Pipeline Preview: Moore looks to extend scoreless streak

April 17th, 2017

Here's a look at top prospects to watch in Monday's Minor League action:
Hitter to watch: (Phillies' No. 11), Reading vs. Akron (6:35 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Kingery has been showing off all his offensive tools for Double-A Reading this past week. The second baseman has clubbed four home runs in his past five games and carries a seven-game hit streak into Monday's matchup against Akron. Kingery can hit for average, too (he's batting .313 on the young season), and he even stole a pair of bases in Reading's 7-6 win against Richmond on Saturday. He's been the engine for the Fightin Phils thus far.

Pitcher to watch: (Mariners' No. 4), Arkansas at San Antonio (12:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Moore has yet to experience the feeling of giving up a run so far in 2017 after posting back-to-back scoreless six-inning outings for the Double-A Travelers. In fact, the right-hander has only allowed six baserunners through his first two outings while striking out 12. The Oregon State grad has gained attention for the self-reflective journal entries he writes after each start, a la Jamie Moyer, and one has to imagine those notes have been fairly positive so far this year. San Antonio may have its hands full Monday with this budding talent.

Duel of the day: Keegan Akin (Orioles' No. 6) at Zach Thompson (White Sox No. 30), Frederick at Winston-Salem (7 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Akin's top aim has to be keeping the ball in the yard after allowing three home runs through his first two starts of the year. The southpaw is looking to notch a solid game after lasting only 2/3 of an inning in his season debut and allowing 14 hits and nine earned runs overall through his first pair of outings. The Orioles know Akin has the requisite talent -- he allowed only three earned runs over 26 innings for Aberdeen in the New York-Penn League after he was selected by Baltimore in the second round last June -- but the adjustment to full-season ball has proven difficult for him so far.

Thompson has far more experience in organized ball, but he's off to a relatively slow start as well. The 6-foot-7 right-hander typically relies on getting ground-ball outs, but he's already coughed up two home runs through his first two starts while only getting 1.57 groundouts per every fly ball out. He's also walked six batters over his first eight innings after averaging only 3.5 walks per nine innings in 2016. Thompson has suffered through some bad luck, as three of the first seven runs he's allowed this season have been unearned.
More top prospect probables
(Royals' No. 4), Omaha vs. New Orleans (Triple-A)
Jake Esch (Marlins' No. 12), El Paso at Reno (Triple-A)
Ryan WIlliams (Cubs' No. 26), Iowa vs. Round Rock (Triple-A)
Manny Banuelos (Angels' No. 29), Salt Lake vs. Fresno (Triple-A)
Taylor Clarke (D-backs' No. 5), Jackson vs. Montgomery (Double-A)
Dillon Peters (Marlins' No. 5), Jacksonville at Pensacola (Double-A)
(Rockies' No. 7), Hartford vs. Harrisburg (Double-A)
(Cardinals' No. 8), Springfield vs. Midland (Double-A)
Yeudy Garcia (Pirates' No. 13), Altoona vs. Erie (Double-A)
Patrick Weigel (Braves' No. 15), Mississippi vs. Mobile (Double-A)
Julian Merryweather (Indians' No. 25), Akron at Reading (Double-A)
Nick Neidert (Mariners' No. 3), Modesto vs. Stockton (Class A Advanced)
Eric Lauer (Padres' No. 10), Lake Elsinore at Inland Empire (Class A Advanced)
Thomas Hatch (Cubs' No. 11), Myrtle Beach vs. Buies Creek (Class A Advanced)
Matt Krook (Giants' No. 14) vs. Justin Donatella (D-backs' No. 26), San Jose vs. Visalia (Class A Advanced)
Cody Poteet (Marlins' No. 15), Jupiter at Lakeland (Class A Advanced)
(Blue Jays' No. 16), St. Lucie at Dunedin (Class A Advanced)
Corbin Burnes (Brewers' No. 20), Carolina vs. Lynchburg (Class A Advanced)
Foster Griffin (Royals' No. 22), Wilmington at Salem (Class A Advanced)
Lachlan Wells (Twins' No. 26), Fort Myers vs. Florida (Class A Advanced)
Alec Hansen (White Sox No. 9), Kannapolis at Asheville (Class A)
Tyler Watson (Nationals' No. 19), Hagerstown at Lakewood (Class A)
Bryse Wilson (Braves' No. 24), Rome vs. Columbia (Class A)
Darwinzon Hernandez (Red Sox's No. 25), Greenville at Lexington (Class A)
Zach Muckenhirn (Orioles' No. 28), Delmarva vs. Greensboro (Class A)
Micah Miniard (Indians' No. 29), Lake County vs. Bowling Green (Class A)