Ranking The 20 Hottest MLB Prospects | Hot Sheet (7/9/24)

1. Carson Palmquist, LHP, Rockies

Team: Double-A Hartford (Eastern)

Age: 23

Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 13 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: After hitting a small rough patch over the last month, Palmquist found his stride last week. The lefthander delivered seven shutout innings, allowing just two baserunners to reach. After striking out just two in his last start, Palmquist set a career high with 13 on Friday. He generated a season-high 22 swinging strikes mixing his fastball, slider and changeup. Palmquist carried a no-hit bid through 4.2 innings before allowing his only hit of the day. He’s tied for the Eastern League in strikeouts heading into the last week before the all-star break. (GP)  

2. Yilber Diaz, RHP, D-backs

Team: Triple-A Reno (Pacific Coast)

Age: 23

Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 6 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 13 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: Next stop, Phoenix. It was reported last week that Diaz had earned his first big league call-up. Based on his season in the minor leagues, the bump seems more than deserved. The righthander has mastered two of the most hitter-friendly environments in the sport, and his latest start was his best yet. Facing Sacramento, Diaz punched out 13—his third double-digit strikeout game of the year—and didn’t surrender a hit over the game’s first six innings. (JN)

3. Andres Chaparro, 3B, D-backs

Team: Triple-A Reno (Pacific Coast)

Age: 25

Why He’s Here: .625/.643/1.125 (15-for-24), 6 R, 3 2B, 3 HR, 15 RBIs, 1 BB, 4 SO, 1-for-1 SB

The Scoop: It would be difficult to be hotter than Chaparro was last week. He racked up 15 hits and drove in 15 runs in six games, leading all minor leaguers in both categories. Chaparro has been in pro ball since signing with the Yankees out of Venezuela in 2015. Last offseason, he elected to sign with the D-backs as a minor league free agent, and hitting in the Pacific Coast League has raised his profile. Chaparro ranks second in the PCL with a .979 OPS, the product of hitting .328 with 17 home runs through 82 games. (ME)

4. George Wolkow, OF, White Sox

Team: Low-A Kannapolis (Carolina)

Age: 18

Why He’s Here: .455/.556/1.091 (10-for-22) 7 R, 1 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 14 RBIs, 5 BB, 10 SO

The Scoop: Wolkow is an extreme example of high-risk, high-reward. He’s 6-foot-7 with enough swing-and-miss to his game to keep season ticket holders air conditioned. Of his 12 outs this week, 10 were via strikeout. But he also went 10-for-12 on balls he put on play. Weeks like this past one are where you dream of what he could be in a few years after plenty of at-bats and development, especially once you remember that he’s younger than some of the high school prospects in this weekend’s MLB draft. (JC)

5. Jackson Ferris, LHP, Dodgers

Team: High-A Great Lakes (Midwest)

Age: 20

Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 11 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: Ferris was one of two players the Dodgers received from the Cubs in the Michael Busch trade, and his latest outing is a prime example of the kind of upside Los Angeles sought in the deal. The lefthander has dealt with control and command issues all season, but he can be outright dominant at times. He’s turned a corner since June. Over six starts since then, he’s gone 1-0 with a 2.79 ERA, 44 strikeouts and just 10 walks in 29 innings. His latest turn set a season-high for strikeouts in a game. (JN)  

6. Demetrio Crisantes, 2B, D-backs

Team: Low-A Visalia (California)

Age: 20

Why He’s Here: .458/.536/.792 (11-for-24), 6 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 12 RBIs, 4 BB, 3 SO, 2-for-2 SB

The Scoop: If you don’t know Crisantes’ name, now is the time. The infielder was white hot in the Arizona Complex League and has kept up the pace after moving to the California League. The 19-year-old infielder has one of the system’s purest swings, which he’s used to rap out 29 hits in his first 67 Low-A at-bats. That accumulation includes three home runs, which is triple the total he hit in the ACL. His last homer was especially notable considering it was a walk-off blast that gave Visalia a win on the Fourth of July and sent 3,000 fans home happy. (JN)

7. Leodalis De Vries, SS, Padres

Team: Low-A Lake Elsinore (California)

Age: 17

Why He’s Here: .476/.560/1.000 (10-for-21), 7 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 3 HR, 6 RBIs, 4 BB, 2 SO, 2-for-2 SB

The Scoop: After treading water somewhat in the California League, the Padres’ latest teenage sensation has begun to bust out. The 17-year-old infielder, who was signed less than six months ago, slammed three home runs as part of a huge week with Low-A Lake Elsinore. De Vries is currently on a six-game hitting streak, including back-to-back three-hit games, the former of which was his first career game with multiple home runs. He hit three longballs in his final two games of the week. (JN)

8. Yeremi Cabrera, OF, Rangers

Team: Rookie-level Arizona Complex League

Age: 19

Why He’s Here: .533/.650/1.067 (8-for-15), 9 R, 3 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 6 RBIs, 5 BB, 4 SO, 2-for-2 SB

The Scoop: Cabrera turned 19 last week and did so in style with a quartet of two-hit games, each featuring at least one extra-base hit. He now leads all ACL hitters with nine home runs. While Cabrera is a third-year pro who signed for just $10,000, he appears to be taking steps toward his first assignment to a full-season league. (ME)

9. Mitch Jebb, 2B/SS, Pirates

Team: High-A Greensboro (South Atlantic)

Age: 22

Why He’s Here: .400/.586/.800 (8-for-20), 9 R, 1 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBIs, 8 BB, 4 SO, 8-for-9 SB

The Scoop: Jebb scuffled through April and May before finding his footing in June. Now, his hit-plus-run profile is beginning to shine in the South Atlantic League. In his last 30 games, Jebb is hitting .280 and rocking a .422 on-base percentage, with the sort of supporting skills—on-base ability, stolen bases and a middle-infield glove—that made him a 2023 second-rounder. Jebb has swiped 15 bases in 16 tries since June 1 and has 24 on the season. (ME)

10. Connor Staine, RHP, Rockies

Team: High-A Spokane (Northwest)

Age: 23 

Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 12 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: A fifth-round pick out of UCF back in 2022, Staine has been a solid performer over his first two professional seasons. While poor luck has dampened his line some over that time, he shows spurts of dominance. One of those came this week as Staine tossed seven scoreless innings for Spokane allowing one hit and two walks while striking out 12. Staine mixes five pitches, but his usage is dominated by a four-seam fastball sitting 93-94 mph with above-average ride and run. His primary secondaries are a trio of breaking balls in his slider, cutter and curveball. (GP) 

11. Thomas Saggese, 2B, Cardinals

Team: Triple-A Memphis (International) 

Age: 22 

Why He’s Here: .500/.519/.769 (13-for-26), 5 R, 2 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 4 RBIs, 1 BB, 5 SO, 1-for-1 SB

The Scoop: The opening two months of the 2024 season weren’t kind to Saggese, as he hit .239/.303/.403 over his first 46 games. Over the last month, however, things have turned around, and Saggese is hitting .293/.317/.444 since June 6th. Last week may have been his best of the season, as Saggese opened with five consecutive multi-hit games. Saggese’s signature game of the week came on Tuesday when he went 4-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs. Saggese is a hit tool driven second baseman, with average power that in time could blossom into above-average. His approach is aggressive however, limiting the overall impact of his on-base percentage. (GP)

12. Jean Cabrera, RHP, Phillies

Team: High-A Jersey Shore (South Atlantic)

Age: 22 

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

The Scoop: It’s been a great first half for Cabrera, as the righthander is tied for second in the South Atlantic League in strikeouts and is fifth in ERA. He continued his dominant run on the Fourth of July, tossing six scoreless no-hit innings and allowing just one walk and a hit batter. Cabrera struck out ten in the outing, his third time reaching double-digit strikeouts in a start this season. Cabrera mixes a mid-90s four-seam fastball, a low-to-mid-80s sweeper and a plus changeup, the latter of which is the most dominant pitch in his arsenal and generates a 28% swinging strike rate. (GP) 

13. Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Brewers

Team: Double-A Biloxi (Southern)

Age: 22

Why He’s Here: 0-0, 1.42, 6.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 10 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: When Misiorowski is on, he has the best stuff in the minor leagues. His last start was one of those examples. It also repeated a feat from 2023. On August 15 last season, Misiorowski struck out 12 hitters against Mississippi in six innings, which was his longest outing of the year. On July 6 this season, Misiorowski struck out 10 hitters over 6.1 innings. Both figures were season high-water marks. Once Misiorowski moves to Triple-A, Mississippi will breathe a sigh of relief. (JN)

14. Connor Norby, 2B/OF, Orioles

Team: Triple-A Norfolk (International)

Age: 24

Why He’s Here: .345/.367/.690 (10-for-29) 8 R, 1 2B, 3 HR, 9 RBIs, 1 BB, 6 SO, 1 SB

The Scoop: If you are building a list of blocked prospects who could be trade deadline targets, it’s hard to find a better candidate than Norby. He’s spent the end of 2022, all of 2023 and the first half of 2024 in Triple-A. He’s been a very productive hitter for Norfolk, but with Jackson Holliday also playing second base, and Colton Cowser and Heston Kjerstad moving up to Baltimore to play corner outfield spots, there’s no logical place for Norby in Baltimore in the next several years unless someone else is traded or injured. (JC)

15. Max Clark, OF, Tigers

Team: Low-A Lakeland (Florida State)

Age: 19

Why He’s Here: .474/.525/.842 (9-for-19) 4 R, 1 2B, 2 HR, 3 BB, 1 SO, 1 SB

The Scoop: Clark’s first full pro season has largely seemed like a quiet one, but this recent power spike has helped Clark climb into the top tier of productive Florida State League hitters. His offensive contributions so far are pretty significantly helped by walks, some of which will dissipate as he faces more advanced pitchers with better control. But it’s also likely that we’re going to see more power from Clark as he settles further into pro ball. (JC)

16. Will Warren, RHP, Yankees

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

Age: 25

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

The Scoop: Yankees fans could use a dose of good news as the big league club reels into the All-Star Break. Here’s one: Warren had his best outing of the season, which is quite a turnaround from the nine runs he gave up in his previous start. There is bad news here, however, as Warren’s struggles this season are such that his great outing only lowered his ERA to 6.64. But this is a step in the right direction. (JC)

17. Justin Crawford, OF, Phillies

Team: High-A Jersey Shore (South Atlantic)

Age: 20

Why He’s Here: .423/.444/.692 (11-for-26), 10 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 4 RBIs, 1 BB, 4 SO, 2-for-3 SB

The Scoop: In 2023, Crawford did just about everything right. The only real blemish on his ledger was a propensity to hit the ball on the ground, leading to a groundout-to-airout ratio last season that was a whopping 3.7-to-1. This year, that mark has improved to roughly 2.2-to-1, which is still high but also a significant step in the right direction. Doing so has helped Crawford get the most out of his abilities, which this past week manifested in his fifth and sixth home runs of the year, doubling his total from 2023. (JN)

18. Cole Carrigg, OF, Rockies

Team: High-A Spokane (Northwest) 

Age: 22

Why He’s Here: .407/.429/.778 (11-for-27), 5 R, 2 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 4 RBIs, 1 BB, 6 SO, 3-for-4 SB

The Scoop: After Spokane clinched the first half championship in the Northwest League, Carrigg received a few days’ rest in the Arizona Complex League. Over the first half, Carrigg hit .291/.368/.463 with five home runs and 26 stolen bases. In his return to the Spokane lineup, Carrigg picked up where he left off, tallying four multi-hit games. Carrigg had one of his best games as a professional on Saturday, going 3-for-5 with two home runs and marking Carrigg’s first multiple home run game of his career. Carrigg is a talented athlete who can play all nine positions on the field. He has speed and is showing improving contact and power as a pro. (GP) 

19. Brandon Birdsell, RHP, Cubs

Team: Double-A Tennessee (Southern)

Age: 24 

Why He’s Here: 1-0, 1.29, 7 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 9 SO, 1 HR

The Scoop: Drafted out of Texas Tech in the 5th round in 2022, Birdsell has developed into one of the best strike-throwers in the Cubs organization. Last week, Birdsell tossed seven innings of one-hit, one-run ball, allowing just one other batter to reach base via hit by pitch. Birdsell struck out nine on a season-high 19 swinging strikes while walking none. Birdsell mixes a mid-90s cut four-seam, a mid-80s gyro slider, an upper-70s two-plane curveball and a changeup. He’s been one of the breakout performers in the Cubs system this season. (GP) 

20. Jacob Wilson, SS, Athletics

Team: Triple-A Las Vegas (Pacific Coast)

Age: 22

Why He’s Here: .444/.474/.944 (8-for-18) 5 R, 3 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBIs, 1 BB

The Scoop: Wilson’s season is so good that hitting .444 this week lowered his overall batting average for the year to .461. At the risk of sounding a little repetitive, what Wilson is doing as a hitter is rarely, if ever, seen. He’s hitting for batting averages that are never seen in the upper minors, while also hitting for power and striking out at some of the lowest rates in the minors. Even when you make allowances for the offensive nature of the Texas and Pacific Coast Leagues, Wilson has been the most productive hitter in the minors on a per-game basis. Now he just needs to stay healthy after missing significant time in the first half with a knee injury. (JC)

Helium

Dalvinson Reyes, RHP, Red Sox

Signed in January of this year, Reyes has been one of the biggest breakouts in the DSL this summer. A projectable righthander standing 6-foot-5, Reyes lacks power across his pitch mix but flashes three above-average pitch shapes. Reyes mixes a low-90s sinker, a mid-80s cut slider and a mid-80s changeup with heavy tumble and fade. Reyes has the body that projects to add multiple ticks across his arsenal. If he’s able to develop more power in the coming years without compromising his pitch shapes, he could blossom into one of Boston’s top staring pitching prospects. (GP)