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.
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