Baseball’s 10 Hottest Prospects From The Past Week (3/21/23)

The Hot Sheet is back! Baseball America’s staff ranks the 10 hottest prospects from the previous week. This installment of the Prospect Hot Sheet considers what minor league players did through March 20. Contributing this week was Josh Norris.

This simply recognizes what the hottest prospects in the minors did in the past week—it’s not a re-ranking of the Baseball America Top 100 Prospects.

1. Gavin Stone, RHP, Dodgers
Age: 24
Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: It’s hard to believe, but it appears the Dodgers have found another late-round gem. The fifth-rounder from Central Arkansas in 2020 rung up 168 strikeouts in 2022, tying him for ninth in the minor leagues. He zoomed from High-A to Triple-A that year and is on the precipice of becoming yet another talented homegrown Dodger.

2. Corbin Carroll, OF, D-backs
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: .462/.533/.846 (6-for-13), 2 R, 3 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 2 RBIs, 2 BB, 3 SO, 1-for-1 SB

The Scoop: The No. 2 prospect in the game is living up to the hype. With another strong week of showing sneaky power and blazing speed, Carroll is showing why he’s a prime contender for the NL’s Rookie of the Year award and could be a cornerstone in the D-backs’ rebuilding efforts.

3. Jared Shuster, LHP, Braves
Age: 24
Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 4 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: The Braves emptied the farm to land Matt Olson and Sean Murphy—among others, but there’s still a few gems at the top, and keeping Shuster might prove to be a boon. The Wake Forest alum was identified by scouts in spring training as a player who’d opened their eyes. Atlanta already found one high-end pitcher from the Atlantic Coast Conference in recent years. Shuster could be next.

4. Brandon Pfaadt, RHP, D-backs
Age: 24
Why He’s Here: 0-0, 2.25, 4 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 SO, 1 HR

The Scoop: Though he was optioned back to Triple-A, Pfaadt is part of an enviable cluster of pitching the D-backs have at their upper levels. He struck out 15 in 12 spring innings (so far), including an excellent outing this past week. His year will begin at Reno, but it shouldn’t be long before Pfaadt is pitching in Arizona once more.

5. Jordan Westburg, 3B, Orioles
Age: 24
Why He’s Here: .429/.500/.786 (6-for-14), 5 R, 0 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 1 RBIs, 1 BB, 4 SO

The Scoop: The Orioles have plenty of pieces ready to impact Baltimore in the near future, but they also have options. Gunnar Henderson is the game’s top prospect and…