Sunday's top prospect performers

August 19th, 2018

Here's MLB Pipeline's roundup of the top prospect performances in the Minor Leagues on Sunday.
As the Minor League season winds down, Keegan Akin is showing no signs of slowing down.
The Orioles' No. 12 prospect picked up his Eastern League-leading 14th win on Sunday as he tossed 6 2/3 scoreless innings to lead Double-A Bowie past Erie, 3-1. He scattered four hits and struck out six while throwing 68 of 92 pitches for strikes.
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The scoreless outing was Akin's fourth in 23 starts this season and his first since June 2. He's won five straight starts for the Baysox -- a stretch during which he's completed at least six innings on four occasions.
The 23-year-old left-hander has been arguably the top hurler in the Eastern League this season. In addition to his 14 wins, Akin also leads the circuit in ERA (2.77) and strikeouts (135) and ranks second in innings pitched (130).
Yusniel Diaz (Orioles' No. 1, No. 56 overall) backed Akin's effort with a three-run home run, his third in 25 games with Bowie. The best of the five prospects acquired by Baltimore from the Dodgers in the Manny Machado blockbuster, Diaz is hitting an even .300 with seven runs scored and RBIs apiece over his last 10 contests after initially struggling in the Eastern League following the July 18 trade.
The 21-year-old outfielder has hit nine home runs overall this season -- two short of tying his career high -- and sports a .291/.406/.450 slash line with 25 extra-base hits and 11 steals through 84 games.

MILB Video - Title: Diaz goes yard - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=2406875783

No. 24 overall prospect Kyle Wright (Braves' No. 2) allowed two earned runs on five hits in his second straight seven-inning start for Triple-A Gwinnett. He issued a pair of walks, struck out six and generated another seven outs on the ground. The 22-year-old right-hander has pitched to a 2.81 ERA with 25 strikeouts and a .146 opponents' average in 25 2/3 innings (four starts) since his promotion to Gwinnett on July 30.
• No. 26 overall prospect Keston Hiura (Brewers' No. 1) hit a solo shot in the first inning and later added a single to finish 2-for-4 in Double-A Biloxi's win over Pensacola. The homer was Hiura's first since July 24 and his fifth in 60 games at the Double-A level. Overall, the 22-year-old second baseman has produced a .303/.365/.477 line with 12 homers, 32 doubles and 14 steals across two levels in his first full season.

MILB Video - Title: Hiura knocks solo homer - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=2407090183

Brewers No. 19 prospect Aaron Ashby tossed six strong innings with a career-high 10 strikeouts in a tough-luck loss for Class A Wisconsin. The 20-year-old left-hander allowed one earned run on four hits (including a solo home run) and walked a pair in the outing, throwing 64 of 94 pitches for strikes. A 2018 fourth-round pick as well as the nephew of former big league hurler Andy Ashby, Aaron has registered a 2.39 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 26 1/3 innings (five starts) since moving up to the Midwest League.
D-backs No. 15 prospect Andy Yerzy hit a pair of home runs and matched his season high by collecting four hits in a big performance for Class A Short Season Hillsboro. The 20-year-old catcher went deep in back-to-back frames, hitting solo shots in the seventh and eighth en route to his third career multi-homer game. He finished 4-for-5 with three RBIs. Through 51 games in the Northwest League, Yerzy is hitting .303 with seven home runs and 31 RBIs.
Dodgers No. 14 prospect Tony Gonsolin allowed a one-out single in the first inning before retiring 14 of the final 17 batters and completing five scoreless frames to lead Double-A Tulsa past San Antonio, 3-1. He struck out six, walked a pair and hit one batter while finding the strike zone with 55 of his 87 pitches. The 24-year-old right-hander is 5-0 in seven starts, with a 2.19 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 37 innings since his promotion to Tulsa on July 14. For the season, Gonsolin has recorded a 2.54 ERA with 150 strikeouts and 35 walks in 120 2/3 innings across two levels.
Mets No. 10 prospect Mark Vientos reached based four times and drove in four runs as part of a perfect night at the plate for Rookie-level Kingsport in game two of a doubleheader. He went 3-for-3 with a double and also reached once via a walk to snap a 1-for-18 skid. The 18-year-old third baseman has had a strong showing in the Appalachian League, hitting .293 with an .895 OPS, 10 home runs and 47 RBIs in 51 games.
Phillies No. 24 prospect Connor Seabold yielded three hits while striking out nine over six scoreless innings in a no-decision for Double-A Reading. It was the first scoreless outing of the year by the 22-year-old right-hander, who struck out a career-high 10 batters in his previous start. Overall, Seabold has posted 129 strikeouts against 32 walks over 124 1/3 innings (22 starts) and two levels in his first full season. Adam Haseley (No. 4) hit a solo homer in the loss, his 10th of the season and fifth in 35 games at the Double-A level.

MILB Video - Title: Haseley lines solo homer - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=2407084183

Yankees No. 18 prospect Nick Nelson allowed an earned run on two hits en route to his second win in three starts for Class A Advanced Tampa. The 2016 fourth-rounder struck out seven and walked three over 6 1/3 innings while throwing 60 of 100 pitches for strikes. He owns a 2.55 ERA with 24 strikeouts and 11 hits allowed over his last 17 2/3 frames.