MLB Opening Day Roster Predictions: Top Young Guns Ready to Make Their Debut, Including Konnor Griffin and Carson Benge

Five MLB Prospects Poised to Make Their Mark on Opening Day

The dawn of a new season brings with it the excitement of witnessing young talent emerge in Major League Baseball. The recent trend of teams accelerating the debut process for top prospects, rather than delaying their entry into the big leagues, has created a sense of anticipation around spring training. This shift in approach is largely attributed to the introduction of new incentives that encourage teams to promote their most promising players sooner.

Last year, several notable prospects, including Kristian Campbell of the Boston Red Sox, Matt Shaw of the Chicago Cubs, and Cam Smith of the Houston Astros, broke into the MLB scene during spring training. This year, a fresh crop of talented youngsters is poised to follow in their footsteps. Here are five notable prospects who have a strong chance of making their team’s Opening Day roster, presented in order of their ranking on the CBS Sports’ top 100 prospects list.

1. Konnor Griffin, Shortstop, Pittsburgh Pirates

Griffin, the top-ranked prospect in baseball, is on the cusp of achieving a remarkable feat. Despite never having played in Triple-A, he is expected to compete for a spot on the Pirates’ Opening Day roster. The 19-year-old phenom concluded last season with an impressive 21-game stretch in Double-A, batting .337 with five home runs and six stolen bases. If Griffin succeeds in his bid to join the Pirates, he will become the first teenage position player in the MLB since Juan Soto and the first for the Pirates since Aramis Ramírez in 1998.

Two key factors are working in Griffin’s favor: the lack of competition for the shortstop position, currently occupied by Nick Gonzales, and the potential for the Pirates to earn a draft-pick reward through the Prospect Promotion Incentive program.

2. JJ Wetherholt, Second Baseman, St. Louis Cardinals

Wetherholt’s path to an Opening Day roster spot is arguably the most straightforward among the top prospects. The Cardinals’ offseason trades, which saw the departure of three infielders, including second baseman Brendan Donovan and third baseman Nolan Arenado, have created a void that Wetherholt is well-equipped to fill. Despite not being on the 40-man roster, Wetherholt’s impressive performance in 47 Triple-A games, where he hit .314 with 10 home runs and nine stolen bases, makes him a strong contender for the second base position.

3. Carson Benge, Outfielder, New York Mets

Benge is another prospect with a strong chance of making his team’s Opening Day roster. The Mets’ offseason focus on restructuring their infield, coupled with the addition of only one outfielder, Luis Robert Jr., has left the door open for Benge to claim a spot in left field. Although Benge struggled in his brief Triple-A stint, his impressive performance in 32 Double-A games, where he hit .317 with a .571 slugging percentage, suggests that he is ready for the challenge.

4. Justin Crawford, Outfielder, Philadelphia Phillies

Crawford, an outfield prospect with the Philadelphia Phillies, is poised to make his MLB debut this spring. His impressive performance in Triple-A last season, where he hit .334 with seven home runs and 46 stolen bases, has made him a strong contender for a spot in the Phillies’ outfield. However, Crawford’s extreme ground-ball tendencies, which saw nearly 60% of his batted balls hit the dirt last year, have raised concerns about his ability to tap into his raw power.

5. Ryan Waldschmidt, Outfielder, Arizona Diamondbacks

Waldschmidt, a lesser-known prospect compared to the others on this list, has been making waves with his impressive performance in Double-A. He hit .309 with a .423 on-base percentage and a .498 slugging percentage in 66 games, while nearly walking as often as he struck out. The recent subtraction of outfield options like Jake McCarthy and Blaze Alexander from the Diamondbacks’ roster has created an opportunity for Waldschmidt to stake his claim in left field. Although he may not be the most obvious choice, Waldschmidt’s professional performance suggests that he is worthy of consideration for a spot on the Opening Day roster.