Welcome to the 12th installment of our Weekly Hot Prospects Report ranking the top minor-league performances from the week of July 3rd through July 9th:
1. Ethan Salas, C, Padres (Low-A Lake Elsinore)
Salas (pictured above) has found his power stroke in Low-A, having just turned 17 on June 1, bashing 4 homers with a 1.105 slugging percentage last week. He had just 4 extra-base hits with a .286 SLG over his first 20 games for Lake Elsinore, but had 10 extra-base hits with a .971 SLG over his last 10 games. Last week alone, Salas posted a 1.605 OPS with 10 RBIs, 2 steals and as many walks (5) as strikeouts (5). Salas was the consensus No. 1 prospect in this year’s international signing class, then he skipped over both levels of rookie ball entirely to reach Low-A while still 16. We wouldn’t put it past him to reach High-A this summer, which would put him on track to reach the majors as a teenage catcher, something that hasn’t been done since first-ballot Hall of Famer Ivan Rodriguez in 1991.
2. Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Brewers (High-A Wisconsin)
Misiorowski played in only one game last week and it was an exhibition, but the 6-foot-7 flamethrower’s 18-pitch stint in the Futures Game was so impressive that he makes our list. His 11 fastballs ranged from 99.8-102.4 mph and he threw strikes on 15 of 18 pitches. The 21-year-old struck out 3 in his one inning, giving up a 2-strike bloop single to Colt Keith, one of the best hitters in the minors. We can imagine Misiorowski arriving in Milwaukee in September to give the Brewers an amazing weapon out of the bullpen in a pennant race.
3. Grayson Rodriguez, RHP, Orioles (Triple-A Norfolk)
Rodriguez struck out 12 in 6 scoreless innings on Tuesday, then came back with 3 more shutout frames on Sunday. The 23-year-old totaled 15 strikeouts and a 0.78 WHIP for the week, what may prove to be his final two minor-league appearances if he starts the second half in Baltimore’s rotation.
4. Hayden Birdsong, RHP, Giants (High-A Eugene)
Birdsong started the week with 11 strikeouts in 5 innings on Tuesday in a combined no-hitter then followed it up with 8 more Ks in 5 innings allowing just 1 earned run on Sunday. The 21-year-old was just a sixth-rounder out of Eastern Illinois in last year’s draft but he lowered his ERA to 4.09 for Eugene after posting a 2.16 ERA for Low-A San Jose to start the season. He has a combined 100 strikeouts in 63 2/3 innings.
5. Xavier Edwards, 2B/OF, Marlins (Triple-A Jacksonville)
Edwards was a hit machine last week, going 18-for-29 for an amazing .621 average, racking up 12 runs, 10 RBIs and 7 steals. The 23-year-old raised his season average to .368 with 3 homers and 20 steals. He should be getting the call soon and could give the Miami offense a much-needed boost.
6. Roderick Arias, SS, Yankees (Florida Complex League)
Arias went 6-for-15 with 3 homers and 2 steals last week to run his hitting streak to 12 games. The 18-year-old Dominican is up to a .955 OPS with 6 dingers and 10 steals. He should be getting a promotion to Low-A any day now.
7. Dominic Hamel, RHP, Mets (Double-A Binghamton)
Hamel racked up 11 Ks in 6 innings on Wednesday, allowing just 3 hits and 1 run. The 24-year-old has tossed three straight quality starts to lower his season ERA from 5.62 to 4.92 to go with 91 Ks in 67 2/3 innings.
8. Jackson Wolf, LHP, Padres (Double-A San Antonio)
Wolf struck out 11 in 7 innings on Friday, allowing just 4 hits and 1 run. The 24-year-old is breaking out this season with a 3.49 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 98 Ks in 80 innings.
9. Gavin Stone, RHP, Dodgers (Triple-A Oklahoma City)
Stone finally turned the tide on what has been a thoroughly disappointing season for the 24-year-old, tossing 6 scoreless innings with 8 Ks and no walks against Albuquerque on Sunday. He lowered his ERA from 6.71 to 6.03 for OKC and now hopes to soon get the chance to do the same to his 12.75 ERA for the Dodgers.
10. Corey Rosier, OF, Red Sox (Double-A Portland)
Rosier powered up last week with 3 homers to go with 3 steals and a 1.340 OPS. The 23-year-old speedster has an .853 OPS with 5 homers and 30 steals for Portland and could soon be back in Worcester, where he had a brief 3-game stint a few weeks ago. Rosier will be moving back into our next weekly-updated Top 500.
Honorable Mentions
11. Carson Williams, SS, Rays (High-A Bowling Green): 8-for-23 (.348), 7 R, 1 2B, 4 HR, 11 RBIs, 5 BB, 8 SO, 0 SB, .464 OBP, .913 SLG, 1.377 OPS
12. Denzel Clarke, OF, Athletics (Double-A Midland): 10-for-22 (.455), 8 R, 2 HR, 9 RBIs, 6 BB, 3 SO, 1 SB, .571 OBP, .727 SLG, 1.298 OPS
13. Kristian Robinson, OF, Diamondbacks (Low-A Visalia): 8-for-21 (.381), 6 R, 2 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 7 RBIs, 7 BB, 6 SO, 4 SB, .536 OBP, .714 SLG, 1.250 OPS
14. Colson Montgomery, SS, White Sox (High-A Winston-Salem): 9-for-15 (.600), 7 R, 2 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBIs, 5 BB, 4 SO, 0 SB, .714 OBP, .933 SLG, 1.647 OPS
15. Peyton Burdick, OF, Marlins (Triple-A Jacksonville): 10-for-24 (.417), 9 R, 3 2B, 4 HR, 10 RBIs, 4 BB, 9 SO, 1 SB, .533 OBP, 1.042 SLG, 1.575 OPS
16. Daylen Lile, OF, Nationals (Low-A Fredericksburg): 8-for-17 (.471), 6 R, 3 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 6 RBIs, 5 BB, 2 SO, 2 SB, .583 OBP, .941 SLG, 1.524 OPS
17. Chase DeLauter, OF, Guardians (High-A Lake County): 11-for-18 (.611), 4 R, 6 2B, 0 HR, 4 RBIs, 0 BB, 1 SO, 1 SB, .611 OBP, ..944 SLG, 1.555 OPS
18. Sebastian Walcott, SS, Rangers (Arizona Complex League): 8-for-22 (.364), 6 R, 1 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBIs, 1 BB, 9 SO, 2 SB, .391 OBP, .682 SLG, 1.073 OPS
19. Kevin Alcantara, OF, Cubs (High-A South Bend): 8-for-19 (.421), 5 R, 1 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBIs, 3 BB, 2 SO, 0 SB, .500 OBP, .789 SLG, 1.289 OPS
20. Joey Loperfido, OF, Astros (Double-A Corpus Christi): 6-for-17 (.353), 4 R, 3 2B, 2 HR, 2 RBIs, 3 BB, 4 SO, 3 SB, .450 OBP, .882 SLG, 1.332 OPS