Even if one isn’t moved by the recent Hall of Fame news, fans can look forward to spring training and the coming regular season even if you’re not off to Arizona or Florida.
Not every fan cares about the future beyond a coming season, but some fans are interested in prospects or at least their favorite team’s prospects. Almost on cue, MLB Pipeline has released their (first) Top 100 Prospects of 2024 and I’m linking to it for those interested. My knowledge of most of the players is very limited and I rarely comment or disparage the picks. On the contrary, I love celebrating the younger players who have nothing but promise. I look forward to seeing the best, young players in the game. The game is better for it.
The point of these lists is to generate interest in the game. Fans can gauge their team’s future success based on the number of players in either the top 50 or 100 and where their team ranks. We also like to see how they stack up against the last year. The number of top prospects on a list doesn’t necessarily translate to immediate (on field) success or future success. However, the list can be informative for fans heading to spring training and beyond. We have a guide of which players to watch out for.
During the course of visiting minor league parks during the regular season, I’ll make reference to the Pipeline ranking or Baseball America’s. In most cases, the two rankings sync up pretty well, but sometimes someone goes rogue and rates a particular player higher. Even though they’ll include specific scouting measurements, the rankings are subjective and don’t always sync up with the teams’ rankings.
As of this moment, I don’t expect to be in Arizona for any Cactus League games, but I am circling a few names that I’d like to see in some minor league park this season.
I'd rather be sitting in a ballpark. 