Rainiel Rodriguez, C, Cardinals: At just 19 years old, Rodriguez is the youngest player in the Midwest League. But his age has done little to slow his impact at the plate. The Cardinals' No. 3 prospect continues to show an advanced offensive profile well beyond his years, combining bat speed, strength and a growing feel for pitch recognition. That was on full display Thursday night for High-A Peoria, as Rodriguez smashed his second home run of the season while also drawing three walks. Through six games, Rodriguez is slashing .273/.407/.545, and he now has as many walks as strikeouts.

Caleb Bonemer, SS, White Sox: Bonemer launched his first home run of the season in emphatic fashion on Thursday, pulling a pitch up and away for a towering fly ball over the left-center field fence to drive in three and put an exclamation point on a strong night at the plate for the White Sox’s No. 2 prospect. He finished 2-for-4 with the homer, a double and four RBIs, providing the bulk of the offensive production in High-A Winston-Salem's win. The homer showcased the 20-year-old's power potential, while his overall line reflected a productive, controlled approach. Bonemer has flown up rankings, climbing all the way to No. 25 in Baseball America's Top 100 Prospects list to begin 2026. If he keeps it up, he could be one of the top prospects in the game by the end of the season.

Kendry Chourio, RHP, Royals: After inking him to an international free agent deal out of Venezuela, the Royals were notably aggressive with Kendry Chourio last year, fast-tracking his development by promoting him from the Dominican Summer League all the way to Low-A Columbia. That assignment placed him among far more advanced competition, showing how highly the organization views his long-term upside. Despite the significant jump in level, the 18-year-old showed flashes of why he’s considered such an intriguing arm. On Thursday, Chourio flashed again against older competition, racking up six strikeouts over 4.2 scoreless, no-hit innings against Myrtle Beach. He didn't walk a batter and threw 59 pitches (38 strikes).

Jesús Made, SS, Brewers: Made delivered one of the most impactful performances in the minors on Thursday for Double-A Biloxi, going 3-for-6 with two triples and four RBIs. The extra-base output showed his ability to drive the ball into the gaps and his speed once on the bases, as he consistently turned solid contact into run-producing opportunities. He showed a balanced approach and handled pitching with confidence, continuing to make a strong impression against upper-level competition. Made, Baseball America's No. 4 overall prospect, is now slashing .370/.452/.630 with a homer, three steals and almost as many walks as strikeouts.

Editor’s Picks

Baseball America Helium Pick Of The Day

Each day, we’ll pick a prospect that has our attention.

Daniel Pierce, SS, Rays: What’s better than hitting your first professional home run? Hitting your second right after. Rays 2025 first-rounder Daniel Pierce did exactly that on Thursday, making a strong "welcome to pro ball" statement for Low-A Charleston by smashing his first career homer and then circling back a few innings later to do it again. The 19-year-old shortstop looked comfortable and in-rhythm at the plate, getting pitches to handle and putting good swings on them. Pierce, who went 14th overall to Tampa Bay last summer, ranks eighth in the system and has gotten hits in each of his last three games after beginning his Rays career 0-for-6.

Quick Hits

Prospect news and notes from around baseball…

• Top D-backs prospect Ryan Waldschmidt used the PCL as a personal launching pad Thursday, going 4-for-5 with his first homer of the season and a triple.

• Padres 2024 fifth-rounder Kale Fountain went 4-for-5 with a homer for Low-A Lake Elsinore. Fountain made Geoff Pontes’ preseason breakout team.

• Brewers first baseman Blake Burke continues to perform. The 34th pick in the 2024 draft, Burke hit two more homers yesterday for Double-A Biloxi and now has six through nine games.

• Red Sox RHP Juan Valera fired five scoreless innings for High-A Greenville with nine strikeouts, the most of any Top 30 Prospect yesterday.

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