Prospects of the Week captures the best performances across all levels of the minor leagues. Because this covers a huge pool of players, its focus will generally favor prospects considered among the top of each organization.
This week includes games played August 12-August 18. You can read previous Prospects of the Week articles here:
| Aug 5-Aug 11 | July 29-Aug 4 | July 22-July 28 |
| July 15-July 21 | July 8- July 14 |
Triple-A
Nick Solak, 24, 2B/OF, Nashville (TEX)
(13-for-27, .481 avg., 2 HR, 6 RBI, 9 R, 2 BB)
The Pacific Coast League has been kind to Solak. In 29 games since coming over to Texas via trade in July (and switching from the International League to the PCL), Solak has found another level of production, clubbing 10 HRs and 27 RBI in that span. Of note, Texas also has him splitting time between second base and right field, so he gives the Rangers a few defensive options should he get called up in September.
Zack Collins, 24, C, Charlotte (CHW)
(14-for-26, .538 avg., 4 HR, 9 RBI, 8 R, 3 BB)
After a stint with the White Sox earlier this summer, Collins returned to the minors and has been on a tear at the plate, highlighted by a 2-HR, 6-RBI performance against Scranton on Wednesday. He now has seven home runs in August and is enjoying the best offensive season (.296/.409/.562) of his pro career.
Mauricio Dubon, 25, 2B/SS, Sacramento (SFG)
(11-for-27, .407 avg., 1 HR, 4 RBI, 4 R, 3 BB)
The former Brewers’ prospect got off to a slow start following the deadline deal to the Giants, but he looks to be back on track after four multi-hit games last week. He’s played both second base and shortstop for Sacramento and should be in line for a September call-up, especially if the Giants fall out of the Wild Card race.
Double-A
Alex Kirilloff, 21, OF, Pensacola (MIN)
(8-for-21, .381 avg., 2 HR, 5 RBI, 5 R, 1 BB, 2 SB)
Will the real Alex Kirilloff please stand up? After hitting .348 with a .970 OPS last year, there was a ton of hype surrounding the Twins’ young outfielder coming into the year, but his first run at Double-A has mostly been a mixed bag (.276/.334/.418 w/9 HRs). Still, he missed all of April due to injury and might be turning the corner, as his five home runs in August are more than he had the previous three months combined.
Daulton Varsho, 23, C, Jackson (ARZ)
(10-for-25, .400 avg., 1 HR, 6 RBI, 7 R, 1 BB, 3 SB)
After hitting just .221 in April, Varsho appears fully adjusted to Double-A pitching and now has a .342 average across 42 games in the second half. Fantasy players will also be happy to know that Varsho hasn’t stopped running; with three steals last week he’s up to 20 on the year, which is a career high.
Logan Gilbert, 22, RHP, Arkansas (SEA)
(2 W, 11 IP, 0 ER, 6 H, 4 BB, 16 K)
Gilbert’s dream season continues. After two more quality outings last week, the former first-round pick is now sporting a 1.95 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 32.2 K% and 6.3 BB% in 124.2 innings this year. That includes stops across three levels, as his start in Class A back in April seems like forever ago. Barring a setback, I’d be surprised if the Stetson product isn’t wearing a Mariners uniform at some point next season.
Trevor Rogers, 21, LHP, Jacksonville (MIA)
(1 W, 7 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 10 K)
Yes, the Marlins have even more pitching on the way. Rogers, a first-round pick in 2017, dominated Tennessee over seven innings on Saturday, winning his first start since earning a promotion to Double-A in early August. He now has 143 Ks on the season to just 29 walks in 127 innings, posting a 2.55 ERA in that time.
High-A and Class A
Julio Rodriguez, 18, OF, Modesto (SEA), High-A
(9-for-18, .500 avg., 2 HR, 13 RBI, 3 R, 1 BB)
It was an eventful week for Rodriguez, who at just 18 years old earned a midweek promotion to High-A and then promptly collected four hits, including a home run, in his debut against Lancaster on Friday. He ended up getting plunked on the arm on Saturday and did exit the game early, but he’s not expected to miss significant time.
Travis Swaggerty, 21, OF, Bradenton (PIT), High-A
(14-for-29, .483 avg., 2 HR, 7 RBI, 6 R, 1 BB, 2 SB)
Whatever struggles Swaggerty dealt with in the first half (.221/.318/.329) seem to be behind him, as the Pirates’ top pick last year now has six multi-hit efforts in his last nine games. He’s hitting .322 across his last 54 games and is up to a .400 average in the month of August. Weirdly though, the lefty is hitting just .245 against right-handed pitching while he’s hit excelled against southpaws at a .345 clip.
Estevan Florial, 21, OF, Tampa (NYY), High-A
(8-for-23, .348 avg., 2 HR, 6 RBI, 6 R, 2 BB)
After missing two months due to a fractured wrist, Florial is finally starting to heat up in the Florida State League, thanks to four multi-hit games this past week. His .244/.303/.403 slash line on the year, especially since he’s repeating High-A, is still a big disappointment overall, but if he can extend his .298 average in August for a few more weeks it will go a long way to salvaging his season. It’s also worth watching if he gets selected for the Arizona Fall League, as the extra ABs would help make up for lost time.
Rookie Ball
Jeremiah Jackson, 19, 2B/SS, Orem (LAA)
(9-for-24, .375 avg., 6 HR, 12 RBI, 8 R, 3 BB, 1 SB)
Jackson just keeps flexing his muscles in the Pioneer League. The Angels’ second-round pick last year launched six home runs this past week, giving him 21 on the year in just 54 games. He does strike out a lot (31.6%), but the Angels don’t appear in a rush to push him, so he still has plenty of time to make any adjustments as he progresses into A-Ball next season.
Just missed:
Luis Robert, 22, OF, Charlotte (CHW), Triple-A
(10-for-28, .357 avg., 3 HR, 8 RBI, 9 R, 1 BB)
Jake Fraley, 24, OF, Tacoma (SEA), Triple-A
(9-for-26, .346 avg., 2 HR, 4 RBI, 7 R, 1 BB)
Brady Singer, 23, RHP, Northwest Arkansas (KC), Double-A
(1 W, 7 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 9 K)
Gabriel Arias, 19, 2B/SS, Lake Elsinore (SDP), High-A
(12-for-26, .462 avg., 3 HR, 9 RBI, 7 R, 1 BB, 1 SB)
Roansy Contreras, 19, RHP, Charleston (NYY), Class A
(1 W, 7 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 10 K)
(Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire)