25 Players Standing Out To Scouts In 2023 Spring Training

Spring training is a time of renewal. For teams, that means the shortcomings of the previous year have been washed away and the new season brings the promise of better days.

For players, it means a chance to improve their games and move closer to fulfilling their full potential. Every year, players arrive at spring training with new swings, new physiques, new pitches and new mindsets. Sometimes, they merely make for interesting stories but don’t result in any meaningful improvement.

Other times, the improvements players show in spring training are a precursor to a breakout season ahead.

For the last four seasons, Baseball America has surveyed scouts in the Cactus and Grapefruit leagues about which players they believe are in for big seasons based on what scouts are seeing in spring training.

In 2019, scouts highlighted Sandy Alcantara, Brandon Lowe and David Fletcher, among others, in spring training before they went on to breakout seasons. In 2020, evaluators correctly pegged Brandon Nimmo, Zac Gallen, Tony Gonsolin and James Karinchak even as camps shut down and the season was delayed.

In 2021, Shohei Ohtani, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Alek Manoah, Tyler O’Neill, Jonathan India and Logan Webb were all highlighted in spring training before going on to their best seasons. Last year’s list included Julio Rodriguez, Daulton Varsho, Tyler Stephenson, Brendan Rodgers and Nick Lodolo before they all had their best years.

Here are 25 players scouts believe are primed to take a step forward in 2023 based on what evaluators are seeing in spring training. Some are established big leaguers who are showing they might reach another gear. Others are prospects who have gotten their first taste of the majors and are now primed to excel. Still others are minor leaguers who may need another year in the minors, but whose future outlooks have brightened based on the improvements they’ve shown in camp this year.

All scouts are employed by MLB teams and were granted anonymity to speak freely. Responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Players are listed in alphabetical order. All statistics are through March 16.

Edward Cabrera, RHP, Marlins 

Cabrera took a step forward in his second season in the majors last year and went 6-4, 3.01 in 14 starts while lowering his rates of hits, home runs and walks allowed per nine innings. He made quick work of the Nationals in each of his first two starts this spring, notably showing improved pitch efficiency by needing just…