Minor League roundup, August 5: The day for the Js!

EVERETT, WA - JUNE 07: Infielder Jhonny Level #23 of the Eugene Emeralds prepares to swing during a game between the Eugene Emeralds and Everett AquaSox on June 7, 2026 at Funko Field in Everett, Washington. (Photo by Henry Rodenburg/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Apologies for the late Minor League Baseball roundup, but the Mike Krukow news set me back a bit today, both emotionally and in terms of labor. So let’s speed run Wednesday’s games from the San Francisco Giants affiliates … it was a great day for players whose name starts with a J!

Link to the 2026 McCovey Chronicles Community Prospect List (CPL)

All listed positions in the roundup are the position played in that particular game.

News

Four pieces of news, all good: LHP Esmerlin Vinicio has been promoted from High-A Eugene to AA Richmond. And Richmond RHP RJ Dabovich, who has had awful injury luck, has been given a rehab assignment with Low-A San Jose.

And finally, AAA Sacramento outfielder Turner Hill was named Player of the Month in the Pacific Coast League, while outfielder Franco Willias earned those honors in the Dominican Summer League.

AAA Sacramento (62-45)

Sacramento River Cats lost to the Round Rock Express (Rangers) 13-10 (11 innings) Box score

A fantastic day in the batter’s box for the River Cats, especially for the outfielders. It was a day that ends in “day,” so center fielder Turner Hill put on a show, hitting 3-5 with a home run and a double, though he had the ultra-rare (for him) strikeout as well.

That's our Player of the Month 🥳 Hill with his 8th homer of the year! 104.3mph | 418ft pic.twitter.com/9RmpOsMo2n

— Sacramento River Cats (@RiverCats) August 6, 2026

With that, the 27-year old lefty’s hitting streak is up to 21 games, during which time he’s 39-87 with 10 extra-base hits, 8 walks, and just 7 strikeouts. My word, Turner! The undrafted free agent is doing everything in his control to ensure that he’s not just a feel-good story, but someone who could be helping a Major League roster … it’s now a .926 OPS and a 144 wRC+ for Hill, with 23 stolen bases and super solid defense. What a prospect he has become!

He was flanked by some exciting performances in the grass. Right fielder Scott Bandura had another stellar day, hitting 3-5 with 2 doubles, a walk, and a stolen base. After a slow start to his AAA campaign, Bandura has caught absolute fire: since June 26, the just-turned 25-year old lefty, taken in the 7th round of the 2023 draft, has hit 44-119 with 5 home runs, 8 doubles, and 28 walks. 28 walks!

That’s brought him up to an .838 OPS and a 121 wRC+, with 15 stolen bases. He’s now pretty much a slam dunk Rule 5 protection, in my eyes … which might mean he gets added to the roster before then.

And on the other side of Hill, in left field, was Victor Bericoto (No. 35 CPL), who began a rehab assignment! That was great to see, and Bericoto hit 1-3 with a double before getting subbed out. He probably won’t need too many rehab games before he’s manning left field for San Francisco on a near-daily basis.

Jonah Cox doesn’t technically get to join the outfielders for this game, as he was the designated hitter, but he’s always an outfielder in spirit, and he gets clumped with that trio due to his performance: Cox hit 3-5 with a walk, 2 stolen bases, and a strikeout. He’s done nothing but hit since making his AAA debut last week, first as a rehab assignment and now after being optioned. It’s important development for Cox after he looked overmatched in the Majors, but if he keeps hitting like this, he’ll be back soon enough.

Second baseman Diego Velasquez (No. 31 CPL) made his long-awaited AAA debut, and it went quite well, as he hit 2-4 with a hit by pitch, though he also struck out twice. Fantastic seeing him the switch-hitter finally get to test himself in the Majors.

Velasquez with his first Triple A hit! 💥 pic.twitter.com/umauu1xN3f

— Sacramento River Cats (@RiverCats) August 6, 2026

Rough days for the top prospects, though, as left fielder Bo Davidson (No. 4 CPL) replaced Bericoto and hit 0-2 with a sacrifice fly, while third baseman Parks Harber (No. 17 CPL) went 0-4 with 2 walks, 2 strikeouts, and an error. Davidson has really struggled since getting promoted, while Harber was red hot but has since cooled down.

In exciting news, LHP Joe Whitman (No. 26 CPL returned to the rotation following a brief and confusing foray in the bullpen. Unfortunately, that’s where the good news ends, as Whitman did not follow the theme of the day, and was one of the few J names who struggled: he only made it through 2 innings, while giving up 5 hits, 4 extra-base hits, 2 walks, and 3 runs, with just 1 strikeout. It does seem like the River Cats were going to use him an as actual starter, though, as he threw 43 pitches (only 21 strikes, though).

But RHP Braxton Roxby had another great day, and was more than perfect. He didn’t allow a single baserunner, and needed to face just 8 batters to get 9 outs! Roxby entered in the 3rd after Whitman departed with 2 on and 0 outs, and got out of the inning cleanly, thanks in part to a caught stealing by he and catcher Thomas Gavello.

Roxby, who struck out 1 batter, has overcome his very slow start to the season. He had an 11.00 ERA after his May 1 outing, but since then has pitched 38.2 innings while giving up just 27 hits, 14 walks, and 10 earned runs, lowering his season ERA to 3.97, though his FIP is just 5.08.

AA Richmond (61-40)

Richmond Flying Squirrels beat the Reading Fightin Phils (Phillies) 6-5 Box score

Well, a pretty awesome performance on the mound from LHP Greg Farone. He had a dominant showing, giving up just 4 hits (all singles), 2 walks, and 1 run in 5.2 innings, while striking out 10 batters. 10!

🔟 strikeouts tonight for Greg Farone 👌 pic.twitter.com/D8JtFpJQ1a

— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) August 6, 2026

It’s been a bit of a rough 2nd season for Farone, who has a 5.78 ERA and a 5.54 ...

Indexed and credited by AIPROPX. Originating outlet: Yahoo Sports. Open at source →