MLB Prospects: The Hottest Hitters from Every Minor League Level

As we’re now nearly 20 games into the minor league baseball season, there are tons of notable players who are on fire at various minor league levels. While some teams are merely waiting for the right time to call up their big-league-ready prospect, others are waiting for a positional opening by way of injury or poor performance. However, most of the names on this list are still years away from contributing in the major leagues.

Earlier today, I identified seven hitters tearing up Triple-A—either in the Independent or Pacific Coast League—who could strengthen their respective team in the immediate future.

Now, I'd like to shed some light on the Minor League's more impressive hitters at Double-A, Advanced Class-A and Class-A.

Double-A

Jared Goedert, 3B, Cleveland Indians

49 AB, .429/.525/.592, 6 XBH, 4 RBI, 10 K/7 BB

Goedert's still blocked by Lonnie Chisenhall, who’s raking at Triple-A and is also blocked by Jack Hannahan in Cleveland.

Aaron Hicks, OF, Minnesota Twins

58 AB, .276/.362/.534, 8 XBH, 10 RBI, 15 K/9 BB

A sub-par 2011 hurt Hicks’ stock, but he seems to be back on track.

Matt Davidson, 3B, Arizona Diamondbacks

66 AB, .379/.481/.621, 10 XBH, 11 RBI, 13 K/12 BB

Exactly why it’s difficult to predict how a hitter will fare coming out of California League. Everything that Davidson has done thus far is encouraging, as the 2009 first-rounder seems to be figuring things out.

Nolan Arenado, 3B, Colorado Rockies

60 AB, .350/.435/.517, 8 XBH, 10 RBI, 9 K/6 BB

Arenado continues to mash and make a case for an earlier-than-anticipated big-league debut.

Jared Mitchell, OF, Chicago White Sox

63 AB, .302/.421/.524, 8 HR, 16 RBI, 20 K/12 BB, 3-for-4 SB

The former Louisiana State standout is finally turning things around in his third full (non-injured) minor-league season.

Class-A Advanced

Steven Proscia, 3B, Seattle Mariners

57 AB, .368/.419/.719, 10 XBH, 12 RBI, 12 K/5 BB

Proscia is the first minor leaguer to have a three-homer game this season.

Billy Hamilton, SS, Cincinnati Reds

64 AB, .375/.467/.609, 10 XBH, 8 RBI, 16-for-20 SB, 14 K/10 BB

Performing at Double-A better than anyone expected; raw athleticism finally translating into baseball skills. Making an early bid for Minor League Player of the Year.

Jack Marder, C, Seattle Mariners

69 AB, .386/.449/.571, 27 H, 9 XBH, 14 RBI, 9 K/6 BB, 8-for-11 SB

An impressive start to the season for Marder, who’s also thrown out 3-of-5 base-runners.

Evan Gattis, C, Philadelphia Phillies

51 AB, .431/.500/.863, 10 XBH, 21 RBI, 7 K/5 BB

After traveling the country for a few years in his car, Gattis, 25, is destroying Carolina League pitching, as he leads the league in home runs (six), RBI (21), and OPS (1.363).

Xander Bogaerts, SS, Boston Red Sox

53 AB, .302/.373/.509, 8 XBH, 5 RBI, 12 K/5 BB

In his age-19 season, the Red Sox No. 1 prospect is producing well beyond his years to begin the 2012 season.

Christian Yelich, OF, Miami Marlins

24 AB, .500/.613/1.000, 6 XBH, 5 RBI, 5 K/7 BB

After an elbow injury prevented him from playing in the opening week, Yelich has been making up for lost time. Prospect Pipeline's No. 30 prospect has turned in a multi-hit effort in five of his first seven games.

Class-A

Miguel Sano, 3B, Minnesota Twins

58 AB, .310/.444/.707, 10 XBH, 18 RBI, 20 K/13 BB

Baseball’s second best power prospect is leading the Midwest League in home runs (six), RBI (18), total bases (41), walks (13) and OPS (1.151).

Eddie Rosario, 2B, Minnesota Twins

59 AB, .322/.437/.458, 6 XBH, 13 RBI, 10 K/12 BB, 6-for-9 SB

Rosario—who is thriving after a move to second base—and Sano are proving to be the best offensive duo in Midwest League.

Jorge Bonifacio, OF, Kansas City Royals

64 AB, .359/.461/.484, 6 XBH, 7 RBI, 11 K/11 BB, 3 SB

He’s only 18 years old and has proven to be one of the level’s more advanced hitters in the nascent season.

Tyler Austin, OF, New York Yankees

56 AB, .393/.433/.857, 14 XBH, 12 RBI, 11 K/4 BB

Yankees outfielder has hit safely in his last 10 games, posting a 1.407 OPS with 11 extra-base hits in that span.

Alen Hanson, 2B, Pittsburgh Pirates

74 AB, .405/.443/.757, 19 R, 15 XBH, 10 RBI, 56 TB, 17 K/5 BB. 5-for-7 SB

Second baseman is leading the South Atlantic League in hits (30), extra-base hits (15) and total bases (56).

Matthew Skole, 3B, Washington Nationals

54 AB, .370/.463/.630, 8 XBH, 22 RBI, 16 K/11 BB

The team's fifth-round draft pick in 2011 out of Georgia Tech, Skole has homered in each of his last two contests.

Trevor Story, SS, Colorado Rockies

55 AB, .309/.400/.618, 8 XBH, 8 RBI, 12 K/7 BB

One of my preseason breakout candidates, Story has turned in five multi-hit efforts in his last 10 games.