When MLB Pipeline launched its high 100 prospects of 2025 listing on Friday night time, the NL Central discovered themselves with extra prospects on the listing than another division in baseball. Of the 23 NL Central prospects that made MLB Pipeline’s listing, two already made their MLB debut through the 2024 season, and 12 will probably debut in 2025. The Cubs lead the NL Central (and are tied with the Mariners for essentially the most in MLB) with seven prospects within the high 100, the Reds have 5 high 100 prospects, the Brewers and Pirates every have 4, and the Cardinals have three. Pittsburgh’s Bubba Chandler, a right-handed starter who is ready to make his debut in 2025, is the division’s highest-ranked prospect coming in at No. 15 on MLB Pipeline’s listing.
Let’s take a better take a look at every of those high prospects and predict how they could find yourself impacting their respective large league ball golf equipment. The rankings for every prospect from the three main prospect rankings lists are included beneath (Baseball Prospectus (BP), Baseball America (BA), and MLB Pipeline (Pipeline)).
Milwaukee Brewers
Jesus Made (BP-No. 35, BA-No. 17, Pipeline No. 56)
Jeferson Quero (BP-No. 61, BA-No. 43, Pipeline No. 47)
Cooper Pratt (BP-No. 63, BA-No. 50, Pipeline No. 57)
Jacob Misiorowski (BP-No. 65, BA-No. 44, Pipeline No. 100)
Misiorowski making his MLB debut in 2025 is just about a lock. Followers have been hoping he can be part of the Brewers’ bullpen down the stretch in 2024, however the group finally determined to provide Misiorowski another offseason earlier than calling him as much as the majors. He probably received’t be part of the opening day roster or an early-April call-up, because the Brewers will hope to realize an additional yr of management by way of service time manipulation, however Misiorowski ought to affect the massive league membership sooner or later in 2025.
Quero additionally has a good chance of debuting in 2025. William Contreras and Eric Haase will probably be the 2 catchers on the Brewers’ opening day roster, however an damage to both one, or underperformance from Haase, might open the door for Quero to hitch the main league membership.
Made and Pratt’s improvement shall be attention-grabbing to observe as they each possess the instruments to stay at shortstop defensively and will make it to MLB at comparable occasions. Pratt, who will probably begin the yr in Double-A, has the higher hand when it comes to debuting first over Made, who’s more likely to begin the yr in Low-A. It can even be attention-grabbing to observe how the start of Pratt and Made’s MLB careers coincides with Joey Ortiz and Brice Turang’s careers. If all goes effectively for the prospects, they are going to be prepared for the massive leagues earlier than the Brewers lose Ortiz and Turang to free company, and the group shall be confronted with a tough resolution.
For extra info on these 4 prospects, try Adam’s article from earlier this week relating to the Baseball America rankings or my article from Friday night about MLB Pipeline’s rankings.
St. Louis Cardinals
2B/SS JJ Wetherholt (BP-No. 13, BA-No. 25, Pipeline-No. 23)
RHP Suppose Therefore (BP-No. 38, BA-No. 68, Pipeline-No. 45)
LHP Quinn Mathews (BP-No. 27, BA-No. 41, Pipeline-No. 77)
C Jimmy Crooks (BP-No. 88, BA-Not ranked, Pipeline-Not ranked)
Already a member of the Cardinals’ 40-man roster, Therefore will virtually actually affect the massive league ball membership in 2025. Whether or not that’s as a starter or a reliever stays to be answered. Therefore has spent his total profession as a starter, possessing a formidable arsenal of pitches that features an upper-90s fastball, an elite changeup, a slider that noticed an uptick in utilization in 2024, and a curveball that he’s reintroducing to his repertoire. Of his 4 pitches, the fastball and changeup stand out as being one of the best two, with the opposite two needing extra improvement. Therefore has additionally struggled to remain wholesome all through his minor league profession, by no means reaching 100 innings pitched in a single season. His reliance on two excellent pitches and his damage issues up to now counsel that Therefore may profit from a transfer to the bullpen, the place he could possibly be a deadly two-pitch reliever.
Drafted in 2023, Mathews began the 2024 season in Low-A and completed at Triple-A. Main the entire minor leagues with 202 strikeouts final season, Mathews’ three promotions final yr have been well-earned. He was even named MLB Pipeline’s 2024 pitching prospect of the yr. Mathews, who now sits 93-96 on his fastball after including almost three mph of velocity final season, throws a wonderful changeup that helps his success in opposition to righties, a mid-80s slider, and a mid-70s curveball. He’ll probably begin the yr at Triple-A, however sufficient success there might result in an MLB debut through the 2025 season.
Wetherholt was drafted No. 7 general by the Cardinals this previous season and is probably going nonetheless a yr and a half away from the majors. With a median arm and Masyn Winn trying like a franchise cornerstone, it’s attainable Wetherholt transitions right into a second baseman within the minor leagues.
After two very stable seasons in 2022 and 2023, Crooks actually broke out final season in Double-A slashing .321/.410/.498 with 11 HR in 90 video games. Probably beginning the yr in Triple-A, Crooks seems to be the third-string catcher for the Cardinals, behind Iván Herrera and Pedro Pagés, assuming Willson Contreras’ catching days are behind him.
Chicago Cubs
INF Matt Shaw (BP-No. 26, BA-No. 35, Pipeline-No. 19)
OF Owen Cassie (BP-No. 77, BA-No. 64, Pipeline-No. 54)
RHP Cade Horton (BP-No. 85, BA-No. 54, Pipeline-No. 52)
C Moises Ballesteros (BP-No. 73, BA-No. 62, Pipeline-No. 69)
OF Kevin Alcántara (BP-Not ranked, BA-No. 71, Pipeline-No. 90)
2B/OF James Triantos (BP-Not ranked, BA-Not ranked, Pipeline-No. 73)
SS/2B Jefferson Rojas (BP-Not ranked, BA-Not ranked, Pipeline No. 97)
After buying and selling Isaac Paredes, Shaw is presently penciled in because the Cubs opening day third baseman. He’s third in NL Rookie of the Yr odds behind Roki Sasaki and Dylan Crews and has the minor league resume to again it up. Shaw was the 2024 Southern League MVP whereas taking part in for the Cubs’ Double-A affiliate. His glorious play earned him a promotion to Triple-A the place he obtained even higher, slashing .298/.395/.534 in 35 video games. At simply 5’9” Shaw has spectacular energy for his measurement and might maintain his personal at 3B even with below-average arm energy.
Horton misplaced many of the 2024 season to a shoulder damage and whereas he did keep away from surgical procedure, it stays to be seen how the previous seventh general decide will bounce again. Horton isn’t presently on the Cubs 40-man roster and sure received’t debut till late within the 2025 season. When he does debut, he shall be an necessary addition to the Cubs’ rotation. Horton’s arsenal is constructed round an elite 70-grade slider, that he pairs with a mid to upper-90s fastball. A stable changeup and curveball spherical out his arsenal maintaining hitters off-balance.
Cassie and Alcántara will spend the 2025 season battling for the Cubs’ fourth outfielder place. Assuming the Cubs begin Happ, Crow-Armstrong, and Tucker within the outfield, with Suzuki because the DH, the fourth outfielder place is open. Each Cassie and Alcántara are already on the 40-man roster, and whereas Alcántara did debut in 2024, Cassie is the higher prospect. Whereas each have posted excessive strikeout charges within the minor leagues, Cassie pairs it with a excessive stroll price and higher energy numbers than Alcántara. The one benefit that Alcántara holds is his potential to play all three outfield positions, whereas Cassie is more likely to find yourself in one of many corners.
Whereas Ballesteros and Triantos aren’t presently on the 40-man roster, it’s attainable that they each debut in 2025. Ballesteros, who will begin the yr in Triple-A, seems to be the Cubs third-string catcher, and an damage to or underperformance by both Miguel Amaya or Carson Kelly would probably lead to Ballesteros’ debut. Triantos might additionally be part of the Cubs MLB roster in 2025, however it stays to be seen which defensive place he’ll stick at. With glorious hit-and-run instruments, Triantos’ largest query mark is his protection. He’s performed each second base and outfield within the minors and is a fringe to common defender at each positions.
Lastly, Rojas is a 19-year-old center infielder who has already logged a complete season at Excessive-A. His recreation nonetheless requires some improvement, however his glorious pitch recognition and powerful arm at shortstop give him an excellent basis for achievement.
Pittsburgh Pirates
RHP Bubba Chandler (BP-No. 21, BA-No. 7, Pipeline-No. 15)
SS/OF Konnor Griffin (BP-No. 86, BA-No. 57, Pipeline-No. 43)
RHP Thomas Harrington (BP-No. 81, BA-No. 74, Pipeline-No. 80)
2B/SS Temarr Johnson (BP-Not ranked, BA-Not ranked, Pipeline-No. 83)
Chandler could possibly be part of the Pirates’ opening day rotation, however it’s probably that Pittsburgh will have interaction in service time manipulation to realize an additional yr of crew management, as they did with Skenes in 2024. This implies Chandler probably received’t debut till after the primary month of the season. Whereas Chandler does have a four-pitch combine, his upper-90s fastball stands out as his greatest providing. This elite fastball paired with Chandler’s enhancing secondaries produced a ridiculous 12.36 Ok/9 in Triple-A final season.
Harrington additionally has an opportunity to affect the massive league ball membership in 2025, after rising from Low-A to Triple-A through the 2024 season. Harrington throws a low-90s fastball however backs it up with 4 secondary pitches, together with a cutter that averages 5 much less mph than his four-seam, a slider, a splitter, and a curveball. He instructions every of those pitches very effectively and has led your entire Pirates group in BB/Ok ratio for the final two seasons.
Griffin, who the Pirates drafted ninth general, was the primary excessive schooler taken in final yr’s draft. At simply 18 years previous, Griffin’s swing unexpectedly requires some improvement, however he possesses among the most fun instruments on this yr’s draft class. Standing at 6’4”, Griffin has the flexibility to play each SS and CF, the place he can exhibit his elite arm energy. With 60-grade energy and 65-grade velocity, Griffin’s future is brilliant, however he probably received’t see MLB motion for not less than two extra seasons.
Johnson’s rating decreased barely this yr after a fairly common season in Excessive-A and Double-A final yr. His batting common, on-base proportion, and slugging proportion have been all decrease in 2024 than in 2023. He’ll probably begin the season in Double-A and will see a promotion to Triple-A by the tip of the season if he seems extra just like the 2023 model of himself.
Cincinnati Reds
RHP Chase Burns (BP-No. 16, BA-No. 27, Pipeline-No. 26)
RHP Rhett Lowder (BP-No. 50, BA-No. 26, Pipeline-No. 35)
2B/3B Sal Stewart (BP-Not ranked, BA-Not ranked, Pipeline-No. 84)
3B Cam Collier (BP-Not ranked, BA-Not ranked, Pipeline-No. 91)
SS Edwin Arroyo (BP-Not ranked, BA-Not ranked, Pipeline-No. 92)
RHP Chase Petty (BP-Not ranked, BA-No. 98, Pipeline-Not ranked)
Burns and Lowder sit a tier above the remainder of the Reds’ high prospects, however they’re at very completely different phases of their improvement. Burns, drafted second general in final yr’s draft, has but to pitch in a minor league recreation, however possesses thrilling upside. Whereas his fastball is hittable as a result of its lack of motion, it may well attain 102 mph and sits within the higher 90s. Nevertheless, Burns’ actual energy is his 70-grade slider, which left school hitters guessing final season and led to him breaking Wake Forest’s single-season strikeout file, beforehand held by Rhett Lowder. Lowder was Cincinnati’s first-round decide within the 2023 draft and made his MLB debut in August. He pitched masterfully for the Reds on the finish of the season, posting a 1.17 ERA throughout six begins, solidifying his place in Cincinnati’s rotation for the 2025 season.
The evaluators don’t agree on the rankings of the Reds’ subsequent 4 high prospects, however out of Stewart, Collier, Arroyo, and Petty, Petty is the one one who has an opportunity to debut in 2025. With two plus pitches, a sinking fastball, and a mid-80s slider, Petty will probably develop into a reliever when he reaches the main leagues. That being stated, he did make 28 begins final yr and paired an enhancing changeup together with his different two pitches to maintain hitters off-balance. Stewart and Collier have been Cincinnati’s first two picks within the 2022 draft. Each drafted as third basemen out of highschool, they’ve progressed at comparable charges by way of the Reds’ farm system, with every of them posting stable numbers in a full season of Excessive-A baseball in 2024. Arroyo spent most of 2024 in Excessive-A as effectively however earned a promotion to Double-A in the direction of the tip of the yr. He’ll probably begin the 2025 season in Double-A and could possibly be promoted to Triple-A earlier than the season ends, however with the Reds’ crowded infield don’t count on him to achieve the massive leagues for not less than one other season and a half.
