Who’s Hot, Who’s Not: June

We have passed the midway point in the minor league season and the numbers are starting to normalize. Some hot starts have turned into full breakouts and unfortunately some slow starts are not turning around. As we look into the June performances it is important to keep in mind that prospect development is hardly ever linear and each level will pose new challenges. Keeping that in mind, let’s take a look at a few performances that stood out last month.
*stats are for the month of June

Hot

Edward Florentino, OF/1B (Pirates #27)
Florida Complex League & Single-A Bradenton Marauders
(63 AB, .365/.440/.651/1.091, 23 H, 7 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 17 RBI, 14 R, 9 BB, 13 K, 3 SB)
After 26 Florida Complex League games, the Pirates had seen enough to know that Florentino needed the next challenge. After a tough start he looks to be settling in at the Single-A level. If he can replicate the success he had in the FCL there could really be something here. If you take out the first three games with Bradenton where he struck out 7 times and didn’t draw a walk, he has done a good job controlling the zone for a big guy. He is just 18-years-old so there will be some growing pains as he progresses but he is one to watch.
Fantasy Take: Watchlist him for now unless you are in a deeper league (350+ prospects owned). 6% owned in Fantrax.

Deniel Ortiz, 3B (Cardinals NR)
Single-A Palm Beach Cardinals
(81 AB, .333/.449/.556/1.005, 27 H, 6 2B, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 18 R, 14 BB, 21 K, 8 SB)
The fun part about doing the research for these articles is uncovering players that I previously knew very little about. Case in point is Ortiz. He was a 16th round pick in the 2024 draft out of Walters State CC in Morristown, Tennessee. The Cardinals sent him right to Single-A and he has not let them down. He is hitting the ball hard posting a max EV of 110 while also showing a little speed (20 SB’s on the season). I am a little concerned by his 28.7% K rate. Also a .400 BABIP points to some batting average regression. If he continues to develop there might be something here.
Fantasy Take: Watchlist for now. 0% owned in Fantrax.

Juneiker Caceres, OF (Guardians #41)
Arizona Complex League
(50 AB, .320/.453/.620/1.073, 16 H, 2 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 12 R, 12 BB, 7 K, SB)
If you have the patience to wait on a 17-year-old kid to develop Caceres is the type guy to go after. Over the last two years, Caceres has walked more than he has struck out and this season he running a .458 wOBA while also seeing his power numbers go up (.206 ISO). There are the makings of 15-20 homerun guy that could run a batting average around .280. Chip in 10 SBs and that is good player.
Fantasy Take: Watch him closely. 5% owned in Fantrax.

Jonah Tong, RHP (Mets #8)
Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies
(5 GS, 29 IP, 11 H, 3 ER, 9 BB, 43 K, 0.69 WHIP)
Dominating A-ball hitters is one thing, but carrying that success over to the Double-A level will get my attention. Tong is one of the true breakout arms this season. His increased velocity and improved change-up have led to a staggering 40% K rate this year. On the down side, he is walking nearly five batters per nine which will need to improve to reach his lofty ceiling. You could be looking at a top of the rotation arm if he can tame the walks.
Fantasy Take: Must own in all dynasty leagues.

#Mets No. 4 prospect Jonah Tong fanned 11 batters over 7 2/3 innings in Saturday’s victory to take the MiLB strikeout lead with 107 for the season.@USAFRecruiting #AimHigh pic.twitter.com/NqcJHAJu8o

— Binghamton Rumble Ponies (@RumblePoniesBB) June 24, 2025

Khal Stephen, RHP (Blue Jays #19)
High-A Vancouver Canadians
(5 GS, 28.1 IP, 18 H, 3 ER, 6 BB, 33 K, 0.85 WHIP)
Stephen is another pitcher that is on a breakout trajectory. He was the Jays second round pick last season and has already found his way to High-A. His fastball averages 94 MPH (touching 96). He has a change-up with tremendous fade that misses a ton of bats. He also mixes in a high spin slider that generates plenty of swing and miss. Topping it all off, he commands his pitches well which makes his stuff play up even more. I am definitely intrigued.
Fantasy Take: Own him in any league with 250+ prospects. 9% owned in Fantrax.

Red Hot Top Prospects
Konnor Griffin, SS/CF (Pirates #2)
High-A Greensboro Grasshoppers
(92 AB, .402/.495/.598/1.093, 37 H, 6 2B, 4 HR, 19 RBI, 26 R, 14 BB, 18 K, 14 SB)
Maybe that 2024 draft was better than we thought. Griffin is a stud and should be considered a top-10 overall prospect.

Konnor Griffin delivers his 13th game of the season with 3+ hits, adding a pair of SB on a big night for the High-A @GSOHoppers.

The @Pirates‘ top-ranked position player prospect is slashing .365/.461/.587 in 16 games since his promotion. pic.twitter.com/D2xsy1vVsR

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 29, 2025

JJ Wetherholt, SS (Cardinals #1)
Double-A Springfield Cardinals
(73 AB, .356/.500/.521/1.021, 26 H, 4 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 15 R, 19 BB, 14 K, 6 SB)
Cardinals fans dream of a Masyn Winn/Wetherholt middle infield might not be too far away.

Sam Basallo, C (Orioles #2)
Triple-A Norfolk Tides
(66 AB, .318/.452/.667/1.119, 21 H, 2 2B, 7 HR, 17 RBI, 17 R, 15 BB, 14 K)
I figured the Rutschman injury would be his ticket, looks like I was wrong. A lost season in Baltimore could delay Basallo’s debut even more.

Michael Arroyo, SS (Mariners #7)
High-A Everett AquaSox & Double-A Arkansas Travelers
(90 AB, .322/.446/.644/1.090, 29 H, 5 2B, 8 HR, 21 RBI, 21 R, 15 BB, 15 K)
A Double-A promotion has not slowed him down at all. His outstanding hit tool was expected, the power gains make him VERY interesting.

Not

Orelvis Martinez, SS (Blue Jays #1)
Triple-A Buffalo Bisons
(83 AB, .157/.245/.313/.558, 13 H, 2B, 4 HR, 7 RBI, 10 R, 9 BB, 25 K, SB)
There is just no way around it 2025 has been a disaster. Last years 80 game suspension might have landed him in the dog house. A 29% K rate and .277 OBP will not help him get out. There is still some time to turn things around and it is possible that the time lost set his development back. Time is running short and there is a really solid young shortstop nipping at his heels.
Panic Meter: High

Brayden Taylor, SS/3B (Rays #3)
Double-A Montgomery Biscuits
(72 AB, .125/.247/.139/.386, 9 H, 2B, 4 RBI, 8 R, 12 BB, 26 K, 2 SB)
Making this section of the article two weeks in a row is not where you want to be. Things are just not clicking for Taylor right now. Maybe he needs a reset? Bummer because I have several shares of him in dynasty.
Panic Meter: Medium

Chayce McDermott, RHP (Orioles #6)
Triple-A Norfolk Tides
(5 GS, 19.2 IP, 24 H, 22 ER, 22 BB, 19 K, 2.34 WHIP)
This one hurts. I really thought that with the pitching woes in Baltimore this would be the year that McDermott took a step forward and stake his claim to spot in the rotation. That is looking less and less likely. An almost identical walk and strikeout rate is not a recipe for success.
Panic Meter: Medium

Hurston Waldrep, RHP (Braves #2)
Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers
(5 GS, 23 IP, 21 H, 16 ER, 14 BB, 17 K, 1.52 WHIP)
Waldrep is going to get a pass from me. The results have not been pretty, but he is working through some mechanical adjustments at the highest level of the minor leagues. I still believe in the prospect (and the Braves ability to sort him out), but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a little nervous.
Panic Meter: Low (for now)