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.
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: C.J. Hinojosa, IF (Houston Astros – signed after January’s Top 50 was published)
Sugar Land Skeeters (6 G, .462/.481/.962, 12 H, 4 HR, 8 RBI, 8 R)
The former Indy baller had a big week that saw him hit safely in every single game and end the week on a three game homer streak.
Honorable Mention:
Nolan Gorman, 3B (St. Louis Cardinals #2)
Memphis Redbirds (6 G, .375/.464/.917, 9 H, 4 HR, 10 RBI, 6 R, 4 BB
PITCHER: Hunter Greene, RHP (Cincinnati Reds #5)
Louisville Bats (W, 5 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 9 K)
Greene was not extremely efficient in this one, tossing 87 pitches in his five frames, but he was very effective striking out nine and shutting out Nashville.
Honorable Mention:
Mitch White, RHP (Los Angeles Dodgers #25)
Oklahoma City Dodgers (2 GS, W, 11 IP, 9 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 11 K)
Double-A
HITTER: Richie Palacios, UT (Cleveland Indians #31)
Akron RubberDucks (6 G, .440/.464/.840, 11 H, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 9 R, 2 BB, 3 SB)
Palacios absolutely stuffed the stat sheet last week and contributed in just about every fantasy category you could imagine.
Honorable Mention:
Devlin Granberg, OF (Boston Red Sox NR)
Portland Sea Dogs (5 G, .478/.478/.870, 11 H, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 7 R, 4 BB, SB)
PITCHER: Jordan Balazovic, RHP (Minnesota Twins #3)
Wichita Wind Surge (1 GS, 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 11 K)
Tulsa didn’t stand a chance against Balazovic as the righty set a season swinging strike mark with 18 while K’ing 12. The Twins number three prospect threw just 90 pitches in this stellar performance.
Jordan Balazovic has been named the Double-A Central Pitcher of the Week by @MiLB. He struck out 11 in seven shutout innings on Thursday.
Balazovic is the #MNTwins second ranked prospect, according to @MLBPipeline. pic.twitter.com/w8FYQftbYG
— Twins Gems (@TwinsGems) July 19, 2021
Honorable Mention:
Grayson Rodriguez, RHP (Baltimore Orioles #2)
Bowie Baysox (1 GS, W, 5 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 12 K)
On The Verge #BabyBird of the day for July 18:
Bowie Baysox RHP Grayson Rodriguez: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 12 K.
24 swings and misses (5 more than anyone in MiLB yesterday) and a 50.6% CSW% (!!!!).
He's now 4-1 with a 2.04 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, and 57/8 K/BB in 39.2 IP with Bowie. pic.twitter.com/NY0SxzRiha
— The Verge- An Orioles MiLB Podcast (@BSLOnTheVerge) July 19, 2021
High-A
HITTER: Brendon Davis, 3B/OF (Angels #46)
Tri-City Dust Devils (6 G, .481/.516/.778, 13 H, 2 HR, 2 2B, 9 RBI, 3 SB)
Davis is riding a seven game hit streak and had four multi-hit games last week. The 23-year-old showed his pop and wheels with a couple of dingers and a few stolen bases.
Honorable Mentions:
Justin Foscue, 2B (Texas Rangers #7)
Hickory Crawdads (4 G, .471/.500/1.529, 8 H, 5 HR, 3 2B, 10 RBI, 8 R)
#Rangers 2B Justin Foscue is flashing impressive power early. The 22-year old went 4-for-6, with 4 runs, 2 doubles, 2 HR, and 7 RBI in High-A. The righty is now hitting .288/.384/.712 with 8 HR in 86 PA. Foscue doesn't get a ton of hype but he's a quality MI bat. #StraightUpTX
— Michael Richards (@MPRichards1981) July 17, 2021
Michael Massey, 2B (Kansas City Royals #47)
Quad Cities River Bandits (6 G, .333/.379/.926, 9 H, 2B, 5 HR, 10 RBI, 8 R)
PITCHER: Zak Kent, RHP (Texas Rangers NR)
Hickory Crawdads (1 GS, W, 6 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 9 K)
Kent was nearly perfect in his six frames as he faced just one over the minimum while striking out almost half of the hitters he faced.
Honorable Mention:
Jacob Lopez, RHP (Tampa Bay Rays NR)
Bowling Green Hot Rods (1 GS, 1 W, 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 K)
Low-A
HITTER: Orelvis Martinez, SS (Toronto Blue Jays #5)
Dunedin Blue Jays (6 G, .500/.563/1.357, 14 H, 3 2B, 7 HR, 16 RBI, 10 R, 3 BB)
We have seen some amazing stat lines over the years of doing POTW and this is definitely near the top. Martinez put up better than video game numbers and had three four-hit games last week!
Orelvis Martinez tonight: 4-for-6, 3 HR, 9 RBIs
Martinez over the past 5 games: 13-for-24, 7 HR, 16 RBIsMore on the #BlueJays prospect: https://t.co/rKXxFUadtt pic.twitter.com/yxSQkad1Ow
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 18, 2021
Honorable Mention:
Zac Veen, OF (Colorado Rockies #1)
Fresno Grizzlies (5 G, .667/.750/1.556, 12 H, 2B, 5 HR, 14 RBI, 12 R, SB)
PITCHER: Bryce Bonnin, RHP (Cincinnati Reds #25)
Columbia Fireflies (W, 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 11 K)
Perhaps the most impressive pitching performance of the week, Bonnin was perfect in his Single-A debut facing the minimum while striking out 11 of the 15 hitters he faced.
Honorable Mentions:
Marlin Willis, LHP (Kansas City Royals NR)
Columbia Fireflies (2 G, SV, 5.1IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 11 K)
Edgar Barclay, LHP (New York Yankees NR)
Tampa Tarpons (2 G, W, SV, 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 10 K)
Edgar Barclay. Remember the name Yankees fans.
Opponents are hitting .141 off the @TampaTarpons left handed reliever this season, and he’s struck out 61 batters in 42 IP.
Here are some highlights from his four perfect innings today: pic.twitter.com/G6LpFdVUK2
— Eli Fishman (@elijfishman) July 16, 2021
Rookie
HITTER: Jesus Chirinos, 1B (Milwaukee Brewers NR)
ACL Brewers Blue and ACL Brewers Gold (5 G, .471/.550/1.294, 8 H, 3B, 4 HR, 7 RBI, 3 BB)
Chirinos was crushing baseballs out in Arizona and led Rookie ball in homers. He even switched team midweek from the Blue team to the Gold team took the Blue team yard in the last game of the week. He was hitting everybody!
Honorable Mention:
Jonatan Clase, OF (Seattle Mariners #16)
ACL Mariners (4 G, .267/.453/.533, 4 H, 2B, HR, 7 SB)
PITCHER: Connor Sechler, LHP (Minnesota Twins NR)
ACL Rangers (2 G, 3.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 10 K)
Sechler only pitched three innings in relief over two games, but he was lights out in the small sample size. Most notably, the 22-year-old produced a 78% swinging strike rate.
Honorable Mentions:
Connor Loeprich, RHP (Baltimore Orioles NR)
FCL Orioles Orange (2 G, 9 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 10 K)
Valentin Linarez, RHP (Pittsburg Pirates NR)
FCL Pirates Gold (1 GS, W, 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 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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