Here are Thursday's top prospect performances from the Minors

Every time you watch a Minor League Baseball game, whether in-person, at home or out in the wild, you’re liable to see something historic. Thursday delivered in that regard in the form of a 100-steal season being achieved, one of the game’s premier prospects hammering a walk-off homer and … a dog putting on the headset and jumping in the broadcast booth? While the pup won’t make our list of top performers (in our hearts, though, surely), let’s check out who stole the show on the diamond:

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Travis Bazzana, 2B, Columbus (CLE No. 1/MLB No. 15)
If you’re going to hit your first homer at a new level, you might as well save it for the most dramatic moment possible! Bazzana certainly did that for Triple-A Columbus, clobbering a walk-off two-run homer (while clad in a uniform that gave a nod to the NHL’s Blue Jackets) before emphatically turning to his dugout in celebration. The wallop capped a three-hit night, his first since arriving at the Minors’ highest level last month. The first overall pick in the 2024 Draft has shown a patient eye in 20 games with the Clippers, posting a .415 on-base percentage. Across three levels this season, the 23-year-old has particularly feasted in the clutch, with a 1.218 OPS in late/close situations. Gameday

Bryce Eldridge, 1B, Sacramento (SF No. 1/MLB No. 13)
After a home run deluge in August (nine in 26 games), Eldridge entered the roundtripper column in September. MLB’s No. 1 first-base prospect has gargantuan power, which can be evidenced by his 470-foot moonshots, but also his opposite-field pop, as was the case on his 24th of the year. That sets a new career high for Eldridge, despite playing at both levels of the upper Minors as a 20-year-old. He leads all Giants Minor Leaguers with a .249 ISO this season, while just Willy Adames (26) has more home runs as a member of the organization. Gameday

Franklin Arias, SS, Portland (BOS No. 1/MLB No. 23)
There’s been some considerable upheaval across the Red Sox system this season following the graduations of Kristian Campbell, Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer to The Show. Arias is part of that next wave, having ascended to the top prospect spot after a successful summer at High-A. Now the 19-year-old has brought some of that blossoming pop to Double-A, where his homer for the Sea Dogs made him just the fourth teenager to go deep at the level this season. The Venezuela native’s 60-grade hit tool will be put to the test against older pitching, as he’s compiled 126 hits across 109 games with only a 10.1% strikeout rate. Gameday

Cam Caminiti, LHP, Augusta (ATL No. 1/MLB No. 78)
In what could be his final start of the 2025 season, Caminiti continued his dominance for Single-A Augusta. The Braves’ 2024 first-rounder spun six scoreless frames and struck out seven, lowering his ERA to 2.08 across 13 starts in the Carolina League. The 19-year-old completely overwhelmed the opposition, recording 21 called strikes during his 93-pitch outing. On the year, Caminiti has averaged 12 K/9 at the Single-A level, while batters have posted just a .570 OPS against him. Gameday

Rainiel Rodriguez, C, Peoria (STL No. 4/MLB No. 95)
An exemplary debut season stateside just keeps on getting better for the 18-year-old from the Dominican Republic. Rodriguez collected three hits and four RBIs in his first game for High-A Peoria, his third time plating at least four runs over the past 10 days. It’s been an otherworldly heater for Rodriguez, who posted a 1.018 OPS in August with 49 total bases in 22 games. He leads all qualified Cardinals Minor Leaguers with a 166 wRC+ this season and his 20 homers are the most among any player suiting up for their age-18 campaign. Gameday

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Ben Hess, RHP, Somerset (NYY No. 6)
On a night where his start was already pushed back due to rain, Hess wound up tossing his first complete game (albeit a rain-shortened one). The 6-foot-5 right-hander retired five in a row to start the contest and consistently peppered the strike zone throughout his 70-pitch (49 strikes) outing. He even got a little help from shortstop George Lombard Jr. (NYY No. 1/MLB No. 24), who drilled his ninth homer of the season to provide run support. New York’s 2024 first-rounder has allowed three runs or fewer in 13 consecutive starts dating back to his run at High-A. Across 21 starts in his debut campaign, Hess is up to 133 strikeouts (across 97 1/3 innings), third-most among all Yankees Minor Leaguers. Gameday

Pedro Ramirez, 3B/2B, Knoxville (CHC No. 8)
Ramirez is no stranger to having big nights at the dish as a pro -- he collected 21 prior outings with at least three hits, after all. But his latest performance for Double-A Knoxville set a career-best as he rapped five hits in his five times to the dish, including three doubles. Known as a gifted contact hitter, the 21-year-old has batted .278 in his first taste of the Southern League despite facing a pitcher younger than him just twice all season. Ramirez has been particularly potent when ahead in the count, hitting .371 with a 1.068 OPS in such situations (as opposed to .238 with a .527 OPS when behind). Gameday

Zach Cole, OF, Sugar Land (HOU No. 19)
It’s the scenario every ballplayer dreams of as a kid: bases loaded, bottom of the ninth, walk-off grand slam. Cole got to live it for Triple-A Sugar Land, delivering the club’s first-such instance since it became an Astros affiliate in 2021. The 25-year-old has been hitting everything in sight since his promotion, with five homers and 12 RBIs in nine games. He’s on pace to set a new career high with a .910 OPS across two levels this year, while he’s also just one of two Houston Minor Leaguers to have 15+ homers and steals in ‘25. Gameday

Kendall George, OF, Great Lakes (LAD No. 25)
It was a historic evening for George, who reached -- and then eclipsed -- the 100-steal plateau during the 2025 season. The 20-year-old swiped four bags on a three-hit night for High-A Great Lakes, achieving something not yet done at the Major League level -- five consecutive multisteal performances. George’s 80-grade wheels have been on display all year, as he is just the fourth Minor Leaguer since 2005 to reach triple digits in the steals column. Full story | Gameday