Welcome to the 18th installment of our Weekly Hot Prospects Report ranking the top minor-league performances from the week of July 21-27. We’re back with this week’s top performers making waves across the minors—and this week’s trio at the top is stacked with thunderous bats and rising stars knocking on the MLB door. Fantasy baseball owners, take note. CLICK HERE to check out the full list, with ETAs and updated statistics (subscription required).
A quick look at the Top Three
1. Thomas White, SP, Marlins (AA, age 20)
White (pictured above) delivered one of the most dominant outings in recent Minor League memory: five shutout innings with 14 strikeouts, allowing just two hits and no walks. In addition, he tied a Southern League record with eight consecutive punchouts. Remarkably, 13 of those strikeouts came over a 14‑batter span—something no MLB pitcher has achieved since 1961. He has been dominating this season to the tune of 86 strikeouts in 55 innings (14.1 K/9). White’s command, sequencing, and expanding arsenal—featuring a ride-heavy fastball, diving changeup, and sweeper—have accelerated his ascent in Miami’s system.
2. Ryan Clifford, 1B/OF, Mets (AA, age 21)
Clifford produced a monster week in Double‑A Binghamton, slashing 1.775 OPS with four home runs and 12 RBIs in just 12-for-23 batting, drawing eight walks. A standout moment came mid‑week when he launched two homers in a single game, earning video highlight coverage on MiLB.com for one of the blasts. The pair of big flies marked not only a power display—but a disciplined eye, as he posted more walks (8) than strikeouts (6). That combination of slugging and patience suggests Clifford is locked into the Mets’ upper‑minors wave and could force himself into roster consideration sooner rather than later.
3. Tyler Locklear, 1B, Mariners (AAA, age 24)
Locklear carried his Triple-A tear into this week with an explosive showing: 1.745 OPS, five homers, ten RBIs, and 11‑for‑23 batting with three walks. The consistent power production continues to reinforce his reputation as one of Seattle’s top prospects. Locklear remains a candidate for a major-league promotion if he sustains this kind of slugging pace.
Other Notable Performances
- Ben Kudrna, SP, Royals (AA) – The 22-year-old righty tossed 6 shutout innings with just one hit allowed and 11 strikeouts, continuing a dominant July where he’s posted a sub-1.00 ERA. His uptick in velocity has been a talking point among Royals insiders, and he could be fast-tracked to Triple-A soon.
- Bryce Eldridge, OF, Giants (AAA) – The towering 20-year-old slugger mashed 4 home runs and drove in 11 RBIs while holding a 1.172 OPS this week. Eldridge has fully settled into the upper minors and continues to look like a foundational piece in San Francisco’s rebuild.
- Zyhir Hope, OF, Dodgers (High-A) – Hope went 7-for-19 with 2 HR, 2 SB, and 5 walks, pushing his OPS to 1.184 on the week. His blend of power, speed, and patience is catching attention in a crowded Dodgers system.
The Top Ten in the Weekly Hot Prospects Report
From dominant arms to scorching-hot bats, here are the Top Ten prospects below who turned heads and boosted their stock. CLICK HERE to check out the full list, with ETAs and updated statistics (subscription required).
| Rank | Player | Pos | Team | B/T | Level | Age |
| 1 | Thomas White | SP | MIA | L/L | AA | 20 |
| 2 | Ryan Clifford | 1B/OF | NYM | L/L | AA | 21 |
| 3 | Tyler Locklear | 1B | SEA | R/R | AAA | 24 |
| 4 | Ben Kudrna | SP | KC | R/R | AA | 22 |
| 5 | Robby Snelling | SP | MIA | R/L | AA | 21 |
| 6 | Trace Bright | SP | BAL | R/R | AA | 24 |
| 7 | Tai Peete | SS | SEA | L/R | High-A | 19 |
| 8 | Jackson Wolf | SP | SD | L/L | AAA | 26 |
| 9 | Leandro Lopez | SP | TEX | R/R | High-A | 23 |
| 10 | Bryce Eldridge | OF | SF | L/R | AAA | 20 |