With over 200 teams spanning three countries and two continents, Minor League Baseball is bigger and better than ever. Assuming ~25 players on each team, that’s over 5000 players playing the greatest game in the world at the professional level! These athletes work hard daily to achieve one goal: to become a Major Leaguer. While each player is worthy of recognition for their ongoing commitment to greatness, only a select few can be Prospects Of The Month!
Now that the MiLB regular season has concluded and the playoffs are wrapping up, it’s time to reflect on the year that was in Minor League baseball. There were some incredible performances throughout the season, beginning with the teenagers in the DSL and Complex Leagues, all the way up to the grizzled veterans of the International League and PCL. Choosing which players are worthy of the distinct honor of being Prospects of the Year is not a task we take lightly. After we broke down each player level-by-level, the 2025 Prospects of the Year are here!
C: Alfredo Duno, CIN
Class A: .287/.430/.518/18 HR/6 SB/18.4% K%/19.2% BB/164 wRC+
From start to finish, Duno was the most consistent and productive hitter at the catcher position. The 19-year-old, who missed almost all of 2024 due to injury, repeated Class A this season and dominated throughout. It was surprising that Duno never got a bump to High-A late in the season, but he projects to play most of 2026 at the level. Duno has become one of the elite catching prospects in the game, having jumped inside the Top 75 overall and Top 5 among catchers. The most impressive part of the 2025 campaign for Duno was a walk rate of 19.2%, one of the best in the Minors, while also maintaining a lower strikeout rate. His plate skill changes manifested in a 6% drop in overall swing rate and a jump of nearly 8% in overall contact rate.
Finalists: Rainiel Rodriguez (STL), Josue Briceno (DET), Cooper Ingle (CLE)
1B: Jonathan Long, CHC
AAA: .305/.404/.479/20 HR/2 SB/19.1% K/13.0% BB/ 131 wRC+
It was a close call with Long and Bryce Eldridge, but the 23-year-old Cubs’ prospect had a more consistent and steady season. Outside of a poor June, Long had an OPS of nearly .800 in every month and had two months (May, July) where his OPS was over 1.000. He has shown impressive plate discipline and contact skills, while also posting above-average quality of contact metrics, including a 105.9mph 90th-percentile EV. In addition, Long is an outstanding defender and played three separate positions this season, including his first foray into the outfield. Despite coming out of nowhere in the last few seasons, Long has gone from a little-known prospect to a guy that the Cubs will need to make room for in the immediate future.
Finalists: Bryce Eldridge (SFG), Ralphy Velasquez (CLE), Ryan Clifford (NYM)
2B: Kevin McGonigle, DET
A/A+/AA: .305/.408/.583/19 HR/10 SB/11.6% K/14.9% BB/182 wRC+
In most seasons, McGonigle would easily be the player of the year, but not in 2025. The Tigers’ top prospect is #1 overall in some publications and has become a megastar this season. While he’s not a second baseman by trade, I’ve made the executive decision to flip him to second to get the recognition he rightfully deserves. The big question entering 2025 was how McGonigle would rebound from a broken hamate bone sustained last season, an injury that typically saps power. Although he wasn’t a masher right away, the 21-year-old had six homers in June, eight in August, and tallied 12 in 46 games following his promotion to Double-A. There was a lot of talk that McGonigle could be joining the Tigers down the stretch, but one way or another, he’s got to be a dark horse to make the Opening Day roster in 2026.
Finalists: Max Anderson (DET), Aroon Escobar (PHI), Sam Antonacci (CHW)
Kevin McGonigle is unreal. I don’t know how you beat him, but you can cross off 100 MPH up and in pic.twitter.com/EINLBB0fu4
— Aram Leighton (@AramLeighton8) August 19, 2025
3B: Sal Stewart, CIN
AA/AAA: .309/.383/.524/20 HR/17 SB/15.6% K/9.3% BB/152 wRC+
MLB: .255/.293/.545/5 HR/0 SB/25.9% K/5.2% BB (32 PAs)
Stewart was highly productive in 2024 but only got better this season. He improved his power output, hit for a higher average, had consistent quality of contact, and ran more. The lone downside is that Stewart still doesn’t walk much. His plate approach is aggressive in nature, with a swing rate of nearly 50% with more chase (30%) than I’d like. His contact skills continued to improve, reaching an overall rate of over 80%. Stewart earned a promotion to the Majors to open the month of September, and he has performed well in limited action. It’s hard to envision an Opening Day lineup for the Reds in 2026 without Stewart in it. He’s a consensus Top 30 prospect and is firmly inside the Top 350 for dynasty.
Finalists: Jacob Reimer (NYM), Izzac Pacheco (DET), Roldy Brito (COL)
SS: Konnor Griffin, PIT: 2025 Minor League Player of the Year
A/A+/AA: .333/.415/.527/21 HR/65 SB/21.7% K/8.9% BB/165 wRC+
From the 9th overall pick to the #1 prospect in a matter of nine months shows exactly what Griffin is capable of. As a 19-year-old, Griffin obliterated pitching at three separate levels, hitting above .300 at all of them with an OPS of .930 or better. Griffin showed an excellent blend of power, speed, and athleticism that is truly unmatched among his peers. At this point, you have to wonder how long the Pirates can keep Griffin in the Minors. At 6’4″, 220lbs, Griffin has the body, skills, and charisma to play at the highest level even as a teenager. The Pirates cannot manage Griffin the way that they did with Bubba Chandler, or the fans may be even further alienated. I anticipate a promotion for Griffin by mid-May at the latest and for him to become an immediate contender for the NL Rookie of the Year award.
Finalists: JJ Wetherholt (STL), Kevin McGonigle (DET), Caleb Bonemer (CHW)
Konnor Griffin is our 2025 Minor League Player of the Year 🔥
Over the last 20 minor league seasons, the @YoungBucsPIT star is the only player to produce a season with a .300 average, 20+ home runs, 60+ steals and 100+ runs. pic.twitter.com/izk7sJURN8
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) September 22, 2025
OF: Eduardo Quintero, LAD
A/A+: .293/.415/.508/19 HR/47 SB/22.7% K/16.3% BB/153 wRC+
Outfield was the most challenging position to decide on, with both Quintero and Edward Florentino as worthy candidates. Ultimately, Quintero is the guy. Most of his damage was done at Class A, posting a .306 batting average with 14 of his 19 homers and 35 of his 47 steals in just 81 games. Quintero played the entire season as a 19-year-old and looks to be on a path to returning to High-A to open 2026 with an eye on moving up as many as two levels. Quintero is arguably one of the most underappreciated prospects in baseball, as his performance is elite across the board and he’s only getting better. His contact and power skills advanced this season, while also continuing to impact the game on the base paths. The Dodgers’ system is quite strong, and he’s the cream of the crop. Quintero will likely enter 2026 as a Top 10 overall prospect.
Finalists: Edward Florentino (PIT), Dylan Beavers (BAL), Lazaro Montes (SEA)
UTIL: JJ Wetherholt, SS, STL
AA/AAA: .306/.421/.510/17 HR/23 SB/14.7% K/14.5% BB/152 wRC+
Lost in all the Griffin/McGongile hype is JJ Wetherholt, a first-year pro with as much prospect pedigree as the other two and an equally impressive season. Wetherholt tore up pitchers in the Southern League to open 2025, but got even better following a move to Triple-A. In 47 games at the highest Minor League level, he slashed .314/.416/.562 with ten homers, 14 doubles, nine steals, and almost as many walks (28) as strikeouts (33). The 23-year-old also answered many questions surrounding his durability coming out of college, having played in 109 games and never spent any time on the IL. Given his status as the organization’s top prospect and the state of the Cardinals’ 2B position, I’d be shocked if the Wetherholt-Masyn Winn double-play combination isn’t the Opening Day pairing.
Finalists: Aroon Escobar (PHI), Edward Florentino (PIT), Ryan Clifford (NYM)
SP: Jonah Tong, NYM
AA/AAA: 113.2 IP/1.43 ERA/0.92 WHIP/40.5% K/10.6% BB
MLB: 18.2 IP/7.71 ERA/1.77 WHIP/25.3% K/10.3% BB
Whether you’re Team Tong or not, it’s impossible to deny that the 22-year-old Mets’ prospect was the 2025 Minor League Pitcher of the Year. After a ‘rocky’ start to April (3.63 ERA in 17 1/3 IP), Tong settled in and posted four consecutive months with an ERA below 1.42, which also included a promotion to AAA. Tong made exactly two starts for Triple-A Syracuse, going 2-0 with 11 2/3 scoreless innings before getting the call to Queens. His first five MLB outings haven’t been quite as impressive as Tong has a 7.71 ERA and 1.77 WHIP in 18 2/3 innings of work. However, he did have two starts where he allowed one or fewer earned runs, including his professional debut against the Marlins, and exceeded his career-high innings total by nearly 20, surpassing the previous high. It would be shocking if Tong isn’t in the Mets’ rotation on Opening Day 2026.
Finalists: Robby Snelling (MIA), Trey Yesavage (TOR), Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz (NYY), Thomas White (MIA)
Jonah Tong unleashes a wicked curveball for his first Major League strikeout 👏 pic.twitter.com/FEte001l9e
— MLB (@MLB) August 30, 2025
