Jimenez, Cease, Wilson among top prospect performers Sunday

Mitch Keller may soon be able to add Florida State League champion to his long list of accomplishments in 2016.

The Pirates’ No. 5 prospect dominated over a career-high eight innings on Sunday to pace Class A Advanced Bradenton in a 9-0 shutout of Tampa and claim a 2-1 series lead in the FSL Finals. He scattered four hits, walked a pair and notched one strikeout to go along with 11 ground-ball outs. He needed just 81 pitches (50 strikes) to complete the outing.

Keller, ranked No. 77 on the Top 100, was named Most Outstanding Pitcher of the South Atlantic League this year after he paced all qualified hurlers in the circuit with a 0.92 WHIP and finished second with a 2.46 ERA in 23 starts for Class A West Virginia. He compiled 131 strikeouts against 18 walks in 124 1/3 innings, and held opposing hitters to a .211 average and permitted just four home runs.

Keller’s breakout full-season debut netted him a promotion to Class A Advanced Bradenton before the Florida State League playoffs, and the 20-year-old right-hander responded to the challenge by tossing six scoreless frames with seven strikeouts in his Marauders debut on Aug. 30.

Keller’s success continued into postseason play, as he fanned eight batters and allowed three earned runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings to record the win in Game 1 of the FSL semifinals against St. Lucie on Sept. 6. With his win on Sunday, the righty improved to 2-0 in as many playoff starts.

The rest of the best performances from top prospects Sunday

• In his debut for Class A Advanced Myrtle Beach, No. 25 overall prospect Eloy Jimenez (Cubs’ No. 2) went 1-for-3 with two walks and an RBI to help the Pelicans defeat Lynchburg, 8-3, and even the Mills Cup championship series at one game apiece. The 19-year-old outfielder was named Midwest League MVP this season after he batted .329/.369/.532 with …

continue reading in source mlb.mlb.com