Ranking The 20 Hottest MLB Prospects | Hot Sheet (5/12/25)

1. Braden Montgomery, OF, White Sox

• Team: High-A Winston Salem (South Atlantic)
• Age: 22
• Why He’s Here: .476/.500/1.000 (10-for-21), 5 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 3 HR, 10 RBIs, 2 BB, 1 SO

The Scoop: Understandably, Montgomery wrecked shop in Low-A for the early portion of his professional debut before earning a bump up a level. If he keeps performing like he has so far, the Texas A&M alum might need to book a ticket back to Southeastern Conference country for his first test at the upper levels. One of the centerpieces of the trade that sent ace lefty Garrett Crochet to Boston, Montgomery has been overwhelming and unrelenting in the first month and change of his career. He smacked three home runs against Bowling Green last week, equaling the total he’d produced in 18 games with Low-A. He’s gotten on base in all but one of the 11 games he’s played with Winston-Salem since the promotion. (JN)

2. Jonah Tong, RHP, Mets

• Team: Double-A Binghamton (Eastern)
• Age: 21
• Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 6.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 13 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: Tong’s outing this week was not only the best of his minor league career, it was the best of any pitcher this season. The righthander manhandled Reading for 6.2 perfect innings and 99 pitches before handing the ball to Wesley Moore, who struck out the only hitter he faced and completed the seven-inning perfecto. Tong racked up 13 strikeouts and got 18 whiffs, one shy of the season high he set two weeks ago in just four innings against New Hampshire. His 51 strikeouts are the most in the Eastern League, the most in all of Double-A and just four off the minor league lead. (JN)

3. JR Ritchie, RHP, Braves

• Team: High-A Rome (South Atlantic)
• Age: 21
• Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 9 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 9 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: It was a memorable week for Ritchie, as he made the best start of his professional career on Saturday and was promoted to Double-A on Sunday. In his Saturday start against Greenville, Ritchie threw a complete game shutout on 95 pitches, as he faced the minimum. He did allow two baserunners, but both were thrown out attempting to steal second. Ritchie sat 94-95 mph in the first inning but settled in at 92-94 later on in the start. He mixed two fastballs styles in a four-seam and two-seam while showing three different secondaries in a sweeper, curveball and changeup. He showed feel for all of his secondaries, and the introduction of the sinker at higher usage rates had led to excellent results. Ritchie’s next start will come with Columbus next week. (GP) 

4. Eduardo Quintero, OF, Dodgers

• Team: Low-A Rancho Cucamonga (California)
• Age: 19
• Why He’s Here: .375/.500/.875 (9-for-24), 8 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 6 SO, 3-for-4 SB

The Scoop: Quintero has done nothing but win since signing with the Dodgers out of Venezuela in 2023. He played a crucial role on championship-winning clubs in both the Dominican Summer League and the Arizona Complex League, and now he’s swinging a hot bat for a first-place Rancho team in the Cal League South Division. His dominant week was highlighted by a 3-for-5 performance on Thursday night when he went deep twice, showcasing his power to both the opposite field and his pull side. The 19-year-old also swiped three bases, flashing his 60-grade speed. (JC)

5. Cole Young, SS, Mariners

• Team: Triple-A Tacoma (Pacific Coast)
• Age: 21
• Why He’s Here: .455/.538/.818 (10-for-22) 8 R, 3 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 4 BB, 3 SO, 2 SB, 1 CS

The Scoop: It’s been a pretty quiet start to the season for Young, but the underlying data is better than his .236/.349/.368 line may indicate. Young continues to be a very tough out who makes excellent swing decisions, plenty of contact and rarely gets beaten by pitchers. His modest power has been even more subdued so far, but his ability to be a very pure hitter should help get that slash line much closer to his normal numbers by June. (JJ)

6. Jefferson Rojas, SS, Cubs

• Team: High-A South Bend (Midwest) 
• Age: 20
• Why He’s Here: .444/.545/.889 (8-for-18), 4 R, 0 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 7 RBIs, 3 BB, 2 SO, 2-for-2 SB

The Scoop: Rojas held his own following an aggressive assignment to High-A South Bend to begin 2024. He returned to the level to begin 2025 and has enjoyed strong results. Last week, Rojas torched Fort Wayne pitching, racking up a pair of three-hit games and reaching base in all five games in which he played. Rojas’ best performance came on Sunday when he slugged two home runs in a 3-for-4 showing. On the season, he is hitting .300/.387/.513 over 21 games. At 20 years old, Rojas is still one of the youngest players in the Midwest League. (GP)

7. Carson McCusker, OF, Twins

• Team: Triple-A St. Paul (International) 
• Age: 26
• Why He’s Here: .391/.462/.870 (9-for-23) 5 R, 2 2B, 3 HR, 6 RBIs, 3 BB, 6 SO, 2 SB, 1 CS

The Scoop: McCusker mashed a 115-mph home run this week that ranks as the third hardest-hit homer in Triple-A this year. He also hit a 114.7 mph homer that ranks as the fifth hardest-hit homer of the year. McCusker combines big power with just enough contact to make it work. He’s pretty limited in the outfield, but for a former indy ball star, there’s now a pretty clear path to maybe getting a big league callup, which seemed unthinkable just a couple of years ago. (JJ)

8. Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Brewers

• Team: Triple-A Nashville (International)
• Age: 23
• Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 1 GS, 6.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 11 SO

The Scoop: During spring training, Misiorowski seemed to be struggling with the same control and command issues he’d battled for years. Just two months later, that seems hard to fathom, as Misiorowski has found the control that long eluded him while also throwing harder than he ever has before. His 102.3 fastball this week is the hardest pitch from a starter in the majors or Triple-A this year. Coming into this season, Misiorowski had posted a well-below-average 59% strike percentage in 2023 and 2024. This year, it’s slightly above-average at 64%, and it’s 66% for the past four starts. (JJ)

9. Jac Caglianone, 1B, Royals

• Team: Double-A Northwest Arkansas (Texas)
• Age: 22
• Why He’s Here: .348/.375/.739 (8-for-23) 4 R, 3 HR, 10 RBIs, 1 BB, 5 SO

The Scoop: When Caglianone was drafted, there were real concerns over whether his swing-happy, power-hungry approach could be exploited by pro pitchers. There’s a lot less worry about that now, as he rarely finds a ball in the strike zone he can’t hit, and when he does connect, he does it with top-of-the-scale raw power. Between last week and this week, Caglianone hit four home runs in a three-game stretch, and he’s also working on an eight-game hitting streak. (JJ)

10. Ben Hess, RHP, Yankees

• Team: High-A Hudson Valley (South Atlantic)
• Age: 22
• Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 6 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 9 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: The bulk of the Yankees’ pitching talent is clustered on the roster of the Hudson Valley Renegades. There, you’ll find a group fronted by Hess, their first-round selection from a year ago, and backed by high-end righties Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz, Bryce Cunningham and Carlos Lagrange. Hess led the way this week, punching out nine Jersey Shore hitters in his lone start. The outing marked the third time in five turns that he’d racked up nine punchouts and boosted his season total to 39 in 25 innings, good for a tie for fifth place in the South Atlantic League. (JN)

11. Gage Jump, LHP, Athletics

• Team: High-A Lansing (Midwest)
• Age: 22 
• Why He’s Here: 1-0, 1.13, 8 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 8 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: After being featured as a helium name a few weeks ago, Jump has made the Hot Sheet each week since. This week, he tossed an eight-inning gem, allowing one run on four hits and no walks. He generated 15 swinging strikes and a career-high 23 looking strikes as he punched out eight batters. Jump has exhibited an outlier combination of velocity, movement and release traits on his fastball and has ridden it to excellent results. Jump’s overall arsenal has improved in just a short time as a professional, and he is pitching like a promotion to Double-A is potentially just weeks away. (GP) 

12. Ryan Clifford, 1B, Mets

• Team: Double-A Binghamton (Eastern)
• Age: 21
• Why He’s Here: .474/.500/1.000 (9-for-19) 5 R, 1 2B, 3 HR, 9 RBIs, 1 BB, 4 SO

The Scoop: Clifford’s offensive approach is all about wearing a pitcher down. He has fringe-average contact skills at best, but he prides himself on knowing the strike zone, rarely chasing pitchers’ pitches and taking advantage whenever a pitcher makes a mistake. It’s a combination that will always lead to strikeouts, because he can be beaten by quality stuff, but then there are weeks like this one where he feasts. Two of his three home runs this week came on pitches in the middle/upper third of the zone over the heart of the plate. The third came when he stayed on a breaking ball. Clifford was hitting .195/.313/.354 when Reading arrived in Binghamton. He’s now hitting .248/.345/.475. (JJ)

13. Mike Sirota, OF, Dodgers

• Team: Low-A Rancho Cucamonga (California)
• Age: 21
• Why He’s Here: .318/.400/.727 (7-for-22), 6 R, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 3 BB, 6 SO

The Scoop: It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that Sirota may have already outgrown Low-A. Entering 2024, he fit the mold of a top 10 pick in the draft, but a regression in his swing caused his stock to drop. The Reds ended up selecting him in the third round last year. The Dodgers, however, had been tracking Sirota since his prep days—drafting him once before in 2021—and finally acquired him this past offseason in the Gavin Lux trade. General manager Brandon Gomes has praised Sirota’s “high-end talent,” signaling the organization’s strong belief in his long-term potential. His seven home runs this season currently lead the California League. (JC)

14. Carson Benge, OF, Mets

• Team: High-A Brooklyn (South Atlantic)
• Age: 22
• Why He’s Here: .348/.464/.652 (8-for-23), 6 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 7 RBIs, 5 BB, 5 SO, 3-for-3 SB

The Scoop: The Mets’ system is radiating good vibes so far this season—three of its prospects landed on this week’s Hot Sheet—and Benge has been one of the group’s steadiest performers. He swatted two home runs this past week, tripling his season total. He’s failed to reach base just once since April 23 and has collected multiple hits in four of his nine games in May. He’s racked up nearly as many walks (19) as he has strikeouts (26) for the season, producing positive marks in both categories. (JN)

15. Demetrio Crisantes, 2B, Diamondbacks

• Team: High-A Hillsboro (Northwest)
• Age: 20
• Why He’s Here: .318/.423/.636 (7-for-22), 5 R, 1 2B, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 4 BB, 1 SO, 3-for-4 SB

The Scoop: Crisantes’ rise through the D-backs’ system has been powered by his polished hit tool, which remains consistent one month into the season. He’s displayed great plate discipline and rarely misses in the zone, even with an aggressive swing rate. His strong week was capped by a career night on May 7 in which he homered twice in a single game for the first time in his career. (JC)

16. Josue De Paula, OF, Dodgers

• Team: High-A Great Lakes (Midwest)
• Age: 19
• Why He’s Here: .357/.400/.714 (10-for-28), 3 R, 4 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 2 BB, 9 SO, 0-for-1 SB

The Scoop: One scout described De Paula as having a Ken Griffey Jr.-esque swing. That kind of comparison brings some Bigfoot-sized shoes to fill, but so far, De Paula is backing it up by dominating High-A with a mature, polished approach. He’s building on his success from last season, laying off bad pitches and hammering the ball with top-tier exit velocities. At just 19 years old, he’s already considered one of the most advanced hitters in the Dodgers’ system, with plenty of room to grow as he matures. (JC)

17. Miguel Ullola, RHP, Astros

• Team: Triple-A Sugar Land (Pacific Coast)
• Age: 22 
• Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 10 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: After a pair of tough starts in mid April, Ullola has turned a corner over his last two appearances, exhibiting improved command and swing-and-miss stuff. Ullola tossed arguably his best start of the season this past week, as he struck out 10 batters over five innings, generating a whopping 22 whiffs. Ullola shows above-average ride and heavy cut on his four-seam fastball, which allows it to play above its 92-94 mph velocity. Ullola is just a call away from helping the Astros at some point this summer. (GP)

18. Zyhir Hope, OF, Dodgers

• Team: High-A Great Lakes (Midwest)
• Age: 20
• Why He’s Here: .348/.444/.652 (8-for-23), 5 R, 1 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 4 BB, 8 SO

The Scoop: You know the Great Lakes Loons are a special team to watch when two of their three outfielders crack Baseball America’s Top 100 Prospects list. We already covered De Paula—now it’s time to dig into Hope. His hard-hit rate isn’t just one of the best in the Dodgers’ system; it puts him among the top performers across all of the minors. A big part of that leap? The Dodgers have worked closely with him to better recognize and attack hittable pitches, which was an area he struggled with as an amateur but has now turned into a strength. (JC)

19. Jaxon Wiggins, RHP, Cubs

• Team: High-A South Bend (Midwest)
• Age: 23 
• Why He’s Here: 1-0, 1.29, 7 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: Over six appearances this season, Wiggins has pitched to 1.71 ERA and showed swing-and-miss stuff. On Thursday, Wiggins threw the longest start of his career, tossing seven innings while allowing one run on three hits and striking out seven. Wiggins generated a season-high 20 whiffs on 87 pitches as he earned the win for Fort Wayne. His fastball sits 95-97 mph with plus ride and above-average run, and he also mixes a changeup, slider and curveball. Wiggins is fighting the relief questions that have plagued his prospect status since college. (GP) 

20. Dakota Jordan, OF, Giants

• Team: Low-A San Jose (California)
• Age: 22
• Why He’s Here: .409/.458/.636 (9-for-22), 7 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 8 RBIs, 2 BB, 6 SO, 3-for-3 SB

The Scoop: In the lead up to last year’s draft, Jordan’s tools were mostly unquestioned. He could run, throw, defend and put a charge into a baseball. The only box left unchecked was whether he could hit. So far, so good. This past week against a Lake Elsinore team that featured high-end arm talent like Kash Mayfield and Boston Bateman, Jordan added nine more knocks to his ledger, including a pair of doubles and a longball. His strikeout numbers are a touch high, but the impact he’s produced thus far is hard to dispute. (JN)

HELIUM

Brendan Tunink, OF, Dodgers

The Dodgers’ 2024 eighth-round pick had quite the opening week of ACL play. He slugged his first home run on Tuesday, a day after recording his first multi-hit game. Tunink was an overslot signing for $412,500 at 250th overall and was an athletic testing standout. He comes from a cold-weather background and has less experience than other preps in his signing class. Despite this, he’s looked like a potential breakout name from the first week of ACL play. (GP)