Ranking The 20 Hottest MLB Prospects | Hot Sheet (7/30/24)

1. Sean Sullivan, LHP, Rockies

Team: High-A Spokane (Northwest)
Age: 22

Why He’s Here: 2-0, 0.00, 10 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 20 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: Sullivan does not throw hard, but he gets results. The lefty’s fastball this season sits in the mid 80s and has touched 93, but it has still garnered a miss rate of nearly 26%. In fact, all three of his pitches have miss rates north of 25%, and his changeup has an absurd mark of 48%. Add all that up and you get a pitcher who’s been wholly dominant all season. After two dynamic outings last week, Sullivan, part of the growing glut of Wake Forest alums in pro ball, now has 101 strikeouts and just eight walks all season over the course of 83.1 innings. (JN)

2. Dillon Dingler, C, Tigers

Team: Triple-A Toledo (International)
Age: 25

Why He’s Here: .600/.700.1.533 (9-for-15), 6 R, 2 2B, 4 HR, 8 RBIs, 5 BB, 1 SO

Dingler has long had a clear path to the big leagues as a solid defender behind the plate with enough power to fill at least a backup role. And as long as he struggled to make enough contact and hit for average, it was hard to make the case that he could be a regular. But Dingler has slashed his strikeout rate from 27% to 20% this year while showing more bat speed and even more power. Dingler is unlikely to come close to matching the .308/.379/.559 stats he’s posted in Triple-A Toledo, but he does look like a better all-around catcher with a chance to be a regular. Dingler got the call to Detroit for Monday’s game. He can handle the job defensively, and he’s got a similar profile to starter Jake Rogers, but with a chance to be a better bat. (JC)

3. Leodalis De Vries, SS, Padres

Team: Low-A Lake Elsinore (California)
Age: 17

Why He’s Here: .450/.560/.900 (9-for-20), 7 R, 3 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 4 RBIs, 4 BB, 3 SO

The Scoop: It took a while for De Vries to get cooking, but now he’s the hottest hitter in the California League. The 17-year-old, who skipped the DSL and ACL, has been absolutely molten this month. His two home runs this past week moves his line this month to .333/.447/.718 with six doubles, eight home runs and more walks (15) than strikeouts (14). He has also stolen five bases without being caught. (JN)

4. Luis Castillo, OF, Brewers

Team: Low-A Carolina (Carolina)
Age: 20

Why He’s Here: .556/.600/1.933 (10-for-18), 5 R, 2 2B, 4 HR, 16 RBIs, 1 BB, 2 SO, 0 SB

The Scoop: Castillo made up significant ground in the Carolina League home run race last week with his four-bomb, 16-RBI week. His 14 homers place him second in the league, while his 60 RBIs rank third. Castillo is a lefthanded-hitting Dominican corner outfielder who has an outside shot at developing impact power.  (ME)

5. Caden Dana, RHP, Angels

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

Why He’s Here: 0-1, 2.00, 9 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 10 SO, 1 HR

The Scoop: Dana opened eyes this year during spring training and has been one of the best pitchers in the minors during the regular season. The 20-year-old has spent the whole year at Double-A Rocket City, where he began the season as the circuit’s youngest pitcher, and has thrived. His latest start was a masterpiece, a complete game effort with two runs allowed three hits and a walk with 10 strikeouts mixed in along the way. The start was the latest in an excellent month in which he’s whiffed 27 hitters while walking just two. It was also his fourth start of seven innings or longer this season. (JN)

6. Mason Barnett, RHP, Royals

Team: Northwest Arkansas (Texas)
Age: 23

Why He’s Here: 1-1, 0.75, 2 GS, 12 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 6 BB, 16 SO

The Scoop: It’s been a struggle of a season for Barnett, but he has had an exceptional July. Barnett had a 6.40 ERA heading into this final start of June. Since then he’s allowed four earned runs in five starts with just 19 hits and 12 walks allowed in 27 innings while striking out 32. What changed? Not a lot, but Barnett is doing a better job of keeping his fastball in the upper third of the zone (and elevating above the zone when needed). Before the past five starts, hitters were hitting .296/.386/.528 off his fastball. During this great stretch, they are hitting .196/.308/.214 against his fastball. (JC)

7. Zach Dezenzo, 3B, Astros 

Team: Triple-A Sugar Land (Pacific Coast) 
Age: 24 

Why He’s Here: .455/.500/.818 (10-for-22), 5 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBIs, 2 BB, 5 SO, 1-for-1 SB

The Scoop: After a strong return from the injured list with Double-A Corpus Christi, Dezenzo was promoted to Triple-A Sugar Land. Denzeno stayed hot in his first week with Sugar Land, opening the week with three consecutive three-hit games. He hit bookend home runs in the week’s opening game and closing game and tallied four extra-base hits throughout the week. Dezenzo brings a combination of advanced plate approach and plus raw power to the table and could be an option for the Astros in the final months of the season should they deal with any injures to their infield. (GP)

8. Derek Bernard, OF, Rockies

Team: ACL Rockies
Age: 18

Why He’s Here: .563/.588/1.063 (9-for-16), 8 R, 3 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 4 RBIs, 1 BB, 3 SO

The Scoop: Bernard closed his ACL campaign with a bang, including his first home run of the year. The 18-year-old outfielder finished the season with impressive exit velocity numbers—90th percentile and max EVs of around 105 and 114 mph—and a strikeout rate of roughly 17%. His overall miss and chase rates suggest he might face stiffer competition in full-season ball, however. (JN)

9. Cooper Bowman, 2B, Athletics

Team: Double-A Midland (Texas)
Age: 24

Why He’s Here: .450/.520/.950 (9-for-20) 1 2B, 3 HR, 5 RBIs, 4 BB, 2 SO, 3 SB

The Scoop: Bowman currently has an 11-game hitting streak, as he’s hitting as well as he has all year. The Louisville product is hitting .357/.465/.629 this month and he continues to be a menace to pitchers when he reaches base. Bowman’s speed remains arguably his best asset. He has stolen seven bases in seven tries over this hot streak and has now stolen 133 bases in 148 tries for his career. (JC)

10. Damon Keith, OF, Dodgers 

Team: Double-A Tulsa (Texas) 
Age: 24 

Why He’s Here: .391/.500/.783 (9-for-23), 7 R, 3 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 3 RBIs, 5 BB, 8 SO, 2-for-3 SB

The Scoop: An 18th-round pick in 2021, Keith has been a steady performer in the Dodgers system over the last three seasons. After a mediocre season in 2023, Keith has been outstanding when on the field for Double-A Tulsa in 2024, posting a 155 wRC+. Keith is a sneaky good athlete with solid plate discipline and elite batted ball data. Last week Keith showed off his well-rounded skill set, finishing the week with three multi-hit games and reaching base in five out of six contests. Keith’s signature game of the week came on Sunday where he collected four hits, including a home run, scoring four times. Keith is a bat-first prospect with interesting skills that should get him to the majors over the next year. (GP) 

11. Dustin Harris, OF, Rangers

Team: Triple-A Round Rock (Pacific Coast)
Age: 25

Why He’s Here: .476/.522/.714 (10-for-21), 6 R, 2 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBIs, 1 BB, 5 SO, 2-for-3 SB

The Scoop: Harris is one of the better pure hitters in the Rangers’ system, but his upside has been limited by less-than-ideal power for first base or left field, his best positions. This year, Harris has stretched himself to play center field regularly at Triple-A to give him another dimension for the Rangers to consider. If he makes a convincing case, his hitting ability (.309 average in his last 50 games), speed (26 steals on the year) and lefthanded bat could make him an attractive reserve. (ME)

12. Mikey Romero, SS, Red Sox 

Team: High-A Greenville (South Atlantic) 
Age: 20 

Why He’s Here: .350/.435/.800 (7-for-20), 4 R, 3 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBIs, 3 BB, 5 SO, 0-for-0 SB

The Scoop: Romero has stayed hot for High-A Greenville and graces the Hot Sheet pages for the second consecutive week. Romero had two multi-hit games this week, including a four-hit game Sunday that included two home runs. He has slashed .315/.342/.685 with five homers and 16 extra-base hits over a truly breakout July. Billed for his advanced hitting ability coming out of the draft, Romero seems to have overcome his injury woes and is producing standout numbers. (GP) 

13. Chase Meidroth, 3B, Red Sox

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

Why He’s Here: .435/.536/.652 (10-for-23), 5 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 4 RBIs, 4 BB, 2 SO, 0-for-0 SB

The Scoop: Meidroth has steadily performed all season in the Triple-A WooSox lineup. You’d be hard-pressed to find many bad weeks at the plate for Meidroth, who has nearly twice as many walks as strikeouts, but some weeks are better than others. Last week was among his best. It started fairly slow, but Meidroth collected four-hit games on Saturday and Sunday while also hitting his fifth home run of the season. Meidroth doesn’t have a loud set of tools but his advanced hitting ability is impressive and should get him to the majors later this summer. (GP) 

14. Abimelec Ortiz, 1B, Rangers

Team: Double-A Frisco (Texas)
Age: 22

Why He’s Here: .316/.381/1.223 (6-for-19), 3 R, 1 2B, 3 HR, 3 RBIs, 2 BB, 6 SO, 0 SB

The Scoop: Ortiz hit 33 bombs last season and made a run at the overall minor league home run crown. His power production has been more muted this season, but after going deep three times last week he pushed his season total to eight homers in 79 games. Improved conditioning will be key for an Ortiz rebound, as will be proving himself against premium velocity. (ME)

15. Rhett Lowder, RHP, Reds

Team: Double-A Chattanooga (Southern)
Age: 22

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

The Scoop: Lowder’s season has been more up-and-down than expected, especially after he was promoted to Double-A Chattanooga. Scouts have noted that his delivery seems more energetic than it was at Wake Forest. But he’s been better lately, and this week he put together the best start of his pro career. Sam Brown’s second-inning single was the only ball that left the infield against Lowder in six innings as he loaded up on groundouts and infield pop-ups. (JC)

16. Dalton Rushing, C, Dodgers

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

Why He’s Here: .273/.360/.773 (6-for-22), 4 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 3 HR, 4 RBIs, 3 BB, 4 SO, 

The Scoop: Rushing is the Dodgers’ best prospect and has played like it this season. The Louisville alum clubbed three homers this past week, giving him 13 for the year. He does an excellent job controlling the zone and hits the ball quite hard—his 90th-percentile exit velocity this year is roughly 107 mph—giving him a chance to be a high-end offensive prospect at a premium position. He is one of three catchers with double-digit doubles and home runs, 60 or fewer strikeouts and 30 or more walks. (JN)

17. Austin Shenton, 1B, Rays

Team: Triple-A Durham (International)
Age: 26 

Why He’s Here: .333/.360/.667 (8-for-24) 2 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBIs, 1 BB, 7 SO

The Scoop: Shenton had a two-home run game against Gwinnett that played a big role in his big week. With the Rays’ massive sell-off, there’s a chance he could get another shot at a big league job. He’s a pretty reliable bat, but his defensive limitations are a hurdle that means he’s going to have to really hit. (JC)

18. Jose Tena, SS, Guardians

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

Why He’s Here: .407/.429/.593 (11-for-27) 4 R, 1 2B, 2 3B, 3 RBIs, 1 BB, 6 SO, 2 SB.

The Scoop: This is Tena’s farewell to the Guardians, as he was traded to the Nationals in the three-player deal to acquire Lane Thomas. That’s great news for Tena. It was hard to see how he was going to carve out a significant role in the very crowded Guardians infield, but there are more opportunities in D.C., especially at third base in the short term. (JC)

19. Dyan Jorge, SS, Rockies 

Team: High-A Spokane (Northwest) 
Age: 21 

Why He’s Here: .346/.393/.615 (9-for-26), 4 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 5 RBIs, 2 BB, 6 SO, 3-for-5 SB

The Scoop: Entering last week, Jorge had just seven total home runs over his first 208 professional games. On Friday, Jorge had a two-home run game, raising his total home runs for the season to…two! Over the course of the week he had three multi-hit games and stole three bases showing off his variety of skills. Jorge is a contact-first hitter with well below-average power, plus speed and the ability to stick at shortstop. (GP)

20. Jaison Chourio, OF, Guardians

Team: Low-A Lynchburg (Carolina)
Age: 19

Why He’s Here: .300/.462/.550 (6-for-20), 4 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 3 RBIs, 6 BB, 4 SO, 11-for-13 SB

The Scoop: After a strong showing in the Arizona Complex League in 2023, Chourio has put together a fine season at Low-A Lynchburg. This week, he landed on the Hot Sheet less for what he did at the plate than for what he did once he reached base. Namely, he ran wild. The younger brother of Brewers rookie Jackson Chourio swiped 11 bags in 13 tries, giving him 37 this season in 45 tries. He also launched his fourth home run of the season and finished the week with more walks (6) than strikeouts (4), giving him 63 walks against just 55 punchouts all year. He is one of three teenagers who have spent all year in full-season ball with more walks than strikeouts this year. (JN)

Helium

Hyun-Seok Jang, RHP, Dodgers

When he’s got it going, Jang has some of the nastiest stuff in the minor leagues. The righthander, whom the Dodgers signed last August, spent his first season stateside in the Arizona Complex League. On July 28, in the first game of his team’s championship series against the cross-valley rival D-backs, Jang was magnificent. The righthander spun three one-hit shutout innings and struck out eight of the 11 hitters he faced. As has been the case all season, Jang did show a bit of wildness. He walked one hitter and uncorked a pair of wild pitches. In the regular year, he struck out 41.5% of the hitters he faced, but also finished with a walk rate of around 16% and threw nine wild pitches. Jang has serious upside and major league-ready stuff. To reach his ceiling, he’ll need to throw more strikes. (JN)