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Lauren analyzes top fantasy baseball prospects risers, fallers, sleepers and busts for 2025. Her MLB rookies report for Week 8 and recently promoted prospects.
Welcome to the latest installment of RotoBaller’s Rookie Report -- your go-to update on the rising and falling trajectories of MLB’s most intriguing young talents. This week, we’re spotlighting three players who are either fresh off a call-up or still qualify as rookies heading into the 2025 campaign.
In our previous update, we broke down the early journeys of Coby Mayo, Kumar Rocker, and Blade Tidwell -- all three showing flashes of promise while adjusting to the demands of pro ball.
Now, our attention shifts to Jordan Lawlar, Dalton Rushing, and Cade Horton. Let’s dive into their current outlooks and what the future may hold with their respective big-league squads.
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Jordan Lawlar, SS, Arizona Diamondbacks
Lawlar, MLB's No. 4 prospect, recently returned to the big leagues after spending most of the 2024 minor league campaign sidelined with an injury. The last time the 22-year-old was on an MLB diamond was during the 2023 World Series when his D-backs lost to the Texas Rangers. Lawlar debuted just about a month prior, and to this point, the 2021 first-round draft pick still only has 39 major league plate appearances.
Track Record:
Arizona recalled Lawlar on May 12 because it would've been unfair to keep him at Triple-A any longer. With a .992 OPS and 23 extra-base hits in 37 games in 2025, he has nothing left to prove at the minor league level. Lawlar has a .300/.395/.512 career minor league slash line with 63 doubles, 14 triples, 44 home runs, 181 RBI, 146 walks, and 95 stolen bases since 2021.
Jordan Lawlar is off to the bigs after one of the hottest starts in Aces history — April’s PCL Player of the Month 🔥
Through 37 games:
.336 / .419 / .579
31 RBIs • 38 runs • 6 HR • 13 SB(📷: MiLB) pic.twitter.com/SgIibuy6qp
— Nevada Sports Net (@NevadaSportsNet) May 15, 2025
The D-backs selected Lawlar sixth overall in 2021 out of Jesuit Prep High School in Dallas. He's been the organization's top prospect for four years and one of MLB's most highly touted talents. Thus far, he's only gotten a cup of coffee in the majors, producing four hits, three walks, and 13 strikeouts in 16 games.
Outlook:
Arizona must practice patience with him, but that will only be possible if they find a way to get him consistent reps at the plate. In a crowded D-backs infield, manager Torey Lovullo hinted that the club will experiment with Lawlar: "There’s gonna be some playing time here for him, this is his opportunity. He’s going to get some spins at third, second, short, and give guys days off.
What that means, and how many games that totals a week, I don’t know, but he’s a very impactful player." Is that the best plan to get Lawlar going at the MLB level? Maybe, maybe not. Either way, when he eventually gets going, he'll make the D-backs offense even more lethal. It's just a matter of time.
Dalton Rushing, C/OF, Los Angeles Dodgers
So long, Austin Barnes, it's Dalton Rushing time now. Los Angeles designated its longest-tenured position player, Barnes, on May 14 to make room after selecting the contract of Rushing. The 24-year-old catcher joined the Dodgers organization in 2022 as a second-round draft pick.
The 35-year-old Barnes had posted a .519 OPS through 13 games this season, while the younger Rushing had been tearing the cover off the ball at Triple-A. It was a logical decision by L.A.
Track Record:
In 31 games at Triple-A this season, Rushing slashed .308/.424/.514, with five homers, 17 RBI, 21 walks, and 29 strikeouts. He performed well at every minor league level in his professional career, and that's why it seemed only a matter of time before the Dodgers promoted him. Rushing was their Minor League Player of the Year in 2024, tying for second among Minor League catchers with 26 homers.
There's much to be excited about regarding Rushing, the 5-foot-11, 220-pound catcher who can hit for power, has strong on-base skills, and practices solid plate discipline. His short, quick left-handed stroke and patient approach allow him to make consistent hard contact and naturally launch balls in the air to his pull side without swinging for the fences, per MLB.com's scouting report.
Outlook:
While Rushing has gotten reps at first base and in the corner outfield, he will primarily be behind the plate at the MLB level. He'll be Will Smith's backup, learning from the two-time All-Star and World Series champion. Being Smith's mentee will help Rushing acclimate to the game quickly and develop as a catcher and hitter.
In his debut against the Athletics on Thursday, Rushing went 2-for-4 with two singles, a walk, and three runs scored in a 19-2 Dodgers win. His first major league hit had an exit velocity of 110 mph, with his second coming off a position player in the eighth at 100.3.
Save that baseball!
Dalton Rushing collects his first Major League hit! pic.twitter.com/D6BVnUrrzP
— MLB (@MLB) May 16, 2025
Cade Horton, RHP, Chicago Cubs
Clocking in at MLB's No. 35 prospect, the Cubs selected Horton's contract on May 10 to start against the New York Mets at Citi Field. The 23-year-old picked up his first major league win, allowing three runs on four hits and striking out five in four innings, tossing 77 pitches (49 strikes).
Asking a rookie to make his first MLB start on the road against a first-place team is a big ask, but Horton impressed with his stuff, which included a 95-plus mph fastball, sweeper, and changeup.
Cade Horton, Dirty 85mph Curveball. 😨 pic.twitter.com/TL425Bqe5m
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 11, 2025
Track Record:
Chicago selected Horton out of Oklahoma with the seventh overall pick of the 2022 MLB Draft. Across three levels in his first year of professional ball, he posted a 2.65 ERA and 1.00 WHIP across 88.1 innings pitched. He began 2024 at the Double-A level, dazzling in four starts, pitching to a 1.10 ERA with 18 K in 16.1 frames of work.
This led to his promotion to Triple-A, where he struggled, allowing 15 earned runs on 17 hits in 18 innings. However, Horton was able to right the ship in 2025 with a 1.24 ERA and 0.86 WHIP across six starts at Triple-A before his call-up to the majors.
Outlook:
Horton made his second career start on Friday against the White Sox at Wrigley Field, with the Cubs' offense again helping him earn the win. The Cubs put up 13 runs against their crosstown rivals, while Horton twirled five innings (79 pitches, 52 strikes), allowing three runs on seven hits, walking none, and striking out two. All three White Sox runs can be attributed to Miguel Vargas, who hit two homers off of Horton.
With wind gusts up to 27 mph at The Friendly Confines, the damage could've been much worse, but it is the White Sox. Horton's fastball averaged 95.1 mph and topped out at 96.4. He also mixed in a sweeper, curveball, changeup, and sinker. His few mistakes are easily fixable, but whether he gets to see those results at the MLB level remains to be seen. Horton is set to make at least one more start before Shota Imanaga returns from the injured list.
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