Here’s a look at Sunday’s top Minor League performers from each team’s Top 30 Prospects list:
Orioles: Grayson Rodriguez, RHP (MLB No. 19), Double-A Bowie
Drew Rom, LHP (No. 22), High-A Aberdeen
It’s not surprising when Rodriguez dominates on the mound, but the Orioles’ top pitching prospect outdid himself with a career-high 12 strikeouts through five innings in Game 1 of a doubleheader on Sunday. The 21-year-old threw 61 of his 83 pitches for strikes as he worked around a pair of singles and a walk against Bowie. The only run he gave up was unearned as a result of a fielding error. Through eight Double-A starts, Rodriguez has held opposing batters to a .162 clip and owns a 2.04 ERA with 57 strikeouts and eight walks through 39 2/3 innings.
Rom earned the win after tossing five scoreless innings in his first relief appearance of the season for Aberdeen, bringing his record to a perfect 7-0 on the season. The southpaw threw 41 of his 69 pitches for strikes and gave up three hits (all singles), walked two and struck out four. Rom lowered his ERA to 2.87 and has racked up 67 strikeouts over 62 2/3 innings.
Orioles prospect stats »
Pirates: Nick Gonzales, 2B (MLB No. 29), High-A Greensboro
Gonzales recorded four hits in a game for the first time this season, including his second career triple, in Greensboro’s 7-5 win over Rome on Sunday. The Pirates’ top prospect has tallied two multihit games in his last three efforts, bringing his slashline up to .248/.322/.457 with five homers and 14 RBIs through his first 32 Minor League games. Pirates prospect stats »
Mets: Jaylen Palmer, 3B/SS (No. 12), Low-A St. Lucie
Palmer legged out three doubles, drove in two runs and scored two as part of a 3-for-4 day at the plate in a 9-1 rout of Palm Beach. St. Lucie scored all nine of its runs in the first, and Palmer doubled twice in the opening inning as the Mets sent 12 men to bat. It’s just the second time in his career that Palmer has recorded multiple extra-base hits in the same game — the first time came when he doubled twice against Fort Myers just a week ago. Palmer has now tallied two three-hit games in a row, and the 20-year-old is slashing .390/.432/.561 in his last 10 games. Mets prospect stats »
Tigers: Nick Quintana, 3B (No. 23), Low-A Lakeland
After finishing a triple shy of the cycle last night, Quintana followed up his 3-for-3 performance by homering for the second game in a row and driving in three runs on a 2-for-4 day at the dish. It’s Quintana’s third multihit game in a row and the second in which he’s tallied three RBIs. The 2019 second-rounder is batting .355 in his last 10 games with eight walks, eight RBIs and 21 total bases. Tigers prospect stats »
Red Sox: Hudson Potts, 3B (No. 24), Double-A Portland
Potts led the charge in Portland’s offensive onslaught. The 2016 first-rounder drove in five runs and scored two in a 3-for-5 day, highlighted by a fifth inning grand slam in the Sea Dogs’ 15-4 rout of Reading. Potts has been off to a slow start to the season, but has shown signs of turning it around recently. In his last four games, the 22-year-old is 5-for-16 with two homers, a double, and nine RBIs. On the year, Potts owns a .694 OPS. Red Sox prospect stats »
D-backs: Ryne Nelson, RHP (No. 19), Double-A Amarillo
Nelson spun his second scoreless start of the season on Sunday, racking up eight strikeouts across six frames of two-hit ball. The 2019 second-rounder worked around four walks and threw 64 of his 97 pitches for strikes in his best Double-A outing since being promoted on June 30. Through four starts for Amarillo, Nelson is pitching to a 4.34 ERA with 26 strikeouts through 18 2/3 innings. D-backs prospect stats »