This time of year, all the major scouting publications put out their lists of top prospects. Baseball Prospectus, Baseball America, and MLB Pipeline have already released theirs. The Athletic, ESPN, and FanGraphs are sure to follow in the next few weeks before spring training.
The best prospects aren’t always the most ready for MLB. Many of them need more time to develop in the minor leagues and some might still be years away. Every year though, there are a few exciting young talents who force their way onto Opening Day rosters. Here’s a preview of who could earn that distinction in 2024.
SS Jackson Holliday, Baltimore Orioles
Holliday was the first overall pick in the 2022 draft. He seeks to surpass the career accomplishments of his father—seven-time All-Star Matt Holliday—and he’s off to a promising start. Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus, and MLB Pipeline all named him the top prospect in baseball on this year’s lists.
2023 was Holliday’s first full season in professional baseball. He ascended through four levels of the minors and peaked in Triple-A despite playing the entire year at age 19, hitting .323/.442/.499 over 125 games. The left-handed hitter displays elite bat-to-ball skills, strong exit velocities, and enough patience to draw 101 walks in 581 plate appearances. He has plenty of range to remain at shortstop, but also played 20 games at second base last year.
The Orioles are overflowing with middle infielders, including 2023 Rookie of the Year Gunnar Henderson, well-regarded former prospect Jordan Westburg, 2022 Gold Glover Ramón Urías, and last year’s starting shortstop Jorge Mateo. Regardless, it’s a foregone conclusion that they’ll make room for Holliday in their Opening Day lineup (barring injury). Henderson will shift to third base and Westburg will play second with Mateo and Urías serving in bench roles.
CF Jackson Chourio, Milwaukee Brewers
Chourio was a consensus top-ten prospect before the 2023 season. Now, he’s up to second overall behind Holliday on the Baseball America and MLB Pipeline lists and sixth on Baseball Prospectus’. he spent most of last year in Double-A, hitting .283 with 22 home runs and 44 stolen bases. Playing for Aguilas del Zulia in Venezuela this winter, he slashed .379/.453/.530 as one of the youngest players in the league.
In December, the Brewers signed him to an eight-year, $82 million deal with team options for 2032 and 2033 at $25 million each season. It’s a record contract for a prospect with no MLB experience, both in length and total value. The club didn’t shell out that much cash just to keep him in the minors, so expect to see him in Milwaukee right away.
LF Wyatt Langford, Texas Rangers
Three years ago, Langford was an unknown freshman backup catcher at the University of Florida. Now, he could become the Opening Day left fielder for the defending World Series champions. He demolished the SEC in 2023 with a .373/.498/.784 slash line. The Rangers selected him fourth overall and he never stopped hitting after the draft, putting up .360/.480/.677 numbers in the minors and reaching Triple-A.
He played exclusively left field and designated hitter in the Rangers organization and won’t win a Gold Glove, but despite only 44 games in the minor leagues, he has nothing left to prove with his bat. The only challenge he hasn’t conquered yet is major-league pitching. His ability to hit for average, hit for power, and get on base makes him arguably the best hitting prospect in baseball, and he’s ranked in the top six by Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus, and MLB Pipeline.
1B Kyle Manzardo, Cleveland Guardians
Manzardo doesn’t generate the same level of hype as Holliday, Chourio, and Langford, but he’s a young slugger whose MLB debut is imminent. Cleveland acquired him from the Tampa Bay Rays last summer for Aaron Civale, then spent this offseason reportedly shopping incumbent first baseman Josh Naylor to make room. A trade hasn’t yet materialized, but now the club is considering shifting him to the outfield. In other words, they want Manzardo in the lineup one way or another.
Even though the Guardians are clearing the runway for him, 2023 was an up-and-down year for Manzardo. His OPS dropped from 1.043 in 2022 to .802 last season. He dealt with a shoulder injury that took him out of action for six weeks, but he finished strong and demonstrated that his power had returned with a .565 slugging percentage in the Arizona Fall League.
RHP Drew Thorpe, San Diego Padres
The Padres insisted on young pitching close to the big leagues in the Juan Soto trade, and that’s exactly what they got. The New York Yankees sent established major leaguer Michael King, young hurlers Jhony Brito and Randy Vásquez—both of whom debuted in 2023—and backup catcher Kyle Higashioka along with Thorpe to San Diego. The 23-year old right-hander might end up as the best player in the whole package even though he’s the only one who hasn’t reached the majors yet.
The Yankees selected Thorpe in the second round in 2022 out of Cal Poly. He started 23 games in 2023 and threw 139 1/3 innings in High-A and Double-A with a 2.52 ERA and 182 strikeouts. He throws his fastball in the low-to-mid 90s with a good slider, but his changeup is the headliner and might be the best in all of the minors. His whole arsenal plays up due to his advanced command.
The Padres are known for being aggressive with prospects and have a history of letting them start the season in MLB if they’re ready. Including him on this list is a slight bending of the rules because a more established pitcher will be the Opening Day starter, but he has a good chance to win a rotation spot out of spring training.