Down on the Farm - 7/8/22

Who's hot, who's not? Elly De La Cruz (CIN) hits three home runs, Eury Pérez (MIA) punches out 10, Israel Pineda (WSH) goes deep twice, Robert Hassell III (SD) and Jackson Chourio homer (MIL)

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Who’s Hot, Who’s Not?

There’s been no prospect hotter than the Guardians Brayan Rocchio, who is 16 for his last 40 with five home runs. The switch-hitting shortstop is now hitting .254/.343/.425 (108 wRC+) on the season with eight home runs and nine stolen bases. Elly De La Cruz’s (CIN, A+) three homer day yesterday secured his name on this list — he’s hitting .362/.400/.766 with eight home runs and eight stolen bases over the past two weeks despite a strike out rate north of 30%. Another young shortstop, Oswald Peraza (NYY), has turned it around over the past month after a poor start to the season. With meager production at shortstop in the big leagues, Yankees fans have been clamoring for a Peraza call-up. Anthony Volpe (NYY) and Noelvi Marte (SEA) have both put up wOBAs above .450 over the past two weeks while walking more than they’ve struck out. Volpe has also swiped 10 bases over that span and now has 35 on the season.

While not on the Top 100 and Just missing this list, there are a few other players worth mentioning. It’s unclear why the Red Sox waited so long to promote Niko Kavadas (23), but he’s shown he can more than handle High-A pitching. Since being promoted he’s 13 for 38 (.342/.500/.789) with five homers. Former #2 overall pick Heston Kjerstad (BAL) has started off his professional career with a bang — 33 for 74 with a pair of homers in Low-A. Rockies catcher and former Memphis standout Hunter Goodman (22) recently earned a promotion to High-A after a strong two week stretch in which he hit .359/.479/.744 with four homers. Goodman has 22 homers on the season.