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Kendry Chourio, RHP, Royals: In a surprising yet well-deserved move, the Royals are promoting Chourio to Low-A. The righthander, who turns 18 on Oct. 1, was dominant in the Dominican Summer League, posting a 2.04 ERA over 17.2 innings with 22 strikeouts. That performance earned him a promotion to the Arizona Complex League, where he continued to impress, allowing just three runs over 11 innings in three starts. Most notably, Chourio has issued only one walk all season while striking out 39.

Chourio’s arsenal is electric. He features a 95-98 mph fastball, a sharp 77-79 mph curveball and a fading 85-88 mph changeup. He certainly fits in Low-A on raw talent, but the speed of Chourio's ascent through short-season ball turns heads. At just 17 years old, he has already progressed from the DSL to the ACL and now to Low-A since signing for $247,500 in January. Now, he’ll face a deeper pool of advanced prospects. Such a rise suggests the Royals are quite bullish on his potential and trajectory.

Chase Burns, RHP, Reds: One thing is clear since Burns made his MLB debut: He's still missing plenty of bats. In his sixth outing for the Reds on Monday night at Great American Ball Park, the flame-throwing righthander racked up 10 strikeouts over 5.2 innings—marking his third straight start with double-digit punchouts. According to MLB.com, Burns joined Raisel Iglesias (2015) as just the second Reds pitcher in the last 125 years to accomplish that feat. Despite his electric stuff, Burns is still searching for his first big-league win. He holds a 6.26 ERA through six starts, with 45 strikeouts and 12 walks over 27.1 innings.

Carson Whisenhunt, LHP, Giants: Long regarded as having one of the best changeups in the minors, Whisenhunt finally got a chance to display it in the big leagues on Monday night when he made his MLB debut for the Giants against the Pirates at Oracle Park. Wearing No. 88, a number never before worn in franchise history, Whisenhunt turned in a five-inning performance, allowing four runs on five hits and two walks while striking out three, including Andrew McCutchen, Oneil Cruz and Henry Davis. He threw 85 pitches, 49 for strikes, and earned a no-decision.

Troy Melton, RHP, Tigers: Melton's second career start went a lot better than his first. In his home debut at Comerica Park on Monday, the 24-year-old righthander threw seven scoreless innings, allowing five hits and striking out five, exiting to a standing ovation. Melton features a 95–96 mph fastball with late life, generating swings and misses, along with an above-average slider and changeup, and a fringe cutter. He shows above-average control and a compact delivery, though he's still refining his command. Melton should get a chance to settle into a Tigers rotation that needs reinforcements--they added Chris Paddack in a trade on Monday--amid a playoff push with a couple of important arms on the shelf.

Colson Montgomery, SS, White Sox: Montgomery's extended struggles in Triple-A this season feel like a distant memory now. Since reaching the majors, the White Sox infielder has caught fire, and Monday night was his latest statement. Montgomery launched his fourth home run in six games—a two-run blast—and finished the night 2-for-4 with three RBIs. His bat has come alive in the big leagues, showcasing the power and poise that made him one of Chicago’s top prospects. To go with his quartet of homers, he's also slashing .273/.333/.515 with 16 RBIs and a .848 OPS.

Travis Sykora, RHP, Nationals: Sykora has a torn UCL and will undergo Tommy John surgery in August, the team announced Monday afternoon, an injury that will likely sideline him for most--if not all--of 2026 in addition to this season. Sykora, 21, was shut down earlier this month with triceps soreness. It's a devastating blow to the Nationals system considering Sykora was one of the most dominant pitchers in the minors this season when healthy. He pitched to a 1.79 ERA and a 46.7% strikeout rate as he worked his way back from offseason hip surgery, ultimately ending the year in Double-A. Sykora currently ranks No. 36 on Baseball America's Top 100 Prospects and has touched triple digits with his fastball when healthy.

Editor’s Picks

MLB Draft Values: Carlos Collazo examines which teams got the best and worst values in the 2025 draft based on BA 500 rankings. Read more…

Danny Jansen Trade: The Rays nabbed a Brewers infielder that we tabbed as a sleeper entering the season. Read more…

Baseball America Helium Pick Of The Day

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

Juan Sanchez, SS, Blue Jays: Sanchez, the helium pick in this week’s Hot Sheet, signed with Toronto in the international period that opened on Jan. 15, 2025. So far in his first pro season, he’s established himself as one of the biggest boppers in the Dominican Summer League. He’s already big and physical and sports a powerful, picturesque swing from the right side that’s allowed to bully baseballs early and often this summer. Seven of Sanchez’s 11 hits this past week went from extra-base hits, including a long home run in a night contest against one of Arizona’s two squads. This Blue Jay is flying high.

Quick Hits

Prospect news and notes from around baseball…

• The Dodgers are set to call up SS Alex Freeland

• The Marlins landed OF Matthew Etzel in a trade yesterday

• Blue Jays LHP Kendry Rojas is now on the cusp of the majors

• Cardinals RHP Tekoah Roby underwent Tommy John surgery

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