Baseball has finally arrived! And so has the much-anticipated Top 101 prospects list put together by Professor Parks and BP's minor league crew. With the opening of Spring Training, we get a mix of prospects from this list, less talented minor leaguers who still could have a big league future, and established veterans and superstars showing up in the same box score on a daily basis. I'll be keeping you updated on the performances of the more notable minor leaguers. By mid-March, many of the best prospects will be back in minor league camp getting much-needed at-bats. Some, however, have a legitimate shot at breaking camp with the big league club, a few will open some eyes before starting the season in the minors, and some could disappoint. Here's what's happened so far through the first four days worth of games ...

When we talk about "impact​" rookies, it's important to note that several rookies will be getting the call to the majors and failing to help their team in any way, shape, or form. Coming up with a few big hits or making a couple of quality starts, however, could make a big difference at the end of a 162-game season. Here are some NL Central rookies who I think can make an impact on their team's success in 2013. Click HERE for my NL East picks and HERE for the AL East..
 

Chicago Cubs

The remainder of this post cannot be viewed at this subscription level. Please click here to subscribe.

When we talk about "impact" rookies, it's important to note that several rookies will be getting the call to the majors and will fail to help their team in any way, shape, or form. Coming up with a few big hits or making a couple of quality starts, however, could make a big difference at the end of a 162-game season. Here are some AL East rookies who I think can make an impact on their team's success in 2013. Click HERE for my NL East picks. 


Baltimore Orioles

The remainder of this post cannot be viewed at this subscription level. Please click here to subscribe.

When we talk about "impact" rookies, it's important to note that several rookies will be getting the call to the majors and failing to help their team in any way shape or form. Coming up with a few big hits or making a couple of quality starts, however, could make a big difference at the end of a 162-game season. Beginning in the NL East, I'll be taking a look at each team and picking out some rookies who I think will make an impact on their team's success in 2013. 


Atlanta Braves

The remainder of this post cannot be viewed at this subscription level. Please click here to subscribe.

Jacob Larsen (@jakelarsen) asks this question about the 2013 Tampa Bay Rays, "Do the Rays sign a DH, allowing Brandon Guyer and Matt Joyce to fill an OF spot until Myers is ready?"

The remainder of this post cannot be viewed at this subscription level. Please click here to subscribe.

BP subscriber AndersonAdams1 asks this question about the 2013 Oakland A's, "What's your prediction on Grant Green this year? I believe I read he'll be in competition with Jemile Weeks and Scott Sizemore for the starting 2B job in spring but he played plenty of outfield last year as well. What would you say his odds are on making the opening day roster? Thanks for all your hard work!

The remainder of this post cannot be viewed at this subscription level. Please click here to subscribe.

I've pretty much covered everything I'm going to cover around the Caribbean Winter Leagues, so I'm calling it quits on that particular format until spring training. For now, I'm leaving future topics up to the readers. Feel free to send over any questions related to rosters, depth charts, prospect ETA's, or playing time projections, and I'll answer them in a future mailbag. You can ask the questions below in the comments section, send me a tweet @mlbdepthcharts, or email me at mlbdepthcharts@gmail.com. 

Read the full article...

Yesterday, I listed ten American League prospects that will be competing for a big league job in Spring Training and have a legitimate chance to start the season in the majors. Here's a look at ten National League prospects.

The remainder of this post cannot be viewed at this subscription level. Please click here to subscribe.

With the new year upon us, we can now officially say that Spring Training starts 'next month'. The Spring Training version of the Minor League Update will be highly-focused on prospects who are getting a chance to showcase their talents in big league games and have a pretty decent shot at making a 25-man roster.

The remainder of this post cannot be viewed at this subscription level. Please click here to subscribe.

For my last Minor League Update of 2012, I put together a 25-man roster of prospects who have been traded so far this offseason. There was a lot of starting pitching depth with four or five pretty good pitchers that didn't make the cut. There weren't any good first base prospects and only two very good outfield prospects. Besides that, it's a pretty solid squad.

The remainder of this post cannot be viewed at this subscription level. Please click here to subscribe.

Another left-handed reliever got paid on Thursday when Tom Gorzelanny, who has a career 4.41 ERA in 735 career big league innings (2.88 ERA in 45 relief appearances with the Nationals in 2012), agreed to a two-year deal with the Brewers for an estimated $6 million. If you throw left-handed and are halfway decent at pitching, chances are you can get a nice fat paycheck in the major leagues.

The remainder of this post cannot be viewed at this subscription level. Please click here to subscribe.

As free agent pitcher Edwin Jackson closes in on a decision on which team gets to pay him about $13 million per season for the next four years, I'll remind you once again that Javier Vazquez, who decided not to play in 2012, is pitching in Puerto Rico and could announce his return before the season starts. The 36 year-old, who was still a very effective pitcher for the Marlins in 2011, has a 3.71 ERA, 3 walks, and 23 strikeouts (11 on Wednesday) over his first 17 innings for Ponce. Vazquez made about $100 million in his major league career, so I'm not saying the ridiculous amount of money being spent on free agent pitchers this offseason is going to sway him back to the majors. Actually, I am saying that. Since when is $100 million enough money for anyone?  

The remainder of this post cannot be viewed at this subscription level. Please click here to subscribe.