The MLB is loaded with young talent. There is plenty to be excited about. Below are ten youngsters (no particular order) who could easily take the next step with their respective ball-clubs.
Gunnar Henderson, SS, Orioles
Henderson enters this season as MLB's top prospect. He is also the favorite to win AL Rookie of the Year. The 21-year-old infielder made his major league debut with the Orioles in August and slashed .259/.348/.440 with four home runs and 18 RBIs in 116 ABs. This Orioles team is extremely young and adding a prospect like Gunnar Henderson into that lineup full time is going to be extremely exciting to watch.
Corbin Carroll, OF, Diamondbacks
Carroll ranks 2nd on MLB's top 100 prospects heading into 2023 . Carroll is a bit different from the others on this list as he's coming off of an eight-year, $111 million contract extension. This kid is the real deal. He has all the makings of a big leaguer. He slashed .260/.330/.500 with four home runs and 14 RBIs in 104 ABs in 2022. This Diamondbacks team is no where near ready to make a push, however, they are going to be a very fun team to watch. Adding Carroll in with Ketel Marte, Jake McCarthy, and Gabriel Moreno the fans of the D-Backs have a lot to look forward to.
Logan O'Hoppe, C, Angels
O'Hoppe ranks 53rd on MLB's top 100 prospects heading into the 2023 season. O'Hoppe has a chance to make the Angels major league roster. He has loads of talent and on an Angels team that could use help at almost any position, that makes it even more likely he breaks camp. O'Hoppe was originally in the Phillies organization before being traded to the Angels for Brandon Marsh. Logan didn't get much time in the big leagues as he slashed .286/.375/.286 with two RBI's in just 14 ABs in 2022. Adding a young and hungry prospect like O'Hoppe to this lineup could add that bolt of flash the Angels could need.
Triston Casas, 1B, Red Sox
Casas ranks 23rd in MLB's top 100 prospects entering the 2023 season. Fans will get to know Casas even more this upcoming season. This Red Sox team lost a few pieces which will guide the way for these younger players to start making an impact. Casas made his impact quite quickly last season. He slashed .197/.358/.408 with five home runs and 12 RBIs in 76 ABs. He's currently batting .360/.400/.640 with three home runs and 9 RBIs in 50 ABs during this years spring training. Casas is expected to fully blossom into being a starter on this Red Sox team and is likely to make a immediate impact.
Miguel Vargas, 3B/OF/1B, Dodgers
Vargas ranks 37th in MLB's top 100 prospects entering the 2023 season. With the departure of Trea Turner and Justin Turner, plus the season ending injury of Gavin Lux, it pretty much opens the door for Vargas to get significant play time this season. Vargas slashed .170/.200/.255 with one home run and 8 RBIs in 47 ABs in 2022. Those numbers are obviously expected to rise as he will get a lot more time on the big league team.
Jordan Walker, OF/3B, Cardinals
Walker ranks 4th in MLB's top 100 prospects entering the 2023 season. Jordan Walker is a name fans have been hearing for quite some time now. He's not only breaking camp but is expected to make a immediate impact with this Cardinals team. The Cardinals are already a very talented team and adding this level of talented youth to it, makes it that much better. Walker slashed .306/.388/.510 with 19 home runs and 68 RBIs in 461 ABs at AA Springfield. Walker is arguably the one prospect this season who could make the most impact on their team.
Anthony Volpe, SS, Yankees
Volpe got the news yesterday that he broke camp and is going to join the big league club in the Bronx for Opening Day. Volpe ranks 5th in MLB's top 100 prospects entering the 2023 season. Volpe slashed .249/.342/.460 with 21 home runs and 65 RBIs in 511 ABs at AA Somerset and AAA Scranton. Volpe broke out in 2023 during spring training as he's currently batting .314/.417/.647 with three home runs and 5 RBIs in 51 ABs. Volpe beat out teammate Oswald Peraza for the starting SS job and has all the makings to make a huge impact for the Yankees this season.
Andrew Painter, SP, Phillies
Painter ranks 6th in MLB's top 100 prospects entering the 2023 season. Painter had a great chance to break camp with the Phillies, unfortunately, Painter got injured during spring training with a UCL sprain in his right elbow and was shut down for four weeks. However, the good news is he's expected to be up in the majors at some point during the season. When that day does come, Painter seems poised to have a breakout campaign. The 19-year old has all the tools to become a star in the league. He skyrocketed through the minors as he had a 1.56 ERA with just 5 home runs given and 155 strikeouts in 103.2 IP with A Clearwater, A+ Jersey Shore, and AA Reading.
Brett Baty, 3B/OF, Mets
Baty ranks 21st on MLB's top 100 prospects entering rhe 2023 season. Baty was recently sent down during roster cuts, however, he's expected to be up with the club rather quickly. He slashed .184/.244/.342 with two home runs and 5 RBIs in 38 ABs in 2022. Spring training is where Baty turned some heads even more when he slashed .325/.460/.425 with one home run and 6 RBIs in 40 ABs. Baty might not have had the major league debut he wanted in 2022 but he will have his chance to show his full potential this season.
Francisco Álvarez, C, Mets
Álvarez ranks 3rd on MLB's top 100 prospects entering the 2023 season. Álvarez is in the same boat as Baty, as he also got sent down during roster cuts. He is also expected to meet the major league club quite quickly. Álvarez has all the makings of an elite catcher in this league. During 2022, he didn't get much time to prove himself as he only got 12 ABs in his time up with the Mets. He slashed .167/.286/.500 with one home run and 1 RBI. His minor league stats tell another story for the upcoming catcher. He slashed .260/.374/.511 with an impressive 27 home runs and 78 RBIs in 411 ABs with AA Binghamton and AAA Syracuse.
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