3 Up, 3 Down: New Names Moving Up, Familiar Names Moving Down - 7/30/25
Tom Gates highlights some new prospect names you should know and cautions managers about some higher ranked prospects who might have lost value this season.
Happy hug-watch week! I’m fresh off submitting my July prospect rankings, and I’ve already made some tweaks. This week, you’ll see some names that are now “rank worthy” but nothing that exciting, yet. I’ve also written about some familiar names that haven’t met our expectations this year and are therefore falling in the rankings.
The Phillies selected Owusu-Asiedu in the 9th round of the 2023 draft. His first full pro season in 2024 was a rough one on paper — a .192/.287/.327 slash line and a 36% strikeout rate over 98 games at Single-A. Despite that, he flashed tools: 9 home runs, 17 stolen bases, and a swing geared to elevate the ball to his pull side. Owusu-Asiedu struggled to make consistent contact against all types of pitches. He did pop a max exit velocity of 109 mph and a 90th percentile of 102.8 mph.
He returned to Single-A to start 2025 and showed immediate improvement. Over 58 games, his strikeout rate dropped by 12 points, and a shift from fly balls to line drives helped him raise his average to .268. That progress earned him a bump to High-A, where he’s played 22 games so far.
Current Look
In those 22 High-A games, Owusu-Asiedu has shown encouraging contact metrics:
Zone-contact rate: 85%
Overall whiff rate: 21%
Chase rate: just 25%
Listed at 6’4” and 230 pounds, he’s a big-bodied athlete with real speed. His swing has flattened out a bit since he entered pro ball, trading some loft for more line-drive contact — a tweak that’s helping his average and OBP. Through 80 games this season, he’s swiped 26 bags while being caught just four times — a strong efficiency mark for a player his size. Defensively, he’s shown the versatility to play all three outfield spots, spending most of his time in left and center. While official scouting reports are scarce, there are flashes of defensive ability on video.
Projection & Rankings Update
The next step in his development is unlocking more power. Through 170 career games across Single-A and High-A, he has just 15 homers. But given his size, athleticism, and now-improved contact skills, there's reason to believe more could be coming. He doesn’t need a major overhaul — just more confidence and consistency in tapping into his "A" swing.
For now, the contact gains and speed are real. I’ve moved Owusu-Asiedu into my top 400 (just after I submitted my July update). PLive+ gives him a 106 rating, slightly above replacement. His current peak projection comes in around .212 AVG, 15 HR, and 19 SB — not loud numbers, but interesting if the power ticks up and the K-rate continues to trend down.
Brandon Butterworth, SS SD (High-A)
.262/.324/.455, 11 HR, 13 SB, 7% BB, 21% K
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Director of Dynasty Content - Canadian born and raised, moved to Arkansas with my wife and two sons Ezra and Ari. Followed and played baseball my whole life; played dynasty for 25+ years.
As Director of Pro Scouting, I lead a talented group of evaluators as we break down future stars. You can find me at random California League games throughout the season!
As Director of Pro Scouting, I lead a talented group of evaluators as we break down future stars. You can find me at random California League games throughout the season!
Dynasty player of 10+ years. Helping you find the building blocks of your championship rosters as a co-host on the Dynasty Baseball Pickups podcast since mid-season 2023, joined Prospects Live at the start of 2024.
