Head of the Class: A Advanced
With All-Star Games approaching across the Minor Leagues, members of the MiLB.com staff are looking back at some of the most notable performers from the first half of each of the four full-season levels and who could take off in the months to come. Here, we look at players in
With All-Star Games approaching across the Minor Leagues, members of the MiLB.com staff are looking back at some of the most notable performers from the first half of each of the four full-season levels and who could take off in the months to come. Here, we look at players in the Class A Advanced California, Carolina and Florida State leagues.
Most exciting hitter
Orioles OF Ryan McKenna, Frederick:Baltimore's No. 29 prospect has been the epitome of an all-around hitter over the first half. He leads all Class A Advanced hitters with a .377 average and .467 on-base percentage, while his .556 slugging percentage and 1.023 OPS both sit atop the Carolina League leaderboard. He's collected 28 extra-base hits in 67 games and has a nearly even 45/37 K/BB ratio. There have been some players with video-game slugging numbers at this level, but they are all in the launching pad that is the California League. McKenna has been miles better than any hitter in the Carolina League in almost every offensive aspect.
Most exciting pitcher
Padres RHP Chris Paddack, Lake Elsinore: San Diego's No. 20 prospect doesn't qualify in any rate-stat categories because he's thrown only 42 1/3 innings since debuting April 30, but there's little doubt he's been the level's most reliable hurler in the first half. Paddack hasn't struck out fewer than seven in any of his eight starts, fanning 70 batters total and walking only three. His rate of 23.3 K/BB is by far the best among all Minor League pitchers with at least 40 frames this season, and his 43.5 percent K rate is also tops among the same group. Paddack's start to the season was delayed as he continued his rehab from Tommy John surgery. He's healthy now and effective with a plus fastball and changeup. Don't believe the numbers? Ask Cal League hitters.
Best team
Winston-Salem Dash: The Class A Advanced squad was the first White Sox affiliate to clinch a first-half division title, but that's not exclusively why it's here. The Dash have one of the more stocked teams in an already loaded system with five of Chicago's top 15 prospects playing for Winston-Salem right now. It'd be six if Dane Dunning hadn't been so good with a 31/3 K/BB ratio in 24 1/3 innings before getting promoted on April 26. Dylan Cease, MLB.com's No. 52 overall prospect, has thrived without any restrictions in his first full season with the White Sox, and No. 13 Chicago prospect Luis Alexander Basabe has looked like the toolsy outfielder the club thought it acquired from the Red Sox in the Chris Sale deal. Left-hander Bernardo Flores, right-hander Matt Foster and outfielder Joel Booker also earned trips to the Carolina League All-Star Game. It's fun to see a club this talented perform up to its capabilities.
Second-half breakout
Angels 2B Jahmai Jones, Inland Empire: MLB.com's No. 83 overall prospect was thrown a curveball before the season even started when he was moved from the outfield to second base. That's going to stick for the time being, especially now that Jo Adell and Brandon Marsh have joined him in Inland Empire. What's less likely to stick are some of his rough numbers from the first half of the California League season. Through 60 games, Jones is hitting .246/.347/.408 with seven homers and 10 steals. That still works out to an above-average 109 wRC+, but there are plenty of inidicators that the right-handed slugger, who batted .302 in 2016 and .282 last season, should be prepared to produce a lot better in the second half. Start with the fact that his OPS has been better with each passing month -- .829 in April, .740 in May, .813 in June -- and add in that he was an even slower first-half starter last season. (His .263/.328/.391 line on this date a year ago actually isn't far from the one he has now; he bumped that up to .282/.348/.446 by season's end.) There's also the fact that his .289 BABIP is below his career norm, and with his speed, that should go up -- and his average with it -- as more hits fall and he beats out more balls in the second half. Jones is one of the rare Angels top prospects to not have a killer first half, but don't be surprised if he turns things around in a big way entering July and August.
Coming soon
Twins OF Alex Kirilloff: The biggest worry about Kirilloff entering 2018 was his health. The Twins' 2016 first-rounder missed all of last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in his left elbow. He's looked no worse for wear, though, in his return to the Minors, and it's getting to the point where Minnesota might think about aggressively pushing him up in the back half of 2018. The left-handed slugger is hitting .333/.391/.607 with 13 homers, five triples and 20 doubles in 65 games at Class A Cedar Rapids and has only gotten better with each passing month. It's clear that he isn't being challenged anymore in the Midwest League, so a move to Class A Advanced Fort Myers would make sense at some point in the second half. If that happens, the 20-year-old would be back on track or even ahead of most prep bats taken in the 2016 Draft.
Sam Dykstra is a reporter for MiLB.com. Follow and interact with him on Twitter, @SamDykstraMiLB.
Here are the weirdest plays and stats from MiLB in May
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Podcast features first-base promotions for Caglianone, Eldridge
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Cubs' Rojas, Mets' Tong headline May's Minor League Players of the Month
Minor League Baseball announced the Player and Pitcher of the Month Award winners for May in Major League Baseball’s player development system.
Minor League Baseball, Joe Torre Safe At Home partnership enters ninth year
For the ninth year, Minor League Baseball and Joe Torre Safe At Home have teamed up to raise awareness about violence and abuse and to inspire fans of all ages to join them in SAH’s critical work. This year, 63 MiLB teams will participate in an in-ballpark initiative from May
MiLB podcast discusses Anthony, Caglianone at Triple-A
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
These are the greatest Minor League promos happening in June
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
New playoff format coming to 2025 Dominican Summer League
Minor League Baseball announced the 2025 Dominican Summer League (DSL) season will begin June 2 with Opening Day festivities taking place at the Boston Red Sox Academy in Guerra. The 2025 campaign will also see the introduction of the DSL Cup, a new playoff format that will see 16 DSL
Debating best Minor League home caps on podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
The Omaha Storm Chasers' 'Take Meow-t' cat night included a Litter Box Sundae
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Boston's Triple-A affiliate throws birthday bash for Roman Anthony
With all the hype that has surrounded Roman Anthony over the past two seasons, it’s easy to forget how young he really is. MLB's No. 1 prospect played 70 games at the highest level of the Minors before he could order a beer. But he can now. Roman Anthony turned
Friendly foes, 2024 first-rounders Moore and Caglianone trade first Triple-A homers
For years, Christian Moore and Jac Caglianone laced up their cleats against one another in the SEC. A rivalry that spanned Florida, Tennessee and other landmarks across the South moved to Salt Lake City this week as the Royals and Angels' top prospects got simultaneous Triple-A promotions. So it was
Phillies' Moore, Fausnaught join MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Red Sox prospect rips double THROUGH Fenway-esque scoreboard
Red Sox No. 4 prospect Franklin Arias, an infielder for High-A Greenville, REALLY didn’t want to let visiting Asheville score any runs in the top of the eighth inning on Friday night. With runners on first and second base in the bottom of the fourth, Arias showed he apparently held
April's hottest hitting prospects -- one for each organization
The Minor League season is a month old and several of the game's best hitting prospects are off to fast starts. Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony is tearing up Triple-A (just like he did at the end of last year), Padres shortstop Leo De Vries is leading the High-A Midwest
Check out the best -- and wackiest -- Minor League promos happening in May
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Orioles' Honeycutt joins The Show Before the Show
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
MiLB podcast coming LIVE to a Somerset this June
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
New ballparks highlight 2025 MiLB road trip stops
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Minor League Baseball partners with TruGreen
FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- TruGreen, the nation's leading lawn care treatment provider, is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Minor League Baseball that includes activations across all 120 clubs, a makeover of the home dugout in each market, sponsorship of select MiLB team grounds crews, and a new initiative called
Podcast explains why the Syracuse Mets are looking for Jim Morrison
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Dash im-prom-tu promo and Mets' Suero joins the podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minor League Baseball partners with Circle K
Minor League Baseball announced a new national partnership with Circle K, which will see the convenience store giant become the “Official Convenience Store of Minor League Baseball.” During the 2025 season, the Circle K brand will be integrated into the MiLB in-stadium experience through in-game video board assets at most
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's