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NL Central Prospects Who Could Make Opening Day Rosters

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The National League Central might boast the best group of prospects of any MLB division. Luckily for baseball fans everywhere, a large portion of these prospects are close to the major leagues and could make their teams’ Opening Day rosters. This division is headlined by the number one overall prospect in baseball, Konnor Griffin, and covers all the way to the 100th overall prospect in Brandon Sproat. Let’s dive into the top prospects the NL Central has to offer.
Aug 2, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin, who was the ninth overall pick in the first round of the 2024 First-Year Player Draft, in the batting cage before a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
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NL Central Prospects with Something to Prove to Reach the Bigs

JJ Wetherholt – SS (St. Louis Cardinals)

JJ Wetherholt has dominated through the minors thanks to his amazing hit tool. During his sophomore season at West Virginia, Wetherholt won the Division I batting title before getting drafted seventh overall by the Cardinals a season later. During his time in the minors, he has dominated at the plate. He does this thanks to great plate discipline and even better bat-to-ball skills. At the big league level, he will play either second or third base due to Masyn Winn’s Gold Glove defense at short. However, Wetherholt’s defense is still above average thanks to a good arm and above-average speed that allows him to steal bases.
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The Cardinals are in a rebuilding phase, and the trade of Brendan Donovan was a huge part of it. This trade allowed the Cardinals to get more assets for the future and open up a spot for JJ Wetherholt to make a mark in the infield. Wetherholt is almost a lock at second base for the Cardinals Opening Day lineup. There is no one ahead of him on the depth chart who has been a serious major league contributor. He has also already proved himself in Triple-A, batting .314 in 47 games and hitting for more power than he had at any previous level.
Likelihood to Make Opening Day Roster: 90%
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Jaxon Wiggins – RHP (Chicago Cubs)

Jaxon Wiggins has a long way to go to make a debut with the Cubs. Wiggins struggled in two years of college ball before having Tommy John surgery as a junior. Still, the Cubs took a chance on him and drafted him in the 20th round. Since then, his arsenal has shown out. His fastball shows top-end carry and arm-side run, devastating hitters. He also adds a slider that is a true out pitch, works a changeup with dramatic drop, and a curveball. In his second minor league season, he showed the ability to throw more strikes, lowering his walk rate and improving his K/9.
Wiggins was drafted and went a whole season without setting foot on a mound. Because of this, the Cubs have been cautious with his workload. In two seasons in the minors, he’s only thrown 137 2/3 innings. With this in mind, he’s unlikely to make the Cubs’ Opening Day roster unless he can dominate in camp. Also, the Cubs’ rotation is packed full of arms at the moment. However, this group is full of guys on the decline and other guys who carry more of a swing man role.
Likelihood to Make Opening Day Roster: 5%
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Jett Williams – SS/2B/OF (Milwaukee Brewers)

Jett Williams will give the Brewers plenty of options up the middle in 2026. While in the Mets system, Williams played games at both middle infield positions and saw some time in center field as well. This versatility gives some indication of his innate athletic ability. Williams has been timed at speeds above 30 feet per second. On top of this high-end speed, Williams brings an above-arm to the diamond, too. At the plate, he shows great plate discipline and generates at least average power from his 5’7 frame. His power is strictly pull side and can lead to him getting under pitches and popping/flying out regularly.
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The Brewers made an interesting decision this offseason to be sellers. They got Jett Williams in the Freddy Peralta trade and traded away their starting third baseman, as well. Williams, so far in his minor league career, has only played 34 Triple-A games and didn’t light the world on fire. However, Milwaukee has taken an aggressive approach with its top-end middle infielders that could continue with Williams. Additionally, the infield for the Brewers is looking to be light-hitting. With the potential impact Williams brings, he could make the Opening Day Roster.
Likelihood to Make Opening Day Roster: 70%
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Konnor Griffin – SS/OF (Pittsburgh Pirates)

Konnor Griffin has shown this spring why he is the number one prospect in baseball. In his second game of the spring, Griffin homered twice and showed off his excellent speed. When all is said and done, Griffin may be a true five-tool player. The Pirates’ original plan going into last season was to have Griffin split time between center field and shortstop before he showed out at the 6. Griffin also answered post-draft questions about his hit tool, hitting .333 across three levels. He even recorded a 20-60 season in 2025.
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The Pirates have notoriously manipulated the service time of their top prospects dating back to before Gerrit Cole. Pittsburgh currently has only one player who has seen consistent time on the left side of the diamond at the big-league level: Jared Triolo. In Pittsburgh, though, Triolo has mostly been a utility infielder and has seen the majority of time at third base and not shortstop. Now they have challenged starting second baseman Nick Gonzales to play shortstop. The Pirates have also made more urgent acquisitions this offseason. If the Pirates want to make an actual run this season, it would be hard to do without impact at the shortstop position. With his strong start to the spring, Griffin is boosting his likelihood of making the Opening Day Roster.
Likelihood to Make Opening Day Roster: 60%
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NL Central Prospects Who Previously Debuted in the Majors

Bubba Chandler – SP (Pittsburgh Pirates)

Bubba Chandler made a push to make the big league roster last spring but didn’t debut until August. The former two-way player has one of the most electric fastballs in baseball. He averaged nearly 99 mph on his fastball last season. Chandler adds three off-speed pitches, with his changeup being the best.
​Chandler debuted and spent the early part of his major league career in the bullpen. The Pirates this season made a concerted effort in free agency and are looking to win. Chandler is almost certainly slotted into the third spot in the rotation. If he can show more control, there’s no reason he won’t move up to the second spot in the rotation. The Pirates may piggy-back him with other rotation pieces in Carmen Mlodzinski, Braxton Ashcraft, or Hunter Barco to start the season.
Likelihood to Make Opening Day Roster: 95%
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Hunter Barco – SP (Pittsburgh Pirates)

Hunter Barco only appeared in two major league games last season, but even so, he dominated in the minors. In 25 2/3 innings in Double-A, Barco didn’t give up a single earned run. This was after the Pirates took a chance on him in the second round after missing his last college season to Tommy John surgery. Since entering the Pirates system, Barco has added three miles per hour on his fastball and added a cutter to his arsenal. Barco brings a funky delivery by hiding the ball well and cross-firing from a long 6’4 frame. He has shown some struggles locating his secondary pitches, but he’s managed not to get hit hard so far in his professional career.
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Barco enters a Pirates’ pitching room that freed up a few spots this offseason with trades. Even so, it looks like he may be the odd man out when it comes to getting consistent starts to begin the season. However, Barco is the Pirates’ only option from the left side for their rotation. Last season, the Pirates also piggybacked some of their starters with each other to limit the mileage on young arms, and this could be a role Barco sees himself in to start the season.
Likelihood to Make Opening Day Roster: 75%
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Rhett Lowder – SP (Cincinnati Reds)

Rhett Lowder is the only player on this list who actually debuted in 2024. Unfortunately for Lowder, the injury bug bit him, bothering him for the entirety of the 2025 season. However, the 2024 season saw Lowder dominate in his first taste of Reds baseball, pitching to a 1.17 ERA in 30 2/3 innings. While Lowder doesn’t boast any elite pitches, he has excellent control that allows him to throw all his pitches consistently for strikes. His changeup might be his best pitch, as it mirrors his two-seam fastball and has a ton of arm-side movement.
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The Reds have a plethora of young, promising arms. Lowder looks to pick up where he left off in 2024 and contribute significant innings for this up-and-coming team. The only thing that would hold him back is if the stuff hasn’t returned to form from 2024. He needs a healthy spring and to show off his top-tier control if he wants to start the year in Cincinnati.
Likelihood to Make Opening Day Roster: 70%
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Brandon Sproat – SP (Milwaukee Brewers)

Brandon Sproat was recently acquired by the Brewers in the Peralta trade with the Mets. Last season, Sproat came up and made meaningful starts for the Mets down the stretch, and they went after a playoff spot. Sproat relies on an average fastball, slider, curve, and changeup in his arsenal. At the big-league level, he used both the slider and curveball as out pitches. He didn’t light the world on fire last season in the minors or after reaching New York. This was mainly due to his high walk rates.
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Sproat looks to slide into the back half of the Brewers’ rotation. He has the breaking stuff to be at least a back-end starter for the duration of his career. If he can improve his control and the effectiveness of his fastball, there’s no reason he can’t continue to climb up the Brewers’ rotation. He currently slots in 4th out of all of the Brewers’ many options for their rotation. He should make the Opening Day roster and start in their second series of the season.
Likelihood to Make Opening Day Roster: 80%
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Moises Ballesteros – C (Chicago Cubs)

Moises Ballesteros is one of the best catching prospects in baseball right now. Almost all of this is built around his bat. He has one of the smoothest left-handed swings in baseball. He does this with excellent barrel control, as well. During his time in the minors, he has a career average of .289. On top of that, he walks almost as much as he strikes out. The biggest thing holding him back is his actual catching ability. He’s listed at 5’8 and 195 pounds, but is heavier than the listed weight. Additionally, he is not the most athletic, with 10 errors and seven passed balls in 92 games last season behind the plate.

 

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The Cubs likely aren’t going to get as productive a season as what Carson Kelly gave them in 2025. However, Ballesteros’ defensive ability is not ready to catch every day at the big league level. He has one of the best bats and advanced approaches of prospects, and has proved everything he can with his bat in the minors. Unfortunately for the Cubs, he may only be a DH at this time, and that might not change. Regardless, he will be in Wrigleyville come the end of March strictly because of his bat.
Likelihood to Make Opening Day Roster: 95%
Main Photo Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images