Here's a look at Tuesday's top performers in the Fall and Winter Leagues from each team's Top 30 Prospects list.
Blue Jays: Gabriel Moreno, C (MLB 32), Mesa Solar Sox
Another game, another multihit effort for the Toronto backstop. Moreno drove in two runs on a pair of doubles, putting him in a three-way tie for the AFL lead with six. All four of Moreno’s multihit performances have come in the past seven games, pushing his slash line to .366/.460/.585 with eight RBIs, eight walks and seven extra-base hits in 50 plate appearances.
Pirates: Nick Gonzales, 2B (MLB 62), Peoria Javelinas
Roansy Contreras, RHP (No. 6), Peoria Javelinas
Canaan Smith-Njigba, OF (No. 27), Peoria Javelinas
A triumvirate of baby Bucs put on an impressive show for the Javelinas. Gonzales filled up the box score, collecting two hits, two stolen bases and scoring twice while reaching three times and driving in a run. The 22-year-old got off to an uneven start this fall, but he’s been one of the league’s best hitters since. Overall, Gonzales is batting .345/.500/.667 with 10 RBIs and 10 walks.
If not for the warm Arizona air, Contreras might not have broken a sweat on the mound. The 21-year-old struck out five and needed just 37 pitches to navigate his way through three perfect innings. Contreras, who made his Major League debut for the Pirates in late September, retired the first two batters on groundouts before striking out five of the last Saguaros to come to bat. Through three Fall League starts spanning six frames, the Dominican Republic native has limited opponents to a .182 average while fanning seven and walking three. More »
While Gonzales set the table from the top of the Javelinas’ order, Smith-Njigba helped out from the bottom. The Dallas, Texas native snapped an 0-for-12 stretch with three doubles in five at-bats. Smith-Njigba also walked and swiped his fourth base of the fall. The 22-year-old has a .417 OBP and a .811 OPS in 48 plate appearances.
Cubs: Caleb Kilian, RHP (No. 14), Mesa Solar Sox
Nelson Velazquez, OF, (No. 29), Mesa Solar Sox
The newly anointed AFL Pitcher and Hitter of the Week picked up right where they left off. Kilian allowed a pair of singles and struck out four over four scoreless frames. The 24-year-old did not walk anyone for the second consecutive start and tossed 38 of his 50 pitches for strikes. Kilian extended his scoreless streak to seven innings, which lowered his ERA from 14.40 to 8.00. The right-hander began his AFL campaign by allowing seven runs without recording an out. More »
Velazquez retook the circuit lead in home runs with his sixth. The 22-year-old has left the yard five times in his last seven games, driving in nine runs in that span. Since opening the season 3-for-15, Velazquez has gone 21-for-47 (.447) while hitting safely in nine of 10 games. The slugger sits atop the leaderboard in five offensive categories. Velazquez showed off his arm too, throwing out runners in consecutive innings.
Cleveland: Brayan Rocchio, SS (No. 7), Tiburones De La Guaira
Richie Palacios, OF (No. 14), Scottsdale Scorpions
Rocchio’s time in the Venezuelan Winter League has been fruitful in the early going. The 20-year-old clubbed his second home run and fell a triple shy of the cycle while scoring three times. Rocchio is batting .409/.435/.864 with five extra-base hits and six RBIs over 22 at-bats in six games. The Venezuela native batted .277 with a .806 OPS, 15 homers and 63 RBIs for High-A Lake County and Double-A Akron.
Palacios has been one of the most consistent hitters in the AFL, and that continued with a three-hit effort for Scottsdale. The 24-year-old belted his third long ball, scored three runs and drove in a pair. Palacios has collected a hit in 12 of 13 games and is batting .321/.429/.623 with nine extra-base hits and 10 RBIs.
Dodgers: Landon Knack, RHP (No. 8), Glendale River Dogs
Knack rebounded from consecutive subpar outings to twirl three scoreless frames. Although his control was less than ideal -- he walked three and threw 25 of 45 pitches for strikes -- the 24-year-old yielded just one hit. Knack’s second scoreless outing of the fall lowered his ERA to 4.26 while still averaging more than a strikeout per inning (14 in 12 2/3).