Gonzalez, Cotton among top prospect performers Tuesday

Two pitches. That was all Erik González needed to see to hit a pair of solo homers for Triple-A Columbus on Tuesday night.
Gonzalez, Cleveland's No. 9 prospect, led off the game with a solo homer and went deep again in the sixth as part of a 2-for-3 night.

MILB Video - Title: Gonzalez hits his second homer - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=1031559583

The shortstop's second multi-homer game of the season brings his total to nine, which matches the single-season career-highs he had in 2013 and 2015. The homers, although nice, aren't exactly a big part of Gonzalez's game, but everything seems to be working offensively for the shortstop this season.
Gonzalez spent a few weeks with the Indians in late July, but has been on fire since his return to Triple-A. The 24-year-old is 10-for-22 (.455) with three homers and five RBIs in the five games he's been back.
The rest of the best performances from top prospects Tuesday:
• No. 34 overall prospect Corey Ray (Brewers' No. 3) went 2-for-2 in a rain-shortened game for Class A Advanced Brevard County. The Brewers' first-rounder is hitting .227 through 35 games, but after snapping an 0-for-12 skid, Ray may be on the verge of a hot streak.
• After failing to escape the first inning in his last start, Reds' No. 2 prospectAmir Garrett (No. 54 overall) spun a gem for Triple-A Louisville. The 24-year-old didn't allow a hit against the first 13 hitters he faced and left after allowing two earned runs over seven frames. Garrett threw 60 of his 93 pitches for strikes, striking out seven and walking none.
• No. 64 overall prospectYohander Méndez (Rangers' No. 2) spun another gem for Triple-A Round Rock. The lefty struck out six and surrendered one hit in five scoreless frames. The 21-year-old threw five scoreless in his prior start and has not allowed an earned run in three Triple-A starts (15 innings).
• No. 85 overall prospectRaimel Tapia (Rockies' No. 5) stole a pair of bases and went 3-for-4 in his Triple-A Albuquerque debut. The speedy outfielder has 19 stolen bases and is hitting .327 through 105 games this season.
• No. 97 overall prospect Francisco Mejia continues to rake. The Indians' No. 4 prospect extended his hitting streak to 48 games with a 3-for-4 day for Class A Advanced Lynchburg.
• Angels' top prospect Matt Thaiss is starting to make a habit of jogging around the bases. The club's first-round selection went deep again for Class A Burlington and has now homered in three of his past four games. Thaiss finished 2-for-4 in a 6-2 loss to Quad Cities.

MILB Video - Title: Thaiss hits one out - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=1032403283

• Athletics' No. 16 prospectJharel Cotton was one out away from a perfect game, but settled for a one-hit shutout as he led Triple-A Nashville to a win in his second start with the club. Cotton struck out 12, setting a career high, in his 108-pitch masterpiece.

MILB Video - Title: Cotton finishes game with a strikeout - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=1032363383

• Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Blue Jays' No. 7) hit his fifth homer of the season and went 2-for-5 with two RBIs for Rookie-level Bluefield. Guerrero has homered twice in his past four games and also has five RBIs in that span.
• Blue Jays No. 15 prospect Angel Perdomo put together a quality start for Class A Lansing in a 13-inning win over Fort Wayne. The 22-year-old lefty struck out five over six scoreless innings, giving up five hits and two walks. Through 103 2/3 innings this season, by far the most in Perdomo's professional career (his previous high was 69 1/3 innings in 2015), he has a 3.04 ERA.
• Kyle Muller (Braves' No. 12) strung together a few more zeros for the GCL Braves. Atlanta's second-round pick has a 0.87 ERA through seven starts after allowing one hit and striking out six in three scoreless frames. The lefty has held opponents scoreless in six of seven starts this season.
• Patrick Weigel (Braves' No. 30) continues to put up good numbers for Class A Rome. The 22-year-old gave up two hits over six scoreless frames and has given up one earned run over his past three starts, a span of 19 innings. Weigel has allowed two earned runs or less in nine of his past 11 starts.

MILB Video - Title: Watch: Weigel notches K - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=1033621283

• Marlins No. 10 prospectJake Esch made a statement in his first game with Triple-A New Orleans this season, throwing a seven-inning shutout. The 26-year-old scattered five hits and led his club to a 1-0 win.

MILB Video - Title: Watch: Esch strikes batter out - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=1033616083

• Marlins' No. 14 prospect Dillon Peters extended his scoreless streak to 24 innings with 6 2/3 scoreless in his debut with Double-A Jacksonville. Peters, who struck out five and gave up five hits, has held opponents scoreless in each of his past three starts and in four of his past five.
"I actually had pretty good command," Peters told MiLB.com. "I think I was 20 for 24 on first-pitch strikes. The last inning, I just kind of fell off a little bit and crept up on the pitch count. But I was establishing my fastball early in the count and staying ahead of the hitters. I think that's why I went as deep in the game as I did."
• Rhys Hoskins (Phillies' No. 13) continues to have a monster season for Double-A Reading. Hoskins went 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs in his club's win over Birmingham and leads the Minors in both homers (35) and RBIs (104). Hoskins has at least one RBI in each of his past six games and has five homers in that span.

MILB Video - Title: Hoskins belts his 35th homer - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=1031667583

• Phillies' No. 19 prospect Thomas Eshelman stuck out a career-high 11 for Double-A Reading. The right-hander threw 66 of 91 pitches for strikes over six innings of one-run ball. Eshelman gave up six hits and has allowed just one earned run over his past 12 innings.