Wednesday's top prospect performers

April 18th, 2019

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

AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST

Blue Jays: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 3B (No. 1, MLB No. 1) -- 2-for-4, solo HR (2), 2 R, BB; Bo Bichette, SS (No. 2, MLB No. 10) -- 2-for-4, 3B, 3 RBI, R, BB (Triple-A Buffalo)
After a rare 0-fer on Tuesday, Vlad returned to form as he hit a tape-measure home run that landed in a parking lot well beyond Triple-A Pawtucket’s left-field wall. The 20-year-old phenom finished the game 2-for-4, giving him a .412/.500/.824 line through five games with Buffalo. Bichette’s two-hit performance was highlighted by a bases-clearing triple that capped a seven-run first inning for the Bisons.
Blue Jays prospects stats »

Orioles: Blaine Knight, RHP (No. 10) -- 5 IP, 2H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 9 K (Class A Delmarva)
The 2018 third-rounder had a shaky first inning but was untouchable the rest of the way, retiring 12 straight at one point and ultimately facing three over the minimum in his second straight scoreless start for the Shorebirds. Knight established a career high with his nine strikeouts and recorded his four non-strikeout outs on ground balls. With a 1.15 ERA, 0.64 WHIP and 18/4 K/BB through 15 2/3 innings, the 22-year-old already has little left to prove at the Class A level.
Orioles prospects stats »

Rays: Moises Gomez, OF (No. 13) -- 2-for-3, HR (1), 2 RBI, 3 R, BB (Class A Advanced Charlotte)
The 20-year-old outfielder connected on a third-inning solo shot to left field for his first homer of the season as he accounted for the bulk of Charlotte’s offense in a 4-3 win over Dunedin. He’s collected multiple hits in back-to-back games after going 5-for-40 with 16 strikeouts across his first 10 contests.
Rays prospects stats »

Red Sox: Michael Chavis, 3B/1B (No. 1, MLB No. 76) -- 1-for-3, HR (4), 2 RBI, BB (Triple-A Pawtucket)
Chavis was overshadowed playing on the same field as Vlad Jr., but he still put together a strong game, hitting his third homer in five games while reaching base three times in the Pawsox 11-8 win over Buffalo. The 23-year-old is one of the more consistent power hitters in the Minors and hit a career-high 31 homers in 2017.  
Red Sox prospects stats »

Yankees: Deivi Garcia, RHP (No. 4) -- 4 2/3 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 8 K (Class A Advanced Tampa)
Falling one out shy of picking up his first win, the 19-year-old righty permitted one hit and three walks while throwing 53 of 90 pitches for strikes. He’s already racked up 23 strikeouts in 12 innings this season after whiffing 105 batters over 74 frames a year ago.
Yankees prospects stats »

AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL

Indians: Oscar Mercado, OF (No. 19) -- 3-for-4, 2B, 2 R, RBI, BB, 4 SB (7) (Triple-A Columbus)
Mercado ran wild Wednesday as he swiped a career-high four bases. The 24-year-old speedster also put together his second three-hit game of the season and extended his hitting streak to five games in the process. Mercado has swiped at least 30 bases in each of the past three seasons and has already stolen seven bags in 2019.
Indians prospects stats »

Royals: Kris Bubic, LHP (No. 9) -- 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K (Class A Lexington)
It's not easy to follow up a 12-strikeout performance, but Bubic was certainly up to the challenge and spun another gem. The 21-year-old, who threw 51 of his 87 pitches for strikes, has racked up 27 strikeouts in 16 innings and has no gone back-to-back starts without allowing an earned run.
Royals prospects stats »

Tigers: Casey Mize, RHP (No. 1, MLB No. 16) -- 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K (Class A Advanced Lakeland)
Mize lowered his already minuscule ERA to 0.50 as he continues to live up to the hype. The No. 1 overall pick from the 2018 Draft has allowed just one run through three starts (18 innings) this season and yielded just six hits, compared to 21 strikeouts. Equally impressive is the fact that he's issued just one walk.
Tigers prospects stats »

Twins: Lewis Thorpe, LHP (No. 8) -- 5 2/3 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 12 K (Triple-A Rochester)
The Australian left-hander fanned the first seven batters he faced en route to a 12-strikeout performance, matching his career-high total. The 12 strikeouts are also tied for the most by any pitcher in the Minors this season. The lone blemish on Thorpe’s performance was a two-out, two-run homer he allowed to Syracuse’s Travis Taijeron in the sixth inning that forced him from the game after 94 pitches (64 strikes). More important, it was a much-needed strong performance for Thorpe after he was crushed for 15 runs on 17 hits in 8 2/3 innings between his first two starts.
Twins prospects stats »

White Sox: Zack Collins, C/1B (No. 12) 3-for-4, 2B, R, 2 RBI (Triple-A Charlotte)
After going 1-for-18 over the past five games, Collins turned in his first three-hit effort since Opening Day. Collins hit .234 over 122 games with Double-A Birmingham last season and is hitting .250 through the first 10 games of the current campaign.
White Sox prospects stats »

AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST

A’s: Grant Holmes, RHP (No. 12) -- 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K (Double-A Midland)
After giving up five runs in 2 2/3 innings the last time he took the mound, Holmes bounced back in a big way on Wednesday. The right-hander allowed one hit over three innings, just as he did in his first start of the season, and needed just 36 pitches (27 strikes) to do so.
A's prospects stats »

Angels: Livan Soto, SS (No. 19) -- 4-for-5, RBI, SB (Class A Burlington)
Soto began the night hitting just .179 (7-for-39) on the season, but boosted his average all the way up to .250 by the time the game had concluded. The 18-year-old, who is making his full-season debut after spending the past two years in Rookie ball, also picked up his third stolen base.
Angels prospects stats »

Astros: Tyler Ivey, RHP (No. 17) -- 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K (Double-A Corpus Christi)
After giving up a run in the first inning of the year, Ivey has spun 10 consecutive scoreless frames. Ivey, 22, is getting his first taste of Double-A after spending last year between Class A Quad Cities and Class A Advanced Buies Creek. It's certainly early, but Ivey has handled the jump well, giving up one run over 11 innings (three starts) and striking out 16 while only issuing a trio of walks.
Astros prospects stats »

Mariners: Justus Sheffield, LHP (No. 1, MLB No. 40) -- 6 2/3 IP, 3 H, 3 R (2 ER), 3 BB, 6 K (Triple-A Tacoma)
While he wasn't as sharp as he could have been, Sheffield worked into the seventh for the first time this season. The six strikeouts were also a season high for the lefty, who is expected to be a contributor in Seattle this season. Then in the Yankees' organization, Sheffield posted a 2.48 ERA across 116 Minor League innings last season. He also made three appearances with the Yankees. So far this year, he's allowed nine runs on 11 hits and 11 walks in 15 1/3 innings while striking out nine.
Mariners prospects stats »

Rangers: Hans Crouse, RHP (No. 1, MLB No. 81) -- 6 2/3 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 8 K (Class A Hickory)
Crouse gave up a two-run homer to Asheville’s Grant Lavigne (Rockies’ No. 5) in the fourth inning but otherwise dominated, tossing a season-high 6 2/3 frames for the Crawdads en route to his second straight victory. The 20-year-old righty hasn’t been challenged in the South Atlantic League, where he’s posted a 1.26 ERA, 0.35 WHIP and 19/0 K/BB over 14 1/3 innings (three starts). Opposing hitters, meanwhile, have mustered a .102 average against him.
Rangers prospects stats »

NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST

Braves: Ian Anderson, RHP (No. 3, MLB No. 30) -- 4 2/3 IP, 3 H, 1 R (0 ER), 3 BB, 5 K (Double-A Mississippi)
Anderson threw 47 of his 76 pitches for strikes as he spun his longest start of the season. Through three starts Anderson has struck out 15, but he's also issued eight walks. Anderson still needs to work on his command, but he did take a step forward in that regard in 2018.
Braves prospects stats »

Marlins: Zac Gallen, RHP (No. 18) -- 5 2/3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K (Triple-A New Orleans)
Gallen put together his second scoreless start of the season and has given up just one run through 18 2/3 innings to being the season. Opponents are hitting just .082 against the the right-hander, who has commanded the ball well all year. Gallen threw 61 of his 86 pitches for strikes on Wednesday and has issued just one walk in three starts.
Marlins prospects stats »

Mets: Ronny Mauricio, SS (No. 3) -- 4-for-5, 3B, R (Class A Columbia)
Age hardly seems to be an issue for the 18-year-old Mets prospect as he's hitting .346 through 12 games with the Fireflies. Mauricio had been 0-for-9 in the two games prior to Wednesday, but he already has four multihit games this season, including a pair of four-hit performances.
Mets prospects stats »

Phillies: Cornelius Randolph, OF (No. 25) 1-for-4, HR (3), 3 RBI, BB (Double-A Reading)
Randolph is back in Reading after hitting .241 through 188 games with the Fightin Phils in 2018. The 21-year-old has yet to put together a multihit performance this season, but what he has managed to do is collect a hit in seven of the nine games he's play. Randolph has also started to tap into his power a bit lately, having homered in two of his past three games.
Phillies prospects stats »

Nationals: Sterling Sharp, RHP (No. 8) -- 7 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K (Double-A Harrisburg); Jake Irvin, RHP (No. 16) -- 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 6 K (Class A Hagerstown); Jackson Tetreault, RHP (No. 26) -- 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K (Class A Advanced Potomac)
Sharp needed to throw just 67 pitches (49 strikeouts) to complete seven scoreless en route to his second win in three starts for the Senators. One of the top groundball artists in the Minors, he used his heavy sinker to induce 12 groundouts in the outing. Irvin took the loss for Hagerstown even though he allowed an unearned run on three hits over six innings. He’s given up one earned run over his last 10 2/3 innings after being tagged for four earned runs and eight hits in his season debut. Last but not least, Tetreault lowered his Carolina League ERA to 1.13 with his scoreless start for the P-Nats. The 2017 seventh-rounder has been sharp so far this season, allowing one or fewer earned runs in his first two starts before Wednesday’s gem.
Nationals prospects stats »

NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL

Brewers: Mauricio Dubon, SS/2B (No. 5) -- 2-for-4, solo HR (2) (Triple-A San Antonio)
Dubon isn't known for his power, but he's now gone deep as part of a 2-for-4 performance in back-to-back games for the Missions. While surgery to repair a torn ACL wiped out much of the Dubon's 2018 campaign, the 24-year-old middle infielder has been firing on all cylinders to begin 2019, hitting .291/.339/.436 with four extra-base hits and four steals in his first 15 games.
Brewers prospects stats »

Cubs: Cory Abbott (No. 9) -- 5 2/3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 7 K (Double-A Tennessee)
Abbott, 23, has allowed exactly one run and completed at least five innings in each of his three starts for the Smokies. He's pitched to a 1.65 ERA with 17 strikeouts and three walks over 16 1/3 frames in those outings. The Cubs' second-round pick in 2017, Abbott posted a 2.50 ERA with 131 strikeouts and 39 walks in 115 innings (22 starts) across two levels last year in his first full season.
Cubs prospects stats »

Cardinals: Tommy Edman, INF (No. 11) -- 3-for-5, 2B, 2 R (Triple-A Memphis)
The 2016 sixth-rounder's three-hit performance from the leadoff spot was his third during his current nine-game hitting streak, and he now has seven multihit efforts under his belt through 12 games for the Redbirds. Overall, Edman owns a .370/.407/.556 line with seven extra-base hits, 12 runs and 10 RBIs through 54 at-bats.
Cardinals prospects stats »

Pirates: Bryan Reynolds, OF (No. 8) 2-for-4, HR (5), 5 RBI, BB (Triple-A Indianapolis)
Reynolds delivered a go-ahead grand slam to center field in the fourth inning and matched his career high with five RBIs as he powered Indianapolis past Toledo, 8-7. The 24-year-old outfielder has opened his first Triple-A campaign on a tear, slashing .362/.434/.745 with five homers and 11 RBIs through 12 games.
Pirates prospects stats »

Reds: Taylor Trammell, OF (No. 2, MLB No. 15) 1-for-2, solo HR (3), 2 BB (Double-A Chattanooga)
Trammell's solo shot in the eighth inning trimmed the Lookouts' deficit to one run, though they ultimately fell to Mississippi, 3-2. It was the third homer of the season for the 21-year-old outfielder, and he's now tallied at least one RBI in six straight games. Altogether, he's compiled a .351/.500/.622 line with 10 RBIs and 11 walks in 11 games.
Reds prospects stats »

NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST

D-backs: Eduardo Diaz, OF (No. 25) -- 1-for-1, 2B, 2 R, 3 BB (Class A Kane County)
The Venezuela native reached base in all four of his plate appearances, tallying one single and walking thrice to help the Cougars edge Burlington, 5-4. It was the first ever three-walk performance for the 21-year-old outfielder in 164 career Minor League games.
D-backs prospects stats »

Dodgers: Gavin Lux, SS (No. 3, MLB No. 67) -- 2-for-4, HR (3), 2B, 2 RBI (Double-A Tulsa)
Lux pushed his season home run total to three as he went deep in a second straight game for Double-A Tulsa. It was one of six homers hit by the Drillers in their 10-7 victory over Springfield. The 21-year-old middle-infielder is off to a red-hot start in 2019, hitting .400/.449/.733 with seven extra-base hits through 10 games.
Dodgers prospects stats »

Giants: Shaun Anderson, RHP (No. 4) -- 5 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 4 K (Triple-A Sacramento)
Anderson, 24, found the strike zone with 56 of his 83 pitches as he completed five innings for a second time in three starts for the River Cats. In his first taste of Triple-A last year, the 6-foot-4 right-hander pitched to a 4.18 ERA with 34 strikeouts and 11 walks in 47 1/3 innings (eight starts).
Giants prospects stats »

Padres: MacKenzie Gore, LHP (No. 2, MLB No. 14) -- 6 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 3 K (Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore)
The 2017 No. 3 overall Draft pick was scored upon for the first time in 2019 but still turned in a strong effort, tossing a season-high six innings in a no-decision for Lake Elsinore. Gore allowed both runs in the second inning -- the first coming on a leadoff homer by Carlos Rincon -- and he escaped further damage when he picked off a runner at first base to end the frame. The 20-year-old southpaw settled in and retired all 12 hitters he faced over the next four frames before departing with 75 pitches (45 strikes).
Padres prospects stats »

Rockies: Vince Fernandez, OF (No. 25) 3-for-4, solo HR (4), 2 R (Double-A Hartford)
Fernandez's solo shot in the fourth inning extended the Yard Goats' early lead and was the highlight of his second straight three-hit game. The 23-year-old outfielder has gone deep four times in 14 games so far this season after hitting a career-high 24 home runs last year over 117 games in the California League.
Rockies prospects stats »