We’re up to the AL Central for our fourth June 2026 farm report. Several notable prospects among the five teams in the division have received promotions, including Caleb Bonemer and Kendry Chourio. Plus, a look at what other notables have been up to of late.
Guardians
The Guardians’ farm system has already graduated Travis Bazzana, and Cooper Ingle could be next. Ingle was called up in late June after what’s been a good year for the catcher/outfielder at Triple-A. Will Ralphy Velazquez be next?
After a torrid run through Double-A Akron, Velazquez picked up 10 extra-base hits (two home runs) over his first 30 contests with Triple-A Columbus. The 21-year-old will likely need some more time, especially since Velazquez is seeing time in left field. That move would open up an avenue outside of first base, his natural position. But even left is getting more crowded in Cleveland.
Moving to pitching for a second (I’ll get back to the bats in a second), it’s been a nice year for future pitchers. Austin Peterson (35 K over 25 IP in June) is getting swing-and-miss, as has Braylon Doughty. Doughty, a heavy ground-ball pitcher, struck out 24 over 22 June innings and walked just two.
Back to the hitters, it’s been a nice few weeks for some hitters in A-ball. Dean Curley, the former Tennessee Volunteer, had 22 walks over 18 games in June, the second-most in the Midwest League behind Reds prospect Jacob Friend. And when diving into his approach, it’s not hard to see why.
Jace LaViolette struck out 30 times over 20 June contests but also had four home runs. And former OK State star Nolan Schubart hit six home runs for Lake County, part of a month where he also walked 19 times over 19 games.
Before moving on to the Royals, one name the Cleveland Guardians fans need to keep an eye on is 18-year-old Juneiker Caceras. Six home runs and a slash line of .409/.481/.758 through 17 June games with Hill City. Very good returns from the young outfielder thus far.
Royals
Heading into 2026, Kendry Chourio had a lot of helium after a great 2025 season in the lower Minors. Now, the 19-year-old, who can hammer a breaking ball and spot his fastball, may very well be the new top prospect in the Kansas City system.
Chourio is not the sexiest prospect in terms of advanced numbers. He did not strike a ton of batters (44 over 48 IP in Low-A) with Columbia, nor did he induce a lot of swing-and-miss. From May 1 until his promotion to High-A on June 15, his Whiff% was a tick above 22%, and he had considerably more called strikes than swinging strikes. But any pitcher who can maintain a sub-3.00 ERA, throw strikes, and do so in full-season ball as an 18-year-old will garner attention.
He wasn’t the only attention-grabber in Low-A. Josh Hammond, one of Kansas City’s first-round picks from 2025, is set to end June as one of the top hit men in the Carolina League. Twenty-nine hits over 22 contests, a number that’s second-most in that particular league.
Moving on to High-A, good signs from several pitchers in Quad Cities. David Shields (26% Whiff% from 5/1-6/21) is up to fourth in the Midwest League in total strikeouts (74) this season. Like Chourio, he’s more pitcher than thrower, with more called strikes than swinging strikes.
Reliever L.P. Langevin, meanwhile, has been among the top swing-and-miss pitchers in the Midwest League.
Lastly, Blake Mitchell has had a good June, by and large. Nineteen walks over 22 contests plus four home runs. I don’t think anyone will dispute the power. However, the big question is whether the hit tool is going to work at the higher levels of the Minors.
Tigers
In what’s been a difficult season for the Detroit Tigers big-league club this season, it’s been a good year as far as the development of young players is concerned. Kevin McGonigle, obviously, has been the bright spot. But others’ve exceeded well of late — and even could contribute somewhere down the line in the second half.
One is Max Anderson, presently one of the hottest hitters in Triple-A. Over the last two weeks (as of 6/29), Anderson slashed .389/.411/.741 with four home runs and 12 extra-base hits over 12 contests. Aggressive hitter, yes. But a very good one at that, as Anderson’s approach is simple and quiet.
Also in Triple-A is Max Clark, who slashed .271/.361/.435 with four home runs and 11 walks across 20 June contests.
Moving on, Thayron Liranzo had one of the stranger slash lines across June: .194/.367/.343 with Double-A Erie over 19 contests. Much of that was buoyed by 19 walks, the third-most in the Eastern League.
Bryce Rainer is doing very well with West Michigan. Rainer had a six-home run month with the Whitecaps, part of what’s been a very good run in High-A since he arrived in late April. Not a ton of swing-and-miss (29% Whiff% from 5/1-6/21), either, at least relative to the level. And, to beat it in, he’s a patient hitter. Rainer ranked among the top-25% at High-A in terms of take percentage.
Ben Jacobs, who earned a promotion to High-A after he was one of the better swing-and-miss pitchers in the FSL back in April, punched out 22 batters over 15.2 IP in June. That was the most on the Whitecaps. However, 15 walks in that span.
Twins
There’s a lot to digest with the Twins’ farm system over the last month.
I’ll start in Fort Myers, where Quentin Young is having one of the more interesting — and frustrating — seasons among 2025 MLB Draft picks. Between May 1 and June 21, Young’s 13 barrels (17.8% Barrel%) were second-most in the FSL, behind only Tigers prospect Beau Ankeney. The problem(s)? One, he’s made a lot of errors in the field. Two, the swing-and-miss.
How high? 41%, among the 25 worst in High-A among hitters with at least 125 recorded swings during that aforementioned time span.
However, two other draft picks from that year are doing very well in High-A. I’ll start with Marek Houston, who had a sub-20% swing-and-miss rate over the final seven weeks before the end of the first half. Houston finished his time in High-A with 20 extra-base hits and a .325 average. That earned him a promotion to Double-A Wichita in late June.
Riley Quick (35.6% Whiff% in High-A through 6/21) struck out 25 over four June starts. It wasn’t a clean month for the former Alabama pitcher, as he conceded three home runs and nine walks. Quick was one of the best swing-and-miss pitchers in the Midwest League alongside Dasan Hill (36.7% Whiff%), although walks have hurt the latter hard this year.
Eduardo Tait, acquired last summer from the Phillies, had himself a great month. Eight home runs over 20 contests with Cedar Rapids, tied for the third-most in the Midwest League. The walks, unsurprisingly, were low, with four over 20 contests. Still, it’s hard not to be excited.
And as noted in our fantasy coverage from earlier this month, Kaelen Culpepper is on that shortlist of potential callups.
White Sox
In what’s been a very exciting year for the White Sox, perhaps the best part of that is all the homegrown talent that’s contributed. Yes, the Sox received some help with the likes of Miguel Vargas, Braden Montgomery, and Chase Meidroth, all of whom were trade acquisitions. But for the likes of Davis Martin, Sam Antonacci, etc., it’s been nice to watch.
And, even though several names have graduated this year, there’s still more to come.
I’ll focus more on the hitters here, especially with Tanner McDougal and Hagen Smith currently on the IL. And I’ll start with Caleb Bonemer, who earned a promotion to Double-A on June 16. Eighteen home runs over 61 contests with Winston-Salem, plus 38 walks for the Dash.
As one would expect with someone with those numbers, there’s swing-and-miss. Bonemer also had one of the highest Pull FB% rates in all of the South Atlantic League. And he wasn’t the only one, as Boston Smith (acquired from WSH) and power-hitting outfielder George Wolkow leaned that way, as well.
Moving down, it’s been a good little while for outfielder Jaden Fauske. Fauske, an Illinois prepster taken in the second round last year, had 25 hits over 22 June contests with Low-A Kannapolis. High-take hitter who has worked a lot of walks (15.2% BB%) to this point this season. Also, speed. Seven triples and 22 total stolen bases this season.
Getting back to one of those aforementioned pitchers, Hagen Smith (23 K over 13.1 IP in June) had himself a good month before he landed on the injured list.
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