2023 MLB Pipeline Top 100 Prospects: Grapes Place Nine on List

The third of four Top 100 Prospects Lists we cover was released Thursday evening as MLB Pipeline matched Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus in naming St. Joseph Jokers infielder Gunnar Henderson as the top prospect in baseball.

The Asti Grape Stompers led the RDBL again in overall prospects ranked, this time squeezing in nine players with right-hander Dylan Lesko slotting in at 100th overall.

The Idaho Taters continued to show the depth of their Farm System, placing seven representatives in the Top 100 led by Marcelo Mayer (9) and Jackson Holliday (12).

Forty prospects ranked in the Top 100 are current RDBL Free Agents led by outfielders Jackson Chourio (8) and James Wood (17). Both are firmly in the mix for the top overall pick by the St. Joseph Jokers.

2023 MLB Pipeline Top 100 Prospects

1 IF Gunnar Henderson, St. Joseph Jokers

2. OF Corbin Carroll, Alamo Short Stacks

3. C Francisco Alvarez, Asti Grape Stompers

4. IF/OF Jordan Walker, Asti Grape Stompers

5. SS Anthony Volpe, Cloverdale Clovers

6. RHP Andrew Painter, Cloverdale Clovers

7. RHP Grayson Rodriguez, Lunatic Fringe

8. OF Jackson Chourio, Free Agent

9. SS Marcelo Mayer, Idaho Taters

10. SS Elly De La Cruz, Cloverdale Clovers

11. SS Jordan Lawlar, Asti Grape Stompers

12. SS Jackson Holliday, Idaho Taters

13. RHP Eury Perez, Maltese Falcons

14. C Diego Cartaya, Mt. Diablo Devils

15. OF Druw Jones, Maltese Falcons

16. RHP Daniel Espino, Maltese Falcons

17. OF James Wood, Free Agent

18. LHP Kyle Harrison, Asti Grape Stompers

19. SS Jackson Merrill, Free Agent

20. RHP Taj Bradley, Cloverdale Clovers

21 3B Brett Baty, Meinert Hops

22. SS Marco Luciano, Cloverdale Clovers

23. 1B Triston Casas, Maltese Falcons

24. RHP Bobby Miller, Lake Merced Goutfish

25. SS Ezequiel Tovar, Free Agent

26. 2B Termarr Johnson, Spokane Fightin' Fish

27. OF Zac Veen, Maltese Falcons

28. OF Pete Crow-Armstrong, Asti Grape Stompers

29. SS Noelvi Marte, Lunatic Fringe

30. OF Sal Frelick, Free Agent

31. SS Brooks Lee, Mission Viejo Maulers

32. LHP Ricky Tiedemann, Cloverdale Clovers

33. IF Curtis Mead, Asti Grape Stompers

34. 3B Josh Jung, Idaho Taters

35. OF Robert Hassell III, Honolulu Hammerheads

36. C Kevin Parada, Free Agent

37. IF/OF Miguel Vargas, Alamo Short Stacks

38. SS Colson Montgomery, Free Agent

39. 1B/C Tyler Soderstrom, Mt. Diablo Devils

40. OF Colton Cowser, Asti Grape Stompers

41. OF Evan Carter, Free Agent

42. RHP Gavin Williams, Idaho Taters

43. RHP Hunter Brown, Free Agent

44. SS Edwin Arroyo, Free Agent

45. SS Royce Lewis, Maltese Falcons

46. OF Elijah Green, Lake Merced Goutfish

47. OF Jasson Dominguez, Mission Viejo Maulers

48. RHP Mick Abel, Asti Grape Stompers

49. C Harry Ford, Lunatic Fringe

50. SS Masyn Winn, Free Agent

51. OF George Valera, Spokane Fightin' Fish

52. SS Oswald Peraza, Spokane Fightin' Fish

53. C Logan O'Houppe, Free Agent

54. IF/OF Michael Busch, Mt. Diablo Devils

55. C Endy Rodriguez, Free Agent

56. RHP Gavin Stone, Free Agent

57. C Henry Davis, Meinert Hops

58. RHP Cade Cavalli, Mt. Diablo Devils

59. RHP Brandon Pfaadt, Honolulu Hammerheads

60. RHP Quinn Priester, Honolulu Hammerheads

61. 3B Jacob Berry, Meinert Hops

62. OF Gavin Cross, Idaho Taters

63. RHP Jackson Jobe, Las Vegas Aristocrats

64. C Bo Naylor, Free Agent

65. RHP Tanner Bibee, Free Agent

66. RHP Owen White, Free Agent

67. RHP Max Meyer, Las Vegas Aristocrats

68. SS Adael Amador, Free Agent

69. 3B Cam Collier, Free Agent

70. RHP Ryan Pepiot, Free Agent

71 IF Luisangel Acuña, Free Agent

72. SS Carson Williams, Free Agent

73. 1B Kyle Manzardo, Free Agent

74. IF Jordan Westburg, Free Agent

75. IF Brayan Rocchio, Lunatic Fringe

76. LHP Ken Waldichuk, Free Agent

77. RHP Tink Hence, Free Agent

78. RHP Jack Leiter, Idaho Taters

79. RHP Gordon Graceffo, Free Agent

80. OF Heston Kjerstad, Free Agent

81 OF Andy Pages, Lake Merced Goutfish

82. OF Chase DeLauter, Meinert Hops

83. IF Jace Jung, Meinert Hops

84. C Drew Romo, Honolulu Hammerheads

85. OF Oscar Colas, Free Agent

86. OF/IF Ceddanne Rafaela, Free Agent

87. OF Kevin Alcantara, Lake Merced Goutfish

88. OF Emmanuel Rodriguez, Free Agent

89. SS Zach Neto, Free Agent

90. OF Joey Wiemer, Free Agent

91 OF Alec Burleson, Free Agent

92. OF Brennan Davis, Idaho Taters

93. OF Miguel Bleis, Free Agent

94. RHP Brock Porter, Free Agent

95. RHP Wilmer Flores, Free Agent

96. OF Alex Ramirez, Free Agent

97. LHP DL Hall, St. Joseph Jokers

98. RHP Bryce Miller, Free Agent

99. SS Joey Ortiz, Free Agent

100. RHP Dylan Lesko, Asti Grape Stompers

Free Agents (40)

8. OF Jackson Chourio, Free Agent

17. OF James Wood, Free Agent

19. SS Jackson Merrill, Free Agent

25. SS Ezequiel Tovar, Free Agent

30. OF Sal Frelick, Free Agent

36. C Kevin Parada, Free Agent

38. SS Colson Montgomery, Free Agent

41. OF Evan Carter, Free Agent

43. RHP Hunter Brown, Free Agent

44. SS Edwin Arroyo, Free Agent

50. SS Masyn Winn, Free Agent

53. C Logan O'Houppe, Free Agent

55. C Endy Rodriguez, Free Agent

56. RHP Gavin Stone, Free Agent

64. C Bo Naylor, Free Agent

65. RHP Tanner Bibee, Free Agent

66. RHP Owen White, Free Agent

68. SS Adael Amador, Free Agent

69. 3B Cam Collier, Free Agent

70. RHP Ryan Pepiot, Free Agent

71 IF Luisangel Acuña, Free Agent

72. SS Carson Williams, Free Agent

73. 1B Kyle Manzardo, Free Agent

74. IF Jordan Westburg, Free Agent

76. LHP Ken Waldichuk, Free Agent

77. RHP Tink Hence, Free Agent

79. RHP Gordon Graceffo, Free Agent

80. OF Heston Kjerstad, Free Agent

85. OF Oscar Colas, Free Agent

86. OF/IF Ceddanne Rafaela, Free Agent

88. OF Emmanuel Rodriguez, Free Agent

89. SS Zach Neto, Free Agent

90. OF Joey Wiemer, Free Agent

91. OF Alec Burleson, Free Agent

93. OF Miguel Bleis, Free Agent

94. RHP Brock Porter, Free Agent

95. RHP Wilmer Flores, Free Agent

96. OF Alex Ramirez, Free Agent

98. RHP Bryce Miller, Free Agent

99. SS Joey Ortiz, Free Agent

Asti Grape Stompers (9)

3. C Francisco Alvarez, Asti Grape Stompers

4. IF/OF Jordan Walker, Asti Grape Stompers

11. SS Jordan Lawlar, Asti Grape Stompers

18. LHP Kyle Harrison, Asti Grape Stompers

28. OF Pete Crow-Armstrong, Asti Grape Stompers

33. IF Curtis Mead, Asti Grape Stompers

40. OF Colton Cowser, Asti Grape Stompers

48. RHP Mick Abel, Asti Grape Stompers

100. RHP Dylan Lesko, Asti Grape Stompers

Idaho Taters (7)

9. SS Marcelo Mayer, Idaho Taters

12. SS Jackson Holliday, Idaho Taters

34. 3B Josh Jung, Idaho Taters

42. RHP Gavin Williams, Idaho Taters

62. OF Gavin Cross, Idaho Taters

78. RHP Jack Leiter, Idaho Taters

92. OF Brennan Davis, Idaho Taters

Cloverdale Clovers (6)

5. SS Anthony Volpe, Cloverdale Clovers

6. RHP Andrew Painter, Cloverdale Clovers

10. SS Elly De La Cruz, Cloverdale Clovers

20. RHP Taj Bradley, Cloverdale Clovers

22. SS Marco Luciano, Cloverdale Clovers

32. LHP Ricky Tiedemann, Cloverdale Clovers

Maltese Falcons (6)

13. RHP Eury Perez, Maltese Falcons

15. OF Druw Jones, Maltese Falcons

16. RHP Daniel Espino, Maltese Falcons

23. 1B Triston Casas, Maltese Falcons

27. OF Zac Veen, Maltese Falcons

45. SS Royce Lewis, Maltese Falcons

Lake Merced Goutfish (5)

24. RHP Bobby Miller, Lake Merced Goutfish

46. OF Elijah Green, Lake Merced Goutfish

52. SS Oswald Peraza, Lake Merced Goutfish

81. OF Andy Pages, Lake Merced Goutfish

87. OF Kevin Alcantara, Lake Merced Goutfish

Meinert Hops (5)

21. 3B Brett Baty, Meinert Hops

57. C Henry Davis, Meinert Hops

61. 3B Jacob Berry, Meinert Hops

82. OF Chase DeLauter, Meinert Hops

83. IF Jace Jung, Meinert Hops

Honolulu Hammerheads (4)

35. OF Robert Hassell III, Honolulu Hammerheads

59. RHP Brandon Pfaadt, Honolulu Hammerheads

60. RHP Quinn Priester, Honolulu Hammerheads

84. C Drew Romo, Honolulu Hammerheads

Lunatic Fringe (4)

7. RHP Grayson Rodriguez, Lunatic Fringe

29. SS Noelvi Marte, Lunatic Fringe

49. C Harry Ford, Lunatic Fringe

75. IF Brayan Rocchio, Lunatic Fringe

Mt. Diablo Devils (4)

14. C Diego Cartaya, Mt. Diablo Devils

39. 1B/C Tyler Soderstrom, Mt. Diablo Devils

54. IF/OF Michael Busch, Mt. Diablo Devils

58. RHP Cade Cavalli, Mt. Diablo Devils

Alamo Short Stacks (2)

2. OF Corbin Carroll, Alamo Short Stacks

37. IF/OF Miguel Vargas, Alamo Short Stacks

Las Vegas Aristocrats (2)

63. RHP Jackson Jobe, Las Vegas Aristocrats

67. RHP Max Meyer, Las Vegas Aristocrats

Mission Viejo Maulers (2)

31. SS Brooks Lee, Mission Viejo Maulers

47. OF Jasson Dominguez, Mission Viejo Maulers

St. Joseph Jokers (2)

1. IF Gunnar Henderson, St. Joseph Jokers

97. LHP DL Hall, St. Joseph Jokers

Spokane Fightin' Fish (2)

26. 2B Termarr Johnson, Spokane Fightin' Fish

51 OF George Valera, Spokane Fightin' Fish

Burlingame Blue Ducks (0)

2023 Catching Market: Rutschman Poised to Take Over the Position

A wave of young catchers have taken over the big leagues with as many as 10 backstops expected to be on RDBL Keepers Lists that are currently on Rookie deals with many more on the way. The largest group of those players within the RDBL will be set for activation this season led by Adley Rutschman who looks like the second coming over Buster Posey for the Cloverdale Clovers.

With so much young talent already under contract at the position, the Free Agent Class might be the weakest at the position that we have ever seen. That could lead to some trade activity before Draft Day while the top of the market players like Will Smith (2/$30) and J.T. Realmuto (2/$28) are expected to be retained.

Additionally, the catcher prospect market is flush with high-end options that figure to be off the board early in the 2023 Reserve Draft. After years of middling results after the top five players at the position, 2023 should mark the start of some strong depth at the position which RDBL Front Offices can capitalize on for years to come.

​Top RDBL Free Agents	Top Trade Candidates
1. Logan O'Hoppe, Angels 2. *Mitch Garver, Rangers 3. Yasmani Grandal, White Sox 4. *Christian Vazquez, Twins 5. *Carson Kelly, Diamondbacks *Currently Projected to be Released	1. Joey Bart (Minors), Jokers 2. Mitch Garver (3/$8), Fightin' Fish 3. Travis d'Arnaud (2/$7), Fringe 4. Max Stassi (3/$2), Hops 5. Omar Narvaez (3/$7), Grapes
Top Available Prospects	Top RDBL Prospects
1. Endy Rodriguez, Pirates 2. Logan O'Houppe, Angels 3. Kevin Parada, Mets 4. Bo Naylor, Guardians 5. Austin Wells, Yankees	1. Adley Rutschman, Clovers 2. William Contreras, Aristocrats 3. Gabriel Moreno, Jokers 4. Francisco Alvarez, Grapes 5. MJ Melendez, Jokers
2022 Rankings	​2023 Projections
​1. J.T. Realmuto (Ducks), 369.5 2. Will Smith (Stacks), 348.0 3. Sean Murphy (Taters), 335.5 4. Alejandro Kirk (Goutfish), 330.5 5. Daulton Varsho (Maulers), 314.5	​1. Daulton Varsho (Maulers), 347.0 2. J.T. Realmuto (Ducks), 346.5 3. Will Smith (Stacks), 331.5 4. Sal Perez (Ducks), 327.0 5. Sean Murphy (Taters), 324.5

Team Needs

As currently projected, there are 10 openings at catcher that will need to be filled in the Auction Draft with the Mt. Diablo Devils and Meinert Hops each needing two.

Activation Candidates

The Clovers are poised to activate Adley Rutschman, the 2019 3rd Overall Pick, who stands as the most decorated catching prospect in RDBL History with the ability to step in immediately and be a Top-5 contributor at the position. The catching activation class hardly stops with Rutschman as the Las Vegas Aristocrats are poised to add both William Contreras and Shea Langeliers while the St. Joseph Jokers have three backstops ready for Opening Day roles between Gabriel Moreno, MJ Melendez and Joey Bart. With Omar Narvaez and Tomas Nido now in New York, the wait for Asti Grape Stompers slugger Francisco Alvarez might be on hold until 2024 while the Alamo Short Stacks are leaning towards an activation for Luis Campusano.

Top Free Agent

Clubs will face a number of difficult decisions on how they approach the catching position entering 2023. While Yasmani Grandal is the most accomplished of the group expected to be available, Logan O'Hoppe would likely offer the most upside at the position despite having just a cup of coffee in the big leagues to end 2022. While he's currently penciled in to make the Angels Opening Day roster, things could easily change in Spring Training and push O'Houppe to the early portion of the Reserve Draft making Grandal or Mitch Garver, both currently projected to be dropped, the top available Free Agent for 2023.

Under the Radar Free Agent

If the Jokers don't retain Christian Bethancourt who brings a strong enough offensive profile to outplay his competition in Tampa Bay (Francisco Mejia) behind the plate due the gap in defensive value. A 3.6 percent walk rate leaves much to be desired, but his average and slugging should be replicable with a .255 xBA and .449 xSLG that indicates he deserved some better results last season.

Top Trade Candidate

The St. Joseph Jokers are stockpiled with catching prospects led by Gabriel Moreno, MJ Melendez and Joey Bart. With each in place for substantial roles starting on Opening Day, GM Rick Steen could leverage Melendez or Bart in a deal to acquire more offense for a club that needs it. Either Bart or Melendez would carry extra value as activation options that wouldn't count against the 12-man Keeper restriction while their $1 contract would likely be a strong value against what is available in Free Agency at the position.

Top Prospect Available

Endy Rodriguez followed up a breakout season in 2021 by putting together a fantastic .323/.407/.590 batting line with 25 home runs and 39 doubles across three levels in 2022. He began the season at High-A Greensboro but ended it by going 10-for-22 at the dish in a late-season audition at Triple-A Indianapolis and earning the nod as baseball's 23rd ranked prospect by Baseball America. Expected to be off the board in the 1st Round of the Reserve Draft, Rodriguez is on track to make his big league debut in 2023 and would be primed for a Playoff activation or 2024 Opening Day.

Top RDBL Prospect

If all players were made Free Agents and eligible for the Auction, it's possible that Cloverdale Clovers catching prospect Adley Rutschman would fetch the largest contract among backstops for the next three seasons of play. Rutschman has a chance to join the rare air of 400+ point seasons by a catcher, a feat only reached by Sal Perez, Yasmani Grandal, Buster Posey and Jonathan Lucroy.

3 Up, 3 Down: Top 100 Prospect Lists

Prospect season is off and running with a pair of publications posting their Top 100 lists this week. With an off-season of discussions with MLB Front Offices and the Arizona Fall League performances to review, the lists involved a number of shakeups despite Gunnar Henderson, Corbin Carroll and other familiar names remaining at the top.

Here are some of names that we saw the biggest changes in value over the last four months.

IF Curtis Mead (Minors), Asti Grape Stompers

The Australian infielder boasts one of the best combinations of hitting ability and power in the minor leagues. His season ended in mid-July after he sustained a strained right elbow but he continues to rise in prospect rankings since being selected in the 7th Round of the 2022 Reserve Draft by GM Terry Shelley. Baseball America hung a 70 grade on Mead's hit tool with 60 power, rankings that have the Grapes excited about his future.

OF James Wood, Free Agent

Wood was thought of as the third best asset the Washington Nationals acquired for Juan Soto behind MacKenzie Gore and CJ Abrams, but his continued ascent could have many argue he has a chance to be the best. Wood was rated as the third best prospect in baseball according to Baseball Prospectus this week and is expected to be one of the top three names off the board in the 2023 Reserve Draft. Our first 2023 Reserve Mock Draft had Wood headed to the Spokane Fightin' Fish at 3rd overall.

RHP Gavin Williams (Minors), Idaho Taters

While he comes with less hype than other elite right-handers remaining in the Minor Leagues, the Idaho Taters looked to have nailed their 2022 8th Round pick in Gavin Williams. He reached Double-A a year and a day after his last college start and ultimately was one of the best pitchers in the Eastern League. He made the Baseball America Minor League All-Star Team after leading the minor leagues with a .173 opponent average and ranked third with a 1.96 ERA.

GM Mike Friedrich is quickly gaining a reputation for a strong scouting eye, locking up 2023 Top 100 prospects in the 6th, 7th and 8th Rounds of last year's Reserve Draft in Gavin Cross, Jackson Holliday and Williams.

RHP Quinn Priester (Minors), Honolulu Hammerheads

Priester ascended to Triple-A while posting a 3.29 ERA and a strikeout an inning in 2022 at Age 21. After being firmly planted as a Top 50 prospect over the last two seasons, it was strange to see the right-hander left out of both Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus' Top 100 lists. Both seemingly placed a high emphasis on his Arizona Fall League finish last season where he allowed 16 earned runs over 23 innings. He will be out to prove those rankings wrong to start 2023 with a return to Triple-A with the hope of pushing his way to Pittsburgh this summer.

Blue Ducks Farm System

The Ducks were the lone RDBL Franchise left out of both Top 100 rankings this week from Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus. After pushing their chips in last summer for a chance at their first RDBL Championship, GM Ryan Walsh is down to just nine prospects under contract with Jeter Downs, Heliot Ramos, Travis Swaggerty, Ryan Rolison and Ronaldo Hernandez hardly safe from being cut before Draft Day. With Nolan Jones and Luis Garcia potential activations, it's possible the Ducks could enter the Draft with just two prospects (Dylan Crews and Daniel Susac) under contract and leverage 15 selections in the Reserve Draft.

IF Kahlil Watson (Minors), Asti Grape Stompers

I was quite critical of the San Francisco Giants for not selecting Kahlil Watson in the first round of the 2021 Draft, but will gladly eat crow. Watson punched out 132 times in 335 at-bats last season. While he still has the loud tools that made him a first rounder, makeup issues were serious enough to involve multiple suspensions of the infielder. One of those suspensions followed his acting out of shooting the first base umpire with a shotgun motion following a check swing being called a strike.