Spring Training is officially underway! We’re only a little over a week in so beware of the small samples. I did set the results to only include qualified hitters, which currently is 10+ PA. As the weeks roll on and these guys get some more at-bats, we can get a better idea of how they’re looking at the plate. Since these samples are so small I wouldn’t necessarily overreact to the hot or cold starts, but maybe use them as a reason to put a pin in a player you want to keep your eye on. Both lists include any non-debut hitting prospect who has a Bowman auto, the hot list is those with a wOBA over .400, and the cold is anyone with a wOBA under .300. I’ll do a very short sentence or two at the end of each with who I’m personally keeping an eye on. Happy baseball season!
Hot 🔥 (sorted by highest wOBA)
Heriberto Hernandez MIA - 5/8, 2B, .625 wOBA
Tirso Ornelas SD - 7/15, 1 HR, 4 2B, .619 wOBA
Carson Taylor PHI - 4/9, 1 HR, .583 wOBA
Dylan Beavers BAL - 3/8, 1 HR, 1 2B, .547 wOBA
Robert Hassell III WAS - 9/20, 1 HR, 3 2B, .531 wOBA
John Rave KC - 3/8, 1 3B, .535 wOBA
Marcelo Mayer BOS - 5/13, 1 HR, 1 3B, .522 wOBA
Drake Baldwin ATL - 4/9, 1 2B, .521 wOBA
Gabriel Rincones Jr. PHI - 3/10, 2 HR, .513 wOBA
Christian Koss SF - 4/12, 1 HR, 2 2B, .498 wOBA
Ben Cowles CHC - 8/20, 1 HR, 4 2B, .493 wOBA
Drew Avans OAK - 3/9, 2 2B, .476 wOBA
Spencer Jones NYY - 3/10, 1 HR, 1 2B, .472 wOBA
Sal Stewart CIN - 3/10, 1 HR, 1 2B, .448 wOBA
Roman Anthony BOS - 4/12, 1 2B, .439 wOBA
Gage Workman CHC - 6/19, 2 HR, .430 wOBA
Moises Ballesteros CHC - 4/13, 1 HR, .415 wOBA
George Lombard Jr. NYY - 2/9, 1 HR, .402 wOBA
Notes: Have always liked Beavers as a player, but he’s a SP auto and the Orioles have a crowded outfield. Love seeing Robert Hassell III a.k.a. Bobby Barrels doing well, his hobby stock could definitely go up. Mayer looks good, still probably too expensive for me already but could tick up some more. Drake Baldwin was a 4 on my ATL sheet, think there’s a legit chance he makes the Opening Day roster. Rincones one of my favorite sleepers, unfortunate injury last year but love the upside and the power, worth watching. Spencer Jones tweaked his stance, keep an eye on changes in approach, still striking out too often but only 12 PA. Sal is the man we already knew that, hope to see him continue to flash power as ST goes on. Roman looking good, much deserved #1 prospect, maybe makes OD roster? but is a long shot and not sure his autos have a ton of room to go up before debut. Ballesteros I wrote up as a buy, written off by some because of stature and defense ? but the bat is real. Lombard I’m keeping an eye on, would love to see that power climb up.
Cold ❄️ (sorted by lowest wOBA)
Hao-Yu Lee DET - 0/10, 5 K, .123 wOBA
Kristian Campbell BOS - 0/9, 7 K, .134 wOBA
Blaine Crim TEX - 1/10, 1 1B, 2 K, .200 wOBA
Aidan Miller PHI - 0/8, 2 K, .201 wOBA
Cooper Bowman CIN - 1/11, 1 1B, 4 K, .226 wOBA
James Triantos CHC - 3/15, 1 2B, 2 1B, 4 K, .228 wOBA
Nick Kurtz OAK - 2/12, 2 1B, 3 K, .237 wOBA
Caleb Durbin MIL - 2/15, 1 HR, 1 1B, 4 K, .258 wOBA
Yohandy Morales WAS - 3/14, 1 2B, 2 1B, 6 K, .259 wOBA
Daylen Lile WAS - 1/9, 1 1B, 1 K, .261 wOBA
Leo De Vries SD - 2/12, 1 2B, 1 1B, 2 K, .262 wOBA
Alex Ramirez NYM - 3/12, 3 1B, 5 K, .269 wOBA
Christian Franklin CHC - 2/12, 2 1B, 1 K, .272 wOBA
Christian Moore LAA - 3/13, 3 1B, 4 K, .282 wOBA
Eddys Leonard DET - 2/11, 1 2B, 1 1B, 2 K, .285 wOBA
Quincy Hamilton HOU - 3/11, 3 1B, 2 K, .292 wOBA
Notes: Tough start for Lee thought he had a chance to see playing time early but needs to turn it around. Campbell is surprising but not worried because he’s so advanced, might be pressing as he’s trying to make roster. Aidan Miller, still so young so no concerns, still like him a lot. Triantos I’ve been disappointed in the contact, thought he had a chance to bat .300 in ST and make some noise, there’s still time. Kurtz slow start but not worried he looked great last year and in AFL. Yohandy showing kind of who he is, he will start hitting for more power but he’s going to K a decent amount. De Vries still 18 obviously not concerned, will be a stud this year. Christian Moore should heat up and start hitting some XBH but still don’t think he makes the Angels OD roster.