BA hot sheet
1. Brice Matthews, SS, Astros
Team: Triple-A Sugar Land (Pacific Coast)
Age: 23
Why He’s Here: .429/.500/.929 (12-for-28), 11 R, 1 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 7 SO, 4 BB, 2-for-2 SB
The Scoop: No one in the minors had a hotter week than Matthews. The Astros’ 23-year-old shortstop recorded multi-hit performances in four of six games, including back-to-back three-hit outings in which he homered in both contests. Matthews also showed discipline at the plate, drawing four walks. His dynamic mix of power, speed and plate awareness is making noise in the Pacific Coast League and strengthening his case for a potential big-league callup this season. (JC)
Helium
Juneiker Caceres, OF, Guardians
Signed for $300,000 out of Venezuela in January 2024, Caceres has been on fire since coming stateside in 2025. Over 25 games in the Arizona Complex League, Caceres has hit .312/.444/.545 with three home runs and a 19.2% walk rate to a 13.1% strikeout rate. Last week, his power broke out, as he slugged his first three home runs of the season. The outfielder shows strong bat-to-ball skills with promising underlying exit velocity data, hinting at more unrealized power in his profile. One of the top complex league players to begin 2025, Caceres should see a full-season affiliate before long. (GP)
Guardian Apprentices
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Guardians
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Astros Beat
By Brian McTaggart
HOUSTON – Brice Matthews has reached the point in his career where whenever the Astros have an opening on their Major League roster, fans are clamoring for the club’s top prospect to be called up. It’s a position fellow former first-round picks George Springer, Carlos Correa, Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker have been in during past years, and the Astros hope Matthews has similar success someday.
The future appears to be bright for Matthews, which is why he’s one of two Astros prospects who are headed to the All-Star Futures Game in Atlanta. Matthews (No. 1/MLB No. 98) and right-handed reliever Alimber Santa (No. 29) will represent the Astros on July 12 in the prospect showcase.
Matthews, a first-round pick out of Nebraska in 2023, was slashing .279/.397/.477 with 10 homers, 39 RBIs and 23 stolen bases through Thursday while playing mostly second base at Triple-A Sugar Land. He’s made strides at the plate this season after reaching Triple-A late last year.
“I feel I’m playing really well,” he said. “There’s always more work to do, perfecting my craft and just getting better every day. I feel like I’ve been playing well to this point – a lot better than I did last year. I’m just trying to keep maturing every day and be more consistent.”
Matthews, 23, said the game is starting to slow down for him, which wasn’t the case at the beginning of the season. He had a .799 OPS in April, 1.033 in May and .960 in June, en route to being named Astros’ upper-level Minor League Player of the Month.
“I’d definitely say my persistence and the people I have around me, not just my teammates, but my coaches, my family, my friends, with the support they’ve given me, give me the reassurance that I am the player that I think I am,” Matthews said.
Matthews remains a work in progress defensively at second base after playing mostly shortstop and third base in his first full pro season last year. The Astros, of course, have some uncertainty at second base after moving Jose Altuve to left field this year. Matthews could be Houston’s starting second baseman entering 2026.
“It’s been pretty good for me, seeing a different angle and slowing the game down that way, just trying to be as smooth as I can over there,” Matthews said. “I had a lot of great people to watch in Spring Training with Brendan Rodgers, [Luis] Guillorme and [Mauricio] Dubón, so I’m picking up a lot of things from them, and Zack Short as well.
“I didn’t get to see Altuve much because he was in left field a lot, but it’s been fun learning from those guys. The time I had with them and just picking their brains and asking questions, just watching, honestly, that’s how you get better. You watch and see what they do, and I try to mimic it a little bit.”
The Astros brought up Short from Triple-A instead of Matthews when Guillorme went on the injured list earlier this week with a hamstring injury. Houston believes it’s still important for Matthews to get everyday at-bats in the Minor Leagues because of his defense and the fact he has 93 strikeouts in 312 plate appearances.
“He’s made big strides,” general manager Dana Brown said. “I like that he’s making really good, hard contact. He’s getting better defensively. He’s got a really good OPS, he’s hitting for a decent average. ... He’s even stealing some bases. He’s really developing and coming along.”
Astros manager Joe Espada was asked earlier this week if the club had considered calling Matthews up. He made it clear that Matthews will get his shot at some point.
“I think he has the potential to be an everyday player and right now, in the position we are in, we just need some versatility, someone that can come off the bench I can plug in,” Espada said. “Right now, the best thing for him is to continue to get at-bats in Triple-A and continue his progress. He's doing a really good job. I’m really excited about Brice Matthews.”
By Brian McTaggart
HOUSTON – Brice Matthews has reached the point in his career where whenever the Astros have an opening on their Major League roster, fans are clamoring for the club’s top prospect to be called up. It’s a position fellow former first-round picks George Springer, Carlos Correa, Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker have been in during past years, and the Astros hope Matthews has similar success someday.
The future appears to be bright for Matthews, which is why he’s one of two Astros prospects who are headed to the All-Star Futures Game in Atlanta. Matthews (No. 1/MLB No. 98) and right-handed reliever Alimber Santa (No. 29) will represent the Astros on July 12 in the prospect showcase.
Matthews, a first-round pick out of Nebraska in 2023, was slashing .279/.397/.477 with 10 homers, 39 RBIs and 23 stolen bases through Thursday while playing mostly second base at Triple-A Sugar Land. He’s made strides at the plate this season after reaching Triple-A late last year.
“I feel I’m playing really well,” he said. “There’s always more work to do, perfecting my craft and just getting better every day. I feel like I’ve been playing well to this point – a lot better than I did last year. I’m just trying to keep maturing every day and be more consistent.”
Matthews, 23, said the game is starting to slow down for him, which wasn’t the case at the beginning of the season. He had a .799 OPS in April, 1.033 in May and .960 in June, en route to being named Astros’ upper-level Minor League Player of the Month.
“I’d definitely say my persistence and the people I have around me, not just my teammates, but my coaches, my family, my friends, with the support they’ve given me, give me the reassurance that I am the player that I think I am,” Matthews said.
Matthews remains a work in progress defensively at second base after playing mostly shortstop and third base in his first full pro season last year. The Astros, of course, have some uncertainty at second base after moving Jose Altuve to left field this year. Matthews could be Houston’s starting second baseman entering 2026.
“It’s been pretty good for me, seeing a different angle and slowing the game down that way, just trying to be as smooth as I can over there,” Matthews said. “I had a lot of great people to watch in Spring Training with Brendan Rodgers, [Luis] Guillorme and [Mauricio] Dubón, so I’m picking up a lot of things from them, and Zack Short as well.
“I didn’t get to see Altuve much because he was in left field a lot, but it’s been fun learning from those guys. The time I had with them and just picking their brains and asking questions, just watching, honestly, that’s how you get better. You watch and see what they do, and I try to mimic it a little bit.”
The Astros brought up Short from Triple-A instead of Matthews when Guillorme went on the injured list earlier this week with a hamstring injury. Houston believes it’s still important for Matthews to get everyday at-bats in the Minor Leagues because of his defense and the fact he has 93 strikeouts in 312 plate appearances.
“He’s made big strides,” general manager Dana Brown said. “I like that he’s making really good, hard contact. He’s getting better defensively. He’s got a really good OPS, he’s hitting for a decent average. ... He’s even stealing some bases. He’s really developing and coming along.”
Astros manager Joe Espada was asked earlier this week if the club had considered calling Matthews up. He made it clear that Matthews will get his shot at some point.
“I think he has the potential to be an everyday player and right now, in the position we are in, we just need some versatility, someone that can come off the bench I can plug in,” Espada said. “Right now, the best thing for him is to continue to get at-bats in Triple-A and continue his progress. He's doing a really good job. I’m really excited about Brice Matthews.”
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Guardians
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Blue Jays Beat
By Keegan Matheson
TORONTO -- This hasn’t just been a good season for the big club, it’s been a good one for the entire organization.
The Blue Jays’ farm system has shaken off some of the struggles and bad luck that filled headlines in recent years, bouncing back with a fantastic run of development stories, particularly on the pitching side. No. 2 prospect Trey Yesavage is the star of this movement, and he’ll get to feel the spotlight of the All-Star Futures Game on July 12.
Yesavage has shot through three levels this season, from Single-A Dunedin up to Double-A New Hampshire, and while he’s still looking to find his groove again through four starts with the Fisher Cats, his season-long numbers are dominant. The big right-hander has a 2.92 ERA with 107 strikeouts over 64 2/3 innings, completely overwhelming younger hitters at times.
Yesavage didn’t pitch in 2024 after the Blue Jays selected him with the 20th pick in the Draft, so ‘25 has been his pro debut. Even in an era of accelerated development, it’s extremely unlikely that the Blue Jays would push Yesavage right to the big leagues to help the stretch run, but GM Ross Atkins didn’t shoot down the idea completely.
“Fifteen years ago, I would have said, ‘Probably not.’ That’s a lot to ask,” Atkins said. “In today’s game, because of how strong the amateur game has become and how much they’ve improved at development, it is more realistic for these guys to transition to the Major Leagues at a very rapid rate. Having said that, that’s not our focus. Our focus is for him to build a foundation and to be a Major League starting pitcher for 10-plus years, which is so hard to do. That will be the backdrop of our focus, but we’re not closing doors to contributions from significant impact players in our system.”
This season began with an understanding, essentially, that Yesavage was too good for Single-A. The Blue Jays wanted to keep him away from the unpredictable weather in the High-A Northwest League, though, and give him some more time in Florida to get into the routines of a pro. This is the boring part of development from the outside looking in, but one of the most important.
“Getting into the Major League routine or the professional routine and pitching every five to six days has been the biggest one,” Atkins said. “His command has improved as he’s made two transitions, and he’s handled those exceptionally well. His arsenal is already something that projects to be very effective, so I think the workload has been the biggest stride he’s made, and he’s managing that very well.”
By Keegan Matheson
TORONTO -- This hasn’t just been a good season for the big club, it’s been a good one for the entire organization.
The Blue Jays’ farm system has shaken off some of the struggles and bad luck that filled headlines in recent years, bouncing back with a fantastic run of development stories, particularly on the pitching side. No. 2 prospect Trey Yesavage is the star of this movement, and he’ll get to feel the spotlight of the All-Star Futures Game on July 12.
Yesavage has shot through three levels this season, from Single-A Dunedin up to Double-A New Hampshire, and while he’s still looking to find his groove again through four starts with the Fisher Cats, his season-long numbers are dominant. The big right-hander has a 2.92 ERA with 107 strikeouts over 64 2/3 innings, completely overwhelming younger hitters at times.
Yesavage didn’t pitch in 2024 after the Blue Jays selected him with the 20th pick in the Draft, so ‘25 has been his pro debut. Even in an era of accelerated development, it’s extremely unlikely that the Blue Jays would push Yesavage right to the big leagues to help the stretch run, but GM Ross Atkins didn’t shoot down the idea completely.
“Fifteen years ago, I would have said, ‘Probably not.’ That’s a lot to ask,” Atkins said. “In today’s game, because of how strong the amateur game has become and how much they’ve improved at development, it is more realistic for these guys to transition to the Major Leagues at a very rapid rate. Having said that, that’s not our focus. Our focus is for him to build a foundation and to be a Major League starting pitcher for 10-plus years, which is so hard to do. That will be the backdrop of our focus, but we’re not closing doors to contributions from significant impact players in our system.”
This season began with an understanding, essentially, that Yesavage was too good for Single-A. The Blue Jays wanted to keep him away from the unpredictable weather in the High-A Northwest League, though, and give him some more time in Florida to get into the routines of a pro. This is the boring part of development from the outside looking in, but one of the most important.
“Getting into the Major League routine or the professional routine and pitching every five to six days has been the biggest one,” Atkins said. “His command has improved as he’s made two transitions, and he’s handled those exceptionally well. His arsenal is already something that projects to be very effective, so I think the workload has been the biggest stride he’s made, and he’s managing that very well.”
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Guardians
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Re: Guardian Apprentices
SF Giants prospect update: Rayner Arias promotion, Matt Dunaway Signing, ACL no-hitter
By Jeff Young
Jul 2, 2025
ACL club spins a no-hitter
The ACL Giants tossed a no-hitter over the weekend in a 4-0 win over the ACL Angels. Luis De La Torre led the way with 4.1 scoreless frames, followed by Jose Rengel recording the final eight outs of the game.
De La Torre might be a name to watch. The lefty pitcher has tallied a 3.93 ERA with 57 strikeouts against 15 walks in 34.1 innings this season.
While the Giants' affiliates in the upper minors have not been all that strong, the lower affiliates are doing a nice job. This includes the ACL Giants, who lead their league by a comfortable margin with a 31-12 record.
By Jeff Young
Jul 2, 2025
ACL club spins a no-hitter
The ACL Giants tossed a no-hitter over the weekend in a 4-0 win over the ACL Angels. Luis De La Torre led the way with 4.1 scoreless frames, followed by Jose Rengel recording the final eight outs of the game.
De La Torre might be a name to watch. The lefty pitcher has tallied a 3.93 ERA with 57 strikeouts against 15 walks in 34.1 innings this season.
While the Giants' affiliates in the upper minors have not been all that strong, the lower affiliates are doing a nice job. This includes the ACL Giants, who lead their league by a comfortable margin with a 31-12 record.
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Guardians
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https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... et-7-7-25/
1. Emil Morales, SS, Dodgers
Team: ACL Dodgers (Arizona Complex)
Age: 18
Why He’s Here: .500/.591/.625 (8-for-16), 6 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 2 RBIs, 5 BB, 3 SO, 2-for-2 SB
The Scoop: Morales started slowly in his first stateside season. As it turns out, he just needed the weather in Arizona to reach triple digits before his bat became similarly scorching. Morales’ first week of July was merely an extension of his marvelous month prior. Since June 1, he’s posted these numbers over 101 at-bats: .386/.484/.574 with 10 doubles, three home runs and 15 RBIs. The fly in the ointment is the 25.6% strikeout rate he produced during the same period, and evaluators believe swinging and missing might always be a significant part of his game. Even so, his last five weeks point toward his massive offensive upside. (JN)
1. Emil Morales, SS, Dodgers
Team: ACL Dodgers (Arizona Complex)
Age: 18
Why He’s Here: .500/.591/.625 (8-for-16), 6 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 2 RBIs, 5 BB, 3 SO, 2-for-2 SB
The Scoop: Morales started slowly in his first stateside season. As it turns out, he just needed the weather in Arizona to reach triple digits before his bat became similarly scorching. Morales’ first week of July was merely an extension of his marvelous month prior. Since June 1, he’s posted these numbers over 101 at-bats: .386/.484/.574 with 10 doubles, three home runs and 15 RBIs. The fly in the ointment is the 25.6% strikeout rate he produced during the same period, and evaluators believe swinging and missing might always be a significant part of his game. Even so, his last five weeks point toward his massive offensive upside. (JN)
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Guardians
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Arnaldo Lantigua, OF, Reds: In 2024, Lantigua had a standout season in the Dominican Summer League. At the time, he was a Dodgers prospect. Now, after an offseason trade, he's part of the Reds' system. He jumped stateside for the 2025 season and has continued his upward swing. Monday's game against the White Sox was one of his best efforts yet. He clubbed his seventh home run of the season and added his 10th double of the year as well. In all, the powerful outfielder finished with five knocks—a triple shy of the cycle—scored four times and drove in four runs.
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Guardians
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Dodgers to Call Up IF Prospect Alex Freeland
The Dodgers are “set to call up” infield prospect Alex Freeland, per Fabia Ardaya of The Athletic. The move comes in response to Dodgers infielders Hyeseong Kim and Tommy Edman (who has been filling in for the injured Max Muncy at third base) being a bit banged up, Kim with a sore left shoulder, and Edman with an ailing right ankle. Edman spent some time on the injured list in May due to inflammation in that ankle, played through an aggravation of that injury in June, and tweaked it again on Sunday. Kim’s shoulder, which is notably not his throwing shoulder, has been bothering him for about a week, per Ardaya.
Enter Freeland, a 23-year-old switch hitter who has primarily played shortstop and third base in Triple-A this year but did start one game at second base. A third-round pick in 2022, Freeland was a consensus top-100 prospect coming into this season, ranking 46th on Baseball America’s list, and is the third-best prospect in the Dodgers’ system at the moment, per MLB Pipeline (that’s not counting catcher Dalton Rushing, who preceded Freeland to the majors). Freeland has hit .253/.377/.421 in Triple-A this year, which is a close match for his career line in the minors. Freeland has power and discipline at the plate, is a good baserunner despite average speed (he had a clubfoot as an infant), and is a viable everyday shortstop. He won’t play short for the Dodgers now that Mookie Betts has made himself into one of the best defensive shortstops in baseball at the age of 32, but he’ll get his chances at third and second as Kim and Edman recover from their injuries.
The Dodgers are “set to call up” infield prospect Alex Freeland, per Fabia Ardaya of The Athletic. The move comes in response to Dodgers infielders Hyeseong Kim and Tommy Edman (who has been filling in for the injured Max Muncy at third base) being a bit banged up, Kim with a sore left shoulder, and Edman with an ailing right ankle. Edman spent some time on the injured list in May due to inflammation in that ankle, played through an aggravation of that injury in June, and tweaked it again on Sunday. Kim’s shoulder, which is notably not his throwing shoulder, has been bothering him for about a week, per Ardaya.
Enter Freeland, a 23-year-old switch hitter who has primarily played shortstop and third base in Triple-A this year but did start one game at second base. A third-round pick in 2022, Freeland was a consensus top-100 prospect coming into this season, ranking 46th on Baseball America’s list, and is the third-best prospect in the Dodgers’ system at the moment, per MLB Pipeline (that’s not counting catcher Dalton Rushing, who preceded Freeland to the majors). Freeland has hit .253/.377/.421 in Triple-A this year, which is a close match for his career line in the minors. Freeland has power and discipline at the plate, is a good baserunner despite average speed (he had a clubfoot as an infant), and is a viable everyday shortstop. He won’t play short for the Dodgers now that Mookie Betts has made himself into one of the best defensive shortstops in baseball at the age of 32, but he’ll get his chances at third and second as Kim and Edman recover from their injuries.
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Guardians
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Luis De La Torre, LHP, Giants: The Giants are oozing with talent in Low-A, especially after several recent arrivals in San Jose following a successful Arizona Complex League. De La Torre is one such example. After striking out 62 batters in 38.2 innings in the ACL, De La Torre has kept the good times rolling in full-season ball, and on Thursday spun a five-inning, seven-strikeout scoreless start against Stockton. He has now thrown 14 consecutive shutout innings with 19 strikeouts to just three walks to begin his time in Low-A. De La Torre's combination of a unique fastball angle from the left side and a plus potential slider has given hitters fits so far and helped him jump onto the Giants' Top 30 Prospects. San Jose should be one of the most exciting teams to watch in the minors over the remainder of the regular season.
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Guardians
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https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... et-8-4-25/
20. Emil Morales, SS, Dodgers
Team: Low-A Rancho Cucamonga (California)
Age: 18
Why He’s Here: .353/.421/.824/ (6-for-17), 5 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 4 RBIs, 2 BB, 4 SO, 1-for-1 SB
The Scoop: One of the top bats in the ACL this season, Morales earned a promotion to Low-A alongside a wave of rising Dodgers prospects. This week, he offered another glimpse of his considerable ceiling. He has altered his approach to become more aggressive early in counts and hunt fastballs, which has allowed him to tap into his raw power more consistently. While swing-and-miss remains part of his game and he’s firmly a power-over-hit profile, the offensive upside is undeniable. Continued refinement to his approach could help Morales evolve into a true impact bat. (JC)
20. Emil Morales, SS, Dodgers
Team: Low-A Rancho Cucamonga (California)
Age: 18
Why He’s Here: .353/.421/.824/ (6-for-17), 5 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 4 RBIs, 2 BB, 4 SO, 1-for-1 SB
The Scoop: One of the top bats in the ACL this season, Morales earned a promotion to Low-A alongside a wave of rising Dodgers prospects. This week, he offered another glimpse of his considerable ceiling. He has altered his approach to become more aggressive early in counts and hunt fastballs, which has allowed him to tap into his raw power more consistently. While swing-and-miss remains part of his game and he’s firmly a power-over-hit profile, the offensive upside is undeniable. Continued refinement to his approach could help Morales evolve into a true impact bat. (JC)
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Guardians
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MLB Team Top 30 Prospect List Update for August:
Reds #12 Arnaldo Lantigua:
Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45
The Dodgers are annual big-time players on the international market, and the 2023 signing period was no different, landing No. 3 prospect Joendry Vargas for just over $2 million and giving Lantigua (No. 23 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 50 International Prospects list) $697,500 to join the organization. He stumbled a bit during his pro debut that summer, hitting .222 -- albeit with seven homers -- but a return to the Dominican Summer League led to much better results. Lantigua hit .301/.430/.575 with 11 homers, tied for second in the DSL. The Reds had noticed, and when the Dodgers were looking to acquire international bonus pool money in order to sign Roki Sasaki, Cincy got Lantigua’s offensive potential in return.
A 6-foot-2, right-handed hitting outfielder, Lantigua has already displayed very usable game power in his brief pro career. He hits the ball very hard, and there are evaluators who would put plus grades on his future power because of the exit velocities. With that, he has a very good feel for the strike zone and excellent swing/miss and chase rates, especially considering how much power he has. He’s walked almost as often as he’s struck out.
Lantigua has improved his speed since turning pro, and with average speed, an arm that might be above-average in the future and that pop at the plate, he could fit the right field profile perfectly. The Reds are excited to bring him stateside for the first time, knowing there’s risk given that he’s yet to do anything outside of the DSL, but the possible reward and ceiling are considerable.
Cardinals #7: Jesus Baez
Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 40 | Arm: 60 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50
Baez was far from the Mets’ biggest international addition in January 2022 when he signed for $275,000, but he’s quickly become one of the most notable prospects of anyone in that class. The right-handed slugger was named New York’s Dominican Summer League Player of the Year that first summer when he finished with a .744 OPS and seven homers across 54 games. His big stateside breakout came in 2024, when he opened with a .262/.338/.444 line and 10 homers in 64 games with Single-A St. Lucie. That prompted a late-June promotion to High-A Brooklyn, but Baez lasted only eight games with the Cyclones before suffering a torn meniscus in his right knee that required season-ending surgery. He returned to the South Atlantic League for 2025 before being dealt to the Cardinals in the Ryan Helsley deal at the Trade Deadline.
Baez’s power blossomed in 2024 as he managed a 104.6 mph 90th-percentile exit velocity, among the Florida State League’s best at just 19 years old. It’s stout strength from his 5-foot-10 frame, and it helps that he can pull and lift the ball with authority. He’ll shorten his movements with two strikes, going from an open stance and leg kick to a more stationary load and doesn’t whiff much against any pitch type. He does chase a good amount, however, and he hits a ton of popups at this stage of his development, leading to a low BABIP.
The infielder will clock occasional solid home-to-first times, but he isn’t expected to be much of a runner as his body matures. Baez got looks at shortstop, third base and second before the trade but remains likely to slide to the hot corner long-term, where his hands and arm strength are solid fits. He gives the Cardinals another dynamic infield talent alongside JJ Wetherholt and Yairo Padilla.
Tigers #13 Franyerber Montilla
Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 55 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45
The Tigers haven’t been as active in the Venezuelan amateur market as in past years, but Montilla was a big get in the 2022 class, signing for a $500,000 bonus. He played two seasons in the Dominican Summer League, improving markedly at the plate with the extra time before advancing to the States. He got off to a hot start at the Rookie-level Florida Complex League before fading over the summer, and he still finished among the FCL’s top hitters before advancing to Single-A Lakeland in August.
Though Montilla doesn’t have a big frame, his simple swing has a pull-heavy, fly-ball approach that produces extra-base hits for him. He has battled strikeouts at his various stops but has worked to become more selective with his swings and focus on pitches where he can do damage. His approach has the potential for more power as he physically matures, but opinions are mixed whether he’ll eventually be a noted power hitter. He has an aggressive approach on the basepaths but has yet to translate that into triples. Scouts are divided whether his defense will stick long term at shortstop, but he has enough arm to shift to third base.
Like many infielders off the international market, how Montilla is valued depends a lot on whether he sticks at shortstop. The Tigers have several options there at the lower levels, but Montilla’s skill set and switch-hitting bat make him intriguing. He returned to the Florida State League for his age-20 season and played 67 games before suffering a torn ACL that will knock him out for a good bit of 2026 as well.
Reds #12 Arnaldo Lantigua:
Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45
The Dodgers are annual big-time players on the international market, and the 2023 signing period was no different, landing No. 3 prospect Joendry Vargas for just over $2 million and giving Lantigua (No. 23 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 50 International Prospects list) $697,500 to join the organization. He stumbled a bit during his pro debut that summer, hitting .222 -- albeit with seven homers -- but a return to the Dominican Summer League led to much better results. Lantigua hit .301/.430/.575 with 11 homers, tied for second in the DSL. The Reds had noticed, and when the Dodgers were looking to acquire international bonus pool money in order to sign Roki Sasaki, Cincy got Lantigua’s offensive potential in return.
A 6-foot-2, right-handed hitting outfielder, Lantigua has already displayed very usable game power in his brief pro career. He hits the ball very hard, and there are evaluators who would put plus grades on his future power because of the exit velocities. With that, he has a very good feel for the strike zone and excellent swing/miss and chase rates, especially considering how much power he has. He’s walked almost as often as he’s struck out.
Lantigua has improved his speed since turning pro, and with average speed, an arm that might be above-average in the future and that pop at the plate, he could fit the right field profile perfectly. The Reds are excited to bring him stateside for the first time, knowing there’s risk given that he’s yet to do anything outside of the DSL, but the possible reward and ceiling are considerable.
Cardinals #7: Jesus Baez
Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 40 | Arm: 60 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50
Baez was far from the Mets’ biggest international addition in January 2022 when he signed for $275,000, but he’s quickly become one of the most notable prospects of anyone in that class. The right-handed slugger was named New York’s Dominican Summer League Player of the Year that first summer when he finished with a .744 OPS and seven homers across 54 games. His big stateside breakout came in 2024, when he opened with a .262/.338/.444 line and 10 homers in 64 games with Single-A St. Lucie. That prompted a late-June promotion to High-A Brooklyn, but Baez lasted only eight games with the Cyclones before suffering a torn meniscus in his right knee that required season-ending surgery. He returned to the South Atlantic League for 2025 before being dealt to the Cardinals in the Ryan Helsley deal at the Trade Deadline.
Baez’s power blossomed in 2024 as he managed a 104.6 mph 90th-percentile exit velocity, among the Florida State League’s best at just 19 years old. It’s stout strength from his 5-foot-10 frame, and it helps that he can pull and lift the ball with authority. He’ll shorten his movements with two strikes, going from an open stance and leg kick to a more stationary load and doesn’t whiff much against any pitch type. He does chase a good amount, however, and he hits a ton of popups at this stage of his development, leading to a low BABIP.
The infielder will clock occasional solid home-to-first times, but he isn’t expected to be much of a runner as his body matures. Baez got looks at shortstop, third base and second before the trade but remains likely to slide to the hot corner long-term, where his hands and arm strength are solid fits. He gives the Cardinals another dynamic infield talent alongside JJ Wetherholt and Yairo Padilla.
Tigers #13 Franyerber Montilla
Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 55 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45
The Tigers haven’t been as active in the Venezuelan amateur market as in past years, but Montilla was a big get in the 2022 class, signing for a $500,000 bonus. He played two seasons in the Dominican Summer League, improving markedly at the plate with the extra time before advancing to the States. He got off to a hot start at the Rookie-level Florida Complex League before fading over the summer, and he still finished among the FCL’s top hitters before advancing to Single-A Lakeland in August.
Though Montilla doesn’t have a big frame, his simple swing has a pull-heavy, fly-ball approach that produces extra-base hits for him. He has battled strikeouts at his various stops but has worked to become more selective with his swings and focus on pitches where he can do damage. His approach has the potential for more power as he physically matures, but opinions are mixed whether he’ll eventually be a noted power hitter. He has an aggressive approach on the basepaths but has yet to translate that into triples. Scouts are divided whether his defense will stick long term at shortstop, but he has enough arm to shift to third base.
Like many infielders off the international market, how Montilla is valued depends a lot on whether he sticks at shortstop. The Tigers have several options there at the lower levels, but Montilla’s skill set and switch-hitting bat make him intriguing. He returned to the Florida State League for his age-20 season and played 67 games before suffering a torn ACL that will knock him out for a good bit of 2026 as well.
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Guardians
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Re: Guardian Apprentices
Trey Yesavage, RHP, Blue Jays: On Monday, the Blue Jays promoted their 2024 first-round pick to Triple-A Buffalo, per Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. This will be Yesavage’s fourth level this season, as he’s now made the complete tour of Blue Jays full-season affiliates. Yesavage owns a 3.01 ERA and 2.20 xFIP across 80.2 innings in 2025 spanning three levels. Over eight appearances with Double-A New Hampshire, he struck out 38% of batters faced. His 4.50 ERA at the Double-A is his worst at any stop so far, but his ERA estimators were far rosier with a 2.56 FIP and a 2.81 xFIP. Yesavage is unlikely to debut with the Blue Jays in 2025, but it’s not out of the question considering the team's current aspirations and his close proximity.
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Guardians
- Posts: 5137
- Joined: Sun Jan 29, 2012 1:00 am
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Re: Guardian Apprentices
New ESPN Top 100:
35. Trey Yesavage, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays
36. Bryce Rainer, SS, Detroit Tigers
38. Chase DeLauter, RF, Cleveland Guardians
64. Ethan Salas, C, San Diego Padres
96. Jurrangelo Cijntje, RHP/LHP, Seattle Mariners
35. Trey Yesavage, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays
36. Bryce Rainer, SS, Detroit Tigers
38. Chase DeLauter, RF, Cleveland Guardians
64. Ethan Salas, C, San Diego Padres
96. Jurrangelo Cijntje, RHP/LHP, Seattle Mariners
