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Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Bubba Chandler | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Closest MLB-ready prospect for each NL team

By Kevin Henry, Lauren Amour and Taylor Bretl | Last updated May 5, 2025 1:20 PM ET

Two months before the All-Star Game, some MLB teams are already contemplating call-ups from their minor league systems. Here, Yardbarker MLB writers identify one MLB-ready prospect for every National League team. (All statistics are through Sunday's play.)

NL East

Philadelphia Phillies infielder Otto Kemp | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

ATLANTA BRAVES | RHP Hurston Waldrep | The 23-year-old former first-round pick of Atlanta had a cup of coffee in the majors in 2024, and it wasn't pretty. It hasn't been much better this season for Waldrep at Triple-A (7.04 ERA), but he’s still the Braves’ No. 3-ranked prospect and they may be willing to give him a second chance later in 2025.

MIAMI MARLINS | INF Deyvison De Los Santos | The Marlins acquired the powerful 21-year-old infielder in a trade with the Diamondbacks for reliever A.J. Puk at the 2024 deadline. De Los Santos had 40 homers and 120 RBI between Double-A and Triple-A last season and is slashing .274/.328/.402 with three homers and 15 RBI through 31 games at Triple-A Jacksonville in 2025.

NEW YORK METS | OF Drew Gilbert | New York received the 24-year-old outfielder via the Justin Verlander trade with the Astros in July 2023. Gilbert has had an injury-plagued minor league career, but he is finally healthy in 2025, posting a .939 OPS with three homers and 12 RBI in 85 plate appearances.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES | INF Otto Kemp | How much longer can the Phillies keep Kemp in Triple-A amid his offensive explosion? He has a ridiculous 1.136 OPS with 10 home runs and 35 RBI in 32 games, and at 25, he has proved he’s ready for the majors.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS | 3B Brady House | A 2021 first-round pick of the Nationals, House is batting .304 with five homers and 18 RBI in 30 games in Triple-A this season. Drafted out of high school, he’ll be just 22 in June and likely has a bright future in Washington. — Lauren Amour

NL Central

Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski | Allan Henry-Imagn Images

CHICAGO CUBS | RHP Cade Horton | The Cubs’ top pitching prospect and No. 2 player in their system overall, Horton has put together strong numbers in his six starts in Triple-A, posting a 1.24 ERA — the second-best in Triple-A. With Chicago’s rotation at a 3.82 ERA (14th in the MLB) and weakened by injuries (Justin Steele out for the season and Shota Imanaga suffered a hamstring injury Sunday), Horton could provide needed support in Chicago.

CINCINNATI REDS | RHP Chase Burns | Drafted just 10 months ago with the second overall pick, the 22-year-old has quickly climbed to Double-A in his first year in the minors. Burns has a four-pitch mix, highlighted by his upper-90s fastball, an upper-80s slider and a low-80s curveball. He pitched just three games in High-A before getting called up to Double-A, where he has a 2.00 ERA in his first two starts.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS | RHP Jacob Misiorowski | The Brewers' top
pitching prospect has impressed in Triple-A this season, posting a 2-0
record with a 1.77 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 35.2 innings in seven games (six starts). With injuries thinning Milwaukee’s rotation, he could get a call-up at some point this season.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES | RHP Bubba Chandler | Chandler is Pittsburgh’s No.1 prospect and the third-highest NL prospect in the MLB Top 100. Through six starts, the 22-year-old holds the lowest WHIP (0.67) and opponent batting average (.122) in Triple-A and third-lowest ERA (1.42).

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS | Catcher Jimmy Crooks | The Cardinals have developed a pipeline of catchers (Ivan Herrea and Pedro Pages), prompting the move of former catcher Willson Contreras to first base. With Crooks’ power at the plate — seven of his 22 hits in Triple-A have been for extra bases — and his ability to provide steady defense behind the dish, he could be the next catcher to join St. Louis. — Taylor Bretl

NL West

Arizona Diamondbacks SS Jordan Lawlar | Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS | SS Jordan Lawlar | Arizona’s top-ranked prospect, the 22-year-old Lawlar is slashing .357/.441/.643 in 126 Triple-A at-bats this season. The biggest question surrounding Lawlar isn’t whether he has the talent to succeed, but where he might fit into an established and deep Diamondbacks infield.

COLORADO ROCKIES | RHP Jaden Hill | Over the past two seasons, Hill has 13.1 innings in the Rockies' bullpen but has never been able to stick in Denver on a long-term basis. However, with 19 strikeouts in 10.1 Triple-A innings this season, expect Hill to get his next shot with the Rockies soon.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS | Catcher Dalton Rushing | Slashing .306/.425/.494 in 85 Triple-A at-bats this season, the 24-year-old Rushing has moved around the diamond, playing catcher, first base and left field. With a star-studded lineup in Los Angeles, finding a spot for Rushing may be the only thing standing in his way of playing for the Dodgers.

SAN DIEGO PADRES | RHP Francis Pena | Pena, 24, jumped from High-A to Triple-A last season and showed the quick moves weren’t too much for him, combining for a 2.43 ERA across 63 innings. This season, Pena has thrown 11 Triple-A innings and logged a 2.45 ERA, but he must harness his control (nine walks).

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS | LHP Carson Whisenhunt | The 24-year-old southpaw has been hot and cold during his six Triple-A starts this season, allowing two runs or less in four outings but surrendering a combined 11 runs in 6.1 innings in the other two. Ranked as the eighth-best left-handed pitching prospect in baseball, Whisenhunt has been praised for his changeup, a pitch that will eventually help him in San Francisco. — Kevin Henry

Taylor Bretl

Taylor Bretl is a student at Virginia Tech and founder of Around the Globe Baseball. While his passion is MLB, he also has a strong connection with football and basketball at the professional and collegiate levels.

Kevin Henry

A member of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA), Kevin Henry has been covering MLB and MiLB for nearly two decades. Those assignments have included All-Star Games and the MLB postseason, including the World Series. Based in the Denver area, Kevin calls Coors Field his home base, but travels throughout North America during the season to discover the best stories possible

Lauren Amour

Lauren Amour is a writer and editor based in the Greater Philadelphia area. She currently works as an editor and writer at Yardbarker, covering MLB and the Philadelphia Phillies.

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