In just over two weeks, Spring Training will officially be underway for the 2023 Major League Baseball season. Ballplayers from across the country will flock to the warm weather of Arizona or Florida to prepare for another big league campaign.
This offseason has been a busy one for Long Beach’s MLB talent, with new teams, new contracts, and a new wave of prospects preparing to make it to The Show.
McNeil Gets Paid
Former Long Beach State Dirtbags utilityman and reigning National League Batting Champion Jeff McNeil may have had the best offseason of any local star, signing a four-year, $50 million contract extension with the New York Mets. McNeil was an All-Star for the second time in his career in 2022, hitting a league-leading .326.
The deal keeps him in New York through the 2026 season, with a club option in 2027 that could increase the value of the deal to a reported $63.7 million, according to MLB.com.
“We are thrilled for Jeff and his family,” said Mets owner Steve Cohen in a statement. “It feels like he hasn’t stopped hitting since he lined a single in his first at-bat at Citi Field five years ago. We are especially proud that Jeff worked his way through our organization over the last decade to become a homegrown star and that he has chosen to extend our partnership.”
McNeil was a 12th round selection by New York in the 2013 draft, and made his pro debut in 2018. He earned his first All-Star Game selection during a breakout 2019 season.
On The Move
Long Beach native Justin Turner has played for three big league organizations in his career, but he’s become synonymous with his hometown Los Angeles Dodgers over the past nine seasons. Turner will have a new home in 2023 after agreeing to a two-year, $21.7 million contract with the Boston Red Sox, where he’ll likely spend most of his time at DH.
Third baseman Evan Longoria is switching to a new NL West ballclub after signing a one-year, $4 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Longoria, 37, played the last five seasons with the San Francisco Giants and ranks in the Top 10 of active players in career WAR. The Long Beach State alum has the chance to eclipse 2,000 career games this season, beginning the year 88 games shy.
Also changing organizations was former Dirtbag Garrett Hampson, who signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins organization. Hampson, 28, is a speedy utilityman who has spent his entire career in Colorado, but will have the chance to earn a roster spot with his new club over the next few months.
Hall Call?
Long Beach State legend and former Angels starting pitcher Jered Weaver was listed on the MLB Hall of Fame ballot in 2023, but did not receive enough votes to remain on the ballot going forward.
The next opportunity for Long Beach to send a player to the Hall will be in 2024, when Long Beach Poly grad Chase Utley will be up for a spot in Cooperstown. Utley was a six-time All-Star and helped the Philadelphia Phillies to the 2008 World Series title.
The Next Generation
Last year’s MLB All-Star Futures Game put a spotlight on a few up-and-coming stars from the area. Spencer Steer (Millikan HS) and Ricky Tiedemann (Lakewood HS) were showcased as two of the top prospects in baseball during last season’s festivities in LA.
Later in the summer, Steer made an impressive debut with the Cincinnati Reds, and it appears he’ll have a shot at an everyday role in 2023, manning third base in The Queen City.
While Steer has his big league opportunity right now, Tiedemann still has some developing to do in the minor leagues. However, based on prospect rankings and his recent Spring Training invite, Tiedemann could move quickly through the Toronto Blue Jays system.
MLB Pipeline ranks Tiedemann as the No. 32 prospect in all of baseball, with a projected MLB arrival in 2024. All that after just one professional season and 78.2 innings across three levels of the minors in 2022. But given his increased fastball velocity, devastating changeup, and wipeout slider, the 6-foot-4 lefty has the tools to be a future ace.
