Prospects of the Week: April 10 – April 16

April 18, 2023 Jeremy Mahy General, MiLB, Prospects of the Week 0

Zach Neto, Los Angeles Angels, Spring Training 2023. Photo credit Gail Verderico, @baseball_gail on Instagram.
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Each week during the Minor League Baseball season we pick the hitting and pitching prospects from each level (Triple-A, Double-A, High-A, and Single-A) who, in our opinion, had the best week. The team awards the Prospects of the Week hitters and pitchers for each level, while also presenting other names at each level that are just as deserving of POTW honors. Feel free to reply in the comments with any player who deserves to be mentioned that may not have made our cut.

Any issues with this week’s POTW? Did we miss anyone deserving? Hit us up and set us straight! As always, tweet us @Prospects1500 when you see a great performance that warrants consideration for Prospect of the Week. Enjoy, and make sure you’re keeping an eye out for these prospects in your dynasty leagues.

Triple-A

CO-HITTERS:
Andres Chaparro, 3B/1B (Yankees #26)
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (6 G, .417/.440/1.083/1.523, 10 H, 2B, 5 HR, 7 RBI, 8 R, BB, SB)
Chaparro broke out in a big way in 2022 and Triple-A will be a huge test for Chaparro in 2023. After an ice cold start to the season (0-25), Chaparro had a huge week this past week. The highlights were two, 2 home run games and an 18 pitch walk, fouling off 13 pitches in the process during Sunday’s game. Chaparro went 10-24 with 5 home runs and 7 RBI. He also tossed in a double and steal for good measure over the week. If he can cut down the strikeouts he could get a call-up soon. (@PaulWoodin1)
Coco Montes, 2B (Rockies #37)
Albuquerque Isotopes (6 G, .423/.483/1.000/1.483, 11 H, 4 2B, 3 HR, 12 RBI, 6 R, 3 BB)
Montes is a smooth, steady, and overall reliable utility infielder—who is enjoying a breakout of sorts at the plate! The former 15th round draft pick out of South Florida (2018) who possess a little pop in his bat, might be playing his way onto an MLB roster in Colorado (or elsewhere?). Montes sports a career MILB slash .of 278/.347/.811. (@100percent3G)
Pacific Coast League Hitter of the Week!

Honorable Mentions:
Brett Baty, 3B (Mets #2)
Syracuse Mets (4 G, .471/.550/1.059/1.609, 8 H, 2B, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 4 R, 3 BB)
Darren Baker, 2B (Nationals #30)
Rochester Red Wings (5 G, .500/.517/.714/1.231, 14 H, 2B, 3B, HR, 3 RBI, 5 R, BB, 2 SB)
Tyler Freeman, IF (Guardians NR)
Columbus Clippers (5 G, .545/.630/.909/1.539, 12 H, 3 2B, 3B, HR, 7 RBI, 10 R, 2 BB, 3 SB)
International League Hitter of the Week!

PITCHER: Mason Miller, RHP (Athletics #11)
Las Vegas Aviators (1 GS, 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 11 K)
Miller’s second start of the year was very much like his first in that he dominated his season debut at a new level of the upper minors. The big right hander mowed through the Salt Lake Bee lineup with his high octane fastball, throwing 5 no-hit innings while racking up 11 strikeouts. Miller, 24 years old and finally in full health, is fast approaching his combined career regular season innings total spanning the past two seasons. He should see the mound in Oakland before long. (@Leobaseball3)
Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week!
*As of press time Tuesday night, he’s getting the call to the majors!

Honorable Mentions:
Tanner Bibee, RHP (Guardians #7)
Columbus Clippers (1 GS, 6 IP, H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K)
International League Pitcher of the Week!
JoJo Romero, LHP (Cardinals NR)
Memphis Redbirds (3 G, 3.2 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K, 2 SV)
Noah Denoyer, RHP (Orioles #27)
Norfolk Tides (1 GS, 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K)
Easton McGee, RHP (Mariners NR)
Tacoma Rainiers (1 GS, 7 IP, 3 H, R, 0 BB, 6 K)

Double-A

HITTER: Gage Workman, SS (Tigers #36)
Erie SeaWolves (6 G, .444/.545/1.111/1.656, 8 H, 2 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 6 R, 4 BB, SB)
Eastern League Hitter of the Week!
The 2022 season saw Workman struggle to identify pitches and his K rate was ridiculously high (1.6 per game). Workman worked on his approach during the AFL, and his increased patience has shown in 9 games in Erie (0.7 per game). (@DET_Guru_Kurt)

Honorable Mentions:
Heston Kjerstad, OF (Orioles #11)
Bowie Baysox (6 G, .348/.444/.957/1.401, 8 H, 2 2B, 4 HR, 5 RBI, 6 R, 2 BB, 2 SB)


Julian Escobedo, OF (Guardians NR)
Akron RubberDucks (5 G, .474/.524/1.000/1.524, 9 H, 4 2B, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 7 R, 3 BB, 3 SB)
Evan Carter, OF (Rangers #2)
Frisco RoughRiders (6 G, .435/.567/.870/1.437, 10 H, 2B, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 4 R, 7 BB, SB)
Andy Pages, OF (Dodgers #6)
Tulsa Drillers (6 G, .444/.655/.889/1.544, 8 H, 2 2B, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 8 R, 8 BB, SB)
Texas League Hitter of the Week!
Zach Neto, SS (Angels #2)
Rocket City Trash Pandas (4 G, .500/.591/1.000/1.591, 9 H, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 7 R, 3 BB, 3 SB)
Southern League Hitter of the Week!
Neto beat up on AA pitching during his short stint there! The now Angels SS hammered 3 HR and stole 3 bases in 7 games. Between his outrageous numbers and the very hard contact he had in the freeway exhibition (over 100 mph Exit velo 4 times in 5 AB) he forced the Angels hands. (@A_Rhodes77)

PITCHER: Andrew Abbott, LHP (Reds #10)
Chattanooga Lookouts (1 GS, 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 14 K)
Southern League Pitcher of the Week!
Abbott continues his torrid start to his season. The Reds southpaw fanned 14 of the 20 batters he faced in his second start with no walks. That brings his season total to 25 k’s in 35 opportunities with 1 walk in 10.2 innings. AAA is calling his name and some here in Cincy want to see him in the majors. (@darylhauck)

Honorable Mentions:
Patrick Monteverde, LHP (Marlins NR)
Pensacola Blue Wahoos (1 GS, 7 IP, H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K)
Shane Drohan, LHP (Red Sox #26)
Portland Sea Dogs (1 GS, 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K)
Eastern League Pitcher of the Week!
Christian Mejias, RHP (Brewers NR)
Biolxi Shockers (1 GS, 5 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 8 K)
Michael McGreevy, RHP (Cardinals #13)
Springfield Cardinals (1 GS, 7.2 IP, 4 H, R, BB, 4 K)

High-A

HITTER: Ben Malgeri, OF (Tigers NR)
West Michigan Whitecaps (5 G, .421/.478/.895/1.373, 8 H, 4 2B, 3B, HR, 3 RBI, 4 R, 2 BB)
Midwest League Hitter of the Week!
Malgeri has been a fan favorite at every stop throughout the Tigers system. A powerful compact swing has allowed the 18th rounder in 2021 to hit at each level. More weeks like this in West Michigan and Malgeri could see an MLB debut next season. (@DET_Guru_Kurt)

Honorable Mentions:
Stanley Consuegra, OF (Mets #29)
Brooklyn Cyclones (6 G, .375/.444/.833/1.277, 9 H, 2 2B, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 3 R, 3 BB)
South Atlantic League Hitter of the Week!
James Wood, OF (Nationals #1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks (6 G, .478/.480/.739/1.219, 11 H, 2B, 3B, HR, 7 RBI, 3 R, BB, SB)


Loidel Chapelli, OF (White Sox #19)
Winston-Salem Dash (4 G, .533/.533/1.133/1.666, 8 H, 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 5 R, SB)
Sterlin Thompson, OF (Rockies #10)
Spokane Indians (6 G, .478/.462/.739/1.201, 11 H, 3 2B, HR, 6 RBI, 4 R, 2 SB)

PITCHER: Kumar Rocker, RHP (Rangers #7)
Hickory Crawdads (2 GS, 8 IP, 4 H, 0 R, BB, 12 K)
South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week!
By now you know the story. The Mets passed on signing Rocker in 2021 letting him re-enter the 2022 draft. Some draft day maneuvering allowed the Rangers to draft Rocker at 3 and signing to an underslot deal. The results? In his first two long-season pro starts, Rocker has 8IP while allowing a stingy 4 hits and 1 walk (no ER) while striking out 12. Probably couldn’t have hoped for a better start. (@byrontx)

Honorable Mentions:
Ben Casparius, RHP (Dodgers #42)
Great Lakes Loons (1 GS, 6 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K)
Midwest League Pitcher of the Week!
Gabriel Hughes, RHP (Rockies #5)
Spokane Indians (1 GS, 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K)
Northwest League Pitcher of the Week!
Noah Cameron, LHP (Royals #21)
Quad Cities River Bandits (1 GS, 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB, 8 K)
Chad Dallas, RHP (Blue Jays #39)
Vancouver Canadians (1 GS, 5 IP, 4 H, R, BB, 11 K)

Single-A

HITTER: Cole Young, SS (Mariners #3)
Modesto Nuts (6 G, .429/.571/.714/1.285, 9 H, 6 2B, 2 RBI, 6 R, 7 BB, 4 SB)
Cole Young has been molten hot to start the year, and in the last 7-days the 2022 first rounder put together a .429/.571/.618 slash line along with 4SBs. PJ Benasillo, our Mariners’ writer predicted that Young would be a fast-rider up prospect ranks this year, and Young is doing his best to prove him right. The HRs haven’t come yet; but the hit tool and speed have been as-advertised, if not better. (@pjbenasillo)

Honorable Mentions:
Zach Cole, OF (Astros NR)
Fayetteville Woodpeckers (6 G, .400/.478/.800/1.278, 8 H, 2 2B, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 6 R, 2 BB, 2 SB)
Michael Curialle, 3B (Cardinals NR)
Palm Beach Cardinals (6 G, .526/.615/.947/1.1562, 10 H, 3 2B, 3B, HR, 5 RBI, 6 R, 5 BB, 2 SB)
Florida State League Hitter of the Week!
Kyle Nevin, OF (Dodgers NR)
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (6 G, .538/.600/.692/1.292, 14 H, 4 2B, 4 RBI, 7 R, 4 BB)
California League Hitter of the Week!
Creed Willems, C (Orioles NR)
Delmarva Shorebirds (5 G, .381/.435/.857/1.292, 8 H, 2B, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 6 R, BB)

PITCHER: Jacob Miller, RHP (Marlins #22)
Jupiter Hammerheads (1 GS, 6 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K)
Florida State League Pitcher of the Week!
Second round pick Jacob Miller put on a show against the St. Lucie Mets on April 15th. In 6 innings of work he had 46 strikes on 68 pitches with 8 strikeouts!!! Also not allowing a hit or a walk. Miller uses high spin rates on both his slider and his curve allowing his fastball to play up which could help him move quickly through the system. Another Marlins pitching prospect to keep on your radar. (@stoffer81)

Honorable Mentions:
Zebby Matthews, RHP (Twins NR)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (1 GS, 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K)
Justin Lange, RHP (Yankees #23)
Tampa Tarpons (1 GS, 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 10 K)
Kevin Miranda, RHP (Blue Jays NR)
Dunedin Blue Jays (1 GS, 5 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 5 K)
Jake Garland, RHP (Athletics NR)
Stockton Ports (1 GS, 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K)
California League Pitcher of the Week!

Special Mention of the Week

Columbia Fireflies Pitching Staff
In their 4-1 win over the Charleston RiverDogs on Friday, April, 14th the combination of David Sandlin, Steven Zobac, Samuel Valerio, and Eduardo Herrera teamed up for a 20 strikeout day (9 IP, 4 H, R, 3 BB, 20 K).

Jeremy Mahy

Jeremy covers the St Louis organization and contributes on Prospects of the Week for Prospects1500. Born and raised in the Midwest, he is a lifelong fan of the Birds on the Bat. You can follow him on Twitter @JMahyfam for more baseball content.

"Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good, too." -Yogi Berra

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