*Top Hitter of the Day*

• Dylan Busby, 3B – Bradenton Marauders – Pittsburgh Pirates – 
  • – 3-3, 2 HR (1,2), 3R, 3RBi – 
    • – Busby came into last night’s game batting .063 in his first five games, but broke out of his 1-16 slump with three hits including his first two home runs on the season. 

California League: 

• Austin Beck, CF – Stockton Ports – Oakland A’s – 
  • – 2-4, HR (1), 2B, 2R, 4RBi, 2K 

• Luis Castro, 1B – Lancaster Jethawks – Colorado Rockies – 
  • – 1-3, HR (2), 2R, RBi, 2BB, K 
    • – The 23-year-old Venezuelan has 10 hits in his last 21 at-bats (.476) after beginning the year 2-for-14 (.143). 
• Tirso Ornelas, RF – Lake Elsinore Storm – San Diego Padres – 
  • • –  0-4, B, 2K, SB (1) 
      • – Despite going 0-for-4 with a walk, two strikeouts and a stolen base last night, the Padres #16 prospect is has methodically climbed the Cal league leaderboard. The 19-year-old Mexico native went hitless on opening day, but proceeded to collect two hits in five of his next seven games.   

Carolina League: 

• Tyler Friis, SS – Lynchburg Hillcats – Cleveland Indians – 
  • – 1-5, 3RBi, K, SB (4)
    • – Friis, like Ornelas above has slowly climbed his respective league’s leaderboard. Other than going hitless April 11, the 2017 – 21st round draft pick from Indiana State has a hit in each of his eight games this season.
• Jodd Carter, RF – Lynchburg Hillcats – Cleveland Indians – 
  • – 2-3, HR (2), 2R, RBi, BB, K – 
    • – Carter is six for his last 11 (.546) and ranks second in the Carolina League behind only Winston-Salem phenom Luis Robert in OPS (1.233). 

Florida State League: 

• Justin Toerner, RF – Palm Beach Cardinals – St. Louis Cardinals – 
  • – 3-4, 2R, BB, K – 
    • – There’s nothing really sexy about the unranked Cardinals prospect, but Toerner is getting the job done at the plate in the pitcher-friendly Florida State League. Last night, the 2018 – 28th rounder out of Cal State Northridge collected another three hits, adding to his overall total of (13) which ties him for the FSL lead with Tampa Bay phenom second baseman Vidal Brujan and Atlanta shortstop Riley Mahan. Toerner also leads the league in OPS (1.198), slugging (.593) and on-base percentage (.605). 
• James Nelson, 3B – Jupiter Hammerheads – Miami Marlins – 
  • – 1-4, HR (2), R, RBi – 
    • – The 6’2″ – 180 righty clubbed his second home run in three games and now ranks third (yet, tied with five others) in the FSL in total bases (16). Nelson is repeating the Florida State League after a 2018 where he batted .211 with only two homers and 28 RBi in 62 games.
• Matt Vierling, LF – Clearwater Threshers – Philadelphia Phillies – 
  • –  3-5, R, 2K
    • – The round five draft pick in 2018 out of Notre Dame registered his first three-hit game of the season last night vs. Fort Myers. 

Midwest League: 

• Jacob Amaya, SS – Great Lakes Loons – Los Angeles Dodgers – 
  • – 1-4, HR (1), R, 2RBi, K – 
    • – Our 2018 UTR OAS selection and Dodgers #12 prospect (Pipeline) hit his first home run on the season. 
• Shard Munroe, LF – Dayton Dragons – Cincinnati Reds – 
  • – 3-5, 2R, 3RBi, K – 
    • – The Freeport, Bahamas native registered three hits last night, and has six hits in his last 12 at-bats after starting the season batting .200 (2-10). 
• Nolan Gorman, 3B – Peoria Chiefs – St. Louis Cardinals – 
  • – 2-4, HR (3), R, 2RBi, 2K – 
    • – The 18-year-old Cardinals phenom blasted his third home run versus Kane County (ARI) last night, continuing his assault on Midwest League pitching. The 2018 – 1st rounder currently leads the MWL in slugging (.844), OPS (1.303) and is one of the league leaders in extra-base percentage (.538). 
• Jerar Encarnacion, RF – Clinton Lumberkings – Miami Marlins – 
  • – 3-6, 2 2B, R, 2RBi, 3K, SB (1) – 
    • – The 6’4″ – 220 lb. righty posted his third 3-hit game last night and is now batting .438. He began the season with two consecutive three-hit games versus Kane County (.667), but went on a mini “slump” if you will, collecting five hits in his next 17-at-bats (.294). The 21-year-old Dominican is one of only three MWL prospects who sit on 20 or more total bases thus far, with Nolan Gorman (27) and Blue Jays 2018 UTR OAS selection, catcher Alejandro Kirk (20). 
• Alejandro Kirk, C – Lansing Lugnuts – Toronto Blue Jays – 
  • – 3-5, HR (2), 2B, 3R, RBi – 
    • – Speaking of Kirk, the stout 5’9″- 220 lb. Mexico native posted his first three-hit game versus South Bend, including his second home run on the season. 
• Jordan Groshans, SS – Lansing Lugnuts – Toronto Blue Jays –
  • – 1-3, HR (1), R, BB
    • – The Blue Jays #1 draft pick in 2018 clubbed his first round-tripper of the season. 
• David Fry, C – Wisconsin Timber Rattlers – Milwaukee Brewers – 
  • – 3-4, HR (2), 2B, R, 2RBi

South Atlantic League: 

• Jonathan Ornelas, 3B – Hickory Crawdads – Texas Rangers – 
  • – 3-6, HR (1), R, RBi, K – 
    • – The Rangers #18 ranked prospect (Pipeline) knocked his first home run of the season last night. The 18-year-old 3rd round draft pick (2018) was a two-way star in high school, which adds intrigue to his defensive profile as a shortstop and third baseman. 
• Frankie Tostado, 1B – Augusta GreenJackets – San Francisco Giants – 
  • – 2-4, HR (2), R, RBi, 2BB, K