Wednesday's top prospect performers
Here's a look at Wednesday's top Minor League performers from each team's Top 30 Prospects list:
AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST
Blue Jays: Kevin Smith, INF (TOR No. 28) -- 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBIs, R (Triple-A Buffalo)
Smith demolished his first Triple-A hit for a two-run blast in the sixth inning. The 24-year-old followed a double by Cullen Large with an absolute moonshot to left-center field that nearly cleared the batter’s eye. In 2019, Smith clubbed 19 dingers with Double-A New Hampshire. Blue Jays prospects stats »
Orioles: Jahmai Jones, 2B (BAL No. 19) -- 3-for-5, HR, 2 3B, 3 RBIs, 2 R (Triple-A Norfolk)
Jones tallied 10 total bases on a trio of extra-base knocks against Jacksonville. The 23-year-old mashed a two-run jack to left-center in the third to pull the Tides to within 4-3. He also had his 60-grade speed on display as he motored around the basepaths for a pair of three-baggers -- the first to right in the fifth and the other to left in the ninth that drove in Stevie Wilkerson. Jones has amassed 12 total bases and four RBIs over his first two games of the season. Orioles prospects stats »
Rays: Cole Wilcox, RHP (TB No. 9) -- 4 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 5 K (Low-A Charleston)
The 2020 third-round selection of the Padres, who was dealt to Tampa Bay in the Blake Snell deal, looked sharp in his debut with his new organization. Wilcox retired the first seven batters he faced before yielding a one-out double to Grayson Byrd in the third. But the 21-year-old worked around that knock, and a two-out single by Jordan Nwogu in the fourth, to post four scoreless frames while striking out five. He tossed 37 of his 47 pitches for strikes. Rays prospects stats »
Red Sox: Matthew Lugo, SS (BOS No. 12) -- 1-for-4 (Low-A Salem)
The 19-year-old collected a hit for the second straight game when he lined a 1-2 pitch into right field in the fourth inning. Lugo homered on Tuesday and is 2-for-7 with an RBI and a run scored so far this season. Red Sox prospects stats »
Yankees: Brandon Lockridge, OF (NYY No. 20) -- 4-for-5, 3B, 2B, RBI, 2 R (High-A Hudson Valley)
The 2018 fifth-rounder fell a homer shy of the cycle, but still notched four hits on the night. Lockridge led off the second inning with a screaming double to left, singled in the third, motored around for a triple to right in the fifth and, after giving the ball a ride with a deep fly ball to right in the seventh, the 24-year-old concluded his night with a base knock into center in the ninth. Yankees prospects stats »
AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL
Indians: Logan Allen, LHP (CLE No. 23) -- 5 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 8 K (High-A Lake County)
The 2020 second-rounder sparkled in his pro debut for his new organization. The southpaw whiffed the side in the first inning, and retired the first 13 batters he faced -- seven via the punchout -- before issuing a walk and then yielding a single. However, Allen escaped any further harm by fanning Elvis Peralta to end the frame in the fifth. He tossed 45 of his 72 pitches for strikes. Indians prospects stats»
Royals: Jonathan Bowlan, RHP (KC No. 8) -- 5 IP, 0 R, 4H, 1 BB, 10 K (Double-A Northwest Arkansas)
Bowlan dominated in his Double-A debut. The righty struck out the side in the first and fifth innings, and had at least one punchout in every inning of his outing. The 24-year-old’s 10 strikeouts were also a career high. Kansas City’s top prospect, Bobby Witt Jr., notched his first Double-A hit with a bloop single in the first. Two frames later, he successfully stole his first base of the season after reaching on a fielder’s choice. Royals prospects stats»
Tigers: Riley Greene, OF (MLB No. 17) -- 2-for-5, HR, 5 RBIs, 2 R (Double-A Erie)
Skipping over the High-A level, Greene produced his second straight multi-hit effort with Double-A Erie and added a little flair on this one. The second-ranked Tigers prospect belted a grand slam on the first pitch he saw from Jakob Hernandez in the ninth inning. The blast was crushed to right and capped the scoring for the SeaWolves. The 20-year-old also drove in another run with a base hit to right in the sixth. Greene is now 4-for-10 with a homer, five RBIs, three runs scored and a walk over his first two games. Tigers prospects stats»
Twins: Trevor Larnach, OF (MLB No. 69) -- 2-for-5, HR, 3 RBIs, 2 R (Triple-A St. Paul)
After clubbing 13 homers in 2019, Larnach got a hold of his first long ball this season with a three-run dinger to right in the fourth to blow the game open for the Saints. The third-ranked Twins prospect also opened the scoring on Wednesday with a base knock to center in the first, before being plated on a sacrifice fly by Ryan Jeffers. Twins prospects stats»
White Sox: Gavin Sheets, RF/1B (CWS No. 12) -- 3-for-5, 2 2B, 3 RBIs, R (Triple-A Charlotte)
Coming off a two-hit night in his Triple-A debut, Sheets one-upped himself with three knocks on Wednesday. The 25-year-old hammered a two-run double to left in the third, punched a ground ball into right in the fifth, and laced an RBI double to right in the eighth before coming around to score on a double by Seby Zavala. The club’s No. 12 prospect is 5-for-10 with a homer, two doubles, seven RBIs, a walk and a pair of runs scored to start the season. White Sox prospects stats»
AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST
A’s: Tyler Soderstrom, C (MLB No. 93) -- 2-for-5 (Low-A Stockton)
The A’s top prospect notched the first multihit effort of his pro career with a pair of knocks against Modesto. Soderstrom found a hole on the right side for a two-out single in the third, and then went right back up the middle for a base hit into center in the sixth. The 26th overall pick in last year’s Draft is 3-for-8 this season. Athletics prospects stats »
Angels: Jordyn Adams, OF (LAA No. 3) -- 2-for-5, HR, 3B, 4 RBIs, 2 R (High-A Tri-City)
Adams’ three-run homer in the second highlighted a six-run frame for Tri-City. The 21-year-old, who went deep eight times in 420 at-bats in 2019, added an RBI triple two innings later to notch his first multihit effort of 2021. Angels prospects stats »
Astros: Grae Kessinger, SS (HOU No. 14) -- 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBIs, R (Double-A Corpus Christi)
Kessinger’s first home run of the season turned a one-run Hooks deficit into a one-run lead they wouldn’t relinquish. The 23-year-old added a single earlier in the game. Astros prospects stats »
Mariners: Zach DeLoach, OF (SEA No. 13) -- 2-for-3, HR, 2 RBIs, 2 BB, R (High-A Everett)
DeLoach shook off an 0-for-4 showing in his first career game and rebounded by homering and reaching safely four times. The 22-year-old ripped a two-run shot in the second inning and added a single and two walks to lift the AquaSox to their first win of 2021. Mariners prospects stats »
Rangers: Steele Walker, OF (TEX No. 11) -- 2-for-5, 3B, 2 RBIs, 2 R (Double-A Frisco)
Walker finished strong against Midland with a game-tying RBI single to center in the fifth that knocked out Zack Erwin. He came around to score the go-ahead run two batters later on a double by Sherten Apostel. In the seventh, Walker laced a ball down the right-field line for an RBI triple. He scampered home on a sacrifice fly by Davis Wendzel. Rangers prospects stats »
NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST
Braves: Logan Brown, C (ATL No. 25) -- 2-for-3, HR, 2B, 4 RBIs, 2 BB (High-A Rome)
It took Brown 97 fewer games to equal his home run output from 2019. The 24-year-old hit his first grand slam, doubled and reached base safely four times. Brown’s four RBIs equaled a career high established with Rome in 2019. Braves prospects stats »
Marlins: Jesús Sánchez, OF (MIA No. 6) -- 5-for-5, HR, 3B, 4 RBIs, 2 R (Triple-A Jacksonville)
Sánchez followed up a loud debut with a perfect performance at the plate on Wednesday with five knocks and finished just a double shy of the cycle. The 23-year-old motored around the basepaths for a triple in the first inning, punched a single into left in the second, launched a two-run blast to right in the fifth, and concluded his afternoon by legging out a pair of infield hits in the sixth and eighth. Sánchez is 7-for-10 to begin the year with a pair of dingers, a triple, nine RBIs and two runs scored. Miami’s third-ranked prospect Max Meyer made his pro debut with Double-A Pensacola and earned the victory after posting five shutout frames. The No. 3 overall pick in last year’s Draft scattered a hit and a walk to whiff five against Mississippi. Marlins prospects stats »
Mets: Sam McWilliams, RHP (NYM No. 16) -- 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K (Triple-A Syracuse)
McWilliams enjoyed a perfect debut Wednesday, facing the minimum in his two innings of relief. The 25-year-old dispatched six Scranton-Wilkes/Barre batters on 28 pitches, striking out three, including big leaguers Miguel Andújar and Derek Dietrich in the ninth inning. Mets prospects stats »
Nationals: Joan Adon, RHP (WAS No. 16) -- 5 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 4 SO (High-A Wilmington)
Despite taking the loss in his season debut, Adon turned in an efficient outing in line with his 2019 campaign. The 22-year-old retired the first six batters he faced before allowing a pair of runs in the third inning. Adon rebounded by facing the minimum in his final two frames, ending his outing with a pair of strikeouts. Nationals prospects stats »
Phillies: Johan Rojas, OF (PHI No. 8) -- 2-for-6, 2B, 3 RBIs, R (Low-A Clearwater)
Rojas doubled for the second consecutive game, clearing the bases to help Clearwater rally from an early three-run deficit. The 20-year-old added a single, scored and has four hits in his first 11 at-bats of the season. Rojas batted .265/.313/.429 with 14 stolen bases in 60 games in 2019. Phillies prospects stats »
NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL
Brewers: Garrett Mitchell, OF (MLB No. 56) -- 2-for-2, BB, 2 R (High-A Wisconsin)
The top Brewers prospect reached base in all three of his plate appearances. Mitchell led off the game with an infield hit to third before swiping his first bag of the season and then scoring on a David Hamilton triple. The No. 20 overall pick in last year’s Draft worked a five-pitch walk in the second and successfully stole another base before legging out another infield hit in the third. He was plated by a Hayden Cantrelle double and then pulled for a pinch hitter in the fifth. Brewers prospects stats »
Cardinals: Alec Burleson, OF (STL No. 19) -- 2-for-3, HR, 3 RBIs, R (High-A Peoria)
The 70th overall pick from the 2020 Draft notched his first pro hit with an RBI single to left in the third inning. His second knock was much louder as he blasted a laser to right for a two-run jack in the eighth. The 22-year-old boasts a 55-grade hit tool. Cardinals prospects stats »
Cubs: Burl Carraway, LHP (CHI No. 17) -- 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 SV (High-A South Bend)
Carraway pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning, striking out one, in his professional debut and picked up the save to preserve South Bend’s victory. The 21-year-old Dallas Baptist product was Chicago’s second-round pick in last year’s Draft. Cubs prospects stats »
Reds: Rece Hinds, SS (CIN No. 7) -- 2-for-5, HR, 2B, 2 RBIs, 2 R (Low A Daytona)
The seventh-ranked Reds prospect launched his first pro homer with a two-run shot to center in the ninth inning. It was Hinds’ second at-bat of the frame and capped the Tortugas' scoring. The 20-year-old also laced a double down the line in left in the third. It was the first multihit game for Hinds since being selected in the second round of the 2019 Draft. Cincinnati’s second-ranked prospect, Hunter Greene, picked up his first win of the season with Double-A Chattanooga after allowing a run on three hits and fanning eight while walking none over five innings. The flamethrower threw 37 of his 71 pitches over 100 mph. Reds prospects stats »
Pirates: Nick Gonzales, 2B (MLB No. 35) -- 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBIs, 2 R (High-A Greensboro)
Gonzales homered and collected two of Greensboro’s 12 hits in the second game of his career. The New Mexico State product singled in the third and scored on Aaron Shackelford’s sacrifice fly before slugging his first home run on a full-count offering in the seventh. Pirates prospects stats »
NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST
D-backs: A.J. Vukovich, 3B (ARI No. 18) -- 1-for-5, HR, 3 RBIs (Low-A Visalia)
Slotted into the cleanup spot, Vukovich gave the D-backs a glimpse of the power they envisioned when they took him in the fourth round of last year’s Draft. The 19-year-old was hitless in five at-bats in his professional debut Tuesday, but temporarily brought Visalia back from a four-run deficit with his first home run, a three-run blast to left field in the fifth. D-backs prospects stats »
Dodgers: Michael Busch, 2B (MLB No. 92) -- 2-for-4, HR, 2B, 3 RBIs (Double-A Tulsa)
After a hitless debut on Tuesday, Busch made sure the second game of 2021 was more memorable. The 23-year-old was a driving force for Tulsa, slamming his first-career home run, doubling and driving in three runs. The North Carolina product appeared in 10 games after being selected 31st overall in the 2019 Draft. Dodgers prospects stats »
Giants: Heliot Ramos, OF (MLB No. 71) -- 2-for-5, HR, RBI, R (Double-A Richmond)
Looking to replicate his successful breakout full-season campaign from 2019, Ramos cleared the fences for the first time in 2021. The 21-year-old reached on an infield single in his second at-bat and followed that up with his first regular-season home run since Sept. 2, 2019. Ramos collected 19 multihit efforts two years ago when he batted .290/.369/.481 with 41 extra-base hits in 102 games. Giants prospects stats »
Padres: Robert Hassell III, OF (MLB No. 53) -- 1-for-5, 2B, R (Low-A Lake Elsinore)
Hassell’s wait for the first hit of his professional career lasted just one game. The 19-year-old struck out in his first at-bat before lofting a double to center field on an 0-2 pitch for his first hit and extra-base hit. Hassell was the eighth overall pick in the 2020 Draft out of Independence High School in Franklin, Tennessee. Padres prospects stats »
Rockies: Chris McMahon, RHP (COL No. 8) -- 5 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 6 K (High-A Spokane)
McMahon worked with traffic through most of his professional debut, but was able to limit the damage over his five innings. The University of Miami product and second-round pick in last year’s Draft scattered six hits, walked one and struck out six. Sean Roby’s two-run homer accounted for both runs against McMahon. Rockies prospects stats »