Ranking The 20 Hottest MLB Prospects | Hot Sheet (6/9/25)

1. Dylan Beavers, OF, Orioles

• Team: Triple-A Norfolk (International)
• Age: 23
• Why He’s Here: .522/.542/1.000 (12-for-23) 6 R, 1 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 3 RBIs, 1 BB, 2 SO

The Scoop: The Orioles are starting to turn around a brutal start to the season at the big league level. In the minors, Beavers is having the best season of his pro career. His .326 batting average this year is nearly the match of his .342 on-base percentage last season. The corner outfielder is hitting for average more than he’s slugging for power, but there’s little to complain about with his production. (JJ)

2. Peter Heubeck, RHP, Dodgers 

• Team: Double-A Tulsa (Texas)
• Age: 22
• Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 11.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 16 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: It was a Texas League two-step this week for Heubeck, as he spun two scoreless outings against Amarillo. Heubeck tossed 5.2 innings on Tuesday, holding Amarillo hitless while allowing no runs on three walks with seven strikeouts. In Sunday’s matchup, Heubeck threw six scoreless innings, allowing four hits and a walk while striking out nine. He mixes a hoppy four-seam fastball, gyro slider, two-plane curveball and changeup. A high school draft pick in 2021, Heubeck is still just 22 and getting his first taste of the upper minors in 2025. (GP) 

3. Maxton Martin, OF, Rangers

• Team: Low-A Hickory (Carolina)
• Age: 20
• Why He’s Here: .400/.419/.767 (12-for-30), 8 R, 5 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 14 RBIs, 1 BB, 5 SO

The Scoop: Two years ago, the Rangers called Martin’s name in the 11th round and paid him $250,000 to turn pro instead of heading to Oregon for college. Now, their investment is starting to bear fruit. The Washington prep product is mashing at Low-A Hickory. This week, he more than doubled his season home run total by smacking three long balls in a series against Columbia. Even more impressive, the week’s total alone equals the number of homers he hit over 47 games in the Arizona Complex League in 2023 and 2024. (JN)

4. Colby Thomas, OF, Athletics

• Team: Triple-A Las Vegas (Pacific Coast)
• Age: 24
• Why He’s Here: .500/.500/.786/ (14-for-28), 6 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 4 SO, 0 BB, 1-for-1 SB

The Scoop: Thomas’ power has been his calling card since the A’s drafted him out of Mercer in the third round in 2022. With his two homers this week, Thomas has the third-most hit in all of Triple-A among active players. His slow start resulted in him falling out of the Top 100 Prospects rankings, but his bat is starting to heat back up. He still needs to work on chasing out of the zone, as he has 70 strikeouts in 58 games this season. With fellow A’s prospect Denzel Clarke getting the callup, Thomas should be the next outfielder up for a promotion if the A’s need a power-hitting bat in their hitter-friendly ballpark. (JC)

5. Jaxon Wiggins, RHP, Cubs

• Team: Double-A Knoxville (Southern)
• Age: 23
• Why He’s Here: 0-0, 1.59, 11.1 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 12 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: Wiggins’ season started in the Midwest League where he dominated over six appearances, pitching to a 1.71 ERA over 26.1 innings. Since he received the promotion to Double-A on May 15, he’s continued to roll. Wiggins made two starts this week, going 6.1 innings on Tuesday and allowing two runs on three hits and a walk while striking out four. On Sunday, he dazzled over five scoreless innings, scattering four hits with no walks and striking out eight. Wiggins moved up in the most recent Cubs Top 30 update and is the organization’s best pitcher not in the majors. (GP)

6. Kaelen Culpepper, SS, Twins

• Team: High-A Cedar Rapids (Midwest)
• Age: 22
• Why He’s Here: .423/.464/.808 (11-for-26), 6 R, 2 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 4 SO, 2 BB, 3-for-3 SB

The Scoop: What wasn’t to like about Culpepper coming out of last year’s draft? He brought a strong track record of success, showcased his hitting abilities both at Kansas State and in the Cape Cod League and offered defensive versatility across the infield. Now, in his first full season of pro ball, Culpepper is adding another tool to his game: power. The 22-year-old has already launched eight home runs and is on pace to eclipse his collegiate high of 11. The underlying metrics support the surge, as his 90th percentile exit velocity sits at an impressive 104.2 mph, signaling that the added pop is no fluke. (JC)

7. Carson DeMartini, SS, Phillies

• Team: High-A Jersey Shore (South Atlantic)
• Age: 22
• Why He’s Here: .360/.407/.800 (9-for-25), 7 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 3 HR, 5 RBIs, 2 BB, 6 SO, 0-for-1 SB

The Scoop: DeMartini has been fairly steady through the first half of the season at Jersey Shore, home to a park known to play havoc on hitters—lefties especially—in the early months of the season. There’s been a bit too much swing-and-miss, but he’s balanced those whiffs with a healthy dose of walks. This past week, the power started to show up. He swatted three home runs in a series at Bowling Green, doubling his season output in the process. The cherry on top came Sunday, when he went yard twice to close the week. (JN)

8. Jonah Tong, RHP, Mets

• Team: Double-A Binghamton (Eastern)
• Age: 21
• Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 11 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: Tong has been nothing short of magnificent all season long. He lived up to that descriptor once more in his turn against Somerset when he punched out 11 over five hitless frames. The outing was his fourth of the season without a hit on his ledger and the third that lasted five innings or longer. It was also his third start of the year with 10 or more strikeouts. His 83 strikeouts on the year are the fourth-most in the minors, just five behind Trey Yesavage for the overall lead. (JN)

9. Khal Stephen, RHP, Blue Jays

• Team: High-A (Northwest)
• Age: 22
• Why He’s Here: 0-0, 1.50, 6 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 11 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: The Blue Jays look to have struck gold with their first three picks in last July’s draft, as Trey Tesavage, Khal Stephen and Johnny King all made jumps in the most recent Top 30 update. Stephen had a particularly notable week in his third High-A start. He enjoyed his longest outing of the season on Tuesday, tossing six innings and allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and no walks with 11 strikeouts. The 11 strikeouts were a career high, and he generated 14 swinging strikes. Stephen conservatively looks like a No. 4 starter long term with a chance to be a midrotation arm. (GP) 

10. Orelvis Martinez, 3B, Blue Jays

• Team: Triple-A Rochester (International)
• Age: 23
• Why He’s Here: .308/.357/.769 (8-for-26), 5 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 4 HR, 5 RBI, 6 SO, 2 BB

The Scoop: To say Martinez has a lot to prove is an understatement. He flashed big-time power in Triple-A last year and earned a big league debut because of it. Then came the 80-game suspension, and he hasn’t quite looked like the same guy since… until this week. Suddenly, it looks like he remembered how to hit baseballs really hard again. If he can become more disciplined at the plate, there should be a spot for him to contribute at the MLB level. (JC)

11. Roc Riggio, 2B, Yankees

• Team: Double-A Somerset (Eastern)
• Age: 22
• Why He’s Here: .318/.318/.909 (7-for-22), 4 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 4 HR, 7 RBIs, 0 BB, 6 SO, 1-for-1 SB

The Scoop: The powers that be might want to ship a few more baseballs Somerset’s way. At the rate Riggio is losing them, they might be in danger of running out. The Oklahoma State product and fourth-rounder from two drafts ago has found his power stroke in a big way in 2025. With nine homers so far, he’s just two off the total he produced in 107 games last season, which he spent at High-A Hudson Valley. He clubbed more than half that total in just 20 games with the Renegades this season before earning a promotion to Double-A, where he’s already pumped a pair of pitches over the wall. (JN)

12. Jack Perkins, RHP, Athletics

• Team: Triple-A Las Vegas (Pacific Coast)
• Age: 25
• Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 1 GS, 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 HR, 2 BB, 10 SO

The Scoop: Pitching prospects like Gunnar Hoglund and J.T. Ginn have already made their mark for the A’s in West Sacramento. If he keeps stacking quality outings, Perkins could be the next to join that wave. There’s a good chance he’d already be contributing if not for the injury setbacks that have derailed the starts of his last couple of seasons. So far, Perkins has lived up to his billing. He commands the strike zone well and is getting hitters to miss with his lively four-seam fastball sitting 94–97 mph. His improved slider with extra sweep has been complementary, as well. (JC)

13. Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz, RHP, Yankees

• Team: High-A Hudson Valley (South Atlantic)
• Age: 21
• Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 9 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: Even with Carlos Lagrange off to Double-A, Hudson Valley’s rotation is still home to one of the more prospect-laden rotations in the minors. Rodriguez-Cruz was an up-arrow prospect last summer with the Red Sox before the two rivals hooked up on a trade that sent backstop Carlos Narvaez to the Bay State. This week’s outing was his longest of the season and the third in which he’s lasted six or more shutout frames. His 66 strikeouts are tied for the fifth-most in the South Atlantic League and are just five off the total currently held by Nationals prospect Alex Clemmey. (JN)

14. Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, Diamondbacks

• Team: High-A Hillsboro (Northwest)
• Age: 22
• Why He’s Here: 360/.448/.760 (9-for-25), 9 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 3 SO, 3 BB, 0-for-1 SB

The Scoop: The 22-year-old’s offensive breakout didn’t happen by accident. Waldschmidt came into the year intent on fine-tuning his bat path, and it’s paid off in a big way. His swing now marries precision with intent—aggressive when it needs to be, but always under control. That balance has helped him consistently drive the ball with authority, backed by a 90th percentile exit velocity of 106 mph. Just as impressive, he’s done it without selling out for power, showing mature zone awareness and a knack for laying off pitches on which he can’t do damage. (JC)

15. Konnor Griffin, RHP, Pirates

• Team: Low-A Bradenton (Florida State)
• Age: 19
• Why He’s Here: .565/.600/.739 (13-for-23) 8 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 7 RBIs, 2 BB, 4 SO, 1 SB

The Scoop: Griffin is getting promoted to High-A Greensboro, so this was his final week in the Florida State League. He leaves as the league’s best player. After facing questions about his hit tool in high school, he departs the FSL as the batting leader (.338). He also is second in home runs (nine), first in hits (70), slugging percentage (.536), runs (49) and total bases (111). He’s been everything the Pirates could have hoped for so far. (JJ)

16. Luis Cova, OF, Marlins

• Team: DSL Marlins
• Age: 18
• Why He’s Here: .400/.500/.900 (8-for-20), 7 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 3 HR, 5 RBIs, 4 BB, 6 SO, 2-for-2 SB

The Scoop: In 55 games last year, Cova hit three home runs. In five games this year, Cova has—you guessed it—three home runs. The gem of Miami’s 2024 international class has opened the Dominican Summer League season on fire, showing early hints of the five-tool promise that prompted Miami to add him to their system. Cova rapped out eight total hits in the DSL’s first week, a figure that gives him 18.1% of the total he produced in all of 2024. (JN)

17. Blaze Jordan, 1B, Red Sox

• Team: Triple-A Worcester (International)
• Age: 22
• Why He’s Here: .375/.400/.750 (9-for-24) 6 R, 6 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBIs, 1 BB, 3 SO

The Scoop: The Red Sox do not have a clear answer to replace the injured Triston Casas. The idea of putting Kristian Campbell there has been shelved—at least for now—and the club is running with Romy Gonzalez and Abraham Toro. Jordan has significant first base experience, and in his first week in Triple-A, he seemed to embrace the challenge of a new level after hitting .390 in his final month in Double-A. While Jordan was known for his power in high school, he’s been successful this year in being a line-drive doubles hitter. (JJ)

18. Samuel Zavala, OF, White Sox 

• Team: High-A Winston-Salem
• Age: 20
• Why He’s Here: .600/.652/.900 (12-for-20), 5 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBIs, 3 BB, 5 SO, 2-for-3 SB

The Scoop: In the not-too-distant past, Zavala was a Top 100 Prospect. But after a down year in 2024, he saw his prospect pedigree dim. Returning to High-A to begin 2025, Zavala has caught fire in June, logging 14 hits this month across seven games. This week, Zavala had three multi-hit games, including a four-hit game on Tuesday. Zavala didn’t just save the fireworks for the week’s opening game, either, as he ended the week with home runs on Saturday and Sunday. Zavala has some work still to do to recover his prospect status, but he has a shot due to his on-base ability and power. (GP) 

19. Brandon Winokur, SS/OF, Twins

• Team: High-A Cedar Rapids (Midwest)
• Age: 20
• Why He’s Here: .409/.480/.773 (9-for-22) 6 R, 3 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 3 RBIs, 2 BB, 2 SO, 2 SB

The Scoop: Winokur needed a week like this one. It has been a season of struggles for the extremely tall and extremely athletic Twins prospect. After hitting under .220 in each of the first two months of the season, this week Winokur had just six fewer hits than he had in all of April. More importantly, he had just two strikeouts after fanning 33 times in just 26 games last month. Some patience is going to be required with Winokur, as he’s long-levered and will always have some difficulties covering the whole plate. But his upside is immense. Winokur continues to play shortstop, third base and center field, but the Twins are heavily weighing his playing time toward center in recent weeks. (JJ)

20. Wyatt Sanford, SS, Pirates

• Team: Low-A Bradenton (Florida State)
• Age: 19
• Why He’s Here: .364/.440/.773 (8-for-22) 8 R, 3 HR, 10 RBIs, 2 BB, 3 SO, 3 SB

The Scoop: While this was Konnor Griffin’s last week in Bradenton, it was Sanford’s first week. He was bumped up to the Florida State League after a Florida Complex League stint largely notable for his ability to recognize how few strikes some FCL pitchers throw. He walked 15 times in 20 games. The Low-A league has proven a great fit so far. Playing every infield position other than first base, Sanford had a pair of three-hit games and three home runs after hitting just one in the FCL. (JJ)

Helium

Yhoiker Fajardo, RHP, Red Sox

The Red Sox acquired Fajardo for Cam Booser in a December trade with the White Sox. After sitting more low-to-mid 90s in the spring, he has found another gear with the FCL Red Sox this season. He was sitting 95-97 mph on Friday with two fastball shapes, a gyro slider and a kick changeup. It’s an interesting mix, and Fajardo has gotten results. In his stateside debut, Fajardo has made five appearances, pitching to a 0.55 ERA. Over 16.1 innings, he’s struck out 18 batters to four walks and has yet to allow a home run. Fajardo has a chance to debut with Low-A Salem this summer and is a name to keep an eye on in a deep Red Sox system. (GP)