Tuesday's top prospect performers

July 31st, 2019

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

AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST

Blue Jays: Nate Pearson, POS (No. 2, MLB No. 14) -- 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 5 K (Double-A New Hampshire)
The Blue Jays' high-heat hurler began his outing Tuesday by retiring the first 11 batters in order before issuing a two-out walk, one of three on the night. The 22-year-old worked out of bases-loaded trouble in the fifth inning to help record his sixth start of the year with at least five innings pitches and no runs allowed. The six-inning start was also the longest of the season for the 2017 first-rounder, whose workload has been managed in part due to his triple-digit mph capabilities, which he flashed in the 2019 Futures Game. Blue Jays prospects stats »

Orioles: Kyle Stowers, OF (No. 12) -- 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI (Class A Short-Season Aberdeen)
Stowers launched his first professional homer-- a two-run drive -- in the Ironbirds' 5-3 win over Mahoning Valley. The outfield prospect, who was drafted 71st overall in the 2019 Draft, showed his ability to slug with the wood bat by finishing fourth in homers in the Cape Cod League last year. The 21-year-old now has 24 hits in his first 27 games, with 10 of those going for extra bases (eight doubles, one triple and one homer). Stowers, a former Stanford standout, also made his eighth start of the season in center field on Monday, though his average speed will likely see him transition to the corners as he progresses. Orioles prospects stats »

Rays: Wander Franco, SS (No. 1, MLB No. 1) -- 2-for-4, R, 2 RBI, BB (Class A Advanced Charlotte)
After hitting two singles in Charlotte's 5-0 win, including a two-run knock in the fifth, Franco now has put up three two-hit performances in his past four games. The 18-year-old, who is the top prospect in all of baseball, has lived up to that prestigious mantle since his promotion to Class A Advanced on June 25, slashing .361/.436/.526 with seven doubles and three homers. After a walk on Tuesday, he's shown the discipline side of his 70-grade hit tool with 16 walks to six strikeouts with the Stone Crabs. Rays prospects stats »

Red Sox: Bobby Dalbec, 3B (No. 2) -- 3-for-5, 3B, 4 RBI (Double-A Portland)
Dalbec is known more for his pop than his hit tool, but the former Arizona Wildcat was connecting on everything for the Sea Dogs in Tuesday's 9-3 win over Richmond. The No. 8-ranked third base prospect in MLB ended an eight-game stretch with at least one K, helping him record his fifth three-hit game of the year. Dalbec's first hit of the game was the most impressive, as the 24-year-old drove in two with his second triple of the year. He ended up with four RBIs on his line, the most he's posted in a game this year. Red Sox prospects stats »

Yankees: Miguel Yajure, RHP (No. 27) -- 7 IP, 5 H, 1 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 10 K (Class A Advanced Tampa)
The Yankees signed Yajure in 2015 out of Venezuela for $30,000, and it appears that deal looks better with each step the 21-year-old makes up the organizational ladder. He lowered his season ERA with Tampa to 2.06 -- the second-best mark in the Florida State League -- after allowing just an unearned run to Lakeland. Though the 21-year-old allowed nine runs over his two prior starts, Tuesday's performance was the 11th time in 19 turns this season that he's limited opponents to one run or fewer. His 10 strikeouts tied his season high, and he allowed no walks for the fourth time in 2019. Yankees prospects stats »

AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL

Indians: Aaron Civale, RHP (No. 22) -- 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 4 K (Triple-A Columbus)
Civale bounced back from his roughest start of the year (5 R in 4 IP) to allow just two runs against Indianapolis. Of the 13 turns the 24-year-old Northeastern product has gotten, 12 have ended with three or fewer runs on his line. The right-hander, who made his Major League debut with a scoreless six-inning start on June 22 for the Indians, lowered his ERA to 2.13 with the Clippers with Tuesday's start, the third this season in which he'd gone at least seven innings and the fifth in which he'd issued no walks. Indians prospects stats »

Royals: Khalil Lee, CF (No. 4) -- 2-for-4 (Double-A Northwest Arkansas)
Lee has batted 6-for-15 (.400) in his past four games, including two multhit showings for the Naturals. After slugging four homers in June, the 21-year-old Virginia prep product, who can flash above average power, has yet to notch one in 26 games this month. Royals prospects stats »

Tigers: Kyle Funkhouser, RHP (No. 17) -- 6 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 10 K (Double-A Erie)
Funkhouser reached a double-digit strikeout total for the first time in more than two years as he diced up Rumble Ponies' order with 10 K's. The University of Louisville product complemented that success by issuing just one walk in his six-inning winning decision, marking the fourth game in a row he's issued one or fewer. The 25-year-old righty showed signs of struggle to begin July, allowing 17 runs in three short starts (a combined 8 1/3 innings) for Triple-A Toledo before he was reassigned to Erie, where he's allowed only five runs over 23 2/3 innings this season. Tigers prospects stats »

Twins: Gilberto Celestino, CF (No. 21) -- 4-for-4, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI (Class A Cedar Rapids)
Celestino fired on all cylinders for the Kernels, reaching in all five plate appearances out of the leadoff spot to fuel a 5-2 win over Beloit. The success started immediately for the 20-year-old, who lifted his seventh homer of the year on the first pitch of the game. A 2015 international signee with the Astros, Celestino drove in another run with an RBI single in the sixth. The outfielder has begun to show his well-developed hit tool in the month of July, in which he's gone 38-for-103 (.369) at the plate with seven doubles, two triples and three home runs. Twins prospects stats »

White Sox: Luis Robert, OF (No. 1, MLB No. 5) -- 3-for-5, 2B, 3B, 3 R, 2 RBI (Triple-A Charlotte)
Every time Robert takes the field for the Knights, he has the potential to put up video game numbers. The Cuban product did that once again, falling a homer shy of the cycle and contributing to five of Charlotte's 15 runs in a rout of Norfolk. Judging by the early results, Triple-A may be even easier for Robert, who owns an astounding .338/.403/.662 line with three doubles, two triples and five home runs in 16 games at that level. With a .933 OPS on the season, it's possible that the 21-year-old center fielder could get a look this year with the White Sox. White Sox prospects stats »

AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST

A’s: Sean Murphy, C (No. 3, MLB No. 47) -- 2-for-3, 2B, HR, 4 RBI, BB (Triple-A Las Vegas)
With a home run on Tuesday, Murphy has now gone deep six times in his last four games while driving in 13 runs. His streak includes a three-homer game on July 26, and, overall, Murphy has now homered eight times -- matching his 2018 total -- in 30 games this season surrounding a two-and-a-half month stint on the injured list for a broken hamate bone in his hand. In the Pacific Coast League, Murphy has posted a .360 average over 23 games. And if his hitting wasn't enough, Murphy is also widely considered one of the best defensive catchers in the Minor Leagues. A's prospects stats »

Angels: Brandon Marsh, OF (No. 2) -- 2-for-5, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI (Double-A Mobile)
Make that three multihit games in a four-game span for Marsh, who hit a two-run homer off Top 100 prospect Ian Anderson in the BayBears' 6-5 loss. That makes it back-to-back days with a dinger for Marsh, whom the Angels selected in the second round of the 2016 Draft. In his strong four-game span, he's hit 7-for-20 (.350) and raised his line to .282/.371/.400 for Mobile. With continued success at the plate to complement his exceptional defense, the Angels may have an eye-popping outfield trio of Mike Trout, Jo Adell (No. 4 prospect in MLB) and Marsh within a year or two. Angels prospects stats »

Astros: Forrest Whitley, RHP (No. 2, MLB No. 17) -- 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 K (Class A Adv Fayetteville)
Whitley had everything working for him against the Blue Rocks, as he delivered his first scoreless performance of his injury-shortened season. The 21-year-old struck out six of the first seven batters he faced en route to season-best nine strikeouts, and he didn't allow a hit until the fourth inning. His five innings also matched the most in a start for the 2016 first-round pick this season, which he last accomplished in his debut with Triple-A Round Rock. Whitley, whose lowest tool grade is his control (50), ended the night throwing 39 of his 57 pitches for strikes in his first walk-free outing of the year. Astros prospects stats »

Mariners: Kyle Lewis, OF (No. 10) -- 1-for-4, 2 RBI (Double-A Arkansas)
Lewis collected just one hit Tuesday, an RBI single in the third inning, but it extended his hitting streak to seven games. He also plated a run on a groundout in the fifth. The 24-year-old outfielder and former first-round pick (2016) has improved his season average from .261 to .276 during said streak -- his highest average in three full-season campaigns. Lewis' .781 OPS also represents a full-season career-high mark, and he's accrued 32 extra-base hits while driving in 52 runs in 95 games. Mariners prospects stats »

Rangers: Nick Solak, 2B/OF (No. 13) -- 2-for-3, 2 R, HR (Triple-A Nashville)
Solak hasn't missed a beat after his July 13 trade to the Rangers in exchange for right-handed reliever Peter Fairbanks. The former Louisville Cardinal has hit five homers in 12 games with the Sound, including two in his past three games following a sixth-inning solo blast on Tuesday. It was also the 22nd home run of the year for the 24-year-old, raising his slugging percentage to a career-best .504. Solak's versatility in the field may land him on the Rangers' roster for a look by the season's end, as he's seen 16 starts in left field alongside his 70 starts at second base, where he's ranked the No. 9 prospect overall. Rangers prospects stats »

NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST

Braves: Ian Anderson, RHP (No. 3, MLB No. 34) -- 6 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 9 K (Double-A Mississippi)
Anderson's year with Mississippi has been so exceptional that his ERA ticked up a bit to 2.68 after allowing just two runs in six innings against Mobile. For the third straight start, the 21-year-old struck out at least nine batters to pad his Southern League lead to 147 on the season, while he walked just one batter. The only damage to show for his day was a two-run homer by Brandon Marsh, the eighth bomb that Anderson has allowed in 111 innings pitched this season. Braves prospects stats »

Marlins: Nick Neidert, RHP (No. 11) -- 5 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 3 K (Class A Advanced Jupiter)
Neidert missed more than two months this season due to surgery on his right knee meniscus, but now, he's looking to end it on a high note and continue his fast track to the Majors. The Georgia prep product, who was traded from the Mariners in 2018 for Dee Gordon, tossed his strongest start since his season debut (one run allowed in 5 2/3 IP). The 22-year-old right-hander walked just one batter and threw 50 of his 82 pitches for strikes, though he ended up with a no decision. Marlins prospects stats »

Mets: Carlos Cortes, 2B (No. 21) -- 2-for-4, 2 R, RBI, SB (Class A Advanced St. Lucie)
Cortes posted a multhit performance for the third time in July for St. Lucie and turned his pair of hits into a pair of runs. The University of South Carolina product has below-average speed, but he has shown a willingness to seize opportunities with four stolen bases after one on Tuesday. On the year, the 22-year-old is slashing .242/.319/.372 at the 100-game mark. Mets prospects stats »

Phillies: Alec Bohm, 3B (No. 1, MLB No. 37) -- 1-for-4, HR (Double-A Reading)
The third overall pick in the 2018 Draft, Bohm blasted his 15th home run of the season in the seventh inning of Reading's 6-5 loss to Bowie. Eight of those home runs have come in the former Wichita State Shocker's 34 games at Double-A, where he's slashed .246/.308/.492. It's part of a breakout season for Bohm, who ranks as the No. 2 third base prospect in MLB, as he's raised his OPS from .659 to .896 in a year's time. Phillies prospects stats »

Nationals: Tyler Dyson, RHP (No. 22) -- 3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB (Class A Short-Season Auburn)
Dyson had a shaky junor season at the University of Florida and eventually lost his spot in the Gators' starting rotation. The Nationals saw untapped potential in the 21-year-old right-hander and took him in the fifth round in this year's Draft, with the intention of deploying him as a starter. The early results have been positive, as Dyson has allowed one earned run or fewer in four straight starts to begin his career. Nationals prospects stats »

NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL

Brewers: Trent Grisham, RF (No. 7) -- 5-for-5, 2 HR, 2B, 3B, 3 RBI (Triple-A San Antonio)
Grisham has been on a ridiculous hot streak lately and that continued as he hit for the cycle as part of a two-homer effort. The 2015 first-round pick has strung together four straight multihit performances and has homered three times over his past three games. Brewers prospects stats »

Cubs: Brennen Davis, CF (No. 3) -- 2-for-3, HR, 3 RBI (Class A South Bend)
Davis has homered in back-to-back games since his return from the injured list on Monday, and he's gone deep three times in his past five contests for South Bend. The Arizona prep standout, who was drafted by the Cubs in the 2018 Draft's second round, gave the Class A Cubs a quick 2-0 advantage with his two-run blast in the first inning. The power surge has moved the 19-year-old's slugging mark to an impressive .512 in his first full pro season. Cubs prospects stats »

Cardinals: Edmundo Sosa, SS (No. 16) -- 1-for-4, HR, 3 RBI (Triple-A Memphis)
Despite his 35-grade power tool, Sosa has broken out in his past three games in a powerful way for Memphis. Four of his five hits in that span have gone for extra bases, with two doubles and two homers, the second of which came on a three-run blast in the Redbirds' 6-3 victory over Albuquerque. The 23-year-old Panama native's .445 slugging percentage would be the highest he's produced since his strong Rookie-league showing in 2015. Cardinals prospects stats »

Pirates: Kevin Kramer, 2B (No. 9) -- 1-for-3, HR (Triple-A Indianapolis)
Kramer has found a bit of a spark at the plate in his past six games, as he's launched three of his eight homers on the year during that stretch. The UCLA product hit his most recent in the fourth inning of Tuesday's game for Indianapolis with a two-out solo shot. The 6-foot shortstop is batting.259/.337/.413 this season at Triple-A, where he's turned into a bit of a utility player, making 10 or more starts at four different positions for the Indians. Pirates prospects stats »

Reds: Tyler Stephenson, C (No. 8) -- 2-for-4, 2B, HR, 2 RBI (Double-A Chattanooga)
Stephenson has recorded three multihit efforts in his past six starts behind the plate for the Lookouts. The Reds' 2015 first-rounder doubled in the fourth inning, then provided the game-winning run with a two-run blast in the eighth inning as Chattanooga rallied for a 6-5 win over Tennessee. That snapped a stretch of 20 games without a homer for Stephenson, who hit a career-high 11 home runs last season with Daytona. Reds prospects stats »

NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST

D-backs: Dominic Fletcher, CF (No. 22) -- 2-for-4, 3B, HR, 3 RBI (Class A Kane County)
Fletcher couldn't ask for a much better start to his pro career. After slugging a triple and a homer for Kane County on Tuesday, the center field prospect has totaled a .919 OPS in 27 games, across which he's hit seven doubles, a triple and four homers. Fletcher, a 21-year-old, also tied his season-high with three RBIs and seven total bases. Known primarily for his defensive prowess, especially when he came out of the California prep ranks in 2016, his bat helped the University of Arkansas reach back-to-back College World Series, including the 2018 final against Oregon State. D-backs prospects stats »

Dodgers: DJ Peters, OF (No. 13) -- 2-for-5, 2B, HR, 2 RBI (Triple-A Oklahoma City)
Peters continued to crush Pacific Coast League pitching on Tuesday night, as the 23-year-old outfielder clubbed his 12th home run in 29 games since his promotion to OKC, and his eighth in his past 11 games. He also made an extra-base-robbing catch in center field to end the sixth inning. Overall, Peters -- a hulking 6-foot-6, 225-pound right-handed hitter -- has gone deep 23 times in 97 games across two levels this season after hitting 29 and 27 homers in each of the past two years, respectively. Dodgers prospects stats »

Giants: Heliot Ramos, OF (No. 2, MLB No. 55) -- 1-for-5, HR (Class A Advanced San Jose)
Ramos only had one hit for San Jose on Tuesday, and it was the one the team needed the most. On the first pitch in the bottom of the ninth, with the game knotted at 4, the 19-year-old Puerto Rican native lifted off for his 13th home run of the season to walk it off against Lake Elsinore. It snapped a season-long 11-game streak without a home run for the 2017 first-round pick by the Giants, who has notched an .899 OPS in 70 games for San Jose. Giants prospects stats »

Padres: Ronald Bolaños, RHP (No. 18) -- 7 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K (Double-A Amarillo)
Bolaños bounced back from a pair of rough starts with a gem, tossing seven scoreless frames with seven strikeouts in the Sod Poodles' win against Northwest Arkansas. The 22-year-old right-hander has had his ups and downs since he was promoted to Double-A, posting a 4.92 ERA in 10 starts, but he's also fanned 62 over 53 innings in that span. Altogether, Bolaños has compiled a 3.88 ERA across two levels, with 116 strikeouts and 43 walks in 106 2/3 frames. Padres prospects stats »

Rockies: Josh Fuentes, 3B (No. 13) -- 1-for-4, HR, BB (Triple-A Albuquerque)
Fuentes has now hit at least 13 homers in each of the last four years while climbing through the Rockies' system. His homer on Tuesday, a solo shot in the eighth inning, gives him three homers in his last nine games. Signed by the Rockies in June 2014 after going undrafted out of Missouri Baptist, Fuentes, who is Nolan Arenado's cousin, went 2-for-18 over parts of nine games with the Rockies earlier this season in his first taste of the Majors. In Triple-A, the 26-year-old has produced a .263/.312/.485 line in 69 games. Rockies prospects stats »