RADIO
Andy's fantasy baseball prospects sleepers and risers to know for Week 12 of 2025. He analyzes top MLB prospects and rookies to stash based on recent performances.
Welcome, RotoBallers, to my Week 12 edition of the top prospect performers. In this week's piece, we will look at two budding aces in the National League, including one in Cincinnati that is making a strong case to be the sport's top pitching prospect. On the hitting side, we may have another infielder who could be on his way to the South Side of Chicago.
In this column, we analyze the top prospect performances of the week and determine if their performances truly matter for fantasy baseball. Should fantasy managers be stashing these prospects?
Adding the right prospect can fill the missing piece on your roster and set you up for a fantasy championship. This fantasy baseball prospects weekly series will examine a few key players in the minor leagues and assess whether they have a path to fantasy stardom in 2025.
Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball draft tools and resources:- Fantasy baseball draft kit
- Fantasy baseball rankings
- Team Sync platform and Draft Assistant
- Fantasy baseball mock draft simulator
- Fantasy baseball draft cheat sheets
- Fantasy baseball closer depth charts
- Fantasy baseball prospects
Colson Montgomery, SS, Chicago White Sox
White Sox No. 5 Prospect, Overall N/A
Chicago White Sox infield prospect Colson Montgomery was once considered the top prospect in the system, especially after being drafted with the 22nd pick in the 2021 MLB Draft out of Southridge HS. In 2022, spent most of his time in the lower levels of the minor leagues and posted a .274/.381/.429 slash line with 17 doubles and 11 long balls across 96 games.
Then in 2023, Montgomery continued to perform at a high level, posting a strong .939 OPS with a 56:56 K:BB.
However, at the start of the 2024 campaign, the White Sox opted to move their top infield prospect to Triple-A Charlotte. During his first taste of the highest level of the minor leagues, Montgomery struggled as he held a .214/.329/.381 line across 130 games.
Then, through his first 28 games of the 2025 campaign (with Triple-A Charlotte), these struggles continued to remain relevant as he posted an underwhelming .473 OPS with a hefty 38.5% K rate. However, over his last 19 contests, Montgomery has begun to turn the corner and could be finally reaching the end of his development.
During this recent surge, Montgomery has posted a strong .271/.370/.529 line with a .899 OPS, four home runs, and a lower 25.9% K rate.
Is this recent surge legit?
When looking at his underlying metrics in comparison to his 2024 and 2025 numbers at Triple-A, Montgomery has shown significant improvement. In 2024, Montgomery posted a low 37.4% FB% but has seen this number rise to a 46.2% mark. While his BABIP in 2025 remains lower than his 2024 mark, his recent surge at the plate could suggest he is beginning to turn the corner.
If Montgomery continues to perform at this level, he could reach the majors early in the second half. However, given his rather inconsistent play at Triple-A, fantasy managers in redraft leagues should leave him on their waiver wire.
Colson Montgomery is 4-4 with 2 doubles and 2 home runs tonight.
Seems good.pic.twitter.com/O0xCuv9Dyo
— Mike (@ChiSoxFanMike) May 25, 2025
Verdict: On track for 2025 debut, continue to monitor
Jonah Tong, SP, New York Mets
Mets No. 4 Prospect, Overall 99
While Brandon Sproat and Christian Scott were once viewed as the rising stars in the Mets' pitching system last year, Scott has dealt with injuries, and Sproat has struggled to find consistency. As a result, Nolan McLean and Jonah Tong have emerged as the new top arms in the system.
While McLean made a strong case to be on this list, I want to spotlight the 21-year-old right-hander instead.
Tong made his professional debut in 2023 after being drafted in the seventh round of the 2022 MLB Draft. In 2023, Tong logged just 13 1/3 innings, so his 2024 campaign was his true debut campaign.
In 2024, Tong logged 113 innings across time at Low-A, High-A (primarily), and Double-A. Across this stint, Tong struck out 160 batters and held a 3.03 ERA with a 1.17 WHIP.
Through 2025, Tong has shown similar upside and has even taken strides further. He has spent his entire campaign with Double-A and has looked the part. Through 54 1/3 innings, Tong has tallied 91 punchouts with a stellar 1.99 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP.
His 41.6% K rate is nearly seven points higher than his 2024 mark. In addition, he has raised his ground-ball rate to 53.2% (from 45.2% in 2024). His lone blemish this season is that his walk rate rose three points in relation to 2024.
Given Tong's emergence at Double-A, fantasy managers should expect the Georgia Premier Academy product to earn the call to Triple-A Syracuse sooner rather than later. While a 2025 MLB debut may seem difficult to picture, the Mets will be in the postseason hunt, and Tong could be their top pitching reinforcement by the end of the summer.
Jonah Tong now leads the minors with 91 strikeouts in 54.1 innings 🔥
The Mets RHP has been one of the biggest rising pitching prospects in all of baseball this season.
(🎥 @MetsPlayerDev)
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) June 11, 2025
Verdict: In mix for 2025 MLB debut, fast-rising dynasty asset
Chase Burns, SP, Cincinnati Reds
Reds No. 1 Prospect, Overall 11
We round out this week's column with a rookie in Chase Burns. The Reds selected the flame-throwing right-hander with the second overall pick in last year's MLB Draft out of Wake Forest. During his final season with Wake Forest, Burns broke the school's single-season strikeout record, held by Rhett Lowder.
He has an elite one-two pitch-mix, highlighted by a fastball which touches 102 mph and a high-end slider that sits in the upper-80s.
The Reds opted to keep Burns sidelined after the draft and had him make his professional debut at the start of the 2025 campaign. The 22-year-old opened the season with High-A Dayton and did not need much time to prove he was more than ready to join the upper ranks.
At High-A, Burns logged 11 2/3 innings to the tune of a 3.09 ERA and a 0.86 WHIP. He struck out 20 batters and allowed just five walks.
He then moved up to Double-A, where he posted a strong 1.29 ERA with a 0.71 WHIP. In this stint, Burns continued to not only showcase high strikeout upside but also elite command. He tallied 55 punchouts and allowed only four free passes.
Chase Burns is a machine. Top pitching prospect in baseball, and I’m not sure it’s that close. #Reds pic.twitter.com/4nEFAzR5jg
— Jacob Tissot (@jacobtissot) June 7, 2025
Last Sunday, the Reds announced they are promoting their top prospect to Triple-A. Burns is progressing through the minor leagues at an impressive rate and is now firmly in the mix to reach the majors this season.
Under the hood, Burns' metrics suggest his performance has not been a fluke. During his time in Double-A, Burns generated an elite 1.75 xFIP, in comparison to his 2.12 FIP. He generated groundballs at a 45.0% rate and flyballs at a 36.0% rate.
With Hunter Greene (hamstrung) on the 15-day IL and in danger of missing a significant period, Burns could get the call much sooner than expected. Currently, Wade Miley holds the No. 5 spot in the rotation but has posted an uninspiring 9.00 ERA across his first two starts.
Burns made his Triple-A debut on Thursday evening and tossed 5 1/3 innings of two-run ball with seven punchouts against the potent Iowa Cubs.
He is officially a must-stash and could be a very valuable fantasy asset in the second half.
Reds top prospect Chase Burns has posted a 1.68 ERA over 11 starts across High-A and Double-A this year 👏
He's on his way to Triple-A less than a year after being drafted 🔥 pic.twitter.com/B3E7i5FYDl
— MLB (@MLB) June 9, 2025
Verdict: Stash in all leagues
More Fantasy Baseball Prospects and Rookies
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy baseball app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, sleepers, prospects & more. All free!
