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Around the Minors: The week of Aug. 2

Sights and sounds from action across Minor League Baseball
August 9, 2021

Aug. 8

Aug. 8

The sixth sense
On a day in which the Double-A Trash Pandas' offense produced at a voluminous rate, Izzy Wilson managed to set himself apart with a career game. He did it all too -- homered, doubled, drove in four, scored four times and stole two bases as Rocket City set club records with 26 runs and 23 hits against the host Lookouts.

Rehabbing Ace sets mind-boggling pace
Looks like the formerly dislocated left finger that landed Josh Rojas on the IL isn't bothering him much. At least, that's the takeaway from the D-backs outfielder's three-homer game during his third rehab outing with the Triple-A Aces. Those into quirky stats will note that the 27-year-old's last four hits for Reno -- dating back to Aug. 9, 2019 -- all have been of the long-ball variety.

On the move
A couple of days ago, Adley Rutschman took over the No. 1 spot on Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects list from graduating Wander Franco, a report said the Baltimore backstop will be heading from Double-A Bowie to Triple-A Norfolk. Rutschman compiled a slash line of .271/.392/.508 with 18 homers, a league-leading 61 runs and 55 RBIs with the Baysox.

How about some more history?
While Double-A Somerset strung together its first no-hitter, Milwaukee outfield prospect Je'Von Ward was amassing the components necessary for the first cycle in High-A Timber Rattlers history. Wisconsin's leadoff hitter got it accomplished by the fifth inning with a triple in the first, a double in the second, a single in the fourth and a homer in the fifth against Beloit. For good measure, he added another two-bagger in the seventh.

When 'almost perfect' works out just fine
After rehabbing Yankees righty Luis Severino and righty Shawn Semple combined on eight perfect innings for the Double-A Patriots against Adley Rutschman and the Baysox, righty Ron Marinaccio allowed a walk but nothing else en route to Somerset's first no-hitter.

Going, going, Gone-zales
Top Pirates prospect Nick Gonzales has a penchant for doing things in style. So on the occasion of his first career two-homer game, the 22-year-old followed a third-inning solo homer with his first professional grand slam for High-A Greensboro against Hickory. Gonzales finished 3-for-3 with two walks and a host of other firsts for him -- first game with three extra-base hits while setting career highs of five RBIs and three runs.

Oh, behave!
We love a good pop culture reference. And it's even better when the subject is on a tear at the plate. Such was the case with Triple-A Lehigh Valley's Darick Hall, who went yard in his third straight game against Buffalo. Do a lot of people know about the Anna Nicole Smith "Behave Suite" at the Hotel Derek in Houston? They do now.

Aug. 7

Racking up K's
For the fourth time this season, Davis Daniel notched double-digit K totals with 11. It was also the third time this year that he racked up at least 11 strikeouts, but the first time that the right-hander did it with Double-A Trash City. Over 14 starts this season -- at two levels of the Minors -- the 18th-ranked Angels prospect is sporting a 2.47 ERA with 100 whiffs over 73 total innings.

Flexing that clutch gene
This is not a replay, it's just what Brewers prospect Joey Wiemer does. For the second time in three days, the 22-year-old delivered the game-winning knock for Low-A Carolina -- this time a walk-off three-run homer with his club down a run in the 12th inning. The fourth-round selection in the 2020 Draft is scorching at the plate over his last four games -- all multihit efforts -- going 12-for-17 with four dingers, a pair of doubles, 12 RBIs and six runs scored over that span.

Grand timing
After going hitless over his previous three games -- and not clubbing a homer in his previous seven -- No. 23 Red Sox prospect Hudson Potts chose a grand time to erupt out of his slump. The 22-year-old snapped a 5-5 tie by mashing a grand slam to left with an out in the ninth inning for Double-A Portland. The blast capped a seven-run inning and provided the difference for the Sea Dogs in a 9-5 victory.

and he sticks the landing!
Well, maybe not. But that doesn't take away from this spectacular play by Scott Hurst in center field for Triple-A Memphis. The 25-year-old has this sized up the whole way as he times his run and leap perfectly to extend his glove beyond the top of the wall and take a home run away. The play followed an error at first base by Juan Yepez who immediately acknowledged his teammate's effort with a tip of the cap.

A grand surge
It's not just that Bobby Witt Jr. has discovered his power dial with Triple-A Omaha of late, it's that he turned it to max and left it there. The top Royals prospect homered for the fourth time in his last five games, his second dinger in as many days, and this time it was of the grand variety. Witt demolished a 3-2 pitch over the high wall in right-center for a grand slam in the second inning. He has 11 RBIs over his last five games.

Ready for the Fenway Faithful
In what is expected to be his final rehab outing, Red Sox ace Chris Sale looked every bit ready for his return to The Show. The lengthy left-hander fanned eight over 4 2/3 scoreless frames with the WooSox, scattering a pair of hits and three walks. Sale made four rehab starts -- two with Portland -- and whiffed 30 over 17 total innings.

New level, same flex
In just his fifth game since joining the Yard Goats, Michael Toglia founds the seats for his first Double-A home run. The third-ranked Rockies prospect hit a laser out to right for a three-run shot in the first inning. Toglia found the seats 17 times across 74 games with High-A Spokane to open the season.

A Jeterian effort
It's a play that was made famous by the former Yankees shortstop, but no matter where it happens in the field, it's still a sight to be seen. Low-A Fayetteville third baseman Chad Stevens is playing deep near the grass and ventures into foul territory to make the play. The 22-year-old makes a jump throw with his momentum taking him towards the seats and fires a strike to first to get the out. Watch it again!

A family affair
On the same night that former left-hander Billy Wagner was being inducted into the Houston Astros Hall of Fame, his son, Will Wagner, went yard for Houston's Low-A affiliate Fayetteville. The 23-year-old launched a go-ahead solo shot to right in the fifth inning. It's just the third professional game for the 18th-round selection of the Astros in this year's Draft, and his first career home run.

Aug. 6

Power cycle
With a three-run home run to left-center in the fifth inning, Tyler Fitzgerald completed hitting for the cycle -- and he wasn't done yet. The 23-year-old added a double in the seventh for a career-best five-hit effort while notching a career-high six RBIs. The Giants prospect has eight hits over his last two games with High-A Eugene, tallying 17 total bases with six extra-base hits and four runs scored.

Swagger in the outfield
There is a lot that went into this play from Drew Waters and it was all perfect. The second-ranked Braves prospect showed off his fielding, his baseball I.Q., his arm and his accuracy all in one play. Waters not only makes the tough sliding play charging the ball, but the 22-year-old seamlessly gets back to his feet, spins and fires a strike home for the double play. This is poetry in motion.

New level, same results
It didn't take long for Marco Luciano to make himself at home with is new club. The top Giants prospect went oppo for his first long ball at the High-A level with Eugene. Luciano clubbed 18 home runs over 70 games with Low-A San Jose this season.

Talk about a grand finale
Typically a first baseman, Will Matthiessen was called upon to pitch the top of the 12th inning for High-A Greensboro. His debut on the hill did not go so well as the 23-year-old yielding six runs. However, redemption was not too far off as Matthiessen stepped to the plate in the bottom of the inning with the bases loaded and cranked a walk-out grand slam for the Grasshoppers. Now that's a night!

Fitting ending
On a night where Triple-A Lehigh Valley was honoring teammate Daniel Brito by all wearing his name on the back of their jerseys and having his numbers etched in the infield, the IrongPigs walked it off. Brito, who is currently hospitalized as he recovers from a medical emergency, is said to be in stable condition. The victory was of the comeback variety and came in extra innings.

Motoring ... Christin Stewart bashes trifecta
Not only did Christin Stewart mash his way to a milestone night, he did it in a hurry. The Tigers' farmhand crushed three home runs by the fifth inning in Triple-A Toledo's victory over Nashville. Stewart drove in a season-high six RBIs and reached base four times after an intentional walk in the eighth.

Hitting it on the Greene
The hits just keep coming this month for Riley Greene. The second-ranked Tigers prospect collected three knocks to bring his total in August to eight hits in five games. The 20-year-old has three multihit games and is sporting a .333/.360/.375 slash line in this stretch.

Pitching for the Winn
It was another dominant outing for Cole Winn on Friday night. The No. 3 Rangers prospect posted 5 1/3 scoreless frames while working around a hit and a walk and fanning eight. Winn has yielded two runs or fewer over his last five outings and has two scoreless efforts in that span. The right-hander is sporting a 2.59 ERA in 15 starts with Double-A Frisco this season.

Honoring a teammate and a friend
Before their game against Buffalo, Triple-A Lehigh Valley honored teammate Daniel Brito by putting his number 29 in the infield, and all wearing his name on the back of their jerseys. Britto experienced a medical emergency in the first inning of the IronPigs' game on Saturday night and underwent surgery immediately. The Phillies released a statement on Tuesday saying that the 23-year-old is in stable condition and recovering.

New digs, who dis?
After a great deal of anticipation, High-A Beliot unveiled its new ballpark this week. ABC Supply Stadium opened its doors for the first time on Tuesday night and hosted a sold out crowd of 3,500 against the Timber Rattlers. The franchise recently signed on to be the Marlins’ High-A affiliate for the next decade and have brand-new facilities to offer those prospects.

Blowing out the candles
It must be a very happy birthday for second-ranked Reds prospect Hunter Greene, who turned 22 today. The flame-throwing right-hander gave himself an early birthday present on Thursday night with his best outing for Triple-A Louisville. Greene tossed 6 1/3 scoreless frames while working around a hit and a walk and striking out 10. It's the first time the 2017 No. 2 overall Draft pick notched double-digit punchouts at the Triple-A level.

Aug. 5

Just saying no-no
What's seven innings long, features four prospects and will wind up in the history books? Thursday's no-hitter by the Arizona Complex League Reds, of course. Righty Yomil Maysonet went the first three frames against the ACL Rockies, walking three and striking out two. Lefty Damian Henderson fanned one and walked one in the fourth while righty Jake Gilbert whiffed three and walked one in the next two frames. Righty Tyler Garbee capped the feat by striking out two in his perfect seventh.

Going into over-Drive
Greenville's offense all came from one man literally hitting a milestone. Christian Koss belted three home runs in the third, seventh and eighth innings to back a one-hit performance by Boston's High-A affiliate pitchers -- seventh-ranked Jay Groome, No. 28 Jay Wallace and closer Jacob Wallace -- against Rome.

Tops with Pops
Selected by the White Sox with the 47th overall pick of the 2020 Draft, Jared Kelley became the club's top prospect this season. And he became a Twitter sensation Thursday thanks to a video posted by his father, in which the 19-year-old right-hander told his parents, John and Liz, he was paying off their house to thank them for all their love and support.

Baysox have it going on
Baltimore's Double-A affiliate currently sports the top two prospects in the system -- one on the mound and one behind the plate. No. 1 Adley Rutschman's latest show of power already has been documented, but Grayson Rodriguez was impressive on the mound as well. The club's No. 2 prospect struck out nine while allowing only a hit and a walk over 4 2/3 scoreless innings, lowering his ERA to 2.63.

It's easy being Greene
The guy who can touch triple-digits often ends up with double-digits, in strikeouts that is. Triple-A Louisville's Hunter Greene fanned 10 St. Paul batters over 6 1/3 one-hit scoreless innings. It was the second-ranked Reds prospect's third double-digit K outing of the season, his first for the Bats.

How high the moon
Top Orioles prospect Adley Rutschman gave a little display of his prodigious power with a big home run. His second in three games also marked his 18th of the season for the Baysox. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 Draft is batting .277 with a Double-A Northeast-leading 60 runs and 55 RBIs.

Conine's bat speaks volumes
There may not be sound on the feed, but Griffin Conine made some noise with his Minor League-leading 29th homer. The Marlins' No. 16 prospect belted a first-inning solo shot to left field for the Double-A Blue Wahoos to regain outright possession of the lead. His friend MJ Melendez of the Royals stands in second with 28.

Aug. 4

Let's manufacture some runs
Enough of the homers, how about some small ball? Two Minor Leaguers swiped five bases apiece Wednesday. A's infield prospect Max Schuemann racked up five for the Double-A RockHounds, while Padres outfield prospect Grant Little's night included a swipe of home for the High-A TinCaps.

Getting their money's worth
The long-awaited opening of the High-A Snappers' ABC Supply Stadium came with a plethora of storylines. Left-hander Antonio Velez dominated in six hitless innings, striking out 10 without a walk. His lone flaw was a hit batsman. Meanwhile, Marlins' No. 13 prospect Kameron Misner reportedly took the ballpark's first homer away from Nick Kahle -- the Brewers' No. 19 prospect -- with a leaping catch at the left-field fence in the second. That left that distinction open for Troy Johnston, who sent the historic shot deep to center in the bottom of the frame. Oh, and Johnston went yard again in the eighth.

Keeping your Witts about him
If you're keeping track of what Bobby Witt Jr. is doing at the plate -- and we know you are -- the top Royals prospect has gone yard for the Triple-A Storm Chasers in back-to-back games. As usual, the 21-year-old gets his money's worth when mashing the latest tater against Columbus. Witt's got 21 homers this year -- five with Omaha and 16 for Northwest Arkansas.

Doing well in the all-around competition
Known primarily for his prowess at the plate, Riley Greene has been increasing his profile with his play in the outfield for the Double-A SeaWolves. The No. 2 Tigers prospect took a hit away from Harrisburg's K.J. Harrison by diving for a sinking liner in the sixth inning. At the plate, he picked up three singles against Senators' pitching.

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Anyone for a home run race?
The dog days of August are even hotter in the midst of a battle between MJ Melendez and Griffin Conine for the Minor League home run lead. Wednesday alone has been a wild ride. Melendez, the Royals' No. 13 prospect, briefly took the lead with 27 after belting a pair of dingers in Wednesday's doubleheader opener for the Double-A Naturals. But Conine raised his tally for the year to 28 with his fourth and fifth homers for the Double-A Wahoos. The Marlins' No. 16 prospect amassed 23 for the High-A Snappers prior to his July 20 promotion. Melendez came back again, though, in Northwest Arkansas' nightcap, cranking a solo shot in the first to knot the race once again.

Putting it all together
Following a strong four-inning start to cap July, eighth-ranked Marlins prospect Dax Fulton totally dominated for Low-A Jupiter against Jasson Dominguez and Tampa in his first August outing. The 2020 40th overall pick struck out 10 -- including the top Yankees prospect twice -- over five scoreless frames. Fulton's lone blemish was a fourth-inning single by Cooper Bowman. Over the course of his past two outings, the 19-year-old lefty has fanned 16 while allowing an unearned run on three hits and three walks in nine innings.

Aug. 3

Visiting the Stratosphere
He's not having a night, he's having a week! Noelvi Marte hit all kinds of career heights for Low-A Modesto with three homers, nine RBIs and five runs during a slugfest with Stockton. Seattle's No. 4 prospect matched his professional best with four hits and even picked up a walk and his 15th stolen base of the year to boot.

Things that make you go WooSox
With a fourth-inning single, Yairo Muñoz tied the record set by Jacoby Ellsbury in 1997 by safely hitting in his 25th straight game for Boston's Triple-A affiliate. For the season, the 26-year-old outfielder has compiled a slash line of .303/.333/.438 with 32 runs and 28 RBIs over 67 games for Worcester.

Let's go inside the lines
The Low-A Pelicans benefited from two home runs in a 6-4 victory over the Fireflies, and neither one of them left the yard. In the second inning, Cubs infield prospect Fabian Pertuz raced around the bases after a high fly ball to left-center led to a collision by Columbia's defenders. In the seventh, outfielder Jonathan Sierra not only hit it to where they weren't, but the ball bounced off the wall and careened away from the fielders for a grand slam inside-the-parker.

Four is the magic number
Two Minor Leaguers may not be swinging for the fences but they're definitely reaching them, in the past four games. St. Louis' No. 14 prospect Luken Baker has been scorching over the past week or so -- with nine homers in eight contests -- for Double-A Springfield. Meanwhile, in the past 12 games, René Pinto has amassed eight of his season-total 17 for Triple-A Durham.

Welcome to Rochester
In his first game in his new organization ... and on the East Coast, Keibert Ruiz went yard for Triple-A Rochester. Washington's new top prospect lined a long ball over the right-field wall in the eighth inning against Syracuse before the Red Wings faithful. The 23-year-old backstop, who also threw out his first would-be basestealer for Rochester to end the third frame, belted 16 homers this season with Oklahoma City in the Triple-A West prior to the megadeal that sent him to the Nationals.

A powerful debut indeed
The top pick in this year's Draft got his career off to a fast start. Henry Davis homered and doubled in his professional debut with the Florida Complex League Pirates' Black squad. The 21-year-old, who started at catcher and batted third, plated three runs before exiting for a defensive replacement in the sixth inning.

Aug. 2

Doubling down on a season high
Third-ranked Giants prospect Heliot Ramos has had something of a quiet season by his standards, but he came through when the Triple-A River Cats needed him on Monday. He started the scoring against the visiting Aces with an RBI single. After adding singles in the fourth and sixth, the 21-year-old outfielder roped a line drive to the gap in center field. Although cut down trying to stretch his double into a triple, Ramos did drive in the tying and go-ahead runs on the play.

Couldn't do better on two legs
There may be a cat roaming the outfield at Yankee Stadium, but how about some major props for the Aviators' Finn? The bat dog for the A's Triple-A affiliate displays some serious technique and style at Las Vegas Ballpark.

Out of the clear-blue Skye
The sound of the ball hitting the bat of Skye Bolt could have been thunder and the A's outfield farmhand ran around the bases like lightning. The 27-year-old's fourth home run for the Triple-A Aviators was of the inside-the-park variety.

Taking in the surroundings
Most of the time we're focused on the good, bad and the ugly happening on the field. But every now and then, there's a view that can take our collective breath away. Like tonight at Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park, the friendly confines for Triple-A Albuquerque.

Talk about good timing
With former Major Leaguer Cory Snyder in the Isotopes booth in the third inning, son Taylor Snyder mashed his second Triple-A homer out of the ballpark against the Bees. The Rockies infield prospect was promoted to Albuquerque on July 22.

Marching to Souza's tune
When it comes to slams, they don't get much grander than the one Steven Souza Jr. played for Oklahoma City. With the bases loaded, the 32-year-old outfielder got all of Round Rock lefty Brock Burke's offering en route to circling the bases for his ninth Triple-A homer of the year.

Off on the right foot
Coming into this year's Draft, Colton Cowser wasn't known for his power. But the fifth overall pick by the Orioles did go yard in five straight games for Sam Houston State University in April. And he started his professional career with a homer for Baltimore's Florida Complex League Orange team.

The week that was
As the Hot Stove threatened to boil over until Friday's deadline, bats and arms across the Minor Leagues seemed to do the same as milestones abounded and history was repeatedly rewritten. In addition, going yard in consecutive games became all the rage. Review the action here.