MLB Pipeline's Prospect Team of the Week

June 4th, 2018

MLB Pipeline's Prospect Team of the Week honors the best performances from the previous seven days. Any Minor Leaguer currently on an organization Top 30 Prospects list on our Prospect Watch is eligible.
:: Complete prospect coverage ::
This past week belonged to Brewers top prospect (No. 49 overall), who, after overcoming a sluggish start to his season with a torrid month of May, received a well-deserved promotion to Double-A Biloxi from Class A Advanced Carolina on the heels of a career-best five-hit game. The second baseman collected hits in all three games since joining the Shuckers after compiling a .320/.382/.529 batting line with seven home runs and 16 doubles in 50 games with Carolina. It marks his second consecutive week being named to the PTOW.
Speaking of promotions, 20-year-old outfielder Alex Kirilloff, the Twins' No. 6 prospect (No. 100 overall), could soon receive one after another big week with Class A Cedar Rapids. After missing all of 2017 while recovering from Tommy John surgery, the '16 first-rounder has made a flawless return to the field this season and ranks among the Midwest League leaders in numerous offensive categories.
The latest PTOW also features a pair of Padres prospects in left-hander Logan Allen and outfielder Michael Gettys, both of whom played key roles this past week in helping Double-A San Antonio complete its second no-hitter in as many years.
Here's the complete Prospect Team of the Week for games of May 28 through June 3.
2018 Prospect Teams of the Week
C: Ronaldo Hernandez, Bowling Green Hot Rods (Class A)
(
Rays' No. 19 prospect)
6 G, .458/.500/.875, 4 R, 1 2B, 3 HR, 12 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K, 1 SB

Hernandez posted a trio of three-hit games last week, including in back-to-back contests on Friday and Saturday, when he combined for three home runs and eight RBIs. The 20-year-old catcher ultimately finished third among all team Top 30 prospects in RBIs. Hernandez is having a strong full-season debut, hitting .311/.363/.503 with six homers, 13 doubles and 40 RBIs in 44 games.
1B: Chad Spanberger, Asheville Tourists (Class A)
(Rockies' No. 25 prospect)
5 G, .450/.450/1.200, 5 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 6 RBI, 0 BB, 5 K, 2 SB

Spanberger wrapped up his week by going deep twice in consecutive games on Saturday and Sunday. The four homers in two days pushed the 22-year-old first baseman's season total to 14, the second-highest total among South Atlantic League hitters. What's more, Spanberger, a sixth-round pick by Colorado in 2017, also paces the circuit in OPS (.986), RBIs (41) and total bases (119).

MILB Video - Title: Watch: Spanberger knocks second homer - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=2117571083

2B: Keston Hiura, Carolina Mudcats/Biloxi Shuckers (Class A Advanced/Double-A)
(Brewers' No. 1 prospect/No. 49 overall)
6 G, .500/.571/.833, 7 R, 2 2B, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 3 HBP, 7 K

Hiura's week was highlighted by a career-best 5-for-5 showing with Carolina on Thursday in a game in which he also hit two home runs for the first time in his career. Promoted to Double-A the next day, the 2017 first-rounder responded to the challenge by tallying four hits in his first three games with Biloxi. Hiura now owns a 10-game hitting streak between the two levels, during which he has 20 hits, including seven going for extra bases. The 21-year-old is hitting for average and power in his first full season and doing so while playing second base on a near daily basis.

MILB Video - Title: Watch: Hiura gets first Double-A hit - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=2109321983

3B: Rylan Bannon, Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (Class A Advanced)
(
Dodgers' No. 29 prospect)
7 G, .458/.581/1.042, 6 R, 2 2B, 4 HR, 8 RBI, 7 BB, 6 K

Bannon kicked off his week by homering in three straight games before adding another on Saturday to push his 2018 home-run total to 13, good for a share of second place in the California League. A 2017 eighth-round Draft pick out of Xavier, the 22-year-old Bannon is also second in the circuit with 36 RBIs and 114 total bases and ranks third with a .976 OPS.
SS: Richie Martin, Midland RockHounds (Double-A)
(
A's No. 20 prospect)
6 G, .545/.655/.909, 6 R, 4 2B, 2 3B, 4 RBI, 5 BB, 1 IBB, 2 HBP, 3 K, 4 SB

Martin tallied multiple hits in five straight games last week before coming up hitless on Sunday. It was arguably the best offensive stretch of Martin's career after the 2015 first-rounder battled injuries and largely struggled to produce during his first three pro seasons. After slashing .224/.306/.315 in 86 Double-A contests in '17, the 23-year-old shortstop has returned to the Texas League to produce a .343/.410/.510 batting line, with 18 extra-base hits and eight steals in 38 games.
OF: , Arkansas Travelers (Double-A)
(
Mariners' No. 5 prospect)
6 G, .516/.545/.903, 12 R, 3 2B, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K

Bishop began his week with a four-hit effort and followed it with three straight three-hit games before turning in his first career multi-homer performance on Saturday. He ultimately ranked first among qualified club Top 30 prospects in runs scored, hits (16) and total bases (28) for the week. Bishop, 24, has hit a career-best six homers in 50 games this season, matching his combined total from his previous two seasons and 223 games.

MILB Video - Title: Watch: Bishop's second homer - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=2114255583

OF: Alex Kirilloff, Cedar Rapids Kernels (Class A)
(Twins' No. 6 prospect/No. 100 overall)
7 G, .433/.485/.833, 8 R, 3 2B, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 3 BB, 2 IBB, 5 K

Kirilloff finished the week with three straight multi-hit games and overall he collected multiple hits in five of his seven games for Cedar Rapids. He has hit the ground running this year despite losing all of 2017 to injury, as he currently sits atop the Midwest League leaderboard in both home runs (tied-10) and RBIs (45). The Kernels outfielder has recorded 30 extra-base hits in 51 games this season overall, producing a .332/.385/.598 batting line in 51 games.

OF: Michael Gettys, San Antonio Missions (Double-A)
(
Padres' No. 28 prospect)
6 G, .391/.440/.957, 4 R, 2 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 2 BB, 5 K

Gettys hit safely in all six games for the Missions last week -- highlighted by three straight two-hit efforts over the weekend -- as he pushed his hitting streak to 11 games. He's slashing .425/.477/.800 with eight extra-base hits and 10 strikeouts during that stretch after batting just .219/.290/.390 with 12 extra-base knocks and 52 strikeouts over his first 41 contests in the Texas League.

MILB Video - Title: Watch: Gettys' three-homer game - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=1458998783

LHP: Logan Allen, San Antonio Missions (Double-A)
(Padres' No. 8 prospect)
1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 GS, 7 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 5 BB, 7 K, 1.00 WHIP
Allen worked seven hitless innings on Thursday as he and one San Antonio reliever combined to throw a no-hitter against Tulsa. The 21-year-old lefty issued two walks and struck out seven in the performance, throwing 67 of his season-high 105 pitches for strikes. He's struck out at least six batters in each of his 11 starts for the Missions, totaling 76 strikeouts in 66 2/3 innings to go along with a 7-2 record and a 3.24 ERA.

MILB Video - Title: Watch: Allen notches his seventh K - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=2106312483

RHP: , Down East Wood Ducks (Class A Advanced)
(Rangers' No. 13 prospect)
1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 GS, 8 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 11 K, 0.38 WHIP

Hernandez was lights out for Down East once again this week, as he posted his third straight start with double-digit strikeouts. The 21-year-old righty matched his season high with 11 strikeouts -- after fanning 11 and 10 batters in his two previous starts, respectively -- allowing two hits over eight scoreless innings on Wednesday. He's been arguably the top pitcher in the Carolina League so far this season, ranking among the circuit leaders with a 1.66 ERA (second), 0.87 WHIP (first) and 73 strikeouts (first) through 54 1/3 frames (nine starts).
RP: , Trenton Thunder (Double-A)
(Yankees' No. 8 prospect)
1-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 G, 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 0.17 WHIP
Acevedo dominated in a pair of three-inning relief appearances this week in his first game action since returning from a near two-month stint on the disabled list because of a blister. The 24-year-old faced one over the minimum between the two outings, striking out three in each appearance and allowing just one hit combined. The two relief appearances were Acevedo's first since his professional debut in 2013.