External Publication

PLIVE+ Deep Sea Diving: Fool's Gold

Prospects Live July 2, 2026

In this series, I'll be using PLIVE+, Prospect Live's secret weapon (which all MVP and Hall of Fame subscribers have access to), to uncover the next breakout prospects before anyone else. This week we're focusing on several players that have put up solid counting stats and stat lines, but can't be trusted until some adjustments are made. We'll also touch on some Single-A Breakouts, a couple of short infielders, and a few more 2025 FYPD prospects. It's time to move on from struggling prospects that peaked in 2024 and start searching for the next potential big thing. Follow me @high_upside on X, and I'll be back Friday with this week's pitching prospects.

PLIVE+ Deep Sea Diving - Prospects LiveProspects LiveCharles Trimble

Single-A Breakouts

Handelfry Encarnacion, OF, MIL

19 yo, Single-A, 4% rostered on Fantrax, PL+ career/year 122/122 (+18.6 monthly change)

Our Trevor Hooth gave Encarnacion 60-grade power and 55-grade speed in his preseason scouting report. He got off to a bit of a rough start, but has slashed .276/.416/.462, with 18.4% walk and 16.4% strikeout rates since April 29th (51 games/250 plate appearances). The left-handed-hitting outfielder has hit 7 home runs and stolen 16 bags over that period, but his inefficiency on the basepaths (9 CS) at Single-A is alarming.

Handelfry Encarnacion won Carolina League Player of the Week 🏅by hitting 3 home runs in consecutive games for the @wilsonwarbirds 💣💣💣

5/1: 103mph EV (Grand Slam) 5/2: 99mph EV (3-run HR) 5/3: 105mph EV (Walk-off 2-run HR)#ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/OoNpl8oGQU

— Brewers Player Development (@BrewersPD) May 4, 2026

Willy Montero, OF, NYY

21 yo, Single-A, 0% rostered on Fantrax, PL+ career/year 97/84 (+10.1 monthly change)

It's a historic version of the article, as it features the first-ever siblings to appear in the PLIVE+ Deep Sea Diving article series. His brother, Hans, was in the May 26th edition. Willy has popped a 112.4 Max EV and has posted a 104.5 EV90 this season. He's basically the opposite of his 5'9 brother, standing 6'4 and possessing solid power. He's up to 27 extra-base hits (9 home runs) and 12 stolen bases this season. His 70.2% contact rate is concerning for a 21-year-old in Single-A.

Luis De La Cruz, 3B/1B, CLE

19 yo, Single-A, 0% rostered on Fantrax, PL+ career/year 113/108 (+13.4 monthly change)

I was skeptical of De La Cruz as a 5'11 first baseman, but he's been playing more at the hot corner this season. He's been surging over the past month, slashing .313/.371/.525 over the past month, with 14.4% strikeout and 8.9% walk rates. The righty has hit 4 of his 5 home runs over that period and is up to 26 stolen bases on the season.

Sign up for Prospects Live

Your one stop shop for Dynasty Fantasy Baseball, MLB Draft, Baseball Card & MiLB Baseball content. Blending Data & Scouting into our Player Evaluation