As the MiLB season winds down, we've got your favorite ragtag group of heroes holding it down at each level. Smada's got the majors covered, while Matt roams the Triple-A streets. Tom is sifting through the action in Double-A, and Grant is prowling around High-A. And to round things out, Rhys is back from his mountain adventure—where a bear sniffed his tent in the middle of the night—and he's on Single-A duty.
MLB
Addison Barger, 3B TOR (MLB) 1-for-3, HR, R, 2 RBI, K
Still not sure Barger will get enough PA next year to get there, but looking like a 25 HR bat. Up to 121 wRC+ since getting back up in late June but still running that low OBP.
Mark Vientos, 3B NYM (MLB) 1-for-4, HR, R, RBI, K
His 22 HR in just 359 PA is feeling very Gary Sanchez. Jk what a crazy line Sanchez had as a rookie 20 HR in 229 PA and 170 wRC+. But Vientos continues to be that steady young power bat. Santander-like? Will note that K rate is up over 40% in the last two weeks, but were likely just looking at random variance.
Kyle Manzardo, DH CLE (MLB) 3-for-4, 2B, K
Manzardo is going to make the CLE roster competition interesting headed into next year. Naylor, Manzardo, Noel can’t all play at once unless you are throwing Jhonk out in RF and that’s not something that appears to be a season-long plan.
Oneil Cruz, CF PIT (MLB) 0-for-4, R, SB
The Oneil Cruz CF conversion continues. He needs 15 more appearances this month to qualify at both SS and OF in 2025. He’s just 2 HR short of a 20/20 season and his .269/.324 BA/OBP have exceeded expectations. I think many were thinking Cruz would bust out that 30+ HR season but we’ve got to be happy with how his first full healthy year has turned out. He’s been playing consistently vs LHP since mid-July and has 45 PA with a 211 wRC+ against them in that time. If that’s a taste of what’s to come we can expect full PA next year and a lot of growth. It’s time to buy.
Jackson Chourio, LF MIL (MLB) 2-for-4, HR, 2B, R, 2 RBI, BB, 2 K
Superstar Chourio has arrived. He’s just one HR away from his 20/20 season. Since June he’s had a 151 wRC+. Full season 2025 Chourio will push 30/30.
Joey Ortiz, 3B MIL (MLB) 1-for-3, HR, R, RBI, K
After a horrendous July, Ortiz followed it up with a meh 79 wRC+ in August, his first month with a full plate of PA. You hope that if he were to accrue 600 PA in 2025 he might reach 15/15 with a decent OBP. But even that may be pushing it.
Wyatt Langford, CF TEX (MLB) 1-for-5, HR, R, 4 RBI, 2 K
Add walk-off grand slam to Langford’s slim rookie resume. Up to 10 HR and 12 SB over 457 PA.
Reid Detmers, LHP LAA (MLB) 6 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 10 K
After three months in AAA, Detmers returned with a quality start vs the Dodgers. His last 3 AAA games were of a similar ilk and I’m not exactly sure what the Angels were looking for, but he finally showed enough to get back up. The Angels started Johnny Cueto twice in the year 2024. When Detmers is locating bot the FB and SL he’s just #good.
Lawrence Butler, RF OAK (MLB) 1-for-4, HR, R, RBI, K
Butler's last heater was one that you may not get again in your career. Somehow he’s back and trying to match it with 7 HR over his last 8 games. Can’t wait to dive into him once the season is over.
Randal Grichuk, LF ARI (MLB) 3-for-5, 2 HR, 3 R, 3 RBI, K
I cannot tell a lie, I thought Grichuk was on his way out. But now somehow he’s hit 4 HR over the last 5 games. He’s only playing against LHP but he’s usable in the deepest daily moves formats.
Marco Luciano, 2B SF (MLB) 1-for-4, RBI, K
Look who is back! With Tyler Fitzgerald taking over the full time SS role, Luciano has moved over to 2B, a position he only played 6 times in AAA in 2023 and 21 times this year. His AAA line on the season was straight average with a 99 wRC+ over 384 PA. The power was lacking as he has just hit 10 HR on the season. My guess is that many have long given up on Luciano becoming a future star, but I wonder if he can carve himself out a spot as an everyday regular eventually. Luciano is somehow still just 22 yrs old and will get some rope to grow into a role.
Triple-A
Damiano Palmegiani, 3B TOR (Triple-A) 2-for-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI
I’m a little bit out on an island with Palmegiani here because I do like him a bit as a J.D. Davis type with decent power and low OBP skills. There’s cheap fantasy value there and on a Toronto club with a lot of at-bats to go around in 2025 potentially, he could be in the mix over there at third.
Curtis Mead, 2B TB (Triple-A) 3-for-5, HR
Blocked by Caminero at third and Lowe/Morel at second I wouldn’t be surprised if we see Mead grab an outfielders glove this winter. Or just move to first base. He needs an opportunity and likely profiles as an above-average bat, but he will give some of that back with meh defense.
Jake Mangum, OF TB (Triple-A) 3-for-5, HR, 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI, K
Magnum looks like a potential backup outfielder which is something I’ve thought he could be all along. You just don’t produce as well as he did in college and not figure it out in pro ball. A nice hit tool, with no power and some speed.
Yoan Moncada, DH 3B (Triple-A) 3-for-5, HR
Moncada coming back to save the White Sox season…
Chris Roller, MIL OF (Triple-A) 2-for-4, 2 HR, 3 R, 3 RBI, BB, K
A double dong day for Roller who recently was removed from the Brewers 40-man. The arrival of Brewer Hicklen likely ate up any chance he had but Blake Perkins establishing himself was the real nail in the coffin so to speak. Not a player I’m in on for fantasy.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, RHP LAD (Triple-A) 2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
He looked good velocity wise and is going to get built up to help the Dodgers in October. Their pitching is in literal shambles right now, and I’m actually worried they don’t have enough pitching for October. (I’m not actually worried, F the Dodgers)
Ryan Gusto, RHP HOU (Triple-A) 7 IP, 2 H, ER, 2 BB, 7 K
Gusto can really pitch, and he had it working today, getting 15 whiffs and touching 95. It’s a fastball/slider/cutter/change/curveball mix here and he has good feel for command. One of the more underrated pitching prospects in baseball here and he could be in the 2025 mix.
Wade Meckler, OF SF (Triple-A) 4-for-6, 2 R, RBI, K
Doing his best Luis Arraez impression with four hits, all singles. He did strikeout which is surprising but I do think he’s a prime trade candidate this winter with Jung-Ho Lee returning to the lineup next year.
Trevor McDonald, RHP SF (Triple-A) 6 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
All five strikeouts came on the slider. An easy plus pitch that he throws down and away from righties for the chase. He really gets down the mound and has a flat fastball as a result. I think he’s a pen arm ultimately. The arm slot reminds me a little bit of Giolito and Zach Plesac.
Brandon Bielak, RHP OAK (Triple-A) 6 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
The former Astro was claimed off of waivers by the A’s and soon after he was taken off the 40-man. He’s a fringe big league arm that carries no real fantasy value at the moment.
Double-A
George Klassen, RHP LAA (Double-A) 4 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 6 K
A move to LA and a bump up to Double-A and Klassen has struggled to settle in. Plenty of talent in that arm. The command has been off recently, which has led to some poor results.
Isaac Coffey, RHP BOS (Double-A) 6 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, BB, 9 K
Wake up and smell some Isaac! 35:5 K:BB in the last 28 days. He’s holding an 11.5 K/9 on the year.
Justin Crawford, CF PHI (Double-A) 3-for-4, 2 R, K, 2 SB
Really impressive contact numbers for the 20-year old in Double-A. In and outside of the zone, he’s above average at putting the bat on the ball. We all want more power and while it could happen, I think this is who Crawford is and he could be a Major Leaguer because of it.
Carson Williams, SS TB (Double-A) 2-for-5, HR, 2 R, 4 RBI, K, SB
Walk off grand slam in the bottom of the 10th inning down one. He also added his 32nd stolen base. I have him higher in my rankings because of the power-speed combo but understand that there is some contact concerns. Not alarming but stuff he’s going to need to improve on as he advances.
Brock Wilken, 3B MLW (Double-A) 1-for-4, HR, R, RBI, 3 K
Speaking of contact concerns…I love that Wilken is patient and waiting for his pitch but I I’d like to see him get more aggressive in the zone. He’s swinging at just over half the pitches that land in the strike zone.
Harry Ford, C SEA (Double-A) 1-for-3, SB
The strikeouts have been slowly on the rise while the walks are dipping down like the stock market. OK, maybe not that extreme. Ford is also someone that is extremely patient, only swinging 40% of the time. It has led to a 13% walk rate but for fantasy sake, it comes with a .239 average and only seven home runs on the year.
High-A
Juan Flores, C LAA (High-A) 4-for-4, 2 2B, 2 R, 5 RBI
( I love Juan Flores)
(The rare Angel bright spot. Agreed)
Rhys loves Flores so much he had to chime in before I could hype him up myself. And I can’t blame him. High-A has been a bit of a struggle, but he’s an 18 year old catcher so no surprise there. He should stick behind the backstop as an above average receiver with a plus arm, so that’s enough for me to be in. The hit tool is going to be the question and he’s raw there, but the glove takes pressure off it. One of my favorite guys in the Angels system currently.
Christopher Suero, C NYM (High-A) 3-for-4, 2B, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI
Suero is a young and athletic catcher with some defensive question marks and hit tool concerns. The bat is still very raw and both the hit and power look to be a little below average, but it’s still enough for a potential backup profile. Needs to start making more contact and keep developing behind the plate.
Adrian Pinto, 2B TOR (High-A) 2-for-4, HR, 2 K
Keeps on mashing since making his High-A debut a couple weeks back and he’s showing off the plus hit tool in general. That's what carries this profile, and it needs to be elite since the small frame leaves little hope for power.
Kevin Kilpatrick Jr., CF ATL (High-A) 3-for-5, 3B, R, RBI, K, 2 SB
Stolen base number 48 for Kilapatrick, who leaves no doubt with the speed. The problem is he’s had over 1000 at bats at this level now and has shown very little signs of hitting enough. Profile revolves around speed a little too much.
Homer Bush Jr., CF TBR (High-A) 3-for-5, 3 1B, 3 RBI, SB
Nice game here for Bush, who has looked really nice since coming over to Tampa at the deadline. The double plus speed and plus defense in center field make him a very attractive profile, even if he has lots of work left with the bat. He’s almost 23 and there’s big questions with the hit tool while also having very little power, so he may settle into a 4th outfielder type.
Max Clark, CF DET (High-A) 3-for-5, 3 1B, R, K
Clark’s proving that High-A is no real challenge for him either. The hit tool combined with the defense and speed are just so good here that it’s impossible not to be in on him.
Ethan Salas, C SD (High-A) 1-for-4, 2B, R, RBI, BB, SB
Salas has made big strides and is looking lots better lately, especially in the extra bases department. That’s all you can ask for from him right now.
Pedro Ramirez, LF CHC (High-A) 4-for-6, 2B, 3B, R, 2 RBI
Ramirez makes lots of contact, but the smaller frame keeps his impact ceiling pretty low. Regardless, it’s been a nice year for him and he showed off that hit tool tonight. Still only 20, so maybe the frame can add some size and get interesting still.
Single-A
Santiago Suarez, RHP TB (Single-A) 2.1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, BB, K
He’s being ramped down, and the final stretch of his season hasn't been forgiving. But I still have faith in him, thanks to that fastball-slider combo. At his best, he's sitting in the mid-to-upper 90s with a hard slider and a filthy cutter. The hope is that the Rays can help tweak his arsenal, getting him back to his early-season form and reigniting what I once believed could be the best pitching prospect in the low minors.
JJ Wetherholt, SS STL (Single-A) 2-for-4
Maybe JJ Wetherholt is channeling his frustrations over being drafted by the Cardinals. There were some whispers that he expected to go to a certain team that refuses to acknowledge a clear NL MVP favorite. That team might have fast-tracked him to the majors, but now he’s looking at minor league bus rides across the Midwest League next year, and possibly the Texas League after that. He’s got enough power, and some speed to go with it, but it's his batting average that should eventually punch his ticket to St. Louis, likely around 2026. My concern is if things don’t pan out, he might end up as another Austin Martin. And I wouldn't wish that on Matt… maybe on Adam, but definitely not Matt.
Jesus Hernandez, 3B MIA (Single-A) 2-for-4, 2 2B, R, RBI
Very quietly, Jesus Hernandez has emerged as one of the better young hitters in Single-A as the season winds down. I’m a bit skeptical, but a noticeable spike in his in-zone contact rate, now around 83%, and a hint of more power with a solid 1.6% barrel rate will do that. The Marlins do draft hitters I like—Morlando being the exception—but sometimes you have to break a few eggs to make an omelet. I just hope this new regime stole some of that Rays special sauce (probably a repackaged version of Thousand Island) and can help him cut down on the chasing. His performance has been up and down month to month, which makes me wonder if he’s trying something new and then abandoning it—or if it’s something the Marlins are actively tweaking. If it’s the latter and not the former, he could be a sneaky buy in deeper leagues.
Ryan Weathers, LHP MIA (Single-A) 3.0 IP, 2 H, 3 K
Tekoah Roby, RHP STL (Single-A) 1.1 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, BB, 2 K
A rehabbing big leaguer and a rehabbing aspiring big leaguer walk into a bar—because, you know, comedy comes in threes or something.
Yophery Rodriguez, CF MIL (Single-A) 1-for-5, R, RBI, BB
Eric Bitonti, 1B MIL (Single-A) 0-for-2, 2 R, 3 BB, SB
If there is one thing I know about myself is that I love Yophery Rodriguez, and I will fit him on the sheet whenever I can. Big day for the Yophery hive. Eric Bitonti the speed merchant, some are saying they are not but how fun would it be to spread that sort of misinformation. Bitonti’s speed ceiling is rather low as he can best be described as a plodder, but who care when you could mash 30 taters up in Milwaukee eating all the cheese curds one could want.
Brandon Winokur, SS MIN (Single-A) 1-for-2, HR, R, RBI, BB
From future cheese curd lover to future casserole lover, Brandon Winokur is just a massive human being who hits the ever-living snot out of the ball—when he makes contact. But like most with wingspans that wouldn’t look out of place on an NBA court, it might take a year or so to get all the levers in the right spot. Still, he’s already showing off with a casual 441-foot smash at 111 mph off the bat.
Seaver King, SS WAS (Single-A) 1-for-2, R, 2 BB
Kevin Bazzell, DH WAS (Single-A) 1-for-2, 2 R, 2 BB
I really liked the Nationals’ draft. Seaver King is a high-upside college shortstop with some approach issues, but he could become a consistent 20/20 threat. The hope is that he can develop into at least an average hitter, and if he does, he might end up being one of the best fantasy options from this draft class. Then there’s Bazzell, who has a higher floor as a catcher who might actually hit, but I’m not sure he’s worth drafting outside of the deepest of deep leagues.
Eriq Swan, RHP LAD (Single-A) 4 IP, H, BB, 5 K
Swan is an interesting pitching prospect—a mix of intriguing pitch data and some questionable command. He probably ends up as a reliever, but with the way the Dodgers churn out quality arms, he could develop into a nasty high-leverage option. Then again, with how the Dodgers optimize their prospects, he could also end up as the next Gavin Stone. It must be awesome to be a Dodgers fan lately. Swan likely settles in as a filthy 8th-inning reliever, which holds some fantasy value, but it’s more valuable in real life than anything else.
Rodney Green, CF OAK (Single-A) 1-for-3, R, RBI, BB
Rodney Green is one of my favorite mid-round gambles. I’ve got serious questions about his contact skills, but there’s an undeniably exciting power and speed combo here. If his hit tool can get to even just average, or slightly below, we might be looking at a player whose floor is 20/20 seasons at his peak. I just want to take that gamble and have a piece of the action in case it all comes together.
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