Welcome to the #2 installment of our Weekly Hot Prospects Report ranking the top minor-league performances from the week ending April 12. 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. Theo Gillen (2B/SS, Tampa Bay Rays)
The Verdict: The complete package.
Gillen (pictured above) was an absolute force for High-A this week. He didn’t just hit for power (4 HRs); he showed elite plate coverage and situational awareness with 8 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. A 1.676 OPS over 17 at-bats is pure excellence. The Rays have a middle-infield gem who looks every bit like a future cornerstone.
2. Blake Burke (1B, Milwaukee Brewers)
The Verdict: More than just a slugger.
Burke continues to defy the “lumbering first baseman” stereotype. While he provided his signature power with 3 home runs, it was his 3 stolen bases and 8 hits that really turned heads. Posting a 1.113 OPS while being a threat on the basepaths makes him a dynamic offensive weapon for the Brewers’ system.
3. Robby Snelling (SP, Miami Marlins)
The Verdict: Ace potential in the making.
Snelling was the definition of “dominant” in his Triple-A start. He mowed down 12 batters in just 5 innings of work, maintaining a pristine 0.00 ERA. While his WHIP sat at 1.20, his ability to punch his way out of any trouble with that high strikeout volume proves he is nearly ready for the bright lights of early 2026.
These three provided a Masterclass in run prevention
The arms were just as dominant as the bats this week, with several prospects flirting with perfection. These three performances stood out for their ability to completely neutralize opposing lineups:
Seth Hernandez (PIT): Hernandez continued his climb up the prospect rankings by tossing 4 innings of clean, no-hit baseball backed by 7 punchouts. By allowing only one baserunner via a walk, he lowered his season WHIP to a microscopic 0.25, solidifying his status as a top-10 pitching prospect in the game.
Luis Serna (NYY): Serna was named the South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week after a masterful High-A debut where he threw 7.0 shutout innings with 10 strikeouts and only one hit allowed. It was a triumphant return for the 21-year-old following Tommy John surgery, setting new career highs in both innings and punchouts on just 85 pitches.
Kade Anderson (SEA): The 2025 third-overall pick has yet to allow a run in his professional career, extending his scoreless streak to 9 innings across two starts for Double-A Arkansas. This week, he fanned 11 hitters while surrendering zero hits, proving the Mariners’ aggressive assignment of the former college standout was the right call.
Notable risers & run producers
- The RBI Kings: LuJames Groover (ARI) and Daniel Pierce (TB) were absolute run-producing machines. Groover drove in an incredible 13 RBIs this week, while Pierce launched two homers in a single game on April 9th, making a massive “welcome to pro ball” statement for Single-A Charleston.
- The Speed Merchants: Jim Jarvis (ATL) was a nightmare for catchers, swiping 6 bases this week to go along with a 1.170 OPS. Not far behind was Jacob Humphrey (COL) and Josh Wakefield (HOU), both tallying 5 steals.
- The Strikeout Specialists: Angel Jimenez (COL) and Miguel Ullola (HOU) are putting up massive K numbers. Jimenez sat down 15 batters in 8.2 innings, while Ullola dominated Triple-A with 15 Ks in 9.2 innings.
The Top 10 in the Weekly Hot Prospects Report
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, with ETAs and updated statistics (subscription required).
| Rank | Player | Pos | Team | B/T | Level | Age |
| 1 | Theo Gillen | 2B/SS | TB | L/R | High-A | 20 |
| 2 | Blake Burke | 1B | MIL | L/L | AA | 23 |
| 3 | Robby Snelling | SP | MIA | R/L | AAA | 22 |
| 4 | Daniel Pierce | SS | TB | R/R | Single-A | 20 |
| 5 | Blaine Crim | 1B | COL | R/R | AAA | 28 |
| 6 | JR Ritchie | SP | ATL | R/R | AAA | 22 |
| 7 | Carson Roccaforte | OF | KC | L/L | AA | 24 |
| 8 | Angel Jimenez | SP | COL | R/R | Single-A | 22 |
| 9 | Kiefer Lord | SP | BAL | R/R | Single-A | 22 |
| 10 | Jim Jarvis | 2B/SS | ATL | L/R | AAA | 25 |