Big bats, strong starts by top prospects highlight Sunday's performances

With every affiliate level in action, the first full-schedule Sunday of the Minor League season was filled with noisy hits, dominant starts and dramatic finishes keyed by top prospects. Here are the performances that stood out as Opening Weekend for Double-A, High-A and Single-A wrapped up:

SUNDAY'S TOP PERFORMERS:

Max Clark, OF, West Michigan (DET No. 2/MLB No. 5)
Clark showed why he¡¯s considered one of the game¡¯s top position player prospects, socking his first homer of the year at a clutch moment. His game-tying three-run dinger set the High-A Whitecaps up for a 7-6 extra-inning win, and Clark added an RBI single and another run scored. Full story | Gameday

Nick Kurtz, 1B, Las Vegas (ATH No. 2/MLB No. 36)
The No. 4 overall pick from the 2024 Draft continued to tear up Triple-A pitching. Kurtz launched his fourth homer of the season in Las Vegas' 11-4 win, boosting his batting line to .412/.459/.882 through eight games. The 22-year-old has gone for extra bases on nine of his 15 hits in 2025, good for a 1.341 OPS, second-best in the Pacific Coast League. Full story | Gameday

Jac Caglianone, 1B, Northwest Arkansas (KC No. 1/MLB No. 21)
What a weekend Big Jac had. Fresh off slugging his first homer of the season on Saturday, Caglianone notched three hits and collected three RBIs in the Double-A Naturals' 14-3 rout. The Royals' top prospect totaled seven RBIs over three games on Opening Weekend. Gameday

Justin Crawford, OF, Lehigh Valley (PHI No. 3/MLB No. 61)
Wheels like Crawford's can be a mighty tool. The 21-year-old jump-started Triple-A Lehigh Valley's 12-8 win by going 3-for-6 with three RBIs and a stolen base. The big blow was Crawford's two-run triple in the fourth inning. Gameday

Dillon Head, CF, Jupiter (MIA No. 7)
Speaking of speed, Head's legs were the theme of Single-A Jupiter's 6-0 victory. The 2023 first-rounder tripled twice and stole two bases as part of a three-hit day, scoring two runs and driving in another. Gameday

Cole Carrigg, LF, Hartford (COL No. 3)
At the top of the Yard Goats' order, Carrigg delivered a 3-for-4 performance, including his first Double-A homer, in a 16-5 rout. The 22-year-old switch-hitter tied a career high with four RBIs and scored three times. Gameday

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Jarlin Susana, RHP, Harrisburg (WSH No. 2/MLB No. 76)
The hard-throwing Susana took the hard-luck loss for the Double-A Senators after striking out seven across four innings in his season debut. The 21-year-old allowed one run on three hits and two walks. Gameday

Nolan McLean, RHP, Binghamton (NYM No. 5)
After registering an 0.82 ERA in two Double-A starts last September, McLean picked up where he left off in his season debut, fanning eight while scattering three hits across four scoreless innings for Binghamton. The right-hander threw 54 of his 70 pitches for strikes and didn't walk a batter. Gameday

Brody Brecht, RHP, Fresno (COL No. 5)
It was a fine pro debut for the 38th overall pick in the 2024 Draft. Brecht fanned seven while walking two over three hitless innings in his first start for Single-A Fresno. Gameday

Juaron Watts-Brown, RHP, Vancouver (TOR No. 16)
Behind a 60-grade slider, Watts-Brown provided just the spark the High-A Canadians needed for a series victory. The 2023 third-round pick carved through 4 2/3 scoreless innings with a career-high 10 strikeouts. He surrendered three hits and issued one walk. Gameday