2025 Fantasy Baseball: Minor League Player Updates (6/20)

Catchers

Samuel Basallo, Baltimore Orioles

In June, Basallo has been in top form at AAA, leading to a .375 batting average over 40 at-bats with 11 runs, six home runs, and 11 RBI. He has a hit or more in nine of his last 10 starts while riding a four-game hitting streak (8-for-17 with five runs and two solo home runs). For the year, Basallo has been productive over his 152 at-bats (.270/31/15/31) with a 24.6% strikeout rate.

Mickey Gasper, Minnesota Twins

The Twins gave Gasper 34 at-bats this season as their backup catcher, but he hit .176 with five runs, three RBIs, and nine strikeouts. His bat reached a much higher level at AAA over the past two seasons (.350/67/18/62/3 over 309 at-bats) while showcasing a winning approach (53 walks and 48 strikeouts). This month in the minors, Gasper has 11 hits over 39 at-bats (.282) with eight runs, one home run, and seven RBIs. At age 29, his switch-hitting bat can only dream of getting an extended look in the majors.

First Basemen

Andrew Vaughn, Milwaukee Brewers

Since his trade to the Brewers, Vaughn has played in two games at AAA (2-for-8 with a run, one home run, and five RBIs). He has been unable to find his rhythm at the plate in the minors (.215/10/3/16 over 65 at-bats) after his demotion in late May, even with a rebound in his approach (11 walks and 11 strikeouts).

Michael Toglia, Colorado Rockies

Between AAA and the majors over the last 11 days, Toglia went 13-for-36 with 12 runs, six home runs, and 19 RBIs while striking out 10 times (26.3%). His inability to make contact (84 strikeouts over 199 at-bats – 38.2%) with the Rockies led to his retooling in the minors. Toglia brings power and speed to the first base position, but his batting average is real.

Second Basemen

Jordan Lawlar, Arizona Diamondbacks

Much of the fantasy market has been following Lawlar this year, awaiting his potential to shine with the Diamondbacks. He has eight hits over his last 29 at-bats at AAA, with seven runs, two home runs, five RBIs, and four stolen bases. His production this year in the minors (.319/48/10/43/18 over 210 at-bats) has been elite, but Lawlar was overmatched in his eight-game test drive (no hits over 19 at-bats with nine strikeouts) with Arizona early in the year.

At some point, the Diamondbacks admit that starting Pavin Smith for 52 games was a poor franchise decision. His strikeout rate (31.3) is so far out of line from his two previous seasons (19.7%), which suggests he needs a trip back to AAA. Since May 23rd, he’s hitting .210 over 119 at-bats with 13 runs, one home run, and nine RBIs. Smith will take some walks, but the dream of him developing into a starting player with Arizona should be over.

The goal for the Diamondbacks should be to shift Eugenio Suarez to DH and play Lawlar to third base over the remainder of the season.

Max Anderson, Detroit Tigers

The hot season for Anderson continues at AA. He has 20 hits over 58 at-bats this month with 10 runs, four home runs, and nine RBIs, aligning with his success over his 55 games (.341/37/11/43/1 over 226 at-bats). The Tigers drafted him in the second round of the 2023 MLB June Amateur Draft. Detroit should promote him to AAA this summer.

Third Basemen

Shay Whitcomb, Houston Astros

At some point, the Astros have to have some faith in the potential of Whitcomb’s bat. He doesn’t have a hit over eight at-bats over the past three weeks. Houston gave him a bench role starting in late May. They sent him back to AAA on June 17th (0-1), only to recall him one day later. Over his first 53 games this year in the minors, Whitcomb hit .275 with 37 runs, 18 home runs, 38 RBIs, and six stolen bases over 207 at-bats. Last season at AAA, he posted a winning balanced season (.293/73/25/91/26 over 413 at-bats). Sneaky bat if the Astros give him a starting window.

Brady House, Washington Nationals

The Nationals called up House this week after a 15-game hitting streak (24-for-64 with 10 runs, four home runs, and 13 RBIs) at AAA. His strikeout rate (21.8) was improved over this span. Over the past two seasons in the minors, he hit .263 with 110 runs, 32 home runs, 107 RBIs, and six steals while striking out 218 times (26.4%). House has four hits over his first 11 at-bats with Washington while stealing a base. The Nationals drafted him 11th overall in the 2021 MLB June Amateur Draft.

Shortstops

Chad Stevens, Los Angeles Angels

Over his last 23 games, Stevens had been on a heater at AAA (.374/20/7/205 over 91 at-bats). He’s on a career path this season, leading to .323 with 42 runs, 12 home runs, 38 RBIs, and nine stolen bases over 220 at-bats. At age 26, Stevens has never had a major league at-bat.

Jadher Areinamo, Milwaukee Brewers

The bat of Areinamo stalled at High A over the past two seasons, despite posting competitive stats (.298/98/17/104/40 over 664 at-bats). His strikeout rate was favorable in both seasons (11.3% and 13.4%). Over his last 11 games, he hit .400 over 45 at-bats with six runs, two home runs, 17 RBIs, and two steals. Areinamo looks ready for a AA promotion.

Outfielders

Justin Crawford, Philadelphia Phillies

Despite missing eight games in June with a quad injury, Crawford leads the International League outfielders in hits (78), leading to a .342 batting average over 228 at-bats with one home run, 26 RBIs, and 24 stolen bases. His batting average floor has been high over the past two years (.324/124/10/87/67 over 689 at-bats), putting him within a phone call of helping the Phillies in some way. They drafted Crawford 17th overall in 2022 out of high school. He has 16 hits over his last 36 at-bats with 10 runs, eight RBIs, and seven steals.

Colby Thomas, Athletics

Another week goes by, and Thomas played well at AAA (8-for-23 with four runs, two home runs, 10 RBIs, and two stolen bases), yet no phone call for a major league call-up. He’s hitting .310 over 274 at-bats this year with 56 runs, 17 home runs, 63 RBIs, and five stolen bases, giving almost a full season of experience at AAA (.291/103/34/108/8 over 553 at-bats).

Carlos Cortes, Athletics

Heading into Thursday, Cortes has a 17-game hitting streak (23-for-67 with 16 runs, four home runs, 22 RBIs) while taking more walks (12) than strikeouts (11). He has been struck at AAA over the past four seasons (.243/161/41/158/6 over 921 at-bats), putting him in the journeyman category while being older (28) than most of his competitors at his level of the minors.

Jake McCarthy, Arizona Diamondbacks

I stumbled into McCarthy’s profile again on Sunday after doing some in-depth waiver wire research. He has his 12-game hitting streak (21-for-53 with 13 runs, one home run, five RBIs, and five steals) broken on Tuesday (0-5), followed up by a 2-for-4 night with a run, a double, and a triple. Since his demotion to AAA, McCarthy has 191 at-bats (.314/41/1/13/12).

Victor Labrada, Seattle Mariners

In June at AA, Labrada began to find his stride at the plate, resulting in a .333 batting average over 60 at-bats with eight runs, one home run, eight RBIs, and nine stolen bases. His approach (42 walks and 43 strikeouts) has been favorable this year over his 275 plate appearances. His bat had less value over 193 at-bats at AA last season (.233/30/5/27/25). At age 25, his development should be higher, suggesting Labrada has more work to do to become a major league player.

Chandler Simpson, Tampa Bay Rays

Since his return to AAA, Simpson has 19 hits over 57 at-bats with eight runs, four RBIs, and six stolen bases. He is still looking for his first home run this year (253 at-bats) while putting only one ball in the seats in his 1,174 career at-bats in the minors and majors. His drawing card is his elite speed (239 stolen bases) and high floor in batting average (.322 in the minors and .285 with Tampa).

Starting Pitchers

Chase Burns, Cincinnati Reds

In his second start at AAA, Burns regained his elite command and success by allowing one run and three hits over seven innings with no walks and seven strikeouts. His right arm has been sensational over his last 10 starts between AA and AAA (7-1 with a 1.49 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, and 69 strikeouts over 54.1 innings). Burns belongs in the majors while continuing to waste 2025 pitching bullets in the minors.

Joe Boyle, Tampa Bay Rays

With Taj Bradley fading over his last three appearances (13 runs, 23 baserunners, and three home runs over 9.1 innings), Boyle looks poised to steal his starting job. He’s coming off three elite outings in the minors, leading to one run, 12 baserunners, and a home run over 16.0 innings with 26 strikeouts. Batters only have 30 hits off of him this year at AAA over 59.0 innings with a 1.37 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and 73 strikeouts. I would try to add him before Tampa releases an update on a starting pitching change.

Andrew Painter, Philadelphia Phillies

Last week, I seriously thought about dropping Painter (buy-and-hold arm) after two poor showings at AAA (10 runs, 18 baserunners, and four home runs over nine innings with nine strikeouts). He bounced back in his next outing (five shutout innings with one hit, two walks, and six strikeouts), igniting the candle of hope that Painter would help fantasy teams over the second half of the season. Over 11 starts between A and AAA, he pitched 42.1 innings with a 4.25 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and 47 strikeouts.

Didier Fuentes, Atlanta Braves

Over his nine starts at High A, AA, and AAA, Fuentes doesn’t look major league ready based on his ERA (4.81). His WHIP (1.12) and strikeouts (48 over 39.1 innings) painted a higher picture of his 2025 profile, giving the Braves a reason to call him up to make his major league debut on Friday. He pitched much better over his last four appearances (2.41 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, and 23 strikeouts over 18.2 innings).

Fuentes works off a plus fastball (96.0) while relying on a slider and a show-me split-finger pitch. The lack of depth of his arsenal should be an issue early in his major league career. In addition, he has yet to throw more than 70 pitches in a game in 2025.

Bubba Chandler, Pittsburgh Pirates

For the fantasy teams carrying Chandler in deep formats, they have to be extremely frustrated with his direction and the Pirates' unwillingness to give him a major league opportunity. He opened June with two disappointing showings (four runs and nine baserunners over 2.2 innings with one strikeout).

His next outing (one run and six baserunners over four innings with three strikeouts) was better, but not high enough to give the fantasy market a reason to believe in him over the back half of this year. Chandler has a 2.60 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and 73 strikeouts over 55.1 innings this year.

Logan Henderson, Milwaukee Brewers

In June, the Brewers have tried to space out Henderson’s starts to help save some of his arm for the majors later in the season. He’s made three starts over the first 18 days (one run, 16 baserunners, and 15 strikeouts over 13.1 innings) before taking the mound on Thursday night (6/19 – he allowed two solo home runs in the first inning with two strikeouts ~ the game is still in progress). Over his previous 12 appearances, Henderson allowed two runs or fewer in each start.

Austin Peterson, Cleveland Guardians

Over the past two seasons, Peterson made 24 starts at AA, leading to a 2.28 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, and 121 strikeouts over 130.0 innings. Cleveland promoted him to AAA last week, resulting in a competitive game (two runs and seven hits over five innings with two strikeouts). He offers a low-90s fastball while mixing in a cutter, slider, and curveball. His changeup is a low-volume pitch at this point in his career. Peterson gains his edge with command, but he started this year at age 25.

Trenton Denholm, Cleveland Guardians

Denholm is another older prospect (25) who pitched well over the past two seasons at AA (11-4 with a 2.16 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and 82 strikeouts over 95.2 innings). He opened the season with a dull showing at AAA (three runs and four baserunners over 3.1 innings with three strikeouts). Over his next 54.0 innings back at AA, he walked only six batters, helping him post a 1.83 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, and 50 strikeouts. Denholm is a soft-tosser who throws a cutter as his second-best pitch while mixing in a curveball and changeup.