Torres stays hot, leads top prospects

March 15th, 2017

is ranked as the No. 3 overall prospect, the top shortstop prospect and the No. 1 player in the Yankees' farm system.
With those lofty rankings comes heightened expectations, but Torres continues to show that the accolades are deserved.
The 20-year-old, whom the Yankees acquired from the Cubs in late July, has been on fire lately and the trend continued Tuesday.
Torres bumped his Spring Training batting average up to .455 after going 2-for-3 with a double, a home run, two runs scored and three RBIs in the Yankees' loss to Tampa Bay.
In 13 Spring Training contests, Torres has nine RBIs and two home runs.
More notable performances from top prospects:
• While Torres garnered the bulk of the attention, a pair of Rays' prospects also put together good games. (Rays' No. 1, No. 21 overall) collected a two-run single in the sixth, snapping a three-game hitless streak. Adames is hitting just .222 in spring, but has three RBIs over his past three games. He finished 1-for-2.
(Rays' No. 15) threw two innings in relief and fared well, but did give up his first run of the spring. Schultz, who has a 1.13 ERA through five appearances, struck out three and gave up two runs (one earned) on two hits in two innings.

Brewers' No. 5, (No. 65 overall) drove in a pair of runs as part of a 2-for-3 effort. Diaz has hits in three of the four Cactus League games he's played and is hitting .444.
Astros' No. 21 spun his first scoreless outing of the Grapefruit League with two strong innings against the Mets. Rodgers, a right-hander, gave up one hit and struck out two in the brief appearance.
• Brewers' No. 7 Lucas Erceg bumped his Spring Training average up to .450 with a 3-for-5 day at the plate. Erceg, the Brewers' second-round selection from the 2016 Draft, hit .327 in 68 games last season and has hits in six of nine games this spring.
Mariners' No. 4Mitch Haniger has eight hits in his past 15 at-bats after going 3-for-4 against the White Sox. Haniger is hitting .444 through 11 games and has had three hits in two of his past three games. 

• Josh Smoker (Mets' No. 20) has held opponents scoreless in six of seven outings after throwing a scoreless frame against the Astros. Smoker, who walked one and struck out two, hasn't given up a hit in five of his seven appearances, including his past three.
(Phillies' No. 6) collected a pair of hits and scored two runs for the second time in as many games. The 23-year-old outfielder went hitless in his first two at-bats, before reaching base in three straight plate appearances. Quinn finished 2-for-4 with a walk as the Phillies topped the Braves.
• Zack Burdi (White Sox No. 7) bounced back from a rough outing with a clean inning Tuesday. After holding opponents scoreless through his first five outings of Spring Training, Burdi was tagged for three runs in one inning Sunday. However, the 22-year-old got back on track against the Mariners, striking out two in a perfect inning.