FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – Fort Wayne TinCaps shortstop Leo De Vries has been named the Midwest League Player of the Week, Minor League Baseball announced Monday.
The No. 1 Padres prospect led the Midwest League in triples, extra-base hits, and slugging percentage while being tied for the league lead in home runs and RBIs.
Across five games against the Lansing Lugnuts (A’s affiliate), De Vries went 7-for-23 with a double, two triples, and two home runs while driving in eight runs and slashing .350 AVG /.391 OBP /.900 SLG (1.291 OPS). The switch-hitter also scored two runs, walked twice, and stole one base.
An 18-year-old from Azua in the Dominican Republic, De Vries is the youngest player in all of High-A after signing for $4.2 million as an international free agent in January of 2024.
The TinCaps are at home this week – see the full schedule and events HERE
The TinCaps released the following:
De Vries began the week in historic fashion. On an offensive-heavy Tuesday night, “El Mutante” as he’s nicknamed completed the third cycle in franchise history going 5-for-5 with a single, a double, a triple, a sacrifice fly, and two home runs. In a 15-14 win, De Vries delivered a two-run go-ahead triple in the top of the ninth inning.
“It was really cool,” De Vries said afterward of his performance. “The biggest thing is I’m glad it helped the team win.”
The cycle was just the third in franchise history and first for the TinCaps since 2018, when current Cleveland Guardians infielder Gabriel Arias did it at South Bend.
Driving in eight, De Vries tied the Fort Wayne franchise record for runs batted in during a game. Only three others have met the target since the Wizards were founded in 1993.
De Vries, the No. 17 prospect in all of baseball according to MLB.com, was the first to complete the cycle with two home runs in franchise history. The rarity has been accomplished just 13 times in Minor League Baseball since 2005, most recently by current Tigers infielder Colt Keith for Double-A Erie in 2023. Since 1901, only seven MLB players have hit the mark, including Hall of Famers George Brett, Carl Yastrzemski, Ralph Kiner, Gil Hodges, and Joe DiMaggio.
De Vries is the first TinCap to be recognized as the Midwest League’s Player of the Week since Jakob Marsee in August of 2023.
Led by De Vries, the TinCaps enter a six-game homestand at Parkview Field on Tuesday against Dayton. Parkview Field’s promotions this week include Military Appreciation Night Saturday and Star Wars™ Day Sunday. TinCaps tickets start at merely $7 and can be purchased through TinCaps.com, by calling 260-482-6400, and at the Parkview Field Ticket Office.
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