MLB Prospects: Hottest Hitting Prospects at Every Minor League Level

With the second half of the 2012 minor league season underway and numerous top prospects from each organization gradually receiving promotions, it’s time to once again take a look at the hottest hitters from each minor league level.

Considering that last Friday’s signing deadline for draft picks has come and gone, I decided to include those prospects playing in Class-A Short Season and Rookie-level affiliates.

So, here are some of the hottest hitters at every minor league level with an emphasis on those who ranked with Prospect Pipeline’s Midseason Top 50 Update.

Triple-A

Wil Myers, OF, Kansas City Royals

.310/.397/.626, 30 XBH (15 HR), 46 RBI, 51 K/28 BB (54 G)

Has nothing left to prove in the minor leagues; just a matter of when he'll be called up.

Adeiny Hechavarria, SS, Toronto Blue Jays

.317/.365/.447, 31 XBH (6 HR), 60 RBI, 8 SB, 76 K/30 BB (87 G)

Will he or Yunel Escobar be trade bait at the deadline?

Starling Marte, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates

.288/.350/.504, 41 XBH (11 HR), 58 RBI, 19 SB (12 CS), 83 K/26 BB (90 G)

Still striking out too often, but he should receive a late-season call-up.

Adam Eaton, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks

.388/.463/.555, 95 R, 130 H, 42 XBH (33 2B), 27 SB, 44 K/35 BB (80 G)

Last 10 games: .475/.553/.750 with 19 hits and 10 runs scored

Jedd Gyorko, 2B/3B, San Diego Padres

.355/.398/.627, 32 XBH (15 HR), 54 RBI, 34 K/18 BB (54 G)

Continues to crush the ball since promotion to Triple-A earlier this season.

Double-A

Nick Castellanos, 3B/RF, Detroit Tigers

.302/.320/.496, 14 XBH (6 HR), 18 RBI, 33 K/5 BB

Has spent the last week playing right field at Double-A; chance to reach the majors this season?

Jon Schoop, INF, Baltimore Orioles

.252/.308/.412, 28 XBH (12 HR), 39 RBI, 71 K/22 BB (82 G)

Has seven extra-base hits, including five home runs, and 10 RBI in last 10 games.

Alfredo Marte, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks

.305/.382/.598, 38 XBH (17 HR), 58 RBI, 47 K/23 BB (73 G)

Crushing the ball over his last 10 games: .412/.500/.824 with four home runs and 12 RBI.

Gary Brown, OF, San Francisco Giants

.292/.357/.401, 30 XBH (23 2B), 27 SB (14 CS), 55 K/26 BB (95 G)

After horrible first half, he’s batting .429/.452/.671 with 13 XBH in July

Jake Marisnick, OF, Toronto Blue Jays

.277/.320/.426, 5 XBH, 11 K/1 BB

Starting to adjust to Double-A; four straight multi-hit games

High-A

Domingo Santana, OF, Houston Astros

.308/.381/.546, 37 XBH (14 HR), 71 RBI, 93 K/34 BB (75 G)

Exceeding expectations in his first season at High-A.

George Springer, OF, Houston Astros

.329/.408/.569, 42 XBH (18 HR), 68 RBI, 20 SB, 101 K/46 BB (87 G)

Two home runs away from a 20/20 season; can he go 30/30?

Kaleb Cowart, 3B, Los Angeles Angels

.303/.434/.528, 13 XBH, 19 RBI, 22 K/21 BB (25 G)

Stong season has shot him to the top of the Angels’ prospect rankings.

Brad Miller, INF, Seattle Mariners

.342/.416/.536, 49 XBH (11 HR), 18 SB, 76 K/51 BB (93 G)

Lots of offensive upside; limited defensive value.

Low-A

Delino DeShields, 2B, Houston Astros

.293/.399/.428, 29 XBH (8 HR), 66 SB, 86 K/58 BB (90 G)

Second crack at Low-A has been excellent; plate discipline continues to improve

Brian Goodwin, OF, Washington Nationals

.324/.438/.542, 28 XBH (9 HR), 38 RBI, 15 SB, 39 K/43 BB (58 G)

Having an outstanding professional debut, needs a promotion.

Luigi Rodriguez, OF, Cleveland Indians

.282/.350/.424, 27 XBH (8 HR), 39 RBI, 17 SB, 93 K/36 BB

Plate discipline still needs to improve, but consistently flashes all five tools.

Javier Baez, SS, Chicago Cubs

.331/.394/.581, 17 XBH (8 HR), 16 SB, 33 K/7 BB (41 G)

Could go 20/20 in his first professional season.

Alen Hanson, SS, Pittsburgh Pirates

.326/.389/.571, 51 XBH (15 HR), 49 RBI, 23 SB (16 CS), 81 K/38 BB (91 G)

Arguably the top breakout prospect in the low minors this season.

Class-A Short Season

Nolan Fontana, MIF, Houston Astros

.368/.556/.500, 3 XBH, 8 RBI, 4 SB, 8 K/16 BB (11 G)

On-base machine has hit in five straight and could move quickly.

Mike Zunino, C, Seattle Mariners

.467/.500/1.133, 3 HR, 3 K/1 BB (4 G)

Has seven hits in first four games, including three home runs; had multi-homer game on Tuesday.

Christopher Taylor, SS, Seattle Mariners

.310/.423/.466, 13 XBH (10 2B), 17 RBI, 10 SB, 16 K/20 BB (32 G)

Former Virginia shortstop wasted no time signing and is making an impact for Everett.

Rookie

Joey Gallo, 3B, Texas Rangers

.343/.516/.910, 17 XBH (10 HR), 21 RBI, 19 K/24 BB (21 G)

Absolutely crushing the ball so far; strikeouts are tolerable as long as he’s drawing walks.

Dan Vogelbach, 1B, Chicago Cubs

.360/.423/.779, 20 XBH, 30 RBI, 12 K/10 BB (20 G)

Twenty of the slugger’s 30 hits have been for extra bases.

Addison Russell, SS, Oakland Athletics

.443/.553/.639, 7 XBH, 16 RBI, 8 SB, 12 K/14 BB (16 G)

Continues to hit everything in sight; 21 hits in last 10 games.

David Dahl, OF, Colorado Rockies

.330/.394/.536, 13 XBH (8 2B), 17 RBI, 7 SB, 13 K/10 BB

Not a ton of power, but shoots the gaps with consistency.

Kenny Diekroeger, 2B, Kansas City Royals

.288/.321/.550, 9 XBH (6 HR), 16 RBI, 15 K/3 BB (19 G)

Free from the Stanford style of hitting, Diekroeger’s shown unexpected and impressive power.