Major League Baseball’s offseason is here, meaning it’s time for everyone to shift their focus from the past to the future. For many teams, that means the next few months between now and Opening Day 2023. For others, a longer timetable is necessary. For those clubs, the hope for a better tomorrow isn’t contingent on what happens tomorrow, but what happens over the course of the coming years.
All of this to say: it’s time to rank some prospects, folks.
Below, you’ll find the first of two league-wide lists CBS Sports will produce this offseason. This one runs 20 deep; the other, which will come closer to spring, will go to 50. No matter the length, the process in curating these lists is the same: conversations with scouts, analysts, and player development types, as well as some firsthand observations based on our own beliefs and biases. As always, bear in mind that this is an art, not a science, and a snapshot, not a prophecy set in stone. Players are more than capable of getting better and making this analysis look silly.
With all the fine print mumbo jumbo out of the way, let’s get to the fireworks.
1. Gunnar Henderson, 3B, Orioles (2023 seasonal age: 22)
Henderson, the 42nd pick in the 2019 draft, began last season in Double-A and ended it in the majors, hitting at each stop along the way. That included 34 big-league games, in which he batted .259/.348/.440 (123 OPS+) with four home runs and a steal. Henderson primarily played third base, though he also saw action at second and short in a nod to his above-average athleticism and footwork. Offensively, he has a strong foundation to build from thanks to his well-above-average raw power and his disciplined eye. If there is a flaw in Henderson’s game, it’s that he’s had his problems with left-handed pitchers. Perhaps he can improve on that with time, but for now, it’s fair to expect most of his damage to come with the platoon advantage. Otherwise, he’s big-league-ready as it is, with an upside that could see him make All-Star Games.
2. Corbin Carroll, OF, Diamondbacks (2023 seasonal age: 22)
Carroll was limited by injuries and the COVID-19 pandemic to 142 minor-league games ahead of his debut in Arizona last August. The lack of repetitions didn’t prevent him from batting .260/.330/.500 (133 OPS+) with four home runs and two steals in 32 games. Carroll continued to exhibit swing-and-miss tendencies within the zone, ranking in the 27th…
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