It’s time for one more cycle of prospect lists, and as I’ve grow to be accustomed to doing for the previous couple of seasons, I’m beginning with scouting reviews on professional gamers in international leagues, with a concentrate on gamers obtainable for MLB free company this offseason. On The Board, you possibly can see a contemporary batch of scouting reviews and evaluations for related gamers from Nippon Skilled Baseball, the Korea Baseball Group, and the Chinese language Skilled Baseball League in Taiwan, in addition to reviews on some younger gamers I’ve recognized as doubtlessly impactful long-term prospects. For individuals who want a crash course on the age- and professional experience-driven traces of demarcation that dictate how MLB groups signal worldwide gamers, I’d level you to quite a lot of MLB.com glossary entries, together with these on worldwide free company for these in Asian professional leagues, worldwide novice free company and bonus pool restrictions, the Japanese posting system, and the Korean posting system.
It may be overwhelming to sift by way of so many several types of gamers on that part of The Board — it’s an actual apples and oranges scenario once we’re speaking about some guys who’re of their 30s and others who’re nonetheless youngsters — so I’ve bought a lot of them damaged into digestible subgroups beneath. You’ll discover that some gamers seem throughout a number of classes. The Board has every participant’s full scouting report and power grades — consider this as extra of a desk of contents.
Roki Sasaki, SP, Chiba Lotte Marines
Sasaki will get his personal part as a result of he’s an enormous star, a possible top-of-the-rotation MLB starter with a looming posting. In August, I wrote so much about Sasaki and what his market would seem like had been he to be posted this offseason. All the pieces in that article nonetheless holds water, together with the remaining 2024 worldwide pool quantities, which I checked in on once more over the weekend and that are nonetheless right. Go learn that piece if you happen to haven’t already after which come again right here.
Now we wait to see if Sasaki will likely be posted early sufficient to qualify for the 2024 signing interval or late sufficient to be a part of 2025. As I wrote within the linked article, issues could be a lot messier if Sasaki and the Marines wait till the latter window. A larger quantity groups might theoretically supply Sasaki extra money in 2025, however the signing staff would probably be breaking verbal agreements with different gamers to take action. There could be bottlenecking of different novice offers as golf equipment waited for Sasaki to get rid of them earlier than shifting on to signal the gamers with whom they’ve handshake offers, and there would possibly even be some poaching throughout that window. There’s far more alternative for malfeasance and a public relations nightmare on this path.
If he’s posted sooner, it’s cleaner. Groups have already signed their 2024 courses; no teenager could be denied his long-promised bonus. Cash from the preliminary signing could not matter to Roki all that a lot anyway; he’s matriculating too early to get an enormous free agent deal, which suggests he has different priorities and/or different sources of earnings. To not point out signing earlier provides Sasaki time to, , transfer and get acclimated to a brand new league and tradition. I don’t have any perception into what’s going to transpire, nevertheless it appears extra logical to me that Sasaki’s scenario will get resolved within the subsequent month.
Imminently Heading Our Means
Tomoyuki Sugano, SP, Yomiuri GiantsKyle Hart 하트, SP, NC Dinos (KBO)Kazuma Okamoto, 1B, Yomiuri GiantsKaima Taira, SIRP, Saitama Seibu LionsHye-seong Kim 김혜성, SS, Kiwoom Heroes (KBO)Shinnosuke Ogasawara, SP, Chunichi Dragons
This group has principally self-identified and indicated they’d like to check the MLB waters, however just a few of the fellows listed below are names scouts and executives have talked about as potentialities. Sugano is an aged strike-thrower who has tried to transition to MLB earlier than. Hart was on our current Prime 50 Free Brokers checklist. Okamoto is a sizzling title who will most likely be of curiosity to model-driven groups due to his skill to tug the ball within the air. He’s on Japan’s Premier12 roster. Taira’s stuff was down upon a transfer to the rotation after which he bought harm, however he rebounded in a giant manner late in 2024 and appeared nice on the finish of the 12 months.
Limitations to Entry
Liván Moinelo, SP, Fukuoka HawksRaidel Martinez, RP, Chunichi Dragons
Cuban gamers like Moinelo (who made a profitable transition from the bullpen to Fukuoka’s rotation) and Martinez (a dominant nearer) are enjoying in Japan with the blessing of the Cuban authorities, and so would wish to defect and set up residency some other place so as to signal with an MLB staff.
Star Energy
Shunpeita Yamashita, SP, Orix BuffaloesMunetaka Murakami, 3B, Yakult SwallowsLiván Moinelo, SP, Fukuoka HawksHaruto Inoue, SP, Yomiuri GiantsShosei Togo, SP, Yomiuri Giants
This group could be able to make a big effect for an MLB membership inside a 12 months or two. Yamashita is barely 22 and could be a high 30 or so general prospect. Murakami hasn’t been capable of replicate his early-career dominance, however nonetheless has sufficient lefty energy to be thought-about an affect younger participant. Inoue and Togo would slot proper into the center of most good rotations.
Deep Projection
Seiya Yokoyama, SS, Orix BuffaloesRyusei Terachi, C, Chiba Lotte MarinesJulian Tima, 3B, Yomiuri GiantsShion Matsuo, C, Yokohama BayStarsHaruya Tanaka, SP, Chiba Lotte MarinesDong Ju Moon 문동주, SP, Hanwha Eagles (KBO)Do Yeong Kim 김도영, 3B, KIA Tigers (KBO)Rui Muneyama, SS, Rakuten Golden Eagles
This whole group will likely be topic to novice bonus restrictions till 2030 or so. The gamers listed below are throughout 20 years outdated and tremendous deep cuts for the actual dorks and dynasty league homeowners. Do Yeong Kim is the large new title on this group, as he’s coming off an enormous breakout season.
Private Cheeseballs
Shunpeita Yamashita, SP, Orix BuffaloesTatsuki Mizuno, SS, Hokkaido Nippon-Ham FightersJo Hsi Hsu, SP, Wei Chuan Dragons (CPBL)Woo-jin An 안우진, SP, Kiwoom Heroes (KBO)Carter Stewart, SP, Fukuoka Hawks
This group is made up of prospects whose abilities or careers to date make them among the many most attention-grabbing gamers on the checklist. These are the scouting reviews you’re going to wish to be sure you learn.
Didn’t Make the Minimize
I took notes on a bunch of younger gamers who didn’t make the primary part of the checklist.
Hiroto Saiki, RHP, Hanshin TigersA 6-foot-2, 26-year-old righty, Saiki’s construct and supply seem like the MLB prototype. He labored practically 170 innings in 2024 and has been a constant strike-thrower to date all through his profession. His fastball sits 92 however has been as much as 97. He lacks a breaking ball with vertical end, which is odd contemplating he has an almost due north arm angle. He both wants so as to add velocity or a greater breaking ball to go together with his splitter.
Keito Matsuura, LHP, Hokkaido Nippon-Ham FightersA younger lefty with a flat-approach fastball that averaged 93 mph throughout his 2024 NPB debut, the 21-year-old Matsuura wants considered one of his secondary pitches to take a step ahead to make the primary checklist.
Makoto Kadowaki, SS, Yomiuri GiantsKadowaki is an acrobatic, slick-fielding 23-year-old shortstop who, at 5-foot-7, could have a utility ceiling as a consequence of an absence of energy and affect contact. He had a sub-.600 OPS in 2024, however his wrists are fast and he could but get stronger.
Shota Morishita, RF, Hanshin TigersA 24-year-old proper fielder who slashed .267/.367/.440 in 2024, Morishita is a type of hitter you’re seeing an increasing number of in North American professional ball: the man who crowds the plate and tries to tug as typically as he can. This has labored for Morishita, who has thrived in opposition to 93-plus mph fastballs in NPB. He’s a strong younger hitter who must get stronger so as to hit for affect nook outfield energy. At a medium-build 5-foot-11, that’s going to need to be completed within the weight room.
Ryuki Watarai, OF, Yokohama BayStarsThe 22-year-old Watarai was one of many first picks of the 2023 NPB Draft (they use a nomination and lottery system; three groups nominated Watarai to be their first choose and Yokohama gained his lottery) and bought numerous huge league run in 2024. He posted an .865 OPS within the minors and a .635 OPS in 75 Central League video games. Watarai has huge energy for his age, however he swings with a ton of effort to get to it. As he matures and will get stronger, he would possibly have the ability to shorten up and nonetheless hit for energy. As of proper now, this type of hitting feels prefer it wouldn’t maintain water in MLB.
Kaito Muratmatsu, SS, Chunichi DragonsA little shortstop with nice hand-eye coordination and barrel management, Muramatsu slashed .276/.328./.336 in his age-23 season. He’s a slappy all-fields hitter with out a lot energy (14 doubles, one homer) and his energy projection is proscribed by his dimension (he’s a comparatively maxed out 5-foot-7).
Daito Yamamoto, OF, Chiba Lotte MarinesThe 22-year-old Yamamoto had 19 homers for the Marines’ farm membership in 2024 and had maybe the very best mixture of youth, instruments, and statistical efficiency amongst Japanese Leaguers. He’ a chase-prone nook man, however he has the instruments and bodily projection to be just like Chusei Mannami (who’s on the primary part of the checklist) in just a few years.
Yumeto Kanemaru, LHP, Chunichi DragonsFour groups nominated Kanemaru, a school southpaw from Kansai College, to be their first choose in 2024. Kanemaru is the NPB first spherical choose prototype, an athletic little lefty with an upshot fastball and high quality breaking ball. Typically pitchers like this find yourself sustaining a 92-94 mph fastball throughout 150 or so innings, and grow to be Shota Imanaga sort starters. However numerous early draftees like this (Seibu Lions lefties Chihiro Sumida and Natsuki Takeuchi are examples) find yourself plateauing within the 89-91 vary. Kanemaru is a reputation to know within the occasion he has a velo spike.
