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Luis Peña, SS, Brewers: While Jesus Made rightfully received most of the headlines, Peña is another standout prospect. On Wednesday night, Peña tallied his second consecutive multi-hit game and his first three-hit game of the 2025 season. The Brewers' No. 9 prospect filled up the stat sheet, as he tallied three singles, a walk, a stolen base and two RBIs. At 18 years old, Peña is one of the youngest players at a full-season level to begin the season. His stock could explode in 2025 with more strong performances like this one.

Braxton Ashcraft, RHP, Pirates: Often the forgotten man in a Pirates system packed to the brim with pitching talent, Ashcraft left everyone a reminder on Wednesday. Ashcraft tossed five innings, allowing one run on three hits, no walks and six strikeouts. Ashcraft navigated around around a bumpy first inning before retiring the next 12 batters he faced. He sat 95-97 mph on the night mixing a riding four-seam fastball, sinker, low-90s slider, low-to-mid-80s curveball and changeup. Braxton most frequently used his slider and it was his primary swing-and-miss weapon, accounting for nine of his 11 swinging strikes. Ashcraft has a 40-man spot and could get an opportunity in the Pirates rotation before top prospect Bubba Chandler.

Boston Baro, SS, Mets: The Mets landed Baro for $700,000 in the eighth round of the 2023 draft and he earned rave reviews from scouts this spring. On Wednesday, Baro went 2-for-4 with a home run, a walk and two RBIs. The shortstop drove in both of Brooklyn’s runs in a 7-2 loss to Hudson Valley. Baro was solid during his full-season debut in 2024 and looks like he may have taken another step forward in 2025.

Agustin Ramirez, C, Marlins: When the Marlins acquired Ramirez from the Yankees at last July’s trade deadline, he was considered one of the best hitting catchers in the minors. After competing for a job this spring, Ramirez returned to Triple-A Jacksonville. He connected for his first home run of 2025 on Wednesday as he went 2-for-4 in a Jumbo Shrimp win. Ramirez shows strong bat-to-ball skills and power at the point of contact. His biggest question mark is his ability to catch long term.

C.J. Kayfus, 1B, Guardians: The 2024 season was a breakout campaign for Kayfus. It doesn’t look like he’s slowing down in 2025. Over the first five games of the season, Kayfus is 11-for-21 with 18 total bases and three walks to four strikeouts. On Wednesday, Kayfus connected for his first home run of the season as a part of a 4-for-5 effort. He finished a triple away from the cycle as he drove in three runs and scored another three. Kayfus lacks the high-end power upside of other first base prospects, but he shows advanced plate skills and good angles on his hardest contact.

Josue Briceño, C/1B, Tigers: After an MVP effort in the Arizona Fall League, Briceño significantly raised his profile entering 2025. So far, it’s been a slow start to the season, but Briceño broke out on Wednesday night with a grand slam for his first home run of the season. He came up with the bases loaded in the fourth inning and connected for a the grand slam to left field in an 0-2 count. Briceño has big power, a good balance of plate skills and he’s one of the best bat-only prospects in the minors. However, it’s a difficult profile to make work long term.

Andrew Salas, OF, Marlins: The two hits that Salas tallied on Wednesday only traveled a combined 31 feet, but they counted all the same for the first multi-hit game of his career. Salas signed for $3.7 million in January out of Venezuela. Salas is the younger brother of Padres catcher Ethan Salas and the Twins infielder Jose Salas and is showing a similar path to Ethan in skipping the complex levels entirely. The Marlins showed supreme confidence in Salas by assigning him to Low-A with no pro experience less than a month after his 17th birthday. He's one of the more fascinating players to follow in the minor leagues this season.

Editor’s Picks

A Hidden Gem: With unique fastball traits and big upside, Rangers RHP Caden Scarborough is quickly putting himself on the map. Read more…

10 Prospects Who Caught Our Attention: Matt Eddy identifies standouts from our spring training and early April organization reports. Read more…

Baseball America Helium Pick Of The Day

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

Christian Oppor, LHP, White Sox: The early part of the season is a great time to hone in on potential breakout prospects. After Wednesday night's 10-strikeout performance, White Sox LHP Christian Oppor could be a name with some buzz. The lefthander sat 94-97 mph touching 98 mph over the early portion of the start, mixing a sweeping slider and a changeup. Oppor allowed three walks while holding Lynchburg hitless over 4.2 innings, keeping the Hillcats off balance all night long. Oppor racked up 15 swinging strikes over 80 pitches, showing true swing-and-miss stuff. A lefthander with this type of velocity and bat-missing stuff is worth keeping an eye on.

Quick Hits

Prospect news and notes from around baseball…

• Walker Jenkins is back on the injured list with an ankle sprain

• Brewers SS Jesus Made is also dealing with an ankle injury

• Yankees RHP Ben Hess struck out nine batters over 4.2 scoreless innings in his professional debut at High-A yesterday

• Druw Jones had a 4-for-6 day with High-A Hillsboro

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