Prospects of the Week: August 14 – August 20

August 21, 2023 Jeremy Mahy General, MiLB, Prospects of the Week 0

Jasson Dominguez, Arizona Fall League, November 2022. Photo credit Gail Verderico, @1baseball_gail on Twitter and @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, Single-A, and the Rookie Leagues) 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: George Valera, OF (Guardians #7)
Columbus Clippers (5 G, .333/.400/1.056/1.456, 6 H, 2B, 4 HR, 7 RBI, 5 R, 2 BB)
Injuries (again) have limited Valera to just 185 AB so far this year, and lets just be honest, it hasn’t been good. A .211 average, .384 SLG, and 25% K rate are not exactly confidence inspiring. Let’s hope the recent hot streak is the start of something, especially if you are a dynasty owner like me that is still holding him.

Honorable Mentions:
Michael Busch, 3B (Dodgers #5)
Oklahoma Dodgers (6 G, .400/.500/.700/1.200, 8 H, 2B, 3B, HR, 6 RBI, 4 R, 4 BB, SB)
Trey Cabbage, 1B (Angels NR)
Salt Lake Bees (5 G, .381/.409/.667/1.076, 8 H, 3 2B, HR, 3 RBI, 5 R, BB, 4 SB)
Nick Gonzales, 2B (Pirates #7)
Indianapolis Indians (5 G, .429/.500/.667/1.167, 9 H, 2 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 4 R, 3 BB, SB)

PITCHER: Sawyer Gipson-Long, RHP (Tigers NR)
Toledo Mud Hens (1 GS, 6 IP, H, 0 R, 2 BB, 12 K)
International League Pitcher of the Week!
Gipson-Long came over to Detroit in the Michael Fulmer deal at last year’s deadline. He is quietly putting up a really solid 2023. He has a 1.09 WHIP in 91.1 IP with 115 K/26 BB across the highest two levels of the minors. The Tigers might look back on that trade quite favorably if Sawyer keeps pitching like he has in his last two outings (11 IP, 5 H, 4 BB, 20 K).

Honorable Mentions:
Anderson Espinoza, RHP (Padres NR)
El Paso Chihuahuas (1 GS, 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB, 5 K)
Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week!
Drew Rom, LHP (Cardinals, Orioles Mid-Season #18)
Memphis Redbirds (1 GS, 6 IP, H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K)
In his second start in the Cardinals organization, Rom dominated his former Norfolk teammates for six innings allowing just three baserunners while striking out eight. His third start with the organization is his MLB debut against Pittsburgh Monday, August 21st.
Cody Bradford, LHP (Rangers #27)
Round Rock Express (1 GS, 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K)

Double-A

HITTER: Neyfy Castillo, OF (Diamondbacks NR)
Amarillo Sod Poodles (6 G, .478/.520/1.174/1.694, 11 H, 2 2B, 3B, 4 HR, 14 RBI, 9 R, 2 BB, SB)
Texas League Player of the Week!
Smoking hot at the plate this week was Amarillo OF Neyfy Castillo all he did was get 9 runs on 11 hits with 4 home runs to go along with 14 RBI not a bad week! (@blacksox96)

Honorable Mentions:
Jasson Dominguez, OF (Yankees #1)
Somerset Patriots (6 G, .464/.500/.857/1.357, 13 H, 5 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 8 R, 3 BB, SB)
Eastern League Player of the Week!


Jordan Nwogu, OF (Cubs NR)
Tennessee Smokies (5 G, .529/.556/1.176/1.732, 9 H, 2 2B, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 5 R)
Southern League Player of the Week!
Sterlin Thompson, OF (Rockies #6)
Hartford Yard Goats (7 G, .423/.464/.885/1.349, 11 H, 4 HR, 7 RBI, 5 R, 2 BB, 2 SB)
Jacob Young, OF (Nationals #35)
Harrisburg Senators (6 G, .458/.552/.583/1.135, 11 H, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI, 6 R, 5 BB, 7 SB)
Alex Isola, C (Twins NR)
Wichita Wind Surge (6 G, .522/.577/.957/1.534, 12 H, 2B, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 8 R, 3 BB, SB)

PITCHER: Ross Carver, RHP (Guardians NR)
Akron RubberDucks (1 GS, 6 IP, H, R, 0 BB, 12 K)
We all know that the Guardians can turn little known pitchers into valuable big leaguers so I anytime a Cleveland farmhand makes this list it gets my attention. I just don’t think that Carver is dynasty relevant yet. He puts up great strikeout numbers, but the control and command will need work (13% BB rate). That said, last weeks 12 K/0 BB performance sure looks good.

Honorable Mentions:
Jacob Misiorowski, RHP (Brewers #5)
Biloxi Shuckers (1 GS, 6 IP, H, 0 R, 3 BB, 12 K)
Southern League Pitcher of the Week!


DJ Herz, LHP (Nationals, Cubs Midseason #23)
Harrisburg Senators (1 GS, 5 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 10 K)
Eastern League Pitcher of the Week!
Tanner Gordon, RHP (Rockies, Braves Midseason #24)
Hartford Yard Goats (1 GS, 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K)
Blair Henley, RHP (Astros NR)
Corpus Christi Hooks (1 GS, 6 IP, H, R, 2 BB, 10 K)
Texas League Pitcher of the Week!

High-A

HITTER: Stephen Paolini, OF (Braves NR)
Rome Braves (4 G, .467/.529/1.200/1.729, 7 H, 3 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 5 R, 2 BB)
Paolini had a series to remember against Hickory, going 7-15 with 2 homers and 6 RBI. He is exclusively a corner outfielder at this point, and doesn’t project to be anything more than organizational depth. (@MKelley_ND)

Honorable Mentions:
Griffin Lockwood-Powell, C (Dodgers NR)
Great Lakes Loons (6 G, .435/.536/1.000/1.536, 10 H, 2 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 6 R, 5 BB, SB)
Midwest League Player of the Week!
Graham Pauley, 3B (Padres #33)
Fort Wayne TinCaps (6 G, .435/.458/.913/1.371, 10 H, 2 2B, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 4 R, BB, 2 SB)


Harry Ford, C (Mariners #5)
Everett AquaSox (6 G, .364/.500/.773/1.273, 8 H, 3 2B, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 4 R, 6 BB, 3 SB)
Northwest League Player of the Week!
Brooks Baldwin, 3B (White Sox #24)
Winston-Salem Dash (5 G, .524/.583/.857/1.440, 11 H, 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 6 R, 3 BB, 4 SB)
South Atlantic League Player of the Week!
Elio Prado, OF (Orioles #36)
Aberdeen IronBirds (6 G, .417/.417/.750/1.167, 10 H, 3 2B, 3B, HR, 3 RBI, 6 R, 2 SB)

PITCHER: Connor McCullough, RHP (White Sox NR)
Winston-Salem Dash (1 GS, 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K)
McCullough looked really good through seven starts with Single-A Kannapolis, but predictably the competition in High-A has been more of a challenge for him. Last weeks start against a good Greenville team was his best at the level and hopefully a sign of things to come. He allowed singles in the 4th, 6th, and 7th innings, but was able to pitch around them and escape any harm.

Honorable Mentions:
Justin Lange, RHP (Yankees #24)
Hudson Valley Renegades (1 GS, 5.2 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 8 K)
Mitch Neunborn, RHP (Phillies NR)
Jersey Shore BlueClaws (1 GS, 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, 9 K)
Victor Lizarraga, RHP (Padres #12)
Fort Wayne TinCaps (1 GS, 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, BB, 5 K)
Midwest League Pitcher of the Week!
Raul Alcantara, LHP (Mariners NR)
Everett AquaSox (1 GS, 5.2 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, BB, 10 K)

Single-A

HITTER: Lazaro Montes, OF (Mariners #10)
Modesto Nuts (6 G, .500/.571/1.083/1.654, 12 H, 2 2B, 4 HR, 13 RBI, 8 R, 3 BB)
California League Player of the Week!
There is little doubt that Montes can rake. In 171 AB this season he is hitting .310/.454/.632 with 12 HR and 51 RBI. Over his last 11 games he is hotter than hot, he is 20-44 with 11 XBH (6 HR), 19 RBI, and a ratio of 8 BB/9 K. Now to find out where he plays in the field..

Honorable Mentions:
Cole Carrigg, C (Rockies #28)
Fresno Grizzlies (5 G, .522/.500/.913/1.413, 12 H, 3 3B, HR, 3 RBI, 7 R, 3 SB)
Carrigg was the most versatile player in the 2023 Draft, having played every position for San Diego State. He has already played short, catcher, and center as a pro, and can legitimately play all three. (@ShaunKernahan)
Yohandy Morales, 3B (Nationals #12)
Fredericksburg Nationals (6 G, .412/.483/.692/1.175, 12 H, 4 2B, 3B, 9 RBI, 7 R, BB)
Carolina League Player of the Week!
YoYo Morales started his college career as a guy who was power first and really struggled making contact, but went from a .284 hitter to .329 to .408 while improving his power numbers every year. (@ShaunKernahan)
Jared Dickey, OF (Royals #46)
Columbia Fireflies (5 G, .526/.609/.684/1.293, 10 H, 2B, 3B, 7 RBI, 5 R, 4 BB, SB)
Now that Dickey is back in the outfield, he seems much more comfortable at the plate. A hit over power corner guy, the left handed stroke could still develop into solid average power. (@ShaunKernahan)
Max Anderson, SS (Tigers #24)
Lakeland Flying Tigers (6 G, .481/.481/.741/1.222, 13 H, 2 2B, 3B, HR, 8 RBI, 6 R, SB)
Florida State League Player of the Week!
Anderson teamed up with Brice Matthews to form one of the best middle infields in college while at Nebraska. While athletically Anderson is fringy to stick up the middle, his instincts are excellent and the contact approach will keep him in the lineup. (@ShaunKernahan)

PITCHER: John Klein, RHP (Twins NR)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (1 GS, 6 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 8 K)
Florida State League Pitcher of the Week!
Klein is a bit of an unknown commodity within the Twins’ farm system. He started his career in 2021 out of the Northwoods (Collegiate Summer) League before signing on as a free agent with the Twins in the summer of 2022. While his numbers have been quite pedestrian since then, his last game may be something to keep an eye on. Klein threw six scoreless innings for Single-A Fort Myers on August 19, and struck out eight batters in the process. Additionally, he gave up only one hit and one walk, limiting much of any contact at all. This is something that he’s struggled with all season long, as indicated by his WHIP of 1.49 after this masterpiece. Whether or not this is more of anomaly than a turning point remains to be seen, but there’s still time for this 21-year old RHP to turn things around and be someone to monitor going forward. (@sportz_nutt51)

Honorable Mentions:
Ryan Cardona, RHP (Reds NR)
Daytona Tortugas (1 GS, 6 IP, H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K)
Luke Young, RHP (Nationals NR)
Fredericksburg Nationals (1 GS, 6 IP, H, R, BB, 8 K)
Jacob Steinmetz, RHP (Diamondbacks #43)
Visalia Rawhide (1 GS, 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K)
Jose Fleury, RHP (Astros #20)
Fayetteville Woodpeckers (1 GS, 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB, 9 K)

Rookie Leagues

HITTER: Javier Mogollon, IF (White Sox NR)
DSL White Sox (5 G, .368/.478/.895/1.373, 7 H, 2 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 5 R, 2 BB, SB)
Mogollon was a signed this winter for $35K out of Venezuela. It is looking like money very well spent. In 165 AB he is hitting .315/.417/.582 with 10 HR, 42 RBI, 11 SB, and a 14% K rate. Sure it is a small sample size, but some pop and speed with a low K rate is just the type youngster I like.

Honorable Mentions:
Jeremy Rodriguez, MI (Mets NR)
DSL Mets Orange (5 G, .350/.435/.750/1.185, 7 H, 2B, 2 3B, HR, 7 RBI, 7 R, 3 BB, 5 SB)
Braylen Wimmer, MI (Rockies NR)
ACL Rockies (4 G, .600/.667/.867/1.534, 9 H, 2 2B, 3B, 5 R, 3 BB, 2 SB)
Positional questions and swing and miss concerns have long been the question with Wimmer (struck out more than twice as often as he has walked thus far), but the bat can play. The walk rates improved all four years at South Carolina, and he has done more damage with the baseball too. (@ShaunKernahan)
Ruben Santana, 3B (Diamondbacks #29)
ACL Diamondbacks Black (5 G, .412/.474/.882/1.356, 7 H, 2 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 4 R, 2 BB)
Arizona Complex League Player of the Week!
Angel Mata, C (Phillies NR)
DSL Phillies White (5 G, .625/.700/.750/1.450, 10 H, 2 2B, 4 RBI, 4 R, 3 BB)
Brandon Winokur, OF (Twins #16)
FCL Twins (5 G, .389/.421/.722/1.143, 7 H, 3 2B, HR, 6 RBI, 3 R)
Winokur has true five tool upside, with plus arm, speed, and power while the hit tool and fielding instincts currently lag behind. That plus power hasn’t taken long to show itself though, crushing the ball in the complexes of Florida. (@ShaunKernahan)

PITCHER: Abraham Parra, RHP (Padres NR)
DSL Padres Gold (1 GS, 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB, 6 K)
Another 2023 international sign out of Venezuela tops our list this week. In last weeks start, Parra shut down the Diamondbacks DSL squad for 6 innings. A single, followed by a double, and a walk setup a bases loaded, 0ne out jam in the second inning that the youngster got out of unscathed. He followed that with four perfect innings to finish off his best outing of his young career.

Honorable Mentions:
Kyle Bischoff, RHP (Twins NR)
FCL Twins (2 G, 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 10 K)
Florida Complex League Pitcher of the Week!
Keuri Almonte, LHP (Pirates NR)
DSL Pirates Black (1 GS, 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, 6 K)
Christian Zazueta, RHP (Yankees NR)
DSL NYY Yankees (1 GS, 5 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 7 K)
Felix Polanco, LHP (Guardians NR)
DSL Guardians Blue (1 G, 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, 5 K)
Dominican Summer League Pitcher of the Week!
Daniel Corniel, RHP (Brewers NR)
ACL Brewers (1 GS, 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB, 8 K)
Arizona Complex League Pitcher of the Week!

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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