We can only fit 100 prospects on a Top 100 list. Of course, we talk about a lot more as part of the process, and there are always a few names that got bumped off early drafts or fell just short in the support department.
Here are 10 prospects who just missed making the Top 100 this time around, presented in alphabetical order by last name:
Moises Ballesteros, C/1B, Cubs
Ranked eighth on our Top 10 catching list – making him the first backstop off the Top 100 – Ballesteros climbed three levels in his age-19 season from Single-A to Double-A and slashed .285/.374/.449 with 14 homers over 117 games along the way. He was one of only two Minor League catchers with at least 14 homers and a strikeout rate below 16 percent in 2023, and the other (Jonathan Morales) was eight years his senior. He still needs ample development defensively, and he struggled against sameside left-handers, hitting only .208 with a .286 slugging percentage against them. Some evaluators have drawn Alejandro Kirk comparisons to the 5-foot-7 backstop, and time remains on his side as he’ll still only be 20 for the entire 2024 campaign.
Diego Cartaya, C, Dodgers
Cartaya ranked 14th on our preseason Top 100 a year ago and has since fallen off completely. In between, he slashed just .189/.278/.379 over 93 games at Double-A Tulsa. He did slug 19 homers over that time – third-most among Double-A catchers – and he was one of only two backstops aged 21 or younger to get more than 400 plate appearances at the Minors’ second-highest level. His struggles stemmed from chasing that power to his pullside and issues with offspeed stuff. However, the Venezuela native made strides defensively and continues to show plus arm strength. Cartaya will still only be 22 for much of the 2024 season with some developmental runway ahead, and he could push his way back toward reaching his considerable ceiling with a return to the Texas League.
Leodalis De Vries, SS, Padres
One year ago, San Diego signed MLB Pipeline’s top international prospect Ethan Salas and pushed him to Double-A San Antonio as a 17-year-old. Last month, San Diego signed MLB Pipeline’s top international prospect in De Vries and … well, we’ll see. The switch-hitter looks advanced from both sides of the dish with good plate discipline and pitch recognition, and he has the power to project for 20-plus homers. He has plus speed too, and that tool package will be valuable even if he must move away from shortstop in time. As with Salas, we’re waiting a tad longer to see the profile translate to the Minors before getting aggressive with De Vries’ ranking, but he too could skip the Dominican Summer League, start stateside and then take flight.
Jackson Ferris, LHP, Dodgers
Los Angeles may have moved a Top 100 prospect in Michael Busch to the Cubs this offseason, but it picked up a Top-100-adjacent arm in Ferris. The 2022 second-rounder posted a 3.38 ERA with 77 strikeouts in 56 innings at Single-A Myrtle Beach in 2023 during his first run of the Minors, and he flashes four above-average pitches, headlined by a 92-95 mph fastball with good carry and a downer 75-78 mph curveball. The 6-foot-4 southpaw can get lost in his mechanics, leading to command issues, and that held him off the Top 100 for the time being. But the Dodgers have a good recent track record of pitching development, and it wouldn’t shock to see Ferris take his profile to a new level in his second pro campaign.
Lazaro Montes, OF, Mariners
As Mariners beat writer Daniel Kramer noted last month, the 19-year-old Montes is aware of the Yordan Alvarez comparisons and embraces them. Both are hulking left-handed sluggers with solid approaches and powerful profiles that rely almost solely on their bats. A $2.5 million signing in January 2022, Montes pushed himself further onto the radar by reaching Single-A in his first stateside season and led all Minor Leaguers aged 18 or younger (min. 300 PA) with his .440 OBP, .560 slugging percentage,…
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