Around the Minors: The week of June 21
June 27
June 27
Taking one for the team
High-A Wilmington left fielder Justin Connell slams against the wall to haul in a long fly ball by Hudson Valley's Josh Breaux for the final out of the game. At four hours and nine minutes, the contest was the longest nine-inning affair in team history.
Bazzle dazzle
Lest it be forgotten that the Rays' system is well-stocked on both sides of the ball, fifth-ranked
We're already getting used to it
After a short stint on the injured list with a fractured pinky on his right hand, Nick Gonzales homered in his first two games back with the High-A Grasshoppers. Pittsburgh's top prospect has amassed a .300/.373/.617 slash line through 15 games with Greensboro.
A little deja vu for Nick Gonzales. pic.twitter.com/BVOTNDQiIM
— Greensboro Grasshoppers (@GSOHoppers) June 27, 2021
That's drilling one out, for sure
Looking at the calendar and, yes, it was Tulsa's turn for the walk-off grand slam. Outfielder Jeren Kendall was up to the task for the Dodgers' Double-A affiliate.
He's having a grand ol' time
On June 10, Jaylin Davis joined Triple-A Sacramento. Since then, San Francisco's No. 26 prospect has not only homered six times in 12 games, but he's smacked two grand slams and gone yard in consecutive outings on three occasions.
The best of both worlds
Players who hit for the cycle have been known to say that winning the game is more important. Tigers outfield prospect Eric De La Rosa got to do both for the High-A Whitecaps. His second long ball of the year not only completed the feat, but marked West Michigan's first walk-off homer since 2013.
Just Jones-ing
No. 16 Pirates prospect Jared Jones was locked in on Sunday afternoon. The right-hander recorded 11 of 12 outs via strikeout through Low-A Bradenton's first four innings.
Easy power
June 26
A few more miles down the road
Right now, the cream of the Mets' prospect crop is in High-A, helping win games for the Cyclones. How long will it be until fourth-ranked
The setup couldn't have been better
As Low-A Columbia broadcaster John Kocsis set the stage in regards to every kid dreaming of coming to bat with the bases loaded and the game on the line, Royals outfield prospect Darryl Collins stepped to the plate against Myrtle Beach. The 19-year-old from the Netherlands promptly launched a grand slam, the first walk-off homer in Fireflies history.
Wheeling and dealing
Grayson Rodriguez was on top of his game. Baltimore's top pitching prospect allowed just a hit and a walk over five scoreless frames to help put a halt to Double-A Bowie's seven-game losing streak.
Good news, bad news
The good news: Angels No. 2 prospect Reid Detmers topped his career high with 16 strikeouts for the Double-A Trash Pandas. The bad news: The 21-year-old southpaw allowed five runs on seven hits and a walk against the Lookouts.
Stretching to new heights
Top Phillies prospect Mick Abel went a season-long five innings for the Low-A Threshers, but it didn't seem to affect him in the slightest. Actually, the 19-year-old righty posted his best numbers of the year, not allowing any hits and walking one while matching his career high with eight strikeouts.
Mick Abel was unhittable for the @Threshers pic.twitter.com/bkIHLs4Uf1
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 27, 2021
Avoiding the grand exit
Top Orioles prospect Adley Rutschman drove a ball to deep left-center field with the bases loaded for the Double-A Baysox, but he was denied his 12th homer of the year on a flying leap by Blue Jays' No. 29 prospect
'You can forget about it'
Not so sure we can forget the 12th homer of the season by
Clearly the better option
After showing bunt on the first pitch of the game, fifth-ranked Cubs prospect Ed Howard laced his first professional homer off the foul pole at Segra Park on the second pitch. Not only did it get Low-A Myrtle Beach on the board, but it won a free chicken sandwich for all of Columbia's fans at the game.
June 25
Finding that power stroke
Making it look easy
You may have to watch this twice. The Triple-A Sacramento River Cats turn a nifty 1-4-5 double play to end the sixth inning, and they earn the style points in the process.
Swinging that boom stick
Top Mets prospect
Gone fishin
The only thing missing was Bugs Bunny
On one of the most bizarre plays you will see all season, Nats prospect
Feeling extra
Top Mariners prospect
New level, who dis?
June 24
Swinging langelier
Makin it rain
Top Mariners prospect Jarred Kelenic belts his second dinger of the game for Triple-A Tacoma with a three-run blast to the deepest part of the park. The jack broke the game open for the Rainiers in the ninth and was Kelenic's seventh long ball at the Triple-A level.
Light on his feet
Bisons catcher
How low can you go?
Punching the card
Top Nationals prospect Cade Cavalli padded his Minor League-leading strikeout total with 11 whiffs on Thursday night. The right-hander has amassed 88 punchouts over 52 1/3 total frames this season.
Immaculate start
In his very first action of Double-A ball, No. 9 Mariners prospect
June 23
Two days, two walk-off slams
On Tuesday,
Grayson and Adley win the internet
Here's the story, courtesy of Double-A Bowie's Twitter account: "Grayson Rodriguez just broke Adley Rutschman's glove with a 99 mph fastball." How much fun is it going to be to watch the top two Baltimore prospects wind their way to Oriole Park at Camden Yards together?
The glove. @RutschmanAdley https://t.co/T3Oq9nVdce pic.twitter.com/z4ZlODsfb4
— Grayson Rodriguez (@G_Rodriguez16) June 23, 2021
He's a pinball wizard
The first triple of top A's prospect Tyler Soderstrom's career was a memorable one. With lots of room to work with at Inland Empire's San Manuel Stadium, the 26th overall pick in the 2020 Draft laced the ball into the gap in left-center field. It kicked hard off the wall and away from the 66ers outfielders in pursuit.
Not perfect, but pretty close
Cincinnati's No. 18 prospect
Reds' Graham Ashcraft spins a shutout in his Double-A debut! pic.twitter.com/jt13n1QHUs
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 24, 2021
Four for the history books
It took four pitchers to give Low-A Myrtle Beach its first no-hitter since 2012. Cubs No. 28 prospect DJ Herz struck out seven over the first five frames en route to his first career victory.
Smooth with the glove too
Top Royals prospect
Home, sweet home
After giving up four runs in four frames but opening eyes with a 104-mph fastball in his Triple-A debut for the Bats, second-ranked Reds prospect
He's obviously a night person
After going 0-for-3 with a walk in the first game of Double-A Erie's doubleheader with Akron,
June 22
It's better than Denny's
Nothing will get you doused with "every substance from every cooler in the dugout" faster than a walk-off grand slam. And on Triple-A Louisville's re-opening night in front of 10,000 fans,
Moonlighting as a parking-lot attendant
San Francisco's No. 12
Hard to hang with Luciano
When top Giants prospect
Speed to burn
Now that's playing some heads-up small ball. Marlins No. 20 prospect
Jerar Encarnacion scores on a pop-up to the first baseman!
— Pensacola Blue Wahoos (@BlueWahoosBBall) June 23, 2021
You got room for a 6'5" 240 lb speedster @usatf? pic.twitter.com/uorBpcYD8v
No hits? No problem for Binghamton
A pair of left-handed Mets prospects racked up the Double-A Rumble Ponies' first no-hitter since Harol Gonzalez went the distance on May 8, 2019.
It's a Bingo no-no!
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) June 23, 2021
Mets prospects Josh Walker and Andrew Mitchell combine for a gem for @RumblePoniesBB.https://t.co/vyTacsybE5 pic.twitter.com/C6tKZilKz5
Opening the flood Gatewoods
Angels farmhand
Breaking News: Jake Gatewood has SEVEN RBI on the day after this homer 🤯 pic.twitter.com/icGoCnQBYL
— Salt Lake Bees (@SaltLakeBees) June 22, 2021
The crack of the bat
This is what we all missed most last year, right? The sound that Braves' No. 15 prospect Jesse Franklin's bat makes on a homer for High-A Rome. And even the sound of it landing beyond the fence at Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium.
Don't you forget about me
Second overall prospect
June 21
And now he's ready...
It seems baseball's No. 1 prospect Wander Franco had one thing left to learn before heading to Tampa Bay for his Major League debut.
.@DurhamBulls mascot Wool E. Bull did his part to make sure Wander was ready for The Show 🤣 pic.twitter.com/DkLSBQkS3C
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) June 22, 2021
Climbing every mountain
Top Mariners prospect Jarred Kelenic hasn't let being sent down to Triple-A Tacoma bother him. Driving in a run with a double against the Aviators gave the 21-year-old 10 RBIs since rejoining the team on June 8.
Breaking out the Bemboom stick
Angels farmhand
The week that was
The top prospect in the game got word he was headed to The Show for his Major League debut, but lots of prominent names remain in the Minor Leagues -- and they're getting into the swing of things, judging by the number of times they teed off over the past week. Review all the action here.