Prospects of the Week: June 13 – June 19

June 20, 2022 Jeremy Mahy General, MiLB, Prospects of the Week 2

Curtis Mead, Arizona Fall League, October 26, 2021. Photo credit Benjamin Rush, @bcr_photos on Twitter, and @forloveofbaseball on Instagram
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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.

Triple-A

HITTER: Eguy Rosario, 2B (Padres #15)
El Paso Chihuahuas (5 G, .429/.478/1.048/1.526, 9 H, 4 2B, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 7 R, 2 BB)
Back-to-back Prospects1500 POTW awards for Rosario! He just keeps hitting. Over the last 2 weeks he has 18 hits, 16 of them going for extra bases, he has scored 15 runs, and driven in 15 more. In Rosario, C.J. Abrams, and Esteury Ruiz the Chihuahuas have three MLB-ready bats. The bad news is that the Padres have nowhere to put them. Do one or more of these guys get moved to help strengthen the MLB squad? That remains to be seen. For now, El Paso fans can just enjoy watching these guys all in the same line-up.

Honorable Mentions:
Elehuris Montero, 3B/1B (Rockies #3)
Albuquerque Isotopes (5 G, .471/.500/1.059/1.559, 8 H, 2 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 7 R, BB, SB)
Rylan Bannon, 3B (Orioles NR)
Norfolk Tides (6 G, .381/.519/.905/1.424, 8 H, 2 2B, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 6 R, 6 BB, SB)
Vimael Machin, IF (Athletics NR)
Las Vegas Aviators (6 G, .370/.452/.704/1.156, 10 H, 3 2B, 3 3B, 12 RBI, 6 R, 4 BB)
Enmanuel Valdez, 3B (Astros #25)
Sugar Land Space Cowboys (5 G, .364/.417/.909/1.326, 8 H, 4 HR, 9 RBI, 6 R, 2 BB)

PITCHER: Darren McCaughan, RHP (Mariners NR)
Tacoma Rainiers (1 GS, 7.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 11 K)
Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week!
McCaughan had a career night for the Rainiers last Wednesday night. He faced the minimum number of River Cat batters through 5.2 IP, surrendering only a walk in the sixth inning. He took a no-hit bid into the eighth when a double broke up the no-hitter. McCaughan leads the Rainiers in wins, ERA, WHIP, and strikeouts.

Honorable Mentions:
Matt Krook, LHP (Yankees #47)
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (1 GS, 7 IP, 5 H, 0 R, BB, 5 K)
Connor Seabold, RHP (Red Sox #14)
Worcester Red Sox (2 GS, 11 IP, 9 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 10 K)
Matt Brash, RHP (Mariners #4)
Tacoma Rainiers (3 G, 3 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K, 2 SV)
It appears that the transition to the bullpen is going well for Brash as he was 2/2 in saves this week and more importantly zero walks.

Double-A

HITTER: Curtis Mead, 3B (Rays #6)
Montgomery Biscuits (5 G, .421/.450/1.158/1.608, 8 H, 2 2B, 4 HR, 4 RBI, 4 R, BB, SB)
The Australian-born Mead was acquired from the Phillies in 2019 and didn’t play in the Covid year of 2020. In 2021, he moved quickly playing across three levels and establishing himself as one of the better hitters in the Tampa system. He has not slowed down this year, hitting .305/.395/.561/.956 with 18 doubles, 10 home runs, and driving in 24. Mead is already showing up on top-100 prospects lists and should be owned in all dynasty leagues that roster 150 prospects or more.

Honorable Mentions:
Francisco Alvarez, C (Mets #1)
Binghamton Rumble Ponies (6 G, .364/.462/.727/1.189, 8 H, 2 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 4 R, 4 BB)
Ceddanne Rafaela, 3B (Red Sox #29)
Portland Sea Dogs (6 G, .304/.320/.826/1.146, 7 H, 2 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 4 R, BB, SB)
Orlando Martinez, OF (Angels #15)
Rocket City Trash Pandas (6 G, .476/.480/.810/1.290, 10 H, 2 2B, 3B, HR, 12 RBI, 4 R, 2 BB, SB)
Southern League Player of the Week!
Jeremiah Jackson, SS (Angels #9)
Rocket City Trash Pandas (6 G, .318/.375/.955/1.330, 7 H, 2 2B, 4 HR, 9 RBI, 6 R, 2 BB)

PITCHER: Logan Allen, LHP (Guardians #11)
Akron RubberDucks (1 GS, 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB, 11 K)
Eastern League Pitcher of the Week!
Allen is another top-100 prospect that should be owned in most all dynasty formats. In 16 AA starts this year he has a 12.7 K/9, 2.9 BB/9, and a WHIP of 1.17. In this week’s start against a talented Hartford lineup he only allowed 3 base runners in his 6 innings and struck out 11.

Honorable Mentions:
Luis Medina, RHP (Yankees #8)
Somerset Patriots (1 GS, 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB, 10 K)
Adam Stauffer, RHP (Orioles NR)
Bowie Baysox (1 GS, 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, 6 K)
Cody Bradford, LHP (Rangers #28)
Frisco RoughRiders (1 GS, 5.1 IP, 4 H, 0 R, BB, 11 K)
Gavin Stone, RHP (Dodgers #22)
Tulsa Drillers (1 GS, 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 11 K)
Josh Simpson, LHP (Marlins NR)
Pensacola Blue Wahoos (2 G, 4 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 K, 2 SV)

High-A

HITTER: Vaughn Grissom, SS (Braves #2)
Rome Braves (6 G, .516/.559/.871/1.430, 16 H, 5 2B, 2 HR, 17 RBI, 14 R, 3 BB, 3 SB)
South Atlantic League Player of the Week!
Grissom’s numbers speak for themselves this week. Our Braves writer Michael Kelley (@MKelley_ND) had this to say about Grissom in his pre-season top-50, “It’s the contact ability with the bat that has the prospect community abuzz. A solid plus, borderline plus-plus hit tool, combined with an incredible ability to get on base (.418 OBP in 2021), makes for a very capable 2-hole hitter.” If he can get to a little more in-game power, his stock will skyrocket. This might be the last window to buy him at a reasonable price.

Honorable Mentions:
Everson Pereira, OF (Yankees #11)
Hudson Valley Renegades (6 G, .483/.500/1.000/1.500, 14 H, 3 2B, 4 HR, 13 RBI, 11 R, BB, 2 SB)
Cody Milligan, 2B (Braves NR)
Rome Braves (6 G, .458/.588/.917/1.505, 11 H, 6 2B, 3B, HR, 8 RBI, 15 R, 9 BB)
Tyler Hardman, 1B (Yankees #38)
Hudson Valley Renegades (6 G, .500/.560/1.000/1.560, 11 H, 2 2B, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 5 R, 3 BB)
Robert Hassell, OF (Padres #2)
Fort Wayne TinCaps (6 G, .357/.419/.714/1.133, 10 H, 5 2B, 3B, HR, 7 RBI, 9 R, 3 BB, 3 SB)
Carter Aldrete, 2B (Giants NR)
Eugene Emeralds (7 G, .517/.548/.655/1.203, 15 H, 2B, HR, 9 RBI, 6 R, 2 BB)
Northwest League Player of the Week!

PITCHER: Robert Gasser, LHP (Padres #8)
Fort Wayne TinCaps (2 GS, 12 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 12 K)
Midwest League Pitcher of the Week!
Gasser’s Father’s Day outing is what brought home our POTW honors this week. After waiting out an eight run top of the first, he went to work. He walked the first Lugnut batter he faced but that would be the last one to get on base. He dominated the Lugnuts hitters, retiring the next 21 in a row with eight strikeouts, just five days after going five scoreless innings against Lansing in the series opener. Gasser finished his day with 88 pitches, 55 for strikes.

Honorable Mentions:
Mason Hickman, RHP (Guardians #49)
Lake County Captains (1 GS, 5 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 9 K)
Pat Monteverde, LHP (Marlins NR)
Beloit Sky Carp (1 GS, 6 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K)
Juan Mercedes, RHP (Mariners #27)
Everett AquaSox (1 GS, 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K)
Peter Van Loon, RHP (Orioles NR)
Aberdeen IronBirds (1 GS, 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K)
Combined with Daniel Lloyd and Xavier Moore for a 9 inning no-hitter.

Single-A

HITTERS:
Blaze Jordan, 3B (Red Sox #5)
Salem Red Sox (6 G, .500/.519/.923/1.442, 13 H, 3B, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 6 R, BB, SB)


Eddinson Paulino, SS (Red Sox #23)
Salem Red Sox (6 G, .480/.581/.960/1.541, 12 H, 2 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 8 R, 6 BB, 5 SB)


Niko Kavadas, 1B (Red Sox #28)
Salem Red Sox (6 G, .529/.667/1.412/2.079, 9 H, 3 2B, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 10 R, 9 BB)
Carolina League Player of the Week!


With what these three Salem hitters did this week there was no way I could pick just one for our POTW. While leading Salem to five wins in this six-game series, this trio bludgeoned Delmarva pitching to the tune of 34 hits, 17 extra base hits, 27 RBI, 24 runs, and even 6 stolen bases. This Salem line-up is scary.

Honorable Mentions:
Eduardo Garcia, SS (Brewers #10)
Carolina Mudcats (5 G, .381/.409/.905/1.314, 8 H, 2 2B, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 7 R, BB)
Jackson Chourio, OF (Brewers #17)
Carolina Mudcats (6 G, .360/.407/.720/1.127, 9 H, 2 2B, 2 3B, HR, 6 RBI, 7 R, 2 BB, 2 SB)
Grant Richardson, OF (Yankees NR)
Tampa Tarpons (4 G, .667/.706/1.267/1.973, 10 H, 3 2B, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 4 R, 2 BB, SB)

PITCHER: Tink Hence, RHP (Cardinals #7)
Palm Beach Cardinals (1 GS, 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K)
Hence was the starter in Palm Beach’s combined no hitter against Clearwater last Wednesday. Hence, Jose Moreno, and Roy Garcia all threw 3 innings and combined for 11 strikeouts. Hence needs to be on your radar in deeper dynasty leagues. He is a 19-year-old flame thrower that has also displayed decent command s far. In his 5 starts in Single-A, he has thrown 15 innings with 24 strikeouts to 5 walks while only allowing 1 earned run.

Honorable Mentions:
Kyle Virbitsky, RHP (Athletics NR)
Stockton Ports (1 GS, 7 IP, 5 H, 0 R, BB, 9 K)
California League Pitcher of the Week!
Luis Devers, RHP (Cubs #48)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans (1 GS, 6 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 K)
Trenton Wallace, LHP (Blue Jays NR)
Dunedin Blue Jays (1 GS, 5 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 7 K)
Florida State League Pitcher of the Week!
Ruben Galindo, RHP (Padres NR)
Lake Elsinore Storm (1 GS, 5 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 4 K)

Rookie Leagues

HITTER: Jairo Pomares, OF (Giants #6)
ACL Giants Orange (4 G, .533/.563/1.333/1.896, 8 H, 3 2B, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 5 R, BB)
Arizona Complex League Player of the Week!
Pomares was our pre-season #6 ranked prospect in the Giants system. He is having a solid season with High-A Eugene so far. This week Eugene went north of the border for a series in Vancouver and Pomares was not with the team. He instead was sent to Arizona to stay fresh. He proceeded to predictably abuse complex level pitching and will rejoin the Emeralds for their upcoming 12-game home stand.

Honorable Mentions:
Agustin Ramirez, C (Yankees NR)
FCL Yankees (5 G, .429/.455/.810/1.265, 9 H, 2 2B, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 6 R, BB, SB)
Florida Complex League Player of the Week!
Iverson Leonardo, FCL Tigers (Tigers NR)
FCL Tigers (4 G, .353/.368/1.059/1.427, 6 H, 4 HR, 9 RBI, 6 R, BB)
Luis Garcia, 3B/SS (Blue Jays #22)
FCL Blue Jays (5 G, .368/.429/.684/1.113, 7 H, 2 2B, 2 3B, 3 RBI, 5 R, BB, 3 SB)
Mairoshendrick Martinus, SS (Dodgers NR)
DSL LAD Bautista (6 G, .429/.455/.792/1.217, 9 H, 2 2B, 3B, HR, 9 RBI, 4 R, SB)

PITCHER: Jorge Bautista, RHP (Braves NR)
FCL Braves (1 GS, 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K)
Florida Complex League Pitcher of the Week!
After a couple of ugly short 1 inning stints with Single-A Augusta in mid-May, Bautista was sent to the Florida Complex League to get stretched out. He has looked much stronger at this level. This week he threw 5 perfect innings with only 2 balls leaving the infield (both Fly-outs to CG).

Honorable Mentions:
Pablo Aldonis, LHP (Nationals NR)
FCL Nationals (1 GS, 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, BB, 10 K)
Ismael Luciano, RHP (Rockies NR)
DSL Rockies (1 GS, 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, BB, 6 K)
Jose Cabrera, RHP (Diamondbacks NR)
ACL D-Backs Black (1 GS, 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 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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