Each week during the Minor League Baseball season we pick the hitting and pitching prospects from each level (AAA, AA, A+, and A, then Short Season-A and Rookie league later in the summer) who, in our opinion, had the best week. We’re always on the lookout for candidates, so tweet us (@Prospects1500, @berrys_baseball and @Scotty_Ballgame) when you see a great performance.
Jake Berry and Scott Greene pick 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. Enjoy, and make sure you’re keeping an eye out for these prospects in your dynasty leagues.
Triple-A
Hitter: Kevin Cron, 1B (Arizona Diamondbacks #18)
Reno Aces (.435/.517/1.261, 5 HR, 14 RBI, 4 2B, 4 SO, 5 BB, 1 SB)
Cron is a mountain of a man from Mountain Pointe High School in Phoenix and his week at the plate was exactly what you’d expect from a 6’5, 250 pound corner infielder. The D-Backs farmhand tied for a Triple-A leading five homers last week with four doubles to go on top of it. Throw in a stolen base and four strike outs to five walks, and you have a rather notable performance from the 26 year old.
We’re running out of creative ways to say Kevin Cron hit a home run.
So, this is a tweet creatively saying Kevin Cron hit another home run.
CC: @MiLB pic.twitter.com/xQFlNamskx
— Reno Aces (@Aces) May 19, 2019
Honorable Mentions:
Yordan Alvarez, OF (Houston Astros #3)
Round Rock Express (.458/.519/.958, 11 H, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 3 2B, 4 SO, 3 BB) – A main-stay in this article, it seems.
Humberto Arteaga, INF (Kansas City Royals, NR)
Omaha Storm Chasers (.517/.548/.966, 15 H, 4 HR, 8 RBI 2 SO, 2 BB)
Pitcher: Keegan Akin, LHP (Baltimore Orioles #7)
Norfolk Tides (6 IP, W, 0 ER, 9 K, 1 BB, 3 H)
How about an Orioles pitcher for Prospect of the Week? Akin tossed six scoreless in his lone start of last week. He struck out nine and walked just one despite only throwing 57 strikes on 85 pitches. It wasn’t the most efficient outing for the 24 year old, but many of the Triple-A top performers were not prospect eligible last week.
Another tremendous outing for @KeeganAkin, who leaves in line for his second straight win as we head to the 7th inning with a 4-0 lead. #TidalTown #Birdland pic.twitter.com/h5Wtr6gMBM
— Norfolk Tides (@NorfolkTides) May 16, 2019
Honorable Mentions:
Lewis Thorpe, LHP (Minnesota Twins #10)
Rochester Red Wings (5 IP, 1 ER, 8 K, 1 BB, 3 H)
Double-A
Hitter: Patrick Mazeika, C (New York Mets #39)
Binghamton Rumble Ponies (.333/.379/.926, 4 HR, 15 RBI, 4 2B)
Mazeika has always been better known for his bat as a catching prospect than his defensive ability. He has been bouncing between backstop and first base all year and hit pretty much equally as well between both positions last week. There was an 0/4, three strikeout game last week, but was an extra base hit machine outside of that one game.
Eastern League Hitting 5/15
Alberto Mineo 4/4 2R 5RBI 1HR (3rd) #LetsGoBlueJays
Kevin Smith 2/4 1R 3RBI 1HR (3rd) #LetsGoBlueJays
Patrick Mazeika 3/4 1R 6RBI HR (3rd) 2B #LGM
Andres Gimenez 3/5 2R 2B #LGM
Logan Hill 3/4 R 3RBI HR (4th) #LetsGoBucs@Prospects1500— Joe Drake (@JDrake349) May 16, 2019
Honorable Mention:
Vince Fernandez, OF (Colorado Rockies #16)
Hartford Yard Goats (.370/.452/.889, 4 HR, 10 H)
Pitcher: Ashton Goudeau, RHP (Colorado Rockies, NR)
Hartford Yard Goats (12 IP, W, 3 ER, 12 K, 1 BB, 6 H)
The 26-year-old Yard Goat saw a two start week including one outing of six perfect innings on Saturday. He struck out five New Hampshire Fisher Cats in that appearance where got a season high 17 swinging strikes. The first start of the week wasn’t quite as impressive, but was still a quality start.
Have yourself a night Ashton Goudeau. Final line: 6 perfect innings, 5 strikeouts. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/DDtrlkIXb6
— Hartford Yard Goats (@GoYardGoats) May 18, 2019
Honorable Mentions:
Zac Lowther, LHP (Baltimore Orioles #8)
Bowie Baysox (12.2 IP, 0 ER, 15 K, 1 BB)
Tyler Ivey, RHP (Houston Astros #16)
Corpus Christi Hooks (W, 5 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 K)
High-A
Hitter: Lewin Diaz, 1B (Minnesota Twins #21)
Fort Myers Miracle (.385/.407/.923, 4 HR, 10 H, 8 R, 7 RBI)
Diaz hit more homers last week than any other player in High-A. The 22 year old’s week was highlighted by a three homer game at Bradenton. While a lot of the production was consolidated to one game, Diaz also manged to hit safely in five of his six games.
Lewin Diaz makes history becoming the first Miracle player in franchise history to hit 3 home runs in a game, Aaron Whitefield goes deep and the Miracle roster combines for 13 runs on 16 hits to lead the Miracle (25-14) to a series win over the Bradenton Marauders. pic.twitter.com/ByBfLrFrw9
— Fort Myers Miracle (@MiracleBaseball) May 17, 2019
Honorable Mention:
Jim Haley, INF (Tampa Bay Rays #48)
Charlotte Stone Crabs (.429/.448/.714, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 12 H)
Jeter Downs, INF (Los Angeles Dodgers #7)
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (.357/.400/.536, 1 HR, 10 RBI, 10 H, 1 SB)
Pitcher: Jasseel De La Cruz, RHP (Atlanta Braves #25)
Florida Fire Frogs (9 IP, W, 0 ER, 0 H, 4 K, 2 BB)
A complete game no hitter for De La Cruz has put him on the map as the next hot Braves pitching prospect to own. Of course, I tried to convince you to go get him before this, but that is neither here nor there… The 21 year old, who actually started the season in Single-A, induced 13 ground outs in his start against Jupiter en route to the no-no.
I think very soon you can expect to see Jasseel De La Cruz around the top 10 on many #Braves lists.
Good FB, SL combo and has really harnessed the command. Just 21, already promoted to High-A this year. Got to see his last two starts in Rome. Love watching him pitch.
— Jake Berry (@berrys_baseball) May 11, 2019
Honorable Mentions:
Logan Gilbert, RHP (Seattle Mariners #7)
Modesto Nuts (2 GS, 12 IP, 2 W, 0 ER, 16 K, 2 BB, 6 H)
Single-A
Hitter: Trey Harris, OF (Atlanta Braves, NR)
Rome Braves (.438/.455/.688, 14 H, 2 HR, 2 2B, 7 RBI)
Undoubtedly my favorite position player prospect at the moment, all Harris does is hit. He is mashing Sally League pitching right now and it is clear that he is just too talented for the level. Honestly, I can’t believe he has been there this long. The Georgia native hit safely in every game except for one last week, including five multi-hit showings. I can’t imagine it will be too much longer before Harris heads to Florida.
Trey Harris with a Hustle Double!
SAL Batting Average Leader!#SEC @berrys_baseball @JustCallMe_Duce @TheRomeBraves pic.twitter.com/V8s3NU2ZFl— Darren Richmond (@drichhog) May 15, 2019
Honorable Mentios:
Brice Turang, INF (Milwaukee Brewers #2)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (.357/.441/.536, 1 HR, 5 SB, 10 H, 2 SO, 5 BB)
Pitcher: Jon Heasley, RHP (Kansas City Royals #42)
Lexington Legends (12 IP, W, 18 K, 1 ER, 5 H, 2 BB)
It was a legendary week for Heasley. Okay, that was bad, but Heasley was great over his two starts last week. In outing number one against Kannapolis, the Plano, TX native tossed six shutout innings and in outing number two, he allowed just one hit over six frames (which also happened to be a homer).
Jon Heasley picked up the win yesterday for the @LexingtonLegend . Here are his ten punch outs he had over six innings of work. #AlwaysRoyal #DonutsandPunchies pic.twitter.com/N0CKayOE4F
— Kansas City Royals Player Development (@RoyalsPD) May 20, 2019
Honorable Mentions:
Vince Arobio, RHP (Chicago White Sox, NR)
Kannapolis Intimidators (6.2 IP, 10 K, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB)
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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