The first in-season update for Baseball America organization Top 30s is here. Below, find 15 MLB prospects who entered their respective organization’s lists for the first time as a result of either strong starts to the season or new arrivals to systems since our last update.
As always, you can follow all of our latest prospect analysis here, and utilize our Prospect Wire, presented by Louisville Slugger, for daily updates, stats & more.
Team Rank: No. 22
Track Record: A member of the first international signing class of new Orioles GM Mike Elias and new international scouting director Koby Perez, Chace impressed as an amateur because of his combination of solid velocity with impressive feel for pitching. He’s taken a step forward early in 2024.
Scouting Report: Chace manages to pair solid-average velocity (93-95 mph) with a flat plane that helps him get on top of hitters’ bats at the top of the strike zone. His 82-84 mph changeup pairs excellently with his fastball. It has plenty of separation and against Class A hitters, it’s generating lots of swings and misses. Chace’s slider should develop into a third weapon. It’s a high-spin sweepy pitch that too often is an easy out-of-zone take for now, but has the potential to be a bat misser eventually. Chace’s below-average control has long been his biggest issue. He’s showing signs of improvement, but he’ll still miss his target by a couple of feet at times.
The Future: Chace is well worth watching as a promising young arm who may end up as a starter if his control improves or as a reliever who can handle lefties as well as righties thanks to his changeup.
Luichi Casilla, LHP, Rockies
Team Rank: 18
Track Record: Signed out of the Dominican Republic during the January 2022 international signing period. Casilla made his professional debut in the 2022 Dominican Summer League making seven starts and performing well over 22.2 innings. He returned to the DSL in 2023 making 10 starts while handling a greater workload. Casilla will make his stateside debut in the Arizona Complex League in 2024.
Scouting Report: A broad shouldered lefthander with a thicker lower half and more strength projection to come. Casilla works exclusively from the stretch using an exaggerated move to close off his front side before he drives toward the plate. Casilla has a fast arm and releases the ball from a higher arm slot with a shorter arm action. He mixes a trio of pitches in a fastball, curveball and…