Here are 8 prospects standing out in winter ball

Now that the Arizona Fall League has crowned a new champion and MLB's awards season is winding down, the baseball world in the United States is preparing to turn its attention to the Hot Stove. But that doesn't mean baseball isn't being played. There are plenty of exciting and talented prospects still lacing their cleats into November and December in the many winter leagues down in warm-weather countries like Venezuela, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. (Fans, don't forget, you can stream all LIDOM games on MLB.TV.)

Last season, notable prospects Jackson Chourio and Junior Caminero used their winter ball experiences to propel them toward impactful Major League stints with the teams they will be a major part of for many years to come. The same could happen this time around, with what happens this winter potentially affecting Major League teams next spring and beyond.

Here are eight early standouts from players among their club's Top 30 Prospects list. You can track all the ranked prospects in winter leagues here.

Hyungchan Um, C, Brisbane Bandits (Australia)
KC No. 25
The 20-year-old South Korean is looking to become the first Major League backstop from his country. He found success after a successful run in Australia last winter, earning a promotion this June to Single-A Columbia, so he’s back down under this offseason looking to replicate those results. He’s been one of the hottest hitters down under, batting .423/.483/.731 with two homers, six RBIs and 11 hits in his first seven games.

Luisangel Acuña, SS/OF/2B, Cardenales de Lara (Venezuela)
NYM No. 12
Acuña made such an enormous impact for the Mets down the stretch that some might forget his prospect stock had been dropping since arriving in New York's organization in the 2023 Trade Deadline deal for Max Scherzer. So it makes sense that the 22-year-old would play winter ball in his native Venezuela this year, especially after posting a .299 on-base-percentage and .654 OPS in 131 games at Triple-A Syracuse this summer. So far, the versatile right-handed hitter is riding the momentum from his 14-game stint in the Majors, hitting .364/.421/.576 with a homer and four steals in his first 11 games for Lara.

Zach Dezenzo, 3B, Senadores de San Juan (Puerto Rico)
HOU No. 5
The 24-year-old Dezenzo reached the big leagues with Houston down the stretch and scored a run in Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series, but overall was limited to 52 Minor League games due to injury in 2024. He's in Puerto Rico playing winter ball ahead of what'll be an important spring for him as he tries to crack the Astros' 2025 Opening Day roster. He's demonstrated a mature approach so far, slashing .379/.472/.414 with five walks in his first eight games.

César Prieto, INF, Aguilas Cibaenas (LIDOM)
STL No. 14
The 25-year-old Cuban is a contact specialist who has always hit, and he's tapped into more power since arriving in the Cardinals system via a deal with Baltimore at the 2023 Trade Deadline. This winter is no different. He played in 12 games for Aguilas last winter and has already suited up in 11 for them this year, hitting .318 with 14 hits in that limited action.

Tirso Ornelas, OF, Charros de Jalisco (Mexico)
SD No. 17
The 24-year-old Ornelas plays all year round. He played in 63 games last winter in the Mexican League after a full Minor League season, and already has 24 games under his belt this winter in his native country after spending the entire 2024 season at Triple-A El Paso. Ornelas can hit. He batted .297 with 23 homers and an .864 OPS -- and some of the better exit velocities in the Padres' organization -- at El Paso this summer. And he's done a little bit of everything at the plate this winter, hitting .309/.429/.531 with four homers, 17 RBIs and six steals for Jalisco.

Hector Rodriguez, OF, Leones del Escogido (LIDOM)
CIN No. 12
The 20-year-old Rodriguez won Dominican Winter League Rookie of the Year honors last winter and is back performing well for Escogido this time around, hitting .361/.375/.472 over his first 10 games after spending the entire season at High-A Dayton. He socked 12 homers, seven triples and 24 doubles at Dayton this summer.

Luis Gastelum, RHP, Caneros de Los Mochis (Mexico)
STL No. 30
Signed out of Mexico as a 21-year-old in 2023, Gastelum had a breakout year at Single-A Palm Beach this year and has continued pitching well in his native homeland this winter. The right-hander’s best pitch is his changeup, and he’s used it effectively in a large sample this winter, pitching to a 1.37 ERA in 19 appearances for Los Mochis and binging 28 strikeouts in 19 ⅔ innings.

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Braden Nett, RHP, Senadores de San Juan (Puerto Rico)
SD No. 19
The 22-year-old Nett reached Double-A San Antonio down the stretch after spending most of the year at High-A Fort Wayne. But he totaled just 65 innings across 20 appearances (19 starts), so there was leash left for him to build up a few more innings in Puerto Rico this winter. They’ve gone swimmingly so far, with Nett posting a 0.90 ERA in 10 innings across three starts, as well as a 13-3 strikeout-to-walk rate during those frames.