Major Minor Matters 5/20

Extra Sauce! Alfredo Duno (CIN) Belts a Pair of Home Runs, Tallies Seven Taters Over Last Seven Games

It’s not easily verifiable, but it’s likely Alfredo Duno has the most home runs of any minor leaguer over their last seven games. He’s been blistering hot, crushing seven home runs and slashing .407/.529/1.185 while walking more than striking out (7:5). Game power had been noticeably absent in the 27 games preceding his hot streak, but it was only a matter of time before he started leaving the ballpark with regularity, especially in Dayton as a right-handed hitter (111 park factor). Rainiel Rodriguez remains my top catching prospect, but Duno has surpassed Josue Briceño as #2 following the latter’s early season injury and subsequent absence.

Nolan Perry (TOR) Fans 10 in Second Straight Gem for Vancouver

The Blue Jays were able to snatch Perry away from a Texas Tech commitment with a $200K bonus in the 12th round of the 2022 draft (other notable draftees in this round were Luke Adams and Zach Dezenzo). He had a Tommy John procedure in late 2024 that kept him out until this year, and he’s looked fantastic in his return. While it’s not bonkers stuff — his fastball is an above-average offering owing to its 94-96 mph velocity and flat approach angle and is his best pitch — he’s got more developmental runway than most 22-year-olds. The Blue Jays have produced a handful of notable pitching breakouts over the last 18 months (Trey Yesavage, Johnny King, Gage Stanifer, and pre-trade Juaron Watts-Brown and Khal Stephen), which makes Perry a prospect to monitor. His 1.25 ERA and 45.1% strikeout rate are two of the best marks in affiliated baseball, and he’s worth a speculative add in leagues where 250 or more prospects are rostered.

Ching-Hsien Ko (LAD) Busts Slump with Grand Slam, Two Singles, Two Walks

It’s usually a good idea to pay attention when a team as savvy as the Dodgers maneuver to sign an international amateur to a large off-cycle bonus. Ko ultimately signed in June 2024 for $750K, the second-largest bonus proffered by the team that cycle behind Emil Morales, and immediately laid waste to the DSL and Arizona Complex in rapid succession. Full-season ball has been a touch more challenging, but he’s settled into a 130 wRC+ in the Cal League with strong on-base results. He’d be mired in a minor slump that saw him strike out nearly 40% of the time over his last seven games before he reached based five times in Wednesday’s double-header. I’m bullish on him — he should be rostered in leagues with 200 or more prospect spots — but I have concerns holes in his swing will get exploited by advanced pitching and he’ll take some time to adjust as he matriculates through the Dodgers’ system.