Saturday's top Spring Training prospect performers
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Padres: CJ Abrams, SS (MLB No. 9)
Luis Campusano, C (MLB No. 44)
The Padres’ top two prospects both flexed their power as Spring Training continues to ramp up. The top-ranked Abrams tallied two hits, including a two-out, two-run homer to right that tied the game in the top of the fifth. The shortstop played just 42 games in 2021 due to a season-ending injury he suffered in July, sporting a .296/.363/.420 slash line in that time. Abrams clubbed two homers last season and has hit five in 76 games as a professional.
Campusano joined his fellow prospect with a long ball of his own, a solo shot to left-center on the second pitch he saw to lead off the fourth. San Diego’s No. 2 prospect sent 15 balls over the fence last season for Triple-A El Paso while posting a .295/.365/.541 slash line in 81 games.
Cubs: Brennen Davis, OF (MLB No. 15)
Davis quickly rose up the Top 100 prospects list last season due to his prodigious power and displayed his top tool during Saturday’s matchup against the Padres. Starting in right field, Davis launched an opposite-field, three-run blast in the fourth inning on the first pitch of his at-bat. The 22-year-old launched 19 home runs and tallied 25 doubles in 99 games last season and was named the All-Star Futures Game MVP for his two-homer performance at Coors Field.
Pirates: Oneil Cruz, SS (MLB No. 26)
Tucupita Marcano, INF
Cruz started at shortstop for Pittsburgh on Saturday and cranked a breaking ball at his shins over the right field wall for his first home run of the year. Cruz generates great power with his 6-foot-7 frame and broke out last season with 17 homers, a .310/.375/.594 slash line and a .969 OPS, all career highs. The 23-year-old made his Major League debut on Oct. 2 last season -- following a six-game stretch at Triple-A that saw him swat five home runs -- and promptly hit his first career home run in his second game. Cruz is expected to be the first of Pittsburgh’s elite position player prospects to earn consistent playing time with the big league club this season.
Marcano relieved Cruz of his shortstop duties in the sixth inning and cranked a solo shot of his own an inning later. Acquired days before the Trade Deadline in a deal that sent Adam Frazier to the Padres, Marcano made his Major League debut prior to joining Pittsburgh, going 8-for-44 in 24 games. At Triple-A, the 22-year-old tallied 21 extra-base hits and 12 stolen bases with a .703 OPS in 93 games. Marcano’s contact skills, speed and versatility in the field make him a valuable prospect that Pittsburgh could use a number of ways in the future.
Blue Jays: Orelvis Martinez, SS/3B (MLB No. 38)
Martinez experienced a breakout in power last season, going from hitting seven home runs in 2019 to mashing 28 in 2021. He kept his momentum rolling in the Blue Jays’ second Spring Training game with his first home run of the year, drilling a two-strike fastball from Phillies’ starter Aaron Nola down the left-field line for a solo shot. At just 20 years old, Martinez’s advanced display of power for his age has Toronto fans dreaming of the day he joins young stars Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette in the Blue Jays’ lineup.
Braves: Vaughn Grissom, SS
Grissom notched two hits after replacing Austin Riley at third base in the fourth inning, first lacing a run-scoring double into center field on the first pitch he saw before adding another first-pitch single to center a few innings later. An 11th round pick from the 2019 Draft, Grissom showed off his advanced plate approach in 87 games last season, batting .319 across two levels with 101 hits, 43 RBIs, 17 doubles, seven homers and 45 walks to just 54 strikeouts. That sort of plate discipline, coupled with his ability to swipe bags (16 steals in ‘21) will help him quickly ascend through Atlanta’s system.
Marlins: Jerar Encarnación, OF/1B
Encarnación made the most of his lone trip to the batter’s box on Saturday, crushing a mammoth solo home run to straightaway center field that travelled 459 feet with an exit velocity of 110 mph. Encarnación flashed his hitting skills in 2019, tallying 43 extra-base hits and swatting a grand slam in the Arizona Fall League title game, but the COVID-19 pandemic’s cancellation of the 2020 season and injuries last season have hampered him to just 63 games in the past two seasons. With consistent at-bats, the 24-year-old could hit his way into playing time at the Major League level this year.
Tigers: Beau Brieske, RHP
After a breakout 2021 campaign that saw Brieske fan 116 batters and walk just 23 in 106 2/3 innings across two levels, the 6-foot-3 righty got off to a strong start in Spring Training with two no-hit, four-strikeout innings. The 23-year-old needed just eight pitches to fan the first two batters he faced before retiring Pirates prospect Matt Fraizer on one pitch. He notched two more strikeouts the following inning and retired Henry Davis, the No. 1 pick in the 2021 Draft, on a flyout. Armed with a four-pitch arsenal, Brieske could provide Detroit with some bullpen help this season if he continues to rack up the strikeouts and limit the walks.
White Sox: Yoelqui Céspedes, OF
Céspedes launched his second home run in as many Spring Training games, a solo shot to left as he batted out of the three spot. The 24-year-old hit .285/.350/.463 in 72 games across two levels in his pro debut last season, blasting seven dingers for High-A Winston-Salem and one for Double-A Birmingham. Céspedes has driven in three runs and tallied three hits in two spring games thus far.
Nick Trujillo is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @TrujilloReports.
Stephanie Sheehan is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow her on Twitter @Steph_Sheehan.