Throughout the season, the MLBPipeline.com staff will name Pipeline Prospects of the Month -- one hitter and one pitcher who excelled over the previous 31 days. To qualify for selection, a player must rank among their organization's Top 20 Prospects, as listed on our Prospect Watch.
Pipeline Hitting Prospect of the Month: Kris Bryant, Tennessee Smokies
Cubs' No. 2 prospect, 29 G, .407/.492/.806, 1.298 OPS, 12 HR, 34 RBI, 30 R, 2 SB
Bryant finished May strong, hitting four home runs in the final week. But he played well throughout the month, piling up 44 hits -- including 19 for extra bases -- in 29 games.
Bryant, ranked No. 8 on MLBPipeline.com's Top 100 Prospects list, leads the Southern League in all three Triple Crown categories (.348, 18 home runs, 49 RBIs), as well as on-base percentage (.452), slugging percentage (.692), hits (70) and runs (.48).
The one downside to Bryant's production has been his strikeouts. He's whiffed 64 times this season, a rate of 27 percent. While there's always been some swing-and-miss in his game, it gives him something to work on during his time in Tennessee.
Honorable mention
Joey Gallo, 3B, Myrtle Beach Pelicans: Rangers' No. 4 prospect, 28 G, .326/.483/.783, 1.266 OPS, 12 HR, 26 RBI, 26 R, 5 SB
Corey Seager , SS, Rancho Cucamonga: Dodgers' No. 1 prospect, 27 G, .400/.455/.700, 1.155 OPS, 6 HR, 24 RBI, 20 R, 1 SB
Michael Taylor , OF, Harrisburg: Nationals' No. 4 prospect, 29 G, .374/.446/.720, 1.166 OPS, 9 HR, 22 RBI, 23 R, 9 SB
*****
Pipeline Pitching Prospect of the Month: Daniel Norris, Dunedin Blue Jays
Blue Jays' No. 4 prospect, 1-0, 0.68 ERA, 5 GS, 26 1/3 IP, 20 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 8 BB, 34 K
Norris was remarkably consistent over the last month. He didn't allow more than one run in any of his five starts and turned in a pair of scoreless outings. He lowered his season ERA to 0.72, the best in the Minor Leagues among qualifying pitchers.
In 10 starts this season, Norris, ranked No. 99 on the Top 100 prospects list, is 4-0 and has a 60-to-14 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 50 1/3 innings. He ranks third in the Florida State League in strikeouts and WHIP (0.99).
Norris' dominant start to the season comes after a rocky first two years as a professional. He began to put everything together in the second half of 2013, making his delivery more consistent and throwing more strikes. Those changes have carried over to this year and his fastball velocity has ticked up as well.
Honorable mention
Hunter Harvey, RHP, Delmarva Shorebirds: Orioles' No. 3 prospect, 2-2, 1.30 ERA, 5 GS, 27 2/3 IP, 17 H, 9 R, 4 ER, 7 BB, 35 K
Francellis Montas , RHP, Winston-Salem Dash: White Sox No. 16 prospect, 3-0, 1.50 ERA, 5 GS, 30 IP, 19 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 5 BB, 34 K
Jimmy Nelson , RHP, Nashville Sounds: Brewers' No. 1 prospect, 3-0, 1.34 ERA, 5 GS, 33 2/3 IP, 21 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 10 BB, 38 K
Henry Owens, LHP, Portland SeaDogs: Red Sox No. 1 prospect, 3-2, 1.51 ERA, 6 GS, 35 2/3 IP, 16 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 18 BB, 39 K
Teddy Cahill is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @tedcahill. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
