Welcome to the 21st installment of our Weekly Hot Prospects Report ranking the top minor-league performances from the week of August 11-17. 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. Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, Diamondbacks (Double-A, age 22)
Waldschmidt was a force in the Texas League this week, earning Player of the Week honors after a jaw-dropping line of 1.929 OPS, five home runs and 11 RBIs over six games. His stretch included two multi-homer games and made him the first Sod Poodle to hit five home runs in any three-game span in team history. He also paced the league in OPS, slugging, extra-base hits, total bases, and runs scored for the week.
Week stats: 1.929 OPS, 5 HR, 11 RBI, 2 SB, 11-for-21, 7 BB, 3 SO
2. Ralphy Velazquez, C/1B, Guardians (Double-A, age 20)
In his Double-A debut week, 2023 first-round pick Velazquez wasted no time creating impact. He slashed 1.979 OPS, blasting four homers and collecting seven RBIs while drawing four walks. His heroics didn’t go unnoticed—he was named the Eastern League Player of the Week, joining elite company in the Guardians’ system.
Week stats: 1.979 OPS, 4 HR, 7 RBI, 12-for-22, 4 BB, 3 SO
3. Tim Elko, 1B, White Sox (MLB rehab, age 26)
Elko made a splash early in his Triple-A rehab assignment, going 3-for-8 with 2 home runs, four RBIs, and three runs scored over his first two games. In one game, he went 3-for-5 with two round-trippers, showing the legitimacy of his power upon return from a knee injury.
Week stats: 1.549 OPS, 5 HR, 10 RBI, 9-for-23, 2 BB, 4 SO
Other Noteworthy Performers
- David McCabe (Braves, Double-A): Smashed a 1.610 OPS, with four HRs and 15 RBIs.
- Kevin McGonigle (Tigers, Double-A): Showcased a well-rounded 1.364 OPS and power-speed mix.
- Josh Bostick (Giants, High-A): Dominated on the mound with a 0.75 ERA, 0.50 WHIP, and 21-1 K-BB across 12 innings.
- Griff McGarry (Phillies, Double-A): Posted a flawless 0.00 ERA and nearly perfect control over six innings.
- Daniel Eagen (D-backs, High-A): Continued his scoreless streak with dominant 11 K’s in seven shutout innings.
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 | Ryan Waldschmidt | OF | ARI | R/R | AA | 22 |
| 2 | Ralphy Velazquez | C/1B | CLE | L/R | AA | 20 |
| 3 | Tim Elko | 1B | CHW | R/R | MLB (rehab) | 26 |
| 4 | David McCabe | 1B/3B | ATL | S/R | AA | 25 |
| 5 | Kevin McGonigle | 2B/SS | DET | L/R | AA | 20 |
| 6 | Josh Bostick | SP | SF | R/R | High-A | 23 |
| 7 | Griff McGarry | SPRP | PHI | R/R | AA | 26 |
| 8 | Daniel Eagen | SP | ARI | R/R | High-A | 22 |
| 9 | Mick Abel | SPRP | MIN | R/R | AAA | 23 |
| 10 | Izaac Pacheco | 3B | DET | L/R | High-A | 20 |