The 2022 Roger Dorn Baseball League Activation Class is the largest we have seen in League History and arguably the most talented. The list is headlined by proven stars and those set to make their Major League debuts in just two days as the group will set off to serve as their respective club's foundational players for years to come.
These rankings are based solely on expected 2022 production, not long-term value.
1. OF Yordan Alvarez, Goutfish
A lifetime OPS of .948 in 858 big league at-bats will easily earn you the top spot in the 2022 Activation Class. Alvarez rivals Cody Bellinger (2018) as the most accomplished activation in RDBL History.
2. SS/3B Wander Franco, Devils
A slow start to his career was quickly wiped away with a 43-game on-base streak at age 20 which was followed up by a dominant Playoff run.
3. SS Bobby Witt, Jr., Grapes
The 2021 RDBL Hitting Prospect of the Year is set to take over a third base for the Royals and despite his age, Witt, Jr. look more than capable of making an immediate impact for the Grapes.
4. RHP Cal Quantrill, Devils
Quantrill has a 2.77 ERA in 181 2/3 innings over the last two seasons and carries the highest CBS projection among all activations at 466.0 points. The analytics suggest some regression is due but he looks to be the surest bet of a talent class of arms.
5. RHP Alek Manoah, Ducks
If Quantrill is passed in the activation class, look for Manoah to be the one to do. A bulldog on the mound, Manoah posted a 3.22 ERA in 20 starts last season while navigating a loaded AL East.
6. 1B Spencer Torkelson, Taters
Heralded as a generational bat, Torkelson was selected by former GM Dave Adler while at Arizona State. Taters GM Mike Friedrich was quick to rule Tork off limits in deals with hopes he would be ready to contribute in 2022.
7. SS Willy Adames, Fightin' Fish
Much has been made of Adames' 1500+ big league at-bats without an activation, but that clouds what a strong player he is. The late-May trade to Milwaukee turned Adames into full-time masher as he hit .285/.366/.521 after the trade with 20 homers, 61 runs and 58 RBI.
8. 2B/SS Brendan Rodgers, Taters
Rodgers has fought a variety of health issues through his young career but looks ready to build on a strong 2021 campaign when he posted a .284/.328/.470 line.
9. RHP Casey Mize, Taters
A solid 150 1/3 inning season has the kid gloves off Mize who looks primed for a 170+ inning workload that could make this ranking look quite low at the conclusion of 2022.
10. LHP Shane McClanahan, Hops
McClanahan's rise from big league promotion to the ace of the Rays has been extremely fast. We'll see if they begin to trust him the third time through the lineup which would add a great deal of value to the lefty.
11. C Tyler Stephenson, Hammerheads
Stephenson finished 7th in catcher scoring last season with only 350 at-bats. With Tucker Barnhart now out of Cincinnati, the Heads could have a pair of top five catchers for 2022.
12. RHP Michael Kopech, Clovers
Kopech's transition back to the starting rotation will be a key storyline for the Cloverdale Clovers. He worked 69 1/3 innings, primarily out of the bullpen in 2021, with a strong 3.50 ERA and 1.12 WHIP and has substantial upside though that could be tempered by a watchful eye on his workload.
13. RHP Dylan Cease, Goutfish
On stuff alone, Cease deserves to be higher on this list but a lack of command has always held him back. He did take a step forward, decreasing his WHIP from 1.44 to 1.25. If that can continue to drop, the Goutfish could have an ace on their hands.
14. RHP Logan Gilbert, Stacks
Gilbert raced up prospect ranks prior to the 2021 season, then earned an early season promotion to Seattle. With 120 big league innings under his belt, he's in the ideal scenario for a pitching activation with the Stacks looking for big things immediately from the big right-hander.
15. Ke'Bryan Hayes, Fightin' Fish
Hayes looked like a surefire activation to start 2021 after busting onto the scene in 2020 with .376/.442/.682 line over 95 plate appearances. The Fish held off on the activation move and were sure glad they did as Hayes underwhelmed with a .257/.316/.373 line over 396 at-bats as he battled wrist and hand injuries. Fully healthy, Hayes looks ready to return to the form that made him a Top 20 prospect with 20/20 potential.
16. 1B/OF Alex Kirilloff, Hammerheads
Kirilloff's debut ended sooner than hoped as a wrist injury limited him to 59 games in his first big league season. The underlying numbers were strong as he posted a strong barrell rate and 22.5 K%, but a .251/.299/.423 over 231 at-bats has the Heads hoping significantly more is in the tank. A minor league career average of .318 and .503 slugging suggests that is the case.
17. OF Jarred Kelenic, Stacks
It's already a disappointment for Kelenic, viewed as a surefire top five prospect entering 2021, to be this far down the list. But a .181/.265/.350 line in 337 big league at-bats will do that to you. The talent remains for the 22-year-old with Kelenic ranking among the biggest x-factors in the RDBL for 2022.
18. OF Jo Adell, Taters
With the exit of Justin Upton this week, the Angels are making clear that Adell is the man in Anaheim. The talent is endless but the results haven't shown up so far in his big league career. With that said, a full season of at-bats could make this ranking look awfully low.
19. 2B Jazz Chisholm Ducks
2022 will be an important season for Chisholm who looked like a future star through May before his lack of plate discipline tanked his season. A tick up in walk rate and better control of the zone will be the keys to him breaking through a 325-point contributor annually and into that star category for the Ducks.
20. C Keibert Ruiz, Maulers
Ruiz is probably the most underrated player on the list as he's been a stud throughout the minors and in his 96 big league at-bats. Expected to be behind the dish 115 times in 2022, Ruiz has top-five potential at the position for the Maulers.
21. C Sean Ryan Murphy, Taters
A Spring Training injury in 2021 prevented Murphy from being activated, but gave him another year of seasoning with the Taters hoping for him to be a key part of a contender this season. He finished 13th in scoring last season with 17 home runs and looks to have Top-10 potential at catcher.
22. OF Jesus Sanchez, Devils
Much like Chisholm, there isn't much Sanchez doesn't like to watch cross the plate but an .800+ OPS over his first 227 at-bats speaks to his ability to make it work.
23. 2B Nick Madrigral, Falcons
Madrigal is the antithesis of the common hitter these days as he's incredibly patient and rarely swings and misses. There's not enormous upside but the Falcons hope he can settle in as a 350-point contributor annually over the course of his Rookie contract.
24. 1B Seth Beer, Hops
Beer was as surprise activation but we should have seen it coming all along. Expected to land the majority of DH at-bats along with some at first for Arizona, Beer has enough value in his bat to be a strong contributor immediately for the Hops.
25. RP A.J. Puk, Hops
The ship has sailed on Puk being a major contributor but with health, he could settle in as a strong reliever profile that could find his way into save chances this season if Lou Trivino is dealt away from Oakland.
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