Saturday's top prospect performers
Here's MLB Pipeline's roundup of the top prospect performances in the Minor Leagues on Saturday.
After getting a late start to the season, Michael Chavis is finally hitting his stride.
The Red Sox No. 1 prospect (No. 98 overall) hit a two-run home run in his first at-bat and later added a double in his second game with Triple-A Pawtucket, an 8-5 win over Buffalo. He also scored a team-high three runs, finishing 2-for-5.
MILB Video - Title: Chavis goes yard - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=2427271983
The big game comes one day after Chavis hit a pair of doubles as well as a two-run home run in his Triple-A debut. The 23-year-old third baseman is a combined 5-for-9 between the two contests, and all five of his hits have been for extra bases.
Chavis hit in 14 straight games between Pawtucket and Double-A Portland, where he batted .303/.388/.508 with six homers in 33 games. He missed the first 80 games of 2018 after he tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance during the offseason.
First baseman Josh Ockimey (No. 10) also connected on a two-run homer, his fourth in 18 games with Pawtucket. The 22-year-old has hit a career-high 19 home runs in 108 games this season between Double- and Triple-A levels.
Other top prospect performances from Saturday's action:
• No. 8 overall prospectKyle Tucker (Astros' No. 2) played the hero for Triple-A Fresno by hitting a three-run walk-off homer that capped a five-run comeback and powered the Grizzlies into the postseason with a 7-6 win over Salt Lake. The red-hot Tucker has now gone deep seven times in the last five games to push his season total to 23. He also picked up his 20th steal in the contest to record his second straight campaign with at least 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases.
• No. 30 overall prospect Alex Kirilloff (Twins' No. 2) boosted his season batting line to .349/.391/.579 with a 2-for-4 performance that included a solo home run for Class A Advanced Fort Myers. The 20-year-old outfielder has totaled 18 home runs -- as well as 43 doubles and seven triples -- and 96 RBIs in 122 games this season across two levels. In the Florida State League, specifically, Kirilloff has slashed .365/.390/.548 in 57 games.
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• Blue Jays No. 7 prospect Eric Pardinho gave up an earned run on three hits over four innings in a no-decision for Rookie-level Bluefield. He tallied seven strikeouts against three walks in the outing and threw 47 of 77 pitches for strikes. The 17-year-old Brazilian right-hander has been sensational in his first pro campaign, posting a 2.88 ERA and .199 BAA with 64 strikeouts over 50 frames (11 starts) in the Appalachian League.
At the plate, 2018 first-rounder Jordan Groshans (No. 8) led off the second inning with a home run, his first in eight games with Bluefield. Overall, the 18-year-old third baseman has produced a combined line of .310/366/.471 with five home runs, 13 doubles and 43 RBIs in 45 games.
• D-backs No. 19 prospect Blaze Alexander recorded his second career four-hit game in the form of a 4-for-4, two-double, two-RBI performance for Rookie-level Missoula. An 11th-round selection in June, Alexander is hitting .375 over 18 games in the Pioneer League and boasts a .367 average over 45 games this season.
• Dodgers No. 27 prospect Gerardo Carrillo established a pair of career highs by striking out seven batters in seven scoreless innings to lead Class A Great Lakes past West Michigan, 1-0. It was the second straight scoreless start for the 19-year-old right-hander, who has not allowed an earned run in his last 22 innings. Logging 55 innings between the Rookie-level Arizona League and Great Lakes this season, Carrillo has pitched to a 1.31 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and .192 BAA, with 45 strikeouts and 14 walks.
MILB Video - Title: Carrillo fans seven - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=2427845383
• Rangers No. 19 prospect Jason Bahr turned in his second straight scoreless outing to help lead Class A Advanced Down East past Myrtle Beach, 16-0. Working six innings, the 23-year-old right-hander allowed one hit, walked a pair and struck six. Acquired from the Giants on July 8 in the Austin Jackson trade, Bahr owns a 3.09 ERA with 132 strikeouts in 116 1/3 innings (23 starts) between two levels this season.
• Rays No. 11 prospect Nick Solak's two-run home run in the first inning proved the difference in Double-A Montgomery's 6-5 win over Tennessee. The homer was Solak's 19th of the season and his fourth in the last six games. With 21 steals already under his belt, Solak is now one home run away from joining the 20-homer/20-steal club. Up at the Triple-A level, Joe McCarthy (No. 18) went 2-for-5 with a double and his first home run in eight games since returning from the disabled list. The 24-year-old outfielder had been sidelined since late May with a back injury.
• White Sox No. 12 prospect Steele Walker delivered a game-winning two-run double in the 10th inning to finish 3-for-6 with a career-high five RBIs in Class A Kannapolis' 10-8 win over Augusta. The 2018 second-rounder also hit a two-run homer in the contest, his second in 23 games with the Intimidators and fourth as a professional.
• Yankees No. 22 prospect Erik Swanson allowed three hits over six scoreless innings, in a no-decision for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He mixed three hits with two walks and five strikeouts and generated another nine outs on the ground. Of Swanson's 75 pitches, 52 were strikes. Across three levels, the 24-year-old right-hander owns a 2.73 ERA with 131 strikeouts in 115 1/3 innings.