Prospect Roundup: Games of April 12
Diamondbacks 1B Christian Walker, Triple-A Reno: 3-for-5, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R -- Walker was, let's say, well-traveled over a five-week stretch in February and March, doing the designated-for-assignment/claimed-off-waivers dance with the Orioles, Braves and Reds before settling in with the D-backs on March 28. He's repaid Arizona's faith with
Diamondbacks 1B Christian Walker, Triple-A Reno: 3-for-5, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R -- Walker was, let's say, well-traveled over a five-week stretch in February and March, doing the designated-for-assignment/claimed-off-waivers dance with the Orioles, Braves and Reds before settling in with the D-backs on March 28. He's repaid Arizona's faith with three homers in his last two games at Reno. Ranked as the team's No. 30 prospect, Walker was brought in to provide organizational depth behind Paul Goldschmidt, but he also has experience in the outfield, including 90 games in left with Triple-A Norfolk last season. He's gotten off to an impressive start by going 11-for-31 (.355) with four extra-base hits and 10 RBIs in his first seven games with the Aces, but it's going to take a more sustained run for the 26-year-old, who owns a career .762 OPS in 320 Triple-A games, to break down the door to the Majors.
Yankees LHP Justus Sheffield, Double-A Trenton: 5 2/3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 1 HBP, 86 pitches, 58 strikes -- New York's No. 7 prospect enjoyed a solid 2017 debut Wednesday in Trenton's 9-3 win at Akron. He was initially charged with an earned run in the sixth inning, but Yu-Cheng Chang hit was changed to an error on center fielder Rashad Crawford. Sheffield got to know the Eastern League over three starts, including two in the postseason, in 2016 but is likely in it for the long haul this year. The 20-year-old's above-average fastball and slider should lead to success, but control will be a concern after he averaged 3.8 BB/9 in 25 starts between Class A Advanced and Double-A last season. He showed some inconsistency Wednesday when he walked two and plunked rehabbing Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis on the left hand.
Diamondbacks 3B/SS Dawel Lugo, Double-A Jackson: 2-for-6, HR, 3 RBI, R, K -- Two days off did nothing to slow down the team's No. 4 prospect, who followed up a two-homer performance Sunday with another long ball Wednesday in Jackson's 10-5 win at Mobile. Lugo's three homers in five games trail only teammate Kevin Cron for the Southern League lead, but perhaps most impressive, Lugo needs one more homer to match his 2016 output over 48 games with the BayBears. After hitting four homers across two levels in 2015, the 22-year-old infielder saw a jump in power with 17 total homers last year. However with 13 of those coming in the California League, it would've been easy to chalk that up to environmental factors. Instead, Lugo appears to be a player out to prove his power is becoming a real weapon.
Cardinals OF Magneuris Sierra, Class A Advanced Palm Beach: 3-for-5, BB, 3 R, CS -- Make that back-to-back three-hit games and at least one hit in five straight contests for the Cardinals' No. 7 prospect. Sierra was protected from the Rule 5 Draft with a 40-man roster spot in November but had yet to play above Class A at the time of the move. The 21-year-old's best assets are his speed and defense in center field, but some improvement at the plate would help. He's gone 10-for-30 (.333) with a triple, double and nine runs scored in his first seven games with Palm Beach.
Blue Jays 3B Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Class A Lansing: 2-for-6, HR, 2 RBI, R, BB, K in doubleheader -- Guerrero would've been forgiven for struggling in his first trip to Lansing after making the jump from Rookie ball as an 18-year-old. Yet it's been a rare day in the season's first week when the Blue Jays' top prospect hasn't made news. On Wednesday, it was an opposite-field homer that hit the Bowling Green Ballpark scoreboard in right-center field during Game 2 of a doubleheader. The long ball was Guerrero's second in seven games, and he's gone 8-for-22 (.364) with two homers, a double, four RBIs and six walks in his introduction to the Midwest League. The hype was strong for the son of the 2004 American League MVP, and he's lived up to it to this point.
Sam Dykstra is a reporter for MiLB.com. Follow and interact with him on Twitter, @SamDykstraMiLB.
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