Groshans, Moreno and Soderstrom named MLB Top 100 Prospects

2019 Lugnuts sluggers Jordan Groshans (pictured above) and Gabriel Moreno and 2020 Oakland Athletics first-rounder Tyler Soderstrom, expected to be a Lugnut in 2022, ranked among MLB Pipeline's updated Top 100 Prospects, as released over the weekend.

Infielder Groshans came in at No. 80, catcher Soderstrom ranked No. 56, and catcher Moreno placed No. 7 – and the No. 2 ranked catcher in baseball.

From MLB's prospect profiles on each player:

Jordan Groshans: "Once thought to be a potential plus power hitter, he didn’t show much pop with the Fisher Cats, despite hitting the ball in the air more often. Groshans doesn’t exhibit exciting exit velocities typically associated with above-average slugging ability, but the Blue Jays are hopeful that those can return as he becomes more accustomed to the upper levels. That said, the right-handed hitter still has good overall upside with the bat. He doesn’t have much of an issue making contact with velocity or breaking pitches, and his strikeout and walk rates indicate a player with strong strike-zone awareness. A taller shortstop at 6-foot-3, Groshans showcases decent mobility and the quality arm needed to stick on the left side of the dirt. He made 21 starts at third base, and those are likely to increase the closer he gets to Toronto. His ceiling as an above-average regular remains intact, and if he can start turning around more power, that could be bumped up a level in 2022."

Tyler Soderstrom: "While playing as a teenager in the Low-A West, Soderstrom showed off why he was considered one of the more advanced high school hitters in the 2020 Draft class. The left-handed hitter works counts and draws walks (10.6 percent walk rate in 2021), allowing him to drive the ball hard to all fields. There’s plenty of strength and bat speed, to the point where Soderstrom could have plus game power when all is said and done. Soderstrom entered pro ball without a ton of catching experience and that part of his game is still behind the bat, leading some to wonder if it would be better to move him to first, a position he saw some time at in 2021, to let his bat advance more quickly. There’s still work to be done, but the A’s are pleased with the progress he made in terms of blocking and receiving, as well as with using his above-average arm strength."

Gabriel Moreno: "The right-handed slugger shows a quick and compact swing that he uses with promising hand-eye coordination to make a good amount of contact -- he struck out in only 14.8 percent of his plate appearances in 2021 -- and hard contact at that. His power has come along quicker than expected, and while he won’t be a .600 slugger at the top level, he should be at least above-average in the category eventually with his added strength. Moreno has made promising developments behind the plate as well. An infielder at the time of signing, the 22-year-old puts his athleticism to use with blocking, receiving and throwing. He has an above-average arm with a quick release, capable of controlling the running game as he did with a 40 percent caught-stealing rate last year. Moreno saw some time at third base in the AFL, but his ceiling behind the plate is immense as a potential All-Star."

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In addition to the two former Nuts and one future Nut, 22 Top 100 prospects played against Lansing on their way up the ladder: the Arizona Diamondbacks' Alek Thomas (18); Chicago Cubs' Brennen Davis (15); Cincinnati Reds' Hunter Greene (22); Cleveland Guardians' George Valera (47), Daniel Espino (53), Brayan Rocchio (84) and Tyler Freeman (88); Detroit Tigers' Spencer Torkelson (No. 4) and Riley Greene (5); Los Angeles Dodgers' Bobby Miller (57), Andy Pages (68) and Miguel Vargas (94); Minnesota Twins' Royce Lewis (46 and Joey Ryan (97); Pittsburgh Pirates' Oneil Cruz (26); San Diego Padres' Robert Hassell III (37), Luis Campusano (44) and Mackenzie Gore (86); St. Louis Cardinals' Matthew Liberatore (43); and Tampa Bay Rays' Shane Baz (12), Josh Lowe (50) and Vidal Bruján (77).

Let's finish with a pair of touted players to watch for in the future: Dodgers catcher Diego Cartaya (No. 28) in Great Lakes, and Tigers pitcher Jackson Jobe (No. 40) in West Michigan.

The Lugnuts open the 132-game Midwest League season at home against the Lake County Captains on Friday, April 8. Click here to purchase your tickets now.

For more information on the Lugnuts, call (517) 485-4500.

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