MLB names to know for 2022
Major League Baseball is so close to a return to full normalcy. That goes for USA TODAY Sports’ list of Names You Need To Know for 2022.
This time, it’s not a global pandemic but rather a 99-day lockout that pushed our annual list of the game’s greatest young stars from the dregs of winter to early spring, where winter decisions were made and decisions on prospects’ statuses could be contextually derived.
So it is perhaps a better list than ever, thanks to a more informed knowledge of teams’ 2022 plans as well as a truncated spring training to allow further evaluation. And the industry heavs a sigh of relief that there was a nearly entire 2021 minor league season upon which to draw conclusions. With that, we return to our regular eligibility guidelines - that a player’s 2021 minor lague plate appearances or innings pitched exceed his career major league total entering this season.
This list does not rank the top prospects in the game, but rather those whose pedigree and range of opportunity give them the greatest chance to factor into the upcoming season. A top prospect buried deep in this list may be heading it up in 2023.
Players are ranked in order of their anticipated impact this season.
1. SS Bobby Witt Jr., Royals: The No. 2 overall pick in 2019 will beat that year’s 1 / 1, Adley Rutschman, to the majors despite Witt being just a high-schooler when he was drafted. But a 33-homer, 29-steal, .936 OPS campaign in 2021 – resulting in Witt earning USA TODAY Sports’ Minor League Player of the Year honors – will press the Royals to start Witt on Opening Day, if not shortly thereafter.
2. OF Seiya Suzuki, Cubs: Suzuki arrives from Japan with impeccable credentials: four All-Star berths, three Gold Gloves, two batting titles and one Olympic gold medal … all by the age of 27.
3. OF Julio Rodriguez, Mariners: One of the top prospects in baseball, Rodriguez, 21, hasn’t played above Class
AA but his explosive spring forced the Mariners’ hand into a starting role.
4. 1B Spencer Torkelson, Tigers: The torch has been passed in Detroit: Torkelson, the top overall pick in 2020, will take over for Miguel Cabrera at first base.
5. C Adley Rutschman, Orioles: The No. 1 pick in 2019 reported to camp with a chance of becoming the Opening Day starting catcher.
6. RHP Hunter Greene, Reds: The No. 2 overall selection in 2017, Greene didn’t pitch in 2019 or 2020 because of an elbow injury that eventually required Tommy John surgery. He rebounded in a big way in his age-21 season, looking dominant at times at Class AA and AAA (3.30 ERA, 139 K’s in 106 1/3 IP).
7. LHP Aaron Ashby, Brewers: The hard-throwing lefty made his MLB debut in June, starting four times and appearing nine other times in relief. His overall numbers weren’t eye-popping (4.55 ERA, 1.17 WHIP), but his repertoire draws rave reviews.
8. OF Riley Greene, Tigers: Like Torkelson, Greene, 21, mashed his way up three levels to Class AAA, with a pit stop at the Futures Game, and his 29 home runs nearly matched Torkelson’s 30.
Greene’s speed and power combo and advanced approach make it likely he’ll hold down a corner outfield spot at Comerica Park so long as he desires.
9. SS Oneil Cruz, Pirates: One of the most exciting Pirates prospects in years, Cruz is somewhat of a unicorn as a 6foot-7 shortstop, and he’s able to use his frame to generate exceptional exit velocity at the plate.
10. LHP Reid Detmers, Angels: The 10th overall pick in 2020, Detmers pitched 14 games in the minors before getting called up, ultimately making five starts with a 7.40 ERA in the big leagues.
11. SS Jeremy Pena, Astros: With Carlos Correa gone, Pena, 24, seized the chance to win a starting job this spring, holding his own with his bat despite no major league experience. There’s power potential in that bat and he won’t nearly be expected to carry the offense the way Correa did.
12. RHP Camilo Doval, Giants: The 24-year-old flamethrower became a big part of the San Francisco bullpen down the stretch, making 15 scoreless appearances with 20 strikeouts and three walks in September.
13. C Joey Bart, Giants: Buster Posey’s
retirement opened the door for his heir apparentwho debuted in 2020 and played two games for the Giants in 2021. He still only has 769 minor-league atbats under his belt and is in for a challenging season adapting to big-league pitching while handling one of the game’s top rotations.
14. RHP Joe Ryan, Twins: Talk about an immediate return for a trade deadline deal. Ryan, 25, was acquired from Tampa Bay for Nelson Cruz in July, slid into the Twins rotation and will be their openingday starter.
15. INF Kevin Smith, Athletics: With salary dumps come opportunity and Smith, 25, suddenly finds himself the A’s starting third baseman after arriving last month in the Matt Chapman deal.
16. C Keibert Ruiz, Nationals: In the long term, Ruiz, 23, should be the most impactful piece of the Max ScherzerTrea Turner swap with Los Angeles, and he posted a .348 OBP in 23 games with Washington after the July trade.
17. RHP Shane Baz, Rays: Like clockwork, the Rays unleash a secret weapon for the postseason and bring him back as an integral piece for the following season. This time, there’s a wrinkle in the works: Baz needed minor elbow surgery to remove loose particles on March 21 and likely will be out until May.
18. RHP Daulton Jefferies, Athletics: The 26-year-old appeared in five games for Oakland in 2021 and is expected to begin the season in the rotation. Jefferies missed nearly all of 2017 and 2018 due to Tommy John surgery and could be a consistent arm in the middle of the rotation if he stays healthy.
19. SS C.J. Abrams, Padres: The 21year-old, who has played just 76 games in the minor leagues, none of them above Class AA, could find himself in the majors sooner than anticipated.
20. SS Geraldo Perdomo, Diamondbacks: Nick Ahmed (shoulder injury) won’t be ready for opening day, giving Perdomo’s status a jolt. Perdomo, 22, had a hot bat during spring training and, if he can continue his usual strong defense, he has a chance to bump Ahmed aside for playing time.