Swanson, Fowler lead top prospect performers Friday

April 1st, 2017

In the first game ever played at SunTrust Park, two top prospects shined as the Yankees helped the Braves christen their new home on Friday night. Dansby Swanson (Braves' No. 1, No. 4 overall) singled and scored on Freddie Freeman's three-run homer in the third inning, and (Yankees' No. 9) had a two-run double in the sixth.
Swanson, a National League Rookie of the Year candidate, is projected as Atlanta's starting shortstop. The 23-year-old is batting .308 in 39 at-bats this spring after slashing .302/.361/.442 with three home runs in 38 games for the Braves in 2016.
Fowler, 22, led all Yankees Minor Leaguers in total bases (248) and RBIs (88) last season, slashing .281/.311/.458 with 15 triples and 25 stolen bases in 132 games with Double-A Trenton. He's set to begin this season with Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre.
Other top prospect performances on Friday
(Astros' No. 4No. 83 overall) singled and scored in the sixth inning in a 6-3 loss to the Cubs at Minute Maid Park. The 23-year-old outfielder, a first-round pick by Houston in 2014, is batting .310 with two home runs in 42 at-bats this spring. In 129 games between Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Fresno last season, Fisher hit .255/.367/.448 with 21 home runs and 28 steals in 35 attempts.
• In the same game, (Cubs' No. 14) continued his hot spring by going 1-for-2 with a two-run single in the fifth inning. The 24-year-old infielder is batting .340 with three home runs in 53 Cactus League at-bats. At Double-A Tennessee last season, Young hit .303/.376/.387 in 126 games.

• Trey Mancini (Orioles' No. 5) had a single and scored a run in Baltimore's 3-3 tie with Triple-A Norfolk at Harbor Park. The 25-year-old first baseman/designated hitter made the O's Opening Day roster, batting .333 with three homers in 60 Spring Training at-bats.
Mancini was called up last September, and in five games with the Orioles went 5-for-14 with three homers. In 142 games between Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk in 2016, Mancini hit .282/.357/.458 with 20 home runs.
• Jack Flaherty (Cardinals' No. 8) tossed four scoreless innings in the Cardinals' 5-2 win over Double-A Springfield at Hammons Field. In four appearances this spring, the 21-year-old right-hander has a 2.57 ERA with 10 strikeouts in seven innings.

In 24 appearances (23 starts) at Class A Advanced Palm Beach last season, Flaherty posted a 3.63 ERA and 8.5 strikeouts per nine innings.
• A pair of top Twins prospects had strong performances for Triple-A Rochester in an exhibition against the parent club at Hammond Stadium. Outfielders (Twins' No. 14) and (Twins' No. 22) combined to go 4-for-6 in a 3-3 tie.
Palka was 2-for-3 with a solo homer off Twins starter in the second inning. He's only batting .167 in 18 Grapefruit League at-bats, and the homer was his first of the spring after he belted 34 in 133 games between Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Rochester in 2016.
Granite also went 2-for-3, with two singles. The 24-year-old outfielder is coming off a season at Double-A Chattanooga in which he slashed .295/.347/.382 with eight triples and 56 stolen bases in 127 games.
• Andrew Knapp (Phillies' No. 14) was 2-for-4 with a three-run double in the fourth inning of the Phillies' 7-7 tie with the Rays at Spectrum Field. The 25-year-old catcher is batting .245 with two home runs in 49 Grapefruit League at-bats.

Knapp, who made Philadelphia's Opening Day roster as a backup to , hit .266/.330/.390 last season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, with eight home runs in 107 games.
• Jake Fraley (Rays' No. 25) was 1-for-3 with an RBI single in the fifth inning of the same game. A second-round pick by Tampa Bay in the 2016 Draft, the 21-year-old outfielder hit .236/.339/.365 with seven triples and 33 stolen bases in 54 games for Class A Hudson Valley.