Because the baseball season’s midway level approaches, the pattern sizes for prospects proceed to develop. The MLB Pipeline crew is taking the chance to dig a bit of deeper to spotlight gamers who’re balling out, however may nonetheless be flying under-the-radar.
On the newest MLB Pipeline Podcast, Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo, with host Jason Ratliff, continued to determine essentially the most intriguing prospects throughout the Minors panorama by division. With the AL East, AL Central, AL West, NL East and NL Central within the rearview, the gurus conclude their sequence within the NL West this week.
Listed below are the 5 most intriguing prospects from the Nationwide League West:
The thin: The son of Eric Karros was a fifth-round select of UCLA in 2023 and carried out effectively in his full season debut final 12 months. This season, he is hitting .312/.440/.462 over his first 28 video games at Double-A.
Mayo’s take: Final 12 months at Excessive-A Spokane, he nearly received the Triple-A crown, however he was the Northwest League MVP. He is missed a while this 12 months, however all he is performed is hit. The ability profile is a bit of bit in query, however he could also be a kind of third basemen who hits and will get on base and has sufficient energy to maintain individuals sincere. He’s a really, superb defensive third baseman. He received a Minor League Gold Glove final 12 months. He is large, however he strikes effectively and has a plus arm. I feel he finally ends up being the Rockies third baseman sooner or later.
The thin: A seventh-rounder in 2023, Copen rose regularly and reached Double-A this season. He has an eye-popping 14.5 SO/9 this season principally at Excessive-A.
Callis’ take: First, credit score to him for what he is needed to overcome: final 12 months throughout his first full season, Cooper Pratt hit a line drive that struck Copen within the face, and he misplaced imaginative and prescient in his proper eye. Nevertheless it’s full-speed forward. He isn’t letting this maintain him again and it hasn’t held him again. … He must harness his stuff a bit of higher. Management might be his greatest problem. However man, he is 95-97, touching 99 with every kind of fine fastball metrics. He is received as mid-80s slider that may be a plus pitch. He is received a low-90s cutter that may be a plus pitch. His cutter can contact 95, which is simply absurd. He may be a reliever in the long term, but when he continues to dominate like he has, it could not shock me if we noticed Patrick Copen pitch within the Dodgers bullpen by the tip of the season.
The thin: A second-round decide in 2023, Groover reached Double-A final 12 months in his first full professional season and is again on the degree now, hitting .307 with an .863 OPS.
Mayo’s take: I really like guys who simply can hit, and Groover simply hits. The query is will he hit for sufficient energy to be an infield nook? And the place will he play? He is moved round some, received some reps at second within the Fall League … he is undoubtedly hit over energy. I feel he feels that the facility goes to return. He is simply extra of a doubles hitter now. However he simply retains hitting.
The thin: Balzer grew up in Japan and was extra of a place participant as an novice, and signed for $10,000 after blowing his arm out. The 20-year-old is in his first season at Single-A Lake Elsinore, the place he is pitching to a 6.98 ERA over his eight appearances.
Callis’ take: He is 93-96, touches 98, with a variety of run on his fastball. He has a mid-80s, sweeping slider. He is nonetheless younger and inexperienced, solely 20 years previous and he is solely pitched 36 innings of professional ball. However a brilliant intriguing arm. He looks as if an excellent worldwide scouting discover for the Padres.
The thin: The Giants signed Davidson out of a North Carolina junior faculty and watched him hit .316 with 19 homers as a professional since debuting in 2023. He is been a pressure at Excessive-A Eugene this season, slashing .312/.410/.532.
Callis’ take: He was mainly the most effective hitter within the California League within the second half of final 12 months, did effective within the Fall League. Comes again this 12 months at Excessive-A and he is probably the greatest hitters within the Northwest League. He is so tooled up, plus runner, stable arm. I feel he will get higher in heart area the extra he performs there. He has bat pace. Makes a variety of contact, attracts his walks. He was an awesome discover.
The thin: The 26-year-old Harris is not a spring hen, however he is reached Triple-A and has the sort of swing-and-miss stuff that may make him a giant league reliever comparatively quickly.
Callis’ take: He was the Coastal Plains League pitcher of the 12 months (in 2023). He is the son of a giant leaguer, Greg Harris, who might spin the ball. And Trent can spin the ball. Curveball could be plus, slider could be plus, fastball could be plus, 94-97. He had a 1.81 ERA with 105 strikeouts in 80 innings final 12 months. I feel he’ll proper the ship in Triple-A and I feel we are going to see him within the large leagues.
