Wednesday's top prospect performers

September 30th, 2021

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

Pirates: Oneil Cruz, SS (MLB No. 52), Triple-A Indianapolis
Cruz has been just about unstoppable in his first five games for Indianapolis and he continued to swing a hot bat as he doubled and swatted a game-tying, opposite-field two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth in the Indians’ 5-4 extra-inning win. That was easily the highlight of his four-hit night and the Pirates’ third-ranked prospect is now 9-for-12 with three homers and four RBIs in his past three games. Though he’s played just 67 games this year due to injuries, he’s set new career-highs in homers (16) and stolen bases (19) while batting .309 across two levels. Pirates prospect stats »

Rangers: Cole Winn, RHP (MLB No. 60), Triple-A Round Rock
In his final start of the season, Winn fired five one-hit innings and worked out of multiple jams to cap off a fantastic sophomore season for the 15th overall pick of 2018. It was just the second start in Triple-A for the Rangers’ third-ranked prospect and it was an improvement over his first one in which he got tagged for three earned runs in three innings. Winn walked four batters but was able to keep runs off the board as he fired 43 of his 84 pitches for strikes. His six strikeouts bring his season total to 107 across 86 innings (20 starts). Rangers prospect stats »

Royals: MJ Melendez, C (MLB No. 68), Triple-A Omaha
He may not have homered, but Melendez still had a standout day with his 20th double and second triple of the season. Ironically, the Minors’ long ball leader fell a dinger short of the cycle as he finished 3-for-5 with two RBIs. The Royals’ No. 4 prospect was named to our 2021 Prospect Team of the Year with a breakout season, slashing .281/.382/.617 with 39 homers, 72 walks and 91 RBIs in 117 games across two levels. Royals prospect stats »

Blue Jays: Kevin Smith, SS/3B (No. 9), Triple-A Buffalo
Smith clubbed a homer and a double while driving in two in Buffalo’s 7-3 win. The former 2017 Draft pick has reached the 20-homer mark for the second time in his career and is two stolen bases away from achieving a 20-20 season. It’s his third multihit effort in his past 10 contests, bringing his average up to .286 and his OPS to .930. Blue Jays prospect stats »

Cardinals: Juan Yepez, OF/1B (No. 27), Triple-A Memphis
Yepez raced around the bases for two doubles and crushed a homer in a 4-for-5 performance. It’s not only his second four-hit game of the season, but it’s also his ninth game with at least two-extra base hits and his second with three or more. The 23-year-old drove in two runs as he continues to add to his career-high total in RBIs -- he’s driven in 76 runs across two levels, surpassing his previous best of 62, set in 2017. He’s also tied his career-high mark in doubles with 29. Cardinals prospect stats »

Twins: Jose Miranda, INF (No. 8), Triple-A St. Paul
Miranda continued his breakout campaign by smacking two doubles en route to his third four-hit game of the season. After not hitting better than .283 in a season, the 23-year-old has hit over .340 for both Wichita and St. Paul over 123 games. He has set new career-highs in hits (180), runs (94), doubles (31), homers (29), RBIs (93) and walks (43) while boasting a batting average of .347 across two levels. Twins prospect stats »