Sunday's top prospect performers

July 22nd, 2019

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

AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST

Blue Jays: Kevin Smith, SS/3B (No. 5) -- 3-for-4, 2 R, HR, 4 RBI, BB (Double-A New Hampshire)
Smith put the Fisher Cats on the board in the first inning with his sixth home run in his past nine games and ultimately drove in four runs as New Hampshire trounced Reading, 16-1. Smith's homer, a two-run shot off of Phillies No. 2 prospect Adonis Medina, gives him 14 dingers this season in his first Double-A campaign, though it's come with a .198 average and .261 OBP in 78 games. The former fourth-round pick (2017) is having his best month of the season, hitting .306 (1.233 OPS) over 10 games in July after failing to eclipse a .200 average and .614 OPS during the first three months. Blue Jays prospects stats »

Orioles: Ryan Mountcastle, 1B (No. 2, MLB No. 54) -- 3-for-3, R, 2B, RBI (Triple-A Norfolk)
Mountcastle's average is back above the .300 mark (.304) after a perfect day at the plate that also pushed his hitting streak to six games for the Tides. What's more, the 22-year-old first baseman and former first-round pick (2015) has driven in at least one run in each game during his aforementioned streak, giving him 59 RBIs in 90 games, while his 17 home runs leave him one shy of tying his career-high total from 2017. Orioles prospects stats »

Rays: Greg Jones, SS -- 2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI, BB (Class A Short Season Hudson Valley)
Jones' first pro homer was a timely one, as the 2019 first-round pick connected on a go-ahead, three-run shot in the ninth inning that powered Hudson Valley past Lowell, 4-2. The 21-year-old's multihit performance was his fourth straight and seventh during his nine-game hitting streak, and overall he's produced a .323/.398/.458 line with 10 extra-base hits and 10 steals in 24 games with the Renegades. Rays prospects stats »

Red Sox: Triston Casas, 1B (No. 1, MLB No. 94) -- 3-for-3, 2 R, 3 BB (Class A Greenville)
Casas reached base in each of his six trips to the plate Sunday, recording three singles and three walks in the Drive's 16-5 win against Columbia. The three hits represent his only knocks in his past three games, though he has logged six walks in that span while scoring four runs. The 2018 first-round pick has put together an impressive first full-season campaign in the South Atlantic League, hitting .259/.351/.505 with 17 homers and 68 RBIs in 87 games. Red Sox prospects stats »

Yankees: Nick Nelson, RHP (No. 11) -- 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K (Double-A Trenton)
Nelson's five scoreless frames against Hartford on Sunday marked the fourth time in 10 starts this season that he's kept the opposing team off the board. He scattered five hits (all singles) in the outing and also struck out five while throwing 59 of 87 pitches for strikes. The 23-year-old right-hander, whom the Yankees selected in the fourth round of the 2016 Draft, has been at his best in July, posting a 1.42 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 28/9 K/BB in 19 innings for the Thunder. Yankees prospects stats »

AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL

Indians: Bo Naylor, C (No. 4) -- 1-for-4, 2B, RBI (Class A Lake County)
The Indians' 2018 first-round pick hasn't been particularly consistent in July, as evidenced by his .182 average in 15 games. However, he's continued to show good pop, with three homers and two doubles in that span, and is striking out less often than he did earlier in the season. But all things considered, Naylor is having a solid first full season as a 19-year-old in the Midwest League, where he's produced a .711 OPS and 25 extra-base hits in 72 games. Indians prospects stats »

Royals: Nick Pratto, 1B (No. 5) -- 2-for-4, HR, SB (Class A Adv Wilmington)
Pratto delivered a game-tying solo shot for the Blue Rocks in the ninth inning, only for Carolina to walk it off in the bottom of the frame. The homer, Pratto's seventh this season, was his second in the last three games, and he's now collected exactly two hits in four of his past five contests to improve his season average from .171 to .187. Even with his recent hot streak, the 2017 first-round pick has had a disappointing campaign in the Carolina League, slashing a .187/.283/.303 in 92 games after a first full season in which he batted .280/.343/.443 with 14 homers and 33 doubles over 127 games with Class A Lexington. Royals prospects stats »

Tigers: Derek Hill, OF (No. 23) -- 2-for-5, 3 R, 2B, 3B, RBI, BB (Double-A Erie)
The former first-round pick (2014) is having his best month this season for the SeaWolves, with a .279/.371/.541 batting line and nine extra-base hits in 15 July games. He was a catalyst from atop the lineup Sunday, scoring three runs after reaching base via a double, a triple and a walk. Though he's batting just .236 overall on the season, Hill, 23, continues to flash an intriguing blend of power and speed (11 HR, 13 SB) and has long been viewed as a plus defender in center field. Tigers prospects stats »

Twins: Trevor Larnach, OF (No. 4, MLB No. 92) -- 1-for-2, HR, RBI, BB (Double-A Pensacola)
Larnach's solo shot for Pensacola was his first at the Double-A level, and he's now hit safely in four straight games since his promotion on July 16. The 2018 first-rounder actually owns an 11-game hitting streak dating back to his time in the Florida State League -- a stretch during which he's batting .386 with a pair of home runs and eight RBIs. Altogether, Larnach has produced a .314/.382/.461 line with 34 extra-base hits and 46 RBIs over 88 games in his first full season. Twins prospects stats »

White Sox: Nick Madrigal, 2B (No. 4, MLB No. 38) -- 2-for-4, R, 2B, BB (Double-A Birmingham)
Madrigal just continues to rake, as Sunday's multihit performance gives the 2018 No. 4 overall Draft pick a .370 average in 33 games since the White Sox promoted him to Double-A. The 22-year-old has been impressive in all facets of the game in his first full season, hitting .311/.382/.421 with 25 extra-base hits, 28 steals and three times as many walks (30) as strikeouts (10) in 82 games across two levels, all while playing Gold Glove-caliber defense at the keystone. White Sox prospects stats »

AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST

A’s: Alfonso Rivas, 1B (No. 23) -- 2-for-3, R, BB (Class A Adv Stockton)
Rivas, the A's fourth-round pick in the '18 Draft, is batting .333 in July after he posted his ninth multihit performance in his last 18 games on Sunday, when he tallied a pair of singles and also reached once via a walk for the Ports. The 22-year-old's offensive profile is stretched thin as a first baseman due to his below-average left-handed power, but he's proved a polished hitter early in his career -- one capable of handling right- and left-handed pitchers alike while also getting on base at a high clip thanks to a patient approach. A's prospects stats »

Angels: Kevin Maitan, 3B (No. 12) -- 1-for-5, HR (Class A Burlington)
A once highly touted international prospect who the Angels signed in December 2017 -- after the Braves were forced to forfeit his rights -- has mustered just a .218 average and .594 OPS in his first taste of full-season ball. That said, he's swinging the bat better of late, with a .250 average and three home runs in his past 10 games. He's hit eight homers overall, matching the total he posted last season in the Pioneer League. Angels prospects stats »

Astros: Ronnie Dawson, OF/DH (No. 10) -- 2-for-4, HR (Double-A Corpus Christi)
Dawson's solo home shot in the eighth inning gave the Hooks a temporary lead that they subsequently relinquished in the following frame in a 3-2 loss against Springfield. The 24-year-old outfielder's dinger was his second in five games and gives him 16 on the season, which matches his career-high mark from 2018. And while the uptick in his power this season has come with a regression in his average (.220) and strikeout rate, Dawson continues to show a blend of power, speed and center field defense that could help him carve out a role as a bench asset at the highest level. Astros prospects stats »

Mariners: Keegan McGovern, OF (No. 27) -- 1-for-4, HR (Class A Adv Modesto)
McGovern's solo shot in the second inning off of rehabbing Angels hurler JC Ramirez accounted for all of the Nuts' scoring Sunday in their 9-1 loss against Inland Empire. The homer was his sixth in the California League and eighth this season including his time in the Class A Midwest League. But outside of his solid power numbers, the 2018 ninth-rounder has produced a just a .191 average in 32 games with Modesto, though his OPS sits at a much more respectable .731. Mariners prospects stats »

Rangers: Bubba Thompson, OF (No. 5) -- 2-for-4, 2 R, 3B, HR, 3 RBI, BB (Class A Adv Down East)
Thompson has now hit safely in five straight games for the Wood Ducks since his return from a three-week stint on the injured list for an undisclosed injury. Two of the 2017 first-round pick's hits in that span have left the yard, including his two-run homer Sunday. He also picked up his first triple of the season as part of the three-RBI performance. After slashing .289/.344/.446 with 31 extra-base hits and 32 steals last year in the South Atlantic League, the tooled-up 21-year-old outfielder has been limited to just 21 games this season due to Injuries. When healthy, Thompson shows the makings of a future impact player with his blend of hitting ability, power potential, plus speed and slick outfield defense. Rangers prospects stats »

NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST

Braves: Bryse Wilson, RHP (No. 5, MLB No. 72) -- 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K (Triple-A Gwinnett)
Wilson allowed nine runs on eight hits in 2 2/3 innings on July 11 in his worst Minor League start of the season and followed it by giving up four runs on six hits in a start for the Braves on July 16. But the 21-year-old righty bounced back with a dominant performance Sunday, throwing 58 of 85 pitches for strikes over seven scoreless frames against Rochester. He struck out four, induced nine ground ball outs and did not issue a walk in the scoreless outing. It was an encouraging performance by the 21-year-old right-hander, who has lacked consistency this season after a breakout 2018 campaign in which he reached the Major Leagues at age 20. Braves prospects stats »

Marlins: Trevor Rogers, LHP (No. 16) -- 7 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 6 K (Class A Adv Jupiter)
Rogers has completed at least seven innings in four of his past five starts for the Hammerheads and currently ranks third among Florida State League hurlers with 103 1/3 innings pitched. The 21-year-old southpaw's 112 strikeouts are tops in the FSL, while his 2.53 ERA checks in as the circuit's fifth-best mark. Marlins prospects stats »

Mets: Andres Gimenez, SS (No. 1, MLB No. 57) -- 2-for-3, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI (Double-A Binghamton)
Gimenez was mired in a bit of a slump last week, but he's more than moved on after Sunday's effort. The double and triple are his first extra-base hits in a week and a half, and the RBIs his first in over two weeks. Some inconsistency is forgivable for the 20-year-old playing against older, more advanced players in the Eastern League ... which isn't exactly a hitters' paradise. He's a solid defensive prospect who also grades out well for his hit tool, which is being masked in his stats (.247 batting average) a bit right now thanks to the step up in competition at such a young age. Mets prospects stats »

Phillies: Mickey Moniak, OF (No. 9) -- 2-for-2, 2B, HR, 2 BB (Double-A Reading)
The former first overall pick is putting together a solid season for the Fightin' Phils, as an uptick in power has helped him stand out a bit after a couple of mediocre seasons in A-level ball. The Phillies' top pick in 2016 has a career high in triples already and Sunday's homer was his fifth, matching his pro best. That leaves plenty of time for Moniak to set a new career high in that stat, as well. Moniak has also run well this season, stealing 12 bases (another career high) with only two failures. And just to add another milestone to the mix ... the two walks increased his season total to 28, which also matches a career best. All in all, Moniak is having a career year, and is showing a bit of the promise that led to his status as the first name off the board in the Draft three summers ago. Phillies prospects stats »

Nationals: Jackson Rutledge, RHP -- 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K (Class A Short Season Auburn)
The Nationals' first-round pick (No. 17 overall) was lights-out Sunday as he fired four perfect frames in his fourth professional start. The Doubledays actually took a perfect game bid into the eighth inning, but ultimately allowed five runs in the final two frames as they fell to West Virginia, 5-3. Rutledge, a 6-foot-8 right-hander, repeats his delivery better than most hurlers his size and has the type of power arsenal -- highlighted by a mid-90s fastball and plus slider -- that could make him an impact starter or late-inning bullpen option at the highest level. Nationals prospects stats »

NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL

Brewers: Brice Turang, SS/2B (No. 1, MLB No. 90) -- 3-for-5, R, 3B (Class A Adv Carolina)
Turang paced the Mudcats' offense out of the leadoff spot on Sunday as he hit a triple as part of his first three-hit game (in 12 contests) since his promotion to the Carolina League on July 8. His lone run was the game-winner, as he scored on Mario Feliciano's walk-off hit in the bottom of the ninth after reaching via a one-out single. Turang, Milwaukee's first-round pick in the 2018 Draft, has been a standout in his first full season, batting .275/.375/.370 with 22 extra-base hits and 22 steals in 94 games across two levels. Brewers prospects stats »

Cubs: Zack Short, SS (No. 11) -- 2-for-3, 3 R, HR (Triple-A Iowa)
Short's second homer in three days and fourth of the season is an encouraging sign for the 24-year-old who got off to a late start this season due to injury. All four of those homers have come in the last eight days for Short, who has logged only 20 games for Iowa this year. The powerful middle infielder is usually quite the slugger for his position, clubbing 17 home runs last year for Double-A Tennessee. He's also a plus defender, viewed by some club officials as the best infield glove in Chicago's system, so if he can continue to produce at the plate he'll be an appealing option for the Major League team in no time.
Cubs prospects stats »

Cardinals: Jake Woodford, RHP (No. 23) -- 7 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 7 K; Lane Thomas, OF (No. 7) -- 2-for-5, 2B, HR (Triple-A Memphis)
Woodford is having one of the best seasons of any pitcher in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, as Sunday's stellar outing drops his ERA to 3.47, third best in the league. He also ranks among the top 10 in strikeouts, batting average against and WHIP. It's a big step forward from his first stint with the Redbirds last year, when he logged a 4.50 ERA in 12 starts with only 45 strikeouts in 63 innings. Thomas, on the other hand, did what a lot of hitters do in the PCL and went yard. The 23-year-old has made his MLB debut already this season, including connecting on his first big league homer, and he's been red-hot since being optioned back to Triple-A. He was assigned back to the Redbirds on July 5, and since then he's batting .358 in 14 games with a pair of homers and three steals.
Cardinals prospects stats »

Pirates: Mitch Keller, RHP (No. 1, MLB No. 16) -- 6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 5 K (Triple-A Indianapolis); Cal Mitchell, OF (No. 6) -- 3-for-5, 2 R, 2B, HR, 7 RBI (Class A Adv Bradenton)
Keller took a no-decision for Indianapolis but still turned in a quality start, scattering four hits over six innings while striking out five. Perhaps the biggest takeaway from the 23-year-old's performance was that he did not issue a walk for the first time in nearly a month and for just the third time in 20 starts this season between Triple-A and the Major Leagues. Down in the Florida State League, Mitchell drove in a career-high seven runs via a grand slam (his second in four games), a two-run double and an RBI single in Bradenton's rout of Tampa. The 20-year-old has hit safely in nine straight games, during which he's batting .394 (13-for-33) with three home runs, five doubles and 14 RBIs. Pirates prospects stats »

Reds: Taylor Trammell, OF (No. 1, MLB No. 26) -- 3-for-4, R, 2B, 3B, BB (Double-A Chattanooga)
Mired in a 2-for-32 funk at the plate over his last nine games heading into the day, Trammell, 21, busted out with his first three-hit game since June 10 in the Lookouts' loss to Jacksonville. Two of his hits went for extra bases, as Trammell tripled to right field in his first at-bat before adding a double (also to right field) in the fifth inning, and he also reached base via a single and walk. He's batting just .238 through 85 games in his first Double-A campaign, but the loud tools and athleticism that made him a first-round pick in 2016 (No. 35 overall) and continue to earn him recognition as one of baseball's top prospect are still very much there. Reds prospects stats »

NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST

D-backs: Kristian Robinson, OF (No. 5) -- 1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI, BB (Class A Short Season Hillsboro)
Robinson has absolutely massive right-handed power, and he's showing it off on a near nightly basis in the Northwest League. After going deep for a second time in as many games Sunday, when he padded Hillsboro's lead with a ninth-inning two-run shot, the 17-year-old outfielder has now hit seven home runs in 33 games for the Hops. More than just a slugger, Robinson, whom Arizona signed out of the Bahamas for $2.5 million in July of 2017, has also produced a .328/.392/.586 batting line with 27 RBIs and six steals. D-backs prospects stats »

Dodgers: Keibert Ruiz, C (No. 1, MLB No. 27) -- 2-for-4, 2 R, HR, 4 RBI (Triple-A Oklahoma City)
Ruiz had a Triple-A debut to remember. The 21-year-old backstop drove a 2-0 pitch into center field for an RBI single in his first at-bat, plated a run via a groundout in his next trip to the plate and then launched a two-run homer in the fifth inning. He was lifted for a pinch-hitter two innings later. The Dodgers promoted Ruiz, a switch-hitting catcher, to the Minors' highest level after he batted .254/.329/.330 with four homers, 25 RBIs and more walks (28) than strikeouts (21) in 76 games in Double-A. Dodgers prospects stats »

Giants: Sandro Fabian, OF (No. 14) -- 1-for-3, HR, SB, BB (Class A Adv San Jose)
Fabian started the season on the injured list and is just getting a chance to settle into the 2019 season, playing only his 14th game with San Jose this year on Sunday. He's off to a red-hot start, batting .385 so far with four homers and three steals. These are already notable improvements upon his 2018 numbers at San Jose, when he hit only .200 with one steal and 10 homers in 112 games. A 21-year-old signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2014, Fabian is a smart player with good skills across the board, and he's putting that on display so far in 2019.
Giants prospects stats »

Padres: Edward Olivares, OF (No. 17) -- 1-for-1, 2 R, HR, 2 BB (Double-A Amarillo)
Olivares has been impossible to deal with for opposing pitchers over the past two weeks, reaching base in nine straight games and connecting on four homers over that span. He's raised his batting average to an even .300 after Sunday's rare full-game, one at-bat outing fueled by a pair of walks and a hit by pitch. The 23-year-old is carrying the best slugging percentage of his Minors career and his best batting average and on-base percentage since his 40-game debut in the Dominican Summer League in 2014.
Padres prospects stats »

Rockies: Terrin Vavra, SS/2B (No. 13) -- 3-for-5, 2 R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI (Class A Asheville)
Vavra's 10th home run of the year was a game-tying solo shot in the bottom of the ninth that ultimately set up a walk-off, 9-7 win for Asheville against Rome. He also doubled in the three-hit performance, which boosted his South Atlantic League-leading average to .323. Additionally, the 2018 third-round pick leads the circuit in both runs (71) and doubles (28), ranks second in hits (110) and total bases (170) and has the third-highest OPS (.903). Rockies prospects stats »