Unfortunately, I have to write this piece, but here we are. I am not here to discuss all the issues of the lockout. The reality is that MLB has canceled some games. Players on the 40-man roster are not allowed to participate in camps or MiLB games while the lockout persists. This has a significant impact on prospects and their development, as MiLB camps have been going on for several weeks. Yes, these prospects on 40-man rosters are likely still working out, but they are not getting instruction from teams or getting paid. So, let’s take a look at impactful prospects who will not participate in games if the lockout lasts into the season.
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AL East 40-Man Prospects
Baltimore Orioles: Kyle Bradish (SP – BAL), D.L. Hall (SP – BAL), Yusniel Diaz (OF – BAL)
Boston Red Sox: Brayan Bello (SP – BOS), Jeter Downs (SS – BOS), Jarren Duran (CF – BOS), Jay Groome (SP – BOS)
New York Yankees: Luis Gil (SP – NYY), Luis Medina (SP – NYY), Oswald Peraza (SS – NYY), Oswaldo Cabrera (2B,SS – NYY)
Tampa Bay Rays: Shane Baz (SP – TB), Vidal Brujan (2B,RF – TB), Josh Lowe (OF – TB)
Toronto Blue Jays: Gabriel Moreno (C – TOR), Leo Jimenez (SS – TOR), Otto Lopez (2B,SS – TOR)
Notes:
There are some very notable names in the AL East. The Rays have three top prospects in Shane Baz, Vidal Brujan, and Josh Lowe. Gabriel Moreno, Jeter Downs, Oswald Peraza, and Jarren Duran are also high-end fantasy prospects. Many of these prospects are on the cusp of or are already in the Majors. The missed time set them back. Those who had early 2022 ETAs can expect to be called up later than expected because it may take them a little longer to ramp up.
Pitchers rehabbing from injuries or building up innings are also highly affected. D.L. Hall, Jay Groome, Luis Gil, and Shane Baz are all pitchers that could be using this time to build up innings. I know they can work independently, but they are missing valuable time in Spring Training or MiLB camps.
AL Central 40-Man Prospects
Chicago White Sox: Gavin Sheets (1B,RF – CWS)
Cleveland Guardians: Cody Morris (SP – CLE), Tobias Myers (SP – CLE), Konnor Pilkington (SP – CLE), Bryan Lavastida (C – CLE), Gabriel Arias (SS – CLE), Tyler Freeman (SS – CLE), Nolan Jones (3B – CLE), Jhonkensy Noel (3B – CLE), Richie Palacios (2B – CLE), Brayan Rocchio (SS – CLE), Jose Tena (SS – CLE), George Valera (OF – CLE)
Detroit Tigers: Joey Wentz (SP – DET)
Kansas City Royals: Jonathan Bowlan (SP – KC), MJ Melendez (C – KC), Nick Pratto (1B – KC), Kyle Isbel (OF – KC)
Minnesota Twins: Joe Ryan (SP – MIN), Jordan Balazovic (SP – MIN), Jhoan Duran (SP – MIN), Josh Winder (SP – MIN), Royce Lewis (SS – MIN), Jose Miranda (3B – MIN)
Notes:
The depth on the Twins and how much the Guardians are affected jump off the page immediately. Cleveland has 12 top prospects they have protected on their 40-man roster. They believe in their future, and it keeps 12 prospects off the field for both Spring Training and potentially the start of the Minor League season.
This is significantly impactful to pitchers like Cody Morris, who stood a solid chance to crack Cleveland’s rotation at some point early in the season. Now we have to wait to see how it plays out.
Kansas City also has top talent in MJ Melendez, Nick Pratto, and Kyle Isbel. Bowlan had Tommy John surgery last May, so his timeline should not be significantly impacted.
In Minnesota, several arms are impacted. Royce Lewis desperately needs game action to get back in form, as he has not played in-game action since 2019.
AL West 40-Man Prospects
Houston Astros: Tyler Ivey (SP – HOU), Jairo Solis (SP – HOU)
Los Angeles Angels: Reid Detmers (SP – LAA)
Oakland Athletics: Nick Allen (SS – OAK), Jordan Diaz (3B – OAK)
Seattle Mariners: Matt Brash (SP,RP – SEA), Juan Then (SP – SEA), Kevin Padlo (3B – SEA), Julio Rodriguez (RF – SEA), Alberto Rodriguez (RF – SEA)
Texas Rangers: Ricky Vanasco (SP,RP – TEX), Ezequiel Duran (2B,SS – TEX)
Notes:
The first thing that probably catches your eye here is Julio Rodriguez. If the lockout persists, one of the top prospects in baseball will not be able to take the field on MiLB Opening Day. Rodriguez should make his MLB debut in 2022, but fans could be without one of the top talents they could see at their local Minor League park.
Pitchers like Ricky Vanasco could undoubtedly use the development time, as he has not pitched in a game since 2019 after dealing with injuries. But, Vanasco has the upside to be a solid starting pitcher.
NL East 40-Man Prospects
Atlanta Braves: Freddy Tarnok (SP – ATL), Drew Waters (OF – ATL), Cristian Pache (CF – ATL), Spencer Strider (RP – ATL)
Miami Marlins: Edward Cabrera (SP – MIA), Braxton Garrett (SP – MIA), Sixto Sanchez (SP – MIA)
New York Mets: Jose Butto (SP – NYM), Ronny Mauricio (SS – NYM), Mark Vientos (3B,SS – NYM)
Philadelphia Phillies: Hans Crouse (SP – PHI)
Washington Nationals: Yasel Antuna (SS – WSH)
Notes:
The most impacted names here are the Marlins group of pitchers. All three need time to build up arm strength. Garrett has dealt with injuries in the past, and Sanchez and Cabrera both ended last season injured. Missing this time for both could set them back. While they have more time to recover, they still need to build up arm strength to throw significant innings.
NL Central 40-Man Prospects
Chicago Cubs: Brailyn Marquez (RP – CHC), Alexander Vizcaino (SP – CHC), Miguel Amaya (C – CHC), Alexander Canario (CF – CFC), Nelson Velazquez (OF – CHC)
Cincinnati Reds: Hunter Greene (SP – CIN)
Milwaukee Brewers: Aaron Ashby (SP,RP – MIL), Mario Feliciano (C – MIL), Corey Ray (RF – MIL)
Pittsburgh Pirates: Roansy Contreras (SP – PIT), Miguel Yajure (SP – PIT), Oneil Cruz (SS – PIT), Liover Peguero (SS – PIT), Travis Swaggerty (CF – PIT)
St. Louis Cardinals: Ivan Herrera (C – STL), Juan Yepez (1B,3B – STL)
Notes:
The Cubs stand out here as having several talented prospects currently locked out. Brailyn Marquez was once the Cubs’ top prospect, but injuries have set him back. He desperately needs innings to get back on track.
Hunter Greene and Aaron Ashby are the biggest names on the list. Ashby was slated to start the year in Milwaukee, while Greene likely will start in the Minors before debuting. Both are likely working independently, but the missed game time could impact their innings build-up.
NL West 40-Man Prospects
Arizona Diamondbacks: Geraldo Perdomo (SS – ARI), Luis Frias (RP – ARI), Seth Beer (1B – ARI)
Colorado Rockies: Elehuris Montero (3B – COL), Ezequiel Tovar (SS – COL), Colton Welker (3B – COL), Ryan Vilade (LF – COL)
Los Angeles Dodgers: Eddys Leonard (SS – LAD), Jorbit Vivas (2B,3B – LAD)
San Diego Padres: MacKenzie Gore (SP – SD), Luis Campusano (C – SD), Eguy Rosario (SS – SD)
San Francisco Giants: Joey Bart (C – SF), Heliot Ramos (CF – SF)
Notes:
No one on this entire list needs development time more than Mackenzie Gore. Gore was once the consensus top pitching prospect in baseball before falling off track in 2020. He had an up and down performance in the Arizona Fall League but could use more development time. It could set him back even more if he has to miss games.
Some intriguing prospects like Eddys Leonard, Geraldo Perdomo, Jorbit Vivas, and Heliot Ramos are all prospects who would start the season in the Minor Leagues but could miss time if the lockout persists.
Conclusion
This was not a fun article to write. We all want baseball back. But, this list can be important for a couple of reasons. Unfortunately, these prospects could miss games. But, it also gives you a list of prospects that could be on the cusp of making the Major League roster at some point this season.
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