Any given Sunday, there’s plenty of MiLB action to go around, but this week’s edition featured yet another home run in a series finale by Carson Williams (Rays), the second multihomer game of the week by fellow shortstop Colson Montgomery (White Sox) and some near-perfect pitching by Connelly Early (Red Sox).
Carson Williams, SS, Durham (TB No. 1/MLB No. 19)
Some hitters perform best in a particular ballpark, while some thrive in certain matchups. Carson Williams, however, likes hitting home runs on Sundays. In the sixth inning, Williams left the yard on the first pitch of his at-bat, making it five straight series finales in which he has hit a home run for Triple-A Durham. This week’s edition was his 13th long ball of the season – he currently ranks second among International League shortstops in that category. Gameday
Colson Montgomery, SS, Charlotte (CWS No. 5)
Montgomery may have fallen a home run short of the cycle on Saturday, but he came back with a vengeance on Sunday, leaving the yard twice for his second multihomer game in four days for Triple-A Charlotte. Montgomery is now up to 11 home runs on the season, third in the International League among shortstops. The hot-hitting infielder wrapped up the series with 11 hits, seven of which went for extra bases. Full story | Gameday
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Samuel Basallo, C, Norfolk (BAL No. 1/MLB No. 14)
Basallo’s power was once again on display when he crushed a home run 444 feet with an astounding 113.4 mph exit velocity for Triple-A Norfolk. The homer put Basallo second in the International League in the category with 16 behind Durham’s Bob Seymour (19). Just 54 games into the season, the lefty-swinging catcher is already approaching his 2024 home run total of 19, which he amassed in 127 games between Double-A and Triple-A. Gameday
Kevin McGonigle, SS, West Michigan (DET No. 2/MLB No. 21)
Since returning from the injured list on May 20, McGonigle has been on an absolute tear. He continued his dominance of the Midwest League, going 4-for-6 with a double for West Michigan. It was an appropriate way to close out a month in which he picked up a hit in all but five games. To date, McGonigle is slashing .373/.452/.683 through 31 High-A games. His average would lead the league if he had enough at-bats to qualify. Gameday
Thomas White, LHP, Pensacola (MIA No. 1/MLB No. 29)
It’s never easy adjusting to a new level and a new team, but Thomas White seems to be settling in just fine after just his second career Double-A start. The 6-foot-5 lefty tossed five innings of scoreless ball for Pensacola, striking out five and walking one. The five frames matched White’s second-longest effort this season. He started the season at High-A, where he posted a 53/17 K/BB ratio across nine starts. Gameday
Thayron Liranzo, C, Erie (DET No. 5/MLB No. 78)
The SeaWolves won the first-half title in the Eastern League Southwest Division, and their latest victory showcased a three-hit game by Liranzo. The 21-year-old backstop singled in the first, sixth and eighth innings for the second three-hit game of his Double-A career. Liranzo has also been strong behind the dish with only three passed balls and a .997 fielding percentage for Erie. Gameday
Aidan Smith, OF, Bowling Green (TB No. 6/MLB No. 83)
It’s been an uneven half of the season for Smith, who is batting just .237 after 51 games in his first High-A action. But the 20-year-old broke out for Bowling Green with the second multihomer game of his pro career and his first as a member of the Rays organization. His first dinger was a solo shot in the sixth inning, and he drove in three runs with his second in the eighth, going back-to-back with Émilien Pitre (TB No. 22). Smith’s four RBIs marked a career high. Gameday
Hunter Barco, LHP, Indianapolis (PIT No. 5/MLB No. 85)
Barco once again proved that the Triple-A Indianapolis rotation is an embarrassment of riches with his latest start, allowing one run on one hit over six innings. He struck out seven batters without issuing a walk. It was Barco’s second consecutive six-inning start as he settles into the top level of the Minors. The southpaw started the season at Double-A, where he held his opponents scoreless for six starts spanning 25⅔ innings. Gameday
Connelly Early, LHP, Portland (BOS No. 10)
Early was unhittable over six innings in his best outing of the season, striking out seven while allowing three walks. Double-A Portland conceded a hit in the eighth inning, ending the team’s combined no-hit bid. Early sports a 1.94 ERA over 12 games this season, nine of which have been starts. Through those 12 games, he has not allowed more than three earned runs and hasn't given up an earned run on five occasions. Gameday
Dakota Jordan, OF, San Jose (SF No. 5)
The 2024 fourth-rounder has long been known for his plus-plus raw power and flexed it in his best professional game to date for Single-A San Jose. Jordan collected a trio of extra-base hits (a home and two doubles) for the first time since turning pro and drove in a career-high six runs in the process. This was his 10th game of the season with at least three hits as he raised his OPS 26 points to .832. Gameday
Bo Davidson, OF, Eugene (SF No. 8)
Davidson earned a reputation as the "JUCO Barry Bonds" and certainly did his best impression of that in a career game for High-A Eugene. The center fielder tied his career high with two homers and four hits and set new bests with six runs scored and five RBIs. With two walks to boot, the 22-year-old raised his OPS from .891 to .938, best among qualified Giants prospects in full-season ball. Gameday