Pipeline Preview: Sanchez to make Clearwater debut

August 5th, 2017

Here's a look at top prospects to watch in today's Minor League action:
Hitter to watch: (White Sox No. 2), Winston-Salem vs. Potomac (6:30 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Jimenez, MLBPipeline.com's No. 7 prospect, powered Class A Advanced Winston-Salem to an 8-2 win over Potomac on Friday by going 2-for-4 with four RBIs and three runs scored. One of those hits was the 20-year-old outfielder's 13th home run this season, also his fifth in 20 games since he was acquired from the Cubs in the trade.

Pitcher to watch: Sixto Sanchez (Phillies' No. 2), Clearwater at Palm Beach (5:30 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Several days removed from celebrating his 19th birthday, Sanchez will be making his Florida State League debut when he takes the mound for Class A Advanced Clearwater on Saturday night. The No. 52 overall prospect was dominant during his time with Class A Lakewood, using his triple-digit fastball and two above-average secondary pitches to record a 2.41 ERA and a 0.82 WHIP in 13 starts. He compiled 64 strikeouts against nine walks over 67 1/3 innings, all while holding hitters to a .191 average.

Duel of the day: (White Sox No. 3) vs. Trevor Richards (Marlins' No. 19), Birmingham at Jacksonville (6:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Kopech, MLBPipeline.com's No. 12 prospect, has been locked in for Double-A Birmingham of late, recording three wins in his last four starts. The 21-year-old righty owns a 1.00 ERA with 33 strikeouts and four walks in 27 innings across those outings. Altogether, Kopech is 7-7 with a 3.25 ERA in 20 starts for the Barons. He leads the Southern League in strikeouts with 134, a total he's accrued in just 105 1/3 innings (11.5 K/9).

Signed out of the Independent Frontier League in July 2016, Richards, a 24-year-old right-hander, has blossomed in his first full Minor League season, posting a 2.46 ERA and a 125-to-21 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 117 innings across two levels. Since joining Jacksonville, Richards has registered a 2.91 ERA while striking out 44 and walking nine in 46 1/3 innings (eight starts).
Saturday's Top 100 prospect probables
No. 51 Yadier Alvarez (Dodgers' No. 3), Tulsa at Arkansas (7:10 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 60 (White Sox No. 7), Charlotte vs. Gwinnett (7:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
More top prospect probables
(Royals' No. 5), Omaha vs. Sacramento (Triple-A)
Dakota Hudson (Cardinals' No. 8) vs. (Mariners' No. 11), Memphis at Tacoma (Triple-A)
Julian Merryweather (Indians' No. 13), Columbus vs. Toledo (Triple-A)
(Red Sox's No. 15) vs. (Yankees' No. 22), Pawtucket vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Triple-A)
Rogelio Armenteros (Astros' No. 26), Fresno at Iowa (Triple-A)
Domingo Acevedo (Yankees' No. 8) vs. Brandon Waddell (Pirates' No. 24), Trenton vs. Altoona (Double-A)
Grayson Long (Angels' No. 9) vs. Genesis Cabrera (Rays' No. 15), Mobile vs. Montgomery (Double-A)
(Padres' No. 13) vs. Heath Fillmyer (A's No. 21), San Antonio at Midland (Double-A)
Zac Gallen (Cardinals' No. 14), Springfield vs. NW Arkansas (Double-A)
Yefry Ramirez (Orioles' No. 23), Bowie at Portland (Double-A)
Alec Hansen (White Sox No. 9), Winston-Salem vs. Potomac (Class A Advanced)
Cody Poteet (Marlins' No. 12), Jupiter at Fort Myers (Class A Advanced)
Roniel Raudes (Red Sox's No. 13), Salem at Myrtle Beach (Class A Advanced)
Brock Burke (Rays' No. 16), Charlotte at Dunedin (Class A Advanced)
Kodi Medeiros (Brewers' No. 23), Carolina vs. Buies Creek (Class A Advanced)
Joe Gatto (Angels' No. 26), Inland Empire at San Jose (Class A Advanced)
Jose Almonte (D-backs' No. 26), Visalia vs. Stockton (Class A Advanced)
Matt Hall (Tigers' No. 26), Lakeland vs. Daytona (Class A Advanced)
Ofelky Peralta (Orioles' No. 27), Frederick at Wilmington (Class A Advanced)
Joey Wentz (Braves' No. 9) vs. Breiling Eusebio (Rockies' No. 25), Rome vs. Asheville (Class A)
Tony Santillan (Reds' No. 15) vs. Yennsy Diaz (Blue Jays' No. 27), Dayton vs. Lansing (Class A)
Bryan Mata (Red Sox's No. 16), Greenville at Charleston (Class A)
Luis Escobar (Pirates' No. 17), West Virginia vs. Delmarva (Class A)
A.J. Alexy (Rangers' No. 19), Hickory vs. Lexington (Class A)
Gerson Garabito (Royals' No. 30), Lexington at Hickory Game 2 (Class A)
Brendon Little (Cubs' No. 5), Eugene at Spokane (Class A Short Season)
Wil Crowe (Nationals' No. 6), Auburn at Williamsport (Class A Short Season)
James Karinchak (Indians' No. 16), Mahoning Valley vs. State College (Class A Short Season)
Sam Perez (Marlins' No. 18), Batavia vs. West Virginia (Class A Short Season)
Elvin Rodriguez (Angels' No. 24), Orem vs. Missoula (Rookie)