Bryant, Berrios named Pipeline Prospects of the Week

Throughout the season, the MLBPipeline.com staff will name Pipeline Prospects of the Week -- one hitter and one pitcher who excelled over the previous seven days. To qualify for selection, a player must rank among their organization's Top 20 Prospects, as listed on our Prospect Watch.

Pipeline Hitting Prospect of the Week: Kris Bryant, Tennessee Smokies
Cubs' No. 2 prospect, seven games, 11-for-23 (.478/.625/1.217), 1.842 OPS, five HRs, seven RBIs, seven runs, one SB

Bryant's assault on Southern League pitching continued in earnest last week. He homered in five of seven games and was held without an extra-base hit just once -- in a game in which he drew four walks.

Bryant, ranked No. 8 on MLBPipeline.com's Top 100 Prospects list, leads the Southern League in all three Triple Crown categories (.348, 18 home runs, 49 RBIs), as well as on-base percentage (.452), slugging percentage (.692), hits (70) and runs (.48).

The Cubs made Bryant the second overall pick in the 2013 First-Year Player Draft nearly one year ago. He has done nothing but hit as a professional. In 91 games in his Minor League career, he is batting .343 with a 1.119 OPS and 27 home runs.

Honorable mention
Adrian Marin, SS, Frederick Keys: Orioles' No. 9 prospect, six games, 9-for-21 (.429/.478/.905), 1.383 OPS, one HR, 11 RBIs, one run

Hunter Renfroe, OF, Lake Elsinore Storm: Padres' No. 5 prospect, seven games, 10-for-27 (.370/.452/.926), 1.378 OPS, four HRs, 10 RBIs, five runs

Michael Taylor, OF, Harrisburg Senators: Nationals' No. 4 prospect, seven games, 13-for-27 (.481/.548/.852), 1.400 OPS, two HRs, five RBIs, six runs, one SB

Devon Travis, 2B, Erie SeaWolves: Tigers' No. 2 prospect, seven games, 15-for-30 (.500/.516/.967), 1.483 OPS, two HRs, five RBIs, seven runs

Pipeline Pitching Prospect of the Week: Jose Berrios, Fort Myers Miracle
Twins' No. 5 prospect, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, one GS, seven IP, one hit, 0 runs, 0 ERs, 0 BBs, 13 K's

In a week of impressive pitching performances (Class A Advanced High Desert threw a combined no-hitter and Triple-A Memphis left-hander Tim Cooney came within an out of his own no-hitter), Berrios saved the best for last. He retired the first 13 batters Sunday against Class A Advanced Tampa and finished with 13 strikeouts in seven innings. His only blemishes were a double and a hit batsman. And, because Minor League doubleheaders typically have seven-inning games, he got credit for his first shutout.

Berrios, ranked No. 77 on the Top 100, improved to 5-2 with a 2.24 ERA this season. He has struck out 65 batters and walked 17 in 56 1/3 innings.

Berrios has been on a roll of late. In his last five starts, he has struck out 45 batters in 31 1/3 innings and limited opponents to three runs on 18 hits. He has also won four straight decisions.

Honorable mention
Tim Cooney, LHP, Memphis Redbirds: Cardinals' No. 9 prospect, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, one GS, nine IP, one hit, 0 runs, 0 ERs, two BBs, seven K's

Tyler Glasnow, RHP, Bradenton Marauders: Pirates' No. 3 prospect, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, one GS, 5 2/3 IP, one hit, 0 runs, 0 ER, two BBs, 12 K's

Trevor May, RHP, Rochester Redwings: Twins' No. 12 prospect, 2-0, 0.00 ERA, two GS, 12 IP, nine hits, one run, 0 ER, five BBs, seven K's

Tyler Pike, LHP, High Desert Mavericks: Mariners' No. 9 prospect, 0-0. 0.00 ERA, one GS, six IP, 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 ER, two BBs, eight K's

Kyle Smith, RHP, Corpus Christi Hooks: Astros' No. 18 prospect, 1-0, 1.74 ERA, two GS, 10 1/3 IP, seven hits, two runs, two ERs, one BB, 13 K's

Ryne Stanek, RHP, Bowling Green Hot Rods: Rays' No. 11 prospect, 2-0, 0.75 ERA, two GS, 12 IP, seven hits, one run, one ER, one BB, 10 K's