Prospects of the Week: April 3 – April 9

Spencer Jones, New York Yankees, Spring Training, March 17, 2023. Photo credit Tom Hagerty/MiLB, lakelandlocal on Flickr

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

HITTER: Lenyn Sosa, SS (White Sox #6)
Charlotte Knights (6 G, .474, .583, 1.000, 1.583, 9 H, 4 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 4 R, 5 BB)
Although we at Prospects1500 have been on the Sosa hype train since 2019. His prospect hype reached another level last season when he experienced an offensive breakout for AA Birmingham. Look for Sosa to continue playing slick defense and hitting his way into the big league conversation. So far, so good as the 23-year-old has hit safely in the AAA Charlotte Knights first nine games going 13-29 with two home runs and eight RBIs. Another exciting facet to this early season offensive explosion is that he has drawn seven walks while striking out only five times. (@slydanno70)

Honorable Mentions:
Ronny Mauricio, SS (Mets #3)
Syracuse Mets (6 G, .400, .455, 1.000, 1.455, 8 H, 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 4 R, 2 BB)
Logan Porter, C/1B (Royals #47)
Omaha Storm Chasers (4 G, .400, .375, 1.000, 1.375, 6 H, 3 HR, 4 RBI, 3 R)
After going unselected in the 2018 MLB draft, the free agent signee has progressed through the Royals minor league system with aplomb—especially at the plate— culminating in an upper minors’ dominating 145 wRC+ between double-A and triple-A in 2022. He also walked over 18% of the time. Without much fanfare outside of the organization, the 27-year-old, who splits time behind the plate and first base, already has 4 home runs in 2023. Off the 40-man—and therefore lower than Freddy Fermin on the front office speed dial—Porter could be a trade candidate, but his defensive versatility and early success makes him a deep league watchlist-type. (@adamhalpin)
Coco Montes, 2B (Rockies #37)
Albuquerque Isotopes (6 G, .478, .571, .739, 1.310, 11 H, 3 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 8 R, 5 BB, SB)
Trey Cabbage, OF (Angels NR)
Salt Lake Bees (5 G, .476, .500, .857, 1.357, 10 H, 2B, 2 3B, HR, 6 RBI, 7 R, BB, SB)
Lorenzo Cedrola, OF (Mets NR)
Syracuse Mets (5 G, .357, .471, .857, 1.328, 5 H, 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 5 R, 3 BB, 3 SB)

PITCHER: Chase Silseth, RHP (Angels #4)
Salt Lake Bees (1 GS, 6 IP, H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K)
Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week!
Chase Silseth is starting off the season red hot! He has only allowed 3 hits in 11 innings, striking out 13. Angels have a bit of a log jam at starting pitching right now and are content to let Silseth work through some issues in AAA that plagued him in his MLB starts last season and this spring training. (@A_Rhodes77)

Honorable Mentions:
Jose Butto, RHP (Mets #13)
Syracuse Mets (1 GS, 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K)
International League Pitcher of the Week!
Logan Allen, LHP (Guardians #8)
Columbus Clippers (1 GS, 4.2 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 5 K)
Cody Bradford, LHP (Rangers #36)
Round Rock Express (1 GS, 6 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 4 K)
Tanner Bibee, RHP (Guardians #7)
Columbus Clippers (1 GS, 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, BB, 7 K)

Double-A

HITTER: Alika Williams, SS (Rays #33)
Montgomery Biscuits (3 G, .455, .500, .909, 1.409, 5 H, 2 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 3 R, BB)
Alika Williams is off to a scorching start to begin his third professional season in the Rays’ organization. The versatile middle-infielder has tallied multi-hit efforts in two of his first three games with Double-A Montgomery and reached base in half of his plate appearances last week. After playing across three levels last year, Williams looks poised to continue his ascent towards the major league level if he can build upon the offensive success displayed to kick off the season. (@GatorSosa)

Honorable Mentions:
Chandler Redmond, 1B/3B (Cardinals #43)
Springfield Cardinals (3 G, .500, .600, 1.375, 1.975, 4 H, 2B, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 3 R, 2 BB)
Luis Mieses, OF (White Sox #19)
Birmingham Barons (3 G, .636, .538, .818, 1.356, 7 H, 2 2B, 3 RBI, R)
Hunter Goodman, C/1B/OF (Rockies #12)
Hartford Yard Goats (3 G, .400, .538, .800, 1.338, 4 H, 2B, HR, RBI, 3 R, 2 BB)
Ryan Bliss, OF (Diamondbacks #21)
Amarillo Sod Poodles (3 G, .500, .500, .857, 1.357, 7 H, 3B, HR, 3 RBI, 4 R, SB)

PITCHER: Andrew Abbott, LHP (Reds #10)
Chattanooga Lookouts (1 GS, 4.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, 11 K)
Andrew Abbott, a 2nd round pick in 2021, torches AA hitters in his 2023 debut. Struck out 11 of the 15 batters he faced. With 1 walk. His 3 pitch arsenal is outstanding. Look for a quick promotion to AAA if he keeps this up! (@darylhauck)

Honorable Mentions:
Coleman Crow, RHP (Angels #22)
Rocket City Trash Pandas (1 GS, 6 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K)
Tobias Myers, RHP (Brewers NR)
Biloxi Shuckers (1 GS, 5.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 11 K)
Emmet Sheehan, RHP (Dodgers #11)
Tulsa Drillers (1 G, 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, HBP, 8 K)
David Festa, RHP (Twins #15)
Wichita Storm Chasers (1 GS, 5 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K)

High-A

HITTER: Spencer Jones, OF (Yankees #6)
Hudson Valley Renegades (3 G, .462, .533, .846, 1.379, 6 H, 2 2B, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2 BB)
Jones has started off the 2023 campaign the same way he finished off 2022, on fire! The big 6-foot-7 sluggers first homerun of the season came last week in a tough lefty/lefty matchup against Anthony Solometo. There were some concerns coming out of Vanderbilt about his strikeout rate, but so far as a professional he has been kept that in check. If this continues with his inevitable jump to Double-A, it will be time to get very excited.

Honorable Mentions:
Ben Malgeri, OF (Tigers NR)
West Michigan WhiteCaps (3 G, .444, .545, .1.111, 1.656, 4 H, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 4 R, BB)
Max Muncy, SS (Athletics #8)
Lansing Lugnuts (3 G, .462, .500, .692, 1.192, 6 H, 3 2B, 2 RBI, R, BB)
Grant McCray, OF (Giants #7)
Eugene Emeralds (2 G, .500, .500, .900, 1.400, 5 H, 2B, 3B, 2 R, SB)
Wilderd Patino, OF (Diamondbacks #23)
Hillsboro Hops (3 G, .333, .429, .333, .762, 4 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 5 SB)

PITCHER: Winston Santos, RHP (Rangers NR)
Hickory Crawdads (1 GS, 6 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K)
Santos, a soon-to-be 21 year-old starter from the Dominican Republic, followed up his solid 2022 season in impressive fashion. The right-hander debuted for High-A Hickory allowing only 1 hit over 6IP while striking out 5. (@byrontx)

Honorable Mentions:
Jack Perkins, RHP (Athletics NR)
Lansing Lugnuts (1 GS, 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, 6 K)
Alex Williams, RHP (Marlins NR)
Beloit Sky Carp (1 GS, 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K)
Juan Mercedes, RHP (Mariners NR)
Everett AquaSox (1 GS, 6 IP, 6 H, R, 0 BB, 9 K)
Andry Lara, RHP (Nationals #13)
Wilmington Blue Rocks (1 GS, 5 IP, H, R, BB, 3 K)

Single-A

HITTER: Bill Knight, OF (Mariners NR)
Modesto Nuts (3 G, .500, .533, .786, 1.319, 7 H, 2B, HR, 5 RBI, 5 R, 2 SB)
Every week the POTW process gets my attention with a player that I am not previously familiar with. This week Knight is that guy. Sometimes those guys breakout and become something serious for dynasty leaguers, other times not so much. This is a very small sample size (three games) and he doesn’t have the prospect pedigree (2022 10th round pick out of Mercer), so for know he falls under the “good week, but let’s see more” category.

Honorable Mentions:
Jackson Holliday, SS (Orioles #3)
Delmarva Shorebirds (3 G, .462, .533, .692, 1.225, 6 H, 3 2B, 4 RBI, 3 R, 2 BB)
Gabriel Gonzalez, OF (Mariners #1)
Modesto Nuts (3 G, .467, .529, .667, 1.196, 7 H, 3 2B, 4 R, 2 BB)
Creed Willems, C (Orioles NR)
Delmarva Shorebirds (2 G, .571, 727, 1.286, 2.013, 4 H, 2 2B, HR, 3 RBI, 4 R, 4 BB)
Brayan Buelvas, OF (Athletics #24)
Stockton Ports (3 G, .417, .500, .833, 1.333, 5 H, 3B, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2 BB, SB)

PITCHER: Jake Bennett, LHP (Nationals #12)
Fredericksburg Nationals (1 GS, 5 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K)
Bennett had about as good of a professional debut as one could have on Friday night for Single-A Fredericksburg. The 2022 2nd round pick out of Oklahoma doesn’t have stuff that will blow you away and won’t light up a radar gun, but he’s an advanced pitcher that commands all of his pitches really well. The big lefty should make quick work of the lower levels of the minors. (@UpNextMiLB)

Honorable Mentions:
Sean Hermann, RHP (Yankees #32)
Tampa Tarpons (1 GS, 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, HBP, 4 K)
Samuel Aldegheri, LHP (Phillies NR)
Clearwater Threshers (1 GS, 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K)
Zebby Matthews, RHP (Twins NR)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (1 GS, 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K)
Thomas Harrington, RHP (Pirates #14)
Bradenton Marauders (1 GS, 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K)

Additional Honorable Mention of the Week

Jo Adell, OF (Angels)
Salt Lake Bees (6 G, .346, .433, 1.231, 1.664, 9 H, 2 2B, 7 HR, 12 RBI, 9 R, 4 BB)
Pacific Coast League Hitter of the Week!
He is no longer prospect eligible, but a week with seven home runs including 6 straight games with a dinger cannot go unmentioned. His twelve strikeouts over that same period is a bit of a red flag, but that home run streak is impressive nonetheless. The looming question is do the Angles have it in their plans to give this guy another chance or is a change of scenery necessary?

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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