Baseball America Prospect Report—April 13, 2021

Akil Baddoo, OF, Tigers — What more can Baddoo do? Baddoo hit his third home run of the young season, and it was an absolute no-doubter. Baddoo squared up Zack Greinke for a 450-foot home run to center field. He also doubled later in the game. Despite being a part-time player so far, Baddoo’s nine RBIs are four more than any other Tigers hitter. In 21 plate appearances, the Rule 5 pick is slugging 1.000.

Casey Mize, RHP, Tigers — Mize’s first two starts are an encouraging sign that the 2018 No. 1 pick is adapting to the major leagues. Monday he spun his best-ever MLB start, shutting out a potent Astros lineup for seven innings. Mize’s fastball command and control has been much improved recently. On Monday he threw his fastball for strikes 75 percent of the time (33 of 44 pitches). With his ability to get to advantageous counts, his splitter becomes much more effective.

Luis Oviedo, RHP, Pirates — It wasn’t a good day for every Rule 5 pick. The Pirates righthander faced 12 batters on Monday. Seven of them reached (five hits and two walks) and five of them scored. The big blow came on a Wil Myers home run. Oviedo was giving up solid contact--three straight hits and four of the five were hit harder than 100 mph.

Huascar Ynoa, RHP, Braves — With Mike Soroka experiencing a setback in his return from last year’s Achilles injury, Ynoa got to start on Monday. He pitched well enough to ensure he should get another one in a week or so. Ynoa struck out 10 of the 22 batters he faced, allowing one run in six innings on three hits. Ynoa’s slider was working extremely well as nine of his 10 strikeouts were finished off with the breaking ball.

Adbert Alzolay, RHP, Cubs — It ended poorly, but Monday was a very encouraging start for Alzolay. For five innings he was in complete control. He faced the minimum through those five innings as the lone hit he allowed was erased on a double play. In the sixth, he gave up two singles and a walk, leaving the bases loaded with one out. Reliever Andrew Chafin quickly gave up a bases-clearing double to Luis Urias, leaving three runs charged to Alzolay. But that doesn’t erase the five innings of dominance he showed before that.

Triston McKenzie, RHP, Indians — McKenzie’s first start of the season was a little short (four innings) and was marred by one mistake. He struck out six White Sox batters and gave up only two hits, but one of those hits was a three-run home run by Adam Eaton.

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