Saturday's top prospect performers

June 3rd, 2018

Here's MLB Pipeline's roundup of the top prospect performances in the Minor Leagues on Saturday.
A trio of Rockies prospects, led by Brendan Rodgers, turned in big performances at the plate as right-hander Peter Lambert went the distance for the first time in his career in Double-A Hartford's 11-1 win against Altoona.
Rodgers, Colorado's top-ranked prospect (No. 11 overall), collected a team-high three hits including a double to finish 3-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI. He also reached once via a walk and swiped two bases, giving him eight steals in 10 attempts this season. The 21-year-old shortstop is putting up strong numbers in the Eastern League, slashing .291/.338/.528 with 11 homers, 12 doubles and 40 RBIs through 53 games.

MILB Video - Title: Rodgers' RBI single - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=2112907283

Sam Hilliard (No. 11) connected on a two-run homer in his first at-bat of his first game back after a stint on the disabled list. He'd later add another hit to finish 2-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base, his 14th. Center fielder Forrest Wall (No. 14) also homered, his first at the Double-A level. He went 2-for-5 with a triple and two runs scored out of the leadoff spot.
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As for Lambert, the Rockies' No. 3 prospect (No. 96 overall) allowed four hits, walked one and struck out four in his first complete game in 71 professional starts. He recorded 14 ground-ball outs while throwing 72 of his season-high 102 pitches for strikes. Lambert retired 12 of the final 13 batters, ultimately facing three over the minimum in the outing. He also helped his cause at the plate by going 1-for-4 with an RBI double.
Through 11 starts this season, the 21-year-old right-hander has pitched to a 2.71 ERA with a 47-to-10 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 63 innings.
The rest of the best performances from top prospects Saturday
No. 55 overall prospect Heliot Ramos (Giants' No. 1) snapped out of an 0-for-15 skid at the plate by collecting a season-high four hits in Class A Augusta's loss to Lexington. He was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate, hitting a double and also reaching once via a walk in the contest. The 18-year-old outfielder has scuffled so far this season, slashing .237/.315/.379 with 15 extra-base hits through 46 games, although his upside remains immense.

MILB Video - Title: Ramos' fourth hit - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=2113162783

Angels' No. 7 prospect Griffin Canning posted his third straight scoreless start for Double-A Mobile, working 4 2/3 frames of one-hit ball with one walk and four strikeouts against Tennessee. The lone hit he allowed was a two-out double in the fourth inning that snapped a streak of 12 2/3 straight hitless frames dating back to Canning's May 9 start. The 2017 second-rounder has not given up an earned run in five of his past six turns and sports a 1.50 ERA with 39 strikeouts and a .133 BAA through 36 innings (eight starts) since joining the BayBears.
Blue Jays' No. 9 prospect T.J. Zeuch fired a three-hit, seven-inning shutout for Double-A New Hampshire in Game 2 of a doubleheader against Binghamton. The 6-foot-7 right-hander recorded as many walks as he did strikeouts (four) and induced eight ground-ball outs in the outing, throwing 51 of his 80 pitches for strikes. It was the first career shutout for Zeuch, who, somewhat unbelievably, has pitched exactly to a 3.47 ERA in 36 1/3 innings this season with both New Hampshire and Class A Advanced Dunedin.
Mariners' No. 5 prospect Braden Bishop hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning and added a solo shot in the eighth to power Double-A Arkansas past Frisco, 6-3. It was his first career multi-homer game. The 24-year-old outfielder has hit a career-best six homers in 50 games this season, matching his combined total from the previous two seasons and 223 games.
Mets' No. 2 prospect David Peterson once again was a tough-luck loser for Class A Columbia despite giving up two earned runs and striking out eight while completing seven innings for the fourth time in his past five starts. The 2017 first-rounder is 0-4 in those outings, albeit with a 1.56 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 34 2/3 innings.
Rays' No. 19 prospect Ronaldo Hernandez went 3-for-3 with two home runs, a double and three RBIs as he powered Class A Bowling Green in a win over West Michigan. It marked the second straight three-hit game for the 20-year-old catcher, who went 3-for-5 with a home run and five RBIs on Friday. He's having a strong full-season debut, hitting .310/.360/.506 with six homers, 13 doubles and 40 RBIs in 43 games.
Rockies' No. 25 prospect Chad Spanberger went deep twice in his second two-homer game of the season, but it wasn't enough to keep Class A Asheville from falling to Greenville, 13-5. The 2017 sixth-rounder has connected on 12 homers in 48 games this season while hitting .326 with a .954 OPS.
Royals' No. 3 prospect Seuly Matias hit a pair of two-run homers for Class A Lexington and has now homered five times in his past five games. The multi-homer performance, already Matias' third this season, thrust the 19-year-old outfielder into first place atop the Minor League leaderboard with 17 home runs. What's more, he's produced that total in just 40 games after hitting 15 home runs in his first 110 career games.

MILB Video - Title: Matias hits 17th homer - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=2113128983

Twins' No. 11 prospect Akil Baddoo smacked three extra-base hits on a four-hit night out of the leadoff spot in Class A Cedar Rapids' 7-5 win over Burlington. He ultimately finished a home run shy of the cycle, going 4-for-5 with two triples and a double. The 19-year-old center fielder is on fire over his past four games, hitting .471 (8-for-17) with five extra-base hits and seven runs scored.