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Paul Skenes, RHP, Pirates: Skenes is the reigning No. 1 overall draft pick. So far this season, he’s pitched like it. After dazzling in spring training, the righthander has overwhelmed the competition at Triple-A Indianapolis. For the second straight start, Skenes went 3.1 innings and struck out eight hitters. This time he allowed a hit and two walks and kept zeroes on the scoreboard. In 12.1 innings, Skenes has punched out 27 and walked four, allowed five hits and has yet to allow a run.

You can read more about how Skenes’ start compares to the likes of Tim Lincecum, Stephen Strasburg and others here. 

Jaden Hamm, RHP, Tigers: The Tigers righthander was one of the most prominent pop-up prospects this spring and has continued opening eyes in the regular year. On Thursday, he got the best of fellow prospect Jackson Ferris and the Great Lakes Loons in one of the most intriguing pitching matchups of the young season. Hamm went four innings, allowed no runs on just three hits and punched out six. He's got 20 strikeouts and just one walk in 11.1 innings this year.

George Klassen, RHP, Phillies: Klassen emerged this spring as a name to watch heading into the regular season. So far, he’s continued to be worth watching. The Minnesota alum on Thursday once again stifled the opposition by striking out seven with just an unearned run on his ledger—the first run of any kind he’s allowed this season. He’s permitted just five hits and four walks while striking out 24 this year.

Mason Barnett, RHP, Royals: Barnett has started hot this season. On Thursday, he took it up a notch. Facing Midland, the fireballer struck out 10 over five innings of two-hit, one-run ball. He walked one. The effort was Barnett’s first double-digit strikeout game of the season and first since July 25, 2023 with High-A Quad Cities. For the season, Barnett has 25 strikeouts in 15.1 innings.

George Lombard Jr., SS, Yankees: Freshly anointed as a Top 100 prospect, Lombard Jr. celebrated by going wild in the Florida State League. The Yankees prospect was a terror on the basepaths all evening, collecting two hits—including a double—drawing four walks and stealing three bases. He also scored three runs. He has more walks (19) than strikeouts (15) this season and has swiped eight bags in nine tries.

Jordan Beck, OF, Rockies: The 2024 season can’t have started much better for Beck, who’s off to a sizzling start at Triple-A Albuquerque and is knocking on the door of a big league callup. The Tennessee alum continued his tear on Thursday by going 4-for-5 with two doubles, a home run and five RBIs in his team’s win over El Paso. For the season, Beck is 20-for-61 with six doubles, two triples and five home runs.

Carson Williams, SS, Rays: There’s a lot to like about Williams. He’s young. He can play a heck of a shortstop. And he can also put a charge into a ball, though there are questions surrounding whether he’ll hit. Even so, he had an excellent night on Thursday against Tennessee. On the road in Kodak, Williams went 3-for-6 with a pair of home runs and three RBIs. The evening put an exclamation point on what has been a scorching start to the season. In 10 games, Williams is 19-for-43 with six doubles and the trio of dingers.

Cam Collier, 3B, Reds: Collier is one of the youngest players in the Midwest League. Early on, he’s also one of the league’s most productive hitters. That scorching stretch crescendoed on Thursday with a two-homer outburst as part of a three-hit, four-RBI night for the Dragons. It was the first multi-homer game of Collier’s career and upped his season total to five. Overall, he’s 16-for-47 on the year.

Want to get ahead? Each day we’ll surface one prospect from recent Baseball America coverage who could be on the rise.

Baseball America Helium Pick Of The Day

Brandon Sproat, RHP, Mets: Sproat is one of two Mets arms under the microscope in Geoff Pontes’ new Friday Intel column. We watched a recent Sproat start against a formidable Jersey Shore lineup and came away impressed with Sproat’s arsenal, although he still needs to find a trusted putaway pitch.