Baseball America Prospect Report—May 5, 2021

For the first time since Sept. 17, 2019—when the Sacramento River Cats defeated the Columbus Clippers to capture the Triple-A national championship—minor league baseball was in action.

Each of the full-season affiliated leagues kicked off across the country—with the exception of Triple-A West, which debuts its season on Thursday. Below are notable prospects who stood out on the first day of the 2021 minor league season.

Want the prospect report delivered to your inbox every morning? Sign up for free today!

CJ Abrams, SS, Double-A San Antonio — Even without a minor league season in 2020, Abrams still found a way to excel at the alternate training site and in fall instructional league. He got his first taste of the upper-level minors on Tuesday night and did not disappoint, doubling twice, scoring once and driving in one run in a win over Corpus Christi.

Gabriel Arias, Triple-A Columbus — Arias had a loud welcome in his first regular season game in the Indians organization after arriving in a July 2020 trade from the Padres as part of the package for righthander Mike Clevinger. The 21-year-old shortstop clubbed a two-run home run in his first at-bat, finishing the night 1-for-4.

Francisco Alvarez and Pete Crow-Armstrong, Low-A St. Lucie — The two young stars wreaked havoc in the first game of the 2021 season, combining for six hits and four RBIs. Alvarez went 4-for-5 with two RBIs and a run scored and Crow-Armstrong, a 2020 first-rounder from Harvard-Westlake High in Los Angeles, collected two hits in five at-bats, scored twice and knocked in two.

Wander Franco, Triple-A Durham — The No. 1 prospect in baseball looked the part in a win over Memphis. The 20-year-old shortstop went 3-for-5 with a triple, a run scored and two RBIs.

Patrick Bailey, High-A Eugene — Bailey, a 2020 first-rounder from NC State, opened his minor league career with a solo home run in a win over Spokane. The 21-year-old catcher went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and three RBIs.

Luis Gil, Double-A Somerset — The hard-throwing 23-year-old righthander struck out six batters in 3.2 innings, walking one and allowing two hits as part of a three-hit shutout against Harrisburg.

D.L. Hall, Double-A Bowie — Hall cruised in his 2021 debut, striking out 10 in 4.1 innings, allowing two hits and walking two in a win over Altoona.

Michael Harris, High-A Rome — Harris impressed in big league camp this spring and looked the part in a win over Winston-Salem. The 20-year-old outfielder collected three hits, including a double, drove in three runs, scored twice and stole a base.

Ryan Jeffers, Triple-A St. Paul — Jeffers struggled to a 5-for-34 (.147) mark in the big leagues, leading to a demotion on April 29, but he collected two hits in his first game at Triple-A. The 23-year-old catcher singled and hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning against Omaha.

Jackson Kowar, Triple-A Omaha — It might not take long for Kowar to join righthander Brady Singer and lefthander Daniel Lynch in Kansas City. The 24-year-old righthander stifled the Saints in his first Triple-A start, striking out nine batters in 5.1 innings while allowing just two hits and two walks.

Top 50 Fantasy Prospects For The 2023 Season

Dylan White breaks down the top 50 fantasy prospects for the 2023 season.

Austin Martin and Gabriel Moreno, Double-A New Hampshire — Martin and Moreno led the way for New Hampshire in the team's win over Portland. In his first minor league game, Martin collected two hits, including a double, and scored once while playing center field. Moreno brought home two runs, tallied three hits and scored three times.

M.J. Melendez, Double-A Northwest — Melendez struggled to a .163 mark in 363 at-bats at High-A Wilmington in 2019, but he got the 2021 season off to an encouraging start with a two-homer performance in a win over Arkansas. The 22-year-old catcher hit two-run shots in back-to-back innings in the fourth and the fifth.

Nate Pearson, Triple-A Buffalo — Pearson returned to the mound for the first time since straining his groin during a spring training game on March 1. The 24-year-old righthander struck out eight batters in 3.2 innings of work, allowing one run on four hits and a walk and throwing 78 pitches.

Liover Peguero, High-A Greensboro — Just days after entering the Top 100 Prospects list, Peguero crushed a three-run home run in a loss to Hickory. The 20-year-old shortstop reached base twice in five plate appearances, walking once.

Ryan Rolison, Double-A Hartford — Rolison, a 2018 first-rounder from Mississippi, picked up the win in his first start above the Class A levels. The 23-year-old lefthander allowed a run on three hits in five innings of work while striking out seven and walking none.

Jesus Sanchez, Triple-A Jacksonville — Sanchez started the season with a bang, bringing two runs home with a single in the second inning and hitting a three-run home run in the eighth against the Tides.

Anthony Volpe and Austin Wells, Low-A Tampa — In his first full-season game, Volpe tripled and doubled in a win over Dunedin. The 20-year-old middle infielder scored three times, knocked in two runs and walked three times. Wells, a 2020 first-rounder from Arizona, went 2-for-4 with three runs, three RBIs and two walks in his pro debut.

Jordan Walker, Low-A Palm Beach — St. Louis' 2020 first-round pick wasted little time showcasing the raw power that made him one of the more intriguing picks of last year's draft. Walker homered on the first pitch he saw, driving an elevated curveball to left-center field. Walker later added another hit, going 2-for-4 in his pro debut.

BATTERS

PITCHERS