Rays prospects and minor leagues: Brujan remains active on the bases

In 2018, Vidal Brujan was the organization’s most active basestealer in quite a few seasons. This season, he’s been attempting even more steals, and he’s been much more efficient. With an 82.3 percent success rate, he’s going to give himself a chance to lead all of minor league baseball in steals if he keeps getting on base.

Triple-A Durham Bulls (13-11)

Durham’s comeback fell short in a 9-5 loss to Norfolk. After scoring twice in the top of the eighth, the Tides led 9-1. The Bulls opened their half of the inning with two singles, and Anthony Bemboom then went deep to cut the deficit to five. With two outs, Jake Smolinski doubled in a run, but Mike Brosseau struck out to end the threat. Aaron Slegers allowed six runs in four innings.

SS Andrew Velazquez: 2-for-4, 1 2B, 1 BB (.942)
CF Jake Smolinski: 2-for-4, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K (.679)
2B Kean Wong: 3-for-5, 1 R, 1 K (.959)
C Anthony Bemboom: 1-for-5, 1 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 K (1.000)

RHP Aaron Slegers: 4 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 1 BB, 0 K (5.84)
LHP Colin Poche: 1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K (12.46)

Durham’s site offers this recap.

Double-A Montgomery Biscuits (15-9)

Montgomery was off.

Class A-Advanced Charlotte Stone Crabs (11-14)

Charlotte scored three in the top of the first, but it wasn’t enough in a 6-4 loss to Tampa. The first run scored on a passed ball, and Garrett Whitley then tripled in two. However, the Tarpons scored the next six runs of the game, starting with a two-run homer by Troy Tulowitzki in the first. Paul Campbell allowed five runs in 2 ²⁄₃ innings.

2B Vidal Brujan: 2-for-5, 1 R, 2 SB (.755)
RF Moises Gomez: 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 BB (.634)
LF Garrett Whitley: 1-for-4, 1 3B, 2 RBI (.774)

RHP Paul Campbell: 2 ²⁄₃ IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 1 K (6.85)

Charlotte’s site offers this recap.

Class-A Bowling Green Hot Rods (14-10)

Bowling Green’s game was postponed.

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Wednesday’s games (probables courtesy of milb.com)

Durham vs. Norfolk 10:35 a.m. ET (MiLB.TV, radio stream)
TBA vs. TBA

Montgomery vs. Mobile 7:35 p.m. ET (MiLB.TV, radio stream)
Josh Fleming (2-1, 2.19) vs. Jesus Castillo (0-3, 7.32)

Charlotte @ Tampa 6:30 p.m. ET (radio stream)
Riley O’Brien (1-0, 1.93) vs. Deivi Garcia (0-2, 3.06)

Bowling Green @ Cedar Rapids 6 p.m. ET (radio stream) DOUBLEHEADER
TBA vs. Luis Rijo (0-2, 4.20)
TBA vs. Austin Schulfer (3-1, 2.45)

Both games will be seven innings.

*Listed as TBA on milb.com

Scouting the opposition

Norfolk Tides (Baltimore)
10-16 (4th in IL South)
Offense: 111 R (7th) .681 OPS (14th)
Pitching: 5.52 ERA (10th) 1.57 WHIP (11th)
Top-30 prospects: 3B Ryan Mountcastle (3), OF Austin Hays (4), LHP Keegan Akin (6), OF DJ Stewart (15), LHP Josh Rogers (28)

Mobile BayBears (Angels)
11-13 (3rd in SL South)
Offense: 69 R (10th) .581 OPS (10th)
Pitching: 3.76 ERA (7th) 1.35 WHIP (6th)
Top-30 prospects: OF Jo Adell (1), OF Brandon Marsh (3), 2B Jahmai Jones (5), LHP Patrick Sandoval (12), C Jack Kruger (17), RHP Jeremy Beasley (20)

Tampa Tarpons (Yankees)
11-14 (T-3rd in FSL North)
Offense: 112 R (2nd) .673 OPS (5th)
Pitching: 4.03 ERA (10th) 1.47 WHIP (12th)
Top-30 prospects: OF Estevan Florial (1), RHP Deivi Garcia (6), RHP Clarke Schmidt (13), C Jason Lopez (21), RHP Frank German (23)

Cedar Rapids Kernels (Minnesota)
11-12 (5th in MWL West)
Offense: 89 R (10th) .682 OPS (7th)
Pitching: 4.00 ERA (11th) 1.37 WHIP (8th)
Top-30 prospects: RHP Blayne Enlow (8), RHP Jordan Balazovic (20), OF Gabriel Maciel (29), OF Gilberto Celestino (30)

Daily news and links

MiLB.com wrote about Brendan McKay’s strong start on Sunday.

I believe this is the first time this season that Rays appeared on Baseball America’s Hot Sheet ($).

MLB.com’s Jim Callis makes the case that Wander Franco is the top prospect in the minors.