Monday's top Spring Training prospect performers

April 5th, 2022

Here's a look at Monday’s top performers at Spring Training from each team's Top 30 Prospects list.

Royals: Bobby Witt Jr., SS/3B (MLB No. 1)
Baseball’s top prospect just keeps hitting in Spring Training. Witt drilled his third homer of the spring -- a solo shot in the third inning -- to raise his spring slash line to .406/.441/.781 with a 1.222 OPS. Witt has been making a push to make the Royals’ Opening Day roster following a season where he reached Triple-A while hitting .290 with 33 homers, 35 doubles, 97 RBIs, 29 stolen bases and a .936 OPS. The 21-year-old is also considered the favorite to take home the American League Rookie of the Year Award this season.

Angels: Michael Stefanic, 2B (No. 27)
Stefanic recorded his third multihit game of the spring on Monday, going 2-for-4 with a double. a walk and an RBI. The 26-year-old has five doubles on 10 hits this Spring Training with a triple slash line of .400/.571/.600 as he contends for a spot on the Angels’ Opening Day roster. Stefanic went undrafted out of Westmont College in 2018, but that hasn’t stopped him from raking at every level. He batted .336 with 17 homers, 26 doubles and a .901 OPS at Double-A and Triple-A last season and has a career batting average of .314 in three Minor League seasons.

Tigers: Roberto Campos, OF (No. 10)
In his lone at-bat of the spring, Campos launched a go-ahead, two-run homer in the eight inning to give the Tigers a win on Monday. The 18-year-old showed off his opposite-field power, drilling a 1-1 fastball well over the fence. Campos signed with Detroit for $2.85 million in 2019 and made his professional debut in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League last year. The teenager swatted eight homers and five doubles in 39 games, but also struck out 41 times in 155 plate appearances. Still incredibly raw and with an MLB ETA of 2025, Campos has plenty of time to develop his swing and rise up the prospect rankings.

Twins: Simeon Woods Richardson, RHP (No. 8)
Woods Richardson picked up a save in his first outing of the spring, tossing two scoreless innings and striking out two while allowing one hit against the Red Sox. Woods Richardson endured a rough season last year, posting a 5.91 ERA in 53 1/3 innings with 77 strikeouts and 34 walks. He won a silver medal with Team USA at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and joined the Twins in the deal that sent José Berríos to the Blue Jays at last year’s Trade Deadline. The 21-year-old has been a starter throughout his career, but a move to the bullpen to utilize his high-strikeout arsenal could make him a valuable addition to the Twins’ roster.

Pirates: Diego Castillo, INF (No. 21)
Castillo’s red-hot spring earned him a spot on the Pirates’ Opening Day roster and he celebrated by going 4-for-4 with a home run, his team-leading sixth of the spring. The 24-year-old has a .406/.429/.969 slash line with a 1.398 OPS in 13 games and is tied with Byron Buxton, Rafael Devers and Luis Robert for the Spring Training lead in RBIs with 12. Castillo broke out last season, mashing 19 homers and 24 doubles with an .842 OPS in 104 games at Double-A and Triple-A. He now has a chance to prove himself in the Majors as the Pirates begin to usher in a new era of young talent.