posey¡¯s retirement hastened the clock for baseball¡¯s No. 31 prospect, who is now expected to open the season on the big league roster and playing regularly. Bart, who like Rutschman can handle himself both behind and at the plate, scuffled a bit in a 2020 introduction to the big leagues, but he¡¯s hit pretty much everywhere else and he gets high marks for pretty much every aspect of his defense.

seductrice.net
universo-virtual.com
buytrendz.net
thisforall.net
benchpressgains.com
qthzb.com
mindhunter9.com
dwjqp1.com
secure-signup.net
ahaayy.com
tressesindia.com
puresybian.com
krpano-chs.com
cre8workshop.com
hdkino.org
peixun021.com
qz786.com
utahperformingartscenter.org
worldqrmconference.com
shangyuwh.com
eejssdfsdfdfjsd.com
playminecraftfreeonline.com
trekvietnamtour.com
your-business-articles.com
essaywritingservice10.com
hindusamaaj.com
joggingvideo.com
wandercoups.com
wormblaster.net
tongchengchuyange0004.com
internetknowing.com
breachurch.com
peachesnginburlesque.com
dataarchitectoo.com
clientfunnelformula.com
30pps.com
cherylroll.com
ks2252.com
prowp.net
webmanicura.com
sofietsshotel.com
facetorch.com
nylawyerreview.com
apapromotions.com
shareparelli.com
goeaglepointe.com
thegreenmanpubphuket.com
karotorossian.com
publicsensor.com
taiwandefence.com
epcsur.com
southstills.com
tvtv98.com
thewellington-hotel.com
bccaipiao.com
colectoresindustrialesgs.com
shenanddcg.com
capriartfilmfestival.com
replicabreitlingsale.com
thaiamarinnewtoncorner.com
gkmcww.com
mbnkbj.com
andrewbrennandesign.com
cod54.com
luobinzhang.com
faithfirst.net
zjyc28.com
tongchengjinyeyouyue0004.com
nhuan6.com
kftz5k.com
oldgardensflowers.com
lightupthefloor.com
bahamamamas-stjohns.com
ly2818.com
905onthebay.com
fonemenu.com
notanothermovie.com
ukrainehighclassescort.com
meincmagazine.com
av-5858.com
yallerdawg.com
donkeythemovie.com
corporatehospitalitygroup.com
boboyy88.com
miteinander-lernen.com
dannayconsulting.com
officialtomsshoesoutletstore.com
forsale-amoxil-amoxicillin.net
generictadalafil-canada.net
guitarlessonseastlondon.com
lesliesrestaurants.com
mattyno9.com
nri-homeloans.com
rtgvisas-qatar.com
salbutamolventolinonline.net
sportsinjuries.info
wedsna.com
rgkntk.com
bkkmarketplace.com
zxqcwx.com
breakupprogram.com
boxcardc.com
unblockyoutubeindonesia.com
fabulousbookmark.com
beat-the.com
guatemala-sailfishing-vacations-charters.com
magie-marketing.com
kingstonliteracy.com
guitaraffinity.com
eurelookinggoodapparel.com
howtolosecheekfat.net
marioncma.org
oliviadavismusic.com
shantelcampbellrealestate.com
shopleborn13.com
topindiafree.com
v-visitors.net
djjky.com
053hh.com
originbluei.com
baucishotel.com
33kkn.com
intrinsiqresearch.com
mariaescort-kiev.com
mymaguk.com
sponsored4u.com
crimsonclass.com
bataillenavale.com
searchtile.com
ze-stribrnych-struh.com
zenithalhype.com
modalpkv.com
bouisset-lafforgue.com
useupload.com
37r.net
autoankauf-muenster.com
bantinbongda.net
bilgius.com
brabustermagazine.com
indigrow.org
miicrosofts.net
mysmiletravel.com
selinasims.com
spellcubesapp.com
usa-faction.com
hypoallergenicdogsnames.com
dailyupdatez.com
foodphotographyreviews.com
cricutcom-setup.com
chprowebdesign.com
katyrealty-kanepa.com
tasramar.com
bilgipinari.org
four-am.com
indiarepublicday.com
inquick-enbooks.com
iracmpi.com
kakaschoenen.com
lsm99flash.com
nana1255.com
ngen-niagara.com
technwzs.com
virtualonlinecasino1345.com
wallpapertop.net
casino-natali.com
iprofit-internet.com
denochemexicana.com
eventhalfkg.com
medcon-taiwan.com
life-himawari.com
myriamshomes.com
nightmarevue.com
healthandfitnesslives.com
androidnews-jp.com
allstarsru.com
bestofthebuckeyestate.com
bestofthefirststate.com
bestwireless7.com
britsmile.com
declarationintermittent.com
findhereall.com
jingyou888.com
lsm99deal.com
lsm99galaxy.com
moozatech.com
nuagh.com
patliyo.com
philomenamagikz.net
rckouba.net
saturnunipessoallda.com
tallahasseefrolics.com
thematurehardcore.net
totalenvironment-inthatquietearth.com
velislavakaymakanova.com
vermontenergetic.com
kakakpintar.com
begorgeouslady.com
1800birks4u.com
2wheelstogo.com
6strip4you.com
bigdata-world.net
emailandco.net
gacapal.com
jharpost.com
krishnaastro.com
lsm99credit.com
mascalzonicampani.com
sitemapxml.org
thecityslums.net
topagh.com
flairnetwebdesign.com
rajasthancarservices.com
bangkaeair.com
beneventocoupon.com
noternet.org
oqtive.com
smilebrightrx.com
decollage-etiquette.com
1millionbestdownloads.com
7658.info
bidbass.com
devlopworldtech.com
digitalmarketingrajkot.com
fluginfo.net
naqlafshk.com
passion-decouverte.com
playsirius.com
spacceleratorintl.com
stikyballs.com
top10way.com
yokidsyogurt.com
zszyhl.com
16firthcrescent.com
abogadolaboralistamd.com
apk2wap.com
aromacremeria.com
banparacard.com
bosmanraws.com
businessproviderblog.com
caltonosa.com
calvaryrevivalchurch.org
chastenedsoulwithabrokenheart.com
cheminotsgardcevennes.com
cooksspot.com
cqxzpt.com
deesywig.com
deltacartoonmaps.com
despixelsetdeshommes.com
duocoracaobrasileiro.com
fareshopbd.com
goodpainspills.com
hemendekor.com
kobisitecdn.com
makaigoods.com
mgs1454.com
piccadillyresidences.com
radiolaondafresca.com
rubendorf.com
searchengineimprov.com
sellmyhrvahome.com
shugahouseessentials.com
sonihullquad.com
subtractkilos.com
valeriekelmansky.com
vipasdigitalmarketing.com
voolivrerj.com
zeelonggroup.com
1015southrockhill.com
10x10b.com
111-online-casinos.com
191cb.com
3665arpentunitd.com
aitesonics.com
bag-shokunin.com
brightotech.com
communication-digitale-services.com
covoakland.org
dariaprimapack.com
freefortniteaccountss.com
gatebizglobal.com
global1entertainmentnews.com
greatytene.com
hiroshiwakita.com
iktodaypk.com
jahatsakong.com
meadowbrookgolfgroup.com
newsbharati.net
platinumstudiosdesign.com
slotxogamesplay.com
strikestaruk.com
trucosdefortnite.com
ufabetrune.com
weddedtowhitmore.com
12940brycecanyonunitb.com
1311dietrichoaks.com
2monarchtraceunit303.com
601legendhill.com
850elaine.com
adieusolasomade.com
andora-ke.com
bestslotxogames.com
cannagomcallen.com
endlesslyhot.com
iestpjva.com
ouqprint.com
pwmaplefest.com
qtylmr.com
rb88betting.com
buscadogues.com
1007macfm.com
born-wild.com
growthinvests.com
promocode-casino.com
proyectogalgoargentina.com
wbthompson-art.com
whitemountainwheels.com
7thavehvl.com
developmethis.com
funkydogbowties.com
travelodgegrandjunction.com
gao-town.com
globalmarketsuite.com
blogshippo.com
hdbka.com
proboards67.com
outletonline-michaelkors.com
kalkis-research.com
thuthuatit.net
buckcash.com
hollistercanada.com
docterror.com
asadart.com
vmayke.org
erwincomputers.com
dirimart.org
okkii.com
loteriasdecehegin.com
mountanalog.com
healingtaobritain.com
ttxmonitor.com
nwordpress.com
11bolabonanza.com