With the Trade Deadline arriving at the end of the month, there is no better time to be clued into the world of prospects, and that’s why we’re putting it center stage again.
The MLB Pipeline Prospect Showcase arrives in Allentown, Pa., this Tuesday for a matchup between the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Triple-A affiliate of the Phillies) and Norfolk Tides (Orioles). First pitch is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. ET, and the contest will be broadcast live on MLB Network and streamed for free on MLB.TV, MiLB.TV, MLB.com and the MLB and MiLB apps. Mike Zambelli, Steve Degler, Doug Heater and MLB Pipeline’s Sam Dykstra will be on the call.
There are expected to be at least two Top 100 prospects in the starting lineups come Tuesday.
No. 9 overall prospect Samuel Basallo has proven to be one of the most powerful performers at the Minors’ top level, despite being only 20 years old. Coming out of the All-Star break, his 153 wRC+ ranks third among all Triple-A qualifiers, while his .591 slugging percentage and .975 OPS rank sixth and eighth, respectively. His 19 homers in 62 games are tied for the most among all Minor League catchers, alongside Iowa’s Carlos Pérez. The 6-foot-4, left-handed-hitting backstop has a bat that is Major League-ready, but his work behind the dish still needs polish -- a reason why he hasn’t gotten the call to the Majors while Baltimore has had multiple injuries to catchers in recent weeks. Basallo is dealing with his own right oblique discomfort that kept him out of games over the weekend.
Speaking of which, Basallo may not be the only big-name catcher on the Tides roster come Tuesday. All-Star backstop Adley Rutschman is expected to begin a rehab assignment with Norfolk on Tuesday, per MLB.com’s Jake Rill. The 2019 No. 1 overall pick has been out since June 19 due to a left oblique strain. Ryan Mountcastle (right hamstring strain) is also slated to begin a rehab assignment that day.
Lehigh Valley outfielder Justin Crawford (No. 46) will put his above-average hit tool and near-top-of-the-scale speed on display in Tuesday’s Showcase.
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The 21-year-old, who is the son of former Rays star Carl Crawford, ranks third in the International League in both average (.331) and steals (29) through 73 games. His .320 career average is fourth-best among all Minor Leaguers with at least 1,000 plate appearances since 2022, when he was taken 17th overall by the Phils. The younger Crawford puts the ball on the ground a lot --- his 61.8 percent groundball rate is second-highest among Triple-A qualifiers --- but his combination of exit velocities and wheels help him overcome the constant wormburners.
The IronPigs also boast two Top 100 pitchers in Andrew Painter (No. 9) and Mick Abel (No. 84). Abel is slated to start Saturday night at home against Rochester. Painter last pitched on Sunday, a reason why he did not participate in last weekend’s All-Star Futures Game in Atlanta. Lehigh Valley has not yet officially announced a probable pitcher for Tuesday. Right-hander Thaddeus Ward is slated to start for Norfolk after making an abbreviated appearance Friday.
The Phillies exited the All-Star break with a 55-41 record, putting them half a game ahead of the Mets in the NL East. Under the direction of president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, the club is often active around the Trade Deadline, and such moves either involve prospects or open avenues for top-level prospects to contribute to the stretch run. With a 43-52 record, the Orioles, amid a disappointing 2025, could be more in a place to sell and add to their prospect depth before July is out.