Thursday's top prospect performers
Heliot Ramos enjoyed his first home run of the season so much, he couldn't wait to hit his second.
The second-ranked Giants prospect went deep for a second consecutive game and equaled his career best with four RBIs to lead Double-A Richmond past visiting Hartford, 12-6, Thursday night. After striking out three times on Opening Night, Ramos has gone 5-for-9 with a walk, including his three-hit effort against the Yard Goats.
Sitting on top of the Flying Squirrels' lineup, MLB's No. 71 overall prospect got his evening off on the right foot, drawing a walk to open the bottom of the first. Ramos delivered the big blow during Richmond's six-run second, connecting on a three-run homer to right field before tacking on his fourth RBI on a double to left an inning later. The 21-year-old singled to center in the fifth and scored before striking out in his final plate appearance in the seventh.
Ramos' three hits were one shy of his career high set on June 4, 2019 while playing for San Jose in the California League. That performance was one of seven games in which he collected three or more hits that season, a breakout campaign where he hit .290/.369/.481 with 41 extra-base hits and 55 RBIs in 102 games.
Here's a look at Thursday's top Minor League performers from each team's Top 30 Prospects list:
Orioles: Adley Rutschman, C (MLB No. 2), Double-A Bowie
After fanning five times in his first nine at-bats of the season, Rutschman broke out in a big way, slugging his first Double-A homer while driving in three runs against Altoona. The 23-year-old almost went deep again in the seventh and instead settled for a two-run double to left. Despite six strikeouts through his first three games, Rutschman has driven in four runs on two extra-base hits while walking twice in 15 plate appearances. The first overall pick in the 2019 Draft, Rutschman hit .254/.351/.423 in his professional debut, which consisted of 37 games and 130 at-bats that same year. Orioles prospect stats »
Mariners: Jarred Kelenic, LF (MLB No. 4), Triple-A Tacoma
The No. 4 overall prospect’s much-anticipated debut for the Rainiers lived up to the hype. Kelenic belted a pair of homers after going 6-for-20 with two long balls during Spring Training with the Mariners. In the fifth inning with nobody aboard against El Paso, the 21-year-old lined lefty Nick Ramirez’s offering over the wall in right-center field. In the seventh, Kelenic skied the pitch by righty Mason Thompson -- San Diego’s No. 11 prospect -- well beyond the fence in right. The left fielder came to the plate in the bottom of the ninth with a chance to make the Tacoma fans even happier, but struck out. Cal Raleigh, the Mariners' No. 8 prospect, came up clutch with a two-run homer that tied the game in the 10th. Mariners prospects stats »
Reds: Nick Lodolo, LHP (MLB No. 50), Double-A Chattanooga
Lodolo’s season debut was nearly flawless. The Reds’ No. 1 prospect twirled five scoreless innings and struck out 10. The 2019 first-round pick surrendered a pair of singles in the first, but locked in and retired the final 14 batters he faced. Lodolo posted a 2.45 ERA over 18 1/3 innings in his 2019 professional debut and spent the 2020 season working out at Cincinnati’s alternate training site. Reds prospects stats »
Rays: Vidal Bruján, 2B/SS (MLB No. 42), Triple-A Durham
Three games, three multi-hit efforts for Bruján, who went deep for a second consecutive game. The two-run blast in the third inning jumpstarted Durham’s offense, which has been paced by top overall prospect Wander Franco and Bruján, the club’s top-two hitters in the order. Through three games, the 23-year-old is 6-for-12 with two home runs, four RBIs, four runs, two walks and a stolen base. Rays prospect stats »
Nationals: Cade Cavalli, RHP (MLB No. 86), High-A Wilmington
Cavalli’s night started off a little bumpy, but then Washington’s 2020 first-round pick got into a groove for the Blue Rocks. The righty loaded the bases on a couple of infield singles and a walk with one out in the first inning, but worked his way out of trouble. Cavalli struck out two in the next two frames and finished with seven total. With the exception of a catcher’s interference to start the third, no other IronBirds batter got aboard before Cavalli exited in the fifth. Nationals prospects stats »
Marlins: Jake Eder, LHP (No. 24), Double-A Pensacola
Connor Scott, CF (No. 16), High-A Beloit
Eder was dominant in his professional debut, striking out 12 -- including four in the first inning -- on the way to five shutout frames. The Vanderbilt product threw 55 of his 88 pitches for strikes and faced just three batters over the minimum. Scott went 3-for-5 with his first triple and home run of the young season. Through three games this season, he has gone 6-for-14 for a .429/.429/.857 slash line. Thursday’s home run gave him his first RBI of the season. Scott has hits in all three games he’s played. Marlins prospect stats »
Yankees: Trevor Hauver, 2B (No. 23), Low-A Tampa
Hauver, the Yankees’ third-round pick from the 2020 Draft, just keeps mashing. Hauver has homered in every game this season, including a solo shot in the third inning against Dunedin. Hauver went deep twice on Opening Night and then homered again in each of the next two games. In addition to the homer, Hauver also added a double and a base hit, finishing the night 3-for-4 with three RBIs, a walk and a pair of runs scored. The Arizona State product has already driven in nine runs and is hitting .800, yes .800, through three games. Yankees prospects stats »
Blue Jays: Alek Manoah, RHP (No. 6), Triple-A Buffalo
It was a Triple-A debut to remember for Manoah, who was dominant in his first start of the year. The 23-year-old struck out a career-high 12, did not issue a walk and surrendered two hits over six scoreless innings. The 11th overall pick in the 2019 Draft, Manoah impressed in his pro debut, posting a 2.66 ERA and fanning 27 in 17 frames. Attending Spring Training on a non-roster invite, the West Virginia University product shined, punching out 15 and allowing one hit and no walks in seven shutout innings. Blue Jays prospect stats »
Cardinals: Alec Burleson, RF, (No. 19), High-A Peoria
The 70th overall pick in last year’s Draft, Burleson homered for the second straight day and went 3-for-4, adding a walk for Peoria. The East Carolina product’s homer in the fifth inning helped extend his team’s lead to two runs before the Chiefs broke out for seven in the top of the ninth. Burleson is now 5-for-11 through his first three games as a pro, batting .455/.571/1.000 with five RBIs and three runs scored. Cardinals prospect stats »
Rockies: Elehuris Montero, 3B (No. 9), Double-A Hartford
The prized prospect piece of the Nolan Arenado trade, Montero put together his best game of the young season. The third baseman went 3-for-5 with a homer and a double, driving in three runs and scoring one. Montero now has hits in all three games he’s played this season for a .357/.400/.929 slash line with two doubles and two homers among his five hits. Montero last played in Double-A in 2019, seeing action in 59 games and batting .188/.235/.317 with Springfield while he was in the St. Louis organization. Rockies prospect stats »