14 prospects to follow for as Rookie ball gets underway

Who is ready for another Opening Day?

The Arizona and Florida Complex Leagues begin play Saturday, officially kicking off the Rookie-level portion of the 2025 Minor League schedule.

That might still feel early for those who have been following the Minors for a while. The Complex League schedules were moved up a month in 2024, enabling players from the Dominican Summer League and that Draft to get into official games earlier rather than kicking around extended spring training for a few more weeks.

To get fans prepped for the ACL and FCL seasons, here are 14 intriguing prospects we could see on the Complex circuits in 2025, listed in order of their organizational Top 30 rankings:

Joswa Lugo, SS, Angels (No. 4)
A $2.3 million signing in January 2024, the 18-year-old shortstop has average-or-better tools across the board, earning 55s for his power and arm strength. He clubbed five homers and slugged .466 in 53 games in the Dominican Summer League last year but will have to reel in some of his issues with chasing pitches out of the zone to build on that foundation.

Humberto Cruz, RHP, Padres (No. 4)
San Diego considered the right-hander advanced when he signed for $750,000 out of Mexico in February 2024, and as is typical of the Padres' aggressive nature, the organization skipped him over the DSL and gave him two abbreviated starts in the ACL instead. His fastball can touch 97 mph, and he has a solid pair of secondaries in his slider and changeup. Combine that with good control from a 6-foot-1 frame, and Cruz could make an even stronger impression, beginning with his ACL season debut slated for Tuesday.

Jhonny Level, SS, Giants (No. 5)
Level, a $997,500 signing out of Venezuela in January 2024, is a solid all-around talent in the San Francisco pipeline, earning plus grades for his speed and arm strength and above-average ones for his hitting and fielding ability. Standing at just 5-foot-10, he showed more power than expected in his first season with 10 homers in last year’s DSL. More advanced ACL pitchers should be a good test for him, but he could hit his way into even more prominence given current trendlines.

Luke Dickerson, SS, Nationals (No. 6)
With a $3.8 million bonus, the 2024 second-rounder signed for the largest amount after the first round in the bonus pool era. A New Jersey state champion in hockey, Dickerson is a potential power-speed threat after a slugging bump in his final prep spring. He saw time at both shortstop and second base during Washington’s two Spring Breakout games, but he’ll likely get more FCL looks at the six in the hopes his athleticism helps him stick there.

Emil Morales, SS, Dodgers (No. 7)
The Dodgers’ top addition in the 2024 international class, Morales got his career off to a loud start by leading the DSL with 14 homers, 25 extra-base hits, 105 total bases, a .691 slugging percentage and 1.169 OPS over 46 games. Only 18, he has plenty of patience for his age, and his bat speed already enables him to hit the ball hard with potentially more pop to come as he matures. He’s the top Dodgers prospect not ranked in the Top 100 but could jump into that status if he comes close to replicating those DSL stats in the ACL.

Rainiel Rodriguez, C, Cardinals (No. 7)
St. Louis has a deep group of catchers in its Top 30. The youngest and most powerful of the bunch is the 18-year-old Rodriguez, who signed for just $300,000 in April 2024. The backstop ranked fourth in last year’s DSL with 10 homers, and his 1.145 OPS was the highest by a qualified catcher on the circuit since at least 2006. He further caught Cardinals evaluators’ attention with exit velocities up to 112 mph in spring workouts, and he could be one of the FCL’s premier sluggers if he continues on this trajectory.

Yairo Padilla, SS, Cardinals (No. 8)
Sticking in the same organization, Padilla is a very different player from Rodriguez -- a shortstop with at least plus speed, impressive arm strength and a good shot to stick at the six. He stole 22 bags and raced for four triples over 35 DSL games last summer, showing signs of how he’ll push the envelope with those wheels. Still only 17 until June 28, he’ll need to add power as he ages, but there are interesting skills here already at a premium position.

Rayner Arias, OF, Giants (No. 8)
Left wrist issues have limited Arias -- a $2,697,500 signing in January 2023 -- to only 41 games through his two pro seasons. First, he broke the wrist on a diving play in the outfield in the DSL in ‘23 and sprained it on a similar play in the ACL last year. He’s back in Arizona for a longer look this time, and his combination of discipline and pop offers plenty of intrigue, so long as he can stay on the field.

Wyatt Sanford, SS, Pirates (No. 8)
Konnor Griffin is making the lion’s share of his Single-A Bradenton starts at shortstop, leaving his fellow 2024 pick Sanford (a second-rounder) to the FCL for more plentiful reps at the six. The Texas native was one of the best defenders in his Draft class with smooth actions and impressive instincts. The bat will need time and space to develop. The Bucs have worked with Sanford on adjusting his stance after it got too wide as a high schooler and unlocking more power.

David Shields, LHP, Royals (No. 8)
Kansas City typically prefers to ease its prep pitchers with ACL stints out of the gate. Shields is no different. Only 17 on Draft Day, the 2024 second-rounder has a 93-94 mph fastball that plays up with deception and extension, while he’ll need to develop a more consistent breaking ball and changeup. His simple delivery out of a 6-foot-2 frame adds to the confidence he could reach his midrotation ceiling.

Fernando Cruz, SS, Cubs (No. 9)
A $4 million signee in 2024, Cruz played through an injured left shoulder for part of his first season in the DSL and slashed just .215/.326/.329 in 92 plate appearances, but the Cubs thought enough of him to add him to their ACL roster earlier this week. Still only 18, the Dominican Republic native has ample athleticism that helps him at shortstop and on the basepaths, and he has the bat speed and approach to develop all-fields power. That could be on display considering he finally put the shoulder issues behind him last fall in instructs.

Levi Sterling, RHP, Pirates (No. 9)
Pittsburgh has a knack for developing pitchers, and last year’s 37th overall pick could very well be the next in line, beginning in the FCL. His low-90s fastball has plenty of ride and run, and his mid-80s sweeper is another potential above-average pitch. His best offering might be his low-80s curveball at a time when most others are abandoning the deuce. The 6-foot-5 righty doesn’t turn 19 until September, so he has a long runway ahead.

Tyson Lewis, SS, Reds (No. 9)
The Reds took shortstop Sammy Stafura in the second round in 2023 and started him in the ACL in his first full season, only for him to hit his way out after only 15 games. They wouldn’t mind seeing ‘24 second-rounder Lewis follow a similar path. A plus runner with an above-average arm, Lewis will get plenty of shortstop opportunities to improve his hands and actions. He’s also known to tinker with his stance -- notable considering evaluators had some strikeout concerns around him entering the Draft.

Justin Gonzales, 1B/OF, Red Sox (No. 16)
We’ve stuck to prospects ranked within their organizations’ top 10s, but we’ll go outside of that for a breakout pick here. The Red Sox have done a tremendous job at hitting development in recent years with a focus on swing decisions, bat-to-ball skills, ball flight and bat speed, and Gonzales could be the next one to take off. Standing at 6-foot-4 at just 18, the right-handed slugger already has plus raw power and showed a solid approach in the DSL. Another year in the Boston pipeline could send the 18-year-old into the prospect stratosphere in ‘25.