1 Potential Breakout Prospect for Every MLB Organization in 2024

Joel ReuterDecember 30, 20231 Potential Breakout Prospect for Every MLB Organization in 20240 of 6

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Tampa Bay Rays infielder Junior Caminero went from promising young infielder to one of baseball’s top prospects during the 2023 season, making his MLB debut as a 20-year-old and earning a spot on the team’s playoff roster.

Ethan Salas (SD), Roman Anthony (BOS), Samuel Basallo (BAL), Ryan Clifford (NYM) and Owen Caissie (CHC) are just a few of the other prospects who emerged as potential future stars during the 2023 minor league season.

Ahead we’ve highlighted one prospect from each franchise who is well outside consideration for a spot on Top 100 prospect lists but could make that leap during the upcoming season.

It’s a combination of recent draft picks, players returning from injury and low-level prospects who have just scratched the surface of their significant upside.

American League East1 of 6

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Baltimore Orioles: 3B Mac Horvath (Age: 22)

Horvath hit .305/.418/.711 with 21 doubles, 24 home runs and 25 steals during his junior season at North Carolina, boosting his draft stock as much as any college hitter in the 2023 draft class. He batted .321/.455/.603 with 12 extra-base hits and 14 steals in 22 games across three minor league levels after signing, and can play all three outfield spots as well as third base.

Boston Red Sox: SS Yoeilin Cespedes (Age: 18)

With a $1.4 million signing bonus, Cespedes was the highest-paid addition for the Red Sox during the 2022-23 international signing period. He made his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League and hit .346/.392/.560 with more extra-base hits (25) than strikeouts (24) in 209 plate appearances. His defensive game is a work-in-progress, but he has the raw tools to stick at shortstop, with enough offensive upside to handle a move to second base or third base.

New York Yankees: LHP Henry Lalane (Age: 19)

Lalane spent his first two professional seasons in the Dominican Summer League before finally making his stateside debut in 2023, striking out 34 of the 88 batters he faced in rookie ball while issuing just four walks in 21.2 innings. He still has plenty of projection remaining in his 6’7″, 211-pound frame, and he already does a nice job repeating his mechanics for a pitcher his size.

Tampa Bay Rays: C Dominic Keegan (Age: 23)

The catcher position has been a revolving door for the Rays since their inception as a franchise in 1998, and Keegan might finally be the homegrown, long-term answer they have been seeking. The Vanderbilt product hit .287/.386/.467 with 20 doubles, 13 home runs and 65 RBI in 106 games between Single-A and High-A while throwing out 30 percent of base stealers, and he closed out the year with a 1.031 OPS in 65 plate appearances in the Arizona Fall League. More of the same in the upper minors will send his stock soaring.

Toronto Blue Jays: RHP Juaron Watts-Brown (Age: 21)

Watts-Brown struck out 111 batters in 73.1 innings at Long Beach State during the 2022 season, then transferred to Oklahoma State where he led the Big 12 in strikeouts (124) and strikeouts per nine innings (13.6) while posting a 5.03 ERA in 82.1 innings. The 6’3″, 190-pound right-hander is not as polished as most of the top college arms in the 2023 draft class, but his pure stuff gives him a high ceiling if he can take a step forward with his command.

American League Central2 of 6

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Chicago White Sox: RHP Peyton Pallette (Age: 22)

Pallette was a shoo-in to go in the first round before elbow issues surfaced a few months prior to the 2021 draft and eventually led to Tommy John surgery. The White Sox selected him in the second round and gave him an above-slot $1.5 million bonus, and he logged a 4.13 ERA with 78 strikeouts in 72 innings at Single-A in his pro debut. After being kept on a strict pitch limit, he could take a step forward with a bigger workload in 2024.

Cleveland Guardians: C/1B Ralphy Velazquez (Age: 18)

A 55-hit, 55-power offensive profile made Velazquez one of the top high school bats in the 2023 draft class, and the Guardians called his name with the No. 23 overall pick. Questions remain about his ability to stick behind the plate where he does have a strong throwing arm, but he has the offensive upside to handle a move to first base. He hit .348/.393/.739 with three doubles, two home runs and eight RBI in six rookie ball games.

Detroit Tigers: SS Kevin McGonigle (Age: 19)

One of the top names in a deep and talented 2023 high school shortstop class, McGonigle went No. 37 overall and signed for an above-slot $2.8 million bonus. With a 60-grade hit tool and polished bat-to-ball skills, his offensive game will carry his future value, and he is a fringy athlete who likely fits best at second base defensively. He hit .315/.452/.411 with more walks (18) than strikeouts (10) in 21 games between rookie ball and Single-A.

Kansas City Royals: RHP Blake Wolters (Age: 19)

A cold-weather prospect with a huge arm, Wolters went No. 44 overall in the 2023 draft out of Mahomet-Seymour High School in Illinois. His fastball has touched 99 mph with good life, and he backs it with a hard-biting slider that flashes plus. A standout basketball player as well in high school, he has drawn comparisons to Los Angeles Dodgers rookie Bobby Miller for his power stuff and Illinois prep background.

Minnesota Twins: RHP Cory Lewis (Age: 23)

The list of active pitchers throwing a knuckleball is a short one, and while Lewis is not a pure knuckleballer, he regularly mixes the pitch into a well-rounded repertoire that also includes a mid-90s fastball, quality curveball and developing changeup. The 6’5″, 220-pound right-hander finished 9-4 with a 2.49 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 118 strikeouts in 101.1 innings while limiting opposing hitters to a .198 average between Single-A and High-A in his pro debut.

American League West3 of 6

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Houston Astros: RHP Alonzo Tredwell (Age: 21)

Tredwell’s amateur career is a story of untapped potential, as Tommy John surgery wiped out his junior and senior seasons in high school, while back and rib injuries limited him to just nine starts as a draft-eligible sophomore in 2023. With a towering 6’8″, 230-pound frame, a plus fastball with good life up in the zone and a pair of breaking pitches, he is the type of pitching prospect the Astros have done a nice job developing over the years.

Los Angeles Angels: OF Nelson Rada (Age: 18)

Signed for $1.9 million out of Venezuela in 2022, Rada hit .311/.446/.439 in the Dominican Summer League in his pro debut, and he made the jump straight to Single-A for his first season stateside in 2023. Still 17 for much of the year, he hit .276/.396/.346 with 21 extra-base hits and 55 steals in 115 games. He currently profiles as a table-setting center fielder, but there is potential for him to develop more extra-base pop in the coming years.

Oakland Athletics: SS Darell Hernaiz (Age: 22)

Light-hitting Nick Allen and utility man Aledmys Díaz will both make their case for playing time this spring, but there’s a realistic chance that Hernaiz could break camp as Oakland’s starting shortstop. Acquired from the Baltimore Orioles in the Cole Irvin trade last offseason, he hit .321/.386/.456 with 45 extra-base hits in 131 games between Double-A and Triple-A, and he has the defensive chops to be at least an average option at shortstop.

Seattle Mariners: SS Tai Peete (Age: 18)

One of the youngest players in the 2023 draft class, Peete had some late helium leading up to his selection at No. 30 overall by the Mariners. The raw power in his projectable 6’2″, 193-pound frame helped push him ahead of some of the draft’s other prep shortstops in terms of offensive upside, and he hit .283/.349/.404 with 28 hits in 24 games between rookie ball and Single-A. The Mariners have a strong recent track record of developing middle infield talent.

Texas Rangers: RHP Josh Stephan (Age: 22)

One of 17 high school players who signed as undrafted free agents following the abridged five-round 2020 draft, Stephan took a huge step forward during the 2023 season. The 6’3″, 185-pound right-hander went 6-3 with a 2.17 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and a 73-to-12 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 62.1 innings at High-A before closing out the season with his Double-A debut. With three quality pitches and plus command, he has an extremely high floor.

National League East4 of 6

Yohandy MoralesSamuel Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Atlanta Braves: RHP Drue Hackenberg (Age: 21)

Hackenberg was one of the best freshman pitchers in the country in 2022 when he finished 10-2 with a 3.30 ERA in 92.2 innings for a Virginia Tech team that reached the Super Regionals. He struggled to a 5.80 ERA with 113 hits allowed in 85.1 innings as a draft-eligible sophomore, but the Braves liked his upside enough to take him in the second round. His sinker-slider, pitch-to-contact approach means a few minor tweaks could get him back on track quickly.

Miami Marlins: RHP Karson Milbrandt (Age: 19)

A two-sport Missouri prep standout who also shined on the basketball court, Milbrandt has electric stuff with a high-spin fastball that touches 98 mph backed by a curveball, slider and changeup that all flash plus at times. He had a 5.00 ERA with a 93-to-50 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 95.1 innings in his first full professional season, but is the kind of prospect that could take a big step forward now that he’s focusing his full attention on baseball.

New York Mets: IF Marco Vargas (Age: 18)

More than a few prospect analysts were shocked the Mets were able to acquire Vargas from the Miami Marlins in exchange for a two-month rental of veteran reliever David Robertson. An extremely polished hitter for his age with a legitimate 60-grade hit tool, Vargas has played all over the infield, but he has the offensive upside to eventually settle in as an everyday second baseman.

Philadelphia Phillies: C Eduardo Tait (Age: 17)

Signed for just $90,000 out of Panama during the 2023 international signing period, Tait went on to hit .333/.400/.517 with 18 extra-base hits in 165 plate appearances in the Dominican Summer League. He also threw out 17 of 39 base stealers and has the potential to be a solid defender behind the plate, He doesn’t turn 18 years old until Aug. 27 and could fly up prospect rankings with a strong stateside debut.

Washington Nationals: 3B Yohandy Morales (Age: 22)

A potential top-15 pick leading up to the 2023 draft, Morales ended up slipping to the second round where the Nationals scooped him up at No. 40 overall and signed him to an above-slot $2.6 million bonus. He hit .408/.475/.713 with 20 home runs and 70 RBI during his junior season at Miami, and continued to rake in pro ball with a .349/.423/.494 line in 189 plate appearances, though he did not hit any home runs. HIs 50-hit, 60-power offensive profile gives him serious breakout potential.

National League Central5 of 6

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Chicago Cubs: IF James Triantos (Age: 20)

Triantos entered the Cubs organization with lofty expectations after signing an above-slot $2.1 million bonus as the No. 56 overall pick in 2021, and after posting modest numbers at Single-A in 2022, he continued to show flashes this year before exploding for a .417/.495/.679 line in 99 plate appearances in the Arizona Fall League. His future defensive home is still a question mark, but his offensive game looks like the real deal.

Cincinnati Reds: RHP Ty Floyd (Age: 22)

Floyd gave his draft stock a nice bump when he racked up 17 strikeouts over eight innings against Florida in Game 1 of the 2023 College World Series, capping off a junior season where he finished 7-0 with a 4.35 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 120 strikeouts in 91 innings. The 6’2″, 200-pound right-hander has a dynamic, high-spin fastball he uses well up in the zone, and the refinement of his offspeed stuff will determine his long-term upside.

Milwaukee Brewers: SS Cooper Pratt (Age: 19)

A sixth-round pick in 2023 who inked a $1.4 million bonus, Pratt has drawn comparisons to Gunnar Henderson at the same point in his development as a big-bodied infielder with an advanced hit tool and considerable power potential. He hit .356/.426/.444 in 12 games at rookie ball after signing, and he could quickly emerge as one of the top position-player prospects in the Milwaukee system.

Pittsburgh Pirates: RHP Jun-Seok Shim (Age: 19)

A top prospect in the 2023 KBO amateur draft, Shim instead opted to sign with an MLB team in international free agency, inking a $700,000 bonus with the Pirates in January. The 6’4″, 215-pound right-hander sits in the mid-90s with his fastball and has bumped triple-digits, and he has shown the potential for three playable offspeed pitches. With added strength and further refinement he could make some serious noise in 2024.

St. Louis Cardinals: OF Victor Scott II (Age: 22)

With true 80-grade speed and a good enough hit tool to take advantage of it offensively, Scott has been steadily rising up prospect lists since the Cardinals selected him in the fifth round of the 2022 draft. He hit .303/.369/.425 with 39 extra-base hits and 94 steals between High-A and Double-A during the regular season, then posted an .805 OPS with 24 hits, 12 walks and 18 steals in 23 games in the Arizona Fall League. He could solidify his standing as a Top 100 prospect early in the 2024 season.

National League West6 of 6

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Arizona Diamondbacks: 3B Gino Groover (Age: 21)

Groover hit .332/.430/.546 with 13 home runs, 50 RBI and more walks (36) than strikeouts (26) during his junior year at NC State, cementing his status as one of the best pure hitters from the 2023 college class. He could potentially fit at both corner infield and corner outfield spots, but is limited athletically and the bulk of his value will come from what he does in the batter’s box.

Colorado Rockies: SS Dyan Jorge (Age: 20)

Signed for a franchise-record $2.8 million January 2022, Jorge raked in the Dominican Summer League in his pro debut and continued to impress this year while making the jump stateside. He hit .306/.375/.421 with 22 extra-base hits and 19 steals in 70 games between rookie ball and Single-A, and he has room to add strength to an athletic 6’3″, 170-pound frame in the coming years.

Los Angeles Dodgers: LHP Maddux Bruns (Age: 21)

Bruns was a bit of a reach by the Dodgers at No. 29 overall in the 2021 draft relative to predraft rankings, but left-handers with his pure stuff don’t grow on trees. The 6’2″, 205-pound southpaw has a lively mid-90s fastball that touches 98 mph, a hammer curveball and a wipeout slider, it’s simply a matter of reigning in his command. He had a 3.99 ERA with 126 strikeouts and 67 walks in 97 innings between Single-A and High-A in 2023, trimming his walk rate from 9.1 to 6.2 BB/9, so he is trending in the right direction.

San Diego Padres: OF Jakob Marsee (Age: 22)

The 2023 Arizona Fall League MVP will be a popular breakout pick heading into the 2024 season, and depending on what the Padres do the rest of the offseason he might have a chance to win an Opening Day roster spot. He hit .391/.509/.707 with 18 extra-base hits and 16 steals in 24 games in the AFL, after posting an .840 OPS with 16 doubles, 16 home runs and 46 steals in 129 games between High-A and Double-A during the regular season.

San Francisco Giants: LHP Joe Whitman (Age: 22)

Whitman pitched just 5.2 innings in two seasons at Purdue before transferring to Kent State and emerging as the best college left-hander in the 2023 draft class, going 9-2 with a 2.56 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 100 strikeouts in 81 innings en route to MAC Pitcher of the Year honors. With a mid-90s fastball, a terrific 60-grade slider and an improving changeup all from a 6’5″, 200-pound frame, he looks the part of a future MLB starter.