Scoreless streaks and near-perfection on the mound, High 100 prospects going deep and a duck delay — Saturday’s Minor League slate had all of it. With day and night time video games throughout the nation, prime prospects flashed elite instruments, first-round bats teed off and a former second-rounder set a profession excessive in strikeouts. Right here’s who stood out:
Travis Bazzana, 2B, Akron (CLE No. 1/MLB No. 8)Bazzana obtained off to a fast begin upon making his Double-A debut this season. He notched his first hit in his first recreation and adopted that together with his first house run the following day. The Australia native had been comparatively quiet on the plate ever since — till this week. The primary general decide within the 2024 Draft launched Double-A homer No. 2 on Tuesday and No. 3 on Saturday. Bazzana has now knocked in a run in half of his video games (24) this season. Gameday
Lazaro Montes, OF, Everett (SEA No. 2/MLB No. 38)The Havana, Cuba, native has been an extra-base hit machine to start 2025. Sixteen of his 27 knocks have gone for additional bases — seven of these being homers, good for tops within the Excessive-A Midwest League. Montes has immense energy to all fields, and on Saturday, he completed a double shy of the cycle, highlighted by a three-run moonshot. His 1.083 OPS leads all hitters at Excessive-A, and the 20-year-old appears to be like primed to proceed making noise in a loaded Seattle system. Gameday
Joe Whitman, LHP, Richmond (SF No. 7)The southpaw struggled by his first 4 begins, however Whitman discovered his groove Saturday night time. Putting out the primary two batters, he continued to dominate, ringing up at the least one hitter in every inning of his outing. The 2023 second-rounder had hitters off steadiness all night time, significantly displaying his 60-grade slider. His outing was excellent, going 18 up, 18 down for the Flying Squirrels, who got here inside two outs of ending a no-hitter. When all was stated and performed, Whitman racked up a career-high 10 strikeouts. Gameday
Travis Sykora, RHP, FCL Nationals (WSH No. 1/MLB No. 65)It was Opening Day for the Rookie ball associates, and Sykora headlined the Florida Advanced League with a brief however spectacular outing. The 6-foot-6 righthander, who’s on a rehab task after present process hip surgical procedure, pitched two innings and struck out six batters. He allowed one hit and one run on a balk in his return to the mound. Gameday
Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Nashville (MIL No. 4/MLB No. 95)Misiorowski was promoted to Nashville in August of final season however is getting his first true style of Triple-A ball as a full-time starter to start 2025. He has responded by main the Worldwide League in strikeouts (43), together with a five-strikeout recreation on Saturday that featured only one run allowed on 5 hits. The 6-foot-7 hurler, who can routinely contact triple digits, has allowed one run or fewer in all however certainly one of his outings this season. Gameday
Hunter Barco, LHP, Altoona (PIT No. 7)Is there a pitcher within the Minors who’s extra dominant than Barco proper now? The 6-foot-4 lefty allowed simply two hits throughout 5 shutout innings, extending his season-opening scoreless streak to 25 2/3 frames. He’s fanned 34 batters this yr and now holds the Altoona franchise document for consecutive scoreless innings. It seems he will not be extending that mark, although, as MLB.com’s Alex Stumpf reported Saturday that the 2022 second-rounder has been promoted to Triple-A Indianapolis for his subsequent look. Gameday
Khal Stephen, RHP, Dunedin (TOR No. 10)Stephen is getting his first style of professional ball at Single-A after being drafted by the Blue Jays within the second spherical of final yr’s Draft. He has had no bother adjusting. By way of six begins, the 22-year-old has a 1.82 ERA and a 36/6 Ok/BB ratio. The 6-foot-4 righty put up one other robust efficiency on Saturday, racking up eight strikeouts (with no walks) whereas permitting no runs on 4 hits over 5 innings. Stephen’s 36 strikeouts are tied for second within the Florida State League. Gameday
Kaelen Culpepper, SS, Cedar Rapids (MIN No. 4)After leaving Kansas State because the highest-drafted place participant at school historical past in 2024, Culpepper obtained his toes moist in professional ball, reaching Excessive-A by season’s finish. He began again with Cedar Rapids this yr and has been practically unstoppable on the plate. That included Saturday night time when he went 4-for-5 with a stolen base and two runs scored. Over his first 14 video games, Culpepper is batting .340 and has practically as many walks (7) as strikeouts (8). Gameday
