Posting zeroes has become the norm for Class A Kane County's Jon Duplantier in the first month of the Minor League season. On Monday, the D-backs' No. 8 prospect fired five dominant frames to extend his scoreless innings streak to 20 1/3 to begin the season.
Duplantier, 22, allowed three hits and struck out eight batters en route to his first professional win. He generated six ground-ball outs and did not record a flyout in the outing, throwing 45 of his 69 pitches for strikes in his third start (and fourth appearance) for the Cougars.
Selected by Arizona in the third round of the 2016 Draft, Duplantier appeared in just one Northwest League game last summer after signing out of Rice. He's been held to a strict pitch count and innings limit in the early going, though it hasn't stopped Duplantier from stifling opposing hitters as he did in his Wednesday start, when he tossed 5 1/3 hitless frames against Beloit.
Overall, Duplantier has allowed eight hits while posting a 28-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 20 1/3 innings to begin his first full season.
The rest of the best performances from top prospects Monday
• Making his season debut, No. 13 overall prospect Brendan Rodgers (Rockies' No. 1) singled in his first at-bat for Class A Advanced Lancaster before finishing 1-for-4. After missing the first two-plus weeks of the season with a hand injury, Rodgers, 20, started at shortstop and batted third for the JetHawks. Right-hander Peter Lambert (Rockies' No. 10) was sharp in a no-decision, allowing two earned runs on four hits with career-high 11 strikeouts in six innings.
• No. 33 overall prospect Tyler O'Neill (Mariners' No. 2) recorded three extra-base hits, going 3-for-5 with his third homer and a pair of doubles, though it wasn't enough to keep Triple-A Tacoma from falling to Albuquerque, 12-8. The 21-year-old outfielder had struggled of late, as he entered Monday's contest with a .122/.196/.171 batting line and 13 strikeouts over his past 10 games.

MILB Video - Title: Watch: O'Neill goes yard - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=1320019283

• No. 37 overall prospect Francisco Mejia (Indians' No. 2) extended his season-opening hitting streak to 13 games with a third-inning triple before finishing 2-for-4 for Double-A Akron. The 21-year-old backstop is batting .367 in his first taste of the Eastern League, and eight of his 18 hits have gone for extra bases. On the mound, right-hander Julian Merryweather (Indians' No. 25) tossed 6 2/3 strong innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits, to pace the RubberDucks in their fifth straight victory.
• Making his Double-A debut, Angels' No. 6 prospect Grayson Long allowed just one hit in six innings in a no-decision for Mobile. The 6-foot-5 righty, who posted a 3.00 ERA in three starts for Class A Advanced Inland Empire, struck out four and walked one in a game that saw the BayBears fall to Pensacola 1-0 in 16 innings. Blue Wahoos starter Kuery Mella (Reds' No. 19) was equally impressive, tossing seven scoreless of four-hit ball with four strikeouts and one walk.

MILB Video - Title: Watch: Long notches strikeout - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=1320077383

• Brewers' No. 10 prospectBrett Phillips scored three runs and went 2-for-3 with his fifth home run -- a seventh-inning solo shot off hard throwing right-hander Bobby Wahl (A's No. 26) -- in as many games in Triple-A Colorado Springs' victory over Nashville. Right-hander Brandon Woodruff (Brewers' No. 8) did his part on the mound by tossing six scoreless frames for the Sky Sox. He held the sounds to just three hits, issued one walk and fanned five in the outing. He's won each of his four starts this season, posting 1.61 ERA in 22 1/3 innings.
• Dodgers' No. 22 prospect Edwin Rios established a career high with five hits and matched another career best with four RBIs as he helped power Double-A Tulsa past Arkansas, 8-1. The 2015 sixth-rounder finished a perfect 5-for-5 at the plate to improve his average to .364, and he's now tallied 15 RBIs in 16 games for the Drillers.

MILB Video - Title: Rios collects fifth hit - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=1319782783

• Dodgers' No. 19 prospect D.J. Peters, 21, connected on his first home run of the season, a three-run shot to the opposite field in the fourth inning, and went 2-for-5 with four RBIs as Class A Rancho Cucamonga defeated San Jose, 10-2. The 6-foot-6 outfielder is hitting .279 through 17 games in the California League this season after spending his entire pro debut in the Rookie-level Pioneer League. Outfielder Yusniel Diaz (No. 6) also had a big game, going 3-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs, while shortstop Drew Jackson (No. 18) hit his third homer in as many games.
• Tigers' No. 16 prospectMyles Jaye pitched six scoreless innings, allowing just four hits, in a no-decision for Double-A Erie. The 25-year-old righty threw 51 of his 89 pitches for strikes in the outing, striking out seven and walking one. Jaye owns a 1.93 ERA through three starts (14 IP), though he's still in search of his first win of 2017.
• Yankees' No. 7 prospectChance Adams improved to 3-0 and lowered his ERA to 0.82 with 5 2/3 scoreless innings for Double-A Trenton in a win over New Hampshire. He gave up three hits and three walks and struck out four, while throwing 53 of his 93 pitches for strikes. The 22-year-old righty has allowed just 13 hits in 22 innings this season, with 22 strikeouts and 10 walks.