Some prospects never struggle on their way to the Major Leagues. For example, the first two guys on our Top 100 Prospects list, Orioles shortstop Jackson Holliday and Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio, have yet to taste failure in pro ball.
They’re the exceptions, however. Most prospects face adversity at some point before reaching the big leagues. As 2023 comes to a close, we want to celebrate a dozen prospects who struggled mightily in 2022 but rebounded in fine fashion last season to get their careers on track:
- MLB Pipeline | Top 100 prospects | Prospect video
Mason Albright, LHP, Rockies (No. 23)
Albright set a since-broken record for a post-10th-rounder in the bonus-pool era when he signed with the Angels for $1,247,500 as a 12th-rounder from a Florida high school in 2021. He got rocked for an 8.67 ERA in 55 innings during his first full season as a pro before shortening his arm action worked wonders for him this year. He logged a 3.28 ERA and 119/34 K/BB ratio in 109 2/3 innings between two Class A levels and went to the Rockies as part of a July trade for C.J. Cron and Randal Grichuk.
Ryan Bergert, RHP, Padres (No. 18)
Though Bergert missed the entire 2021 college season at West Virginia following Tommy John surgery, the Padres still drafted him in the sixth round and paid him fourth-round money ($500,000). He got bashed for a 5.84 ERA in High-A in 2022, but his stuff and command improved in 2023 when he compiled a 2.73 ERA (eighth in the Minors), .204 opponent average (ditto) and 126 strikeouts in 105 2/3 innings between High-A and Double-A.
