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Minors  | General | 12/9/2024

PG Down on the Farm: NL East

David Rawnsley
It’s the time of the year again (i.e. the off-season) for the annual PG Down on the Farm feature.  We identify a top prospect in each of the 30 Major League organizations with as much Perfect Game background as possible and delve into that PG history for some insight into his development as a prospect.  Some of them might be high profile, high draft pick, ex-PG All-American talents who fans have been long familiar with.  Others might be more obscure prospects who have significantly improved either in college or as professionals.  Note that players who have used up their rookie eligibility are not considered.

The idea isn’t to necessarily pick the best PG background prospect in each organization but the one who might be closest to the big leagues.  Sometimes that is the same player, other times not.



And there is plenty of variation among organizations in their quantity and quality of prospects, whether it be those with PG backgrounds or not. 

The profiles will be organized by League/Division and run on the following schedule:

American League East  (December 2)
American League Central  (December 4)
American League West  (December 6)
 National League East  (December 9)
National League Central  (December 11)
National League West  (December  13)


National League East


Atlanta Braves  --  RHP Hurston Waldrep

High School:  Thomasville HS (Thomasville, GA)
Travel Team:  Florida Aces
College:  Southern Mississippi, Florida
Final PG Class Ranking:  489
Drafted:  1st round (24th overall, 2023, Atlanta)
Highest 2024 Level:  MLB             
2025 Age:  23

Waldrep threw in numerous national level PG tournaments during his high school days, beginning with the 2017 WWBA 15U National Championship and culminating with the 2019 WWBA World Championships.  His best event was the 2019 WWBA 17U National Championships where he struck out nine hitters in five innings while working in the 88-91 mph range with his fastball to go with a big breaking upper 70’s slider and a hard change up.  He finished his high school career ranked 489th in the PG national class rankings.

Raised in Thomasville, Georgia close to the Georgia-Florida border, Waldrep was All-State in two sports in high school.  Baseball, of course, but also as a punter/place kicker in football.

After going undrafted in the pandemic shortened 2020 draft, Waldrep spent his first two college seasons at Southern Mississippi.  He was used sparingly out of the bullpen as a freshman, throwing only 16 innings, then won a starter’s job as a sophomore, striking out 140 hitters in 90 innings and only walking 33 hitters.  Waldrep entered the transfer portal after the season and ended up at Florida for the 2023 season and was just as good against the higher-level SEC competition, striking out 156 hitters in 101 innings while going 10-3, 4.16.

Waldrep’s raw stuff was elite going into the 2023 draft, with a fastball that topped out in the upper 90’s to go with an upper 80’s slider.  His best pitch was an upper 80’s split finger change that was usually graded out as a 70 level pitch by scouts.  The knock on Waldrep was that he checked many future reliever boxes with a high effort delivery and marginal strike throwing ability despite his success and durability as a starter.  That pushed him down a bit from his projected slot to the Braves at 24th in the first round, who signed him for a $2,977,500 bonus.

2024 Summary

Waldrep made his big league debut less than a year after signing as the Braves 2023 first round pick, struggled in two spot starts as Atlanta struggled with pitching health.  He was far more successful in 19 minor league starts across four levels, striking out 97 in 93 innings while posting a 3.47 ERA.

2025 Perspective

Waldrep clearly has big league stuff but would benefit from a full year of minor league development in 2025, especially with his command.  But as he’s already on the 40-man roster, more big league time is certainly possible if he’s pitching well.  Moving to the bullpen will be a constant potential slot for his overall package as well.

2023 Featured PG Player:  RHP AJ Smith-Shawver

2024 Update:  Smith-Shawver only made two big league appearances in 2024, spending almost the whole season in AAA, where he went 3-8, 4.85 in 21 starts and 89 innings, allowing 21 home runs and striking out 108.  He will pitch all of 2025 at 22 years old.

2022 Featured PG Player:  LHP Jared Shuster
2021 Featured PG Player:  OF Michael Harris II 


Miami Marlins  --  C Joe Mack

High School:  Williamsville East HS (East Amhurst, N.Y.)
Travel Team:  East Cobb Baseball
Final PG Class Ranking:  15
Drafted: 1st round (31st overall, 2021, Miami)
Highest 2024 Level:  AA
2025 Age:  22

Mack found the Perfect Game spotlight early, hitting .611-1-8 at the 2017 WWBA 14U National Championships in his first PG event and earning a spot at the 2017 14U Perfect Game Select Festival.  Already a solidly built 6-foot, 182-pounds as a 14-year old, Mack continued to get stronger through his high school days and continued to perform at the plate as well, hitting a career .361-11-113 in 138 games over four years.  That extra development time and high-level repetitions are crucial for any young player from the Northeast.

Mack played at the 2020 PG National Showcase and was selected to play in the 2020 Perfect Game All-American Classic.  His report from the National Showcase read: 

Strong athletic build, pretty mature physically. 7.06 runner, showed nice quick feet behind the plate defensively, moves side to side well and has good direction out of his crouch throwing, outstanding raw arm strength, defensive game has really matured well. Left-handed hitter, hits from an open stance with a toe tap trigger, has quick hands that explode at the baseball, best working gap to gap but can turn on the ball and show pull power, chance to be a plus hitter at a premium defensive position. Verbal commitment to Clemson. Selected to play in the Perfect Game All-American Classic.

Perfect Game had Mack ranked 15th overall in the 2021 draft class and he was the third ranked catcher nationally.  He ended up as the 31st overall selection to the Marlins and second high school catcher behind fellow All-American Harry Ford.  Mack received a $2.5M signing bonus to forgo his Clemson scholarship.

2024 Summary

After struggling offensively for three professional seasons, Mack hit a very impressive .251-24-78 spending most of the year as a 21-year old in AA.  He stood out on defense as well, throwing out 34% of runners attempting to steal while only making one error and allowing only six passed balls.

2025 Perspective

Only the White Sox got worse production from their catchers in 2024 than the Marlins (-2.8 bWAR) so just about anything would be an improvement behind the plate in 2025.  Even given that, at least a half season of further development would seem ideal for Mack, who is clearly their catcher of the future.

2023 Featured PG Player:  SS Jacob Amaya

2024 Update:  Amaya was traded to Houston early in the season, played most of the year in AAA for the Astros (.221-5-34), then was waived late in August and picked up by the White Sox, ending up getting in 23 games (.179-0-3).

2022 Featured PG Player:  LHP Jake Eder
2021 Featured PG Player:  LHP Daxton Fulton


New York Mets  --  RHP Brandon Sproat

High School:  Pace HS (Pace, FL)
Travel Team:  Next Level Baseball
College:  Florida
Final PG Class Ranking:  149
Drafted:  2nd round, 2023, New York Mets
Highest 2024 Level:  AAA
2025 Age:  24

Sproat only appeared in two regional Perfect Game tournaments in high school, including the 2018 PG 18U Southeast Championship, where he threw in the 88-92 mph range with an upper 70’s breaking ball and change up.  Listed at 6-foot-2, 165-pounds at that point, about 50 pounds short of his signed weight in 2023, Sproat had a velocity jump as a senior at Florida Panhandle Pace HS, touching the mid-90’s regularly, and jumped to 149th in the PG class rankings.  He honored his scholarship to Florida despite being drafted in the seventh round by the Rangers in the 2019 draft.

Ironically, maybe the best MLB comparison to Sproat had been to future Rangers RHP Nate Eovaldi.

Sproat threw only 6 innings in the pandemic shortened 2020 season and struggled in 2021 with a 6.65 ERA in 21 innings, mostly out of the bullpen.  He joined the Gators rotation in 2022, going 9-4, 3.41 in 16 starts and 89 innings and was selected in the third round by the Mets but chose not to sign.  Returning to Florida as a 4th year junior, Sproat improved in virtually all areas while striking out 134 hitters in 106 innings, prompting the Mets to move him up a round and pick him in the second round and 56th overall pick, signing him for a $1,474,500 bonus.

Most projections had Sproat going higher based on his 80 grade fastball that often sits in the upper 90’s and hits triple digits frequently even as a starter.  Concerns about his secondary pitches and command, factors that impact Eovaldi early in his career as well, eventually dropped Sproat.

2024 Summary

Sproat made his professional debut in High A (2-1, 1.07 in 6 games) to start the 2024 season but quickly advanced to AA (4-1, 2.45 in 11 starts) before eventually ending the season in AAA, where he hitters finally caught up to his high-octane stuff (1-2, 7.53 in 28 innings).

2025 Perspective

Sproat is the Mets top pitching prospect by a healthy margin but his finish to the 2024 season in AAA shows that he clearly needs some more minor league experience before seeing the bright lights of New York.  Still, there will be plenty of talk about him leading into the season.

2023 Featured PG Player:  RHP Christian Scott

2024 Update:  Scott made an impressive MLB debut after being called up in early May but eventually succumbed to an injured elbow and underwent TJ surgery in late September that will cost him the 2025 season.

2022 Featured PG Player:  3B Brett Baty
2021 Featured PG Player:  3B Mark Vientos


Philadelphia Phillies  --  OF Justin Crawford

High School:  Bishop Gorman HS (Las Vegas, NV)
Travel Team:  CBA Marucci
Final PG Class Ranking:  11
Drafted:  1st round (17th overall), 2022, Philadelphia
Highest 2024 Level:  AA
2025 Age:  21

Crawford is the son of 15-year MLB veteran and four-time All-Star Carl Crawford.  Seattle Mariners shortstop and 2013 first round pick J.P. Crawford is a second cousin.  In addition to his elite bloodlines, Crawford also played high school at Bishop Gorman and travel ball with CBA Marucci, two of the most heavily scouted schools/organizations in the amateur baseball world.

But with the elite tools and very projectable 6-foot-3, 175-pound build that Crawford showed in high school, it’s highly likely he would have been a well-known first round draft pick regardless.

After hitting .525 as a junior at Bishop Gorman, Crawford really made his mark with the scouting community at the 2021 PG National Showcase, especially with his eye opening 6.11 sixty time on the Tropicana Field turf and his surprising power for a hitter with the reputation as more of a slap and run swing.  His report from that event read:

Extra-large, athletic frame with square shoulders and long limbs, lean and projectable build with room to fill throughout. Fast-twitched, elite runner with a 6.11 in the 60-yard dash. Primary outfielder, moves well to the ball and projects in center field long term, balance to actions, longer arm action through the back, gathers prior to release well, big whip at release with a lower slot, accuracy on throws. Left-handed hitter, begins with a spread stance and a high hand set and back elbow at the plate, weight starts on backside, quick weight shift moving into contact. Does a nice job of creating separation in swing, remains loose and quick through the zone. Intriguing offensive tools that project very well with added strength, already shows intriguing power to pull side with leverage out front, quick barrel through the zone. Speed plays in game, game changing tool, sub-4 home to first time in game.

Crawford went on to play in the 2021 Perfect Game All-American Classic, then hit .503-5-52 with 20 stolen bases as a senior and solidifying himself as a probable first round draft pick.  The Phillies were able to grab him with the 17th overall pick and sign him out of an LSU scholarship for a $3,890,000 bonus.  He had been ranked as the 11th overall prospect in the 2022 high school class by Perfect Game.

2024 Summary

Crawford has progressed far faster than even his biggest supporters probably thought when he signed and split 2024 between High A and AA, hitting even better at the higher level.  Overall, the left-handed hitting speedster hit .313-9-61/.805 OPS with 42 stolen bases.  The only flaw his performance was drawing only 32 walks in 110 games, but he struck out a relatively low 93 times as well.

2025 Perspective

Crawford likely needs more minor league seasoning but it’s hard to ignore the fact that the win-now Phillies have a huge hole in center field.  Crawford is likely to fill that hole eventually; the question is whether that is sooner or later.
 
2023 Featured PG Player:  RHP Orion Kerkering

2024 Update:  Kerkering had an outstanding rookie season out of the standout Phillies bullpen, going 5-3, 2.29 in 64 games of middle relief work, registering 74 strikeouts in 63 innings and a 1.6 bWAR.

2022 Featured PG Player:  RHP Andrew Painter
2021 Featured PG Player:  RHP Hans Crouse


Washington Nationals  --  OF Dylan Crews

High School:  Lake Mary HS (Lake Mary, FL)
Travel Team:  Scorpions
College:  Louisiana State
Final PG Class Ranking: 13
Drafted: 1st round (2nd overall), 2023, Washington
Highest 2024 Level:  MLB
2025 Age:  23

Crews was well-known prospect from the beginning of his high school baseball career.  His first Perfect Game event was the 2016 Florida Underclass Showcase, where he earned both a PG 9 grade, highly unusual for a 14-year old, and an invitation to the 2016 PG 14U Select Festival.  Unknown to many, Crews was a primary catcher at that age and there was no obvious physical reason that he couldn’t have stayed at that demanding position.  His report from that early event read:

Dylan Crews is a 2020 C/3B, OF with a 5-10 155 lb. frame from Longwood, FL who attends Lake Mary HS. Has a young, lean build with room to continue to fill out physically as he continues to put on additional muscle. Posted a 7.05 second sixty-yard dash. From behind the plate, showed quick footwork and transfers while making online throws to the bag (74 mph/1.94). From the outfield, showed solid footwork through the baseball keeping his momentum moving through the target with good glove work, arm strength up to 79 mph on throws. At the plate, right-handed hitter that starts with a high hand set and small leg lift trigger. Swings on a line drive plane with repeated mechanics. Showed quick hands and good bat speed consistently finding barrels. Great student. Named to 2016 Florida Underclass Top Prospect List and the 2016 14U PG Select Baseball Festival.

For his PG career, Crews was named to 13 All-Tournament teams, almost all with the Orlando Scorpions, and was named to the Top Prospect List at 11 PG Showcases, along with being a 2019 PG All-American.  He was a solid overall athlete with 6.63 speed and a 92 mph outfield arm.  But his best tool was always his right-handed bat; Crews hit wherever he played and seemed to hit his best against the best pitching.  He was listed as the 13th best prospect in the 2020 final class rankings.

Crews reportedly turned down offers north of $2M to sign in the abbreviated 2020 draft but choose instead to attend LSU.  He was a starter from Day 1 with the Tigers, hitting .362-18-42 as a freshman, .349-22-72 as a sophomore and .426-18-70 with 71 walks as a junior.  Crews was named the Golden Spikes Award winner after his junior year and entered the 2023 draft in a dead heat with LSU teammate Paul Skenes to be the top pick in that year’s draft.  Skenes won that race but Crews runner up reward as the second pick was a $9M bonus from the Nationals.

2024 Summary

Crews played 100 games between AA and AAA in 2024, split almost exactly evenly, and hit a combined .270-12-68/.792 OPS before making his big league debut in late August.  He barely maintained his rookie status, hitting .219-3-8 with 12 steals in 119 MLB at-bats while playing strong defense, mainly in right field.

2025 Perspective

A starting outfield of Crews and fellow 2024 rookies Jacob Young and James Woods could have a very long run in the Nationals outfield.  Expect that trio to be the starters on Opening Day.

2023 Featured PG Player:  3B Brady House

2024 Update:  House split 2024 between AA and AAA at 21 years old, hitting a combined .241-19-66/.699 that included a .397 OB% and 143 K’s in 129 games.

2022 Featured PG Player:  OF James Wood
2021 Featured PG Player:  RHP Cole Henry
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