Pipeline Preview: Phillips seeking another multi-hit effort

April 20th, 2017

Here's a look at top prospects to watch in today's Minor League action:
Hitter to watch: (Brewers' No. 11), Colorado Springs vs. Memphis (8:40 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Phillips connected on a pair of home runs on Wednesday, hitting a grand slam and later a solo homer, en route to six RBIs for Triple-A Colorado Springs. Phillips, 22, has been on fire of late, collecting multiple hits in four straight games and going 9-for-16 with eight RBIs in that span. Overall, he's batting .318/.375/.568 with three homers and 12 RBIs through 11 contests.

Pitcher to watch: (Braves' No. 8), Mississippi vs. Mobile (8 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Fried rebounded nicely from a shaky season debut in his second Mississippi start, allowing just two hits while tossing six innings of one-run ball. Ranked as MLB Pipeline's No. 100 overall prospect, the 23-year-old left-hander is in his first season at the Double-A level after spending all of 2016 with Class A Rome. He's pitched to a 3.52 ERA through two starts, compiling six strikeouts and five walks in 7 2/3 innings.

Duel of the day: Franklin Perez (Astros' No. 6) vs. Cody Ponce (Brewers' No. 15), Buies Creek at Carolina (7 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Perez has been nearly unhittable to begin the season. The 19-year-old righty has given up just one hit in 9 1/3 scoreless frames through his first two outings for Class A Advanced Buies Creek, with three walks and seven strikeouts. In his most recent performance, Perez entered in the sixth inning and proceeded to toss four hitless innings en route to his second career save.

Ponce, 22, also has fared well in the early going, going 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA in his first two starts for Carolina. The big right-hander worked seven innings in both outings, and he enters the day with a perfect 10-to-0 strikeout-to-walk ratio through 14 frames.

Thursday's Top 100 prospect probables
No. 14 (White Sox No. 3), Birmingham at Tennessee (5:30 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 52 (Rangers' No. 2), Frisco vs. Corpus Christi (8:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 58 (Brewers' No. 4), Biloxi at Chattanooga (7:15 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 69 (Rockies' No. 4), Albuquerque vs. Reno (8:35 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 92 Cal Quantrill (Padres' No. 4), Lake Elsinore at Inland Empire (10 p.m. ET)
More top prospect probables
(Giants' No. 8), Sacramento vs. Salt Lake (Triple-A)
(Royals' No. 9), Omaha at Round Rock (Triple-A)
(Padres' No. 12) vs. (Mariners' No. 18), El Paso vs. Tacoma (Triple-A)
(Indians' No. 17), Columbus at Lehigh Valley (Triple-A)
(Braves' No. 18), Gwinnett vs. Rochester (Triple-A)
(Pirates' No. 22) vs. (Rays' No. 24), Indianapolis vs. Durham (Triple-A)
Frank Duncan (D-backs' No. 24), Reno at Albuquerque (Triple-A)
Trevor Clifton (Cubs' No. 7), Tennessee vs. Birmingham (Double-A)
Brad Keller (D-backs' No. 7), Jackson vs. Montgomery (Double-A)
(Twins' No. 9), Chattanooga vs. Biloxi (Double-A)
Andrew Suarez (Giants' No. 10) vs. David Hess (Orioles' No. 28), Richmond at Bowie (Double-A)
(Cardinals' No. 14), Springfield at Arkansas (Double-A)
(Padres' No. 17), San Antonio at Midland (Double-A)
(Royals' No. 17), NW Arkansas vs. Tulsa (Double-A)
Francisco Rios (Blue Jays' No. 18), New Hampshire at Trenton (Double-A)
Jalen Beeks (Red Sox's No. 27), Portland at Binghamton (Double-A)
Justin Dunn (Mets' No. 3) vs. T.J. Zeuch (Blue Jays' No. 7), St. Lucie at Dunedin (Class A Advanced)
Franklyn Kilome (Phillies' No. 5) vs. Taylor Hearn (Pirates' No. 12), Clearwater at Bradenton (Class A Advanced)
Touki Toussaint (Braves' No. 11), Florida at Fort Myers (Class A Advanced)
A.J. Puckett (Royals' No. 11), Wilmington vs. Winston-Salem (Class A Advanced)
Vladimir Gutierrez (Reds' No. 12), Daytona vs. Charlotte (Class A Advanced)
Ian Clarkin (Yankees' No. 20) vs. Zac Gallen (Cardinals' No. 24), Tampa at Palm Beach (Class A Advanced)
Joey Wentz (Braves' No. 13), Rome at Greenville (Class A)
Shane Bieber (Indians' No. 16), Lake County at West Michigan (Class A)
Alex Wells (Orioles' No. 16), Delmarva at Hagerstown (Class A)
Logan Allen (Padres' No. 19), Fort Wayne at Great Lakes (Class A)
Ronnie Williams (Cardinals' No. 25), Peoria at Wisconsin (Class A)
Osman Gutierrez (Blue Jays' No. 26), Lansing vs. Bowling Green (Class A)