5 Up-Arrow MLB Hitting Prospects With Statcast Data Worth Watching In 2025
Image credit: Victor Arias (Photo by George Kubas/Diamond Images via Getty Images)
When trying to cover the entirety of MiLB on a daily basis, one needs all manner of tools at their disposal. This is where statistics and advanced data provides valuable insights and information in an easily-digestible way.
With analytics playing a larger role in player evaluation than ever before, having access to underlying Statcast and supporting data is paramount when evaluating whether or not a prospect checks enough boxes to project as a major league regular or more.
Last week, we examined some highly-touted and higher-profile prospects, breaking down 10 hitters with outstanding data. Today, we’ll examine a group of hitters who can best be described as burgeoning, under-the-radar talents. As the data will show, the question we’re ultimately asking is “Why aren’t these players being talked about more?”
Victor Arias, OF, Blue Jays
Arias slid through 2024 mostly unnoticed despite an excellent season, hitting .279/.386/.454 over 76 games with Low-A Dunedin. Signed out of Venezuela in August 2019, Arias has been a slow burn. After three seasons spent at the complex levels, he received his first-full season of action last year. He reached High-A Vancouver at the end of 2024 and returned to the Canadians to begin 2025.
On the year, Arias is hitting .288/.378/.394 with an 11.8% walk rate and, despite underwhelming power production, is flexing some of the best exit velocities in the Northwest League. His average exit velocity of 93 mph is well above major league average, and his 110.1 mph 90th percentile EV equates to plus-plus raw power. This begs the question: If he hits the ball this hard, why are his power numbers underwhelming? It’s simply a matter of bad launch angles on his pullside contact. Arias’ -10.9 degree launch angle leads to a lot of hard-struck ground balls. It’s unusual because his hard-hit launch angle is solid at 11.5 degrees, meaning he could improve his pull launch angle in time. Despite this number, Arias does have a 19.2% air-pull rate, which is about average.
Other areas of Arias’ game are strong, as he shows slightly better than average bat-to-ball ability (18.1% zone-miss rate) and above-average swing decisions. Lurking beneath Arias’ surface level stats is a potential power-hitter. It’s simply a matter of optimizing his angles more consistently, because Arias is showing outlier power with good plate skills at an age-appropriate level.
Drew Gilbert, OF, Mets
It feels somewhat wrong to place Gilbert among a group of under-the-radar hitters, as he was a decorated college player and first-round pick in 2022. After hitting .215/.313/.393 in 56 games with Triple-A Syracuse last year, many worried that Gilbert was headed in the wrong direction. A former Top 100 Prospect, Gilbert might be recapturing his form of 2023 when the Mets acquired him and he hit .289/.381/.487 over 116 games.
The early returns in 2025 are promising, as Gilbert is hitting .273/.393/.455 with a 14.8% walk rate and 13.9% strikeout rate. The underlying data is even better, as Gilbert is showing pristine plate skills, power and good angles. His in-zone whiff rate of 9.9% is outstanding, while his 16.5% chase rate explains why he has more walks than strikeouts this season.
When digging into Gilbert’s exit velocity data, it’s even more impressive, as his 107.3 mph 90th percentile EV is plus metrically, and his 91.3 mph EV average shows consistent hard contact. Where he really excels is his angles on contact, as he has a 11.4 degree pullside launch angle backed by a 35.1% air-pull rate. Gilbert’s early success is no accident, and it wouldn’t be foolish to say his numbers could be even better with a little more luck (.288 BABIP) on balls in play.
Yasmil Bucce, C, Orioles
There’s a switch-hitting catcher for the Orioles with outstanding metrics, and it’s not Adley Rutchsman. Signed out of Venezuela for $300,000 in January 2021, Bucce has enjoyed a noteworthy opening month-plus. Over 30 games with Low-A Delmarva, he is hitting .290/.445/.480 with 12 extra-base hits and more walks (26) than strikeouts (24).
Bucce spent two years at each complex level before finally getting an opportunity to open at a full-season level. So far, so good, as Bucce has shown impressive underlying data to back his outstanding performance. He’s shown eye-popping exit velocity data with a 113.3 max EV and 109.2 mph 90th percentile EV. Both of these numbers are outstanding by major league standards, and for a 20-year-old in his full-season debut, they are very noteworthy.
It’s not all-or-nothing with Bucce either, as he’s shown polished plate skills to go with the power. His 16.5% in-zone whiff rate is well above-average, and his 13.4% chase rate is extremely low. His chase numbers are even better when put in context of his 38.2% swing rate, showing a delta of nearly 25%.
The one glaring flaw in Bucce’s plate profile at present is his underwhelming launch angles. His -6.9 pullside launch angle explains his low air-pull rate of 9.7%. His angles are a little better on balls hit at 95+ mph but, overall, getting the ball in the air consistently is the biggest question for Bucce.
Yohendrick Pinango, OF, Blue Jays
Acquired by the Blue Jays last July for Nate Pearson, Pinango has always shown strong exit velocities and solid contact metrics, but the production didn’t show up in games until last season.
So far, Pinango has been among the best hitters in the minors, hitting . 340/.440/.566 for a 192 wRC+ with Double-A New Hampshire. A below-average defender in a corner outfield spot, Pinango’s hitting ability is his carrying tool. While the production has been good, his underlying data is very good. He boasts a 14.2% in-zone whiff rate with a 16.8% chase rate and 37.9% swing rate, showing a discerning eye with good contact ability.
When you factor in Pinango’s power metrics, things get more interesting. His 108.5 mph 90th percentile exit velocity is plus, and he’s hit a ball 112+ mph this season. He shows a knack for consistent hard contact and has positive launch angles on hard contact and balls hit to the pull side. It’s more of a line-drive swing than a steep home run stroke, but Pinango shows the ability to crush mistakes and pepper hard-struck drives all over the field.
Eli Serrano III, OF, Mets
Drafted by the Mets out of NC State in the fourth round last July, Serrano put up solid—but certainly not gaudy–numbers with the Wolfpack over two seasons. He did show the ability to play all over the outfield, however, including center field. Standing 6-foot-5 with some physical projection remaining, it looks like a prudent decision by the Mets to snatch up Serrano when they did.
Assigned to High-A Brooklyn to begin 2025, Serrano is handling one of the more difficult assignments for a lefthanded hitter with ease. Over his first 30 games, he’s hitting .259/.396/.491 with a 157 wRC+. The underlying numbers back Serrano’s boom, as he blends plate skills, power and solid launch angles. Serrano’s 16.8% in-zone whiff rate is an above-average marker and impressive for a player his size. He limits exposure to whiffs outside of the zone, too, with a 17.4% chase rate to a 42.2% swing rate. That delta shows suggests a large percentage of Serrano’s swings are coming in the strike zone.
Serrano has hit for damage, as well, with a 108 90th percentile exit velocity and 110 mph max EV. His hard-hit launch angle of 10.1 degrees is good, while his 22.2% air-pull rate is solid. There’s a collection of exciting underlying traits here to go with a physical player with defensive value. While there’s no guarantee Serrano is an everyday player, he is an exciting name to follow among an increasingly talented Mets positional prospect group.
