10. BRENTON DOYLE - 25 - CF - ROCKIES

Brenton Doyle hits leadoff on our Top 10. There are a few players on this list who have much higher upside on defense than offense and he is one of them. He’s got awful offensive #’s but, so far, his defensive upside has outweighed his offensive woes in Colorado.

9. JOEY WIEMER - 24 - CF - BREWERS

Wiemer was one of the Top defenders in the MLB while he was up but he, like many rookies, didn’t fare well against his first taste of MLB pitching. Wiemer has put up some really good offensive numbers across several MiLB seasons and hopefully he doesn’t turn into a AAAA All-Star.

8. MAIKEL GARCIA - 23 - 3B - ROYALS

Maikel Garcia has one of the best contact tools on this rookie checklist. He holds the highest average exit velocity on this list at 91.8 due to his ability to make consistent hard contact. He doesn’t have much juice but he finds barrel posting a list leading 50.6% barrel rate as well. Garcia’s blend of speed and contact make him a viable lead off hitter.

7. PATRICK BAILEY - 24 - C - GIANTS

Patrick Bailey is by far the best rookie catcher in his class and stats wise, one the best catchers in the MLB as well. He’s in the 100% percentile in Fielding Run Value and Framing, the 98th percentile in Caught Stealing Above Average, and the 95th percentile in pop time. Much like Doyle, Bailey’s defense provides much more value than his offense but he’s an absolute machine behind the plate.

6. NELSON VELAZQUEZ - 24 - OF - ROYALS

Nelson Velazquez hit 17 homeruns in only 179 Major League plate appearances. Yes, it’s pretty damn good. His .378 xwOBA and .352 ISO are also the best on this rookie checklist and he’s in the top 5 in several other areas as well. The two things that concern me about Velazquez are sample size (lowest) and SwStr% (2nd highest). Velazquez has the smallest sample size of anyone on this list and while his numbers are elite, I want to make sure he can continue to perform at this level before I go crazy for him.

5. GABRIEL MORENO - 23 - C - DBACKS

Breaking the seal on our Top 5 is Arizona Diamondbacks catcher, Gabriel Moreno. Moreno is another floor type player who is solid on both sides of the ball. He has the ability to hit for average offensively and is one of the most difficult catchers in the MLB to run on. Moreno had a small power streak a few years ago in the MiLB but it didn’t last or carry over to the major league level. The Diamondbacks made a good move snagging Moreno from the Jays earlier this season as it has paid off for both parties.

4. ZACH NETO - 22 - SS - ANGELS

Zach Neto was the first player to reach the MLB in the entire 2022 draft class after only a couple hundred MiLB plate appearances. Neto plays an excellent shortstop and although his swing involves an enormous leg kick, he’s shown some offensive upside. He got rather hot following his call-up, but like most players it didn’t last very long. I don’t think Neto will be a 30/30 player down the road but he will flash enough leather and lumber to retain his position at shortstop in the foreseeable future.

3. EDOUARD JULIEN - 24 - 2B - TWINS

Edouard Julien brings home the bronze medal on this list after putting together an impressive year for the Twins in 2023. He holds the 3rd highest xwOBA among the rookies on this checklist and recently helped the Twins to their first playoff series win in 21 years. Throughout his professional career, Julien has been a very patient hitter. When he gets his pitch he rarely misses which helps to up play his power. Between Julien and Royce Lewis, the Twins future is looking pretty bright at the moment.

2. MATT MCLAIN - 24 - SS - REDS

Matt McLain is our silver medalist after putting together one of the best rookie campaigns in 2023 across the entire MLB. Following the 2021 Draft, McLain showed off his speed and power abilities across 2 levels but struggled a bit with K’s and contact in 2022. He had a breakout year in 2023 hitting for average, power, and stealing bases in AAA prior to an early season callup. A late season oblique injury cut his 2023 MLB season short but in 403 PA’s, he hit 16 HR’s and stole 14 bases while posting a .290 BA’s (the best season of his career). It’s kind of funny how everyone was peeing down their leg about Elly De La Cruz while McLain was finding a lot of barrel.

1. NOLAN JONES - 25 - OF - ROCKIES

Now I know Nolan Jones already has a RC in 2023 Topps Chrome but his numbers in 2023 were too good not to talk about. Jones was traded to the Rockies during the off season in 2022 for Juan Brito. His change of scenery worked and over 424 MLB PA’s in 2023, he held a .360 xwOBA, a .245 ISO, hit 20 HR’s and stole 20 bags, and posted a max exit velocity of 115.3, the highest on this list. Jones’ bat came to life after years of disappointment in the Cleveland organization.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

MICHAEL BUSCH - 25 - 2B/3B - DODGERS

Michael Busch has had a dominant offensive career in the MiLB and recently took home the Pacific Coast League (AAA) MVP honors.

MATT MERVIS - 25 - 1B - CUBS

Mervis has a similar profile to Busch with a bit higher contact skill and a bit lower defensive ceiling. He hit for average and power in the MiLB but has yet to get it going at the MLB level.

BRAYAN ROCCHIO - 22 - SS - GUARDIANS

There isn’t much love for floor players in this hobby but Brayan Rocchio is a switch hitting shortstop that could generate enough offense to be an everyday regular at the position. He’s also only 22.

CASEY SCHMITT - 24 - SS/3B - GIANTS

Schmitt plays great defense and has an absolute cannon of an arm that plays well at both shortstop and third base. His bat was top tier in the MiLB but he’s had a tough time being consistent at the MLB level.

XAVIER EDWARDS - 24 - 2B - MARLINS

Edwards has shown a consistent hit tool from both sides of the plate but he probably couldn’t beat his sister in a game of Homerun Derby.

Fletcher is a lot like Edwards but with a little more juice.