The Daily Dugout Report - April 22, 2026

Another week is behind us and we are hitting stride in the middle of April. Minor League Baseball is in full swing and there are a million players to discuss. Who is breaking out? Which performances are we not worried about yet? So many names being thrown at you. We are here to sift through the weeds and help you know the players who are breaking out.

Let’s dive into the top performers from yesterday’s action.

Exit Velocity Leaders(Prospects Only)

Whiff Leaders(Prospects Only)

The Prospect Report

🚀 Standout of The Day

Eric Hartman, OF, Atlanta Braves (A+)

Stats: 5/5 3 HR, 1 BB

Why The Performance Matters:

The Braves snagged Hartman with their 20th-round pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, giving him an over-slot to keep him from his college commitment at Michigan. At 6’1”/185, Hartman looks to have some projection left on his frame and already has juice in his bat for someone who just turned 19 years old. Last year, Hartman put up mediocre surface numbers, slashing .240/.341/.358 with five home runs, but 48 stolen bases. But, after returning from injury in early July, Hartman slashed .270/.340/.385 with three home runs and 13 extra-base hits.

Last night, Hartman blasted three home runs on a day when he reached base six times. His home run total is up to six in just 63 plate appearances which is crazy considering he hit just five all of last year. I don’t think its a fluke either as the exit velocities are way up on Hartman as he has registered multiple batted balls at 112 mph this season and has seen quite a jump overall on the exit velocities in the early going.

It would be easy to look at the 27 percent strikeout rate and 6.3 percent walk rate and be semi-concerned, and I get it. But the tangible changes in the profile when it comes to better launch angles and higher exit velocities go a long way. The contact rates are also rather good for Hartman in comparison to the strikeout rate. The 75 percent contact rate is ten percentage points higher than Ronny Cruz, who everyone is losing their minds over. Hartman is jumping early in counts and taking advantage of mistake pitches, which is why the walk rate is lower.

Fantasy Spin:

Hartman is a 70-grade runner in addition to what was listed above. He is also 19 years old in High-A. He is six of seven on stolen base attempts after stealing 48 bases last season. The power does not seem to be fluky at all. Hartman feels like a great buy. Not on the cusp of a three-home run game, but rather the entire season gains we have seen in a small sample.

So, how high should you be buying on Hartman? At the moment, I feel like he slots in somewhere around a top 200 prospect. He could continue to rise as well if this performance continues. Don’t worry about the strikeout rate, the contact rates are good enough. -CC

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