By Jake Seiner / MiLB.com
MiLB.com news:
Albuquerque looking to move on from Olivo-Guerrero incident
MiLB.com game stories:
Cardinals LHP Marco Gonzales turns Midland’s patience against it
Tigers RHP Jonathon Crawford fans nine over seven shutout frames
Mariners OF Leon Landry hitting .700 over past six games
Rangers RHP Luke Jackson keeps curve in command in gem
Rays C Jake DePew tosses 3 1/3 scoreless frames in extras win
Yankees 3B Dante Bichette Jr., busts out with five RBIs
Marlins 1B Felix Munoz collects five hits in Greensboro blowout
Yankees LHP Jeremy Bleich fans 10 over seven shutout frame
Padres OF Yeison Asencio goes long twice in five-hit game
Mariners 3B D.J. Peterson goes long twice for Mavericks
Other top prospect performances:
Pirates OF Gregory Polanco, Triple-A Indianapolis: 1-for-5, 3 RBI, 3 R, BB, 2 K — Polanco’s three-run blast — a long ball most would require a nine iron to hit — tied the game for Indianapolis in the fourth inning. For all he’s done this season to prove his readiness for the Majors, the homer was just Polanco’s sixth.
Astros OF Domingo Santana, Triple-A Oklahoma City: 2-for-6, HR, 2 R, RBI, 3 K — Santana has some big raw power and a cannon of an arm, giving him a prototypical right field starter kit. The homer was his seventh as a 21-year-old in Triple-A and he also has 12 doubles, so the pop is translating. Still, it may behoove Houston to keep the slugger in Triple-A for most, if not all, of 2014 to let him develop further.
Cardinals OF Oscar Taveras, Triple-A Memphis: 2-for-4, HR, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R, BB, K — The lefty is 12-for-19 with a homer and three doubles in his past four games, driving his triple slash to .326/.374/.543 in 44 PCL contests.
Giants LHP Edwin Escobar, Triple-A Fresno: 6 2/3 IP, 3 H, ER, 2 BB, 8 K — The 22-year-old has had a rough go in his first look at the PCL, with Friday’s solid start lowering his ERA to 5.05 in 10 starts. The peripheral numbers haven’t been as bad as the ERA would indicate, though, so a turnaround could be beginning for Escobar.
Dodger OF Joc Pederson, Triple-A Abluquerque: 2-for-4, HR, 3B, 3 RBI, R, K — Pederson now has 15 homers and 13 steals through 47 games, including four long balls in his past 10 contests.
Nationals OF Michael Taylor, Double-A Harrisburg: 2-for-5, HR, 2 RBI, R, 3 K — Taylor is quietly putting together one of the Minor Leagues’ best seasons with 12 homers and 12 steals. The 23-year-old is also an outstanding defender in center. WIth his power/speed combination and that defense, he just needs to make enough contact to hit over .250 or so to contribute at the Major League level.
Mets C Kevin Plawecki, Double-A Binghamton: 2-for-4, HR, 2B, 2 RBI, R — Plawecki profiles as a solid defensive catcher in the Majors with decent tools and excellent makeup, but his bat continues to impress as he climbs the ladder. The 2012 first-rounder is slashing .318/.348/.465 in 32 games this season.
Yankees C Gary Sanchez, Double-A Trenton: 4-for-5, HR, 3 RBI, R — The 21-year-old had a big April but has stumbled hard in May, hitting .171 with three homers and a .547 OPS in 21 games.
Padres OF Reymond Fuentes, Double-A San Antonio: 3-for-6, HR, 3 R, 2 RBI, 2 K — The 23-year-old is hitting .283 with three homers and four steals through 13 Texas League contests.
Marlins 3B Colin Moran, Class A Advanced Jupiter: 3-for-5, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R — The homer was Moran’s first in 30 games this season, as he’s taken his time finding his power stroke. The UNC product has shown good plate discipline and is slashing .275/.321/.367.
Phillies OF Dylan Cozens, Class A Lakewood: 2-for-5, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 2 R, K — The 19-year-old has had a very strong May, cutting down on the strikeouts while slashing .286/.329/.558 with five homers, including four in his past eight games.
Brewers C Clint Coulter, Class A Wisconsin: 2-for-5, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R, K — Coulter’s having a breakout campaign with the Timber Rattlers, slashing .295/.425/.568. Backstops with his defensive tools, plate discipline and raw power are rare breeds.
Rays LHP Blake Snell, Class A Bowling Green: 7 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 9 K — Snell has 42 strikeouts and 19 walks in 40 1/3 innings, drastically improving his walk rate after issuing 73 free passes in 99 innings in 2013.
