By Sal Corso: September 25th, 2024

The baseball regular season is coming to an end. With that, 2TB would like to highlight the best prospects at each position. In this article, we’ll cover two players per position:

The (1) Best Performing Prospect: which, is fairly self-explanatory, and the (2) 2TB Favorite Prospect: the player impressed our team and we are excited about their potential going into 2024.

Catcher

Best: Samuel Basallo (BAL)

Been saying this for awhile now, Sam Basallo has been, and will be known as a top-10 prospect in baseball. I’ve been chanting his name all year. Welp, he exceeded those expectations and now may very well be the consensus #1 prospect going into 2025. Without a slight adjustment period in AAA, he hit .289 with 16 HR 55 RBI and a .50 BB/K ratio across 106 games at AA. Expect the Orioles to keep the streak of years with a #1 overall prospect in the sport.

2TB Score: 86

Favorite: Moises Ballesteros (CHC)

Another name that was on our radar for awhile, making our Preseason All-Undervalued Prospect Team this winter. He did not disappoint. “Big Bally” powered his way through the toughest level in the minors (AA), slashing .286/.352/.469 with a sub-20% K-rate and a near 30% hard-hit rate. At only 20 years of age and already in AAA, expect Moises to see the major-league roster sometime in late 2025 when the Cubs continue to work through the inevitable rebuild.

2TB Score: 75

1st Base

Best: Deyvison De Los Santos (MIA)

40 HR and 100+ RBI across two levels (AA-AAA) and two organizations (ARI-MIA). For Deyvison to be successful in the pros, he better get that K-rate (25%) and Chase-Rate (42%) way down.

2TB Score: 69

Favorite: Xavier Isaac (TB)

Go to our search bar at the top of the home page. Search “Xavier Isaac”. We’ve been a fan of his for some time. We even went to see him live back when he was in High-A (below). He did the opposite of what we asked from him this year as his K-rate jumped to +30%. But he’s only 20-years-old in AA, his BABIP is way up there at .380 and he hit’s a line drive on 1/4th of his contact. He’ll be fine.

2TB Score: 84

2nd Base

Best: Kristian Campbell (BOS)

Baseball America’s MiLB Player of the Year (very much deserved). Kristian soared from A+ through AAA, posting an impressive .330/.439/.558 slash, going 20-20, and driving in 77 RBI. In a talent-filled organization, Campbell came out of nowhere and may have established himself as the most impressive prospect in terms of on-field performance in the system.

2TB Score: 76

Favorite: James Triantos (CHC)

“Take [2023[ (low) power numbers with a grain of salt too. He missed time with a torn meniscus, which, anybody who has ever had a torn meniscus knows, you don’t just jump back to 100 percent when you are healed. Coming off of a hot fall, look for Triantos to do the same as Amador in 2024. First, build muscle and second, impress at the Double-A level.“

I am quoting myself from January’s Pick-2 segment. Now, the Home Run total may not show it (7 HR in 115 games), but some advanced metrics do. Line-Drive Rate +10%, Slugging % +30pp, and doubled his XBH total. The rebuild looks promising for the Cubs with Shaw, Caissie, Horton and Triantos creeping onto the major league roster.

2TB Score: 75

3rd Base

Best: Michael Arroyo (SEA)

Michael Arroyo would’ve won the Best and Favorite award if I wasn’t slightly higher on the name below. However, we told you to keep an eye on Arroyo in May. Since then, he jumped up to A+ and slashed .290/.397/.519.

2TB Score: 74

Favorite: Matt Shaw (CHC)

Shaw will be the best pure-hitting pro in recent past to come out of the Cubs very talented farm system. His BB-rate jumped +200% from last year, showing his growth and plate discipline improvement. A mature hitter who should not only make the pro roster for Opening Day 2025, but start at 3B.

2TB Score: 76

Shortstop

Best: Jordan Lawlar (ARI)

Two years ago I wouldn’t have believed that I’m saying this, but Jordan Lawlar is very underrated. Yes, still a top-10 prospect, but for MLB to have Marcelo Mayer and Carson Williams ranked over him is an injustice. Earlier this year I said Lawlar is an everyday, 25-30 HR shortstop, I still feel strongly about that.

2TB Score: 83

Favorite: Jordan Lawlar (ARI)

Our one-and-only performance and favorite winner. (Re-read the section above if you wish)

2TB Score: 83

Outfield (1)

Best: Jhostynxon Garcia (BOS)

The Red Sox may not be the AL East team of the present, but they are surely are the one of the future. A star-studded farm system has things looking up for Boston. Garcia came out of absolutely nowhere. A 2019 international signee who struggled for several years. In 2024, something clicked for the 21 year-old. Across three levels the young outfielder slashed .286/.356/.536 while adding 23 HR and 17 SB. The line dropped after getting promoted to Double-A so let’s see if he can find comfort at the level in early 2025.

2TB Score: 73

Favorite: Chase DeLauter (CLE)

A fellow James Madison Duke, but I promise that’s not the reason he’s here. DeLauter has one of the more unique swings in all of the MiLB, but it’s effective. An injury-filled season did not help Chase’s development in 2024, but as mentioned, he’s a mature hitter as he spent three full years in college. A near 1:1 BB:K rate while keeping the latter in the low teens range, DeLauter should only need a little more time in AAA before getting the call early next season to join the ALCS bound Guardians.

2TB Score: 83

Outfield (2)

Best: Alejandro Osuna (TEX)

“Who?” That was the question this year. It may not be in 2025. Osuna’s line across two levels (A+/AA) was impressive, but his line in the latter was even more so. In Double-A, Osuna hit .306/.379/.523 with 9 HR and 32 RBI across only 57 games. The most interesting part is that the power (.523 SLG%) is by far his best of his early career (.426 was his previous high). if he can carry this momentum in 2025, the 22 year old can sneak his way onto a Texas Rangers roster that may be looking at a quiet rebuild.

2TB Score: 74

Favorite: Jaison Chourio (CLE)

The new dynamic duo family may be coming to the bigs sooner rather than later. Jackson Chourio is my way-too-early pick for 2025 NL MVP. Jaison may be my pick for 2025 MiLB Prospect of the Year. He’s only 19, so by sooner-rather-than later I mean 2026, but Jaison should cruise through A/A+ in 2025 and end the year at Double-A. Jaison is young, but don’t get it twisted, he’s a seasoned hitter at the plate. He had a 19.8% BB rate in 2024. Yes, 19.8%. That led to a .414 OBP next to a .270 AVG. Half his contact were ground balls, so 2025 is about working on driving the ball and getting some loft on it. Shouldn’t be a problem.

2TB Score: 79

Outfield (3)

Best: Emmanuel Rodriguez (MIN)

The Twins are excited for the future. And they should be, given the utter collapse in the present. Brooks Lee burst onto the scene in 2024 with his big league debut, top-5 pick Walker Jenkins has impressed early on, and Emmanuel Rodriguez had a tremendous 2024 campaign at 21 years old. He really shined in AA, slashing .298/.479/.621 in 37 games. He’ll be fighting for a major league spot on opening day in 2025.

2TB Score: 74

Favorite: Justin Crawford (PHI)

Justin holds a special place in our hearts. We got a chance to see Crawford at our local MiLB park in High-A, and he impressed. Justin is a presence in the field, at the plate, and (especially) on the bases. The prototypical lead-off hitter got even better after we saw him, hitting .333 with 15 SB in 40 games after his promotion to Double-A. Crawford was mentioned in trade deadline deals but was ultimately never dealt. The Phillies may be regretting that today given their disappointing loss to the Mets in the ALCS. But silver lining could be that Crawford becomes a nice presence in the major league outfield for years to come.

2TB Score: 79