Diamonds in the rough: 30 of the best prospect finds -- one for each team
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Talk to any scout and they’ll tell you some version of this axiom: Big leaguers come from everywhere.
What that means is that for every Paul Skenes (No. 1 overall pick in 2023) or Vladimir Guerrero Jr. ($3.9 million bonus in July 2015), there can also be a Tarik Skubal (ninth-rounder in 2018) or Teoscar Hernández ($20,000 in February 2011). Who might be these next diamonds in the rough? We picked one best find for each organization as candidates.
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AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST
Blue Jays: Fernando Perez, RHP (No. 11)
Among the 900 prospects ranked in the 30 Top 30s, only two hail from Nicaragua: Perez and Brewers right-hander Carlos Rodriguez. Perez signed with the Jays for only $10,000 in January 2022 but quickly asserted himself as a prospect to watch with a 48/5 K/BB ratio in the Dominican Summer League that season. He’s still more polish over pure stuff at 21 years old, but that gives him a chance to be a backend starter, a better outcome than initially expected three years ago.
Orioles: Nestor German, RHP (No. 11)
Very little about German’s time at the University of Seattle screamed “prospect” as the 2023 Draft approached. He had a career 6.37 ERA (5.97 in his Draft year) and a 6.6 K/9 rate (8.5 in 2023). The uptick in bat-missing did catch the eye of the Orioles, who took him in Round 11 of that summer’s Draft and signed him for Day 3 slot ($150K). He had a stirring pro debut in 2024 (1.59 ERA, 11.0 K/9, 2.1 BB/9) to put him on the map, and after a solid start with High-A Aberdeen this year, he was just promoted to Double-A Chesapeake.
Rays: Yoniel Curet, RHP (No. 15)
Signed for only $150,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2019, Curet erupted onto the scene with 63 strikeouts in 51 innings in the DSL that summer and hasn’t posted a season ERA above 3.71 in his three seasons since. His mid-90s fastball shows plenty of electricity, and his plus cutter helps keep the whiffs coming too. Despite consistent control problems, Curet was an easy 40-man addition when he became Rule 5-eligible in 2023. He’s currently on the IL with a right shoulder injury but still profiles as a potential high-leverage bullpen arm for the Rays.
Red Sox: Luis Perales, RHP (No. 4)
The Red Sox signed their best pitching prospect for $75,000 out of Venezuela in 2019. Though he'll miss this season after having Tommy John surgery last June, Perales reached Double-A at age 21 on the strength of a 95-99 mph fastball, upper-80s splitter and sweeping low-80s slider.
Yankees: Carlos Lagrange, RHP (No. 17)
Signed for just $10,000 out of the Dominican Republic in February 2022, Lagrange began pushing his fastball to the upper 90s during this pro debut four months later. After losing much of 2024 to back inflammation, he has boosted his stock this season while backing up his heater with a sweeping 82-95 mph slider that can be a wipeout pitch at its best. He has posted a 3.55 ERA with a .200 average-against and 41/7 K/BB ratio in 25 1/3 innings at High-A.
AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL
Guardians: Juan Brito, INF/OF (No. 10)
The Rockies signed Brito for $60,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2018 and traded him to the Guardians for Nolan Jones four years later. He's an offensive-minded prospect who has tried a variety of positions and probably profiles best at second base. After leading the Triple-A International League with 40 doubles, 61 extra-base hits and 244 total bases last season, he slashed .291/.406/.491 in 16 games in his return to the circuit before injuring his right thumb in mid-April and requiring surgery.
Royals: Ramon Ramirez, C (No. 10)
Kansas City is flush with catching depth in the Minors, and Ramirez -- a $57,500 signee out of Venezuela in 2023 -- is very much part of that equation. The 19-year-old flashes at least above-average power, and that’s carried through to Single-A Columbia, where he has five homers in 29 games to begin 2025. After growing up as an outfielder, Ramirez still has room to grow behind the plate, but his plus arm strength gives him another weapon back there.
Tigers: Thayron Liranzo, C/1B (No. 5/MLB No. 86)
Liranzo has had somewhat of a yo-yo career. He was up during a breakout season at the Arizona Complex League in 2022 and during a 24-homer campaign at Single-A in 2023, down at High-A Great Lakes last year, up after his trade from the Dodgers to the Tigers, up again in the Arizona Fall League and slipping a little in his early looks at Double-A Erie this spring. A switch-hitting catcher with plus power potential and plus arm strength, he’s still a significantly more prominent prospect than when he first signed with Los Angeles for $30,000 in January 2021.
Twins: Payton Eeles, 2B (No. 22)
While he’s currently still out while coming back from knee surgery, Eeles has been one of the best underdog stories in the game. He was an indy ball find who signed for just $500 in 2024, a 5-foot-5 sparkplug who hit his way up to Triple-A and finished with a .932 OPS. There’s surprising pop (.497 SLG last year) and he’s aggressive on the basepaths (41 steals), a left-handed hitter who plays all out all the time and can move around the diamond as needed.
White Sox: Edgar Quero, C (No. 5/MLB No. 58)
Good move: The Angels signed Quero for $200,000 in 2021 after he left Cuba. Bad move: They sent him to the White Sox as part of the Lucas Giolito/Reynaldo López trade two years later. Quero is now one of the best catching prospects in baseball, a switch-hitter with a mature approach and growing power. He has been Chicago's best hitter (.303/.403/.348) since getting his first big league callup in mid-April and also has held his own defensively.
AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST
Angels: Samy Natera Jr., LHP (No. 16)
The Angels took a low-risk flier on Natera in Round 17 of the 2022 Draft, signing him for $125,000. He had an uneven first full season as a starter in 2023, then missed nearly all of 2024 with an elbow sprain. He impressed evaluators with his work in the Arizona Fall League (12 IP, 0.75 ERA, 12.8 K/9, 3.0 BB/9) and is now in Double-A working out of the bullpen. He continues to miss a ton of bats (15.5 K/9) and is tough to hit (.174 BAA), even if he needs to work on his command (6.8 BB/9).
Astros: Miguel Ullola, RHP (No. 4)
Yet another Astros international pitching find at a bargain price, Ullola has become the system's best pitching prospect since signing for $75,000 at age 18 out of the Dominican Republic in 2021. He topped the Minors in average-against (.163) while ranking third in strikeouts (171 in 130 1/3 innings) and sixth in K rate (31 percent) last year, thanks to an electric mid-90s fastball with quality carry and a sharp mid-80s slider. He has logged a 4.50 ERA with a .171 average-against and 26 strikeouts in 20 Triple-A innings this spring.
A’s: Jack Perkins, RHP (No. 9)
Perkins struggled, both in terms of performance and getting mound time, with Louisville in 2019 and 2021 -- he didn’t pitch in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season -- then transferred to Indiana and spent the 2022 season in the Hoosiers’ rotation. He went in the fifth round and signed an under-slot deal for $270,750. He had a strong year following a lat injury in 2024 and missed the first month of 2025, but he’s in the Triple-A rotation and could be knocking on the door soon.
Mariners: Logan Evans, RHP (No. 10)
After two years at Penn State, Evans moved on to the University of Pittsburgh. After a so-so 2023 season, the Mariners took him in the 12th round and signed him for just $100K. He’s been on the fast track since, pitching very well at Double-A in his first full season (3.20 ERA) and then getting the call to the big leagues this year after five starts for Triple-A Tacoma. In his brief Minor League career, Evans has a 3.05 ERA, 8.3 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9 rate.
Rangers: Winston Santos, RHP (No. 4) & Emiliano Teodo, RHP (No. 5)
The Rangers found two of their best pitching prospects with matching $10,000 bonuses out of the Dominican Republic in the 2019-20 international class. Santos is more polished and possesses a solid three-pitch mix highlighted by a mid-80s slighter, while Teodo has more electric stuff (97-102 mph sinker, upper-80s slider and changeup) but comes with more reliever risk. Both went down with injuries at Triple-A in mid-April, with Santos still sidelined with a stress reaction in his back and Teodo just beginning to come back from shoulder fatigue.
NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST
Braves: Jhancarlos Lara, RHP (No. 11)
The Braves only had half of their international bonus pool in 2021 as they were still serving the penalty for previous signing infractions, so they had to find good value. It looks like they did so with Lara, who signed for just $10,000 that June. He’s moved pretty quickly since his 2022 DSL debut, reaching Double-A last year and starting this season at Triple-A. He’s still starting, but given that he’s a two-pitch guy with a fastball and a plus slider and has iffy command, he probably ends up in the bullpen, but those two pitches could play up in shorter stints.
Marlins: Jared Serna, SS/2B (No. 15)
Serna landed a $10,000 bonus when he signed with the Yankees out of Mexico in 2019 and went to the Marlins in the Jazz Chisholm Jr. trade last July. A 5-foot-7, 168-pounder with surprising raw pop, he has close to average tools across the board, though he's off to a slow .220/.290/.252 start with one homer in 32 Double-A games.
Mets: Jonah Tong, RHP (No. 6)
The Ontario native tried to help his Draft stock with stints at the Georgia Premier Academy and MLB Draft League in 2022, and he caught enough of the Mets’ attention to get taken in the seventh round and sign away from a North Dakota State commitment for slot at $226,000. He’s been one of the Minors’ best strikeout machines the past two years with 160 K’s in 113 innings across three levels in 2024 and 51 in 28 frames for Double-A Binghamton this spring. Tong’s fastball shows elite ride from his over-the-top Lincecum-esque delivery, and his mid-70s curveball gives him another whiff-heavy option.
Nationals: Zach Brzykcy, RHP (No. 21)
With the 2020 Draft shortened to five rounds, there were still quality talents to be found outside of the process. The Nats signed Brzykcy out of Virginia Tech for $20,000 that July, and while he’s been stalled at times by injuries (including 2023 Tommy John surgery), he’s back in the bigs now as a bullpen arm. His fastball-curveball-changeup mix could help steady a Washington relief corps in dire need of reinforcement.
Phillies: Jean Cabrera, RHP (No. 11)
Signed for just $10,000 at the start of the 2019-20 international signing period, Cabrera took a little while to gain any traction in the Phillies system, spending two full seasons with Single-A Clearwater after making his debut in the Dominican Summer League in 2021. Last year is when things really started coming together as the right-hander pitched his way from High-A Jersey Shore to Double-A Reading, topping 100 innings for the first time and earning a spot on the 40-man roster. He’s off to a solid start at Double-A this year with a chance to be a starter long term.
NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL
Brewers: Craig Yoho, RHP (No. 18)
Yoho dominated as an Indiana reliever in 2023, but as a senior, he only signed with the Brewers for $10,000 as an eighth-rounder that summer. He built on that dominance early in pro ball as an All-MiLB First Teamer last year, riding his plus-plus changeup and impressive sweeper to a 0.94 ERA and 101 K’s in 57⅔ innings across three full-season levels. His MLB debut was rough (6 ER in 5⅔ IP), but the stuff is still there to be a high-leverage arm -- a quality outcome for the eighth round, regardless of bonus.
Cardinals: Matt Koperniak, OF (No. 22)
Koperniak was set to transfer from Division III Trinity College to Kansas State when the Cardinals signed him as an undrafted free agent in June 2020 instead. After bouncing around the upper Minors, he broke out with a .309/.370/.512 line and 20 homers at Triple-A Memphis last year and joined St. Louis’ 40-man roster as a result. The 27-year-old outfielder also has World Baseball Classic experience with Great Britain. Even with early rough results in ‘25, he still gives fellow D3 talents hope.
Cubs: Jonathon Long, 1B/OF/3B (No. 13)
The 266th overall pick (ninth round) in the 2023 Draft, Long signed for $179,400 and has blossomed into the Cubs' best upper-level hitter who's not a Top 100 prospect. The Long Beach State product makes the most of his bat speed and strength with a selectively aggressive approach, and he's batting .341/.412/.470 with three homers in 35 Triple-A games.
Pirates: Omar Alfonzo, C (No. 19)
There are bloodlines here, with dad Eliezer a longtime professional catcher who spent parts of six years in the big leagues, and brother Eliezer Jr. currently catching in the Tigers organization, so it’s not like he was way under the radar. But the Pirates did get him for just $150K in August 2019. He’s a left-handed hitting backstop who can hit the ball very hard but needs to keep improving his ability to lift the ball to get to his power. (He did hit 13 homers in 2024.) Unsurprisingly given his family business, he has an idea of what he’s doing behind the plate.
Reds: Luis Mey, RHP (No. 20)
Signed for just $50,000 back in July 2018, Mey has always had a ton of arm strength, but never consistently knew where the ball was going. Then in last year’s Arizona Fall League, things clicked and his strong showing while closing games earned him a spot on the 40-man roster. He kept that going at Triple-A this year and that earned him his first callup to the big leagues, where he’s using his sinking fastball that reaches up to 102 mph and slider to keep missing bats.
NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST
D-backs: Yilber Díaz, RHP (No. 5)
Twenty years old when he signed with the D-backs for $10,000 in February 2021, the Venezuela native may have been a late bloomer, but he’s become one of the most interesting arms in the system with a fastball that can touch 98-99 and a pair of solid breaking pitches in his low-80s slider and upper-70s curveball. Díaz’s control problems have ballooned at Triple-A in 2025, but he’s still part of the depth mix for the Snakes.
Dodgers: River Ryan, RHP (No. 9)
After the Padres stole Ryan with the 340th overall selection (11th round) and a $100,000 bonus in the 2021 Draft, they gave him away to the Dodgers in a trade for Matt Beaty the following March. The two-way star at NCAA Division II UNC Pembroke has developed a six-pitch repertoire that includes a 95-100 mph four-seam fastball with big carry, a mid-90s two-seamer, an upper-80s slider, a low-90s cutter, an 82-85 mph curveball and an upper-80s changeup -- all of which are at least solid offerings at their best. He compiled a 1.33 ERA in his first four big league starts last summer before blowing out his elbow, leading to Tommy John surgery that will sideline him until 2026.
Giants: Bo Davidson, OF (No. 9) & Trent Harris, RHP (No. 11)
Giants part-time scout Paul Faulk (now with the Royals) scored with two nondrafted free agents out of North Carolina in the summer of 2023, landing Davidson from Caldwell CC for $50,000 and Harris for $10,000 out of NCAA Division II UNC Pembroke. Davidson, who has the upside of at least solid tools across the board, leads the High-A Northwest League in batting and is slashing .339/.395/.569 with four homers in 25 games. The son of former big leaguer Greg W. Harris, Trent backs up a dynamic mid-90s fastball with a plus 79-82 mph curveball and a solid 83-85 mph slider. He hasn't surrendered a run in 10 Double-A innings, allowing just six batters to reach base while striking out 12.
Padres: Braden Nett, RHP (No. 9)
Nett tried two showcase circuits in the Appalachian League (2021) and MLB Draft League (2022) before signing with the Padres for $10,000 in August 2022 out of St. Charles (Mo.) CC. He’s jumped to San Diego’s top 10 on the strength of his 95-97 mph fastball, low-80s slider, 88-91 mph cutter and upper-70s curveball. He’s been limited by injuries in his first two full seasons but has stayed on the mound with Double-A San Antonio this spring and could be an option for San Diego by the second half if that trend continues.
Rockies: Zach Agnos, RHP (No. 25)
In 2022, the Rockies took Agnos out of East Carolina in the 10th round and signed him for $165,000. He immediately put himself on the relief pitching prospect map by saving 27 games in 2023 with Single-A Fresno. He kept closing games between High-A Spokane and Double-A Hartford last year then got called up to Colorado after six strong outings at Triple-A. He’s picked up two saves already and has future closer written all over him.