One of the most interesting parts of the release of the Top 100 Prospects List is the arrival times of baseball’s top prospects. While some players may have already made their Major League debuts, a few still need to compete for a spot on the big league roster during Spring Training. This will be a multipart story, examining each division, starting with the American League East, and analyzing the top prospects and their likelihood of making the Major League roster out of Spring Training.
Something to Prove
Elmer Rodriguez – RHP (New York Yankees)
Elmer Rodriguez is a right-handed prospect in the Yankees’ farm system. Rodriguez is a long, lanky starting pitcher who works with four pitches. His best pitch is his fastball. He pairs the fastball with three other plus offerings. He works in a slider with depth and glove-side movement and throws the splitter off it. Additionally, Rodriguez uses a curveball to generate whiffs.
Even with a strong 2025 season, Rodriguez will have a hard time breaking camp with the Yankees. After acquiring Ryan Weathers in a trade a few weeks earlier, there is a logjam in the Yankees’ rotation. Rodriguez’s best chance to make the big league roster is as a depth piece to the rotation, given the staff’s injury history. He will look to improve on a solid 2025 season where he pitched 150 innings across three levels to a 2.58 ERA.
Players Who Debuted in 2025
Samuel Basallo – C/1B (Baltimore Orioles)
Samuel Basallo is the highest-rated player on this list, coming in as the 8th-ranked prospect according to MLB.com. Basallo will be competing with a former top prospect for time behind the dish in Adley Rutschman. He is a left-handed-hitting catcher with a plus-plus arm behind the plate. This tool has allowed him to stay behind the plate while improving other catching fundamentals. The catcher’s best tool, however, is his power. Basallo has consistently made contact at the plate, especially hard contact. Last year in the minors, he hit 23 home runs in 76 games.
The only thing holding back Basallo from making the big league roster is the opportunity to catch. The Orioles will want him to gain more reps behind the plate, but they have one of the better defensive catchers in baseball already. However, Basallo still appeared in 31 games for the Orioles last year and will find plenty of opportunity elsewhere thanks to his bat. It would be shocking if Basallo is not with Baltimore day one next season.
Dylan Beavers – OF (Baltimore Orioles)
Dylan Beavers is another top Oriole prospect who will likely make the team out of spring camp. The 69th-ranked prospect actually appeared in more games last season than Basallo. Beavers is an above-average runner and profiles best in a corner in Camden Yards. He’s improved his plate discipline during his time in the minors, matching his walk totals from 2024 to 2025 while playing in 30 fewer games. The Orioles’ prospect should be an above-average hitter with average power at the big league level.
The Orioles have been busy this offseason, adding bats in key positions. Trading for Taylor Ward and signing Pete Alonso. With two established outfielders in Tyler O’Neill and Colton Cowser already, Beavers will likely be the Orioles’ 4th outfielder. Barring a very disappointing spring, Beavers is a lock for the Orioles Opening Day Roster.
Carson Williams – SS (Tampa Bay Rays)
Carson Williams is the most likely player on this list to not make the big league roster out of Spring Training. While Williams has the potential to be a Gold Glove shortstop and produce at a 20/20 level, he strikes out, A LOT. During four full seasons of Minor league baseball, he struck out a minimum of 144 times across each season. This resulted in a very questionable hit tool. While Williams has made an impact on the bases and hitting for power, he may not be in Tampa Bay come opening day.
At this moment in time, Williams does not have a ton of competition at the shortstop position. This could benefit him and allow for the opportunity to figure out what kind of professional he will become. The aforementioned strikeout totals could be enough to hold him back from the Rays Opening Day Roster, however.
Connelly Early – LHP (Boston Red Sox)
Connelly Early has gotten outs efficiently and effectively since being drafted by the Red Sox in 2023. The lefty uses 5 pitches to attack batters with a fastball, curve, slider, cutter, and a change-up. Early’s changeup complements the fastball and allows him to attack right-handed hitters. He even throws all of his breaking pitches for strikes against both left and right-handed hitters.
Early could have a hard time making the Red Sox Opening Day Rotation. Among the Red Sox’s plethora of starting arms are five potential southpaw starters. Garrett Crochet and free agent signee Ranger Suarez are locks for the rotation. Additionally, fellow prospect Payton Tolle has the edge for another rotation spot. It would be difficult to add another left-handed pitcher to the staff. Because of this, Early’s best bet to make the team would require him to be a piece of the bullpen or become trade bait for another team.
Payton Tolle – LHP (Boston Red Sox)
Tolle is the second left-handed starter to be on this list and the most likely to make Boston’s rotation. Tolle throws four pitches, but his fastball is his best pitch. Tolle threw the fastball at a high rate in college and dominated with it. Since becoming pro, he has done nothing but improve on the pitch, adding nearly five miles per hour to it. His three other pitches, while not as strong as the fastball, manage to keep hitters off balance.
Tolle looks to be the third lefty in the Red Sox rotation. After a rough showing last season during his first taste of the majors, his top-end fastball will earn him that spot. Getting hit around more than usual should allow Tolle to focus more on his off-speed offerings, and if he’s able to improve those similar to his fastball, he could be a force to be reckoned with on the mound.
Trey Yesavage – RHP (Toronto Blue Jays)
Toronto had to be ecstatic to see what Trey Yesavage did during their postseason run. Yesavage’s arsenal is similar to that of their established ace, Kevin Gausman. Both pitchers rely heavily on their fastball and splitter combination to generate outs. However, Yesavage throws almost completely over the top and brings baseball one of its most unique release points. Drafted only a year prior, Yesavage also throws a slider.
Trey Yesavage might be the only true lock on this list. He is a top candidate for AL Rookie of the Year. Coming into a very veteran staff could be extremely helpful for the rookie’s development as well. There should be no doubt after his postseason run that Yesavage will make the team out of Spring Training.
Main Photo Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images