Tony Blanco Jr., OF, Pirates

90th Percentile Exit Velocity: 112.3 mph (100th Percentile)

Blanco’s name is likely to be met with a steady dose of “Who?” But there’s no one 21 or under in the minor leagues who hits the ball as hard as Blanco. The son of former MLB player and four-time Nippon Professional Baseball all-star Tony Blanco, Jr. hit .305/.385/.505 in his stateside debut in the Florida Complex League in 2024. Raw power is Blanco’s calling card, as he reached a max exit velocity of 117.5 mph this season. The downside is Blanco’s contact rates sit in the bottom 15 percentile to go with just average swing decisions. With plus power, bat speed and ball flight, any improvements to Blanco’s contact could yield serious results. 

Benny Montgomery, OF, Rockies 

90th Percentile Exit Velocity: 110.4 mph (100th Percentile)

It’s been a rough entry into pro ball for Montgomery, who has struggled to find consistency and health over the last three seasons. Earlier this year Montgomery, looked like he might be hitting his stride until suffering a left shoulder injury that required surgery. While Montgomery’s plate skills are still poor—he ranks in the bottom 10% in both miss and chase rates—his exit velocity data is outstanding. We’re playing with very small samples sizes here, as Montgomery only played in 11 games this season. That said, few players in the game are as tooled up and athletic as Montgomery. When your athletic testing and raw power metrics break the scale, it gets easier to dismiss really concerning bat-to-ball and swing decisions. Montgomery possesses a big power and speed upside, but his plate skills and injury history leave many weary. 

Jac Caglianone, 1B, Royals

90th Percentile Exit Velocity: 110.3 mph (100th Percentile)

This should come as no surprise to anyone who follows college baseball or the draft, as Caglianone’s power exploits at Florida were well documented. While Jac’s bottom 10th percentile swing decisions still plague him, his early returns in pro ball show his power isn’t slowing down with the switch to a wood bat. In just 13 games as a professional, Caglianone has already hit a ball 114 mph while displaying 75th percentile zone contact rates. His angles have been less outstanding, as his line drive+flyball rate is in the bottom 15% of players 21 or younger. This offseason, Caglianone must focus on improving his swing decisions and optimizing his batted ball angles on hard contact. Lord knows he makes plenty of it. 

Robert Calaz, OF, Rockies

90th Percentile Exit Velocity: 109.5 mph (100th Percentile) 

The Rockies have scouted the international market as well as anyone in recent years, and Calaz is their most recent IFA product. The slugger made his stateside debut in the Arizona Complex League this season hitting .349/.462/.651 with 10 home runs. Calaz led the ACL in home runs, batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. Despite contact and chase rates that rank in the bottom 30th percentile, Calaz was productive due to outstanding power and the ability to elevate on his best struck drives. Calaz’s .415 xwOBAcon ranks in the 97th percentile, pointing to his elite power and angles on contact. If Calaz can improve his bat-to-ball skills and swing decisions, it’s not hyperbole to state there is 40 home run power lurking. 

Nick Kurtz, 1B, Athletics

90th Percentile Exit Velocity: 109.4 mph (100th Percentile) 

Our second 2024 draftee featured in this article after Caglianone, Kurtz has had arguably the best debut in pro ball of any 2024 first rounder. Kurtz went 10-for-25 over seven games with Low-A Stockton before earning promotion to Double-A Midland where’s he reached base four times over his first two games with the RockHounds. Kurtz has one of the better combination of advanced plate skills and power in minor leagues and could move to the major leagues quickly. His contact rates are in the top 80% while his chase rate isn’t far off, either, ranking in the top 76th percentile. Kurtz, however, isn’t here due to his plate skills—it’s his outstanding power. In a small professional sample, Kurtz’s xwOBAcon, 90th percentile exit velocity, max EV and hard-hit rate all rank on the top five percent of hitters. In a season where excitement is in short supply in Oakland, Kurtz brings hope. 

Emmanuel Rodriguez, OF, Twins 

90th Percentile Exit Velocity: 109.3 mph (100th Percentile)

Unfortunately, injuries robbed us of another full season of Rodriguez, as he’s been limited to just 39 games. He remains on the injured list due to a right thumb strain, but when Rodrigues in the lineup it’s hard to argue with the production, as he hit .298/.479/.621 over 37 games with Double-A Wichita. He’s one of the most well rounded prospects in the game, making an impact on both sides of the ball. While you could argue Rodriguez elite on-base ability is his most outstanding tool, his power metrics rate just as highly. Rodriguez’s 90th percentile exit velocity, max EV, xwOBAcon and hard-hit rate all rank in the 98th percentile or higher. With great power, plate discipline and batted ball angles, Rodriguez is a picture-perfect modern archetype hitter. 

Elijah Green, OF, Nationals 

90th Percentile Exit Velocity: 109 mph (100th Percentile) 

Let’s just get this out of the way: The bat-to-ball ability is bad. Green has run a 40%+ strikeout rate over his first two full seasons of full season play, and his contact rates are in the bottom five percent despite fringe-average swing decisions. This is a limiting factor for Green’s power, which on its face is elite. Green’s max EV of 116 mph and 45.8% hard-hit rate rank among the top five percent, but it’s a real question if he gets to it consistently due to his penchant for whiffs. 

Deyvison De Los Santos, 3B, Marlins

90th Percentile Exit Velocity: 108.9 mph (99th Percentile)

The least shocking name as far as inclusion on this list has to be De Los Santos, who’s currently leading all of MiLB in home runs with 35. Acquired by the Marlins at the deadline from the Diamondbacks, De Los Santos also spent some time this spring with the Guardians organization after being selected in the 2023 Rule 5 draft. Now settled with the Marlins, De Los Santos is one of the best young power hitters in the minors. Despite a bottom 2% chase rate and contact that rates in the bottom third of the minors, De Los Santos has only struck out at a rate of 23.8% in 2024 across all levels. His power metrics are outstanding, as De Los Santos ranks in the top 1% in 90th percentile exit velocity, max EV and xwOBAcon. Plate skills questions will likely make for a rough entry into the major leagues, but incremental improvements in that area could lead to loud results one day. 

Christian Moore, SS, Angels

90th Percentile Exit Velocity: 108.5 mph (99th Percentile)

Duking it out with Nick Kurtz for the best professional debut among first rounders, Moore is off to an early lead. The Angels’ first rounder has hit .357/.410/.661 with five home runs over his first 14 Double-A games. While there’s been some concerning swing-and-miss early, Moore has shown a knack for finding the barrel and doing damage, as his xwOBAcon, 90th percentile exit velocity and hard hit rate all rank in the top 1%. His ability to find the barrel puts him in elite company for barrel rate, and it has led to elite production early. Moore’s power is major league-ready, but his swing-and-miss at Double-A, particularly in-zone, will perhaps delay his ETA. 

Roman Anthony, OF, Red Sox 

90th Percentile Exit Velocity: 108.5 mph (99th percentile)

Recently promoted to Triple-A Worcester, Anthony is the best power prospect among the Red Sox’s top four position prospects, as his raw power output exceeds anything Marcelo Mayer, Kyle Teel or Kristian Campbell can rival. Anthony is the most well-rounded hitter on this list, too, as his contact and chase numbers all rate in the top 60th percentile or better. Still, Anthony’s power is his calling card, with his 90th percentile exit velocity, max EV, hard hit rate and bat speed all ranking within the top 1%. The biggest limiting factor to Anthony developing into a plus power hitting corner outfielder is fringe-average ball flight metrics. Small tweaks to his swing path could unlock even more power from Anthony. 

Zyhir Hope, OF, Dodgers

90th Percentile Exit Velocity: 108.5 mph (99th Percentile)

Acquired by the Dodgers this past offseason in the trade that sent Michael Busch to the Cubs, Hope is one of the highest-upside power bats in the minor leagues. He got off to a hot start to begin the season before missing time with a shoulder injury. Since returning to the Rancho Cucamonga lineup on July 27th, Hope has hit .276/.415/.461 with six extra base hits. While Hope’s numbers are strong for a 19-year-old at a full-season level, his power numbers are outstanding. Hope’s xwOBAcon, 90th percentile exit velocity, max EV, hard-hit rate and xwOBA all rate within the top 10% among hitters 21 years of age or younger. When you factor in Hope’s 88th percentile chase rate and 79th percentile zone contact, you have a really exciting young player. The shoulder injury likely depressed some of Hope’s helium, but he’s an exciting player to dream on in the coming years. 

Thayron Liranzo, C, Tigers 

90th Percentile Exit Velocity: 108.2 mph (99th percentile)

A switch-hitting catcher with elite power is like a unicorn, but the Tigers may have acquired just that in Liranzo at this year’s trade deadline. While Liranzo failed to meet expectations early this season with High-A Great Lakes, the move across the Midwest League to West Michigan has seen him flourish, hitting .396/.547/.771 with four home runs over his first 15 games post-trade. Liranzo has excellent swing decisions. He ranks in the top 20% in chase rate and fringe-average contact, and it’s enough to get to his easy plus raw power. Liranzo rates within the the top 10th percentile in xwOBAcon, 90th percentile exit velocity, max EV, hard-hit rate and barrel rate for players 21 or younger. Some present swing-and=miss is a concern, and the track record of switch-hitters taking longer to develop may worry some, but it’s tough to find another young switch-hitter with this type of power. 

Xavier Isaac, 1B, Rays 

90th Percentile Exit Velocity: 108.1 mph (99th Percentile)

Like many on this list, Issac is a contact quality standout with production to match. He has hit .272/.372/.510 with 17 home runs across High-A and Double-A in 2024 as a 20-year-old. Though Isaac has shown bottom 10th percentile contact this season, his swing decisions grade as average and have allowed him to consistently attack the right pitches to do damage. His 90th percentile exit velocity, max exit velocity, xwOBAcon, line drive+flyball rate, hard-hit rate and barrel rate all rank within the top five percent of players 21 years of age or younger. The hulking Isaac’s ability to consistently get to his raw power in games makes him a potential 40-home run threat in the future. 

George Wolkow, OF, White Sox 

90th Percentile Exit Velocity: 108.1 mph (99th Percentile) 

The gargantuan Wolkow stands 6-foot-7, 239 pound and is one of the more fascinating prospects in the lower minors at present. Despite substantial swing-and-miss issues—Wolkow ranks in the bottom five percent in miss and zone-miss—the outfielder has managed to stay productive. Across two levels, Wolkow has slashed .265/.370/.480 with 29 extra base hits despite a 40.7% strikeout rate. The reason Wolkow has managed to stay productive despite bottom of the barrel contact is his power. Wolkow’s 90th percentile and maximum exit velocity both rank in the top three percent, while his xwOBAcon, hard-hit rate and barrel rate all rank within the top 10%. Whether or not Wolkow can ultimately make enough contact at the higher levels will determine his ultimate role. 

Samuel Basallo, C, Orioles

90th Percentile Exit Velocity: 106.7 mph (98th Percentile) 

There were about a dozen hitters I skipped over in 90th percentile exit velocity rankings to discuss Basallo, but for good reason: None of the players between Wolkow and Basallo have the same kind of outstanding production as a professional that Basallo does. After dealing with injuries throughout the season, Basallo has still managed to hit .283/.348/.452 with 15 home runs this season. Despite being only 19 years olf for a majority of the season, Basallo has been 26% better than the average Eastern League hitter, and his power metrics rank even higher. Basallo rates within the 98th percentile for 90% and max exit velocity, hard-hit rate and bat speed, while his xwOBAcon and barrel rate rank within the top 15% of players 21 years of age or younger. Though the hype may have died down slightly, it’s all systems go on Basallo.

Tyler Gough, RHP, Mariners 

Age: 21
Stuff+: 119 

The Mariners signed Gough for $275,000 as a ninth-rounder in 2022. He debuted in 2023 with Low-A Modesto and made nine starts, then returned to the level in 2024, where he made 22 starts with a 4.03 ERA, 3.93 FIP and a 23.5% strikeout rate. Gough is a lesser-known name, but has interesting and projectable stuff. 

His 92-93 mph four-seam fastball touches 97 with plus vertical break in the 19-20 inches range with between 10-11 inches of armside run. Gough mixes a low-80s sweeper that averages 15 inches of horizontal break. His slider (129 Stuff+ score) grades out as the best pitch in his arsenal. His changeup grades well, too, and is his best swing-and-miss pitch in 2024. Most importantly, Gough has shown some ability to handle innings, getting into the fifth or later nine times in 2024. 

Moises Chace, RHP, Phillies 

Age: 21
Stuff+: 116 

The Phillies acquired Chace, a young righty with solid performance, at the deadline for Gregory Soto. Chace is fresh off his Double-A debut and owns a 3.43 ERA with 95 strikeouts to 34 walks over 65.2 innings pitched. After the Orioles limited Chace to three to four innings per start, the Phillies have taken the reins off, allowing him to go five innings the last two times out. 

Chace has a plus four-seam fastball, sitting 94-95 mph and touching 97 mph at peak. The four-seamer generates efficient shape, averaging 18 inches of induced vertical break and 11 inches of armside run from a 64-inch release height. This creates a unique -3.83 degree vertical approach angle, one of the flattest fastball planes in professional baseball. Chace pairs that with a low-80s sweepy slider that averages 13 inches of horizontal break. His low-80s changeup grades out well, with good vertical separation and an 11 mph split off the fastball. Acquiring a higher upside piece for a spare part may end up being a shrewd move by the Phillies. 

Yoniel Curet, RHP, Rays

Age: 21
Stuff+: 115

Few pitchers in the minors live off their fastball as much as Curet. The powerful Rays righthander throws the pitch over 65% of the time and still generates good results. Over 21 starts with High-A Bowling Green, Curet owns a 3.28 ERA, 30.3% strikeout rate with a .198 opponent batting average. Curet also impressed after his promotion to Double-A Montgomery last week. 

He mixes a plus fastball that sits 94-96 mph touching 98 mph at peak with average vertical break and heavy armside run from over 6.5 feet of extension. Despite the high usage on his fastball, Curet still generates a high number of whiffs with a 13.1% swinging strike rate. His primary secondary is a hard 85-88 mph slider with cutter-like shape that shows bat-missing ability. Curet’s changeup is clearly a third pitch, but has also shown some bat-missing skills. Curet’s high fastball usage and fringe command gives him some relief risk, but he continues to perform at a young age at higher levels. 

Nolan McLean, RHP, Mets 

Age: 23
Stuff+: 114 

A two-way star at Oklahoma State, McLean was drafted in 2022 by the Orioles but didn’t sign and returned to campus. The Mets drafted him in the third round the following year and he has been very good in his professional debut. Over 21 starts, most of which came in Double-A, McLean owns a 3.89 ERA with a 25% strikeout rate to a 8.3% walk rate. After moonlighting as a two-way player earlier in 2024, the Mets made the announcement in mid-July that McLean would exclusively pitch going forward. It’s a wise choice, as McLean has excellent stuff. 

His four-seam fastball grades out at 107 Stuff+ sitting 94-96 mph with average vertical break and nearly a foot of armside run from a 64-inch release height, creating good plane. McLean’s slider is the highest-graded pitch in his arsenal. It’s an excellent bat-misser sitting 85-86 mph with on average 14 inches of horizontal break. McLean has one of the best combinations of power and movement you’ll see on a sweeper. He also mixes in a changeup and cutter, but uses them much less frequently than his fastball-slider combination. Could McLean be another potential future rotation piece lurking in the Mets’ farm? 

Edgar Portes, RHP, Orioles

Age: 21 
Stuff+: 113 

Signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2019, Portes has taken some time to marinate in the Orioles system, but has experienced a true breakout in 2024. Over 22 appearances (11 starts), Portes has pitched to a 3.30 ERA, backed by a 3.28 FIP with a 29.9% strikeout rate. His command is still shaky with a 12% walk rate, and he’s been limited to three to four innings mostly. 

Portes pitches off his slider as his primary pitch. It makes sense considering its unique ride-sweeper shape. His 90-93 mph fastball touches 96 with plus vertical break from nearly seven feet of extension. The fastball certainly plays. His fringy changeup is his third pitch, but it’s less important because of his slider quality. Portes has generated a nearly 25% swinging strike rate against the slider despite heavy usage in 2024. His slider is a standout pitch, and his fastball shape and release couple play up further in the coming years with added power. 

Chris Campos, RHP, Dodgers

Age: 24
Stuff+: 113

Campos is the second former two-way player on the list. He spent the majority of his St. Mary’s career at shortstop, but the Dodgers converted him to pitching full-time after selecting him in the seventh round in 2022. The results back the decision. Campos threw just 34.2 innings collegiately and quickly surpassed that number as a professional. He’s experiencing a breakout season in 2024. Campos owns a 3.17 ERA over 21 outings (14 starts) with a 25.3% strikeout rate to just a 6.6% walk rate. He reached Double-A in late June and continued to perform well with Tulsa. 

Campos’ 92-94 mph fastball touches 96 mph and averages 19 inches of IVB and 10 inches of horizontal break. He has excellent plane, generating a -4.1 VAA due to his 65-inch release height and 6.5 feet of extension. Campos’ 85-87 mph cut-slider is his primary secondary and generates around a 25% swinging strike rate. He mixes in a changeup as well to solid results this season. Campos might be the next breakout name to develop into a big league starter from the Dodgers’ player development machine. 

Adam Serwinowski, LHP, Reds

Age: 20
Stuff+: 113

The Reds took it slow with Serwinowski after drafting him out of high school in the 15th round of the 2022 draft. He didn’t make his full-season debut until 2024, and the results have justified their methodical approach. Over 22 starts this season, Serwinowski has pitched to a 3.52 ERA, 3.51 FIP while striking out 29.2% of batters he’s faced while keeping the ball in the park. 

Serwinowski’s 93-95 mph four-seamer touches 97 and averages 18 inches of induced vertical break and cut. His 82-83 mph slider is his primary secondary. It has depth, sweep and generates an 18.4% swinging strike rate. He’s still developing a third pitch. Serwinowski will flash a curveball, but an offspeed is needed. He’s still years away, though, and is showing a serious one-two punch in his fastball and slider. 

Santiago Suarez, RHP, Rays

Age: 19
Stuff+: 113 

This list is littered with Rays. Perhaps that shouldn’t be surprising given their taste for pitchers with good stuff. Suarez signed with the Marlins out of Venezuela in 2022. They traded him to the Rays that November in the Xavier Edwards deal. It’s looking like another shrewd move by the Rays, as Suarez is developing into one of the best young pitchers in their system. Over 19 starts with Low-A Charleston in 2024, Suarez owns a 4.24 ERA but his 3.57 FIP and 2.93 xFIP put that number into perspective. 

Suarez shows power and bat-missing ability with at least above-average command, striking out 25.9% of batters faced while walking just 4.3%. Even more impressive, Suarez has gone five or more innings in 14 of his 19 starts. Stuff wise, Suarez is a standout mixing a four-seam fastball at 94-95 mph with on average 18 inches of ride with 6-feet-8 of extension and four secondaries. His primary secondary is a high-80s cutter, but he also shows a low-80s curveball, slider and a splitter. It’s an interesting mix with good results to match. Suarez is a name to follow over the next two seasons as he ascends to the major leagues. 

Brody Hopkins, RHP, Rays

Age: 22
Stuff+: 112 

The Rays made another savvy move (it’s a theme!) when they acquired Hopkins as a part of the Randy Arozarena swap. A two-way player in college at College of Charleston and then Winthrop, Hopkins is a standout athlete that has taken well to a pitcher-only role. At the time of his acquisition, opposing scouts and analysts had much higher grades on Hopkins than the public. So far, Hopkins is showing those were wise evaluations. Hopkins has dominated in three starts with High-A Bowling Green, striking out 19 batters to just three walks over 15.1 innings. 

The righty mixes four pitches with above-average stuff grades in a four-seam fastball, a two-seam fastball, a slider and a cutter. Hopkins’ slider is the standout if his arsenal sitting 87 mph with two-plane break. His fastball variations have distinct shape from each other, both sitting 94-96 mph and touching 99 mph at peak. He generates average extension but his lower slot allows him to release both of his fastball variants from a 57-58 inch release height. Hopkins has all the ingredients to develop into another Rays trade and development success story. 

Jhancarlos Lara, RHP, Braves

Age: 21
Stuff+: 111

Lara’s stuff has never been a question. He pairs two pitches with well above-average stuff grades. Promoted to Double-A last week Lara’s debut was rocky, but he dominated over 15 appearances (14 starts) with High-A Rome. He pitched to a 3.92 ERA with a 3.74 FIP while striking out 26.2% or batters. His command is still very shaky but has shown signs of improvement. 

Lara mixes a four-seam fastball that sits 97-98 mph touching 101 mph with 6-feet-7 of extension, playing up his fastball plane despite a higher release height. His primary secondary is a low-90s cutter with power that generates whiffs at a rate north of 38%. Lara’s changeup is still developing and improving that pitch in the coming years could cement his place as a starter. Lara has some warts, but exciting stuff and potential. 

Hitting Art Vs. Science

This is the convergence point where the art of hitting meets the science. The discipline of becoming a great hitter takes effort and a keen sense of one’s identity. Traits and styles are based on how one moves and how a player nurtures that identity based on natural, God-given talents. 

“A lot of hitting skill is built at a pretty young age,” Bazzana said. “So we ingrain these habits of movement and hand-eye coordination when we first pick up a bat; that’s what your brain knows. So when you try to move like someone else it’s almost like learning a new skill even if it’s the same game.”

Genetics plays a role, too, Bazzana explained.

“Some guys are bigger and more mobile, others are bigger and less mobile,” he said. “Some are small and twitchy and really tight movers. There’s going to be different movement patterns. Are they loose? Are they fluid? Are they dominant in rotation? Or are they just leg power? There’s all these different things that equate to being a great hitter.” 

The search to develop an identity as a hitter is based on these traits. However, it’s the pursuit of expanding upon one’s identity through such work that ultimately forges great hitters in the major leagues. According to Bazzana, being a great hitter means constantly adjusting, refining his swing and expanding his abilities. In an age when everyone is searching for a magic pill, it comes down to the work one puts forth in trying to “find that next gear.”

“That’s the amazing part about hitting and baseball,” Bazzana said. “People do it in such different ways. Everyone wants to find one magic pill. At the end of the day when it comes down to movement.

“There is no magic pill.”

Learning From The Best

The question that plagues many baseball fans and evaluators is what to look for when defining great hitters. What do the best hitters do well and why? When we look at the art of hitting, who are the masters? What do they do that makes them so successful?

Bazzana sees one particular trait that separates the greats from just-good hitters.

“Often, one of the first things I’ll pick up is how well the body and the barrel match the plane of the pitch,” he said. “The best hitters posturally match the angle of the pitch with the plane of their upper half and the barrel. Connected is the term that people use. The barrel gets deeper into the zone for certain guys and it stays on the plane of the pitch.”

In an age where we have measurements for everything, angles and swing path have become a bigger part of the conversation. In this pursuit to optimize angles, Bazzana explained how he draws inspiration from a notable name. 

“The best example I give is Juan Soto,” he said. “His bat is connected behind his back shoulder and he sets that posture to the angle of the pitch. He matches the plane and he squares the ball up to all parts of the field … It’s why he’s as efficient as he is and why he’s in the zone for so long.”

Seeing Bazzana draw inspiration from a player like Soto shouldn’t come as a shock. While Bazzana hasn’t shown that same kind of power, there’s a common thread connecting their games: strong swing decisions.

That advanced plate approach was developed during Bazzana’s time spent at Oregon State. He described himself as “an average swing decisions guy” as a freshman with the Beavers in 2022, but over his final two college seasons, Bazzana walked 135 times, second behind only Athletics first-round pick Nick Kurtz.

“For me, my pitch recognition and swing decisions stem from reps,” he said. “Years of seeing a ball, hitting it, making a decision.”

Bazzana is accurate in his depiction of his advancement between his freshman and sophomore seasons at Oregon State. In 2022, he chased at a rate of 20.6% with a swing rate of 42.2%. A year later, his chase rate dropped to 15.5% while also cutting his swing rate to 36.1%. Those metrics dropped even further in 2024 to a 14.3% chase and a 32.7% swing rate.

During that summer heading into his sophomore year, Bazzana was at a crossroads. He’d shown strong plate skills, but his swing decisions and impact needed improvement. That is when the artist leaned on science to challenge his identity and expand his his future as a hitter. 

“A lot of hitters with good whiff rates, they often have a great ability to have good swing decisions,” Bazzana explained. “I think they have good hand-eye, they pick things up sooner. But in this game, I think guys with high contact rates get caught up on this identity that they can’t strike out. They can’t swing and miss, and so they want to put the ball in play. That will work for some guys but not for others. This is where swing decisions come from an approach and the coordination of it. Not everyone can have great decisions but it’s being stubborn to your zones, your locations and where you think you can do damage.” 

Bazzana again took cues from Juan Soto and his ability to not only draw walks at a high rate, but hit for power, as well.

“You dive in and you realize he’s tunneling certain zones or certain pitch types almost all the time,” Bazzana said of Soto. “He’s very stubborn, he’s okay taking the edge strike often. He’s okay with a looking strikeout that clips the edge. He knows 90% of the time that’s ball four. Over time, you realize the power of swing, no swing.” 

The application of science and tracking also comes into play for Bazzana, who said he uses technologically-advanced batting cage set-ups like HitTrax, iPitch and Trajekt for nearly all his training. Whether in the midst of his in-season cage work, offseason training or in-game performance, more information is better. 

“That’s where the ability of understanding the zone better often comes from,” he said. “Also paying attention to the Trackman report postgame. I go in after a game, and I know I swung at an edge pitch. Where was that pitch actually? Then you start to grasp, okay, that was an inch off. Over time you start to have a feel for the zone.”

Three Stats For Hitting Success

When asked which metrics he follows most closely and which he feels align with his performance, Bazzana pointed to a trio of data points: in-zone fastball swing rate, air pull percentage and 90th percentile exit velocity.

“Understanding that the fastball is your best chance to do damage,” Bazzana said of his approach. “I want to be swinging at fastballs in the zone, especially hard fastballs.”

Pulling those types of pitches in the air is an especially important skill for players who aren’t Aaron Judge-sized.

“For someone who’s not 6-foot-7 or 250 pounds, there’s power in hitting the ball to the short porch and doing it often,” said Bazzana, who measures at 6-feet, 200 pounds. “Some of the best hitters in the big leagues the last five to ten years aren’t the big humans like Judge, (Giancarlo) Stanton, (Yordan) Alvarez. It’s Mookie (Betts), it’s Jose Ramirez, it’s (Alex) Bregman. These guys are all incredible at pulling the ball in the air. When they square it up, they can fly it true to the pull side whether it’s at 99 mph or 102 mph.”

And that’s where Bazzana’s final key metric comes into play.

“I think 90th percentile exit velocity is huge,” he said. “You look at the highest in terms of that metric versus the lowest. Players who hit the ball hard and get to power more often produce the most.”

Training For Speed

Hitting the ball hard was not something that naturally came to Bazzana, who has trained to add bat speed dating back to his time in Australia. Before he had access to top facilities and specially-tailored overspeed equipment like Driveline’s Overload and Underload bats, he used his own intuition and a do-it-yourself attitude to train.

“It was like ‘Why don’t we make do,'” Bazzana said, explaining how, as a teenager, he and his father constructed their own equipment. “I got an old bat, and we put coins all in different spots and it became 37 to 40 ounces. We swung that and then found the lightest drop-five or drop-eight bat in the clubhouse at our field and that was my underload.”

Nowadays, Bazzana works extensively with the real-deal Driveline bats, which have been staples of his training since coming over to the United States.

In the summer heading into his sophomore year at Oregon State, Bazzana went to Driveline headquarters for the first time, spending ten weeks there to build the batspeed that grew over his final two collegiate seasons. The added impact was the final piece to the puzzle that saw Bazzana ascend to the top pick in the 2024 draft.

Looking at one of his self-proclaimed important metrics, Bazzana’s 90th percentile exit velocity jumped from 101.4 mph in 2022 to 105.9 mph in 2023 to 108.9 mph in his draft season. The results translated from a .348 expected wOBA on contact in 2022 to a mark that ballooned to .521 in 2024. 

With a lifetime of training and now his first few weeks of professional baseball experience behind him, Bazzana continues to be prepared for the challenge and work it takes to be a great professional hitter. 

1. Thayron Liranzo, C, Tigers

Team: High-A West Michigan (Midwest)
Age: 21

Why He’s Here: .611/.741/1.278 (11-for-18) 9 R, 3 2B, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 9 BB, 2 SO.

The Scoop: Liranzo didn’t travel far when the Dodgers traded him to the Tigers in the Jack Flaherty trade. He was playing for Great Lakes in the Midwest League and moved to West Michigan in the same league. But the trade has transformed him at the plate. Liranzo was hitting .220 with just 22 extra-base hits in 74 games. With the Tigers, he has a .396 average and 10 extra-base hits in 15 games. He has had six games this year with six or more total bases. Three of those have come in the past two weeks. And one of his home runs this week was one of the better ones we’ll see all year. Liranzo cleared the batter’s eye in center field with a titanic shot. (JC)

2. Lazaro Montes, OF, Mariners

Team: High-A Everett (Northwest)
Age: 19

Why He’s Here: .526/.615/.947 (10-for-19), 9 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 7 RBIs, 6 BB, 6 SO, 1-for-1 SB

The Scoop: It took him a little while to find his footing in the Northwest League, but Montes has it all going now. The teenage thumper clobbered two more home runs this past week, bringing his season mark to 17, four of which have come since moving to High-A. In 15 August games, Montes is hitting an absurd .400/.493/.618 with three doubles, three homers and 11 RBIs. He still whiffs more than is ideal, but when he makes contact, he makes contact. Proof? His 90th percentile exit velocity this year is roughly 105 mph. (JN)

3. Nick Kurtz, 1B, Athletics

Team: Low-A Stockton
Age: 21

Why He’s Here: .412/.600/1.000 (7-for-17), 9 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 3 HR, 9 RBIs, 8 BB, 4 SO

The Scoop: After watching him slam four home runs in his first 25 at-bats, the A’s decided that Nick Kurtz had tormented the California League plenty for one year and promoted him all the way to Double-A Midland. There, he’ll find a hospitable environment, albeit against far more advanced pitching than he saw over seven games in Stockton. The 2024 first-rounder and Wake Forest alum crushed a pair of doubles and four home runs—including three during the most recent Hot Sheet period—and finished his Low-A tenure with more walks (10) than strikeouts (7). Texas League pitchers, you’re officially on notice. (JN)

4. Bubba Chandler, RHP, Pirates

Team: Triple-A Indianapolis (International)
Age: 21

Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 6 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 11 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: Since moving to Triple-A, Chandler has kicked it into high gear. The righthander struck out 11 this past week, his third start of the season with double-digit punchouts. The outing was his second since moving to the International League, and so far he has K’d 17 against just three walks over 13 innings. Most importantly, he’s shown much better control this year: In 2023, he walked more than 4 hitters per nine innings. This season, that figure is just 2.8 per nine innings. (JN)

5. Quinn Mathews, LHP, Cardinals

Team: Double-A Springfield (Texas)
Age: 23

Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 7 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 11 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: No matter how you slice it, Mathews’ season has been remarkable. The lefty from Stanford struck out 11 in his most recent turn, giving him six double-digit strikeout games this season. His 168 strikeouts are the most in the minors overall, ahead of Cleveland’s Matt Wilkinson by a dozen. His 0.88 WHIP is fourth in the full-season minors and his .169 opponent average is third. When Quinn the lefthander gets here, all the hitters gonna run from him. (JN)

6. Harry Ford, C/OF, Mariners

Team: Double-A Arkansas (Texas) 
Age: 21

Why He’s Here: .375/.531/.750 (9-for-24), 12 R, 3 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBIs, 6 BB, 10 SO, 3-for-3 SB

The Scoop: Ford did a little bit of everything last week, collecting a hit in all six games and reaching base at least twice in all of those contests. Ford stole three bases, slugged a pair of home runs and scored two or more runs in five of six games. All season long, Ford has shown his on-base skills and speed. His power, though, has been harder to come by. Ford has below-average exit velocities and his ball flight metrics are just average. If he can stick behind the plate and add a little more power, Ford has a chance to develop into an above-average regular. (GP) 

7. Jimmy Crooks, C, Cardinals 

Team: Double-A Springfield (Texas) 
Age: 23 

Why He’s Here: .522/.556/.826 (12-for-23), 6 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 9 RBIs, 3 BB, 5 SO, 0-for-0 SB

The Scoop: Jimmy Crooks cooked all last week, tallying multiple hits in all five games. It’s been a banner season for Crooks, who’s hitting .326/.415/.514 with Double-A Springfield and has been one of the top hitters in the Texas League. It’s a hit-first catcher profile, but Crooks has made advancements behind the plate and been good in the running game. The Cardinals have Willson Contreras under contract until 2027 but Crooks could force his way into their catching picture in 2025. (GP)  

8. Cole Young, SS, Mariners 

Team: Double-A Arkansas (Texas) 
Age: 21 

Why He’s Here: .458/.581/.625 (11-for-24), 4 R, 2 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 4 RBIs, 7 BB, 4 SO, 0-for-0 SB

The Scoop: Young’s combination of bat-to-ball skills and approach puts him into elite company among his peers. He balances contact with strong swing decisions while avoiding passivity at the plate. Despite a lack of raw power, Young has good ball flight metrics and knows how to pull the ball in the air. Last week, Young had hits in all six games and reached base at least twice in each game. He showed his signature plate approach walking nearly twice as many times as he struck out. Young is likely to move off shortstop for second base long term, but could be a good defender at second base. Young’s profile is based around his advanced plate skills and barrel control. (GP) 

9. Noah Cameron, LHP, Royals 

Team: Triple-A Omaha (International) 
Age: 25 

Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.71, 12.2 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 13 SO, 1 HR

The Scoop: The 2021 seventh-rounder out of Central Arkansas has been a find for the Royals. Cameron pitched his way up to Triple-A this season after a strong start with Double-A Northwest Arkansas. Last week, Cameron turned in two gems against Louisville, going six-plus innings each time out, limiting hard contact and generating whiffs. Cameron mixes a low-90s four-seamer with cut, a low-80s changeup and a low-80s curveball with good depth. It’s a good changeup from a higher arm slot that creates deception from the left side. Cameron could fit a variety of roles as a spot starter or a lefthanded reliever for the Royals in September. His upside is limitedm but he has enough deception and feel to pitch to fill a role. (GP) 

10. Abimelec Ortiz, 1B, Rangers

Team: Double-A Frisco (Texas)
Age: 22

Why He’s Here: .500/.607/.636 (11-for-22), 6 R, 1 HR, 4 RBIs, 5 BB, 4 SO, 1 HBP

The Scoop: This has been a trying season for Ortiz, punctuated by weeks like the last one, in which he reached base in 17 of 28 trips to the plate versus Springfield. Overall, Ortiz has hit .225/.303/.364 with nine home runs in his first season at Double-A. As a first base-only player, he must recover the bat speed and power that enabled him to hit 33 bombs at two Class A levels in 2023. (ME)

11. Brady House, 3B, Nationals

Team: Triple-A Rochester (International) 
Age: 21 

Why He’s Here: .333/.407/.833 (8-for-24), 7 R, 3 2B, 0 3B, 3 HR, 10 RBIs, 1 BB, 7 SO, 0-for-0 SB

The Scoop: There’s been some good and some bad so far in Triple-A for House, but he’s been around a league-average producer over his first 27 games. Last week, House had some standout games to start the series against Syracuse collecting two hits in each of the first three games. His best game came on Thursday when he slugged a pair of home runs. Despite a fairly aggressive approach, House is showing strong in-zone contact rates, solid exit velocities and good expected outcomes. House could potentially see a cup of coffee in the majors late this season, joining James Wood and CJ Abrams as the Nationals’ young core in 2025 and beyond. (GP) 

12. James Tibbs III, OF, Giants

Team: Low-A San Jose (California)
Age: 21

Why He’s Here: .522/.542/.652 (12-for-23), 7 R, 3 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBIs, 1 BB, 3 SO

The Scoop: After an outstanding season at Florida State, Tibbs has found the California League to his liking. The 13th overall pick in this past year’s draft, Tibbs has collected 17 hits in his first 41 trips and this past week struck out just three times in 23 at-bats. Tibbs earned a reputation as a pure hitter throughout his amateur career—both at Florida State and in the Cape Cod League—and could produce above-average output for both hittability and power if he reaches his ceiling. So far, so good in his first pro test. (JN)

13. Chase DeLauter, OF, Guardians

Team: Double-A Akron (Eastern)
Age: 22

Why He’s Here: .438/.500/1.000 (7-for-16) 5 R, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 2 BB, 2 SO.

The Scoop: DeLauter’s last week in Akron before his promotion to Triple-A was an excellent one. DeLauter’s overall numbers are solid but unspectacular, but that’s because injuries have once again derailed his season. This is only the second time he’s played for three straight weeks this season. Now that he’s shaken the rust off, he’s driving the ball for power while demonstrating above-average contact skills as well. The promotion to Triple-A means he still has a chance to show that he could be worth a late-season callup if he keeps swinging the bat like this. (JC)

14. Charles McAdoo, OF, Blue Jays 

Team: Double-A New Hampshire (Eastern) 
Age: 22

Why He’s Here: .412/.524/.765 (7-for-17), 4 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 5 RBIs, 3 BB, 4 SO, 2-for-2 SB

The Scoop: Acquired by the Blue Jays from the Pirates in exchange for Isiah Kiner-Falefa, McAdoo took a few weeks to settle into his new surroundings. But he did just that last week against Reading. McAdoo opened the week with home runs in consecutive games, before putting together two- and three-hit efforts the next two games. McAdoo has above-average bat speed with enough contact, approach and barrel control to make it all work. One of the breakout prospects of 2024, McAdoo has a chance to see time with the Blue Jays in 2025. (GP) 

15. Max Anderson, 2B, Tigers

Team: High-A West Michigan (Midwest)
Age: 22

Why He’s Here: .440/.481/.640 (11-for-25) 6 R, 2 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBIs, 2 BB, 2 SO.

The Scoop: This recent stretch is closer to what Anderson needs to be. He’s a fringy defender at second base, so if he’s going to get to the majors, it’s going to be because he can really hit. Anderson is an aggressive hitter who will chase out of the zone pretty regularly, so he needs to hit plenty of stinging line drives. He also needs to figure out how to lift the ball more consistently with a wood bat. Anderson hit 21 home runs in his final year at Nebraska. He has 10 this year and three in his past 40 games. (JC)

16. Matt Shaw, 2B/3B, Cubs 

Team: Triple-A Iowa (International) 
Age: 22 

Why He’s Here: .421/.500/.789 (8-for-19), 4 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 7 RBIs, 2 BB, 2 SO, 1-for-2 SB

The Scoop: A tough first week in Triple-A looks to be completely in the rear view mirror for Shaw. The Cubs’ top positional prospect had three multi-hit games throughout last week and hit his first two Triple-A home runs. Shaw has a well-rounded plate profile with average bat-to-ball skills, strong swing decisions and above-average power and angles on contact. With a strong spring in 2025, Shaw should compete for a job in the Cubs’ starting infield. (GP) 

17. Dalton Rushing, OF, Dodgers

Team: Triple-A Oklahoma City (Pacific Coast)
Age: 23

Why He’s Here: .350/.480/.750 (7-for-20) 7 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 5 BB, 5 SO, 0 SB, 0 CS.

The Scoop: Rushing has made a very speedy adjustment to Triple-A. In the Texas League, Rushing slugged .512. In the Pacific Coast League, Rushing is now slugging .512, so there’s a pretty perfect symmetry. He struck out four times with no walks in his first four games and he’s walked nine and struck out seven times since. As far as left field, Rushing hasn’t been particularly challenged yet, but he’s generally passed the test. He’s had one sinking liner that got past him for a double, and he’s also made a nice diving catch. Overall, he’s looked competent. It seems more of a backup plan than anything else at this point considering Teoscar Hernandez is one of the best left fielders in baseball (and Rushing hasn’t played anywhere else in the outfield yet). (JC)

18. Jackson Jobe, RHP, Tigers

Team: Double-A Erie (Eastern)
Age: 22

Why He’s Here: 1-0, 1.59, 11.1 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 9 SO, 1 HR

The Scoop: As a trio of rookie Jacksons shine in MLB—Merrill for the Padres, Chourio for the Brewers and Holliday for the Orioles—a fourth is making quick work of Double-A competition. In two starts versus Akron last week, Jobe threw 75 and 100 pitches as he continued ramping up his workload and putting batters away with his fastball, slider and cutter. In eight starts for Erie since returning from the injured list, he has a 2.13 ERA with 41 strikeouts in 42.1 innings. (ME)

19. Jack Leiter, RHP, Rangers

Team: Triple-A Round Rock (Pacific Coast)
Age: 24

Why He’s Here: 0-0, 2.45, 3.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 11 SO, 1 WP.

The Scoop: It’s hard for a starting pitcher to make the Hot Sheet when they throw 3.2 innings in a start, but we will make an exception when the pitcher strikes out 11 of the 14 batters he faced. As Eli Ben-Porat laid out for us yesterday in his Statcast Standouts, Leiter at his best, when he’s getting above-average life on his four-seam fastball, is really good. This was Leiter at his best. But when his command or the life on his fastball dips, he has yet to figure out another way to dominate. (JC)

20. Ryan Bergert, RHP, Padres

Team: Double-A Amarillo (Texas)
Age: 24

Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 1 GS, 6 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 SO.

The Scoop: Bergert was perfect this week, as he threw the first six innings of a Sod Poodles no-hitter. Berget’s biggest challenge came from A.J. Vukovich, who battled Bergert for 11 pitches in the second inning including five two-strike foul balls before he lined out to right field. Bergert relied more heavily on his cutter than normal, which seemed to pay off. Bergert’s season has struggled to match his very effective work in 2023, but he’s finishing strong. (JC)

HELIUM

Bryan Torres, 2B, Cardinals

If you don’t know about Torres’ excellent work in the partner league American Association, Torres’ career seems extremely odd. He spent five years in pro ball without ever reaching a full-season league. He was then a MiLB Rule 5 pick in 2019 but didn’t get to play for his new team (the Giants) until 2021 because of the pandemic. When he reached MiLB free agency, he didn’t find a new team and ended up starring for the Milwaukee Milkmen in 2022 and 2023.

The 2023 Baseball America Independent/Partner Leagues Player of the Year has had a very solid return to affiliated ball. The former catcher is now a speedy center fielder who has been one of the best hitters in the Texas League. He’s two points behind teammate Jimmy Crooks for both the batting title and on-base percentage lead. As a 27-year-old, this likely is more of an excellent stint for an org player, but do remember what Jose Martinez did with the Cardinals a decade ago. Martinez was an org player bouncing around, but he led the Pacific Coast League in batting as a 26-year-old and made his MLB debut as a 27-year-old with the Cardinals. He would go on to play 432 games in the majors. (JC)