MLB Prospects: The Most Impressive Hitters from Every Minor League Level

As we’re now over 20 games into the minor league baseball season, there are tons of notable players who continue to produce across 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.

Here is a look at the minor leagues' more impressive hitters at Triple-A, Double-A, Class-A Advanced and Class-A.

Triple-A

Josh Phegley, C, Chicago White Sox

72 AB, .389/.413/.542, 8 XBH, 39 TB, 7 K/3 BB

The 2009 first-rounder has steadily improved every season, showing advanced plate discipline.

Will Middlebrooks, 3B, Boston Red Sox

89 AB, .348/.396/.708, 13 XBH, 27 RBI, 63 TB, 18 K/7 BB

He’ll clearly keep hitting, but that doesn’t mean the Red Sox will make room for him.

Alex Castellanos, 3B, Los Angeles Dodgers

71 AB, .366/.477/.746, 15 XBH, 7 SB, 17 K/12 BB

A versatile ballplayer, he may be the Dodgers’ utility man—with occasional starts—by the All-Star break.

Michael Taylor, OF, Oakland Athletics

86 AB, .360/.387/.558, 13 XBH, 18 RBI, 5 SB, 11 K/4 BB

Has 15 hits in last 10 games but is in the wrong organization to be a big-league-ready outfielder.

Travis d’Arnaud, C, Toronto Blue Jays

80 AB, .263/.341/.413, 8 XBH, 11 RBI, 16 K/8 BB

After an incredibly slow start, d’Arnaud’s bat has come alive, as he’s now riding a nine-game hitting streak.

Double-A

Jared Mitchell, OF, Chicago White Sox

82 AB, .341/.471/.561, 11 XBH, 20 RBI, 6 SB, 21 K/19 BB

One of the great stories in the minors this season, Mitchell is leading the league with a 1.032 OPS.

Matt Davidson, 3B, Arizona Diamondbacks

91 AB, .330/.450/.549, 12 XBH, 13 RBI, 21 K/18 BB

Davidson continues to show a refined approach at the plate in his first season at Double-A.

Wil Myers, OF, Kansas City Royals

79 AB, .354/.414/.684, 14 XBH, 24 K/7 BB

Myers' power is back and perhaps better than ever; don’t be overly concerned with his strikeout rate.

Oscar Taveras, OF, St. Louis Cardinals

91 AB, .330/.358/.659, 16 XBH, 13 K/3 BB

He’s not going to draw many walks, but Taveras is a pure hitter and is proving it at Double-A.

Jonathan Singleton, 1B, Houston Astros

80 AB, .350/.435/.600, 12 XBH, 16 K/12 BB

Singleton is putting together a promising rebound season, including a recent extra-base-hit binge.

Nathan Freiman, 1B, San Diego Padres

88 AB, .318/.375/.716, 15 XBH, 20 RBI, 15 K/4 BB

The 6’7” slugger is leading the Texas League in home runs (10), total bases (63) and slugging percentage (.716).

High-A

Billy Hamilton, SS, Cincinnati Reds

88 AB, .398/.481/.591, 24 R, 11 XBH, 29 SB, 18 K/14 BB

Turning in a spectacular season and is on base to easily surpass his 103 stolen bases from 2011. Emerging as one of the top prospects in baseball.

Evan Gattis, C, Atlanta Braves

78 AB, .385/.468/.821, 16 XBH, 29 RBI, 12 K/10 BB

Gattis' production garnered a well-deserved promotion to Double-A. I'm a believer in his bat.

Tommy La Stella, 2B, Atlanta Braves

58 AB, .362/.480/.603, 9 XBH, 20 RBI, 6 SB, 2 K/11 BB

The left-handed hitter is off a hot start after batting .328/.401/.543 at Low-A last season. Potential top-of-the-order bat.

Jackie Bradley Jr., OF, Boston Red Sox

73 AB, .370/.479/.493, 8 XBH, 16 RBI, 8 SB, 13 K/17 BB

Has little power but is surprising with his hit tool and base-stealing ability.

Nick Castellanos, 3B, Detroit Tigers

83 AB, .398/.435/.554, 10 XBH, 14 RBI, 17 K/6 BB

Basically the exact opposite start of his 2011 season.

Christian Yelich, OF, Miami Marlins

54 AB, .296/.387/.519, 6 XBH, 6 SB, 11 K/8 BB

One of my favorite prospects, Yelich has one of the more promising hit tools in the minor leagues.

Jake Marisnick, OF, Toronto Blue Jays

91 AB, .286/.377/.516, 16 R, 13 XBH, 13 RBI, 5 SB, 15 K/9 BB

Has picked up the pace after a slow start as his power rounds into form.

Class-A

Jorge Bonifacio, OF, Kansas City Royals

90 AB, .356/.431/.489, 9 XBH, 10 RBI, 3 SB, 16 K/11 BB

Younger brother of Emilio, Jorge is showing arguably the best discipline in the league—and he’s only 18.

Luigi Rodriguez, OF, Cleveland Indians

83 AB, .349/.402/.542, 9 XBH, 13 RBI, 7 SB, 19 K/8 BB

Flashing impressive combination of power and speed. In his last 10 games, Rodriguez has four three-hit games.

Jace Peterson, SS, San Diego Padres

87 AB, .310/.406/.460, 19 R, 9 XBH, 10 SB, 19 K/14 BB

A left-handed-hitting shortstop with plus speed would be a welcome addition to the Padres’ current lineup.

Tyler Austin, OF, New York Yankees

81 AB, .358/.384/.877, 20 XBH, 24 RBI, 71 TB, 18 K/4 BB

Leading the Sally with nine home runs, 71 total bases and an .877 slugging percentage.

Alen Hanson, SS-2B, Pittsburgh Pirates

100 AB, .400/.434/.700, 18 XBH, 70 TB, 8 SB, 22 K/6 BB

A switch-hitter, his hit tool is impressive from both sides as his power continues to develop.

Matthew Skole, 3B, Washington Nationals

74 AB, .324/.449/.554, 9 XBH, 30 RBI, 22 K/20 BB

Not hitting for a lot of power as one hopes for in a third baseman, but there’s a lot to like in the left-handed-hitting Skole, who leads the Sally with 30 RBI in 21 games.

Trevor Story, SS, Colorado Rockies

73 AB, .288/.411/.589, 10 XBH, 15 RBI, 17 K/14 BB

One of my preseason sleeper prospects, Story drives the ball to outfields and employs a mature approach at the plate.