Prospects of the Week: August 30 – September 5

September 7, 2021 Scott Greene General, MiLB, Prospects of the Week 0

Michael Busch, Arizona Fall League, October 10, 2019 - photo credit rd_79 on Flickr and @dropthearrow 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, 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. Jake is off for this Labor Day holiday so all of these POTW decisions fell to Mr. Greene. 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: Steven Kwan, OF (Indians #45)
Columbus Clippers (6G, .591/.640/1.000, 13 H, 3 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI. 8 R, 3 BB)
I recently snagged Kwan in Chappy’s Prospect Challenge, and if he’s available in your deep dynasty league, take a flier on him now. Maybe he gets some mid-to-late September MLB action, or at least some 2022 playing time. He’s slashing .363/.434/.536 this season in Triple-A.


Honorable Mentions:
Otto Lopez, 2B (Blue Jays #10)
Buffalo Bisons (7 G, .370/.367/.519, 10 H, 2B, HR, 5 RBI, 5 R, 2 SF, 4 SB)

Curtis Terry, 1B (Texas Rangers #25)
Round Rock Express (6 G, .348/.423/.783, 8 H, 2 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 4 R, 3 BB)

PITCHER: Connor Seabold, RHP (Boston Red Sox #13)
Worcester Red Sox (1 GS, W, 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K)
It seems like every other outing for Seabold is absolutely stellar. This is his 3rd POTW mention in the last 5 weeks. He tossed a seven-inning, one-hit gem on August 21, but then was not great on August 28. Connor certainly deserves a shot in Boston and likely would have gotten the call over Kutter Crawford had he been on enough days rest.

Honorable Mentions:
Ben Rowen, RHP (Los Angeles Angels NR)
Salt Lake Bees (3 G, L, 6 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K)

Double-A

CO-HITTERS:
Triston Casas, 1B (Red Sox #2)
Portland Sea Dogs (5 G, .471/.571/1.353, 8 H, 5 HR, 11 RBI, 6 R, 4 BB)


Michael Busch, 2B (Dodgers #3)
Tulsa Drillers (6 G, .542/.581/1.167, 13 H, 6 2B, 3 HR, 14 RBI, 9 R, 5 BB, 2 SF)


I just couldn’t justify choosing one over the other, as both Casas and Busch absolutely destroyed Double-A this past week. Just look at these video game-like numbers. I don’t think I have to say anymore. They are easily in the Top 3 for Boston and LA’s farm systems, and you could make an argument that each is THE best prospect for those organizations, period.

Honorable Mention:
Julio Rodriguez, OF (Mariners #1)
Arkansas Travelers (6 G, .565/.630/.696, 13 H, 3 2B, 5 RBI, 5 R, 4 BB, 3 SB)

PITCHER: Matt Brash, RHP (Seattle Mariners #10)
Arkansas Travelers (1 GS, W, 6 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 11 K)
Brash has been pretty dominant lately, having given up only 3 earned runs since the beginning of August. The Wind Surge had no shot at rattling him the other day as he took a perfect game into the 7th inning. His Travs teammates completed the no-no. This prospect is a MUST ADD in all dynasty formats with 25-50+ man MiLB rosters.


Honorable Mentions:
Ryan Smith, LHP (Los Angeles Angels NR)
Rocket City Trash Pandas (1 GS, W, 7 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 K)

Adam Scott, LHP (Cleveland Indians NR)
Akron Rubberducks (1 GS, W, 6 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K)

Jay Groome, LHP (Boston Red Sox #8)
Portland Sea Dogs (1 GS, 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 10 K)

High-A

HITTER: Philip Clarke, C (Toronto Blue Jays NR)
Vancouver Canadians (5 G, .520/.538/.920, 13 H, 4 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 6 R, BB)
A catcher with 13 hits in 5 games? Has to be POTW worthy, right? Has to be for the player possibly most known for his 2020 Bowman non-auto (card that was supposed to be autographed, has the spot for it, and isn’t signed).

Honorable Mentions:
Nick Gonzales, 3B (Pittsburgh Pirates #2)
Greensboro Grasshoppers (6 G, .364/.440/.955, 8 H, 2 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 5 R, 3 BB, SB)
The former 1st round pick just keeps on hitting. Is it possible he sees Double-A in the last couple of weeks of the MiLB season? Unlikely but not out of the realm of possibility.

Spencer Horwitz, 1B (Toronto Blue Jays NR)
Vancouver Canadians (6 G, .440/.516/.880, 11 H, 5 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 6 R, 4 BB)

PITCHER: Mason Hickman, RHP (Cleveland Indians #36)
Lake County Captains (1 GS, W, 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 9 K)
If you look up and down this article, there are a few six-inning, one-hit masterpieces. Hickman’s was one of the more impressive as he added nine strikeouts.


Honorable Mention:
Evan Lee, LHP (Washington Nationals #30)
Wilmington Blue Rocks (1 GS, W, 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K)

Low-A

HITTER: Tanner Murray, SS (Tampa Bay Rays #46)
Charleston RiverDogs (6 G, .483/.545/.690, 14 H, 6 2B, 11 RBI, 7 R, 2 BB)
Murray and Encarnacion-Strand (below) tied for the lead in all of MiLB with 14 hits apiece. Tanner gets the POTW nod because of the six doubles and 11 runs knocked in. Stellar week.


Honorable Mention:
Christian Encarnacion-Strand, 3B (Twins #54)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (6 G, .538/.556/.808, 14 H, 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 7 R, BB)

PITCHER: Connor Phillips, RHP (Seattle Mariners #16)
Modesto Nuts (1 GS, 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 13 K)
How do you choose between this Phillips gem and the equally impressive Abeyta outing (see next player)? Both Game Scores are actually the same at 78. My son told me he liked the outing with 0 runs given up, so I decided to go with the other one. Either way, it’s a coin toss for POTW.


Honorable Mentions:
Blane Abeyta, RHP (New York Yankees NR)
Tampa Tarpons (1 GS, W, 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 9 K)

Owen White, RHP (Texas Rangers #44)
Down East Wood Ducks (1 GS, W, 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 12 K)

Rookie

HITTER: Mike Jarvis, SS (Pittsburgh Pirates NR)
FCL Pirates Gold (4 G, .500/.611/1.071, 7 H, 2B, 2 3B, HR, 3 RBI, 9 R, 2 BB, 5 SB)
Pittsburgh’s 2021 6th round draft choice killed it in 4 games this past week, and the 5 stolen bases are sweet to see. Jarvis is slashing .316/.422/1.001 through his first 12 games (45 PA) in Rookie ball.

Honorable Mention:
Manuel Sequera, SS (Detroit Tigers NR)
FCL Tigers East (4 G, .467/.500, 1.133, 7 H, 2B, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 4 R, BB)


PITCHER: Arlinthon De Dios, RHP (Pittsburgh Pirates NR)
FCL Pirates Gold (4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 K)
We don’t always award relief pitchers, but in this case, De Dios earned it. Only 14 batters faced in four innings, punching out nine of them.

Honorable Mention:
Luis Devers, RHP (Chicago Cubs NR)
ACL Cubs (6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 9 K)

Scott Greene

President of Prospects1500. Commissioner of Diamond Duos dynasty fantasy baseball leagues. Founder of MLB Fantasy Playoffs Parlay. Participant in more than a dozen other dynasty/fantasy baseball leagues. Account Manager for Reminder Publishing in real life. Huge Bruce Springsteen and pro wrestling fan. Along with his wife and two boys, lives in Longmeadow, MA. Follow on Twitter at @Scotty_Ballgame.

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