Welcome to the sixth installment of our Weekly Hot Prospects Report ranking the top minor-league performances from the week of April 28-May 4. We’re back with this week’s top performers making waves across the minors!
From dominant arms to scorching-hot bats, here are the Top 10 Prospects below who turned heads and boosted their stock. CLICK HERE to check out the full list of 74 players, with ETAs and updated statistics (subscription required).
Let’s break down this week’s top 10 performers:
⚾ 1. Joe Whitman – Giants (AA)
Whitman leads the list after a completely untouchable outing for Double-A Richmond. The Giants’ left-hander threw six no-hit innings, striking out 10 without allowing a baserunner. A 0.00 ERA, 0.00 WHIP, and perfect control? That’s ace-level stuff.
⚾ 2. Mac Horvath – Rays (High-A)
Horvath brought the thunder at High-A Bowling Green, launching 4 homers and driving in 10 while adding 2 stolen bases and 5 walks. His 1.553 OPS over the week shows the kind of impact bat Tampa Bay might have on their hands.
⚾ 3. Victor Labrada – Mariners (AA)
Labrada was a machine for the Mariners’ Double-A affiliate, putting together an 11-for-21 week with a 1.630 OPS, 2 homers, 9 RBIs, 4 steals, and only 2 strikeouts. At age 25, he’s pushing to make himself a late-bloomer story worth watching.
⚾ 4. Payton Tolle – Red Sox (High-A)
Tolle dominated in a short burst for Boston’s High-A squad, striking out 12 in just 5 innings while walking none and allowing only 3 hits. The 22-year-old southpaw posted a pristine 0.00 ERA and 0.60 WHIP while flashing elite command.
⚾ 5. Ian Seymour – Rays (AAA)
Seymour kept AAA hitters guessing with 11 shutout innings across two starts for Tampa Bay. He allowed just 5 hits and 1 walk while striking out 11. His 0.55 WHIP and 0.00 ERA suggest he may not be far off from contributing in the majors.
⚾ 6. JR Ritchie – Braves (High-A)
Ritchie continues to bounce back in a big way for Atlanta’s High-A affiliate. Over two starts, the 21-year-old racked up 12 strikeouts in 11.2 scoreless innings, walking just one while scattering nine hits. A 0.86 WHIP and strong K-BB ratio signal his progress is real.
⚾ 7. Caden Powell – Astros (Single-A)
Powell showed off his power-speed combo at Single-A, belting 4 home runs, swiping 2 bags, and drawing 6 walks en route to a 1.300 OPS. The 21-year-old shortstop is quickly climbing the ranks in Houston’s system.
⚾ 8. Kyle DeBarge – Twins (High-A)
DeBarge had a big week for High-A Cedar Rapids, tallying 2 homers, 8 RBIs, 3 steals, and an impressive 1.382 OPS. The 21-year-old middle infielder looks like another under-the-radar breakout in Minnesota’s pipeline.
⚾ 9. Leo De Vries – Padres (High-A)
De Vries (pictured above), only 18, is making waves in the Padres system. He went 8-for-15 with a 1.534 OPS, 6 walks, and zero strikeouts—plus a homer, 6 RBIs, and a steal. His approach and bat control are eye-opening for his age.
⚾ 10. Bob Seymour – Rays (AAA)
Seymour clubbed 5 home runs and drove in 12 for AAA Durham. The Rays’ slugger is now forcing the issue with his bat after posting a 1.295 OPS this week. At 26, he’s showing he might be ready for The Show soon.
The Top 15 in the Weekly Hot Prospects Report
| Rank | Player | Pos | Team | B/T | Level | Age |
| 1 | Joe Whitman | SP | SF | L/L | AA | 23 |
| 2 | Mac Horvath | 2B/3B | TB | R/R | High-A | 23 |
| 3 | Victor Labrada | OF | SEA | L/L | AA | 25 |
| 4 | Payton Tolle | SPRP | BOS | L/L | High-A | 22 |
| 5 | Ian Seymour | SPRP | TB | L/L | AAA | 26 |
| 6 | JR Ritchie | SP | ATL | R/R | High-A | 21 |
| 7 | Caden Powell | SS | HOU | R/R | Single-A | 21 |
| 8 | Kyle DeBarge | SS | MIN | R/R | High-A | 21 |
| 9 | Leo De Vries | SS | SD | L/R | High-A | 18 |
| 10 | Bob Seymour | 1B | TB | L/R | AAA | 26 |
| 11 | Ethan Workinger | OF | ATL | R/R | AA | 23 |
| 12 | Otto Kemp | 3B | PHI | R/R | AAA | 25 |
| 13 | Jacob Reimer | 3B | NYM | R/R | High-A | 21 |
| 14 | Jeral Perez | 2B | CHW | R/R | High-A | 20 |
| 15 | Josue De Paula | OF | LAD | L/L | High-A | 20 |
CLICK HERE to check out the full list of 74 players, with ETAs and updated statistics (subscription required).
Who’s next?
Stay tuned for the next Weekly Hot Prospects Report as we track the rising stars and their paths to the majors!