Thursday's top prospect performers

August 31st, 2018

Here's MLB Pipeline's roundup of the top prospect performances in the Minor Leagues on Thursday.
came off the disabled list to make his final start of the 2018 season and just his third since being promoted to Double-A Jacksonville. It turned out to be perhaps his best performance of the year.
The Marlins' No. 16 prospect racked up nine strikeouts over six hitless frames in the second game of a doubleheader as Double-A Jacksonville fell to Mississippi, 1-0. He faced one over the minimum in the outing, allowing just one runner to reach base via a one-out hit-by-pitch in the third inning.

MILB Video - Title: Yamamoto finishes the sixth - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=2448142683

Yamamoto, 22, began his night with an immaculate first inning in which he recorded three swinging strikeouts on nine pitches. He went on to notch multiple strikeouts in two more frames to finish with his highest single-game total in three starts for the Jumbo Shrimp. He did it all on just 63 pitches, 46 of which he threw for strikes.
Jacksonville lost its attempt at a combined no-hitter in the seventh inning, when tagged reliever Tommy Eveld for a leadoff triple and then scored on the pitcher's two-out fielding error.
Yamamoto pitched well during three rehab starts in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League after a one-month stint on the disabled list with recurring shoulder soreness that also cost him the first six weeks of the season.
Acquired from the Brewers during the offseason in the trade, Yamamoto proved to be anything but a throw-in prospect in his first full season with Miami.
He finished the year at 6-1 with a 1.83 ERA and 0.83 WHIP in 13 starts across three levels. In 68 2/3 innings, Yamamoto posted 85 strikeouts against 14 walks while holding hitters to a .177 average and two home runs. To make up some of the innings lost due to injury, Yamamoto will pitch for the Salt River Rafters in the Arizona Fall League.
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More top prospect performances from Thursday:
• No. 9 overall prospect Bo Bichette (Blue Jays' No. 2) tallied two runs and two RBIs in his fifth straight multihit game as Double-A New Hampshire edged Portland, 4-2. He collected three hits, all singles, and also reached once via a walk to finish 3-for-4. The 20-year-old shortstop has been on an absolute tear of late, hitting .632 (12-for-19) with six extra-base hits, eight runs scored and five walks during his aforementioned five-game streak. Earlier in the day it was announced that both Bichette and MLB Pipeline No. 1 overall prospect Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will suit up for the Surprise Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League. 

MILB Video - Title: Watch: Bichette drives in run - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=2447123783

• No. 25 overall prospect Luis Robert (White Sox No. 3) and Luis Gonzalez (No. 14) each collected three hits scored four runs to lead Class A Advanced Winston-Salem in a 13-0 rout of Salem. Robert hit a pair of doubles and also stole a base to finish 3-for-4 at the plate. Gonzalez, meanwhile, reached base four times as part of a 3-for-4 performance that included a triple, walk and two RBIs.

MILB Video - Title: Watch: Robert doubles, scores - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=2449208183

• No. 30 overall prospect Alex Kirilloff (Twins' No. 2) made his lone hit count, connecting on a two-run homer that put Class A Advanced Fort Myers on the board in an eventual 3-0 win against Bradenton. The homer was Kirilloff's 19th of the season and also pushed his RBI total to 100. After missing all of 2017 following Tommy John surgery, the 20-year-old outfielder has erupted to slash .348/.389/.577 with 70 extra-base hits in 127 games this season across two levels.
No. 36 overall prospect Triston McKenzie (Indians' No. 1) allowed four hits over six scoreless innings in a no-decision for Double-A Akron. The 21-year-old right-hander issued two walks and struck out four in the outing, throwing 65 of a season-high 101 pitches for strikes. McKenzie scuffled a bit initially after a forearm strained delayed the start to his season, but he's thrown the ball increasingly well since the beginning of July, posting a 2.09 ERA over his last 64 2/3 innings and 11 starts.

MILB Video - Title: McKenzie fans Diaz - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=2446548683

• No. 43 overall prospect Austin Riley's (Braves' No. 4) five RBIs were the difference in Triple-A Gwinnett's 8-3 win over Norfolk. He plated runs with a single and double in his first two trips to the plate and added a three-run homer in the seventh to finish 3-for-5. The homer was Riley's 18th of the year, and he's now gone deep 11 times in 71 games with Gwinnett. He's also hit safely in nine straight games as well as 11 of his last 12, during which he's hit .333 with six home runs and 16 RBIs.

MILB Video - Title: Riley hits three-run homer - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=2446348283

A's No. 12 prospect Richie Martin hit a triple and a pair of doubles as part of a 4-for-4 performance that helped power Double-A Midland past San Antonio, 5-2. The multihit performance was Martin's fourth in his last 10 games, during which he's hit .412 with eight extra-base hits and 10 RBIs. Overall, the 23-year-old shortstop has produced a .293/.362/.426 line with 40 extra-base hits and 24 steals in what has been a breakout campaign.
Parker Dunshee (No. 28) dominated on the mound as he tossed seven scoreless frames to tally his sixth win in his last seven turns for the RockHounds. He scattered six hits while walking one and striking out six. The scoreless start was Dunshee's fourth in five starts this month. Between those outings, the 23-year-old righty compiled a 0.77 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 35-to-9 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 35 innings.
• After giving up a combined 13 runs across his previous three starts, Orioles No. 21 prospect Michael Baumann rebounded to fire seven scoreless innings of two-hit ball as Class A Advanced Frederick blanked Potomac, 3-0. He retired the final 11 batters he faced and ultimately faced one over the minimum in the outing, issuing one walk and striking out five. The 2017 third-rounder finishes his first full season with a 3.17 ERA with a .222 opponents' average and 106 strikeouts in 103 2/3 innings (24 starts) between Frederick and Class A Delmarva.
Royals No. 24 prospect Yefri Del Rosario set a pair of career highs as he struck out nine batters over seven scoreless innings en route to his sixth win in seven starts for Class A Lexington. He scattered four hits, walked one and threw 65 of 86 pitches for strikes. The 18-year-old righty continues to be a force as the Minor League season winds down and boasts a 1.10 ERA over his last 41 innings. In that span, Rosario has lowered his South Atlantic League ERA from 5.45 to 3.19.

MILB Video - Title: Watch: Del Rosario notches 9th K - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=2449213083

Tigers No. 12 prospectIsaac Paredes went 3-for-5 with two extra-base hits and a career-high six RBIs in a big night at the plate for Double-A Erie. Paredes plated two with a double and another on an infield error before uncorking a three-run homer in the seventh inning. He's hit 15 home runs and 26 doubles in 119 games this season and owns a .330/.416/.470 batting line in 35 games since being promoted to Double-A.

MILB Video - Title: Paredes goes yard - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=2447032383