Prospect Roundup: Games of April 20

Braves RHP Lucas Sims, Triple-A Gwinnett: 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K, 90 pitches, 59 strikes -- The No. 18 Braves prospect had a rough first trip to the International League last season as he posted a 7.56 ERA, 1.86 WHIP and 6.7 BB/9 over 50 innings. His return has gone much more smoothly with Thursday representing his best start yet at Triple-A. Sims has a 2.70 ERA with 18 strikeouts while holding opposing hitters to a .123 average through 16 2/3 innings for Gwinnett on the young season. The biggest stat Thursday might have been in the walk column. The 22-year-old has shown the stuff to miss bats with an above-average fastball and curve but has had trouble locating his offerings with any consistency. He's filled the zone much better with five walks in three starts, and he'll need to continue to do that if he's going to stick as a starter in a Braves system loaded with arms.

Nationals RHP Erick Fedde, Double-A Harrisburg: 7 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 8 K, 103 pitches, 61 strikes -- It took three starts for the Nationals' No. 2 prospect to allow an earned run, and unfortunately for him, it was enough for his first Double-A loss. Other than those blemishes, Fedde's outing was his longest of the young season in terms of both innings and pitches while his eight punchouts were a season high. Binghamton's Tyler Pill (0.00) is the only qualified Eastern League pitcher with an ERA better than Fedde's 0.50. Now three seasons removed from Tommy John surgery, the reins should be off the 24-year-old in his third pro season, and with eight starts for Harrisburg under his belt dating back to last season, he might not be much longer for Double-A, should the run of zeros pick up again. With Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo López now with the White Sox, Fedde is Washington's top pitching prospect and lone hurler in MLB.com's top 100.
Padres SS/2B Luis Urías, Double-A San Antonio: 4-for-5, 2 2B, RBI, 2 R, K -- The Padres' No. 7 prospect entered the season as the only teenager in the Texas League. He hasn't played like it. That's especially true in his last four games, during which he's gone 9-for-17 (.529) with as many doubles (two) as strikeouts. The right-handed-hitting infielder is coming off a breakout 2016 in which he was named California League MVP after hitting .300 with an .836 OPS and a 36/40 K/BB ratio in 120 games for Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore. Urias isn't much for power, but he has an approach beyond his years. After playing mostly second base last season, he's made 11 of his 13 starts with the Missions at shortstop, and if he can be solid enough there, he'll have plenty of value.

Padres 1B Josh Naylor, Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore: 3-for-5, 3 RBI, R, 2 K, 2 SB -- Sticking in the same system, Naylor homered in back-to-back games Tuesday and Wednesday and followed that up with his second three-hit performance of the season Thursday. The Padres' No. 15 prospect has hits in seven straight games but is still only hitting .233 with a .686 OPS in 14 contests. Perhaps this latest run is a sign he's beginning to find his footing at Class A Advanced, where he owned a .616 OPS over 33 games last season following his trade from the Marlins. Most interestingly, the 19-year-old first baseman, who was given a 20 grade by MLB.com for his run tool on the 20-80 scouting scale, swiped two bases Thursday for the second time in his career. He's 3-for-3 in stolen base attempts this season.
Brewers OF Monte Harrison, Class A Wisconsin: 2-for-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R, K -- Though he may be repeating Class A for a third straight season, the Brewers' No. 22 prospect shouldn't be underestimated and showed why Thursday with his first multi-homer game of the season. A career .232 hitter in the Minors, Harrison is off to a hot start back with the Timber Rattlers -- .340/.377/.620, four homers and two doubles over 13 games. The Brewers will want the 21-year-old to gain confidence before finally getting him a look at Class A Advanced, and he's well on his way there. Continued contact issues (e.g., his 26.4 percent strikeout rate) will require monitoring, though.