Prospects of the Week: Games Ending 8/25

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 19-August 25. You can read previous Prospects of the Week articles here:

August 12-August 18	August 5-August 11	July 29-Aug 4
July 22-July 28	July 15-July 21	July 8- July 14

 

Triple-A

 

Dylan Carlson, 20, OF, Memphis (STL)
(13-for-27, .481 avg., 2 HR, 5 RBI, 8 Runs, 3 BB)

Carlson kicked off the week with three consecutive three-hit games, which was part of an even more impressive streak that included seven multi-hit games in a row. He’s now hitting .455/.510/.773 in his first 11 games at Triple-A and his 24 home runs on the year are a new career-high. He should be a part of the Cardinals’ outfield mix in 2020.

Nate Pearson, 23, RHP, Buffalo (TOR)
(13 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 10 K)

The Blue Jays’ hard-throwing right-hander didn’t miss a beat in his Triple-A debut, allowing just 2 ER across his first 13 innings, including seven shutout frames against Rochester on 8/20. What really stands out are the zero walks. If he can sustain that type of control at the upper levels, Pearson won’t have to wait long until he’s pitching at the Rogers Centre.

Ke’Bryan Hayes, 22, 3B, Indianapolis (PIT)
(12-for-23, .522 avg., 1 HR, 4 RBI, 4 Runs, 1 BB, 1 SB)

It’s hard to believe but August (.315) is the first month Hayes has hit over .300 all year. While it’s been a fairly pedestrian first run at Triple-A, it’s encouraging that the plate discipline has mostly held strong with a strikeout rate at just 18.4% and a solid 8.4% walk rate. His 10 HRs on the year are actually the most of his pro career as well.

Cristian Javier, 22, RHP, Round Rock (HOU)
(6 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 8 K)

Javier dominated New Orleans in his Triple-A debut on Sunday, striking out eight batters over six shutout innings. After starting the year in High-A, the Dominican Republic native has enjoyed a fast rise while compiling a 1.66 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 37.3 K% and 13.1 BB% across three levels in 108.2 IP this year. The walk rate is troublesome, so it’s very possible the Astros choose to use him as a reliever in the long run.

Double-A

 

Bailey Ober, 24, RHP, Pensacola (MIN)
(7 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 12 K)

There might not be a more unheralded arm in the minor leagues right now than Bailey Ober. Plagued by injuries in recent years, Ober has yet to pitch more than 75 innings in a season since being drafted in the 12th round back in 2017. But after a dominant 12-K performance on Wednesday, he’s now struck out 86 batters and issued just 8 walks for a ridiculous 10.75 K-to-BB ratio across three levels this year. He owns a 0.79 ERA and 0.84 WHIP in 68.2 IP as well.

Brandon Marsh, 21, OF, Mobile (LAA)
(14-for-30, .467 avg., 1 HR, 6 RBI, 8 Runs, 3 BB, 1 SB)

It’s quietly been a season of improvement for the Angels’ hot-hitting center fielder, who carried an 11-game hit streak though Sunday’s action. While his seven home runs on the year aren’t going to jump out, Marsh has lowered his strikeout rate from 27.7% in High-A last year to 22.9% in 2019 and his OBP (.387), Slugging (.434) and OPS (.821) at Double-A have seen an uptick across the board as well.

Pavin Smith, 23, 1B/OF, Jacksonville (ARZ)
(12-for-23, .522 avg., 2 HR, 6 RBI, 5 Runs, 2 BB)

It’s easy to forget Smith was the no. 7 overall pick in the 2017 draft. But after hitting just .228 through the first two months he’s turned his season around with a big second half, hitting .338 average over the last 57 games. His season line is now up to .294/.371/.474 with 12 HRs in 118 games. He may never hit for a lot of power, but his 11.8% strikeout rate and 145 wRC+ suggest it’s still too early to give up on his bat.

 

High-A and Class A

 

Shea Langeliers, 21, C, Rome (ATL), Class A
(12-for-21, .571 avg., 2 RBI, 7 Runs, 1 BB)

Anyone else see Shea Langeliers’ last name and immediately think of the Stephen King novella ‘The Langoliers’? No, just me? OK then, back to baseball. While it’s mostly been an underwhelming pro debut for the young catcher, the Braves’ top pick in the June draft had his most productive week yet, including two four-hit games, which raised his average to .246 through Sunday’s action. It’s also worth noting the Baylor product skipped rookie ball and went straight to A Ball.

Tim Cate, 21, LHP, Potomac (WSH), High-A
(1 W, 7 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 9 K)

Cate has seen steady improvement since his promotion to High-A back in June, including seven strong innings against the Frederick Keys on 8/20. A second-round pick a year ago, Cate has rebounded from a 5.02 ERA in 2018 to post a 3.15 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 25.0 K% and impressive 5.5 BB% in 131.1 innings so far in 2019. Depending on how aggressive the Nationals want to be with the young lefty, he has a good shot at opening in Double-A next year.

 

Just missed:

Sam Hilliard, 25, OF, Albuquerque (COL), Triple-A
(9-for-30, .300 avg., 3 HR, 5 RBI*, 9 Runs, 4 BB, 1 SB)
*Crossed 100 RBI for the year

Nick Neidert, 22, RHP, New Orleans (MIA), Triple-A
(6 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 10 K)

Génesis Cabrera, 22, LHP, Memphis (STL), Triple-A
(7 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 2 BB, 12 K)

Jarred Kelenic, 20, OF, Arkansas (SEA), Double-A
(9-for-24, .375 avg., 2 HR, 5 RBI, 3 Runs, 1 BB, 1 SB)

Logan Gilbert, 22, RHP, Arkansas (SEA), Double-A
(6 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 6 K)

Jhoan Duran, 21, RHP, Pensacola (MIN), Double-A
(1 W, 8 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 11 K)

Evan Edwards, 22, 1B, Clinton (MIA), Class A
(10-for-28, .357 avg., 2 HR, 12 RBI, 4 Runs, 2 BB, 1 SB)

 

(Photo by Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire)