The Show Notes #15: Black Baseball's Best Position Player Prospects in 2025

The fifteenth edition of The Show Notes puts a microscope on more than 50 Black position player prospects in MiLB

Introduction/Author’s Note

Ranking the top prospects in Minor League Baseball is common in the baseball blogosphere. It would be negligent for The Red Black Green Baseball Blog not to participate, especially when MiLB and MLB are amid a significant increase in African-American, Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Latino, and African players signing contracts and donning uniforms.

This list and my overall interest in Minor League Baseball would not exist without the hard work of individuals at publications such as Guardians Baseball Insider, Next Year In Cleveland, Everybody Hates Cleveland, FanGraphs, Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus, Prospects Worldwide, Prospects Live, Prospects 1500, 2080 Baseball, Tigers Minor League Report, and many other reputed publications.

This five thousand word article features more than 50 active Black position players in Minor League Baseball from across the African diaspora placed into four tiers. The players in each tier are not listed in any specific order or preference. Thank you all for reading and supporting my work!!! - Pat Ellington Jr.

Honorable Mentions

OF Brennen Davis, New York Yankees

Brennen Davis is a 25-year-old outfielder in the New York Yankees farm system. The Chicago Cubs selected him in the 2nd round of the 2018 MLB Draft directly out of high school. While he has had a notable amount of success in the minor leagues and reached Triple-A in his age 20 season, Davis has suffered a wide range of severe injuries that have limited him to just one season with at least 100 games played. He would be a huge addition for the Yankees if he stays healthy and proves his hitting prowess is not lost. This is a boom-or-bust move that I will be watching closely throughout the 2025 season.

INF Yoeilin Cespedes, Boston Red Sox

Yoeilin is unrelated to the Cespedes brothers of Cuba but has a similar name and game. His offensive profile is centered around his penchant for making hard contact at a high rate and his swing, which is geared toward lifting the ball to accrue extra-base hits.

OF Druw Jones, Arizona D-Backs

Druw Jones was the second overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft directly out of high school. The son and namesake of Andruw Jones, he has persisted through major injuries that almost derailed his career before it started. He logged a .275/.409/.405 slash line with 21 stolen bases across 109 games with Arizona’s Low-A affiliate, his first taste of substantial playing time as a professional. His crowded toolbox features above-average power, elite speed, and a strong throwing arm.

OF Braylon Payne, Milwaukee Brewers

Braylon Payne was seen as one of the most advanced high school outfielders in the 2024 MLB Draft, but front offices were unsure he would sign. Milwaukee persuaded him to abandon a strong college commitment to the University of Houston when they selected him in the first round. He possesses plus raw power that allows him to achieve exit velocities as high as 110 miles per hour and the necessary athleticism to be a full-time center fielder, and his nineteenth birthday is not until August. Mike Trout is the last center field prospect I can recall with similar traits to Payne’s at 18 years old. The only reason Payne is in the Honorable Mentions Tier is his lack of playing time accumulated as a professional.

SS/SP Conrad Cason, Boston Red Sox

Two-way prospect Conrad Cason has yet to make his MiLB debut as a pitcher or position player. He’s been the recipient of much hype from the Red Sox front office, and they still think of him as a two-way player this far into his career, without any official in-game appearances, is a huge green flag. Whether or not being a two-way player is a truly viable option for Cason will be determined during the 2025 season.

OF Jay Allen, Cincinnati Reds

Jay Allen is a 22-year-old outfielder in the Cincinnati Reds farm system from Fort Pierce, Florida. He forewent a commitment to the University of Florida after getting drafted with the 30th overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft directly out of high school. His career has gotten off to a bit of a slow start due to injury issues that prevented him from accumulating substantial playing time during his first three seasons. When he has been available on the field, Allen displays a combination of on-base skills, speed, and solid defense that would make him stand out in the Reds farm system.

OF George Valera, Cleveland Guardians

24-year-old George Valera has persevered through major injuries throughout his professional career. One of the most talented Afro-Dominican hitters to climb through the various realms of baseball in recent years with a potent combination of on-base skills and power to all fields from the left-handed batter’s box, he’s yet to realize his massive potential and the clock is ticking. He signed out of the Domincan Republic as an international free agent but was born and raised in The Bronx, New York for most of his life. Owning a .243/.358/.452 across six MiLB seasons, 2025 is a make-it-or-break-it year for Valera.

INF/OF GJ Hill, Colorado Rockies

Glenallen “GJ” Hill Jr. is a toolsy yet undersized superutility prospect who has taken a winding path to realize his potential. He started in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization for transitioning to Independent Ball and making key adjustments to his swing. He then resigned with the Colorado Rockies organization and has taken a massive leap forward in offensive productivity.

C Ian Moller, Texas Rangers

Ian Moller is a catcher in the Texas Rangers farm system who was drafted in the fourth round of the 2021 MLB Draft straight out of high school in Iowa. Although he has not performed at an above-average level offensively, one of his key strengths is his ability to get on base at a respectable rate. He is also an extremely adept baserunner, owning 42 career stolen bases while only being caught five times. His long-term potential as a full-time catcher, combined with his unique offensive capabilities, shapes his overall profile.

3B/1B Cam Collier, Cincinatti Reds

The son of longtime MLB veteran Lou Collier, Cam Collier essentially skipped his senior year of high school to start his professional baseball career. He is a big bodied third baseman with an extremely strong arm but lacks the range to stick at third base long term because of his size. He has above-average power to all fields from the left-handed batter’s box but there are major questions about his ability to put the bat to the ball.

OF Dillon Head, Miami Marlins

Dillon Head is a toolsy centerfielder who has yet to accumulate substantial time in MiLB because of injuries. Already 20 years old with only 54 games of professional experience, the 2025 season will be crucial in putting Head’s development back on the right track.

SS Antonio Anderson, Boston Red Sox

Antonio Anderson is a switch-hitting, teenage shortstop with a 60-grade throwing arm and above-average raw power. The Red Sox front office selected the Atlanta, Georgia native in the third round of the 2023 MLB Draft directly out of high school and gave him a first-round signing bonus. He has the potential to be an upper-tier glove first shortstop.

INF Myles Naylor, Sacramento Athletics

Myles Naylor is the younger brother of Josh and Bo Naylor and the younger cousin of fellow Athletics farmhand Denzel Clarke. He displayed great on-base skills and above-average power during his first full-season of professional baseball. However, he has had major issues making contact and staying above the Mendoza Line so far in his career.

INF/OF Tai Peete, Seattle Mariners

Tai Peete is another gifted position player in a Seattle Mariners farm system. He was a two-way high school star in the state of Georgia in a similar fashion to other players from his state such as Conrad Cason and Taj Bradley. He stole 45 bases across 116 games with Seattle’s Low-A affiliate and showed a mature approach at the plate in 2024. Where he winds up defensively and how proficient he is with his glove work will determine his trajectory through the minors.

SS George Lombard Jr., New York Yankees

George Lombard Jr. is a teenage shortstop in the New York Yankees organization with a packed toolbox. He has burgeoning raw power that he is still learning how to harness in games and above-average baserunning skills. He has a long developmental path ahead of him but a relatively safe floor for a high school shortstop prospect.

OF Braden Montgomery, Chicago White Sox

Braden Montgomery was the twelfth overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft by the Boston Red Sox. During the offseason between the 2024 and 2025 seasons, the Red Sox traded Montgomery and three other prospects to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for left-handed starting pitcher Garrett Crochet. Montgomery suffered a severe ankle fracture during the 2024 season, which caused him to drop down draft boards. When healthy, he was considered a potential number one pick. He is an extremely athletic switch-hitter with contact ability and noticeable power. He also has a legitimate 80-grade throwing arm and a chance to be a full-time center fielder.

INF/OF Kenly Hunter, St. Louis Cardinals

Kenly Hunter is the most talented position player to emerge from the Jamaican-Nicaraguan enclave on the Mosquito Coast since outfielder David Green in the 1980s and first baseman Cheslor Cuthbert in the early 2010s. The ethnic enclave of Jamaicans in Nicaragua has a history with baseball that dates back to the early 1900s. He was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals during the 2024 J2 signing period and has yet to play professionally.

OF Bo Davidson, San Francisco Giants

Bo Davidson dominated at two JUCOs before lighting Independent Baseball on fire. His performance convinced the Giants front office to make him an undrafted free agent(UDFA) signing in 2023. He has an interesting mixture of power and mature approach. How he fares in High-A and maybe even Double-A during the 2025 season will reveal his actual strengths and weaknesses.

OF Dakota Jordan, San Francisco Giants

Dakota Jordan was an elite two-sport athlete(football and baseball) in high school who excelled in his three years with Mississippi State’s baseball program. The San Francisco Giants selected Jordan in the 4th round of the 2024 MLB Draft.

Tier 3

INF/OF Kahlil Watson, Cleveland Guardians

Kahlil Watson offers an exciting mixture of power and speed but lacks on-base skills and has trouble making contact. His offensive profile reminds me of Javy Baez’s and his defensive capacity across the entire diamond makes me think of superutility player Kiké Hernandez. He has a ceiling that justifies waiting and seeing if he’s worth a long term gamble.

3B/SS Austin Charles, Kansas City Royals

Austin Charles is a 6’6’’ infielder with a long term future on the left side of the infield. He is built like Oneil Cruz but does not produce line drives or flyballs at a similar rate. He is extremely agile and mobile for a player his size, possessing the athletic fluidity of an NBA small forward. Only 21 years old, he still has plenty of time to improve and develop all of the facets of his player profile. He has the necessary arm strength and the hand-eye coordination to develop into an above-average third baseman.

OF Denzel Clarke, Sacramento Athletics

Athletics farmhand Denzel Clarke is the son of a Jamaican-Canadian track star and the cousin of the Naylor brothers. He is one of the most electric outfield prospects in professional baseball, boasting 70-grade speed and 60-grade power. He also has one of the most questionable hit tools in the upper minors. He strikes out at an extremely high rate and struggles to lift the ball off the ground. He will get a long look at Triple-A so the A’s renowned player development staff can try to iron out the wrinkles in his profile

OF Chase Davis, St. Louis Cardinals

Chase Davis is a power-hitting outfielder in the St. Louis Cardinals organization. He has gone to great lengths to improve his ability to make contact against opposing pitchers during his college and professional career. He has all the necessary traits of a corner outfielder: plus raw power and respectable on-base skills with a strong throwing arm.

2B Ryan Bliss, Seattle Mariners

25-year-old Ryan Bliss is one of Minor League Baseball’s most underrated position player prospects. The Auburn University product is a solid defender at second base with great on-base skills and a long history of racking up stolen base totals higher than 50. He is a threat to join the 20/20 club for a Seattle Mariners roster that has not had much productivity at second base during the Jerry Dipoto Era.

3B Eriel Dihigo, Colorado Rockies

Ehriel Dihigo is the great nephew of Negro Leagues superutility legend and Hall of Famer Martín Dihigo. The teenage infielder performed very well during his debut season in the Dominican Summer League. He went .306/.413/.394 across 219 plate appearances with an excellent successful stolen base percentage(21 SB/2 CS) and a BB/K ratio(28 BB/33 K) that is a huge green flag. I will be watching how he handles himself in the Arizona Complex League and potentially even A-ball very closely.

OF Daylen Lile, Washington Nationals

Daylen Lile is an outfielder in the Washington Nationals organization from Louisville, Kentucky. He was selected by Washington in the 2nd round of the 2021 MLB Draft during his senior year of high school. His career got off to a slow start after missing an entire season due to Tommy John surgery on his throwing arm’s elbow. He has bounced back during the 2023 and 2024 MiLB seasons, displaying above-average contact skills and speed that may allow him to stick in center field. He accrues doubles and triples at a high rate to make up for his lack of home run power.

C Eduardo Tait, Philadelphia Phillies

Eduardo Tait is a 17-year-old catching prospect from Panama with a tangible chance to play behind the dish and easy raw power from the left side. He was signed by the Phillies front office during the 2022 international signing period while being one of the youngest players available. His profile is essentially if you took Gary Sanchez and made him a left-handed hitter with slightly improved contact ability. He has a huge arm and controls the running game well. He needs to improve his pitch blocking and game calling, or else he might have to move off of the position.

INF/OF Greg Jones, Colorado Rockies

Greg Jones is a toolsy super-utility player in the Colorado Rockies farm system. He hits the ball extremely hard and is one of the most athletic players in professional baseball. He has a ton of swing and miss in his game without being able to induce walks at a high rate, which makes his player profile an extremely risky one.

2B/3B Gino Groover, Arizona D-Backs

LuJames “Gino” Groover is an infielder in the Arizona Diamondbacks system from Atlanta, Georgia. He is a solid hitter but the biggest question marks remain about his defensive home. He has the range to stick at third base but lacks the throwing arm strength and the quick exchange needed to survive on the left side of the dirt. He performed during the 2024 season but missed substantial time due to a broken wrist.

Tier 2

1B Ernesto Martinez, Milwaukee Brewers

Ernesto Martinez is a quintessential Cuban first baseman, standing at 6'6" with the build and athleticism of an NBA small forward. He signed with the Brewers in 2017. He possesses a combination of strong contact skills and above-average athleticism, as well as impressive defensive capabilities at first base. He is regarded as one of the best baserunning first basemen in all of Minor League Baseball, having recorded two seasons with at least 20 stolen bases. He has a five tool profile similar to that of Derrek Lee or Paul Goldschmidt. However, the lanky left-hander has faced challenges with injuries throughout his career. The major red flag in his profile is his long history of poor performance against same-handed pitching. This makes him a major risk to be a platoon player and not a full-time starter.

OF Kendall George, Los Angeles Dodgers

Kendall George is an undersized center fielder from Houston, Texas who was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first round of the 2023 MLB Draft directly out of high school. He has an old school center fielder’s profile and is one of the fastest active players in MiLB. He possesses one of the highest defensive ceilings in professional baseball but needs to improve his route running and reads on balls put in play. He has drawn comparisons to Juan Pierre and Kenny Lofton. If he does not stick

2B Termarr Johnson, Pittsburgh Pirates

Termarr Johnson is an offensive-oriented second baseman in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization from Atlanta, Georgia. He was drafted with the fourth overall pick of the 2022 MLB Draft directly out of high school. He draws walks and accrues extra-base hits at a high rate but struggles to make contact consistently, as illustrated in his .239/.390/.406 career slash line. Only 20 years old, he is on a trajectory to make his MLB debut before his 22nd birthday barring unforeseen injuries.

OF Kristian Robinson, Arizona D-Backs

Kristian Robinson has one of the highest offensive ceilings of any player on this list. His ascent through the D-Backs farm system was derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic and mental health issues but he has persisted through everything admirably. After struggling during his first extended stint in Double-A during the 2024 season, he completely dominated the Arizona Fall League with a .319/.405/.449 slash line in 79 plate appearances across 19 games. K-Rob could potentially make his MLB debut during the 2025 season if an opportunity arises with the D-Backs or another club willing to swing a trade to inject outfield talent into their 40-man roster.

OF Justin Crawford, Philadelphia Phillies

Justin Crawford is the son of longtime Tampa Bay Rays left fielder Carl Crawford and younger cousin of the Seattle Mariners shortstop JP Crawford. He is a center field prospect in the Philadelphia Phillies organization with an old school profile. His offensive game is centered around his above-average bat-to-ball skills, and plus-plus speed. He also has a long history of above-average on-base skills. His defense has lagged behind his athleticism and his throwing arm is average, so there is a chance he may move to a full-time left field role like his father.

1B Tre’ Morgan, Tampa Bay Rays

Louisiana State product Tre’ Morgan is a first baseman with an extremely rare skillset for his position group. He has elite contact skills, above-average on-base skills, effective baserunning acumen, and pristine defense at the cold corner. While he lacks consistent home run power because of the high groundball rate his swing produces and middling exit velocities on batted ball events, he accrues doubles and triples at a sustainable rate. He is a great fit for a Tampa Bay Rays organization that knows how to get the most from unorthodox yet skilled position players. The quality of contact and baserunning numbers he produces with Tampa Bay’s Double-A/Triple-A affiliates for 2025 and beyond will determine whether he gets the chance to sink or swim in the majors.

OF Jaison Chourio, Cleveland Guardians

Afro-Venezuelan Jaison Chourio is the younger brother of Milwaukee Brewers teenage phenom Jackson Chourio. While he has a similarly built body, Jaison’s player profile is completely different from his older brother’s. The 19-year-old is a stereotypical Cleveland prospect, being a switch-hitter with above-average contact skills and a respectable approach. He has a long history of displaying elite on-base skills and profound baserunning aptitude. How he fares in High-A during the 2025 season will reveal how skilled he truly is.

OF Enrique Bradfield Jr., Baltimore Orioles

Enrique Bradfield is one of Minor League Baseball’s best active base stealers. His game is similar to Lourdes Gurriel’s except he is far more athletic. He was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles with the 17th overall pick of the 2023 MLB Draft after a standout career at Vanderbilt University. While he most likely won’t break into the majors with the Orioles because of the sheer amount of depth on the 25-man roster, Bradfield would be a shrewd addition for a rebuilding club looking in dire need of position player talent such as the Miami Marlins.

OF Zyhir Hope, Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers front office coveted Zyhir Hope so much that they pounced on the opportunity to trade for him even though he had played less than 20 games in his MiLB career. The 20-year-old outfielder from Virginia could make a Juan Soto-esque ascent through the upper minors if he can stay healthy.

2B Christian Moore, Los Angeles Angels

Christian Moore got off to an extremely hot start after being selected by the Angels front office with the 2024 MLB Draft’s eighth overall pick. He is a bat-first second baseman with an electric pairing of contact skills and above-average power. He is an advanced infielder who should ascend through the upper minors quickly.

3B Cam Smith, Houston Astros

The Astros front office saw the writing was on the wall and shrewdly secured the best position player prospect traded in between the 2024 and 2025 seasons to replace Alex Bregman at third base. There is no question Cam Smith is going to hit. He was one of the most dominant all-around hitters available in the 2024 MLB Draft but questions about his defensive future prevented him from going in the top ten.

INF/OF Seaver King, Washington Nationals

Seaver King is a super-utility player in the Washington Nationals farm system. He dominated at a small Division II college in North Carolina before transferring to Wake Forest for his junior season. He excelled in a super-utility role and as the table setter in the Deacon Demons lineup. The Athens, Georgia native was the tenth overall pick of the 2024 MLB Draft, joining his Wake Forest teammates Chase Burns and Nick Kurtz as top ten overall picks. He’s an elite athlete with above-average bat-to-ball skills and noticeable power. The Nationals will see if he can stick at shortstop and move him accordingly if needed. It wouldn’t surprise me if he made his MLB debut in 2025 and joined the youth movement happening in The Chocolate City.

Tier 1

OF Chandler Simpson, Tampa Bay Rays

Another product of Atlanta’s rich Black Baseball scene, Chandler Simpson currently owns the title of being the fastest player in professional baseball. His baserunning speed breaks the 80-grade scale, and he can utilize every bit of it in games. He also possesses a 70-grade hit tool and elite on-base skills. In layman’s terms, this is a Jarrod Dyson/Billy Hamilton tier baserunner with a hit tool and on-base skills that might be equivalent to Ichiro’s. With the rules for pitcher disengagement in play, Simpson is an immediate threat to shatter a variety of baserunning and run scoring records. I would not be surprised if Simpson wound up swiping more than 100 bags in a single season at least once and scored at least 100 runs multiple times.

SS Sebastian Walcott, Texas Rangers

Sebastian Walcott has the highest ceiling of any professional baseball player that has hailed from The Bahamas and he arguably has the highest ceiling of any active player in MiLB. The 6’4’’ teenage shortstop is already producing batted ball events with exit velocities exceeding 115 miles per hour and boasts a 70-grade arm. This impressive skill set should convince anyone that this Bahamian prodigy has the potential to be the Gen-Z equivalent of Ernie Banks. Additionally, he has already made his Double-A debut and won't turn 20 until March 2026. Walcott's success against older competition, especially at such a young age compared to the average position player in Double-A, indicates that he has an extremely high potential for success.

INF/OF Kristian Campbell, Boston Red Sox

Super utility wunderkid Kristian Campbell is one of the most unique prospects in MiLB. After making small adjustments to his swing and major changes to his approach, he went from being unranked to a consensus top five position player prospect in professional baseball. His offensive profile features an elite blend of contact ability, on-base skills, and power packaged with an extremely uncommon batted ball profile that produces line drives at a cartoonishly high rate. He is also a threat to swipe 20 bags per year and has the defensive chops to play almost anywhere on the field on a full-time basis or in a super utility role.

3B Junior Caminero, Tampa Bay Rays

Junior Caminero is a 40-home run threat right now and he’s only 20 years old. The Rays front office pried him away from the Cleveland Guardians organization in a 1-for-1 deal that was extremely rewarding with very low risk. This move may have drastically changed the course of MLB history, but that is a conversation for another day. Caminero features legitimate 80-grade power paired with a hit tool that is somewhere between average and above-average. He works with an aggressive approach geared for pulling the crap out of the ball. It will be intriguing to see how the young infielder fares during his first full stint in MLB during the 2025 season.

C Harry Ford, Seattle Mariners

Harry Ford is the rare catcher with Jason Kendall-esque athleticism and above-average basestealing acumen. He is a product of the Metro Atlanta area and one of the centerpieces of Great Britain’s national baseball team. While he has been an above-average hitter throughout his MiLB career, he has struggled to lift the ball in the air to accrue extra base hits. His identity as a hitter leans more towards table-setting and scoring runs, rather than the typical catcher's responsibility of driving in runs.

SS Jordan Lawlar, Arizona D-Backs

Jordan Lawlar is an extremely toolsy shortstop from Houston, Texas who is on the cusp of being a full-time major leaguer. Arizona selected the 22-year-old shortstop with the sixth overall pick of the 2021 MLB Draft directly out of high school in Dallas and he quickly climbed through the minor leagues. He has a career slash line of .294/.392/.501 in the minor leagues but has faced challenges with his health over the past two seasons, resulting in only 37 games played. He could be the key piece that keeps the Diamondbacks competitive in a rapidly growing talent pool within the NL West division.

OF Lazaro Montes, Seattle Mariners

Lazaro Montes is an advanced teenage outfielder with elite, sustainable power. He was signed by the Seattle Mariners as an amateur free agent out of Cuba during the 2022 international signing period, receiving a signing bonus of over two million dollars after agreeing to terms. The young Cuban slugger has shown leadership skills and vocality early on in his professional career. He has consistently recorded batted ball events with exit velocities higher than 110 miles per hour, making him a legitimate threat to hit 40 home runs per year in the majors. He’s already recorded 50 games with Seattle’s High-A affiliate with a .805 OPS and he doesn’t turn 21 until the end of October, which is a huge green flag and a sign of future success.

C Drake Baldwin, Atlanta Braves

With Sean Murphy suffering a fractured rib, Wisconsin native Drake Baldwin will receive substantial playing time at the major league level during the first half of 2025. He is an above-average hitter and average defender behind the dish with a sure future as a full-time, primary catcher. He has average contact ability, elite on-base skills and above-average power in a slightly undersized frame.

INF Adael Amador, Colorado Rockies

Adael Amador is an athletic, switch-hitting infielder with a combination of contact ability, power, and speed. He also brings solid on-base skills to the table. He will most likely form a potent double play combination with Rockies shortstop Ezequel Tovar for the next 5-10 years.

INF Leodalis De Vries, San Diego Padres

Leodalis De Vries is an extremely advanced 18-year-old middle infielder who is being put on a fast track by the San Diego Padres front office. He has a mature approach and above-average power for a player his age. How he fares in High-A and potentially Double-A during the 2025 season will be very telling.

OF Josue De Paula, Los Angeles Dodgers

Brooklyn, New York native Josue De Paula is one of the most advanced teenage position players in professional baseball. He had a long track record of success as an amateur in the United States and the Dominican Republic, which made him highly coveted by front offices. He possesses above-average power, top-tier basestealing acumen and a pristine plate approach in a 6’4’’ NBA shooting guard’s frame. In addition to his massive ceiling, he also has an extremely safe floor.

SS Brice Matthews, Houston Astros

Brice Matthews brings an exciting power-speed combination to the Houston Astros, his hometown team. He is a three-true-outcomes hitter with above-average baserunning skills and a long-term future as a middle infielder. He mitigates the strikeouts with an above-average walk rate due to his careful approach at the plate.