Tuesday's top prospect performers

May 5th, 2021

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

AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST

Blue Jays: Nate Pearson, RHP (MLB No. 10) -- 3 2/3 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K (Triple-A Buffalo)
Back in the Minors to start the 2021 season after making five appearances with Toronto last year, Pearson started on a strong note. The top Blue Jays prospect struck out the first two batters he faced to set the tone for his night. Pearson cruised through his first three innings, striking out at least a pair in each, before running out of steam in the fourth and giving way to the Buffalo bullpen. The right-hander threw 53 of his 78 pitches for strikes Blue Jays prospects stats »

Orioles: DL Hall, LHP (MLB No. 60) -- 4 1/3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 10 K (Double-A Bowie)
Hall may have brought an early end to his day because he was so good. Though he didn’t finish the fifth inning, the left-hander stifled Altoona hitters throughout the night, reaching 10 strikeouts for the second time in his last three starts -- dating back to Aug. 1, 2019 -- with Class A Advanced Frederick. Hall fanned seven batters in his first three innings and at least one in each frame including his final strikeout of the day, a looking strikeout of Arden Pabst for the first out of the fifth inning. The lefty threw 74 pitches, 49 for strikes. Orioles prospects stats »

Rays: Wander Franco, SS (MLB No. 1) -- 3-for-5, 3B, 2 RBI
The jump from High-A to Triple-A isn't an easy one to make, but Franco appeared right at home in his first game with Triple-A Durham. Baseball's No. 1 overall prospect got things started for the Bulls with an RBI triple in the fourth and then flashed his speed as he beat out an infield single for another run-scoring hit in the seventh. Rays prospects stats »

Red Sox: Triston Casas, 1B (MLB No. 36) -- 2-for-4, 1 RBI (Double-A Portland)
Boston’s top prospect had played just two games above Low-A in his first two pro seasons but vaulted to Double-A to begin the 2021 campaign. Right away, he showed why. Casas lined singles to right field in the fourth inning and center field in the eighth. The latter plated a run for the big first baseman’s first RBI of the season. Casas, Boston’s first-round selection in the 2018 Draft, played in 120 games between Class A Greenville and Class A Advanced Salem in 2019 and batted .256/.350/.480 with 20 homers and 81 RBIs at just 19 years old. Red Sox prospects stats »

Yankees: Trevor Hauver, 2B (NYY No. 23) -- 3-for-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB (Low-A Tampa)
The Yankees’ third-round pick out of Arizona State last June, Hauver left an impression during his debut game for his new organization. After walking in his first plate appearance as a pro, the second baseman connected on a homer to right field in the bottom of the third, then followed a fourth-inning single with another home run to center, this one a two-run shot, in the fifth. The former Sun Devil bookended his day with walks by taking another free pass in the eighth. Yankees prospects stats »

AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL

Indians: Gabriel Arias, SS (CLE No. 5) – 1-for-4, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 R (Triple-A Columbus)
Arias delivered the big blow in the Clippers’ five-run first against Louisville, smacking a two-run homer to right field to cap the scoring. The shortstop, who jumped over Double-A after being named a California League midseason All-Star in 2019, also helped out on the defensive side with a hand in two of the Clippers’ three double plays. Indians prospects stats »

Royals: MJ Melendez, C (KC No. 14) – 2-for-4, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 2 R (Double-A Northwest Arkansas)
Melendez seemed to have twice as much fun as anyone else in his season debut after belting two-run homers to right in successive innings. His second homer gave the Naturals a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. The Florida native’s career high in homers is 19 in the Class A Midwest League in 2018, he had nine in 110 games the following year. Royals prospects stats »

Tigers: Wenceel Perez, 2B (DET No. 21) – 4-for-5, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 R (Low-A Lakeland)
Out of the No. 6 spot in the order, Perez powered the Flying Tigers’ offense with a four-hit night and used most of the field to do it. He plated a run with a single to center in the second, belted a two-run homer to right-center in fourth, lined a single to left in the fifth and grounded his fourth knock to left in the seventh. Tigers prospects stats »

Twins: Josh Winder, RHP (MIN No. 14) -- 4.2 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K's (Double-A Wichita)
Jumping over High-A, the No. 14 prospect in the organization got off on the right foot in the inaugural Wind Surge game. Winder worked his way in and out of trouble, scattering five hits and a walk while striking out six over 4 2/3 scoreless innings. The righty led the Midwest League in ERA (2.65) and WHIP (0.98) during his first full season in 2019. Twins prospects stats »

White Sox: Gavin Sheets, RF/1B (CWS No. 12) -- 2-for-4, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB (Triple-A Charlotte)
The club’s No. 12 prospect got off to a strong start in the season opener, going 2-for-4 with a homer and a walk, while splitting his time between right field and first base. Sheets drove a two-run homer to right-center in the third and singled the next inning, although he was thrown out at home on the play while trying to score on a fielding error by center fielder Drew Waters. White Sox prospects stats »

AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST

A's: Jordan Diaz, 3B (No. 12) -- 2-for-4, 2B, HR, 2 RBI
Diaz's 2021 campaign got off to a fast start as the 20-year-old hit a two-run homer in the first inning. Diaz stayed hot with a double in the third, registering a pair of extra-base hits in his debut with High-A Lansing. Signed for $275,000 in 2016, Diaz is known for his plate discipline and has some of the best bat-to-ball skills in the entire A's organization. Athletics prospects stats »

Angels: Aaron Hernandez, RHP (No. 23) -- 3.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R. 5 BB, 4 K
Hernandez certainly struggled with command as no pitcher wants to see a “five” in the walks column, but he posted a “zero” where it counts. The four strikeouts helped Hernandez pitch around the free passes and ultimately the up-and-down performance helped Tri-City walk away with a 4-0 win over Vancouver to open the season. Angels prospects stats »

Astros: Colin Barber, OF (No. 7) -- 1-for-4, HR, RBI
Barber hit the second homer of the night for High-A Asheville, but it wasn't enough as the Tourists fell, 8-2, to Brooklyn. Barber, a fourth-round pick from the 2019 Draft, hit a solo blast in the eighth for his lone hit of the evening. Barber made his professional debut in 2019 and went deep twice over 29 games in Rookie ball. Astros prospects stats »

Mariners: Tim Elliott, RHP (No. 27) -- 3.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 8 K (High-A Everett)
Elliott provided some superb relief for the AquaSox, surrendering a run while striking out eight of the 13 batters he faced. The University of Georgia product made 14 appearances in 2019, including 11 starts, and carved out a 3.86 ERA while striking out 35 in 30 1/3 innings. Elliott was Seattle's fourth-round pick in 2019. Mariners prospects stats »

Rangers: Chris Seise, SS (No. 21) -- 1-for-5, HR, RBI (High-A Hickory)
Seise entered 2021 with three home runs in 302 career at-bats, yet it only took him three plate appearances to go yard in his season debut. The Rangers' 2017 first-round Draft pick enjoyed a strong debut in 2018, batting .284/.330/.400 in 51 games, but injuries limited him to 21 contests the following season. Rangers prospects stats »

NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST

Braves: Michael Harris II, OF (No. 10) -- 3-for-4, 2B, SB, BB, 3 RBIs (High-A Rome)
It was quite the season debut for Atlanta’s 2019 third-round pick, who shook off a strikeout in his first at-bat to collect the second three-hit game of his professional career. The 20-year-old singled home a run in the third, singled again in the fourth and helped Rome pull away with a two-run double in the sixth. Harris debuted in 2019 and batted .277/.344/.393 in 53 games across two Minor League levels. Braves prospects stats »

Marlins: Jesús Sánchez, OF (No. 6) -- 2-for-5, HR, 5 RBIs (Triple-A Jacksonville)
Sánchez kicked off his season with a bang, singling home a pair of runners during a five-run second inning and connecting on a three-run shot in the eighth. The five RBIs equaled a career high for the 23-year-old, who accomplished it in 2016 in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League. Marlins No. 5 prospect Lewin Díaz also went deep and drove in three runs. Marlins prospects stats »

Mets: Francisco Álvarez, C (No. 40) -- 4-for-5, 2B, BB, 2 RBIs (Low-A St. Lucie)
Batting third in a St. Lucie lineup loaded with prospects, Álvarez paced the Mets’ 18-hit attack with a career-high four knocks. The 19-year-old backstop put his club on the board with an RBI single in the third and doubled home another run in the eighth. Signed as an international free agent in 2018, Álvarez debuted the next season and batted .312/.407/.510 with 17 extra-base hits and 26 RBIs in 42 games across two levels. Mets prospects stats »

Nationals: Drew Mendoza, 3B (No. 11) -- 1-for-4, 2B (Double-A Harrisburg)
Mendoza had one of the Senators' three hits in a shutout loss to Somerset. The 23-year-old debuted in 2019 and hit .264 with 16 extra-base hits and 25 RBIs in 55 games. Washington's third-round pick out of Florida State that same season, Mendoza began his professional career by hitting safely in six straight games. Nationals prospects stats »

Phillies: Luis García, SS (No. 27) -- 2-FOR-5, 2B, RBI, R (Low-A Clearwater)
Coming off a difficult 2019 campaign, Garcia got his season off on the right foot with a pair of hits, including an RBI single to open the scoring for Clearwater. The 20-year-old added a double in the fifth. Garcia's multi-hit game comes after he batted .186/.261/.255 in 127 Minor League games two seasons ago. Phillies prospects stats »

NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL

Brewers: Mario Feliciano, C (No. 5) -- 2-for-4, HR, RBI (Triple-A Nashville)
Feliciano, who fell a homer shy of hitting 20 long balls in 2019, opened his fifth Minor League season with a solo blast for Nashville. The 22-year-old set career highs across the board two years ago, driving in 81 runs and amassing 49 extra-base hits in 119 games across two levels. Brewers prospects stats »

Cardinals: Jordan Walker, 3B (No. 6) -- 2-for-4, HR, RBI (Low-A Palm Beach)
The 18-year-old made quite a positive impression in his first game as a professional, homering, singling and scoring two runs. Walker was the Cardinals' first-round Draft pick in 2020 and the 21st player selected overall. Cardinals prospects stats »

Cubs: Chase Strumpf, 2B (No. 9) -- 2-for-4, 2B, R, BB (High-A South Bend)
A .244 hitter with three Minor League teams in 2019, Strumpf reached base safely three times in his season debut for South Bend. The 23-year-old doubled, singled and walked for the sixth multi-hit game of his career. Strumpf was Chicago's second-round pick in the 2019 Draft out of UCLA. Cubs prospects stats »

Pirates: Roansy Contreras, RHP (No. 20) -- 5 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 11 K (Double-A Altoona)
Contreras came out firing in his Double-A debut. The 21-year-old recorded 11 of his 15 outs via the strikeout, the third double-digit punchout game of his career and a personal best. Contreras went 12-5 with a 3.33 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in 24 starts across two Minor League levels in 2019. Pirates prospects stats »

Reds: Lyon Richardson, RHP (No. 8) -- 3 IP 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 3 K (High-A Dayton)
Richardson needed 60 pitches to toss three hitless and scoreless innings in his debut for Dayton. The 21-year-old entered 2021 with a 3-14 record in two seasons as a Minor Leaguer, despite averaging nearly a strikeout per inning. Richardson was Cincinnati's second-round pick out of Jensen Beach High School in Florida in 2018. Reds prospects stats »

NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST

D-backs: Blaze Alexander, SS (No. 17) -- 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBIs (High-A Hillsboro)
Alexander belted a monstrous home run over the batter's eye, singled and drove in two runs in a season-opening win for Hillsboro. An 11th-round Draft pick in 2018, the 21-year-old hit .262/.355/.382 with 56 RBIs and 14 stolen bases in 91 games in 2019. D-backs prospects stats »

Dodgers: Bobby Miller, RHP (LAD No. 5) -- 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K (High-A Great Lakes)
It was a successful professional debut for Miller, the Dodgers' first-round pick (29th overall) in last year's Draft. The Louisville product struck out five and allowed two hits, while tossing 56 pitches over three shutout frames for Great Lakes. The hard-throwing right-hander sits regularly in the upper-90s with his fastball thanks to a 6-foot-5, 220-pound frame. Dodgers prospects stats »

Giants: Patrick Bailey, C (SF No. 6) -- 3-for-5, HR, 3 RBI
Bailey, the 13th overall pick from the 2020 Draft, showed why he was worthy of being a first-round selection during an impressive professional debut. The 21-year-old came out on fire for High-A Eugene, hitting his first career homer and driving in a trio of runs in Eugene's 9-5 win over Spokane. Giants prospects stats »

Padres: CJ Abrams, SS (MLB No. 8) -- 2-for-5, 2 2B, RBI
CJ Abrams certainly looked like he belonged as he made his Double-A debut with San Antonio. The 20-year-old reached base four times and went 2-for-5 with a walk and a pair of doubles in the Missions' win over Corpus Christi. Abrams reached on an error and flew out in his first two at-bats, but found his rhythm in the middle of the game as he doubled in both the fifth and sixth innings. Padres prospects stats »

Rockies: Ryan Rolison, LHP (No. 2) -- 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 7 K (Double-A Hartford)
A workhorse back in 2019, Rolison started off on a good note in his Double-A debut. The 23-year-old pitched fived innings, struck out seven and allowed one run and three hits without issuing a walk for the Yard Goats. A first-round pick in the 2018 Draft, Rolison won nine games and posted a 4.40 ERA while striking out 132 in 131 innings across two Minor League levels two years ago. Rockies prospects stats »