Prospect Roundup: Games of April 17

Rangers 1B Ronald Guzmán, Triple-A Round Rock: 3-for-5, HR, 4 RBI -- The Rangers' No. 4 prospect has been giving the big club something to think about in his first season on the 40-man roster. By going deep Monday for the second time, Guzman has already eclipsed his Triple-A homer total from 2016 in 45 fewer plate appearances. With three hits on the day, he's now batting .391/.440/.565 over 12 games, but there are signs those numbers are not sustainable, beyond his career .271/.325/.412 line. First, only three of his 18 hits have gone for extra bases. Second, he's posted a .432 BABIP, which will go down as some of those singles turn into outs, and his slash line will follow suit. On the flip side, Guzman's 14 percent strikeout rate would be the lowest of his career, should he maintain it. The Rangers don't need the left-handed slugger to push for the Majors yet following the signing of Mike Napoli this offseason, but he could help his chances at taking first base over the long term should this success continue.

Mariners RHP Andrew Moore, Double-A Arkansas: 7 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 1 HR, 83 pitches, 64 strikes -- The Mariners' No. 4 prospect is turning his outings into must-watch stuff. After scattering three hits over 13 scoreless innings in his first two starts, the 22-year-old right-hander, who entered in the second inning after rehabbing reliever Steve Cishek got the start, finally allowed a run Monday on a solo homer by San Antonio's Nick Schulz, but he was otherwise stingy. In fact, his 83 pitches were the fewest of any his outings this year, even though his seven frames marked a season high. Moore has struck out 16 while allowing only 12 batters to reach base over 19 innings for the Travelers. With 127 1/3 Double-A innings on his resume dating back to last season with Jackson, he seems ready for the test of the Pacific Coast League, whenever the Mariners want to make the move.
Brewers SS Mauricio Dubón, Double-A Biloxi: 2-for-4, 2B, 4 RBI -- It hasn't been a dream introduction to the Brewers' system for the 22-year-old middle infielder, but perhaps Monday provides hope that a turnaround is coming. Dubon cracked his first extra-base hit with a three-run double in the fourth inning of Biloxi's rain-shortened 5-0 win at Chattanooga and added an RBI single in the sixth. His four RBIs on the night matched a career high last achieved May 31, 2015 with Class A Greenville in the Red Sox system. Even after Monday's production, the Brewers' No. 9 prospect is just 10-for-44 (.227) with the one extra-base hit in his first 11 games with Biloxi. There was hope that Dubon could be a quick mover to Triple-A after hitting .339/.371/.538 over 62 games at Double-A Portland last season before being dealt in December, but it could be a while longer before that conversation can pick up again.
Reds 3B Nick Senzel, Class A Advanced Daytona: 3-for-4, HBP, R -- The Reds' top prospect notched his first three-hit game of the season Monday with three singles in a 6-4 loss at home to Charlotte, equaling his hit total from his previous five games combined. Senzel is 14-for-50 (.280) with three doubles and three RBIs in 12 games with the Tortugas. His bat has been about league average in that regard with a 101 wRC+ through the first two weeks of the season, but expect that to jump as last year's No. 2 overall pick acclimates to Class A Advanced.
Athletics C Sean Murphy, Class A Advanced Stockton: 3-for-4, HR, 2B, 3 RBI, 3 R, BB, K -- Known primarily for his work behind the plate, Oakland's No. 17 prospect showed he can provide value with his bat from time to time in Stockton's 12-4 win at Modesto. Batting cleanup, Murphy doubled his extra-base output and finished a triple shy of the cycle in his first three-hit game of 2017. The 2016 third-round pick entered the day with a .161 average and .612 OPS in his first nine games with the Ports but bumped those up to .229 and .839 with Monday's performance. Murphy's value remains in his ability to limit the opposition's running game, and even after allowing a stolen base Monday, the 22-year-old backstop, whose arm was given a 70 grade by MLB.com, is still 3-for-6 in the early going in throwing out attempted basestealers. Given those talents, offensive performances like Monday's may end being gravy in Oakland's eyes as the team tracks Murphy's progress up the chain.
Astros INF Alexander De Goti, Class A Quad Cities: 4-for-4, 2 HR, 3B, 2 RBI, 3 R, 2 BB -- De Goti, a 15th-round pick last year out of Division II Barry University, isn't ranked among the Astros' top 30 prospects, but getting 12 total bases and reaching six times in one night is a good way to get featured here. The 22-year-old infielder needed a double for the cycle after four innings but walked in the sixth and hit his second homer of the night in the eighth in Quad Cities' 15-1 win at Burlington. That last dinger prompted his former Long Beach State teammate Garrett Hampson to do some prodding on social media by tweeting, "Gunna need you to have a little feel and not hit a bomb when you're a double away from the cycle. Smh @alexdegoti". De Goti hadn't collected an extra-base hit in his first 10 games with the River Bandits before his breakout Monday. He owns a .351/.442/.568 line in 11 contests.