Cozens, Honeywell among top prospect performers Friday

For much of the season, it’s been either Dylan Cozens or Rhys Hoskins pacing the Minor Leagues in home runs. On Friday, it was Cozens who took the outright lead as he belted his 36th and 37th home runs to help power Double-A Reading to a 9-1 rout against Erie in Game 1 of a doubleheader.

Cozens began the game 0-for-3 at the plate before he launched a solo shot in the top of the eighth inning. The Phillies’ No. 7 prospect wasn’t done yet, however, as he connected on a two-run homer in the following frame.

Cozens also starred for Reading in the nightcap, as he went 3-for-4 and drove in three runs to increase his Minor League-leading RBI total to 114. Though he failed to leave the yard in the contest, the 22-year-old outfielder delivered a key bases-clearing double, his 36th two-bagger, with two outs in the second inning. Cozens also swiped second base in the first inning, making him the first 20-homer, 20-steal player in the Minors this year.

Overall, Cozens has posted a .294/.372/.633 slash line through 117 games for the Fightin Phils, with 100 runs scored and 20 steals to go along with his impressive power numbers.

The rest of the best performances from top prospects Friday

• No. 10 overall prospect Austin Meadows hit a three-run home run to help power Indianapolis past Louisville, 8-7. The deep fly was the Pirates’ No. 2 prospect’s third with the Indians and seventh of the season. Overall, Meadows, 21, is hitting .290/.349/.569 with 44 extra-base hits and 13 steals through 72 games across three levels.

• No. 46 overall prospect Brent Honeywell (Rays’ No. 2) tossed six scoreless innings in what turned out to be a no-decision for Double-A Montgomery. The 21-year-old righty allowed four hits and struck out five, throwing 61 of his 91 pitches for strikes in the outing. He’s …

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