2 The Bigs

By Sal Corso: Feb 5, 2024

There were only three prospects in 2023 who had a sub-20% K-rate and a .900+ OPS in at least 100 at-bats. Below is the list with their corresponding 2024 MLB.com prospect rankings.

Samuel Basallo: 17^th Overall

Chase DeLauter: 31^st Overall

Yohandy Morales: N/A

Morales was taken in the 2^nd round of the 2023 draft, which is even more impressive, given he put up those numbers in his pro-debut. Yohandy attended the U for two before getting his name called at the draft last year. In his sophomore season, he hit .408 with 20 HR and 70 RBI, earning 3^rd Team All American honors. MLB.com notes that he was an “aggressive hitter, one who was always power over hit”. Welp, seems like he worked on that. Not only did he hold that sub-20% K-rate from the Rookie level all the way through Double-A, he also hit .349 with a .423 OBP and a 10% walk-rate.

Morales is a 6-foot-4 powerhouse who hits the ball to every field (29/42/29 percent of contact to each direction). Surprisingly he only had a 25% hard-hit rate last year, but that doesn’t concern me given it was his first season in the pros. I’ll take a kid who can hit the ball to all fields consistently over one who hit’s less, but harder. At his height and weight, we’ll see that power come back to the form it was in at the U just last year. Just watch his college highlights, you won’t see back-to-back highlights of Morales hitting the ball to the same side of the field:

With last years’ performance, Yohandy jumped his way up to join fellow National Brady House in MLB’s Top-10 3B prospects for 2024. However, he still didn’t crack the top 100. Sounds crazy to me, given he’s now a solid hit and field tool with power upside corner infielder. He’s going to start in Double-A, where he finished last season. You can see why the Nationals were fine letting their 2023 3B, Jeimer Candelario go. With House and Morales, one of these young studs is going to pan out and be your 3B of the future.

While this is a profile for Morales, it makes sense to include where we rank Brady House as well. He’s had a stellar three years in the minors so far: .303 19 HR and 90 RBI in 149 games. What’s most impressive, is that at 20-years-old he had his best stat-line in Double-A.

The only thing that raises a slight red flag so far, in 2023 he had a 24% K-rate alongside a 7% walk-rate. He’s young, he has time to develop, but I’ll go out on a limb and say Morales may get the first crack to lock up the 3B spot at the major league level first (yes, even though House got the spring training invite this year).

Nationals’ fans may hate me for this, but I’m going to give Yohandy a higher potential score than House (not by much). I love his swing, I love his metrics, and I love his highlight tape. I’ll take the prospect who only needs to work on his power over one that needs to adjust his plate discipline (regardless of age).

Morales doesn’t have a 1^st Bowman yet. I’ll assume as a 2023 draft pick, he’ll be one of those hold outs that’s included in 2024 Bowman Baseball. House doesn’t have a 1^st Bowman autograph, just base. Because of that I give House a SELL, given the high price tag he brings for those non-autograph cards and the competition at this position in the organization.