Prospects of the Week: August 19 – August 25

Jhoan Duran. Lakeland Flying Tigers v Fort Myers Miracle. Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium. Lakeland, FL. June 1, 2019. Photo by Tom Hagerty/MiLB.com.

Each week during the Minor League Baseball season we pick the hitting and pitching prospects from each level (AAA, AA, A+, A, A- (Short Season) and Rookie ball who, in our opinion, had the best week. Jake Berry and Scott Greene award their 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.

As always, tweet us (@Prospects1500@berrys_baseball and @Scotty_Ballgame) when you see a great performance that warrants a consider 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: Tyrone Taylor, OF (Milwaukee Brewers #37)
San Antonio Missions (7 G, .560/.621/1.040, 14 H, 3 HR, 3 2B, 13 RBI, SB)
The 25-year-old Taylor came in at number 37 in the Brewers organization in the midseason update and the former second round pick is having a pretty consistently solid season at Triple-A. His most notable week so far was highlighted by 14 hits, more than any prospect eligible player at the level, and six extra base hits.


Honorable Mentions:
Adolis Garcia, OF (St. Louis Cardinals #18)
Memphis Redbirds (6 G, .429/.478/1.095, 9 H, 4 HR, 2 2B, 9 RBI, SB)

Dylan Carlson, OF (St. Louis Cardinals #2)
Memphis Redbirds (6 G, .481/.533/.741, 13 H, 2 HR, 1 2B, 5 RBI)

PITCHER: Parker Dunshee, RHP (Oakland Athletics #15)
Las Vegas Aviators (2 GS, W, 11.2 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 15 K)
It was an amazing week for Dunshee as he was down right filthy with an 18% swinging strike rate and a 0.429 WHIP.


Honorable Mentions:
T.J. Zeuch, RHP (Toronto Blue Jays #19)
Buffalo Bisons – Statistically, it wasn’t a record week for Zeuch. He did however put himself in the record books by throwing a nine inning no hitter, although it only featured three strikeouts.


Genesis Cabrera, LHP (St. Louis Cardinals #19)
Memphis Redbirds (2 GS, W, 13 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 5 BB, 17 K, with last start coming on 8/24 vs. Omaha where he went 7 IP, giving up only 1 hit and 12 K!)


Double-A

HITTER: Pavin Smith, 1B (Arizona Diamondbacks #19)
Jackson Generals (6 G, .500/.538/.917, 12 H, 2 HR, 4 2B)
Smith was a beast at the plate last week displaying his advanced hit tool and flashing some power as well with six extra base hits.


Honorable Mentions:
Stone Garrett, OF (Miami Marlins NR)
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (6 G, .483/.500/.793, 14 H, 2 HR, 3 2B)

Jim Haley, 1B (Tampa Bay Rays honorable mention after Top 50)
Montgomery Biscuits (6 G, .400/.400/1.040/1.440, 10 H, 2 2B, 3B, 4 HR, 9 RBI, 7 R)

PITCHER: Bailey Ober, RHP (Minnesota Twins #35)
Pensacola Blue Wahoos (1 GS, W, 7 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 12 K)
Ober tossed a gem that featured a 79% strike rate on 96 pitches.


Honorable Mention:
Jhoan Duran, RHP (Minnesota Twins #9)
Pensacola Blue Wahoos (1 GS, W, 8 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 11 K)


High-A

HITTER: Brewer Hicklen, OF (Kansas City Royals #15)
Wilmington Blue Rocks (7 G, .440/.483/1.080, 11 H, 5 HR, 2B, 9 RBI, 10 R, SB)
Brewer “Bombs Away” Hicklen, let’s see if that sticks…, was punishing baseballs and opposing pitching last week to the tune of a High-A leading five dingers. Brewer, there is your #PlayersWeekend jersey nickname for you when you get to the show.


Honorable Mentions:
Miguel Vargas, 3B/OF (Los Angeles Dodgers #17 – Preseason)
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (6 G, .556/.571/.926, 15 H, 5 2B, 1 HR, 1 3B, 8 RBI)

Brock Deatherage, OF (Detroit Tigers #25)
Lakeland Flying Tigers (9 G [with 3 doubleheaders!], 7 SB, .310/.382/.448, 9 R, 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 4 BB)

PITCHER: Andrew Politi, RHP (Boston Red Sox NR)
Salem Red Sox (2 GS, 9 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 10 K)
Politi, who has been almost exclusively a late inning reliever this season, made two starts last week. While his nine hitless innings did come over two outings, his 10 strikeouts to two walks made for an even more impressive week.


Honorable Mention:
Tim Cate, LHP (Washington Nationals #6)
Potomac Nationals (1 GS, .W, 7 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 9 K)


Single-A

HITTER: Ji-Hwan Bae, SS (Pittsburgh Pirates #18 – Preseason)
Greensboro Grasshoppers (6 G, .522/.577/.739, 12 H, 3 2B, 1 3B)
Bae was tied for the Single-A hits lead last week, but ultimately the four extra base knocks were what set the young shortstop apart.


Honorable Mention:
Evan Edwards, 1B (Miami Marlins NR)
Clinton LumberKings (6 G, .357/.400/.607, 10 H, 2 HR, 1 2B, 12 RBI)

PITCHER: Reid Birlingmair, RHP (Oakland Athletics NR)
Beloit Snappers (2 GS, 12.2 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 16 K)
In addition to piling up the strikeouts, Birlingmair also induced a ton of groundball contact which allowed him to work around the six hits and four walks combined over his two starts.

Honorable Mentions:
Ryne Inman, RHP (Seattle Mariners #46)
West Virginia Power (1 GS, 4.2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 10 K)

Hunter Haworth, RHP (Boston Red Sox NR)
Greenville Drive (1 GS, 7 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 13 IP scoreless streak)


Short Season

HITTER: Brayan Rocchio, SS (Cleveland Indians #6)
Mahoning Valley Scrappers (5 G, .364/.391/.682, 8 H, 2 HR, 1 2B, 3 SB)


Honorable Mention:
Armani Smith, UTL (San Francisco Giants NR)
Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (6 G, .522/.520/.783, 12 H, 1 HR, 1 3B, 1 2B)

CO-PITCHERS: Tyler Holton, LHP (Arizona Diamondbacks NR)
Hillsboro Hops (1 GS, 6 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 11 K)


and teammate Marcos Tineo, RHP (Arizona Diamondbacks NR)
Hillsboro Hops (W, 9 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 15 K)


Rookie

HITTER: Darlin Moquete, OF (St. Louis Cardinals NR)
DSL Cardinals Blue (5 G, .636/.652/1.091/1.743, 14 H, 2B, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 3 SB)
The 19-year-old Moquete tore up Dominican Summer League pitchers this past week. He was among the MiLB leaders in hits (14) and that was in only 5 games! He had two 4-5 games and also notched 3 HR and 3 SB.

Honorable Mention:
Johan Liberato, OF (Colorado Rockies NR)
DSL Colorado (5 G, .571/.684/1.357/2.041, 6 R, 8 H, 3B, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 5 BB)
The lefthanded hitting Liberato led ALL of MiLB with his 2.041 OPS this past week.

PITCHER: Taj Bradley, RHP (Tampa Bay Rays NR)
Princeton Rays (1 GS, W, 6 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 9 K)
Tampa Bay’s 5th round pick in 2018 tossed a gem this past against the Greeneville Reds, giving up only one hit in 6 scoreless innings, punching out 9 along the way.


Honorable Mention:
Listher Sosa, RHP (Pittsburgh Pirates NR)
DSL Pirates 1 (1 GS, W, 6 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 K, only 38 pitches, of which 35 were strikes)

I reside in Carrollton, Georgia and love everything baseball. I graduated from the University of West Georgia with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sport Management. I have a passion for the minor leagues and have high hopes of visiting as many minor league parks as I can. I enjoy the statistical side of the game, especially sabermetrics. I am also an avid baseball card collector and fantasy baseball player.




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