Around the MLB: top prospects

Now two weeks into the MLB season, some of the MLB’s top prospects have started to settle into the MLB setting, while others have just gotten the call-up. Let’s check in on how they are handling the MLB.

Jackson Holliday, SS/2B, Baltimore Orioles

There’s no better way to start this list than with the top prospect in baseball.

The Orioles have completely revamped their team with young talent and Holliday very well might be the best of them all.

Holliday got the call-up from Triple-A on April 10 after a dominant run through the minor leagues and had a below-average start to his career.

He did drive in a run on a ground out, but he went hitless in four at-bats, batting in the nine spot.

Seeing how the Orioles handle their top young players will be interesting. The expectation was for Holliday to play shortstop when he came up and Gunnar Henderson to play third. However, in Holliday’s debut, the two young players were in the middle of the infield with Holliday at second base and Henderson at shortstop.

Jackson Chourio, RF, Milwaukee Brewers

Let’s stay on the theme of Jackson’s, Chourio caught a lot of attention when he signed a huge contract extension with the Brewers before taking an at-bat in the MLB.

Chourio made the opening roster and has transitioned well to the major league game.

In 10 games, he has a .282 batting average while slugging .462. For a 20-year old those are impressive numbers in his first games in the big leagues.

The Jacksons, Holliday and Chourio, are set to square off in a three-game series starting Friday, April 12, 2024.

Evan Carter and Wyatt Langford, Texas Rangers

The Rangers are the reigning champions and have flooded their lineup with young talent. Carter is the more known young player after he dominated the playoffs a season ago.

Langford, however, just got the call-up this season and has struggled a bit, but has shown flashes of the talent that was seen to make him the fourth overall pick in 2023.

Carter has struggled even more. If anyone was expecting him to continue his insane run in the playoffs, they’re crazy.

He’s reaching base at a good rate, but the average is way down. It’s a small sample size to start the season but it is still something to keep an eye on throughout the season.

I expect both prospects to figure things out within the next month and prove the hype they received throughout the minor leagues.

Jared Jones, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates

Jones has dominated in his two starts this season and he’s not even the most hyped-up Pirates pitching prospect.

Paul Skenes is waiting in the wings for his call to the major leagues, that’s bound to happen at any point now.

Jones, in two starts, has an ERA of just under four, while striking out 17 batters. His swing-and-miss ability on all of his pitches is what has made him so dominant, thus far.

He is a big part of the Pirates' future and just a piece of all the young talent that has made the jump to the MLB for this young Pirates squad.

These prospects have had tons of hype around them for around a year, at least, and have all made the jump to the big leagues.

Some have made the transition a little easier, while others are still adjusting. However, these players have too much talent to not figure it out and expect all of these players to be stars in the future.

Andrew Deal is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email asd5765@psu.edu