August baseball got here to a detailed with some sizzle, highlighted by a cycle bid from Jaison Chourio (Guardians), homers from Konnor Griffin (Pirates) and Kevin McGonigle (Tigers) plus a number of different noteworthy moments from Prime 100 prospects Caleb Bonemer (White Sox) and Rainiel Rodriguez (Cardinals).
Jaison Chourio, OF, Lake County (CLE No. 6)The 20-year-old homered, drove in three runs and fell a triple shy of the cycle as a part of a four-hit effort, matching a season excessive in one in all his most full offensive performances of the season. It hasn’t at all times been essentially the most linear yr for Chourio, who missed time to harm in Might and June and slumped mightily within the first half. However he is swinging the bat a lot better recently. Chourio has multihit video games in 5 of his previous 9 contests, and he has posted a .372 on-base share because the begin of July. Gameday
Konnor Griffin, SS/OF, Altoona (PIT No. 1/MLB No. 1)The sport’s prime total prospect continued his tear at Double-A, clocking his third homer in 11 video games since reaching the extent and nineteenth total on the season. Pair these energy numbers with Griffin’s 64 steals, and there is been lots to again up the 19-year-old’s distinctive skill and standing atop our Prime 100 Prospects record. With about three weeks left in his first skilled season, Griffin has already had a yr for the ages throughout three ranges. And he seems to be ending robust with a .930 OPS and 16 RBIs in his first 11 video games at Altoona. Gameday
Kevin McGonigle, SS, Erie (DET No. 1/MLB No. 2)McGonigle is probably not dominating Double-A fairly the way in which he did the decrease ranges earlier this season, the pop he is been exhibiting as he grows extra comfy on the degree speaks to his growth. By cranking his eighth homer in his thirty sixth recreation at Erie, he is gone deep greater than he did at Excessive-A in the identical variety of video games. He is posted nearly the precise Ok/BB ratio (an elite 19/25) within the Jap League as he did one degree down (19/23). All informed, the 21-year-old is hitting .315/.418/.590 throughout three ranges this season, throughout which period he is established himself as perhaps the most effective pure hitter within the Minors. Gameday
Caleb Bonemer, SS/3B, Winston-Salem (CWS No. 4/MLB No. 86)It was a day of firsts for Chicago’s second-round decide from the ’24 Draft. By cranking his first two residence runs at Excessive-A, Bonemer additionally achieved the primary multihomer recreation of his profession as he prolonged his torrid stretch on the plate. The large fly was his fourth over the previous eight video games stretching again to his time at Single-A, giving the 19-year-old 12 round-trippers throughout 101 whole video games in his first professional season. He is additionally stolen 28 bases and compiled 43 extra-base hits. Gameday
Rainiel Rodriguez, C, Palm Seashore (STL No. 4/MLB No. 96)The 18-year-old backstop hit an absolute laser of a house run, 106.1 mph off the bat, onto the clubhouse roof at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium for Single-A Palm Seashore, his fourth massive fly prior to now six video games. It was Rodriguez’s thirteenth homer of the season on the degree, and twentieth total. That is sufficient to tug him into fourth place on the Florida State League’s residence run record, regardless of enjoying in fewer video games than all three gamers forward of him, and practically half the video games as Cincinnati’s Alfredo Duno, the league chief. Gameday
Christian Oppor, LHP (CWS No. 8)The southpaw struck out six throughout 5 scoreless frames at Excessive-A, the place he held opponents to 2 hits and one stroll on his approach to incomes his first victory in 15 begins on the degree. The 21-year-old has pitched higher than his 1-6 document signifies, although, with a 3.43 ERA and 78 strikeouts throughout 60 1/3 innings for Winston-Salem. The month of August was notably fruitful for Oppor, who posted a 2.45 ERA throughout six begins with at the least 5 strikeouts in 4 of these outings. Gameday
Lucas Braun, RHP, Columbus (ATL No. 13)Braun was on level to shut out August, equaling a season excessive with 9 strikeouts and permitting only a third-inning single — which was erased on a double play — over seven scoreless frames. The 24-year-old was roughed up in his second outing of the month however was in any other case robust, surrendering 4 runs in 23 innings (1.57 ERA) whereas fanning 30. Braun has been a strong starter all season for Double-A Columbus, holding opponents to a .225 common whereas working a 134/35 Ok/BB ratio in 130 2/3 innings. Gameday
