TWitM: MJ is heating up

Is MJ Melendez figuring out his swing?

This Week in the Minors is our weekly look at notable performances from all over the system, from big-name prospects and less-heralded guys alike. The mission is to answer this simple question: “Who had a good week?”

Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers (23-32, 9.5 games back)

The Storm Chasers split their six games with St. Paul. MJ Melendez is heating up, batting 7-for-23 (.304) for the week with three home runs and four steals. Diego Castillo joined the Storm Chasers after a trade with the Pirates and was 4-for-12 (.333) with two homers and six walks. Cam Devanney went 8-for-24 (.333) with two doubles. Peyton Wilson was 6-for-18 (.333) with two steals and is hitting .310/.425/.479 with 30 RBI in 38 games across Double-A and Triple-A this year. Jac Caglianone went 0-for-5 on Tuesday, but was 6-for-16 (.375) the rest of the week with a home run, earning a promotion to the big leagues.

Reliever Brandon Johnson picked up the win Tuesday in his first appearance for Omaha after his promotion from Double-A. He pitched again Friday and gave up a run in two innings with two strikeouts, but has a 1.04 ERA in 26 outings overall this year. Eric Cerantola struck out five of the eight batters he faced on Wednesday, tossing two shutout innings, then struck out three in two scoreless innings on Saturday. Thomas Hatch tossed seven shutout innings with just two hits allowed on Thursday. Veteran 45-year-old lefty Rich Hill picked up a win on Sunday with Omaha in his first start for them, giving up three runs in five innings with four strikeouts. Pitcher Luinder Avila landed on the Injured List for the Storm Chasers and pitcher Ryan Brady was transferred to the 60-day IL.

Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals (26-25, 1 game back)

The Naturals split six games with the Springfield to stay one game back of the Cardinals. Jordan Groshans has a seven-game hitting streak and went 9-for-16 (.563) with 5 RBI this week. Rudy Martin was 9-for-18 (.500) with seven steals, giving him 14 in just 16 games overall with the Naturals, putting him sixth in the Texas League. Dustin Dickerson hit 6-for-18 (.333). Carter Jensen had a terrific week, hitting 12-for-25 (.480) with two doubles, a triple, and his fourth home run of the year.

Shane Panzini struck out seven of the 14 batters he faced in 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief in his Naturals debut. Chazz Martinez and Caden Monke each had a pair of scoreless relief outings. Frank Mozzicato gave up two runs in four innings with three strikeouts but four walks on Tuesday. Oscar Rayo picked up a win in relief on Thursday with three shutout innings, following up two scoreless innings by Kyle Wright in a rehab start. Cole Ragans also had a rehab start, giving up five runs and seven hits in 3 2/3 innings with six strikeouts.

High-A Quad Cities River Bandits (32-19, first place)

The River Bandits won four of six from South Bend and have a 1.5 game lead in the West Division. Sam Kulasingam hit 6-for-19 (.316) with a double and a stolen base. Diego Guzman was 3-for-10 (.300) with two walks. Chris Brito went 3-for-4 on Friday and was 4-for-11 (.364) for the week. Austin Charles had a good week, going 4-for-13 (.308) with a walk.

Logan Martin picked up his fourth win on Tuesday with three runs in six innings, but had some control issues with five walks on Sunday, although he gave up just one run in 3 ¹⁄₃ innings. Felix Arronde gave up just one run in five innings with four strikeouts on Wednesday. Jesus Rios gave up just one hit in 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief on Friday. A.J. Causey had three strikeouts in three relief innings. Mauricio Veliz didn’t give up a run in 5 ¹⁄₃ innings of relief over two outings.

Low-A Columbia Fireflies (26-25, 3 games back)

The Fireflies dropped four of six to Fayetteville this week. Ramon Ramirez continued to pace the Fireflies, hitting 4-for-15 (.267) with four walks and his league-leading 39th RBI. Derlin Figueroa was 7-for-21 (.333) with three doubles, a triple, and three walks. Angel Acosta was 5-for-14 (.357) with 5 RBI. Josi Novas hit his seventh home run of the year on Sunday, tied for third in the league.

David Shields picked up his first win of the year on Monday with five shutout innings and just one hit allowed with no walks and seven strikeouts. Yunior Marte gave up two runs – one unearned – on three hits in six innings on Thursday. Blake Wolters tossed four no-hit, shutout innings on Friday. Dash Albus picked up two saves in three relief outings, pitching 3 ²⁄₃ innings of shutout ball. Fraynel Nova did not allow a hit in four relief outings with five strikeouts.