The full-season minor leagues have been going for more than a month, but there are still a few more curtains to pull back before everyone is in action. On May 2, the complex leagues in Arizona and Florida will begin official games after weeks of extended spring training.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The ACL and FCL house some of the sport\u2019s most faraway prospects, which means there\u2019s a whole lot left to dream on before they reach the big leagues. Last year\u2019s FCL prospects to watch list included a few members of the current Top 100, including Cardinals catcher Rainiel Rodriguez<\/a> and Pirates outfielder Edward Florentino<\/a>, as well as high-upside talents like Red Sox slugger Justin Gonzales<\/a> and Orioles flamethrower Esteban Mejia<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Here are 10 players to watch this summer in the Sunshine State. Now, let the games begin.\u00a0<\/p>\n Briggs McKenzie<\/a>, LHP, Braves<\/p>\n McKenzie was one of the more intriguing prep lefthanders available in 2025, and the Braves selected him in the fourth round. His season was inconsistent, but Atlanta decided to bet that their pitching development group could help him get to his best stuff more often. At his best, McKenzie can attack hitters with a three-pitch mix with a potentially plus curveball as its centerpiece. His fastball has touched 95 mph and will need to live in the low-to-mid 90s if he is to reach his ceiling as a midrotation starter.<\/p>\n Dorian Soto<\/a>, SS, Red Sox<\/p>\n Soto was one of the brightest prospects in a loaded Red Sox contingent<\/a>, but a wrist injury dampened his season and kept him out of the DSL all-star game. At his best, Soto has a well-balanced skill set\u2014albeit without a plus tool\u2014led by average hittability and 55-grade power. The Red Sox will likely leave Soto at shortstop for the time being, but he\u2019s likely to outgrow the position and could land at either second or third base once his body matures. His bat would likely be enough to profile at either position.\u00a0<\/p>\n Kevin Defrank<\/a>, RHP, Marlins<\/p>\n Defrank is a big man with a big arm. Built like a tight end, the teenage righthander has already brought his fastball well past 100 mph. He buttresses the heater with a sweeper and changeup that could each get to above average or better with more development and consistency. He\u2019s athletic and already throws with electric arm speed, but he will need to watch his conditioning to make sure he doesn\u2019t get too big as he moves up the ladder. With physicality and present weapons, it\u2019s easy to see why Defrank is already considered one of the Marlins\u2019 brightest prospects<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Santiago Castellanos<\/a>, RHP, Twins<\/p>\n The Twins had one of the most prospect-packed groups in the 2025 Dominican Summer League<\/a>, and Castellanos was its brightest pitching prospect<\/a>. Though he\u2019s not the most physical pitcher, he has the kind of stuff that packs a punch. Both his sweeper and changeup project as plus offerings, and his fastball has touched 96 mph, as well. Castellanos already does an excellent job deploying his arsenal and throws enough strikes to expect a strong turn in his stateside debut<\/a>. He has the ceiling of a midrotation starter.\u00a0<\/p>\n Darell Morel<\/a>, SS, Pirates<\/p>\n Morel was originally linked to the Dodgers but landed with Pittsburgh once Roki Sasaki picked Los Angeles<\/a> and required the bulk of the team\u2019s international pool money. The shortstop made a strong first impression in the DSL, where his bountiful raw power translated to 14 extra-base hits. As a longer-levered hitter, he\u2019ll likely be power-over-hit as he moves through the minor leagues, and there\u2019s plenty of development remaining to reach his high ceiling. His play at shortstop belies his size, but he\u2019s still more likely to wind up at third base or in an outfield corner.<\/p>\n Romeli Espinosa<\/a><\/a>, SS, Phillies<\/p>\n Espinosa was one of the stars of the Phillies\u2019 DSL contingent and earned a berth in the league\u2019s all-star game for his efforts. Despite a larger frame, he has the lithe athleticism to stick up the middle even as he adds muscle in his later teens and early 20s. His approach is aggressive, but he pairs impact with contact for now and should be capable of at least average power at maturity. That kind of thump in a middle-infield package makes him a very intriguing prospect<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Marconi German<\/a>, SS, Nationals<\/p>\n The Nationals are absolutely flush with middle infielders at the lower levels. German is part of the next wave<\/a>. The switch-hitter lacks a standout tool but has potential 50s and 55s across the board. He combines a keen eye for the strike zone with a knack for making his best contact to the pull side and in the air, which helped him club eight home runs in 152 at-bats. He has a chance to stick at shortstop, which will only further the Nationals\u2019 abundance at the position.\u00a0<\/p>\n Cris Rodriguez<\/a>, OF, Tigers<\/p>\n Rodriguez can hit the dickens out of a baseball. Now, he needs to hit them more often. He has 70-grade juice and slammed 10 home runs in his pro debut, but there are kinks in his swing that will need to be worked out to help him get to that thump more often as he moves to the U.S. His athleticism and long strides give him a chance to stick in center field\u2014he should be at least an average runner, as well\u2014but his offensive skill set would give him a chance if he has to move to a corner, too.\u00a0<\/p>\n