SAL notes: Hansen handles mental game

White Sox prospect settling into full-season ball with Kannapolis

By Bill Ballew | May 26, 2017 10:47 AM ET

Alec Hansen discovered the hard way just how mentally demanding baseball can be.

As a 6-foot-7 right-hander with a fastball that flirted with the mid-90s, Hansen entered his senior year at Loveland High School in Colorado as one of the more intriguing prep prospects for the 2013 Draft. His lack of consistent control, however, as well as suggestions that it would take a substantial signing bonus to keep him from attending Oklahoma University caused him to fall to the 25th round, where the home state Rockies took an unsuccessful stab at the young pitcher.

Bill Ballew is a contributor to MiLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

On the Road: Standing up for the JetHawks

Captain Steve, Lancaster's 'Yes' man, won't be found sitting down

By Benjamin Hill | May 26, 2017 10:07 AM ET

Section 8, row B, seat 8.

"Captain Steve" Juhasz, dedicated Lancaster JetHawks fan, has been a season ticket holder at The Hangar for over 15 years. And, every season, his ticket has been for a seat in that same location. But ask Juhasz what's it like to sit there, and he can't tell you.

Benjamin Hill is a reporter for MiLB.com and writes Ben's Biz Blog. Follow Ben on Twitter @bensbiz. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Refocused Holmes shines for RockHounds

Athletics No. 3 prospect rebounds with six innings of one-run ball

By Gerard Gilberto | May 26, 2017 3:22 AM ET

After experiencing a rough patch for much of this month, Grant Holmes appears to be back on track for Double-A Midland.

The Athletics' No. 3 prospect allowed a run on two hits over six innings in the RockHounds' 8-1 victory over the Arkansas Travelers on Thursday at Dickey-Stephens Park. Holmes (3-4) collected six strikeouts and walked three to earn his first win since May 3 and his first on the road since April 16.

Gerard Gilberto is a contributor to MiLB.com. Follow and interact with him on Twitter, @GerardGilberto4. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Salt Lake's Perez racks up five hits in return

Just off DL, Angels catcher boosts batting average 54 points

By Tyler Maun | May 26, 2017 3:02 AM ET

Carlos Perez returned to Triple-A on April 19 after starting the season in the Major Leagues. Exactly one month later, he went on the disabled list with a right quadriceps strain.

In his return Thursday night, he looked like a player ready to return to the big leagues

Perez collected four singles, a double and drove in two runs, but Triple-A Salt Lake fell to visiting El Paso, 8-5.

Tyler Maun is a contributor to MiLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @TylerMaun. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Castro piles up career-high 12 strikeouts

Tigers right-hander delivers six scoreless innings for Whitecaps

By Andrew Battifarano | May 26, 2017 2:45 AM ET

If Anthony Castro's 6.43 ERA after his first two starts this season qualified as a low point, his last two outings have been on the opposite end of the spectrum.

The Detroit right-hander followed up a career-high 6 2/3 innings in his last start with a professional-best 12 strikeouts over six frames, scattering three hits and two walks, as Class A West Michigan crushed Fort Wayne, 10-0, on Monday at Fifth Third Ballpark.

Andrew Battifarano is a contributor to MiLB.com. Follow him on Twitter, @AndrewAtBatt. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

'Riders' Profar caps four-hit night with homer

Rangers No. 26 prospect plates four runs to extend his hot spell

By Michael Leboff | May 26, 2017 2:19 AM ET

A six-game hitting streak could be considered modest, but Juremi Profar's current run has been anything but.

Texas' No. 26 prospect went 4-for-4 with a homer, a double and four RBIs to lead Double-A Frisco over Northwest Arkansas, 5-3, on Thursday. Over his last six games, Profar has gone 14-for-26 with a long ball, two triples, two doubles and nine RBIs.

Michael Leboff is a contributor to MiLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Mateo gets even hotter at plate for Tampa

No. 4 Yankees prospect races for two triples, double in nightcap

By Andrew Battifarano | May 26, 2017 1:24 AM ET

Jorge Mateo is known for top-end speed, but Class A Advanced Tampa hitting coach Eric Duncan has seen first-hand he can also belt the ball gap-to-gap with a high exit velocity.

During Thursday's doubleheader, the No. 4 Yankees prospect put both of those abilities together.

Mateo delivered two triples, a double and scored the lone run to lead the Baby Bombers to a 1-0 win over the Jupiter Hammerheads in the nightcap. He also doubled in Tampa's 3-2 victory in the first contest.

Andrew Battifarano is a contributor to MiLB.com. Follow him on Twitter, @AndrewAtBatt. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Cardinals' Gonzalez, Helsley both go distance

Palm Beach right-handers post 1-0 wins in doubleheader sweep

By Tyler Maun | May 26, 2017 1:03 AM ET

On Tuesday, Class A Advanced Palm Beach needed just over three hours to post a victory over Lakeland.

On Thursday, it didn't take much longer for the Cardinals to come away with two wins.

St. Louis right-handers Derian Gonzalez and Ryan Helsley breezed through a pair of seven-inning complete games in a total of three hours and 11 minutes as Palm Beach knocked off Lakeland in a pair of 1-0 decisions at Joker Marchant Stadium.

Tyler Maun is a contributor to MiLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @TylerMaun. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Rome's Anderson strikes out career-high 11

Atlanta's No. 6 prospect allows one hit over pro-best six frames

By Gerard Gilberto | May 26, 2017 12:34 AM ET

Things had not been going well on paper for Ian Anderson this month. The Braves' No. 6 prospect sported a 6.88 ERA with 19 strikeouts and an opponents' batting average of .358 in four previous May appearances.

But he started to turn things around Thursday.

Anderson set career highs with 11 strikeouts over six innings en route to Class A Rome's 6-2 victory in 10 innings over Augusta at Lake Olmstead Stadium. The right-hander allowed one hit, one walk and hit a batter.

Gerard Gilberto is a contributor to MiLB.com. Follow and interact with him on Twitter, @GerardGilberto4. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Jimenez doing just grand for Pelicans

Top Cubs prospect smacks slam, drives in five runs in first inning

By Michael Leboff | May 25, 2017 11:58 PM ET

Eloy Jimenez fit a whole week's worth of production into one inning Thursday.

In his first game back from a tweaked hamstring injury, the Cubs' top prospect smacked a grand slam and drove in five to key an 11-run first inning in Class A Advanced Myrtle Beach's 11-4 rout of Winston-Salem.

Michael Leboff is a contributor to MiLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.