Finding the Next Carlos Cortes in the High Minors

Baseball is such a beautiful sport. While what we see at the big league level provides us with enough entertainment, it’s all of the performances happening in the minor leagues that truly provide us optimism about what’s to come in the future.

No, I am not referencing the top prospects that everyone seems to have their eyes glued on. It’s those who, through a multitude of circumstances, have not gotten their true shot in the major leagues. Take Carlos Cortes, for example.

It wasn’t until last season, at the age of 28, that he made his major league debut after spending seven seasons down in the minor leagues. The Athletics decided to, finally, allow him to get at-bats in the majors, and all he did was hit .309 with an .866 OPS, 132 wRC+, and four home runs in just 42 games.

That success has since carried over into 2026, where his .387 average and 200 wRC+ in 27 games have even the most casual baseball fans wondering where he has been all of these years.

Lucky for us, there are still plenty of others down in the minor leagues who have the potential to replicate the success story that is Carlos Cortes.

In this article, I want to highlight five players who are doing nothing but showing out at the minor league level and are deserving of a shot with their big league team. Some of them may have had a sip of a cup of coffee at some point, but nothing notable has come from it.

The beauty of this game is that we are able to experience these stories each year. Now, who’s next?

Stats updated prior to games on May 5.

Ben Ross (SS) – Minnesota Twins

2026 Stats, AA/AAA: .361/.470/.699, 6 HR, 20 RBI, 196 wRC+

When it comes to options up the middle, the Twins seem to be hoarding any and all options in the league.

Ben Ross has been in their system since he was taken in the fifth round of the 2022 draft out of Notre Dame. Before this year, he had never had a true “standout” season that would give baseball fans much of a reason to follow him, but this season has been different.

Prior to being promoted to Triple-A, Ross was hitting .424 with a 1.324 OPS in 16 games played. The five home runs he hit in that span would already equate to more than one-quarter of his previous season-long career-high in his four seasons of minor league baseball.

What seems to be the biggest change this year? Well, aside from the fact that he was walking more than he was striking out at Double-A (16.7% BB%/13.9% K%), it is the fact that he began making contact 80.7% of the time.

As I mentioned, the Twins always seem to have multiple options to play up the middle for them, especially at the major league level. However, the fact that Ross has played six positions outside of shortstop in his career means the Twins will have no excuse not to call up the 24-year-old to make his MLB debut if he continues to succeed.

Alex Binelas (1B/3B) – Philadelphia Phillies

2026 Stats, AA: .250/.384/.676, 9 HR, 19 RBI, 153 wRC+

There was once some prospect pedigree for the 86th overall selection of the 2021 draft class.

Alex Binelas started his career with the Milwaukee Brewers but was immediately traded to the Boston Red Sox in the deal that sent Hunter Renfroe to Milwaukee in the 2021 season.

Binelas was then a member of the Red Sox organization up until May of 2025, when he was released and subsequently signed by the Philadelphia Phillies, for whom he is currently thriving in Double-A.

Now, it wasn’t that Binelas was a failure at any point, but the 1.060 OPS he is currently rocking is about 250 points above his career average. Like Ross, Binelas is seeing his production improve due to a cut down in his strikeout numbers and a boost in his walks.

As someone who has been following Binelas ever since he was taken out of Louisville in 2021, I would like nothing less than to see him finally get a chance at the major league level. The Phillies are clearly entering a time at which an overhaul seems to be on the horizon, highlighted recently by the firing of manager Rob Thompson.

Vimael Machín (3B) – Colorado Rockies

2026 Stats, AAA: .352/.473/.534, 2 HR, 18 RBI, 154 wRC+

We have found the first player on this list who does, in fact, have a little bit of time up at the major league level.

Vimael Machín entered his age-32 season off a newly signed minor league deal with the Colorado Rockies. This came after a long stint from 2015 to 2019 with the Chicago Cubs, two years with the Athletics, one season with both Philadelphia and Baltimore, and a brief stint in the Mexican League.

He spent parts of four seasons in the majors (2020-2022, 2025), but only amounted to a .204/.286/.264 line in 116 games played.

When it comes to finding an organization that should be giving all the opportunities possible to players showing a heartbeat in the minors, the Rockies are usually the team that comes first to mind.

If an 86.5% contact rate does not provide enough confidence that there isn’t much regression coming to Machín’s game, then how about the fact that he just doesn’t chase outside of the zone?

Come on, Rockies. Here’s someone who deserves a chance in Colorado.

Niko Kavadas (1B/DH) – Los Angeles Angels

2026 Stats, AAA: .333/.500/.640, 4 HR, 24 RBI, 185 wRC+

Alright, Angels, now it’s time for you to get called out because, like the Rockies, there’s just no excuse.

Like Machín, Niko Kavadas has spent time in the major leagues. After being acquired in the multi-player return that sent relief pitcher Luis Garcia to the Red Sox at the 2024 trade deadline, Kavadas made his MLB debut for the Angels in mid-August.

In that 30-game sample, he only hit .183, putting up -0.2 fWAR and striking out almost 40% of the time. He struggled just as badly in 10 more games in 2025.

I’m not quite sure what suddenly clicked for the 27-year-old, but continuing to walk at a 23.0% clip will surely help him maintain his newfound success. So will maintaining a 45.1% hard-hit percentage.

As you would expect with a player with Kavadas’s profile, consistent contact has often been an issue, and while his 69.0% contact rate now might not seem significant, it’s an improvement over most of his minor league seasons, and it’s why Perry Minasian should be making the call down to Triple-A to bring Kavadas back up.

Danny Serretti (3B/SS) – Arizona Diamondbacks

2026 Stats, AA: .384/.516/.726, 5 HR, 14 RBI, 199 wRC+

Danny Serretti is in his first season with the Diamondbacks organization after being selected by the Tigers in the sixth round of the 2022 draft and then taken by Arizona in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft this past offseason.

The Tigers leaving Serretti exposed to the draft really did not come as a surprise, considering he never really showed anything that would merit protection. It seems as if he took that decision personally because, so far in 2026, Serretti is one of the better hitters in the minor leagues.

Clearly, he is catching the eye of his own organization, with him recently getting promoted to Triple-A Reno.

If the 199 wRC+ isn’t enough for you to believe what I am saying, can I interest you in the damage being done on the restricted 40.4% swing percentage he is currently rocking? Not enough? Maybe the 20% walk rate that goes along with the low swing percentage, and the .342 ISO that he is sprinkling over the top?

The Diamondbacks are currently reaping the rewards of what Jose Fernandez has done for them out of nowhere, but Serretti’s ability to play three different infield positions should give the D-backs enough flexibility to eventually give him his call-up to the big leagues.