Multihit Mead strikes again for Durham

There’s a reason Curtis Mead has a 65-grade hit tool, and that's because all he does is flat-out rake.

Since returning to Triple-A Durham from his left wrist injury on June 30, the No. 32 prospect in baseball per MLB Pipeline has recorded a hit in 11 of 12 games played and tallied a whopping eight multihit performances in that span. Even in the one game that Mead didn't get a hit, he still reached base via a walk, giving him a 12-game on-base streak in that span.

“Maybe the broken hand was a little bit of a blessing and a curse,” Mead said. “Some time away to kind of reset mentally and physically and just being able to kind of come out to start the second half really well and just be able to swing at good pitches. It feels like a new season.”

The 12th game of that “new season” was on Wednesday, and Mead continued the hit parade, going 3-for-3 with a triple and two walks in the Bulls 9-3 win over the Rochester Red Wings.

To say that Mead is on a hot streak wouldn’t be doing it justice, he’s hitting .480 since returning with an astronomical .542 OBP.

“I take a lot of pride in not striking out a whole lot," Mead said. "Striking out is probably the thing that frustrates me the most. I really just try and stay to the big part of the field, trying to hit balls gap-to-gap.”

His triple on Wednesday came in the top of the eighth inning off right-hander Andrés Machado. The Rays No. 3 prospect ripped a 108.2 mph line drive past the second baseman that ran all the way to the wall. The laser, which plated farmhands Blake Rutherford and Jonathan Aranda, extended Durham's lead to 8-3.

Another noteworthy performance for the Australia native since his return came on July 14. Facing off against the St. Paul Saints, Mead went 5-for-5 with two doubles and an RBI in the team’s 8-5 win.

The 22-year-old also crushed a home run on July 3, off Johnny Cueto while the Major League veteran was on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Jacksonville.

“I was a little bit disappointed with how I was playing early in the season, so I think just going out there and competing, controlling the zone, swinging at good pitches and driving the ball was just the main goal,” Mead said.

Earlier in the season, Mead was slashing .221/.286/.360, well below his career averages -- .305/.375/.512. The rehabilitation process allowed him to reset and get into prime physical shape.

“I feel like I was able to return to play and I felt like I had a bit of a leg up,” Mead said. “I was in really good shape from a running and lifting standpoint, and I felt like I’d be a little more energized than the guys who have played 50 or 60 games.”

Now rejuvenated and performing at a high level, Mead will hope to continue tearing the cover off the ball for the remainder of the season, and potentially even make his way to Tampa Bay.