Prospects of the Week: May 16 – May 22

Vinnie Pasquantino, Omaha Storm Chasers, May 6, 2022. Photo credit Minda Haas Kuhlmann, @minda33 on Twitter, and @minda.haas on Instagram

Each week during the Minor League Baseball season we pick the hitting and pitching prospects from each level (Triple-A, Double-A, High-A, and Single-A) 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: Kyle Stowers, OF (Orioles #8)
Norfolk Tides (6 G, .480/.567/1.200/1.767, 12 H, 3 2B, 5 HR, 10 RBI, 11 R, 5 BB)
International League Player of the Week!
Stowers is on fire right now. After going 3-for-5 on Sunday with four runs, three home runs, five RBI and a walk, Stowers extended his hitting streak to eight games. During this current streak he’s hitting .438 (14-for-32) with four doubles, six home runs, 13 RBI and six walks. A further positive is that for the season his K rate is 22.8%, which is down from his career rate of >30%.

Honorable Mentions:
Alec Burleson, OF (Cardinals #9)
Memphis Redbirds (6 G, .538/.538/1.038/1.576, 14 H, 4 2B, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 6 R, SB)
Tied for the most hits in MiLB this week!
Vinnie Pasquantino, 1B (Royals #6)
Omaha Storm Chasers (6 G, .417/.444/.875/1.319, 10 H, 5 2B, 2 HR, 13 RBI, 7 R, BB)
Led MiLB in RBI this week!
David MacKinnon, 1B (Angels NR)
Salt Lake Bees (6 G, .391/.481/1.043/1.524, 9 H, 2B, 3B, 4 HR, 8 RBI, 8 R, 4 BB)
Pacific Coast League Player of the Week!
Kody Clemens, 2B (Tigers #16)
Toledo Mud Hens (6 G, .375/.423/.750/1/173, 9 H, 2 2B, 2 3B, HR, 8 RBI, 3 R, 2 BB)

PITCHER: Grayson Rodriguez, RHP (Orioles #2)
Norfolk Tides (2 GS, 11.1 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 20 K)
Led MiLB in strikeouts this week!
Another future Baltimore Oriole makes this week’s list. This week was a microcosm of Rodriguez’s season to this point as he has dominated AAA hitters to the tune of a 2.70 ERA with 66 K’s in 43.1 innings. For a guy regularly lighting up radar guns he has also limited walks to a respectful 2.9 per 9 innings. Orioles fans shouldn’t have to wait much longer to see GRod join Adley Rutschman in Oriole Park.

Honorable Mentions:
Cody Bolton, RHP (Pirates #43)
Indianapolis Indians (2 G, 1 GS, 7.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 12 K)
Jake Kalish, LHP (Angels NR)
Salt Lake Bees (1 GS, 7 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K)
Bailey Falter, LHP (Phillies #13)
Lehigh Valley IronPigs (1 GS, 5 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 7 K)
Ryan Pepiot, RHP (Dodgers #6)
Oklahoma City Dodgers (1 GS, 5 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 6 K)

Double-A

HITTER: Logan O’Hoppe, C (Phillies #5)
Reading Fightin Phils (6 G, .550/.640/1.340/1.990, 11 H, 2B, 5 HR, 8 RBI, 8 R, 3 BB)
Eastern League Player of the Week!
The 2018 5th round pick had a monster week batting .550 with 5 home runs and a 1.990 OPS. For the season, he’s at .304/.420/1.003 with 8 home runs. O’Hoppe has continued the success after his breakout year in 2021 and has added more power this year. While he’s blocked at the major league level by J.T. Realmuto, he’s definitely getting closer to a promotion to AAA with a shot at the majors later this year. And with the team needing help in a few areas, O’Hoppe could be moved to a team needing help in the catcher spot. (@tonybps1)

Honorable Mentions:
Blake Sabol, OF (Pirates #37)
Altoona Curve (5 G, .571/.650/1.429/2.079, 8 H, 2B, 3 B, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 6 R, 5 BB)
Led MiLB in OPS this week!
Kerry Carpenter, OF (Tigers NR)
Erie SeaWolves (6 G, .450/520/1.100/1.620, 9 H, 4 2B, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 10 R, BB)
Lenyn Sosa, SS (White Sox #15)
Birmingham Barons (6 G, .444/.444/.815/1.259, 12 H, 2B, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 4 R)
Southern League Player of the Week!
George Valera, OF (Indians #1)
Akron RubberDucks (6 G, .379/.419/.759/1/178, 11 H, 2 2B, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 6 R, 2 BB, SB)

PITCHER: Hunter Gaddis, RHP (Indians NR)
Akron RubberDucks (1 GS, 6 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, 11 K)
Eastern League Pitcher of the Week!
At 6-foot-5 with long, dark hair and a full beard, Hunter Gaddis is an imposing presence on the mound. Last Thursday Binghamton hitters found out that his right arm is just as imposing. He allowed only the one baserunner (via walk) and threw 56 of his 89 pitches for strikes. On the season, Gaddis is 4-1 with a 2.53 ERA while striking out 45 batters over 32 innings. Gaddis is tied for second in the Eastern League in wins, seventh in ERA and tied for 10th in strikeouts. Apparently, he can field his position too!

Honorable Mentions:
Connor Jones, RHP (Mariners NR)
Arkansas Travelers (1 GS, 8 IP, 3 H, 0 R, BB, 8 K)
Texas League Pitcher of the Week!
Brandon Walter, LHP (Red Sox #17)
Portland Sea Dogs (1 GS, 7 IP, 4 H, R, 0 BB, 11 K)
Landon Knack, RHP (Dodgers #7)
Tulsa Drillers (1 GS, 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 K)
Wilmer Flores, RHP (Tigers NR)
Erie SeaWolves (1 GS, 5 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 7 K)

High-A

HITTER: Matt Gorski, OF (Pirates NR)
Greensboro Grasshoppers (6 G, .435/.458/1.522/1.980, 9 H, 2B, 8 HR, 11 RBI, 9 R, BB)
Lead MiLB in home runs this week and was named South Atlantic League Player of the Week!
Gorski is an athletic OF picked by the Pirates in the 2nd round in 2019 out of the University of Indiana. Gorski has the coveted power/speed combo but in years past has been held back by a questionable hit tool and too much swing and miss. He has put it all together in his second season in Greensboro. He has 17 homers to go along with 9 SB and a 1.131 OPS. He was just promoted to AA Altoona where, at 24, he is more age-appropriate, If Gorski continues to rake in AA, the Pirates may just have another late-blooming prospect to go along with an already impressive group. (@Bucfish67)

Honorable Mentions:
Jorbit Vivas, 2B (Dodgers #20)
Great Lakes Loons (6 G, .560/.607/.920/1.527, 14 H, 2 2B, 2 3B, HR, 8 RBI, 5 R, 3 BB)
Did not strike out all week, tied for the most hits in MiLB this week, and was named Midwest League Player of the Week!
Ceddanne Rafaela, 3B (Red Sox #29)
Greenville Drive (6 G, .423/.464/.923/1.387, 11 H, 3 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 9 R, 2 BB, SB)
Terrell Tatum, OF (White Sox #42)
Winston-Salem Dash (4 G, .750/.800/1.250/2.050, 12 H, 5 2B, HR, 8 RBI, 6 R, 3 BB, SB)
Trevor Hauver, 2B (Rangers #24)
Hickory Crawdads (5 G, .500/.509/1.278/1.887, 9 H, 2 2B, 4 HR, 10 RBI, 6 R, 5 BB)

PITCHER: Jimmy Joyce, RHP (Mariners NR)
Everett AquaSox (1 GS, 6 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K)
Northwest League Pitcher of the Week!
Joyce is in his first full professional season as a 16th round pick in the 2021 draft out of Hofstra. Last Wednesday saw Joyce pitch his best game of the season and of his early career. In his six shutout innings, Joyce allowed just one hit and struck out six while walking no one.

Honorable Mentions:
Connor Phillips, RHP (Reds now, was Mariners #15 Preseason)
Dayton Dragons (1 GS, 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 12 K)
Brandon Knarr, LHP (Brewers NR)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (1 GS, 6 IP, 5 H, 0 R, BB, 7 K)
Midwest League Pitcher of the Week!
Bryce Miller, RHP (Mariners #23)
Everett AquaSox (1 GS, 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 K)
Beck Way, RHP (Yankees #21)
Hudson Valley Renegades (1 GS, 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB 7 K)

Single-A

HITTER: Carson Williams, SS (Rays #13)
Charleston RiverDogs (6 G, .417/.517/.792/1.309, 10 H, 2 2B, 2 3B, HR, 9 RBI, 5 R, 4 BB)
Williams went on an absolute tear last week, continuing what has been a sensational second season for the Rays 2021 first round draft pick. He tallied a hit in each of his six games played last week, with three multi-hit games and half of those hits going for extra bases. Williams has maintained an OPS north of 1.000 over 32 games played this season so far and possesses the significant potential to develop into a marquee middle-infield prospect within the Rays organization. (@GatorSosa)

Honorable Mentions:
Lucas Dunn, 2B (Padres NR)
Lake Elsinore Storm (5 G, .450/.520/.950/1.470, 9 h, 3 2B, 2 3B, HR, 8 RBI, 7 R, 3 BB, 2 SB)
Manuel Sequera, SS (Tigers NR)
Lakeland Flying Tigers (6 G, .417/.417/.792/1.209, 10 H, 3 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 4R)
Florida State League Player of the Week!
D’Shawn Knowles, OF (Angels NR)
Inland Empire 66ers (6 G, .524/.565/.857/1.422, 11 H, 4 2B, HR, 7 RBI, 8 R, 2 BB, 2 SB)
California League Player of the Week!
Kenedy Corona, OF (Astros NR)
Fayetteville Woodpeckers (5 G, .400/.455/.950/1.405, 8 H, 2 2B, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 5 R, 2 BB)

PITCHER: Garrett Hawkins, RHP (Padres #46)
Lake Elsinore Storm (1 GS, 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB, 11 K)
The 6-foot-5 Canadian-born right-hander was a 2021 9th round draft pick out of the University of British Columbia. And like Joyce above, he also threw his best outing of the season last week. Last Friday against Visalia he pitched around a double to lead off the game and then took control from there allowing only two base runners the rest of the night. During this outing, he struck out stud Diamondback prospect Jordan Lawlar two times.

Honorable Mentions:
Mike Vasil, RHP (Mets NR)
St. Lucie Mets (2 GS, 8 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 13 K)
Victor Juarez, RHP (Rockies NR)
Fresno Grizzlies (1 GS, 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, BB, 7 K)
Larson Kindreich, LHP (Rangers NR)
Down East Woodpeckers (1 GS, 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB, 8 K)
Dahian Santos, RHP (Blue Jays #46)
Dunedin Blue Jays (1 GS, 5 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 8 K)

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




10 Comments

    • Thanks for taking the time to comment Bubba! You have brought up some interesting names and a couple that I really like as overall prospects. When I compile the list each week I look more for guys that had standout individual weeks. I hope you will continue to follow along each week.

      • Is anyone EVER happy with these lists?
        I perused the list and I was angry none of the fine Brewers farmhands on the list!

        But there are 30 teams and there are 4 levels. So…yeah, some guys just aren’t going to make it.

    • You are not kidding Bubba, Kristian Robinson has all the tools to have fans very excited. Bad thing for K Rob right now is that due to some legal issues (and how that effects his work Visa) he has been relegated to the “back fields” and extended Spring Training games so we have yet to see him this year in affiliated ball. I am hoping that ends soon because like you, I am missing seeing him.

      • Hey, I was wondering…it’s not about this list, but Brice Turang…since I’ve watched him, I’ve seen the POTENTIAL for him to be a Tre Turner-ish type player. Not Tre, but a guy I think can hit for a high average, who will develop into a higher OBP guy. I think .280/.360/.420 with 12-15 HRs and 30 SBs at SS. He’s been my favorite Brewers prospect to watch…ahead of Wiemer, or anyone not named Ashby.

        Still needs to add some weight and he’ll need to play some CF/2B(I even think he’ll end up getting some time at 3B early on while Adames is still in Milwaukee). But I think with his bat speed and other tools, he can be a prototypical #2 hitter, MAYBE a leadoff hitter if he can push that OBP up closer to .380.

        Then with Weimer coming behind, it feels like the Brewers have a couple impact players in the immediate future and the prospects to make the deal they actually need to add that impact bat they’ve lost since Hiura and Yelich just…lost it since ’19.

        • I would definitely defer to our Brewers guy David Gasper for more in depth knowledge on all things Brewers.

          But with that said I think Brice Turang has the future of a solid major league baseball player. Like you I would like to see him develop more in game power to raise his dynasty league value.

          I like some of the pieces in the Brewers system. You mentioned Turang & Wiemer. I know Garrett Mitchell and Hedbert Perez have started slow but I still believe in them. Tyler Black & Sal Frelick are very interesting. I love Hendry Mendez hit tool and Carlos Rodriguez (the hitter) is impressing me as well.

          The guy to really get excited about is Jackson Chourio. That guy has all the tools to be an absolute stud. Spoiler alert more coming on him soon!!

  1. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment Kyle. I hear you man. It seems like every week I have to leave someone off the list that had a solid week. I like to remind readers that just because a player makes the list one week it doesn’t mean they are necessarily a better overall prospect than someone left off it is just that their performance from that particular week was noteworthy.

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