Baseball America Prospect Report — Aug. 26, 2020

Baltimore Orioles

— Ryan Mountcastle, the Orioles’ No. 6 prospect, continued the hot start to his big league career by collecting his first big league RBI. Mountcastle’s run-scoring knock was one of the few bits of damage against Rays starter Tyler Glasnow, who whiffed 13. He’s been on base in each of his first four career games.

Chicago White Sox

— The story of the game was obviously Lucas Giolito’s no-hitter, but White Sox top prospect (and the No. 2 overall prospect in the game) Luis Robert provided three of his team’s nine hits in the 4-0 win. Tuesday was Robert’s first career three-hit game (though he’d had a four-hit game). His double registered at 111.4 mph off the bat, marking his third-highest exit velocity of his career and the hardest-hit non-home run.

Cincinnati Reds

— OF Mark Payton, whom the Reds selected from the A’s in the most recent Rule 5 draft, on Tuesday collected his first big league hit. Facing Brewers ace Brandon Woodruff, Payton redirected an elevated 95 mph fastball off the center-field wall, just missing a home run.

Cleveland Indians

— James Karinchak: Whiff machine. Cleveland’s quickly emerging bullpen star struck out one in a scoreless eighth inning, earning his fifth hold of the year in the process. Karinchak has now whiffed 31 over 16.2 innings in 2020.

Detroit Tigers

— 3B Isaac Paredes, one of the Tigers’ best offensive prospects, went 2-for-2 with two walks in his team’s win over the Cubs on Tuesday. He’s 7 for his first 22 with four walks over his first seven games. One of his singles clocked in at 102.6 mph off the bat, marking the second-highest exit velocity of his brief career.

Houston Astros

— RHP Cristian Javier bounced back from his worst career outing with 5.2 innings and three runs allowed to pick up the win against the Angels in the first game of a doubleheader. Javier took a shutout into the fifth inning before running into trouble but still improved to 3-1, 3.77 in his rookie season.

Kansas City Royals

— RHP Josh Staumont continued his flamethrowing exploits on Tuesday. In striking out two more hitters in a scoreless seventh inning (albeit with two walks), Staumont fired three more fastballs at better than 100 mph. His average fastball velocity (among pitchers who have thrown 50 or more four-seamers) is now 98.6 mph, which leaves him tied with Mets ace Jacob deGrom.

Milwaukee Brewers

— RHP Devin Williams, an emerging late-inning weapon in Milwaukee, racked up another two strikeouts on Tuesday. Of his nine pitches (eight strikes), Williams got four swings and misses. The Futures Game alum has whiffed 25 in 11.2 innings this season. One of Williams’ two strikeouts came on a changeup with a spin rate of 3,058 rpms. Among pitchers who have thrown 50 or more changeups, Williams’ average spin rate of 2,810 is the highest.

Minnesota Twins

— C Ryan Jeffers went 1-for-3 in the Twins’ loss to Cleveland on Tuesday. Jeffers, Minnesota’s No. 7 prospect, is now 4 for his first 14 to start his career. His hit, off of lefty Oliver Perez, left the bat at 94.5 mph.

Oakland Athletics

— C Jonah Heim made his major league debut and got his first career hit in a 10-3 win over the Rangers. Heim singled and scored in the seventh inning and finished 1-for-3 in his debut.

Philadelphia Phillies

— Another day, another time on base for Phillies No. 2 prospect Alec Bohm. On Tuesday against the Nationals, Bohm went 1-for-5 and is now 12-for-37 to start his career and is averaging an exit velocity of 92 mph. At 102.5 mph, Bohm’s knock on Tuesday was his hardest-hit single of the year.

St. Louis Cardinals

— OF Dylan Carlson collected a hit and scored a run on Tuesday, but his real eye-popping moments came on defense. All three of Carlson’s strongest throws of the season came in the game, including an 86.6 mph bolt to nab Hunter Dozier trying to take third base on a sacrifice fly to left center. Carlson broke off an 88.6 mph throw in the game as well.

Seattle Mariners

— 1B Evan White went 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored to continue his recent hot streak. After going 7-for-67 with three extra-base hits and 31 strikeouts to start his career, White is batting .321 with three doubles and four home runs in his last nine games.

Texas Rangers

— OF Nick Solak went 2 for 4 in the Rangers' loss to the A's. It was a rebound effort after falling into a slump that saw his average drop 40 points last week.

Toronto Blue Jays

— 2B Santiago Espinal, acquired from the Red Sox for Steve Pearce in 2018, collected his first career three-hit night in Toronto’s loss to Boston. Oddly enough, Espinal has eight hits in his career—one game with one hit, two two-hit games and Tuesday’s three-hit game.

Washington Nationals

— Luis Garcia, the Nationals’ No. 2 prospect, went 1-for-4 against the Phillies, bringing his career total to 12-for-37 with a pair of doubles.

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