Back on June 18, Cooper Ingle (CLE No. 5) delivered a three-homer performance for Triple-A Columbus. Eight days later, he was making his Major League debut at Progressive Field.
Now another slugging Guardians prospect has joined him in the milestone club as Ralphy Velazquez, the Minors' hottest hitter during August, socked three homers for the Clippers on Saturday night in their 15-11 loss to St. Paul at Huntington Park.
Even removed from the larger context of the season, the homer hat trick for the Guardians’ No. 2 prospect makes a strong statement.
It began in the third inning when he crushed a homer to right field off longtime Rockies right-hander Germán Márquez. Proving he can hit to all fields, MLB's No. 32 prospect hit one to the left-field bleachers the next inning, this time on a Ron Marinaccio offering. To complete the trifecta in the eighth, the 21-year-old skied a moonshot off the scoreboard in right field, hitting his own image. With the final long ball coming off righty Marco Raya, Velazquez took three pitchers who have seen time in the big leagues this season deep, all in one game.
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It’s rare that a three-homer game is inevitable, but that is certainly how it feels for Velazquez.
On Thursday, he homered in both legs of a doubleheader, an impressive feat in its own right. Looking back at the past month of play, the 2023 first-rounder has 14 dingers -- that’s five more than anyone else in the Minors or Majors in August.
But he’s not just swinging for the fences. Velazquez has an August slash line of .381/.458/1.048, while his OPS (1.506) is tops among all qualified players at any level for the month.
COMPLETE GUARDIANS PROSPECT COVERAGE
On September 1, MLB rosters expand from 26 to 28 players in preparation for the postseason push. It’s a crucial time to evaluate what gaps need to be filled down the stretch. Through play Saturday, the Guardians sit last in the American League in home runs (123) and last in the Majors in OPS (.682).
Roster construction is often more art than science, but if we’re borrowing math terms, the way Velazquez is swinging it currently, he might be able to present a perfect solution to the equation.