These 5 Top 100 prospects could be called up next

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Already in the early going this season, we’ve seen a number of top prospects make their big league debuts or start the year in the big leagues. Gunnar Henderson and Corbin Carroll have graduated from the Top 100. Jordan Walker is off to a very strong start, and Anthony Volpe is finding his way. Grayson Rodriguez joined Henderson in Baltimore last week, and Francisco Álvarez is back up with the Mets. And that’s just from the top five!

It’s a pretty impressive list already, right? But you know us at MLB Pipeline, always looking ahead. All these prospects up in the big leagues got me to thinking about the inevitable question: Who’s next?

Using a complex formula of hot starts in the Minors combined with slow starts or holes on Major League rosters -- or just guessing -- here’s a group of nine who could, or should, be next to join the prospect parade.

Top 100 prospects

Brett Baty, 3B/OF, Mets: Yes, he missed a few days with a thumb issue, but he was back in the lineup on Sunday. He’s gone 6-for-18 (.333/.455/.722) with a pair of homers, while Eduardo Escobar is off to a 4-for-32 (.125/.152/.250) start in New York. He’d also be a better option in the outfield than Mark Canha.

Tyler Soderstrom, 1B/C, A’s: A’s first basemen Jesus Aguilar and Ryan Noda are a combined 10-for-48 (.208), and Brent Rooker is 1-for-9, mostly in the DH role. Soderstrom, meanwhile, is off to a .294/.324/.618 start with seven extra-base hits and leads all Top 100 prospects in total bases. He’d also provide the A’s with a third catcher, if need be.

Edouard Julien, 2B, Twins: This might take some lineup adjustments, because Kyle Farmer is off to a solid start while playing a bunch of games at second. But he can play elsewhere, and the Canadian God of Walks (19.4 percent walk rate again this year) is hitting .276/.417/.517 in Triple-A and would be an offensive upgrade over, say, Nick Gordon.

Tanner Bibee, RHP, Guardians: Yep, totally small sample here. But I love that the Guardians pushed Bibee to Triple-A to start the year, and he responded with five shutout frames in his first start, allowing just four hits and one walk while striking out seven. Meanwhile, Zach Plesac and Cal Quantrill have a combined 7.64 ERA and 1.81 WHIP

Connor Norby, 2B/OF, Orioles: Gunnar is up, and now so is Grayson. Who’s next on the list? Why not Norby and his explosive bat? He’s not going to supplant Adam Frazier at second right now, but it should be noted that O’s outfielders are hitting a combined .202 so far while Norby is off to a .343/.385/.543 start.

Beyond the Top 100

Nolan Jones, OF/3B, Rockies: He’s off to a .353/.476/.941 start that includes six homers in nine games, and he leads all Top 30 prospects in total bases. There are some veterans ahead of him, but even as a fourth outfielder/part-time third baseman (who also plays first), he’d be an upgrade over Harold Castro.

Ronny Mauricio, SS, Mets: He has been more productive so far this year (.353/.405/.735) than Francisco Lindor ... I kid. But you could slide him to third (and see the above argument for Baty in left field).

Matthew Liberatore, LHP, Cardinals: The one-time Top 100 guy is pitching like he belongs back on the list. The lefty is still only 23 and has tossed 10 scoreless over two starts with 14 K’s. Meanwhile, the Cardinals’ big league rotation is 13th in the NL with a 5.52 ERA. A guy like Jake Woodford and his 9.00 ERA, 1.89 WHIP and .342 batting average against may want to look over his shoulder.

Chase Silseth, RHP, Angels: The first player from the 2021 Draft to make it to the big leagues may have scuffled during his debut last year, but he clearly wants another crack at it. In two starts, he’s given up just three hits and three walks while striking out 13 in 11 IP. The Angels’ rotation hasn’t been too bad, though Jose Suarez and Reid Detmers could be early targets.