Former top prospects who are breaking out

Not every prospect can be like Pirates phenom Paul Skenes, who went from No. 1 overall Draft pick to the National League’s starting pitcher in the All-Star Game in roughly a year’s time.

For many prospects, it takes much longer to find their footing in the Majors. But just because a young player doesn’t become an instant sensation doesn’t mean they can’t get there eventually.

These six former prospects are proof of that. After some initial hiccups, all six built some positive momentum leading up to the All-Star break and could be poised for a big second half.

Taj Bradley, SP, Rays
With numerous injuries befalling the Rays’ rotation in 2023, Bradley got an extended opportunity to prove himself as a rookie, making 23 appearances (21 starts) for the big league club. But while the right-hander showed promise by striking out 129 batters in 104 2/3 innings, he struggled to suppress runs, posting a 5.59 ERA with 39 walks and 23 home runs allowed. It was more of the same early this season, with the 23-year-old notching a 5.81 ERA over his first five starts after returning from a strained right pectoral muscle.

Lately, though, Bradley has started to look more like the pitcher who ranked 19th overall on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 prospects list entering the 2023 campaign. In his final seven outings of the first half, Bradley posted a 1.07 ERA with 53 strikeouts and only three homers allowed over 42 innings. Bradley’s splitter, which wasn’t a major part of his repertoire in his rookie year, has been at the center of his hot streak. He’s thrown it 30% of the time and recorded 29 strikeouts with a .143 opponents batting average in 60 plate appearances ending on splitters in his past seven starts.

Jackson Chourio, OF, Brewers
Chourio’s MLB debut was highly anticipated after the toolsy outfielder produced a 22-homer, 43-steal campaign as a 19-year-old at Triple-A in 2023, ascending to the second spot on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 prospects list along the way. The Brewers didn’t even wait for his arrival to sign him to an eight-year, $82 million extension — the largest in history for a player with zero days of MLB service time — and they started him in the leadoff spot on Opening Day.

But after getting off to a solid start, Chourio ran into a lengthy cold spell that dropped his OPS to a season-low .575 on June 1. Since then, though, his bat has started to heat up. In his final 34 games during the first half, the 20-year-old recorded a .295 batting average with four homers, eight doubles and an .828 OPS. A more disciplined approach has been key for Chourio, who has lowered his chase rate to 30.5% since the start of June (24.7% in July) after chasing at a 36.4% clip through May 31.

Colt Keith, 2B, Tigers
Like Chourio, Keith (MLB Pipeline’s No. 22 overall prospect entering 2024) signed a contract extension prior to his MLB debut and was in the starting lineup for the big league club on Opening Day. Also like Chourio, Keith struggled out of the gate, hitting .171 with no homers and a .431 OPS over his first 36 games.

However, the Tigers stuck with the 22-year-old as their starting second baseman, and they’ve been rewarded for their patience. In his past 50 games, Keith is slashing .309/.360/.526 with nine homers and 27 RBIs. Seven of those homers have come in his past 26 games, a span in which Keith has produced a .612 slugging percentage.

Heston Kjerstad, OF, Orioles
More than four years after being selected second overall in the 2020 MLB Draft out of the University of Arkansas, Kjerstad (MLB Pipeline’s No. 31 overall prospect entering 2024) has just 34 games of big league experience under his belt due to a number of factors out of his control. The outfielder has hit wherever he’s gone, but he lost a full year after being diagnosed with myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) in 2020 and has been further delayed recently because the talent-rich Orioles haven’t had a regular spot for him.

Kjerstad was finally forcing Baltimore’s hand after his latest callup on June 24, but he was hit in the helmet by a pitch from Yankees closer Clay Holmes on July 12 and went on the 7-day concussion IL the next day. When the 25-year-old returns, he’ll look to keep up a hot streak that has seen him post a .378/.465/.676 slash with three homers and 12 RBIs over his past 14 games.

Wyatt Langford, OF, Rangers
Langford (MLB Pipeline’s No. 6 overall prospect entering 2024) posted a .224 batting average with one homer and a .588 OPS over his first 31 games in the big leagues, bearing little resemblance to the player who mashed his way to a 1.157 OPS over 44 Minor League games last year and earned a spot on Texas’ Opening Day roster with a huge performance this past spring (6 HR, 1.137 OPS).

But after getting a chance to reset when he missed several weeks due to a strained right hamstring, Langford has looked much more comfortable since returning from the injured list. Although he ended the first half on an 0-for-20 skid, the 2023 No. 4 overall Draft pick hit for the cycle on June 30 and has recorded a .282 average with four homers, three triples, nine doubles, 29 RBIs and an .805 OPS over his past 40 games, getting himself back into the American League Rookie of the Year Award conversation as a result.

Mark Vientos, 3B, Mets
The Mets have cycled through a long list of third basemen since David Wright’s career came to an end, but they may finally have a long-term answer at the position with the way Vientos is hitting.

After recording a .205/.256/.314 slash in 274 plate appearances across 2022-23, Vientos began this season in the Minors, as the Mets opted to go with fellow youngster Brett Baty as their starting third baseman. However, Baty’s continued struggles at the plate opened the door for Vientos to get another chance to lock down the job. The 24-year-old has seized the opportunity, hitting .286 with 11 homers and an .881 OPS over 48 games since being recalled on May 15 while notching an excellent 15% barrel rate in that span.