Each week, we search the boxscores and use our own proprietary roto weighting system to pick one hitter and one pitcher who had the best week at each minor league level.

Here are Baseball Farm’s Prospects of the Week for the ninth week of the season, May 28 thru June 3, 2018:

Pitchers



AAA Josh James – Fresno Grizzlies (Astros) Josh James turned in a great start for Fresno in the PCL this week, earning PotW honors. James took on Padres affiliate El Paso, picking up the win while scattering 6 hits over 7 innings of work. James, a right-hander, was a 34th round pick out of Western Oklahoma State College (real school!) in 2014. He’s been working his way up the ladder in the minors ever since, and now he’s got his 2018 ERA down across all levels down to 2.93 in 8 starts (10 appearances). James’s strikeout repetoire has been fantasitc this year, as he’s punched out 67 batters over 43 innings. Batters have managed to hit just .209 against him. He might not project to be a starter at the MLB level, but if the Astros can turn this 34th rounder into a successful relief arm, it is another win for one of the top organizations in baseball. Also considered: Chandler Shepherd (BOS)

2 GS, 1 W, 13 IP, 10 K, 2 BB, 8 H, 2 ER

AA Lewis Thorpe – Chattanooga Lookouts (Twins) Thorpe, a lefty out of Australia, picked up a win over 2 excellent outings for the Twins AA affiliate this week. He hasn’t allowed an earned run since May 17. Thorpe, 22, punched out 14 batters over the course of 11 innings of work, scattering 6 hits and 4 walks, and impressing by allowing 0 earned runs for the week. Thorpe has shown great dominance over 10 Southern League starts in 2018, striking out 60 batters in 53 innings of work. However, he’s also shown a propensity to get hit (.293 batting average against, 1.53 WHIP), and has been prone to the long ball (10 HR in 10 starts). This week might be the week that gets him back on track for the remainder of 2018. Also considered:

Cal Quantrill (SD)

2 GS, 2 W, 12 IP, 17 K, 3 BB, 8 H, 1 ER

Kyle Wright (ATL)

2 GS, 1 W, 12 IP, 11 K, 3 BB, 10 H, 4 ER

Zack Brown (MIL)

1 GS, 1 W, 7 IP, 10 K, 0 BB, 4 H, 0 ER

Logan Allen (SD)

1 GS, 1 W, 7 IP, 7 K, 5 BB, 0 H, 0 ER

A-Advanced Jonathan Hernandez – Down East Wood Ducks (Rangers) Hernandez stood out against the competition in A-Advanced ball this week with an electric start on May 30 against the Buies Creek Astros. Hernandez tied his career high by striking out 11 batters on the evening, scattering two hits, allowing 1 walk, and posting 8 zeros in 8 innings of work. Hernandez picked up the win, his 4th on the year, and now has lowered an already stellar ERA to 1.66 to go with a pristine 0.87 WHIP. It was Hernandez’s third straight double-digit strikeout performance. Hernandez moved into 3rd place in all of the Minors with 73 strikeouts in 2018. Strong buy signals all over the place for this kid in dynasty leagues. Also considered:

Braden Webb (MIL)

2 GS, 1 W, 12 IP, 17 K, 3 BB, 8 H, 4 ER

Blake Taylor (STL)

2 GS, 1 W, 13 IP, 13 K, 8 BB, 5 H, 1 ER

Marcos Diplan (MIL)

1 GS, 1 W, 5.2 IP, 10 K, 2 BB, 4 H, 0 ER

A-Full Season David Parkinson – Lakewood BlueClaws (Phillies) In a Phillies system that is loaded with talent, it has been the unheralded 2017 12th round pick out of Ole Miss that has turned in one of the most impressive overall performances this year. Parkinson continued his domination of the Sally League this week, making 2 starts and punching out 16 hitters over 13 innings. Parkinson has not allowed an earned run in his last 21 innings. He’s a solid (6-2, 210) lefty who, at 22, is primed for a promotion for A-Advanced ball. His 2018 season line: 9 GS, 4-1, 1.34 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, .210 batting average against. Also considered

Jose Marte (SFG)

2 GS, 1 W, 11.1 IP, 19 K, 1 BB, 12 H, 6 ER

Hunter Greene (CIN)

2 GS, 1 W, 10 IP, 12 K, 3 BB, 5 H, 2 ER

Luis Patino (SD)

2 GS, 1 W, 9 IP, 12 K, 1 BB, 7 H, 0 ER

Elvin Rodriguez (DET)

1 GS, 7 IP, 12 K, 0 BB, 3 H, 1 ER

Hitters

AAA Kevin Cron – 3B – Reno Aces (Diamondbacks) Kevin Cron, the brother of Tampa Bay’s C.J. Cron, looks like he’s playing his way into joining his brother in the Show soon. This week, Cron slugged his way to our PotW honors. Cron had 3 multi-hit games out of 6 total games, hitting four total home runs, racking up 26 total bases, slugging .928, and racking up an impressive 14 RBIs. After this big week, Cron is now slugging .519 on the season, knocking in 26 runs in 27 games. Also considered:

Dawel Lugo (DET)

Hit safely in all 7, 4 multi-hit games, 3 RBI, 6 Runs, 1 HR, 1 SB

AA Richie Martin – SS – Midland RockHounds (Athletics) Richie Martin, Oakland’s 1st-round pick in 2015 out of the University of Florida, has been hot lately, recenlty posting an 11-game hit streak. This week, he posted 5-straight multi-hit efforts, racking up 20 total bases, and posting a .545 batting average on the week. Martin was a stat-sheet stuffer, driving in 4 runs, scoring 6, and stealing 4 bags. He also hit for power, posting a .909 slugging average. Martin also showed excellent plate control on the week, walking 5 times while only striking out 3 times. Martin actually walked in every game between May 26 and June 2. At 23, Martin is a little old for AA ball still. However, he’s been excellent this year, posting a .343/.410/.510 slash line in 38 games for AA Midland. Also considered

Braden Bishop (SEA)

Hit safely in all 6, 5 multi-hit games, 2 HR, 28 TB, 8 RBI, 12 Runs, .903 SLG

Michael Gettys (SD)

Hit safely in all 6, homered in 3 straight, 3 HR, 22 TB, 5 RBI, 4 Runs, .956 SLG

Stephen Wrenn (HOU)

4 multi-hit games, 3 HR, 21 TB, 7 RBI, 5 Runs, 1 SB, .875 SLG

A-Advanced Ibandel Isabel – 1B – Daytona Tortugas (Reds) Here’s a power-hitting prospect for you to know: Ibandel Isabel. Isabel was traded by the Dodgers to the Reds organization back in April, and he’s been mashing taters ever since. This week, Isabel only had 13 at-bats in 4 games, but he tore the cover off the ball in that short period of time. Out of the 13 at-bats, Isabel hit 5 home runs, drove in 11 runs, racked up 20 total bases, and slugged an astounding 1.538. Baseball Farm contributor Jason Woodell (@JasonAtTheGame) caught Ibandel’s oppo boppo live: Ibandel Isabel with 2 yuuuuuge 💣#Reds

The first one looked like he barely got it and it just kept going. The 2nd one was hit even further.#80RAW pic.twitter.com/ryXSk6stWe — Jason Woodell (@JasonAtTheGame) June 2, 2018 Isabel has now hit 11 home runs in 36 games this season. Rylan Bannon (LAD)

3 multi-hit games, 4 HR, 25 TB, 8 RBI, 6 Runs, 7:6 BB:K, 1.041 SLG

Nate Mondou (OAK)

Hit safely in 5 straight, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 10 Runs, 3 SB, .807 SLG

Gavin Lux (LAD)

Homered in 3 straight, 20 TB, 5 RBI, 6 Runs, 1 SB, 1.052 SLG