Ranking The 20 Hottest MLB Prospects | Hot Sheet (4/16/24)
The Baseball America Hot Sheet ranks the 20 hottest prospects from the previous week. This installment of the Prospect Hot Sheet considers how minor league players performed through April 15. Contributing this week were Geoff Pontes, J.J. Cooper, Josh Norris and Matt Eddy.
This simply recognizes how the hottest prospects in the minors did in the past week—it’s not a re-ranking of the Baseball America Top 100 Prospects.
We also host a weekly Hot Sheet show at 3 p.m. ET on YouTube. Check out our channel here and last week’s episode below.
1. Joey Loperfido, OF, Astros
Team: Triple-A Sugar Land (Pacific Coast)
Age: 24
Why He’s Here: .423/.559/1.077 (11-for-26), 14 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 5 HR, 13 RBIs, 6 BB, 10 SO, 1-for-1 SB
The Scoop: Loperfido was a monster last week for the Space Cowboys in their series against Albuquerque. He reached base at least twice in each of his six games and slugged a total of five home runs. His signature performance of the week came on Friday night, as Loperfido hit three home runs and drove in seven runs. Over the six-game series, Loperfido hit at least one ball 100 mph or higher and has consistently shown plus in-game power. Loperfido has seen time at first base, center and left field in 2024, and his ability to play multiple positions will help his case when an opportunity opens up in Houston. (GP)
2. Andy Pages, OF, Dodgers
Team: Triple-A Oklahoma City (Pacific Coast)
Age: 23
Why He’s Here: .520/.567/1.080 (13-for-25) 7 R, 2 2B, 4 HR, 12 RBI, 4 BB, 5 SO, 1 CS
The Scoop: The good news is Pages’ shoulder looks fully recovered from last year’s season-ending labrum surgery, which means he could factor into the Dodgers’ plans at some point later this season. After a slow first week and a half, Pages was nearly unpitchable this week. Pages’ power is legit, and he’s an above-average runner with a plus-plus arm who can play either corner and not get embarrassed in center field. If everyone is healthy, Los Angeles doesn’t have any room for him in the outfield or at designated hitter, but for a team that has already sustained too many injuries to count, Pages serving as useful Triple-A depth is important. (JC)
3. James Wood, OF, Nationals
Team: Triple-A Rochester (International)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: .385/.484/.731 (10-for-26), 10 R, 3 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 4 RBIs, 5 BB, 6 SO, 4-for-5 SB
The Scoop: There’s not much more Wood can do at this point to prove he’s worthy of a callup to the major leagues. Wood had three multi-hit games last week in Rochester’s series at Buffalo. Wood went off on Thursday, going 4-for-5 with two home runs and four balls in play at 106.8 mph or higher. He has double-plus power, on-base skills and is showing improved contact skills dating back to his time with the major league club in spring training. Wood is one of the top prospects in baseball and arguably the most exciting player with an imminent callup in 2024. (GP)
4. Ben Kudrna, RHP, Royals
Team: High-A Quad-Cities (Midwest)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 6 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO, 0 HR
The Scoop: Kudrna had the best start of his young career on Thursday, tossing six hitless innings and striking out seven. Kudrna mixed two fastball shapes in a four-seam and two-seam at 93-94 mph touching 97 mph with a cut-slider at 85-86 mph and a changeup. He generated seven swinging strikes primarily against his slider that he threw 25 times during the start. Kudrna showed the ability to command his pitches throughout the start, landing all of his pitches in the zone. (GP)
5. Emmanuel Rodriguez, OF, Twins
Team: Double-A Wichita (Texas)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: .438/.571/1.375 (7-for-21), 7 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 6 RBIs, 5 BB, 7 SO, 0-for-1 SB
The Scoop: Rodriguez has long possessed a combination of power and patience. Sometimes, however, that patience bordered on passivity and led him to getting less out of his power than would otherwise be possible. This past week, the power showed up in spades. The 21-year-old outfielder slammed four home runs against Springfield, accounting for a quarter of the total he posted in 99 games in 2023 with High-A Cedar Rapids. Rodriguez has long been an up-arrow favorite for evaluators, and his start to 2024 has gone swimmingly. (JN)
6. Austin Charles, 3B, Royals
Team: Low-A Columbia (Carolina)
Age: 20
Why He’s Here: .429/.500/.667 (9-for-21), 6 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 10 RBIs, 4 BB, 5 SO, 6-for-7 SB
The Scoop: After being jumped almost completely over the Arizona Complex League in 2023, Charles showed flashes of the tools that led the Royals to make such a move. He also struck out quite a bit and took his lumps against more advanced competition. This season, however, has started off well. In a return to Low-A, the lanky, toolsy Charles popped his first homer of the season and stole six bags in his team’s series with Myrtle Beach. He hit just four home runs and swiped a dozen bases with Columbia a year ago, so it seems his tools are starting to show up early in the season. Charles’ development track might be lengthy, but it could be worth it in the long run. (JN)
7. Cade Povich, LHP, Orioles
Team: Triple-A Norfolk (International)
Age: 24
Why He’s Here: 0-1, 1.69, 5.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 10 SO, 1 HR
The Scoop: After a week of Norfolk’s offense putting up football numbers, the bats went cold last Saturday, leaving Povich as the tough-luck loser despite a dominant outing. Povich struck out 10, generating 16 total whiffs during the outing including six against his fastball. Despite only average velocity, Povich mixes a variety of pitches and shows the ability to command in and around the zone. The lefthander could be an option for the Orioles at some point early this season should they deal with any injuries to their starting rotation. (GP)
8. Dylan Crews, OF, Nationals
Team: Double-A Harrisburg (Eastern)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: .400/.455/.750 (8-for-20), 5 R, 1 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBIs, 1 BB, 3 SO, 1 HBP, 1 SB.
The Skinny: Crews began the season by going 1-for-13 with seven strikeouts. This week was much more as expected. He began the week with a four-hit day that included a home run and finished it with a three-hit day that also included a home run. He only struck out three times in 23 plate appearances. As has long been the case for Crews, he had success to all fields. Crews’ grand slam on Sunday went to left. His first home run of the week was driven out to center and he also had a pair of hits this week to right field. (JC)
9. Adam Mazur, RHP, Padres
Team: Double-A San Antonio (Texas)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO, 0 HR
The Scoop: Mazur had a strong run at Double-A to end 2023 and has pitched well in his first two starts to begin the season with San Antonio. Mazur’s outing last Thursday was a model in efficiency, as he needed only 53 total pitches to get through six innings, landing 75% of his pitches for strikes. Mazur blended a four-seam fastball at 94-96 mph, a high-80s cutter, a low-80s curveball and changeup. The righthander shows the ability to move the ball around the zone and miss bats with his fastball and curveball. Mazur has backend starter upside with the ability to consistently execute with the sum-of-his-parts. (GP)
10. George Klassen, RHP, Phillies
Team: Low-A Clearwater (Florida State)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 SO, 0 HR
The Scoop: One of the hottest names on the West Florida backfields this spring, Klassen has carried that momentum through to the opening of the season. Klassen tossed his second straight five-inning scoreless start on Friday striking out eight in his start against Fort Myers. Klassen sat 96-97 mph on his fastball touching 98 mph at peak while generating nine whiffs against 17 swings. He mixed in a hard curveball at 85-86 mph and a hard cutter at 89-90 mph. It’s a filthy mix and for the first time in his career Klassen is consistently throwing strikes. While Klassen’s start has been impressive, he’s still a college arm dominating Low-A. (GP)
11. Benny Montgomery, OF, Rockies
Team: Double-A Hartford (Eastern)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: .400/.429/.850 (8-for-20), 6 R, 3 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 8 RBIs, 1 BB, 8 SO, 1-for-1 SB
The Scoop: Hartord only played few games of their first series against Portland because of snow, so this week felt like the official opening of its season. Montgomery, the Rockies’ 2021 first-rounder, was the star. The outfielder collected an extra-base hit in each of the five games he played and multiple hits in three separate games. Montgomery is still showing swing and miss, but his elite athleticism, speed and power allow him to make highlight reel plays at any moment. He homered in the first two games of the series while making some outstanding catches in center field. Montgomery is an exciting player with shaky plate skills, who’s capable of making electric plays on both sides of the ball. (GP)
12. Coby Mayo, 3B, Orioles
Team: Triple-A Norfolk (International)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: .333/.346/.792 (8-for-24), 4 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 3 HR, 5 RBIs, 1 BB, 8 SO, 2-for-2 SB
The Scoop: Even without Jackson Holliday, the Norfolk Tides still have plenty of interesting prospects to monitor. Mayo is chief among that group. Baseball’s current No. 24 prospect has started his season on a high note. After he and his teammates came into Charlotte and wrecked shop for a week, Mayo followed it up with a strong week against Scranton. Mayo’s series included three home runs—including a multi-homer output on April 12—to bring his season total to five. His early-season strikeout rate is still high, but he still has plenty of time to smooth out the rough edges. (JN)
13. Paul Skenes, RHP, Pirates
Team: Triple-A Indianapolis (International)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 3.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 SO, 0 HR
The Scoop: Just like the rest of Skenes’ turns in the minor leagues this season, his latest outing was nothing short of dominant. Eight of his 11 outs came via strikes, and he got at least two whiffs on all four of his pitches. His four-seam fastball averaged 100 mph. Over his first 9.1 innings this season, Skenes, the reigning No. 1 overall pick, has allowed no runs, two hits, four walks and has struck out 19 hitters. Pittsburgh can’t be far off. (JN)
14. Christian Scott, RHP, Mets
Team: Triple-A Syracuse (International)
Age: 24
Why He’s Here: 1-0, 1.80, 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 10 SO, 1 HR
The Scoop: Scott has struck out more than half of the Triple-A batters he has faced this season while walking only one. His K-BB% runs neck-and-neck with Paul Skenes for best at the level. Scott has good stuff but is equally remarkable for how well he commands it and how adaptable he has proven to be in pro ball. He had previously added a mid-90s four-seamer and split-changeup since turning pro in 2021. This year he added a low-80s sweeper. His comfort level with his changeup and breaking pitches make him a good candidate to transition smoothly to MLB when his callup comes. (ME)
15. Tink Hence, RHP, Cardinals
Team: Double-A Springfield (Texas)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: 0-0, 1.80, 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 8 SO, 0 HR
The Scoop: The questions surrounding Hence have never involved stuff. Rather, evaluators questioned whether his frame would hold up to the demands of a big league starter’s workload. The righthander went five innings in nine of his 23 starts last season, but has lasted that long in both of his starts in 2024. In his first turn, Hence held Arkansas hitless. This time, he let up three hits against Wichita—including a triple to fellow Hot Sheet honoree Emmanuel Rodriguez—but finished with eight strikeouts, one short of the high-water mark he established in 2023. (JN)
16. Jonatan Clase, OF, Mariners
Team: Triple-A Tacoma (Pacific Coast)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: .333/.414/.833 (8-for-24) 5 R, 2 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 9 RBIs, 4 BB, 9 SO, 2 SB, 2 CS.
The Skinny: The Mariners’ season has gotten ugly quickly, which means Clase’s callup to the major leagues is carrying more importance than ideally it should. He’s a 21-year-old who has had swing-and-miss issues in the past, so some caution is needed. But Clase does have the speed to provide a needed boost to a very sluggish Mariners’ offense. The M’s have stolen five bases in 16 games this year. Clase, who stole 79 last year, can swipe that many in a week if he gets on base. Seattle doesn’t have a triple this season. Clase has two already. Any ball he pulls down the foul line can end up with him sliding into third base. Clase has been the second-fastest player in the Pacific Coast League this year (behind only Greg Jones). He’s got decent power potential as well. (JC)
17. Luke Keaschall, 2B, Twins
Team: High-A Cedar Rapids (Midwest)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: .333/.500/.714 (7-for-21), 6 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 5 RBIs, 6 BB, 5 SO, 5-for-5 SB
The Scoop: Keaschall was featured prominently in BA’s recent spring training standouts, and he’s carried his backfield dominance into the regular season. The Arizona State alum moved up to High-A in 2024 and had himself a strong series against Dayton. He walloped two home runs—doubling his career total—walked six times and stole five bags, nearly halfway to the total he posted in 2023. Keaschall’s ceiling is as an offensive-minded infielder and is beginning to look like a smart pick for the Twins. (JN)
18. Gavin Conticello, OF/1B, D-backs
Team: High-A Hillsboro (Northwest)
Age: 20
Why He’s Here: .474/.546/1.000 (9-for-19), 5 R, 1 2B, 3 HR, 6 RBIs, 3 BB, 4 SO
The Scoop: The D-backs drafted Conticello out of South Florida prep power Stoneman Douglas in the eighth round in 2021. Power was his calling card, and that power was on display last week as the 6-foot-3 lefthanded hitter crushed three home runs, all in Vancouver’s pitcher-friendly park. Drafted as a shortstop, Conticello is focused primarily on right field so far this season. (ME)
19. Edgar Quero, C, White Sox
Team: Double-A Birmingham (Southern)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: .286/.421/.929 (4-for-14), 4 R, 3 HR, 9 RBIs, 0 BB, 4 SO
The Scoop: The White Sox added Quero last summer when they dealt Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez to the Angels. This year. Quero is one of the youngest catchers at Double-A. The switch-hitter has popped all four of his home runs this season as a lefthanded batter, and he is one of three qualified Southern League hitters to compile a 1.000 OPS or better. Quero is Chicago’s catcher of the future, and he might be ready for his first extended MLB run next season. (ME)
20. Moises Chace, RHP, Orioles
Team: High-A Aberdeen (South Atlantic)
Age: 20
Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 8 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 15 SO, 0 HR
The Scoop: A 2019 signing out of Venezuela, Chace has been a sneaky performer for the Orioles at the lower levels the last few seasons. He made his 2024 debut last week making two appearances tossing eight total scoreless innings. Chace struck out nine in his season debut before striking out six in his outing on Sunday. Chace’s four-seam fastball sat 94-95 mph with 18 inches of induced vertical break and 8-9 inches of armside run. He mixed in a sweepy slider at 82-83 mph with 10-11 inches of horizontal break and a changeup at 83-84 mph. Chace missed bats with all of his pitches and was consistently around the zone. He’s an interesting off-the-radar name with intriguing stuff and strong early performance. (GP)
HELIUM PICK
Jonah Tong, RHP, Mets
Tong was whispered about as a sleeper in 2023, and in 2024 the Canadian righthander is beginning to wake everyone up. His four-seam fastball has gained a couple of ticks and peaked at 97 mph in his most recent start, which ended with 10 strikeouts over four one-hit innings. He dominated with mostly a four-seamer and a cutter, which accounted for 71 of his 80 pitches, and got 21 whiffs in total. Scouts see a pitcher with a little more projection remaining on his body and a potential big leaguer, albeit with a reliever’s role as a strong possibility. (JN)
