Justin Dirden, Houston Astros
The No. 14 prospect in the Houston Astros' farm system, Justin Dirden spent all of last season in Triple-A with the Sugar Land Space Cowboys. In 2022, he began the year with Houston's Double-A team, the Corpus Christi Hooks before playing with the Space Cowboys.
Dirden exceeded tremendously in 2022 with the Hooks; he had a slash line of .324/.411/.616, a 1.027 OPS, 32 doubles, 20 home runs, and 73 RBI in 92 games. The 6-foot-3 outfielder finished out the season with the Space Cowboys and had a .242/.305/.398 line, an OPS of .703, eight doubles, four home runs, and 28 RBI in 32 contests.
Justin Dirden went 2-for-5 with 2 2B, 3 RBI last night including this walk-off 2 run double. He leads all minor league baseball with 37 doubles. #Astros pic.twitter.com/8gcxd5rTYo
— Astros Future (@AstrosFuture) August 17, 2022
This season with Sugar Land, Dirden had a .231/.314/.396 slash line, a .710 OPS, 12 doubles, 10 home runs, and 42 RBI in 84 games. The 26-year-old, who can play all the outfield positions, missed some time with a hamstring injury in 2023.
Alberto Rodriguez, Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners prospect had a solid 2023 campaign, beginning the year in High-A with the Everett AquaSox. Alberto Rodriguez, Seattle's No. 18 prospect, played in 72 contests with the team and had a .306/.393/.580 line, with a .973 OPS, 30 doubles, 11 home runs, and 58 RBI.
OH BOY, ALBERTO! pic.twitter.com/wxiDHSPS0M
— Arkansas Travelers (@ARTravs) September 22, 2023
He finished 2023 in Double-A, playing 46 games with the Arkansas Travelers. Rodriguez had a slash line of .291/.361/.385, a .746 OPS, eight doubles, three home runs, and 27 RBI. He can play both left and right field and has value as a designated hitter due to his offensive capabilities.
Grant McCray, San Francisco Giants
Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com wrote that the soon-to-be 23-year-old outfielder is another player who could be selected in the Rule 5 Draft.
Grant McCray did well in 2022 with the San Jose Giants (Single-A), compiling a .291/.383/.525 line and a .908 OPS in 106 games. He spent 14 contests with the Eugene Emeralds (High-A) and put up a .269/.387/.423 slash line along with an OPS of .810.
Grant McCray was NOT joking around with a Solo HR to get the scoring started for the Emeralds who are rocking their Eugene Pranksters Uni 🔴⚪️🔵#RootedHere pic.twitter.com/Zi9m4WxC1I
— Eugene Emeralds (@EugeneEmeralds) May 19, 2023
McCray spent this season with the Emeralds and had a .255/.360/.417 line and a .777 OPS in 127 games played. Mayo notes his 29.3 percent strikeout rate in 2023 could prevent him from being picked but that his 37 home runs and 95 steals since 2022 could work in the outfielder's favor of being selected.