TWitM: John Rave is on fire

Too bad he is blocked by so many great outfielders in Kansas City.

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 (7-7)

The Storm Chasers split their six games against the St. Paul Saints. Noah Cameron picked up his second win of the year with six shutout innings, then gave the Storm Chasers another strong start on Sunday. In the two starts he combined for 12 strikeouts and just two runs allowed in 11 1⁄₃ innings. Thomas Hatch struck out six in 4 2/3 innings, allowing just two runs in a no-decision. Andrew Hoffman struck out six in three scoreless innings of relief. Evan Sisk struck out two in 1 ¹⁄₃ innings, picking up a save on Saturday before earning a call up.

John Rave was on fire, hitting 11-for-26 (.423) with a double, two triples, and three steals to give him seven swipes on the year. Cam Devanney hit 5-for-13 (.385) with three doubles and leads the International League with a 1.232 OPS. Nick Loftin drew five walks and is tied for the league lead with 15 walks this year. Harold Castro went 5-for-10 with a home run on Saturday and Sunday combined.

Pitchers Eric Cerantola and Jacob Wallace joined the team, and Mark Canha is expected to begin a rehab assignment in Omaha this week.

Double-A Northwest Arkansas (5-4)

After winning four games to start the year, the Naturals lost four in a row to Frisco, dropping four of six in the series. Jac Caglianone continued to show off his prodigious power, slamming another tape measure home run.

Then later in the week, he hit one 406 feet the other way.

And that’s not even the hardest-hit ball he had that week - he smoked a 120 mph ball up the middle for a hit. He went 6-for-25 (.240) for the week with a double, two home runs, and three walks, and his 14 RBI lead the league. He’s even keeping the strikeout rate low at 22 percent. Peyton Wilson went 9-for-17 with a home run and 8 RBI for the week to bring his OPS to 1.427, tops in the Texas League. Jordan Groshans hit his first two home runs of the year.

On the pitching side, Henry Williams tossed five shutout innings with seven strikeouts on Tuesday, then had a quality start with three runs allowed in six innings on Sunday, striking out five. Ethan Boxacker gave up three runs (two earned) in five innings but was saddled with a tough-luck loss. Ben Kudrna struck out ten in just 4 2/3 innings, giving up two runs, but also picked up a loss. Juan Martinez struck out four in 3 ¹⁄₃ scoreless innings of relief.

High-A Quad Cities River Bandits (6-3)

Like the MLB team, the River Bandits struggled on offense, scoring just 13 runs in their six games against Wisconsin, but splitting the series. Erick Torres enjoyed a 4-for-4 night on Thursday, and hit 9-for-18 (.500) with two doubles and a steal for the week. Trevor Werner hit his first home run of the year, adding a double and triple and going 5-for-21 (.238). Bryan Gonzalez went 8-for-20 (.400) with 2 doubles, a triple, and his first home run, stealing two bases along the way. Chris Brito went 2-for-7 with two doubles.

On the pitching side, Drew Beam bounced back from a rough first start to allow just one run and three hits over five innings. Hunter Patteson stuck out seven with no walks in six innings of work, allowing just one run to bring his ERA to 0.84.

Frank Mozzicato allowed just four hits and two runs in 5 2/3 innings with six strikeouts. Felix Arronde allowed just one hit over 4 1/3 scoreless innings with five strikeouts. AJ Causey struck out three in three scoreless innings of relief. Caden Monke struck out all three hitters he faced in a relief appearance before being promoted to Double-A.

Low-A Columbia Fireflies (5-5)

The Fireflies won their first series of the year, taking 4 of 6 from the Charleston River Dogs. Asbel Gonzalez went 10-for-22 (.455) with eight steals, and is tied for the lead in all of the minor leagues with 13 steals overall. Stone Russell went 10-for-24 (.417) with two doubles, bringing his average to .419, third in the Carolina League. Infielder Josi Nova hit his first two home runs of the year, going 4-for-13 (.308) for the week.

Derlin Figueroa hit a tape measure home run, his third round-tripper of the year, and hit 8-for-23 (.348) in the series.

Ramon Ramirez homered twice on Sunday, including a grand slam, but those were his only hits of the week in 17 trips to the plate.

Blake Wolters won his first game, giving up just one hit in five scoreless innings on Tuesday, but he lasted just three innings on Sunday, allowing two runs. Jordan Woods struck out six over four innings, allowing just one hit and one unearned run. Elvis Novas picked up his first win in relief, pitching 3 ¹⁄₃ innings of scoreless ball. Hiro Wyatt struck out four in two scoreless innings in his season debut.