A busy August weekend in the Minors got off to an electric start, highlighted by Leo De Vries, who came through with his best performance since he was dealt at the Trade Deadline. JJ Wetherholt's penchant for leadoff jacks continued, while a new addition to the professional ranks and the Top 100 Prospects list -- Aiva Arquette -- bid aloha to his first roundtripper as a pro.
Leo De Vries, SS, Lansing (ATH No. 1/MLB No. 3)
More than two weeks after he was dealt from San Diego, De Vries flashed all of his offensive tools in a breakout performance. The 18-year-old went deep twice for the second time this season, tripled and drove in five runs to power High-A Lansing. De Vries scored three times and also walked to snap out of a 3-for-29 stretch. The switch-hitting shortstop has a .767 OPS and 36 extra-base hits in 95 games this season. Full story | Gameday
JJ Wetherholt, SS/2B, Memphis (STL No. 1/MLB No. 6)
Back in the lineup after a night off, Wetherholt wasted no time getting back into the swing of things. Last year's seventh overall pick led off the game with a homer for the second time in the past three contests, something that is becoming a habit since his promotion to Triple-A. Wetherholt has gone deep eight times in 24 games for the Redbirds after slugging seven long balls in 62 contests for Double-A Springfield. The West Virginia product has a 1.042 OPS at Triple-A and a .936 mark for the season. Gameday
Aiva Arquette, SS, Beloit (MIA No. 2/MLB No. 39)
Just a month after he was selected seventh overall in the Draft, Arquette drilled his first pro homer for High-A Beloit. The Oregon State product and native of Hawaii went the opposite way in the opening frame to continue his strong start. Arquette has reached safely in all eight games, while collecting a hit in seven of them with five RBIs. Gameday
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Aidan Miller, SS, Reading (PHI No. 2/MLB No. 48)
Miller filled up the box score for Double-A Reading and got things going immediately, slugging his 10th roundtripper leading off the bottom of the first. The 21-year-old added an RBI double, a walk and a stolen base during his second consecutive multihit game. Miller struggled to a .190 average in July but has rebounded with a .333/.431/.593 slash line, 16 runs scored, 10 extra-base hits and nine RBIs this month. Gameday
Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, Amarillo (AZ No. 2/MLB No. 69)
After ending a long home run drought with a pair of dingers on Thursday night, Waldschmidt left the yard again for Double-A Amarillo to highlight a second consecutive three-hit night. In addition to his two-run jack, the 22-year-old singled twice, scored four runs and swiped a pair of bases while reaching safely five times. Waldschmidt owns a solid .851 OPS and has driven in 66 runs during his first full-season campaign. Gameday
Joe Mack, C, Jacksonville (MIA No. 3/MLB No. 76)
Mack kicked off August with a four-hit contest before slipping into a 1-for-25 stretch, which he snapped with ... another four-hit night. The 22-year-old has spent a majority of this season with Triple-A Jacksonville, totaling 25 extra-base hits, 10 roundtrippers and 34 RBIs in 77 games. Gameday
Ralphy Velazquez, 1B/OF, Akron (CLE No. 10)
Velazquez has come out swinging during his first three games for Double-A Akron, punctuated by his third multihomer game of the season. The 20-year-old's first two Double-A long balls highlighted a three-XBH, four-RBI night that left him 6-for-12 in his first three games for the RubberDucks. Velazquez has been one of the Minors' best hitters during the summer, slashing .346/.426/.662 with nine homers and 28 RBIs in 33 games since July 1. Gameday
Jonathan Santucci, LHP, Binghamton (NYM No. 14)
Santucci put forth another highlight in a first pro season full of them, striking out a career-high 11 over 5 1/3 innings for Double-A Binghamton. The Duke product and second-round pick in 2024 allowed an unearned run, three hits and a walk during his 84-pitch performance. Santucci has been particularly good since joining the Rumble Ponies, posting a 2.73 ERA, an 0.98 WHIP and striking out 40 in 29 2/3 innings across six starts. Gameday