RDBL Front Offices continue to improve their approach and scouting of prospects for the Reserve Drafts as evidence by 30 Activations for the 2023 Season. This comes after 25 Activations in 2022 as waves of young players continue to push their way into important roles on big league clubs.
With only the 2023 Season in mind, we ranked all 30 Activations on RDBL Keeper Rosters led by young star Julio Rodriguez of the Spokane Fightin' Fish.
1. OF Julio Rodriguez, Spokane Fightin' Fish
The American League Rookie of the Year already looks like best draft selection in RDBL History after GM Michael Tirabassi landed him in the 12th Round of the 2019 Reserve Draft. J-Rod has 500+ point potential on an annual basis and enters the year as the odds on favorite for the RDBL Activation of the Year Award as the Fish look to chase their third RDBL Title.
2. C Adley Rutschman, Cloverdale Clovers
The Clovers are hoping that Rutschman will re-open the window of contention after earning just one Playoff berth with Juan Soto, Mookie Betts and Rafael Devers under contract. Rutschman took some time to get adjusted to the big leagues, but finished the season on a tear and is firmly in the mix to be the top performing catcher in baseball as soon as this season.
3. RHP Triston McKenzie, Lunatic Fringe
The Fringe are finally flipping the switch on for Triston McKenzie who captured the 2022 RDBL Pitching Prospect of the Year Award after posting a 2.96 ERA and 0.95 WHIP in 191 1/3 innings last season. All told, McKenzie had 571.0 points, a legendary season for any arm, let alone one still under a Minor League contract. While the Fringe might have missed his peak year numbers-wise, McKenzie is a solid bet for 400+ point seasons through his rookie deal.
4. OF Michael Harris, Meinert Hops
Michael Harris did not come out of nowhere, but no one expected him to reach the majors so soon, let alone win NL Rookie of the Year. He was slashing .305/.372/.506 with Double-A Mississippi when he received the call in late May. Harris started out slow, but the Braves' patience paid off. His 24.3 percent strikeout rate and 4.8 percent walk rate suggest Harris still has work to do, but a 75th percentile hard hit rate paired with 95th percentile spring speed and a 95.2 fly ball average exit velocity is the blueprint for a five-category cornerstone.
5. OF Corbin Carroll, Alamo Short Stacks
Carroll was the Stacks main target in the 2021 Reserve Draft and he's exceeded all lofty expectations the Front Office had. The outfielder already secured an 8-year, $111M deal from the Diamondbacks and is torching the Cactus League with a .371/.500/1.129 line through 35 at-bats.
6. IF Gunnar Henderson, St. Joseph Jokers
Gunnar Henderson was shot out of a cannon last season, putting up a .312/.452/.573 slash line and 176 wRC+ with more walks (19.7 BB%) than strikeouts (18.3 K%) as a 20-year-old at Double-A. He subsequently got the bump to Triple-A, and while his production predictably dipped slightly, he still established himself as one of the game's elite prospects and got rewarded with a taste of the majors. He's still just 21, so some early lumps are too be expected, but Henderson should quickly vault himself into one of RDBL's premiere values.
7. 1B Vinnie Pasquantino, Spokane Fightin' Fish
Frustration still remains from other Front Offices that the Mission Viejo Maulers elected to acquire George Valera instead of Pasquantino in the Justin Verlander/Aaron Judge deal this off-season, as the Fish have built a powerhouse of a roster heading into Draft Day. Despite posting a .391/.440/.739 line in the spring, Vinnie Pasquantino opened the season with Triple-A Omaha, but a .932 OPS with 40 walks to just 39 strikeouts in 73 games earned him a late June promotion. Pasquantino began just 4-for-30 with six walks, but the Royals patience was rewarded as Pasquantino hit .316/.392/.478 the rest of the way, with a two-week interruption for shoulder discomfort. Pasquantino's discipline translated to the majors as he walked 35 times with just 34 strikeouts in 298 plate appearances, a great sign for his alignment with RDBL scoring.
8. RHP Hunter Greene, Asti Grape Stompers
It was a rollercoaster Rookie season for Greene, but it ended on an absolute tear has he registered a 1.02 ERA with a 51:7 K:BB over his final six starts dating back to July 26. He will look to carry that performance over to start 2023 as he seeks for some consistency on the mound from start to start.
9. LHP Nick Lodolo, Mt. Diablo Devils
The Mt. Diablo Devils are anxious to turn Nick Lodolo loose for 2023 with the left-hander set for his Spring debut Tuesday afternoon. The seventh overall pick in 2019, Lodolo is already paying dividends for Cincinnati. He began the 2022 season as the Reds' No. 5 starter but made just three starts before a back issue cropped up that would ultimately sidelined the lefty well beyond the initial estimated timetable. Once finally back, Lodolo pitched like a star in the making, posting a 2.92 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 21.3 K-BB% in 77 innings after the All-Star break. He has looked the part in Spring with a 1.93 ERA in 14.0 innings, registering 19 strikeouts.
10. OF Riley Greene, Mt. Diablo Devils
The Devils might have dodged a bullet in 2022 when Greene suffered a foot injury that prevented him from making the Opening Day roster and being activated. With 376 big league at-bats under his belt, Greene will be looking to take a big step forward in 2023 after being considered one of the best hitting prospects in the game.
11. RHP Kyle Wright, St. Joseph Jokers
Wright looked like a potential candidate to be released heading into 2022 after posting a 6.56 ERA and 1.69 WHIP over four years of big league outings. After dominating Triple-A in 2021, Wright was given a chance to be Atlanta's fifth starter and he took advantage, starting 30 games and amassing a league-leading 21 wins across 180 innings in a breakthrough campaign with 452.0 points.
12. 1B/3B Jose Miranda, Maltese Falcons
Miranda had an impressive rookie season by hitting 15 home runs with a .751 OPS, showing his late-blooming minor league career was no fluke. Miranda hit .344/.401/.572 with 30 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A in 2021 at age 23, but began 2022 in the minors. He was called up in early May, but hit just .164/.200/.284 in 19 games and was sent back down. Given a second chance when called up at the end of May, he caught fire and hit .287 with a .797 OPS in his final 106 games, splitting time between third base and first base and becoming a regular in the lineup. He's in line for a full slate of at-bats and has the potential to be a near 400 point contributor for the Falcons during his rookie deal.
13. C William Contreras, Las Vegas Aristocrats
Contreras slugged his way into the 6th spot in catcher scoring a season ago and should have more opportunity to earn DH at-bats in Milwaukee than he did in Atlanta.
14. SS Oneil Cruz, Cloverdale Clovers
Cruz shares a lot in common with Jazz Chisholm with loud tools that don't necessarily translate in their early years to success in the RDBL. It's hard to ignore what Cruz can do at the plate but his walk rate and OBP will need to make a big jump in order to fulfill his lofty expectations.
15. C Gabriel Moreno, St. Joseph Jokers
With Carson Kelly expected to miss significant time due to a broken arm, Moreno is the primary catcher in Arizona. While he's not known for his power, Moreno has a potential 65-70 bat with a chance at near .300 averages annually that should make him incredibly valuable behind the plate.
16. C/OF MJ Melendez, St. Joseph Jokers
Melendez has warts as a overall player, but as long as he maintains catcher eligibility, he will be wildly valuable in RDBL circles. As a 23-year-old rookie, he popped 18 home runs and drew 66 walks in 534 plate appearances, putting him roughly league average by wRC+ while his 255.0 points ranked eighth at the position in 2022.
17. IF/OF Miguel Vargas, Alamo Short Stacks
Vargas hasn't hit below .300 at any Minor League stop and looks set as the Dodgers primary second baseman in 2023. Since he's been allowed to swing in Spring Training following a finger injury, Vargas has seven hits in 17 at-bats with three doubles, a home run, four walks, and a hit by pitch, hitting .412/.545/.765 in 22 plate appearances.
18. IF Nico Hoerner, Mission Viejo Maulers
Hoerner is a steady performer that should settle in as a 325-350 point contributor in the RDBL with the ability to rack of steals as his approach continues to improve.
19. 3B Josh Jung, Idaho Taters
Jung is torching the Cactus League, collective three more hits, including a pair of doubles on Monday against the Guardians. He's hitting .342 with three home runs as he looks to shake off an injury label that has followed him as a prospect. He has the tools to make this ranking look quite low later this year.
20. IF CJ Abrams, Meinert Hops
We are just two seasons removed from Abrams being widely regarded as a top-5 prospect in the sport. He enters his age 22 season with a full-time spot at shortstop and new rules that should allow him to wreak havoc on the bases. While the ceiling might have lowered over the last 24 months, Abrams still brings plenty to the table to be a standout for the Hops.
21. OF Alek Thomas, Burlingame Blue Ducks
Thomas could be a strong post-hype sleeper for the Ducks after struggling with the bat at the big league level in 2022. He looked strong for Team Mexico in the WBC and plays Gold Glove caliber defense in center which should keep him in the lineup. At just 22 years of age and with a .936 OPS at Triple-A that forced his way to the big leagues last year, look out for Thomas to turn a corner this year.
22. OF Garrett Mitchell, Las Vegas Aristocrats
The 24-year-old will returned to Spring Training action yesterday after missing a week and a half due to right hamstring tightness. The Brewers are giving him every chance to win the regular center field duties this year after a sparkling 2022 debut when he filled up the stat sheet with two home runs, eight steals and a .311 average.
23. RHP James Kaprielian, Mt. Diablo Devils
Kaprielian took the ball a career-high 27 times last season after being delayed due to shoulder surgery. He had another procedure in the off-season, adding to the long list of injury concerns that have followed him. With just a 17% strikeout rate last season, Kaprielian benefits from the vast Oakland Coliseum but will need to shake off some rough peripherals of 4.63 FIP and 5.04 SIERA to make a push into a 300+ point pitcher.
24. IF Bryson Stott, Las Vegas Aristocrats
Stott is a potential breakout prospect as he makes the move to second base with Trea Turner entrenched at short. A rough start and demotion didn't deter Stott has he returned to the big leagues in June and slashed .258/.318/.403 with a dozen steals the rest of the way.
25. RHP Ryne Nelson, Honolulu Hammerheads
The Heads are in a sticky situation with the D'Backs final rotation spot as RDBL teammates Ryne Nelson and Dray Jameson are battling each other while Brandon Pfaadt looms over both with a potential early season promotion. For now, Nelson appears to have the lead and look to continue his big league success after posting a 1.47 ERA and 0.82 WHIP over 18 1/3 September innings last year.
26. OF Brandon Marsh, Lunatic Fringe
Marsh is an example of a prospect who's defense can be a major factor in their RDBL value as it should keep them close to being an everyday player in Philadelphia. He finished strong with a .288/.319/.455 in 41 games down the stretch in the regular season and will look to build on that in 2023.
27. C Joey Bart, Maltese Falcons
Bart was traded twice this Winter and enters 2023 without lofty expectations from the Falcons, but a hope he can maintain a grasp on the starting role in San Francisco and reach the 200+ point mark on the year. Bart hit well at home (.254/.336/.426) compared to his dreadful numbers on the road (.180/.260/.309) which will be something to watch this season.
28. IF Luis Garcia, Burlingame Blue Ducks
Garcia will bring immediate value with a daily spot in the lineup and strong bat to ball skills, but with just 27 walks in 730 career big league at-bats, he will really need to hit to become a major contributor to the Ducks offense.
29. C Luis Campusano, Alamo Short Stacks
A shallow Free Agent Class and low bar for success at the position led to an aggressive promotion of Campusano by the Stacks. With Austin Nola expected to miss some time with a broken nose, Campusano will be given the opportunity to edge higher in what was projected to be a timeshare in San Diego.
30. OF Jarren Duran, Honolulu Hammerheads
Duran has been away from Red Sox camp with Roster Resource currently having him starting in Triple-A. That could change this week, but it looks to be an uphill climb to early playing time for Duran which could have the Heads pulling him back into the Minors before Draft Day.
