There was offense galore to kick off a weekend of Minor League action, with Top 100 prospects Jordan Lawlar, Kevin McGonigle and Co. leading the way. Burgeoning slugger Michael Arroyo continued his power surge, as did Brice Matthews, who came within one extra-base hit of cycling on consecutive days earlier this week.
Jordan Lawlar, INF, Reno (AZ No. 1/MLB No. 4)
Following a rare two-game stretch without a hit, Lawlar has rebounded with knocks in four consecutive games, punctuated by a three-hit, three-RBI night during Triple-A Reno's 20-run outburst. The 22-year-old came within a homer of hitting for the cycle during his seventh game this season with three or more hits. Lawlar's big night pushed his slash line to .327/.407/.578 with 30 extra-base hits and 41 RBIs in 48 games at Triple-A. Gameday
Kevin McGonigle, SS/2B, West Michigan (DET No. 2/MLB No. 23)
One day after equaling a career high with four hits, McGonigle one-upped himself with a five-hit performance. The 20-year-old reached safely six times in seven plate appearances, scored three runs and tallied two RBIs on a pair of singles. McGonigle has gone 9-for-10 with seven runs scored, four extra-base hits and four RBIs in his past two games, and is slashing .429/.516/.727 in 19 contests for West Michigan. Full story | Gameday
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Moisés Ballesteros, C/1B, Iowa (CHC No. 3/MLB No. 57)
Ballesteros put together a perfect day at the plate, tallying a double among his three hits and walking twice for Triple-A Iowa. The native of Venezuela has hit safely in nine of his past 10 games and is batting .341 with a .914 OPS with 22 extra-base hits and 35 RBIs in 55 games at the Minors' highest level. Gameday
Michael Arroyo, 2B/SS, Everett (SEA No. 7/MLB No. 79)
Arroyo and teammate Lazaro Montes (SEA No. 2/MLB No. 33) are in the midst of their own Home Run Derby in the High-A Northwest League. Arroyo left the yard twice and drove in a career-high six runs for Everett. The 20-year-old, who leads the circuit with 14 homers along with Montes, has gone deep in three consecutive games, tallying four in that span. After batting just .195 in April, Arroyo is slashing .331/.482/.654 with 12 long balls and 31 RBIs in 36 games since May 1. Gameday
Brice Matthews, SS/3B, Sugar Land (HOU No. 1)
Matthews' power surge continued, going yard for the third time in four games and for the ninth time this season. The 23-year-old came within a double of hitting for the cycle on consecutive nights earlier this week. In addition to his long ball Friday, Matthews collected the elusive double, giving him six extra-base hits in his past four games to go along with eight RBIs. Gameday
Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz, RHP, Hudson Valley (NYY No. 6)
Rodriguez-Cruz was on point for a second consecutive outing, striking out eight while twirling five scoreless frames. The 21-year-old has been unscored upon in his past two appearances, striking out 17 and allowing six hits across 12 innings for High-A Hudson Valley. Following his fourth performance with no earned runs this season, Rodriguez-Cruz sports a 2.70 ERA, a 1.03 WHIP and 74 punchouts in 60 innings. Gameday
Chandler Simpson, OF, Durham (TB No. 7)
Simpson hasn't skipped a beat since returning to Triple-A Durham at the end of May despite a five-week stint in the Majors. The 24-year-old speedster fell a homer shy of the cycle, scored three times and drove in two runs to lift his slash since he returned to the Minors to .359/.390/.436 across nine games. At 10.97 seconds, his home-to-third time on his triple marked the fastest recorded at Triple-A this season. Gameday