MLB Prospects: The Most Impressive Hitters from Every Minor League Level

[DaaBoTownSox]

Triple-A



Josh Phegley, C, Chicago White Sox

72 AB, .389/.413/.542, 8 XBH, 45 TB, 8 K/17 BB

The 2009 first-rounder has steadily improved every season; showing advanced plate discipline.



Will Middlebrooks, 3B, Boston Red Sox

89 AB, .348/.396/.708, 13 XBH, 27 RBI, 63 TB, 18 K/7 BB

He’ll clearly keep hitting, but that doesn’t mean the Red Sox will make room for him.



Alex Castellanos, 3B, Los Angeles Dodgers

71 AB, .366/.477/.746, 15 XBH, 7 SB, 17 K/7 BB

A versatile ballplayer, he may be the Dodgers’ utility man—with occasional starts—by the All-Star break.



Michael Taylor, OF, Oakland Athletics

86 AB, .360/.387/.558, 13 XBH, 18 RBI, 5 SB, 11 K/4 BB

Has 15 hits in last 10 games, but is in the wrong organization to be a big-league ready outfielder.



Travis d’Arnaud, C, Toronto Blue Jays

80 AB, .263/.341/.413, 8 XBH, 11 RBI, 16 K/8 BB

After an incredibly slow start, d’Arnaud’s bat has come alive as he’s now riding a nine-game hitting streak.



Double-A



Jared Mitchell, OF, Chicago White Sox

82 AB, .341/.471/.561, 11 XBH, 20 RBI, 6 SB, 21 K/19 BB

One of the great stories in the minors this season, Mitchell is leading the league with a 1.032 OPS.



Matt Davidson, 3B, Arizona Diamondbacks

91 AB, .330/.450/.549, 12 XBH, 13 RBI, 21 K/16 BB

Davidson continues to show a refined approach at the plate in his first season at Double-A.



Wil Myers, OF, Kansas City Royals

79 AB, .354/.414/.681, 14 XBH, 24 K/7 BB

Myers' power is back and perhaps better than ever; don’t be overly concerned with his strikeout rate.



Oscar Taveras, OF, St. Louis Cardinals

91 AB, .330/.358/.659, 16 XBH, 13 K/3 BB

He’s not going to draw many walks, but Taveras is a pure hitter and is proving it at Double-A.



Jonathan Singleton, 1B, Houston Astros

80 AB, .350/.435/.600, 12 XBH, 16 K/12 BB

Singleton putting together a promising rebound season, including a recent extra-base hit binge.



Nathan Freiman, 1B, San Diego Padres

88 AB, .318/.375/.716, 15 XBH, 20 RBI, 15 K/4 BB

The 6’7” slugger is leading the Texas League in home runs (10), total bases (63), and slugging percentage (.716).



High-A:



Billy Hamilton, SS, Cincinnati Reds

88 AB, .398/.481/.591, 24 R, 11 XBH, 29 SB, 18 K/14 BB

Turning in a spectacular season and is on base to easily surpass his 103 stolen base mark from 2011. Emerging as one of the top prospects in baseball.



Evan Gattis, C, Atlanta Braves

78 AB, .385/.468/.821, 16 XBH, 29 RBI, 12 K/10 BB

Gattis' production garnered a well deserved promotion to Double-A. I'm a believer in his bat.



Tommy La Stella, 2B, Atlanta Braves

58 AB, .362/.480/.603, 9 XBH, 20 RBI, 6 SB, 2 K/11 BB

The left-handed hitter is off a hot start after batting .328/.401/.543 at Low-A last season. Potential top-of-the-order bat.



Jackie Bradley, Jr., OF, Boston Red Sox

73 AB, .370/.479/.493, 8 XBH, 16 RBI, 8 SB, 13 K/17 BB

Has little power, but is surprising with his hit tool base-stealing ability.



Nick Castellanos, 3B, Detroit Tigers

83 AB, .398/.435/.554, 10 XBH, 14 RBI, 17 K/6 BB

Basically the exact opposite start of his 2011 season.



Christian Yelich, OF, Miami Marlins

54 AB, .296/.387/.519, 6 XBH, 6 SB, 11 K/8 BB

One of my favorite prospects, Yelich has one of the more promising hit tools in the minor leagues.



Jake Marisnick, OF, Toronto Blue Jays

91 AB, .286/.377/.516, 16 R, 13 XBH, 13 RBI, 5 SB, 15 K/9 BB

Has picked up the pace after a slow start as his power rounds into form.



Class-A



Jorge Bonifacio, OF, Kansas City Royals

90 AB, .356/.431/.489, 9 XBH, 10 RBI, 3 SB, 16 K/11 BB

Younger brother of Emilio, Jorge is showing arguably the best discipline in the league—and he’s only 18.



Luigi Rodriguez, OF, Cleveland Indians

83 AB, .349/.402/.542, 9 XBH, 13 RBI, 7 SB, 19 K/8 BB

Flashing impressive combination of power and speed. In his last 10 games, Rodriguez has four three-hit games.



Jace Peterson, SS, San Diego Padres

87 AB, .310/.406/.460, 19 R, 9 XBH, 10 SB, 19 K/14 BB

A left-handed hitting shortstop with plus speed would be a welcomed addition to the Padres’ current lineup.



Tyler Austin, OF, New York Yankees

81 AB, .358/.384/.877, 20 XBH, 24 RBI, 71 TB, 18 K/4 BB

Leading the Sally with nine home runs, 71 total bases, and a .877 slugging percentage.



Alen Hanson, 2B, Pittsburgh Pirates

100 AB, .400/.434/.700, 18 XBH, 70 TB, 8 SB, 22 K/6 BB

A switch hitter, his hit tool is impressive from both sides as his power continues to develop.



Matthew Skole, 3B, Washington Nationals

74 AB, .324/.449/.554, 9 XBH, 30 RBI, 22 K/20 BB

Not hitting for a lot of power as one hopes for in a third baseman, but there’s a lot to like in the left-handed hitting Skole, who leads the Sally with 30 RBI in 21 games.



Trevor Story, SS, Colorado Rockies

73 AB, .288/.411/.589, 10 XBH, 15 RBI, 17 K/14 BB

One of my preseason sleeper prospects, Story drives the ball to outfields and employs a mature approach at the plate.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1...aign=br_redsox

[Buccos13]

I've never heard of Alen Hanson, the only player in the Pirates organization on the list. But hopefully he keeps it up, switch hitters are a great thing for a team to have.

[Chitown Champ]

Jared Mitchell really needs to start limiting those strikeouts if he wants to become in the Sox future plans. The walks and OBP are encouraging, but I don't expect his average to hold that high and one can only do so much with his kind of power (not much) and strikeout tendency. I can only see him as a starter if he leads off, but with that kind of K%, his value there won't be too high.
Phegley's got really good numbers, but he still has Pierzynski and Flowers in his way. Surprisingly, he doesn't have the edge over either in terms of defense, so he'll have to continue with that average to compete.

If D'Arnaud keeps his hitting up, I wouldn't be surprised if he gets promoted. I can't imagine Toronto wanting to wait until JPA's bat wakes up when half their offense is struggling.

[dabynsky]

I was going to complain about no love for Anthony Rizzo and his .378/.427/.671 slashline, but then I saw that it was from bleacherreport.

[astrosfanatic]

^^^they can't list everyone! Rizzo should be a Cub by the end of June....it will be interesting to see how he performs under all the pressure

[Mr. Baseball]

Taking a look at the pitching department:

Dylan Bundy (Baltimore) is still riding a 13-game hitless streak with Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds.

His Current WHIP: 0.07

[OutfieldGrass]

The Mariners have some great pitching at Double-A. I know this is a hitters thread but this is the best we have lol.

Tajuan Walker, 22 IP. 16 H. 6 BB. 26 K - 1.64 ERA
Danny Hultzen. 26.1 IP. 14 H. 12 BB. 30 K - 2.05 ERA

Cannot wait for our trio of Paxton, Walker and Hultzen to make their way to Seattle.