Prospect Radar: Week 2 Roundup
The 2025 minor league baseball season is off and running, and we're already seeing some incredible highs and unexpected lows. With all levels in action and data current as of April 13, we've dug into the numbers to highlight a few players and consider their card values. Let’s break down the early storylines.
How We Picked Our Players
We used detailed batting stats covering 93 players across various minor league levels with at least 30 plate appearances. Key metrics included batting average (BA), slugging percentage (SLG), weighted on-base average (wOBA), and strikeout percentage (K%).
Red-Hot Players
1. Nick Kurtz – Oakland Athletics
MLB Pipeline Rank: #36 overall, #1 in Athletics system
Stats: BA: .389 | SLG: .870 | wOBA: .546 | HR: 7 | PA: 57 | K%: 24.6%
Nick Kurtz, Oakland’s top minor-league talent, is putting on an absolute show. Despite our best efforts we could not avoid highlighting him again. He’s batting nearly .400 with an outrageous .870 slugging percentage, thanks to seven home runs already this season. While he's striking out a bit, it’s hard to complain about that level of production. Playing Triple-A ball with Las Vegas, Kurtz looks like a future star and could earn a ticket to Oakland before summer.
In terms of card value, Kurtz has been highly sought after since the release of Bowman Draft 2024. Unless you were already collecting him, it might be best to continue watching and waiting.
2. A.J. Ewing – New York Mets
MLB Pipeline Rank: Unranked overall, #28 in Mets system
Stats: BA: .500 | SLG: .792 | wOBA: .565 | HR: 1 | PA: 30 | K%: 16.7%
A.J. Ewing might not be on your radar yet, but the guy is absolutely raking. Hitting .500 through his first 30 plate appearances is video-game level stuff. He’s making excellent contact and barely striking out, which suggests this hot streak might not be a fluke. Currently at Single-A St. Lucie, Ewing’s performance could vault him up the Mets' internal rankings quickly.
This is a deeper cut and a speculative watchlist add—his Bowman 1st auto can be had for about $5.
Players Needing a Jumpstart
1. Colson Montgomery – Chicago White Sox
MLB Pipeline Rank: #37 overall, #4 in White Sox system
Stats: BA: .075 | SLG: .075 | wOBA: .139 | HR: 0 | PA: 45 | K%: 48.9%
This one's a tough pill to swallow. Colson Montgomery is enduring a brutal start. Hitting just .075 with nearly half of his at-bats ending in strikeouts, Montgomery looks lost at the plate. The good news? Talents like his typically rebound, and the White Sox aren’t sounding any alarms yet. Still, it's been a rocky beginning in Triple-A Charlotte.
Bowman 1st prices are still relatively high considering the red flags over the last year. It’s hard to recommend investing unless prices drop further and performance improves.
2. Jhonny Severino – Pittsburgh Pirates
MLB Pipeline Rank: Unranked overall, #12 in Pirates system
Stats: BA: .167 | SLG: .333 | wOBA: .240 | HR: 1 | PA: 38 | K%: 23.7%
At just 18 years old, Severino’s slow start isn’t unexpected—but it’s still concerning. With a .167 average and limited power so far, he’s struggling to make consistent contact. There’s plenty of raw potential, but he's clearly still developing at Single-A Bradenton.
We won’t see Severino in the hobby until 2025 Bowman Chrome releases later this year. That gives us time to gather more data before any initial pricing or hype.
Quick Stats Recap
| Player Name | Team | BA | SLG | wOBA | PA | K% | HRs | MLB Rank | Team Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nick Kurtz | Athletics | .389 | .870 | .546 | 57 | 24.6% | 7 | 36 | 1 |
| A.J. Ewing | Mets | .500 | .792 | .565 | 30 | 16.7% | 1 | — | 28 |
| Colson Montgomery | White Sox | .075 | .075 | .139 | 45 | 48.9% | 0 | 37 | 4 |
| Jhonny Severino | Pirates | .167 | .333 | .240 | 38 | 23.7% | 1 | — | 12 |
Final Thoughts
The early 2025 season has brought both excitement and frustration. Players like Kurtz and Ewing are lighting it up, while top prospects like Montgomery are off to shaky starts. Baseball is a game of adjustments, and it’s still early. We’ll continue tracking performances and updating the outlooks—both on the field and in the hobby. Stay tuned!