Flaherty looking to spin another gem for Springfield

May 5th, 2017

Here's a look at top prospects to watch in today's Minor League action:
Hitter to watch: Alex Verdugo (Dodgers' No. 3), Oklahoma City vs. Colorado Springs (8:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Verdugo, ranked 54th on MLBPipeline.com's Top 100 Prospects list, drove in a pair of runs on Thursday in a 1-for-3 performance for Triple-A Oklahoma City. Despite being more than five years younger than the average Triple-A player, the 20-year-old outfielder has more than held his own against older competition, hitting .333/.413/.422 with six extra-base hits and as many walks as strikeouts (12) through 25 games.

Pitcher to watch: Jack Flaherty (Cardinals' No. 8), Springfield vs. NW Arkansas (8:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Flaherty, 21, enters Friday's start for Double-A Springfield as the Texas League leader in wins (4-0), ERA (0.56) and WHIP (0.80). He's allowed just two earned runs on 22 hits in 32 1/3 innings, with 28 strikeouts and just four walks, and he's completed at least six innings in four of his five starts.

Duel of the day: (Rangers' No. 2) vs. (Padres' No. 15), Frisco vs. San Antonio (8:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Mendez, No. 50 on the Top 100, got the best of De Los Santos when the two pitchers squared off on April 25, tossing seven scoreless innings of one-hit ball with a season-high seven strikeouts. Though he scuffled in his last turn for Frisco, the 22-year-old lefty still features a 3.56 ERA in 30 1/3 innings (five starts).

De Los Santos will be looking to get back on track for the Missions after he allowed eight earned runs in four innings in his last start. After a strong start his season, the 21-year-old righty has pitched to a 10.03 ERA in 11 2/3 innings over his past three starts.
Friday's Top 100 prospect probables
No. 40 (White Sox No. 4), Charlotte vs. Gwinnett (7:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 42 Mitch Keller (Pirates' No. 3), Bradenton vs. Dunedin (6:30 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 45 Riley Pint (Rockies' No. 3) vs. Alec Hansen (White Sox No. 9), Asheville at Kannapolis (7:05 p.m. ET)
No. 62 A.J. Puk (A's No. 2), Stockton vs. San Jose (10:10 p.m. ET)
No. 81 Tyler Beede (Giants' No. 1), Sacramento at Fresno (10:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
More top prospect probables
(Twins' No. 8), Rochester vs. Pawtucket (Triple-A)
(Pirates' No. 9) vs. (Indians' No. 23), Indianapolis at Columbus (Triple-A)
(Rays' No. 9), Durham at Norfolk (Triple-A)
(Phillies' No. 17), Lehigh Valley at Buffalo (Triple-A)
Frank Duncan (D-backs' No. 24), Reno vs. Salt Lake (Triple-A)
Taylor Clarke (D-backs' No. 5) vs. Grayson Long (Angels' No. 6), Mobile vs. Jackson (Double-A)
(Mariners' No. 5) vs. Joshua Sborz (Dodgers' No. 16), Arkansas vs. Tulsa (Double-A)
Conner Greene (Blue Jays' No. 6), New Hampshire vs. Binghamton. Game 2 Sam Coonrod (Giants' No. 13) vs. John Means (Orioles' No. 25), Richmond vs. Bowie (Double-A)
Yeudy Garcia (Pirates' No. 13), Altoona at Akron (Double-A)
Duane Underwood Jr. (Cubs' No. 15), Tennessee vs. Jacksonville (Double-A)
(Tigers' No. 16), Erie vs. Trenton (Double-A)
Francisco Rios (Blue Jays' No. 18), New Hampshire vs. Binghamton (Double-A)
Sam Howard (Rockies' No. 18), Hartford at Harrisburg (Double-A)
(Reds' No. 19), Pensacola at Chattanooga (Double-A)
Jalen Beeks (Red Sox's No. 27), Portland vs. Reading (Double-A)
Cody Sedlock (Orioles' No. 2), Frederick at Carolina (Class A Advanced)
Eric Lauer (Padres' No. 8), Lake Elsinore at Modesto (Class A Advanced)
Lachlan Wells (Twins' No. 26), Fort Myers at St. Lucie (Class A Advanced)
Brady Aiken (Indians' No. 5) vs. Cionel Perez (Astros' No. 16), Lake County at Quad Cities (Class A)
Justin Maese (Blue Jays' No. 10) vs. Joe Gatto (Angels' No. 26), Lansing vs. Burlington (Class A)
Michael Shawaryn (Red Sox's No. 12) vs. Melvin Adon (Giants' No. 26), Greenville vs. Augusta (Class A)
Matthias Dietz (Orioles' No. 13), Delmarva at Charleston (Class A)
Adonis Medina (Phillies' No. 16), Lakewood at Columbia (Class A)
(D-backs' No. 19), Kane County at West Michigan (Class A)
Bryse Wilson (Braves' No. 24), Rome at Greensboro (Class A)
Bryan Hudson (Cubs' No. 24), South Bend vs. Clinton (Class A)