Top prospects power USA past Netherlands

November 2nd, 2019
USA Baseball

Some of the MLB's top prospects showed off their power in Team USA's 9-0 victory over Team Netherlands in the opening game of the Premier 12 tournament on Saturday afternoon.

Drew Waters, the Braves' No. 2 prospect and No. 23 overall, got things started right away as he sent the first pitch he saw in the bottom of the first inning over the right-field wall to give Team USA a quick 1-0 first-inning lead. He finished 1-for-4 with the home run representing his only hit of the afternoon.

After a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League, Angels' No. 1 prospect Jo Adell stayed hot in Team USA's victory. The No. 5 prospect on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects list crushed a two-run shot in the third inning to extend Team USA's lead to 3-0. Like Waters, it was his only hit of the afternoon.

Red Sox No. 2 prospect Bobby Dalbec provided the highlight moment on the big offensive day for Team USA with a grand slam in the fifth inning, stretching the lead to 7-0. The slugger punished Team Netherlands for intentionally walking the bases loaded to face him. Dalbec finished the day 2-for-4 with the homer and 4 RBIs.

Twins No. 8 prospect Brent Rooker added Team USA's fourth homer of the day to extend the lead to 9-0, hitting for only the second time after entering the game as a pinch-hitter, playing right field. He finished 2-for-2 and was also caught stealing.

Team USA held the Netherlands to only two hits on the day, mostly thanks to the work of starter Cody Ponce. The Pirates' farmhand tossed five scoreless innings, allowing only two hits, issuing one walk and striking out five batters. Ponce was selected in the second round of the 2015 MLB Draft by the Brewers and joined the Pirates' organization at this year's Trade Deadline in a deal for Jordan Lyles.

Here are the other notable prospect performers from Team USA's 9-0 win:

• Clayton Andrews, LHP, Brewers No. 30: 1 IP, 1 K
• Alec Bohm, INF, Phillies No. 1 (MLB No. 34): 0-for-4
• C.J. Chatham, INF, Red Sox No. 9: 1-for-4, R
• Jake Cronenworth, INF, Rays No. 17: 1-for-3, R, 2B
• Xavier Edwards, INF, Padres No. 5 (MLB No. 72): 1-for-1, R
• Noah Song, RHP, Red Sox No. 15: 1 IP, 0 ER
• Daulton Varsho, C/OF, D-backs No. 5 (MLB No. 100): 0-for-2, R, BB
• Andrew Vaughn, INF, White Sox No. 3 (MLB No. 21): 1-for-1, 2B

Team USA will now face off against Team Mexico on Sunday at 7 p.m. CT. The top two teams from the pool will advance to the Super Round in Tokyo, which takes place Nov. 11-16.