Prospects of the Week: September 11 – September 17

September 19, 2023 Jeremy Mahy General, MiLB, Prospects of the Week 0

Wyatt Langford, Hickory Crawdads. Photo credit Benjamin Rush, @BenRushPhoto on Twitter and @BenRushPhoto 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, 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: Orelvis Martinez, IF (Blue Jays #2)
Buffalo Bisons (6 G, .360/.448/.800/1.248, 9 H, 2 2B, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 7 R, 4 BB, SB)
International League Player of the Week!
Coming into this season the industry had begun to move on from Martinez a bit and 100 AB’s into the season it looked warranted. Since then he has been on a tear and has even climbed back onto some top-100 lists. The biggest reason for his success appears to be a drastic improvement in his approach. He is laying off breaking pitches more and is drawing walks at a much higher clip. He is still only 21-years-old and is displaying game changing power at the highest levels of the minors. Now might be the time to buy back in.

Honorable Mentions:
Blaine Crim, 1B (Rangers #37)
Round Rock Express (6 G, .435/.480/.913/1.393, 10 H, 2 2B, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 6 R, 2 BB)
Colt Keith, 3B (Tigers #1)
Toledo Mud Hens (6 G, .316/.480/.842/1.322, 6 H, 2B, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 7 R, 5 BB)
Frankie Tostado, 1B (Nationals NR)
Rochester Red Wings (5 G, .526/.609/.737/1.346, 10 H, 2 2B, 3B, 4 RBI, 3 R, 4 BB)

PITCHER: Jared Jones, RHP (Pirates #9)
Indianapolis Indians (1 GS, 6 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 8 K)
Jones is finishing the season on fire. In his last two starts (13 IP), he has allowed 5 hits, 0 runs, and only walked 2 while striking out 12. The former second round pick brings the heat and when he keeps the walks at a minimum he can be flat unhittable. The ceiling is high, but ultimately what role he plays in the Pirates future will be determined by his ability to control the walk rate.

Honorable Mentions:
Cade Povich, LHP (Orioles #12)
Norfolk Tides (1 GS, 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K)
Clayton Beeter, RHP (Yankees #10)
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (1 GS, 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 13 K)


Garrett Stallings, RHP (Orioles NR)
Norfolk Tides (1 GS, 7 IP, 3 H, R, BB, 7 K)
Will Warren, RHP (Yankees #12)
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (2 G/1 GS, 10.2 IP, 6 H, R, 5 BB, 14 K)

Double-A

HITTER: Wyatt Langford, OF (Rangers #2)
Frisco RoughRiders (6 G, .500/.593/1.045/1.683, 11 H, 4 HR, 6 RBI, 4 R, 5 BB, SB)
Texas League Player of the Week!
Langford’s hot start to his pro career continued as the former University of Florida slugger is now boasting a slash line of .359/.471/1.169. He’s hit 10 home runs and thrown in 9 stolen bases to boot in just 142 at-bats. He’s good. Really good. (@byrontx)

Honorable Mentions:
James Free, C (Reds NR)
Chattanooga Lookouts (6 G, .435/.519/.913/1.432, 10 H, 3 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 6 R, 3 BB)
Southern League Player of the Week!
James Wood, OF (Nationals #1)
Harrisburg Senators (5 G, .450/.476/.700/1.176, 9 H, 2 2B, HR, 6 RBI, 3 R, BB, SB)
Eastern League Player of the Week!
B.J. Murray Jr., 3B (Cubs #29)
Tennessee Smokies (6 G, .375/.500/.708/1.208, 9 H, 5 2B, HR, 5 RBI, 8 R, 6 BB, 3 SB)
Pedro Pages, C (Cardinals #34)
Springfield Cardinals (6 G, .435/.500/.782/1.283, 10 H, 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 7 R, 3 BB)

PITCHER: Jonathan Bermudez, LHP (Marlins NR)
Pensacola Blue Wahoos (1 GS, 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 K)
Southern League Pitcher of the Week!
2023 minor league free agent signee, Jonathan Bermudez, had himself an outing on Sept 16th. He tossed 7 innings allowing only 3 hits and striking out 9 Braves. Look for him to help the Blue Wahoos try to win the first playoff series against Montgomery. (@stoffer81)

Honorable Mentions:
Matt Osterberg, LHP (Phillies NR)
Reading Fightin Phils (1 GS, 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K)
Eastern League Pitcher of the Week!


Julio Robaina, LHP (Astros NR)
Corpus Christi Hooks (2 GS, 11 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 12 K)
Texas League Pitcher of the Week!
Richard Fitts, RHP (Yankees #15)
Somerset Patriots (1 GS, 6.2 IP, 4 H, R, BB, 11 K)
Ryan Cusick, RHP (Athletics #31)
Midland RockHounds (1 GS, 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K)
Jackson Jobe, RHP (Tigers #5)
Erie SeaWolves (1 GS, 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K)

High-A Playoffs

Northwest League Championship Series
Vancouver Canadians defeat Everett AquaSox 3 games to 1

South Atlantic League Division Series
Hudson Valley Renegades defeat Jersey Shore BlueClaws 2 games to 1
Greenville Drive defeat Hickory Crawdads 2 games to 0

Midwest League Division Series
Cedar Rapids Kernels defeat Peoria Chiefs 2 games to 1
Great Lakes Loons defeat Fort Wayne TinCaps 2 games to 1

HITTER: Felix Reyes, OF (Phillies NR)
Jersey Shore BlueClaws (3 G, .500/.600/.875/1.475, 4 H, 2B, 3B, RBI, R, 2 BB)
Reyes, a 2020 international free agent signee, has been slowly improving during his time in the organization. He projects to be more valuable in real life than dynasty but he’s still very young and growing. If he continues to have weeks like this, he’ll move up our rankings quickly. (@tonybps1)

Honorable Mentions:
Gabriel Martinez, OF (Blue Jays #11)
Vancouver Canadians (4 G, .438/.471/.500/.971, 7 H, 2B, 3 RBI)
Noah Cardenas, C (Twins #30)
Cedar Rapids Kernels (3 G, .500/.692/.625/1.317, 4 H, 2B, 2 RBI, 3 R, 5 BB)
Kristian Campbell, SS (Red Sox NR)
Greenville Drive (2 G, .667/.714/.833/1.547, 4 H, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R)
Cade Doughty, 3B (Mariners #15)
Vancouver Canadians (4 G, .333/.412/.533/.945, 5 H, 3 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R)

PITCHER: Max Rajcic, RHP (Cardinals #15)
Peoria Chiefs (1 GS, 6 IP, H, R, 3 BB, 9 K)
A solid regular season earned Rajcic the game 1 start against Cedar Rapids. After a shaky second inning where two walks, a hit-by-pitch, and a groundout plated the only run against him, Rajcic settled in and led the Chiefs to a series opening win.

Honorable Mentions:
Jared Karros, RHP (Dodgers NR)
Great Lakes Loons (1 GS, 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB, 6 K)
Yorlin Calderon, RHP (Yankees NR)
Hudson Valley Renegades (1 GS, 5.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, BB, 4 K)
Raul Alcantara, LHP (Mariners NR)
Everett AquaSox (1 GS, 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, BB, 8 K)

Single-A

Carolina League Division Series
Down East Wood Ducks defeat Carolina Mudcats 2 games to 1
Charleston RiverDogs defeat Myrtle Beach Pelicans 2 games to 1

Florida State League Division Series
Clearwater Threshers defeat Lakeland Flying Tigers 2 to 1
Jupiter Hammerheads defeat Palm Beach Cardinals 2 games to 0

California League Division Series
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes defeat Inland Empire 66ers 2 games to 1
Modesto Nuts defeat San Jose Giants 2 games to 0

HITTER: Brayden Taylor, 3B (Rays #5)
Charleston RiverDogs (3 G, .417/.533/.917/1.450, 5 H, 2B, 3B, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R, 3 BB, SB)
The Rays 2023 first round pick had a massive showing in the Carolina League Single-A division playoff series, getting on base 8 times, with two multi-hit efforts, as the Charleston RiverDogs were able to best the Myrtle Beach Pelicans in three games. The impressive performance, which included a home run in the decisive third game of the series, is a display of continued success for Brayden Taylor, as he’s been able to rack up 5 home runs and 9 stolen bases across 22 Single-A games prior to the division series. The tooled out third baseman has all the traits of a future offensive superstar and has already established himself as one of the premier offensive prospects in an organization perennially loaded with high upside infield talent. (@GatorSosa)

Honorable Mentions:
Joe Vetrano, 1B (Dodgers NR)
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (3 G, .364/.364/.909/1.273, 4 H, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 3 R)
Michael Arroyo, MI (Mariners #6)
Modesto Nuts (2 G, .625/.700/1.000/1.700, 5 H, HR, 4 RBI, 3 R, 2 BB)
Kemp Alderman, OF (Marlins #15)
Jupiter Hammerheads (2 G, .333/.400/.778/1.178, 3 H, 2 2B, 3B, RBI, 2 R, BB)
Cole Fontenelle, 3B (Angels NR)
Inland Empire 66ers (3 G, .455/.538/.818/1.356, 5 H, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R, SB)

PITCHER: Joel Hurtado, RHP (Angels NR)
Inland Empire 66ers (1 GS, 7 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 4 K)
Hurtado was spectacular in the division series for the 66ers going 7 innings allowing only 2 baserunners and striking out 4. Hurtado has a fastball that hits the upper 90s and 2 really good breaking pitches. He’s a late international signee (signed at 21) and could end up being a good piece in the Angels bullpen in a couple years. (@A_Rhodes77)

Honorable Mentions:
Jean Cabrera, RHP (Phillies #41)
Clearwater Threshers (1 GS, 6.1 IP, H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K)
Joe Miller, LHP (Tigers NR)
Lakeland Flying Tigers (1 GS, 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, BB, 6 K)
Patricio Aquino, RHP (Brewers #44)
Carolina Mudcats (1 GS, 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K)
Riley Davis, RHP (Mariners NR)
Modesto Nuts (1 GS, 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB, 3 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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