This year MLB is doing a new thing called the Spring Breakout where a team of prospects from one team will play a team of prospects from another. They are 7 inning games (though teams can agree to make them 9 if they would like)- EDIT: Phillies vs Tigers has been changed to a 9 inning game. The Phillies team will play at the Tigers on Saturday March 16 at 1:05pm. The official site says that only those eligible for MLB Pipeline’s list (rookie eligible) will be allowed. Rosters don’t have a set size, but will be revealed on March 7.
The official writeup says they will use Pipeline’s list as the foundation, but given that both that those lists are not out yet, and I have my own opinions we will be ignoring that. Since it is a 7 inning game 9-inning game, I saying sorry to a bunch of pitching prospects who would not make it into the game and I am going to make up a 26 27 player roster that is 18 hitters and 8 9 pitchers. That gives a full lineup change of hitters and at most one pitcher doesn’t leave the bullpen.
Pitching
I could list out all of the pitching prospects on my list as candidates, but I am thinking about this like an All-Star game and showcase, so I want big stuff and best of the best. I also think it is fair to throw some relievers on, so why not a 5-3 split of starters and relievers. Mick Abel, Christian McGowan, Samuel Aldegheri, Wen Hui Pan, and Griff McGarry are my three highest ranked starting pitching prospects and I think they also are a good mix of guys with name recognition (Abel and McGarry), guy who could surprise and help in 2024 (McGowan), and so lower minors arms, one of whom could do some electric things on the mound.
On the bullpen side, Orion Kerkering is an auto add, so I will fill out with Michael Mercado and Andrew Baker. Mercado is new to the system and could be in the majors in 2024. He is in big league camp so he might be known to fans by the time of the game. Baker has slipped some, but in an exhibition give me the guy who could hit 100+.
EDIT – With the Phillies game being updated to a 9 inning game (thanks to Sam Dykstra for reaching out), I would add Jean Cabrera to the pitching list. He is the next highest ranked starting pitcher for me, and as a former Paul Owens Award winner he is certainly spotlightable.
Catcher
Catcher is a thin spot in the upper minors. Rafael Marchan is not eligible, though he is functionally a prospect. The rest of the upper minors catching is mostly org depth. It does get more exciting in the lower minors. Eduardo Tait is a lock to be here. Caleb Ricketts is likely and is an experienced enough guy I think he could start and manage the diverse parade of arms. Kehden Hettiger is another young catcher who the Phillies just drafted. He has made a bunch of lists and the Phillies like him and it would be a nice spotlight.
Non First Base Infield
We are going to skip first base because it is it’s own unique thing. There aren’t many third baseman or really second basemen in this group, but we have shortstops. As much as I personally would like to see Nikau Pouaka-Grego, he might not be ready for games yet. That leaves us with the following names.
Aidan Miller, Starlyn Caba, William Bergolla, Bryan Rincon, Devin Saltiban, Robert Moore, Matt Kroon (3B/OF), Kendall Simmons, Aroon Escobar
To me the first 5 are a lock, and I am just not a big Robert Moore fan. Matt Kroon is in major league camp and we are about to have a log jam of outfielders so I am going to move him here so I have a real third baseman.
Outfield
Here is just a list of some of the names that can be involved here: Justin Crawford, Carlos De La Cruz, Gabriel Rincones Jr., TJayy Walton, Raylin Heredia, Emaarion Boyd, Simon Muzziotti, Avery Owusu-Asiedu, Hendry Mendez, Ethan Wilson. That is 10 names for nominally 6 spots. I am going to bump De La Cruz to first because the first base options are grim. I personally am going to say no on Ethan Wilson because I don’t think he is particularly good, and then Simon Muzziotti is technically still a prospect, but he was just bumped off the 40 so let’s get someone with a future here. That leaves 7 and say one of them is the second DH.
First Base
So I already bumped De La Cruz here, so we just need one more. Eduardo Tait has played two games at first, but I don’t think throwing him into the fire is a great idea. Felix Reyes made my list and has played first base. I brought this up on Twitter earlier today, but I think it might just be that you reach off the prospect board and put Rixon Wingrove on the roster because he is a first baseman and he has some international appeal, and he also is just fun.
The Lineup
That gives me 18 hitters, now they have to go on the field somewhere. My priority now is that the best prospects go on the first team as they all will get two at bats, and then sort of the fun off the radar guys come on as replacements. As for DH, I have three catchers listed above and seven outfielders. I think moving Tait to DH makes sense. Yes he can catch, but I don’t know if asking the 17 year old manage a parade of pitchers is the most fair. This is what I would personally run, with the replacement outfield a huge defensive improvement on the starters.
| Postion | Starters | Bench |
|---|---|---|
| C | Caleb Rickett | Kehden Hettiger |
| 1B | Carlos De La Cruz | Rixon Wingrove |
| 2B | William Bergolla | Bryan Rincon |
| SS | Starlyn Caba | Devin Saltiban |
| 3B | Aidan Miller | Matt Kroon |
| LF | Gabriel Rincones Jr. | Emaarion Boyd |
| CF | Justin Crawford | Avery Owusu-Asiedu |
| RF | TJayy Walton | Raylin Heredia |
| DH | Eduardo Tait | Hendry Mendez |
I am playing to win, so the lineup is about showcasing and optimization, but also built like a real lineup. I expect once substitutions happen the order will get messed up.
| SS | Caba |
| CF | Crawford |
| 3B | Miller |
| LF | Rincones |
| 1B | De La Cruz |
| DH | Tait |
| RF | Walton |
| 2B | Bergolla |
| C | Ricketts |
| SP | Abel |
I don’t know if the pitching order matters other than I would have Mick Abel start and Orion Kerkering as the available closer.