Baseball America Prospect Report—April 26, 2021

Pavin Smith, CF, D-Backs — Smith tripled and scored a run in the opener of Sunday’s doubleheader, then homered in the nightcap as part of a three-hit game. With the Arizona pitching staff holding the Braves to one hit and no runs in the doubleheader, that means that Smith by himself was enough to beat the Braves.

Michael Kopech, RHP, White Sox — The White Sox decision to ease Kopech back into action by using him out of the bullpen has worked well, but his work on Sunday as a spot starter will add to the argument that he may fit in the rotation. Kopech struck out 10 and walked no one in 5.1 innings of work, allowing one run on four hits. Kopech now has struck out 27 in 15.1 innings. Opponents are hitting only .130 against him this year and he’s walked only four.

Nick Madrigal, 2B, White Sox — Madrigal tripled as part of a two-hit Sunday. That means he now has as many triples this year (two) as strikeouts (also two).

Dylan Carlson, OF, Cardinals — A week into the season, Carlson was hitting .182 but was slugging .636 thanks to three home runs. Since then, Carlson hasn’t hit a home run, but he has picked up bushels of hits. Carlson had his second straight three-hit game (and his third in the past two weeks) with a double, a run scored and an RBI. Carlson is now hitting .309/.407/.559 this year, providing just what the Cardinals needed in their outfield.

Spencer Howard, RHP, Phillies — Howard had a rocky Sunday. Just up this week from the alternate site, Howard gave up a single and a triple off his fastball and two singles off his slider. He gave up three runs while striking out four in two innings of work, skying his ERA to 8.31.

Luis Patiño, RHP, Rays — Making his Tampa Bay debut, Patiño was excellent. He struck out Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Randal Grichuk in the first and worked 2.2 hitless and scoreless innings. The Rays pulled him after just 42 pitches, but when he was in the game, he was excellent.

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