Team of the Week: Featured Prospects

There are only two weeks of action left in the minor leagues for most teams. That means there are fewer and fewer opportunities to end 2021 at a good time. But four MLB Pipeline Top 100 prospects made sure to seize those opportunities last week.

Dominican and No. 2 Julio Rodríguez, No. 18 Triston Casas, Venezuelan and No. 61 Oswald Peraza and No. 78 Michael Busch earned a spot on the MLB Pipeline Prospects Team of the Week with what was done between 30 August and September 5. All four are appearing for the second time in this selection during the 2021 season. Going further back, it is the fifth time that Rodriguez is part of the Prospects Team of the Week.

The Yankees continued to dominate their presence on this team this season with three selections: Peraza, catcher Austin Wells and Venezuelan outfielder Everson Pereira. The Yankees’ prospects have been part of the Prospects Team of the Week 23 times this season, nine more than the Giants in second place.

These are the chosen ones this week:

C: Austin Wells, Hudson Valley Renegades (Class-A High)
(No. 6 Yankees)
.524 / .583 / .810, 5 JJ, 21-11, 2 HR, 4 CI, 5 C, 3 BB, 5 K

He went 6-for-5 Sunday with a home run and a walk in a 23-4 blowout against Greensboro. His .524 average was the best among all qualified hitters last week and his line this season is now .262 / .387 / .481 after 92 games between the Hudson Valley and Class-A Baja Tampa.

1B: Triston Casas, Portland Sea Dogs (Double-A)
(Red Sox No. 2 / MLB No. 18)
.471 / .571 / 1.353, 5 JJ, 17-8, 5 HR, 11 CI, 6 C, 4 BB, 2 K, 1 OR

On Friday he hit three home runs during a doubleheader and then added another two home runs in Saturday’s game. Most impressive, Casas had three more home runs than strikeouts during his 21 trips to the plate against the Fisher Cats. His 1,352 slugging and 1,924 OPS were the best among all qualified players in full-season leagues last week.

2B: Michael Busch, Tulsa Drillers (Double-A)
(No. 3 Dodgers / No. 78 MLB)
.542 / .581 / 1.167, 6 JJ, 24-13, 3 HR, 6 2B, 14 CI, 9 C, 5 BB, 5 K

Last week, Busch, who broke his hand in June, showed what he’s capable of when he’s on full blast. His 28 bases reached, a 1,167 slugging and a 1,747 OPS placed him second among all qualified players in this period. His best game was Saturday, when he hit two home runs, a double, a walk and drove in six.

3B: Zack Gelof, Stockton Ports (Class-A Low)
(No. 7 of Athletics)
.389 / .542 / .944, 5 JJ, 18-7, 2 HR, 4 2B, 7 CI, 4 C, 5 BB, 3 K, 3 BR

Six of Gelof’s seven hits last week were extra-base hits and he also walked five for just three strikeouts. Gelof, taken in the second round of the 2021 draft, is hitting .293 / .400 / .520 with three homers and eight stolen bases in 20 games since moving to Class-A Low on Aug. 10.

SS: Oswald Peraza, Somerset Patriots (Double-A)
(No. 3 Yankees / No. 61 MLB)
.529 / .600 / .706, 5 JJ, 17-9, HR, 6 CI, 4 C, 2 BB, 3 K, 2 BR, 2 OR

The Venezuelan is a member of the Top 100 primarily thanks to his bat and impressive defense in a key position, but he showed some power this week, especially with a home run in his second inning Tuesday against Bowie. Either way, it was his ability to hit for high average that shone the most, getting hits in more than half of his at-bats. He went 4-for-4 in one of the game’s doubleheader games. The 21-year-old shortstop has a .298 / .360 / .480 line with 13 homers and 34 stolen bases in 96 games this season between Somerset and Hudson Valley.

OF: Everson Pereira, Hudson Valley Renegades (Class-A High)
(Yankees # 13)
.333 / .520 / 1000, 5 JJ, 18-6, 4 HR, 7 CI, 9 C, 6 BB, 5 K, 2 BR

The Venezuelan hit three home runs on Sunday, including a grand slam, thus achieving his third game with more than one home run in 2021. Before that monstrous closing of the week, Pereira’s week had been defined by tickets, taking three in five trips to the plate on Saturday. The 20-year-old outfielder has been able to play just 39 games at three levels this season, but he’s certainly taking advantage of playing time in the Hudson Valley, where he has a .288 / .407 / .712 offensive line with nine home runs in 17 games. .

OF: Jordan Nwogu, Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Class-A Low)
(No. 26 Cubs)
.556 / .619 / .889, 6 JJ, 18-10, 2 HR, 3 CI, 5 C, 2 BB, 4K, 2 BR

He hasn’t had a great year, but last week he showed why the Cubs took him in the third round of the draft. On Saturday he went 4-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs at home against Lynchburg. Nwogu is hitting .251 / .354 / .406 with 10 homers and 15 stolen bases in 82 games.

OF: Julio Rodríguez, Arkansas Travelers (Double-A)
(No. 1 Mariners / No. 2 MLB)
.565 / .630 / .696, 6 JJ, 23-13, 3 2B, 5 CI, 5 C, 4 BB, 6 K, 3 BR

A new reminder that the 20-year-old is a superb hitter. Rodriguez’s .565 average was the best among all players qualified in Double-A last week and third best in all the minors. That he hasn’t hit home runs is striking because of the power he has, but he was dominant in the rest of the categories, so we can put that aside. Rodriguez has an eight-game hitting streak, during which he has taken his Double-A offensive line from .312 / .439 / .473 to .374 / .490 / .528 after 34 games at that level. Seattle’s best prospect is hitting .438 / .544 / .548 in 20 games since returning from the Olympics last month.

LZ: Jay Groome, Portland Sea Dogs (Double-A)
(Red Sox No. 8)
1-0, EFE of 0.00, 1 JL, 1 JI, 5 IP, 2 H, 0 C, 0 BB, 10 K, WHIP of 0.40

Groome was dominant in his Double-A debut, setting a new career high with 10 strikeouts (to just 17 batters faced) with no walkouts against New Hampshire.

RHP: Matt Brash, Arkansas Travelers (Double-A)
No. 10 of Sailors)
1-0, EFE of 0.00, 1 JL, 1 JI, 6 IP, 0 H, 0 C, 1 BB, 11 K, WHIP of 0.17

As good as Rodriguez’s week has been, last week’s Arkansas big moment came on Thursday, when Brash teamed up with Nate Fisher and Dayeison Arias to launch a no-hitter home game against Wichita.

LR: Dauri Moreta, Louisville Bats (Triple-A)
(No. 28 of Reds)
0-0, EFE of 0.00, 3 JL, 3 SV, 3 IP, 2 H, 0 C, 0 BB, 1 K, WHIP of 0.67

Moreta converted all three save chances he had, tied for the lead in most saves last week in the minors. He has yet to allow earned runs in 19 appearances for Louisville and has a 0.65 WHIP with 18 strikeouts and just four walks in 21.2 innings with the club.

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