The divisional reports are a new series put out by the PitcherList dynasty team. These reports provide a list of the top ten prospects on each team in the division and highlight two players from each organization. Each division will be updated once per month by our divisional experts. You can look for these reports every Thursday and Friday during the first three weeks of each month.
The weather is heating up around the country, and so are the bats! The AL East report has no shortage of hot hitters led by Kristian Campbell and Tre’ Morgan. In addition to hot bats, we’re seeing significant player movement across the Minor Leagues. Here is a recap of the AL East farm systems for the month of May.
Top 10 Prospects
Notable Promotions
- Luis De León joined High-A Aberdeen on May 19th. The 6-foot-3 left-hander has been really good since his domestic debut in the Florida Complex League last season. Spanning 24 starts in the US, De Leon has a 2.22 ERA and 1.20 WHIP. Last season, he produced a 31.2% Whiff rate across two levels with a 14.1% swinging strike rate and 29.7% CSW. De Leon features a mid-90s fastball with arm-side run, a slider, and a fading changeup. The fastball has a heavy sink and has generated a groundball rate of over 60% this season. What was once a concern has become a strength, as De Leon has improved his control significantly this season, cutting his walk rate to 6%.
- Kyle Stowers returned to the Major Leagues for the third time on May 13th. Unfortunately, it came at the expense of Heston Kjerstad, who returned to Triple-A. This year at Triple-A, he had 11 homers and 32 RBI in 36 games. While he has shown solid power over his career, it remains his lone carrying tool in fantasy. The 26-year-old has a career strikeout rate of over 32%, which limits his power output. In addition, his batting average remains low due to contact issues he’s struggled with since joining the professional ranks
Notable Performances
- Jud Fabian is amid a power surge. The Orioles’ competitive balance pick in 2022 belted six home runs in May after posting just two in April. Fabian is batting just .228 on the season, but his profile is absolutely power over hit. After a 24-homer season last year, Fabian is well on his way to challenging his career-high.
- Cade Povich continues to fare well this season. The 24-year-old southpaw is 5-1 with a 3.18 ERA and 1.11 WHIP. Povich has a 23.4% K-BB rate and a 30.9% CSW. Povich should be the first prospect to get the call for a spot start or promotion, although the Orioles have several long-relief options in their bullpen with previous starting experience.
Top 10 Prospects
Notable Promotions
- Luis Perales got the bump to Double-A Portland following his best performance of the young season. Perales tossed five one-hit innings with 12 strikeouts on May 21st, dominating a Greensboro lineup that included Mitch Jebb, Termarr Johnson, and Jack Branigan. This season has been a reminder of the talent that Perales has. After an impressive debut in 2022, Perales battled command issues last season to post a 3.91 ERA with a 1.42 WHIP.
- One of the more impressive prospects at the AFL last season was left-hander Zach Penrod. The Sox farmhand made the Fall Stars Game after posting a 1.29 ERA over 14 innings in the Desert. Penrod was promoted to Triple-A this week and figures to work his way to Fenway by the end of the season. At Double-A this year, Penrod was 4-0 with a 2.80 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in 10 starts. His 37.1% strikeout rate is up over 15% over his previous season. Penrod is also a feel-good story after undergoing Tommy John in 2019 and playing independently from 2021-2023 before the Red Sox gave him a shot.
- Kristian Campbell (more coming soon) was promoted to Double-A Portland on June 2nd. Campbell is filling the void of Matthew Lugo, who was promoted to Triple-A. Lugo is hitting .315 with 11 homers, nine steals, and 25 extra-base hits this season. Lugo was a 2nd round pick in 2019 but has yet to show a significant carrying tool in fantasy.
Notable Performances
- Kristian Campbell is on FIRE. Last year’s fourth-round pick is destroying High-A. Since May 1st, Campbell is slashing .354/.448/.650 with six homers and 17 RBI. If Campbell can lower his strikeout rate, he’s got some intriguing power. Now he gets his chance at Double-A Portland.
- Not to be outdone is outfielder Miguel Bleis, who is quickly reminding all of us why he was such a highly-touted prospect. After missing 2023 due to shoulder surgery, Bleis is scorching hot. In May, Bleis hit .318 with four homers and nine steals. That gives him 16 steals on the season, an encouraging sign after a lot of misconception over his added weight this offseason.
Top 10 Prospects
Notable Promotions
- While Jasson Domínguez’s promotion to Double-A seems like a step in the wrong direction, it’s an encouraging sign as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery. The Yankees’ top prospect has played in 11 games thus far, hitting .317 with two home runs and an .879 OPS. It remains unclear how Dominguez fits into the Yankees’ plans in 2024 with the additions of Alex Verdugo and Juan Soto this offseason. Fortunately, the team has the luxury of using kid gloves with the 21-year-old Dominguez and could keep him in Triple-A until regular at-bats are available.
Notable Performances
- Outfielder Spencer Jones is slumping horribly at Double-A Somerset. After missing the early part of the season with neck stiffness, Jones had a nice April, finishing with two homers and three steals in 12 games. But, since May 1st, Jones is hitting just .170 with a 45% strikeout rate and three extra-base hits. I broke down Jones previously and mentioned his strikeouts have been problematic. Two factors come into play: his 6’7″ frame and his long-levered swing. Unfortunately, his most recent struggles are related to contact or lack thereof. Jones has a 63.3% contact rate and 16% Swinging Strike rate, both rank among the worst in the Minor Leagues.
- Ben Rice has found his stride at Double-A. After his Somerset teammate Agustín Ramírez got off to a hot start, Rice has now tied Ramirez for the Eastern League home run lead after a powerful May. The 25-year-old hit five homers in the month and added 15 RBI. The most encouraging stat was Rice drawing 16 walks compared to 20 strikeouts in the month, reaching base at a .364 clip. Rice had a massive 2023 season, belting 20 homers with a .324 average across three levels.
Top 10 Prospects
Notable Promotions
- 2023 3rd-round pick Tre’ Morgan was bumped to High-A Bowling Green this month following a blazing hot start. Morgan was carving up Low-A pitchers to the tune of a .320/.398/.440 slash with two homers and nine steals. He also had a 10% walk rate compared to a 13% strikeout rate. Since his jump to High-A, Morgan is even hotter. In 42 at-bats, he’s hitting .452 with two homers, nine doubles, and eight walks to just one strikeout. He is slugging .810 with a 1.359 OPS. Morgan is arguably the hottest hitter in the Minors.
- Speedy outfielder Chandler Simpson joined Double-A Montgomery to continue his record-setting stolen base campaign. In 32 games at Low-A, Simpson already had 31 steals and has added nine more since his promotion. In addition to his 80-grade speed, Simpson makes contact at a ridiculous 92.9%. When you add the elite speed, his BABIP is north of .400 and shows no signs of regression. With Simpson getting on base at a .425 clip, he could steal over 100 bases this season.
Notable Performances
- Top-25 prospect Xavier Isaac is mashing at High-A, hitting six homers with 22 RBIs in May. He added five steals and hit for a .320 batting average as well. Isaac was named the South Atlantic League player of the week after hitting .529 with three homers and a 1.812 OPS from May 7-12. Isaac is slashing .275/.364/.537 with a 14.1% walk rate and 20 extra-base hits in 41 games this season.
- Ian Seymour is enjoying a bounce-back in his first full season since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2022. Seymour made just 13 appearances last season but has already eclipsed his innings total in 2024. In 10 starts, Seymour is 4-2 with a 2.35 ERA and has racked up 70 strikeouts in 53 2/3 innings. His velocity has returned, and his command has improved since he’s returned, which are both encouraging signs. I would expect Seymour to get a bump to Triple-A shortly.
Top 10 Prospects
Notable Promotions
- An intriguing arm is surfacing in the Jays’ organization and it’s Connor O’Halloran. The Canadian-born lefty with an MLB pedigree played collegiately at the University of Michigan. The 2023 Big Ten Pitcher of the Year was selected in the 5th round last summer. His fastball rarely reaches the low 90s but he has two plus off-speed pitches, a slider, and a changeup. O’Halloran pounds the zone (66.7% strike rate) and has generated a 21% K-BB rate in 2024. Keep an eye on the Canadian southpaw throughout the season.
Notable Performances
- Orelvis Martinez is headed in the wrong direction. After a sensational April that saw him hit .310 with seven homers, the young third baseman has regressed to his old ways. Martinez finished May with a .205/.314/.432 slash line and a 31.8% strikeout rate. Strikeouts have plagued Martinez throughout his career (28.8%), and his “three true outcomes” profile is a reality. Martinez seemed poised to supplant IKF as the Blue Jays’ third baseman but now has cemented his place in Triple-A.
- Veteran infielder Spencer Horwitz is among the leading hitters in the International League. Horwitz leads the IL in hits and doubles while ranking in the Top 10 in batting average, runs, OBP, and walks. At 26 years old, Horwitz could work his way to the Majors this season, but with middling power (2 HR this season), there isn’t much to be excited about long term.