The first full week of second-half action kicked off with a number of impressive offensive performances. Top 50 prospect Owen Caissie (Cubs) moved within two homers of equaling his career high while Jhostynxon Garcia (Red Sox) left the yard twice. Ben Kudrna (Royals) showed out for pitchers with one of the more dominating performances in the Minors this season.
Owen Caissie, OF, Iowa (CHC No. 1/MLB No. 39)
One of the Minors' hottest hitters since June, Caissie continued to sizzle with a career-high five hits. The 2020 second-rounder launched his 20th homer, doubled twice, drove two runs and crossed the plate two times to pace the Triple-A Iowa offense. Caissie, who is batting .339 with a 1.176 OPS since June 1, is slashing .282/.383/.581 with 45 extra-base hits in 77 games for the I-Cubs. Gameday
Travis Bazzana, 2B, Akron (CLE No. 1/MLB No. 14)
After missing nearly two months with an oblique strain, Bazzana is healthy and hitting since his return. The 21-year-old enjoyed a perfect night at the plate, rapping three doubles and walking in four plate appearances. Bazzana is 6-for-12 (.500) in three games for Double-A Akron since he returned from his rehab assignment in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League. Gameday
Bryce Eldridge, 1B, Sacramento (SF No. 1/MLB No. 18)
Eldridge clubbed his fourth Triple-A homer, doubled and drove in three runs during his fourth game back with Triple-A Sacramento. The 6-foot-7, 240-pounder missed three weeks with a right hamstring strain before joining the ACL for a rehab assignment. Eldridge has gone deep 11 times and sports an .811 OPS in 56 games across three Minor League levels this year. Gameday
Kaelen Culpepper, SS, Wichita (MIN No. 4/MLB No. 92)
Culpepper equaled a career high with four hits -- his third such game this season -- homered for a second consecutive day and drove in two runs as he continued swinging a red-hot bat for Double-A Wichita. The Kansas State product is slashing .431/.482/.627 in July and has hit safely in 11 of 12 games this month. Gameday
Jhostynxon Garcia, OF, Worcester (BOS No. 3/MLB No. 96)
Garcia slugged his first two homers since June 27 as part of a three-hit night and drove in four runs while reaching base four times. The 22-year-old has actually hit better since joining Triple-A Worcester on May 20, slashing .300/.379/.553 with 19 extra-base hits, 11 homers and 31 RBIs in 44 games. Full story | Gameday
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Ben Kudrna, RHP, Northwest Arkansas (KC No. 3)
After struggling through much of the first three months of the season, Kudrna appears to be heading in the right direction. The Kansas native was dominant in his latest outing for Double-A Northwest Arkansas, striking out a career-high 11 and yielding only a first-inning single and two baserunners over six scoreless innings. Kudrna retired the final 10 batters he faced, seven via the strikeout, giving him 85 in 76 frames. The 22-year-old has not allowed an earned run in three starts this month and has fanned 19 in 13 2/3 innings in that span. Gameday
Tyler Locklear, 1B, Tacoma (SEA No. 9)
Already in the midst of a career-best season, Locklear has been one of the hottest hitters in the Minors this month. The 24-year-old added to his lofty numbers by driving in a career-high six runs during his second multihomer game of the year while racking up a four-hit night. Locklear, who scored four times, walked and stole a base, is batting .443 with seven long balls and 29 RBIs in 15 games in July. Gameday