As Major League Baseball is due to open camps for “Spring Training 2.0” in the coming days, the teams had to submit their first 60-man player pools on Sunday. Players can still be added with many teams that list fewer than 60 names, but this at least gives us an idea of who we will see when the players finally hit the diamond.
Many of the game’s best prospects, including Ray’s Wander Franco phenomenon, will be in the camp, though there’s no guarantee they’ll see major league action this season. Since the small leagues are closed, these camps offer the best development opportunities for many players.
Players must be in their team’s 60-person pool to play for the Major League Club this season. The pool can change during the season through standard transactions such as waivers, free agent signing and trades. At the start of the season, a 30-man squad will be established, with the remaining players continuing to train at a different location. The roster size is reduced to 28 two weeks after the start of the season and to 26 after two weeks.
Inspired by the work of Kiley McDaniel, expert for ESPN MLB prospects, here are some of the remarkable prospects for each team’s initial 60-man pool, with the teams grouped by division. We will update this story as more teams publish their lists.
At least
Baltimore Orioles
Outfielder Austin Hays was solidly set up last season and has the chance to contribute if his health problems are behind him. Catcher Adley Rutschman (# 3 in McDaniel’s Top 100) is not yet ready for the big league and is not on the top list of Orioles, but they have room to complement them.
Boston Red Sox
The mighty Bobby Dalbec should try to at least form the early squad. Also noteworthy: Connor Wong, the lesser prospect who came by in the Mookie Betts deal, is on the first list, but Jeter Downs, the larger prospect in the Betts trade, is not.
New York Yankees
Righties Deivi Garcia (# 45 in McDaniel’s Top 100) and Clarke Schmidt (# 82) could both be useful weapons for New York.
Tampa Bay Rays
Wander Franco, the phenomenon that represents the best prospect of consensus in the game, won’t necessarily make his debut this season – it would be a big leap from Class A – but he’ll take a good look at it and make a lot of buzz in Camp.
Toronto Blue Jays
Fireball Righty Nate Pearson, number 6 on McDaniel’s list, is the biggest name and could have an impact this season, but infielder Jordan Groshans (number 68) should also be fun at the camp. Austin Martin, the fifth choice in the 2020 draft, remains without a signature.
AL Central
Cleveland Indians
Nolan Jones (# 22 in McDaniel’s Top 100) is the tribe’s top perspective, and Bo Naylor is a potential everyday catcher.
Detroit Tigers
We knew that Detroit’s young pitchers – Casey Mize and Matt Manning as pioneers – would be here if they knocked on the big league’s door. Catchers Dillon Dingler, who is part of the Tigers 2020 draft class, and Riley Greene, who was chosen in the first round in 2019, come for fun. Spencer Torkelson, the No. 1 overall winner in 2020, could be added after his signature.
Kansas City Royals
Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., number 2 in the 2019 draft, will be able to develop here, although he is not yet ready for the big ones.
AL West
Houston Astros
Righty Forrest Whitley has cast a spell on his talent, but he still hasn’t brought it together. His ceiling stays high.
Los Angeles Angels
Jo Adell (McDaniels No. 10 and only 21 years old) should make his big league debut this season. Time will tell if the 60 game format changes that.
Oakland athletics
Keep an eye on Robert Puason, a great international talent who attracted the attention of boy scouts at the age of 13 and would have made his pro debut this year. According to McDaniel, he flashed above average tools across the board.
Seattle Mariners
The Mariners bring all their top perspectives to the party, including 19-year-old Julio Rodriguez (No. 9 in the Top 100) and outfielder colleague Jarred Kelenic (No. 12), as well as four of their 2020 draft picks. First among them Emerson Hancock.
Texas Rangers
The second baseman Nick Solak and the third baseman Josh Jung, both big hitters, are the players to watch.
NL East
Atlanta Braves
The Braves have many young talents on their first list, with outfielder Cristian Pache (McDaniels # 17 prospect) being the headliner.
Miami Marlins
The Marlins are expected to have all of their best prospects of coming to the camp, including shortstop Jazz Chisholm (# 37 in McDaniels Top 100), righties Sixto Sanchez and Edward Cabrera, and outfielder JJ Bleday.
New York Mets
David Peterson, a 6 foot 6 linker who works with a solid average four pitch mix and above average command, has a good chance of seeing great league action.
Philadelphia Phillies
Alec Bohm, number 3 in 2018, has a lot of raw power and is worth keeping an eye on.
Washington Nationals
It will be fun to see Jackson Rutledge. The right-hander is 6-foot-8 and can reach 100 miles an hour with a very good slider – if he can pull it all together.
NL Central
Chicago Cubs
Catcher Miguel Amaya and outfielder Brennen Davis aren’t ready for the big ones yet, but both have some pop and are already top 100 material.
Cincinnati Reds
The Reds will have four players in McDaniel’s Top 100 at the camp – catcher Tyler Stephenson, shortstop Jose Garcia, left Nick Lodolo and third baseman Jonathan India.
Pittsburgh Pirates
A scout told McDaniel that 6-foot-7 Oneil Cruz looked like a “left-hander”[-hitting] Aaron Judge plays shortstop. “Cruz may not be short, but he’s a talent. As McDaniel wrote:” Cruz is fun and exciting and good for baseball – and he hasn’t failed yet. “
St. Louis Cardinals
Top prospect Dylan Carlson (McDaniel’s # 28 prospect) may be ready to contribute after a 2019 breakout in Double-A and Triple-A.
NL West
Colorado Rockies
Brendan Rodgers, who played 25 games with Colorado last year before injuring his shoulder, is the Rockies’ best prospect.
Los Angeles Dodgers
There has been talk that Josiah Gray could be the best pitcher in the Dodgers system – and that says something.
San Diego Padres
The Padres have a shipload of talented prospects and bring many of them to camp, including the Pitcher MacKenzie Gore (# 8 on McDaniel’s list) and Luis Patino (# 11).
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