Prospects of the Week: August 8 – August 14

Diego Cartaya, Futures Game, July 16, 2022, Los Angeles, CA. Photo credit Gail Verderico, @1baseball_gail on Twitter, and baseball_gail on Instagram

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: Orlando Martinez, OF (Angels NR)
Salt Lake Bees (6 G, .429/.462/1.000/1.462, 9 H, 2 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 6 R, 2 BB)
Pacific Coast League Player of the Week!
Martinez has had his power stroke this week hitting 6 extra base hits in as many games. It’s been an up-and-down season for Martinez, first struggling with Salt Lake before being sent down to AA, and then after an injury, he is back with the Bees. Hopefully, this week is a portend for things to come as the Angels could really use a good 4th outfielder next season. (@A_Rhodes77)

Honorable Mentions:
Oswaldo Cabrera, IF (Yankees #18)
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (6 G, .478/.538/.826/1.364, 11 H, 2B, 2 3B, HR, 7 RBI, 4 R, 2 BB)
Moises Gomez, OF (Cardinals #18)
Memphis Redbirds (6 G, .400/.429/1.000/1.429, 8 H, 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 7 R, BB)
Josh Jung, 3B (Rangers #2)
Round Rock Express (5 G, .350/.435/.800/1.235, 7 H, 3 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 5 R, 2 BB, SB)
David Hensley, 2B (Astros NR)
Sugar Land Space Cowboys (6 G, .440/.563/.720/1.283, 11 H, 4 2B, HR, 7 RBI, 9 R, 7 BB, 4 SB)

PITCHER: Brandon Gold, RHP (Rockies NR)
Albuquerque Isotopes (1 GS, 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K)
Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week!
The 2016 12th round draft choice blanked Reno on Thursday. Gold allowed just two hits, struck out two, and did not walk a batter. (Per the Isotopes website). The 27-year-old RHP is the first Isotopes pitcher to earn the PCL Pitcher of the Week Award. Gold is currently 5-5 on the season with a 6.40 ERA in 84.1 IP. (@100percent3G)

Honorable Mentions:
Connor Thomas, LHP (Cardinals #24)
Memphis Redbirds (1 GS, 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, BB, 9 K)


Cade Cavalli, RHP (Nationals #2)
Rochester Red Wings (1 GS, 7 IP, 3 H, R, 2 BB, 11 K)
Kent Emanuel, LHP (Phillies NR)
Lehigh Valley IronPigs (1 GS, 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K)

Double-A

CO-HITTERS:
Matt Koperniak, OF (Cardinals #50)
Springfield Cardinals (5 G, .524/.565/1.190/1.755, 11 H, 3 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 10 R, 2 BB)
Texas League Player of the Week!


Chandler Redmond, 1B (Cardinals NR)
Springfield Cardinals (4 G, .438/.526/1.438/1.964, 7 H, 2B, 5 HR, 14 RBI, 7 R, 3 BB)


This pair of Cardinals are not likely to forget this trip down to Amarillo. In the ninth inning Tuesday night, Koperniak stroked an RBI triple into the right-centerfield gap to complete hitting for the cycle. This was only the third cycle in Springfield Cardinals’ history. A night later, Redmond decided to up the ante and do something seen only once before in professional baseball history (Tyrone Horne, 1998, Arkansas Travelers). He hit for a cycle of his own, this time of the home run variety. He completed the task in four consecutive innings, hitting a two-run home run in the fifth, a grand slam in the sixth, solo shot in seventh, and finally the three-run bomb in the eighth.

Honorable Mentions:
Parker Meadows, OF (Tigers #16)
Erie SeaWolves (6 G, .333/.429/.792/1.221, 8 H, 2 2B, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 6 R, 4 BB, SB)
Garrett Whitley, OF (Brewers NR)
Biloxi Shuckers (6 G, .429/.520/.810/1.330, 9 H, 2 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 3 R, 4 BB)
Southern League Player of the Week!
Logan O’Hoppe, C (Angels, previously Phillies #4)
Rocket City Trash Pandas (4 G, .353/.450/1.059/1.509, 6 H, 4 HR, 6 RBI, 5 R, 3 BB)
Anthony Prato, IF (Twins #48)
Wichita Wind Surge (6 G, .474/.615/.947/1.562, 9 H, 4 2B, 3B, HR, 8 RBI, 6 R, 7 BB)

PITCHER: Reese Olson, RHP (Tigers #10)
Erie SeaWolves (1 GS, 6 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 10 K)
It’s ironic in the same week Al Avila gets fired as the Tigers EVP & GM, one of his best deadline acquisitions is POTW. Olson was stolen from Milwaukee in 2021 for Daniel Norris and has since done nothing but impress. He pitched the best game of his season vs New Hampshire, striking out 10 while allowing 1 hit and 1 walk. Olson has a four-pitch arsenal (fastball, curveball, slider, changeup), with the ability to miss bats with each of them. In 2022, Olson has a 12.7 K/9 rate. When Reese gets his command fine-tuned (3.0 BB/9), he’ll quickly see a Toledo promotion. (@DET_Guru_Kurt)

Honorable Mentions:
Matt Frisbee, RHP (Giants #35)
Richmond Flying Squirrels (1 GS, 6 IP, H, 0 R, 2 BB, 13 K)
Eastern League Pitcher of the Week!
Tim Brennan, RHP (Rangers NR)
Frisco RoughRiders (1 GS, 6 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K)
Cody Bradford, LHP (Rangers #24)
Frisco RoughRiders (1 GS, 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, BB, 9 K)
Prelander Berroa, RHP (Mariners #26)
Arkansas Travelers (1 GS, 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 11 K)
Texas League Pitcher of the Week!
Led a five pitcher, nine inning, no-hit performance for the Travelers against their in-state rivals from Northwest Arkansas on Friday night.

High-A

HITTER: Johnathan Rodriguez, OF (Guardians #50)
Lake County Captains (6 G, .429/.480/1.048/1.528, 9 H, 2B, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 8 R, 3 BB)
Midwest League Player of the Week!
Rodriguez is having a solid season so far with Lake County. He is slashing .292/.346/.919 with 21 home runs, 59 RBI, and 48 runs scored. There is a bit of swing and miss to his game which will need to get better as he faces more advanced pitchers. He has shown enough growth to crack the Guardians midseason Top 50. He is not someone you need to get overly excited about in dynasty quite yet, but if he can continue to put up comparable numbers in Double-A next year and show growth with his contact ability that could change.

Honorable Mentions:
Baron Radcliff, OF (Phillies #42)
Jersey Shore BlueClaws (5 G, .412/.474.1.118/1.592, 7 H, 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 5 R, 2 BB)
Joey Loperfido, OF (Astros #50)
Asheville Tourists (5 G, .471/.591/1.000/1.591, 8 H, 3 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 7 R, 3 BB)
South Atlantic League Player of the Week!
Joshua Mears, OF (Padres #8)
Fort Wayne TinCaps (5 G, .438/.471/1.188/1.659, 7 H, 3 2B, 3 HR, 4 RBI, 5 R, BB)
Diego Cartaya, C (Dodgers #1)
Great Lakes Loons (5 G, .412/.476/1.000/1.476, 7 H, 2B, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 6 R, 3 BB)

PITCHER: Mason Englert, RHP (Rangers #37)
Hickory Crawdads (1 GS, 7 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K)
South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week!
After last Thursday’s performance, Englert has now gone seven strong innings in both of his last two outings. He followed up a two-hit one-run performance on the fourth of August with his no-hit performance last week. What makes his no-hitter all the more impressive is who he did it against. He shut down an outstanding Greenville line-up that runs out the best 1-4 in all of A ball (Nick Yorke, Marcelo Mayer, Blaze Jordan, Niko Kavadas).

Honorable Mentions:
Nick Swiney, LHP (Giants #11)
Eugene Emeralds (1 GS, 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K)
Northwest League Pitcher of the Week!
Landen Roupp, RHP (Giants #29)
Eugene Emeralds (1 GS, 5 IP, H, 0 R, 2 BB, 9 K)
Andrew Painter, RHP (Phillies #1)
Jersey Shore BlueClaws (1 GS, 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, BB, 9 K)
Shane Drohan, LHP (Red Sox #37)
Greenville Drive (2 GS, 10 IP, 3 H, R, 3 BB, 13 K)

Single-A

HITTER: Yanquiel Fernandez, OF (Rockies #17)
Fresno Grizzlies (6 G, .346/.379/.808/1.187, 9 H, 3 2B, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 8 R, 2 BB)
California League Player of the Week!
Born on New Year’s Day in 2003, the 19-year-old Fernandez has put together an outstanding August, slashing to a .333/.386/.706 for a robust 1.092 OPS. Ranked as the #17 prospect, Fernandez anchors a talented and young Fresno line-up, including #4 Amael Amador, #6 Benny Montgomery, and #34 Juan Brito. The athletic Fernandez hit 3 homers, 3 doubles, and knocked in 10 runs–4 of those on his second grand slam of the season. Fernandez currently leads the Cal League in RBI with 89, and doubles with 31. (@100percent3G)

Honorable Mentions:
Shane Sasaki, OF (Rays #44)
Charleston RiverDogs (6 G, .478/.538/.913/1.451, 11 H, 5 2B, 3B, HR, 5 RBI, 5 R, 2 BB, SB)
Carolina League Player of the Week!
Eric Brown, SS (Brewers NR)
Carolina Mudcats (6 G, .350/.500/.700/1.200, 7 H, 2 2B, 3B, HR, 3 RBI, 3 R, 4 BB, 4 SB)
The first from the 2022 draft class to make our list is the former Coastal Carolina shortstop.
Tsung-Che Cheng, IF (Pirates #30)
Bradenton Marauders (6 G, .500/.571/.682/1.253, 11 H, 4 2B, 4 RBI, 6 R, 4 BB, 2 SB)
Florida State League Player of the Week!
Jonatan Clase, OF (Mariners #8)
Modesto Nuts (6 G, .375/.444/.667/1.111, 9 H, 5 2B, 3B, 4 RBI, 8 R, 3 BB, 5 SB)

PITCHER: Wikelman Gonzalez, RHP (Red Sox #16)
Salem Red Sox (1 GS, 6 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, 5 K)
Carolina League Pitcher of the Week!
The 20-year-old Venezuelan right-hander is having a decent season to this point. In 21 starts he has a 4.54 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 10.8 K/9, and 5.3 BB/9. Saturday against Kannapolis was his best of the year. He threw six no-hit innings working around a walk, hit-by-pitch, and an error to keep the Cannon Ballers off the scoreboard. If the command improves he might be able to take the next step.

Honorable Mentions:
Juan Zapata, RHP (Guardians NR)
Lynchburg Hillcats (1 GS, 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K)
Alexander Cornielle, RHP (Brewers NR)
Carolina Mudcats (1 GS, 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 10 K)


Colton Gordon, LHP (Astros NR)
Fayetteville Woodpeckers (1 GS, 5 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K)
McCade Brown, RHP (Rockies #47)
Fresno Grizzlies (1 GS, 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K)

Rookie Leagues

HITTER: Rayne Doncon, SS (Dodgers #23)
ACL Dodgers (6 G, .333/.360/.792/1.152, 8 H, 2 2B, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 6 R, BB, SB)
Arizona Complex League Player of the Week!
After outperforming most of his more famous contemporaries in the DSL last season, 18-year-old Doncon has furthered his stock stateside in 2022. Tall, with plenty of room to grow, the explosive youngster has the prototypical 5-star frame. Now, with two years of rookie-ball supremacy under his belt, what’s next? We shall find out in Rancho Cucamonga next season, as full-season baseball is all but a certainty. (@GQ_82)

Honorable Mentions:
Rolando Espinosa, 3B (Astros NR)
FCL Astros Orange (6 G, .333/.348/.762/1.110, 7 H, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 7 R, BB, 3 SB)
Florida Complex League Player of the Week!
Estanlin Cassiani, OF (Giants NR)
DSL Giants Orange (4 G, .688/.722/.875/1.597, 11 H, 3 2B, 3 RBI, 6 R, 2 BB)
Dominican Summer League Player of the Week!
Erick Alvarez, 2B (Rangers NR)
DSL Rangers Red (6 G, .375/.464/.792/1.256, 9 H, 2 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 7 R, 3 BB, SB)
Jose De Jesus, OF (Rangers NR)
DSL Rangers Blue (5 G, .444/.474/.833/1.307, 8 H, 2 2B, 3B, HR, 2 RBI, 6 R, BB, 2 SB)

PITCHER: Frederic Garcia, RHP (Guardians NR)
DSL Guardians Blue (1 GS, 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K)
Garcia has been with Cleveland’s Dominican Summer League Teams since 2018. With career numbers of a 7-6 record, a 5.06 ERA, and a 1.66 WHIP he has not exactly lit up the league. This year the numbers are a little better (2-2, 4.33 ERA, 1.22 WHIP), but still a bit behind for someone in the league for four years. All of that said, five perfect innings with 6 strikeouts is a dominant start and worthy of our top spot for the week.

Honorable Mentions:
Leonard Garcia, LHP (Angels NR)
ACL Angels (1 GS, 6 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K)
Arizona Complex League Pitcher of the Week!
Irv Carter, RHP (Blue Jays #16)
FCL Blue Jays (1 GS, 5 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K)
Florida Complex League Pitcher of the Week!
Jedixson Paez, RHP (Red Sox NR)
FCL Red Sox (1 GS, 5 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K)
Carlos Lagrange, RHP (Yankees NR)
DSL NYY Yankees (2 GS, 7.1 IP, H, R, 2 BB, 8 K)

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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