Home runs have been twice as fun for Theo Gillen this weekend.
MLB's No. 70 prospect launched a pair of homers Sunday after hitting two in the previous game for High-A Bowling Green. Gillen, who only tagged four long balls total last year in his first full pro season, has four through eight games in 2026.
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Gillen stayed hot with a first-inning shot in the Hot Rods' 10-3 loss to Rome in the series finale at Bowling Green Ballpark. Drafted in 2024's first round (18th overall), the Rays' top prospect pulled the fourth pitch he saw from righty Colin Daniel (Braves) to right-center field.
In the fourth, Gillen got to Daniel again, smoking a line-drive homer to center. Both of the left-handed hitter's homers on Saturday went out to right field during a 7-6 weather-shortened win over the Emperors.
"Compete every pitch -- that's kind of my thing," Gillen told MLB.com last May. "Like, I could strike out five times in a row, but as long as I had competitive, quality at-bats all those at-bats, I'm walking back to the dugout satisfied and knowing that I put my best foot forward and competed."
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With 50-grade power, Gillen hasn't been known for his slugging ability, but he just might be bolstering that tool at the right time. The 20-year-old outfielder closed out his second series of the season slashing .333/.419/.889 with seven extra-base hits.
Although he's the regular leadoff hitter for the Hot Rods, Gillen has produced runs consistently with nine RBIs through eight contests after driving in only 18 across 78 games last season. Last season, he posted a .212 average with runners in scoring position, but Gillen's turned that around in the early going this year, hitting .375 with six RBIs with RISP.