Each week during the Minor League Baseball season we pick the hitting and pitching prospects from each level (Triple-A, Double-A, High-A, Low-A, 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. 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, @BerrysBraves, and @Scotty_Ballgame) 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: Dalton Kelly, 1B/LF (Tampa Bay Rays NR)
Durham Bulls (5 G, .500/.500/1.200, 10 H, 4 HR, 12 RBI, SB)
Back-to-back two-homer games to end the week gave Kelly the edge for AAA POTW honors.
Congrats to Dalton Kelly, who has been named Triple-A East Player of the Week!
Kelly in 5 games hit .500 (10-20) with 4 homers & 13 RBI, including a pair of multi-homer games pic.twitter.com/if1zRhPeCa
— Durham Bulls (@DurhamBulls) August 30, 2021
Honorable Mentions:
Keibert Ruiz, C (Washington Nationals #3)
Rochester Red Wings (5 G, .381/.435/.952, 8 H, 4 HR, 7 RBI)
Promoted to MLB following this torrid week
Juan Yepez, 1B (St. Louis Cardinals #16)
Memphis Redbirds (4 G, .438/.500/1.125, 7 H, 2 2B, 3 HR, 10 RBI)
CO-PITCHERS:
Daniel Castano, RHP (Miami Marlins NR)
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (1 GS, W, 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K)
J.P. France, RHP (Houston Astros #29)
Sugar Land Skeeters (1 GS, W, 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 9 K)
Castano’s and France’s were two of several 7 inning, 0 run performances this week, and they both lead the way for our pitcher Prospects of the Week.
Our very own J.P. France has been named Triple-A West’s Pitcher of the Week!
In his last outing on Friday at El Paso, France went 7.0 IP with 9 K and gave up just one hit and one walk 🔥 pic.twitter.com/tIqwSDySeT
— Sugar Land Skeeters (@SL_Skeeters) August 30, 2021
Double-A
HITTER: Bryson Stott, SS (Philadelphia Phillies #2)
Reading Fightin Phils (6 G, .451/.517/.741, 13 H, 2 HR, 6 RBI, SB)
Stott had multiple hits in five of his six contests last week as he was the hottest hitter in Double-A.
Honorable Mention:
Vinnie Pasquantino, 2B/3B (Kansas City Royals #42)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals (6 G, .524/.565/.952, 11 H, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 3 2B)
PITCHER: Matt Dennis, RHP (Colorado Rockies NR)
Hartford Yard Goats (1 GS, W, 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K)
It’s time to celebrate when we have Rockies minor league pitchers named in POTW, and Dennis is certainly deserving this week, following a one-hit outing on the road in Harrisburg. This was a needed bounceback game as he had surrendered 7 earned in only 3 IP in his previous start.
Yard Goats Pitcher Matt Dennis Named Pitcher of the Week ⚾️
Dennis retired 20 consecutive batters and fired seven scoreless innings in victory to become Yard Goats third honoree in 2021
Read more ➡️ https://t.co/XV4aGa7m2U pic.twitter.com/fVoROADRTE
— Hartford Yard Goats (@GoYardGoats) August 30, 2021
Honorable Mentions:
Drew Parrish, LHP (Kansas City Royals #48)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals (1 GS, W, 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K)
Kyle Nicolas, RHP (Miami Marlins #20)
Pensacola Blue Wahoos (1 GS, W, 6.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K)
High-A
HITTER: Luke Waddell, 3B/SS (Atlanta Braves #39)
Rome Braves (6 G, .545/.560/1.364, 12 H, 6 HR, 10 RBI)
Waddell carried a three-game homer streak into the end of the week.
.@Braves 5th round draft pick Luke Waddell out of @GTBaseball is on a bit of a tear right now. Last 5 games: .526/.571/1.316 (1.887 OPS).
Here are all 5 homers over his last 5 games played. pic.twitter.com/LEmzuGDNjL
— Gaurav (@gvedak) August 29, 2021
Honorable Mention:
Shay Whitcomb, SS (Houston Astros #11)
Asheville Tourists (6 G, .417/.481/.750, 10 H, 1 HR, 12 RBI, SB)
PITCHER: Quinn Priester, RHP (Pittsburgh Pirates #4)
Greensboro Grasshoppers (1 GS, W, 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 13 K)
If there was any no-brainer choice for a POTW, it was Priester. Complete domination at Asheville this past Friday, allowing only one hit and punching out a season-high 13.
13 punchouts in his last outing.
That’s good. pic.twitter.com/zJPEEMWpp7
— Young Bucs (@YoungBucsPIT) August 30, 2021
Honorable Mention:
Bryan Hoeing, RHP (Miami Marlins NR)
Beloit Snappers (1 GS, 7 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 10 K)
Low-A
HITTER: Luis Garcia, SS (Philadelphia Phillies #15)
Clearwater Threshers (7 G, .444/.516/.963, 12 H, 3 HR, 13 RBI, SB)
Garcia hit safely in every one of his games last week and is currently riding a 10 game hit streak.
Honorable Mention:
Michael Sandle, OF (Houston Astros NR)
Fayetteville Woodpeckers (5 G, .524/.583/1.190, 11 H, 4 HR, 9 RBI, 1 3B, 2 SB)
Michael Sandle closed out his massive week with a five-RBI game as the Woodpeckers offense rolled to a 9-1 victory in Kinston.
RECAP: https://t.co/deOjvR8UKK pic.twitter.com/TzaUAlhEE5
— Fayetteville Woodpeckers (@WoodpeckersNC) August 29, 2021
Sal Frelick, OF (Milwaukee Brewers #4)
Carolina Mudcats (6 G, .478/.519/.652, 11 H, 2 2B, 3B, 2 RBI, 3 BB, 3 SB)
Promoted to High-A Wisconsin after only 16 games with Carolina
PITCHER: Jake Walkinshaw, RHP (Oakland Athletics NR)
Stockton Ports (1 GS, W, 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 10 K)
Walkinshaw did not make an appearance in Dave Mullen’s A’s midseason Top 50 prospects, but he made an impression in his lone start this week, throwing shutout ball with 10 strikeouts.
Honorable Mention:
John Swanda, RHP (Los Angeles Angels NR)
Inland Empire 66ers (1 G, W, 6.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 K)
Rookie
HITTER: Tyler Collins, OF (Atlanta Braves #31)
FCL Braves (4 G, .583/.643/.833, 7 H, 1 3B, 1 2B, 6 SB)
Collins was an on base machine and he took advantage of it by swiping six bags.
Honorable Mention:
Brady House, SS (Washington Nationals #5)
FCL Nationals (4 G, .462/.533/1.000, 6 H, 2 HR, 7 RBI)
#Nationals SS Brady House has been sensational to begin his pro career. The 18-year old went 2-for-3, with 2 walks, 2 runs, a double, a HR, and an RBI. The 6-foot-4, 215 lb righty is hitting .500/.600/1.188 with 2 doubles, 3 HR, 8 RBI, and 4:4 K:BB in 20 PA in the FCL. #NATITUDE
— Michael Richards (@MPRichards1981) August 30, 2021
PITCHER: Domingo Mejia, RHP (Brewers NR)
DSL Brewers2 (1 GS, W, 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 12 K)
20-year-old out of the Dominican Republic had his best outing by far in his 6th start for the Dominican Summer League Brew Crew 2 squad, giving up only 1 base hit and one hit batsman.
Honorable Mentions:
Yaifer Perdomo, LHP (Blue Jays #40)
FCL Blue Jays (1 GS, W, 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 11 K)
Edgardo Henriquez, RHP (Los Angeles Dodgers NR)
ACL Dodgers (1 GS, 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 10 K)
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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