With the Prospect Ranking season behind us, we are taking a look at the top Farm Systems in the Roger Dorn Baseball League entering 2023. The list is factoring in star power at the top, depth of the system and ETA of helping on the Active Roster.
RDBL Front Offices have dramatically improved their approach to the Reserve Draft since the league was formed in 2013 leading to strong prospects across every Franchise entering 2023.
Without further intro, here are the top Farm Systems in the RDBL entering Draft Day.
1. Cloverdale Clovers
The Overview: Elite upside with 2023 and 2024 Activations
Top Prospect: While the window of title contention closed last season with the core of Juan Soto, Rafael Devers and Mookie Betts, GM Chris Shelley hopes to open it right back up with a strong activation class led by catcher Adley Rutschman. He's either 1A or 1B among activations for 2023, sharing the mantle with Julio Rodriguez and projects to step right in as a Top-5 contributor at his position in 2023.
The Riser: Several Clovers prospects are pointing up, including the likes of Andrew Painter, Elly De La Cruz and Taj Bradley, but we'll go with Ricky Tiedemann who has gone from an 11th Round pick in the 2022 Reserve Draft to rivaling Kyle Harrison as the top left-handed starter left in the Minor Leagues.
2023 Potential Activations: C Adley Rutschman, RHP Edward Cabrera, SS Oneil Cruz, OF Alek Thomas
2. Asti Grape Stompers
The Overview: The most upside in the RDBL but with more 2024 Activations than 2023.
Top Prospect: The Grapes suffered through a disappointing 2022 season, but GM Terry Shelley capitalized on the trade market, adding elite prospects Kyle Harrison, Francisco Alvarez and Jordan Walker, the last of which tops the club's Farm System rankings. Walker is a true middle of the order masher who lines up for a 2024 activation, a class that should open up a window of title contention for the Grapes.
The Riser: It was a rollercoaster Rookie campaign for Hunter Greene, but his final six starts of 2022 highlighted just how high his upside remains to be. Greene punched out 51 in his last 35 1/3 innings with a 1.02 ERA and 0.85 WHIP. He'll immediately be slotted behind Robbie Ray on the Grapes 2023 rotation.
2023 Potential Activations: RHP Hunter Greene
3. Lunatic Fringe
The Overview: The best pitching combo in the RDBL with as many as seven players in the big leagues for 2023.
Top Prospect: In an age where most RDBL Front Offices are steering away from pitching prospects, it's quite the feat that GM Tony Guglielmi boasts a top prospect in Triston McKenzie who outranks many people's top pitcher remaining in the Minor Leagues in Grayson Rodriguez. McKenzie ranked 8th in pitcher scoring last season, posting 571.0 points, a mark many dream a pitcher of any age would hit in a given year. Guglielmi will finally unleash McKenzie to start 2023.
The Riser: More Pitching! While Reid Detmers was the only big league pitcher to throw a no-hitter in 2022, he entered that game with a 5.19 ERA and found himself back in the Minor Leagues six weeks later. But the rebound is the real story as Detmers finished the year on a tear, going 5-3 with a 3.04 ERA, further complicating Guglielmi's rotation choices for this season.
2023 Activation Options: RHP Triston McKenzie, RHP Grayson Rodriguez, LHP Reid Detmers, RHP Josiah Gray, OF Brandon Marsh, RHP Clarke Schmidt
4. Maltese Falcons
The Overview: Solid additions ready for 2023 with elite upside coming in 2024 and Beyond
Top Prospect: While Eury Perez, Daniel Espino and Druw Jones have more long-term upside, Triston Casas is ready to immediately step into the starting first base role in Boston and the 2023 Opening Day lineup for the Falcons. though their Front Office is rumored to be still evaluating the decision. The young first baseman appeared in 27 games for the Red Sox in the final month of the 2022 season, getting his feet wet and has a strong power/patience combination that could quickly develop him into a star.
The Riser: While Casas has the bigger name brand, Jose Miranda quietly filled and everyday role in Minnesota after an early season call-up, blasting 15 home runs and producing a .280 batting average in the 2nd Half. Miranda was added to the Falcons 2022 Playoff Roster and is locked into an Opening Day role with eligibility at first and third.
2023 Potential Activations: *1B/3B Jose Miranda, 1B Triston Casas, C Joey Bart
5. St. Joseph Jokers
The Overview: Top Six are activation ready with Henderson and Wright as potential 400+ point contributors immediately.
Top Prospect: The Jokers pulled off one of the biggest steals in League History, landing Gunnar Henderson from the Mt. Diablo Devils for Kyle Hendricks in the middle of 2022. Henderson has made incredible strides as a player even just in the past two years, from swing adjustments to physical development to going from a raw athlete on defense to a potentially elite glove at third base who can stay at shortstop too. The Orioles’ second-round pick in 2019, signed to a first-round bonus, Henderson performed better in High A than he did in Low A in 2021, moved up to Double A and hit better there than he had in High A, only slowing down when he reached Triple A last year at 21, hitting a measly .288/.390/.504 in half a season there. He finished the year with a strong showing in Baltimore and enters 2023 ranked as one of the top two prospects in baseball that maintains Rookie eligibility.
The Riser: While their might not be tremendous upside, Gabriel Moreno doesn't need to be Buster Posey at the plate to prove to be an excellent value for the Jokers. Known mostly for his defensive wizardry, Moreno is an excellent hitter as well even though it might not be coupled with power. Moreno is projected to step right into the Diamondbacks starting role to start 2023, manning the backstop position for the Jokers along with fellow activation MJ Melendez.
2023 Potential Activations: IF Gunnar Henderson, C Gabriel Moreno, RHP Kyle Wright, C/OF MJ Melendez, LHP DL Hall, OF JJ Bleday
6. Alamo Short Stacks
The Overview: Four activations for 2023 with Carroll leading the way while Clark, Gonzalez should provide as Top 50 Prospects after the 2023 MLB Draft.
Top Prospect: The Stacks are expected to activate as many as five prospects for Opening Day this season, but Corbin Carroll stands out above the rest as one of the top activations in the overall RDBL Class. Carroll got his feet wet with 100 at-bats in 2022, slugging an even .500 which showcased the outfielder's substantial upside and ranked as The Athletic's top overall prospect in baseball.
The Riser: The Stacks dipped into the High School Junior Class with the selection of outfielder Max Clark in 2022. In the mold of Jacoby Ellsbury, Clark is a tireless worker that looks set to become Top-5 pick in July's MLB Draft and a quick Top 50 prospect in baseball at this time next season.
2023 Potential Activations: OF Corbin Carroll, LHP MacKenzie Gore, 3B Miguel Vargas, C Luis Campusano
7. Spokane Fightin' Fish
The Overview: The best activation in the RDBL along with Pasquantino who might be the most underrated. Lacks depth after the top two.
Top Prospect: If the Fightin' Fish only had Julio Rodriguez in their Farm System, they might still hold this position. Rodriguez is poised to be one of the most accomplished activations in RDBL History after taking home the American League Rookie of the Year Award in 2022 and could produce a 1,500 point run over the next three seasons for just $8 combined.
The Riser: 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. He's a fly ball hitter with plus power that should play in cavernous Kauffman Stadium, but he hits ample line drives to support a BABIP around .300. His best position is designated hitter which isn't ideal for a fledgling 25-year-old, but the Royals need his bat in the lineup, so he'll play every day.
2023 Potential Activations: *OF Julio Rodriguez, *1B Vinnie Paquantino
8. Idaho Taters
The Overview: Elite duo at the top but very young with underperformance from Gorman, Leiter, Davis and Liberatore in 2022.
Top Prospect: GM Mike Friedrich has quickly developed into one of the league's best Reserve Draft eyes for talent, developing a deep Farm System that is ready to help at the big league level this season. While they will have to wait on their top prospect, Marcelo Mayer appears to be well worth it. Mayer was selected 4th overall by the Red Sox in the 2021 MLB Draft out of High School and holds a 2024 ETA to the big leagues, ranking as one of baseball's best overall prospects, with fellow Taters farmhand Jackson Holliday not far behind.
The Riser: While he comes with less hype than other elite right-handers remaining in the Minor Leagues, the 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.
2023 Potential Activations: 2B Nolan Gorman, 3B Josh Jung, LHP Matt Liberatore, RP Nate Pearson
9. Meinert Hops
The Overview: Harris and Baty are elite while the jury is still out on the impact of CJ Abrams. Is there any value after Top 5?
Top Prospect: Michael Harris hardly came 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 receiving the call in late May. Harris started out slow, but the Braves patience paid off. His 24.3% strikeout rate and 4.8% 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. Just 22-years-old, jumps right into a Playoff contending roster for GM Garrett Shelley in 2023.
The Riser: The Hops certainly nailed their 2022 Reserve Draft, with Harris as their third selection and Brett Baty as their second. The smooth hitting third baseman has a good chance to break camp with the Mets and could give the Hops additional flexibility in their salary cap as they work around the $88 contract of Shohei Ohtani.
2023 Potential Activations: *OF Michael Harris, SS CJ Abrams, 3B Brett Baty, LHP Daniel Lynch
10. Mt. Diablo Devils
The Overview: Impact of Greene and Lodolo repeating 2022 Second Half could make this look low.
Top Prospect: Riley Greene appeared likely to break camp on the Tigers' Opening Day roster, but a foul ball off the foot delayed his arrival to the big leagues until mid-June. He would go on to slash .253/.321/.362 across 93 games as a rookie, hitting five homers while successfully stealing only one bag in five attempts. In a vacuum, these numbers are rather uninspiring, but the fact that Greene was right around league average by wRC+ as a 21-year-old speaks volumes and is the reason he maintains the top spot in the Devils Farm System. The fifth overall pick in 2019, Greene was considered among the top prospects in the game at the time of his call-up. The Tigers are going to give Greene every chance to succeed. We've already seen that he can hold his own against big-league pitching, but it would be nice to see him cut down on the strikeouts (28.7%). How quickly he does that will determine his trajectory.
The Riser: While Diego Cartaya should be the likely choice, we'll keep 2023 in focus and go with Nick Lodolo. 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. Hunter Greene gets most of the attention in the Reds' rotation, but Lodolo is arguably better equipped for major-league success right now given his secondary pitches and command of his arsenal.
2023 Potential Activations: OF Riley Greene, LHP Nick Lodolo, RHP Cade Cavalli, RHP James Kaprielian, RHP Luis Patiño
11. Honolulu Hammerheads
The Overview: All eyes on D'Backs rotation plans with much of their Farm tied up in that future. Can Priester and Hassell III overcome dents to their value in late 2022?
Top Prospect: Minor League strikeout king Brandon Pfaadt took a big step forward in 2022, dominating Double-A and Triple-A over 167 innings, with scouts raving about his feel and competitiveness while penciling him in as a mid-rotation fit as soon as the middle of 2023. The D-backs have young starting pitching on the 40-man that may get shots first (including fellow Heads prospects Drey Jameson and Ryne Nelson) but Pfaadt is the best of the bunch, with a mid-90's heater, slider, changeup and command that all grade out as 55- or 60-grade.
The Riser: Catcher Drew Romo was the Rockies’ second pick in the 2020 draft, an elite defensive catcher for a high schooler who had big questions around his bat, but he’s hit extremely well in pro ball, to the point that he might end up a top-5 catcher in baseball at his peak. He has a short swing with good feel for the barrel, showing enough power to project to average when he fills out, maybe 12-18 homers a year. He was off to a great start in High A as a 20-year-old, hitting .280/.348/.408 with just a 17.7 percent strikeout rate, when he got hit on his hand and the remainder of his season was derailed. With a future in Coors Field, the Heads look to have a future activation behind the plate.
2023 Potential Activations: RHP Ryne Nelson, RHP Drew Jameson, OF Jarren Duran, RHP Brandon Pfaadt
12. Las Vegas Aristocrats
The Overview: Catching duo and Stott a big addition for 2023, lots of volatility behind them.
Top Prospect: The 'Crats look set to activate their top three overall prospects for Opening Day led by slugging catcher William Contreras. In just 416 at-bats, Contreras posted 22 home runs and 23 doubles, ranking 6th in catcher scoring with 295.5 points in 2022. Traded to the Milwaukee Brewers over the Winter, Contreras is expected to see even more time at the plate with time at DH and potentially 1B.
The Riser: It was a tale of three seasons for former UCLA standout Garrett Mitchell. The 6-foot-3 center fielder was dreadful for his first 29 games at Double-A, logging a .676 OPS and 32.3 K% before suffering an oblique injury. He returned in mid-July and tallied a .356/.419/.515 slash line with three home runs, 10 steals and a 20.3 K% in 34 games between Double-A and Triple-A. Milwaukee diverted from their attempts to unlock that power in games and just let him be the most effective version of himself. That approach earned him a late-season call-up where he hit .311 with a pair of home runs and eight steals in 28 games. Mitchell's 41.2 K% and .548 BABIP scream regression, but he nonetheless managed to be worth a full win above replacement. He will be given every chance to win the starting center field job for the Brewers to start 2023.
2023 Potential Activations: C William Contreras, C Shea Langeliers, IF Bryson Stott, OF Garrett Mitchell
13. Lake Merced Goutfish
The Overview: Miller probably has the highest upside and could make this look low while Alcantara and Green are ones to watch for 2023.
Top Prospect: In Pittsburgh and losing eligibility for the Top 100 Lists, it's easy to forget about Roansy Contreras but he could immediately step into the Goutfish rotation for 2023 after posting a 3.79 ERA in 95.0 big league innings last season. There are far worse options to round out your rotation while Contreras' $1 contract would give GM Ryan Atkinson even more flexibility with the salary cap.
The Riser: Inconsistency has has been an issue for Bobby Miller, but the burly right-hander seemed to turn a corner from July on last season as he posted a 3.56 ERA and 1.08 WHIP with a sparkling 82:16 K:BB ratio in 55 2/3 innings. He finished the season at Triple-A and will start the 2023 season a call away from a stable spot in the Dodgers rotation.
2023 Potential Activations: RHP Roansy Contreras, RHP Bobby Miller, SS Oswald Peraza
14. Mission Viejo Maulers
The Overview: Johnson with elite upside but could have a 2025 or 2026 ETA.
Top Prospect: Nico Hoerner's role to begin 2022 was murky after Chicago added Andrelton Simmons in March, but the veteran shortstop battled injuries and played in only 35 games before he was cut loose in August. Hoerner worked as the Cubs' primary shortstop and was a plus defender, and he finished the year with a .281/.327/.410 slash line, 10 home runs, 55 RBI and 20 stolen bases. Entering the year, he had only three homers and eight stolen in 112 career games, so the improvements in those areas are a significant development for his fantasy appeal. Hoerner was activated for the 2022 Playoffs and will help lead the Maulers rebuilding offense in 2023.
The Riser: With Tuesday's move to deal away Aaron Judge and Justin Verlander, Termarr Johnson's addition to the Maulers Farm System is a substantial one. The left-handed hitter combines elite hand-eye coordination and swing decisions to help him post otherworldly contact rates. He turns around premium velocity and good breaking stuff alike with fast hands and a compact stroke. He can drive the ball to all fields, and despite his listed 5-foot-10 frame, he routinely barrels up the baseball and uses bat speed and strength to generate the kind of power that could lead to 25-plus homers annually while manning the keystone defensively.
2023 Potential Activations: *IF Nico Hoerner, OF Drew Waters, OF Josh Lowe
15. Burlingame Blue Ducks
The Overview: System is improving but no impact talent ready for 2023.
Top Prospect: Taj Bradley put up an ERA north of 2.00 for the first time since 2019 when he logged a 3.66 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 53:15 K:BB in 12 starts (59 innings) at Triple-A. His 177.2-inning stretch from Single-A to High-A to Double-A across 2021 and 2022 where he kept his ERA under 2.00 with a 0.92 WHIP and 211:49 K:BB is one of the best prolonged statistical runs a pitching prospect has had in recent memory. All the while, Bradley has had his top two pitches down -- a mid-90s fastball with good life and a hard cutter that eats hitters up. He still hasn't added a reliable third offering, but his athleticism and command are well ahead of the typical 21-year-old starting pitcher. The Rays enter the season without need of Bradley's services in the rotation, so he should return to Triple-A for at least a month or two to try to develop a third pitch he can use when he makes his big-league debut this summer.
The Riser: The Ducks dipped into the amateur ranks, selecting highly sought after slugging outfielder Dylan Crews from LSU in the 2nd Round of the 2022 Reserve Draft. Crews is widely regarded as the best prospect available in the 2023 MLB Draft and should immediately jump into a Top 30 prospect in all of baseball after July with a big Junior year for the Tigers.
2023 Potential Activations: SS Luis Garcia, OF Alek Thomas