#7 - INF Thomas Saggese
Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Arm: 45 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45
Background:
Saggese has consistently produced at the plate throughout his minor league career, often while being one of the youngest players at each level. He was acquired from the Rangers in the Jordan Montgomery trade, alongside right-hander Tekoah Roby, and immediately became one of the more intriguing bats in the system, earning Texas League MVP honors in 2023.
Scouting Report:
Saggese’s offensive calling card is his ability to handle breaking balls. He does most of his damage on spin left over the plate and shows advanced contact skills, particularly against secondaries—traits that should translate well to the next level. While his feel for the barrel is closer to average and his top-end exit velocities are underwhelming, he’s consistently outperformed his raw metrics. His power stems primarily from his ability to lift the ball to the pull side with regularity. The raw power is fringy, but if he continues optimizing his sprays and angles, he could settle into league-average game power at the next level.
After a slow adjustment period at Triple-A, Saggese hit his stride late in the season, posting a 124 wRC+ over his final 55 games and earning a big-league call-up.
The key question going forward will be his swing decisions. Saggese ran an O-Swing% north of 37% in 2024, and that level of aggression could get exposed against more advanced arms. While he’s unlikely to ever run plus chase rates, he’s acknowledged that it’s an area of focus and did show promising improvement—albeit in a small sample—in the Arizona Fall League. If he can trim the chase rate closer to 30% without sacrificing his in-zone aggression, it would go a long way toward sustaining his offensive output.
Defensively, Saggese fits best at second base but has shown he can hold his own at third, though the arm is fringy and he can even cover shortstop in a pinch. That infield versatility adds value, even if he doesn’t settle in as an everyday regular. He’s athletic enough that it wouldn’t be a stretch to give him reps in the corner outfield as well. His defensive flexibility should give him multiple paths to stick on a big league roster.
Future:
If Saggese tightens up his approach, he has a path to developing into an everyday second baseman with a well-rounded offensive profile. More realistically, he projects as a versatile utility option who can contribute in a number of roles and serve as a reliable first option off the bench.
