Our recent look at former Georgia prep standout DL Hall got us thinking: Who are some other former Southeast prep baseball stars now on the verge of their MLB debuts? We’ll start with one who actually just made it to the big leagues, then look at four more who are close.
Michael Harris – Atlanta Braves
Harris, the Braves’ top prospect, was expected to make his MLB debut later this season, but surprisingly was called up from Double-A last week. A 2019 third-round pick by Atlanta out of Georgia’s Stockbridge High School, Harris warrants a mention here even though he’s now made it to the big leagues.
Here are four other names to watch for later this season, each of whom is rated as a Top 100 prospect according to MLB Pipeline.
Riley Greene – Detroit Tigers
Baseball’s No. 2 overall prospect, Greene is the former No. 5 overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft, when he was selected by the Detroit Tigers out of Hagerty High School in Florida. After beginning the 2022 season with an injury, Greene is likely set for an MLB debut at some point during the summer months with Detroit.
Triston Casas – Boston Red Sox
One of the top first base prospects in the game, Casas is the former No. 26 overall pick by the Boston Red Sox in the 2018 MLB Draft out of American Heritage High School in Florida. Casas has enjoyed a strong start to the year in Triple-A, and could be nearing a call-up in the near future for one of the AL East’s top teams.
Austin Martin – Minnesota Twins
A former standout at Trinity Christian Academy in Florida, Martin was originally selected in the 2017 MLB Draft out of high school, but opted instead to attend Vanderbilt, where he was selected No. 5 overall in 2020 by the Toronto Blue Jays. Now one of the Minnesota Twins’ top prospects, Martin has enjoyed a strong start to the year in Double-A, with an MLB debut a possibility later in the season.
JJ Bleday – Miami Marlins
Bleday was drafted in 2016 out of the Florida prep ranks, where he attended Mosley High School, but like Martin, he went on to attend Vanderbilt in college. The No. 4 overall pick in 2019 by the Miami Marlins, Bleday is likely to make his MLB debut this season after starting the year in Triple-A.
