The 2026 MiLB season is in full swing, and many prospects continue to shine. This edition of the Prospect Parade highlights 20 of the hottest MLB prospects through the week of August 17: 10 hitters who can’t stop mashing and 10 arms carving up the minors.
How the Prospect Parade works
The Prospect Parade is a recurring series where I highlight the hottest MLB prospects. It’s a snapshot of who’s forcing my attention right now and the traits they are exhibiting that could indicate the best is yet to come. Every player gets an embedded TJStats card with season-long metrics, a rolling 14-day window covering the current heater, and my take on what’s actually driving the surge.
Hitters
Ryan Cesarini
OF, Age: 23, B/T: L/R, 5' 10"/211 lbs
DOB: 2002-12-16, Scranton, USA
Drafted: 2024, Rd. 14, Pick: 10
School: Saint Joseph's
2026 Season Stats
Levels: A+, AA
GP PA tjBat+ OPS ISO HR SB K% BB% Whiff% Swing% Air% 55 232 146 0.967 0.283 15 13 18.5% 10.3% 26.2% 44.5% 59.4% Last 14 Days: .459/.535/1.135/1.670 (17-for-37), 44 PA, 11 XBH, 7 HR, 6 BB, 3 SO, 3 SB
Ryan Cesarini earned a promotion to AA following the All-Star break and has not slowed down one bit. Over the last two weeks he has hit 11 XBH, including 7 HR, while walking more than he is striking out. This has yielded an incredible 1.670 OPS during this timeframe and has improved his season mark to .967 OPS. His fantastic results are supported by above-average power metrics (106.5 mph EV90, 43.3 HardHit%), solid contact rates, and a patient approach.
Cesarini has looked like an absolute steal this season after the Guardians drafted him in the 14th round of the 2024 draft. If he can maintain strong production in AA, he will rapidly rise up Cleveland’s prospect rankings.
Beau Ankeney
1B, Age: 23, B/T: R/R, 6' 4"/235 lbs
DOB: 2003-04-02, Phoenix, USA
Drafted: 2025, Rd. 14, Pick: 24
School: Loyola Marymount University
2026 Season Stats
Levels: A, A+
GP PA tjBat+ OPS ISO HR SB K% BB% Whiff% Swing% Air% 98 430 134 0.910 0.248 22 4 27.2% 9.3% 29.8% 49.6% 63.6% Last 14 Days: .459/.535/1.081/1.616 (17-for-37), 43 PA, 9 XBH, 7 HR, 6 BB, 8 SO, 0 SB
Beau Ankeney has flown under-the-radar this season in the Tigers sytem. On the year, he has posted a .910 OPS while launching 22 HR. It is important to know that he has spent most of his time in Lo-A this season, but he has been utterly dominant following his promotion. In just 15 games at the level, Ankeney has smacked 7 HR and has posted a 1.616 OPS. This power surge is fuelled by a 107.6 mph EV90 and a 114.4 mph Max EV.
Ankeney’s age and poor strikeout rates make evaluators skeptical about his breakout this season. While there is some notable risk in his profile, he has made himself a name to watch in the Tigers system.
Avery Owusu-Asiedu
CF, Age: 23, B/T: R/R, 6' 4"/245 lbs
DOB: 2003-06-16, Saskatoon, Canada
Drafted: 2023, Rd. 9, Pick: 29
School: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
2026 Season Stats
Levels: A+, AA
GP PA tjBat+ OPS ISO HR SB K% BB% Whiff% Swing% Air% 98 387 91 0.745 0.209 18 22 25.1% 11.1% 28.7% 46.4% 67.3% Last 14 Days: .436/.500/1.051/1.551 (17-for-39), 48 PA, 10 XBH, 7 HR, 7 BB, 6 SO, 3 SB
Avery Owusu-Asiedu carried his impressive final week in Hi-A seamlessly into his AA debut. Over the last two weeks, he has posted a 1.551 OPS while smacking 7 of his 18 HR this season. This stretch has helped drag his season line closer to league average. His raw power grades out as slightly above-average which, combined with his solid speed, has him pacing for a 20-20 season.
Hopefully Owusu-Asiedu’s hot start to AA can spark a strong end to an otherwise underwhelming season for the 23-year-old outfielder.
Ralphy Velazquez
1B, Age: 21, B/T: L/R, 6' 1"/240 lbs
DOB: 2005-05-28, San Pedro, USA
Drafted: 2023, Rd. 1, Pick: 23
School: Huntington Beach HS
2026 Season Stats
Levels: AA, AAA
GP PA tjBat+ OPS ISO HR SB K% BB% Whiff% Swing% Air% 99 442 133 0.894 0.237 21 2 20.1% 10.9% 30.6% 50.2% 63.6% Last 14 Days: .389/.476/.972/1.448 (14-for-36), 42 PA, 7 XBH, 7 HR, 5 BB, 7 SO, 1 SB
Ralphy Velazquez has found his footing in AAA after a slower than typical start. He has smacked 7 HR over the last two weeks to improve his season OPS to .894. His blend of power and contact made for his age made him a quick riser in my prospect rankings last season and he continues to produce at a steady rate against the strongest competition he has faced in his pro career.
Velazquez is on the cusp of his MLB debut and could be a pivotal bat in the Guardians quest for another playoff berth.
Welbyn Francisca
SS, Age: 20, B/T: S/R, 5' 8"/148 lbs
DOB: 2006-05-17, La Romana, Dominican Republic
2026 Season Stats
Levels: A+, ROK
GP PA tjBat+ OPS ISO HR SB K% BB% Whiff% Swing% Air% 58 249 138 0.941 0.273 15 11 21.7% 14.1% 29.2% 47.7% 59.5% Last 14 Days: .439/.500/.976/1.476 (18-for-41), 46 PA, 12 XBH, 5 HR, 5 BB, 9 SO, 0 SB
Welbyn Francisca missed the start of the 2026 season with a shoulder issue, but you could not have guessed that with how great he has looked since he returned at the start of June. He has hit 15 HR is posting a .941 OPS as a 20-year-old in Hi-A while flashing a balanced blend of power, contact, and patience. Francisca’s smaller frame may limit his power potential, but he is showing promising exit velocities given his age.
Francisca is performing very well against more advanced pitchers and looks like he can be another quick mover in the Guardians sytem.
Dylan Dreiling
OF, Age: 23, B/T: L/L, 5' 10"/197 lbs
DOB: 2003-04-17, Hays, USA
Drafted: 2024, Rd. 2, Pick: 26
School: Tennessee
2026 Season Stats
Levels: AA
GP PA tjBat+ OPS ISO HR SB K% BB% Whiff% Swing% Air% 96 440 128 0.910 0.229 21 11 22.0% 11.1% 19.8% 44.1% 55.8% Last 14 Days: .441/.500/.912/1.412 (15-for-34), 38 PA, 8 XBH, 4 HR, 4 BB, 6 SO, 1 SB
Dylan Dreiling has broken out in a big way this season after a pedestrian pro debut following his 2nd round selection in the 2024 MLB draft. Known more as a contact hitter, Dreiling has tapped into more power this season at the expense of a higher whiff rate. This trade-off has been worthwhile as he just eclipsed the 20 HR mark this past week and improved his season OPS to a .911 mark. Dreiling continues to run well-above average contact rates which he supplements with consistent power (44.4 HardHit%), although he lacks high-end thump.
Dreiling has found a productive balance between his strong bat-to-ball skills and more power to perform like one of the best bats in the Rangers system this season.
Lazaro Montes
OF, Age: 21, B/T: L/R, 6' 5"/210 lbs
DOB: 2004-10-22, Havana, Cuba
2026 Season Stats
Levels: AA, AAA
GP PA tjBat+ OPS ISO HR SB K% BB% Whiff% Swing% Air% 111 489 139 0.934 0.315 35 6 30.9% 14.1% 39.8% 48.2% 67.0% Last 14 Days: .347/.429/.837/1.265 (17-for-49), 56 PA, 10 XBH, 7 HR, 5 BB, 17 SO, 0 SB
Lazaro Montes has been a fixture in my Top 100 for well over a year now. His performance over the last two weeks perfectly encapsulates his upside and demonstrates why Montes is seen as one of the best power bats in MiLB. With 7 HR over the last 14 days, Montes improved his OPS to .934 on the year increased his HR total 35.
Montes swings one of the loudest bats in MiLB and has found in stride in AAA. He will need to clean up the swing-and-miss, but it would be difficult to find a player with more staggering power upside than Montes.
Charles Davalan
OF, Age: 22, B/T: L/R, 5' 9"/190 lbs
DOB: 2003-12-16, Waterloo, Canada
Drafted: 2025, Rd. CB-A, Pick: 6
School: Arkansas
2026 Season Stats
Levels: A+
GP PA tjBat+ OPS ISO HR SB K% BB% Whiff% Swing% Air% 98 456 146 0.938 0.258 21 16 10.5% 12.7% 17.2% 45.2% 61.9% Last 14 Days: .375/.490/.825/1.315 (15-for-40), 49 PA, 9 XBH, 4 HR, 6 BB, 4 SO, 0 SB
Charles Davalan has made me question how he fell to the Dodgers at pick 41 in the draft. The Canadian outfielder out of Arkansas was known for his plus hit tool and quick legs, with concerns about his power limiting his draft stock. He has quickly put those qualms to rest, launching 21 HR and posting a 105.0 mph EV90 — right around MLB average. Supporting those power gains are brilliant contact rates that give him a buoyant floor if the slug fades.
The Dodgers are never short on outfield prospect depth, and it looks like they have found another gem in Davalan.
Eduardo Quintero
OF, Age: 20, B/T: R/R, 6' 1"/175 lbs
DOB: 2005-09-16, Ocumare del Tuy, Venezuela
2026 Season Stats
Levels: A+
GP PA tjBat+ OPS ISO HR SB K% BB% Whiff% Swing% Air% 94 423 146 0.935 0.188 11 40 20.1% 17.5% 18.7% 33.9% 58.9% Last 14 Days: .469/.609/.781/1.390 (15-for-32), 46 PA, 6 XBH, 2 HR, 13 BB, 5 SO, 4 SB
I was too harsh on Eduardo Quintero at the start of the season. While his quality of contact metrics lagged behind his peers, his combination of raw power, contact skills, and plate discipline provide an ideal foundation to develop into a premier hitting prospect. His season has been on the upswing since the start of June, and his performance over the last two weeks was excellent. He has walked more than he has struck out and has hit 2 of his 11 HR on the season.
Quintero’s struggle to consistently translate his strength into game power is his biggest hurdle at the moment, and his recent slugging output demonstrates his tantalising upside.
Luis Fragoza
OF, Age: 19, B/T: R/R, 6' 1"/160 lbs
DOB: 2006-10-26, Valencia, Venezuela
2026 Season Stats
Levels: A, ROK
GP PA tjBat+ OPS ISO HR SB K% BB% Whiff% Swing% Air% 69 281 161 0.984 0.267 14 19 26.0% 8.5% 30.3% 46.7% 58.6% Last 14 Days: .478/.625/.957/1.582 (11-for-23), 33 PA, 5 XBH, 3 HR, 8 BB, 9 SO, 5 SB
Luis Fragoza has flown under my radar for far too long this season. The 19-year-old Twins outfielder has been unstoppable since his move to full-season ball back in May and he just wrapped up the best stretch of his young career. Over the last two weeks he is slashing .478/.625/.957 with 3 HR and 5 SB. This strong performance has improved his OPS to a remarkable .984 mark. He is slowly encroaching a 20-20 season and supplements his output with advanced power and a knack for lifting his hardest hit batted balls.
Fragoza was not seen as one of the most sought-after IFAs in the 2024 class, but he may end up being the Twins most cost-efficient acquisition.
Honourable Mentions
