MLB Spring Training: Montero, Benson Continue to Produce

Every morning, I will recap the previous day’s notable prospect performances, both at the plate and on the mound. As I unveil my prospect lists over the upcoming weeks, these daily recaps will offer advanced insight into both my organizational and overall rankings.

Although there has already been a slew of roster cuts league-wide, there are still plenty of prospects battling for jobs and hoping to leave a lasting impression on their future manager.

Here is a look at Monday’s top offensive performances by a prospect.

Zack Cozart, Cincinnati Reds

Cozart, the Cincinnati Reds’ No. 4 prospect, added to an already strong spring on Monday with a 2-for-2 performance. Cozart’s hits, one of which was a double, were the only allowed by White Sox southpaw Chris Sale, who fired six shutout innings.

Joe Benson, Minnesota Twins

Appearing in this column for the second time in as many days, Benson delivered a pinch-hit, bases-clearing double in the sixth inning of Monday’s 8-4 win over the Red Sox. 

The outfielder—who has legitimate 20-20 potential—is now hitting .308 this spring and has driven in a team-leading eight runs.

Jesus Montero, Seattle Mariners

Montero ripped his second home run of the spring on Monday, a two-run shot off left-hander Travis Wood. The pair of RBI gave him a team-best 10 for the spring.

Montero, who was famously swapped for Michael Pineda this offseason, seems poised for a big offensive season in Seattle. If you didn’t already know, his bat is very, very real.

Blake Lalli, Chicago Cubs

Lalli is a player you won’t find on any prospect list, mainly because he’s 28 years old and seems permanently entrenched at Double-A Tennessee. In six minor league seasons, the catcher—who has also logged 13.1 innings on the mound since entering the Cubs’ system—has posted a .787 OPS over 2,134 plate appearances.

Yesterday, the left-handed hitting backstop’s 2-for-2 performance boosted his spring average to .462, and his 1.462 OPS is currently the best in camp.

Freddy Galvis, Philadelphia Phillies

With Chase Utley out indefinitely once again, Galvis appears ready to assume everyday duties at second base for the Phillies. Lauded for his defense, Galvis’ bat has been a pleasant surprise this spring, as four of his 11 hits have gone for extra bases.

Following his first home run of the spring on Sunday, Galvis was 1-for-3 with a two-run triple in yesterday’s contest against the Detroit Tigers.

Norichika Aoki, Milwaukee Brewers

Monday’s top hitting performance by a prospect goes to Aoki, whose bat has noticeably picked up over his last three games. 

Yesterday, the outfielder led the Brewer’s offense with a 3-for-3 performance that included a triple, a stolen base and three RBI.

Furthermore, he collected the team’s only knock against fellow import Yu Darvish, who, to say the least, was effectively wild.  Collecting at least one hit in each of his last three games, Aoki is 5-for-12 in that span.