Ranking The 20 Hottest MLB Prospects | Hot Sheet (8/27/24)

2. Carlson Reed, RHP, Pirates

Team: High-A Greensboro (South Atlantic)
Age: 21

Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 10 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: A fourth-round pick out of West Virginia in 2023, Reed pitched out of the bullpen for the majority of his Mountaineers career. The Pirates moved Reed to the rotation upon turning pro and he has experienced tremendous success as a starter in 2024. He dazzled for six scoreless innings this week, striking out 10 while allowing just one hit and one walk. His 93-94 mph fastball touched 96 with two shapes, and he mixed in an 83-84 mph sweeper slider and an 83-84 mph changeup. Reed generated a season-high 18 swinging strikes. Four came against his fastball, 10 were against his slider and four more were off his changeup. This was Reed’s fourth time topping six innings in 21 starts. He’ll need to show he can go deeper into starts to remain a viable pitching prospect. (GP)

3. Spencer Nivens, OF, Royals

Team: High-A Quad Cities (Midwest)
Age: 22

Why He’s Here: .571/.667/1.333 (12-for-21) 8 R, 2 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 10 RBIs, 6 BB, 3 SO, 1 SB.

The Scoop: On Aug. 1, Nivens was hitting .184/.287/.296, with six home runs all season and few bright spots. Thankfully for Nivens, his season didn’t end at the start of August. Since then, he’s been the best slugger in the minor leagues. He has 11 home runs this month, raising his OPS nearly 200 points, and he’s hitting .356/.430/.839 in August. Nivens does plenty of damage when he makes contact, but until this month, he wasn’t making enough consistent contact. A great month doesn’t erase what happened in the previous four months, but it does give Nivens an excellent endpoint to try to build on in 2025. (JC)

4. Roman Anthony, OF, Red Sox

Team: Triple-A Worcester (International)
Age: 20

Why He’s Here: .393/.452/.750 (11-for-28), 10 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 3 HR, 8 RBIs, 3 BB, 4 SO, 0-for-0 SB

The Scoop: Anthony is off to a torrid start at Triple-A and is in the midst of a seven-game hitting streak entering the week. In last week’s series at Norfolk, Anthony hit three home runs and reached base two or more times in four out of six games. Anthony had 10 balls in play during the series of 95+ mph, including three balls in play at 108 mph or higher. Anthony’s most impressive home run of the week cleared the scoreboard in right field, traveling 433 feet at an exit speed of 108.9 mph. After a rough April, Anthony is hitting .293/.383/.540 with a 12.1% walk rate and a 21.9% strikeout rate over 77 games between Double-A and Triple-A. Anthony should be roaming the outfields of Fenway before long. (GP)

5. Quinn Mathews, LHP, Cardinals

Team: Double-A Springfield (Texas)
Age: 23

Why He’s Here: 0-0, 1.17, 7.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 12 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: Another start, another gem for Mathews, who has been well past dominant this season. His most recent turn featured a dozen strikeouts, bringing his total this year to a whopping 180 against just 35 walks. It was also his third start this month with 10 or more strikeouts. In August, Mathews is 2-0, 0.70 with 40 strikeouts against just four walks and 11 hits. (JN)

6. Aidan Miller, SS, Phillies

Team: High-A Jersey Shore (South Atlantic)
Age: 20

Why He’s Here: .450/.560/.900 (9-for-20), 7 R, 4 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 7 RBIs, 5 BB, 3 SO, 2-for-2 SB

The Scoop: One thing that’s become clear in the new, restructured minor leagues is that the level-by-level adjustment period might take a little bit longer and plenty of patience will be required. Those who trusted Miller’s talent during his post-promotion lull have been rewarded. After four more extra-base hits this past week—including a home run—Miller’s August ledger looks like this: .342/.419/.618 with six doubles, three triples and three dingers. All told, he’s one of just seven players 20 years old or younger with 20 doubles, 10 homers and 20 stolen bases. (JN)

7. Caden Dana, RHP, Angels

Team: Double-A Rocket City (Southern)
Age: 20

Why He’s Here: 2-0, 0.64, 14 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 16 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: Dana belongs on the podium with the best pitchers in the minor leagues this season. The righthander, who opened the year as the youngest pitcher in the Southern League, has been marvelous from Opening Day and all throughout the summer. He showed no signs this past week of letting up, spinning a pair of gems that brought his August numbers to a sparkling 2-0, 0.57 with 32 strikeouts against just 19 hits and seven walks over 31.1 innings and five starts. His 147 punchouts lead the SL, and the same goes for his average against (.184) and WHIP (0.94). (JN)

8. Garrett Martin, OF, Yankees

Team: High-A Hudson Valley (South Atlantic)
Age: 24

Why He’s Here: .381/.581/.905 (8-for-21), 10 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 3 HR, 9 RBIs, 8 BB, 6 SO, 2-for-2 SB

The Scoop: Martin went undrafted in 2023 and got off to a rough start in 2024. He hit .192/.293/.389 over the first 59 games of the season, as he struggled with approach and swing changes. Things seem to have clicked over the last three series, as Martin has hit .271/.397/.576 since Aug. 7. Over that time, Martin has accounted for nearly 50% of his home run production to date, including three home runs across two games of a doubleheader last week. Martin is super athletic with power and on-base ability, but he’s a long shot to make a major league impact at present. On the bright side, Martin is tooled up and it looks like things are starting to click. (GP)

9. Cam Collier, 3B, Reds

Team: High-A Dayton (Midwest)
Age: 19

Why He’s Here: .381/.480/.952 (8-for-21) 7 R, 4 HR, 7 RBIs, 3 BB, 3 SO.

The Scoop: Collier is a hitter who runs hot or cold. When he’s struggling, he’ll top way too many balls, hitting a slew of groundouts. But then there are weeks like this one, where he gets to his plus power regularly. Collier had one of the best days we’ll see this year on Friday. He lined a home run over the right field fence in the first, lifted one that just cleared the left field fence in the second and then hit a majestic third home run of the night to center field in the sixth. He added another home for good measure on Saturday. Collier now has 19 home runs this year and is hitting .373/.535/.729 with 22 walks compared to 14 strikeouts in August. He’s on a truly epic tear. (JC)

10. George Valera, OF, Guardians

Team: Triple-A Columbus (International)
Age: 23

Why He’s Here: .348/.400/1.000 (8-for-23), 6 R, 5 HR, 6 RBIs, 2 BB, 6 SO, 0 SB

The Scoop: Valera hit nearly a third of his home run total for the season last week in six games in a home series versus Indianapolis. It’s been another season of a piece for the corner outfielder. Lots of hard contact, lots of swing-and-miss and lots of days on the injured list. Now, with Triple-A time in three straight seasons, Valera is poised to make his MLB debut this season or next. (ME)

11. Alejandro Rosario, RHP, Rangers

Team: High-A Hickory (South Atlantic)
Age: 22 

Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 9 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: After three underwhelming college seasons with Miami, Rosario has flipped his career trajectory in his first full professional season. Spanning 16 starts across both levels of A-ball, Rosario has pitched to an outstanding 2.72 ERA with 123 strikeouts to 12 walks as a professional. Rosario is showing significantly more swing-and-miss as well as command as a professional. Rosario threw well over 70% fastballs while at Miami. That usage has dropped to 50% since joining the Rangers. Instead, he’s throwing more sliders and changeups and his approach has paid off. Rosario sits 95-97 mph on his fastball, mixing in a mid-80s slider with hard slurve type break and a changeup with significant vertical separation from his heater. Last week, Rosario impressed again, tossing five scoreless, allowing just two hits while striking out nine. Rosario is pushing himself into late-season consideration for the Top 100. (GP) 

12. A.J. Ewing, OF, Mets

Team: Low-A St. Lucie (Florida State)
Age: 20

Why He’s Here: .546/.615/1.570 (12-for-22), 6 R, 3 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBIs, 4 BB, 2 SO, 0 SB

The Scoop: The Mets went over slot to sign Ewing out of high school in the fourth round in 2023. He began this season in the Florida Complex League but showed big power and sound swing decisions to earn a promotion to Low-A after just 19 games. Ewing took time to adapt to the level but has put up a 1.019 OPS in August in the pitcher-friendly Florida State League. Drafted as a shortstop, he has focused on center field this season, with occasional work at second base as the Mets try to build in more positional versatility with their prospects this season. (ME)

13. Jasson Dominguez, OF, Yankees

Team: Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (International)
Age: 21

Why He’s Here: .393/.414/.571 (11-for-28), 9 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 3 RBIs, 1 BB, 4 SO, 5-for-6 SB

The Scoop: Dominguez made a one-game cameo in the big leagues, but he still managed to crush the competition back at Triple-A as well. After losing much of the season to Tommy John rehab and then a separate IL stint for an oblique injury, the Yankees’ top prospect is beginning to round into form. He popped his second home run of August this past week and now has 12 RBIs for the month, more than double the total he posted in June and July combined. (JN)

14. Jackson Baumeister, RHP, Rays

Team: High-A Bowling Green (South Atlantic)
Age: 22

Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 1 GS, 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 SO

The Scoop: Before he was traded to the Rays in the Zach Eflin deal, the Orioles were very cautious with Baumeister’s workload. He has yet to throw 80 pitches in a start this year, and he had worked five innings only once. When the Rays acquired him, they actually ramped that workload down for the first couple of weeks. He averaged less than four innings an outing in his first four Rays’ appearances. So what Baumeister did this week is notable. That six innings is his longest start of the season. He threw strikes on 78% of his 69 pitches. (JC)

15. Jack Leiter, RHP, Rangers

Team: Triple-A Round Rock (Pacific Coast)
Age: 24

Why He’s Here: 1-0, 1.59, 5.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 SO, 1 HR

The Scoop: Leiter has clearly found his groove, and he will reportedly be rewarded this week with a return to the big leagues. The righthander got there by overpowering his opponents at Triple-A. In his most recent outing, Leiter punched out nine hitters over 5.2 innings. The outing followed a 3.2 inning masterpiece in which all 11 of his outs were strikeouts. If you’re following along, that brings Leiter’s two-start total this August to 9.1 innings with five hits, two walks and an eye-popping 20 strikeouts. (JN)

16. Kristian Campbell, SS/OF, Red Sox

Team: Triple-A Worcester (International)
Age: 22

Why He’s Here: .348/.400/.652 (8-for-23), 5 R, 1 2B, 2 HR, 9 RBIs, 2 BB, 4 SO, 1-for-1 SB

The Scoop: Campbell hit .339/.444/.572 through 96 games between High-A Greenville and Double-A Portland, giving the Red Sox little choice but to promote him for a second time this season. His first week at Triple-A went just as well. He collected two hits in his first game at Norfolk, two more in his second and then three in his third, including two home runs. It’s been one of those seasons for Campbell, who has taken on a larger share of shortstop as the season has progressed. (ME)

17. Eiberson Castellano, RHP, Phillies 

Team: Double-A Reading (Eastern)
Age: 23

Why He’s Here: 0-0, 1.50, 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 11 SO, 1 HR

The Scoop: After a strong showing for High-A Jersey Shore, Castellano was promoted to Double-A after the all-star break. He continues to slide under the radar despite excellent numbers over six Double-A starts, which continued this week at Binghamton. The righthander went six innings, allowing one run on two hits and a walk while striking out 11. Castellano mixes three pitches, potentially four if you consider his two fastball shapes. His 93-95 mph fastball touches 97 at peak with both his four-seam and two-seam showing just pedestrian shape. His primary secondary is a low-80s curveball with depth and late horizontal break. The curveball is Castellano’s best bat-misser with a 20.9% swinging strike rate. His changeup has also shown the ability to miss bats. Castellano is an off-the-radar name showing performance and starter traits and could be one of the best pitching prospects you haven’t heard of. (GP) 

18. Leo Balcazar, SS, Reds

Team: High-A Dayton (Midwest)
Age: 20

Why He’s Here: .500/.500/.917 (12-for-24) 3 R, 2 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 7 RBIs, 0 BB, 6 SO, 3 SB.

The Scoop: Balcazar was one of the best players in the Florida State League early in the 2023 season, but he suffered a serious knee injury that knocked him out for the remainder of the season. When he got back on the field this year, he didn’t seem to be the same player. But this month has offered glimpses of what Balcazar can be when he’s hitting with confidence. His 11 extra-base hits in August are more than he had in the other four months of the season combined. He had one home run in his first 70 games and four in his past 21. (JC)

19. Josue De Paula, OF, Dodgers

Team: High-A Great Lakes (Midwest)
Age: 19

Why He’s Here: .300/.517/.650 (6-for-20), 4 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 4 RBIs, 9 BB, 6 SO, 3-for-3 SB

The Scoop: De Paula’s season might not jump off the page, but this past week sure did. The talented teenager reached base 15 times, including nine walks and two home runs, and threw in three stolen bases for good measure. He’s one of three players in the minor leagues who are 20 or younger with 300 or more ABs, 70 or more walks and fewer than 100 strikeouts. Of that group, he’s one of just two with 20 or more stolen bases. So while his batting average isn’t eye-popping, De Paula has plenty of attributes that point to a bright future. (JN)

20. Brandon Birdsell, RHP, Cubs

Team: Triple-A Iowa (International)
Age: 24

Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 1 GS, 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 SO.

The Scoop: Birdsell earned a promotion to Triple-A Iowa in July, but he found that the new level carries plenty of challenges. In his first three starts, batters hit .410 against him. Birdsell throws plenty of strikes, but his mid-90s fastball doesn’t generally have the life needed to be a swing-and-miss pitch at the top of the zone. Batters hit .548 against his fastball in those first three starts. But this week against Toledo, Birdsell managed to beat hitters in the zone with his fastball, getting 10 swings-and-misses with his heater. It’s a first step, but Birdsell is showing he’s getting acclimated to a tougher level. (JC)

HELIUM

Luis Merejo, 1B, Guardians

Merejo’s data has popped dating back to last year in the Dominican Summer League. He started this year in the Arizona Complex League, then got the bump to Low-A Lynchburg on July 30. Since then, the results have been outstanding and he has shown bat-to-ball skills and power. Merejo’s 90th percentile exit velocity of 106.2 mph ranks in the 97th percentile of hitters and is in elite company among players 20 years of age or younger. It’s not just raw power either, as Merejo has shown a consistent ability to get to his power in games and is doing so against older competitors. His is a name to watch in 2025 as a potential breakout. (GP)