The Minor League season is now upon us, and some of the sport’s top prospects will be debuting and making their push to the majors. With Triple-A being a breath away from the Major Leagues, pitchers at this level demand our attention as dynasty managers for the dog days of summer, where pitching injuries build. Not all of the pitchers we break down are potential future aces, but getting in on the ground floor with a middle to back-end starter could help you win championships long term. Depth is the name of the game, and today will will dive into Triple-A pitchers off to a hot start.
Triple-A Pitching Prospects
International League Pitchers
Ian Seymour, LHP TBR
(2 GS, 10 IP, 15 K, 0.90 ERA, 0.90 BB/9, 13.5 K/9)
Tampa Bay has had success over the years bringing up pitchers to fill out their Major League rotation, as well as the bullpen. Could Ian Seymour be the potential next man up? The 26-year-old was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2020 MLB Draft by the Tampa Bay Rays and stands 6’0” and 215 pounds, throwing from the left-hand side. Seymour features a five-pitch mix headlined by a true plus change-up that generated a 45% wiff rate in Triple-A in 2024. His fastball sits at 92 mph and has been a solid offering, whereas the cutter, slider, and curveball have hovered as fringe-to-average offerings.
Ian Seymour matches his career-high with 🔟 strikeouts tonight!
Final line: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 10 SO pic.twitter.com/uTS8dFy4fj
— Durham Bulls (@DurhamBulls) April 3, 2025
After a full healthy season in the Minor Leagues in 2024, Seymour pitched at Double-A and Triple-A, making 27 combined starts. Across 145.1 innings pitched, Seymour had 162 strikeouts, good for a 10.03 K/9 with a solid 2.54 BB/9 and finished the season with a 2.35 ERA. Despite not having overwhelming stuff, Seymour kept batters to a .186 batting average against in 2024. This season, we have seen two solid starts from Seymour early on as he has struck out 15 batters over 10 innings pitched, good for a 13.5K/9 while allowing seven hits, one walk, and one earned run.
It’s more than likely that Tampa Bay will deploy Seymour as a bulk inning reliever once given the chance, but his success as a starter in the Minor Leagues can not be ignored, making him an intriguing pick-up.
Hurston Waldrep, RHP ATL
(1 GS, 5 IP, 7 K, 1.80 ERA, 1.80 BB/9, 12.6 K/9)
Drafted in the first round of the 2023 MLB Draft, Hurston Waldrep looked like he was on a rocket to Atlanta. The 6’2” and 210-pound right-hander features a solid four-pitch mix with a 95 mph fastball that can get up to 97 mph. His splitter averages 85.9 mph and is thrown just as much as the four-seam fastball. The slider is tight, coming in at 87 mph, and was a pitch thrown about 23% of the time last season, while the curveball averages 80.4 mph and is peppered in only 4% of the time in 2024.
The first highlight worthy performance from the Braves farm in 2025 comes from Hurston Waldrep!
First start of the year for Waldrep, and he looked excellent.
5IP/3H/1ER/1BB/7K pic.twitter.com/KHApmHX68P— BravesStatsFarm (@StatsFarm) April 2, 2025
Across the 2024 season, Waldrep pitched across five levels, including his Major League debut. In 19 starts in the Minor Leagues, however, Waldrep struck out 97 batters across 93.1 innings pitched, which was good for a 9.35 K/9 and finished the season with a 3.47 ERA. As is the case with pitchers seeking swing and miss outside the zone, Waldrep struggled with walks, finishing with 4.34 BB/9. This season, we have seen one solid outing from Waldrep thus far. Over five innings, Waldrep struck out seven, allowing just three hits, one walk, and one earned run.
Atlanta has been dealing with some injuries early on, making Waldrep a candidate to fill in some innings as the summer goes on. With Major League experience, his opportunity might come sooner rather than later.
Jacob Misiorowski, RHP MIL
(1 GS, 5 IP, 7 K, 0.00 ERA, 5.40 BB/9, 12.6 K/9)
Milwaukee has had success over the years developing prospects to replenish their Major League club and hopes are high for the flame-throwing Jacob Misiorowski. Standing at 6’7” and 197 pounds and throwing from the right-hand side, Misiorowski is an imposing figure on the mound. The pitch mix is a high-90s fastball that tops out at 99 mph, an 86 mph curveball comes in fast with a distinct two-plane break, and a slider that sits at 92 mph with a sharp cut to it. Although there is a changeup in the arsenal Misiorowski doesn’t throw it often and has graded out as well below average.
Jacob Misiorowski shined in his 2025 season debut, earning International Pitcher of the Week honors 🏆
In 5 innings he allowed no runs on 1 hit and collected 7 K's on 14 whiffs#ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/SSZq2QA2LS
— Brewers Player Development (@BrewersPD) April 1, 2025
Last season, Misiorowski pitched at Double-A and Triple-A, appearing in 33 games with 21 of them as starts. Across 97.1 innings pitched, he struck out 127 batters, good for an 11.74 K/9, and finished the year with a solid 3.33 ERA at just 22 years old. The walks have always been the sticking point for Misiorowski since being drafted, and it seems the high walks will be something he will attempt to work through, creating massive reliever risk. In his first start of the season at Triple-A, Misiorowski struck out seven batters over five innings pitched while walking three and allowing one hit and no earned runs. It’s to be determined what the Brewers will deploy Misiorowski as long-term. Right now he is stretched as a starter if the need arises, but a trip to a high-leverage spot in the bullpen looks enticing right now.
Pacific Coast League Pitchers
J.T. Ginn, RHP ATH
(2 GS, 11 IP, 19K, 1.64 ERA, 1.64 BB/9, 15.5K/9)
Last season J.T. Ginn made his Major League debut with the Athletics and was fine but not overwhelming. Originally drafted by the Mets in the second round of the 2020 MLB draft, the right-hander stands at 6’2” and 200 pounds. Ginn features a sinker, slider, and change-up combination that has kept him climbing through the Athletics system since they acquired him in 2022. The Sinker comes in at 92 mph while the slider sits at 85 mph and is easily his second-best pitch, throwing it 30.9% of the time last season. Slowing things down off the sinker with the changeup coming in at 87 mph, there is solid fade and a tumble in the pitch, but it is not as consistent.
This season, we are seeing Ginn come out of the gates hot as he is currently leading the Pacific Coast League in strikeouts. Across two starts, Ginn has struck out 19 batters over 11 innings pitched, good for a 15.5 K/9, while limiting the walks to just two, and currently has a solid 1.64 ERA. This type of performance will afford Ginn the opportunity to be a name called upon once an opportunity arises. This wouldn’t be a prospect to go spend the bank to acquire, but he could be in solid depth if the price is right.
A.J. Blubaugh, RHP HOU
(1 GS, 6 IP, 9 K, 0.00 ERA, 0.00 BB/9, 13.5 K/9)
Houston has the knack of drafting college pitchers and getting the most out of them quickly, and utilizing them in the Major Leagues. A.J. Blubaugh could be a fitting pattern for the Astros to employ. Standing at 6’2” and 190 pounds, throwing from the right-hand side, Blubaugh has a kitchen sink approach featuring five offerings. The fastball sits between 92-95 mph while topping out at 98 mph with excellent movement. His 82 mph changeup has solid fade, proving to be his go-to pitch for an out. Blubaugh’s sweeper is at 83 mph and has been a pitch the Astros have been working on with him. Keeping batters off timing is key for the 78 mph curveball and 86 mph sharp cutter.
ICYMI: Here's all nine of AJ Blubaugh's strikeouts in his first start of the year 😤 #Ascend pic.twitter.com/Aw0Xmaipb4
— Sugar Land Space Cowboys (@SLSpaceCowboys) April 2, 2025
In 2024, Blubaugh spent the majority of his time at Triple-A, where he appeared in 28 games (starting 25) while striking out 133 batters over 128.2 innings pitched, good for a solid 9.3 K/9, and finished the year with a 3.71 ERA. Walks have been the major sticking point for Blubaugh, who relies on swings outside the zone, so it’s understandable to see higher walk rates. The 3.57 was a massive improvement over the 4.05 logged back in 2023. This season, we have only seen one outing from Blubaugh, but it was solid nonetheless, striking out nine over six innings pitched, allowing four hits, no walks, and no runs. Look for Blubaugh to be a sneaky deep league sleeper this season when an injury to the Astros’ rotation offers an opportunity to Blubaugh.
Ryan Bergert, RHP SDP
(2 GS, 9 IP, 15K, 2.00 ERA, 1.00 BB/9, 15.00 K/9)
The Pacific Coast League can be an unforgiving place for pitchers, but Ryan Bergert has looked solid in his first two turns throughout the rotation. Standing 6’1” and 210 pounds, throwing from the right-hand side, Bergert features a four-pitch mix in the fastball that touches 96 mph but sits in the low 90s, the sweeper has excellent spin over 2,900 rpm coming in at 82 mph, while the slider is tighter, almost cutter-esque at 85 mph. Finally, the change-up sits at 86 mph with solid fade but hasn’t been as consistent as the other offerings.
Padres Prospect Ryan Bergert in his 2nd start for AAA El Paso
14 whiffs
35.9% whiff%
11 Ks
66.7% Whiff Rate on the SLFB average 18.5” iVB at 94.9 MPH
Sweep also had good shape w -12.9” HB & 2.5 iVB https://t.co/GU1G5Djs2r pic.twitter.com/aLvHH8Z5hm
— MadFriars – The source for Padres Prospects news (@madfriars) April 4, 2025
Bergert has moved quickly through the Padres’ minor league system since being drafted in the 6th round of the 2021 Draft out of West Virginia. In 2024, he played the entire season at Double-A, where he made 23 starts and struck out 87 batters over 98 innings pitched and finishing the season with a 4.78 ERA. Now the strikeout rate was down from his previous seasons typically a 10-plus strikeout per nine innings, the walks came down from 3.92 the season prior to 3.03 in 2024.
This season, Bergert is starting off in Triple-A, where he has been dominant to start off striking out 15 batters over nine innings, walking only one, and currently has a 2.00 ERA over two starts. Looking through the past success and what he is doing currently there might be something here for the Padres as a back-end spot starter or potentially more if he can continue to get the walks down.
