Saturday's top prospect performers

September 26th, 2021

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

Tigers: Spencer Torkelson, 3B/1B (MLB No. 4), Triple-A Toledo
Torkelson launched his 28th homer of the year, his second consecutive game with a long ball, along with his 26th and 27th doubles in a three-hit, four-RBI effort for Toledo. It was the 22-year-old’s first game of the season with three extra-base hits and his ninth game with three or more hits. Torkelson had a relatively slow start to his Triple-A career, but turned it on in September with a .971 OPS and seven homers in 21 games. In total, Torkelson has slashed .266/.380/.546 with 87 RBIs and 72 walks in 503 plate appearances over High-A, Double-A and Triple-A. Tigers prospect stats »

Cardinals: Matthew Liberatore, LHP (MLB No. 48), Triple-A Memphis
A rocky first three months are in the rearview for Liberatore, who has settled into a steady groove since August. He has a 2.83 ERA over his past nine starts, which included five strong innings on Saturday. The 16th-overall pick from 2018 struck out seven while allowing one unearned run. Shockingly, that’s only his second outing of the season without allowing an earned run (the other came on July 21). Cardinals prospect stats »

Braves: Drew Waters, OF (MLB No. 80), Triple-A Gwinnett
Statistically, 2021 has been the worst of Waters’ four-year pro career, but he has posted some of his strongest performances in the season's closing days. The 22-year-old collected his second three-hit game of the week on Saturday, which included a solo shot and a pair of runs scored. Entering the night, he had career lows in all three slash categories (.239/.330/.374), but on the plus side his 10 home runs are a career best. Braves prospect stats »

Rockies: Ryan Rolison, RHP (MLB No. 97), Triple-A Albuquerque
Rolison dominated through five scoreless innings, allowed just a hit and three walks while striking out eight. This season has been one filled with travel for Rolison, who went from Double-A, to Triple-A, to the injured list. He returned to make rehab starts in Rookie ball and High-A before heading back to Albuquerque, meaning he has thrown at four Minor League levels this season. The 24-year-old was touched up for 18 runs in his first four starts this month (8.38 ERA), and Saturday’s scoreless start was his first since June. Rockies prospect stats »

Astros: Hunter Brown, RHP (No. 3), Triple-A Sugar Land
The high strikeout rate Brown flashed at Double-A this season (76 strikeouts in 49 1/3 innings) hadn’t transferred to the Triple-A level until Saturday. Brown matched his career high by striking out 10 batters in 5 1/3 innings, while also allowing just one run. He hit the double-digit punchout total in consecutive June starts with Double-A Corpus Christi, and now the 2019 fifth-rounder has done it at the highest level of the Minors. He also has a 2.66 ERA in five starts this month. Astros prospect stats »

Rays: Ford Proctor, C/INF (No. 30), Double-A Montgomery
Proctor’s second multi-hit playoff game included a double, two walks, three runs scored and four RBIs. He finished out the regular season in a positive way, posting a .908 OPS in 15 September games. Proctor has turned it up in the postseason, going 5-for-11 at the plate with seven RBIs and four walks (.538 on-base percentage). The Rays’ third-round pick from 2018 posted a .799 OPS in Double-A this year, his highest mark in three pro seasons. Rays prospect stats »

White Sox: Romy Gonzalez, SS (No. 20), Triple-A Charlotte
This time last week, Gonzalez was with the White Sox. Now, he’s doing what he can to show that he deserves another look in the Majors. The 25-year-old went 3-for-5 with a double and two runs scored (including the game-winning run) on Saturday for Charlotte, marking his second multi-hit game in as many days. He owns a .400/.442/.750 slash line in 11 games at Triple-A after batting 8-for-32 (.250) with 11 strikeouts for the White Sox. White Sox prospect stats »

Yankees: Estevan Florial, OF (No. 21), Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
Entering the day on a 2-for-16 slide, Florial mashed a pair of solo home runs and a single to snap his mini-funk. That marked his third multi-homer game this season (second in Triple-A). The 23-year-old, who has been in the Yankees’ system since 2015, reached the Majors before reaching Triple-A. He debuted for one game with the Yankees last season and appeared in 11 games this year, while his Scranton/Wilkes-Barre debut didn’t come until mid-May of this season. Yankees prospect stats »