Thursday's top prospect performers

April 11th, 2019

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

AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST

Blue Jays: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 3B (No. 1, MLB No. 1) -- 2-for-4, HR (1), 2B, 4 RBIs, BB, SB (Triple-A Buffalo)
In his return to Buffalo, Guerrero reached via a walk and stole a base in his first trip to the plate, hit an RBI double in the next and then unloaded on a massive three-homer to left field in the fifth inning. It was the first home run of the season for the 20-year-old phenom, who went 4-for-15 in four rehab games at Class A Advanced Dunedin.
Blue Jays prospects stats »

Orioles: Blaine Knight, RHP (No. 10) -- 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K (Class A Delmarva)
The 2018 third-rounder recorded his first pro win, allowing four baserunners over five scoreless frames in his second start of the season for the Shorebirds. He's fanned nine while allowing five hits in 10 2/3 frames between the outings.
Orioles prospects stats »

Rays: Josh Lowe, OF (No. 15) -- 1-for-3, HR (1), 2 RBIs, 2 R, BB, SB (3) (Double-A Montgomery)
Lowe, 21, connected on his first Double-A homer, hitting a two-run shot out to center field in the seventh inning, one frame after he had stolen home on a double-steal. He's hit safely in four of six games for the Biscuits to open the season.
Rays prospects stats »

Red Sox: Bryan Mata, RHP (No. 8) -- 5 1/3 IP, 4 H, 2 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 8 K (Class A Advanced Salem)
The 19-year-old right-hander recorded all 16 of his outs via either a strikeout (8) or groundout (8) while throwing 82 pitches (57 strikes) in his second start this season.
Red Sox prospects stats »

Yankees: Deivi Garcia, RHP (No. 4) -- 4 IP, 4 H, 2 R (0 ER), 2 BB, 6 K (Class A Advanced Tampa)
An infield error with two outs in the third inning led to a pair of unearned runs, but Garcia, a 19-year-old righty, pitched well, allowing exactly four hits while fanning at least six batters for the second time in as many starts.
Yankees prospects stats »

AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL

Indians: Yu Chang, SS (No. 11) -- 3-for-5, HR (1), 3 RBIs, 3 R (Triple-A Columbus)
Chang was just 3-for-22 at the plate this season before erupting for three hits in the Clippers' 12-4 rout of Durham. His three-run homer to left-center field in the fourth inning was his first this season.
Indians prospects stats »

Royals: Michael Gigliotti, OF (No. 13) -- 4-for-4, 2 2B, 5 R, BB, 2 SB (5) (Class A Lexington)
Nearly a full year removed from when he blew out his right ACL in his second game of the season, the 23-year-old outfielder established career highs in both hits (4) and runs scored (5), reaching base in all five plate appearances in Lexington's win over Columbia.
Royals prospects stats »

Tigers: Beau Burrows, RHP (No. 6) -- 6 1/3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K (Triple-A Toledo)
The control issues that plagued Burrows in Double-A (56 BB in 134 IP) last year haven't been an issue for him so far this season. Through two starts, the 22-year-old righty has permitted two walks and five hits with 12 strikeouts in 10 1/3 scoreless frames.
Tigers prospects stats »

Twins: Brusdar Graterol, RHP (No. 3, MLB No. 67) -- 5 2/3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K (Double-A Chattanooga)
The hard-throwing righty pitched around trouble in the second, using an inning-ending double play to escape a bases-loaded jam. He induced another inning-ended double play in the next frame and retired nine of the final 12 batters to pick up his first Double-A win.
Twins prospects stats »

White Sox: Luis Robert, OF (No. 4, MLB No. 39) -- 3-for-5, HR (5), 3B, 2 RBIs, 3 R (Class A Advanced Winston Salem)
After an 0-for-5, two-strikeout game on Wednesday -- his first non-multihit game of the season -- Robert was back at it in full force with another monster performance for the Dash. With a single already under his belt, the 21-year-old showcased his top-of-the-scale speed in the sixth inning when he raced around the bases for a standup triple after drilling the ball off of the left-center field wall. In his next at-bat, Robert unloaded a booming two-run shot to center field for his fifth home run in seven games, during which he's compiled a .452/.500/1.065 line with 14 RBIs and 10 runs scored.

AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST

A's: Sean Murphy, C (No. 3, MLB No. 44) -- 4-for-5, HR (1), 3B, 4 RBIs, 2 R (Triple-A Las Vegas)
Murphy tallied four hits and four RBIs as he powered Las Vegas to a 11-3 win over Sacramento. His three-run homer to center field in the eighth inning was his first of the season and the first hit in the Aviators' home park.
A's prospects stats »

Angels: Matt Thaiss, 1B (No. 8) -- 3-for-4, 2B, 3B, RBI, R (Triple-A Salt Lake)
Thaiss upped his average to .379 with his second three-hit game of the season. He roped an RBI triple and scored the game-tying run as Salt Lake rallied for five runs in the eighth inning to defeat Fresno, 5-4.
Angels prospects stats »

Astros: Myles Straw, OF (No. 16) -- 2-for-3, 2B, 3B, RBI, 3 R, 2 SB (4) (Triple-A Round Rock)
Straw, 24, stayed red-hot as he recorded his fourth multihit performance in five games. Both of his hits were for extra bases, as the Express' leadoff man tripled and scored in the first inning before plating a run with a double in his next at-bat. He's up to four stolen bases through eight games so far this season after leading all of baseball with 72 total steals in 2018.
Astros prospects stats »

Mariners: Jarred Kelenic, OF (No. 2, MLB No. 55) -- 3-for-4, 2B, 2 RBIs, BB (Class A West Virginia)
The 2018 first-rounder (No. 6 overall pick) put a 2-for-25 start behind him by reaching base four times in a three-hit performance for the Power. The 19-year-old outfielder was Seattle's prized return in the offseason trade that sent Edwin Diaz and Robinson Cano to the Mets.
Mariners prospects stats »

Rangers: Sam Huff, C/1B (No. 21) -- 1-for-4, HR (3), 2 R (Class A Hickory)
Huff's third home run of the year also extended his season-opening hitting streak to eight games. The 21-year-old went deep 18 times in 118 games last season in his first tour of the South Atlantic League.
Rangers prospects stats »

NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST

Braves: Freddy Tarnok, RHP (No. 17) -- 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K (Class A Advanced Florida)
Taarnok struggled in his Florida State League debut (4.1 IP, 6 H, 5 ER), but the 20-year-old right-hander was sharp in his second turn, allowing three baserunners over five scoreless frames. Of his 67 pitches, 45 were strikes.
Braves prospects stats »

Marlins: Edward Cabrera, RHP (No. 8) -- 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 9 K (Class A Advanced Jupiter); Zac Gallen, RHP (No. 18) -- 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 8 K (Triple-A New Orleans)
It was a pretty good day for Marlins pitching prospects as Cabrera set a career-high with nine strikeouts and the duo combined for 17. Cabrera, who threw 58 of his 95 pitches for strikes, turned in a strong bounceback performance after surrendering four runs in 4 1/3 innings to begin the season. Meanwhile, Gallen has been dominant in both his starts. The 23-year-old has allowed one run on three hits and struck out 19 over 13 frames this season.
Marlins prospects stats »

Mets: Tony Dibrell, RHP (No. 18) -- 5 2/3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 5 K (Class A Advanced Jupiter)
A fourth-round pick in 2017 out of Kennesaw State, Dibrell did not allow a hit over the first 3 2/3 innings and completed 5 2/3 frames of one-run ball to record his first win of 2019. He racked up 147 strikeouts in 131 innings last season to finish tied for the Class A South Atlantic League strikeout title.
Mets prospects stats »

Phillies: Alec Bohm, 3B (No. 1, MLB No. 58) -- 2-for-4, 2B (Class A Lakewood)
Last year's No. 3 overall Draft pick recorded multiple hits for the third time in four games in Lakewood's loss against Delmarva. He's yet to homer in 48 pro games after swatting 33 bombs in 166 contests during his three years at Wichita State.
Phillies prospects stats »

Nationals: Carter Kieboom, SS/2B (No. 2, MLB No. 25) -- 3-for-4, HR (1), 2B, 3 RBIs, R, BB (Triple-A Fresno)
Kieboom hit his first homer of the season for Fresno, though he did go deep on Wednesday before rain ended up forcing the game to be suspended. The 21-year-old, who is hitting .375 this season, appears to be heating up at the plate. After starting the year 2-for-13, Kieboom is 7-for-11 over the past three games.
Nationals prospects stats »

NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL

Brewers: Zack Brown, RHP (No. 6) -- 6 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 5 K (Triple-A San Antonio)
Brown, who put together a tremendous 2018 campaign, has held his own during his first introduction to the Triple-A level. The 24-year-old has a pair of no-decision to his name, but has spun quality starts in each of his two trips to the mound.
Brewers prospects stats »

Cubs: Thomas Hatch, RHP (No. 17) -- 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K (Double-A Tennessee)
After spinning five scoreless frames in his first start of the season, Hatch matched the effort in his second start. The right-hander, who has issued one walk and struck out 11 so far, has been lights out to start the year. Hatch also spent the 2018 season with Tennessee and went 8-6 with a 3.82 ERA over 26 starts.
Cubs prospects stats »

Cardinals: Elehuris Montero, 3B (No. 4) -- 2-for-5, 2B, 2 RBIs, 2 R (Double-A Springfield)
Montero has gotten off to a bit of a slow start, but perhaps Thursday's effort is a sign of things to come. After hitting .315 across two levels last season, Montero is hitting just .194 in his first Double-A experience.
Cardinals prospects stats »

Pirates: Ke'Bryan Hayes, 3B (No. 2) -- 3-for-5, HR (1), 2 2B, 3 RBIs (Triple-A Indianapolis)
Hayes extended his hitting streak to five games with his first three-hit effort of the season. The 22-year-old, who hit a career high seven homers last season, went deep for the first time this year and saw all his hits go for extra bases.
Pirates prospects stats »

Reds: Taylor Trammell, OF (No. 2, MLB No. 16) -- 4-for-5, RBI (Double-A Chattanooga)
Make that four straight multihit games for Trammell. The 21-year-old has hits in five straight games and is hitting .417 early in the year, his first at the Double-A level.
Reds prospects stats »

NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST

D-backs: Emilio Vargas, RHP (No. 16) -- 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K (Double-A Jackson)
The 22-year-old is off to a strong start this season, having allowed just one run over his first two starts (10 innings). Vargas has yielded just five hits, walked one and struck out four, continuing a trend that developed late last season when Vargas allowed one run over his final two starts for Jackson.
D-backs prospects stats »

Dodgers: Josiah Gray, RHP (No. 18) -- 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K (Class A Great Lakes)
Gray was perfect in his second start for the Loons, retiring all 15 batters over five dominant frames. To go along with his five strikeouts, the 21-year-old also recorded six groundouts in the outing and threw 39 of his 52 pitches for strikes. Acquired in the offseason deal that sent Yasiel Puig and others to Cincinnati, he's allowed just one earned run on three hits in 9 2/3 innings in his first two starts.
Dodgers prospects stats »

Giants: Joey Bart, C (No. 1, MLB No. 22) -- 3-for-4, HR, 3 RBIs (Class A Advanced San Jose)
Bart has hits in five of the seven games he's played this season and is hitting .321 with two homers in the early stages of his full-season debut. Bart, the Giants' 1st-round pick from last year's Draft, hit .294 in 51 games last season.
Giants prospects stats »

Padres: MacKenzie Gore (No. 2, MLB 15) -- 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K (Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore); Buddy Reed, OF (No. 17) -- 3-for-4, 2 HR (4), 4 RBIs, 3 R, BB (Double-A Amarillo)
Gore has yet to allow a run through two starts this season and has racked up 15 strikeouts through 10 innings. Reed has really caught fire recently, having homered four times in his past four games. In addition to showing off his power, the toolsy outfielder also put his 70-grade speed on display as one of tonight's homers was an inside-the-park homer.
Padres prospects stats »

Rockies: Vince Fernandez, OF (No. 25) -- 3-for-3, HR (1), 2 2B, 4 RBIs, 3 R, BB (Double-A Hartford)
Fernandez, who had a perfect night at the plate, is seemingly starting to find his rhythm. The 23-year-old recorded just one hit over his first five games this year, but has multiple hits, including four for extra bases, in two of his past three games.
Rockies prospects stats »