Prospects of the Week: August 15 – August 21

August 22, 2022 Jeremy Mahy General, MiLB, Prospects of the Week 0

Mason Englert, Hickory Crawdads, August 18, 2022, at Winston-Salem, NC. Photo credit Dan Victor, @slydanno70 on Twitter
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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 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: Camden Duzenack, 2B (Diamondbacks NR)
Reno Aces (5 G, .533/.588/1.400/1.988, 8 H, 4 2B, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 5 R, 2 BB, SB)
Pacific Coast League Player of the Week!
Duzenack terrorized Salt Lake pitchers this week, collecting a hit in every game he played and not striking out once. The 27-year-old has had a mostly average season with occasional torrid stretches like this. He’ll need to get on base more consistently in order to carve out a role in the majors. (@hdouglasotto)

Honorable Mentions:
Mark Vientos, 3B/1B (Mets #7)
Syracuse Mets (6 G, .448/.467/.828/1.295, 13 H, 2 2B, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 9 R, BB)
International League Player of the Week!
Cristian Santana, 3B (Reds NR)
Louisville Bats (6 G, .368/.520/1.053/1.573, 7 H, 2B, 4 HR, 12 RBI, 5 R, 6 BB)
Josh Jung, 3B (Rangers #2)
Round Rock Express (5 G, .429/.455/.952/1.407, 9 H, 2 2B, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 3 R, BB)
Alan Trejo, 2B (Rockies NR)
Albuquerque Isotopes (6 G, .346/.379/.962/1.341, 9 H, 2B, 5 HR, 10 RBI, 7 R, 2 BB)

PITCHER: Brandon Pfaadt, RHP (Diamondbacks #3)
Reno Aces (1 GS, 7 IP, H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K)
Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week!
Pfaadt continues to prove himself as the Dbacks’ best pitching prospect, pitching 7 innings of 1-hit ball this week. His transition to Triple-A has been a smooth one and he shows no signs of slowing down (26 IP, 26 K, 1.73 ERA in 4 starts). Pfaadt’s durability, control, and strikeout skills all give him the foundation for #2 starter upside. (@hdouglasotto)

Honorable Mentions:
Tyler Herb, RHP (Brewers NR)
Nashville Sounds (1 GS, 7 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K)
Peyton Battenfield, RHP (Guardians #21)
Columbus Clippers (1 GS, 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K)
International League Pitcher of the Week!
Michael Grove, RHP (Dodgers #25)
Oklahoma City Dodgers (1 GS, 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 10 K)
Hayden Wesneski, RHP (Cubs, Yankees #13)
Iowa Cubs (1 GS, 5 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 5 K)

Double-A

HITTER: Kaden Polcovich, 2B (Mariners #20)
Arkansas Travelers (6 G, .476/.522/1.095/1.617, 10 H, 2B, 4 HR, 7 RBI, 6 R, 2 BB)
Texas League Player of the Week!

Honorable Mentions:
Davis Schneider, 2B (Blue Jays #44)
New Hampshire Fisher Cats (6 G, .440/.533/.760/1.293, 11 H, 3 2B, 3B, HR, 3 RBI, 4 R, 5 BB, 3 SB)
Tyler Fitzgerald, SS (Giants NR)
Richmond Flying Squirrels (5 G, .500/.571/1.111/1.682, 9 H, 2 2B, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 6 R, 2 BB, 2 SB)
Eastern League Player of the Week!
Elly De La Cruz, SS (Reds #2)
Chattanooga Lookouts (6 G, .476/.538/.905/1.443, 10 H, 3 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 3 R, 4 BB)
Riley Unroe, IF (Mariners NR)
Arkansas Travelers (6 G, .500/.536/.808/1.344, 13 H, 2 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 3 R, 2 BB, SB)

PITCHER: Kyle Harrison, LHP (Giants #2)
Richmond Flying Squirrels (1 GS, 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 10 K)
I am not sure what more there is to say about Harrison. His stuff is nasty and he is climbing through levels quickly. He just turned 21 ten days ago and already has 63.1 innings in at Double-A. The only knock on him right now is control. He is sitting at 4.3 BB/9 on the year and for him to reach his lofty ceiling as a top of the rotation arm, that will need to improve. I believe that he will make the necessary adjustments. Maybe he already has, since July (7 starts) his BB/9 is only 2.6, during that time he has only allowed a total of nineteen hits and four earned runs. Is he the #1 left-handed prospect?

Honorable Mentions:
Nick Nastrini, RHP (Dodgers #18)
Tulsa Drillers (1 GS, 6.2 IP, H, R, 2 BB, 8 K)
Ty Madden, RHP (Tigers #4)
Erie SeaWolves (1 GS, 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB, 6 K)
Andrew Painter, RHP (Phillies #1)
Reading Fightin Phils (1 GS, 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K)
Michael Mercado, RHP (Rays NR)
Montgomery Biscuits (1 GS, 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K)
Southern League Pitcher of the Week!

High-A

HITTER: Hunter Goodman, C/1B (Rockies #13)
Spokane Indians (6 G, .357/.357/1.000/1.357, 10 H, 3 2B, 5 HR, 10 RBI, 8 R)
Northwest League Player of the Week!
Have a week Hunter Goodman! Five home runs in 5 days is simply unheard of! For the season, Goodman now has 30 jacks between Fresno (Single-A) and Spokane (High-A). Fresno Grizzlies Media Relations Coordinator, Stephen Rice, tipped me off to the potential in Goodman, and he was spot on with his assessment. “Hunter Goodman is a calm, assassin. He is someone who understands plate discipline and is looking for the right pitch. His bat will be fun to watch when he gets to the higher levels in the system and could easily move out of the squat into a true first baseman. Goodman was easily the biggest steal of the draft!” Hunter’s demeanor, his bat, his strong and accurate arm behind the plate, and even his ability to play 1st base, all impressed me, and that is why I ranked him #13 in my Rockies midseason Top 50. (@100percent3G)

Honorable Mentions:
Matthew Lugo, SS (Red Sox #27)
Greenville Drive (5 G, .381/.435/1.048/1.483, 8 H, 2 2B, 4 HR, 10 RBI, 9 R, BB, 2 SB)
South Atlantic League Player of the Week!
Mason Auer, OF (Rays #21)
Bowling Green Hot Rods (5 G, .381/.480/.857/1.337, 8 H, 2 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 6 R, 3 BB, 3 SB)
Damon Keith, OF (Dodgers NR)
Great Lakes Loons (5 G, .471/.550/1.235/1.785, 8 H, 2 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 6 R, 3 BB)
Midwest League Player of the Week!
Eddy Diaz, IF (Rockies #49)
Spokane Indians (5 G, .684/.650/.947/1.597, 13 H, 5 2B, 4 RBI, 6 R, 2 SB)

PITCHER: Mason Englert, RHP (Rangers #37)
Hickory Crawdads (1 GS, 6 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, 3 K)
Northwest League Pitcher of the Week!
The 22-year-old right-hander is finally healthy after missing all of 2018 and 2019 due to injury. He seems to be making the most of it having thrown consecutive starts (7 IP and 6 IP) without allowing a hit for High-A Hickory. Englert has had an impressive K/9 of 10.09 this season and will likely get at least a few starts in AA Frisco before the season ends. (@byrontx)

Honorable Mentions:
Bryan Woo, RHP (Mariners NR)
Everett AquaSox (1 GS, 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 11 K)
South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week!


Javier Rivera, RHP (Reds #35)
Dayton Dragons (1 GS, 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K)
Cesar Gomez, RHP (Astros NR)
Asheville Tourists (1 GS, 5 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 9 K)
Diosmerky Taveras, RHP (Astros NR)
Asheville Tourists (1 GS, 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K)

Single-A

HITTER: Shane Sasaki, OF (Rays #44)
Charleston RiverDogs (6 G, .444/.500/.926/1.426, 12 H, 5 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 8 R, 3 BB, 4 SB)
Carolina League Player of the Week!
Sasaki had another week to remember at the plate, tallying four multi-hit efforts over six games and reaching base in half of his 30 plate appearances, earning Carolina League Player of the Week for the second straight week. In one of those games, he almost hit for the cycle by going 4-5, but finished a single shy and hit two home runs instead. Sasaki has steadily performed at a very high level all season and has been one of the most productive players in the entire system in the second half, maintaining an impressive .361/.422/.639 (184 wRC+) across 29 games since the start of July. (@GatorSosa)

Honorable Mentions:
Griffin Doersching, 1B (Padres NR)
Lake Elsinore Storm (6 G, .435/.517/1.217/1.734, 10 H, 6 HR, 10 RBI, 10 R, 4 BB)
California League Player of the Week!
Jud Fabian, OF (Orioles NR)
Delmarva Shorebirds (5 G, .429/.538/.857/1.395, 9 H, 6 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 8 R, 5 BB)
Gavin Cross, OF (Royals NR)
Columbia Fireflies (6 G, .318/.444/.909/1.353, 7 H, 2 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 7 R, 4 BB)
Dalton Rushing, C (Dodgers NR)
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (5 G, .476/.500/1.048/1.548, 10 H, 3 2B, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 7 R, BB)

PITCHER: Pierson Ohl, RHP (Twins NR)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (1 GS, 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K)
Florida State League Pitcher of the Week!
Ohl came into this season as somewhat of an unknown commodity, pitching just over one inning last season. This year, his overall numbers are quite impressive, as he holds a 27.8% strikeout rate and a measly 3.8% walk rate over 82 innings pitched. Specifically this past week in two games, he fired thirteen innings of shutout ball, striking out twelve and limiting the damage to just five hits. Still, at age 22, and in Single-A, he will have to prove the legitimacy of this season against older competition in the higher levels. That being said, he’s opened the eyes of many as we watch him in the future. (@sportz_nutt51)

Honorable Mentions:
Will Dion, LHP (Guardians #28)
Lynchburg Hillcats (1 GS, 7 IP, H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K)
Carolina League Pitcher of the Week!
Jackson Rutledge, RHP (Nationals #9)
Fredericksburg Nationals (1 GS, 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 10 K)
Luis Peralta, LHP (Pirates NR)
Bradenton Marauders (1 GS, 5 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 9 K)
Andry Lara, RHP (Nationals #8)
Fredericksburg Nationals (1 GS, 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, BB, 7 K)

Rookie Leagues

HITTER: Ariel Almonte, OF (Reds NR)
ACL Reds (5 G, .455/.625/1.455/2.080, 5 H, 2 2B, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 4 R, 5 BB)
Arizona Complex League Player of the Week!
Almonte is not getting the publicity he’s deserving of, despite being one of the top-rated outfield singings of the 2020-21 international class. Now with the recent additions to the Cincinnati farm, he’s become somewhat of an afterthought. That is until this last week when he slashed .455/.625/1.455 in ACL play. Still only 18 years of age, Cincinnati does not need to rush Almonte. I’m not banking on Almonte being a well-kept secret in the Cincinnati organization for too much longer. Quite frankly, the secret is already out. (@DGentleman9288)

Honorable Mentions:
Jesus Bugarin, OF (Rockies NR)
ACL Rockies (5 G, .579/.636/.842/1.478, 11 H, 3 2B, 3B, 4 RBI, 6 R, 3 BB)
Gedionne Marlin, SS (Rangers NR)
DSL Rangers Red (6 G, .500/.538/.917/1.455, 12 H, 5 2B, 3B, HR, 3 RBI, 5 R, 2 BB)
Dominican Summer League Player of the Week!
Erick Bautista, OF (Rockies NR)
DSL Rockies (6 G, .333/.440/.714/1.154, 7 H, 2B, 2 HR, 11 RBI, 7 R, 3 BB)
Angel Del Rosario, 2B (Blue Jays NR)
FCL Blue Jays (4 G, .417/.462/.667/1.129, 5 H, HR, 3 RBI, R, BB, 6 SB)

PITCHER: Javier Fuenmayor, RHP (Phillies NR)
DSL Phillies White (1 GS, 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K)
Fuenmayor was signed out of Venezuela in August 2019 and has put up average numbers to this point in his career. He doesn’t strike many batters out but this past week he had perhaps the best game of his career. As a 19-year-old pitching in the DSL, he’s a few years away from the majors but he is someone to keep an eye on after this past week’s start. (@tonybps1)

Honorable Mentions:
Douglas Orellana, RHP (Mets NR)
FCL Mets (1 GS, 5 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 8 K)
Jesus Rodriguez, LHP (Tigers NR)
DSL Tigers 1 (1 GS, 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 8 K)
Orlando Gil, RHP (Rangers NR)
DSL Rangers Red (1 GS, 5 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K)
Santiago Quintero, LHP (Angels NR)
DSL Rangers (2 G, 7 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 10 K, SV)
Dominican Summer 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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