The Daily Briefing — Thursday, May 7
By Morgan Davis · Thu May 07 2026
Jhonny Level Stays Hot Jhonny Level just keeps stacking quality days and tightening his grip on “breakout” status. Over his last two games he’s gone 4-for-11 with three RBI, and the bigger picture is even louder: he’s been on base in 22 of 24 games this season while slashing .336/.397/.555 with 15 extra-base hits. It’s the kind of performance that marries the bat-to-ball reputation he brought from the complex with real thump, giving pitchers almost no margin for error. What really stands out is how complete the offensive package already looks for a teenager who still projects to stay on the dirt. Level is driving the ball to all fields, controlling the zone, and consistently finding ways to impact games even when he’s not barreling something into the gap. When you pair this level of early-season production with a profile that features above-average actions at shortstop and a strong arm, you start to see why evaluators have begun to mention him in the same breath as some of the better up-the-middle prospects in the minors. He currently sits 87th in our Top 100, but the trend is northward. Quick Hits Ike Irish is off to a great start, validating his reputation as one of the most advanced college bats in last year’s class. He's slashing .338/.442/.613 with 5 homers and 9 steals in his first 80 at-bats of 2026. The left-handed hitter is already showing impact to all fields and a patient approach, giving Baltimore a potential middle-of-the-order cornerstone who can move quickly. Bryce Rainer ’s first full pro campaign has come with some growing pains. The Tigers promoted him to High-A after a tough start to the season that saw him strikeout in 40% of his plate appearances. The batting numbers got a bit better after the promotion, but the strikeout rate has climbed further to 46%. These are alarming numbers and Rainer's stock is falling with them. The Tigers still believe in the left-handed pop, athleticism, and the chance to stick at short. Once the contact quality and swing decisions sync up, there’s still everyday upside. Wehiwa Aloy just keeps hitting in his first extended taste of full-season ball, putting up a .298 average with 6 home runs, 23 RBI, and an .895 OPS across his first 94 at-bats of 2026. The right-handed shortstop brings a balanced package of above-average power, solid actions in the field, and the feel for the barrel to grow into a true run-producing regular if the approach holds. Josue De Paula is doing exactly what you want to see from a blue-chip bat at Double-A, slashing .307/.435/.910 with 4 homers, 9 steals, and 24 RBI in his first 101 at-bats of 2026. He’s pairing advanced strike zone control with burgeoning impact, and when you factor in age-relative-to-level, he looks every bit like a future lineup anchor for the Dodgers. He hasn't shown the consistent pop to be a lock contributor in an outfield corner, but there is still projection remaining. Carlos Virahonda is 11-for 32 with 4 bombs over his last 7 games. The D-Backs catching prospect went deep yesterday driving in 3 giving him 7 homers and 30 RBI on the season. Virahonda is seen as a defense-first backstop with a plus arm and is ranked 26th in the org. He has an .894 OPS through 102 plate appearances. Jace Avina followed up a solid 2025, when he posted a .791 OPS with 11 homers, by bringing even more impact into 2026. He’s already banked 8 homers and carries an .815 OPS over his first 102 at-bats. The hit tool can still be streaky. That shows in his 40% strikeout rate. The combination of on-base ability and real game power gives him a chance as a power-first corner outfielder.