Pipeline Preview: Guerrero Jr. looks to continue power surge

August 20th, 2017

Here's a look at top prospects to watch in today's Minor League action:
Hitter to watch: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Blue Jays No. 1), Dunedin Blue Jays vs. St. Lucie Mets (1 p.m. ET)
Guerrero, the No. 6 overall prospect, has homered in three straight games and will try to make it four in a row Sunday against the St. Lucie Mets. Guerrero is hitting .328 through 35 games with Dunedin after hitting .316 through 71 games with Class A Lansing.

Pitcher to watch: A.J. Puk (A's No. 2), Midland Rockhounds vs. Arkansas Travelers (3 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Puk will toe the rubber for the Rockhounds in Sunday's series finale. The former first-round Draft pick has held his opponent to three or fewer earned runs in six consecutive starts and tossed a season-high 100 pitches in his last outing.

Duel of the Day: (White Sox No. 7) vs. Brigham Hill (Nationals No. 20), Kannapolis vs. Hagerstown (2:05 p.m. ET)
Sunday's matchup between the South Atlantic League's Kannapolis Intimidators and the Hagerstown Suns features a prime pitching matchup with two top prospects toeing the rubber. Cease, the No. 65 overall prospect, will start for the Intimidators. He hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in any appearance this season, but is still seeking his first win (0-6) since he was traded from the Cubs to the White Sox.

Hill will be looking to bounce back from a tough outing against Hickory that broke up a string of strong starts. He allowed a career-high six runs on seven hits and two walks in his last outing after having strung together six starts of three earned runs or fewer to begin his career.
Sunday's Top 100 prospect probables
No. 72 overall Stephen Gonsalves (Twins' No. 3), Rochester vs. Louisville (2:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
More top prospect probables
(Phillies' No. 26), Lehigh Valley vs. Charlotte (Triple-A)
(Yankees' No. 21), Durham vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Triple-A)
Dakota Hudson (Cardinals' No. 8), New Orleans vs. Memphis (Triple-A)
David Hess (Orioles' No. 29), Erie vs. Bowie (Double-A)
(Blue Jays' No. 14), Altoona vs. New Hampshire (Double-A)
Austin Gomber (Cardinals' No. 15), Corpus Christi vs. Springfield (Double-A)
Spencer Adams (White Sox's No. 15), Montgomery vs. Birmingham (Double-A)
Jesus Castillo (Angels' No. 15), Jacksonville vs. Mobile (Double-A)
Ariel Jurado (Rangers' No. 9), Northwest Arkansas vs. Frisco (Double-A)
Dennis Santana (Dodgers' No. 12), San Antonio vs. Tulsa (Double-A)
Jordan Romano (Blue Jays' No. 19), Dunedin vs. St. Lucie (Class A Advanced)
Brock Burke (Rays' No. 16), Clearwater vs. Charlotte (Class A Advanced)
Cody Ponce (Brewers' No. 21), Frederick vs. Carolina (Class A Advanced)
Joe Gatto (Angels' No. 26), Lancaster vs. Inland Empire (Class A Advanced)
Matthias Dietz (Orioles' No. 24), Delmarva vs. Lakewood (Class A)
Alex Wells (Orioles' No. 16), Delmarva vs. Lakewood (Class A)
(Phillies' No. 19), Augusta vs. Charleston (Class A)
Brady Aiken (Indians' No. 25), Dayton vs. Lake County (Class A)
Brigham Hill (Nationals' No. 20), Annapolis vs. Hagerstown (Class A)
Oscar Tovar (A's No. 27), Connecticut vs. Vermont (Class A Short Season)
Cory Abbott (Cubs' No. 23), Boise vs. Eugene (Class A Short Season)