Major League Baseball will probably make some major changes in the next few years, possibly to reduce the number of strikeouts and increase the number of balls in play. There will also be negotiation of the new collective agreement at the end of the season which could bring about its share of waves.
Despite everything, baseball seems to be in good health thanks to the talents of young stars like Vladimir Guerrero Jr, Ronald Acuna and Fernando Tatis Jr. And I can confirm that several other good young people will be added to the group in the coming months, if not them. coming years. Here are a few :
1- Wander Franco – Shortstop – Tampa Bay Rays
For two years now, he has been tagged as Major League Baseball’s best prospect and yet he’s only 21. With an unusual bat and a very good defensive glove, there is no doubt that Franco will be successful in major baseball. It remains to be seen when he will be recalled by the big club, especially if the Rays continue to win on a regular basis. Willy Adames’ departure for Milwaukee opened the door, but the Rays decided to give Tyler Walls a chance. But as Franco is already enjoying great success at Durham at the AAA level, he seems to want to force the hand of the Rays.
2- Julio Rodriguez – Voltigeur – Seattle Mariners
He is only 20 years old and talent is coming out of his ears. He might not be the most disciplined hitter, but he always finds a way to get on base and he completely demolished the weak A and strong A calibers in 2019. However, a broken wrist last year. past has slowed his progression to the big leagues, but despite everything, he dominates the A level strong right now with an average over .320. He could be a regular, 300, and 30 home hitter in the big leagues and become a Juan Soto-style hitter. It’s only a matter of time before young Rodriguez makes his mark in the Mariners’ uniform.
3- Adley Rutschman – Receiver – Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles have a lot of needs and probably more in the mound than in attack. But because of their failures of the past few years, and thanks to the draft, the Orioles were able to get their hands on Adley Rutschman as the first overall pick in 2019. A wide receiver, ambidextrous hitter, with power and a good sense of baseball for guiding the throwers behind the plate, it does not run the streets. So the Orioles have taken good care of their top prospect in the last few years, but it will soon be time for him to give the big club a boost. He is currently playing at Bowie at the AA level where he impresses, having among other things accumulated more walks than strikeouts.
4- Mackenzie Gore – Left Handed Pitcher – San Diego Padres
Drafted third overall in 2017, Gore is a great left-handed pitcher with enormous potential. In 2019, he had completely dominated Tier A with a microscopic 1.02 average in addition to striking out 110 batters in 79 innings of work. He has had some trouble this season when he arrived at the AAA level, but the good news is that the Padres have the luxury of being very patient with him due to the many quality starting pitchers already with the team.
5- Simeon Woods-Richardson – Right Hand Pitcher – Toronto Blue Jays
The transaction that brought Marcus Stroman to the Mets in July 2019, had caused a lot of talk. Not for the departure of Stroman, but for the two young unknown prospects obtained in the transaction, Anthony Kay and Simeon Woods-Richardson. Kay, a southpaw, has shown he can throw in the majors, although he will probably never become a dominant pitcher. In the case of Woods-Richardson, it’s quite the opposite, as he burns AA caliber with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats and has become a top prospect with his 31 strikeouts in just 19 work sleeves. Unlike Alek Manoah, there’s no guarantee he’ll touch Major League Baseball this season since he’s only 20, but he’s not out of the question that he’ll be on the rotation in 2022. and for several years.
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