Monday's top prospect performers

July 9th, 2019

Here's a look at Monday's top Minor League performers from each team's Top 30 Prospects list:

AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST

Blue Jays: Eric Pardinho, RHP (No. 4) -- 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 5 K (Class A Lansing)
Pardinho retired the first eight batters he faced, three via the strikeout, en route to completing five innings of one-run ball in his second full-season start. He threw 76 pitches (42 strikes) in the outing, striking out five and issuing one walk. The 18-year-old right-hander was delayed to begin the season as he recovered from a balky right elbow, but he's shown no lingering effects from the injury since his return to action on June 26. After a tune up in the Appalachian League, Pardinho has allowed three runs over nine innings while striking out nine in two starts for the Lugnuts. Blue Jays prospects stats »

Orioles: Austin Hays, OF (No. 5) -- 1-for-4, HR (Class A Short Season Aberdeen)
Hays has homered in two of four games while on a rehab assignment in the New York-Penn League. After getting a late start to his season due to a thumb injury, Hays, 25, had already hit his way up to Triple-A Norfolk this year before a hamstring issue landed him on the injured list on June 22. Staying healthy has been a problem for the former third-round pick (2016), who posted a .958 OPS with 32 homers en route to the Major Leagues in his first full season, only to log just 75 games in 2018 (none in the big leagues) while battling a myriad of injuries. Orioles prospects stats »

Rays: Jesus Sanchez, OF (No. 3, MLB No. 33) -- 2-for-4, 3B, RBI (Double-A Montgomery)
Sanchez has tallied multiple hits two of his past three games for the Biscuits after being mired in an 0-for-18 funk during his five games prior. While he's not tearing the cover off the ball in the Southern League this season, the 21-year-old outfielder has still produced a solid line of .275/.332/.404 with eight homers and 49 RBIs in 78 games. Rays prospects stats »

Red Sox: Matthew Lugo, SS -- 2-for-5, HR, 2 RBI, SB (GCL Red Sox)
Lugo picked up his first career home run on Monday when he connected on a two-run shot in the fifth inning of the GCL Red Sox's rout of the Rays. He also tallied a single in the contest to record his second multihit performance in seven games as a pro. The No. 34-ranked prospect in the 2019 Draft class signed for $1.1 million (above his slot's value of $929,800) after the Red Sox took him in the second round (No. 69 overall pick) out of the Puerto Rico prep ranks. At 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, Lugo is a physically projectable prospect who, at 18, already stands out for his pure hitting ability and plate discipline. Whether he can unlock his power and stick at shortstop long term are the burning questions, but the bat could be good enough to make the latter a non-issue. Red Sox prospects stats »

Yankees: Raimfer Salinas, OF (No. 30) -- 3-for-5, 2 R, 2B (GCL Yankees West)
Salinas signed with the Yankees in December 2017 for $1.85 million -- the largest bonus given out by New York during the 2017-18 international period -- but appeared in only 11 games during his pro debut last summer because of knee and finger injuries. Now playing in the Gulf Coast League at age 18, the Venezuela native has already recorded multiple hits in four of his eight games, including a season-high three-hit showing Monday. Salinas' speed, defense and arm strength all grade out as at least above average, and the hope is that he'll eventually hit for some power, too, as evaluators peg him as a future candidate for a 20-homer, 20-steal campaign. Yankees prospects stats »

AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL

Indians: Tyler Freeman, SS (No. 3, MLB No. 86) -- 2-for-4, R, BB (Class A Adv Lynchburg)
Adjusting to Carolina League pitching hasn't been an issue for Freeman, who's batting .361/.435/.443 over his first 15 games for the Hillcats after receiving a promotion on June 20. The 20-year-old shortstop has been especially hot of late, hitting .450 with 18 hits and seven multihit games in his past 10 contests. After topping the New York-Penn League in hitting (.352), hits (95), extra-base hits (35) and total bases (138) in 2018, Freeman has raked at a .306/.393/.428 clip between two levels in his first full season. Indians prospects stats »

Royals: Brewer Hicklen, OF (No. 15) -- 2-for-5, 2 R, 2B, RBI, 2 SB (Class A Adv Wilmington)
Hicklen's pair of stolen bases for the Blue Rocks on Monday helped him reach the 30-steal mark for a second straight season, and there's a chance he'll surpass his current career-high of 35 before the end of July. To go along with his success on the basepaths, the 23-year-old outfielder is hitting .280/.406/.409 in the Carolina League, with 19 extra-base hits (four homers) in 80 games. He isn't hitting for much power this season after an 18-homer 2018 campaign, but the approach and on-base skills have improved significantly, thus allowing Hicklen to better utilize his speed on the bases. Royals prospects stats »

Tigers: There were no notable performances by Tigers prospects on Monday.

Twins: Alex Kirilloff, OF (No. 2, MLB No. 13) -- 3-for-4, R, 3B (Double-A Pensacola)
And just like that, Kirilloff was back to raking. He's hit safely in eight of his past nine games for Pensacola and owns a .417 average with two home runs in that span. What's more, he's notched at least one hit in 15 of 19 since his return from a stint on the injured list for an undisclosed injury that sidelined him from June 3 to June 20. One of the best hitters in the Minors, the 21-year-old appears poised for a monster finish now that he seems to be fully recovered from the wrist injury that hampered him for some of Spring Training and the entire first month of the season. Twins prospects stats »

White Sox: There were no notable performances by White Sox prospects on Monday.

AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST

A’s: Hogan Harris, LHP (No. 27) -- 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K (Class A Short Season Vermont)
Harris entered Monday's contest in the fourth inning and proceeded to fire four perfect frames with three strikeouts on 60 pitches (37 strikes). It was the 22-year-old southpaw's second straight scoreless outing, following his eight-strikeout, one-hit performance over 3 2/3 frames last week. An elbow sprain cost Harris a chance to make his pro debut last summer, after the A's made him their third-round pick in the Draft, but the Louisiana-Lafayette product has shown no lingering effects from the injury thus far in 2019, posting a 1.83 ERA with 25/3 K/BB and a .108 BAA in 19 2/3 innings. A's prospects stats »

Angels: Jeremiah Jackson, SS (No. 7) -- 2-for-4, 2 HR, 4 RBI (Rookie Orem)
Two-homer games are becoming Jackson's thing this season, as he's already accomplished the feat three times in his first 22 games for Orem. The 19-year-old shortstop sandwiched a sacrifice fly between a solo homer (first inning) and a two-run shot (fifth) on Monday to match his season high in RBIs. He leads the Pioneer League with eight home runs, and has already surpassed his total from his pro debut, when he went deep seven times in 43 games after the Angels took him in the second round of the 2018 Draft. Angels prospects stats »

Astros: Alex McKenna, OF (No. 26) -- 2-for-4, HR (Class A Quad Cities)
The Astros' fourth-round pick from last year's Draft hit his first home run of the season in the form of a fifth-inning solo shot in Quad Cities' loss against Cedar Rapids. It was one of two hits in the contest for the 21-year-old outfielder, who's batting .299/.400/.364 in 23 games. He's appeared in so few games because he's already made three separate trips to the injured list after batting .311/.394/.512 with seven homers in 44 games across two levels during a healthy 2018 pro debut. Astros prospects stats »

Mariners: Kyle Lewis, OF (No. 7) -- 2-for-4, 2 R, 2B, HR (Double-A Arkansas)
Lewis ended a 25-game home run drought when he connected on a solo shot in the fifth inning of the Travelers' 4-2 win over Northwest Arkansas. He also doubled in the contest en route to his third multihit performance in the last four games. Lewis hasn't quite had the type of breakout campaign that many were expecting after he tore it up with the Mariners in Spring Training, but the fact that the 23-year-old outfielder has stayed healthy -- after an injury-plagued start to his career -- is a major win for the organization that made him a first-round pick back in 2016. Through 77 games in the Texas League, Lewis is slashing .266/.364/.388 with 23 extra-base hits (5 HR) and 44 RBIs. Mariners prospects stats »

Rangers: Julio Pablo Martinez, OF (No. 4) -- 1-for-3, HR (Class A Adv Down East)
Martinez's home run was his second in his last five games and pushed his season total to 10, surpassing his total from his 2018 pro debut. While the 23-year-old outfielder's uptick in power this season has been a positive development, it's also come at the expense of his ability to hit for average (.231) and get on base at a reasonable clip (.300). There's still plenty of potential left for Martinez to unlock at the plate, though the Rangers certainly were hoping he'd be a more advanced player when they signed him for $2.8 million in March 2018. Rangers prospects stats »

NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST

Braves: There were no notable performances by Braves prospects on Monday.

Marlins: Thomas Jones, OF (No. 28) -- 1-for-3, 3B, RBI (Class A Clinton)
Jones is struggling at the plate this season, hitting .218 through 66 games, but it looks like he's starting to figure things out as he's hitting .318 through seven games this month. The 21-year-old was one of the best athletes in the 2016 Draft class and still has a ton of athleticism -- not to mention 70-grade speed -- but he struggles to turn those tools into production and is a career .211 hitting. Marlins prospects stats »

Mets: There were no notable performances by Mets prospects on Monday.

Phillies: Spencer Howard, RHP (No. 5) -- 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K (Class A Adv Clearwater)
It turns out a trip to the injured list is the only thing capable of slowing down Howard this season. The 22-year-old missed all of May and most of June, but when he's been healthy, he's been dominant. Howard has pitched to a 1.67 ERA, struck out 42 over 27 innings and held opponents scoreless in four of his six starts. The 2017 second-round pick still needs to refine his command, but he's certainly trending in the right direction. Phillies prospects stats »

Nationals: There were no notable performances by Nationals prospects on Monday.

NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL

Brewers: Trey Supak, RHP (No. 11) -- 7 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 7 K (Double-A Biloxi)
Supak, 23, held his opponent to one run for the second time in as many starts and lowered his ERA to 2.29 in the process. The right-hander, whom the Brewers acquired in a 2015 trade with the Pirates, was promoted to Double-A midway through the 2018 season and pitched to a 2.91 ERA over 16 starts. Supak has carried that momentum into 2019 and fared well in his return to the Southern League, where he leads all hurlers in wins (9), innings pitched (110) and WHIP (0.89) and ranks fifth in ERA (2.29). While he doesn't have overpowering stuff, he's often around the zone and keeps the ball low. Brewers prospects stats »

Cubs: Chase Strumpf, 2B -- 2-for-4, 3 R, HR, 2 RBI (Class A Short Season Eugene)
Strumpf, the Cubs' second-round pick from the 2019 Draft, hit his first professional homer in the third inning of Eugene's loss to Salem-Keizer. The 21-year-old UCLA product put together a four-hit performance on Sunday and is hitting .333 through five games with the Emeralds after beginning his career with seven games in the Rookie-level Arizona League. Cubs prospects stats »

Cardinals: Ivan Herrera, C (No. 17) -- 3-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI (Class A Peoria)
Herrera put together his fifth three-hit game of the year, a bright spot in what has been a rough stretch for the 19-year-old. Entering play Monday, Herrera was 2-for-19 over the past five games and saw his average dip to .262. Herrera is hitting .271 through 55 games this season after hitting .336 in 30 games last year. Cardinals prospects stats »

Pirates: There were no notable performances by Pirates prospects on Monday.

Reds: Jose Garcia, SS/2B (No. 8) -- 2-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI (Class A Advanced Daytona)
Garcia matched his season high with three RBIs in Daytona's 6-1 win over Fort Myers. The 21-year-old, whom the Reds signed out of Cuba in 2017, is hitting .250 through 61 games in his first experience at the Class A Advanced level. Garcia hit .245 in his professional debut last year, but fared better in the second half. Overall, Garcia has plus speed and athleticism and the organization hopes he can stick at shortstop, but he may outgrow the position. Reds prospects stats »

NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST

D-backs: Pavin Smith, 1B (No. 16) -- 2-for-4, 2B, HR, RBI (Double-A Jackson)
Smith hit his seventh homer of the season and his second of the month in Jackson's win over Chattanooga. The 23-year-old, a 2017 first-round Draft pick, is hitting .260 through 79 games in his first experience at the Double-A level. Smith, who was regarded as one of the best hitters in his Draft class, hasn't hit for a ton of power early in his career, but makes consistent contact and has an ability to use the entire field. D-backs prospects stats »

Dodgers: Connor Wong, C/2B (No. 13) -- 2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI (Class A Adv Rancho Cucamonga)
Wong put Rancho on the board with a two-run homer in the fifth inning and then added an RBI single in his next trip to the plate to help power the Quakes past Lake Elsinore, 5-4, in 10 innings. The homer was Wong's second in three games and 15th this season, and the former third-round pick (2017) should have no problem besting the career-high total (19) he recorded last year in his first tour of the California League. Dodgers prospects stats »

Giants: Alexander Canario, OF (No. 9) -- 2-for-4, 2B, HR, 4 RBI, BB (Class A Short Season Salem-Keizer)
After going 3-for-26 in his first six games following a promotion to Salem-Keizer, Canario busted out on Monday with a two-run double and a two-run home run in the Volcanoes' win over Eugene. Even with his recent mini-slump, the 19-year-old outfielder -- whom the Giants signed for $60,000 out of the Dominican Republic in July 2016 -- still has managed to hit eight home runs in 17 games this season, thanks largely to his .395/.435/1.000, seven-homer performance over 10 games in the Arizona League to open the season. Giants prospects stats »

Padres: Edward Olivares, OF (No. 17) -- 2-for-4, R (Double-A Amarillo)
With a .341 average, 25 runs scored and 21 RBIs since the start of June, Olivares, 23, has been one of the hottest hitters in the Texas League for well over a month now. He's also enjoying the best all-around season of his career, hitting .290/.358/.468 with 31 extra-base hits (12 homers) and 22 steals over 80 games in his first Double-A campaign. A promotion to Triple-A El Paso during the second half is inevitable, and as a member of the Padres' 40-man roster, there's a very real chance that Olivares, with his power-speed pairing and ability to play all three outfield position, gets called up in September. Not bad for a player the Padres acquired from Toronto in the January 2018 Yangervis Solarte trade. Padres prospects stats »

Rockies: There were no notable performances by Rockies prospects on Monday.