There are names around the BSA you hear from on a daily basis. Taking a look at the standings can generally give a decent view of who the best team is out there. But who are the BSA's young stars and future faces of franchises? Here is a team of all player's 24 years or younger, whom you will be hearing about over the next decade of BSA baseball. I only included players who are currently on a BSA roster. There's a ton of talent not quite here and they have been omitted. Here's your 25 man roster:
The Rotation
SP: Kevin Bush, Pocatello, Age 23. Already one of the best pitchers in the BSA, Bush won 25 games last season as a 22 year old. He was discovered in Canada as a 17 year old and spent 3 years in the minor leagues before earning a spot in the Boccabellas' rotation full time in 2020. He will likely get to 60 career wins before the age of 24 and his 9.2 WAR from a year ago ranks the 20th best season ever from a starting pitcher.
SP Hong-Ryul Yun, New York, 22 years old. Hailing from South Korea, Yun burst on to the scene last year with a 21-6 record and leading the Knight's rotation to their first playoff appearance ever. A lefty who can hit triple digits on the gun, had 254 K's last season averaging nearly 10 per 9 innings. Awarded $4.75M this past season in arbitration, he could be headed towards one of the biggest contracts in BSA history if he ever were to hit the FA market.
SP Roland Martin, Jersey Shore, 24 years old. The oldest of the bunch, Martin turns 25 in just 2 weeks. He was the D-Bags 1st round choice in the 2017 amateur draft. He spent parts if 5 season in the minors before making his debut in 2021. Martin made a name for himself last season with a 16-9 record winning himself the CL Rookie of the Year award and also a 5 year contract extension that will keep him in Jersey Shore through the 2027 season.
SP Dionisio Penni, Reno, 23 years old. Penni was the 1st overall pick in the draft in 2020 out of Maryland who spent parts of 3 seasons in the Reno minor league system. He dominated AAA batters in AAA last season before being called up. Despite struggling as a rookie in 10 starts last season, he came out hot this season, pitching to a 2.84 ERA in 38 innings before shoulder inflammation put him on the DL. He will miss most of this season, but watch out for him in the future.
SP Jose Martinez, Austin, 23 years old. Martinez was the 14th overall pick in the talent rich 2020 draft, hailing from Villanova. Making the Austin rotation this season, he is the only true rookie on the list. In his 1st 10 BSA starts he is 6-1, 2.13 ERA while striking out 9.1 hitters per 9 innings. He can hit triple digits with his fastball to go with a nasty splitter and a great cutter. He will turn 24 next month, watch out CL Central.
Honorable Mentions: Eduardo Trujillo GRN, Vicente Duran LCC, Arthur Green BRM, Geoffrey Keller CHI, Daniel Grant TOR
The Pen
MR Jorge Aybar. Cleveland, 23 years old. Aybar was signed out of Cuba as a 19 year by the San Francisco organization. Since then he has been traded twice, first to Toronto and then to Cleveland. Though he has pitched very little over AA ball and only 15 innings as a rookie, he has big potential. A left hander who can hit 100 MPH with a nasty cut fastball, he could one day anchor a bullpen.
MR Ienobu Sato, New Orleans, 23 years old. Sato was discovered in Japan by a Looters scout and signed in March of 2019. A true rookie this year making the New Orleans pen after an excellent 2022 campaign in AA. He has an electric fastball which has helped him average 9/k per 9 innings over his minor league career. He avoids giving up home runs and has future closer written all over him..
MR Valentin Resendez, Chicago, 24 years old. A Cuban left hander who signed with Chicago during the 2017 season. He pitched for 5 season for Chicago's A club, dominating from the closers role the last 3 years before making the Chicago pen last year. He had a great rookie season with a 2.97 ERA in 91 innings, tallying 107 K's. He is currently working in a setup role, but wouldn't be surprised to take over the closer's role sometime as early as this year.
MR Cesar Menendez, Chiago, 24 years old. Teaming up with Resendez, these two have the makings of a devastating back end of a bullpen. Discovered in Venezuela by St. Louis, he has since been traded to Los Angeles and then to Chicago. A right hander who can hit 100 with his fastball, put up a 3.04 ERA in his rookie year last in 53 innings.
MR David Simpson, Birmingham, 24 years old. Drafted in the 2nd round and 48th overall by the Steeldogs in 2020, Simpson only threw 143 innings before making his BSA debut in 2021. His true rookie year was last year where he was excellent with a 2.31 ERA in nearly 60 innings. He has increased his K totals this year which could mean he still has room to grow.
CL Christian Escobar, Seattle, 24 years old. Former Top 5 prospect hailing from Mexico who server as the Pike's primary closer last season, saving 22 games. He was set have a breakout year this year, before being sidelined with shoulder inflmmation that will keep him out nearly the entire season. With an excellent fastball and splitter as well as impeccable control, he has the potential to be one of the best relievers out there in the long run.
The Lineup
C Rich Anderson, Orlando, 22 years old. Anderson was the 19th overall pick out of Washington in 2020. He was ranked the 35th overall prospect before this season where he made his BSA debut. His bat profiles as potentially one of the better ones under the age of 25. He has hit .276/.308/.379 in his first 91 PA before going down with a torn abdominal muscle which will keep him out another month.
1B Jeff Daniels, Reno, 24 years old. The 8th overall pick from Reno in 2018, Daniels was a Top 20 prospect for years before busting out last year. he hit .320/.395/.443, good for 39 doubles a 3.4 WAR. His average and OBP were both Top 10 in the BSA last year and he should contend for batting titles for years to come.
2B Jose Sanchez, Birmingham, 24 years old. A Cuban born player who came to Birmingham via Boston in the Jose Hildalgo trade of 2020. He finished 2nd in the NL ROY voting last year, where he finished with near 3 WAR with his .324/.383/.406 line. Sanchez has elite speed and rarely ever strikes out. He should become a threat at 200 hits every season in the future.
SS Dani Vazquez, Reno, 22 years old. Vazquez was discovered by an Irvine scout in 2017 before being dealt to Toronto in 2018. He was one of the main pieces in come to Reno in the famed Seung-chun Mun trade. Vazquez was once thought to be a glove first SS, but now profiles as a top of the order threat. Plus contact, eye and powers to the gap could eventually make him one of the game's best table setters.
3B Jose Salazar, Irvine, 24 years old. Yet another Cuban who was traded to Irvine in 2018 from Baffin Island in the Kyuso Fujita trade. Salazar broke out in 2021 when he won the NL's ROY award as well as a Gold Glove at 3B. He went through a sophomore slump last year and looks to bounce back this year. He rarely strikes out and could walk more than K's in the future. Even if his bat never matures like his potential say they could, his defense is elite.
LF Vicente Bueno, Greenville, 24 years old. A Mexican born player who was signed with the Kansas City franchise in 2016. He was traded twice that year, first to Baffin Island and then to Greenville. A plus-plus defender with elite speed and above average gap power and contact, he is a weapon. Bueno hit .288/.319/.505 in 25 games last year as a rookie and this season already has 10 HR and is hitting .335 in just 42 games.
CF Dante Owens, Niagara Falls, 22 years old. A Candian import for the Frenzy, Owens was considered a Top 5 prospect last season when he made his BSA debut. In 373 PA, Owens hit .290/.342/.470 while leading the BSA in triples with 14. While his power doesn't seem to be matured yet, Owens has the speed and gap power to possibly hit 60 doubles in the future and carry above a 300 average. With decent defense in CF, he could be great sooner than later.
RF Jesus Campos, Irvine, 24 years old. Drafted 5th overall in the 2020 draft out of Cal, it only took him 64 minor league games to reach the pros. He was selected to the NL All Star team, won the NL ROY award and a Gold Glove all in his rookie year in 2021. He has top of the line elite speed, one of the better OF defenders in the game and is only getting better with the bat. He is on pace this season for 23 doubles, 30 triples and 20 Homers to go with 23 stolen bases. Scary good.
DH Antonio Ortega, Seattle, 24 years old. Ortega came to Seattle via UCLA in the 2nd round of the 20202 draft. Always a good contact hitter, Ortega was never seen as a big prospect until lately. Last season in AA, he hit 43 doubles, 23 HR and 88 RBI putting up 4.5 WAR. He made Seattle's roster this year and has played 50 games at 1B, hitting .298/.332/.468 with 12 doubles, 6 HR and 31 RBI. He signed a very cheap extension that will keep him in Seattle for the next 5 years. Is he the next big thing in the pacific northwest?
The Bench
C Vicente Aguirre, Madison, 22 years old. A former Top 50 prospect from the Dominican Republic, he won the Bombers backup catcher position this season. While his strikeout numbers in the minors are a little alarming he profiles out to be a plus contact hitter with great gap power and could add 20 HR a year one day.
2B Marcos Vargas, Chicago, 24 years old. Cuban born, signed with Greenville during the 2015 season. He was traded to Los Angeles in 2018 and then on to Chicago in 2020 in the Jose Valdez trade. Vargas had a solid rookie year in 2021 with 45 extra base hits to go with a .270/.345/.396 line. He slumped badly last year, being one of the worst full time starting options in the BSA. He has bounced back in a big way this year, hitting .336 through 150 PA and on pace for 50+ doubles.
SS Taylor McFarlane, Hendersonville, 23 years old. A 3rd round pick by Los Angeles, he was traded to the Hitmen in this offseason's trade to acquire SP Mendez. Though his bat doesn't quite seem ready for the BSA, his defense is what lands him on this list. He is an elite defender all over the infield, his bat should be good enough to land him as a starter at any infield position.
LF Troy Donaldson, New York, 24 years old. The 6th overall pick in 2018 out of High School, Donaldson spent years on the Top 25 prospect lists before making his debut in 2021. He struggled as a rookie, but had a nice sophomore season last year, hitting .99/..327/.513 with 20 doubles, 7 triples, 10 HR and 14 stolen bases. He should be one of the better defenders in LF this season and if his bat comes around he could over 300 with 25+ home runs.
RF Tom Blake, Reno, 24 years old. Drafted 34th overall by the Cards in 2020, Blake has hit over .300 at every stop in the minors before debuting last year for Reno. He struggled with the stick last year, striking out over 31% of his at bats. 2023 has been a whole new world for Blake though. He is hitting .361/.429/.660, has 13 HR, 48 RBI and 2.5 WAR through just 49 games. This could shape up as a very special season for Blake and the Cards.
There were a ton of choices for bats, it was tough picking just 14 for the roster. And there you have it, your all 24 and under team. The future of the BSA.
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