Having only played just over 200 professional games, De La Cruz is ahead of the curve. A switch-hitter with solid tools across the board, elite defensive potential and makeup, Rocchio is a high floor prospect with intangibles that the Guardians love. With the bat looking so good and the glove lagging, Soderstrom has started to see more action at first base. Play-by-play data prior to 2002 was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted
Though an older prospect, Busch has had relatively limited professional at bats with his 2019 cut short and 2020s cancellation. Age: 22|Height/Weight: 510, 180|Bat/Throw: L/L|1st Round (15) 2021 (MIL)|ETA: 2023. Height/Weight: 511, 220|Bat/Throw: R/R|IFA: $200K, 2016 (STL)|ETA: 2022. Frequently putting himself in a good position to hit along with a short, quick swing, Davis projects as an above average hitter. By Aram Leighton | September 28, 2022 | | 0 The 2022 Minor League season has wrapped up and with that a full season of prospect performances to evaluate. Long viewed as a candidate to move to third due to his size, Henderson still moves extremely well and has looked the part of an everyday shortstop. 2 overall in this years draft. He made 20 starts at shortstop this season, only making two errors. Rounding out Bibees arsenal is an average curveball that he will mix in against lefties and to steal strikes against righties. Elite speed and defensive potential in centerfield with an offensive skillset to dream on, Chourio has a lot of similarities to Michael Harris II, including how young he could possibly debut. He has a chance to not only be baseballs best power-hitting catchers, but to also be one of the games better power hitters period. Despite liking to go to his pull-side for damage, Wiemer has shown easy pop to all fields and does a good job of hitting the ball where its pitched. The southpaw has three impressive offerings but the combination of his plus fastball and plus changeup has helped him carve up more experienced hitters. Averaging nearly 2400 RPMs from a high three-quarters release, Harrison features a lot of life on his fastball with run as well from a spot that is difficult to pick up out of the hand. The adjustment likely helps him keep his hands back longer while creating more tension/stored energy prior to uncoiling at launch. He could probably benefit from getting the ball in the air a bit more (47% GB rate), though Hendersons ability to hit the ball hard to all fields and above average speed should have him routinely above average in the BABIP department. Perezs ability to repeat his mechanics for such a young, tall, and long pitcher should have the Marlins dreaming of a second Sandy Alcantara. He will need to improve his command and feel for pitching in order to achieve his ceiling, which remains sky high. He uses his athleticism to help him move well behind the dish and block effectively. Leading the way for Hence is his plus heater. The former second round pick has mashed his way to Triple-A in just 152 games. The pitch now sits in the mid 90s, touching 99 mph with high spin rates and good shape. Meyer is an ultra-competitor who is not afraid to attack hitters and if he can improve his fastball shape, he projects as a middle of the rotation arm that will provide flashes of a bit more when hes on. He has looked drastically better this season, taking cleaner routes and getting earlier jumps on balls. As a result, Miller has seen a jump in the whiff rates of his fastball, setting the tone for his three impressive secondaries. The list below is for 2022 fantasy baseball redraft leagues. With that being said, his patience and power offer a higher floor than most prospects and we will likely see him in LA next season. The raw movement on his pitches is great. The defense will be something to follow for Amador, not because he isnt capable at shortstop, but rather the presence of Ezequiel Tovar and Amadors elite defensive potential at second base could result in a move to the other side of the diamond at the upper levels. Like many young hitters, Johnson tends to try to get into his pull side power a bit too much, causing him to be out and around the baseball. In the early going, Walker has struggled a bit with his reads, but his work ethic and athletic ability lend plenty of reason to believe that he can blossom into a solid outfielder. Priesters changeup lags behind the rest of his arsenal. The speed has always been there for Turang, but he has looked as comfortable on the base paths as ever. Top prospect Brown focusing on slider mechanics after spring debut. Because he has such a great feel for the barrel, Moreno is comfortable using the whole field and can spoil even the toughest of pitchers pitches. The southpaw leans on the pitch much more frequently in left-on-left matchups, holding them to a .487 OPS on the pitch. Hendersons smooth actions and plus arm are complemented by impressive quickness for a 6-foot-3, 210 pound guy. The hard-throwing right-handers maturation was immediately visible (1.83 ERA across 22 Low-A and High-A starts). 3 starter, Height/Weight: 61, 210|Bat/Throw: R/R|IFA: $300K, 2017 (LAD)|ETA: 2023. Tovar has Gold Glove potential at the position and is already showing it by being one of the best defenders in Double-A at 20 years old. Mervis hit .319/.360/.468 against fastballs 95+ this season while posting an OPS of .854 against non-fastballs. Though he is not a great defender, his versatility is a nice consolation prize and he should be able to play passable defense at any of the aforementioned spots. Lucianos hands work as well as any Minor League hitter youll see, generating a ton of whip and violence. Possessing a four pitch mix that rivals any pitching prospect in baseball, Painter has dominated hitters mostly with his 70 grade fastball that sits 95-97 mph and has been clocked as high as 101 mph. A well rounded hitter who is continuing to tap into his plus raw power, Baty has a chance to slug 30 homers with a good enough approach to get on base at an above average clip. Its easy to see enough talent to believe that Hence could be a No. Cross shows quick hands through the zone and barrels up the ball. Stone combines a high floor with a high ceiling, as we dont see him as anything less than a number four starter on a playoff-caliber team. 3 upside. Given that he has only thrown 230 innings dating back to college, we believe Cavalli will continue to develop. The pitch is presently average with a chance to be comfortably above average because of the way it plays. He is a pretty patient hitter who has walked at a 14% clip over that same timespan. Its not only the offense that has improved for Dominguez as the teenager made leaps in every aspect of his game. Chourios tools are immense, and hes way more advanced than his peers. A 13% walk rate and overall struggles to get ahead of hitters plagued Leiter this season, but few pitchers make their professional debut in Double-A. The 24-year-old is also a savvy hitter who rarely expands the zone and picks his spots to get off his A+ swing in hitters counts. A patient hitter, Henderson has maintained a chase rate below 20% all season and should consistently get on base at an impressive clip. The power-hitting third baseman slashed .370/.496/.852 with 15 doubles, 27 home runs, and 76 RBIs for Clemson in 58 games. Theres some question within the industry if De La Cruz can stick at shortstop as he physically matures, but given that he is an off the charts athlete with a rocket for an arm, added muscle and weight shouldnt hold him back much, if at all. Hitting the ball harder has unsurprisingly resulted in a career-year power wise for Turang. Westburg is quick to the ball which allows him to catch up to velocity and avoid cheating. Frelick may not have enough power to be a star in todays game, but he has as good of a chance to be a big league regular as any prospect outside of the top 50. One of baseballs biggest breakout prospects this season, Ruiz has turned into much more than a set of wheels. Arroyo hits fastballs well and sprays the ball all over the field, but he will need to learn to lay off of pitchers pitchesespecially breaking ballsif he is going to reach his offensive ceiling. Height/Weight: 63, 190|Bat/Throw: L/R|1st Round (4), 2021 (BOS)|ETA: 2024. However, he will have to continue to make strides with his command in order to reach his No. He has good bat speed that allows him to produce above-average raw power and hes starting to show he can get to it in games. Related: 2022 MLB Mock Draft Version 4.0 July 15: A last-minute rankings update to account for player movement and prospects removing themselves from the draft. 2 option if he keeps trending the way he has. All eyes will be on the hit-tool for the teenager and I believe he will make strides in that regard next season. Elly De La Cruz is electric. One of the most dynamic players in the 2021 Draft, mock drafts had Ford going as high as the top five and as low as the twenties; the athletic catcher wound up somewhere in the middle, selected 12th overall by Seattle. The change has the ability to miss bats, however, it specializes in inducing soft contact. Even as he stands now, he looks like a well-rounded above average backstop at the highest level. 4 starter with the swing-and-miss potential to show flashes of a middle-of-the-rotation starter. Waldichuks heater sits in the mid 90s and is a high-spin pitch averaging over 2,300 RPMs. Starting slightly open with his weight slightly favoring his backside, Winn has stayed behind the baseball better, hitting less ground balls while seeing a higher percentage of his fly balls leave the yard. He has good feel for the change and it gives him another bat-missing pitch. Veen is one of the more tantalizing talents in the minor leagues. It wouldnt be surprising to see him break camp with the Dodgers next season, though he could have probably handled a promotion in 2022. Possessing some of the most impressive raw power in the minors, Luciano defies his frame by flashing plus-plus raw pop despite weighing less than 200 pounds. Wiemers ability to catch up to almost any velocity while holding his own against secondary stuff really improves his outlook in regards to his hit tool. Matos is an aggressive base runner and has stolen bases with a high rate of success in previous seasons. A slightly open stance with a rhythmic leg kick, Aranda has some of the best bat to ball skills in the minors. Matos has plus power to the pull side, but is a bit too eager to do damage that way, largely in part to his aggressive approach. Rafaela swiped 28 bags in 35 tries this season. After swiping 14 bags on 16 tries last year, Walker was 22/27 on SB attempts in 2022. Porter went un-drafted in the first round and many saw him heading to Clemson for the 2023 season but the Rangers nabbed Porter in the fourth round with the 109th pick and were able to offer enough of a bonus to sign him away from his commitment to Clemson. Despite possessing immense speed, Frelick has not yet translated it into stolen bases. Theres probably even more room for strength with the 19-year-old which is absurd considering the fact that he has already hit a ball 114 mph this year and boasts a 90th percentile exit velocity of 110 mph. Already reaching Triple-A at 22 years old, Burrows is ahead of schedule and seems to keep getting better each time I see him. His reads are great, as are his jumps and theres no doubt about his closing speed. The right-hander has three secondary offerings he will mix in with his above average slider leading the way. If Carter cleans up his routes he will easily project as a plus defender in centerfield. Hall has trouble consistently locating it to his glove side, something he will need to shore up in order to reach his ceiling. There may not be as much superstar upside with Rocchio than most other top 100 prospects, but theres also few prospects who have as high of a probability of being a big league regular. As a result, Chourio can get a bit out of control at times and pull off the ball. His offensive breakout makes it easy to overlook the fact that he can really defend behind the dish. His ability to spot it on both sides of the plate makes it effective to both lefties and righties. Hit-tool concerns hold him back some, but he is just 21 years old with success in Double-A under his belt. A switch-hitter with a good feel to hit from both sides of the plate, Romos swing is built for line drives and a lot of contact. That said, the more James Wood I see, the more belief I have that he can be closer to Judge than Mayberry. While Burleson may not hit towering shots or break 110 MPH exit velos, he gets good natural carry on the ball and should be a threat to hit 25+ home runs annually thanks to his high rate of contact and his sustainably high HR/FB rate. FantraxHQ - The Home of Fantasy Sports Analysis, Top 200 2022 FYPD Prospect Rankings for 2023 Dynasty Drafts, Top 500 Fantasy Baseball Dynasty Rankings, Fantasy 101: How to Play Rotisserie Baseball, 2023 Fantasy Baseball Position Eligibility, Fantasy EPL 101 How to Play Draft Premier League, Top 125 Starting Pitcher Rankings for 2023 Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Baseball Dynasty League Strategy for 2023, NL Spring Training Battles with Fantasy Relevance, 10 Players Most Likely to See Their ADP Change Based on Spring Training Performance, FantraxHQ 2023 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit, Top 300 Fantasy Baseball Dynasty Rankings, 2023 FantraxHQ Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit, Compete for Cash Prizes in a Fantrax Classic Draft Contest, Get ready for the season with a mock draft on Fantrax.com, Create your own league or join an existing league with Fantrax Commissioner. You almost forget hes only 19 years old by the way he is able to duplicate his swings and some of the easy takes he has. Lees floor is as high as any 2022 draftee and his ceiling will likely be dictated by how much he can slug. For a player in his first full pro season, Arroyos instincts at short are extremely impressive and he could easily be the best defensive infielder in the Reds system before long. Already walking more than he strikes out as a switch hitter who has tapped into some pop, the Dominican Republic native should continue to crack Top-100 lists across the industry. If he further develops his breaking balls and command, Stone has the ceiling of a number two starter on a first-division team. The last piece for Jung will just be improving his approach a bit. Generally, these loud moves would be of concern in regards to disrupting timing and consistency, but Johnson is quick and compact with explosive bat speed. Theres no crazy tools to dream on or much defensive value, however he has been arguably the most consistent hitter in the minors over the last couple years. Volpe stores plenty of energy in his back side with his hovering leg kick before unleashing his explosive lower half and bat speed. Whenever a prized international free agent gets off to a great start to their professional career, the hype train typically leaves the station earlier than other prospects. Woods lower half adjustability is extremely impressive for a player of his stature, as is his barrel control. A huge power pitcher with some of the best stuff in the country when he was at East Carolina, Williams worked mostly as a reliever due to command issues through his first three seasons. As for Jackson, we can only hope his rise through the minor leagues will be as fast as Witt Jr., ushering an exciting wave of young talent. While his swing is geared for doing damage to his pull side, Davis generates enough bat speed and backspin to where the ball carries well to all fields. He is explosive rotationally, uncorking like a rubber band on pitches middle-in. He would project as a well above average defender at either spot. Prospect Rankings. We . The glove has come a long way too. For the top tier of prospects, I present their tools as 45/60 meaning . De La Cruz could use some refinement with his actions at shortespecially his handswhich will come with more reps but he has shown the ability to make all of the throws with plenty of range thanks to his athleticism and elite arm. An extremely aggressive hitter Rafaela will need to develop more patience at the plate as his 38% chase rate limited him to just 26 walks in 522 PAs. Amador is a polished hitter who repeats his moves well with great timing. The Phillies could very well have their next generation ace in Painter as he continues to exceed even the loftiest of expectations. The chase rates are still pretty high for De La Cruz, but he is quick enough to get to tough pitches and long enough to display impressive plate coverage. In 53 games, Neto slashed .407/.514/.769 with 23 doubles, 15 home runs, and swiped 19 bases in 20 attempts at Campbell University in 2022. Valeras calling card is his sweet left-handed swing geared for lift and power. Westburg hits the ball hard and by cutting his ground ball rate by 8% this season, he has seen a major jump in the power department. Here are the notable MLB.com top prospects that are going to be on the major league roster from day one of the 2022 regular season. Steers strong baseball instincts allow him to move all over the infield with relative ease. Netos athleticism is evident at shortstop where he has solid range with a knack for the highlight reel play. It seemed like 2022 was finally the season where Lewis was starting to put it all together. After struggling to command the pitch last season, Burrows landed it for a strike two thirds of the time in 2022, featuring late drop in the 86-88 mph range. Height/Weight: 511, 170|Bat/Throw: R/R|IFA: $725K 2018 (SFG)|ETA: 2024. Theres some effort in the delivery, but Leiters plus athleticism and ridiculous strong lower half helps. His present command is above average with potential for plus. If you are looking for an arm with some upside late in your drafts check out Brandon Birdsell. Aranda is a below average runner, but not a liability on the bases. Jung has improved his footwork to give him average range at the position since going pro and has an above average arm as well. The Orioles selected Wagner in the second round 42nd overall and pushed him through to A+ Aberdeen to finish the 2022 season. Put simply, Colas just hits the ball hard and keeps getting better with more at bats. Height/Weight: 62, 220|Bat/Throw: R/R|1st Round (8), 2019 (TEX)|ETA: 2023. Carter is a plus runner who covers a lot of ground in center with his long quick strides. Height/Weight: 510, 170|Bat/Throw: R/R|1st Round (16), 2019 (ARI)|ETA: 2022. Hes a lock to stick in center field long-term if the D-backs prefer him there over Alek Thomas. Age: 20|Height/Weight: 62, 190|Bat/Throw: R/R|IFA: $2.6M (2018)|ETA: 2023. As lefties are geared up for a heater with life, Waldichuk will sling the slider, catching hitters cheating and generating some ugly swings. He will likely never contribute much with his glove or his wheels. Amador makes up for it with borderline elite bat-to-ball skills as a righty and low chase rates. A 70-grade runner who already gets excellent jumps in center field, Chourio has the potential to be an elite defender up the middle. He has no problem catching up with velocity and is already an above average hitter. When he locates it down and to his glove side it features sharp, late bite and tremendous shape that gives it plus-plus projection. Veen possesses a natural ability to use the whole field and as he adds strength and mass, he will become a threat to leave the yard from line to line. Cavallis upside rivals that of any prospect in the minor leagues, as he features three swing-and-miss offerings and the size and athleticism seen in big league aces. The Twins took Lee 8th overall and sent the 22-year-old to rookie complex to make his pro debut. Age: 22|Height/Weight: 63, 210|Bat/Throw: L/R|1st Round (12) 2019 (NYM)|ETA: 2023. Technically drafted as a shortstop, Johnson profiles as a second baseman and already saw the majority of his starts in Low-A at the position. Walker has the upside of one of the most consistent power-hitters in baseball and the more games he plays, the more possible it seems that he can reach somewhere near his ceiling. He is consistently clocked with sub-four second run times to first base. Height/Weight: 60, 185|Bat/Throw: L/L|1st Round (19), 2020 (CHC)|ETA: 2024. Featuring high spin from a low release point, the pitch explodes out of his hand and generates a high percentage of whiffs in the zone. He has a tendency to get on his front foot on occasion, cutting off his swing a bit and leading to occasional top spin ball to right field. Mervis batted ball data and overall numbers are eerily similar to that of Vinnie Pasquantino and much like the Royals, I really believe the Cubs suddenly found their first baseman of the future in Matt Mervis. Williams is an above average runner with an easy plus arm. MLB Draft prospects 2022. The second breaking ball for Perez is an above-average curveball in the low 80s. As Caissie continues to iron out the inconsistencies with his lower half, there is foul pole-to-foul pole power potential for the Ontario, Canada native as he has the ability to generates a ton of leverage and natural carry. 15 of his 40 extra base hits in 2022 went to the opposite field. The fact that Williams was able to consistently produce the way he did even with the swing deficiencies is a testament his twitchiness and natural athleticism. Already possessing an advanced approach for this age, Montgomery struck out less than 20% of the time across Low-A, High-A and Double-A while walking at a 13% mark. January 17, 2023. Starting with an athletic stance, Luciano sinks into his back side with a gathering leg kick and keeps his weight back well. Even with nearly two lost seasons, he is still an extremely young 20 years old and has already hit his way to High-A. One of baseballs biggest breakout pitching prospects this year, Brown has harnessed his explosive stuff with mechanics that are as smooth as ever. His profile is that of a right fielder, but in a pinch, he could likely play an average center field thanks to his reads and 70 grade arm strength. Height/Weight: 62, 190|Bat/Throw: R/R|5th round (150), 2018 (TB)|ETA: 2023. Alvarez, who hit 24 home runs to go along with 70 runs batted in, is batting just .215 to start the season while also hitting four home runs and driving in 14 runs. Crow-Armstrong already has nine homers on the season and has recorded exit velocities of 107 mph on several occasions this year. TBC PREMIUM. Vargas has a silky smooth swing and a barrel that lives in the zone. Priester has a deep bag of five pitches that he will mix really well. Taken with the 13th overall pick by the Angels, Neto was a polished collegiate hitter with plus bat-to-ball skills and solid speed on the base paths that could rise quickly. Still probably two years from Fenway Park, Mayer could have a claim as one of baseballs best overall prospects by the end of next year. As he mentioned on our prospect podcast, the Call Up Hassell is still working on his lower half consistency in order to tap into a bit more power. That said, the improvement of Gassers command and feel for his changeup give him a solid chance to stick as a starter and the Brewers aggressively promoting the second-year pro to Triple-A is reflective of their confidence in his pitchability. The outfielder has no problem hitting the ball where its pitched and has shown an easy ability to leave the yard from foul pole to foul pole. Height/Weight: 62, 215|Bat/Throw: L/L|2nd Round (70), 2020 (STL)|ETA: 2022. Ford scrapped the leg kick in favor of a toe tap which has helped him catch up to higher velocity and has not come at the expense of power. The fastball command for Williams has gotten better as the year has progressed, throwing the pitch for a strike 70% of the time. Peraza has a silky smooth right-handed stroke that features a big, slow and controlled leg kick and a clean barrel path that stays in the zone for a long time. Upright stance from the left side and a simple swing geared for line drive contact, Cowsers limited movement allows him to be on time and repeat his swing. With our update of the Top 100 Prospects listnow with 2022 draft picks includedwe have a new No. Age: 23|Height/Weight: 62, 210|Bat/Throw: R/R|1st Round (1), 2017 (MIN)|ETA: 2022. An elite athlete on the mound already with two big league pitches, the development of Bradleys changeup is what is stands between Triple-A Durham and the middle of the Rays rotation. Turang also adjusted his hands from sitting on his shoulder near his head to further away from his body and further back in his stance. Tommy John Surgery put an end to Meyers rookie season shortly after his big league debut. Top of the scale speed with elite power potential as a switch hitter makes De La Cruz seem like he was created in a lab. As he stands now, the 19-year-old has a chance to get on base at an impressive clip while mixing in 15-20 homers and plenty of doubles. He will need to cut down in the whiffs to reach his All-Star ceiling, though. A high floor relative to the other prep bats recently drafted, Montgomery still offers immense upside. Starting with an upright stance before sinking into his back leg to get into his powerful lower half, Walker effortlessly explodes through the baseball. Dominguez should be a threat to steal 20+ bases even at the highest level if he doesnt slow down too much with age. A good athlete, Amador flashes impressive range at shortstop and quick feet. It seems like Hassell is not too eager to put on weight and slow down as the speed component of his game is something he prides himself on. The combination of long levers with a great feel to hit can lead to a lethal power/hit combination which Carter seems to be well on his way to developing. Davis put the questions around his swing to bed by slashing .370/.482/.663 with 17 homers and 31 walks against just 24 Ks versus ACC pitching in 2021. Explosive stuff and an advanced feel to pitch has helped White make up for lost time, dominating hitters over the last two seasons and finishing this year in Double-A. He is able to repeat this move remarkably well, timing it up with a simple stride. Top 60 MLB prospects: Keith Law's updated rankings following the Juan Soto trade Keith Law Aug 1, 2022 363 This is my midpoint check-in on the best prospects still in the minors,. The 20-year-old is an exciting blend of a potentially plus hit tool and plus raw power. As a result, the prospect was not on a ton of radars on Opening Day. Rodriguezs repertoire starts with his mid-to-upper 90s fastball with jump. Stone sprinkles in a low 80s curveball to round out his arsenal. Pool B (Tokyo, Japan) Japan. So much so that the 17-year-old decided to get his GED and play Junior College Baseball at Chipola College which has produced players like Jose Bautista, Russell Martin, Patrick Corbin, Adam Duvall and others. He commands the pitch well, getting whiffs at the top of the zone while working east west effectively too. The improve patience and ability to hit secondary stuff has helped Ruiz bump his walk rate to 12% this season while striking out at a clip below 20% for the first time in his career. A patient hitter, Valera punishes mistakes and will wait the pitcher out until he makes one. The profile mirrors that of Bobby Witt Jr. coming out of the high school ranks in 2019. The Nationals are hoping for a five-tool centerfielder here and if he hits enough, they might just get one. While there is not much more room to fill out for Green, he is as physically imposing of an 18-year-old as we have seen in pro-ball in a while. A proven above-average hit-tool prospect, who taps into more power without wagering his contact, is almost always a safe profile. Even in his brief MLB stint this year, Aranda has seen action at second base, first base and third base as well as some games in left in the minors. Getting his lower half more incorporated has helped Naylor hit the ball with authority more consistently, seeing his 90th percentile exit velocity jump by three mph. If Merrill continues to fill out and tap into his power, he could be a breakout name to watch in 2023. He has hedged swing and miss concerns with a career-low strikeout rate in Triple-A while producing his best power numbers. The more you play in dynasty leagues, the more likely you are to become addicted to prospects. The third above average or better pitch for White is his changeup in the upper 80s with late dive. Pages starts upright and deploys a slow and controlled load that allows him to get into his back hip. On pace to set a career high in stolen bases, he has also been the most efficient of his career, swiping his first 29 bags on 31 tries this season. The slider has late, gyro break that dives under barrels and generates plenty of ground balls. A three sport athlete in High School, Frelick won Masachusetts Gatorade Football Player of the Year before heading over to Boston College. Naturally, the 20-year-old should start to impact the baseball with a bit more authority and should be able to tap into 20 homer power, but a 20/20 profile with a high batting average and staying power in center field seems like the most likely profile for Hassell. Jones should be a menace on the base paths as well as he is not only fast but very quick, and the aforementioned instincts are evident as a baserunner as well. Though limited to first base professionally, he moves well at the position and has a plus arm with soft hands. A switch hitter with pretty even production from both sides, Rodriguez has a really good feel for both of his swings that are geared for lift and carry. Impressive range, smooth actions, an above average arm and impressive instincts have Turang looking like a plus defender at the highest level.