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Labor Day might suggest the end of summer to some, but in Minor League Baseball, we still have one week remaining with all four full-season levels. The regular seasons for Single-A and High-A leagues end this Sunday before Double-A concludes on Sept. 15 and Triple-A on Sept. 22.

The season can take on a “blink and you’ll miss it” vibe at times as it flies by, but as is the often case, there’s simply too much happening to blink. That might be especially true at Single-A and High-A where development really starts to kick in for some of the game’s youngest prospects. It’s where they’re officially off the comforts of the complex, traveling around the country and adjusting to more advanced competition than they’ve likely ever seen before. It’s where prospects can really shine or sometimes flounder.

Though there’s still a week remaining (and postseasons beyond that!), here are the storylines that stood out most from Single-A and High-A in 2024:

2023 top eight picks: While much has been made about the fact that five of the top seven picks from last year’s Draft (Paul Skenes, Dylan Crews, Wyatt Langford, Jacob Wilson, Rhett Lowder) have made the Majors already, don’t forget they were all collegians on accelerated tracks. By comparison, prep picks Max Clark (No. 3), Walker Jenkins (No. 5) and Blake Mitchell (No. 8) were going to need more development time. But so far, so good on that. Clark and Jenkins have shown off impressive hit tools in climbing from the Florida State League to the Midwest League, solidifying their places as two of the best outfield prospects in baseball, and Mitchell surprised some with 18 homers and 25 steals for Single-A Columbia in his first full season. The backstop will join Clark and Jenkins in the MWL this week for Quad Cities’ playoff push.

The arrival of Leodalis De Vries: The Padres made waves by moving Ethan Salas up three full-season levels as a 17-year-old last year. They picked up the No. 1 international prospect this year in shortstop De Vries, leaving many to wonder how aggressive they’d get with him, too. San Diego similarly skipped the 17-year-old over the Dominican Summer and Arizona Complex Leagues, but unlike Salas, kept him at Single-A Lake Elsinore all season before a shoulder strain ended his summer last month. De Vries overcame a slow start to produce a .237/.361/.441 line with 11 homers and 115 wRC+ over 75 games, pushing himself into a Top 50 overall ranking.

Modesto juggernaut: We might look back at Single-A Modesto’s roster from the first half someday and laugh at how loaded it was. The Nuts finished 41-23 (.641), taking the California League North Division first-half crown. But even more impressive than the record are the names that got them there. Current Top 100 prospects Colt Emerson and Lazaro Montes were stars for the Mariners affiliate. Jonny Farmelo (2023 29th overall pick) was pushing for the Top 100 before tearing his right ACL in June, and Michael Arroyo showed impressive power for a player listed at 5-foot-8. Aidan Smith, Brody Hopkins, Will Schomberg and Jacob Sharp were included in Deadline deals intended to improve the big club. It was a dream combination of development and success for Seattle’s farm.

Bryce Eldridge’s liftoff: The Giants made two-way first-rounder Eldridge a hitter only because they believed in the bat so much, and while the left-handed slugger certainly looked good at Single-A San Jose early on, he’s taken things to a new level at High-A Eugene. Eldridge’s 1.060 is tops among High-A hitters (min. 200 PA), while his .442 OBP and .618 SLG rank third. Entering Tuesday, he’s homered nine times in his last 17 games. Reminder: he’s only 19. This power surge could elevate him into the upper echelon of our Top 100 in the next update.

Travis Sykora and Jarlin Susana: The Nationals’ farm has been defined by its bats with Crews and James Wood atop the Washington Top 30 all summer. But the next generation of top Nats prospects looks like it's coming on the mound. Sykora leads the Minor Leagues (min. 80 IP) with a 39.9 percent strikeout rate, 0.83 WHIP and .155 average-against for Single-A Fredericksburg, while Susana -- he of the 103 mph fastball -- has done a significantly better job of limiting walks (down to 8.8 percent BB rate at High-A) and generating swing-and-miss with his killer stuff (including a plus slider). Both hurlers are only 20 with some development runway ahead, but their 2024 gains have given the Nats a more well-rounded system.

Tre’ Morgan can hit too: The former LSU star has a fantastic glove at first base and has taken his offensive game to a new level in his first full season. The Rays played it fairly slowly with their 2023 third-rounder with an opening assignment at Single-A Charleston, but Morgan only lasted 26 games there after hitting .320. He was even better in 53 contests at High-A Bowling Green (.371/.447/.558), and his .354 average and 172 wRC+ combined between the two levels were highest among qualifiers at Single-A/High-A. He’s at Double-A Montgomery now competing with Xavier Isaac to be the future of the cold corner in St. Petersburg.

The rise of two major breakouts: Quinn Mathews (122nd overall) and Kristian Campbell (132nd) were taken 10 picks away from each other last year. In 2024, they’re arguably the two biggest breakout names of the season. Mathews dominated Single-A and High-A, posting a 2.18 ERA and 0.78 WHIP with 110 strikeouts in 74 1/3 innings between Palm Beach and Peoria, placing himself comfortably in Top 100 consideration. Campbell went from outside Boston’s Top 30 into the Top 100, and his work at High-A Greenville helped get him there with a .306/.418/.558 line and eight homers in 40 games. It was there the former Georgia Tech star began to show better elevation on contact, and like Mathews, he’s since raised his game to the Triple-A level.

Demetrio Crisantes’ on-base streak: Last one to follow in the final days ahead: No. 13 D-backs prospect Crisantes is riding a 52-game on-base streak for Single-A Visalia. The Rawhide has six games remaining, meaning he could lengthen this as far as 58 heading into 2025.