The divisional reports are a new series put out by the PitcherList dynasty team. These reports provide a list of the top ten prospects on each team in the division and highlight two players from each organization. Each division will be updated once per month by our divisional experts. The NL East and AL East articles have already been released. Make sure to head over to the Pitcher List Dynasty page to check those out.
AL Central
Top 10 Prospects
Prospects I am most excited about:
- Noah Schultz: A 6’9″ left-handed pitcher with a whippy delivery is an imposing presence on the mound. Only 20 years old, with 27 minor league innings pitches, Schultz is the White Sox’s most exciting prospect. A mid to high 90s fastball, Schultz works in a plus slider and average changeup. 2024 will be a big test for a full workload after Schultz ended 2023 with a Shoulder injury.
- Colson Montgomery: Before starting 2024 in Triple-A, Montgomery had just 51 games above High-A. A top-ranked prospect, Montgomery has yet to produce typical top prospect numbers or play a full season. While the counting stats weren’t there, Montgomery had a 56BB:56K total in 2023. With an advanced approach, Montgomery is knocking on the door of an MLB debut after just 188 minor league games.
- Samuel Zavala: Traded in the Dylan Cease deal, Zavala had a great Low-A season as an 18/19-year-old. With a .420 OBP, 14 home runs, and 20 steals over 101 games, Zavala has plus potential. With a rough taste of High-A at the end of 2023, Zavala will look to start bouncing back in 2024.
A few other names to know:
- Jake Eder: A 4th round pick in the shortened 2020 MLB Draft, Eder was aggressively promoted to Double-A for the Marlins. After Tommy John surgery at the end of 2021, Eder had a rough 2023 and was traded to the White Sox. One of my favorite pitching prospects pre-injury, Eder should get a shot at an MLB debut in 2024.
- Grant Taylor: The 51st overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, Taylor has the stuff to be a solid starter. 21 walks in his 31 innings at LSU were followed up by just 2 walks in his 21 Cape Cod League innings. Unfortunately, the command is going to be what decides what type of pitcher he’ll become.
- George Wolkow: Standing 6’7″, the Aaron Judge comps are bound to happen. The plus power is there, but the rest of the game will need development before he’s close to Aaron Judge. He’s an exciting prospect who could develop and quickly rise up prospect rankings, Wolkow will be just 18 years old for all of 2024 with plenty of time to develop his approach.
Top 10 Prospects
Prospects I am most excited about:
- Jackson Jobe: A huge rise from 2023 to 2024, Jobe is in the discussion for the top pitching prospect in baseball. After missing the first half of 2023 with a back injury, Jobe dominated 2023. He put up an astonishing 84 strikeouts in 64 innings and just 6 walks. Hopefully cleared for a full workload in 2024, Jobe is going to be watched closely by many to see if the 2023 Jobe was for real. Jobe did allow 9 home runs in the 64 innings, and 14 in 77.1 innings in 2022. The amount of home runs allowed is a concern, but Jobe is still developing with just 141.1 career innings.
- Max Clark: The 3rd overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, Clark was highly regarded as one of the best prospects in the draft. Not the professional start Clark hoped for, hitting .224 with 25 strikeouts in 23 games. No doubt Max Clark has 5 tool potential. 19 years old for the 2024 season, Clark will look to show why he was drafted above Wyatt Langford and Walker Jenkins.
- Ty Madden: A prospect who doesn’t get the hype he deserves in Ty Madden. Now 24-years-old, Madden doesn’t need much more development. The Tigers have moved Madden rather slowly, despite him seeing a good amount of Minor League success. Madden racked up 279 strikeouts in his 240.2 MiLB innings, with a career 3.22 ERA. With Matt Manning being sent to Triple-A, Madden is blocked from making his MLB debut. Madden has mid-rotation starter potential but might need injuries or a trade to see an MLB debut happen.
A few other names to know:
- Kevin McGonigle: After Max Clark went 3rd, the Tigers doubled down on high school bats taking McGonigle 37th overall. Much like Clark, McGonigle has a plus-hit tool. A better start to his career, McGonigle slashed .315/.452./.411, with 1 home run and 8 stolen bases in 21 games. The potential for McGonigle depends on the power numbers, but without he’ll still be a top-of-the-order hitter with good speed.
- Justyn-Henry Malloy: Shockingly Malloy did not win a roster spot with Colt Keith out of spring training in 2024. Instead, he was sent back to Triple-A, where he already proved he deserves a shot to be an everyday player at the MLB level. Justyn-Henry Malloy put up an OBP over .400 in the last two seasons with 17 and 23 home runs. The Tigers signed Mark Canha, ultimately blocking Malloy for the start of 2024. With nothing left to prove, Malloy should be the first call if a Detroit Tiger is injured or struggling.
- Wilmer Flores: A breakout 2022, Flores pitched to a 2.79 ERA with 130 strikeouts in 103.1 innings. After a bit of a down season at Double-A in 2023, Flores saw a jump in his walk rate. Flores had a rough Triple-A debut in 2024, giving up 4ER in 2.1 innings and failing to record a strikeout. He could shift to a long relief or high-leverage role to make his MLB debut in 2024.
Top 10 Prospects
Prospects I am most excited about:
- Marco Raya: My favorite prospect in the Twins system is Marco Raya. An electric arm that has 3-4 plus pitches in a 5-pitch mix. Raya reminds me a lot of Yordano Ventura on the mound. Any pitch can get a strikeout for Raya, but his slider is most likely his best pitch. He throws a sharp curve that keeps hitters off balance when expecting the slider. Raya has the making of a frontline starter, the biggest question is health and a full workload.
- Walker Jenkins: One of the top prospects in baseball, Jenkins dominated Low-A in his 12-game debut. Plus tools across the board, Jenkins has the ability to hit for average and power, while adding some stolen bases. Jenkins is big so the stolen bases may be limited but he has plus power potential. Starting the 2024 season at Low-A, Jenkins will look to pick up where he left off in 2023.
- Charlee Soto: One of my favorite pitching prospects from the 2023 MLB Draft with Alex Clemmey, Soto has promising stuff. The splitter/changeup is what makes Soto interesting. It seems every pitcher adopted one over the offseason, but Soto already worked his into his mix. The splitter is fun, but Soto has a plus fastball that gets on hitters quickly. He finishes his 3-pitch arsenal with a plus slider as well. Soto will need to work on his command and be more of a pitcher than a thrower/athlete. 18 years old until August, Soto has plenty of time to refine his command.
A few other names to know:
- Brooks Lee: Lee is MLB-ready and arguably has been since the day he was drafted. 156 minor league games and reaching Triple-A, Lee has a .281 career average with 20 home runs and 7 steals. Lee is close to making an MLB debut and could play anywhere in the infield when he does.
- Gabriel Gonzalez: Traded from the Mariners in the Jorge Polanco trade, Gonzalez had a mini breakout in 2023. Gonzalez has above-average power and should be able to total 20+ per season. 20 years old for all of 2024, Gonzalez will most likely start the year at High-A.
- Emmanuel Rodriguez: Entering 2022, Rodriguez was a sleeper prospect and rated closer to his value in my opinion. Rodriguez skyrocketed up rankings after his 2022 season because of his ability to get on base. With a near .500 OBP in Low-A before an injury, Rodriguez started to crack Top 50 Prospects lists. The hit tool is still questionable, and the strikeout rate was just under 30% in 2023. Rodriguez has high potential but the ranks are a bit aggressive for me.
Top 10 Prospects
Prospects I am most excited about:
- Chase DeLauter: One of the most hyped prospects right now after a scorching spring training, DeLauter is a top 10 prospect. Playing in just 57 minor league games for DeLauter since being drafted, he’s crushed at every level. With a .355 MiLB average, 5 home runs, 6 steals, and a 30K:23BB total, DeLauter is trying to hit his way to Cleveland. Starting 2024 in Double-A, if DeLauter picks up where he left off there’s a good chance he skips Triple-A entirely.
- Kyle Manzardo: Traded from the Rays for Aaron Civale in 2023, Manzardo made an immediate impact at Double-A for Cleveland. After a good AFL and Spring Training, Manzardo should have had a chance to break camp, but it’s the Guardians. A .381 spring average wasn’t enough to skip Triple-A, but Manzardo can flat-out hit. A first baseman with a high average and 25+ home runs can be expected when he’s the everyday first baseman. Despite being in Triple-A, Manzardo could be close to the same timeline as DeLauter.
- Ralphy Velazquez: The third left-handed hitter I’m excited about is 18-year-old Ralphy Velazquez. Drafted 23rd overall in 2023, Velazquez had no issue in 6 rookie ball games, hitting .348 with 2 home runs. An advanced bat for his age, Velazquez could put up a monster 2024 while playing at the low levels.
A few other names to know:
- Alex Clemmey: One of my favorite pitchers out of the 2023 MLB Draft, Clemmey is a tall and lanky lefty. 6’6, 205 pounds, Clemmey has a potential 3-plus pitch mix with a changeup to keep hitters off balance. One of the best organizations at drafting and developing pitchers, the Guardians may have found a future frontline starter.
- Jaison Chourio: The younger brother of superstar prospect Jackson Chourio, Jaison is much of the same without the power. However, that could be changing as Jaison has been hitting home runs all offseason on the Guardians’ back fields. For now, Jaison has a mature approach, with good speed but stands 6’1 and could add 15-20 home run power. Surely, he’ll be unfairly compared to Jackson, but he’s doing a great job of proving he’s a promising prospect.
- Welbyn Francisca: A smaller prospect at 5’8, Francisca had no issue displaying power in the DSL with 3HR, 6 triples, and 7 doubles in 40 games. He doesn’t turn 18 until the middle of May 2024, giving him plenty of time to add weight to his frame. A smooth switch-hitting swing, Francisca is a name to watch in 2024 for his stateside debut.
Top 10 Prospects
Prospects I am most excited about:
- Ramon Ramirez: My favorite Royals prospect is Ramon Ramirez, and he absolutely mashed the DSL in 2023. He put up a .344/.440/.615 slash line with 8 home runs and 6 stolen bases in 41 games. Ramirez has a powerful swing at 6′, 180 pounds, and should generate 25+ home runs per season. There’s a real chance Ramirez could be the number-one Royals prospect by the end of the 2024 season.
- Blake Wolters: One of the more promising prospects for the Royals, Wolters was taken 44th overall in the 2023 MLB Draft. His mix includes a mid to upper 90s fastball, paired with a good slider and work-in-progress changeup. The development of his changeup will decide if Wolters sticks as a starter or moves to the bullpen. Wolters will look to turn around the lack of success prospect arms have had in the Royals system.
- Blake Mitchell: Drafted 8th overall in the 2023 MLB Draft, Mitchell had a similar professional debut to Max Clark. Hitting just .147 at Rookie Ball, Mitchell was unable to get going at the plate. Mitchell was able to get on base with a .423 OBP thanks to 17 walks in 13 games. There has been a lot of praise about the maturity and makeup of Mitchell behind the plate. Mitchell will look to show off the 20+ home run potential in his first full season in 2024.
A few other names to know:
- Yandel Ricardo: One of the top international signings in 2024, Ricardo is a switch-hitting shortstop. He’s quick to the ball but also has power in his swing that should translate to 20+ home runs. Ricardo is easily one of the more exciting prospects based on potential but is someone to watch until he debuts.
- Carson Roccaforte: Plus speed is the calling card for Roccaforte and he displayed that in a small debut in 2023. In just 31 games, Roccaforte stole 16 bases. The bat will determine if Roccaforte is a top or bottom-of-the-order hitter. He posted a 34K:19BB total in his professional debut. Roccaforte could move quickly as it looks like he’ll begin 2024 in Double-A.
- Hunter Owen: A 4th round pick out of Vanderbilt in 2023, Owen has yet to make his professional debut. A big body at 6’6, 260 pounds, Owen should be able to handle a full season workload. A solid 4 pitch mix, Owen has above-average stuff with decent command. Owen should have no issue succeeding until he faces Double-A competition.
Feature Image Adapted by Aaron Polcare (@bearydoesgfx on X)