Welcome to the 16th installment of our Weekly Hot Prospects Report ranking the top minor-league performances from the week of July 7-13. 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. Spencer Jones, OF, New York Yankees (Triple-A)
The towering slugger continues to dominate Triple-A pitching with a potent mix of power and speed. This past week, he posted a 1.085 OPS with three home runs, three stolen bases, and nine hits in 26 at-bats. It’s the latest in a string of standout performances that have scouts and executives buzzing. The exit velocities are elite, and while swing-and-miss remains a concern, the upside is massive for fantasy players looking ahead to August and September.
2. Samuel Basallo, C/1B, Baltimore Orioles (Triple-A)
The 20-year-old phenom (pictured above) might have had the most eye-popping week in all of minor league baseball. He posted a 1.556 OPS in Triple-A, crushing three home runs and driving in 10 runs in just 18 at-bats. His raw power and mature approach at the plate have caught national attention. He continues to display his elite batted-ball metrics—hitting the ball 95+ mph at a 60% clip—shows that a summer promotion isn’t out of the question. Still, with Adley Rutschman sidelined and the Orioles choosing not to call him up yet, it’s clear they’re being deliberate with his timeline.
3. Braylon Payne, OF, Milwaukee Brewers (Low-A)
One of the youngest players on this list at just 18, Payne had a breakout week at Single-A. He registered a 1.508 OPS with two home runs, five walks, and even added a stolen base. His plate discipline and approach are well beyond his years, and his five-tool potential is starting to manifest in games. His emergence this season has been a surprise even within Milwaukee’s front office, with one scout calling him “a premium athlete who’s starting to figure it out at the plate.” He was just named Carolina League Player of the Week and delivered a walk-off homer last Friday that had fans and analysts alike taking notice.
Other noteworthy performances
Twins outfielder Brandon Winokur posted a 1.379 OPS and added two home runs, continuing to build on his breakout campaign.
Yankees right-hander Carlos Lagrange was dominant in Double-A with 10.1 innings of two-hit ball and 15 strikeouts—a performance that Pinstripe Alley called “electric” following a no-hit relief appearance.
Giants outfielder Grant McCray flashed power and speed with two homers and four steals.
Mets infielder Jett Williams—recently identified by the New York Post as part of the organization’s “untouchable” prospect core—combined two homers, two steals, and a 1.217 OPS in Double-A.
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 | Spencer Jones | OF | NYY | L/L | AAA | 24 |
| 2 | Samuel Basallo | C/1B | BAL | L/R | AAA | 20 |
| 3 | Braylon Payne | OF | MIL | L/L | Single-A | 18 |
| 4 | Brandon Winokur | OF | MIN | R/R | High-A | 20 |
| 5 | Carlos Lagrange | SPRP | NYY | R/R | AA | 22 |
| 6 | Jett Williams | SS | NYM | R/R | AA | 21 |
| 7 | Kai-Wei Teng | SPP | SF | R/R | AAA | 26 |
| 8 | Grant McCray | OF | SF | L/R | AAA | 24 |
| 9 | Kendry Rojas | SP | TOR | L/L | AA | 22 |
| 10 | Nolan McLean | SP | NYM | R/R | AAA | 23 |