Thursday's top prospect performers

August 17th, 2018

Here's MLB Pipeline's roundup of the top prospect performances in the Minor Leagues on Thursday.
Cavan Biggio hit a pair of home runs, including walk-off shot in the ninth, as Double-A New Hampshire rallied to defeat Altoona, 7-6.
The Blue Jays' No. 9 prospect, the son of Hall of Famer Craig, also hit a double in the contest to finish 3-for-4 with three RBIs and a career-high four runs scored.
Biggio's first home run of the game, a two-run blast to right field with two outs in the third inning, started the scoring for New Hampshire, and he came around to score in his next two trips to the plate after reaching via a double and a walk, respectively.
A three-run Fisher Cats rally to tie the game in the eighth inning ultimately helped to set the stage for Biggio's heroics in the ninth, and the 23-year-old, batting with two outs, delivered by hammering a 3-0 pitch over the wall in right-center field for the walk-off win.

MILB Video - Title: Biggio hits walk-off homer - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=2393309783

It was the second multi-homer game of Biggio's career, as well as his second this month. What's more, Biggio, normally a second or third baseman, accomplished the feat in his first start of the season in the outfield (right field). It was his second-career start at the position, specifically, and his third-ever in the outfield in 302 Minor League games.
Nearing the end of a breakout season, Biggio leads the Eastern League in home runs (26), on-base percentage (.397), slugging (.532), OPS (.928), total bases (201) and walks (89). His 88 RBIs, meanwhile, rank second in the circuit, and, overall he's hit .257 in 113 games.
Other top prospect performances from Thursday's action:
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No. 13 overall prospect (White Sox No. 2) continued to trend in the right direction as he allowed one earned run on seven hits over six innings for Triple-A Charlotte. Perhaps more important, the 22-year-old flame-thrower posted his third straight start in which he recorded nine strikeouts and zero walks. With a 1.84 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 59-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 44 innings across his last seven starts, Kopech has seemingly checked every box the White Sox wanted to see before a possible September promotion.
• No. 22 overall prospect Luis Urias (Padres' No. 4) went 3-for-4 with a double, triple and two runs scored as Triple-A El Paso edged Las Vegas, 3-2. It was the third straight multihit game for the 21-year-old second baseman, and he's 8-for-12 at the plate during that stretch. On the season, Urias is hitting .281 with 39 extra-base hits, 72 runs scored and 63 walks through 111 games.
Angels No. 20 prospectPatrick Sandoval tossed 4 2/3 scoreless innings in his debut for Double-A Mobile. The 21-year-old lefty struck out six and allowed as many hits as he did walks (three). He has not allowed a run since July 22, a streak spanning 19 1/3 innings and that began before he was dealt by Houston to the Angels on July 26 for . Between the two organizations (and across three levels), Sandoval has logged a 2.10 ERA with 124 strikeouts and a .199 BAA in 107 1/3 innings.
Blue Jays No. 7 prospect Eric Pardinho carried a perfect game bid into the seventh inning in a career-long outing for Rookie-level Bluefield. He allowed just one hit, a one-out single in the seventh inning, struck out six and pounded the zone with 49 of 73 pitches over seven dominant innings. Signed out of Brazil for $1.4 million in July 2017, Pardinho, a 17-year-old right-hander, has registered a 2.93 ERA with 58 strikeouts and 13 walks in 46 innings (10 starts) this season against significantly older hitters in his first taste of pro ball.
Indians No. 24 prospect upped his home run total to 18 with his second two-homer game of the season for Triple-A Columbus. Both homers were solo shots, as Haase went deep in the fourth and sixth innings to finish 2-for-5. The 25-year-old backstop owns a .750 OPS with 43 extra-base hits and a career-best 67 RBIs at the plate this season. Behind it, he's thrown out 49 percent (29 of 59) of attempted basestealers.
Marlins No. 22 prospect Joe Dunand had another big game for Double-A Jacksonville, going 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBIs, one night after setting career highs with two home runs and four hits. The 22-year-old shortstop got off to a slow start upon reaching the Double-A level, but he's now hitting .364 with six extra-base hits in 11 games this month.
Robert Dugger (Marlins' No. 23) scattered five hits over seven scoreless innings to earn the win on the mound. He issued three walks and matched his season high with nine strikeouts. The 23-year-old right-hander has completed seven innings in three of his last four starts, all victories.
Phillies No. 20 prospect David Parkinson logged his second scoreless start in three turns since his promotion to Class A Advanced Clearwater. He allowed two hits (both singles), walked a pair and struck out five in the outing, throwing 47 of 66 pitches for strikes. The 22-year-old left-hander was promoted to Clearwater after posting a South Atlantic League-leading 1.51 ERA in 95 1/3 innings (17 starts) with Class A Lakewood.
Pirates No. 12 prospect Steven Jennings gave up an unearned run on five hits over a career-high seven innings to help lead Rookie-level Bristol past Burlington. It arguably was the finest performance of the year by the 19-year-old righty, who finished with seven strikeouts and one walk on 85 pitches (61 strikes).
Reds No. 21 prospect Josiah Gray tossed five innings of one-run ball in another strong start for Rookie-level Greeneville. The 20-year-old righty allowed just one hit, walked one, struck out five and retired the final 13 batters he faced. Through his first 10 starts as a pro, Gray, a 2018 Competitive Balance Round B pick, owns a 2.66 ERA with 48 strikeouts in 44 innings.