Former Pacific Coast League star, Javier Baez, made his big league debut this week and topped it off by putting a ball over the wall for his first hit, meanwhile another top prospect did the same in his first start in the PCL. Jake Lamb has been hitting for great average in Double-A all season, and has started off with nine hits in his first 18 at-bats, including five extra base hits. The Arizona Diamondbacks moved Matt Davidson before this season, in part because they see Lamb as someone who can hold down their hot corner for years to come.
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While Baez may be up in the big leagues, Jorge Soler is still in Iowa, and is crushing the ball. He has only played in 43 games this season, adding to the growing concern about his ability to stay healthy, but he is hitting plenty of home runs. He has 11 on the season over four different leagues, and four home runs in his 14 games in the PCL, including a couple this past week.
There may have been some impressive home runs from some top prospects, but the New York Mets affiliate in Las Vegas showcased the strength of the system, pitching.
Scott Verrett put in eight innings and allowed just three hits and a single run on Monday while striking out seven Sacramento River Cats. The following night, Rafael Montero put Verrett’s game to shame, matching his eight innings, but allowed just a single hit, no runs, and struck out 11.
No team in the PCL has more wins than Las Vegas, thanks in large part to their pitching staff, but they have had some solid hitting performances as well. Matt Reynolds was recently named the offensive player of the week, hitting .463 over his past ten games with two home runs and reaching base more than half the time. The pitcher of the week honors went to Tyler Lyons after he put in a pair of excellent outings, going 16 innings, striking out 11, and allowing only a single run in his two games.