Blue Jays prospects lead top performers

March 18th, 2018

Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. are much more than just their pedigree.
They are, of course, the sons of longtime MLB stars, but the younger Bichette and Guerrero look like they'll be defining their own Major League legacies soon enough. Vlad Jr. and Bo are the Blue Jays' top two prospects -- with Guerrero ranked the No. 3 overall prospect in baseball and Bichette No. 13 -- and they showed why on Saturday.
Bichette and Guerrero stole the show in Toronto's 11-3 win over the Canadian Junior National Team. The 20-year-old Bichette, playing shortstop and batting second, went 3-for-5 with a home run, four RBIs, two runs scored and a stolen base. The 19-year-old Guerrero, playing third and batting cleanup, went 2-for-4 with a walk and scored twice himself.

"I feel like these guys are like legends that you've never seen," said Blue Jays ace , who started Saturday's game. "Those guys are special. You don't get too many players like that [who] come across an organization.
"I'm not going to sit here and say they should wait in the Minors. I see what they're capable of, I see the at-bats that they take, I see the potential they have and, like I said, I would love to be playing with those guys behind me."
Other top prospect performers from Saturday's action:
• No. 2 overall prospect Ronald Acuna (Braves' No. 1) hasn't slowed down one bit. The Braves' blue-chipper looks like he's more than Major League-ready, and he kept up his monster Spring Training with yet another home run against the Phillies. The 20-year-old is now hitting .410 with a 1.255 OPS, having slugged four long balls.

• No. 41 overall prospect (Rockies' No. 2) has been raking this spring, and the 23-year-old infielder had another strong game on Saturday. McMahon went 2-for-4 against the Brewers with a double and an RBI single, and he is now hitting .333 this spring. Colorado's top prospect (No. 14 overall) also went 1-for-3 in the contest.
• No. 80 overall prospect (Twins' No. 4) went 1-for-3 with a triple off the Pirates' . The 22-year-old shortstop and second baseman is hitting .409 with a 1.071 OPS this Spring Training.

Red Sox No. 5 prospect dealt the big blow for Boston as a pinch-hitter against the Rays. With the Sox trailing 3-1, Travis stepped in for and crushed the go-ahead three-run homer off Tampa Bay flamethrower . That was the difference, as Boston held on to win, 4-3. The 24-year-old first baseman has shown good power this spring, now boasting four home runs.
Giants No. 10 prospect was impressive on the mound, turning in his best outing of Spring Training. The 25-year-old left-hander pitched the final two innings, didn't allow a hit and racked up four strikeouts, retiring all six batters he faced. In the same game, San Francisco's No. 5 prospect slugged his second home run of the spring, and the 25-year-old outfielder also doubled to finish 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored.
Cardinals No. 11 prospect flashed his difference-making speed against the Braves, igniting St. Louis to a 3-0 win. The 23-year-old outfielder entered a scoreless game as a pinch-runner in the fifth inning and promptly stole second base, and a pair of wild pitches then allowed him to scamper home with the game's first run. Arozarena then notched an RBI single in the seventh inning to push the lead to 3-0 -- raising his Spring Training batting average to .313 -- and stole third later in the frame for good measure.

Mariners No. 11 prospect just won't stop hitting homers. He crushed his second in as many days on Saturday, bringing his Spring Training total to four big flies. The 25-year-old first baseman is hitting .400 with a 1.379 OPS this spring.

• Batting in the same lineup as superstars and , Cubs No. 14 prospect outshone both of them at the plate. The 25-year-old outfielder went 2-for-4 and launched his first home run of the spring, a three-run shot off the Indians' . Zagunis is now hitting .303 with an .865 OPS.

Royals No. 18 prospect has been on an absolute tear. The slugger went deep for his fourth time in three games, belting a solo shot in the eighth inning against the Rangers for his fifth homer of the spring. O'Hearn is now batting a sizzling .414 with a 1.572 OPS.

Pirates No. 23 prospect had a much-needed big game offensively against the Twins. The 24-year-old outfielder had his first multi-hit game of Spring Training, going 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, three RBIs and three runs scored. His two-run shot off Phil Hughes was his third homer of the spring after a bit of a slow start.

Reds No. 30 prospect Tanner Rainey notched the save against the Giants in lights-out fashion. Coming in to protect a one-run lead in the ninth, the 25-year-old right-hander struck out the side, with two swinging strikeouts and one looking.