Wednesday's top offseason prospect performers

November 4th, 2021

Here's a look at Wednesday’s top performers in the Fall and Winter Leagues  from each team's Top 30 Prospects list.

Blue Jays: Gabriel Moreno, C (MLB No. 32), Mesa Solar Sox
By hit or walk, Moreno continues to get on base at an impressive clip. After doubling twice in Tuesday’s contest, the 21-year-old backstop added another two-bagger, walked twice and drove in two runs, including the go-ahead tally in the ninth on a groundout. Moreno’s impressive AFL campaign includes a .372/.473/.605 slash line, eight extra-base hits and 10 RBIs. His seven doubles are tops on the circuit.

Brewers: Ethan Small, LHP (No. 5), Leones del Escogido
It may not have been as impressive as his first start, but Small remains unscored upon in Winter League action. After pitching scoreless ball for five innings last week, the 24-year-old delivered three more without surrendering a hit. Small worked in and out of trouble, though, walking four and striking just one while throwing 39 of his 68 pitches for strikes. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound southpaw posted a 1.98 ERA and fanned 92 in 77 1/3 innings across three Minor League levels in 2021.

White Sox: Yolbert Sanchez, 2B/3B (No. 15), Glendale River Dogs
Sanchez has not seen as much consistent action during his Fall League campaign, but the 24-year-old is making the most of it. The middle infielder singled in all three of his plate appearances, including a two-run knock during Glendale’s four-run fourth. Since opening the season 2-for-11 (.182), Sanchez has gone 6-for-8 with four RBIs in his last three games. More »

Cleveland: Jose Tena, SS (No. 12), Scottsdale Scorpions
Tena’s third multihit performance in four games improved his average to .421, which would lead the AFL if he had enough plate appearances to qualify. The 20-year-old doubled, singled, walked and drove in two runs in Scottsdale’s loss. Tena has collected a hit in nine of his 10 games and has walked eight times, leading to a .533 OBP.

Red Sox: Kutter Crawford, RHP (No. 23), Estrellas de Oriente
Two starts into his Dominican Winter League campaign and Crawford has yet to allow a run. After tossing four scoreless frames in his debut, the Florida native added five more to his ledger. Crawford struck out six and scattered five hits and a walk before he was removed after 75 pitches. The 25-year-old has fanned eight, walked two and surrendered six hits through two starts.

Rangers: Owen White, RHP (No. 29), Surprise Saguaros
White pitched into the fifth inning for the fourth consecutive start en route to notching his AFL-best fourth victory. White surrendered two hits and two walks through four scoreless innings before running into trouble in the fifth. He tallied his fifth and final strikeout to open the frame but walked consecutive batters and loaded the bases by plunking a player before he was removed. White ultimately was charged with a run on two hits and four walks in 4 1/3 innings. His 1.40 ERA leads the league. More »

Nationals: Jackson Cluff, SS (No. 19), Surprise Saguaros
Cluff set the table for the Saguaros, reaching base three times and swiping two bases out of the leadoff spot. The 2019 sixth-round Draft pick singled twice, walked and drove in his eighth run of the fall. Cluff has been one of the league’s hottest hitters over the past week, going 11-for-25 (.440) with five multihit efforts in his last six games. The 24-year-old is batting .390/.480/.537 and has scored 12 times while stealing five bases in as many attempts.