There was power in bunches around the Minors on Thursday, including one of baseball's best homering twice to steal the spotlight from a no-hitter. But collectively, some of the best young pitchers in the game decided it was their time to shine. A heavenly performance in Triple-A, a 12-strikeout masterpiece in the High-A Northwest League and a Senator who reigned supreme in Harrisburg led the way during an exciting day of action:
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Roman Anthony, OF, Worcester (BOS No. 1/MLB No. 2)
It's not often a no-hitter is overshadowed, but that's what Anthony's potent bat can do. The 20-year-old clubbed a pair of homers, kicking off the opener of Triple-A Worcester's doubleheader with his first long ball of the afternoon and capping the performance with his first grand slam as a pro. The power surge produced a career-high five RBIs for Anthony, who has four long balls this season -- all coming in a pair of multihomer efforts. Full story | Gameday
Caden Dana, RHP, Salt Lake (LAA No. 2/MLB No. 74)
Dana has already gotten a brief taste of big league life. His performance through three starts for Triple-A Salt Lake suggests he's ready for more. The 21-year-old turned in his finest outing of the young season for the Bees, striking out seven while scattering four hits over seven scoreless innings to lower his ERA to 1.13. Dana has surrendered two runs or fewer in 18 of his 26 Minor League starts dating back to the beginning of last season at Double-A. Gameday
Daniel Eagen, RHP, Hillsboro (AZ No. 16)
Three starts into his pro career, Eagen looks to be well on his way toward becoming one of the top strikeout pitchers in the Minors. Arizona's third-round pick in the 2024 Draft was dominant in his latest outing, striking out a career-high 12 while completing six innings for the first time. The 22-year-old generated 21 whiffs among his 78 pitches (54 strikes). After punching out one batter in his pro debut, Eagen has fanned 22 over 10 1/3 frames in his past two starts. Gameday
Jarlin Susana, RHP, Harrisburg (WSH No. 2/MLB No. 75)
Despite punching out 157 batters in 103 2/3 innings across two Minor League levels in 2024, Susana did not tally a double-digit K performance until last Aug. 31. The 6-foot-6, 235-pounder needed only three starts to do so this year, equaling a career high with 10 strikeouts in 4 2/3 frames for Double-A Harrisburg. Susana scattered four hits and allowed a pair of runs during his 87-pitch outing. The 21-year-old has a 2.63 ERA and has fanned 23 in 13 2/3 innings spanning three starts. Gameday
Spencer Jones, OF, Somerset (NYY No. 2)
The 6-foot-7, 235-pounder flexed his muscles with two long home runs for Double-A Somerset, his second multihomer game of the season. Jones drove in three of the Patriots' four runs and added a single for his second three-hit performance in four contests. The 23-year-old's five long balls lead the Eastern League, and he's slashing .273/.385/.636 in 44 at-bats. Gameday
Konnor Griffin, SS, Bradenton (PIT No. 2/MLB No. 40)
The Pirates' first-round pick in last year's Draft continues to impress in his first taste of pro ball. Griffin was a menace at the plate and on the basepaths, collecting a pair of hits and swiping a personal-best three bases for Single-A Bradenton. The 18-year-old, who scored twice and had an RBI, leads the Florida State League with nine steals and has amassed four multihit performances in his first 11 games for the Marauders. Gameday
Jordan Lawlar, SS, Reno (AZ No. 1/MLB No. 10)
Lawlar's power surge continued with his third roundtripper in as many starts and fourth in seven games. The 22-year-old was homerless in his first 44 at-bats before going deep on April 10. He cleared the fences again on Sunday and Tuesday before making a pinch-hit appearance for Triple-A Reno on Wednesday. Lawlar was back at it for the Aces on Thursday night, homering in his second at-bat and adding a single to bring his slash line to .300/.395/.597 with 10 extra-base hits and 14 RBIs in 18 games. Gameday
Justin Crawford, OF, Lehigh Valley (PHI No. 3/MLB No. 60)
A four-hit game can do wonders for a player so early in the season ... just ask the speedy Crawford, who matched a personal best with four hits for Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The son of former MLB All-Star Carl Crawford singled four times -- hiking his average 40 points to .290 -- and stole two bases to give him seven in eight attempts after swiping 40 more bases in each of the past two seasons. Gameday
Hagen Smith, LHP, Birmingham (CWS No. 3/MLB No. 31)
Smith needed 33 pitches to record just two outs in his previous start, but the Double-A Binghamton southpaw rebounded with his longest outing as a pro. Smith worked five innings, striking out five without issuing a walk in his third career start. The 21-year-old surrendered a run on three hits during his 65-pitch performance, 46 of them strikes. Smith, the fifth overall pick in the 2024 Draft, struck out four of the first six batters he faced and did not allow a run until his final frame. Gameday
Leo De Vries, SS, Fort Wayne (SD No. 1/MLB No. 17)
De Vries has gotten off to a relatively slow start as he makes his way through the Midwest League at just 18 years old. But the switch-hitter might be finding his footing after going deep for the first time this season for High-A Fort Wayne. De Vries, who had an .802 OPS in 75 games with Single-A Lake Elsinore in 2024, had tripled on Wednesday after going without an extra-base hit in his first seven games. Gameday