*Top Hitter of the Day*

• Jarren Duran, CF – Salem Red Sox – Boston Red Sox – – 3-4, 2B, 3R, BB, SB (16) – – With the methodical ground-and-pound Duran has been placing upon Carolina League pitching for the last 42 games, I don’t think it’s long before the 2018 – 7th rounder out of Long Beach State packs his bags for Double-A Portland. The Sea Dogs current corp of centerfielders are batting a combined .200 with 12 extra base hits, nine stolen bases and, as a team, Portland ranks tenth out of 12 teams in the Eastern League in on-base percentage (.303). Duran would give them an immediate boost, as he leads the entire minors in hits (69), third in all the minors with a .468 on base percentage and leads the Carolina League with 16 steals. He’s yet to commit an error this season and carries a .992 career fielding percentage in 87 games as a pro. Promote him Boston, and for those fantasy players in dynasty leagues, if you can pick up and house minor leaguers and Duran is available, add him immediately. 

California League: 

• Carlos Herrera, 2B – Lancaster Jethawks – Colorado Rockies – – 3-4, 2B, 3R, RBi, K, SB (5) – 
• Luis Castro, DH – Lancaster Jethawks – Colorado Rockies –– 1-2, 2R, 2RBi, 3BB, K – – The native of Venezuela is one of only two everyday regular players in the Cal league who possess an on-base percentage above .400. In game one of a double-header versus Inland Empire, Castro walked his first three times up to the plate, struck out swinging in a scoreless top of the sixth, then lined a two-run single to center, scoring SS Ryan Vilade and second baseman Carlos Herrera (above) in a six run the seventh. The JetHawks had the game in hand scoring five runs in the top of the fourth after splitting three runs between the first and third inning, and ended the night handing the 66’ers a 14-4 defeat.
• Gabriel Arias, SS – Lake Elsinore Storm – San Diego Padres – – 3-4, HR (4), 2B, R, RBi – 
• Luis Campusano, C – Lake Elsinore Storm – San Diego Padres –– 1-2, HR (4), R, RBi, BB – – In Castro’s blurb above, it states that he’s one of two Cal League regulars with an on-base percentage above .400. Well, Lake Elsinore catcher Luis Campusano is the other. In fact, the Padres #15 ranked prospect leads the Cal League (.418) Not bad for a catcher.  
• Bryce Johnson, CF – San Jose Giants – San Francisco Giants – – 4-4, 2B, RBi – 

Carolina League: 

• KJ Harrison, DH – Potomac Nationals – Washington Nationals – – 1-2, 3BB, K, SB (2/2) – 
• Jake Adams, 1B – Fayetteville Woodpeckers – Houston Astros – – 2-4, HR (8), 2B, R, 2RBi – 
• Nick Madrigal, 2B – Winston-Salem Dash – Chicago White Sox – – 0-2, 3BB, 3 SB (10,11,12) –
• Nolan Jones, 3B – Lynchburg Hillcats – Cleveland Indians – – 1-4, HR (2), R, 2RBi, 2K – 
• Blake Perkins, RF – Wilmington Blue Rocks – Kansas City Royals – – 2-4, HR (2), 3B, 2R, 2RBi, BB, K – 
• Ryan Fitzgerald, SS – Salem Red Sox – Boston Red Sox –– 4-5, 3B, 2B, 3RBi – 

Florida State League: 

• Julio Rodriguez, C – Palm Beach Cardinals – St. Louis Cardinals – – 1-5, HR (5), 2R, RBi – – Despite an 2-for-14 skid in his previous four games, the 21-year-old Dominican Republic native leads the Florida State League in batting (.333), ahead of Marlins infield phenom Jose Devers, who sits on at .325 heading into Friday’s games. 
• Jefrey Ramos, LF – Florida Fire Frogs – Atlanta Braves –– 4-5, 2R –
• Riley Delgado, SS – Florida Fire Frogs – Atlanta Braves –– 3-5, 2RBi – 
• Chavez Young, CF – Dunedin Blue Jays – Toronto Blue Jays – – 2-4, HR (3), R, 3RBi – 

Midwest League: 

• Sean Reynolds, 1B – Clinton Lumberkings – Miami Marlins – – 2-4, HR (7), 2B, R, 3RBi, BB, 2K – 
• JJ Schwarz, 1B – Beloit Snappers – Oakland A’s – – 2-4, HR (1), R, 5RBi, BB –
• Max Schuemann, 2B – Beloit Snappers – Oakland A’s –– 4-4, 3 2B, R, RBi – 
• Niko Hulsizer, DH – Great Lakes Loons – Los Angeles Dodgers – – 2-5, HR (12), 2B, R, 2RBi, 2K – Hulsizer overtook the Midwest League total base lead (88) and added to his MWL home run lead with an eighth inning solo shot last night, but his bat wasn’t enough as the Lansing Lugnuts defeated the Loons 9-4. Great Lakes leads the MWL Eastern division with a 28-16 record, are 8-2 in their last ten games and the 6’2″- 225 lb. righty Hulsizer has supplied an ample amount of their offense lately, hitting half of his season’s home runs, scoring ten runs and driving in 12 over his last six games. 
• Jared Akins, DH – Cedar Rapids Kernels – Minnesota Twins – – 3-4, HR (4), R, RBi, K, SB (5) – 
• Osmy Gregorio, 2B – Bowling Green Hot Rods – Tampa Bay Rays – – 3-5, HR (4), 3B, 3R, 2RBi – 
• Nolan Gorman, DH – Peoria Chiefs – St. Louis Cardinals – – 2-3, 2R, 2RBi, BB, K – 
• Ivan Herrera, C – Peoria Chiefs – St. Louis Cardinals –– 3-5, 2B, R, 2RBi – 

South Atlantic League: 

• Justin Dean, CF – Rome Braves – Atlanta Braves – – 3-5, 3B, 2B, R, RBi, 2K – 
• Adam Hall, SS – Delmarva Shorebirds – Baltimore Orioles – – 3-3, 2B, 3R, 2RBi, 2BB – – Delmarva’s two-hole hitter led the way last night, as the Shorebirds picked apart the Clearwater Blue Claws by a score of 14-0. Hall is waving a hot bat lately collecting 11 hits over his last six games (11-for-23; .478). 
• Doran Turchin, RF – Delmarva Shorebirds – Baltimore Orioles –– 1-3, HR (5), 2R, 4RBi, 2BB, K – 
• Mason Martin, 1B – Greensboro Grasshoppers – Pittsburgh Pirates – – 2-4, HR (12), 2B, 2R, 4RBi – – The Pirates seventeenth round draft pick in 2017 pulled into a tie with teammate Rodolfo Castro for the South Atlantic League home run lead, clubbing his twelfth homer of the season in the third inning.