Prospects of the Week: August 6 – August 12

Each week we pick the hitting and pitching prospects from each level (AAA, AA, A+, A, Short Season-A and Rookie league) who, in our opinion, had the best week. We’re always on the lookout for candidates, so tweet us (@Prospects1500@PaulTheMartin and @Scotty_Ballgame) when you see a great performance.

Martin picks his POTW hitters and pitchers for each level, while Greene presents 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.

AAA

Hitter: Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., 3B (Toronto Blue Jays, #1)
Buffalo Bisons (6 G, .458/.458/1.000, 11 H, 2B, 4 HR)

Vlad Jr.’s dominance of the minor leagues is beginning to resemble that of Mike Trout in the bigs. He has the potential to win this award every single week he plays. Consistency is key for this teenager hitting over .400 over two levels this season. We know all there is to know about Guerrero except what he can do in the majors. He continues to rake post-promotion, and post-injury, and there is no stopping this kid. Also, his home runs from this week came in four consecutive games; that’s just Vladdy being Vladdy.

Scott Greene’s AAA Hitter: Peter Alonso, 1B (New York Mets, #4)
Las Vegas 51’s (5 G, .500/.565/1.100, 10 H, 3 2B, 3 HR, 6:10 R:RBI)

Pitcher: Jefry Rodriguez, RHP (Washington Nationals, #13)
Syracuse Chiefs (1 GS, 1-0, 6 IP, 11:2 K:BB, 6 H, 0 ER, 20% SwStr%)

Rodriguez tamed the Gwinett Stripers this week sitting down 11 batters while only walking 2. More impressively, he generated 20% SwStr% to accumulate that killer strikeout total. This Dominican product is towing the line between Syracuse and Washington, but more starts like these will make him a stronger option to end the year. He utilizes a big 95 MPH fastball alongside a sinker and curveball, so a bullpen role could also get him on the team sooner rather than later. Overall Rodriguez is one of the readiest prospects in the Nationals top-heavy system and could be their best arm.

Greene’s AAA Pitcher: Michael Kopech, RHP (Chicago White Sox, #3)
Charlotte Knights (1 GS, 1-0, 7 IP, 9:0 K:BB, 5 H, 0 ER, 16% SwStr)

Honorable Mention: Matt Hall, LHP (Detroit Tigers, #20)
Toledo MudHens (2 GS, 1-0, 12 IP, 14:3 K:BB, 7 H, 3 ER, 11% SwStr)

AA

Hitter: Michael Chavis, 3B (Boston Red Sox, #1)
Portland Sea Dogs (6 G, .560/.593/.880, 14 H, 2 2B, 2 HR, SB, 7:7 R:RBI)

Chavis brings in the #POTW award this week by racking up the most hits within the entirety of the minor leagues. Going along with an insane batting average were a couple of doubles, a couple of homers, a steal, and a bunch of counting statistics. Returning from suspension took a bit of time for the kid, but he is taking to the promotion by hitting over .300 in his first 22 AA games. Chavis is the top prospect within the Red Sox system, according to @Scotty_Ballgame, and more weeks like this are on the horizon.

Greene’s AA Hitter: Mike Brosseau, 3B (Tampa Bay Rays, #N/A)
Montgomery Biscuits (6 G, .500/.600/1.000, 10 H, 4 2B, 2 HR, 8:7 R:RBI)

Honorable Mention: Jecksson Flores, 3B (Kansas City Royals, #N/A)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals (6 G, .458/.519/.625, 11 H, 2 2B, 3B, 3 SB)


Pitcher: Taylor Widener, RHP (Arizona Diamondbacks, #4)
Jackson Generals (1 GS, 1-0, 7 IP, 9:0 K:BB, 3 H, 0 ER, 18% SwStr%)

Widener is one of the best pitchers in the whole of the MiLB this season. His 2.49 ERA in 22 starts with 151:36 K:BB is an incredible line for this 23-year-old who shifted organizations in the offseason. It is just more of the same since his draft date in 2016. This week displayed his advanced control and command paired with amazing swing and miss capabilities. The overall profile is gaudy for fantasy because of the strikeouts but also shows promise as a workhorse in the rotation. Brent Rooker and the rest of the Chattanooga Lookouts should have seen this coming.

Greene’s AA Pitcher: Parker Dunshee, RHP (Oakland Athletics, #N/A)
Midland RockHounds (1 GS, 1-0, 7.1 IP, 9:2 K:BB, 2 H, 0 ER, 19% SwStr%)

A+

Hitter: Ibandel Isabel, 1B (Cincinnati Reds, #13)
Daytona Tortugas (6 G, .500/.538/1.250, 12 H, 3 2B, 5 HR, 7:8 R:RBI)

This monstrous 1st baseman, hailing from the Dominican Republic, did what he did best this week; he hit dingers. Isabel is one of the most exciting power bats creeping up the lower levels within the Reds system. He hit 4 home runs in 2 days this weekend, 3 of which came during a doubleheader on August 10th. The last homer of his week made him the 2nd minor league player with 30 HR this season; the other being Royals prospect Seuly Matias one level lower than Isabel. The Reds got a great value trading for Isabel at the beginning of the season, snagging him away from the Los Angeles Dodgers deep farm system.

Greene’s A+ Hitter: Carlos Rincon, OF (Los Angeles Dodgers, #38)
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (6 G, .364/.444/1.182, 8 H, 6 HR, 8:8 R:RBI)


Pitcher: Deivi Garcia, RHP (New York Yankees, #9)
Tampa Tarpons (1 GS, 7 IP, 12:0 K:BB, 0 H, 0 ER, 17% SwStr%)

It is clear why Garcia won our #POTW award this week. The teenager is making the most of his promotion to Tampa. Our own Yankees correspondent Jason Woodell is extremely high on this kid, and this week is the epitome of his ceiling. 12 strikeouts, no walks, no hits, a perfect 7 innings for Garcia versus the Clearwater Threshers. In Jason’s newest NYY Top 50, he placed Garcia 9th overall and stated that he currently has two 70-grade pitches in the fastball and hammer curve. His rise to prominence is one of the most exciting throughout the entire super-stacked Yankees system.

Greene’s A+ Pitcher: David Peterson, LHP (New York Mets, #2)
St. Lucie Mets (2 GS, 1-0, 12 IP, 15:1 K:BB, 10 H, 2 ER, 11% SwStr)


A

Hitter: Scott Schreiber, OF (Houston Astros, #N/A)
Quad Cities River Bandits (6 G, .444/.524/.944, 8 H, 3 HR, 2 SB)

The Astros chose Schreiber in the 9th round this season and assigned him aggressively to full season ball. His performance is not living up to the high praise. However, this week pumped more excitement into the profile as he showcased the power, speed, and a decent approach. Schreiber accumulated 18 HR for Nebraska this season before his draft day. Now that he has reps in the bigs it will be interesting to see if this is the player we see more often. He is another high floor college bat that seems to be one of the most intriguing profiles in dynasty leagues.

Greene’s A Hitter: Rodolfo Duran, C (Philadelphia Phillies, #N/A)
Lakewood BlueClaws (6 G, .474/.500/1.053, 9 H, 2 2B, 3 HR, 4:6 R:RBI)


Pitcher: Packy Naughton, LHP (Cincinnati Reds, #23)
Dayton Dragons (2 GS, 10.2 IP, 16:4 K:BB, 6 H, 0 ER, 13% SwStr%)

Naughton is not an extremely exciting minor leaguer, but this week was special for the left-hander. After two poor starts in a row against the Fort Wayne TinCaps, Packy was able to silence the West Michigan Whitecaps and Great Lakes Loons, both on the road.  The 2017 draft choice needs to continue showing more of these stats as he has not performed to full potential. He is listed as #23 on the Reds midseason list due to his upside as a lefty in a shallow pitching system, but he will need to do a lot more to stick in that range.

Greene’s A Pitcher: Luis Patino, RHP (San Diego Padres, #11)
Fort Wayne TinCaps (2 GS, 1-0, 10.1 IP, 17:3 K:BB, 11 H, 2 ER, 20% SwStr)

Honorable Mention: Tyler Phillips, RHP (Texas Rangers, #27)
Hickory Crawdads (1 GS, 1-0, 7 IP, 13:0 K:BB, 6 H, 0 ER, 31% SwStr)


A-

Hitter: Aaron Bond, OF (San Francisco Giants, #N/A)
Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (4 G, .333/.400/.833, 6 H, 3 HR, 2 SB, 7:5 R:RBI)

Bond is showing much more promise in short season than he did at the beginning of the year in the SAL. The 21-year-old dropped a level and started to display more of the upside that comes alongside a 6’5″ left-handed bat. He posted some gaudy stats in just 4 games this week, and 3 of his 6 total hits were dingers. The young outfielder doesn’t have much patience at the plate, but the power and speed could keep developing him into a very intriguing dynasty league option. If more of this ceiling starts to come out to end this season, he should make the Diamondbacks Top 50 to start next year. Performing with Bond this week was Scott Greene’s A- Hitter, Diego Rincones, and they combined for 11 runs, 11 RBI, and 6 HR in 4 games.

Greene’s A- Hitter: Diego Rincones, OF (San Francisco Giants, #28)
Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (4 G, .316/.350/.842, 6 H, 2B, 3 HR, 4:6 R:RBI)

Pitcher: Humberto Mejia, RHP (Miami Marlins, #N/A)
Batavia Muckdogs (2 GS, 0-1, 10 IP, 13:0 K:BB, 5 H, 3 ER, 20% SwStr%)

The 21-year-old pitcher from Panama is throwing in games for the first time since 2016. The numbers have not been dazzling for Mejia, but this week epitomized the command that he brings to the table. The right-hander did not issue a walk over 10 IP. Going along with the control was more than a strikeout per inning, half a hit per inning, and one tough-luck loss against the West Virginia Black Bears. Mejia is working his way through a developing Marlins system to add more upside to his well-developed control.

Greene’s A- Pitcher: Kyle Wilson, RHP (New York Mets, #N/A)
Brooklyn Cyclones (1 GS, 1-0, 5 IP, 10:1 K:BB, 0 H, 0 ER, 26% SwStr%)


RK

Hitter: Malcom Nunez, 3B (St. Louis Cardinals, #N/A)
DSL Cardinals Blue (6 G, .391/.517/1.043, 9 H, 3 2B, 4 HR, 8:16 R:RBI)

Nunez had a video game week in the DSL. 24 total runs and RBI, 7 of his 9 total hits went for extra bases, plus his OBP was over .100 points higher than his average. He is now rocking a .415/.500/.756 triple-slash with 24 extra base hits in 33 games. The 17-year-old Cuban is performing to an extremely high level for his first taste of professional baseball. Until he comes stateside the true ceiling of his talent remains to be seen. However, the excitement is real with this young bat, and I will be watching Nunez very closely with this DSL line he is posting.

Greene’s RK Hitter: Miguel Jerez, OF (Cleveland Indians, #N/A)
AZL Indians 1 (6 G, .455/.478/.864, 10 H, 3 HR, 2 SB, 9 RBI)


Honorable Mention: Tyler James, OF (Kansas City Royals, #N/A)
Idaho Falls Chukars (4 G, .500/.571/.667, 9 H, HR, 7 SB, 9 R)


Pitcher: Ronny Henriquez, RHP (Texas Rangers, #N/A)
DSL Rangers 2 (1 GS, 1-0, 6 IP, 12:0 K:BB, 2 H, 0 ER)

Henriquez continues to deal for the DSL Rangers squad. He keeps popping up for this award, and I can’t help but give it to him due to these insane performances. This week he showed more command, more whiffability, and overall is building a reputation for consistency. I hope we get to see a late-season promotion stateside for this intriguing international arm. However, he is putting together one of the most exciting rookie level seasons for any pitcher and will be on my radar to finish this season and well into next year.

Greene’s RK Pitcher: Carlos Naveda, RHP (Texas Rangers, #N/A)
DSL Rangers 1 (1 GS, 1-0, 7 IP, 12:0 K:BB, 2 H, ER)

 

Featured image of Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. – photo credit Scott Greene, in his final AA game for New Hampshire, in Hartford, CT

Paul Martin graduated from the University of Connecticut with a double degree in Political Science and American Studies. After college the drive to become a baseball writer became real when Lenny Melnick asked for a podcast substitute. Ever since late-2017, Paul has been providing content for LennyMelnickFantasySports.com, Razzball, Pitcher List, and now Prospects1500. Living in the Connecticut area there are plenty of options for minor league coverage with the closest team being the Hartford Yard Goats. This die-hard Yankees fan has transitioned into a well-rounded cover of all things fantasy baseball and prospects.




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