Mariners' Vogelbach leads top prospect performers

March 10th, 2018

Few prospects this spring have swung a hotter bat than Dan Vogelbach. The Mariners' No. 11 prospect went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and two doubles on Friday as the Mariners fell to the Giants, 10-7, in Cactus League play.
Competing for a spot on Seattle's Opening Day roster, Vogelbach has reached base safely in 17 of his 26 plate appearances in the Cactus League while slashing .526/.654/1.105. His home run on Friday was his second this spring, and he's also tallied five doubles and six walks while striking out just once.
The 25-year-old first baseman/designated hitter has yet to produce over parts of two seasons in the Major Leagues, posting a .175/.250/.200 slash line with one extra-base hit in 44 plate appearances.
Other top prospect performances from Friday's action:
• A pair of A's were impressive as No. 32 overall prospect dominated on the mound and reached in all three of his plate appearances. Puk, the A's top prospect, earned the win after working three scoreless innings during which he allowed three hits and two walks while striking out two. The 6-foot-7 left-hander has now posted eight scoreless frames this spring with a 0.88 WHIP and six strikeouts. Fowler (A's No. 5), meanwhile, finished 2-for-2 with a double, a walk and a stolen base.

 • No. 11 overall prospect (Indians' No. 1) boosted his Cactus League average to .444 with a 3-for-4 effort against the Rockies. One of the switch-hitting catcher's three hits was a three-run home run, his second spring homer, off of in the third inning. Per Statcast™, Mejia's shot had an exit velocity of 102.1 mph with a 35-degree launch angle. In that same game, No. 41 overall prospect (Rockies' No. 2) paced Colorado's offense by going 2-for-4 with a double and one run scored.

Cubs No. 15 prospect connected on a two-run homer to help power his club past the Angels. The home run was his first of the spring, and he finished the game 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Spending all of 2017 in Double-A, Bote slashed .272/.353/.438 with 14 home runs and 30 doubles in 127 games.

Dodgers No. 25 prospect went 1-for-2 with a two-run homer, giving him an even .500 average, two home runs and six RBIs in 16 at-bats this spring. He's collected hits in three of his eight games in the Cactus League and enters the weekend with a 1.579 OPS. Edwin Rios (Dodgers' No. 12) also had a strong game, going 2-for-2 with two RBIs.

• Entering in relief of starter , Padres No. 9 prospect Joey Lucchesi tossed three frames of one-hit ball to extend his spring scoreless innings streak to seven innings. On Friday facing the White Sox, the 24-year-old lefty allowed one hit, walked one and struck out four. For the South Siders, No. 18 prospect upped his spring average to .409 with a 1-for-3 performance out of the leadoff spot.