March 5 Cactus League Report – Top Performances
Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
Several prospects performed well in Wednesday’s Cactus League action, led by Chicago Cubs shortstop Javier Baez. The club’s top prospect continued his strong showing this spring as he connected for his second home run, a solo shot in the sixth inning. Baez went 1-for-3 on the day and is hitting .417 thus far.
Three Colorado Rockies infield prospects had nice showings across two split squad contests. Charlie Culberson went 3-for-4, including a homer and two runs scored and Christian Adames drove in two runs and scored one in a victory over the Rangers in Surprise. Rosell Herrera had two hits in three strips with two RBI against the Cubs.
Ranked among the game’s top left-handed pitching prospects, James Paxton was impressive in his start against Cleveland. The lefty went three scoreless innings and allowed only two hits. He struck out one.
The San Francisco Giants had strong performances on the mound from Jose De Paula and Heath Hembree Wednesday. De Paula worked two scoreless innings in relief, striking out three and allowing only one hit. Closing prospect Heath Hembree earned the save with a scoreless ninth inning. He struck out one. Los Angeles Angels first baseman C.J. Cron added a hit late in the game in his only at bat.
The Cincinnati Reds got another good game from leadoff man Billy Hamilton. So far this spring, the speedster is hitting .417. Wednesday he added two hits, scored a run, and knocked one in as well. Neftali Soto continued his hot spring with a home run. His 1-for-2 day dropped his average to .571! Soto’s dinger was the only run and one of two hits Matt Magill allowed while working the final three innings of the contest to earn his second save of the spring. The Dodgers right hander struck out three hitters and walked one.
Brewers outfielder Mitch Haniger is also hitting .571 so far. He went 2-for-2 Wednesday and drover in two runs for Milwaukee in a win over Oakland. Michael Taylor has gotten hot for the A’s, following up a 3-for-3 day Tuesday with two hits and scored two runs Wednesday, including his first home run of the spring. Fellow outfield prospect Billy Burns led off and went 1-for-3, pushing his average to .318 this spring.
Reliever Kevin Quackenbush worked a perfect ninth inning in the San Diego Padres victory over the Chicago White Sox.