Here's a look at Tuesday’s top Minor League performers from each team's Top 30 Prospects list:
Braves: Cristian Pache, OF (MLB No. 40), Triple-A Gwinnett
Vaughn Grissom, SS (No. 13), High-A Rome
Pache came through with arguably his finest day at the plate in the past few weeks. Pache was just a triple short of the cycle in Gwinnett’s 7-2 win over Columbus, finishing with a solo-home run, a double, a single and a free pass. It was the 22-year-old’s first three-hit game since Aug. 25 and he hit his first homer since Aug. 11. Pache looks to already be Major League ready with the glove and it’s still nice to see him mash Minor League pitching while he waits for the call.
The move up a level clearly hasn’t affected Grissom yet. After going 3-for-5 with a home run, a double and five RBIs on Tuesday, the 20-year-old has a .500/.588/1.000 line with Rome. Yes, that’s a very small sample size (14 at-bats in four games), but keep in mind he was slashing .311/.402/.446 all season with Low-A Augusta. Braves prospects stats »
Brewers: Joey Wiemer, SS (No. 23), High-A Wisconsin
Wiemer’s taken a big step forward since getting promoted to Wisconsin at the beginning of August. Wiemer notched his ninth home run and his sixth double since joining the Timber Rattlers, with all 15 of his extra-base hits coming in 87 at-bats. Though he’s also struck out 24 times at the High-A level, he’s still slashing .356/.408/.736 during his month-long stint with Wisconsin. Brewers prospects stats »
Blue Jays: Bowden Francis, RHP (No. 29), Triple-A Buffalo
Francis tossed five scoreless innings, struck out three and allowed only three combined hits and walks against Syracuse, continuing a string of long outings. Including Tuesday’s relief appearance, Francis has pitched at least five innings in 19 of his 21 appearances on the year and eight of his 10 with Buffalo. The 25-year-old would definitely have liked a higher strikeout total -- that’s only the third time all year he punched out three or fewer -- but that continued length should certainly bring with it a look from the big league club. Blue Jays prospects stats »
Dodgers: Leonel Valera, SS (No. 15), High-A Great Lakes
Gavin Stone, RHP (No. 28), High-A Great Lakes
Valera has struggled at the plate in 2021, coming into Tuesday hitting .221 with 133 strikeouts on the season. But on Tuesday, Valera flashed what he can do with that quick right-handed swing. Against West Michigan, the 22-year-old went 3-for-4 with a three-run homer in the seventh to go along with an RBI double in the second and another two-bagger in the fourth. The three-hit night was Valera’s fourth game with at least three base knocks in 2021, but only his first since May 25.
Stone is starting to settle into his new spot with Great Lakes. Through his first three outings, Stone owned a 5.14 ERA with 15 hits allowed in 14 innings. But with 23 strikeouts over those three starts, the 22-year-old clearly has the stuff to get batters out and he proved that once again Tuesday. Stone struck out seven West Michigan hitters over four innings, also giving up no runs and no hits for the first time with the Loons. Dodgers prospects stats »
Indians: Jhonkensy Noel, 1B/3B (No. 25), High-A Lake County
Have yourself (another) day, Jhonkensy Noel! On Tuesday, the 20-year-old led Lake County to a win with two-run blasts in both the first and third innings against Dayton. That’s his second two-homer performance in his past four games, which ups his total to six since he was assigned to the Captains. Noel also added a two-bagger, giving him 13 doubles, 17 homers and 60 RBIs in 2021. Indians prospects stats »
Padres: Max Ferguson, 2B (No. 20), Low-A Lake Elsinore
Lake Elsinore's Ferguson was definitely a sight to see. The 22-year-old picked up right where he left off with the Rookie-level Padres as he stole two bags against Visalia, including scampering home on a double steal in the top of the second, to go along with three singles and a double in his first appearance with the Storm. Ferguson, the Padres’ fifth-round pick in July’s Draft, has 12 stolen bases in just 26 Minor League games, and that basestealing threat was on full display in his first night at the Low-A level. Padres prospects stats »
Red Sox: Tyler McDonough, 2B/ OF (No. 16), Low-A Salem
Boston’s third-round pick from July’s Draft just keeps on raking. After slashing .308/.308/.538 with the Rookie-level Red Sox, McDonough has been on fire with Salem. His 3-for-4 night Tuesday (which included a triple and the second home run of his young career) pushed his line to .338/.411/.538 since being promoted to Salem on Aug. 3. Red Sox prospects stats »
Twins: Matt Wallner, OF (No. 14), High-A Cedar Rapids
Wallner hasn’t had an easy past five weeks after he entered August hitting .330 with a 1.061 OPS, as he’s since seen both drop to .260 and .846, respectively, after Tuesday. But can a 3-for-4 night help the 23-year-old turn things around? Against Wisconsin, Wallner recorded his most total bases (seven) since July 28 on the back of his third-inning grand slam (also his first homer since Aug. 21). Twins prospects stats »
Rangers: Aaron Zavala, OF (No. 19), Low-A Down East
Aaron Zavala … speed demon? Zavala tripled his total stolen bases since joining Down East and nearly doubled his total output since being drafted in July with two steals against Carolina on Tuesday. The second-round pick also went 4-for-4 with a double, two singles and a walk as he raised his slash line in his young career to .325/.449/.425. Rangers prospects stats »
Reds: Daniel Vellojin, C (No. 20), Low-A Daytona
Vellojin had arguably his finest day at the plate in 2021 on Tuesday. The 21-year-old had his fifth three-hit game of the year, but in addition to his sixth homer of the season, he also picked up his first triple. Vellojin hasn’t displayed a ton of power with the bat, but he clearly has a solid approach to the plate that’s earned him 68 walks compared to just 63 punchouts. And despite not taking a free pass against Jupiter, his 3-for-4 night brought his on-base percentage to an insane .408 this season. Reds prospects stats »