2025 Fantasy Baseball: Minor League Player Updates (6/13)

Catchers

Edgar Quero, CWS

Over the past week, I spoke with a friend who is a sharp fantasy player in the high-stakes market. He has Quero in his starting lineup in his NFBC 15-team main event, which initially appeared to be a weakness, given that Kyle Teel is now on the White Sox roster. Over his first 135 at-bats, Quero only had eight runs and 16 RBIs.

I decided to write about him in the Prospect Watch series, as I wouldn’t highlight him in my waiver wire article. His bat looked better over his last seven games (9-for-22 with one run and six RBIs), and the White Sox will hit him in the middle of their lineup.

In 2024 and 2025 in the minors, Quero hit .287 with 50 runs, 17 home runs, and 74 RBIs, showcasing a higher ceiling in power. Over the next three and a half months, I could see him holding his ground as a starting C2 in 15-team leagues while being an asset in batting average. I expect at least eight home runs down the stretch, with more value in runs and RBIs.

Carlos Perez, CHC

Perez has made his professional baseball living at AAA over the past 12 seasons, leading to a .253 batting average with 381 runs, 122 home runs, and 432 RBIs. Over the past two seasons in the minors, he had improved success at the plate (.262/105/38/112 over 541 at-bats), highlighted by his last 12 games at AAA (.273 with nine runs, five home runs, and 11 RBIs). Perez won’t have any fantasy value this season, but it’s good to see him playing well.

First Basemen

Andrew Vaughn, MLW

The Brewers acquired Vaughn on Friday (6/13) for the unhappy Aaron Civale. His season began with struggles with the White Sox (.189/9/6/19) due to regression in his approach (seven walks and 43 strikeouts over 185 at-bats). He hasn’t been much better at AAA (.226 with nine runs, two home runs, and 11 RBIs) over his last 53 at-bats while taking nine walks and nine strikeouts.

Vaughn was a neutral fantasy player over his previous two seasons (.258/67/21/80 and .246/55/19/70) over 1,136 combined at-bats. He must prove his worth with the bat before earning a starting fantasy job in any format.

Shay Whitcomb, HOU

Over the past two weeks, Whitcomb has been with the Houston Astros, but he only had five at-bats (no hits and two strikeouts). He crushed the ball over his last seven games at AAA (14-for-30 with eight runs, five home runs, eight RBIs, and one steal) in May.

Whitcomb showed more power this season in the minors (.275/37/18/38/6 over 207 at-bats) while seeing time at 1B (12), 2B (6), 3B (8), SS (3), and OF (22). Last year, his bat offered balanced production (25 home runs and 26 stolen bases over 413 at-bats at AAA). If Isaac Paredes misses any time with a hamstring issue, Whitcomb could hit his way to more at-bats in Houston.

Second Basemen

Jordan Lawlar, ARI

In June at AAA, Lawlar has 11 hits over 38 at-bats (.289) with five runs, two home runs, seven RBIs, and one stolen base. He’s hitting .320 on the year in the minors with 43 runs, eight home runs, 38 RBIs, and 14 steals over 194 at-bats.

At some point, the Diamondbacks have to surrender on the Pavin Smith/Randal Grichuk rotation at DH, giving Lawlar a major league starting window.

Christian Moore, LAA

Moore played at a high level over his last six games at AAA (11-for-25 with eight runs, three home runs, and eight RBIs), earning him a call-up to the majors. Over two short seasons in the minors, he hit .302 with 54 runs, 11 home runs, 52 RBIs, and 10 stolen bases. The Angels have given him only 80 at-bats of experience at AAA (.350/16/4/18/3).

Los Angeles drafted Moore eighth overall in the 2024 MLB June Amateur Draft, after a breakout power season in his final year at Tennessee (.375 with 83 runs, 34 home runs, 74 RBIs, and five stolen bases over 296 at-bats). His strikeout rate (27.0%) invites some early struggles with the Angels.

Third Basemen

Brady House, WAS

Heading into Friday night, House has a 12-game hitting streak at AAA (19-for-50 with 10 runs, four home runs, and 11 RBIs), pushing him closer to a chance in the majors. He raised his season’s batting average to .301 with 42 runs, 13 home runs, and 39 RBIs over 246 at-bats. On the downside, House continues to have a high strikeout rate (27.2 – 28.0 over two years at AAA – 470 at-bats).

Jose Rojas, NYY

Over his last twenty games at AAA, Rojas went 24-for-75 (.320) with 12 runs, three home runs, 17 RBIs, and four stolen bases. He has a journeyman profile at age 32. His power improved over the past two seasons at AAA (.263/71/28/102/9 over 419 at-bats). Rojas struggled in 2021 and 2022 with the Angels (.188 with 27 runs, six home runs, 16 RBIs, and two steals over 224 at-bats).

Shortstops

Kaelen Culpepper, MIN

At High A over his last 10 games, Culpepper had 14 hits over 42 at-bats with six runs, two home runs, eight RBIs, and three stolen bases. He’s hitting .299 over 194 at-bats with 35 runs, eight home runs, 30 RBIs, and 14 steals on the year.

The Twins selected him with the 21st pick in the 2024 MLB June Amateur Draft. Over his final two seasons at Kansas State, Culpepper showed an improved skill set (.327/72/21/100/26 over 395 at-bats).

Luis Pena, MIL

In his first season in the minors at age 18, the Brewers started Pena out at A-ball. He’s hitting .327 over 150 at-bats with 35 runs, six home runs, 33 RBIs, and 26 stolen bases. His strikeout rate (11.9) has been exceptional to start his professional career.

Outfielders

Colby Thomas, ATH

Over the past two seasons at AAA, Thomas played in 133 games, leading to a .288 batting average with 100 runs, 33 home runs, 100 RBIs, and six stolen bases. He struck out 28.3% of the time, which is part of the reason the A’s have yet to give him a major league at-bat.

In 2025, his strikeout rate (26.1) improved. Thomas’s bat heated up again over his previous 14 games (.365 with 15 runs, five home runs, 16 RBIs, and one steal over 63 at-bats). He upped his batting average to .306 while continuing to be productive in the counting categories (runs – 53, home runs – 16, and RBIs – 55) over 255 at-bats.

Chase DeLauter, CLE

A spring sports hernia injury that required surgery put DeLauter out of AAA action until the third week in May. Over 22 rehab at-bats at Cleveland’s rookie facility, he hit .182 with three runs, two home runs, three RBIs, and one stolen base while taking six walks.

DeLauter has been relatively quiet over his first 14 games at AAA (.250/9/1/5), but he has showcased a favorable approach (12 walks and nine strikeouts). Over his last six starts (7-for-20 with four runs, three RBIs, and six walks), his bat started to show more upside. The Guardians drafted DeLauter 16th overall in 2022.

Braden Montgomery, CWS

After success over 69 at-bats at A ball (.304/14/3/19/6), the White Sox promoted Montgomery to High-A in late April. He’s trying to hit his way to AA based on his production over his last five games (10-for-22 with six runs, two home runs, and five RBIs), lifting his season average at that level to .267 over 146 at-bats with 19 runs, six home runs, 25 RBIs, and two stolen bases.

Chicago drafted Montgomery 12th overall in the 2024 MLB June Amateur Draft. Over three seasons at Stanford and Texas A&M, he hit .317 with 185 runs, 62 home runs, 203 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases over 725 at-bats.

MJ Melendez, KC

A demotion to AAA didn’t go well for Melendez over his first 77 at-bats at AAA (.156/8/1/6 with four walks and 27 strikeouts). He has looked much more comfortable at the plate since mid-May (.289 with 16 runs, six home runs, 18 RBIs, and 11 stolen bases) while losing his strikeout rate over this span to 20.0%.

Drew Waters hasn’t hit a home run over his last 134 at-bats with the Royals, and he’s hit .200 in June over 25 at-bats with three runs, one steal, and nine strikeouts. At some point, the Royals should give Melendez another chance, at the expense of Waters’s playing time.

Jurickson Profar, ATL

Entering Friday, the Braves have played 67 games, which suggests that Profar could be back in Atlanta on June 27th (many sources have him returning on the 29th, but Atlanta plays their 80th game on June 26th, barring a rainout).

Major League Baseball suspended him before the start of this year for 80 games for failing a PED test. He’s scheduled to begin a minor league rehab assignment on June 17th, which will put him back on fantasy radar in deep formats.

Esmerlyn Valdez, PIT

In his first season in the minors at High A, Valdez smashed 16 home runs with 36 runs and 41 RBIs over his first 217 at-bats. His walk rate (11.3) was an asset, with some work needed to improve his strikeout rate (25.4). He has 14 hits over his last 44 at-bats with six runs, two home runs, five RBIs, and two stolen bases.

Chander Simpson, TB

After his demolition, Simpson went 11-for-34 with four runs, two RBIs, and three stolen bases with seven strikeouts. He’s hitting .308 at AAA this year with 17 runs, no home runs, 10 RBIs, and 11 steals over 107 at-bats. His bat had similar value with the Rays (.285/17/0/11/19 over 123 at-bats).

Starting Pitchers

Logan Hendrson, MLW

Henderson was bypassed for a starting job with the Brewers this week by Jacob Misiorowski. He dominated over four starts in Milwaukee (1.71 ERA, 14 hits, six walks, and 29 strikeouts over 21.0 innings) while offering a beast arm as well over his last seven starts at AAA (6-0 with 0.79 ERA, 0.76 WHIP, and 42 strikeouts over 34.0 innings).

His last start in the minors came on June 7th (no runs, and three baserunners over five innings with six strikeouts), which was the same day Misiorowski pitched (five shutout innings with five baserunners and seven strikeouts). With no game action at AAA since that appearance, I expect Henderson to be back in the Brewers over the next five days. He currently isn’t listed to start at AAA over the next three days, but that could change.

Chase Burns, CIN

In his first start at AAA after his promotion, Burns battled his command (four walks over 5.1 innings) while allowing two runs and four hits with seven strikeouts. It was the first time he allowed more than a run in a game since April 18th. Over his last nine appearances between AA and AAA, he went 6-1 with a 1.52 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, and 62 strikeouts over 47.1 innings.

Joe Boyle, TB

The Boyle 2025 Express remains at AAA despite upping his scoreless streak to 13 innings with 10 baserunners and 20 strikeouts. After 11 starts in the minors, he has a 1.33 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and 64 strikeouts over 54.0 innings. Boyle also handled himself well in his only start with the Rays (no runs or hits over five innings with two walks and seven strikeouts.

Andrew Painter, PHI

For the fantasy game managers waiting on Painter, his arm has shown some cracks over his last two appearances at AAA (10 runs, 14 hits, four home runs, and four walks over nine innings with nine strikeouts). This speed bump could be an indication that his trending hype this year will end in a trap for fantasy teams. He now has a 5.19 ERA and 1.50 WHIP over 26.0 innings at AAA with five home runs, 11 walks, and 29 strikeouts. Call me squeamish, as my sure thing this second-half helper may not show up for the Christmas party.

Miguel Ullola, HOU

Over his last six starts at AAA, Ullola went 3-0 with a 1.39 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 45 strikeouts over 32.1 innings. He walked 18 batters over this span, giving him 26 free passes in 2025 over his 42.1 innings. His average fastball (93.3 mph) is about league average while featuring a cutter as his second-highest usage pitch. Ullola throws his slider, changeup, and curveball about the same number of times. To help the Astros, he must throw more strikes.

Trevor Rogers, BAL

In a spot start for Baltimore on May 24th, Rogers had his best outing of the year (no runs and two hits over 6.1 innings with five strikeouts), teasing some fantasy game managers. He’s made two AAA starts since, leading to four runs, 15 hits, one home run, and two walks over 10.2 innings with nine strikeouts. His fastball (92.7 mph) remains well below his breakout season in 2021 (94.6 mph).

Bubba Chandler, PIT

Based on his last two appearances (four runs, four hits, and five walks over 2.2 innings with one strikeout), Chandler may have an underlying injury. His right arm was on point over his previous 11 starts at AAA (2.03 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and 69 strikeouts over 48.2 innings). The velocity of his fastball was intact in his last start (99.8 mph), so he may have been over-throwing in that outing.

Luis Morales, ATH

In his four starts after his promotion to AAA, Morales is batting .750. He dominated in his first outing at that level on May 24th (six no-hit shutout innings with a walk and seven strikeouts). His following game (six runs, seven hits, two home runs, and three walks over 4.2 innings with six strikeouts) missed the mark. Morales handled himself well in his last two appearances (1-0 with a 3.27 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and 10 strikeouts over 11.0 innings).

His average fastball (96.3 mph) grades well while supported by a winning slider and two low-volume pitches (curveball and changeup). Morales has made 12 starts between AA and AAA this season (5-2 with a 3.38 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and 76 strikeouts over 64.0 innings).