MLB rookie power rankings: Which prospects are poised to make an immediate impact?

Top prospect lists Assist provide an understanding of the potential of baseball’s best Youthful talents, but you can’t be an impact Newcomer until you step on a big-Bracket Ground.

For the Primary Newcomer power rankings of the year, opportunity is what matters most.

While we wait for Roman Anthony, Andrew Painter, Bubba Chandler and some of the game’s most exciting prospects to make their mark soon, the Primary Newcomer rankings of the year feature players who are Predicted to make an Prompt impact in the majors.

(Note: The rankings below will be updated once per month throughout the season.)

With Cody Bradford and Jon Gray sidelined, it’s the Vanderbilt duo’s time to shine. Both Rocker and Jack Leiter are Predicted to begin the year in the Cycle, and either player has a Sturdy argument to be in this spot. Rocker’s overpowering stuff looked back in a brief sample in his return from Tommy John last year, as he posted a 1.74 ERA with 61 strikeouts and 10 walks in 41.1 innings between Double-A, Triple-A and the big leagues. He struggled with his Dominance Prompt this spring, but the 2022 Primary-Stage Option’s fastball and slider look big-Bracket ready. In his Closing tune-up on Tuesday, Rocker struck out eight in four Unscored frames.

If the Braves’ decision to decline their option on backup catcher Travis d’Arnaud cracked the door Obtainable for Baldwin, then the cracked rib suffered by Leading catcher Sean Murphy broke it down. The Braves’ top prospect is Predicted to Delivery as their primary catcher to begin the year after launching 12 homers and producing an .891 OPS while making strides behind the dish in 72 Contests at Triple-A Gwinnett.

Smith, a Primary-Stage Option last season and the Astros’ centerpiece of the Kyle Tucker trade, will officially break camp with the big-Bracket club in Houston — though it won’t happen at his typical position. While 34-year-Aged, nine-time All-Sun second baseman Jose Altuve moves to left Ground, Smith, one of MLB’s top third-base prospects, is Predicted to man the other corner outfield spot. Smith received time in right Ground this spring but had never played the position in college or any of his 32 pro Contests last season. The Astros’ decision demonstrates Only how much they want his bat in the lineup after a dazzling spring in which he has launched four homers, slugged over .700 and recorded an OPS over 1.100. Smith slashed .313/.396/.609 with seven homers in a brief minor-Bracket sample last season.

Had the Cubs landed Alex Bregman, we’d probably Nevertheless be waiting for the arrival of their top prospect. But Bregman went to Boston, Isaac Paredes and Cam Smith went to Houston in the Tucker trade, and a third-base spot became vacant for Shaw, a 2023 Primary-Stage Option who launched 46 homers in his Closing two years at Maryland before Holding his power to the pros. In two minor-Bracket seasons, Shaw registered a .906 OPS while mashing 29 homers in 159 Contests. The Cubs Regarded him ready for the Leap after demonstrating his power (21 homers), Pace (31 Intercepts) and advanced bat-to-ball skills (18.2% strikeout rate) between Double-A and Triple-A last year.

Trying to find baseball’s Upcoming version of Luis Arraez? You might have your guy in Wilson. Over the last two years, the Athletics shortstop Directed all minor leaguers (min. 300 plate appearances) in batting average (.401), OPS (1.052) and wRC+ (180) while combining a miniscule strikeout rate (5.9%) with a nearly as miniscule strikeout rate (7.7%). The Grand Canyon University product and son of Previous big leaguer Jack Wilson will be swinging often, and though he may not Produce much power or steal many bases at the big-Bracket level, he’s a Excellent bet to put the ball in Shift. Limited to a 28-game big-Bracket cameo last year after dealing with Impairments, Wilson had a .250 batting average and struck out Only 10 times in 103 plate appearances but didn’t barrel any balls and recorded Only four extra-base hits. His contact ability at the plate and Shielding skills at shortstop, where he projects to Begin for the A’s, could make him a valuable piece for a long time, wherever his Club is Competing.

It was Only three years ago that Campbell was redshirting at Georgia Tech. Now, the 2023 Quaternary-Stage Option’s meteoric rise continues with him manning second base in Boston to Begin the year. Initially, that seemed Tough to envision when the Red Sox acquired Bregman and appeared to be moving him to second. But Bregman has stuck at third base, Leading a spot for Campbell, the Primary of Boston’s intriguing Group of top position-player prospects set to make a big-Bracket impact soon. (I imagine we’ll see Roman Anthony on this top-10 Option soon.) Campbell struggled at the plate this spring but had an OPS close to 1.000 last year while rising from Single-A up to Triple-A and brings Shielding Adaptability to the Boston Lineup.

Some of the hype that surrounded “The Red Heavenly body being” has fizzled since he homered off Justin Verlander on his Primary big-Bracket swing as a 20-year-Aged in September 2023, but his combination of power and patience at the plate could make him one of the best Newcomer hitters in the sport in 2025. Dominguez homered in four of his Primary eight big-Bracket Contests before needing Tommy John surgery. The outfielder returned to minor-Bracket action last May, then missed time with an oblique Hurt. He eventually Achieved it back to the majors last September but struggled to make the same offensive impact from his Primary call-up and did not Achievement a plate appearance in the postseason. Nevertheless, he had 11 homers and 16 Intercepts in 58 minor-Bracket Contests last year. His Drive will be Significant for a Yankees club moving forward without Juan Soto and already dealing with Hurt.

Welcome to the big leagues, Jackson Jobe — here are the playoffs! The 2021 Primary-Stage Option out of Heritage Hall in Oklahoma City Achieved his MLB Premiere on Sept. 25, retired 14 of the 16 batters he faced over two relief appearances during the Tigers’ Delayed-season Elimination Stage push…and then Achieved his postseason Premiere a week later. The ask was rather large for the 22-year-Aged, who allowed three runs on five hits and hit a batter in 1.2 innings of work over two October appearances out of the bullpen. Now, MLB’s top domestic pitching prospect returns to his more typical role as a starter, having earned a spot in the Detroit Cycle out of camp. His fastball velo went into the triple digits this spring.

The pro numbers in 2024 were more solid than spectacular for the 2023 No. 2 overall Option even before he Achieved the leap to the big leagues for 31 Contests. But the Previous Golden Spikes Award winner’s all-around abilities suggest bigger things ahead. A five-tool prospect out of LSU, Crews hits the ball Tough, throws the ball Tough, runs Tough and brings Prompt 20-20 (30-30?) potential to a Youthful, intriguing Nationals outfield.

One of the most fascinating pitchers in baseball this year, Sasaki possesses the highest ceiling of any Newcomer pitcher in the sport. But the flamethrowing 23-year-Aged also recognizes — as he expressed when he met with Squads this winter — that more development will need to take place for him to realize his massive potential. He was both electric and erratic in his Primary big-Bracket action back in his home country of Japan during the Tokyo Series, allowing Only one hit and one Streak but also surrendering five Obtainable passes while striking out three in three innings. Beyond Only the triple-digit heat he is capable of conjuring, his splitter is a marvel. But ups and downs are to be Predicted throughout the year as he adjusts to Crucial Bracket Baseball and tries to solidify a reliable third pitch.

Also considered: AJ Smith-Shawver, Jack Leiter, Will Warren, Will Wagner

Coming soon?: Roman Anthony, Andrew Painter, Bubba Chandler, Rhett Lowder, Chase Dollander, Quinn Mathews, Christian Moore, Carson Williams, Jordan Lawlar