Competitors is rife within the Nationwide League Central with 5 golf equipment perpetually jockeying to dethrone each other. A constant think about figuring out who does that? Prospect growth. These high performers have a uniquely NL Central bent and it’s no shock, on condition that the division accounts for 23 of the High 100 total prospects, with all however the Cardinals having a minimum of 5 gamers on that listing. Right here’s who earned a spot as MiLB’s cream of the crop.
Konnor Griffin, SS/OF, Greensboro (PIT No. 2/MLB No. 34)Being promoted to face older and stiffer competitors is meant to be exhausting, however apparently nobody informed Griffin. The ninth total decide within the 2024 Draft slugged his first Excessive-A homer, after which adopted up by including two singles and two stolen bases; in whole, he scored 4 runs from the leadoff spot, a brand new profession finest. Griffin, who simply turned 19 in late April, is demolishing Excessive-A pitching in his first 5 video games with a .435/.500/.739 slash line with 17 whole bases and 5 steals. Gameday
Cam Collier, 3B, Dayton (CIN No. 4/MLB No. 71)A torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb sustained throughout Spring Coaching wound up taking a piece out of Collier’s 2025 marketing campaign. However he has returned to Excessive-A — the place he slugged 20 homers final season — and hasn’t missed a beat. His two-hit evening included his first roundtripper again with Dayton, elevating his common to .306 with a minimum of one knock in eight of his 10 video games on the stage. Gameday
Jordan Lawlar, INF, Reno (AZ No. 1/MLB No. 4)D-backs tv broadcaster Steve Berthiaume likes to joke that there’s “zero gravity” at Reno’s Larger Nevada Area however hit a ball like Lawlar did on Saturday and that factor is flying out of anyplace. Arizona’s high prospect mauled a 425-foot game-tying roundtripper — all whereas donning a particular Peanuts-themed uniform — that finally helped swing the pendulum within the Aces’ favor. The 22-year-old is scorching sizzling throughout June, slashing .313/.411/.646 with eight of his 15 hits going for further bases. Lawlar ranks among the many high 5 in almost each main offensive class within the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, together with common (.324), slugging share (.583) and OPS (.988). Gameday
Thomas Harrington, RHP, Indianapolis (PIT No. 3/MLB No. 80)Make it three consecutive outings that Harrington has spun a high quality begin at Triple-A. After enduring some heavy site visitors by every of his first two frames, the 23-year-old confronted simply two over the minimal in his remaining 4 innings; all informed, he compiled a season-best 10 strikeouts, marking his fourth profession double-digit Okay efficiency. After getting a short style of The Present in April, together with notching his first save, the thirty sixth total decide from the 2022 Draft has well-positioned himself for a return by holding opposing batters to a .159 common in June. Gameday
Jimmy Crooks, C, Memphis (STL No. 4)Crooks has had a couple of massive performances in 2025 for Triple-A Memphis — together with eight video games with a minimum of three RBIs — however his newest outing takes the cake. The left-handed-hitting backstop swatted a pair of homers in the identical contest for simply the second time in his professional profession, accounting for all three of the sport’s runs. The 2022 fourth-rounder has been a gradual run producer in his first style of the Minors’ highest stage this yr, racking up 47 RBIs in 50 video games. Gameday
Jaxon Wiggins, RHP, Knoxville (CHC No. 9)Wiggins has at all times had an explosive arsenal relationship again to his days on the College of Arkansas, it’s simply been a matter of placing it collectively over sustained stretches. His thirtieth skilled outing noticed him do exactly that, spearheading a Double-A Knoxville no-hitter, the franchise’s first since 2022. The 23-year-old racked up 20 whiffs, together with tying his profession excessive with 9 strikeouts. Chosen by Chicago within the 2023 Draft with the compensation decide gained from Willson Contreras’ departure, Wiggins lowered his ERA throughout two ranges this yr to 1.92 with an 0.96 WHIP and 70 Okay’s in 56 1/3 frames. Gameday
