Four Prospects That Could Break Camp With Their MLB Team

Welcome Prospects1500 fans. Every year there are some prospects that break camp with their MLB team. Sometimes these players will have already received their MLB call up during the prior season; others may be coming out of Spring Training with the major league club for the first time. In either case, the prospects could still be prospect-eligible in your dynasty leagues as they still have 130 at bats or less, or 50 innings pitched or less. Here are four offensive names that could (in some cases should) break camp.

Marco Luciano, SS, Giants

While he isn’t a new name, Luciano could carve out an everyday roll with a big spring. He’s already made his big-league debut but wasn’t able to stick around. Formally pegged as a top five prospect, he has lost a lot of his luster, and some have even forgotten about him. To remind you, the power tool is well above average. The rest of the tools are around average though they could improve with further instruction at the Major League level. Luciano has struggled this Spring and he’s definitely in a battle with San Francisco newcomer and MLB veteran Nick Ahmed for the Giants Opening Day shortstop assignment.

Marco Luciano with the Sac Fly to tie the score at 3-3 pic.twitter.com/unLyTCxQ2T

— Dan Coccimiglio (@NCalSportsNetWK) March 11, 2024

Michael Busch, 1B/3B, Cubs

Long time minor leaguer Busch was finally traded this past off season to the Cubs. Busch is an immediate improvement over Nick Madrigal at third base and an improvement over Matt Mervis or Patrick Wisdom at first. There is really nothing more Busch can prove at the minor league level. A plus hit tool and plus power tool were on full display over the past two years as Busch hit 48 home runs. Along with all the home runs, he ran up a huge .431 OBP last year and may be the readiest player of the bunch to start the year in the majors.

Michael Busch with a solo shot! pic.twitter.com/ZdXruurzuF

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) March 10, 2024

Joey Ortiz, IF, Brewers

One of the primary pieces in the Corbin Burnes trade, Ortiz is another older prospect that could be on his way to a full-time gig in the majors to start the season. A plus hitter and borderline elite defender, the Brewers would likely try to slot Ortiz in at third base though he will be able to play the entire infield. Ortiz can drive the ball and hit 30 doubles last year. He should take some of the sting away from Brewers fans losing Burnes.

Introducing the newest Brewers, part 10!
Joey Ortiz
– 4th rounder in 2019 by Orioles from NMSU
– 25 years old
– #63 prospect by MLB Pipeline
– Hit .212 in 15 games in '23 in MLB
– .321/.378/.507 in AAA
– Plus defender at SS w/ good arm
– Gap-to-gap power, some contact pic.twitter.com/iaiUYJrYeH

— The Barrel Banter (@thebarrelmke) March 14, 2024

Heston Kjerstad, OF, Orioles

While the Orioles major league roster is full of plus bats, Kjerstad is poised to stay with the major league team. The Orioles have treated Kjerstad with kids gloves due to a heart issue that was discovered when he was drafted. The heart issue does seem behind Kjerstad, and he made a quick debut with the big club last year. The power is there to be developed and we could see a 20-30 home run a year bat in the middle of the Orioles lineup. He is a better fielder then Colton Cowser and Anthony Santander, and his bat can hold his own. There is work to do for him to beat out a deep outfield depth chart, but I think we see him Opening Day on the Orioles big league roster.

Heston Kjerstad (@MLBPipeline's No. 32 prospect) continues to swing a hot bat for #Orioles, pushing their lead to 2-0 with a 1-out RBI single.

Kjerstad is 5-for-10 over his past 4 games.

— Jake Rill (@JakeDRill) March 13, 2024