As the 2023 MLB season approaches, we move closer to another season of exciting new names rising to The Show. However, not every exciting rookie comes up with big expectations. However, that does not mean these players won't become talents in the league as well. Therefore, let's look at some names from each team who could have strong rookie seasons that you may not expect to. As a note, I did this exercise last season, but because it's hard to find the right balance between likely success and obscurity, I created three categories of players for each team - "Know the Name", which notes players you may have (or should have) heard of, "Fast Risers", which are players rising rapidly through their respective clubs' systems, and "Deep Sleepers", which are players you've likely never heard of, or have forgotten about. Without further ado, here are your names for the NL:
Atlanta Braves - The Braves were a hard team to pin names down for, as many of their best candidates for this list were dealt in offseason moves. Shuster and Dodd already look like good bets - both will make club's Opening Day roster. Keep an eye on Brooks Wilson though. He's still working his way back from a long-term injury, but he has a stellar track record in the Minors and had a monster season (15.1 K/9!) spent mostly at AA in 2021.
Miami Marlins - Maldonado and Villalobos are a pair of near-MLB-ready relievers. C.J. Hinojosa, meanwhile, has a clear path to playing time with a Miami club that traded away Miguel Rojas this offseason. The former top prospect in the Giants system has quietly hit quite well the past three affiliated seasons split between 3 systems.
New York Mets - The Mets have some interesting young hitting talent on hand, but with an older pitching staff already dealing with injuries, some rookies could play key roles. Watch for Stephen Ridings, who is still dealing with an injury that cost him 2022, but had a monster 2021 season that included a tantalizing look in the Majors.
Washington Nationals - The rebuilding Nationals have already done a good job adding under-the-radar young talent. Zach Brzykcy in particular looks like a name to watch for. An ex-UDFA, Brzykcy cut his way through the top 3 levels of the Minors last season.
Philadelphia Phillies - The AAA numbers aren't great, but Michael Plassmeyer played himself into a big depth role with the Phillies for 2023. A contact pitcher with a 4th round pedigree, Plassmeyer found new life last year after working with Lehigh Valley Pitching Coach César Ramos.
Milwaukee Brewers - Stalled out in rookie ball early in his professional career, Cam Robsinon look transformed in 2021, his first full season as a reliever. The Brewers have lost some bullpen depth in Taylor Rogers and Brad Boxberger in the offseason, meaning Robinson could factor into the mix with the Major League club early in the season.
St. Louis Cardinals - Walker has already made the Cardinals roster, while Sawyer was literally untouchable last season in independent ball (30 appearances, 0 ER). Brit Matt Koperniak, however, is a happy medium here between sleep-factor and likely results. An undrafted free agent out of Trinity College in Connecticut, Koperniak has a .298/.384/.444 career line in the Minors, and a .291/.365/.443 mark between AA and AAA last season.
Chicago Cubs - Jeremiah Estrada only appeared in 18 games between 2017 and 2021 due to injuries, but a healthy version of the hurler showed why the Cubs tabbed him as a 6th rounder out if High School in 2017. Highlights included a 1.30 ERA on the farms with a 14.5 K/9 across 3 new levels of the talented righty, as well as look in the Majors late in the season.
Pittsburgh Pirates - The Minors are loaded with power-hitting 1B - every system seems to have one. One imagines Aaron Shackelford won't hit enough for contact to survive in the Majors, but his power is no joke (56 HR in 264 Minors games).
Cincinnati Reds - Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Fernando Cruz are two of my favorite sleepers in the game. The former owns a career .317/.376/.588 line in the Minors, including 36 home runs in 144 games. I think he'll have a monster year. The later is a former position player as a prospect who was brilliant in his return to affiliated ball from Mexico last season, dominating the International League, with the Reds, and in the World Baseball Classic.
Arizona Diamondbacks - There's nothing like a sleeper prospect that people don't even realize is a prospect. That's 33 year-old Scott McGough, who had a cup of coffee with the Marlins in 2015 and has spent the last four seasons as a dominant bullpen force in the NPB. The hardware? 3 All-Star nods and a starring role as the closer for the 2021 Japan Series winning Tokyo Yakult Swallows.
Los Angeles Dodgers - A long and arduous journey saw Tyler Cyr finally make the Majors last season, only to be cut loose by the Phillies after one outing (oh what a game that was!). He then linked up with the Athletics, where he actually pitched quite good. He was also strong at AAA last season, which could indicate he's finally putting it all together.
San Francisco Giants - I quite like both Nick Duron and Blake Sabol. The former saw the birefest of cups of coffee last season with the Phillies, but otherwise saw his dominant campaign unfold at AAA. Sabol, meanwhile, is locked into a spot with the Giants as a Rule 5 guy. A well-rounded hitter with power, contact ability and speed (shades of J.T. Realmuto), Sabol could become a special super-utility player in the Majors.
San Diego Padres - Having nearly fallen off the face of the Earth (or at least prospect radars) at one point, Jay Groome looks finally to be back on track. Groome was impressive in his first look at AAA last season, including in the hitting-happy PCL.
Colorado Rockies - They say AA is a significant dividing line for most prospects, so it’s quite impressive that Gavin Hollowell skipped the A+ level after a limited 2021 season and was impressive at AA, with a 0.904 WHIP and a team-leading 16 saves as his best indicators.
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