Saturday's top prospect performers

September 2nd, 2018

Here's MLB Pipeline's roundup of the top prospect performances in the Minor Leagues on Saturday.
Taking the mound for the final time in 2018, Ian Anderson made sure to leave a lasting impression.
The Braves' No. 3 prospect (No. 39 overall) allowed two hits and two walks while striking out 10 over six innings on Saturday as he led Double-A Mississippi past Jacksonville, 3-0, in the first game of a doubleheader.
Anderson was dominant from the outset of the game as he retired four of the first five batters via the strikeout before allowing a two-out single in the second inning. He ultimately fanned seven of the first 11 batters en route to his highest single-game total at the Double-A level. He threw 97 pitches in the outing, 65 for strikes.
:: Complete prospect coverage ::
Anderson's scoreless start was his second in as many turns. In his previous start, the 20-year-old right-hander struck out nine over 6 2/3 frames to record his first Double-A victory.
The 2016 first-round pick scuffled during the first half of the season, going winless in his first nine starts at Class A Advanced Florida, but he hit his stride when the calendar flipped to June.
In his final 15 starts between Florida and Mississippi, Anderson allowed more than two earned runs on just one of those occasions. What's more, five of those starts were of the scoreless variety, and, overall, he posted a 1.86 ERA with 90 strikeouts over 77 1/3 innings in that span.
Promoted to Mississippi on Aug. 8, Anderson pitched to a 2.33 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 19 1/3 innings during his four starts in the Southern League.
He finishes the year with a 2.49 ERA in 24 starts between two levels. He struck out 142 and walked 49 in 119 1/3 innings, during which he limited hitters to a .199 average and just two home runs.

MILB Video - Title: Anderson fans 10th batter - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=2456516383

The rest of the best performances from top prospects Saturday
No. 5 overall prospect (Nationals' No. 1) was a table setter out of the leadoff spot for Triple-A Syracuse as he went 4-for-5 with a triple in a 6-1 win against Buffalo. The triple, somewhat surprisingly, was Robles' first this season after he totaled eight in two straight years. Robles' four-hit performance, meanwhile, was his third in 50 games this season. The 21-year-old outfielder is hitting .270/.366/.362 overall and should return to the Major Leagues following the completion of Syracuse's season.

MILB Video - Title: Robles knocks triple - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=2457109783

• No. 40 overall prospect Wander Franco (Rays' No. 1) and Matthew Liberatore (Rays' No. 5, No. 64 overall) each did their part to help Rookie-level Princeton force a decisive third game against Bluefield in the Appalachian League semifinals. The 17-year-old phenom Franco went 4-for-5 with four infield singles, an RBI and one run scored to lead the offense, while Liberatore, Tampa Bay's first-round pick from June, struck out five and scattered five hits over 4 1/3 scoreless innings in his second start with Princeton.
A's No. 12 prospect Richie Martin collected four hits for a second time in three games on a night that saw Double-A Midland record 23 hits in a 14-5 win over Frisco. One of Martin's hits was a triple, his eighth, and he also scored three runs to finish 4-for-5 with an RBI. It's certainly been a resurgent season for the 23-year-old shortstop, who's hit .298/.366/.436 with 42 extra-base hits and 24 steals over 117 games in the Texas League.
Brewers No. 13 prospectTrey Supak was sharp once again as he recorded his third straight start in which he did not give up an earned run. This one, like the previous two, was also a six-inning outing, as Supak allowed three hits and three walks while striking out a pair. After some initial struggles (0-6, 5.22 ERA in first eight starts) upon reaching the Double-A level, Supak settled in and wrapped up his regular season by going 6-0 with a 0.96 ERA over his final 47 innings and eight starts.
Indians No. 22 prospect Will Benson hit pair of key home runs to help Class A Lake County battle back from a seven-run deficit and walk off Lansing, 10-9. Benson's first home run of the contest, a three-run shot with two outs in the sixth inning, put Lake County on the board, and he later connect on a two-run shot to spark a five-run, walk-off rally in the ninth. The multi-homer performance was the 20-year-old's third this season and gives him four bombs in his past three games. Overall, Benson has gone deep 22 times in 121 games in his first full season.
• Nearly making history in his final start of the year, Marlins No. 22 prospectRobert Dugger carried a no-hit bid into the fifth inning and ultimately fired a one-hit, seven-inning shutout, leading Double-A Jacksonville past Mississippi, 1-0, in game two of a doubleheader. He issued one walk, hit two batters and struck out nine. Dugger's complete game was his third of the season and second in as many starts after the 23-year-old righty worked eight innings in a losing effort his last time out. Overall, Dugger compiled a 3.40 ERA with 141 strikeouts and 43 walks over a career-high 150 2/3 innings (25 starts) between Jacksonville and Class A Advanced Jupiter.
Mets No. 6 prospect David Peterson did not allow an earned run for a fourth straight start as Class A Advanced St. Lucie blanked Jupiter, 4-0. He allowed just two hits and struck out nine over five innings while throwing 44 of 68 pitches for strikes. The 22-year-old lefty actually has allowed exactly two hits in each of his last four turns, during which he's racked up 26 strikeouts in 23 innings. Altogether, Peterson posted a 3.16 ERA with a 1.17 WHIP and 115-to-30 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 128 innings (22 starts) across two levels.
Nationals No. 27 prospect Jackson Tetreault recorded his first career complete game as he went the distance for Class A Advanced Potomac in game one of a doubleheader. He allowed an unearned run on four hits and one walk over seven innings and struck out eight in what was Tetreault's finest performance in four starts since being promoted to Potomac. Catcher Tres Barrera (No. 17) supported his pitcher's effort by going 3-for-4 with a solo homer, his sixth of the season.
• Only the rain could stop Orioles No. 18 prospect Zac Lowther in his final start of the season. The 22-year-old left-hander racked up nine strikeouts over five innings of one-hit ball for Class A Advanced Frederick before the skies opened up after the top of the fifth in game one of a doubleheader against Myrtle Beach. He didn't allow a hit for the first 4 2/3 frames and fanned six of the final nine batters. Lowther finishes the season with a 2.18 ERA, 0.98 WHIP in 23 games (22 starts) between two levels. He posted 151 strikeouts against just 35 walks in 123 2/3 innings and held opposing hitters to a paltry .195 clip.
Reds No. 16 prospect pushed his home run total to 20 with his second multi-homer game of the season -- and 11th in eight Minor League seasons -- for Double-A Pensacola. The 24-year-old outfielder connected on a two-run homer in the first inning and added a second in the eighth to finish 2-for-4 with four RBIs, three runs scored and a walk. Aquino struck out in his lone big league at-bat last month but he should return there at some point in September as a member of the Reds' 40-man roster.