Pipeline Preview: O'Neill looks to continue hot streak

July 19th, 2017

Here's a look at top prospects to watch in today's Minor League action:
Hitter to watch: Tyler O'Neill (Mariners' No. 2), Tacoma at Albuquerque (9:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
O'Neill, MLB Pipeline's No. 29 overall prospect, enters the day having homered in three straight games for Triple-A Tacoma after he went deep in both games of a doubleheader on Tuesday. The 22-year-old slugger has connected on six homers in 14 games in July to push his season total to 17 homers. O'Neill's average, meanwhile, has improved from .227 to .243 during that stretch.

Pitcher to watch: (Yankees' No. 18), Trenton at Portland (noon ET on MiLB.TV)
Littell received a no-decision in his last start for Double-A Trenton even though he allowed just one earned run on six hits in seven innings. The 21-year-old righty has been sharp during his time in the Eastern League, posting a 4-0 record with a 1.59 ERA and a 39-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 34 innings (five starts).

Duel of the day: (Brewers' No. 4) vs. Mike Soroka (Braves' No. 4), Biloxi at Mississippi (8 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Ortiz, No. 51 on the Top 100, has struggled for Double-A Biloxi since returning from a three-week stint on the disabled list for a hamstring injury. The 21-year-old righty has pitched to a 8.36 ERA over his last 14 innings (four starts), while opposing hitters are slashing .328/.397/.459 against him in that span. Overall, Ortiz owns a 4.12 ERA in 15 starts this season, with 59 strikeouts and a .224 opponents' average in 67 2/3 frames.

Soroka, No. 64 overall, fired seven scoreless innings to pace Mississippi in a shutout in his first start since the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game. The 19-year-old righty scattered four hits, struck out six and induced seven ground-ball outs while throwing 61 of his 94 pitches for strikes. He's 10-5 in 17 starts this season, with a 2.37 ERA that ranks first among active Southern League hurlers.

Wednesday's Top 100 prospect probables
No. 49 Erick Fedde (Nationals' No. 2), Syracuse at Louisville (7:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 59 (White Sox No. 8), Charlotte at Rochester (7:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 72 (A's No. 3), Midland at San Antonio (8:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 74 Tyler Beede (Giants' No. 1), Sacramento vs. El Paso (3:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
More top prospect probables
(Pirates' No. 7), Indianapolis at Durham (Triple-A)
Taylor Clarke (D-backs' No. 4), Jackson at Birmingham (Double-A)
Jaime Barria (Angels' No. 8), Mobile vs. Chattanooga (Double-A)
Josh Sborz (Dodgers' No. 15), Tulsa vs. Arkansas (Double-A)
(Reds' No. 19) vs. Genesis Cabrera (Rays' No. 28), Montgomery vs. Pensacola (Double-A)
(Giants' No. 20), Richmond at Erie (Double-A)
(Mets' No. 22), Binghamton vs. Akron Game 2 (Double-A)
Chris Ellis (Cardinals' No. 26), Springfield vs. Northwest Arkansas (Double-A)
Trey Ball (Red Sox's No. 28), Portland vs. Trenton (Double-A)
Preston Morrison (Cubs' No. 29), Tennessee at Jacksonville (Double-A)
Touki Toussaint (Braves' No. 11), Florida vs. Lakeland (Class A Advanced)
Jordan Hicks (Cardinals' No. 17), Palm Beach vs. Daytona (Class A Advanced)
Connor Jones (Cardinals' No. 20), Palm Beach vs. Daytona (Class A Advanced)
Jordan Romano (Blue Jays' No. 22), Dunedin vs. Clearwater (Class A Advanced)
Taylor Widener (Yankees' No. 25), Tampa at Charlotte (Class A Advanced)
Curtis Taylor (D-backs' No. 11), Kane Count at Lake County (Class A)
Garrett Williams (Giants' No. 25), Augusta vs. Delmarva (Class A)
(White Sox No. 26), Kannapolis vs. West Virginia (Class A)
Jose Suarez (Angels' No. 27), Burlington at Bowling Green (Class A)
Alex Speas (Rangers' No. 9), Spokane vs. Salem-Keizer (Class A Short Season)
Sam Perez (Marlins' No. 16), Batavia at Mahoning Valley (Class A Short Season)