Prospects of the Week: May 22 – May 28

Reese Olson, Toledo Mud Hens at Omaha Storm Chasers, May 20, 2023. 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: Jacob Amaya, SS (Marlins #15)
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (5 G, .550/.583/1.200/1.783, 11 H, 2B, 4 HR, 12 RBI, 6 R, 3 BB)
Amaya is making those who have called him a glove first prospect look rather silly. After missing a week of games following a hit by a pitch, he has been on fire. He has hit safely in five straight games for the Jumbo Shrimp, going 11-for-20 with a double, four home runs, and 12 RBI. With the shortstops in Miami producing some of the worst numbers in the major leagues, you have to think Amaya gets a shot soon.

Honorable Mentions:
Elly De La Cruz, SS/3B (Reds #1)
Louisville Bats (5 G, .429/.500/.952/1.452, 9 H, 2 2B, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 6 R, 4 BB, 2 SB)
Davis Wendzel, SS (Rangers #37)
Round Rock Express (5 G, .526/.640/1.316/1.956, 10 H, 3 2B, 4 HR, 8 RBI, 11 R, 5 BB)
Pacific Coast League Player of the Week!
Ivan Herrera, C (Cardinals #14)
Memphis Redbirds (4 G, .438/.571/.938/1.509, 7 H, 3 2B, 3B, HR, 5 RBI, 6 R, 5 BB, SB)
I was hopeful that with the Cardinals playing Willson Contreras more as a DH/OF and Andrew Knizner’s slow start, that Herrera might get his shot at a big league audition. However, the Contreras experiment was short lived and Knizner hit well enough to keep his grasp on the back-up spot. Herrera has likely proven everything he can in Triple-A which leaves him needing an injury or a trade to get that shot.
Dairon Blanco, OF (Royals #46)
Omaha Storm Chasers (5 G, .520/.571/.722/1.293, 9 H, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, 3 R, BB, 5 SB)
His 33 total stolen bases leads Triple-A and has him tied with Jonatan Clase for the minor league lead.

PITCHER: Kyle Harrison, LHP (Giants #1)
Sacramento River Cats (2 GS, 7.2 IP, H, 0 R, 4 BB, 14 K)
Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week!
Harrison earned his first Pitcher of the Week honors to close out the month of May with a 7.2 inning, 14 K performance across two starts against the rival (Oklahoma City) Dodgers. With an excellent 3.38 ERA and 61 SO across 34.1 innings this year Harrison’s biggest impediments to earning a promotion are his pitch count and the success of the big league staff. The Giants have turned things around in May, closing out the month with a 16-11 record thanks in large part to the pitching staff posting 3.39 ERA this month, good for 4th best in the majors. As such Harrison has plenty of time to figure out his pitch efficiency and make it out of the 4th inning before San Francisco comes calling. (@LeyCastaway)

Honorable Mentions:
Andrew Abbott, LHP (Reds #10)
Louisville Bats (1 GS, 6.1 IP, 2 H, R, 3 BB, 9 K)
Ben Brown, RHP (Cubs #13)
Iowa Cubs (1 GS, 5.1 IP, 4 H, R, 2 BB, 11 K)
Reese Olson, RHP (Tigers #10)
Toledo Mud Hens (1 GS, 5 IP, 4 H, R, 0 BB, 10 K)
AJ Smith-Shawver, RHP (Braves #9)
Gwinnett Stripes (1 GS, 7 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 8 K)

Double-A

HITTER: Johan Rojas, OF (Phillies #7)
Reading Fightin Phils (6 G, .375/.407/.792/1.199, 9 H, 2 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 6 R, 2 BB, 3 SB)
Rojas has heated up as the weather has gotten warmer showing more power than in previous years. For the season, he has a slash-line of .289/.354/.428 to go with 16 stolen bases. Most importantly, his K% is down to 15%. He has all the makings of a dynamic leadoff hitter and is making a strong push for a promotion to the big leagues later this summer. (@tonybps1)

Honorable Mentions:
Blake Rutherford, OF (Nationals NR)
Harrisburg Senators (5 G, .522/.560/.739/1.299, 12 H, 2 2B, HR, 5 RBI, 5 R, 2 BB)
Eastern League Player of the Week!
Austin Shenton, 3B (Rays #27)
Montgomery Biscuits (5 G, .455/.520/.818/1.338, 10 H, 2 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 5 R, BB, SB)
Heriberto Hernandez, OF (Rays #15)
Montgomery Biscuits (5 G, .429/.455/.905/1.360, 9 H, 2B, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 6 R, SB)
Southern League Player of the Week!
Connor Scott, OF (Pirates NR)
Altoona Curve (4 G, .333/.412/.933/1.345, 5 H, 2 2B, 2 3B, HR, 9 RBI, 5 R, 2 BB)

CO-PITCHERS:
Last Wednesday’s game between the Northwest Arkansas Naturals and Tulsa Drillers was decided by a lone run that was scored in the bottom of the 10th inning by the Drillers. This pitchers duel was established early by the following two starters:
Noah Cameron, LHP (Royals #21)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals (1 GS, 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, BB, 6 K)
Cameron made quite the impression in his Double-A debut. Against the Texas League North division leading Tulsa Drillers of all teams. After two singles were erased on an inning ending double play in the second inning, he settled in nicely and shut the Drillers stacked lineup down for a total of 7 innings. The 2021 7th round pick grew up just an hour North of Kauffman Stadium, and at this rate it may not be long until friends and family get to make the drive to see him in a Royals uniform. Do not sleep on this tall lefty in dynasty leagues.


Landon Knack, RHP (Dodgers #19)
Tulsa Drillers (1 GS, 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K)
Not to be out done by Cameron, Knack put in an equally impressive start. He limited hard contact all night allowing only four singles (two infield singles), walked none, and struck out six, delivering his fifth straight start allowing one run or less. He was lifted to start the eighth inning after throwing 86 pitches, the most by a Dodgers minor league pitcher so far this season. In 41 innings across nine starts with Double-A Tulsa, he has a miniscule 1.32 ERA, with 45 strikeouts (a 29% K rate), with only seven walks. In the Bobby Miller/Gavin Stone hype don’t forget about Knack and another Driller pitcher (keep reading) who are showing star potential of their own.

Honorable Mentions:
Jose Chacin, RHP (Mets NR)
Binghamton Rumble Ponies (1 GS, 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K)
Emmet Sheehan, RHP (Dodgers #11)
Tulsa Drillers (2 G/1 GS, 10 IP, 2 H, R, 5 BB, 18 K)
Sheehan is that other Driller pitcher previously mentioned. He currently leads all of Double-A with 76 strikeouts in only 44 innings, and is tied with teammate Knack (above) for the Texas League Lead in WHIP at 0.80. The Dodgers just keep cranking them out.
Chad Patrick, RHP (Diamondbacks NR)
Amarillo Sod Poodles (1 GS, 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K)
Texas League Pitcher of the Week!

High-A

HITTER: Alberto Rodriguez, OF (Mariners NR)
Everett AquaSox (7 G, .448/.484/1.276/1.760, 13 H, 4 2B, 3B, 6 HR, 15 RBI, 10 R, BB)
Northwest League Player of the Week!
What a way to close out a month! Last week he hit six of his eight home runs, almost doubled his season RBI total, and raised his average over thirty points. 2022 was a rough one for Rodriguez, so much so that he was removed from the 40-man roster and then went unclaimed on waivers. With some of the prospect shine gone, it is encouraging to see him have some success early on.

Honorable Mentions:
James Wood, OF (Nationals #1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks (5 G, .474/.565/1.105/1.670, 9 H, 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 8 R, 4 BB, 2 SB)
Aaron Palensky, OF (Yankees NR)
Hudson Valley Renegades (5 G, .619/.680/1.238/1.918, 13 H, 5 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 9 R, 3 BB, 3 SB)
South Atlantic League Player of the Week, and currently leads the league in homeruns.
Garrett Spain, OF (Blue Jays NR)
Vancouver Canadians (5 G, .478/.478/1.043/1.521, 11 H, 5 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 5 R, SB)
Tyler Locklear, 3B (Mariners #4)
Everett AquaSox (7 G, .462/.533/.808/1.341, 12 H, 3 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 6 R, 2 BB, SB)

CO-PITCHERS:
Hunter Dobbins, RHP (Red Sox NR)
Greenville Drive (1 GS, 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 10 K)
Isaac Coffey, RHP (Red Sox NR)
Greenville Drive (1 GS, 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 11 K)
Two stellar starts from a couple of studs in Boston’s High-A rotation. Neither Dobbins or Coffey were ranked in our preseason Red Sox Top 50, but Ben Wilson and I are seriously considering where each may fall in the upcoming midseason ranks. There’s a good chance both of these players are available in your dynasty leagues, so if you’re in a real deep league and want to stash and project, pick your poison! (@Scotty_Ballgame)

Honorable Mentions:
Daniel Martinez, RHP (Braves NR)
Rome Braves (1 GS, 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K)
South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week!
Ryan Bergert, RHP (Padres #37)
Fort Wayne TinCaps (1 GS, 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, BB, 8 K)
Dustin Saenz, LHP (Nationals NR)
Wilmington Blue Rocks (2 GS, 11 IP, 6 H, R, BB, 15 K)
Cooper Hjerpe, LHP (Cardinals #6)
Peoria Chiefs (1 GS, 6 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 5 K)
Midwest League Pitcher of the Week!
Hjerpe posted his best outing of his professional career last week limiting a solid Great Lakes lineup hitless over six innings of work. He looks to be finding his groove and has lowered his ERA (3.66) and WHIP (1.22) to season lows. His walk rate is a touch high (14%) and the Cardinals will likely want him to work through that a bit before facing higher level hitters.

Single-A

HITTER: David McCabe, 3B (Braves #21)
Augusta GreenJackets (5 G, .400/.400/1.100/1.500, 8 H, 2 2B, 4 HR, 8 RBI, 4 R)
Carolina League Player of the Week!
Take it with a grain of salt, as McCabe is 2 years older than league average in Single-A, but you can’t help but be impressed with a 4 homer week and a Ted Williams-esque .400 average. I’d envision the Braves will look to move him up to High-A Rome in the not too distant future. (@MKelley_ND)

Honorable Mentions:
Chris Newell, OF (Dodgers NR)
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (6 G, .417/.517/.833/1.350, 10 H, 2 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 8 R, 5 BB)
Ricardo Olivar, C (Twins #22)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (5 G, .500/.571/.778/1.349, 9 H, 2 2B, HR, 3 RBI, 3 R, 3 BB, 2 SB)
Florida State League Player of the Week!
Matt Coutney, 1B (Angels NR)
Inland Empire 66ers (6 G, .500/.593/.909/1.502, 11 H, 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 5 R, 4 BB)
California League Player of the Week!

PITCHER: Hayden Merda, RHP (Yankees NR)
Tampa Tarpons (1 GS, 6 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 8 K)
Florida State League Pitcher of the Week!
Merda, the Yankees 17th round pick in 2022, turned in his best professional outing last week against a solid Palm Beach lineup. He allowed only two balls to leave the infield in his 6 innings of work, while striking out eight. With this stellar outing he lowered his season numbers to 5.29 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, with opponents hitting .230 against him.

Honorable Mentions:
Jacob Misiorowski, RHP (Brewers #9)
Carolina Mudcats (1 GS, 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 K)
Carolina League Pitcher of the Week!


Michael Darrell-Hicks, RHP (Angels NR)
Inland Empire 66ers (1 GS, 6 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 6 K)
California League Pitcher of the Week!
Jake Bennett, LHP (Nationals #12)
Fredericksburg Nationals (1 GS, 6 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K)
Trey Dombroski, LHP (Astros #31)
Fayetteville Woodpeckers (2 G/1 GS, 9 IP, 4 H, R, 2 BB, 11 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




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