Top prospects to duel on MLB.com, MLB Network
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- A duel between two of the game's top right-handed pitching prospects highlights this afternoon's televised spotlight on the Arizona Fall League.
Dylan Bundy, formerly the top-ranked pitching prospect in all of baseball, gets the ball for Peoria against Surprise's Luke Weaver, the Cardinals' No. 8 prospect, in the 2:35 p.m. ET game at Salt River Fields, carried live on MLB.com and MLB Network. MLB Pipeline's Jim Callis will share the call with Paul Severino.
Bundy is currently rated by MLBPipeline.com as the Orioles' No. 2 prospect. The 2011 fourth overall Draft pick made his first start since May 21 on Monday, throwing one perfect inning for the Javelinas. He had Tommy John surgery in '13, then was shut down with shoulder inflammation this past May.
Reds No. 6 prospect Nick Travieso was originally slated to start for Peoria. He'll follow Bundy, who is expected to go one inning. Travieso, last week's Fall League Pitcher of the Week, has yet to pick up a decision in three AFL starts but sports an ERA of 1.50 in 12 innings, with 13 strikeouts against one walk.
Weaver will be getting his first start after four relief appearances in which he has gone 1-0 with 12 whiffs in 10 1/3 innings.
The game between the West Division rivals will also feature several of the AFL's offensive leaders.
The Surprise Saguaros' dominant attack features Gary Sanchez, who is tops in homers (six), RBIs (17), hits (20) and total bases (43). Sanchez is joined in the lineup by such forces as Bubba Starling (four homers and .558 slugging percentage) and Yadiel Rivera (.372 average).
Peoria's Phillip Ervin is second in the AFL with eight stolen bases, and Adrian Marin is among the league leaders with his .333 average.
Also on Surprise's roster is Texas' Jurickson Profar, who was once rated No. 1 among MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects. As far as highly rated prospects are concerned, however, Profar will have a lot of company on Friday's telecast.
The following are position players positioned in their respective MLB team's list of Top 30 prospects:
Peoria
Johan Camargo (Braves' No. 20)
D.J. Peterson (Mariners' No. 3)
Chance Sisco (Orioles' No. 8)
Mike Yastrzemski (Orioles' No. 13)
Marin (Orioles' No. 25)
Fernando Perez (Padres' No. 15)
Nick Torres (Padres' No. 21)
Alex Blandino (Reds' No. 7)
Ervin (Reds' No. 11)
Chad Wallach (Reds' No. 27)
Surprise
Brett Phillips (Brewers' No. 2)
Michael Reed (Brewers' No. 17)
Rivera (Brewers' No. 18)
Charlie Tilson (Cardinals' No. 7)
Patrick Wisdom (Cardinals' No. 12)
Mike Ohlman (Cardinals' No. 27)
Ronald Guzman (Rangers' No. 23)
Evan Van Hoosier (Rangers' No. 21)
Starling (Royals' No. 5)
Sanchez (Yankees' No. 5)
Tyler Wade (Yankees' No. 9)
Dustin Fowler (Yankees' No. 18)