Pipeline Preview: Hays looks to continue breakout

July 22nd, 2017

Here's a look at top prospects to watch in today's Minor League action:
Hitter to watch: Austin Hays (Orioles' No. 7), Bowie vs. Altoona (6:35 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Hays' breakout season continued on Friday as he went 2-for-5 with a home run, a double and three RBIs to lead Double-A Bowie in a win against Altoona. The homer was his seventh in 26 games in the Eastern League, and he's now gone deep 23 times in 90 contests this season. Overall, the 22-year-old outfielder has slashed .324/.358/.587 with 49 extra-base hits and 64 RBIs across two levels in his first full professional campaign.

Pitcher to watch: Nick Neidert (Mariners' No. 2), Arkansas vs. Springfield (7:10 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Neidert, 20, will be making his Double-A debut on Saturday when he takes the mound for Arkansas. The promotion comes after the right-hander dominated to the tune of a 10-3 record and a 2.76 ERA over 19 starts for Class A Advanced Modesto. He allowed more than three earned runs just once during his time in the California League, all while compiling 109 strikeouts and 17 walks in 104 1/3 innings.

Duel of the day: (Braves' No. 9) vs. (Brewers' No. 19), Mississippi vs. Biloxi (7 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Gohara, No. 98 on the Top 100, is still in search of his second win as a member of Double-A Mississippi after logging five straight no-decisions. The 20-year-old southpaw has been anything but overmatched in the Southern League, posting a 2.93 ERA with 49 strikeouts and a .219 opponents' average in 46 innings spanning 11 outings (10 starts).

Peralta has improved his stock this season as much as any Brewers pitching prospect not named Corbin Burnes. The 21-year-old right-hander has been outstanding since his promotion to Double-A Biloxi, posting a 2.59 ERA in 24 1/3 innings across five outings (four starts). He's compiled 38 strikeouts against nine walks in that span while limiting opposing hitters to a .193 average. Overall, Peralta has a 2.90 ERA with 116 strikeouts and 40 walks in 80 2/3 frames across two levels.
Saturday's Top 100 prospect probables
No. 34 Jay Groome (Red Sox's No. 2), Greenville at Hickory (7 p.m. ET)
No. 92 Franklin Perez (Astros' No. 6), Corpus Christi at Midland (8 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
More top prospect probables
Chris Lee (Orioles' No. 6), Norfolk at Pawtucket (Triple-A)
(Pirates' No. 8) vs. (Braves' No. 18), Indianapolis at Gwinnett (Triple-A)
(Reds' No. 16), Louisville vs. Buffalo (Triple-A)
Ariel Jurado (Rangers' No. 3) vs. Joey Lucchesi (Padres' No. 19), Frisco vs. San Antonio (Double-A)
Beau Burrows (Tigers' No. 3) vs. (Phillies' No. 20), Erie at Reading (Double-A)
(Twins' No. 4) vs. Grayson Long (Angels' No. 5), Chattanooga at Mobile (Double-A)
(Nationals' No. 6), Harrisburg vs. Binghamton (Double-A)
Conner Greene (Blue Jays' No. 7), New Hampshire at Trenton (Double-A)
Dakota Hudson (Cardinals' No. 10), Springfield at Arkansas (Double-A)
Tanner Scott (Orioles' No. 10), Bowie vs. Altoona (Double-A)
Spencer Adams (White Sox No. 15), Birmingham vs. Jackson (Double-A)
Foster Griffin (Royals' No. 20), NW Arkansas vs. Tulsa (Double-A)
Justin Dunn (Mets' No. 3) vs. (Braves' No. 19), St. Lucie at Florida (Class A Advanced)
Franklyn Kilome (Phillies' No. 5), Clearwater at Bradenton (Class A Advanced)
A.J. Puckett (Royals' No. 10) vs. Brian Gonzalez (Orioles' No. 20), Wilmington at Frederick (Class A Advanced)
(Tigers' No. 10), Lakeland at Dunedin (Class A Advanced)
Shaun Anderson (Red Sox's No. 16), Salem at Winston-Salem (Class A Advanced)
Jonathan Hernandez (Rangers' No. 18), Down East at Myrtle Beach (Class A Advanced)
Jordan Sheffield (Dodgers' No. 8), Great Lakes at Quad Cities (Class A)
Adonis Medina (Phillies' No. 14), Lakewood at Charleston (Class A)
Mason Thompson (Padres' No. 21), Fort Wayne vs. Kane County (Class A)
Nick Wells (Mariners' No. 23), Clinton at Lake County (Class A)
Bryse Wilson (Braves' No. 24), Rome vs. Delmarva (Class A)
Gregory Soto (Tigers' No. 29), West Michigan at Wisconsin (Class A)