This will be your weekly look at the hottest prospects in the system, highlighting the top performers at the plate and on the mound. Below is the hotlist for Week Fifteen. Check out the previous week’s hotlist here.
Who’s Hot At The Plate?
Will Bush – Bush got off to a hot start and then cooled off a bit with an injury, but he has came back with a vengeance. This week, the 22-year-old hit .429 with 2 doubles, 2 home runs and 5 runs batted in over 6 games. He has a 1.025 OPS over his last 20 games and a .855 OPS overall this season.
Sami Manzueta – Manzueta had a super impressive season in the Dominican Summer League last year as a 16-year-old. After a slow start this year, he picked it up this week and hit .357 with 3 home runs and 7 runs batted in over 4 games. On the season he has a .881 OPS through 28 games.
Chase Call – Call has been a little boom or bust this year but when he’s hot, he’s hot. After being the player of the week last year, he’s on this list again after .333 with 3 home runs for Asheville. On the season he has 19 doubles, 15 home runs over 67 games and just earned a promotion to Double-A.
Arturo Flores – While some of the top prospects have gotten a lot of attention in Fayetteville, and rightfully so, Flores has quietly put together a good season. This week the 20-year-old hit .313 with a double, 2 home runs and 6 runs batted in. He has 13 home runs and a .808 OPS this season.
Who’s Hot On The Mound?
James Hicks – Hicks has been up and down this year for the Hooks but has turned in some strong outings, and this week was one of them. In his one start, the right-hander tossed 5 scoreless innings allowing just 1 hit and striking out 5. He has 66 strikeouts over 74.1 innings this season.
Parker Smith – Smith has had a rough year pitching in a hitter friendly park and league, but he had a great outing this week. In his one start for Asheville, the right-hander went 6 scoreless innings while striking out 4. Hopefully he will get a chance in Double-A soon.
Jackson Nezuh – Like some others on the list, Nezuh has really started to get it rolling. After being on this list last week, he fins himself here again after he struck out 11 over 5.1 innings allowing 1 run. He has racked up 80 strikeouts over 65.2 innings in Double-A this season.
Adrian Ardines – Ardines is looking like one of the next big international pitching prospects for the Astros. He has been great in the FCL this year and this week, the right-hander pitched in two games totaling 9 innings allowing just 1 run and striking out 11. He has 55 strikeouts over 50.2 innings this season.
TEAM ERA and OPS:
Sugar Land – From 4.86 ERA to 4.70 ERA – From .701 OPS to .704 OPS
Corpus Christi – From 4.65 ERA to 4.74 ERA – From .721 OPS to .719 OPS
Asheville – From 7.57 ERA to 7.47 ERA – From .819 OPS to .815 OPS
Fayetteville – From 4.79 ERA to 4.95 ERA – From .735 OPS to .739 OPS
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