The Minor League season is moving right along and with prospects being called up from Low-A to High-A and so on we take this opportunity to take a deeper look at some of the top-performing batters in High-A to watch right now. In this article, we will break down five prospects spanning three of the High-A leagues. let’s dive into some of the High-A batting prospects to watch right now.
High-A Batting Prospects To Watch
Tre’ Morgan, 1B TBR
(10 GP, .447/.553/.737, 1 HR, 7 R, 9 RBI, 1 SB)
Selected in the third round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of LSU Tre’ Morgan has hit the ground running since his first taste of professional ball. In 2023 Morgan played at the Rays Complex League where he hit .417 with one home run and an 8.3% strikeout rate in 12 plate appearances. The next step was to Low-A where he slashed .389/.500/.472 with a 18.2% walk percentage and a 4.5% strikeout rate in 44 plate appearances. Tampa Bay started Morgan back in Low-A to begin the 2024 season where the 21-year-old went off. In 26 games played Morgan slashed .320/.398/.440 with two home runs, 19 runs scored, 11 RBIs, and nine stolen bases. At the plate, Morgan continued to show excellent plate discipline walking 8.7% and striking out 11.3% in 115 plate appearances.
⚾️💪TBR 1B Tre Morgan with a leadoff double off Max Roberts in High-A Winston Salem. Morgan has been fantastic in his 6 games with the Hot Rods slashing .591/.679/1.000 with 1 HR, 8 RBIs a 17.2% BB and no strikeouts in 29 PA@Fantrax @LSUbaseball @tremorgann @BGHotRods pic.twitter.com/Tc94sO8Xx5
— Richard Haake (@Mustbethehawk) May 23, 2024
Recently promoted to High-A Morgan hasn’t missed a beat. In 10 games played with the Bowling Green Hot Rods Morgan is slashing .447/.553/.737 with one home run, seven runs scored, nine RBIs, and one stolen base. The excellent plate discipline has accompanied Morgan to High-A as he is walking 16.7% and striking out just 2.1% across 48 plate appearances. If you want any shares of Tre’ Morgan now is the time as the cost to acquire is going to continue to skyrocket just like his climb-up dynasty prospect rankings.
Jesus Rodriguez, C/3B NYY
(39 HP, .318/.391/.500, 5 HR, 27 R, 22 RBI, 4 SB)
The Bronx Bombers have done a solid job with developing prospects in the lower minor leagues and moving them for the right now talent on the big league side. When the trade deadline comes around we need to watch Jesus Rodriguez. Standing 5’10” the 22-year-old Rodriguez has been excellent since his debut back in 2019. So good in fact Rodriguez has never batted below .279/.355/.411 which he did in the DSL back in 2021. This season Rodriguez has played 39 games with High-A Hudson Valley in which he is slashing .318/.391/.500 with five home runs, 27 runs scored, 22 RBIs, and four stolen bases.
At the plate, Rodriguez has shown excellent plate discipline walking 10.3% and striking out just 15.5% in 174 plate appearances. This is a prospect that has gone widely under the radar in prospect rankings and in most dynasty formats. Currently, Jesus Rodriguez is rostered in just 1% of Fantrax leagues making this an excellent no-cost pick-up who could pay dividends at the trade deadline.
Nate Furman, 2B CLE
(32 GP, .351/.416/.522, 7 HR, 31 R, 25 RBI, 6 SB)
Drafted in the fourth round of the 2022 MLB Draft out of the University of North Carolina Charlotte Nate Furman has been exceptional this season. Going into the draft Furman was known for his high contact skills paired with his double-plus speed grades. This season we are seeing more pop in the bat which has been a welcomed sight. In 32 games played Furman is slashing .351/.416/.522 with seven home runs, 31 runs scored, 25 RBIs, and six stolen bases in eight attempts. Furman has been finding success this season by pulling the ball 50.9% of the time (up 8.7% over 2023). At the plate, Furman has been solid walking 8.1% while striking out just 17.4% in 149 plate appearances.
This is a profile the Guardians do such a great job of developing. Nate Furman is a high-contact batter who can work counts and has been utilized at the top of the Lake County batting order with great results. This is a solid prospect to have in deep dynasty formats and with Furman currently being rostered in just 2% of Fantrax dynasty leagues he could be on your waiver wire right now.
CJ Kayfus, 1B CLE
(35 GP, .338/.435/.596, 7 HR, 26 R, 36 RBI, 3 SB)
One of the best hitters in High-A right now has to be CJ Kayfus. Drafted in the third round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of the University of Miami Kayfus like Tre’ Morgan at LSU was not a power-hitting first baseman in college. What we have seen to this point in his first full season of the professional ball is a testament to Cleveland’s player development. In 35 games played at High-A Lake County this season, Kayfus is slashing .338/.435/.596 with seven home runs, 26 runs scored, 36 RBIs, and three stolen bases. Thus far Kayfus has found success pulling the ball at 43.5% while increasing his line drive rate to 26.9% this has resulted in more power in home runs as well as extra base hits.
💣💥The man is dangerous! CJ Kayfus is on fire to start the season in High-A. On the season Kayfus is slashing
•.341 AVG
•.422 OBP
•.636 SLG
•6 HR
• 27 RBI
•9.8% BB
•16.7% KHe won’t be down in Lake County much longer! #Fortheland @CanesBaseball @Fantrax https://t.co/mOUOAUnT7t
— Richard Haake (@Mustbethehawk) May 11, 2024
Of his 46 total hits, 19 are for extra bases and when you look at the plate approach you can easily see Kayfus is not selling out for power. Across 161 plate appearances, Kayfus is walking 13% while striking out just 18% of the time. This is a profile we have seen before with Kyle Manzardo, Vinnie Pasquantino, and currently with Tre’ Morgan in a high contact first base prospect who has the potential to get to above-average power. Currently Kayfus’ stock has been rising as he is now rostered in 4% of Fantrax dynasty leagues making this a prime time to get some shares while you can.
Kyle Karros, 3B COL
(40 GP, .288/.377/.418, 2 HR, 18 R, 24 RBI, 3 SB)
Colorado has got to be happy with the early results Kyle Karros has been putting up in High-A Spokane. Drafted in the fifth round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of UCLA Karros stands at 6’5” and 220 pounds. The 21-year-old played at the Rockies Complex League and Low-A after being drafted and had solid results. It was not much of a surprise to see the Rockies start Karros out in High-A Spokane but what has happened is quickly he is dominating the level. In 40 games played Karros is slashing .288/.377/.418 with two home runs, 18 runs scored, 24 RBIs, and three stolen bases. Across his 175 plate appearances, Karros is walking 10.9% while striking out just 20.6% of the time.
Not known as a power-hitting third baseman coming into the draft Karros has been at the very least solid. Of his 44 total hits, Karros has 15 extra-base hits with the 42.7% of his total hits coming to the pull side. Although Colorado has gotten better in recent years, Typically they will play a prospect at a certain level for 75-80% of the season before moving them up to a higher level. Because Karros seems to have a strong grasp of the level It wouldn’t surprise me if he gets to Double-A Hartford in short order. Currently, Kyle Karros is rostered in 1% of Fantrax leagues making this a solid pick-up in deeper dynasty leagues on the waiver wire.