Manzardo, Mead go mashing with trio of homers for Durham
Two of the Rays' top five prospects gave a sneak peek as to what they're capable of accomplishing together in the same big league lineup Saturday.
No. 2 prospect Curtis Mead and No. 4 prospect Kyle Manzardo combined for three roundtrippers in Triple-A Durham's 7-4 win at Syracuse. Mead started the party in the second at-bat of the game, with a solo shot that recorded a 109.5 mph exit velocity to left-center field.
It was a home run in back-to-back games for Mead, who had not hit any homers this season until Friday. This one was off of longtime Major League pitcher Dylan Bundy, as was Manzardo's first homer of the game. That came in the third inning, with Manzardo taking the Mets' farmhand 455 feet deep to right field.
The no-doubter posted a 110.5 mph exit velocity. His next homer didn't quite have that same pop, but the ninth-inning tank off of Mets farmhand Seth Elledge did put the game away, being the last run scored in NBT Bank Stadium.
Manzardo is now up to five home runs in 16 Triple-A games this year, along with 11 runs and RBIs in that time. Both Top 100 MLB Pipeline prospects are currently hot at the plate, but Manzardo is on a different planet. Entering action with a .269/.350/.519 slash line, he was even better on Saturday with a 3-for-4 performance.
Both players are expected by MLB Pipeline to be up and playing with the Major League squad this season, and showcasing power against experienced former MLB arms is a step in that direction.