Last 10 games: 39 AB | .308 AVG | .938 OPS | 3 HR | 5/12 BB/K | 146 wRC+

The Username gets this week’s prospect notebook started after a great stretch of baseball over the last week and some change. A trio of homers over his last 10 games, he’s been a strong bat for Double-A Portland.

In this stretch, Garcia has done what he’s done well at the level all year, producing pull-side contact while keeping it off the ground. A 50% FB% in those 10 games, 23.1% of his fly-balls left the yard for home runs.

The overall swing-and-miss concern is there, but in a season where he’s been more aggressive at the plate than ever, it’s to be expected. It’s held him back from walking and limiting strikeouts, but it’s a part of what’s helped him hit 17 homers.

Tyce Armstrong - New York Yankees (A)

Last 10 games: 38 AB | .421 AVG | 1.342 OPS | 4 HR | 8/12 BB/K | 224 wRC+

Armstrong was a known power bat in the Big 12 with Baylor this season, hitting 24 home runs. The Yankees would take a flier on him in the 19th round of the 2026 draft, and since he’s made a loud impression with Low-A Tampa.

Five home runs already, he’s found the barrel consistently while like Garcia, producing a solid amount PullAir contact. While he will swing outside the zone, he’s done a decent job limiting whiff.

With just an 8.5% SwStr% in this 10 game stretch while producing quality contact, there’s a lot to be excited about with Armstrong. While limited defensively, the power has proven to translate nicely to pro-ball, even if it’s a college bat in Low-A.

Kala’i Rosario - Minnesota Twins (AAA)

Last 10 games: 36 AB | .306 AVG | 1.148 OPS | 5 HR | 1/12 BB/K | 178 wRC+

With recent call-ups to the Majors from names such as Kaelen Culpepper and Walker Jenkins, eyes are firmly on Triple-A St. Paul as other names like Emmanuel Rodriguez are pushing for their promotion. Kala’i Rosario is right there with him.

A bat that’s hit 20+ home runs in two seasons prior to this year, Rosario is trending in that direction again, especially after this recent 10 game stretch. He’s had similar batted ball data to Armstrong and Garcia with a 54.2% FB% and 60.9% Pull%.

He’s been an elite PullAir threat all year, pairing that profile with a 106.5 mph EV90 (per ProspectSavant), and 47.5% Hard-Hit%. While there’s whiff concern he doesn’t chase often, and has shown that he’s dangerous when he catches fire.

Tai Peete - St. Louis Cardinals (AA)

Last 10 games: 47 AB | .362 AVG | .965 OPS | 2 HR | 4/10 BB/K | 148 wRC+

Peete’s gone viral a couple of times this season for his emphatic bat flips and that hasn’t changed one bit. This stretch has been great for him, and he continues to pull off home run pimp jobs that look like something out of MLB The Show.

At 21 years old, Peete’s plate discipline profile is not the sharpest or most polished, but like the rest, he’s found success the most when he can capitalize on pull-side airborne contact.

While he hasn’t hit a ton of fly-balls in this stretch, he’s managed a 29.7% LD%, so he hasn’t necessarily been pounding the baseball into the ground. With his combo of plus power and speed, he’s a very pesky and tough bat to navigate when hot.

Echedry Vargas - Miami Marlins (A)

Last 10 games: 38 AB | .395 AVG | 1.234 OPS | 4 HR | 2/11 BB/K | 199 wRC+

Vargas was a piece in the return for the Jake Burger trade back in 2024, and now in 2026, has found success at Low-A with Jupiter. While he is 21 years old, he’s in the middle of a career year where he’s hit 25 home runs in 98 games.

The profile here is very similar to the other four prospects previously mentioned, so it doesn’t need to be repeated. He’s found the barrel consistently, hitting the ball hard. Over this stretch in particular he’s owned a 46.2% HR/FB%.

At this point in the season, if you’re a pitcher who gives up a pull-side fly-ball to Vargas, you genuinely have a near 50/50 shot for that ball staying or leaving the yard. With this hot stretch, it’ll be interesting to see how he does once he gets to High-A.

Clips: MLB Film Room

The names include some former top draft picks, high-end international prospects, recent draft gems, and data-standouts.

Seaver King - Washington Nationals (AAA)

One of the best stories in all of MiLB this season is the career turnaround of Seaver King. A former No. 10 overall selection out of Wake Forest, he’s one of just two players in that top-10 to have yet to make their Major League debut.

That could change very soon as since returning from injury, King’s been unstoppable. Over his last 15 games, he’s slashed .413/.500/.857 with a 13.5% BB%, eight home runs, and a 241 wRC+.

He has 18 homers on the season, and has held his K% to under 22% while making a solid amount of contact (77.5% clip in Triple-A). He’s paired that discipline with a 50% Hard-Hit%. It’s a bat that packs a punch with 30 stolen base potential.

For a bat that had just an 88 wRC+ in 2025, this season has been remarkable.

Tony Blanco Jr. - Pittsburgh Pirates (A+)

Blanco has one of the biggest “boom-or-bust” profiles in all of MiLB. 80-grade raw power has only translated into double-digit home runs once, this season. He’s hit 23 at Lo/Hi-A, and recently has been even better.

In his last 15 games, he’s hit for a .378 average, with a .509 OBP, and .911 SLG. He’s hit seven home runs over that stretch with three doubles. Out of his 17 hits over his last 45 AB’s, 10 have been for extra bases.

Since July 1st, he’s been consistently producing out of Pittsburgh’s system. For a bat that showed some of the most impressive batted ball data in last years Arizona Fall League, it’s a very encouraging stretch.

Daniel Jackson - Colorado Rockies (A)

Georgia standout catcher Daniel Jackson was the best player in college baseball this season, and it earned him the No. 37 selection to the Rockies in the 2026 draft. Since making his professional debut, he’s been just as advertised.

In his first 11 games, he’s recorded a 203 wRC+ while slashing .385/.520/.692. He’s hit three home runs in that time, and has walked at a 20% clip, while striking out at just a 14% rate.

Jackson offers plus raw power with well above-average speed to pair. This first cup of coffee in affiliated baseball is giving us a taste of what we could possibly be in store for in the future.

Nolan Schubart - Cleveland Guardians (AA)

Schubart going into the 2025 draft had some of the most impressive raw power available. This season, he’s shown every bit of that raw power, hitting 28 home runs. Six of those homers have come over his last 15 games.

Over that stretch, he’s slashed .309/.441/.673, with a 19.1% BB%, and 191 wRC+. He’s coming off of a tear this past week, where he capped off a strong week with three straight games with a home run.

Schubart has shown to be a three true outcomes hitter in his first full professional season. His near 30 homers are paired with a high walk-rate, but also an elevated K%. If he can continue this power output, that K-rate won’t be detrimental.

Kevin Alvarez - Houston Astros (A)

After a standout DSL season, Kevin Alvarez skipped the CPX and went straight into affiliated baseball, where he’s only gotten better as the seasons gone on.

Over the last nine games (two series), he’s hit for just a .242 AVG, yet his OPS nearly reached .900, with a wRC+ of 141. It’s been a much better stretch than the batting average indicates, and he’s tallied four extra-base-hits in this time.

Alvarez has an impressive skill-set, one that allows him to impact the game to all fields. In this stretch in particular, he effectively took the ball the other way. As an 18-year-old in Low-A, this feel for hitting is one that’s not seen often.

It’s clear that over time, Alvarez’s stock should only continue to rise as he settles into each level.

Bo Davidson - San Francisco Giants (AAA)

Bo Davidson is one of my favorite prospects in the entire sport and stretches like the one he’s currently on prove why to the mainstream. He recently received a promotion to Triple-A, and after struggling at first has found his footing.

Over his last two series played (12 games), he’s hit four home runs, five doubles, recorded 17 RBI, slashed .409/.471/.795, and posted a 212 wRC+.

Over this time, he’s done damage to all fields, 30.8% of his BBE’s going pull-side and to the opposite field, but 38.5% going into center. Nearly a third of those batted balls have left the yard for home runs as well.

The 24-year-old UDFA has been a remarkable story over the last couple of seasons and he shows no sign of slowing down. He’s gotten hot in a league favorable for hitters in the PCL, and he’s one to watch for the remainder of 2026.

Dylan Dreiling - Texas Rangers (AA)

Few bats have been hotter than Dylan Dreiling. He’s enjoying an 11-game hit-streak currently, and hasn’t gone hitless in any game so far in the month of August.

During that hit-streak, he’s slashed .422/.480/.867 with a 1.347 OPS. He’s struck out at just a 20% clip, and has ran a 233 wRC+ over his last 45 AB’s.

Dreiling in this period has excelled at taking the ball the other way, while also lifting the baseball at an extremely effective clip. His 8.3% SwStr% shows a well disciplined bat and good swing decisions that have paid dividends.

Dreiling’s enjoyed a career-year, hitting 21 homers, slashing .304/.378/.532 in 96 games, with some of the best whiff avoidance in the entire Texas League. The Tennessee product should be on your radar for the rest of the season and beyond.

Ryan Cesarini - Cleveland Guardians (AA)

Over the last couple of weeks, Cesarini has truly broken out as one of the best hitters in all of MiLB. As my breakout pick for the Cleveland Guardians system, it’s been especially fun to follow.

Over his last 15 games, Cesarini has slashed .414/.485/.931, with a 260 wRC+. The plate discipline has been great with a near-12% BB% and 14.9% K%. He’s not only made good swing decisions, but has brought power as well.

He's hit eight home runs in that stretch, with six doubles, recording 20 RBI over those 15 games and 58 AB’s. He’s owned a 40% HR/FB% in that period, while showing great feel for pulling the baseball in the air.

The power and pull-air profile has been on display all season for him, as well as the strikeout avoidance. Stretches like this prove how much damage this kind of profile can do when it gets hot.

Aron Estrada - Baltimore Orioles (AA)

One of the more underrated prospects of the 2025 season has gone under the radar again in 2026, but this recent stretch of hitting might’ve changed that for good.

Over his last 20 games, Estrada has hit six home runs, with six doubles, while slashing .333/.342/.653 with a 143 wRC+. His last five games have been even better. In 19 AB, he’s batted .474 with five of his nine hits leaving the yard.

He now has 21 home runs on the year, the first time he’s eclipsed the 20 homer mark in a single season. He’s shown great overall whiff avoidance, with a K% under 18%.

If Estrada could develop the ability to chase less, he should see the walk-rate increase, as well as his overall stock as one of the top prospects in the Orioles system.

Francisco Renteria - Philadelphia Phillies (DSL)

An inclusion of a DSL prospect doesn’t come often in this series, but there’s serious potential for Renteria to become one of the games top prospects in the future.

A .485/.614/1.091 slash over the last 14 days entering Monday August 17th, he’s walked at a 22.7% clip with a 278 wRC+. He’s been the best hitter in the DSL, with a 178 wRC+ in his 52 games.

Renteria has great feel for taking the ball pull-side, but could do even better theoretically if he figures out how to lift the ball more. That ground-ball output at the moment however isn’t that bad considering the speed with his 24 stolen bases.

The tools are all there for a 17-year-old, with a frame that already towers at 6-ft-3, 216 lbs. As one of the games top international signees, he’s on track to turn into one of the games most prized prospects.

Juan Torres - New York Yankees (DSL)

Last 15 games: 53 AB | .358 AVG | 1.108 OPS | 3 HR | 3.33 BB/K | 160 wRC+

It’s been a ridiculous season production-wise for Yankees prospect Juan Torres. The 18-year-old has shined in a repeat season of the DSL, where he’s slashed .388/.470/.661 over 46 games, with eight home runs, and 23 stolen bases.

While he doesn’t walk a ton, Torres makes consistent contact, helping him post his .470 OBP. He has shown to chase out of the zone this season, but if he becomes more passive at the plate this could improve. Either way, the strikeout/whiff avoidance is great.

His stateside debut next year will be one to monitor, as he has only improved in his second season in the DSL.

Video: YankeesFarm on X

Zac Veen - Colorado Rockies (AAA)

Last 20 games: 81 AB | .383 AVG | 1.314 OPS | 8 HR | 0.67 BB/K | 202 wRC+

Veen has been one of the most highly talked about players in all of MiLB for the power he’s displayed recently. Eight home runs in his last 20 games, he has 13 in the second half compared to 11 in the first.

He’s displayed impressive exit velocities all year long, with a 106.8 EV90 (per ProspectSavant). An aggressive hitter, he’s managed to capitalize on his power more than ever this season with his feel for lifting the ball.

If he could develop a better feel for pulling the baseball, there’s a possibility that there’s even more homers to tap into. Regardless of if that happens or not, Veen’s profile makes for one of the more fun bats to watch at any level when he’s on.

Jhonny Level - San Francisco Giants (A+)

Last 10 games: 41 AB | .366 AVG | 1.261 OPS | 5 HR | 1.00 BB/K | 216 wRC+

I feel like Jhonny Level is mentioned in this article series almost every other time at this point. That’s not a surprising thing however, as Level has blossomed into one of the better prospects in all of baseball this year.

While Level hasn’t managed to limit chase well or walk at an elite clip, he’s shown an exceptional ability to limit strikeouts despite an overall aggressive approach in High-A.

There’s barely been any drop-off in production for the 19-year-old after receiving his promotion to Eugene. As a switch-hitter who doesn’t turn 20 until next March, he is playing well beyond what’s expected at his age.

Milan Tolentino - Cleveland Guardians (AAA)

Last 10 games: 27 AB | .296 AVG | 1.311 OPS | 3 HR | 0.89 BB/K | 212 wRC+

Tolentino is a prospect I’ve spotlighted before back in 2025 and now 24 years old in Triple-A, has been putting together a great second half. He’s recorded seven hits for extra bases over his previous 10 games.

Tolentino hits the ball hard, registering a 45.2% Hard-Hit% and 90.6 mph AvgEV with Columbus (per ProspectSavant).

A powerful bat that catches the barrel often, with a feel for pull-air contact, there’s an interesting profile here. What limits him however, is the strikeouts. If he could learn to mitigate the swing-and-miss, there’s even more room to grow.

Video: CleGuardPro on X

Antonio Anderson - Boston Red Sox (A+)

Last 15 games: 53 AB | .358 AVG | 1.037 OPS | 7 XBH | 21.3% K% | 161 wRC+

I highlighted Anderson earlier as a piece that could shine due to the Adley Rutschman deal. With more eyes on under the radar Red Sox prospects, his name should be up there, especially with the way he’s been playing lately.

The high school teammate of Braves prospect Isaiah Drake, Anderson’s shown to limit the amount he chases outside the zone, but overall has been relatively average when you pop the hood.

In the second half of this season however, he’s been on a tear. A 1.222 OPS in 133 plate appearances, he’s hit seven of his eight home runs across this stretch of the season.

Taking his hot streak into August, it’ll be fun to watch how he finishes out the 2026 season.

Any destination would’ve likely given Zyhir Hope a clearer path to more consistent playing-time, but that’s what the Tigers certainly can offer.

After calling up Max Clark, the thought of pairing him with both Riley Greene and Zyhir Hope in the next couple of years is a great dream for Tigers fans to have after giving up Tarik Skubal.

This gives Detroit another top-end outfield prospect from the upper levels of MiLB, and a bat that’s been red hot, one that is raising his stock more-and-more as time goes on.

Ramon Marquez (RHP) - San Francisco Giants

Marquez is one of the biggest breakout names among all pitchers in MiLB. His calling card is the changeup that’s been nearly unhittable, and adding that into a Giants system that needs pitching depth made this one of my favorite returns.

Marquez will slot in instantly as one of the orgs best pitching prospects. Getting that type of prospect in return for a hitter that has a hit-for-average profile like Luis Arraez is great value.

We’ll see how San Francisco continues his development but he’s laid a solid foundation for himself this season. If he hits his ceiling, he could be an impact starter for a National League West team looking to reclaim the top of the division.

Josiah Ragsdale (OF) - St. Louis Cardinals

My favorite return from any trade this deadline was sent to the Cardinals for Dustin May and JoJo Romero, with the headlining piece being breakout prospect Josiah Ragsdale.

A prospect that’s done just about everything right this season, the Cardinals are getting him at his best. He’s been on an absolute tear at the plate, and in a farm system that’s continued to add quality talent recently, can very well keep it going.

Ragsdale adds depth to the Cardinals outfield crop in their farm. One that already has Joshua Baez, Trevor Condon, and Tai Peete. I love the fit here for him to continue to excel.

Michael Forret (RHP) - Baltimore Orioles

This one seems like a no-brainer due to Forret’s success with Baltimore in the past. The 22-year-old had a 1.58 ERA with the Orioles system last season before being traded as part of the return for Shane Baz.

Now in 2026, he finds himself back in a system he previously excelled in. While he hasn’t had much success in nine starts at Triple-A, this is an organization that’s familiar with him, and could help him return to dominate form.

This seems like both a feel-good story and a great result for both the prospect and organization involved. The Orioles have done a great job with their prospect arms this season, and adding arms like Forret, Eyanson, and Witherspoon make me confident.

There’s a heavy emphasis here on what the organization is trying to build within their system.

Henry Lalane (OF) - San Francisco Giants

Lalane has excelled this season with the Yankees organization now being fully healthy. For similar reasons to Marquez, I like this landing spot solely because he provides important depth as a strong left-handed pitching prospect .

A towering 6-ft-7 frame, he could be a genuine impact for the Giants down the road, and who knows if the same could’ve been said for the Yankees, who constantly look towards strong established Major League starters for their rotation.

He’ll slot in as one of the Giants top arms, behind names like Ramon Marquez, Jacob Bresnahan, and Jackson Flora ranked ahead of him.

Alexander Frias (OF) - St. Louis Cardinals

Moving from Milwaukee to St. Louis allows Frias to go to a system that will already have him as one of their top prospects. The more eyes that will be on him now makes it one of my favorite landing spots for any prospect at the deadline.

Plus power paired with plus arm strength from the outfield, Frias comes into the Cardinals system with some of the most intriguing tools in the farm system. He likely slots in as a top-five prospect in the system after this move.

Besides Jordan Walker, it’d be tricky to find a current long term outfielder in the Cardinals roster. Adding Frias on top of Ragsdale gives them more high caliber prospects to work with within that position group.

Sammy Stafura (SS) - New York Mets

The Mets added some solid prospect capital during their 2026 trade deadline, but my favorite addition was former Pirates prospect Sammy Stafura. A prospect out of the Reds organization before moving to Pittsburgh, I trust Stafura can handle new scenery.

This will be his third organization now, where he slides in just outside of the top-10 Mets prospect rankings. I love this move for New York, as it only bolsters their depth within the entire system.

While there are a lot of top shortstop prospects in the farm already, Stafura has shown he can perform after being moved, and the Mets could very well be banking on this to potentially move him in the future.

If not however, this is a fantastic prospect to receive and keep within your organization.

He should continue to rise, and whatever team gets him at the highest level would be adding a great all around prospect. While the Mets lost a high quality reliever in Luke Weaver, they gained one of the best bats in all of MiLB.

Here’s five bats, headlined by some of the best power in the minors.

Conor Essenburg - Atlanta Braves

19-year-old Conor Essenburg was a fifth round pick out of the Braves 2025 draft class. In his first pro season, he’s completely broken out between the CPX and Low-A.

In 59 games at Low-A, he’s walked at a 19.7% clip, while slashing .286/.427/.564, with 14 home runs, and a 161 wRC+. Over his last 15 games, he’s been on a tear, with seven home runs, and a 241 wRC+.

Essenburg is still a very raw prospect, with contact rates that could certainly improve over time. The swing-and-miss isn’t egregious yet the K-rate is still elevated. If he can limit whiff in the future, the ceiling rises even higher.

He excels at lifting the ball, and possessing that trait early on will help carry him through the minor league ranks.

Xavier Isaac - Tampa Bay Rays

Few have the raw power that Xavier Isaac possesses. It’s true plus-plus to 80-grade pop, and he’s put it on full display in Double-A. For the first time since 2023, he’s hit 19 home runs in a single season, and is primed to clear that previous career-best.

He’s walked at an 18.9% clip this season, and has been more of a threat on the bases with 16 stolen bags (new career-high). Over his last 10 games, he’s managed to hit four of his 19 homers.

In that stretch, he slashed .382/.532/.765, with a .382 ISO, 25.5% BB%, and 224 wRC+. After slumping in the month of June, he came back in a big way throughout July, and into the month of August.

Isaac is a rather careful bat despite the elite raw power. He rarely chases out of the zone, but does have a concern with the overall amount of whiff. If that can improve, it’s likely his overall quality of contact can improve as a result.

Rainiel Rodriguez - St. Louis Cardinals

What Rainiel Rodriguez is doing at the Double-A level right now needs to be talked about more. At just 19 years old, he’s hit 12 home runs, while slashing .290/.377/.504 in his first 57 games with Springfield.

Over his last 15 games, he’s really been hitting his stride. In that time, he’s slashed .367/.435/.733 with five home runs, seven doubles, and a 187 wRC+. He’s settled in so nicely to Double-A baseball, as a teenager that won’t turn 20 for awhile.

He’s been more aggressive at the plate since the promotion, yet has kept his Contact% around the same mark, with no real change in his swing-and-miss numbers too. A truly remarkable season for one of baseball’s best prospects.

Enddy Azocar - Baltimore Orioles

It’s no wonder why Enddy Azocar was part of the package that got Adley Rutschman to Boston. He’s been on fire offensively, and now will transition over to Baltimore’s system, where he’ll look to keep his production going.

Azocar has swatted 18 home runs this season, with a .286/.341/.540 slashline, and 119 wRC+. Over his last 15 games, he hit eight of those 18 homers. During that stretch, he managed to bat for a .371 average, while slugging at an .829 clip, with a 196 wRC+.

Azocar is another example of a guy that has a strong feel for lifting the ball, while capitalizing on the pull-side contact he often generates. He’ll slide in as one of the top outfield prospects in Baltimore’s system.

Brandon Compton - Miami Marlins

Compton is coming off of a ridiculous month of July, after a tear in the month of June as well. In July, he posted a 1.207 OPS, with 11 home runs, and 24 RBI. Over his last 25 games, he’s hit 13 home runs, and slashed .364/.446/.841 with a 222 wRC+.

When condensing it even more to just a 15 game stretch, Compton’s slashed .400/.500/.940 with a .540 ISO, eight homers, and 257 wRC+. He’s had zero issue turning his plus raw power into consistent game power this season.

While Compton provides some of if not the best power at the Double-A level, there’s still areas that need to improve before he can make the ascent to the Majors.

The whiff rate needs to be cleaned up, currently at 37.8% at Double-A (per Prospect Savant). On top of that, once around better pitchers in the Southern League, his walk rate has come back down to earth at just 11.3% compared to his 24% clip at High-A.

Here’s five pitchers and hitters to watch after having a great season in the complex.

Cristian Arguelles - Colorado Rockies

19-year-old Cristian Arguelles has took rookie-ball by storm the last couple of seasons, repeating the DSL, and going crazy at the plate in his first taste of stateside baseball.

After posting a 201 wRC+ in his second DSL season, he’d follow it up with a .402/.478/.671 slashline in the ACL across 57 games. He showed his above-average hit tool with his batting average, while striking out at a 12.2% clip, and running an 82.9% Contact%.

Arguelles doesn’t hold a lot of pop in the bat, but hit nine home runs this season in the complex. He’s risen to a top-five prospect in the Rockies system, and will play out the rest of the season likely for Low-A Fresno.

Juan Martinez - Milwaukee Brewers

Martinez is one of multiple notable young international prospects in the Brewers system. After a standout 40 games in the complex, he was promoted to Low-A where he’s already played 15 games.

In 132 plate appearances over the 40 games, he slashed .356/.476/.598 with a 1.074 OPS. He’d hit six home runs with 12 doubles in that stretch, posting a 160 wRC+.

He showed solid contact rates, as well as limited swing-and-miss. Upon his first cup of coffee in Low-A, he hasn’t showed the same production as he did in the complex but that’s fine. As time goes on he should only get better at the level.

Tyson Moran - Kansas City Royals

20-year-old Tyson Moran was drafted in the 13th round by the Royals in the 2025 draft. In his first season in the complex, he looked great. He slashed .322/.406/.538 across 50 games, with seven home runs, 54 RBI, a 13% K%, and 123 wRC+.

Moran walked nearly as much as he struck out (0.96 BB/K), while making a solid amount of line-drive contact. He consistently hit the ball hard as well, posting a 93.4 AvgEV and 58.1% Hard-Hit%.

A bat that made great swing decisions while making consistent quality contact, he’s a young name to watch out of the Kansas City farm system.

Andres Torres - Tampa Bay Rays

19-year-old Andres Torres like Cristian Arguelles, repeated the DSL as an 18 year old to then make his stateside debut in 2026. In 50 games this year, he slashed .304/.436/.351 with 16 stolen bases, and a 114 wRC+.

A great feel for taking the baseball the other way, Torres hit nearly three-quarters of his batted ball contact into the ground. With his speed that ground-ball output is something he may get away with in rookie ball, but that’ll be something to monitor in A-ball.

Extremely consistent contact at an 84.6% clip in the FCL, he rarely swings and misses. If he can develop a better feel for lifting the ball, there could be even more to tap into here, and he certainly is a name in Tampa’s system to watch.

Andreimi Antunez - Tampa Bay Rays

Antunez was a standout bat in the DSL last year, with a 155 wRC+ in 49 games. Upon his first season stateside as a 19-year-old, he slashed .260/.397/.432 in 53 games. He’d hit seven home runs, with a 13% K%.

There’s a good amount of raw power in the bat, but the swing decisions he showed in the complex were even more notable this season. On top of the strikeout-avoidance, Antunez rarely whiffed.

When he did make contact, he showed a strong feel for barreling up the baseball. He’s shown that already in Low-A, hitting a home run in his affiliated ball debut. For those reasons alone, he’s a prospect to watch.

Johnny Slawinski - Los Angeles Angels

Likely the biggest standout arm from the complex this season was Angels 2025 third round pick Johnny Slawinski. At 19 years old, he posted a 3.33 ERA, 35.8% K%, .232 BAA, and 20.1% SwStr%.

He did everything right in his first pro season. He generated a solid amount of ground-ball contact, got an elite amount of swing-and-miss, resulting in the high strikeout-rate.

Hitters had just a 58.2% Contact% against Slawinski, making him look like a great get from the Angels in the early goings of last years draft.

Alejandro Rivera - Cleveland Guardians

Guardians international prospect Alejandro Rivera had a fantastic season in the complex before getting a promotion to Low-A. In his 48.0 IP, he posted a 2.44 ERA, with a 13.13 K/9, and .191 BAA.

Rivera generated a ton of whiff in his first season stateside, leading to his 35.9% K%. Hitters struggled to hit his stuff, and were held to a 42.9% Hard-Hit% (per ProspectSavant).

It’ll be interesting to see how he handles Low-A for the rest of the season. As an arm that repeated the DSL, he’s translated well to playing in the states.

Jeremy Pilon - Tampa Bay Rays

Pilon makes it three Rays prospects on this list but that’s just how good they were as a unit for a team that came just short of the FCL Championship title. The 18th round pick of the 2023 draft looked great in 48.2 IP.

In his third stint in the complex, he posted a 2.96 ERA, 50.4% GB%, and 10.91 K/9. While he struggled with walks (13.3% BB%), hitters were held to just a .229 BAA.

Pilon generated an elite amount of chase this season, and paired it with a strong ability to limit hard-hit contact and exit velocities. The 20-year-old crafty left-hander has made himself now one to watch out of Tampa’s pitching crop.

Adrian Ardines - Houston Astros

Ardines unlike the rest of the arms listed before, wasn’t an elite strikeout guy in the FCL. Instead, he showed elite control with a 6.6% BB%. In his 52.2 IP, he walked just 14 batters, posting a 3.42 ERA, and 1.08 WHIP.

Hitters were limited to just a .221 BAA, and weren’t able to register the hardest hit exit velocities either. Another arm that repeated the DSL, it’ll be interesting to see how the control translates to better levels of minor league baseball.

Gensi Angeles - Atlanta Braves

Gensi Angeles is a Braves arm worth bookmarking at just 18 years old. In 55.2 IP, he posted a 2.26 ERA, .197 BAA, and did a great job of limiting the long-ball with a 0.32 HR/9.

Angeles generated a great amount of chase but other than that, there are some areas of improvement that could be made in affiliated ball. If he can learn how to limit hard-hit EVs, and get more whiff, his stock can rise even further.

Jack Gurevitch - St. Louis Cardinals (A+)

Coming out of the draft as a third round pick, Gurevitch had a reputation for being a powerful bat. He’s plus raw power was on full display this past week. Over his last five games, he hit five home runs, including a three-homer performance on July 21st.

In that handful of games, Gurevitch hit for a .500 batting average, 1.915 OPS, and a whopping 340 wRC+. Small sample size, but a very powerful, and impactful stretch.

Gurevitch has now hit the 20 home run mark for the first time in his career. He’s flashed some of the most impressive power at the High-A level all season long, and as a young 22-year-old, should be primed for a promotion soon.

Gavin Cross - Kansas City Royals (AAA)

You can’t talk about powerful stretches as of late and not bring up Royals prospect Gavin Cross. At 25 years old, he’s hit his stride in Triple-A, currently riding an 18-game hit streak, and a streak of five straight games with a home run.

Over his last six games, Cross has more home runs than singles, with a 1.705 OPS, and 309 wRC+. In the month of July, he has a 179 wRC+, and has only gone hitless in just one game.

His profile is one that comes with a solid feel for generating PullAir contact, but not much to love when it comes to the overall approach and exit velocity output.

While he has posted a 105.2 EV90 (per ProspectSavant), in Triple-A this year, there’s still some question marks. This stretch however, is great to see.

Blake Burke - Milwaukee Brewers (AA)

Burke has one of the most intriguing profiles in all of minor league baseball, and stretches like this further cement that fact. In his last six games, Burke has hit five home runs across two multi-homer performances.

His .429 average and 302 wRC+ have made for one of the most torrid stretches of any minor league hitter recently. When he gets hot, the plus-plus raw power is scary to go up against. But that’s not the only thing he’s good for.

Burke’s stolen 24 bases this season, putting him just outside the top-five in Milwaukee’s system. At 6-ft-3, 236 lbs, that’s incredible production on the basepaths. This is a force on offense, one that produces runs in multiple ways.

Wilder Dalis - Colorado Rockies (A)

Dalis is an intriguing switch-hitting prospect that’s been gaining more and more traction as the season’s progressed. He’s been on a tear for Low-A Fresno over his last six games especially.

A 309 wRC+ in that stretch with four home runs, and three doubles, he’s been impacting the game as a 19-year-old in Low-A. 12 RBI in that span as well, he’s been arguably the most important piece of this Fresno lineup.

There’s still some things to clean up in the profile if he wants to fully tap into his ceiling, but as a young prospect, there’s so much room to grow. If he can continue to walk and limit whiff, the ceiling rises. Especially if he can lift the baseball more.

Charles Davalan - Los Angeles Dodgers (A+)

Davalan coming out of the 2025 draft was graded with one of the best hit tools among the entire class. Lately he’s shown that off more than ever. Proving that if not for a talented outfield group in Double-A, he’d be in Tulsa.

Over his last five games, Davalan’s hit three homers, recorded a .500 average, 1.678 OPS, and 302 wRC+. In those 22 at-bats, he only struck out twice. The hit tool is very advanced, clearly too advanced at this point for High-A pitching.

He does a little bit of everything, and does it well. The only thing he could maybe improve upon is chasing less, but with his consistent contact, it isn’t a major downside to his profile.

When someone at Tulsa is promoted, expect Davalan to take that spot.

Here’s five hitting prospects that have been performing well lately. They’re names you should follow for the rest of the second half.

Easton Shelton (Los Angeles Dodgers)

Shelton is a prospect I’ve been talking about often throughout the entire 2026 season. Nothing has changed for him, as he continues to be one of the most powerful hitters in the minor leagues.

Over his last 10 games, Shelton’s slashed .474/.545/1.000 with five home runs, and a 262 wRC+. The undrafted free agent continues to rake California League pitching, but is still a very raw prospect.

Shelton has a fantastic feel for lifting the baseball on top of impacting the game with his power. What he lacks is the ability to make consistent quality swing-decisions.

If he can clean up the whiff, he should see more consistent in-zone contact which should allow for his ceiling to rise even more. At just 20 years old, this could be a name some organizations target at the trade deadline in a potential package.

Blake Mitchell (Kansas City Royals)

Mitchell is a very interesting prospect, particularly when he’s on hot stretches like he is now.

Mitchell over his last 10 games has shown his impressive raw power, with a .421 ISO, and .368/.500/.789 slashline. He’s hit four home runs over that stretch, and posted a 215 wRC+.

This is about as true as a three outcome hitter could get. He’s done a great job of hitting for power and drawing walks, but really struggles to limit strikeouts and whiff.

The ability to limit chase is what still gives hope that he can rise further in the system, and a test at Double-A could be needed soon.

Manuel Bolivar (Detroit Tigers)

Bolivar is the first DSL prospect to be featured on the minor league hot sheet, and for good reason. The 6-ft-2, 210 lb catching prospect has been great out of the Tigers organization this season.

Over his last 10 games Bolivar has managed to slug four homers, slashing .452/.553/.935, with a 234 wRC+.

Bolivar like Shelton, is still obviously a very raw prospect at just 17 years old. Contact rates are inconsistent and there are swing-and-concerns, but that type of profile is expected with a slugging DSL bat.

You’d have to think this won’t be the last time you hear about Bolivar.

Marconi German (Washington Nationals)

German gained a ton of traction after a standout DSL season last year, and has followed it up with a solid first year stateside so far.

Over his last 12 games, he’s been red hot at the plate, slashing .324/.415/.735, with six hits for extra bases, a 162 wRC+, and a K% south of 15%.

German is certainly a prospect to monitor for the remainder of 2026. He’s shown impressive EVs, while showing a great feel for finding the barrel. Pair that with his consistent PullAir contact, and you get a prospect with a high ceiling.

Ronald Rosario (Boston Red Sox)

The hottest hitting bat in Boston’s system, Rosario has been on a powerful stretch of hitting recently. Over his last 10 games, he’s hit six home runs, recording a .553 ISO.

He’s hit for a .395 AVG & 1.342 OPS in that stretch, and now has a 111 wRC+ in 46 games at Double-A this season. He looks positioned to clear his previous home run total of 11, with nine at the moment.

While his aggressive approach has led to more swing-and-miss he’s shown the ability to make more consistent contact in the past, and that’s hopefully something he can get back to.

As of now, the bats hit its stride, and at 23 years old, it looks like he’s currently at his best against Double-A arms.

Video: @RedSoxPlayerDev on X

Here’s five names to watch for the remainder of the season.

Zyhir Hope (OF - Los Angeles Dodgers)

Hope has looked every bit like a top prospect in the Dodgers system this season, but even more so as of late. His start to the month of July has been ridiculously good, and it’s primed him to go nuclear for the remainder of the second half.

Over his last 20 games, Hope’s slashing .324/.478/.632 with a 184 wRC+. He’s hit six home runs in that stretch, and has recorded 19 walks to 16 strikeouts.

He’s spent the entirety of the season in Double-A with Tulsa, and now looks settled in and comfortable as we progress through the second half.

Angel Genao (SS - Cleveland Guardians)

Genao has put together a really solid season so far across both Double/Triple-A. He’s tearing the International League apart right now, and getting closer to an inevitable big league call-up, where he could help the Guardians in a potential postseason run.

Over his last 30 games, Genao has been on a heater. A .359/.460/.534 slashline with a 164 wRC+, and 15.1% BB% to 9.5% K%. He’s recorded 12 hits for extra bases in that stretch, with three leaving the yard for home runs.

Genao doesn’t hit the cover off the ball, but is still an intriguing switch-hitter that’s posted an EV50 of 93.7 mph at Triple-A this year. Still hits the ball hard while making good swing decisions, and avoiding whiff.

Sammy Stafura (SS - Pittsburgh Pirates)

Stafura is a name I’ve brought up quite a bit as of late, as he’s been on a great run at the plate at High-A. He looks well adjusted to being in Pittsburgh’s system now, and it’s been a career-year offensively.

Over his last 30 games, Stafura’s hit 10 homers, while slashing .315/.410/.649, with a 158 wRC+. This is starting to not look like a hot stretch, it’s starting to seem like this is what you get from the bat at High-A.

What Stafura lacks in overall plate discipline and swing decisions he more than makes up for with his ability to lift the ball, and impact a game with his power. Whatever is working for him this year hopefully stays true for the remainder of the season.

Alfredo Duno (C - Cincinnati Reds)

This is an obvious choice for me after Duno’s hot stretch to start his time in Double-A. A 171 wRC+ and three home runs in his first nine games, it’s hard to not get excited about watching the rest of his season at the level.

His late discipline has been strong to start with Chattanooga. He’s posted both a 15% BB% and K%. Against better pitchers, he’s limited Chase among the best of them, and the swing decisions have been great.

With Duno’s profile, when he’s putting all together at any level, there’s simply not many prospects that are more enjoyable to watch.

Dakota Jordan (OF - San Francisco Giants)

Similarly to Alfredo Duno, Jordan’s a prospect I’m very excited to watch play at Double-A. I talked about him a bit on my X account, and he’s looked like one of if not the hottest hitting prospect in minor league baseball recently.

Over his last 20 games, Jordan’s hit for a .333 AVG, 1.181 OPS, 10 HR, and a 199 wRC+. While he’s struggled to walk this year, he cut down on the K’s in that stretch with a 19.3% K%.

While there could certainly be some growing pains at a harder level with Double-A, Jordan proved his combination of plus raw power and speed was too good for High-A. His time in Double-A will be tracked very closely for the remainder of the 2026 season.

All clips from MLB Film Room.

Esmerlyn Valdez (Pittsburgh Pirates)

Valdez has been on a tear over his last 21 games, hitting eight homers and slashing .360/.417/.787 with a 218 wRC+. He’s running a near-30% Barrel%, and is arguably the most dangerous power threat in baseball over the last 30 days.

Valdez is settling in at the big league level and has the batted ball metrics that prove this could be more than just a hot stretch.

His 50% FB% over the last 30 days has shown his feel for lifting the ball. If that trend continues, Valdez can turn in a massive second half, and complete a breakout season for Pittsburgh.

Kyle Karros (Colorado Rockies)

Karros is another bat that’s trending towards a bigger breakout in the second half after a sprint to the All Star break. Over the last 27 games he’s played, Karros has a 181 wRC+, six home runs, and a 19.6% K%.

For a bat that’s ranked around average in whiff and K%, seeing a sub-20% K% over a month stretch of baseball is encouraging. His low Chase% and already high BB% make it easy to think this discipline is here to stay.

Over that month stretch, Karros hit the ball in the air more, with a 40% FB%. As a pull-heavy bat, this is huge to his success as a hitter. If that continues, he can keep up this production hopefully through the rest of the season.

A.J. Ewing (New York Mets)

Ewing has shown flashes of what he can be defensively, showing great range and speed out in center field. The bat however, has been a bit more of a work in progress. Lately, he’s shown that he could be turning a corner at the plate.

Ewing over the last 30 days has a 155 wRC+, with six homers, a .299 AVG, and K% under 20%. For a bat that’s struggled with strikeouts upon his big league promotion, that’s another encouraging improvement.

The biggest thing with Ewing is he’s just hitting for more impact right now. Six of his seven home runs on the year have come over that 30 day stretch. 20% of his fly-balls in that time have left the yard.

While that power production for him likely isn’t sustainable through the remainder of the season, the more time he gets under his belt should only result in him continuing to put it together offensively.

Heriberto Hernandez (Miami Marlins)

Hernandez is in the midst of what could be his breakout season with Miami, and a strong second half would solidify that. He’s shown the EVs and batted ball data to support this is something that’s likely to continue.

Hernandez has a 152 wRC+ over the last 30 days, with eight home runs, and a .400 ISO. He’s posted an unreal 54.2% Hard-Hit rate in that time as well.

Nearly a quarter of his fly-balls have gone out for homers, and as a majority pull-side bat, the ability he has to lift the ball is proving to be effective at the highest level.

While this is certainly a hot stretch, the plate discipline hasn’t changed, and the underlying data shows he’s capable of keeping up this type of production through the remainder of the second half.

Henry Bolte (Athletics)

This last pick is more of a gamble in my opinion compared to the others. When looking at the last month, Bolte hasn’t lit the stat-sheet on fire, however certainly has the strength in the bat to continue to breakout.

He’s shown a solid Hard-Hit% since his big league promotion, and over the last 30 days, has registered an EV90 of 108.2 mph. There’s one key fix here for Bolte to put together a loud second half.

That would be to simply lift the ball more. He’s a 66.4% ground-ball hitter, and if that can improve, he will see more of an impact. He hits the ball too hard for there not to be consequences to simply lifting the baseball.

Bolte has a fun profile, and is certainly capable of producing more at the Major League level.

Arizona Diamondbacks - LJ Mercurius (RHP - No. 148)

LJ Mercurius was a staple arm for Oklahoma in a National Championship winning season. Posted a near-29% K%, and held hitters to a .233 batting average. Changeup is a plus offering, and I’d be willing to bet Arizona can further develop his arsenal.

Athletics - Drew Burress (OF - No. 8)

While I loved the entire Athletics draft, this first pick was just incredible. This pick is reminiscent of the Jamie Arnold pick last year, someone who should’ve gone earlier but just happened to slide to the A’s.

Burress is a potential five-tool talent, and getting that type of talent at the eighth pick is ridiculous.

Atlanta Braves - Kaiden McCarthy (RHP - No. 48)

I love this fit for Atlanta. Still just 17, the Braves are getting their hands on an arm that already has a plus fastball, and a near plus changeup entering pro-ball. With that system’s guidance, he should develop into one of their top pitching prospects.

Baltimore Orioles - Ty Head (OF - No. 46)

This was one of the most popular underrated college prospects leading up to the draft. Elite tools in the outfield, he enters the Orioles system with a solid overall hit tool. High-floor pick here, and my favorite of their draft.

Boston Red Sox - Owen Hull (OF - No. 67)

I didn’t love the first pick of the Red Sox, but they got a solid prospect in Hull at No. 67. Plus speed, he stole over 40 bags before transferring to UNC and making a run to the College World Series Finals.

Chicago Cubs - Myles Bailey (1B - No. 83)

The Cubs had a lot of picks I loved, especially early on with guys like Cade Townsend and Caden Sorrell. Bailey however has to be my favorite. 80-grade raw power, if he can reach his ceiling, the bat will provide fireworks in Wrigley.

Chicago White Sox - Roch Cholowsky (SS - No. 1)

No brainer here. This is a franchise shortstop at the first overall pick. A glove that’s big league ready now, there’s nothing more that needs to be said about Roch Cholowsky.

Cincinnati Reds - Mulivai Levu (1B - No. 70)

Levu hit 30 home runs between his last two seasons at UCLA, and that power will certainly play in Great American Ballpark if he can climb the minor league ranks. I loved this pick, similarly to the Mason Neville pick in 2025.

Cleveland Guardians - Lucas Moore (OF - No. 155)

I feel like no pick from the Guardians fits their system quite as good as Lucas Moore will. A contact-first, strong bat-to-ball hitter, he pairs his tools at the plate with plus-plus speed in the field and on the bases.

That profile screams Cleveland. Moore should do just fine within this system, and I’m very excited to see it.

Colorado Rockies - Jack Natili (C - No. 76)

I’m much more intrigued with this pick than I was with the Daniel Jackson pick. A near-20 HR bat in college with a plus arm defensively, the fit works for Colorado. Power will play in Coors, it’s just a matter of where he fits in the field.

Detroit Tigers - Brady Ballinger (1B - No. 216)

With the down year Brady Ballinger had, the Tigers could’ve gotten some really solid value here. Despite the 97 wRC+ he posted this season, this is still a bat that hit 16 HR back in 2025.

Houston Astros - Aaron Piasecki (SS - No. 241)

Piasecki was one of the mid-major bats I was tracking the most during the draft. He continued to improve his already fantastic plate discipline, while hitting 10 home runs, and stealing 10 bases.

After making a run to the College World Series, Piasecki knows how to play high level baseball and in high pressure environments. Excited to see him in his biggest test yet.

Kansas City Royals - Taylor Rabe (RHP - No. 30)

After shocking the entire draft taking Zion Rose at No. 6, the Royals took my favorite pick from their class at No. 30. Rabe has great stuff, and has the frame perfect for a Major League arm. 6-ft-5 with plus control, it’s hard not to love this one.

Los Angeles Angels - Jarren Advincula (2B - No. 45)

The Angels love the taking polished college bats that can rise quickly, and Advincula is exactly that. He shouldn’t struggle to translate to pro-ball with a plus hit tool, and could be an infield piece for Los Angeles in the very near-future.

Los Angeles Dodgers - Kyeler Thompson (OF - No. 283)

An outfield pick to the Dodgers is always interesting, and the choice of Kyeler Thompson in the ninth round has to be my favorite of their draft. A plus runner, he’s fresh off a breakout year with Texas Tech, where he stole nearly 30 bases.

Great glove out in the outfield with the ability to stick in center.

Miami Marlins - Rintaro Sasaki (1B - No. 235)

I loved a few different picks from the Marlins, but Sasaki in the eighth round takes the cake. The power potential is real and while he doesn’t hit for average, he’s shown great K-avoidance during his time at Stanford. Could be another great value pick.

Milwaukee Brewers - Kyle Jones (OF - No. 102)

I’ve been a fan of Jones for awhile now and this system fit just seems perfect. A great leadoff hitter with Florida, there's so much potential yet to be tapped into, and Milwaukee can get the best out of him. Great glove and legs in the outfield.

Minnesota Twins - Vahn Lackey (C - No. 3)

This is another no-brainer that needs not a lot of explaining. The Twins got the prospect with arguably the highest floor at third overall. An absolute steal and maybe my favorite pick of the entire draft.

New York Mets - Kuhio Aloy (DH/RF - No. 330)

I didn’t love the Mets draft but some picks very much intrigued me. Kuhio Aloy in the 11th round was one of those. Not a lot to offer defensively if anything at all, Aloy is still a potential 20-HR bat in pro-ball.

Baseball runs in his blood, with his older brother Wehiwa Aloy breaking out in the Orioles system this year.

New York Yankees - Hunter Dietz (LHP - No. 35)

I had Dietz mocked way higher, so the Yankees landing him at No. 35 is my favorite pick by far. In an organization that develops pitching well, New York can turn Dietz into an effective starter with four plus offerings.

Philadelphia Phillies - Will Gasparino (OF - No. 161)

The Phillies grabbed some big-time power bats from the college crop, and it was between either Gasparino or Caden Bogenpohl for my favorite pick. Gasparino takes it for me.

I love the potential here in the 6-ft-6 frame, especially when it’s capable of 20 homer pop in a college season.

Pittsburgh Pirates - Tre Phelps (3B - No. 258)

This could be a really interesting pick if Phelps can translate but there are certainly question marks. Phelps doesn’t offer great tools defensively, and while the hit tool wasn’t bad in college, it’s not above average as of this moment.

That aside, getting an electric bat like Phelps in the ninth round could turn out to be a steal.

San Diego Padres - Joe Tiroly (2B - No. 215)

A transfer into Virginia from Rider, Tiroly has been on my radar for quite some time, and I’m super excited to see the Padres draft him. There isn’t a plus tool with Tiroly but he hasn’t stopped producing while making a big jump to power-conference baseball.

Tiroly’s a gamer, and should succeed in the minor leagues just based on the track record he’s posted in college. He’s hit 15+ home runs in each of the last two seasons.

San Francisco Giants - Peyton Bonds (OF - No. 90)

This pick doesn’t need much explanation as well. Bonds was a popular name heading into the draft for many reasons, both being the nephew of Barry Bonds, as well as lighting up the combine with impressive power.

The Giants drafting him makes for an incredible story, and while they added some great pitchers for minor league depth, this pick is too good to not be mentioned as my favorite.

Seattle Mariners - Jake Brown (OF - No. 65)

Jake Brown took the college baseball world by storm this season, and Seattle could’ve very well gotten a steal out of this pick in the second round. There’s already great all-around tools here with Brown, and an even higher ceiling to tap into.

He doubled his home run total from last year hitting 16 in his draft-year for LSU. Posted a career-high 126 wRC+.

St. Louis Cardinals - Dee Kennedy (SS - No. 114)

The Cardinals had maybe my favorite class of the entire 2026 draft. While there’s many picks I could’ve gone with, getting a 20/20 bat in the fourth round in Dee Kennedy takes it for me.

Ceiling’s continuing to grow for a bat that’s made massive strides over the last few years.

Tampa Bay Rays - Ben Blair (RHP - No. 49)

I loved the first two prep selections from the Rays, but it feels too chalky to go with all three first picks in the draft in this article. I loved the Ben Blair pick. An amazing feel for his arsenal, he has multiple offerings that play above-average already.

The Rays will only tinker and make his arsenal better. Should be one of those pesky AL East arms in the near future for Tampa Bay.

Texas Rangers - Brody Bumila (LHP - No. 89)

The upside here is incredible despite the injury. Pair that with the Gio Rojas pick in the first round and I love it even more. So much to like about many picks in this class, but especially Bumila if he can put everything together once healthy.

Toronto Blue Jays - Will Brick (C - No. 131)

With how good the Blue Jays catching development has been, the Will Brick selection is by far my favorite. Getting a prospect like Brick in the fourth round as well is a crazy steal. A top-50 draft prospect just fell in their laps.

Washington Nationals - Chris Hacopian (2B - No. 11)

As one of if not the best pure hitters in the draft, this pick is just an awesome story over everything. Hacopian tore the diamond up when he played for Maryland, and now back in the DMV, he has a chance to be an impact bat close to home.

In no particular order, here are my five favorite classes from the 2026 MLB Draft.

1. Athletics

Out of all the Athletics picks, only two were from the high school crop. After getting quality college prospects in last year’s draft, it was clear that this direction would continue in 2026, and they landed some big time names.

In the back end of their draft, they picked up some fantastic pieces both from power-conference and mid-major programs. Their two prep picks are intriguing, both pitchers, one from Pennsylvania (Caden Sivrich) and another from California (Jake Escalante).

A class with nearly an even split of pitchers and position players taken, there’s a little bit of everything here and it makes for a well rounded group.

Favorite picks:

• Drew Burress (No. 8)

• Mason Edwards (No. 47)

• Gabe Gaeckle (No. 73)

• Roman Martin (No. 111)

• Alex Hernandez (No. 143)

• David Rossow (No. 201)

• Javar Williams (No. 321)

2. St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals had a loud first day of the draft after starting off with Trevor Condon, Tegan Kuhns, Rocco Maniscalco, and Andrew Williamson. Concluding their day one with Kansas State product Dee Kennedy solidified one of my favorite classes already.

On day two, they took no prep prospects, but got creative going across the college baseball spectrum to get college picks. They looked to power-conference, mid-major, and even Division II programs to finish off their 2026 class.

Another draft class that was nearly perfectly balanced between pitchers and position players, there’s not just a lot of talent across the board here, but a lot of experience as well.

Favorite picks:

• Trevor Condon (No. 13)

• Tegan Kuhns (No. 32)

• Rocco Maniscalco (No. 50)

• Andrew Williamson (No. 68)

• Dee Kennedy (No. 114)

• Luke Harrison (No. 234)

• Matthew Thomas (No. 384)

3. San Francisco Giants

The Giants addressed some concerns in this draft on top of getting a solid group of talented prospects. The minor league pitching depth got a big boost on day one, with four out of the first five picks dedicated to taking arms.

Those arms included two premium prospects in Jackson Flora and Carson Boleman at the top of the draft. The only position player taken in that five pick stretch: Peyton Bonds, the nephew of Giants legend Barry Bonds.

They picked up some impressive mid-major arms out of 12 total selected. Carlos Martinez (Hofstra) and Eric Nachtsheim (McNeese), are two I’m excited to watch debut.

Out of the position players they took, there’s a lot to like between guys like Peyton Bonds, Luke Nixon, and Mike Mancini. Underrated prospects that pair with pitchers that should hopefully give the organization a sigh of relief for where their depths at.

Favorite picks:

• Jackson Flora (No. 4)

• Carson Boleman (No. 29)

• Peyton Bonds (No. 90)

• Carlos Martinez (No. 118)

• Eric Nachtsheim (No. 179)

• Mike Mancini (No. 268)

• Josiah Kemp (No. 358)

4. Cleveland Guardians

The Guardians class may not be the flashiest, but they selected guys that fit their system perfectly. Rather than going with pure upside, they seemed to stick closer to high floor guys that could tap into their ceilings easily with the right organization.

That was after they took two arms that have incredible upside. Florida’s Liam Peterson at No. 19 and prep-lefty Logan Schmidt at No. 59, should excel within the Guardians system.

The rest of their draft included position players that fit the mold, contact-first bats and outfielders with speed. Tre Broussard and Lucas Moore both fit that description, and are plus-plus runners in the outfield..

Other bats like Kade Lewis, Deiten Lachance, and Erick Dessens intrigue me from the college group of selections.

Seventh round arm Savion Sims is one I also will be circling to watch how he can develop with Cleveland, coming in with a plus-plus fastball.

The Guardians got premium talent all across their draft, and managed to pad their system with guys that should only excel.

Favorite picks

• Liam Peterson (No. 19)

• Logan Schmidt (No. 59)

• Tre Broussard (No. 95)

• Kade Lewis (No. 123)

• Lucas Moore (No. 155)

• Savion Sims (No. 213)

• Matt Scott (No. 243)

5. Chicago White Sox

No surprise the team with the No. 1 overall pick comes in with one of my overall favorite classes. Landing Roch Cholowsky alone will earn that spot here. In all seriousness, their entire draft was quality top-to-bottom.

After picking Cholowsky, they opted for two prep bats, similar to their previous draft, to get Landon Thome, and Cole Prosek. Their first pitcher was then taken in Joey Volchko, a standout arm with Georgia in their run to the College World Series.

They’d be streaky taking pitchers, but go heavy towards arms to end the draft. Some bats that got thrown into the mix however, were notable mid-major players like Grayson Fitzwater and Matthew Bucciero.

The White Sox did a great job with finding that type of talent in last year’s draft as well, and the same story could be repeating itself with this class in 2026.

Favorite picks:

• Roch Cholowsky (No. 1)

• Landon Thome (No. 34)

• Joey Volchko (No. 77)

• Cal Scolari (No. 137)

• Matthew Bucciero (No. 285)

• Grayson Fitzwater (No. 375)

1. Chicago White Sox - Roch Cholowsky - UCLA (SS)

The White Sox have been exceeding expectations as a unit this year and adding a prospect who’s bound to move quickly could be the best thing for their system. Roch is as good of a pro prospect as they come and an even better leader off the field.

While Emerson may pan out to be the better player, and Vahn Lackey has everything needed to go 1.1, Cholowsky’s presence can simply usher in winning baseball sooner and fit their new window better. An infield of Vargas, Montgomery, Cholowsky, and even Murakami would be elite.

2. Tampa Bay Rays - Grady Emerson - Ft. Worth Christian, TX (SS)

Ceiling-wise there’s no better player to go with and I always feel strongly to Tampa going with a high school shortstop even with Lackey on the board here.

Emerson is a real five tool talent, and the Rays likely wouldn’t pass that up here. With former high school picks like Theo Gillen excelling, sticking to their trend of going that way makes the most sense for them.

3. Minnesota Twins - Vahn Lackey - Georgia Tech (C)

This could be a franchise altering pick for the Twins here if they can end up with Lackey. An elite defensive catcher, he proved that the bat isn’t far behind with an absurd season at the plate for Georgia Tech.

Very safe high floor with Lackey, and a ceiling that’s even higher. This could be an All-Star caliber catcher for years to come.

4. San Francisco Giants - Jackson Flora - USCB (RHP)

I could see the Giants shelling out money to a high school bat here, but I really like the prospect of keeping a California arm in state with Jackson Flora. Electric stuff, he could become a staple of the rotation, and sooner rather than later.

Just a year removed from his former teammate Tyler Bremner going No. 2 to the Angels, I wouldn’t be shocked nor disappointed to see another Gaucho arm stay out west in California.

5. Pittsburgh Pirates - EJ Booth - Oak Grove, MS (OF)

Could see Pittsburgh opting for Jacob Lombard here but I like the idea of drafting a freak athlete in Booth for the future of the outfield.

With Konnor Griffin projecting as the long-term shortstop, Booth can give you that same feeling just in the outfield. Pure ++ speed paired with an already above average hit tool; this would be a very good selection for the Pirates at five.

6. Kansas City Royals - Drew Burress - Georgia Tech (OF)

The thought of pairing a future outfield of Jac Caglianone and Drew Burress would be electric. Burress has the arm and power to fit perfectly within that group. While the Royals first round college picks in recent drafts have been very hit-or-miss, Burress feels like a guy who has a pretty safe floor given his track record with the Yellow Jackets.

7. Baltimore Orioles - Chris Hacopian - Texas A&M (2B)

Arguably the best pure hitter in this class, this could be a great pickup for Baltimore, one that will rise quickly. Where he fits into the future mold of this core is a thought to consider but with Burress off the board, taking Hacopian feels like a great consolation.

8. Athletics - Jacob Lombard - Gulliver Prep, FL (SS)

The Lombard slide stops here, as their future infield could get a huge boost. Plus power/speed offer Vegas a possible middle infield of Jacob Wilson and Lombard for the future.

The tools and ceiling are too good to pass up on here, and even though some really good college options would be on the board, I don’t see Lombard falling past pick No. 8.

9. Atlanta Braves - Gio Rojas - Stoneman Douglas, FL (LHP)

I’ve loved this fit since the beginning of draft season, and it stays true as we near the weekend of the draft. A plus fastball paired with an already plus secondary pitch in his slider, the Braves pitching lab can cook with an arm like Rojas.

They’ve gone that route recently with Cam Caminiti and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it again.

10. Colorado Rockies - Hunter Dietz - Arkansas (LHP)

A towering 6-ft-6 southpaw with a quality arsenal is something the Rockies should not pass up. The system has fantastic bats thanks to their recent draft picks, adding a top-end left-hander can really make things interesting for them. A proven pitcher out of the SEC, this could not only be one of the best options available but also one of the best fits long term.

11. Washington Nationals - Ryder Helfrick - Arkansas (C)

Back-to-back Razorbacks in this mock as we follow the trend of Helfrick to the Nats at No. 11. A polished defender with a bat that has room to grow, he would come in instantly as the top catcher in the system. A long term option of Keibert Ruiz and Harry Ford is definitely up in the air, picking Helfrick here gives Washington some breathing room internally in that department.

12. Los Angeles Angels - Tyler Bell - Kentucky (SS)

Angels love fast tracking SEC guys to the bigs and if he’s available like in this mock, I expect them to pounce on either Bell or Curiel. Besides Joswa Lugo and Denzer Guzman there’s no standout shortstop prospect in their system. Bell is a toolsy switch hitter that would instantly be that top shortstop.

13. St. Louis Cardinals - Derek Curiel - LSU (OF)

The Cardinals more often than not as of late have gone to the college arm route. While there’s great options here if they choose to go down that road again, I like the idea of taking Curiel.

A strong bat-to-ball profile, it feels like a safer pick than most other college options now available. Curiel should excel once receiving pro coaching, and already has a plus hit tool with above average skills in the outfield to pair.

14. Miami Marlins - AJ Gracia - Virginia (OF)

There’s multiple different college bats that are make sense for this pick, but if Gracia is available here I don’t see why Miami passes up.

After going with Aiva Arquette and Cam Cannarella last year, I like the idea of them returning to an ACC bat that has both above average power as well as an overall hit tool.

If not Gracia I feel like Ace Reese is a good shout, as well as possibly Justin Lebron.

15. Arizona Diamondbacks - Trevor Condon - Etowah, GA (OF)

This feels true to Arizona’s recent first round selections and in terms of a profile, fits as well. Condon has been one of the biggest stock risers among both college and high school prospects for good reason.

A polished hit tool for an 18-year-old, he pairs it with ++ speed, and above average defensive tools in the outfield. This pick would be reminiscent of their Slade Caldwell and Corbin Carroll selections in this past decade.

16. Texas Rangers - Jared Grindlinger - Huntington Beach, CA (LHP/OF)

The Rangers were on a streak of college selections up until this past draft taking Gavin Fien. With Grindlinger available I think they could make another higher-risk, higher-reward pick with the two-way standout.

Grindlinger has an advanced arsenal for his age at just 17 years old. With a strong arm from the outfield as well (naturally with his success as a pitcher), he’s a very fun pick for the Rangers here who love going with high upside prospects.

17. Houston Astros - Ace Reese - Mississippi State (3B)

Since 2016, the Astros have gone the high school route twice, most recently with Xavier Neyens. However, their six first round picks before were all college prospects.

They’ve gone with a position player in the past six first round picks as well, and for this one I like Reese. Strong power out of the SEC, this is a left-handed bat that likely will move quickly up the minor league ranks.

18. Cincinnati Reds - Liam Peterson - Florida (RHP)

This pick fits the mold of previous Reds first rounders. An arm out of the SEC with legit stuff, Peterson could be the next quick riser in their system if the control can improve in pro ball.

A strong fastball paired with a devastating slider could be too good to pass up on for Cincinnati if he’s available in this spot.

If not Peterson, I lean towards any top available college arm, or possibly Justin Lebron.

19. Cleveland Guardians - Bo Lawrence - Christ Church Episcopal, SC (3B)

I like this pick to Cleveland due to Lawrence’s overall hit tool being one of the stronger ones out of the high school class.

The Guardians can develop him into a well rounded contact-first oriented bat. With a 6-ft-5, 200 lb frame, Cleveland could very well have a future infield piece on their hand with Lawrence.

If not Lawrence another strong hit tool among the prep class likely available here is Cole Prosek.

20. Boston Red Sox - Cameron Flukey - Coastal Carolina (RHP)

The Red Sox have had some success with recent RHP college arms and I could see them going back to that route with Coastal’s Cameron Flukey.

While there are some concerns, Flukey’s stuff features a plus fastball like their previous first rounder Kyson Witherspoon, as well as two above average secondary offerings.

This could be yet another prospect to fall in the laps of the Sox at pick No. 20.

21. San Diego Padres - Carson Bolemon - Southside Christian, SC (LHP)

This pick seems the most likely given there previous two first round selections in lefties Kash Mayfield and Kruz Schoolcraft. Bolemon is an advanced arm with legit secondary offerings that undoubtedly will translate to pro-ball.

If the Padres can further develop his other pitches, he could become an incredible prospect. A 6-ft-4, 214 lb left-hander just screams San Diego, and at this point in the draft in terms of prep guys he’s the best available.

22. Detroit Tigers - Aiden Ruiz - The Stony Brook, NY (SS)

The Tigers are linked to multiple different prep bats and rightfully so given it’s been their route of choice since selecting Max Clark back in 2023. Their recent two, Bryce Rainer and Jordan Yost have both been shortstops as well.

What Ruiz may lack in the hitting part of his profile he more than makes up for with his defense. Scouts have called him the best defensive shortstop in the class and Detroit may value that skill greatly.

If not Ruiz, other prep bats like Landon Thome or Taj Marchand could very well be an option.

23. Chicago Cubs - Justin Lebron - Alabama (SS)

If Lebron truly falls this far it would surprise me, but I feel like I’ve heard more concerns with him than anything else lately. Regardless, this is still a really good profile that should earn him a first round selection.

The Cubs love going the college route, and it’s worked out for them recently with guys like Cade Horton and Nico Hoerner, and hopefully other names like Matt Shaw and Ethan Conrad can be key contributors more in the future.

Lebron could follow that trend, with some incredible upside that offers plus power, elite speed, and sound skills defensively at shortstop. If the hit tool comes along, the ceiling is widely known to be very high.

24. Seattle Mariners - Cade Townsend - Ole Miss (RHP)

The Mariners have turned to the SEC for two quality arms recently, Jurrangelo Cijntje and Kade Anderson. Before those two back in the 2020 draft, they went down the same road to get Emerson Hancock from Georgia.

Townsend lands as my selection for the Mariners. He displays three plus secondary offerings in his curveball, slider, and cutter, and has a well above average fastball. Let the Mariners do their thing, and Townsend should develop into a solid big league starter.

25. Milwaukee Brewers - James Clark - St. John Bosco, CA (SS)

The Brewers could very well take a different prep bat here, but I like Clark’s profile as it fits their system. Above average hit tool with plus speed sounds like something Milwaukee would enjoy adding.

Defensively, scouts have raised some concerns over his future at shortstop, but with Jesús Made projected as the long term taker of that position, Clark could very well learn how to fit himself into the mold.

Lots of room to grow here in the right system.

End of First Round: Prospect Promotion Incentive Picks

26. Atlanta Braves - Tegan Kuhns - Tennessee (RHP)

It would be surprising to see Kuhns still available here, and if he is I expect Atlanta to think about going with the Tennessee right-hander. A plus fastball with a solid curveball to pair, he has the blueprint the Braves can turn into a stud starter.

27. New York Mets - Sawyer Strosnider - TCU (OF)

After Carson Benge and Mitch Voit went in the first round to the Mets in previous drafts, I like the add of Strosnider here. A plus power-speed threat, there’s a ton of upside for a bat many thought would be picked higher preseason.

28. Houston Astros - Daniel Jackson - Georgia (C)

Jackson’s been mocked earlier by some and I feel if available here, the Astros will certainly pounce. The pedigree of a Golden Spikes winner would be a great add to Houston’s system. Whether or not there’s an even higher ceiling is up to them to tap into.

Competitive Balance Round A Picks

29. San Francisco Giants - Mason Edwards - USC (LHP)

After going with Flora with their first pick, I like the Giants staying in state at the collegiate level with Edwards. Arguably the best secondary pitch in the class with his devastating curveball, he would add even more strength to San Francisco’s minor league pitching depth.

30. Kansas City Royals - Cole Prosek - Magnolia Heights, MS (C/3B)

The Royals went the prep route multiple times early last year getting Sean Gamble and Josh Hammond. After the Burress pick, going with a different profile and a contact-first bat in Cole Prosek could be a sneaky good pick if he’s available.

31. Arizona Diamondbacks - Cole Carlon - Arizona State (LHP)

The Diamondbacks went in state last year picking Jack Martinez in the eighth round and have an even better prospect available with Cole Carlon. More of a project, Carlon has the stuff to be great if the control gets better with pro development.

32. St. Louis Cardinals - Landon Thome - Nazareth Academy, IL (2B/3B)

After going with a college outfielder that may seem like a safer pick, going with high upside in a prep player could be the Cardinals next thought. Thome’s got advanced offensive tools for his age, but St. Louis will be tasked with strengthening his defense.

33. Tampa Bay Rays - Zion Rose - Louisville (OF)

A proven power-conference college bat with strong contact skills and underrated power, sounds like something the Rays would love to take after Emerson at No. 2. Rose had a great career at Louisville and fits Tampa’s system here at pick 33.

34. Pittsburgh Pirates - Brody Bumila - Bishop Feehan, MA (LHP)

Not sure how Bumila’s draft stock has been effected with recent news surrounding his arm health, but if he’s to go around this range I wouldn’t be surprised to see Pittsburgh take him. Whether or not Bumila signs is the bigger question.

35. New York Yankees - Taylor Rabe - Ole Miss (RHP)

I could see New York going the prep route again, or going with a strong college bat but I like them going with Rabe here. A very advanced and polished pitch mix could set him up to be molded into a reliable big league arm with the Yankees coaching.

36. Philadelphia Phillies - Coleman Borthwick - South Walton, FL (RHP)

The Phillies like to go with prep prospects, but went Gage Wood and Cade Obermueller out of the college crop last year. I think the pendulum swings back and they take towering 6-ft-6 RHP Coleman Borthwick.

Two very good offerings in the fastball and slider, there’s a solid foundation laid here for Philly to finish building.

37. Colorado Rockies - Logan Reddemann - UCLA (RHP)

Colorado can continue to reinforce their pitching depth with another college arm in Reddemann. The fastball is by far the best pitch and he pairs it with elite control. A top arm out of the Big Ten could go earlier, but here feels like a good spot.

Second Round (Up to Pick 50)

38. Colorado Rockies - Aiden Robbins - Texas (OF)

With back-to-back picks, I like the Rockies to take the best college bat available, and you could argue that’s Aiden Robbins. After a successful season with Texas, Colorado could venture right back to the SEC for the Longhorns outfielder.

39. Toronto Blue Jays - Logan Hughes - Texas Tech (OF)

Hughes could go earlier, but if available here, I do like the idea of Toronto picking him up. An excellent bat-to-ball hitter, he could be a quick rising prospect in the Blue Jays system.

40. Los Angeles Dodgers - Logan Schmidt - Ganesha, CA (LHP)

Dodgers just have to go with the most upside possible, and staying with a California prep arm could be a great get. The option to get a lefty with a good pitch mix already and solid control, Schmidt offers a lot of intriguing factors for Los Angeles at No. 41.

41. Chicago White Sox - Tyler Spangler - De La Salle, CA (SS)

The White Sox went with a couple prep bats last year and at their second pick, I like them going back that way. Spangler could then be the choice here. Already solid tools both offensively and defensively, he would be a great addition to their draft class.

42. Washington Nationals - Caden Sorrell - Texas A&M (OF)

The Nationals made a similar pick going with Ethan Petry last year, and Sorrell could be a great option here. Plus tools defensively, he can become a very intriguing prospect with an improved hit tool. Above average power to watch here too.

43. Minnesota Twins - Jack Radel - Notre Dame (RHP)

Radel at this point is one of the best arms on the board. At 6-ft-5, 250 pounds, he has a strong frame with a great feel for his pitch mix. Has solid control, and a very similar frame to their 2025 pick Riley Quick, also a college right-hander.

44. Pittsburgh Pirates - Taj Marchand - James Island, SC (SS)

Trying to get Marchand to pick the pro route over his commitment to Ole Miss could be tough at this spot but it’s well worth a try. Still just 17, Marchand has an above average hit tool that he pairs with a strong arm from shortstop.

45. Los Angeles Angels - Chris Rembert - Auburn (2B)

The Angels love the quick-rising college prospects and Rembert’s plus hit tool could possibly allow him to follow that trend. Jarren Advincula of Georgia Tech as well would be a solid pick here.

46. Baltimore Orioles - Eric Becker - Virginia (SS)

The Orioles went college heavy early on last year, and if that trend continues Becker could be a great selection here. A patient bat that doesn’t punch-out much at all, he could be a great addition to Baltimore’s system.

47. Athletics - Jarren Advincula - Georgia Tech (SS)

The Athletics got a fantastic pick with Devin Taylor at their second round spot, and could go right back to the college crop to get Advincula. An advanced hit tool paired with plus speed, he was a staple on an elite Georgia Tech offense in 2026.

48. Atlanta Braves - Ben Blair - Liberty (RHP)

Plus control with two solid above average offerings already make for a really intriguing arm at this spot. Not as battle tested against mid-major competition, Blair is still a fantastic pitcher, not worth overlooking.

49. Tampa Bay Rays - Gavin Grahovac - Texas A&M (1B)

Plus power with a 6-ft-3, 230-pound frame, his profile may not fit the system, but he adds something not typically seen in the top-end of the farm.

50. St. Louis Cardinals - Chase Brunson - TCU (OF)

Brunson’s an all-around solid prospect and would be a great cherry on top for the Cardinals here to round out the first 50 picks. Great legs and a solid arm from the outfield. He was drafted in the 14th round back in 2023 but didn’t sign with Toronto.

If you made it this far, thank you so much for reading! I’ll have more draft-related content after each day. Subscribe for more MLB and MiLB prospect articles!

All clips are pulled from the prospect’s schools X account. Example: Georgia Tech Baseball on X for Lackey & Burress, etc.

Here’s a handful of prospects that have looked good offensively, that should be more on your radar for the remainder of the season.

Jay Harry - 2B/SS/OF - TOR

2026 Stats: 62 G | .341/.377/.616 | 12 HR | 155 wRC+

It’s been an incredibly productive 2026 season for the former 6th round pick out of the Blue Jays 2023 class. The Penn State alum has played this season across Double/Triple-A, notably going on a recent tear for Buffalo upon his promotion.

He’s gotten at least one hit in 12/14 games to start his time in Triple-A, and has matched his previous career-high of 12 home runs this season in just 62 games.

Harry has an intriguing left-handed-hitting profile. An aggressive bat, elevated chase numbers becomes paired with a solid rate of in-zone swings.

Harry’s hit the ball hard since entering Triple-A, and has maintained the ability to produce pull-air contact. With his swing rate, if he’s on, he’s a tough bat to silence.

Josiah Ragsdale - OF - MIL

2026 stats: 60 G | .327/.447/.528 | 7 HR | 151 wRC+

Ragsdale’s stock has been rising as he now finds himself ranked as a T-30 prospect in the Brewers system. He’s earned that title after putting together a dominant first half in High-A.

A former 7th round pick out of Boston College, Ragsdale has shown a more disciplined profile, one that’s done a nice job of limiting both chase and whiff.

His solid swing decisions are paired with a bat that excels at generating line-drive contact, limiting his GB% to just 40.3%.

Not a major power threat, he’s hit seven homers, but has stolen 24 bases. Strong plate discipline and plus-plus speed makes him one to monitor as a continuous stock-riser, even though he’s currently 22 years old in High-A.

Read more

In no particular order here have been some of my favorite storylines and narratives to follow this season.

1. Mike Sirota’s On-Base Streak

Entering today, Mike Sirota has been on an absurd 61 game on-base streak. He’s done this as one of, if not the most productive hitter in minor league baseball.

A 176 wRC+, 12 HR, 10 SB, and a .326 AVG, he’s simply one of the toughest outs at any level. His 20.7% BB% & 22.3% K% are a direct sign of that. He’s continued to tear the cover off the ball while showing plus plate discipline, raw power, and speed.

2. The Absurd Power of Andrew Fischer

Brewers 2025 first rounder Andrew Fischer displayed his mammoth power all throughout his time in High-A Wisconsin, hitting 20 HR in 54 games. It earned him a much deserved and overdue promotion to Double-A Biloxi.

Upon the promotion, he’s already hit 3 HR in his first 6 games with Biloxi. He ranks first among all minor league bats (min. 200 PA) with a .396 ISO. The power with Fischer is among the most special in all of baseball.

3. Murf Gray’s Breakout

The Pirates getting both Seth Hernandez and Murf Gray in this past draft just doesn’t seem fair after the first half of the 2026 season.

Gray has spent the first half in A-ball and has mashed both levels with a .350/.430/.638 slashline, 19 HR, and a 169 wRC+.

He looks to be a steal for Pittsburgh, showing plus power, while chasing a promotion to the hardest level of minor league baseball.

4. Sean Keys Ascension to MLB

Going into the year, Keys was one of the more talked about “underrated” prospects. Now that title is rather unfair as he just earned his promotion to the big leagues.

After hitting 19 HR in High-A in 2025, he’s hit 21 in the first half between AA/AAA. 7 HR in his first 18 games at AAA, it  was really just a matter of time until Keys joined the Blue Jays at the Major League level. His 164 wRC+ leads all Blue Jays MiLB bats.

5. Theo Gillen’s Rise to Double-A

20-year-old Theo Gillen was great last year in Tampa’s system, but this year has taken his game to the next level. He entered this year with 5 career homers, and now sits at 12 this year.

The emergence of his power has been the most impressive part of his game, and his 167 wRC+ in High-A earned him a promotion to Double-A. He has the potential to be one of the highest ranked prospects in baseball if he continues to trend this way.

6. Josiah Hartshorn: Draft Gem

Sixth round picks don’t typically rise into top-100 lists less than a year after being drafted but here we are with Josiah Hartshorn.

He’s been elite at the plate, slashing .302/.418/.557 across A/A+, with 14 HR, a 15.3% BB%, and 154 wRC+. At just 19, he doesn’t look like he’s being challenged enough, and he’ll undoubtedly be one of the most followed bats in the second half.

7. Josue De Paula’s Dominating Double-A

Josue De Paula as a 21-year-old in Double-A has become more aggressive at the plate, and it’s worked wonders for him. He’s living up to the hype as one of the games top young bats.

He’s already hit for a career-high 13 HR in the first half of this season. His 19 SB have made him a legitimate 20/20 threat as he continues to push through the system.

With a 14.6% BB% compared to just a 12.7% K%, he’ll be called upon in plenty of trade talks, making his future this season and beyond one to watch very closely.

8. Franklin Arias Giving Boston Hope

Boston this year has been for lack of a better term a dumpster-fire. Arias however has been a major positive. His plus power and hit tool has given Red Sox fans hope of the future of the shortstop position.

Arias has hit the double digit mark in homers for the first time in his young career, swatting 14 already. His current .580 SLG and 151 wRC+ are all career-highs in affiliated ball.

A solid defender, his debut can’t come soon enough for Sox fans, and his time in Double-A may be over with soon. He turns 21 after this season in late November.

9. Eli Willits Looks Like Baseballs Next Top Prospect

Some raised eyebrows at the pick of Eli Willits at 1.1, but it’s proving to be the right choice for Washington. Willits after all has been the best bat in the system this year.

Willits has shown his plus hit tool, walking at a clip north of 16% while slashing .290/.412/.525 across A/A+. The hit tool has been paired with more pop in the tank than initially believed.

11 HR and 35 SB currently, it’s not crazy to say Willits could be an easy 20 HR/60 SB bat in his first full pro season.

10. Lazaro Montes & Felnin Celesten Look Like Seattle’s Next Big Stars

Seattle has so much to enjoy about the farm on both sides of the ball. Hitting wise, Montes and Celesten have led the way with their production.

Montes has hit 23 homers already, with an absurd 11 long-balls in June so far. He’s displayed ridiculous raw power to all fields. His 137 wRC+ is 3rd in the Mariners system, ranking behind Celesten (min. 200 PA).

Celesten’s gone on a tear at High-A, slashing .320/.412/.530 with 11 HR, 17 SB, and a 141 wRC+. The 20-year-old switch hitter is locked in right now, fresh off a cycle to close out the first half.

11. The Breakout of Chase Harlan

Harlan took the California League by storm before a promotion to High-A. He showed his tremendous raw power, with 10 HR in 57 games.

His 14.3% BB% and K% below 20% at Low-A made him one of the more talked about prospects in the Dodgers system, and that’ll likely continue as he progresses through the second half in High-A.

12. Xavier Neyens Showcasing Special Power at Low-A

One of the more fun first round picks of last year’s draft was the Astros selecting Xavier Neyens. The special raw power has translated to pro ball, and more impressively at Low-A.

The 19-year-old has been a feared bat, with 10 HR in 56 games, as well as a 23% BB%. There’s swing-and-miss concerns, but Neyens is proving to be the high upside power bat scouts thought he was pre-draft early on in his career.

13. Edwin Arroyo’s Bounce Back

Upon reaching Triple-A this season, Edwin Arroyo has bounced back in a big way. Before his big league call up, he slashed .323/.383/.562, with 11 HR, and a 142 wRC+.

He showed promise from both sides of the plate as a switch-hitter, and now up with the Reds, he’ll be looked at closely in the second half to see how much of an impact he can be.

14. Tate Southesine Looks Like A Gem for Atlanta

Before today’s game, Southesine is one of two prospects with 40+ stolen bases this year. He’s paired it with eight homers, and a 141 wRC+.

The Braves first rounder from 2025 has hit the ground running between A/A+, and has shown a very well disciplined eye with easy plus speed. A very good get and a gem of a prospect already.

15. Eric Hartman Breakout As Former 20th Round Pick

You want to talk about Braves draft gems then you have to bring up Eric Hartman. A former 20th round pick, he’s about as good of a steal as you can get in the MLB Draft.

Another Braves prospect with elite speed, Hartman has ++ speed that amounted to 48 SB in 2025, and 29 so far in 2026. His 18 HR and 138 wRC+ have led to him being one of the biggest risers in all of baseball in terms of prospect rankings.

16. Luis Lara Extension & Impressive Play In Triple-A

The Brewers love betting on their young guys and they continued that trend with an extension to Luis Lara, who still hasn’t debuted yet.

It’s a fair extension, with how valuable Lara can be in the field for years to come with a premium glove and plus speed. When the bats come through the way it has this year, it’s easy to see why he was given the extension.

Slashing .323/.434/.455 in 70 games at Triple-A, the 21-year-old’s shown more pop with a career-high seven homers to go with his 20 SB. More walks than strikeouts, it’s hard to find a flaw in his game right now.

17. Joshua Baez Destroying Triple-A Pitching

It’s hard to swallow the fact that Joshua Baez hasn’t made his big league debut yet with a near-30 HR first half but here we are. Regardless, his production in Triple-A has been one of the most fun things to watch in minor league baseball during the first half.

While there’s swing-and-miss concern with Baez, his power output has been just unbelievable. He’s currently slashing .273/.343/.626 after 69 games with 26 HR, 13 SB, and a 139 wRC+. A big league promotion has to be in the cards soon.

18. Franklin Primera: Complex Star

19-year-old catching prospect Franklin Primera has broken out in the complex this year with a .433/.556/.742 slash in 30 games. He’s also hit eight homers, drove in 29 RBI, and recorded a whopping 207 wRC+.

The plate discipline’s been there with a 16.5% BB% to a 9.4% K%. He’s made consistent contact and has shown great whiff limitation. His affiliated ball debut will be a highly anticipated one.

19. 8th Rounder Ryan Sprock’s Low-A Tear

An 8th round pick to the Twins in the 2025 draft out of Elon, Sprock’s Low-A hit streak has made for one of the cooler overlooked storylines of this first half.

While he is a former college bat in Low-A, the fact that he’s had a hit in every single game he’s played in June has made him one of the most fun bats to watch at the moment. He has a 150 wRC+ and a 17.4% BB% in 58 games.

20. Wyatt Sanford’s Improvements

While Sanford ended his 2026 first half on the 7-day IL, he made adjustments that have already shown a world of difference in the Pirates system. He’s hit the double digit homer mark for the first time with 10 already, and has stolen 21 bases alongside the added power.

While that newfound pop has came with a higher strikeout rate, the bat is producing more, forcing more walks as well. His second half will be one to monitor closely.

21. Jace Avina Looks Like The Yankees Next Trade Chip Prospect

Pre-season I talked about how Jace Avina could be the next Yankee prospect on the trade block and with his 2026 resume it certainly looks like he could be asked for. While the K% has been elevated, he’s hit 15 homers, while posting a 143 wRC+ in 55 games. A knack for pull-air contact, his near future will be very interesting to track.

Whether that’s in another organization or with the Yankees, Avina has come to play this year, showing power he hasn’t shown in years.

22. LSU Alum Kade Anderson and Anthony Eyanson Proving To Be Studs In The Pros

Over his first 12 starts Kade Anderson has unsurprisingly dominated. He has a 1.02 ERA, with a 13.14 K/9, and 1.58 FIP. That production was rather expected, Anthony Eyanson’s on the other hand, has been awesome to see early in his career.

Between A+/AA, Eyanson has dominated to a 1.00 ERA and 12.4 K/9. He’s excelled at getting ground-ball contact, and the stuff’s been near untouchable with a .147 BAA.

Two former standout arms with a championship LSU ball club have gotten off to a flying start in what should be very long professional careers.

23. Karson Milbrandt Continues To Rise

Milbrandt has looked like one of the best arms in minor league baseball after a great showing in the AFL to end 2025. His 1.31 ERA between AA/AAA is among one of the best in the minors.

The strikeout stuff has come through big time, with a 12.34 K/9 in 12 starts. He’s also excelled at getting ground-ball contact, while missing bats at an extremely effective rate.

His time in Miami may come sooner rather than later, especially if he dominates Triple-A competition in the second half of 2026. He’s risen to become one of baseball’s best pitching prospects.

24. The Ridiculous Talent That Is Seth Hernandez

You can’t talk favorite storylines of the first half without mentioning the ridiculous talent that is Seth Hernandez. His first 13 starts have been exactly as advertised when he was coming out of Corona.

A 2.04 ERA between A/A+, he’ll turn 20 later this month, but that doesn’t make his resume any less impressive. His near 42% K% has been one of the best in MiLB, and the stuff’s has played really well, keeping hitters to a .158 BAA.

He’s been one of the most impressive pitchers at any level of the sport, and it looks like that trend will only continue. You could arguably stick him in the Majors now and he’d compete.

25. The Insane Untouchable Stuff From Miguel Sime Jr.

The Nationals got a stud arm in the 4th round of this past draft, signing Miguel Sime Jr. to a cool $2 million bonus. The stuff has been violent, and it’s generated an incredible amount of strikeouts.

Among MiLB pitchers with at least 40 IP, Sime ranks first with his 17.26 K/9 & 42.9% K%. While his BB/9 has been over 8.00, he still has an ERA below 4.00 at 3.98.

The stuff gives him a high ceiling, and if he can clean up the control more through the second half this storyline will continue to be one of the more fun ones on the mound.

That’s all for this article! Thank you for reading and be sure to subscribe for more MLB & MiLB prospect content.

Clips: MLB Film Room

In his age-28 season, he’s proving many doubters wrong, showing that he’s found a home with the St. Louis Cardinals. As of late, he’s been one of the best pitchers in baseball, solidifying a 2026 breakout.

Over his first 14 starts of 2026, May has posted a 3.75 ERA, striking out over 22% of his hitters faced, while keeping his BB% down to 6.4%, his lowest clip since 2019 where he only pitched 34.2 innings.

Recently however is where he’s seemed to hit his best stride. Since May 27th he’s been one of the two most valuable pitchers in baseball. His 1.3 fWAR since that date is tied for the most, with Brewers star right-hander Jacob Misiorowski.

He’s struck out at least nine batters in three out of his last four starts. It’s starting to look like maybe, this isn’t just a hot stretch. It’s worth it at this point towards the tail end of the first half a look into what has helped him become successful with St. Louis.

For starters, May is healthy this season which is huge. We see that with a direct correlation to his fastball. It’s now his most used offering, and has averaged 96.8 mph, good for the 84th percentile among all qualified Major League pitchers.

Going heavier on the heater could also have a direct impact on why he’s walked less batters. Commanding a four-seamer is tremendously easier than an offspeed or breaking offering, and having his two most used pitches be fastball types can keep hitters off balanced without sacrificing much control.

While he hasn’t limited hard-hit contact among the best, he’s done a great job of getting ground-ball contact. Since May 15th, he’s been even better at that, generating a GB% of 50.5%.

Let’s take a look at his pitch-mix a little bit deeper to see what changes have been made to make him more successful.

The biggest change as previously mentioned was the usage on both his fastball going up, and his sweeper going down. Sweeper usage dropped by almost 20% while four-seam usage rose by 10%.

This has made his sweeper more effective this season. It’s generated a whiff rate of 35.1% (over eight percent increase from 2025), and has seen an almost three percent increase in PutAway%.

With the four-seam fastball working, the sweeper has become a staple strikeout pitch. When you add in a curveball at the back-end of the arsenal as well, it keeps hitters even further off balance, now giving him two offerings with a Whiff% over 30%.

Another pitch that’s seen success after dropping its usage has been the sinker. After having a BAA of .294 in 2025, May dropped the usage from 33.5% to 17.9%.

This has resulted in better numbers, with a .219 BAA, .328 SLG, and .265 wOBA. While the cutter hasn’t seen the same success since raising its frequency, it’s allowed for his better offerings like the sinker to excel when they’re utilized.

Despite all the changes to his pitch-mix, the biggest thing again is he’s healthy. While his first six starts weren’t stellar, his last eight have been fantastic.

Since May 1st, he’s looked great with a 2.82 ERA, and 53 strikeouts to 14 walks in 51.0 innings. Since that date, he’s been the 6th most valuable pitcher in the National League with 1.6 fWAR.

For an arm that’s battled injuries as well as bouncing around from multiple different teams over the last few years, the success is well deserved for May. On a team that seems to be embracing their fans more than any other at the moment, his 2026 season has made for an incredible story.

has an incredible thread breaking down how his different pitch usage rates have led to more success this season. Check it out below, and be sure to give him a follow!

Clips: Baseball Savant & MLB Film Room

Joshua Baez (St. Louis Cardinals)

Last 6 G: 29 AB: .345/.406/1.000 | 5 HR | 10 RBI | 236 wRC+

Baez is a name that has been making headlines all season at the Triple-A level and this past week was nothing different. A handful of home runs paired with 10 RBI, and a 1.000 SLG, he put his elite raw power on full display.

Even more encouraging was the fact that his K% was under 19% in that stretch. With a K-rate of over 31% on the year, it’s good to see that in a stretch where so much power was being generated, he limited the number of strikeouts.

Baez now has a 123 wRC+ on the season, and already has 16 home runs with 11 stolen bases. The swing-and-miss concerns are high but the power output is undeniable, paired with a consistent feel to pull the ball in the air.

Aron Estrada (Baltimore Orioles)

Last 6 G: 26 AB: .308/.357/.654 | 2 HR | 6 RBI | 150 wRC+

Estrada is a name that has come up as one of the more underrated prospects in the sport. Weeks like this, it’s easy to see why. A fantastic slashline with a couple homers and a 150 wRC+, he’s been getting better at Double-A.

Over the month of May, Estrada has slashed .319/.360/.500 with a 119 wRC+. He’s not drawn a ton of walks, but when the K% is at 17% at 21 years old, there’s undoubtedly a lot to be excited about with Estrada.

His season wRC+ now sits at 89, with seven homers, a .437 SLG, and 19.6% K%. While he’s consistently been a slightly aggressive hitter, his Contact% has stayed over 75%. Still a young bat at the hardest level of the minor leagues, he’s a name to watch.

Cam Cannarella (Miami Marlins)

Last 6 G: 27 AB: .407/.414/.593 | 1 HR | 8 RBI | 156 wRC+

Cannarella rightfully earned a promotion to Double-A after a great another great week. He hit and got on-base at a clip over .400, while keeping his K% under 14% over this stretch. Over those 27 AB, he posted an OPS slightly over 1.000.

A Clemson product, Cannarella showed freak athleticism for the Tigers, and is now showing it in the professional ranks. While he’s missed time with an injury earlier this year, he’s slashed .394/.439/.577, for an OPS of 1.016.

Not a major power threat, Cannarella offers plus speed in the outfield with a great glove to pair. At the plate, he’s a disciplined bat (12.2% K% in 2026), and has shown a great feel so far professionally to take the ball to the opposite field.

Ryan Wideman (San Diego Padres)

Last 6 G: 28 AB: .429/.429/.679 | 1 HR | 6 RBI | 174 wRC+

An intriguing mid-major draft pick out of Western Kentucky, Wideman’s impressed and continued to do so last week. He hit and got on-base at a .429 clip, and recorded five hits for extra bases on four doubles and a home run.

While he is a former college bat in Low-A, Wideman has struck out at an 18.1% rate, while posting a .314 AVG, .500 SLG, and an eye-opening 36 stolen bases. He has true plus speed in the field and on the basepaths.

A bat that comes with a lot of ground-ball contact, Wideman makes consistent contact, and has hit more line drives than he has fly-balls. At 22 years old, a promotion to High-A has to be in the near future.

Johan De Los Santos (Pittsburgh Pirates)

Last 5 G (Before June): 19 AB: .316/.458/.684 | 1 HR | 2 3B | 179 wRC+

This is another name in the Pirates system to have on your radar. At just 17 years old, Johan De Los Santos is stateside and making himself known. While his bat isn’t graded the highest, he’s highly praised for his speed on some sites.

Over this past week he posted an impressive slashline with a pair of triples, and now has five three-baggers on the season. In his first 18 games, he slashed .328/.457/.625 with 14 stolen bases, and a 171 wRC+.

An 85% Contact% this year, he’s already played a couple of games in affiliated ball while most of the kids his age in the Florida area were wrapping up their high school seasons. Remember the name, the Pirates have another good one.

(Clip not from this past week)

All Clips: MLB Film Room

Here’s five prospects who had great weeks heading into the end of May.

Denzer Guzman (Los Angeles Angels)

Last 6 G: 27 AB: .444/.444/.815 | 2 HR | 1.259 OPS | 205 wRC+

22-year-old Denzer Guzman has been solid in Triple-A this season, slashing .328/.396/.542 with nine HR, 45 RBI, and a 128 wRC+ in 47 games. While he doesn’t tear the cover off the baseball, he still fairs above average in many underlying statistics.

A bat that’s done a good job of limiting whiff and chase this year, his calling card has been his swing decisions. According to ProspectSavant, he has a Z-Swing% just shy of 76%, ranking him in the 90th percentile.

Those swing decisions have shown to have paid off recently. He went crazy offensively this past week, recording four straight multi-hit performances, and five total throughout his six games played.

Jhonny Level (San Francisco Giants)

Last 6 G: 26 AB: .346/.387/.846 | 4 HR | 1.233 OPS | 163 wRC+

19-year-old Jhonny Level has been making headlines across minor league baseball all season. A prospect that won’t be 20 until next March, he’s handled Low-A pitching incredibly well, showing his hot start wasn’t a fluke, especially this past week.

He had just as many homers as he did singles, while driving in 13 RBI in just six games. He also recorded two multi-homer games over a three game stretch. When he gets going at the plate, he’s been one of the hardest prospects to contain.

He now has a .323/.386/.575 slashline on the year for San Jose, with nine HR, and a 131 wRC+. He continues to make efficient contact, while limiting swing-and-miss. Such an advanced bat for his age.

Easton Shelton (Los Angeles Dodgers)

Last 7 G: 31 AB: .419/.424/.774 | 3 HR | 1.198 OPS | 182 wRC+

A 20-year-old out of Bishop Gorman, Shelton’s been putting it together more consistently throughout the month of May. More recently this past week, he recorded five multi-hit performances in a seven game stretch.

He’s shown to be a power threat as well, with a trio of homers, and two doubles among his 13 hits recorded over that stretch. Headlined by a four RBI outing on May 19th, he recorded at least one RBI in every single game last week.

Still concerns with the number of strikeouts (currently 37.9% K%), he’s still managed a .547 SLG on the season, with 10 HR across 39 games. After posting a 90 wRC+ last year, he’s steadily improving against California League pitching.

Clip: @dodgerslite

Carson Roccaforte (Kansas City Royals)

Last 6 G: 26 AB: .346/.393/.654 | 2 HR | 1.047 OPS | 166 wRC+

After a breakout season within Kansas City’s organization in 2025, Roccaforte’s clock continues to tick towards his MLB debut. Stretches like this will help the 24-year-old inch closer to that date.

While he recorded just two multi-hit games in this stretch, he’s done it for a considerable amount of power with two homers, a triple, and a .308 ISO over 26 AB and nine hits.

He now has 12 HR on his season in 44 games at Double-A, that’s to go along with 10 stolen bases, and a 127 wRC+. After posting a 141 wRC+ in Double-A last season, a Triple-A promotion could be looming in the near future.

Aaron Walton (Cleveland Guardians)

Last 6 G: 25 AB: .320/.393/.560 | 4 XBH | .953 OPS | 141 wRC+

Unlike the other four on this list, Walton had two games this past week where he went hitless. Besides those two contests, he still managed to hit for a .320 AVG, with four extra-base-hits. He had three multi-RBI games, with four on May 24th.

Walton had the same amount of his for extra bases as he had singles (4/4), continuing his hot start to the year in High-A. He now has a .316/.414/.587 slashline with nine homers, 12 stolen bases, and a 153 wRC+.

Clip: @CleGuardPro

Clips: MLB Film Room

Jose Ramirez - .250 AVG & 1.067 OPS with 1 HR in 12 AB vs. Reid Detmers

Elly De La Cruz - .333 AVG & .968 OPS in 12 AB vs. Jake Irvin

TJ Friedl - .500 AVG & 1.431 OPS with 1 HR in 8 AB vs. Jake Irvin

James Wood - .455 AVG & 1.000 OPS in 11 AB vs. Nick Lodolo

Marcell Ozuna - .414 AVG & 1.055 OPS with 1 HR in 29 AB vs. Jose Quintana

Mickey Moniak - .400 AVG & 1.200 OPS with 1 HR in 10 AB vs. Mitch Keller

Trea Turner - .385 AVG & .929 OPS in 26 AB vs. Sonny Gray

JT Realmuto - .211 AVG & .865 OPS with 1 HR in 19 AB vs. Sonny Gray

Alec Bohm - .462 AVG & 1.231 OPS with 1 HR in 13 AB vs. Sonny Gray

Cedric Mullins - .333 AVG & .940 OPS in 15 HR vs. Dylan Cease

Bo Bichette - .308 AVG & .846 OPS with 1 HR in 13 AB vs. Framber Valdez

Ozzie Albies - .556 AVG & 1.778 OPS with 2 HR in 9 AB vs. Shota Imanaga

Matt Olson - .500 AVG & 1.306 OPS in 8 AB vs. Shota Imanaga

Brice Turang - .375 AVG & 1.000 OPS in 8 AB vs. Michael King

Sal Frelick - .375 AVG & .944 OPS in 8 AB vs. Michael King

Randy Arozarena - .400 AVG & .855 OPS in 10 AB vs. Lance McCullers

Kyle Tucker - .364 AVG & 1.326 OPS with 2 HR in 11 AB vs. Robbie Ray

Mookie Betts - .333 AVG & 1.167 OPS with 1 HR in 9 AB vs. Robbie Ray

Matt Chapman - .211 AVG & .865 OPS with 2 HR in 19 AB vs. Shohei Ohtani

5/13 Hit Props

Matt Olson 2+ HRR

Not much to explain with this pick. Despite the lefty-lefty matchup, Olson’s crushed Imanaga in his career. With how good he’s been it makes sense to go back.

Brice Turang 2+ HRR

Turang’s continued success offensively is one of the most underrated stories in the sport, and with him on this list today we have to go with him. While only eight AB vs. King, an OPS of 1.000 is enough to convince me here.

James Wood 2+ HRR

While this is a tougher lefty-lefty matchup, Wood has shown the ability to attack southpaws. For that reason paired with his resume vs. Lodolo, I like going to him for at least two hits, runs, or RBI.

All clips: MLB Film Room.