Let’s answer some questions …
Which Top 100 prospect has the largest discrepancy between their floor and ceiling? — @lcap421 on X
Brewers right-hander Jacob Misiorowski immediately jumps to mind. He has the best fastball and the best curveball on the Top 100 — not to mention a plus slider — but ranks 100th because of his lack of consistent strikes. He has the stuff to be a front-of-the-rotation starter, but his control could land him in the bullpen and possibly compromise his chances of being a closer. Of the 22 big leaguers who saved 20 or more games in 2024, only Camilo Doval had as high a walk rate (14.4 percent) as Misiorowski’s identical figure in Double-A and Triple-A.
Among the position players, it’s Pirates shortstop/outfielder Konnor Griffin (No. 43), whom I discussed in my previous Pipeline Inbox. Griffin had more upside than anyone in the 2024 Draft as a potential 30-30 guy who could be a plus defender at short or a Gold Glover in center. But some clubs have serious issues with his right-handed swing and wonder if he’ll be able to hit quality pitching.
Rays first baseman Xavier Isaac (No. 51) and Blue Jays shortstop Arjun Nimmala (No. 87) are two more guys who have large gaps between their floor and ceiling. Isaac could be a 40-homer guy, but he also struck out at a 40.6 percent clip once he got to Double-A, where he missed on 49 percent of his swings. Nimmala could be a 30-homer shortstop but he also comes with strikeout concerns (31.3 percent K rate in Single-A) and could wind up at third base.
Which first-rounder from the 2024 Draft could make the biggest jump in MLB Pipeline’s rankings with a strong 2025 season? — @STLCardinalHenn on X
But the potential for the biggest jump belongs to Orioles outfielder Vance Honeycutt, who didn’t make the Top 100 list. He had the highest ceiling in last year’s college class with well-above-average raw power and speed, not to mention Gold Glove defense in center field and plus arm strength. His bat is a question after he carried a 26.2 percent strikeout rate in three years of college and a 42.8 percent K rate in his brief debut, so he’ll have to make more contact.
Another non-Top 100 first-rounder to watch is Dodgers shortstop Kellon Lindsey, who’s similar to Trea Turner at the same stage of their careers. He has top-of-the-scale speed and knows how to use it, and he keeps improving his hitting ability, strength and defense.
Which of the Top 50 prospects would be adjusted the most from a strictly fantasy value standpoint? Defense mattering mostly to the point of keeping them on the field, but otherwise focusing on their offensive tools. — @Results_Process on X
Dodgers outfielder Josue De Paula (No. 40) would get the biggest boost among the Top 50 if we were evaluating his worth in fantasy baseball versus real baseball. He doesn’t offer much from a defensive perspective as a below-average left fielder, but he might be the next Yordan Alvarez with some sneaky basestealing ability. Mariners outfielder Lazaro Montes (No. 42) is a similar defender with not quite the same all-around offensive game.
Looking at it from the opposite perspective, Brewers catcher Jeferson Quero (No. 47) has the biggest gap between his real versus fantasy value. He’s an average hitter with 15-20 homer potential, which would be nice fantasy production for a backstop, but he really stands out with his brilliance behind the plate.
What do you see for George Lombard Jr. this year as a player who looks the part but just didn’t hit in 2024. — @NeilBMills on X
It won’t shock me if Lombard boosts his stock more than most players in 2025, when I expect him to join the Top 100. The son of former big leaguer and current Tigers bench coach George Lombard, he went 26th overall to the Yankees in the 2023 Draft. He’s a quality shortstop defender and could develop solid or better tools across the board.
In his first full year as a pro, Lombard slashed .231/.338/.334 with five homers and 39 steals in 110 games between two Class A stops at age 19. He finished strong after making some adjustments over the course of the season, and he’s capable of hitting .275 with 20 homers this year and maintaining that production as he climbs the ladder to New York.
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