Saturday's top prospect performers

Stokes closing in on 20-20; Bichette goes off in 1st game sans Vlad; Matias hits No. 30

July 29th, 2018

Here's MLB Pipeline's roundup of the top prospect performances in the Minor Leagues on Saturday.
Corey Ray recently became the first Minor Leaguer to total at least 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases this season. Before long, he could be joined by Double-A Biloxi teammate Troy Strokes Jr.
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Ray, the Brewers' No. 4 prospect, homered for a second straight game on Saturday, while Stokes, No. 19, went deep twice as the duo powered Biloxi past Pensacola, 9-6.
Both of Stokes' homers were solo shots, as he went deep in the fifth and sixth innings to record the second multi-homer game of his career. The 22-year-old outfielder pushed his season total to 17 home runs in the process, leaving him three shy of the career-high 20 homers he hit last year, when he was one of 10 Minor Leagues to compile at least 20 homers and 20 steals, tallying 20 and 31, respectively.
Stokes appears likely to accomplish the feat again this season, having already recorded 16 steals through 104 games with the Shuckers.
Ray connected on a two-run shot in the eighth inning that helped pad Biloxi's lead. The 23-year-old outfielder has now homered 22 times in 102 games this season after producing just 12 home runs over his first 172 games as a pro. Meanwhile, with 32 steals already under his belt, Ray has a real chance at becoming the first Minor Leaguer to have a 25-homer, 40-steal season since Astros outfielder did it in 2013 (37 homers, 45 stolen bases).

MILB Video - Title: Watch: Ray smacks 22nd homer - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=2321677883

The rest of the best performances from top prospects Saturday
• In his first game after the promotion of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to Triple-A Buffalo, No. 9 overall prospect Bo Bichette (Blue Jays' No. 2) homered for a second straight game and recorded a pair of doubles on a five-RBI night in Double-A New Hampshire's 12-2 win. Bichette's homer, a two-run shot in the eighth inning, was his 10th of the year, while the pair of two-baggers pushed his doubles total to 30. The 20-year-old shortstop is hitting .273/.330/.454 on the season, with 46 extra-base hits, 72 runs scored, 57 RBIs and 27 steals in 97 games and has slashed .340/.389/.660 in 12 games since the All-Star break.

MILB Video - Title: Watch: Bichette cranks two-run homer - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=2322308183

Twins' No. 1 prospect (No. 10 overall) Royce Lewis went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs out of the leadoff spot as Class A Advanced Fort Myers defeated Daytona, 5-1, in game one of a doubleheader. The 19-year-old shortstop has produced a .293 average with 11 RBIs in 14 games since his promotion to the Florida State League. Right-hander Brusdar Graterol (Twins' No. 4, No. 81 overall), also 19, allowed one earned run on two hits over 5 2/3 innings to record the win. He issued three walks, hit one batter and struck out 10, tying his career-high mark that he set on May 14.
• A big day at the plate from No. 32 overall prospect Jesus Sanchez (Rays' No. 4) was the difference in Class A Advanced Charlotte's 9-8 win over St. Lucie. He went 3-for-4 in the contest, hitting a double and his 10th home run, finishing with a team-high three runs. The 20-year-old outfielder is hitting .375 over his last 10 contests and sports a .306/.335/.472 line with 35 extra-base hits and 63 RBIs on the season.
• No. 60 overall prospect Andres Gimenez (Mets' No. 1) had a perfect night at the plate for Double-A Binghamton, going 3-for-3 with a double, a walk, an RBI and a stolen base. It was the first three-hit and second multi-hit performances in six games since the 19-year-old shortstop was promoted to the Double-A level. Over 86 games with Class A Advanced St. Lucie, Gimenez batted .282/.348/.432 with 30 extra-base hits and 28 steals.
• No. 95 overall prospect Luis Garcia (Nationals' No. 3) launched his first homer at the Class A Advanced level, connecting on a two-run shot in the first inning of Potomac's 10-3 win over Carolina. He finished 2-for-4 at the plate, also tallying a double in the contest. The youngest player in this year's SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at 18, Garcia earned a promotion to Potomac by slashing .297/.335/.402 over 78 games with Class A Hagerstown.
A's No. 26 prospect Wyatt Marks allowed two hits over seven scoreless innings to lead Class A Beloit past Burlington, 1-0. He struck out 10 and faced two over the minimum while throwing 57 of 85 pitches for strikes in the outing. In his first full season, the 23-year-old right-hander has pitched to a 3.23 ERA in 106 innings, during which he's amassed a Midwest League-leading 127 strikeouts.
Astros No. 14 prospect Cristian Javier took the loss in game one of Class A Advanced Buies Creek's doubleheader despite tossing 5 2/3 frames of one-run ball. The 21-year-old righty allowed just two hits (one being a solo home run), walked a pair and struck out eight before departing after 93 pitches (52 strikes). He lowered his Carolina League ERA to 1.98 with the performance, giving him a 1.89 ERA in 90 1/3 innings on the season across two levels.
In the nightcap, Tyler Ivey (No. 27) yielded just one hit over six scoreless innings to record the win. He posted two walks against eight strikeouts, generated six ground-ball outs and threw 52 of his 80 pitches for strikes. The 22-year-old right-hander has racked up 112 strikeouts in 88 2/3 frames across two levels this season and has 35 strikeouts in his last 27 1/3 innings.
Dodgers No. 15 prospect Edwin Uceta struck out a career-high 11 batters over seven strong innings in Class A Great Lake's 9-2 win over Lake County. Two of three hits he allowed were solo home runs, and that accounted for all of the damage against the 20-year-old right-hander. Uceta has pitched well in his first full season, logging a 3.46 ERA with 99 strikeouts and 27 walks over 93 2/3 innings (19 starts).
Mariners No. 13 prospect Cal Raleigh, a switch-hitting catcher whom Seattle drafted in the third round in June, homered from both sides of the plate for Class A Short Season Everett. He also hit a double to go along with the two homers, all career firsts, to finish 3-for-5 with three runs scored.
Royals No. 3 prospect Seuly Matias connected on his Minor League-leading 30th home run, an eighth-inning solo shot that provided Class A Lexington with an insurance run in a 4-2 win over Rome. The 19-year-old outfielder has been on a tear of late, hitting .324 over his past games while recording eight hits -- including three home runs and six RBIs -- in his last three contests.

MILB Video - Title: Watch: Matias belts Minors-leading 30th homer - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=2321385383