National League prospects to keep an eye on in 2023
With spring training only days away, here are some of the top prospects in the National League who have a chance to make an impact in the majors during the 2023 season.
Andrew Painter, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies
The number six overall prospect coming into the 2023 season, according to MLB.com. At only 19 years old he is also the number one pitching prospect in baseball.
Painter is looking to become the first teenager to play for the Phillies since 1980.
During the 2022 season, Painter was dominant in his first full season in the minors. Posting a 6-2 record, 1.56 ERA and 155 strikeouts in 103.2 innings pitched.
Standing 6'7" and with a four-pitch arsenal at his disposal — including a triple-digit fastball, Painter has the ability to be one of the best pitchers in the MLB for the next decade.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand, 1B/3B, Cincinnati Reds
Acquired in last year's trade with the Minnesota Twins, Encarnacion-Strand has done nothing but hit the ball all over the field.
Hitting .304 with 32 home runs and 114 RBIs, he has a chance to force his way to the big leagues in 2023 if he replicates his performance.
With Reds icon and first baseman Joey Votto's playing career winding down, and no clear starter at third base. The organization will need to get a look at what they have for the future in Encarnacion-Strand.
Endy Rodriguez, C/2B/OF, Pittsburgh Pirates
Rodriguez is a name to get to know, in 2022 he put together one of the best minor-league performances and earned himself a spot on the MLB.com Prospect Team of the Year.
Hitting .323 with 25 home runs and 95 RBIs, Rodriguez also showed great discipline at the plate drawing 60 walks.
With improved defense behind the plate and the ability to play multiple positions, Rodriguez could find his way to the big leagues before the All-Star break.
Kyle Harrison, LHP, San Francisco Giants
The 18th-ranked prospect in baseball, Harrison is a left-handed strikeout artist who dominated in 2022.
Averaging 14.5 K/9 in his two seasons as a professional, he has amassed 343 strikeouts in 211.2 career innings.
He generates a ton of swing-and-misses with a fastball that tops out at 97 mph, a nasty sweeping slider and a much-improved changeup.
While he does run into an issue with control, he should be headlining the Giants' rotation in the near future.
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