[BA] Jorge Quintana’s exit velo 📈 The Padres may have found a gem at the deadline.

10 MLB Prospects With Big Exit Velocity Gains In 2025 – https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/10-mlb-prospects-with-big-exit-velocity-gains-in-2025/

New school and old school evaluators alike can agree that hitting the ball hard in play will always be key to offensive success. With modern ball-tracking technology, we now have more insight than ever into a hitter’s underlying power. Of course, not all raw power translates directly into game power—there’s more to producing extra bases than simply hitting the ball hard—but it remains a great foundational skill that can scale over time as hitters refine their contact angles. Skill changes don’t always show up immediately in game production, but they often signal improved performance to come.

All players highlighted below recorded at least 50 batted-ball events in both 2024 and 2025, with most far exceeding that threshold in each season.

Jorge Quintana, SS, Padres

• 2024 90th Percentile EV: 97.7
• 2025 90th Percentile EV: 104.6
• Gain: 6.9 mph

Acquired from the Brewers at the deadline in the Brandon Lockridge trade, Quintana might look like a steal in a few years. Like many players who debuted in the Dominican Summer League at 17 years old, Quintana saw a power boost upon coming stateside. It’s reasonable to expect a period of significant power growth between ages 18-22, before exit velocities stagnate around 22-23 years old. Quintana saw a nearly 7 mph gain year-over-year and performed fairly well in his stateside debut in the Arizona Complex League. Quintana has struggled in his first few weeks at a full-season level, but it’s reasonable to expect a better result when he returns to Low-A to begin 2026. 

Enddy Azocar, OF, Red Sox 

• Gain: 7.1 mph 

Richard Matic, 3B, Yankees

• Gain: 6.2 mph

Paulino Santana, OF, Rangers

• Gain: 5.6 mph

Brock Rodden, SS, Mariners 

• Gain: 5.2 mph

Jeremy Rivas, SS, Cardinals 

• Gain: 5.2 mph

Zach Cole, OF, Astros 

• Gain: 4.8 mph

Parks Harber, 3B, Giants

• Gain: 4.8 mph

Luis Peña, SS, Brewers

• Gain: 4.8 mph

Juneiker Caceres, OF, Guardians

• Gain: 4.7 mph