By Sal Corso: April 7th, 2025:

The official season has kicked-off! Yes, Spring Training is a very important time for prospects to show-off to a major-league fan base, but the real development happens during the minor league season. As with all of our Hit Sheet’s, we’ll show you which prospects are rising and falling on our ranking sheet based on performance and tools. Let’s break this hit sheet out by level, and show you each prospect that excelled in week 1. But first, a recap of our scoring and ranking system:

Our RANKING SHEET isn’t your typical ranking sheet. We don’t just rank a prospect with a number. We also give them an Upside Score and a Likeliness Score to hit that potential. As a refresher:

Upside Score: A unique value based which determines our realistic upside for the prospect. The score determines the prospects potential ceiling based on tools and performance:

Likeliness: Chance to reach upside based-on tools & current performance.

Now, let’s take a look at week 1, starting from the top-down.

Player (Upside Score) [Likeliness]

MLB

Cam Smith (76) [MED]

Here’s the perfect example of why spring training doesn’t always matter. Cam Smith may not have been ready, and the Astros are learning that the hard way. You don’t want to rush and send him down to crush his confidence, but a few more weeks of struggles (.111/.238/.111) and he’ll likely find his way to AAA.

Thomas Saggese (74) [MED]

A post-opening day call-up. A pinch-hit HR. Brendan Donavan is off to a hot start, but no reason that Saggese shouldn’t see plenty of playing time as a utility man.

I know we got killed but my goodness Thomas Saggese hit one out of Fenway🤯 pic.twitter.com/dT8QFfoUg5

— Cardinals Talk (@theredbird_way) April 7, 2025

Zac Veen (75) [MED]

A fresh call-up! The 2020 Bowman Draft legend raked in his quick stint at AAA (.387/.472/.677). He should get ample playing time and a clear chance to win a full-time starting role in the Rockies outfield.

AAA

Nick Kurtz (83) [HIGH]

We have said time and time again, he’s the most MLB-ready, highest-floor hitter in the recent draft. Welp, 8 games and a 4 HR, 12 RBI, 1.315 OPS stat-line later, and he’s a call away from that big league debut. Here was our “bold” off-season prediction for Kurtz. I say bold in quotations because it’s much more of a possibility than not.

Brady House (75) [MED]

I was never as high as others were on Brady House. The K-rates didn’t help, but the main reason was the 3-5% walk-rates. With this hot start he may get his shot in the bigs at the young age of 21-years-old. 3rd Base is currently held by Paul Dejong, aka, it’s WIDE OPEN for the taking. We’ll see if it’s House or Yohandy that gets the first crack at it.

Edgar Quero (71) [MED]

Quero can hit, there’s no question about that. It’s the “ifs” behind the plate that could be a challenge for him to be an every day backstop at the pro-level.

AA

Sal Stewart (79) [MED]

I have his upside score right at the line of an Everyday+ –> All-Star caliber player. His discipline and approach are top-tier in the minors right now, and if he can continue to drive the ball with more power. He’ll jump higher. His line-drive and fly-ball rates are up in the early days of the season, so signs are looking up.

Dyan Jorge (73) [MED]

Dyan was a sleeper add of mine from the stacked 2023 Bowman Baseball set. He’s off to a hot start in AA in a quick 10 AB. Keep an eye on him as a riser in the Rockies organization.

Josue De Paula (86) [LOW]

Have covered Josue enough (see below). If he’s available in your dynasty leagues, or a card is of interest, grab it now.

Diego Velasquez (72) [LOW]

Great to see his name pop up! Diego made my All-Undervalued 2024 Prospect Team after an impressive 2023 (.298/.387/.434 with 69 RBI, 23 SB, and a sub-19% K-rate.). After a solid ’24 season, he’s now in AA to kick off ’25 at only 21 years old. The power will likely never be impressive, but a consistent everyday middle-infielder with a .275+ average could be in the cards.

A (Low/High)

Let’s pump the breaks on A-ball since we’re only a few at-bats underway. I’ll be keeping an eye on the big names here over the next week or so (Clark, Hope, Tibbs, Montes, Zanatello).

Check back in for Hit Sheet #5!

Bookmark THIS LINK to get our weekly updates in the palm of your hands! Here’s the list of all 2025 Hit Sheets:

1. Spring Training (#1)
2. Spring Training (#2)
3. End Of Spring Guide (#3)
4. MiLB Opening Week (#4)