Prospect Roundup: Games of April 11

Athletics LHP Sean Manaea, Triple-A Nashville: 5 1/3 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K -- It was a solid 2016 and Triple-A debut for MLB.com's No. 67 overall prospect, especially considering the leg tightness he experienced at the end of Spring Training. The 24-year-old left-hander's only run allowed Monday night came in the sixth inning after he exited with one of the two runners he left on base coming around to score. Limited to 89 pitches (60 strikes) in his opener, Manaea very much looked himself with the six strikeouts -- in line with his career average of 10.8 K/9 -- and zero walks will always be noteworthy, although control isn't typically a major concern for the 2013 34th overall pick. Manaea became one of the bigger stories in A's camp this spring for 1) his hair and 2) his killer stuff, and he backed that up on the mound Monday. The only thing likely standing in the southpaw's easy path to the Majors this summer is his health, following abdominal and groin strains that limited him in 2015. Manaea talked about overcoming those injuries on the MiLB.com podcast back in February.

Yankees RHP James Kaprielian, Class A Advanced Tampa: 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 9 K -- Likewise, it was an impressively solid Class A Advanced debut for the Yankees' 2015 first-rounder and No. 4 prospect in Tampa's 5-2 win over Bradenton. Kaprielian needed just 60 pitches to get through his five frames and threw 49 of those for strikes. That efficiency is stunning, considering he struck out nearly two batters an inning. Then again, Kaprielian received solid grades for his control and command through his final season at UCLA and last year's Draft process. The knock on him is that he doesn't a true plus pitch but rather has four offerings that are considered average to only slightly above-average. Taken together, that combination can certainly work, especially against Class A Advanced bats like the ones in the Florida State League, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see the 22-year-old right-hander jump at least one level this summer. The Yankees demonstrated big plans for Kaprielian this offseason by inviting him to Captain's Camp, where he showed the organization his leadership qualities. 

Red Sox OF Andrew Benintendi, Class A Advanced Salem: 2-for-3, 3B, 3 RBI, R -- In case you didn't already know, various members of the Salem lineup are likely to feature in many Prospect Roundups this season. Benintendi becomes the first to do so, following the second multi-hit performance of his first full campaign. The center fielder's triple Monday night gives him three in 19 at-bats on the young season, just one fewer than he had over 198 at-bats last year. Part of that may have to do with starting the season entirely in Salem's LewisGale Field, which is traditionally one of the Carolina League's tougher parks in which to hit homers, but it also speaks to the left-handed slugger's mix of above-average power and speed. Much was made this offseason about Benintendi's surprising home run totals, given his 5-foot-10, 170-pound frame, but the Sox were always quick to point out that the emphasis was making the power manifest itself in ways other than merely homers. Benintendi is 7-for-19 (.368) with the three triples, a double, six RBIs and four runs scored in his first five games with Salem.

Rockies 2B Forrest Wall, Class A Advanced Modesto: 3-for-6, 2B, RBI, 2 R, K, SB -- A Rockies infielder is off to a impressive start. No, this isn't another story about Trevor. Farther down the chain, Wall is making plenty of noise in his first taste of California League action, going 7-for-19 (.368) with a homer, a double, five RBIs and three runs in his four games with Modesto. What the 20-year-old second baseman will be looking to avoid is a repeat of his 2015 campaign, when he hit .295 with a .919 OPS in April only to see those numbers drop to .229 and .669 in May. Wall hit .338/.408/.504 over the season's second half with Class A Asheville, so this quick start could be a continuation of that. As the best prospect at Modesto, Wall will be a position player to monitor in a system loaded with them.

Nationals OF Victor Robles, Class A Hagerstown: 1-for-3, HR, RBI, 2 R, BB, K, SB -- Robles became the Nationals' most interesting position player prospect this side of Trea Turner after hitting .352/.445/.507 as an 18-year-old in the Gulf Coast and New York-Penn Leagues last season. Robles, who won't turn 19 until May 19, has shown plenty of offensive potential in his full-season debut with Hagerstown and collected his first Class A homer Monday. MLB.com's No. 62 prospect is is 5-for-15 (.333) with a homer, a triple, a double, three walks, one strikeout and three steals in five games with the Suns. The only below-average 45 grade he received this offseason from MLB.com was for his power, but with three of his first five hits going for extra bases, that tool could become an exciting one as well. These are early days obviously, but when a star of 2015 begins to look like he could be a star again in 2016, you're allowed to be a little excited.