Friday's top prospect performers

August 3rd, 2019

Here's a look at Friday's top Minor League performers from each team's Top 30 Prospects list:

AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST

Blue Jays: Alek Manoah, RHP (No. 4) -- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K (Class A Short-Season Vancouver)
Manoah is picking up right where Nate Pearson left off in Vancouver two seasons ago as another big, strong, first-round pick on the mound. He'll likely follow a similar path to Pearson through Vancouver, too, with some shorter outings to get his feet wet after his NCAA season at West Virginia. Manoah has now debuted with two scoreless outings for the Canadians, where his fastball should play up against Class A Short-Season competition. The Blue Jays have an early focus on developing his slider, which flashes as a plus, and changeup. Blue Jays prospects stats »

Orioles: Ryan Mountcastle, 1B (No. 4, MLB No. 70) -- 2-for-4, 2 R (Triple-A Norfolk)
It's been a career year for Mountcastle, who already set a career high with 19 home runs and is hitting .314 after 101 games with the Tides this season. He won't catch his incredible total of 48 doubles from 2017, but Mountcastle has driven the ball to all fields and his all-around approach continues to impress. The 22-year-old first baseman is enjoying one of the hotter stretches of his season, too, with 18 hits over his past 10 games. Orioles prospects stats »

Rays: Joe Ryan, RHP (No. 16) -- 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K (Class A Advanced Charlotte)
Picking up Thursday’s suspended game against Palm Beach in the fourth inning, Ryan allowed just one hit across the final six frames to earn the win for the Stone Crabs. He faced two over the minimum in the outing, striking out four and throwing 53 of 71 pitches for strikes. A seventh-round pick in 2018 out of Division II Cal State Stanislaus, Ryan has emerged as one of the biggest steals from his Draft class in his first full season. The 23-year-old right-hander has pitched to a 1.43 ERA with 103 strikeouts and 12 walks in 81 2/3 innings in the Florida State League after a dominant six-start stint with Class A Bowling Green to open the season. Overall, Ryan owns a 1.81 ERA with 150 strikeouts and 23 walks in 109 1/3 innings between the two levels. Rays prospects stats »

Red Sox: Marcus Wilson, OF (No. 18) -- 3-for-5, 2B, HR, 5 RBI (Double-A Portland)
Wilson had gone 11 games without hitting a homer or driving in a run before Friday, when he teed off on a three-run shot in the ninth inning to cap a season-best five RBI night at the plate. The homer was the 22-year-old outfielder's fourth with the Sea Dogs and 12th since the Red Sox acquired him from Arizona for Blake Swihart on April 19. He's gone deep a career-high 14 times while batting .283 in 94 games between the two organizations. Red Sox prospects stats »

Yankees: Nick Nelson, RHP (No. 15) -- 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K (Double-A Trenton)
Nelson has been cruising lately, as Friday's outing was the sixth straight in which he's allowed two earned runs or fewer. Throwing 66 of 104 pitches for strikes, the 23-year-old right-hander and former fourth-round pick (2016) mixed four hits with three walks while striking out four and recorded six ground-ball outs. He lowered his Double-A ERA to 2.61 with the performance, and he's now compiled 72 strikeouts against 34 walks in 58 2/3 innings for the Thunder. Yankees prospects stats »

AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL

Indians: Jose Tena, SS (No. 25) -- 2-for-4, R, 3B, 3 RBI (AZL Indians Blue)
Tena, 18, has recorded multiple hits in five straight games during his eight-game hitting streak in the Arizona League, where he's hit .322/.359/.479 in 28 games. The nephew of 16-year big leaguer Juan Uribe, Tena signed for $400,000 out of the Dominican Republic in July 2017 and batted .313/.367/.410 with 13 extra-base hits last season during his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League. Indians prospects stats »

Royals: Kris Bubic, LHP (No. 6) -- 5 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 8 K (Class A Advanced Wilmington)
Bubic allowed both of his runs in the second inning but otherwise pitched well, striking out eight over five innings. It wasn't the 21-year-old southpaw's best outing, but it did help extend his streak of allowing three earned runs or fewer to eight games while also lowering his Blue Rocks ERA to 2.84 through 11 starts. Selected by the Royals with the No. 40 overall pick in the 2018 Draft, Bubic has pitched to a 2.52 ERA over 21 starts and two levels in his first full season, striking out 152 batters against 35 walks in 114 1/3 innings. Royals prospects stats »

Tigers: Derek Hill, OF (No. 28) -- 2-for-4, HR (Double-A Erie)
Hill wasted no time putting the SeaWolves on the board as he deposited the first pitch he saw over the wall for a leadoff home run. It was the 23-year-old outfielder's 13th homer of the season, which is easily a career-high mark for him after he totaled nine homers in his first 357 professional games (2014-18). The uptick in power this year in his first Double-A campaign is an encouraging sign for Hill, who has long stood out for his plus speed and superb defense in center field -- the best in the Tigers' system. Hill's hitting ability isn't quite on par with his glove, though, as he's sitting on a .232 average with 114 strikeouts through 92 games in 2019. Tigers prospects stats »

Twins: Trevor Larnach, OF (No. 5) -- 1-for-4, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI, BB (Double-A Pensacola)
Larnach notched just one hit Friday, but that one hit left the yard as the Oregon State product belted a two-run shot in the sixth inning for his second Double-A home run in 16 games. He's hit eight dingers and 27 doubles across two levels in his first full season, all while slashing .303/.371/.442. After having his power suppressed by pitcher-friendly Florida State League ballparks for much of the season, it wouldn't be surprising to see the 2018 first-rounder's over-the-fence pop pick up during the final month-plus of the 2019 season. Twins prospects stats »

White Sox: Luis Robert, OF (No. 1, MLB No. 5) -- 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI (Triple-A Charlotte)
Make it two homers in three games for Robert, who's now hit at least seven home runs at three different levels this season while ascending from Class A Advanced Winston-Salem to Triple-A. In total, the 22-year-old phenom has gone deep 23 times in 95 games across those three stops while adding 25 doubles, nine triples and 34 steals. What's more, he's put up those robust power numbers while batting .346 and reaching base better than 40 percent of the time. White Sox prospects stats »

AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST

A’s: Logan Davidson, SS (No. 7) -- 2-for-4, 3 R, 2B, BB (Class A Short Season Vermont)
Davidson, the A's first-round pick from this year's Draft, has now scored three runs in three of his past four contests after scoring multiple runs just once in his first 25 pro games. His bat has picked up too, as the 21-year-old switch-hitting shortstop sports a .278 average with two homers over his past 10 contests, during which he's boosted his overall average from .132 to .183. A's prospects stats »

Angels: Jared Walsh, OF/1B/LHP (No. 24) -- 2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI (Triple-A Salt Lake)
Walsh's hitting streak reached 10 games on Friday thanks to a multihit performance that included his second home run in as many games. The homer, a two-run shot in the third inning, was his eighth in his past 10 games and 28th this season -- a total that gives him a share of second place on the Pacific Coast Leaderboard. He also ranks among the circuit leaders with a 1.115 OPS (second), .681 slugging (second) and .327 average (eighth). The 26-year-old two-way talent also showcased his ability on the mound Friday, notching a strikeout while tossing a scoreless ninth inning. It was his 10th Triple-A pitching appearance this season (2.70 ERA), and he also made four appearances out of the Angels' bullpen (2.08 ERA) during his first big league exposure. Angels prospects stats »

Astros: Hunter Brown, RHP (No. 23) -- 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K (Class A Short-Season Tri-City)
Brown, the Astros' fifth-round pick from this year's Draft, has been sharp to begin his pro career, allowing no more than one earned run in six of seven outings for the ValleyCats. He did, however, give up five runs in his previous appearance, which explains his 5.27 ERA, before Friday, when he fired two hitless frames in his fourth pro start. A 20-year-old right-hander, Brown pitches with plus velocity, sitting in the mid-90s and touching higher in short bursts, and pairs his heater with an above-average slider. Improving his changeup and command represent the next steps in his development. Astros prospects stats »

Mariners: Julio Rodriguez, OF (No. 2, MLB No. 54) -- 2-for-4, 2 R, 3B, 2 RBI (Class A West Virginia)
Rodriguez is just 18 years old, though age certainly hasn't been an issue for him this season in the Midwest League. After Friday's two-hit, two-run, two-RBI showing, the 6-foot-3, 180-pound outfielder is batting .272/.343/.475, with nine homers, 15 doubles and 40 RBIs in 56 games for the Power. His numbers might be even more impressive had he not missed roughly two months due to a hairline fracture in his left hand. Mariners prospects stats »

Rangers: Nick Solak, 2B/OF (No. 13) -- 1-for-3, HR, 4 RBI (Triple-A Nashville)
Acquired from the Rays on July 13, Solak has played in just 15 games for Nashville but has already gone deep six times. The change-of-scenery power surge gives him 23 home runs this season -- a career-high mark for the 24-year-old that follows a 19-homer campaign last year at Double-A Montgomery. Solak's batting .267/.346/.511 overall this season, and he'll need to continue to put up those types of numbers considering he doesn't offer a ton of defensive value as a second baseman or in the outfield. Rangers prospects stats »

NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST

Braves: Bryse Wilson, RHP (No. 6) -- 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 5 K (Triple-A Gwinnett)
Four outings ago, Wilson allowed nine runs on eight hits over just 2 2/3 innings. That clearly sparked something in the former first-round pick of the Braves, who has been excellent over his last three starts with just one earned run crossing over 20 innings. Over 18 starts this season with Triple-A Gwinnett, Wilson owns a 3.83 ERA with 97 strikeouts over 101 innings. He hasn't kept the ball on the ground as much as he has in the past, but he's avoided hard contact well enough and limited any self-inflicted damage with an impressive walk rate of two per nine innings. Braves prospects stats »

Marlins: Jesus Sanchez, OF (No. 3, MLB No. 42) -- 3-for-4, 2 HR, 2B, 3 RBI (Triple-A New Orleans)
Not only did Sanchez launch two homers on Friday for Triple-A New Orleans, he gave us two entirely different genres of home run. His first was a skyscraper, soaring high to center field before finally clearing the deep wall and bouncing back onto the field. His second was a low laser that exploded off the bat and hung up long enough to clear the wall in right. This was a perfect example of the raw power that makes the big 21-year-old special. Sanchez is still growing into his power, with these two home runs being his first since July 12, but the Marlins have added an exciting young piece -- and exit-velocity machine -- to their system. Marlins prospects stats »

Mets: Brett Baty, 3B (No. 2, MLB No. 85) -- 1-for-5, 2B, 3 RBI (Rookie Advanced Kingsport)
New York's 2019 first-round pick hit a three-run double on Friday in his 26th professional game and 21st with the Kingsport Mets. Baty is still hitting just .173 with a .655 OPS since moving up from the Gulf Coast League, but he'll have a chance to put up some numbers down the stretch now that he's settled in. Baty projects to have above-average power as he develops, but he should also back that up with an advanced feel for hitting at the plate. Mets prospects stats »

Phillies: Bryson Stott, SS (No. 3) -- 2-for-4, R (Class A Short-Season Williamsport)
Stott, whom the Phillies selected with the No. 14 overall pick in this year's Draft, has been scuffling of late, batting .090 (3-for-33) over his previous nine games before Friday, when he broke out with a pair of singles and scored a run for the Crosscutters. The 21-year-old UNLV product is batting .200 through 17 games in the New York-Penn League but sports a solid overall line of .261/.354/.493 with eight extra-base thanks to a torrid start to his career in the Gulf Coast League, where he went 6-for-9 to earn a promotion. Phillies prospects stats »

Nationals: Tim Cate, LHP (No. 6) -- 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 10 K (Class A Adv Potomac)
Cate turned in one of his better outings of the season Friday, tossing six innings of two-hit ball with a career-best 10 strikeouts in the P-Nats' win over Wilmington. One of the two hits he allowed was a solo homer -- the lone blemish on his otherwise stellar performance -- and, overall, the 21-year-old southpaw found the strike zone with 51 of 85 pitches. A second-round pick out of Connecticut in the 2018 Draft, Cate has pitched to a 3.12 ERA with 116 strikeouts and 25 walks in 112 1/3 innings (21 stars) across two levels in his first full season. Nationals prospects stats »

NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL

Brewers: Ethan Small, LHP (No. 5) -- 3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K (Class A Wisconsin)
Small made his his Class A debut on Friday and looked right at home, throwing three shutout innings with three hits against and five strikeouts. The 2019 first-round pick still hasn't allowed an earned run as a pro with 10 strikeouts over those six innings. Small doesn't have the same velocity he had early on at Mississippi State before he underwent Tommy John surgery, but his feel for pitching and control of the zone make up for that. Brewers prospects stats »

Cubs: Cory Abbott, RHP (No. 16) -- 7 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 9 K (Double-A Tennessee)
Abbott set a new season high with nine strikeouts on Friday after striking out eight on two previous occasions this year. The right-hander has carried a heavy load for Double-A Tennessee and done it with consistency, owning a 3.54 ERA with 125 strikeouts over 117 innings of work. The most important number in Abbott's line, though, is the zero in the walk column. He'd walked four or more batters in five of his last seven starts, which has run up his pitch count. When Abbott stays around the zone, he can use his cutter to produce weak contact. Cubs prospects stats »

Cardinals: Dylan Carlson, OF (No. 2, MLB No. 52) -- 2-for-4 (Double-A Springfield)
Carlson got back in the groove with two singles after a couple of hitless games for Double-A Springfield. The 2016 first-round pick, who's still just 20 years old, has put up some impressive numbers this season, including 18 home runs and an .883 OPS. Carlson is set to post new career highs in most offensive categories as his high baseball IQ continues to help him adapt at each new level. The switch-hitting outfielder is typically more natural from the right side of the plate, but his left-handed swing has come a long way and adds another element to his well-rounded game. Cardinals prospects stats »

Pirates: Travis Swaggerty, OF (No. 4) -- 2-for-3, 2 BB, SB (Class A Advanced Bradenton)
Swaggerty reached base four times on Friday, which set him up to use his impressive speed to steal his 18th base of the season. This is the type of game we project Swaggerty to have plenty of as he continues to develop, with an advanced plate approach and the ability to impact the game in multiple ways. Swaggerty hasn't hit for quite as much power this season compared to his 2018 debut, but he's improved his average and on-base percentage while making the jump up to Class A Advanced as a 21-year-old. With his speed and defensive abilities, Swaggerty has a strong foundation in place and should continue to climb the ladder quickly as his offensive game develops. Pirates prospects stats »

Reds: Jameson Hannah, OF (No. 10) -- 2-for-4, 3B, BB (Class A Advanced Daytona)
Hannah made a great first impression in his Reds organization debut with Class A Advanced Dayton on Friday as he reached base three times with a triple, single and a walk. Hannah, who was traded over from Oakland at the Deadline in exchange for right-hander Tanner Roark, was hitting .283 with a .723 OPS for Class A Advanced Stockton prior to the deal. Hannah has more pop than his two home runs this season suggest, as most of that power has come in the form of doubles, and there's still plenty of room for him to use his 60-grade speed. He's stolen just six bases this season and been caught seven times, but Hannah should continue to have more opportunities to impact the game on the bases if he maintains his .344 on-base percentage. Reds prospects stats »

NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST

D-backs: Daulton Varsho, C (No. 6) -- 2-for-4, 2 R, HR, SB (Double-A Jackson)
Varsho possesses an interesting blend of power, speed and on-base skills for a catcher, and he showcased all three Friday in Jackson's 4-1 win over Mobile. The 23-year-old already had a single, a stolen base and a run scored under his belt when he connected on a seventh-inning solo shot to establish a new career high in home runs with 13. The stolen base was his 17th, putting him two steals away from matching his career-best mark from 2018. To go along with his power-speed combo, Varsho has produced a .276/.364/.471 batting line over 86 games in his first Double-A campaign. D-backs prospects stats »

Dodgers: Kody Hoese, 3B (No. 8) -- 2-for-4, HR (Class A Great Lakes)
The 2019 first-rounder (No. 25 overall pick) out of Tulane launched his first Class A home run Friday, hitting a solo shot in his 11th game since joining the Loons. It was the fourth professional homer hit by the 6-foot-4, 200-pound right-handed hitter, who's shown impressive raw power to open his career while slashing .318/.390/.505 with 11 extra-base hits and 20 RBIs in 30 games across two levels. Dodgers prospects stats »

Giants: Marco Luciano, SS (No. 3, MLB No. 65) -- 2-for-3, HR, BB, 3 RBI (AZL Giants Orange)
Luciano is still just 17 years old, but it's never too early for the hype train to start rolling. San Francisco's No. 3 prospect has been on an absolute tear in the Arizona League, where he's hitting .344 with an 1.138 OPS over 33 games. The home run was already his 10th of the season and he's driven in 34 runs, making it easy to see why Luciano was considered one of the top young names on the 2018 International market. Luciano has the frame to add even more muscle and power as he develops over the next few years, but he's already setting himself up to be one of the most exciting young players in the Minor Leagues. Giants prospects stats »

Padres: Ty France, 3B/1B (No. 24) -- 4-for-5, 2 R, 2B, RBI (Triple-A El Paso)
Pitchers are having trouble getting out France right now. His four-hit performance on Friday was his second is as many days and gives him a .444 average across his past 10 contests. He's been one of the more unstoppable hitters in the Minors this season, producing a .396 average and 1.241 OPS to pace all full-season Minor Leaguers in both categories. What's more, France has racked up 24 homers, 22 doubles and 77 RBIs ... in just 66 games for the Chihuahuas, surrounding a 34-game stint in the Majors during which he batted .235 with a .647 OPS and seven extra-base hits (2 HR) with the Padres. Padres prospects stats »

Rockies: Ryan Vilade (No. 6) -- 4-for-5, 2 HR, 3 RBI (Class A Advanced Lancaster)
Vilade put up one of the biggest offensive performances of the night, belting two home runs to give him seven on the season. Friday's four-hit performance comes on the back of a two-hit and three-hit game. Vilade is still just 20 years old and has shown an advanced feel for hitting early in his career paired with a quick bat. Two-homer games won't be the norm for him, but his ability to consistently put the bat on the ball and impact the game on the bases make him one of the more exciting young players in Colorado's system. Vilade was back at shortstop again of Friday for the 72nd time this season, but he's also started 28 games at third base. Rockies prospects stats »