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: Jake Lamb, 3B, Mobile BayBears (Diamondbacks' No. 6 prospect), 7 G, 10-for-21 (.476/.538/1.000), 1.538 OPS, 3 2B, 2 HR, 6 R, 11 RBI

A disappointing junior season at Washington dropped Lamb to the sixth round of the 2012 Draft, but he has done nothing but hit since signing for $161,000 with the Diamondbacks. A career .319/.404/.560 hitter in 203 pro games, he's in the midst of his best season to date.

Lamb currently leads the Double-A Southern League with 25 doubles, and he ranks second behind Cubs slugger Kris Bryant in batting, slugging, RBIs (56), extra-base hits (40) and total bases (145). Lamb's 11 homers are good for fourth in the league and are just two shy of his career high. He has fully recovered from a broken hamate bone in his right hand that ended his 2013 season in June.

Lamb also stands out defensively at third base, with good agility, soft hands and a strong arm. His presence made it easier for Arizona to ship Matt Davidson to the White Sox for Addison Reed during the offseason.

Honorable Mention

Elier Hernandez, OF, Lexington Legends (Royals' No. 10 prospect), 5 G, 8-for-16 (.500/.579/.938), 1.516 OPS, 2 HR, 5 R, 3 RBI

Hernan Perez, SS/2B, Toledo Mud Hens (Tigers' No. 9 prospect), 6 G, 12-for-24 (.500/.538/.917),. 1.455 OPS, 5 2B, 8 R, 6 RBI

D.J. Peterson, 3B/1B, High Desert Mavericks (Mariners' No. 2 prospect), 5 G, 10-for-24 (.417/.440/.917),. 1.357 OPS, 3 2B, 3 HR, 6 R, 13 RBI

Stephen Piscotty, OF, Memphis Redbirds (Cardinals' No. 2 prospect), 6 G, 9-for-18 (.500/.667/.667), 1.333 OPS, 3 2B, 6 BB, 2 R, 3 RBI

Jesse Winker, OF, Bakersfield Blaze (Reds' No. 3 prospect), 3 G, 5-for-10 (.500/.667/1.400), 2.067 OPS, 3 HR, 5 BB, 6 R, 8 RBI

Pipeline Pitching Prospect of the Week: Marco Gonzales, LHP, Springfield Cardinals (Cardinals' No. 4 prospect), 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 GS, 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 10 SO

Considered the most polished pitcher in the 2013 Draft, Gonzales has lived up to the reputation in pro ball. Signed for $1.85 million as the 19th overall pick, he reached Double-A in mid-May and has thrived there.

Gonzales has gone 2-2 with a 2.16 ERA in six starts at Springfield, with a sparkling 42/8 K/BB ratio in 33 1/3 innings. Including six season-opening starts at high Class A Palm Beach, he owns a 4-4 record with a 1.77 ERA in 2014 and has struck out 74 versus just 16 walks in 71 innings.

Gonzales succeeds with savvy rather than overpowering stuff. His 88-91 mph fastball has fringy velocity, but it plays up because he commands it so well and keeps hitters off balance with a quality changeup. He also throws a curveball and a slider, and he could develop into a No. 3 starter.

Honorable Mention

Amir Garrett, LHP, Dayton Dragons (Reds' No. 19 prospect), 1-0, 0.00, 1 GS, 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 SO

Jon Gray, RHP, Tulsa Drillers (Rockies' No. 1 prospect), 0-0, 0.00, 2 GS, 10 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 5 BB, 12 SO

Jesse Hahn, RHP, San Antonio Missions (Padres' No. 13 prospect), 6/9- (San Antonio Missions)- 0-0, 5.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO

6/14- (San Diego Padres)- 1-0, 0.00, 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 7 SO

Brian Johnson, LHP, Portland Sea Dogs (Red Sox's No. 12 prospect), 2-0, 0.75 ERA, 2 GS, 12 IP, 8 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 11 SO

Jen-Ho Tseng, RHP, Kane County Cougars (Cubs' No. 19 prospect), 0-0, 1.13 ERA, 2 GS, 8 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 11 SO

Tom Windle, LHP, Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (Dodgers' No. 7 prospect), 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 GS, 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO