Complex League Climbers: Monday's Standout Minor League Performers

Monday is a great day now because it is no longer the only day we do not have Minor League Baseball. Complex ball takes off Sundays, but they are back in action on Monday and are the only Minor League level to play that day.

Yesterday’s Florida weather caused the entire complex slate in the Sunshine State to get banged, leaving us with only Arizona action. There was plenty to talk about, even if it was a smaller slate of games.

Players are already breaking out! You need to know these names. Let’s get after it.

Complex League Standouts

Tyson Lewis, SS, Cincinnati Reds, 19, CPX

One of my favorites in last year's draft, Lewis, was selected in the second round by the Reds out of Millard West HS in Nebraska. While some had questions about why he was at the complex to start the year, I would say it is fairly normal for a player like Lewis, who is from a cold-weather state, to get more development at the team’s complex before heading off to an affiliate.

Lewis did not do anything out of the ordinary on the surface. He had two singles in three trips to the plate. He even showed off his 70-grade speed by swiping a base. But here is why Lewis gets the top of today’s write-up.

In the first inning, Lewis smoked a ground ball the opposite way at 109.9 mph. Pretty impressive stuff from a 19-year-old in his pro debut. And if that was not good enough, Lewis returned to the plate in the third inning and smoked his single 119.4 mph. While I don’t have confirmation if that was a misread or not, based on Lewis’s interactions on social media after the game, I think it might have been real.

Regardless, Lewis has power and speed, making him a very intriguing profile.

Joswa Lugo, SS, Los Angeles Angels, 18, CPX

Lugo was the Angels’ top international signee in January 2024, receiving a $2.3 million bonus. He was also one of the younger players in the class, being 16 at the time of signing. Despite being young, Lugo has a strong 6’3” frame that helps him get to effortless power, but he should fill out more and only add to it. Still, Lugo put up a strong first pro season in the DSL, slashing .301/.370/.466 with five home runs, 19 extra-base hits, and 18 stolen bases in 53 games.

The power and physicality are impressive for Lugo, who put up substantial power numbers as a young hitter. He posted a 90th percentile exit velocity of 103 mph and topped out north of 110 mph at 17. While he does control the barrel well, Lugo is hyper-aggressive and chases out of the zone at excessively high rates. The aggressiveness has come stateside, as well as Lugo has yet to take a walk.

He hit his first home run in the complex last night and, in seven games, has put up some impressive batted balls. There is a lot to like about Lugo. He looks good in the field and has a strong arm. Right now, he shows good athleticism, but that could tick down with time as he fills out his frame. The present power is already impressive as well. Lugo’s future will depend on how the hit tool and plate discipline develop.

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