The first full week of Minor League action spanning all four levels kicked off with plenty of fireworks on Tuesday. A pair of 2024 first-rounders and Top 100 prospects built upon their early-season power surges, Double-A Rocket City experienced a franchise first while dominating performances on the mound and at the plate up and down the slate highlighted the top performances:
More from MLB Pipeline:
? Top 100 prospects | Stats | Video | Podcast | Complete coverage
Jac Caglianone, 1B, Northwest Arkansas (KC No. 1/MLB No. 21)
Caglianone¡¯s top tool is his prodigious power, and he¡¯s already shown why early in the Minor League season. The 6-foot-5 slugger one-upped his 464-foot homer, his first of the year, by crushing a three-run 468-foot moonshot in Double-A Northwest Arkansas¡¯ home opener. Full story | Gameday
Nick Kurtz, 1B, Las Vegas (ATH No. 1/MLB No. 36)
Kurtz continues to flex his muscles during his first taste of Triple-A competition. The 2024 first-rounder homered, doubled and drove in three runs for Las Vegas, giving him roundtrippers in consecutive games and five in 39 at-bats. Kurtz is slashing .410/.452/.923 with 10 extra-base hits and 15 RBIs in nine games for the Aviators. Gameday
Cole Fontenelle, 3B, Rocket City (LAA No. 23)
The Texas Christian product made history for the Double-A Trash Pandas, becoming the first player in franchise history to hit for the cycle. Fontenelle got the hard parts out of the way early, homering and tripling in his first two plate appearances. The 23-year-old singled in the sixth inning and wrapped up the cycle feat with a double in the eighth to notch his first four-hit game as a pro. Gameday
Bubba Chandler, RHP, Indianapolis (PIT No. 1/MLB No. 14)
Another start, another handful of goose eggs for the 22-year-old fireballer. While it¡¯s encouraging to see Chandler average 98.6 mph on his 33 four-seam fastballs (touching 100 mph once), it¡¯s even moreso to see his slider and changeup combine for a 40 percent whiff rate. He struck out eight of the 14 batters he faced, scattering a pair of walks and a single over four innings for the Triple-A Indians. Gameday
Kash Mayfield, LHP, Lake Elsinore (SD No. 3)
Mayfield dazzled during his pro debut for the Storm in the Single-A California League. The 20-year-old struck out the side in his first inning and fanned five of the first six batters he faced. Mayfield, who was drafted 25th overall last year, twirled hitless ball over three frames, striking out six while walking one on 45 pitches. Gameday
Alex Freeland, SS, Oklahoma City (LAD No. 5/MLB No. 69)
Freeland spearheaded a 17-hit, 16-run outburst by the Triple-A Comets with his third multi-RBI game of the season. The 23-year-old homered, fell a triple shy of the cycle and drove in a career-high six runs, giving him 13 RBIs in 10 games. Freeland also was hit by a pitch and stole two bases, giving him five in six attempts. Gameday
Felnin Celesten, SS, Modesto (SEA No. 5/MLB No. 71)
Celesten -- the No. 2 ranked prospect in the 2023 international class -- tore up the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League in 2024, producing a .999 OPS en route to receiving the circuit's Top MLB Prospect award. Celesten's solo homer in Single-A Modesto¡¯s win was the first that was live streamed -- and it lived up to the hype. The 19-year-old also tallied two singles and two RBIs on the night. Gameday
Eric Bitonti, 1B, Carolina (MIL No. 7)
When a cleanup hitter tallies a career-high five knocks, that usually means his club had a pretty good night. Bitonti reached base six times, notching three doubles and five RBIs in Single-A Carolina¡¯s 14-0 shutout. The 6-foot-4 corner infielder is known for his power, but he found success in the contest by spraying the ball to all fields. Gameday
Chase Davis, OF, Springfield (STL No. 10)
Davis put together one of the best performances of his pro career, collecting his first multihomer game and driving in five runs to pace the Double-A Cardinals offense. The 2023 first-round pick (21st overall) added a double, a walk and scored three times to continue his strong opening to the 2025 campaign. Gameday