10 Hitting Prospects to Grab Before Offseason Buzz

Late-season breakouts happen all the time and don’t generate near the buzz that dominant April performances do. Typically, as people have a full offseason to dig in, some of these names get uncovered and get more buzz, especially if they head to the Arizona Fall League and look good.

Not all these prospects are just late-season breakouts. Some have been good all season and just gotten even better to end the year. Regardless, I believe all ten of these hitting prospects will move up list substantially this offseason.

Ten Pitching Prospects with Strong Late-Season Performances

Alfredo Duno, C, Cincinnati Reds, 19, A

Daytona made the Florida State League playoffs, so Duno’s season is not done yet, but he ended the regular season on a high note. Hitting home runs in his final two games, including one off the Cardinals’ 2025 first-rounder, Liam Doyle, Duno has been one of the best hitters in a very pitcher-friendly league.

Seeing Duno in person for the first time at All-Star weekend, I was impressed with how physical Duno truly was. The frame is huge and powerful. Duno finished the regular season with 18 home runs and 52 extra base hits while slashing .287/.430/.518.

Having a strong frame, Duno posts exceptional exit velocities, especially for his age. He has a 106 mph 90th percentile exit velocity, which is already in the plus power range, especially considering his age. The average exit velocity sits at 91 mph, and Duno puts the ball in the air on 62 percent of his batted balls. His bat speed allows him to get to the pull side easily as well, posting a pull rate near 50 percent.

The contact growth this year is notable. The overall contact rate sits at 70 percent for the season, but in July, that number was up to 77 percent. Since the All-Star break, it is up to 80 percent. Duno has a great eye at the plate and runs extremely low chase rates, down below 16 percent.

While there are questions about the contact, this could be a special profile. Duno might be one of the best-hitting catcher prospects in the game.

Ralphy Velazquez, 1B, Cleveland Guardians, 20, AA

A promotion to Double-A did not seem to be much of a challenge for Velazquez, as he has been on a torrid pace for some time. Dating back to late June, Velazquez has 73 hits in 56 games and has been on base in 53 of those games. In 99 Double-A plate appearances, Velazquez has a 1.081 OPS and five home runs.

Velazquez has a smooth, compact swing from the left side but has a ton of power in his 6’3”/215 lb frame. Selected in the first round of the 2023 draft out of California, Velazquez put together a strong 2024 season at the plate. After the organization said they would let him develop as a catcher, Velazquez did not play a single game behind the plate.

After getting off to a slow start to the 2025 season in which he slashed .149/.252/.340 in his first 24 games, Velazquez has really picked it up. Even through the end of May, Velazquez had just a .666 OPS. Since June 26, Velazquez has a .333/.421/.607 slash with 12 home runs and 32 extra base hits.

The contact skills are solid, and Velazquez is hyper-aggressive on pitches in the zone. Having an in-zone swing rate north of 80 percent is something you love to see, and he chases less than 25 percent of pitches out of the zone. The overall contact rate for the year stands at 78 percent and has continued to rise throughout the season, reaching nearly 81 percent over the last several months.

The exit velocities are plus, with Velazquez having a near 107 mph 90th percentile exit velocity. With blossoming contact skills, Velazquez is rebuilding his prospect status and trending back up in a big way. Velazquez will likely be in top 50s this offseason and deservingly so.

Get eight more Hitting prospects to grab now before the offseason by subscribing below!

Join the Dynasty Dugout, Trusted by Thousands