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JJ Wetherholt, SS, Cardinals: It’s hard to poke holes in Wetherholt’s first full pro season. The No. 7 overall pick in last year’s draft has showcased elite bat-to-ball skills, a disciplined approach and steady defense at shortstop. Now, the power is coming. Wetherholt homered twice on Wednesday for Triple-A Memphis, including a leadoff shot for the second straight game. Nearly half of his home runs this season have come in the past three weeks, including two for Double-A Springfield on July 6 prior to his promotion. He’s now hitting .310/.429/.524 with 14 steals across both levels.

Luis Peña, SS, Brewers: The Carolina Mudcats have been one of the must-watch teams in the minors all season. Fittingly, their final year is being headlined by the emergence of a potential star. Peña, the Brewers’ 18-year-old infielder, logged his seventh three-hit game of the season on Wednesday, going 3-for-5 with a triple, two runs, and an RBI. Peña is now slashing .321/.385/.496, showing a major leap in impact in 2025. He’s one of the top hitting prospects in baseball.

Jonathon Long, 1B, Cubs: The Iowa Cubs have been one of the most talented teams in the minors over the past two seasons. As the trade deadline nears, they’ve drawn plenty of attention. While top prospects like Owen Caissie and Kevin Alcantara have dominated trade speculation, one under-the-radar name to watch is first baseman Jonathon Long. After a breakout 2024, Long has continued to produce in Triple-A this season and is likely an attractive option to sellers. On Wednesday, he reached base three times and launched a three-run homer in the seventh to blow the game open. It was his 15th home run of the year, and he’s now slashing .315/.399/.507 over 92 games. Blocked at the major league level, Long could be a valuable trade chip in the coming days.

Ryan Clifford, 1B/OF, Mets: While Clifford is hitting just .235 this season with Double-A Binghamton, he’s been a productive player at the plate with a .827 OPS. On Wednesday night, Clifford showed off his plus game power, slugging a pair of homers as a part of a 3-for-4 night. Clifford reached base four times and drove in three runs, sparking the Rumble Ponies offense. Clifford has a quintessential three-true-outcome profile, with lots of whiffs, walks and extra-base hits. He could debut at some point in early 2026.

Davian Garcia, RHP, Nationals: Garcia has been a breakout story for the Nationals this season. After 15 appearances with Low-A Fredericksburg, the 21-year-old righthander was promoted to High-A Wilmington on Wednesday and impressed immediately. In his debut, Garcia struck out five over five efficient innings, allowing just one run on three hits without issuing a walk. He needed only 66 pitches to complete the outing, showcasing the command and efficiency he’ll need to succeed with his average raw stuff.

Kyle Debarge, SS, Twins: DeBarge slumped hard in June, but has started to turn it around at the plate in July. He played hero on Wednesday, going 3-for-5 with a walk-off two-run single in the bottom of the ninth. DeBarge drove in four runs, as he accounted for most of Cedar Rapids offense on the day. DeBarge has a well-rounded skillset, but his hit tool drives his profile. His ability to add impact in the coming years will be the deciding factor on his long-term role.

Editor’s Picks

Draft Stunner: Pirates second-rounder Angel Cervantes signaled his intention to go to college and forgo pro ball last night. Read more…

Can UCLA Win Big? Hours before Cervantes’ decision, we wrote about how UCLA is betting on homegrown talent despite most of the sport shifting toward the transfer portal. Read more…

Wild Nick Kurtz Numbers: The A’s first baseman is having a more remarkable rookie season than you may think. Read more…

Baseball America Helium Pick Of The Day

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

Garrett Baumann, RHP, Braves: Baumann may be one of the more overlooked names in the Braves’ system, but he’s quietly been a steady performer over the past two seasons. On Wednesday, the 6-foot-8 righthander delivered a gem for High-A Rome, throwing seven scoreless innings with six strikeouts, four hits allowed, and no walks. Baumann features a mid-90s fastball, an average or better slider, and above-average command. If his secondary pitches continue to develop, he has the potential to take a significant step forward.

Quick Hits

Prospect news and notes from around baseball…

• Roki Sasaki could face live hitters as early as next week.

• The oft-injured Chase DeLauter underwent wrist surgery and is expected to miss 6-8 weeks.

• Orioles outfield prospect Dylan Beavers had a two-homer game for Triple-A Norfolk yesterday.

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