About the Top 100 Prospects
■ Players qualify for the ranking if they have 130 or fewer major league at-bats or 50 or fewer major league innings in their career. Major league service time is not considered.
■ Each player’s listed age is his baseball age in 2023.
■ The estimated time of arrival, or ETA, is the season when the player is projected to reach the big leagues, if only for a small portion of it.
■ The scouting grades are projected future grades on the 20-80 scale, where 50 is average. Position players are assessed for their ability to hit for average, power, speed, fielding and throwing arm. Pitchers are graded on the quality of their fastball, curveball, slider, changeup and control.
SNAKES ALIVE!
The Orioles aren’t the only team with prospect talent massing at the border of the big leagues.
The D-backs enter 2023 with one of the strongest collections of prospect talent since Baseball America began tracking the Top 100 Prospects in 1990.
Using the prospect valuation method outlined in the Orioles story, the D-backs rank 20th by the same measure.
Arizona lacks the same level of overall prospect depth as Baltimore in the Top 100 but has a high concentration of talent crowding the top of the list, including outfielder Corbin Carroll (No. 2), catcher Gabriel Moreno (12), shortstop Jordan Lawlar (13), outfielder Druw Jones (24) and righthander Brandon Pfaadt (27).
The D-backs struck gold in recent years in the first round of the draft, taking Carroll in 2019, Lawlar in 2021 and Jones in 2022.
It won’t be long before the entire crew is in Arizona, pushing the D-backs to their next competitive window.
1. GUNNAR HENDERSON
ORIOLES, SS/3B
2023 Age: 22. ETA: 2023.
Average Exit Velocity: 92 mph
Hit: 60 | Pow: 70 | Run: 60 | Field: 60 | Arm: 70
A well-rounded player with few weaknesses, Henderson has the speed, strength and athleticism to impact the game in multiple ways and is ready for a starring role in Baltimore after making his major league debut last year.
2. CORBIN CARROLL
D-BACKS, OF
2023 Age: 22. ETA: 2023.
Average Exit Velocity: 90 mph
Hit: 60 | Pow: 60 | Run: 80 | Field: 60 | Arm: 45
The undersized but speedy Carroll tore through the upper levels of the minors last season in his first year back from shoulder surgery. His advanced contact skills, elite speed and sneaky power should make him a dynamic threat atop the D-backs lineup.
3. JACKSON CHOURIO
BREWERS, OF
2023 Age: 19. ETA: 2024.
Average Exit Velocity: 89 mph
Hit: 60 | Pow: 70 | Run: 70 | Field: 55 | Arm: 50
The biggest breakout prospect of 2022, Chourio boasts some of the loudest tools in the minors with prodigious power, speed and athleticism to go with advanced hitting ability and instincts. He’s on the fast track after reaching Double-A as an 18-year-old and has a chance to be the face of the Brewers’ franchise.
4. JORDAN WALKER
CARDINALS, 3B/OF
2023 Age: 21. ETA: 2023.
Average Exit Velocity: 91 mph
Hit: 50 | Pow: 70 | Run: 55 | Field: 50 | Arm: 60
The physically imposing Walker continues to hit for power and average at every level and is one of the most complete hitters in the minors. He’ll eventually take his place in the middle of the Cardinals order and has a chance to be one of the game’s premier offensive threats.
5. ANDREW PAINTER
PHILLIES, RHP
2023 Age: 20. ETA: 2023.
Average Fastball Velocity: 96 mph
FB: 70 | CB: 50 | SL: 60 | CHG: 55 | CTL: 70
Painter’s mix of explosive stuff, exquisite command, advanced durability and impressive poise gives him a chance to be a rare ace in the major leagues. He’s still just 19 and has to stay healthy, but his potential is unmatched among the game’s current pitching prospects.
6. GRAYSON RODRIGUEZ
ORIOLES, RHP
2023 Age: 23. ETA: 2023.
Average Fastball Velocity: 95 mph
FB: 70 | CB: 55 | SL: 70 | CHG: 60 | CTL: 65
Rodriguez missed three months with a lat strain last season but dominated at Triple-A when he was healthy. His uncommon combination of size, stuff and command gives him a chance to pitch at the front of the Orioles’ rotation in the future. That future could begin on Opening Day 2023.
7. EURY PEREZ
MARLINS, RHP
2023 Age: 20. ETA: 2024.
Average Fastball Velocity: 96 mph
FB: 70 | CB: 60 | SL: 60 | CHG: 60 | CTL: 65
The 6-foot-8 Dominican looks like the Marlins’ next great pitcher after reaching Double-A as a 19-year-old last season. With an upper-90s fastball, a dominant changeup, two quality breaking pitches and rare control for a pitcher his size, Perez has a chance to eventually join Sandy Alcantara at the front of Miami’s rotation.
8. ELLY DE LA CRUZ
REDS, SS
2023 Age: 21. ETA: 2023.
Average Exit 89 mph
