Tag: prospects

By Max Suckley

Multiple IVBA alumni have been making waves throughout Minor League Baseball this season. Three recent members of the Inland Valley Pirates have impressed scouts and have been spotlighted within their respective organizations.

Ricky Tiedemann has become one of the top prospects in baseball since being drafted by the Blue Jays in the 3rd round of the 2021 draft. Tiedemann’s meteoric rise through Toronto’s farm system has drawn the attention of scouts throughout the MLB. Coming into 2024 Tiedemann was ranked as a top-30 prospect by Baseball America, Major League Baseball, and Baseball Prospectus and was the consensus top prospect in the Blue Jays organization. Tiedemann only threw 44 innings in the 2023 regular season, but in that short time, he struck out 82 batters giving him an incredible 16.8 K/9. After the regular season, Tiedemann was sent to the Arizona Fall League where he had a strong showing for the Surprise Saguaros. After an impressive fall, Tiedemann was assigned to the AAA Buffalo Bisons to start the 2024 season. Tiedemann is now only one level away from the big leagues and could potentially join the team at some point this season if Toronto decides to put him on the 40-man roster. 

Julian Aguiar is another 2021 draft pick who has been performing at a high level. Aguiar was picked in the 12th round by the Cincinnati Reds and has been steadily rising through the ranks ever since. In 2023 Aguiar started 14 games for the A+ Dayton Dragons, pitching to a 1.92 ERA and a WHIP under 1. Aguiar struck out 77 batters and only gave up 2 home runs over 70.1 innings for Dayton before getting called up to the AA Chatanooga Lookouts where he made another 11 starts. Aguiar finished the 2023 season with a 2.95 ERA in 125 innings across the two levels. The Reds were so impressed with Aguiar’s season that they named him their Minor League Pitcher of the Year. MLB ranks Aguiar as Cincinatti’s number 17 prospect. Aguiar has extended his dominance into the 2024 season, pitching to a 2.98 ERA in Chatanooga through his first 10 starts of the year. 

Nacho Alvarez Jr. played for the IV Pirates before being picked by the Atlanta Braves in the 5th round of the 2022 draft. Alvares Jr., a third baseman at Riverside City College, has been moved to shortstop in his pro career where he has impressed scouts with his defense. Alvarez Jr. currently ranks as the Braves’ number 6 prospect and their top non-pitching prospect. His superb fielding, strong arm, and high walk rate have quickly made him Atlanta’s most intriguing infield prospect. Alvarez Jr. is currently playing in AA for the Mississippi Braves, where he has a 119 wRC+ — third best on his team. At just 21 years old, Alvarez Jr. is the youngest hitter in Mississippi, and almost three years younger than the league average.