Who’s Hot, Who’s Not: April

May 3, 2025 Jeremy Mahy General, MiLB 0

Leo De Vries, Arizona Fall League 2024. Photo credit Benjamin Rush, @BenRushPhoto on Twitter, and @benrushphoto on Instagram.
Tweet
Share
Pin
0 Shares

With a month of minor league action behind us, there are some early season storylines starting to take shape. While it is wise to remember that these are small sample sizes, it is never too early to get ahead in the game. The goal of these articles is to help you spot some potential new names for your dynasty teams while also checking in on some of the more widely known names performances as well. In this edition, we will take a look at some of the early season stat lines and help you put some meaning behind those early numbers. Enjoy and check back next month.
*stats current through 4/30 games

Hot

Aroon Escobar, 3B (Phillies preseason rank #15)
Single-A Clearwater Threshers
(75 AB, .360/.461/.627/1.088, 27 H, 5 2B, 5 HR, 18 RBI, 21 R, 11 BB, 20 K, SB)
In our preseason top-50 rankings, our Phillies expert @tonybps1 called Escobar “one to keep an eye on”. Safe to say he nailed that prediction. After a strong 2024 season in the complex league where he posted a 171 wRC+ and 10% K rate, he is laying waste to A-ball to start this season. He currently has a .440 BABIP which points to some regression with the batting average, but he is hitting the ball hard all over the field. If he keeps this up, he could be pushing top-100 prospect territory by years end. He is picking up some mainstream buzz so his buying window could close quick.
Fantasy Take: In leagues where 200+ prospects rostered he is an immediate add. In shallower leagues, owners need to watch him very closely over the next month.

Asbel Gonzalez, OF (Royals #14)
Single-A Columbia Fireflies
(83 AB, .398/.510/.422/.932, 33 H, 3B, 7 RBI, 23 R, 13 BB, 7 K, 30 SB)
The back end of that stat line is where the fantasy appeal lays. He is walking more than he is striking out and running wild on the basepaths. If you missed out on Chandler Simpson, Gonzalez could be your second chance. Just like Simpson, he plays an outstanding defensive centerfield, has game changing speed, and makes excellent contact. There is no power currently, but with a 6’2″ frame there is hope that he can add strength as he matures. If he does add even average power to his profile he could have more value than Simpson.
Fantasy Take: Worth the add if you have the need, the need for speed.

A.J. Ewing, OF (Mets #32)
Single-A St. Lucie Mets & High-A Brooklyn Cyclones
(74 AB, .378/.484/.568/1.052, 28 H, 3 2B, 4 3B, HR, 21 RBI, 16 R, 14 BB, 14 K, 16 SB)
Prior to this season there was not a lot in Ewing’s profile that got me super excited. I was thinking a fourth outfielder type. Looks like I might have been wrong. In his repeat of Single-A to start this season, he has shown a notable improvement in his K rate (15.4%) and is doing a little bit of everything offensively. If he keeps hitting like this he will quickly go from a fourth outfielder profile to a potential impact regular. The Mets have already seen enough to bump him to High-A to finish out April.
Fantasy Take: Solid deeper league add.

Tim Elko, 1B (White Sox NR)
Triple-A Charlotte Knights
(90 AB, .367/.448/.711/1.159, 33 H, 4 2B, 9 HR, 20 RBI, 18 R, 12 BB, 29 K)
One has to wonder how much longer the White Sox are going to go with Andrew Vaughn and his sub .500 OPS, especially when they have a 26-year-old crushing everything in site down in Charlotte. There are some red flags with Elko. The combo of a 29% K rate and a 1B/DH defensive profile, there will be pressure on the power to hold fantasy value, but there could be 25-30 homerun pop here. If the Sox do make a move, it could come soon giving Elko some sleeper value in one-year fantasy leagues.
Fantasy Take: Worth a speculative add if you need the power potential, just know the risk.

C.J. Kayfus, 1B (Guardians #8)
Double-A Akron RubberDucks & Triple-A Columbus Clippers
(71 AB, .366/.471/.620/1.091, 26 H, 4 2B, 4 3B, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 13 R, 11 BB, 15 K, 2 SB)
Kayfus was too much for Double-A pitching so the Guardians moved him to Triple-A to finish out April (1 game). His profile is very similar to that of fellow Guardian Kyle Manzardo at the same point in his career. He controls the zone very well, has limited power potential, and limited defensively. Manzardo has started to show more pop at the major league level so maybe Kayfus will follow suit. The Guardians are also giving Kayfus some outfield reps which would be very interesting if it works out.  He is likely already owned in most dynasty formats but his start is too good to not mention.
Fantasy Take: Must own in all but the most shallow of dynasty leagues.

Sean Linan, RHP (Dodgers NR)
Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
(25.2 IP, 13 H, 4 ER, 6 BB, 45 K, 0.74 WHIP)
That is not a misprint on the stat line, only nineteen base runners in 25.2 innings with 45 strikeouts. He is currently getting by with just an average fastball thanks to his change-up that is flat out nasty. A-ball hitters are just simply no match for it. To round out his repertoire, he throws an above average slider, which should allow him to have success multiple times through a lineup . I do worry that his fastball could get exposed in the upper levels of the minors, but any uptick in velocity or spin could really push up his profile. He is in one of the best developmental organizations in baseball so all the ingredients are there for a prospect that could really rise.
Fantasy Take: Firmly on watchlist. In any league where 250+ prospects are owned, I wouldn’t blame owners for the speculative add. Better to be early than late.

David Davalillo, RHP (Rangers #37)
High-A Hub City Spartanburgers
(16.1 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 5 BB, 26 K, 0.80 WHIP)
Shout out to the new High-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers based in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Fun fact: Spartanburg got its nickname “Hub City” from the multiple railroad lines converging within its city limits, forming a hub-like shape. I wouldn’t expect Davalillo to be in Hub City for long. The 22-year-old Venezuelan’s razor sharp command and high whiff rate split-change are proving too much for High-A hitters. The Rangers have been doing a nice job of developing pitchers and Davalillo looks like he could fit in nicely at the back-end of their rotation.
Fantasy Take: Watchlist for now, but if the transition to Double-A goes well don’t be late to the party.

Some big names off to sizzling starts:
Leo De Vries, SS (Padres #1)
High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps
(72 AB, .306/.378/.625/1.003, 22 H, 5 2B, 3 3B, 4 HR, 19 RBI, 14 R, 9 BB, 15 K, 2 SB)
He is just 18-years-old. This is what #1 overall prospects look like.


Jordan Lawlar, SS (Diamondbacks #1)
Triple-A Reno Aces
(113 AB, .381/.470/.690/1.160, 43 H, 13 2B, 2 3B, 6 HR, 30 RBI, 13 R, 11 BB, 15 K, 2 SB)
Lawlar is ready, there just isn’t room in the D-Backs infield right now.

Ryan Waldschmidt, OF (Diamondbacks #7)
High-A Hillsboro Hops
(72 AB, .306/.490/.528/1.018, 22 H, 2 2B, 3B, 4 HR, 18 RBI, 20 R, 22 BB, 22 K, SB)
Another D-Back off to a torrid start. Next stop Double-A Amarillo.

Shiver me timbers! Check out this pair of Pirates hurlers.
Bubba Chandler, LHP (Pirates #1)
Triple-A Indianapolis Indians
(20.1 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 6 BB, 27 K, 0.64 WHIP)
Hunter Barco, LHP (Pirates #7)
Double-A Altoona Curve
(20.2 IP, 9 H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 30 K, 0.63 WHIP)
Chandler is the bigger name with higher upside. Barco is much more affordable and the stuff isn’t as far off as you think.

Not

Colson Montgomery, SS (White Sox #5)
Triple-A Charlotte Knights
(94 AB, .149/.223/.255/.478, 14 H, 2B, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 9 R, 7 BB, 43 K, 2 SB)
There is no way around it, Triple-A pitching has been too much for Montgomery. After a full season at the level last year, the start of this season isn’t any better. The power potential is still there, but the walk (6.8%) and strikeout (41.7%) rates are headed in the wrong direction. The organization is still behind Montgomery and he has received praise for his makeup and work ethic, but dynasty owners have to be getting nervous. The Sox have sent him back to the complex league for a reset.
Panic Meter: High.

Christian Moore, 2B (Angels #1)
Double-A Rocket City Trash Pandas
(73 AB, .219/.356/.356/.712, 16 H, 3 2B, 2 3B, HR, 11 RBI, 8 R, 16 BB, 24 K, 4 SB)
There was speculation that Moore was a serious candidate to break camp at second base for the Halos, instead he was sent to Double-A and it looks like the organization was on to something. In a small sample size, the power is down (.137 ISO) but his walk rate is up (17.8%). His swing looks like it might have needed an adjustment before he gets exposed to more advanced pitching and for once it looks like the Angels are not rushing a top prospect.
Panic Meter: Low, for now.

Matt Wilkinson, LHP (Guardians #9)
High-A Lake County Captains
(19 IP, 23 H, 11 ER, 11 BB, 26 K, 1.79 WHIP)
Tugboat was a hot name after a dominant 2024 season in which he finish second in all of the minor leagues in strikeouts. His 2025 season has not started out quite as smooth. The walks are up and he is getting hit harder. On the positive side, while down a little, the strikeout rate is still good (28.6). I am not suggesting dropping him, but I would be watching his jump to Double-A very closely. His fantasy trade value might be on the way down.
Panic Meter: Moderate

Jeremy Mahy

Jeremy covers the St Louis organization and contributes on Prospects of the Week for Prospects1500. Born and raised in the Midwest, he is a lifelong fan of the Birds on the Bat. You can follow him on Twitter @JMahyfam for more baseball content.

"Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good, too." -Yogi Berra

Tweet
Share
Pin
0 Shares