2022 Watchlist

I’m combing through minor league box scores so you don’t have to. Top 400 prospects, players who top out at 90 MPH, and guys that are entirely too old for their level are excluded. Player names link to Fangraphs pages. Mobile users scroll right for video links and additional info.

Name–Org –Pos–Age –Level –B –T –Height –WT –Video
Reese OlsonDETP22AARR6′ 1″160Youtube Youtube
Late round 2018 Brewers draft pick. Was traded for Daniel Norris in the offseason. Fangraphs lists him as the sixth best Tigers prospect. Four above-average+ pitches, including the improved changeup below. Control/command has been an issue in the past but he was solid in his 2022 debut. He isn’t ranked in the top 550 consensus prospects and is 2% rostered on Fantrax.
Name–Org –Pos–Age –Level –B –T –Height –WT –Video
Brett KerryLAAP23AARR6′ 0″213Youtube
It took the 2021 draft pick 14.1 professional innings to reach AA. Features a mid-90s fastball, an inconsistent breaking ball, and an occassional changeup. He isn’t ranked in the top 550 consensus prospects and is 0% rostered on Fantrax.
Name–Org –Pos–Age –Level –B –T –Height –WT –Video
Ricky TiedemannTORP19ALL6′ 4″220Youtube Youtube
Massive 2021 draftee has added a few ticks to the fastball and now hits the high-90s. Also features an above-average slider and a usable changeup. He is ranked 428th on the consensus prospect list and is 4% rostered on Fantrax.
Name–Org –Pos–Age –Level –B –T –Height –WT –Video
Michael MoralesSEAP19ARR6′ 2″205Youtube Youtube
Three potential above-average pitches per Fangraphs, featuring a mid-90s fastball and hammer curve. He isn’t ranked in the top 550 consensus prospects and is 1% rostered on Fantrax.
Name–Org –Pos–Age –Level –B –T –Height –WT –Video
Adam MackoSEAP21ALL6′ 0″170YouTube YouTube
Three current above-average pitches per Fangraphs. Struggles with control/command at times. If he can harness his arsenal his value will skyrocket. 546th in the consensus rankings. 2% rostered on Fantrax.
Name–Org –Pos–Age –Level –B –T –Height –WT –Video
Joe RockCOLP21A+LL6′ 6″200YouTube
Fifth round 2021 pick. Three potential average+ pitches per Fangraphs. Mid-90s fastball. Command/control is not as good as his arsenal. Rockies pitchers aren’t great fantasy investments but keep him on your radar. The amount of Joe Dirt and J to the R-O-C jokes are endless. He isn’t ranked in the top 550 consensus prospects and is 1% rostered on Fantrax.
Name–Org –Pos–Age –Level –B –T –Height –WT –Video
Emmet SheehanLADP22A+RR6′ 5″220YouTube YouTube
Massive 6th round 2021 draft pick features a mid-90s four seam FB, a low-90s two seamer with movement, and a change that fades at times. The slider could use some improvement but he’s not afraid to use it in any count. He isn’t ranked in the top 550 consensus prospects and is 1% rostered on Fantrax.
Name–Org –Pos–Age –Level –B –T –Height –WT –Video
Doug NikhazyCLEP22A+LL6′ 0″205YouTube
2021 second round pick. MLB.com graded four of his pitches average+. Short and stocky. He is ranked 463rd in the consensus rankings and is 3% rostered on Fantrax.
Name–Org –Pos–Age –Level –B –T –Height –WT –Video
Kohl FranklinCHCP22A+RR6′ 4″195YouTube
Franklin had been on the shelf since the very beginning of 2019 but started on Sunday. He’s now sporting a triple digit fastball to go along with his plus changeup and above-average curveball. He isn’t ranked in the top 550 consensus prospects and is 5% rostered on Fantrax.
Name–Org –Pos–Age –Level –B –T –Height –WT –Video
Hayden JuengerTORP21AARR6′ 0″180
6th round 2021 pick. Classic reliever profile. Plus fastball and slider. Small frame, lacks an offspeed pitch, and has questionable control/command. He’s a guy to monitor but probably isn’t worthy of rostering in dynasty leagues. He didn’t make the top 550 consensus list and is 0% rostered on Fantrax.
Name–Org –Pos–Age –Level –B –T –Height –WT –Video
Chase SilsethLAAP22AARR6′ 0″217
11th round 2021 pick. Received an aggressive promotion to AA last year after only pitching two professional innings. Three potential average+ pitches with highly questionable command/control. In his first outing of 2022 he walked two, hit two batters, and added a wild pitch over four innings. He didn’t make the top 550 consensus list and is 0% rostered on Fantrax.
Name–Org –Pos–Age –Level –B –T –Height –WT –Video
Mason MontgomeryTBP21A+LL6′ 2″195
Sixth round 2021 pick that has a current plus changeup and a mid-90s fastball. Slider and control/command need some work. He didn’t make the top 550 consensus list and is 0% rostered on Fantrax.
Name–Org –Pos–Age –Level –B –T –Height –WT –Video
Gordon GraceffoSTLP22A+RR6′ 4″210
Big-bodied 2021 5th round pick out of Villanova. Developed mid-90s velocity his third collegiate season. Has a changeup that could potentially be a plus pitch. Slurvy breaking ball. Needs to develop a legitimate third offering. He didn’t make the top 550 consensus list and is 1% rostered on Fantrax.
Name–Org –Pos–Age –Level –B –T –Height –WT –Video
Luke AlbrightARIP22A+RR6′ 4″215
6th round pitcher with a large frame that throws four pitches. Fastball velocity is surprisingly low. His best pitch is a curveball. He didn’t make the top 550 consensus list and is 0% rostered on Fantrax.
Name–Org –Pos–Age –Level –B –T –Height –WT –Video
Adrian AlcantaraKCP22A+RR6′ 1″178
Signed in March of 2017. Throws hard and mixes in three pitches. He didn’t make the top 550 consensus list and is 0% rostered on Fantrax.
Name–Org –Pos–Age –Level –B –T –Height –WT –Video
Maddux BrunsLADP19ALL6′ 2″205
First round 2021 pick that drew rave reviews in spring training. Was considered a reliever by many analysts and it tanked his consensus ranking. Two potential plus pitches. He ranks 458th on the top 550 consensus list but is 11% rostered on Fantrax. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a discrepancy between rankings and ownership. Managers must believe in Dodgers pitching magic.
Name–Org –Pos–Age –Level –B –T –Height –WT –Video
Sandro BargalloMIAP20ALL6′ 1″180
Three pitch mix. Fastball sits in the high-80s which isn’t ideal. He didn’t make the top 550 consensus list and is 0% rostered on Fantrax. He was only recently added to the player universe.
Name–Org –Pos–Age –Level –B –T –Height –WT –Video
Liam NorrisARIP20ALL6′ 4″215
2020 third round pick. Struggled to throw strikes his first professtional season. Three potential average+ pitches. He didn’t make the top 550 consensus list and is 1% rostered on Fantrax.
Name–Org –Pos–Age –Level –B –T –Height –WT –Video
Jaime MelendezHOUP20AALR5′ 8″190
The obvious: this guy is short and stocky. There are plenty of things to like though. He reached AA last year at only 19. He has a three pitch mix featuring one of the best changeups in the system. He didn’t make the top 550 consensus list and is 1% rostered on Fantrax.
Name–Org –Pos–Age –Level –B –T –Height –WT –Video
Jose ButtoNYMP24AARR6′ 1″202
Joey Butts has done an amazing job at limiting walks since 2019. He features a plus changeup and has added a few MPH to his fastball the last couple years. It was once considered well below average but now he can now dial it up to the mid-90s. Needs a reliable breaking pitch. He checks in at 406 on the top 550 consensus list and is 2% rostered on Fantrax.
Name–Org –Pos–Age –Level –B –T –Height –WT –Video
Kai-Wei TengSFP23AARR6′ 4″260
Above-average command of four average pitches. Huge frame. Has had a solid professional career, posting a 3.11 ERA and 283 K in 223 IP despite having a down year in 2021. It’s Kai-Wei or the highway. He isn’t ranked on the top 550 consensus list and is 1% rostered on Fantrax.
Name–Org –Pos–Age –Level –B –T –Height –WT –Video
Victor JuarezCOLP19ARR6′ 0″173
Above-average command of four above-average pitches per Fangraphs. Gets a rave review in their prospect notes. I can’t find any video or many scouting reports so I’ll take their word for it. Small frame. Had a solid 2021, posting a 2.21 ERA and 11.5/1.7 K/BB over limited innings over two levels. He isn’t ranked on the top 550 consensus list and is 0% rostered on Fantrax.