Here is another check-in on PLV and Fan4+ darlings around the minors. Instead of looking at the biggest names, let’s look at some of the best recent performers who may not have the prospect profile to earn dynasty respect, but could make their real-life value known soon.
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Checking in on Big-name Prospects:
Logan Henderson, 23, Milwaukee Brewers
MiLB Season Stats: 9 G (8 GS)/43.1 IP/1.87 ERA/32.7% K%/8.3% BB%/1.04 WHIP
Weekly Stats: 1 GS/5.1 IP/1.69 ERA/20.0% K%/4.0% BB%/1.88 WHIP
I was quick to criticize the Milwaukee Brewers for demoting Logan Henderson earlier this season and rightfully so. The move didn’t make much sense given how many of the team’s starters were just treading water at the time, while Henderson was holding his own against big-league competition. This week, most dynasty managers have their eyes on fellow Milwaukee prospect Jacob Misiorowski after his electric debut. But to Henderson’s credit, he’s doing everything right to prove he deserves another shot in Milwaukee before the season’s end.
Henderson’s outings haven’t been flawless and there’s always room for critique. He allowed a season-high nine hits in his June 13 start against the International League’s Norfolk Tides, a gaudy number over 5.1 innings of work. But some context is key. First, the Tides feature one of Triple-A’s more potent lineups, with Jeremiah Jackson and Samuel Basallo alone accounting for six of those nine hits. Second, Henderson still induced 14 whiffs, the fifth-most among Triple-A pitchers that night. And perhaps most importantly, he posted his lowest hard-hit rate in a start since returning to Triple-A. After struggling with hard contact in early June, he dropped that rate from 57.1% on June 1 to 47.4% on June 13 — a step in the right direction, even if it doesn’t quite match his season-best 14.3% from April 9.
Henderson has always flashed an impressive arsenal, but what stood out most in his June 13 outing was his command and confidence with the changeup. It’s long been a plus pitch, but his sequencing and precision with it were exceptional this time out. The Tides couldn’t barrel it up — none of their contact against the changeup registered as hard-hit. Even more telling, only six of the 24 changeups he threw missed the zone. This is the kind of secondary weapon that amplifies the effectiveness of Henderson’s four-seam fastball and is a big reason why it’s playing so well in 2025.
This was one of those outings where the box score doesn’t tell the full story. Despite allowing nine hits, Henderson looked poised and in command, earning his second win of June. He’s giving Milwaukee the best kind of dilemma, with a surplus of legitimate starting options. The Brewers may not need a rotation shakeup as they hold firm in the NL Central, but swapping out a steady veteran like Jose Quintana for Henderson could elevate an already promising staff. Henderson has the stuff and momentum to be part of what could become one of baseball’s most electric rotations.
Take a look under the PLV hood:
MiLB Season Stats: 11 GS/52.0 IP/6.23 ERA/21.6% K%/11.9% BB%/1.62 WHIP
Weekly Stats: 1 GS/3.2 IP/12.27 ERA/21.1% K%/15.8% BB%/2.18 WHIP
In stark contrast to Henderson’s big league breakout in 2025, Los Angeles Angels pitching prospect Caden Dana remains stuck in place. The right-hander’s MLB debut last September came with plenty of excitement, even though the Angels had little left to play for. His first three starts (10.1 IP, 9.58 ERA, 2.03 WHIP) were disappointing but understandable given his young age (just 20 at the time) and his status as a top prospect in the Angels’ system. However, continued struggles in the majors, combined with shaky performances in Triple-A, have clearly lowered dynasty managers’ confidence in Dana’s MLB potential.
In April and May, the Angels called Dana up from the minors for two three-inning bullpen appearances. Unfortunately, neither outing went well. Control problems continued, hitters regularly punished his changeup, and Dana was also hurt by some bad luck on batted balls. Even though the gap between his xwOBA and wOBA suggests he could improve, it doesn’t mean much without regular chances to adjust at the major league level.
Dana hasn’t pitched for the Angels in over a month, and recent performances suggest he’s not ready for another chance soon. In six Triple-A starts since his last MLB appearance, his struggles have only gotten worse: he’s walking almost as many batters as he’s striking out, giving up an alarming 2.39 HR/9, and opponents have hit .312 against him.
His latest outing on June 11 against the Las Vegas Aviators summed up these struggles. Dana allowed five earned runs and two home runs in just 3.2 innings. He gave up five hits, and the Aviators scored seven total runs while he was pitching. Las Vegas hitters jumped all over his four-seam fastball because he couldn’t consistently throw strikes. Throwing just 39 of his 89 pitches in the strike zone, Dana seemed to be battling himself as much as the hitters.
Still, there were some positives. Dana got many swings and misses with his slider and changeup, using both pitches about equally. His slider had a strong 46.2% whiff rate, and his changeup was very effective, with a .055 xwOBA. Unfortunately, these good signs were overshadowed by his fastball troubles.
Where does Dana go from here? That’s a tough question without an easy answer right now. Improving control of his four-seam fastball seems critical, but that’s easier said than done. With a low 23.1% CSW% on that pitch since last season, this isn’t a sustainable strategy. The Angels surely have a development plan, but Dana’s recent results create doubt about his ability to reach his once-high ceiling.
Take a look under the PLV hood:
Weekly Four-Seam Standouts
This section could be a combination of Bubba Chandler (155 on June 11), Jacob Misiorowski (156 in MLB debut on June 12), or Andrew Painter (121 on June 10), week in and week out. Those pitchers are among the cream of the prospect crop, and their fastballs are a large part of their success. Instead of honing in on the player’s managers many already know, here are some other above-average offerings and what makes them worth noting.
Joe Boyle, 25, Tampa Bay Rays
Weekly Four-Seam Grade: 115 Fan 4+ on June 4, 2025, start
MiLB Season Stats: 10 G (6 GS)/38.0 IP/1.42 ERA/25.8% K%/12.6% BB%/1.21 WHIP
Tampa Bay Rays prospect Joe Boyle is quickly becoming one of my favorite prospects. The 25-year-old Notre Dame alum struggled as a starter with the Athletics in 2024, but he’s turned things around since joining the Rays this offseason. Although he has made just one MLB start this season, Boyle is dominating at Triple-A and looks ready for more big league opportunities later this year.
In three June starts, Boyle has posted an impressive 0.56 ERA over 16 innings. He only uses three pitches, but it’s hard to argue with his results: 26 strikeouts and only four walks during this stretch. Boyle’s fastball has been key to his success, thrown 51.8% of the time and averaging 98 MPH this season, even hitting triple digits at times. Opposing Triple-A hitters have a .296 xwOBA against his fastball, but it effectively sets up his even stronger split-finger fastball and slider. Both pitches boast impressive whiff rates above 43% this season.
Jack Perkins, 25, Athletics
Weekly Four-Seam Grade: 112 Fan4+ in June 8, 2025, start
MiLB Season Stats: 8 GS/39.0 IP/3.23 ERA/38.9% K%/9.6% BB%/1.00 WHIP
Meanwhile, despite their overall struggles, the Athletics seem to be making progress in pitching development in their minor league system. Right-hander Jack Perkins, a fifth-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, stands out as a promising example. Perkins features a diverse pitch mix, comfortably utilizing two different fastballs along with one of the more devastating sliders in the Athletics‘ system. He’s showing strong improvement this month and should be a significant success story for the Athletics‘ development team.
Perkins’ four-seam fastball is his third-most used pitch, well behind his slider and sinker. But on June 8, it played a key role — setting up those primary offerings through effective tunneling and helping him finish off hitters. The pitch has solid velocity, but it’s his refined command that makes it a real weapon when everything’s working.
Welcome to the Bigs
Ian Seymour, 26, Tampa Bay Rays
MiLB Season Stats: 13 G (12 GS)/67.1 IP/2.67 ERA/32.3% K%/6.0% BB%/1.16 WHIP
Debut: 2.0 IP/0.00 ERA/22.2% K%/22.2% BB%/1.00 WHIP
While Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony’s debut was drawing the eyes and headlines, another impactful prospect made his MLB debut in Fenway Park that same night. Tampa Bay Rays lefty Ian Seymour came in for the final final two innings and earned his first win in his first outing.
Seymour had two scoreless frames in a 10–8, 11-inning victory over the AL East rival Red Sox. He walked two batters while striking out another two, but did not allow a hit in that same body of work. Seymour struck out the first batter he faced in Carlos Narváez. A fielding error later that same inning saw Boston tie the game and have runners on the corners with two outs. Seymour retired Trevor Story to get out of that situation and had a much less dramatic 11th inning.
A Massachusetts native just 30 miles from home, Seymour admitted he was “at a loss for words.” With friends, family, and former coaches cheering, he described it as the “best day of my whole life.” Rays manager Kevin Cash praised Seymour’s poise, saying the southpaw “couldn’t have handled it any better.”
PLV didn’t love what Seymour flashed in his debut, highlighted with a 4.68 PLV on his changeup and a 3.59 PLV on his fastball, his two most-used pitches. Dynasty managers would love to see those numbers tick up as he sees more work or perhaps some starts, but it is hard to argue with his results against the Red Sox.
Pitchers that made their MLB debuts this past week:
Grant Taylor, 23, Chicago White Sox
