Welcome to the #16 installment of our Weekly Hot Prospects Report ranking the top minor-league performances from the week ending July 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 rising stars who are soaring up the fantasy baseball rankings and even 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 Burrowes (SS, Chicago White Sox)
The Verdict: A true five-tool explosion in High-A that demands roster attention.
Burrowes (pictured above) takes our crown this week after putting together an absolutely mesmerizing six-game stretch. The 21-year-old shortstop did a little bit of everything for his High-A squad, hitting .423 (11-for-26) with 4 home runs, 6 RBIs, and 5 stolen bases. What stands out even more is the advanced approach: he matched his 5 strikeouts with 5 walks, fueling an elite 1.439 OPS. If Burrowes can continue to pair this level of power and speed with refined plate discipline, he is going to skyrocket up dynasty boards.
2. Jirvin Morillo (C, Arizona Diamondbacks)
The Verdict: A teenage complex-level offensive force with a sky-high walk rate.
It is time to pay close attention to the Arizona Complex League. The 19-year-old backstop went on an absolute tear last week, logging an incredible 2.067 OPS. Morillo went 8-for-15 (.533 AVG) with 3 home runs and 8 RBIs. Even more impressive for a young power-hitting catcher: he walked 5 times while striking out just 5 times. Catcher depth is tough to find in dynasty leagues, making Morillo an incredibly enticing target.
3. Daniel Dickinson (2B, Milwaukee Brewers)
The Verdict: The Brewers’ player development engine has found another gem.
Dickinson has hit the ground running in High-A, putting on a clinic in speed and base-path aggression. Over his last 20 at-bats, he racked up 9 hits (.450 AVG) while blasting 3 home runs and driving in 9 RBIs. The real kicker? He swiped a massive 7 bags in just a single week. Backed by a high-OBP approach (7 walks to 6 strikeouts), his 1.593 OPS highlights a profile that is moving incredibly fast.
Elite Pitching Performances: “Zero-ER” Club
While hitters are enjoying the warm July air, these starting pitchers put up absolute zeros:
- Zach Root (LAD): The Dodgers’ pitching lab does it again. Root dominated High-A over 6 innings, allowing just 1 hit and walking 2 while striking out 11.
- Julio Mendez (MIA): Mendez carved through Single-A lineups, throwing 7 scoreless frames with a 10-to-3 K-BB ratio and a 0.86 WHIP.
- Evan Siary (TEX) & Peyton Olejnik (Reds): Both arms turned in masterclass command performances. Siary threw 6 scoreless frames (3 hits, 10 K, 0 BB), while Olejnik matched him with 5 scoreless frames (3 hits, 10 K, 0 BB) at High-A.
- Wande Torres (MIL): Torres was virtually untouchable out of the bullpen and in spot starts, yielding just 1 hit over 7 shutout innings with 8 strikeouts and zero walks.
Notable Risers & Heavy Hitters
- The Teen Power Outbreak: Oliver Guerrero (TEX) is absolutely tattooing the ball in the Dominican Summer League. The 18-year-old hit 4 home runs with 9 RBIs and a 1.886 OPS in just 14 at-bats last week.
- Upper-Level Speed-Power Threats: Jansel Luis (ARI) crushed Double-A pitching to the tune of a 1.644 OPS (3 HR, 2 SB), while Royals shortstop Jack Pineda (KC) collected 13 hits and swiped 2 bags at Double-A.
- High-A Power Surge: High-A was home to some massive power displays. Blake Mitchell (KC) logged a 1.613 OPS with 3 homers, and Dodgers prospect Emil Morales (LAD) hit .500 (9-for-18) with 2 home runs and a 1.571 OPS.
- Four-Homer Barrage: In addition to those mentioned above, a big group of additional prospects tied for the minor league lead with 4 home runs last week:
- Jose Anderson (MIL) (Single-A, 1.368 OPS)
- Rafe Perich (TEX) (Double-A, 1.464 OPS)
- Sammy Stafura (PIT) (High-A, 4 HR, 10 RBIs)
- Beau Ankeney (DET), Ryland Zaborowski (LAA), Jeremiah Jenkins (SF), and Lisbel Diaz (SF) all cleared the fences 4 times in Single-A.
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 | Ryan Burrowes | SS | CHW | R/R | High-A | 21 |
| 2 | Jirvin Morillo | C | CIN | S/R | R (ACL) | 19 |
| 3 | Daniel Dickinson | 2B | MIL | R/R | High-A | 22 |
| 4 | Xavier Rivas | SP | NYY | L/L | AA | 23 |
| 5 | Cedric De Grandpre | SPRP | ATL | R/R | AA | 24 |
| 6 | Marek Houston | SS | MIN | R/R | AA | 22 |
| 7 | Zach Root | SP | LAD | L/L | High-A | 22 |
| 8 | Julio Mendez | SP | MIA | L/L | Single-A | 21 |
| 9 | Jansel Luis | 2B/SS | ARI | S/R | AA | 21 |
| 10 | Blake Mitchell | C | KC | L/R | High-A | 21 |