Minor League Baseball Weekend Recap - Week 8, 2026

A full weekend of Minor League Baseball. All is good in the world. While we just have a weekend of sample size for all levels, there are still things to take away even from players who have played just a few games!

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Exit Velocity Leaders(Prospects Only)

Whiff Leaders(Prospects Only)

The Prospect Report

🚀 Weekend Standouts

Jacob Gonzalez, SS, Chicago White Sox (AAA)

Stats: 6/10 3 HR, SB

Why The Performance Matters:

The reality is it feels like it has been years since Jacob Gonzalez has been relevant. Before 2026, Gonzalez had not lived up to the hype of being a 2023 first-round pick, but he has worked his way up the minors and finished the 2025 season in Triple-A. When I watch Gonzalez, I see a player who is smooth across the board but lacks huge tools.

Across 539 plate appearances last year, Gonzalez produced a modest .232/.307/.345 slash with eight home runs and 17 stolen bases. His launch angles were respectable, and he did a good job of pulling the ball, especially against Double-A pitching.

This year, something has clicked, and Gonzalez looks like a different hitter. After blasting three home runs over the last two games, Gonzalez now has 14 home runs on the year with nine doubles and a triple. He has added seven stolen bases and is slashing an impressive .306/.423/.638. So, is it legit?

Under the hood, Gonzalez is running a 104 mph 90th percentile exit velocity, which is right at MLB average, but his huge jump in max exit velocity up to 113.6 mph is notable. Gonzalez is creating barrels at a near 10 percent clip thanks to his 34 percent sweet spot rate and solid launch angles.

The contact skills and approach are around average as Gonzalez is making contact at a 76 percent clip that jumps to 84 percent in the zone. The 28 percent chase rate is fine, though you would like to see the zone swing rate of 65 percent take a jump.

So, what is next for Gonzalez? How soon could we see him in a White Sox uniform?

Fantasy Spin:

It is worth noting that Charlotte(White Sox Triple-A) is a notorious hitters’ park. Taking a look at the underlying data, we don’t see anything that looks like a stud player, but the improvements are worth noting.

The question is, where does Gonzalez fit in the White Sox lineup? While playing shortstop primarily, Gonzalez has also seen time at second base and third base. Those are the White Sox strongest position players in Miguel Vargas and Colson Montgomery. Could he take time from Chase Meidroth? It does not seem likely, but maybe there are DH reps to be had. -CC

Karson Milbrandt, RHP, Miami Marlins (AA)

Stats: 6 IP/3 H/0 ER/0 BB/11 K

Notable Data: 20 Whiffs

Why The Performance Matters:

Milbrandt has put up strong numbers all last season, but finished the year extremely strong, earning himself a promotion to Double-A. The breakout continued into the AFL where Milbrandt became more of a household name.

A former over-slot third-rounder in 2022, command has held back what is a deep arsenal of pitches for Milbrandt. But in 2026, this all looks to have changed. Milbrandt has walked just 8.7 percent of batters, and after an impressive 11-strikeout performance on Saturday, Milbrandt has a 37 percent strikeout rate and a 1.24 ERA.

The fastball and slider are the best pitches here as Milbrandt works 95-97 and has topped near triple digits. It comes in with 16-17 inches of extension from a 5’5” release height. The slider is the best secondary pitch, sitting in the mid-80s with good depth and six inches of sweep. Milbrandt also has a low-80s curveball with two-plane movement and an upper-80s cutter. The cutter almost plays like a gyro-slider, but is an effective pitch.

Fantasy Spin:

Milbrant needs a promotion to Triple-A at this point. He just turned 22, but has made notable strides as a pitcher and looks ready to make his MLB debut this season. The 65 percent strike rate is above average and supports the improved walk rate, and the stuff-and-bat-missing ability is impressive. On top of an 18.5 percent swinging strike rate, which is elite, Milbrandt also has an elite 60 percent ground ball rate.

When everything is factored in, Milbrandt should be viewed as a top 10-15 pitching prospect. He will be a notable riser for me this month. -CC

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