SEATTLE - With two weeks to go before Opening Day in Major League Baseball, the league launched an initiative to give young prospects the chance to showcase their talents before the start of the new season. MLB's Spring Breakout is aimed to minor league and rookies to get some experience during the Spring training period. This year, 16 games will be held across Arizona and Florida between March 14-17, with 12 of the games being part of the traditional doubleheaders with MLB Spring training games that day.
The construction of the rosters used the league's Pipeline Prospect list as a guide, including 71 of their Top 100 prospects. Among them, there are several Latinos trying to leave their stamp during these Spring Breakout games.
At the top of the Pipeline Top 100 list, prospect Jackson Chourio enters at No.2. The Milwaukee Brewers outfielder was signed by the team to a $1.8 million contract, and the Venezuelan has disappointed a bit. Last season, the 20-year-old native from Maracaibo, Venezuela, connected 22 HR at the Double-A level.
Such has been the hype around Chourio that some sportsbooks have him as one of the favorites to take home this season's NL Rookie of the Year Award. According to VegasInsider, Chourio's odds to win the award sit at +700.
He signed an 8-year, $82 million contract extension last December to remain with the Brewers.
The Brewers is one of the teams with the best prospects around the Spring Breakout games. Another Venezuelan that has attracted some interest among scouts is Jefferson Quero. The Venezuelan catcher is currently ranked as the 35th best prospect of the 2024 class and third among Brewers players. Quero won the 2023 Minor League Gold Glove Award and offensively, in 90 games with the Double-A Shuckers, Quero hit .262/.339/.441 with 16 homers, 49 RBIs, 88 hits, 47 runs scored, and five steals.
Another Acuña in Major League Baseball?
A familiar last name will be at bat during the Spring Breakout games, as Luisangel Acuña, brother of Atlanta Braves and reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr., will see some action for the Mets.
He was acquired from the Rangers for $425,000 in the trade involving Max Scherzer last Summer and, since then, has been playing the Triple-A level with Syracuse. Acuña is expected to make his MLB debut at some point during the season after a successful 2023 season where he batted for .294 and had 57 stolen bases.
Even though they are different type of players, that hasn't stopped the internet from comparing Luisangel's swing with his brother's technique.
Big money prospects
A few MLB teams will allow some of their top prospects participate in the Spring series. About four years ago, The Minnesota Twins spent $2.5 million to acquire Dominican outfielder Emmanuel Rodríguez. The talented lefty has suffered a few injuries in recent years but, still 21-years-old, he is looking to finally break through the ranks.
In three seasons at the minors, Rodríguez accounts for 149 hits and 35 homers, with his most productive season coming in 2023, playing 99 games for Cedar Rapids.
Another Latino with huge expectations is Padres shortstop Leodalis De Vries. Although he did not crack MLB's Top 100 list, the Dominican is one of the most talented players of this class. When San Diego signed him for $4.2 million, De Vries's contract became the most lucrative among all players signed this past Winter.
At just 17 years of age, De Vries will be the youngest player to participate in the Spring Breakout series and he is set to start for the Padres in their Friday game against the Seattle Mariners.
© 2024 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
