Minor League Notables & Draft Pick Tracker - April 3rd, 2026
Rundown of nightly notables across all four levels - 32 write-ups in total - & every 2025 1st and 2nd round draft pick who played last night (42 stat-lines & mini write-ups included)
Low-A — Arms
Seth Hernandez — Pittsburgh Pirates
I’m going to say something that might sound aggressive for the second night of the season and I’m going to mean every word of it. Seth Hernandez might be the most terrifying pitching prospect I’ve seen at this level in years. 8 strikeouts on 39 pitches. A sinker averaging 98.1 mph. A changeup that generated 100% CSW — every single one a called strike or a whiff. A curveball with 54 inches of drop generating a 63% CSW. A cutter at 73% CSW. And a fastball that touched 99.2 mph. Through 3 innings. In Low-A. As an 18-year-old.
I said before the season that Hernandez was on a shortlist to be the top pitching prospect in baseball by the end of the year alongside Ryan Sloan and/or Kendry Chourio. One start in and I’m not sure that’s aggressive enough. The Pittsburgh pitching factory just got their most dangerous arm since Paul Skenes walked through the door and the industry is going to figure that out eventually. Get there first.
Gage Wood — Philadelphia Phillies
Gage Wood made Low-A look like an act of charity on his part. 7 strikeouts on 56 pitches, topping out at 99.6 mph, power 12-6 slider, velocity held through 4 innings. The arsenal that made him the 26th overall pick is showing up immediately and the Phillies aren’t going to keep him in Low-A any longer than they absolutely have to. You know who this reminds me of? George Klassen a few years ago — too good for the level, obvious from the first start, gone before the summer. Wood is next. The receipts are already in writing.
Miqueas Mercedes — Milwaukee Brewers
19 years old. 6’3 210. 18 whiffs on 81 pitches. In 5 innings. The Brewers have been quietly running a pitching development operation that turns overlooked arms into legitimate prospects and Mercedes just announced himself in the loudest possible way. The frame suggests there’s more velocity coming. The whiff rate suggests the stuff is already there. Flag planted on Miqueas Mercedes before anyone else is paying attention. ProspectTilt stamp of approval thus far. Will wait to see more data and share it with you all once I stumble upon it.
Ethan Bagwell — Atlanta Braves
No relation to Jeff in case you were wondering. 6 innings. 0 hits. 0 runs. 6 strikeouts. 78 pitches. Effortless velocity with projection for more. The Braves keep finding arms in places nobody else is looking and Bagwell just put up one of the cleaner lines you’ll see at this level all season. I don’t know enough about him yet to make grand declarations but I know that a young arm with effortless velo going 6 hitless innings in Low-A deserves to be on your radar before the name gets expensive. Consider this your notice.
Jesus Tillero — Los Angeles Dodgers
Don’t bet against the Dodgers pitching factory. Tillero has been a name I’ve been firmly in on for a long time — a pitching savant who people within multiple organizations rave about. Here is what I wrote about Tillero in February of 2024:
Tillero was signed out of Venezuela as one of the top pitchers in the 2023 international class. There are conflicting reports on his fastball as some have it as high as him sitting mid-90s while others have him sitting low 90s, touching 95. Let me tell you this, though. This kid is for real. He has an exceptional feel for his fastball with incredible vertical break for someone his age. It’s already an MLB-caliber pitch. He’s a pitching savant as someone this young to be able to command his pitches while also having a fastball/curveball combination that’s both good in shape and effective in games is rare.
You know it’s a good thing when people within an organization rave about someone but you know it’s a great thing when people from different organizations are talking about them and raving about their plus makeup and stuff. Phrases like, “This kid is not real” get thrown around a lot when it comes to Tillero. That’s something I want to hear when it comes to targeting a player. Tillero is on my short-list of arms who haven’t debuted state-side to make a big impact in 2024. He’s only 17 as of this writing so the runway is still long but that’s never stopped anyone from speculating on a special talent. Keep tabs on Tillero and make sure you’re the one who’s adding him before your league-mates even hear about him.
Here is what he did last night:
8 strikeouts on 55 pitches in 5 innings of Low-A ball is the performance that validates everything written about him. The stuff isn’t a projection anymore. It’s a reality. Backed up the same night by Cam Leiter — 65th overall pick out of Florida State and Al’s nephew — putting up a clean 3-inning debut. The Tower Buzzers are going to be fun to watch this season.
Low-A — Bats
Tyson Lewis — Cincinnati Reds
2-for-4 with a homer and a stolen base. Elite exit velocities for his age, in fact, he had the highest 90th% EV amongst teenagers with at least 100 plate appearances last year (109.5 mph). Elite bat speed and plus to borderline plus plus speed. An athletic freak. Just an absolute stud if he pieces it all together. Now for the red flags. He struck out 3 times in his 2026 debut on Thursday. He struck out another 2 times last night. Last year he hovered around a ~30% K rate. This number needs to come down, especially if he wants to perform at higher levels. However, this could be a Tyson Lewis breakout season. Boom or bust type of talent, and I’m placing small bets on the boom.
Eli Willits — Washington Nationals