Heavy hitters, elite mound work highlight Wednesday's prospect performances

A pair of Top 100 prospects and their teammates led the way in a record-setting performance at Triple-A, but there were plenty of other offensive standouts, including not one, but two players named Josue who had a grand old time. A healthy number of pitchers stood tall on the mound, including a Pirate who has yet to allow a run in 2025. That and more during a busy Wednesday around Minor League Baseball:

Moisés Ballesteros, C/1B, Iowa (CHC No. 4/MLB No. 65)
There was no shortage of offensive heroes in Triple-A Iowa's 20-run outburst, but Ballesteros sits at the top of the list. The 21-year-old amassed his first multihomer game in nearly three years as part of a four-hit, three-RBI afternoon for the I-Cubs. In addition to his first two long balls of the season, Ballesteros doubled, singled, walked and scored a career-high five runs. The native of Venezuela has hit safely in 11 of 14 games to open the year, giving him a slash line of .368/.419/.579. Full story | Gameday

JJ Wetherholt, SS, Springfield (STL No. 1/MLB No. 21)
An 0-for-14 start to 2025 has become history for Wetherholt, who continued his scorching run with arguably his best performance as a pro. The seventh overall pick in last year's Draft smashed his first homer of the year for Double-A Springfield and drove in a career-high four runs while falling a triple shy of the cycle. Since opening the year hitless, Wetherholt has gone 14-for-27 (.519) with five extra-base hits and eight RBIs during a six-game hitting streak with a trio of three-hit performances. Gameday

Kevin Alcántara, OF, Iowa (CHC No. 6/MLB No. 86)
Like teammate and fellow Top 100 prospect Ballesteros, Alcántara put up huge numbers to help him break out of an early-season slump. The Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic native filled up the stat sheet offensively with four hits -- three for extra bases -- five RBIs, three runs and a stolen base. Alcántara entered the day batting .220/.340/.268 with two doubles, no homers and two RBIs in 12 games. The 21-year-old produced a trio of run-scoring hits, highlighted by a three-run jack. Full story | Gameday

Coby Mayo, 3B, Norfolk (BAL No. 2/MLB No. 13)
Mayo's sluggish start to the season has turned into a distant memory after he produced another big game for Triple-A Norfolk. The 23-year-old fell a triple shy of the cycle, drove in a season-high three runs and collected three hits for the first time since March 30. Mayo began play on April 5 with a .125/.267/.250 slash line after a 3-for-24 start to the season, but he's hit safely in eight of nine since to raise his average to .254 and his OPS to .895 with 14 RBIs in 16 games. Gameday

Ben Hess, RHP, Hudson Valley (NYY No. 3)
The 2024 first-rounder didn’t make his professional debut last summer, but he’s made up ground early this season. In his second start as a pro, Hess served up another helping of what he did in his first: scoreless innings and strikeouts. The former Alabama standout racked up nine punchouts, allowing one unearned run over five frames in the High-A Renegades' victory. Gameday

Hunter Barco, LHP, Altoona (PIT No. 7)
Barco hadn't allowed a run over eight innings through his first two starts of the season, and he kept his flawless ERA intact with another gem in his third outing. The 6-foot-4 lefty had his entire arsenal working in the Double-A Curve’s win, fanning six and allowing just one hit -- a bunt in the third inning -- across five scoreless frames. The Florida native sports a 0.62 WHIP and .143 BAA on the season. Gameday

Josue De Paula, OF, Great Lakes (LAD No. 3/MLB No. 37)
De Paula continues to produce in the High-A Midwest League despite being one of the younger players on the circuit. The 19-year-old slugged a go-ahead grand slam to highlight a seven-run eighth inning for Great Lakes in a breakout performance following a 1-for-17 slide over his previous five games. De Paula also doubled and walked, giving him 10 free passes, a .404 OBP and a .945 OPS in 10 games to begin the year. Gameday

Josue Brice?o, C, West Michigan (DET No. 6/MLB No. 91)
Brice?o looks to be finding his groove for High-A West Michigan after belting the first grand slam of his pro career. It was the second straight game the 20-year-old has cleared the fences. He also doubled while extending his hitting streak to nine games, during which time Brice?o has gone 11-for-40 (.275) with four extra-base hits, three homers and 11 RBIs. Gameday

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George Klassen, RHP, Rocket City (LAA No. 3)
Acquired in the deal that sent closer Carlos Estévez to the Phillies before last year’s Trade Deadline, Klassen has been a dominant force on the mound ever since. In 11 starts as part of the Angels organization, the 23-year-old has posted seven outings with two earned runs or fewer. The most recent of the bunch came for Double-A Rocket City, he notched eight punchouts over five one-run innings. Gameday

Ryan Sloan, RHP, Modesto (SEA No. 8)
Sloan entered last year’s Draft ranked as the top prep right-hander and he showed why for Single-A Modesto. The 19-year-old displayed a downright filthy slider en route to rattling off seven strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings. Gameday