Prospect Pipeline

We’re a little more than a month into the season and it’s already clear the Chicago White Sox’s Jose Abreu is this year’s Cuban sensation.

Manny Machado is back.

The Baltimore Orioles are expected to activate the 21-year-old third baseman before the series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. With Tuesday's game being postponed because of rain, it's expected that Machado will make his season debut on Wednesday.

Every season features players who take nontraditional, roundabout paths to unexpected success in the major leagues.

Yordano Ventura will have many great starts in his career, but his outing on Friday night against the Baltimore Orioles is one he’ll never forget.

The 2014 Minor League Baseball season began last Thursday, and there already have been countless standout performances by top prospects across all four full-season levels.

For those familiar with our weekly hot/cold lists that appeared on Prospect Pipeline during the previous two seasons, you’ll be happy to know that we'll be doing the same thing this year.

It’s been an eventful week for some of baseball’s top prospects. For others, not so much. 

Xander Bogaerts has been the star everyone expected through the first week of the season, batting .360 through his first seven games, and the 21-year-old shortstop looks like a safe bet to run away with the American League Rookie of the Year Award.

The Masahiro Tanaka era is under way.

On Friday night, the 25-year-old Japanese pitcher made his highly anticipated Major League debut, taking the mound for the Yankees against the Blue Jays in their home opener.

The 2014 Minor League Baseball season began on Thursday, with a total 54 games played by teams representing all four full-season levels.

As expected, the day featured countless impressive performances by top-ranked prospects, both hitters and pitchers, with many players making an immediate impact at a new, more challenging level.

So, which players had the best Opening Day, you ask?

When we evaluate, project and rank prospects, we are essentially hyping them up.

Every player that reaches the major leagues is a special talent and worthy of a degree of excitement, but when a highly touted prospect races through the minor leagues and draws rave reviews along the way, he quickly becomes a huge deal.

The St. Louis Cardinals have a reputation for getting the most out of their players, especially rookies.