Top prospects dominate on the mound

As the weather begins to heat up, so goes the top young arms.

Top pitching prospects Michael Kopech (White Sox), Garrett Crochet (White Sox), Shane McClanahan (Rays) and Deivi García (Yankees) all posted scoreless outings on Tuesday.

Pitching for the first time in exactly a year, Kopech came out firing. The No. 39 overall prospect touched 97 with his 80-grade fastball as he pitched a 1-2-3 fourth inning with a strikeout for Chicago.

Kopech made his Major League debut in 2018 before undergoing Tommy John surgery that September and missing the 2019 campaign. The 24-year-old hurler then decided not to play the 2020 season for personal reasons.

Following Kopech out of the ‘pen, Crochet twirled his own hitless frame. The 2020 first-round pick worked around a pair of walks with a strikeout and a double play. After making his Major League debut last September and suffering forearm tightness that forced him out of an American League Wild Card Game, Crochet, who is the No. 56 overall prospect, seems to be good to go, making two scoreless appearances so far this spring.

McClanahan struck out all three batters he faced to keep his spring ERA spotless. MLB Pipeline's No. 84 overall prospect possesses a 70-grade fastball, which he seemingly commands with ease. McClanahan has allowed one hit with no walks and four punchouts through two Grapefruit League appearances.

García got the start for the Yankees. The club's No. 3 prospect spun three two-hit frames with no walks and five strikeouts. García utilized his full arsenal against the Tigers, notching punchouts on his fastball, slider, changeup and curve. In his spring debut, the right-hander yielded two runs in two frames, with three strikeouts.

More top prospect performers from Tuesday:

Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B, PIT (MLB No. 9 prospect)
While Pirates pitching put on quite the show (more on that later), Hayes turned heads for the Bucs at the plate. Getting the start at third and batting second, the club’s top prospect went 2-for-2 with a double, a walk and two runs scored. Showcasing his plus hit tool, Hayes has hits in all five spring games he’s played in, with five of his seven knocks going for extra bases. Gameday ?

Ronny Mauricio, SS, NYM (MLB No. 67 prospect)
In his one at-bat, Mauricio came up with the bases load and two outs in the seventh inning of a tied game. The 19-year-old switch-hitter didn’t shy from the moment, lofting a two-run bloop single just over the second baseman’s head to give the Mets the lead. The club’s second-ranked prospect now has a five-game hit streak. Gameday ?

Heliot Ramos, OF, SF (MLB No. 82)
Ramos picked up a pair of extra-base hits, including his third home run of Spring Training. The 21-year-old outfielder finished 2-for-5 with a double, homer and two runs scored. Ramos, who is likely to debut at some point during the 2021 season, is hitting .412 through six games this spring. More ?

Tyler Freeman, SS, CLE (MLB No. 98)
In his lone at-bat, Freeman swatted a two-run homer for his first roundtripper in three big league camps. The Indians’ No. 3 prospect is not known for his power, leaving the yard seven times in 231 career Minor League games. The long ball was Freeman’s first extra-base hit of the campaign. Gameday ?

Dean Kremer, RHP, BAL
Kremer shook off a tough spring debut with three scoreless frames. The 6-foot-3 right-hander worked around a one-out single by Josh Donaldson in the first and a leadoff walk by Keon Broxton in the third with three strikeouts. Kremer got swings and misses on his cutter for each punchout while his sinker touched 97.5, according to Statcast. Gameday ?

Daniel Johnson, OF, CLE
After clubbing three multi-homer games in the Minors, Johnson added his first at big league camp. The left-handed hitter drilled a solo shot to center in the fifth, then added another to right an inning later. Johnson is 4-for-11 with three RBIs and one strikeout in five Cactus League games. More ?

Miguel Yajure, RHP, PIT
Making his second appearance of the campaign, Yajure was perfect over two frames as the Pirates fell one out shy of a combined no-hitter. The 22-year-old right-hander evenly split his six outs across groundouts, flyouts and strikeouts. Gameday ?

Justin Williams, OF, STL
Williams picked up his first multi-hit spring game, going 2-for-3 with a home run off Trevor May to lead off the fourth. The right fielder grounded out in his final at-bat before being replaced defensively. Williams hit the ball hard all game, with his single to right in the second producing an exit velocity of 110.8 mph, according to Statcast. Gameday ?

Mickey Moniak, OF, PHI
After coming in as a defensive replacement at second, Moniak ripped a triple to center in his lone at-bat. The three-bagger came off the bat at 101 mph as the 2016 first overall Draft pick eventually came around to score. Moniak has five hits this spring, including four extra-base knocks. Gameday ?

Josh Lowe, OF, TB
In his first spring game since March 4, Lowe seamlessly plugged himself into the Rays’ lineup. The left-handed hitter knocked an RBI single to right in the sixth, then went the other way for an eighth-inning single. Lowe grounded out to second in his final at-bat. The 2016 first-rounder is now 4-for-9 with four runs scored in four Grapefruit League games. Gameday ?