Welcome to the Minor League Update. Every day, we tell you the latest about what happened to the prospects you care about, and maybe a few more you should. Here’s who made waves last night:
Hitter of the day
Nathan Church, OF, St. Louis Cardinals (High-A Peoria): 4-5, 3 R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI.
A former UC Irvine star, Chuch’s advanced contact ability has been on full display this year, with his 67 hits tops among all High-A hitters. His quick, left-handed swing doesn’t produce much over the fence pop, but he sprays hard line drives to all fields and has the speed to stretch singles into extra-base hits. That offensive ability, plus a sprinkle of Cardinals Devil Magic, could help him carve out a role in St. Louis.
Pitcher of the day
Thomas Harrington, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates (High-A Greensboro): 7 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 K.
It didn’t take long for Harrington to get back on track after a rough initial Sally League performance, logging his best professional outing since being drafted 36th overall last year. He’s an excellent athlete and an advanced strike thrower, which allows him to pound the zone with his three major league quality offerings. The low-90s fastball, slider, and change don’t produce gaudy strikeout numbers, but he uses them effectively and profiles as a starter in the Pirates’ rotation.
Luis Baez, OF, Houston Astros (Rookie FCL Astros): 3-5, 2 R, 2 HR, 3 RBI, K.
The offensive prowess that Baez showed last year in his professional debut has followed him stateside, as he’s gone 6-for-11 with three home runs in his first three games in the complex league. The 19-year-old has shown the ability at both levels to impact the ball, and has the bat speed and physical strength to develop into a power-hitting corner outfielder.
Jared Jones, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates (Double-A Altoona): 6.1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K.
An over-slot, second-round selection in 2020, Jones is enjoying a breakout campaign in the Southern League after two previous nondescript professional seasons. The stuff has always been there, with his high-octane fastball and pair of above-average breakers, but he’s taken a step forward this year with an improved pitchability. If he continues to carve up Double-A hitters, it’s likely we see him in Indianapolis later this year and knocking on the doorstep of Pittsburgh in 2024.
Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers (High-A Wisconsin): 5.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K.
The Midwest League got its first look at Misiorowski Thursday evening and he dominated a West Michigan squad, allowing a lone single over five innings. The fastball gets on hitters in a hurry with his extreme extension and velocity, and he compliments it with a sharp, breaking slider that can be a true swing-and-miss offering. If the control development is real and can be maintained, Misiorowski will quickly become one of the top pitching prospects in the game.
Tommy Mace, RHP, Cleveland Guardians (High-A Lake County): 8 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 11 K.
Mace might finally be turning a corner in his second go around in the Midwest League, logging his best professional start since being drafted in 2021. The tools are there, with a large, durable frame and a solid four-pitch mix, but up until now it has yet to come together. However, he’s in the right organization to unlock his potential.
Nick Yorke, 2B, Boston Red Sox (Double-A Portland): 3-5, 2 R, HR, 5 RBI, K.
Finally healthy, Yorke is back to doing damage at the plate. It’s not the prettiest swing, but it’s effective, and he’s been one of the best hitters in the Eastern League this year, slashing .294/.402/.489 through 46 games. The Sally League struggles that plagued him last year are in the past and it appears that we can pencil Yorke back into the upper echelon of prospects.
Others of Note
Elias Medina, SS, Los Angeles Dodgers (Rookie DSL LAD Mega): 4-7, 4 R, 2 2B, 3B, 4 RBI.
Ismael Javier, INF, San Diego Padres (Rookie DSL Padres Gold): 4-5, 3 R, HR, 5 RBI, BB.
Jesus Castro, C, San Diego Padres (Rookie DSL Padres Gold): 4-5, 3 R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI.
Derniche Valdez, SS, Chicago Cubs (Rookie DSL Cubs Blue): 0-4, 4 K.
Cory Lewis, RHP, Minnesota Twins (High-A Cedar Rapids): 5 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 K.
Andrew Alvarez, LHP, Washington Nationals (High-A Wilmington): 5 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 9 K.
Bradley Blalock, RHP, Boston Red Sox (Low-A Salem): 5 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K.
Alec Marsh, RHP, Kansas City Royals (Double-A Northwest Arkansas): 3.1 IP, 4 H, 5 ER, 4 BB, 4 K.
Thank you for reading
This is a free article. If you enjoyed it, consider subscribing to Baseball Prospectus. Subscriptions support ongoing public baseball research and analysis in an increasingly proprietary environment.
Subscribe now