Spring Training coverage marches on with coverage of day four of the Breakout games! This spring has been so fun to watch with some of the stars of tomorrow getting a chance to square off and show a fanbase what we can expect. Here you can catch up on games you might have missed among the St Patrick’s Day slate of games!
Be sure to head over to the Pitcher List Dynasty page for plenty more content from the team.
Spring Training Breakout Games Day 4
Houston Astros @ St. Louis Cardinals
What We Saw From The Top Prospects From Each Team:
Jacob Melton could have an opportunity to debut for the Astros at some point in 2024 but we are not seeing the best of him so far this spring. Melton went 0-2 in Sunday’s 1-0 loss to the Cardinals but despite the results put together two solid at-bats. After working a 2-1 count he crushed a 102.6 mph ground-ball to second base on an 87.3 mph change-up from Kloffenstein for the out in the top of the second. In the final at-bat, Melton lined out to Cardinal outfielder Victor Scott II in a 3-2 count in the top of the fourth off Michael McGreevy.
Victor Scott II has been a prospect getting a ton of attention since this time last season. One of the Cardinal’s top prospects was held hitless in Sunday’s match-up against the Houston Astros. Batting in the leadoff spot Scott worked a 1-2 count against Spencer Arrighetti before grounding out to first base in the bottom of the first. After striking out in the third inning Scott lined out to center on a 3-2 count in the bottom of the fifth ultimately ending his day. Regardless of the results of this game, we should see Victor Scott II take his place in the Cardinal’s center field in short order in 2024.
Which Prospects Struggled:
Joey Loperfido is a prospect who skyrocketed up dynasty rankings in 2023 and for good reason. The 24-year-old outfield and first base prospect crushed 25 home runs and stole 27 bases across three levels before finishing the year in Triple-A Sugar Land. The strong season has continued this spring as Loperfido is slashing .423/.483/.692 in 13 games played. In Sunday’s match-up with the Cardinals, Loperfido and the Astros just couldn’t get anything going with the bats. A flyout to center fielder Victor Scott II in the first, off an 87.4 mph Kloffenstein change-up, and a strikeout in the top for the fourth on a 93.2 mph sinker from Michael McGreevy kept Loperfido at bay. Despite the results, the value remains the same as Loperfido remains a strong candidate to debut in 2024.
Thomas Saggese could possibly make a case to break camp with the Cardinals out of spring training after slashing .361/.425/.500 in 17 games played this spring. As for the breakout game, Saggese was kept quiet in his three at-bats flying out in the first inning, grounding out in the fourth, and flying out to right in the fifth inning. Despite the results, nothing changes for Saggese going into the 2024 season as he could be a fun prospect to watch as well as stash in dynasty formats.
Which Prospects Stood Out the Most:
Kenni Gomez might not be a prospect that jumps off the page to you in the Houston Astros organization. Just 18-year-old Gomez struggled with the average in complex ball in 2023 but looks primed for a bounce-back year starting with his lone at-bat on Sunday. Replacing Jacob Melton in the lineup going into the top of the sixth, Gomez scorched a first pitch 96.4 mph sinker off right-hander Edwin Nunez. The exit velocity was 98.2 off the bat and could be what kickstarts Kenni Gomez heading into 2024.
Joshua Baez had the hit that decided the match-up between the Cardinals and Astros on Sunday. In the bottom of the fifth Joshua Baez took Astros pitcher Jake Bloss deep on a 2-1 count. The 54th overall pick in the 2021 MLB draft is known for the massive power upside and displayed that crushing a slider at 110.1 mph off the bat and sending it 455 ft. This might be the confidence boost Joshua Baez needs heading into 2024 as he looks to bounce back from a rough year in Low-A Palm Beach.
Milwaukee Brewers @ Kansas City Royals
What We Saw From The Top Prospects From Each Team:
Cayden Wallace was one of the prospects to watch heading into the game and you couldn’t have asked for much more from him in his four at-bats. Wallace went 2-2 with two runs scored, a walk, and a hit by pitch. Getting on base is something Wallace has done well in his brief minor league career as well as in his time at Arkansas. This performance against solid pitching is encouraging for Wallace heading in 2024.
Jackson Chourio did not disappoint against the Royal’s prospects going 1-3 with a run scored and an RBI. Chourio got on base in the first inning on a fielding error and came around to score while driving in Tyler Black in the top of the fourth on a line-drive single to left field. At just 20 years old, Jackson Chourio is one of the game’s most exciting prospects and should open the season on the Brewers roster coming off his contract signing this off-season.
Which Prospects Struggled:
Gavin Cross had a rough outing not recording a hit and striking out twice in four at-bats for the Royals on Sunday. This performance is not what dynasty managers and prospect evaluators wanted to see coming off a rough 2023 campaign. The first-round pick by the Royals in 2022 out of Virginia Tech has not lived up to the 9th overall selection to this point. Hopefully, this performance is not isn’t a sign of what is to come for Cross as he opens the season back in Double-A Northwest Arkansas.
Mike Boeve came in to pinch hit for Jeferson Quero and struck out in his two at-bats. This isn’t anything concerning for the 21-year-old second-round pick by the Brewers in 2023. Known for an advanced bat and potential for above-average power Boeve is an interesting prospect to watch this season. Boeve should be starting the season back in High-A Wisconsin.
Which Prospects Stood Out the Most:
Will Klein stood out in the Royals win over the Brewers locking down a 4-3 win. Klein features an electric fastball that touches 100 mph with a rise up in the zone paired with a slider and sharp breaking curveball there is a lot to like coming out of the pen with Klein. In his lone inning pitch, Klein gave up one hit while striking out two batters to earn the win. This is a prospect who won’t break camp with the Royals but will likely make his debut at some point in 2024 as a potential high-leverage relief pitching prospect.
Jacob Misiorowski continues his dominance striking out five Royals across 2.2 innings pitched. Misiorowski did not allow a hit in this outing but he did walk three batters something that was a concern in 2023. Despite the walks the outing was solid as he pounded the zone with the high 90s fastball and devastating slider away tying up Royals batters. Healthy heading into 2024 Jacob Misiorowski should start the season back in Double-A Biloxi for a few starts before making his way to Triple-A Nashville.
Adapted by Kurt Wasemiller (@KUWasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram)