2025 Hit+ Leaderboard: Top MiLB Hitters By Age & Underlying Metrics
Image credit: Konnor Griffin (Photo by Mike Janes/Four Seam Images)
For the third consecutive year, Baseball America measured minor league performance using underlying Statcast metrics collected via Hawk-Eye data from across the minors. Our RoboScout model incorporates this data to evaluate the performance of hitters and pitchers and better project their future major league outcomes.
At the lower levels of the minors, surface stats alone can be misleading and noisy because of the quality of pitching and defense. That is especially true of the poor pitching control in the Dominican Summer League. As J.J. Cooper noted on a podcast earlier this year, in the DSL, hitters can post a .350 on-base percentage simply by just keeping the bat on their shoulder.
That’s where RoboScout helps. The model blends traditional statistics with underlying data like contact quality, swing decisions and exit velocity to provide a truer measure of performance and projection. But sometimes, looking only at the underlying data is even more revealing. If a hitter can produce a 115 mph exit velocity or whiff on just 5% of in-zone swings, that’s an objective skill—unaffected by field conditions, defense or ballpark size.
This article highlights the hitters age 23 and younger who posted the best underlying Statcast data in 2025 (minimum 150 plate appearances). DSL players age 20 and older were excluded.
Our Methodology: How Hit+ Works
To capture a hitter’s true underlying performance, we used weighted on-base average (wOBA) as our baseline and created a Hit+ score that weights each key metric by how strongly it correlates with future wOBA. Like wRC+, Hit+ is centered at 100, so scores above that mark indicate better-than-average underlying performance or vice versa.
The primary inputs include:
- Contact rate and in-zone contact rate (zCon%)
- 90th percentile exit velocity (EV90)
- Chase rate and Swing%–minus–Chase%
- Barrel rate (BRL%)
- Expected weighted on-base average on contact (xwOBAcon)
One important note: Each hitter’s performance was compared to the overall minor league average rather than level-specific averages, due to data availability. As a result, a Double-A and Low-A hitter with the same contact rate against breaking balls, for example, are evaluated equally in that category.
Please note: Hit+ measures only offensive skill and does not account for defensive value or baserunning.
Age 16
| Name | Org | HIT+ | Cont% | zCon% | 90EV | Chase% | BRL% | xwOBAcon |
| Sami Manzueta | HOU | 109 | 79% | 87% | 102 mph | 18% | 14% | .349 |
| Freiker Betencourt | CHC | 106 | 84% | 95% | 99 mph | 19% | 12% | .308 |
| Miguel Carabello | SFG | 102 | 67% | 88% | 102 mph | 20% | 12% | .347 |
| Angel Abreu | CLE | 99 | 89% | 90% | 95 mph | 18% | 6% | .259 |
There weren’t many 16-year-olds in this data set, let alone ones with above-average Statcast metrics. Astros infielder Sami Manzueta and Cubs outfielder Freiker Betencourt were the classes of this demographic.
Age 17
| Name | Org | HIT+ | Cont% | zCon% | 90EV | Chase% | BRL% | xwOBAcon |
| Gabriel Davalillo | LAA | 113 | 83% | 90% | 102 mph | 23% | 15% | .392 |
| Richard Matic | NYY | 113 | 74% | 81% | 104 mph | 16% | 18% | .380 |
| Josuar Gonzalez | SFG | 110 | 81% | 89% | 104 mph | 21% | 17% | .318 |
| Elorky Rodriguez | TEX | 110 | 77% | 84% | 99 mph | 15% | 16% | .357 |
| Starlin Mieses | BAL | 109 | 68% | 75% | 103 mph | 11% | 18% | .344 |
| Juneiker Caceres | CLE | 108 | 84% | 88% | 105 mph | 26% | 13% | .321 |
| Hyun Seung Lee | PIT | 108 | 79% | 86% | 101 mph | 21% | 19% | .297 |
| Juan Sanchez | TOR | 107 | 78% | 89% | 100 mph | 26% | 18% | .353 |
| Sebastian Dos Santos | STL | 106 | 76% | 83% | 99 mph | 12% | 14% | .324 |
| Teilon Serrano | MIN | 106 | 67% | 75% | 104 mph | 24% | 17% | .397 |
Although he is in the middle of the list, Guardians outfielder Juneiker Caceres not only achieved these metrics stateside, but impressively did it in full-season ball for Low-A Lynchburg.
Age 18
| Name | Org | HIT+ | Cont% | zCon% | 90EV | Chase% | BRL% | xwOBAcon |
| Edward Florentino | PIT | 121 | 83% | 88% | 104 mph | 20% | 25% | .403 |
| Josue Brito | BOS | 121 | 76% | 83% | 103 mph | 17% | 31% | .425 |
| Edgar Montero | ATH | 120 | 72% | 80% | 105 mph | 13% | 30% | .374 |
| Rainiel Rodriguez | STL | 117 | 76% | 80% | 105 mph | 24% | 24% | .409 |
| Emil Morales | LAD | 114 | 70% | 77% | 106 mph | 25% | 24% | 413 |
| Edgardo De Leon | CHC | 114 | 66% | 76% | 108 mph | 28% | 22% | .464 |
| Luis Cova | MIA | 113 | 80% | 85% | 102 mph | 17% | 20% | .358 |
| Jose Castro | MIA | 113 | 71% | 85% | 103 mph | 20% | 20% | .410 |
| Ching-Hsien Ko | LAD | 112 | 76% | 81% | 104 mph | 18% | 19% | .345 |
| Ramiro Dominguez | MIN | 111 | 84% | 90% | 100 mph | 24% | 17% | .310 |
| Jonathan Rangel | MIL | 111 | 75% | 83% | 102 mph | 17% | 28% | .357 |
To no one’s surprise, top prospects Pirates outfielder Edward Florentino and Cardinals catcher Rainiel Rodriguez are prominently featured. Another pair of Dodgers outfielders also appear: Emil Morales, who was one of the top DSL performers in 2024, and Ching-Hsien Ko.
Age 19
| Name | Org | HIT+ | Cont% | zCon% | 90EV | Chase% | BRL% | xwOBAcon |
| Alfredo Duno | CIN | 116 | 69% | 73% | 105 mph | 15% | 25% | .382 |
| Konnor Griffin | PIT | 116 | 74% | 84% | 108 mph | 25% | 20% | .407 |
| Anthony Huezo | HOU | 114 | 64% | 86% | 107 mph | 24% | 27% | .419 |
| Caleb Bonemer | CHW | 114 | 76% | 85% | 105 mph | 18% | 19% | .373 |
| Eduardo Quintero | LAD | 113 | 76% | 80% | 104 mph | 18% | 18% | .391 |
| Devin Fitz-Gerald | TEX | 112 | 81% | 88% | 104 mph | 20% | 14% | .353 |
| Theo Gillen | TBR | 112 | 74% | 82% | 103 mph | 15% | 20% | .346 |
| Brendan Tunink | LAD | 111 | 66% | 73% | 103 mph | 18% | 26% | .393 |
| Irvin Nunez | MIN | 111 | 77% | 86% | 99 mph | 19% | 20% | .377 |
| Franklin Arias | BOS | 110 | 88% | 93% | 103 mph | 25% | 16% | .303 |
Reds catcher Alfredo Duno and BA’s No. 1 overall prospect, Pirates shortstop/outfielder Konnor Griffin, are the class of the 19-year-olds. We’ve talked about Astros outfielder Anthony Huezo before here and here. Twins catcher Irvin Nunez is the biggest surprise. He barely qualifies with 152 plate appearances and is quite passive with a 36% swing rate, but when he swings, he makes contact and pulls it in the air, hitting it in the sweet spot 48% of the time (the minor league average is 31%).
Age 20
| Name | Org | HIT+ | Cont% | zCon% | 90EV | Chase% | BRL% | xwOBAcon |
| Bryce Eldridge | SFG | 121 | 66% | 78% | 108 mph | 27% | 29% | .483 |
| Kevin McGonigle | DET | 118 | 82% | 84% | 105 mph | 20% | 21% | .379 |
| Ralphy Velasquez | CLE | 117 | 76% | 83% | 107 mph | 24% | 24% | .373 |
| Samuel Basallo | BAL | 117 | 70% | 81% | 108 mph | 33% | 27% | .443 |
| Josue De Paula | LAD | 114 | 76% | 80% | 106 mph | 14% | 23% | .346 |
| Demetrio Crisantes | ARI | 114 | 86% | 91% | 103 mph | 20% | 19% | .335 |
| Deniel Ortiz | STL | 114 | 70% | 77% | 104 mph | 21% | 24% | .393 |
| Max Clark | DET | 114 | 82% | 88% | 105 mph | 19% | 18% | .329 |
| Walker Jenkins | MIN | 113 | 76% | 83% | 103 mph | 22% | 22% | .370 |
| Zyhir Hope | LAD | 112 | 66% | 73% | 109 mph | 21% | 22% | .368 |
The names in the age-20 bucket are a veritable who’s-who of top prospects. To intermittent readers of RoboScout, perhaps Cardinals third baseman Deniel Ortiz sticks out, but we wrote about him as an underrated fantasy prospect last week.
Age 21
| Name | Org | HIT+ | Cont% | zCon% | 90EV | Chase% | BRL% | xwOBAcon |
| Sal Stewart | CIN | 120 | 78% | 82% | 107 mph | 28% | 27% | .412 |
| Ryan Clifford | NYM | 119 | 72% | 80% | 109 mph | 21% | 24% | .419 |
| Will Bush | HOU | 117 | 72% | 80% | 106 mph | 18% | 20% | .429 |
| Luke Adams | MIL | 116 | 77% | 83% | 104 mph | 15% | 19% | .392 |
| Victor Figueroa | SDP | 116 | 71% | 81% | 107 mph | 20% | 24% | .385 |
| Esmerlyn Valdez | PIT | 116 | 70% | 86% | 108 mph | 21% | 20% | .423 |
| Jacob Reimer | NYM | 115 | 75% | 85% | 105 mph | 23% | 20% | .397 |
| Callan Moss | PIT | 115 | 74% | 80% | 105 mph | 24% | 22% | .405 |
| Aidan Miller | PHI | 113 | 76% | 83% | 106 mph | 17% | 15% | .379 |
| Hendry Mendez | MIN | 112 | 85% | 90% | 105 mph | 19% | 14% | .322 |
Twins outfielder Hendry Mendez was another underrated target by RoboScout last week, and the data above explains why. Reds infielder Sal Stewart contributed to Cincinnati’s brief playoff run and has been a RoboDarling for a couple years now. Geoff Pontes identified Astros catcher Will Bush as a prospect with strong underlying data, too.
Age 22
| Name | Org | HIT+ | Cont% | zCon% | 90EV | Chase% | BRL% | xwOBAcon |
| Mike Sirota | LAD | 122 | 72% | 78% | 107 mph | 13% | 25% | .432 |
| Izaac Pacheco | DET | 119 | 67% | 73% | 107 mph | 23% | 30% | .436 |
| Carter Jensen | KCR | 119 | 73% | 82% | 107 mph | 20% | 25% | .396 |
| Travis Bazzana | CLE | 118 | 79% | 84% | 104 mph | 15% | 23% | .357 |
| JJ Wetherholt | STL | 117 | 79% | 84% | 104 mph | 17% | 24% | .362 |
| Jason Schiavone | HOU | 117 | 62% | 70% | 108 mph | 13% | 29% | .395 |
| Ryan Waldschmidt | ARI | 117 | 75% | 82% | 105 mph | 16% | 18% | .414 |
| Carson Benge | NYM | 116 | 80% | 86% | 106 mph | 22% | 20% | .372 |
| James Tibbs III | LAD | 115 | 74% | 81% | 105 mph | 17% | 22% | .362 |
| Joshua Baez | STL | 115 | 73% | 80% | 107 mph | 23% | 22% | .386 |
Age 23
| Name | Org | HIT+ | Cont% | zCon% | 90EV | Chase% | BRL% | xwOBAcon |
| Owen Caissie | CHC | 123 | 72% | 81% | 108 mph | 25% | 31% | .440 |
| Parks Harber | SFG | 121 | 72% | 83% | 108 mph | 22% | 29% | .415 |
| Brock Wilken | MIL | 120 | 72% | 79% | 106 mph | 16% | 23% | .454 |
| Chase DeLauter | CLE | 120 | 82% | 84% | 107 mph | 16% | 21% | .381 |
| Dylan Beavers | BAL | 117 | 80% | 87% | 105 mph | 20% | 19% | .385 |
| Jordan Lawlar | ARI | 117 | 73% | 82% | 104 mph | 24% | 23% | .446 |
| Yohendrick Pinango | TOR | 116 | 80% | 85% | 109 mph | 22% | 17% | .378 |
| Joseph Sullivan | HOU | 116 | 72% | 80% | 108 mph | 13% | 21% | .354 |
| Jonathon Long | CHC | 116 | 78% | 85% | 106 mph | 24% | 22% | .374 |
| Kala’I Rosario | MIN | 115 | 71% | 78% | 108 mph | 19% | 20% | .384 |
