Austin Riley (Danville 2015), Jarred Kelenic (Kingsport 2018), Wander Franco (Princeton 2018), Josh Winckowski (Bluefield 2017), and Luis Gil (Pulaski 2018) were standout performers on Friday.
Austin Riley (Danville 2015), Jarred Kelenic (Kingsport 2018), Wander Franco (Princeton 2018), Josh Winckowski (Bluefield 2017), and Luis Gil (Pulaski 2018) were standout performers on Friday.
Braves 3B Austin Riley , Triple-A Gwinnett: 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBIs -- Atlanta has Josh Donaldson manning the hot corner in the big leagues, and the thought entering this season was that Riley could be readily available. The Braves' No. 5 prospect scuffled to begin the season, although a turnaround appears to be in the works. On Friday, MLB.com's No. 35 overall prospect homered for the second straight game -- a solo shot in the third -- and plated another run with a single an inning later. Riley was batting .180 10 days ago, but he's boosted his slash line to .244/.311/.439 since.
Mariners OF Jarred Kelenic , Class A West Virginia: 1-for-4, 1 HR -- Speaking of 2018 Mets Draft picks who've been traded, Seattle's No. 2 prospect extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a solo shot -- his third homer of the season -- on the first pitch of his at-bat against Asheville right-hander Ryan Feltner in the sixth. The No. 53 overall prospect is batting .320/.427/.493 with 10 RBIs, 13 walks and four stolen bases in 19 games. The 19-year-old started the year in a 1-for-25 slump.
Rays SS Wander Franco , Class A Bowling Green: 1-for-4 -- The stat line might not reveal much, but the Rays' top prospect pushed a knock through the right side in the sixth to up his hitting streak to 12 contests. In two weeks, the No. 12 overall prospect has elevated his average from .200 to .329 and currently sports a 1.012 OPS through 19 games. Franco entered Friday with six extra-base hits in his previous three games.
Blue Jays P Josh Winckowski , Class A Lansing: 7 IP, 8 K, 5 H, 0 R -- Perhaps an underlying reason for Franco's lone hit was Winckowski. Coming off six scoreless innings his last time out, the Jays prospect one-upped himself. This time, the right-hander tossed seven scoreless frames against Bowling Green and scattered five hits along the way while notching a season-high eight punchouts. The 20-year-old threw 63 of 99 pitches for strikes and lowered his ERA to 1.04. For the first time in five starts this season, he did not walk a batter.
Yankees P Luis Gil , Class A Advanced Charleston: 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 8 K -- One way to follow a one-hit outing? How about zero hits. That's exactly what the Yankees' 13th-ranked prospect did against Columbia. He lowered his ERA to 1.04 and threw 80 pitches -- 49 strikes, while establishing a 1.04 WHIP. Opponents are hitting .123 against the 20-year-old through four starts in 2019.
