Ranking The 20 Hottest MLB Prospects | Hot Sheet (8/6/24)

1. Emil Morales, SS, Dodgers

Team: DSL Dodgers Mega
Age: 17

Why He’s Here: .429/.520/1.143 (9-for-21), 8 R, 3 2B, 0 3B, 4 HR, 9 RBIs, 4 BB, 5 SO, 2-for-2 SB

The Scoop: Morales is one of the highest-profile prospects in the Dominican Summer League. He spent this past week showing off just why. The 17-year-old, who was the jewel of Los Angeles’ most recent international signing class, clubbed extra-base hits in a third of his at-bats. That total included four home runs, which brought his season total to an even dozen and put him past fellow Dodgers prospect Armando Lantigua for the league lead. His 1.163 OPS is also the best on the circuit. (JN)

Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this article said that Morales had passed Mets prospect Edward Lantigua on the DSL home run list.

2. Jackson Ferris, LHP, Dodgers

Team: High-A Great Lakes (Midwest)
Age: 20

Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 8 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 6 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: Ferris was one of the two prospects the Dodgers received from the Cubs in the trade that sent Michael Busch to Chicago. He was lauded by both clubs for his immense upside, which he hinted at in his most recent turn for High-A Great Lakes. Facing Cedar Rapids, Ferris spun eight no-hit innings with six strikeouts and four walks in what was the best outing of his short career. Afterward, he was promoted to Double-A Tulsa. Ferris finished his time in High-A as the league’s leader in strikeouts (119) and opponent average (.198) and third in ERA (3.39). (JN)

3. Shay Whitcomb, SS, Astros 

Team: Triple-A Sugar Land (Pacific Coast) 
Age: 25 

Why He’s Here: .458/.533/1.000 (11-for-24), 5 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 4 HR, 10 RBIs, 4 BB, 5 SO, 1-for-2 SB

The Scoop: Whitcomb has become one of the better hitters in the upper minors over the last two seasons. He tied for the MiLB home run title in 2023. This year, Whitcomb is hitting .302/.388/.549 with 24 home runs while cutting his strikeout rate from 30.2% last season to 20% in 2024. He reached base in all six games last week, including three multi-hit efforts, and homered in four of those six contests. Whitcomb has shown improved plate skills and looks like a potential missed opportunity in last year’s Rule 5 draft. Don’t be surprised if the infielder debuts for the Astros at some point over the next month.

4. Luis Morales, RHP, Athletics 

Team: High-A Lansing (Midwest)
Age: 21

Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.87, 10.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 10 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: Morales has shown over 17 starts why he’s considered one of the top prospects in the Athletics’ system and one of more talented young pitchers in the minors. He scattered four hits, a walk and one earned run across 10.1 innings and two turns in Lansing’s rotation last week. After a solid 4.1-inning showing on Tuesday, Morales dazzled over six scoreless on Sunday. He allowed three baserunners to reach on two hits and one hit by pitch while striking out six. Morales sat 96.4 mph on his fastball on Sunday, generating three whiffs against his fastball, four against his changeup and eight against his slider. Morales’ ability to miss bats and land all his pitches for strikes makes him a name to watch. There’s little holding him back from pushing for a MLB debut sometime in the summer of 2025. (GP)

5. Brandon Sproat, RHP, Mets 

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

Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 13 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: Sproat dominated in what ended up being his final start with Double-A Binghamton, striking out 13 over five scoreless innings on two hits and no walks. At one point in the start, Sproat struck out 11 batters in a row, something that’s never been done in major league history. Sproat relied on his fastball and slider combination to generate 18 of his 20 swinging strikes. Eight of his 13 strikeouts came via a swinging strike, as Sproat sat 96.9 mph on his fastball. Sproat mixes a four-seam fastball, slider, curveball and changeup. He will be put to the test this week in his Triple-A debut. (GP) 

6. Spencer Jones, OF, Yankees

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

Why He’s Here: .409/.517/.864 (9-for-22), 5 R, 4 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 9 RBIs, 6 BB, 8 SO, 2-for-3 SB

The Scoop: It’s no secret that Jones has plenty of loud tools. It’s also no secret that he needs to make a lot more contact. This past week showed both sides of his profile. Six of his nine hits went for extra bases, including a pair of home runs, but he also struck out eight times in 27 plate appearances. The 27% rate in that small sample is an improvement from his 36% mark for the season, but it also bumped his yearlong total to 147, the second-highest total in the minor leagues. (JN)

7. Echedry Vargas, 2B, Rangers

Team: Low-A Down East (Carolina)
Age: 19

Why He’s Here: .407/.448/.889 (11-for-27), 8 R, 4 2B, 0 3B, 3 HR, 7 RBIs, 1 BB, 7 SO, 1-for-1 SB

The Scoop: In 2023, Vargas made a name for himself by mashing an Arizona Complex League-best 11 home runs (tied with former Dodgers prospect Jeral Perez) before a late-season cameo at Low-A. He returned to the level this year and has turned it on in the second half of the year. Since June 1, Vargas, still just 19 years old, has hit .295/.340/.540 with 10 home runs. He’s struck out just 44 times in 188 plate appearances, a rate of roughly 23%. He’s one of just four teenagers with 15 or more doubles and stolen bases and 10 or more home runs. (JN)

8. Brandyn Garcia, LHP, Mariners 

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

Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 8.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 14 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: It’s easy to get lost in the shuffle among the top prospects in the talented Mariners system, but 2023 11th-rounder Brandyn Garcia is making a case for more attention. The burley lefthander has been a strong performer for Double-A Arkansas all season pitching to a 2.18 ERA, with 114 strikeouts to 36 walks over 95 innings this season split between Double-A and High-A. Last week, Garcia made two turns in the rotation across 8.2 scoreless innings, striking out 14 while allowing three hits and two walks. Garcia is primarily sinker-slider, mixing in a firm changeup as well. His 93-95 mph sinker has true sink and heavy armside run. His 85-87 mph slider is his primary pitch with around 8-9 inches of sweep. After an unheralded college career, Garcia is making a name for himself under the Mariners’ tutelage. (GP) 

9. Colby Thomas, OF, Athletics

Team: Triple-A Las Vegas (Pacific Coast)
Age: 23

Why He’s Here: .500/.542/1.333 (9-for-18) 6 R, 3 2B, 4 HR, 8 RBIs, 3 BB, 4 SO, 0 SB.

The Scoop: If the A’s ballpark in Las Vegas is ever built, this week was a good example of what they can look forward to. Thomas homered twice in the first game of the Las Vegas-Albuquerque series in a 15-11 Isotopes’ win. The next day, Thomas’ singled in a low-scoring (by Las Vegas’ standards) 7-6 Aviators’ win. Thomas had a walk and an RBI in a 9-8 Isotopes win on Thursday. On Friday, Thomas got the day off as Las Vegas won 9-3. On Saturday, Thomas doubled and walked in a 12-11 Las Vegas win. And on Sunday, Thomas had his second two-homer game of the week and he wasn’t even the star of the game, as Max Muncy homered three times in the Aviators’ 21-5 win. Las Vegas scored 68 runs in six games this week. Thomas was a big reason why. (JC)

10. Travis Sykora, RHP, Nationals

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

Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 SO.

The Scoop: The hottest pitcher in the Carolina League is Sykora. Since July 1, Sykora has held hitters to a .110 batting average. This week was his second start in the past four where he worked five hitless innings. He also has two one-hit outings in his past seven starts, lowering his ERA from 4.43 on June 5 to 2.74. Sykora has an impressive three-pitch mix. He sits at 94-96 and has touched 98 mph with a low-80s slider, but the steady development of his changeup stands out. It’s clearly his third pitch and he doesn’t use it that often, but it’s a weapon when he’s feeling confident in it. (JC)

11. Mikey Romero, SS, Red Sox

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

Why He’s Here: .480/.519/.920 (12-for-25) 5 R, 2 2B, 3 HR, 11 RBIs, 1 BB, 4 SO

The Scoop: If we’re being honest, Romero’s prospect status seemed to be on very shaky ground just a little over a month ago. Yes, he’s still only 20, and he was a first-round pick in 2022, but offensively, Romero had done nothing in two years as a pro. He’d hit .214/.294/.286 in 2023 largely at Low-A and he was hitting .220/.273/.366 at High-A Greenville at the end of June. But Romero has packed a half a season of production into the past five weeks. After hitting three home runs in his first 94 pro games, Romero has had three two-home run games in the past 11 games. Romero still has a lot of work to do to match the lofty expectations that he carried coming out of high school. It now at least seems possible, something that seemed highly unlikely not long ago. (JC)

12. George Klassen, RHP, Angels 

Team: Low-A Inland Empire (California)
Age: 22 

Why He’s Here: 1-0, 1.80, 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 10 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: After Klassen was moved at the deadline alongside lefthander Samuel Aldegheri for reliever Carlos Estevez, Klassen made his Angels organizational debut on Saturday, going five innings allowing one run on three hits and three walks while striking out 10. Klassen showed his premium stuff mixing his 96-98 mph four-seam fastball with his low-90s cutter, upper-80s slider and mid-80s two-plane curveball with depth. While he has already mastered Low-A, the Angels seem reluctant to send any of their prospects to any level besides Low-A and Double-A. With another strong turn in the rotation this week, Klassen could see a promotion to Double-A Rocket City before the end of August. A talented arm who is finding a feel for the zone for the first time in his career, Klassen was an excellent get for the Angels. (GP) 

13. Dalton Rushing, C, Dodgers

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

Why He’s Here: .391/.481/.957 (9-for-23), 4 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 4 HR, 9 RBIs, 3 BB, 9 SO

The Scoop: All season, Rushing and Thayron Liranzo were the twin peaks at the head of the Dodgers’ catching prospect hierarchy. Liranzo was dealt to Detroit at the deadline, leaving Rushing as the system’s top backstop. He responded with one of his loudest weeks of the season. His four home runs gave him 17 for the year, pushing him two past his total from 2023 while playing in a dozen fewer games. His RBIs (59) and slugging percentage (.512) are tops in the Texas League. (JN) 

14. Zach Dezenzo, 3B, Astros 

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

Why He’s Here: .333/.448/.667 (8-for-24), 9 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 7 RBIs, 4 BB, 5 SO, 2-for-2 SB

The Scoop: Dezenzo’s season was plagued by injuries early on, but the Astros infielder has turned on the turbo boosters over his first 11 Triple-A games. He’s hitting .391/.472/.739 across 53 plate appearances. Dezenzo has shown improved bat-to-ball with plus power and some speed on the basepaths. Despite some aggressive moves at the trade deadline, Dezenzo stuck with the Astros. He could be an option for the club next year with some tough decisions looming on the MLB roster. Last week, Dezenzo collected hits in all six games for the Space Cowboys, while reaching base multiple times in four of six contests. His standout game of the week came on Friday when he reached base three times, homered, stole two bases and scored three runs. A well-rounded player, Dezenzo might be one of the more underrated prospects in the high minors. (GP) 

15. Matt Shaw, SS/3B, Cubs

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

Why He’s Here: .519/.548/.704 (14-for-27), 9 R, 1 3B, 1 HR, 3 RBIs, 3 BB, 2 SO, 3 SB, 1 CS

The Scoop: Shaw posted a .687 OPS in his second month in Tennessee. In his final month with the Smokies, he slugged .647. After a slow start, Shaw earned a promotion to Triple-A Iowa by dominating Southern League pitchers for his final two-plus months in the league. Shaw leaves the league ranking in the top 10 in batting average (.279), home runs (14), on-base percentage (.373), slugging percentage (.468), OPS (.841) and total bases (146). It may have been a slow start, but much like Owen Caissie last year, Shaw made sure he caught up and then surpassed the league. (JC)

16. Christian Zazueta, RHP, Dodgers

Team: Low-A Rancho Cucamonga (California)
Age: 19

Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 9 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 12 SO, 1 HR

The Scoop: Zazueta came to the Dodgers from the Yankees in the deal that brought Caleb Ferguson to New York. The righthander has athletic bloodlines and put forth a solid pro debut in the Dominican Summer League. He has a mix of potentially average pitches that could take a step forward as he matures and adds strength to his frame. He moved quickly out of the Arizona Complex League and has faced rough sailing in full-season ball, but he has allowed just two earned runs and six hits over his past 13 innings. (JN)

17. Bryce Eldridge, 1B, Giants

Team: High-A Eugene (Northwest)
Age: 19

Why He’s Here: .375/.467/.667 (9-for-24), 6 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 8 RBIs, 5 BB, 6 SO, 2-for-2 SB

The Scoop: Eldridge is not only the Giants’ top prospect, he’s one of the minors’ premier power brokers. The massive lefty slugger continued building on that rep this past week, swatting two more home runs with High-A Eugene. The blasts were his second and third since moving to the Northwest League on June 28, giving him 13 for the year. He was a two-way prospect in high school who has moved exclusively to the batter’s box this year. His frame and background might mean a longer runway than normal, but the reward could be well worth the wait. (JN)

18. Arjun Nimmala, SS, Blue Jays 

Team: Low-A Dunedin (Florida State) 
Age: 18 

Why He’s Here: .333/.433/.750 (8-for-24), 6 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 3 HR, 9 RBIs, 4 BB, 8 SO, 0-for-1 SB

The Scoop: It was a disastrous start to the season for the Blue Jays’ 2023 first-rounder, but Nimmala has found his sea legs since returning to Low-A following a stint in the Florida Complex League. The recent results speak for themselves. Since returning on June 27, Nimmala has hit .257/.341/.629 with nine home runs and 18 extra-base hits over 28 games. Last week, Nimmala continued to let the good times roll, homering in three out of six games. He continued to show improved hitting acumen and game power at the plate. Nimmala, who was young for the draft with an unusual background, adjusted his swing and plan of attack to turn his season around. There’s still some concerning swing-and-miss in his game, but he’s showing offensive promise and the ability to stick at shortstop for the long term. (GP) 

19. Bobby Seymour, 1B, Rays

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

Why He’s Here: .381/.409/1.095 (8-for-21) 6 R, 5 HR, 7 RBIs, 1 BB, 7 SO.

The Scoop: Seymour hit two home runs on Tuesday against Memphis, two more on Wednesday and one on Thursday. Seymour has been a little bit of an all-or-nothing slugger since his promotion to Triple-A Durham. This week there was a lot more of the all than the nothing. Seymour’s third home run of the week was one of the most majestic home runs we’ll see this year. It was a shot to straight center measured at 455 feet. It cleared the batter’s eye at the Bulls’ Durham Bulls Athletic Park. (JC)

20. Tyler Stuart, RHP, Nationals

Team: Double-A Harrisburg (Eastern)
Age: 24

Why He’s Here: 0-0, 2.45, 2 GS, 11 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 HR, 4 BB, 14 SO.

The Scoop: The newly acquired Stuart has had an up-and-down season, but his first two starts with the Nationals have been excellent. The righthander relies heavily on his slider. It’s the pitch he throws the most, and it’s why he’s always been better against righties than lefties. Stuart may end up as a useful slider-heavy reliever, but the Nationals have no reason to make that decision just yet. Weeks like this will stave off those conversations for a good while longer. (JC)

Helium

Eduardo Beltre, OF, Twins 

Beltre is one of the most impressive hitters in the Dominican Summer League this season. The 17-year-old outfielder signed for $1.5 million out of the Dominican Republic this past January. Beltre has shown impressive power and underlying power metrics in his professional debut, and in many ways compares to 2023 DSL standout and Rockies Top 10 Prospect Robert Calaz. His 102.6 mph 90th percentile exit velocity and .553 xwOBAcon showcase both his outlier power for age and level and his ability to make his best contact at strong angles. Beltre’s 57% hard hit rate and 61% combined line drive+flyball rate shows his ability to consistently elevate. He shows a knack for pull-side power, and enough athleticism to stick in the outfield. (GP)