Prospect Hot Sheet (June 24): Happ Attack — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects

This installment of the Prospect Hot Sheet considers what minor league players have done from June 17-23. Remember, this feature simply recognizes what the hottest prospects in the minors did in the past week—it’s not a re-ranking of the Baseball America Top 100 Prospects.

Contributing:J.J. Cooper, Matt Eddy, Kyle Glaser, Josh Norris and Vince Lara-Cinisomo

1. Ian Happ, 2b, Cubs

Team: high Class A Myrtle Beach (Carolina)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: .588/.667/1.176 (10-for-17), 2 R, 5 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 5 RBIs, 4 BB, 1 SO, 0-for-1 SB

The Scoop: The Cubs have had success identifying premium bats at the top of the draft in recent years—Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber are the two most recent successes—and they hope Happ is another one. He left the Carolina League with a bang this week, hitting .588 and clubbing a minor league-best seven extra-base hits before earning a promotion to Double-A Tennessee. (JN)

2. Jose Berrios, rhp, Twins

Team: Triple-A Rochester (International)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.64, 2 GS, 14 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 HR, 5 BB, 16 SO

The Scoop: Berrios’ first stay in the big leagues ended poorly (10.20 ERA), and it took him a while to recover at Rochester. But he’s back doing what he’s supposed to do: throw strikes with solid stuff. In the long term, Berrios is still the same prospect he was before—a potential mid-rotation starter who should have the control to be a reliable innings-eater. (JJ)

3. Aaron Judge, of, Yankees

Team: Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (International)
Age: 24
Why He’s Here: .350/.458/1.000 (7-for-20), 6 R, 1 2B, 4 HR, 7 RBIs, 3 BB, 6 SO

The Scoop: After a rough May, Judge has come back with a vengeance in June. The gargantuan slugger smashed four home runs this week, giving him 13 for the season and moving him into a tie for second place in the International League. The right fielder has seven longballs this month after just six in his first 48 games. (JN)

4. Tyler Glasnow, rhp, Pirates

Team: Triple-A Indianapolis (International)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 13 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 14 SO, 11 BB

The Scoop: Glasnow had no-hit stuff twice this week, carrying no-hitters through six innings or longer in both of his starts. But each time he was done in by walks and high pitch counts. The command issues that have that have followed Glasnow his whole career resurfaced again this week, albeit as a mere thorn in otherwise rosy outings. (JN)

5. Triston McKenzie, rhp, Indians

Team: short-season Mahoning Valley (New York-Penn)
Age: 18
Why He’s Here: 0-1, 0.00, 2 GS, 10.2 IP, 8 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 11 SO, 2 BB, 1 HBP

The Scoop: A standout prep pitcher in Florida in 2015, McKenzie waited until the 42nd pick for the Indians to select him. The lean, 6-foot-5 righty has looked sharp through two New York-Penn League starts this season, striking out 11 against just two walks. McKenzie throws three pitches already, with the athleticism to repeat his delivery and throw strikes. (ME)

6. Josh Bell, 1b, Pirates

Team: Triple-A Indianapolis (International)
Age: 23
Why He’s Here: .355/.412/.710 (11-for-31), 8 R, 1 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 5 RBIs, 3 BB, 3 SO

The Scoop: A converted right fielder, Bell doesn’t look all that comfortable taking groundballs at first base, but then again, the Pirates survived Pedro Alvarez’s 23 errors at first base last season. The switch-hitting Bell keeps getting better from the right side of the plate, and he consistently shows an ability to hit for average and power from the left side. (JJ)

7. Cody Bellinger, 1b, Dodgers

Team: Double-A Tulsa (Texas)
Age: 20
Why He’s Here: .360/.452/.680 (9-for-25), 2 R, 2 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBIs, 5 BB, 7 SO

The Scoop: Bellinger has played all three outfield positions this season, but he still plays primarily at first base, where he has a chance to be a plus defender. He missed April with a hip injury and struggled in May, but June has seen Bellinger, one of the youngest players in the Texas League, return to form. He’s hitting .316/.389/.481 this month. (JJ)

8. Brendan Rodgers, ss, Rockies

Team: low Class A Asheville (South Atlantic)
Age: 19
Why He’s Here: .500/.529/.938 (8-for-16), 2 R, 1 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBIs, 1 BB, 3 SO

The Scoop: Last year’s No. 3 overall pick was hampered by nagging foot, hip, and hamstring injuries in 2015 but now is fully healthy and raking in his first full season. He had two 3-for-4 efforts this week to raise his batting average to an even .300 and OPS to .862, and he started at shortstop for the South Division in the South Atlantic League all-star game. (KG)

9. Reynaldo Lopez, rhp, Nationals

Team: Double-A Harrisburg (Eastern)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: 1-0, 1.29, 7 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 13 SO, 0 BB

The Scoop: One of the better pitching prospects in the game but only the second-best in his own Harrisburg rotation, Lopez has been on a tear of late. Using an electric three-pitch mix, he has racked up double-digit strikeouts in three of his last six starts. In that span, he’s walked just three hitters and whiffed 46, including a 13-punchout masterpiece in his last outing. (JN)

10. Conner Greene, rhp, Blue Jays

Team: high Class A Dunedin (Florida State)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 7 SO, 2 BB

The Scoop: Toronto’s No. 2 prospect seems to have found his comfort level. Greene got to Double-A last season but struggled. Back at high Class A this season, he has recorded a 2.69 ERA in 14 starts. He recognizes control remains an issue—4.2 walks per nine innings—and has just recently added a slider on the advice of pitching coach Jim Czajkowski. (VLC)

11. Ryan O’Hearn, 1b, Royals

Team: Double-A Northwest Arkansas (Texas)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: .360/.448/.938 (9-for-25), 4 R, 3 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBIs, 4 BB, 7 SO

The Scoop: The Sam Houston State product extended his hitting streak to 14 games before having it snapped Thursday, and he recorded an extra-base hit in five consecutive games this week. The recent hot streak has O’Hearn ranked tied for fifth in the Texas League with an .865 OPS, and he is in the top 20 in the league in doubles and homers despite spending the first month of this season at high Class A Wilmington. (KG)

12. Ryan Borucki, lhp, Blue Jays

Team: low Class A Lansing (Midwest)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: 1-0, 1.13, 8 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 8 SO, 0 BB

The Scoop: Entering the season, Borucki had pitched just 69 innings as a pro because of Tommy John surgery and then elbow soreness and shoulder pain last season. But the lefthander has the system’s best changeup, a double-plus pitch. The Jays pushed him to high Class A, but he struggled. Back at low Class A Lansing, Borucki has regained his confidence. He sits 88-92 mph with his fastball, which plays up with deception. The slider needs refinement. (VLC)

13. Gabriel Ynoa, rhp, Mets

Team: Triple-A Las Vegas (Pacific Coast)
Age: 23
Why He’s Here: 2-0, 1.32, 2 GS, 13.2 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 0 HR, 10 SO, 5 BB, 1 HBP

The Scoop: Mets spot starter Logan Verrett has been pressed into duty four times this season, and Ynoa could be next in line if recent injury scares for Bartolo Colon, Noah Syndergaard or Zack Wheeler require coverage. Ynoa has been a durable strike-thrower during his minor league career, and he has recorded a quality start in three of his past four outings, which is no mean feat in the Pacific Coast League. (ME)

14. Vicente Campos, rhp, Yankees

Team: Double-A Trenton (Eastern)
Age: 23
Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 7 SO, 0 BB

The Scoop: Four years after he was part of the Michael Pineda-Jesus Montero challenge swap, Campos could be emerging as a key piece. Fully healthy after Tommy John surgery in 2014, the physical Venezuelan righthander is 3-0, 2.08 since his promotion to Trenton. With trouble in the big league rotation, Campos could be a name to watch as the Yankees look for help in the second half. (VLC)

15. Derek Fisher, of, Astros

Team: Double-A Corpus Christi (Texas)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: .313/.633/.500 (5-for-16), 7 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 3 RBIs, 13 BB, 7 SO, 4-for-4 SB

The Scoop: As hitters climb the minor league ladder, they tend to become more selective—it’s a survival trait—but Fisher has shown such incredible growth to his walk rate that it should come with a disclaimer: Results not typical. His walk rate jumped from about 11 percent last season to 18 percent this season at Double-A. Not coincidentally, he’s also hitting for more power. (JJ)

16. Wes Rogers, of, Rockies

Team: high Class A Modesto (California)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: .467/.579/.933 (7-for-15), 8 R, 2 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 4 RBIs, 3 BB, 2 SO, 1-for-1 SB

The Scoop: The center fielder may be best known for his speed—his 28 steals lead the California League—but Rogers has driven the ball in June, hitting .282 with seven extra-base hits in 19 games. With that production, Rogers has found himself batting third for Modesto on occasion, but with improved walk and strikeout rates this year compared with last, he profiles best in a table-setter role. (ME)

17. Josh Ockimey, 1b, Red Sox

Team: low Class A Greenville (South Atlantic)
Age: 20
Why He’s Here: .538/.647/1.000 (7-for-13), 4 R, 3 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBIs, 4 BB, 4 SO

The Scoop: Ockimey has trimmed back his strikeout rate and increased his walk rate without sacrificing hard contact. His pitch recognition has improved, manager Darren Fenster said, and he’s doing big damage on contact with 28 of his 63 hits going for extra bases. (VLC)

18. David Dahl, of, Rockies

Team: Double-A Hartford (Eastern)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: .375/.583/.563 (6-for-16), 4 R, 3 2B, 2 RBIs, 8 BB, 4 SO

The Scoop: Known more for his power than patience, Dahl continued to display increased plate discipline with eight walks this week to raise his on-base percentage to .375, his best since Rookie ball. He has reached base in 14 consecutive games and ranks among the top 10 in the Eastern League in most categories, a nice showing after his 2015 season was cut short by a lacerated spleen suffered in a violent outfield collision. (KG)

19. Adonis Medina, rhp, Phillies

Team: short-season Williamsport (New York-Penn)
Age: 19
Why He’s Here: 2-0, 0.00, 12.2 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 5 SO, 5 BB

The Scoop: The Phillies No. 9 prospect pitched six scoreless innings on Opening Day of the New-York Penn League season against State College and followed up with 6 2/3 scoreless against Mahoning Valley in his second start. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Dominican showed some wildness with five walks and two hit batters, but didn’t allow a single hit with runners on base (0-for-11) to limit the damage. (KG)

20. Corey Zangari, 1b, White Sox

Team: Rookie-level Great Falls (Pioneer)
Age: 19
Why He’s Here: .333/.394/.700 (10-for-30), 7 R, 2 2B, 3 HR, 9 RBIs, 2 BB, 11 SO, 1-for-1 SB

The Scoop: The 2015 sixth-round pick out of high school ranked among the Rookie-level Arizona League leaders for home runs and isolated slugging in his debut last season. Zangari clearly wasn’t ready for low Class A Kannapolis this season, however, as attested to by a .166 average and 106 strikeouts in 57 games. The Pioneer League appears to be a more suitable level for Zangari, who leads the circuit with three homers and nine RBIs—but watch those strikeouts! (ME)

HELIUM WATCH

Josh VanMeter, 3b, Padres

A 2013 fifth-round pick out of the same Indiana high school as Athletics righthander Jarrod Parker, VanMeter has matured physically and added power in pro ball. A basketball standout at Norwell High, he entered pro ball as a lithe, lefthanded-hitting middle infielder, but he has played mostly third base this season at high Class A Lake Elsinore, in deference to teammates Javier Guerra and Luis Urias. No matter. The 21-year-old VanMeter leads all California League third basemen in home runs (10), stolen bases (eight), average (.289), on-base percentage (.362) and isolated slugging (.204). This broad range of skills and versatility could make him a utility candidate—or perhaps more—one day. (ME)

Koda Glover, rhp, Nationals

The Nationals’ eighth-round selection last year out of Oklahoma State, Glover has torn through the minors this season. He opened the year at high Class A Potomac and in two months has shot to Triple-A Syracuse. With the big league bullpen in shambles, he’s doing everything he can to present himself as an in-house option. Glover starts his arsenal with a fastball that can sit at 95-96 mph and touch higher. He couples the pitch with a sharp slider in the mid-80s, and scouts who have seen him praise his approach and see closer potential in his future.