Prospect Roundup: Games of May 7
By jseiner24
By Jake Seiner / MiLB.com
MiLB.com game stories:
Lumberkings erase 16-run deficit to top Bees
Cubs LHP Chris Rusin tosses no-hitter for Iowa
Cubs 3B Kris Bryant belts two homers, drives in six
[milbvideo id=”32704119" width=”480" height=”270" /]
[milbvideo id=”32704313" width=”480" height=”270" /]
Rangers 3B Joey Gallo goes deep twice, including a monster shot off scoreboard
[milbvideo id=”32688321" width=”480" height=”270" /]
Twins RHP Jose Berrios flashes potential, shows youth in gem
Marlins 2B Avery Romero goes 4-for-5 with three doubles
Mets RHP Greg Peavey shines with family in stands
Nationals RHP Austin Voth tosses six one-hit innings for Suns
Red Sox RHP William Cuevas has bounceback start for Salem
Dodgers LHP Chris Reed chucks six scoreless innings in Lookouts’ win
[milbvideo id=”32706123" width=”480" height=”270" /]
Other top prospect performances:
Braves RHP Cody Martin, Triple-A Gwinnett: 7 1/3 IP, 6 H, 5 K — Martin has been outstanding with the G-Braves, managing a 2.92 ERA and a 43-to-10 K/BB over 37 innings. His stuff is just average, but his pitches play off each other well. Probably fits best as a fifth starter/swing man, but could be more, especially if he can translate some of these swings and misses into the Majors.
Twins 1B Kennys Vargas, Double-A New Britain: 3-for-6, 2 2B, 3 K — Vargas has been on a tear in the Eastern League of late, hitting .353 with an 1.182 OPS in his past 10 contests. The switch-hitter is more advanced from the left side — he really does swing like a David Ortiz clone. His swing from the right side looks almost like a cartoon caricature of a power hitter, but when he connects — like in the second hit in the embedded video below — he can put a massive charge into the ball.
[milbvideo id=”32687021" width=”480" height=”270" /]
Yankees 3B Eric Jagielo, Class A Advanced Tampa: 2-for-4, HR, 2B, RBI, R — Jagielo’s had a rough go of it defensively but has done some good things with the bat, slashing .256/.336/.487 in a tough environment. He has seven homers on the season, including three in his past six games.
A’s SS Daniel Robertson, Class A Advanced Stockton: 3-for-5, HR, 2B, RBI, R, SB — The 2012 first-rounder has shown a sharp plate approach with 16 walks and 18 strikeouts in 31 games. The homer was his third and the double his 10th.
Rays 2B Kean Wong, Class A Bowling Green: 3-for-5, 2B, K — The younger brother of Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong, the 19-year-old was a fourth-round pick in the 2013 Draft and has flashed a solid bat thus far, slashing .336/.377/.421 for the Hot Rods.
Tigers RHP Austin Kubitza, Class A West Michigan: 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 7 K — The 6-foot-5 Rice product has an impressive 46-to-10 K/BB over 35 1/3 innings with a filthy 2.93 groundout-to-flyout ratio. Kubitza has an excellent slider but got in the habit of overusing the breaking ball in college. He’ll need the heater to succeed in pro ball, something the Whitecaps staff has worked with him on the past few weeks. Things are looking good so far.
Twins RHP Kohl Stewart, Class A Cedar Rapids: 5 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 6 K — The 2013 first-rounder is working to get consistency in his mechanics and improve his command, something he’s made strides with since the start of Spring Training. He’s struck out 23 over 30 2/3 innings so far, but with time, the strikeouts should jump because of his stellar stuff.
Pirates 3B Wyatt Mathisen, Class A West Virginia: 2-for-4, HR, RBI, R, K — Three homers in five games for the 20-year-old who had his 2013 season derailed by injuries. An infielder in high school, Mathisen converted to catching after being drafted in 2012 but moved back to third this spring, in part to help keep him healthy and get him at-bats — and also to clear room for 2013 first-rounder Reese McGuire.
Braves OF Victor Reyes, Class A Rome: 4-for-4, 2 RBI — The 19-year-old Venezuelan has been a breakout performer this season, slashing .380/.419/.435 through 30 games. The switch-hitter makes consistent, hard contact and has been especially hot lately, hitting .514 over his past 10 games.
Orioles LHP Steven Brault, Class A Delmarva: 6 IP, 2 H, BB, 8 K — The 2013 11th-rounder doesn’t have exceptional stuff but mixes four pitches with good control.