Pipeline Preview: Williams riding hot stretch for IronPigs

June 3rd, 2017

Here's a look at top prospects to watch in today's Minor League action:
Hitter to watch: (Phillies' No. 4), Lehigh Valley at Louisville (6:35 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Williams stayed hot on Friday as he connected on a three-run homer in a 2-for-4 performance for Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The homer was the 23-year-old outfielder's sixth in the past 10 games and gives him 11 for the season, while the multi-hit performance improved his slash line to .283/.317/.513 through 52 games.

Pitcher to watch: Eric Lauer (Padres' No. 8), Lake Elsinore at San Jose (8 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Lauer has shown in his first full season exactly why the Padres used a first-round pick on him (No. 25 overall) last June, as the 22-year-old lefty ranks second in ERA (1.97) in the Class A Advanced California League through eight starts for Lake Elsinore. He went three straight starts without allowing an earned run before surrendering three in his most recent turn -- something Lauer's done just twice this season. He's missed plenty of bats too, with 55 strikeouts in 45 2/3 innings.

Duel of the day: Jon Duplantier (D-backs' No. 8) vs. Cionel Perez (Astros' No. 16), Kane County at Quad Cities (7:35 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Duplantier has pitched superbly in his full-season debut, as he enters Saturday's start for Class A Kane County as the Minor League leader in both ERA (0.50) and batting average against (.139). What's more, the 22-year-old right-hander has gone five straight starts without allowing an earned run, during which he's allowed just 14 hits with 29 strikeouts and four walks in 29 innings. Overall, he's posted 62 strikeouts against 11 walks in 54 1/3 innings (nine starts/10 appearances).

After scuffling to begin his U.S. career, Perez, 21, has shown more consistency in his last two starts for Quad Cities, the first of which saw him spin seven hitless innings with a career-high 10 strikeouts. The left-hander fanned seven while allowing two earned runs on four hits across five innings in his most recent turn. Signed for $2 million in December, Perez owns a 5.88 ERA with 29 strikeouts in 26 innings spanning six appearances (five starts) this season.

Saturday's Top 100 prospect probables
No. 44 Riley Pint (Rockies' No. 3), Asheville vs. Lakewood (6:05 p.m. ET)
No. 56 Sean Reid-Foley (Blue Jays' No. 2), New Hampshire at Hartford (6:35 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 61 A.J. Puk (A's No. 2), Stockton vs. Lancaster (10:10 p.m. ET)
No. 83 Walker Bueher (Dodgers' No. 3), Tulsa vs. Corpus Christi (8:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
More top prospect probables
Chris Lee (Orioles' No. 6), Norfolk vs. Rochester (Triple-A)
(Pirates' No. 7) vs. Patrick Weigel (Braves' No. 15), Indianapolis vs. Gwinnett (Triple-A)
Brandon Woodruff (Brewers' No. 8), Colorado Springs at Oklahoma City (Triple-A)
(Red Sox's No. 11), Pawtucket at Durham (Triple-A)
(Phillies' No. 12), Lehigh Valley (Triple-A)
Chris Stratton (Giants' No. 21), Sacramento at Albuquerque (Triple-A)
Sandy Alcantara (Cardinals' No. 7), Springfield vs. San Antonio (Double-A)
(Braves' No. 10), Mississippi at Jackson (Double-A)
Andrew Suarez (Giants' No. 10), Richmond vs. Trenton (Double-A)
Duane Underwood Jr. (Cubs' No. 15), Tennessee at Montgomery (Double-A)
(Tigers' No. 15), Erie vs. Harrisburg (Double-A)
(Reds' No. 18), Pensacola vs. Jacksonville (Double-A)
(Double-A)
P.J. Conlon (Mets' No. 22), Binghamton vs. Portland (Double-A)
Corey Ray (Royals' No. 25), NW Arkansas at Midland (Double-A)
Jake Jewell (Angels' No. 26), Mobile at Biloxi (Double-A)
Travis Lakins (Red Sox's No. 7), Portland at Binghamton (Class A Advanced)
A.J. Puckett (Royals' No. 10), Wilmington at Winston-Salem (Class A Advanced)
Alec Hansen (White Sox No. 10), Kannapolis vs. Greensboro (Class A Advanced)
Thomas Hatch (Cubs' No. 11), Myrtle Beach vs. Down East (Class A Advanced)
(Mets' No. 13) vs. Drew Harrington (Braves' No. 25), St. Lucie at Florida (Class A Advanced)
Jake Woodford (Cardinals' No. 17), Palm Beach vs. Fort Myers (Class A Advanced)
(D-backs' No. 19), Visalia vs. Rancho Cucamonga (Class A Advanced)
Pablo Lopez (Mariners' No. 23), Modest at Inland Empire (Class A Advanced)
Framber Valdez (Astros' No. 29), Buies Creek vs. Carolina (Class A Advanced)
Brady Aiken (Indians' No. 5), Lake County vs. South Bend (Class A)
Jordan Sheffield (Dodgers' No. 8), Great Lakes vs. Bowling Green (Class A)
Joey Wentz (Braves' No. 13), Rome vs. West Virginia (Class A)
Brandon Miller (Mariners' No. 17), Clinton vs. Peoria (Class A)
Osman Gutierrez (Blue Jays' No. 26), Lansing at West Michigan (Class A)