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. Be sure to head over to the Pitcher List dynasty page to check out the other reports put out by the team.
AL East
Top 10 Prospects
Prospects I’m Most Excited About, not named Jackson Holliday
- Coby Mayo was impressive in Spring Training, batting .326 with eight extra-base hits and 11 RBIs. The Orioles opted to reassign Mayo to their Minor League camp, but the power-hitting corner infielder should be up early in the season.
- Mac Horvath was a 2nd-round pick in the 2023 Draft and should be on everyone’s radar. In his debut last summer, Horvath slashed .321/.455/.603 with five homers and 14 steals, playing his way up to High-A. Horvath likely returns to High-A to open this season, looking to build on his strong finish in 2023.
- The Orioles have an abundance of offensive talent in their system but don’t sleep on 20-year-old left-hander Luis de Leon. The southpaw made his US debut last summer, finishing 5-1 with a 2.01 ERA. Pairing a mid-90s fastball with two plus off-speed pitches, de Leon has the arsenal to stick around as a starter. Keep an eye on his command, as walks have been an issue early on
A few other names to Know:
- Numerous arm injuries set Carter Baumler’s development back nearly two years, but the former 5th-round pick finally looked healthy to end 2023. At his best, Baumler has a four-pitch mix that can baffle hitters, but to see him flourish, we need continued health.
- The Orioles dropped nearly $2M on Braylin Tavera in the 2022 J-15 Class, and last season, the 19-year-old looked the part. With a projectible 6’2″ frame and above-average plate skills, Tavera is a name to watch entering 2024.
Top 10 Prospects
Prospects I’m Most Excited About
- I will beat the drum on 18-year-old shortstop Yoeilin Cespedes until the day I die. The 2023 Latin Player of the Year has incredible offensive ability for a player his age, notably his advanced plate discipline and hit tool. His power will be the last tool to reach its potential, but there is little doubt that Cespedes has plenty in his diminutive frame. Cespedes is incredibly talented, and I feel a meteoric rise on the horizon for the young Dominican-born middle-infielder.
- Miguel Bleis had a shoulder injury that cost him most of his 2023 season, but he has impressed this Spring. A one-time top-100 prospect, Bleis has added significant muscle this offseason and is looking to rebuild his prospect value with a big 2024.
- The Red Sox acquired David Sandlin in an offseason trade with the Royals, and he immediately slots inside their top 20 prospects. The 6’4″ right-hander has a knack for missing bats, but the Sox are looking for more consistency with his command and delivery to maximize his potential.
A Few Other Names to Know
- The 2023 results were inconsistent for middle-infielder Cutter Coffey, who just completed his first professional season. The 2022 2nd-rounder impressed with his power and speed, but an inability to consistently make contact hampered his average. If Coffey can improve his swing decisions and contact skills, he could work back into the top 25 of the Red Sox organization.
- Vladimir Ascensio got a $1M bonus in this year’s J-15 class, and the Red Sox have high hopes for the young outfielder. Ascensio brings an advanced feel for hitting and above-average speed, but there are questions about how his power develops. The 17-year-old Ascensio will start 2024 in the Dominican Summer League, where he’ll be a player to watch.
Top 10 Prospects
Prospects I’m Most Excited About:
- Perhaps no player made a bigger splash this Spring Training than 6’6″ Yankees prospect Spencer Jones. The former Vanderbilt Commodore slashed .444/.565/.722 with more walks than strikeouts and an impressive display of power. Jones won’t be on the Opening Day roster, but if he continues to show off his blend of power and speed in the Minors, the Yankees will need to make room for Jones quickly.
- 6’7″-210 lbs. That’s the frame for Yankees’ farmhand Henry Lalane. Lalane is a guy I’m in on, and I’ve projected as a top-10 pitching prospect at this time next season. He offers a three-pitch mix headlined by an upper-90s fastball and fading changeup. In 21 2/3 innings last season at Rookie ball, Lalane had a 34:4 K:BB ratio and held hitters to a .207 average against. The physical tools are there for Lalane, but how will he fare in full-season ball?
- I love second baseman Keiner Delgado despite his Altuve-like frame. At 5’7-145 lbs., Delgado is built like an eighth grader but hits like a professional. He has the contact skills and hit tool of a future batting champion and is highly impactful on the base paths. Over two seasons in the Minors, Delgado has batted .301 with 70 steals and 35 more walks than strikeouts (94:59).
A Few Other Names to Know
- I hope you were able to indulge in the Spring Breakout series. If you were, then the inclusion of Brock Selvidge on this list is no surprise. The 21-year-old southpaw carved up the Blue Jays’ top prospects over four innings, striking out eight hitters and issuing one hit. Selvidge offers two plus offspeed pitches (both are sliders) and a new gyro changeup. While he’s had decent success in the Minors, Selvidge has yet to put it all together, but could this outing signal that a breakout is imminent?
- The Yankees acquired Jorbit Vivas from the Dodgers this offseason, and the sweet-swinging second baseman is looking to push his way to the Majors. Vivas has a track record of hitting at every level with advanced plate discipline and impressive bat-to-ball skills. While he has middling power and speed, Vivas did produce 13 homers and 25 steals last season, split between Double and Triple-A.
Top 10 Prospects
Prospects I’m Most Excited About (not named Junior Caminero)
- It’s literally impossible for me to overlook Xavier Isaac. Standing 6-foot-3 and 240lbs, Isaac has a strong, powerful body that mashes baseballs and helped him dominate A-ball in 2023. Isaac batted .285 with 19 homers and 12 steals last season, cementing his place inside the Top 25 prospects. Entering 2024, Isaac is well positioned to push his way into the Top 10 and become the preeminent first base prospect in baseball.
- I’m becoming enamored with Yoniel Curet, a 21-year-old flamethrower from the Dominican Republic. Across two levels of A-ball in 2023, Curet posted a 33.3% strikeout rate, whiffing 104 batters. His high-velocity fastball and nasty slider are two plus offerings, but the lack of a third pitch and questionable control indicate significant reliever risk. If Curet can improve on his command, his bat-missing ability will propel him into the upper echelon of the Rays’ pitcher prospects.
- Speaking of high-end arms, look no further than Santiago Suarez. The 19-year-old was dynamic last season, pitching to a 1.52 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in 59 innings. Suarez is a strike thrower and has a smooth, repeatable delivery. His fastball lacks overpowering velocity, but his ability to throw all three of his pitches in the zone gives Suarez a consistent arsenal to turn to.
A few other names to Know
- Ian Seymour is a former top prospect who has experienced injury problems recently, most notably Tommy John Surgery in 2022. Seymour returned in 2023, pitching to a 1.50 ERA over 42 innings. He’s posted impressive strikeout rates in his brief Minor League career, and his velocity has rebounded to his pre-TJ form this Spring. Seymour has deep league appeal as the 2024 season moves along.
- Speed kills, and Chandler Simpson is an assassin. Simpson accumulated 94 stolen bases last season at two levels of A-ball. He has offensive skills that run the gamut, including 20-grade power and 80-grade speed. If nothing else, Simpson provides enough star power on the bases to make him worthy of your attention.
Top 10 Prospects
Prospects I’m Most Excited About
- 2023 Draft pick Arjun Nimmala is dynamic and has all the physical tools to jump up the prospect ranks. At 6’1″, and 170lbs, the 18-year-old Nimmala has an advanced offensive approach, incredible athleticism, and a projectable body. While he struggled a bit in his professional debut, I fully expect a big 2024 for Nimmala.
- Brandon Barriera was a first-round pick in the 2022 Draft, but injuries limited him to 20 innings last season. Assuming he’s healthy, Barriera has a mid-90s fastball with two improving offspeed pitches. It will be interesting to monitor how Barriera is used in 2024, especially coming off the injuries.
- CHEEEEEESSSSSEEEEE! Yes, Damiano Palmegiani was the star of the Arizona Fall League, but the slugging third baseman is more than just a fun nickname! Entering his age 24 season, Palmegiani has emerged as a viable candidate for the Blue Jays at the hot corner. Over the past two seasons, he has hit 47 combined home runs and chipped in 12 steals. One thing to note is that Palmegiani is a boom-or-bust hitter with a strikeout rate north of 30% in each of his two full seasons.
A few other names to Know
- I saw Dasan Brown in person at the AFL in November and was impressed with his speed and athleticism. Brown has three consecutive seasons with 20+ steals but has battled inconsistency at the plate. If he can settle into a .250-.270 batting average, Brown has the defensive prowess combined with speed to impact a Major League lineup.
- I’m still watching 2022 Draftee Tucker Toman. Toman is a shortstop/ third baseman who had some growing pains in his first pro season in 2023, playing for Low-A Dunedin. Toman hit just .208 with a 31.5% strikeout rate in 141 games. As the son of a coach, Toman knows the game and has a high baseball IQ. 2024 is a crucial year for Toman and will give us a better idea of what type of player he becomes.