We’re hitting that point in the season where performance starts to outweigh pedigree. Some prospects are forcing front offices into uncomfortable decisions, while others are quietly rising through the ranks with little fanfare. Whether it’s a pitcher finding command, a bat proving too good to stash, or a breakout that can’t be ignored, these players are pressing up against the big-league wall. In this article, I break down the names that aren’t just hot, they’re on they are knocking on the door. These are my 5 prospects on the verge.
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Prospects on The Verge
Jacob Misiorowski SP | Milwaukee Brewers | Level: AAA
Multiple offseason reports suggested Jacob Misiorowski might be better suited for the bullpen as a future closer. He may have taken that personally. Through 35.2 innings at Triple-A, he has 43 strikeouts and has looked dominant. His 30% strikeout rate would be a career low, but so would his 12% walk rate. That 4.29 BB/9 isn’t elite, but it’s a big jump from his 5.5 career mark. Early signs show improved control, including a 50% first-pitch strike rate, up 8% from 2024. Even with the added control focus, he leads Triple-A in strikeouts. His stuff has never been questioned, with two pitches graded at 70. Over his last three starts, he’s tossed 17 innings with just 9 hits and one earned run. His ERA has dropped to 1.77 with a 1.01 WHIP. The Brewers have rotation issues and few reliable arms outside of Freddy Peralta. Jose Quintana might be serviceable, but the need is clear. Milwaukee may see Misiorowski as a future closer, but he should start games now. The strikeouts, improved command, and dominant stretch suggest a call-up is coming soon.
⛽️ 100.3 mph max velo
⚔️ 10 swings-and-missesTop 100 prospect Jacob Misiorowski (@Brewers) fans five across six frames for the Triple-A @nashvillesounds. pic.twitter.com/Uw6csPHi1b
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) May 4, 2025
Jordan Lawlar SS | Arizona Diamondbacks | Level: AAA
Maybe I just enjoy writing about slighted prospects on a mission. Jordan Lawlar definitely fits that mold right now. His Triple-A numbers scream “I don’t belong here” after being sent down this spring. Arizona’s GM said he needed reps and to stay healthy. So far, he’s doing both, and then some. Lawlar is hitting .369 with a 1.118 OPS in 142 plate appearances. He’s added 6 homers, 12 steals, 30 RBIs, and 35 runs. Over his last 10 games, he’s had fewer than two hits just twice. He also carries a 12% walk rate and a 21.8% strikeout rate. His 89 mph average exit velocity is the best of his career. The Diamondbacks’ infield may seem full with Suarez, Perdomo, Marte, and Naylor. But remember, Ketel Marte was an All-Star outfielder in 2019. Lawlar has logged 14 games at second base this year. If he keeps this up, the team may need to reshuffle. So let me be the first to speculate, Marte shifts to the outfield, Lawlar slides in at second, and Alek Thomas loses his spot.
Jordan Lawlar took it personally when AZ didn't call him up..
In the 21 games since Tim Tawa got the call instead, Jordan Lawlar is hitting .419 with 19-XBH/25-RBI/10-SB 😳
For his AAA career, Lawlar is hitting .371 with 33-XBH/61-RBI/1.100-OPS in 54-G… cartoon stats. pic.twitter.com/OUX2asxbiF
— Fuzzy (@fuzzyfromyt) May 2, 2025
Bubba Chandler SP | Pittsburgh Pirates | Level: AAA
If there’s one player who looks too good for the level right now, it’s Bubba Chandler. Pirates fans are understandably frustrated seeing him still in Triple-A. But this slow-play fits Pittsburgh’s recent pattern with top arms. They did something similar with Paul Skenes last season. Chandler has dominated with a 1.42 ERA and 2.25 FIP over six starts. Among qualified starters, he’s second in FIP and fourth in ERA. His 12.79 K/9 also ranks second in Triple-A. Chandler owns a 34.7% CSW and 68% contact rate, both elite. He’s getting swings and misses while keeping the ball on the ground. His 56% ground ball rate would be a career best. The average exit velocity is 86.6 mph, but the launch angle is just 0.8 degrees. Translation: hitters are pounding it into the dirt. The Pirates have at least three starters that Chandler could immediately replace. Once Jared Jones returns, Chandler could slot behind him or Mitch Keller. He dominated last year and has picked up right where he left off. A call-up should be coming very soon.
The Bubba Chandler call up is closer than most think!
71 pitches
5 IP 3 H 1 R 1 BB 9 K
15 whiffs (12 on his fastball)
44 CSW%🔥He has the potential to be one of the best number 2 starters in the MLB!
pic.twitter.com/jp5l4n2Bji— Andrew DeCeglie (@Andrew_FBB) May 2, 2025
Moisés Ballesteros C/DH | Chicago Cubs | Level: AAA
Every so often, a prospect comes along who just breaks the mold. Moisés Ballesteros might be one of those guys. He’s a below-average catcher with no real defensive home at the next level. But honestly, I’m not sure it matters. This guy flat-out hits everywhere he goes. In 122 plate appearances, he has 43 hits and a .391 average. He’s doing it with a tiny 10% strikeout rate and 4 home runs already. Twelve of his hits have gone for extra bases. He hardly ever whiffs, with an 8.3% swinging strike rate. He makes elite zone contact (87%) and rarely watches strikes go by (11% CS rate). That shows real bat control and strike zone feel. If I had to compare him, think a shorter, less powerful Yordan Alvarez. The stocky frame and bat-to-ball skills are very real. The problem is that the Cubs lineup is scorching hot right now. Seiya Suzuki is holding down the DH spot, and others are producing. Ballesteros might need an injury or a slump to open a path. Still, there aren’t many prospects with this offensive upside, defense aside.
Moisés Ballesteros might not be a scout favorite and there are questions about his position in the future, but he is absolutely clobbering Triple-A pitching, slashing .402/.462/.565 with a pair of home runs on the season, and 10 walks compared to 12 k's!pic.twitter.com/oNHJRIB0NX
— Scout the Statline (@StatlineScout) April 30, 2025
Otto Kemp INF | Philadelphia Phillies | Level: AAA
Otto Kemp is the Phillies’ #24 prospect and has flown under the radar for most of his minor league career. If you’ve read my past stuff, you know I was early on him during the Arizona Fall League. What stood out then, and now, is his steady improvement in every stat that matters for fantasy. Over four seasons, his batting average has jumped each year: .204, .243, .285, and now .339 in 2025. His strikeout rate has dropped, too: 26% in 2022, 24% in 2023, and 21% in 2024. He hit 7 home runs in 2023, then 16 in 2024. This season, he already has 9 home runs and 5 steals. As an undrafted free agent, Kemp is your classic late bloomer forcing his way into the picture. His batted ball data is loud, including a 93.5 mph average EV and 112 mph max EV. His 52.3% hard-hit rate with a 21.6° average launch angle shows he’s not just hitting, he’s optimizing contact. The Phillies’ infield is mostly locked in, but Kemp is now playing some outfield at Triple-A. That gives him a shot to fill in for guys like Brandon Marsh or platoon with Max Kepler. He may not displace Alec Bohm, but his versatility gives him multiple paths up. If the power holds, we’re talking about a 20/20-capable super utility bat.
Otto Kemp just hit his 10th HR of the season and is now slashing .350/.441/.715 in his first 31 games for Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Knocking loudly on the door to Philly.#RingTheBellpic.twitter.com/bbOSZHzS7P
— Eric Cross (@EricCrossMLB) May 4, 2025
