Mar 22, 2014; Surprise, AZ, USA; Texas Rangers infielder Rougned Odor (73) hits an RBI double in the seventh inning against the Texas Rangers at Surprise Stadium. The Royals won 8-4. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Some big-name prospects had big-time games, headlining today’s minor league report.
Triple-A
In the International League, Gregory Polanco of the Indianapolis Indians (PIT) went 4/4 with a home run to push his batting average to an insane .500 for the young season. Stephen Piscotty of the Memphis Redbirds (STL) had a 3/4 day and is now hitting .405. For the Nashville Sounds (MIL), Ariel Pena struck out eight in four innings of work, walking just one and allowing one run on four hits.
Houston’s Triple-A affiliate in Oklahoma City got three big performances on Saturday with Domingo Santana going 3/4 with three doubles and a walk, Jon Singleton going 2/4 with a double and four RBI and George Springer going 2/4 with a triple, a walk and a stolen base. Those big hitting games were behind starter Jake Buchanan who threw five scoreless innings, giving up just three hits and striking out five. Also in the Pacific Coast League, Joc Pederson of the Albuquerque Isotopes (LAD) went 2/4 with a double, a walk, a stolen base and two runs scored. Center fielder James Jones of the Tacoma Rainiers (SEA) went 3/4 with a triple. For the Reno Aces (ARI), Bo Schultz struck out eight in 6 2/3 innings of one-run, three-hit ball.
Double-A
In Portland (BOS), second baseman Mookie Betts continues his torrid start to the season, hitting .469 after a 2/4 game with a double, a stolen base, two runs and two RBI. Also in the Eastern League, Philadelphia Phillies’ prospects Cesar Hernandez and Cameron Perkins both went 3/4. Perkins is hitting .438 and added a double, a triple and a stolen base to his season’s tallies.
In the Southern League, Tennessee Smokies’ (CHC) third baseman, Kris Bryant hit his third home run of the season (and first double) in a 2/4 day. Birmingham (CWS) second baseman Micah Johnson went 2/4 with a home run. Pensacola Blue Wahoos (CIN) starter Jon Moscot threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings, giving up just two hits and one walk while striking out five.
In the Double-A Texas League, Jace Peterson went 3/4 for the San Antonio Missions (SD). Rougned Odor almost won the Hitter of the Day prize from Baseball America (that went to Gregory Polanco) by hitting two home runs and going 4/6 for the Frisco RoughRiders (TEX) while teammate Ryan Rua went 3/6 with a double. Midland RockHounds (OAK) starter Raul Alcantara struck out seven in six and two-thirds innings, giving up just one unearned run on five hits and a walk to earn the win.
High-A
For Visalia in the California League, Diamondbacks third base prospect Brandon Drury went 3/5 with a double. Stockton Ports (OAK) shortstop Chad Pinder had a nice 4/4 game that included a pair of home runs. Pinder is now hitting .385 with five home runs. Lancaster JetHawks’ (HOU) Kyle Smith struck out six of the fourteen batters he faced in four hitless innings, walking two.
In the Carolina League, shortstop Jose Peraza pushed his average to .324 for the Lynchburg Hillcats (ATL) with a 3/5 game that included a stolen base. Winston-Salem Dash (CWS) starter Braulio Ortiz struck out seven in five innings of work, giving up three runs (only one earned) on two hits and two walks. Wilmington Blue Rocks’ (KC) starter Christian Binford was dominant, throwing seven shutout innings, giving up just two hits and striking out 10.
In the Florida State League, Albert Almora, the center fielder for the Daytona Cubs, went 2/5 with his fourth double and first home run of the season, stealing a base, scoring twice and driving in three. For the Fort Myers Twins, shortstop Jorge Polanco went 2/3 with two walks and Adam Brett Walker went 2/5 with a home run, three RBI and a stolen base. St. Lucie Mets’ center fielder Brandon Nimmo went 3/5. One of Toronto’s top prospects, lefty Daniel Norris, posted his second outstanding start for the Dunedin Blue Jays, going six scoreless innings and giving up just four hits and a walk while striking out six.
Class-A
In the Midwest League, first baseman Sebastian Elizalde of the Dayton Dragons (CIN) continues to rake, going 4/5 with two doubles while teammate Tanner Rahier went 3/4 with a double. Lake County Captains’ (CLE) shortstop Dorssys Paulino went 3/4 with a walk. For the Peoria Chiefs (STL), shortstop Juan Herrera went 2/4 with a double, Kelly Carson went 1/3 with a home run, a walk, three runs scored and three RBI and Kenny Peoples-Walls went 3/5 with a double and two RBI.
For the Asheville Tourists (COL) of the South Atlantic League, outfielder David Dahl continues to pound the opposition, hitting his third home run in three games, going 3/4 with a stolen base. Second baseman Avery Romero of the Greensboro Grasshoppers (MIA) raised his batting average to .436 with a 3/5 game that included a pair of doubles.