Jared Jones K's Seven In Final Start As A Prospect

Plus: A pair of Rays prospects enjoy big nights and a Phillies catcher gets our attention in the FCL.

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Prospect Standouts

Robert Calaz, OF, Rockies: Calaz was one of the Rockies’ brightest stars in 2023 in the Dominican Summer League. So far, he’s continuing that streak after moving stateside. On Thursday, the powerful outfielder went 3-for-5 with a triple, a home run, a stolen base and five RBIs against the Guardians. He’s 13-for-32 to start the ACL season, with three doubles, three triples, two homers and seven RBIs.

Xavier Isaac, 1B, Rays: It’s no secret that Isaac has big-time power. This month, however, the lefty masher has taken it to another level. In the nightcap of Bowling Green’s doubleheader with Brooklyn, he went 2-for-3 with a walk and his seventh home run of the season. Over 13 games in May, Isaac is now .378/.462/.756 with five doubles, four homers and a pair of stolen bases.

Chandler Simpson, OF, Rays: When Simpson is right, he’s making contact and letting his elite speed do the rest. On Thursday, those skills helped get his Bowling Green club a win. In the first inning, Simpson reached on an infield single. Then he stole second base. Four batters later he trotted home with the game’s only run. He finished the contest 3-for-3 with two stolen bases, giving him 30 for the year.

Guillermo Rosario, C, Phillies: Starlyn Caba and Eduardo Tait are the two biggest names among Phillies’ complex leaguers, but it might be time to put Rosario on the radar. The 19-year-old backstop hit the ball hard—90th percentile EV of 100.8 mph and a max of 108 mph—in the DSL last summer and is doing it again after moving stateside. The Dominican Republic native crushed the first two homers of his pro career on Thursday in his team’s 19-1 drubbing of their counterparts with the Yankees. Rosario finished the day 3-for-4 with five RBIs and two walks.

Jared Jones, RHP, Pirates: With his outing on Thursday, Jones is no longer a prospect after exceeding the 50 MLB innings threshold. The righthander, who has been outstanding since pitchers and catchers reported, punched out seven hitters and walked nobody over six innings of three-run ball against the Cubs. After nine big league starts, Jones has 63 strikeouts against just seven walks while working to a mark of 3-4, 2.89.

Cerebral Approach Helps Pirates LHP Thrive In Pro Ball

Want to get ahead? Each day we’ll surface one prospect from recent Baseball America coverage who could be on the rise.

Baseball America Helium Pick Of The Day

Michael Kennedy, LHP, Pirates : The 19-year-old lefty is going through full-season ball for the first time after the Pirates selected him in the fourth round of the 2022 draft. Pittsburgh went over slot to sign Kennedy, and we’re beginning to see why. Today’s Pirates organization report dives into his progress despite dealing with knee injuries along the way.

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