Prospect Primer: National League Central
Some prospects are on the verge of stardom, others are entering a crucial phase of their development and others are getting their first tastes of full-season ball. As the 2023 season approaches, MiLB.com goes through each MLB division to take a look at the most intriguing prospects. Other Prospect Primers:
Some prospects are on the verge of stardom, others are entering a crucial phase of their development and others are getting their first tastes of full-season ball. As the 2023 season approaches, MiLB.com goes through each MLB division to take a look at the most intriguing prospects.
Other Prospect Primers:
AL East | AL Central | AL West | NL East | NL West
Human highlight reel: Elly De La Cruz, SS, Reds
Last season, De La Cruz arguably proved himself to be the breakout star of not just National League Central prospects, but all Minor Leaguers on the back of a 28-homer, 47-steal campaign. The “five-tool talent” tag is not often batted about, especially when referring to players who check in at 6-foot-5 and have just turned 21 years old -- but there’s much about De La Cruz’s game that makes him an anomaly.
Whether it’s the unbridled joy evaluators rave about or the on-field production -- .945 OPS between High-A Dayton and Double-A Chattanooga -- the No. 10 prospect in baseball has quickly become regarded as a must-see talent.
“Ever since I was little, I’ve always just loved playing the game," De La Cruz recently told MLB.com. "Back in the streets [of the Dominican Republic], we would play with little tennis balls and other different kinds of balls. It’s kind of makeshift, like it’s a baseball. Ever since I picked up a ball, I really liked it.
"When I cross the lines out there and get into position, I feel like I am at home."
His primary position, after all, is shortstop. Even with a logjam of talent at the position, the Reds have been insistent about letting De La Cruz man the spot as he moves up the organizational ladder and during his time in the Cactus League. A left hamstring strain will sideline Cincinnati’s No. 1 prospect to begin the year, but he is eventually expected to earn a promotion to Triple-A Louisville, giving him his biggest challenge thus far as a pro.
“This is one of the smartest pure players I’ve been around, period,” Reds vice president of player development Shawn Pender told MiLB.com in November. “His baseball IQ, his desire to learn and achieve is really remarkable.”
Full-season debutant: Cade Horton, RHP, Cubs
Horton’s rise from being a two-sport, two-way player at Oklahoma to being ranked the No. 1 pitching prospect in the Chicago system has been nothing shy of meteoric. After scuffling on the hill during the regular season in his lone year on campus in 2022, Horton’s dominance through the College World Series led to him becoming the seventh overall pick in the Draft and the Cubs opting to prolong his debut until the start of 2023. Armed with a wipeout slider that grades out as his best pitch, Horton’s track record is short but his ceiling is already regarded as one of the highest of any NL Central arm.
No. 4 @Cubs prospect Cade Horton discusses how he found his slider and more: pic.twitter.com/gksA7kcawn
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) March 14, 2023
2025 Shining star: Termarr Johnson, 2B, Pirates
Heralded as one of the premier prep hitters of the past decade, Johnson has vaulted to the top of the Pirates’ prospect crop on the belief that his top-tier hit tool will play in the Minors from the jump. After enjoying success during his brief pro debut at Single-A Bradenton in 2022, the 5-foot-7 second baseman will be just 18 years old for the first two months of the season, putting him on track to become a burgeoning star prospect in two years’ time.
Loudest tool: Masyn Winn, SS, Cardinals
Equipped with arguably the strongest arm at any defensive position in the Minors, Winn has made a name for himself at short, as he is one of just two prospects to earn a full 80-grade arm per MLB Pipeline. A former high school pitcher who drew Draft interest for his work on the mound, Winn erupted on the national scene after ripping off a 100.5 mph throw during last year’s SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game. The 21-year-old, who will begin the year at Triple-A Memphis, delivered an impressive showing during Grapefruit League action that has him on the doorstep of a call to St. Louis.
Welcome to the Masyn Winn defensive highlight reel 😮
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) March 26, 2023
The second-ranked @Cardinals prospect gets a pair of outs in style: pic.twitter.com/Sn5mSaXEzQ
2028 Faces of the Rivalry: Jackson Chourio, OF, Brewers and Noelvi Marte, 3B/SS, Reds
Chourio’s stock has soared over the past year, as he has ascended Milwaukee’s organizational ladder in short order. Even as he enters his second full pro season at just 19 years old, the Venezuela native has already made a sizable impression on Brewers brass during Spring Training. While Marte got a cup of coffee at High-A upon his acquisition by the Reds last year, he was thrown a curveball when asked to learn third base during the Arizona Fall League. Having already been added to the 40-man roster, the Dominican native has considerable power potential (138 wRC+ upon joining Cincinnati), with these two shaping up to be at the heart of their respective clubs’ lineups for years to come.
Jesse Borek is a reporter/coordinator of prospect content at MLB Pipeline and MiLB. Follow him on Twitter @JesseABorek.
Don't sleep on these prospects at Spring Breakout -- 1 from each team
The second edition of Spring Breakout is bursting with high-profile prospects. Seventy members of MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 are slated to participate, including Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony (No. 2), Tigers outfielder Max Clark (No. 6), Red Sox infielder Kristian Campbell (No. 7), Rays shortstop Carson Williams (No. 9) and
Meet the 14 women who run MiLB teams
From California to Massachusetts, from Arkansas to Iowa, leadership in professional baseball is evolving. Coming into the 2025 season, there are 14 women in general manager positions across Minor League Baseball. When most fans think of the GMs in baseball, they likely assume the job is all about building a
2024 Draft class gets early chance to take center stage at Spring Breakout
When players are taken in the early rounds of the MLB Draft, it’s easy to dream about seeing them under the bright lights of the big leagues, but a common refrain has been that fans don't get to see those players for years after they're selected. Thanks to Spring Breakout,
From Spring Breakout to MLB? Here are nine players who could soon be in The Show
The inaugural Spring Breakout in 2024 provided a platform for fans to meet many of baseball's top prospects before they began standing out in the Majors shortly thereafter. Paul Skenes striking out Jackson Holliday. Jackson Chourio reaching twice and scoring a run. Jace Jung hitting a pair of homers.
Brewers' 17-year-old international signee draws comparisons to Chourio
PHOENIX – A farm system loses an elite-level prospect like Jackson Chourio, who was the No. 2 overall prospect in baseball at the start of the 2024 season, to the big leagues, it’s easy to understand that it would take a hit in this year’s farm system rankings. So don’t
Cubs have MLB stars AND loaded farm system
MESA, Ariz. – It’s a testament to where a farm system is when a Top 100-caliber hitter gets traded away and there’s still a desire to tout the bats. The Cubs traded Cam Smith to the Astros in the Kyle Tucker deal, but they still have seven players on the
Griffin boosts Pirates system, known for producing arms, with some pop
BRADENTON, Fla. – The Pirates’ strength in pitching is obvious. This is the organization that drafted Paul Skenes after all and saw him become the National League All-Star starter one year later. Jared Jones and Mitch Keller serve as more developmental success stories on the bump, and Top 100 prospects
New Rays prospect additions fitting right into the organizational mold
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Thirteen members of the Rays’ Top 30 prospect list weren’t in the organization at this time last year. Two arrived in the 2024 Draft, one was a 2025 international signee and a whopping 10 have come over in trades since last March. Normally with that level
Headlined by big-name bats, Mariners' system strong on pitching depth, too
PEORIA, Ariz. -- The Mariners placed fifth in MLB Pipeline's new farm system rankings, thanks in large part to their seven Top 100 Prospects. That total ties them with the Cubs for the most in baseball, and all seven of them are hitters. Don't get the impression that the organization
All eyes turn to hurlers Sykora, Susana in Nats camp
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Last year in Spring Training, Nationals manager Dave Martinez named the section of young hitting prospects in big league camp led by James Wood and Dylan Crews "Hope Row." While Robert Hassell III and Brady House are still prospects, Wood has graduated and Crews will
Here are the prospects with the best tools in Spring Breakout
The inaugural edition of Spring Breakout was a rousing success last year. Sixteen games showcased not only many of baseball's best prospects but also some of the most jaw-dropping tools in the Minors. Of the 10 best individual attributes we highlighted a year ago, nine belonged to players who reached
Boston's 'Core Four' hitting principles breeding prospect success
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Boston was built to be a shining city on a hill, according to John Winthrop. Four centuries later, the Hub’s top three baseball prospects are meant to be a shining example atop the Red Sox farm system. Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer – the
Phils' teen catching prospect using ABS challenge experience to his advantage
CLEARWATER, Fla. – One of the storylines of Spring Training has been the implementation of the ABS challenge system in select ballparks across Arizona and Florida. But those in the Sunshine State might be a little more familiar with the tech than their southwestern counterparts. The Florida State League first
Texas' exciting crop of pitching prospects looks to spin the narrative
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The Rangers haven't signed a fully homegrown pitching All-Star since Martín Pérez in 2007 and have ranked better than the Major League average in run prevention just once in the last 11 seasons. Not coincidentally, they won 90 games and the World Series when that happened in
The 10 best 2025 Spring Breakout rosters, ranked
Ding, ding, who’s ready for Round 2? Last year’s inaugural edition of Spring Breakout gave fans early looks at Paul Skenes, Jackson Chourio, Pete Crow-Armstrong, James Wood, Jackson Holliday, Ceddanne Rafaela and many other young stars who graduated off prospect lists in 2024. Not only does it serve as a
Yankees' prospect gains coming up long at short
TAMPA, Fla. -- The Yankees have a fascinating shortstop decision on their hands. You could say it’s the most interesting one since you-know-who retired in 2014. New York is battling going with a veteran presence in Isiah Kiner-Falefa or a prospect in Anthony Volpe or Oswald Peraza. It’s still too
Mets looking for top prospects to complement veteran stars
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- The last time Juan Soto played in a Minor League game was back in 2018, when in the span of 39 games at age 19 he went from A ball to High-A to Double-A and then to the big leagues with the Nationals and never
'Eephus' director Lund talks movie on podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minors radio legend exits the booth in Birmingham
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MLB's 2025 farm system rankings -- with a new No. 1
It’s time to crown a new king. After a three-year run for the Orioles atop our preseason farm system rankings, they’ve stepped off the throne, making way for the Tigers. The O’s had slipped from the top spot in our 2024 midseason rankings as they’d graduated a number of prospects