Prospects of the Week: August 22 – August 28

Bryan Mata, Portland Sea Dogs, July 26, 2022, Hartford, CT. Photo credit Scott Greene, @Scotty_Ballgame on Twitter

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: James Outman, OF (Dodgers #11)
Oklahoma City Dodgers (6 G, .571/.565/1.381/1.946, 12 H, 5 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 6 R, BB)
International League Player of the Week!
Outman pretty well wrapped up POTW last Friday night. He capped off an already memorable night by drilling a three-run, walk-off home run to complete Oklahoma City’s first cycle in more than 11 years and send the Dodgers to a 7-4 win against El Paso. He finished the night 5-for-5 at the plate with a home run, two triples, a double, and a single to go along with six RBI.

Honorable Mentions:
Korey Lee, C (Astros #4)
Sugar Land Space Cowboys (6 G, .480/.552/1.160/1.712, 12 H, 2 2B, 5 HR, 11 RBI, 9 R, 4 BB, 2 SB)
Joey Wiemer, OF (Brewers #2)
Nashville Sounds (6 G, .478/.500/1.174/1.674, 11 H, 4 2B, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 5 R, BB, SB)
Freddy Fermin, C (Royals NR)
Omaha Storm Chasers (6 G, .368/.480/1.316/1.796, 7 H, 6 HR, 12 RBI, 9 R, 5 BB)
Pacific Coast League Player of the Week!
Connor Wong, C (Red Sox #34)
Worcester Red Sox (6 G, .414/.433/.793/1.226, 12 H, 3 2B, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 7 R, BB)
Brewer Hicklen, OF (Royals NR)
Omaha Storm Chasers (6 G, .429/.520/1.095/1.615, 9 H, 3 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 8 R, BB, 3 SB)

PITCHER: Victor Santos, RHP (Red Sox #36)
Worcester Red Sox (1 GS, 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, BB, 11 K)
Who remembers C.J. Chatham? Bueller, Buehler? Middle infield utility prospect who Boston traded to Philly back in January 2021. Then in July, Santos was the PTBNL who came to the Red Sox from that deal. He reached Double-A last year and had some nice outings. 2022 has been up and down for the 22-year-old Dominican Republic native, but he absolutely crushed it in his one outing this past week. There’s decent potential for a promotion to Triple-A if he puts together a couple of other good starts with Portland. He is a dynasty stash if you have MiLB rosters of 50-100 players per team. (@Scotty_Ballgame)

Honorable Mentions:
Kent Emanuel, LHP (Phillies NR)
Lehigh Valley IronPigs (1 GS, 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K)
Kyle Muller, LHP (Braves #3)
Gwinnett Stripers (1 GS, 6.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 9 K)
Louie Varland, RHP (Twins #14)
St. Paul Saints (1 GS, 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, BB, 9 K)
Darren McCaughan, RHP (Mariners NR)
Tacoma Rainiers (2 GS, 10 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 K)

Double-A

HITTER: Leandro Cedeno, 1B/OF (Diamondbacks #19)
Amarillo Sod Poodles (6 G, .435/.500/1.043/1.543, 10 H, 2 2B, 4 HR, 12 RBI, 7 R, 3 BB)
Texas League Player of the Week!
Cedeno has been one of the Dbacks’ most prolific power hitters this season, as he hit 4 HR to bring his total to 29 on the year. His power boost can likely be credited to playing half his games at über-hitter-friendly Hodgetown, but it should be noted he played all his games on the road this week. (@hdouglasotto)

Honorable Mentions:
Endy Rodriguez, C (Pirates #6)
Altoona Curve (6 G, .378/.444/.875/1.319, 9 H, 3 2B, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 7 R, 3 BB)
Jhonkensy Noel, 3B/1B (Guardians #9)
Akron RubberDucks (6 G, .364/.440/.773/1.213, 8 H, 4 2B, 3B, HR, 7 RBI, 5 R, 3 BB)
Luis Mieses, OF (White Sox #16)
Birmingham Barons (5 G, .500/.500/.727/1.227, 11 H, 2 2B, HR, 8 RBI, 3 R)
Southern League Player of the Week!
Andrew Young, 2B (Nationals NR)
Harrisburg Senators (5 G, .500/.550/1.222/1.722, 9 H, 2B, 4 HR, 10 RBI, 5 R, 2 BB)
Eastern League Player of the Week!

PITCHER: Matt Sauer, RHP (Yankees #32)
Somerset Patriots (1 GS, 8 IP, 2 H, R, 0 BB, 17 K)
Eastern League Pitcher of the Week!
Yankees 2017 second round pick Sauer had a career-high in strikeouts (17) and innings pitched (8.0) for Double-A Somerset on Thursday night at TD Bank Ballpark. The punch-out mark was the most for any full-season starting pitcher in the minors and majors this season. The first five innings were perfect as he dominated the zone and got many first pitch strikes all game, then he gave up a solo home run to Sebastian Espino on the first pitch of the sixth inning. Sauer threw 95 pitches, 75 for strikes in the game. This great outing comes on the heels of a 11 strikeout game last week vs Bowie for Sauer. Sauer is making up for lost time since he missed most of 2019 (2 starts at beginning of year) and all of 2020 and came back in May of 2021 due to Tommy John Surgery. He is Rule 5 eligible this offseason so the Yankees have an interesting decision to make with him. (@PaulWoodin1)

Honorable Mentions:
Cody Bradford, LHP (Rangers #24)
Frisco RoughRiders (1 GS, 6 IP, 2 H, R, BB, 8 K)
Tanner Bibee, RHP (Guardians #30)
Akron RubberDucks (1 GS, 6 IP, 3 H, R, BB, 10 K)
Sean Burke, RHP (White Sox #7)
Birmingham Barons (1 GS, 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 K)
Southern League Pitcher of the Week!
Bryan Mata, RHP (Red Sox #9)
Portland Sea Dogs (1 GS, 6 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 9 K)

High-A

HITTER: Shervyen Newton, SS (Mets #24)
Brooklyn Cyclones (6 G, .391/.481/.913/1.394, 9 H, 3 2B, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 8 R, 3 BB)
South Atlantic League Player of the Week!
I love 70-grade raw power, I hate a 36% strikeout rate. For years there has been that “if” with Newton. If he had better plate discipline and if he could cut back on the swing and miss… He took his first professional at bat in the Rookie Leagues back in 2016 and 6 years later (in High-A), we are still waiting for that adjustment. He is Rule 5 eligible in the offseason, so maybe a different organization will get the chance to unlock something that the Mets have not been able to. Weeks like he just had can sure keep you hoping and waiting.

Honorable Mentions:
Kenedy Corona, OF (Astros #26)
Asheville Tourists (5 G, .385/.407/.846/1.253, 10 H, 5 2B, 2 3B, HR, 6 RBI, 9 R, BB, 2 SB)
Ismael Alcantara, OF (Dodgers NR)
Great Lakes Loons (5 G, .500/.632/1.357/1.989, 7 H, 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 5 R, 5 BB)
Midwest League Player of the Week!
A.J. Vukovich, 3B (Diamondbacks #7)
Hillsboro Hops (6 G, .333/.333/.815/1.148, 9 H, 2B, 4 HR, 9 RBI, 6 R, 4 SB)
Hunter Goodman, C/1B (Rockies #13)
Spokane Indians (6 G, .458/.519/.875/1.394, 11 H, 2B, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 7 R, 3 BB)
Northwest League Player of the Week!

PITCHER: Richard Fitts, RHP (Yankees NR)
Hudson Valley Renegades (1 GS, 8 IP, 2 H, R, 0 BB, 7 K)
South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week!
Fitts continues the big week for Yankees minor league pitchers. He has made this list twice this year already as a member of the Tampa Tarpons pitching in the Florida State League. After a recent promotion to Hudson Valley he is back on top again. As @PaulWoodin1 pointed out,  “This was a new career high for innings in a game for Fitts. He has given up only two earned runs in 20.2 innings with 21 strikeouts and only one walk since being promoted to Hudson Valley.”  Get him on your radar folks! He is giving opposing batters “Fitts” right now.

Honorable Mentions:
Lucas Knowles, LHP (Nationals NR)
Wilmington Blue Rocks (1 GS, 6.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K)
Adrian Alcantara, RHP (Royals NR)
Quad City River Bandits (1 GS, 6.2 IP, 4 H, R, BB, 11 K)
Joey Estes, RHP (Athletics #13)
Lansing Lugnuts (1 GS, 6 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 6 K)
David Festa, RHP (Twins #27)
Cedar Rapids Kernels (1 GS, 5.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K)

Single-A

HITTER: T.J. White, OF (Nationals #4)
Fredricksburg Nationals (4 G, .733/.722/1.333/2.055, 11 H, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 6 R, 2 BB, 3 SB)
Carolina League Player of the Week!
White has been an interesting name for the Nationals this season, as he’s held his own as one of the youngest players at Single-A (he just turned 19 in July). His season K-rate stands at 27%+, so it’s encouraging that he got to his power without striking out once last week. He could be a big time riser next season if this past week was an indication of him figuring some things out. (@hdouglasotto)

Honorable Mentions:
Jud Fabian, OF (Orioles NR)
Delmarva Shorebirds (5 G, .348/.423/.826/1.249, 8 H, 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 8 R, 3 BB)
Kevin Kilpatrick, OF (Braves NR)
Augusta GreenJackets (5 G, .476/.522/.762/1.284, 10 H, 2B, 3B, HR, 7 RBI, 6 R, 2 BB, 3 SB)
Victor Scott, OF (Cardinals NR)
Palm Beach Cardinals (4 G, .375/.450/1.000/1.450, 6 H, 2 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 3 R, 3 BB, 2 SB)
Florida State League Player of the Week!
Dalton Rushing, C (Dodgers NR)
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (6 G, .522/.607/.870/1.477, 12 H, 5 2B, HR, 7 RBI, 6 R, 5 BB)
California League Player of the Week!

PITCHER: Joseph Hernandez, RHP (Mariners NR)
Modesto Nuts (2 GS, 12 IP, 5 H, R, 5 BB, 16 K)
California League Pitcher of the Week!
It has taken a bit of time for Hernandez to emerge in the talented Seattle Mariners farm system. As they say, the cream rises to the top. The 22-year-old, Hernandez, has finally broken out. Signed as an international free agent in 2017, the 5’11 pitcher was unstoppable for the Modesto Nuts. In 2 starts, Hernandez went 12 innings accumulating 16 strikeouts. Hernandez only gave up 1 ER in the two starts. The star has begun to shine bright for the Mariners prospect, who looks to be another steal for the Seattle front office. (@DGentleman9288)

Honorable Mentions:
JJ Goss, RHP (Rays #29)
Charleston RiverDogs (1 GS, 6 IP, 2 H, R, 0 BB, 8 K)
Ryan Garcia, RHP (Rangers NR)
Down East Wood Ducks (1 GS, 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K)
Carolina League Pitcher of the Week!
Frank Mozzicato, LHP (Royals #14)
Columbia Fireflies (1 GS, 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, BB, 7 K)
Nick Sinacola, RHP (Giants NR)
San Jose Giants (1 GS, 6 IP, 5 H, 0 R, BB, 8 K)

Rookie Leagues

Dominican Summer League Playoffs
HITTING STARS:
Victor Diaz, C (Astros NR)
DSL Astros Orange (3 G, .400/.500/1.100/1.600, 4 H, 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 5 R, 2 BB)
Armando Sierra, OF (Red Sox NR)
DSL Red Sox Blue (4 G, .500/.600/.750/1.350, 6 H, HR, 2 RBI, 4 R, 2 BB, SB)
Erick Bautista, OF (DSL Rockies)
DSL Rockies (4 G, .364/.563/.727/1.290, 4 H, 2B, HR, 5 RBI, 5 R, 5 BB)

PITCHING STARS:
Ismael Luciano, RHP (Rockies NR)
DSL Rockies (1 GS, 5 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 8 K)
Simon Pacheco, RHP (Red Sox NR)
DSL Red Sox Blue (1 G, 4.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, 4 K)
Willian Colmenares, RHP (Red Sox NR)
DSL Red Sox Blue (1 GS, 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, 7 K)

Arizona Complex League Championship Series
ACL Giants Black defeated ACL Rockies (2-1)
Semi-finals
ACL Giants Black 9, ACL Rangers 6 and ACL Rockies 5, ACL Reds 4

P.J. Hilson, OF (Giants NR)
ACL Giants Black (4 G, .533/.611/.933/1.544, 8 H, 4 2B, 3B, 2 RBI, 5 R)
Hit walk-off single to win game 3 and the ACL Championship!
Dilan Rosario, 2B (Giants NR)
ACL Giants Black (4 G, .375/.412/.750/1.162, 6 H, 3 2B, HR, 7 RBI, 2 R)
Sterlin Thompson, OF (Rockies NR)
ACL Rockies (4 G, .313/.353/.563/.916, 5 H, 2B, HR, RBI, 3 R)
Alberto Pacheco, LHP (Rockies NR)
ACL Rockies (1 GS, 5 IP, 3 H, ER, BB, 9 K)
Through 5 strong innings in semi-final victory.

Florida Complex League Championship Series
FCL Yankees defeated FCL Rays (2-1)
Semi-finals
FCL Yankees 8, FCL Red Sox 4 and FCL Rays 7, FCL Mets 4

Rafael Flores, C/DH (Yankees NR)
FCL Yankees (3 G, .545/.583/1.182/1.765, 6 H, 2 2B, 3B, HR, 3 RBI, 6 R, BB)
Felix Negueis, OF (Yankees NR)
FCL Yankees (4 G, .429/.500/.786/1.286, 6 H, 2 2B, HR, 3 RBI, 5 R, 2 BB)
Jared Serna, IF (Yankees #50)
FCL Yankees (4 G, .333/.400/.611/1.011, 6 H, 2 2B, HR, 2 RBI, 3 R, 2 BB, 3 SB)
Kamren James, 3B (Rays NR)
FCL Rays (3 G, .444/.583/.667/1.250, 4 H, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R, 3 BB, 2 SB)
Juan Rodriguez, RHP (Rays NR)
FCL Rays (2 G, 2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K)
Picked up the win in game 2 of the series.

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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