Top 5 most exciting players in Spring Training so far

We are officially in baseball season, with spring training picking up and teams getting back into their grooves. Within the first two weeks of baseball being back, some prospects have really made a name for themselves quickly.

Within a league with so much new talent each year, here are my top five most exciting players that have broken onto the scene so far.

No. 5 Chandler Simpson

Simpson has made some noise for the Tampa Bay Rays in spring training due to his electric speed, both in the outfield and while running the bases.

Last year in 110 minor league games across both high A and AA, Simpson had 104 stolen bases, boosting his total to 206 in the first three years of his professional career.

If the Rays are able to use this speed at the major league level, it is going to be bad news for catchers league wide.

No. 4 Jefry Yan

The Rockies signed Yan in December of last year, putting him back with a major league team for the first time since 2023 when he elected to become a free agent following his stint in the Miami Marlins farm system.

Yan has been taking the baseball world by storm for a while now, for his eccentric celebrations following each of his strikeouts. It has been no different in spring training, as he has celebrated each of his four strikeouts while maintaining a zero ERA in the three innings he has appeared in.

I for one would love to see Yan get the chance to bring this energy to the highest level, which he should get to if he keeps this performance up.

No. 3 George Lombard Jr.

The 19-year-old has turned some heads, especially with the question of who will be the New York Yankees starting third baseman this year still unanswered. Lombard Jr. has been crushing the ball, hitting .333 with two home runs, four RBIs, and having a 1.145 OPS in 15 at-bats.

With the Yankees having plenty of highly talented prospects, Lombard Jr. has found a way to stand out in a loaded farm system, potentially landing him a future spot in the Yankees starting lineup if he were to move from shortstop to third base.

No. 2 Gabriel Rincones Jr.

The Phillies outfielder has showcased some serious power so far, hammering three home runs on his way to collecting seven RBIs while hitting .286 with a 1.341 OPS.

Rincones Jr. is the clubs number 10 prospect, being with the team since he was signed in 2022. Rincones could add some more power to an already dangerous Philadelphia lineup in the future if he continues to stay hot at the plate.

No. 1 Cam Smith

With the Chicago Cubs making a huge trade this offseason for outfielder Kyle Tucker, the Houston Astros managed to get Smith in return along with some other players.

The third base prospect has been one of the hottest hitters this spring, hitting .571 with two home runs, six RBIs, and having a whopping 2.441 OPS in seven at-bats.

It appears the Astros may have struck gold with this trade, as Tucker is set to hit free agency after this season anyway and the team will need a long term replacement at the hot corner after not re-signing third baseman Alex Bregman this past offseason.

There are still plenty of spring training games remaining, meaning there are opportunities for other young stars to put their name out there as well.

By the time the regular season rolls around, it will be interesting to see if any of these guys or other new faces will get the opportunity to make an impact at the highest level. We will just have to wait till the end of March to find out.

Charles Wesolowski is a first-year majoring in journalism. To contact him, email cjw6772@psu.edu.