From MLB Pipeline: https://www.mlb.com/milb/news/what-to-e ... ros-in-mlb
On March 27, 2023, Cam Smith was a Florida State freshman batting .264 with 28 strikeouts through his first 21 college games. Exactly two years later, he will spend Opening Day as a member of the Astros.
Smith has just 32 games of pro experience, making his rise to an Opening Day roster the third-quickest among position players since the Draft era began in 1965. Only Pete Incaviglia of the 1986 Rangers (zero games) and John Olerud of the 1990 Blue Jays (six) did it quicker.
When they acquired Smith along with Isaac Paredes and Hayden Wesneski in the Kyle Tucker trade with the Cubs in December, the Astros figured he'd be their third baseman of the future but would need at least most of this season in the Minors to develop. Instead, the 22-year-old ranked No. 58 on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects list is their right fielder of the present, switching positions on the fly and replacing three-time All-Star Tucker in their lineup.
Smith's ascent began in the Cape Cod League after his freshman season, where he finished second in homers (six) and fifth in batting (.347) while scouts named him the wood-bat summer league's top prospect. He adopted a more compact stance at the plate, reined in his right-handed swing and approach and began using the entire field.
Those changes led to dramatic improvements with the Seminoles as well. Smith boosted his OPS from .843 in his first season to 1.142 in his second while reducing his strikeout rate from 29 to 15 percent. He earned All-America honors, helped Florida State reach the College World Series and signed with the Cubs for $5,070,700 as the 14th overall pick in the Draft.
Smith continued to rake after turning pro. He homered in six consecutive games in Single-A, slashed .313/.396/.609 between three levels and added another blast in the Double-A Southern League playoffs. He posted similar numbers in the Grapefruit League this spring while going deep four times in 15 games, prompting Houston to shift him to right field in mid-March to expedite his path to Daikin Park.
While Smith has played just five pro games above High-A and almost certainly will need some time to adjust to big league pitching, he has the tools to hold his own as a rookie. He has impressive bat speed and strength, and he regularly barrels balls and produces high exit velocities with his more polished approach.
The only real concern with Smith's bat is his tendency to put the ball on the ground, leading to groundball/flyball ratios of 2.6 at Florida State last spring, 1.1 in his pro debut and 1.9 in Spring Training. He still projects as a solid hitter with 25 homers per year, perhaps more if he can launch more balls in the air and tap more into his well-above-average raw power.
Most of Smith's value will come from his offensive production. He has fringy speed and shows decent range and plus arm strength at third base, though he's an erratic defender at the hot corner and inconsistent with the accuracy of his throws. He moves well enough to cover ground in right field and has the arm for the position.
Jackson Merrill made the transition from Minor League infielder to big league outfielder well enough last year to finish second in National League Rookie of the Year Award balloting, so it can be done. Merrill did have the advantages of superior athleticism, more pro experience and more time to make the defensive transition. But if Smith can hit close to as well as he has for the last 21 months, the Astros won't worry about his glove.
Down on the Farm - 2025
Moderator: Braves
Re: Down on the Farm - 2025
From BP's The Call Up: https://www.baseballprospectus.com/pros ... ros-debut/
The Situation: Cam Smith has simply torn the cover off baseballs for the last 20 months or so. While he has very little pro experience—and even less outfield experience—the Astros will break camp with him as their starting right fielder, betting on his athleticism and bat to play in a corner spot immediately.
The Background: Those scant 20 months ago, Cam Smith was coming off a freshman season at Florida State where he hit .258 and struck out in around a quarter of his plate appearances. His OPS jumped 140 points with wood that summer in the Cape Cod League, and he followed it up with 1.142 OPS back in the ACC with almost as many walks as strikeouts as a draft-eligible Sophomore.The Cubs snatched him up with the 14th pick in the draft last summer, and he kept hitting in the pros. Ranked as the 20th-best prospect in baseball, Smith was traded to Houston this offseason as part of the Kyle Tucker package, and after a scorching hot start to his spring—and the 2024 offensive struggles of the Astros other outfield bats—he played himself into major-league roster contention. While he’s been almost exclusively a third baseman by trade—he moonlighted in left for Hyannis on rare occasions—he’s going to start in right field for Houston on Opening Day and maybe just keep hitting enough it won’t matter.
The Scouting Report: Given the lack of pro reps for Smith, I will somewhat default to our pre-draft scouting report. An offseason swing change added both more contact and power to his game, and while he doesn’t have the most optimized swing for pull-side power, he hits the ball very hard to all fields and did lift it a little more in spring training. Obviously the Crawford Boxes are an enticing target given his handedness, so what he does pull hard in the air could regularly find the seats. Smith’s swing is compact and strong, working from a low hand set, and geared more towards driving the ball to the right-center-field gap. While the over-the-fence power may lag slightly over the raw exits for a bit, we pegged him as a quick-moving above-average hit and power bat on the Astros offseason list—although perhaps not this quick—and I’d expect those to be bumped to plus and plus after a year or two under his belt in the bigs.
A decent chunk of Smith’s aggressive post-draft ranking was due to his slick-fielding at third base. Smith has a well-filled out, large frame, but really only foot speed was keeping him from being a viable shortstop, as he projected as a plus third baseman with a good first step, hands, and arm. His range should be fine in a corner outfield spot, assuming he can learn even average reads and routes on the fly, but it is a little odd they are playing Maurcio Dubon and/or Brendan Rodgers in the infield instead of him. It’s just one more thing to learn on the job. The other thing he will have to learn on the job is major-league stuff and sequencing, as his relevant amateur and minor-league experience won’t really have prepared him for it, and a lot of his damage in spring was done early on against pitchers getting their work in. I think Smith will eventually make the requisite adjustments in-season, but make no mistake, this is a very aggressive assignment.
Immediate Major-League Future: I’m a big Cam Smith believer, and part of me thinks he might just win AL Rookie of the Year, but the more likely scenario is something more akin to Wyatt Langford’s 2024 season: a half-season of intermittent struggles at the plate—while staying just above water offensively—followed by a strong second half. —Jeffrey Paternostro
Fantasy Impact: Watching what Smith is capable of in the big leagues is going to be fascinating. With barely any time above A-ball, PECOTA is treating him the way it treats lots of rookies and forecasting him for a performance that’s well below average. However, the Astros are still competitive and they’re not going to willingly jam up their lineup by running out a guy who’s going to be a net negative. They’re also committed to giving young players everyday at-bats, and have valued each player knowing their role on a daily basis. These are the kinds of soft data points that matter over a long fantasy season.
He’ll probably hit in the lower third of the order, though, and that’s going to reduce his ability to tally counting stats. Jeremy Pena, who will likely hit ahead of him, has a career OBP of .307. Mauricio Dubon and Jake Myers are glove-first players who are unlikely to drive him in. And who knows—if things get really weird and the team has a super slow start again, it’s probably not out of the question that they shake things up and send Smith to the minors. His making the team is a fun story but rookies in a fantasy setting should be approached with caution far more often than not. He’d make the most sense as a fifth outfielder or bench guy in deeper leagues. —Tim Jackson
The Situation: Cam Smith has simply torn the cover off baseballs for the last 20 months or so. While he has very little pro experience—and even less outfield experience—the Astros will break camp with him as their starting right fielder, betting on his athleticism and bat to play in a corner spot immediately.
The Background: Those scant 20 months ago, Cam Smith was coming off a freshman season at Florida State where he hit .258 and struck out in around a quarter of his plate appearances. His OPS jumped 140 points with wood that summer in the Cape Cod League, and he followed it up with 1.142 OPS back in the ACC with almost as many walks as strikeouts as a draft-eligible Sophomore.The Cubs snatched him up with the 14th pick in the draft last summer, and he kept hitting in the pros. Ranked as the 20th-best prospect in baseball, Smith was traded to Houston this offseason as part of the Kyle Tucker package, and after a scorching hot start to his spring—and the 2024 offensive struggles of the Astros other outfield bats—he played himself into major-league roster contention. While he’s been almost exclusively a third baseman by trade—he moonlighted in left for Hyannis on rare occasions—he’s going to start in right field for Houston on Opening Day and maybe just keep hitting enough it won’t matter.
The Scouting Report: Given the lack of pro reps for Smith, I will somewhat default to our pre-draft scouting report. An offseason swing change added both more contact and power to his game, and while he doesn’t have the most optimized swing for pull-side power, he hits the ball very hard to all fields and did lift it a little more in spring training. Obviously the Crawford Boxes are an enticing target given his handedness, so what he does pull hard in the air could regularly find the seats. Smith’s swing is compact and strong, working from a low hand set, and geared more towards driving the ball to the right-center-field gap. While the over-the-fence power may lag slightly over the raw exits for a bit, we pegged him as a quick-moving above-average hit and power bat on the Astros offseason list—although perhaps not this quick—and I’d expect those to be bumped to plus and plus after a year or two under his belt in the bigs.
A decent chunk of Smith’s aggressive post-draft ranking was due to his slick-fielding at third base. Smith has a well-filled out, large frame, but really only foot speed was keeping him from being a viable shortstop, as he projected as a plus third baseman with a good first step, hands, and arm. His range should be fine in a corner outfield spot, assuming he can learn even average reads and routes on the fly, but it is a little odd they are playing Maurcio Dubon and/or Brendan Rodgers in the infield instead of him. It’s just one more thing to learn on the job. The other thing he will have to learn on the job is major-league stuff and sequencing, as his relevant amateur and minor-league experience won’t really have prepared him for it, and a lot of his damage in spring was done early on against pitchers getting their work in. I think Smith will eventually make the requisite adjustments in-season, but make no mistake, this is a very aggressive assignment.
Immediate Major-League Future: I’m a big Cam Smith believer, and part of me thinks he might just win AL Rookie of the Year, but the more likely scenario is something more akin to Wyatt Langford’s 2024 season: a half-season of intermittent struggles at the plate—while staying just above water offensively—followed by a strong second half. —Jeffrey Paternostro
Fantasy Impact: Watching what Smith is capable of in the big leagues is going to be fascinating. With barely any time above A-ball, PECOTA is treating him the way it treats lots of rookies and forecasting him for a performance that’s well below average. However, the Astros are still competitive and they’re not going to willingly jam up their lineup by running out a guy who’s going to be a net negative. They’re also committed to giving young players everyday at-bats, and have valued each player knowing their role on a daily basis. These are the kinds of soft data points that matter over a long fantasy season.
He’ll probably hit in the lower third of the order, though, and that’s going to reduce his ability to tally counting stats. Jeremy Pena, who will likely hit ahead of him, has a career OBP of .307. Mauricio Dubon and Jake Myers are glove-first players who are unlikely to drive him in. And who knows—if things get really weird and the team has a super slow start again, it’s probably not out of the question that they shake things up and send Smith to the minors. His making the team is a fun story but rookies in a fantasy setting should be approached with caution far more often than not. He’d make the most sense as a fifth outfielder or bench guy in deeper leagues. —Tim Jackson
Re: Down on the Farm - 2025
From BA: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... ackfields/
Nolan McLean, RHP, Mets
Now that he’s put the bat down, McLean’s stock has gone up. The righthander showed an electric arsenal on the backfields this spring, including four- and two-seam fastballs in the mid-to-upper 90s and a slider with the potential to be a double-plus pitch. His mix also includes a cutter, curveball and changeup, but the fastball-slider combination is more than enough to ride to the big leagues. He needs to add some more consistency—he’ll mix in a few 40-grade sliders, as well—and hone his command and control, but the early returns on McLean this spring are extremely positive.
Braylon Doughty, RHP, Guardians
The Guardians landed a herd of talented prep arms in the 2024 draft, and Doughty was one of the contenders for the biggest prize of the group. The second-rounder out of high school in California showed well this spring thanks to a combination of tools and polish. He worked with a fastball in the low-to-mid 90s and backed it with a curveball and changeup that have a chance to settle in the 50- or 55-grade range. Scouts were also impressed by Doughty’s pitchability and his feel to land his stuff in the strike zone or bury it for chases.
- D-backs RHP Yordin Chalas has long been known for his loose, live arm that produces mid-90s velocity and slicing sliders. Now, though, he’s begun flashing a high-80s changeup with solid drop and fade. If he turns those flashes into more consistent results, he’ll greatly increase his chances to stick as a starter.
Nolan McLean, RHP, Mets
Now that he’s put the bat down, McLean’s stock has gone up. The righthander showed an electric arsenal on the backfields this spring, including four- and two-seam fastballs in the mid-to-upper 90s and a slider with the potential to be a double-plus pitch. His mix also includes a cutter, curveball and changeup, but the fastball-slider combination is more than enough to ride to the big leagues. He needs to add some more consistency—he’ll mix in a few 40-grade sliders, as well—and hone his command and control, but the early returns on McLean this spring are extremely positive.
Braylon Doughty, RHP, Guardians
The Guardians landed a herd of talented prep arms in the 2024 draft, and Doughty was one of the contenders for the biggest prize of the group. The second-rounder out of high school in California showed well this spring thanks to a combination of tools and polish. He worked with a fastball in the low-to-mid 90s and backed it with a curveball and changeup that have a chance to settle in the 50- or 55-grade range. Scouts were also impressed by Doughty’s pitchability and his feel to land his stuff in the strike zone or bury it for chases.
- D-backs RHP Yordin Chalas has long been known for his loose, live arm that produces mid-90s velocity and slicing sliders. Now, though, he’s begun flashing a high-80s changeup with solid drop and fade. If he turns those flashes into more consistent results, he’ll greatly increase his chances to stick as a starter.
Re: Down on the Farm - 2025
From BP's MLU: https://www.baseballprospectus.com/pros ... ars-it-up/
Hurston Waldrep, RHP, Atlanta Braves (Triple-A Gwinnett): 5 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K.
Waldrep seemed poised to be a major contributor in Atlanta last season but couldn’t take advantage of his opportunity. His two major league starts were less than ideal with the former first round selection allowing 13 earned runs and walking eight over the course of seven innings. The fastball looked much improved in his debut outing of the year, generating whiffs with a velocity that has returned to the upper 90s. If the heater can continue to improve, Waldrep can pair it with his nasty splitter to get another shot at earning big league innings.
Hurston Waldrep, RHP, Atlanta Braves (Triple-A Gwinnett): 5 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K.
Waldrep seemed poised to be a major contributor in Atlanta last season but couldn’t take advantage of his opportunity. His two major league starts were less than ideal with the former first round selection allowing 13 earned runs and walking eight over the course of seven innings. The fastball looked much improved in his debut outing of the year, generating whiffs with a velocity that has returned to the upper 90s. If the heater can continue to improve, Waldrep can pair it with his nasty splitter to get another shot at earning big league innings.
Re: Down on the Farm - 2025
From BP's MLU: https://www.baseballprospectus.com/pros ... bye-bye-o/
Brady House, 3B, Washington Nationals (Triple-A Rochester): 2-3, HR, R, RBI.
Fifth on our Nationals list and profiled for fantasy purposes by Ryan Boyer, Brady is a powerhouse—his prodigious pop will need to carry his profile in the big leagues, lest he be bogged down by a chase-inflated K rate.
Owen Caissie, OF, Chicago Cubs (Triple-A Iowa): 3-4, 3B, R, RBI.
The big Canadian continues to be a really fun prospect to dream on, putting up good minor league numbers that would be better if his swing were more optimized. He was third on our Cubs list.
Brady House, 3B, Washington Nationals (Triple-A Rochester): 2-3, HR, R, RBI.
Fifth on our Nationals list and profiled for fantasy purposes by Ryan Boyer, Brady is a powerhouse—his prodigious pop will need to carry his profile in the big leagues, lest he be bogged down by a chase-inflated K rate.
Owen Caissie, OF, Chicago Cubs (Triple-A Iowa): 3-4, 3B, R, RBI.
The big Canadian continues to be a really fun prospect to dream on, putting up good minor league numbers that would be better if his swing were more optimized. He was third on our Cubs list.
Re: Down on the Farm - 2025
From BA's : Breakout Pitching Prospects: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... h-in-2025/
Braylon Doughty, RHP, Guardians
Cleveland made a strategic decision in 2024 to spread money around the draft board and target a strong trio of prep pitchers in Joey Oakie, Chase Mobley and Doughty. The latter received the highest bonus of the three as the supplemental first-round pick and has earned some encouraging praise from scouts early. The Guardians backed this up with an assignment to Low-A Lynchburg to begin 2025. While Doughty is not a stuff monster with an upper-90s fastball, he has a feel for a variety of shapes, an ability to spin the baseball at an elite rate and advanced pitchability. These characteristics could make him one of the breakout stars of the Carolina League early this season.
Braxton Ashcraft, RHP, Pirates
Entering his age-25 season in 2025, it’s been a slow burn for the 2018 second-rounder. Injuries derailed large swaths of Ashcraft’s early professional career, as his 2024 inning total of 73 is his highest in any single season. Ashcraft has a spot on the 40=man and Triple-A time in parts of two seasons. He wasn’t sharp in his debut with Indianapolis in 2025, but he showed excellent stuff. Ashcraft can both ride and sink his fastball, showing a four-seamer with above-average ride and a sinker with true sink and heavier armside run. His primary secondary is a nasty cut-slider in the low 90s with classic cutter shape, and he also blends in a low-80s curveball and an improved changeup showing better vertical separation off his fastball. If Ashcraft can stay healthy, he could be the next starter promoted to a young and talented Pirates rotation.
Braylon Doughty, RHP, Guardians
Cleveland made a strategic decision in 2024 to spread money around the draft board and target a strong trio of prep pitchers in Joey Oakie, Chase Mobley and Doughty. The latter received the highest bonus of the three as the supplemental first-round pick and has earned some encouraging praise from scouts early. The Guardians backed this up with an assignment to Low-A Lynchburg to begin 2025. While Doughty is not a stuff monster with an upper-90s fastball, he has a feel for a variety of shapes, an ability to spin the baseball at an elite rate and advanced pitchability. These characteristics could make him one of the breakout stars of the Carolina League early this season.
Braxton Ashcraft, RHP, Pirates
Entering his age-25 season in 2025, it’s been a slow burn for the 2018 second-rounder. Injuries derailed large swaths of Ashcraft’s early professional career, as his 2024 inning total of 73 is his highest in any single season. Ashcraft has a spot on the 40=man and Triple-A time in parts of two seasons. He wasn’t sharp in his debut with Indianapolis in 2025, but he showed excellent stuff. Ashcraft can both ride and sink his fastball, showing a four-seamer with above-average ride and a sinker with true sink and heavier armside run. His primary secondary is a nasty cut-slider in the low 90s with classic cutter shape, and he also blends in a low-80s curveball and an improved changeup showing better vertical separation off his fastball. If Ashcraft can stay healthy, he could be the next starter promoted to a young and talented Pirates rotation.
Re: Down on the Farm - 2025
From BA's Hot Sheet: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... et-4-7-25/
11. Brady House, 3B, Nationals
Team: Triple-A Rochester (International)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: .367/.424/.600 (11-for-30), 6 R, 2 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 3 BB, 7 SO
The Scoop: After hitting a career-high 19 home runs in 2024, House has carried that success into 2025. The 21-year-old is riding a seven-game hitting streak in which he’s recorded four extra base-hits, including a 428-foot homer. House struggled with plate discipline last season, reflected by his 143 strikeouts to 31 walks between Double-A and Triple-A. He struck out seven times last week, but showed he can adjust to higher-level pitching, a question that has loomed as he’s developed over the years. (JC)
15. Jaden Hamm, RHP, Tigers
Team: Double-A Erie (Eastern)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO, 0 HR
The Scoop: It felt like Hamm was waiting for his first taste of Double-A for the final few months of 2024. It finally came on Saturday, as he dominated in his Double-A debut. Hamm tossed four scoreless innings allowing only three baserunners to reach. He needed 65 pitches and generated 12 swinging strikes. Hamm has pedestrian velocity but good ride in his fastball and an ability to command his arsenal. If he can add velocity in the coming years, he could emerge as a midrotation arm. More than likely, he settles in as a quality innings-eater at the back of a rotation. (GP)
11. Brady House, 3B, Nationals
Team: Triple-A Rochester (International)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: .367/.424/.600 (11-for-30), 6 R, 2 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 3 BB, 7 SO
The Scoop: After hitting a career-high 19 home runs in 2024, House has carried that success into 2025. The 21-year-old is riding a seven-game hitting streak in which he’s recorded four extra base-hits, including a 428-foot homer. House struggled with plate discipline last season, reflected by his 143 strikeouts to 31 walks between Double-A and Triple-A. He struck out seven times last week, but showed he can adjust to higher-level pitching, a question that has loomed as he’s developed over the years. (JC)
15. Jaden Hamm, RHP, Tigers
Team: Double-A Erie (Eastern)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO, 0 HR
The Scoop: It felt like Hamm was waiting for his first taste of Double-A for the final few months of 2024. It finally came on Saturday, as he dominated in his Double-A debut. Hamm tossed four scoreless innings allowing only three baserunners to reach. He needed 65 pitches and generated 12 swinging strikes. Hamm has pedestrian velocity but good ride in his fastball and an ability to command his arsenal. If he can add velocity in the coming years, he could emerge as a midrotation arm. More than likely, he settles in as a quality innings-eater at the back of a rotation. (GP)
Re: Down on the Farm - 2025
From BA: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... g-weekend/
Braylon Doughty, RHP, Guardians
One of the most touted prep pitchers in the 2024 draft class, Doughty made his highly-anticipated professional debut Friday at Fayetteville. Signed for just a shade under $2.6 million out of a commitment to Oklahoma State, he was a part of a trio of prep pitchers the Guardians targeted with some of their savings from the No. 1 overall selection of Travis Bazzana.
Doughty had an up-and-down debut, allowing five hits and two earned runs while walking none and striking out five. He threw nearly 75% strikes and was up to 94 mph on his fastball. Things started off very shaky, as he allowed the first three batters to reach before a wild pitch plated a run. Afterwards, Doughty seemed to lock in, striking out the next three batters to limit the damage. He ran into trouble again in the second inning, allowing a single followed by an RBI triple. He once again settled in and retired six of the next seven batters he faced, three via strikeout.
Doughty used just two pitches throughout the start, mixing his four-seam fastball and hard two-plane breaking curveball nearly one-to-one. Doughty’s fastball sat 91-92 mph and touched 94 at peak with above-average ride and moderate cut out of above-average extension and a higher release point. The pitch did generate a fair amount of whiffs, and he showed pinpoint control at points. Dating back to his prep days, Doughty’s ability to spin a breaking ball has been his bread and butter. This still looks to be the case, as his curveball sat 81-83 mph with over 10 inches of drop, 10 inches of sweep and average raw spin rates in the 2800-2900 rpm range. The pitch had a 36% chase rate and 33% whiff rate, both very good numbers when you consider the 48% usage rate of the pitch on the day.
Doughty is still very early in his professional development, but he shows key indicators that portend success. He commands his arsenal, has solid fastball shape and shows innate feel for spin. It’s too early to tell where this will end up, but he has multiple starter traits.
Braylon Doughty, RHP, Guardians
One of the most touted prep pitchers in the 2024 draft class, Doughty made his highly-anticipated professional debut Friday at Fayetteville. Signed for just a shade under $2.6 million out of a commitment to Oklahoma State, he was a part of a trio of prep pitchers the Guardians targeted with some of their savings from the No. 1 overall selection of Travis Bazzana.
Doughty had an up-and-down debut, allowing five hits and two earned runs while walking none and striking out five. He threw nearly 75% strikes and was up to 94 mph on his fastball. Things started off very shaky, as he allowed the first three batters to reach before a wild pitch plated a run. Afterwards, Doughty seemed to lock in, striking out the next three batters to limit the damage. He ran into trouble again in the second inning, allowing a single followed by an RBI triple. He once again settled in and retired six of the next seven batters he faced, three via strikeout.
Doughty used just two pitches throughout the start, mixing his four-seam fastball and hard two-plane breaking curveball nearly one-to-one. Doughty’s fastball sat 91-92 mph and touched 94 at peak with above-average ride and moderate cut out of above-average extension and a higher release point. The pitch did generate a fair amount of whiffs, and he showed pinpoint control at points. Dating back to his prep days, Doughty’s ability to spin a breaking ball has been his bread and butter. This still looks to be the case, as his curveball sat 81-83 mph with over 10 inches of drop, 10 inches of sweep and average raw spin rates in the 2800-2900 rpm range. The pitch had a 36% chase rate and 33% whiff rate, both very good numbers when you consider the 48% usage rate of the pitch on the day.
Doughty is still very early in his professional development, but he shows key indicators that portend success. He commands his arsenal, has solid fastball shape and shows innate feel for spin. It’s too early to tell where this will end up, but he has multiple starter traits.
Re: Down on the Farm - 2025
From BA: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... epertoire/
Hurston Waldrep is somewhat a forgotten man in the Braves’ pitching mix.
Rookie righthander AJ Smith-Shawver and his dynamic stuff headlines a list of intriguing young pitchers in Atlanta, but Waldrep—the club’s 2023 first-round pick—has not received much buzz.
The former Florida Gators ace made two MLB starts a year ago, failing to make a strong impression. He was sidelined for a month with elbow inflammation before spending the rest of 2024 at Triple-A Gwinnett.
The 23-year-old Waldrep had a quiet spring, making only one appearance before the team optioned him to Triple-A. But those around him said Waldrep seemed far more comfortable than a year ago.
Notable was that he gained the natural confidence and reassurance that comes with having “been there.” He’s better adjusted to the pace of the pro game, which he admitted has been a learning process since leaving Florida.
That makes sense for a pitcher who reached the majors less than a year after pitching in the College World Series.
“From what I’ve heard from some of the catchers who had him, there’s just a calmness this spring,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “It’s not such a ‘What’s going on here?’ That’s why repetitions, innings—that’s what that’s about.”
The most notable development of Waldrep’s offseason: He’s throwing his curveball again after ditching it following the draft. He felt good about the pitch during the spring.
“Adding the curveball back gives me a little better tool to lefties,” Waldrep said. “It fits my fastball really well out of my arm slot and it just made sense to bring it back.”
The idea behind getting rid of the pitch initially was that the Braves wanted Waldrep to focus on his slider, which would play well off his splitter, the pitch for which he’s best known.
Waldrep opened the season in Gwinnett rotation, but he will see chances in the majors as a spot starter or even a reliever later in the year.
Hurston Waldrep is somewhat a forgotten man in the Braves’ pitching mix.
Rookie righthander AJ Smith-Shawver and his dynamic stuff headlines a list of intriguing young pitchers in Atlanta, but Waldrep—the club’s 2023 first-round pick—has not received much buzz.
The former Florida Gators ace made two MLB starts a year ago, failing to make a strong impression. He was sidelined for a month with elbow inflammation before spending the rest of 2024 at Triple-A Gwinnett.
The 23-year-old Waldrep had a quiet spring, making only one appearance before the team optioned him to Triple-A. But those around him said Waldrep seemed far more comfortable than a year ago.
Notable was that he gained the natural confidence and reassurance that comes with having “been there.” He’s better adjusted to the pace of the pro game, which he admitted has been a learning process since leaving Florida.
That makes sense for a pitcher who reached the majors less than a year after pitching in the College World Series.
“From what I’ve heard from some of the catchers who had him, there’s just a calmness this spring,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “It’s not such a ‘What’s going on here?’ That’s why repetitions, innings—that’s what that’s about.”
The most notable development of Waldrep’s offseason: He’s throwing his curveball again after ditching it following the draft. He felt good about the pitch during the spring.
“Adding the curveball back gives me a little better tool to lefties,” Waldrep said. “It fits my fastball really well out of my arm slot and it just made sense to bring it back.”
The idea behind getting rid of the pitch initially was that the Braves wanted Waldrep to focus on his slider, which would play well off his splitter, the pitch for which he’s best known.
Waldrep opened the season in Gwinnett rotation, but he will see chances in the majors as a spot starter or even a reliever later in the year.
Re: Down on the Farm - 2025
From BA: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... s-in-2025/
Braylon Doughty, RHP, Guardians
In a farm system that leans heavily on hitters, Doughty is one of Cleveland’s best pitching prospects and could make himself a more nationally known name by the end of the year.
The Guardians signed Doughty out of high school as a supplemental first-round pick (No. 36 overall) in 2024. The 19-year-old has recorded 10 strikeouts and walked only one of the 31 batters he’s faced through seven innings, showing starter traits with the stuff to pile up empty swings. A prolific strike-thrower, Doughty complements a low-to-mid 90s fastball with an outstanding curveball. His curve—a pitch he’s thrown more often than his fastball when facing righthanded hitters—has extremely tight rotation and sharp bite to continue as a high swing-and-miss offering as he moves up the ladder.
His changeup was behind the rest of his stuff in high school, but in his last start, he used it to get multiple whiffs, including a particularly good one with heavy tumble for an empty swing against White Sox outfielder Braden Montgomery, a 2024 first-round pick and current Top 100 prospect.
Braylon Doughty, RHP, Guardians
In a farm system that leans heavily on hitters, Doughty is one of Cleveland’s best pitching prospects and could make himself a more nationally known name by the end of the year.
The Guardians signed Doughty out of high school as a supplemental first-round pick (No. 36 overall) in 2024. The 19-year-old has recorded 10 strikeouts and walked only one of the 31 batters he’s faced through seven innings, showing starter traits with the stuff to pile up empty swings. A prolific strike-thrower, Doughty complements a low-to-mid 90s fastball with an outstanding curveball. His curve—a pitch he’s thrown more often than his fastball when facing righthanded hitters—has extremely tight rotation and sharp bite to continue as a high swing-and-miss offering as he moves up the ladder.
His changeup was behind the rest of his stuff in high school, but in his last start, he used it to get multiple whiffs, including a particularly good one with heavy tumble for an empty swing against White Sox outfielder Braden Montgomery, a 2024 first-round pick and current Top 100 prospect.
Re: Down on the Farm - 2025
From BP's MLU: https://www.baseballprospectus.com/pros ... unningham/
Hitter of the Weekend
Brady House, 3B, Washington Nationals (Triple-A Rochester): 6-13, 2 HR, BB.
On the cusp of big-league opportunity, House’s frigid back half of 2024 in his first taste of Triple-A ensured September came and went without a call-up. Early in 2025, the young man is having a far easier time finding the outfield grass. The towering third baseman is flirting with a .300 average while having cracked half his homer total from a year ago in Rochester in one-third of the games.
Hitter of the Weekend
Brady House, 3B, Washington Nationals (Triple-A Rochester): 6-13, 2 HR, BB.
On the cusp of big-league opportunity, House’s frigid back half of 2024 in his first taste of Triple-A ensured September came and went without a call-up. Early in 2025, the young man is having a far easier time finding the outfield grass. The towering third baseman is flirting with a .300 average while having cracked half his homer total from a year ago in Rochester in one-third of the games.
Re: Down on the Farm - 2025
From BA's Hot Sheet: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... t-4-21-25/
18. Nolan McLean, RHP, Mets
Team: Double-A Binghamton (Eastern)
Age: 23
Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 8 SO, 0 HR
The Scoop: Through three starts this season, McLean has allowed just one earned run while holding opposing hitters to a .173 average. He kept rolling this week with his best start of the season on Saturday: six scoreless innings with two hits, four walks and eight strikeouts. McLean’s command still comes and goes, but he boasts excellent stuff. He mixed three different breaking ball shapes in his start Saturday, showing a low-90s gyro slider, a mid-80s sweeper and a high-70s curveball with two-plane break. Though his fastball shape isn’t great, he boasts excellent velocity. McLean could position himself as the best of Mets’ pitching prospects within the next month. (GP)
18. Nolan McLean, RHP, Mets
Team: Double-A Binghamton (Eastern)
Age: 23
Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 8 SO, 0 HR
The Scoop: Through three starts this season, McLean has allowed just one earned run while holding opposing hitters to a .173 average. He kept rolling this week with his best start of the season on Saturday: six scoreless innings with two hits, four walks and eight strikeouts. McLean’s command still comes and goes, but he boasts excellent stuff. He mixed three different breaking ball shapes in his start Saturday, showing a low-90s gyro slider, a mid-80s sweeper and a high-70s curveball with two-plane break. Though his fastball shape isn’t great, he boasts excellent velocity. McLean could position himself as the best of Mets’ pitching prospects within the next month. (GP)
Re: Down on the Farm - 2025
From BA: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... n-in-2025/
Asbel Gonzalez, OF, Royals
Over the opening weeks of the season, Gonzalez has been an excellent table setter for Low-A Columbia. He’s racked up hits and run wild on the bases so far, hitting .407/.514/.441 over 59 at bats with 16 runs and 22 stolen bases. He currently has nine walks to four strikeouts and shows excellent underlying skill metrics. Though Gonzalez lacks game power, exit velocity data shows some projection. He’s a heavy groundball hitter (49.1% in 2025) and looks to line drives to all fields.
Gonzalez’s contact and swing decisions grade out highly on team models. Combined with his speed and base running acumen, his profile puts him into a similar bucket as recent successful speedsters as the Rays’ Chandler Simpson and the Cardinals’ Victor Scott. Defensively, Gonzalez earned a 60 grade on his glove in his offseason report and has the speed and ability to handle center field long term.
Asbel Gonzalez, OF, Royals
Over the opening weeks of the season, Gonzalez has been an excellent table setter for Low-A Columbia. He’s racked up hits and run wild on the bases so far, hitting .407/.514/.441 over 59 at bats with 16 runs and 22 stolen bases. He currently has nine walks to four strikeouts and shows excellent underlying skill metrics. Though Gonzalez lacks game power, exit velocity data shows some projection. He’s a heavy groundball hitter (49.1% in 2025) and looks to line drives to all fields.
Gonzalez’s contact and swing decisions grade out highly on team models. Combined with his speed and base running acumen, his profile puts him into a similar bucket as recent successful speedsters as the Rays’ Chandler Simpson and the Cardinals’ Victor Scott. Defensively, Gonzalez earned a 60 grade on his glove in his offseason report and has the speed and ability to handle center field long term.
Re: Down on the Farm - 2025
From BA: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... next-step/
In recent years, the Pirates have built a reputation for developing pitchers. Righthander Antwone Kelly might be their next arm worth watching.
The 21-year-old posted a 4.43 ERA with 65 strikeouts in 69 innings for Low-A Bradenton last year.
After looking back on last year, Kelly realized that he would need to stay on the field if he wanted to take that next step in his development.
“I think the biggest thing was to stay healthy,” Kelly said. “Last year I had an oblique injury in the middle of the season, so this offseason I worked a lot on that.”
At High-A Greensboro this season, Kelly is off to a great start and credits improvements to his sequencing for his success.
Adding a couple of ticks to the fastball hasn’t hurt either. He hit triple digits in a start against Jersey Shore earlier in the year. Kelly averaged 95 mph with Bradenton in 2024, topping out at 98.7 mph.
In the end, it’s not the added velocity that Kelly feels like has been the biggest growth in his game. It’s his improved command.
“I learned how to pitch. I learned how to use my fastball,” Kelly said. “So, that was my biggest thing. I always could throw hard but couldn’t throw where I wanted to.
“Now I learned how to spot it where I want to and have more control of it and control my body.”
His improved fastball command contributed to a fine April with Greensboro. In his first five starts, Kelly walked five batters while striking out 21 in 17 innings to go with a 3.18 ERA.
The Pirates signed Kelly out of Aruba in 2021. Now, in a system flush with pitching talent, he has taken steps toward joining the most notable names in the organization.
In recent years, the Pirates have built a reputation for developing pitchers. Righthander Antwone Kelly might be their next arm worth watching.
The 21-year-old posted a 4.43 ERA with 65 strikeouts in 69 innings for Low-A Bradenton last year.
After looking back on last year, Kelly realized that he would need to stay on the field if he wanted to take that next step in his development.
“I think the biggest thing was to stay healthy,” Kelly said. “Last year I had an oblique injury in the middle of the season, so this offseason I worked a lot on that.”
At High-A Greensboro this season, Kelly is off to a great start and credits improvements to his sequencing for his success.
Adding a couple of ticks to the fastball hasn’t hurt either. He hit triple digits in a start against Jersey Shore earlier in the year. Kelly averaged 95 mph with Bradenton in 2024, topping out at 98.7 mph.
In the end, it’s not the added velocity that Kelly feels like has been the biggest growth in his game. It’s his improved command.
“I learned how to pitch. I learned how to use my fastball,” Kelly said. “So, that was my biggest thing. I always could throw hard but couldn’t throw where I wanted to.
“Now I learned how to spot it where I want to and have more control of it and control my body.”
His improved fastball command contributed to a fine April with Greensboro. In his first five starts, Kelly walked five batters while striking out 21 in 17 innings to go with a 3.18 ERA.
The Pirates signed Kelly out of Aruba in 2021. Now, in a system flush with pitching talent, he has taken steps toward joining the most notable names in the organization.
Re: Down on the Farm - 2025
From BA: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... -to-low-a/
The jump from the complex leagues to Low-A is one of the biggest transitions in professional baseball, especially for young players from another culture.
That wasn’t an issue for 19-year-old Venezuelan outfielder Asbel Gonzalez at Low-A Columbia this spring.
He stole 30 bases in 36 tries in April to lead all minor leaguers, while batting .398/.510/.422 in 22 games. He slashed his strikeout rate to about 7%, down from 20% last year in the Arizona Complex League.
Royals farm director Mitch Maier credits Gonzalez for the significant improvement.
“He’s always had good bat-to-ball skills and understood the strike zone,” Maier said. “Going there (Columbia) to start the season, he’s continued to grow and progress and show those abilities.”
Gonzalez’s on-base ability is amplified by what he does after he reaches. Using his plus speed and advanced baserunning instincts, he already had stolen more bases in one month this season than he did in the ACL last year or Dominican Summer League in 2023.
Chandler Simpson stole 104 bases in the minors last year and Victor Scott II swiped 94 the year before that. Neither had 30 steals by May 1—or was particularly close.
Billy Hamilton set the single-season minor league stolen base standard with 155 in 2012. He had 29 at the end of April.
What hasn’t developed yet for Gonzalez is power. He had only one extra-base hit in April.
“He’s going to get stronger,” Maier said. “He does have some thump in the bat. It’s just right now he’s trying to be the player he is right now—hitting line drives . . .
“As he gets stronger and gets more repetitions under his belt at higher levels, he’ll eventually drive the baseball a little more.“
If he adds strength to his lean, 6-foot-2 frame as he matures, Gonzalez could become an ideal table-setter.
Gonzalez projects to stay in center field, where his defense grades as plus. His makeup also will help as he moves through the Royals’ system.
“He’s a driven individual,” Maier said. “He goes about it the right way. He plays fearless and he’s a very instinctual player.”
The jump from the complex leagues to Low-A is one of the biggest transitions in professional baseball, especially for young players from another culture.
That wasn’t an issue for 19-year-old Venezuelan outfielder Asbel Gonzalez at Low-A Columbia this spring.
He stole 30 bases in 36 tries in April to lead all minor leaguers, while batting .398/.510/.422 in 22 games. He slashed his strikeout rate to about 7%, down from 20% last year in the Arizona Complex League.
Royals farm director Mitch Maier credits Gonzalez for the significant improvement.
“He’s always had good bat-to-ball skills and understood the strike zone,” Maier said. “Going there (Columbia) to start the season, he’s continued to grow and progress and show those abilities.”
Gonzalez’s on-base ability is amplified by what he does after he reaches. Using his plus speed and advanced baserunning instincts, he already had stolen more bases in one month this season than he did in the ACL last year or Dominican Summer League in 2023.
Chandler Simpson stole 104 bases in the minors last year and Victor Scott II swiped 94 the year before that. Neither had 30 steals by May 1—or was particularly close.
Billy Hamilton set the single-season minor league stolen base standard with 155 in 2012. He had 29 at the end of April.
What hasn’t developed yet for Gonzalez is power. He had only one extra-base hit in April.
“He’s going to get stronger,” Maier said. “He does have some thump in the bat. It’s just right now he’s trying to be the player he is right now—hitting line drives . . .
“As he gets stronger and gets more repetitions under his belt at higher levels, he’ll eventually drive the baseball a little more.“
If he adds strength to his lean, 6-foot-2 frame as he matures, Gonzalez could become an ideal table-setter.
Gonzalez projects to stay in center field, where his defense grades as plus. His makeup also will help as he moves through the Royals’ system.
“He’s a driven individual,” Maier said. “He goes about it the right way. He plays fearless and he’s a very instinctual player.”
Re: Down on the Farm - 2025
From BA's Hot Sheet: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... et-5-5-25/
5. Kyle DeBarge, 2B/SS, Twins
Team: High-A Cedar Rapids (Midwest)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: .421/.593/.789 (8-for-19) 8 R, 1 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 8 BB, 3 SO, 3 SB
The Scoop: When the Twins drafted DeBarge last year in the supplemental first round, much of his profile was reminiscent of Luke Keaschall. The Twins have made him even more of a Keaschall clone by playing him all around the field, as he’s started at second base, shortstop, center field and left field. And he’s hit wherever he’s played. Even while drawing walks in bushels, DeBarge has driven in a run in eight consecutive games. (JJ)
HELIUM
Asbel Gonzalez, OF, Royals
Gonzalez is one of this season’s fastest risers. He’s also one of this season’s fastest runners. The 19-year-old burner put together a strong first stateside season—spent mostly in the Arizona Complex League but also including a cameo at Double-A Northwest Arkansas—and finished with 23 stolen bases in 45 games. This year, he’s kicked it into hyperdrive. After the first series of May, Gonzalez already has 31 stolen bases in 26 games. He’s been caught seven times. To put that into perspective, in his 104-steal season, Chandler Simpson had 27 steals in 31 tries. If these trends continue, we could be looking at a second straight MiLB season with the steals leader breaching triple-digits. Of course, to steal bases, a player must get on base. That’s no problem for Gonzalez, whose .404 batting average and .513 on-base percentage were the best in the minor leagues. (JN)
5. Kyle DeBarge, 2B/SS, Twins
Team: High-A Cedar Rapids (Midwest)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: .421/.593/.789 (8-for-19) 8 R, 1 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 8 BB, 3 SO, 3 SB
The Scoop: When the Twins drafted DeBarge last year in the supplemental first round, much of his profile was reminiscent of Luke Keaschall. The Twins have made him even more of a Keaschall clone by playing him all around the field, as he’s started at second base, shortstop, center field and left field. And he’s hit wherever he’s played. Even while drawing walks in bushels, DeBarge has driven in a run in eight consecutive games. (JJ)
HELIUM
Asbel Gonzalez, OF, Royals
Gonzalez is one of this season’s fastest risers. He’s also one of this season’s fastest runners. The 19-year-old burner put together a strong first stateside season—spent mostly in the Arizona Complex League but also including a cameo at Double-A Northwest Arkansas—and finished with 23 stolen bases in 45 games. This year, he’s kicked it into hyperdrive. After the first series of May, Gonzalez already has 31 stolen bases in 26 games. He’s been caught seven times. To put that into perspective, in his 104-steal season, Chandler Simpson had 27 steals in 31 tries. If these trends continue, we could be looking at a second straight MiLB season with the steals leader breaching triple-digits. Of course, to steal bases, a player must get on base. That’s no problem for Gonzalez, whose .404 batting average and .513 on-base percentage were the best in the minor leagues. (JN)
Re: Down on the Farm - 2025
From MLB Pipeline's April Players of the Month: https://www.mlb.com/milb/news/2025-mino ... e-coverage
Carolina League (Single-A)
Columbia Fireflies (Royals) outfielder Asbel Gonzalez batted .398/.510/.422 and led the league in average (.398), runs (23), hits (33) and stolen bases (30). He was second in on-base percentage (.510) and fourth in OPS (.932). He walked 13 times with just seven strikeouts. His 30 stolen bases in April are the most by a Minor League player since Bakersfield’s Billy Hamilton stole 29 in 2012. He recorded 11 multi-hit games and his four hits on April 17 at Kannapolis set a new career high. His four stolen bases on April 4 and April 29 set and tied his career high. Gonzalez, 19, was signed by Kansas City as an international free agent out of Maracay, Venezuela, on Jan. 15, 2023.
Carolina League (Single-A)
Columbia Fireflies (Royals) outfielder Asbel Gonzalez batted .398/.510/.422 and led the league in average (.398), runs (23), hits (33) and stolen bases (30). He was second in on-base percentage (.510) and fourth in OPS (.932). He walked 13 times with just seven strikeouts. His 30 stolen bases in April are the most by a Minor League player since Bakersfield’s Billy Hamilton stole 29 in 2012. He recorded 11 multi-hit games and his four hits on April 17 at Kannapolis set a new career high. His four stolen bases on April 4 and April 29 set and tied his career high. Gonzalez, 19, was signed by Kansas City as an international free agent out of Maracay, Venezuela, on Jan. 15, 2023.
Re: Down on the Farm - 2025
From BP's Ten Pack: https://www.baseballprospectus.com/pros ... ill-weird/
Ramon Ramirez, C, Kansas City Royals (Low-A Columbia)
A frugal older IFA signing back in 2023, Ramirez has been gradually generating hype over the past year or so and has now fully joined (along with Blake Mitchell and Carter Jensen) the catching prospect convention near the top of the Royals org list. One reason why it is beneficial to have more than a couple of catchers in your system, of course, is that catching prospects tend to project a…varied…set of potential outcomes. Ramirez is one such catching prospect. He really is fun to watch go to work at the dish, his stocky frame belying a twitchy explosiveness that translates into a quick, hefty cut. The Venezuelan also swings with intent, often dropping the shoulder and always looking to drive the ball hard and in the air. Plus, power is the minimum expectation here if the hit tool cooperates. The 19-year-old has mostly avoided the excessive ground ball rate pitfall that can plague hitters of this age, and the eye and approach are sharp enough that he takes walks at a respectable rate. The K-rate does run a bit high and likely will ebb upwards at higher levels if the approach stays status quo–-he has trouble with hard breaking stuff down and away, and it is a very noisy setup complete with a bat waggle, lean, leg kick, and a drifting load. Additionally, his defense behind the plate grades out poorly by BP’s metrics. We’ll take this one slowly. —Ben Spanier
Asbel Gonzalez, OF, Kansas City Royals (Low-A Columbia)
If I’m taking it slow with Ramon Ramirez, I’m really taking it slow with his fellow 2023 signee Asbel Gonzalez. Like Ramirez, Gonzalez is a really fun player to watch play in the lower minors. He’s an elite runner who overwhelms opposing batteries on the bases, and he is also an exceptionally fluid athlete with a long, broad frame that is authentically physically projectible. The 19-year-old also plays a really nice center field for a player his age, beating most balls to the spot and unleashing an above-average arm with decent accuracy. His approach at the plate, however, is not so advanced–-it’s a choppy cut that produces a lot of ground balls, a trait that is currently creating a high batting average thanks to his speed and the quality of Low-A infield defense. I really think that, given the frame and athleticism, average pop is possible with a successful swing change. However, we are currently a long way from that outcome (Gonzalez hit his first home run of the season just this week), and the ability to pick up good spin is also far from proven. Still, the combination of baserunning, defense, and contact ability imply an upper-minors stalwart floor with the upside for more. —Ben Spanier
Ramon Ramirez, C, Kansas City Royals (Low-A Columbia)
A frugal older IFA signing back in 2023, Ramirez has been gradually generating hype over the past year or so and has now fully joined (along with Blake Mitchell and Carter Jensen) the catching prospect convention near the top of the Royals org list. One reason why it is beneficial to have more than a couple of catchers in your system, of course, is that catching prospects tend to project a…varied…set of potential outcomes. Ramirez is one such catching prospect. He really is fun to watch go to work at the dish, his stocky frame belying a twitchy explosiveness that translates into a quick, hefty cut. The Venezuelan also swings with intent, often dropping the shoulder and always looking to drive the ball hard and in the air. Plus, power is the minimum expectation here if the hit tool cooperates. The 19-year-old has mostly avoided the excessive ground ball rate pitfall that can plague hitters of this age, and the eye and approach are sharp enough that he takes walks at a respectable rate. The K-rate does run a bit high and likely will ebb upwards at higher levels if the approach stays status quo–-he has trouble with hard breaking stuff down and away, and it is a very noisy setup complete with a bat waggle, lean, leg kick, and a drifting load. Additionally, his defense behind the plate grades out poorly by BP’s metrics. We’ll take this one slowly. —Ben Spanier
Asbel Gonzalez, OF, Kansas City Royals (Low-A Columbia)
If I’m taking it slow with Ramon Ramirez, I’m really taking it slow with his fellow 2023 signee Asbel Gonzalez. Like Ramirez, Gonzalez is a really fun player to watch play in the lower minors. He’s an elite runner who overwhelms opposing batteries on the bases, and he is also an exceptionally fluid athlete with a long, broad frame that is authentically physically projectible. The 19-year-old also plays a really nice center field for a player his age, beating most balls to the spot and unleashing an above-average arm with decent accuracy. His approach at the plate, however, is not so advanced–-it’s a choppy cut that produces a lot of ground balls, a trait that is currently creating a high batting average thanks to his speed and the quality of Low-A infield defense. I really think that, given the frame and athleticism, average pop is possible with a successful swing change. However, we are currently a long way from that outcome (Gonzalez hit his first home run of the season just this week), and the ability to pick up good spin is also far from proven. Still, the combination of baserunning, defense, and contact ability imply an upper-minors stalwart floor with the upside for more. —Ben Spanier
Re: Down on the Farm - 2025
From BA's Hot Sheet: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... t-5-26-25/
14. Braxton Ashcraft, RHP, Pirates
Team: Triple-A Indianapolis (International)
Age: 25
Why He’s Here: 0-1, 4.50, 6 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 9 SO, 2 HR
The Scoop: The Pirates, despite being one of the worst teams in MLB, boast one of the best Triple-A rotations in the game with Bubba Chandler, Thomas Harrington and Braxton Ashcraft. Despite giving up some hard contact on Wednesday (two home runs) Ashcraft walked just one batter while striking out nine. Ashcraft had the swing-and-miss stuff working in this start as he generated a season-high 19 swinging strikes. Ashcraft has shown serious development over the last few seasons, displaying starter upside after an injury-plagued start to his career. (GP)
14. Braxton Ashcraft, RHP, Pirates
Team: Triple-A Indianapolis (International)
Age: 25
Why He’s Here: 0-1, 4.50, 6 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 9 SO, 2 HR
The Scoop: The Pirates, despite being one of the worst teams in MLB, boast one of the best Triple-A rotations in the game with Bubba Chandler, Thomas Harrington and Braxton Ashcraft. Despite giving up some hard contact on Wednesday (two home runs) Ashcraft walked just one batter while striking out nine. Ashcraft had the swing-and-miss stuff working in this start as he generated a season-high 19 swinging strikes. Ashcraft has shown serious development over the last few seasons, displaying starter upside after an injury-plagued start to his career. (GP)
Re: Down on the Farm - 2025
From BP's The Call-Up: Braxton Ashcraft - https://www.baseballprospectus.com/pros ... -ashcraft/
The Situation: I must confess that I haven’t been following the Pirates closely enough this season to know where precisely they are at with their bullpen budget, but it seems straightforward enough that having only two relievers with an ERA under 3.00 this season over more than 10 innings (Justin Lawrence and closer Dennis Santana) led the organization to make this move. Whether this represents giving up on Ashcraft’s future as a starter, or if it’s only a temporary initiation, remains to be seen.
Background: Ashcraft has been in the Pirates organization for a long, long time. He spent his age-19 season in the New York-Penn League, if that’s any indication. There was some hard traveling in the intervening years for the now 25-year-old, who battled through knee injuries, shoulder injuries, and eventually Tommy John surgery throughout the half decade following his second-round selection in 2018. He threw 53 innings for short-season West Virginia in 2019 and 38 ⅔ innings for High-A Greensboro in 2021, missing the entirety of 2022 recovering from that TJ. However, the Texan returned with a vengeance in 2023, conquering the Sally League with a 3.76 ERA over 26 ⅓ innings and turning it up a notch with a 1.35 mark over 20 frames at Double-A Altoona— all while carrying a near 30% strikeout rate across both levels. He was let loose a bit in 2024 after being limited to three-inning outings the previous year, and responded with a 3.69 ERA over 53 ⅔ Double-A innings and an 0.47 mark over a 19 ⅓ inning stint at Triple-A Indianapolis that terminated early with a bout of forearm tightness. Ashcraft ranked fifth and then fourth on our most recent Pirates lists, and is carrying an ERA just north of 5.00 at Triple-A this season.
Scouting Report: Ashcraft is a tall, statuesque, athletic presence on the mound (like Bubba Chandler, he was a good high-school football player), who brings the heat and complements his number one with a suite of secondaries of varied quality. The fastball isn’t quite as good as Chandler’s, but it is very good, sitting 95 and scraping 98 with high spin and good carry. The low-90s slider is a plus pitch that was running whiff and chase rates of better than 40% at Indy, and the low/mid-80s curve is also quite effective. He’ll mix in a sinker and a change, but these are weaker links at present. Ashcraft has been leaning on the fastball/slider combo heavily this season, and in his most recent start he threw 31 fastballs and 24 sliders out of 81 total pitches. He can develop into a high-leverage—and perhaps multi-inning—relief option with this package of stuff, and in my view has what could be developed into a starter’s arsenal with more reps to work on his in-zone command and pitch mix. However, it’s understandable to wonder at this point if his body and arm will hold up enough to make that happen.
Immediate Big League Future: Ashcraft will get some reps out of the bullpen, and presumably will continue to receive them if he pitches well. — Ben Spanier
Fantasy Impact: Given all that Ben said above, I’m not sure how short-term this bullpen stint will be. Ashcraft has basically only ever flirted with averaging five innings per appearance for years, often falling short of even that mark. That doesn’t make it less weird, though. Having a full arsenal should aid him whether it’s a single- or multi-inning role. I don’t think he’s immediately stepping into the closer’s role but I could see that happening if the club trades Dennis Santana at some point this summer. Going more than one inning doesn’t make a ton of sense either, though, because Pittsburgh’s starters have thrown the third-most innings in the league. This is a speculative dart throw in deep leagues at best. Keep tabs on him. If the stuff pops over the first couple of appearances, he could find himself snatching holds and eventually a very small handful of saves. If it really pops, and they start to use him whenever, he could become a better option than that last pitching spot you’re filling with deadwood most weeks. — Tim Jackson
The Situation: I must confess that I haven’t been following the Pirates closely enough this season to know where precisely they are at with their bullpen budget, but it seems straightforward enough that having only two relievers with an ERA under 3.00 this season over more than 10 innings (Justin Lawrence and closer Dennis Santana) led the organization to make this move. Whether this represents giving up on Ashcraft’s future as a starter, or if it’s only a temporary initiation, remains to be seen.
Background: Ashcraft has been in the Pirates organization for a long, long time. He spent his age-19 season in the New York-Penn League, if that’s any indication. There was some hard traveling in the intervening years for the now 25-year-old, who battled through knee injuries, shoulder injuries, and eventually Tommy John surgery throughout the half decade following his second-round selection in 2018. He threw 53 innings for short-season West Virginia in 2019 and 38 ⅔ innings for High-A Greensboro in 2021, missing the entirety of 2022 recovering from that TJ. However, the Texan returned with a vengeance in 2023, conquering the Sally League with a 3.76 ERA over 26 ⅓ innings and turning it up a notch with a 1.35 mark over 20 frames at Double-A Altoona— all while carrying a near 30% strikeout rate across both levels. He was let loose a bit in 2024 after being limited to three-inning outings the previous year, and responded with a 3.69 ERA over 53 ⅔ Double-A innings and an 0.47 mark over a 19 ⅓ inning stint at Triple-A Indianapolis that terminated early with a bout of forearm tightness. Ashcraft ranked fifth and then fourth on our most recent Pirates lists, and is carrying an ERA just north of 5.00 at Triple-A this season.
Scouting Report: Ashcraft is a tall, statuesque, athletic presence on the mound (like Bubba Chandler, he was a good high-school football player), who brings the heat and complements his number one with a suite of secondaries of varied quality. The fastball isn’t quite as good as Chandler’s, but it is very good, sitting 95 and scraping 98 with high spin and good carry. The low-90s slider is a plus pitch that was running whiff and chase rates of better than 40% at Indy, and the low/mid-80s curve is also quite effective. He’ll mix in a sinker and a change, but these are weaker links at present. Ashcraft has been leaning on the fastball/slider combo heavily this season, and in his most recent start he threw 31 fastballs and 24 sliders out of 81 total pitches. He can develop into a high-leverage—and perhaps multi-inning—relief option with this package of stuff, and in my view has what could be developed into a starter’s arsenal with more reps to work on his in-zone command and pitch mix. However, it’s understandable to wonder at this point if his body and arm will hold up enough to make that happen.
Immediate Big League Future: Ashcraft will get some reps out of the bullpen, and presumably will continue to receive them if he pitches well. — Ben Spanier
Fantasy Impact: Given all that Ben said above, I’m not sure how short-term this bullpen stint will be. Ashcraft has basically only ever flirted with averaging five innings per appearance for years, often falling short of even that mark. That doesn’t make it less weird, though. Having a full arsenal should aid him whether it’s a single- or multi-inning role. I don’t think he’s immediately stepping into the closer’s role but I could see that happening if the club trades Dennis Santana at some point this summer. Going more than one inning doesn’t make a ton of sense either, though, because Pittsburgh’s starters have thrown the third-most innings in the league. This is a speculative dart throw in deep leagues at best. Keep tabs on him. If the stuff pops over the first couple of appearances, he could find himself snatching holds and eventually a very small handful of saves. If it really pops, and they start to use him whenever, he could become a better option than that last pitching spot you’re filling with deadwood most weeks. — Tim Jackson
Re: Down on the Farm - 2025
From MLB Pipeline: https://www.mlb.com/milb/news/each-mlb- ... e-coverage
Marlins: Josh Ekness, RHP (No. 27)
A 12th-round pick out of Houston in 2023, Ekness has thrived since becoming a full-time reliever in pro ball. He has a 1.93 ERA and has struck out 12 of the 37 Double-A hitters he has encountered in May -- but he was even better in the season's opening month, with a spotless 0.00 ERA and whiffs against 13 of 29 batters faced. He works with an upper-90s fastball and a lively mid-80s slider.
And again, from MLB Pipeline: https://www.mlb.com/milb/news/top-prosp ... e-coverage
Jeferson Quero, C, Arizona Complex League Brewers (MIL No. 2/MLB No. 41)
Quero took another step toward affiliated Minor League action during a big offensive night as he continues his rehab assignment in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League. The 22-year-old slugged his third long ball and erupted for four hits and four RBIs. Quero had just one plate appearance in 2024 thanks to a torn labrum in his shoulder, and his 2025 start was delayed due to a hamstring strain.
Marlins: Josh Ekness, RHP (No. 27)
A 12th-round pick out of Houston in 2023, Ekness has thrived since becoming a full-time reliever in pro ball. He has a 1.93 ERA and has struck out 12 of the 37 Double-A hitters he has encountered in May -- but he was even better in the season's opening month, with a spotless 0.00 ERA and whiffs against 13 of 29 batters faced. He works with an upper-90s fastball and a lively mid-80s slider.
And again, from MLB Pipeline: https://www.mlb.com/milb/news/top-prosp ... e-coverage
Jeferson Quero, C, Arizona Complex League Brewers (MIL No. 2/MLB No. 41)
Quero took another step toward affiliated Minor League action during a big offensive night as he continues his rehab assignment in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League. The 22-year-old slugged his third long ball and erupted for four hits and four RBIs. Quero had just one plate appearance in 2024 thanks to a torn labrum in his shoulder, and his 2025 start was delayed due to a hamstring strain.
Re: Down on the Farm - 2025
From BA's Hot Sheet: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... et-6-2-25/
18. Brady House, SS, Nationals
Team: Triple-A Rochester (International)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: .375/.464/.667 (9-for-24), 6 R, 4 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 5 SO, 4 BB
The Scoop: Whose house? Looks like it’s Brady’s. House cracked double-digit homers this week and just keeps hammering the ball—something he’s done consistently since the day he joined the Nationals organization. The power is real, and the approach keeps getting sharper with every at-bat. He’s putting together quality plate appearances and doing damage. Cutting down his chase rate should help him get ahead in counts and be in a better position to do damage before he reaches the majors. (JC)
And from BA's Statcast Standouts: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... ts-june-2/
Brady House, 3B/SS, Nationals
House finally reached Triple-A last season and struggled mightily. While he managed a respectable .250 batting average, his three percent walk rate, 28.8% strikeout rate and .655 OPS all pointed to a prospect who wasn’t ready for the level. He subsequently dropped off the Top 100 Prospects list after being a mainstay for three years.
House’s struggles went deeper than just the surface-level results. It appeared he was optimizing for contact at the expense of his power swing:
The 2024 version of House was not a prospect I would have been particularly excited to write about. We see clearly fringe power amd decent zone contact, but that’s about the only positives we could have taken away from his metrics. The lack of power was notable and in sharp contrast to his scouting profile going back to his high school days.
Fast forward to this season, and we have a player that is true to his prospect pedigree:
When a player’s data is so poor in a large enough sample, as it was for House in 2024, it becomes very easy to write them off. This is why it’s really important to look at a player’s track record over as long a period as possible. House’s re-emergence as a power hitter is a great example of the risks that come with reading too much into a one or two month blip.
What we’re looking at now is a player with an excellent combination of zone contact vs. the fastball, as well as excellent chase rates against breaking balls and offspeed pitches. This will help him potentially overperform his otherwise subpar zone contact and chase rates.
A player’s 90th percentile exit velocity is generally considered one of the “stickier” power metrics year over year, indicating that House’s other power metrics might be understated. It suggests he truly does have 70-grade raw power, though it probably all combines to a 55 to 60 game power grade.
House is looking like the prospect that he was projected to be and has made huge strides since last season.
18. Brady House, SS, Nationals
Team: Triple-A Rochester (International)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: .375/.464/.667 (9-for-24), 6 R, 4 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 5 SO, 4 BB
The Scoop: Whose house? Looks like it’s Brady’s. House cracked double-digit homers this week and just keeps hammering the ball—something he’s done consistently since the day he joined the Nationals organization. The power is real, and the approach keeps getting sharper with every at-bat. He’s putting together quality plate appearances and doing damage. Cutting down his chase rate should help him get ahead in counts and be in a better position to do damage before he reaches the majors. (JC)
And from BA's Statcast Standouts: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... ts-june-2/
Brady House, 3B/SS, Nationals
House finally reached Triple-A last season and struggled mightily. While he managed a respectable .250 batting average, his three percent walk rate, 28.8% strikeout rate and .655 OPS all pointed to a prospect who wasn’t ready for the level. He subsequently dropped off the Top 100 Prospects list after being a mainstay for three years.
House’s struggles went deeper than just the surface-level results. It appeared he was optimizing for contact at the expense of his power swing:
The 2024 version of House was not a prospect I would have been particularly excited to write about. We see clearly fringe power amd decent zone contact, but that’s about the only positives we could have taken away from his metrics. The lack of power was notable and in sharp contrast to his scouting profile going back to his high school days.
Fast forward to this season, and we have a player that is true to his prospect pedigree:
When a player’s data is so poor in a large enough sample, as it was for House in 2024, it becomes very easy to write them off. This is why it’s really important to look at a player’s track record over as long a period as possible. House’s re-emergence as a power hitter is a great example of the risks that come with reading too much into a one or two month blip.
What we’re looking at now is a player with an excellent combination of zone contact vs. the fastball, as well as excellent chase rates against breaking balls and offspeed pitches. This will help him potentially overperform his otherwise subpar zone contact and chase rates.
A player’s 90th percentile exit velocity is generally considered one of the “stickier” power metrics year over year, indicating that House’s other power metrics might be understated. It suggests he truly does have 70-grade raw power, though it probably all combines to a 55 to 60 game power grade.
House is looking like the prospect that he was projected to be and has made huge strides since last season.
Re: Down on the Farm - 2025
From BA: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... the-bases/
The Twins’ scouting department paid a lot of attention to Kyle DeBarge last spring. They became sold on the shortstop’s versatility, grasp of the strike zone and, especially, his self-confidence.
“Kyle has a competitiveness that shined through every time our scouts got a look at him,” Twins GM Jeremy Zoll said. “He acknowledged, ‘Hey, some might think I’m cocky, but it’s just confidence. I believe in myself.’ And we’ve seen how that confidence really pushes him to succeed.”
Those reports also included an important detail about DeBarge and Louisiana-Lafayette’s baseball program: The Ragin’ Cajuns had a conservative philosophy about baserunning, and DeBarge timed out far faster than his 44 stolen bases in three college seasons indicated.
“Really good job by our scouting group to identify that he had a lot of untapped potential as a basestealer,” Zoll said. “It’s been really cool to see that become a big part of his game.”
That may be an understatement. The Twins drafted DeBarge with the 33rd overall pick in 2024, which they received as compensation for losing free agent Sonny Gray. Then they began working to turn him into a weapon on the bases. He stole 15 bases in 26 games at Low-A Fort Myers last summer, then ramped it up even further this season.
DeBarge, who turns 22 in July, was successful on his first 27 steal attempts for High-A Cedar Rapids before being thrown out for the first time on May 29.
“Our coaching staff has done a lot of work on a day-to-day basis, using technique elements to supplement his natural speed,” Zoll said.
DeBarge’s high walk rate contributed to a .270/.391/.450 through 49 games. The Twins believe the 5-foot-9 infielder—he plays mostly second base—can be more than a contact hitter.
“We think he’ll have some sneaky pop along the way,” Zoll said of DeBarge, a first-team College All-American last year. “He does a nice job controlling the zone, talking his walks. But with his bat speed, there’s definitely some sneaky pop in there.”
The Twins’ scouting department paid a lot of attention to Kyle DeBarge last spring. They became sold on the shortstop’s versatility, grasp of the strike zone and, especially, his self-confidence.
“Kyle has a competitiveness that shined through every time our scouts got a look at him,” Twins GM Jeremy Zoll said. “He acknowledged, ‘Hey, some might think I’m cocky, but it’s just confidence. I believe in myself.’ And we’ve seen how that confidence really pushes him to succeed.”
Those reports also included an important detail about DeBarge and Louisiana-Lafayette’s baseball program: The Ragin’ Cajuns had a conservative philosophy about baserunning, and DeBarge timed out far faster than his 44 stolen bases in three college seasons indicated.
“Really good job by our scouting group to identify that he had a lot of untapped potential as a basestealer,” Zoll said. “It’s been really cool to see that become a big part of his game.”
That may be an understatement. The Twins drafted DeBarge with the 33rd overall pick in 2024, which they received as compensation for losing free agent Sonny Gray. Then they began working to turn him into a weapon on the bases. He stole 15 bases in 26 games at Low-A Fort Myers last summer, then ramped it up even further this season.
DeBarge, who turns 22 in July, was successful on his first 27 steal attempts for High-A Cedar Rapids before being thrown out for the first time on May 29.
“Our coaching staff has done a lot of work on a day-to-day basis, using technique elements to supplement his natural speed,” Zoll said.
DeBarge’s high walk rate contributed to a .270/.391/.450 through 49 games. The Twins believe the 5-foot-9 infielder—he plays mostly second base—can be more than a contact hitter.
“We think he’ll have some sneaky pop along the way,” Zoll said of DeBarge, a first-team College All-American last year. “He does a nice job controlling the zone, talking his walks. But with his bat speed, there’s definitely some sneaky pop in there.”
Re: Down on the Farm - 2025
From BP: https://www.baseballprospectus.com/fant ... -may-2025/
Andrew Painter, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies
Listed Height: 6-foot-7
Listed Weight: 215 pounds
DOB (Age): April 10, 2003 (22)
Rank: 18
It has been a long wait, but Painter has returned to his pre-injury form. He has quickly found his footing in Triple-A as he continues to pitch deeper in games. The new-look Painter has revamped his secondaries, adding a cutter and adding more power to both his slider and curveball. His changeup remains a distant fifth pitch by both usage and quality, but it has found success in its limited usage. Painter’s strong command of four plus offerings and proximity make him one of the top pitching prospects in baseball. Given his lengthy recovery, and his likely limited innings this year, he is unlikely to provide as much immediate impact as other top arms with proximity. In fact, Painter is unlikely to debut until after the All-Star break.
Nolan McLean, RHP, New York Mets
Listed Height: 6-foot-2
Listed Weight: 214 pounds
DOB (Age): July 24, 2001 (23)
Rank: 71
McLean has always possessed a wicked plus-plus sweeper with power and devastating, sharp break. His increased reliance on his sweeper and his upper-80s power slider/cutter, with tons of depth for its velocity, has allowed him to find sustained success in the upper minors. McLean leans (had to do it) heavily on his breaking balls for good reason. His fastballs are average offerings with mediocre shape. Don’t be surprised if he moves more regularly to his sinker and utilizes an east-west attack. Such a profile–akin to Clarke Schmidt, Will Warren, and Dustin May–rarely generates high strikeout rates. However, McLean looks the part of a solid midrotation arm and fantasy contributor.
Andrew Painter, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies
Listed Height: 6-foot-7
Listed Weight: 215 pounds
DOB (Age): April 10, 2003 (22)
Rank: 18
| Pitch | Velo | Spin | IVB | HB | Total | % | wOBA | Whiff% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-Seam Fastball | 96.6 | 2462 | 17.6 | -5.0 | 242 | 53.3 | .386 | 20.3 |
| Cutter | 90.3 | 2547 | 7.4 | 6.2 | 107 | 23.6 | .139 | 24.4 |
| Curveball | 82.5 | 2601 | -3.0 | 9.9 | 45 | 9.9 | .313 | 30.0 |
| Slider | 85.6 | 2623 | 1.2 | 8.4 | 41 | 9.0 | .107 | 52.6 |
| Changeup | 89.6 | 1704 | 9.2 | 12.3 | 19 | 4.2 | .223 | 72.7 |
Nolan McLean, RHP, New York Mets
Listed Height: 6-foot-2
Listed Weight: 214 pounds
DOB (Age): July 24, 2001 (23)
Rank: 71
| Pitch | Velo | Spin | IVB | HB | Total | % | wOBA | Whiff% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweeper | 85.1 | 2786 | 2.3 | 14.3 | 91 | 27.4 | .198 | 32.6 |
| 4-Seam Fastball | 94.9 | 2210 | 13.7 | -10.4 | 75 | 22.6 | .313 | 10.0 |
| Sinker | 94.3 | 2082 | 5.3 | -16.3 | 74 | 22.3 | .237 | 33.3 |
| Slider | 88.8 | 2280 | 0.2 | 2.0 | 70 | 21.1 | .284 | 17.2 |
| Changeup | 86.1 | 1359 | -1.2 | 14.2 | 19 | 5.7 | .413 | 20.0 |
| Curveball | 75.7 | 3013 | -9.2 | 18.2 | 3 | 0.9 | 2.078 | 0.0 |
Re: Down on the Farm - 2025
From BP's Heat Check: https://www.baseballprospectus.com/pros ... use-money/
Brady House, 3B, Washington Nationals (Triple-A Rochester): .413 (15-42), 9 R, 3 2B, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 4 BB, 8 K.
Offensive production from the third base position has been near nonexistent for the Nationals this year, with the duo of Amed Rosario and Jose Tena providing very little thump to the lineup. Meanwhile, House has been red hot in the International League, making his case to be the next in line in the youth movement in Washington. Just 22 years old, House is hitting the ball harder this season than in years past, with the exit velocity jumping significantly compared to 2024. There are still some chase issues which tend to show up in the form of suboptimal contact rather than elevated strikeout rates, which might cause some growing pains when he does face major-league pitching. However, the power is real and House will likely soon get the opportunity to establish himself as a middle of the order run producer in the Nation’s capital.
Brady House, 3B, Washington Nationals (Triple-A Rochester): .413 (15-42), 9 R, 3 2B, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 4 BB, 8 K.
Offensive production from the third base position has been near nonexistent for the Nationals this year, with the duo of Amed Rosario and Jose Tena providing very little thump to the lineup. Meanwhile, House has been red hot in the International League, making his case to be the next in line in the youth movement in Washington. Just 22 years old, House is hitting the ball harder this season than in years past, with the exit velocity jumping significantly compared to 2024. There are still some chase issues which tend to show up in the form of suboptimal contact rather than elevated strikeout rates, which might cause some growing pains when he does face major-league pitching. However, the power is real and House will likely soon get the opportunity to establish himself as a middle of the order run producer in the Nation’s capital.
