Prospects of the Week: July 18 – July 24

July 25, 2022 Jeremy Mahy General, MiLB, Prospects of the Week 0

Taj Bradley, Futures Game, July 16, 2022, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA. Photo credit Dinur Blum, @rabbi_d on Twitter, and Dinur Blum on Flickr
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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, Single-A, and Rookie League) 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.

Most players in AAA, AA, High-A and Single-A only had 3 games this past week because of the All-Star break. Rookie ball leagues had a normal week.

Triple-A

HITTER: Tyler Freeman, SS (Guardians #4)
Columbus Clippers (3 G, .643/.706/1.071/1.777, 9 H, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 4 R, 2 BB)
Freeman has spent this season in Triple-A Columbus after spending all of last year in Double-A Akron. The step-up in level has not changed the perception of what the Guardians have in him. Elite contact hitter (9.6 K%), high on base (.365 OBP), but light on pop (.092 ISO). I think he is who we thought Nick Madrigal was going to be. The bad news for Freeman is that he is blocked at the major league level currently.

Honorable Mentions:
Tristan Gray, 3B (Rays NR)
Durham Bulls (3 G, .417/.417/1.000/1.417, 5 H, 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 3 R)
Alan Trejo, 2B (Rockies NR)
Alburquerque Isotopes (3 G, .462/.462/1.231/1.693, 6 H, 2B, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 4 R)
Oswaldo Cabrera, SS (Yankees #18)
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (3 G, .417/.500/.917/1.417, 5 H, 3 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 3 R, 2 BB, SB)

PITCHER: Caleb Kilian, RHP (Cubs #10)
Iowa Cubs (1 GS, 5 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 8 K)
Kilian made a couple of spot starts for the Cubs earlier this season and was sent down with specific things to work on. He still lacks consistency, but when Kilian puts it all together, you get starts like he had this week. (@CubsProspector)

Honorable Mentions:
Taj Bradley, RHP (Rays #2)
Durham Bulls (1 GS, 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K)


Cole Ragans, LHP (Rangers #20)
Round Rock Express (1 GS, 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K)
Collin Wiles, RHP (Athletics NR)
Las Vegas Aviators (1 GS, 7 IP, 2 H, R, BB, 6 K)

Double-A

HITTER: Alexander Canario, OF (Cubs #14)
Tennessee Smokies (3 G, .636/.765/1.455/2.220, 7 H, 3 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 6 R, 6 BB)
Canario’s breakout season came in 2019 when he OPS’d 1.000 bewteen Rookie League and Short-Season A (back when that still existed) as a 19-year-old. Since then, he hasn’t produced near those numbers…until now. Canario is arguably the hottest hitter in the minors right now hitting .371/.513/.839 with 18 BB against 12 K in July as a 22-year-old in AA. But it’s not just a hot month. He’s been really good (.293/.389/.652) since May 29th. (@CubsProspector)

Honorable Mentions:
Orelvis Martinez, SS (Blue Jays #2)
New Hampshire Fisher Cats (3 G, .500/.500/1.333/1.833, 6 H, 2B, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 5 R)
Oscar Colas, OF (White Sox #4)
Birmingham Barons (3 G, .545/.583/1.364/1.947, 6 H, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 3 R, BB)
Jorge Barrosa, OF (Diamondbacks #6)
Amarillo Sod Poodles (3 G, .667/.688/.867/1.555, 10 H, 3 2B, 2 RBI, 3 R, BB, SB)
Nick Dunn, 2B (Cardinals #36)
Springfield Cardinals (2 G, .625/.700/1.625/2.325, 5 H, 2 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 4 R, BB)
Sal Frelick, OF (Brewers #3)
Biloxi Shuckers (3 G, .455/.538/.909/1.447, 5 H, 2 2B, HR, RBI, 3 R, 2 BB, 2 SB)

PITCHER: Darius Vines, RHP (Braves #17)
Mississippi Braves (1 GS, 6 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 10 K)
Vines has been one of the hottest pitchers not just for the Braves but in all of minor league baseball in the month of July. In his 4 starts this month, he is averaging over six innings per start, has only given up a total of ten hits, three runs, has walked nine, and struck out 28, all good for .77 WHIP. This week he didn’t allow a hit until the fifth inning in route to a six-inning one hit performance. He also tallied ten strikeouts bringing him to a league-leading 114 on the year.

Honorable Mentions:
Sean Boyle, RHP (Yankees NR)
Somerset Patriots (1 GS, 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB, 4 K)
Drew Rom, LHP (Orioles #13)
Bowie Baysox (1 GS, 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K)
Brandon Pfaadt, RHP (Diamondbacks #3)
Amarillo Sod Poodles (1 GS, 6 IP, 5 H, 0 R, BB, 11 K)
Kyle Harrison, LHP (Giants #4)
Richmond Flying Squirrels (1 GS, 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, 9 K)
Harrison was on a strict limit coming off his Futures Game outing, but he was so dominant that his three innings deserved a mention. After walking the first batter of the game he settled in and struck out the next nine batters he faced.

High-A

HITTER: Endy Rodriguez, 1B/C/OF (Pirates #6)
Greensboro Grasshoppers (3 G, .500/.533/1.500/2.033, 6 H, 4 HR, 7 RBI, 5 R, 2 BB)
Rodriguez was the 2021 Low-A Southeast League MVP, leading the Bradenton Marauders to the league title. This year he is having another standout season with the High-A Greensboro Grasshoppers. He is slashing .285/.370/.518 with 13 HR playing C/1B/2B/LF. Endy had a huge week including 4 HR on Saturday and Sunday. It is only a matter of time before the 22-year-old gets the bump to AA Altoona. (@Bucfish67)

Honorable Mentions:
Alex Ramirez, OF (Mets #4)
Brooklyn Cyclones (3 G, .615/.667/.1.154/1.821, 8 H, 2B, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 3 R, BB, SB)
Thomas Saggese, SS (Rangers #31)
Hickory Crawdads (3 G, .500/.533/1.000/1.533, 7 H, 2 2B, 3B, HR, 6 RBI, 3 R, BB, SB)
Osvaldo Tovalin, 3B (Cardinals #46)
Peoria Chiefs (3 G, .545/.667/.1.778/2.445, 6 H, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 5 R, 4 BB)
Jake Washer, C (Cubs NR)
South Bend Cubs (2 G, .667/.667/1.778/2.445, 6 H, 2B, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 5 R)

PITCHER: Luis Devers, RHP (Cubs #13)
South Bend Cubs (1 GS, 6 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, 2 K)
Devers put up good numbers in 2 seasons in the DSL, but it wasn’t until he was clocked in the mid-90s along with a good change-up in the ACL last season that he started to get noticed. This season he’s only gotten better (2.58 ERA, 29% K, 5% BB) while facing stronger competition in Single-A Myrtle Beach before being promoted to High-A South Bend where he threw 6 hitless in his last start. Devers is for real and is a legit part of a growing list of starters in the Cubs system. (@CubsProspector)

Honorable Mentions:
Beck Way, RHP (Yankees #24)
Hudson Valley Renegades (1 GS, 6 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K)
Noel Vela, LHP (Padres #42)
Fort Wayne TinCaps (1 GS, 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, BB, 10 K)
Brant Hurter, LHP (Tigers #30)
West Michigan Whitecaps (1 GS, 5 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 7 K)
Pat Monteverde, LHP (Marlins NR)
Beloit Sky Carp (1 GS, 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, BB, 6 K)

Single-A

HITTER: Keoni Cavaco, SS (Twins #22)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (3 G, .545/.583/1.273/1.856, 6 H, 3B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 3 R, BB)
To say that 2022 has been unkind to Cavaco would be an understatement, as his numbers have seemed to become stagnant to his from last season. Still, it’s a reminder that learning a new position can take its toll on younger players, as he has now played 51 games at third base, and increased his overall power output. This past week saw him explode for six hits in only three games while hitting two home runs and a triple. Is this a sign of him turning things around and becoming more comfortable? Time will tell, but for now, he’s starting to show some growth. (@sportz_nutt51)

Honorable Mentions:
Wilfred Veras, 3B (White Sox #29)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (3 G, .538/.571/1.077/1.648, 7 H, 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 5 R)
Hendry Mendez, OF (Brewers #14)
Carolina Mudcats (3 G, .545/.571/1.000/1.571, 6 H, 2 2B, HR, 2 RBI, 4 R, BB)
Yeiner Fernandez, C (Dodgers #31)
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (3 G, .462/.500/.923/1.423, 6 H, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 5 R, BB, SB)


Yanquiel Fernandez, OF (Rockies #17)
Fresno Grizzlies (3 G, .571/.600/.857/1.457, 8 H, 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 3 R, BB)

PITCHER: Bodi Rascon, LHP (Padres NR)
Lake Elsinore Storm (1 GS, 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K)
Getting introduced to a new prospect each week is the fun part of putting this list together for me. This week Rascon is that guy. The 6’5″ southpaw was a 2019 fourteenth-round draft pick out of the Texas high school ranks. On the year, in a mixture of starts and relief appearances, he has a 4-2 record in 57.1 innings with a 3.45 ERA and is averaging 8.3 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9. After a rocky start to the year, he has steadily improved including allowing only one earned run in the last month (4 starts).

Honorable Mentions:
Pablo Aldonis, LHP (Nationals NR)
Fredricksburg Nationals (1 GS, 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K)
Daiveyon Whittle, RHP (Rays #47)
Charleston RiverDogs (1 GS, 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K)
Jake Walters, RHP (Marlins NR)
Jupiter Hammerheads (1 GS, 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB, 5 K)
Chase Chaney, RHP (Angels NR)
Inland Empire 66ers (1 GS, 6 IP, 5 H, 0 R, BB, 5 K)

Rookie Leagues

HITTER: Jace Avina, OF (Brewers #50)
ACL Brewers Blue (3 G, .556/.692/1.556/2.248, 5 H, 3 HR, 3 RBI, 6 R, 2 BB, SB)
Avina is a 6’2″ outfielder drafted in the fourteenth round of last year’s Draft out of a Nevada high school. He chose to sign with the Brewers instead of playing for his hometown Nevada University. He is off to a pretty solid start to his professional career (91 AB, .297/.434/.648/1.082, 27 H, 6 2B, 3B, 8 HR, 19 RBI, 2 SB).

Honorable Mentions:
Robert Gonzalez, OF (Braves NR)
DSL Braves (6 G, .474/.545/.684/1.229, 9 H, 2 2B, 3B, 3 RBI, 6 R, 2 BB, SB)
Enzo Paulino, OF (Rays NR)
DSL Rays (5 G, .389/.450/.611/1.061, 7 H, 2 2B, 3B, 9 RBI, 4 R, 2 BB, SB)
Javier Rivas, IF (Pirates #47)
FCL Pirates (3 G, .692/.714/1.154/1.868, 9 H, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 3 R, BB)
Junior Caminero, IF (Rays #25)
FCL Rays (3 G, .583/.571/1.167/1.783, 7 H, 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 2 R, BB)
Wilmin Candelario, IF (Royals NR)
ACL Royals (3 G, .429/.429/.929/1.358, 6 H, 2 3B, HR, 5 RBI, 5 R, SB)

PITCHER: Marcos Fortunato, RHP (Nationals NR)
DSL Nationals (1 GS, 6 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K)
Fortunato was a 2022 international signing for the Nationals out of the Dominican Republic. The results have not been there so far this year with an 0-2 record and a 5.60 ERA, but the stats show some room for optimism (27.1 IP, 26 K, 7 BB, 1.13 WHIP). This week’s performance might be just what he needed to get on the right track.

Honorable Mentions:
Pedro Garcia, RHP (Tigers NR)
DSL Tigers 2 (1 GS, 6 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K)
Felix Arronde, RHP (Royals NR)
DSL Royals (1 GS, 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K)
Colby Morris, RHP (Mariners NR)
ACL Mariners (1 GS, 5 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K)
Jeral Vizcaino, RHP (Brewers NR)
DSL Brewers 2 (1 GS, 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K)
Frederic Garcia, RHP (Guardians NR)
DSL CLE Blue (1 G, 4.1 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 11 K)

Jeremy Mahy

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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