Prospects of the Week: July 26 – August 1

Cade Cavalli, SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, July 11, 2021. Photo credit Scott Greene, @Scotty_Ballgame on Twitter

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 up Scott, as Jake was on vacation for this one.

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: Jose Barrero, SS (Cincinnati Reds #3)
Louisville Bats (6 G, .458/.519/.833, 11 H, 3 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 6 R, 2 BB, 3 SB)
It was a well-rounded week for Barrero as he hit for power with five extra-base hits, average, and swiped a few bags. He closed out the last week of July with three multi-hit games.


Honorable Mention:
Jo Adell, OF (Los Angeles Angels NR, graduated from our Top 50)
Salt Lake Bees (5 G, .500/.550/1.278, 9 H, 2 2B, 4 HR, 9 RBI, 6 R, 2 BB, 1 SB)
Adell was just called up to the major league squad as of Monday, August 2nd.

PITCHER: Josh Walker, LHP (New York Mets NR)
Syracuse Mets (1 GS, 8 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K)
The 26-year-old Walker tossed an absolute gem for the Triple-A Mets this week, allowing only one hit over eight innings.

Honorable Mention:
Reiss Knehr, RHP (San Diego Padres #23)
El Paso Chihuahuas (1 GS, 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K)

Double-A

HITTER: Luken Baker, 1B (St. Louis Cardinals #27)
Springfield Cardinals (6 G, .304/.360/1.087, 7 H, 6 HR, 10 RBI, 7 R, 2 BB)
Big Luken led all of Minor League Baseball in home runs this week, as 6 of his 7 hits left the yard. He’s only hitting .230 on the season but has 21 HR and 54 RBI.

Honorable Mentions:
Freddy Fermin, C (Kansas City Royals NR)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals (5 G, .611/.708/1.278, 11 H, 3 2B, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 9 R, 6 BB)

Joel Booker, OF (Chicago White Sox NR)
Birmingham Barons (5 G, .421/.450/.789, 8 H, 1 2B, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 5 R, 7 SB)

PITCHER: Luis Frias, RHP (Arizona Diamondbacks #16)
Amarillo Sod Poodles (1 GS, W, 7 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K)
In a normal week, our Double-A Honorable Mention pitcher would be the POTW, but when there’s a no-no, you really should give the honor to that pitcher. Frias shut down the San Antonio Missions and faced only one batter over the minimum through his 7-inning no-hitter this week. Just brilliant.


Honorable Mentions:
Cade Cavalli, RHP (Washington Nationals #3)
Harrisburg Senators (1 GS, W, 6.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 12 K)

High-A

HITTER: Liover Peguero, SS (Pittsburgh Pirates #5)
Greensboro Grasshoppers (6 G, .423/.464/1.038, 11 H, 1 2B, 5 HR, 12 RBI, 9 R, 2 BB, 2 SB)
One of Pittsburgh’s top prospects put together a stellar week, tied for second in MiLB homers (5 with Alex Destino), and continues to impress as a 20-year-old in High-A.


Honorable Mentions:
Isaac Collins, 2B (Colorado Rockies #50 on upcoming Rockies midseason Top 50)
Spokane Indians (4 G, .700/.682/1.000, 14 H, 3 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 7 R, 1 BB, 1 SB)

Yasel Antuna, SS (Washington Nationals #2)
Wilmington Blue Rocks (6 G, .458/.536/.875, 11 H, 7 2B, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 7 R, 4 BB)

PITCHER: Darius Vines, RHP (Atlanta Braves NR)
Rome Braves (1 GS, W, 7 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 9 K)
Equally as lights out as Frias, Vines tossed seven no-hit innings, tallying nine strikeouts with only two walks. Rome was only one hit away from a 9-inning no-hitter as they defeated Ashville behind the spectacular outing from Vines.


Honorable Mention:
Robinson Pina, RHP (Los Angeles Angels #20)
Tri-City Dust Devils (2 GS, W, 11.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 20 K)

Danny Denz, LHP (San Diego Padres NR)
Fort Wayne TinCaps (2 GS, 9.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 10 K)

Low-A

HITTER: Luis Matos, OF (San Francisco Giants #4)
San Jose Giants (6 G, .538/.556/.731, 14 H, 2 2B, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 5 R, 1 BB, 1 SB)
Matos and Collins (above) led the minors with 14 base knocks this past week. The Giants’ 4th ranked prospect continues his torrid pace, hitting .325 on the season through 70 games so far. Could he get the promotion to High-A as a 19-year-old?


Honorable Mention:
Heriberto Hernandez, OF (Tampa Bay Rays #8)
Charleston RiverDogs (6 G, .571/.667/1.143, 12 H, 3 2B, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 8 R, 6 BB, 1 SB)

PITCHER: Joey Estes, RHP (Atlanta Braves NR)
Augusta GreenJackets (2 GS, 10 IP, 7 H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 15 K)
We dedicate this Low-A POTW to our friend Jarrod Vickery (@jvickery55), former Southern League contributor here at Prospects1500, who texts us almost daily about how awesome Mr. Estes is. No earned runs and 15 punchouts in his two starts this week put him on the podium.

Honorable Mention:
Sawyer Gipson-Long, RHP (Minnesota Twins NR)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (1 GS, W, 7 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 9 K)

Rookie

HITTER: Warming Bernabel, SS (Colorado Rockies #21 on upcoming Rockies midseason Top 50)
ACL Rockies (6 G, .421/.429/.895, 8 H, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 6 R, 1 BB, 1 SB)
Bernabel has quietly become a popular add in deep dynasty leagues following his very solid week at the plate in Rookie ball.

Honorable Mentions:
Blaze Jordan, 3B (Boston Red Sox #10)
FCL Red Sox (4 G, .700/.769/1.300, 7 H, 3 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 5 R, 3 BB


Garrett Frechette, 1B (San Francisco Giants #47)
ACL Giants Orange (6 G, .400/.400/.480, 10 H, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R)

PITCHER: Heitor Tokar, RHP (Houston Astros NR)
FCL Astros (1 G, W, 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K)
One of those not-so-common relief pitchers earning POTW. Tokar came in to relieve Jairo Lopez in the 3rd inning Wednesday and pitched the final 5 innings of the game, giving no hits, no walks, and striking out 7, with 60% of his pitches strikes swinging.

Honorable Mention:
Yovanny Cabrera, RHP (Chicago Cubs NR)
ACL Cubs (1 GS, 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K)

President of Prospects1500. Founder of Diamond Duos dynasty fantasy baseball leagues and the MLB Fantasy Playoffs Parlay. Participant and champion in several dynasty/fantasy baseball and football leagues. Sales 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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