A number of baseball's best prospects broke through on Wednesday after a quiet opening weekend, including a pair of Top 100 prospects at Double-A. A lightning-quick effort at High-A was one for the ages while a Triple-A slugger continues to establish himself as one of the top young power hitters in the game. Not to be outdone were two ace-like starts on the mound, which rounds a busy day of top performances:
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JJ Wetherholt, SS, Springfield (STL No. 1/MLB No. 22)
The seventh overall pick in the 2024 Draft made his mark in his fifth Double-A game. The 22-year-old doubled, singled twice and added a sacrifice fly to plate his first three Texas League runs. Wetherholt began his pro career with Single-A Palm Beach last year but jumped over High-A after slashing .295/.405/.400 with an .805 OPS in 29 games. Gameday
Max Clark, OF, West Michigan (DET No. 2/MLB No. 5)
Clark's torrid start to the season continued with another strong game for High-A West Michigan. The 20-year-old drove in three runs, doubled, stole a base and walked twice, giving him eight free passes in his first five games. Clark had 21 walks in 23 contests during his pro debut last season across two Minor League levels. The third overall pick in the 2023 Draft has nine RBIs and a 1.135 OPS. Gameday
Ethan Salas, C, San Antonio (SD No. 2/MLB No. 31)
Salas shook off a 1-for-11 start to his season with a breakout performance for Double-A San Antonio. Still nearly two months shy of his 19th birthday, the backstop collected three hits, two RBIs and a stolen base while also helping guide the Missions' pitchers to an 11-strikeout performance. Gameday
Nick Kurtz, 1B, Las Vegas (ATH No. 1/MLB No. 36)
Kurtz's sensational start to the season took another leap forward for Triple-A Las Vegas. A long leap forward. The 22-year-old went deep for the third consecutive game, smashing his Minor League-best sixth roundtripper in 10 contests an estimated 455 feet at Southwest University Ballpark in El Paso. Kurtz also paces the Minors with 17 RBIs and has slashed .386/.426/.909 with 11 extra-base hits. Gameday
Emaarion Boyd, OF, Beloit (MIA)
Boyd used his legs to race into the history books for High-A Beloit. The 21-year-old speedster didn't register a hit but matched his career high with six stolen bases for the Sky Carp. Boyd became the first Minor Leaguer to swipe six bags without collecting a hit since at least 2005. No Major Leaguer in the modern era (since 1901) has stolen six bases in a single game without the benefit of a base knock. Full story | Gameday
C.J. Kayfus, 1B, Akron (CLE No. 8)
Five games into the season and Kayfus already has four multihit efforts for Double-A Akron. The 23-year-old equaled a career high with four hits, including his first long ball of the season, and fell a triple shy of the cycle in the RubberDucks' win. Kayfus drove in three runs, scored three times and is batting .524/.583/.857 with seven RBIs while hitting safely in each contest. Gameday
Josue Brice?o, C, West Michigan (DET No. 6/MLB No. 92)
Just a few months ago, Brice?o became the first player in Arizona Fall League history to win the circuit's Triple Crown, so it¡¯s fitting that his first homer of 2025 was the most noteworthy knock of them all -- a grand slam. The blast fueled a six-run fourth inning that led to a win for the Whitecaps. Gameday
Dakota Jordan, OF, San Jose (SF No. 6)
After playing just two games as a pro last summer and not reaching base in either, Jordan has burst onto the scene in 2025. A two-sport high school athlete that also starred on the gridiron, the fourth-rounder showed his speed and strength with his first three-hit game, including his first triple and capping it off with his first homer in Single-A San Jose¡¯s victory. Gameday
Ben Hess, RHP, Hudson Valley (NYY No. 4)
It was a debut to remember for Hess, the Yankees' first-round pick (26th overall) in the 2024 Draft. The 22-year-old struck out nine and scattered two hits over 4 2/3 scoreless innings for High-A Hudson Valley. A strikeout pitcher prone to bouts of wildness during his collegiate career with Alabama, Hess was efficient for the Renegades, throwing 51 of his 69 pitches for strikes. Gameday
Logan Henderson, RHP, Nashville (MIL No. 12)
After getting roughed up in his season debut on March 29, Henderson has been untouchable for Triple-A Nashville. The 23-year-old is unscored upon in his past two starts after throwing five hitless frames for the Sounds. Henderson struck out eight for the second consecutive start and has a 10-inning scoreless streak, lowering his ERA to 3.21 through three starts. The 2021 fourth-rounder has fanned 24 in 14 innings. Gameday