The 2023 Reserve Draft has a chance to go down as one of the most loaded Classes in RDBL History with several prospects already set to hit Active Rosters across the league to start 2024. The overall upside of the class stands out most with three true potential aces (Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Paul Skenes, Roki Sasaki) and several 65+ overall grade potential hitters (Jackson Chourio, Wyatt Langford, Junior Caminero) among the elite prospects selected.
While the Reserve Draft certainly had some valuable big leaguers selected that would clearly go in the Top-15 (Justin Steele, Kyle Bradish, Eduardo Rodriguez), we stuck purely with prospects for this exercise to keep all of the assets on a level playing field.
1. St. Joseph Jokers
Re-Draft Pick: RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Japan), Originally 16th Overall to Goutfish
Actual Pick: RHP Roki Sasaki (Japan)
The St. Joseph Jokers kicked off the 2024 Reserve Draft with a Japanese right-hander. It just might have been the wrong one. While Roki Sasaki’s sky high ceiling remains, it comes with an ETA of 2026 which opens the door for further potential delays given the injury rate of +100mph arms. That lofts fellow right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto to the top spot with the ability to step in immediately on Opening Day of 2024 with 400+ point potential on an annual basis. Yamamoto was handed the largest deal for a pitcher in Major League History, receiving $325M from the Los Angeles Dodgers.
2. Nashville Aristocrats
Re-Draft Pick: OF Jackson Chourio (MIL), Originally 2nd Overall to ‘Crats
Actual Pick: OF Jackson Chourio (MIL)
The Nashville Aristocrats entered the Reserve Draft with two players clearly at the top of their list, just waiting to see if the St. Joseph Jokers would select Roki Sasaki or Jackson Chourio with the top selection. Chourio was the selection and almost 12 months later, nothing has changed as the outfielder just inked a historic 8-year pact with the Milwaukee Brewers despite not appearing above Double-A. Chourio looks set to make the Brewers Opening Day and could be in play for the ‘Crats as an Activation option.
3. Mission Viejo Maulers
Re-Draft Pick: OF Wyatt Langford (TEX), Originally 18th Overall by Ducks
Actual Pick: OF James Wood (WSH)
While out of contention for one of the clear cut top two prospects available, the Mission Viejo Maulers elected for a high-upside outfielder in James Wood. A year later, a new high upside outfielder has taken the throne as Wyatt Langford continues his meteoric rise into one of the game’s best prospects. Langford enters 2024 with a chance to break camp on the big league club making him one of the most valuable picks in the 2023 Reserve Draft by GM Ryan Walsh.
4. Lunatic Fringe
Re-Draft Pick: OF Evan Carter (TEX), Originally 8th Overall by Taters
Actual Pick: SS Jackson Merrill (SD)
While Jackson Merrill was hardly a miss for Lunatic Fringe GM Tony Guglielmi, outfielder Evan Carter’s ascension, especially in the 2023 Playoffs, gives him the edge to go fourth overall. Carter brings an ideal skillset for the RDBL with elite control of the strike zone, offering an elite floor that should provide plus OBP, steals and average which he pairs with emerging power.
5. Asti Grape Stompers
Re-Draft Pick: 3B Junior Caminero (TB), Originally 53rd Overall by Taters
Actual Pick: C Ethan Salas (SD)
When Ethan Salas went off the board fifth overall to the Asti Grape Stompers, you could see the disappointment across the faces of other RDBL Executives who hoped to select the catching phenom. He’s done little to dim that star, but based on pure upside, Junior Caminero might be unmatched among hitters still under a Minor League contract. With massive power and a potential 70 grade hit tool, Caminero’s future looks bright with a potential Opening Day role in Tampa Bay.
6. Mission Viejo Maulers
Re-Draft Pick: RHP Tanner Bibee (CLE), Originally 33rd Overall by Heads
Actual Pick: OF Sal Frelick (MIL)
While Skenes, Yamamoto and Sasaki grab the headlines, Tanner Bibee already went from 2023 Reserve Draft pick to activation for the Honolulu Hammerheads with a chance to headline their rotation in his second year. With a strong four pitch mix, Bibee carried an elite 2.98 ERA in 142 IP last season and will look to build on that in 2024 with 400+ point potential in each of the next two years.
7. Burlingame Blue Ducks
Re-Draft Pick: RHP Paul Skenes (PIT), Originally 7th Overall by Ducks
Actual Pick: RHP Paul Skenes (PIT)
Burlingame Blue Ducks GM Ryan Walsh has nailed each of his past two Drafts with Paul Skenes holding the potential of the best pick in Franchise History. Few pitching prospects possess true ace upside like Skenes. Walsh certainly hoped the right-hander would end up in a more well regarded organization than the Pirates, but with a likely activation of 2025, he should cash in plenty of points to make this a memorable pick for the Ducks.
8. Idaho Taters (Oppo Tacos)
Re-Draft Pick: RHP Roki Sasaki (Japan), Originally 1st Overall by Jokers
Actual Pick: OF Evan Carter (TEX)
The top overall pick in the 2023 Reserve Draft falls to 8th Overall, but that hardly is a hit on Sasaki’s overall ceiling. The right-hander still possesses the ability to emerge as the most productive pick of the Draft, it just comes with an uncertain ETA that could be pushed to 2026 with the Japanese League posting rules. Whenever he is posted, expect a bidding process similar to that of Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
9. St. Joseph Jokers
Re-Draft Pick: RHP Bryce Miller (SEA), Originally 79th Overall by Goutfish
Actual Pick: C Endy Rodriguez (PIT)
Despite a 4.32 ERA in his Rookie campaign, there was plenty to like from Bryce Miller’s debut in 2023. Activated in 2023 by the Lake Merced Goutfish before being deal to the Nashville Aristocrats, Miller walks into 2024 carrying a 400+ point projection from CBS with a chance to headline the ‘Crats rotation for the next two seasons.
10. Meinert Hops
Re-Draft Pick: 2B Edouard Julien (MIN), Originally 46th Overall by Falcons
Actual Pick: RHP Chase Dollander (COL)
Julien's Rookie debut went exceptionally well in Minnesota, ranking 5th in OPS (.840) among second basemen with at least 250 at-bats, ahead of the likes of Marcus Semien and Gleybar Torres. Despite just 109 games overall, Julien ranked fifth in walks (64) at his position, aligning his skillset perfectly with the RDBL and raising his floor. The Falcons resisted the urge to activate him with Julien entering 2024 as one of the league’s top activations.
11. Burlingame Blue Ducks
Re-Draft Pick: C Ethan Salas (SD), Originally 5th Overall by Grapes
Actual Pick: 1B Kyle Manzardo (CLE)
Salas entered the 2023 Reserve Draft as one of the top teenagers in RDBL History with jaw-dropping reports for a 16-year-old backstop. The phenom has done little to shake the hype with a strong 2023 campaign that saw him rise all the way to Double-A. His age and ultimate ETA remain the only knock against him compared to the other prospects on this list. At what point are the Padres comfortable turning the reigns behind the plate over to Salas for 120+ games to produce at a Top-5 or 10 rate among backstops?
12. Mission Viejo Maulers
Re-Draft Pick: OF Walker Jenkins (MIN), Originally 113th Overall by Taters
Actual Pick: SS Vaughn Grissom (BOS)
It won’t be a surprise to look back at this list and have Jenkins emerge as the best pick of the bunch. The High School draftee carried lofty expectations entering the 2023 MLB Draft, but those rose to franchise-changer levels following his professional debut where he slashed .362/.417/.571.
13. Mission Viejo Maulers
Re-Draft Pick: SS Colson Montgomery (CHW), Originally 15th Overall by Devils
Actual Pick: OF Vance Honeycutt (UNC)
Montgomery’s 2023 season was delayed by an oblique injury, opening the door for his availability in a mid-season trade to the Alamo Short Stacks. When he returned he showed one of the best combinations of hittability and power in the minor leagues. A strong start to 2024 in Double-A could put him on the fast track to the North Side where he should settle in as a long-term answer at shortstop for the White Sox.
14. Spokane Fightin’ Fish
Re-Draft Pick: OF James Wood (WSH), Originally 3rd Overall by Maulers
Actual Pick: 2B Connor Norby (BAL)
Wood’s jump to Double-A in 2023 saw his strikeouit rate rise, but he continued to hit for power while displaying his athleticism in the outfield and on the bases. More seasoning is needed at the plate, but the upside remains among the highest in the Minor Leagues.
15. Mt. Diablo Devils
Re-Draft Pick: SS Jackson Merrill (SD), Originally 4th Overall to Fringe
Actual Pick: SS Colson Montgomery (CHW)
A sweet lefthanded swing and plus hitting potential are Merrill’s carrying attributes, but he’s also an athletic shortstop who has added positional versatility in anticipation of a 2024 call-up. He added a lot of good weight as a high school senior and has enhanced his power game in pro ball to the point where he could be good for 20-plus homers annually. Evaluators trimmed a bit off his ceiling in 2023, but it comes with a high floor that should make him a strong addition to the Fringe lineup when ready.
Honorable Mention: SS Adael Amador, SS Masyn Winn, C Dalton Rushing, RHP Hurston Waldrep, 1B Kyle Manzardo, SS Zach Neto