Top prospects from Alabama going to MLB Spring Breakout

Top prospects from Alabama going to MLB Spring Breakout

Former Hazel Green High School standout Jordan Beck leads the prospects with Alabama baseball roots selected for next week’s MLB Spring Breakout.

The inaugural MLB Spring Breakout is designed to showcase the top minor-league players in each big-league team’s farm system in games at spring-training stadiums. Sixteen games are set in Florida and Arizona on Thursday through Sunday, with each MLB team represented by its top prospects.

The 38th selection of the 2022 draft, Beck ranks No. 81 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospects, making him the highest-rated player from an Alabama high school or college selected for the MLB Spring Breakout.

An outfielder in the Colorado Rockies system, Beck batted .271 with a .364 on-base average and .503 slugging percentage in 126 games for the Spokane Indians and Hartford Yard Goats in 2023, his first full minor-league season. Beck hit 25 home runs and stole 20 bases.

The Rockies play the Arizona Diamondbacks at 6:10 p.m. CDT March 16 at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Two recent draft picks with Alabama baseball roots are on Arizona’s roster – pitchers Sam Knowlton (Corner, South Alabama), the No. 355 pick in 2023, and Dylan Ray (Bob Jones, Alabama), the No. 108 pick in 2022.

The Kansas City Royals feature four recent draft selections from Alabama high schools and colleges – pitcher Mason Barnett (Auburn), the No. 87 pick in 2022; outfielder Tyler Gentry (Alabama), the No. 76 pick in 2020; outfielder Javier Vaz (Huntsville), the No. 445 pick in 2022; and second baseman Peyton Wilson (Hoover, Alabama), the No. 66 pick in 2021.

The Royals play the Milwaukee Brewers in the final game of the MLB Spring Breakout at 3:05 p.m. March 17 at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Arizona.

The Washington Nationals have two recent draft choices from Alabama — pitcher Cole Henry (Florence), the No. 55 pick in 2020, and outfielder Andrew Pinckney (Alabama), the No. 102 pick in 2023.

Washington plays the New York Mets at 2:10 p.m. March 15 at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

The Tampa Bay Rays also have two – outfielders Colton Ledbetter (Spain Park, Samford), the No. 55 pick in 2023, and Chandler Simpson (UAB), the No. 70 pick in 2022.

Tampa Bay plays the Minnesota Twins at 3:05 p.m. March 16 at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, Florida.

Other draft choices who played at Alabama high schools and colleges selected for the MLB Spring Breakout include:

· Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Andrew Baker (Macon East), the No. 325 pick in 2021. The Phillies play the Detroit Tigers at 12:05 p.m. March 16 at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Florida.

· Seattle Mariners shortstop Ryan Bliss (Auburn), the No. 42 pick in 2021. The Mariners play the San Diego Padres at 3:10 p.m. March 15 at Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria, Arizona.

· Baltimore Orioles pitcher Trace Bright (Trinity Presbyterian, Auburn), the No. 137 pick in 2022. The Orioles play the Pittsburgh Pirates at 6:05 p.m. Thursday at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida.

· Texas Rangers second baseman Justin Foscue (Grissom), the No. 14 pick in the 2020. The Rangers play the Cincinnati Reds at 5:05 p.m. Thursday at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Arizona.

· San Francisco Giants shortstop Cole Foster (Auburn), the No. 85 pick in 2023. The Giants play the Oakland Athletics at 6:05 p.m. March 15 at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, Arizona.

· Boston Red Sox pitcher Richard Fritts (Helena, Auburn), the No. 183 pick in 2021. The Red Sox play the Atlanta Braves at 12:05 p.m. March 16 at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers, Florida.

· Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Tyler Samaniego (Lee-Huntsville, South Alabama), the No. 433 pick in 2021. The Pirates play the Baltimore Orioles at 6:05 p.m. Thursday at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida.

Kansas City Royals outfielder Javier Vaz steals second base during a Cactus League game against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Surprise, Ariz.(AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.