Tyler Soderstrom is pushing the Oakland Athletics to promote him to the big leagues. An attendee of a Future Stars Series pro combine back in 2018, he went No. 26 overall back in the 2020 MLB Draft and has done nothing but hit since. Already in Triple-A with the Las Vegas Aviators, the 21-year-old is hitting .257 with 12 homers and 39 RBI thus far this season, and is fresh off a monster performance on Saturday night in which he delivered his second multi-longball game in a week’s time.
Cooper Hjerpe, P, Peoria Chiefs, A+
The Midwest League’s Pitcher of the Week for the May 22-28 stretch, the NorCal alum, who is unfortunately now on the seven-day injured list, has been dealing. Last year’s first-rounder for the St. Louis Cardinals had racked up 49 strikeouts in just 39 1/3 innings, his first in pro ball after being shut down following the Draft.
Dilan Rosario, SS, Eugene Emeralds, A+
In his fourth professional season, Rosario is seemingly finally unlocking some of his vast potential. One of the more intriguing World Team bats from International Week in 2018, the San Francisco Giants farmhand has upped his average a whopping 87 points from the beginning of May, including a 2-for-4 night with three RBI on May 29.
Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz, P, Salem Red Sox, A
Back at the time he was on the World team for the final International Week in 2020 before it became the Main Event, Rodriguez-Cruz was a very under the radar name. Not anymore. Taken in the fourth round by the Boston Red Sox in 2021, “ERC” has been dominant in pro ball, pitching to just a 2.01 ERA in 71 2/3 innings of work. That includes a stellar showing this season with Salem, where he’s fresh off his best outing of the season, throwing six scoreless frames on May 31.
David Calabrese, OF, Rocket City Trash Pandas, AA
The author of one of the more memorable International Week moments continues to turn his season around. Calabrese put together a six-game hitting streak at the end of May, getting nine hits over that time, including a homer, to raise his average 30 points.
Kyren Paris, INF, Rocket City Trash Pandas, AA
Where there’s a Calabrese update, one on his teammate, Kyren Paris, usually follows. The 2018 International Week star has been steady all year long for the Trash Pandas, and is on a current five-game hitting streak of his own. Paris hit his tenth home run of the year on Saturday as well, quickly approaching last year’s career high of 12.
Brock Jones, OF, Bowling Green Hot Rods, A+
Having gotten off to a late start to his 2023 campaign, Jones has gotten hot of late, driving in at least one run in each of his last three games, including going 2-for-3 with a homer and three RBI back on June 2.
Wendell Marrero, OF, Dayton Dragons, A+
Another World Team bat from the early days of International Week, Marrero recently reached High-A for the first time in the Cincinnati Reds organization. Now 22, he’s shown some flashes of what he can do, which includes a 2-for-4 showing with a triple back on May 28.
