With the Gulf Coast League starting Monday, this is the final weekend without all levels of the minor leagues active. Some of the top names in the game had big days on Saturday: Hitters AAA Elier Hernandez, Omaha, 3-3, R, BB Andy Ibanez, Nashville, 3-5, R, 4 RBI, 2B, HR Carter Kieboom, Fresno, 4-5, 3 R, RBI, BB, 2 2B Jose Marmolejos, Fresno, 3-4, 3 R, 4 RBI, K, 3B, HR Matt Thaiss, Salt Lake, 3-5, R, 3 RBI, BB, K, 2 2B Carlos Tocci, Nashville, 4-5, 3 R, RBI, BB, 2 2B AA Jose Gomez, Reading, 3-3, BB Rene Pinto, Montgomery, 3-4, R, 3 RBI, 2B, HR High-A Jeter…

Multiple doubleheaders produced big highlights on the day, including a no-hitter and the continued hot streak of Brent Rooker among them. Hitters AAA Arismendy Alcantara, Syracuse, 3-5, 2 R, 5 RBI, 2 HR Conner Capel, Memphis, 3-5, 2 R, 4 RBI, K, 2B, HR Willi Castro, Toledo, 3-7, 3 R, RBI, 2 K, 2 2B, 3B Alcides Escobar, Charlotte, 3-5, R, 4 RBI, 2B, HR Connor Joe, Oklahoma City, 3-4, 3 R, BB, K Ryan LaMarre, Gwinnett, 3-4, R, 3 RBI, 2B, 2 3B Logan Morrison, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, 3-4, 2 R, RBI, 2B, HR Sheldon Neuse, Las Vegas, 4-5, R, RBI, K, 2B, HR John Nogowski, Memphis, 3-4, RBI, BB, K,…

We are used to big scores in AAA this season, but Asheville had a big night on Thursday, leading to a number of excellent performances. Hitters AAA Bo Bichette, Buffalo, 3-5, 2 R, 5 RBI, K, 2B, HR Bobby Bradley, Columbus, 4-7, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB, K, 2 HR Malquin Canelo, Lehigh Valley, 4-5, 4 R, K, 2B Chad De La Guerra, Pawtucket, 4-5, 4 R, 2 RBI, 2 2B, HR Taylor Jones, Round Rock, 3-4, K, 2 2B Brennon Lund, Salt Lake, 4-7, BB, 2B, HR Jose Marmolejos, Fresno, 5-7, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 2B Logan Morrison, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, 4-4, 2 R, 3 RBI, HR Sheldon Neuse, Las…

With just a few games going on at each full-season level, the dominance of big performances were at short-season levels on Wednesday. Hitters AAA Mike Brosseau, Durham, 4-8, 2 R, 2 K, 2 2B Dilson Herrera, Syracuse, 3-4, R, 2 RBI, 2B, HR Jon Jay, Charlotte, 3-4, R, BB, K Dustin Peterson, Toledo, 3-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 2B, HR Rob Refsnyder, Louisville, 3-4, R, 3 RBI, BB, K Ruben Tejada, Syracuse, 4-5, 3 R, 2 RBI, K, 2B, 3B, HR AA Kyle Lewis, Arkansas, 3-3, 2 R, 2 BB Emmanuel Rivera, Northwest Arkansas, 4-5, R, 5 RBI, HR Luis Torrens, Amarillo, 3-4, 3 RBI, BB, 2B High-A Jim…

Two first-round picks got their first professional home runs on Tuesday while multiple leagues had their All-Star games. Let’s check out the top performers: Hitters AAA Phillip Evans, Iowa, 3-4, 2 R, RBI, BB, K, HR Jack Lopez, Gwinnett, 4-4, R, RBI, 2B Brennon Lund, Salt Lake, 4-6, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, K, 3 2B Nick Martini, Las Vegas, 3-4, 4 R, 2 BB, K Sheldon Neuse, Las Vegas, 4-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, 2B Jacob Nottingham, San Antonio, 4-5, R, 6 RBI, K, HR Jarrett Parker, Salt Lake, 4-6, 3 R, 3 RBI, 2 BB, K, 2B, 2 HR Edwin Rios, Oklahoma City, 3-5, 3 R, 2…

Yet another excellent debut in the upper minors occurred on Monday night, even with a light schedule as multiple All-Star games happen this week. Hitters AAA Abraham Almonte, Reno, 3-4, 2 R, RBI, BB, K, 2 2B Mauricio Dubon, San Antonio, 3-5, 2 R, 4 RBI, K, 2B, HR Drew Ferguson, Round Rock, 3-5, R, RBI, K, 2 3B Francisco Pena, Sacramento, 4-5, 2 R, RBI, 2B, HR AA Bryan De La Cruz, Corpus Christi, 3-5, 2 R, K, 2 2B Abraham Toro, Corpus Christi, 3-4, R, 2 RBI, K, 2 2B Luis Torrens, Amarillo, 3-4, 2 R, RBI, BB, 2B, SB Donnie Walton, Arkansas, 3-4, BB High-A None qualified…

A busy week ending with some travel means that weekly stat leaders will be through Sunday this week instead of through Saturday, so you may notice that difference. Full-season leaders have a minimum of 125 PA or 50 IP for rate stats. Overall leaders AVG: Yonathan Daza .383, Trey Harris .369, Jake Elmore .366, Yadiel Hernandez .365, Corban Joseph .361HR: Kyle Tucker/Yordan Alvarez 23, Bobby Bradley 22, Kevin Cron 21, Yasmany Tomas/Sam Huff 20SB: Nick Heath 38, Michael Gigliotti 29, Jose Caballero/Reggie Pruitt/Khalil Lee 28ERA: Casey Mize 0.92, MacKenzie Gore 1.21, Drew Rom 1.23, Brendan McKay 1.31, Tommy Parsons 1.40IP: Zac Gallen 91 1/3, Trey Supak 85, Domingo Robles 84…

The College World Series began Saturday in Omaha, with the top teams in college baseball working toward a championship. With short-season and advanced rookie teams starting this weekend and complex league rookie teams starting soon, those who aren’t in Omaha will soon be joining professional teams! Hitters AAA Brandon Barnes, Columbus, 3-4, 2 R, 5 RBI, BB, K, 2B, 2 HR Socrates Brito, Buffalo, 3-5, R, RBI, BB, K Jeimer Candelario, Toledo, 3-5, 2 R, 4 RBI, 3B, HR Drew Ferguson, Round Rock, 4-5, 3 R, 2 2B, SB Sheldon Neuse, Las Vegas, 3-4, 2 R, RBI, BB, 2B, HR Ryan O’Hearn, Omaha, 3-5, R, 2 RBI, 2 2B Jordan…

With the rookie and short-season leagues starting up, there will be a bit of a change to the format. Many have asked how I determine who makes the cut for each list. I’ve had a general cut off for hitters, but I’m going to be more firm on things as we add in rookie leagues simply to keep things manageable for time. For hitters, 3 hits will always be required, but hitters must have one of 2 extra-base hits, 4 times on base, or 4 stolen bases in a game. With pitchers, they must go at least 3 innings, and earned runs will be based on innings – 3-4 innings…