Five prospects hitting the cover off the ball in 2023
With the first month of the season behind us, let's dive in to five hitters whose play could see them climbing through the minor leagues in 2023.
Looking to build off of their hot starts in April, these players have already been making noise in their respective organizations.
Jackson Holliday, Shortstop, Baltimore Orioles
The number one overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, Holliday is off to a blazing start that has seen him get promoted to High-A in less than a month.
Hitting .353 on the season with 11 extra-base hits and 17 RBI, Holliday is proving to be well worth the first pick, while he doesn't figure to make it to the big leagues for another year or two if he continues to hit like this he might get the opportunity earlier than most think.
Evan Carter, Outfielder, Texas Rangers
Only 20 years old, Carter is one of the youngest players in Double-A and he is not showing that at all.
Drafted in the second round of the 2020 draft by the Texas Rangers, Carter has shown rapid improvement since struggling in his first taste of professional baseball in 2021.
With a .324 average with four home runs and 20 RBI Carter is a five-tool player. Gifted with elite athleticism and possibly the best bat-to-ball skills and plate discipline in the minor leagues. The Rangers have the payroll to win now, so we might see Carter in the MLB sooner rather than later.
Matt McLain, Shortstop, Cincinnati Reds
After a slow start to his professional career, McLain is showing the talent that made him the 17th overall pick in the 2021 draft out of UCLA.
In Triple-A in 2023 McLain is hitting .313 with seven home runs and 24 RBI while adding eight stolen bases. He continues to show elite plate discipline drawing 21 walks to only 26 strikeouts in 27 games.
With the ability to play multiple infield positions, McLain could make his major league debut before 2023 is over if he can continue the offensive surge the Reds have been patiently waiting for.
Ronny Mauricio, Shortstop, New York Mets
Mauricio has some of the best raw power for shortstops in the minors hitting 20 and 26 in the past two seasons respectively.
In 2023, Mauricio is hitting .321 with six home runs and 16 RBI and is looking like the hitter that was once the Mets' top prospect. With Lindor slotted into shortstop for the foreseeable future, Mauricio could find himself on the move as the Mets look for ways to upgrade their offense in their push to win the pennant.
Junior Caminero, Thirdbase, Tampa Bay Rays
An international signing in 2019 by the Cleveland Guardians, Caminero was acquired in 2021 in a trade that sent pitcher Tobias Myers back to the Guardians.
That trade is looking like a disaster for Cleveland, with Myers no longer on the team and Caminero off to a blazing start the Rays are the clear winners.
After hitting .314 across two levels in 2022, Caminero is playing out of his mind in 2023. Posting a .392 batting average with seven home runs and 23 RBI. Caminero looks like a potential building block as he continues to progress his way through the minors.
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