Some prospects have an easy time getting into the Major Leagues. For instance, Orioles shortstop Jackson Holliday and Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio, the first two players on our list of the Top 100 Prospects, have never experienced failure in the major leagues.
But they are the exceptions. The majority of prospects experience hardship before making it to the major leagues. As 2023 draws to an end, we would like to honor twelve prospects who had a difficult season in 2022 but excelled last season to turn things around for the better:
As a 12th-round pick from a Florida high school in 2021, Albright signed with the Angels for $1,247,500, setting a record that has since been broken for a post-10th-rounder in the bonus-pool era. His first full season as a pro saw him clobbered for an 8.67 ERA in 55 innings; this year, he found success by reducing his arm movement. After pitching 109 2/3 innings at two Class A levels with a 3.28 ERA and a 119/34 K/BB ratio, he was traded to the Rockies in July for C.J. Cron and Randal Grichuk.
Despite having Tommy John surgery and missing the whole 2021 college season at West Virginia, Bergert was still picked by the Padres in the sixth round and received a $550,000 bonus in the fourth round. His stuff and command improved in 2023 when he recorded a 2.73 ERA (sixth in the Minors), a.204 opponent average (ditto), and 126 strikeouts in 105 2/3 innings between High-A and Double-A. In 2022, he was hammered for a 5.84 ERA in High-A.
Bigbie, a 2021 Western Carolina product selected in the 19th round, batted third in the Minors and slashed.Going from High-A to Triple-A, he hit 343/.405,/.537 with 19 home runs. His 2022 line of.269/.347/.380 with three home runs in two Class A stops is a long cry from that, and it can be attributed to better swing choices that resulted in higher quality contact.
